Taxing Internet Porn

As Richardson told the AP, the kids looking at porn aren't the ones in real danger: "'It's not underage customers the government should be worried about,' but minors pictured on the sites."

Before that time, kids shouldn't be using the Internet for porn binges, even though they will. The solution, as advocated by so many Internet safety experts from the pantheon of political viewpoints, is simple: Move the computer to the family room, and make sure the monitor is visible to anyone who walks through the room. While you're at it, install a content filter.

I don't call that a total solution, but as long as the connection feeds the home, kids can use it to look at whatever they want. If we want a real solution, we need to talk to our children about sex, pornography and the difference between the two.

If that won't help them make more discerning choices about their Internet use, cut the connection when you're not home.

Stuffed Scots Surf

You can say one thing about Internet porn -- it won't make you fat. You cannot say the same thing about advertisements for junk food, which a new report warns are imperiling the health of children.

"Food-promoting websites aimed at children as young as six are using marketing techniques that are banned in print and broadcast media," the Scotsman reported. "The study for Food Magazine said foods high in fat, sugar and salt were being pushed at children via websites. It said young people are being encouraged to buy unhealthy food for prizes, or passwords that will let them take part in computer games. Advertisers are also promoting the idea that certain products will make children more popular, the report warns."

The study was sponsored by a British group called Sustain, which wants a ban on junk-food marketing to children, the paper reported.

Here is a little more from the story: "The report found that many sites were specifically targeted at children as young as six or seven. It said children, who often accessed sites unsupervised, were being asked to give companies their contact details and those of their friends in order to allow companies to target them directly. Concerns were also raised about Chupa Chups, a popular brand of lolly, advertised on a website which says they are 'good for you'. The advert goes on to say they are 'a tasty way to give your brain a boost', because some contain glucose. It also claims the vitamin C content can prevent and treat the common cold, fight bacteria and viruses, help speed up the healing of cuts and grazes and help to maintain healthy blood vessels."

With names like " Chupa Chups " (featuring the homepage admonition that "Sucking is good for you!" -- "It's natural," "It makes you feel good.") and " Flake," I'm surprised that any amount of Web advertising can make kids eat these sweets. Of course, they're probably wondering what would induce any self-respecting American to chomp on a "Chunky" or "Mounds." But I digress...

Burger King's Unfortunate Pun

What do you think when you hear the word "CoqRoq?" Try playing around with it out loud for a second.

Yeah, not Coq au Vin.

AdAge reported last week that Burger King, the generator of a Web site designed to promote a new chicken sandwich, accidentally created a big beef instead.

"Even though it has suddenly removed sexual double entendres from its new Web site, CoqRoq.com, Burger King today denied it had received any complaints from consumers or other outside groups," AdAge wrote. "CoqRoq.com, created by Crispin Porter & Bogusky, Miami, the agency that created Burger King's Subservient Chicken site, is designed to look like the kind of crudely outrageous Web site created by a rock band. ... Among other things, CoqRoq.com, which is linked directly to the main Burger King Web site, includes photo galleries with Polaroid-style shots of young girls with the handwritten captions 'Groupies love the Coq' and 'groupies love Coq.' Since the site went live yesterday, those captions and others have been erased from the online materials."

The AdAge staff, God bless 'em, took a screen shot, but for the life of me, I can't find a single coq there.

AdAge also features two germane items: One on Motorola's "Strip Tease" ad campaign, showing off the naughty benefits of its Moto E815 phone; the other is on "American Idol's" Carrie Underwood and her appearance in the "Carrie Kit Kat" ad for Hershey's Kit Kat Bar.

Send links and comments to robertDOTmacmillanATwashingtonpost.com.