You have to know the Silly Season has officially arrived when this sort of story creates an international flap.

FORBES: Canadian Oil Sands Unfairly Tainted By BP Fiasco

You know the silly season is in full swing when Metallica decide to release a double album of covers.

BBC: Garage Inc - Metallica

August may be the silly season for newspapers, and traditionally a quiet time in politics, but Plaid Cymru won a by-election in Barry.

BBC: Another year, another 'historic day for Wales'

Last week, right in the middle of the silly season when most people aren't paying attention, there were seismic events which changed the face of the technology landscape.

BBC: Is Apple winning too often?

"It's the silly season isn't it, " said Ferguson.

BBC: Ferguson says Rooney will not be joining Real Madrid

Sadly, facts like these are not enough to avoid the silly season altogether, or to persuade the USDA to ignore the self-serving indignation of the meat industry and keep a reasonable suggestion on its site.

CNN: 'Meatless Monday' too hot a potato for USDA

We've officially entered the silly season of pre-CES rumors, so take this with a grain of salt, but the Wall Street Journal reports Sony has approached "several big media companies" about distributing their channels over the internet.

ENGADGET: Sony may be preparing an internet-based cable TV alternative

So if I were in Obama's shoes, I would have the Democratic National Committee develop a focused campaign aimed at making Cheneyism synonomous with Republicanism well before the election silly season gets into full swing.

FORBES: Magazine Article

After all, this is the Super Bowl silly season for advertising.

FORBES: Kia Super Bowl Ads For Sorento, Forte Models Use Space Babies and Hot Bots

In the olden days, you may recall, golf merrily drifted off into its Silly Season come fall, ceding the stage once the four majors were done to football and the baseball playoffs.

WSJ: From Woods to McIlroy to Donald, Why 2011 Was a Very Good Year in Golf | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport