The story title is prefaced with the fact that it’s from In Touch, because this is the gossip rag that routinely claims that Angelina Jolie is pregnant. This time, she is said to plan to adopt another baby from Ethiopia and to be fighting with Brad over the adoption proceedings. This article comes across as a mix of the various stories made up about the couple in the other gossip outlets sprinkled with some additional crap for good measure. It could be true though, who knows. We may be shocked with news of a split at some point, but it will take a while to register in the collective consciousness as we’ve been bombarded with this type of news about them for years.

When Angelina, 33, insisted she wanted to adopt yet another child from Ethiopia this year, Brad finally put his foot down and said no. “Angelina was furious,” the friend tells In Touch. “She told Brad he had no right to tell her she can’t add to her family and that she will adopt again – with or without his permission.”

Brad, 45, believes that adding more kids into the mix “would be crazy,” adds the friend. “He’s told her he thinks their life is hectic enough and he doesn’t want more.” But Angelina reminded him that she adopted three children as a single mom, and that she’ll happily do it again without him, because she doesn’t need him to adopt.

The friend says Brad was so angry, he told Angelina that if she adopts without him, “she’s breaking the deal they made to make all big choices together – and he will leave.” But Angelina didn’t feel threatened: “If it comes down to choosing more kids over keeping Brad,” then she’ll choose having more kids.”

[From In Touch, print edition, April 20, 2009]

We’ve also heard from other gossip rags recently that Angelina wants to have an open relationship, and last week she was said to be planning on adopting a child from India, but now it’s Myanmar. It’s hard not to lump all of these stories together in one big kitty litter lining box. In Touch also claims that Angelina calls her ex husband Billy Bob Thornton (whose band recently canceled their Canadian tour after his obnoxious antics on the radio) all the time:

When Brad and Angelina fight, she turns to her ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton – and that makes Brad even angrier. “She calls and texts every other day,” the friend reveals. “Angie says Billy Bob always knows what to say, and she gets off the phone happier. She says Brad only makes her sad.” Angelina also tells pals how much she loves Billy Bob – right in front of Brad. “It seems like she’s doing it to belittle him,” says the source. “She never tells Brad she loves him.”

[From In Touch, print edition, April 20, 2009]

How obnoxiously simple does that sound: “Brad only makes her sad”? It’s like a fourth grader wrote that line. I’m willing to believe that Angelina plans to adopt again and Brad is asking her to hold off. She told Matt Lauer last fall that they were planning for another adoption but needed to wait until the twins were old enough, and you could see how a frazzled dad of six would say no. She also gushed about Brad to the press while she was promoting Changeling, saying how wonderful their life was together and how much she loved him. I doubt that things have changed so much that “She never tells Brad she loves him.” As for whether she talks to Billy Bob still, he said in an interview earlier this year that “We talk all the time.” Maybe In Touch turned that into Angelina texting and chatting so much with the guy that it was driving Brad crazy.