All week we’ve been getting ready for Scientology’s big event in Chicago today, but what exactly is going on there?
Well, we’re not really sure.
Of course we’ve been anticipating the return of Scientology leader David Miscavige’s “Ideal Org” program, especially since, at the New Year’s event, he promised that he’d open four new orgs in the first quarter of 2023. And at this point, that deadline is only a little more a month and a half away.
So when Mike Rinder, at his blog, noticed that “all Scientologists” were being called in this Saturday for some kind of event in Chicago — where a new Ideal Org has been ready for its grand opening for years — it looked like a big ribbon would be showing up on the building there on Clark Street.
However, our readers there tell us that they haven’t seen the building being prepared this week. So what is going on?
On Thursday, Mike found another clue: A flier that shows today’s big event will take place not at the Ideal Org building but at Chicago’s Union League Club in its Crystal Ballroom…
According to the flier, there will be a “special announcement about the Chicago Ideal Org.”
Does that mean David Miscavige is going to announce that the Ideal Org is open? And if he does so, will it be in person, or on a video feed from Clearwater, Florida?
We just don’t know! But we’re dying to find out. So we have some Chicago folks snooping around for us today, hoping to get the lowdown on Dave’s plans.
If you happen to go and want to tell us what is going on, please drop us a line!
While we wait, here’s one more look from the special website that was intended to bring new staff members to Chicago…
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Technology Cocktail
“ARE YOU running a Basic Course with Before and After Scientometric Tests? If you are not, why? Does anything prevent you from running such a course? Do you lack data? Do you lack confidence? Do you fear the unpredictable elements of an ‘unknown’ class of students?” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1956
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Jon Atack and Mike Rinder
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
— The Underground Bunker Podcast
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— SPECIAL: Your Proprietor’s updates on the Danny Masterson trial
[1] Sep 21 [2] Sep 28 [3] Oct 4 [4] Oct 10 [5] Oct 11: Day One [6] Oct 12: Day Two [7] Oct 13: Day Three [8] Oct 17: Day Four [9] Oct 18: Day Five [10] Oct 19: Day Six [11] Special interview with Chris Shelton, Oct 19 [12] Oct 20: Day Seven [13] Oct 21: Day Eight [14] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [15] Oct 24: Day Nine [16] Oct 25: Day Ten [17] Oct 27: Day Eleven [18] Oct 28: Day Twelve [19] Second week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [20] Halloween special [21] Nov 2: Day Thirteen [22] Nov 3: Day Fourteen [23] Nov 4: Day Fifteen [24] Third week in review [25] Nov 5, Saturday special [26] Nov 6, Sunday special [27] Nov 7, Day Sixteen [28] Lisa Marie Presley breaking news [29] Nov 8, Day Seventeen [30] Nov 9, Day Eighteen [31] Nov 10, Day Nineteen
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“That’s a trick I learned from Commander Thompson, by the way. He used to train cats. It’s almost impossible to train a house cat — I mean really train a house cat into doing all sorts of dog tricks and so forth. He used to be able to do that, and he taught me how to train cats when I was a kid. He would wait for the cat to do something and then he’d reward it. And if you don’t think that requires patience! You’re going to wait for this cat to do something that’s going to be totally accidental, and then you’re going to approve of it. Wow! Oh, you can just burn up hours and hours and hours trying to train a cat.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 11, 1957
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“TIME MACHINE ORDERS: I issue a lot of TM orders and queries. Very many of them are routed straight back to me. Those who don’t know what dreadful things happen to their Ethics Files if the TM doesn’t know they have answered the order or query should find out very fast as some Ethics Files must be getting very fat indeed. Those who think they know should check up on it. The PL to refer to is in Vol 0 of the OEC Book.” — LRH Pers Comm, February 11, 1971
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“Total Knowingness, initially experienced solo as a subjective recognition point is quite different to objective exteriorisation from the entire theta/mest construct experienced with an auditor in session and the recognition of total mutual knowingness in PT outside all. Likewise practical total knowingness, subjective, objective and practical tested, verified and demonstrated with regard to truth per definition in session with an Auditor — the precise consideration, the precise time, place, form and event, in PT — is a further gradient of recognition which then opens up the route to OT per definition.”
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2000: The recent attack on Mark Bunker at the Clearwater home of Scientologist Gottfried Helnwein continued to make news in Germany this week, with the airing of a piece on ARD television. From dpa: “A team from ARD magazine ‘Report Mainz’ says that it was attacked by a man with a hammer in Clearwater in front of artist Gottfried Helnwein’s house. Camera man Mark Bunker was hit twice and his camera was damaged. He, himself was not wounded. The ‘Report’ team was trying to do some research into the artist’s Scientology background before the new set of hearings in the Helnwein proceedings. Renowned painter Helnwein had been described in 1994 by two associations critical of Scientology as a Scientologist. Among other things, they accused him of being a ‘clergyman’ of a group ‘which uses coercive hypnotic procedures with the help of a lie detector to destroy people’s psyches to control them.'”
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“I think Tony is taking the day off and that’s just fine by me. Watch some football or somethin’ everybody.”
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Retrial scheduled, jury selection begins March 29. Next pretrial hearing: Feb 16.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing Feb 13.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next status conference Feb 13.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: March 15, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: 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] Ned McCrink, 1954-2022: The OC Ideal Org’s biggest donor sailed away from Scientology
[TWO years ago] Scientology at its peak, part 2: See the excitement for ‘OT’ secrets in leaked 1991 video
[THREE years ago] Another drone’s eye view of the compound where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[FOUR years ago] Untouchable? Scientology’s 60-year plan to protect itself from the law
[FIVE years ago] Scientology targets the Red Cross in its latest sneaky front group scheme
[SIX years ago] What happens when Scientology helps you reach ‘your full potential’
[SEVEN years ago] The disgraced sheriff, the Holocaust survivor, and Scientology’s most unhinged front group
[EIGHT years ago] These are the superpowers Scientologists are paying big bucks to attain
[NINE years ago] It’s time to wake up our space cooties on Scientology’s New Operating Thetan Level Five!
[TEN years ago] PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEWEST READER!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Dramaturgy: Commenters of the Week!
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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 2,937 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,442 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,992 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,982 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,873 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,177 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,048 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,153 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,630 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,942 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,508 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,427 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,595 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,176 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,437 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,474 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,189 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,753 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,068 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,243 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,794 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,925 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,263 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,118 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,237 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,593 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,896 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,002 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,400 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,276 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,859 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,354 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,608 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,717 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 11, 2023 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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, 15 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
