Summer is unofficially over. In theory, the beach-seeking, sun-loving, near-naked hordes, half of them driving as though the rules of physics have been suspended here in Malibu, have returned home. But here's what I can't get over. Remember this wonderful, kitschy sign (above) for the annual Chili Cookoff, with wavy flames and a thicket of exclamation points? It's been replaced with the somewhat bland and static one below. How is that an improvement?

