Finding Balance in San Francisco

Bloggers beware- new FTC rules

Yesterday, the FTC published final changes to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, specifically addressing paid bloggers and paid-per-Tweet services. 

Companies, bloggers and other "word of mouth" marketers must disclose any "material connections" (e.g., payments, receipt of merchandise, receipt of service) to consumers.  Because "paid endorsement" is no longer just cash, it might be easy to find yourself afoul of the new rules.

So just beware that if you're blogging or Tweeting and you've received something in return (even free drinks), you may need to disclose that in order to stay in the clear.  These rules are new and will need to be worked through, but someone is going to be made an example of by the regulators. 

 

Hopefully that somebody isn't you.

Pre-schoolers worrying about getting fat?

I've been trying to figure this out- my 3 and 4 year old boys have in recent weeks been worried about getting fat. 

As far as I know, nobody's talked to them about the obesity epidemic in the U.S. or put any pressure on them about weight (they're not, in fact, even remotely heavy).  We're healthy eaters at home (e.g., zero soft drinks, candy, sugar cereal, etc., and many organic fruits and veggies, balanced meals), but not really dieters, so it's not like we're running around counting calories or talking excessively about losing weight or anything.

So the question remains- where are they getting this?  There's a girl at Quinn's school who is overweight and has gotten teased about it (and the class has been lectured about different body types and that it's not nice to make fun of people), but does that explain my 3 year old talking about it too?  There's a Dr. Seuss book (Would You Rather Be A Bullfrog) that has a page that asks if you'd rather be skinny or fat, but their worry about being fat seems to be brought to light when we turn to that page rather, I think, than that page causing the worry.

They've continued to be decent eaters, so part of me would like to sweep it under the rug... but there's a nagging part of me that wonders if I should head this bias/worry off at the pass somehow.  And yet... how would I head it off at the pass even if I wanted to?  They seem to be soaking it up from society at large rather than something I have direct control over.

Any thoughts most welcome.

Ledbetter follow-up from Pelosi

I just got the email below from Nancy Pelosi.  Makes me happy and feel connected when our representatives in government do a little follow-through.  I'm also very pleased that Ledbetter was the very first piece of legislation that Obama signed into law.  Fittingly symbolic.

February 2, 2009

Dear Ms. Hassanein:

Thank you for contacting me to express your views on H.R. 11/S.181, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, and H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act.  I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. 

H.R. 11, introduced by Representative George Miller (D-CA), will restore the law as it was prior to the 2007 Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.  It will amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to state that each paycheck that results from a discriminatory decision is itself a discriminatory act that resets the clock on the 180-day period within which a worker must file.  On January 9, 2009, H.R. 11 passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 247-171.  S. 181, introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), passed in the Senate on January 22nd by a vote of 61-36.  On January 27th, the House passed S.181 by a vote of 250-177.  On January 29th, I was proud to be present at the White House as the first woman Speaker of the House as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 became the first bill President Obama signed since taking office. 

H.R. 12, introduced by Representative Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, or the Equal Pay Act, to revise the remedies for, enforcement of, and exceptions to prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages.  It also amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to direct the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to collect pay information data regarding the sex, race and national origin of employees from employers for use in the enforcement of federal laws prohibiting pay discrimination.  On January 9th, H.R. 12 passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 256-163.  No further action has been taken. 

I was proud to vote for both of these important pieces of legislation and I was pleased to make this the first legislative victory of the 111th Congress because it is not only so important to women, but to all Americans. Pay equity and fairness in the workplace are our priorities. I am proud that we had a big, strong vote in Congress, so the message will go out that this Congress has heard the message of change in the election, that this Congress knows the needs of America's women, that this Congress is prepared to act relevant to the concerns of America's working families. 

Thank you again for contacting me on this important legislation.  I hope you will continue to communicate with me on matters of concern to you.  For more information on this and other issues, please visit my website at www.house.gov/pelosi or sign up to receive e-mail updates at www.house.gov/pelosi/IMA/subscription.html. 

Sincerely,

Nancy Pelosi
Member of Congress