FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: Tom Scharpling on March 08, 2009, 05:01:50 PM
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(Please repost this everywhere you can! We NEED to get the word out on this!)
Hello everybody! It's Tom Scharpling, the host of The Best Show On WFMU, heard every Tuesday night from 8-11 PM EST over at WFMU (91.1 FM/www.wfmu.org) .
WFMU is in the middle of its fundraising marathon, and I will be doing my second and final marathon show this Tuesday March 10th from 8-11 PM EST, asking for your pledges to keep WFMU up and running for another year.
Remember, WFMU is COMPLETELY LISTENER SPONSORED. We don't take sleazy corporate grants or government subsidies or any of that stuff so that we can bring you freeform radio that is 100 percent free - that's the beauty of not having ties to The Bad Guys.
Would anybody else allow us to do 35 minute Scharpling & Wurster bits? Or take some of the calls we take? No! WFMU is the only place in the world that would give us the freedom that makes the show what it is.
Yes, we’re doing a fundraising show this Tuesday March 10th. But it’s going to be anything but boring. We have GUESTS!
The amazing TED LEO makes his return to The Best Show marathon, playing songs for pledges! This is his third year doing this, and it’s an absolute highlight. And this year he’s going to be joined by a few awesome people. The wonderful AIMEE MANN will also be on hand to play some songs for your contributions!
That’s enough, right? Wrong! The one and only super comedian and host of VH1’s Best Week Ever PAUL F. TOMPKINS will be in the studio! And last but not least the legendary author/actor/computer spokesman JOHN HODGMAN will join us with some very funny surprises! It’s going to be a show for the ages, so do not miss it!
So call and pledge 1-800-989-9368 or pledge online at www.wfmu.org this Tuesday March 10th between 8-11 PM EST!!
In addition to your money going to a worthy cause, you get stuff back. Everybody who pledges 75 bucks or more automatically gets The Best Show On WFMU's MIRTH MUSIC AND MAYHEM: A PREMIUM IN THREE PARTS. This is our best premium to date, and one that people will be talking about for years! Allow me to break it down for you:
The MIRTH part of the pack is an ALL NEW SCHARPLING AND WURSTER CD, with stuff written and recorded for this CD. This marathon is the ONLY time you’ll ever have a chance to get it – it goes out of print as soon as the marathon ends!
The MUSIC part is insane – an all-star various artists tribute to the Paul McCartney album RAM, featuring ALL NEW AND ORIGINAL RECORDINGS from artists like:
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
TED LEO
AIMEE MANN
PORTASTATIC
DANIELSON
DUMP
THE BLACK HOLLIES
THEHANK IV
THE BARBARAS
JAMES PANTS
THE SPIDER BAGS
and so many more!
They recorded these songs JUST FOR THIS CD, and once my marathon show is over, IT IS GONE FOREVER. Talk about collectable, right? RIGHT?!
And finally the MAYHEM part of the deal: A really cool ENVIRONMENTAL TOTE BAG with the famed ‘Dogmo’ logo on the side and a FRIENDS OF TOM MEMBERSHIP CARD that you can only get during this marathon!
So if you want it, YOU MUST PLEDGE DURING MY SHOW THIS TUESDAY MARCH 10th BETWEEN 8-11 PM EST! That is the only way to get my premium! The RAM tribute, the Scharpling & Wurster CD, the tote bag – they all GONE after Tuesday night! So pledge!
And the number to pledge is 800-989-9368, or do it on your computer at www.wfmu.org DURING MY SHOW this Tuesday March 10th from 8-11 PM EST!
Oh, another thing - anyone who pledges $1000 or more to my show gets an insanely special premium: “Taste Of Newbridge”, a limited edition TEA blended by T Salon & T Emporium just for this marathon! It’s a high-end tea combining ‘a black tea base with notes of caramel, chocolate, vanilla and a touch of Mandarin orange rind!’ Each tea comes in a container featuring customized Best Show packaging and a quote from Philly Boy Roy! The retail value on this is almost a hundred bucks, and this is the ONLY chance to ever get it!
There are also a ton of prizes and whatnot that you get for different pledge levels. There are also prize levels at $150, $365, $500, $1000 and $3000, and the station takes care of you big-time with a TON of awesome prizes and shirts and CDs that you can't get anywhere else for those respective levels. AND IT’S TAX DEDUCTABLE! You can check them out over at https://www.wfmu.org/marathon/pledge.php
And you don't have to pay the pledge when you make it - the station will send you a bill in the mail. So if you want to pledge but don't have the money in your hand tonight, don't sweat it! Just pledge now and pay later!
If you aren’t able to make your pledge during my show, you can email me your pledge and I will write it up for you! Just send it to toms@wfmu.org, and give me your full name, mailing address and pledge amount.
Remember the date – this Tuesday March 10th from 8-11 PM EST. We will be joined by TED LEO, AIMEE MANN, PAUL F. TOMPKINS and JOHN HODGMAN all live in the studio, helping raise money to keep WFMU on the air for another year!
I'm counting on you! This Tuesday night March 10th between 8-11 PM EST! 800-989-9368! www.wfmu.org! Do the right thing and strike a blow for The Good Guys!
Thank you.
Tom Scharpling.
PS – Also, do me a favor and SPREAD THE WORD ON THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! Post it to message boards! Put it on blogs! Twitter! Facebook! MySpace! Friendster! Tell anyone and everyone you know about the WFMU marathon!
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I'm calling it: W.
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If this can't break records, I don't know what will.
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I'm calling it: W.
Yes. Not just for the show, but AMERICA.
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http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8kw0w_me_fun
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Is it safe to assume this is being promoted as some kind of battle of the suits?
The suit from Clifford vs. PFT vs. “I’m a PC” suit
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The 3 greatest songs that could break out on tomorrow night's marathon song:
Aimee singing Wichita Lineman
Ted singing Neil Diamond's Hell Yeah
Ted and Aimee duetting on Rush's Time Stand Still
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Is the "songs for pledges" segment going to turn into more of a "dare" situation, like Tom vs. Roy for the baby bottle? Perhaps we could get a full cover album of the top "worst songs ever" out of the marathon.
Porcupine Pie....you know you want to.
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Is this going to be on webcam or has FMU stopped doing that?
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Oops, I just saw that there is a whole thread about what songs TL should play. I'll go over there.
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Hey all!
This isn't any kind of 'make a dare' thing or a 'make your requests' show. That's what Yo La Tengo have been generously doing for years on Gaylord's show. Think of this as an old timey hootenanny, in which people do what they do best as long as the phones are ringing.
That said, it is going to be FUN. So so so much fun.
Tom.
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This isn't any kind of 'make a dare' thing
Make a dare show? That sounds like something creepy they might do on the Mike marathon show.
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This isn't any kind of 'make a dare' thing
Make a dare show? That sounds like something creepy they might do on the Mike marathon show.
"Mike, I will pledge $25 if Larry the Perv will staple his tongue to the desk."
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There's a storm-a-brewin' in Hudson County tonight...tomorrow will be a PLEDGE FIGHT FOR THE AGES
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Tom. I'm jobless. I'm running out of money at an alarming rate. And spirits are down all around right now.
But for you...you will get my pledge, sir. This is too good a cause to pass by and do nothing! Keep up the great work!
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This isn't any kind of 'make a dare' thing
Make a dare show? That sounds like something creepy they might do on the Mike marathon show.
"Mike, I will pledge $25 if Larry the Perv will staple his tongue to the desk."
I hope it's the staple gun used in The Wrestler.
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Tom, will you be singing Wise Up with Aimee Mann? Please say yes.
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If we pledge this week, do we still get the Mirth Music and Mayhem pack (with the Scharpling and Wurster cd, Ram cd and tote bag + card) or is it only the new t-shirt, poster and ep?
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I just figured out I'll have enough money to get the premium this year and I am so happy. I just wish I had enough for some Newbridge Tea. Whoever gets that better post pictures.
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If we pledge this week, do we still get the Mirth Music and Mayhem pack (with the Scharpling and Wurster cd, Ram cd and tote bag + card) or is it only the new t-shirt, poster and ep?
A clarification: the wrong podcast went out today for a little bit. It should've been fixed by now.
EVERYTHING IS THE SAME as far as the premiums goes. Everybody who pledges today DURING MY SHOW gets the MIRTH MUSIC AND MAYHEM pack.
Sorry for the confusion!
Tom.
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Spreadin the word:
http://scratchbomb.com/http://scratchbomb.com/2009/03/reminder-give-til-it-hurts-so-good.html (http://scratchbomb.com/http://scratchbomb.com/2009/03/reminder-give-til-it-hurts-so-good.html)
Also thought FOTs might appreciate this cheesily photochopped image that accompanies the post:
(http://scratchbomb.com/images/goodguys.jpg)
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A clarification: the wrong podcast went out today for a little bit. It should've been fixed by now.
EVERYTHING IS THE SAME as far as the premiums goes. Everybody who pledges today DURING MY SHOW gets the MIRTH MUSIC AND MAYHEM pack.
Sorry for the confusion!
Tom.
[/quote]
Hmm, sounds like Ken may be trying to get Tom back for those disingenuous pledges during his show last week. Jealous of the King?
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No one told me American time zones had changed. I tuned in at 9pm. I'm retracting my pledge
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Another classic. Congrats Tom!
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I missed the first hour because of the time-warp too. Got my pledge in though.
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I couldn't listen tonight, but I'm looking forward to hearing it tomorrow! I PLEDGED! WOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Full thank yous to follow later - I need to sleep now - but seriously, THANK YOU EVERYONE who pledged and helped out and made this insane run possible.
I owe you all.
Tom.
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It's up a day late but there's always time to donate:
http://sidebar.asthmatickitty.com/archives/1600
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Pretty amazing total for the 2 marathon shows. It still looks like the station's going to have a tough time making that goal, sad to say. Does anyone know how much the Yo La Tengo shows usually raise? I can't go back and listen to a previous one since they're not archived for fairly obvious reasons.
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I'd also like to thank everyone who volunteered and pledged during the show. The Best Show community is truly the best.
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It's up a day late but there's always time to donate:
http://sidebar.asthmatickitty.com/archives/1600
I played super stardust HD during last week's show
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another good choice!
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It was great to be there. Big thanks to Tom, Terre, Mike, TL, PFT, John, and Aimee; to all the FOT - J-Gro, Vito, Harold, Spoony, Gregory, and all the other cats, for making it a truly magical night.
Toilet mouths and all.
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I second Martin. Being able to see this all happen was so close to magical that I almost thought I was in a young girl's heart.
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It was like standing in the flame.
Great meeting you guys! Martin from Edison as well. (I nominate him best-looking FOT.)
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Full thank yous to follow later - I need to sleep now - but seriously, THANK YOU EVERYONE who pledged and helped out and made this insane run possible.
I owe you all.
Tom.
Tom sleeps?
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It was like standing in the flame.
Great meeting you guys! Martin from Edison as well. (I nominate him best-looking FOT.)
Oh stop. You're making me blush.
It was a pleasure to meet you, Spoony (and Alvaro)!
It's always nice shaking hands with an FOT.
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Spoony AND Martin from Edison are both very handsome!
(And nice seeing u two guys last night too! Ur such sweeties--- Thanx for FOT favors!)
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And you know what, that Vito guy is pretty easy on the eyes as well!
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And you know what, that Vito guy is pretty easy on the eyes as well!
uuhhhhnn...
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I saw someone take Hugman's pledge and the H-Man. That was also pretty exciting.
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Someone should match the video of "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" to the audio from the feed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJCeTjXxvA
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That's incredible. Wow.
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i just read Ken's email about trying to get more money (we're still $350k away from the goal) and he's maybe freaking out a little. other than getting the word out, how else have people been trying to bring money in from friends, fans, and strangers?
is there anything we can do collaboratively as FOT to bring in some extra dough? any chores or services we can provide for a donation to WFMU? maybe talents you use for work but would like to sell and donate that money to the station?
maybe im blowing the whistle too soon, but Ken's email kind of put a rock in my stomach. im worried.
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i just read Ken's email about trying to get more money (we're still $350k away from the goal) and he's maybe freaking out a little. other than getting the word out, how else have people been trying to bring money in from friends, fans, and strangers?
is there anything we can do collaboratively as FOT to bring in some extra dough? any chores or services we can provide for a donation to WFMU? maybe talents you use for work but would like to sell and donate that money to the station?
maybe im blowing the whistle too soon, but Ken's email kind of put a rock in my stomach. im worried.
I'm not sure, I recruited a friend to Best show a few weeks ago and we both did Premium Pledges, but I'm not sure if there's time left to get people. The lease we can all do is donate our twitter/facebooks statuses for the remaining time.
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Can you post the email, I'm not cool enough to have been included on Ken's mailing list I think? (or didn't press the right buttons at the right times, curse you again internets!)
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I hate that I couldn't pledge during the show! I pledged today online, though, I hope that's good enough.
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Can you post the email, I'm not cool enough to have been included on Ken's mailing list I think? (or didn't press the right buttons at the right times, curse you again internets!)
Greetings, Citizens of WFMU!
Many thanks to those of you who have already pledged to our 2009 Fundraising Marathon. With just over three days to go, we're still over $350,000 away from raising enough money for the next year's worth of radio. It's a little scary to be this far away from the goal so close to the end, but with your help we can still pull it out.
Here's what you can do to help:
1) Make a pledge at this page: https://www.wfmu.org/marathon/pledge.php or call us at 800-989-9368
2) If you're already pledged, pledge on up to the next level! Don't forget that you can pay off any pledges of $10 a month or more automatically with the WFMU Twelve Step Program.
3) If you just can't pledge no mo', by all means, get a friend or family member to pledge!
And of course be sure to tune in and join the radio party! Our live MP3 stream: http://wfmu.org/wfmu.pls
Tonight (Friday March 13th) from 8-11pm, Yo La Tengo comes by to murder more classics as they play your song requests in exchange for pledges. Join Pseu Braun and Gaylord Fields as they host Ira, Georgia, James and Bruce for the annual Yo La Songfest
The marathon wraps up Sunday night at Maxwells in Hoboken with our staff karaoke band, The Hoof and Mouth Sinfonia backing up 40 inebriated singing DJs. For the first time, we're opening up the marathon finale to the public for a $5 admission (also benefiting the marathon). So tune in, or come on down from 7pm to Midnight. Maxwells is located at 1039 Washington Street in Hoboken.
Hope to hear from you in the next few days! We really need your support this year, as we are in danger of falling very far short of our goal and finding ourselves with very serious problems.
Again, huge thanks to those of you who have already helped.
Here are some news links related to this year's WFMU Marathon:
Stereogum’s Pics of Ted Leo, Aimee Mann, Paul F Tompkins and John Hodgman on The Best Show on WFMU:
http://stereogum.com/archives/photo/the-best-show-on-wfmu-fundraiser-31009_057921.html
NJ Star Ledger - DJs Sing to Raise Money for WFMU:
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2009/03/djs_sing_to_raise_money_for_wf.html
Pitchfork on Yo La Tengo, The Best Show on WFMU and more:
http://pitchfork.com/news/34797-ted-leo-yo-la-tengo-raise-money-for-wfmu/
Chunklet Shows Mad Love for WFMU:
http://www.chunklet.com/index.cfm?section=blogs&id=474
Prefix Magazine:
http://www.prefixmag.com/news/wfmu-fundraiser-takes-shape/26773/
Decider New York -
http://newyork.decider.com/articles/wfmu-a-noble-cause-if-there-ever-was-one,24592/
And in Italian:
http://www.indie-rock.it/news_look.php?id=3816
-Ken
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Ken Freedman
WFMU
PO Box 2011
Jersey City, NJ 07303-2011
(201) 521-1416 ext 225
ken@wfmu.org
http://wfmu.org
~~~~~~~~~~~
And hello, this is my first post.
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Greetings, Citizens of WFMU!
Many thanks to those of you who have already pledged to our 2009 Fundraising Marathon. With just over three days to go, we're still over $350,000 away from raising enough money for the next year's worth of radio. It's a little scary to be this far away from the goal so close to the end, but with your help we can still pull it out.
Here's what you can do to help:
1) Make a pledge at this page: https://www.wfmu.org/marathon/pledge.php or call us at 800-989-9368
2) If you're already pledged, pledge on up to the next level! Don't forget that you can pay off any pledges of $10 a month or more automatically with the WFMU Twelve Step Program.
3) If you just can't pledge no mo', by all means, get a friend or family member to pledge!
And of course be sure to tune in and join the radio party! Our live MP3 stream: http://wfmu.org/wfmu.pls
Tonight (Friday March 13th) from 8-11pm, Yo La Tengo comes by to murder more classics as they play your song requests in exchange for pledges. Join Pseu Braun and Gaylord Fields as they host Ira, Georgia, James and Bruce for the annual Yo La Songfest
The marathon wraps up Sunday night at Maxwells in Hoboken with our staff karaoke band, The Hoof and Mouth Sinfonia backing up 40 inebriated singing DJs. For the first time, we're opening up the marathon finale to the public for a $5 admission (also benefiting the marathon). So tune in, or come on down from 7pm to Midnight. Maxwells is located at 1039 Washington Street in Hoboken.
Hope to hear from you in the next few days! We really need your support this year, as we are in danger of falling very far short of our goal and finding ourselves with very serious problems.
Again, huge thanks to those of you who have already helped.
Here are some news links related to this year's WFMU Marathon:
Stereogum’s Pics of Ted Leo, Aimee Mann, Paul F Tompkins and John Hodgman on The Best Show on WFMU:
http://stereogum.com/archives/photo/the-best-show-on-wfmu-fundraiser-31009_057921.html
NJ Star Ledger - DJs Sing to Raise Money for WFMU:
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2009/03/djs_sing_to_raise_money_for_wf.html
Pitchfork on Yo La Tengo, The Best Show on WFMU and more:
http://pitchfork.com/news/34797-ted-leo-yo-la-tengo-raise-money-for-wfmu/
Chunklet Shows Mad Love for WFMU:
http://www.chunklet.com/index.cfm?section=blogs&id=474
Prefix Magazine:
http://www.prefixmag.com/news/wfmu-fundraiser-takes-shape/26773/
Decider New York -
http://newyork.decider.com/articles/wfmu-a-noble-cause-if-there-ever-was-one,24592/
And in Italian:
http://www.indie-rock.it/news_look.php?id=3816
-Ken
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Ken Freedman
WFMU
PO Box 2011
Jersey City, NJ 07303-2011
(201) 521-1416 ext 225
ken@wfmu.org
http://wfmu.org
~~~~~~~~~~~
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I love the Best Show, though I don't have the time to listen to it every week.
Seeing Ken's letter here, with the mention of being "over $350,000 away from raising enough money for the next year's worth of radio," prompted me to pledge for the first time ever.
Carry on.
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People who haven't pledged yet but want to do the right thing should donate their money on SATURDAY March 14th from 3-6 PM EST, when I will be co-hosting with the one and only TERRE T on the CHERRY BLOSSOM CLINIC!
She's got an AMAZING premium this year that you can get for a pledge of $75 or more: THE CHERRY JUBILEEEE ROCK KIT!
Terre describes it as "an amazing 2-fer package combining an EXTRA LONG CD of way outta print records from my personal collection of punk, 6Ts, glam, indie and power pop rarities AND a reprint of the classic Robert Piersanti designed CHERRY BLOSSOM CLINIC T-SHIRT! (Check out the track listing here at www.wfmu.org/tt)".
Seriously, if you missed the Tuesday extravaganzas, or if you need to close out a mouse pledge, or if you like the idea of a radio station that stands alone as a voice of independence in a sea of mediocrity, you NEED to pledge on Saturday from 3-6 PM EST!
To get Terre's premium and to have me read it on the air, you NEED to pledge DURING THE SHOW!
800-989-9368 or wfmu.org!
Tom.