backbone.js sending "OPTIONS" as a restful request - node.js

Question

Backbone talking to node/express running locally os x 10.6.8. Trying to populate a clientside backbone model with fetch. Thinking I have fetch wrong. Most of app_stuff.js is cut-and-paste. Curious why node/express sees the request as OPTIONS instead of GET (or POST?) and if I have the terminology right. I think I can make it work like this but would rather pay the dues for some best practices while still an absolute newb.
backbone
(function($) {
var Stuff = Backbone.Model.extend({
});
var Collec = Backbone.Collection.extend({
model: Stuff,
url: 'http://localhost:3000/stuff'
});
var nstuff = new Collec;
nstuff.fetch(
{ data: $.param({ name: "helloworld"}) }
);
})(jQuery);
app_stuff.js
var express = require('express')
, routes = require('./routes')
, stuff = require('./routes/stuff')
, user = require('./routes/user')
, http = require('http')
, path = require('path');
var app = express();
app.set('port', process.env.PORT || 3000);
app.set('views', __dirname + '/views');
app.set('view engine', 'jade');
app.use(express.favicon());
app.use(express.logger('dev'));
app.use(express.bodyParser());
app.use(express.methodOverride());
app.use(app.router);
app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'public')));
if ('development' == app.get('env')) {
app.use(express.errorHandler());
}
app.get('/', routes.index);
app.get('/users', user.list);
app.get('/stuff', stuff.index);
app.options('/stuff', function() { console.log("stuffed"); });
http.createServer(app).listen(app.get('port'), function(){
console.log('Express server listening on port ' + app.get('port'));
});
terminal output
$ node timeline/app_stuff.js
Express server listening on port 3000
stuffed