Gay Couples Finally Win Right to Be Pressured About When They're Going to Have Kids [Rights And Rites]

As same sex marriage becomes the norm from sea to glittering sea (much to the chagrin of angry folks with their mouths stuffed full of deep fried poultry parts), gay couples are discovering all sorts of the hidden benefits of being legally allowed to get married. Like paying out the ass for a venue because proprietors of reception halls triple the price whenever anyone says the W word. Or like the relentless pestering from family and in-laws over when — or if — they're going to have children.

The New York Times, in another piece that makes the New York City intelligentsia's vision of America sound like a living realization of one of Rick Santorum's nightmares, discusses the relatively new phenomenon of newly married same-sex couples' relatives bugging them about when they're going to have some babies. Not only are relatives asking, but other gay couples have begun pressuring each other. From the Times,

But for Jeff Krehely, 35, who has been married for six years, there is no escaping the question in his social circles. His friends ask. His colleagues ask. His parents are so eager that they have taken to sending birthday cards to his two cats (they call them the "grandkitties").

On the Fourth of July, when Mr. Krehely and his husband sipped iced coffee with several other gay couples, he knew it was only a matter of time before the subject came up. Three of the five couples said they were seriously considering adopting.

"Everyone's asking: What's your timetable? What's your plan?" said Mr. Krehely, a policy analyst, who is still weighing whether to take the plunge.

While some gay couples are being pressured to adopt, in many parts of the US, there's a stigma against same-sex couples adopting. In Utah and Mississippi, it's illegal for same sex couples to adopt children. And in several other states, where gay marriage isn't legal, prospective parents need to jump through several legal hoops in order to have a child of their own.

Even so, the tide is turning. Public opinion has shifted dramatically since the turn of the century, when only 38% of Americans thought that adoption should be legal for same sex couples. A survey conducted last month and released last week found that for the first time, the majority of Americans (52%) think that gay couples should be eligible to adopt kids.

It's great to see loving same sex couples who are finally free to build the families they never thought were possible — and join the Straights in being perpetually harangued over babies. Misery loves company.

[NYT]

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Woman Who Abducted a Newborn in 1987 Is Finally Sentenced [Crime]

A woman who kidnapped a 19-day-old girl from a Harlem Hospital was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Monday, marking the final installment of a more than 20-year saga that is among the longest non-parental abductions in which a missing child was finally reunited with family. In February, Ann Pettway pled guilty to kidnapping Carlina White in 1987 when White's parents brought her into a hospital to be treated for a fever. Standing in front of White's tearful parents Carl Tyson and Joy White during sentencing at the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Pettway asked for forgiveness, which, um, wasn't exactly forthcoming. "I would like to apologize to the family," said Pettway. "I am deeply sorry for what I've done...but I'm here today to right my wrong."

According to court documents, Pettway had taken the train from her home in Connecticut to Harlem Hospital. The report casually mentions that Pettway was dressed as a nurse, which sounds like something out of an especially terrifying abduction movie, and that, when she spotted White, she just...took her. White then spent the next 16 years of her life being raised as Nejdra Nance, that is until she grew suspicious when Pettway couldn't produce any of those official papers (birth certificate, Social Security card) that really help teenagers get driver's licenses and apply for jobs. In 2011, White, now 25 and living with a child of her own in Atlanta, tracked down her biological parents with help from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Woman gets 12 years in prison for 1987 N.Y. baby kidnapping [Reuters]

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Finally: Microsoft and Yahoo take on Google

It’s about time I’d say, considering they’ve been in talks for such a long period. Rumors were rife that a Google-Yahoo merger was in the cards quite some time ago that Microsoft strongly opposed. This was around the same time that Microsoft expressed an interest in Yahoo in a bid to outgrow Google. That initiative is what has probably culminated in this merger. Their combined market share of about 28% is still nowhere close to Google’s 65%.

If you don’t want to read through the entire Reuter’s article, simply put: Bing (try Bing without it’s background) will replace Yahoo’s search and Microsoft’s Adcenter will be used to show ads on the search pages. Microsoft stands to gain from the increased exposure, Yahoo stands to gain from the 88% revenue sharing deal that favours Yahoo. The deal is expected to come through by early 2010.

All eyes are now on Bing, as for me, I’ve replaced the default search engine on Firefox from Google to Bing – it’s a search engine that’s worth giving a chance.

Update: WSJ has done a better job of summing up the terms of the agreement here. Excerpts:

The key terms of the agreement are as follows:

– The term of the agreement is 10 years;

– Microsoft will acquire an exclusive 10 year license to Yahoo!’s core search technologies, and Microsoft will have the ability to integrate Yahoo! search technologies into its existing Web search platforms;

– Microsoft’s Bing will be the exclusive algorithmic search and paid search platform for Yahoo! sites. Yahoo! will continue to use its technology and data in other areas of its business such as enhancing display advertising technology;

– Yahoo! will become the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force  for both companies’ premium search advertisers. Self-serve advertising  for both companies will be fulfilled by Microsoft’s AdCenter platform,  and prices for all search ads will continue to be set by AdCenter’s automated auction process;

– Each company will maintain its own separate display advertising  business and sales force;

– Yahoo! will innovate and “own” the user experience on Yahoo!  properties, including the user experience for search, even though it  will be powered by Microsoft technology;

– Microsoft will compensate Yahoo! through a revenue sharing agreement  on traffic generated on Yahoo!’s network of both owned and operated  (O&O) and affiliate sites;

– Microsoft will pay traffic acquisition costs (TAC) to Yahoo! at an initial rate of 88 percent of search revenue generated on Yahoo!’s O&O sites during the first five years of the agreement; and

– Yahoo! will continue to syndicate its existing search affiliate partnerships.

– Microsoft will guarantee Yahoo!’s O&O revenue per search (RPS) in each country for the first 18 months following initial implementation in  that country;

– At full implementation (expected to occur within 24 months following regulatory approval), Yahoo! estimates, based on current levels of revenue and current operating expenses, that this agreement will provide a benefit to annual GAAP operating income of approximately $500 million and capital expenditure savings of approximately $200 million. Yahoo! also estimates that this agreement will provide a benefit to annual operating cash flow of approximately $275 million; and

– The agreement protects consumer privacy by limiting the data shared between the companies to the minimum necessary to operate and improve the combined search platform, and restricts the use of search data shared between the companies. The agreement maintains the industry-leading privacy practices that each company follows today.

The agreement does not cover each company’s Web properties and products, email, instant messaging, display advertising, or any other aspect of the companies’ businesses. In those areas, the companies will continue to compete vigorously.

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