As ice-bucket challengers splash away, Controversy reigns

John Maino performs Ice Bucket Challenge: commons.wikipedia.org

Has your news feed been cluttered with ice bucket challenges? Mine to.

Has every celebrity now and past accepted a challenge? It would appear so.

And as Twitter, Facebook, and Yahoo circulate the latest and greatest ice bucket dousing, voices of doubt seem to be growing louder to.

But is it legitimate or unjust negativity?

The challenge

As you may (or may not) know, the ALS ice bucket challenge is a fundraiser to rally donations for Lou Gehrig’s disease. The concept is that those who are “nominated” can either donate to the cause or douse themselves in a bucket of cold ice water. At this point however it seems that donors are also choosing to douse themselves in water. For extra affect. And possibly for viral video rights, but whatever.

According to Fox News, “As of Aug. 22, the ALS Association has received $53.3 million in donations, compared with $2.2 million donated during the same period last year.”

That’s great news, right? Well…. Maybe.

Controversy with a captal “C”

Nay-sayers have begun to question everything from the scope of the campaign to the reason why participants are taking part.

Is the money really funding research?

Are the donations enough?

Are the donations too much?

Who is really benefiting from the YouTube views and social media hype?

Is the average man just trying to get famous?

Is the famous guy just trying to get more famous?

Let’s break down the debate…

“Way to go” vs. “Gone too far”

For starters, let’s investigate the financial aspect of donating to the ALS ice bucket challenge, shall we?

Going back to Fox News…

 “for organizations that depend on a continuous support of donors, a one-time spike in revenue is only part of the picture. Another factor to consider is the number of people who publically show their support, for example, by dumping ice on their heads, versus the number who make a financial contribution, and may continue to do so, said Kirk Kristofferson, a researcher at the Sauder School of Business in Vancouver, Canada, who studies marketing and prosocial behavior.

If a fundraising campaign has a high percentage of people who voice their support without actually donating that could raise the problem of "slacktivism," which is the practice of engaging in virtual support such as "liking" a charity's page on Facebook, without having any real-world effect.”

Good point. The ALS campaign doesn’t end with the popularity of the bucket challenge. It’s ongoing. And needs long-term donors who will stand the test of time along with the fight for a cure. Much like the popularity of Breast Cancer awareness.

How much awareness though does the ice bucket spectacle create? As part of a Forbes.com article, Will Oremus was quoted as saying,

“As for ‘raising awareness,’ few of the videos I’ve seen contain any substantive information about the disease, why the money is needed, or how it will be used. More than anything else, the ice bucket videos feel like an exercise in raising awareness of one’s own zaniness, altruism, and/or attractiveness in a wet T-shirt.”

Here’s a test… do YOU know where to go to donate? Do you know how much you can/are expected to donate? I can’t tell you without a Google search. And I’m guessing more people are with me there.

There are certainly some legitimate points to be made in the skepticism circulating as quickly as the videos supposedly supporting the cause.

If you need further exploration, feel free to read this blog post Is Dumping Ice Water on Your Head Really Helping?

Did we miss the point?

As E!Online pointed out recently, most people are simply missing the point. That would be to make a donation, not to dump ice water on one’s head. The dumping remember—is the punishment for not donating in the first place.

Yes, perhaps challengers are thrilled at their “popularity” first for being nominated and called out publicly. Second, the thrill of making a video showcasing the thrilling, terrible, oh-so-shameless spectacle of being wet and cold for all to see. But by now the majority of us probably don’t really care anyway.

A few critics have complained about the water wasted to perform the ALS challenge. But since the average American already wastes roughly 50 gallons of water PER DAY, the one-time ice bucket phenomenon really isn’t the problem… now is it?

 

In the meantime, donations are still pouring in. ALS has been more than a mere mention in passing news (in the past mainly regarding someone famous who has been stricken). And maybe more Americans will think about additional causes close to their hearts worth monetary support.

What is being funded?

My research into the subject was wrapping up when I stumbled upon the most compelling perspective yet.

What kind of research is being funded??

In his own piece titled Why I Can't Accept the Ice-Bucket Challenge, Nathanael King details his own personal experiences with loved ones who have suffered with ALS AND why he has chosen not to accept the challenges he has received.

King steers clear of all the typical arguments and dives into the meat of his personal stance. He simply does not agree with all the types of research being performed by the ALS Association-- specifically, stem-cell research.

King writes:

"Sometimes, stem cells are harvested as part of in-vitro fertilization as described above, and other times they are harvested as part of an abortion procedure.  For example, one clinical trial, which was supported by the ALS Association with a $500,000 grant involved 'stem cells ... from the spinal cord of a single fetus electively aborted after eight weeks of gestation.'  At 8 weeks, a baby has it's own unique DNA, is 2 centimeters long, has tiny fingers and toes, and a heart beat of about 160 beats per minute."

 And on a moral level, he is not okay with that.

To dump or not to dump

The bottom line is... we all have a moral compass and we all have values with meaning. And if your chosen plight is the fight for ALS patients, no matter the cost, that is your call to action. However, if you have moral, social, or environmental issues with any aspect of the challenge, you have the right to not participate.

Choice-- is the true American dream. Every day we choose what we stand for. But at least respect yourself enough to stand for something.
 

5 Unbelievably good breakfasts in Las Vegas

 

It’s time to wake up. You’re tired. You’re moving slowly. You’re hungry.

Sleepy, late-morning weekends and the “morning after” late nights both require one thing—a fabulous breakfast. And if Las Vegas is King of Night Life, then protein and carbs rule the morning routine.

It goes without saying that great night dining is easy to come by. But hunting down a good breakfast is not. In fact, some breakfast finds are so sought-after that lines form faster than a DJ mixing at a hip hop dance club.

So if you find yourself searching for sustenance before Vegas noon, here are a few spots you don’t want to miss.

 

Egg & I

4533 W Sahara Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Come early, come often. The Egg & I has everything you need for a hearty breakfast. Choose from egg scrambles, breakfast burritos, pancake platters, and more. All served with the choice of seasoned potatoes. This is morning comfort food to fuel the rest of the day.

Eat

707 Carson Ave 
Las Vegas, NV 89101

This trendy little café has all the traditional breakfast items you want, with healthy items thrown in for good measure. Feast on Turkey Bacon Benedict, fluffy hot cakes, Irish oatmeal, and free range chicken.

 

Mr. Mama’s

5580 S Decatur Blvd
Ste 112
Las Vegas, NV 89118

Cinnamon rolls, eggs, and “man-food?”—Yep! They’ve got that. Mr Mama’s is a selection of hearty entrees in an unsuspecting spot. Favorites here include Texas French toast and every breakfast meat known to well—man.

BabyStacks Café

4135 S Buffalo Dr
Ste 101
Las Vegas, NV 89147

Are you in the mood for red velvet pancakes, Kahlua pig benedict, and omelets? Then you’re headed in the right direction. BabyStacks is the place to go for unique pancakes and Asian-inspired breakfasts. Try it. You won’t leave with regrets.

 

Black Bear Diner

6180 W. Tropicana Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89103

The Black Bear Diner serves up traditional American cuisine. Carbs, meat, and eggs are staples to most every item on the menu. The portions are large and the food beats iHop hands-down. It’s not pretentious.

Do you have a favorite breakfast spot in Vegas? Feel free to recommend it in the comments below.

And be sure to sign up to follow our blog. We promise to keep it coming. And keep it interesting.

How to throw the perfect party: 5 Details that make a difference

Pixabay @SplitShire

 



 

Elegant. Delightful. Impressive.

 

These are adjectives every host/hostess yearns to hear. Hosting the "event of the year" or "epic party" is positive feedback our inner entertainer craves. It's the champagne toast at the end of hard work and preparation.

 

But we know good parties-- unlike good times-- don't just happen. They take planning and foresight. And perhaps a few Tylenol to strategically bring all the elements together.

 

Debi Lilly, a corporate event planner, told LoveToKnow "make sure that you aren't going to forget any special details or be stuck the day of the event scrambling around trying to get something completed."

 

Professional event planners are sticklers for details. It's their special gift. And the touch of charm on which they build their business.

 

It's understandable that not all of us are gifted with Martha Stewart talents. Heck, we may not even know which fork goes where. And while we at Ice Now may not be in the event PLANNING business, but we are constantly behind the scenes at events and private gatherings. So here are 5 tips we've picked up for impressing even the snobbiest of party guests.

 

Details.... Details...

1. Hire a doorman. If your event is at night, guests may be wearing a coat which obligates you as a host to provide them somewhere to put it. At the very least, ladies will be carrying a clutch or purse. One simple detail is to have an out-of-the way place to put these items. If it's in the budget, have a doorman to greet guests at the door and take any items they won't need. This person could also simply be a friend you enlist. Guests will be even more impressed if they are handed their first drink upon entering the party.
2. Place cards. Assigned seating can be a sticky subject if you have that ONE guest who refuses to be told where to sit. Take this into consideration and then proceed. Assign guests together who are like-minded and to keep friends from talking across the table at one another. Make the place cards creative. Here are what other creative hosts have done. As you can see, almost any trinket or decorative object can be transformed into a place marker.
3. Mix and match tableware. Do you not have enough matching place settings? Don't worry. The Bohemian table setting is popular and makes what could have been a hiccup in the decor, a planning win. Cheryl Style does this beautifully by mixing patterns, colors, and designs.
4. A beautiful desert. The last course of the evening is desert. It's the final memory in the feast and should be an eye-catching centerpiece. Cake, petit fours, cupcakes, or chocolate-covered fruit-- it doesn't matter. It's all about how you display your beautiful treat.
5. Sculpted ice cubes. Creative ice cubes are easy and fun. Any craft store sells shaped ice cube molds. Or, some ice companies (not to toot our own horn but yes, we do this) are now able to bring bags of shaped ice. Our offering includes diamonds and (soon) golf balls-- perfect for engagement parties and golf tournaments.

 

 



Grace under fire
As a host, just remember that things do get off track sometimes. And not everything goes according to plan. So even if things seem to be falling apart, what guests usually remember is how YOU handled the situation more than any mishap. Never let them see you sweat. Plan B may be even better than the original plan.

And if you stick to some beautiful, well-planned details, your friends WILL remember the little things. And sometimes, little things make all the difference.