using TODO states "[ ]" and "[X]" etc

[winkelnp]

Hi, I was just wondering whether there's a way to add the TODO state "[ ]" to the supported list? I've found no way of escaping the space in the middle, is it even possible?
This is purely an aesthetic choice and is functionally identical to using TODO instead, but would do like having the option.

(entirely unrelated addition: is there a way to disable adding the empty lines around a "-" bulleted list within a "**" note? - as in when the file is opened in emacs again)