I think the reason the Runaway Astronaut story got such wide coverage was because of the word "diaper". Whenever you hear that word, especially in the context it was delivered today, your attention immediately goes to the rest of the story.

It's difficult to figure someone who is obviously intelligent has ended up in some sort of Springerian end to what may be a perceived love triangle. And when she told the police she was an astronaut, did they call the psych ward? I'm not sure that attempted murder charge isn't out of whack in this case. We really don't know what she was capable of. Or maybe we do. If you drive 900 miles straight (and she didn't stop for gas and pee, or was she using a rocket?), adopt a costume, have weapons, and cash, it does bring an O.J./Scott Peterson element to the proceedings. And she did use the pepper spray, after tailing the victim and confronting her. The victim also said she's been stalked for two months. And all of this happened on Super Bowl Sunday evening. She must have seen Stevie Nicks on the pre-game and had an "epiphery", as Michael Scott would say.

I don't know, much like that red light from the Kenny Rogers Roasters sign, outer space messes you up. Real bad.

Meal of Links

Randy Newman has a new song out, "A Few Words in Defense of our Country".

"I’d like to say a few words
In defense of our country
Whose people aren’t bad nor are they mean
Now the leaders we have
While they’re the worst that we’ve had
Are hardly the worst this poor world has seen."

Not sure what to make of the hubbub surrounding the Snickers Super Bowl ad. But doesn't the NFL approve ads for the game? Regardless, Snickers wiped out the website, the NASCAR contest, the NFL players video showing their reactions to the ad, effectively ending the campaign pretty quickly. I think only Madonna's Pepsi ad got yanked quicker.

Josh Wolf is now the longest-imprisoned journalist in US history. He has refused to give a grand jury a video of an anarchist protest.

Exercise Yard

With all of the diversity talk at the Super Bowl, don't forget about Tom Flores. Flores was the first Hispanic QB, coach, GM and team President in the NFL. And he won two Super Bowls. One with another Hispanic, Jim Plunkett, at quarterback. BTW, Flores, Mike Ditka, and now Tony Dungy are the only ones to have won a Super Bowl both as a player and coach.

Visitor

40 Across: Pointing Uncle (3 letters) Answer: Sam