Graduating on time—meaning, in four years—and graduating early are two goals that many college students hope to achieve. But there are some people around the world who do even better than that, and it makes me sick.

As the school year came to a close, I celebrated with my friends who graduated at UA this year, getting excited for what was in store when my turn came along. A few friends of mine from high school who collected several Advanced Placement exam credits amazed us by graduating an entire year early.

Now, I have to admit, I do get to graduate early as well, albeit only a semester, but these days there are so many people who spend their college days wishing they could graduate early. Even on time would be a godsend, as they face their super senior status coming up in the fall.

But when I watch on the news that a 10 year-old little girl from Mexico is in college, all I want to do is slit my wrists with disappointment because graduating a semester or even a year early is nothing compared to this little girl who probably hasn’t even had her first period yet.

And to make it worse, this little girl, Dafne Almazán Anaya, has two older siblings who are also super geniuses. Her older brother graduated college at 16 and her older sister is 14 and in college with her. What I want to know is what their parents are feeding them and where can I get some?

Seriously, I thought these types of people only existed in shows like the oh-so-wonderful Smart Guy on the Disney Channel. Except in that show, it was at least more realistic since T.J. Henderson, the 10 year-old genius, was in high school and his older brother Marcus was a normal guy trying to survive high school.

Take a look. The video is in Spanish, but there is an English summary following the video.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/dafne-almazn-anaya-10-year-old-goes-to-college_n_1536542.html?ref=education&ir=Education

Public Policy Polling delivers new numbers about the race between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney in Arizona. The Democratic-leaning firm also looked at how the race changed with Jan Brewer, John McCain or Joe Arpaio as Romney's running mates, but concluded that those choices weren't all that plausible:

Arizona's looking a little bit less intriguing for Barack Obama than it did three months ago, when PPP polled it in the middle of the Republican primary contest. At the time it was tied but Mitt Romney's now opened back up a 50-43 advantage in the state.

Arizona makes a rare state where Romney actually has a positive favorability rating, at 46/45. Meanwhile Obama is unpopular there with only 41% of voters approving of his job performance to 56% who disapprove. Romney's ahead 48-38 with independents. Obama's dominating the Hispanic vote as he is most places, leading 63-35, but Obama's going to have to keep it closer with whites than his current 56-36 deficit if he's going to have a chance at carrying the state.

Union Public House up at St. Philip's Plaza kicks off its new Whiskey Wednesdays today, with half-off all bourbon, whiskey and scotch. The special runs all day and includes everything from rail liquor to the super-fine aged stuff.

Union Public House has also decided to start serving brunch on Sundays, and has worked up a pretty incredible menu for the weekly event. Expect the same crafty American fare, sparkling and regular cocktails and a variety of kids' meals priced around $6.

There's more on the restaurant here, or follow them on that Facebook gizmo over here.

On the day of a Congressional District 8 debate at the Jewish Community Center, Republican Jesse Kelly is the subject of a television news report about how he was endorsed by ALIPAC, a group that has been linked anti-Semitic groups, white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

When Kelly, who is facing Democrat Ron Barber in the June 12 special election to complete Gabrielle Giffords' congressional term, was questioned about the 2010 endorsement by KGUN-9's Jennifer Waddell, Kelly spokesman John Ellinwood stopped the interview and said the question was illegitimate:

Ellinwood, who was sitting to the side off camera, interrupted Waddell and announced that he was stopping the interview because of a question Waddell had just asked. That question, which came from a KGUN9 viewer, sought an explanation for an endorsement Kelly had accepted from a controversial anti-immigration group. Ellinwood objected to viewer's use of the word "recent" to describe Kelly's acceptance — Ellinwood strenuously insisted that the word did not fairly describe something that had happened in 2010. But even though Waddell immediately offered to correct the viewer's wording, Ellinwood continued pressing his objections.

Kelly sat politely listening. He held his hand up, twice, to try to get Ellinwood to stand down, which Ellinwood eventually did.

However, Ellinwood continued his verbal assault in the hallway afterwards, using some choice terms to describe the question and attacking Waddell's professionalism for asking it.

After KGUN's story about Ellinwood's blowup was posted online, Ellinwood called the station and cancelled an interview that was scheduled for today.

It's the latest example of Kelly's fear of tough questions from the media. Kelly has refused to sit down for interviews with the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Weekly.

What's the big deal about ALIPAC? The group is an anti-immigration political action committee that has been criticized in the past by the Anti-Defamation League for links to anti-Semitic groups, white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

Kelly signed a pledge to ALIPAC to his 2010 campaign in order to receive the organization's endorsement. Just days ago, ALIPAC endorsed Kelly in the 2012 campaign:

Americans for Legal Immigration PAC is renewing endorsements for 14 federal candidates running in 2012 who were previously endorsed in 2010. These candidates have strong stances in favor of enforcing America's existing border and immigration laws instead of any form of Amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Each candidate completed ALIPAC's candidate survey and pledge in 2010 indicating their opposition to illegal immigration and Amnesty for illegals. These candidates have now been added to ALIPAC's 2012 endorsed candidates found at http://www.alipac.us/campaign/

In 2010, U.S. Sen. John McCain criticized his GOP opponent, J.D. Hayworth, for accepting ALIPAC's endorsement, saying that ALIPAC was among "extreme groups that condone racism," according to Politico:

While Tucson has a bit of a graffiti problem in general, there are some using the University of Arizona as a canvas in more aesthetically pleasing ways, usually using stencils and a single color of spray paint.

• underpass near Greek Row

• staircase of the Music Building

Homemade Horchata

Makes about 7 cups

1 cup raw or blanched almonds)

2/3 cup white rice, uncooked (medium or long-grain preferred)

2 1/2 cups water + 3 cups water

one 3-inch cinnamon stick

2/3 cup sugar, or to taste*

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (increase to 1 teaspoon, or to taste, if you love vanilla)

in a bowl combine the almonds, uncooked rice, 2 1/2 cups warm tap water, cinnamon stick, cover and place in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours. Remove from the refrigerator, remove the cinnamon stick, and blend the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes on high speed, or until blended as smoothly as possible. Then add sugar (to taste), vanilla extract, 3 cups more water and blend again for 2 more minutes, or until mixture is as smooth as possible. If you're not into grit, strain horchata. Refrigerate and serve (shake it a bit before pouring). You have up to five days to drink it up.

Eric and Arnie discuss a new Captain America comic and also the super-smash-hit film The Avengers, including a moment when Eric uses the term "brotastic" and gets into his deep, mildly disconcerting love for fictional character Tony Stark. You probably shouldn't watch this video if you haven't seen the movie, but who are we kidding? Everyone's probably seen The Avengers twice by now.

The AltWeekly Awards will be handed out at the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Convention in Detroit early next month, and one of our own is among those nominated. Since 1,108 entries were received from 90 member publications, it really is an honor to be nominated, like Renée Downing was for her column writing this year. Read the columns that attracted the attention of the judges, below:

COLUMN (POLITICAL) circulation under 50,000

East Bay Express: Cops Charging Overtime to Clubs; Marcie Hodge Loses, Again; and The Absent Police Chief by Robert Gammon

Jackson Free Press: Hazardous Civility; Immigrants vs. Profit; and And the Good News Is... by Tom Head

Monterey County Weekly: Reefer Madness; Shared Sins; and Shut 'Em Down by Mary Duan

Tucson Weekly: Tax the Rich; Greed; and Occupy and Economics by Renee Downing

One of my favorite colors is purple!

• Kara Smith of The Contained Gardener
• Summer Purples

Here is a list of purples that are working well in pots in the heat

Annuals:
Gomphrena (Buddy and Gnome)
Blue Salvia
Lisianthus (watch over watering)
Vinca (there is some lilac and lavender)
Pentas
Neurembergia (Purple Robe)
Osteospernum

Perennials:
Scabiosa
Scaevola
Navajo Salvia
Angelonia
Calibrachoa – does best in morning sun only
Verbena
Heliotrope Blue (shade)
Lavender – low water

If you want to add another color – try choosing from one of these:

• See How These Colors Might "POP"

For more information on potted gardens in the desert, visit The Contained Gardener.

Have a question? Email Marylee.

Sign up for our Potted E-News today. Receive monthly potted garden information as well as SW Arizona freeze alerts, heat and wind advisories.

Man-about-town Dan Hernandez is kicking off a new weekly bit of entertainment tonight at Auld Dubliner, mixing bingo with cheap drinks and prizes, which is just about any human being could ask for from a night out.

From tonight's event page on Facebook:

BINBIN BINGO!

I GOT A BINGO WHEEL
AULD DUBLINER HAS THE DRINKS

Its completely FREE to play , and every round we will be going away swag/ funny crap / concert tickets to Stateside Presents shows/ drink tickets!

Its at the auld dubliner, its crazy in there, like wood bar , tons of spots to sit and a smoking patio.

$3 makers Mark
$2 sessions

giving away 2 pair of tickets to :

PLANTS AND ANIMALS (5/23)at congress at 10pm
Hospitality & Leopold and his fiction (6/5) at plush at 11pm
Maps and atlases (6/5) at plush at 12am