Professional Cycling - So how bout them LIVE STRONGS...

Ok they're for a good cause... but its pretty funny when you tell someone that youre sold out of them and they get sad and then they ask the absolute most ridiculous question ever.... "So what are they?"
WTF... here you have at least 20 people a day come into the bike shop looking for these wristbands and they dont have a clue what they are for. This trend shouldve stayed with riders, not them must wear whats hott now-a-days people.

Is kinda sad. I had one for a while that I lost waterskiing (I took it off, it blew out of the boat)... Went back to buy another one after they got so popular--at least I knew the owners of the shop and they knew I *actually* ride...

I had a friend ask me the other day, why are you wearing "baller bands". I said "what, what are you talking about". He explained to me that most or all of the people at uni were wearing it not because they were cycling fans but because they were basketball fans...!

I was like oh. Recalling the other days before i've seen people wearing yellow bracelets (with Livestrong on them?). I looked at them but they didn't really seem like cyclists to me. Now that I think about it, it fits perfectly that they were "baller fans".

Sigh.

I was at a birthday party for one of my friend's daughter and a woman there asked me if I was a teacher. When I told her I wasn't and asked her to explain why she might have though I was, she pointed to my Livestrong band and told me that all her kid's teachers wore them. I told her that I am a cyclist. Then I explained to her about the LAF and that the wristbands sort of first became popular throughout the cycling community but was not limited to it and has of course larger impacts and implications. I also told her it was good that it seems to have become popular amongst teachers and I hoped they were conveying the LAF message and spirit along to the kids.

I don't think the wristbands were ever just meant for cyclists. I think it's however a good idea for those who wear one to understand what it's for and be prepared to spread the message about them when asked. Afterall, isn't that the point of the wristbands in the first place?

The bands are not meant to be exclusive to cyclists.
The wristbands have a symbolic meaning to the wearers, a personal meaning that can be anything. Ask the wearer what it means to them.
To me they represent life, a life gone and one renewed.
And the nice thing is, the reason you wear one can change.

Speaking of teachers...my 9 y/o daughter wears hers to school everyday, and now it has become something at their school to have one. Although my thoughts are it was cool for them to wear the bracelets, the teachers have impressed upon them the meaning and this is what is important.

I still get asked a couple times a week what the band is for. I'm amazed that there are so many people who aren't aware of Livestrong at all - yet. Course, there are a few fewer of those every week - the ones who asked me and learned ;).

Can someone explain to me what they are - are there any photos available?

Can someone explain to me what they are - are there any photos available?

Check out the WearYELLOW website (http://www.nike.com/wearyellow/index_f.html).

You can get them now at buildabear (which like the name suggests, you build a teddy bear) so expect a lot more people with know idea what they are, wearing them.

That being said, at least it all goes to a good cause.

I am a cyclist and a cancer survivor and when I heard about the wrist band for the first time, before the first million were even sold, I bought myself a pack of 10 of the bands and made another donation. Being a cancer survivor, and someone in which my cancer affected my life, my leg, and possibly my cycling future, the wrist band has significant meaning and importance to me. I initially bought them to have one to wear, to give to family or close friends if they were interested, and to support the LAF. I thought the LiveStrong survivor resource was a great idea since I personally know that there are not a lot of survivor resources available. After wearing the band for a couple of weeks I had people asking about it and I found it was a good ice breaker in terms of talking about cancer and telling people that I had battled cancer, which most would never know otherwise. Whether it is a fad or not, the band has significant meaning to me and I will outlast the fad no doubt. I think that it is a reflection of how small-minded many people in our world have become to want to wear a yellow band when they do not even know why the band was made and is being sold. They should have priced them at $10 each and they would have raised a couple of hundred million instead.

Don't mean to go so serious on the subject, but this one hits home.

Someone needs to go serious on the subject. It amazes me the trendoids wearing it because everyone else is, and believe me, I know plenty of people who are.

People usually ask me something to the effect of "Why are you wearing those? I see them all the time on people on the subway." You have to wonder that of the thousands that are out there in New York City (millions in the country, I'm sure), how many are being worn by people who appreciate what they are?

Someone needs to go serious on the subject. It amazes me the trendoids wearing it because everyone else is, and believe me, I know plenty of people who are.

People usually ask me something to the effect of "Why are you wearing those? I see them all the time on people on the subway." You have to wonder that of the thousands that are out there in New York City (millions in the country, I'm sure), how many are being worn by people who appreciate what they are?


Take a deep breath and relax. The good news is that whether you wear it to promote cancer awareness or wear it promote yourself, the money goes to a good cause. Wear yours with the simple knowledge that you've made a donation to a worthy cause.

-mark

Monkeys go 'OOOOHHHH AHHHH ARGHH!"

Hmmmmm ... bot?

I'm not worked up over it. And I do realize that the money does go to the right spot. But I'd reckon, based on something I saw on CBS a couple of nights ago, that most of these unknowing individuals are buying fake ones for slightly more in malls and online just to be in fashion, in which case the LAF sees none of the money.

That pisses me off.

ive seen the most ridiculous thing at my school. outside of all the buildings are people wearing the braclets...and smoking
THAT pisses me off

lol.

Just goes to show what I was saying about the trendoids.

I wonder how many of them are wearing counterfeit bracelets...

My training partners and I Heckle the college kids we see wearing them, the question is usually "Hey, do you ride a bike, hate cancer, or do you just think your cool" then we listen to 'em stammer.... Its great... morons...

One of my co workers had one and was outside smoking, I asked her if she was a Lance fan, she said kind of but, the reason she had the wristband has to remind her of a friend of hers, Turns out this guy is a huge partier, and is able to drink, smoke and party day and night for days on end. She said he just keeps going, and going, just like Lance... So thats his Nickname. Lance....so she gave him one becuase of his nickname and has one too....... absurd...

Any one have any idea on how long it should take to get them in the mail? I ordered a batch from the web site 4 weeks ago and still no joy.

Someone needs to go serious on the subject. It amazes me the trendoids wearing it because everyone else is, and believe me, I know plenty of people who are.

People usually ask me something to the effect of "Why are you wearing those? I see them all the time on people on the subway." You have to wonder that of the thousands that are out there in New York City (millions in the country, I'm sure), how many are being worn by people who appreciate what they are?

What's more important to LAF: that the stupid yellow plastic piece of crap raises money for research or that people understand what it's about? I'll bet that they would want both revenue and public education, but they would certainly take the money first! They don't care if your a cyclist, a well intended and consiencious supporter, or some dolt who's going along with the trend of the populace. Welcome to a very successful mass marketing campaign. And this time most of the marketing is being done by ordinary people!

What's more important to the LAF? Obviously the money.

That still doesn't mean that people who understand what the bracelets mean and their significance have to accept a teeny bopper with a bracelet on, a Starbucks cup in one hand, and a cigarette in the other.

And as I said earlier, I'd be willing to bet that most of the people who don't know the significance of the bracelets probably bought them in one of many stores in Manhattan selling counterfeits, so truthfully the LAF probably isn't making anything on those people anyway.

What's more important to LAF: that the stupid yellow plastic piece of crap raises money for research or that people understand what it's about? I'll bet that they would want both revenue and public education, but they would certainly take the money first! They don't care if your a cyclist, a well intended and consiencious supporter, or some dolt who's going along with the trend of the populace. Welcome to a very successful mass marketing campaign. And this time most of the marketing is being done by ordinary people!

I believe you are correct here for the most part. Call me naive, but I don't think the LAF views the LiveStrong bands as a "stupid yellow plastic piece of crap" and I think the purpose of the band was to raise money AND to raise awareness in regards to resources for cancer survivors (as stated in the quote). Being very active in cancer survivor forums I know that survivor resources and support systems are only recently starting to become more readily accessible. Yeah it is just a yellow band, but I purchased one for a reason and with an understanding of what the band signifies. Yes they would probably take the money without the education, but I think the foundation is smart enough to know that through education they would be able to raise more money in the long run.

I guess the bottom line is the foundation has raised money and awareness in terms of cancer, whether people know what the band is for or not. What is more important, the money or the awareness? In today's world, both. Kind of a catch-22 because without money it is hard to raise awareness, and without awareness it is hard to raise money. I wear the band for a reason and it just hurts a little knowing that some others wear the band for fashion and have no idea of the pain and suffering that some people in the cancer community have gone through. The hurt is personal though, and is something that I will probably always live with, so in no way would I ever force my feeling on someone else, or think they have to understand, or try to prohibit their freedom. If someone else wants to wear a yellow band, whether it says LiveStrong or not, that is their business. If it does say LiveStrong, at least have the deceny to know what it means and have a little heart. Sure it is a free country, but that does not mean you have to be ignorant.

yeah i can't believe all those trendy *******s keep selfishly donating money to LAF by buying his bracelets.

I wish only me and lance knew about it, then it would be like the most exclusive thing ever.... He wouldn't SELL any or FUND anything, but then I wouldn't have to suffer through looking at endless numbers of non-cyclists and/or people without cancer wearing them...

Sheesh, whatta bunch of optimists.

If it does say LiveStrong, at least have the deceny to know what it means and have a little heart. Sure it is a free country, but that does not mean you have to be ignorant.

This is the best post yet. I personally have not been deeply touched by cancer. However, I do wear the band. I do it because cancer does scare me. I'm not sure if I'm at high risk or not but it's quite possible due to several factours in my lifestyle most of which involves general exposure to high-radiation and EMF sources. If I want to take a selfish viewpoint then I could say that I'm trying to do my part to help insure that resources are available to me should I develop an illness. However, I probably would be lying if I said I wasn't motivated to wearing and contributing to the LAF if it not for cycling. Being involved in cycling brought me awareness of LiveStrong but I do understand that it's not about cycling and I do understand what the band is for. Buying the band is an initial contribution. Helping to educate others of its meaning is an ongoing contribution. I'm sure that doing one without the other is acceptable but doing both is what it's ultimately about. Many people have commented to me about the band. Some know what it's about and others don't. Either, way it's a chance to strike up a conversation with them and provide some verbal ambassadorship for the cause so I'm happy to explain (if even briefly) what I know about it. I hope in the long run it helps both the community and myself.

you should see the % of students here in ann arbor who wear them. obviously i have no 'data' to back this up, but i'm guessing it's b/c the bands are yellow and one of the colors of the football team is yellow(well, maize but whatever). so just about everyone's got one here.

i think it's great though. if someone wants to wear something, whether they know what the heck it 'stands for' (whatever that means), i say more power to em. we're all slaves to fashion anyways...

The problem I've seen so far is the a**holes who buy them in bulk from the website for a buck a piece and then resell them for 5 dollars and pocket the money. To me those people are just spitting on the whole idea behind the bracelets.f**kers.

Probably the guys who do this:

www.livewrong.net

I had cancer @ 18 and I'm also a big cycling fan. I work at a sporting good store, but they don't carry them nor do they let me sell the ones I have. It's a shame because we get people in all the time looking for them. Trendy or hardcore I don't really care it's just a great way to rase money for a good cause.

Probably the guys who do this:

www.livewrong.net
AWESOME.

I believe you are correct here for the most part. Call me naive, but I don't think the LAF views the LiveStrong bands as a "stupid yellow plastic piece of crap" and I think the purpose of the band was to raise money AND to raise awareness in regards to resources for cancer survivors (as stated in the quote). Being very active in cancer survivor forums I know that survivor resources and support systems are only recently starting to become more readily accessible. Yeah it is just a yellow band, but I purchased one for a reason and with an understanding of what the band signifies. Yes they would probably take the money without the education, but I think the foundation is smart enough to know that through education they would be able to raise more money in the long run.

I guess the bottom line is the foundation has raised money and awareness in terms of cancer, whether people know what the band is for or not. What is more important, the money or the awareness? In today's world, both. Kind of a catch-22 because without money it is hard to raise awareness, and without awareness it is hard to raise money. I wear the band for a reason and it just hurts a little knowing that some others wear the band for fashion and have no idea of the pain and suffering that some people in the cancer community have gone through. The hurt is personal though, and is something that I will probably always live with, so in no way would I ever force my feeling on someone else, or think they have to understand, or try to prohibit their freedom. If someone else wants to wear a yellow band, whether it says LiveStrong or not, that is their business. If it does say LiveStrong, at least have the deceny to know what it means and have a little heart. Sure it is a free country, but that does not mean you have to be ignorant.

Like you, I find it a bit irritating that people wear these like jewelry....I bought many back in the spring (I donate to LAF and got the original email about them, I think in April)...I've had the last 10 people in my family (my immediate and my in-laws) die of various forms of cancer including two cousins who left six kids behind, the oldest a freshman in college. My wife's family has not fared any better, but she recently had a very close friend go in four weeks, from diagnosis to her death...four weeks.
I am glad you made it...
When the Tour of Hope passed through Indianapolis a year ago last October, Lance stopped to do a session at Conseco Fieldhouse...Dr. Larry Einhorn was there (the oncologist from Indiana University Medical Center who did the treatments on Lance) and he is basically the guy who "invented" the current treatment for testicular cancer (in fact, the first clinical patient who was cured also attended). One whole end of the fieldhouse was full of cancer survivors Dr. Einhorn cured. I was standing in line to get in, and stood listening to these men talking about their experiences. It really gave me pause to be thankful for, so far, being healthy...
Can you imagine having several hundred people at an event, and you saved their lives? And I have met Dr. Einhorn twice and he is the most unassuming man I have ever spoken with (he is honored as a Hoosier Legend at the Indiana Historical Society)...
I wear mine to remember those I love that are no longer here.....and to try to help make sure others do not suffer the same fate.

I might agree that it should be a "cyclist only" thing if it wasn't for the fact that they've raised over $28 million so far (according to Lance on NPR). I could give a rat's ass whether people know why they're wearing them. When you raise that kind of cash to benefit cancer research, it matters not if people buy them for the right reason. Heck, even if they look at the armband and remember to "Live Strong" that's good enough for me. And as I re-read some of the comments on here (smoothie104 in particular) I'm once again embarrassed to be in the same group (cyclists) with some of you. This could be a cyclist-only phenomenon and generate maybe $4-5mil or be the trend it is and generate (hopefully) 10x that. Some of you are just children. "Waaaahhh. Everyone's wearing my cool bracelet and they don't know why." Grow up. I'd like someone to make a bracelet "GoodCause" and the package will say: "The money to buy this goes to a good cause. Who cares if you know which one or why. The simple fact is, by buying this, you're helping someone. Good job!" At least then you'd get the message...

Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth! Thank goodness Lance has the right perspective. Wonder how many college students HE'S ridiculed, smoothie. Maybe instead of laughing at them from his bike, he takes a moment to raise their awareness. If you spend your time making fun of people who wear them instead of taking a moment to raise their awareness, you're part of the problem, not the solution. Your "byline should read: "Jackass who doesn't deserve to wear the LiveStrong armband"... :mad:

And Slone, though I agree in general, consider this:
I rode in an MS150 in October and the school where I work bought 250 LiveStrong armbands and sold them for $2 each. $1 of each sale went to the LAF (i.e. we bought the armbands in the first place), $1 went to National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. The armbands benefitted two good causes. One guy on eBay sells them for $5 and puts the other $4 back as donations to help him raise money for the Ride for the Roses. Sure, some people make a profit, but some are actually using the bracelets to generate more charitable revenue. So not everyone who sells them for more is out to make a profit (though I'm sure you're right about the majority of them)... ;)

The bottom line? The LiveStrong bracelets are bigger than you, me or even Lance. Unfortunately, they're still not bigger than cancer, so we can use every dollar, regardless of the reason for which it was proferred.

Let me also add that the LAF bracelet has inspired offshoots. One of my students has a Susan B. Komen (sp?) Breast Cancer armband. The popularity of this thing is working FOR us and AGAINST cancer. How on Earth can that be bad...?

A teacher of mine has a pink one that says "Believe" and it's for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund. I have no problem with that, it's raising money for cancer research. I don't care if people know why they have them or who LA is, as long as the money is going to cancer it doesn't matter.

It does; however, bother me that people are making fakes and selling them. That is disgusting, it's profiteering and trivializing the whole point of these: to raise money for cancer research.

Some woman actually [I]returned 2 of them at the store I work for right at the point when no one could get any and they were selling on E-bay for 20 bucks. The casher asked her if she realized it was a charitable donation and she said she didn't care, she had thought they were "adjustable" and since she couldn't make them fit better she didn't want them. Of course we could resell them, but what a moron!

It does; however, bother me that people are making fakes and selling them. That is disgusting, it's profiteering and trivializing the whole point of these: to raise money for cancer research.

Is there any proof to this, the selling of fakes? I would think the tooling cost plus labor and material cost to run the injection machine to produce them would equal if not exceed the $1 price that you can buy the "real" one for. But people have done dumber things....

I agree completely with CarlJStoneham's previous posts. Who cares whether people buy the wrist bands because they're trendy, or because they know the story behind them? The point is that the money is going towards the Lance Armstrong Foundation and a good cause - assuming the people are buying real ones and not rip offs. Let people use them as collars for their cats for all I care. I bet that if you were to ask Lance, he would say that the wrist bands were never intended as a "secret handshake" for cycling's elite(ists).

My mom is in her 60's and has survived two different kinds of cancer, so I can relate to how scary it is when a loved one is threatened with the disease. I can only imagine what it would be like to face it personally. I hope that people who are fighting this disease have taken some degree of comfort or support from the thousands of bracelets that have been worn. According to an article on CNN.com this week, cancer is now the number one killer of Americans under age 85. CNN.com (Click here: CNN.com - Cancer now kills more than heart disease - Jan 19, 2005 ) Anything that can be done to help fight this disease is a good thing, whether it is "trendy" or not. And in case it makes anyone feel better about my mom wearing a LiveStrong wrist band, she bought a second bicycle last summer and yes, she does ride.

When the armbands were first gaining in popularity, I ordered 10 and would often give the one I was wearing away when someone was looking for them and the store was out. usually gave me a chance for a quick 30-second explanation.

As for various armbands, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will be coming out with red ones with "HOPE" on them. Looking forward to that, since my Mom has MS. Talk about crappy, she survived melanoma over 15 years only to be diagnosed with MS less than a decade later. Ah well, she takes it in stride and has a mild form of it, thank goodness (her melanoma was also thankfully mild). Anyway, I guess I'll be sporting red and yellow before long :D

Hey guys. First off, I gotta say congrats to Lance for the generosity. But I too hate how "cool" they are now. I kinda want one of those live wrong bands...Anyone else?

Hey guys. First off, I gotta say congrats to Lance for the generosity. But I too hate how "cool" they are now. I kinda want one of those live wrong bands...Anyone else?

People could wear the LiveStrong on one wrist, and the LiveWrong on the other side. Sort of like the classic angel on one shoulder, and the devil on the other. A bunch of broccoli in the left hand, a pint of beer in the right. Of course that assumes that you put down the pint of beer in the left hand first. Now there's a drinking game that will probably never catch on...

Um, how on Earth do you get the idea that the LiveStrong bracelet is an angel? I lived pretty strong through some keggers in college. In fact, I'd say I'm living weak these days, now that my tolerance is down to a 6-pack :( A pint in both hands is living strong my friends :D

Someone needs to go serious on the subject. It amazes me the trendoids wearing it because everyone else is, and believe me, I know plenty of people who are.

People usually ask me something to the effect of "Why are you wearing those? I see them all the time on people on the subway." You have to wonder that of the thousands that are out there in New York City (millions in the country, I'm sure), how many are being worn by people who appreciate what they are?

I'm not worked up over it. And I do realize that the money does go to the right spot. But I'd reckon, based on something I saw on CBS a couple of nights ago, that most of these unknowing individuals are buying fake ones for slightly more in malls and online just to be in fashion, in which case the LAF sees none of the money.

yeah i can't believe all those trendy *******s keep selfishly donating money to LAF by buying his bracelets.

I wear them and my mom is going to buy 20 (or ten) soon. Not because everyone else is wearing them its because we (as in uor family) we have known about 4 people who have had and have cancer. We are trying to get people to be aware of cancer and how HORRID it is.

Another thing if you knew me really well I HATE TRENDS, I hate the people involved in the trend, i hate EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM. First it was the live streong band. (people were wearing like 4 at once and even had fakes), then it was those boots (thise consturction worker boots). That trend is still going. Next its the Ipod trend. Its like jesus christ people, you DONT need 20 gigs of memory. I know that more than threee quarters of them dont have enough music. Then its those frigging bands. The only two bands i will accept are the live strong band and the breast cancer band. But whats up with the frigging "balla" or theres a jewish one, Theres even one for my friggin school!!!!! aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh :mad:

thanks everyone for making it through this post that truned into a rant. :)

The problem I've seen so far is the a**holes who buy them in bulk from the website for a buck a piece and then resell them for 5 dollars and pocket the money. To me those people are just spitting on the whole idea behind the bracelets.f**kers.


That is another thing that pisses me off, people selling them for more than they are supposed to be for and KEEPING the profit, now i know people who send all their profit to the foundation but some dont . kills me.

**mini rant**

Why do some of you have such a problem with trends? Who cares what everyone else is doing? Or do you really care, deep down and you don't want to admit it? Do you really wish you could be part of the "in" crowd, but can't or won't and instead you take your time to run down trends? Someone who's truly secure in the choices they've made won't care what choices others have made. How does everyone else wearing armbands have any affect on you? What do the boots do to make your life less liveable? How does an iPod in someone's hand negatively impact your well-being? Or is it more that you'd like to wear the boots, have the iPod and wear 5 bracelets but you can't or won't admit it to yourself. Let people be who they want to be, even if it's not who they are. It's not your place to decide. And how many trends have YOU followed? I don't believe for one second a person who says "I don't follow trends". You still wearing the Don Johnson narrow ties? No. Because it's out of fashion now. What's that? You don't wear a tie at all? Hmmmm. Following the yuppie trend, are we? A trend is simply someone else's idea that everyone else liked and adopted and that does not have long-term staying power. Since there aren't enough ideas in the world for everyone to always be original, it's impossible to follow trends. Just face the fact that someone wearing 5 armbands could look at your life and point out 3 trends YOU follow. Do they? No. They go on enjoying their life, not caring one iota what you think, while you strain at gnats and let someone else's choice to wear a non-yellow or pink armband negatively impact your life. How pathetic is it to dislike someone you've never met because what they're wearing? That shows either EXTREME elitism or EXTREME insecurity. It'd almost be amusing if it weren't so sad...

As my parents always said: "Spend less time worrying about others and more time worrying about yourself..."

'nuff said. I'm off to the mall to do some shopping and let everyone stare at my cool LiveSTRONG armband (or my uber 3k/yr calves ;) ). Some will envy me, others will hate me. Either way, I've succeeded in being the center of their world at that moment. :rolleyes:

Hey guys. First off, I gotta say congrats to Lance for the generosity. But I too hate how "cool" they are now. I kinda want one of those live wrong bands...Anyone else?

Gotta disagree with you there. The moment someone with cancer sees me wearing a mockery of something that might directly benefit them, I've failed. Sure, the LiveStrong bracelets have become bigger than the cancer survivors behind them, but they still go to a good cause and a cancer survivor (such as my Mom) walking through the mall, who sees that 3 out of every 4 people have a LiveStrong bracelet, knws that that much money went to cancer research. She doesn't care why they bought it. The money goes to the LAF and that's good enough for her. She would be appalled that someone would wear a LiveWrong bracelet, ESPECIALLY if they knew what the original ones stood for. These bracelets are not the place to take an anti-trend stand. It's kind of like saying "Giving to the Tsunami Vicitims is so trendy right now. We need to stop." I'm sure the tsunami victims would appreciate THAT moral high ground... :rolleyes: My advice? Shut up and ride ;)

Hey Carl - I'm sorry if I offended you. I just heard that my aunt might have some kind of bone cancer in her neck - won't know until Tuesday. I take everything back about not liking the LiveSTRONG bracelets. They are a great way to show your support for everyone who has been touched by cancer.

Another thing if you knew me really well I HATE TRENDS, I hate the people involved in the trend, i hate EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM. First it was the live streong band. (people were wearing like 4 at once and even had fakes), then it was those boots (thise consturction worker boots). That trend is still going. Next its the Ipod trend. Its like jesus christ people, you DONT need 20 gigs of memory. I know that more than threee quarters of them dont have enough music. Then its those frigging bands. The only two bands i will accept are the live strong band and the breast cancer band. But whats up with the frigging "balla" or theres a jewish one, Theres even one for my friggin school!!!!! aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh


I have a 20 gig Ipod. I've had it for a year or so, it's great. I use a lot of the space to hold my music. I have a lot of music to add right now, so I could conceivably use all 20 gigs very soon. I don't like the Timberlands look. It's not my thing, a lot of my friends where them, but I don't care. It doesn't affect me, nor does it affect you how others dress or act. It doesn't matter if people are wearing all kinds of bands an stuff. The ONLY ones that piss me off are the fakes, as long as they're buying the Livestrongs from a legit source so the money goes to the right place, it doesn't matter. I know the jewish one, it's apparently "Standstrong for Israel." I know someone with one and apparently it goes to something, but I'm not sure what.

My point is that it doesn't matter whether or not you participate in trends, you don't need to worry about how other people act. I saw that someone else said just what I was thinking, you seem to be insecure about who you are and so you feel the need to attack others and how they act rather than embracing how YOU behave and act. Not meaning to start anything here, just a few thoughts.

el twe - good luck with your aunt. Hopefully it's something less significant, or maybe even just a false alarm.

Thanks, Mr. High. My parents just went to see her, and she's in a neck brace because her bones are so fragile that they don't want her to move AT ALL. Thank you, Dr. Lafayette at Stanford.

Dang, el. Sorry that's happened. Hopefully Higher is right about a false alarm (DEFINTELY get a second opinion on cancer (and a 3rd and a 4th... ;) )). If not, here's hoping she pulls through. Early diagnosis is the key. Keep us up to date and we'll keep wearing our LS armbands. :) You might pop over to LAF.org to order some (they're still on back order I think) to pass around to the family (if you think that'd be something they'd like). Best of luck to you and your aunt...

I just want to be different like everybody else.