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Today in Scientology -- March 7th *********************************************
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Scientology Today
Mar 8, 2020, 11:04:45 AM3/8/20
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Today March 7th in Scientology history
======================================
Doctors paid by church give defense
March 7, 2000, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times
https://web.archive.org/web/20000902194015/http://www.sptimes.com/News/030700/TampaBay/Doctors_paid_by_churc.shtml
Drs. Michael M. Baden and Cyril H. Wecht also suggested their work is
so conclusive the case should be dropped.
Their primary conclusion: McPherson, 36, died suddenly and
unpredictably of a blood clot in her left lung that originated from a
knee bruise she suffered in a minor auto accident 17 days earlier.
"This is Forensic Pathology 101," said Baden, once part of O.J.
Simpson's "dream team" defense. "This is not complicated."
Tags: 1979, 1995, 1996, 1998, Bernie McCabe, Clearwater, Cyril Wecht, David
Minkoff, Doctor, Doug Crow, Fort Harrison, Joan Wood, Lisa McPherson, Martin
Luther King, Medical, Mental breakdown, Michael Baden, New York City,
Pittsburgh, Scientology staff, Tampa
======================================
Hired pathologists take church's side
March 7, 2000, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/50818355.html?dids=50818355:50818355&FMT=FT
A former member of O.J. Simpson's "dream team" defense says Lisa
McPherson's death was accidental, caused by a blood clot.
As prosecutors consider whether to proceed with criminal charges in the
death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, the Church of Scientology on
Monday presented two nationally known pathologists who said they have
scientific evidence that the 1995 death was accidental.
Tags: 1979, 1995, 1996, 1998, AMA, Bernie McCabe, Clearwater, Cyril Wecht,
David Minkoff, Doug Crow, Fort Harrison, Joan Wood, Lisa McPherson, Mental
breakdown, Michael Baden, New York City, OT, Pittsburgh, Scientology staff
======================================
CPS gives Scientologists same legal protection as mainstream religions
March 7, 2009, James Millbank, Daily Mail
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1160263/CPS-gives-Scientologists-legal-protection-mainstream-religions.html
It means that any alleged offenders who 'abuse' or 'threaten' the
Church of Scientology can be charged under the Racial and Religious
Hatred Act 2006.
It is understood the decision was made this month after the Police
Diversity Directorate asked the CPS to clarify its position on the
organisation.
It follows the arrest last summer of a 15-year-old boy for calling
Scientology a 'dangerous cult' during a demonstration outside the
Church's ?23million headquarters in London.
[Needs confirmation.]
Tags: 1968, 2006, 2016, BBC, Christian, Critic, Crown Prosecution Service,
Cult Information Centre, Epic Nose Guy, Google, Graeme Wilson, Ian Harris,
John Travolta, Katie Holmes, London, Police, Tom Cruise, Twitter, UK
======================================
The truth revealed! Tom Cruise video a big Smokescreen.
March 7, 2009, TheEvilOfScientology, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udg5dZHW7uY
After taking precautions by changing my name, getting myself an
underground bomb-proof bunker, and having plastic surgery, I can
finally reveal the truth behind the FAKE Tom Cruise IAS Medal of Valor
video!
Tags: International Association of Scientologists, Medal of Valor, Tom
Cruise, Video
======================================
Scientology Gets Polite Slap on the Wrist from New York Times
March 7, 2010, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/03/scientology_get_1.php
Scientology's diminutive leader, David Miscavige, takes another body
blow Laurie Goodstein's lengthy and well-written article on Scientology
in today's New York Times, backed up with a slideshow and a nifty
multimedia timeline, provides a solid overview of what the St.
Petersburg Times and others have been writing about L. Ron Hubbard's
wacky cabal for many, many years.
The big news, of course, is that it's the New York Times weighing in.
That's good news for Anonymous, for longtime critics like Mark Bunker
and Andreas Heldal-Lund, and for others who work tirelessly to get the
word out about Scientology's nefarious nature.
Tags: 1930, 1993, 2009, ABC News, Abortion, Andreas Heldal-Lund, Anonymous,
Clearwater, Critic, David Miscavige, Florida, Jesus, Laurie Goodstein, Mark
Bunker, New York Times, Nightline, Pulitzer, Quicky, Sea Org, St. Petersburg
Times, Tommy Davis
======================================
The Only Pay There Is For Living
March 7, 2011, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/the-only-pay-there-is-for-living/
Shortly more than a month ago on this blog Mike Rinder predicted the
following:
"Next up on the Vulture Culture agenda, once all personal possessions,
teeth fillings and hair are sold off:
BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS"
Tags: 1957, Ability Congress, Ideal Org, L. Ron Hubbard, Mike Rinder, Quicky,
Vulture Culture
======================================
Debbie and Wayne Got A Gun
March 7, 2012, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/debbie-and-wayne-got-a-gun/
Latest on Cook v. Scientology Inc from the Tampa Bay Times.
Tags: Quicky, Tampa Bay Times
======================================
Narconon
March 7, 2012, Courthouse News Service
https://www.courthousenews.com/2012/03/07/44483.htm
A woman claims in Superior Court that Narconon of Northern California
offered incompetent care for her sister's addiction, misrepresented its
"success rate," and failed to inform her that the place is "a
recruiting tool for the [nonparty] Church of Scientology."
Tags: ABLE, August West Family Services, Halcyon Horizons, Narconon, Narconon
International, Sonya Mitchell, Success rate
======================================
School Board approves notice of termination for Life Force charter school
March 7, 2012, Drew Harwell, Tampa Bay Times
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/pinellas-school-board-approves-notice-of-termination-for-life-force/1218587
The Tampa Bay Times reported last month that administrators at Life
Force, which earns about $800,000 in public funds a year, compelled
students to learn "study technology," a methodology devised by
Scientology's late founder, L. Ron Hubbard.
Students at the public charter school advertised as the SMART Academy
were also taken on a field trip to a Scientology church in Ybor City.
More than $30,000 in school funds has been given to the World Literacy
Crusade, a California-based group that promotes Hubbard's "study tech."
Tags: Art of Management, California, Clearwater, Dunedin, Hanan Islam, John
Stewart, Life Force, Life Force Arts and Technology Academy, Linda Lerner,
Louis Muhammad, Pinellas County School Board, Sarah Parker, World Literacy
Crusade, Ybor City
======================================
Scientology: Dear Judge, Protect Us from Rathbun and Rinder!
March 7, 2012, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/03/scientology_dea_1.php
Last night, we learned about the church's countermove: its attorneys
asked the court to delay the production of documents until their motion
for summary judgment has been adjudicated. And if the motion is not
granted, to delay the deposition and limit it in scope.
Oh, and one more thing: "That Rathbun and Rinder be excluded from the
deposition."
Tags: 2009, Bexar County, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, John MacCormack,
Marty Rathbun, Michael Barajas, Mike Rinder, Ray Jeffrey, San Antonio
Current, San Antonio Express-News, Scientology executive, Texas
======================================
Withholds? and Tom Cruise's Best Man
March 7, 2012, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/withholds-and-tom-cruises-best-man/
Withholds? @ Village Voice
And
San Antonio Current on Tom Cruise's Best Man
Tags: Quicky, San Antonio Current, Tom Cruise, Village Voice
======================================
Blogging Dianetics, Part 10: Killing the Grizzly
March 7, 2013, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2013/03/07/blogging-dianetics-part-10-killing-the-grizzly/
Welcome to our ongoing project, where we blog a 1950 first edition of
Scientology's bible, Dianetics, with the help of ex-Scientologist, Bay
Area lawyer, blogger, and author Vance Woodward. Go here for the first
post in the series.
[ALSO TODAY: Below, we have analysis of the Garcia federal fraud
lawsuit from attorney Scott Pilutik, and our first SMERSH Madness match
that features an online forum - ESMB!]
After that last chapter, with Hubbard's exploration of perversion, it's
only natural that the next one, "Emotions and the Dynamics," would
prove to be something of a letdown. But there are some good passages
here for us to explore.
Tags: 1938, 1950, 2007, Australia, CIA, Claire Headley, Clear, Clearwater,
David Love, Debbie Cook, Dianetics, Excalibur, Florida, Going Clear:
Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Jamie DeWolf, John Sweeney,
Katie Holmes, L. Ron Hubbard, Lawrence Wright, Luis and Rocio Garcia, Luis
Garcia, Manhattan, Nancy Many, New Year's Eve, Oregon, OT, Paul Thomas
Anderson, Quicky, Scott Pilutik, SMERSH, Steve Cannane, Super Power, Vance
Woodward, Washington
======================================
NARCONON CEO GARY SMITH LOSES COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION
March 7, 2013, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2013/03/07/narconon-ceo-gary-smith-loses-counselor-certification/
The Underground Bunker has learned that Gary Smith, CEO of
Scientology's flagship drug rehab facility, Narconon Arrowhead, has
been stripped of his drug counselor certification by the National
Association of Forensic Counselors.
The NAFC's CEO and president, Karla Taylor, confirmed today that her
organization has sent out letters that suspend or revoke Certified
Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC) certifications to numerous
employees of Narconon programs in Oklahoma and Georgia - two facilities
that have been the center of controversy after patient deaths, criminal
investigations, and multiple lawsuits. Taylor says she has confirmation
that Smith has received his revocation notice.
Mary Rieser has also lost her CCDC, but the former Narconon Georgia
executive director may have bigger problems with the state continuing a
criminal insurance fraud probe of the facility.
Tags: 2012, Anonymous, Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor, DC, Eric
Tenorio, Gary Smith, Georgia, Karla Taylor, Lucas Catton, Mary Rieser,
Narconon, Narconon Arrowhead, Narconon Georgia, Narconon staff, National
Association of Forensic Counselors, Oklahoma, Quicky
======================================
BRAD HALSEY, 1957-2014
March 7, 2014, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2014/03/07/brad-halsey-1957-2014/
On Sunday, Brad Halsey took his own life. He was 56.
Many of you know him for the 11-minute video he posted last year to
YouTube, calling out Tom Cruise for the way Scientology was declaring
people "suppressive persons" - excommunicating them, sometimes for no
reason at all.
Brad was also a critic of the Underground Bunker. He had left the
Church of Scientology because of his unhappiness with its leader, David
Miscavige, but he still believed strongly in L. Ron Hubbard and the
ideas behind Scientology. So he would skewer us, usually at our
Facebook page, about the way Hubbard's ideas tend to be criticized here.
We really got into it with him a few times, trading barbs and zingers
- and he usually ended up calling us "bro" in a sarcastic manner.
Tags: 1957, 2006, David Miscavige, Facebook, Gainesville, Quicky, Suppressive
Person, Tampa, Tom Cruise, Twitter, YouTube
======================================
PC Folders Are Confidential
March 7, 2014, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/pc-folders-are-confidential/
The church lawyers who stand on their hind legs in court and proclaim
the absolute sanctity of pc folders should get a load of this.
The lies the church tells the public, media and courts about how NOBODY
can access pc folders except the auditor and C/S are exposed by the "CF
I/C OTC DK Org" (I guess the OTC is now a "shadow org" with duplicate
posts to the org itself). The fact that a public person is recruiting
other random public to "go through pc folders" and "pull out data" is
one of the more remarkable FB posts I have come across.
So typical of the RCS. Virtually everything they say in court is a lie
designed to forward their objectives. If they don't want to turn over
evidence of their abuses, they tell the courts nobody can access pc
folders. Meanwhile, this is reality. If they want to prevent Miscavige
from having liability, they tell the courts he has NO involvement in
the activities of the church - meanwhile, he is micromanager par
excellence (and if they think you want to hear how amazing he is, his
own staff will tell you he does literally everything - see the
declarations they filed with the Tampa Bay Times).
Tags: David Miscavige, OTC, PC folders, Quicky, Tampa Bay Times
======================================
Ribbon Envy?
March 7, 2014, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/ribbon-envy/
Just how many ribbons is too many?
Is there such a thing as ribbon envy? Small ribbon syndrome?
Seems that the magnitude of his ribbon pulling events is now being
measured by the size and quantity of his bows and sashes.
Tags: Academy Award, Andrea Kluge, Andres Rodriguez, AOLA, ASHO, Chairman of
the Board, Dissemination, Field Staff Member, Guinness, Hollywood, L. Ron
Hubbard, Nick Lekas, OT, OT Committee, OTC, PAC Base, Pope, Quicky, Sunday
service, Vicki Shantz
======================================
Scientology Infiltrates Carnegie Mellon University
March 7, 2014, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/scientology-infiltrates-carnegie-mellon-university/
The following is a report from Invest Aide OSA INT (Office of Special
Affairs International, the propaganda and dirty tricks arm of David
Miscavige's church of Scientology International) on dealing with
Scientology critic David S. Touretzky - professor at Carnegie Mellon
University. Note that it is titled "DR". That stands for Daily Report.
There are dozens of these daily reports in OSA INT files on Touretzky.
There are hundreds of such reports on more effective critics. There are
thousands of these types of reports on those critics whom David
Miscavige considers a threat to himself personally and who have
withstood Scientology's wrath over time. Ask yourself: should United
States taxpayers be subsidizing an organization that spends its
considerable dollars on such hijinks? And, what is with Scientology's
apparent predilection for inserting sex toys into their operations?
April 27, 2006
D/CO EXT OSA INT
Tags: 2006, Carnegie Mellon, CNBC, David Miscavige, David Touretzky, Dildo,
Hillary Clinton, MSNBC, Office of Special Affairs, Pittsburgh, Quicky, Tom
Whittle, UPI
======================================
Andy Porter Speaks
March 7, 2015, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/andy-porter-speaks/
I have known Andy Porter for many, many years.
He was somewhat of a legend due to his work opening Russia and many of
its former satellites to scientology. Andy spent many years defining
the term "pioneer." He was an unsung hero who did a lot of the REAL
work behind the scenes that ended up being glorified in IAS Freedom
Medal winner videos and other event presentations.
Andy now hails from the northwestern corner of Washington State where
he lives with his wife and 10 year old son. He is an accomplished
landscape photographer focused on capturing the beauty and majesty of
the North Cascades. He sells fine art prints, teaches photo classes and
gives photo tours. You can see more about Andy and his images here: www.
AndyPorterImages.com
Tags: 2000, Alex Gibney, Andy Porter, Clear, Clearwater, Dianetics, E-meter,
End Phenomena, Ethics, Ethics Officer, Flag Land Base, Florida, Freedom
Medal, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, HBO, International
Association of Scientologists, Knowledge Report, L. Ron Hubbard, Lawrence
Wright, Mission Impossible, Operating Thetan, OT, OT 7, Paul Haggis, Quicky,
Russia, Sea Org, Sec Check, Suppressive Person, Washington
======================================
Jon Atack visits an org - ALSO: The richest Scientologist gets even richer!
March 7, 2015, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2015/03/07/jon-atack-visits-an-org-also-the-richest-scientologist-gets-even-richer/
Jon Atack is the author of A Piece of Blue Sky, one of the very best
books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He has a new edition of the
book for sale, and for more than a year on Saturdays he helped us sift
through the legends, myths, and contested facts about Scientology that
tend to get hashed and rehashed in books, articles, and especially on
the Internet. He was kind enough to send us a new post.
Jon sent us just a short anecdote this time, which only whets our
appetite for more. But we know he's a busy man and has a lot going on
that will come to fruition later this year. We'll take what we can get.
Tell it, Jon...
JON: In 1993, I was in Chicago, working on a documentary project with
Carlos Cornier. The documentary did not see the light of day, though
some of my footage went into an A&E piece, which also featured David
Miscavige. We had done a week of filming in England. Now Carlos wanted
to add some American colour.
Tags: 1993, 2013, A Piece of Blue Sky, A&E, Bill Maher, Bob Duggan, Canada,
Chicago, Claudio Lugli, Clearwater, David Miscavige, England, Facebook,
Florida, Forbes, HBO, International Association of Scientologists, Italy, Jon
Atack, Lawrence Wright, Los Angeles, Office of Special Affairs, OT, OT 8,
Pharmacyclics, Renata Lugli, San Francisco, Sea Org, Shelly Miscavige, Texas,
Waco
======================================
Ad company mysteriously rejects anti-Scientology billboard near church's
Hollywood headquarters
March 7, 2016, Tom Boggioni, Raw Story
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/ad-company-mysteriously-rejects-anti-scientology-billboard-near-churchs-hollywood-headquarters/
The Los Angeles office of an outdoor advertising company has backed out
on a deal that would have placed an anti-Scientology billboard just
blocks away from the LA headquarters of the religious organization.
According to the Underground Bunker, former Scientologist Phil Jones
signed a 3-month contract worth $8,200 with Outfront Media - formerly
CBS Outdoor - to place the billboard within walking distance of the
headquarters.
Jones states that he was informed the contract was shot down by the New
York office of the advertising company but he has yet to receive an
explanation.
Tags: CBS Outdoor, David Miscavige, Disconnection, Hollywood, Los Angeles,
New York City, Outfront Media, Phil Jones, Underground Bunker
======================================
Al Buttnor and the Art of Scientology PR
March 7, 2016, Mark Bunker, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVBl_WXzu7A
Shot in 2000, Al Buttnor was brought into Clearwater after the opening
of the LMT to help with "PR chores." I asked him about one particular
task a caller had said he performed.
Tags: 2000, Al Buttnor, Clearwater, Lisa McPherson Trust, Pat Harney, Video
======================================
Fundraising Forever
March 7, 2016, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/fundraising-forever/
What you see below are 4 letters asking someone in Clearwater for money
for Orlando "ideal" org.
All 4 of them were put into one envelope.
Apparently the Orlando org does not have enough money to mail 4
separate letters. Nor do they have money for letterhead. Or anything
but the cheapest paper and envelopes.
Tags: Atlanta, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Fundraising, Orlando, OT
Committee, OTC, Puerto Rico, Quicky, Tampa
======================================
Meet Caitlyn Jenners Ex-Scientologist BFF
March 7, 2016, Katie Zavadski, Daily Beast
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/06/meet-caitlyn-jenner-s-ex-scientologist-bff.html
If Caitlyn Jenner is going to be Ted Cruz's trans ambassador, her
newest co-star Kate Bornstein has offered to be his court jester instead.
The 68-year-old former high-ranking Scientologist turned beloved auntie
of the genderqueer is living her latest incarnation as a reality TV
star, parking her outsider status as she boards an RV Sunday night with
America's most famous family.
"I promise to give him at least one giggle a day, and I'd offer him a
fair and balanced counterview to anything he's got," Bornstein texted
this reporter about Cruz a day after our interview on the new season of
Jenner's show, where Bornstein is now a series regular.
Tags: 2013, Caitlyn Jenner, England, Gender Outlaw, Jewish, Kate Bornstein,
New York City, New York Times, Quicky, Republican, Sea Org, Suppressive
Person, Ted Cruz
======================================
There's a backstory to the recent news of a Scientology TV ad being banned in
the UK
March 7, 2016, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2016/03/07/theres-a-backstory-to-the-recent-news-of-a-scientology-tv-ad-being-banned-in-the-uk/
(The claim that got this 2015 Scientology ad banned.)
When we saw the news last week that the U.K.'s Advertising Standards
Authority (ASA) had banned a Scientology television commercial, we
immediately assumed that we knew who had made the complaint about the
ad that eventually got it taken down.
The TV ad made the same claim - about Scientology's "Volunteer
Minister" program aiding some 24 million people - as appeared in a
print ad last summer which was the subject of a complaint to the ASA by
Underground Bunker commenter Once_Born, who runs the the excellent
Scientology Books and Media blog.
Tags: 2000, 2015, Abortion, Advertising Standards Authority, Al Buttnor,
Clearwater, Facebook, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of
Belief, Judge John Doyle, Laura DeCrescenzo, London, Los Angeles Superior
Court, Mark Bunker, Narconon Scotland, New Statesman, Quicky, Rod Keller, UK,
Volunteer Ministers, XENU TV
======================================
Paul Haggis spoils movie night for Scientology, shows what a real
humanitarian does
March 7, 2017, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2017/03/07/paul-haggis-spoils-movie-night-for-scientology-shows-what-a-real-humanitarian-does/
(Paul Haggis and Nancy Cartwright)
Last week our man at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre let us know that
Nancy Cartwright's movie, In Search of Fellini, had screened, and he
wanted us to understand that it was a movie with more Scientologists
involved than maybe any other ever. From Nancy, who wrote it, to its
director, to many of its actors, and plenty of other people on the
crew, this is a film that Scientology is hoping will do well.
Well, since then, we learned from Roger Friedman that there was a bit
of a surprise about that first screening, which happened on the closing
night of the 12th annual Los Angeles Italia film festival on February 24...
Tags: 1979, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, Alex Gibney, Andrea Doven,
Apostate, Burglary, Celebrity Centre, Clearwater, Clearwater Sun, David
Miscavige, Florida, Fort Harrison, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and
the Prison of Belief, Haiti, HBO, Hollywood, In Search of Fellini, Lawrence
Wright, Los Angeles, Maria Bello, Michael Doven, Nancy Cartwright, Nazanin
Boniadi, New Yorker, OT, Paul Haggis, Quicky, Rod Keller, Roger Friedman,
Scientology organization, Tampa Bay Times, The Sun, Tom Cruise, Toronto,
Tracey McManus, Washington
======================================
Setbacks at Enterprise Florida, in downtown Clearwater deliver one-two punch
to job recruiting
March 7, 2017, Robert Trigaux, Tampa Bay Times
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/trigaux-setbacks-at-enterprise-florida-in-downtown-clearwater-deliver/2315556
A more unusual complication is emerging in Clearwater, where city
officials are about to surrender responsibility for economic
development and business recruitment in much of the city's downtown. As
reported in the Tampa Bay Times, the Church of Scientology has a plan
to control a large swath of downtown real estate and create a master
retail district that will operate under its management and oversight.
City manager Bill Horne tells the Times he's willing to let Scientology
officials take the lead on recruiting businesses in the hope they can
find the economic solution that has eluded the city government.
"We have to try something," Horne said. "We haven't been successful on
our own."
Tags: Bill Horne, Clearwater, Florida, Rick Scott, St. Petersburg,
Tallahassee, Tampa
======================================
Who are mega-donors Bob and Rebekah Mercer, and why are they influential?
March 7, 2017, Fredreka Schouten, USA Today
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/07/who-are-trump-donors-bob-and-rebekah-mercer/98812284/
Another non-profit group, Virginia-based Media Research Center,
defended Attorney General Jeff Sessions last week over his contacts
with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and cast media coverage of
Sessions' meeting with Kislyak at the Republican National Convention as
a "political hit job" orchestrated by former Obama administration
officials.
And when President Trump complained recently about the Academy Awards
and media bias, he did so during an exclusive interview with Breitbart
News, which landed its Oval Office sit-down with Trump a day before his
first address to Congress.
These organizations have one thing in common: They count heiress
Rebekah Mercer and her billionaire father, Bob, among their key
benefactors. For years, the Mercers have sent tens of millions of
dollars to conservative politics and causes, ranging from
well-established think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation, to
organizations financing anti-Hillary Clinton movies.
Tags: 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, Academy Award, Access
Hollywood, Andrew Cuomo, Arizona, Breitbart, Cambridge Analytica, Citizens
United, Congress, David Bossie, Diana Mercer, Federalist Society, Forbes,
Government Accountability Institute, Heritage Foundation, Hillary Clinton,
IBM, Jeff Sessions, Jennifer Mercer, John Bolton, John McCain, Kellyanne
Conway, Leonard Leo, Long Island, Media Research Center, Mercer Family
Foundation, New York, New York City, Peter Schweizer, Peter Thiel, Quicky,
Rebekah Mercer, Reclaim New York, Republican, Republican National Convention,
Robert Mercer, Ruby, Russia, Silicon Valley, Steve Bannon, Tea Party, Ted
Cruz, Texas, TODAY, United Nations, USA, Virginia, Washington, White House
======================================
A fresh start: Former Scientology member shares her memoir with Yuba Lit
March 7, 2018, Jennifer Nobles, The Union
https://www.theunion.com/entertainment/a-fresh-start-former-scientology-member-shares-her-memoir-with-yuba-lit/
For better or worse, the Church of Scientology has become somewhat of a
household name. The controversial church - which counts stars like Tom
Cruise, John Travolta, and Kirstie Alley among its devout followers -
has been making headlines since its formation in 1954, reportedly for
its cult-like atmosphere and allegedly manipulative commercial practices.
The religious organization has been profiled numerous times by the
media, but the church remains an enigma to many standing on the outside.
Sands Hall knows a lot about the often contentious religion after
spending a decade of her life as a member of the Church of Scientology.
When the church encouraged her to cut ties with some of her loved ones,
Hall made the decision to leave the organization, and is now releasing
a memoir titled "Flunk. Start.: Reclaiming My Decade Lost in
Scientology."
Tags: 1954, Flunk. Start., John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Nevada, Quicky, San
Francisco, Sands Hall, Tom Cruise
======================================
An anti-immigrant hate group lobbying director is now a senior adviser at U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services
March 7, 2018, Eric Hananoki, MediaMatters
https://www.mediamatters.org/hill/anti-immigrant-hate-group-lobbying-director-now-senior-adviser-us-citizenship-and-immigration
Robert Law, a senior policy adviser to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS), previously worked as a lobbying director for the
anti-immigrant organization Federation for American Immigration Reform
(FAIR), which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern
Poverty Law Center (SPLC). While at FAIR, Law denigrated Dreamers,
argued that the United States should end birthright citizenship, and
recommended that the government reduce the number of refugees and
immigrants coming into the country.
Law quietly joined the agency, part of the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), in October after serving as FAIR's director of
government relations, according to his LinkedIn profile. Aside from his
networking page, Law's appointment does not appear to have been
publicly announced. His name appears in ProPublica's Trump Town
database of admistration appointees.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has designated FAIR as a hate
group, writing: "One of the group's main goals is upending the
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which ended a decades-long,
racist quota system that limited immigration mostly to northern
Europeans." FAIR was founded by John Tanton, who, the civil rights
group wrote, "has white nationalist beliefs and has written that to
maintain American culture, 'a European-American majority' is required."
Tanton remains on the group's board of advisors. The Anti-Defamation
League has also criticized FAIR, describing it as "an extreme
anti-immigrant group."
Tags: 1965, 2016, 2017, Anti-Defamation League, Department of Homeland
Security, Europe, Federation for American Immigration Reform, John Tanton,
Julie Kirchner, LinkedIn, ProPublica, Quicky, Southern Poverty Law Center
======================================
Is American culture now so hopeless that Scientology's insanity is no longer
notable?
March 7, 2018, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2018/03/07/is-american-culture-now-so-hopeless-that-scientologys-insanity-is-no-longer-notable/
In September, former Spy magazine co-founder and New Yorker columnist
Kurt Andersen penned a widely discussed essay for the Atlantic with the
wonderful title "How America Lost Its Mind."
The essay's penetrating look at the post-truth culture of Trumpism was
a masterpiece of the form, blamed anti-science movements of both the
left and the right for the predicament we find ourselves in, and, best
of all from our perspective, mentioned Scientology a couple of times
(as well as Scientology favorite Thomas Szasz).
Andersen included Scientology as one of the many harbingers that the
rest of the country would lose pretty much all contact with reality by
the early 21st century.
Tags: 2012, 2013, A&E, Bernie Headley, Bruce Hines, Chris Owen, Christopher
Shinn, Claire Headley, David Miscavige, Derek Bloch, Disconnection, Going
Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Hana Whitfield,
Jefferson Hawkins, Jeffrey Augustine, Jon Atack, Katrina Reyes, Keep
Scientology Working, Kurt Andersen, Lawrence Wright, Leah Remini, Lori
Hodgson, Marie Bilheimer, Mary Kahn, Mike Rinder, New Yorker, OT, Rod Keller,
Scientology and the Aftermath, Scott Pilutik, Sea Org, Thomas Szasz, Vicki
Marshall
======================================
Katrina Reyes' Horror Story Part 3: Escape from the Church of Scientology
March 7, 2018, SurvivingScientology, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUsqLEpJ_iM
Katrina Reyes was eleven years old and living in poverty in Siberia,
Russia when her mother joined the Church of Scientology. The Cult
quickly exploited the mother and daughter and recruited them into it's
notorious Sea Org. Katrina and her mother were shipped to Clearwater,
Florida. Scientology used Katrina as child labor and she received no
formal education. In Part 3 we hear how Katrina escaped from
Scientology and started her new life.
Tags: Child labor, Clearwater, Cult, Escape, Florida, Katrina, Katrina Reyes,
Quicky, Russia, Sea Org, Siberia
======================================
Scientology Events
March 7, 2018, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-events/
They are really getting desperate for people to show up at events.
Now they are using something Hubbard said in 1957 about Congresses as
if it is somehow speaking about "Int Events."
Two things:
Tags: 1957, Clearwater, Congress, David Miscavige, Jesus Christ, Kodak
Center, Los Angeles, OT, Quicky, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Shrine Auditorium, Tampa
======================================
The Data Series as Revisionist History
March 7, 2018, John P. Capitalist, Reasoned.Life
http://www.reasoned.life/2018/03/the-data-series-as-revisionist-history/
A part of another project we're working on here at JohnPCapitalist.com,
I've been taking a dive into one of the more esoteric bits of
Scientology "tech": the "Data Series" in the Management Series, Volume
1. Volume One also contains the Organizing Series and the Personnel
Series. The Management Series or "Green Volumes" are an extensive set
of works that cover every permutation within the organizational domain
of Scientology management.
Written over several years starting in 1970, the Data Series is defined
as "a series of policy letters written by L. Ron Hubbard which deal
with logic, illogic, proper evaluation of data and how to detect and
handle the causes of good and bad situations within groups and
organizations." Hubbard felt that Scientology management was failing in
certain areas of understanding and leadership, and in writing the Data
Series. He created a highly prescriptive set of policies, procedures
and instructions in dealing with every conceivable challenge those in
management might face on a daily basis. Starting with "The Anatomy of
Thought" (HCO PL 26 April 1970R), Hubbard pontificates on "Logic,"
"Breakthroughs," "Data and Situational Analyzing'" and "Information
Collection" among other topics, all in his uniquely bloviating and
paradoxical fashion. However, what struck me most while reading through
this "guidance," was not only his convoluted, typically tortured
syntax, but more so, the abundance of nonsensical historical analogies
and examples he alludes to throughout as a means of "illustrating" his
points.
Hubbard begins by offering his definition of "sanity," derived from his
unpublished work Excalibur, which apparently included a "fundamental
truth," which was his definition of "sanity." Hubbard defined sanity as
"the ability to recognize differences, similarities, and identities;"
he further goes on to state that "this is also intelligence." Aside
from the usual Hubbardian bluster, none of this is even remotely close
to the universally accepted definition of both "sanity" and
"intelligence." If anything, it may vaguely resemble "cognition," which
is "the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through
thought, experience, and the senses."
Tags: 1968, 1970, Alfred Korzybski, Anatomy of Thought, Chinese, CIA, Data
Series, Excalibur, Green Volumes, Japan, Laos, Management Series, Organizing
Series, Personnel Series, Quicky, Russia, Vietnam
======================================
The NRA is a Cult | March 7, 2018 Act 1 | Full Frontal on TBS
March 7, 2018, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6yPZB9O2HU
There are two great American cults that preach blind adherence to
dogma, but only one is heavily armed.
Tags: Cult, Quicky, Samantha Bee
======================================
Keith Raniere attorney assures judge she can avoid conflict with father Mark
Geragos
March 7, 2019, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2019/03/07/judge-appoints-keith-raniere-a-court-paid-lawyer-after-conflicts-hearing/
There's a fun new letter in the Nxivm case file to Judge Nicholas G.
Garaufis from Keith Raniere's lead attorneys asking the judge to look
past the odd situation involving Raniere's lawyer Teny Geragos.
Raniere's co-defendant, Seagram's heiress Clare Bronfman, is being
represented by Teny's father, famous defense attorney Mark Geragos.
After prosecutors pointed out the potential problem with that
arrangement, Teny responded in a letter to the court today.
"Counsel has made it clear to both Raniere and the government that she
is aware and takes seriously her ethical duties to her client -
including the duties of confidentiality and loyalty," says the letter
from Teny and attorney Marc Agnifilo. "These duties have not and will
not be impaired by her 'close family relationship.' We do not believe
there is a conflict."
Tags: Avraham Moskowitz, Clare Bronfman, Judge Nicholas Garaufis, Keith
Raniere, Mark Geragos, New York, NXIVM, Teny Geragos
======================================
Scientology denied: Eleventh Circuit brushes aside church attempt to stop
Garcia appeal
March 7, 2019, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2019/03/07/scientology-denied-eleventh-circuit-brushes-aside-church-attempt-to-stop-garcia-appeal/
What's this? Some good news in the Luis and Rocio Garcia lawsuit
against Scientology? You don't say.
It might be a relatively small development, but at this point the
Garcias will probably take whatever they can get. This week, the
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta denied Scientology's
attempt to derail the Garcias' appeal of their disappointing result in
a Florida US district court, and their appeal will continue on.
In January 2013, the Garcias initially filed their lawsuit against
several Scientology entities, claiming that they had been defrauded by
a church that lied to them in order to convince them to make more than
a million dollars in donations over their years as members. But
Scientology's attorneys convinced US district court judge James
Whittemore that because the Garcias had signed contracts obliging them
to take all grievances to Scientology's internal arbitration, he
couldn't interfere without violating Scientology's First Amendment
religious rights.
Tags: 1970, 1977, 1978, 2013, American Citizens for Honesty in Government,
Atlanta, Bomb threat, Burglary, California, Clearwater, Clearwater Sun,
Critic, Dianetics, Drug Enforcement Administration, Dupont Circle, Fair Game,
FBI, First Amendment, Florida, Fort Harrison, Gabriel Cazares, Greg Layton,
Guardian's Office, Ian Shapira, IRS, Judge James Whittemore, Judge William
Bryant, Los Angeles, Luis and Rocio Garcia, Luis Garcia, Mark Sableman, Mary
Sue Hubbard, Mental Health, Michael Meisner, New York, Paulette Cooper,
Raymond Banoun, Ron Shaffer, Snow White Program, Ted Babbitt, The Unbreakable
Miss Lovely, US Court of Appeals, US Department of Justice, US Eleventh
Circuit Court of Appeals, Washington, Washington Post
======================================
Thursday Funnies
March 7, 2019, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/thursday-funnies-206/
Top international business consultant?
He obviously runs one of the MISFORTUNE 500 companies.
A BIG name...
Tags: Birthday Hame, Buddha, Claire Parz, Colorado, Columbus, David Petit,
Denver, Facebook, Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Hymn of Asia,
International Association of Scientologists, London, Ohio, Quicky, Religious
Technology Center, Ronit Soracco, Sea Org, Sydney, Thursday Funnies, Twitter,
Vulture
======================================
Waste Management Firm Owned by GPB Capital is Raided by the FBI - Troubles
Continue for Scientologist David Gentile'
March 7, 2019, Jeffrey Augustine, Scientology Money Project
https://scientologymoneyproject.com/2019/03/07/waste-management-firm-owned-by-gpb-capital-is-raided-by-the-fbi-troubles-continue-for-scientologist-david-gentiles-firm/
Five Star Carting of New York is owned by GPB Capital
ProPublica today reported that the FBI and the BIC raided the offices
of Five Star Carting, a waste management firmed owned by GPB Capital
Holdings, a firm owned by Scientologist David Gentile. As we have been
reporting, GPB Capital is under investigation by the SEC, FINRA, the
FBI, and the BIC. This raid occurred last week and was coincident with
the FBI and the BIC showing up unannounced at GPB's New York Office to
obtain documents. From the ProPublica article:
The FBI and New York City regulators raided the corporate offices of a
major private trash hauler last week, the latest sign of trouble for an
industry under fire.
Tags: 1999, 2003, David Gentile, FBI, Five Star Carting, GPB Capital
Holdings, New York, New York City, New York City Business Integrity
Commission, Quicky, Raid, SEC
======================================
Who Is Jay?Sekulow? Trump Attorney Funnels Millions to His Family Through
Nonprofits
March 7, 2019, Peter Montgomery, Right Wing Watch
https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/who-is-jay-sekulow-trump-attorney-funnels-millions-to-his-family-through-non-profits/
Over the years, multiple reporters have investigated the ways that the
ACLJ and an affiliated nonprofit, Christian Advocates Serving
Evangelism, have enriched the bank accounts and lifestyles of Sekulow
and members of his family.
Sekulow's lucrative family "nonprofit" business was first investigated
by Legal Times' Tony Mauro back in 2005, who reported that while
Sekulow had become a familiar face on television for his work on behalf
of the ACLJ and his advocacy for George W. Bush's judicial nominees ,
there was another side to Sekulow:
It is the Jay Sekulow who, through the ACLJ and a string of
interconnected nonprofit and for-profit entities, has built a financial
empire that generates millions of dollars a year and supports a lavish
lifestyle - complete with multiple homes, chauffeur-driven cars, and a
private jet that he once used to ferry Supreme Court Justice Antonin
Scalia.
Tags: 1988, 1990, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017,
Abortion, Africa, American Center for Law and Justice, American Civil
Liberties Union, China, Christian, Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism,
Christian Broadcasting Network, Christian Right, Congress, Daily Beast, Dark
Right, Democratic National Committee, Department of Homeland Security, Donald
Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Europe, FBI, George W. Bush, Ground Zero, Iowa, Iran,
Jay Sekulow, Johnson Amendment, Justice Antonin Scalia, Kenya, Legal, Lester
Holt, LGBTQ, Manhattan, Marriage, Michael Cohen, Moscow, Muslim, NBC, Pat
Robertson, Planned Parenthood, Republican, Russia, Sean Hannity, Seth Rich,
Slate, ThinkProgress, Washington, WikiLeaks, Zimbabwe
======================================
An Open Letter to My Family first published on 25 May 2010
March 7, 2020, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/an-open-letter-to-my-family-first-published-on-25-may-2010/
See my announcement on Friday - I am revisiting earlier posts during my
vacation. Each day there will be a different one. While I might write
this a bit differently today it still overall delivers the same message...
Dear Andrew, Taryn & Cathy,
You made a big issue out of my failure to respond to your letters, so I
am responding herewith to the letters each of you sent.
Tags: 1960, 2000, 2007, 2010, American Psychiatric Association, BBC, Black
Propaganda, Brighton, Catholic, Chairman of the Board, CMO Int, CNN, Dallas,
David Miscavige, DC, Denver, Dianetics, Disconnection, Facebook, Fort
Harrison, Freewinds, Gary Wiese, Ideal Org, Int Base, International
Association of Scientologists, International Justice Chief, International
Management, Inurement, Jennifer Linson, Kansas City, L. Ron Hubbard, Linda
Hamel, London, Los Angeles Superior Court, Miami, Monique Yingling, Office of
Special Affairs, Old Gilman House, Orlando, OSA Int, OT, OT IX, OT VII, OT
VIII, Potential Trouble Source, Quicky, Sec Check, Squirrel, St. Petersburg
Times, Tampa, The Hole, Twitter, Universe Corps
======================================
Betsy DeVos's problem with numbers
March 7, 2020, Valerie Strauss, Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/03/07/betsy-devoss-problem-with-numbers/
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has a problem with numbers. As in, she
sometimes cites numbers that just aren't accurate.
DeVos, of course, is hardly the only government official to cite
inaccurate numbers to make a point, but that's no reason not to point
it out when she does - and she did during two appearances in the last
week before congressional committees when defending the Trump
administration's proposed 2021 budget.
Let's look at a few examples from her testimony.
Tags: 1970, 1980, 1990, 1994, 2001, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, Betsy
DeVos, Boston, Charter Schools Program, Congress, Dark Right, DEA, Houston
Chronicle, Inspector General, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools,
San Antonio, Stanford University, Texas
======================================
Pro-Trump Climate Denial Group Lays Off Staff Amid Financial Woes, Ex-
Employees Say
March 7, 2020, Alexander C. Kaufman, Huffington Post
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/heartland-institute-staff-layoffs-climate-change-denial_n_5e6302a6c5b6670e72f85fa5?ri18n=true
An influential climate-denial think tank bankrolled by President Donald
Trump's far-right billionaire donors has laid off nearly a dozen
staffers amid financial troubles, according to three former employees.
The Illinois-based Heartland Institute ? which captured headlines last
month for promoting a German teenager with ties to neo-Nazis as the
climate denier's alternative to acclaimed youth activist Greta Thunberg
? pink-slipped at least 10 staffers Friday, shedding what one former
employee described as "more than half" the organization's staff.
"Heartland is broke," Nikki Comerford, the nonprofit's events
coordinator on staff for nearly 21 years, told a former colleague in a
text message, a screenshot of which HuffPost reviewed.
Tags: 1998, 2000, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, Alternative for
Germany, Andrew Wheeler, Breitbart, Climate change, Conservative Political
Action Conference, Dark Right, Donald Trump, Donors Trust, Environmental
Protection Agency, Eugene Koprowski, Facebook, Frank Las?e, Fundraising,
Greta Thunberg, Heartland Institute, Illinois, James Taylor, Joseph Morris,
Karoline Seibt, Mercer Family Foundation, Milo Yiannopoulos, Naomi Seibt, Neo-
Nazi, Nikki Comerford, Rebekah Mercer, Republican, Robert Mercer, Scott
Pruitt, Washington, Wisconsin
======================================
Scientology - any regrets?
March 7, 2020, jon atack, family & friends, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBCY_cpzwAA
jon answers the following questions from his friend Rex:
How did your friends (who were still in) treat you when you left? And
then later when you wrote Blue Sky?
Following Blue Sky and the subsequent harassment, do you regret
speaking out?
Tags: A Piece of Blue Sky, Angela Harris, Chris Shelton, Jon Atack, Narconon,
Patreon, PayPal, Quicky, Twitter
======================================
Valerie Haney asks judge to reconsider ruling, and has some excellent
arguments
March 7, 2020, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2020/03/07/valerie-haney-asks-judge-to-reconsider-ruling-and-has-some-excellent-arguments/
On January 30, Valerie Haney's lawsuit against the Church of
Scientology was stopped in its tracks when Judge Richard Burdge Jr of
the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Scientology's motion to force
her to take her grievance to "religious arbitration."
It was a shocking development, and we scrambled to learn what Valerie's
options were. We learned from a legal expert that she had two choices,
and neither of them were very good. She could go through with
Scientology's kangaroo court, putting herself in the hands of her
abusers as it were, and then appeal the court's decision after the
judge accepted the result of the arbitration. Her second option would
be to take a chance on petitioning for a writ of mandamus, appealing to
a higher court that would have no obligation to hear her matter, and in
most cases wouldn't bother.
Now, a little more than a month later, Valerie and her attorney, Bobby
Thompson, are trying a third option. They've filed a motion to
reconsider with the court, asking Judge Burdge to change his decision,
and they're citing some pretty fabulous evidence to support their
argument.
Tags: 1957, 1967, 2013, 2014, 2016, A Piece of Blue Sky, Bobby Thompson,
Brian Statler, Chrissie Bixler, Church of Scientology International, Clear,
Criminal, David Miscavige, Fair Game, Freewinds, Garcia v. Scientology,
George Gasc?n, Inglewood, Jackie Lacey, Jacksonville, Jay Spina, Jon Atack,
Judge James Whittemore, Judge Richard Burdge, Kathy Feshbach, L. Ron Hubbard,
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Superior Court, Luis and Rocio
Garcia, Lynn Farny, Maiden Voyage, Miami, OT, Peter Nyiri, Religious
Technology Center, Rizza Islam, San Francisco, Sea Org, St. Louis,
Suppressive Person, Tampa, Trial, Valerie Haney, Warren McShane
======================================
Why Climate Deniers Are Sexualizing The Young Women At The Centre Of The
Debate
March 7, 2020, Lauren Messervey, Huffington Post
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/greta-thunberg-naomi-seibt_ca_5e62b394c5b68d6164543332
Nothing makes conservative men opposing climate progress more
uncomfortable than an opinionated woman.
Greta Thunberg's work is legendary, even at 17. She's worked to create
awareness about the dangers of climate change, met with world leaders
to discuss the importance of harnessing alternative energy sources, and
proposed tangible solutions to potential future climate issues.
Her stance has attracted the attention of critics wishing to silence
her, including through the use of unsolicited and explicit sexual
comments. An Alberta oil company, X-Site Energy Services, recently took
responsibility for a sticker that appeared to depict Thunberg, a minor,
in a violent sexual position. A half-hearted attempt at an apology
can't mask how predatory and revolting a move it was on the firm's part.
Tags: 2019, Alberta, Breitbart, Brighton, Climate change, Dark Right, Donald
Trump, Environmental, Environmental Protection Agency, Greta Thunberg, Lauren
Southern, Naomi Seibt, X-Site Energy Services, YouTube
======================================
Today in Scientlology web page:
http://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/today.html
March 7 in Scientlology web page:
http://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/days/03-07.html
======================================
Doctors paid by church give defense
March 7, 2000, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times
https://web.archive.org/web/20000902194015/http://www.sptimes.com/News/030700/TampaBay/Doctors_paid_by_churc.shtml
Drs. Michael M. Baden and Cyril H. Wecht also suggested their work is
so conclusive the case should be dropped.
Their primary conclusion: McPherson, 36, died suddenly and
unpredictably of a blood clot in her left lung that originated from a
knee bruise she suffered in a minor auto accident 17 days earlier.
"This is Forensic Pathology 101," said Baden, once part of O.J.
Simpson's "dream team" defense. "This is not complicated."
Tags: 1979, 1995, 1996, 1998, Bernie McCabe, Clearwater, Cyril Wecht, David
Minkoff, Doctor, Doug Crow, Fort Harrison, Joan Wood, Lisa McPherson, Martin
Luther King, Medical, Mental breakdown, Michael Baden, New York City,
Pittsburgh, Scientology staff, Tampa
======================================
Hired pathologists take church's side
March 7, 2000, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/50818355.html?dids=50818355:50818355&FMT=FT
A former member of O.J. Simpson's "dream team" defense says Lisa
McPherson's death was accidental, caused by a blood clot.
As prosecutors consider whether to proceed with criminal charges in the
death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, the Church of Scientology on
Monday presented two nationally known pathologists who said they have
scientific evidence that the 1995 death was accidental.
Tags: 1979, 1995, 1996, 1998, AMA, Bernie McCabe, Clearwater, Cyril Wecht,
David Minkoff, Doug Crow, Fort Harrison, Joan Wood, Lisa McPherson, Mental
breakdown, Michael Baden, New York City, OT, Pittsburgh, Scientology staff
======================================
CPS gives Scientologists same legal protection as mainstream religions
March 7, 2009, James Millbank, Daily Mail
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1160263/CPS-gives-Scientologists-legal-protection-mainstream-religions.html
It means that any alleged offenders who 'abuse' or 'threaten' the
Church of Scientology can be charged under the Racial and Religious
Hatred Act 2006.
It is understood the decision was made this month after the Police
Diversity Directorate asked the CPS to clarify its position on the
organisation.
It follows the arrest last summer of a 15-year-old boy for calling
Scientology a 'dangerous cult' during a demonstration outside the
Church's ?23million headquarters in London.
[Needs confirmation.]
Tags: 1968, 2006, 2016, BBC, Christian, Critic, Crown Prosecution Service,
Cult Information Centre, Epic Nose Guy, Google, Graeme Wilson, Ian Harris,
John Travolta, Katie Holmes, London, Police, Tom Cruise, Twitter, UK
======================================
The truth revealed! Tom Cruise video a big Smokescreen.
March 7, 2009, TheEvilOfScientology, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udg5dZHW7uY
After taking precautions by changing my name, getting myself an
underground bomb-proof bunker, and having plastic surgery, I can
finally reveal the truth behind the FAKE Tom Cruise IAS Medal of Valor
video!
Tags: International Association of Scientologists, Medal of Valor, Tom
Cruise, Video
======================================
Scientology Gets Polite Slap on the Wrist from New York Times
March 7, 2010, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/03/scientology_get_1.php
Scientology's diminutive leader, David Miscavige, takes another body
blow Laurie Goodstein's lengthy and well-written article on Scientology
in today's New York Times, backed up with a slideshow and a nifty
multimedia timeline, provides a solid overview of what the St.
Petersburg Times and others have been writing about L. Ron Hubbard's
wacky cabal for many, many years.
The big news, of course, is that it's the New York Times weighing in.
That's good news for Anonymous, for longtime critics like Mark Bunker
and Andreas Heldal-Lund, and for others who work tirelessly to get the
word out about Scientology's nefarious nature.
Tags: 1930, 1993, 2009, ABC News, Abortion, Andreas Heldal-Lund, Anonymous,
Clearwater, Critic, David Miscavige, Florida, Jesus, Laurie Goodstein, Mark
Bunker, New York Times, Nightline, Pulitzer, Quicky, Sea Org, St. Petersburg
Times, Tommy Davis
======================================
The Only Pay There Is For Living
March 7, 2011, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/the-only-pay-there-is-for-living/
Shortly more than a month ago on this blog Mike Rinder predicted the
following:
"Next up on the Vulture Culture agenda, once all personal possessions,
teeth fillings and hair are sold off:
BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS"
Tags: 1957, Ability Congress, Ideal Org, L. Ron Hubbard, Mike Rinder, Quicky,
Vulture Culture
======================================
Debbie and Wayne Got A Gun
March 7, 2012, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/debbie-and-wayne-got-a-gun/
Latest on Cook v. Scientology Inc from the Tampa Bay Times.
Tags: Quicky, Tampa Bay Times
======================================
Narconon
March 7, 2012, Courthouse News Service
https://www.courthousenews.com/2012/03/07/44483.htm
A woman claims in Superior Court that Narconon of Northern California
offered incompetent care for her sister's addiction, misrepresented its
"success rate," and failed to inform her that the place is "a
recruiting tool for the [nonparty] Church of Scientology."
Tags: ABLE, August West Family Services, Halcyon Horizons, Narconon, Narconon
International, Sonya Mitchell, Success rate
======================================
School Board approves notice of termination for Life Force charter school
March 7, 2012, Drew Harwell, Tampa Bay Times
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/pinellas-school-board-approves-notice-of-termination-for-life-force/1218587
The Tampa Bay Times reported last month that administrators at Life
Force, which earns about $800,000 in public funds a year, compelled
students to learn "study technology," a methodology devised by
Scientology's late founder, L. Ron Hubbard.
Students at the public charter school advertised as the SMART Academy
were also taken on a field trip to a Scientology church in Ybor City.
More than $30,000 in school funds has been given to the World Literacy
Crusade, a California-based group that promotes Hubbard's "study tech."
Tags: Art of Management, California, Clearwater, Dunedin, Hanan Islam, John
Stewart, Life Force, Life Force Arts and Technology Academy, Linda Lerner,
Louis Muhammad, Pinellas County School Board, Sarah Parker, World Literacy
Crusade, Ybor City
======================================
Scientology: Dear Judge, Protect Us from Rathbun and Rinder!
March 7, 2012, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/03/scientology_dea_1.php
Last night, we learned about the church's countermove: its attorneys
asked the court to delay the production of documents until their motion
for summary judgment has been adjudicated. And if the motion is not
granted, to delay the deposition and limit it in scope.
Oh, and one more thing: "That Rathbun and Rinder be excluded from the
deposition."
Tags: 2009, Bexar County, David Miscavige, Debbie Cook, John MacCormack,
Marty Rathbun, Michael Barajas, Mike Rinder, Ray Jeffrey, San Antonio
Current, San Antonio Express-News, Scientology executive, Texas
======================================
Withholds? and Tom Cruise's Best Man
March 7, 2012, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/withholds-and-tom-cruises-best-man/
Withholds? @ Village Voice
And
San Antonio Current on Tom Cruise's Best Man
Tags: Quicky, San Antonio Current, Tom Cruise, Village Voice
======================================
Blogging Dianetics, Part 10: Killing the Grizzly
March 7, 2013, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2013/03/07/blogging-dianetics-part-10-killing-the-grizzly/
Welcome to our ongoing project, where we blog a 1950 first edition of
Scientology's bible, Dianetics, with the help of ex-Scientologist, Bay
Area lawyer, blogger, and author Vance Woodward. Go here for the first
post in the series.
[ALSO TODAY: Below, we have analysis of the Garcia federal fraud
lawsuit from attorney Scott Pilutik, and our first SMERSH Madness match
that features an online forum - ESMB!]
After that last chapter, with Hubbard's exploration of perversion, it's
only natural that the next one, "Emotions and the Dynamics," would
prove to be something of a letdown. But there are some good passages
here for us to explore.
Tags: 1938, 1950, 2007, Australia, CIA, Claire Headley, Clear, Clearwater,
David Love, Debbie Cook, Dianetics, Excalibur, Florida, Going Clear:
Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Jamie DeWolf, John Sweeney,
Katie Holmes, L. Ron Hubbard, Lawrence Wright, Luis and Rocio Garcia, Luis
Garcia, Manhattan, Nancy Many, New Year's Eve, Oregon, OT, Paul Thomas
Anderson, Quicky, Scott Pilutik, SMERSH, Steve Cannane, Super Power, Vance
Woodward, Washington
======================================
NARCONON CEO GARY SMITH LOSES COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION
March 7, 2013, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2013/03/07/narconon-ceo-gary-smith-loses-counselor-certification/
The Underground Bunker has learned that Gary Smith, CEO of
Scientology's flagship drug rehab facility, Narconon Arrowhead, has
been stripped of his drug counselor certification by the National
Association of Forensic Counselors.
The NAFC's CEO and president, Karla Taylor, confirmed today that her
organization has sent out letters that suspend or revoke Certified
Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC) certifications to numerous
employees of Narconon programs in Oklahoma and Georgia - two facilities
that have been the center of controversy after patient deaths, criminal
investigations, and multiple lawsuits. Taylor says she has confirmation
that Smith has received his revocation notice.
Mary Rieser has also lost her CCDC, but the former Narconon Georgia
executive director may have bigger problems with the state continuing a
criminal insurance fraud probe of the facility.
Tags: 2012, Anonymous, Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor, DC, Eric
Tenorio, Gary Smith, Georgia, Karla Taylor, Lucas Catton, Mary Rieser,
Narconon, Narconon Arrowhead, Narconon Georgia, Narconon staff, National
Association of Forensic Counselors, Oklahoma, Quicky
======================================
BRAD HALSEY, 1957-2014
March 7, 2014, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2014/03/07/brad-halsey-1957-2014/
On Sunday, Brad Halsey took his own life. He was 56.
Many of you know him for the 11-minute video he posted last year to
YouTube, calling out Tom Cruise for the way Scientology was declaring
people "suppressive persons" - excommunicating them, sometimes for no
reason at all.
Brad was also a critic of the Underground Bunker. He had left the
Church of Scientology because of his unhappiness with its leader, David
Miscavige, but he still believed strongly in L. Ron Hubbard and the
ideas behind Scientology. So he would skewer us, usually at our
Facebook page, about the way Hubbard's ideas tend to be criticized here.
We really got into it with him a few times, trading barbs and zingers
- and he usually ended up calling us "bro" in a sarcastic manner.
Tags: 1957, 2006, David Miscavige, Facebook, Gainesville, Quicky, Suppressive
Person, Tampa, Tom Cruise, Twitter, YouTube
======================================
PC Folders Are Confidential
March 7, 2014, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/pc-folders-are-confidential/
The church lawyers who stand on their hind legs in court and proclaim
the absolute sanctity of pc folders should get a load of this.
The lies the church tells the public, media and courts about how NOBODY
can access pc folders except the auditor and C/S are exposed by the "CF
I/C OTC DK Org" (I guess the OTC is now a "shadow org" with duplicate
posts to the org itself). The fact that a public person is recruiting
other random public to "go through pc folders" and "pull out data" is
one of the more remarkable FB posts I have come across.
So typical of the RCS. Virtually everything they say in court is a lie
designed to forward their objectives. If they don't want to turn over
evidence of their abuses, they tell the courts nobody can access pc
folders. Meanwhile, this is reality. If they want to prevent Miscavige
from having liability, they tell the courts he has NO involvement in
the activities of the church - meanwhile, he is micromanager par
excellence (and if they think you want to hear how amazing he is, his
own staff will tell you he does literally everything - see the
declarations they filed with the Tampa Bay Times).
Tags: David Miscavige, OTC, PC folders, Quicky, Tampa Bay Times
======================================
Ribbon Envy?
March 7, 2014, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/ribbon-envy/
Just how many ribbons is too many?
Is there such a thing as ribbon envy? Small ribbon syndrome?
Seems that the magnitude of his ribbon pulling events is now being
measured by the size and quantity of his bows and sashes.
Tags: Academy Award, Andrea Kluge, Andres Rodriguez, AOLA, ASHO, Chairman of
the Board, Dissemination, Field Staff Member, Guinness, Hollywood, L. Ron
Hubbard, Nick Lekas, OT, OT Committee, OTC, PAC Base, Pope, Quicky, Sunday
service, Vicki Shantz
======================================
Scientology Infiltrates Carnegie Mellon University
March 7, 2014, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/scientology-infiltrates-carnegie-mellon-university/
The following is a report from Invest Aide OSA INT (Office of Special
Affairs International, the propaganda and dirty tricks arm of David
Miscavige's church of Scientology International) on dealing with
Scientology critic David S. Touretzky - professor at Carnegie Mellon
University. Note that it is titled "DR". That stands for Daily Report.
There are dozens of these daily reports in OSA INT files on Touretzky.
There are hundreds of such reports on more effective critics. There are
thousands of these types of reports on those critics whom David
Miscavige considers a threat to himself personally and who have
withstood Scientology's wrath over time. Ask yourself: should United
States taxpayers be subsidizing an organization that spends its
considerable dollars on such hijinks? And, what is with Scientology's
apparent predilection for inserting sex toys into their operations?
April 27, 2006
D/CO EXT OSA INT
Tags: 2006, Carnegie Mellon, CNBC, David Miscavige, David Touretzky, Dildo,
Hillary Clinton, MSNBC, Office of Special Affairs, Pittsburgh, Quicky, Tom
Whittle, UPI
======================================
Andy Porter Speaks
March 7, 2015, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/andy-porter-speaks/
I have known Andy Porter for many, many years.
He was somewhat of a legend due to his work opening Russia and many of
its former satellites to scientology. Andy spent many years defining
the term "pioneer." He was an unsung hero who did a lot of the REAL
work behind the scenes that ended up being glorified in IAS Freedom
Medal winner videos and other event presentations.
Andy now hails from the northwestern corner of Washington State where
he lives with his wife and 10 year old son. He is an accomplished
landscape photographer focused on capturing the beauty and majesty of
the North Cascades. He sells fine art prints, teaches photo classes and
gives photo tours. You can see more about Andy and his images here: www.
AndyPorterImages.com
Tags: 2000, Alex Gibney, Andy Porter, Clear, Clearwater, Dianetics, E-meter,
End Phenomena, Ethics, Ethics Officer, Flag Land Base, Florida, Freedom
Medal, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, HBO, International
Association of Scientologists, Knowledge Report, L. Ron Hubbard, Lawrence
Wright, Mission Impossible, Operating Thetan, OT, OT 7, Paul Haggis, Quicky,
Russia, Sea Org, Sec Check, Suppressive Person, Washington
======================================
Jon Atack visits an org - ALSO: The richest Scientologist gets even richer!
March 7, 2015, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2015/03/07/jon-atack-visits-an-org-also-the-richest-scientologist-gets-even-richer/
Jon Atack is the author of A Piece of Blue Sky, one of the very best
books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He has a new edition of the
book for sale, and for more than a year on Saturdays he helped us sift
through the legends, myths, and contested facts about Scientology that
tend to get hashed and rehashed in books, articles, and especially on
the Internet. He was kind enough to send us a new post.
Jon sent us just a short anecdote this time, which only whets our
appetite for more. But we know he's a busy man and has a lot going on
that will come to fruition later this year. We'll take what we can get.
Tell it, Jon...
JON: In 1993, I was in Chicago, working on a documentary project with
Carlos Cornier. The documentary did not see the light of day, though
some of my footage went into an A&E piece, which also featured David
Miscavige. We had done a week of filming in England. Now Carlos wanted
to add some American colour.
Tags: 1993, 2013, A Piece of Blue Sky, A&E, Bill Maher, Bob Duggan, Canada,
Chicago, Claudio Lugli, Clearwater, David Miscavige, England, Facebook,
Florida, Forbes, HBO, International Association of Scientologists, Italy, Jon
Atack, Lawrence Wright, Los Angeles, Office of Special Affairs, OT, OT 8,
Pharmacyclics, Renata Lugli, San Francisco, Sea Org, Shelly Miscavige, Texas,
Waco
======================================
Ad company mysteriously rejects anti-Scientology billboard near church's
Hollywood headquarters
March 7, 2016, Tom Boggioni, Raw Story
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/ad-company-mysteriously-rejects-anti-scientology-billboard-near-churchs-hollywood-headquarters/
The Los Angeles office of an outdoor advertising company has backed out
on a deal that would have placed an anti-Scientology billboard just
blocks away from the LA headquarters of the religious organization.
According to the Underground Bunker, former Scientologist Phil Jones
signed a 3-month contract worth $8,200 with Outfront Media - formerly
CBS Outdoor - to place the billboard within walking distance of the
headquarters.
Jones states that he was informed the contract was shot down by the New
York office of the advertising company but he has yet to receive an
explanation.
Tags: CBS Outdoor, David Miscavige, Disconnection, Hollywood, Los Angeles,
New York City, Outfront Media, Phil Jones, Underground Bunker
======================================
Al Buttnor and the Art of Scientology PR
March 7, 2016, Mark Bunker, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVBl_WXzu7A
Shot in 2000, Al Buttnor was brought into Clearwater after the opening
of the LMT to help with "PR chores." I asked him about one particular
task a caller had said he performed.
Tags: 2000, Al Buttnor, Clearwater, Lisa McPherson Trust, Pat Harney, Video
======================================
Fundraising Forever
March 7, 2016, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/fundraising-forever/
What you see below are 4 letters asking someone in Clearwater for money
for Orlando "ideal" org.
All 4 of them were put into one envelope.
Apparently the Orlando org does not have enough money to mail 4
separate letters. Nor do they have money for letterhead. Or anything
but the cheapest paper and envelopes.
Tags: Atlanta, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Fundraising, Orlando, OT
Committee, OTC, Puerto Rico, Quicky, Tampa
======================================
Meet Caitlyn Jenners Ex-Scientologist BFF
March 7, 2016, Katie Zavadski, Daily Beast
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/06/meet-caitlyn-jenner-s-ex-scientologist-bff.html
If Caitlyn Jenner is going to be Ted Cruz's trans ambassador, her
newest co-star Kate Bornstein has offered to be his court jester instead.
The 68-year-old former high-ranking Scientologist turned beloved auntie
of the genderqueer is living her latest incarnation as a reality TV
star, parking her outsider status as she boards an RV Sunday night with
America's most famous family.
"I promise to give him at least one giggle a day, and I'd offer him a
fair and balanced counterview to anything he's got," Bornstein texted
this reporter about Cruz a day after our interview on the new season of
Jenner's show, where Bornstein is now a series regular.
Tags: 2013, Caitlyn Jenner, England, Gender Outlaw, Jewish, Kate Bornstein,
New York City, New York Times, Quicky, Republican, Sea Org, Suppressive
Person, Ted Cruz
======================================
There's a backstory to the recent news of a Scientology TV ad being banned in
the UK
March 7, 2016, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2016/03/07/theres-a-backstory-to-the-recent-news-of-a-scientology-tv-ad-being-banned-in-the-uk/
(The claim that got this 2015 Scientology ad banned.)
When we saw the news last week that the U.K.'s Advertising Standards
Authority (ASA) had banned a Scientology television commercial, we
immediately assumed that we knew who had made the complaint about the
ad that eventually got it taken down.
The TV ad made the same claim - about Scientology's "Volunteer
Minister" program aiding some 24 million people - as appeared in a
print ad last summer which was the subject of a complaint to the ASA by
Underground Bunker commenter Once_Born, who runs the the excellent
Scientology Books and Media blog.
Tags: 2000, 2015, Abortion, Advertising Standards Authority, Al Buttnor,
Clearwater, Facebook, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of
Belief, Judge John Doyle, Laura DeCrescenzo, London, Los Angeles Superior
Court, Mark Bunker, Narconon Scotland, New Statesman, Quicky, Rod Keller, UK,
Volunteer Ministers, XENU TV
======================================
Paul Haggis spoils movie night for Scientology, shows what a real
humanitarian does
March 7, 2017, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2017/03/07/paul-haggis-spoils-movie-night-for-scientology-shows-what-a-real-humanitarian-does/
(Paul Haggis and Nancy Cartwright)
Last week our man at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre let us know that
Nancy Cartwright's movie, In Search of Fellini, had screened, and he
wanted us to understand that it was a movie with more Scientologists
involved than maybe any other ever. From Nancy, who wrote it, to its
director, to many of its actors, and plenty of other people on the
crew, this is a film that Scientology is hoping will do well.
Well, since then, we learned from Roger Friedman that there was a bit
of a surprise about that first screening, which happened on the closing
night of the 12th annual Los Angeles Italia film festival on February 24...
Tags: 1979, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, Alex Gibney, Andrea Doven,
Apostate, Burglary, Celebrity Centre, Clearwater, Clearwater Sun, David
Miscavige, Florida, Fort Harrison, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and
the Prison of Belief, Haiti, HBO, Hollywood, In Search of Fellini, Lawrence
Wright, Los Angeles, Maria Bello, Michael Doven, Nancy Cartwright, Nazanin
Boniadi, New Yorker, OT, Paul Haggis, Quicky, Rod Keller, Roger Friedman,
Scientology organization, Tampa Bay Times, The Sun, Tom Cruise, Toronto,
Tracey McManus, Washington
======================================
Setbacks at Enterprise Florida, in downtown Clearwater deliver one-two punch
to job recruiting
March 7, 2017, Robert Trigaux, Tampa Bay Times
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/trigaux-setbacks-at-enterprise-florida-in-downtown-clearwater-deliver/2315556
A more unusual complication is emerging in Clearwater, where city
officials are about to surrender responsibility for economic
development and business recruitment in much of the city's downtown. As
reported in the Tampa Bay Times, the Church of Scientology has a plan
to control a large swath of downtown real estate and create a master
retail district that will operate under its management and oversight.
City manager Bill Horne tells the Times he's willing to let Scientology
officials take the lead on recruiting businesses in the hope they can
find the economic solution that has eluded the city government.
"We have to try something," Horne said. "We haven't been successful on
our own."
Tags: Bill Horne, Clearwater, Florida, Rick Scott, St. Petersburg,
Tallahassee, Tampa
======================================
Who are mega-donors Bob and Rebekah Mercer, and why are they influential?
March 7, 2017, Fredreka Schouten, USA Today
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/07/who-are-trump-donors-bob-and-rebekah-mercer/98812284/
Another non-profit group, Virginia-based Media Research Center,
defended Attorney General Jeff Sessions last week over his contacts
with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and cast media coverage of
Sessions' meeting with Kislyak at the Republican National Convention as
a "political hit job" orchestrated by former Obama administration
officials.
And when President Trump complained recently about the Academy Awards
and media bias, he did so during an exclusive interview with Breitbart
News, which landed its Oval Office sit-down with Trump a day before his
first address to Congress.
These organizations have one thing in common: They count heiress
Rebekah Mercer and her billionaire father, Bob, among their key
benefactors. For years, the Mercers have sent tens of millions of
dollars to conservative politics and causes, ranging from
well-established think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation, to
organizations financing anti-Hillary Clinton movies.
Tags: 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, Academy Award, Access
Hollywood, Andrew Cuomo, Arizona, Breitbart, Cambridge Analytica, Citizens
United, Congress, David Bossie, Diana Mercer, Federalist Society, Forbes,
Government Accountability Institute, Heritage Foundation, Hillary Clinton,
IBM, Jeff Sessions, Jennifer Mercer, John Bolton, John McCain, Kellyanne
Conway, Leonard Leo, Long Island, Media Research Center, Mercer Family
Foundation, New York, New York City, Peter Schweizer, Peter Thiel, Quicky,
Rebekah Mercer, Reclaim New York, Republican, Republican National Convention,
Robert Mercer, Ruby, Russia, Silicon Valley, Steve Bannon, Tea Party, Ted
Cruz, Texas, TODAY, United Nations, USA, Virginia, Washington, White House
======================================
A fresh start: Former Scientology member shares her memoir with Yuba Lit
March 7, 2018, Jennifer Nobles, The Union
https://www.theunion.com/entertainment/a-fresh-start-former-scientology-member-shares-her-memoir-with-yuba-lit/
For better or worse, the Church of Scientology has become somewhat of a
household name. The controversial church - which counts stars like Tom
Cruise, John Travolta, and Kirstie Alley among its devout followers -
has been making headlines since its formation in 1954, reportedly for
its cult-like atmosphere and allegedly manipulative commercial practices.
The religious organization has been profiled numerous times by the
media, but the church remains an enigma to many standing on the outside.
Sands Hall knows a lot about the often contentious religion after
spending a decade of her life as a member of the Church of Scientology.
When the church encouraged her to cut ties with some of her loved ones,
Hall made the decision to leave the organization, and is now releasing
a memoir titled "Flunk. Start.: Reclaiming My Decade Lost in
Scientology."
Tags: 1954, Flunk. Start., John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Nevada, Quicky, San
Francisco, Sands Hall, Tom Cruise
======================================
An anti-immigrant hate group lobbying director is now a senior adviser at U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services
March 7, 2018, Eric Hananoki, MediaMatters
https://www.mediamatters.org/hill/anti-immigrant-hate-group-lobbying-director-now-senior-adviser-us-citizenship-and-immigration
Robert Law, a senior policy adviser to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS), previously worked as a lobbying director for the
anti-immigrant organization Federation for American Immigration Reform
(FAIR), which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern
Poverty Law Center (SPLC). While at FAIR, Law denigrated Dreamers,
argued that the United States should end birthright citizenship, and
recommended that the government reduce the number of refugees and
immigrants coming into the country.
Law quietly joined the agency, part of the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), in October after serving as FAIR's director of
government relations, according to his LinkedIn profile. Aside from his
networking page, Law's appointment does not appear to have been
publicly announced. His name appears in ProPublica's Trump Town
database of admistration appointees.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has designated FAIR as a hate
group, writing: "One of the group's main goals is upending the
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which ended a decades-long,
racist quota system that limited immigration mostly to northern
Europeans." FAIR was founded by John Tanton, who, the civil rights
group wrote, "has white nationalist beliefs and has written that to
maintain American culture, 'a European-American majority' is required."
Tanton remains on the group's board of advisors. The Anti-Defamation
League has also criticized FAIR, describing it as "an extreme
anti-immigrant group."
Tags: 1965, 2016, 2017, Anti-Defamation League, Department of Homeland
Security, Europe, Federation for American Immigration Reform, John Tanton,
Julie Kirchner, LinkedIn, ProPublica, Quicky, Southern Poverty Law Center
======================================
Is American culture now so hopeless that Scientology's insanity is no longer
notable?
March 7, 2018, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2018/03/07/is-american-culture-now-so-hopeless-that-scientologys-insanity-is-no-longer-notable/
In September, former Spy magazine co-founder and New Yorker columnist
Kurt Andersen penned a widely discussed essay for the Atlantic with the
wonderful title "How America Lost Its Mind."
The essay's penetrating look at the post-truth culture of Trumpism was
a masterpiece of the form, blamed anti-science movements of both the
left and the right for the predicament we find ourselves in, and, best
of all from our perspective, mentioned Scientology a couple of times
(as well as Scientology favorite Thomas Szasz).
Andersen included Scientology as one of the many harbingers that the
rest of the country would lose pretty much all contact with reality by
the early 21st century.
Tags: 2012, 2013, A&E, Bernie Headley, Bruce Hines, Chris Owen, Christopher
Shinn, Claire Headley, David Miscavige, Derek Bloch, Disconnection, Going
Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Hana Whitfield,
Jefferson Hawkins, Jeffrey Augustine, Jon Atack, Katrina Reyes, Keep
Scientology Working, Kurt Andersen, Lawrence Wright, Leah Remini, Lori
Hodgson, Marie Bilheimer, Mary Kahn, Mike Rinder, New Yorker, OT, Rod Keller,
Scientology and the Aftermath, Scott Pilutik, Sea Org, Thomas Szasz, Vicki
Marshall
======================================
Katrina Reyes' Horror Story Part 3: Escape from the Church of Scientology
March 7, 2018, SurvivingScientology, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUsqLEpJ_iM
Katrina Reyes was eleven years old and living in poverty in Siberia,
Russia when her mother joined the Church of Scientology. The Cult
quickly exploited the mother and daughter and recruited them into it's
notorious Sea Org. Katrina and her mother were shipped to Clearwater,
Florida. Scientology used Katrina as child labor and she received no
formal education. In Part 3 we hear how Katrina escaped from
Scientology and started her new life.
Tags: Child labor, Clearwater, Cult, Escape, Florida, Katrina, Katrina Reyes,
Quicky, Russia, Sea Org, Siberia
======================================
Scientology Events
March 7, 2018, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-events/
They are really getting desperate for people to show up at events.
Now they are using something Hubbard said in 1957 about Congresses as
if it is somehow speaking about "Int Events."
Two things:
Tags: 1957, Clearwater, Congress, David Miscavige, Jesus Christ, Kodak
Center, Los Angeles, OT, Quicky, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Shrine Auditorium, Tampa
======================================
The Data Series as Revisionist History
March 7, 2018, John P. Capitalist, Reasoned.Life
http://www.reasoned.life/2018/03/the-data-series-as-revisionist-history/
A part of another project we're working on here at JohnPCapitalist.com,
I've been taking a dive into one of the more esoteric bits of
Scientology "tech": the "Data Series" in the Management Series, Volume
1. Volume One also contains the Organizing Series and the Personnel
Series. The Management Series or "Green Volumes" are an extensive set
of works that cover every permutation within the organizational domain
of Scientology management.
Written over several years starting in 1970, the Data Series is defined
as "a series of policy letters written by L. Ron Hubbard which deal
with logic, illogic, proper evaluation of data and how to detect and
handle the causes of good and bad situations within groups and
organizations." Hubbard felt that Scientology management was failing in
certain areas of understanding and leadership, and in writing the Data
Series. He created a highly prescriptive set of policies, procedures
and instructions in dealing with every conceivable challenge those in
management might face on a daily basis. Starting with "The Anatomy of
Thought" (HCO PL 26 April 1970R), Hubbard pontificates on "Logic,"
"Breakthroughs," "Data and Situational Analyzing'" and "Information
Collection" among other topics, all in his uniquely bloviating and
paradoxical fashion. However, what struck me most while reading through
this "guidance," was not only his convoluted, typically tortured
syntax, but more so, the abundance of nonsensical historical analogies
and examples he alludes to throughout as a means of "illustrating" his
points.
Hubbard begins by offering his definition of "sanity," derived from his
unpublished work Excalibur, which apparently included a "fundamental
truth," which was his definition of "sanity." Hubbard defined sanity as
"the ability to recognize differences, similarities, and identities;"
he further goes on to state that "this is also intelligence." Aside
from the usual Hubbardian bluster, none of this is even remotely close
to the universally accepted definition of both "sanity" and
"intelligence." If anything, it may vaguely resemble "cognition," which
is "the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through
thought, experience, and the senses."
Tags: 1968, 1970, Alfred Korzybski, Anatomy of Thought, Chinese, CIA, Data
Series, Excalibur, Green Volumes, Japan, Laos, Management Series, Organizing
Series, Personnel Series, Quicky, Russia, Vietnam
======================================
The NRA is a Cult | March 7, 2018 Act 1 | Full Frontal on TBS
March 7, 2018, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6yPZB9O2HU
There are two great American cults that preach blind adherence to
dogma, but only one is heavily armed.
Tags: Cult, Quicky, Samantha Bee
======================================
Keith Raniere attorney assures judge she can avoid conflict with father Mark
Geragos
March 7, 2019, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2019/03/07/judge-appoints-keith-raniere-a-court-paid-lawyer-after-conflicts-hearing/
There's a fun new letter in the Nxivm case file to Judge Nicholas G.
Garaufis from Keith Raniere's lead attorneys asking the judge to look
past the odd situation involving Raniere's lawyer Teny Geragos.
Raniere's co-defendant, Seagram's heiress Clare Bronfman, is being
represented by Teny's father, famous defense attorney Mark Geragos.
After prosecutors pointed out the potential problem with that
arrangement, Teny responded in a letter to the court today.
"Counsel has made it clear to both Raniere and the government that she
is aware and takes seriously her ethical duties to her client -
including the duties of confidentiality and loyalty," says the letter
from Teny and attorney Marc Agnifilo. "These duties have not and will
not be impaired by her 'close family relationship.' We do not believe
there is a conflict."
Tags: Avraham Moskowitz, Clare Bronfman, Judge Nicholas Garaufis, Keith
Raniere, Mark Geragos, New York, NXIVM, Teny Geragos
======================================
Scientology denied: Eleventh Circuit brushes aside church attempt to stop
Garcia appeal
March 7, 2019, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2019/03/07/scientology-denied-eleventh-circuit-brushes-aside-church-attempt-to-stop-garcia-appeal/
What's this? Some good news in the Luis and Rocio Garcia lawsuit
against Scientology? You don't say.
It might be a relatively small development, but at this point the
Garcias will probably take whatever they can get. This week, the
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta denied Scientology's
attempt to derail the Garcias' appeal of their disappointing result in
a Florida US district court, and their appeal will continue on.
In January 2013, the Garcias initially filed their lawsuit against
several Scientology entities, claiming that they had been defrauded by
a church that lied to them in order to convince them to make more than
a million dollars in donations over their years as members. But
Scientology's attorneys convinced US district court judge James
Whittemore that because the Garcias had signed contracts obliging them
to take all grievances to Scientology's internal arbitration, he
couldn't interfere without violating Scientology's First Amendment
religious rights.
Tags: 1970, 1977, 1978, 2013, American Citizens for Honesty in Government,
Atlanta, Bomb threat, Burglary, California, Clearwater, Clearwater Sun,
Critic, Dianetics, Drug Enforcement Administration, Dupont Circle, Fair Game,
FBI, First Amendment, Florida, Fort Harrison, Gabriel Cazares, Greg Layton,
Guardian's Office, Ian Shapira, IRS, Judge James Whittemore, Judge William
Bryant, Los Angeles, Luis and Rocio Garcia, Luis Garcia, Mark Sableman, Mary
Sue Hubbard, Mental Health, Michael Meisner, New York, Paulette Cooper,
Raymond Banoun, Ron Shaffer, Snow White Program, Ted Babbitt, The Unbreakable
Miss Lovely, US Court of Appeals, US Department of Justice, US Eleventh
Circuit Court of Appeals, Washington, Washington Post
======================================
Thursday Funnies
March 7, 2019, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/thursday-funnies-206/
Top international business consultant?
He obviously runs one of the MISFORTUNE 500 companies.
A BIG name...
Tags: Birthday Hame, Buddha, Claire Parz, Colorado, Columbus, David Petit,
Denver, Facebook, Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Hymn of Asia,
International Association of Scientologists, London, Ohio, Quicky, Religious
Technology Center, Ronit Soracco, Sea Org, Sydney, Thursday Funnies, Twitter,
Vulture
======================================
Waste Management Firm Owned by GPB Capital is Raided by the FBI - Troubles
Continue for Scientologist David Gentile'
March 7, 2019, Jeffrey Augustine, Scientology Money Project
https://scientologymoneyproject.com/2019/03/07/waste-management-firm-owned-by-gpb-capital-is-raided-by-the-fbi-troubles-continue-for-scientologist-david-gentiles-firm/
Five Star Carting of New York is owned by GPB Capital
ProPublica today reported that the FBI and the BIC raided the offices
of Five Star Carting, a waste management firmed owned by GPB Capital
Holdings, a firm owned by Scientologist David Gentile. As we have been
reporting, GPB Capital is under investigation by the SEC, FINRA, the
FBI, and the BIC. This raid occurred last week and was coincident with
the FBI and the BIC showing up unannounced at GPB's New York Office to
obtain documents. From the ProPublica article:
The FBI and New York City regulators raided the corporate offices of a
major private trash hauler last week, the latest sign of trouble for an
industry under fire.
Tags: 1999, 2003, David Gentile, FBI, Five Star Carting, GPB Capital
Holdings, New York, New York City, New York City Business Integrity
Commission, Quicky, Raid, SEC
======================================
Who Is Jay?Sekulow? Trump Attorney Funnels Millions to His Family Through
Nonprofits
March 7, 2019, Peter Montgomery, Right Wing Watch
https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/who-is-jay-sekulow-trump-attorney-funnels-millions-to-his-family-through-non-profits/
Over the years, multiple reporters have investigated the ways that the
ACLJ and an affiliated nonprofit, Christian Advocates Serving
Evangelism, have enriched the bank accounts and lifestyles of Sekulow
and members of his family.
Sekulow's lucrative family "nonprofit" business was first investigated
by Legal Times' Tony Mauro back in 2005, who reported that while
Sekulow had become a familiar face on television for his work on behalf
of the ACLJ and his advocacy for George W. Bush's judicial nominees ,
there was another side to Sekulow:
It is the Jay Sekulow who, through the ACLJ and a string of
interconnected nonprofit and for-profit entities, has built a financial
empire that generates millions of dollars a year and supports a lavish
lifestyle - complete with multiple homes, chauffeur-driven cars, and a
private jet that he once used to ferry Supreme Court Justice Antonin
Scalia.
Tags: 1988, 1990, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017,
Abortion, Africa, American Center for Law and Justice, American Civil
Liberties Union, China, Christian, Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism,
Christian Broadcasting Network, Christian Right, Congress, Daily Beast, Dark
Right, Democratic National Committee, Department of Homeland Security, Donald
Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Europe, FBI, George W. Bush, Ground Zero, Iowa, Iran,
Jay Sekulow, Johnson Amendment, Justice Antonin Scalia, Kenya, Legal, Lester
Holt, LGBTQ, Manhattan, Marriage, Michael Cohen, Moscow, Muslim, NBC, Pat
Robertson, Planned Parenthood, Republican, Russia, Sean Hannity, Seth Rich,
Slate, ThinkProgress, Washington, WikiLeaks, Zimbabwe
======================================
An Open Letter to My Family first published on 25 May 2010
March 7, 2020, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
https://www.mikerindersblog.org/an-open-letter-to-my-family-first-published-on-25-may-2010/
See my announcement on Friday - I am revisiting earlier posts during my
vacation. Each day there will be a different one. While I might write
this a bit differently today it still overall delivers the same message...
Dear Andrew, Taryn & Cathy,
You made a big issue out of my failure to respond to your letters, so I
am responding herewith to the letters each of you sent.
Tags: 1960, 2000, 2007, 2010, American Psychiatric Association, BBC, Black
Propaganda, Brighton, Catholic, Chairman of the Board, CMO Int, CNN, Dallas,
David Miscavige, DC, Denver, Dianetics, Disconnection, Facebook, Fort
Harrison, Freewinds, Gary Wiese, Ideal Org, Int Base, International
Association of Scientologists, International Justice Chief, International
Management, Inurement, Jennifer Linson, Kansas City, L. Ron Hubbard, Linda
Hamel, London, Los Angeles Superior Court, Miami, Monique Yingling, Office of
Special Affairs, Old Gilman House, Orlando, OSA Int, OT, OT IX, OT VII, OT
VIII, Potential Trouble Source, Quicky, Sec Check, Squirrel, St. Petersburg
Times, Tampa, The Hole, Twitter, Universe Corps
======================================
Betsy DeVos's problem with numbers
March 7, 2020, Valerie Strauss, Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/03/07/betsy-devoss-problem-with-numbers/
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has a problem with numbers. As in, she
sometimes cites numbers that just aren't accurate.
DeVos, of course, is hardly the only government official to cite
inaccurate numbers to make a point, but that's no reason not to point
it out when she does - and she did during two appearances in the last
week before congressional committees when defending the Trump
administration's proposed 2021 budget.
Let's look at a few examples from her testimony.
Tags: 1970, 1980, 1990, 1994, 2001, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, Betsy
DeVos, Boston, Charter Schools Program, Congress, Dark Right, DEA, Houston
Chronicle, Inspector General, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools,
San Antonio, Stanford University, Texas
======================================
Pro-Trump Climate Denial Group Lays Off Staff Amid Financial Woes, Ex-
Employees Say
March 7, 2020, Alexander C. Kaufman, Huffington Post
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/heartland-institute-staff-layoffs-climate-change-denial_n_5e6302a6c5b6670e72f85fa5?ri18n=true
An influential climate-denial think tank bankrolled by President Donald
Trump's far-right billionaire donors has laid off nearly a dozen
staffers amid financial troubles, according to three former employees.
The Illinois-based Heartland Institute ? which captured headlines last
month for promoting a German teenager with ties to neo-Nazis as the
climate denier's alternative to acclaimed youth activist Greta Thunberg
? pink-slipped at least 10 staffers Friday, shedding what one former
employee described as "more than half" the organization's staff.
"Heartland is broke," Nikki Comerford, the nonprofit's events
coordinator on staff for nearly 21 years, told a former colleague in a
text message, a screenshot of which HuffPost reviewed.
Tags: 1998, 2000, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, Alternative for
Germany, Andrew Wheeler, Breitbart, Climate change, Conservative Political
Action Conference, Dark Right, Donald Trump, Donors Trust, Environmental
Protection Agency, Eugene Koprowski, Facebook, Frank Las?e, Fundraising,
Greta Thunberg, Heartland Institute, Illinois, James Taylor, Joseph Morris,
Karoline Seibt, Mercer Family Foundation, Milo Yiannopoulos, Naomi Seibt, Neo-
Nazi, Nikki Comerford, Rebekah Mercer, Republican, Robert Mercer, Scott
Pruitt, Washington, Wisconsin
======================================
Scientology - any regrets?
March 7, 2020, jon atack, family & friends, YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBCY_cpzwAA
jon answers the following questions from his friend Rex:
How did your friends (who were still in) treat you when you left? And
then later when you wrote Blue Sky?
Following Blue Sky and the subsequent harassment, do you regret
speaking out?
Tags: A Piece of Blue Sky, Angela Harris, Chris Shelton, Jon Atack, Narconon,
Patreon, PayPal, Quicky, Twitter
======================================
Valerie Haney asks judge to reconsider ruling, and has some excellent
arguments
March 7, 2020, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
https://tonyortega.org/2020/03/07/valerie-haney-asks-judge-to-reconsider-ruling-and-has-some-excellent-arguments/
On January 30, Valerie Haney's lawsuit against the Church of
Scientology was stopped in its tracks when Judge Richard Burdge Jr of
the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Scientology's motion to force
her to take her grievance to "religious arbitration."
It was a shocking development, and we scrambled to learn what Valerie's
options were. We learned from a legal expert that she had two choices,
and neither of them were very good. She could go through with
Scientology's kangaroo court, putting herself in the hands of her
abusers as it were, and then appeal the court's decision after the
judge accepted the result of the arbitration. Her second option would
be to take a chance on petitioning for a writ of mandamus, appealing to
a higher court that would have no obligation to hear her matter, and in
most cases wouldn't bother.
Now, a little more than a month later, Valerie and her attorney, Bobby
Thompson, are trying a third option. They've filed a motion to
reconsider with the court, asking Judge Burdge to change his decision,
and they're citing some pretty fabulous evidence to support their
argument.
Tags: 1957, 1967, 2013, 2014, 2016, A Piece of Blue Sky, Bobby Thompson,
Brian Statler, Chrissie Bixler, Church of Scientology International, Clear,
Criminal, David Miscavige, Fair Game, Freewinds, Garcia v. Scientology,
George Gasc?n, Inglewood, Jackie Lacey, Jacksonville, Jay Spina, Jon Atack,
Judge James Whittemore, Judge Richard Burdge, Kathy Feshbach, L. Ron Hubbard,
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Superior Court, Luis and Rocio
Garcia, Lynn Farny, Maiden Voyage, Miami, OT, Peter Nyiri, Religious
Technology Center, Rizza Islam, San Francisco, Sea Org, St. Louis,
Suppressive Person, Tampa, Trial, Valerie Haney, Warren McShane
======================================
Why Climate Deniers Are Sexualizing The Young Women At The Centre Of The
Debate
March 7, 2020, Lauren Messervey, Huffington Post
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/greta-thunberg-naomi-seibt_ca_5e62b394c5b68d6164543332
Nothing makes conservative men opposing climate progress more
uncomfortable than an opinionated woman.
Greta Thunberg's work is legendary, even at 17. She's worked to create
awareness about the dangers of climate change, met with world leaders
to discuss the importance of harnessing alternative energy sources, and
proposed tangible solutions to potential future climate issues.
Her stance has attracted the attention of critics wishing to silence
her, including through the use of unsolicited and explicit sexual
comments. An Alberta oil company, X-Site Energy Services, recently took
responsibility for a sticker that appeared to depict Thunberg, a minor,
in a violent sexual position. A half-hearted attempt at an apology
can't mask how predatory and revolting a move it was on the firm's part.
Tags: 2019, Alberta, Breitbart, Brighton, Climate change, Dark Right, Donald
Trump, Environmental, Environmental Protection Agency, Greta Thunberg, Lauren
Southern, Naomi Seibt, X-Site Energy Services, YouTube
======================================
Today in Scientlology web page:
http://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/today.html
March 7 in Scientlology web page:
http://umbraxenu.no-ip.biz/days/03-07.html
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