Presenting
Alt.religion.scientology Week in Review

Volume 10, Issue 1 - January 7 2006


arconon's Accreditation

On December 30, 2005, "Jeff Jacobsen" posted a jpg link of a certificate of Narconon's accreditation:

http://www.narconon-news.org/images/news_archives/carf_2001.jpg

--

"Android Cat" wrote:

Umm, how come there's no date of the acceditation? Apparently it was using the 2001 standards, and for three years but there's no date when it was actually issued.

"nexibello" wrote:

the ever fading "Narconon Advisory Board"

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/AdvisoryBoard/

it's easy to get an accreditation when you "own" the surveyor ....

As per 9 June 2004, The Narconon Advisory Board member "W. Kent McGregor, M.S.W., A.C.S.W." still sat on two chairs ..... he was then at the same time "a surveyor for the national Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)."

[long link]
and
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.addiction-rehabilitation.com/advisory.html

the members of the "Narconon Advisory Board" today

http://www.addiction-rehabilitation.com/advisory.html

"W. Kent McGregor, M.S.W., A.C.S.W." - no more with CARF but more into Scientology than ever

http://www.holysmoke.org/narconon/narconon-kent-mcgregor.htm

however, on these websites he is still mentioned as a CARF surveyor:

http://www.narcononrehab.com/french/nnstaff.html
and
http://www.friendsofnarconon.org/drug_rehab/news/latest_news/narconon_credentials/

"Last Updated ( Mon, 21 November 2005 )"

... and when confronted there will always be somebody who can be blamed for not updating the website

--

"David Cary Hart" wrote:

Meaningless. Irrelevant. CARF has no legal standing (unlike AMA accreditation).

--

"David Touretzky wrote:

Insurance companies do not accept CARF accreditation. Medical facilities must be accredited by JCAHO in order to be eligible for remibursement by most insurance plans, including Blue Cross.

I think CARF accreditation is about having the proper number of fire extinguishers and lighted exit signs, clean bathrooms with working showers, sheets on all the beds, no roaches in the kitchen, and an acceptable staff to patient ratio. It's not about quality of medical care.

Message ID: 1135961066.326794.26640@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com
Message ID: cd61a$43b56a5a$cf700ced$21304@PRIMUS.CA
Message ID: 1135966944.105637.326450@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
Mesasge ID: rlbg83-dp8.ln1@news.TQMcube.com
Message ID: 43b767f5$1@news2.lightlink.com


Stormtroopin' for Elron

On December 30, 2005 "Feisty" wrote:

In more recent research, Lermanet staff has found a February 22, 2005 link between the Stormfront White Nationalist Community forum at stormfront.org and what appears to be the web pages of past President of Scientology Germany Sepp Hasslberger at http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/epidemics.htm.

This was as of November 11, 2005. (For Stormfront: although some of the Scientologists' material may seem sensible, see the details of what happened with Willis Carto and the IHR at http://www.lermanet.com/cisar/carto/index.htm.) As of December, 2005, Hasslberger's anti-psych propaganda is also linked to from a Scientology/CCHR related page, http://www.psychsearch.net/links.html

Message-ID: aXHtf.40043$dO2.2745@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net
Message-ID: 11renatiu7ra766@corp.supernews.com


Scientific Study of Dianetics Raising IQ?

On December 30, 2005 "bt" wrote:

I see over at Wikipedia that there's a claim that some sort of bona fide scientific study showed that Dianetics raised participant IQs by an average of ten points. Supposedly, this was well documented, conducted by reputable psycological professionals, and the results presented in the Hubbard book, Science of Survival. Evidently, though, this research has been deleted from recent editions of the book.

Anybody know what the truth of the matter is here? What are the details of this study? Was it ever published under the names of any of the researchers? Why has the CoS deleted it from view?

--

Povmec wrote:

I'm not sure where you saw that, a link to such reference would be appreciated. What I found on Wikipedia about scientific studies of Dianetics is the following:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianetics#Independent_scientific_views

All negative. Some critics have webbed these, thanks to them.

http://www.lermanet.com/creed-pearson/dianetics.htm

Summary: This paper formulates two hypothesis concerning the retention of events occuring during a state of unconsciousness. It describes an experiment in which a passage read from a physics text was read to a subject placed in an unconscious state by administration of sodium pentathal. During a period of almost six months, Dianetic Auditors were unable to recover the passage. Thus the Engram Hypothesis is not substantiated by this experiment.

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/essays/gardner.html

"And last but not least, Dr. Winter was puzzled by the conspicuous absence of any clears. "I have yet to see a 'clear' before and after dianetic therapy," he writes. "I have not reached that state myself nor have I been able to produce that state in any of my patients. I have seen some individuals who are supposed to be 'clear,' but their behavior does not conform to the definition of the state. Moreover, an individual supposed to have been 'clear' has undergone a relapse into conduct which suggests an incipient psychosis."

This doesn't surprise me.

These shows what is going on, with or without us, and no matter what your IQ is, you should enjoy it:

http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.aspx?type=ss&launch=10496256,4999736&pg=1

--

Message ID: bt-399C9E.14384230122005@localhost
Message ID: 1136014656.735223.81320@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com


Roger Gonnet Celebrates Nine Year's on the Internet

On December 31, 2005 "Roger Gonnet" posted a link to some greeting cards on his website to signify his ninth year opposing Scientology on the Internet:

Opposant à la scientologie depuis 22 ans
Opposing scientology crime cult since 22 Years

www.antisectes.net/0-voeux-antisectes-2006.html

This month of december 2005, I passed my ninth year attackin,g the crime cult on Internet.

And my 23th year to criticize the crime cult directly.

I came back with my wife in december 1982 from Copenhagen painful ethics cycles.

The crime cultists sent by the Sea Org had moved our org during the 15 days we had been sent off to "ethics".

One month later, 80 of the staff and the public was blown from the org, and three months later, the whole scientology lyon association's reserves had been stolen or wasted on stupid decisions by Miscavige's and clique's orders.

Message ID: 43b6c875$0$20856$636a55ce@news.free.fr


Call for Pickets in Europe in 2006

On January 1, 2006 "Andreas Heldal-Lund" wrote:

The cult has recently increased its pressure and Black PR machinery to ruin me professionally. Fine! If they want me in their face then so be it. There will be a few extra pickets here in Europe this year, that I promise!

If you want to join then let me know.

Help arrange pickets in the International Picket Central:

http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/index.php?f=105

--

"Jeff Jacobsen" wrote:

The Scientology celebration for Hubbard's birthday would be a good time for an international picket. We did that long ago, in 1995 I think? His birthday is March 13 but they vary the date that they celebrate this.

--

"Andreas Heldal-Lund" wrote:

Also remember that his death say in Jan 24: 20 YEARS!!!!!!!
Worth some attention.

Message ID: okhfr1l28l9dtug3ci32cihpgvqbatc9f7@4ax.com
Message ID: 22ifr15b4dg04fnkac749hadf0guf4bml0@4ax.com
Message ID: 1136137049.037982.300600@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com
Message ID: qa5gr1p7kqd4b419tbt7o775h14hnnmp0d@4ax.com


Wikipedia, Neopets and Scientology in Wired Magazine

On January 1, 2006 "Andreas Heldal-Lund" wrote:

[START QUOTE]

War of the Words

The topics Wikipedians never get tired of fighting over.

Ask the public to write more than 750,000 encyclopedia entries, and you're bound to have differences of opinion. Lots of them.

[...]

HOT-BUTTON ISSUES
Example: Scientology. Even before Tom Cruise's on-air meltdown, this "pseudo-science" - as it has been called on Wikipedia - has long captivated site regulars. Three separate links are dedicated to archived discussions on topics ranging from whether it's a cult to which celebrities are followers. Long story short: John Travolta still in, Jerry Seinfeld not so much.

[END QUOTE]

--

Wired magazine December 2005, page 273 (article starts on 270):

[START QUOTE]
The Neopets Addiction
20 million kids can't be enough - and neither can advertisers. How a virtual animal kingdom became a product placement paradise.
By David Kushner

[...]

Dohring brought two things to the company: expertise in market research and a deep commitment to the principles of Scientology. After college, he spent four years in Toledo working for the church in "counseling and communication." In the writings of Scientology leader L. Ron Hubbard, Dohring discovered a business model that would later become the foundation of the Neopets operation. "He created a management technology that's very powerful," Dohring says. Hubbard's companies follow a system of departmental organization called the Org Board, which he claimed was a refinement of one used by "an old Galactic civilization" that lasted 80 trillion years. Dohring is more concerned with down-to-earth prescriptions, like a corrections division to monitor the performance of other divisions. "It sounds like common sense," he says. "But you'd be surprised. Most companies are missing that."

Dohring first put these business principles into action in 1986, at age 28, when he started the Dohring Company. This market research firm soon became one of the largest in the US, a top provider of data to the automotive industry. The key to his success, he says, was paying attention not to the consumers who weren't buying, but to the ones who were. "Research what you're doing right," he says.

[...]

Dohring brought along [when buying Neopets] his previous company's market research experts - and Hubbard-powered efficiency.
[END QUOTE]

Message ID: 7kkfr1hu7skk6ato9o90ie5ilhj10urn70@4ax.com
Message ID: mjlfr1pi9u6lfu6k13e2b78nqrpv09348n@4ax.com


en Hoden Responds to Keith Henson's Interrogatory

On January 1, 2006 "Keith Henson" wrote:

Plaintiff Ken Hoden hereby answers the interrogatories propounded by defendant H. Keith Henson as follows:

Defendant has propounded a number of interrogatories that have multiple sub-parts, and has misnumbered some of the interrogatories. In order to avoid confusion, plaintiff will place a number in parentheses after defendant's Special Interrogatory Number that corresponds to the consecutive number of each discrete question.

[...]

Dated: November 2005 Respectfully submitted,
David J. Cook SB#060859

[...]

Message ID: 43bbf645.1582112237@news1.sympatico.ca


5-Year Chief of Police, Sid Klein in St. Petersburg Times (Clearwater)

On January 1, 2006 the St. Petersburg Times (Clearwater, Florida) featured an article on Sid Klein, the cities 25-year chief of police.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/01/Northpinellas/Chief_Klein_s_balance.shtml

Klein's tenure has not been without controversy. His relationship with the Church of Scientology has been strained. In 1997, thousands of church members surrounded police headquarters, chanting "Sid Klein, what's your crime?"

[...]

Message ID: 1136135003.277068.85140@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com


Scientology and ePolitix.com in the UK?

On January 2, 2006 "Feisty" wrote:

From here it looks like a political website for news

http://www.epolitix.com/EN/

"To improve communication between parliamentarians, constituents and organisations we provide the latest political news, the largest single collection of MP websites, political interviews and politics blogs, details of parliamentary legislation, policy briefings from our Stakeholders, and Policy Consultations where organisations and politicians debate key issues."

Then you search for "$cientology" in the search field and several results come up with "$cn.org" looking pages.

[...]

[long link]

Published: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:10:15

The prime minister has set out the government's strategy for tackling drug abuse in a keynote speech.

[...]

Stakeholder Response: Hubbard Foundation

Liz Osterman of the Hubbard Foundation said: "I looked through the statements from the various parties and I feel the Liberal Democrats are correct in that no real treatment is being made available to drug addicts - however may I add that certain treatments that do get results are not being implemented broadly - or worse ignored. I would ask those who are looking for real answers and effective treatment to look at the Narconon website

[...]

http://www.epolitix.com/EN/Forums/Hubbard+Foundation/home.htm

L. Ron Hubbard Foundation

The L. Ron Hubbard Foundation was formed to bring together associates and acquaintances of one or more of Mr. Hubbard's broad professional interests for the purpose of generating a safer environment within today's culture.

[...]

--

"Howard" wrote:

Top Post:

Interesting. ePolitix.com is part of Dod's Parliamentary Communications, owned by Huveaux plc.

See URL: http://www.dodsparlicom.com/about/default.htm

As such, it has no particular connection with things Hubbardarian. However it offers groups, charitable bodies, commercial companies, local government organisations etc. in exchange for payment, the opportunity to become 'stakeholders'. This allows them to have a web page on the site, as well as to attend regular 'Stakeholder Lunches' (some six or so per year) for a bit of schmoozing, lobbying and networking.

See URL:
http://www.epolitix.com/EN/Forums/

The CoS have obviously signed up for two Stakeholder entries.

See URLS:

http://www.epolitix.com/EN/Forums/Church+of+Scientology/

http://www.epolitix.com/EN/Forums/Hubbard+Foundation/

Message ID: J34uf.44605$q%.32182@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com
Message ID: 43B90D54.B18FA53E@privacy.net


Keith Henson on Cult Behavior and Evolutionary Psychology

On January 2, 2006 "Keith Henson" wrote:

EP is essential to understand the origins of any behavior, human or not. Since we at the ARSCC are interested in understanding cult behavior, here is a sample of how EP is being applied to make sense out of large collections of sociological and anthropological data.

The application of this area to understanding the cult should be obvious to my long time readers.

Published in Anthropological Quarterly, 73.1 (2000), 20-34.

http://cniss.wustl.edu/workshoppapers/gatpres1.pdf [pdf file]

THE HUMAN MOTIVATIONAL COMPLEX: EVOLUTIONARY THEORY AND THE CAUSES OF HUNTER-GATHERER FIGHTING

[...]

Message ID: 43c06105.1674975627@news1.sympatico.ca


Faith-based Organizations Face Suits for Proselytizing

From The Chicago Tribune:

Faith-based groups are barred from proselytizing or engaging in other obvious religious activity when using federal funds to encourage teenagers to abstain from premarital sex or help substance abusers fight addictions.

But some groups may have run afoul of that federal prohibition. Lawsuits by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation accuse the faith-based organizations and the government of violating the constitutional separation of church and state. Meanwhile, experts say the Bush administration is doing too little to monitor religious groups receiving federal money.

[...]

Message ID: 11rivt5p92efa40@corp.supernews.com


Scientology-Related Videos and Photos

On January 2, 2006 "Mark Bunker" wrote:

New from XENU TV: Graham Berry on German TV

Graham Berry gave a speech in Germany back in 1998 which has ever before been seen on the net. Graham covers a wide range of subjects from Fair Game and front groups to Scientology's abuse of the courts:

http://www.xenutv.com/panels/graham-germantv.htm

--

On January 3, 2006 "Jeff Jacobsen" wrote:

Peter Alexander 1999 talk

http://www.ourmedia.org/node/131552

Another huge file, but pretty good quality. Peter talks about his time in Co$.

On January 4, 2006 "Jeff Jacobsen" wrote:

David Cecere speaks in Clearwater, 1999

http://www.ourmedia.org/node/131886

David speaks about his own experience as an ex-Scientologist, and a little about his role as director (at that time) of the Lisa McPherson Trust.

Grady Ward, Clearwater December 1999

http://www.ourmedia.org/node/131992

Grady talks about his lawsuit and other things Scientology has done to him and his family.

--

On January 4, 2006 "hwy 12 at bicksler road" posted a link to photos taken of the Scientology property in Trementina, New Mexico:

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/1087803
auslander Motorcycle Rides Scientology Secret Base

Picture tour:
http://auslander.smugmug.com/gallery/1087803/1/50554139
The turnoff for C56A"

http://auslander.smugmug.com/gallery/1087803/1/50554144
End of the road. C56A is blocked by this gate, the ranch sign reads "Romero's" -- it's unclear if the road is public beyond this point or not, I need to consult the BLM to see. If the road is public then we can open the gate, close it behind us and proceed. That will have to wait for another day."

http://auslander.smugmug.com/gallery/1087803/1/50554125
The clearest view of the house on the base that I could get. This view is almost directly west. That road in the background heads up to the field with the double-circles."

http://auslander.smugmug.com/gallery/1087803/1/50554236
Zoomed in on the house."

http://auslander.smugmug.com/gallery/1087803/1/50554256
Even more zoom."

http://auslander.smugmug.com/gallery/1087803/1/50554135
Stranded in Las Vegas, NM with a flat. Good times."

Message ID: m5guf.6648$JT.2265@fed1read06
Message ID: 1136343610.782662.160680@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
Message ID: kt1or15amtn1oaneoudv9hj648890ie62k@4ax.com
Message ID: 1136405727.407951.98220@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com
Message ID: 1136419681.154397.81390@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com


The 2006 Challenge. What do you think?

On January 2, 2006 "Gerry Armstrong" wrote:

The 2006 Challenge. What do you think?

For me, this is a proof that Scientology makes suckers even bigger suckers. It makes the bright dimmer. Before I got into Scientology, I didn't think that, by thinking, a person could increase his body weight by thirty pounds. Otherwise I would have thought that you'd have to stop a person from thinking to get a scale to settle down to weigh him. When I became a Scientologist I was taught to think just that, and I thought just that, that thoughts could increase, or decrease, a person's physical weight, actually measured on scales, by thirty pounds. I thought it because L. Ron Hubbard said it and taught it, and as a Scientologist I accepted what Hubbard said. To doubt Hubbard was a very negative condition to be in as a Scientologist, and immediately and severely punished. I had become dumber, and a bigger sucker.

When I left Scientology, I knew that Hubbard, the source of the idea that by thinking, that is, by mocking up or creating mental image pictures, a person could increase his body weight by thirty pounds, was bullshitting. I also knew by then that Hubbard was a monumental bullshitter, and that the thirty pounds of thought was just one pile mongst tons of his bullshit, actually measured on scales. So, by getting out of Scientology I became smarter.

[...]

--

Tory/Magoo (Tory Christman) wrote:

I already took this challenge in the 1990's while on OT 7. While busily casting away what I thought were pounds of "Mental Mass"...ie: BT's and Clusters, and Cumulative Clusters (bunches of clusters grouped together), I ..along with many other OT 7's gained TONS of weight. In fact, I gained 100 pounds while on OT 7, and lost 60 of it after quitting OT 7!

So no, I shall not be taking this challenge, nor do I suggest others do either. If you're "in" Scientology and reading this, go take a look at some of the OT 7's Not all of them, but certainly a high percentage gain tons of pounds. ((Look at Kirsty Alley pre Jenny Craig!))

Message ID: hmnjr1peklvkvr58sccsji49tda9m2d9nc@4ax.com
Message ID: 43ba1b7b$1@news2.lightlink.com


Australia - Taxpayers Kick-in for MP's trip to Scientology Museum

On January 3, 2006, the West Australian reported:

Taxpayers have helped pay for a trip by a State Labor MP to the US where he spoke at the opening of a Church of Scientology-backed museum stablished to attack psychiatry.

Bassendean MLA Martin Whitely, an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder sceptic and staunch opponent of the use of drugs to treat the condition, made an impassioned speech to an audience of about 2300 people, including Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley.

He was the only international guest speaker to attend the opening of the state-of-the-art museum, Psychiatry: An Industry of Death, last month in Los Angeles.

"No adult should be victimised by drugs or treatments that are not cures and no government should support harm in the guise of help," he told the crowd. Mr Whitely, a member of a 2004 State parliamentary committee inquiry into ADHD and the medication used to treat it, said the Citizens Commission on Human Rights sponsored him to attend because of his interest in ADHD.

He said the commission had paid for about half his 10-day trip, which meant taxpayers would foot the bill, through his MP's imprest account, for the other four days.

Despite returning over a week ago, he said he was yet to calculate how much he would claim from the public purse. He had done other work on his trip, including a meeting with the University of Oregon, which had completed a review of ADHD drugs.

[...]

Message ID: 1136264164.190770.205960@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com


Tom Cruise is Dangerous and Irresponsible

On January 3, 2006, "mad_kow" wrote:

I don't know if anyone has posted this article before, but here it is.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1180571

Message ID: 1136310692.893870.297940@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com


Proposed California Narconon Meets Resistance

On January 4, 2006 the Los Angeles Daily News reported:

A Scientology-based treatment facility hopes to soon open shop on Bouquet Canyon Road to treat adults with drug and alcohol addictions.

Representatives from Narconon Southern California are scheduled to appear today before the county's Regional Planning Commission for a permit to develop the facility on the 30.4-acre site, once home to a children's boarding school.

The Leona Valley Town Council wants the application denied.

In a letter sent last month to the commission, the community group cited concerns about the impact the center would have on the environment and local welfare.

[...]

Message ID: 1136377182.638562.9780@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com


Memorial Brick Projects

On January 4, 2006 "Barb" wrote:

Anyone want to start up a fund for this?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060104-9999-1m4bricks.html

--

On January 4, 2006 "Jeff Jacobsen" wrote:

Ok, I found a memorial brick project in Dallas. It's the Dallas Zoological Society.

http://www.dallas-zoo.org/support/support.asp?page=ag

Anybody want to go in on a brick that says "lisamcpherson.org"? I'll pay 1/2. Lisa McPherson grew up in Dallas.

--

Tilman Hausherr wrote:

"Bricks are available for $150 and are considered a charitable contribution. $135 of the cost is fully tax-deductible." v [...]

Message ID: 43bc0021$1@news2.lightlink.com
Message ID: 1136411823.636271.85850@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
Message ID: f2kor15d2fo403ur9pghpka8unqro6tejf@4ax.com


More End of 2005 Tom Cruise, 2006 Predictions

News media continues to talk about Tom Cruise, Scientology and Xenu with awards for a most annoying 2005, along with predictions and ideas for 2006

http://cinematical.com/2005/12/29/tom-cruise-officially-annoying/

AmIAnnoying.com has released its official lists of the Most and Least Annoying personalities of the year, and whilst all the usual suspects are represented - Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and, for the second consecutive year in the number five slot, the elusive Osama Bin Laden - surely the least surprising "winner" is the sites pick for the most annoying celebrity of all, Mr. Tom Cruise. His antics have a far reach: surely at least in part thanks to his promotion thereof, the whole of Scientology came in at 17.

--

"Tory/Magoo" (Tory Christman) wrote:

2005 has been quite a wild year.

For starters, Tommy Cruise did his routines on Oprah, then put down Brooke Shields and the medicine she takes. On The Today Show, when asked about this by Matt Lower, TC did his infamous, "Matt! Matt! YOU Don't know about the source of psychiatry: I Do!" HUH? That got the world's attention. Tom Cruise, the actor, knows the source of psychiatry? Tom Cruise is telling people, especially a woman, what medications they should and shouldn't take? Tom Cruise is leaping off of couches he's so in love? Tom Cruise and his soon to be wife ALWAYS have this lady between them, Jessica, who it turns out, is the daughter of millionaire Feshback, and is a Sea Org member, on mission. ALL of this got the media's attention, and this time they leaped too. Interviews began for me on Inside Edition, then CNN with Anderson Cooper and Michael Patterson. Next I did a radio show with Gerry Armstrong, and Dave Touretzky on KPFK. During this time, reporters were calling me two and three a night. It was amazing. At the same time, they were speaking with many other critics and X-Scientologists, too.

[...]

Radar Magazine did their interviews, and then Glamour did the article with Astra Woodcraft about being a child in Scientology. More radio, more magazines, more media continued.

Then South Park did their show on Xenu, as did The Daily Show, and the rest is history. Recently, too, CNN did another story interviewing Michael Pattinson about the top secret vaults where Scientology has hidden the entire "tech" on steel, titanium plates. This group just gets better and better J Oh sure, there's tons more to come, but Scientology, so used to creaming people IF they want to, has now found itself in a position I doubt they've ever been in before: The media has the upper hand, all the way, and the public can see and read about Scientology from their internets both in their own homes, as well as at work.

I'm sure much more has happened, and I KNOW much more is going to happen.

[...]

My greatest, continued thanks to each of the critics and X-Scientologists who have helped expose Scientology and all that they do not want known, and to all of the media for their terrific exposures!

--

"Rev. Norle Enturbulata" wrote:

The Daily Telegraph on Saturday published their alphabetic list for 2005's events, and under the letter "O", the first listing was "OTT", with a nine-panel set of photos of Tom Cruise jumping up and down on Oprah's unfortunate couch.

--

"Jeff Jacobsen" wrote:

Mighty thanks to Tom Cruise for all the hits he's brought to the critics' websites, including mine. Many thanks for demonstrating how out of touch with reality scientologists can be. Tom Cruise, SP of 2005!!!

--

"Jeff Jacobsen" posted about a link to a streaming video segment:

Conan O'Brian's 2005 Year in Review

http://2005-Year-In-Review.tv-streams.be [streaming video]

There's a clip in here poking fun at Tom Cruise that I've never seen mentioned before.

--

The Chicago Tribune reported:

<À HREF="http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-0601010376jan01,0,4829707.story?coll=mmx-movies_heds">[long link]

The 10th annual Alewife Awards
The cultural world churned up yet another heaping serving of fishy stench in 2005. To the stinkers go ...

[...]

COULDN'T HE HAVE USED SCIENTOLOGY TO FIX THE ENDING OF "WAR OF THE WORLDS"?

Quiz: What was the most compelling evidence that Tom Cruise is out of his gourd?

a) His love-struck couch-hopping antics on "Oprah."
b) His picking a fight with Brooke Shields over her postpartum depression treatment.
c) His lecturing of "Today" host Matt Lauer about psychiatry and Ritalin. ("You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do.")
d) His urging of firefighters who suffered from smoke inhalation during the World Trade Center terrorist bombings to give up their medication and inhalers in favor of a Scientology "purification rundown."
e) Just that whole Katie Holmes engagement/pregnancy/buying-a-sono-gram-machine/no-wedding-date hullabaloo.
f) That crazy, crazy laugh of his.

Answer: HEH-HEH-HEH-HEH-HEH!

--

"Orkeltatte aka Ulf Brettstam" posted a link to a video at Comedy Central, 'Last Laugh of 2005' featuring the "Matrimo-gician TomCats wedding planner"

[long link to video play]

"Android Cat" wrote:

The Midwich Cuckoo childrens' choir and eveything else was perfect.

One ET-type show wondered if Tom's wedding was going to be the Hollywood premiere of "Scientology, The Musical"

--

The San Francisco Bay Guardian reported:

Offies 2005: Presenting the annual
Off-Guard Awards for the absolute worst of the year past.

Of course, everyone knows the real scientists believe L. Ron Hubbard will be back from the dead any day now.

Tom Cruise denounced Brooke Shields for taking antidepressant drugs to combat postpartum depression, saying that psychiatry is "pseudo-science" and that "there is no such thing as a chemical imbalance."

Whereas if he'd been taking his meds, he might have been able to avoid channeling Howard Dean.

[...]

--

The Los Angeles Times reported:

[long link]

2005's Greatest 'Hits' latimes.com

From the Superdome to Scientology, latimes.com viewers voted with their mice (or is it mouses?) for the year's top stories:

[...]

Tom Cruise and Scientology

[long link]

By Claire Hoffman and Kim Christensen

Tom Cruise studied intensively at the remote compound near Hemet while becoming a passionate messenger for the church.
December 18, 2005

Message ID: tV0tf.38837$dO2.6018@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net
Message ID: 43b65487$1@news2.lightlink.com
Message ID: 43b73444$1@news2.lightlink.com
Message ID: 1136055035.028182.304500@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
Message ID: 1136096088.310148.205050@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
Message ID: CyUtf.43982$q%.8227@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com
Message ID: 1136139557.410792.121600@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com
Message ID: eb178$43b936b3$cf705d0b$8817@PRIMUS.CA
Message ID: 1136382597.152125.232480@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
Message ID: j56or11kj8unai48mj2es84ba5h4p87eut@4ax.com


Scientology guru under investigation

From the January 9, 2006, issue of the National Enquirer:

==========

COPS PROBE TOM CRUISE GURU

Cancer patient dies after Scientologist allegedly promises to cure him with "magic potions"

By Doug Shields

Tom Cruise's one-time medical guru--a Church of Scientology member--is at the center of a police probe into the death of a cancer patient. And the blow to Tom comes as shocking claims about his Scientology emerge for the first time.

Alternative medicine consultant Feline Butcher, 53, is being investigated by the Los Angeles Health Authority Law Enforcement Task Force, which investigates illegal medical practices, following the death of photographer Clive McLean after he was treated by her.

She allegedly convinced McLean to shun chemotherapy in favor of magic drops, potions, vitamins and a miracle-cure medicine.

L.A.-based Butcher, who has reportedly counted Nicole Kidman, Lisa Marie Presley and Mena Suvari among her celebrity clients, allegedly then referred McLean to physician David Chua, who was not licensed to practice in California, say cops.

McLean, a veteran staff photographer for Hustler magazine founder Larry Flynt, died soon afterward at the age of 60. His widow Erica told a newspaper: "We didn't at first know [Butcher] was a Scientologist, but then we heard that she made her employees take courses in it. She said Chua could cure my husband with these magic drops, potions and vitamin drips--and a silly machine."

Erica, who lives in Sunland, California, added: "We spent $150,000 on all this, and my husband's health was not improving. They told him not to take chemotherapy so we didn't."

The Task Force, who work with the police, has presented the case to the L.A. city attorney after an investigation following McLean's death in March 2005. If Butcher is indicted she could face trial for fraud, grand theft and the unlicensed practice of medicine. Canadian Chua could also be charged.

Said Sgt. Steve Opferman: "We are looking into the fact that she was referring people to this guy who was coming down from Canada claiming to have cures for cancer patients. If you are going to do that and charge huge sums, you need a license.

[...]

Message-ID: s0trr119fv0ue86h2j7lll5peurij7hdqp@4ax.com


San Diego picket

On January 6, 2006, Barb posted news about a picket in San Diego:

Today, Moxification (who shall post here once he figures it out) and I picketed the SD org for about 40 minutes. Clams were in hiding at the org, but busy little mollusca elsewhere. Lots of thumbs up, honks and waves from drivers. Not much foot traffic, gave away a few fliers.

Came home to find my neighborhood had been hit by sneaky little clammies. Picture on ABS. Happy New Year, stupid cult morons! My neighbors came over to find out wtf it was all about...when I said "Scientology," they just laughed and said, "We don't care about them. You are a good neighbor."

Bwaaahahahahaa!

Message-ID: 43bf220e$1@news2.lightlink.com


Back to A.R.S. Week in Review

A.r.s. Week in Review is compiled by anonymous critics of CoS for your benefit. This collection is organised for WWW by Andreas Heldal-Lund.


Brought to you by:
Operation Clambake