The first post on this blog went up on 20 March 2013.
That day 316 people visited and they read 1881 pages of information – about 5 or 6 pages per visitor.
Exactly one year later we have come a long way.
When I launched Something Can Be Done About It I put my mission statement at the bottom.
It is my intention to do everything I can to:
- Expose the abuses ongoing in the church, through this blog, other media, law enforcement and elected officials to bring the abuses to an end.
- Help provide information to anyone looking for the truth about the church.
- Provide a forum for the exchange of information.
I have tried to hold true to those goals, and any success we have seen is in large part thanks to the many people who have shared information and insight into the “bubble” world of Scientology today.
Thank you very much, each and every one of you who is doing something effective to bring an end to abusive behavior within the Fundamentalist Church of Scientology.
From 316 people the first day we launched, readership has increased steadily over the ensuing 12 months. As of today, we average around 2500 different people visiting each day, resulting in between 9,000 and 10,000 page views a day.
The First Seven Days
From 20 March 2013 until the 26th – the first week, 4,237 different people visited, many more than once. By the end of that first week we had seen 11,340 total visits and 34,808 pages of information read.
Things got off to a fast start and it encouraged me to keep going.
That weekly readership has doubled since then – in the last 7 days this blog had 9,067 unique visitors who made a total of 29,756 visits to the site and read 64,917 pages of information.
But the really interesting number is the volume of unique visitors to this blog. It currently runs between 26,000 and 29,000 monthly.
So whoever you all are – thank you for your interest and your support. By visiting this blog you are making it clear that abusive behaviour within Scientology is a relevant concern and needs to be stopped.
The First Year
In our first year we have seen 255,234 different people visit the blog (unique visitors), resulting in a total of 1,252,169 visits and 2,768,536 pages of information viewed.
So the quarter million people who have swung by to check this blog out – thanks!
Looking forward to seeing you again in our second year!
Support
I particularly want to thank two categories of people who have placed themselves in special categories, and without whom I could not have maintained this blog.
Our “Special Correspondents,” some of whom have been named, some of whom have written articles that I have published and many more who are behind the scenes, sending me a constant flow of information. I know that none of you HAS to take the time or make the effort to send me anything. You do so because you too want to make a difference. You all know who you are. I would not be able to do this blog without you.
Secondly, those who have clicked on the “Donate” button and have provided financial support. It is always greatly appreciated. And I try to thank each of you any time I get a notification from Paypal. But if I missed you for some reason, this is a public and heartfelt thanks for doing something you are not required to do as a show of support. The money is certainly greatly appreciated, it truly helps me be able to continue this blog and devote time to it. But almost as important is the vote of confidence that you feel this is a valuable service. I have always been very reticent to even include any “donate” button, but friends insisted that there were people who WANT to help and if I didn’t put it there it was preventing them from being able to contribute in their way. I was wary, as I make so many comments about the vulture culture and regging. But I don’t think anyone has ever felt pressured or required and they know if there was nothing coming in I would still try to do the best job I could and keep the blog going somehow.
Finally, sometimes I have wondered whether it is worth it to keep this blog going. It does take a lot of time and it can be somewhat frustrating to see the same things brought up over and over which leads to thoughts of “am I swimming up an endless stream when I would rather be sitting on a floatee in a pool with a drink in my hand?” And then I am reminded of the value of making this information known when I receive emails from Special Correspondents and donations from people I don’t even know, or comments on the blog or phone calls or meeting people who tell me “I read the blog every day, it has helped me enormously to get my thoughts in line, and I don’t think I could have done it without being able to access this information.”
So, the last thought is a big thank you to all of you. Not everyone agrees about everything, and there have been some heated debates at times, and some unpopular positions have been put forth. But let us all be thankful we can participate in the debate and decide to accept or reject those viewpoints, as for a large number of us there was a time when this fundamental freedom to think for ourselves had been suppressed, if not entirely stomped out of existence.
Here’s to a second year even more successful than the first.
Congratulation Mike
You keep the hope alive that this dangerous cult will face its end
Claudio & Renata
Mike – Happy Anniversary. I’ve been coming here since July and I also need my daily Rinder blog dosage. If I miss one or two days then I become frantic trying to catch up. I love your writing and your WIT. And I thoroughly enjoy everyone’s comments, how often they make me crack up with laughter. Although we are in here licking our wounds and wondering how we got dupped for so long, when I read the comments often I think to myself, “wow, what a cool person, these are the people I loved when I was in Scientology”. I’m hoping one day, once little man gets hauled away to jail, we can all have our own BIG event and meet face to face. Now that would be a hoot.
So thanks Mike for this blog and keeping it going. Can’t wait to see what the new year will bring. Obviously more expansion. Eat your heart out little Hitler man, we know you’re watching.
Thank you for publishing the stats. Marc H lets us know now and then how his book sales are going also. Valuable data.
Your work is appreciated and of course if you both ever want a vacation away from the kids – you have plenty of disconnected grandmas out here that would love to pitch in 🙂
Mike,
You are one light in the darkness
You are one flame everlasting
And I fall on my knees and
thank God you were born.
Hello Mister Rinder!
Congratulations with the one year anniversary of your blog! I am a reader from day 1. Before your blog went up I read Marty’s. I never posted before though, I hate having to be anonymous, but while having that status I managed to save 4 SO staff (they got out of the SO though contact with me) and 2 publics who cut off ties with the RCS and are receiving services in the indie field. I’m working on some other people as we speak.
I managed to do this “saving and waking up others” by reading your blog and applying the data I either received from you directly or through many of the insightful comments. It’s truly a great platform you provide. I understand it must be hard on you sometimes, same old same old etc. But to the newly awakening its quite different.
Now, I could say how much I appreciate your blog, but I think that’s self-evident. I wanted to share how many lives you are saving! That’s the correct classification for this blog: Life saving!
A little about me, 23 years involved with scientology, never SO, 12,5 years staff, held various posts. Partially responsible for GATI (sigh….) translated into a certain language. Worked from early 1996 till end of 1997 in the ABLE building (as non SO) with many SO members and SO executives on the GATI project (Also saw some disappearing never to return). I recall vividly Miscavige calling to the TU project on a hourly basis, freaking out the mission I/C’s (there we a number of different ones though the length of time I was there).
I haven’t been unaffected by this disease called RCS. Along the bumpy road of waking up and questioning/protesting and receiving sec checking, conditions etc. I lost a marriage, a daughter (to the SO; in Australia currently) and some close “friends” I had.
My status with the “church” is: disaffected and I’m under a non enturbulation order for 3 years now. But since there is no SP declare yet I continue to save as many lives as possible. YOU amongst others (Marty and Tony O) provide me with the ammunition and knowledge to wake others up. Please continue to do so. When I receive my golden rod, I’ll be happy to post under my real name.
Love,
Disaffected.
Thanks for all you’re doing Disaffected. It takes a world community of feisty internet bloggers, to conquer malice, fraud and oppression. Haha! I hope you recover your relationship with your daughter soon.
Best wishes!
Hi Hallie jane,
Thank you for your kindness and your presence at this blog. I play chess on many boards, and the situation with my daughter is rather precarious. Our communication is very limited, and for now, that’s fine with me. She is doing relatively well on her post and I don’t want to disturb things forcefully at this time. I don’t email her (I used to text her, but since they banned free use of all internet connections, I can’t). I communicate with her only by phone, in her libs. And through use of Scio talk and tenets (some stuff is really workable) I find some disagreements and plant seeds of doubt in her mind. I hope they will grow roots soon :D!
Good dissem tech can, and IMO, should be used to disseminate the failures of the RCS (Or de-disseminate RCS Scientology, if you will). I would even argue that, all reaching out to help someone inside the bubble, will be in vain if one discards Scio terminology and its tenets. I’d say use it, pretty workable stuff. Proof? It got US all in right? Also, I won’t avoid TR-L, or any other dirty trick, it’s just the way things are acceptable to persons inside the bubble.
Anyway, I did strive to raise my daughter to be who she has become: a person who cares enough to help others, and of I’m very proud of her. Of course, in retrospect, I sure wish I had chosen some other subject to expose her to. But that’s a story of regret and doesn’t fit in the game I’m playing currently.
But make no mistake; I AM giving it my best shot to have her route out of there. Given the high pressure and tight compression in the SO, time, moves at a rather different pace for us outside than for those at the core of the bubble. So I fully expect the “comm-lag”. Hell, maybe we could even work out a separate time zone for the bubble-inhabitants.
Love (meant as REAL love),
Disaffected.
Bubble-time. The end product of marching to DM’s orders in double time.
Way to go Disaffected. It’s good to see that you are using your time UTR to get others out and it is working! Keep putting people on this underground railroad. And thank you to Mike and Marty and Tony for providing us with the truth so that we can use it to help get others out and literally “save lives.”
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for your comment and encouragement.
I just do my share of saving lives. Apart from some hardcore psychopaths who linger here to spy, we are all good, caring beings. If not, we would not ever have engaged in the RCS, taking all the BS for the time we did.
Over the years I have learned to capitalize on the unique knowledge I have of the inner-workings of the org here and this particular field. I made some errors in the beginning by trying to play nice and fair, but that got me the non-enturb order while at the same time failing to rescue a close friend. Now my gloves are off! Haha, anyway, I have been in a position to basically know most of the OL’s, working the in service areas of the org for many years. I know many intimate details of them (and NO, I will never resort to blackmail, that’s a part were my gloves stay on). But I do use certain facts in interacting with them, planting little seeds. If Miscavige only knew just how many, still ins, have serious doubts, he would create more “Holes” to put everyone in!
The org is falling apart and I know they can’t deploy their resources (just a little over 40 staff) too long on invests on me (especially not with all the BS continually emanating from Miscavige). Moreover, the DSA and the HAS are both very young, second generation Scientologists (I helped their parents through bridge steps etc, did handlings on them and I have a very good reputation amongst many terminals in the field AND inside the org). Having said that, I am well aware I’m walking a thin line here, but, I basically don’t care about that. I’ll juggle as long as I can. I do, however, try not to blow my cover just yet.
Lastly, the persons out now, have their own connections and they too learn some of the tricks of the trade. So, in a already decimated field with unusually high demand to NOT do the usual (service public UP the bridge), every person adding to our “special persons”-org bord is really making a difference.
Thanks to you all for being here and inspiring me.
Love,
Disaffected.
High five to you, Disaffected!
Happy Anniversary, Mike. I’ve enjoyed seeing the bubble pierced on a daily basis here, but even more than that, it’s good to see how people-and families-can heal after time inside a vicious cult. I hope that this next year will see more of all of this. Thanks for a great year.
“”Not everyone agrees about everything, and there have been some heated debates at times, and some unpopular positions have been put forth. But let us all be thankful we can participate in the debate and decide to accept or reject those viewpoints, as for a large number of us there was a time when this fundamental freedom to think for ourselves had been suppressed, if not entirely stomped out of existence.”
You said it.
Thank you, Mike, for putting this blog here. I have been posting here since day one and really appreciate your telling the sordid details of the suppressive things the COS has been doing and giving a voice to those who have been wronged. Although under the radar, hopefully the data I have sent you via a mutual friend has been helpful in this regard.
I think that perhaps the most important thing you have done is to provide a civil forum where people actually discuss issues rather than attack each other personally to resolve disagreements and hopefully reach agreements. You have fostered increased communication and understanding between Scientologists as well as between others who are interested in these issues.
My postulate is that this year shall see this blog continue in its mission to free people from the trap that Miscavige and his cohorts made using the applied spiritual philosophy of Scientology as bate.
The very first moment I heard that Mike Rinder left the church my first thought was….. “look out Miscavige, it’s game on now”. And so it has been. Thank you Mike for all the media, the interviews, your travels and appearances and I’m sure it has been no picnic along the way. But you did it and you continue to shine the light and be a coherent and cogent voice that puts straight talk out there with clear reality that Scientologists can understand. I feel this blog is the one that is going to be primarily instrumental in taking Miscavige down. I know you’ve been on both sides of this for a long long time now. Thank you for joining and helping and leading the way with this blog to help Scientologists get the information they deserve to have, which is the truth. Thank you Christie for your role and support in this as well. Congratulations Mike Rinder on year number one!
Mike
Your site is inspiring and witty and a great place to seek information about the inner workings of The Church of Scientology and its dubious leader. Keep up the good work of missing the church´s withholds! All the whistleblowers out here are right behind you! Even as far away as Denmark.
Happy birthday Mike (and the community building up in the comments). The freedom to disagree is fundamental to not being in a cult, and I have to say that I disagree less now than I did a year ago 😉
Happy Anniversary Mike! Great job.
Halfway through I would have bet money that the CO$ could not get any more stupid and dumb in their notices and actions. But as you predicted, they can do worse and they worked hard to prove you right.
I admire you to reading through this stuff to keep us informed. It must be nauseating.
Let us hope the nuthouse collapses soon, that would be a blessing for all.
Happy Blogginversery! I appreciate you keeping to your mission and that the statistics you see help to inspire you to continue. This blog is such an important asset for all of us who agree with your mission, need to know where to go to get the boost it gives, the information it provides and the comfort that comes from it being here, you being here.
Mike-
Thank you for breaking the two laws of this universe:
Being there and communicating!
Keep up the good work!
Mike, thank you for all you do. My SO career coincided with part of yours and Marty’s, so the historical info you cover is especially real to me. Your recollections of Hubbard have helped me find my way to a more rational view of my SO & Scientology experiences. I read your blog daily. Best wishes on your continued success!
I’ve read your blog everyday since it came out. There’s a lot of us out here who’s only crime was to want to do the right thing. Only to be to be punished for wanting to help. Makes you feel pretty horrible…. until you find out you were not the only one. Lots of good people on this blog, who want to help and do the right thing. If this planet was composed of the type of people found here, it would be a pretty cool place.
Thanks Mike.
Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary Mike! This is one of my very favorite sites and I check in on an almost daily basis. It always amazes me how much the wealth of the CoS shines through in their ads, events, and buildings, but when it comes to that important detail of actually reaching people they are soundly beaten by one-man blogs, vlogs, and reporters operating on far smaller budgets. As well, they are beaten by people with compassion and a sense of humour, which contrasts nicely with the humourless and robotic antics of Cruise, Alley, Davis, Sherman and Miscavige.
Keep up the great work!
Right on…Right on…Right on!!!!
Thanks for all that you do Mike!!
Congratulations, Mike. And thanks for being there.
You go Mike! Ironically today is also the first anniversary of our being declared. I was actually thinking about this date this morning when I read your post. And, most definitely, we are going to hit the donate button as soon as Mike gets back in town. You deserve the help and the kudos. You have become a good friend and a trustworthy speaker for those who cannot speak for themselves. We love you!!!
REAL stats! Awesome. Good job, and may you continue for as long as it takes for you to achieve your goal. I may not comment frequently, but I assure you I come and read every day.
Congratulations and Thanks Mike, and family! And thanks to everyone else who contributes.
E.O. 🙂
Happy Birthday/Anniversary Mike.. Your blog has created a huge effect and I hope you never give it up, you have created a safe haven for many. I have had a soft heart for those who are afraid to come out and more out.
It’s not easy. I think your blog has made it safe for these.
Brilliant Mike! Congratulations! This blog has been very valuable to me and my hubby. I think it has truly been 3D auditing and has made all the various facets of the demise of the church, more understandable. Being non SO, I was so lacking in info. I felt like it wasn’t comprehendable which was very sad and enturbulating. I have gotten to the point several times, where I felt I was probably done with decompressing, because I felt I had most of the data and felt at peace with my ‘sp’ness. But then…..another blog post would stir my thinking and lots of great comments would stir it even more. You created a safe space for many views to be heard Mike, without going into extremes that would undo that. You’ve done a wonderful job. It’s been so nice to get acks and convo from so many cool and intelligent people. The humor is so priceless and is so necessary for us trying to find our way. The stand for the value of the tech and what LRH did achieve, and the unwavering truth and exposure of lies and evil acts has been quite a tightrope. You’ve walked it with ethics presence, dignity and humor. You have a friend in LA if you ever need anything. Thanks!
Dora Luca
Keep up the great work! It’s the first thing I read every morning.
Very very well done Mike!
Thank you for this blog, for being there and for doing something about it.
In fact, thank you so much for doing A LOT about IT..
It is all very necessary and priceless. And much appreciated!
Hemi
Hello Mike and christy, Thank you for this blog. It is very informative and keep us Indies educated and in touch with each other. I suffered heart-breaking Disconnection with my son and handled it, with help from Marty, Mike and others on the blogs, but it is still an uphill battle, as my son was given so much derogatory information about me, while disconnected, that it is still difficult to overcome. Reading your blog makes me realize that I am not alone, and there others out there with similar problems, many of which are much more difficult than mine.
The stats on your blog are tremendous and fascinating! To think that so many people are interested in the trials and tribulations of those of us who have suffered and still do suffer from the abuses of the past and the present!
Your blog is a monument to Self-Determinism. The loss of that is what we all objected to, while in the Church. Now we get to think our own thoughts, say what we think, without fear of reprisal, (at least on the blog itself.) Some of us still have repercussions from saying what we really think, but as more join the club of Self-Determinism, it gets easier and better and more free.
Congratulations on a job Very, Very Well Done. I hope your Disconnection ends soon, as more people see the light and speak out against it. Your blog is our mouthpiece to end the abuse.
My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to you and your family.
Bravo Mike,
Your site has enlighted me.
Hard to believe it’s been one year.
a blog “on the fringe of the internet” out performs scientology’s own website.
go figure out what that means OSA.
there’s expansion going on somewhere and in your gut you know where. that niggle you feel, that you just can’t shake, the feeling that something just ain’t right, it’s more than just a niggle.
you can wait until the hammer lands on you before you do something or you can take action before you get squashed, because you know sooner or later you are going to be blamed for something, sooner later your number will come up. do you really need that? haven’t you seen it time and time again with others?
why isn’t it going to happen to you? and in fact it already has at times hasn’t it? how many times did you know you were right but they made you wrong and you had to take it and make amends?
how many times were the failures of others blamed on you? how many times did you have to clean up their mess and thank them too?
you know and you know you know……… and you know it’s alright to know, to judge for yourself.
if someone wants to know what scientology is about, they shouldn’t listen to anybody, they should go find out for themselves, right?
doesn’t that go for everything then? including all the critics?
so if you want to know what mike rinder is about you shouldn’t listen to anybody, you should go find out for yourself right? find out for yourself. evaluate for yourself.
if you’ve read this far then you know, you know what’s right and what’s wrong.
Ah yes whitestar nothing like an ice water dip on the first day of spring!
Congratulations on your first Anniversary.
While I do not have the stats one year ago, the current worth of your website works out like this when compared to some others:
mikerindersblog.org is worth $120,960
scientology.org is worth $107,280
drugfreeworld.org is worth $94,320
Narconon.org is worth $18,900
scientology.ru is worth $13,500
cchr.org is worth $13,500
humanrights.com is worth $5,400
thewaytohappiness.org is worth $960
youthforhumanrights.org is worth $960
scientology.com is worth $720
scientology.net is worth $720
iasmembership.org is worth $480
scientology.us is worth $480
scientologie.fr is worth $480
scientology.es is worth $480
Criminon.org is worth $240
appliedscholastics.org is worth $240
rtc.org is worth $240
scientology.dk is worth $8.95
AnEx
Congratulations Mike for your one year anniversary on your blog. You have helped me and so many others who are either in, coming out or out. There are so many words I could use to describe you, brave, caring, determined, and a loyal friend. I cannot thank you enough for being there and communicating each and every day. You are loved and admired. Straight up and vertical for real here!
Thanks so much for doing this. It doesn’t need to go on forever, but right now, this blog helps so many, specially the less visible ones.
Happy Blog B-day !! Great stats!
Mike, I know you have a young family to support and you donate a lot of your time to this blog. Many readers will understand that once you are “fair gamed” by RCS like Mike, myself and many, many others, it becomes more and more difficult to work with ordinary business people because they don’t want to get involved with this nutty cult, even tangentially by dealing with a whistle blower, etc..
Anyway, I just want to thank you for your excellent work and I appreciate the extraordinary effort you put in to give us news everyday. I read everyday and this blog is a big part of my life. Thanks to you and your family.
Congratulations Mike!
I read it daily and you are living up to it’s title
Hey a big congrats for keeping those stats straight up and vertical for real and further more or whatever I’d like to thank you Mike for being there and communicating.
😉
LR
Moreover you’re kicking Dave’s derriere!
I am one of the 2500 that visit daily. I am under the radar and rarely comment but I appreciate your blog and it’s impact in helping others find out the truth. Please keep up the excellent work!
Can we call it the Indie 2500 UTR edition? (Under the radar)
I personally know two people, under the radar, who read it every day.
Congratulations!
Keep up the good work!
Congratulations Mike!! I find myself here every day too to find out the latest! And although I haven’t always agreed with you, I do appreciate what you are doing! A wise man once said that for construction to take place, sometimes you have to destroy first, and dave and the management style of the church has to come down for true Scientology to take place. Very few on this blog deny the benefits which can be obtained from Scn and I really hope you play a part in the re-building once that destruction has occurred.
It’s good to take time to appreciate someone who deserves it. I read here everyday and it is amazing how much you post. I love your sense of humor, and I appreciate how much work goes into moderating and writing this blog.
Thank you, Mike for putting this here. I read almost every day, even if I don’t always comment.
You are making a difference. Please continue, even if you feel you are repeating things. There are more and more people fleeing the church every day and much of this “old” info is new to them.
That’s a key observation, John Doe. The RCS abuses and lies which are familiar to a number of us are still “new news” to many just getting the courage to actually think and find out for themselves. I started posting on Mike’s blog right away but I before that I had lurked for nearly 2 years before finding courage to post a comment there. Based on my own process I am of the opinion that many on-the-fencers are now lurking here, not posting comments, and learning plenty.
Edit: I meant to say that I lurked for nearly 2 years on Marty’s blog before getting the courage to post there.
Lurking leads to looking.
Firstly Mike, wow! Those are some interesting and impressive stats – so kudos for kicking off this excellent blog in the first place and persisting with it when you may have wavered. I may not be a regular contributor here but it has nonetheless become a part of my daily routine to stop by and check for the latest brilliant and often humerous posting and long may it continue. It’s actually a problem to also keep pace with the many insightful and informative comments so I completely understand how this must impact at your end too.So thank YOU too for all the work you do here and elsewhere to keep the information flowing and for providing this forum to share and connect. 🙂
Hey, Mike!
Big Congrats on a year of outstanding work!
You began this blog on the First day of Spring last year…Now it’s the First day of Spring again, 2014, one year later. I remember the first day of your blog. I was impressed by how well set up your blog was with graphics and ease of navigation. I was also impressed by your quick responses and rapid posting of new information. And it just kept improving.
Thank you for an outstanding job!
You are appreciated.
Happy Anniversary!
Recently formally resigned from the Co$ as a direct result of your and the South African blog, and now regaining my purpose and knowing that MY ethics is OK. Thank you for that, Mike. You have become a stable datum – I read your blog every day, as I know that many leaving will be doing so and need to do that too in the coming year.
Continua a luta!
I read your blog every day.
Thank you for exposing the evils of the Cult of Scientology!
Happy Anniversary!! I read here everyday. Often multiple times. Thank you Thank you Thank you To Freedom!!
Congratualtions on the first oustanding year!!!! (Yes it’s something that is worth exclams).
You are opening the eyes of the world
Thanks for being you.
“The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.”
― Napoleon Hill
I believe he is talking about you Mike. You have come out of the pits of hell smelling like a rose and help many! I love your daily posts, great sense of humor, the facts no matter what they are and the safe space you have created here. Although I left the church in May of 2010 and voraciously read for months online, you continue to bring new information to the party and it all helps in realigning the past and decompressing, just that much more. Congratulations on your great success with this blog and thank you! Hugs & Love to You and Yours!
Mike, it has continually amazed me to see the shear volume of writing you do, day in and day out. Your posts are witty, incisive, deadly effective and most often hilarious. As the subject matter is at times so friggin’ painful the humor is a much needed salve. Reading your blog is a daily event for me too. Thank you very much for your incredible work. Will be hitting the donate button as well.
Mike,
My personal thanks to you for all the obvious hard work you have put into your site. Be assured you’ve been immeasurably helpful to me in terms of factual data within a sea of lies and deceit.
I’ve never missed a day since your site went up. I would suffer a great deal should you move on as, some day, you must. But in the meantime you’re a good fellow. We all love you, Mike for what you’re doing in the name of truth and sanity.
Happy Birthday Blog! It is a tremendous public service you are supplying here Mike and I for one am very grateful. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Mike, With the number of uniques/month you should look into getting ads up on the side bar area. No reason you shouldn’t make some extra income.
Dear MIke, congratulations to the success of your blog. It is one of the first things I read in the morning and I appreciate your efforts to keep it up and running. You are a prolific writer and with your humor you are instilling a certain lightness to a very serious subject, which helps us all to wanting to contribute and share “our” stories.
Let us all hope that this blog is not necessary much longer because the $CofS has finally crashed and burned.
Thank you and Christie for doing what you do,
Sabine
I second Sabine’s comments, except that I don’t want the blog to stop even when the church goes down.This is my 3rd D now. And it is my family now that my own family disconnected from me. It is something I look foward to reading every day. So we can just morph it into the “Good News Blog” after the church goes and we publish our wins on being out, our newfound truths in our studies, our auditing wins in the Indie Scn or our new ideas from other “isms” we may study. And if we are doing well in life, we publish our wins on that so that the world can know that when we leave the Corporate Cof$, we don’t crumble up and die (as they would have you believe)…. on the contrary, we actually flourish and prosper and de-PTS.
Great work and results Mike. Thank you all you do.
Thanks for all your hard work and informative blog you’ve put up and maintained for the participants and readership.
I read this blog daily. It helps keep me informed of the going on in the Bubble community. This is a great service you are performing here.
Repetitive postings. The bane of teaching is repetition. ( Hopefully those repetitive postings are from differing posters.) These would seem to indicate that there are certain common views and questions as one emerges from the thought and information control of the Cos to the outside world. New people to the world outside the bubble will likely similarly respond when exposed to the information you provide. I have been teaching for 35 years. There is a progression of understanding that repeats. It would seem the same would be true of your expos’es on your blog. I would see that as an indicator of progression along the path of disenfranchising the posters mind set away from the false and destructive dogma of the CoS toward the truth.
Mike, you lit a torch in the universe when you started up your blog. We quit ten years ago, not knowing WTF was wrong with this organization. Then I ran into the Debbie Cook news story last May, and in looking for her actual e-mail, I found your site. I remembered you from events years ago, and always you were a decent person.
Confronting the truth was so deeply horrifying. I’d stay up very late, reading, crying, looking up old friends only to find their lives had been destroyed.
At the same time, all of sudden I heard from still-ins I never hear from. I assumed the person inside of them wanted to be set free, so I directed to sources of truth.
The damn has burst and there ain’t nothing OSA can do to plug it up.
Thanks for putting up with Internet-Krazy. I’ll make a donation.
10-4 for the 2nd year
Hello Mike,
I just wanted to let you know that this is my first post to any Blog. That’s because I want to tell you how much your work and words have helped me out as far as getting my feet back on the ground over the past year. You see, after 39 years of living inside the bubble, Steve Poore’s “coming out letter” woke me up a year and a half ago. I was OUT so fast it was a bit unsettling. I read Marty’s first two books and that helped me out a lot! Then your blog came out 6 months later and it was very helpful and had some VERY GOOD Data! So please know that now I’m one of your many daily readers. I laugh, I cry, and in general enjoy the data as well as the “peeks back inside the bubble” without having to go there. (I just can’t believe that I was that stupid for that long…….)
I have been quiet thus far because I still have 3 sisters and their husbands as well as their children that remain in the church. ( they are some x S.O. members and 1 is x G.O.! with 2 nieces and a nephew currently still in the S.O.)
You see I was Declared and “S.P.” (which I now wear like a Badge of Honor) April 2013, and just recently the family that is “still in” have decided to “Disconnect” from me and my spouse of 42 years. So I have no more worries and nothing to lose should they find out about me posting to your blog.
Some day I hope they too will be free of the bonds of the radical church of Scientology.
Anyway, THANK YOU and Happy Birthday to this very much needed and wanted blog that you created. I too will be hitting the “Donate Button.”
Dennis Smith 🙂
Welcome Dennis! I am really sorry to hear about your family disconnection. Is a story that plays out far too often. Scientologists are forced to chose integrity or family. And I hate to say it, but those who turn their backs on integrity don’t seem to fare very well. So well done on chosing integrity! I am sure that Mike would love to publish your profile and story if you would care to give it.
Thank you Roy MacGregor. I simply refuse to let anyone stop me from having my own thoughts and originations about what I have observed as well as know to be true. Per LRH…..
Wear the suppressive badge proudly Dennis and like Hester Prynne you can wear it knowing that those who issued you the scarlet letters don’t know your heart at all………
Thanks for your kind words KFrancis. I truly feel sorry for the all of the young people ( my own 2 nieces and a nephew included ) that are working so hard for COB to try and create something that has not grown for the last 10 years a least. The public at large really doesn’t want anything to do with it or them. So sad to contemplate. There are some very good lessons to be learned here for those of us that are now outside the RCS.
The good news is that I still have my brother and a sister as well as their children who are “out of the cult” after being in it. And I have my own two children and 7 grandkids that are growing up and none of them will have the cult win them over, EVER.
Congrats Dennis, an SP Declare from the Church of Scientology is a real badge of honor. We are glad to have you in our ranks.
Hello Doug, thank you for your kind words also. May I say it is my pleasure to standup and be counted with the likes of you. It was not an easy transition for me as my mother, father and all 5 of my siblings were at one time “all in the church.” So as the one with the highest training level (Briefing Course Graduate) as a Class VI auditor and a New Solo Not Completion I knew it was going to cause some waves if I went public with my new reality. Now enough time has gone by and I have seen too much both inside the church as well as outside to ever consider going back in…….again thank you for your comment.
Congrats Dennis and shame on your spouse. The viewpoint of wasting the 2D for another dynamic is so aberrated and short sighted. The truth is what sets us free, so it gets better and better. Take good care of yourself and find buddies near you.
Welcome Dennis! You are among friends here. I look forward to reading your coming out story soon.
Happy Anniversary Mike!
Keep up the great work, we all love you 🙂
Bruce Goldman
These numbers don’t lie, Mike’s Online Org is a buzzing Org.
Oh, yes, congratulations on having the first Ideal Blog. Beat that one, MIscavige!
Ha ha Dollar….good one! With this blog and all of it contributors The Ideal Application of the Internet has been achieved!
What a day!
Don’t need no building, just beings.
Hi Mike – Want to congratulate you and thank you for your incredible blog. I read it every day. Very informative. Also, I love being part of this group. Lots of people with very much in common. Really great that everyone can express their opinions and we don’t get hit with a bunch of crazies shooting their faces off bashing this, that and the other thing.
You’ve done a great job moderating the group.
Also appreciate your help with our TBT article.
Thanks again, Sheldon
I do not have time to respond to everyone’s kind words individually. The comments today are extremely gratifying and in a lot of cases very touching. I thank you all, and anyone else in advance. It is a bit overwhelming — but in a good way. Admiration is wonderful. Appreciation is even wonderfuller…
You’re wonderful. 🙂
Mike, your blog has made the slogan, “Something can be done about it” a reality for me, and your blog has long been a stable datum for me. Truth, coupled with wit, understanding and humor is an unbeatable combination for me, and these stellar stats show that many others think as I do. I can’t thank you enough for what you do.
+1
Thank you Mike for a wonderful, informative blog. I look forward to reading it, however often you continue.
Happy Anniversary Mike.
This blog meant a lot to me in my period of disconnection and decompression last year, bringing me a lot of truth and much needed information to help me out of the cult and into the real world. You yourself were a “stable terminal” for me – the first one I actually reached out to.
And once I stepped out and started finding my own voice, you gave me a platform from which to speak and I will be eternally grateful to you for that opportunity. Because as much as it may have helped others for me to speak out, I was helping myself just as much by writing what I wrote.
Your blog is being read by thousands – and deservedly so – and it is something I look forward to every day. Keep up the excellent work and fighting the good fight. It won’t be too much longer that we have to do this. I really do believe that. Thanks for everything you have done, are doing and will continue to do in the future. It has meant more to me than I can ever really express.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV6_081vGsM
Pretty funny MIKE !
Happy Birthday!!!!!
The purpose/intention of this blog is what keeps it going; we can’t just close the eyes to the abuses perpetrated by Black Heart and his minions; in fact the blog’s name says it all: Something Can Be done About it.
What I like most of this blog is the facts presented on it plus the opportunity for others to express their views, this is of immense value. It allows outflow and expression.
MY DEEPEST THANKS FOR THE JOB YOU HAVE DONE, YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MANY AND LETS KEEPING IT GOING AS IT DOES HELP OTHERS TO SEE TRUTHS. THANK YOU MIKE
i visit your blog almost every day and enjoy it. I am a “never in” . My inlaws are devote lutherens and used this religion as a weapon upon my now deseased wife and myself. After my wife died of cancer, these inlaws never saw our 2 boys, their grandchilden again. my door was always open, and i started reading about cults and sociopaths to try to understand these peaple. scientology is fasinating to watch and taught me a lot about people.. Disconection exsits lots of places besides scientology
Excellent point Phil. Obviously, it’s their loss. Really, this whole history of Scn is not new in the human experience. A despot trying to enslave others, the power hungry getting their money through fraud and coercion, religious fanatics/martyrs trying to save souls,….. I think I’ve heard of these things before. Best wishes to you and your boys.
Your sense of humor makes it possible to keep going in this seemingly never ending drama.
A year for your blog and a little over two for Debbie Cook’s letter. It seems like a long time to be consummed by this strange nightmare.
Thank you doesn’t seem a strong enough word.
Well, your are welcome Mike. We like you too!
I also read your postings daily here as many here do. I enjoy your insights and wit and look forward to seeing your “Special Correspondents” input. Donating to your blog is well worth the money as you have been providing a valuable service, plus I’m sure your blog has contributed to many of Captain Davey’s ulcers.
Just what the doctor ordered.
Very Well Done! And to the people who post here.— they are funny, intelligent, and irreverent. I read this blog daily.
Thanks Mike, greatly appreciated since there is no getting ethics in internally, it has to be external. David Miscavige & OSA are so corrupt they can’t see the forest for the trees.
Another way to put it – They don’t know shit from shinola.
Breppen,
“since there is no getting ethics in internally, it has to be external”
My sentiments exactly. Michael’s blog here is an effective vehicle to do just that. There may be some extraneous venting, misunderstandings, talk, and even natter in the interest of freedom to communicate, but the blog is a means to do something about the situation!
Leonore
Hip hip hooray!
Sadly very true Breppen!
Dear Mike Happy Anniversary to your blog! First thing in the mornining with my coffe it became part of my life now, how coud I live without it? :o)
From a never-in, long time lurker, thank you for your blog! I think you are providing an important service! Also your new picture is good eye-candy! 🙂
Cheers Mike. He who cannot be named is lurking here. Say ‘Hello’.
Keep up the good work, I enjoy the reads.
Mike – Happy Anniversary to this blog. The stats speak for themselves – no booming Pomerantz voice needed. Thanks for everything you have done and continue to do. Love BP
DM after reading this post – Lou, WTF!!!!!! %&$#=%!!
LOL!
You are doing GREAT work Mike and YOU ARE TREMENDOUSLY APPRECIATED!!! Thank you.
In case you had any doubts Mike, you’re now obligated to continue! Cheers!
Mike: First: it’s a shame that this Blog has to even exist…that the abuses have existed and still exist form co$. That said, second, Outstanding job bringing the truth to so many people. Thank you! GREAT JOB!
Back when I first got involved in Scientology, I thought I was joining a group of free-thinking bohemian philosophy lovers, who sat around in berets, smoking little black cigarettes and drinking coffee, jubilantly discussing the Big Ideas of Human Existence.
I didn’t notice that, as time went on, Scientology was more about smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee (because that’s all there was to eat) while enforcing only pre-approved ideas down each others’ throats, always to protect the Big Ideological Machine.
After a while, it did begin to dawn on me that the free exchange of ideas was considered one of the greatest threats to Scientology EVER and anyone with a new idea to discuss was actually targeted for destruction!
Wow. What a frikken nightmare that was!
Whew! Glad that’s over!
Anyway. I can not tell you how gratifying it has been to see what kind of a person Mike Rinder really always was. I realize now that, as the head of the Office of Special Affairs, there was no way to see the Real Mike Rinder. Being cogs in a big Ideological, spirit-crushing, shit-eating machine, there was no way to see who any of us really were.
Seeing how you deal with the topics you choose to write about, Mike, and the tolerance and the humanity you display to others, I can not imagine how suffocating it must have been for you to be the head of the Office of Special Affairs of the Church of Scientology. And to have to fucking report to, and to fucking deal with, such a pin-headed idiot like Miscavige every day – oh my FUCKING GOD!
Anyway. You seem to be much more in your own natural element now. And it’s very good to see. Not only does it seem to be a good thing for you, but it is also a good thing for all of us, too!
Congratulations on your first year in the wild, Frosty.
You’re doing really great!!
Alanzo
So well expressed Alanzo. Hear, hear!
Wow Alanzo! Nice!
Alanzo, I was just thinking about you today. I happened to come across a thread you started on ESMB about wanting to “crowd source sec check” Mike Rinder & Marty Rathbun.
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?22759-CrowdSourced-Sec-Checking
I’m glad to see you’ve finally gotten over that Scientology complusion to demand confessions from people and I’m very glad Mike was spared your efforts.
I must admit it’s kind of weird seeing you hang out here & on Marty’s blog considering the amount of words you’ve written about them over the years. I’m assuming you’ve changed your mind about MIke & Marty. Do you think perhaps you owe a few apologies?
Congratulations on the anniversary of your blog Mike. It’s essential reading and long may it continue (although if things keep moving at the rate they have been moving this blog may be unecessary in a few short years).
Michelle, your post struck me as an attempt to create some discord. Linking to an old post which is critical to Mike and Marty. Making someone who supports their efforts currently feel uncomfortable. I dont see how your comment advances the purpose of this Blog.
If my reply to Alanzo makes him feel uncomfortable then I believe that’s a good thing. He should feel uncomfortable. He needs to apologise.
I am not big on trying to make anyone apologize. For what it’s worth, I don’t care about any apology from anyone. What is most important to me is how they act in the present. I believe people can change and if their actions are good currently, there isnt much point in focusing on what they may have done in the past. The “apology” is inherent in the actions of today (it would appear Alanzo has changed his view about me, and perhaps me about him — that’s for the good).
You’re very gracious Mike. I don’t know how you came out of that hell hole with your sanity & dignity in tact. But you clearly did. However my opinion hasn’t changed. I believe an apology is owed to you, if not for your sake, for Alanzo’s. I’ll say no more on it.
I’m still the philosopher of those early days, never gave it up. I still have my beret. 🙂
Very well done for all your good work Mike. You are making a difference.
“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
Thomas Paine
Wonderful quote MJ. Had not read that one before. So very appropriate.
Great quote,MJ. Thanks.
Shining the light of truth is THE way to end all tyranny. You do a great job of it.
Happy Anniversary Mike! Thank you for your updates and colorful reporting.
You know what, Mr. Rinder? What Co$ does to people with regging damages people’s psyches and it may have done that with yours in this area. I grew up with father that was and is extremely dysfunctional about his money. When I grew up, I needed help coming to grips with “weird” money issues that caused problems for me when none were actually there. In your case while in Co$, the taking of money +and your prime years+ was a systemic, institutionally supported extortion. You may need to gain emotional help with tackling money issues after what you’ve been through.
In my dysfunctional situation, where messing up people’s heads wasn’t the goal, you were actually specifically victimized. And it is true that donators generally like to be thanked, but those of us who read this blog are grateful for the opportunity to help in a small way. On the obverse, you lost everything and yet still cringe in having a donate button. You don’t even call attention to it on the site!! Many of the readers here could empty our bank accounts hitting the “Donate” button like lab rats looking for food pellets and still not compete with what you have given of your life, productivity, family and self. You’re a good man, doing an incredibly important, insanely costly thing. Rock on.
Happy Blog Birthday Mike! There have been times when I also want to just stop reading or thinking about scn. But boy! Do I want to be there when it all comes crashing down!
So, I keep reading and posting, but that is what I can do to help keep the blogs that I visit alive. If they did not exist, so many of us would still be blind to what is really happening. ESMB got me through the initial weeks when I started looking and I read till my eyes bled!! Huge upheavals for me, but so necessary. And this is what you “fringe of the Internet” bloggers do. You get people to look and find out for themselves. That is something we were CONDITIONED not to do, sometimes for decades.
Never under estimate the value of what you do here – it is enormous! Thank you.
Congratulations on your 1 Year Anniversary and thank you for all that you are doing here on this blog, but I have to say, what you did up in the air were two hallmark days in scientology’s reckoning. With a tip of the hat to Mike Bennett, I will forever smile at the memory of Banner Day and Helicopter Day. May this year be the end of the abuses and heartbreaks and a new day.
Mike, thank you so much for this blog. I come here every day and most days more than once.
Your contribution with this blog is uniquely valuable particularly because you were very close to the action over many years and know what went on.
Congratulations on this anniversary and please carry on, we need this town square so we can continue to gather until everything is worked out.
Wow! A quarter of a million “RIS” (Readers in the Shop). Your operation is bigger than the “Church”! It seems longer than a year though. I guess so much info posted makes it seem a longer time to me.
Fabulous!
Congratulations on a wonderful year of enlightenment and laughs.
I look forward every day to seeing what you will say next.
Mike – thank you for your blog – it one of my ;morning newpapers I look forward to receiving. Your posts are awesome and the inside information valuable! You are doing something about it – THANK YOU!!
I will be hitting the donate button too!
Peace and Love!
Happy Anniversary indeed! Watching you and Marty have blossom (sorry, cheesy word, but I can’t think of another at the moment) over the past year has been amazing. It must have been discouraging at times, but you kept on and that is admirable. That in itself is a blow (the Co$ certainly is fond of that word) to dm and his minions. Minions, if you are reading this, you can do this too……the Co$ is not the savior of the world as they want you to believe.
Mike, keep up the good work!
Mike, yours was the first blog that I ever commented on. You reply to me made me tear up as I was exposing an act of disconnection that almost killed my mother. I’ll never, ever forget your repsonse. Thank you for that, and a very Happy Anniversary to you and your blog. It’s overwhelming how much love is flowing to you right now. I celebrate the fact that soooooo many people love and admire you. I know I do.
Thank you!
Thank you, Mike. Your work here is greatly appreciated and I know I am not the only one who has made it a daily part of our lives. We are all interested in the information, the backstories and the entertainment of watching the show inside and outside the bubble. Filling in the blanks and answering some of the mysteries helps everyone, both old and new here.
I love your blog. Thank you.
Mike, well done. Lets hope that all the Blogs valuable products are achieved in 5 years or less so that its existence is not needed any more. The growth rate of the blog is an indicator that it will achieve its own end. The goal of the blog is to make itself obsolete. I think within 24 months we will see the that something has indeed been done about “it”. In the end, everyone wins. What is worth keeping will still be available, but what is hurtful will not. A worthwhile quest.
Wow, a year already! Congratulations and many many thanks!
This blog provides a way for people in the bubble to get perspective on what’s really happening in the church, not just in their own areas, but worldwide. And even during those times you may feel frustrated that you “see the same things brought up over and over,” when I think about how I felt when I started confronting my own doubts about the church, I think the fact you are showing that outpoints are not just anomalies is one of the most important things you do! When you’re in the church, you can justify anomalies. After all, what are a few outpoints here and there compared to Planetary Clearing? But when you finally get that the same outpoints are being pushed repeatedly and constantly, it helps you see they aren’t so rarefied after all. Also, you can then realize it’s not just you seeing them and they aren’t just in your local area.
It’s like your blog itsa’s for all those still in the church trying to sort out the niggling sensations they have, but can’t itsa about them because they have no safe way to do so within the church.
Thanks to you and Christie both for all you to do to keep getting this info out there. <3
Happy Birthday Mike’s blog.
Mike, being able to get the painful parts of scientology behind me and a recognition of a lot of good I received from it is because of you and this blog. I was a mixed up puddle of poo before that.
I can smile again and move on.
Thank you.
Congrats Mike! A year can sure go by quickly and this blog has certainly had a productive one. I’m a regular reader and consider the blog to be a vital asset in bringing the cult to justice. Thank you for all that you’re doing.
Thankyou Mike for your persistence. Your blog is always enlightening and has given me valuable information and perspective .
Thank you Mike for continuing to put a spotlight on the actions of the COS. I read your blog everyday. What you are doing is making a big difference and extremely important.
cheers , from Croatia – small part of LRHs Bulgravia.
Congrats on your One Year Anniversary. I visit your blog first everyday and enjoy reading the great community of people you have commenting here.
Congratulations from Western Europe! You are doing very well indeed.
Your blog is very much needed and wanted.
Mike, those are such impressive traffic numbers. You should be so proud.
To Mr. David Miscavige, THAT’s what “straight up and vertical” really looks like. BAM!
Mike congrats mate…what a great forum to express the ideas and information necessary for others to read and as is the lies and fund truth …so a bloody well done to you and your special guys and family…it so happens to fall on my birthday as well…so not bad timing mate…
Happy birthday Joey!
tks Mike…and cheers..
Wow. I never thought on posting here because I never have been inside the bubble, but I read your posts with great interest. Actually I found here after I read Jenna Miscavige Hills Book and wanted to do further research. But now… it’s a great thing you’re doing, Mike, and it’s a great thing all of you who have been inside have accomplished. I have deep respects for everyone of you and I am glad you have got the will and the strength to go on even through the hard times.
Greetings from Germany – you reach people around the world and that’s a rare yet great thing!
Thank you, Mike. We are reading daily (almost).
It is very helpful.
Congratulations Mike!
You have done a great job and have accomplished a lot.
Peace to you and your family.
Great stuff Mike,
I think you underestimate yourself, sure sometimes it may seem like your pushing crap uphill, but it sure amazes me that one guy has such an impact on the Church with all their resources. In my experience the guys that persist in spite of everything are those that eventually win. As you point out your support continues to grow and believe it or not I think a lot of people depend on your blog. As Roy said let’s all make a donation so you can spend the time required to keep this going.
Cheers! I would wish you many more, but I’m hoping this mess will be over soon.
The tyranny of the numbers.
Unlike Scientology, Inc, your numbers are backed up by the trackers on your blog. Theirs are ‘whatever we had last week plus 50%.”
It would appear that you have about as many (or more) blog visitors on a daily basis than Scientology, Inc has regular customers. Of course, your numbers probably include everybody working for OSA and all the senior executives (if there are any left…).
Keep up the great work!
Dearest Mike & Christie,
Thank you for your energy, time, perseverence, audacity and courage in keeping this blog alive. Your blog has become home to the thousands of us who want to do Scientology, who know that Scientology does work and that it should be freed from the clutches of Miscavige & Co.
Your blog provides daily inspiration and encouragement. We of Dror Center, who work to deliver Scientology to all, as given us by Ron Hubbard, know that there are thousands more around the globe, dedicated to the same goal.
Exposing the atrocities of the church are part of the job. Giving us a stage and a forum for exchanging ideas and viewpoints is even more vital.
We are grateful for what you are doing, Dani
PS, and I second Roy’s call to push the donate button.
Mike,
I read your blog every day and regularly tell people in my life of the utterly unbelievable things that go on within the CoS that I learn from it. I think what is most important about this blog is that it is informing people that such ridiculous things are happening in their country, in their hometowns. That for most people, just 20 minutes down the road there are a group of people being subjected to horrible mind control and injustices, and the people perpetrating these injustices are enjoying tax exempt status. It makes people angry and change is happening as more people are informed. It’s slow, but change is happening.
Thank YOU for doing what you do. It is Important work and I hope all the sacrifices you make in order to make it happen are worth it in the end.
SUPER! Congrats on your 1st anniversary Mike. Many of us share your same mission and I look forward to confirming my attendance to the “event” where we all get to celebrate the end of the abuses and idiocies of the COS, when Dear Leader is locked up or puts a bullet thru his head.
It’s hard to have fun in the church. Your blog is fun to read and fun to comment on. Just yesterday I realised (again) how much I appreciate being able to come here and read your refreshing articles and everybody’s comments both funny and insightful. I’m not too familiar with blogs, but I think the quality found here is remarkable.
You know, when I was emerging from the bubble, I had this idea that people don’t matter and are expendable (myself included). That if you don’t do the job, somebody else will so who cares? It’s only over the past year, through a lot of personal work, that I have come to understand that everybody matters. Everyone makes their unique contribution and brings their special personality to the world. We would not have this freedom to discuss the church or tech quite like this without you and Marty being willing to invest time in it, or Tony’s willingness to report daily, J. Swift’s humour, Karen’s videos and Emma running ESMB. So many unique contributions given life by everyone who visits – and that life comes back to us and nurtures a thousandfold.
Although I wish to leave Scientology behind, at least the painful parts, it is home somehow and there are people here with a shared reality. I don’t have many people to talk to about this stuff where I live. So thank you Mike for hanging in there and doing what you do. I think LRH said something about an event being 80% preparation, 20% event. Maybe he got that from the Pareto principle, but he’s right. All this work is building up to an event we have yet to see, so maybe it often feels like nothing is happening. But things sure are hapening, I can feel it.
Happy Birthday to your blog. Something IS being done about it!
Excellent points. As has been stated in many spiritual books, you are the only YOU in the universe, unique, desired and needed to make the uni what it is. For the time you are here, you are priceless and invaluable. That point surely goes for Mike. And without the readers and contributors, named or unnamed, this blog would be something other than the incredible tool it has grown to be. Well Done! Mike.
“you are the only YOU in the universe, unique, desired and needed to make the uni what it is”
Oooh…I like this – beautifully said, gman. It gives everyone value which is the way it should be.
Yes indeed…..everybody matters. Helping people uncover themselves and all their uniqueness,is the viewpoint of a real auditor. Their viewpoint is all that matters. I hope everyone experiences love and appreciation of their unique self by whatever means indicates to them.
What a fabulous post.
Congratulations Mike Rinder.
This blog is a screaming success and kudos to you.
Onward and Forward for the next year.
I am psychic (LOL) and I predict this blog will
exponentially grow by the month, by the year.
Congratulations on your stellar one year anniversary Mike! Seeing the stats of how many people have been coming to your blog is just amazingly great! It means there are far more UTR’s than I thought, and many more ex-Scns and still in Scns and non-Scns who are interested in seeing truth win out over evil You have done a great job and have helped thousands. Yes, let’s all click on donate. And my heartfelt thanks for all you do with such wit and aplomb. Here’s to an even better next year!
Thank you very much,Mike!i will hit the donate button ,very soon ,thankyou .
Thank you so much Mike.
This blog has played such an important road to my recovery & would hate to see it go.
Each day I look forward to the next posting and awesome comments.
I read the blog every day Mike, and I try to contribute something of value to the purposes you have stated. Aside from that, it also still feels good to vent, so thank you for keeping the blog working. 🙂
Now…here’s how it goes: Mike, straight up and vertical stats! Dave, straight down and vertical. So much so that he has to lie at every turn to make it look like something it isn’t.
Mike has actual real live visitors who care about the abuses and craziness in this “church” and we’re actually back to the original reason for statistics–to measure something. It is very refreshing to see these numbers, Mike, and it’s hard to imagine who all these people are who tune in! But it’s great to see this post, these great stats and congatulations!
now those are what stats look like.
congrats mike, glad your blog is booming, you deserve it and so does scientology.
it has to be a time consuming, even a ball and chain commitment to putting out at least one entry everyday, day in day out. it just can’t be easy.
but it is appreciated by many and by many different types for many different reasons.
it makes a difference in incalculable ways Mike, it really does. and one way of confirming that is to ask yourself would miscavige be pleased to see this blog end?
there you have it. would you like to make him happy?
it’s a burden at times no doubt, for a lot of reasons, like the endless stream of same old same old.
the negative vibes and feelings you have to expose yourself to everyday.
just as a reader, sometimes i feel like i need to take a break just from all the downess associated with keeping up with their doings. it can get pretty frigging depressing at times.
so it ain’t easy, that’s for sure. but someone once told me, nothing worthwhile ever is.
perhaps you can get a small rotating group of contributors so you can shift some of the load and take some regular days off.
But you’re the ulcer at the bottom of his shot glass.
As long as there are people are here doing this then he ain’t happy.
As long as people are doing this, “something can be done about it”.
never feel it’s for nothing mike, that you’re wasting your time. for sure it’s not, for sure you’re not.
but also there may come a time when you have to move on. the fullness of life sometimes demands that.
if and when that time comes it comes. you’ll know when it’s really time to put it to bed.
We thank you Mike, sincerely and seriously.
i’ve been here since day 1 and honestly when this blog went up i was like “alright! about time!”
and it’s turned out to be as i hoped it would be, a place where people with different reasons and viewpoints but a common interest can interact with another. where there is just enough sparring and expression to know there are different types of people here but not enough to where respect for the other person is lost.
It gives clear and basic insight into “bubble think” so we all understand what we’re dealing with better.
it reports information that causes them the react and change plans. it’s because of places like this that has caused the hole to be reportedly shut down.
you were right in there with some of them and now because of people like you and so many others, they just might be sleeping in a bed.
and it burns miscavige’s ass to no end no doubt!!!!!!!!! 500,00,000X, multiplied by ultimate infinity + 1
this blog is the lettuce of my internet salad.
+1
Hmmm……. 26,000 to 29,000 unique visitors monthly…….about 25,000 Scientologists worldwide……things seem to be tipping in Mike’s favor…….
“sometimes I have wondered whether it is worth it to keep this blog going.” The agony it causes COB is, by itself, reason enough.
Mike – thank you so much for all you have done and congratulations!
I’m just one of those quarter of a million who’ve checked your blog out and have been helped immensely. I’m super happy that the blog is a success and am looking foreword to what year #2 will bring.
Thanks for sharing the blog stats and I will be sending in a donation tomorrow, as I consider your service to be quite a valuable one. Thank you again!
Well said Mike. Thanks for your work.
Outstanding Mike!
I would like to propose that anyone who has been enjoying Mikes blog reach out to their mouse and click the donate button.
I know Mike must spend a fair amount of his time reading through the multitudes of emails and traffic he gets, compiling posts with some of the wittiest lines I have ever read, reading every comment and who-knows what else to keep the fires burning on this crusade. Meanwhile he has a family to support.
I hit the donate button. If any of you others can do so too, I know it will help.
I appreciate all you have done Mike and sincerely hope you will continue until we have nailed the coffin shut on disconnection and ended this masquerade they are calling Scientology.
Something else to consider… how much money have we spent on Scn over the years? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? We did this in the pursuit of truth and to increase our awareness.
Are the objectives of Mike and this blog that much different?
For decades we fed the monster RCS has become, I think it is correctly-included that we do whatever we can to dismantle it. There are two easy ways of doing that:
1) Join in the conversation and contribute your viewpoint
2) Flow Mike some power by donating to this valuable service
Statpush
+1
Mike, It may also be a good idea to post a mailing address or P.O. box addy for people to send cash, if they do not have paypal.
If you would like to mail a donation to Mike, just click the “Contact Me” tab in the upper right corner. Send him a message and he will email you his address.