Our thanks to the tipster who found this little gem. Scientology’s in-house hip hop ambassador, Norman Berry a/k/a Chill EB, makes a Sea Org member’s day by showing up, with singer Stacy Francis, to wish her a happy birthday.
We’ve written extensively about Chill, who seemed confused by our interest in him. We just think he’s a fascinating story, and we’ve enjoyed some of the songs he’s written as Scientology’s home rapper.
Stacy Francis, meanwhile, is also someone we’ve looked at over the years. We always enjoy it when she claims no connection with Scientology, especially when she shows up in a video like this. Anyway, we look forward to all of your observations about this video and the glimpse it gives of the Sea Org today…
How did one lowly Sea Org member get such treatment? Well, Amber’s sister Willow happens to run the talent agency that represents both Chill EB and Stacy Francis (as well as such other Scientology performers as David Pomeranz). Isn’t that heartwarming?
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More details on the trouble for the Ideal Org in Basel
Our man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, has more details now from the investigation of Basel’s new Ideal Org…
A Catholic website (Cath.ch) followed up on Friday’s reports of the Basel city authorities checking on Scientologists working at the org there.
Their report on Saturday said that officials from Basel’s Office for Economy and Labour (AWA) were checking the status of 40 Scientologists working in the city.
Scientology had not declared the presence of some of the employees there and was not paying their social security payments, the Catholic website confirmed.
AWA chief Hansjürg Dolder said that they had not come across any serious violations of the rights of foreign workers. But they were continuing their investigation to see if the failure to declare some workers had been an oversight or a systematic practice, and to establish how many people were involved.
Scientology in Switzerland told the Swiss news agency ATS that it declared all its employees and paid their social security, while adding that it was ready to work with the AWA to settle any issues that arose from its investigation in a timely fashion.
Cath.ch offered some interesting background: The AWA had previously authorized Scientology to sell its products on a Sunday (presumably many commercial activites are forbidden on a Sunday in Switzerland, as they are here in France).
Scientology also benefits from exemptions from the local labor laws in Basel as do some 150 churches in the canton.
Last April, wrote Cath.ch, a number of churches objected to Scientology claiming the title of church, “…given that, according to western understanding, this term is reserved to the community of believers in Jesus Christ, the son of God and saviour of the world.”
— Jonny Jacobsen
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Bonus photos from our tipsters
Continuing on with the celebrations in Scientology land, here’s Alfreddie Johnson’s son Rizza Islam showing off his Purification Rundown cert…
…and a birthday celebration in Portland…
Let’s play, where’s Pomeranz!
Hey, we didn’t know that Curaçao gave the Freewinds its own monument.
Here’s a fun photo we haven’t seen. It was posted by a Scientologist who didn’t indicate the year or location. Can someone help us place L. Ron Hubbard at this wedding?
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BOOK NOTES
We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.
Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…
August 24: Boston, Boston Skeptics in the Pub, Hong Kong restaurant (1238 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge) 7 pm (with Gregg Housh)
Sept 15: Barrett the Honors College, Arizona State University, ASU in Downtown Phoenix campus, Walter Cronkite Theater, 5:30 pm
Sept 23: Cleveland, Parma Heights Library, 7pm sponsored by Center for Inquiry – Northeast Ohio
Sept 24: Minneapolis
Sept 27: Portland, Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave, 12:45 pm, sponsored by Humanists of Portland
Sept 28: Seattle, Razzi’s Pizzeria, 7 pm, with Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists
Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm
Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)
Oct 25: Melbourne
Oct 28: Adelaide (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)
Oct 30: Perth
Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29), London (8/4)
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 23, 2015 at 07:00
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Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer
The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
