I've been a big fan of the radio program "This American Life" for a long time, but an episode they aired last month is the best one I've ever heard. "The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar" tells the story of a 1912 kidnapping, and how it affected three families. (A longer description, without spoilers, is available on the episode web page at the link.) It's gripping. I got chills. It's an amazing tale, well told. I urge you, as strongly as possible, to take an hour and have a listen. It's free!

There's so much going on in this news story, I can't even wrap my mind around it all. A couple in New Mexico was watching a porn movie, and the woman thought one of the "actors" was her boyfriend. As in, the guy she's watching the movie with. For some reason, this upsets her, so she grabs a knife and tries to kill him.

First, the man told the 911 dispatcher that the woman "already has battery charges against her," and was apparently under a restraining order. I suppose Movie Night was their way of reconciling. Second, the woman was so incensed that she chased the guy out of the house even while her eight-month-old baby was inside. For that brainstorm, she added a child abuse charge.

What I really don't get is how this confusion arose in the first place. You'd think if the movie star really was the victim here, he would know it was one of his roles when they popped in the dvd or whatever. I'd think you'd really want to know how someone would react to that before you spring your home movies on them.

Also, how could she be so sure? I swear I'm not an expert or anything, but I figured the guys in most (straight) pornos were pretty fungible, unless we're talking Dirk Diggler here. Or maybe the man in the film used the guy's "move."

Finally, I have a suggestion for the woman's defense on these charges. She should claim she intended an honor killing to redeem the man's immorality. What? It doesn't work that way? Oh well...never mind.

(story link via Voucher Ankles)