just got a pack of dennys fav 50 directly from wyeast in the mail, and it appears to have already been smacked. i have almost no experience with these, so i'm not entirely sure, but it seems swollen and squishy. since i don't plan on using this yeast till the 19th, is there anything i need to do? do i need to just make a standard starter a few days ahead of time to get them working again?

O.k.. if your pack got warm then the yeast are probably working inside of it.

First put it in the fridge this will stop any activity thats happening.
When your ready to use it, You will still have to break the nutrient pack.

Mine did the same thing yours did.

it was pretty warm, sitting in the sun in my back yard for most of the day probably. cool, thanks for the info.

Like Shawn said put it in the fridge. Yes, make a starter a couple days before to increase the cell count. That heat can really do a number on cell count.

Jeff, I think you're gonna find that happing every now and then. I've gotten more than a few like that. I read somewhere that it's because "it's really freash" but I'm not sure 'bout that.
Shawn's got you strait, no worries.
Matt

Also forgot to add....

Be sure you sterilize that pack good, Just before you do anything with it.
Better to be safe than let the bad yeasts make crape of all of your efforts.

And the Swiss Army Knife that you use to cut it open with. Can't forget to
sanitise that!

Right on Matthew.

I had one just like that shipped during a heat wave. The cold pack was dead and the smack pack was swollen, but the capsule wasn't broken. Same advice as above back then, put it in the fridge, smacked it and made a very nice starter before brewing like usual. Worked fine.
I traded emails with Wyeast for advice and they were very responsive and helpful.