I have written a number of articles concerning the scientology’s Fair Game doctrine and practice. L. Ron Hubbard proclaimed those designated as "enemies" of scientology should be destroyed. It is a literal admonition to lie, trick, frame, smear, harass anyone scientology does not like. In scientology, the words of L. Ron Hubbard are the words of God -- they are to be taken literally and it is deemed a "crime" in scientology to alter, deviate from or seek to interpret his words. They are not seen as parables, allegories or things to be interpreted, they are to be followed to the letter, … [Read more...]
Curious About Scientology TV Rankings?
There is some mystery surrounding how many people watch scientologyTV. Of course, there are no numbers available from normal audience tracking services as they are not selling ads, so they're not subscribing. It's convenient, as no doubt the numbers would be appalling. But two things make this of interest. They are spending a LOT of money to promote their "TV channel" with ads on the Super Bowl and Grammies and billboards plugging it (it is literally the ONLY thing the ad tells people to do -- visit scientology.tv). Every one of the thousands of remaining scientologist on earth are … [Read more...]
The Aftermath — An Update
This is an attempt to quell some of the rumors and erroneous speculation swirling about The Aftermath. Though I am not in a position to know everything about decisions that are made outside my control (or Leah’s), I do have some insight – more than most who may claim to have “heard rumors,” rely on anonymous sources or merely speculate because they have a keyboard on which they can type. First, and most important for me, I want to dispel the lies that have been circulated (most likely by scientology) that episodes or the show as a whole are in peril because of Leah Remini’s … [Read more...]
“Freedom” Rag “Responds” to 60 Minutes
In its inimitable and oh so predictable style, Freedom has responded to the 60 Minutes Australia piece. In a surprise to absolutely nobody, they lashed out at their dirty laundry being exposed once again not by responding to the facts, but attempting to smear the reporter, complete with the most unflattering photo they could find/doctor. Their entire "defense" is to rehash a story from 2016 concerning correspondent Tara Brown and her film crew. They were arrested in Lebanon on charges of "attempted kidnapping" for their coverage of a story of a woman trying to get her 2 … [Read more...]
Scientology Missions: Going, Going, Gone…
Since 1982, when Hubbard wrote that directive, the number of missions in scientology has been steadily DECREASING. In 1982 there were about 150 orgs -- the same number as today (despite the "massive international expansion"). I have commented on this a number of times. Yet, at no time in scientology history has there ever been anything CLOSE to 1500 missions (10 per org). Today there are less than 400 with a large percentage of them nowhere near an org -- off in the wilds of central and eastern Russia and other former soviet bloc countries. Hell, not only are there dozens of states … [Read more...]
What If You Threw a Party and Nobody Came?
Scientology tries to be "part of the community" by holding "block parties" in downtown Clearwater each quarter. They held their latest one yesterday. Here are some shots -- and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words: This is a pretty accurate reflection of how much the community supports scientology in Clearwater. There were more people for an impromptu gathering at the Lucky Anchor pub with a few alumni from the Aftermath. And where are the 12,000 scientologists in the Tampa Bay area they claim to have? 11,965 of them were too busy to show … [Read more...]
Scientology and the Clearwater Police Department
Clearwater Police Chief Slaughter took the unusual step of making a YouTube video in response to The Aftermath episode which recounted the "Park Incident" with Mark Bunker. This was then published on the OpEd page of the Tampa Bay Times. Below is the full message from Chief Slaughter so everyone has complete context. Then some of my thoughts following this: For years the Clearwater Police Department has been thrust into the middle of a debate between a controversial religion and its critics, without a voice in the matter. We feel it important to publish some facts of our own to … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Holocaust Hypocrisy
The OSA fake outrage website has hit a new low. While they hand out their "human rights" awards to one of the most reviled anti-semites in the US, they have the nerve to pretend they are "Standing With Jews Everywhere"... Hey OSA, this is your idea of "standing with Jews"? Palling around with Tony Mohammed, Louis Farrakhan's sidekick and apologist, with the Nazi hate propaganda on his promotional posters? In fact, you gave this guy your highest award... a Freedom Medal like you gave Tom Cruise. And you feature him on your ScientologyTV propaganda channel with his own … [Read more...]
Clearwater and How Scientology Buys Influence
A few nights ago, the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce held their annual gala. You might be surprised to learn that scientology is one of its sponsors. But you might not be surprised to learn that the outgoing Chair of the Chamber, Katie Cole is a prominent local attorney who represents scientology. In fact, she is the protege of Ed Armstrong, a local legend in the real estate/zoning law practice who has represented scientology's interests since I first hired him in the early 90's (I guess it was?). This is scientology "safepointing" 101. Find a well connected … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Riverside County Schmoozing
Scientology's international headquarters, and the center of so much of the physical abuses, mental torture and human trafficking over the years, sits in the center of Riverside County CA. Yet, in all this time, no government agency has done anything to curtail the abuses that have been occurring under their noses. Not the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, nor the District Attorney's Office nor the Adult Protective Services. Nobody. Meanwhile, scientology seeks to influence officials in Riverside. Tony Ortega wrote an article about this just prior to the election in November … [Read more...]