OK, I'm back and I have TONS to write about, but first thing - let's dump off the new links to share.

Frozen smoke as new material to impact our world.

Further evidence that working out helps your brain/smarts.

An incredible and talented member of my family, Tony Sheets (son of Millard Sheets), has worked hard to get a book of much of his fathers paintings in one exhibit at the LA County Fair this month. You can read more about it here.

I'm so excited that football season is almost here again. Of course, living in Nebraska means I have to take this a bit more seriously than I did before (is that possible?), and I'm in a few fantasy football leagues as well. I thought this was one of the more entertaining columns on Nebraska's football team for this season. (plus be sure to check out the embedded brief Family Guy clip about Nebraska - there's a corn eating contest tonight at the local swing dance festival, too! )