Sarah Palin has written a book called Going Rogue.
It hits book stores today.
It’s being called a memoir of her life.

I’m sorry, a memoir? It’s not like she has this great history behind her life as a hockey Mom and ex Governor of Alaska. And certainly her political career has been beyond laughable.

So the question now is…
will Palin’s book end up on the bestseller list? Or go over like a fart in church?

Besides the obvious that will plague this book, (Palin’s lack of popularity) I read that her book was ghostwritten by Lynn Vincent. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
Why you ask? Whos’ Lynn Vincent?

Lovely Lynn is not only the ghostwriter of Sarah’s book, she is pretty cozy with well known, white supremacist, Robert Stacy McCain (no relation to McCain the maverick) and she co-wrote a book with him. 

Some snippettes The First Post about Lynn and Robert Stacy McCain,

She (Lynn) is also staunchly anti-gay, backing the controversial vote to re-criminalise gay marriage in California, and – this is where Palin and her publishers might have drawn the line, but didn’t – she is closely associated with a well-known white supremacist.

He is Robert Stacey NcCain, a former editor at the Washington Times, a paper he left two years ago after a steaming row with a colleague.

Another Vincent collaboration was with a retired general, William Boykin, former head of the US Army’s Special Forces Command. He described his career mission as to defeat Satan in order to save America as a Christian country. “We are hated because we are a nation of believers,” he said.

“Defeat Satan to save America as a Christian country”?
Yikes! What year is this again?

As mentioned previously, Lynn is also a credited author on Robert Stacy McCain’s book, “Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party”. Again, just lovely.

According to a comment left on Little Green Footballs

After resigning as governor in late July, Palin spent most of August in San Diego working with Vincent on the book, “Going Rogue: An American Life.” Rumors swirled about Palin sightings at Vincent’s condo complex in north San Diego County. Palin reportedly was joined here by her family and top aide, Meghan Stapleton. This month, Palin huddled with her editors in New York.

So out of all the ghostwriters that Palin had to choose from, she picked Lynne Vincent? As always, Palin shows her brilliance. And to think that she ran for VP. *shudders*

What did Mark Halperin of Time have to say about Going Rogue?

Based on discussions with various sources who have seen or been briefed on the book’s contents, here’s what you can expect from “Going Rogue”:

* just five chapters—but they are very, very long.

* some score settling with McCain aides she believes ill-served her (names will be named).

* a hearty bashing of the national media.

* an account of how her upbringing shaped her maverick sensibilities.

* a testimonial to the importance of faith in her life.

* a warm and personal tone, written in Palin’s own voice, despite the involvement of a collaborator.

Two things not in the book:

* Don’t look for hefty policy prescriptions.

* Once source who has seen  “Going Rogue” says it does not include an index.  That would give Palin a subtle revenge on the party’s Washington establishment, whose members tend to flip to the back pages and scan for their own names. If they want to know what Sarah Palin has to say about them, they will have to buy the book—and read the whole thing.

Let’s recap, shall we?
She picked a ghostwriter who is anti gay, who is a creationist, and who has has teamed up with white supremacist Robert Stacy McCain.
There’s nothing in the book on policy. (well no surprise, she can’t write what she doesn’t know)
There are FIVE chapters in her book with NO index.
She bashes the media big time, even though they are the ones who put her on the map.
She throws people she once worked with under the bus, and adds a touch of holy rolling goodness.

WOW! COUNT ME OUT.

Now according to Comcast News,

Palin doesn’t elaborate on her book compensation, describing the $1.25 million figure only as a “retainer” that appears to be a reference to her lucrative advance.

So $1.25 big ones for a ghostwritten ”memior”?
Again… wow!

I think once the right wingers are done buying Palin’s crappy book, (Elisabeth Hasselback probably camped out at Barnes and Nobles last night) this book may be headed right for the bargain bin.

Although it would make quite the dandy door stop! Gotcha!

Update:

Multiple sources have confirmed Michael Jackson has died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 50. Right now we aren’t sure what exactly led to Michael’s heart attack, but he has suffered from ill health and chronic disease for over a decade, as well as, very public trials which must have led to a tremendous amount of stress.

Here’s what CNN is reporting:

Jackson, 50, had been in a coma at the hospital, sources told CNN.

Brian Oxman, a Jackson family attorney, said he was told by brother Randy Jackson that Michael Jackson collapsed at his home in west Los Angeles, California, Thursday morning.

Family members were told of the situation and were either at the hospital or en route, Oxman said.

Fire Capt. Steve Ruda told CNN a 911 call came in from a west Los Angeles residence at 12:21 p.m.

Ruda said Jackson was treated and transferred to the UCLA Medical Center.

Asked specifics of the patient’s condition, he said he could not discuss them because of federal privacy laws.

The music icon from Gary, Indiana, is known as the “King of Pop.” Jackson had many No. 1 hits and his “Thriller” is the best-selling album of all time. Video Jackson “as big as it gets” »

Jackson is the seventh of nine children in a well-known musical family. He has three children, Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II.

At the medical center, every entrance to the emergency room was blocked by security guards. Even hospital staffers were not permitted to enter. A few people stood inside the waiting area, some of them crying.

A large crowd was also gathering outside the hospital, according to video footage.

Outside Jackson’s Bel Air home, police arrived on motorcycles. The road in front of the home was closed in an attempt to hold traffic back, but several people were gathered outside the home.

*********************************************
Reports are coming in about an emergency call to the home of Michael Jackson stating someone was having a cardiac arrest. TMZ is reporting Michael Jackson has died, though no other media reports are stating that at this time.

We will keep you posted as we learn more. WOW, just wow. Maybe he was as sick as writer and blogger Ian Halperin suggested.

You can file this under several categories, but I’d say B.S., Good For Laughs, and As If, are top on my list.

So word on the street, via our good friend, who’s gone Brangeloonie, Ian Halperin (at Ianundercover.com), our favorite troubled tartlet is pregnant, for now.

Here’s what Ian had to say:

IUC just learned from a close source in Lilo’s camp that the out of control actress is seven weeks preggo. “I swear she’s carrying,” the Lilo friend said. “She’s going through big emotional turmoil. She’s not sure if she’ll have it or go through with an abortion that she booked to have in the next few days. Saddest part is she has no idea who the father is. She must have slept with more than two dozen men in the past couple of months.” Please, lets send a message here loud and clear to Lilo what to do. IUC encourages her to have the child. What are your thoughts?

What are my thoughts you ask? BITCH PUHHHLEEEEESE! Now, granted, there is no doubt in my mind that Lindsay’s uterus has been used as punching bag WAY too many times, by WAY too many guys, that however does not mean we are going to see a pregnant Lindsay Lohan anytime soon. It’s not like this her first time on the Planned Parenthood line. I’m not judging, just saying.

Lindsay was spotted a few years back with pregnancy tests in hand while she was in the hospital for “asthma-related” illnesses. So, Lindsay knows the drill I am afraid. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but starlets, unlike say inner city youths and teen girls in Alaska, have access to the necessary tools needed to prevent this sort of thing, and the way Lindsay gets around, you’d think even SHE’D be smart enough to apply some common sense.

I vote this a NO, but then again, it’s not like we’ll ever really know, will we Lindsay. *wink, wink*

And unlike Ian, I DON’T encourage Lindsay to have a baby. I’d go so far as to say Lindsay shouldn’t own a dog, or a fish. Houseplants might even be too risky. Lindsay’s womb would need ten years of detoxing before it was hospitable enough to carry life, let alone her trainwrecked ass caring for a tiny newborn.

I shudder for all humanity if this is true.

Join us, but bring a blindfold to shield your eyes. To watch, click here.

Does that bare spot on your wall over the sofa just scream out for something to fill it in?  Are you a monolimb who needs a glove to keep only one hand warm?  Is the dirt driveway at the end of your doublewide in need of special gates to keep intruders out?  Then you’re in luck, because Michael Jackson is having one whopper of a rummage sale:

As the former King of Pop is rumoured to be almost bankrupt, he is selling off furniture and art from his California ranch.

The auction will be conducted in Beverly Hills by Julien’s Auctions between April 22 and 25, with some of the proceeds going to The MusiCares Foundation.

So if you’re in the area, or just want to get some memorabilia, clear your calendar and pick yourself up some one-of-a-kind treasures!  From a set of sparkly gloves to a Ms. Pac-Man game to a Rolls Royce with 24k trim inside worth upwards of $200,000, you too can live like an emotionally stunted body-dysmorphic recluse!

In other MJ news, it is now being rumored that he is suffering from a staph infection which is causing him a lot of pain and could be permanently disfiguring (more so than he already is):

MICHAEL JACKSON is suffering from an acute MRSA-type skin infection which threatens to EAT his flesh.

The singer has been receiving antibiotics via a drip in a bid to beat the superbug, which sources say has spread throughout his body.

Jacko, 50, revealed painfully-inflamed skin on his face and hands as he visited a Beverly Hills clinic where he is being treated.

The stricken pop legend may have contracted the infection following plastic surgery on his NOSE, it was feared last night.

The 50-year-old Billie Jean singer is said to have a severe “staph” infection, resistant to conventional antibiotics.

Experts warned it threatened to develop into a terrifying flesh-eating disorder which could kill off areas of the superstar’s skin and leave him in need of major reconstructive surgery.

Jacko has been receiving antibiotics via an IV drip in a bid to beat the condition.

But the skin on his face and hands looked inflamed when he was snapped on his way to a Beverly Hills clinic during another week of intense treatment.

A source revealed last night: “Michael Jackson has a severe staph infection that he contracted during work to reconstruct his nose.

“The disease is an MRSA-style infection because it is resistant to conventional antibiotics, so he has been visiting a clinic to get antibiotics via an IV drip.

“The infection has spread throughout his face and body and is being aggressively treated by doctors.

“There’s a chance it could turn into a flesh-eating disorder where it begins to kill off his skin so he’s being very carefully monitored.”

FOD (Friend of Dawn) blogger and author Ian Halperin has recently declared that MJ is suffering from a serious lung disease that could be fatal:

NYT bestselling author and celeb biographer and blogger, Ian Halperin has issued a challenge to beleaguered pop idol Michael Jackson to prove he is NOT dying of deadly lung disease. As was reported in several news outlets over the last few weeks, Jackson was said to be suffering from a “rare genetic condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency” and would die within 6 months if he didn’t receive a lung transplant. In addition, Halperin, who has written a book on the troubled star, states that Jackson is most at risk from “chronic gastrointestinal bleeding” and has lost vision in one eye.

Of course, Jackson’s camp and his “official one and only spokeperson”, a Dr. Tohme Tohme (seriously?) have emphatically denied these claims as “a total fabrication” and claim that in fact, Jackson is great health and pursuing many lucrative and fancy business deal.

The National Enquirer (hey don’t laugh, they’ve gotten some big stories right lately) is also corroborating Jackson illness, and cite painkillers as a source of much of Jackson physical deterioration over the years:

A source close to the star divulged: “It’s tragic. His condition is just so far gone, I’d be surprised if he lasts six months.

“Painkillers and booze have caught up with him. The only way he was able to cope with the stress of sex scandals and his roller-coaster life was to mask the pain with substance abuse.

“But the end result is an addiction that will kill him.”

And Ian is now reporting that the staph infection is a separate illness which is affecting his treatment for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency:

[...] reliable sources inside Jackson’s camp tell me that the reason for his visits to the clinic are in fact to receive regular injections of alpha-1 antitrypsin, a substance that is derived from human plasma and which is often used to effectively treat the symptoms of Alpha 1.

While I have been told that the treatment has succeeded in arresting the most severe symptoms that Jackson was suffering as recently as last December, there have been some “setbacks” in recent weeks.

It’s possible that one of those setbacks has been the onset of an MRSA bug as has been reported by the British tabloids today but so far I’m told the stories aren’t true.

Just last week, Perez Hilton posted an item noting that “there may be something seriously wrong with the King of Pop” and showing a photo of Jackson leaving the clinic with puffy disfigured hands.

According to medical literature, one of the symptoms of Alpa 1 Anitrypsin deficiency is panniculitis, characterized by subcutaneous inflammation of the skin similar to the symptoms seen in the photo posted by Perez.

Michael’s camp, predictably, is denying the whole thing.

Could it be that it is this infection that is the cause of Michael’s illness instead of the lung problem?  Or, as Ian alleges, is it a combination of the two, or perhaps something else entirely…could it be that everything is finally catching up with him and it is all combining to make him one sick man?  With Michael Jackson, you never know, but it is obvious to all that he is one sick man and any supposed “comeback” is, quite obviously, not going to happen, at least not any time in the near future.

Those poor children.

Oh, that silly Michael Jackson.  His endearing shenanigans never seem to stop.  The latest funny in the comedic saga that continues to twist around MJ’s life comes from director John Landis, who directed the now-iconic Thriller video back in the day…seems he’s a bit miffed that he’s been denied, oh, about a million dollars in royalty fees:

Jackson was sued yesterday by one of his old friends, director John Landis, who says he’s owed around a million dollars by the singer in royalties for their classic “Thriller” video. This comes on the heels of settling a $7 million lawsuit with Prince Abdulla of Bahrain.

Landis was one of Jackson’s last friends and supporters, so the suit is a last resort effort on his part.

It is also being revealed that Michael continues to borrow, and borrow, and borrow, with no visible way of paying back the money:

At the same time, I am told that Jackson borrowed heavily again through Thomas Barrack’s Colony Capital so he could afford his $100,000 a month rental in Beverly Hills. The refi came as Jackson let Barrack become his partner in Neverland, where Colony now holds a $24 million note.

The few people left around Jackson who know his perilous financial situation are wondering why he borrowed more money and question where this is all going to end. One place might be bankruptcy court, as 50 year old Jackson — whose on paper 50% ownership of Sony/ATV Music is leveraged every which way — continues not to take any real responsibility for his own finances.

Certainly, the new questions are forming around Jackson’s mysterious manager and confidante of the moment, Dr. Tohme Tohme. He’s just the latest in a long line of people with various agendas who’ve passed through the former pop star’s life.

This on the heels of news broken by Dawn’s favorite celeb blogger Ian Halperin, which is that Michael is allegedly dying of a disease which is stealing his eyesight and ability to walk:

As was reported in several news outlets over the last few weeks, Jackson was said to be suffering from a “rare genetic condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency” and would die within 6 months if he didn’t receive a lung transplant. In addition, Halperin, who has written a book on the troubled star, states that Jackson is most at risk from “chronic gastrointestinal bleeding” and has lost vision in one eye. [...]

The National Enquirer (hey don’t laugh, they’ve gotten some big stories right lately) is also corroborating Jackson illness, and cite painkillers as a source of much of Jackson physical deterioration over the years:

A source close to the star divulged: “It’s tragic. His condition is just so far gone, I’d be surprised if he lasts six months.

“Painkillers and booze have caught up with him. The only way he was able to cope with the stress of sex scandals and his roller-coaster life was to mask the pain with substance abuse.

“But the end result is an addiction that will kill him.”

(And in case you were wondering if that photo of Michael is real, here he is with his kids when he is in the wheelchair.  Same time as above, different angle.)

Michael has been offered many opportunities to perform and make some serious change in return, but has thus far turned them all down for various reasons:

One of Jackson’s biggest problems is that he won’t return to remunerative work. I told you two weeks ago that he recently was offered a great gig: 10 shows minimum, 30 max, at $1 million apiece to perform the “Thriller” album at London’s Millennium Dome. It was a solid offer from AEG Live. But he wouldn’t do it.

He also wouldn’t appear at the Grammys. He also refused to pitch in on “Thriller” publicity — most of it was done by producer Quincy Jones. It seems no one has ever told Jackson the old adage that 99 percent of life is just about showing up.

Working isn’t always fun, but it can be done. Say what you will about Michael’s sister, Janet, but she keeps going, making money. She’s made three albums in four years, tours constantly and knows how to play the game. Unlike Michael, Janet understands that she’s not entitled to anything. She goes out and gets what she wants and needs. Maybe Michael should take a lesson from his little sister.

Okay.  Srsly.  Let me see if I’ve got this all straight:

• Michael has not only refused to do any sort of serious work for a paycheck, but has now disintegrated into a state where he probably could not work even if he wanted to (which it seems he doesn’t).
• Michael could possibly be suffering from a disease which could kill him fairly soon if  something doesn’t happen, leaving his children with a tangled knotted mess of finances and a shady manager in charge of it all.
• Even though he has less income coming in than bills going out, he continues to spend money like it grows on trees.
• He is continually allowed to borrow money, again and again, even though he doesn’t have any way of paying back the debts he already owes, and even though he has a consistent track record of spending more than he makes and of picking people to keep around him who are questionable at best.

By using this logic, Joe Schmoe The Ragpicker from up the road can go down to the bank and tell them that it’s okay that he doesn’t have any real means of income other than the change people occasionally put in his hat, and it’s okay that he spends money as fast as he gets it, and it’s okay that he is already millions of dollars in debt to the bank from previous loans, and let’s just forget his previous bad spending habits and that he has this bad habit of not repaying loans, and don’t pay attention to all those shadowy figures back there that came in with him holding their hands out, and never mind that annoying cough…because, look, he can dance and walk backwards!  He used to be somebody, back in the day!  So he needs some more money now, like, millions if you’ve got it to spare…that’s okay, right?

If you or I or anyone else went to the bank with a record like Michael’s, they’d laugh us out of there so fast we wouldn’t know what happened.  Yet Michael, because he is MICHAEL JACKSON, is allowed to have money hand over fist.  Yes, he was extremely talented…but that doesn’t mean he should be given a free pass.  And I’m sure there will be about a zillion comments telling me how jealous I am, how wonderful MJ is, how precious he is, how he’s on the verge of a major comeback, and who cares about his money habits?  He’s MICHAEL JACKSON!!!!!!!!1!  OMG!!!!!11!!1!

Is it any wonder we are in a recession, when people’s thinking is as screwed up as this?

Malakar, who has a new memoir out, Dancing To The Music In My Head: Memoirs of the People’s Idol, will be talking questions and chatting with fans at 9:00pm EST, with Ian Halperin on his blog www.ianundercover.com.

To participate in the chat, click here.

If I get a chance to ask Sanjaya a question, it will be what hair products does he use. Seriously, dude has the lovely locks on the planet.

Well, there is one king among the “blind item” writers ruling the land and that’s Ted Casablanca (E! Online’s, The Awful Truth. Ted’s snarky, snide, quippy and most importantly, he knows lots of dirty secrets of Hollywood.

Glosslip was lucky enough to be invited by our cohort and fellow blogger Ian Halperin to join him tonight, at 8:00pm EST for his LiveChat feature, at Ianundercover.com to talk to Ted, who will be a guest.

To join us for tonight’s chat, click here.

You can be sure I will be asking many a question about Scientology and Brangelina!

Hope to see you there!

Glosslip insiders have revealed that the Daily Mail’s story on Jett Travolta, titled “Did John Travolta’s weird faith seal son Jett’s fate?” was pulled from their website after threats from the Church of Scientology.

This is nothing new in the world of Scientology. Almost a year ago, gossip site Gawker was threatened with legal action from the highly litigious “religion” after posting a “for Scientologist’s eyes only” video featuring Tom Cruise discussing his strange religion. Gawker, citing fair use laws, refused to pull the video, and have been reaping a traffic bonanza since. The mega YouTube has also been at the center of Scientology’s lawyers wrath, waging a constant war between users uploading material which is critical of the group and the constant cease and desist letters they received from the Church. With the barrage of stories following the tragic death of 16-year old Jett Travolta, one has to wonder how much overtime the lawyers have been putting in trying to keep the media from looking too closely at their dangerous history of medical mishaps based on the groups anti-psychiatry beliefs.

So while the in depth story at the Daily Mail has been pulled, we were fortunate to find that the internet savvy group and Scientology critics, Anonymous, have the full version of the story on their site. I will post after the jump in its entirety. If you are interested in additional commentary and other details about this story, visit the forum thread at WhyWeProtest.net.

Did John Travolta’s weird faith seal his son Jett’s fate?
By RICHARD PRICE
Last updated at 12:21 AM on 10th January 2009

As he struggles to come to terms with the sudden and terrible death of his only son, John Travolta is no doubt grateful for the all-enveloping support of his fellow Scientologists.

Losing a child is an unbearable prospect for any parent. Having to cope with such a loss while countless millions around the globe gawp at your suffering is beyond comprehension.

When you are a Scientologist, however, different rules apply. Or at least they are supposed to. As an ‘Operating Thetan’ on the fifth level of enlightenment, Travolta should not be concerned with such trifles as mortality.

[Picture]
Family tragedy: John Travolta with his daughter Ella, son Jett and Wife Kelly Preston

After all, according to Scientology’s founder, L Ron Hubbard, the human body is nothing more than a vessel for drifting alien spirit.

It may sound like balderdash to most (and this, it should be noted, is one of the more believable aspects of the bizarre faith) but for Travolta and hundreds of thousands of fellow Scientologists, it is the truth and an undoubted source of comfort.

The death of 16-year-old Jett Travolta, however, has shed a new and distinctly unflattering light on the beliefs which are so fundamental to his parents’ lives.

Jett, who died of a seizure at the family’s holiday home in the Bahamas last weekend, had suffered from ill health throughout his all too brief life.

His parents controversially blamed a rare condition called Kawasaki disease, but according to doctors the syndrome has never been linked with seizures before.

[Picture]
Creator: The late L Ron Hubbard, creator of Scientology and science fiction writer, who died in 1986

A far more likely explanation, many believe, is that Jett suffered from autism. The teenager, who was virtually mute, displayed many of the classic symptoms of the condition, which causes nearly a third of sufferers to develop seizures in adolescence.

Scientology, however, does not recognise autism as a valid condition. Its exponents believe all psychiatric and neurological disorders are psychosomatic and sufferers are exhorted to shun medication, relying on a course of vitamins and minerals instead.

It is a hugely controversial belief which detractors claim has caused many deaths, as well as ruining the lives of thousands of mentally ill individuals who have been drawn into Scientology.

This has raised a number of questions about the circumstances of Jett’s death and whether more could have been done to save his life.

A further number of discrepancies have been raised in the timeline of the boy’s death. Investigating officers have stated that Jett’s body had been left unattended for ten hours before he was found. A spokesman for the Travolta family vehemently denies this, claiming that the teenager was cared for round-the-clock by two nannies.

The man who found Jett close to death on the bathroom floor, Jeff Michael Kathrein, was one of these nannies. Despite his position of great responsibility – in his latter days Jett was suffering grand mal seizures twice a week – Kathrein has no apparent childcare or medical qualifications.

In fact, his day job is ostensibly as a photographer, running a small business with his wife.

[More.... link: John Travolta farewells tragic son Jett at memorial service... as friend Tom Cruise sends sympathies over 'horrific' loss ]

So why was he given the responsibility of looking after Jett? He is a fellow Scientologist, sharing the Travoltas’ outlandish belief that Thetans were imprisoned on Earth 75 million years ago by an evil alien dictator called Xenu.

It’s the wild allegations which have long surrounded Scientology, coupled with repeated damning testimonies from former church members, which raise such disturbing questions about the very nature of Scientology.

And in the case of Jett Travolta, there are many who believe he would still be alive today but for his parents’ slavish adherence to their religion’s controversial beliefs about mental health and neurology.

In their defence, the Travoltas have stated that Jett was on medication designed to control or prevent seizures but was taken off it after a doctor advised them it had become ineffective.

And there is no dispute that the Travoltas are convinced their guru L Ron Hubbard (or LRH as they reverently know him) was correct in damning conventional mental health professionals as ‘psychs’ – deeply unethical individuals who willfully cause untold damage to their patients.

On Kelly Travolta’s personal website there is a prominent photograph of her taking part in a hate rally against psychiatry. (Sample slogan: ‘Psychiatrists create stigma and harm children.’)

Yet despite their refusal to contemplate the prospect that Jett was autistic, many others were not so reticent.

[Picture]
Powerful: David Miscavige, leader of the Scientology religion and close friend of Tom Cruise – he was the best man at the actor’s wedding to Katie Holmes

John Travolta’s older brother, Joey, is understood to have urged the couple for years to recognise their son’s condition. While refusing to go public on the subject, he has gone on to make a film about the disorder, titled Normal People Scare Me, and founded the group Actors For Autism.

Last year, the Travoltas’ neighbours, Tim and Patricia Kenny, proud parents of a five-year-old autistic girl, threatened to call in the social services over what they described as ‘abuse’ of Jett.

‘Scientology is keeping Travolta from acknowledging his son’s autism,’ said Mr Kenny. ‘They see it as a weakness.’

Mr Kenny claimed the family left the overweight Jett to sit in front of computer games all day, eating junk food.

Despite the criticism, the Travoltas have never acknowledged any suggestion that Jett may have been autistic. Instead, they have focused on Kawasaki disease, which, they claim, was brought on by overexposure to cleaning products, particularly carpet cleaner.

They have often talked publicly about the Scientology-based detoxification regime they used to cleanse Jett’s body.

Yet to the vast majority of medical professionals, the notion that such an approach could be used to treat seizures is nothing short of laughable.

One person who can provide first-hand insight into Scientology’s treatment of neurological disorders is Tory Christman, a member of the religion for more than 30 years until she left in 2000.

She was an epileptic using prescribed drugs to control her seizures but a few months after becoming a Scientologist she was told by an untrained ‘medical officer’ to come off her medication and take vitamins instead.

The cause of her problems, she was told, was not physical but psychosomatic, caused by people antagonistic towards her Scientology beliefs (or ’suppressives’, as they are known by the church).

‘I began having grand mal seizures at home, out on the street by myself and in the Scientology organisations – this was a living hell for me,’ she says. ‘This went on for three months. I was losing my memory due to all of the seizures.

‘Finally, one morning in the shower, I knocked my front teeth out during a grand mal seizure. All this time my mother was begging me to go back on my medication and, after so much trauma, I realised that I wasn’t going to live if I kept on doing this.’

Christman had the wisdom to ignore that aspect of Scientology and eventually left the religion, going on to become one of its more prominent critics. ‘I continue to speak out in the hope that anyone with any physical problems stays miles and miles away from Scientology,’ she says. ‘I cannot tell you how many people I know who have died from lack of correct medical help.’

Criticising Scientology in this manner is no small gesture. People identified as suppressives frequently find themselves hit with expensive legal action, picketing and death threats.

L Ron Hubbard introduced the Fair Game law, which stated that such people could legitimately be subject to ‘retaliation’. ‘They may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist, may be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed,’ he stated.

And while this law has since officially been rescinded, many witnesses insist the practice is very much in place – and is extended to family members and friends of people considered suppressive.

Undercover reporter Ian Halperin knows this only too well, as the only journalist to have successfully infiltrated Scientology.

He attended church meetings for more than a year and was even hooked up to the famous e-meter (effectively a rudimentary lie detector machine invented by LRH which measures minute changes in electrical resistance throughout the body).

Posing as an aspiring gay actor, he was informed that not only could Scientology help make him a star (with John Travolta and Tom Cruise cited as prominent success stories) but it could even ‘cure’ him of his homosexuality.

[Picture]
Power couple: Tom Cruise, who has been a Scientologist for 18 years, introduced his wife Katie Holmes to the religion when they started dating in 2005

‘When I went along for the test, I didn’t have a care in the world but because I was posing as the nephew of a multi-millionaire who was interested in Scientology, I could see the dollar signs in their eyes,’ he says.

‘The test results apparently showed that I was “stressed, depressed, insecure, emotionally fragile and slightly unstable” – which was news to me. They said they could definitely help me with my homosexuality – even though I’m not gay – and that I needed auditing (Scientology-speak for religious therapy).’

When he finally revealed that he was a journalist, Halperin was granted an on-camera interview with a Scientology official, only to realise later that a shadowy figure was standing in the bushes filming him.

The subsequent premiere of his documentary on the religion had to be abandoned when it emerged at the last minute that the digital projector had been purposely infected with a number of computer viruses.

There followed a period of intense intimidation, relentless threatening phone calls and one very explicit death threat.

‘Having spent the previous two years researching the subject, I was only too aware of their intimidation tactics – and a number of suspicious deaths – so I ended up in hiding for three months,’ he says.

Another man who experienced the darker side of Scientology was Michael Pattinson, a prominent gay artist living in Los Angeles.

He actually sued the church, with John Travolta named as co-defendant, claiming that over the course of almost 25 years Scientology had promised to turn him straight and he had paid more than $500,000 in fees for ‘auditing’ to achieve this.

He says: ‘After that, I took even more courses and spent even more money, just waiting for the day when I would also be cured of what they called my “ruin”.’

In his 1998 lawsuit, Pattinson stated that Travolta ‘knowingly participated’ in Scientology’s repressive regime. It went on: ‘Defendant Travolta has known of Scientology’s “gulags” and “concentration camps”… through both personal observation and information received from a certain former Scientologist, but has deliberately chosen to turn a blind eye to their existence.’

Pattinson eventually dropped the action after running out of money. By this point the church had ploughed over £1.5million into the fight against him and showed no signs of relenting.

These are extraordinary claims, and yet there is strong evidence to suggest that people are held in custody against their will by the church of Scientology – particularly those who suffer from mental illness.

The biggest of these causes celebres is Lisa McPherson, who suffered a very public breakdown but was taken out of hospital against doctors’ wishes by Scientology handlers. Allowing psychiatric treatment – which she clearly desperately needed – was anathema to her fellow believers.

Seventeen days later she was dead, having been ‘treated’ for her psychosis with nothing more than vitamins and auditing. According to the coroner’s report, Lisa was substantially underweight, severely dehydrated and covered in bruises and insect bites. There was evidence that cockroaches had been feeding on her body even before she died.

Criminal charges were brought against the church but once again they were eventually dropped after Scientology’s astoundingly well-funded lawyers succeeded in discrediting the medical examiner.

This is not, however, an isolated case. Margarit Winkelmann, 51, walked fully clothed into the sea and drowned herself in January 1980 after she replaced her medically prescribed course of Lithium – a drug commonly used to control psychotic behaviour – with a course of vitamins and minerals recommended by the church.

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Famous followers: Actress Kirstie Alley, singer Lisa Marie Presley and singer/actress Juliette Lewis all follow the faith

Heribert Pfaff, 31, died of an apparent seizure at a prominent Scientology hotel after he was told to stop taking his epilepsy medication.

And Jeremy Perkins, a 28-year-old untreated paranoid schizophrenic raised as a Scientologist, murdered his own mother. The frenzied attack, in which he stabbed her 77 times, was carried out on LRH’s birthday.

Scientology officials say these deaths are isolated incidents and in each case refuse to accept any blame.

Just as in the case of Jett Travolta, however, nobody will ever know if things might have turned out differently had conventional medicine – and wisdom – been allowed to help these poor benighted souls.

The least they deserved was a chance to recover, with genuine science used to help them rather than the unabashed quackery which Scientologists spout with such vehemence.

But with poster boys like John Travolta and Tom Cruise as the spearhead of its marketing campaign, Scientology is gathering hundreds of new members with every passing day.

Now Will Smith, the most successful black actor on the planet, is showing signs that he may be about to join them, having handed out vouchers to the crew on a recent film entitling them to free personality tests at their nearest Scientology centre.

He also donated a million dollars to a school which uses Scientology teaching methods.

And so the slick and inexorable expansion of this dangerous religious cult continues unabated, helped on its way by the endorsement of privileged celebrities who have long since parted company from the reality of everyday life.

Meanwhile, all around the world at this very moment, thousands more children whose families are Scientologists are at risk of suffering the same fate as Jett Travolta. But you won’t hear the film stars talking about that.

As discussed above, there are now new reports suggesting there may be an investigation into the qualifications the “nanny” Jeff Kathrein had in order to be responsible for caring for Jett Travolta. Jeff, a fellow Scientologist, only formal credentials is as a wedding photographer, but he has been known to travel with the Travolta family on many of their trips, and was at the center of a controversy a couple of years ago because of a photo with he and John. The photograph showed Travolta hugging and kissing Kathrein on the lips as John was leaving his private jet. Travolta’s spokespeople immediately issued a statement saying John kisses everyone that way, and added that his wife, Kelly Preston was also on the plane. John Travolta has been plagued with rumors of homosexuality for years, and for some the picture with the smoking gun, for others, a mere blip of strangeness from a relatively eccentric and private celeb family.

The Travoltas are still mourning their loss, and John did not appear as a presenter at this Sunday’s Golden Globes. He was set to present with his Bolt co-star Miley Cyrus. The family left the Bahama’s early last week with Jett’s ashes and a private Scientology funeral was held Thursday. The Church has denied their teachings and beliefs had anything to do with Jett’s death and will likely continue to distant themselves and quash any news stories which imply otherwise. Glosslip, on the other the hand, feels it is important to pursue the link between Scientology’s beliefs and the continuation of mysterious deaths that seem to haunt to pseudo-religion.

(this is a rush copy – subject to final edit)

Of course, Jackson’s camp and his “official one and only spokeperson”, a Dr. Tohme Tohme (seriously?) have emphatically denied these claims as “a total fabrication” and claim that in fact, Jackson is great health and pursuing many lucrative and fancy business deal.

The National Enquirer (hey don’t laugh, they’ve gotten some big stories right lately) is also corroborating Jackson illness, and cite painkillers as a source of much of Jackson physical deterioration over the years:

A source close to the star divulged: “It’s tragic. His condition is just so far gone, I’d be surprised if he lasts six months.

“Painkillers and booze have caught up with him. The only way he was able to cope with the stress of sex scandals and his roller-coaster life was to mask the pain with substance abuse.

“But the end result is an addiction that will kill him.”

Halperin, with his reputation and book on the line, isn’t backing down and is willing to stand by his story, and like the old saying goes, he’s putting his money where his mouth is.

Insiders close to the author have told Glosslip that Ian’s team have sent word to Michael Jackson that they are willing to pay the full expense of flying Jackson to one of the leading lung clinics in the world — The Cleveland Clinic (or any of the other top-notch clinics of Jackson’s choosing) and pay for a full medical examination of the ailing star. From Halperin’s perspective, this would clear up any misinformation and if the author is wrong, and Jackson IS healthy, Halperin will hold a press conference and tell the world he was wrong and retract his statement. Our insiders said Ian is hoping he is wrong, as he wishes the star nothing but good health.

We await word on the outcome of this challenge. One final caveat to this mystery of he said/he said, is why Jackson’s own spokesperson claimed Jackson was too ill to travel to Bahrain and testify in the lawsuit pending against him, and why has he been photographed several times wheelchair bound and wearing a surgical mask?

Clearly, something isn’t right.