tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-297760732024-03-14T05:35:36.003-07:00all MEST upThe former home of <i>LRH: The Target 2 Chronicles.</i> The entirely fictional afterlife adventures of America's most, uh . . . <i>creative</i> writer, Lafayette Ronald Hubbard.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-18017907392931712552021-08-25T13:37:00.004-07:002021-08-25T13:37:50.573-07:00LRH: The Target Two Chronicles, Vol. I has been removed<p>Having been honored by the STAAND League with my own smear page, I've had my interest in Scientology rekindled after a few years of declining ire. I've decided to take down <i>LRH: The Target Two Chronicles, Vol. </i>I for some long overdue editing as I work on Vol. II. I'd like to thank my fans, both of you, for your support over the years. I'll let you know when it's ready. And if you're here from STAAND, I thank you for the footbullet. You've reignited my fire. I shared it with my Facebook friends and they were all plenty impressed with my big SPness.</p>Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-55272554699334852072010-05-08T11:47:00.000-07:002010-05-08T11:49:53.252-07:00More Fecal Material Hits The Cooling Device . . .I am so blown away by the cogent, clear, ex-Scientologists that are now appearing in droves on comment threads across the net. The quick, skillful shut down of OSA operatives like "Elsa" over on a <a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/05/tom_cruise_was_1.php">Tony Ortega thread</a> at the Village Voice is a case in point. I know an OSA Ronbot when I see one, but I can't shut one down like an ex-Sea Org can. <br /><br />Just ten years ago, this kind of speaking out would have been unthinkable with the exception of a handful of brave people who blew the cult. The end times for Li'l Davy and his Fake Navy are truly here.<br /><br />Unlike Rathbun and his cohorts, I believe that Scientology is rotten to its core, and that core was the pompous, charismatic buffoon Hubbard. <br /><br />The only benefit to be gained from Scientology is in the first few courses one takes. The same benefits could be gained from a logic course at the local Junior College, some old Dale Carnegie courses or The Landmark Forum (another abusive organization unfortunately). <br /><br />Once you progress past the Communications Course and a few of the other basics, the auditing starts in and that's when the problems begin. After that point, the whole of the "tech" is designed to do only one thing, control you. Control you and get you to spend ever more amounts of money for ever diminishing returns.<br /><br />Like the first hit of a powerful drug, the following auditing sessions never recapture the initial high. It's then that you're really screwed, desperately trying to recapture that feeling of the initial "win" (which was a simple response to being relieved of sleep deprivation and hypnotic induction). Scientology is not alone in this type of manipulation, it just perfected it.<br /><br />I have no reason to think that there is any such thing as "good Scientology". The whole thing was based on one goal: enriching a conman.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-19970146904367403262009-12-01T12:31:00.000-08:002009-12-01T12:48:43.597-08:00Ron's Journal '67As much as I love to mock the unintentionally hilarious "tech" of L. Ron Hubbard, there is no substitute for hearing it from <a href="http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Scientology_Rons_Journal_Wall_of_Fire_recording">his own mouth.</a> This priceless piece of batshit-crazy gold is from 1967, just after Hubbard completed the infamous "Wall of Fire" aka The Xenu Story.<br /><br />In this gem we are treated to Hubbard-the-raconteur, Hubbard-the-long-suffering-martyr and Hubbard-the-savior-of-mankind, all wrapped up in a turgid tale of evil perpetrated by (you guessed it) <span style="font-style:italic;">The Eeeeeeevil Psychs</span>.<br /><br />If you know anyone who thinks that L. Ron Hubbard couldn't have been <span style="font-style:italic;">that</span> crazy if all these people still follow him, have them listen to Ron's Journal '67. When they're done, if they still think he wasn't totally bonkers, then tell them that L. Ron has a bridge for sale and direct them to the nearest org. Oh, and don't forget to tell them to take their checkbook.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-71284577589303975762009-11-01T11:53:00.000-08:002009-11-01T11:55:45.157-08:00And the hits just keep on coming . . .The Saint Petersburg Times <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1048134.ece">once again</a> shows why they've earned the title SP Times. This is yet another bold, clear article on the abuses at the "church". I felt drained by the time I was done reading about these people's long exit from $cientology. Three cheers for Tobin and Childs and the editorial board of the Times.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-26607799973367355422009-10-27T09:31:00.000-07:002009-10-27T09:33:33.562-07:00It just doesn't get any better than this . . .<span style="font-style:italic;">Tommy Hits The bigtime, or, Yes, Virginia, There Is Such A Thing As Bad Publicity.</span><br /><br />A marvelous <a href="http://gawker.com/5390890/tommy-davis-scientologys-new-angry-unstable-pitchman">article</a> on the Tiny Terror's Toy Terrier.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-16560809482120703862009-10-23T12:48:00.000-07:002009-10-25T11:40:28.536-07:00New Careers for Li'l Davey Nº1 : MC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1QTiPYg3K5sQAdp_c34fWaZec53hY4TXCYVBGN62h75pA-Z1E5pCXt1XxaASRce_e0cecgllZ8049nQyoooHlgfrdKMGJm5WscI-Kct7CXYVlGHEedBh9NorhXpeQqoZaCeJ/s1600-h/MCDMcover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1QTiPYg3K5sQAdp_c34fWaZec53hY4TXCYVBGN62h75pA-Z1E5pCXt1XxaASRce_e0cecgllZ8049nQyoooHlgfrdKMGJm5WscI-Kct7CXYVlGHEedBh9NorhXpeQqoZaCeJ/s400/MCDMcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395885390508133538" /></a><br /><br />Featuring the club hits:<br />Ya down wit OT-III? <br />Slappy's Got a Brand New Bag (with Tommy D)<br />Bitch is a Statcrasher (DJ Kobra extended litigation remix)<br />We Built This Cult on Rick and Roll<br />Sec (Check) Machine<br />Havingness is a Warm Gun (R245 EOC remix)<br />Ain't no Power Like a Super Power™<br />Blown in the wind<br />Rundown Sue<br />Don't Fear the Weeper<br />Dance This MEST Around<br />Atomic WogArtoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-86824056440838741922009-10-21T14:10:00.000-07:002009-10-21T14:11:21.303-07:00Awesome video . . . great name too.<object width="580" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zyUAVz414_M&hl=en&fs=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zyUAVz414_M&hl=en&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="580" height="360"></embed></object>Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-6643287082450311822009-07-25T14:07:00.000-07:002009-10-25T10:44:49.937-07:00Shit Happens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOR2QxVIt0j0nDSjuxaGTe9kf7w-rxHq64462oVnPmPOMLotQBKTI6uebmQna1-7HnZwpjypm0INGtX0L0-3oJ0yMiwBcDAXxkzksZ19TRyj-UcQLFOP3XdjvIBvWt8Rlabyn/s1600-h/wide_angle_sunset.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOR2QxVIt0j0nDSjuxaGTe9kf7w-rxHq64462oVnPmPOMLotQBKTI6uebmQna1-7HnZwpjypm0INGtX0L0-3oJ0yMiwBcDAXxkzksZ19TRyj-UcQLFOP3XdjvIBvWt8Rlabyn/s400/wide_angle_sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362523780369070130" /></a><br /><br />The Daily Mail is barely above The Weekly World News or World Net Daily as a beacon of journalistic integrity, but if the portrait they paint of John Travolta is true, my heart goes out to him even more. The loss of a family member is devastating to go through. To go through it in the savage eye of our celebrity culture must be almost unendurable (and yes, I get that this blog entry, unread as it probably will be, is adding to the pile-on).<br /><br />When I lost my sister to lung cancer two years ago, it turned my worldview around 180º. In the process of accepting my sister's passing, I had to accept reality in a way I'd never been challenged to before. This was a deeply personal and liberating experience for me, both terrible and beautiful. My sister's indomitable courage and spirit was instrumental in helping all around her make it through her swift passing. <br /><br />She and I had many metaphysical discussions throughout the years, and she was more skeptical than accepting of my old "you create your own reality" worldview. Maturity and time was beginning to wear this treacle away for me, but I still clung unaware to my remaining magical beliefs. That changed one afternoon while I was visiting my sister. We'd been talking and there was a sort of long silence, then looked at me and said, "you dont' still believe all that shit about creating your own reality, do you?" "Not really I said". She paused and said, "I saw that Secret shit on Oprah last week and it's crap you know. I'll tell you the secret of the universe . . . Shit Happens, period. I didn't choose this, I didn't deserve this. I beat it once, shit happened. It came back, shit happened again." She cracked me up and we laughed til we cried (we did that a lot in those last weeks), I said "I think you hit it on the head Dr. Hawking." It was kind of a jokey, sarcastic comment, but it really changed my life in an instant. For me, everything kind of stopped . . . shit happens.<br /><br />From my experience, people join Scientology, or any religion, for the same reasons I searched for meaning where there really wasn't any. To make meaning is very human. It's what we do. I think it may be the closest thing to divinity there is. For instance, when the sun sets, there is no meaning. We observe a large thermonuclear fusion reaction, some 93 million miles distant, as it slips below the horizon as the planet rotates. Not good. Not bad. Just is. Does that mean my perception of it's majesty, the crimson of the sky as it settles into the Pacific, and the feelings that accompany this natural spectacle are invalid? Certainly not. <br /><br />That was what changed when my sister said "shit happens." My sister was dying. I had deep feelings about it. She had deep feelings about it. But there was nothing "wrong". Shit was happening. That was the liberation I had sought all my life through channelers and crystals and chanting. Gone was my fear of death as failure. Gone were my phobias about toxins and big Pharma. Gone was my gnawing doubt that the "truth" was "out there" and that I was wrong. We as a species were not the inevitable crown of creation. What I was left with the universe as a clean slate, with my own meanings, inviolate and utterly my own. The search for existential validation had stopped.<br /><br />I recount all this because there are those who are speculating whether or not Travolta, in his deep agony, will leave the church. Some people say no, he's in too deep. Some say the cult has too much dirt on him in his Preclear files. Some say he can't admit he's been taken so badly all these years. Well, I say not so fast. I think it's now or never. If I could admit to and let go of twenty years of embarrassing New Age wingnuttery, I bet Travolta can do the same. <br /><br />The man has lost his beloved son. I can only imagine what's going on in his mind and heart. Sorrow. Guilt. Regret. Anger. The gnawing sense that if only he'd done X,Y or Z it would have been different. I for one, hope he's able to find the bracing, terrible beauty of reality through this tragedy. I hope he uses it to heal his heart. I also hope he finds the courage to step-up and hit a real homer out of the park and say "stay away from this bullshit cult and its medical quackery." Impossible you say? Maybe, but shit happens . . .Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-78571796760966308872009-07-19T14:05:00.000-07:002009-07-19T14:32:05.801-07:00Well, THIS ought to be interesting . . .Mark Bunker had a link to <a href="http://www.scientology-cult.com/">this</a> amazing new site. It's not critical of Scientology as a system of belief. It seems to exist exclusively to take down David Miscavige as totalitarian dictator. Now the three people who have actually read my blog over time will know that I am no fan of L. Ron Hubbard. I believe he was a charlatan, conman and megalomaniac of the first order. His "tech" is a masterpiece of unintended hilarity, that is it <span style="font-style:italic;">would be funny</span> if it hadn't fucked up so many lives.<br /><br />This new site seems mostly very well written and designed. Apparently there was some considerable money behind this (or a lot of sweat equity from those already used to slave labor), and they make it clear that they want Scientology to continue in it's "pure" form. Sadly, they still still view us critics as bent on the destruction of Scientology. Well, this critic has never held that agenda. Personally, I don't care what you believe about Xenu or KSW or ARC or beingness or whatever Hubbard cooked up to seperate you from your money. What I do care about stopping are same abuses they want to stop. Violence. Greed. Extortion. Lies. <br /><br />I'm assuming the ex Scienotlogists behind this site are Rathbun, Lesevere, Rinder and maybe Ethier. They all might want to consider the possibility that Anonymous and the two previous generations of critics have always been fighting <span style="font-style:italic;">for</span> Scientologists, not against them.<br />So, do I want to see Scientology banned, destroyed and all Hubbard's books burned? No. Not even close. I'll be happy to sit down, have a beer and argue doctrine vs. reality with any Scientologist (or Catholic or Muslim). They also need to know, that I'll be the first to fight for their rights to hold any worldview they'd like, <span style="font-style:italic;">as long as nobody gets hurt.</span><br /><br />So, as far as Hubbard is concerned, we're definitely not going to agree, but when it comes to Li'l Davy and his Fake Navy, the crew at http://www.scientology-cult.com/ has an ally in All MEST Up.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-75523576379003071932009-06-27T12:39:00.000-07:002009-10-25T10:16:36.577-07:00A response to a victimized Scientologist . . .Some dude over at <a href="http://glosslip.com/2009/06/25/scientologys-crimes-and-abuses-are-finally-hitting-the-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-97242">Glosslip</a> was whining about how his church is being attacked and it got me thinking about the three distinct generations of critics that have brought us to these interesting times . . .<br /><blockquote><br />Oh Robert, how these enturbulent times do my Second-Gen Critic's heart good. I count myself with those who became critics of the cult back in the early days of the internet. It was the dawn of xenu.net and the LMT. The lovely Tory/Magoo was not yet our joyful muse. In those days Robert, there was no criticizing the cult publicly. You still couldn't speak out against Scientology without getting a Kobrin-Gram or a visit from Earl Cooley's goon, Eugene Ingram. Criticize, and you had crazed Scilons leafletting your neighborhood with flyers calling you a pederast or murderer. You had obscene calls to your workplace or maybe your pet drowned. You suffered like the First Gen Critics Cooper and Lerma and Wallershiem and Armstrong and Young. The cult would blackmail you and the media would believe them. They were the ultimate playground bully, who would slug you, then go fake-cry to the teacher and YOU would get punished.<br /><br />Now the tables have turned. The anonymity that the internet gave us in those early days created a shitstorm of free-flowing com that the cult knew would be its undoing. The more they tried to cut off its head, the more heads it would grow. For me, it was Andreas Heldal-Lund and Bob Minton who were the biggest influences in giving me courage to speak out, online and off (you too WBM). When I would talk about the cult to my friends back then, they would just roll their eyes like I was totally nuts. They couldn't believe this crazy sounding stuff was true. It took the final shot of the Second Gen war to wake everyone else up . . . a shot fired by a cartoon character. South Park's brilliant "Trapped in the Closet" episode heralded the end of the second phase of criticism. Those years ended with Stan staring at the camera with his big, cartoon eyes saying "sue me, go ahead and fucking sue me" and I think we all nearly fell over. <br /><br />So Robert, the atmosphere of open criticism you are now soaking in is the result of the work of two distinct generations of critics. Pre-internet folks who got the living crap fair-gamed out of them. Then the early internet years when the intergalactic despot was let out of the bag, so to speak. Finally came the Third Gen Critics, and the end-game for the current "church". And the architect of this end-game is Tom Cruise. Why Cruise? Because, if he hadn't fired uber PR flack Pat Kingsley, re-engaged with the cult and hired his Scilon sister to replace Kingsley, his special brand of batshit crazy would have stayed under wraps. It was his couch-jumping, cult-promoting, royal-wedding, KSW Carnival of Foot-Bullets that provoked the hornets nest of Chanology into action. It was batshit crazy "tech" with a megaphone, meeting totalitarian attempts to shut the information flow off (again) that created the Third Gen Critics. And they didn't just stay home in their parents basements as Miscavige expected . . . they marched. They chanted. They rickrolled and frolicked. There was caek and lulz and it was good.<br /><br />Anyway Robert, your "church" has brought on this shitstorm itself. Of course, it was Hubbard who set it in motion originally, with his megalomania, avarice and paranoia; with his sci-fi lunacy and draconian fake navy. You are probably a public Scientologist. You're most likely not clear, certainly not an OT. You can't believe that anything like what you're seeing in the media is true. Your critical thinking skills are poor as evidenced by your long post, loaded with "church" talking-points and logical fallacies. Believe me, the "church" wants to keep you that way: credulous and forking over money. And though you won't believe it, critics are not here to attack <span style="font-style:italic;">you</span>. We are here to help you.<br /><br />For Quentin Hubbard and all the rest . . .<br /><br /></blockquote><br /><br />Personally, I think that the whole thing needs to be shut down and let the Freezoners carry on with Hubbard's batshit crazy "tech" . . . for free.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-66256161441163620772009-06-22T12:48:00.000-07:002009-06-22T12:51:40.633-07:00This is big . . .There's not much I can say about the import of <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/">this series</a> of articles in the aptly nicknamed SP Times. It's quite simply amazing.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-84136835032593951922009-01-27T16:27:00.000-08:002009-02-28T12:15:35.026-08:00Depressed? Stop being such a fu¢^*ng pansy . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_cRyB3sqoMKi7xy-JzJUT3oeV2DnJldmiWobRENTd8oJDrGc0A1SIWmQ9VCZZLCSXAUBiku32zL1GWgoVJlGXJqldwBJBkhtkMsB6RUkQymMH6V3Hw4Pa9mzbh1o4rx3fIta/s1600-h/celebutardmonthly.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_cRyB3sqoMKi7xy-JzJUT3oeV2DnJldmiWobRENTd8oJDrGc0A1SIWmQ9VCZZLCSXAUBiku32zL1GWgoVJlGXJqldwBJBkhtkMsB6RUkQymMH6V3Hw4Pa9mzbh1o4rx3fIta/s320/celebutardmonthly.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296154371753407138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, how I love the celebrities. <a href="http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1456072.php/Bijou_Phillips_Scientology_depression_cure">Bijou Phillips</a> in all her great wisdom has denounced depression sufferers who turn to antidepressants as "fucking pansies". What next Bijou? Are people who take chemotherapy for cancer goddamned wussies? Epileptics on Dilantin are motherfucking crybabies? What's that Bijou? They should try the L. Ron Hubbard cure? It's all in their heads? Body Thetans is it? You might want to go to <a href="http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/132/">Sense About Science</a> where actual scientists offer well-meaning celebutards a lovely pamphlet chock full of advice on what comprises real science before they spew their woo to a gullible public eager to lap up the pseudoscientific quackery put forth by the likes of Oprah, Jenny McCarthy and Madonna.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-79260576001492879942008-07-12T17:06:00.000-07:002008-07-12T17:54:16.888-07:00REVIEW: Prescription for a Superior Existence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim40NpsVoasHGNAQqub99RJRCrXLCDSax4RcB8opaLWqB-04koWYGyu0XPr_V_UtOBojbc9Ytcxh9dGusSbuOcXFaNkXnkeGl8tDkdSEUPIlEsgAEWM89fgKq3x1uhORLiGD1O/s1600-h/PASE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim40NpsVoasHGNAQqub99RJRCrXLCDSax4RcB8opaLWqB-04koWYGyu0XPr_V_UtOBojbc9Ytcxh9dGusSbuOcXFaNkXnkeGl8tDkdSEUPIlEsgAEWM89fgKq3x1uhORLiGD1O/s400/PASE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222283816602774322" border="0" /></a><br />As someone who is fascinated by the subject of cults and mind-control, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Superior-Existence-Josh-Emmons/dp/1416561056/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215902997&sr=8-1">Prescription for a Superior Existence</a> was a no-brainer to add to the pile of books next to my bed—only it never made it there—I read it all in one day. Over the years, I’ve grown to understand that my fascination with cults actually says more about me than the object of my fascination. With that in mind, I strongly recommend that anybody with an interest in cults read this new novel by Josh Emmons. Those who read this blog (both of you) know that I take a snarky, mocking approach to the battle against Scientology. I think humor goes a long way to diffuse the absurdity of the subject matter, but that humor is backed up with personal experience and familiarity with some fairly substantive books on the subject. I now add this work of fiction to that list. By turns moving, disturbing, fantastic and sobering, this book offers a close-up view of what makes humans tick, and what makes some of us turn to extremist groups.<br /><br />AN ENGAGING MYSTERY AND VERY DIFFERENT LOVE STORY<br />The story is set in a plausible, near-future San Francisco, a time when many of our chickens have come home to roost. It’s the story of an ordinary man plunged into extraordinary circumstances when he falls for the daughter of a cult leader. Playing out against this troubled backdrop, the book has more than a whiff of of Raymond Chandler and a dash of cyberpunk—a slightly dystopian, but very believable, not-too-distant future where environmental, political and societal stresses feed our fears and doubts, leaving some of the populace ripe for the picking.<br /><br />A CLEAR VIEW OF CULT MECHANICS<br />Emmons has a keen understanding of how cults can snare even the most skeptical people under the right emotional circumstances. I found myself impressed at this young writer’s maturity and familiarity with the psychology and language of mind-control. I also found myself disturbed by his ability to get inside my own head when he eloquently describes the self-doubts that gnaw at his protagonist. I could feel what it would be like to be on that slippery slope of credulity, unable to stop the slide into submission to the group.<br /><br />SOUNDS FAMILIAR . . .<br />The cult that Emmons has created is eerily like Scientology mixed with Landmark. The charismatic leader and his Prescription for a Superior Existence seems to be a bit of Hubbard, a bit of Erhard with overtones Heaven’s Gate. What I found truly scary is that if a fairly charismatic woman or man were to take the ideas in this book and flesh them out, they’d probably find themselves with scores of devotees in no time.<br />Having just finished the book, I’m haunted by a lingering sense of compassion and understanding for our human frailties. Our self-doubts and our desire to belong are clearly and sometimes achingly portrayed in these characters caught up in the sweep of the storyline.<br /><br />As I mentioned earlier, Emmons literary style is mature, sophisticated and edgy, though there are twists and turns that are fairly predictable. In the end, even the predictable turns are very satisfyingly rendered in his capable hands. Ultimately, I found myself taking a hard look at what motivates me as a critic. For this I’m very grateful, as it certainly strengthened my resolve in standing up to abusive groups, while reminding me that compassion <span style="font-style: italic;">for</span> those in thrall to those groups is what it's all about. For those of us who rail against the abuses of $cientology and other cults, I believe there is much insight to be gained in reading this novel—insight into what motivates both sides of the argument and how thin the emotional line between the two sides really is.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-79228375986860903732008-06-27T10:02:00.000-07:002008-06-27T10:05:50.640-07:00Space Station 33I could not possibly make this shit up. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you L. Ron Hubbard . . .<br /><object height="300" width="400"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1227000&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"> <embed src="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1227000&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/1227000?pg=embed&sec=1227000">L. Ron Hubbard's Space Station 33</a> from <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/user456364?pg=embed&sec=1227000">Artoo45</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/?pg=embed&sec=1227000">Vimeo</a>.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-53428118925747729392008-05-30T13:50:00.000-07:002008-05-30T14:29:52.300-07:00Aleens iz reel . . .<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-2aJSr02VORRPAlylzBFK3RkKGxLfOJv-FrlHUhOuxcUZNkKHmJFE-HhfrIC0ewQc4eeoLvy1qtW9FZf7fdee4cgDNiMi2WwyNWELg7AAYljUuPc1NnG_BKlhQ-CMvgFVQt3/s1600-h/dawkins6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-2aJSr02VORRPAlylzBFK3RkKGxLfOJv-FrlHUhOuxcUZNkKHmJFE-HhfrIC0ewQc4eeoLvy1qtW9FZf7fdee4cgDNiMi2WwyNWELg7AAYljUuPc1NnG_BKlhQ-CMvgFVQt3/s400/dawkins6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206276431393283666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-2aJSr02VORRPAlylzBFK3RkKGxLfOJv-FrlHUhOuxcUZNkKHmJFE-HhfrIC0ewQc4eeoLvy1qtW9FZf7fdee4cgDNiMi2WwyNWELg7AAYljUuPc1NnG_BKlhQ-CMvgFVQt3/s1600-h/dawkins6.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So, somebody thinks they have the scoop of the century with their "alien looking in the window" </span></a><a href="http://gizmodo.com/394302/alien-video-uncovered-real-or-fake">movie</a>. Well, <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> took this shot of Xemu last summer at Chincoteague. Sure, he peeped in the window of our Winnebago first (he's shy like that) but soon he was slammin' back cheap chardonnay and scarfing down the quahogs like there was no tomorrow. After dinner we played Scrabble and he gave us all free personality tests. So he's really not such a despot after all, just shy and misunderstood.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-83332231954391001192008-05-10T19:15:00.000-07:002008-05-10T19:21:19.882-07:00Silence of the Clams<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br />Thanks to Dawn at <a href="http://www.glosslip.com">Glosslip</a> for the inspiration . . .</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGSrzL5LCFl9aenej7bs-Gao6P5p9ZE4K7JR1V_JgHa9o5AmDGaFIzj9OxewT0ngraOV48XA8TdM3Q1cR4UDyULp5EaN02eVXbHejojhaxgiF2jox2-C-0lQoelc9LTcEUoGf/s1600-h/SilenceofClams1b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGSrzL5LCFl9aenej7bs-Gao6P5p9ZE4K7JR1V_JgHa9o5AmDGaFIzj9OxewT0ngraOV48XA8TdM3Q1cR4UDyULp5EaN02eVXbHejojhaxgiF2jox2-C-0lQoelc9LTcEUoGf/s400/SilenceofClams1b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198939139516349778" border="0" /></a>Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-5046107265683974652008-04-29T11:22:00.000-07:002008-07-12T18:24:11.219-07:00Xenu Wine Cellar Mishap Ends in Tragedy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqEZoIH1NKsQvae9Bgyla0vb740qZYtt__Y5Cl5UXMLyvAObYoD0XdwGcPGb1xCl8-wnTKfh1_N1LNjEiYF1imVKvPd80emczBU-wMzjCC9JS32pXQcJt33x0trnq6R9tRhN3/s1600-h/oprahwan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqEZoIH1NKsQvae9Bgyla0vb740qZYtt__Y5Cl5UXMLyvAObYoD0XdwGcPGb1xCl8-wnTKfh1_N1LNjEiYF1imVKvPd80emczBU-wMzjCC9JS32pXQcJt33x0trnq6R9tRhN3/s400/oprahwan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194738221587730386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Talk show host and currency dispenser, Oprah Winfrey was vaporized today, after an innocent foray into what she assumed was Tom Cruise's wine cellar. Winfrey was stunned to find not neat racks of merlots and ports, but the intergalactic despot, Xenu.<br />The Evil One ordered Cruise to destroy her with his sooper-dooper™ OT-VIII™ powers and the actor had no choice but to comply fearing a reapeat of a rather unpleasant incident Xenu was involved with in the past. Ms. Winfrey has been replaced with a Marcabian Super Mk VII PuppetBot™. Niether Xenu or Mr. Cruise could not be reached for comment.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-57915698520290746522008-04-10T11:45:00.000-07:002008-04-10T11:47:40.568-07:00The Great Enturbulation Road Show<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPyFbzzsOG258zy4hjrHp21ahD_8g6Cu7l3icHFmEhBj8Mdv7YXFFLosg8eG45eRbPKjFiFJYBinAXPODDhe_3-W9b0zp2XzAQB3gt7iolHjZ21t-AFbgY3_D6cm89X1-oLy_/s1600-h/GERS150.jpg">A download salute to all my anonymous friends . . .</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPyFbzzsOG258zy4hjrHp21ahD_8g6Cu7l3icHFmEhBj8Mdv7YXFFLosg8eG45eRbPKjFiFJYBinAXPODDhe_3-W9b0zp2XzAQB3gt7iolHjZ21t-AFbgY3_D6cm89X1-oLy_/s1600-h/GERS150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPyFbzzsOG258zy4hjrHp21ahD_8g6Cu7l3icHFmEhBj8Mdv7YXFFLosg8eG45eRbPKjFiFJYBinAXPODDhe_3-W9b0zp2XzAQB3gt7iolHjZ21t-AFbgY3_D6cm89X1-oLy_/s400/GERS150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187690017518518626" border="0" /></a>Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-27772948714403714122008-04-10T10:58:00.000-07:002008-04-11T11:39:05.109-07:00Hella Trouble in Helatrobus . . .Leaked Co$ docs are like Lay's™ potato chips: betcha can't read just one. I've been gorging on the heaping platefuls of "tech" that have recently shown up on <a href="http://www.wikileaks.org/">wikileaks.org.</a> If you pick through them patiently they're quite instructive as to the nature of the racket that is <a href="http://www.scientology.org/">$cientology</a>—especially the lecture transcripts. These are especially hilarious, as you can actually hear the cogs turning in Hubbard's brain as he's bullshitting in realtime. I'd love to say this is like watching "the master at work" but his patois is really transparently pathetic. Lots of verbal static like: "and such", "you see", plus the classic "and that sort of thing". He peppers his lectures with this stuff when he's in the process of making shit up (which is pretty much all the time).<br /><br />My new favorites are "The Helatrobus Implants". Of course, I've heard of them for years and read little clips here and there, but to spend hours looking closely at them is by turns mirth inducing and tedious. One tactic of Elron's becomes crystal clear however, the ol' "move the target" ploy. He sets up all these thetanic ailments based in ridiculous intergalactic scenarios, and come up with crazy auditing techniques with important sounding names like R2D2 to solve them. He then informs you that there are ever newer levels that you'll have to do on top of that. Here's a fine example from $cientology's Golden Age of Batshit Crazy™:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"Now, the technological win is tremendous and there are only about five percent of the cases you're going to run into that are going to give you a bit of a thetan ache because they don't have what I choose to call now, because it was the nation or small government that did these things -- Helatrobus -- not to be confused with Helatrobe. Helatrobe is the Galactic Confederation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It's Helatrobus. Call these things the Helatrobus Implants for lack of a better designation because 43 trillion isn't accurate for all cases, don't you see, and that sort of thing. You can't give it by a time date and there is no reason to keep calling it by a time date. Let's call it by something that was less well known, but that we can identify. Call them the Helatrobus Implants and it tells you these are the implants which begin with the electronic clouds over planets and -- and the dichotomy, plus and minus, and so forth, and sweep on through in a certain series. And people have been through them once, twice, three, four times and they have -- we have the patterns of the first series very accurately. We'll shortly have the patterns of the second series. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">All that makes very easy auditing. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >We even have a technique that handles this now</span><span style="font-family:arial;">: 3N, which has </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >just been released</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> and that's the same patter that you've been using, speeded up a bit. And there's even a shortened version of that </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >which you will need very soon</span><span style="font-family:arial;">."</span></span><br /><br />There it is, "which you will need very soon". This evidently happens constantly in the cult. You get so far and feel like progress has been made and BAM! You have to be clear. Then you get clear and BAM! You have to go OT. Then you "make progress" and BAM! Body Thetans, evidently <span style="font-style: italic;">43 trillion</span> years worth of 'em. That's a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot </span>of auditing.<br /><br />So even though daffy Lafayette has shed his body, Li'l Davy and his minions can keep "discovering" space opera nonsense until the Marcabs come home. That gives me a whole lotta thetan ache.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-13427000267094834302008-04-09T18:27:00.000-07:002008-04-09T18:40:35.932-07:00Have you ever enturbulated an orderly environment?Well? <span style="font-style: italic;">Have </span>ya, punk?<br /><br />That's just one of the hundreds of batshit crazy questions on the recently available sec checks now on<a href="http://www.wikileaks.org/"> wikileaks.org.</a>. This amazing look into the rusty carnival ride that was L. Ron Hubbard's brain gives you new perspective on the mind-numbing processes that $cientologists are subject to daily on the Bridge. Hundreds of questions, some reasonable, some completley insane and meaningless, in various combinations and permutations are lobbed at the hapless $cientologist holding the cans.<br />Imagine going through this process for hours on end. No wonder you get high and feel like the king or queen of the universe when you're done. No wonder you'd believe that the universe is quadrillions of years old (it really isn't really, it just feels like it after a sec check or reading one of Hubbard's tomes).<br />Read through the OT materials for a good laugh, but remember the state that the auditors get you into in order to fall for the intergalactic tripe. The sleep deprivation. The repetition. And the paranoia. Check out the last questions of the "Jo'burg Confessional". Total paranoia. This might help the wog to understand the mindset of those still inside the "Church" and why they are so in thrall to these ideas.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-49386810549494324532008-03-19T16:07:00.000-07:002008-03-19T16:16:59.654-07:00Talk about enturbulaton . . .<a href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=5087">This</a> has to be giving Li'l Davy some sleepless nights. Famed for his Borderline Personality Disorder induced paranoia, Miscavige must be viewing <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">everyone</span> with suspicion now. What a sad little man . . . that and he has to live in Hemet.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-11801483004934716432008-03-17T13:08:00.000-07:002008-03-17T13:15:30.661-07:00Jenna Miscavige Hill is Courage IncarnateFor all of us wog critics, we think it must be so cool for those waking up in the cult to speak out against $cientology and leave. Well, <a href="http://xenutv.wordpress.com/2008/03/16/scientology-contacts-jenna-miscavige-hill/">this link</a> shows that while it may be empowering and freeing, it's definitely not fun. This woman and her husband have to choose between family and integrity. Something that a child should never have to do. This choice that Jenna and Dallas have made must be painful in a way that those of us not involved in $cientology can't imagine.<br />Her grace under enormous pressure is amazing to watch, as is Kendra's and Astra's. These women are making a huge difference and All MEST Up salutes them and their work.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-63475113989637522882008-03-13T15:09:00.000-07:002008-03-13T15:15:00.180-07:00In their own "scripture" . . .As I always say, criticism of $cientology is never as effective as their own words and actions . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZMuZTnH7UZO11O-nhCyYSAlpquYIPgWaF8nmZXS-7FZcRLJiWt2eNLggWn-n5K4iII3re1x3RrsOvwF-HNOKCdoL-ZgTPw8deosXrdgq897AQsazwYskaxGpmOh1dRm1RqXq/s1600-h/claydemo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZMuZTnH7UZO11O-nhCyYSAlpquYIPgWaF8nmZXS-7FZcRLJiWt2eNLggWn-n5K4iII3re1x3RrsOvwF-HNOKCdoL-ZgTPw8deosXrdgq897AQsazwYskaxGpmOh1dRm1RqXq/s400/claydemo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177352553981425570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br />This scary tidbit is from the newly uploaded OSA documents of Frank Oliver which can be found <a href="http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology_Office_of_Special_Affairs_and_Frank_Oliver">here.</a><br /><br /></span>Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-17116620612668632202008-02-11T14:38:00.000-08:002008-02-11T14:54:59.838-08:00Anonymous Pulls it Off. Well Done You (All)!Though I had my fears of ill-mannered shit-disturbers taking the day, the masses of respectful protesters that showed up around the world proved me wrong. Three cheers for worldwide civil disobedience and cheeky attitude. The images from around the globe showed a strong turnout and more than a little creativity. Our San Francisco protest was a great but I wish I could have been in L.A. to see a decidedly maskless Tory surrounded by her posse of dashing V-men.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti62T7wPzC_Iun3MlotLoNiV7N3pgcuyzHortbUxA6-gGLD8CIIYieSZMmvyZ4EhBJIeNyIzlvYPnEgr0K9u8BtVCg7Rq628A7MeVnKnQfQpbe3sOnwZ4wyeUOpzd0ji8mBOg/s1600-h/tory.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti62T7wPzC_Iun3MlotLoNiV7N3pgcuyzHortbUxA6-gGLD8CIIYieSZMmvyZ4EhBJIeNyIzlvYPnEgr0K9u8BtVCg7Rq628A7MeVnKnQfQpbe3sOnwZ4wyeUOpzd0ji8mBOg/s320/tory.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165859779501604082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Church of Xenu Ascendant of the Latter Day Thetans salutes your enturbulation success.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29776073.post-41910670415947724552008-02-08T13:24:00.000-08:002008-02-08T13:30:45.841-08:00So THAT'S why he gives me the creeps . . .I'm a latecomer to "Lost" but I now count myself among its many fans. I know he's the bad guy, but that Ben guy totally creeps me out and I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">way</span> more than the other fairly creepy bad guy characters on the show and I wondered why until it hit me . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaybK470AXanait-OprcaizbZvUzXngpiyS3qySXBHs1VrTdofF_z1cs6U3uBWDM10xcnaql3dVku-2ZmDQ8pnzLFHQhNHAuUhOMaBa4Fte33JqEFsjZe1pZq_IVvY3BEDQ_NT/s1600-h/miscavigeorben.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaybK470AXanait-OprcaizbZvUzXngpiyS3qySXBHs1VrTdofF_z1cs6U3uBWDM10xcnaql3dVku-2ZmDQ8pnzLFHQhNHAuUhOMaBa4Fte33JqEFsjZe1pZq_IVvY3BEDQ_NT/s320/miscavigeorben.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164724210961070690" border="0" /></a>He's clearly Li'l Davey's long lost brother, that's why those trendy Indiana Jones wannabe hipsters are after him. He knows where all the $cientology skeletons are buried! Man, this just gets better and better.Artoo45http://www.blogger.com/profile/14300348322780544335noreply@blogger.com0