To celebrate thisrecent July4weekend,I’m dedicating this column to random thoughts,which I suppose means I’m giving a nod to Rob Olson and consequently Thomas Sowell for the inspiration.

The neon lights flickering the words SUSHI BUFFET stopped mein my tracks. I passed it by on a hazy night of bar-hopping. Could this be? Could Davis really have another all-you-can-eat sushi joint? The next morning, to make sure that I hadn’t imagined it in the midst of a little dancing and a lot of drinking, I did some research on Google to find that the restaurant really does exist!

WEDNESDAY Arboretumtour:walk withWarren Noon to1p.m. Arboretum Gazebo onGarrod Drive ArboretumSuperintendent Warren Robertswill offer a tour of the arboretum and offer information about the plant collections.

The past few years haven’t been very kind to Coldplay. After selling nearly 50 million copies worldwide of their first two critically-acclaimed albums, the guys from London disappointed many with 2005’s X&Y, even getting dubbed the “Most Insufferable Band of the Decade” by the New York Times.

A combination of factors has led to the appearance of West Nile Virus in theSacramento region. Six mosquito samples taken inSacramentoCounty have tested positive for the virus,and10infected dead birds have been reported,according to the Sacramento-Yolo Vector Control District.

Despite a year of state budget cuts that will result in a7percent increase in student fees for many undergraduates next year,it appears that forCalifornia students,UC is still the place to be. A record38,088Californiaresidentstudents havesubmitted their intent to register in the UC system in thefall of2008,a nearly13percent jump from thefall of2005,according to a UC press release.

UC Davis faculty member Benjamin Houlton of the department of land, air and water resources has co-published a research paper examining the role of the nitrogen cycle. This better understanding of the nitrogen cycle could lead to more accurate predictions of global climate change.

Why not join the city ofDavis in celebrating the independence of our nation with pancakes,parades and parachutes? Davis is offering a plethora of activities that everyone from children to college students can enjoy.

Music lovers in Davis know where in town to finger through a treasure trove of classic records. Offering a place to find music almost every day of the year is Armadillo Music at 205 F St.

WhenGovernor Arnold Schwarzeneggerannounced a drought in June,Californians were told to take shorter showers and use less water on their lawns.But for farms inCalifornia andYoloCounty,the challenge of dealing with less water is even greater.

f you have terrible eating habits like me, coming up with excuses to eat junk is an all-too-easy task. Some justifications I always fall back on include class, work, certain television shows, extreme weather conditions… Providing me with one less place to nourish my unhealthy lifestyle is Farmer’s Kitchen Café. Situated at 624 Fourth St., it turned out that I’ve passed this restaurant many times without ever having gone inside, only referring to it as “the place with the plastic floral tablecloths.”

Last week marked the conclusion of this year’s Co/Lab art and design collective,held at thenow-closed Olipom Vintage Clothing Store inSacramento.Founded in2006by graduate student Milan Phan and headed this year by UC Davis alumnus Cory Keller,the Co/Lab group explores the creative advantages of workingand creatingin coordination withothers within and outside the art department.