Everyone has their own taste when it comes to music.

What may be considered music to one’s ears, may be considered simply torturous to others. Just because I feel that Michael Bolton sounds like a cat getting skinned alive, and that his music is some sort of cruel joke to all of mankind, doesn’t mean that some other tone deaf person has to agree with me.

One thing is for certain, whether it is the sweet voice of Bonnie Raitt or the overrated raspy voice of Bruce who stepped in it Springsteen… if it is played at decibels to make you feel that your ears are going to bleed and it is played over and over… it can be quite torturous no matter who it is.

Everyone is aware that the prisoners at Gitmo (Guantánamo Bay) were needlessly tortured by water boarding along with other degrading and unspeakable acts. 

One of the methods used was music played repeatedly and at ear piercing levels. The songs used and some of the artists who made that music are not too happy to say the least. How would you feel if one of your songs was used to torture someone? I am sure you would be horrified.

Well, Michael Stipe of REM, along with twenty or so other artists have aired their disgust, and have banned together and formed Close Gitmo Now.   

A little info on Gitmo first, before we get into which performers are saying Gitmo has to go.

Gitmo has held nearly 800 detainees in it’s history. An alarming majority of those detainees were never charged, nor went to trial. Only THREE of those detainees have ever been convicted of a crime.To keep Gitmo open is costing tax payers MILLIONS.

So what did the spokesman for the CIA say when it came to using music as torture?
He said nuh-uh.

George Little, a CIA spokesman said:

“music was used only for security, rather than “punitive purposes”

And in a 2005 CIA document, it stated,

“loud music or white noise was needed “to mask sound and prevent communication among detainees”

So what tunes and artists made it to the Gitmo “top 20″?

According to the National Security Archive, they used anything from the Meow Mix jingle, to the Barney theme song. They used such artists as Marylin Manson to Britney Spears. Although the Meow Mix jingle and the Barney theme song both make me cringe and is enough to drive anyone buggy, at ANY volume… I wonder if the Meow Mix or the Barney people have a problem with the fact their music was used at Gitmo? I haven’t heard anything from either of them and I have to say, if they don’t have a problem with it, then I have a problem with them.

Why would they use the Meow Mix jingle and the Barney theme if it was just “to mask sound and prevent communication among detainees”?
And why were detainees subjected to “variable light patterns” while this music was played? Is the CIA going to say they wanted to have a disco effect for the detainees? Although it really wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

If the CIA claims are true, then why didn’t they just use classical music at non dangerous levels without light patterns? The term liar liar pants on fire comes to mind.

Another little pesky factor besides the CIA not having the permission of the artists to use their music, is the fact that the artist’s music was used as an interrogation tool.

So which artists are pissed and saying close Gitmo now ?
Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown, REM, Pearl Jam, Roseanne Cash just to name a few.

Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Brown

Roseanne Cash recently appeared on The Daily Show with John Stewart to tell everyone about the petition they have created which people can sign at www.closegitmonow.org

The BBC recently reported:

REM call for Guantanamo closure

Rock bands including Pearl Jam and REM have joined a coalition of musicians to support the US president’s efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay prison.

The National Campaign to Close Guantanamo, which also includes former military officers, launched on Tuesday.

Many of the artists who have signed up are angry that their music was used as an interrogation tool in the jail.

But CIA spokesman George Little said music was used only for security, rather than “punitive purposes”.

In a statement, REM said: “We have spent the past 30 years supporting causes related to peace and justice. To now learn that some of our friends’ music may have been used as part of the torture tactics without their consent or knowledge, is horrific. It’s anti-American, period.”

Other artists to sign up to the coalition include Jackson Browne, Steve Earle, Roseanne Cash, Billy Bragg, Bonnie Raitt and Rage Against The Machine.

On behalf of the campaign, the National Security Archive in Washington is filing a Freedom of Information Act request seeking classified records that detail the use of loud music as an interrogation device.

‘Terrify and punish’

A report published in November 2008 by the Senate Armed Services Committee report, has already made several references to the technique.

In one case interrogators played records to “stress” a prisoner, Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who believed music was forbidden.

In 2003, he was questioned while being “exposed to variable lighting patterns” and repeated plays of a song called Let the Bodies Hit the Floor by the band Drowning Pool.

Jayne Huckerby, from New York University’s Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, said loud music was also played at clandestine prisons run by the CIA.

Following an early information request, Ms Huckerby received a CIA document dated December 2005 in which the agency explained that the use of loud music or white noise was needed “to mask sound and prevent communication among detainees”.

She argued that such sounds were not a “benign security tool,” but a way “to humiliate, terrify, punish, disorient and deprive detainees of sleep, in violation of international law”.

According to the National Security Archive, tracks by AC/DC, Britney Spears, the Bee Gees and Marilyn Manson were used at Guantanamo.

The Meow mix cat food jingle, the Barney theme song and an assortment of Sesame Street tunes also were played into detainees’ cells.

But the CIA insisted any music was played “at levels far below a live rock band”.

And Major Diana Haynie, a spokeswoman for Joint Task Force Guantanamo, said loud music has not been used with detainees since the fall of 2003.

Barack Obama pledged to close the Guantanamo detention camp by January, but Republican opposition in Congress has made fulfilling that promise look less likely.

 

So one of the reasons that Gitmo remains open is due to Republican opposition?
Although I am certianly not surprised by this…. WHY ARE THEY OPPOSED?
What reasons could the Republicans have to want to keep Gitmo going?

The NY Times stated that the estimated annual cost to operate Guantánamo Bay is anywhere from $90 million to $118 million. There are 226 detainees left at Gitmo. That is a cost of $400.000 to $520.000 per detainee. To incarcerate a prisoner in a supermax prison would be $75,000 in the US. Is anyone paying attention to this simple math? Get the facts

At a time when the US is in such an economic mess due to the carnage that was left behind by the lovely Bush administration, perhaps the millions of dollars spent on keeping Gitmo open can be used elsewhere? Ya think?

Now before our comment section turns into a shouting match between Republicans and Democrats…..
and people telling me to get my facts straight, (I only report what is out there) remember that this article is about how horrible it was to use an artist’s music to torture people AND the fact that their music was used without their consent. Not to mention what it costs to keep Gitmo going.

So if you have a comment about Close Gitmo Now or the musicians who started the petition, then that is fine. But if you want to argue about what Obama has done or not done to clean up Bush’s mess that he left behind, or the BS spin and scare tactics that the Republicans are using when it comes to the health care plan, (you know who you are, you silly teabaggers) OR if you are a Michael Bolton fan, then please go argue elsewhere. *SNICKER*

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

This has not been the best week for Scientology.

October has proven to be one of Scientology’s worst months in history. Between being found guilty of fraud in France, celebrity Paul Haggis telling them “see yah!,” the ABC Nightline series with Tommy Davis walking out on the interview, the two new books coming out by ex members “Blown For Good” by Marc Headley and “My Billion Year Contract” by Nancy Many, the many new pending lawsuits, their orgs closing left and right, and with many members leaving….. it’s safe to say, it’s not too cool to be a Scientologist right now.

This past Sunday and Monday, the St. Petersburg Times reported on interviews they conducted 
with former members of the cult. Today was their last installment in their three part series. It was the story of a former member, Don Jason who actually had to jump off a ship to try to gain his freedom. We will get to Don a bit later.

The interviews included former member’s accounts of being chased, harassed and followed by private investigators. Ex members explained how they were drawn back in to the cult and convinced to stay, against their better judgment. They thought they were doing the right thing by trying to have a clean slate with the cult, but time after time when they returned, it only made matters worse for them and prolonged their exit. Some members just wanted to simply start their lives over and to be left alone, and they succeeded, but soon they found out they were infiltrated by Scientology plants pretending to be their friends.

The cult hired private investigators to hunt down these members that had left. Once the former members were caught up with, they were convinced to come back and “route out” of Scientology. For more on routing out, click here. These former members were also asked to sign a ”pumped up” affidavit, so the cult would be able to cover their butts if these members were to leave and speak out against the cult.

Well that time has come. Former members who spoke out against Scientology to the SP Times are seeing information which was contained within those affidavits they signed once again.

Scientology spokes-creep Tommy Davis, (actress Anne Archer’s son) has pulled the affidavits out and showed them to the SP Times in the cult’s defense against the former member’s claims and stories. The cult also dug into these former member’s confidential files and put a crazy, allegation-laden, Scientology spin on their information to try to discredit them.

Scientology spokes-idiot Tommy Davis also denied the cult ever hired private investigators themselves, but that the PI’s were hired by THEIR Scientology lawyers. Way to throw your scum bag lawyers under the bus Scientology! What a bunch of cowards.

I would imagine the cult’s top lawyers like Kendrick Moxon, Helena Kobrin and Monique E. Yingling may be getting pretty sweaty palms right about now.

Miserable Kendrick Moxon

FYI… years ago, Moxon’s daughter Stacy Meyer, died at Gold Base in Gilman Hot Springs Ca. She joined the Sea Org at age 16 I believe. She died by electrocution INSIDE an underground transformer vault on the property. The details are too lengthy to get in to. The case was looked into, but not enough in my opinion. No words can describe a person like Moxon.

His daughter was cremated and her ashes were released at sea. Which sounds all too familiar to cult founder and con man, L. Ron Hubbard’s death. Moxon’s daughter’s death remains a mystery, just like other Scientology related deaths that never made any sense. Some day, those who know what actually happened will come forward. Sorry to side track from the SP Times, but now that Scientology has literally thrown their lawyers under the bus, it made me wonder how Moxon will handle these claims by Davis. People would love to hear what Moxon has to say. Isn’t Scientology saying more or less that they are not liable for the PI’s activities that THEIR lawyers hired? Interesting spin.

The St. Pete’s Times had lengthy interviews and also video taped former members while they told their stories. Their body language told me that they were telling the truth. These videos are posted on the SP Times website for all to see.

The name Pat Broeker came up in one of the interviews, and although he declined to be interviewed by the SP Times, this is one man that must have Scientology shaking in it’s boots.

Pat Broeker was L. Ron Hubbard’s personal messenger and was said to be next in line to take over Scientology when Hubbard died. Broeker’s nickname was  ”007″.

Broeker and his wife Annie were very close to Hubbard. Towards the end of Hubbard’s life, Hubbard was staying in a 40 ft trailer in Creston. Some excerpts from the LA Times story The Final Days by Joel Sappell and Robert W. Welkos written in 1990,

From Chapter four:

“The church said Hubbard went into seclusion to continue his Scientology research and to resurrect his science fiction-writing career. But former aides have said he dropped from sight to avoid subpoenas and government tax agents probing allegations that he was skimming church funds.

“They alleged that Hubbard skimmed millions of dollars from church coffers while he was in hiding”

“His thin gray hair, with streaks of the old red, hung without sheen to his shoulders. He had grown a stringy, unkempt beard and mustache. His round face was now sunken and his ruddy complexion had turned pasty. He was an old man and he was nearing death.”

Not very glamorous for the revered founder of Scientology. But members of course refuse to believe that any of those reports are true. Hubbard eventually suffered a stroke which left him unable to get out of bed and his speech was impaired. I guess his “OT powers” could not help him.

L. Ron “dropped his body” (kicked the bucket in scio speak)  on Jan 24th, 1986.  The particulars surrounding Hubbard’s death were very mysterious and many thought he may have been murdered. When the Scientology attorney rushed to get Hubbard’s body cremated, the cremation center became suspicious when they found out it was L. Ron Hubbard and insisted on doing blood tests. Vistaril was found in his bloodstream. Vistaril is a pysche drugs, and using such drugs are violently against Scientology’s beliefs. A full autopsy was not performed due to the cult’s claims of it being against their religion. A cover up perhaps?

Odd.. When John Travolta’s son died, he also had a quickie autopsy and the body was cremated 
right away. Very eerie.

Hubbard’s ashes were tossed into the sea from a TINY boat and there were only a few people in attendance. Sound familiar? Both David Miscavige and Broeker where in attendance. And although Scientologists do not make a big deal about death because they believe that a person comes back several times after death… I find it puzzling that the founder of Scientology died in such a mysterious manner and had such a tiny insignificant ceremony with hardly anyone in attendance. Makes no sense what so ever. Another account of Hubbard’s last days can be found here.

Of course Scientology told it’s members that Hubbard dropped his body and went “exterior” (went outside his body) to go study the upper levels of Scientology’s Bridge To Total Freedom, and members of course believed this fantasy hook, line and sinker. Miscavige then took over the cult. Although according to another reliable source, Miscavige had already been running everything four years prior to Hubbard’s death. 

So Pat Broeker is definitely a man of interest, to say the least. He must know an awful LOT of juicy things that Scientology would love to keep quiet.

Another BIG thing that is kept quiet? Broeker’s wife Annie. She supposedly got put on RPF (punishment) years ago and was “straightened out”. People have not seen or heard from her in years. Nobody is sure where she is.

That also goes for cult leader David Miscavige’s wife. Shelly Miscavige. For someone who is the wife of the leader of the ”fastest spreading religion” in the world. *SNICKER*, Where the hell is she? There are hardly ANY pictures of her anywhere and she never attends any of the big  Scientology “Ideal Org” openings or any of the big IAS (International Association of Scientologists) events.

At the very least you would think that cult members would question where she is after all these years of her being MIA. But nope, they just keep their blinders on and keep their eye on the prize. But sadly, there isn’t any prize, only empty bank accounts, ruined lives and sorrow.

If Broeker was to come forward with all that he knew, it would be the icing on the cake. He holds the key to many questions that need to be answered. Another big question… how did David Miscavige actually weasel his way into becoming the cult leader in the first place? Miscavige blackmailing Broeker is a huge possibility. But that was years ago and now Broeker has a lot more leverage. I hope Broeker has some decency left in his heart and comes forward and sings like a canary. It’s time.

Now back to the SP Times….

But wait, there’s more…

Church of Scientology lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve

Not a good week for the cult of Scientology!
On the heels of Scientology’s spokesman Tommy Davis’s disastrous interview on ABC’s Nightline last week, comes more news of Scientology’s downward spiral.

It has just been announced, that France has convicted Scientology of fraud. This news must have Scientology’s cult leader David Miscavige in quite the tizzy. Still nothing to say Miscavige?
David Miscavige is obvioulsy playing a “Where’s Waldo?” in all this breaking news.

The cult was also fined more than 600,000 euro. This is equivalent to $900,000 US. Almost a cool million. The court convicted the cult library (SEL bookshop) as well as SIX LEADERS. Scientology was found guilty of pressuring members to pay large amounts of cash by using harassment tactics, and also illegally dispensing vitamins.

Four of the leaders were given suspended sentences which can be anywhere from ten months to two years and the other two leaders were given fines.
Of course Scientology is going to appeal this verdict. Which is no surprise there.

Although prosecutors were going for an all out ban on Scientology in France, the court recently denied the ban. But even though Scientology has not been banned from France, this latest PR flap can’t be good news for Scientology, who desperately tries to hide all negative PR from it’s members.

The Infinate Complaceny Blog Webiste did a wonderful break down of the story (Much thanks to Jonny Jacobsen):

Here is a summary of the verdict and sentences in the Paris trial of Scientology. I have laid it out in the same style I used for What the Prosecution Wants to give you an idea of how far the court followed their recommendations.

Perhaps the most important feature of the judgement is what the court did not do: it made no ruling that would restrict the activities of either the Celebrity Centre or the SEL bookshop.

But the following individuals and organisations were convicted of organised fraud against some, but not all the alleged victims (of which more below):

The Association Spirituelle de l’Eglise de Scientologie CC (ASES), the Celebrity Centre, was convicted of organised fraud against the plaintiffs Aude-Claire Malton and Eric Aubry.

 It was fined 400,000 euros and ordered to pay for the details of the conviction to be published in the major French and English-language news outlets including Le Monde, Le Figaro, Libération, the Herald Tribune and Time Magazine.

Scientology’s network of bookshops Scientologie Espace Liberté (SEL) was also convicted of organised fraud against the Malton and Aubry. It was fined 200,000 euros and ordered to pay for the publication of the conviction in the same newspapers.

These were the sentences for the individual defendants charged on this count, against either Malton, Aubry or both plaintiffs:

Alain Rosenberg, the managing director of the Celebrity Centre, was convicted of organised fraud against Malton and Aubry; and of complicity in the illegal exercise of pharmacy. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a 30,000-euro fine

Didier Michaux, the bookshop’s star salesman, was convicted of organised fraud against Eric Aubry – but cleared on the same charge relating to Aude-Claire Malton. He received an 18-month suspended sentence and a 20,000-euro fine

Jean-François Valli, the other bookshop salesman, who also did work for the Celebrity Centre, was convicted of organised fraud against Aude-Claire Malton – but cleared on the same charge relating to Aubry. He received an 18-months suspended sentence and a 10,000-euro fine

Sabine Jacquart, who was president of the Celebrity Centre, was convicted of organised fraud against both Malton and Aubry; and of complicity in the illegal exercise of pharmacy. She received a 10-month suspended sentence and a 5,000-euro fine

Aline Fabre, who supervised the Purification Rundown at the Celebrity Centre, was convicted of the illegal exercise of pharmacy. She was fined 2,000 euros

Marie Anne Pasturel, who acted as an intermediary for G&G in France, taking orders for the vitamins required for the Rundown, was convicted of the illegal exercise of pharmacy and fined 1,000 euros.
All the defendants charged in relation to Pierre Auffret and his company Parangon – the Celebrity Centre, the bookshop SEL, Rosenberg, Jacquart, Valli, Michaux – were acquitted.

The court took into account the fact that Auffret himself had not filed a complaint: and he had insisted to investigators that any payments he had made were made willingly.

Neither Alain Rosenberg nor Anne Marie Pasturel attended the hearing.

Despite the guilty verdict and the fines, Maître Patrick Maisonneuve for the Celebrity Centre and Maître Louis Pamponet for the bookshop SEL (I think it was him) both looked extremely relieved – presumably because there was no attempt by the court to restrict the activities of either organisation.

FYI…
Alain Rosenberg, the managing director of the Celebrity Center in France, is an OTVII on Scientology’s Bridge to Total Freedom. He is one step away from the highest level on their bridge, which is OTVIII.
It’s amazing that his “OT powers” which have control over MEST (which is short for matter, energy, space and time) seemed to be totally on the fritz, and failed miserably during this court case.
Looks like you “pulled this in” Alain. Looks like the court was the one who was “at cause”.

To read more about Rosenberg and the case go here.

So back to this verdict..
So although France found them guilty and issued fines, France is not going to restrict Scientology’s activities?
So does that mean there will be more court hearings and fines down the line?
Hopefully….. that’s if more victims come forward and fight the cult.

Scientology was convicted of “illegal exercise of pharmacy”, but France is still going to allow Scientology to resume with their Purification Rundown? I am afraid I don’t understand.
Is Scientology going to continue to illegally dispense vitamins in hopes that more deaths and court cases will not occur in France?

The Purification Rundown for all of you who do not know what that is… is a Scientology program used to rid the body of toxins. (so they claim)
It involves ingesting LARGE doses of niacin vitamins and oil, running on a treadmill and sitting in a sauna for hours at a time daily. This regiment can last for FIVE weeks. It has NEVER been proven to have ANY beneficial qualities, nor does it have any scientific data to back up it’s claims of the regiment being successful with removing ANY toxins from the body at all. In fact it has been said that it is nothing but quackery and that large amounts of niacin can prove to be very dangerous to the liver.

The Purification Rundown, (also know as Narconon and Criminon) needs to be looked into extensively by the US Government and ALL Governments. Narconon goes into towns and sets up centers and claims they can cure drug addiction. They not only lie about their success rates with trumped up numbers, they talk towns into funding them with tax payer’s dollars. They also use the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard’s tone scale. 

This program has gone under the names Second Chance, HealthMed Clinic and The NY Rescue Workers Detoxification Program (after 9/11) just to name a few. There are many other front group names they have used world wide.

The recently reported tragic deaths of those people in the sweat lodge in Arizona, received a lot of media coverage. It’s a wonder why our Government has not looked into the many deaths which have been related to this particular program.

Of course people are afraid to speak out against Scientology, never mind bring them to court. Hopefully this latest conviction in France will sway not only Scientology members to come forward with their stories, and perhaps file cases, but I hope it prompts non Scientology members who have also done The Purification Program through Narconon in hopes of being helped with their drug addiction. Second Chance and Criminon inmates also should be interviewed about this program.

I am sure Scientology will be on full damage control and looking for any Narconon or member success stories they can shove in people’s faces through the media, in light of France’s conviction. But please know that any success stories you hear, does not stack up against the fail rate of this program in any stretch of the imagination.

This news from France is especially bad on top of the latest Nightline stories that we just saw in recent days, and it was also announced today by the NY Post, that Tommy Davis tried to stop Nightline from airing these programs one hour before they were to air, made a scene and was asked to leave. Read about it here.
Wish there was film on that little hissy fit!

And oh yes….. not to mention the very recent defection of one of Scientology’s long time members, celebrity Paul Haggis. Again welcome out Paul!

Scientology members…. are you paying attention?

To France….
you almost had Scientology completely on the run. But this is good news too. 
Although the fines and sentences are nothing more than slaps on the wrist to a multi million dollar BUSINESS, and they will be able to continue to do what they were doing to bring them to court in the first place, at least it’s a start in the right direction of unveiling the illegal activities of this abusive cult.

We need a LOT more of that going on, especially here in the United States.

This past Friday evening, ABC’s Nightline aired part two of their Inside Scientologyseries with anchor Martin Bashir. If you missed it, the videos are posted on ABC’s website. It is a MUST see.
 Part One is  here,  and Part Two is here.

Friday’s show was a continuation from Thursday night’s interview with ex-Scientology top executives Marty Rathbun, and Amy Scobee, as well as ex member Bruce Hines. They were all former members of Scientology’s Sea Organization.

Bashir also continued his interview with Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis who ended ripping off his microphone, and storming off the set. We will get to that juicy part later.

ABC Anchor Martin Bashir

Friday evening’s coverage focused on the celebrities in Scientology. Tom Cruise was the main focus.  Tommy Davis claimed that Scientology does not given special treatment to celebrities, but I beg to differ. Cruise considers cult leader David Miscavige one of his closest friends and Miscavige not only attended Cruise’s wedding, but he also tagged along on Tom and Katie’s honeymoon. Doesn’t everyone bring their “church” leader on their honeymoon with them?

Cruise is not only BFF’s with David Miscavige, but he was also a huge advocate for Scientology. I say “was” because Cruise has really simmered down since his couch jumping days. His leaked Scientology video, his insults against Brooke Shields for taking medication for her postpartum depression, and his famous “glib” interview with Matt Lauer has put a serious damper on his career and his popularity. 

Matt You Are So Glib!

If you ask just about anyone on the street these days of their opinion of Tom Cruise, most will say he is a kook.

Cruise is trying to re-boost his career, by not speaking publicly about Scientology and trying to show the world how “normal” his life is with his family. But are people buying it? I doubt it. Cruise is DEEP into Scientology. He co-founded the NY Rescue Workers and Firefighters Detoxification Program after 911. Again, this program is EXACTLY the same as Scientology’s Purification Rundown and their Narconon program.

Cruise also lobbied in Washington with a quest to have every school in the US teaching Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s “tech.” Applied Scholastics is the front name used in the schools, but it is without a doubt Scientology. Applied Scholastics has already infiltrated some of the schools in the US. I am not talking about Scientology schools like Delphi Academy and Will Smith’s New Village Academy, but rather regular public schools in our towns that are teaching children Scientology tech.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, they started teaching Scientology tech in Prescott Middle School in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Applied Scholastics representatives assured them that the program was secular.  A couple of quotes from that story posted on the Scientology V. Education website:

The Baton Rouge school district agreed to pay $20, 000 a year to Applied Scholastics for a licensing fee and to hire a teacher from the nonprofit to help teach the course. Costs were offset by seed money that Travolta contributed and by donations from local businesses. Parents were enlisted to volunteer as tutors.

Dave Touretsky, a research professor at Carnegie Mellon University, that’s only because the academic experts don’t know the intricacies of Scientology.Study tech is “covert religious instruction” and therefore unconstitutional to teach in public schools, said Touretsky, who has studied Scientology and written extensively about Hubbard’s study skills curriculum.

Scientologists will use the program at Prescott to sell the program to other struggling communities, Touretsky said, and to promote the image of Scientology.

Rest assured, the teachers and the people in that town have NO idea what they are teaching these kids, nor understand how dangerous the tech can be for their children. Former Scientology member Monica Pignotti can tell you just exactly how dangerous the study tech is. Click here to read up on it yourself. I am not sure if Prescott Middle School has continued teaching this tech or not. I hope town officials and teachers have done their homework by now.

So a word of caution people, if your child’s school is approached with Applied Scholastics or any anti-drug pamphlets that contain the initials “CCHR” written anywhere on the pamphlet, please stay clear! The CCHR is another Scientology front group. Also stay away from the names Way To Happiness, or The Drug Free Marshals, just to name a few.

Scientology Can Use Some Body Language Courses!

These names are are ALL Scientology front groups. Sorry to sway away from  ABC’s interview, but any chance I have to make people aware that Scientology is trying to infiltrate our children’s schools, I feel compelled to make mention of it.

So back to the interview…

Former Scientology Sea Org member, Amy Scobee who was one of Scientology’s top execs and also one of the people who spoke out in the St. Petersburg Times articles, spoke with Bashir about the Purification Rundown.

Amy Scobee, Blonde On Bottom Right Hand Corner

She tells Bashir a horrifying story about when she was MADE to go on the Purification Rundown as part of a punishment within the Sea Org. Amy explains how daily she was ingesting 5,000 milligrams of niacin, exercising (usually a treadmill), and sitting in a sauna for five hours, for EIGHT MONTHS. She said she had“grey stuff ” coming out of her pores. I would imagine she was also ingesting oil, as this is another part of the Purification Rundown. As horrible as it was for Amy to be on this whacko science regimen, (which does not have any scientific data to back up its claims of actually detoxing the body at all) it was one of the things that woke Amy up and forced her decision to leave Scientology. And we are sure glad she is out. Bravo Amy!

Of course Scientology denies Amy’s story and says that the Purification Rundown is used for “religious reasons” by members. Hmmm.
Scientology is pretty crafty. They use different names for the Purification Rundown, like the NY Firefighters Detox Program, Narconon, and Criminon, and offer this program to the public and ask towns for funding using the town’s tax payer’s dollars. Exactly what they do with Applied Scholastics,  and The Drug Free Marshals etc…

They say that the program is secular and has NOTHING to do with Scientology. But yet when Scientology is pushed up against the wall, (as they were with Amy’s claims) they claim that the Purification Rundown is for “religious reasons.”

So how can they possibly claim that their front group programs are secular and have nothing to do with Scientology, when they are IDENTICAL to the same programs they are calling ”religious”?
Confusing? That is their intention.

Back to Rathbun…
Marty Rathbun continued his interview with Bashir and said that he himself has “audited” both Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Boy… I would love to know what is in their files! Of course everything contained within a Scientology member’s file is supposed to be confidential. That is…confidential until you cross Scientology. After the St. Petersburg Times articles came out with ex member’s stories, Scientology published personal information on Amy Scobee, Tom DeVocht, Mike Rinder and Marty Rathbun in a 80 page issue of their Freedom Magazine.

Scientology even gave the “defectors” nicknames like the King Pin, The Adulteress, and so on. It was not only the MOST childish thing that I have ever read by an organization, it was rife with lies about the ex-members and Scientology’s spin. Proving once again that Scientology’s Fair Game policy is alive and well.

Although it was not brought up in the interview, Rathbun is known as an independent Scientologist. And there are also Freezoners. Freezoners are members who have left the organized “church,” but still want to practice Scientology. There are groups of Freezoners here and there world wide. Scientology now considers these people who have previously dedicated years of their lives and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on trying to climb up the Scientology’s Bridge their evil enemies. They are considered as SP’s, or suppressive persons.

Freezoners left the church as they felt that L. Ron Hubbard’s Tech was being “squirreled” by cult leader David Miscavige. To ”squirrel the tech” means to change the writings of L. Ron Hubbard in any way. Miscavige has changed the tech many times. He has changed it, repackaged it, and told the members that the old books were now incorrect, and that they had to buy the “newer” version. This was done to keep more money coming into Scientology. Sadly, members actually fell for it.

Changing any of L. Ron Hubbard’s tech is considered a big no-no in Scientology and many current members consider David Miscavige to be a suppressive person. Why they continue to stay in the “church” is a mystery. But slowly, that seems to be changing.

People who are Freezoners, also did not agree with the way the “church” was being run and could no longer stand all the abuses and illegal activities that were going on, so they decided to leave the “church” and set up business elsewhere, and yes it is in fact a business. People who want to practice Scientology outside the cult still have to pay for auditing and courses to whomever is offering them. What they charge is nowhere near the hundreds of thousands of dollars that organized Scientology charges. Which is where Rathbun comes in. He was one of Scientology’s top auditors before he left, and he continues to audit people today.

If today’s organized Scientology continues to crumble, Rathbun can end up with more “disciples” to audit. Perhaps he is hopeful for Travolta and Cruise to leave the cult and audit with him once again. Not likely though, especially not for Cruise. Cruise considers Rathbun an enemy of the cult and and a huge SP. Cruise does not appreciate what Rathbun is saying about David Miscavige and the abuses of the cult.

Tom Cruise’s lawyer sent a statement to ABC Nightline and stated that even though Cruise is aware of the things being said about David Miscavige, Cruise does not believe it.

BFF’s For Ever!

Really Tom? Miscavige is ruining your career in case you didn’t notice. How many people is it going to take for you to wake up and understand that David Miscavige is an abusive tyrant who only wanted you for PR purposes to promote the cult and oh yeah…take your money?

And as Bashir pointed out to Davis in the interview…these stories of abuse from ex-members were from randomized people. And of course Davis quipped back to Bashir with “Well that’s how it is made to look.” Sure it is Tommy.

Rathbun was in Scientology for 27 years, and his brain is totally immersed in the tech. He still believes that con man L. Ron Hubbard is the best thing since sliced bread and that his writings are still WORD.

Giddy Up L. Ron!

Rathbun never completely left Scientology, and he probably never will. But we are awful glad he came forward to speak out, as well as the others. Many more are likely to follow.

After 27 years, and being one of Miscavige’s top lieutenants, 
Rathbun is still programmed to live, eat and breathe Scientology. Rathbun also thinks David Miscavige should be made “to pay the piper” for all the people he has abused. Of course Rathbun himself admitted to being an abuser, but he never mentioned that he should pay the piper as well. Hmmm.

Freezoners who continue to practice Scientology, still mean they are being brainwashed, no matter how you cut it.  It’s the way the courses, the auditing and the drills were set up by Hubbard, at least there isn’t a Sea Org and David Miscavige is out of the picture. But hey, people can believe in what they want, as long as it doesn’t hurt and abuse others and as long as it doesn’t end up being another 
abusive cult off-shoot.

So getting back to Scientology spokesman Mr.Tommy Davis.
As I mentioned in the last article on this series, Tommy Davis’ body language was VERY telling. Again, I noticed he sat with tightly clenched hands, laughed nervously, and at one point was sitting with his arms and legs totally crossed. He looked like he was wrapped so tight, that you couldn’t pull a pin out if his butt with a tractor.
Bashir proceeds to ask Tommy about the e-meter and HIS own personal beliefs. Tommy was not very convincing when it came to the e-meter. The conversation went as follows:

Bashir: Has the e-meter ever been subjected to randomized clinical trials to assess it’s efficacy?

Davis: I have no idea. I don’t know why it would be. It works in Scientology and that’s what people use it. I don’t know why it would be subjected to random clinical trials.

Bashir: Because it’s a… mechanism for therapeutic care you just said…

Davis: In a religion.

Bashir: But has it ever been tested objectively is what I’m asking?

Davis: I mean it gets used every day by Scientology counselors.

Bashir: I’m not asking that. I’m asking…

Davis: To my knowledge, no. … And as far as evidence of the e-meter and its efficacy, the evidence of that is in those Scientologists who have used it to great benefit. And as far as the Church of Scientology is concerned, it’s the only evidence that matters, is the people and the results.

“In a religion?” Then why is the e-meter used for Scientology “Stress Tests” on the general public?

But wait, there’s more…

ABC Nightline’s, Martin Bashir interviewed Scientology cult spokesman Tommy Davis (son of actress Ann Archer) last night.

He interviewed ex Scientology members Marty Rathbun, Amy Scobee and Bruce Hines. Ex members Mike Rinder and Tom DeVocht although not present for the taping of the interview, did answer questions for ABC. 

Rathbun and Scobee along with ex members Tom DeVocht and Mike Rinder were recently interviewed by the St. Petersburg Times. Their interviews with the SP Times revealed scathing allegations of  the physical and mental abuse of Scientology members  that they witnessed at the hands of current Scientology cult leader David Miscavige. If you missed it, you can watch it here.

Although there was no mention of why cult leader David Miscavige was not present, Tommy Davis did a pretty wonderful job of looking far from credible. You don’t have to be a body language expert to notice Davis’ constant shifting eyes, how he constantly looks away, the fidgeting with his hair, clasped hands, along with his stuttering to know that he was not too comfortable with the questions that Bashir was asking him.

Bashir and Davis discussed a bunch of allegations levied against the cult, including family disconnection within the cult of Scientology’s Sea Organization, as well as a punishment called the Rehabilitation Project Force aka The RPF for short.

It was great that Davis did not deny that there was an actual RPF within Scientology’s Sea Organization, but Davis claims that the RPF is a VOLUNTARY punishment. This statement sent me through the roof.

Davis said that Sea Org members are put on such a punishment if they fail in their duties. What he didn’t mention, was that a Sea Org member can be put on RPF for something as tiny as looking at someone the wrong way. I also would love to know what Sea Org members would voluntarily put themselves on a punishment which involves lack of sleep, low quality food, not being able to talk to anyone, wearing black clothing to further separate you from others, being shamed, ridiculed, and being forced to run everywhere rather than to walk. The RPF usually means that you will be put on some sort of  manual hard labor which can go into all hours of the night and this punishment can literally last for YEARS.

Just one trip to the ex Scientology kids website will validate these claims about the RPF. Or you can pick up books written by ex Scientology members. Books like The Complex by John Duignan and Blown For Good by Marc Headley(which we recently did an article on) are just two examples of ex members shedding more light on this abusive cult. There is also a new book which just came out, called My Billion Year Contract by ex Scientology member Nancy Many who dedicated for 27 years of her life to Scientology.

Nancy’s book title derives from the contract you sign when joining Scientology’s Sea Organization. You must sign a billion year contract with Scientology in order to join the Sea Org. I kid you not. Click here to see an actual copy of Scientology’s Sea Org contract.

So back to the interview….
The ex cult members that were interviewed, dedicated 20+ years of their lives to the cult, and luckilly were able to escape. Although mentally, they are still suffering. 

One of the MANY things I found VERY disturbing about this interview, was the subject of family disconnection within the Sea Org. The mention of family disconnection itself is disturbing on its own.

But when Bashir asked Davis about Sea Org members who get married, (this is where Davis really starts to squirm) and if there are controls put in place on how often members are allowed to see their families, Davis said “there are “specific policies” that  apply to the RPF which governs what they do and what their schedule is“. Bashir then asks Davis how many times in a week would they be allowed to see their family members and Davis said “he didn’t really know off the top of his head“. 

Why would a spokesman for the “church” not know the policies of his own ”church” after being a member of Scientology for practically his entire life? And when Bashir asks Davis what was a fair guess of how many times a week Sea Org members get to see their family members, and asks if it once a week is correct, Davis said “once a week sounded about right“. Davis also said he thought seeing family members once a week was appropriate. LOVELY “church” isn’t it?

Where or where are the family protective services in all this?

If you are horrified, then please also understand this his statement is not entirely true. It’s worse. Some members can go years without seeing their family. Davis is also referring to Sea Org members whose family members are WITHIN the Sea Org and stationed at the same Org. And even then, members still don’t get to see their family. Davis is also not referring to any Sea Org members who have family members that are not in Scientology. There are people who haven’t seen their children in years. The cult fears outside interaction with family members. They fear that family will try to persuade their members to get out of the cult. To cut off members from their families is of course in pure cult fashion.

Sea Org members who are stationed at Golden Era Productions aka Gold Base in Ca., are not allowed to leave that property at all. Hard to believe that this is allowed to happen in the US today. But it does.

Also what Davis said doesn’t apply to many Sea Orgers that have other family members in the Sea Org stationed elsewhere in other countries. Many of these Sea Orgers are not on RPF, they just will never get the chance to see their family period. Members will never be spared the time to do so, nor can they afford to travel on their .25 cents an hour pay. Besides, Scientology is afraid they will flee.

According to ex Sea Org member Bruce Hines, (who was also physically abused by cult leader David Miscavige) gets a little tearful during the interview discussing his past life in Scientology. There were periods of time that he was not allowed to see his son while he was on RPF. He said at times he would wave to his son from afar if he saw him running by. His son was attending the Scientology school near by. Not being able to see you parents is considered child abuse in my book. Thankfully Bruce’s son also left the cult.

Hines also discusses his divorce and how divorce is encouraged in Scientology, and also the disconnection from other family members he still experiences today. How sad is this? 

Another one of the ex members being interviewed was Marty Rathbun. He mentioned that cult leader David Miscavige owned a beagle dog, and that Miscavige ordered a custom made military type outfit to be made for the dog complete with epaulettes. Rathbun also stated that if members didn’t salute Miscavige’s dog, then there would be big trouble. And if the dog barked at any member, than that member was considered to be “out ethics”. Amy Scobee also confirmed this claim . And a little visit to the Why We Protest site revealed a comment by BFG aka Blown For Good, aka Marc Headley, in which he also talks about Miscavige’s dogs. Here’s the snipette from WWP:

In terms of the dog – there was actually at least 4 of them. Safi, Jelly, Lucy and Daisy. Lucy was the one that did the barking at “out-ethics” people.

The dogs DO travel with Dave. They at least went to Clearwater all the time. These dogs make Paris Hilton’s dogs look like ghetto strays. Clothes, special food, People to walk them and pick up their crap and take care of them. Those dogs easily have more money spent on their weekly food than 10 RPFers combined!

So correct me if I am wrong…. but it sounds like Miscavige’s dogs live and eat better than the Sea Org members? And the cult spends MORE money on these dogs then their own Sea Org members?
Who by the way are the very people who have to take care of these spoiled mutts. Talk about utter DISGUST and OUTRAGE.

ABC stated that members of Scientology wrote several affidavits denying that Miscavige was an abusive person and that Rathbun was the abusive person. Of course members and staff will do what they are told to do, or suffer the consequences. Rathbun does not deny that he was abusive, but blames Miscavige for  his actions.

Speaking of cult leader David Miscavige, where is he? He is the current leader of this so called “church”, so why wasn’t he interviewed?

Perhaps his last defensive interview with Ted Koppel back in 1992 was all he can manage with his “busy” schedule.

You would think now more than ever, that Scientology members would want some reassurance from their “leader”. (I use the term VERY lightly)  But Miscavige seems to be MIA. Rumors are, that Miscavige is seeking refuge in Columbia. With all the pending court cases against Scientology, ex members speaking out and with more members leaving, it’s clear that Miscavige is not the “church” leader that he professes to be and is hiding. What could possibly be his excuse for not granting another interview for over seventeen years now? Hiding on Scientology’s Tone Scale is VERY low. *snicker*

Back to wonder boy…

But wait, there’s more…

Early Photo of Cake With Former Band Members

Cake is a band that emerged out of Sacramento CA. Cake is not your typical band.

Wikipedia describes their music as:

often classified as alternative rock or indie rock, it combines multiple musical genres, such as funk, rockabilly, pop, jazz, rap, and country. Cake’s music features droll lyrics rife with word play and syncopation, catchy distorted guitar riffs (courtesy of guitarist Greg Brown until 1998, and bass player Victor Damiani until 1997), prominent use of a Moog, and a solo trumpet (played by Vince DiFiore).

Their bigger hits have been “The Distance”, “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”, and “Nugget,” a real kick ass song. Their remakes of “I Will Survive” and especially Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” are simply
fabulous.

You may have heard some of Cake’s songs and not even known it. Their music has turned up in movies such as Me, Myself and Irene, I Love You Man and An American Werewolf in London. The instrumental part of their song “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” is used by NBC’s show Chuck.

In the past, Cake’s tunes have also showed up in the episodes of The Sopranos, Smallville, and  Friends. Their music has been used globally in French, German, Italian, and Japanese films. And even for the Power’s Whiskey Irish Grand National promos.

One trip to their website, and you will see that they are also involved in making a difference in the world. At every concert, they award someone with a tree. For instance, when they did a show in Buffalo NY, they awarded someone a tree for doing the most push ups! They have a page on their website which is called the Cake Tree Gallery. There you will find photos of previous tree winners proudly pictured with their trees. There is a now to link that will help you plant that tree too.

Need advice on ANYTHING? They have a page for that too! Just email cakeadvice@yahoo.com with your questions. I have read some pretty funny stuff there.

Or maybe you would like to participate in their latest poll question on their website?

“Are insurance companies an integral component of the health care product in the United States?”

How about a ride to their next gig? They also have a “carpool web page” so you can hook up with others going your way to their next gig. Their website also lists article links of stories that interest them; from the current health care situation, the impact on the environment from cellphones, using rechargeable batteries, and a link where you can listen to Killer Whales. Of course this is only a smidgen of what is on their site. You can also catch up with Cake on MySpace with their 7,000+ friends.

When Cake performed gigs from Buffalo to Syracuse NY, the band 
members all traveled by train. And last year they decked out their Sacramento studio with solar panels.

They even recorded the installation and posted a video on YouTube.

So it was really no surprise to hear when Cake announced that their latest album was made totally with solar energy.

But wait, there’s more…

It’s hump day and what’s been going on in the world of celebrity gossip lately?
Same old crap and some new crap.

Lindsey Lohan went to court and partied the night before and the night after her court hearing. Yawn!
But wait… she said she’s afraid her Dad may kidnap her now. Uh.. again yawn. Wake me up when she does something new.

What’s also up?
Not Balloon Boy!  That news is SO rampant, that I am already tired of it. But it looks like reality has caught up with the Heenes. Honestly, I caught these loons on Wife Swap a while back and the father was a hot headed, delusional wacko, who thinks the sun rises and sets by him. I thought this man was questionable way back then, but you can’t always tell, with the way “reality” shows edit their shows. But now we know for sure. Yep! My gut instinct was totally spot on.

Now I think his wife is either abused and doesn’t know enough to get away and agrees with everything her idiot husband does regardless, or she actually agrees with everything her hubby does and also thinks you should raise your children by dragging them to twister romps and pulling them out of school and allowing them to trash talk to whomever they want. Either scenario is SAD. 
Oh! Have you seen their video on YouTube? I can’t understand what the hell they are singing about, but it looks pretty darn questionable. Future Beastie Boys ya think?

I wonder if wifey-poo will throw hubby under the bus, when it comes down to their day in court? Get out the popcorn! And as far as reality fame goes? Heenes… you got it now! Yah happy?

And more people who get under my skin…
Elisabeth Hasselbeck is back on The View. (oh joy) 
I guess little Ms. Perfect sent out some not so perfect baby pictures of her baby AND a guest appearance of her nipple to her friends and family by mistake. HA HA HA! This story brought me so much joy.

On to other idiots…
Rod Blagojevich (again NOT a celebrity), WILL appear on Celebrity Apprentice, yet another reason not to watch Trump’s show ever again.

And even more idiots…
Stephanie Pratt was busted for DUI. I wonder what bible thumper sista -in-law Heidi Montag will have to say about this? Maybe Heidi can get Stephen Baldwin to baptize Stephanie for her. ‘Cause we all know just how beneficial it was for Heidi. Praise Jesus!

And on to the King  and Queen of idiots…
Jon Gosselin is still hated by the majority of America. Well wait a minute…I stand corrected. Octomom, Nadya Suleman told Radar Online she thought Jon Gosselin was hot and has a crush on him. Ummm… hot?Perhaps Nadya needs her eyes checked and should pick up a paper every once in a while. Oh that’s right, she has 14 children, who has time?

But sorry Octomon, Jon was too busy getting his sexy on in a fancy cab with gal pal Hailey Glassman.
Hey Jon, you sure you want to pass this up? Could be a new show fer yah!
How about “John +Nadya +14+ 8 = The Earth Spinning Off It’s Axis”?

Well not if TLC has anything to say about it! They are already suing Jon for breech of contract, of course.
And he also has been ordered to pay back $180,00.00 back to his account with Kate. Kate ALSO has been ordered to pay some money back too. Seems like Karma has been rearing it’s ugly head with those two.

And speaking of Octomom, the Doc that implanted the SIX embryos (one split into two) into Octomom has been booted from the practice where he was employed for not following the rules. But of course he is still allowed to practice. Who knows what he will do now that he is on his own. I smell another reality show?
I can hear the promo now…
“Meet Dr. Eggo! He’s serving them sunny side up, so you too can have your very own reality show and start exploiting your very own litter of children in no time! Hey! Let Go Of My Eggo!”

Seriously, have you seen the latest clip of Octomon and her brood with all those kids crying? It makes me want to pull my hair out.

Speaking of child exploitation, Kate Gosselin tells Vanity Fair she ”feels like a prisoner” of her own fame and that the kids are starting to act out. STARTING to act out? Wow, if seeing Maddy in previous shows was only the start of her bitchdom, I woudn’t want to see her now. That child is not a force to be reckoned with! And please Kate…  let me get out the violin….you were being interviewed by VANITY FAIR and getting paid for it. Prisoner my ass!

On to more phony things….
Miss California, Carrie Prejean is being sued for her her boobs! K2 Productions (which directs the California USA pageant ) is asking Carrie for $5,200 back. I guess they paid for her boob job. K2 says it’s not about the money, and the money will go to charity. I doubt if will want the implants back. *snicker*

Speaking of cash….
Nicholas Cage is in a heap of debt. Cage is suing his former manager Samuel Levin for $20 million. Levin allegedly screwed with Cage’s money and Cage says that his manager is the one responsible for his current debt headache. Word of advice Nick…. don’t wait seven years before you check up on hired help that handles all your dough.

And on to big sloppy messes…
Anna Nicole Smith is back in the news again. Well, the court case of her doctors and Howard Stern that is.
In court, Larry Birkhead told a scathing account of Anna’s drug use while she was pregnant. 

Maurice Brighthaupt, former bodyguard of Anna, claims he saw Howard Stern, and Dr. Eroshevich injecting Anna with needles. He also said he saw Anna injecting herself. Why did this guy wait so long with this information? Supposedly Dr. Eroshevich was the bodyguard’s friend, as well as Stern. Sorry! No excuse.

Supposedly Anna Nicole was drinking pedialyte out of a baby bottle and laying in her own feces when found. Why was she ever brought to Florida in this condition? Now I know Anna was a complete mess with drugs, but when someone is that addicted to drugs and that incapacitated, she should have received help from the people around her, especially her doctors and those closest to her. Not checking into a Florida hotel. Stern was not present at her death, he was busy seeing a man about boat.

The IRS is also in play with Anna Nicole these days, and have filed a $125,112.86 tax lien on the estate of Vickie Lynn Marshall. So much for resting in Peace. Geez, what a mess.

And some weirdness in the news…
Marge Simpson is on the cover of Playboy’s October issue. Sorry, I didn’t find it at all amusing and I refuse to show a picture of it.
In fact I poo poo Playboy for advertising the Simpsons.

Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, Scientologist extraordinaire, donated TEN MILLLION DOLLARS to Scientology in May of 2008. Anyone that supports the Simpsons in any way is inadvertently giving money to Scientology down the line. Why would Cartwright give the money to her children, when she would rather hand it over to Scientology? Gotta keep everything KSW! (Keep Scientology Working) Right Nancy? Hope she wakes up some day.

Speaking of naughty pictures.
Levi Johnston (former husband of Bristol Palin) will be posing for Playgirl and has been in the gym bulking up for his upcoming saucy shots. I also caught him on a commercial for Wonderful Pistachio nuts. Yes, the man who will soon be showing his nuts was hawking nuts on TV. The commercial shows him with an immense bodyguard and Levi is eating a few nuts and the tag line says “Now Levi Johnston does it with protection”
I kid you not. See the commercial for yourself!
Wow! Talking about pissing Palin off! Yeehaw!

But wait it gets better….
Levi was interviewed by Vanity Fair. The name of the article is “Me and Mrs. Palin”.

Levi dishes about Palin and her lack of parenting, her bad moods, Todd flipping out and Levi was quoted as saying,

“I thought, Was this woman—who, at home, would literally say things that did not make sense—really running for vice president?”

You go Levi! I have a new respect for the boy. *snicker*

Then we move on to more puzzling things…
The court case of John Travolta.
Readers are probably wondering why I haven’t reported on this case as of yet. The testimonies in the court case were changing on a such a daily basis with so much “he said/she said” garbage going on, and with changing stories, that if I wrote about what was happening as it happened, I would have had to edit the story every single day.

I will be covering this story when and if I feel that some sort of conclusion of sorts has been made. I will say that this case has been one big puzzle of unanswered questions on BOTH sides.

And speaking of The Travoltas moving on …
Both Kelly and John attended the IAS (International Association of Scientologists)
Scientology 25th Anniversary at Scientology’s St. Hill Org in England.
Sadly, it looks like John will not be leaving this cult any time soon.

Tom Cruise, Katie and Suri were also in attendance. Poor Katie and Suri.

Scientology wanted people to believe that 4,000 people were in attendance at their event. ROTFL!
That number is just classic Scientology spin in which they are so famous for. They usually have to fly and bus tons of people in, as well as dressing up their Sea Orgers members to fill in the seats so it will look full. Reason for this? So their IAS PR photo will look like they are still successful to their members. It’s an old smoke and mirrors trick of Scientology, so they can continue to deceive their members. Lovely, isn’t it?

The IAS is nothing more than members donating money to Scientology. (which the majority goes straight to cult leader David Miscavige) In return for their donation, they get a discount on courses, auditing and such. Which is not a discount at all since they are donating money. Duh!

Cruise and Travoilta have donated millions and millions of dolllars to Scientology. Exactly what Scientology does with all that money as fas as “helping” to “clear the planet”  is a mystery. The money goes to buy more buildings that stand idle, make Miscavige richer and pay for all their pending court cases, lawyers and Sci goons. Oh! and I almost forgot, they have to pay their Sea Org slave labor members about .25 cents an hour.

US Magazine reported on the 25th Anniversary and quoted Cruise about the Scientology protestors outside the event:

Later, during a reception, Cruise was overheard chatting with another American man about the protesters outside the venue. “They’re squirrels,” Cruise said angrily, according to a witness. “Stuck in an electronic incident. It makes me so angry!”

“Protesters are squirrels stuck in an electronic incident?”
Oh Tom, you certainly are one brainwashed mofo.
A ”squirrel” in scio-speak, means someone that messes or changes the tech of dead cult founder L. Ron Hubbard. Aka “squirreling the tech”. And “stuck in an electronic incident” is more scio babble from Hubbard’s work.

I wonder if Cruise actually said this though? Personally, I think if anything he would of called the protesters SP’s (suppressive people) not squirrels. And I think the “stuck in an electronic incident” line may have been borrowed from a video of another wacky Scientologist named George, which we reported on recently. Many duplicate videos of Scientologist George (who is an OTVIII, the highest that you can get on Scientology’s Bridge) showed up on YouTube and showed just how brainwashed Scientologists become the longer they stay in. The video is totally unscripted and SAD.

Cruise is supposedly an OTVII on The Bridge To Nowhere.

One more level to go Tom until you reach the tippety top to the Bridge of Total Freedom!
Yippee!
Good luck with that Tom! Wait till you see what OTVIII is all about!
SO worth the millions and millions of dollars that you blew. *snicker*

And now for something completely different and funny….
I was watching TV the other night, and there was a brief teaser for Season 6 of the steamy Nip /Tuck show, which started on Oct 14th. I thought I was seeing things, when I saw Mario Lopez completely decked out in black lingerie complete with a garter belt and black stockings. But no, I looked it up and yep it was none other than A. C. Slater (his name on Saved By The Bell) in drag!

Mario played Dr. Mike Hamoui on the series and he was seen in a steamy shower scene in a previous episode. Damn! I am going to have to start watching that show! Kudos for Mario for having the balls of steel for donning the less than flattering get up.

And even though Mario is one huge piece of eye candy…
sorry, this outfit just doesn’t cut it for me Mario. *snicker*

Wake Up Courtney! Time To Go To Court!

Courtney Love.
Just the name conjures up the feeling of Ewww.

Courtney has her knickers in a bunch (when are they not in a bunch?) over the way Activision used ex hubby Kurt Cobain’s image in Guitar Hero 5.

The agreement was to supposedly have Cobain sing only two songs in the game, which of couse incuded “Smells Like Teen Spirit“.  But Cobain’s character in the game is an unlockable character.

Cobain Ala Activision

For all you non gamers out there, an unlockable character means the gamer can make the image do other things. Like sing other performer’s songs.

So Love and former Nirvana band mates, David Grohl and Krist Novoselic, were not too tickled when they found out that Cobain is singing songs by Jon Bon Jovi and Bush in the game. (the band Bush that is, not Dubya, although that would be a riot)

Ex Nirvana band members were quoted about their dismay:

“While we were aware of Kurt’s image being used with two Nirvana songs, we didn’t know players have the ability to unlock the character,” they said.
“This feature allows the character to be used with any kind of song the layer wants. We urge Activision to do the right thing in ‘re-locking’ Kurt’s character so that this won’t continue in the future.”

Courtney called the avatar “vile” and “necrophilic” and Twittered:

” This Guitar Hero shit is breach of contract. I think Kurt would despise this game alone let alone this avatar.. We are going to sue the shit out of Activison”

When it comes to vile and necrophilic. Ms Love takes the cake.
We all know how vile she can be. And someone would have to be into necrophilia to be attracted to her these days.

As of late, Love has been looking mighty bad. The recent photo below, shows her beyond scrawny and way up there on the “Ewwww” scale.

Love Looking Like Death Warmed Over

 
I think it’s pretty cool that Activision agreed to include Cobain in their game at all. Love and ex band members should be thankful that Activision is keeping his memory and Nirvana’s music alive.

The ex band members are asking Activision to come up with a patch, so Cobain’s character stays locked. Fair enough, but a computer geek friend told me it can’t be done once the game is out. Don’t know if this is totally correct.

Love has her lawyer, Keith A. Finch on the case and he seems to think she indeed has a case.

Finch said,
“Activision was not given an unbridled right to use Kurt Cobain’s name and likeness. As for Cobain, his journals suggest that he’d be less than pleased about a game that shows him belting out “You Give Love A Bad Name”.
Writing about Bon Jovi in the late 1980’s, he issued a one word review: Evil.”

Well, I am not a fan of Bon Jovi myself, but I think the word evil to describe them is a bit silly and over the top. I am sure if Cobain was still alive today, I think his opinion would have matured a bit.

Besides, Nirvana was nothing to write home about. Nirvana themselves weren’t some ultra fabulous band. They were nothing more than a 90’s garage grunge band that literally “stepped in it”. And don’t even get me started on Love’s band “Hole”.

But hey, that’s my taste. Obviously if Nirvana sold over twenty-five million albums in the US, and over fifty million worldwide, they were very much admired.

But why some people continue to think that Cobain was some sort of iconic rock God is beyond me. He was a junkie who had a very short career, a raspy nothing voice and he had an average band. He met Love in 1990, they got married in 1992, and Cobain shot himself in 1994. (supposed self inflicted gun shot wound)
Many people blame Love for Cobain’s untimely demise. I guess we will never actually know the truth.

If you are driving around Aberdeen, Washington, you will see a sign which reads, “Welcome To Aberdeen Come As You Are”, which was purchased by the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee back in 2004 as a tribute to Cobain. If you are not famaliar with Nirvana’s music… “Come As You Are” is of course one of their songs.

Let’s also not forget that Love and Cobain had a daughter, Francis Bean. I am sure her life has been far from enchanted due to her father’s death and her whacked out mother. 

So back to the lawsuit…
Ms. Love is not a stranger to lawsuits by any means. That is, people suing HER of course.

She was recently sued this past May by American Express for not paying $350,000 in charges. (gee I thought my card was bad)

Contactmusic.com wrote:

COURTNEY LOVE is facing a legal battle with American Express over the credit card company’s claims she has racked up more than $350,000 (£233,000) in unpaid charges.
The firm filed suit against Love in the U.S. District Court on Wednesday (27May09), demanding the rocker pay off the staggering debt on her Gold card.

The former Hole frontwoman had her plastic privileges suspended after she “failed and refused” to clear the balance, according to the lawsuit.
Love has been continuously struggling with her finances in recent years – it emerged in April (09) she had hired a team of private investigators to reclaim the millions of dollars she alleged were stolen from her late husband Kurt Cobain’s estate.
And just last year (08), Love was sued for $1 million (£667,000) by London & Co., an accounting firm which charged the star had failed to pay them profits from the sale of Cobain’s share of the Nirvana publishing catalogue.
A spokesperson for Love was unavailable for comment as WENN went to press.

 
Well, isn’t that interesting? She has two huge companies suing her.
Doesn’t stop there…
She also is being sued by her former body guard for $60,000.

TMZ wrote:

It costs a lot of money to keep the world safe from Courtney Love – her former bodyguards say she stiffed them out of $60,000 this year.

Screen International Security Services filed a lawsuit today in L.A. County Superior Court, claiming they provided “security services, in connection with the protection of Love, her family members, and her property” between April and August of this year.

SISS says Love never paid a penny for services rendered — totaling $58,222.50 — and are suing for the full amount plus interest.

Love’s attorney just sent us the following statement:

“This lawsuit should be placed in the Wikipedia page next to chutzpah. It has no merit and is based on a private security company’s attempt to fleece a celebrity.

SISS is claiming it is owed money for providing around the clock security for Ms. Cobain and her daughter at the St. Ives home for a period of time she and her daughter were NOT living at that home but were living at the Chateau Marmont. SISS has no written agreement with Ms Cobain to support their claim and on its face it is ludicrous.”

SISS was paid a substantial sum for the “service” it provided while they were living at that home. Despite knowing that Ms. Cobain and her daughter had moved out of the home they continued to provide security to an empty home by having someone sit in a car all day eating a ham sandwich while the Cobains were residing miles away!!!

AND her snarkiness doesn’t end there.
In 2007, Love was also quoted as saying,

 “I’m going to have a Christie’s auction,” to hock the bulk of Cobain’s belongings with a portion going to charity.”

I don’t know if this auction ever took place, I couldn’t find anything else about it.”

So do you think Love is really upset over this whole Guitar Hero thang? Or is she looking for some quick cash in all the wrong places? (see what I did there?)

Her lawsuit with Activision is starting to “smell like ”GLEAN” spirit to me”. *snicker*

Seems to me, that she has been living off Kurt’s fame and money for years, and doesn’t plan on stopping.
The lyrics from her song, “Celebrity” say it all.
“Use Once and Destroy“.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am all for performers getting credit where credit is due. And if there is a huge copyright issue, then it should be dealt with.

I think Cobain being included in Guitar Hero 5 was a compliment and an honor to both Cobain and the remaining members of Nirvana. And now Cobain will be forever immortalized in the gaming world. If gamers want to be more respectful, I guess they can always choose for Cobain to only sing the two songs by Nirvana. Easy solution. Those who don’t care, will have him wailing Bon Jovi.

As far as Courtney Love?  
What about your daughter Francis Bean Courtney? 
Doesn’t she deserve better?
Clean up your act and grow up woman.
And for God’s sakes, wash your hands and clean those damn fingernails!

Love’s Fingernails Looks Like She Clawed Her Way Out Of A “Hole”

Well, well, well.
Looks like Paris will be mixing junk food and fine art.

Yes, McDonald’s is slated to move into the famed Louvre in Paris.
This news made me both cringe and laugh.

Even though there is an underground mall in the Louvre and a food court, I hardly think that picking McDonald’s as a gastronomic delight shows good judgment or taste.

Underground Mall In The Louvre

I find it very ironic that Paris chose to put a McDonald’s in the Louvre. Not only did they pick a restaurant that is a crappy corporate fast food chain, but they picked a food chain that pretty much screams The United States of America. Especially with France’s lonnnnng history of poo-pooing the US.

The US should be poo-pooed for their love affair with fast food. It’s sad that McDonald’s has become one of the symbols of US culture by many.

I would be happy if all the McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Kentucky Fried Chickens, and the rest of the heart attack restuarants would all go away. They lure customers in with convenience and low prices, and could care less about their customer’s health.Yeah, I know, everything in moderation, and it’s up to the individual if they want to eat there or not. But many people just don’t get how dangerous these places are to their health.The fat content and calorie counts are not in plain site for the consumer in these places, and I think they should be posted.

These restaurants (I use the term lightly) not only play a major role in US obesity, but other related health problems such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and many more.
WE SIMPLY DON’T NEED THEM FOLKS.

So, back to the Louvre…

The NY Post wrote:

PARIS — French culture and American convenience will come together in December — thanks to plans by the McDonald’s restaurant chain to hang its shingle in the shadow of the Louvre.

McDonald’s is delighted at the prospect of feeding hungry culture vultures. But not everyone is happy about mixing high art and fast food.

The McDonald’s will be installed in the food court of the underground mall adjoining the museum, known as the Carrousel du Louvre, as the fast food chain fetes its 30th anniversary in France, McDonald’s France said.

The pairing could serve the interests of both. The Louvre is the world’s most visited museum; France is McDonald’s top market outside the United States.

In France and elsewhere, McDonald’s is emblematic of U.S.-driven globalization and the homogenization of cultures. However, the fast food chain’s chief executive, Jim Skinner, said in an interview published Monday that the reason McDonald’s is such a hit in France, where it has over 1,000 outlets, is that “we are perceived as a French enterprise.”

The McDonald’s on the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue is the most profitable in the world, he said. The interview was published in the economic daily Les Echos.

The Louvre refused comment on the expected arrival of its new neighbor. Spokeswoman Aggy Lerolle said only that it is not up to the museum veto McDonald’s arrival since the Carrousel is run by a private company rather than the state-run museum.

However, some French are indignant about mixing French fries and art treasures in the backyard of the former palace of the Sun King, Louis XIV.

The Web site louvrepourtous.fr, which is aimed at keeping museum visitors informed, is among those whose hackles have been raised at the coming of McDonald’s, even in a food court where a variety of restaurants offering cuisines of the world are present.

“Rendezvous in December for a Mona Lisa Extra Value Menu,” it wrote, contending that the Louvre could have, and should have, put its foot down.

Some saw McDonald’s taste for art coming long ago. In January 2007, the culture wing of the large CFDT union decried what it said was the “Disleylandization” of French culture, claiming the state is looking to turn museums into theme parks. It cited plans for the so-called desert Louvre, to open in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates, and the arrival of a Starbucks coffee house near the Louvre.

“When will McDonald’s set up shop?” the union asked, perhaps more presciently than it wished.

McDonald’s says no date has been set for its opening at the Carrousel du Louvre.

European art and what passes for American cuisine have crossed paths before. The former chief of Italy’s McDonald’s chain, Mario Resca, now supervises that country’s chain of
illustrious museums.

 

“The McDonald’s on the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue is the most profitable in the world“.

In the world?  Wow.
I also had no idea that there were already over 1000 McDonald’s restaurants in France.

So I guess they figure one more can’t hurt? 
The one in the Louvre will probably end up outselling the Champs-Elysees Avenue location.

AND Starbucks, another more recent symbol of American culture (again, very sad) may be moving down the block from the Louvre? 
I say anybody who is dumb enough to pay Starbucks for their over priced coffee concoctions can have them.

Hmmm… Remember France… those who throw stones….

But perhaps the Louvre can put a spin on this particular McDonald’s location and turn it into an artsy/educational approach for the kids.

Maybe they can have the very first ”Mona Lisa Happy Meal”.
Or perhaps something more catchier like the “Oui Oui Happy Meal”, (well… maybe not)
The kids can collect “Paintings of The Louvre Trading Cards”!

Although the painting below of Madame de Sorquainville by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau, in which he brilliantly captured the first official “purple nurple“ in oil in 1749, should be left out of the Happy Meal trading card collection in my opinion.

Hey Kids! Collect Them All And Receive Free Pommes Frites!

And what about the parents?
How about a ”McDavinci  Sandwich”meal? It can come complete with secret codes that you must hold in front of a mirror and decipher for your chance to win a free McDe Milo shake or the grand prize of a family four pack of tickets to the Louvre. Dan Brown would be so tickled! (if this idea materializes… I want 10%)

So France… you took Jerry Lewis, (well, not really) and now you are putting a McDonald’s in the Louvre? 
What’s next? A Dunkin Donuts selling “croissanwiches” next to the Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower?

So will the French become chubby from all the junk food they will be consuming? Only time will tell.

Some Americans love junk food SO much, they have become quite desperate! 
Just ask Darrel Medley of Jacksonville…

A Jacksonville man has been charged for extorting a Jacksonville Dunkin Donuts for a croissanwich.

Darryl Andre Medley, 33, of Sherwood Road, was charged Friday by the Jacksonville Police Department with extortion and resisting a public officer.

Medley told another customer to go ahead of him in line, Capt. Billy Houston said.

“He told her she was going to pay for his too. She thought it was a joke until he motioned down and acted like he had a gun,” he said.

Medley was located about a block away from the Dunkin Donuts on Sherwood Road and U.S. 17 without a weapon, Houston said.

No injuries were sustained by the victim.

Bond was set at $6,000.

Wow $6,000 bond for a croissanwich heist! 
Yeehaw! Totally worth it dude! *snort*
I swear, you can’t make this crap up.

FYI: “The kipfel – ancestor of the croissant – has been documented in Austria going back at least as far as the 13th century. The French version of the kipfel was named for its crescent (croissant) shape.”
Thanks Wikipedia!

AND many people also think that french fries were invented by the French. Nope!
French Fries first showed up in BELGIUM.
Thanks again to Wikipedia:
“Belgian historian Jo Gerard recounts that potatoes were fried in 1680.”

Gee, France…. can’t you come up with your own dern junk food for cripes sakes! *snicker*

So to the controversy…
Many people are outraged over McDonald’s moving into the Louvre. Some people think it’s a shock at first and that visitors to the Louvre and residents of France will get over it, and others could simply care less.

I am stuck between being a little dismayed, and not caring, mixed with a little bit of gloating over the fact that France seems to be getting more and more Americanized.

I do know I wouldn’t like to see a McDonald’s move into the MET.

So what’s your take on McDonald’s moving into the Louvre?
Should we have the same attitude as France’s former Queen, Marie Antoinette? 
And say “let them eat burgers“?

Do you say, oui?
OR… non et non ! (absolutely not!)
OR… je m’en fiche! ( I don’t care)

Speak your mind and leave a comment.
Merci!

Looks like Tawny Kitaen just can’t stay out of trouble.

Tawny aka Julie “Tawny” Kitaen starred in Bachelor Party with Tom Hanks back in 1984. She was also in a movie that she is probably not too proud of called The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak  aka Gwendoline in 1985 and then a horror flick, Witchboard in 1986.
Gwendoline was about:

” a 1985 erotic adventure based on a French comic strip. Stowing away on a China-bound freighter to search for her long-lost father, virginal Gwendoline (Kitaen) ends up in the clutches of randy sailors — till a daring adventurer (Brent Huff) saves her. Heading upriver to find Gwen’s dad, they soon crosses paths with the female warriors of the Yik Yak tribe.”

Wow! How she was able to get any work after that movie is pretty amazing. 

Tawny is most famous for her romp atop the hood of a jag in a video for Whitesnake. For all you youngins’ out there… Whitesnake was a big hair rock band back in the 1980’s.

The video she starred in was for their song “Here I Go Again” sung by her ex HUSBAND, lead singer. David Coverdale. (ick… sorry, he always grossed me out)
For a blast from the past, click here to watch a fuzzy version of her friskyvideo that guys are stil talking about today.

Her marriage to Coverdale only lasted a few years. And six years later in 1997, she married St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Chuck Finley. They had two children Wynter and Raine.

Earlier Picture Of Much Happier Times

But trouble came knocking again when Tawny was arrested for beating Finely with one of her stiletto heels while he was driving and she was on the passenger seat.  MEOW!
Yeah, I know all the guys out there are probably thinking that sounds crazy sexy and hot. But sorry guys, it’s just crazy. And that little tiff could have killed the both of them.

Needless to say, three days later and not surprisingly, Finely filed for a divorce, which ended their five year marriage. And it’s also when the custody battle started for their kids.

Tawny continued her spiral down with continuing her addiction to drugs and alcohol. She starred in the sixth edition of Surreal Life and I remember watching that show. She really came off as quite the whack job. It was evident that she was high as a kite on that show. (well to me anyways)

She continued her reality show career on a stint with Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. I also watched this show.

Tawny with Dr. Drew

She was totally different on this show compared to her behavior on the Surreal Life. I thought she was doing pretty good, by the end of the show and she also “graduated”. (of course we all know to take these shows with a grain of salt and that the reality part of these shows is pretty slim)

On VH1’s Celebrity Rehab website , it read:

 Tawny thanked fellow rehabbers for giving her hope, and friendship, something she really hasn’t had in the past.

I wonder what ex husband Finely thought about that statement?

Tawny then went on to an outpatient program in Newport Beach, so that she can be close to her family. Sure glad that she didn’t pick to go Scientology’s phony Narconon program and I hope she never does. Why am I mentioning Scientology? Because Scientology pounced on another rehabber from the show, Jeff Conoway when he left the show early.

Thanks to fellow Grease star, John Travolta. Travolta gave Conoway a whole library of Scientology books and the service of a Scientology ”auditor” who visited Conoway almost every day. Out of the pan and into the fire I say. Shame on Travolta for getting Conoway mixed up in the cult. Just utterly sickening.

Even though Conoway may have been tricked into thinking that Scientology actually helped him kick his addiction, their success rate for helping drug addiction through their Purification Rundown is actually like 6%. Not the trumped up numbers they lie about.

I haven’t heard anything further on Conoway and Scientology. I hope he dumped them like a lead balloon and finds some REAL help and without the cameras rolling this time.

Let’s hope the Scientology vultures keep their mitts off Tawny, as she would be the perfect candidate with her rocky past, her fragile state of mind and her addictions. Which to Scientology…Tawny would be “fresh meat” and prime for the picking.

So what is going on with Tawny now?
Well that brings us up to her latest escapade of getting pulled over for alleged  *snicker* DUI.

Eonline wrote:

Better get Dr. Drew on the phone.

Celebrity Rehab alum Tawny Kitaen was taken into custody Saturday afternoon near John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The 48-year-old former actress/reality star allegedly “made contact with officers after operating a vehicle while under the influence,” according to Sgt. Shontel Sherwood of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Kitaen, who has also appeared on VH1’s The Surreal Life, was busted in 2006 on drug possession charges, after police found 15 grams of cocaine in her San Juan Capistrano apartment.

The Whitesnake music video babe struck a plea deal with prosecutors in which they agreed to drop the felony drug charges after she completed a drug treatment program.

Geez Tawny!
Two failed marriages, drug addiction, alcohol problems, busted for felony drug possession and two rehab failures. Yikes! Aren’t you done yet?

So I wasn’t too surprised when I saw that the LA Times reported this past March that she put up her house up for sale in Newport Beach with an asking price is $3.45 million. *shakes head*

Egad Tawny!
Get your sh*t together! You have two kids!
You have obviously ignored several GIANT wake up calls.
Save what’s left of your life and got off that roller coaster before you become a statistic.

If not for you, then do it for your two kids who deserve to have their Mom be there for them.