Google Voice

Google Voice hasn’t opened to the public yet, but there’s lots of speculation that the search giant’s phone service could become available soon. It allows users to link their home, work and cellphone numbers to a new number, whose voicemails they can check online or by text message. Users can also specify which device rings based on the caller, set up personalized greetings for different callers, and save and search calls and messages.

In April, Courtney Banks reviewed Google Voice for WSJ.com, saying it could be particularly valuable to consumers with multiple phone numbers and devices. The automated voice-to-text conversion, which it uses to transcribe voicemail messages for reading in an email-like interface, has some kinks to work out, however, she said.

Despite the previous rumors, that were later proven to be false, Google Voice will be opening up today. Yup, that is the official word, Google Voice will begin sending out invitations to users as of today. The news comes courtesy of a recent tweet from Google Voice; That said, it looks like some lucky users will begin receiving their invitations as of today. Hopefully they will be sending them out shortly. Unfortunately, there has not been any mention as to when we can expect to see Google Voice open up for those that have not previously requested an invitation, nor have we seen any indication as to how many invitations will be sent out.

Joanna Philbin

Joanna Philbin co hosted “Regis and Kelly” in the below clips LALATE first showed you in August 2008. Today Joanna is back co hosting Thursday’s broadcast! Last August Joanna Philbin had the incredible guests Robert Downey Jr., Katharine McPhee, and Will Ferrell. What a show to do! Imagine Robert Downey Jr and Will Ferrell in one show? Today she’s back … with Shia LaBeouf. Exciting!

Enjoy again some classic videos from 2008 of Joanna making dad proud … on his show! And then catch her this morning on ABC. Live With Regis and Kelly Guest co-host Joanna Philbin; Shia LaBeouf ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"); Il Divo performs. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood ("Whatever Works"); Darius Rucker performs. (N) 10 a.m. KABC

The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet Victoria Stilwell ("It's Me or the Dog"); Ray Liotta; fashion stylist Nole Marin; Alec Greven ("How to Talk to Dads"). (N) 11 a.m. KTTV The Bonnie Hunt Show Tom Bergeron ("Dancing With the Stars"); Lisa Lillien. (N) noon. KNBC Good Morning America Tiger Woods; film critic Ben Lyons; Brides editor Millie Martini Bratten. (N) 7 a.m. KABC.

2010 census

2010 census will discount same-sex marriages. Ignoring same-sex marriages does not allow an accurate picture of America. Surprisingly, data shows Mississippi as having the largest number of same-sex couples with children, and registered same-sex couples live in just about every county in the U.S. Gilligan argues how ignoring the demography of LGBTs continues stereotypes of the population as exclusively white, urban, male, and wealthy. Gilligan’s good news is the Census Bureau is responsive to public pressure.

Same-sex relationships remain the most contentious social issue in the United States, despite four decades of work by activists and scholars to change laws and attitudes that condemn queer people to second-class status in the U.S. The vicious struggle over same-sex marriage in California last year is but one example of the irrational homophobia that continues to dominate public discussions of LGBT rights.

LBGT people remain a go-to divisive issue in American politics and culture, researchers suggest, in part because of the lack of data available about how queer people really live their lives. In the absence of concrete data, misconceptions about gays and lesbians flourish, while the impact of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity remains unexamined.