Five days into this urgent appeal and we're almost at the one-third mark in our emergency donation drive. I know it's a pain to keep hearing it over and over, but this is serious and I'm afraid if we don't raise the bare-bones minimum in order to stave off what is shaping up to being a disaster, we'll cease to exist.

What's at stake is a lot. As you all know, Newstalgia is a site based on my archive of sounds and voices going back to the 1890's and continuing up to today. Recordings, some of them one-of-a-kind, are all part of that archive. It is a huge task to keep running and rents have been increasing in order to house the collection. Since Newstalgia as a site isn't making any money from advertising, or day to day support, I have been faced with a situation where there is no money to pay the rent and no money to keep the site up and running - unless you help.

Many of you have pitched it. I am beyond grateful for the donations that have come in so far. A lot of you have been very generous and many more of you have given what you can. It is all desperately needed and it is all profoundly appreciated. The amount doesn't matter. The fact that you are willing to support what I've been trying to do here the past three years means an incredible amount to me.

So I'm asking you to please consider making a donation to keep Newstalgia the diverse and vital website it has come to be. I have tried, in my way, to make a difference by offering a historic take on current events - letting you know that history is very much a living thing. I have tried to offer a wide range of historic and cultural posts as a way of expanding your point of view of the world. As it has mine over the years.

If you enjoy it and have, in some way benefitted from it or gained a different perspective on our present world because of it, please consider helping keep it going by making a donation.

Any amount is gratefully appreciated. We're getting closer. Our goal is $5,000.00 and we're 1/3 of the way so far. We can do it. We can make it happen.

Gordon

Hat in hand, tin cup, on one knee - beggin' beggin' beggin'. Day Number 3 of the Newstalgia Fund Drive. It's going to a completely worthy (and, somewhat noble I might add) cause; keeping the Archives alive and keeping Newstalgia up and running. The costs are horrific and the bills are mountainous. We're broke and history can be expensive.

I wish I had coffee mugs and t-shirts like our sister site C&L has, but no. Newstalgia can't offer anything but more rare stuff, more complete news and speeches (not like the clips you hear everywhere else - a big 30 seconds worth), and more stuff you just won't hear anywhere else, maybe on the planet.

Let's put it this way - where else can you go where you can hear Adlai Stevenson and Father Coughlin Monday through Friday, some Mahler on Wednesday, Radiohead on Saturday and Miles Davis on Sunday?

Yeah, I thought so - no place. That's what Newtalgia is all about. Trying in our weird way to make your life a little more interesting, a little more involved and a little more informed.

But I really need your help doing that. Anything you can do is appreciated. And a big round of applause to the people who have already made contributions. You're making a difference and I'll be around as long as you're around.

And while you're mullin' it over and kickin' the tires, Roscoe has a word or two . . .

(yup, Newstalgia is passing the hat)

(. . . Or you can turn the page)

As much as you hate reading about it is about as much as I hate asking, but the fact of the matter is - Newstalgia really needs your help.

It's been very difficult of late to maintain the blog, keeping bills paid and staying current with the rent. I wish this was the only thing I did every day, but sadly it's not.

This summer has been a dismal time, coupled with the current economy even freelancing has stopped. And we are often tempted to throw our hands up and walk away, but the fact of the matter is, the archive (where all the material you hear comes from) just can't be abandoned. It's reason for existence is because most all of these materials were tossed in the trash and destined for destruction in the first place. I have devoted a goodly part of my life and resources preserving this collection so that people like yourselves can benefit from it, not only now but for years to come.

Many of you have been generous in the past and my gratitude is heartfelt and sincere - it has made a enormous difference and has allowed me to carry on.

But money dissipates and bills accumulate. And putting off that phone call no longer works.

At present we need to raise $10k in order to pay back rent and keep the electricity on. There is no realistic way that amount can be raised via Newstalgia - right now it's really just a matter of what ever can be raised will be of great help.

This is a tough time for a lot of us - now more than ever before it seems. If you can make a donation, no matter how small - it would be lifesaving. If you can't, I more than understand.

No matter what, Newstalgia will continue and strive to give you the best of history presented in the best sound, with no "sound bites" or excerpts where possible. The best and most complete available.

Because . . .well, that's just what we do.

Peace,

Gordon