Once again, the very reason for the Underground Bunker’s existence is here again, as we celebrate Paulette Cooper’s birthday on July 26. It was while working on our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, that we created our website back in 2012 to keep in touch with our audience so they’d know when the [...]]]>

Once again, the very reason for the Underground Bunker’s existence is here again, as we celebrate Paulette Cooper’s birthday on July 26. It was while working on our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, that we created our website back in 2012 to keep in touch with our audience so they’d know when the book was ready.

We admired Paulette right from the beginning of our introduction of Scientology studies, way back in the mid-1990s, and that admiration only grew as we got to know her personally and then spent a couple of years on the book project. Since then, we’ve written a second book with her, she’s come out with a memoir, and we’ve loved keeping up on all the things she and her husband, Paul Noble, have been up to. So we asked her what was the latest in her world, and she told us a shaggy dog story. Ha!

I purchased a dog on Facebook that didn’t exist and the scam cost me $4,000. So, I turned around and wrote a story about it (“I was Puppy Scammed on the Internet”) to warn others about this fraud. I sold my article to Newsweek, and then posted it to Facebook when it came out.

I got an immediate email from an animal rescue site that they had an adorable 5-pound, 5-year-old Maltese/Shih Tzu for me that they had rescued from a puppy mill.

The next day Paul and I adopted Peaches, a loveable pup who had spent five sad years in a cage until we saved her. She is now living a happy and wonderful life with us and our other dog, Piki.

(I donated the payment for the Newsweek article to the rescue site to help other pets get adopted.)

Here’s Peaches the first day we adopted her — when she saw grass for the first time.

 
Another photo of Paul and Piki and Peaches.

 
Congratulations on another trip around the sun, Paulette! And we hope Paul can keep up with those cute pups.

Tell us, Bunker denizens, what is your favorite part of Paulette’s story? Her survival as a child during the Holocaust? Her years as a glamorous magazine journalist in Manhattan in the swinging 60s? Her daring exploit to smuggle herself onboard a cruise ship for a magazine story? Her exposure of L. Ron Hubbard with her 1971 book, ‘The Scandal of Scientology’? The years of harassment she went through, with Hubbard and the Guardian’s Office going so far as to recruit lookalikes and soundalikes to impersonate her, and eventually to get her framed for a crime she didn’t commit, facing 15 years in federal prison? And so much more?

This woman is simply amazing.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Historical note: The whole Christian movement is based on the victim. Compulsion of the overt act-motivator sequence. They won by appealing to victims. We can win by converting victims. Christianity succeeded by making people into victims. We can succeed by making victims into people. It’s time the inversion turned anyway.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1959

 
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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?

[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

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner

 
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Source Code

“We’re trying to make somebody Clear. Clear of what? Clear of his reactive bank. Now, Freud said that man had an unconscious or a reconscious or something of the sort which was subconscious under the underconscious. He thought there was something there and it was inhabited by a beast known as the censor, who kept the fellows from pulling a social faux pas. And when the censor was asleep or nulled or something of the sort by drugs, why, the fellow would do antisocial acts, and that was the whole explanation of the human mind, except it was all caused by sex. I hope you’re following me closely. But anyhow, we are actually indebted to Papa Freud, because he did say out loud that there was some kind of a mind that was kicking back on somebody. He didn’t really discover the reactive mind; we did.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 26, 1966

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“SMERSH: Smersh just lost half of its suit on us. It was suing us for defamation of its character. The sum of the result will probably be the judge’s question ‘What character?’ Part of the evidence of the next part of the suit was a restricted issue of an Ed they stole out of an org! ‘What character?’ Charles Parselle is doing a great job on Legal in the UK. The Guardian’s Office is going at its usual TERRIFIC! over the world.” — The Commodore, July 26, 1971

——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“LRH seems to have been here some centillion years. On the other hand, very big beings are here and their invalidative vibrations probably affect us. And don’t forget the entities that attach to the thetan here.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1997: Lawrence Wollersheim reported that FACTNet has rejected a $12 million settlement offer from Scientology. “I went to L.A. for two days about ten weeks ago and met with Monique Yingling (of the law firm of Yingling and Yingling of Washington D.C.), Marty Rathbun, and Mike Rinder. We continued to negotiate for the next four weeks. The basics of what Scientology sees in their minds as restrictions reciprocally and equally binding on both parties and a peace with dignity are as follows: That the non-profit free speech library and historic preservational archive called FACTNet be taken off the Internet and closed forever. That all FACTNet library databases containing electronic books, articles court decisions, government reports and former member debriefings about Scientology (or any other cultic organizations) contained in those databases be completely destroyed. That a total gag order be agreed to by Bob, Arnie, and Lawrence so that they can never again speak out about Scientology. That Bob, Arnie, and Lawrence are never again permitted to assist anyone in any manner trying to fight or expose Scientology. That Bob, Arnie, and Lawrence are never permitted to testify at any legal proceeding or government investigation or serve as expert witnesses concerning Scientology without service of a real adverse subpoena. That no money from the 12 million dollar package settlement could go to anyone continuing to fight or educate in any way against Scientology. That FACTNet return Scientology’s court-submitted financial records and all copies of their ‘advanced trade secret’ materials and non-original copyrighted materials. That humiliating false and self-incriminating public statements be made that imply that the FACTNet research on Scientology’s problem with members going psychotic or attempting or committing suicide while involved with their bizarre initiation rituals is not credible. That we falsely state in a public statement that FACTNet existed exclusively and solely for anti-Scientology activities. They also wanted an ‘agreement violation’ damage clause that could eventually amount to a flat penalty of $750,000 in damages against us every time they proved we have violated ANY term of the agreement no matter how inconsequentially and without showing any real damage to themselves. And finally, while Scientology corporations and fronts not bound by this agreement could sue us back to the Stone Age for alleged violations or anything else they could and would dream up, we of course, are still bound by every single other term of the agreement as far as restricting us from speaking out or working against Scientology. Scientology wanted all the Hubbard family heirs’ names included in our deal so that all probate actions to examine the fraudulent asset transfers away from the Hubbard family heirs to David Miscavige’s and Starkey’s control would be stopped. Early on in the discussion, Scientology wanted a statement retracting all statements that Miscavige’s mother-in-law’s suicide/murder might have had any connection to David Miscavige or Scientology. Scientology has once again conclusively shown me it has not changed one iota from the entrapping Gerry Armstrong, Margie Wakefield, Flynn type settlement strategies. In fact it has gotten worse in its settlement demands.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Jan Eastgate is the Myra Hindley of scientology. She looks just like her.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentencing on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— 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 sentencing of Masterson on Sep 7.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing August 1.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology tried to destroy her, but Paulette Cooper is living her best life
[TWO years ago] Miss Lovely tells us she has a birthday wish this year, and it’s about Mr. Lovely
[THREE years ago] Leah Remini blames Tom Cruise for the spiking of Aussie Scientology investigation
[FOUR years ago] Happy Birthday, Miss Lovely! And look what Paulette Cooper gave herself for a gift
[FIVE years ago] Paulette Cooper turns 76: ‘I found my best friend from the orphanage — from 70 years ago’
[SIX years ago] Paulette Cooper at 75: Still unbreakable, and still Miss Lovely
[SEVEN years ago] Hungarian tabloid’s wacky claim: Shit poured on Scientology’s leader in Budapest protest
[EIGHT years ago] Happy Birthday, Miss Lovely: A tribute to the dauntless and unbreakable Paulette Cooper
[NINE years ago] Scientology surrenders — at least partially — in seven lawsuits against its rehab network
[TEN years ago] Scientology, Your Proprietor, and the Airwaves
[ELEVEN years ago] Jamie DeWolf, L. Ron Hubbard Great-Grandson, Gaining More Notoriety for His Views on Scientology
[TWELVE years ago] Tad Reeves: More Scenes from the Life of a Scientologist

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 26, 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

One of the reasons this website exists is to support our project, started four years ago, to learn everything we could about the incredible adventures of Paulette Cooper, one of the first journalists who exposed the abuses of the Church of Scientology and [...]]]>

One of the reasons this website exists is to support our project, started four years ago, to learn everything we could about the incredible adventures of Paulette Cooper, one of the first journalists who exposed the abuses of the Church of Scientology and who nearly paid for it with her life. For decades, Scientology’s shadowy spy corps, which referred to Paulette by the code name “Miss Lovely,” tried to destroy her career, her family, and her sanity with multiple elaborate operations, and by making her the target of 19 separate lawsuits. She survived it all.

Although Paulette’s name was already well known to anyone who paid even a casual interest to Scientology, we learned a lot of startling and edifying things about Paulette’s life that had never been told before, resulting in our 2015 book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, which was published by Humfrey Hunter and Silvertail Books in London.

And now, Audible.com today has released the audiobook version of Miss Lovely, and we hope, for those of you who enjoy listening to a book on a long drive or during your daily commute, that you’ll give it a listen. [USA edition] [UK edition]

To mark the occasion, Paulette has cancelled a previous engagement so she can join us at Reddit for an “Ask Me Anything” session that will last from noon to 2 pm, eastern. Please join us, and ask us about Paulette’s amazing life as Holocaust survivor, Manhattan magazine writer, Scientology investigator, and target of L. Ron Hubbard’s Guardian’s Office. Or ask us about this website, the state of the Church of Scientology, or, heck, about anything. We’ll do our best to answer as many questions as we can.

See you there at noon!

 
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The Larisa Smith story: Chris Shelton examines the culture of Scientology

We’ll let Chris introduce his new series…

I’ve made a lot of videos and written a lot about Scientology but in all that work, have only barely touched on what may be one of the most important aspects of it. My recent foray into breaking down Scientology apologetics by sociologists, religious scholars and psychologists has given me more insight into certain sociological perspectives about this group. That may sound kind of highbrow but it’s really not, it’s just another way of looking at this destructive cult and how it operates. This got me thinking about the culture of Scientology and how it’s not just a bunch of books or lectures by one man, but an entire little world in and of itself. It’s a mystery for many people why it is that survivors of Scientology have such a hard time getting out of the Scientology mindset, but it’s really no mystery at all when you look at Scientology as a kind of culture rather than just a collection of oddball beliefs and pseudoscientific ideas about the mind and spirit.

An opportunity to show how this culture works landed in my lap a few months ago when Larisa Smith contacted me about getting her story out. Her non-biological parents are Tim and Sylvia DeWall, who anyone familiar with my channel and the Bunker know from their own escape story in 2015. Larisa’s own experiences with Scientology started before she was even a year old. While growing up in it, she went to a private Scientology school, was sent to the Mojave Desert School, got heavily involved in the LA scene, joined the Sea Org and a lot more. We walk through her entire story in detail and it becomes clear as this unfolds that Scientology is a lot more than some books and lectures, and that it is far more destructive in a wider sphere than most people actually realize.

There is this line I’ve seen floating around right now that Scientology is only really abusive at the level of the Sea Org and that the run-of-the-mill Scientologist doesn’t experience anything like the abuse that Sea Org members endure. While there is certainly nothing comparable to the RPF or The Hole for Scientology public, that does not mean that regular Scientologists don’t endure hellish behavior at the hands of registrars, auditors, course supervisors and Sea Org members. And as you’ll see in this series, those abuses extend to Scientology’s family and friends. It’s never been my point that Scientologists don’t get some degree of benefit from their Scientology experiences; it’s that those benefits are far outweighed by the costs. I think this is easily demonstrated in answering this question: if the benefits of Scientology were so wonderful, then why don’t you go back to it? Of course, no one ever does because Scientology is a destructive cult and it is abusive.

I think for even the long-term Scientology watcher or critic, there is something to be learned in this 3-part video series. Let me know in comments on my YT channel as well as on the Bunker what you think.

 
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Fun times at the LRH Theater in Hollywood

Scientology celebrity Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, recently loaned her voice talents to a live reading of a 1941 L. Ron Hubbard short story, “The Crossroads,” at the LRH Theater in Los Angeles. A week later, the story was brought to life again, this time with actress and Scientologist Noelle North. Looks like fun!

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on September 29, 2016 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

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

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

 Sell the house. Sell the car. Sell the kids. As your cult leader we demand total obedience, and that means you will be shelling out the big bucks one week from today for the audiobook edition of The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper.

Or, if you aren’t [...]]]>

 
Sell the house. Sell the car. Sell the kids. As your cult leader we demand total obedience, and that means you will be shelling out the big bucks one week from today for the audiobook edition of The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper.

Or, if you aren’t already a member, join Audible.com and get the book for free!

Yes, we recently took time out of our cult-leading duties to spend three days in a 7th Avenue studio reading our own book into a microphone so you could hear us tell the spellbinding tale of Paulette Cooper’s incredible ordeal at the hands of Scientology’s spies. Just think of the result: you, your dear leader, his mellifluous voice, and Paulette’s saga, all together in your noise-cancelling headphones for ten hours!

The book is already on pre-order at Audible’s US and UK websites [CLICK HERE, AMERICA][CLICK HERE, BRITANNIA], and there you can check out how easy it is to get the book for free by joining and getting access to Audible’s many other great titles.

And what’s in store for your ears if you take this plunge? Well, we’re already cringing from all this self-promotion, so we’ll turn it over to Nathan Rabin of the A.V. Club, who had this to say about our book…

Before Tony Ortega’s The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, Cooper’s story had never been told in full. It is one of the most remarkable and unlikely narratives in the sprawling field of Scientology exposés. Ortega’s specialty is his ability to contextualize Cooper’s soap-opera life within the raging currents of history. Cooper embodied her times: She was a child of World War II and the Holocaust, an orphan of one of the 20th century’s greatest tragedies who grew up to be the epitome of the chic New York career woman…Scientology’s persecution of Cooper comes to feel like a strange echo of the Watergate controversy riveting the nation at the same time. People who profess to be the victims of sinister, far-reaching conspiracies are often seen as crazy, but Cooper genuinely was the victim of a sinister, far-reaching conspiracy…In the kind of twist that fills The Unbreakable Miss Lovely and makes it such a compulsively readable page-turner, Cooper discovers too late that, like far too many people in her life, [L. Ron] Hubbard Jr. (or “Nibs” as he was known) was not what he appeared to be, and was probably a double agent working against Cooper on Scientology’s behalf…Cooper should have been destroyed by Scientology. But she proved astonishingly brave and bold. The book’s title proves appropriate both because Cooper is model gorgeous but also unbreakable, with a spirit strong enough to stand up to an entire organization out to destroy her and everything she stands for. In that respect, the book is oddly inspiring.

Those of you who have had a chance to meet Paulette will certainly agree with that last part. She is a singular woman, and a true inspiration. We think you’ll be stunned to learn what she survived as the Church of Scientology’s Guardian’s Office targeted her for destruction and ran elaborate operations against her from 1969 to 1985 because she dared to be among the first journalists to expose L. Ron Hubbard and his organization. The church was even keeping tabs on her at least through 2010, something she didn’t realize until we started working on this project with her.

There are so many startling revelations about Paulette and the times she lived in. We hope you enjoy hearing this tale as much as we did researching and writing it.

Pick up your copy on September 29!

 
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Join Freedom, travel the world, meet interesting people, and smear them

Hey, Scientology is hiring! Although the ad at JournalismJobs.com is pretty well camouflaged, one of our fellow reporter friends saw through it and tipped us off about it. Take a look at the language and you’ll see what we mean: David Miscavige is paying top dollar to fill his Freedom magazine offices at the new Scientology Media Productions studio in Los Angeles:

We are an international publisher. We have established magazines and online distribution; we are ramping up broadcasting and additonal [sic] online dimensions of our news products. We are based in California, and have offices elsewhere in the United States and Europe, and will be opening new offices across the globe. We have a religious aspect to what we do, and a definite point of view. You adjust to us, not the other way around. We uncover government and corporate corruption, investigate and explain major social issues. We love to expose bigotry, and racial, religious and ethnic hatred.

We pay very well, but we aren’t looking for journalistic mercenaries. What we do seek are top-line investigative journalists and long-form journalism stylists who can produce content worthy of the best magazines. As we add to our online work, and as we develop major news broadcasting endeavors, we want content creators and managers who are versatile at multiple platforms.

Heh. “You adjust to us, not the other way around.”

Whatever you say, C.O.B., sir!

 
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Chris Shelton on ‘Scientology’

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Actual caption: “Welcome to staff Angelina Gill!! She just joined Tampa Foundation and is pumped to help the org expand to Double Saint Hill Size!!”

 
Going Clear!

 
Wear your soul duds, but leave that blunt at home!

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on September 22, 2016 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

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

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

 Our London publisher, Humfrey Hunter of Silvertail Books, submitted our book about Paulette Cooper, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, to Kirkus Reviews. And…

Hey! They like it.

Whew. That’s a relief. Kirkus is very important in the publishing industry, and it doesn’t hurt to have a good review as Silvertail continues to promote the book. Here’s what Kirkus [...]]]>

 
Our London publisher, Humfrey Hunter of Silvertail Books, submitted our book about Paulette Cooper, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, to Kirkus Reviews. And…

Hey! They like it.

Whew. That’s a relief. Kirkus is very important in the publishing industry, and it doesn’t hurt to have a good review as Silvertail continues to promote the book. Here’s what Kirkus has to say…

Ortega, in his nonfiction debut, describes a journalist’s decadeslong battle against the Church of Scientology. There have been assertions of horror stories involving the Church of Scientology in a plethora of books, articles, documentaries, and interviews with ex-members. This new account focuses on Paulette Cooper, one of the first journalists to investigate what many see as the questionable moral practices of L. Ron Hubbard’s religion—and one of the first people, he says, to become a target of its vengeance. In a 1969 article in Queen magazine and later in a 1971 book, The Scandal of Scientology, Cooper offered a damning exploration of the church and its practices. “More than previous writers,” notes Ortega, “Paulette focused on the harassment of those who dared to speak up about Scientology, whether they’d been in the church or not.” In response to her words, Ortega says, the church set out to destroy her life with an unprecedented yearslong campaign of litigation, defamation, intimidation, and harassment that pushed the journalist nearly to the point of suicide. In Cooper, Ortega finds the perfect foil to what he portrays as the secretive, suppressive machinations of Scientology: she’s a nearly archetypical newshound, savvy and scoop-obsessed, with a colorful history of committing fully to her work. For example, Ortega shares one anecdote of Cooper stowing away on a cruise ship for the sake of a travel piece, hiding in plain sight and stashing a change of clothes in a barroom piano. This book is far from just another look into the familiar, if terrifying, alleged tactics of the Church of Scientology; it’s a profile of a fascinating reporter making her bones and taking her lumps in the fickle world of 1970s magazine journalism. Plucky, self-possessed, and fearless in the face of the many threats–legal and otherwise–against her reputation and person, Cooper is a figure whose name is worth knowing. A thrilling account of a reporter’s duel with a controversial church.

 
We also want to thank our readers who have posted reviews at Amazon. It’s a pleasure to see how people have reacted to Paulette’s amazing life story.

 
——————–

S.I. Hayakawa’s later shot at Scientology

Yesterday, Jon Atack reminded us that in 1951, California English professor and General Semantics promoter S.I. Hayakawa wrote a devastating takedown of L. Ron Hubbard’s book Dianetics in an academic journal.

In 1975, writing a nationally syndicated column the year before he ran for US Senate, Hayakawa recycled his earlier review with some updated observations for a brief piece that ran in many newspapers. We managed to track down a copy that appeared in the El Paso Herald-Post on January 21, 1975…

 
Hayakawa’s column also ran in the San Francisco Examiner on January 18, 1975, and Scientology struck back with a full page ad in the Stanford Daily several months later.

SCIENTOLOGY: AN OPEN LETTER TO S.I. HAYAKAWA & THE S.F. EXAMINER

AS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY we are appalled at the publication (1/18/75) of a defamatory editorial on Scientology by Mr S. I. Hayakawa without subsequent publication of any of the many replies to that editorial sent to the Examiner from Scientologists. Over the years, many articles critical of Scientology have appeared in the media, while supporters of the church have rarely been able to get their views aired. Since the early 50’s, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the World Federation of Mental Health have conducted campaigns. both overt and covert, to discredit and outlaw Scientology. The details of this campaign are available in the book The Hidden Story of Scientology written by (non-Scientologist) Omar Garrison. Why should these groups single out Scientology for attack? The answer is that Scientology is more of a threat to them than are other churches, and this tor several reasons: (1) Scientology’s pastoral counselling techniques are effective in a way that neither psychiatric treatment nor other religious therapies are, in that results are uniformly and predictably good. (2) Scientology is actively engaged in stamping out psychiatric abuses such as indiscriminate use of electroconvulsive “therapy” and psychosurgery (see FREEDOM, the journal of the Church of Scientology). (3) Scientology is the largest religion involved in spiritual/mental healing, now comprising many millions of members. The number of Scientologists with practical knowledge of its pastoral counselling techniques is far greater than the number of psychiatrists. (4) Scientology is the fastest-growing religion in the world. The result of this campaign has been that we can learn almost nothing about Scientology or Dianetics through the mass media. It appears that at one time in the past, “Authorities” encouraged the publication of some derogatory articles, and every uninformed writer since then has become a link in a closed but expanding chain of ignorant “Authorities,” each one citing the opinions of others as “fact,” and none taking the trouble to examine first hand the subject they condemn with such vitriol. People need accurate information about Scientology. It can no longer be considered an “obscure cult” but must be classed as one of the world’s major religions, in the best tradition of those spiritual disciplines that have sought to free individuals from suffering and bring them to a state of spiritual enlightenment. For that reason, we are taking it upon ourselves to reprint significant portions of Mr. Hayakawa’s article, “Dianetics: Escape from responsibility,” together with three letters in response to it that the Examiner did not print.

 
The ad then contained three responses to Hayakawa’s article. We figured you’d want to see them as well.

LET ME START BY ACKNOWLEDGING A DEBT of long standing. My early discovery of (your book) Language, Thought and Action had an excellent effect on my subsequent career in philosophy. I still regard the fundamentals of semantics not as clever debating points for a beginning class in English, but as principles of a true philosophy of science . . . So I am a little disturbed by your column . . . which seems to take a polemical attitude, rather than one of objective observation. Your key point against Hubbard seems to be the doubtful scientific status of J. H Masserman’s “engram.” In contrast, Hubbard’s own (more recent) definition of the term depends on the hypothesis of a section of the human mind that “thinks in pictures,” by mechanisms of associative memory. An “engram” is then a mental picture of a past incident (“memory” has not quite the right connotations) containing pain and unconsciousness. Hubbard chose the word “engram” for this technical concept at a time (1950) when he was speculating that storage of such mental pictures might occur chemically in the human body. (None of Hubbard’s psychological theories . . . depends on a particular physical storage method for these pictures.) Hubbard’s claims for his psychology of mental pictures are curiously operational, and objectively testable; in this respect he differs from most theorists of human psyche . . . Hubbard’s philosophy of science is distinctly phenomenological, in the best traditions of Edmund Husserl in Europe, and philosophical Buddhism in Asia. Personally, I have not found Scientology to provide a psychological copout. In fact, Hubbard claims that ALL mental problems, and ALL problems in life, originate with a denial of responsibility! The required therapy is thus a gentle but accelerating encouragement of the subject to re-own his own mind, and be fully responsible for all its contents and activities. In short, I am guessing that were you to investigate Hubbard and Scientology more completely, with that perfect scientific skepticism which is so rare, even among those who are supposedly trained in it, you would find much to agree with I find it ironic that one who has so much in common with Hubbard should ridicule him publicly; even more so that a master of semantics should quote a 25-year old speculation out of context and use A s definition of B’s technical term as an argument against B’s theory! If you and I must agree to disagree (as civilized men will, rather than hate each other) then let it be amicably Hubbard has publicly admired “cocky little Hayakawa.” Could you af least do him the courtesy of taking him seriously? Yours truly, Lewis E. Randall

Dear Dr. Hayakawa YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE you should have received a letter from Mr. Lewis Randall . . Lewis is an old friend of mine, a classmate at Harvard (’64), and was the first person to introduce me to the admittedly unlikely sounding school of thought based on the work of Mr. Hubbard, “the former science fiction writer.” Like Mr. Randall, I am a person who has felt and come to appreciate your own influence in my life: I received my Master’s in Early Childhood Education at San Francisco State during your tenure there I wish that I could tell you honestly . . . that I respected you and your actions there at the time, I cannot. My own awareness of . . . personal responsibility was sufficiently dim in those days that in fact I condemned you. That to have done so was wrong, and a reflection not on your actions but upon my own irresponsibility, was an insight which I came upon only, in fact, after a considerable degree of exposure to Scientology. I have long since come to applaud your courage and the high sense of personal ethics which you demonstrated at San Francisco State. Again like Mr. Randall, I find myself wholly unable to applaud the quality of your efforts on the subject of Mr. Hubbard. I suspect that you would dismiss out of hand any Article about yourself which contained reference to “the former bedwetter, S. I. Hayakawa.” Certainly I would tend to do so. Why, then, the appearance of the argument ad hominem in your own article? In castigating Hubbard entirely in the absence of evidence based on your own experience, you assume the guise of the myriad hacks who have done the same before you. By virtue both of your work and your convictions, your place is not among them. The guise fits you ill. I realize that the pressures inherent in writing for a deadline may have seemed to preclude the possibility of genuine investigation into the subject of Scientology — of the sort that would normally be required by yourself, of yourself, as a matter of principle. Nonetheless (and I confess that I quote Hubbard), “the environment starts to control the individual the moment he rationalizes away his inherent full responsibility.” In allowing the pressure of a deadline to affect your better judgment, it seems clear to me that you have not acted in this matter as responsibly as you might have. I would welcome the opportunity to present to you in person a somewhat different viewpoint on Hubbard/Dianetics/Scientology than the one you hold at present You and I met briefly one evening same time ago . . . and my recollection of that occasion leads me to suspect that we would both enjoy making each other’s reacquaintance. In any case, I am Respectfully yours, Gerald D. French

Dear Mr. Hayakawa, AS A PSYCHIATRIST AND A SCIENTOLOGIST, I have had a unique opportunity to observe and compare the effects of traditional psychotherapies and Scientologic techniques, in my own hands and in those of others. Scientology and Dianetic techniques work better and faster than any other techniques I have observed in relieving human suffering and increasing ability without creating either a sense of dependency on the therapist or a tendency to copout and blame others for one’s troubles. If you talk to a person who has . . . (received Scientology counselling), you will observe a highly responsible and causative individual. I would like to deal further with the issue of the psychotherapeutic copout. Any theory that attempts to explain human behavior by means of fixed mechanical laws of cause and effect has the potential liability of becoming a copout such as you describe. Freud thought that all aspects of mental behavior were completely determined by childhood experiences; the behaviorist believes that all behavior is the inevitable result of present external stimuli acting on patterns established by past conditioning. So why single out Scientology for vituperation in this respect? In fact, Scientology, since the early ’50s, has stressed the fact that each person is entirely responsible for his own condition in life. Present day misfortunes are brought on oneself in an effort to justify past harmful acts against others. No explanation of personal misfortune in terms of implacable outside forces would ever satisfy a present-day Scientologist. A reflection of this philosophy is the fact that in modern Dianetics, equal weight is given to the . . . (examination of incidents in which) an individual has caused others to have painful experiences, Contained in the idea of complete personal responsibility is the assumption that an individual has the power to change the conditions of his life, in spite of apparent social, physical, or mechanical impediments to doing so. If this power exists, then a person must in some way be an unmoved mover, with the ability to transcend any mere mechanical cause-and-effect forces of existence. Such an unmoved mover could only be described as a non-mechanical or non-material entity, or, in other words, as a spiritual being. It is for this reason and not to appear mysterious or to hide under the mantle of religiosity that Scientology describes itself as a religion. It is a religion, in the tradition of all spiritual disciplines whose intention is to eliminate human suffering, both physical and mental, and to restore to individuals their full freedom and native abilities. (It) is the mark of a truly responsible person — which I believe you basically to be — that when he finds new data, he alters his point of view to accommodate the data. I urge you to investigate Scientology more fully. Talk to a few Scientologists. Perhaps read a few of the more recent Scientology publications. If you do this, you will, I think, find that there is a great deal of agreement between your views and those of Mr Hubbard. Yours truly, Frank A Gerbode III, M.D

 
We find that Gerbode left Scientology in 1982 and four years later was interviewed by Jon Atack (we have come full circle). In Jon’s 1990 book, A Piece of Blue Sky, Gerbode makes this appearance…

In his ruling in the Armstrong suit in California, Judge Breckenridge called Hubbard “schizophrenic,” but was he really insane? Avoiding the sometimes contradictory definitions of psychiatric authorities, it seems safe to take the legal view that a madman is someone who cannot be considered responsible for his actions. He suffers from delusions, and has no clear sense of right and wrong. Psychiatrist Frank Gerbode, who practiced Scientology for many years, feels that Hubbard was not schizophrenic, but rather “manic with paranoid tendencies” (which is not a classification of psychosis, but of tendencies towards psychosis). However, Gerbode suggests that the best description is the lay diagnosis “loony.”

 
After leaving Scientology, Gerbode and Gerald French explored their own version of abreactive therapy that they termed Traumatic Incident Reduction. In a 2012 comment on Marty Rathbun’s blog, Mike Rinder said that while he was Scientology’s spokesman he worked with Gerbode as he was publishing a book about TIR “to ensure his book didn’t infringe on church intellectual property rights.” Rinder claimed that Gerbode and TIR were still more “aligned” to L. Ron Hubbard than to the church itself.

But we figure Hubbard still would have called them squirrels.

Isn’t this fun?

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on January 9, 2016 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

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: 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 | 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

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

 Hey, Sydney, we hear 2,300 of you crammed into the premiere of Going Clear back in June — that’s more than the number of people who admitted to being Scientologists in your country’s last census!

So this Friday, you’ll get a chance to meet one of the people in that film — the proprietor of this [...]]]>

 
Hey, Sydney, we hear 2,300 of you crammed into the premiere of Going Clear back in June — that’s more than the number of people who admitted to being Scientologists in your country’s last census!

So this Friday, you’ll get a chance to meet one of the people in that film — the proprietor of this website, in fact — which recently won three Emmy Awards and is now angling for an Oscar nomination.

And not only that, but we’ll be accompanied on stage by two of Australia’s amazing television journalists who keep an eye on Scientology, ABC’s Steve Cannane and Channel 7’s Bryan Seymour.

We only wish the US of A had TV journalists with the sand of these two, who aren’t afraid to expose Scientology and its nefarious goings on. Both of them have an excellent understanding of the subject, and take on Scientology with a relish that simply doesn’t exist in this country.

The three of us are appearing at the Giant Dwarf Theatre at 199 Cleveland Street, Redfern, on Friday at 8pm in our appearance, titled “Scientology’s Dirty Tricks: Then and Now.” Grab your tickets before they’re gone. (Our Melbourne event is already sold out.)

Speaking of Melbourne, our event there happens on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm at the Wheeler Center. And even though the tickets (which are free!) have been “sold out,” we encourage you to show up if you still want to come. When tickets are free, inevitably some folks don’t come who had reserved seats.

We’ll have more news about our Adelaide and Perth dates in a few days.

 
——————–

Bonus photos from our tipsters

Saint Hill is all dolled up!

 
John Alex Wood shows his friend Andrew Moody around Saint Hill…

 
Let’s hear it for Mauro Calcioli, who would be Neil Gaiman’s brother-in-law, is that right?

 
——————–

BOOK NOTES

We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.

Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…

 
Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Steve Cannane and Bryan Seymour)

Oct 25: Melbourne, The Wheeler Centre, 3 pm, free but reservations recommended (with Steve Cannane and Bryan Seymour)

Oct 28: Adelaide, Wheatsheaf Hotel, (with Sen. Nick Xenophon and Bryan Seymour)

Oct 30: Perth, Collins Street Centre, Collins St and Shaftesbury St, South Perth, 7 pm (with Bryan Seymour)

Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29), London (8/4), Boston (8/24), Phoenix (9/15), Cleveland (9/23), Minneapolis (9/24), Portland (9/27), Seattle (9/28), Vancouver BC (9/29)

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on October 18, 2015 at 07:00

E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA 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

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
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

Today will mark our second incursion into Canada on our book tour, and our first return to Vancouver BC in many years. We hope you’ll join us at Seven Dining Lounge at 53 West Broadway starting at 7 pm. The event is free, so come on down and let’s talk Scientology and have a drink [...]]]>

Today will mark our second incursion into Canada on our book tour, and our first return to Vancouver BC in many years. We hope you’ll join us at Seven Dining Lounge at 53 West Broadway starting at 7 pm. The event is free, so come on down and let’s talk Scientology and have a drink or two.

Last night we were in Seattle, and what a stellar group of people came out to see us. Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists teamed up to host the event at Razzi’s Pizzeria on the north side of town. The room they booked held 70 people, but an overflow room held about another 30. It was another full venue on our tour. “This place is packed like a Scientology org in 1972,” we quipped.

Just a partial list of some of the former Scientologists who came out to see us: Amy Scobee and Mat Pesch, and Amy’s stepfather Mark Elliot. Gary “Jackson” Morehead. Rachel Denk. Camilla Andersson. And one of the real stars of Going Clear, Tom DeVocht.

Amy and Mat have been so important to getting word out about what really happens in Scientology. Not only through Amy’s book, but in the things they’ve told us that help us write our stories. And when we think of Amy Scobee, we think about the ways that Scientology tried to split her up from her mother, Bonnie Elliott, who stuck by her daughter.

We have heard that Bonnie is not feeling well, and we want her to know how grateful we are that she has helped us out in the past. She is a great inspiration.

Here’s a shot from last night as we enjoyed the post-party, with Mat Pesch, Amy Scobee, and Camilla Andersson…

 
Who will join us tonight in Canada? We just hope they let us over the border!

 
——————–

Bonus photos from our tipsters

Oh look, Colombia has a clear, and Chile has its first OT 7. South America is going to be cleared in no time!

 
Great caption from this photographer in Castro Valley, California: “So glad to see local businesses embracing the Halloween Spirit by having neighborhood haunts. #GoingClear”

 
——————–

BOOK NOTES

We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.

Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…

 
Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm

Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 25: Melbourne, venue secured (announcement coming later)

Oct 28: Adelaide, Wheatsheaf Hotel, (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 30: Perth

Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29), London (8/4), Boston (8/24), Phoenix (9/15), Cleveland (9/23), Minneapolis (9/24), Portland (9/27), Seattle (9/28)

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on September 29, 2015 at 07:00

E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA 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

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
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

Onward and upward we go in our Pacific Northwest adventure. After our event yesterday in Portland, tonight we’ll be in Seattle. Please come on out to Razzi’s Pizzeria, 8523 Greenwood Ave, North Seattle, at 7 pm and let’s talk about Scientology.

What a great event the Humanists of Greater Portland put on for us at Friendly [...]]]>

Onward and upward we go in our Pacific Northwest adventure. After our event yesterday in Portland, tonight we’ll be in Seattle. Please come on out to Razzi’s Pizzeria, 8523 Greenwood Ave, North Seattle, at 7 pm and let’s talk about Scientology.

What a great event the Humanists of Greater Portland put on for us at Friendly House. It didn’t hurt that the weather was perfect and Portland looked gorgeous. We were thrilled to meet, finally, Jefferson Hawkins, the former Scientology executive who penned the excellent memoir, Counterfeit Dreams.

We spoke to a full room, and the organizers told us there were an additional dozen or so folks in an overflow room. And during the book-signing, we met more Bunkerites and other folks with fascinating Scientology stories to tell. One of them was even L. Ron Hubbard’s steward on the yacht Apollo! Wow.

We recognized Michael Tilse, of course, and told him that we’ll never forget that phone call from him that woke us up one morning at 3 am. Oops! Bury the Nuts probably doesn’t want us to recount that story. But how could we not go back over those crazy days and nights at the end of 2013?

So who will show up in Seattle? We have a feeling we’re in for more surprises, and we’re really looking forward to it. So come on out!

 
——————–

Golly gee, we’re three!

Thank you to our readers for reminding us that the Underground Bunker first fired up three years ago today. That was after two weeks in the dark after we left the Voice and began working on our book about Paulette Cooper. During that dark time, an Internet pioneer emailed us out of the blue and told us we were being foolish to walk away from such a loyal audience and expect them to be there when the book was finished. Of course, he was right, and we consulted with our good friend, webmaster, and attorney, Scott Pilutik, and took the plunge to host this website on our own on September 28, 2012.

Oh, what fun we’ve had since then thanks to our great commenting community. Maybe it’s a good sign that things have been going along so strongly, we didn’t even realize the date had crept up on us. Onward and upward!

 
——————–

Bonus photos from our tipsters

We’re sure that Scientology’s Volunteer Ministers and Colombia’s National Circle of Aid Technicians handing each other plaques is like huge news all over South America, but it’s hard to focus on the news in these photos when these uniforms are so distracting…

 
——————–

BOOK NOTES

We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.

Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…

 
Sept 28: Seattle, Razzi’s Pizzeria, 7 pm, with Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists

Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm

Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 25: Melbourne, venue secured (announcement coming later)

Oct 28: Adelaide, Wheatsheaf Hotel, (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 30: Perth

Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29), London (8/4), Boston (8/24), Phoenix (9/15), Cleveland (9/23), Minneapolis (9/24), Portland (9/27)

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on September 28, 2015 at 07:00

E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA 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

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
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

 Please note the early hour for today’s event in Portland, Oregon: We’ll be talking about our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely at 12:45 pm at the Friendly House at 1737 NW 26th Ave. And hey, how’s this for a bonus: You’ll not only get to meet your proprietor, but one of our great correspondents, former [...]]]>

 
Please note the early hour for today’s event in Portland, Oregon: We’ll be talking about our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely at 12:45 pm at the Friendly House at 1737 NW 26th Ave. And hey, how’s this for a bonus: You’ll not only get to meet your proprietor, but one of our great correspondents, former Scientologist marketing wizard Jefferson Hawkins, will be there! We’re so looking forward to finally meeting the man.

Hey, but we also wanted to follow up on yesterday’s story about the motion that Alex “Darth Xander” Hageli filed to challenge Scientology’s permanent injunction against the Lisa McPherson Trust, which was finalized in 2001.

Alex shared with us a letter by Scientology attorney Wally Pope, who claimed that because Hageli was working “in concert with” one of the people named in the injunction (former LMT videographer Mark Bunker) then Hageli was also subject to its restrictions against protesting Scientology facilities in town.

Hageli denies that he’s working with Bunker, and he said as much in his court motion, which asks for the injunction to be dissolved.

Well, today, we want to show you a second letter Hageli received from Pope, who described what Scientology might do if Hageli dared to litigate against the injunction. Pope says Scientology would then ask for attorneys fees against Hageli in what sure sounds like a threat. Here, read it yourself…

Wally Pope to Alex Hageli Letter

 
So, it’s important to keep in mind that Alex Hageli really is taking a risk by sticking his neck out on this. He may want the courts to consider erasing the injunction, but you can bet that Scientology will oppose it with its usual scorched-earth tactics.

 
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British paper on Sweeney and Rinder

Here’s a fun piece today about BBC journalist John Sweeney, former Scientology spokesman Mike Rinder, and Alex Gibney’s film Going Clear. Good to see the movie is kicking up related items like this.

 
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Bonus photos from our tipsters

The L. Ron Hubbard statue seems to be singing along at this Scientology Puebla event in Mexico.

 
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BOOK NOTES

We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.

Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…

 
Sept 27: Portland, Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave, 12:45 pm, sponsored by Humanists of Greater Portland

Sept 28: Seattle, Razzi’s Pizzeria, 7 pm, with Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists

Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm

Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 25: Melbourne, venue secured (announcement coming later)

Oct 28: Adelaide, Wheatsheaf Hotel, (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 30: Perth

Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29), London (8/4), Boston (8/24), Phoenix (9/15), Cleveland (9/23), Minneapolis (9/24)

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 27, 2015 at 07:00

E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA 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

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
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

It’s on to the Twin Cities today after a great night in Ohio. We want to thank Miss Tia for showing us around Cleveland yesterday and then making sure we got to the venue in time. The Bunker contingent last night was something else. And how great to meet regulars like Frodis73, KnitNut, FlyOnTheWall, and [...]]]>

It’s on to the Twin Cities today after a great night in Ohio. We want to thank Miss Tia for showing us around Cleveland yesterday and then making sure we got to the venue in time. The Bunker contingent last night was something else. And how great to meet regulars like Frodis73, KnitNut, FlyOnTheWall, and Jimmy3.

Today, we’re really looking forward to a special treat: We’ll be appearing live, in-studio at the Lori & Julia Show at MyTalk 107.1, a show we’ve been on numerous times by telephone before. Lori & Julia are a lot of fun, and they care about getting things right when it comes to Scientology. How fun to get to meet them and talk about things in studio with them!

We hope you can join us at our event at 7 pm. It’s in Roseville, at Grumpy’s Bar & Grill, 2801 Snelling Ave, and it’s being sponsored by Minnesota Atheists.

Now, on to some new stuff in the world of Scientology. We want to thank Jeffrey Augustine for sending us his latest podcast, a really great interview with Bill Franks. Bill was once the ED Int — the Executive Director International — one of the highest positions in Scientology. We talked to Bill for our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, and he provided some really fascinating first-hand material. He says he personally went through documents showing how much Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had it in for Paulette Cooper. The resources expended by Scientology to try and destroy her certainly do attest to that.

Now, Jeff does an excellent job talking to Bill about his own personal journey in the organization. Jeff has also given us a short description of it.

Imagine being a highly dedicated Sea Org member in the late 1960s. You have read the OT III materials. You know about Xenu and consider the story to be ridiculous. And then, because you are young, dedicated, smart, and able to get things done, L. Ron Hubbard himself appoints you to be one of his key executives. There you are, on the Flagship Apollo, sitting across from Hubbard in his private cabin. This is the guy who wrote the Xenu materials and you now work closely with him every day.

Hubbard chain-smokes Kool menthol cigarettes as he talks to you about the worldwide issues and challenges faced by the Church of Scientology. Hubbard likes you so much that he summons you and his new son-in-law Jon Horwich to his cabin each night where he talks at length until the wee hours of the morning. Hubbard gets very personal in these talks. Hubbard talks about how he craves money and power and he just cannot seem to get enough of either.

You are Sea Org and do not get along with the Guardian’s Office. Mary Sue Hubbard does not like you. In fact, you and Mary Sue have had several arguments. No one in the Guardian’s Office likes you. L. Ron Hubbard wants it this way as he deliberately set up a power struggle between the Guardian’s Office and the Sea Org.

As you move through your career at the very top of Scientology, you are brutally RPF’d several times and then put back on executive posts.

In the fallout following the Snow White Program, Action Chief David Miscavige phones to inform you that he has obtained the OK to take out the Guardian’s Office. Miscavige tells you that Hubbard wants Mary Sue to drop her legal fight and go to prison as she is a liability. You become a key part of the mission to take down Mary Sue and the Guardian’s Office.

In 1980 Hubbard gives you a lifetime appointment as Executive Director International of the Church of Scientology. You are also Chairman of the Board of the Church. You wonder if you are being set up to be the fall guy if anything goes wrong and the Feds move in on the Church of Scientology…

Welcome to the world of Bill Franks when he was a high-ranking executive in the Church of Scientology during a crucial period in its history. In this gripping interview, Bill Franks shares a very rare and unique insider’s perspective.

In this episode, Robyn gives details about what it’s like to work as a staff member and management representative at the Los Angeles “Model Org for Scientology.” This is the same org that is now manned up with nothing but Sea Org members. Back in 1992 when Robyn first transferred there, Sea Org member Jeannie Sonenfeld was in charge. Unfortunately, Jeannie is still in, now running the Church of Scientology in Cincinnati. Robyn describes Jeannie’s disastrous method of running the show and then talks about what it was like when OT VIII John Woodruff took over and LA org reportedly achieved “Saint Hill size.” And to be clear, there is very little difference between how things were then and how they are now. It only got crazier for Robyn after that and you’re going to find out all about Scientology’s “family values.” I hope you find week’s episode interesting, educational and enlightening.

BOOK NOTES

We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.

Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…

Sept 24: Minneapolis, Grumpy’s Bar & Grill, 2801 Snelling Ave, Roseville, 7 pm, sponsored by Minnesota Atheists

Sept 27: Portland, Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave, 12:45 pm, sponsored by Humanists of Greater Portland

Sept 28: Seattle, Razzi’s Pizzeria, 7 pm, with Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists

Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm

Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 25: Melbourne, venue secured (announcement coming later)

Oct 28: Adelaide, Wheatsheaf Hotel, (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 30: Perth

Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29), London (8/4), Boston (8/24), Phoenix (9/15), Cleveland (9/23)

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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 24, 2015 at 07:00

E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA 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

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
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

 Hey, your proprietor is in Cleveland today, our first trip to this fair city and a visit we’ve been really looking forward to. In the evening we’re giving a talk about our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, but before that a friendly Bunkerite has agreed to show us around town. Are we lucky or what?

If [...]]]>

 
Hey, your proprietor is in Cleveland today, our first trip to this fair city and a visit we’ve been really looking forward to. In the evening we’re giving a talk about our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, but before that a friendly Bunkerite has agreed to show us around town. Are we lucky or what?

If you’re in the area, come on down for the event, which is free and sponsored by Center for Inquiry-Northeast Ohio. We’ll be at the Parma Heights Library at 7 pm. We hear there are pre- and post-parties planned by the local Bunkeroos, so you might get in on those, too. Wow, that’s a lot of yarns we’re going to need to spin. We may have to dig deep into our secret stuff to keep that party going.

While we settle into Harvey Pekar Country today, we have a suitably bizarre and fun item for you, just for the heck of it.

It comes to us from Professor Dave Touretzky, who reminded us that some time back, one of our readers found a source for some parts from E-meters, and he did something creative with them. Well, now, here’s the update from Touretzky…

Hey Tony, remember a few years ago a guy found a bunch of E-meter meter movements for sale at an electronics surplus site? And he stuck one in a Hindu goddess figure as a work of art? I think you even ran a picture of it.

Well, he’s upped his game. He built a sensitive resistance meter that works much like the real E-meter into the back of the thing, and tweaked it so just bringing your hand close to the setup will cause the meter to move. He tells people it’s a “karma meter.” Hilarious!

He sent me pictures and a writeup, which he says are OK to share but keep his name off of it because he’s afraid of Scientology’s lawyers. So here you go: a karmic recycled E-meter.

 
A karma meter that registers nearby movement? Just think how much cash David Miscavige could reg out of people with a thing like that. And thank you, good professor!

 
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Bryan Seymour keeps up the intensity

Wow, our friend Bryan Seymour in Australia is really on a roll. Here’s day two on the Narconon litigation down there…

 
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‘Going Clear’ in France

Our man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, tells us that a “very good source” has told him that Alex Gibney’s documentary about Scientology, Going Clear, will be airing on Canal+ on November 11. Sacre bleu!

We hope it’s true.

 
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Bonus photos from our tipsters

Another front group, another set of celebrities clueless that they’re supporting Scientology. Kristin Chenoweth pimps for the Youth for Human Rights splinter group, Slavery-Free Youth…

 
…Joshua Schultz with surfer Tricia Lurie…

 
…and Kerri Kasem makes the scene too…

 
…Woo-hoo! OT 8 Marisol Nichols helped us snag Utah’s attorney general, Sean Reyes! Viva Scientology!

 
——————–

BOOK NOTES

We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.

Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…

 
Sept 23: Cleveland, Parma Heights Library, 7pm sponsored by Center for Inquiry – Northeast Ohio

Sept 24: Minneapolis, Grumpy’s Bar & Grill, 2801 Snelling Ave, Roseville, 7 pm, sponsored by Minnesota Atheists

Sept 27: Portland, Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave, 12:45 pm, sponsored by Humanists of Greater Portland

Sept 28: Seattle, Razzi’s Pizzeria, 7 pm, with Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists

Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm

Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 25: Melbourne, venue secured (announcement coming later)

Oct 28: Adelaide, Wheatsheaf Hotel, (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 30: Perth

Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29), London (8/4), Boston (8/24), Phoenix (9/15)

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 23, 2015 at 07:00

E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA 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

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
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield