Because advancing freedom means more laws and regulations, California lawmakers have been busy and you're gonna need to watch yourself in 2006.

My favorite new law is this one:

BODY PIERCING

- Makes performing body piercing on a minor punishable by a $250 fine, unless the minor's parent gives approval.

Of course, this is in the same state that just two months ago failed to pass an initiative requiring parental notification for minors getting an abortion.

I'm supportive of this law -- it should've been the law long ago, but how out of whack does your moral system have to be where you can get enough Democrats in the state legislature to pass parental consent for body piercing, but if you even suggest parental notification for a highly invasive medical procedure you're "outside the mainstream" of public/legal opinion?