Altho the more provocative bit in the story seems to be white + liberal + educated = intolerant, what the story says is that a correlation is found between isolation from opposing political views and intolerance of opposing political views. That correlation would account for areas indicated on the map that are high on intolerance but low on one of the aspects of the white+liberal+educated formula (usually the liberal bit). See Utah and South Dakota.

whoosh

didn't even have to duck

My preference is #5 in spirit, but with an itty-bitty alteration for the hetero girl.

My aunt used a surrogate for her son (now 18). By my observation, she felt just as attached as any other mother I've known or talked to. For instance, her son was diagnosed as learning disabled and she went to extraordinary lengths to get him the care he needed.

As for the immediate post-birth mother/child bond, if a woman wanted to experience it without pregnancy, she probably could. She could definitely experience breastfeeding .. and postpartum depression too. These are all responses to hormone levels -- progesterone, estrogen, prolactin, oxytocin, etc.. -- which could be mimicked via oral supplements or injections.

Another consideration is that fathers do not experience pregnancy (directly) but bond with their children. Sometimes they feel that bond immediately, sometimes it takes a little longer, but I don't think that the time it takes to develop a bond is a good indicator of its strength.

As for the children, their attachment to a caregiver is constrained by their brain development. They usually don't (or can't) show their preference for one caregiver over another until about 6 months of age. Attachment development varies from child to child but seems most intense between 1.5 to 2 yrs of age. (for more info look up John Bowlby or Mary Ainsworth)

Proposed to or propositioned? (Not that it matters) Nope.. but don't you know women and Slashdot are mutually exclusive. I'm a figment. :)