Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Dumb motherfuckers cannot understand a consequence that most 4 year olds have fully sorted out.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

They punch you in the face and then start crying because their fist hurts.

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

America is going up in flames. The NYTimes fawns over MAGA celebrities. No longer a real newspaper.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

With all due respect and assumptions of good faith, please fuck off into the sun.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

You cannot love your country only when you win.

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Balloon Juice Peeps Are Really Something – $5k Match for Ukraine Donations!

Balloon Juice Peeps Are Really Something – $5k Match for Ukraine Donations!

by | 46 Comments

This post is in: 

Inspired by the generosity that is repeatedly displayed by Balloon Juice peeps, a donor has come forward, hereafter referred to as MR. ANONYMOUS, with an offer to match $5,000 of donations for Ukraine!

Donations can go into either BJ thermometer: Balloon Juice for Ukraine or World Central Kitchen.

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

By default, your contribution through this thermometer will be split evenly between Americares Foundation, Vet Voice Foundation, International Rescue Committee, World Central Kitchen, and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Click Customize Amounts if you don’t want the automatic split between all 5 – and you must click that BEFORE you enter your dollar amount.

 

Or give through this thermometer that goes directly to World Central Kitchen.

World Central Kitchen

 

If we successfully match the full $5,000, then MR. ANONYMOUS will fund the Quiltingfool quilt of Adam Silverman’s choice: “A thank-you from the commentariat, for his amazing work in educating us.”

Starting thermometer readings at the sound of the bell:

Balloon Juice for Ukraine:
$57,460

World Central Kitchen:
$6,746

When the sum on the two calendars increases by $5,000, MR. ANONYMOUS will add his $5,000, and Adam can choose a Ukraine quilt or any quilt from Quiltingfool’s collection.

RING-RING-RING

And we’re off!

(I think Mr. Rogers would be proud.)

Reader Interactions

46Comments

  1. 1.

    Alison Rose 💙🌻💛

    Kicked in $25 to the WCK thermometer.

    WG, may I ask, and I don’t mean this to come across as any pressure, because I know you have a thousand things on your docket, but do you have an idea of when the quilt blocks will be going forward? Thank you for everything you do :)

  3. 3.

    WaterGirl

    @Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: It’s fine for you to ask.

    I completed my work for my summer client yesterday (which has added about 30 hours a week to my normal schedule) so I can start picking up on some of the stuff I had to put on pause.

    Quiltingfool and I have spoken a couple of times this week, so you can expect to see something from me about quilt blocks in the next few days.

    I really appreciate everyone’s patience!

  5. 5.

    prostratedragon

    Well hey!  Just added 25 more for WCK on my own, because I saw they’re going to Jackson.

  8. 8.

    NutmegAgain

    Waaaa! I already gave independently to WCK and the Georgian Legion.  Next time via Balloon Juice.

  16. 16.

    Wolvesvalley

    $50 to the Ukraine fund, split between World Central Kitchen and International Fund for Animal Welfare.

    Is Mr. Anonymous capping matches at $50 per donor, as other matchers have done? Or matching all donations? Either way, many thanks to Mr. Anonymous!

    And Slava Ukraini!

  17. 17.

    wv blondie

    Waiting on getting paid for some work (just 3 digits in my checking account at the moment). But if it comes in today or tomorrow, I’ll kick in something.

  20. 20.

    wv blondie

    That BJ magic must be working! Literally seconds after I posted my comment promising to donate as soon as I got paid, I got an email – and got paid! So … $75 to the group – $15 per.

    Thank you, Balloon Juice! And a toast (it’s after 5 p.m., after all) to Mr. Anonymous!

  22. 22.

    Miss Bianca

    Oh, my…if my paycheck is waiting for me down at the office I am pitching in today! I love Mr Anonymous’s style – Adam totally deserves such a token of our appreciation!

    (For some reason, keyboard wanted to stop at ‘toke’. Gave me a period automatically and everything!)

  23. 23.

    Gin & Tonic

    Thank you very much, Mr Anonymous. As I’ve said, the generosity of this community is overwhelming.

  24. 24.

    Adam L Silverman

    What now?

    If we successfully match the full $5,000, then MR. ANONYMOUS will fund the Quiltingfool quilt of Adam Silverman’s choice: “A thank-you from the commentariat, for his amazing work in educating us.”

    I’m flattered. This – the quilt as a thank you – is a very unexpected and pleasant surprise. Everyone’s generosity here in regard to good causes is, of course, not a surprise.

    Thank you to everyone, you are all most welcome for the updates. Though I know we’ll all be happy when there is no longer a reason to do them.

    Thank you all to for your generosity in regard to Ukraine, as well as all the other good causes we hit you up for.

    And that’s to Watergirl and Quiltingfool for putting this together.

  26. 26.

    WaterGirl

    7,831 – 6,746 = 1,085

    58,385 – 57,460 = 925

    1,085 = 925 = 2,010

    Thanks everybody!  We are over 2/5 of the way to $5,000!

    I think that when we hit 3/5, Adam can start thinking about quilts!

  27. 27.

    Quiltingfool

    @Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: We haven’t forgotten!  Tomorrow I’m going to quilt a bunch (I think maybe 18 or so, I’ve lost count) of Ukrainian blocks.  I made ones that seemed to be very popular, like Patron, Warship Cat, Tank Cat, Sunflower Cat.  I did redraw the Headdress (Vinok in Ukrainian) Cat, and I really like how it turned out.

    Watergirl is getting things organized, and I will be sewing!  We make a good team, and I am so grateful for all the work she does.  I don’t know how she does it, I’d lose my mind!

    As I make blocks, I think of new things to do – so I will have some blocks that may be a bit different than one in the quilt, or some brand new offerings.  I hope some folks might be interested in them.

  34. 34.

    WaterGirl

    9,000 – 6,746 = 2,254

    59,400 – 57,460 = 1,940

    2,254 – 1,940 = 4,194

    Wow!!! We are over 4/5 of the way to $5,000!

    You guys are amazing!

    edit: fixed my typo.

  36. 36.

    Andrya

    @WaterGirl:  Math nerd here.

    Third line of your post should read 2254 + 1940 = 4194

    And I have to confess, I have no right to baulk at typos.  My students once christened me:

    “Typo queen of (our college)”.

    And yes, I’m totally proud of the BJ community.

  37. 37.

    WaterGirl

    @Andrya: The funny thing is, I copied from the similar comment above, and changed the first number of each line, and of course I also changed the result of the subtraction.

    How I managed to get an = in there, I have no idea!

  38. 38.

    WaterGirl

    I had closed the laptop for the night and then thought I had better check to make sure I had completed Wordle for today – because if you miss a day, it ends your streak.  Bastards!

    Anyway, I hadn’t completed it because I was stuck this morning and couldn’t figure out where to go from the letters i had.  Hard word today!  But I got it on the last possible line, so whew!

    Then I did today’s Waffle and ended up with 4 stars, so that was fun.  Okay, bedtime for me!

  39. 39.

    Lexiltucky

    $100 into the Ukraine pot.  It was getting to be time to donate them again, anyways.

    Many Thanks to Adams for all his work.

  43. 43.

    Another Scott

    +151 to WCK.

    I’m glad they’re helping in Jackson, and Ukraine, and elsewhere.

    Thanks everyone.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  45. 45.

    Nancy

    I haven’t been on-line since Wednesday and here are the thermometers all filled in. You are all so incredible, but you knew that.

    I added $25 and tip to World Central Kitchen. It’s been a long dry spell regarding cash inflow.

    Glad I can finally contribute.

  46. 46.

    eachother

    Two Benjamins.

    $100. for World Central Kitchen Thermometer

    $100. for Ukraine Thermometer

    Thanks Balloon Juice for making it easy.  Thanks jackals for your greatness.

Comments are closed.