The Thunderbolt 171130 Garbage In — Garbage Out

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Dana Walker

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Nov 30, 2017, 6:49:14 AM11/30/17

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The Thunderbolt

News — Commentary — Calendar of Activist Events — Dumb Jokes

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1) FYI Section:

1A) Donate to Open Media — Help Save Net Neutrality

1B) Battling ‘Trumpism’

1C) New Local Publication: The Localist

2) Bernie Meyer Speaks on his Trip to India

3) Book Discussion: The Story of the Russian Revolution, by China Miéville

4) Dance Magic Dance Benefit!! (Full Circle United // PiPE!!!)

5) Family Holiday Craft Night

6) Bonus Tip of the Day

A detailed description of all events is located after the News and Commentary section

To go directly to an event description just type the index entry above into a search box

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Garbage In — Garbage Out

171130

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Great Minds Thinking Alike

Hey, Kids!

I once wrote a novel called Legends of the West wherein the central protagonist was the son of a Mormon who refused to participate in a little known historical event known as the ‘Mountain Meadows Massacre’ and/or the ‘Fancher Massacre’, wherein a group of several hundred wealthy anti-Mormon bigots were passing through Utah on their way to California but were instead butchered down to every last man woman and nearly every child by a group of Mormons that were dressed as Paiutes. (Actual Paiutes had actually carried out the original attack — but that had been at the bequest of the local Mormon population. However, when the travelers proved adept at defending themselves the Paiutes cut their losses and backed off — and so the Mormons ended up just conducting the massacre themselves and then blamed the Paiutes.

I literally start my novel off with a detailed description of this atrocity.

Here is a link to a PDF copy of my novel on Wordpress:

https://dana98501.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/legends-of-the-west.pdf

A few of the Fancher Party children were spared and subsequently adopted into Mormon families — and all of that dirty laundry was eventually exposed and it is all a fascinating and crazy story.

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Well — I am currently watching a Netflix series called Godless wherein the central antagonist was one of those few children of the Fancher party that survived and were then adopted by a Mormon family.

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They almost stole my idea.

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I have only watched three episodes of Godless but it has a lot of accurate (and inaccurate) historical references — and the setting is an isolated mining town in 19^th Century New Mexico wherein all the men in the town die in a mining accident leaving all the women in charge.

It is actually quite good (if a bit hyperbolic) so far.

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Garbage In — Garbage Out

For purposes of setting bail, a lot of courtrooms these days are using computer programs that analyze data sets in determining the risk level of defendants in courtrooms.

It turns out that these computer programs produce ‘false positives’ for black people twice as often as they do for white people.

Really? How can a supposedly dispassionate and objective computer program be racist?

Simple: The data sets that the program uses are derived from our current criminal justice system — which is systemically racist to its core.

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This is the result of that old computer programmer adage: Garbage in, garbage out.

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Thunderbolts on the Air

I have a short newsletter this week because I spent all my energy on radio shows.

I have a feeling that — at long last — I will soon (hopefully) be on the air on KAOS soon and I want to be ready.

I have a brand new high-wattage Thunderbolt radio program ready for airing tomorrow morning. (I was hoping that this was going to be my first original show for KAOS whilst I was recording it — but no such luck.) You should check it out the radio show if you haven’t already — and I am well pleased with tomorrow’s show so that would be a good one to start with.

Go to www.radio4all.net and search for the Thunderbolt.

If you’re a Facecraker you can also find links and program notes on the Thunderbolt Facecrack page:

https://www.facebook.com/ThurstonActivists/?fref=ts

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The Olympia Action Alert

Week of November 30^th thru December 7^th, 2017

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1) FYI Section:

1A) Donate to Open Media — Help Save Net Neutrality

Go here to donate to Open Media:

https://act.openmedia.org/ajitpaivotes/donate?src=162151

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1B) Battling ‘Trumpism’

I actually haven’t read this yet myself, but I trust Glen’s insights enough to recommend it anyway.

This came from Glen:

For the past year I have been working hard to understand the “Trumpism” phenomenon and devise strategies to help us stop it.

After writing a number of articles, I just now finished writing a very thorough essay full of information, insights, and strategies for nonviolent grassroots organizing to stop Trump’s abuses and the long-standing underlying problems that allowed him to gain power. I call my article “How We Got into Our Current Crisis — And How to Get Out.”

It is long but well worth investing the time to read, because it can significantly help us turn things around. I posted it to my new blog, www.parallaxperspectives.org.

This LINK takes you to that page of my blog: http://parallaxperspectives.org/how-we-got-into-our-current-crisis-and-how-to-get-out-this-thorough-essay-helps-us-understand-trumpism-and-stop-it

This LINK takes you directly to that essay in .pdf format: http://parallaxperspectives.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/How-We-Got-into-Our-Current-Crisis-–-And-How-to-Get-Out-THOROUGH-article.pdf

I invite you to read it and share it with other people.

Now that I am significantly reducing my involvement with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, I will have more time to write, organize at the grassroots, and conduct speaking engagements and workshops on relevant issues. I’ve created a blog, www.parallaxperspectives.org, and am posting much information to it. I invite you to subscribe by clicking the link in the blog’s top menu bar.

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1C) New Local Publication: The Localist

This is being organized by Sustainable South Sound:

The Big News...

Sustainable South Sound
Launches NEW Platform

November 29, 2017

In 2015, Sustainable South Sound launched Living Local, a quarterly newspaper promoting Localism and Sustainability in South Sound. With a growing subscriber base and solid group of advertisers, it's time to expand the depth and breadth of our message to reach a larger times per year for Living Local, Twenty-Six times a year for the Localist audience.

More print issues, however, is expensive. And not sustainable. Instead, we are launching a companion publication, The Localist, reaching you digitally every fortnight. If you aren't archaic, that's every 14 days, or two weeks. Four times per year for Living Local, Twenty-Six times a year for the Localist.

The Fortnightly Rave Debuts
Joe's Holiday Shopping Guide

We're on Vacation 12/27/17

But Will Return Every Fortnight in 2018
starting 1/10/18.

Community Calendar (Yes, TC Pro-Net Friends, Finally)
Current events an news - Locally, and about Localism Globally
And more (let us know your ideas too)

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2) Thursday November 30^th

Bernie Meyer Speaks on his Trip to India

7 pm @ Traditions Café, 300 5^th Ave SW

This message came from Bernie:

SPRINGS OF LOVE, SPRINGS OF HOPE, COPING IN OUR PARCHED TIME OF TRAUMA

My 2017 trip to India as Gandhi, as Bernie, a dialogue of passion Traditions Cafe and Fair Trade, Thursday, November 30th, 7:00 PM

5th & Water St., Olympia

• Chandigarh, Global Youth Peace Festival, September 22 to October 3  

• Rajsamand, ANUVIBHA, Children's Peace Palace, October 3 to  October 10  

• Belgaum, Integrated Rural Development Society, October 10 to  October 16  

• Chennai, Harijan Seva Sangh, October16 to October 21  

• Viskhnaputnam, Global Network Against Nuclear Weapons in Space,  October 21 to October 25  

• Sevagram, International Conference on Nov-Violent Economy and  

• Peaceful World, October 26 to November 3

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3) Saturday December 2^nd

Book Discussion: The Story of the Russian Revolution, by China Miéville

1 to 3 pm @ MIXX 96 Meeting Room, 119 Washington St NE

This message came from Matt:

We are going to finish October: The Story of the Russian Revolution by China Miéville. We will discuss the last half ( pg. 167 to the end) on Saturday December 2nd from 1-3PM at Mixx96.

We will also discuss what to read next. So if you come to the discussion you can pitch a book or essay. If you can't make it but want to suggest a book or essay, please send me your idea.

See you there,

Economics for Everyone.

P.S.

“A Note on Dates

For a student of the Russian Revolution, time is literally out of joint. Until 1918, Russia used the Julian calendar, running thirteen days behind the modern Gregorian. As the story of actors immersed in their moment, this book follows the Julian, the one they used at the time. In some of the literature one might read that the Winter Palace was stormed on 5 November 1917. But those doing the storming did so on the 26^th of their October, and it is their October that is clarion, more than a mere month. Whatever the Gregorian calendar might claim, this book is written in October's shadow." - China Miéville, pg.3, October

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“On the centenary of the Russian Revolution, China Miéville tells the extraordinary story of this pivotal moment in history.

In February of 1917 Russia was a backwards, autocratic monarchy, mired in an unpopular war; by October, after not one but two revolutions, it had become the world’s first workers’ state, straining to be at the vanguard of global revolution. How did this unimaginable transformation take place?

In a panoramic sweep, stretching from St Petersburg and Moscow to the remotest villages of a sprawling empire, Miéville uncovers the catastrophes, intrigues and inspirations of 1917, in all their passion, drama and strangeness. Intervening in long-standing historical debates, but told with the reader new to the topic especially in mind, here is a breathtaking story of humanity at its greatest and most desperate; of a turning point for civilisation that still resonates loudly today.”

https://www.versobooks.com/books/2443-october

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4) Saturday December 2^nd

Dance Magic Dance Benefit!! (Full Circle United // PiPE!!!)

8 pm to 1 am @ Twenty22Many, 322 E 4^th Ave

This message came from Renata:

ALL AGES full moon dj dance party benefit for Full Circle United and Partners in Prevention Education (PiPE!) !!

Dance music from DJ Koolhandz Luke and Professir Rolan Thunder!

Sliding scale $5-10

All people of goodwill welcome! // no racism, transphobia, sexism, homophobia, ableism, anti-homeless bigotry etc

Full Circle United is a group of Black, Indigenous and People of Color artists, organizers, teachers, learners and healers living and working in Olympia.

Partners in Prevention Education (PiPE!) is a violence prevention organization and community resource center for homeless, street-dependent, and/or LGBTQIA young people who are survivors of violence.

NOTE: No alcohol on the premises, please.

Special thank you to Twenty22Many-Olympia for the generous use of your space!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1616368375067788/

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5) Monday December 4^th

POWER Outage: Family Holiday Craft Night

5:30 to 8 pm @ Media Island, 816 Adams St SE

This message came from POWER:

Please join us for our December POWER Outage potluck/craft workshop where we will be making a beautiful snowflake wall-hanging or window-hanging. Children welcome! Free! Materials provided.

https://www.facebook.com/events/358874041184858/?notif_t=event_calendar_create&notif_id=1511903748858592

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6) Bonus Tip of the Day:

You should listen to my radio show this week!

Peace.

Dana

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LINKS:

Online PDF version of this week’s Thunderbolt:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ylbqwyyld0ruzq2/TB%20171130%20Garbage%20In%20%E2%80%94%20Garbage%20Out.pdf?dl=0

The Thunderbolt radio program archive (new shows posted every Friday morning):

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cwxy9ax2zy2zkr6/AADQNRP_zQnF7nt0QT5OznpFa?dl=0