Our source is back with another dive into Scientology social media, and hey, let’s get caught up on the latest wins and gains!
We’ll start in Sydney at AO ANZO, where lucky Melva learned that she could stay and drive away more of her body thetans on OT 5 rather than go home to Covid-free New Zealand! Hip, hip, hooray!
In case you were wondering, here’s Fabian, who is running the boutique Narconon out of what was Larry Hagman’s estate in Ojai, California.
After 40 years, Joanna finishes her Student Hat!
Erica Hubbard. Interesting name!
Amrapali has dumped a boatload of cash at Flag this year, whew.
Dublin pulls in a Coloradan!
The Freewinds hasn’t left dock in months, but you can still go!
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“Our problem at this time probably doesn’t have anything to do with making anybody better. Our problem, probably from here on out, is a problem of another hue and color. It is probably ‘Now having cracked the confounded thing, how do we keep this universe here?’ That’s probably a much more interesting problem.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 31, 1957
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“It is of interest to Scientologists that the clamor raised over the years by Smersh about me and all the hard names called have not even faintly affected my membership in various and numerous high level associations and scientific societies and clubs. The list of these are quite long and all of them are a big ‘high and mighty’ in the arts, sciences and social stratas. I was just looking at my influx of magazines and notices of meetings and it struck me as rather funny that the highest of our detractors would give his back molars to be accepted into some of these groups. I also hadn’t realized the list was so long. Most of them black ball first and think about it afterwards. Yet for twenty years they have been very serene. So don’t get into the notion that the ‘power of the press’ has any real bearing on the world. According to this testimony of personal repute, the opposition might as well have spent their time yelling into a well. Thought it would be of some interest to you. US and UK press and TV have been quite favorable lately. So year by year the stats rise and reputation grows. And during all this time my own personal repute has remained very high in the places that matter. In the long view we are doing a very good job. Our only complaint is that we could do better and do it faster. But remember, it IS getting done.” — The Commodore, January 31, 1971
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“In 2007 I had just turned 50 and I decided it was time to get up the Bridge. I knew the church was broken and to be of no value, so I began researching the Freezone. I found some auditors to join, paid them and had one auditor just leave the state, so I had to find another. I was Clear at the time so I got onto the Solo course, started the OT levels and the NED course. OT III sessions were pretty short so I was auditing three sessions a day. I had to fire my C/S for tech violations and putting stops on my lines. I found a new C/S and kept moving up the original grade chart. After OT VII I moved to Nevada to be near the auditor I had chosen to audit me. I did the L’s, then Solo Nots in Nevada, then moved back to California. From Clear to OT III was pretty difficult, bodies being such an impediment, but after that finding jobs was much easier, then the L’s really improved my ability to find work. Back in California I went on up the CBR Bridge and finished that a couple years later. All in all, I spent $10,000 each year for eight years or $80,000, a mere pittance compared to the abilities gained. I fired C/Ss and auditors that did not measure up or put stops on my lines. I took vacations to go to auditors as needed. Basically, I did whatever was necessary to get up the Bridge. It is not an easy path or quick but the rewards cannot be imagined.”
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2001: The St. Petersburg Times reported that Scientology has been identified as the owner of an apartment complex adjacent to the Hacienda Gardens, in which many Sea Org staff are housed. “The Church of Scientology has purchased a 120-unit apartment complex just north of its sprawling Hacienda Gardens staff housing on Saturn Avenue. Few people have heard about the church’s $4-million purchase of Sherwood Gardens Apartments in 1999 — the church bought it under a corporate name. No Scientology staff members live there now, but church spokesman Ben Shaw said Sherwood Gardens was purchased with an eye to the future. In coming years, the Church of Scientology plans to nearly double the number of staff members in Clearwater when the massive ‘Super Power’ building is completed downtown. When the church’s expansion is complete, the Clearwater staff will go from its existing 1,300 to at least 2,000 — and those additional 700 people will need somewhere to live. ‘That’s why Sherwood was gotten, as a stopgap for the future,’ said church spokesman Ben Shaw. ‘We wanted to make sure we had something.’ Shaw said most of the church’s existing housing in Clearwater, including Hacienda Gardens, already is full.”
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“My father didn’t even want to go to Korea. He considered himself a socialist and he had already served in WWII and he had this incredibly cush job as Chief Steward on a luxury liner The Lorlene that sailed from S.F to Hawaii, so when he got his draft notice he threw it in the trash. They came aboard the ship and arrested him, sent him to the stockade for a few months and asked him if he wanted to stay there for the next 10 years or go to Korea. He went to Korea, became a tank sergeant and won a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart…and he killed a Chinese soldier with his bayonet. That’s the thing he really brought home.”
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology’s 2020 Super Bowl ad is just like all the others: A mystery sandwich
[TWO years ago] Former members of the Lisa McPherson Trust reflect on Tuesday’s ‘Aftermath’ episode
[THREE years ago] A mini-trove of early Scientology materials has some gems for us today
[FOUR years ago] For 30 grand or so, Scientology will let you into its shrine to L. Ron Hubbard. Here’s a peek.
[FIVE years ago] Scientology attorney Bert Deixler writes a threat letter to Karen de la Carriere over TV show
[SIX years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s elusive ‘Clears’ and ‘Operating Thetans’ — where have they been?
[SEVEN years ago] Leah Remini is still thumbing her nose at Scientology leader David Miscavige
[EIGHT years ago] Ursula Caberta Retiring: Her Thoughts On Fighting Scientology in Germany for 20 Years
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sues Debbie Cook Over Her New Year’s Eve E-Mail
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,198 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,702 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,222 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,242 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,133 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,440 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,308 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,082 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,886 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,202 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,768 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,687 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,855 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,436 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,697 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,735 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,448 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,973 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 328 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,503 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,054 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,203 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,523 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,378 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,497 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,853 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,156 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,262 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,664 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,536 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,119 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,614 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,868 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,977 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 31, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | Shelly Miscavige, 15 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 | 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
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
