TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“I’ve been doing some research lately. That’s mostly what I have been doing. And while this is not the main line of research I thought 1 might mention it in passing. Something like four centuries ago Man’s diet began to undergo a radical change. What he ate before that was European, Asian. Whole grain barley, various proteins, various wheats and other foods were not necessarily abundant but they made up a radically different diet than modern Man consumes. With the discovery of the New World, for the first time there was an abundance of SUGAR. Up until then sugar came from a few scarce plants and beehives and was far too expensive for any broad general consumption. But the wealth of the West Indies was not really gold. It was the product of the sugar cane: BROWN AND WHITE SUGAR. Also the Americas gave the world many new plants such as maize (the African’s “mealy meal”), the potato and other carbohydrates and today a startlingly large amount of the European and African diet consists of plants first found in America. Almost all these foods are mainly carbohydrate, which is to say, low on protein. Thus Man’s diet changed. And the changes were in the direction of abundant Sugar and Carbohydrate and away from a high protein diet. And with this change, it could be said, there went Man’s pep.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
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Jon Atack and Jefferson Hawkins!
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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
— 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 [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“The term thetan, of course, is one which is derived as a mathematical symbol, derived from that symbol, and is an effort to have a precise word, which will describe a precise thing: The unit of beingness, which is the individual. Theta is a Greek letter and you know mathematicians they can’t talk English, so they use Greek symbols and mathematicians long since have picked on theta as a symbol, which they commonly use and the Greeks used it to symbolize thought. And so we have theta, thought, mathematical symbol and then we just put ‘thetan’ on it, and we have something which could describe at once, but doesn’t describe really: the human soul, a ghost, a spirit, a saint, a god, an individual, a being. It’s one of these nice big ‘group’ words. Why? Because it is the word which describes the energy-space production unit which is the individual himself.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 28, 1953
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“TO ANCHOR: We’re going out to anchor so don’t walk off the gangway if there’s no boat under it! (Joke).” — The Commodore, December 28, 1970
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“I don’t believe that a thetan will ever completely relinquish his right to disagree with MEST, or anything else, despite the persuasion he may experience. We may not know the exact details, but I fancy some of us will refuse to react to provocation whatever button may be pressed. And some of us may yet cling to the hope that there is another solution to stress, or being banky, and put that ‘charge’ to one side knowing somehow, that there is another reality there, somewhere, no matter how faint.”
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2000: Battlefield Earth continues to top critic’s lists of worst films of the year. From the St. Petersburg Times: “The undisputed worst waste of film in 2000 was Battlefield Earth — Celebrity Scientologist John Travolta bankrolled this sci-fi epic, based on a book by the religion’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard. A simple tithe would have sufficed. Effects weren’t special, and the plot was impenetrable. Travolta, playing an ersatz Klingon, ended each sentence with absurd cackles in his poorest performance ever. Director Roger Christian sharply tilted the camera for nearly every shot, appropriate for a movie constantly zooming downhill. Boredom without end, amen.” From the Orange County Register: “Despite some spin doctoring from John Travolta that would be the envy of the Gore and Bush camps, the actor’s science-fiction adventure ‘Battlefield Earth’ was the biggest bomb of the year. Travolta has suggested a sequel, but there will be no sequel. There will be a sequel to ‘Little Nicky’ before there will be a sequel to ‘Battlefield Earth.'”
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“I’m guessing Dan Sherman has a ‘Word of the Day’ thing he sends out on the telex doohickey.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing January 13, 2025.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
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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] Actress Tricia Vessey and civil RICO added to Scientology lawsuit in proposed new complaint
[TWO years ago] TRAGIC: Clearwater OT 8 Scientologist, 40, set fire to herself before shooting herself dead
[THREE years ago] Scientology is trying hard to make 2022 the year America goes ‘Ideal’!
[FOUR years ago] Scientology social media is like space age Christmas, praise Xenu!
[FIVE years ago] Danny Masterson asks for more time to answer lawsuit — while he’s skiing in Park City
[SIX years ago] Best Scientology shoops in the Bunker this year, and let’s see your faves too
[SEVEN years ago] Joy Villa on the prospect of Trump going after Scientology’s tax-exempt status: ‘Nope’
[EIGHT years ago] After Steve Cannane’s big year writing about Scientology, we hit him up for a look back
[NINE years ago] Confirmed: Narconon’s entire Northern California network splits with Scientology
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s 2014 in review: New lawsuits and a house for sale in August!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s 2013 in review: July fireworks, courtesy of an actress from Brooklyn
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,127 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,622 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,137 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,687 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,677 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,063 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,558 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,862 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,733 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,285 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,626 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,193 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,112 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,280 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,862 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,122 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,158 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,874 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,438 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,753 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,928 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,610 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,947 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,801 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,916 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,278 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,581 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,687 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,085 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,961 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,526 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,037 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,293 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,401 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 28, 2024 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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
