Thursday, January 29, 2009
On Hold
I had some problems with my laptop yesterday. I just "recovered" from this terrible cultic experience ;-) but it will take me a while to get up to speed again so no news or answers to comments for a while. Thanks.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Document in Travolta Case is Refusal to Transport
Fresh Intelligence : Radar Online : Travolta Extortion Mystery Solved: "Some reports said a photograph was at the center of the case. But RadarOnline.com has learned that the extortion charges stem from a conversation Travolta had with the paramedic concerning where Jett should be treated. Travolta originally wanted to fly Jett back to the U.S. for treatment, believing it would take just as long to transport his son to a Bahamian hospital as it would to fly him to Florida. RadarOnline.com confirmed with a source close to the situation that while Travolta originally preferred to have Jett treated in the U.S. he realized there was no time and agreed to have him treated in the Bahamas. [...]
The Nassau Guardian reported "Dames said police have a copy of a document they have not been able to prove the authenticity of. The document, he said, is a refusal to transport document. "
The Nassau Guardian reported "Dames said police have a copy of a document they have not been able to prove the authenticity of. The document, he said, is a refusal to transport document. "
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Hubbard's Affirmations Written by Gerry Armstrong?
L. Ron Hubbard vs A New Order (Ron's Journal 67, Black Dianetics, Conspiracy & Censoring)
On Jul. 2, 2008, I made a blog entry pointing to the strange fact that Gerry Armstrong, who made the "Affirmations" public, destroyed the hand-written original. I argued that I could not see the rational of destroying such a historical proof, especially since Armstrong was already a fugitive of the law at the time.
This makes the authenticity of the documents dubious, to say the least.
That impression is further reinforced when you know that Armstrong himself once declared: "We don't have to prove a goddam thing. We don't have to prove sh-t. We just have to allege it.”
The "Affirmations", or the "Admissions", as they are alternatively called, is a hand-written document supposedly written by L. Ron Hubbard, wherein Hubbard makes all kind of quasi-satanic affirmations.
If proven true, these would be very damaging to Hubbard and Scientology. Unfortunately, all we have is the word of Armstrong, someone who conclusively proven by blatantly violating the terms of his settlement, for which he received $800,000, that his words cannot be relied upon.
The link above points to a full scale research page documenting the possibility that the "Affirmations" may have in fact been written by non other than Gerry Armstrong himself.
ARS discussions on that page can be found here.
Other links:
Related blog entries: R-Affirmations-
On Jul. 2, 2008, I made a blog entry pointing to the strange fact that Gerry Armstrong, who made the "Affirmations" public, destroyed the hand-written original. I argued that I could not see the rational of destroying such a historical proof, especially since Armstrong was already a fugitive of the law at the time.
This makes the authenticity of the documents dubious, to say the least.
That impression is further reinforced when you know that Armstrong himself once declared: "We don't have to prove a goddam thing. We don't have to prove sh-t. We just have to allege it.”
The "Affirmations", or the "Admissions", as they are alternatively called, is a hand-written document supposedly written by L. Ron Hubbard, wherein Hubbard makes all kind of quasi-satanic affirmations.
If proven true, these would be very damaging to Hubbard and Scientology. Unfortunately, all we have is the word of Armstrong, someone who conclusively proven by blatantly violating the terms of his settlement, for which he received $800,000, that his words cannot be relied upon.
The link above points to a full scale research page documenting the possibility that the "Affirmations" may have in fact been written by non other than Gerry Armstrong himself.
ARS discussions on that page can be found here.
Other links:
- The Affirmations themselves, prefaced by Armstrong - Unfortunately this is a PDF document, so the link leads to a transposed version from Google.
- Armstrong answer to allegations that the document may not be authentic - Note that these arguments date back to 2003 and are addressed in the full research 2009 page above.
- The Self-affirmations of L. Ron Hubbard - Youtube webbing of the Affirmations, falsely presenting them as "real excerpts".
- Hubbard and Black Magick - A collection of references that includes references to the Affirmations.
- Chapter 5 of Piece of Blue Sky - Makes references to the Affirmations and details Hubbard "Miracle Recovery".
- Ron the War Hero - page disputing Hubbard's war claims, based in part on the Affirmations.
Related blog entries: R-Affirmations-
Valkyrie Tops Foreign Box Office
Germans flock to see Tom Cruise's Valkyrie | Metro.co.uk: "But the public have ignored the naysayers with the film topping the foreign box office and performing best in Germany."Screen Daily - News: "Tom Cruise sits atop the Hollywood overseas releases after the MGM/UA release Valkyrie plundered an estimated $13.2m through Fox International from 2,283 screens in 13 markets.
The wartime thriller opened strongly in all its markets, ranking number one in Germany on $3.4m from 689, Australia on $1.3m from 233 and Holland on $825,000 from 96. The film ranked second in the UK and South Korea on $2.7m"
Related Links: Valkyrie (2008) - International Box Office Results - to keep track of International box office gross.
Medic Charged with Attempted Extortion and Forgery
Note that he was charged with forgery too, giving some indication of what the blackmail content might have been.
Bahamas medic charged in Travolta extortion plot | Reuters: "Prosecutors allege the paramedic, Tarino Lightbourne, 47, tried to extort Travolta by means of threats. They also charged him with forgery."
Bahama Cops: Obie's Still in Our Crosshairs - TMZ.com: "As TMZ first reported, the subject of the alleged plot is NOT a photo. Rather, it is a document."
Bahamas medic charged in Travolta extortion plot | Reuters: "Prosecutors allege the paramedic, Tarino Lightbourne, 47, tried to extort Travolta by means of threats. They also charged him with forgery."
Bahama Cops: Obie's Still in Our Crosshairs - TMZ.com: "As TMZ first reported, the subject of the alleged plot is NOT a photo. Rather, it is a document."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Depth of Inhumanity
Gold Base Raid, 24 Jan 09 - alt.religion.scientology | Google Groups: "We had several funny signs. 'GOLD BASE, HOME OF THE ELECTRIC SQUIRREL.'"
Barbz and her ilks find this a "funny sign". If I am not mistaken this refers to the incident in which the daughter of Moxon accidentally died electrocuted trying to save squirrels that got trapped in a vault.
That some people may find such a sign "funny" shows the depth of inhumanity their hatred have led them into.
Just imagine the outcry if this would had happened to the daughter of a critic and if Scientologists would be waving such a sign in front of his house or office. But because it is against the "evil cult" of Scientology, it's OK - and even "funny"!
Barbz and her ilks find this a "funny sign". If I am not mistaken this refers to the incident in which the daughter of Moxon accidentally died electrocuted trying to save squirrels that got trapped in a vault.
That some people may find such a sign "funny" shows the depth of inhumanity their hatred have led them into.
Just imagine the outcry if this would had happened to the daughter of a critic and if Scientologists would be waving such a sign in front of his house or office. But because it is against the "evil cult" of Scientology, it's OK - and even "funny"!
Monica Pignotti - Releasing the Bonds of the "Cult Mind Control" Narrative
Very good, albeit long, article from Monica, questioning some of the anti-cult dogma and methods.
As far as I am concerned, the anti-cult approach is itself a cultic belief system, mostly because it is based on an us-vs-them explanation.
Not that the anti-cult approach is fundamentally false, but like with anything, a partial view is presented as the whole view, and there lies the problem. Viewed in its own perspective it can be very useful, but when you turn it into a belief system through which you interpret everything, you just fall in yet another trap.
I think that this is part of what Monica describes here.
In my opinion, you don't need to "recover" from a "cult" anymore than you need to "recover" from a marriage turned sour unless you have been seriously beaten in the process, which is a tiny minority. It isn't a sickness, it just is part of life.
We make choices and some of these may be wrong, we learn from them and move on. That's really all there is to it. It all is part of spiritual learning, exploring, experimenting, like a child learns to explore his environment. You don't "recover" from being a child, this is silly. You learn and grow up.
Monica Pignotti, MSW: Releasing the Bonds of the "Cult Mind Control" Narrative:
As far as I am concerned, the anti-cult approach is itself a cultic belief system, mostly because it is based on an us-vs-them explanation.
Not that the anti-cult approach is fundamentally false, but like with anything, a partial view is presented as the whole view, and there lies the problem. Viewed in its own perspective it can be very useful, but when you turn it into a belief system through which you interpret everything, you just fall in yet another trap.
I think that this is part of what Monica describes here.
In my opinion, you don't need to "recover" from a "cult" anymore than you need to "recover" from a marriage turned sour unless you have been seriously beaten in the process, which is a tiny minority. It isn't a sickness, it just is part of life.
We make choices and some of these may be wrong, we learn from them and move on. That's really all there is to it. It all is part of spiritual learning, exploring, experimenting, like a child learns to explore his environment. You don't "recover" from being a child, this is silly. You learn and grow up.
Monica Pignotti, MSW: Releasing the Bonds of the "Cult Mind Control" Narrative:
I happened upon Steve Hassan’s book, CCMC, one day in the bookstore and was so fascinated, I could not put it down. It seemed to explain everything I had gone through, 12 years before in Scientology. [...]
The problem with these kinds of checklists is that the symptoms could have many alternative explanations, yet when someone is caught up in the cult mind control and post-cult syndrome narrative, that person uses it to explain any trouble they are having. [...]
That is what needs to be challenged and questioned. The studies showing high rates of post-cult symptoms were done with samples of people who had been exposed to anti-cult narratives or people who were having difficulties and sought professional help. Not included in these samples are people who left these groups and did not have such difficulties.
Critical View of Steven Hassan and His Counseling
Interesting criticism of Hassan's approach.
Main points:
Blog of Lema Nal: Steven Hassan and His Counseling
Main points:
- Focuses on results rather than information
- Insists on special counseling from "cult experts"
- High fees
- Recovery presented as endless
- BITE mind-control model confuses mind control with normal spiritual experience
- Cult-like behavior in his own forum
Blog of Lema Nal: Steven Hassan and His Counseling
More Information on Travolta's Extortion Case
Still clouded in mystery, but this additional information kind of makes sense. I doubt a Senator and a friend of Travolta would get involved in such an extortion attempt, and at such a time.
Wilchcombe Outraged by Extortion Claim - TMZ.com: "Here's what's interesting. Wilchombe says the attempted extortion was committed by 'one single individual.' It appears he's talking about EMT Tarino Lightbourne, who we're told is still in custody. [...] Sources tell us Wilchcombe maintains Bridgewater got wind of the extortion attempt and told him so he could pass it along to Travolta's lawyers. Wilchcombe told Us Magazine he 'did a noble thing' by giving Travolta's people a heads up."
Perez Hilton: Travolta 'Friend' Tied to Extortion Plot Speaks Out: "Apparently, the information was passed on to him early last week by another suspect in the extortion case, former Bahamian senator Pleaseant Bridgewater.
'She knew I was close to the Travolta's,' says Wilchcombe. 'She wanted to bring something to my attention.'
When asked if he sought compensation for the tip off, he exclaimed, 'Never once, asking for anything! Never once, expecting anything! This is ridiculous and absurd. The Travolta's are suffering, it's just outright foolish. Never did I ask for anything, no one can say that. We had a friend in my country who lost a son. It was one single individual [who tried to take advantage of the family], the Bahamian people have been very kind to the Travoltas.'
[...]
We can't wait to hear what Pleasant, the woman who put everything into motion, says in her tell-all interview!"
Wilchcombe Outraged by Extortion Claim - TMZ.com: "Here's what's interesting. Wilchombe says the attempted extortion was committed by 'one single individual.' It appears he's talking about EMT Tarino Lightbourne, who we're told is still in custody. [...] Sources tell us Wilchcombe maintains Bridgewater got wind of the extortion attempt and told him so he could pass it along to Travolta's lawyers. Wilchcombe told Us Magazine he 'did a noble thing' by giving Travolta's people a heads up."
Perez Hilton: Travolta 'Friend' Tied to Extortion Plot Speaks Out: "Apparently, the information was passed on to him early last week by another suspect in the extortion case, former Bahamian senator Pleaseant Bridgewater.
'She knew I was close to the Travolta's,' says Wilchcombe. 'She wanted to bring something to my attention.'
When asked if he sought compensation for the tip off, he exclaimed, 'Never once, asking for anything! Never once, expecting anything! This is ridiculous and absurd. The Travolta's are suffering, it's just outright foolish. Never did I ask for anything, no one can say that. We had a friend in my country who lost a son. It was one single individual [who tried to take advantage of the family], the Bahamian people have been very kind to the Travoltas.'
[...]
We can't wait to hear what Pleasant, the woman who put everything into motion, says in her tell-all interview!"
Copyright, Internet, and Scientology
The article below makes a reference to the battle between critics and the CoS around Scientology's copyrighted scriptures and how it created precedents in the current legislation.For more detailed information on this subject, see my web page on The Eleven Legal Cases.
Internal Affairs: It was Tom McEnery's Web site, but where's McEnery? - San Jose Mercury News: "Whyte, however, says his most important legacy may be his then-unprecedented 1995 decision that Internet service providers could be liable for copyright infringement; that case involved the Church of Scientology."
Second Chance Scientology Base
The Albuquerque Journal has an article about Second Chance, in which it claims that it was not just partially based on on Scientology, but that Scientology was its very skeleton.
I think this is very plausible. The president and her husband being Scientologists, and the program being funded in part by wealthy Scientologist such as Randy Suggs, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Scientologist businessman and part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks major league baseball team.
Unlike the "Study Tech", that could partially stand on its own (see Will Smith schools), Scientology does not mix well with other methods in such a field as drug and crime rehabilitation. You need to tackle with the root cause of these deep-seethed problems, and you can't really do that without addressing what in Scientology is considered as the prime source of what they call aberration. Other methods can come as a support to it, but I don't see how it could be the other way around.
This being said, it does not necessarily mean that the program is harmful or ineffective, and it seems that on the contrary it did have positive results, as I blogged about back in Dec. 30, but I agree that such an evaluation should be conducted through independent and objective means.
It is not going to happen anyway, because the mere link with Scientology is going to bring distrust to the program, hamper its government funding, and make it the target of close scrutiny for anything they'll do that isn't quite kosher. As it already happened, by the way.
SND Scientology Base Denied By Officials
I think this is very plausible. The president and her husband being Scientologists, and the program being funded in part by wealthy Scientologist such as Randy Suggs, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Scientologist businessman and part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks major league baseball team.
Unlike the "Study Tech", that could partially stand on its own (see Will Smith schools), Scientology does not mix well with other methods in such a field as drug and crime rehabilitation. You need to tackle with the root cause of these deep-seethed problems, and you can't really do that without addressing what in Scientology is considered as the prime source of what they call aberration. Other methods can come as a support to it, but I don't see how it could be the other way around.
This being said, it does not necessarily mean that the program is harmful or ineffective, and it seems that on the contrary it did have positive results, as I blogged about back in Dec. 30, but I agree that such an evaluation should be conducted through independent and objective means.
It is not going to happen anyway, because the mere link with Scientology is going to bring distrust to the program, hamper its government funding, and make it the target of close scrutiny for anything they'll do that isn't quite kosher. As it already happened, by the way.
SND Scientology Base Denied By Officials
Sunday, January 25, 2009
There's No Place Like Home...
Somewhat amusing...
There's no place like home... - alt.religion.scientology | Google Groups
In the Church of Ziontology, the state of Ovulating Zetan (OZ) is a spiritual state above Void. Our illustrious leader X. Con Buzzard, the founder of Ziontology and Trianetics, defined the state of OZ as "a sort of believing in yourself that you think that just maybe you might have a wee little bit of that so called thing I go on about now and then that I vaguely describe at some length as some kind of so called 'cause' over stuff like 'space, time, energy, and matter' and so on". Or whatever. But as a Ziontologist, because “The Buzz” said it, it’s a fact. And because “The Buzz” said it, it becomes a contractual obligation that you believe in all of that abstract nonsense with every fiber of your being for several billion years! And that can be just so incredibly liberating! You have to try it to experience it. It’s basically like wishful positive thinking but kind of like combined with a cocktail of steroids, amphetamines, mescaline and then some. Well, let me tell you that the state of OZ is really, really, really real! And it's worth every penny it costs to get you there! It’s the biggest win ever! At least it is for the Church of Ziontology. And it’s just so fun and easy to believe in it that its just, just, well… you know… just unbelievable!
So how do you get to OZ? I thought you would never ask, Dorothy! Nope, it’s not Down Under, and nope, it’s definitely not in Kansas, at least not anymore! Actually, according to that lovable old Wizard we affectionately call the Buzzard of OZ (you know, the guy who looks and acts a lot like Benny Hill), you just follow the Jell-O brick road. Actually, make that Jell-O Vodka Shot bricks, since that’s what Old Buzz always liked in the mornings. Sounds interesting? Well, for a modest amount of money, you can take eight courses with us in the following sequence:
OZ I: - A timid initial step towards the Bridge to Total Freedom
OZ II: - A frightened jump back away from the Bridge to Total Freedom
OZ III: - Penetrating the Wall of Liars that surrounds impenetrable whole track mystery
OZ IV: - The Ovulating Zetan Drug Deal shakedown
OZ V: - The New Error Trianetics for Ovulation Zetans
OZ VI: - Squeezing out the pustulates
OZ VII: - Ethic Cleansing OZ VIII: - Truth Repealed
And when you finish that last course, you finally get it! The "OZ VIII: Truth Repealed" course is a Zoloft-audited level that finally addresses the painful credulity of believing in the whole track thing, and all those levels and other stuff Buzz rambled on about. It also lets one finally see and appreciate the absurdity of one’s own miserable flat broke existence. This brings you to the first actual real true genuine OZ level. There, you finally realize that the great and powerful wizard is a fraud, and you find he is just an ordinary little old obese twit named X. Con Buzzard, hiding behind the curtain. And it brings about a complete and total loss of your rationality and cognitive abilities that finally opens up your path onto the Bridge to Total Freedom. At that point, finally delivers, and you might hear yourself muttering "There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."
There's no place like home... - alt.religion.scientology | Google Groups
In the Church of Ziontology, the state of Ovulating Zetan (OZ) is a spiritual state above Void. Our illustrious leader X. Con Buzzard, the founder of Ziontology and Trianetics, defined the state of OZ as "a sort of believing in yourself that you think that just maybe you might have a wee little bit of that so called thing I go on about now and then that I vaguely describe at some length as some kind of so called 'cause' over stuff like 'space, time, energy, and matter' and so on". Or whatever. But as a Ziontologist, because “The Buzz” said it, it’s a fact. And because “The Buzz” said it, it becomes a contractual obligation that you believe in all of that abstract nonsense with every fiber of your being for several billion years! And that can be just so incredibly liberating! You have to try it to experience it. It’s basically like wishful positive thinking but kind of like combined with a cocktail of steroids, amphetamines, mescaline and then some. Well, let me tell you that the state of OZ is really, really, really real! And it's worth every penny it costs to get you there! It’s the biggest win ever! At least it is for the Church of Ziontology. And it’s just so fun and easy to believe in it that its just, just, well… you know… just unbelievable!
So how do you get to OZ? I thought you would never ask, Dorothy! Nope, it’s not Down Under, and nope, it’s definitely not in Kansas, at least not anymore! Actually, according to that lovable old Wizard we affectionately call the Buzzard of OZ (you know, the guy who looks and acts a lot like Benny Hill), you just follow the Jell-O brick road. Actually, make that Jell-O Vodka Shot bricks, since that’s what Old Buzz always liked in the mornings. Sounds interesting? Well, for a modest amount of money, you can take eight courses with us in the following sequence:
OZ I: - A timid initial step towards the Bridge to Total Freedom
OZ II: - A frightened jump back away from the Bridge to Total Freedom
OZ III: - Penetrating the Wall of Liars that surrounds impenetrable whole track mystery
OZ IV: - The Ovulating Zetan Drug Deal shakedown
OZ V: - The New Error Trianetics for Ovulation Zetans
OZ VI: - Squeezing out the pustulates
OZ VII: - Ethic Cleansing OZ VIII: - Truth Repealed
And when you finish that last course, you finally get it! The "OZ VIII: Truth Repealed" course is a Zoloft-audited level that finally addresses the painful credulity of believing in the whole track thing, and all those levels and other stuff Buzz rambled on about. It also lets one finally see and appreciate the absurdity of one’s own miserable flat broke existence. This brings you to the first actual real true genuine OZ level. There, you finally realize that the great and powerful wizard is a fraud, and you find he is just an ordinary little old obese twit named X. Con Buzzard, hiding behind the curtain. And it brings about a complete and total loss of your rationality and cognitive abilities that finally opens up your path onto the Bridge to Total Freedom. At that point, finally delivers, and you might hear yourself muttering "There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."
Trabants Can Be Beautiful Too
Bi-lingual blog from Scientologist Andrea Gerak. Good to posh up your Hungarian.
Indeed a good photo of a nicely decorated old Trabant.
PS - Budapest is one of the most stunningly beautiful cities I know. Worth a visit! Plus I have been told that partying around the Balaton lake is super hot those days.
Budapest by Andrea Gerak: Trabant
Bijou Philips
An article written under the false assumption that Scientologists are against medication. The article also fails to make a distinction between medical and psychiatric medicines. Nevertheless, a fancy blog with plenty of posh photos.Plus I never heard of the "Bijou Philips" character, much less knew that she was a Scientologist.
On the photo: the gal on the left, hanging out with the Hilton sisters.
Wait! I did blog about her boyfriend, Scientologist Danny Masterson.
slacker chic.: Scientologist Bijou Phillips Think Depressed People Need to "Buck Up"
Travolta Files Complaint of Attempted Extortion
Strange story.
Furthermore, how can a Senator be arrested? I thought they had immunity.
The Associated Press: Bahamas senator accused in Travolta plot resigns
Furthermore, how can a Senator be arrested? I thought they had immunity.
The Associated Press: Bahamas senator accused in Travolta plot resigns
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