We're Talking About: Feb. 9, 2010

—Is this Planned Parenthood ad [1] more effective than the much-hyped Superbowl spots from Focus on the Family it responds to? Mid-tackle, Tebow and his mom never explicity mentioned abortion or "pro-life." Sean James and Al Joyner's message includes this line: "Only women can make the best decisions about their health and their future." [Washington Post [2]]

—Meghan McCain (explicitly, on the View [3]) and Cindy McCain (indirectly, by appearing in the NOH8 campaign [4]) accuse the GOP of bigotry. Just one more reason John is "on the tea party's shit list." [Salon [3]]

—Does it matter that the judge on the Prop. 8 case, Vaughn Walker, is gay [5]? A Republican appointment, a record of fairness, and the defense's inevitable appeal if he doesn't rule in its favor, suggest no. [Gawker [5], San Francisco Chronicle [6], WSJ [7]]

—A U.K. poll finds that many husbands are in the dark about the details of their wives' lives [8]. Her clothing size? Natural hair color? Birthday?! Not a clue. And the guys readily admit that their wives probably know these things about them. [The Telegraph [8]]

—Researchers are getting a better sense of when your kid begins to feel your pain [9]. Recently scientists have linked the development of empathy to the acquisition of sophisticated language. [Babble [9]]