How many legitimate children do you have?

That gem was among many questions — also including “name of schools attended”? “countries previously visited (place and time)”? — I had to answer as I filled in a deluge of forms when applying for an Indonesian visa to attend next month’s U.N. climate conference in Bali.

The Indonesian Embassy in Oslo, where I live, explained that journalists have to fill in more forms than other people.

I can understand the need for security in Bali and the Indonesians are certainly doing their jobs. Still, I’m still puzzled about the interest in “number of legitimate children” (and the form doesn’t ask about any illegitimate ones).

Another unusual CV request I had was before an interview with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2002. His press officer asked me to write down where I’d studied and a few details about my mother and father and brothers and sisters so that he’d have something to chat about if needed. The subject didn’t come up.

But why “legitimate children”? Any ideas?