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...]
Our 10th Anniversary
The first blog post on mikerindersblog.org was on 5 November 2009. It's been 10 years but it sure doesn't seem that long! It's been a lot of fun along the way. I have met many wonderful people here (and quite a number subsequently IRL which has been especially gratifying). Hopefully I have opened a window to discovering the truth about scientology for many. This blog would not have been possible without the support of many who have helped. While it is a labor of love (or perhaps passion) it IS labor and first my thanks to the many contributors who have provided content and … [Read more...]
The Aftermath Foundation Assists Sam Crabtree
The information below was provided by Aaron Smith-Levin, along with an interview video he did with Sam Crabtree. I knew both his parents in the Sea Org back in the day, his father Paul more than his mother Debbie, especially when he was the Cram Off RTC. The video is a long one, but fascinating. Sam is a second-generation Scientologist born into the Sea Org in 1983. His parents left the Sea Org when he was 6 years and raised Sam as a public Scientologist. After serving three more years in the Sea Org from age 17 to age 20 Sam moved to Clearwater to again be a public Scientologist. Sam … [Read more...]
The (Not Tom) Cruise Debrief and An Announcement
My apologies for being remiss. A few have asked how the vacation was as I made no mention of it here... It was amazing. I have waited to post this until we were ready with a special announcement. It's at the end of this short report on the cruise. We all had such a good time. A cruise is an excuse to eat and drink too much. Check. Do silly things -- like build a device to drop a raw egg 8 stories to the ship's atrium floor without it breaking -- we did! Visit interesting locations. Check. Do things we had never done before. Check. Spend time with friends (adults together while the 8 … [Read more...]
Chelsea Handler Coming to Scientology HQ
Chelsea Handler is coming to Clearwater as part of her comedy/book tour. I do not believe it is accidental that Clearwater is included among the list of cities she is visiting -- NY, LA, Houston, Miami, DC, Boston, Chicago, SFO, Seattle etc. All MAJOR markets and a couple of college towns (Madison WI, Durham NC) and then little old Clearwater... What could possibly be the reason? And at the Ruth Eckerd Hall, where earlier this month David Miscavige and Dan Sherman conducted the clapping seals for the annual L. Ron Hubbard Birthday Event as they have done every year since the … [Read more...]
The Aftermath Foundation
Many of you may have seen Aaron Smith-Levin's video posted on Tony Ortega's blog yesterday. If you missed it, here it is again: In response to the video a large number of people contacted The Foundation offering their assistance and making donations. The response was heart-warming and greatly appreciated. Scientology can try to prevent The Foundation from helping people leave scientology -- but they will never succeed. The members of the board of the foundation are not cowed by scientology in the least. We are aware of their dirty tricks. We anticipated there would be people sent in … [Read more...]
Clearwater PR – Xmas Carolers Surprise
Another Freudian slip. This is a couple of weeks old. Scientology put out a press release about their wonderful goodwill gesture of caroling for Christmas. Of course, scientology and Christianity have nothing to do with one another. Scientologists do NOT celebrate Christmas. Their Christmas is March 13, they hold a massive celebration (at least massive for them) to commemorate the birth of L. Ron Hubbard. It is the most important day on the scientology calendar. So, it is quite hypocritical for them to make themselves appear to be "Christian observant." But then Amber inadvertently … [Read more...]
Scientology Smears Ramina – Yawn
True to form, scientology had their brilliant "response" to tonight's episode up before it aired. Snatching the "high ground" their big takedown of Ramina is "we threw her out in 2016" and she is a "Total Fraud" because she "manufactured an exit from the Church." Hahaha It is almost doing Ramina a disservice to even pretend she needs a defense -- it's as if I might be giving some credence to scientology's insane "response". Once again, clearly they had not watched the show, so they prove to the world they truly are intelligence challenged robots. There is not a single person anywhere … [Read more...]
Jeff Carlson Talks About Elli Perkins
Something a bit different, but newsworthy and interesting. Aaron Smith-Levin has just interviewed Jeff Carlson, the former ED of Buffalo Org and son-in-law of Elli Perkins who was murdered by her son. Though there has been extensive media coverage about this murder and how scientology contributed to the tragedy, Jeff has not spoken publicly about it before now. He decided to speak after watching The Aftermath. Aaron provides an introduction to the video: On Scientology & the Aftermath, Mike and Leah have consistently expressed their desire to not attack the beliefs of Scientology … [Read more...]
Aaron Smith-Levin on Child Abuse
This is a new video from my good friend and Season 1 contributor Aaron Smith-Levin. Here is how he describes it: I discuss unreported physical child abuse within the Scientology organization, illustrated by a personal experience I recently remembered. When I was 15 years old (1996), while I was a full-time staff member at the Philadelphia Org, an adult public Scientologist knocked me unconscious with a punch to the head in the reception area of the org. Authorities never contacted. Charges never pressed. Details discussed. … [Read more...]