Winners

Here’s a shocker: from their relationships to their jobs to their money, young white Americans are happier than their minority counterparts according to a survey of 1,280 people between the ages of 13-24 by the Associated Press and MTV. Seventy-two percent of whites say they are happy with life in general, compared with 51 percent of Hispanics and 56 percent of blacks.

We’re in no way endorsing O.J. Simpson’s forthcoming confession-novel “If I Did It,” but we suspect Borders Group Inc. is doing the right thing by carrying the book in its stores while its rival, Barnes & Noble, is selling it only online and through special order. The ghostwritten, fictionalized account of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, probably won’t top anyone’s Christmas wish list or win a Pulitzer or break any sales records. But isn’t this a country that embraces freedom of the press, no matter how scandalizing the tale? Besides, given Simpson’s genius we’re sure the book will solidify most peoples’ belief that he is guilty of murder. And lest anyone worry that Simpson stands to gain a penny from the book, think again. A federal bankruptcy judge awarded publishing rights to the Goldman family to help settle a $38 million wrongful death judgment. The marketplace will dictate which bookstore is right and which one is wrong.

Losers

College football is in the air and it’s time to see whose team is losing members of its squad to illegal and stupid behavior. So far, the University of Iowa has the early lead after wide receivers Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman were charged with making more than $2,000 in purchases on unauthorized credit cards, then had their photos holding cash and liquor bottles circulated on Facebook and MySpace. Not to be outdone, reserve Hawkeye quarterback Arvell Nelson was issued a warrant for his arrest after failing to appear in court following a driving-related charge. But fear not Cyclone fans, we’re confident your team will rally with something out of the Larry Eustachy playbook. Already reports have surfaced that two Cyclone players have online profiles that show them with alcohol. Let the games begin!

Heavy rain has been pounding Northern Iowa, but those of us in Central Iowa are feeling the effects, too. Officials say the rains that have fallen to the north of us will raise the level of Saylorville Lake by more than 20 feet, thus forcing park rangers to close beaches and several boat ramps during the busy Labor Day weekend. But closed beaches are the least of our problems. Some Iowans have been forced to evacuate their homes due to flooding, while others have lost essential services because municipal sewage treatment systems are overwhelmed by water and are spilling waste into our rivers. It’s a hell of a price to pay for having green lawns in August.

The obesity dilemma has reached Iowa in a big way, and the results of a new study suggest that if overweight Iowans don’t start making changes now, they face health problems down the road. Among a sample of Iowa students in grades 3-5, 37.5 percent are at-risk for becoming overweight or are overweight. Additionally, 70 percent of middle-age adults in Iowa are overweight or obese. And more than 30 percent of low-income children ages 2-5 are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. The realities of childhood obesity will affect the health of Iowans and hit them hard in their pocketbooks, experts say. Childhood obesity has been linked to such chronic diseases as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer. According to the federal government, medical care related to obesity costs Iowans more than $780 million a year.

Overweight, over-worked and over-stressed Americans might be over-medicated, too, according to a report released last week by the Associated Press that shows retail sales of five leading painkillers rose nearly 90 percent from 1997 to 2005. The AP analyzed data by the Drug Enforcement Administration that says more than 200,000 pounds of codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and meperidine were purchased at retail stores in 2005. Officials say that’s enough to give more than 300 milligrams of painkillers to each person in the country. In Iowa, the increase was 61 percent, including a 586 percent increase in oxycodone use. The drug is also known as “hillbilly heroin,” because it is often bought and sold illegally in Appalachia. Officials point to a number of reasons for the increase in painkiller use, including an aging population and unprecedented marketing campaigns by drug companies that spent nearly $30 million in advertising in 2005. Take two aspirin and call us in the morning.

John Edwards said it best about Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ resignation: “better late than never.”

Jordan Creek Town Center says it will open one minute after midnight the Friday after Thanksgiving to get a jump on its competition during one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The mall will host Rockin’ Shoppin’ Eve, a shopping party with live entertainment and prize giveaways. Ah, can you feel the Christmas spirit? CV

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