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Look who’s running for re-election in Clearwater: Mark Bunker wants your support!

It’s Day One of Mark Bunker’s campaign for re-election, and we’re fortunate that he stopped by to spell out his platform!


 

 

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Technology Cocktail

“In early 1951 Mathison delivered the first pair of mains current meters he had made for me. They responded to body action but I could get no valuable mental response on the needle. Jim Elliot and I worked with them and came up with the idea that a bigger electrode was necessary. Jim took two soup tin cans, put battery (crocodile jaw) clips on the leads, and we found that only then could we make these meters work to the mind. The soup can made enough skin contact with the pc to let his thoughts register as well as his physical tone.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1961

 
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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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH

— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see

[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf

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— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman

 
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Source Code

“And by the way, anybody who had sexual relationships with a little boy ought to be killed! The idea! Horrible! Why that’s the most disgusting thought he’s ever heard. What? Sexual relationships with a little boy? Oh, no. Except in the DED you find him taking a little boy and driving the little boy up to sexual enthusiasm, up, up, up, up, up and the little boy just can’t give any more, and so forth, and on the last jolt of demand on the part of the thetan, the little boy who actually did have a thetan in him anyhow, goes PANG. And it goes straight down to 0.0. BzzzUm. And that’s why being a body is death of a body, is thetan into the body. That’s 0.0. Death of the body is being the body. And you’ll find him having his most enjoyable times thereafter as a little boy. He, he’s doing a super life continuum for this little boy. And this little boy bit the dust and was chewed up and spat out maybe 70, 60, 30 trillion years ago.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 23, 1952

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“COURTESY: Usually on Flag we are very polite to everyone. It is a standard of courtesy and an example we should work to maintain.” — The Commodore, September 23, 1970

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Overheard in the FreeZone

“I found studying remote viewing and the data they discover really helps me to understand hubbards philosophy, you really understand that time and the physical universe are not what it seems.”

 

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Past is Prologue

2000: Tory Christman reported that a Scientologist-owned restaurant in Clearwater attempted to refuse her service based on her being a former Scientologist. “I walked across Fort Harrison to a restaurant called Daniella’s. I walked in and stood by the counter. Suddenly the phone rang, and I heard what looked like the owner say ‘Blue top, white pants?’ I realized I was the only one in there in a blue top and white pants. As she skulked behind the wall, and whispered into the phone I realized this is a security issue. I left quickly, and went back across the street to LMT to get a back up. I got Karin Case and we returned and I ordered a salad. No sooner had I ordered than the same lady on the phone earlier came up to me from behind the counter. ‘Are you from across the street?’ I said ‘Yes’. She asked ‘What do you do there?’ I told her it was none of her business. She told me she was a Scientologist and was against what ‘they’ were doing and thus wasn’t going to serve me. I reminded her this was a PUBLIC business, and I had every intention of eating there. She said no, so I said ‘Well then call the police darlin,’ as THAT is Discrimination and is against the law. One of the workers got me my salad, as she looked on reluctantly.”

 
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Random Howdy

“How many Scientologists are left in the world who would stand up and say ‘I’m proud to be a Scientologist!’”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentencing on Sep 7.
‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

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Civil litigation:
Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, first hearing set for Dec 4.
Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through sentencing of Masterson on Sep 7. Next hearing set for Sept 26.
Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing Nov 6.
Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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] Scientology’s Flag Land Base lost money in 2020? We beg to differ.
[TWO years ago] Scientology donor and promoter, OT 8 Greg Winteregg, fails his postulate
[THREE years ago] Now that Scientology mega-donor Trish Duggan is famous, will the ditched-kid story blow up?
[FOUR years ago] Leah Remini mourns the estranged father who denounced her on behalf of Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s private cruise ship had a fitful history before becoming a floating cathedral
[SIX years ago] Director Paul Haggis pens an open letter to Marty Rathbun after Scientology’s latest smear
[SEVEN years ago] Beware, protesters: Scientology has been training attack dogs at a Clearwater warehouse
[EIGHT years ago] We’re in Cleveland today to talk about Scientology and you’re invited
[NINE years ago] David Miscavige, you’ve been served: Leader of Scientology will need to respond to NAFC suit
[TEN years ago] LEAH REMINI: Scientology Wants Me to Fail on Dancing With The Stars
[TWELVE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 4: Tom Cruise

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 3,161 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,676 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,226 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,216 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,097 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,401 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,272 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,377 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,824 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,166 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,732 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,651 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,818 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,400 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,661 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,697 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,413 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,977 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,292 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,467 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,018 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,149 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,487 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,342 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,461 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,817 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,120 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,226 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,624 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,500 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,065 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,578 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,832 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,941 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 23, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 

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