I have a Scientology nugget that might be a bit off-thread, but I don't know where else to put it.
A couple of years ago, the national mag that employed me had an editorial meeting and decided to task a reporter team to do the research ground work on a future Scientology expose. We started by having lunch at the cafeteria on the premises of the "Scientology Celebrity Centre (sic) International" in Hollywood. When we showed up, the receptionists demanded that we all turn in our driver licenses. They recorded all the data in a log. Our names, home addresses and driver license alpha-numeric codes. So.Fucking.Creepy. #scientology
@adiam7: The hardest part about reading comments is trying to come up with something witty when you have a case of the giggles. Darn you, adiam7. #scientology
@snugbug: See, this is how it works in scientific investigations. There was this member of our unit, Ft Sill, OK, who was short of cash and long of need, like all of us, so he left a deposit of value with a Lawton service station and then gleefully lit out with a full tank, never expecting to have to pay the bill. But they traced him down with topflight police work.
The item he left with the station attendant was his ID card.
This guy is probably with the Scientology racket now. #scientology
Tom Cruis is like 5'4 WTF are these morons scared of? Paul Higgins puts them in a very tight spot. He looks like he could live up to anything they reveal AND the revelations will cause more people leaving. I think there will be revelations but it will be more subtle. He is also sure t obe in store for some serious backlash from the Scientology elite. So no movies with the Elfman's #scientology
@adiam7: from the letter to Fields, posted on Rathbun's website- the threat of a Cruise combat on suppressives was accompanied by the additional threat that the "managers" would be bypassed by Cruise if they did not beat them to a pulp. Here is the excerpt from the letter:
Miscavige informed all of the members of International management that he had been telling Cruise all about how suppressive Yager, Leserve, and Mithoff had been to Miscavige personally. He told the executives that he had told Cruise how all other members of management were suppressive to Miscavige too because they refused to beat Yager, Leserve and Mithoff to pulps in defense of Miscavige’s honor. Miscavige said that Tom, as his best friend and most trusted confidante, had vowed to come to the Hole and personally "beat the living shit" out of Yager, Leserve, and Mithoff if the managers failed to do so themselves. Miscavige said that if they didn’t show evidence that they had acted, they all would be bypassed the next day by Cruise. The tantrum was accompanied by the usual ill-tempered and sadistic threats to the executives detailing what would become of them if Tom had to do "their job." #scientology
@adiam7: Cruise is powerful because he's not just a bankable star but also currently runs a Hollywood studio--United Artists. Albeit a kind of phantom studio. Nevertheless, the position of studio head enhances his stature in Hollywood. F-wad demands respect from countless numbers of actors who wish to be employed. #scientology
@snugbug: Its insane but true. I have known a few young hopeful actors to go to scientology events just for the connections. Tom Cruise's UA being the biggest one. #scientology
@snugbug: Usually I separate an actor from his/her personal life, but I can no longer do that with Tom Cruise. When he's in a film or in an interview, all I see is bat-shit crazy creepy loony.
@snugbug: That is true but I think his brand is fucked and has been on a serious decline since the couch incident. More importantly, his movies have sucked. Also, didn't his movie partner leave him recently? If this was the old Tom Cruise AND he was running a studio I would be more worried for Paul . I am more concerned about the closet Scientologist and their impact on Higgins. Not to mention those not as secure as Paul Higgins that Scientology could get to in order to effect Higgins in an adverse way . Finally, that wife of his and the whole disconnections thing are probably going to be an issue. I believe Higgins has trouble ahead of him but not as much as he would have had a few years ago. The defectors, tell-alls, news reports, the pesky internet and best of all Tom Davies have really hurt these nutjobs #scientology
@saa: You mean you didn't buy Tommy Cruise of Syracuse as a one-eyed German aristocrat in Valkyrie? His American accent instantly transported me to Nazi Germany, it really did.. Seriously though, that film was hilariously schizophrenic. Cruise was the only one who spoke American, the British supporting cast spoke the Queen's English and the German supporting cast spoke German-accented English.. Tower of Babel FTW!
@Cheruth: The Beverly Hills Playhouse is also a major Scientology recruiting nexus in L.A. (Kind of a PSA, if any hopeful young actor out there is looking for a way to break into Hollywood and doesn't mind going the Sciento route.) #scientology
@Cheruth: I, too, know quite a few otherwise sane and halfway intelligent struggling actors that go to these scientology events. That's where I preempt their exclusion of me as a potential "SP" and delete them from my Facebook. OTs, your move.
@snugbug: I am troubled that you saw that film. I saw the review and heard his English and I figured he didn't make an effort so why the fuck should I. A German aristocrat from today let alone then would speak the Queen's English, but if that was too much for him then he should have had everyone speak American English an #scientology
@snugbug: That's the guy I was talking about!!!! He is dead, some acting teacher , he recruited like half of their member. He is the one that wrote a book that was not even about acting but his life and where did he get to go ? Oprah. I am telling you they got some shit on her.This was not that long ago, and his appearance made no sense , #scientology
@adiam7: I watched it for giggles--and I promise you, it was worth it! I think Tom C gave up even trying accents after that fiasco called "Far and Away" where he attempted "Irish laddie" speak. That being said, I saw "Lions and Lambs" recently--this first, and to date only, film he produced for his studio--and I must admit, he wasn't bad in it. I mean, he only comes in two settings, really--1. huffy, "focused," determined; and 2. "heeeeey, beybeh"-smarmy a-hole but approx. once a decade he pulls it off. #scientology
@adiam7: When could he? Seriously. He just lost his best buddy and he stares in the mirror, sighs, flicks eyes left in a Clare Danes take, and that's a rap. #scientology
@snugbug: Like it or not, Days of Thunder had a great opening. You have some of the sense of old guys who know their business going about it. Then in rides the little drip on his Honda and it's time to look for the remote. #scientology
@adiam7: Just want to mention once it was done well. Maximillian Schell in Judgment at Nuremberg. He delivered his opening monologue in German and then there was a transition jump cut and he spoke accented English from there but let on he was still being translated, and all because the double-talk through the translator was becoming tedious. #scientology
Can you imagine being in an already flawed "belief system" like Scientology and then getting beat up and beat up by Tom Cruise. It's too surreal for words--and very sickening. #scientology
I've been thinking a lot about Haggis's letter and I think it really puts Scientology in a tight spot. It's totally an assumption on my part, but I would suspect that there are quite a few mid-profile Scientology celebrities who feel the same way Haggis does about the Scientology's Prop. 8 support (i.e., real discomfort). I don't know how Scientology deals with changes in its doctrine, but I assume changes can be made. But given what we all suspect about the way Scientology has used certain members' misgivings about their own sexuality as a means of control, such a change in doctrine could result in less leverage in Hollywood. But not changing their stance has risks too. There's that story about Jenna Elfman and her husband accosting some guy who wore a shirt that mocked Scientology and they angrily said to him, in effect, "you're mocking my religion!" I wonder how the couple would have reacted if someone rather loudly explained to them that, "yes, my t-shirt is critical of your religion because it donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to a political campaign whose sole purpose was to take away my (or my friend's, or sister's or father's) right to marry the person they love. I'm also critical of the Mormon church, the Catholic Church and various freak show right wing protestant churches that you're apparently in bed with. Good day. Assholes." Oh, and I also like to think that the career of Neil Patrick Harris gives Miscavige nightmares.
@BicycleShed: Scientology can't change its doctrine. L. Ron Hubbard's works, referred to collectively as "Source," cannot be altered in any way. You're not even supposed to rephrase it, because they believe in the importance of exact wording.
Now, obviously there's the old "previously undiscovered writings" gambit, but given that Hubbard was consistent with his opinions on homosexuality, I don't think it'd work here. For instance, I'm pretty sure it showed up in Dianetics, and there's no good way to efface that. #scientology
@CumaeanSibyl: Thanks. I should have known that they'd be loathe to deviate from anything previously published by Hubbard himself. I'm sure I'm not saying anything novel and that others have suggested that growing acceptance of homosexuality poses some real problems for Scientology. The battle for marriage rights just seems to shine a spotlight on their (and other institutions') bigotry. To which I say, good. #scientology
@CumaeanSibyl: It's time for their own Joseph Smith with his magical mystery golden tablets straight from the presses of Gabriel - which are, ahem, just too holy to be actually shown to the unblessed. #scientology
Like anybody should listen to a word Bert Fields says. The fact that Bruce Hay invited Fields and Cruise into his Entertainment Law class at Harvard is pretty sad. Jessica Corsi's account of it is lulzy. And yes, "You can't handle the truth" was uttered.
@SusieDerkins: Is that site written in another language? I couldn't figure out what the hell he was saying. There was a comment from a couple asking if he would help them rescue their child from Scientology. That came through loud and clear. Heartbreaking. #scientology
@mfnher: Yep, it's written in Scientologist. I used to speak it (as an opponent, never a member) but it's all gibberish to me now. I do remember debating with clams and they seriously talked this way. Some of the exes did, too. #scientology
@Foster Kamer: I promise I'll only set it to stun... Should you entertain allowing me in the dining room (can I use the bubbler too?) I'm a hell of cook. I could bring baked goods to the table. Gooey and decadent treats. Cookies even. Name your fav. Plus I'll bring my Tribble and let you pet it. Cap'n.I'm quite happy to be an enlisted Gawker soldier. See that Sneetch with no star in the photo? C'est moi. #scientology
@jscrossland: It's a special vessel only the celebrity members of Sea Org are allowed to sail on. A less landlocked version of the Celebrity Center in LA. #scientology
So glad the smoke and mirrors of Scientology are disappearing faster than ticket sales for Monsieur Cruise's latest blockbusters.
Seems as though a day of reckoning is upon us on many fronts. Finally the lying, stealing, cheating members of the finacial sector are being exposed for the lying, stealing cheating bastards they are. Next up are the cults such as Scientology.
We must protect all whistleblowers regardless of the impact to society of their admissions. The finacial whistleblowers have an impact on all of us and our National Security going forward, and the Scientology whistlblowers have less of an impact to society at large, but it's all part of the cleaning up process that I hope will eventually lead to a level playing field for all Americans, and a return to a life in America where everyone has a chance to succeed and prosper.
They say "the truth always comes out, whether good or bad". Viva the truth!!!
Tom Cruise is just an actor. A person who alters his personna for entertainment purposes. At one point in history, these people were called Court Jesters. Tom is laughable, but his power is directly linked to the level at which we all hold him in the collective mind.
John Travolta has had a cataclysmic event in his life (my continued sympathies for their loss), which seems to have shifted his perspective and possibly exposed his Scientology activities over the years as empty. Let's hope any untoward begavior on the part of this organization is exposed and dealt a swift blow. Protection for all interested in revealing details should be forthcoming.
@MelitaPolyhymnia: Travolta's brother's autism organization spoke volumes to me about John Travolta. The brother, unlike the sister and mother who joined, is an actor but was never really seen with Travolta. He said that someone close to him was affected by autism and he just wanted help. #scientology
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Scientific proof. #scientology
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A couple of years ago, the national mag that employed me had an editorial meeting and decided to task a reporter team to do the research ground work on a future Scientology expose. We started by having lunch at the cafeteria on the premises of the "Scientology Celebrity Centre (sic) International" in Hollywood. When we showed up, the receptionists demanded that we all turn in our driver licenses. They recorded all the data in a log. Our names, home addresses and driver license alpha-numeric codes. So.Fucking.Creepy. #scientology
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The item he left with the station attendant was his ID card.
This guy is probably with the Scientology racket now. #scientology
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Miscavige informed all of the members of International management that he had been telling Cruise all about how suppressive Yager, Leserve, and Mithoff had been to Miscavige personally. He told the executives that he had told Cruise how all other members of management were suppressive to Miscavige too because they refused to beat Yager, Leserve and Mithoff to pulps in defense of Miscavige’s honor. Miscavige said that Tom, as his best friend and most trusted confidante, had vowed to come to the Hole and personally "beat the living shit" out of Yager, Leserve, and Mithoff if the managers failed to do so themselves. Miscavige said that if they didn’t show evidence that they had acted, they all would be bypassed the next day by Cruise. The tantrum was accompanied by the usual ill-tempered and sadistic threats to the executives detailing what would become of them if Tom had to do "their job." #scientology
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I LOVE that movie! #scientology
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And dumb. #scientology
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(Back from IMDB). Ahhhh yes..Magnolia. The womanizer Frank Mackey. Perfect role. #scientology
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I ain't gonna go looking him up on the googles in case somebody searches my history file ... #scientology
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Now, obviously there's the old "previously undiscovered writings" gambit, but given that Hubbard was consistent with his opinions on homosexuality, I don't think it'd work here. For instance, I'm pretty sure it showed up in Dianetics, and there's no good way to efface that. #scientology
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Seems as though a day of reckoning is upon us on many fronts. Finally the lying, stealing, cheating members of the finacial sector are being exposed for the lying, stealing cheating bastards they are. Next up are the cults such as Scientology.
We must protect all whistleblowers regardless of the impact to society of their admissions. The finacial whistleblowers have an impact on all of us and our National Security going forward, and the Scientology whistlblowers have less of an impact to society at large, but it's all part of the cleaning up process that I hope will eventually lead to a level playing field for all Americans, and a return to a life in America where everyone has a chance to succeed and prosper.
They say "the truth always comes out, whether good or bad". Viva the truth!!!
Tom Cruise is just an actor. A person who alters his personna for entertainment purposes. At one point in history, these people were called Court Jesters. Tom is laughable, but his power is directly linked to the level at which we all hold him in the collective mind.
John Travolta has had a cataclysmic event in his life (my continued sympathies for their loss), which seems to have shifted his perspective and possibly exposed his Scientology activities over the years as empty. Let's hope any untoward begavior on the part of this organization is exposed and dealt a swift blow. Protection for all interested in revealing details should be forthcoming.
11/08/09