News in a nutshell: Sept. 19-25

Sound smart
Hurricane Rita came ashore on the Texas-Louisiana border as a category 3 storm. While it caused mass evacuations, flooding (including in New Orleans -- again) and a good deal of damage, it was not as devastating as many had feared. Twenty-four elderly people died trying to evacuate the Houston area when their bus caught fire, but only two people's deaths have been attributed to the storm. And don't worry -- the oil is safe.

A JetBlue airplane made an emergency landing Wednesday after its front wheel got stuck sideways. I know JetBlue is a discount airline, but is landing gear really the thing you want to skimp on? Because I'm actually willing to pay the extra money for that.

Kate Moss apologized for using cocaine and lost numerous ad campaigns. Oh, Kate. What happened to that girl who posed topless in underwear ads at the age of 14 and who made a career out of being "heroin chic"? Has fame really changed you so much?

NASA on Monday unveiled plans for a new generation of rockets to take humans back to the moon by 2018. The Bush administration has pushed to get man back to the moon and eventually Mars. I suspect they think there's oil there, or possibly weapons of mass destruction. We might also be colonizing the moon so that we can fight the Martians there, rather than here on Earth.

Boring, but important
A Senate committee approved 13-5 John Roberts' nomination for chief justice. The full Senate will vote this week, but he's expected to be confirmed and the debate has moved on to who will fill Sandra Day O'Connor's seat, leaving Roberts feeling a little ignored. He was overheard last week asking anyone who will listen: "Want to hear my position on Roe v. Wade? Anyone? Anyone? Come on ... Guys ... ???"

And now for some good news
Researchers are working on vaccines for several sexually transmitted diseases, although they would work best if given to children as young as 11. Some conservative groups are already alarmed, apparently fearing that the vaccines would also make children immune to sexual education.

What the ...?!?
A study has found women are cleaner than men -- at least as measured by the number of people who wash their hands in public restrooms. If you were smart enough to figure that out on your own, well, gosh, let me shake your hand ...

The government is considering a plan to put the faces of past presidents on the dollar coin, similar to the states quarter program. Because after the failure of the Eisenhower dollar, the Susan B. Anthony dollar and the gold Sacagawea dollar, I think it's clear that what the American people are really clamoring for is more dollar coins.

A reporter on a Dutch TV show for teenagers plans on using drugs on the air. Kate Moss is expected to guest star.