TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Save the Garden’s verified signatures should force Clearwater to reconsider giving Garden Ave to Scientology. But will an opinion from the state AG throw a wrench into it? We asked city council candidate and former vice mayor Mark Bunker for his thoughts. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“MEST has a natural kickback against Theta — an involvement and a confusion with Theta – since MEST itself, however its natural laws may be, is chaos. Thus MEST can blindly and grumblingly drive the Theta out of Life; MEST then adding in a physical force to the business of living can gain, as an engram, entirely too much force within the individual and so can disturb the natural laws of MEST by substituting for them the natural laws of Theta which are based primarily upon reasonability.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
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“I went to a Picasso show one day with a fellow from Greenwich Village. He was wearing a turtleneck sweater and I was wearing a business suit, and everybody who was coming to the Picasso show was dressed in tails and ermine wraps and evening gowns. This was really swell, it was really upstage…I was interested in the neurosis from which Picasso was probably suffering, but more importantly, in why he was doing it. I was coming to the conclusion that it was just a big experiment, as far as he was concerned, whereby he was testing color and design lines. We were going hot and heavy. This artist would say, ‘Oh, but no! There is so much soul! There’s this! There’s that.’ And I would say, ‘No, it just merely looks to me like he’s got a libido complex or something.’ We got up to the second floor, and he and I had such a falling out about one of the paintings that we reached a static, and we were silent for a moment. We happened to look around and we had about fifty people following us along the line of pictures and listening to us. Some of them were trying hard to look very edified. So I got very interested in the people who were watching the Picasso show and took a series of notes. I wrote an article for the New Yorker on it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 12, 1951
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“THE GLASS: Lowest barometer we’ve ever seen. Got down to 29.27. But it began to rise yesterday even steadily and did not pump (go up and down) which is good as that means HURRICANE and you don’t want to be in a port in the path of one of those. You want to be at sea following Buys Ballot’s law (see Bowditch or other texts), steering away from the center. So we apparently sail on schedule.” — The Commodore, October 12, 1970
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“When you identify someone you don’t know as a troll who is trained as a ninja, you might give thanks that you are still breathing without the assistance of paramedics.”
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1995: Dennis Erlich posted an update on his case. “This week MoFo produced a strong filing for Judge Whyte which requested that the scienos be held in contempt of court for failing to return all my personal property illegally seized in the (now vacated) unconstitutional raid in February. If I get around to it, I’ll post some of the lovely language. The scienos have filed requesting an impoundment of all the materials they shouldn’t have ever taken from me during the raid that shouldn’t have ever happened. They base this filing on my earlier posted intention to do fair use critique of all the materials, once I get them back. Another hearing (or ruling) will be forthcoming November 3.”
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“I had really bad nightmares when I was young — one was a nightly reoccurring one that lasted almost a year and almost drove me insane. Something about HR Pufnstuf reminds me of those dreams. My dream would start soon as I laid down because in the dream I was still awake lying in my bed. All of the sudden reptilian hands would shoot up from underneath the end of the bed and grab my legs and pull me underneath the bed dragging me at breakneck speed down a hellish tunnel where creatures were living in the walls to meet my arch nemesis King Frog and his henchman Baby Huey. They would torture me for hours laughing and mocking me.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence. Now serving time in state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for June 19.
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, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike upheld on appeal. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return to Kalra’s court.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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 Scientology allegations about Dream Exchange, now from a former executive
[TWO years ago] EMAILS: Scientology’s sneaky (and failed) attempt at road closures to squelch protest
[THREE years ago] Scientology wants large portion of Bixler suit stricken — even before new version arrives
[FOUR years ago] The Scientology spy in the hallway: The Danny Masterson trial gets underway
[FIVE years ago] He was a student and teacher at Scientology’s elite boarding schools: Now he’s dishing
[SIX years ago] Bijou Phillips on her husband Danny Masterson: A macho ‘Strong Island’ guy
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology wants your children: The 1957 lecture they think will convince you
[EIGHT years ago] Dave’s shrinkage: Help us determine turnout for Scientology’s IAS 2018 gala
[NINE years ago] ‘Miss Lovely’ as you’ve never seen her — new photos of Paulette Cooper, war survivor
[TEN years ago] DRONE FLYOVER FINALE: Getting a close look at Scientology’s secret New Mexico compound
[ELEVEN years ago] That time Scientology’s Sea Org grunts donned cut-offs and bikinis to fake out L. Ron Hubbard
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: In valleys near and far, it’s time to stand and deliver!
[THIRTEEN years ago] TOMKAT PROJECT IN LOS ANGELES: Here’s Your Chance to Help the Show Get to Tinseltown
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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 3,779 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,283 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,789 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,339 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,715 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,210 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,516 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,165 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,383 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,937 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,278 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,848 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,765 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,932 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,518 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,777 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,525 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,094 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,405 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,580 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,262 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,599 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,452 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,568 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,930 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,729 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,573 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,188 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,689 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,949 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,053 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 12, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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, 1995-2025 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
