Please see the article on Tony Ortega's website yesterday about the crazy Twitter war FL State Congressman Chris Latvala started -- first with Tracey McManus of the Tampa Bay Times, then with Tony Ortega and subsequently with me. I tweeted about this after Tony' story was up, and the Congressman responded to me in a similar fashion: As you can see my last offer is to meet with him to help provide the education he needs. I hope he takes me up. He said he was unaware of the scientology connections to the books that were offered. Maybe that is the case, but … [Read more...]
The Scientology BS is Deep
Tracey McManus article reporting on a meeting David Miscavige had with the Clearwater Mayor and City Attorney last week isn't very revelatory on the surface. But I will try to read between the lines and explain the significance of this meeting based on scientology policy and my experience. The first thing to know is that short of testifying under oath (and even then, good scientologists have no fear of lying if they believe a lie is for the "greatest good"), the real story (either what happened in the past or intentions fo rthe future)is never going to be revealed in … [Read more...]
Episode 12: Mark Bunker
This week, Leah and I have a conversation with Mark Bunker on the Fair Game podcast. Download at midnight tonight. I will add a link to the show here when it becomes available. We talk to Mark about his history with scientology, him becoming the newest Clearwater City Council member and what the future of the City of Clearwater holds. We cover the land grab by scientology so ably reported by Tracey McManus in the Tampa Bay Times "How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years" : Tracey updated her story a few days ago "Vacancies in Scientology-tied … [Read more...]
Pinellas County Sheriff Candidate Eliseo Santana: Scientology Shill
Eliseo Santana just sent me this mailer as a resident of Pinellas County. Last month, he became the democratic candidate to challenge the incumbent Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. I would not normally comment on this, except earlier this year, Eliseo Santana also ran for Clearwater City Council against Mark Bunker. Santana was a scientology shill in that election. (You can watch some of the videos of Santana in action at that link). Scientology is afraid of running any scientologist candidates -- they know they will lose -- so they try to curry favor with candidates by promising them their … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Clearwater Scam
The scientology scam continues in Clearwater. How revealing this FB posting is. This public person is "helping" the Freewinds to get a 17 year old kid to the ship. She is begging someone to give him a room (if he is going to "pay" why isn't he just staying in a hotel?) and that's OK because "he is not going to be on services." For anyone who doesn't know this, people who come to Clearwater for services at Flag must stay in a scientology owned hotel. They would not want any of their money actually going INTO the community. Remember this City of Clearwater when scientology … [Read more...]
“Other Practices” — The New Normal
What is this? Promoting yoga! Megan Brazil is a prominent Clearwater scientologist who conducts her yoga classes with prominent, scientologist-owned businesses and now with the Way to Happiness. You have to wonder whether the current world of scientology has anything to do with "the tech" at all these days? She (and the other scientologists involved with her) appear not to know that yoga was considered an "other practice" by Hubbard. "Practicing yoga" is right there on Hubbard's Green Form of case remedies alongside "taking drugs" and "seeing a psychiatrist" as things that prevent … [Read more...]
The LRH Hall of Mirrors
They’re still trying collect money for this hall, perhaps the greatest boondoggle in scientology history -- and that is saying something. They can't even fill Ruth Eckerd Hall. And they want to build an even larger facility. For what? One event on Hubbard's birthday each year? Or perhaps they will move NY's, and IAS to this facility too and they will have 3 events a year (and the attendance will dwindle even further as the novelty of a single event each year will wear off fast). Even 3 events a year is no reason to build an "event hall." Literally, they have come up with a phony excuse … [Read more...]
Missed Ron’s Birthday Bash?
It seems Penny Atwell Jones was hankering for a birthday party to show her support for a man she follows with all her heart. Denied the opportunity to do so for Ron, she took a shot now for Don. For anyone who does not know, Penny is a loud and proud fixture of the Clearwater scientology community. She is a well-known Flag FSM. Her daughter, Brooke Daniells, has been in a relationship with Catherine Bell for many years (not exactly appropriate for either a devoted scientologist or MAGA-lady) and she was the love interest of Ted Banas, Miscavige's full-time Clearwater bodyguard before he … [Read more...]
Mark Bunker Strikes Fear Into Scientologists’ Hearts
I was sent this Facebook message by Aaron Smith-Levin, who received it from Aida Barbosa in Mexico City. He does not know Aida. But she is very concerned that Aaron may know someone who is connected to Mark Bunker and that he should unfriend that person on Facebook as soon as he figures out if that person has other friends connected to Bunker. Obviously she does not know who Aaron is or that he is more than Facebook friends with Mark Bunker. But it gives some insight into the world of scientology and how panicked they are about Mark Bunker. And that, as has been said so often, it is OSA … [Read more...]
Clearwater Police Chief Inspects Flag
As always, Tracey McManus has the story. I spoke to Tracey about this earlier today and she quoted me in the article. But I had more thoughts on it that she was unable to include. I also have a copy of Chief Slaughter's publicly available report. First, this comes as a relief to me. My son is in this facility, so anything being done to mitigate the threat of this pandemic is very welcome. Second, I applaud Chief Slaughter for taking the initiative to do something. I do not recall the last time any city official walked in to the Ft Harrison to check out what is going on. Third, … [Read more...]