Are you ready, Chicago? Scientology is itching to open its new Ideal Org downtown, which has been delayed because of the pandemic, and a new video sent out yesterday to members suggests that the grand opening is just around the corner.
Compared to some other hype videos Scientology has put out lately, this one is a cut above in production quality, and much longer than most. But eventually you get to that chewy center that we love so much, the shots of Scientologists at fundraisers forking over everything so their city can go Ideal!
One of the most telling shots in this video was the moment when they reveal how excited they are that their new downtown location is right next door to some college dorms. Fresh meat!
We’d like to hear from our Chicago readers: How excited are you that you’re finally getting an Ideal Org after years and years of waiting?
Meanwhile, the Austin org keeps sending out emails like this, which also went out this week.
With Chicago and Austin both begging for staff, which will get their grand opening first? The suspense is killing us!
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“There are actually hundreds of prison systems. And yet they have hung themselves with the one which they found was the least rehabilitative, the least workable and produced the most crime….I’m not even standing up for another system. Frankly, if you just erected a big stockade someplace or another and told the fellows to go in there for a while, and we didn’t care who they took with us, we’d probably, you know, have a better system. If the Scientologist were to go about this — I already figured this out for the federal prisons of the United States. The head of all federal prisons in the United States has required Dianetics to be read, by the way, by all his wardens. And I worked out a system for him. Too much work for me to put into effect and so never went into effect. We are not without friends or connections or influence, in spite of the fact that some two-bit-some drug addicts, the Federal Drug Addicts, are after us, because they’re actually not under the government, they’re under the AMA.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 3, 1963
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“COMMEND: The Qual Div and Quentin as Auditor and R. Lindsell are commended for the work on an Aides Auditing Project. This project series was very well done and entirely flubless as is usual with Quentin’s auditing. Liese and Tommy both did one each of the project and these were also very well done. Qual is very upstat.” — The Commodore, September 3, 1970
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“Was the replacement LRH also a spiritual genius? Of course not. He was a wog with a crash course in Scientology during the ’10 missing months,’ so that at least he knows the lingo and can get out of every difficult situation with sentences like ‘put your query into writing and put it on the correct lines.’ Or ‘please clear up your MUs’ or ‘first get in your ruds in auditing’… or other such excuses not to communicate. The geniuses worked in ‘the back office.’ There must have been a Scientology Think Tank at Langley (CIA) to develop all the sophisticated revisions of the tech to castrate it. Look at the amazing tech of ‘Repair past ethics conditions’ (1980s), which leads you to self-auditing on the whole track into implants and makes you sick.”
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1998: Bob Minton reported harassment, pickets and letters from Scientology this week, with PIs following him in various cities. “Another letter to Therese arrived on Friday, again asking for a meeting so scientology could attempt to further divide Therese and me – perhaps even turn her into another Rosa Erlich. But Therese did not and will not bite that poison apple, Rinder. Today Scientology picketed and passed out flyers in front of my former home on Beacon Hill in Boston to friends, neighbors, and parents of my children’s classmates, so that information about the break-up of their parents’ marriage – and who should be blamed for it – was there for all to see, even my 10- and 12-year-old daughters. As Scientology has stalked Therese and the girls to Europe, followed the kids to a neighbor’s house and stalked me all over the US-it certainly was no surprise to Scientology that Therese and the girls were in New Hampshire this morning. Scientology picketers showed up there for the little girls to see. My son Rob, who was mentioned on the Dateline show, seems to be working in some capacity for Scientology – along with his mother – to discredit me in media circles. It is a concerted effort. Further, he is trying to help turn Therese against me – only to be told by Therese never to contact her again.”
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“Owls get spontaneous spasmodic upvotes from me, always.”
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for November 10. Trial tentatively scheduled for February.
— 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 October 7 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Sept 9.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30, 2020 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. Oral arguments scheduled for Oct 5.
— 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 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27.
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] After arrest, Scientologist chiro Dennis Nobbe in even more trouble for contacting witnesses
[TWO years ago] The donors keeping Scientology afloat in 2019: Today, part one, the lesser whales
[THREE years ago] Scientology rehabs are hiring — if you don’t care about money or a decent place to live
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s slick (and bogus) drug education program snares another school district
[FIVE years ago] Dan Koon, co-writer of Scientology tell-all ‘Ruthless,’ on his days with L. Ron Hubbard
[SIX years ago] It’s a video extravaganza as three former members tell us about life inside Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Nancy Cartwright puts out the creepiest Scientology advertisement of all time
[EIGHT years ago] Making the Grade: Scientology Prepares Us for the Future
[TEN years ago] Ex-Scientology Executive Marty Rathbun Headed to Germany This Week
[ELEVEN years ago] Another Ex-Scientologist Publishes Damning Tell-All
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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 2,412 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,917 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,437 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,457 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,348 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,655 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,523 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,297 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,627 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,101 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,417 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,983 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,902 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,070 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,651 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,912 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,950 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,663 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,188 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 543 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,718 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,269 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,418 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,738 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,593 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,712 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,068 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,371 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,477 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,875 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,751 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,334 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,829 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,083 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,192 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 3, 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
