Man from Alamo City to kick-start campaign

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, trailing in the polls and money raised, has turned to San Antonio lobbyist Tom Loeffler to jump-start his campaign fundraising. (Watch video of McCain's “Straight Talk Express” bus )

The 210 take: Which one is McCain again? Oh, the old guy I saw on YouTube sleeping during the State of the Union address? Oh, boy.

S.A. mom accused of MySpace kidnap plot

Authorities say Lisa Gonzales, 20, posted a message on My8Space.com offering $500 to anyone willing to snatch her toddler son from her estranged boyfriend. Authorities say Gonzales, while arranging the kidnapping, sent several text messages to the boyfriend's family to track her son's location.

The 210 take: Truly a 21st century crime: Plotted on My8Space, executed using text messages and one of the victims is baby daddy.

Martha packs picnic for latest space tourist

A Russian rocket carrying the American billionaire who helped develop Microsoft Word roared into space on a two-day journey to the international space station. Charles Simonyi shelled out at least $20 million for the trip and took a gourmet meal of marinated quail selected by lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, who was on hand for the rocket's launch.

The 210 take: Simonyi is rumored to be dating Stewart. No wonder he'll pay millions to get off the planet.

Want to know what's wrong with you? Spit

San Antonio researchers are part of a project at the University of Texas at Austin looking to create a biosensor the size of a microchip that could take a drop or two of saliva and diagnose anything from infections to heart disease to certain cancers. The biosensor could be placed on a small plastic card and used similarly in a hand-held diabetes monitor.

The 210 take: Is anyone surprised that Texas is at the forefront of spit science?

Archaeology treasure found near pizza joint

Workers renovating Main Plaza downtown have unearthed an old trench that might have protected Mexican troops from TexianÖ rebels in the winter of 1835, a few months before the Battle of the Alamo. Archaeologists have found artifacts that include pieces of pottery, gunflints and a metal sword point.

The 210 take: Wait, how does one dig up a trench?

From staff and wire reports

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