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Technology Cocktail
“As the time track is created by an involuntary response of the thetan, it is and exists as a real thing, composed of space, matter, energy, time and significance. On a Level (8) Case the time track is completely submerged by charge even down to a total unawareness of thought itself. At Level (7) awareness of the track is confined by extant charge to opinions about it. At Level (6) charge on the track is such that pictures of pictures of the track are gratuitously furnished, causing delusive copies of inaccurate copies of the track. At Level (5) charge is sufficient to cause only inaccurate copies of the track to be viewable. At Level (4) charge is sufficient to obscure the track. At Level (3) charge is sufficient to wipe out portions of the track. At Level (2) there is only enough charge to maintain the existence of the track. At Level (1) there is no charge and no track to create it. All charge from Level (1) and up into higher states that is generated is knowingly generated by the thetan, whose ability to hold locations in space and poles apart results in charge as needful.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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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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“Let’s be some distance from the body, if possible. Some distance from the body and find some places where you are not. Some more places where you are not. Now some things from which you are not exteriorizing. Some things you’re not at this moment getting out of. And now some things that aren’t pulling you into them. And some things you are not getting out of. And now some things you’re not stuck in. Some more things you’re not stuck in. Now some energy masses that aren’t wrapping themselves around you at this moment. All right. Now some energy masses you aren’t wrapping yourself around at this moment. And now some effort you are not at this moment trying to get out of. Some effort you’re not trying to keep from expending at this moment. All right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 12, 1954
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“SOURCE TO CAUSE: I’ve heard it said that as ‘source’ I should handle something way outside my general activity. This is a confusion between SOURCE and CAUSE. Whereas I am source of data, overall coordination and planning, You are CAUSE over your area. Results are the effect of your own efforts. When these support general programmes we all win. You should not minimize yourself as CAUSE. It is your greatest ability. Being Blamed sometimes blunts Being Cause. But if one’s total ambition is to be blameless the best situation is to get one’s name on a tombstone. And it’s no fun being dead. Being CAUSE over Matter, Energy, Space, Time, Force, Form, Location and Life is just another way of saying ‘OT’.” — The Commodore, March 12, 1970
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“Clear really is something spectacular and very worthwhile, and highly stable. Despite all the knocks and bullying I’ve had over the past 40 years, the state is beyond price. Clear has not been available in the Church of Scientology for many years now, you won’t find it there. But if one were to follow the procedures exactly as laid out in DMSMH, Clear is still available for free. If Ron had done nothing else after the publication of DMSMH it would still remain a workable system to achieve Clear. I warmly recommend it.”
1998: A German news crew flew a helicopter over Scientology’s Hemet, California base. From the Presse-Enterprise: “Federal aviation officials are investigating a complaint filed by the Church of Scientology alleging that a helicopter hired by two Germans flew too close to its school behind the Soboba Indian Reservation. The Germans, who authorities said were television reporters, later were involved in a confrontation with Scientology officials outside the school in which both sides arrested each other. Ken Hoden, general manager of the church’s Golden Era Productions, said Monday’s incident was related to the problems Scientologists have in Germany. He described the helicopter’s action as ‘a total disregard’ for the privacy and safety of the children who attend the Castile Canyon School. Scientologists believe two passengers in the helicopter were the same people who posed as German vacationers during a public tour of the church’s complex in Gilman Hot Springs on Sunday, Hoden said. They left after Hoden said he started questioning their motives because they matched the description of a couple who earlier had been ‘harassing’ the church’s headquarters in Los Angeles. Pilot Steve DeJesus said the Germans originally said they wanted to rent the helicopter to take photographs of the Soboba Indian Reservation east of San Jacinto. He said he flew within a safe distance of 300 to 500 feet above the school, disputing Scientologists’ claims that he came within 50 to 150 feet. ‘We didn’t fly over any people or over any buildings,’ DeJesus said. The children went into the buildings as soon as the helicopter appeared, he said. Arrested on trespassing charges were Ina Brockmann, 33, and Peter Reichelt, 40, both of Mannheim, Germany. Arrested on false imprisonment charges were Hoden, 51, Scientologist cameraman Francois Dejust, 35, school security guard Uwe Stuckenbrock, 34, and church employee Henry Batterton, 39.”
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“I’m not ‘hating’ on anybody — especially folks I don’t even know — but on the other hand I don’t believe in turning a blind eye in order to maintain a positive front. My sister undoubtedly put her kids in the Sea Org, and for that I could never forgive her.”
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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, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘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 March 31.
— 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] Jane Doe 1: Scientology’s forced arbitration shouldn’t apply in a lawsuit about sex abuse
[TWO years ago] Celebrity Sunday: Jim Meskimen, Terry Jastrow, and… Helena Kobrin?
[THREE years ago] Scientology wants you to dress up like a pirate before it takes your booty
[FOUR years ago] UCLA’s voice of the Rose Bowl & Pauley Pavilion scores Scientology Super Power!
[FIVE years ago] The new Scientology OT 8s are here! Masters of matter, energy, space, and time!
[SIX years ago] Scientology TV debuted one year ago, and it’s still unwatchable propaganda
[SEVEN years ago] Tonight, ‘Vanity Fair Confidential’ brings the Shelly Miscavige story to the ID network
[EIGHT years ago] David Miscavige wants to turn Clearwater into Scientology’s Vatican — but can he?
[NINE years ago] Meet the guy Scientology is relying on to get the ‘disconnection’ billboard stopped
[TEN years ago] DOX: Two early Dianetics supporters, including the E-meter inventor, turn against Hubbard
[ELEVEN years ago] Vivian Kubrick posts remarkable photos from the sets of her father’s movies
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Starts Out as Staring Contests
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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.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,201 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,696 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,211 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,761 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,751 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,137 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,632 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,936 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,807 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,359 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,700 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,267 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,186 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,354 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,936 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,195 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,232 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,948 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,512 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,827 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,002 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,684 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,021 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,875 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,990 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,352 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,761 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,159 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,035 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,600 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,111 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,367 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,475 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 12, 2025 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
