Around LAO:

Writers talks look bleak, job reports look better, the ports get bigger, and gas gets, if not cheaper, then slightly less expensive.
Mark Lacter at LA Biz Observed.

Dodgers sign Andruw Jones. Phil Wallace at SoCal Sports Observed.

It's coyote cutie at Chicken Corner, where Jenny links to a Wyoming blogger's tale of raising a canis latrans from a pup.

Flu-addled ravings from Here in Malibu.

Elsewhere:

Franklin Avenue does some holiday shopping.

Here in Van Nuys says no thanks to a magazine subscription.

How many "dinning" room sets are for sale in LA? A disheartening number.

The Soul Food Truck brings relief to the mid-Wilshire media corridor. Eating LA.

The Big Orange gets big blog love here and here and here.

LAist rounds up the holiday plays and pageants.

Virginia Hoge dips a toe into the Pasadena blogosphere.

And my personal favorite - preaching to the choir here and here at YouTube.

That's it for me out here on the front page - Kevin's back and all's right with the LAO world.