We always enjoy hearing from Wise Beard Man, our old friend Mark Bunker, who is a city councilman in the Scientology-besieged city of Clearwater, Florida.
He wanted us to know about a business there that has been sending him mail. At the least, it’s good for locals to know who is affiliated with the church, right?
And of course the surprising part is that there are Scientology doctors out there, which does seem pretty counterintuitive. When you think about how much Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard ran down medicos in his lectures, and claimed that Scientology could grow limbs, perfect eyesight, enhance IQ, and even raise the dead, you’d think an evidence-based practitioner might stay far away. Makes you wonder.
Anyway, here’s the message we got from Mark…
Spam email arrived today from the OT doctor who owns the Urgent Care Center a few blocks away from FLAG. I went there when I moved back to Clearwater in 2013 and saw several Sea Org members in the lobby waiting to be seen. As I was leaving, I was asked by the staff to write up my wins on a comment card which actually used that term. It was time to find a new clinic. I stlll get his emails filled with Scientology allusions.
And here’s the happy propaganda he received…
Wallace was featured in Freedom a few years ago, when the magazine was still publishing…
And on Scientology TV…
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Did you know you can get an email every morning when we post our daily Scientology story? We know some of the folks who come to the Underground Bunker aren’t here to talk about the politics of the day, and that’s why we created a daily politics feature over at our other blog, The Lowdown, and we ask readers to take their political discussions over there. And if you drop us a line at tonyo94 AT gmail, we’ll put you on the list so you get a morning reminder that a new Scientology story has been posted — and only for our Scientology stories.
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“Under this particular zone in Scientology right now, we have, oddly enough, culminated — and this is hard to believe, because it is such a wildly embracive figure — we have culminated in anything that was desirable in the fields of religion, mysticism, spiritualism, or mental sciences. Anything desirable in those particular fields have been discovered and culminated in the field of Scientology right now. That’s why I say it’s rather hard to believe, but you look at it, that’s true. So we do have valuable subject materials. Now, that job is complete. And so, number one of these, course management, as far as we’re concerned, on a Scientology course, that is complete. We’re even throwing away material now which would have been enough to have made a complete science and revolutionized middle Europe, you know, two hundred years ago.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 10, 1959
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“WOG WORLD: If you were puzzled about my ‘now in the WOG world’ jokes in yesterdays OOD — that was the way certain people were 3rd partying us. Making a horrible false impression between us and elsewhere. ‘Now in the Wog world — ” Or how great the beach is compared to the ship. At least we’re trying to get it to survive and that’s more than you can say for the ‘Wog World’.” — The Commodore, April 10, 1969
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““So this is what’s really going on in regards to the virus event. To fully understand it you need to understand that a cult basically runs planet Earth. Top evil dudes are in it. They are in communication with what you could call the dark side of the force, or the devil basically. Or evil gods is exactly what they are. These evil gods direct them telepathically (put ideas in their heads). These ideas involve encouraging them to turn Earth into some type of futuristic electronic 1984 sci fi movie. So right now we are being changed as a society into a new world that is a police state electronic 1984. To change the world into this new world it requires them to do fake pandemics. Otherwise without these events it would take way, way longer. So they create fake pandemics and fake school shootings in order to have excuses to bring in new changes…As L Ron Hubbard said ‘doing something is better than doing nothing.’ Therefore we fight, we resist, and we do not go into any lockdowns. Are you going to let this cult (called Illuminati, by the way) abuse the economy?”
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2000: Bob Minton reported on Scientology’s efforts in Nigeria to discredit his financial dealings with the former government. “The Secretary-General of OPEC, Rilwanu Lukman, a Nigerian Moslem AND a practicing Scientologist who has been in Scientology for at least 14 years is the conduit through which Scientology has had access to Senior Nigerian Government officials in their attempt to destroy my former partner Jeff Schmidt in order to have me stop my attempts to expose Scientology’s crimes. Lukman, a former Oil Minister in Nigeria and 2 term President of OPEC is in regular contact with Peter Franks the Scientology PI based in London. Peter Franks and David Lee are both in contact with John Fashanu, a former Nigerian and English soccer star who has confirmed spending over 1 million dollars investigating the debt buy-back activities of Nigeria. Fashanu has bought his information from Franks and Lee, the Scientology detectives. Fashanu seems to be the innocent pawn of Scientology and Lukman who is being used to divert attention from the role that Scientology and Lukman are playing in Nigeria.”
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“I wear shorts and combat boots to the beach. Who am I kidding, I never go to the beach even though I live right near it. It’s full of gangbangers, junkies, alkies and crackheads.”
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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 pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for April 8.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Next hearing scheduled for June 29.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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] Recent Scientology defector: ‘I did the Purif with SNL’s Chloe Fineman’
[TWO years ago] Eleventh Circuit will hear oral arguments in key Scientology ‘religious arbitration’ case
[THREE years ago] LEAKED: Scientology’s secret playbook for world domination!
[FOUR years ago] Before Scientology was a ‘church,’ L. Ron Hubbard said religion controlled people with lies
[FIVE years ago] Why Scientology’s Erika Christensen can play a Christian convert on the big screen
[SIX years ago] Spider-Man goes drug-free for Scientology, and more in our weekly social media review!
[SEVEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s Navy record: Chris Owen critiques the ‘Business Insider’ story
[EIGHT years ago] Is a Scientology front group among those fighting a European effort against ‘sects’?
[NINE years ago] Brit Writer’s 27 Years in Scientology is Suddenly News in France — Our Man in Paris Explains Why
[TEN years ago] Is Lisa Marie Presley Telling Off Scientology in a Song?
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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 2,630 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,135 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,655 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,675 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,566 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,873 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,741 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,515 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,846 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,319 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,635 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,201 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,120 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,288 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,868 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,130 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,166 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,881 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,406 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 761 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,936 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,487 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,636 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,956 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,811 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,930 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,286 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,589 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,695 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,093 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,969 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,552 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,047 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,301 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,410 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 10, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
