Another Look at Scientology

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Juliette Lewis Promotes Scientology

Orange is not a complete fruit | Holy Moly | Latest Index | News | News | Orange is not a complete fruit: "Upon finishing filming, Juliette sidled up to the funny American dude, Brennan, as he was getting on his motorbike.

Big luvvie hugs ensued and she pressed a DVD into his palm and swanned off. He drove off presuming it was her new album or something, only to get home and realize it was called 'Welcome to Scientology'.

She did the same for all the cast and crew."

William Burroughs Attacks Scientology

William Burroughs, by Royal Appointment :: Mick Brown: "In 1972 Burroughs decided that his dissatisfaction with Scientology merited an attack on the organisation's premises, which were then located at 37 Fitzroy Street in Bloomsbury. Over a period of some weeks he haunted the premises, taking photographs and making tape-recordings. Sure enough, Miles recounts, within a couple of months the Scientologists had packed their bags and moved to 68 Tottenham Court Road."

Isaak Hayes in Truck Turner

Minneapolis/st. Paul - City Pages - Gimme Noise - The Popstream: Truck Turner: "I know it's been a few months since he's passed away, but it still irritates me that everyone thinks his turn as Chef in South Park was his peak as an actor. This is grotesquely inaccurate and demands correction immediately: Truck Turner is Hayes at the peak of his powers, and if this is the kind of thing Scientology made possible then the inexhaustible crappiness of Battlefield Earth is pretty much canceled out right there."

Will Smith Set to Play Obama

Obama and Will Smith share more than just the ears:

"Will and I have talked about this," exclaimed Obama last year in an interview on “Entertainment Tonight”, referring to actor Will Smith. “Because he has the ears, he might have an inside track on the role.” [...]
Regarding Smith's plans to play Obama in a movie adaptation of his life, the actor did say he'd be up to it when asked by British media.

“If I am ordered by my commander in chief to star in a film about him, I will do my duty as an American," responded Smith at the London premiere of his new film, “Seven Pounds”.

Hold on to your seat for the inauguration on Tuesday. Something tell me it's going to be BIG!

Success of 'Valkyrie' Proves Critics Wrong

SHOWCASE :: Erie's Entertainment Web Site!

Thinking back at the risk of getting this movie out in Christmas and all it involved, I continue to be stunned by the success it has on the contrary encountered. I mean, compare what I wrote back in Dec. 1 and this kind of article:

It's already earned more than $72 million in the United States, which means "Valkyrie" is far from the flop many critics predicted it would become.

The film, which cost a reported $90 million to produce (director Bryan Singer has pegged it at closer to $75 million) and perhaps more than half that to market it, has performed solidly if not quite spectacularly at the box office.

"The fact that it's still attracting filmgoers totally robs the naysayers of their ability to deem it a flop, because it's not," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "It does show the renewed star power of Tom Cruise."

And it's only starting. Believe me, because I do know a thing or two on this topic, the star power of cruise in Asian and other foreign continent is tremendous. And doesn't he look just amazing? I know my friend Rebecca is not going to agree with me on this one but I think at 46 he almost looks better than he ever did. The photo above was taken during his very recent visit to Seoul, Korea, promoting the movie. His look alone will be reason enough for 80% of Asean to go and see the film. As to whether or not they will get into the historical intricacies of the film, I am not sure. Often times I find myself having to explain where Europe is, and that no, Brussels is not very far from Belgium!

Wise Beard Man to Anonymous. Version 2.

New York - Wise Beard Man to Anonymous: Don't be a Dope - Runnin' Scared - Village Voice

Excellent start in Mark Bunker's message, less so from the point down when he starts to talk about Jeff Stone.

On the other hand, excellent remarks from the Village voice journalist.

I would like to print in full Mark's introduction, because that's the Mark I really do like. After that I'll make a quick comment on the points I disagree with, ending up with the Village Voice journalist's comment.

"BUNKER: In any group of people there are dopes. A nebulous group of anonymous people on the net might possibly have a slightly higher percentage of dopes -- but then maybe not quite as many as were in the Bush Administration.

I look around at work or at an event and try to spot the dopes. Quite often it turns out to be me. We humans are prone to doing some dopey things. I'd have to say covering yourself with Vaseline and pubes would be dopiness on an epic scale and it just makes you shake your head and wonder, "Why?"

But, look, not everyone is going to get it. And not everyone in Anonymous is on the same page. In fact, there are factions within Anonymous. Most of the people taking to the streets and speaking out against Scientology fraud and abuse understand there is a serious reason to take action. Others in Anonymous call us Moralfags. You can't please everyone.

But the unfortunate thing about a nebulous mass of people under one umbrella is if one person does something bad, stupid or illegal that can be used to tar everyone else. The great strength of anonymity and numbers can just as easily be a weakness.

In my first video to Anonymous, I suggested they act within the law and take this seriously because Scientology damn well takes it seriously and they will do everything they can to take down each person they can identify. Pubes Kid thought he was pulling a prank (a damn lousy one) but it got him in serious trouble."

Then Mark starts to speak about the Riverside County Ordinance Farce. He claims that the material that has been used to discredit Anonymous does not represent the moralfags. This is to forget that even up to this day the WhyWeBWAAAAA forum still has the Thunderdome, and that without it, the whole forum would crash, as we have seen back in June 2008. You can't just claim Anonymous 2.0 is different than the original anonymous, while still using its name and symbols. I also disagree with the assertion that the original anonymous who protested Scientology a year ago and who continue to protest have moved on (in the sense that they became serious critics). They continue to display an incredible shallowness and I do have to agree with the original Anonymous that they have become moralfags under the thumb of the old guard. The fault, IMO, is not on the original Anonymous, as this whole approach tries to portray. The fault is on the protesters who continue to identify with Anonymous when in fact they now pretend to be something else, and continue to use slogans against Scientology that most of those who know a little more than the mob about the issue will just laugh at. If the moralfags want to move on, they should really move on, and this means move on from the old guard basis and mentality. As it is, they are no more than just a copycat of the old guard disguised as Anonymous, and then complain when people actually dare to compare them to the original Anonymous.

Nor is the reason why Anonyous (the original one) use shoking pictures. It is not out of pleasure to shock and attract attention. It simply is out of an urge to question any stereotype. I don't think Mark really understands the original Anonymous. The moralfags have become the anti-thesis or Anonymous itself, while still parading as such. I am not surprised that factions in Anonymous now try to take down the moralfags forums and engage in other attacks and pranks against them. Check out the message I reported on my blog entry about the original message to Anonymous being put down from YT. I think it really reflects that faction.

Mark should really have enticed Anonymous 2.0 to move on from their old guard dependency, and find a way to go beyond what they themselves did as old guard, without this being pubes prank in a desperate attempt to get attention. But he can't, because he is an old guard himself, and seems to be trapped in his own limits. As much as I like Mark as a person and I appreciate the kind of moderate statements he is able to come up with at times, like the one on Jett Travolta, he himself is prisoner of his own limits, beyond which he seems unable, so far, to move. It becomes of course difficult to advise others to do so. For him, therefore, the explanation of events like the pubes and the Riverside ordinance is that it is due on the one hand to a minority of bad apple within Anonymous 2.0, and on the other hand to a majority of original Anonymous who did not follow Anonymous 2.0 beyond it simply being for the lulz. I disagree with that, because it seeks to excuse the Anonymous 2.0 instead of getting them to reflect what is their own responsibility in this as a group. From what I can see, and in spite of what some may claim afterwards, they are very much at the basis and responsible for this kind of pranks. Suffice just to read their comments in news outlets and what goes on in WhyWeBWAAAA. Some may distance themselve from it afterwards, but they were there beforewards, encouraging it, promoting it, and supporting it. Maybe not directly, but by the sheer radicalness and shallowness of their current approach.

In this respect, I do have to agree with the comments of Tony, the journalist who reported it on the Village voice, which I would like to quote in full:

Well, that should make the Anonymous kids feel warm and fuzzy, because Wise Beard Man really lets them off the hook.

I'm surprised, Mark. Someone who's been doing this as long as you have understands how the media works when it comes to Scientology.

Now that the press has labeled an Anonymous operation (however rogue it happened to be) as a "hate crime," Anonymous members are going to find it much tougher to get other press organizations to take them seriously.

Many of the commenters to yesterday's posts offered us this pathetic calculus: "Anonymous may do stupid pranks, but Scientology really hurts people."

Sorry Anonymous, that doesn't work with reporters, and essentially puts you out of contention. Don't be surprised that from now on, any press mention of Anonymous will begin with the stupid Pubeit prank.

I also believe that this view is nothing new. For months now Anonymous has got virtually no press at all. I wrote about that back in July 24 already, and it has just got even worst over the subsequent months. The only time they would appear in the press nowadays is when they use Scientology celebrities appearance as an opportunity to put themselves in the photos, and then only in such notoriously gossiping tabloid rag as the Daily Mail.

It is clear at this point that if Anonymous 2.0 does not find a "bigger game" as Jason Begh puts it, they are going to completely disappear from the scene, or just be ignored as a simple annoyance. But that bigger game certainly isn't the type of pubes pranks that wins them nothing but negative attention. As I said repeately, their biggest chance is to start protesting discrimination towards Scientologists AND protest Scientology at the same time. But we are not going to see that any time soon, because it would involve a total revision of the very assumptions on which they are working from. So be it...

R-pubes- related blog entries

Airbus Ditches onto New York River

The Hindu : Front Page : Airbus ditches onto New York river

Amazing...

Birds flying into reactors was a problem of the past I thought. I guess that if it happens as the plane is taking off, the reactors are not up to speed yet and so may be vulnerable.

Gaza

VOA News - Israel to Vote on Gaza Truce

I have not followed this question closely and have barely read anything about it but I have seen a lot of spam mentioning what about all the deaths in Gaza etc.

What I do remember reading early on, before all this started, was that Hamas declared they are not going to renew the truce agreement they had with Israel when it expired a few weeks ago.

At first sight, again without having all the details about it, this seems utterly stupid to me, because without truce Israel is basically free to get in and do whatever operation they want which they could not if there was a truce. And what do the Palestinians gain from it? They are in no position to fight the might of Tsahal.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Christian Pastors Embrace Scientology

Some Christian pastors embrace Scientology - CNN.com: "Two pastors who spoke recently with CNN explained that when it comes to religion, they still preach the core beliefs of Christianity. But when it comes to practicing what they preach in a modern world, borrowing from Scientology helps."

Tl;dr for now but potentially interesting.

Life in the Gray Field

From l.l.lipshitz:

"see, that's the problem. alot of people here see the world in black and white only. not me. i'm very grey."

That's the problem with people like me who see the good and the bad on both sides. It may be a bit boring. Possibly a bit very gray.

Make things very dramatic, very black and white, and it starts getting "alive".

That may be why we like Hollywood films. Easy to understand, and of course, the good guys always win. We know that! But still we get involved in the intricacies of the movie... Try to make the bad guy win and everybody would go back home depressed...

But, hey, you know what? Live is not a Hollywood film! And things simply are not that simple...

In real life, alas, sometimes the bad guy win. But then, are there really "bad" and "good" guys to start with? I don't think so...

See? I told you. Boring...

So if you get bored, stop for a while and look around you. That's where the colors really are. That's were life is. You may even want to switch off your computer and take a walk!

Jason Beghe Message to Anonymous - Grow Up!

New York - Jason Beghe to Anonymous: Grow Up - Runnin' Scared - Village Voice: "Since that game is over, they ought to create a new one."

I wrote earlier that I partly agree with Beghe when he advises Anonymous to drop their masks, but I also agree with him when he says: "Since that game is over, they ought to create a new one", and I think this new game is a deeper and more mature look into Scientology. I have been saying this for months already.

However, I still do not see that taking place. Quite on the contrary I continue to be aghast at the shallowness and cultishness of Anonymous. The last example, apart for the pubes, of course, is this one:

"Scientologists Targeting HIV-Positive Protesters" - Story spreading

And here we go!
Scientology Accused of Singling out HIV+ Protesters :: EDGE Boston
Scientologists Targeting HIV-Positive Protesters / Queerty
Scientology lobbying to restrict rights of HIV+ — Bearnaked Joe’s
$cientology’s unethical practices on its dissidents | inlandutopia.com

And some Scilon Spin-control
Another Look at Scientology: HIV+ Rumor Only a Rumor

In the blog entry referred to in this message above, I agreed that "If the CoS really obtained information from their private health records and were using this against them it would indeed be outrageous." but I questioned whether this has in effect been happening, and I cautioned against spreading a story based on rumors only.

What does Anonymous do? They call my blog entry "Scilon Spin-control" and then set out to spread the story without even having all the facts.

That's the kind of immature, childish, and cultish behavior I am talking about. They just don't care for the truth, as long as it makes Scientology look bad.

I thus fully concur with Beghe's message: Anonymous: Grow Up! If you can't switch to the higher gear, you will forever remain... anonymous.

R-pubes- related blog entries

Related web pages:

http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/gays_and_scientologists.htm

Anonymous - Show Your Human Side

New York - Jason Beghe to Anonymous: Grow Up - Runnin' Scared - Village Voice: "I think Anonymous should be very proud of what they accomplished. And they should know that the Church of Scientology is nothing to be afraid of. Maybe their next game should be 'Naked Anonymous.' And I don't mean take your pants off. I mean take your masks off. Show them that you're not afraid."

Beghe is partly right. Anonymous should take off their mask when they speak to an individual Scientologist, but they cannot take off their mask when they protest, since the mask has now of sort become a trademark and symbol of Anonymous.

I myself launched the idea on Dec. 11 of "Operation Drop the Masks" but also qualified the idea on Dec 12. when I saw that what I wrote was partly misunderstood. I think indeed they should drop the mask, but I realize that this is not possible at this stage when they protest.

So, the above seems like a good compromise. Anonymous could keep their mask while protesting Scientology, the corporation, and could put down their mask when they need to show their human side.

I think there's a kind of poetic message in that, somewhere...

Blog entries in this series:

Ingo Swann - Father of Remote Viewing

Who Is Ingo Swann?: "Ingo Swann is the father of remote viewing. Swann developed the protocol for and conducted the first-ever remote viewing experiment, and coined the term for it in 1971 while working with researchers at the American Society of Psychical Research in New York."

Links:

Greasy Vandal in Hate Crime Arrested

Greasy vandal in hate crime vs. Scientology: "Mahoud Samed Almahadin - the name he gave cops - tossed a number of books around, then smeared the petroleum jelly on a TV set, shelves and himself during the incident at the W. 46th St. Scientology center last week."

This refers to the incident I reported on Jan. 10, and in which I wrote "Next time I hope they prevent the guy from exiting and charge him with vandalism and invasion of private property."

Well, they did not need to restrain him, as he was foolish enough to boast about it on the Internet and so could be traced.

I think there are two interesting aspects here:

The tendency of Anonymous to post their "peaceful protests" misdeeds on the Internet.
The tendency of Anonymous and Scientology critics to cheers and support such acts (at least a fair amount of them).

Here are three other examples, unrelated in their gravity but who all have the two elements above.

Angry Gay Pope posting his harassment of a young Scientology lad for two hours, something for which he ultimately earned a restraining order.
Pekka-Eric Auvinen, responsible for the Jokela school shooting that occurred on Nov. 7, 2007, posting on 4chan his intent to do it " in the name of anonymous" and encouraged in his act by his fellow anons who even cheered him as it happened in direct.
Tory Christman Magoo posting a video in the wake of the emotions generated by the Jett Travolta tragedy and in which she is blatantly lying, supported and cheered by critics.

R-pubes- related blog entries

Waterboarding Is Torture

The Associated Press: Obama's AG pick breaks from Bush on torture, GTMO: "With just three words, Attorney General-designate Eric Holder capped years of angry debate over U.S. counterterrorism policy and declared a major break from the Bush administration."

Certainly a very welcome change from coward hypocritical idiot incompetent Gonzales.

Still, somehow, it reeks of too little too late... Will the US ever be able to make up for all the wrong the Bush administration has done for eight looooong freaking years ? I wonder... It certainly is not going to be overnight...