China’s Shenzhou VI is scheduled launch two Chinese taikonauts into Earth orbit at 3 a.m. GMT on Thursday, October 13th. The Chinese government has not released details but those close to development say the flight will expand on China’s first manned flight, which took place in 2003 and allowed for 14 orbits over 21 hours.

The Shanghai Morning Post reported in September that Zhai Zhingang and Nie Haisheng are in the running to be the taikonaut to pilot the flight.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill that will ban the sale of any video game to those under 18 that “depict serious injury to human beings in a manner that is especially heinous, atrocious or cruel”. This bill is similar to other laws recently passed in Michigan and Illinois. It is also similar to laws being challenged and already defeated.

Lawmakers believe laws of this nature will protect children from experiencing the “interactive nature of video game violence”. They point to studies that link violence in video games to violence and hostile actions in teenagers and preteens. There are numerous independent studies dispelling this connection as being no stronger than other forms of entertainment/media and even the positive effects of video games.