Scientology has had a horrendous October.

They were convicted of fraud in France and both the St. Petersburg Times and ABC’s Nightline had very damaging reports from ex members who have spoken out.

A multitude of lawsuits are moving forward and the media continues to be a thorn in Scientology’s side.

One of Scientology’s long time members, celebrity Paul Haggis has recently flown the coop and has spoken out. Also many members, and high level “OT’s” have left the cult.

Two new books by ex members have just been published.

Marc Headley wrote “Blown For Good, Behind Scientology’s Iron Curtain” and Nancy Many has written, “My Billion Year Contract“. Kudos to them!

Both Books Available On Amazon.com

Well, November isn’t looking any better for Scientology.

Just yesterday, Australian Senator, Nicholas (Nick) Xenophon has called for a Senate inquiry into Scientology.
 

The Senator presented horrific stories that were sent to him by ex Scientology members, Aaron Saxton, Carmel Underwood, Paul Schofield, Anna and Dean Detheridge and Kevin Mackey. 

Xenophon stated,

 that the ex members claim that Scientology is an abusive, manipulative, violent and criminal organisation, and that criminality is condoned at the highest levels and thatand said he is seeing a worldwide pattern of abuse and criminality.

The Senator’s presentaion was well researched with highlights on the cult’s many abuses and their tax exemption status. 
Click the following links to watch Part One and Part Two on YouTube.
For the transcript listed on the Parliament of Australia website, click here.

A little look into what was said by ex members and reported by the Senator.
Ex member, Aaron Saxton’s who was born into Scientology, was made a security guard for the cult at age 16. His time while in the cult, tells a horrific tale of what Scientology forced him to do or suffer their consequences. 

Aaron said he had to commit many fraudulent acts on behalf of the cult. These acts included coercing Sea Org members into having abortions, family disconnection, he was made to falsify bank records, he blackmailed other members by using their private info from their files, and participated in defrauding of credit cards.

More disturbingly, Aaron had to pull out his own teeth because of lack of medical care. He was also told not to report that a man attempted to rape him. 

A couple of snippets from the Senator’s transcript, (please read the entire transcript):

Aaron said he was so heavily under the control of the organisation’s bizarre power structure he was complicit in ordering the beating of one follower and facilitated the beating of another.

Aaron has now left the organisation and is willing to cooperate with police investigations into these matters. He was born into the cult, and he says he regrets the control it had over him and the things he did as a result.

Ex Sea Org member, Carmel Underwood.
Carmel worked for the cult in Sydney. She was also the financial planning arm of the cult. When she became pregnant, she was pressured to abort her child.

Some snippets on Carmel from the transcript:

She was working for the organisation in Sydney she fell pregnant and was put under extreme pressure to have an abortion. When she refused, she was put on a disappearing program.

Carmel says she chose to speak out because she knows there are many more victims of Scientology many of whom are still caught up in the organisation and are being physically, financially and mentally abused.

Carmel’s husband, Tim, supports his wife’s story and says the couple suffered serious financial hardship because of their involvement in the organisation. He says they were forced to pay more than $100,000 to publicise the organisation and for so-called religious texts and courses.

And finally on to the very sad story of Paul Schofield.
Paul lost his two young daughters while in the cult.

Snippets from the transcript on Paul:

He alleges the cover-up of child abuse by the organisation and admits being part of a campaign to cover up the facts surrounding the deaths of two of his daughters. Paul says his first daughter, Lauren, who was 14 months old, was being babysat at the organisation’s building in Sydney when she was allowed to wander the stairs by herself and fall. She died in hospital two days later. Paul says he felt pressured by Scientology executives not to request a coronial inquiry—pressure he ultimately gave in to. He was also told if he sought compensation from Scientology he and his wife would be ineligible for any other services.

His second daughter, Kirsty, who was 2½, died after ingesting potassium chloride—a substance used as part of a so-called purification program run by the organisation. Under the direction of  Scientology executives, Paul says he perjured himself to the police, and during the coronial inquest, in order to protect the organisation. Under incredible pressure he agreed to lie because he was scared he would be heavily punished by Scientology if he told the truth. It is a decision he regrets to this day.

 

From ex members Anna and Dean Detheridge, taken from the transcript:

claim to have been subjected to physical and mental abuse during their time with the organisation.

From Kevin Mackey taken from the transcript:

Kevin Mackey wrote to me detailing his 26 years of abuse in the organisation.

Once you have taken the bait and become hooked, the real Scientology is presented, very slowly, over years.

This psychological conditioning Kevin is talking about eventually saw him and his wife hand over almost a million dollars to the organisation in exchange for services and products.

Senator’s closing statements to parliament pretty much sums up what anti Scientology protesters and ex members who have spoken out against the cult have been all saying right along:

Do we really want to be funding an organisation that turns supporters into victims in its pursuit of power and wealth? That is why I am calling for a Senate inquiry into this organisation and its tax-exempt status. In the past Scientology has claimed that those who question their organisation are attacking the group’s religious freedom. It is twisted logic, to say the least. Religious freedom did not mean the Catholic or Anglican Churches were not held accountable for crimes and abuses committed by their priests, nuns and officials—albeit belatedly. Ultimately, this is not about religious freedom. In Australia there are no limits on what you can believe. But there are limits on how you can behave. It is called the law, and no-one is above it.

Thankfully, the Australain Police are now taking complaints on Scientology.

Ex members are starting to come out from the veil of secrecy and fight more than ever. Yesterday, it was announced on the Ex Scientology Message Board, that former member Kevin Mackey, (mentioned earlier) is getting together a class action lawsuit along with twenty other former Scientologists.The lawsuit willbe filed against the I.A.S. (which stands for International Association of Scientology) and Super Power. Both are incorporated in California, so that is where the case is being filed. He is asking for any ex members interested in participating in this class action suit to please contact him.

Kevin and other ex members are demanding their money back for contributions that they made. The money they handed over to the cult, did not go where the cult promised it was going.

FYI … The Super Power they speak of is a building attached to the Ft. Harrison Hotel in Clearwater. It is of course called The Super Power Building. (<click to read about it, it’s a real hoot!)

Funds have been collected from members for years through Scientology’s  “Super Power Expansion Project”. Where did all that money go?

The building was supposed to have been finished by the cult years ago. But it still remains an empty shell to this day. As of late March 2009, work on the building which is the length of a whole city block, is still at a standstill; the daily fines levied by the city now total $245,000.
Click here, for more info on why the Super Power Building remains closed by Marc Headley aka BFG which was written almost THREE YEARS ago.

Why Clearwater stands for Scientology’s shenanigans, is beyond me. I would imagine since Scientology has managed to slink their way in and buy up most of Clearwater over the years, (originally came in under a FAKE church name to purchase the Fort Harrison Hotel), that city officials are probably afraid of falling prey to the cult’s litigious nature and fair game tactics. Sad.

So once again America…
Why so lax? What’s it going to take?

The more our government sits idly by and allows the abuses and fraud of Scientology to continue, the more complicit they are in helping them to survive.

Again, as always…
you can believe in what you want, and that is your right. But when there is a continuous mountain of evidence that your “church” is being an abusive and corrupt organization that does not follow it’s own creed, it’s time to reavaluate the reasons why you joined Scientology in the first place.
Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Plain and simple.

If you need help leaving Scientology, or just need someone to talk to:
Call 1-866-XSEAORG.  (1-866-973-2674) This is a toll free call.
Visit the XSEAORG website:
http://www.exseaorg.com/

The people who contacted Senator Xenophon, are all listed on the “ex members who have spoken out” list on the Why We Protest Wiki along with their testimonies, interviews and videos. To view the WWP Wiki  list click here. (Thanks Anonymous!)

Currently, the count on the Wiki has reached 812 names, and it continues to grow.

WOW! That’s an awful lot of people saying the same thing.

How many times can Scientology deny all these claims before everyone including our government, realizes that Scientology is nothing more than an abusive, fraudulent business that is far from credible?

WAKE UP AMERICA!

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!

Aviva, is a health insurance firm in the UK.
They has just named the top ten health fads of the rich and famous and has deemed them a total waste of money and useless.

Bad news for all the centers and people who offer these treatments and most importantly, bad news for Scientology.

Why Scientology? 
Because Scientology is BIG time into detoxing. And detoxing was number four on Aviva’s list.

Well hello Scientology’s Purification Rundown! A double shout out to Scientology’s NY Rescue Workers Detoxification  program. (which was spearheaded by Tom Cruise)

AND add to that list, is Scientology’s Narconon, Second Chance, Criminon or any of the many other names that Scientology hides this program behind. It’s all the SAME detox program. These programs are delivered by people without medical backgrounds and these centers and programs are all unlicensed. Shocked?

It’s hard to believe that someone would fork over so much money and sign up for such a grueling program without researching it first. It happens all the time to desperate families searching for a cure to get off drugs and states in the US have actually funded these programs with TAX PAYER’S DOLLLARS.

Celebrities and rich people are big targets for health fads, because they have the dough, they are vulnerable and I guess they just don’t do enough homework on the backgrounds of these treatments. 

Aviva reported:

GPs have slammed the health-styles of the rich and famous, warning that UK women are wasting money and potentially risking their health following celebrity health fads like cupping, colonic irrigation or extreme detoxes.

GPs have named and shamed the ten most useless alternative health trends used by celebrities and their fans and, in a damning diagnosis, declared many a waste of money and with no medical value. The research was done for Aviva.To try each treatment on the GPs’ list could cost women more than £800.GPs have issued a stark warning that celebrities are having a dangerous level of influence over women’s health choices and that celebrity endorsement of unproven health treatments could be putting the public at risk.

Nine in ten women believe celebrities pay for the very best and most effective treatments. A third will try a health fad simply because a celebrity has used it. Seven in ten would try alternative treatments rather than visit their doctor.

Dr Douglas Wright for Aviva says, “We understand that people like to deal with their own well being in a number of ways, but too many women are wasting money following health fads that have little effect, Just because it is expensive, or rumoured to be a celebrity favourite, is not an automatic guarantee that a treatment will work. Some women are opting for treatment trends rather than seeking medical advice.” 

 

The Daily Mail reported the top ten:

Cupping, a form of acupuncture in which heated cups are placed on the skin to stimulate blood flow and ease stress and pain, tops a list of ‘health hoaxes’ identified by GPs.

Second on the list is colonic irrigation, in which a large, water-filled tube is used to ‘cleanse’ the bowel.

Actor Ben Affleck has tried it, but there is no medical or scientific evidence it works, according to the NHS Choices website.

In third place is food intolerance testing, which singer Geri Halliwell has tried. Kits can cost up to £275 but the results are said to be highly variable.

The others in the top ten are: 4 detoxing; 5 macrobiotic diets; 6 aromatherapy; 7 reflexology; 8 vitamin B12 injections; 9 extreme yoga; 10 overnight health farm stays.
The list was compiled by insurance firm Aviva from a survey of 200 GPs.

 

Now although all of the top ten fads that Aviva named can be a waste of money, not all can be harmful. For instance, I doubt if cupping, food intolerance tests or extreme yoga (whatever that is) would be very harmful?

But detox is. I was REALLY pleased as punch to see detoxing on their list. Some of the detoxes out there can be quite harmful to the body. And of course one of the detoxes out there is Scientology’s Purification Rundown aka the “Purif” for short. 

This regiment consists of ingesting oil, and mega doses of niacin aka “vitamin bombs”, LONG daily saunas that are up to five hours a day for five or more weeks and working out hard on a tread mill. Niacin in such high doses can be very harmful to the liver.

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard also claimed that this program can rid the body of radiation . *snort!*

Recently, ABC Nightline interviewed Scientology defector, Amy Scobee, in a two part series along with other defectors. 

Amy spoke about ”grey stuff” coming out of her pours from being on the Purification Rundown. She said she was FORCED to go on this program while she was in Scientology’s Sea Org and was put on a punishment called the RPF. (Rehabilitation Project Force)

Cult spokesman, Tommy Davis said that Amy was not forced to go on this program and that she used the program for “religious reasons”.

So…..
if the Rundown is “religious” as Davis states, then why is this same exact program used in Scientology’s Narconon and Criminon programs? And why are states funding these programs? Scientology has always claimed that Narconon and Criminon are separate from Scientology and non religious. Hmmm, which one is it Scientology? It can’t be both.

Scientology’s Narconon program has been banished from several countries.
Scientology was also recently convicted of fraud in France. One of the many charges involved it’s Purification Rundown. They were charged for dispensing vitamins without a license.
Thank you France!

Why doesn’t our government investigate Scientology? Especially after the numerous court cases filed against them. That is a real head scratcher, don’t you agree?

I guess it doesn’t bother our government that these programs are run by non professionals who have NO medical backgrounds. They are unlicensed and there isn’t any scientific data to back up their claims that the detox does ANYTHING beneficial for the body at all. In fact it is just the opposite.

Narconon’s outright lie of their 70% success rates (so laughable) of getting people off drugs with this detox regiment is utterly ridiculous. The government pretends to care about our well being, but they do nothing to stop this madness and allows Scientology to continue to prey on people who need REAL help.

Perhaps the insurance companies will do something about it? I doubt they will want to deal with cases filed with health related issues from these regiments. Easy solution… close all the Narconon and other Scientology detox centers down.

So what about the Scientology celebrities who support this pseudo science? 

Before John Travolta’s son’s untimely death this past January, Travolta put his son Jett on this SAME regiment and openly admitted it. Did John and his wife Kelly Preston actually believe that this regiment would really help Jett with his seizures or autism? Well, obviously they did. They are taught to believe whatever their “church” says without questioning it.

I am not quite sure on how the Travoltas were able to put Jett through such a grueling program? I would think it would be very difficult to put ANY child on this program. I guess since John and Kelly are celebrities, and their cult convinced them that this was the right way to go according to their teachings, they will never be questioned further about it. *shakes head*

Their son has been gone now for 10 months and John and Kelly said they are having “daily religious sessions“ with Scientology.

So it looks like there is no hope for John leaving the cult. Him and bimbo wife Kelly will continue to follow a cult that tells them that all psyche drugs are bad, psychiatry is totally evil, that a body is just a “meat body”and that normal emotions like grieving and sadness are very low on the tone scale.

To suppress such normal emotions, especially when it comes to a child’s death, is downright ludicrous and very dangerous to some one’s well being.

A little bit of info on some of the emotions listed on Scientology’s tone scale:

The tone scale states that grieving is 0.5 (out of a possible plus 40) Sympathy is 0.9, and NO Sympathy is higher at a 1.2.
Oh! and regret weighs in at a whopping 1.3. 

Nope, I am not making this up. Look it up for yourself. This is what every Scientologist believes. From Tom Cruise, to all Scientology members. I am not going to get into their whole Xenu alien belief system, as many religions have strange beliefs to some. People can believe in whatever they want and that is their right. BUT! when it comes to harming people both mentally and physically, family disconnection, other abuses, human trafficking, and forced abortions, something must be done about it.

Of course Scientology tells it’s members that the Purification Rundown is a wonderful and beneficial thing, and members do not question it. I read the program costs a member $15,000 (that price was from 1992) I am pretty sure that price has doubled. That’s a lot of money for oil, vitamins a couple of courses and a tone scale chart.

We all remember what Katie Holmes looked like after she went on this regiment. Her pictures were plastered everywhere showing her gaunt, pale, and sickly. She went on this program before she became pregnant. Great Tom, you’re my hero.

Katie also wore gloves for quite a while because her hands were purple from all the niacin she was ingesting. Oh Katie, how many times do we have to tell you? Run!

Katie Looking More Like Grandma Cruise

So people save your money. Do some research. If the fad you are following is not dangerous and you have the dough, and it makes you think that you feel better, then that’s your business and good luck to you. But if it is harmful, and being delivered by non professionals with no medical backgrounds and there is NO scientific proof of it’s success besides patient testimonies, BEWARE and I say stay away.

It is obvious many of the states who have funded and continue to fund this “drug treatment” program, have not done their homework at all, when it comes to Scientology’s Purification Rundown. State officials MUST check backgrounds and research the name of these drug treatments being offered. Don’t forget, they are using your tax payer dollars to fund these programs. People must learn to read the fine print. If the name L. Ron Hubbard is found ANYWHERE within the program, then it is Scientology lock stock and barrel. No question about it.

These programs are also allowed to continue in our prison systems, which goes by the name of Criminon, or Second Chance and other names. And of course many Scientology members, both public and on staff do this regiment. 

You can find Narconon, Second Chance and other names used for drug rehab all over the Internet, even though many centers are closed. They advertise in college fliers on campus, they take out adds in newspapers, they hand out pamphlets in our schools. So Beware!

How is Scientology allowed to continue this giant farce? Especially for the fact that is is also all about indoctrination into Scientology down the line. It really blows my mind how our government continues to allow such idiocy.

Luckily, some states have wised up.
New Mexico was not only duped, by the Second Chance program, they were left with a hefty unpaid bill. And some other areas in other states have thankfully shown these Scientology programs the door. France finally convicted Scientology, and I hope the US follows suit and also puts an end to it and banishes all their drug treatment centers. Enough is enough.

If you have or know a family member or friend who is considering going to Narconon, Second Chance or any drug treatment, please warn them to do their homework first! Also If you have a friend or family member in jail who was put on this program or offers this program, you have been warned.

Help lift the veil of secrecy off Scientology. Write or call your town officials, heads of state, write to Obama, join an anti Scientology protest and let your voice be heard and say the Church of Scientology needs to be investigated and held accountable for all of it’s human rights abuses, phony drug treatment centers and all the lives they have ruined and continue to ruin.

We will continue reporting the abuses of Scientology until someone listens and something is done about it.

For more information on the scam behind Scientology’s detox programs visit these few web pages:

Narconon Exposed-
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/

Australian News Report On Ex Narconon Couple -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV4stLA-aPc

Narconon Is Scientology- http://www.crackpots.org/

Narconon’s Influence In The Prison System http://www.scribd.com/doc/9506184/Second-Chance-MA-Thesis

Newkirk Herald Journal Report-
http://www.xenutv.com/print/newkirk/narconon-15.htm

Scientology Is Always On The Look Out For Fresh Meat

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?

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?

Typical Stress Test Set Up On Sidewalk

I wish Bashir asked Davis that question and I also wish there was an e-meter present at Bashir’s interview. Of course Tommy would never agree to be put “on the cans.”I also doubt that Scientology would ever agree to have an e-meter present at ANY interview.

It’s hard to believe that the e-meter has never been tested objectively or questioned. It obviously instills fear in so many of its members because of it being an actual lie detector. It also enslaves members. And although I am sure Scientologists sign all sorts of waivers, using an e-meter on cult members seems not only highly questionable, but illegal. Attention Government!

The e-meter is supposedly considered a ”religious artifact” by Scientology. FYI, they tell their members to buy TWO e-meters. (one for back up of course)  E-meters cost THOUSANDS of dollars. Boy, talk about a scam.

Keep in mind, as I mentioned before, these e-meters are present on all of the Scientology “Stress Test” tables that you may see set up outside one of their “orgs.” Sadly, you can see them at flea markets, street fairs, or just set up on a sidewalk in a town. They even set up outside Walmart! You won’t see the word Scientology anywhere on their tables though. I thought I read by law, that each e-meter used by the public is supposed to carry a label on the back of it in which it states that it is used for “entertainment purposes only”. That’s funny, I thought Davis claimed it was used for “religious” purposes? Confused? Again…. Scientology’s intention.

Scientology claims that they can cure what ails you with auditing, and this has been recorded by some who have taken the Stress Test. Deception personified. Anything to get “fresh meat” into their doors.

After people take a stress test, they try to get the person to buy a Dianetics book and maybe visit their local Scientology “org” to take a “personality test.” They will also ask for your personal information at that point. After the test, they will look over your results and tell you that you are not a very happy person, and you have problems, no matter how happy you are and that they can help you. They will also ask you to watch a film, and then perhaps some time you may want to take some of their ”communication courses” that will help you, and then eventuall get you on to auditing. That’s where the brainwashing begins and that’s when they will never leave you alone once they have your personal information. Tell me how this is this still legal again?

So back to the juicy part of the ABC’s interview…
Why did Bashir say to Tommy Davis to get him so hot under the collar? So hot, that he got up and walked out.  He asked him about his beliefs. Most people when they are asked about their beliefs or about their religion, will gladly tell you all about it. Especially someone who is supposed to be a representative for a church.

But let me first explain.. If you are a Scientologist, you are not allowed to discuss your “religious beliefs” or where you are on Scientology’s Bridge To Total Freedom with non Scientologists. You can discuss your phony “wins”. But that’s about it. Scientologists are not allowed to discuss any problems they are having, doubts or say anything that can be considered negative against Scientology. If a member did discuss these things, and someone were to report it, than that person would be considered PTS. (potential trouble source). This can mean MORE hours of auditing or a “sect check” if you are in the Sea Org, which is interrogation. It can also lead to family disconnection of not corrected.

As stated before, Scientology’s e-meter works like a lie detector as confirmed by ex member Bruce Hines when he was talking with Bashir. Of course many ex members who have left that didn’t continue with Scientology as a Freezoner will also tell you that the e-meter is nothing more than a lie detector. If you lie while you are “on the cans” it will certainly show. It has nothing to do with “engrams” or removing body thetans from your body as Scientologists are convinced to believe. It’s a damn lie detector. 

Pretty snakey of Hubbard. Scientology brainwashes members and puts them on an e-meter to find out all their intimate secrets and then puts all that information into a file and then blackmails ex members by leaking their personal information if they decide to leave and speak out against the cult. What a lovely “church” indeed.

FYI, Hubbard wasn’t the one who invented the e-meter it was actually Volney Mathison.  And another FYI….most of Hubbard’s  babblings are gleaned from various other religions and smooshed all together. Buddhism being one. Hubbard stole everything from everywhere.

So getting back to Tommy and Bashir.
Bashir wanted to know if Tommy believed in the story of XENU. (pronounced zeenoo) For those of you who do not know who Xenu is, the story of Xenu can be found anywhere on the internet. The story on the internet is actually the EXACT story written by founder L. Ron Hubbard. It is also level three or OTIII, on Scientology’s Bridge to Total Freedom. Which we at Glosslip call the Bridge to Nowhere and Financial Ruin.

There are two ways to climb up the Bridge, but we are not going to get into all that. But one way in order to start climbing up the eight levels Scientology’s Bridge, a member must be deemed “clear” before he can be an “OT” and start up the Bridge. This costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and many hours of auditing, drills and courses in order to get up to that level. This can take many years.

Scientology also tells it’s members that if they were to read OTIII without going the proper path, (called “free wheeling” in scio-speak) that they can catch a pneumonia and possibly die. I kid you not. They also tell their members that some members have become very ill while doing OTIII. And before all you Scientologists out there try to defend OTIII, and say that most religions have crazy stories attached to them, which I totally agree….. Two things.

Number one…. Scientology is not a religion, it is a business, and number two… I think all the stories attached to religions are ALL eye rollers.

When Bashir asked Tommy if he believed in the story of Xenu and volcanoes and such, Tommy said:

“Martin, I am not going to discuss, the disgusting perversions of Scientology beliefs that can be found now commonly on the internet, and be put in the position of talking about things for ah, ah, ah, that, ah, talking about things that are so, fundamentally offensive, to Scientologists to discuss.”

Disgusting perversions of Scientology?
Why not see for yourself? OTIII is on Wikipedia and many other places on the internet for free.

To help you understand the story of Xenu… A YouTuber posted a video which tells the story of Xenu via South Park. (which Scientology had squashed and taken off the air of course) Click here to watch it.

Now although the show South Park is of course a comedy, the OTIII they recited was not a joke nor a spoof. It was told exactly the way it was written by Hubbard. This particular YouTube video, brilliantly included the actual 1967 lecture by L. Ron Hubbard himself who is reciting the story of Xenu and OTIII. It’s Hubbard’s own voice. This video was an excellent way to prove that the story of Xenu and OTIII is in fact told correctly. Any ex member who has done OTIII will also tell you that what is on the internet is EXACTLY the same as the OTIII level they went through and paid for. ASK THEM YOURSELF.

Now why do you think Scientology doesn’t want it’s members to know or hear about Xenu? Remember their claims of getting ill?
Now what if a member happened to hear OTIII and realized that they didn’t get ill from hearing it or reading it and found out what Scientology told them was a lie? How would Scientology look then? Check it out for yourself. Look it up and read it, or watch the video I suggested. See if you get ill! *snicker*

OTIII is such an outlandish piece of sci fi idiocy, that Scientology also fears that if their members were to hear it, they would stop paying to go up the Bridge. What member would pay ALL that money to go up the Bridge if they knew OTIII was about space aliens that were dumped in a volcano? Not too many.

Now you are probably thinking, then why doesn’t Miscavige just change OTIII or tone the story down a bit? Well if he did that, he would have to change the entire Bridge.  Reason being…. in OTIII, you learn that your body is infested with body thetans which came out of the volcanos. As you are go farther up the Bridge to the upper levels, members find out that they have even MORE body thetans attached to them that they have to get rid of via auditing on the e-meter. (of course this is more money for Scientology) So getting rid of OTIII, would not be an option. Besides the fact that OTIII is what Scientology is all about with the exception of their communication courses.

So after Bashir tries to calm Davis down (and I am paraphrasing a bit) by saying he is just trying to understand his beliefs and that he thinks he has been acting appropriately during the interview and didn’t try to mock Davis in any way…. he then asks Davis again about Xenu.
Davis replied angrily:

“I’m gonna stop you. If you’re gonna ask me that question again, and you’re going to repeat things about volcanoes and this kind of thing, and so on and so forth, I will stand up and walk out Martin. Because, because what you’re doing by doing that, is you are intentionally asking me things which you know I find offensive. And you’re insisting me on asking of them, so I’m asking you one more time…”

Too bad Bashir didn’t ask Davis why there is a volcano pictured on the front cover of all Scientology Dianetics books and why it is used as Dianetic’s logo. These books with the volcanoes can be seen in every single Scientology display window across the USA and worldwide.

Of course Bashir (my new hero) asks Davis again about Xenu, and that is when Davis stands up, rips off his mike, throws it down and walks out of the interview. Hmmm, seems like Davis could have used some of Scientology’s communication courses.  *snicker*
After all, Hubbard stated that “communication is the universal solvent”. Uh… yeah ok Lafayette.

Keep in mind that Davis was most likely drilled extensively by Miscavige before this interview, as with every other interview he does. But nobody really knows what Miscavige is telling Davis when it comes to the story of Xenu. We don’t know if he is in on the scam, or where Davis is in his Scientology teachings. Davis is trying to convince people that it is offensive to speak about his religious beliefs, when it actuality, it is only a ploy to continue to keep Scientology’s scam a secret.

But one thing for sure, no matter how much Davis is drilled before these interviews, he still sports very telling negative body language, he is way too defensive about Scientology beliefs, and he always ends up putting his foot in his mouth.

Bashir was certainly “at cause” over Davis. Davis walking out of that interview, not only made Scientology look very bad, but I was kind of surprised about the REASON why he walked out. WHY?

Davis was interviewed by John Roberts on CNN a while back, and Roberts also asked Davis about the story of Xenu. Davis said that it didn’t sound familiar to him and he was laughing and smirking as if to imply the whole thing was ridiculous. 

But THEN not very long ago….. Davis did another interview with Nathan Bacca for KESQ. Bacca asks Davis MANY questions and also asked Davis about the story of Xenu, and Davis said he WAS familiar with the material, and again said he was offended by Bacca asking him about religious beliefs. *scratches head*
This YouTube video, shows a good cross section of Tommy Davis and his ever changing story of OTIII which was reported by an Australian news channel.

So what gives Tommy? Are you NOT keeping track of what you are saying during these interviews? Or are you hoping that people didn’t see your prior interviews? 

No worries Tommy…
because we are keeping track of  everything you say for you. It’s all over the internet. on forums and all over YouTube. 

Between Tommy Davis’s footbullets, Scientology’s court cases, and a group called Anonymous who protest the cult MONTHLY and globally, Scientology has seen better days. And Tommy…. every time you stick you foot in your mouth, people everywhere are watching, recording, talking and writing about it. You have to be getting pretty tired of the taste of foot.

Bashir ended the interview with a recap and at the very end he asked viewers if they thought that Scientology should keep their tax exemption status and to go to the ABC website and leave their opinions. At that point I felt like I was at a football game, as I stood straight up from the couch and cheered ” YES!!”
It was the perfect “bazingo” at the end of the series.

Glosslip would like to thank ABC and Martin Bashir once again for their wonderful coverage on Scientology. We hope this is only the beginning of shedding more light on this abusive cult, and hope it wakes up our Government and law officials enough to finally step in and say enough is enough.

To all members who are still in Scientology. If you are having doubts, please know that you are not alone. If you have come to the realization that something has gone terribly wrong with your “church”… again, you are not alone. Many members are leaving and orgs are struggling to stay open. Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution.

If you need help leaving Scientology, or you just need someone to talk to…
call 1-866-XSEAORG. This is a toll free call.

You Can Do It! Be Free!

Speaking of leaving Scientology…

Glosslip would like to congratulate Paul Haggis who has just left Scientology! Paul was a member for over THIRTY FIVE YEARS. He is a screen writer, a director, has won Oscars, and is a civil and human rights activist. Paul wrote a letter to Tommy Davis. In that letter, he complained about San Diego Org’s public support of Proposition 8, about Davis denying the existence of family disconnection when he was interviewed, and how he was also against Scientology using ex member’s private information to attack critics. To read his actual letter he sent to Tommy Davis, you can find a copy of it on WWP. Click here.
Welcome out Paul!

And as always…
Many thanks to Anonymous for their continued tenacity in fighting this cult. Their quest is to stop the abuses of Scientology and totally dismantle the Sea Org and to have fun along the way. 
I totally support their fight.
I would also like to thank Anonymous for their Why We Protest website, their Why We Protest Wiki, (which is a WEALTH of information) and for a whole lot of lulz!
Yummy cake to you all!

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…

Tommy Davis had the nerve to say that the church is experiencing growth and is flourishing. Stop it Tommy. Just stop it.

On the contrary. There have been reports of Scientology Org buildings laying dormant for years and the ones that are open are struggling to stay open. Some have recently closed. Their silly “Super Power Building” in Clearwater, Florida which looks fine on the outside, still remains unfinished after 10 years and is nothing but an empty shell. Scientology also owes the town over $245,000 in fines and continues to receive fines for in-completion. I wonder how members feel that their “donations” have funded a phony project, and that their money will go towards paying off fines.

Scientology has become so desperate, that they are trying to squeeze every last dime they can out of their members. Scientology is having constant fund drives, and running their library book scams. Which is raising funds from their members for books. The members are told that their “donations” will go towards putting Scientology books in local libraries across the US. Problem is, the books never show up the libraries, or if they do, the libraries don’t want them, and they throw them out or they send them back. Some have ended up in a bargain bin for a couple of bucks. I myself bought Dianetics for a buck! Biggest piece of gobbledy goop I have ever tried to read.

Members are also being pushed to take more courses and give, give, give till it hurts.
But just exactly WHAT are they giving to? Where does all their money go?

It goes to paying for Scientology lawyers, private PI’s, Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs aka OSA whose job is too dig up info on “suppressive people” and fair game them into oblivion. Unsuspecting members think that all their “donations” and all their years of dedication are going towards making this a better place to live and to “clear the planet” (which means having everyone practicing Scientology). They have visions of total enlightenment at the top of Scientology’s Bridge To Total Freedom. Some members will mortgage their homes, disconnect from their families, and as John Duignan was once quoted, “he would have killed for Scientology“.

Doesn’t sound much like a “church”. It does sound like there is an awful lot of abuse and brainwashing going on.

Now ABC only scratched the surface of the abuses of Scientology. They didn’t get into all the horror stories of the Sea Org members, how mysteriously Scientology’s tax exemption was acquired by the IRS, (shame on IRS) fair game activities, Scientology related deaths, child labor, human trafficking, past and current law suits like Operation Snow White and Operation Freakout, their many front groups or the pain and suffering of not only Scientology’s past and current Sea Org members, but also Scientology’s public members. To clarify, Scientology has different types of members. They have staff members, Sea Org members, celebrity members and public members. I know it sounds all very confusing. But keep in mind that is how Scientology works. They thrive on deception, confusion and secrecy, which are some of the main staples of being able to operate as a cult.

Tonight at 11.35 pm EST, ABC airs part two of Inside Scientology. Make sure you tune in. If you are unable to tune in tonight, don’t fret, you will most likely be able to find a copy of it on YouTube or Why We Protest.

Tonight’s broadcast will focus on Scientology’s celebrities. Which by the way, NO other church discusses it’s celebrity members or uses their celebrity members for PR purposes.

Some Of Scientology’s Cash Cows 

I hope ABC covers how Scientology has a committee whose sole purpose is to lure celebrities into the “church” and how the celebrities have preferential treatment over other members and also how celebrities practice Scientology in special Celebrity Centers just for them, where they are pampered and catered to.

Scientology celebrities as well as other Scientology members are not only kept in the dark about the dark side of Scientology, they are also brainwashed. Scientology’s “loaded language”, and other careful brainwashing techniques remove a member’s ability to think critically and they are taught to cast aside anything negative about Scientology. Of course this is done so they will continue to fund the cult and stay put in the cult.

Why is this still legal for Scientology to do to? 
You got me there. I think the main reason is that sadly the US considers Scientology a “church” and not the abusive business it is. It may surprise you to know that thankfully not all countries recognize Scientology as a “church.”

Go ask your state law officials why Scientology is allowed to continue to ruin lives. Hell! Write a letter to President Obama.

Scientology’s former members are speaking out at protests , on forums, in interviews, in court testimonies, in documented affidavits and everywhere else in between. They speak of how many years it took for them to deprogram themselves and how they still struggle with their painful memories today. 

There is a list on the Why We Protest Wiki of ex members who have spoken out and that list has grown to over 750+ names since the last time I checked it. It also contains ex member’s stories, court documents and testimonies, their interviews, videos and their affidavits. Links are right next to their names for you to click on so you can research for yourself.

Or hop on over to www.exscientologykids.com for some heart wrenching stories from ex members who were children growing up in the Sea Org. If those stories don’t break your heart and get you mad enough to want to get involved in helping to shed more light on this abusive cult and fight for members who don’t have the courage, the mental ability or the means to fight back, then I don’t know what will.

Of course ABC can’t cover all of Scientology’s abuses is such a small span of time, but at the very least, they are shedding more light on an abusive cult that has survived under the radar in the US and world wide since the 1950’s.

Glosslip would like to tip their hat to ABC and Martin Bashir for having the courage to broadcast this very sad atrocity that is happening in the US right now and world wide right under our noses.

It’s ok to believe in what you want. But when you believe in something that was achieved by brainwashing you and there is documented proof that your “church” is not only hurting people, but ruining lives, it’s time to bow out. The longer you stay in, the more you are contributing to part of the problem.

Monday we will cover part two of ABC’s Inside Scientology.

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.

LiveDaly reported:

Cake is writing, rehearsing and recording its new album entirely with solar power, according to a press release.

The group’s decision to utilize the power of the sun was made for both artistic and environmental reasons. “It just seemed like the right thing to do,” lead vocalist John McCrea said in a statement. “I believe in science, and science is telling us that we need to make adjustments. Living in California, it seemed like a waste not to take advantage of all the free electricity.”

Cake, which Billboard recently honored as one of the Top 10 greenest bands on the planet, converted their entire Sacramento, CA, recording studio to solar power. The band documented their move from the city’s energy grid in a video posted at the group’s website.

The band is giving members of its mailing list a preview of the new album by releasing a set of free ring tones, each based on a song from the upcoming set. The first of six ring tones, titled “Long Time,” became available yesterday (10/13), with a new tone “e-blasted” to all mailing list members every six weeks until the album’s Spring 2010 release.

In 2008, lead singer John McCrea said he just may quit and become a farmer.

Although that is a very admirable quest for John, I hope Cake sticks around. They’re talented, a bit quirky, and they are one of the top greenest bands on the planet who are making a difference. Cake
really takes the cake in my book.

How many times out of the goodness of your heart, have you donated to a good cause? Did you ever wonder if the good cause you donated to was on the up and up? Have you ever checked out a charity before donating your hard earned money? Well you should.

Just because it looks like a charity is on the up an up or sponsored by celebrities, doesn’t mean your money is going where you think it may be.

Glosslip is about to give you a small lesson in the many front groups of Scientology. If you are thinking that there is no way that you have have given cash to Scientology, think again. It happened to me, only I didn’t realize it until YEARS later. I will get to that later.

As you may or may not know, the cult of Scientology THRIVES on deception and secrecy. It has hundreds of front groups. Some of the better known front groups you may have heard about are, CCHR, Narconon, Criminon, Applied Scholastics, WISE, ABLE, FASE, and The Way To Happiness. 

While all the proceeds from these groups end up going to the same place, which is Scientology of course, the names of these groups usually are attached to a business, an inmate betterment program, a drug treatment program, a dentist or chiropractor’s office (we will get to that) or a school which teaches L. Ron Hubbard tech, like Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s school, the New Village Academy.

But there are a whole slew of names that you may not be aware of that are in fact Scientology.  Scientology’s deception runs so deep, that your own town officials may have some of these programs implemented and your tax dollars are ending up in Scientology’s pockets without you even knowing it. Yes, your tax dollars may be funding a Scientology drug rehabilitation program. Sad but true. It has happened in many states in the U.S. and just recently in New Mexico.

Ask Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez whose tax payers paid over $1.5 million dollars to run the now defunct Second Chance program which was run in their old Westside Jail. This program used Scientology’s teachings and the very dangerous Purification Rundown, which is also used by all Scientologists. This of course is the same program used in Narconon AND Criminon AND the NY Fire Fighter’s Detoxification program, just to name a few. ALL the same program, only with different names.

FYI…The Second Chance program left in the middle of the night and not only stole items, but left an outstanding bill. They owe more than $600,000 in tax liens, about $400,000 is due to the IRS, and more than $200,000 to the state. I would  like to know why Joy Westrum, who ran that particular Second Chance, is not being brought in for questioning? Crazy, isn’t it?

I know if that was MY money going towards a Scientology phony baloney drug rehab, I would be slightly miffed, to say the least.

Some of these programs that you may not be aware of are: The Drug Free Marshals, (this program is for children, and a new chapter just opened in Cincinnati) STOMP (Stop Torture of Mental Patients), World Literacy Crusade, Riders Against Drugs, The Association for Peace in the Middle East, Cry Out, Artists For A Better World, Slums To Schools, Racing For Human Rights Awareness & Education, Educating Children International, Fight for Kids, Author Services Inc., Volunteer Ministries, Guardian Art, Youth For Human Rights, Human Rights International, The NY Fire Fighters Detoxification Program, (created after 911, a front group for Narconon) Poets for Peace And Poets For Human Rights, and the list goes on and on and on. Narconon has MANY front groups and has recently been handing out pamphlets and information in many schools across the US. Tell your school no thank you!

Other names for Narconon front groups are stopaddiction.com, cocaineaddiction.com, ecstacyaddiction.com, methamphetamineaddiction.com, addiction2.com, just to name a few. Click here for more of Scientology’s front groups to watch out for.

Disturbing enough, the front groups names I just listed are merely  a drop in the bucket. Scientology has hundreds more and has successfully eked their way into law enforcement positions, government positions, our jail systems, our schools, our colleges, Hollywood, football teams, soccer teams, the arts and entertainment world, and yes, even NASCAR.

NASCAR driver, Kenton Gray, founded the Dianetics Racing Team in 2001. The name Dianetics Racing Team was a title taken from a book by founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.

Kenton drove a car sponsored by Bridge Publications, (another Scientology front group) which publishes Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s “Dianetics”, the biggest book of dribble I have ever had the misfortune of trying to read.

The hood of the car that Kenton drove read “Dianetics”, along with a volcano graphic. The slogan is “Ignite Your Potential”. *rolls eyes*

Poor Kenton has no idea what he has gotten himself into. I am sure a lot of his prize money will be going towards Scientology courses and auditing so he can climb his way up Scientology’s Bridge To Total Freedom or what we here at Glosslip refer to as “The Bridge to Nowhere and Financial Ruin.”

Scientology has also been infiltrating other countries for years now. They are looking for “fresh meat” to join their Sea Organization and their Volunteer Ministries. They have snaked their way into India, Africa, Russia, Thailand and even the Czech Republic and many more. They typically go into countries with using their front groups The Way To Happiness and Volunteer Ministries ostensibly to help the underprivileged. Many unsuspecting people have joined the Volunteer Ministries through Scientology’s “World Crusades”  events that Scientology holds thinking they were helping people, completely unaware of the negative influence they were spreading until it’s too late.

Scientology also creeps into businesses through companies like Sterling Management, Hollander Consultants, Silkin Management Group, (formally called Hollander Consultants) and Stellar Consultants, these are just a few. They are ALL affiliated with WISE, which stands for World Institute of Scientology Enterprises.

How is Scientology able to achieve getting into businesses? They contact the owners and tell them that their employees productivity will increase greatly if they take their courses. Of course they are Scientology courses. Scientology courses which were written up by L. Ron Hubbard. They also tell the owner that they too will also make money depending on how many employees they get on course, so naturally some business owners jump at the chance to make more money. The owners must pay a licensing fee to WISE for use of the course materials and also a pay a percentage to WISE.

What is being taught in these courses? L. Ron Hubbard tech of course! And why? MONEY for Scientology and hopefully indoctrination into Scientology down the line. It’s all a a very slow deceptive process.

CONTINUED:

There have been lawsuits against owners of companies who fired employees who refused to get on board with taking these courses. This is a scary and sad situation, especially today where employees may be afraid of losing their jobs in such a poor economy and feel they better take the courses or else they will have to go job hunting. It’s especially disturbing for employees with families they have to support. Take the case of an employee at a company called DISKEEPER who was dismissed when he refused to take courses.

And like we mentioned earlier, dentists and chiropractors are a big target for Scientology. Dentists are usally brought into the cult through the front group WISE. They are asked to pay for pamphlets that Scientology prints. Scientology puts the dentist’s name and endorsement on the pamphlet. Then the dentists will distribute these phamphlets in their offices and waiting rooms. Any patients or employess that sign up for a course, the dentist ends up with a commission.

They hook the chiropractors in through the front group the CCHR, because chiropractors are agaisnt drugging, and so is the CCHR.

Many chiropractors and dentists AND their patients were indoctrinated into the cult this way. The hook is, if the patient trusts and likes their dentist or chiropractor, and think that if they see that their dentist’s name is on a phamphlet, or they pick up a CCHR pamphlet in their chiropractor’s waiting room on the anti drugging of kids, that it’s a good thing because it was endorsed by someone they trust. This can happen at any time. You can be a patient for years, and then start to see these pamphlets show up in the waiting room. We are not suggesting you drop your dentist or chiropractor. But do not get into taking any courses. And keep in mind again, your money will end up in Scientology’s pockets eventually.

We can’t possibly name all of Scientology front groups here. Click here for a list of JUST Scientology Schools in the world.

Scientology also sneaks in the back door using the entertainment world. Of course most people have heard about Tom Cruise and John Travolta and other big league celebrity Scientologists, but I am talking about small time performers too. Like comedians. How about Evan Wecksell, who tours college campuses and who’s a HUGE advocate for “Fight for Kids“. He participated in a 2009 Run Evan Run Tour this past August.  All the proceeds went to Fight For Kids. YES of course it’s another Scientology front group.

Evan also trains for the ING New York City Marathon where he ties in raising funds for Fight For Kids at this website. You can make a donation directly to Fight For Kids on that website, but it’s really a donation for Scientology’s CCHR . How many people realize that when they give money to Evan for Fight For The Kids, that it is actually going to the CCHR? Just sickening.

Evan also released a press release which stated:

Wecksell also will take his marathon experience to the next level by fundraising concurrently for “Fight for Kids,” a campaign launched by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a non-profit public benefit organization. The campaign combats the psychiatric over-drugging and labeling of children while educating and offering alternatives for concerned parents.

At least the CCHR was mentioned in the article, but how many people know it is connected with Scientology? Or how much is Scientology mentioned at the race?  It’s not. Notice how the CCHR is described in the article as a “non profit public benefit organization.” Once again, no mention of Scientology or that he is a Scientologist raising money for Scientology.

Now keep in mind, the only thing that the CCHR does to help kids off drugs is print pamphlets about drugs and hand them out. It’s highly doubtful this is very affective in helping kids.

The CCHR funds their Psychiatry Industry of Death Exhibit (it’s a riot) both in California and the exhibits that travel across the US. All the rest of the money goes towards Scientology’s lawyers who are fighting pending lawsuits and also to pay their washed up and seedy private investigators, who follow, photograph, chase, and who dig up info on critics of Scientology and ex members who have left and have spoken out. The funds also go to their Office of Special Affairs which is nothing more than another group within the CCHR that is a group of Scientology goons who also photograph, follow people, dig up information, and “fair game” anyone who opposes Scientology or gets in the way of their quest to clear the planet. The rest of the money goes to Scientology cult leader David Miscavige who is a multi-millionaire living off Scientology front group earnings, money from the courses, the auditing and the “donations” of Scientology members. Lovely, isn’t it?

Now back to Evan Wecksell…

You can be the judge of his “talents” . Watch for yourself.

He also participates with his wife Kelly Meyersfield — of course another Scientologist – in the ”College The Musical: A Musical About College.” He is also an alum of the Theta Chi fraternity. It’s scary to think that Evan’s tours are at college campuses. What exactly do you think his intentions are? Promoting the CCHR? Evan’s website has other Scientology front groups links listed as well.

Now please know that I am not picking on Evan Wecksell. I am just using him as an example of how Scientology can reach smaller towns with semi-famous entertainers. And even raise funds through using a marathon race.

In Evan’s defense I would imagine like most public Scientologists, he and his wife do not have a clue about the dark side of Scientology. Members are kept far away from this information, and for obvious reasons. Just another deception of Scientology to keep their members in. Evan probably thinks he is doing a world of good for kids by thinking he is actually raising money for them. Sadly, he is not.

Scientology’s front groups are world wide. There are Narconon facilities world wide and many other front groups. L. Ron Hubbard would have loved to taken over the world if he could when he was alive. He thought he would be able to take over Rhodesia in the 1960’s. (named after Cecil Rhodes) Fact, Hubbard believed he was Cecil Rhodes in a previous life. Cecil Rhodes once said:

“I contend that we are the first race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race.”

Rhode’s dream of world domination was Hubbard’s dream too.
Rhodesia ended up kicking Hubbard’s sorry ass out.

Oh well… so much for world domination L. Ron.

In the UK, there is band called the The Jive Aces. They are a swing band whose members are all Scientologists. They go around with clip boards and hand out Scientology literature between their sets. Not my idea of a good time, having to be bothered by recruiters when your out for an enjoyable evening. Some of their venues have asked them to stop recruiting at their shows or else they wouldn’t be aloud to play any more. These guys are SO indoctrinated into Scientology, they even use Hubbard’s words in some of their songs. Click here. This was taped at their performance at Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, UK.

St Hill is the biggest Scientology Org in the UK. The entire beginning of their song, “When Your Smiling” is strictly quoting Hubbard’s work. And yes they are very dorky in their matching yellow suits. I love swing music, but NO THANKS!

OR how about when Beck did a performance last year and the poster for his gig stated that all the proceeds went to Educating Children International?

YUP! You guessed it. Another Scientology front group. Pretty damn sneaky Beck. And not cool.

We did a story on that gig. His fans and now ex-fans were not too tickled that their $35 bucks went to Scientology. They were totally deceived. Nice thing to do to your fans huh?

So how did it happen to me?

How did I unknowingly donate money to Scientology? The same way as the Beck concert. I was totally duped by the deceptive promotion of an event.

I was asked to go to a benefit MANY years back. This was previous to my full knowledge of Scientology and all its abuses.  Like most people, I always thought Scientology was just some wacky group of people who believed in way out alien crap, and I thought they were totally harmless.

Someone told me the cause for the benefit I was attending was for the over drugging of school children. I thought, hmm… seems like a noble cause. My friend and I paid $30 a ticket and enjoyed the performers that night. There was a table set up passing out pamphlets and they were taking additional donations. I didn’t pay it any mind or even notice the literature they were handing out. Many people donated money and never even looked at the literature, thankfully I declined.

Now like I said, this benefit was YEARS ago. It wasn’t till a little over a year and a half ago I remembered reading an article that mentioned the over-drugging of school kids and that it was for the CCHR. It struck me kind of funny when I read it, as the words used in the article were so similar to the words used in describing the benefit I attended.

Well with a little snooping, I found out that the benefit I went to was also for the CCHR. So I looked into the CCHR and Scientology and I nearly fell of my seat. I was HORRIFIED.

Right then and there was when I decided to fight against Scientology. I was beyond disgusted and I couldn’t believe their out right deception.

But in the long run (many years later) I was happy that I did attend that benefit, because I would have never found out about all the abuses of Scientology and especially about their Sea Organization. So thanks Scientology, I guess you pulled me in and opened my eyes to your treacherous ways.

The more I dug up about Scientology on the net, the more and more I knew that I wanted to speak out for those who couldn’t speak out for themselves. Especially the Sea Org. I went on to read about Operation Snow White (when Scientologists (Hubbard’s wife too) infiltrated the IRS offices and stole government documents) It was the the single largest infiltration of the United States government in history! How Scientology was able to obtain tax exemption after this just makes me shake my head in disgust. Eleven people, including Hubbard’s wife, went to jail.

Equally as shocking, was the incredible story of the fair gaming of author Paulette Cooper who authored The Scandal Of Scientology. That Scientology fair game project was called “Operation Freak Out.” The poor woman was framed by Scientology and almost went to jail for a very long time. Read the story, it will blow your mind.

I was also shocked over Scientology’s religious cloaking and how they strong armed the IRS into giving them their tax exemption status back in the 90’s. And FYI…. they are the ONLY “religion”, *ahem* which is allowed to deduct courses, Scientology schooling and auditing as a deduction from their taxes. Nope not kidding.

From the Jewish Law website:

 In 1993, the Internal Revenue Service reached an agreement with the church, which was later leaked to the press, in which it pledged “not to contest the deductibility of Church of Scientology fixed donations in connection with qualified religious services.”

WHY IS THIS ALLOWED? 

Perhaps the Sklars court case from 2002 will interest you. They wanted to know why Scientology is the only “religion” that is allowed this exclusive tax exemption and so they decided to take their question to court. The LA Jewish couple asked if they can deduct their five children’s religious school costs off their taxes, in the same manner Scientology members are allowed to do, but guess what? They were denied. HUH?

Curious isn’t it? And more curious still…Scientology’s founder said and I quote:

“Scientology…is not a religion.” – L. Ron Hubbard, CREATION OF HUMAN ABILITY, 1954, p. 251

The Sklars have recently appealed to the Supreme Court. The outcome of this case will be very interesting.

Although I don’t believe that anyone should be allowed tax exemption for religious expenses, I think Scientology should not have exclusive rights. Perhaps this will rally the Supreme Court to take a good long hard look at all of Scientology’s shenanigans and favoritism that they were some how blessed with and why.

So, are you appalled yet? Good! Your learning!

I couldn’t stop digging around the internet about Scientology. It was like looking at a car accident. After reading about the death of Lisa McPherson and all the other alleged Scientology deaths, their use of fair game, all the abuses of their Sea Org members, and the out right evil deceptions that occur on a daily basis, I was totally hooked on making a promise to shed light on this insidious, litigious cult.

The people over at WhyWeProtest.com have been an ongoing thorn in Scientology’s side. Their website and forum consists of members of the group known as “Anonymous”, as well as critics and ex-Scientology members. Their website is a wealth of information, as well as their Research Wiki Page.

I tip my hat to Anonymous.

They have been able to shed more light on Scientology more than any other group or person. Their antics at their world wide protests which they claim they do for the “lulz”, and the all mighty internet has literally made the cult of Scientology start to crumble in a huge way and Anonymous may very well end up being the cult’s demise entirely.

I also have read some very heart wrenching stories at exscientologykids.com. This website was a real eye opener for me. It was started by Scientology ex-members Astra Woodcraft, Kendra Wiseman and Jenna Miscavige who were only children in Scientology’s brutal Sea Organization. Jenna suffered family disconnection from her parents as a child and left in 2005. She is the niece of Scientology cult leader David Miscavige. Be sure to give that website a visit. You will be both saddened and outraged by Scientology’s outright cruelty to children.

Of course Scientology does a good job themselves of constantly “pulling it in” by not only believing that they are above the law, but their constant “foot bullets” and lies are no longer working. People world wide are wising up and uniting to put an end to this utter sham of a religion, which is nothing more than a money making pyramid scheme.

So the next time you hand over your hard earned money as a donation, or buy tickets to a show or benefit, attend a race, a movie with a Scientology star or check a loved one into any kind of rehabilitation center, OR you have to take a course at work…. be sure to check it out first. Read the small print. Be sure you know who you are supporting!

Check the Scientology front group list and make sure it is not on that list. And keep in  mind, Scientology is VERY shifty. When a smaller front group’s name gets too much attention of having Scientology ties and the funding stops, they just come up with new names and move on. All the money collected from all these front groups, all goes to the same place… SCIENTOLOGY.

Also, be aware that any time you see a “Stress Test” table with the red table cloths set up selling copies of  the book Dianetics, that it is nothing more than Scientology all the way.

These Stress Test tables set up at fairs, flea markets, malls, street fairs, college campuses, city streets, and have been seen set up outside of some Walmarts!

The Stress Test is where the deception starts, as you will not see a sign saying Scientology ANYWHERE on their tables. They are only interested in sucking you into the cult by having you take a stress test, which will then lead to their personality test. This is where they will tell you that you have problems, or you are not very happy and that you need help and they can help you with some courses. They also claim to cure illnesses. I kid you not.

Speaking of not supporting Scientology, keep in mind that any support for any Scientology celebrity, artist or musician is also giving money to Scientology down the line, as they are continually having to take courses and auditing and “donate” millions to Scientology. Right Tom Cruise?

Not too long ago, Cruise lobbied the White House to have every school in the US teaching Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard tech through the Applied Scholastics front group. Some schools in the US do teach this tech already. The tech is very dangerous, as it will eventually elimnate your child’s ability to think critically and when they go to further their education, they will most likely be far behind others. It also teaches that if the child is not able to understand what they are being taught, that it is THEIR fault. Many students can not get into college after attending a school teaching this tech. Is your child’s school next?

So any movie ticket that you purchase that has a Scientology star in it, the money will end up supporting Scientology down the line. YOUR money.

Don’t be duped, and don’t support a cult that is rife with abuse, deception and utterly drains people of their critical thinking along with their bank accounts and lively hood.

If you are outraged by all of Scientology’s deceptions and abuses of its members, let your local, state and government officials know about it. They are not above board with their front groups and fake charities and it simply must end.

There is no way for Scientology to reform. In order for Scientology to reform, they would first have to put an end to their mind control process. But that is very unlikely, as Scientology IS all about mind control, Without mind control, there would simply be no Scientology.

I urge you to please click on the many links I have thoroughly researched and provided in this article so you can easily read up on some of the many stories, information and horrors of Scientology.

And I end this very long article with words from the founder of Scientology,  the late L. Ron Hubbard, who is revered by cult members who still hang on to his every word…

“THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can write that down in your book in great big letters”.

L. Ron Hubbard, “Off the Time Track,” lecture of June 1952, excerpted in JOURNAL OF SCIENTOLOGY issue 18-G, reprinted in TECHNICAL VOLUMES OF DIANETICS & SCIENTOLOGY, vol. 1, p. 418

Wow!  Just when I thought I was all done hearing about what a buffoon Bush is, and being tickled silly that this idiot is no longer our President, I hear that he snubbed J.K. Rowling, author of all the Harry Potter books because and get this… the books encouraged WITCHRAFT!

OMG!! Are you freakin’ kidding me?
Where was Bush’s head at? The Salem Witch Trials of 1692?

Gee, too bad stoning and hanging for suspicion of “witchcraft” was outlawed, hey Dubya?
I guess there’s always water boarding… oh wait, that’s right your veto on outlawing waterboarding thankfully failed. Sorry you out of luck Dubya!

Hey Dubya…. by the way…
Just how on earth does one encourage witchcraft from a children’s book, you dumb ass?
They weren’t written by Aliester Crowley for crying out loud!

Eonline wrote:

Noted Muggle/compassionate conservative George W. Bush was apparently a devout Harry Potter hater.

The former commander in chief wasn’t about to honor J.K. Rowling, the talent behind the book series, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom…and for quite the logical reason.

“People in the White House…actually object[ed] to giving the author J.K. Rowling a presidential medal because the Harry Potter books encouraged witchcraft,” writes former Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer in his book, Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor.

That’s right. Good ol’ Dubya and his administration dissed the mega-selling British author, refusing to let her join the ranks of James A. Michener, Harper Lee and John Steinbeck. (Guess he figured the Secret Service could handle any Avada Kedavra curse flung his way.)

Bush distributed 81 medals during his time in office, mostly to war-related allies.

The medals went to mostly war-realted allies? Gee, why am I not surprised?

Now I am not outraged that this author didn’t receive a medal.
I am outraged over the REASON why she didn’t receive a medal.

Long winded rant alert!
Deep breath…..
If any of you right wingers out there need proof that Bush is an idiotic, over conservative, totally incompetent FOOL that was jointly responsible along with his bunch of deluded administrators for putting this country in a total cluster f*ck, (and I am being kind) then here’s some further proof of the total idiocy that enveloped the White House!

And in the sheer brilliance of George W. Bush …
Only one of many of his pearls of wisdom… and I quote:

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, And so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we”