Lindsay Sues eTrade.

You know who I mean, right? Lindasay Lohan sues eTrade under NY Civil Rights Law Section 51, in Nassau County Supreme Court, NY, for million. Lindsay the milkaholic baby, allegedly refers to her.

Practice pointer: Avoid use of word ‘parody’ when describing defendant’s acts.

The Naked Cowboy case is one of the more recent NY Section 51 cases around these parts (embedded below).

Hat Tip: AGL

Complaint Lindsay Etrade

Decision Naked Cowboy Right of Publicity

135 Million Viewers Watched 32 billion Videos in January

comScore today released January 2010 data from the comScore Video Metrix service showing that nearly 173 million U.S. Internet users watched online video during the month. Highlights from the report below:

  • The top video ad networks in terms of their actual reach delivered were: BrightRoll Video Network with 27.2 percent penetration of online video viewers, SpotXchange Video Ad Network with 19.8 percent, and Tremor Media Video Network with 16.6 percent.
  • 135.4 million viewers watched 12.7 billion videos on YouTube.com (93.4 videos per viewer).
  • The average Hulu viewer watched 23.5 videos, totaling 2.3 hours of videos per viewer.
  • The duration of the average online video was 4.1 minutes.
Top U.S. Online Video Content Properties* by Videos Viewed
January 2010
Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore Video Metrix
Property Videos (000) Share of Videos (%)
Total Internet : Total Audience 32,410,886 100.0
Google Sites 12,816,043 39.5
Hulu 903,078 2.8
Microsoft Sites 491,753 1.5
Yahoo! Sites 435,487 1.3
Viacom Digital 361,228 1.1
Fox Interactive Media 293,008 0.9
Turner Network 283,244 0.9
AOL LLC 241,991 0.7
Vevo 226,125 0.7
CBS Interactive 217,407 0.7


Starbucks Tests New Trenta Size

You can order a drink in tall, grande or venti size, but until recently, you had to order a second drink if you wanted more than 24 ounces of a cold beverage at Starbucks. No longer – Starbucks is now testing a new, larger cup size for both iced coffee and iced tea beverages. Tentatively titled Trenti (or Trenta, depending upon your source), the new 31-ounce cup is being tested in the Phoenix and Tampa markets. This is not the first time that Starbucks has delved into a larger beverage size – in 2008 they dabbled with a “Double Grande” size, but it was quickly discontinued. For the moment, Starbucks is only offering iced coffee and iced tea in this size, but there are rumors that Frappuccinos and other blended drinks, already dietary bombs, will be sold in this size by the summer.

Calorie counts for a 16-ounce beverage range from 130 for an Iced Caffe Latte to 400 for an Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha; so if the beverage is doubled, you could easily take in more than a meal’s worth of fat and calories just in a beverage. Even saying that the new cup size is solely for iced coffee drinks or for iced tea beverages may not keep calorie counts low. The Tazo Iced Tea Lemonade, for example, contains 260 calories in 32 ounces; and many times cream or sugar syrups are added at the customer’s request to iced coffee.

Starbucks has recently made many menu changes to try to make their selections more healthy, such as removing high fructose corn syrup, offering “skinny” selections of many beverages and adding fruit smoothies. After moving in a more healthy direction, I’m disappointed that they have taken a step back by offering a beverage size more reminiscent of McDonald’s and the Super Size or 7-11 Big Gulps.

Also Read:

How Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Fits in to Your Diet

Designer Coffee Brimming with Calories

How to Avoid Empty Calories

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Starbucks Tests New Trenta Size

3 Healthy Fats You Should be Eating

Well, not being fat. But, eating certain fats is not only good, but necessary for optimal health. You should also realize that you don’t have to totally eliminate so-called “bad” fat, such as saturated and trans fats, from your diet; the key is to minimize. Once you do that, it’s time to recognize the fats that are beneficial to your health.

The good news of certain fats being healthy has been pretty well propagated in recent years. But, many people still don’t know it. Or, if you do know, you may not know which name they go by and where you can find them. Here’s the 4-1-1 on healthy fats:

Monounsaturated Fats

Monounsaturated fats have an amazing trait: they have the selective power of lowering LDL “bad” cholesterol, while increasing HDL “good” cholesterol. So, where do you get these wonder fats? Nuts like peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios are all good sources of monounsaturated fats. Other sources include avocado, canola oil, and olive oil. Monounsaturated fats have also been found to help with losing weight.

Polyunsaturated Fats

Polyunsaturated fats also lower LDL cholesterol. You can find them in vegetable oils, such as safflower, corn, sunflower, soy, and cottonseed. Polyunsaturated fats are also found in nuts and seeds.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

These are the best known; the current superstars of the healthy fat world. The most common source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and herring. If you aren’t a fish fan, or at least the fish mentioned, flaxseed and walnuts also do the trick.

If you can work these into your diet, and avoid too many man-made, processed foods, you have a better chance of having a healthy heart and blood pressure. That’s not even to mention that omega-3 fatty acids are connected to other health benefits, such as fighting off diabetes, arthritis, and possibly other things such as inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. I could go on and on, but just grill some salmon, pop a few walnuts and almonds for a snack, and you are on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

Also Read:

Fight Fat with Brown Fat

The Low-Down on Fats

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

3 Healthy Fats You Should be Eating

A Beginner’s Guide to Pilates

Pilates was originated in Germany in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. The purpose of Pilates is to focus on the core all while working on controlled breathing and correct spinal alignment. According to some of those who practice Pilates, the central goal is to create a bond between the mind and body. Similar to yoga, Pilates teaches body awareness, good posture, and transforms the way your body looks without bulking. Today’s athletes use Pilates for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention while Hollywood celebrities use it for slim and slender physiques.

The original Pilates workout consisted of 34 floor or padded mat exercises and then later transformed into equipment use. The Reformer is the most popular piece of equipment used for Pilates. It consists of a platform that moves back and forth and the resistance is determined by the exerciser’s body weight as well as the springs that are attached to the platform. It is used to improve flexibility, core strength and endurance, and total body strength and endurance.

Beginners should start with the floor exercises then advance to the Reformer or other more advanced Pilates equipment.

Benefits of Pilates:

  1. Improve flexibility
  2. Improve posture
  3. Increase energy
  4. Improve muscular strength
  5. Improve muscular endurance
  6. Increase core strength and endurance
  7. Reduce the risk of injury
  8. Great modification to normal weight training routines
  9. Reduce back pain
  10. Great exercise during pregnancy (under expert supervision)

Pre-Pilates Stretching Routine

Below is sample stretching routine to help prepare you and your body for Pilates. I recommend maintaining each position for two sets of 20 second holds. Good luck!

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

A Beginner’s Guide to Pilates

5 Healthy Habits to Start on Spring Break

“Nothing changes until you do.” This is probably one of my favorite sayings. If you have ever complained about not eating healthy enough, working too much, not having enough time for exercise, or not taking care of yourself the way you should then you have probably spent some time wishing things could change. Here are five ideas to help get you started and make more productive use of your spring break.

1. Take time to plan. Without a plan, you’re stuck with good intentions that you can’t execute. If you have extra time over spring break, do some personal reflection and goal setting. Think about one behavior at a time. What would you like to change about nutrition? Write it down. Continue this until you have a list of changes that have been on your mind. Which few do you believe are the most important behaviors to change and easiest to change? Start there. Be consistent. Don’t think about how far you have to go, think about what you will do today to work on that change. Here are a couple examples: I will eat two whole fruits a day. I will not snack in front of the TV or computer.

2. Clean out your pantry. Spring just screams “clean up” for some reason. Why not take a day to really get your pantry in order? Pull everything out and assess. Do you have a lot of packaged, heavily processed foods or snacks? What nourishing foods can you add to your pantry? Chances are, the less healthy stuff will find its way out. Here are just a few of my favorite pantry items: nuts, fresh and dried fruit, dried and canned beans, whole grains (whole wheat pasta, quinoa, cous cous, brown rice), canned salmon and tuna, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, salt-free dried herbs and spices.

3. Visit your local running or sporting goods store. The problem with exercising is we tend to assume it is something to suffer through. You don’t have to do any exercise that feels uncomfortable. Maybe you would have fun water jogging in a pool, hiking, or just simply walking after work. Use the time on spring break to take stock of your fitness equipment. Everyone can use a pair of shoes that fit well. Your local running store will give you a perfect fit based on your activities and foot structure. Don’t assume you have to squeeze yourself into spandex. Find at least one comfortable outfit that makes you look and feel good. You’ll be hitting the pavement or trails in no time.

4. Make a “don’t do” list. There’s never enough time in the day to prepare meals and exercise. If this is you, there’s too much on your plate. Period. It’s not a race to see how much you can squeeze into your calendar. There will always be work to do. Why not spend some time over spring break to make your first-ever “don’t do” list? All you need to do is think about what you are currently doing that eats up time in your day. Are you spending too much screen time – TV and computer? Volunteering too much? Pulling more than your fair share in the family? It’s time to delegate and get some help.

5. Love yourself. Most people would probably read this and say “well of course I love myself.” But if you really think about it, we are our own worst critics, especially when we know we need to change. We judge ourselves by so many things each day – what we weigh, what we put in our mouths, if we were too lazy to exercise, we’re not _____ enough. The reality is, the better you feel about yourself, the more positive you are, the more successful you will be. Over the spring break, write down three things about yourself you love, ask others what they love most about you, and then write down three negative things you will no longer tell yourself.

When you want to change habits, it can be daunting just thinking about where to start. That’s what’s so powerful about “Nothing changes until you do.” It reveals that change starts from within. It also says that you already have what you need to change. You don’t need to wait for someone to solve your problems. You can change your own life. Start now.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

5 Healthy Habits to Start on Spring Break

FDA Urges for New Food and Beverage Labels

The FDA is often criticized for not being tough enough in its regulations. But now, it’s the federal agency’s turn to come down hard on food manufacturing corporations that are making false health claims on scores of products.

According to the FDA, 22 products made by companies like Nestle, Diamond Foods and POM violate the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by using unauthorized words like “healthy” and “cholesterol free.” Using such words on product packaging requires that the item’s nutritional content must meet the FDA’s very strict definition of “healthy” or “cholesterol free.”

One of the products flagged is Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream for Nestle Drumsticks and Dibs. The products claims to have zero grams of trans-fat on their packages, but the FDA is calling out Dreyer’s, a subsidiary of Nestle, for violating labeling regulations. One serving of Dibs actually contains 17 grams of saturated fat and one Nestle vanilla Drumstick contains 11 grams of saturated fat. Federal guidelines recommend consuming no more than 20 grams of saturated fat per day.

Other citations include Gerber baby food, Juicy Juice, POM pomegranate juice and Gorton’s fish fillets.

POM’s pomegranate juice is being cited for its claims that the beverage can help to prevent or cure diseases like cancer, hypertension and diabetes.

Nestlé Juicy Juice makes the claim that its children-targeted drinks come from a single fruit source rather than a flavored blend of juices, which they do in fact contain.

All in all, the FDA sent out 17 letters to companies representing the 22 red-flagged products. The companies have 15 days to respond explaining how they plan to correct the current food labels.

This is just one step taken by the FDA to clamp down on food manufacturing companies who make exaggerated health claims on their not-so-healthy products. Given the current state of obesity in the country, such unsubstantiated labels are an additional nail in the nation’s ever expanding coffin.

The FDA “soon will propose guidance regarding calorie and nutrient labeling on the front of food packages.” The agency “plans to work collaboratively with the food industry to design and implement innovative approaches to front-of-package labeling that can help consumers choose healthy diets.”

View Food Label Glossary Slideshow

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

FDA Urges for New Food and Beverage Labels

50% of Google’s Products Came from 20% Time (and other Facts & Figures)

The Pingdom blog consistently puts out top notch content, so I was surprised when I missed the infographic they created 2 weeks ago which was all about Google Facts and figures.

Here are a few highlights from the graphic below:

  • Google gave 1.8 million shares to Stanford University for the exclusive license of PageRank
  • 620 Million Visitors go to Google.com Daily
  • 50% of Google’s products originated from “20% Time”
  • 270,000 words written per minute on Blogger
  • There are 146 Million Gmail Users


Create Healthy Habits for Kids with Ziporah Janowski of Camp Shane

Camp Shane is the world’s longest running weight-loss camp for children. In business for more than 40 years, Camp Shane provides a friendly and supportive environment that helps campers learn to eat healthfully and have fun doing it. “As someone who has seen thousands of parents struggle with how to continue their child’s weight loss at home, I’ve learned that cooking and eating with your kids at home is one of the simplest and most effective weight loss tools that parents can adopt,” said Ziporah Janowski, co-owner of Camp Shane.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to ask Ziporah a few questions about healthy habits to instill in our children. Read below for her answers, and check out the amazing smoothie recipes she’s shared with us – Banilla Shake, Blueberry-Orange Whirl, and my favorite, Very Berry Smoothie.  All are less than 175 calories and will help your kids achieve the recommended servings of fruit every day.

What do parents need to know about the basic nutrition needs of children? (i.e. RDA fruits/vegetables)

All children require a full range of essential nutrients, especially protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin A. In terms of recommended amounts of grains, fruits and veggies, dairy, protein, fats and sugars we recommend parents try to adhere to the guidelines set by the USDA food pyramid. As far at total caloric intake, for kids it varies greatly depending upon age. For example, a 3-year-old needs about 1,300 calories daily, whereas a 10-year-old needs about 2,000 calories daily and a teenager should consume approximately 2,800 calories per day. The best way to ensure kids get the food they need and still maintain a healthy weight is to provide them with a wide range of nutritious foods that are low in saturated fat and sugar.

How do you encourage children to be more active and help them understand the benefits?

Parents need to find activities that their children like to do and help them develop skills so they feel good doing them. We particularly like to encourage sports that can be practiced for life such as swimming, tennis, biking, hiking and running. Kids will understand the benefits of being active by doing – they will feel better and have more energy. And it is fun! For times when you are at home, a Wii Fit can be a terrific activity for the whole family. And everyone in the family should have a pedometer and have a contest to see who can log the most steps; aim for 10,000 steps a day (5 miles)!

If parents could implement one healthy change for their children, what should it be?

Cooking more meals at home! Cooking at home is one of the single best ways for kids to stay healthy and learn about nutritious foods. In addition to saving money, it’s a fun way to make healthy eating a family affair.

How do parents/children overcome the negative stigma of camps like Camp Shane and actually embrace the many benefits?

Unlike traditional “fat camps” or “boot camps,” Camp Shane focuses on having fun while achieving long-term, realistic weight loss goals. Because of this, our campers have an extremely high success rate when it comes to keeping weight off for the long-term. Overall, we try really hard to provide a friendly, supportive and non-threatening environment. I recommend checking out our website and watching some of the videos of our campers—this is a quick way for parents and kids to dispel any negative preconceived notions and to see us for who we really are!

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Create Healthy Habits for Kids with Ziporah Janowski of Camp Shane

Thinking of Acai for Weight Loss? Think Again.

So when acai was making the rounds as a super fruit, I needed to find out more. As it turns out, yep, it’s a berry! It is different from some of the other wonderful berries like raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and strawberries because it does not have natural sugars and it is higher in omega-9 fat (which unlike omega-3, it is not essential). As a result, pure acai berry (if you are in Brazil) or the pulp (if you’re at a store that sells it) tastes like dirt. In order to use it, you need to add sugar. So, sure, try the berry if you want, but mix it with other fruits that naturally contain sugar. If your acai is sweet, read the label… I bet there is added sugar.

What I don’t like about acai is that because of its excessive, over-rated hype, marketers have tried to pull the wool over your eyes and sell the acai mixed in to a supplement as a weight loss aid! Beware. If you have ever lost weight in your life, you know that it is not any ONE food or any ONE supplement that will help you. Since supplements aren’t regulated you really want to make sure you trust the company is making a pure product.

Bottom line: nobody is going to change for you. If you want to change, believe in yourself! You have the power to do this without an expensive supplement. Use this website, get support, and commit.

Here’s a segment I did recently on Fox 5 in Washington, D.C. on acai. Watch it. You’ll get my take and at least two other recipes. Also, find out what food is very high in antioxidants that if you are dieting you’re probably cutting out… but maybe you shouldn’t!

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Thinking of Acai for Weight Loss? Think Again.