Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Every website needs an "FAQ" area. Usually they are a litany of boring answers. I've taken a different approach here. Enjoy!

What is WRUW's annual budget?
Our annual budget varies between $60,000 and $70,000. Average is $65,000 per year. Our budget was close to $75,000 for 2005-2006 because of studio renovations.

How much of our budget comes from the Telethon?
Approximately 50 percent. Half. The other half comes from the Student Activity Fee from undergraduates.

What's the largest amount of money you can have in coins without being able to make change for a dollar?
$1.19 - 3 quarters, 4 dimes, and 4 pennies. Try it yourself! As a matter of fact, with that amount of money in coin, you can't make change for any other coin, either (with the exception of a half-dollar)!

What does the University pay for in WRUW's budget?
There is no specific line item in the budget that is paid for by Case. Case provides the space for our studios and library. Case provides electricity, heat and building security. Everything else we pay for out of our budget.

Do llamas have the capacity to be harnessed for pulling sleighs or hay wagons?
Llamas can pull carts so I would imagine they could also pull sleighs however, they don't work in December and they are not very good at landing on roof tops.

So what happens if we don't have a successful fundraiser?
If we don't have a successful fundraiser, we won't be able to buy the equipment that makes us sound better. We won't be able to hold StudioArama 2005 in August/September. We won't be able to spend as much money on music. We WILL suffer in the quality of services we provide to the listener.

Why is an acre 43,560 square feet?
"Acre" is an Anglo-Saxon word that means, literally, the amount of land that can be plowed in one day. The actual size of an acre was obviously variable. That is, until the reign of Henry VIII who codified the measurement to be 40 poles long by 4 poles wide, or 43,560 square feet.

Did you design that "How to Beg Online" logo?
No. I used Gotlogos.com.

Will we ever sell-out and "go commercial" if we don't have a good fundraiser?
We are licensed as a non-commercial station. We reside in the non-commercial end of the dial. We won't suddenly "go commercial". Furthermore, from a programming perspective, I don't think we'll "sell out" either. The staff wouldn't let it happen. If we don't have a good fundraiser, we'll struggle through the next year.

Are all the "House Cat Diaries" promos completely original?
Unfortunately, no. Some were adapted from a number of cat diaries posted around the internet, such as this cat diary. Garry Seman reports that many of the others are original, with some suggestions coming from listeners.

Why is the pipe under the sink "S" shaped instead of going straight down?
Even though this pipe is "S-shaped", plumbers call it a "P" trap and believe me, you want those curves. The curvy pipe dips down below the horizontal pipe so that a water seal is formed in the bend, assuring that water, not air, will fill the area below the horizontal pipe. This deliberate water blockage is created to block sewer and other foul smells from drifting up the pipe and into the room. As an added bonus, a "P" trap has been known to save countless valuables, such as wedding rings, that have inadvertently been dropped down the drain.

What if I don't get any calls or donations during my show?
It is very common for several shows on the schedule to get no calls and no donations. If you've given your best effort, stated a coherent and positive case for giving to the station, and really were prepared to talk about the fundraiser, that's all you can do. Sure, it's discouraging when no one calls, but after all, you can't force listeners to give money! They'll give when they are ready to give.

The best way to look at a "no calls" situation is that your listeners aren't really "ready" to give. HOWEVER, by promoting the telethon during your show, you are helping your listeners "buy in" to the station's goals and mission so that they WILL give later in the week.

How do I get into the voiceover business?
Do an all night show for free for about 10 years. Remember, starving will help you develop character voices. Wash the bosses' car a lot. Be nice to animals.

Will I be thrown off the air if I don't raise any money?
No. The worthiness of your show is not tied to your ability to raise money. However, you can accumulate demerits for not participating in various telethon activities, and then be thrown off the air if you accumulate enough demerits to warrant a suspension. :)

Where can I get a good scolding?
Right here: Shut up, stop whining about your life, and get to work fixing it! Play nice with others! Clean up your own mess! No running with scissors! Settle down!

How do I let you know equipment needs to be fixed?
Go to http://www.wruwhelpdesk.com and submit a ticket.

Can I ask people to make donations so they can get a request played?
If you were listening to the radio and you heard the announcer say that, what would you do? You get 2 points if you said "I would call in with fake information and then not pay my donation". Listeners don't like these "tricks" to get them to donate ... and we hate having to process bogus calls and donations. So no, don't do it.

How do you develop a new character voice?
I brainstorm while lounging in a bathtub of green Jello (fully dressed) while humming national anthems of the world, thinking of accents, and dreaming of being a lumberjack. (Obviously.)

What equipment did we buy with last year's money?
See last year's equipment purchases.

What did we buy the year before that?
See 2006 equipment purchases.

And the year before that?
See 2005 equipment purchases.

What's the difference between a "No Outlet" and a "Dead End" sign?
Not much. Although by law there is no technical distinction between the two, there is a subtle difference in practice. A "Dead End" sign will commonly be used for roads or streets that terminate within sight of the driver, whereas a "No Outlet" sign is more commonly used to sign a road or street which is the only entrance and exit to a neighborhood or subdivision.

< More to come! >