Here we go again, then

We're guessing that the reported plans for Madonna to take another child from Malawi is intended as much as a screw you to the critics as anything - like a teenager turning the stereo up rather than down when Dad complains.

This time, of course, it's a girl, and the story is almost the same as with David - she saw her on the television:

“Madonna saw a film of children at a place called The Consol Home.

“She spotted a beautiful girl called Grace who lit the room with her smile, and fell head over heels for her.

“Madonna kept saying, ‘That girl has so much love in her. I want to help her achieve her potential’."

It really is creepy, isn't it? It's like she treats these films from Malawian orphanages like its QVC or something.

The source, however, acknowledges that things will be different this time:

“But adoption officials are being very strict after the uproar when Madonna adopted David. They know Grace is her first choice, but have insisted she looks at other girls first — and that the final decision is theirs.”

Yes, "you must at least pretend to go through the motions of looking at other potential children first" - that's much stricter than just asking "cash or card, madam?" but still hardly in line with the country's adoption rules.

Of course, it would be awkward for the Malawian officials to apply the law and the African Union standards this time - and not just because of that sponsorship Madonna sorted out for one of their colleagues. If the residency rules, and the clause about "only as a last resort" and all the usual procedures are followed this time, it will raise a question about why they weren't last time. On the other hand, if they don't, the criticism storm is going to be twice as harsh.

However, it might not happen: Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's spokesperson, has denied Madonna is in Malawi shopping for a child:

"Madonna is going to Africa to continue her work with the Raising Malawi organisation," the star's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg said.

"She is overseeing the building of a children's healthcare centre. She is absolutely not adopting another baby."

Of course.

On the other hand, five days before Madonna adopted the non-orphaned orphan David, Liz was insisting she was just in Malawi for some Challenge Anneka style good works:

However, Madonna’s rep Liz Rosenberg told Us Weekly that the reports are “completely inaccurate”: “I can confirm Madonna is in Malawi on a private visit.”

“She is building an orphanage and child care center and is involved in other initiatives geared toward helping children orphaned by AIDS thru the Raising Malawi organization.”

“She has not adopted a baby despite reports that she has.”

Spookily similar, isn't it?