OHMIGOD OHMIGOD OHMIGOD. The stupidest feature in one of the worst opinion sections of America actually almost took a hard-hitting position on something today. Almost.

In today's Arizona Daily Star, "Thorns and Flowers" started off in typical fashion by taking an obvious position (Free speech = good! Countries who squelch that = bad!), although it did seem slightly more insane than normal by awarding not just a flower, but a specific flower—"a bouquet with plenty of pink and baby's breath." (I get that the flower recipient, UA prof/writer Elif Shafak, just had a baby. But come on.)

But after that, "Thorns and Flowers" took, well, a POSITION ON SOMETHING!

THORNS, THORNS and more thorns to those involved with the David Duke Web link to Randy Graf.

The first thorn goes to former Ku Klux Klan leader and Louisiana state Rep. Duke, who put a link from his Web site to Congressional District 8 Republican candidate Graf's site. ...

The Arizona Democratic Party made the situation thornier when it e-mailed a press release Wednesday that suggested a Graf-Duke alliance, which was based only on Duke's Web site. 

We can only imagine Duke's motives in adding the link that Graf disavows, but we're fairly confident it was to promote Duke and did not have Graf's interests in mind. Graf is a conservative and has strong beliefs on border security that have been called extreme, but he is not in the same orbit as Duke.

Let's stay focused on the merits of the candidates and the issues—not the actions of an over-the-top, out-of-district racist.

Wow. I mean, wow. They put the smack down on the Dems for publicizing the link (which they probably should not have), and called for everyone to stay focused on the issues.

Of course, this comes from the same chickenshit opinion section that refused to do primary endorsements and seems to be afraid of local commentary, so they're not practicing what their preaching. But still ...

As someone who intensely dislikes Wal-Mart, I'm kind of curious to see how this new policy will go down. My health insurance has no pharmaceutical drug coverage to speak of. If Wal-Mart can buy in volume, maybe they can afford to sell generic drugs for $4 for a 31-day prescription—which just goes to show you what the mark up price is everywhere else.

Don't get me started. I think our health care is in this mess because the pharmaceutical companies and the FDA are in bed together. He who has the biggest army of lobbyists wins.

I received this press release too late to put in the Noshing Around column, but I thought it was worth sharing.

Tucson's first Carvel opens this Saturday at 1150 N. Silverbell Road (corner of Speedway Blvd.). Carvel serves ice cream and sweet treats. If you stop by this Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., 10 percent of the day's sales get donated to a good cause.

On hand will be DJ entertainment, face painting, a guest appearance by Fudgie the Whale, the Tucson fire department and drawings every half hour for a free ice cream cake.

There's also ice cream specials where if you buy a classic sundae, you get the second one for only 34 cents.

According to the press release, the Atlanta-based company has been around for 72 years and is the leader in uniquely shaped cakes including Fudgie the Whale and Cookie Puss. Vincent Bianchi of Bianchi's Pizza owns this franchise location.

Have delicious fun for a good cause ...

The space shuttle is home. (YAY!) Richard Branson has pledged $3 billion to combat global warming. (YAY!) Although he looks like a douche in this picture. (YAY!—um, oops.) But on a brighter note, school's getting a hell of a lot more interesting for some students in this country.

Meanwhile, I have this list of things I need to do today. I made it yesterday, and it had 10 things on it. I've been here for more than hour now, and it now has 12 things on it. (I've been busy doing little crap—answering e-mails, etc.—that was not on the list, and while doing it, I've realized a couple other things I need to do.) Isn't that just depressing?

Hey, everyone: There's a new Weekly out. It's the last one before Best of Tucson(TM) 20! Ain't that just splendid? You can peruse the issue off to your right. Happy reading!

So, let's get this straight: The pope says some stupid things about Muslims getting violent ... and as a result, some Muslims get mad and threaten violence?

And in Thailand, a democratically elected (supposedly) government was the victim of a coup ... backed by the king?

And in Arizona, tobacco companies are sponsoring something called the Non-Smoker Protection Act?

Is there any wonder that people use substances to try to have the world make sense?

What a season. The Sidewinders won 99 games and are the AAA champs. Does this mean we get a major league team next year?

UPDATE: Bob comments that they actually won 98 games. He's right; my math was wrong. My apologies, and thanks for the clarification, Bob. 

There's a coup in Thailand, some crap in the space shuttle's way and less roadway than there needs to be on Glenn between Swan and Craycroft. But, hey, the Sidewinders have an early lead!

Hey, Sidewinders fans! Your team has 98 wins and a Pacific Coast League championship in hand—but the season is not over yet. This afternoon, the Sidewinders will take on the Toledo Mud Hens in the first (at least in a while) AAA championship game. Catch that at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.

In case you haven't noticed the weather this week ... it's fabulous. There's a cool breeze, and the temperatures are hovering around the high-80s ... if you haven't gone outside, taken a deep breath and thought, damn, this is bee-yoo-tee-full, you should.