Winners

We’ve been worried about him for some time, but are glad to report that a giant, smiling Lego man was fished out of the sea near Amsterdam last week. Workers at a Dutch resort found the 8-foot-tall model with a yellow head and blue torso. The toy was later placed in front of the drinks stall.

Good news for unattractive men: a study conducted by scientists at the universities of Durham and St. Andrews came to the conclusion that women see masculine-looking men as more unsuitable long-term partners while men with more feminine features are seen as more committed and less likely to stray. Of course, none of this might comfort crème puffs and geeks who continue to strike out at the bars while attempting to pick up women as their good-looking, square-jawed buddies score every time out. Guys, maybe your best bet is to secure a copy of the study and point out your “finer facial features, fuller lips, wide eyes and thinner, more curved eyebrows that are viewed as a better bet,” according to the study, that is.

Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, D-Monticello, received the National Medal of Civic Honor at the National Conference of State Legislatures 2007 Legislative Summit in Boston last week. The bipartisan organization “honors the brave men and women who not only serve their state’s legislatures, but also serve our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Zirkelbach just returned from service in Iraq at the end of July. He served nearly two years with the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard and was elected to a second term in the Iowa House while serving in Iraq.

Altoona resident Justin Pollard dodged a bullet in court last week when murder charges against him were dropped because a videotape of him running down and killing Annamarie Rittman with his truck in 2005 in the parking lot of a Lowe’s store couldn’t be admitted as evidence. But don’t look for Pollard to get away without punishment. Prosecutors are expected to re-file charges.

Losers

There has never been a shortage of bad opinions about San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds since the Balco investigation first made headlines a few years ago. And now that Bonds has broken Hank Aaron’s hallowed career homerun record after smashing No. 756 at AT&T Park last Tuesday, people will continue to opine about him after he is inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame — that is, if he’s inducted. Still, unless empirical evidence turns up regarding Bonds’ guilt or innocence, we’re all left with the frustration of debating his merit — on and off the field — in the court of public opinion with very few facts. Until then enjoy your statistical career homerun leader.

Here’s some sobering news for Iowa drivers: A study by the Coalition to End Needless Deaths on Our Roadways of 2005 state traffic data shows that Iowa ranks third behind Delaware and Maine in the percentage of fatal crashes involving young drivers between the ages of 16 and 20. Of the deadly accidents reported in 2005, 88 people, or slightly less than 20 percent of drivers, were 16 to 20 years old.

When did it become unsafe to walk in downtown Des Moines? Within the last month, Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority’s Link buses have struck down two pedestrians walking in the downtown area. Both victims were in the right away walking across the street. Is it that hard for bus drivers to follow traffic lights? Or do pedestrians need to learn how to dodge a 3,900-pound city bus? Maybe Des Moines needs an El train or subway system. Or maybe we could all just get jet packs? It seems safer than walking to work.

Fans of riverboat gambling have until Oct. 10, to try their luck on Iowa’s last floating casino before it makes its final voyage. The Mississippi Belle II Casino in Clinton is the last excursion boat in the nation to offer gambling cruises. Its owners say the paddle wheeler will be replaced next spring by the land-based $35 million Wild Rose Casino. Read ’em and weep.

It’s bad enough that parents have to worry about their children succumbing to peer pressure when it comes to drugs. But the last person a parent should have to worry about regarding such matters is a teacher. Last week, police arrested Mary F. Lane, an elementary school teacher in Davenport after they raided her home and allegedly found ecstasy, marijuana, plastic baggies, a scale and a loaded gun. Police were tipped off that she was dealing drugs from her home, but reports don’t indicate as to whether or not she was selling to her students. Lane faces a number of charges, including two counts of drug possession and one count of hosting a drug house. CV

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