Founder’s Day — A Salon with Keir Giles
Russia’s war is on everybody, really
A few months after launching Bette Dangerous, we were humming along. I had just come back from watching a play about the origin story of Bill W and Dr Bob, which for those in recovery is like a visit to mecca. I fired up a French film with Paul Meurisse, who moves so elegantly I paused the film to see if he had been a dancer (he had). That’s when I saw the attacks on my Substack.
Ugly images, venal names — a vulnerability in Substack’s security protections, where anyone can ‘like’ a post, even if only paid members can comment. The settings don’t allow to turn off just likes, so anyone who commented on my posts received alerts with ugly images with venal names.
My fingers were shaking so hard I had trouble dialing the phone to wake up HiFi in Ohio, who at 3 am calmly walked me through the settings until I made it stop.
What was designed to terrorize me — death threats and hate attacks instigated by Joe Flynn calling for my arrest on Twitter — and designed to make this community turn away from me, had the reverse effect.
You doubled down. I doubled down.
We do important work here — relaying information, connecting with global pro-democracy experts who are standing in the breach to derail authoritarian capture, while also forging a community that bears witness to these trouble times. Just look at what happened in Ohio and take a bow.
So many of you upgraded to Founding Member — supporting my work at the highest level — that I want to give back, which is why I’m launching a monthly Founder’s Day salon.
Those who are Founding Members will be receiving a registration link to join us Sunday, August 20, 1:30 pm for an hour with Keir Giles, who wrote ‘Russia’s War on Everybody.’ Here is a print report based on a RadPod interview with Keir:
I am sensitive to the various situations of members of this community, and although Founding Memberships default to $210 annually, I have made Founding memberships to include anything above the full annual rate — so those who wish to upgrade to Founding Member can do so by typing in their own amount.
In addition, members who were first to support me at the full annual rate have been added to the Founder’s List.
All paid members will continue to receive invites to our Speakeasys, Happy Hours, and full archives. You are all VIPs, and I am very grateful.
Onward and upward.
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Bette Dangerous is a reader-funded magazine. Thank you to all monthly, annual, and founding members. Thank you as well to all those who support my work with your generous coffee tips and who buy my ebooks. Some of you prefer making subsidizing donations via venmo, and it’s always greatly appreciated. If you wish to gift a membership, you can do so by donating to the ko-fi or venmo accounts, and indicate it’s for a gift, or do so here.
Founding Members will be invited to our first monthly Founder’s Day event with ‘Russia’s War on Everybody’ author Keir Giles on August 20. All paid members receive invites to our ‘Speakeasy’ zoom salons, and weekly wellness checkins, Bette’s Happy Hour. Our next ‘Speakeasy’ on August 27 at 1:30 pm PT will feature Monique Camarra!
Also, a private link to an annual membership discount for older adults, those on fixed incomes or drawing disability, as well as activists and members of the media is available upon request at bettedangerous@gmail.com. 🥹
“We just have to see that the battle for democracy is broader. It's deeper.”—David Pepper
“I need people to see they're on the frontline. Wherever you live, if you’re doing this work, you are the frontline.”—David Pepper
“The message should be a fair deal… fairness everywhere.”—Martin Sheil
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“I say a silent prayer of thanksgiving as I walk upon the earth.”-Audrey Peterman.
“May the viral hope for truth and humanity wash away the chaos of these years.”-S.C., Bette community member
“Something Sacred never dies in almost all of us, who can hear the invitation of Truth…”-words from a Bette Dangerous community member
“Non-violent protest is a life-affirming activity as it seeks to promote a more humane society.”-Ellen Zucker
“Nothing but blue skies from now on…”-Irving Berlin
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