We're back from a two-week hiatus. We've got two interesting things that we'll chat about later this week, one involving the presidential campaign and the other being yoga as a substitute for caffeine.

But for today, we'll share a few thoughts with you.

Professional sports has descended into a sad state of affairs. Yes, Tom Glavine won his 300th game last night, but the Tour de France has been scarred by drugs, NFL players keep running into problems with the law, an NBA official has been accused to alter scores and one writer is stating that Barry Bonds' equipment has inflated the amount of home runs he has hit (never mind the fact that steroids may have improved his bat speed and hitting power).

We saw the study linking social groups to obesity. The same rules apply to fitness. People who socialize with others who go to the gym a lot are more likely than those whose friends live sedentary lifestyles. Peer pressure can be both positive and negative. So next time you are the at the gym, smile and introduce yourself to a stranger. It could be good for your health (and your heart, if you're single).

American's choice of food explains why this country's waistline is bulging. At a nearby food court, we constantly see long lines for Panda Express. A two entree plate with steamed rice can easily top more than 700 calories. For far fewer calories, a person could go next door to Subway and get a sandwich and a bag of chips for less calories. Not to mention the fact that if you're gonna to blow the calories on Chinese food, there are so many better options from the standpoint of taste...