We love a good appeal brief. If you read a lot of legal documents like we do, you get used to a lot of turgid stuff that, while highly important to a case, is a slog to get through.

But appeal briefs are great because they are [...]]]>

We love a good appeal brief. If you read a lot of legal documents like we do, you get used to a lot of turgid stuff that, while highly important to a case, is a slog to get through.

But appeal briefs are great because they are written to persuade a higher court that a lower court has screwed up. And in order to do that, an appeal brief usually includes a beautifully written summation of how the case evolved. And the appeal brief submitted by Luis and Rocio Garcia that we got our hands on last night is no exception.

Many of you have been with us for the six years since we first started reporting on the Garcia lawsuit and its allegations that a wealthy Orange County, California couple were fleeced by the Church of Scientology. And you know the case had some crazy twists and turns as Scientology tried its usual outrageous tricks, like trying to disqualify the other side’s attorneys.

But ultimately, what shocked the hell out of us about this case was that even after the Garcias proved that Scientology had never held an “internal arbitration” in its 60-year history, and even after the Garcias entered testimony by former top executives Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder who said under oath that the arbitration agreement the Garcias had signed was a sham designed to keep people from getting their money back, and even after the Church of Scientology admitted that it had no procedures in place to hold an arbitration — even then Judge James D. Whittemore decided the Garcias would have to submit their grievances to internal arbitration, and he shut their lawsuit down.

His reasoning? He claimed that in order to decide whether Scientology’s refund rules were bogus, he would have to infringe on the church’s religious rights. The First Amendment, he said, prevented him from hearing the lawsuit in his court, even though what the Garcias were alleging was essentially criminal behavior on the part of Scientology.

For the next three years we hung on as the case painfully moved toward a foregone conclusion, when the Garcias finally did go through with the arbitration, which turned out to be an utter joke.

Now, the brief written by the Garcia’s appellate attorney, Philip M. Burlington, summarizes all of that history in a very readable and illuminating narrative, and argues that Judge Whittemore screwed up when he let the church run roughshod over him. We think it’s entertaining as hell, and we look forward to your own thoughts about it.

Here’s the document…

Garcia v. Scientology: Appe… by on Scribd

 
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Pasadena ropes in a shill

This Saturday, at the Pasadena Ideal Org, it’s “World Happiness Day Open House, featuring Vice Mayor of Pasadena”

Here’s the description:

“This is an event for everyone to celebrate just a little bit of happiness! We plan for our guest speakers to talk about events happening world-wide that are, well, happy! We wanted to arrange a time and place for some people to gather round so that we spread the awareness of this important day of celebration! Also, after the event, you’re welcome to join us for a fun clean-up outside at the nearby park. PLUS, everyone who participates will receive an award — of happiness! Special Guest Speaker: Mr. Tyron Hampton, Vice Mayor of Pasadena will be the special guest speaker. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome!”

 
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles

This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. We have something in mind, but for now we’re not giving out information about it.

Friday night we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.

On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.

HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22.

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!

Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology cranks up its ‘noisy’ investigation of Leah Remini, and she fires back
[TWO years ago] David Miscavige: Scientology TV launches by June 21, to show ‘planet’s coolest religion’
[THREE years ago] THE BILLBOARD IS UP: Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ on view in Los Angeles
[FOUR years ago] ‘Going Clear’ subject Tom DeVocht visited by Burbank PD after suspicious anonymous tip
[FIVE years ago] Video Vault: Hear L. Ron Hubbard unite Dianetics and Scientology in connubial bliss!
[SIX years ago] The Secret to Scientology’s “Wins” Revealed?
[SEVEN years ago] Mike Rinder on “The Hole,” Indoctrination, Confessions, and His Ultimate Escape

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 4, 2019 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele

 At some point, all of the defensive posturing by trophy hunters that they are conservationists with the best interests of animals in mind really does get old and it’s time they came clean.

The truth is, they take exotic and endangered species because, frankly, they can.

Mankind long ago won the survival of the fittest. It’s human [...]]]>

 
At some point, all of the defensive posturing by trophy hunters that they are conservationists with the best interests of animals in mind really does get old and it’s time they came clean.

The truth is, they take exotic and endangered species because, frankly, they can.

Mankind long ago won the survival of the fittest. It’s human beings who developed the technology to send a high-velocity projectile from a safe distance that tears up an animal’s vital organs, eliminating the need for running, jumping, or throwing a spear.

Human beings are so much smarter, we can put exotic animals in enclosures, and wealthy people who pay enough can be carted out, set up with a rifle on a tripod, and then pull the trigger from far enough away that the animal never knows it’s coming.

We are simply superior. Animals are losers.

We take trophies. They die.

And then we celebrate with an extra order of fries. Maybe with some chili and cheese, too.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 3, 2019 at 20:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He’s written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology’s harassment of Paulette Cooper titled ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,’ and more recently a compilation of his stories, ‘Battlefield Scientology.’ He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world, as well as other subjects at The Underground Bunker. You can reach him by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you’d like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.)

An interesting new document from Nxivm bookkeeper Kathy Russell’s attorney hit the court file today. It’s a memo supporting her motion to dismiss charges against her, and it argues that she was taken advantage of by prosecutors when they asked her to testify to the grand jury last May.

Russell’s attorneys Justine [...]]]>

An interesting new document from Nxivm bookkeeper Kathy Russell’s attorney hit the court file today. It’s a memo supporting her motion to dismiss charges against her, and it argues that she was taken advantage of by prosecutors when they asked her to testify to the grand jury last May.

Russell’s attorneys Justine A. Harris and Amanda Ravich say that when Russell was asked to appear before the grand jury, she was told by prosecutors that she was not a target of the investigation.

But now, they say, new evidence obtained in discovery shows that by the time Russell appeared, the government already had evidence that she’d committed numerous crimes.

“At the time the government specifically told Ms. Russell that she was not a target, it had already obtained substantial evidence implicating her in criminal conduct,” the attorneys write, “include witness statements directly linking Ms. Russell to the commission of a variety of crimes, including tax evasion and visa fraud.” (Emphasis theirs.)

Take a look at that again. Kathy Russell’s attorneys are telling Judge Nicholas Garaufis that there is substantial evidence showing that their client was involved in a variety of criminal activity.

It’s just that the government should have told her that when they asked her to appear before the grand jury, and so the government forfeits the whole ball of wax, they argue.

We’d love to hear from our legal experts, how’s that for an argument just a few days before jury selection is slated to begin in the Nxivm trial?

Russell’s attorneys have asked for an emergency evidentiary hearing to take place tomorrow or Friday.

Also in the court file was a new memo from Seagram heiress Clare Bronfman’s attorneys about her motions to dismiss and request to be severed from Keith Raniere in a separate trial. A quick look through has us thinking these are the usual points being made about charges not being specific enough or inadequately papered or relying on the wrong case law, etc. But our legal experts can tell us if this is unusual in some way.

 
Here are the documents…

Nxivm Doc 498: Kathy Russell Motion to Dismiss by Tony Ortega on Scribd

Nxivm Doc 499: Clare Bronfman Motion to Dismiss by Tony Ortega on Scribd

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 3, 2019 at 18:20

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He’s written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology’s harassment of Paulette Cooper titled ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,’ and more recently a compilation of his stories, ‘Battlefield Scientology.’ He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world, as well as other subjects at The Underground Bunker. You can reach him by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you’d like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.)

What an interesting and odd story coming out of Sweden today. We were alerted to it by a Lloyd Evans tweet, and then spent part of the morning reading translations of articles from the Swedish version of Metro, the free daily newspaper.

It turns out that last summer, Metro ran a series of [...]]]>

What an interesting and odd story coming out of Sweden today. We were alerted to it by a Lloyd Evans tweet, and then spent part of the morning reading translations of articles from the Swedish version of Metro, the free daily newspaper.

It turns out that last summer, Metro ran a series of articles on Jehovah’s Witnesses, which was having a big annual gathering in Stockholm. At the event, which was open to the public, about 8,000 people were in attendance, including several hundred children. The audience was shown a slick US-produced film that had an anti-LGBT message, as well as frightening stuff about an imminent Armageddon. Metro quoted an ex-JW who said, “They do not realize how dangerous this is for children.”

The ex-member reported the meeting to the State Media Council and to the police. It turns out that because the event was open to the public, a permit was required before showing a film to an audience that included children.

In December, Metro reported that a criminal investigation was happening. And now this morning Metro has reported that a local Jehovah’s Witnesses representative (who is unnamed) has been convicted and was sentenced to a fine of $43,000 SEK, which is about $4,600 US.

“The fine is set low because the defendant has low income,” Lloyd tells us. “It would be far higher if it was directed at Watchtower itself. But still, the main issue now is that they can’t ignore this and go on as before.”

The Bunker: So the lesson is, scaring children in Sweden comes with a price.

Lloyd: Indeed. Sweden has acted entirely properly in this instance. It’s yet another example of governments finally waking up to the harm cults are doing, and acting accordingly. It should be happening in every country. You shouldn’t be able to churn out extremely traumatic, hateful video propaganda and force families with kids to sit through it. Watchtower is finally discovering this the hard way.

The Bunker: That might be tough to regulate here. We’re trying to think where a complaint could be lodged if a film scaring children about Armageddon was shown at a public venue here in the US. Considering the crap we subject children to on our TVs every day, we’re not sure anyone would notice.

Lloyd: Which just demonstrates how far behind we are in Western society. Cults are allowed to get away with almost anything in the name of religion, including forcing kids to watch videos encouraging them to hate and fear gay people (and their allies), and films depicting men with guns coming for them just before Armageddon erupts. We’re living at the wrong point in history. Leah Remini has already demonstrated this by putting together compelling evidence of Scientology abuse and corruption, putting it on national television, and the government barely shrugging their shoulders.

The Bunker: It’s a quandary. There’s no doubt these groups are exploiting vulnerabilities in our social fabric by using things like free speech and religious freedom in a way that perverts their purposes. But plugging those holes is not going to be easy. We like our freedoms.

Lloyd: Freedom is everything, but so is freedom to be protected from abusive, corrupt, manipulative groups that prey on the young and emotionally vulnerable. So far, society apparently isn’t interested in even trying to strike a balance. It’s all in favor of the cult leaders. At least in countries like Sweden, and the Netherlands where the government has ordered an investigation into child sex abuse among JWs, politicians are starting to wake up. So there’s hope.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 3, 2018 at 12:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He’s written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology’s harassment of Paulette Cooper titled ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,’ and more recently a compilation of his stories, ‘Battlefield Scientology.’ He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world, as well as other subjects such as Jehovah’s Witnesses. You can reach him by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you’d like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.)

 It’s not too often that we’re treated to a broadside like the one Scientologist Jeff Pomerantz shared with his fellow Hubbardites recently.

Pomerantz is very well known in Scientology. Not only is he the announcer at big Scientology events, but he is remembered for being on the “front lines” at the Religious Freedom Crusade, the Battle [...]]]>

 
It’s not too often that we’re treated to a broadside like the one Scientologist Jeff Pomerantz shared with his fellow Hubbardites recently.

Pomerantz is very well known in Scientology. Not only is he the announcer at big Scientology events, but he is remembered for being on the “front lines” at the Religious Freedom Crusade, the Battle of Portland in 1985, something he reprised in 2018 by showing up at a rally in Hungary wearing the same kind of yellow “Scientology Works” shirt he wore in Oregon.

So it was fun to spot this rallying cry Pomerantz posted to Facebook, addressing our politically divided times and urging his fellow Scientologists to set an example of unity while the rest of the world seems to be burning down around us.

It’s inspiring stuff, but naturally, since this is a Scientology appeal, it eventually boils down to the usual solution: Send your money to the IAS. Ah, well.

Still, we thought you’d enjoy this prime example of Scientology zeal.

A Message from Jeff Pomerantz
IAS Freedom Medal Recipient

In 1985 thousands of Scientologists rallied to quite literally save Scientology. We were united in a desire to right a wrong and continue to work to improve our world.

Today there is dissension and disagreement within our country — and within our group, a unique group, which contains many thousands of truly well-intentioned individuals. I believe it is time once again to be united to right wrongs in our society.

As Scientologists I believe we should be acutely aware that in terms of politics there are “strings from above,” no matter what individual political view one has, manipulating puppets, “running” our governments. Meaning there’s “The Great Oz” behind the curtain, and things are most often not what they seem. Additionally, it would be good to step back occasionally and look at the fact that ALL the politicians and leaders still possess reactive minds. Yes, Congress, the Senate, The Executive Branch, the Supreme Court, ALL are composed of human beings possessing reactive banks.

All that said, rather than debating, besmirching, lambasting, name-calling, and exacerbating differences, alloying affinities within our group, etc ad infinitum and invalidating each other’s point of view & therefore wasting time, energy, and lots of theta, the real question is, WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT — because SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT!

Basically, the GENUINE ANSWER to ALL that we complain about and disagree about lies in the ULTIMATE SOLUTIONS that LRH has blessed us all with — i.e. all our Social Salvage programs: The Way to Happiness, Drug Free World, Volunteer Ministers, Narconon, CCHR & Applied Scholastics. All of which are funded through grants from the IAS — as are all new AOs and Ideal Orgs in strategic locations.

So, rather than arguing with each other the suggestion is that we channel our desire to change things for the better through supporting LRH SOLUTIONS — something we can all AGREE ON. And that means increased support of the IAS. THAT is SANE. THAT is wearing our hats as Scientologists.

I admonish each and everyone of us (myself included) to decrease “Facebook/Twitter time” — and increase our survival potential as individuals and as a country through our greatly vibrantly increased support of IAS.

It’s certainly about more and more monetary support but it can also be by being more active in those programs.

Let’s rehabilitate this dirt ball!

Thanks for reading this.

ML,
Jeff Pomerantz

 
And here’s a bonus: That photo at the top is taken from a video of Pomerantz at the website “DavidMiscavige.org,” where Pomerantz delivers this endorsement of Scientology’s leader:

That man has — you see an intensity, you also, if you observe him, see incredible competence and a tireless viewpoint. I mean, if the job needs to be done he will get the job done. I don’t think that man has ever, ever considered that somebody else should do a job that he would not be willing to do himself.

There is a dedication that exists in Mr. Miscavige and a real integrity. You know it’s — I mean these, these are just words in society. But he exemplifies those things.

I was about to become a father and I approached him and I said, “Sir, there simply is no one else I would trust my daughter with and I’d like you to be her godfather.” Not only did he accept but for 27 years he has never missed a birthday. He’s in comm with her and I try validating him about that — years later and he said, “When I take on a hat, I wear it.”

 
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles

This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. We have something in mind, but for now we’re not giving out information about it.

Friday night we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.

On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.

HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22.

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!

Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Newly released documents: Scientology leader L. Ron Hubbard tried to ‘buy’ an African nation
[TWO years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige launches new personal attacks at Leah Remini
[THREE years ago] David Miscavige and a bussed-in crowd cut the ribbon on Atlanta’s new Scientology ‘Ideal Org’
[FOUR years ago] How Scientologists are dealing with the popularity of Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear’
[FIVE years ago] We asked David Miscavige’s tailor for his exact height — and here’s what he told us!
[SIX years ago] LEAK: Scientology’s Rehab Went from $5,000 to $2.5 Million in Insurance Revenue in One Year

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 3, 2019 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele

 Trophy hunters are so tragically misunderstood. No matter how much they explain to people that they are dedicated conservationists, supreme lovers of animals, and not people suffering crippling inadequacy issues, there’s another side to these champions of the natural world that rarely gets the credit it deserves: Their sense of humor.

Take Canberra developer Nick Haridemos, [...]]]>

 
Trophy hunters are so tragically misunderstood. No matter how much they explain to people that they are dedicated conservationists, supreme lovers of animals, and not people suffering crippling inadequacy issues, there’s another side to these champions of the natural world that rarely gets the credit it deserves: Their sense of humor.

Take Canberra developer Nick Haridemos, for example. Last year, Nick was dragged in the press because photos that he’d taken between 2010 and 2016 went viral, in particular a shot of him sharing a ride with a baboon who looked like it was having a laugh driving Nick’s jeep.

The fact that Nick had fired a high-velocity projectile through the primate’s vital organs and the animal had expired didn’t mean that Nick wasn’t going to include Mr. Baboon in the safari hijinks.

Sadly for him, the press backlash to this photo and others posted by Nick resulted in him losing his job as vice president at the prestigious Hellenic Club in Canberra.

We’d love to catch up with Nick a year later. Anyone know where he’s working now?

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 2, 2019 at 20:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He’s written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology’s harassment of Paulette Cooper titled ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,’ and more recently a compilation of his stories, ‘Battlefield Scientology.’ He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world, as well as other subjects at The Underground Bunker. You can reach him by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you’d like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.)

Jury selection starts Monday in the Nxivm trial, and the court file now includes a 37-page juror questionnaire that we thought you’d like to see.

Imagine yourself in the pool of 500 people who will be up for selection next week in Brooklyn. How would you [...]]]>

Jury selection starts Monday in the Nxivm trial, and the court file now includes a 37-page juror questionnaire that we thought you’d like to see.

Imagine yourself in the pool of 500 people who will be up for selection next week in Brooklyn. How would you fill this thing out?

We found these questions particularly interesting…

 
Here’s the whole thing. Let us know how you score!

Nxivm Doc 491: Juror Questi… by on Scribd

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 2, 2019 at 16:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He’s written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology’s harassment of Paulette Cooper titled ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,’ and more recently a compilation of his stories, ‘Battlefield Scientology.’ He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world, as well as other subjects at The Underground Bunker. You can reach him by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you’d like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.)

Frank Parlato and the NY Post are reporting that when Nxivm defendant Lauren Salzman entered a guilty plea on March 25, she recited a chilling list of crimes, including keeping a Mexican woman as a slave for two years.

With jury selection slated to begin on Monday, the rapid approach of the [...]]]>

Frank Parlato and the NY Post are reporting that when Nxivm defendant Lauren Salzman entered a guilty plea on March 25, she recited a chilling list of crimes, including keeping a Mexican woman as a slave for two years.

With jury selection slated to begin on Monday, the rapid approach of the Nxivm trial has resulted in a series of stunning developments, including the mother-daughter pair Nancy and Lauren Salzman taking guilty pleas so they will avoid trial. Lauren is scheduled to be sentenced on November 11.

Lauren, 42, also admitted to helping run “DOS,” a bizarre woman-only “sorority” that amounted to a sex slave and starvation operation to benefit Nxivm leader Keith Raniere, the government claims.

At his blog, Frank Parlato posted the entire transcript of Lauren’s statement to the court about her crimes. It’s a doozy.

I am pleading guilty today after a careful and thorough review of the criminal allegations against me. The conclusion of this review was acknowledging that I committed acts which I knew or should have known were absolutely wrong.

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Over the years, through my association with Nexium, I formed many relationships with members of this organization. Through these associations, I truly believed that I was helping to empower people to live their left lives.

However, I and others engaged in criminal conduct, which I blindly followed and rationalized as furthering the underlying principles in which Nexium was formed. This rationalization led to my agreement to associate with an enterprise of individuals as alleged in the second superseding indictment.

The common purpose of the enterprise included obtaining financial and personal benefits for its members for members of the enterprise including myself by furthering and promoting the objectives of Keith Raniere and recruiting others into organizations created by Keith Raniere.

Between 1999 and 2017, I was aware of and participated in some of the criminal objectives of the enterprise and I conspired and agreed that others who were also part of our conspiracy would commit at least two acts of racketeering in furtherance of this enterprise.

Between 1999 and 2017, I also knowingly and intentionally conducted and participated directly and indirectly in the conduct of the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering acts which affect interstate and foreign commerce.

Specifically, I committed the following acts.

On or about March 2010 through April 2012, I knowingly and intentionally harbored Jane Doe 4, a woman whose identity is known to me, in a room in the home in the Northern District of New York and threatened to deport Jane Doe 4 back to Mexico if she did not complete labor requested by myself and others.

On or about January 2017 through June 2017, within the Northern District of New York and elsewhere, I was a member of a secret organization developed by Nexium members that has been identified in the indictment as DOS.

Pursuant to my association in DOS, I knowingly and intentionally took and withheld property from Jane Doe 6 and Jane Doe 11, two women who are known to me and who were enrolled as lower-ranking DOS members.

This property was referred to by members in DOS as “collateral” which consisted of material or information that belonged to these lower-ranking DOS members and which such lower-ranking DOS members would not want revealed because it could be personally damaging or ruinous.

I induced Jane Doe 6 and Jane Doe 11 to deliver this collateral to me by instilling them a fear that if the property was not delivered, I could expose this collateral which could have been embarrassing and personally damaging to themselves or others if released.

From January 2017 to June 2017, within the Northern District of New York and elsewhere, I knowingly and intentionally obtained the labor and services in the form of acts of care from Jane Doe 6 and Jane Doe 11 who were lower-ranking DOS members.

Acts of care included having these women perform services for me that would have otherwise been compensable. I obtained these labor and services from Jane Doe 6 and Jane Doe 11 by causing them to believe that if they did not perform requested acts of care, then they could suffer serious harm. The serious harm in this case would be the threat of the release of their collateral.

From January 2017 to June 2017, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, I knowingly and intentionally worked with others and devised a scheme to make materially false representations and omissions regarding DOS in order to obtain property from lower-ranking DOS members. Specifically, I concealed Keith Raniere’s role as the head of DOS and characterized DOS as a women’s organization knowing that Keith Raniere was the head of this organization.

The property obtained which was considered collateral included credit card authorizations, sexually explicit photos and videos, and rights to assets and property. Such property was transmitted in interstate and foreign commerce via e-mail, telephone, text messages and telegram.

Your Honor, in light of reviewing all the discovery and having many months to reflect, I came to the conclusion that the most moral and the most just course of action for me was to take full responsibility for my conduct and that is why I am pleading guilty today and I’m very sorry for my poor decision-making and decisions that result in the harm to others and not the just victims in this case but to hundreds of members of our community and their friends and families as well.

 
Guilty pleas are also expected to come from Smallville actress Allison Mack (who asked for a delay to consider her plea that Judge Nicholas Garaufis rejected), bookkeeper Kathy Russell, and Seagram heiress Clare Bronfman. If that happens, it would leave only Raniere himself to face trial, which is scheduled to begin on April 29.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 2, 2019 at 12:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He’s written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology’s harassment of Paulette Cooper titled ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,’ and more recently a compilation of his stories, ‘Battlefield Scientology.’ He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world, as well as other subjects at The Underground Bunker. You can reach him by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you’d like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.)

Chris Owen provides yet another startling look at Scientology history that you probably haven’t heard about…

Scientology in the West is in an apparently terminal decline, hemorrhaging members and beset by bad publicity. Yet a perhaps unacknowledged story of Scientology is how it is gaining members in [...]]]>

Chris Owen provides yet another startling look at Scientology history that you probably haven’t heard about…

Scientology in the West is in an apparently terminal decline, hemorrhaging members and beset by bad publicity. Yet a perhaps unacknowledged story of Scientology is how it is gaining members in parts of Asia (notably Taiwan) and elsewhere in the developing world.

There’s a lot of reasons why this might be so — it benefits from being seen as “Western” and “modern,” it has a lot of money to promote itself, and the critical coverage that it’s received in English and other European languages isn’t always accessible in other parts of the world. However, Scientology’s roots in a very specific time and place – mid-20th century America, where founder L. Ron Hubbard devised its key beliefs – don’t always translate easily to other places and cultures.

One fascinating example of a failed Scientology outreach project comes from a most unlikely place: the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). With its well-known affinity for the wealthy, Scientology might seem out of place in a rural, mountainous, densely-forested region of a developing country. Nonetheless, missionaries have long been active there: mainstream Christians most obviously, since the colonial period, but also Mormons and Scientologists in more recent years.

In early 2004, the German anthropologist Regina Knapp was carrying out a research project in Napamogona village in the Bena region of the Eastern Highlands. She was born in the country and returned to it to carry out anthropological research, which involved her being adopted by a Bena family.

To her great surprise, her Bena ‘mother’ greeted her one day in February with the words, “John Travolta na Tom Cruise bai kam long ples” (“John Travolta and Tom Cruise will come to the village”).

This unlikely prospect was promised by representatives of I HELP, the International Hubbard Ecclesiastical League of Pastors – a Scientology front group which seeks to promote Scientology to new audiences around the world. It had established itself in PNG in 2003 and set up a small educational project in the coastal city of Lae. Coincidentally, a woman from Napamogona who lived in Lae had become one of I HELP’s first trainees. She convinced the I HELP hierarchy to set up a second base in her home village, from where it would propagate Scientology to the local people.

The project promised to establish a new school in the village with access to 52 educational training courses and free computers, part of a shipment of 3,000 from Australia. The road to the school would be paved and a power supply provided, which would help to improve the village’s economy.

Napamogona’s leaders welcomed the initiative and granted I HELP the lease of some land in the village to accommodate two schoolhouses. Through March 2004, the villages worked hard to construct the new buildings and prepared to welcome Cruise and Travolta for their planned opening in April, donating time, money, and labor to the project.

Doubts soon set in, however, particularly among local Christians who wanted to know more about Scientology’s belief system. They realized on reading Dianetics and other Scientology materials that the Scientologists did not, in fact, believe in God but instead “in the stars and the moon” (perhaps a reference to the Xenu story).

The construction project slowed down when the villagers had to deal with the deaths of two elders. Further doubts were created by the non-arrival of Cruise and Travolta or the promised computers or power supply in April. Instead, two PNG Scientologists from the coast turned up and began teaching I HELP students from the half-finished buildings.

Educational development projects often aim to provide free schooling to their partner communities. Scientology, though, charged fees for the lessons it gave at Napamogona. The cost, ranging from a minimum of 50 kina ($15) to several hundred, was a significant disincentive. Only a few local people chose, or perhaps could afford, to pay. (Scientology’s approach in this matter is governed by Hubbard’s ‘doctrine of exchange,’ which discourages providing anything for free.)

Another problem was the nature of the training. Regina Knapp’s Bena ‘sister’ was one of the school’s first students and aimed to make up for her previous lack of education. She hoped to improve her literacy and obtain a certificate that would qualify her for better paid work. Instead, she was told on her first day that she would need to undergo Scientology ‘auditing’ and confess all her secrets to her trainer, a young man from the coast, with the aid of an E-meter.

She found this deeply offensive, intrusive and totally ignorant of the local Bena taboos and rules. The supposed literacy courses – presumably a variant of Hubbard’s ‘Study Technology’ – were completely different from those in ‘normal’ schools, and she learned that the promised certificate would not be recognized by any public institution. Not surprisingly, she left angrily after a few sessions.

The Scientologists’ insistence on auditing students and obtaining private personal information from them conflicted with the values of the Napamogona, who reacted with great suspicion. As Knapp’s ‘mother’ told her, “They monitor our lives and I am not clear why they want to monitor our lives. I don’t think that they have the right to monitor our lives. Only God, He sees and judges us, but no man on this earth has the right to monitor our lives.”

There was a fundamental clash between Scientology’s practices and local Bena beliefs. To the Bena, the Scientologists were seeking to take on parts of Bena persons – their personal secrets – and so increase their strength and power over them. If people gave away their secrets, the Scientologists could force their power back on the villagers, weakening their spirits and allowing them to be controlled.

In Bena terms, this was a highly negative form of exchange, analogous to magical practices and evil forces. Christians in the village began to associate Scientology with Satan, while non-Christians felt that it resembled harmful sorcery and witchcraft.

Napamogona’s enthusiasm for the project faded and work on the schoolhouses stopped. They remained unfinished with partly covered roofs and missing walls, though I HELP members continued to use them. Rather than trying to resolve its problems with the community, however, I HELP began demanding more from them. Villagers were told that they needed to finish the buildings quickly because Tom Cruise and the computers were now on their way to Papua New Guinea.

A new directive was issued that each person who joined I HELP was to recruit thirty new students; the community was to recruit a total of 3,000 people to join the school. This only caused further tensions, as the organisation was seen to be escalating its demands on the villagers without providing anything useful in return.

June arrived but not Tom Cruise or the promised computers. One of I HELP’s few remaining supporters in Napamogona speculated that Cruise and Travolta were waiting for the schoolhouses to be finished and would not come until the village had prepared itself. However, many of the other villagers felt deceived and angry, particularly as some of them had paid fees but received nothing useful in return.

As one of them told Knapp, “We wasted our time, energy, working force, and material, like nails, and what did we get? It seems as if they are lying to us. Some of us paid our school fees already. But they never got a valid certificate. And the money, they don’t give it back. We have enough of their ways now and it seems as if the community will make a decision and force them to leave our village.”

Knapp herself appears to have become an object of suspicion for the Scientologists, almost certainly standing out to them as a foreigner. She had been adopted as a family member by the villagers and participated on equal terms in village life, though inevitably as a waitskin her position was somewhat privileged. The Scientologists, however, refused to interact with her at all and denied her requests for an interview with one of the school’s teachers. This caused further suspicion among the people of Napamogona, one of whom concluded angrily that “they must be hiding something.”

Scientology’s doctrine rejects the notion that Scientology’s own behavior could cause problems. Instead, Hubbard wrote, trouble is caused by antagonistic people whom he identified as “Potential Trouble Sources” (PTS) and “Suppressive Persons” (SPs). It’s likely that the Scientologists considered Knapp to be a PTS or SP who was poisoning the minds of the villagers against I HELP, and rejected her on that account. However, their rejection would have been seen by the villagers as an unjustified insult against an honored member of their community.

The villagers ended up abandoning the I HELP project, which continued for a while to hold infrequent classes with students brought up from the coast. It was finally terminated following a confrontation described to Knapp by eyewitnesses. Two I HELP representatives – a man and a woman – arrived in Napamogona in a big black Toyota with mirrored windows, speaking English so fast that very few of the villagers could understand them. The woman told the villagers about I HELP’s beautiful properties in Hawaii and New Zealand and promised that if they became members, they could travel there, meet new people and obtain money for their village school.

Then, according to Knapp’s informants, the man unleashed a volley of complaints and threats. He criticized the villagers for not completing the school buildings and threatened that if they did not promote the school, they would remain “bush kanakas” (a highly derogatory term).

He emphasized the villagers’ obligation to pay their fees, as otherwise the school would have to leave Napamogona and move to another community, which would gain all the benefits. The villagers responded by ignoring the visitors and their demands. Knapp was told that the visitors drove off shouting, “You will never be ready for us” and were never seen again.

I HELP did move, to the nearby larger town of Goroka, but failed there too when most of the students abandoned it – an event that became the butt of jokes in Napamogona. Its failure stands in contrast to the success of the Mormons, whose gleaming white church and sharp-suited American missionaries have become an established sight in the town. The half-finished buildings formerly used by I HELP in Napamogona were completed by the villagers and converted into a community building and a storehouse.

Knapp’s unexpected first-hand observation of Scientology’s attempts to propagate itself in the Eastern Highlands showed, on that occasion at least, an organisation totally unprepared to deal with different cultural contexts. Scientology originated in a mid-20th century America that was fascinated by new technology (like the E-meter) and psychoanalysis (which auditing resembles). This, obviously, was very different from early 21st century Papua New Guinea.

Some of Scientology’s practices were not necessarily incompatible with those of the Bena, but relations broke down over the impression that it was weakening the community by taking things of value – time, money, support and personal secrets – without adequately reciprocating. Antisocial and greedy behavior in exchange is closely associated with witchcraft and sorcery in many Melanesian cultures. Thus, as Knapp has pointed out, “the organization’s attempt to establish a training center in the community was therefore bound to fail.”

With thanks to Regina Knapp, whose book “Culture Change and Ex-Change: Syncretism and anti-syncretism in Bena, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea” (2017) documents this affair.

 
— Chris Owen

 
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles

This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. We have something in mind, but for now we’re not giving out information about it.

Friday night we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.

On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.

HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22.

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!

Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Mike Rinder: Scientology is ‘disappearing at a consistent unchanging unwavering rate’
[TWO years ago] Scientology for your plants? In the grand tradition of L. Ron Hubbard, yes!
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s demonology: Where L. Ron Hubbard got the idea for your space cooties
[FOUR years ago] Robert Vaughn Young on L. Ron Hubbard’s final days — another ‘Secret Lives’ video outtake
[FIVE years ago] Florida attorney Ken Dandar hit with $1 million penalty for taking on Scientology
[SIX years ago] Why Isn’t Scientology More Open About Its Space Opera Beliefs? It’s the Best Part!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 2, 2019 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele

 Last year, a photo of Kentucky woman Tess Thompson Talley pointing skyward as she posed with a large, black-coated giraffe she had shot in South Africa went viral and brought her a worldwide wave of media attention.

At her website, Talley says the spotlight made her “the most hated hunter in the world.”

Unrepentant, just yesterday Talley [...]]]>

 
Last year, a photo of Kentucky woman Tess Thompson Talley pointing skyward as she posed with a large, black-coated giraffe she had shot in South Africa went viral and brought her a worldwide wave of media attention.

At her website, Talley says the spotlight made her “the most hated hunter in the world.”

Unrepentant, just yesterday Talley revealed a new photo of her giraffe friend as she’s had him preserved for her home, peacefully imbibing at a watering hole that looks so real you can practically drink from it.

Talley expressed her great admiration for the taxidermist’s art.

“Having the skill to take a hide some horns and hair and make it look alive is a skill that should be displayed for all to see.”

Yes, isn’t it nice to see animals as if they were alive. What a concept.

What the public didn’t understand, Talley explained, was the heroic service she had provided by eliminating the intimidating, violent herbivore who had been terrorizing the countryside.

In a statement to push back at the criticism, Talley revealed that the bull giraffe was “beyond breeding age, yet had killed 3 younger bulls… Now that the giraffe is gone, the younger bulls are able to breed.”

In other words, Talley eliminated the Don Corleone of long-necked leaf eaters, and finally ended its tyranny of the countryside.

A devout Christian, Talley will continue to look for gangster herbivores to cull in the name of her savior and for her deep commitment to conservation.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 1, 2019 at 17:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He’s written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology’s harassment of Paulette Cooper titled ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,’ and more recently a compilation of his stories, ‘Battlefield Scientology.’ He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world, as well as other subjects at The Underground Bunker. You can reach him by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you’d like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.)