Latest word plucked off the grapevine is that the latest batch of referrals has been processed, and it includes dossiers from waiting parents with LIDs (log-in dates) through the end of May.

There's been speculation about this for a week or so, but it's now being confirmed by some agencies. The CCAA folks have processed a batch of referrals that's not six weeks' worth, not a month's worth, but just about a week's worth of dossiers. In other words, the wait is streeeetching out.

On the other hand, the latest this humble typist has heard of the labyrinthine workings of the CCAA Matching Room indicates that they don't care about dates, they care about numbers -- working through folders at a rate of 1,000-per-batch.

This is speculation, but it may be that the new hold-up is once again due to the Oprah Factor -- the rapidly, massively widening popularity of Chinese adoption as a way of building families in America. More kids out of orphanages and into homes is a good thing. More kids out of orphanages and into homes is a good thing. More kids out of orphanages and into homes is a good thing. _{More kids out of orphanages and into homes is a good thing.}


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In other news, classics of Chinese philosophy turn up in the darndest places.

And so do some pretty talented digital photographers.