Celebrate Mardi Gras With Safety Measurements For Your Valuable Guests

Mardi Gras is a historical tradition, globally recognized for its reckless and wild parties and parades, that had continued to thrive for thousands of years. The French phrase Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday,” which is the annual ritual of debauchery and indulging in fatty foods before Lent, a season of fasting. In the past, the occasion was most commonly celebrated in states like Alabama and Louisiana, but today, more and more people throughout the United States are choosing to participate in the celebration of Mardi Gras. If you are planning a large Mardi Gras party for your bar or nightclub, or are hosting one at your home, choose from a wide selection of wristbands from wristbands.com to help keep your event safe and organized. 

Mardi Gras celebrations are a big hit for Bars and nightclubs, and being prepared for larger than normal crowds is a must. With its ornate beads, masks, and bold colors – Mardi Gras can be a great way to attract extra business to your bar or nightclub. Wristbands.com carries all sorts of decorative and non-transferable wristbands in a variety of materials and styles. For just a few cents more per wristband, you can order customized wristbands with printed messages like, “Happy Mardi Gras,” on any type of wristband we offer. Make sure you can identify and accommodate all your guests by having different colored and customized wristbands on hand.

Since Mardi Gras can be celebrated for about a three-week period, bars and nightclubs would be smart to purchase a variety of custom wristbands from wristbands.com to help ensure guests are not re-using wristbands from a previous night to gain admission. The three colors of the Mardi Gras flag are: purple for justice;  gold for power; and green for faith. Purchase vinyl, plastic, silicone, or Tyvek® wristbands in all three of the Mardi Gras colors to help add spirit to any Mardi Gras themed event. It may be fun to print common celebratory French Mardi Gras, or “Shrove Tuesday” phrases on a variety of colored wristbands. Purchase wristbands in the three classic Mardi Gras colors, with the following short French and English phrases custom printed onto their surface:

• Bon Mardi Gras! (Good Shrove Tuesday!)
• Joyeux Mardi Gras! (Merry Shrove Tuesday!)
• Heureux Mardi Gras! (Happy Shrove Tuesday!)

You can use wristbands at your bar or nightclub for admission, age verification, designated driver identification, VIP privileges, and as tickets for food or beverages. If you are hosting a Mardi Gras event for adults, there will undoubtedly be liquor present. Order age verification wristbands from wristbands.com to ensure only of-age guests are purchasing and consuming alcohol. Use one Mardi Gras color, such as purple, to identify adults 21-years-old and above. Use another Mardi Gras color, like green, for underage guests. To add some festivity to your event, add a small amount of food color to different types of beer and serve gold, green, and purple drinks. Wristbands.com carries premium Wrist-Rider® wristbands that feature three, four, or five tear-off tabs that can be redeemed for refreshments. We offer an assortment of stock Wrist-Rider® wristbands that feature the tear-off tabs printed with numbers. Or, customize your wristbands with classic Mardi Gras colors, graphics, and your bar or nightclub name imprinted onto the surface of the wristband to serve as a branding tool.

In addition to bars and nightclubs, many people throw parties at their home to celebrate the Mardi Gras season. If you are hosting a large party, you may want to have a cover charge at the door. You can hand the wristbands out at the door when your guests arrive and pay to help the duration of your Mardi Gras party run smoothly. Wristbands.com carries colorful glitter and metallic wristbands in all three of the classic Mardi Gras colors that are ideal for parties. Kids will love the metallic purple, green, and gold tri-laminate wristbands, that sparkle and shine in all types of lighting, available for purchase at wristbands.com. We also carry five customizable styles of trendy silicone wristbands that both kids and adults will love to wear. Order custom premium color-fill debossed silicone wristbands with Mardi Gras graphics like court jester hats and masks imprinted onto them. Place the graphics around the date of you party, “Jones Mardi Gras Ball – Jan. 2013.” Guests will enjoy taking home a keepsake from your party that is stylish to wear!

There are all sorts of fun decorations and activities that serve as entertainment for Mardi Gras parties.  Balloons, beads, confetti, costumes, masks, and streamers all highlight the spirit of Mardi Gras and are an inexpensive way to decorate in true Mardi Gras style. You can inform guest on your invitations that there will be a costume contest, as elaborate costumes are a major part of the Mardi Gras celebration. For guests who arrive without costume, set up a mask creation station so all attendees will have something festive to wear. Masks can be adorned with all the Mardi Gras classics like beads, feathers, glitter, paint, and sequins. If less guests arrive than expected, you can chain-link leftover wristbands together to make bright and colorful, yet highly economical, decorations for your Mardi Gras party.

Mardi Gras can be a fun history and cultural lesson to teach children at school or in the home. Teach children about the culture behind Mardi Gras by preparing traditional Cajun dishes and playing customary games such as “King’s Cake.” Place a plastic baby figurine in a random place in the cake, and whoever gets the slice with the baby in it is “king” or “queen” of the Mardi Gras party. You can also make Mardi Gras colored Jell-o® shots to add some lighthearted fun to your event. For large parties, implement wristbands.com Wrist-Rider® wristbands and charge $3 per tab. Your guests can redeem the tabs for a plate of traditional Cajun cuisine or a fun Mardi Gras drink. Use different colored Wrist-Rider® wristbands for food and alcohol, if you are going to price them differently. There are countless ways that wristbands can help you stay organized at any Mardi Gras celebration, so make sure to order wristbands from wristbands.com today to ensure they arrive in time for your Mardi Gras party.

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. With Commorative Wristbands

Every third Monday of January, our country sets a day aside to commemorate the life of one of the most influential people in our history – Martin Luther King Jr. While children and young people enjoy getting a holiday off from school, too many of them do not understand why Martin Luther King’s birthday is celebrated. If you are an educator, group leader, or mentor, you can use commemorative wristbands as a useful and fun learning tool to teach children about the American civil rights milestones established by Martin Luther King Jr.

You can custom imprint some of Martin Luther King’s famous words on silicone, plastic, vinyl, or Tyvek® wristbands from wristbands.com. “I Have a Dream,” is by far the most well-known speech by Martin Luther King Jr., delivered on Aug. 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The phrase “I Have a Dream,” can easily fit the length of even a child-sized wristband. Purchase custom wristbands with “I Have a Dream,” printed on them, and pass them out to children before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or all throughout Black History Month. You can reward children who memorize King’s speech with a brightly-colored wristband that features one of our nation’s most historical and meaningful phrases.

Since the entire “I Have a Dream” speech is about 17 minutes long, it is quite a lot for young students to memorize. As a group activity, have different kids in your class memorize sections of the speech, and perform it in front of the school during Black History Month. Or, have your class say the speech in front of their parents at a special school event or fundraiser. After the speech, explain to parents and other audience members that each child is encouraged to wear their commemorative “I Have a Dream” wristband the entire Black History Month in remembrance of Martin Luther King’s great achievements. Ask some of the children in your class to help pass out “I Have a Dream” wristbands to their family members in the audience, so they too can participate. 

Order pre-printed “I Have a Dream” wristbands in an assortment of colors to help give Martin Luther King’s message meaning to our youngest generation –  who are perhaps learning about the American civil rights movement for the very first time. Wristbands.com offers endless customization options for wristbands of all colors and styles. Order “I Have a Dream” wristbands in an assortment of colors to help teach the lesson of Martin Luther King’s life to your students. All of the wristbands will be different colors, yet unified with the same phrase, just as Martin Luther King taught us about our fellow Americans.
Encourage other teachers at your school to participate in teaching their students about Martin Luther King  Jr. and Black History Month. For an impactful school-wide activity, have all of the students, teachers, and staff hold hands in a circle around the school and say Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech out loud together while wearing different colored wristbands from wristbands.com. Or, have different grades or classrooms memorize sections of the speech and recite it while the whole school is holding hands in a circle. You could also do the same activity with a single classroom or grade of children around the flagpole on your school campus.

A wristband makes a circle, which is the universal symbol for unity. That is why they are an ideal tool to use when explaining a difficult lesson to children such as the American civil rights movement of the 60s. It may be hard for children to imagine that less than a century ago, slavery was still a thriving realism in American culture. For this reason, this is not a lesson that should take a day to explain and study. Instead, it should be done over an extended period of time. You may want to purchase wristbands made from a durable, waterproof material like vinyl or plastic. Or, you can order silicone wristbands which can easily be removed, but are re-wearable for weeks on end. Silicone wristbands are especially trendy for both children and adults, and can be custom imprinted in a variety of basic and premium styles on wristbands.com.

We also offers glitter wristbands that can be custom printed with the phrase, “I Have a Dream,” in either white or black ink. Children will love wearing these wristbands to commemorate Martin King Jr. Day, or even for the entire month of February , which is Black History Month.  Our metallic glitter wristbands are manufactured from a sturdy tri-laminate vinyl and are non-transferable. They feature a plastic one-time snap closure so children and their parents will not have to worry about them falling off or getting lost. Our glitter wristbands sparkle in the sunlight, which will be fun for children during recess or on their lunch break, and are available in multiple colors and patterns.

You may want to take a more solemn approach if you are purchasing Martin Luther King Jr. Day “I Have a Dream” wristbands for teenage students. Try using solid colored vinyl, plastic, or silicone wristbands instead of glitter wristbands. You can print a large variety of colored ink on solid colored wristbands. For teenagers, you can use matching wristbands instead of a various colored wristbands.

Chances are, this is not the first time your teenage students have been taught or have heard about the American civil rights movement, so you can challenge them with trivia to win “I Have a Dream Wristbands.” Create a quiz on Martin Luther King Jr. with information such as his birthday, what year his famous speech was delivered, and a bonus section where students must write out Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.  If they write the whole speech correctly, make sure to reward them with a trendy silicone “I Have a Dream” wristband from wristbands.com!

Show your Support for National Blood Donor Month with Wristbands

January is National Blood Donor Month and is the perfect time to start off the new year by giving the gift of life to those in need. Wristbands can be a helpful way to remind yourself and others of the importance of donating blood during the month of January.  Purchase red silicone wristbands and hand them out to friends and family as a reminder to donate blood. Silicone wristbands are trendy for people of all ages, and they can serve as an excellent conversation starter. People will be encouraged to also donate blood after you explain to them why you are wearing a red silicone wristband.

Many people wonder why January is National Blood Donor Month, and wristbands.com has the answer. During the holiday season, many blood donation centers report inventory shortages, mainly due to illness and extended periods of travel. People are so concerned with buying gifts for loved ones,  re-arranging work schedules, and purchasing plane tickets, that many forget our nation’s blood inventory is extremely low during the harsh winter months. No matter what type of blood classification you have, your local donation center can find a useful way to share your blood, platelets, or plasma with another human in need.
Donating blood in a group can be a beneficial outing for family or friends who are curious what their blood type is and want to give back to their community.  At wristbands.com, you can design custom silicone wristbands with blood type classifications imprinted right onto the wristband’s surface. After someone in your group donates blood and discovers what type they have, hand them a red silicone wristband that says, “I donated my A+ blood today,” or “I helped saved a life with my AB- blood today!” Messages like this will definitely draw attention from others, who will be impelled to ask how they too can donate blood and help save lives.  

Some blood types are more rare than others, and donating blood is a great way to learn who you are an ideal donor for. The O- blood classification is the only type pure enough to be used on premature infants. It may be easy to forget your blood type after leaving the donation center, but a red silicone keepsake wristband with your blood type imprinted on it will help you remember your blood type long after you donate. Having a rare blood type can be a blessing in disguise, and you could potentially help save the lives of many premature infants by simply remembering to donate one pint of blood during January. Donating blood will only take about an hour of your time, and just one pint can help to save the lives of three adults! Customize your silicone wristbands to say, “I helped save three lives today by donating blood.”
Churches, high schools, and various organizations can purchase bulk quantities of pre-printed custom red silicone wristbands or for a more economical approach, buy plain red silicone wristbands. Either way, the red wristband is a symbol for donating blood, which in return, helps save lives that otherwise would be lost due to a traumatic accident or other reasons people loose significant amounts of blood. Encourage individuals in your church, school, or organization, to give their red silicone wristband to the first person who inquires about it. This way, you can promote the message of giving, and it will serve as a constant reminder to the person who receives the wristband to also donate blood.

Since the whole month of January is National Blood Donor month, you can donate platelets a total of four times throughout the month. If you donate a pint of whole blood, you must wait at least eight weeks for it to replenish in your body before you can safely donate again. However, since platelets are just a portion of your blood, those can be donated once a week if desired! Use different colored silicone wristbands, or silicone wristbands with different imprinted messages, to rank the donor and encourage others to also donate blood more often. Choose phrases like, “I donated platelets four times this month,” which is sure to impress others. When people learn how easy it is to donate blood, and that you personally donated four times within just the last month, they too will want to participate and be rewarded with a stylish silicone wristband to wear for doing so.

Some people may be wary of donating blood because they are afraid the needle will hurt or that they will become lightheaded from loosing a pint of blood so quickly. Give them a red silicone wristband to gently remind them why it is important to donate blood, and take a few moments of your time to sit them down and explain to them how the donation process is performed. Donating blood is not painful like some people who have not previously donated may assume. For many individuals, it is considerably less painful than getting a simple shot from your doctor.

Do not forget to donate blood during January, National Blood Donor Month. The best way to spread awareness is by wearing your heart on your sleeve – or in this case – on your wrist. Purchase red silicone wristbands from wristbands.com today and start saving lives. Imagine if you or one of your family members were in trouble and needed donated blood to survive. Glance down at your red silicone reminder wristband, and you may soon find yourself at your local blood donation center to give back to those who need it most.

Video is courtesy of Youtube

Livestrong Cancer Foundation Dropped Lance Armstrong from The Title

“For most of its life, the organization has been known as the Livestrong Foundation, but making that change official is necessary and appropriate during a time of change for the organization,” McLane told Reuters.

Armstrong founded the charity in 1997, after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and before he first won the Tour de France. Since then, it has raised some $500 million and has evolved from a focus on testicular cancer research to addressing the needs of survivors of all cancers.

Armstrong, 41, announced on October 17 that he was stepping down as chairman but remaining on the board of the organization, which helps people and families affected by cancer. That followed an October 10 report by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that said that the now-retired rider had been involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.”

On October 22, Armstrong’s seven Tour de France victories were nullified and he was banned from cycling for life after the International Cycling Union (UCI) ratified the USADA’s sanctions against him. Then on Monday, Livestrong chairman Jeff Garvey said that Armstrong had voluntarily resigned from the foundation “to spare the organization any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding his cycling career.” He made the decision November 4, McLane said.

“All of us – especially Lance – wanted Livestrong to have a presence that was bigger than its founder,” board member Mark McKinnon told Reuters Wednesday in an email. “We knew that in order to make the most profound and lasting impact for cancer survivors, the cause and the organization had to have its own persona. That’s exactly what Livestrong has become and Lance helped shape that effort.”

Armstrong declined through a manager to comment. He said at the foundation’s gala last month that the organization’s mission is bigger than him. “We will not be deterred; we will move forward,” Armstrong said that night.

‘HOUSE THAT HE BUILT’

The group’s website has long been Livestrong.org, and a giant yellow “Livestrong” sign just inside the front door of the East Austin office greets visitors, but the name “Lance Armstrong Foundation” was still used regularly. For example, the yellow invitation to the foundation’s $1,000-a-head gala last month said: “On October 19, 2012, Lance Armstrong Foundation will celebrate 15 years of Livestrong.”

At the foundation’s office, seven yellow Armstrong Tour jerseys have been removed from the walls.

“Lance doesn’t want to be a distraction from the foundation’s cause – serving cancer patients and survivors,” said McKinnon, a board member and an Austin media producer and communications strategist. “That’s why he resigned from the foundation’s board. In the spirit of that noble decision, the foundation has to make appropriate changes as well.”

The retired cyclist has always denied he took banned substances during his career but decided not to challenge the USADA charges against him. Sponsors including  giant Nike Inc, sunglasses maker Oakley and brewer Anheuser-Busch have dropped him or have said they won’t renew his contract.

The Austin father of five, who had been spending time in Hawaii, tweeted on November 10 that he was “Back in Austin and just layin’ around …” He linked to a photo of himself lying on a couch, with his seven framed yellow Tour jerseys on the wall.

“At the moment, he feels it’s better for the organization that he step away a bit,” McKinnon said.

Board member Dr. David Johnson, an oncologist as well as a cancer , said he supports Armstrong’s decision to step down “even though I think he’s the heart and soul of the organization.” Johnson said that Armstrong was always engaged at board meetings, speaking up if he doesn’t agree with something and chiming in with passion.

“I think there was some discussion that took place between him and a number of members of the foundation agonizing over what to do,” said Johnson, professor and chairman of the department of internal medicine at UT Southwestern School of Medicine in Dallas.

Johnson, who has known Armstrong for years, said that the idea of a name change is “painful.”

“I don’t know that there was a feeling until now that it was even a necessary thing to do,” he said.

Livestrong started as the name of an educational program at the foundation and in 2004 became the word on Nike wristbands, 55 million of which were sold by the following year.

“As the yellow bands sort of exploded, Livestrong just kept growing and growing,” foundation CEO Doug Ulman told Reuters in August. Being known as Livestrong “wasn’t really a conscious decision, it was just sort of like, We’re going to lead with our brand.'”

Armstrong, who is the largest donor to Livestrong, having contributed $7 million, is still welcome at the foundation, officials said.

“It’s a house that he built,” McLane said.

(Reporting by Corrie MacLaggan; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Jawbone Dropped The Bone and Released New Version

As a review, the Jawbone UP is an all-in-one health monitor wristband that is to be worn 24/7. Used in conjunction with the free UP app for iPhone, the system tracks a user’s sleep, exercise and food intake. As detailed in our previous review, UP works as advertised even with its Version 1.0 limitations. In fact, at the time, we called it “impressive.”

So, what’s the problem?

Battery issues are causing a significant number of UP wristbands to stop working after one or two full charges. Unfortunately, I am experiencing the same issue. My black UP worked flawlessly until I attempted to charge it a second time. Now, all it does is blink red and orange during charging attempts. Unplugged, it does nothing.

Luckily, Jawbone seems fully aware of whatever battery problem exists. In fact, the company is replacing defective wristbands no questions asked at retailers like Apple, AT&T and Target, or through the Jawbone website.

According to Raul Corella, VP of Jawbone Customer Support, in a message left on the UP Community boards:

We’re hearing that a limited number of users are experiencing issues with their UP band. It’s paramount to us that everyone has a great experience with UP. Rest assured we will take care of all of our customers.

We’ve been thrilled by the overwhelming response and demand for this product. As with any new product in a new category, issues may arise during the introductory phase. We’re committed to understanding, addressing, and resolving all issues as soon as we can. For this reason, feedback about your experience is really important to us and will help make the product better.

Please contact us immediately to share your feedback, ideas, or suggestions. You can reach us at the following: upsupport@jawbone.com or 1-800-JAWBONE.
We stand behind our products unequivocally, are working diligently to resolve any issues, and will promptly replace any defective bands.

Personally, I’m thrilled Jawbone is being as proactive as it is on this issue. Unfortunately, as a writer that only six days ago recommended the Jawbone UP to our readers, I felt it was important to put this additional information out there. This is especially true for those readers that are considering purchasing the Jawbone UP in the future. As such, it’s important to note that Sue Megrund also purchased the UP (three, in fact) and has reported no problems.

For my part, I took my defective UP to AT&T, where I purchased it, and received a replacement wristband at no charge.

In the meantime, let us know if you too are experiencing problems with the Jawbone UP. Leave your comments below.

South Park is Making Joke to Armstrong Yellow Wristbands

What will you do if you are now already falling and becoming the mock of discussion in public?  How do you defend yourself to clear your name and reputation?

Well, it is even worst if a cartoon movie is portraying your image into a joke story for the episode.  In a teaser clip released on Monday by Comedy Central, an episode titled “A Scause for Applause” shows residents of the fictional American town standing in line to get their yellow wristbands removed.

While the teaser for the October 31 episode does not refer to Armstrong by name, Comedy Central said in a statement that it deals with “the recent news of drug use by a beloved icon” and “the world is left feeling lost and betrayed”.

Armstrong, who was stripped of his cycling titles and banned for life earlier this month for doping, used yellow wristbands to promote his charity Livestrong.

In the “South Park” episode, the news has left the town enraged and upset as chubby foul-mouthed Eric Cartman, one of the show’s four lead children, declares “I can’t believe we all got duped”. Hapless schoolboy Clyde Donovan yells “lying jerk” and school counselor Mr Mackey sobs as his bracelet is removed, saying, “I don’t know what to believe in anymore”.

Armstrong, 41, who became a hero after battling cancer to dominate the world of professional cycling, has always denied allegations of taking performance enhancing drugs.

He was banned from the sport for life after 11 of his former team mates testified against him and the United States Anti-Doping Agency published a report which alleged he had been involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen”.

“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are known for responding quickly to current affairs and taboo subjects for their raunchy comedy show, which has become a cult hit.

They previously landed in hot water after showing late Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin with a stingray barb in his chest less than two months after his sudden death from a stingray attack, and drawing the Muslim prophet Mohammed dressed in a bear costume in a 2006 episode.

Power Bracelet – Is it really working?

Is it really working?

They’re worn by some of the most successful athletes in the world. Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant wears one, and Shaquile O’Neal swears by them.

Celebrities wear them too. Trendy wristbands and bracelets that supposedly increase strength, balance, and even improve health.

Mark Wahlberg wore one at the Golden Globes and when he appeared on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.

And Kevin Dillon, from the hit show Entourage, says his bracelet works so well he won’t even take it off during filming.  When INSIDE EDITION caught up with him on the red carpet, he showed off the wristband he was wearing and said, “If I go somewhere without it, my neck is going to hurt.”

So what’s the secret? The companies say they’re made from special materials like mysterious holograms or unique metals that can make you feel better. But is it really a bunch of baloney?

One of the most successful companies is Power Balance, selling $35 million worth of their hologram bracelets last year.

Former President Bill Clinton wore one. Even the future princess of England, Kate Middleton has been seen wearing one.

And reality star Audrina Patridge thought the wristband would give her an edge on Dancing With the Stars.  “I thought it would help me stay balanced while I was dancing. I think it really works,” she said.

But does it? We asked Dr. Steven Novella, a clinical neurologist at the Yale University School of Medicine to review the claims made by Power Balance.

INSIDE EDITION Chief Investigative Correspondent Lisa Guerrero read him one of those claims. “The hologram incorporated into the bracelet is designed to respond to the natural energy field in your body and it helps you perform to the best of your ability. Do you believe that?”

“Not for a second. That is based upon nothing. That is literally made up marketing hype,” Novella said.

So how do you explain the impressive demonstration the company shows. During a balance test, the subject, standing on one leg with their arms outstretched, easily falls over when someone presses down on one of their arms without power balance. But after the bracelet is put on, his balance appears much stronger!

Dr. Novella showed Lisa Guererro how he believes they do it.

“I’m going to show how easy it is to push you over by putting a little bit of pressure. I’m barely pushing you, you go right over,” he explained

Next, instead of giving her a power balance bracelet to wear, Dr. Novella had something else in mind. “You can use my magical car keys.”

With Guererro holding a set of car keys, Novella can push very hard and she’s not falling over.

“These are magic car keys.  How did you do that?” asked Guerrero

“Very simple,” Novella said.  “It’s all physics.  When I want you to fall over, I push straight down. When I don’t want you to fall, I just push slightly inward.  Now I’m pushing (at an angle) towards your feet. It’s just physics. You’re not going to fall over. It looks very compelling if you don’t know what’s going on.”

Power Balance insists there are no tricks involved and that their products work.

Company executives wouldn’t agree to an interview, so INSIDE EDITION went to a Power Balance sponsored event in New Orleans to try to talk to a representative.

Sure enough, they were doing that same balance test to impress potential customers. But before Guerrero could even ask a question, she and her crew were kicked out.

“Please stop filming,” said a company representative.

The bottom line, according to Dr. Novella: “They can’t work and in fact there is no evidence that they do work.”

Recently the makers of Power Balance admitted to Australian authorities that there is no credible scientific basis for their claims. But, the company told INSIDE EDITION the bracelets do work and they stand behind their products.

All the manufacturers say their customers are very satisfied and they offer a money back guarantee.

What to do with LIVESTRONG Wristbands Now?

What is the value of the message on this silicone wristband?

Some people suggested to erase the “v” on the LIVE to become LIE.  Others added additional words ” TO WIN” to become “LIE STRONG TO WIN“.

The yellow rubberized wristband on my left arm caught the attention of the women scanning all my Ben & Jerry’s frozen yogurt containers in the supermarket checkout stand Saturday morning.

“Hey, live strong! oh sorry, lie strong” she blurted out, holding up her own left arm to display her yellow bracelet.

A few seconds after I swiped my ATM card, I figured out what provoked this band-bonding moment. She was implying we were in public support of the “LIVESTRONG” slogan to fight cancer on behalf of cycling marvel Lance Armstrong.

I didn’t have the heart to correct her.

“CHEAT TO WIN,” it said on my piece of silicone.

I slip this one on once and a while for a reminder – don’t believe everything you read, don’t get sucked into everything that seems to be the perfect solution and don’t be surprised when athletes fail to live up to the ridiculous standards we often expect of them.

I shouldn’t be caught off-guard with others who still don’t get the message.

Back in 2006, after Floyd Landis was stripped of his Tour de France victory, the “CHEAT TO WIN” parody bracelets were produced by The Onion, the satiric and savvy “Nation’s Finest News Source” that seized upon the opportunity to make fun of the Armstrong phenomenon that had become a Nike-induced fashion accessory.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Nike were behind cranking out these $1scraps of rubber into a multi-million dollar fundraiser in the name of cancer-curing research.

Presidential candidates sported them, as well as top-flight actors and actresses, Olympic athletes and anyone else who wanted to be part of Team Armstrong. Wikipedia even has a page for it.
It led to spin-offs of different colors, raising awareness upon awareness of other diseases that needed our funding.

Yellow fever must have been one of the causes we failed to fully acknowledge.

While we were kept aware Armstrong had to keep fighting off doping allegations that came with every one of his seven Tour de France titles, his tests kept turning up negative.

This past week, something snapped back.

The latest “overwhelming” evidence produced by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency forced Armstrong to decide it was time to step down as chairman of this charity he founded 15 years ago. Nike was one of several who dropped him as a corporate sponsor quicker than a chain coming off a sprocket.

What a nice strong-arm tactic by the uber-company that had created this global marketing icon. Phil Knight might as as well have been leading Armstrong away to shame jail with wrists bound by “LIVESTRONG” bracelets.

So, Phil, what do you propose we do with all these Armstrong bands of support now?
At the Livestrong online store, the thing that comes in three sizes continues to sell – 10 for 10 bucks, 100 for $100. Because the hundreds of millions of dollars already raised isn’t enough.
At the Onion store, the “CHEAT TO WIN” bands aren’t around any longer. Try eBay.com.
Which one speaks louder now?

The one athlete who might have changed a huge segment of the sporting population into believing he could power through against the C-word makes any us now mull over our own C-words: Conflicted, confused and probably even more cynical.

Wendy Adams of Manchester, Pa., told CNN this week she and her sisters wore the bracelets when their dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004.

He died a year later. The family respected his wishes by having him cremated wearing the bracelet. 

But Adams said she can’t wear hers anymore. She now refers to the seven-time Tour winning* (to be determined) Armstrong as “a liar, a manipulator.”

Some have taken to adjusting their bracelets to darkening out the “V” so it reads “LIE STRONG.” A few years ago, some guy started cranking out black “LIVE WRONG” bands. Not to mock those who had cancer, but have a laugh at the expense of those who dropped out of Corporate America to get on their bikes and live in the mountains.

With mountains of evidence now apparently sending Armstrong to retreat from Corporate America, there’s a larger mountain of yellow wristbands that must be dealt with.
Use them to hold the trash-can liner in place?

Stretch them around the stack of Armstrong biographies on your book shelf as you donate them to the local library, to be shelved under “sports,” “history” or “supernatural occurrences”?

Scrap that. The stupid thing is Nike actually has a program on its website that could help here.
It has been soliciting used or broken “LIVESTRONG” bracelets for years as part of its “Reuse-a-Shoe” program. They’ll crush ’em up and regenerate them into material used to resurface a playground.
The best answer is to recycle, at a time when our most notorious cyclist soon will be trying to reinvent himself and restore his image in the court of public opinion.

Of course, those who want to keep the bands as a reminder that they or someone they love actually beat cancer, more power to you.

Let the grieving process continue as you read more about Armstrong’s legacy.
Those of us who keep our “CHEAT TO WIN” band nearby as a reminder of things we can’t fix, maybe more compassion for us.

Our grieving process is a daily issue.

That, and the skin that thickens around the band just makes it tougher and tougher to slip off each time.

Article was sourced from Daily News

The Future of LIVESTRONG Wristbands After Doping Scandal

Overcome by a doping scandal that has chased him for years, Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, stepped down Wednesday as chairman of his own foundation. Soon after, his leading corporate sponsors dropped him too.

Now a movement that has raised millions to fight cancer and spawned a cultural phenomenon of cause-related silicone wristbands has been drawn into the scandal by the onetime hero.

Treister, at 41 the same age as Armstrong, said he wasn’t sure what he was going to do when asked whether he would keep wearing Armstrong’s band.

“I need to see how the world reacts,” he said. “I don’t want to be a conversation piece everywhere I go.”

It remains unclear how the world will react, but the worldwide sporting goods empire of Nike Inc. on Wednesday severed ties with Armstrong after helping to create his foundation’s iconic yellow wristband and raise more than $100 million. Later in the day, Trek Bicycles and Anheuser-Busch did the same.

“Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade,” the company said in a prepared statement, “it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him.”

But the future of Armstrong the man and Livestrong the brand and cancer-fighting cause may not be intertwined. Despite the stunning developments, experts say Armstrong’s charity may continue to prosper.

Although he strongly denies doping, Armstrong in August decided not to fight the overwhelming evidence against him compiled by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. He maintains his innocence, but the evidence included sworn testimony from 26 people including 15 riders, financial payments, emails and lab test results, USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement last week.

The growing evidence against the near-mythical figure who beat testicular cancer took its toll on fans. People began crossing out the V on the wristband so it read “Lie strong.”

Michael Keefe, 28, wore a Livestrong band when it first came out to support the foundation. Then his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer.

“That’s the appeal,” he said. “At first it was a symbol and people thought they were supporting Lance and cancer. But they took it personally and started applying it to their own lives.”

But Keefe, who still wears the band on his wrist, said he now feels as though he’s going through a grieving process.

“At first it was denial (that Armstrong was doping),” he said. “Now I’m getting to anger. How could he have lied about it for so many years?”

Mike Barahona, a 27-year-old civil engineer and long-distance runner, says he has proudly worn his Livestrong bracelet every day since February, when he registered for the Chicago Marathon as a member of Team Livestrong.

Armstrong’s downward spiral has failed to diminish Barahona’s admiration for the cycling legend.

“The foundation is not about cycling,” Barahona said. “It’s about cancer awareness. My point of view is that organization has not changed at all.”

Nonprofit experts share that sentiment about the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which was established in 1997. In 2003 it launched the Livestrong brand, widening its cancer patient support services. Today the foundation, known by both names, reports that it has served more than 2.5 million people through its programs and raised more than $470 million.

Chicago-based Imerman Angels, which provides one-on-one cancer support and helps link cancer survivors for mutual support, receives an estimated $50,000 of its $600,000 annual budget from Livestrong, said founder Jonny Imerman.

“Every day at least one person comes to us through them,” Imerman said, adding that Livestrong provides valuable consulting to Imerman Angels. “They’re an amazingorganization.”

Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2001, Imerman continues wearing a Livestrong bracelet on his right wrist.

“I’m wearing it proudly and that won’t change,” he said. “I’ll wear it as long as there’s cancer around.”

Livestrong will weather Armstrong’s departure, said Ken Berger, head of Charity Navigator.

“It’s an extremely unusual situation,” he said. “Nine times out of 10, the charity suffers when something bad happens to the famous person it’s associated with. But Livestrong has been the exception to the rule.”

Leslie Lenkowsky, professor of public affairs and philanthropic studies at Indiana University, has followed the foundation for the past decade and calls Livestrong a “model of celebrity philanthropy.”

Article was quoted from Chicago Tribute

ID Wristbands to Reunite Children Lost in Mall

DUBAI: The world’s largest mall is handing out wristbands to little children to help reunite them with their parents should they get lost.

An Emaar Malls Group spokesperson told XPRESS: “Visitors can collect the wristbands at the guest service desks or guest service staff members. The members write down the name of the child, the name and mobile number of the parents or guardian and attach the bracelet to the child’s wrist.”

The service is free of charge.

“We introduced wrist bands for children as an optional additional safety measure… Our security personnel are well-trained to ensure the safety and well-being of families with children, and will offer any assistance needed. With the wristbands we are underlining our commitment to support them in ensuring their children’s safety,” said the spokesperson.

Although the wristbands were first introduced in 2011 for special events that attracted strong footfall, it became a permanent feature from June this year, with greater awareness coming about in recent months. “The initiative is receiving a positive response as we distribute on average about 500 wristbands during the weekend and about 300 during the week. On important holidays such as Eid, higher numbers of wristbands are distributed,” said the spokesperson, who added it could be expanded to other malls.

“It’s a great move as kids have a tendency to run around. My son is just four and I have a tough time keeping track of him in a mall,” said Lekha, an Indian mother visiting the mall. “Using a wristband is a good idea. I have to constantly keep an eye on my kids as they can easily slip from my sight,” said Sarah, another mother.

Some parents, however, were wary of the move. “By giving our contact details, we could actually be inviting trouble,” said one who prefers to use a baby harness to keep her child close to her.