According to our Official Bean Counter's report last week, you, our dedicated readers, have pooled together $2,750 since our winter fundraising appeal kicked off Nov. 22. We are immensely grateful to those of you who have shown your support. The glum news is this amounts to an anemic accumulation rate since we first unfurled our distress flag fifty days ago. The brighter news: $1,700 of these debt-relief funds have been donated since our last issue [Dec. 20], so this offers hope to all of us ETS! volunteers that our SOS signal is getting through. (In case you haven't heard: we need money to ameliorate debts incurred publishing last year's issues; we need funds to secure our ability to publish ETS! for the duration of 2008--which we reallywant to do!)

The reality is we're still more than $2,000 short of our initial goal. Assuming the current rate of donation continues, we must bemoan the insufficient state of our finances for at least another two issues--yuck! Please help us by donating what we need to move on. The sooner the better so we can refocus on what we love, what we all need--especially in light of the FCC's recent decision gift to corporate media conglomerates--which is grassroots, independent media outlets that aren't failing to thrive, but flourishing! Since you read ETS! we know you value alternatives to mainstream media--let what you value grow. Go team! Eat state!