It’s time again for Rod Keller’s Scientology Social Media Review. He’s made a specialty of hunting down the odd and wonderful things Scientologists post to the ‘net. He’s a chronicler who piece by piece builds a highly detailed assessment of what Scientology is doing around the world, and this is what he found for us this week…
Scientology followed its dramatic Hollywood Boulevard book launch last week with promotions at individual Barnes & Noble bookstores yesterday. Phil Jones, of “Call Me” billboard fame, showed up at one store, where a life-sized cutout of Terl, the book’s villain, invited people to purchase the 34-year-old novel.
In 1990, as part of its landmark series about Scientology, Los Angeles Times reporters Joel Sappell and Robert Welkos revealed that the church had relied on individual members to buy books by the armful in order to get Hubbard’s works on New York Times bestsellers lists. More than 25 years later, the strategy is apparently the same, but with social media, Scientology is much more open about what they’re doing…
This week the Euro 2016 football tournament is being held at various locations in France. Scientologists have been distributing anti-drug literature from the Foundation for a Drug-Free World at a number of matches. Below, at Stade Velodrome in Marseille for France vs. Albania…
At Stade Geo-Andre in Paris for Romania vs. Switzerland…
At Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris for Croatia vs. Turkey…
At Stade de France in Saint-Denis for Ireland vs. Sweden…
At Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, in Saint-Etienne for England vs. Slovakia…
This is the first promotional piece for the planned Ideal Org in Caracas, Venezuela. The location of this building is not yet being publicized.
Scientologists including Amy Newman, Andrea Grubbs, Pat Seegmiller, Joanne Baker, Tina Yarolem and Elaine Havel plan to open a new Scientology mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The group includes members active at Narconon Arrowhead and the Wichita, Kansas mission.
Chick Corea poses with Freewinds musician Matt Lorentzen during the Maiden Voyage festivities aboard the ship last week. Corea celebrated his 75th birthday during the event.
Scientologists Patrick Clouden and Lynn Posyton (right) have launched a new front group in Clearwater, Florida – the Concerned Businessman’s Association of Tampa Bay. The group’s first project duplicates the pair’s work for the Foundation for a Drug-Free World.
Scientologist DeeDee O’Malley is a regular on stage at the Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood. She has released a new song on Soundcloud.com entitled Feel Everything, about patients who stop taking their prescribed antidepressants.
This is a very special song for anyone out there who has stopped taking anti-depressants prescribed by a psychiatrist. I admire anyone who has walked away from this. I know that it isn’t easy and if you have done it successfully, I am proud of you. This song is for you!
From the lyrics:
One more dose comatose
I am not a body you can diagnose
I am strong I am free
There’s so much more to me than what you see
This promotional photo for Narconon Latinamerica claims that they can cure addiction in two weeks “4 Life.”
Scientologists Bernard and Meghan Fialkoff rode with the current Miss New York in National Latino Officers Association “For a Drug-Free World” float in the Puerto Rico Day parade this week in New York City, along with the new Miss New York, Camille Sims.
Scientology has rented this billboard in Yekaterinburg, Russia to promote the book Dianetics. The mission in that city is promoting “500 OT-7,” a movement to get 500 Russian-speaking Scientologists past OT-7 at some point. They served OT-7 cake following the event.
Orgs and missions have been competing this year to sell more copies of Dianetics and other books than the other orgs and missions. Without knowing the points system, we can only tell where each sits relative to the others. Kaosiung org and Hsi-An mission in Taiwan lead the pack, leading to ANZO being the top ranked Continent.
Somebody must be smoking dope.
— Rod Keller
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A note from Astra Woodcraft
Dear Tony,
We received the most amazing news that Kate won 1st place in the Wyzant scholarship competition, winning $10,000 for college! Thank you so much for sharing the story in May. With your help she was propelled into the top 10 out of over 8,000 entries and therefore into the final found of the contest. We are so incredibly grateful to you and to all of your subscribers for their support. So many people voted and shared the link and it was so great to have so many people offer their support. Thanks again.
Astra Woodcraft
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Phil and Willie are so close!
Phil and Willie Jones are so close to raising the money for a Clearwater “Call Me” billboard, they tell us they’re going to go ahead and make the billboard happen, even if it means using their own money to reach their goal.
Here’s your chance to help them get over the finish line so the Clearwater area can get a taste of the media frenzy that happened when they revealed their billboard in Los Angeles in April.
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A tribute to Captain Howdy
Although she’s been scarce around these parts lately, former Scientologist and commenter TheHoleDoesNotExist — who gave this sorry excuse for a website its uplifting official anthem — has composed a sendoff for Steven L. “Captain Howdy” Cox, the beloved former member of the Bunker who is remembered in the name of our recently ended meetup, HowdyCon.
Come on back, Hole!
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 19, 2016 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. 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
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | 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 | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | 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
