Greetings from the Queen City!
Looks to be a Bing 12mm, as mentioned. I hear there are better carbs, for slightly more money, at any of the moped parts places online, like you mentioned.
The bendy straw is where the throttle cable goes in, and hooks under the throttle slide thing, through the spring. There is plenty of info on Bing carbs on this site. You shouldn't have any trouble.
Get it running. Don't put too much cash into it. Ride it hard, have fun!
You can make your own throttle cable if you are industrious enough.
Also, treatland is a great source for parts and more. Seriously.