The great Grant Cardone is coming to do an event at Flag. Not for free of course, they’re going to use this as a chance to make money. They don't say what the price is, but you can scan the QR code (you might have more luck than I did "the server cannot be found") but if that's not good enough for you, you can "ask your Registrar about VIP options." They're trying to make this like a big celebrity “event,” pay $500 you can stand next to the great man, for $1000 get a photo op, for $10,000 you can shake hands and hang out in the green room sort of thing. For this guy? What is really going … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Delusions of Grandeur
I wonder where this guy "sees" this? Scientology being the talk of the town? The city coming together like never before? The eternal false hope of scientologists. They so desperately WANT to believe this is possible, despite all evidence to the contrary. This guy is not really any more deluded than the average scientologist who actually really believes they are going to Clear the Planet. This is not a pie in the sky idea to them -- just like it's not pie in the sky to this guy that the building they have struggled for decades to buy and renovate, but now cannot man, is going to … [Read more...]
Chicago Being Manned With SO Members
This has become the new norm in scientology. Spend tens of millions of dollars to buy and renovate a building in a city with few scientologists. The inability to find staff to man the organization results in Sea Org members being sent to do so (Sea Org members can be ordered around to go wherever, much as they would like to be able to do so, they cannot order people to join staff). Dave Parker was the ED of Chicago org for many years. He started the org. Today he is not on staff. If it is SO important and the greatest thing ever, why not? Sadly, Sea Org members sent to these outer … [Read more...]
L. Ron Hubbard on Medicine, Doctors and Cures
L. Ron Hubbard had a very jaundiced view of the medical profession and healing of disease and illness. He announced to the world that he had discovered the real causes and cures for virtually everything with Dianetics and proceeded to expand on his assertions from there all the way through the years in scientology and ultimately with the "New Era Dianetics for OT's." Never one to understate his accomplishments, Hubbard made numerous false claims about his "research" and "discoveries" which still form the "technology" of scientology used today. He proclaimed himself to have … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Thursday Funnies
This is the "Advanced Org" Their "Safe Pointing" campaign... ASI's "Tasty Treats" Get yourself a shot of hot jolt -- while they try to sell you some "priceless" "special editions" of Ron's old, not very good, fiction. He's Running in Circles He's "on Cause Resurgence" -- wonder if he's dizzy? No Org Graduates? Just someone from Flag? An example to others? Oddly for Chicago, she is young. This poster is a bit misleading given the other old people we have seen... Avoid bad decisions Like paying $6 … [Read more...]
Podcast with Mark Vicente of The Vow
I recommend everyone watch The Vow -- both seasons -- on HBO. It documents the horrors of Keith Raniere and his NXIVM cult. Mark, and his wife Bonnie Piesse, play a significant role in bringing down Raniere, who is now serving 120 years in Federal prison. Christie and I have become friends with Mark and Bonnie (and also with the other most prominent whistleblowers who exposed Raniere's cult -- Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames). These friendships are based on a foundation of deep understanding forged by shared similar experiences. They are good, strong, brave people who put their personal comfort … [Read more...]
A Billion Years for Christmas and Kirstie Alley’s Death
My thanks to Gallery Books for this ad in the New York Times Book Review this week. A book is an excellent gift for Christmas! Especially A Billion Years... Please keep that in mind as you do your holiday shopping for friends and family. Kirstie Alley The passing of Kirstie was announced late last night by her children. A dedicated scientologist to the end, she did her best to smear me and Leah as all good scientologists do. But despite that, I have fond memories of Kirstie. She has never been anything but over-the-top outrageous and very funny. The only mention I make of … [Read more...]
The Incredible Shrinking World of Scientology
Quite a number of people have asked me in recent interviews whether scientology is growing. Of course, it is not. Information is deadly poison to cults and in this age of the internet, scientology is doomed. But, scientology puts out an endless stream of propaganda to make it seem like they are expanding. They claim "massive growth" and "unprecedented demand" and various other catchphrases, statements unsupported by specifics or statistics. Naturally, scientology doesn't want to make information available that would disprove their claims of constant and … [Read more...]
Podcast with Jon Atack
Jon and I recorded a new episode of his excellent podcast. Enjoy. … [Read more...]
Chicago is Getting DONE!
Scientology sometimes sends out the most self-incriminating "promotional" items.... With a subject line "Yeah, yeah, I know -- I've heard that before!" it is pretty clear they recognize that everyone inside the bubble knows they tell one another an endless stream of lies about their accomplishments and what is coming next. And they repeat those lies over and over and nobody ever protests: "Hey, you told us the ideal org was going to be done in 6 months in 2010 and have been telling us the same lie every fundraiser since" -- but they do acknowledge the lies in a less forthright manner "yeah, … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Thursday Funnies
Thanks to all who attended the book event last night at Penn. It was great to see so many supporters, people interested and old friends. My appreciation to Marci Hamilton and the team at Child USA for organizing the event. And now, some l Holiday Cabaret?? Isn't this a CC thing? And they are giving a free dinner? Plenty of regges will be on hand. Sunday Service Because we try to pretend we are like a Christian church. I guess the Lead C/S at ASHO doesn't have anyone to C/S so he is reading Hubbard out loud in Chicago. They're loading up Chicago … [Read more...]
Book Event Tonight — Join Us in Philly
I'm flying to Philadelphia today to join Prof. Marci Hamilton to discuss A Billion Years at the University of Pennsylvania. I hope if you are in the area you will join us. The event is free. I will be signing books. And talking with Marci about the book and other things that are important to us. You can register for the event here. … [Read more...]
Orders of Magnitude
What is so sad about this is that they take themselves seriously. What is the correct estimation of effort to get the job done? The "job" they are referring to is attaining a "Cleared Planet." It's what every scientologist has in their mind as the ultimate objective of their efforts. "Correct estimation of effort" and "Orders of Magnitude" are Hubbard catchphrases that scientologists use routinely. In simple terms, this briefing is purportedly going to explain what they really need to have and do to Clear the Planet. Of course, it would be a momentous thing if anyone in scientology … [Read more...]