Seriously, what the hell is wrong with these people? Since when is the response to a day at the beach covered with tar balls and straight up oil-coated waves rolling in not to turn around and head the other way, but to pack some Goo-Off or whatever to get the resulting mess off your skin after building sand castles? Yes, the beach was open, yes it should have been shut down, but really, the people sunning themselves on it should all be committed and/or looked at for child endangerment.

This has to be putting a serious crimp in stock prices - and kitchen cabinets. Campbell Soup has announced a massive, 15 million pound recall of their SpaghettiOs due to "possible under-processing." Considering how over-processed most of their stuff is, I wonder how horrible this really is. Factor in the fact that this is a voluntary recall and not a massive health emergency, and there's even less cause for frantic concern - just take your cans back to the store and exchange 'em for a refund or new can.

The company said in a statement that it was voluntarily recalling the products "in an abundance of caution," and that there was "no information indicating that any under-processed product has reached consumers."
The agriculture department also said it had received no reports of illnesses from consumption of the products.
The cans were produced in Paris, Texas, between December 2008 and June 2010, and shipped to retail customers nationwide, according to Campbell Soup.

File this one under the It Took 'Em Long Enough category - DC Comics has announced that they will be publishing, through their Wildstorm imprint, a Ratchet and Clank comic starting this September. After being teased by the random pic of the manga that's been available in Japan for years, the States will soon be getting all-new stories of their own featuring Sony's premiere video game duo. The cover looks inarguably awesome, but no sign yet on what the interiors will look like. Fingers crossed it'll be even half as much fun as the games!

RATCHET AND CLANK #1
Written by T.J. FIXMAN
Art by ADAM ARCHER
Cover by CREATUREBOX
The best-selling Sony franchise finally becomes an action-packed comic!
With Dr. Nefarious defeated and the universe safe, galactic heroes Ratchet and Clank return to the Solana galaxy for some well-earned rest and relaxation. But when entire planets begin disappearing from the universe without a trace, Galactic President Qwark calls them back into action to solve the mystery. As the rest of the universe erupts in panic, the duo must embark on an epic adventure that will pit them against their most capable adversary to date: a Markazian planet thief named Artemis Zogg!
On sale SEPTEMBER 8 • 1 of 6 • 32 pg, FC $3.99 US

I defy anyone with a modicum of sense to successfully argue why this rule, adapted by an Ottowa soccer league stating that any team that loses a game by more than five goals is automagically the winner of said matchup. As evidenced by the following, the only thing kids are really going to learn is how to run out the clock...

In yet another nod to the protection of fledgling self-esteem, an Ottawa children’s soccer league has introduced a rule that says any team that wins a game by more than five points will lose by default.

The Gloucester Dragons Recreational Soccer league’s newly implemented edict is intended to dissuade a runaway game in favour of sportsmanship. The rule replaces its five-point mercy regulation, whereby any points scored beyond a five-point differential would not be registered.

Kevin Cappon said he first heard about the rule on May 20 — right after he had scored his team’s last allowable goal. His team then tossed the ball around for fear of losing the game.

I know it's probably just wishful thinking, but I sincerely hope that I'm never out of touch enough to have to call tech support for something like the Pac-Man game showing up on Google's homepage. I shudder to think of what technological horrors/breakthroughs/wonders await to befuddle myself and people my age in another 30 years or so...

Now this is an example of picture perfect cross marketing. Totally fun, despite basically ramming Google down your throat. I approve!

This could be fun - PBS Kids has announced that they're working with Random House and Martin Short to create a new Cat in the Hat series.

The Kid™ is already a fan of the Henson produced series from a few years back, discovered in our house by way of holiday gift-giving and receiving, if I recall correctly. The puppet-laden show had a fantastic look, though the episodes are curiously devoid of any genuine educational value outside of being nice to one another, listen to your parents, etc.

This new series, which apparently has 40 episodes already in development, is going to take a harder line on education, specifically targeting the sciences., which sounds great to me. With luck, we'll get a 3...2..1..Contact style show for the pre-school/kindergarten set.