Jon Atack introduces us to yet another former Scientologist today, drummer Eddie Stratton. What a treat.
In 1996, I received a hilarious 11-page hand-written letter from Eddie Stratton detailing his experiences in Scientology. I responded and received a 20-page letter by return of post. It was marked ‘Beware! Contains live wildebeest’, which set the tone for our continuing conversation and our enduring friendship.
Eddie was hurled to fame as the drummer with rap-metal band One Minute Silence in the late nineties (well, they had a hit in New Zealand).
I went to five gigs over the years, and have signed copies of their three albums (and Ed stuck me in the dedication sections of all three). They were a fine live act and produced driving and lyrically stimulating music, much of which suggested that we should think for ourselves. Holy Man is a very good example.
Eddie joined Scientology in the UK at the Birmingham Org. He spent two years in the “Technical Training Corps” at Saint Hill in England. In this conversation, Ed talks about recruitment – through his interest in beer – and the deplorable conditions suffered by Saint Hill staff.
In this, hopefully the first of many conversations, we talk about the Mormon connection to the LA Times expose of Scientology back in 1990, about Jehovah’s family and the introduction of Security Checking with excerpts from the Whole Track Sec Check.
— Jon Atack
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Mark Bunker sets the agenda
Posted late last night on Facebook by Clearwater’s new city councilman…
Work Session Agenda
Community Redevelopment Agency
What is a drug?
Back in 2017 Rod Keller told us about Robert Van Der Feyst of the Capetown Narconon, who barnstormed events where Scientology could get its messages out to kids.
It turns out Mr. Pied Piper has a new video out this week, and he’s using animation to get kids interested in his spiel. Groovy, isn’t it?
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Was it something we said?
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“I found out that it makes it tremendously easier to run the bank and that on a very few PCs you will be unable to run the bank unless you get an early engramic incident out of the road. And I also found out that if you can run the overt engram that relates to these GPMs just as an engram, that a fantastic amount of charge will come off the implants themselves, naturally, and therefore they run like-very much like hot butter. I had a little bulletin for you. Found a datum here you might be interested in. That particular outfit was down toward the center of this particular galaxy and was founded at 52 trillion, 863 billion, 10 million, 654 thousand, 79 years (52,863,010,654,079), and I can’t give you a much closer than that, because when place get founded is, more or less becomes part of their lies. But it was founded at that time, and it was destroyed on the date 38 trillion, 932 billion, 690 million, 862 thousand, 933 years ago (38,932,690,862,933), by the 79th wing of the 43rd battle squadron of the galactic fleet. It was not the, part of the galaxy. It was a wildcat activity sitting there. They used to drag Magellanic Clouds out of the center hub of the galaxy, let them follow the lines of force and just let them come over a system. Then when they got around to it, they’d send planes in with speakers, and so forth, and give the place the business. But the place very often was totally caved in for thousands of years by these Magellanic radioactive clouds which would just engulf the particular system. You got the idea? I just give you that in brief, just as a matter of interest, because these dates we’re getting are accurate. I have now compared them up the track and squared them around. These are the dates.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 16, 1963
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“Twelve hours processing for a PC cured him from a hardship known in the fucking western medicine by ‘borderline disorder personality,’ something that the old bridge would not achieve. The purpose of Scientology is to make the able more able, the new area of Scientology can make any unable able. Well done LRH, well done great master.”
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“I’m on drugs.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing was set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for October 7 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: July 8 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), August 31-Sept 1 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, depositions (Warren McShane, Lynn Farny), amended complaint filed
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed.
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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] Beyond the quarantine: Signs that Scientology is getting involved in anti-vaxx panic
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s smear campaign against Mike Rinder takes a more disturbing turn than usual
[THREE years ago] As Leah Remini’s next season approaches, Scientology posts more videos saying she’s rude
[FOUR years ago] Did L. Ron Hubbard believe his own rap? Here’s what he admitted about Scientology in 1952
[FIVE years ago] Jon Atack: When the militant Scientologist falters, you find a cowering 12-year-old inside
[SIX years ago] Hiding L. Ron Hubbard’s control of Scientology in the 1980s
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Now Has Until July 2 to Turn Over Evidence in Forced-Abortion Lawsuit
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology, “Disconnection,” and Homophobia: Derek Bloch’s Story
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Reacts to the Voice
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,939 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,443 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,963 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 983 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 874 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,181 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,049 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,823 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,597 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,943 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,509 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,428 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,596 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,177 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,438 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,476 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,189 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,714 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,244 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,804 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,944 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,264 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,119 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,239 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,594 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,897 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,003 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,405 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,277 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,860 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,355 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,609 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,718 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 16, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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
