Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Every decision we make has lots of baggage with it, known or unknown.

We can show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

He really is that stupid.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

So very ready.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Is trump is trying to break black America over his knee? signs point to ‘yes’.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

We still have time to mess this up!

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

You are here: Home / z-Retired Categories / Previous Site Maintenance / Fall Fundraiser

Fall Fundraiser

by | 88 Comments

This post is in: 

As you know, Alain has been doing some work on the website, and it is time to pay for the test server and various other things, including Alain. If you are so inclined to chip in, please hit the tip jar (you do not need to have a paypal account).


As always, if you use amazon, the easiest and most painless way to support the site is to click on the amazon link prior to making a purchase there.

Also, I would like to note that I am, if nothing, remarkably consistent. I was searching past posts for the info for the paypal link, and I noticed that several posts up from a previous fundraiser was the following:

I could have written the same thing an hour ago and it would still be true, so at least some things remain consistent. My dour outlook and sour disposition are remarkably stable.

Also, if you ever get sound from ANY ad, it really helps if you would email me with WHO the advertiser is so I can get them removed. That video ad feed is not supposed to have sound and when it happens someone is doing something wrong.

Reader Interactions

88Comments

  1. 1.

    Sawgrass Stan

    sending a little PayPal love while Ellen tries to register at a county pet-friendly evac center. Gettin’ scary. Hope there’s wi-fi if we have to evacuate, I’d hate to miss out on the BJ community’s epic snark and compassion in my hour of need.

  6. 6.

    Dave

    Sent a small gift via PayPal… this is a daily habit. I appreciate all you do, what you write and all your contributors and commenters.

    Liberal Dave in Northern Nevada.

  9. 9.

    patrick II

    Wow, talk about coincidence, Alain claims to have “fixed” the auto-trash and two posts later John “coincidentally” posts for contributions; in part to pay Alain. I’m chippin’ in anyway cause I’m easy. That’s why I’m a democrat. Sorry I can’t chip in more (that’s also why I’m a democrat).

  11. 11.

    SFAW

    I clicked on the PayPal link, but somehow it auto-filled the payee as “[email protected]” ? WTF? Who the heck is that? Is that one of your frat brothers?

    Thanks for all you do, glad this joint is here.

  12. 12.

    Roger Moore

    I contributed on Tuesday when Alain made a comment about the need for money. I feel guilty about using an ad blocker, so it’s only fair to chip in some ducats to make up for the lost revenue.

  21. 21.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I chipped in, so do I get to blow the thread open? Cause this made me chuckle, from Pierce

    Somehow, this conversation on Thursday seems to have a weight to it that is not obvious at first glance. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat from Connecticut, is telling various news outlets that there are “gaps” in Junior’s story. The meeting was supposed to involve only Junior and committee staffers. But Blumenthal dropped by for the entire interview because, as he told Politico:,
    “My being there gives me a sense of his demeanor, his willingness to answer questions, his pauses and reluctance on some questions and eagerness on others.”
    Blumenthal did everything except stand behind a sheet of one-way glass.

    Drip…drip…drip.

  23. 23.

    SFAW

    @Silent no more:

    Just found you recently, have been reading here every day.

    Hey Cole! Now that the latest sucker “Silent no more” is hooked, hit him/her up for the “initiation fee,” same as you did to me.

    [Silent no more: In case it wasn’t obvious, I’m joking. Welcome to this den of iniquity!]

  25. 25.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @A Ghost to Most: Done. Thanks to John and all the front pagers.

    That, too. Adam, Cheryl and Mayhew (he’ll always be Mayhew to me) are great additions to the roster.

  26. 26.

    JanieM

    Been feeling guilty for a long time about the ad blocker, but didn’t know (or had forgotten) that you could use PayPal without having a PayPal login. Kicked in a few bucks, made myself a login in the end anyhow. I can’t keep up with this place but to the extent that I look in (daily), I get both good info and good laughs. Thanks to all!

  27. 27.

    ruemara

    Will do once I’m off work. As a thank you for no more autoplay ads. Even when I tried to turn the sound or autoplay off, they would keep playing. Over and over. Awful.

  30. 30.

    hitchhiker

    The juice is a drug to which I am happily addicted. It’s why I don’t have to go to twitter, unless I’m in the mood to hit myself in the face with an old sock soaked in cat pee while hoping for the occasional taste of nectar.

    I read once that if you want to completely destroy a lab rat for behavioral experimentation, you give it intermittent rewards. Sometimes doing the trick will get you the pellet, and sometimes it will get you nothing, and sometimes it will get you a bop on the head. Within hours of this cruelty, the poor rat becomes confused and desperate, but — and this is me on twitter — cannot stop hoping for the pellet.

    BJ is how I avoid all that. These excellent front-pagers and commenters routinely deliver the pellet & keep me informed as much as I can bear to be. So, shekels for you! And thanks.

  34. 34.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    say what you want about Paul Ryan, it’s not every high-ranking Republican who films a commercial for his opponent

    Nicholas Kitchel‏ @ nicholaskitchel
    At the New York Times TimesTalk with @SpeakerRyan, he wasn’t able to answer a very simple question:
    “What’s the minimum wage in Wisconsin?”

  37. 37.

    dexwood

    Done. Thanks, Cole and everyone who keeps this place oiled, in tune, and running. Further, my appreciation extends to all the regular jackals who teach me a thing or two and keep me chuckling.

  42. 42.

    Julialor

    Glad to support my favorite site. My thanks to John for his rants, great stories and pet pics – I miss seeing your four-legged crew! I also admire your exceedingly large heart and strength in adversity.

    I learn so much from the front pagers, as well as from the intelligent and thoughtful comments from so many posters. Fights, not so much.

    I also admire and envy the wit of so many here.

  47. 47.

    Steve in the ATL

    Happy to throw money at B-J as this site goes a long way toward keeping me sane(ish) in these trying times.

    And I love how cranky bastard Cole has attracted a crew of cranky bastard posters! (Obligatory shout outs to efgoldman and Omnes, among many others).

  49. 49.

    efgoldman

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Cole has attracted a crew of cranky bastard posters!

    Cranky?? ME???
    Why some asshole last night accused me of being a lawyer! Can you imagine?

    Omnes had to come to my defense – and he barely charged me for any billable hours!

  50. 50.

    Josie

    Done. Sorry, it’s a small amount. Things are pretty tight right now. I’ll send more a bit later when I can.

  51. 51.

    Steve in the ATL

    @efgoldman: that was beyond the pale. And my apologies for contributing to the problem but referring to you as an honorary lawyer last year. I’m sure everyone added that to their dossiers about you and the damage was done. (I’m not the only one who keeps dossiers on each poster, right?)

    @Raven: and apologies to you as well for not name checking you as a cranky bastard.

  53. 53.

    dance around in your bones

    Sent some moolah for the remarkably consistent and his minions. You’ll pry my ad blocker out my cold dead ? hands so it’s only fair. I never buy from online ads anyway. Lost cause, I am!

  60. 60.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud:

    Saw the title and thought this was going to be about Baud! 2020!

    Baud 2020: Still counting on those eggs to hatch!

  63. 63.

    TenguPhule

    @hitchhiker:

    It’s why I don’t have to go to twitter, unless I’m in the mood to hit myself in the face with an old sock soaked in cat pee while hoping for the occasional taste of nectar.

    So you got on twitter fairly often?

    /I kid.

  64. 64.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    City & State PA‏ CityAndStatePA
    A source reports that Congressman Charlie Dent will announce he will not seek reelection next year

    story says he’s being driven out by a conservative challenger who accuses him of “colluding” with Democrats

    is the Lehigh Valley a swing district?

  65. 65.

    TenguPhule

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    At the New York Times TimesTalk with @SpeakerRyan, he wasn’t able to answer a very simple question:
    “What’s the minimum wage in Wisconsin?”

    I wish I could say this surprised me. Paul Ryan is one of the stupidest people on the face of the Earth and yet he’s touted as a wonk. Wonks everywhere are fucking outraged.

  68. 68.

    TenguPhule

    Oh damn. Public service announcement time.

    Heads up, Equifax got hacked.

    Criminal hackers gained access to files including sensitive personal data on 143 million Americans — Social Security numbers, birth dates and home addresses — by penetrating a Web-based application for Equifax, the credit reporting agency said Thursday.

    The breach, which the company said began in May, was discovered in July. Though Equifax said in a statement that its “core database” was not penetrated, the attackers did gain access to a wide range of data on what appears to be a majority of American adults, as well as some British and Canadian consumers

    This is gonna suck.

  71. 71.

    TenguPhule

    Worse and Worse. Equifax are fucking up the response to the credit information breach.

    The company established a website to allow consumers to see if their data was stolen. But it’s broken and sets the user up for TrustedID, a credit monitoring service owned by, wait for it, Equifax.

    Equifax says that this site will “indicate whether your personal information may have been impacted by this incident.” That is false as of this post’s publication. The company also says it will provide the checker with an “option” to enroll in TrustedID Premier. That’s also false. When a user inputs their data into the system, a message appears that the user can be enrolled in TrustedID Premier at a later date. Mine was 9/11/2017.

    This is completely irresponsible by Equifax.

    The site’s terms of service seem to state that by agreeing to use this service, the user is waving their rights to bring a class action lawsuit against Equifax.

  73. 73.

    J R in WV

    I did it. I’ve started using Amazon, ever since I found out that we have a big credit there from the credit card we use for most of our living expenses… It’s free if you pay it off by the end of the month every month. So far so good. And there’s that credit!

    As a compulsive reader, having a 4 digit credit at a book store…. wow that’s hard to live with. So far I mostly use Amazon for parts I can’t get easily other places, and eclipse filters and glasses.

    John, Thanks again for Balloon-Juice, the front pagers, your snark, and the ability for my snark to get worldwide exposure, kinda.

  77. 77.

    WaterGirl

    My love for BJ is stronger than my hate for PayPal, which is no small thing!

    Cole, I put some money in the pot – please let us know if you find you haven’t gotten what you were hoping for.

    P.S. I kinda miss the hookers and blow reference we usually get with the fundraisers.

  78. 78.

    chris

    Done.

    Next time SLEEP COUNTRY CANADA blasts out of the speakers I had set for AC/DC rest assured I will send 10,000 grumpy owls to find you, John G. Cole. Thanks for all you do.

    ETA: Adblock is off. For now.

  79. 79.

    frosty

    Just chipped in and I’ll add my thanks to you John for setting up and maintaining the site, and to all the front pagers and jackals who educate me, give me reliable news feeds, read Twitter so I don’t have to and provide at least one laugh out loud moment every day.

  80. 80.

    frosty

    @raven: Del’s sons went to the same high school that my boys graduated from. At the oldest one’s graduation, Del and his two sons played for us. I was in the audience going, “That’s Del McCoury! That’s Del McCoury!” Nobody around me had any idea how special it was.

  81. 81.

    Another Scott

    Done.

    Thanks for all you do, JC. And to everyone who makes this one of the best places on the Internet.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  86. 86.

    satby

    @TenguPhule: explains why Eqifax is suddenly offering “free scans of the dark web” to see if your info is out there. I wondered about that.

    Pitched in on the funder too. Morning coffee wouldn’t be the same without you guys.

Comments are closed.