FitSugar

LA Wants to Ban Fast Food For a Year

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:00:00 PDT

Fast food joints are everywhere. It seems you can't drive a few miles in a city without seeing a Burger King, Taco Bell, or Mickey Ds. I've never had a personal problem with these establishments because I feel that people can make their own decisions about what they eat. It seems that Los Angeles doesn't want to give people the option though. South LA wants to ban fast-food restaurants for one whole year in the poorer neighborhoods. "Fast food" is being defined as those places that don't offer table service, and serve pre-prepared foods or ones that can be heated up quickly. Since obesity is becoming a huge problem, and there's a shortage of access to quality foods, the city wants to give other healthier restaurants a chance to move in. This ban has people's health in mind, but the restaurant industry thinks this idea is unfair. One restaurant owner said, "What's next - security guards at the door saying 'You're overweight, you can't have a cheeseburger'?"

So what do you think about this proposed ban? Do you think it's long overdue? Are you for the elimination of fast-food joints? Or do you think these types of restaurants should be allowed to remain open, being that people are responsible enough to make decisions about their own bodies? Tell me your opinion in the comment section below.

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California Law Puts the Ban on Trans Fat

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:30:00 PDT

It looks like California has just bought a ticket for the trans-fat-free boat. Just like New York City, the Golden State is banning trans fat from their restaurants and other retail food places. This includes prohibiting the use of any oil, margarine, or shortening that contains trans fat.

This unhealthy fat is worse than saturated fat because it reduces your good cholesterol levels and has been linked to heart disease. Although New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Montgomery County, MD, have ordinances that ban trans fats, California is the first state to adopt this as a law. Signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, this law will take effect on January 1, 2010 for oil, shortening, and margarine used in spreads or for frying. When it comes to deep frying though, the law will be in effect a year later, Jan. 1, 2011. Violations could cost restaurant owners between $25 and $1,000.

I hope we can soon see other states adopting such laws banning trans fat. Do you think you'll eat out more often if you know that restaurant food is free of trans fat?

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Would You Support a Cell Phone Ban at Your School?

babysugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:00:31 PDT

Nearly two years ago, much to the dismay of students, parents and public pleas, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg banned cell phones in Manhattan schools.

Since texting, videos, instant messages, cameras and music are all accessible at the touch of a button, I can see why schools would want to prohibit the distractions.

On the other hand, many parents argue that they need to have a lifeline to their children in case of emergencies like 9/11 or school shootings, which are scary realities in our world today.

Would you agree with a cell phone ban in your tot's school?
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Speak Up: Should Skinny Models Have Been Banned?

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:15:00 PDT

My girl FabSugar has been doing her thing at New York Fashion Week and I was expecting to see some less skinny models this time around since other major fashion weeks took action against using super skinny models. Turns out, not so much the case in NYC. In fact it seems like no one was even talking about it...

Last season it was a big deal (or so I thought) when reports said that the Council of Fashion Designers of America issued guidelines teaching models about nutrition, banning those under 16 years old from runways and offering healthy food backstage, with no smoking or alcohol. But this season, no one seems to even remember it was an issue since most consumers never rejected designers who still used ultra-thin models.

Not entirely surprising, as we all know that ~~a slap on the wrist~~ guidelines don't usually do the trick. So now, Milan remains the only city of the four fashion powerhouses (New York, London and Paris are the others) to pass an outright ban.

So what do you guys think about this? Should ultra skinny models be banned from the NYC runways? Or do you think skinny models are simply an iconic mark of fashion week and should remain? You know I want to hear your opinion, so speak up and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Back to Cool: Glamour Girl

FabSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:00:22 PDT

The Glamour Girl

Name: Samantha D.
School: The Fashion Institute of Technology
Favorite subject: Fashion Journalism
Collection of the moment: Blugirl
Listening to...The Buzzcocks, The Shangri-Las, Shirley Bassey, Stray Cats
Favorite candy: Lollipops
Favorite accessory: Chanel anything, leopard print and shades

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Should Schools Ban iPods to Halt Cheating?

GeekSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 08:00:19 PDT

When it comes to technology, kids are often the leaders of the pack. They'll learn to tweak the newest devices, decorate them with charms and they'll inevitably come up with ways to use technology to "beat the system" at school.

According to USA Today, some teens have actually started hiding their MP3 players in their clothes and using them to cheat during tests, which in turn has pushed schools to ban players during school hours. Here's more:

Devices including iPods and Zunes can be hidden under clothing, with just an earbud and a wire snaking behind an ear and into a shirt collar to give them away, school officials say.

"It doesn't take long to get out of the loop with teenagers," said Mountain View High School Principal Aaron Maybon. "They come up with new and creative ways to cheat pretty fast."

Apparently, the school enacted a ban on digital media players after school officials realized some students were downloading formulas and other material onto the players - an issue which seems to be troubling schools nationwide.

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Gay Marriage Supporters Cheer as Appeals Court Rules Prop 8 Is Unconstitutional

Annie Scudder — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:05:05 PST

A federal appeals court has reaffirmed that California's gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional. Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that voter-passed Proposition 8 violates the 14th Amendment of the US constitution. Gay marriage supporters outside the courthouse in San Francisco cheered the decision, but the fight isn't over yet. The case will likely make it to the US Supreme Court as early as next year.

The court's ruling stated: “Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California." The court also refused to throw out the decision of lower court judge, retired Chief US District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, on the basis of his sexual orientation. After the trial, Judge Walker, who is openly gay, revealed that he has been in a same-sex relationship for 10 years. See photos of the celebrations now.

David Beckham Blushed Watching His Own Sexy, Super Bowl Ad

Katie Henry — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:59:04 PST

David Beckham felt uncomfortable watching his Super Bowl ads - Wonderwall
Pippa Middleton, George Percy aren't dating - Us Weekly
Paul McCartney and Elton John to sing for the queen - People
Adele called "too fat" by Karl Lagerfeld? - Zap2It
Kate Middleton recently spent hours visiting a hair salon - Celebitchy
Kristen Bell stops by Conan for an adorable interview - Lainey Gossip
Twilight stars banned from being cast in Hunger Games? - The Insider
The Voice coaches cover Prince's hottest singles - TooFab
Chris Brown to perform at Grammy Awards - HuffPost Entertainment
Are all sports romances doomed? - The Daily Beast
Who is Kris Humphries dating now? - Lifeline Live
Madonna announces 2012 world tour dates - Hollywood Reporter
Hang out with Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart at home! - Rotten Tomatoes

France's Burqa Ban Starts Today

Annie Scudder — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:45:20 PDT

Starting today, any woman in France wearing the burqa or niqab Muslim veil in public will face a fine of over $200 and take a course in French citizenship. And anyone found forcing a woman to wear a veil will be subject to a $40,000 fine.

The all-covering veils have been a hot topic in France for years with different interests taking various positions. Nicolas Sarkozy's government says the veil is a symbol of male oppression and goes against France's secular values. Some Muslim religious leaders say they don't oppose or support the burqa, because wearing one is a cultural not a religious decision. Meanwhile, Muslim and human rights groups have called the ban an attempt to stir up racial sentiments.

It's certainly problematic: the ban could further alienate a marginalized group of conservative women, preventing them from integrating while it ironically controls women's clothing choices. If France wants to protect women's autonomy, decreeing what they can and cannot wear seems like a strange way to do it.

France's Muslim minority is five million strong, but only 2,000 women wear all-covering veils. The fiery debate over the new law reminds me of the Arizona law banning race- and sex-selective abortions, a problem that doesn't actually exist. It's emotional, ideological, and distracting from more serious problems.

This Week: Downton Abbey, Fake Eyelashes, and The Hunger Games

BellaSugar — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:39:49 PST

Check out our latest BellaTV episode and some of our favorite stories from the week:

The secrets of Downton Abbey style.
Our editors' must-have new products for February.
Stop washing your hair so much!
Rachel Weisz's latest L'Oreal ad gets banned.
The easy way to find perfume.
The nail polishes you need now.
All the SAG Awards star beauty secrets.
The best products for applying false lashes with ease.