Scientology are off and running with their "25 year unbroken record" of Winter Wonderland self-promotion. Can you imagine putting out a press release in advance of "beginning construction" for few plywood elf-house facades? Only a scientology-mind could conceive of this. "Construction"? Makes it sound like they are building the Great Wall of China. The desperation to get themselves in the news for something other than defrauding people of their life savings and destroying families is palpable. The citizens of Clearwater should be aware that the park in which they construct "Winter … [Read more...]
Scientology: No Longer Curious?
Apparently the idea that people are curious about scientology is no longer operative? I wonder if it has anything to do with the promotion for Scientology The Aftermath that recently began that plays on their "Curious?" concept? These two billboards have now replaced the "Curious?" ones in Clearwater: Surprises? Well, I guess you could say that. Surprises you with how lame it is. The same infomercials over and over and over and over.... Amazes? Yes, that too. It is amazing that in this day and age anyone joins or gives them any more money. Love the fact that they … [Read more...]
Tampa Bay Charity Coalition
Another front group trying to gain acceptance, the “Tampa Bay Charity Coalition" -- somehow they leave out the word scientology from their title. Their Facebook page features one of their events in the Ft Harrison ballroom -- though it looks like they photoshopped the "Flag" logo on the backdrop so it's not readable. This "Film Festival" is a thinly disguised excuse to show their "human rights" infomercials. You can see there is massive interest in this event... You have to wonder what an "Official Selection" means? No doubt they “selected” the infomercials … [Read more...]
Ebony Awakening
This should be fun. Alfraudie is being brought in from his IAS world Regging Tour -- hanging with his NOI buddies and only $500 a head? How exciting could a weekend be. Hard to top this. But don't forget to bring ALL your checkbooks and credit cards. There are a LOT of regges at Flag in addition to Alfraudie. Here is the full line up. The only scientologists they could get were 3 white businessmen. Two NOI people -- one doing Group Processing (that's NOT Dianetics...) and then a non-scientology Minister from LA who is involved in CCHR. I guess scientology … [Read more...]
Clearwater Follies
Leah and I were speaking with our old friend Mark Bunker, who was telling us about the injunction scientology obtained against him and other members of the Lisa McPherson Trust back in 1998. Amazingly, scientology still seeks to enforce this injunction against him to this day – its language prevents him from protesting in front of some specified scientology buildings and from coming within 10 feet of any scientologist (it’s a mystery how he is supposed to know who is or isn’t a scientologist…) but they tried to get him thrown out of his condo because a scientologist lived next door, and … [Read more...]
Journey with Ron
This promotional item was distributed some time ago, I am just getting around to publishing it. Scientology continues to try to raise money for the "L. Ron Hubbard Hall" -- another white elephant that will eventually be paid for by "Sea Org Reserves" as a means of using excess accumulation of funds. But it will be milked for everything possible until then. It is interesting that scientology has continued to use the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, a venue that seats 2300, for nearly 3 decades. No graduating to larger venues to handle the massive growth and increases in scientologists in … [Read more...]
Lies, Lies and More Lies
I had not seen this until perusing the scientology.org website today. Don't focus on the wonderful passage of classic Shermanspeak -- legendary times on the front porch of infinity indeed. No, try to put that out of your mind and note the claim -- apparently in response to the repeated exposure of the dwindling numbers at his events -- that the event was attended by a "record number" pegged at 6700 lost souls from 70 nations. Of course, this is quite a feat, given the capacity of the venue is Ruth Eckerd Hall that seats 2180 (slightly less with all the cameras and sound equipment … [Read more...]
Schmoozing And Losing
That's Pat Clouden, scientology whale and Lynn Posyton, Clearwater scientology whale remora with Pam Bondi. Ms. Bondi has been a favorite in scientology circles, with several of her forays into the bubble documented on Tony Ortega's blog. And look who else was in attendance, schmoozing with Lynn Posyton. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. It's not that this was a "scientology event" -- the Drug Free America Foundation is not controled by scientology, but scientologists have made a concerted effort to infiltrate this group. Elected officials … [Read more...]
The Ideal Org She Ain’t What She Used To Be
The National Public Affairs Office that is part of the DC Ideal org (the Fraser mansion at Dupont Circle) seems to have sprung a leak. One of our eagle-eyed correspondents sent in these photos yesterday. Looks like a rather large section of the roof has sprung a leak, so they deployed some tarpaulin tech to "handle the hell out of it".... Even though the majority of public at the DC org are NOI, they are not enough to make this org viable. No doubt, like all the other "ideal orgs", they are incapable of covering their expenses. As long as no water is gushing in, you can pretty … [Read more...]
More Ribbon Yankings
Yanking those ribbons has become a staple of scientology internal propaganda. Of course, though this is their proudest moment demonstrating their massive international expansion, no outsiders are ever allowed to attend and there is massive security presence to ensure they cannot. These are often timed to coincide with events -- either a few weeks before in order to include in the upcoming event, or shortly afterwards for the convenience of the Chairman of the Bored (as in Amsterdam, Birmingham and Ireland most recently). Now, with the March 13th standing-ovation-athon done and dusted (one … [Read more...]