The ice bucket challenge

I don't get why anyone is still crabbing about this. The bucket challenge has raised $42 million (and counting) for ALS research -- compared with $2 million last year.

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/ice-bucket-challenge-cash-raised-cant-fill-hole-als-research-n186356

In this same story, there's a discussion of how federal cuts to research has damaged efforts, and there's no doubt dumping ice on your head isn't going to make up for that, and that there should be concerted efforts to get that funding back. But as far as the effort doing "no good" -- ALS has $40 million more in the bank, so while it's not going to automatically find a cure, it's better than not having $40 million in the bank.

 

Pearlman's take is resonable. He said he knows the Ice Bucket Challenge is doing a ton of good, raising a boatload of cash. But he's just worried that it'll be a fad and eventually lose steam, which it probably will. And that will make him sad because the money will stop coming in so rapidly. Which it will. Just a personal take from someone who's seen ALS up close and personal. Nothing wrong with that.

The people who complain that it's clogging up their Facebook feeds are the worst. Because all those very clever eCards and 200-picture albums of your dog are so much better.

 

Leave it to Pearlman to try and sap whatever sense of joy well-meaning people might derive from the experience of coming together for a good cause. He must be all sorts of fun to hang around with.

 

Don't forget people posting pictures of half-eaten meals and endless videos captioned "You won't believe what happens here!"

 

Yeah, no downside to this. I don't understand the desire to shit on a "fad" that has raised this much money to fight a disease. If you don't want to do the challenge and gave money instead, good for you. But don't shit on the challenge when that is what has caused the massive uptick in donations.

 

I just wanted to post this photo of Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze:

 

We need Bill Parcells to take it, and have Harry Carson do the honors.

 

I've seen way too little ice in these. Good for Yankee Fan.

 

Well done by YF's wife. That was a slow pour, which I would have to think is much worse than the big quick dump.

I did it yesterday. I agree about the ice. You need a good amount in there.

 

Wife works a split shift, so I was preparing the bucket to be ready when she got home from work.

I wanted to get the ice in a little early so that the water would be cold. (I've seen people give others shit for putting in the ice at the last minute.)

But, she got home a little later than I expected, and all the ice had melted into the water, so I had to empty out the confines of the freezer.

Her water was really fucking cold.

 

With ALS you pretty much lose all control of your muscles and body, so the 5-second shock and awe at play in these challenges helps you understand what patients experience 24 hours a day.

Brilliant way to get people to understand the disease.

 

Here's your first snafu.
One in critical condition, one in fair.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ice-bucket-challenge-goes-awry-firefighters-hurt/2014/08/22/9852c21c-29db-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html