This morning we’re talking modern media and retro gizmos.

On a trip to the local Toys R Us, we witnessed the awesome, random power of the Internet.  Seems there’s been a run on the Rubik’s Cube, the venerable brain-game of the 70’s.  No one can keep the things in stock.  The Cube was featured in several recent TV commercials which have been disseminated via YouTube.  Suddenly, everybody is keen to post their own unique solution video.  Which means now you can watch a Frenchman solve the puzzle in under 2 minutes.  With his feet.  Formidable!.

Things aren’t going so well for another beloved product.  Over at Hasbro, the brand manager for Easy-Bake Oven has a disaster on his hands.  The Consumer Products Safety Commission has ordered the recall of almost a million of the toys, after receiving complaints that children were getting their hands caught and burned.  Looks like no tiny chocolate cakes for mom for Valentine’s Day.

Finally, everything old is new again at the International Toy Fair, being held this week in New York.  Bored with your Hot Wheels?  No problem, now they come with a “hilarious” driver projected on an LCD windshield.  You can plug Barbie into your iPod and let her bob to the music.  And what kid could resist the Marvel “Ani-Movie Studio,” which lets you make digital stop-motion films featuring Spiderman, Captain America and friends.

POW!  BAM!  BOOM!