The Extreme Optical Variability of J0948+0022

We report on observations of the optical variability of the radio-loud, narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy J0948+0022 on time scales ranging from minutes to years. Implications regarding recent suggestions that the object may constitute a prototype for an emerging class of blazar-like objects similar to FSRQs are discussed. The optical microvariability observed for J0948+0022 is found to be similar to that found for a typical LBL blazar. Based on observations of J0948+0022 in a flaring state and a significantly lower state, one can demonstrate that these rapid variations are most likely originating in the relativistic jet and not in the accretion disk
Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, accepted by ApJ