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In response to my essay on the Azores hurricane of October 1970, two of my shipmates at the time wrote in to say that what they remember most was being seasick. Their comments shed light on this additional burden that so many of my Apollo shipmates endured, in addition to the other hardships of their lives aboard. So it got me thinking about my own experience, and sent me digging for related Sea Org policies, as well as for current information. Continue reading Rough seas? Tough cookie, sailor. In Scientology, you upchuck at your own peril
 [Plaintiff Chrissie Carnell-Bixler and defendant Danny Masterson]Last year the California State Supreme Court took the unusual step of intervening in a court case involving former Scientologists suing the church and Danny Masterson. That eventually led to a landmark appeals court decision in January defeating Scientology’s “religious arbitration” strategy, which had derailed the lawsuit. Continue reading Scientology asks California Supreme Court to review its defeat on ‘religious arbitration’

One of the things that makes Scientology so unique is the way it’s caught between two very different concepts of itself. Continue reading And now a word from Scientology’s very own church ladies — Valley chapter

According to his longtime comedy partner Tom Solari, Scientology’s former Narconon International president Clark Carr has died after a yearlong bout with cancer. He was 75. Continue reading Clark Carr, 75, who gave up comedy dreams to become Scientology’s drug rehab mouthpiece
 [Scientology attorney William Forman, and Danny Masterson]On February 8 there was a hearing in Danny Masterson’s rape case, and it received substantial coverage from the news media. Masterson’s motion to have the charges against him thrown out was denied by Judge Ronald Coen. The parties then moved down the hall to the trial court of Judge Charlaine Olmedo, who quashed a new set of duplicative subpoenas by Masterson’s new attorney, Shawn Holley. Continue reading In Danny Masterson rape case, Scientology tried to put LA court through ‘Truth Rundown’

Arrests continue to be made in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot as the FBI is still working to identify some of the individuals in the mob that stormed the building. The latest case unsealed was noted by news organizations because it involved an interesting couple who lived together in a home in Dunedin, Florida: Carol Kicinski, 67, who made a name for herself as a gluten-free chef, with a monthly TV show and also a magazine she’d founded, and Jon Heneghan, 57, a professional poker player. Continue reading Latest Capitol rioters arrested: Florida TV chef and poker player — and OT Scientologists
 [Is this Freewinds Capt Mike Napier “training” Dutch Coast Guard members?]In 2019, Scientology issued one of its typically boastful press releases, this time about its private cruise ship, the Freewinds. In it, the church claimed about its floating cathedral, “Such is her reputation, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) appointed the Freewinds as a training platform to train crew members Caribbean-wide on maritime standards — a distinction it has held since 2007.” Continue reading What the Dutch Coast Guard really thinks about Scientology and its ship the Freewinds

September 1970, Azores. Now that I have moved my way up from the Stewards Department to administrative jobs, a new highlight of my life on board is my initiation into the routines and rituals of sea watches. Continue reading Shekter: A trial by storm for Scientology’s most dedicated still resonates today

Although the pandemic put a hold on Scientology’s major events and its ‘Ideal Org’ grand openings, leader David Miscavige is still pushing his troops to staff up orgs that were about to open before the lockdowns. Continue reading Scientology celebrates new staff as everything is really going gangbusters
 [He’s simmering.][Jeffrey Augustine shares some thoughts with us about the recent landmark court rulings we’ve been watching — ed.] Continue reading After a court restored the Danny Masterson suit, Scientology is apoplectic with rage
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