Is Scientology TV taking requests? We have to admit that we enjoyed the network’s show about its L. Ron Hubbard archives (a program that held back key information, of course, but was still pretty eye-opening) and we’d like to see a similarly revealing piece about another of Scientology’s most nutty facilities…
Super Power!
We’ve had a healthy fascination for the Super Power Building in Clearwater since we leaked a full set of plans and schematics for it in 2012, while the seven-story behemoth was still unfinished. Costing something like $80 million to $90 million to build, the “Flag Building” (its formal name) had first and foremost been a fundraising engine since it was announced in the early 1990s: Scientology raised between $145 million (a Tampa Bay Times estimate) and $200 million (Mike Rinder’s estimate) from its members before finally dedicating the building in November 2013.
Inside the city-block-sized building were all sorts of different areas and uses for the church, including a massive running track on the sixth floor for Scientologists to experience the “Cause Resurgence Rundown,” paying thousands for the privilege of running in circles until they had some kind of sweaty epiphany. But we especially loved the “Perceptics” doodads designed for the Star Trek-looking fifth floor, including our white whale, the “Oiliness Table.” This was where the actual “Super Power” activity would take place, and its slick installations tended to get all the attention.
The Super Power rundowns themselves cost Scientologists around 30 grand and aren’t technically on the rubric of the “Bridge to Total Freedom.” They’re an add-on for wealthy Scientologists who want to super-size their spidey senses, or something. So, since it’s not a required activity, Super Power has to be marketed pretty heavily to church members in church publications, and that allows us to get even more glimpses of what it turned out to look like from those original plans.
This week we have another inside look, courtesy of a tipster who received a copy of Source magazine that contained these tantalizing glimpses of one Perceptics apparatus in particular — the Smell Wall!
For only 32 thousand or so, you too can press a button and sniff the delicious flavors of caramel, chocolate, cinnamon roll, crème brûlée, maple syrup, strawberry pie and more!
We only hope Scientology TV gives us an even closer look at other exotic Super Power experiences like the Pain Station, Infinite Pit, Water Wall, and the Cellular Saline Station, of course.
Now that’s good TV.
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Chris Shelton on Scientology logic
Says Chris: “I have finally put together a short critique of L. Ron Hubbard’s system of logic and reason which he put together in a series of policy letters called the Data Series. I break down the basics of his ideas on logic, show how they are very illogical and then deconstruct the problems with how Scientologists are told to investigate things. There’s going to be more content on this topic coming up in the coming weeks, but let me know what you think of this starter.”
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Hey, Aussies heading to the Commonwealth Games, be prepared to get showered with Scientology literature!
Look who helped pass out copies of The Way to Happiness recently in Tampa!
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Make your plans now!
Wow, it’s already April! Our flight and hotel is booked — who’s going to join us in Chicago? Remember, Friday (June 22) is Fly Day, and Saturday night (June 23) Chicago Fire star Christian Stolte will be helping us present things on stage as we hold our event at an actual theater this year. It’s going to be a wild time. Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,075 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,678 days
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 221 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,284 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,058 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 2,832 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,178 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,672 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,712 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,424 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 950 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,039 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,179 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,499 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,474 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 830 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,132 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,238 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,641 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,513 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,095 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,600 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,844 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,953 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 5, 2018 at 07:00
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Our book, 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, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten 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
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
