I will not bite the hand that feeds me Butterfingers...

Or so wrote Bart during the chalkboard sequence of a Simpsons episode.
I thought of that soundbite today, after hearing that Nickelodeon plans to prohibit the use of its characters on junk food products. Starting in 2009, the network's characters - such as SpongeBob SquarePants and the Rugrats - will only be allowed to appear on packaged food products that meet "better for you" criteria established by Nickelodeon’s marketing clients. The children's programming giant joins Discovery Kids and Walt Disney in passing the initiative, which was designed to encourage exercise and healthy eating habits.
I think this is a great idea. Really, I do. But (and here's the possibly unpopular part of my opinion) I think it's often too easy for people to blame cartoons, movies, the local school district and fast food restaurants for the nation's growing childhood obesity epidemic. While there is some truth to this, I think parents also need to do a better job of monitoring what their child is eating.
All in all, I agree Jimmy Neutron's face should not be plastered on a bag of chips. At the same time, I hope this doesn't affect any TV show content. Imagine SpongeBob passing out granola bars instead of flipping Krabby Patty burgers. Or Cartman digging into a salad rather than snarfing down Cheesy Poofs. Can you really envision Homer eating tofu instead of pink donuts? It just doesn't seem right.
Anyhoo, those are my thoughts, for whatever it's worth.
In honor of this topic, I'm including one of the many Simpsons Butterfinger commercials that aired back in the day.

It’s all fun and games until someone spoils their pants….

Okay, so I hate to dump (pun intended) all over something that may genuinely help people lose weight, but this Alli drug pretty much makes me want to toss my Splenda-baked cookies. You’ve probably heard all about it by now. It's the new over-the-counter weight-loss drug that has been garnering numerous headlines (and punchlines) thanks to a multimillion-dollar advertising blitz. The fact that a few of it's nasty side effects have been perfect fodder for comedians telling fart jokes has only furthered its publicity. Here are my thoughts, for whatever it's worth. I don't care if Alli shaves 20 pounds off my fat butt in a week. I still don't want to have anything to do with it. Why? Because Alli pill poppers are encouraged to keep an "extra pair of pants handy" in case of leakage. Approved by the FDA, Alli works like this: it prevents the gastrointestinal system from absorbing about 25 percent of the fat you would typically consume. However (there's always a however), if you eat more than the recommended fat grams at any given meal, you may experience cramps and the uncontrollable escape of those extra fat grams. My advice is: if you really plan to use this pill, expect to follow the rules. You'll probably also have to buy the companion book, "The Alli Diet Plan" to see any real weight loss. Either way, stick to the guidelines or prepare for gas, oily discharge and loose stools.