A fence is going up along the border.
Good news for the Canadians: We must envy them - they have a real Republican administration now.
Demography in Britain, from Tangled Web:
Sorry, I'm just working on my update of the Beach Boys 1960'S classic (Fun, Fun, Fun), given the news that about 20% of British women reaching the end of their fertile life are childless, compared with 10% in the 1940s. In 2004 the UK fertility rate was 1.77 children per woman, considerably lower than the 1960s peak of 2.95 children. Suffice to say, population replacement level is 2 so we're in serious decline folks, and it's official! But hey - it's not bad news, no sirree!
An ICM poll shows us that both men and women believe it is more important for women to enjoy themselves than to have children - with 64% of men and 51% of women agreeing. (This assumes having children is not enjoyable, mind you!) A majority also thinks that doing well at work and earning money count for more than bringing up children. Just 36% of women believe that people put children ahead of their career. In a sign of the way male attitudes have changed after feminism, only 32% of men think women should put children before work. Both men and women say it is more important to live comfortably than to have children. Of those surveyed, 61% thought this against just 32% who said bringing up children came ahead of material success.
Turning Point in Iraq? From CNN (H/T, HH):
Meanwhile, in an attempt to reach out to insurgents, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said he has been meeting with seven armed groups in hopes of agreeing a deal to include them in Iraq's political process.
None of these groups include people loyal to al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to a statement issued Sunday from Talabani's office.
"These groups who are holding talks with the president are those who believe in a prosperous Iraq. Their will to fight America has waned," said a spokesman in the president's office. A source close to Talabani said the meetings have been under way for some time. The groups are realizing that Americans are not their true enemy, the source said, and that they have been "fighting the wrong enemy."
