Considering it cost about 24k to adopt, and that a lot of that money goes to the Chinese orphanages and economy, perhaps Americans on antidepressants, disabled and obese americans will go elsewhere to adopt.

Just another reason I hate China...

It seems to me that these latest proposed rules are aimed primarily AT westerners.

China, the most popular foreign country for U.S. adoptions, is considering new rules that could disqualify thousands of would-be parents.

Those new rules would bar people who are single, obese, over 50 years old, or currently taking psychiatric medications from adopting Chinese children, according to several U.S. adoption agencies that have seen the regulations. They would ban disabled people and families with net assets of less than $80,000. And they would set new minimums on length of marriage for couples seeking to adopt. The China Center of Adoption Affairs confirmed that it is considering new adoption criteria while declining to discuss them in detail.

China bans obese, disabled people from adopting

"Membership in Wiccan, Deity, Druid and Pagan sects has been skyrocketing -- up from an unregistered blip in 1990 to more than 350,000 as of 2001."

I followed the article to the results, and also saw a huge surge in those claiming "new age", "Unitarian" and also "secular."

It is my experience that there are also a large number of those with pagan ideologies included in those numbers as well.

I firmly believe that the NEXT census will show these numbers have continued a very sharp increase.

US Census Shows HUGE increase in Paganism

"According to a study by InsuranceHotline.com, a Web site that quotes drivers on insurance rates, astrological signs are a significant factor in predicting car accidents.

The study, which looked at 100,000 North American drivers' records from the past six years, puts Libras (born September 23-October 22) followed by Aquarians (January 20-February 18) as the worst offenders for tickets and accidents

Leos (July 23-August 22) and then Geminis (May 21-June 20) were found to be the best overall.

Even age, another variable for determining insurance rates, is less of a consideration to Romanov. The cutoff line for being considered a higher risk driver is 24 years of age; 25-year-olds are considered not-high risk.

"I'd rather get into a car with a 24-year-old Leo than a 25-year-old Aries," Romanov said....

Leos, described along with the study results on InsuranceHotline.com/a10.html ..."

Crash here often? Astrology Used to Determine Traffic Risk

"Court battles over the books have been messy.

In one of the most high-profile legal battles, an Arkansas federal judge ruled in 2003 that a rural school district could not force children to present the librarian with written parental permission to check out the books. The Cedarville School District's board kept the books under lock and key after it decided the series fostered rebellion and encouraged witchcraft.

In the Georgia decision, the state board ruled that Mallory had failed to prove that the books promote the Wicca religion.

Mallory said she wasn't able to bring forward any evidence at the hearing.

"How can you prove a case without being able to call witnesses or give evidence?" she asked Thursday in a telephone interview.

Although she has yet to decide whether to appeal the case, Mallory said she already has contacted an expert witness. If she doesn't decide to pursue her argument, she still hopes her protest will prompt others to take another look at the series."

My personal opinion is that Christians like Laura Mallory indoctrinate people into the pagan religion. Bible Classes - OK Harry Potter - NO.

WTF I hate Georgia sometimes! I am so glad that I homeschool.

GA Board of Education Voted OK Harry Potter - Mother to Appeal

"ATLANTA (AP) -- A bill clearing public high schools to teach Bible classes has been approved by the Legislature and is on its way to Gov. Sonny Perdue to be signed. The Senate voted 45-2 on Monday to agree to some House changes to the plan, which would let local school systems create classes on the Old Testament and New Testament.

The proposal, originally introduced this year by a group of Senate Democrats, surprised many Republicans, who hold majorities in both the House and Senate. Republicans quickly substituted their own version, which specifies that the Bible itself would be the course textbook."

Georgia Govt Votes In Bible Classes for High School

These really are some strange, strange dolls.....very expressive art form. :)

Strange Dolls Indeed - Just in time for Christmas

I can't understand why they don't recognize the difference in units. You can't start an equation with one unit measure and magically turn it into another one at the end (without putting in an equivalency unit to accurately change the place value.) There's 'no opinion' involved with basic math - it is accurate or it isn't.

Glad these people are not nurses - a G instead of a mg could kill someone.

VerizonMath: Verizon doesn't know Dollars from Cents

The number of Second Life residents making profits over US$5,000 a month surged more than 40 percent in November, according to data released on Tuesday by Linden Lab, while the total number of profitable residents rose 11.5 percent from the prior month.

Month by month, Second Life proves itself more and more to be a viable business platform. After interviewing a number of highly successful SL entrepreneurs, these rewards do not come easy. Those that are clearing US$5,000 a month are doing such on a full time basis. Second Life is their primary source of income, and the skills required to pull it off often match the RL equivalent of a similar position. If Second Life is a game, for these people, the Linden Dollar is the high score.

Surge in High-end Second Life Business Profits

The TSA has sent Soghoian a letter confirming its investigation of civil charges that he violated air safety laws. The fines can be up to $11,000 per violation.

Soghoian update

I was stumbling over

'defaced with a pagan pentagram"

the defaced ..pagan....part is what got me.

I think the star is a nice addition -of course I'm pagan - but it IS a Christian symbol after all ALSO - it has been associated forever with the 5 wounds of Christ AND the STAR of Bethlehem.

Baby Jesus Gets Tagged