Survey Pulls Out Fishy Results

What Do Americans Want? Legal Pot, White House Online Survey Reports | 44 | washingtonpost.com

Strange news this one, first time it I hear of it.

Apparently there was some survey, that seems to bear the Obama or White House official stamp, to determine what are the political priorities for the administration to address.

You ought to ponder about the result of such survey, that basically comes up with the top priority being Online Poker!

That the survey led to "results that clearly do not align with recent scientific polling", as the above-referred to Washington Post article puts it, is clear.

Another source draws attention to "the names on the comments. It seems like many of them are the same. One blogger at War is My Concern got 10 mentions in the Citizens Briefing Book. It seems that some citizens are more equal than others …" - pointing to a possible manipulation of the result by groups like Anonymous who in the past managed to manipulate Google results through loads of votes coming from seemingly different persons whereas they only came from a small minority of technical savvy people with a petty and biased agenda. For example, see here, here, and here.

No doubt this piece of news is going to make headlines among critics who are going to pound on it relentlessly, using its semblance of Obama-esque legitimacy to further their cause.

Clearly, though, online poker and Scientology tax ones are in no way comparable to legitimate issues such as the Bush administration tactics in the "war on terror" and other deadly serious issues. So, I'll say something does not sound quite right with that survey.

Link to the "Citizen Briefing" from the White House web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Citizens_Briefing_Book_Final.pdf

More info:

National Journal Online -- Under The Influence -- Poker Players Alliance Shows A Winning Hand: "Change.gov received more than 44,000 ideas and people cast more than 1.4 million votes on them. Policy ideas received 10 points for each positive vote and were ranked accordingly. "

[...]

Here are the Top Ten issues overall:

• Ending Marijuana Prohibition - 92,970 points
• Commit to Becoming the "Greenest" Country in the World - 70,470
• Stop Using Federal Resources to Undermine States' Medicinal Marijuana Laws - 66,170
• End the Government Sponsored Abstinence Education to be Replaced by an Introduction of Age Appropriate Sex Education - 65,350
• Bullet Trains & Light Rail - 65,100
• Permanent Closure of all Torture Facilities - 61,250
• Revoke the George W. Bush Tax Cuts for the Top 1 percent - 57,080
• Get Insurance Companies Out of Health Care - 55,080
• Revoke the Tax Exempt Status of the Church of Scientology - 52,470
• Bring Back the Constitution - 50,160

Note: boosting America's economy with legal online poker rung in with nearly 47,000 points, so is not part of the top ten. However, this is the issue that has been picked up for headlines by virtually all the newspapers reporting on the briefing, which is why it gets to be named the top priority.

Note2: If each each vote counted as 10 points, does this mean that 5,247 only voted for the CoS Tax idea? Divided by 1.4 million votes, that would represent 0.4%. These results continue to be puzzling and not making much sense.

Note3: Why are the newspapers picking up the Poker issue when it does not even make it to the top ten? In fact, it appears that the Marijuana issue is the clear winner. Not only does it come to number one, but it reasonably could be cumulated with the nbr 3 spot, and in total would make for 159,140, leaving the nbr 2 spot far far behind...

Trump Took the Right Decision

The Associated Press: Trump says Miss California USA can retain crown

First I always found the beauty pageant silly and boring. Not only can't you rate beauty, it also is a way to enforce conformity. In other words, I don't like this display of plastic flesh and smiles.

So whether Miss California can keep her crown or not, I don't give a shit.

However, I would be outraged at the thought that she would lose it because she dared express her opinion, even if I completely disagree with it.

So, Donald took the right decision, in my opinion.

I also like the fact that he disregarded her posing semi nude as a teenager - like it would be such an outrageous offense.

Strange that people who want her down because they themselves are supposedly liberal would use such a conservative argument!

You really aren't liberal at all if you deny others their right of free speech, no matter how liberal you claim to be or how fashionable the cause you claim to defend. Such a so-called liberalism is only conformism in disguise.

Thanks, Trump - and you the naysayer - you are fired!

Give Me Back the Original Alyssa

I have no idea what's going on in the mind of this girl, Alyssa Bernal.

Last February, I featured a superb video of her. She now made that video private and instead replaced it with an acoustic version that is not even half as good as the original one. Luckily some people have copies of the initial video and repost it on YT. Why she makes her best video privates when it had millions of view I can't imagine!

She's kind of becoming a celebrity already and has been featured in the Grammys for her (good but not that good) "I Kissed a Girl" and it seems she has now a parody video of it.

Yawn!

Give me back the original Alyssa! For some people success is not good as it make them lose that divine spark of spontaneity that is unique by itself.

May 12 update : I just learned that the reason she pulled the video off was because of copyright, as the original of that song was playing in the background. That's silly because you could hardly hear the original and the focus was wholly on her singing. That would be a perfect example of fair use.

Alleged Nude Rihanna Pics Leaked

Alleged nude Rihanna pics leaked on the Web! | The Dish Rag | Los Angeles Times: "What do you think? Is this really Rihanna? If it is, who do you think took the pics and then sequentially leaked them to the Web?"

Well, yes, I think it's her. Anyway, I like to think it's her.




If she was not a singer she could be a model (isn't she?). I think she is absolutely stunning and beats hand on many professional top models if not all of them.

No More Daily

I removed the word "daily" from my description of this blog since, obviously, I can't keep up that pace anymore.

US Denies Polar Bears Protection

I am currently reading Obama's book and I appreciate his sense of compromise. However, in this case, I think that it would be better to pass even an imperfect law, on the basis of urgency, but on a temporary basis, than wait for a "comprehensive strategy".

US denies polar bears protection from climate change | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "He said it would be far more effective to work towards a comprehensive strategy on climate change – which he said the Obama administration and Congress were pursuing as their 'signature' issue. 'We need a comprehensive energy and climate change strategy that curbs climate change and its impact, including the loss of sea ice,' he said.

However, the rationale that it was better to drop the protections under the endangered species act rather than use an imperfect body of law will carry very little weight among environmentalists who have led a dogged campaign to press Obama to overturn the Bush rule."

Scientology Founder Garners Third Guinness World Record

Scientology Founder Garners Third Guinness World Record: "With 185 audio books, L. Ron Hubbard has just garnered his 3rd world record as confirmed by Guinness World Records, and announced at the London Book Fair. The official statement reads, “Most audio books for one author is L. Ron Hubbard with 185 published audio books as of 21st April 2009.” It was just last month at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida that Bridge Publications released seven of Mr. Hubbard’s religious works in an additional 50 languages, surpassing the number of translations that led to one of his two other Guinness World Book records of most translated author. This means that Mr. Hubbard’s materials on the subjects of Dianetics and Scientology can now be understood by 90% of the world’s population, where previously they could only reach 22%. He also received a Guinness record for most published author."

Shallonymous Caliber Politician is no Premier Material

I still have no more time nowadays than just check the top 3 Scientology news in Google. No sign of Shallownymous or anything the like, except the recent news where the opposition leader in Australia has seriously put his career in jeopardy by forwarding typical critical/shallownymous unverified claims of Scientology corruption that in fact turned out to be fakes (most probably created by Shallownymous themselves as this is the kind of things they like to indulge into):

"This is a person who purports to be the alternative Premier, somebody who must be sensible and solid in his governing of a state, who has shown an appalling lack of judgement."

Indeed, like Hilary's vote for the Iraq war, such a Shallownymous lack of judgement, IMHO, rules him out for any role as a Premier.

References:
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2556332.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/29/2556315.htm?section=justin
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/29/2556005.htm?section=justin

Fort Harrison Hotel $40 Million Renovation Completed

On Feb. 18, 2009, I reported the ongoing renovation work at the Fort Harrison luxury hotel in Clearwater.

Saturday night, the Church of Scientology held a reception, attended by many local bigwigs, to celebrate its reopening.

The CoS says that now that this huge project is completed, they will focus on finishing the "Super Power" building for which they are being fined $250 a day for not bringing it up to code.

Scientology church gives Clearwater's Fort Harrison Hotel a $40M makeover - St. Petersburg Times

"A 12,000-crystal chandelier for the ballroom.

The Church of Scientology is reopening its lavishly renovated Fort Harrison Hotel [...]

Now attention turns to Scientology's enormous building across the street that has sat vacant and unfinished for six years, mystifying the public.

The Flag Building, nicknamed the "Super Power" building, is a seven-story, 380,000-square-foot empty shell that encompasses a whole city block. The church gets fined $250 a day for not bringing it up to code, and the fines now total $245,000.

Numerous promises to finish the building have come and gone, but church officials insist that this time it really is next on their to-do list. [...]

Built in 1927 as Clearwater's first skyscraper, the hotel was a local focal point for decades. [...]

The church has gained greater acceptance over the last 15 years or so, to the point where many local bigwigs felt comfortable attending a reception at the hotel Saturday night. [...]

Now the redesigned lobby opens up to the third floor, where a pedestrian bridge crosses Fort Harrison Avenue to the unfinished Flag Building. [...]

The hotel has three restaurants — none of which will be open to the public, despite what the church previously said. The ballroom won't be rented out for weddings either. [...]

Construction on the Flag Building began in 1999, and it was supposed to open in 2002. Work stopped in 2003 and has been at a standstill ever since. [...]

"We look forward to them getting it complete," said Mayor Frank Hibbard.

In 2006, Clearwater started fining Scientology $250 a day for failing to bring its building up to code. When it's finally finished, the city's code enforcement board will review the fines and decide whether to forgive any.[...]

Scientology's explanation for the unfinished building: It repeatedly redesigned the interior, and it embarked on an international building spree. Recently in Clearwater, it has chosen to work on the Oak Cove and Fort Harrison hotels instead. [...]

The building is nicknamed "Super Power" because it will be the only place in the world where a highly classified Scientology program called Super Power will be offered. Its upper floors will house special equipment that church officials say is designed to heighten one's perceptions. [...]

The Fort Harrison Hotel's renovation will increase Scientology's property tax bill. Two-thirds of the church's property in Clearwater is tax-exempt because it's used for religious purposes, but Scientology's hotels and restaurants are taxed. Last year Scientology was charged nearly $800,000 in taxes on nearly $108 million worth of Pinellas County property. [...]'

Nashville New Building to Be Ready before Summer

On June 29, 2008, I reported on the Church of Scientology Religious Trust having bought the Fall School Business Center on 8th Avenue in Nashville, with the comment from the reporter that "Haynes says it was very important that the historic building be well preserved by its new owners, and looking at other historic buildings purchased by the Church of Scientology around the country, he was convinced there buildings character would remain intact."

On Feb. 17, 2009 I reported about Shallownimous spending their Valentine day in inept protests about the opening of this new location, with the comment from the reporter that "Whatever the Scientologists are up to in there, at least they aren’t the ones standing on street corners, wearing creepy masks and offering cake to strangers."

The article below points to the fact that renovations are under way and opening is expected before summer. However, it also says it will be a "celebrity centre" and not an "ideal org" pointing to the possibility that the CoS may retain it's current building even after the renovation are completed.

The article also mentions criticism from one Todd Lake, who works for a Christian university, and the response by the CoS' representative.

Scientology grows with new center | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean

"The Church of Scientology is expanding in Nashville, opening what the religion calls a "celebrity centre" at the historic Fall School Business Center on 8th Avenue South and Chestnut Street.

Renovations are under way at the 36,000 square-foot building, with an opening expected before summer" [...]

""It's not worse because it's Scientology, or better because it's Christian," she said. "Who is to say who is better or who's not? The point with the money is what is being done with it. We reinvest in our community."" [...]

Related blog entries: -NashvilleOrg-

Interview

This is my answer to an interview I received by email:

-What drew you to Scientology in the first place?

The fact that they offered a "technique" that seemed to answer my spiritual quest.

-What was it about Scientology that eventually made you decide to leave?

The fact that the "technique" did not seem to work, at least not at the spiritual level, and the realization of the conditioning and cultic aspects of Scientology

-What are the good things about Scientology?

It offers a seemingly coherent and comprehensive system that is not based on belief but on "principles" that are supposed to work. At the lower level, Scientology can be very effective and offer a way of life by which people can find meaning. See the many celebrities who swear by Scientology. (These just are the more visible members, but many others non-celebrity members share the same enthusiasm.) Here are just some of the later instances I blogged about:

http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/02/scientology-goes-nascar.html
http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/02/persia-white.html
http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/01/seeing-whole-field-at-once.html
http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/01/juliette-lewis-promotes-scientology.html
http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/01/catherine-bell.html
http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2008/12/jerry-seinfeld-on-scientology.html

-What are the things about Scientology that people should have genuine concerns about?

The constant pressure to "produce" more or "study" more. The fact that Scientology can't deliver what it promises at higher level. Its cultic aspect. The dependency people can develop towards Scientology. The expensive prices.

-Did you ever come across any openly gay Scientologists in your time as a member?

No.

-Did you ever encounter other Scientologists expressing homophobic opinions or acting in a homophobic manner?

No.

-Do you think claims by a number of individuals that Church staff told them Scientology practices could change them from being gay to straight are true?

Yes.

-If so, do you think these are indicative of a commonly held belief that Scientology has the power to do such a thing, or that these instances simply reflect the personal views of the particular Scientologists they were interacting with?

A commonly held belief that Scientology has the power to do such a thing. However, homosexuality is not a "hot" topic in Scientology like it is, for example, with fundamentalists. Most Scientologists will consider this a matter of individual choice.

-What do you think of the more extreme claims made by the anonymous movement and what are your concerns and criticisms of the group?

These more extreme claims are childish and for the most part untrue. My main criticism with the anonymous movement is that they failed to bring the critical movement to the "next level" and, instead, just became the "old guard" themselves.

-What do you think of claims that the Church uses underhanded methods to silence and destroy its critics?

It reflects the cultish aspect of the Church. However, I believe it mostly is a thing of the past.

-Do you think the Church's responses to criticism has been constructive in general and what might be a better approach?

The Church's responses to criticism has not always been constructive but I found they have behaved of late. In particular they behaved with dignity for the most part in the face of sometimes vicious attacks from members of anonymous. In some cases Anonymous have had to distort Scientologists response to provocation beyond belief to try and make them look like the bad guys.

I blogged an example (especially relevant here since it is gay-related) of both civilized behavior on the part of Scientologists in the face of provocation and gross distortion from Anonymous to try and make them look like the bad guys at http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2008/07/another-example-of-gross-propaganda-on.html

-Do you think those in leadership roles in the Church are, in general, sincerely motivated?

Definitely. Just look at the latest (extremely) high-ranking defector Marty Rathbun. The guy still believes in Scientology even though he is now out of the Church. I blogged about him at http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/02/marty-rathbun.html and http://anotherlookatscientology2.blogspot.com/2009/02/marty-rathbun-sees-through-web.html

Administrative Court of Berlin Orders Immediate Removal of Anti-Scientology Posters

On Jan 24, 2009 I blogged about the anti-Scientology posters in front of the CoS in Berlin: "Another act of discrimination towards Scientology by the German authorities. Government agencies have no business using public resources to take side in controversies regarding matters of personal beliefs."

I am pleased to see that this was exactly the opinion of the Administrative Court of Berlin who declared that the district of Berlin violated their duty of neutrality. The Court ordered the immediate removal of the posters.

I personally think there also should be administrative penalties towards those responsible for this obvious act of discrimination.

Anti-Scientology Plakataktion der Stadt Berlin mußte umgehend entfernt werden | Politik - Gesellschaft & Soziales - OA News: "Das Gericht führt weiterhin aus, dass die Bezirksverwaltung ihre Neutralitätspflicht verletzt hat und eine derartige Aktion gesetzlich nicht gerechtfertigt ist. Das Berliner Verwaltungsgericht ordnete die sofortige Entfernung von Anti-Scientology Propaganda vor der Scientology Kirche Berlin an."


Related posts: -Berlin_Posters-

On Hold

I am currently applying for a new job and at the same time moving house and country, so you can imagine I am very busy and unable to update this blog or even follow the news. I will resume this blog on a daily basis as soon as my situation gets stabilized again. Thanks.

According to Law, What Is a Religion ?

An interesting, food for thought article, but one that of course is not going to resolve the question. As it rightly wrote: "It turns out the debate over the definition of religion is as old as history itself and the debate has gone on for ages." As for me, I kind of like the Leo Pfeffer's definition: "...if you believe in it, it is a religion or perhaps 'the' religion; and if you do not care one way or another about it, it is a sect; but if you fear and hate it, it is a cult."

In full:

According to Law, What Is a Religion ? - Digital Journal: Your News Network:

In preparing a story about the religions of Natchitoches, Louisiana several days ago, I checked out a book on Mormons. I told the clerk I was writing about religions. “That’s not one,” she said, “It’s a cult. They don’t believe like us."

Well, first of all the word “us” I thought interesting since the young woman neither knows me or my beliefs. But no matter, I smiled and said, “What makes you think so?” The sweet-faced femme with Southern drawl said simply, “I just know, don’t you.” “Actually,” I said, “I don’t.”

So what makes a cult these days, I wondered and decided to find out. Besides it wasn’t long ago that Mitt Romney, a Mormon who ran in the Presidential primaries, went on television to defend his faith as a viable religion.

Just about every major religion has been a cult at one time or another. Christianity was considered different enough to cause consternation to Romans and Jews alike. The divisions of Christianity have called one another cults as well, but what makes a religion legal?

The Church of Scientology is recognized over most of the world as a religion, although some may define it as cult. Believers use this fact to recruit. Others consider it a cult with a nefarious character. That’s true of other groups as well. For example, the Branch Davidians were controversial both before and after David Koresh.

The Internal Revenue Service gives this as definition :

a distinct legal existence,
a recognized creed and form of worship,
a definite and distinct ecclesiastical government,
a formal code of doctrine and discipline
a distinct religious history,
a membership not associated with any other church or denomination,
an organization of ordained ministers,
ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed studies,
a literature of its own,
established places of worship,
regular congregations,
regular religious services,
Sunday schools for religious instruction of the young,
school for the preparation of its ministers.

But some wonder if this set of criteria of the IRS is accurate and if it might just be biased and flawed. One writer observes that it distinctly favors high or formal churches with large congregations. Unitarians and Quakers often meet informally in homes or small places. Some groups use a selection from different religious literature. Some have history that is aligned with other groups, but hve such different characters that they couldn’t be associated with the same group, such as the Quakers and Baptists who left the Church of England at the same time and have a shared history in some respects and unshared in others. Lots of groups don’t have Sunday school for the young. So if it isn’t the IRS standard that is reasonable, what should be used?

It turns out the debate over the definition of religion is as old as history itself and the debate has gone on for ages. Even lawyers and nations have had trouble sorting it out. The problems involve the imposition of societal standards and judgments that can make a difference. So when it comes to protecting religion the application of the law requires a definition, but that definition brings debate. Then there is identity religion where folks subscribe to a community but not necessarily to a specific set of religious beliefs. That would include many Jews, for example.

In most places the laws that regulate religion are usually oriented towards majority practices and the promotion of specific groups to the community to be recognized. So the actual practice of faith means that in countries with large Christian populations Christmas is a holiday and in Islamic countries laws that permit the ritual slaughter of animals.

So what is a religion? The answer is really who applies and over time who is accepted after enough fuss is made and enough adherents develop to make that fuss heard by those in control and power, according to those who have reviewed this question.

I guess that means we can include Mormons as a religion. They have had two well-known Governors and a host of other people in political offices and a little over 12 million members worldwide. That’s certainly enough to make a fuss and a religion.

I Saw It, I saw It, I Saw Valkyrie!

Contrary to what some reviews have written, I found Tom Cruise excellent, beaming out confidence, authority, insight and integrity into the main character. I can hardly think of a better way to play that role.

I was surprised also to find out that the story was not just about a bomb that did not kill Hitler. The whole Operation Walkyrie was in fact more than that, it also consisted of a whole plan to take over power after Hitler's death. That was not the intention of the Operation as written but that was how it was used. Almost half of the film deals with what happens after the bomb goes off. Eventually it fails because it turns out that Hitler did not die, and was able to win back a few key allegiance that turned the situation against the plotters.

Lastly, I was wondering why people who don't really have the historical background would go and see the film. I was with my Asian girl friend (OK I was not in Belgium) and she understood little to nothing of the film, even as I tried to explain her bits of it. The cultural gap was just way too wide to cross. In this respect, it certainly is not a mass-friendly movie, and it's amazing that the movie had the success it had taken that into account. No doubt, the fact that it's Tom Cruise is for a big part in the attraction the movie has out of the US and Europe. I doubt it would be enough to make it a real success on foreign market, though.

On the whole, great realization and acting, and a very instructive movie from a historical perspective, but it's not going to be a second Top Gun.