HowdyCon 2016 – The Underground Bunker

Here are the instructions Scientologists are getting for the May 28 media center opening!

Tony Ortega — Thu, 19 May 2016 11:00:16 +0000

Another day, another leak here at the Underground Bunker from an active member of the Church of Scientology. This one, in fact, is a current staffer.

That’s all we can tell you, but our source wanted everyone to see the list of instructions sent to Scientologists for the big May 28 opening of the new Scientology Media Productions facility.

In 2011, the church purchased the old KCET television studios at 4401 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and they’ve been fundraising and renovating since then to create a new set of state-of-the art television and radio studios there. Scientology already has a set of expensive studios at its International Base near Hemet, California, about 90 miles away. But ever since Int Base was also revealed to house a bizarre office-prison known as “The Hole,” Scientology leader David Miscavige has been reducing the population in Hemet and lessening the compound’s importance. Now, he’ll have TV studios only 3.4 miles from his office at Author Services Inc. on Hollywood Boulevard.

“It seems as though this will be a complete logistical nightmare,” says our source. Well, judge for yourself. And if you plan on attending, please send us some photos! And always be polite and don’t argue with police or pushy Scientology security guards.

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Less than a month to go, and we’re totally not panicking

Hey, we’re less than a month away now from this meetup that we named after Captain Howdy, a beloved Bunker commenter who would ridicule us all for the idea of getting together.

HowdyCon came about when your proprietor one day was asked by a commenter why we were visiting so many cities last year for our book tour. To figure out which city would be best for hosting a convention, we quipped. That utterance took on a life of its own, and soon our commenters held their own vote, choosing Cleveland as the site for our meetup.

On June 17, we’re hoping to see a few of you there in what should be a fun weekend of finding out what the hell you all look like in real life.

And what excitement we’re already experiencing. Here we are, only 29 days out, and our cruise director, citing health problems, has left the ship. Thankfully, we weren’t planning a lot of formal activities for this meetup, so we should survive. But the Saturday night dinner and talk we were hoping to set up is now in some limbo.

Does anyone out there know a Cleveland macher who has a club or a tavern or even just a really big house who would be willing to host some 40 or 50 totally not sketchy Internet people for a few hours on June 18? Please let us know.

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Chris Shelton on Scientology and PTSD

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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 19, 2016 at 07:00

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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 | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Scientology watchers, we’re kicking off the new year by revealing the poster for HowdyCon 2016

Tony Ortega — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 12:00:41 +0000

And now, the event you’ve all been waiting for. You probably know that reader Miss Tia recently called for entries in a contest to decide the logo for this year’s inaugural convention of Underground Bunker readers.

She intended to reveal the winner some time ago, but we asked her to wait. We thought it would be a special way to bring in the new year and get everyone thinking ahead about the meet-up if we saved the winning entry for today.

But let’s back up, for those not sure what we’re talking about. At some point during our book tour this summer, one of our readers said she was surprised how many cities we were visiting. We joked that it was the only way we’d figure out where to have our first convention. Readers then ran with the idea, and decided to hold a vote about where such an the event should be held. Cleveland won out, and our point person there, Miss Tia, took over.

In the meantime, the question of naming the thing came up, and we then suggested that it might honor Captain Howdy, a/k/a Steven L. Cox, a singular commenter who used the cover of L. Ron Hubbard’s book The Creation of Human Ability as his avatar, and whose passing we noted earlier this year. We suggested that the meeting be called HowdyCon, and now it had a name.

We asked the winner of the contest, Observer, to use the logo she’d come up with and create a poster that we can use to promote the event. We want to thank everyone who entered the contest, and we hope you like the poster that Observer came up with.

And without further ado, here it is…

Miss Tia and your proprietor are still conspiring over what actually might transpire at this confab of degenerates. But if you are going, you should probably start thinking now about booking your travel and lodging. We’re hearing that mostly, readers want to meet and hang out. But your proprietor may invite a Big Being or two and ask them to sing for their dinner. If you have ideas, send them our way.

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Scientology debuts what will probably be its Super Bowl ad of 2016

One of our sharp-eyed readers noticed that at some point last night, a new ad debuted on Scientology’s official website. It’s a lot like the ones in the past, with the Apple Computer-like style and professional gloss, and the same narrator they’ve used the last couple of years. We’re guessing you’ll start seeing this ad soon during national television broadcasts and especially during sporting events.

We live in an age of technological wonder
Extended life
Endless connections
Limitless possibilities
At the touch of a button
In a fraction of a second
The world’s knowledge at our fingertips
A seemingly infinite source of answers
To any question we might ask
Except for one
The one we thirst for
The one that leads to understanding
Our world
Our choices
Ourselves
The question that lies at the intersection of technology and spirituality
Who am I?

Some of the media have understood what we learned about the annual Super Bowl strategy that Scientology employs. It does not buy a national ad during the game for what will be as much as $5 million for a 30-second spot. Instead, during the game, there are a few spots reserved for local advertisers, and those spots cost far less. Scientology buys those spots in some cities, and an expert told us they might spend a total of about $1 million to place them. They tend to show up during the pre-game show and right at the end of the first half.

As soon as Scientology puts the ad, “Technology Spirituality,” on its YouTube channel, we’ll embed it. For now, you can get a look at it on the official page, scientology.org, where it automatically plays.

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Bonus photos from our tipsters

New Year’s Eve at the Fort Harrison!

Yet another photo of Tom Cruise with a fellow Freedom Medal winner. Can anyone make out what kind of pin Tom is sporting? (We’re told this was taken at the IAS gala in 2009.)

Youth for Human Rights puts kids in Puebla to work. Thanks, Legoland.

It’s Scientology TV! Well, in Argentina, anyway. Come on, Dave. When are you going to pull the trigger on your new “Scientology Media Productions” at the old KCET studios?

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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 1, 2016 at 07:00

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…