Donate to YearlyKos today, get cool stuff

BloggerPower.org is holding an online fundraising drive to benefit the YearlyKos Convention. Our goal is to raise $20,000 by April 10th, 2007. Will you help ensure that The YearlyKos Convention is a success this year by donating?

As our news clips page shows the 2006 YearlyKos Convention was a huge success.  However, it was only successful because people like you believed in us enough to support us financially, registered to attend and volunteered your time.

The 2007 YearlyKos Convention in Chicago will be an even bigger event. We've already announced a presidential leadership forum, a screening series which is part celebration of progressive filmmaking and part film school for the blogosphere, and a virtual convention in the world of Second Life. We aren't done yet! In the coming months you'll see announcements about the lineup of panels, keynote speakers and major events.  We may even have a surprise or two in store for you!

We think it'll be an event no one will want to miss, but we do need your financial support to make it happen.  For the duration of this fundraising drive we'll be offering some special gifts as a show of our thanks for your generous donation. If you'd like to make a donation and you don't want a gift just leave a comment in the donation form field provided.

$50 – $99
2007 YearlyKos Convention Lapel Pin

$100 – $249
2006 YearlyKos Convention Lanyard (while supplies last)
Plus all items from above

$250 – $499
2006 Registration Bags - complete with schwag! (while supplies last)
Plus all items above

$500 – $999
Crashing the Gates book
Plus all items above

$1000 and above
Crashing the Gate book (signed by some guy named Markos Moulitsas)
Plus all items above

All benefits listed above will be sent approximately 3-5 weeks after donation is processed.

Donate today!

Looking for other opportunities to support the YearlyKos Convention?  You'll want to check out these items.

• Our grassroots fundraiser in Washington, DC featuring Senator Feingold and Representative Brad Miller.
• Later this month we'll be holding another auction, donate your items today!
• Re-live the memories or see what all the fuss is about, buy unConventional.
• Sign your organization up as a sponsor or exhibitor for the event.

•  Have you donated yet?

  Leave a comment so everyone can give you some mojo.

  by terminal3 on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 09:53:17 AM PDT

•  Schwag?

  $250 – $499
  2006 Registration Bags - complete with schwag! (while supplies last)
  Plus all items above

  Surely you can come up with some sticky buds, no?

  j/k

  by Stand Strong on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 09:59:11 AM PDT

  •  Schwag

    What is the origin of the word "Schwag"?  I've always wondered that.

    by pontificator on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:02:24 AM PDT

    •  For starters,

      Take Our Word

      We discussed swag in Issue 197.  At the time we did not know where the Yiddish-sounding variants shwag and schwag came from.  We did mention that low-grade marijuana is known as shwag (or sometimes schwag).  A reader wrote (Issue 198) to tell us that, in her family, weak coffee is called schwach or schwag.  We found this very interesting, as it did suggest a Yiddish influence on the variant pronunciations of swag AND on the derivation of schwag "low-grade [weak] marijuana".  We did not get to continue our research into the Yiddish word at the time, but we did happen to find it tonight: shvakh "weak".  The existence of that word does make plausible the connection between Yiddish and shwag/schwag.  It certainly doesn’t prove the connection, but it definitely suggests that further research in this area is required.

      by Stand Strong on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:08:21 AM PDT

      •  It could instead suggest

        an interesting derivation for that family's descriptive phrase for crappy coffee (weak = crappy for me).

        just sayin'...

        by PeterHug on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:38:35 AM PDT

      •  No listing in the OED or Webster's 3rd

        I've always assumed this was a joking reference to "swag" which is a word of Scandinavian origin for swaying or lurching.  Meaning 6 in W3 for the second entry of swag (which lists the etymology as obscure) and meaning 9 in the  OED(which attributes it to the scandinavian source) say that "swag" means ill-gotten gains, booty or loot.  

        I don't think it's a real Yiddishism.

        by JayAckroyd on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:40:10 AM PDT

    •  Yeah, I looked for that once

      this definition made sense to me, but I don't know if it is a true origin:

       What is Schwag? The term schwag refers to all manner of logoed stuff given away by companies to get people to remember them, feel good about them, have their phone number and website at hand and generally make them think about them before any of their competitors.  And studies show.... it works!!  (see why buy schwag)

      The original spelling is "swag" (for Stuff We All Get).  A little web research has revealed that there is definitely a widespread use of the term, but no real consensus on the "correct" spelling. One site explained "schwag is what the coolest of the cool people say" and another site indicated it's "called schwag if the item is particularly good."

      by mem from somerville on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:11:43 AM PDT

      •  "Particularly good?"

        Clearly, that's up to the observor, kindbud vs schwag case in point.

        But I won't argue. This is kind of fun, looking up the entymology of words.

        by Stand Strong on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:14:18 AM PDT

    •  Stuff We All Get

      Several sources appear to agree that the term, originally spelled "swag", referred specifically to promotional items handed out to everyone (thus, the "Stuff We All Get") with the sponsoring entity's logo on them.

      Much less certain is where and when the soft "ch" came from.  I've seen some speculation that it was added to denote especially nice items, so that swag was run-of-the-mill, while schwag was the top-notch, glitzy stuff.  Other possibilities include a backhanded reference to the general tipsiness of gift recipients on their way out of big sponsored parties (when they have difficulty with a pure sibilant sound), or perhaps in homage to the Wayne's World expression, "Schwing!".

      Take your pick.

      by The Maven on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:17:48 AM PDT

    •  Another possible origin...

      Wikipedia

      Another use of the term is to describe an object that gets in the way of performing a task. In that sense, the word was coined by Roger Houcke, who used it to refer to obstructions on exhaust piping that prevent a muffler from fitting.

      Who Roger Houcke is, though, I haven't gotten very far yet. Searching his name in quotes retrieves 5 results, all pertaining to schwag (is the guy famous for schwag alone?), including 1 Yahoo! Answers link.

      by Stand Strong on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:20:11 AM PDT

•  I did!

  I raised a virtual glass to Marcy during that NY fundraiser.  I donated in her honor for delivering all that great stuff from the Libby trial.  

  But now I want that lapel pin...I have all the other schwag.  

  Damn, I wish it wasn't tax month....

  by mem from somerville on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:02:39 AM PDT

•  Did donations to the auction count?

  Or are those just out of the goodness of my heart?(well, they didn't bring much either -- the cash the items brought in and the shipping didn't even add up to $25) but I was just wondering....

  I did donate last year, out of the goodness of my heart --- everyone should!  Not just because of swag, but because it is a good cause!

  by annetteboardman on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:04:52 AM PDT

  •  Yeah! Same question

    I've got calluses on my fingers from knitting.

    by Frankenoid on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 12:11:59 PM PDT

•  Thinking about

  donating a D&D character to the auction.

  Either I make one for the bidder, or I auction off one of my retired First Edition AD&D ones.

  I'll ask, worst they can do is say no, right?

  by Moody Loner on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:09:32 AM PDT

  •  "worst they can do is say no, right?"

    Famous last words.  BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

    Just kidding.  Sounds great.  Go for it!

    by pontificator on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:18:05 AM PDT

•  Anyone with Questioons about YKos in Second Life

  should feel free to drop me a note at [e-mail] or a note to Andrew Hoppin at [e-mail].

  by JayAckroyd on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:28:05 AM PDT

  •  I have a YKSL question: when's the next party? :)

    I've only met one person on our island, and he keeps turning into a refrigerator. I'd like to hang with my peeps!

    And I'm wondering if there's some overlap here: if Moody Loner can make D&D characters, perhaps he can make us avatar-alicious, be our fab stylist, etc...

    by Sinator on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:37:25 AM PDT

    •  We just acquired the main space

      We just acquired and located the four islands that will be used for the actual site development. We're planning preconvention events once we have a place to hold them. Any suggestions for such events are welcome.

      We'll have some new video content up shortly, material gathered at March 10th's fundraiser.

      --Jimbo Hoyer

      by JayAckroyd on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:43:44 AM PDT

    •  Different skill set

      I'm sorry it took me so long to respond to this, but I was stunned at "Moody Loner" and "fab stylist" appearing in the same sentence.

      I'm not even on Second Life yet, so I haven't the faintest idea what goes into avataring.

      But, um, thanks anyway.

      by Moody Loner on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 01:42:26 PM PDT

•  Wise investments

  $1000 and above
  Crashing the Gate book (signed by some guy named Markos Moulitsas)

  Sweet. I knew these things would appreciate one day.

  Now selling on Ebay: One $40 $1000 autographed copy of Crashing the Gate

  by AsinineAmerican on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 04:41:38 PM PDT