The new Aftermath Foundation billboard became an instant hit. Scientology is so desperate to prevent any of their sheeple from seeing the phone number on the billboard that they rented a cherry picker and then a scissor lift to try to hide it. The latest photos above come courtesy of Jeffrey Augustine at his excellent Scientology Money Project blog. Of course this sort of obvious attempted cover-up draws more attention to the forbidden billboard, but it also raises questions about just how insecure scientology is that they panic about their flock seeing a billboard offering a phone … [Read more...]
The Aftermath Billboard on Fountain Ave
There is a new billboard in Hollywood, and it is right next to Big Blue. It sits literally on top of what used to be known as the Apollo Training Academy (ATA) which was home to the Cadet Org back in the day, also the PAC RPF for a while and is now used to print promo. It is directly across Fountain Ave from Bridge Publications and a stone's throw from the AO. The billboard was unveiled this morning at 8:15am. Here is a shot of Phil Jones with the billboard in the background... Phil was instrumental in getting this billboard up. You may recall, in April 2016 he … [Read more...]
A Social Media Expert Analysis of SPTV
Jefferson Hawkins sent this article to me, written by Monia Ali on her substack exiledfan: Activist fandom and the defanging of the anti-Scientology movement Unfortunately, it contains fancy terms -- it would be more understandable if she used simple language… but it's enlightening nevertheless. The conclusion is this (along with the second footnote from earlier in the article): What started as a fight against Scientology has transformed into a fight against the main character of the week, diffusing the motivated indignation against the big bad into negative attachments to the people who ha … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Latest Harassment of Mark Bunker — Why It’s Important to Re-elect Him
You may have seen the recent article in the Tampa Bay Times: Scientologists stole Clearwater council member's campaign signs police say Tony O covered it on his blog. I have some other points to note about this incident. The response from official scientology spokesman Ben Shaw is remarkable but unsurprising. In a statement to the Times, Scientology spokesperson Ben Shaw said the church does not comment on elections or candidates. “This is not a Church matter and is not something we were aware of,” Shaw said. “Any attempt to involve the Church is simply a continuation of your anti- … [Read more...]
Sociopathy Part 4: The Importance of Authority and Obedience
This is the fourth in the series about Sociopathy based on the book by Dr. Martha Stout, The Sociopath Next Door. The previous posts are here: Sociopathy: What is a Sociopath? Sociopathy Part 2: The Traits of a Sociopath Sociopathy Part 3: The Creation of "Its" "Very simply, we are programmed to obey authority even against our own conscience." Dr. Stout describes the famous experiment done by Yale professor Stanley Milgram and correlates it to the world of sociopathy. If you are not familiar with his experiment, Milgram had “authorities” telling people to administer ele … [Read more...]
Thursday Funnies
The Thursday Funnies are back with a vengeance! We've got some great stuff this week... Things are really gearing up. You'd better be ready for the greatest expansion ever that is just over the horizon.... For 70+ years now, the mantra has been that the promises made are now finally going to come true. And this time it’s for real. Your faith (and money) will finally pay off. You have to wonder how long they can keep the confidence game going. It’s worked for this long — and there is no sign they are slowing down with their pitch. We’re expanding like never before! … [Read more...]
A Window Into The Scientology Bubble
There is quite a lot to be gleaned from this FB post and the comments. First, and most obvious, these scientologists are apparently NOT at cause over their lives and are struggling financially. Second, their solution is NOT to "solve it with scientology." Haven't they read all the success stories from the people who listened to the ACCs and it totally changed their life/handled all their problems/ got them moving on the Bridge etc etc? Not going to be auditors who are cause over life? They didn't even take them out of the plastic wrappers. So many scientologists have been convinced to … [Read more...]
Sociopathy Part 3: The Creation of “Its”
This is the third in the series about Sociopathy based on the book by Dr. Martha Stout, The Sociopath Next Door. The previous posts are here: Sociopathy: What is a Sociopath? Sociopathy Part 2: The Traits of a Sociopath One of the things a sociopath does, especially when in a leadership position, is create an us v. them mentality, reducing the "them" to things that are not worthy of empathy, fairness or even continued existence. Hubbard generated this mentality from the earliest days of scientology -- beginning with positioning Dianetics as a fight of good v. evil and salvation v. … [Read more...]
Sociopathy Part 2: The Traits of a Sociopath
This is the second in the series about Sociopathy based on the book by Dr. Martha Stout, The Sociopath Next Door. The previous post is here: Sociopathy: What is a Sociopath? The elements that are used to diagnose sociopathy/psychopathy/antisocial personality disorder are as follows: Many mental health professionals refer to the condition of little or no conscience as "antisocial personality disorder," a noncorrectable disfigurement of character that is now thought to be present in about 4 percent of the population - that is to say, one in twenty-five people. This condition of missing … [Read more...]
Sociopathy: What is a Sociopath?
I have been re-reading the wonderful book by Harvard professor Dr. Marth Stout, The Sociopath Next Door It has even more applicability to the world of scientology today than when I first read it. I had always thought that David Miscavige was a unicorn — unique, cruel and deranged. That it had been my misfortune to have encountered him, but I would never run into anyone like him again. Then I read Dr. Stout's book and realized that there are recognized and identifiable personality traits that sociopaths share. And by her estimation they constitute about 4% of the population. She d … [Read more...]
Money on Account — Can You Ever Get It Back?
Dear Leader(s)
Watch this short video here. Anyone who has ever attended a scientology event featuring David Miscavige will find these short videos eerily familiar. The blind, over-the-top adulation. The fear of being identified as someone who is not enthusiastic enough in their praise for the Dear Leader. In N. Korea this might result in being sent to a prison camp. In scientology it’s a minimum trip to the ethics department for an expensive attitude adjustment program — or as happened to me, assignment to clean the bilges on the Freewinds . That was because an announcement failed to elicit a standing ova … [Read more...]
L. Ron Hubbard Day Proclamation Footbullet
As reported in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, a local mayor rescinded his proclamation marking March 13 as "L. Ron Hubbard Day." "After careful consideration and in alignment with my commitment to honor individuals who have positively impacted our community, I am announcing the rescinding of the proclamation of L. Ron Hubbard," Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila wrote in a post on X. "It was never my intention to recognize Mr. Hubbard, and moving forward, I will implement new Proclamation Guidelines to ensure that our proclamations reflect the values and priorities of the citizens of … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Vision for Clearwater; Why Mark Bunker Must Be Re-elected
The crazy never stops on so many levels. Peter Byrne thinks his photo proves that downtown Clearwater is NOT a "wasteland." The only people in this photo are 3 Sea Org members on the sidewalk and 4 cars on the road. Every one of those buildings on the left hand side of the street are completely empty. He also thinks that downtown Clearwater is benefited by scientology: "If not for scientology, downtown Clearwater would be a wasteland." The correct statement is that BECAUSE of scientology, downtown Clearwater IS a wasteland. I guess Peter Byrne has not been to downtown Dunedin or downtown … [Read more...]
An Amazing Weekend
Last weekend, Christie and the boys and I visited Washington DC courtesy of an incredible organization: Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation My oncologist referred us to them, and we were soon contacted by Kerry McGavin to help us make arrangements. Kerry is a perfect representative of the organization -- cheerful, caring and a logistical wizard. This is how JAJF describes its mission: t Treating families to WOW! Experiences, giving children who will lose their Mom or Dad to cancer a timeout to create indispensable memories as a family...while they can. The Jack & Jill Late … [Read more...]