In the Czech Republic, there is a battle taking place over little Tereza. Young Tereza is 10 and her parents have been fighting for her custody for eight years.

The father claims that the mother is poisoning Tereza's mind against him, and I lean to believe him. Tereza apparently has full emotional breakdowns just at the thought of seeing her Dad. The mother claims that it's because he's a stranger to the Tereza.

Now perhaps it's just me, but I think that if the mother sat down with the daughter and said, "your father is a good man and he just wants to spend time with you and get to know you as a father should", then Tereza would be good to go.

Since the parents couldn't work out a visitation schedule on their own, the judge ordered Tereza to live in a mental institution. This isn't because she's ill, but because the judge felt she needed time away from her mother. Tereza is said to be behaving very well at the institution. She's had regular visits from both her parents, but has not formed a better relationship with her father.

It's sad to me that the judge ordered the daughter to spend time in the institution when it is clearly the parents — especially the mother — who should be spending time in a mental facility. They're not looking out for the welfare of their daughter — they're acting selfish and petty. If they cared anything about Tereza they would put all their issues aside and focus on what really counts — raising a healthy, well-adjusted daughter with the mental foundation to not only function but excel in society.

What are you opinions? How do you feel about the judges decision and what would you do in this situation?

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Some things just don't make sense. In Chile — where divorce was only legalized in 2004 — they apparently have a law that says any assets divided during an amicable divorce are subject to taxation. If you contest the divorce, there is no tax.

So if you resolve things on your own and don't waste the court's time, you pay tax. If you drag a judge into it, you're free and clear. Doesn't it make sense, then, that people will try to contest the divorce just to save some money on taxes?

At the moment, there seems to be a bill trying to do away with the tax, but it makes you think: Who dreamt up this "divorce tax" in the first place? Was it a group of Chilean lawyers that wanted to bump up their court time fees by getting their clients to contest instead of settling out of court? Or was it a Christian group that thought charging people a tax would actually stop people from splitting up? We're not sure, but we'll do more research and let you know.

If the bill to reverse this strange law passes before the end of the year, it will be retroactive, so any divorces finalized this year will be exempt. Yippee!

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We are always amazed how different ethics are from person to person, state to state and country to country. There are things happening in other countries that would completely blow your mind, and yet in those countries they are considered somewhat normal.

In Afghanistan, Mahbakhat is suffering. She is 11 years old. Her parents are dead. And she is getting divorced.

At the age of 9, Mahbakhat was a depressed orphan living with her brother and his wife. She was so depressed that she tried a common method of suicide among Afghan girls and women — she doused herself in oil and lit herself on fire with matches. Her suicide attempt left her badly burned on her arms, face, and chest.

Mahbakhat's sad story does not end here. Her brother — who thinks her suicide attempt was an accident — believed no one else would marry her with her burn scars, and he forced her to marry a 45-year-old man.

In that part of the world, women's rights are pretty much a fairy tale. Single women cannot rent accommodations on their own in Afghanistan, and up until recently, most women were confined to their homes when not accompanied by their guardian or husband. So in Mahbakhat's brother's mind, he was doing the best thing for her by marrying her off, even though the legal age to marry in Afghanistan is 16.

Though her new husband promised he would not have sex with her until she was a few years older, he instead sexually assaulted her several times daily. Here in America, we would lock up this pedophile, throw away the key and hope the notorious prison justice system worked its magic. But in Afghanistan, he has all the rights. His wife is expected to take any abuse, be obedient and not disgrace the family name.

Mahbakhat understandably ran to one of the only women's shelters in the country. She is currently living at the shelter and going through the process of divorce. After the divorce is finalized, she will return to her brother's home.

It's no secret that her split from Paul McCartney has been ugly and riddled with money battles, but her interview yesterday shed some light on the woman behind the curtain. It's so easy to be labeled a "psycho emotional" ex-wife, and it's frustrating to see someone in such a high-profile marriage confirm the stereotype.

The obviously emotionally-charged interview slew began on the British morning show "GMTV" where she compared her experience and anguish to that of Princess Diana. From there, she spooled into a visibly angry attack on the media — complete with yelling and crying — and admitted to considering suicide because of the havoc she feels her reputation has gone through. "If I'm dead, she's safe," she said, referring to her three-year-old daughter, Beatrice.

She made a mysterious reference to a "box of evidence" that will go to an undisclosed person should something horrible befall her. Despite the death threats she's received, she claims she's forced to remain in the U.K. to keep Beatrice close to her father.

The public still waits for the details of her train-wreck divorce which she can't discuss extensively thanks to a well-placed gag order.

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(©2006) At last. You’re finally divorced. Finally single. Ready to date. And scared to death. How long has it been? Five ten, maybe over twenty years? You don’t even know where to begin or what or who to look for. We know. We know. Just the thought of spending one minute with a “waste of time guy” is stressing you out. Who needs it? Right? But then again, if you have a sense of wonder AND humor, oh the fun you can have!

So, here are some suggestions on what to look for now that you’ll be out and about. Young or old, the choice is yours! Be smart. Be brave. But, most importantly, be open, ‘cause you just never know. You go, girl!

THE ARTIST ~
(includes writers, actors, painters, sculptors, musicians)
This one probably practices holistic medicine but the basic characteristics remain the same as days gone by: no money, a diet of bean sprouts, natural peanut butter and unsalted almonds, and a group of stimulating, esoteric friends who sit around in the lotus position discussing the Dali Lama’s most recent book. You won't have to invest in the latest fashion, because you'll always be properly dressed in anything you’ve ever owned and are even thinking about giving to Goodwill! CAUTION: DO NOT become a benefactor - unless you have a trust fund!

THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL ~
Alas. He owns a three-piece suit. So, just like your backpack, he can go anywhere. McDonalds is no longer his hang out as he now frequents a restaurant where the maitre d' recognizes him, and even knows his name! You’ll make quite a hit at his corporate parties because the guest list includes his senior partners whose wives have been trying to get him in the sack for months! His habitat is usually a large urban area, so while he's at the office you can have your pick of any beauty treatment available!

THE BLUE COLLAR MAN ~

Of course, Saturday Night Live has a unique take on every circumstance, and they've spared none with Britney. Divorce can certainly be costly, but sometimes not as much as the cost of fame...

... to become a first wife, or a second for that matter. We were searching YouTube the other day and came across this hillarious clip.

Free time, chocolate calcium supplements and Helen Reddy’s greatest hits are just three of the empowered woman’s top 10 gifts.

To belt the lyrics "I am woman, hear me roar" is the female equivalent of Mel Gibson roaring into battle in "Braveheart." Click here for the full list

As brief a marriage as it was, Mr. Noa Ojani seems to have much to tell about his time with Ms. Lopez. "This is about my life, coming here from Cuba and falling in love with Jennifer," he says. But according to court documents, Noa's book alleges Lopez had mulitiple affairs, including one with her third and current husband, Marc Anthony ...
for the whole story

For the first time more American women are living without a husband than with one. According a New York Times analysis of U.S. census results, 70% of black women, 51% of Latinas, 45% of white women and 40% of women of Asian descent do not have a spouse. Husbands of some are in jail or another institution, and others have a spouse who works away from home. But the vast majority of these women are either not yet married or they are divorced or widowed. "For better or worse, women are less dependent on men or the institution of marriage."

Read the entire story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/us/16census.htmlex=1186290000&en=88834...