John Oliver consistently focuses his unique brand of comedy/satire/social commentary on David Miscavige and scientology. Last week he threw another barb, which you can watch below at the 2 minute mark of his opening segment. All of last season he included "Where's Shelly" (in Spanish) in the opening montage of the show, and included numerous references to all things scientology. In season 5, he did a piece in his final episode that wrapped up his year long secret "advertising campaign" for scientology that he demanded they pay him $650,000... and then ultimately $700,000 … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2021
Episode 34: Journalist and Author John Sweeney
Our friend and scientology nemesis, journalist, author and podcaster John Sweeney, joins us this week. John was for many years a correspondent for the original TV investigative magazine show, Panorama. He did a program about scientology for Panorama in 2007, where I was one of the "handlers" on behalf of scientology. It was a catalyst for me leaving -- I was in London defending scientology and Miscavige from the "chaos merchants" at the BBC. After I had left, I did a second Panorama show with John explaining some of the things that had happened in that first program. We had a lot to … [Read more...]
The Next Great Milestone Achievement
This is a "milestone"? That they might at some point gather enough money to buy a building for this tiny, perpetually failing "org"? Scientology has hype-inflation. Their hype keeps growing less and less believable so they have to keep ratcheting up the hype... It's like rolling in wheelbarrows full of cash to buy a loaf of bread during hyperinflation. They roll in wheelbarrows of over-the-top descriptions for the most mundane of events. They're going to have some hula dancing and a "surprise" -- they have two "guest speakers" along with the "Hawaii Fundraising Project In-Charge." … [Read more...]
Scientology in Clearwater — Big Brother is Watching You
George Orwell's astonishing novel 1984 depicts a dystopian world that has many remarkable similarities to scientology. Big Brother is a character and symbol that represents a society where every citizen is under constant surveillance, constantly reminded of this by the slogan "Big Brother is watching you." If you visit downtown Clearwater, Big Brother (scientology) IS watching you. Anywhere and everywhere. While they claim the dozens of cameras mounted on their buildings are for "security" -- the truth is a little less palatable. And they showed their hand this past … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Reforming Scientology?
Leah recently reminded me of this wonderful website, and in particular, this article by my old friend Jeff Hawkins. Jeff is one of the kindest, smartest and most decent people I know. When Miscavige blew him off, he lost one of the only real marketing geniuses in scientology. Jeff was responsible for the single successful marketing campaign in scientology -- returning Dianetics to the top of the NY Times bestseller list in the 80's. He is a wonderful writer -- I highly recommend his book Counterfeit Dreams -- and a thoughtful analyst of the world of scientology. I am taking the liberty … [Read more...]
Scientology.org Not To Be Trusted
Scientology has invested tens of millions of dollars in creating and promoting their website scientology.org. They have a huge volume of content there -- all their hype videos of org openings, VM activities, education efforts etc etc as well as links to every other scientology related website and anything else they can find. A huge amount of effort has been expended to make this a success in this online age. (Though you will note the "Scientology News" second item is the last ribbon yanking ceremony they held -- more than a year ago, there is a not a whole lot of "news"). They are failing … [Read more...]
Episode 33: Media and Political Journalist Yashar Ali
We are joined this week by media and politics reporter Yashar Ali. Yashar has done over a dozen stories related to scientology and more are coming. He has been a long-term voice against scientology abuses who has never been scared off by their Fair Game tactics. Yashar was recently named one of Time magazine's 25 most influential people on the internet: You can follow Yashar on Twitter: @Yashar, Instagram: yasharali and Facebook: Yashar Ali With his background in politics and the media we had a lot to talk about: Scientology celebrities and how the media fails to … [Read more...]
“Space Is Limited”
It seems we have heard this song before. This is a MUST-SEE that has been out now for a couple of months and all 10 people the are active scientologists in Sacramento saw it the first week it was released (this is the video of the amazing photo ops of spraying Decon 7 around in various locations and handing out booklets on social distancing). "Space is limited" is completely wishful thinking. How ridiculous? This is a promo piece produced centrally and sent out to the orgs. They add their image at the top and email it to the sheeple. Below is a different version of the same … [Read more...]
An “Ideal Nation”
The farce continues. These people continue to believe there is something of value to having an "Ideal Nation." That achieving this will be a "victory" and is something that is important to "race" to accomplish. What they mean is that all EXISTING Orgs in the US will have a newly renovated building. They have been going on these kicks for some time about "An All Ideal California" or "All Ideal Florida" as if this represents a great advance for mankind. Their "victories" have been meaningless. As I have said plenty of times here, there are already "ideal nations" where the existing … [Read more...]