vinyarb

Thanks to all the celebrities doing it the past few weeks, you must have heard of the ALS Ice Bucket challenge by now. Celebrities have taken the challenge by storm, and in the process, helped raise awareness and fundraise for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a progressive neurological degenerative disease for which there is currently no cure.

A quick search on ALS ice bucket challenge will yield you videos ranging from Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Chris Pratt, Jimmy Fallon, Taylor Swift, Chloe Grace Moretz and many more taking the challenge, and in turn issuing their challenge to keep the viral factor going.

Here’s Chris Pratt

Bill Gates (as challenged by Mark Zuckerberg)

And here’s Lady Gaga doing the challenge the only way she knows how (creepily)

I think using the power of celebrity to raise awareness, and raise funds to fight ALS is brilliant.

Not to take anything away from this campaign, and I may be (or probably am) totally off-base here, but I’d like to bring to your attention another deadly and rare disease.

http://nonprofit-success.com/radio.php Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)

Multiple System Atrophy, like ALS, is a neurological degenerative disorder. Like ALS, there isn’t currently a cure, and likewise, the prognosis is poor. ALS affects roughly 2 in 100,000 people. MSA roughly 4.6 in 100,000 people. It’s been almost 2 years since my mother was taken by MSA, and experiencing firsthand how debilitating this disease is, I really hope for a breakthrough in finding a cure for this horrible disease.

Taken apart, they’re both considered rare, but together, their fatality rate makes one sit up and take notice. I may be simplifying things, but since both are neurological degenerative diseases with similar symptoms and conditions, will a breakthrough in one study help with research in the other?

Is it worth thinking about pooling efforts, sharing research and working through this together?

Update: Here’s a bonus. Lotame’s very own VP of Client Success Zach Boisi getting iced!

National Council on Problem Gambling Singapore bets big against Germany in a banner to warn against excessive gambling.

Loses.

Yay! Daddy say tonight go W Hotel Staycation!

Tomorrow (20th March) is the International Day of Happiness. (Yes, there’s actually a day to remind ourselves to be happy. Says alot about how unhappy we are, right?)

Happiness, means different things to different people. Also, at different phases in our lives, our definition of happiness would also ebb and flow. As a child, happiness could simply mean seeing your parents come back from work to spend playtime with you. Or perhaps an ice-cream could have done the trick too.

As we grow up, attaining happiness becomes a lot more complicated. For some, dating, or being recognised as someone of value would bring you happiness. For others, a more materialistic pursuit such as a fancy car, property, or success in the corporate ladder. For yet others, it’s bringing up a family.

To say that happiness is a fuzzy concept is an understatement. No matter what brings you happiness, I hope you find them. After all, reports suggest that happy people live longer lives, with increased longevity of between 7.5 to 10 years.

What defines your happiness?

If you are a time traveler and loves to meet celebrities celebrity, here’s a special invite for you: Go back in time to 2009.

Yes, Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist and Author Stephen Hawking would love to host you.

You read that right. He hosted a party for time travelers in 2009, and only sent out the invites in 2011. He figured that wouldn’t have been an issue for time travelers. So far, no one’s turned up. Yet.

Below’s the invite and a video for the party. Go make his day.

Ooooh wait, here’s a joke!

What did one time traveler say to the other about missing Stephen Hawking’s party?

“Don’t worry mate, we’ll be back in time.”

Searching the internet for evidence of time travelers

Speaking of time travel, Robert Nemiroff and Teresa Wilson from Michigan Technological University recently went on a search of the internet for possible traces of time traveling, left either by accident or on purpose.

Interesting read, although nothing was found.

…and immediately makes me a rugby fan.

They are doing this in support of mental health awareness. And maybe just generally showing off their well-toned bodies.

The calendar is selling for £10 if you’d like to order it.

But not one to take it lying down, the men’s team have now also pitched in, and are also doing a sexy naked calendar in support of Breast Cancer awareness.

Any excuse to strip off in public eh?

In the single most obvious cry for help the Prime Minister has given, since taking a 36% paycut in 2012 in order to try and experience the “poor but contented” lifestyle many tv serials have portrayed, he has almost all but thrown in the kitchen sink in an attempt to voice out his general unhappiness.

By slowly but surely increasing his online activities via his facebook page, and then slyly slipping in a statement during a forum on friday evening, he has finally revealed the vulnerable, unhappy side of him.

In his most honest and candid statement yet, he said simply, but with gravitas “Satisfied people don’t have time to go onto the internet. Unhappy people often go there.”

Top things to do when in the internet: Sulk, Be unhappy, Feel unsatisfied. – Tripadvisor

Dear PM, as your loyal and unwavering citizens, we are all deeply concerned about your wellbeing. We are only human, as can be shown with the recent unhappiness portrayed by Nicole Seah, also professed on the internet, thereby proving your theory right.

We implore you to seek treatment, or at least talk to someone. There is no shame in that. Please call 1800 – 221 – 4444. The Samaritans of Singapore is always open for you, or anyone seeking help.

look at the muscles on that unhappy face!

Another MP of concern is Mr. Baey Yam Keng. Although he hasn’t outrightly stated that unhappy people often go onto the internet, he is of the same party. And we know all about toeing party lines. So by the internet’s count, he has been unhappy at least 623 times on this thing called Instagram, which is conveniently located on the internet.

Governing Singapore is a tough, tough job. Please take it easy. Let us know if it’s too much for you. We’ll know what to do.