It's news, but I really don't care..

The remarkably swift deal, which both of them have signed, was concluded just 11 days after Holmes filed for divorce and followed marathon negotiations between two teams of lawyers over the weekend.

Cruise is thought to have been especially keen to avoid a drawn-out court case that could have highlighted details about him and Scientology. The constroversial church has repeatedly been cited as a reason for the couple's separation and it has faced a torrent of bad publicity in the past fortnight.

It is understood their six-year-old daughter Suri will live primarily with Holmes, but that Cruise will have generous visitation rights and be a full part of the child's life.

Holmes, who was raised a Catholic, is thought to have secured her wish that Suri not be brought up in the Church of Scientology.

On one visit to her lawyers' offices in New York at the weekend Holmes spent six hours discussing the deal, which also includes a property settlement.

Tom Cruise vs L. Ron Hubbard

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Katie Holmes faces two strong adversaries in her legal fight for sole custody of 6-year-old daughter, Suri, as she battles estranged husband Tom Cruise and his Scientology religion, experts said on Monday.

The "Dawson's Creek" actress, 33, made headlines last week when she filed for divorce from "Mission: Impossible" actor Cruise after nearly six years of marriage and one child.

While Holmes, Cruise and representatives for both have remained quiet about the reasons for the high-profile split, speculation in the media is that Suri, now at the age when she begins a formal education, and the Church of Scientology, of which Cruise is a key member, are central to the breakup.

"What's interesting is that there's three players in this case - the mother, the father and this very controversial concept of Scientology," said New York-based divorce lawyer Lubov Stark. "The daughter is in the middle of this whole divorce. She seems to have been raised in Scientology up to this age, so if the judge comes in and gives custody to Katie Holmes, she can change (Suri's) religion," Stark said.

The Church of Scientology was founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard (above right), and it describes its practices as a religion. The organization believes man is an immortal being whose experience extends beyond one lifetime, and it has attracted followers including Cruise and John Travolta. But some observers - including media mogul Rupert Murdoch - liken it to a cult. Critics think the group coerces followers to think like they do, and they accuse Scientologists of harassing people who seek to quit.

PS - I met Hubbard in the late 50's, very charismatic. Then, he was promoting his theory of  Dianetics, which later evolved into Scientoloty. I know very little about Scientology, and not sure how Dianetics worked into the present "religion." As I recall, he left the country, went to England, and some time later, resurfaced in this country with another "idea" which later became Scientology. His thoughts were somewhat radical, and his "clear" of Dianetics followed much of Adolph Hitler's concept on how to create his "Superman." Clear the brain of "engrams," which increases brainpower, and thus, the German Superman. Same concept. When I heard him speak in Reno, he insinuated that he had acquired some of those teachings, and they were somewhat the basis for Dianetics. His book on Dianetics is still available, an interesting read, and some insights into basic psychology. 

Jim got a Divorce ... and then

On the first day, Jim sadly packed his belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.

On the second day, he had the movers come and collect his things.

On the third day, he sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining-room table, by candle-light; he put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar,and a bottle of spring water.

When he'd finished, he went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimps dipped in caviar into the hollow center of the curtain rods.

He then cleaned up the kitchen and left.

On the fourth day, the wife came back with her new boyfriend, and at first all was bliss.

Then, slowly, the house began to smell. They tried everything; cleaning, mopping, and airing-out the place. Vents were checked for dead rodents, and carpets were steam cleaned. Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which time the two had to move out for a few days, and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting. Nothing worked! People stopped coming over to visit.

Repairmen refused to work in the house. The maid quit. Finally, they couldn't take the stench any longer, and decided they had to move, but a month later - even though they'd cut their price in half - they couldn't find a buyer for such a stinky house. Word got out, and eventually even the local realtors refused to return their calls.

Finally, unable to wait any longer for a purchaser, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.

Then the ex called the woman and asked how things were going. She told him the saga of the rotting house. He listened politely and said that he missed his old home terribly and would be willing to reduce his divorce settlement in exchange for having the house.

Knowing he could have no idea how bad the smell really was, she agreed on a price that was only 1/10 nth of what the house had been worth ... but only if he would sign the papers that very day.

He agreed, and within two hours her lawyers delivered the completed paperwork.

A week later the woman and her boyfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home ... and just to spite the ex-husband, they even took the curtain rods !!!

Driesenga's Walk-Off Double Propels U-M Past Wildcats in Regional

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Facing a 3-2 count with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, freshman RHP Sara Driesenga doubled down the left-field line to score two runs as the No. 21-ranked University of Michigan softball team rallied for a 3-2 win over Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Regional on Friday (May 18) at Ulmer Stadium.

Freshman LHP Haylie Wagner was the victorious pitcher, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out four. The U-M offense totaled seven hits, including a two-double effort from junior shortstop Amy Knapp Five other Wolverines tallied a hit in the contest.

After Kentucky scored two runs in the seventh to take a 2-1 lead, Michigan responded with two runs in the bottom half for the walk-off win. Sophomore outfielder Lyndsay Doyle led off the frame with a single up the middle and after a fielder's choice, sophomore outfielder Nicole Sappingfield hit a chopper up the middle to give Michigan two base runners with just one out. Senior first baseman Amanda Chidester fouled out in left field to bring Driesenga to the plate. After three straight balls, the freshman took two strikes for the full count. After fouling off the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Driesenga hit one down the left field line that landed just fair and rolled to the fence to score two runs for the victory.