Disney's new diet for kids: No more junk food ads

Disney's packed sliced sweet apples is held with other Disney food products, at the Newseum in Washington, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, during a news conference where first lady Michelle Obama and Walt Disney Company announced that Disney will become the first major media company to introduce new standards for food advertising on programming targeting kids and families. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Disney's packed sliced sweet apples is held with other Disney food products, at the Newseum in Washington, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, during a news conference where first lady Michelle Obama and Walt Disney Company announced that Disney will become the first major media company to introduce new standards for food advertising on programming targeting kids and families. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Newseum in Washington, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, where she joined the Walt Disney Company to announce that Disney will become the first major media company to introduce new standards for food advertising on programming targeting kids and families. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Newseum in Washington, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, where she joined the Walt Disney Company to announce that Disney will become the first major media company to introduce new standards for food advertising on programming targeting kids and families. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

FILE-In this photo Feb. 6, 2012, file photo, the Disney Soda Fountain & Studio Store marquee is seen on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday, June 5, 2012, its programming will no longer be sponsored by junk food, becoming the first major media company to ban such ads for its TV channels, radio stations and websites intended for children. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

NEW YORK (AP) ? There won't be any more candy, sugary cereal or fast food on TV with the morning cartoons.

The Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday became the first major media company to ban ads for junk food on its television channels, radio stations and websites, hoping to stop kids from eating badly by taking the temptation away.

First Lady Michelle Obama called it a "game changer" that is sure to send a message to the rest of the children's entertainment industry.

"Just a few years ago if you had told me or any other mom or dad in America that our kids wouldn't see a single ad for junk food while they watched their favorite cartoons on a major TV network, we wouldn't have believed you," said Obama, who heads a campaign to curb child obesity.

The food that doesn't meet Disney's nutritional standards goes beyond candy bars and fast-food meals. Capri Sun juice (too much sugar) and Oscar Mayer Lunchables (high sodium) won't be advertised. Any cereal with 10 grams or more of sugar per serving is also off the air. A full meal can't be more than 600 calories.

Disney's rules ? which won't take effect until 2015 ? follow a proposal by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to take supersized drinks over 16 ounces out of convenience stores, movie theaters and restaurants, removing choices to try to influence behavior.

Getting rid of junk food ads will make it easier to keep the family on a healthy diet, said Nadine Haskell, a mother of two sons, 8 and 11.

"If they see a commercial on TV, then the next time we go to the grocery store they'll see it and say they want to try it," said Haskell, of Columbus, Ohio.

Disney declined to say how much revenue it stands to lose from banning unhealthy food. CEO Bob Iger said there might be a short-term reduction in advertising revenue, but he hopes that advertisers will eventually adjust and create products that meet the standards.

The ban would apply to TV channels such as Disney XD, children's programming in the Saturday-morning block aired on Disney-owned ABC stations, Radio Disney and Disney-owned websites aimed at families with young children. The company's Disney Channel has sponsorships, but does not run ads.

Aviva Must, chairwoman of the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts School of Medicine, said Disney could succeed where the government has made little progress.

"There seems to be limited taste for government regulation," said Must, who has studied childhood obesity for decades. "So I think a large company like Disney taking a stand and putting in a policy with teeth is a good step."

Even though many fast-food chains and food companies are rolling out healthier options like apples and salads, Disney said it still could deny the companies' ads.

Leslie Goodman, Disney's senior vice president of corporate citizenship, said Disney will consider a company's broader offerings when deciding whether to approve ads.

"It's not just about reformulating a meal for a single advertising opportunity," Goodman said. The company will need to show that it offers a range of healthy options, she said.

Disney said there are ads now running on Disney channels that would not meet the new standards. Two Kraft products won't make the cut: Oscar Mayer Lunchables, some of which have 28 percent of the recommended daily sodium intake, and Capri Sun, which has just 60 calories per serving but has added sweeteners.

Disney declined to name other companies' offerings, but said most sugary cereals won't be allowed.

Kraft said it welcomed Disney's decision, noting that it advertises very few brands to children under age 12.

Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said that while some snack foods of limited nutritional value may still be advertised, the worst of the junk foods will be eliminated under the new policy.

"Disney's announcement really puts a lot of pressure on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network and other media to do the same," she added.

A spokesman for Nickelodeon declined to comment.

Disney launched internal nutrition guidelines in 2006, with the goal of making 85 percent of its consumer food and drink products healthy. The remaining 15 percent was reserved for special treats, such as cakes for birthday celebrations. The company also stopped using toys in kid's meals to advertise its movies.

Disney on Tuesday also introduced its "Mickey Check" seal of approval for nutritious foods sold in stores, online and at its parks and resorts.

"The emotional connection kids have to our characters and stories gives us a unique opportunity to continue to inspire and encourage them to lead healthier lives," Iger said.

The Better Business Bureau and 16 major food companies, including Coca-Cola Co., Burger King Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Mars Inc. have also pledged to ensure by 2014 that ads aimed at children are devoted only to better-for-you foods.

McDonald's, which is part of the initiative, said in a statement Tuesday that it will continue a dialogue with Disney about its new guidelines.

Associated Press

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Buffalo Cabinetry is a Nigara Falls based custom kitchen cabinets provider. They provide kitchen cabinets for all projects and all budgets. They have planned to expand the area of operation.

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Buffalo Cabinetry is a Nigara Falls based custom kitchen cabinets provider. They provide kitchen cabinets for all projects and all budgets. They have planned to expand the area of operation. Even though they are based in Niagara Falls, now they do provide their service in Buffalo, NY, Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario.

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Cop: 'First Amendment rights can be terminated'

Video from March 2012 shows Chicago police taking members of the media into custody.

By Bob Sullivan

The video is chilling, but it's also a sign of the times.

"Your First Amendment rights can be terminated," yells the Chicago police officer, caught on video right before arresting two journalists outside a Chicago hospital.? One, an NBC News photographer, was led away in handcuffs essentially for taking pictures in a public place.? He was released only minutes later, but the damage was done. Chicago cops suffered an embarrassing "caught on tape" moment, and civil rights experts who say cops are unfairly cracking down on citizens with cameras had their iconic moment.

Tales of reporters, protestors and citizen journalists being threatened or arrested for filming law enforcement officials during disputes are on the rise, critics say, with Occupy Wall Street protests a lightning rod for these incidents. The National Press Photographers Association claims it has documented 70 such arrests since September and, in May, called on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to focus attention on the issue.

---

"The First Amendment has come under assault on the streets of America," the photography association said in a letter to Holder that was also signed by several other interest groups. "Police have arrested dozens of journalists and activists simply for attempting to document political protests in public spaces.?

Such allegations are ironic, given the sharp rise in police surveillance technology, which gives cops vast capabilities to film citizens, said Catherine Crump, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney.

"It is true that Americans are photographed more and more today as they walk around in public spaces," Crump said. "And it is ironic that law enforcement agencies are objecting when the same activity is being used to film their activities. But it's not surprising because there's often a double-standard in this space."

There's always been a tense relationship between cops and cameras, but that relationship is being pushed to the brink now that half of U.S. adults carry smartphones, nearly all of them capable of filming and sharing visuals instantly with the whole world via the Internet.? Cops at Occupy Wall Street protests -- such as those at Zucotti Park in New York City -- routinely deal with dozens of amateur photographers shoving cameras in their faces, many of them aggressive.? It's not hard to see how the cameras can escalate an already tense situation.

But First Amendment law is clear: Citizens in public spaces have a right to film things they see in plain sight. Courts have repeatedly upheld that right in high-profile cases.

Court rulings sometimes have no bearing during intense situations, however.

"It wouldn't really matter with some police officers if you had an original copy of Bill of Rights with you," said Mickey Osterreicher, a lawyer for the press photographers association. He said he deals with new cases nearly every day involving photographers who he believes have been wrongly arrested.

"The sign on my desk that reads, 'Bang head here,' is getting worn out," he said.

In April, Connecticut's State Senate passed a law that clearly defined citizens' right to film, but the state's lower house failed to act on the measure. The proposal was introduced by Sen. Majority Leader Martin M. Looney , D-New Haven, after a series of incidents involving cops in that state's capital city. In one, a police officer is caught on camera saying ?You don?t take pictures of us,? before making an arrest. In another incident, 26-year-old Luis Luna was arrested for filming an arrest, and video files on his iPhone were deleted.

"In the past several years, police officers have wrongly arrested members of public for using video cameras or cell phone cameras," said Adam Joseph, a spokesman for Looney.? "In the opinion of a number of senators, there were far too many instances, and that demonstrated the right to videotape needed to be codified and is unfortunately necessary."?

The proliferation of devices that can film and share has made this conflict almost inevitable, but there are other causes, too.

?So many mainstream journalists have been laid off and are freelancing,? said Osterreicher, the press association lawyer. ?Then you have people who consider themselves citizen journalists. They have ?pro-sumer? devices capable of taking video and still images with the same quality as pro equipment, and can share them with the world, without mainstream media. That?s something we've never seen, until recently.?

'Threatening act'
As a result, civil liberties lawyers have beaten a path to courthouses around the country, said Crump.

"We do hear about these more frequently now because everyone walks around with cell phone cameras,? she said. ?Law enforcement officers sometimes react badly to this, and view it as a threatening act.?

The most celebrated case involves Simon Glik, who in 2007 filmed police arresting a homeless man near Boston Commons. Glick was arrested and charged with violating the state's wiretapping law.? His case was dismissed, but he then brought a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city. In August 2011, the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled unanimously in his favor.

"That decision is 24 pages of pure gold," Osterreicher said.? "The judges talked about the right to record in public. They said the First Amendment right is self-evident. They took judicial notice of the fact that news is as likely to come from someone with a cellphone as anyone. And they talked about the fact that police officers ? should expect to be recorded when out in public."

In March of this year, Boston paid Glik $170,000 to settle the suit.

"It's really not up to police officers to decide what is and isn't newsworthy," Osterreicher said. "It's a shame Boston had to learn an expensive lesson."

Other rulings have offered a similarly strong endorsement of the right to film, Crump said.

"The First Amendment is strongly protective of right to video and record in public spaces. There?s obviously a good reason for that. Sunlight is the best disinfectant," she said.? She said court rulings have been so consistent, she?s not worried about any weakening of the First Amendment ? ?but she is worried about the more practical side of the problem.? Glik's settlement -- most of which paid for his legal fees -- took five years to arrive.? In most real-life situations, police officers have wide discretion, and few observers have the time, money or wherewithal to see a First Amendment case through to completion.

Osterreicher, both a former journalist and a reserve police officer, prefers far more practical methods.? He travels the country training police officers in First Amendment law. Invited by Chicago police brass, he offered such training in advance of recent NATO meetings in Chicago, which attracted sizable protests.? He thinks it worked: To his knowledge, only one photographer was arrested during those protests.?

He also offers suggestions tips to would-be cop videographers.

"The First Amendment is not absolute," he said. "It is subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions. But the key word is ?reasonable.? Is it reasonable when covering a protest to ask someone to stand back or get on a sidewalk? Absolutely. Is it reasonable to expect the press to go away when there is an order to disperse? No."

One rule that is fairly absolute, he said: While there are situations when police can seize cameras and cellphones, they have no right to destroy data, such as pictures or videos, without consent from the owner.? In fact, doing so could be considered destruction of evidence.

The ACLU hosts an information page designed to help amateur photographers understand their rights on its website.? But Crump offered a thumbnail sketch of the law that draws an important distinction between public and private property.

"Generally, when you are in a public space where you have the right to be, you have right to photograph anything in plain view, and that includes police who are executing their duties,? she said. ?But if you are on private property, the property owner gets to set the rules.?

But Osterreicher said any advice photographers receive should come with a warning: ?"It's complicated."

"I can't give you an answer that covers all situations. You?re going to have to make an assessment,? he said ?Is this officer nonchalantly asking you to move? Or is he getting real cranky? A lot of situations can be diffused with conversation. ? You want it to end well.?

*Follow Bob Sullivan on Facebook.
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Masculine Jew: Relationship Without Marriage

Boy, do I have a lot to say about this topic!

After spending nine months doing shidduch dating, online dating, friends-setting-me-up-with-someone-random dating and the like, I had enough. I was exhausted, from putting myself into each date and each person, from getting nix'd over and over again. Feeling more judged and rejected than any other time in my life. I crammed a lot into those nine months.

Also, school completely swallowed me up. I had no more time -not a single night in the week -to go out. And then this happened. So when I found myself around someone who was simply a joy to talk to, to laugh with, to delve into the depths of conversation in so many topics, who was simply there while I was going through so much and had so much stress, I was overjoyed.

More than that, though, meeting and getting to know someone casually, without pressure for marriage -which I realized only afterwards is a giant boulder weighing on my every word, thought and consideration in formal dating -allowed me to appreciate her for who she is, to get beyond little details and arbitrary criteria. For once, there was no need to analyze or worry about what her words mean for marriage, how my own actions and words are coming across. Without the pressure, I felt a lot more free to just be myself, to have fun.

Aside from the freedom, lighthearted joy and support, there was more that drew me to a relationship. Being in one -even without looking forward to marriage -is something I wanted to experience. Sure, I have been in relationships before. There was something distinctly different about being in a relationship with someone so self-aware and growth focused. Someone with whom I could explore my own faults and fears, with whom I can share my innermost core, someone who would do the same with me. There is never enough time, always so much more to explore of who we are, and who we are together too.

I wanted to have that, I wanted to know what an argument looks like when two people can be sensitive to each others' feelings and needs. I wanted to know what it's like to hold someone's anger, to feel open in expressing my own, to know that I will be heard and understood first, and to deal with the issues afterwards. I wanted to experience these aspects of a relationship (even in a limited capacity) and I wanted to see it in practice. I saw so much of what I think I'm looking for, and I wanted to experience it so that I will know when the right person comes along.

Which brings me to the next point: the conflict. Clearly I knew early on that she isn't for me (and I'll leave out the specific reason[s] why, because they're not important for this post), and I made sure very early on that we are on the same page. We discussed the issue at length, we weighed the benefits and consequences of being in a relationship that almost assuredly won't lead to marriage. We engaged in that concern, we talked about the value(s) and whether they are worth it. We discussed the limited nature of the relationship, recognizing that by necessity it will be short term. We talked about these issues over and over again, we opened up our feelings and frustrations, and we listened and empathized with each other over and over again. So much care and patience, such a wonder to experience.

In all these conversations I found myself wanting more. I wanted to be in a relationship with such fantastic dynamics, to hold onto someone who can have that kind of sensitivity, to learn about being in a relationship from each other. We made that choice together, and I'm? glad we did. That experience is something I will hold forever, and is invaluable to me.

Sure, it was tough. There was a lot of conflict, and the issues came up over and over again. In some ways, it was more like playing house than a real relationship, because there's no permanence without long-term commitment. Short term commitment may not be an adequate substitute. But it sure beats the pants off of my experience in dating, which as thus far been much more "no commitment" and very selfish in terms of criteria and choice-making.

Where this leaves me in dating now, I'm not sure. I have a lot more to think about in terms of shidduch dating versus meeting and building a relationship. I certainly don't want to have a string of short-term relationships that don't go anywhere, even though I hold this experience as one of the most valuable in my life.

In the meantime, I'll continue plodding along, living, exploring, and learning to handle the conflicts in life.

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