Tony Ortega's Blog, page 347
February 12, 2021
While more evidence of how bad the Capitol riot was mounts, patriots hold firm
Some links to Q-related items today…
More patriots dealing with their own families disowning them…
Patriots continue to get the boot…
QAnon Now Getting Banned On Platforms We've Never Even Heard Of https://t.co/FyEvSJ9eAJ
— lvl 46 dog-faced pony potus (@thetomzone) February 12, 2021
Anna Merlan is on the case (she rocks)…
I can't stop thinking about this story about the Plandemic guy planning an armed compound near Austin, with Marla Maples at one of the planning meetings. https://t.co/YcpyiVvuuf
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) February 12, 2021
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent recent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
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THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you’re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 12, 2021 at 9:00
Danny Masterson accusers signal they’ll go to higher court to fight ‘religious arbitration’
Yesterday afternoon we told you that former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson testified before a Congressional subcommittee and brought up the lawsuit against actor Danny Masterson and the Church of Scientology that we’ve been watching so closely since it was filed in 2019. The lawsuit was brought by Masterson’s rape accusers, and Carlson used it as an example of how women are being denied justice through the misuse of a federal arbitration law.
Chrissie Carnell Bixler, one of the women suing Masterson, submitted a letter to the subcommittee which dramatically portrayed the paradox she and the other plaintiffs face. She actually stated it quite well:
I am ordered to go to my abusers for justice now pursuant to a system that is set up to condemn me, all because I signed something I was never allowed to read while in Scientology many, many years ago, even though I do not subscribe to this “religion” nor believe in any of its beliefs. I am terrified of them. I am ordered to go back to my abusers even though I have a criminal protective order in place with my rapist and any of his “agents,” which Scientology agrees they are. Judge Kleifield also ruled that our rapist gets to participate in the arbitration, and under Scientology’s rules our rapist could even be our arbiter.
And if you think that last part is an exaggeration, remember that on January 26 we reported that Danny Masterson has now indicated in a court filing that he does, in fact, intend to participate in the “religious arbitration” that Judge Steven Kleifield has ruled should take the place of a trial in this case.
Chrissie’s attorneys tried to convince Judge Kleifield to hold an emergency hearing and consider their argument that the lawsuit (and the arbitration) be put on hold for now while Masterson is facing the far more serious case making its way through criminal court and that could put him in prison for 45 years to life for raping three women. Kleifield refused to hold the hearing on an emergency basis, and so it has been scheduled for June 7.
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});And once again, for the many people we hear from who understandably are confused on this point: There are two very different court cases going on regarding Danny Masterson, both at Los Angeles Superior Court, but one is a criminal matter and the other is a civil lawsuit.
Masterson is facing life in prison for raping three women, but in a separate case he’s being sued by those three women (and one of their husbands) and another woman for the harassment they say they’ve been put through by the That ’70s Show actor and the Church of Scientology (and its leader, David Miscavige) after coming forward to the LAPD with their rape allegations in 2016.
They are not suing for being raped. They are suing for being harassed after complaining about being raped.
On the criminal side, Masterson was charged on June 16 and was just arraigned on January 20 after he tried to get charges thrown out with a couple of different failed strategies. He has pleaded not guilty and says the charges against him are a publicity stunt. (By contrast, Scientologist money manager David Gentile, who is accused of operating a $1.8 billion Ponzi scheme, was charged on January 29, his charges were made public in February 4, and he was arraigned just five days later, February 9.) But if Masterson’s criminal case has moved slowly, it’s in the hands of a prosecutor whose filings and court arguments have been taut and effective, and the case has now been assigned to a trial court whose judge has handled similarly complex cases involving allegations of drugging and sexual assault. In other words, Masterson really seems to have his hands full with the criminal prosecution.
The civil lawsuit is another matter. We’ve been surprised by sloppy filings and poor court performance by the attorneys representing these women, and in another case they’re handling that also was derailed by a ruling forcing it into Scientology’s religious arbitration, an attempt to petition a higher court failed because it wasn’t filed in time.
Now, in a new brief, the attorneys for Carnell Bixler have once again laid out their arguments for why the civil lawsuit and the arbitration should be put on hold while Masterson’s criminal case is ongoing. They cite Marsy’s Law, which grants protections to victims of sexual crimes while those cases are being prosecuted, and point out what a nightmare it would be if these women were forced to sit in a room with their alleged rapist for an arbitration proceeding. And they also, in the final paragraph, reveal that they do intend to file a petition with a state appellate court seeking a writ of mandate to have a higher court review Kleifield’s ruling forcing them to arbitration.
It’s already been 44 days since Kleifield’s ruling. For the sake of these women seeking a day in court, we trust that their attorneys will get that petition filed with some alacrity.
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It’s nice south of the border this time of year, we hear
Scientology OT rabble rouser and antivaxx anti-mask “human rights attorney” Leigh Dundas continues to cool her heels in Mexico after making her star turn at the January 6 US Capitol riot, where she gave fiery speeches, screamed “Traitor!” at Capitol police, and was seen in the crowd near the building’s door.
Others have faced charges for less, so we’re wondering if maybe that had something to do with Leigh’s sudden removal to Mexico, where she says she’s been attending a conference called “The Greater Reset,” as she explains in a new video.
As you can tell, it doesn’t sound like she’s in a rush to return to the US. Wonder why.
Hm…
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“I have a bit of a news bulletin, has nothing to do with the mental health empire that Mr. Kennedy is trying to create in the United States at 1.6 billion dollars, that isn’t news. The Federal government, of course, always has wanted the right to incarcerate any citizen for-without trial, and of course, immediately they get their Legislation passed, why, they’ll be able to do that. In other words, they’ll be able to incarcerate any citizen without commission-permission from his family, without a medical consultation and without a trial, and will be able to move him at any time without the consultation with the family or a hearing or a trial, and do anything to him they wish, such as electric shocks and prefrontal lobotomies. And of course that makes a very interesting political empire, and Mr. Kennedy is trying to create just that empire right this minute. So I think that’s very interesting.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 12, 1963
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“D/G US Bob Thomas informs us Org personnel are safe and secure in the California Earthquake. We telexed back expressing our concern and appreciation.” — The Commodore, February 12, 1971
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“I completed the original LRH bridge through OT7, then completed the new bridge, NOTS and OT8 but wanted more. I started researching and found the CBR bridge. I looked at what LRH had done and left and determined that LRH had completed the Power Change ethics condition and assigned Scientology tech to CBR and/or David Mayo. The CBR bridge was completed sometime after that. I read all the CBR materials including Excalibur (which I did not run as I had finished solo Nots) and the OT levels through OT40. I ran all the processes that read up to OT17 which is a far as I was interested in running. I had rather substantial gains, increases in awareness, increases in understanding and a decrease in my reaction time. This is not a question as to whether this is really LRH tech, I am not interested in that discussion. So if the gains are there to be had, do some still believe it is incorrect to run the processes?”
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1999: Frequent Scientology protester Gregg Hagglund reported a visit to his elderly parents this week by representatives of Scientology. “One Catherine Manning and one Al Buttnor attempted to trick my parents into permitting them to enter their home. My parents are in their 80s and not in the best of health. I had extended the No Trespassing Notice I gave the church to include my brothers home (which the church had visited once before) and my parents home. It may be possible to bring charges of Criminal Assault by Trespass. My mother answered the door to a man and woman who identified themselves as Scientologists and wanted to come in and discuss ‘your sons religious bigotry.’ My mother told them to go away and closed the door on them.”
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“If only we could take a ride in Mr. Peabody’s Wayback Machine to pre-1970 and that magical time before the 100 percent scientifically correct TECH turned into incomprehensible DRECK. The gods are cruel.”
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9. Status conf. on Feb 16.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The skateboard hero & the anti-Semite: Insider report from Scientology’s bizarre celeb event
[TWO years ago] ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’ shelved two episodes, delayed one in season three
[THREE years ago] How Scientology gamed Google to increase the effectiveness of its Super Bowl ad
[FOUR years ago] Welcome to your Scientology nightmare, people of Clearwater, Florida
[FIVE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY’S SPACE MAN: The newest defector from church management opens up
[SIX years ago] Fact-checking Danny Masterson’s remarkable Paper interview about Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] This is Scientology today: Oregon 10-year-old celebrated for donating $100,000
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Does Star Wars: That’s No Moon, It’s a Fundraiser!
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Fresh Meat in the Windy City!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,210 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,714 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,234 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,254 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,145 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,452 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,320 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,094 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,898 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,214 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,780 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,699 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,867 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,448 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,709 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,747 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,460 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,985 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 340 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,515 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,066 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,215 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,535 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,390 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,509 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,865 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,168 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,274 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,676 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,548 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,131 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,626 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,880 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,989 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 12, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
February 11, 2021
Scientology icon and double OT 8 Chick Corea dies at 79 of cancer
Chick Corea’s Facebook account announced this afternoon that the legendary jazz artist died Tuesday of a “rare form of cancer which was only discovered recently.”
Besides being known for his masterful music career, Corea was also one of Scientology’s most dedicated celebrity members. We reported in 2016 that he had completed Scientology’s highest auditing level, Operating Thetan Level 8, for the second time.
As an OT 8 Corea should have been “cause” over matter, energy, space, and time, but like other upper level Scientologists, he was unable to overcome a disease Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard claimed his counseling could defeat.
Corea was born June 12, 1941 in Boston. He joined Scientology in 1968 after reading Hubbard, and by 1977 he was being celebrated as an OT Scientologist in a special “OT Summit” held that year.
When Corea finished OT 8 for the second time, we asked a Celebrity Centre source about it, who told us: “I think they convinced him that they had changed it slightly and so he needed to do it over again. It’s so insane,” said our source.
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});We’d really like to hear from former church members of their memories of Corea and his amazing decades of music. We’ll add more to this story as more information emerges.
Here’s what Chick told a Scientology publication about his second OT 8, which is completed on Scientology’s private cruise ship, the Freewinds…
This whole experience, from beginning to end, has been magical … full of wins, wins and more wins. As I advanced on my auditing, I found myself more and more certain that in reality I can actually accomplish things I had only dreamed of.
In a recent graduation on the Freewinds I saw a video on an LRH quote regarding an independent attitude towards existence. I thought to myself: “This is my personal goal: to achieve an independent attitude in relation to existence and not be influenced by someone or something.”
Well, now this has happened, big time. Many of the postulates and dreams that I had imagined and wanted to achieve had been quietly put aside. I found myself thinking: “Maybe someday…”
I knew I was pulling back, but I did not know how to resolve it. This beautiful and simple level has helped resolve that consideration. I accomplished an independent attitude in relation to existence!
I can be totally sure who I am and what I think, as I continue to play the games of life.
In the middle of all the randomity that life can present, I now know that I can absolutely reach the goals and the dreams that I had put aside for a while. I can also reach all the new ones that I create.
Another benefit of having completed New OT VIII is the factor that fun in my daily life has increased significantly. I like the physical universe a lot more. I’m more deeply interested in music … another big win. I would never have thought it could have happened, but it did.
Scientology historian Jon Atack sends in this tribute:
“Despite his continued affiliation with Scientology, I regard Chick Corea as one of the great musicians of our time. The albums Three Quartets and Bliss are tremendous works of art.”
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Musician and former Scientologist Geoff Levin sends us this:
“I met Chick at the New York Org in the early 70s. He was performing there. He had released the album Light As A Feather with Stanley Clarke, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Joe Farrell. I was performing with Jimmy Spheeris, and he introduced me to Chick. The music and the band was vital and exciting. So was Chick. I had the privilege of recording with Chick when he played on Jimmy Spheeris’s The Dragon is Dancing. And in the late 80s Chick played a wonderful rendition of music written by Chris Many and me on “War Babies” on the Celestial Navigation album Ice. Chick always brought excitement into a room. We lost a musician’s musician, a jazz icon. I’m sad to see him go so soon, believing in L. Ron Hubbard and his organization that in my opininon only took from him and gave him only lies in return. Good by old friend next time around you will know better.”
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“That’s a trick I learned from Commander Thompson, by the way. He used to train cats. It’s almost impossible to train a house cat — I mean really train a house cat into doing all sorts of dog tricks and so forth. He used to be able to do that, and he taught me how to train cats when I was a kid. He would wait for the cat to do something and then he’d reward it. And if you don’t think that requires patience! You’re going to wait for this cat to do something that’s going to be totally accidental, and then you’re going to approve of it. Wow! Oh, you can just burn up hours and hours and hours trying to train a cat.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 11, 1957
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“TIME MACHINE ORDERS: I issue a lot of TM orders and queries. Very many of them are routed straight back to me. Those who don’t know what dreadful things happen to their Ethics Files if the TM doesn’t know they have answered the order or query should find out very fast as some Ethics Files must be getting very fat indeed. Those who think they know should check up on it. The PL to refer to is in Vol 0 of the OEC Book.” — LRH Pers Comm, February 11, 1971
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“Total Knowingness, initially experienced solo as a subjective recognition point is quite different to objective exteriorisation from the entire theta/mest construct experienced with an auditor in session and the recognition of total mutual knowingness in PT outside all. Likewise practical total knowingness, subjective, objective and practical tested, verified and demonstrated with regard to truth per definition in session with an Auditor — the precise consideration, the precise time, place, form and event, in PT — is a further gradient of recognition which then opens up the route to OT per definition.”
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1998: A number of court filings regarding Keith Henson were posted this week, including this filing to show that the posting of NOTS 34 material was not “willful” under copyright law. “Defendant (if permitted) will produce witnesses to the nature of the NOTs 34, ‘The Sequence for Handling a Physical Condition.’ Defendant maintains that NOTs 34 is an instruction manual for criminal activity. NOTs 34 specifically claims ‘healing’ with the E-meter, a claim which (besides being illegal) was specifically denied to all Scientology organizations by Judge Gasell in an order, a copy of which has been provided to this court. Just this morning news has come from Germany of a person who is reported to have died from the effects of scientology’s ‘medical’ treatment.”
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“I think Tony is taking the day off and that’s just fine by me. Watch some football or somethin’ everybody.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Another drone’s eye view of the compound where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[TWO years ago] Untouchable? Scientology’s 60-year plan to protect itself from the law
[THREE years ago] Scientology targets the Red Cross in its latest sneaky front group scheme
[FOUR years ago] What happens when Scientology helps you reach ‘your full potential’
[FIVE years ago] The disgraced sheriff, the Holocaust survivor, and Scientology’s most unhinged front group
[SIX years ago] These are the superpowers Scientologists are paying big bucks to attain
[SEVEN years ago] It’s time to wake up our space cooties on Scientology’s New Operating Thetan Level Five!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s “Pope” Isn’t Resigning, But Some in the Church Want to Give Him a Push
[NINE years ago] Scientology Dramaturgy: Commenters of the Week!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,209 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,713 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,233 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,253 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,144 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,451 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,319 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,093 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,897 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,213 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,779 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,698 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,866 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,447 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,708 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,746 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,459 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,984 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 339 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,514 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,065 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,214 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,534 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,389 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,508 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,864 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,167 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,273 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,675 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,547 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,130 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,625 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,879 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,988 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 11, 2021 at 16:29
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Patriots bolstered by Mike Lee’s tantrum and fantasies of Jan 6 being even more violent
Some links to Q-related items today…
Watching the footage at the impeachment trial while wishing it would have gone differently and someone would have laid a stunner on Nancy…
Patriots were encouraged by Senator Mike Lee’s tantrum at the impeachment trial yesterday — hey, who let the Karen in?
Meanwhile, the pope wears shoes made from the skin of children. Did you know this?
Wait, not everyone is on board with the March 4 thing?
Only 6 percent, sure. But that’s millions…
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent recent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
————-
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you’re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 11, 2021 at 9:10
Scientology at its peak, part 2: See the excitement for ‘OT’ secrets in leaked 1991 video
Yesterday we showed you the first half of a secret Scientology briefing held at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida in May 1991. In today’s second half, we pick up with Captain Ray Mithoff as he continues to reveal the nifty new “OT” releases and then we get some very special testimonials from Scientologists excited about the new material.
First up to talk about how excited she is by the new releases is our old friend, Tory Christman.
We first told Tory’s story back in 2001, after she had made a spectacular defection from Scientology in very public fashion. And you probably know her from her many great videos about Scientology at her YouTube channel.
Yesterday we asked her about that May 1991 briefing and her memories of it.
“I remember it 100 percent. It was a huge turning point in my life,” she said. She reminded us that Scientology had tried to get her to stop taking medication for her epilepsy when she first joined in 1972. But after a series of seizures, she disregarded that advice and went back on her meds. Now, years later she was struggling through OT 7, the second highest auditing level and the most difficult.
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“I spent years on it. I’d been on it for a couple of years. It was not working at all for me. At all,” she said. “Then all of a sudden Ray Mithoff flies in, there’s a mandatory briefing, and everyone has to come. I wanted to hear this. I’m sitting in the front row. It was so exciting for me, it sounded like it was written for me.”
She hoped the new materials might make a positive change for her. And as for the room being full, “It really was a jumping time. For years Scientology really was a jumping thing.” And she points out that this was pre-Internet, so if you wanted to know what was happening, you had to show up.
She said that the segment of the video with her testimonial she’s seen before, at a conference about Scientology in Ireland in 2012, and that it was hard to watch then.
“It’s totally weird to me now. But I understand how I felt then. I really trusted Ray. I was so into OT 7.”
And she wasn’t just playing to the camera at the time?
“They’ve been auditing everyone, so they know who’s going to be effusive,” she explained. They knew how to choose people who were going to gush. “I wasn’t doing it for the camera. I really believed it.”
Please let us know if you recognize any of the other people giving their testimonials. It would be interesting to know if they’re still in or not, 30 years later.
——————–
“That’s a trick I learned from Commander Thompson, by the way. He used to train cats. It’s almost impossible to train a house cat — I mean really train a house cat into doing all sorts of dog tricks and so forth. He used to be able to do that, and he taught me how to train cats when I was a kid. He would wait for the cat to do something and then he’d reward it. And if you don’t think that requires patience! You’re going to wait for this cat to do something that’s going to be totally accidental, and then you’re going to approve of it. Wow! Oh, you can just burn up hours and hours and hours trying to train a cat.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 11, 1957
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
“TIME MACHINE ORDERS: I issue a lot of TM orders and queries. Very many of them are routed straight back to me. Those who don’t know what dreadful things happen to their Ethics Files if the TM doesn’t know they have answered the order or query should find out very fast as some Ethics Files must be getting very fat indeed. Those who think they know should check up on it. The PL to refer to is in Vol 0 of the OEC Book.” — LRH Pers Comm, February 11, 1971
——————–
“Total Knowingness, initially experienced solo as a subjective recognition point is quite different to objective exteriorisation from the entire theta/mest construct experienced with an auditor in session and the recognition of total mutual knowingness in PT outside all. Likewise practical total knowingness, subjective, objective and practical tested, verified and demonstrated with regard to truth per definition in session with an Auditor — the precise consideration, the precise time, place, form and event, in PT — is a further gradient of recognition which then opens up the route to OT per definition.”
——————–
1998: A number of court filings regarding Keith Henson were posted this week, including this filing to show that the posting of NOTS 34 material was not “willful” under copyright law. “Defendant (if permitted) will produce witnesses to the nature of the NOTs 34, ‘The Sequence for Handling a Physical Condition.’ Defendant maintains that NOTs 34 is an instruction manual for criminal activity. NOTs 34 specifically claims ‘healing’ with the E-meter, a claim which (besides being illegal) was specifically denied to all Scientology organizations by Judge Gasell in an order, a copy of which has been provided to this court. Just this morning news has come from Germany of a person who is reported to have died from the effects of scientology’s ‘medical’ treatment.”
——————–
“I think Tony is taking the day off and that’s just fine by me. Watch some football or somethin’ everybody.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Another drone’s eye view of the compound where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[TWO years ago] Untouchable? Scientology’s 60-year plan to protect itself from the law
[THREE years ago] Scientology targets the Red Cross in its latest sneaky front group scheme
[FOUR years ago] What happens when Scientology helps you reach ‘your full potential’
[FIVE years ago] The disgraced sheriff, the Holocaust survivor, and Scientology’s most unhinged front group
[SIX years ago] These are the superpowers Scientologists are paying big bucks to attain
[SEVEN years ago] It’s time to wake up our space cooties on Scientology’s New Operating Thetan Level Five!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s “Pope” Isn’t Resigning, But Some in the Church Want to Give Him a Push
[NINE years ago] Scientology Dramaturgy: Commenters of the Week!
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,209 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,713 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,233 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,253 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,144 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,451 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,319 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,093 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,897 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,213 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,779 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,698 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,866 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,447 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,708 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,746 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,459 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,984 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 339 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,514 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,065 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,214 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,534 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,389 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,508 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,864 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,167 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,273 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,675 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,547 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,130 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,625 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,879 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,988 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 11, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
February 10, 2021
QAnon patriots are watching the impeachment trial with hopes the storm breaks out
Some links to Q-related items today…
Six Republican senators joining in the vote confirming the impeachment trial as constitutional yesterday did not go over well with patriots, as you can imagine.
If you saw the brutal video played at the trial yesterday, you know it included Ashli Babbitt being shot dead on camera. But in QAnon, it’s never safe to believe your own eyes.
Still, patriots are watching the proceedings with hope that things will take a surprising turn.
“Q is known as source. Source is God.” Hey, that sounds familiar, doesn’t it, fellow thetans?
Join @julianfeeld @LivPosting & @travis_view @ 9pm est on twitch to discuss General Flynn backpedaling on his Q beliefs, a Q influencer's mayoral run & racism against psychic sasquatches. pic.twitter.com/0541deOGx4
— QAA Podcast (@QanonAnonymous) February 10, 2021
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent recent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
————-
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you’re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 10, 2021 at 9:15
Scientology at its peak: A 1991 confidential briefing to take you into orbit with OT secrets!
May 1991. You Scientology historians know what a crossroads that was for the organization built on the ideas of L. Ron Hubbard.
Hubbard himself had died five years earlier, and in that time the new leader, David Miscavige, had consolidated his control. But also in those years after Hubbard’s death a marketing campaign for Dianetics (remember the erupting volcano TV ads?) had taken Scientology perhaps to its greatest extent, to about 100,000 members worldwide, former top execs tell us. (Scientology has never had the “millions” it claims).
By May 1991 Miscavige was firmly in control, membership was at its height, and the years-long war with the IRS was wearing down the agency and nearing its victorious conclusion for the church.
But it was also on May 6, 1991 that a bomb hit Scientology: The Time magazine cover story by Richard Behar that called Scientology a “thriving cult of greed and power.”
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});It was a body blow that in some ways Scientology has never really recovered from. Today, the organization is just a shell of what it once was, with a worldwide membership of only maybe 20,000, staffing problems at orgs, and near constant drubbings in the media.
But that long slow decline lay in the future. That May, a video was produced for Scientologists (not the general public) about a briefing held at the Fort Harrison Hotel, Scientology’s holiest spot, and featuring Ray Mithoff, Scientology’s Inspector General for Technical. In that briefing, he announced that under the direction of Miscavige, Hubbard’s original writings had been consulted in order to produce a new, more pure set of materials for three of the highest, secret auditing levels, Operating Thetan Level Five, Six, and Seven.
The hotel’s ballroom was stuffed full with Scientology OTs to hear the briefing, and we couldn’t help noticing lovely Tory Christman sitting in the front row (and making the most noise!).
And not only the size of the crowd marks it as a thing of the past. We were also struck by Mithoff’s plodding style and how dull this video is. Miscavige would abandon that for a zippier style you see in later videos, with a more driving soundtrack.
This thing crawls, and for that reason we’ve broken it in two parts. Today, you’ll get Mithoff on OT 5 and the success stories he reads to the audience. (Heaven help us.) In part two you’ll get to hear the secrets of OT 6 and 7, and some testimonials from OTs themselves, including an adorable Tory.
We’re especially interested in what our oldtimers can tell us about the secondaries they’re having watching this, and what they can tell us to help us decode Mithoff’s message.
As for Mithoff himself? Mike Rinder once told us that Mithoff was the first person he personally saw Miscavige physically attack. “Ray is tall and Miscavige had him sitting in a chair where he couldn’t defend himself. This was 1995. Shortly after that, Miscavige put Ray on the RPF. When he returned a few years later, he was reinstated to Senior C/S International, but would repeatedly get in trouble and be pulled off post. He was the last person to audit Hubbard and was charged with the responsibility of compiling the upper level materials, which he could never manage to get to,” Mike told us for a 2012 Village Voice piece.
The last public sighting of Ray we know about was in this 2001 video. He’s been in The Hole at Int Base since early 2004. Yes, seventeen years now as a prisoner in David Miscavige’s concentration camp near Hemet, California.
Remember the good times, Ray?
“Funny thing is, after all the hoopla mentioned in the event about perfecting all the upper tech, they had to revamp it all just five years later for the first Golden Age of Tech in 1996,” says the former church member who shared this video with us. “And everyone had to buy all new services all over again, of course. I did not. I quit and walked away after realizing the church was run by financial crooks.”
What memories does this 1991 video bring up for you?
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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“Now be god as an infinite blackness, concentrated upon you, a thetan. Get how all powerful and how out-swelling you are, concentrated upon you, a thetan. Get what your regard for this thetan is. Now be very saintly as you crush its life out, and trap it forever. Oh, be saintly about it. OK. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 10, 1954
——————–
“Now that we know about 3rd Dynamic Admin TRs it becomes obvious to see where they are out. LA area falsifies its stats by double-including bounced checks — once when first offered, once when collected. With no Debit invoice in between. Out TRs in accepting such a check. Out TRs in the simple matter of confronting an invoice enmest area. Out TRs in telling a Treasury staff member to DO IT RIGHT. Nobody even goes in and yells. Wherever there’s a lousy mess, somebody’s admin TRs are out. Getting something done is basic confronting. You can’t string beads well behind your back.” — The Commodore, February 10, 1971
——————–
“I’m interested in hearing CBR’s conspiracy theories. Apparently they are epic. I’m already aware that there are alien and interdimensional intelligence operations going on here on Earth. New Agers are onto these things, but I’d like to see if he’s right or not. David Icke for example is a victim (but like a good victim) of spirits affecting him in order to help him awaken humanity. He gets telepathic comms. This is what I mean by an interdimensional intelligence op by the way.”
——————–
1997: Scientology held a press conference at US Representative Donald Payne’s office on Thursday, Feb 13th. They announced the introduction of a resolution for the Congress to criticize Germany’s treatment of Scientologists. “Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress continues to hold Germany responsible for protecting the rights of German national and foreign visitors in Germany, including people from the United States who are performing, doing business, or traveling in Germany, in a manner consistent with Germany’s obligations under international agreements to which Germany is a signatory; condemns the actions and statements of Federal and State officials in Germany who have fostered an atmosphere of intolerance toward certain minority religious groups.”
——————–
“This idea that we’re going to gently coax these people out of the cult is rubbish. Let’s say there are 15,000 to 30,000 left in the world, do you realize how long this method would take? Your average ‘good’ Scientologist isn’t interested in having a conversation with any wog any more than your average ISIS, Taliban, Al-Qaeda member is interested in having a conversation with an Infidel. A fanatic is a fanatic.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Another dog poisoned: Bobette Riales says harassment worse since suing Scientology
[TWO years ago] An Austin Powers Scientology party? Sure, anything to get locals to fork over cash
[THREE years ago] Come on, people. Even Star mag’s own article doesn’t claim Tom Cruise has left Scientology.
[FOUR years ago] Can a celebrity Scientologist like John Travolta really commit murder under the rules?
[FIVE years ago] On the 8th anniversary of the Anonymous protests, more signs of Scientology’s desperation
[SIX years ago] ‘You encourage people to leave the Church of Scientology’: The Mike Rinder deposition
[SEVEN years ago] MEDIA ADVISORY: Stop saying that Scientology is infested with big movie stars already
[EIGHT years ago] Tom Cruise Can Raise the Dead! …And More Scientology Sunday Funnies
[NINE years ago] Scientology vs Debbie Cook, Day 2: More Live-Blogging by the Voice
[TEN years ago] Inside Scientology’s Labor Camp That Benefits Tom Cruise: The Photos
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,208 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,712 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,232 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,252 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,143 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,450 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,318 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,092 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,896 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,212 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,778 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,697 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,865 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,446 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,707 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,745 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,458 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,983 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 338 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,513 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,064 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,213 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,533 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,388 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,507 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,863 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,166 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,272 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,674 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,546 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,129 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,624 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,878 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,987 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 10, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
February 9, 2021
‘Executions will be happening on March 5’: Patriots hold firm as Impeachment trial begins
Some links to Q-related items today…
Mike Lindell’s 3-hour video “proof” of election fraud went down well with the patriots, of course…
“Executions will be happening on March 5th.”
The next big date for QAnon?
March 4th. pic.twitter.com/ZP2eTurK5c
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) February 9, 2021
MTG lofts a question about the Jan 6 rioters…
…and Travis View reminds her of what actually went down.
I'm sticking with the theory that they were furious at Pence. Because they were. https://t.co/ucy4Iz2mTZ
— Travis View (@travis_view) February 9, 2021
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent recent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
————-
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you’re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 9, 2021 at 9:25
The pandemic isn’t over, but Scientology leader David Miscavige is ready for his bow
A big thanks to attorney Graham Berry for giving us a head’s up that at Scientology’s website right now there’s a slick new online slideshow that’s long on the kind of glitz and glam that church leader David Miscavige loves, especially when he’s busy congratulating himself.
Miscavige just can’t get enough of his own accolades about how he had Scientology pounce on the pandemic as a public relations opportunity last spring, and we’ve already seen him package that self-congratulation in, for example, the slick pages of International Scientology News magazine.
And now he’s put it into a new medium, an interactive slide show at the website. Here are just a few screenshots to give you some idea…
In other words, it’s the usual rah-rah about handing out booklets with basic hygiene advice for combating a virus that Miscavige himself characterized as a “planetary bullbait” in a secret briefing, in other words, a hoax.
But what did interest us was that Miscavige then revealed that three new “Ideal Orgs” are finished and just waiting for grand openings when people can gather in crowds again:
Chicago, Austin, and Mexico City. This is consistent with the account we published of someone who witnessed Miscavige’s New Year’s Eve speech at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida:
He also said that he fulfilled his 2020 New Year’s promise to complete three Ideal Orgs. They are Chicago and Austin, and he showed the video from the newest completed Ideal Org – the former ODD Mexico City, now called Scientology del Valle. It is the second Ideal Org in Mexico City, which is the largest Spanish speaking city in the world.
That person also said that Miscavige claimed that Ideal Orgs were also nearing completion in Oslo, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Aarhus, Port Elizabeth, Florence, and Paris. So expect Miscavige to hit the ground running with his building program once this health crisis is over.
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});New buildings might be on the way, but how is membership? It might be a while before we can tell how Scientology has really weathered the pandemic. But Miscavige certainly wants to give the impression that he has taken on the bullbait and hasn’t flinched.
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Leah Remini podcast: Jon Atack
We want to give ourselves a little credit here. Back in 2012 Jon Atack, the great historian of Scientology who had been an OT himself, was pretty much out of the business of Scientology commentary, and we did our best to drag him back in. He began writing a series of insightful pieces for us here at the Bunker, and he then moved on to produce his own videos about Scientology and other groups. Most recently he had a terrific interview with Mike Rinder about his early days on the Apollo. And now Rinder, and Leah Remini, pay him back by having him on their podcast, which you can listen to here…
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“You know girls are pretty high-toned ordinarily. You can never quite tell about a girl. You’re liable to meet her on Wednesday and her name is Elizabeth, and you’re liable to meet her on Monday and her name is Jessie, see. She changes her name very easily. Not only that, they get married and change their names. They do change their names. We do know that. Girl, up to the time she’s seventeen, has been very, very well — nicely known as Clarissa, you see, and she didn’t like that and you meet, next time you meet her she’s twenty-two and she calls herself Butch. There’s no telling what’s going to happen on it. Women do this, probably which accounts for their ability to hold on to a better-looking mock-up than men, because men become factually themselves. At whose assignment?” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 9, 1956
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“We are auditing now at a volume higher than that of any org in the world with a completion rate far in excess of any other 3 orgs. The bruised elbows in getting lines in, the bruised tempers, the hard work is really paying off with the finest auditing ever done anywhere. We are also averaging two or three Clear OTs a day! Come on, other departments and divisions. You’re only expected to be the greatest division or department of your kind anywhere in the world. So fly, you guys, fly!” — The Commodore, February 9, 1971
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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“There’s a distinction between the person’s ideas about the body or the planet and the person’s objective awareness of the body or planet. That’s the 1st point of distinction here, the distinction between the subjective reality and awareness of mind and the objective awareness and actuality of existence. And therefore integral to the rehabilitation of awareness is the distinction between direct theta perception and perception via the body, again by running objective OT drills and exercises on the PT Environment both directly and via the body, as distinct from think and figure type subjective processes which simply address the Mind and the person’s ideas about existence.”
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1996: Anonymous poster Rogue Agent sent his final posts to a.r.s this week. He is leaving for personal reasons. His last posts contained the complaint made against him to Northeastern University by Annette Ross, Legal Officer of the church in Boston. “I am the Legal Officer for the Church of Scientology in Boston, and I am requesting help from you in trying to locate a person at Northeastern University. This person I have been investigating has been engaged in harassment of staff and executives of my church via the Internet from Northeastern University computer system. He may also have sent a virus to another computer system. What I know about him is that for several months he has been sending harassing messages via e-mail to top executives of my church. This could be characterized as a hate crime.”
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“The difference is real religions admit their beliefs are based on faith, whereas Scientology claims nothing in it is based on belief or faith, but is based on 100 percent proven scientific fact.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on February 4.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] One sure sign a new Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ is on the way: the Central Files mayhem
[TWO years ago] Thinking of leaving Scientology? Jefferson Hawkins has your roadmap.
[THREE years ago] Tory ‘Magoo’ Christman, and how Anonymous went from online war to in-real-life pickets
[FOUR years ago] We have your invitation to Scientology’s holiest celebration of the year!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s thug life, documented: Aaron Smith-Levin shares a record of Sea Org violence
[SIX years ago] Mark Ebner finds Scientology’s rubbish again as Narconon International vanishes!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s continuing plans for its Super Bowl ad, and more Sunday Funnies
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Mythbusting with Jon Atack: Original Spin
[NINE years ago] Scientology, Deep in the Heart of Texas: The Voice at the Debbie Cook Hearing
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,207 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,711 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,231 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,251 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,142 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,449 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,317 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,091 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,895 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,211 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,777 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,696 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,864 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,445 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,706 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,744 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,457 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,982 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 337 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,512 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,063 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,212 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,532 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,387 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,506 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,862 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,165 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,271 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,673 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,545 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,128 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,623 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,877 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,986 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 9, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
February 8, 2021
QAnon patriots marvel as our Satanic overlords showed their hand in halftime show
Some links to Q-related items today…
Patriots braced themselves for what our Satanic overlords would put on for the Super Bowl halftime show.
QAnoners compare notes on how others see them…
Meanwhile, playing down QAnon numbers sort of backfires…
And will other patriots join MTG in Congress?
Marjorie Taylor Greene "is the first QAnon member of Congress, but she won’t be the last and she may not even ultimately be the worst," @jbouie writes. https://t.co/5YEkxjD4gE
— New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) February 8, 2021
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent recent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
————-
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you’re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 8, 2021 at 9:10
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