tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21289850620869580872024-03-14T11:12:59.350+08:00Another Look at ScientologyScientology News from an Independent PerspectiveBerniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.comBlogger763125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-70114199630534194562011-05-20T12:16:00.002+08:002011-05-20T12:23:41.082+08:00Interactive timeline: Anonymous - Interactive - Al Jazeera English<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYUD7Zp1yablRqsRVvgqTKmzgehbqhUvOt2rltipZU9VNTY7C_kXaroQBSkblYI34qiMkH05VdrKiNfhnEXg-VoEz3H-MajbIm9zvcbxkjlkM-qBtz8B1KlL4QAWUq37QYpjPjrsyjSW7/s1600/2011-05-20_061607.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYUD7Zp1yablRqsRVvgqTKmzgehbqhUvOt2rltipZU9VNTY7C_kXaroQBSkblYI34qiMkH05VdrKiNfhnEXg-VoEz3H-MajbIm9zvcbxkjlkM-qBtz8B1KlL4QAWUq37QYpjPjrsyjSW7/s320/2011-05-20_061607.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608647624259961666" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/interactive/2011/05/2011519182744550587.html">Interactive timeline: Anonymous - Interactive - Al Jazeera English</a>: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"<br /><br />Nicely made Anonymous time line. Starts with Anonymous' fight against the Church of Scientology. I guess this is more or less correct since we could say that Anonymous entry into the hacktivism scene dates from then, even though they did a lot of pranks before.<br /><br />As for the Church of Scientology, it's largely a fail, mostly because, like for the church's critics, they couldn't avoid the trap of falling themselves in the very travers they were decrying against the CoS.<br /><br />As for the Arab Spring, I don't know, because it's the first time I read about this possible link, and I am not sure I will have the time or the interest to read it all - but anyway, certainly worth mentionning.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-38429458967450334932011-05-20T12:12:00.003+08:002011-05-20T12:15:17.354+08:00Anonymous and the Arab uprisings - Middle East - Al Jazeera English<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n9G3VmDsg_CM_Kg3PfEPKFwQwAa-DPpCS9tX1xlCsSI7YgItMko7bp1vxPCYv6pyyaub3hwgk1AOvlARKqUHn3_zu_TOIrZSeLlTcXmzgW2YTY57AHYkGLoCvk0pXLndAV-nB_nCNgLA/s1600/2011-05-20_060815.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n9G3VmDsg_CM_Kg3PfEPKFwQwAa-DPpCS9tX1xlCsSI7YgItMko7bp1vxPCYv6pyyaub3hwgk1AOvlARKqUHn3_zu_TOIrZSeLlTcXmzgW2YTY57AHYkGLoCvk0pXLndAV-nB_nCNgLA/s320/2011-05-20_060815.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608646671724368738" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201151917634659824.html">Anonymous and the Arab uprisings - Middle East - Al Jazeera English</a>: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"<br /><br />Didn't follow all this mess for quite a while now but Anonymous re-appears in the news as linked to the Arab spring?Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-88115107500828520962010-11-26T05:57:00.005+08:002010-11-26T06:05:15.061+08:00Mind-Blowing Willow Smith<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaXKTG3KazHPUjSvIf8FExq16SArvlHETbKz2ROaI3qNlFB268i_cCnxz4xijjPbyF-JUEgphwMP0Hmw28WRd0rKlRjV23aEG6TONt76t7h2PS-KUjrRP6g6M7WvXKd0ijb9RoDMWWrF_/s1600/2010-11-25_224751.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaXKTG3KazHPUjSvIf8FExq16SArvlHETbKz2ROaI3qNlFB268i_cCnxz4xijjPbyF-JUEgphwMP0Hmw28WRd0rKlRjV23aEG6TONt76t7h2PS-KUjrRP6g6M7WvXKd0ijb9RoDMWWrF_/s400/2010-11-25_224751.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543610787546774786" border="0" /></a><br />Where do all these kids come from? It's like raining small bombs of concentrated talent! After Jackie Evancho, now Willow Smith? I was blown away by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWWS7E26XLU">Willow's appearance on Ellen</a>. What a performance! What a personality in the interview! WOW!<br /><br />Now for something different. Where in the world does OK Mag take that Willow is a Scientology kid? She isn't. The Smiths are not Scientologists. OK, they are friends of the Cruises and use some Scientology techniques in their school but they are not Scientologist. I don't follow much these things today but at least I know that.<br /><br />Anyway, if Willow was an example of Scientology tech, then we should all plunge head first into it. But she isn't. She is just a high concentration of pure and unadultered talent. Absolutely amazing!Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-35491052328487601572010-10-02T15:28:00.005+08:002010-10-02T21:47:01.160+08:00Eco Cultists Blowing Up Kids in a "Good Cause"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWHPd2E9qAtY2mv9hOdJVr_yb5bbGX2WJU5Y_0hCGXmGzlIDKlRA1P9gO7DQGMDERDKBCynpirzCKqLWRppyKlMPuoY4pSVm6Zs6oswf4UVKrtA_102WZ22m0lTqcJqmngINrzLb9P87r/s1600/2010-10-02_092605.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWHPd2E9qAtY2mv9hOdJVr_yb5bbGX2WJU5Y_0hCGXmGzlIDKlRA1P9gO7DQGMDERDKBCynpirzCKqLWRppyKlMPuoY4pSVm6Zs6oswf4UVKrtA_102WZ22m0lTqcJqmngINrzLb9P87r/s400/2010-10-02_092605.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523347720788615778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR73mcZW7B4&feature=related">YouTube - Leaked Eco-Terror Commercial (No Pressure)</a>:<br /><br />I am definitely an ecologist at heart - been helping the ecology movement at its outset 30 years ago, always vote for the green list, etc - but I am truly worried by people who claim to be sensible to nature and find it "extremely funny" to blow up dissenting kids in a gory video to promote their views. Has the green movement turned into a fanatical cult? At least some green activists certainly did turn into cultists of sort, as they have all the sign of it - fanatical to the point of losing any sensitivity and finding "funny" to blow up kids for a "good cause".<br /><br />I am sorry but this is absolutely wrong and I am deeply offended by what I consider a treason of my own ideals. If anything, that video makes me want to start my own oil factory just in reaction.<br /><br />Nor do these activists seem to get "why" so many people find that video totally repulsive. As an "apology" on their <a href="http://www.1010global.org/uk/2010/10/sorry">web site</a> they write: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Many people found the resulting film extremely funny, but unfortunately some didn't</span>" - proving that they themselves are in the mentality I wrote above ("many... extremely funny... some... not"). Incredible, they just don't seem to get it (another sign of true cultism) - plus they end up as if all of the fuss was just a non-important mistake, dealt with just by "moving out".Wrong, wrong, wrong.<br /><br />Anyway... Hopefully they'll make a deeper realization, because the cause they are defending is of course well worth it - one more reason to avoid this kind of super foot bullet.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-8707755428735447052010-08-15T03:19:00.009+08:002010-08-15T03:54:55.375+08:00Jaw-Dropping Happening on America's Got Talent<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeC-VGw_cEvL35mY1WE4ld25u1sY3Z_8C-OIwKrvTRQlVteyXjriU8alyHHIxuH3q7bhpq8UPgpUO_ueh5rT-MA__KApwnY4pIJd61xRwCLD1JZu1JjL2O5w8qED2E5KA4rJuMAwoOMh0/s1600/jackie-evancho-180x120b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeC-VGw_cEvL35mY1WE4ld25u1sY3Z_8C-OIwKrvTRQlVteyXjriU8alyHHIxuH3q7bhpq8UPgpUO_ueh5rT-MA__KApwnY4pIJd61xRwCLD1JZu1JjL2O5w8qED2E5KA4rJuMAwoOMh0/s400/jackie-evancho-180x120b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505349472935918370" border="0" /></a>You probably heard by now this stunning rendition of <span style="font-style: italic;">O mio babbino caro</span> sang by a 10-years old who sounds and looks like an angel. I already posted about Susan Boyle at the time and I cannot help posting about a comparable event - a unique moment in history when Spirit manifest on earth and everybody instantly goes WOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ></span>There's really little else that can be said. The video sings for itself!<br /><br /><br /><object height="300" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SKhmFSV-XB0?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SKhmFSV-XB0?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">O Mio Babbino Caro</span><br /><br />Italian Lyrics<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">O mio babbino caro<br />Mi piace, è bello, è bello<br />Vo' andare in Porta Rossa<br />a comperar l'anello!<br />Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!<br />e se l'amassi indarno,<br />andrei sul Ponte Vecchio,<br />ma per buttarmi in Arno!<br />Mi struggo e mi tormento!<br />O Dio, vorrei morir!<br />Babbo, pietà, pietà!<br />Babbo, pietà, pietà!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >English Lyrics</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh my dear papa<br />I love him, he is handsome, handsome<br />I want to go to Porta Rossa<br />to buy the ring!<br />Yes, yes, I want to go there!<br />And if my love were in vain,<br />I would go to the Ponte Vecchio<br />and throw myself in the Arno!<br />I am being consumed by the torment!<br />Oh God, I'd like to die!<br />Papa, have pity, have pity!<br />Papa, have pity, have pity!</span>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-12267421080367278292010-07-26T06:04:00.003+08:002010-07-26T13:46:05.927+08:00Kathy Griffin slammed for Scott Brown remarks - USATODAY.com<a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/07/kathy-griffin-slammed-for-scott-brown-remarks/1">Kathy Griffin slammed for Scott Brown remarks - USATODAY.com</a>: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"<br /><br />When a humorist has to stoop down to slamming to get attention, what does it tell you? To me it tells that this humorist has a lack of imagination and seeks to suceed by shock rather than talent. She did it before with with Scientology, she did it again with Senator Scott brown, calling her two daughter prostitutes.<br /><br />I don't find it funny.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-75397759263740910542009-11-10T14:06:00.007+08:002009-11-10T14:24:27.622+08:00Strength of Cult Experience<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dEtBLek7opYpfGa0Mh6IoOSeKdIgcmt6_YOg2bFjMd4nlBE14q4tVXquBlTdyqK_fEbobrk8EYJGS6xliOkerpFqbnqjpjURCSC2zIHTIGKwnVoeYQlMGvHJSotnpwn-SacZ59DJMbjk/s1600-h/2009-11-10_070741.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dEtBLek7opYpfGa0Mh6IoOSeKdIgcmt6_YOg2bFjMd4nlBE14q4tVXquBlTdyqK_fEbobrk8EYJGS6xliOkerpFqbnqjpjURCSC2zIHTIGKwnVoeYQlMGvHJSotnpwn-SacZ59DJMbjk/s400/2009-11-10_070741.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402353116631600610" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://tossandripple.blogspot.com/2009/08/cult-recovery-101-and-beyond.html">toss & ripple: Cult-Recovery 101 and Beyond</a><br /><br />If there are still people following this blog in spite of the fact that I barelly have time to update it anymore (or even just read the Scientology-related news for that matter), have a look at this blog post, and the related pages. Though I could not read them in details it really seems to fit to what I call the "Third Way". It's comforting to know that we are at least a few to think along that line and that some people do a beautiful job at it.<br /><br />Related blog entry: <a href="http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/02/positive-cult-experience.html">http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/02/positive-cult-experience.html</a>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-51943330780116704072009-08-20T05:35:00.001+08:002009-08-20T05:38:06.823+08:00"Hidden" PayPal Fees Inciting Community Unrest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILpYhF1tKTuhBseYNcs04KevY-i38KUrjTrahzBzHRjcDPTljjD2pWlAJ6wqqkgolGYrgoqHaGTxaUwBADGoMqWFnLN8J52-QBCSFu2Nttrrnzt7yPgotL9SR5Df4f42grvUGJgsPEcFw/s1600-h/banners_block_big.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILpYhF1tKTuhBseYNcs04KevY-i38KUrjTrahzBzHRjcDPTljjD2pWlAJ6wqqkgolGYrgoqHaGTxaUwBADGoMqWFnLN8J52-QBCSFu2Nttrrnzt7yPgotL9SR5Df4f42grvUGJgsPEcFw/s200/banners_block_big.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371791832449691906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/08/19/2011258/Hidden-PayPal-Fees-Inciting-Community-Unrest?from=rss">Slashdot News Story | "Hidden" PayPal Fees Inciting Community Unrest</a><br /><br />I had the worst possible experience with Paypal. I discourage anybody to use it. Apparently I was not the only one, as this thread on Slashdot show.<br /><br />And here are two more links:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kudzuworld.com/blogs/tech/paypal.en.aspx">http://www.kudzuworld.com/blogs/tech/paypal.en.aspx</a><br /><a href="http://www.paypalsucks.com/">http://www.paypalsucks.com/</a>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-38519098467831097902009-08-03T14:41:00.001+08:002009-08-03T14:41:49.460+08:00World Whines as AT&T Muzzles 4chanThe Register has a rant about ATT blocking 4chan. Doesn't really say much, though.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/03/dzuiba_att/">World whines as AT&T muzzles 4chan, Google • The Register</a>: "The most newsworthy message board on 4chan is /b/, which new journalists discover about every four months when they want to scare the shit out of people who own computers. Some /b/ users, who go by the name Anonymous, know a thing or two about internet security, and they entertain themselves by breaking into people’s private e-mail accounts, MySpace accounts, and other such painfully inconsequential things. Because of this, /b/ makes a decent slow-news-day scare piece: an army of anonymous hackers are out there, and they’re reading your e-mail. Oh shit. This just got real."<br /><br />...<br /><br /><p>'The revolution will not be televised, but you can damn well believe it will be Twittered, and then promptly forgotten as it scrolls off the screen."</p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-45456137368706485592009-08-02T18:16:00.001+08:002009-08-02T18:17:15.276+08:00Father Guilty in Prayer Death Case<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=8232041">Wis. Jury: Father Guilty in Prayer Death Case - ABC News</a>: "A central Wisconsin man accused of killing his 11-year-old daughter by praying instead of seeking medical care was found guilty Saturday of second-degree reckless homicide."Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-32687971420718404762009-08-01T14:50:00.002+08:002009-08-01T14:52:00.221+08:00Financial Times Article on Anonymous<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhw1MYl8uEtKbSGJTchW7HSQ-YGbrLAs_IUeLOaGYjraZDXA3FAqCcDcCoD-ABhcQAQyueeRGiCQoBH-mkqgchfpZWFAnw_VjCNUxMTDr-uQW0KJn_zstBa8GhiAHfodPmfRyQntaQc3E9/s1600-h/2009-08-01_084724.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhw1MYl8uEtKbSGJTchW7HSQ-YGbrLAs_IUeLOaGYjraZDXA3FAqCcDcCoD-ABhcQAQyueeRGiCQoBH-mkqgchfpZWFAnw_VjCNUxMTDr-uQW0KJn_zstBa8GhiAHfodPmfRyQntaQc3E9/s200/2009-08-01_084724.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364884276775745314" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/9124da44-7ca6-11de-a7bf-00144feabdc0.html">FT.com / Reportage - Dissenters transform the art of protest</a><br /><br />No time to actually read it but the Financial Times has an article about Anonymous with an enthraling title: "Dissenters Transfor the Art of Protest". It is being follow by the interview of an anon - "I do it for the LULZ" usual stuff...Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-45263105961105805222009-07-31T12:01:00.002+08:002009-07-31T12:03:39.921+08:00Gentle Countering<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7FWYLM2Am8lT9ZCE0sU4k1Jyg0G1O8Oyt64xQm-ILB_hsoyblAe8NtFfGJfHfB1akLre6DDNt7Ca5DP1lObwyw9mnwcvsqa38H96ADhJvyRztjU2wTqzWOzH1rWIl_iOxVdIwwb92iTG/s1600-h/2009-07-31_055331.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7FWYLM2Am8lT9ZCE0sU4k1Jyg0G1O8Oyt64xQm-ILB_hsoyblAe8NtFfGJfHfB1akLre6DDNt7Ca5DP1lObwyw9mnwcvsqa38H96ADhJvyRztjU2wTqzWOzH1rWIl_iOxVdIwwb92iTG/s400/2009-07-31_055331.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364469687628813554" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTPsFIsxM3w">YouTube - The Truth About Amsterdam, RE: Bill O'Reilly loves Amsterdam</a><br /><br />Amsterdam is an absolutely delightful town, and tolerance, together with the high-spirited Dutch mood is part of the package. I just love it, and Dutch people are some of my favorite people, together with Italians.<br /><br />Fascist jerks at Fox of course don't like it. This little video is a wonderful reply, posting facts and pictures to contrast with wild claims.<br /><br />This entry is not entirely off-topic, and the CoS could inspire itself to counter similar wild claims made by critics. I don't mean to say Scientology is not a cult, ultimately, but some of the claims critics make are even more ridiculous than Fox and deserve to be contrasted this way.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-77421432947775954012009-07-27T14:17:00.003+08:002009-07-27T14:39:53.307+08:00AT&T Blocks Part of 4chan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzpYUbc8Ef5FDzUGCFoSZiOdpmvfzPHLmAv1QZWBrzqeWprValNAHm6h3wOYa89dudvME3I8A74fWVgVHDByKuqlVgZwte7p76qXKxGDKLl5pY_m7MkeiO5_wJJL_HFMuxWwyx_Na3jws/s1600-h/2009-07-27_083853.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzpYUbc8Ef5FDzUGCFoSZiOdpmvfzPHLmAv1QZWBrzqeWprValNAHm6h3wOYa89dudvME3I8A74fWVgVHDByKuqlVgZwte7p76qXKxGDKLl5pY_m7MkeiO5_wJJL_HFMuxWwyx_Na3jws/s400/2009-07-27_083853.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363025948061094434" border="0" /></a><a href="http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/07/27/054230/ATT-Blocks-Part-of-4chan?from=rss">Slashdot Technology Story | AT&T Blocks Part of 4chan</a>: "'Several news sources (Mashable, The Inquistr, etc.) are reporting that AT&T is blocking img.4chan.org in the southern united states. That server is used for the infamous /b/ board (the home of anonymous). TechCrunch calls the decision to block 4chan 'stupid,' noting that they may have 'opened perhaps the most vindictive, messy can of worms.' The Inquisitr suggests that 'The global internet censorship debate landed in the home of the free.' moot (who runs 4chan) asks users to call AT&T, while some others suggest more drastic action (like cutting AT&T fiber).'"Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-30188689552223007232009-07-25T20:14:00.004+08:002009-07-27T01:11:42.624+08:00Katie Holmes Dancing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTKPCKjuw3XQCcWT8delFocJ6mMyDd7hNev-0uAXxZI8HFprtt4PP6SIsDUSWKTqkAU_p6ncdf-myAI7Mb8r5a52514fWo93YgoHH4iuRNpEPzvnztI2D0Ikxc9AYxPlcnCovQNLPh8LC/s1600-h/2009-07-25_141246.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTKPCKjuw3XQCcWT8delFocJ6mMyDd7hNev-0uAXxZI8HFprtt4PP6SIsDUSWKTqkAU_p6ncdf-myAI7Mb8r5a52514fWo93YgoHH4iuRNpEPzvnztI2D0Ikxc9AYxPlcnCovQNLPh8LC/s400/2009-07-25_141246.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362370065844248962" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QYU0qODfRY">YouTube - katie holmes thinks she can dance</a><br /><br />No very difficult dance moves but frankly not bad. I am more impressed with the singing, though.<br /><br />Update: the video now made it to the "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/browse?c=0&s=mp">most viewed</a>" category. In the meantime I learned that the singing in fact is the original Judy Garland to which she just lip sinc. I was wondering too as this was far better than the dancing itself and nobody seemed to notice ;-)<br /><br />Update2: Now I am a little bit confused, because in yet <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wttveogffr4">another video</a> that made it to the most viewed category, the presenter seems to say (not very clear) that it's actually Katie singing. If true, then it is going to become much bigger than it is, because I think that, while the dance is just so-so, the singing is outstanding.<br /><br />update3: OK- I am now convinced that this is actually Katie singing. Just search the news and you'll many references to it. Besides, here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrMY4PrCz4k">2007 video</a> of her singing another song, and yes, it's the same voice. Check also <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-9158-Womens-TV-Examiner%7Ey2009m7d23-Katie-Holmes-singing-and-dancing-on-SYTYCD-tonight-on-FOX">this page</a> that has Judy Garland's performance and Katie's back to back and you'll that the original voice is markedly different(though I do like the original choreography better but that's beside the point). I can really envision Katie completing the video that is shown at the start of the performance and putting it up on the market. Her voice really do match the one of Judy Garland! A rather amazing discovery (and so I'll put it in the Amazing category now).Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-13448830684752071042009-07-25T19:08:00.003+08:002009-07-25T19:14:29.973+08:00Obama's Mis-Step<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBx3eTIm7IGQTMGFHSDTitn_rG24bprueyGI44j-vutM5sdpHpCifE_sjyFRxYCSFKlCv2dWtKZkXFZs_V9pEKvTiMdX6cT1M-KnK-VpwPKiBvpC8-hYZabUtiKETqT7gW7MnKhFB9ySD/s1600-h/2009-07-25_125825.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBx3eTIm7IGQTMGFHSDTitn_rG24bprueyGI44j-vutM5sdpHpCifE_sjyFRxYCSFKlCv2dWtKZkXFZs_V9pEKvTiMdX6cT1M-KnK-VpwPKiBvpC8-hYZabUtiKETqT7gW7MnKhFB9ySD/s400/2009-07-25_125825.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362353328731062866" border="0" /></a><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=8171177">Obama Moves to Dampen Uproar Over Comment on Race - ABC News</a><br /><br />I too thought that Obama's words were ill-chosen as he commented on the Gates incident, and God knows I am an Obama fan. Really, he should not have commented at all, as it was only an incident and not worth making it a political issue at that level.<br /><br />I also fail to see why race was an issue in the case. I have seen many videos of police behaving in a dis-proportioned way towards people of all races...<br /><br />Really, it is not the place of a President to take side in such matters and give it national and international attention, as well as fomenting debates and conflict on such a sensible subject.<br /><br />Obama did make a mistake. This is good in the way it reminds us that, he too, is just human. Maybe a real apology would have been better.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-44776358034726203142009-07-25T18:14:00.002+08:002009-07-25T18:19:30.479+08:00UnmodarateI removed the pre-moderation for comments. I almost never moderate out a comment anyway and in the past the spam has not been that bad either. Frankly speaking, the way I like it for myself and in general is the non-moderate way so I'll try to see how it works.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-52978107718808341392009-07-25T16:19:00.011+08:002009-07-25T17:02:40.650+08:00Diary of a Scientologist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvBAQLrzHWpWOMTgha31MUFrqddPEUJnolSOiYbda0PZi5YecN2put9JgNnMYv2RQYsKpqp_ZR9g773rlWve0mvgzlA7GUk7ocdH7Q2ktnXU8dxhmdQQa0F4NP0NeV2z6M273fhIWi2ih/s1600-h/2009-07-25_081908.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvBAQLrzHWpWOMTgha31MUFrqddPEUJnolSOiYbda0PZi5YecN2put9JgNnMYv2RQYsKpqp_ZR9g773rlWve0mvgzlA7GUk7ocdH7Q2ktnXU8dxhmdQQa0F4NP0NeV2z6M273fhIWi2ih/s400/2009-07-25_081908.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362309688893679090" border="0" /></a><a href="http://mysite.verizon.net/toomajan/index.html">Diary Of A Scientologist</a><br /><br />Lawrence Toomajan kindly sent me this link - a summary of his understanding on Scientology and of his experience within the group.<br /><br />What follows is only my opinion after a first look, because I did not read all the site in details.<br /><br />At first sight, it looks quite impressive. I like the presentation, very clear, illustrated, and running in sequence, making the whole site to read like a book. The content is detailed, yet accessible to a large public. I found the detailed summary of the upper levels particularly interesting, fascinating in fact. The site does make some effort to try to focus on facts and to present what Scientology is in a relatively objective manner.<br /><br />For a while I thought that this may be a presentation I could recommend. Spot-reading certain key points, however, tempered my enthusiasm, as Lawrence's personal outlook taints the facts too much. It is still very interesting and easy to read, but, at the end, the presentation is just far more negative than, in my opinion, it deserves, so critical reading through the whole work is a necessity.<br /><br />Let me take some of the key points that bothered me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Rehabilitation Project Force</span><br /><br />Again, this is a series of factual information, apart for the Erlich anecdotal evidence, and the fact that people are allowed to get 2 1/2 study and training time is properly reported.<br /><br />However, the whole thing is written in such a way as to give people the impression the RPF is a prison (it says that much even) to which they are put in by force and from which they can only escape by force as well. Lawrence could say that he properly reported that "a Sea Org member accepts this fate instead of being expelled from Scientology", pointing to the fact that time in the RPF is not against the person's will, but this statement is drowned in the whole that gives an impression that contradicts it, including the highly suspicious statement of Erlich that he was "locked in a cage next to a woman that was chained to a wall for several days". Such a statement, correctly reported as the testimony of Erlich rather than as a fact, is not there by chance and only serves to give people a dreadful impression of the RPF that, IMO, is way off-base.<br /><br />Now obviously the RPF is not the Club Med. I am not saying that it is a pleasant place to be and that, in such a context, abuses may not or did not occur, but it just does not correspond to the impression given in these three paragraphs. I can only encourage people to compare these with the pages I webbed at <a href="http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/rpf.htm">http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/rpf.htm</a>, to get a more fair idea. You can't, of course, go into much details in just three paragraphs, but I personally think that such a sensible point should not be treated in such a unilateral way and with such a negative slant. As for me, it rang an alarm bell, that lead me to take a more critical look on the whole site-book. Surely, the negative aspects of the RPF could be emphasised while also taking care not to over-do it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reading further</span><br /><br />I don't think, however, that Lawrence could restrain his overall negative view of Scientology through his writing, even though he may try to focus on facts and be relatively objective, because that's just how he personally seems to genuinely feel. This transpires in so many aspects, too numerous to pick, and sometimes also does distort facts.<br /><br />For example, Lawrence writes that Lisa McPherson "died of a stroke brought on by dehydration". This is very far from having been established. Quite on the contrary, arguments and facts prepared by the CoS for the then upcoming criminal case, showed that Lisa died as a result of a blood clot dating back to the road accident she was victim. This lead the prosecutor to drop the case, feeling that their argument of her having died from dehydration just could not be sustained in court. <a href="http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/Lisa_mcPherson.htm">See my Lisa McPherson page</a>. The least you could say is that it is a controversial matter and certainly not a clear-cut case. Lawrence, however, present it as such, ignoring all the elements that makes such a straight-out statement doubtful, to say the least.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All in All</span><br /><br />I still plan to read some day Lawrence's page in details, because it does look interesting, but, although I personally know enough about various aspects of the Scientology controversy to read through the lines and part facts from fictions, I am afraid it is not the case for the lay person, and I urge the reader the be very cautious when it comes to aspects that may seem too far-fetched to be true. It usually is. Far-fetched, that is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Between Lives Area</span><br /><br />I read with some interest these two paragraphs, because I often sought to make for myself an idea of what is the exact belief of Scientology on this question.<br /><br />Again, while an interesting read, I just wonder where did Lawrence get his information. It would be interesting to get a link to the various references used, but this is, at this stage at least, impossible, simply because there are no such links. I do recognize bits and pieces of what I read myself (implant stations, order to forget, etc) but never read anything that depicts it in such a clear-cut way.<br /><br />Again, based on what I read on the site about subjects where at least I do have some knowledge, I suspect that such a summary may be an over-simplified and somewhat biased depiction of Scientology beliefs on that matter. It may be correct, though, but certainly we would need the exact references to check it out.<br /><br />Now that Lawrence laid out his own basic belief/understanding of Scientology, he could spend time injecting links and references, and possibly review some of his more drastic statements.<br /><br />An easy and potentially interesting read nevertheless.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-586788826120763592009-07-20T03:01:00.003+08:002009-07-20T03:03:28.343+08:00'Anonymous' Targeted in Internet Blacklist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLduAhm4HVz0qLJ4e3h6kJG43SjBfVfFira7RYvW9Jf2wxaeZ752g_L9Mjp5GpqpgXeAnsiVuLSqrFZpHAZhuE4RBjN6N4L9osEJcmb-s0V-KHPisHj6sMVet1l0weFzlW0FGJYkuOMeB/s1600-h/2009-07-19_210024.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLduAhm4HVz0qLJ4e3h6kJG43SjBfVfFira7RYvW9Jf2wxaeZ752g_L9Mjp5GpqpgXeAnsiVuLSqrFZpHAZhuE4RBjN6N4L9osEJcmb-s0V-KHPisHj6sMVet1l0weFzlW0FGJYkuOMeB/s400/2009-07-19_210024.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360248656020188242" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://livenews.com.au/world/scientology-protest-group-anonymous-targeted-in-internet-blacklist-crackdown/2009/3/19/197946">S</a><a href="http://livenews.com.au/world/scientology-protest-group-anonymous-targeted-in-internet-blacklist-crackdown/2009/3/19/197946">cientology protest group 'Anonymous' targeted</a><br /><a href="http://livenews.com.au/world/scientology-protest-group-anonymous-targeted-in-internet-blacklist-crackdown/2009/3/19/197946"> in internet blacklist crackdown - news - world - LIVENEWS.com.au</a>: "A list of 2,395 websites which are considered unsuitable for Australian internet audiences has included a home base of 'Anonymous', the web-based activist group that made headlines by declaring war on the Church Of Scientology."Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-18964827132591332009-07-19T16:17:00.004+08:002009-07-19T16:25:00.723+08:00More Pandas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4IbbJQDIKCcUtIOA90NBZCA1-oOO7XGeP5DhXuLdIqWSdgsUyI5bXIclzk0TjVqQj-HTjZ3H8CYoZWRKo07sY3wvq4_Uy-10mzLBq7v_fOtCAHt0fJIp7VGkxtpTe00BS6n4HMb3_V_4/s1600-h/2009-07-19_101833.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4IbbJQDIKCcUtIOA90NBZCA1-oOO7XGeP5DhXuLdIqWSdgsUyI5bXIclzk0TjVqQj-HTjZ3H8CYoZWRKo07sY3wvq4_Uy-10mzLBq7v_fOtCAHt0fJIp7VGkxtpTe00BS6n4HMb3_V_4/s400/2009-07-19_101833.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360082882028793554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>A</span></span>t this stage I am quite enthusiastic about this revolutionary <a href="http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/07/clam-vs-panda.html">product</a> because it really is very light on PC resources and seems to constitute an excellent compromise. I think it is going to wipe out the competition, including Panda's own product. You can hardly make it more simple, powerful, and available.<br /><br />I am not sure where Panda is going to make its money with this. They claim on their blog that the Suite still has its own advantage because "security suites contain many more functionalities not found in free AVs like Panda Cloud Antivirus, such as firewall, anti-spam, parental control, technical support, etc." - well, I also use a server rather than client based software for spam that works great, I use a separate and free firewall that does a good job as well, I don't need parental control, and it seems that the cloud hardly needs any support...<br /><br />Anyway, as Google has shown, just deliver a high-quality product and you'll cash on it sooner or later. I am surprised that Google itself didn't come up with this, and I am still convinced they'll try hard to buy the whole Panda box altogether just for that one good.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-18923009329694283792009-07-19T07:42:00.011+08:002009-07-19T16:17:03.739+08:00Clam vs. Panda<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm3DJ_mxvXV40VQjrV0q8tmdK3fWVkcyb-ylsWKSD5t90y_bPgPSAVKrl6SHdj6MVaf-PNURTZSBIyojYTFqNFKFz4drJtX0e_OceP_DZWyDmQPCsOQmwLcmqdb1LUn-7-8Abn_NDupvm/s1600-h/2009-07-19_021309.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm3DJ_mxvXV40VQjrV0q8tmdK3fWVkcyb-ylsWKSD5t90y_bPgPSAVKrl6SHdj6MVaf-PNURTZSBIyojYTFqNFKFz4drJtX0e_OceP_DZWyDmQPCsOQmwLcmqdb1LUn-7-8Abn_NDupvm/s400/2009-07-19_021309.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359957788908817538" border="0" /></a><a href="http://blog.cloudantivirus.com/">Panda Cloud Antivirus</a><br /><br />I recently changed my f-secure anti-virus for the free AVG program. I ended up throwing it out of the Windows as it dramatically slowed down my system (F-secure too, by the way).<br /><br />My laptop is so much faster without anti-virus programs that I wonder if it is really worth the hassle having them at all.<br /><br />I then had the idea to look for a non-resident program, something with which I can just scan whatever I decided to scan myself rather than what a resident resource-eating mother-in-law decides for me.<br /><br />I found the perfect program for doing that in the person of ClamWin.<br /><br />This gave me the idea to blog about it here. You see, clam... and clam win... oh my...<br /><br />Anyway this becomes even more relevant after pandas come in the equation too.<br /><br />Indeed, reading about clam win on the net, I soon bumped into the latest fad in terms of anti-virus fashion - Panda Cloud.<br /><br />Now this is an anti-virus program that rather than relying on a never ending database updating, and consequent resources slowing down, system, is relying on "The Cloud", or "Collective Intelligence".<br /><br />No more structural database. The knowledge about viruses is shared through a network of distributed resources and any new virus-like behavior emerging in California or Beijing, or anywhere in the connected world, is immediately shared by "The Cloud", and becomes common knowledge, with direct application on your PC, in an average of six minutes - and the more people use the program, the greater the protection of each PC gets!<br /><br />Another advantage is that it is supposed to significantly reduce the demand on your system resources (and that's where I lend a very interested ear), since it does not need to intercept each file at different layers (entry vector, file system and execution) and scan them using various techniques (antivirus, heuristics, intrusion prevention, behavioral analysis, etc.) - with a very consequent workload reduction. Most of the processing is done up in the cloud.<br /><br />Now this sounds really revolutionary, and why does it make me think of Anonymous? And Google? What is more, it's free... (but watch out, soon to be bought by the afore-mentionned Google, IMO)<br /><br />I downloaded the beta version and so far it seems to do quite some marvel (reserving my judgment for later, though).<br /><br />The one thing I don't like about is that it did not want to install itself while ClamWin was installed on my computer. I tried to offload ClamWin from memory, just to keep the scan on demand bit, but it also didn't agree to this.<br /><br />Is that a transcategorial subliminal metaphysical sign of big changes to come? The "Collective Intelligence" win over the sclerosed traditional structures?<br /><br />Another question is this: if panda's servers get hit with a virus, does that mean every person who uses panda software will be vulnerable? would this not be a way to spread a potential virus?<br /><br />Food for thought...<br /><br />At the end, especially if The Cloud starts to make my system run at Panda's speed, the Clam may win after all...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></span>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-57617462858819139152009-07-15T16:46:00.003+08:002009-07-15T16:48:55.775+08:00Beck's Bigger Energy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87hhPMxNfEQQV9vM6Ck2JdvnMQVFPcSqq0hyWNZiG-X-pZ123IWg4_ytLJhu-x-VC-fSRuiBO6V21ta1avTaoMYzwAp0iMTsfevjNGKtorD9Rmj0buYNLLcSfErEW3sDw43y_5mWl7W4z/s1600-h/2009-07-15_104622.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87hhPMxNfEQQV9vM6Ck2JdvnMQVFPcSqq0hyWNZiG-X-pZ123IWg4_ytLJhu-x-VC-fSRuiBO6V21ta1avTaoMYzwAp0iMTsfevjNGKtorD9Rmj0buYNLLcSfErEW3sDw43y_5mWl7W4z/s400/2009-07-15_104622.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358605958925498530" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.chartattack.com/news/72180/beck-adds-more-material-to-website">Beck Adds More Material To Website | CHARTattack</a>: "Maybe Scientology isn't a total crock of shit. I seriously doubt it, but something seems to have given Beck a bigger energy boost than a B12 shot. The artist has been on a creative roll of late, especially pertaining to his website, and he's just added the Videotheque section to the space."Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-61329018568579296032009-07-11T17:06:00.007+08:002009-07-11T17:45:01.535+08:00Xenu.net Traffic Comparison with Scientology.org<a href="http://www.rantrave.com/Rave/The-Day-Scientology-broke-20000.aspx">Rave - The Day Scientology broke 20,000</a>: <span style="font-style: italic;">"As they say in Hollywood, any publicity is good publicity. The Church’s exposure has been enhanced by websites who are dedicated to exposing the organization, and newpapers running articles in series about the Church. This has helped produce a public awareness of the Church and the existence of its philosophy. While the recent advertising campaign doesn’t mention critic’s efforts, it builds on earlier exposure."</span><br /><br /><br />Indeed, go to <a href="http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/scientology.org">http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/scientology.org</a>. There you will see the stats, and can compare them to xenu.net.<br /><br />This is a comparison over a month:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7SM64noHSTQAPMXMu5AqDwkfNU7DcPhLwm78K6faOst7vL-CvyNWZn-AqI3V417CIeIwxZh0hwNVnY3WbqHZzr1w10WZ9oGd22gxt1F0_zwzpOp_4Pa1BX8R-XzNlmogU7MPCqXix6-n/s1600-h/2009-07-11_111017.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7SM64noHSTQAPMXMu5AqDwkfNU7DcPhLwm78K6faOst7vL-CvyNWZn-AqI3V417CIeIwxZh0hwNVnY3WbqHZzr1w10WZ9oGd22gxt1F0_zwzpOp_4Pa1BX8R-XzNlmogU7MPCqXix6-n/s400/2009-07-11_111017.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357127891847284162" border="0" /></a><br />Over six months:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0u15HK3hEzYMnDI8aPml9ZlFhZQg1thF55e6eIy0Te_u0k5WygE19jPgzILxxfnHlBiOjQkuPsXtYeoulZx3UNFbQfgOpAtvh-v5E_1encDVaRTTbvZqwtPOCNd7y-dw9Xbb-vD9QjeSJ/s1600-h/2009-07-11_112046.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0u15HK3hEzYMnDI8aPml9ZlFhZQg1thF55e6eIy0Te_u0k5WygE19jPgzILxxfnHlBiOjQkuPsXtYeoulZx3UNFbQfgOpAtvh-v5E_1encDVaRTTbvZqwtPOCNd7y-dw9Xbb-vD9QjeSJ/s400/2009-07-11_112046.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357130247716429890" border="0" /></a><br />This is the effect of the new advertising campaign ran by the CoS, combined with the hard work by dedicated Scientology critics who helped make the name of Scientology familiar to the public while at the same time discrediting themselves by their own ridiculous accusations.<br /><br />This is the graph over the maximum period:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirz0BIzHvpIwunI678jcPPV1N02pOJEVexvx3P1pFdFjp7pMw0NrZtCg_A01yuBF0LXB98vbpaig1MQ1mhUHRFpnJZ1PvouR0HVFK5uy1jHqpHjXZnT7m2eInbVjZQZDZ3Dbgs3aY4J-bD/s1600-h/2009-07-11_112551.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirz0BIzHvpIwunI678jcPPV1N02pOJEVexvx3P1pFdFjp7pMw0NrZtCg_A01yuBF0LXB98vbpaig1MQ1mhUHRFpnJZ1PvouR0HVFK5uy1jHqpHjXZnT7m2eInbVjZQZDZ3Dbgs3aY4J-bD/s400/2009-07-11_112551.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357131502433397314" border="0" /></a><br />We can see here the effect of the work accomplished by Anonymous in February 2008. However, after Anonymous wasted their potential and became irrelevant by failing to moved beyond the level of the "old guard", Scientology's stats were down and they had to find new ways to advertise themselves, which they found and which seems to be working incredibly well.<br /><br />As I said so many times, "criticizing" Scientology through outlandish accusations is only going to accomplish two things: discredit yourself and raise interest for what you are unfairly attacking.<br /><br />In this way, critics are truly a great ally for Scientology and the CoS should thank them.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-21318608388951772142009-07-10T07:18:00.002+08:002009-07-10T07:20:45.347+08:00Jackson Anonymous<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVezDqrhlzVIIDFdn3Bp98-X1wOQ0YTPk3tYUVR3AR241S3bVxWFW2r9g_a88TfWa3b2IY4VQt78fmu-EeX5dzyflRADzOLzMCOIrBIWTPdNqMX9RhSdhX96KbVfHt2TdMIyE4_9kR1sO/s1600-h/SP32-20090710-011448.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVezDqrhlzVIIDFdn3Bp98-X1wOQ0YTPk3tYUVR3AR241S3bVxWFW2r9g_a88TfWa3b2IY4VQt78fmu-EeX5dzyflRADzOLzMCOIrBIWTPdNqMX9RhSdhX96KbVfHt2TdMIyE4_9kR1sO/s400/SP32-20090710-011448.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356604071176094418" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPsZgRvlibY&feature=popular">YouTube - Michael Jackson's kids</a><br /><br />Michael Jackson used to make his kids wear masks so they won't be recognized. Here is Prince wearing a Guy Fawkes mask! He's with Paris, the new overnight YT sensation after her deeply moving tribute to her father.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-65445359550923603212009-07-07T04:28:00.004+08:002009-07-07T04:31:43.376+08:00How To Be a Good Creationist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU96Q9Y5kYNg2creqBxsAGTR97ef8rZUYLs2GCRZd4QeOWKRhjN6bv0FPmgfaQooR5hK8SHvr1UQW3KklzLC18Q0PzJgxT30RJed7yRzqc55dHPyF08JBxvuOmgWmeWxMkZ71mUEXoWFG/s1600-h/SP32-20090706-222709.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU96Q9Y5kYNg2creqBxsAGTR97ef8rZUYLs2GCRZd4QeOWKRhjN6bv0FPmgfaQooR5hK8SHvr1UQW3KklzLC18Q0PzJgxT30RJed7yRzqc55dHPyF08JBxvuOmgWmeWxMkZ71mUEXoWFG/s400/SP32-20090706-222709.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355447046466942962" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Qi0Mk2lRs&feature=channel_page">YouTube - How to be a good Creationist - 3</a><br /><br />She's pretty, she's sexy, she's witty - and she's funny while also often right.<br /><br />Actually, she is an Atheist. I am not. But I also think she may have a point here.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128985062086958087.post-78788187109530061852009-07-06T14:48:00.003+08:002009-07-06T14:50:56.654+08:004chan Attacks Twitter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoQly01PPPHrHe3gQEv8rAK0mwok9uvvC_nJeKIvcijm7SjFcyaa9P558Nvlg_R-9tGT6pYdefaxX0YdgL4RyVr6wWr2T3HfXK9RcG1-d9lITraCUZXbJ7B0KwPLdDujB67-cgZcwFnmo/s1600-h/SP32-20090706-084946.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoQly01PPPHrHe3gQEv8rAK0mwok9uvvC_nJeKIvcijm7SjFcyaa9P558Nvlg_R-9tGT6pYdefaxX0YdgL4RyVr6wWr2T3HfXK9RcG1-d9lITraCUZXbJ7B0KwPLdDujB67-cgZcwFnmo/s400/SP32-20090706-084946.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355235892142458114" border="0" /></a>Another "raid" by 4chan, this time on Twitter.<br /><br />The article has, among others, two interesting quotes:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>"Before that, they were responsible for hacking Time Magazine's voting system for the World's Most Influential Person, making the site's creator, moot, the winner by a wide margin."</blockquote></span><br />Confirming my assumption that Obama's "<a href="http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/05/survey-pulls-out-fishy-results.html">What Do Americans Want</a>" survey's result may very well have been riddle by the like of Anonymous and 4chan.<br /><br />In a comment:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">"They probably couldn't do it though. They have become weaker since the scientology days."</span></blockquote><br />Interesting concept...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13515_3-10279618-26.html">4chan may be behind attack on Twitter | The Web Services Report - CNET News</a>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02161768624212854634noreply@blogger.com0