Today is National Toothache Day and St. Apollonia's Day, honoring the patron saint of dentists and people with toothaches. Today is Read in the Bathtub Day suggesting that you read a novel a year in the bathtub. I'm thinking we may want to re-think this one with the advent of e-books. Today is Fish Protection Day. The US Fish Protection Office, the forerunner of the Fish & Wildlife Service, was established on February 9th of 1871. Today is National Bagels and Lox Day.

Calendar notes: On this date in 1825, the US House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams president after no candidate won a majority of electoral votes. On 1964, in their first live American TV appearance, the Beatles drew 73.7 million viewers to The Ed Sullivan Show. They were paid $2,400 to sing All My Loving, Till There Was You, She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There, and I Want To Hold your Hand. In 1987, twenty years after the first woman was admitted to the New York Stock Exchange, the Exchange Luncheon Club decided to install a ladies rest room. For 20 years the ladies had to walk downstairs to find a ladies room. In 1989, witnesses at a New Jersey hearing on the deregulation of professional wrestling testified that the sport was a fake. In 1997, The Simpsons became the longest-running prime-time animated TV series, besting the six-season record previously held by The Flintstones.

House is hanging up the stethoscope. Fox's medical drama House is ending its eight-year run this season. The show's producers, including Emmy-nominated star Hugh Laurie, said it was a "painful" decision but that the time had come to bring House to a close. In a statement yesterday, Laurie and his fellow producers said they imagined Dr. House as an "enigmatic creature," and that it was best for him to vanish while there was still mystery in the air. The finale date for House was not announced.

Although Katy Perry and Russell Brand reportedly did not sign a pre-nup, Brand is said to not be looking for any extra cash from his soon-to-be ex-wife. TMZ reports that Brand, who could get 50 percent of Perry’s earnings from the 14 months they were married, which would mean 20-million dollars, is not asking for any money from her. A source says, “The divorce is as amicable as it gets.” Russell Brand and Katy Perry were married in October 2010 and although divorce papers were filed this week, they have to wait six months for the divorce to be final.

Here’s hoping Homer Simpson wasn’t planning to move to Iran anytime soon. The famed animated character has been banned from the country -- in the doll form, anyway. Iranian officials have placed the Homer Simpson doll on the nation’s no-buy list. An official at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults says, “We do not want to promote this cartoon by importing the toys.” Apparently they have a toy ban on anything with distinguishable genitals, adult toys, toys that belt out tunes in the voices of Western singers and kitchen sets with glasses for drinking booze. Barbie even landed on the no-no list. However, Spiderman and Superman are okay, as “they help oppressed people and they have a positive stance,” according to the official.

Adele’s record 21 tops the Billboard album chart for its 19th week, according Nielsen SoundScan. In its 50th week on the charts, 21 moved another 122 thousand copies, putting her total sales here in the States over 6.3 million. According to Billboard, Adele is likely to top the chart again next week, which would put her on top for 20 weeks, a mark held only by Whitney Houston's soundtrack to The Bodyguard and Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii.

On the singles chart, Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) rises one spot to top this week's Billboard Hot 100. The song marks her third number one single. The American Idol-winner previously topped the charts in 2002 with her debut, A Moment Like This, and in 2009 with My Life Would Suck Without You. Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain falls to number two after two weeks at number one.

The Beach Boys are reuniting on the Grammy stage at the awards show this Sunday. Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks, who haven’t performed together live in over 20 years, are set to do just that, getting help from Grammy nominees Foster the People and Maroon 5.

Meanwhile, the nominees for Canada’s Juno Awards have been announced. Drake, Justin Bieber and Nickelback received multiple nods this year. Bieber, Drake, Nickelback, Avril Lavigne and Michael Buble are all competing in the Album of the Year category. The International Album of the Year category includes Coldplay, LMFAO, Adele, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. The 2012 ceremony takes place in Ottawa on April 1st.

Well, Valentine's Day on the way. Looking for something truly unique for your Valentine? How about beef jerky underwear. You can find them on the homemade products website Etsy. It's beef jerky sewn and fashioned into a pair of briefs that are 100 percent edible.

Nice job guys It turns out two-thirds of married women would almost rather do anything than get intimate with their men. Nearly 78% of women say their sex lives are "predictable."

Trivia Answer: Carole King who turns 70 today. Early in her songwriting career, she teamed with Gerry Goffin. They first hit it big with Will You Love Me Tomorrow which went to number one for The Shirelles.  That album that stayed on the charts for nearly six years? Tapestry. Tapestry became the top-selling pop solo album ever, a position it held until the release of Michael Jackson's Thriller in 1982. Tapestry was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for 15 consecutive weeks, and held the record for most weeks at No. 1 by a female solo artist for over 40 years until surpassed by Adele's 21 this year. This week, Adele tops the Billboard album chart for her 19th week. Her 21 album is now in its 50th week on the charts. Tapestry has been listed on the Billboard 200 chart for over 300 weeks between 1971 and 2011, the longest by a female solo artist. Tapestry placed at #36 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

NBA Commissioner David Stern has spoken with a multimillionaire who wants to bring pro basketball back to Seattle, and the commish says he would like to see the NBA here again … but there's a big problem. Seattle has no good arena. Yeah, yeah -- you've heard it all before. That's a big reason the city couldn't keep the Sonics, which moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. But talk of a new arena is back in the headlines, thanks to a largely unknown hedge-fund manager, Seattle native Christopher Hansen, who has been talking with the city of Seattle about building a new venue south of Safeco Field. Speaking with The Salt Lake Tribune earlier this week, Commissioner Stern said Seattle is a "great" destination for the NBA. In fact, he had a conversation with Hansen about a year ago, the Tribune reported, though Stern said it was "just a general conversation."

Now that we've wrapped up the football season and put it in the closet until next year, it's time for the boys of summer. The Mariners' pitchers and catchers report to Peoria for Spring Training on Saturday. Position players report a week later. Spring play with other teams begins when the Ms meet the Oakland Athletics on March 2nd in Phoenix.

Today is Laugh and Get Rich Day, a day to recognize laughter's power to help workers be more effective, remember things better, and not change jobs as often. In a related note, Love May Make the World Go 'Round, But Laughter Keeps Us from Getting Dizzy Week begins today. The week is dedicated to Victor Borge's notion that "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."

Calendar notes: On this date in 1922, President Warren Harding had the first radio installed in the White House. In 1960, Congress opened an investigation into widespread charges of payola that disc jockeys were being paid to play certain records. The accused included deejays Alan Freed and Dick Clark. Clark came through the scandal unscathed, but Freed never worked in radio again. In 1968, the film Planet of the Apes, starring Charleton Heston, Roddy McDowell, and Kim Hunter, opened throughout the US. In 2000, a man allegedly tricked Little Rock police into immediately searching for his stolen car by telling them that his daughter was asleep in the back seat. Police found the car in less than two hours. But the 30-year-old man was charged with a felony for filing a false police report. Police said he had no daughter.

American Idol is back tonight with the Hollywood Round, Part 1 as the competition gets underway for a spot in the semifinals.

Robert Downey Jr. is a father. His wife, Susan, gave birth to a boy yesterday and they've named the little guy ... Exton.

No surprise here. Word is that Gisele has landed in hot water with her hubby Tom Brady's fellow New England Patriots. Sources are telling TMZ that the quarterback's teammates are "disappointed" by Gisele's post-Super Bowl comments, where she blamed Brady's receivers for the team's loss to the New York Giants. The supermodel ranted, "My husband cannot f***ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times." Brady's fellow Pats are reportedly upset because Gisele "violated a code of brotherhood," which upholds the belief "win as a team, lose as a team."

A 43-year-old Florida man attempted to rob a bank in Stock Island last week. It was an unsuccessful attempt, but not for a lack of creative disguise. In an effort to shield his mug from the teller and other customers, he waltzed into bank with a pair of shorts on his head and demanded of the teller, "Give me what are 20s and 50s." An understandably confused teller then asked, "What do you want?" Apparently, the robber had no time or patience for such an explanation, and simply muttered "never mind" and walked out of the bank. Of course, such a conspicuous individual was arrested and charged with robbery.

According to a recent survey this is the number one thing your neighbor has that you want ... a greener lawn.

This year, 2012, marks Queen Elizabeth's 60th year on the throne. To mark the occasion, some of the biggest names in music are paying tribute to her majesty. Paul McCartney, Elton John and Annie Lennox are just some of the many artists performing for the Queen at a June 4th celebration outside of Buckingham Palace. ABC is airing the show the next day.

Word is Alicia Keys is making an appearance at the Grammy Awards this weekend. She's not nominated for any category. According to her official website, Alicia is expected to hit the stage to honor the late legend Etta James with a special performance. The 54th annual event airs live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Some people at a vintage bike fair in Miami got quite a surprise this past weekend – Billy Joel rode up on his motorcycle and jumped on stage with a local band. An organizer for the event told the Miami Herald that the singer spent a while checking out vintage bikes with the rest of the crowd, going unnoticed. Then, he decided to hop on the stage and sing three songs before signing some autographs, hopping on his bike and riding away.

Trivia Answer: James Byron Dean who was born on this date in 1931. That 1955 film was Rebel Without a Cause. In addition to his role in Rebel, the other two roles that defined his stardom were as loner Cal Trask in East of Eden in 1955, and as the surly ranch hand, Jett Rink, in Giant in 1956. Dean's enduring fame and popularity rests on his performances in only these three films, all leading roles. His premature death in a car crash at the age of 24 cemented his legendary status.  Dean was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and remains the only actor to have had two posthumous acting nominations. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Dean the 18th best male movie star on their AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars list.

The Seahawks have submitted preliminary paperwork to host a future Super Bowl. According to NFL sources familiar with the pursuit, the Seahawks recently have taken the initial steps to declare their interest. The NFL Super Bowl Advisory Committee vets inquiries to see which cities meet minimum standards before soliciting formal proposals. Seahawks officials declined comment. Lorraine Hine is the chairperson of the Washington State Public Stadium Authority, which owns Century Link Field and the adjacent exhibition center. She says pursuit of the NFL's championship is part of the agreement between First & Goal, the team's corporate arm, and the Public Stadium Authority. The opportunity for Seattle to host, long deemed unlikely because of its February weather and its stadium capacity of 67,000, increased with the award of the games to Indianapolis which drew rave reviews for its hosting of the game Sunday at 68,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium, and MetLife Stadium in suburban New York, which will host the 2014 game in an outdoor stadium in a climate similar to Seattle's. In its submission, Seattle did not specify pursuit of a specific game date, but games have been awarded through 2015, meaning the first chance would be 2016. Before the Seahawks move ahead to form a host committee to prepare a privately financed bidding process, it has to get a signal from the NFL that it is in the hunt. Someone suggested that they send a video of the last several days of weather in Western Washington and assure NFL owners that is always like that here in February.

And, it doesn't mean anything but it is interesting to note that back on October 9th, the Seattle Seahawks beat Tom Coughlin's New York Giants – the NFL champion Giants -- 36-to-25.

Today is Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbors Day. Everyone is urged to "wave hello and mean it." Today is National Fettuccini Alfredo Day. America's largest celebration of George Washington's Birthday is underway in Laredo, Texas. The event celebrates the cultures of both the US and Mexico and includes the annual Jalapeno Festival. It begins today and runs through the 20th.

Calendar notes: On this date in 1940, Walt Disney's cartoon movie Pinocchio premiered at the Center Theatre in New York City. In 1959, over a thousand mourners attended 22-year-old Buddy Holly's funeral at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. Holly's pregnant wife Maria Elena, who miscarried shortly after her husband's death, did not attend. In 1964, Pan Am Flight 101 arrived in New York City bringing the Beatles for their first American tour. Some 10,000 fans were waiting at Kennedy airport. Baskin-Robbins introduced a new ice cream flavor called Beatle-Nut. In 1985, Sports Illustrated published the largest edition in the magazine's history at 218 pages -- its annual swimsuit edition. In 1994, retired Chicago Bull star Michael Jordan signed a baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox.

On the heels of her performance at the Super Bowl, Madonna announces her World Tour 2012. It does include a stop in the Northwest. The Material Girl (Woman?) is at Key Arena Tuesday, October 12th. Tickets go on sale beginning February 13th

The Fray releases their new album, Scars and Stories, today. They're on Letterman tonight.

A British online store has pledged to stop selling baby clothes after the company received complaints from customers. A spokeswoman for the website Kiddicare said the store will no longer be stocking the shirts, which bear the words,"Help, I'm being kidnapped. These are not my parents."

NBC's The Voice got its second season off to a supersize start, attracting 37.6 million viewers Sunday night -- more than double the show's biggest audience last year. Enjoying a bump from the record 111.3 million viewers of the Super Bowl -- the most watched show in US television history. The Voice was the top entertainment show for NBC since the finale of Friends in May of 2004, when 52.5 million people tuned in.

He can throw touchdowns but can Tim Tebow foxtrot? We may soon find out. People reports that last season's Dancing With The Stars champ, J.R. Martinez, recently bumped into the Denver Bronco and chatted Tim up about joining the show, to which Tebow replied, "Maybe in a year." Karina Smirnoff not only wants Tebow on the show -- she wants him as her partner. She also told People, "He can run, jump, pass, throw touchdowns. All [that] is missing is to see if he has the dance skills. That would make him an all-around athlete, and someone that I would love to dance with on the show."

Glee star Cory Monteith was party-rocking a little too hard for his neighbors on Sunday. TMZ reports the 29-year-old actor was throwing a housewarming party at his Hollywood Hills home when the new neighbors decided they'd had enough of the loud music. Cops stopped by the house around 4:30 in the morning to put a halt to the noise. Cory and his roomie were said to be nice and compliant with the officers, but the roommate was still issued a ticket for loud tunes.

Portland, Maine is the new Treasure Island. At least, treasure hunter Greg Brooks thinks so. The Sub Sea Research employee is claiming to have located the wreck of a British merchant ship that was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Cape Cod during World War II -- and rumored to be hauling a load of platinum bars now worth more than three-billion dollars. Brooks says a US Treasury Department ledger shows that platinum bars were on board, and his underwater video footage shows a platinum bar surrounded by 30 boxes that he believes hold more though none have been brought to the surface just yet. An attorney for the British government is skeptical of Brooks' claim, but Brooks isn't bothered by the naysayers.

A retrial has been ordered for an appeals court case in Sweden after the presiding judge fell asleep during proceedings. The judge says he did not fall asleep during the trial but has agreed to no longer preside over the case.

Depending on the specific model, your car loses 1% to 2% fuel efficiency for every 100 pounds of extra weight in the car. That's a surprising amount that can really add up. Experts say cleaning out the junk in your trunk, the back seat, etc., can save you $35 or more a year in fuel costs.

Thirty minutes. Thanks to the fine folks at Healthy Living we learn that sex should last AT LEAST 30 minutes for the woman to be satisfied. That includes everything.

Trivia Answer: Charles Dickens who was born on this date in 200 years ago today in 1812. Some of his other works were A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations. Many of his writings were originally published serially, in monthly installments. Unlike other authors who completed novels before serialization, Dickens often created the episodes as they were being serialized. The practice lent his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by cliffhangers to keep the public looking forward to the next installment.

Eli Manning and the New York Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the New England Patriots … again. Giving me more evidence that my decision to not bet on sporting events was a good one. The Giants came back with a last-minute touchdown to beat the Patriots 21-17 yesterday for New York's fourth Super Bowl title. It was a rematch of the 2008 NFL championship, when Manning led New York past New England to ruin the Patriots' bid for a perfect season. This was the first Super Bowl with two starting quarterbacks who previously won the big game's MVP award -- and they took turns being brilliant. Manning became the first QB to open a Super Bowl with nine consecutive completions. Later, Brady put together a run of 16 completions in a row, breaking another Super Bowl mark. In the end, though, it was Manning who was selected as the MVP.

Well, she made headlines leading up to the game when the press received an email she sent urging her close family and friends to pray for Tom Brady on Sunday. Now, Brady's wife is making headlines again calling out the New England receivers. Wide receiver Wes Welker was so upset over dropping a crucial pass late in the fourth quarter of yesterday's loss that he nearly started crying at the podium. No pity from Gisele Bundchen, though. After her prayers for a Patriots' championship went unanswered, Bunchen lashed out at the team's receiving corps for failing to haul in her husband's passes. While waiting for an elevator at Lucas Oil Stadium, Bundchen was being heckled by Giants fans when she spoke to people in her group. "My husband can not f------ throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times." The comment was captured on video by theinsider.com, a gossip website. Wide receiver Deion Branch and tight end Aaron Hernandez dropped passes on New England's final drive. Regarding Welker, Brady said, "Wes is a phenomenal player and a teammate. I love that guy." If only his supermodel wife felt the same way.

By the way, a record 111.3 million of us watched the Giants and Patriots yesterday, just beating the 2011 TV audience for the big game. The Nielsen company says yesterday's Super Bowl on NBC was the most-watched television program in US history. Yesterday's figure topped the 111.0 million who watched the Super Bowl a year ago. It was the 7th straight year of increases in the TV audience for the annual NFL championship.

Did you miss a Super Bowl ad? Catch 'em all here: youtube.com/superbowl.

Former Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Kennedy spent his entire 11-season NFL career with the Seahawks. He was elected along with three other linemen, a running back and a senior selection. Kennedy was known as a force inside, both as a run stopper and in threatening quarterbacks. The 1992 Defensive Player of the Year made eight Pro Bowls and had 58 sacks -- an unusually high total for a tackle. Kennedy was drafted by the Seahawks in 1990. Despite a rather lackluster rookie year, he improved in his second and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1991. In 1992, he recorded 14 quarterback sacks and received the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press despite the Seahawks miserable 2-14 record. He was named All-Pro 4 times. Kennedy retired after the 2000 season. He announced his retirement in August 2002 after sitting out the 2001 season. He was given several offers by other teams, but wanted to finish his career in Seattle. Other electees to the Hall of Fame's 2012 class are running back Curtis Martin, the fourth-leading rusher in NFL history, along with linemen Chris Doleman, Willie Roaf and Dermontti Dawson, and senior selection Jack Butler. The inductions are in early August in Canton, Ohio.

Today is Federal No Smoking Day. In 1987, no smoking became the rule for 6,800 federal buildings across the US. Today is National Frozen Yogurt Day. International Networking Week begins today. Dump Your Significant Jerk Week also launches today.

Calendar notes: On this date in 1918, Great Britain granted women 30 or older the right to vote. In 1935, the board game Monopoly went on sale. In 1971, astronaut Alan Shepard hit three golf balls on the moon. In 1998, President Clinton signed a bill changing the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. In 2000, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton formally announced she was a candidate for the US Senate from New York.

Teen boys with superpowers helped lift the movie box office to unexpected heights over Super Bowl weekend as thriller Chronicle edged Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe's haunted house movie The Woman in Black. Chronicle brought in an estimated $22.0 million to claim the top spot at the box office. Woman in Black was second. The Liam Neeson thriller The Grey, dropped to third place. Big Miracle, a drama based on the true story of a whale rescue, finished the weekend in fourth place. Fifth place went to the vampire and werewolf sequel Underworld: Awakening starring Kate Beckinsale.

Billboard reports that Bono and his investment company, Elevation Partners, are set to make tons of money on one of the biggest stock IPOs in US history. Elevation invested millions in Facebook stock and stands to make a huge return on the investment now that the company has gone public. Bono and company could reportedly earn 100-billion dollars off the investment.

Coming up this weekend, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are performing at the Grammys, then next month they hit the road to promote their upcoming album, Wrecking Ball. It seems rehearsals for the trek are a little different than usual. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt says that the new music is "interesting and more difficult" so the group has to do more rehearsing than normal. Little Steven went on to say, "And we have other things to figure out because of [the absence of late saxophonist] Clarence [Clemons]," who, he says, they are not replacing.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has signed on to executive produce a new half-hour comedy for FX. The show, which stars and is being written by comedian Dana Gould, is about a rock band on the verge of stardom that has to go to therapy together to keep from breaking up. The group winds up with a disgruntled couples' counselor on the brink of divorce. No word yet on if Dave is appearing in the as-yet-untitled series or providing music for it.

This could get ugly. It now looks like Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are headed for a very public divorce trial in LA, one that will likely be open to the public and televised, according to HollywoodLife.com. A source close to Kris' family revealed, "There are no divorce settlement talks going on," so if this is true, it means Kim, Kris, and maybe a few other Kardashians will have to testify. The only way for Kim to keep her divorce from airing in public is to make a financial settlement with Kris or to agree to his request for an annulment based on fraud. Right now, the separated couple is on track to be in court at the end of summer.

Want to make someone you don't even know feel instantly lonely? Do NOT look at them. A study found those who received a glance and a smile from a passing stranger felt less disconnected from others. Conclusion: Stop staring at your phone while walking.

Want to save $200 this year? Researchers say backing way off on using your clothes dryer can do just that. Visit your favorite retail store or Amazon and ask for a clothes drying rack. The money you save could cover your cable TV bill for a few months.

Costis Mitsotakis, you must be kicking yourself today. Mr. Mitsotakis was the only resident in Sodeto, Spain to not nab a share of the 950-million dollars his town collected in Spain's Christmas Lottery. How did Costis get left out? He was apparently overlooked when the town homemakers group made the rounds to sell tickets last year from Spain's El Gordo lottery. According to New York Times, roughly 70 households bought tickets, and each of those households took home at least 130-thousand dollars. Though Costis was sad to not take home a hefty chunk of the winnings, he did get one lucky break. A neighbor bought a chunk of land he'd been trying to sell.

Trivia Answer: No. 80, wide receiver Steve Largent. Largent spent thirteen years with the Seahawks. Largent was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. After four preseason games he was traded to the expansion Seattle Seahawks. Others in the Hall of Fame who have worn the Seahawks uniform: Franco Harris, Carl Eller, Warren Moon, John Randle, and Jerry Rice. 

It's not an official holiday … but it may as well be. It's Super Bowl Sunday. It's the day of the biggest football game -- and biggest television show -- of the year. Last year, an estimated 111 million people watched the game. Watching the Super Bowl on TV has become an American tradition, like watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. Lots of folks watching the big game may not be football fans. So here's a quick guide for Super Bowl XLVI. The National Football League, or NFL, uses Roman numerals to identify each year's game. XLVI meant 46 in ancient Rome -- which had a big stadium but no Jumbotrons. The game is between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. If you're wondering which team to root for, maybe this will help. New England has a wide receiver, Wes Welker (No. 83), who is one of smallest players in the NFL. He's listed at 5 feet 9 inches, but may be shorter. He'is so quick that he led all the receivers in the NFL with 122 catches. So if you're little, you may want to root for Welker and the Patriots. If you have an older brother or sister who gets lots of attention, you may want to root for the Giants. Their quarterback, Eli Manning (No. 10), is the younger brother of superstar Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. For years, everyone has said Peyton is the best player in the family. But in Sunday's game, Eli has a chance to do something Peyton has never done: win a second Super Bowl. The game is being played in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Fun fact: One wall of the stadium is made of glass: It's 244 feet wide and 88 feet high. Just because the Super Bowl is the biggest game of the year doesn't mean it will be the best game. Recent games, such as last year's 31-25 thriller between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, have been close and exciting. But 20 of the 45 Super Bowls have been won by 15 or more points. Kick-ff is coming up about 3:30 Sunday afternoon. NBC has the coverage.

Madonna is performing at half time of the big game. Madge won't explicitly say who she's rooting for, but her spot-on salsa dance in honor of the New York Giants Victor Cruz may have revealed where her allegiance lies. At a news conference yesterday promoting her appearance at the game, she was asked what she thought of the wide receiver's touchdown celebration dance and if she had any criticisms of his moves. "I have no criticism ... actually, he's inspired me. I've been practicing," said Madonna before busting a move in front of the few hundred media members in attendance. Madonna, by the way, lives in New York.

One thing you won't see (or hear) at this year's Super Bowl is the song Rock and Roll Part II. Football bosses banned the song from the sporting event so disgraced pop legend Gary Glitter won't profit from the Super Bowl. The controversial glam rock star usually gains royalties from the big match as his 1972 hit song is traditionally played during the game. The New England Patriots usually play the tune, also known as the Hey Song, to celebrate each touchdown. However, National Football League chiefs have now banned the song from being played, according to Britain's Daily Mirror. An NFL spokesman says, "We will not be playing any version (of) it." Glitter, whose real name Paul Gadd, relocated to Vietnam in 1999 after he was found guilty of child pornography possession in his native Britain, but he was later arrested and charged with committing obscene acts with children in 2005 and ordered to serve three years behind bars.

The focus this week has been on the presidential race, the Super Bowl, and Super Bowl ads. Here's a good one that'is airing on the Canadian broadcast of the big game. Filmmakers told two recreational hockey teams in Port Credit, Ontario, that they were filming a hockey documentary -- but it was actually Budweiser Canada doing the filming, and they surprised the amateurs by filling their empty stadium with cheering fans, cheerleaders, and sportscasters, giving the feel of a pro game. Check out the awesome video:

Today is National Carrot Cake Day. Today is Bubble Gum Day. Children at many schools across the country donate 50 cents or more to a school charity so that they're allowed to chew bubble gum at school today. Today is Endangered Species Day. President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law on this date in 1973. Today is National Wear Red Day, kicking off the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women cardiovascular disease campaign.

Calendar notes: On this date in 1959, the music died, according to Don MdLean's classic song, American Pie. It was on February 3rd of 1959 that singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Big Bopper Richardson died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. Holly was 22, Valens 17; and Richardson 28. In 1973, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was Crocodile Rock by Elton John. It was Elton's first No. 1 song in the United States. In 1987, fearing possible violence, the University of California at San Diego cancelled a planned Beastie Boys concert. In 1995, Air Force Lt. Colonel Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot the space shuttle Discovery. In 2008, the New York Giants beat the heavily favored and previously undefeated 18-and-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, 17–14, in one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

US stocks rallied today as investors cheered a much stronger than expected jobs report, with the Dow ending at its highest point since 2008. The Nasdaq reached levels not seen since 2000, increasing 46 points, or 1.6%. The S&P 500 added 19 points for the day, up 2.1% for the week. The rally was sparked by the Labor Department's monthly jobs report, which showed that the US economy added 243,000 jobs in January. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.3%.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure today reversed their decision to end Planned Parenthood grants.

Still trying to figure out exactly what happened with The Donald yesterday. Many media outlets are reporting it as an awkward embarrassment for the campaign of Newt Gingrich. Some in the campaign told reporters that Donald Trump planned to endorse the former House speaker. They then found out that the real estate mogul and reality TV star had flown into Las Vegas the night before to back Mr. Gingrich's arch rival, Mitt Romney. The alleged Gingrich endorsement was confirmed Wednesday night by two people within the Gingrich campaign, but Mr. Trump's own aides wouldn't discuss the matter, and in the end, Trump yesterday endorsed Romney.

Here's something you don't see the first lady do every day: Drop to the floor and give you 25. Michelle Obama was promoting her physical fitness initiative on the Ellen Degeneres Show Thursday when the TV host challenged her to a competition. Ellen managed 20. Michelle kept going to 25 and said she could have done more.

Following the news that Soul Train creator Don Cornelius died earlier this week, Vh1 and Vh1 Classic have announced plans to pay tribute to the TV innovator. The cable networks are re-broadcasting a 90-minute documentary called Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America, tonight. Don was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, California home this week. He was 75.

Paul McCartney is the only Beatle without a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but that's all about to change. Next Thursday (February 9th), Paul is being honored with a star of his own outside of the Capitol Records building. Paul was nominated for a star in 1993 but scheduling difficulties have kept him from a dedication ceremony. However, he was on hand when Ringo Starr got a star in 2010, and he attended the dedication ceremony for George Harrison's star in 2009. Paul is in town being honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year next Friday, and, of course, for the Grammys on the 12th.

Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band are performing at the Grammy Awards. He'll be joined by Adele, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Rihanna, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Jason Aldean, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj.

Halle Berry is presenting at the 84th Academy Awards. Berry won the Oscar for her lead performance in Monster's Ball back in 2001. She joins Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lopez and Tom Cruise as the previously announced Oscar presenters. The 84th Academy Awards are coming up Sunday, February 26th.

Jeff Foxworthy is doing the Puyallup this year. The "you might be a redneck" guy is therem September 14th.

Think your employees are just updating their Facebook status and getting back to work? Think again. The average visit time on Facebook is 20 minutes. If you've got a few Facebookers around the office, and they're checking the News Feed or posting a status update a couple of times a day, that's some seriously lost productivity.

Trivia Answer: Al Lewis who died on this date in 2006. He was born Albert Meister. Few other facts about Lewis' early life are known with any certainty as most of the information comes from interviews he gave, and there are inconsistencies in his statements. For example, sometimes he gave his birth year as 1910, other times as 1923. As to why Lewis might have lied about his age, the most common theory is that in 1964 he might have been concerned about being a year younger than Yvonne De Carlo, who was cast to play his daughter, Lily. Lewis said he moved to Brooklyn, New York, with his family as a child and attended Thomas Jefferson High School, from which he left in his junior year. He later attended Oswego State Teachers College. He also claimed he earned a Ph.D. in child psychology from Columbia University in 1941. The university, though, has no record of this. In other interviews he also claimed he joined the Merchant Marine prior to World War II and spent time in Italy. His acting career begins the well documented portion of his life. He worked in burlesque and vaudeville theaters, then on Broadway in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His first well-known television role was as Officer Leo Schnauser on Car 54, Where Are You? from 1961 to 1963, although he is best remembered as Grandpa on The Munsters, which ran television from 1964 to 1966 and for years later in re-runs. Unlike some actors, such as Rob "Meathead" Reiner, Leonard "Spock" Nimoy and Ron "Horshack" Pallilo, Lewis did not mind being typecast. He enjoyed acting out his Grandpa character...in the original costume...and got a surprising amount of mileage from such a short-lived role. "Why not?" he said. "It pays the bills." In 2003, he was hospitalized for an angioplasty, and complications from the surgery led to an emergency bypass and the amputation of his right leg below the knee and all the toes on his left foot. He died on February 3rd of 2006 of natural causes in a hospital.

If you love the passing game, you should love this weekend's Super Bowl. No matter who wins Sunday, Tom Brady or Eli Manning will emerge as the most prolific passer to ever win a championship. And no matter who wins, each will have done it paired with a pass defense more porous than any championship unit to come before it. Both defenses have played better in recent weeks. And the Giants and Patriots combined for just 44 points when they met in midseason -- a 24-20 Giants victory at New England. But nobody reaches the Super Bowl without playing well down the stretch and neither of those points changes the fact that the Patriots and Giants field the two worst pass defenses in Super Bowl history. Kickoff in Indianapolis is coming up about 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

According to researchers, nearly half of this year's Super Bowl viewers will check their mobile device as many as 10 times during the game, and almost a third of viewers under age 45 will watch the game "with device in hand."

The man who worked the corner for some of the biggest names in boxing has died. A family spokesman says Angelo Dundee died surrounded by family at his home in Tampa, Fla. Dundee was Muhammad Ali's corner man in his greatest fights. He also worked with Sugar Ray Leonard and helped George Foreman to become the oldest heavyweight champion at age 45. Angelo Dundee was 90.

Today is National Tater Tot Day. Of course, today is also Groundhog Day. Legend says, if the groundhog comes out today and sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. The most famous groundhog is Punxutawney Phil of Pennsylvania. By the way, Phil did see his shadow this morning. Today is also Hedgehog Day, the ancient Roman tradition that inspired groundhog Day in the US and Canada. If the Roman hedgehog came out at night and saw his shadow in the moonlight, it meant six more weeks of winter.

Calendar notes: It was on this date in 1876 that the National Baseball League was formed, with teams in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Louisville, and Hartford. In 1936, the five charter members of the new Baseball Hall of Fame were announced at Cooperstown, New York. Of 226 ballots cast, Ty Cobb received 222 votes, Babe Ruth 215, Honus Wagner 215, Christy Matthewson 205, and Walter Johnson 189. At least 170 votes were required for induction. In 1959, Buddy Holly performed for the last time. At the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, he played drums for Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, and Dion (see video below). In 1993, then-first lady Hillary Clinton banned smoking in the White House. In 1998, President Bill Clinton introduced the first US balanced budget in 30 years.

Facebook filed its much-anticipated IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, revealing its latest numbers. The social media giant says it now has 2.7 billion likes and comments per day.

It's been revealed that Apple is so obsessed with secrecy, it sometimes puts new hires on fake products until they can be trusted. Adam Lashinsky reported this tidbit in his new book Inside Apple, and a former Apple employee confirmed it.

Thanks for letting the cat out of the bag, Alec Baldwin. Perez Hilton reports that on Alec's morning podcast in New York City, called Here's the Thing, the actor chatted with Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels about the upcoming season. While Lorne kept quiet about the future lineup, Alec minced no words, spilling the names of everyone he saw on "the board" in Lorne's office! On the list: none other than Jonah Hill and Justin Bieber. While Jonah will only host, the Biebs will reportedly pull double-duty as host and musical guest.

Adele remains at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a second straight week with Set Fire to the Rain. Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson's Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) leaps six spots to number two.

John Mayer has been out of the public eye for a bit of time, writing and recording a new album. But it looks like he's ready to get back into it. John is playing at South By Southwest in March. This is the first time Mayer plays the concert since 2000, when he debuted a career-changing showcase. SXSW takes place in Austin, Texas and runs from March 13th to March 18th.

Gavin DeGraw teamed up with OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder to write his new tune, Not Over You.

Christina Aguilera is set to head back to The Voice this Sunday. She, along with Cee Lo, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, start picking their new teams after the Super Bowl.

Coming up February 10th, just two days before the Grammys, a huge group of musicians is gathering in LA to pay tribute to the one and only Paul McCartney as he's honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year. The event is featuring performances by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Tony Bennett, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, James Taylor, Norah Jones, Katy Perry and more. And of course, Paul is performing, as well. The show recognizes Paul for his artistic achievements and philanthropic work. The event is sold-out and proceeds are going towards emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery programs for musicians.

Katy Perry is performing at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. She's been added to an already impressive line-up that includes Adele, The Band Perry, Kelly Clarkson and more. Katy is not only performing, she's also up for two awards – Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, The Grammys are on CBS Sunday, February 12th.

Wonder Woman Lynda Carter has some competition in Kendall Stewardson, a Des Moines mom who recently gave birth to a baby boy weighing 13-pounds and 13-ounces. And if his whopping weight alone isn't enough to make you cheer, Stewardson reportedly birthed the little champ without the aid of surgery or an epidural injection. She and her husband agreed neither option would be good for her or their big bundle of joy, who they named Asher.

Who needs mace, pepper spray or a Taser when you have a bottle of hot sauce in the home. Police in Iowa said a woman who was attacked by one of three robbers in her home used a bottle of hot sauce to fight off her attacker. Two suspects escaped but a third was arrested.

An Asheville, North Carolina couple is in shock over their experience with an unusual criminal. The 21-year-old thief, Andrew Patrick Jones, broke into their car at an area mall and stole several items, including their two cell phones. According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, the couple called their phones and to their surprise, Jones answered. The couple agreed to meet him to get the phones back, but when they arrived he said he would only return them "for a price." The shocker -- he also offered to sell them some weed if they returned with the money. Police were called and Jones was arrested for several crimes, including marijuana possession. Asheville police lieutenant Wally Welch told the Times, "You can't make this stuff up."

Trivia Answer: Christie Brinkley who turns 58 today. She appeared on three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Edition covers (1979, 1980 and 1981) -- the first time that had happened -- and appeared in the publication's annual swimsuit issues and television specials for years to follow. In the mid-70s, she signed a record 20-year contract with cosmetics brand CoverGirl, the longest in the history of the modeling industry. In 2005, CoverGirl again signed Brinkley, using her in ads in magazines and TV commercials for mature skin products. Christie is also known for her marriage to Billy Joel. According to numerous interviews with Joel, the song Uptown Girl was initially written about his relationship with his then-girlfriend Elle Macpherson, but it ended up also becoming about -- at the time -- his soon-to-be wife Christie Brinkley. The song came out in 1983. Christie and Billy were married in 1985. The marriage ended in 1994. They have a daughter together, Alexa Ray Joel. Christie's financial holdings were estimated in 2008 to be worth some $80 million. Primarily, she owns real estate, much of it in the Hamptons. 

Cortez Kennedy says, "People always ask me, `Do you think you should be in the Hall of Fame? I always say yes." On Saturday, he'll find out if others agree. For the fourth time, Kennedy is a finalist for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This year's class is being decided on the eve of the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. He would be the 14th defensive tackle to be chosen, and his numbers -- eight Pro Bowls, three All-Pro nods -- compare with others who have gotten the Hall's call. Tez says, "I can honestly tell you, if getting in the Hall of Fame is my biggest worry, then I'm doing OK. So I guess I'm doing OK."

Speaking of the Super Bowl, some are wondering where the trash talk is. As the culture of the game has changed -- more trash talking, touchdown celebrations, and look-at-me moments -- the Super Bowl became the big stage for the biggest mouths. You'll recall during the lead up to the title game of the 2005 season, for instance, Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens ignited a back-and-forth with Pittsburgh's Joey Porter by suggesting Seattle was going to win. Porter shot back that Stevens was a "first-round bust" who was "soft" and would end up "on his back" a lot during the game. The trash talk made for a lively week capped off by the Steelers getting the final word with a win. So where's the smack talkin' this year? The New England Patriots and New York Giants don't have any bad things to say about each other. Even if they did, their coaches wouldn't allow it. Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin are long-time friends who share the same old-school philosophy when it comes to saying anything about the opposition. Zip it. Tight. Or else. Kick-off is Sunday afternoon around 3:30.

The baseball season is about to begin. Or, at least, Spring Training is about to begin. The Seattle Mariners have packed up their gear for the trip to Peoria, Arizona. Practice itself won't begin until the 11th … but all that equipment's gotta get south somehow. Yesterday, clubhouse and equipment manager Ted Walsh and his staff, packed up roughly 20,000 pounds of baseball gear, personnel items, and just about anything else you can imagine. After several forklift and cart runs, the crew from Bekins Moving and Storage loaded up an 18-wheel semi-trailer until it is was packed to the gills. The truck started the 30 hour, 1,500 mile journey yesterday. It's expected to pull into Peoria tomorrow or Friday, after making stops in Medford, Oregon, and Buttonwillow, California.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the Florida Republican primary, easily defeating main rival Newt Gingrich yesterday. The former House speaker earlier vowed to stay in the race regardless of the outcome in Florida.

Today is Tupperware Sculpting Day, a day to heat up at least one old Tupperware bowl or glass and sculpt it into something new and exciting. Today is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Today is Spunky Old Broads Day, a day for celebration for spunky ladies over 50. Today is Working Naked Day, dedicated to those who work at home. Today is National Freedom Day. Today is Robinson Crusoe Day, a day to be adventurous and self-reliant. This is Solo Diners Eat Out Week.

Calendar notes: It was on this date in 1920 that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Mounties, were created. In 1949, RCA Victor introduced the 45, a smaller record with a larger hole than the long-play 33-and-a-third disc introduced earlier by Columbia Records. In 1964, the governor of Indiana declared the Kingsmen's hit Louie Louie pornographic. He asked the state's radio stations not to play it. In 1982, Late Night with David Letterman premiered on NBC-TV. In 2004, during the Super Bowl halftime show, in what was termed a "wardrobe malfunction," singer Janet Jackson's breast was exposed, resulting in a $550,000 fine against CBS' parent company, Viacom.

Don Cornelius, the founder of Soul Train, was found dead in Los Angeles this morning. He died of a gunshot wound at a house on Mulholland Drive. Los Angeles police say it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Cornelius created a pilot for Soul Train using $400 of his own money, according to the website biography.com.

Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and host Steve Jones are not returning to X Factor next season. The three were notified Monday night that they would not be starring on the next season of the show. According to reports, LA Reid is still part of the judging panel alongside Simon Cowell.

American Idol is in the Northwest for tonight's episode as they hold auditions in Portland.

As if YouTube isn't doing enough to cure your pre-Super Bowl commercial fix, CBS is back with its annual special tonight that highlights the big game's greatest ads. Boomer Esiason and Jillian Michaels host.

It's official. Adele is performing at the 54th Grammy Awards. The ceremony airs on February 12th on CBS.

Turn the page on the calendar as February arrives. It's National Weddings Month. Most engagements take place between Christmas and Valentine's Day, and most future brides start serious planning in February for summer weddings. The February birthstone is amethyst. The February flower, violet or primrose. February is American Heart Month, National Black History Month, Bake for Family Fun Month, Bird Feeding Month, Care About Your Indoor Air Month, Children's Dental Health Month, Grapefruit Month, Humpback Whale Awareness Month, Creative Romance Month, National Laugh Friendly Month, Library Lovers Month, Mend a Broken Heart Month, Pet Dental Health Month, Youth Leadership Month, Women's Heart Month, and in Illinois, it's Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month.

Groundhog Day 2012 is coming up tomorrow. Phil leaves his burrow at 7:20 local time tomorrow at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. He'll observe the weather conditions, look for his shadow, and then make his prediction for the remainder of winter.

Aerosmith is still working on their latest album and guitarist Joe Perry is talking about how it's going. Joe tells Canada's London Free Press that the new music "has a feel like some of the early stuff." He went on to explain why, saying, "We were all in the room when we were pulling these songs tighter and recording them. Every way that we used to make our records, that's what we did to get this where it is." Joe said that singer Steven Tyler is just finishing up the lyrics then they'll put the final touches on the record and have it out later this year.

Tom Hanks is presenting at the 84th Academy Awards. Hanks is a two-time Oscar-winner -- he won in 1993 and 1994 for his lead roles in Philadelphia and Forest Gump. Another previously announced presenter is Jennifer Lopez. The Oscars are coming up Sunday, February 26th on ABC.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Sarah Jessica Parker is replacing Demi Moore in the movie, Lovelace. Parker is taking over the role of feminist Gloria Steinheim in the biopic about pornstar Linda Lovelace. Moore dropped out of the film after recently being hospitalized.

How far would you go for a month without having to pay bills? A survey discovered a quarter of us would turn off their TV for an entire month, and one in five women would give up sex for 6 months.

Trivia Answer: James Ambrose Johnson, Jr. better known by his stage name Rick James. He was born on this date in 1948. Among his best known songs are Super Freak, and Mary Jane. Also in 1985, James produced and wrote the Eddie Murphy hit, Party All the Time and also sang on the track. James' longtime association with drugs began in his teens. A longtime marijuana user, he began using cocaine in the late 1960s. Cocaine use became an addiction for James by the late '80s and he began freebasing by the end of the decade. He later admitted to spending about $7,000 a week on drugs for five years straight. The start of the '90s brought with it a string of bizarre and sometimes horrific incidents for James. In 1991, he and future wife Tanya Hijazi were accused of holding 24-year old Frances Alley hostage for up to six days (accounts vary on how long she was actually held), tying her up, forcing her to perform sexual acts, and burning her legs and abdomen with the hot end of a crack cocaine pipe during a week long cocaine binge. In 1993, while out on bail for that earlier incident, a coked-up James assaulted music executive Mary Sauger, at the St. James Club and Hotel in West Hollywood. Sauger claims she met James and Hijazi for a business meeting, but claims the two kidnapped and beat her over a 20-hour period. He was found guilty of both offenses, but was cleared of a torture charge in the crack-pipe incident that could have put him in prison for the rest of his life. He served two years in Folsom Prison, and lost $2 million in a civil suit to one of the women. He was released in 1996. After his 1998 stroke, James needed a pacemaker to help him breathe and by his death was dealing with overweight problems, which also affected his health. On the morning of August 6th of 2004, James was found dead in his Los Angeles home. He had died from pulmonary failure and cardiac failure with his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, a pacemaker, and a heart attack. Through his autopsy, alprazolam, diazepam, bupropion, citalopram, hydrocodone, digoxin, chlorpheniramine, methamphetamine and cocaine were found in his blood. However the coroner stated, "None of the drugs or drug combinations were found to be at levels that were life-threatening in and of themselves." James is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.