TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Ron Kasman has been a valuable contributor at the Underground Bunker going back a number of years. He’s a comic artist with a new book is on the way. And when you see description Ron sent us, we think you’ll understand why we thought the Bunker audience will find interest in it. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A technical person must keep up with the advances in technology. That is true of any profession. A primary failure of new technology is (you won’t believe it but it is true) the materials aren’t read before the process is tried! I have even caught Class IXs out on this, believe it or not, so don’t think it can’t happen. Process G is received. Auditors audit it. Process fails. Why? Auditors never read the bulletin first!” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1971
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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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“This planet is part of an earlier federation and passed out of its control due to losses in war and other such things. Now, this larger confederacy, this isn’t its right name, but we have often called it and referred to it in the past as the Marcab Confederacy. And it has been wrongly or rightly pointed to as one of the tail stars of the Big Dipper, which is the capital planet of which this planet is. Now, all this sounds very Space Opera-ish and that sort of thing, and I’m sorry for it, but I am not one to quibble about the truth. This gets in people’s hair every now and then, and I don’t see any point in lying in order to be acceptable. It just doesn’t seem to be a right way to go about things, particularly in the realm of science.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 6, 1963
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“LIONS: The local Lions Club was entertained aboard with great success. Candlelit dining room, guitar music. Caviar, lobster, salad and cigars and cognac after. 25 came. They cancelled their own first dinner of the season and came to ours. High commendables to Peter Warren, John Bragin and our two magnificent girls Mrs. Jone van Hoecke and Mme Francoise Cugnot, Sven as Chef and Kenilee Moore as Maitre de Hotel, and the waiters Rick, Jesse, Charles, Bob and several others. It was very commendable team work. Very well done! Our PRO Area Control has been greatly advanced with local influential business men.” — The Commodore, August 6, 1971
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“As I continued getting auditing — most recently N.E.D. — and studying, I became increasingly more certain that I was Clear. I began having rapid-fire cognitions that not only was I Clear, but a past life Clear, at that. THAT made a LOT of sense. I hadn’t ‘recreated’ Scientology on my own, I had ‘remembered’ it. The funny thing to me is that many times when I heard other past-lifers talk about their feelings of not quite ‘fitting in’ and some of their cognitions, I’d thought, ‘yeah, right. I have that too.’ It never occurred to me that I had that too because I was that too.”
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1996: The London Evening Standard reported that a Scientologist committed suicide when his attempts to leave the cult were met with harassment from Scientologists. “A man threw himself 200ft to his death after a religious cult refused to let him leave, an inquest heard. Richard Collins, 24, joined the Church of Scientology hoping to ‘cleanse his body.’ But when he tried to quit they bombarded his home and work with letters and phone calls in a last-ditch bid to make him stay. Days later he leapt off Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. The inquest ruled that Richard took his own life.”
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“What kinda nut would think you could listen to Martians on an E-meter? Any sane person knows the only way you could listen to Martians is when you’re at the implant station on Mars, sheesh.”
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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. Sentenced to 30 years to life 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. Next pretrial hearing May 31, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— 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: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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] More proof that Scientology is taking over the planet, you doubters
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: Checking on our predictions about Scientology celebs with expert Geoff Levin
[THREE years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 15: Always finding the best parking spot
[FOUR years ago] Nazanin Boniadi chides Karen Bass for ‘insufficient’ statement on Scientology speech
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s secret weapon to get its clutches on your children
[SIX years ago] If it’s wrong to love Scientology hip-hop, we don’t want to be right
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology subjects young children to quack therapies — now, someone is taking a stand
[EIGHT years ago] So much for all that: Attempt by Garcias to revive Scientology lawsuit shot down by judge
[NINE years ago] Um, about that story claiming Will Smith got a ‘refund’ from his broke-ass shuttered school…
[TEN years ago] Maybe the saddest Scientology promo video ever, and a history lesson from Mark Bunker!
[ELEVEN years ago] Mary Sue Hubbard’s Last Will Fulfilled: Her Dog Bereft of Life, It’s Time to Sell Her House!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,984 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,479 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,994 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,544 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,534 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,415 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,719 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,590 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,142 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,483 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,050 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,969 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,137 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,719 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,979 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,015 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,731 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,295 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,610 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,785 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,336 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,467 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,805 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,658 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,779 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,135 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,438 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,544 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,942 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,818 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,383 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,896 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,150 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,258 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 6, 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
