The Best of “The Village Voice Blog,” Part Six. Deaths and Shame. Many dimes for Wollersheim.

Death of a Scientologist: Why Annie Broeker, Famous in the Church, Had to Die in Secret

by Tony Ortega, 1-30-12

This story is about a woman who had spent most of her life in Scientology coming in as a teen.  During that time she saw a lot of dirty laundry being washed out in one manner or another.  Her and her husband Pat were in one load.  He was given the Order of the Boot when the Philidelphia-born tough David Miscavidge took over Scientology ousting her husband and her as the heirs apparent of Scientology.  As a loyal bot of Hubbard she remained true to the cause ditching Pat.  There were a number of people who could have taken over Scientology at the death of Hubbard; all were insufficiently ruthless to grab the glittering prize.  The winner of the coup could never let her walk freely in the world again, not even among the sheep that comprise the everyday Scientologists.  No, he kept her close at hand.  Being close to DM means being treated like a convict in a rural Arkansaw jail at the turn of the twentieth century.  All the power players of Scientology knew her yet her death was kept quiet for months before it was announced leading to all sorts of speculation and conjecture about just what happened at the end of her life.

For the entire story go here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/01/annie_broeker_ann_tidman_scientology.php

Annie in her younger days aboard the "Apollo" at a recording session with Hubbard. The "Apollo All-Stars" sounded like they had just listened to OTIII and were unhappy about it.

Scientology’s Shame: Lisa McPherson, 16 Years After Her Death

by Tony Ortega 12-5-11.

Not one person went to jail for the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson although there were many charges that could have been filed such as negligent homicide, practicing medicine without a license, abuse of a handicapped person. destroying evidence, lying to the police, kidnapping, and obstruction of justice among others.  Yet Scientology suffered greatly from this PR fiasco.  No event since the sentencing of Mary Sue Hubbard, the wife of L. Ron Hubbard, to federal prison has shaken the cult like this.  Years have passed since this woman’s untimely death and although Scientology settled with Lisa’s estate in the wrongful death suit the cult itself has never admitted any wrong doing.  For Tony’s take on this go here for the story:

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/12/lisa_mcpherson_scientology_shame.php

Scientology’s Crushing Defeat

A previously unpublished saga of an $8 million check

by Tony Ortega 1-24-08

This concerns the case of former Scientologist Larry Wollershiem who sued the cult and won only to have the verdict contested for the next 16 years.  This case offers some interesting insights into the crazy world of Hubbard Bots.

Here is what Tony had to say as a preface to the story.

Six years ago, when I was a reporter atNew Times LA, I’d written several stories about Scientology (Los Angeles is one of its headquarters), and I was about to uncork the longest one yet—a 7,000 word piece about an embarrassing, $8 million defeat Scientology had just suffered, when the weekly paper suddenly folded. That unpublished story has been sitting in storage ever since. Fast forward to 2008, and the world of reporting on Scientology has changed radically, thanks in part to the lunacy of Tom Cruise, but also in part to a worldwide, leaderless movement that calls itself Anonymous. Ravenous for any information about L. Ron Hubbard’s strange organization, Anonymous scours the world for the least tidbit about Scientology. Well, here was a pretty meaty morsel just sitting in my hard drive. It’s still a substantial bit of reporting, and it fills in some gaps in the historical record of one of the most humiliating court losses Scientology has ever suffered. Originally scheduled to be printed in October 2002, the piece follows. (It’s unchanged except for updates in[brackets].) This material may come as a revelation to some readers, but even for the know-it-alls at Anonymous, there are juicy bites.—Tony Ortega.

To read the rest of this story go here:   http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-06-24/news/Scientologys-Crushing-Defeat/full/

The Best of “The Village Voice Blog,” Part Five. Tom Cruise Bottle Talk, Serial Slapper in Scientology.

‘Tom Cruise Told Me to Talk to a Bottle’: Life at Scientology’s Secret Headquarters.

By Tony Ortega, 11-4-2009.

Women take note.  If Tom Cruise ever suggests “pillow talk” he is not suggesting a euphemism for intimate conversation.  He means literally that you should start talking to the pillow.  He might suggest that you talk to other inanimate objects as well.  So get ready to joke with his shoes, yell at his underwear and weep to his DVD collection.  Does this make sense?  Not to me but then again I am not a Scientologist like Tom is.  All this comes out in one of the many “Tell All” books that have been written by former Scientologists.

Marc Headley was in a position to see what went on at the top levels of the cult.  If you are a dedicated Tom Cruise watcher then you will want to read this story and this book.   Go here for the story:  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/11/tom_cruise_was.php

I can’t resist a song to dedicate to the bottle talker.

Scientology’s Leader a Sadistic Slapper, Say Top-Level Defectors: St. Pete Times.

by Tony Ortega, 6-21-2009.

Reports of David Miscavige slapping around his underlings are easy to come by these days.  About the only people involved that apparently don’t know what is happening are the sheep that follow him.  Scientologists have gotten very good over the years at keeping their heads in the sand.  Yet word will somehow penetrate their thick skulls that they are being used.  There is one positive thing about DM as the dictator; with him at the wheel Scientology will never grow.  To read about this abusive ruler go here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/06/scientologys_le.php

The Happy Slapper!

The Best of “The Village Voice Blog,” Part Four. The Whole of the Hole, Child Slaves, Hidden Files in Italy.

Mike Rinder on “The Hole,” Indoctrination, Confessions, and His Ultimate Escape.

by Tony Ortega, 4-4-12.

At Int. base near Hemet, California Davy Miscavige keeps his underlings in a prison where he subjects them to every form of humiliation and torment.  He does this without regard to their service for Scientology or their age.  In his eyes all are guilty until proven otherwise.  And since he is never wrong there is no chance of getting out except for escape.  That is just what Mike Rinder did, escape.  His story is a chilling one.   To read the full story go here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/04/mike_rinder_scientology_former_spokesman_interview.php

David Miscavige has studied the evil parts of history. The "Black Hole," of Calcutta was his model on how to treat your underlings.

Scientology’s Shocking Treatment of Children Held in a Suburban Labor Camp.

By Tony Ortega, 2-15-2012.

Repeatedly we hear accusations of child exploitation in Scientology.  Some of these stories are fully corroborated and are of such a nature as to make us wonder how they can get away with such things?  It is like a page out of Dickens’.  This particular story comes from Sydney, Australia. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/02/scientology_shane_kelsey_rpf.php

Scientology marches backwards in time to exploit children.

Scientology Raided in Italy, Stash of Personal Records on ‘Enemies’ Found.

by Tony Ortega, 5-21-10.

L. Ron Hubbard was a good hater who never lacked for enemies either within the cult or without of it.  His opinion was always the same on how to deal with these naughty little rascals.  Get them quick, let none escape and get them ruined as thoroughly as possible.  He said it was ok to lie, cheat, sue and trick them.  His “fair game” doctrine has been one of the hallmarks of Scientology.  But sometimes that can get them in hot water as in this case.  For the full story go here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2010/05/scientology_rai.php

Scientology, the "get even often" religion.

L. Ron Hubbard, “Murder He Wrote,” death by R2-45.

   In issue 37 of the 1968 magazine The Auditor, L. Ron Hubbard awarded the Order of the Boot to a number of his fanatical followers.  I am unsure of that the real crime was but judging from Hubbards hardly controlled wrath I suspect they must have broken into his piggy bank.  In Scientology there is nothing worse than shorting the Commodore’s Swiss Bank accounts.

   Regardless of what these people did Hubbard gave them the full menu of Scientology dirty tricks including the Fair Game treatment that meant that states that any Scientologist could lie, cheat and steal from them with impunity.  He declared them to be the enemies of  planet earth and all life that lived there.  It would be safe to say they were also taken off of his Christmas card list.

 And just what is “R2-45″?  It is shooting somebody with a Colt .45 caliber pistol.   Hubbard had this to say in his book, “The Creation of Human Ability.”

«R2-45 – an enormously effective process for externalization,  but its use is frowned upon by this society at this time.»

So what Hubbard wanted was to have these people shot if they ever set foot on the premises of a Scientology property.  Is this a joke?  Read the whole thing  and decide for yourself.  I have read a lot of Hubbard’s writings over the years and one thing that I have found is that this guy never jokes when it comes to ethics or settling a score.

The Best of “The Village Voice Blog,” Part Three. Judges, Scientology Lies and Leaked E-Mails.

The 5 Worst Things Judges Have Said About Scientology

Scientology has been a steady customer of the legal profession ever since Hubbard raised his flag with Dianetics.   They have a view that because they are the only sane people on the face of the earth they are free to do whatever they want.  No matter if it is lies, cheating, fraud or whatever; they don’t have to obey “wog” rules.  The unfortunate judges that have had to deal with these loons over the years don’t have any kind words for the cult.  To read what the legal minds have to say go here:  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/02/scientology_5_worst_by_judges.php

 5 Biggest Lies in Scientology’s 2-Minute TV Ad

Scientology has always relied on lies to puff up its self-image.  Hubbard set the bar high by telling some real whoppers such as him being a ”nuclear scientist,” when in fact he failed the only course he ever took on the subject.  But credit must be given to his later day followers who have managed to float a very impressive list of lies within the short compass of two minutes.   Here is the story:   http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/02/5_biggest_lies_scientology_tv_ad.php

 Scientology Internal E-Mails: Even More Depressing Than You Might Assume

When you read internal documents of Scientology it always comes down to either their overwhelming stupidity and incompetence or, as in this case, their unyielding greed.  There is never enough money to satisfy them and if you are down to your last penny they will take that too.  These quotes show where their mind is at.  Go here for the story.   http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/10/scientology_int_1.php

The Best of “The Village Voice Blog,” Part Two. Scientology Slave Ship, Real Stats & Film Stinker.

Over the years Tony Ortega has written many hard-hitting, humorous and soul-wrenching articles on the dizzy cult of Scientology.  Here we have three of my favorites.  The first concerns the Scientology “luxury” ship Freewinds.  This is where the members go to learn more about their super-powered OT courses that are supposed to give them powers that only gods can have.  They pay a lot to go there yet as always that are given the hard sell for even more courses, books, tapes and the like.  But conditions below decks are another matter.  A number of people have come forward to tell their stories, this is one of the best.  But first let’s look at a mailer that the cult has sent out.

Scientology Held Woman Aboard the Freewinds for 12 Years Against Her Will: Aussie TV

Captive on Scientology slave ship.

November 28, 2011.  To read the story go here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/11/valeska_paris_scientology_freewinds.php

Scientologists: How Many Of Them Are There, Anyway?

Scientology always tries to look bigger, and more important than it is.  Their claim of eight million members is a long-standing joke.

A gaudy display can't hide their shrinking numbers.

July 4, 2011.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/07/scientologists_1.php

A sidebar to this is that Scientology has no shame when it comes to padding their membership numbers.  They have even doctored pictures to make it look like more members attended events than really were there.  This picture was in “The Washington Post,” June 6, 2009.”  The event however, took place in 1999.  Quote beneath the picture is from the newspaper article.

“Arnaldo Lerma magnifies the above photo of a December 28, 1999 Scientology event at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. He quickly discovers the image shows evidence of Photoshop “cloning.” In the cloning technique, details in one area of a photo are copied and then repeatedly pasted in another area to fill space. In this photo above, the cloning was used to copy individuals (see woman right of red patch)and repeatedly paste them to expand the audience.”

To read the full article go here:  http://www.imediaethics.org/index.php?option=com_news&task=detail&id=456

Battlefield Earth: Still Making the World Safe From Scientology Nearly 12 Years Later (UPDATED)

A true nose-holder movie.

L. Ron Hubbard’s book “Battlefield Earth” had only one thing going for it; the book was so thick that it could have been used as a door-stop.  The film however, lacked even that one redeeming feature.  The critics went wild when they reviewed this stinker, seldom as any movie received such abuse.

To read Tony’s March 21 2012, take on this turkey go here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/03/scientology_battlefield_earth_kim_coates.php

The Best of “The Village Voice Blog,” Part One. Top 25 people crippling Scientology.

1. L. Ron Hubbard.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/l_ron_hubbard_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
2. David Miscavige.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/david_miscavige_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
3. Marty Rathbun.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/marty_rathbun_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
4. Tom Cruise.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/tom_cruise_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
5. Joe Childs and Tom Tobin.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/joe_childs_tom_tobin_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
6. Anonymous.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/anonymous_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
7. Mark Bunker.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/mark_bunker_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
8. Mike Rinder.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/mike_rinder_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
9. Jason Beghe.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/jason_beghe_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
10. Lisa McPherson.  ttp://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/lisa_mcpherson_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
11. Nick Xemophon.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/nick_xenophon_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
12. Tommy Davis (has been replaced).  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/tommy_davis_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
13. Janet Reitman.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/09/tommy_davis_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
14. Tory Christman.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/tory_christman_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
15. Andreas Heldal-lund.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/andreas_heldal-lund_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
16. Marc Headley.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/marc_headley_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
17. Jeff Hawkins.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/jefferson_hawkins_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
18.  Amy Scobee.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/amy_scobee_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
19. The Squirrel Busters.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/squirrel_busters_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
20. Trey Parker and Matt Stone.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/trey_parker_matt_stone_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
21. Kendrick Moxon.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/kendrick_moxon_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
22. Jamie DeWolfe.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/jamie_dewolf_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
23. Ken Dandar.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/ken_dandar_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
24. David Touretsky.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/david_touretzky_top_25_crippling_scientology.php
25. Lord Xenu.  http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/xenu_top_25_crippling_scientology.php

“Understanding the E-Meter,” . . . No “Science” in Scientology.

The Scientific howlers pronounced by L. Ron Hubbard are so many and varied that if you were to try to select one as the “best” or the “biggest.” you would be hard pressed to choose one.  After all, when Hubbard failed the subject of “nuclear physics,” at George Washington University he took his ignorance, tucked it under his arm, and carried it right into Scientology.

Auditing, the response to certain questions posed to the subject by another person is the main practice of Scientology.  To evaluate the subject’s response the person being audited will hold on to two metal “cans” attached to a small box known as an “E-Meter” or the “Hubbard electro-psychometer   This device was invented in the early 1950′s by Volney Mathison, a chiropractor.  From an engineering point of view it is simply a  Wheatstone bridge that measures a galvanic skin response to a small amount of electricity passed through the body.  There was nothing new in this, plans for similar devices were to be found in the popular pulp “do-it-yourself” magazines of that era as being a sort of primitive lie-detector.

At some point Hubbard discovered that he could make any claim he wanted no matter of foolish, stupid or asinine and his followers would believe it.  That is the only way that I can understand how a man who served in the US Navy, sailed boats, ships and yachts, and who was literate enough to have some college even if he didn’t graduate, could make the claim that people have the power to create mass, physical, detectable mass, using only thoughts and “mental powers.”  If I am wrong and L. Ron Hubbard honestly believed that it was not only possible to creat matter from “mental energy” then he was not just another charlatan.  No, in that case he would be just plain nuts.

FAIR USE OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS

The book herein being quoted is Understanding the E-Meter by L. Ron Hubbard, Bridge Publications, 1982.

 ”In Scientology is has been discovered that mental energy is simply a finer, higher level of physical energy.  The test of this is conclusive in that a thetan “mocking up” (creating) mental image pictures and thrusting them into the body can increase the body mass and by casting them away again can decrease the body mass.  This test has actually been made and an increase of as much as thirty pounds, actually measured on scales, has been added to, and subtracted from, a body by creating ‘mental energy.’  Energy is energy,  matter is condensed energy.”

 Here some mope of a kid shows how this works.  Forget dieting, just lose weight from getting rid of the “mental energy.’

Above.  This chart shows it all.  By the same line of reasoning you could make your laptop lighter by simply dumping the files.

First the meter, then the salad.

Here Hubbard shows what an auditor can do if he tires of auditing people.  Rocks are next.

In Scientology the random swing of an E-Meter needle can land you in the cult prison for months or years.  Your whole life can depend on Hubbard’s junk science, but instead of a roll of the dice it is the twitch on a meter.   In the end this piece of junk science served on purpose and one purpose only; it lent a certain Scientific air to Scientology making it look like something that was built on hard facts.  Nothing, of course, could be farther from the truth.

For another take on the E-Meter, this time by a former Scientologist, Mark Plummer, go here.  http://www.skeptictank.org/gen2/gen00050.htm

Oh, those crazy OTs, what will they think of next? # 16

Behold the might brain of the Scientology OT!

Purported abilities of the super powerful OTs (operating thetans) in Scientology have ranged drastically  from the ability to stop an earthquake to spirits haunting a horse to riding around in a car that lacked basic operating parts.  But here we have, . .  well, a not so great claim.  This one is about light bulbs.

From Advance!# 138, “OT Phenomena”

“I am becoming more and more cause as I move up The Bridge.  It just permeates how I live these days.  And because I am more in control my prediction is very good in all kinds of ways, from the more complex to the more simple.  Here’s a typical example, just a little thing but nevertheless it illustrates what I mean. “I was about to go shopping with my roommate.  We had made our list and gone over it, but just as we were about to leave I realized that the porch light was going to burn out in the next few minutes.  I knew we were out of light bulbs and so I told my roommate to put light bulbs on the list.  He wondered why I was adding it at the last minute and I simply said that the porch light was going to burn out in the next few minutes. “He looked at me like I was a little strange but wrote down light bulbs on the list.  Then we got our stuff together and headed straight for the door.  Right as I opened the door the porch light blew out.  I turned round and looked at him and smiled and said it was a good thing we had light bulbs on the list.” — A. R.

How many OTs does it take to change a light bulb?

Oh, those crazy OTs, what will they think of next? # 15

Behold the brain of the super-Scientologists!!

Here we have two buffoons who believe that they drove their car around without a distributor cap.  The picture below shows the kind of car they must have been driving.

From Advance! (magazine for OT’s) #127.

One day a friend and I (both of us are OT III) were doing a tune up on my old car – new distributor cap, spark plugs, oil, the whole thing.  After the tune up we put the hood down and decided to give it a test drive around the block.
When we came back we opened up the hood, and we found out that somehow we had driven the car around the block without the distributor cap on – which is impossible!  But not to a couple of OTs!

B.L.
Beverly

OT car without a distributor cap.