Observer, I’d like to learn how to shoop. I have photoshop at work but think I’d better do it from home. Luckily, I work in a library with a digital media center that will help me with any program I pick, but do you have a recommendation for any free, web-based photo-editing software? Or helpful tutorials? Gracias for any suggestions.

Hey Bunkerites! How y’all doing?

SAG/AFTRA is not a creative union that I belong to but I’m a card carrying member of three other unions in the entertainment business and I do know that each of my unions’ magazine’s advertising/sales departments aren’t always 100% in sync with the membership or their desires. I can see this being an honest mistake by some well-meaning person in sales who saw a nice fee coming, not taking into consideration the bigger picture.

Either that, or there’s a hidden Scientologist in the SAG/AFTRA magazine sales department…who obviously isn’t so hidden anymore, if that’s the case…

Tony, you said it perfectly here:

” There was a time when you would hear that Scientology was “powerful” in Hollywood. But no more. As we pointed out earlier, the actors who make up Scientology’s most well known “celebrities” are pretty much the same list they’ve had for the past 20 years. And there’s more and more anecdotal evidence that Scientology just isn’t feared in the cinematic arts as it once might have been.”

Right on the nose. 10 or more years ago this would NOT be happening. No one would dare be that outspoken against the cult, particularly not using his/her own name. That’s a fact. I think the last time I wrote about this, I shared my personal observations that the fear factor seemed to be almost altogether gone, and Scientology was unmistakably unpopular amongst industry folk, Yet from what I could tell, it still was considered dicey – or at least, not too wise – to openly trash them. The general consensus seemed to be, avoid Scientology, don’t cow to it, but don’t speak ill of it – at least, not publicly. Not PC, or something.

Now, Stolte’s great letter shows that times are changing even faster than we ever imagined – he’s made it clear that it’s more than OK to criticize Scientology publicly – these days, you’re far more than likely to get an army of like-minded folks piling onto your bandwagon than you are to get your pets drowned in the pool. This is AMAZING news – it shows that the invisible sword that Scientology held over Hollywood’s head has proven to be a plastic butter knife.

I’d say this also speaks to Tom Cruise’s lowered value in the industry as well. He’s still got clout, sure, but his own union clearly isn’t afraid of pissing him off anymore, which shows you his circle of power is shrinking (despite his still robust Asian box office value.) Tick Tock, Tom. If you want to stay a movie star with a movie star’s legacy, you really want to start seriously considering throwing Davey under the bus.

Great story, great reporting. I’ve been lurking and skimming lately but preoccupied with my own drama. Love and miss everyone! xo

Voted. Go Roslyn!

Yeah, I had a lot of free time and my own checking account as a kid, so one day I pretty much ordered everything off that back page, from Charles Atlas’ dynamic tension, the Sea Monkeys (no crowns, no castle or scepters, just dirtily, floating brine shrimp) I did make a little hovercraft with a lawn-mower engine, but it was pretty pathetic, and I made mother, better one later…

Half of the joy was simply wearing the glasses around and letting girls THINK that I could see things.. Much more amusing…

The Abbreviator…

The Inch-Worm..

The Poker..

Small Fry..

The Tom Cruiser…

for my personal fave:

“The Short-Orderer”

What she clearly fails to understand @media_lush:disqus , is that it isn’t so much that we underestiamte those standing next to her at the beach, but that they are eclipsed by her girth, hidden in he shadow, or crushed underneath her refreshment cooler or simply underneath her, period.

One wonders if they did the same thing with Miscavige if the name of the suit would be ‘Hustler v. Hustler’…

Huh? No way mama! Where’d you infer that from?