Tony Ortega's Blog, page 369

“I’ve been working on a clear cut statement of what are the beliefs of Scientology. It will be under survey. I am working on the Scientologists Hat. Without such a statement it is hard to get word of mouth. We are well into a Messianic period on Earth. Progress has been made on this. I can write, I think, a ‘Book of Fate.’ I have also made an advance in research on the character and handling of mental mass. Some weeks ago I conceived we did not know all there was to know about high and lo TAs and have suddenly made big progress. The answer was unexpectedly simple and includes auditing over out suppressed ruds that one doesn’t suspect are out! We just don’t pay enough attention to it. Big answers are very basic. So I feel cheerful.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 17, 1971

——————–

“Who cares about these newbies if they buy such things as Justin Craig? Scientology was for the intelligent, not for tweety sweeties.”

——————–

“Hubbardese was definitely inspired by ‘Newspeak,’ in my opinion. All cults engage in it to some degree.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021. Plaintiffs granted permission to file changes to amended complaint by Sept 4.

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Alanna Masterson, Terry Jastrow, and Marisol Nichols]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’ participants send in their tributes as series is set to end
[TWO years ago] The Garcias won’t go down without a fight: Filing appeal of Scientology’s ‘arbitration’ farce
[THREE years ago] Celebrity battle lines: Michael Peña’s wife asks Scientologists to ‘Stand with Daniel Masterson’
[FOUR years ago] A rare gem from 1968: When the Daily Mail tracked down L. Ron Hubbard in Tunisia
[FIVE years ago] Once shy about the Internet, Scientology is now oversharing on social media
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The apocalypse is here, and it is ideal
[SEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY SUPER POWER IS COMING: OCTOBER 6!
[EIGHT years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology — 2012 Edition!
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 20: Trey Parker and Matt Stone

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,032 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,536 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,056 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,076 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 967 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,274 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,142 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,916 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,720 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,036 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,602 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,521 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,689 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,270 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,531 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,569 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,282 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,807 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,337 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,897 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,037 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,357 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,212 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,331 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,687 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,990 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,096 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,498 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,370 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,953 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,448 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,702 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,811 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 17, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 17, 2020 04:00

VIDEO: Portland unrest inspires $250,000 donation from Scientology lifer

If you haven’t been paying attention to the news in the U.S. you might not be aware of the clashes between Black Lives Matter protesters and police in Portland, Oregon. It’s been a sometimes bloody street fight with protesters hurling rocks, eggs, and paint, while police attempt to take back control wearing riot gear and firing tear gas. The Scientology org is about eight blocks from the epicenter of the violence at the U.S. Courthouse. It’s close enough to smell the smoke from street fires and to feel the burning in the throat that tear gas can bring.

Scientologist and Patron Meritorious Adi Klevit described her experience driving though the area, which has strengthened her resolve to donate more money to Scientology. It’s an article of faith among members that only Scientology can address the problems of war, crime, and civil unrest. The mechanism by which such a small number of Scientologists can resolve civil unrest is never explained, but it’s certainly expensive. A crisis such as this can be a big boost for fundraising as Scientologists feel restoring peace and calm can only be achieved through their donations. This video came to us from a recent web-based fundraiser for the International Association of Scientologists, which raised millions of dollars for the organization.

I just want to tell you what we’re going to do but first of all I’m going to tell you why, right? So my husband Ben is the PS (Public Secretary) of the Portland org works with Jeremy and he’s been on staff for 28 years. I’m OT 8, and OT Ambassador. And we recently did our Patron Meritorious [$250,000 in donations] in the middle of this whole insanity when it totally didn’t make any sense whatsoever and since then we’ve been making more contributions because it is so needed. I want to tell you a story. About a week ago my son who is also on staff almost five years at the Portland org. He’s a reg there. I live in [?] which is about 10 minutes from downtown Portland but it’s a very nice suburb — social veneers, super sick, you wouldn’t even think that anything would happen.

I don’t go downtown anymore. I work from home. I can work from home for my business. And a week ago I had to go somewhere so my son said “let’s drive through downtown” and I said “I don’t want to drive through downtown Portland.” And he goes “no, Mom, I want to show you what my life has been for the last 80 days. Just confront it, don’t resist it, just confront it.” OK, I can take that advice. Don’t you just love it when your kids put your ethics in and tell you like OK. I can go do that.

So he drives me on Third Avenue and the org is on Third Avenue then there’s the north part and there is the south part. Basically three blocks before, three blocks after and I said I’m not going to resist, I’m just going to look. And I looked, and I haven’t been in downtown since March, since the shutdown, right? I just confronted it and I looked and I’m not going to share with you what I saw. So for all of you that live in downtown Portland I definitely suggest that you do that drill. And if you ever want to get a lot of mass on the data that you learn in the PTS/SP course you can just see it right there.

But you know what my cognition was? Just as I was driving almost to the org on the north part and next to your favorite coffee shop, Jackson, there in Stumptown. My cognition was that my responsibility is to continue to support the IAS and continue to donate to the IAS because that is the only solution. This is the fourth dynamic — we are the IAS and I have total certainty that COB has the correct strategy, the correct plan and we completely have to back him up with the energy and flowing energy in that direction.

And it was definitely confront of evil, and that’s what we did. That’s what we need to continue doing — to continue to flow power to the power that we depend on. You know, we’re all on extension courses, we’re doing our Golden Age of Knowledge, this is the data from LRH, this is what we’re applying and Ben and I realized we can just continue to create, and it’s exactly what Jeremy said. It might not be comfortable, but if we have to change that operating basis, we’re going to do that. That’s why we definitely pledge to our next status and we’re working on it and we’re making flows towards it…Tonight what we’re going to do is each of us, Ben, Daniel and myself is going to do $8,008 so a total of $24,024.

The donation amount is a nod to the book Scientology 8-8008 by L. Ron Hubbard. The number represents the apparent reduction of the physical universe from infinity (the number 8 turned sideways) to 0 and the increase of one’s own apparent universe from 0 to infinity.

— Rod Keller

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

Hey, the gang’s all here!

——————–

“If it isn’t written it isn’t true. The only orders that affect transfers, functions, programs in an org must be issued as Executive Directives, OODs or FSOs or FBDLs or AIDES ORDERS, CBOs or FOs to be legal…Therefore if anyone tells you to change post or duties or that a function is changed on the Org Bd and cannot show it to you in a policy letter or FO or CBO, it is not true. Furthermore to follow such an unwritten or illegal order is to risk a Comm Ev for accepting illegal orders. It would be just as bad to follow an order to violate an HCOB and run some upsetting process. The reason is very plain. Policy, followed, results in a productive, comfortable post and policy not followed with verbal orders only in effect makes a cat’s dinner.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 16, 1971

——————–

“Have been visiting three Church of Scientology places around Copenhagen over the last few days. All of them dramatize the Corona Insanity. All staff go around inside and outside with masks and gloves. When we walked into one place we were told we would be given masks and gloves, which we refused. Then they refused entry. The receptionist said that all Churches of Scientology internationally had the same rules.”

Advertisement

——————–

“That’s it, I’m joining Scientology tomorrow.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Catherine Bell, Chick Corea, and Nancy Cartwright]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Here’s the lawsuit against Scientology and Danny Masterson. Let’s dive into it.
[TWO years ago] Stanley Clarke turns out to be as deep into Scientology as we feared, all these years later
[THREE years ago] Mirriam & Saina from ‘Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath’ — The LAPD has let us down
[FOUR years ago] In 1951, L. Ron Hubbard’s fellow SF writers debated him about ‘badly-written’ Dianetics
[FIVE years ago] Passion of the Heist: The Scientology hucksters who have made this summer unforgettable
[SIX years ago] After a year’s delay, Mary Sue Hubbard’s house is on the market for $2.5 million
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologists Say the Darndest Things In Their Disconnection Letters
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s Oklahoma Nemesis, Bob Lobsinger: “They Lied Every Step of the Way”
[NINE years ago] Ed Bryan, OT VIII, Demonstrates the Power of Scientology’s Highest Levels

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,031 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,535 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,055 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,075 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 966 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,273 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,141 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,915 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,719 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,035 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,601 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,520 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,688 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,269 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,530 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,568 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,281 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,806 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,336 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,896 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,036 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,356 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,211 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,330 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,686 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,989 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,095 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,497 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,369 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,952 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,447 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,701 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,810 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 16, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 16, 2020 04:00

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 22: Graham Norton and other celebrity strokers

In 2011 we spent the month of August counting down a list of the “Top 25 People Crippling Scientology.” Nine years later, Scientology is still hurting, but church leader David Miscavige learned long ago that paid membership was only one resource that kept him in business. He also relies on a small army of enablers, some paid, some not, who help him stay in business even though they aren’t Scientologists themselves. So we thought we’d recognize them with this countdown.

As Leah Remini revealed here at the Underground Bunker on July 27, there really is a lot to ask Tom Cruise about his involvement in Scientology, from the way his marriages have been broken up by David Miscavige, to the disappearance of Dave’s wife Shelly, to the way Tom has cut his daughter Suri out of his life to protect Scientology.

But Cruise is a big movie star, and big movie stars never get asked those sorts of questions.

Why not? Well, Graham Norton explained it to Jenny McCarthy on her SiriusXM radio show in May…

I’m not that guy. I’m there to facilitate you telling some funny stories and talking about your movie or your book or whatever — that’s not my job. You know, people say, you know, if I have someone like Tom Cruise on, they’re kind of like, oh, did you ask him about Scientology? Like, no of course I didn’t, because I’d like him to come back, you know. And he’s an interesting one where he doesn’t say, he doesn’t say don’t talk about anything. He he comes in and you can ask him anything. But he knows that his cachet as a star is still high enough that I don’t want to piss him off. I want to keep him happy. And also, what what am I gonna get? Like I’m not gonna get, he’s not gonna go, Graham, I’m so glad you asked me, let me tell you, let me tell you everything.

There you have it. So even though the most interesting thing about Tom Cruise is that despite being the biggest movie star in the world, he’s allowed his utter devotion to Scientology to rip apart his own family so that he doesn’t see his own daughter, he never gets asked about it. Or that the best man at his last two weddings, David Miscavige, is the worldwide leader of an international human trafficking organization that employs child labor, forces young women to have abortions, and has banished his wife to a small mountain compound for the last 15 years.

How hard is it, really, to ask Tom Cruise why Shelly Miscavige doesn’t get to visit her own family? David Miscavige could literally not get away with imprisoning his own wife if it were not for, in part, the star power that Cruise lends Miscavige and his organization.

Some day, someone is finally going to get the chance to ask Tom Cruise this question: How did you make the choice to throw aside your own daughter for your dedication to a dead science fiction writer who wrote these words in 1950: “The seven-year-old girl who shudders because a man kisses her is not computing; she is reacting to an engram since at seven she should see nothing wrong in a kiss, not even a passionate one. There must have been an earlier experience, possibly prenatal, which made men or kissing very bad.”

When Tom is confronted with that question, it will bring the sort of worldwide attention that would make even Graham Norton shiver. Perhaps he’ll even be in the gallery at the courthouse with us when it happens.

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology
25: DirecTV and filmmakers buffing Dave’s channel
24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
23: The apologist academics
22: Graham Norton and other celebrity strokers

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

Yesterday’s leak of Scientologist Sea Org Day posts had a huge response. So our tipster sent over a few more that came in late…

——————–

“Some prenatal engrams (you find this out when you are clearing a case) will have slumbered 20 or 30 years with no reactivation, yet will be vicious engrams. For instance, in one case there must have been about 110 engrams, each one of which called for an enormously powerful migraine headache, and not one of them reactivated until the person was 22 years of age. Then, chain fashion, they all reactivated. The mysterious cause of the migraine headache was evidently an airplane crash where the person got a headache. Actually there was not even a head injury in the airplane crash, but there were about three words spoken while the person was unconscious which reactivated the chain.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 15, 1950

——————–

“Only PTS people are susceptible to catching diseases, according to LRH.”

——————–

“Oops, sounds like Marty had what they call in A.A. a ‘slip.’ Hopefully it doesn’t turn into a full blown relapse.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Erika Christensen, Ethan Suplee, and Juliette Lewis]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] ‘Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath’ will end with a 2-hour special August 26
[TWO years ago] A life connected to some of our biggest Scientology stories ends in a terrible way
[THREE years ago] Leah Remini goes there: Child molestation in Scientology for tonight’s ‘Aftermath’ premiere
[FOUR years ago] Former Scientology mouthpiece Tommy Davis is settling into his new role as Hollywood exec
[FIVE years ago] Why no one should ever join Scientology’s ‘Sea Org’
[SIX years ago] Ryan Hamilton files 19th lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology is Obsessed with Getting Books in Libraries — Here Are the Real Stats!
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 21: Kendrick Moxon

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,030 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,534 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,054 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,074 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 965 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,272 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,140 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,914 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,718 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,034 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,600 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,519 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,687 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,268 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,529 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,567 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,280 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,805 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,335 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,895 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,035 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,355 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,210 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,329 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,685 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,988 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,094 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,496 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,368 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,951 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,446 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,700 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,809 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 15, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 15, 2020 04:00

Faces of the Sea Org: Rare look at Scientology workers indentured for a billion years

Wednesday was Sea Org Day in Scientology. Each August 12, those hardy souls who have signed billion-year contracts, promising to work for Scientology lifetime after lifetime, are briefly celebrated before they have to go right back to their around-the-clock jobs, working 365 days a year for pennies an hour, when they’re paid at all.

The date celebrates August 12, 1967, when the Sea Org was born as Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard hatched a plan to run his organization from sea after nosy governments in the US and the UK had made things too hot for him on land. For the next eight years, Hubbard ran Scientology from his flagship the yacht Apollo as it plied the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Caribbean, with the help of his young Sea Org crewmates. Today, they operate on land, but continue their naval traditions and ranks. It’s precious.

Anyway, Sea Org Day hoopla showed up in the Scientology social media feeds that an insider monitors for us, and included a burst of photos of today’s young people laboring away in David Miscavige’s land-based navy. Our tipster thought it might be a good thing to show as many of those postings as we could, in case it helps disconnected families learn something about their loved ones still in the Sea Organization. We thought that was a tremendous idea, and so here you go. Please let us know if you spot someone you’ve been hoping to get an update on.

These two were identified as Ayla Noel Sexsmith and Chey Abbott. Know them? Tell us about it.

——————–

“The primary difference between Scientology and psychiatry is that psychiatry is authoritarian and tells the person what’s wrong with him, often introducing a new lie. Scientology finds out what’s wrong with the person from the person. And then knows more about it than the person, but listens anyway. Listening is the badge of superior knowledge. He who has superior knowledge is privileged to listen. It’s only he who has no superior knowledge that talks all the time — Confucius. Now you got these maxims, and pearls of wisdom? In actual fact, with that data you could go straight out and evolve all of Scientology, just like that. It’s remarkable, isn’t it? But, you mustn’t in actual fact discount — just because it’s discounted to the PC — you mustn’t discount the backbone and body of knowledge of Scientology. Soon as you tell somebody that he’s lived for the last thirty trillion years — of course, thirty trillion years is a drop in the bucket — soon as you tell somebody he’s lived the last thirty trillion years, and so on, he’s liable to be hit with a feeling of unreality.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 14, 1963

——————–

“In 1971 I read Science of Survival. This book appealed to me having just arrived in the United States after getting my ass kicked from one end of Vietnam to the other. I read half of the book and was in a bar one night when I noticed one young girl sitting by herself dressed in a ‘granny’ outfit. she even looked like she was 80 years old. I sat down across from her and gave her a command ‘When I snap my fingers, give me a year!’ I snapped and she blurted out 1898! ‘Give me a month!’ She said ‘February!’ ‘Give me a Date!’ She blurted again ‘The 25th’ and all of a sudden she stood up and held her face. She ran into the bathroom. She came out twenty minutes later. I almost didn’t recognize her. She came up to me and scolded me ‘What did you do to me?’ I said ‘Dianetics!’ She chilled out but spun on her foot and walked out. But she was in valence, I can tell you. I did several more of those dating actions on more people, but with their permission this time. They all went great. Some guys shook my hand and others thanked me. To this day I can Date/Locate like Michael Jordan can slam-dunk.”

——————–

“I believe that Miscavige is as much into it for the sadism as he is for the money. He’s a little man who hates the world and wants revenge on those who snickered behind his back and called him ‘asthmatic dwarf.’ He’ll stick around as long as he has a few punching bags left.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Stacy Francis, Jason Dohring, and Anne Archer]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] RAPE ACCUSERS SUE DANNY MASTERSON, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY, AND ITS LEADER
[TWO years ago] Whale watching: Your 2018 mid-year guide to who’s keeping Scientology alive
[THREE years ago] Fair Play: Before Leah Remini takes another whack, here’s a word from Scientology itself
[FOUR years ago] Got a Purple Heart? Scientology wants to exploit you
[FIVE years ago] Florida rejects complaint over Scientology ‘disconnection,’ but Brian Sheen unbowed
[SIX years ago] Kate Bornstein kicks cancer’s ass
[SEVEN years ago] Episcopal Church Objects to Being Included in Supreme Court Brief Supporting Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Narconon Not Scientology? Then Why Is Its Leader in the Church’s Concentration Camp?

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,029 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,533 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,053 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,073 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 964 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,271 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,139 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,913 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,717 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,033 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,599 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,518 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,686 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,267 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,528 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,566 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,279 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,804 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,334 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,894 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,034 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,354 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,209 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,328 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,684 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,987 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,093 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,495 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,367 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,950 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,445 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,699 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,808 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 14, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 14, 2020 04:00

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 23: The apologist academics

In 2011 we spent the month of August counting down a list of the “Top 25 People Crippling Scientology.” Nine years later, Scientology is still hurting, but church leader David Miscavige learned long ago that paid membership was only one resource that kept him in business. He also relies on a small army of enablers, some paid, some not, who help him stay in business even though they aren’t Scientologists themselves. So we thought we’d recognize them with this countdown.

It’s true that religious studies academics struggle to get anyone to pay attention to what they have to say. And for the most part, the professor types who insist on helping out Scientology by claiming it’s a bona fide “religion” that has been unfairly treated by the media rarely get much traction with the public or press.

But apologist academics can be a real pain for legitimate researchers who come under attack from these Scientology cheerleaders.

A good example that happened recently was the time and effort that the best academic in the business, Stephen Kent of the University of Alberta, had to spend cleaning up the mess created by a fake academic publication, CESNUR, which stands for “pro-Scientology flapdoodle published in Italy for some reason.”

CESNUR had got a lot of Hubbardists excited by claiming that critics of Scientology had never, ever produced evidence that L. Ron Hubbard had ever actually claimed, under his own signature, that he was the recipient of a civil engineering college degree. The notion that Hubbard had falsely claimed to be a college graduate was an impression created by sloppy researchers and some of Hubbard’s own employees, CESNUR claimed.

Kent was attacked in the piece, and so he took it upon himself to produce a lengthy and thorough piece utterly destroying the CESNUR claim. In fact, this very website has published two letters written by Hubbard claiming to be a civil engineering graduate.

Anyway, that’s just one example of how these apologist types not only muddy the record to benefit Scientology, but then create a lot of work for those of us trying to get out the truth about Hubbard and his creation.

Another example: When Reza Aslan decided to stan for Scientology on his short-lived “Believer” series on CNN, he turned to San Jose State University lecturer Donald Westbrook to help him make the case that Scientology was getting a raw deal in the media.

Aslan’s episode aired shortly before Leah Remini’s series began, so it was quickly (and mercifully) forgotten. But Westbrook went on to publish an apologist book about Scientology in which he admitted to being hand-held during his research by the church. As we said in our review of the book…

From the beginning, Westbrook’s sneering contempt for the journalists who have risked their careers, their livelihoods, and perhaps even their lives to get us information about what’s really going on in Scientology is tiresome.

This is a book that takes potshots at consummate professionals like Russell Miller and Lawrence Wright and then admits that its 69 interviews with Scientologists were arranged by the church’s own notorious Office of Special Affairs.

Like we said, the good thing about these Scientology-friendy professors is that virtually no one pays attention to them.

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

Scientology still signing children to billion-year contracts so they can work around the clock? Of course.

Advertisement

Liz is feeling super upstat.

Scientology has turned Lydia into Dr. Dolittle.

Imagine thinking in 2020 it’s a good time to join Scientology staff.

——————–

A loss in the Bunker

Your proprietor has traditionally been a cat person, but the mutt that changed all that was a wrinkly shar pei rescue by the name of Phoebe.

She joined our underground oasis in 2011, having escaped an abusive home, and we estimated that she was about twelve years old when she breathed her last yesterday. She spent her final day surrounded by an adoring family that loved her very much.

Indifferent to strangers, passionate about kitchen scraps, and mostly blind as a bat, Phoebe enjoyed nothing more than ignoring the Bunker’s temperamental felines and barking up a storm at the postal carrier. We already miss her enormously.

——————–

“Public must like to be fooled. They’re always paying con men of some kind or another. There must be some real value in having hope shot up to the moon in the stock market because those birds are very often paid off heavily. You could reevaluate the society on the basis of what I’ve given you. Yes, you could say, ‘Well, the society makes mistakes in this direction. Yes, the society is lied to.’ Well, I don’t think the society makes mistakes in this direction. That’s a new thought, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 13, 1964

——————–

“We get it — there’s no need to repeat your opinion over and over again about ‘Skype auditing is squirrel’ — we have noted your opinion, everyone else has as well, you can seriously stop being critical now and just do your best at whatever it is you do. No need to put others down repeatedly.”

——————–

“I shook Jim Jones’ hand in the free eats line at Glide Memorial (he was serving) and I also met a man named Fred Lewis who was a friend of my dad’s. Fred lost 28 family members at Jonestown.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Jenna Elfman, Giovanni Ribisi, and Greta Van Susteren]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Powerful testimonies about child abuse in Scientology keep coming to light
[TWO years ago] Scientology is very worried about 75-year-old Efrem Logreira and his allegations
[THREE years ago] The island nation that is proving to be a refuge for the Church of Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s fiery ‘Guardian’ before she hooked up with Ron, and other gems from our readers
[FIVE years ago] With a trial looming in 6-year forced-abortion lawsuit, Scientology cries ‘but we’re a religion!’
[SIX years ago] Denise Brennan, 1952-2014: A former insider who exposed Scientology’s corporate shell game
[SEVEN years ago] In Scientology, When the Prices Kick Up, What Do You Get for the Money?
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 22: Jamie DeWolf

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,028 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,532 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,052 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,072 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 963 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,270 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,138 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,912 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,716 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,032 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,598 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,517 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,685 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,266 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,527 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,565 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,278 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,803 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,333 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,893 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,033 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,353 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,208 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,327 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,683 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,986 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,092 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,494 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,366 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,949 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,444 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,698 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,807 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 13, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 13, 2020 04:00

Valerie Haney’s suit against Scientology back to square one after court setback

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Burdge denied Valerie Haney’s attempt at a do-over in her lawsuit against the Church of Scientology yesterday, leaving her back where she was in January with a couple of bad choices to make.

At issue yesterday was a motion for reconsideration she had filed after Burdge ruled in January that Valerie was bound by an agreement she signed before leaving her position in Scientology’s Sea Org promising to take any future grievances to Scientology’s own internal “religious arbitration” and not sue the church in court.

In her motion, Valerie had argued that she was actually fired and “declared” a “suppressive person” a week before she signed her exit agreement, nullifying it. And she said this was new evidence, which can be grounds for granting a motion for reconsideration.

But Scientology argued that the new evidence wasn’t new at all, and that Valerie’s legal team was pointing to documents which were already on the record when Judge Burdge made his original ruling. Valerie shouldn’t get a chance to make a new argument on old evidence simply because they had failed to in January, they argued.

Yesterday, Judge Burdge agreed with that argument, saying the new evidence wasn’t new, and denied Valerie’s motion.

Scientology has also asked for $160,000 in sanctions, saying Valerie’s motion wasted their time. That isn’t scheduled to be heard until January, and Judge Burdge refused Scientology’s request yesterday to hear it sooner.

Can Valerie appeal this new ruling by Judge Burdge? Our Los Angeles legal expert says no, she can’t. And they reiterated what they told us before, that Valerie is stuck with two bad alternatives.

1. She can go through with Scientology’s “religious” arbitration, which we have already seen in the Garcia case is a farce. But having gone through it, Valerie could then appeal Judge Burdge’s ruling to force her to go through it, and on constitutional grounds – after all, how can a former Scientologist be forced to go through a religious ritual in a church she no longer belongs to? It’s constitutionally repulsive, but again Valerie would first have to go through the farcical arbitration in order to file an appeal. Such an appeal, however, would be guaranteed to be considered by a higher court.

2. She could file a petition for a writ of mandamus, arguing that her situation is so extraordinary, it deserves to be heard by a higher court now. But appeals courts are under no obligation to grant such a petition and hear the case, and so, like the motion for reconsideration, it’s another long shot.

We feel for Valerie that she has to choose between those two alternatives.

——————–

Kamala Harris as AG: Did she protect Scientology?

Naturally, now that Karen Bass has lost the VP sweepstakes, Scientology watchers quickly changed focus yesterday to the person presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden did choose as his running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris.

At his site, Jeffrey Augustine pointed out that the story we first broke here at the Bunker about Scientologists Hanan Islam and Rizza Islam getting indicted for Medi-Cal fraud in 2015 was done by an agency under the state attorney general, who at the time was Kamala Harris. (The Islams are still awaiting trial, which is scheduled for January.)

But at the forums, you may see grumbling about Harris rudely rejecting a delegation of former Scientologists who went to her as AG asking for an investigation. We’ve seen various claims about how terribly Harris supposedly handled this matter, and suggestions that she was somehow protecting the church.

But we’ve had a chance to look into this, and we’ve seen documentation of it. And what actually appears to have happened was that a request for an investigation by a former Scientologist asking for a refund was met with a response by Harris’s office that this wasn’t something under her jurisdiction.

The person who this happened to was naturally very disappointed and felt slighted by Harris. But as far as we can tell Harris was correct. Her office couldn’t really launch an investigation into money on account at Scientology.

And when her office did have an opportunity to file charges against Scientologists ripping off the state’s health care system, it did.

We don’t know if this means Harris would back DOJ action on Scientology if she and Biden are elected, but so far we haven’t seen anything in her record like Karen Bass’s years of shilling for David Miscavige.

If you have something to the contrary, please drop us a line. We’re open to being convinced otherwise.

——————–

“Apparently transfers from the Galley without apprenticeship or replacement and Quadruple hatting the food purchaser so he simply used the food chandler ashore are some of the obvious whys back of the sudden recent drop in food quality. The WHYs being advertised are the wrong whys — low allocation is a wrong why. The food isn’t kept to allocation and has become VERY expensive for very low quality due to using a chandler. This would not remedy the increased allocation as the allocation is already not followed. Advertising this as the why or remedying it will not restore food quality.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 12, 1971

——————–

“Currently, most of the world has been ordered to shut down. People are told to stay in their homes and no go out. Freedom curtailed. Told not to touch others. Told there is a pandemic and millions may die, Driving people down the tone scale to Fear. Deprived of income due to no work. Financial problems. Heavy fines (in some countries such as Australia) in the thousands if one is caught outside of home without a ‘justifiable’ reason. Penalty for Being. Media and news channels constantly emitting a barrage of bad news on deaths and how bad it is and the favourite phrase to imply agreement and stick all at the same level, ‘We are all in this together.’ Enforced agreement. These are the hallmarks of driving people PTS. This means that the driving force behind this must be an SP or group of SPs. Just knowing this can de-PTS someone who is familiar with the technology. One does NOT have to go into agreement with this socially enforced culture.”

——————–

“Refusal to accept one’s own mortality and a belief by humans that they are something more than just another species of animal is what drives this insanity.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Elisabeth Moss, Michael Peña, and Laura Prepon]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] My brother, the Scientologist: Trying to bridge the gap when Hubbardism is in the way
[TWO years ago] If Scientology is hurting, have its ‘expansion’ plans slowed down? Here’s our assessment
[THREE years ago] Garcia case update: Has Judge Whittemore managed to fill a Scientology arbitrating panel?
[FOUR years ago] Former workers file EEOC complaints saying Grant Cardone forced Scientology on them
[FIVE years ago] Scenes from the increasingly desperate straits Scientology finds itself in
[SIX years ago] Mark Bunker: Clearwater is being pressured to knuckle under to Scientology (again)
[SEVEN years ago] THIS IS THE SOUND OF SCIENTOLOGY’S FORCED DISCONNECTION
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Bowl With The Valley Girls!
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sees Fundraising Gold in the UK Riots: “We Have a Strategy”
[TWELVE years ago] Isaac Hayes Was No Expert Scientologist

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,027 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,531 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,051 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,071 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 962 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,269 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,137 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,911 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,715 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,031 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,597 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,516 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,684 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,265 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,526 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,564 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,277 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,802 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,332 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,892 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,032 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,352 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,207 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,326 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,682 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,985 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,091 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,493 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,365 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,948 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,443 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,697 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,806 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 12, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 12, 2020 04:00

Leah Remini’s podcast: Forbes and Time writer Richard Behar on being a target of Fair Game

What a treat for us this week as Leah Remini and Mike Rinder spoke with journalist Rich Behar for their podcast. Rich, of course, wrote perhaps the single most important investigation of Scientology of all time with his May 1991 Time magazine article that called Scientology the “Thriving cult of greed and power,” and which proved to be a watershed in church history: Scientology has been shrinking ever since.

And Rich was back last week with a new piece in Forbes about potential Biden VP choice Karen Bass, expressing his dismay that she could claim that Scientology was only exposed after she made a 2010 speech in support of Scientology at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Los Angeles.

We go way back with Behar, who has been very supportive of the Underground Bunker and our book about Paulette Cooper, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, and as always he was funny and sharp on the podcast with Mike and Leah as they talked about the Fair Game retaliation campaign he experienced in 1991, and about Karen Bass.

It was especially interesting to hear from Mike about the Time magazine piece from his perspective. At the time, he reminds us, David Miscavige was seeking tax exempt status for Scientology, and Behar’s cover story threw a wrench into it. And for that reason, the backlash they unleashed on him was completely different than what he had experienced writing about Scientology a few years earlier.

“My God, it hit an artery,” Rich said of Scientology’s reaction to the Time article.

We’ve pointed out many times that Scientology reached its greatest extent around that time, with about 100,000 active members around the world in 1990 (Scientology has never had the “millions” that it always claims, then and now). But after that piece showed up, Scientology began a long, steady decline, and our best estimate for current active membership is 20,000 or fewer.

Mike describes being pulled into a conference room by Miscavige the day the cover story appeared, along with Marty Rathbun, Warren McShane and others, as Miscavige informed them that they were going to war. One result was a daily ad campaign in USA Today that lasted 12 weeks, attacking Time magazine and its history. (See some great examples of what Scientology published at Mike’s blog today.)

Rich said he had heard that Scientology spent $3 million on the ad campaign. Mike informed him it was more like $50 million.

Um, wow!

The “Fair Game” campaign against him started even before publication, Rich says. “The private eyes were relentless.” They dug into his private life and childhood in nasty, disgusting ways, and then Scientology sued the magazine after the article came out for $416 million. When Readers Digest put out a version of the article, Scientology sued Readers Digest in 20 different countries.

Ultimately, with the various lawsuits and the ad campaigns, Miscavige spent “hundreds of millions” on the reaction to the Time article.

And, Rich and Mike pointed out — it worked!

Sure, Scientology lost the lawsuit and it was dismissed. But Time had spent millions defending itself and the rest of the media knew it. So a chilling effect kept other news organizations from doing other pieces about Scientology for years. (We’ve pointed out numerous times that it was Tom Cruise coming out as an ambassador of Scientology in 2005 that changed things and opened the floodgates for more media about Scientology. Thank you, Tom!)

Your proprietor and Behar both realized what a big deal it was that major publishing houses finally dropped their reticence about Scientology as a subject when Janet Reitman’s book Inside Scientology came out in 2011 and Lawrence Wright’s Going Clear hit bookshelves in 2013.

[Celebrating the publication of ‘Going Clear’ in 2013]

As for Karen Bass, Behar pointed out something we also, here at the Underground Bunker, were quick to point out after she made her Twitter statement about her 2010 speech at the Los Angeles ‘Ideal Org’ grand opening: Did she really believe that before 2010, Scientology’s abuses and controversies had not been exposed?

In fact, the years after Cruise’s efforts in 2005 backfired were a particularly fruitful period for Scientology exposes, from Reitman’s 2006 Rolling Stone article to Jenna Miscavige Hill’s 2008 Nightline appearance, to the epic 2009 “Truth Rundown” series in the Tampa Bay Times, which also spawned Anderson Cooper’s five-part CNN series just the month before Bass’s speech.

“It’s bizarre that she’s one of Biden’s top contenders. She doesn’t seem to know how to do a Google search for five minutes,” Rich says. He also says that it’s bizarre that he’d had no response whatsoever from Bass’s offices in either Los Angeles or DC.

Mike said that he doesn’t think Bass is a Scientologist herself, and we tend to agree. But Leah has doubts about Bass’s claim not to have realized what was going on in 2010.

“I believe she knows exactly what Scientology is up to,” she says.

“She’s got some explaining to do,” adds Rich.

——————–

Valerie Haney motion for reconsideration gets a ruling today

Operating in the COVID era, the hearing scheduled for today at Los Angeles Superior Court in Valerie Haney’s lawsuit will be held telephonically, and at around 1:30 pm Los Angeles time. We’re on the road and can’t listen in as it’s happening, but we hope to get a result soon after.

Valerie should get a ruling today on the “motion to reconsider” that she filed in March after her kidnapping and slander lawsuit against Scientology and leader David Miscavige was derailed in January. Judge Richard Burdge ruled that Valerie was bound by contract to take any disputes to Scientology’s own internal “religious arbitration,” even though most of what she alleged took place after she’d left her job in the Sea Org.

After that decision, Valerie filed her motion for reconsideration, saying that new evidence showed that she had actually been fired a week before she signed that exit agreement, and therefore shouldn’t be held to it. But Scientology’s attorneys said that wasn’t new information, and they’ve asked the judge not only to rule against her motion, but also to assign $160,000 in sanctions for wasting their time.

The odds tend to be stacked against motions for reconsideration, so we’ll keep that in mind as we prepare to hear Judge Burdge’s decision. And would he go so far as to saddle her with sanctions? We await the outcome.

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

Pamela has never been so present time!

Get out those wallets!

Disconnection? There’s no such thing as disconnection.

——————–

“Illiterate cultures do not survive and they are not very high. The natives of the tribe of the Bugga-Bugga Booga-Boogas down in Lower Bugga-Wugga Booga-Woog are mostly no longer with us or they are around waving red flags today and revolting against their central government. They’re having a bad time. Well, the British Tommy that went down there with his Snider or his Lee-Enfield and brought them higher education in the first place was only occasionally followed by anybody who taught them anything. And they didn’t learn fast. Their literacy was not up to absorbing culture rapidly. So, of course, they can be victimized by anybody who comes along. Once the line is open, if literacy doesn’t follow and if secondhand observation is not available to a people, they stultify, they die, they go to pieces, they degrade. They are struck by this tremendous volume of exterior culture. They’ve been very happily down amongst the bong-bong trees, you know, dancing up and down amongst the bong-bong trees and the highest level of their interest, and so forth, was their own back yard. They could tell you all about bong-bong trees and they could tell you all about you mustn’t step in bug-bug bushes, because you step on a thump-thump snake and this was their direct observation.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 11, 1964

——————–

“In the last 100 or so years, science has done very little real advancing and a whole lot of chasing its own tail. Don’t imagine that most of what you see as advances in technology are triumphs of science; they aren’t. There’s a little incremental science in there and a whole lot of engineering, which is not the same thing at all. And unfortunately, most of what the God of Physics, Albert Einstein, had to say is based on false assumption and is thus false. Yet physics has been limited by his writings for a least a century. Interestingly enough, Einstein’s writings, if accepted would be the exact thing you’d promote if you wanted to keep a planetary population bound to their planet. Four years to get to the nearest star, if you could go as fast as light, which Einstein says you can’t.”

——————–

“Back in my punk days I would donate plasma twice a week for $20 a pop. It helped keep me in pizza.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[The Big Three: Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Kirstie Alley]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology’s efforts to suck up to power is appearing to pay off
[TWO years ago] Church of Fear: When John Sweeney sat down with Anne Archer and Leah Remini
[THREE years ago] Leah Remini calls for federal action: Here’s the frustrating reason the IRS may not answer
[FOUR years ago] Never-before-seen photo of Diana Hubbard, daughter of Scientology’s founder
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s front group that targets kids gets cover from a Swiss politician: News report
[SIX years ago] Mike Rinder on Scientology’s pathetic PR, and the Freewinds welcomes a famous clown
[SEVEN years ago] Stop Picking on Scientology! Double-Fisted Wisdom from 1977
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Drug Program Narconon’s Licensing “Extremely Vulnerable” After Oklahoma Deaths, Says Insider
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 23: Ken Dandar

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,026 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,530 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,050 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,070 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 961 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,268 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,136 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,910 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,714 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,030 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,596 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,515 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,683 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,264 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,525 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,563 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,276 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,801 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,331 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,891 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,031 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,351 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,206 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,325 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,681 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,984 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,090 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,492 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,364 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,947 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,442 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,696 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,805 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 11, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 11, 2020 04:00

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts

[Rebecca Dobkin]

In 2011 we spent the month of August counting down a list of the “Top 25 People Crippling Scientology.” Nine years later, Scientology is still hurting, but church leader David Miscavige learned long ago that paid membership was only one resource that kept him in business. He also relies on a small army of enablers, some paid, some not, who help him stay in business even though they aren’t Scientologists themselves. So we thought we’d recognize them with this countdown.

We’re very glad that Leah Remini and Mike Rinder last week finally got to tell the story of Tammy Clark, who tried, in the summer of 2018, to check on the welfare of her uncle, “retired” Scientology president Heber Jentzsch.

Mike and Leah went with Tammy to try and see Heber at Gold Base, Scientology’s secretive international management compound near Hemet, California, and they turned it into an episode of “Scientology and the Aftermath” that was one of the best they ever filmed. We count ourselves very fortunate that we got to see it in preview, because the episode never actually aired.

Scientology reacted to the checking of Heber’s welfare with aggressive legal threats and a characteristic “noisy investigation” that was intended to frighten Tammy and other people. And it worked. We remember Tammy sounding terrified in phone calls to Mike Rinder, which became part of the unaired episode.

To intimidate people who have dared to expose Scientology’s controversies, the church often relies on low-level private investigators who are sent around the country to make unannounced visits.

In Tammy’s case, she was followed to Utah by a private investigator by the name of Rebecca Dobkin.

“Soon after Tammy returned to her home in Utah, Scientology did what it is prone to do: Keep proving the contributors to ‘Scientology and The Aftermath’ right,” Rinder wrote at his blog. “They do exactly the things that confirm what everyone keeps saying they do. They launched a ‘noisy investigation’ and flew two private investigators to Tammy’s home to threaten her pursuant to Hubbard’s words of wisdom about investigating noisily.”

Dobkin also showed up at the house of Karen de la Carriere and Jeffrey Augustine. “She said that she was investigating an incident that had happened at Int Base,” Jeffrey wrote about the incident for this website. “Apparently, someone had asked law enforcement to make a welfare check on Heber at the base. I knew nothing about it, I told her. She claimed that Heber had been thrown into the back of a police car during the welfare check, which I found hard to believe.”

Now that Mike has released records of the incident, we can see that nothing of the sort happened to Heber. Dobkin simply lied to Augustine, as Scientology’s PIs are instructed to do.

We looked up Dobkin’s website, and found to our disappointment that before becoming a low-level PI intimidator for the Church of Scientology, she had done honorable work as an investigator for a Federal Public Defenders’ Capital Habeas Unit. We have good friends who have worked in one of those offices, and we can tell you that it is difficult and thankless work, gathering information that can be tough to get in order to make sure inmates facing capital punishment get fair appeals.

Imagine going from that kind of meaningful work to intimidating a Utah grandmother on behalf of David Miscavige.

Other private investigators doing this kind of grunt work include John Hernandez, who Leah Remini called out for trying to intimidate the mother of one of the behind-the-scenes members of the “Scientology and the Aftermath” crew…

Another figure that comes to mind is former cop Ralph Gomez, who was the local guide who was used by the Squirrel Busters, the infamous group of clownish Scientologist goons who were sent to Ingleside, Texas, to harass Marty and Monique Rathbun in the spring and summer of 2011.

While the Squirrel Busters were trying to make Marty’s life a “living hell,” a stone-faced Gomez could be seen driving them around in a golf cart, looking like it was the last place he wanted to be.

And we can imagine that none of these grunts really enjoys harassing and intimidating people on behalf of Scientology. They aren’t true believers. They aren’t Hubbardists. They’re just getting a paycheck, and that’s more important to them than having a conscience about what they’ve been asked to do.

[Ralph Gomez, Squirrel Buster wrangler]

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology
25: DirecTV and filmmakers buffing Dave’s channel

——————–

“The results with psychotics at the present time are pretty fair. Of course, psychotics are definitely in the hands of psychiatry — they are actually wards of the state — and we are trying very hard to keep those psychotics in the hands of psychiatry where they belong. After all, psychiatry is organized to handle that problem. Psychiatrists have been open-minded about Dianetics for quite a while, but recently I was over at the state institution in St. Louis and the chief of the institution was running a young lady. I pitched in and gave him a hand. She had been schizophrenic for a number of years and she lay down on the couch insane; we worked on her for about two hours, hit the key engram in the case and she got off the couch sane. So the psychiatrists are no longer open-minded at Missouri State.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 10, 1950

——————–

“Personally I always thought that Mary Sue should have thrown the three stooges Jane, Mo, and Mike under the bus and denied any knowledge of their actions. This would have saved us from the CMOI Junta that followed, but as anyone there knows there was so much confusion being generated at that time aside from Smersh and rogue Government Agencies including the ‘White Elephant’ no one on the Hill talked about until the Church Committee was an effort to go after Ron’s estate launched by Flynn and Assoc. with St. Gerry of Armstrong (another mole who told the LAPD’s CID ‘all ya gotta do is allege’) leading the charge being assisted by Ron’s estranged son who was a poster child for MK-Ultra Mind Control. As far as I’m concerned one of the key reasons Miscavige is where he is (aside from him being supported by rogue factions of ‘our’ Government and Smersh) is that he has become a fixed aberrated stable datum. In other words a walking, talking Ser Fac who has become a stable datum to anyone who can’t confront the prior confusion. That is my opinion and is the reason why I never bought into the ‘lone Miscavige theory’.”

——————–

“People spend years, decades, stuck on OT 7. It drives them insane, like George Baillie or poor Biggi Reichert.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Alanna Masterson, Terry Jastrow, and Marisol Nichols]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology in a nutshell: The lights are on, but nobody’s home
[TWO years ago] Colombian senator asks defense minister to investigate Scientology over medal scandal
[THREE years ago] Bogus court documents, compliant search engines, and Scientology-style rehabs
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s richest couple buys ‘Holy City,’ a California ghost town and former cult site
[FIVE years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Tom Cruise Scientology video shows the actor praising the church — in Spanish!
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Sea Org full regalia edition!
[SEVEN years ago] Jon Atack and a Special Guest Wrestle with Gerry Armstrong’s Legal Scientology Nightmare
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s Idea of a Rollicking Sermon: Watch This Gem From 1984
[NINE years ago] Londoners See a Disaster, But Scientology Sees an Opportunity!

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,025 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,529 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,049 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,069 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 960 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,267 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,135 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,909 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,713 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,029 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,595 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,514 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,682 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,263 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,524 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,562 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,275 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,800 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,330 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,890 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,030 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,350 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,205 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,324 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,680 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,983 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,089 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,491 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,363 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,946 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,441 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,695 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,804 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 10, 2020 at 06:00

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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 10, 2020 03:00

Leaked Video: Scientology’s anti-psychiatry front talks strategy with psych professor

Meet one of Scientology’s long time allies in their war against psychiatry, Lisa Cain, who talks with the church’s anti-psych front group, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, in a new leaked video.

Internet outages caused our source to lose part of this CCHR briefing with staff members Eitan Celender, Fred Shaw, and Cain, a Professor of Psychology in the Los Angeles Community College District, but we have most of it. We’re accustomed to CCHR’s allegations of abuse by mental health professionals but the involvement of Cain is something we haven’t seen before.

She’s been associated with Scientology and CCHR since at least 2012. Cain recounts how she visited CCHR’s Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Museum in Los Angeles after seeing an advertisement in a college newspaper. Her beliefs about the state of the mental health profession are very much in line with Scientology. She denies the validity of the biomedical model of mental illness in which some conditions can be treated with prescription drugs.

I began to teach from the perspective of researching and looking at what the research was funded, most of it from big pharma. And then looking for other people that were able to really see the perspective for what it was. When you see a person who has symptoms that create things like hallucinations and delusions and to within 10 or 15 minutes to put them on an unfounded or unproven medication and tell them they have a chemical imbalance – that’s criminal. And I didn’t want to be a part of that.

So I started trying to figure out what could I do and the thing that I felt was really beneficial was teach students that there are other ways to look at things even though it’s not mentioned in the textbook. So that’s what I’ve been doing for the past 15 years. And I have found that it’s really starting to pick up momentum and people are starting to recognize that this doesn’t work. Because people take the drugs and they don’t get better. The ones that survive they don’t get better.

Cain also describes how her students are assigned to write a paper on the CCHR museum, many times bringing their family members with them.

Scientology considers psychiatry to be the most evil force in the universe, and founder L. Ron Hubbard claimed that mental implants keeping people from reaching their full potential were put in place by psychiatrists trillions of years ago. At an annual event, church leader David Miscavige once said that Scientology was seeking to “booby-trap” the psychiatric profession, and showed images of bombs going off.

— Rod Keller

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

Meanwhile, in London…

Another one through the Wall of Fire!

Yo, baby!

——————–

“Ninth of August? What planet? Nine August, AD 12….You are Scientologists. You are scientists. You are people who can do things with the human mind. You practically — this small confine here — practically all the people on Earth who are experts on the subject are confined at this moment in this very small area. See? All right. The trick is from my viewpoint, to get somebody who can clear somebody else while being cleared, see, that’s the stunt. Otherwise nothing else works. Not on this planet, you see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 9, 1962

——————–

“Don’t think for a minute that the tech of Scientology and Dianetics doesn’t work. Too much energy was used by the US Government to stop it, so it must have worked its miracles as advertised. Imagine the meeting at the AMA. ‘So Doctor Scalpel, you read this book by Hubbard, do we have anything to worry about?’ The doctor replies, ‘I see a great danger with this book and we need to suppress it now, while we have a chance. I used some of its technology and it does rid people of illnesses with simple applications. This will cost us hundreds of millions of dollars.’ And so it went. Why else would the government spend so much energy on stopping us?”

——————–

“The ultimate goal of becoming an Operating Thetan is that you would no longer need a MEST body and you could return to being an all powerful, immortal non-corporeal being. OT 8 is actually the first ‘real’ Operating Thetan level. Hubbard croaked, so everybody’s screwed. Thetans are immortal. Mesty meat bodies, no.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Catherine Bell, Chick Corea, and Nancy Cartwright]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] TOM CRUISE CAUGHT ON TAPE: Saving face after a Scientology disaster
[TWO years ago] Why Scientology is a haven for sexual abusers — it’s the way L. Ron Hubbard designed it
[THREE years ago] Hey, moneybags, Scientology has a bridge to sell you. Here’s the new price list!
[FOUR years ago] The dapper CEO’s detailed response: Scientology wasn’t forced on disgruntled employee
[FIVE years ago] Why no one should ever believe anything said by Scientology Sea Org or staff members
[SIX years ago] Jon Atack: Escaping the trap Scientology sets for the mind
[SEVEN years ago] PZ Myers Helps Us Plunder the Riches of L. Ron Hubbard’s Book of Scientology Evolution!
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 24: David Touretzky

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,024 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,528 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,048 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,068 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 959 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,266 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,134 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,908 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,712 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,028 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,594 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,513 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,681 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,262 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,523 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,561 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,274 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,799 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,329 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,889 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,029 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,349 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,204 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,323 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,679 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,982 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,088 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,490 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,362 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,945 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,440 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,694 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,803 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 9, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 09, 2020 04:00

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 25: DirecTV and filmmakers buffing Dave’s channel

[Dave kicks off Scientology TV]

Nine years ago we spent the month of August counting down a list of the “Top 25 People Crippling Scientology” and it was a very popular feature. So we thought, with August upon us again, we might have some fun with another countdown, but with a slightly different focus.

Nine years after that previous feature, Scientology is still hurting. It continues to lose members and, according to our best estimates, has fewer than 20,000 active members around the planet now.

But church leader David Miscavige learned long ago that paid membership was only one resource that allowed him to rule Scientology ruthlessly and with total control. Scientology is still harming families and intimidating courts and scaring off law enforcement thanks not only to Dave’s remaining ranks of dedicated followers and wealthy donors, but also thanks to a small army of enablers, some paid, some not, who help him stay in business even though they aren’t Scientologists themselves.

So we thought we’d recognize them with this countdown. Some of them you know well, some you maybe don’t. And we’re indebted to some experts who helped us figure out who should be on this list and in which order — you know who you are.

We’ll start off with something that would be higher on our list if it weren’t such a spectacular failure: Dave’s vanity TV channel.

For years, we were reporting that Miscavige was planning to launch his own television channel, and we could hardly wait to see where it was going to show up. Initially, we found some evidence suggesting that it was going to appear on the Spectrum cable lineup. But then, to our surprise, it debuted in March 2018 on DirecTV (and a bunch of streaming platforms).

At first, it was kind of thrilling that Miscavige himself delivered a short address to kick things off (see above). But soon enough, the channel slipped into a steady stream of slickly produced but unwatchable propaganda about Scientology, its founder L. Ron Hubbard, and people who build banjoes.

Anyway, it quickly became obvious that no one was watching or talking about this incredibly expensive experiment, and we found evidence that even Scientologists were paying no attention to it, even though they were expected to do so.

But the channel has provided us a few surprises. We were stunned, for example, when Miscavige allowed the secretive Hubbard archive project to be portrayed, even if its location was not mentioned. But the thing that stunned us the most was that Miscavige has managed to convince non-Scientologist filmmakers to provide him content.

We’re talking about the “Documentary Showcase” that plays on Friday nights, and that has featured some really good films by legitimate documentary directors. We were grateful that one of them, J.R. Biersmith, talked to us about his reasons for not only allowing his movie about Somalian soccer players to air on the network, but also to sit down for an on-camera interview at Scientology Media Productions, the studios on Sunset Boulevard that Scientology purchased from public television station KCET.

Scientology has a long track record of paying premium prices to convince people to get on board, so we imagine these filmmakers were not low-balled. But we still wonder about such folks agreeing not only to have their films air on a network that no one watches, and to lend their credibility to a bunch like the Church of Scientology, but even to head on down to Xenu Studios for an interview.

Dave’s grateful, we’re sure.

Advertisement

Advertisement

——————–

“There was Scientology One, that’s for the public. That’s your PE-level Scientology. And we’re putting out a plea to one and all to please contribute any data they think is vital and necessary to be in this. And then there’s Scientology Two, which is healing, which we haven’t had too much to do with. That’s care of the body, and so forth. And HPA/HCA levels probably get quite a bit of Scientology Two. And then there’s Scientology Three, and that’s advanced auditing, advanced Academy courses, that sort of thing, leading up to the area of Clear, such phenomena as we’ve had in the past. Now, it doesn’t happen to be a well wrapped up area, because we jumped off of that area to go into Scientology Four. And this occasioned even some of you quite a few headaches, because there was a necessary speed-up in research, and the place to research toward, of course, was OT. Now, that’s Scientology Four. And the material which you’re learning right now is Scientology Four. And then there is Scientology Five. And Scientology Five is the social, political, organizational levels of Scientology. This is a takeoff from the level of OT. And that isn’t just Scientology applied to political problems. That would be a misnomer although it would read like that in a textbook, and so forth. That isn’t that at all. It’s actually what does an OT do about it? That makes quite a different subject, doesn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 8, 1963

——————–

“The fact is that Ron had established similar entities in the past such as the Church of American Science and Spiritual Engineering to cover the contingency that the Church would be seized by hostile forces that were inimical to total freedom and were in terror of anyone outside their area of control gaining OT abilities. My speculation is that the success of CIA’s Remote Viewing program and their previous failures to discredit and invalidate the subject since they couldn’t seize control of it with Mary Sue in charge of the Guardian’s Office made them consider another ways and means. In other words a covert take over of the subject which they in my opinion succeeded at by placing it in the hands of a totally compromised individual.”

——————–

“According to Hubbard the average Black South African thought Apartheid was too lenient.”

——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

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.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Erika Christensen, Ethan Suplee, and Juliette Lewis]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] ‘Aftermath’ supporters put Scientology on notice in its own ‘spiritual mecca’
[TWO years ago] Fake medals and kiddie diddlers: Scientology’s cruise ship scandal gets even worse
[THREE years ago] Stephen Colbert: Do you believe Scientology is a religion at all? Leah Remini: No
[FOUR years ago] Whale watching update: Your 2016 mid-year guide to who’s propping up Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Why is the press so timid about outing Scientology’s many front groups?
[SIX years ago] DOX: Here’s Monique Rathbun’s response to Scientology’s appeal of its anti-SLAPP defeat
[SEVEN years ago] LEAH REMINI FILES MISSING-PERSON REPORT ON SCIENTOLOGY LEADER’S WIFE
[EIGHT years ago] VH1’S Mimi Faust On Scientology: “At 13, They Told Me I Was a Freeloader”
[NINE years ago] A Scientologist’s Open Letter to the Village Voice and its Readers

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,023 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,527 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,047 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,067 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 958 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,265 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,133 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,907 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,711 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,027 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,593 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,512 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,680 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,261 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,522 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,560 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,273 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,798 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,328 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,888 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,028 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,348 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,203 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,322 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,678 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,981 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,087 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,489 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,361 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,944 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,439 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,693 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,802 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 8, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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