Donation Drive 09 Coming to a Close

Section: 

Special Thanks to our 500th donor for 2009 **Gumbie**
Nice work being just a little extra awesome.

---

The list of donors you will see below the bump is two things -- 1) very very long and 2) finally up to date as of this afternoon. It is bursting at the seams with people who I would describe in congressional testimony using the flowery language of hyperbole. These people, these guardians of the GWJ nation, they’re the people you can thank over the year to come for keeping the lights on and the spotlight focused tightly on the dancing bear — which is really just Julian in a bear suit, but I digress.

Our annual donation drive ends, Monday October 5, at 11:59. If you haven't donated and would like to, please see here for details on how to have your name included in our annual prize giveaway.

I bring this up because there are some pretty awesome prizes associated with being a donor -- including a highly collectible and signed Bioshock figurine, a console or PC upgrade and some surprisingly awesome soap -- to say nothing of this being your one opportunity every year to get a fancy little icon under your name. I don’t want to say that these icons will be the fashion accessory sweeping Milan in the fall, so I will simply imply it in typically irresponsible fashion.

Back to the list for a second. As I mentioned it is long. In fact, the total number of donors to date is around the 460 mark. I realize it would be incredibly difficult to break the 500 mark this year, which has been one of our long-standing and largely unattainable goals, but not necessarily impossible. I’m just sayin’.

But, as we wind down this drive, I want to take a minute and offer a few thank yous.

*Update* As of 10:00 CST our drive count is at 485 donors. A brief special thank you will go out to our 500th donor should we reach that goal. Also many of you sent me personal notes mentioning that you were unable to donate this year due to a variety of difficulties, or that you wished you could donate more. Thank you so much for even thinking of us, and do not despair in the least if times are tough. Ideally this is a time when our community should be there for you.

Obviously, thank you to absolutely everyone who chipped in to the cause. This show of support is gratifying not just because of the money but because we are driven by the goal of creating content and an environment that you think is worth supporting. Whether you come for the articles, the podcast or the community, thanks for taking part and taking some degree of ownership over this online real estate.

It is of some interest to note that the vast majority of our audience doesn’t necessarily have a highly visible forum presence, but they are as much a part of the community as anyone. Ok, maybe not as much as Rat Boy, but that’s a special case. Thank you to the lurkers who quietly populate our servers for showing up in huge numbers every year to remind us that you are out there.

I also want to thank the spouses of our donors, who often had to be asked for explicit permission to send money to a couple of guys running a website. If your spouse was skeptical about allowing you to donate this year, put them on the line for a second.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Hi, I’m Sean Sands, co-founder of Gamerswithjobs.com. It’s possible I’m also responsible for numerous distractions your significant other experiences when he or she should be mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, taking the kids to school or earning income so that your family can have food on the table. Sorry about that. You should know, however, he or she was just saying something really nice about you earlier while you weren’t looking. Seriously, it was quite complimentary. Anyway, I want to take a moment to thank you for permitting/encouraging/pretending not to notice your spouse’s donation.

We’ll try to be a little better about not taking up all your significant other’s time this year.

The point, and this is for everyone again, is that you guys are the reason GWJ is here in the first place and the reason we look forward to keeping the show running year after year. If there was anyone out there hoping that perhaps in this recession, in this economy, our little experiment would finally fizzle, I present very nearly, almost-but-not-quite 500 reason why it won’t:

93_Confirmed
Aaron D.
Aartion VII
Ahrezmendi
Al
alabasterslim
Alien Loge Gardener
Alien13z
AManCalledBob
Amn
Amoebic
Andor
AndrewA
Andy
Angry Ginger
AnimeJ
Anjin
Anodyne
anth
AP Erebus
Arovin
Asz
Atlas
Atomicvideohead
Auralyn
AUsTBirD
Axon
Badferret
BadKen
Badmojo
bandango
Bandus
Banquo
Bear
beeporama
bennard
Berend_Jan
biogolem
Bjlightnin
blotto the clown
bnpederson
Bob5602
Bonus_Eruptus
Boogle
boreden-myrddraal
boyhowdy
Braehole
BrassMonkey
Breadmanben
Breander
BreechLoad
Brizahd
BrokenOx
Bullion Cube
Burnt Toast
CannibalCrowley
Capricorn1
carrotpanic
casktapper
chaosmos
Chief
Chief Wiggum
ChiSoxKeith
ChrisGwinn
Chump
Chumpy_McChump
Clemenstation
clever id
cmeeko
cmitts
Cod
Coldstream
consciousness
Copingsaw
Crel
croaker
Crouton
Crunchy
cube
Cyprus
Cyranix
cyrax
d4m0
Dan
DanyBoy
DareX2
Datyedyeguy
Deftly
dejanzie
demonbox
Demonicmaster
Desram
DevilStick
DF7
dhaelis
Dimmerswitch
DirtierParsley
Distantsound
Dominic Knight
Donan
DonutKing
doogiemac
doubleplusungood
doubtingthomas396
Dr._J
Dr_Awkward
Draco
Dramatic Marlin
DrJekl
DrJones
DrSugardaddy
Druidpeak
duckideva
duckilama
DudleySmith
Duoae
Dysplastic
Edge153
Edwin
Edxactly
eezy_bordone
El_Duder
elcapitanbsc
elewis17
Elliottx
Elycion
Emyln
EnterNameHere
EriktheRed
estorino
EvilDead
EvilHomer3k
evilseed
Falchion
Fedaykin98
fenway
FeralMonkey
firesloth
Foose
Fripper
Fseven
furtivespy
garion333
General Crespin
GioClark
Goo
Goonch
Gravey
Griffen8280
Growat
Grubber788
Grumpicus
gtnissanfan
Gunner
H to the ickle
Haakon7
HaciendaSquish
Hantaxp
harrisben
headleym
Heatseek
heavyfuel
HedgeWizard
Hemidal
Heretk
hfm
Higgledy
Hobbes2099
Hypatian
Hyperion540
iceblink
il dottore
indy
infinitelyloopy
Infinity
InfluenceDevice
InspiringSN
IUMogg
jakeleg
Jakobedlam
JaSeR
Jayhawker
JediK809
JeepersCrow
Jerrak
jlaakso
jmdanny
JohnnyMoJo
Johnvanjim
Jonman
Judge_Digger
Kannon
kaostheory
Karmajay
kenhwcan
Kepheus
kernelvenus
Kier
Kilaban
Kilanash
KillTrash
Kiri
Kloreep
Kolbo
Kosars
KrazyTaco[FO]
kuddles
Kurrelgyre
Kvalnir
lactose
Landshrk83
Latrine
Leery
Lester_King
Lex Cayman
LiK
likedamaster
Lilcodger
LiquidMantis
litrock
LobsterMobster
lord_haven
LordJezo
Lorenolio
lostlobster
LouZiffer
Lucky Wilbury
Ludditus
LupusUmbrus
MadGav
Malor
Mammux
Maq
markly
McChuck
MeatMan
merphle
merzy
MightyMooquack
MikeSands
minadaddy
Minarchist
Minase
misterglass
Mixolyde
MonoCheli
Montalban
mookiefl
MoonDragon
Mr Crinkle
Mr.Green
MrCompletely
MrDeVil909
mrtomaytohead
mrwynd
muttonchop
MyBrainHz
Mystic Violet
ndnichols
Nei
Nightmare
Nomad
Norfair
Nosferatu
NSMike
Nuean
Nyxs Optare
obadiahstarbuck
OG_slinger
Old Man Pi
Oldgoat
oMonarca
oozlum
Orphu
Oso
Overlap12
OzymandiasAV
PandaEskimo
Papageno
PapaLoo
Par
ParallaxAbstraction
Pasty
PCMAN
Pharacon
Philosofrenzy
philucifer
Phishposer
pneuman
polq37
Poor Old Lu
PopEsc
Poppinfresh
Postmann88
Prozac
Pseudoprime1979
psu_13
PsychoKillerZ
Puce Moose
Pupi
Quicksilver
Quintin Stone
Rainsmercy
ralphtrickey
Ranger Rick
Rat Boy
Ravenlock
RedBrain
RedJen
ReijMan
Renji
Reshogg
Rexneron
Rezzy
Rob_Anybody
Robear
SaintFaucet
savethedinosaurs
saxtus
Schmutzli
scoopsy
scott
Scratched
Scrote
Scuigi
sebulba
Sentenza
Serengeti
Shadout
sheared
Shoal07
ShynDarkly
SillyRabbit
Silveran
Sinbin74
Sir Rockford
skeletonframes
Skogul
Slimrock
Smials
Snooglebum
SocialChameleon
sortimat
souldaddy
Sparhawk
spider_j
St. Hillary
Staats
stardolphin
stauf7
Stengah
stevenmack
Strekos
stupidhaiku
Stylez
subaltern
Swat
Sway
Switchbreak
syndicatedragon
Tach
taer
Taharka
Tamren
tanstaafl
Tekman
Tempest Blayze
Teneman
Terin23
ThatGuy42
the_korben
TheArtOfScience
TheCounselor
Thirteenth
ThisRedhead
Thowky
thyarcher
Tigerbill
timzentu
Torq
Trachalio
TrashiDawa
trowan
TrueNeut
Truk Treadwell
uberartist
ubrakto
Ulairi
urko
vedichymn
Vega
Vegan
Veggie Pirate
Vrikk
W1LL3R
Wakim
walterqchocobo
Waltz
wanderingtaoist
weswilson
wiirsum
wiredasylum
Wook1138
Xeneth
Xerxes
yaz
Yellow5
Yon Rabbit
Yoreel
Yoyoson
Zelos
Zyblorg
*Legion*

---- Final donation drive list will be available on Tuesday. This list is current as of 3:00pm CST Wednesday Sept 30. Donations received after that time will be included in our final update after the drive is closed.

Comments

Andy wrote:
Pharacon wrote:

I am glad that I donated, because no matter what forum I am in. It is always 8:30!

More like 09:30.

Wait, I thought it was 3:00?
(Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?)

duckideva wrote:

Wait, doesn't donating a giant log of custom made soap for the drive count? (Or was there no interest in that prize...which is cool, if nobody wants it, it saves me 6 hours of labor and a ton of materials...it's fine, I'll just be over here, alone, in the dark.../jewish mother.) *sniff*

You're a tragic victim of our bureaucratic process. All fixed!

I am quite impressed. Maybe we will make the 500, maybe not. But wow, a very nice and giving community we have.

ChrisGwinn wrote:

I donated and emailed, and I'm not on the list. Given that I haven't seen anyone floating around whose user name was "Gwinn", is it possible that's me?

I'll be watching this post in case you want a new avatar, btw.

AndrewA wrote:

I came for the podcast, and stay for the community. Not a lot of posts under my belt, but I always do some lurking every day.

Such a great little thing you guys have going here.

Same deal here. That podcast is one of the highlights of my week (though the articles are also frequently awesome).

That list is pretty inspiring to see. Group hug, everybody.

Certis wrote:
duckideva wrote:

Wait, doesn't donating a giant log of custom made soap for the drive count? (Or was there no interest in that prize...which is cool, if nobody wants it, it saves me 6 hours of labor and a ton of materials...it's fine, I'll just be over here, alone, in the dark.../jewish mother.) *sniff*

You're a tragic victim of our bureaucratic process. All fixed!

Thanks Fearless Leader!

tanstaafl wrote:
Andy wrote:
Pharacon wrote:

I am glad that I donated, because no matter what forum I am in. It is always 8:30!

More like 09:30.

Wait, I thought it was 3:00?
(Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?)

I thought so too, at first. In fact, I edited my post after I realized that the little knob to set the time is usually at 3:00 and that the hour hand isn't exactly on the number but a little further.

I don't know what's more mind-boggling: the number of names on that list that I don't recognize or the number that I do.
Also, can I change my tag to Guardian of GWJ?

Such a big list, go 500

Hey, Legion's on the bottom. He must have used the not so popular bottom asterisk key.

ChrisGwinn wrote:

I donated and emailed, and I'm not on the list. Given that I haven't seen anyone floating around whose user name was "Gwinn", is it possible that's me?

I think you're right! Gwinn does not exist in the DB. All fixed

Cool, I got my choo-choo plane! Thanks!

Ah yes, more gold to add to my collection.

AndrewA wrote:

I came for the podcast, and stay for the community. Not a lot of posts under my belt, but I always do some lurking every day.

Such a great little thing you guys have going here.

Exactly what he said

Wait, doesn't donating a giant log of custom made soap for the drive count?

Note, that I mentioned the "awesome soap" in particular right up in the post there. It is soap clearly made from love.

ChrisGwinn wrote:

I donated and emailed, and I'm not on the list. Given that I haven't seen anyone floating around whose user name was "Gwinn", is it possible that's me?

I donated as well on 9/16 and don't appear on the list.
I am resending my email with paypal confirmation to Elysium now.
Please let me know if there are any questions.

duckideva wrote:

Wait, doesn't donating a giant log of custom made soap for the drive count? (Or was there no interest in that prize...which is cool, if nobody wants it, it saves me 6 hours of labor and a ton of materials...it's fine, I'll just be over here, alone, in the dark.../jewish mother.) *sniff*

I'm not allowed to win, but I would appreciate a free wiener bomb.

Kannon wrote:
Bullion Cube wrote:
Yoyoson wrote:

Huh, that's funny.. numerals go at the top of the list.. but special characters like the asterisk go on the bottom. Funny how that is.

One word...*Legion*

;-)

Yeah, he'd be at the bottom of the list, asterisks or not.

I want to see *Legion* lifted up -- if only so I can occupy that last spot. C'mon, I've got the last two letters of the alphabet -- by all rights, that spot should be mine, not scooped by some "special" character.

zyblorg wrote:

I want to see *Legion* lifted up -- if only so I can occupy that last spot. C'mon, I've got the last two letters of the alphabet -- by all rights, that spot should be mine, not scooped by some "special" character.

Special like Ed?

zyblorg wrote:
Kannon wrote:
Bullion Cube wrote:
Yoyoson wrote:

Huh, that's funny.. numerals go at the top of the list.. but special characters like the asterisk go on the bottom. Funny how that is.

One word...*Legion*

;-)

Yeah, he'd be at the bottom of the list, asterisks or not.

I want to see *Legion* lifted up -- if only so I can occupy that last spot. C'mon, I've got the last two letters of the alphabet -- by all rights, that spot should be mine, not scooped by some "special" character.

I think next year's icon should be a golden *Legion* asterisk.

Wow 485, great job everyone. Such a great community we have here!

I donated today and my email is also sent. (I know the next update won't be till next week).

In my tardiness, all I can say is I wanted to be fashionably late and enjoy the adrenaline rush-fueled final flurry of donation activity leading up to the deadline.

Ah, awesome list of people! Also, always glad to help keep the site going. Amazing community!

My donation is seeping through the pipes of the intarwebz as I type. Thanks for all your great work!

Woo, got my watch! Keep up the great work guys. This site makes my day.

Quintin_Stone wrote:
zyblorg wrote:

I want to see *Legion* lifted up -- if only so I can occupy that last spot. C'mon, I've got the last two letters of the alphabet -- by all rights, that spot should be mine, not scooped by some "special" character.

Special like Ed?

I shan't comment on the length of bus in which *Legion* goes to school.

I'd suggest a huge almost 500 person group hug but there's gotta be a few grabasses among us.

Then again, there are probably just as many who wouldn't mind.

I'm proud to be on that list with so many others. Best. Community. Ever.

I can't say thank you enough to everyone for keeping the lights on around here -- from the donors to the writers to the techies who never get any credit for keeping things running.

duckideva wrote:

Wait, doesn't donating a giant log of custom made soap for the drive count? (Or was there no interest in that prize...which is cool, if nobody wants it, it saves me 6 hours of labor and a ton of materials...it's fine, I'll just be over here, alone, in the dark.../jewish mother.) *sniff*

You clearly didn't listen to the podcast. Your log got a solid discussion!

Is there an updated prize list anywhere? (Said soap appears no where in print...)

As one of those low-yield forum goers, thanks to GWJ. I do far more reading than I do posting but I keep coming back because the community is absolutely top-notch.