The obvious answer of course is "empty buildings," but I found the background of this shot interesting. These days, buying statuses in the IAS and "Ideal Org Program" has become the new "thing" - status in scientology used to be measured by OT level gained and before that by auditor training level. There has always been a heavy emphasis on attaining perceived superiority since the first days of Dianetics. These days status in scientology is attained through money, not training and auditing. The goofiness of stuff that passes for status in scientology is sometimes hard to fathom -- the … [Read more...]
The Feshbach Brothers
I was either unaware, or had forgotten, that there is a 4th Feshbach brother. A reader sent me a note that about this and I was surprised. The 3 (in)famous scientologists, Joe (now deceased), Matt and Kurt used to be mainstays of the scientology whale pod of wealthy contributors to all causes. They have faded into the background today. As I said, Joe passed away and his wife Cindy moved to Austin (their daughter, Jessica was Katie Holmes' handler and formerly married to Tommy Davis). Matt and Kathy came out second best in their battle with the IRS over $3.8 million in … [Read more...]
Give Us Your Money for Christmas
Scientology, in the "spirit of Christmas" wants you to give them money for a building in Puerto Rico. "This is our chance to give an incredible Christmas gift..." So typically scientology that "our gift" is for you to hand over your money... Two public people are "hosting" what they call the "Ideal Miracle Event" in Flag's restaurant. The Old Man is spinning in his grave thinking about "FCCI's" doing events in Sea Org buildings. The best bit about this is LRH quote. Such incredible arrogance: "We are the protectors of the real tradition of Christmas..." -- that "real … [Read more...]
Photos and Videos
I have noted many times that the "humanitarian" and "4D campaigns" engaged in by scientology are simply photo and video opportunities that are then used for fundraising pitches. It's a repeated pattern that permeates all aspects of scientology. Staged events for video footage. Even inside the orgs we have routinely seen announcements for people to "come on course because SMP will be here filming," or "we need people to gather on the street in front of the org for an SMP shoot." But the Volunteer Ministers/Drug Free World/Youth For Human Rights/Way to Happiness activities are the ultimate … [Read more...]
Scientology Refunds and Repayments: We Don’t Do That Any More
Recently, a letter from the "Claims Verification Board" came to my attention. In it they state: "It has always been church policy that anyone requesting a refund/repayment must do so within 3 months" -- so of course, they denied the request for return of funds (as they ALWAYS do). This is NOT in fact even what "church policy" says. Let's go through what L. Ron Hubbard said "church policy" is with respect to giving dissatisfied customers their money back (remember, the entire Victorian Inquiry came about because Hubbard refused to return a small amount of money to one … [Read more...]
First Ideal School?? WTF?
First it was orgs, and Miscavige reinterpreted the Hubbard PL on "Ideal Orgs" to be a large, renovated building. Of course, there is nothing about this in the policy letter. Then it was Missions who were supposed to be "ideal." That Mission in San Francisco that Jenna Elfman opened was the first one I think. Or maybe it was the one Lisa Marie and Isaac Hayes did in Memphis? Or Kirstie's in Wichita? All of these are empty shells today. There have been a few others since then, but generally the Mission network of scientology has continued to shrink despite Miscavige's infamous … [Read more...]
This is NOT a Fundraising Event
Sure... whatever you say. We will call it "donations" and then it won't be "fundraising"... Or a book drive. Or a call for "volunteers"... You can be sure they asked for SOMETHING. There is no such thing as a "briefing," in Scientology (especially when they are providing "refreshments") that doesn't have a heavy-handed "ask." The fact that this statement needs to be made is so telling about the state of scientology today. It has truly become the Vulture Culture. They circle endlessly and everywhere within the bubble. On another note. I got the first copies of the printed … [Read more...]
The Arte Maren A Thon
You can check out his video here. It's heavy scienospeak -- his birthday is to "celebrate my identity in this body, the name on this body"... And he goes on from there claiming he is going to relate some of his personal experiences with L. Ron Hubbard (not including mentioning I am sure that L. Ron Hubbard considered him and the other people in the GO to be treasonous bastards who had tried to take him down). Credit where it's due though, Arte looks pretty damn good for 80... His event is pretty strange. Just trying to rekindle his glory days with himself as the center of attention it … [Read more...]
No Surprise — The Ukraine Fundraising Pitch is Underway
As predicted by Regraded Being yesterday, the "give us your money to save Ukraine" bleating has begun. You can expect the volume of demands for money to increase as the situation escalates and there are more images of bombs dropping and people's lives being devastated. What is so insane is the idea that putting books in libraries in Ukraine is going to do ANYTHING about the country being invaded. If these books actually had ANY impact (which they don't) they should be being placed in the library of the Kremlin -- the people of Ukraine are victims of the aggression of Russia. Unless they … [Read more...]
Hubbard Hall HooHa
Apparently when all the regges were busted as a result of the Chase Wave, Lauri Webster survived (though we have not heard from her for some time, so maybe she too was off cleaning dumpsters with a toothbrush too for a while)... Certainly, the CSRT regges were not more ethical than any of the other scientology vultures desperate to vacuum bank accounts clean before Thursday at 2. Whatever, she is back, pitching for money for the idiotic Hubbard Hall. This must be the most bizarre fundraising spiel in the history of scientology. Even the Frazetta prints and "signed" leatherbound books had … [Read more...]