Thumbs up to a Montana National Guard report this week that recommends better and longer monitoring for post-combat stress disorders to prevent suicides. The report, coming after the suicide death of Helena guardsman and Iraq veteran Chris Dana, also calls for better mental health education and a crisis response team to contact Guard members who stop attending post-combat drills.

Thumbs up to the return of the Cardboard Cup Regatta, one of the more delightful - and wackier - ways to spend a summer day. Until three years ago a fund-raiser for the Mikal Kellner Foundation for Animals' wildlife center, the "race" to keep such dubious craft afloat returns July 14. Sponsored by Spring Meadow Resources, it will help finance facilities for the disabled along the lake.

Thumbs down to an unfortunate breakup. Last week a young East Helena woman whose boyfriend wanted to end their relationship jumped into an SUV and smashed into the deck of their mobile home, slightly injuring the boyfriend and, presumably, losing his affections for good.

Thumbs up to another attempt to keep the phrase "the last best place" in the public domain. A first try by then-Sen. Conrad Burns was later overturned by the court, which said that a single sentenced in an annual spending bill wasn't enough to overturn an entire body of trademark law. Last week Sen. Max Baucus tried again, getting a committee to pass another version specifically stating that the legislative intent was to override all other laws to the

contrary.