Reply #15: My cell phone is kaka [View All]

[lala_rawraw]

Because I use that number for work, not home phone. Calling cards would be amazing, as we need them, especially for overseas. But you already donated so stop spending any more.

We are desperate also for:
Graphic Designer (to clean up the site and make nice)

At least one "normal" laptop. None of us have one, but I use my husband's old one sometimes as a typewriter. We need something that can handle streaming from remote locations and images. Again, this is not something for people to buy as these things are expensive. But I am thinking if we all emailed Apple, maybe they would be kind enough to donate? We don't need all the bells and whistles of playing cd/mp3 stuff, just a workable machine.

An account at least at Westlaw and/or Lex/Nex (both would be nice) or some other service, as there are few. Again, there is no way we can raise enough for this service because it is hundreds of $$ a month per a single user ID and I don't want to raise that kind of money from people who have little themselves. I am hoping they would "grant" us one account OR the most likely is that we could use some of what we raise to pay as needed (3 bucks or so per research session).

As for staff, there are two journalists and one researcher. The researcher up until yesterday, was paid 0 and living off her savings. So I already paid her a bit out of the fundraiser money as she has not been paid in 4 months or so.

I have a husband who helps to keep a roof over my head (and we are living off credit cards), but I spend more on research than I make, which is next to nothing anyway (you would be in shock if you knew). I don't get paid per hour, per day, per amount of time, etc. I get paid per an article, even if it takes me a month to vet it.
And that is enough to buy a carton of cigs.

The other problem is that I am not working on my books and op-ed (the ones that pay) pieces as there are only two of us. So we need to be able to pay some freelancers to help.

The other staffer is the column editor, but the columnists do not get paid anything. At this point, we need to fund the news side more than the opinion side.

So it is far more than simple funding, it is that we need hardware, software, and volunteers in various areas. We decided to do it now because the work on the Brit documents cost more in research than the ad sales brought in a single month, not that they bring a great deal, but that was the turning point as to "why now".

I will say that I have not yet paid myself as I am waiting to see how much we raise so I can ration out as needed. Also, anyone not comfortable donating, need not do so or if they wish to help, but not donate, then help is much appreciated.

Anyway, let me know what you think of my idea on writing to Apple maybe. Is that something that would/could work?

One more thing:

I think those trying to make the latest faux scandal may want to actually consider that we have the work already to show where our limited funds go. So it is not like this is "pre-something". Again, slander and libel seems to be the only function these people have in their lives. That an torture support. The culture of lies does not merge well with reality.

Note to Psychotics who Sold Their Souls for Trickle Down Propaganda:

I do not intend on posting "documents" to prove what we have already done, which is proof enough of what we need to do and cannot do alone. In other words, the little eyes reading this (and every other comment on this forum because their lives are really that pointless) better think twice about making this smear game a reality, especially the forum owner, as I do believe actual libel and false accusations of fraud are not covered. I am not in surgery at the moment, and I can and will react. Got that kiddos?

End of note tot psychotics.