The new Freewinds hype video has arrived, and we knew you’d want to see it. It’s dope!
The Freewinds is Scientology’s private cruise ship that the church has been operating since 1988, and it’s been stuck in Aruba since the Covid lockdowns started in March 2020. That’s a long time to be stuck in one place, and our experts tell us that once a cruise ship has been sitting in one place that long, it would take a pretty big (and very expensive) effort to get it moving again.
That, combined with the ads we’ve been seeing encouraging Scientologists to essentially move to the Freewinds as their new home suggest to us that the barge has made its last cruise and will be stuck in port indefinitely.
So it’s really interesting to see that they’ve sent out a new hype video to Scientologists this week, and it features such wealthy whales as Tom Cummins and Jim Bridgeforth gushing about what a great place the Freewinds is.
We can’t help notice, however, that a lot of shots in this thing show the ship with land in the background, which they’ve been avoiding in previous promotions. What do you think, is this new video even more evidence that the Freewinds is finished sailing the high seas?
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Leah Remini podcast: Listener questions, part 6
Says Mike: “As always, we cover a lot of ground, though not nearly all the questions you have submitted. This time we try our best to answer questions about how many scientologists are left, why scientology is so “white,” should scientology celebrities be boycotted, the front groups of scientology, Applied Scholastics schools, Degraded Beings, Dilettantes and more. It’s a lot of stuff!” Listen to the episode right here!
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“Let’s take the smaller goal of what to eat. The person will sit down and look at a menu. What he himself wants to eat is very definitely modified by engrams concerning food, what he should eat and so on. You will find people who would become very upset indeed if you mentioned pickles and ice cream to them. ‘You can’t eat pickles and ice cream. It will make you sick.’ Actually pickles and ice cream mix, but there is a social aberration to the effect that they don’t. So he gets into a state of confusion. He has the goal of wanting to eat pickles and ice cream, but the engram says, ‘No, pickles and ice cream will make you sick,’ so he goes down the line and sees sauerbraten. Sauerbraten is one of those foreign foods, according to the engram in the bank, and ‘You shouldn’t eat this fancy foreign food stuff.’ He can get very confused on this whole line. He is trying to make a minor decision and his mind will go around, and finally rather unhappily he will say, ‘Bring me ham and eggs.’ He doesn’t want ham and eggs, but the engrams don’t forbid ham and eggs so he has got a compromise solution.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 6, 1950
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“Hey that Rockefeller sure got plastered in Latin America. His foundation finances these ‘National’ (which are private but only use the name) mental ‘health’ groups. He is some of the money back of attacks on us. Wish I knew what groups roughed up his visits to Latin America. They’re our pals! Our enemies don’t have very good luck lately.” — The Commodore, July 6, 1969
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“What is on my mind is getting OTs auditing. I consider it essential that every solo auditor on this planet should be auditing, because that is what it will take to change the planet’s condition around. Not every OT has the ability yet to audit the planet directly, but every step on the way helps…I just recently cognited that if a solo auditor isn’t auditing, his Ethics are out! Plain as the nose on my face, and why does Ethics exist, to get tech in! Why do we have to get tech in? Because it is the theta way, the theta approach to improving conditions on this planet…There are few that have the original Ron Hubbard’s ability to look. He did all that work of running implants, with all their commands and phrases in sequences. That is one heck of a lot of knowingness. We struggle, most of us, to keep up. So it is very essential that we don’t quit and rest on our laurels, we need to apply what we know.”
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1995: An affidavit was posted this week from the Paulette Cooper case. John McClean described a conversation he overheard between LRH and Mary Sue Hubbard. “On or about July 14 while standing on the quarter deck of the ship just outside L. Ron Hubbard’s dining lounge, I overheard a conversation between L. Ron Hubbard and his wife Mary Sue. This conversation dealt with one Paulette Cooper, the author of an anti-Scientology book, ‘The Scandal of Scientology’. Mary Sue was telling Ron of the fact that Paulette Cooper would be hit from all fronts with lawsuits from Scientology. Mary Sue stated that she felt that Paulette Cooper talked and wrote too much about Scientology. Mary Sue stated that she would totally destroy her credibility and that no publisher would ever touch her again, and resultantly, she would never get another book published. It was also stated by her Scientology would sue, and keep suing Paulette, until she broke.”
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“I went ‘exterior’ after I’d been up for four days on meth. I’m sure that was a genuine paranormal experience.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for August 9. Trial tentatively scheduled for early November.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference August 21 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: June 18 pretrial conference delayed until July 9.
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 to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology responded on June 25.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration.
— 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: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.
Concluded litigation:
— 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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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
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 BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. 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] Brian Statler’s sister reveals new details in shooting death at Scientology org
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ policy plays out in unbelievable scenes in a Florida hospital
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s homophobia and its disconnection policy — still producing refugees today
[FOUR years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology has a history of flip-floppers, including the founder’s son
[FIVE years ago] What happened when one of our readers got into a Scientology ‘Flag World Tour’ event
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s trophy problem: Did David Miscavige lie, or did the IAS?
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology finally starts making its members superheroes!
[EIGHT years ago] Best Account of Life in Scientology? Jon Atack Makes the Case for Counterfeit Dreams
[NINE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY CRUMBLING: An Entire Church Mission Defects as David Miscavige Faces Leadership Crisis
[TEN years ago] Out-of-Work Journalists: Want to do Scientology’s Dirty Work?
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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 2,353 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,858 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,378 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,398 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,289 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,596 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,464 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,238 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,568 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,042 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,358 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,924 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,843 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,011 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,592 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,853 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,891 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,604 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,129 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 484 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,659 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,210 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,359 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,679 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,534 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,653 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,009 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,312 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,418 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,820 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,692 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,275 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,770 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,024 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,133 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 6, 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
