Parents Want to Ban Ice Cream Man from Playground

Melissa Knowles

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The dog days of summer are not far away. The unmistakable music of the ice cream truck takes us back to one of our favorite pastimes as children during those hot July days--chasing after the ice cream man to get our favorite cool-down treat. Some kids may not be able to experience this time-honored tradition, because a group of parents in a neighborhood in Brooklyn wants to ban the ice cream man from their park.

The controversy spread on the popular blog "Park Slope Parents" when moms and dads complained about having to fight with their kids over ice cream every summer. One mother wrote, "I should not have to fight with my children every warm day on the playground just so someone can make a living." Another parent added that her reason for not wanting her kids to consume the frozen treats had to do with healthy lifestyle choices, saying, "One in three kids is going to be obese or diabetic by high school."

Twitter is full of reactions. Most of them oppose the parents, with some calling their requirements over the top and absurd. One person tweeted, "Man up and tell your kids no." A New York City agency said banning the trucks in just the park would not be possible, because it would have to be mandated statewide or at least citywide. Looks like the parents are going to have to figure out another way to keep the ice cream man away from their kids.

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A new charity drive might convince "Seinfeld" sitcom creator Larry David to start his own Twitter account about nothing. David is the subject of a new campaign, Charity Bribes, which uses donations to coerce celebrities into completing tasks set by donors. Their motto is "bribing celebrities to do a little awesome for a lot of good."

The service has started with the objective of getting the notoriously stubborn David to join Twitter, saying "He's hilarious. He's not on Twitter. He should be. If we raise enough we can convince him." In David's case, if he joins Twitter, the money will go the Natural Resources Defense Council. The NRDC just so happens to have David's ex-wife Laurie as a trustee.

Here's how it works: Anyone with Internet access can join the bribe by making a pledge. Users can also submit bribes of their own for review and vote on future bribes made by other users. After one month, the bribe closes, and the celebrity has 30 days to act. So far, the bribe for David has 54 bribers who have pledged $1,382.

If David does not join Twitter, the NRDC will not receive the money. So for now, when it comes to tweeting, people are hoping that David does not curb his enthusiasm.