A big thank you to our tipster for sending us the brand new issue of Freewinds, Scientology’s publication that tries to convince Scientologists to fork out the big bucks to spend time on the church’s floating cathedral of the same name.
Scientology’s private cruise ship has, of course, taken on a new notoriety after its measles quarantine in St. Lucia and Curaçao became a worldwide story and made the ship a global laughingstock, which, come to think of it, has been Scientology’s default condition for several decades now.
There was just something so perfect about the Scientology ship coming to represent anti-vaccination panic, which is leading to a resurgence of measles cases after it was declared eradicated in the year 2000.
So how does Scientology recover? By simply plowing ahead, as it always does. Let’s take a look at some sample images from the magazine, and let us know if you think they would have enticed you for those readers who were still in the church…
Of course, the main purpose of the Freewinds is to provide a culminating experience for those wealthy Scientologists who are finally reaching the top of the “Bridge to Total Freedom” and, after spending somewhere in the neighborhood of half a million to two million dollars over many years, are ready to receive the legendary “Operating Thetan Level Eight” (OT 8) auditing level.
Leah Remini did a beautiful job, in the second season of her show Scientology and the Aftermath, exposing OT 8 as the ultimate prank played by L. Ron Hubbard on his followers. Imagine, after spending a decade or more and hundreds of thousands of dollars “remembering” that you were many different people over trillions of years in different parts of the galaxy, to learn on OT 8 that those were the identities of entities attached to you, and that you have now “learned who you are not” and can begin the whole process all over again.
That’s the prank played on these poor saps on this ship, that everything they’ve done for years was a waste of time, and that they are no more aware of who they are than when they started in Scientology to begin with. But of course, the marks themselves can’t let on and have to pretend that completing OT 8 is the greatest thing that ever happened to them…
The Freewinds is also used to try and influence Central and South American nations, with Colombia being a big target for its propaganda. And now, it appears that Brazil is getting some of the same treatment. Is this fellow the Col. Prado of that country?
BRAZIL’S NEW HERO
What happens on the Freewinds inevitably ripples out across the globe, as it did once again recently. This time the positive waves will be felt in Latin America’s largest country — Brazil.
On board for a Freewinds convention, First Sergeant Marco Moraes of the Metropolitan Civil Guard of São Paulo, Brazil, came forward to speak to passengers. In true superhero style, he announced that he was honored to be named Brazil’s Ambassador for The Way to Happiness. He then presented a plaque to LRH which read, “Thank you for your teachings and for making us better people.”
So yes, the Freewinds plows on, dauntless, defiant, and resolute after its recent quarantine, and here, for your edification, are this issue’s new OT 8s, masters of matter, energy, space, and time! Recognize any names?
OT 8s:
Ari Agami
Amanda Beats
Marc Berger
Lorenzo Brambillasca
Adriano Cetola
I-Chun (Anita) Chen
Yi-Ning (Patrick) Chen
Kori Curry
Julia Dunn
Don Davis
Elvira Elkamel
David Foti
Javier Guerrero
Sandoval Guerrero
Alejandra Guzman
Jairo Andres Guzman
Natascha Haug
Ralf Haug
Patrick Jacopin
Nathalie Maleuvre
Sandra Mayela
Christian Meid
Chun-Hao Miller Hsiao
Eric Miller
Whitney Mills
Martin Nachtigall
Gregory Patton
Valerie Patton
Pedro Prado
Lara Soglowek
Keith Steffens
Lucia Subertova
Gessica Vaccaro
Luca Ventura
Kea Verweij
Maria Teresa Verzeri
Melissa Wattman
Wolfgang Zirpel
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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.
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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?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Bad boys of the Sea Org: guns, drugs, murder and Scientology
[TWO years ago] To counter Leah Remini’s return to A&E, Scientology recruits her father in smear attack
[THREE years ago] How Scientology’s smears of Ron Miscavige could end up a bigger problem for his son Dave
[FOUR years ago] Jon Atack: Auditing and recovered memory — why do Scientologists accept it as fact?
[FIVE years ago] Three videos the Church of Scientology would rather you not watch
[SIX years ago] Word To Your Mother: Dianetics And Its Lack of Boundaries
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,462 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,591 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,095 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,615 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 635 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 526 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,833 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,701 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,475 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,249 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,595 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,161 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,081 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,248 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,829 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,090 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,129 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,841 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,367 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,456 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,596 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,916 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,772 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,891 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,247 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,549 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,655 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,057 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,929 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,512 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,007 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,261 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,370 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 30, 2019 at 07:00
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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
