Between the quarantine of the MV Measlesthelioma in the Caribbean, and a couple of court developments that came out of nowhere — a jury verdict in California and a guilty plea in New York — we’ve had quite a week of dealing with breaking news here in the Bunker, and so we’ve neglected some of the other items coming from our wonderful network of tipsters.
So allow us to catch up with a few items that came our way this last week that show things are just great in Scientology right now and thanks for asking.
The correspondent who sent us this first item referred to it as “the sorriest example of a flash mob that I’ve ever seen,” adding that they thought the “Curous?” T-shirts were a fun touch. But it was something else about this impromptu performance put on by the Tampa Ideal Org in a public park that grabbed our attention…
Tampa Ideal Org
We let loose in Curtis Hixon Park in celebration for the Riverwalk with a Curious “Before I Let Go” Flash Mob!
It dawned on us that the young woman leading the dance was none other than Manuela Oliveira, the once promising professional dance talent with a burgeoning television career we wrote about who gave up everything — including her relationship with another professional dancer, Yannus Sufandi — in order to join Scientology’s Sea Organization, signing its billion-year contract to completely dedicate her life to the church.
If you remember that story, we just happened to be in Los Angeles in 2013 when Yannus and Tiziano Lugli lured Manuela away from the Big Blue headquarters to Tiziano’s house in order to attempt an intervention. It went badly, in part because of the logistics involved. We truly believed that if Tom DeVocht had been able to get there earlier, he might have had a chance to influence Manuela.
Shortly after that story appeared, Manuela moved back to Australia and was involved with the Sydney Ideal Org. We hadn’t heard about her since. And now here she is, dancing, but for Scientology in a public park.
Manuela, aren’t you Curious? About what your career might be like now if you hadn’t joined the Sea Org?
Well, while Manuela is trying to gain new recruits in Florida, another dedicated church member is trying to save a dying Scientology school in California.
Ryan Prescott is a young Scientologist, born to Scientology parents with some notoriety. His father, Richard E. Prescott, got into some trouble for running unlicensed Narconon-style drug rehabs in California before moving the family to Oregon.
Young Ryan never had a chance, becoming a total zealot by the time he was a teenager. Here’s a typical example of his Facebook fanaticism…
On staff at the Portland Ideal Org, Ryan is a Volunteer Minister, he created his very own Scientology propaganda Twitter feed that he calls “Expose Network,” while at Facebook he’s been sounding a bit jittery and paranoid lately. Maybe agitating for Scientology 24-hours a day is getting to him…
So anyway, what really caught our eye was a call to action posted by Ryan recently. He says that a Delphi Academy, a Kindergarten to 8th grade private school in Campbell, California, is closing, but some parents are apparently desperately trying to fend off what sounds like a done deal…
Well, points to Ryan for trying, but that doesn’t really look like a very professional or effective web survey for saving a private school.
And how does a Scientology school close down in Silicon Valley, one of the few places in the country where there might actually be some interest in what Scientology’s selling? Isn’t this supposed to be the fastest expanding church in the universe? Shouldn’t parents be clamoring to get their kids educated in the Hubbard way?
Thankfully, while Scientology’s woes seem to be multiplying lately, it can rely on total fanatics like Manuela Oliveira and Ryan Prescott, who entertain us with their bonkers attempts to prop up a church on a doomed cruise under quarantine.
Meanwhile, in Seattle (?), it’s the very Rev. Alfreddie and Mrs. Mathers…
This planet will be cleared in no time.
——————–
HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles
THURSDAY NIGHT OPPORTUNITY: This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. But we also want to point out that Cathy Schenkelberg’s “Squeeze My Cans” will be running at the Hollywood Fringe, and we encourage HowdyCon attendees to see her show on Thursday night, June 20. Tickets and more dates available here.
Friday night June 21 we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.
On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.
HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22. Note: You need to ask for the “family reunion” special rate.
——————–
Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
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 our weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] How much do the Don Rogers letters shake up early Dianetics history? Two experts weigh in.
[TWO years ago] Nazanin Boniadi’s FBI testimony: Cast as Tom Cruise’s girlfriend by Scientology
[THREE years ago] Phil and Willie’s excellent adventure: Taking on Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ policy in L.A.
[FOUR years ago] Ryan Hamilton files his 28th fraud lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[FIVE years ago] Jamie DeWolf: I’ve found the last memoir of the son of Scientology’s founder
[SIX years ago] SCIENTOLOGY FILES TO REMOVE GARCIA ATTORNEYS FROM FRAUD LAWSUIT
——————–
Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,442 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,571 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,075 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,555 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 615 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 506 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,813 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,681 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,455 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,229 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,575 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,141 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,061 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,228 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,809 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,070 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,109 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,821 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,347 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,436 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,576 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,896 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,752 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,871 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,227 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,529 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,635 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,037 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,909 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,492 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,987 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,241 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,350 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 10, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, 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
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
