The kids across the street got a new above ground pool 2 weeks ago. From morning until sundown the neighborhood was filled with shrieks and giggles and all other sorts of joyful noises. It sounded wonderful. Then Wednesday it was painfully quiet in the neighborhood. The Grinch that stole summer (aka school) reappeared after a 3 month absence and made his presence known.

As sure as day follows night, school follows summer. We hope most kids had as cheerful of a summer as the neighbor kids did. This summer will never happen again, but let us hope they can replay the joy in their minds years from now. Tempus fugit.

And speaking of tempus fugiting, were you paying attention before last week fugited? Let’s see:

1) The official tornado season has ended in Iowa. This year Iowa counted 52 tornadoes. Is this more or less than normal?

2) Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol did something few humans have done. What did they do?

3) Mo’ne Davis had quite a week. What did she do?

4) The annual Harkin steak fry announced its headline guests for its last event. Who are the headliners for the last Harkin steak fry?

5) The Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati came out against the ice bucket challenge. Why?

6) James Foley was captured and executed while covering Islamist unrest in what country?

7) A third baby was turned over to the Iowa state DHS under the safe haven law this year. The law has been in effect since 2001. How many babies have been turned over in that time?

8) Climate change is blamed for an increase in insects in Iowa. This increase in insects has led to a dramatic increase in what two insect-borne diseases in Iowa?

9) Wikileaks founder Julian Asange said he would be leaving his embassy asylum “soon.” What country has offered Asange asylum for the past two years?

10) Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon drew ire when he announced he would not replace who in the Michael Brown case?

11) Ferguson, Missouri was visited by what high ranking official Wednesday?

12) The rich get richer. In a surprise move the NFL asked potential Super Bowl halftime acts for what?

13) I had Chris Christie in the ‘next governor to be indicted by a grand jury pool”, but this guy beat him out. What governor got indicted last week?

14) Remember the trip that John McCain took to Syria last year to support the rebels? Those rebels have turned out to be what now well known group?

15) Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, or PEDV, a killer of millions of piglets in the past year has been discovered to travel through what?

Sarah Palin seems to want to take some credit for Tina Fey’s success. Seriously Palin? Like a tick taking credit for the deer.

Answers:

1) a bit more. Normal is 46.

2) survived ebola. Both released from an Atlanta hospital this week.

3) First girl to throw a shutout in the Little League World Series, Mo’ne became the first little leaguer on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

4) The Clintons, Bill and Hillary

5) Because it benefits ALS. ALS researchers use embryonic stem cells in research.

6) Syria

7) 20

8) Lyme disease and West Nile virus

9) Ecuador

10) St. Louis county prosecutor Robert McCulloch

11) US AG Eric Holder.

12) Money. The NFL wants a cut of post-Super Bowl tour money made by acts.

13) Rick Perry of Texas

14) ISIS or ISIL

15) livestock feed.