TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology leader David Miscavige’s pet project, turning ‘orgs’ into ‘Ideal Orgs,’ got going in 2003, so this week they celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Madrid grand opening. But somehow they left out the best part — Tom Cruise’s speech, and in Spanish! We have it. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The society knows nothing about Study Tech. It thinks a teacher ‘teaches the subject and must know the subject!’ Thus it alter-ises the subject, almost never makes a competent person and routine school teaching is looked upon by Industry as a huge failure. All manner of unusual solutions are in progress in every country to remedy this inability of students to learn. WE MUST NOT CONTINUE TO INHERIT THE IDIOCY THAT A TEACHER ONLY HAS TO KNOW THE SUBJECT AND KNOW NOTHING ABOUT STUDY TECH. It is Study Tech that gets the student of any subject through.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
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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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“Today we’re processing the present. We’re processing energy flow — live energy flow — in present time. We’re processing ‘right now.’ And ‘right now’ gets affected by ‘then,’ just as you learned in the first book and just as you learned in subsequent publications, and all you’ve been practicing to date. ‘Then’ affects ‘now.’ But all you will have to process, really, to get rid of ‘then,’ is ‘now.’ So you can process ‘now.’” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 21, 1952
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“The WHY we face now is absence of recruiting, lack of full hats with checksheets and packs. The why of that was failure to make the materials filed accessibly and collateable. So it’s a snake eats its tail. No hats then brought a condition of no data available in files. A true dwindling spiral. And no hats traces to the introduction of Ethics into HCOs and that it is easier to assign a condition than to compile or checkout a hat. Hats went out when Ethics came strongly in. Without Ethics in HCO, HCO can only make stats recover by org form and hats. Ethics has a role — after all else fails. But hats and Ethics can’t belong in the same Division.” — The Commodore, September 21, 1970
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“Note that after the McPherson Affair there was a radical change in the delivery of Scientology known as the Golden Age of Tech. Coincidence? Sure if you believe in such things. Personally I don’t think many Scientologists can confront that much evil so they create a synthetic terminal like ‘Miscavige,’ ‘DM’ or ‘COB’ and fixate on him as the cause of all evil and that anyone who suggests otherwise is a ‘conspiracy theorist’ or an ‘OSA plant’ or whatever. Worse they support such idiocies as signing a petition calling on the *in*justice department and the FBI to ‘investigate’ Scientology. As far as I’m concerned Lisa McPherson and the ‘Trust’ that followed was a planned covert operation allowing former plants like Robert Vaughn Young and others to ‘defect’ and further discredit the subject and make absurd claims that it was the Introspection RD that caused her demise. Interesting fact is that the Introspection Rundown if properly done would eliminate the need for Psychiatry and their monopoly over the ‘insane.’ An existential threat to their existence for sure.”
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2000: The St. Petersburg Times reported that Scientologist David Minkoff is being sued in connection with the death of a man who died from a brain hemorrhage. “According to the complaint, filed Wednesday in Pasco Circuit Court, Gary Houck awoke in his New Port Richey home on June 29, 1998, with no vision in his left eye. At Community Hospital of New Port Richey, Houck told Dr. David Minkoff about the headaches and said he went from blurry vision to total blindness overnight. Minkoff examined Houck for 10 minutes and then discharged him with a referral to see an ophthalmologist, according to the complaint. Houck went straight to the office of Dr. Frederick Hauber, who suspected that the reason for the sudden blindness was neurological, the complaint states. But less than 24 hours later, Houck was brain dead. He had suffered a massive brain hemorrhage. The lawsuit alleges that Houck died because the doctors he saw did not give him the attention he needed and failed to communicate the seriousness of the situation to each other or to Houck’s HMO. Minkoff was a defendant in the high-profile wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Lisa
McPherson, a member of the Church of Scientology. Minkoff, also a Scientologist, pronounced McPherson dead after she was brought, severely dehydrated, to a Pasco hospital in December 1995. Minkoff eventually settled his part of the lawsuit.”
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“I wish that the OSA or their private dickheads would show up were I live because I live in the toughest building on the toughest street in my city. The cops are afraid to come in here. Also, I am much beloved by the denizens.”
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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] When Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard tried for the 2nd time to become a bigamist
[TWO years ago] What is this ‘Substack’ thing anyway, and what’s going on at the Underground Bunker?
[THREE years ago] A very brief note on Tom Cruise and his daughter Suri
[FOUR years ago] SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS, Episode 6: Dirty tricks are a sacrament in this ‘church’
[FIVE years ago] The new ‘Freewinds’: Founder L. Ron Hubbard says Scientology is ‘supermagic’!
[SIX years ago] Is David Miscavige making changes to Scientology to fend off media glare?
[SEVEN years ago] Federal judge says he has the Scientologists for a justice panel, but Garcias say, ‘not so fast’
[EIGHT years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s secret ranch where L. Ron Hubbard departed this Earth
[NINE years ago] United Kingdom sees Scientology documentary ‘Going Clear’ tonight on Sky Atlantic
[TEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Turning begging for cash into an art form
[ELEVEN years ago] FEAR: Jon Atack on Scientology’s Essential Ingredient
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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 3,029 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,524 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,039 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,589 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,579 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 4,965 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,460 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,764 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,635 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,187 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,528 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,095 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,014 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,182 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,764 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,024 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,060 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,776 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,340 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,655 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,830 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,381 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,512 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,850 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,703 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,824 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,180 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,483 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,589 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,987 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,863 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,428 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,941 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,195 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,303 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 21, 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
