Austin
The Austin American-Statesman published a profile of the local Scientology org on December 15th. "The staff at the Church of Scientology exudes optimistic attitudes. If someone is not happy about something in his life, 'something can be done about it,' minister Jeff Fischer said. One way a person can find out more about themselves is by taking the church's personality test, which has 200 questions and measures a variety of characteristics such as certainty and carelessness. "'The reason for the test is that we are all coping with life,' Fischer said. 'This is, I think, an objective view of what a person is like, and then they can say 'Gee, I don't like that, I want to change.' There's no training manual for life -- on how to raise your children, and such. Scientology gives you techniques to do these things successfully. We want people to win more in life and be successful.' "Scientology ministers develop techniques or a 'doingness' to help others. More than 800 Scientology ministers have visited ground zero since Sept. 11 to utilize their techniques on grieving police officers, firefighters and families. The local staff has also been on hand to assist those who are afraid to fly or open their mail." Message-ID: nmfp1u0ftad08epj7gn09p9cg7qrjiau39@4ax.com
Lisa McPherson
Efforts to prevent Scientology from harassing Bob Minton in the Lisa McPherson case were posted to a.r.s this week. Scientology claims Bob is controlling the case, and wants the court to order bank records to be produced. "AFFIDAVIT OF KENNAN G. DANDAR. "Affiant is the attorney for the ESTATE OF LISA MCPHERSON, as counsel in probate and in the wrongful death suit against the CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FLAG SERVICE ORGANIZATION, INC. pending in Pinellas County, Florida. "At no time has ROBERT MINTON ever controlled in any manner the wrongful death suit. At all times from the commencement to the present and into the future, all litigation involving the ESTATE OF LISA McPHERSON is in the absolute control of the Personal Representative, Dell Liebreich, the maternal aunt of Lisa McPherson appointed by Fannie McPherson, Lisa's mother. Any money provided by ROBERT MINTON has been provided only as a nonrecourse, interest free loan. Mr. Minton has no 'investment' in any litigation involving the ESTATE OF LISA McPHERSON. Repayment to Mr. Minton is at the sole discretion of the ESTATE." "REPLY MEMORANDUM OF ROBERT S. MINTON IN FURTHER SUPPORT OF HIS MOTION TO QUASH. "Scientology focuses its efforts on attacking Mr. Minton and spinning its fictional web of a Minton-led conspiracy. Scientology's continuing efforts to gain access to Mr. Minton's banking records are a transparent attempt to harass, embarrass, and annoy him. Mr. Minton respectfully requests that this Court quash the subpoenas directed at FleetBoston and Fidelity. "As demonstrated by Scientology's past conduct in this very action in Florida, Mr. Minton's fear that Scientology will seek retribution against him through the misuse of his banking records is real. Scientology does not deny that as recently as October 2001 it obtained Mr. Minton's banking records as third-party discovery from Bank of America in the Florida action, made hundreds of photocopies of a personal check written by Mr. Minton in July 2001 that was contained within those records, and posted the photocopies of the check along with a harassing 'Profile of Robert Minton' throughout a hotel in Cleveland where Mr. Minton was receiving an award at a CULTinfo conference from the Leo J. Ryan Educational Foundation. "Requiring FleetBoston and Fidelity to respond to the subpoenas at issue will serve only to further Scientology's efforts by providing it with another opportunity to harass Mr. Minton, and Mr. Minton implores the Court not to permit such discovery abuses to be repeated." "NON-PARTY ROBERT S. MINTON'S MOTION TO QUASH SUBPOENAS DIRECTED TO FLEETBOSTON AND FIDELITY OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FOR A PROTECTIVE ORDER "Mr. Minton moves to quash the subpoenas directed to FleetBoston and Fidelity on the following grounds: Right to financial privacy. Compliance with the subpoenas would violate Mr. Minton's right to financial privacy. Improper purpose. The discovery is sought for an improper purpose, that is, to harass and intimidate Mr. Minton, as evidenced by the pattern of similar acts by Scientology. Overbroad subpoenas. The subpoenas are overbroad, reaching well beyond the discovery held to be relevant by the Florida court. Most of the records sought by Scientology implicate individuals who do not appear on the parties' witness lists. Moreover, to the extent that such individuals are reflected on the parties' witness lists, many of these individuals have nothing to do with the facts of the underlying Florida case and have been identified by Scientology only for the purpose of obtaining discovery of Mr. Minton's financial records. Compliance with the subpoenas implicates the privacy rights of the other individuals who were parties to the financial transactions in issue. "Scientology is relentless in its efforts. Time and again, Scientology has demonstrated that it cannot be trusted and that its true motive in the pursuit of discovery against the person of Robert Minton is nothing more than an attempt to seek 'revenge' on a man it abhors for supporting its harshest critics. As evidenced below, there can be no doubt but that the instant subpoenas are merely the latest attempt by Scientology to harass and intimidate Mr. Minton as 'punishment' for providing financial support to certain critics of Scientology. "Scientology has dispatched private detectives to try to 'dig up dirt' on Mr. Minton from his relatives and former business associates. It has had Mr. Minton's two young daughters followed on two occasions. One representative of Scientology has threatened to attack Mr. Minton through his family, former business associates, and tax authorities. On many occasions, Scientology has had its members blanket Mr. Minton's neighborhood with leaflets containing false and highly inflammatory statements about him. In February 2000, two men who identified themselves as working for the law firm of Moxon & Kobrin (which represents Scientology) approached Mr. Minton's seventy-seven-year old mother, two aunts, and two brothers at their homes in Nashville, Tennessee. Warning Mr. Minton's family that 'someone is going to get hurt,' these individuals went so far as to say that they would be willing to pay the cost for his family to have Mr. Minton committed to a mental institution and to help them set up a conservatorship to manage his money. A 'private investigator' named Mr. Hirsch, from an organization apparently known as International Inquiries, contacted Mr. Minton's personal accountant and asserted that a foreign government had filed formal criminal charges against Mr. Minton and that a foreign bank account allegedly belonging to him had been frozen. These statements were totally false. "In sum, Scientology's present subpoenas are nothing more than its most recent intimidation technique conveniently 'dressed up' as a subpoena. For the foregoing reasons, Mr. Minton respectfully requests that his motion to quash the subpoenas directed to FleetBoston and Fidelity be granted." A motion by attorney Ken Dandar in the Lisa McPherson civil case summarized the medical evidence about whether or not Lisa was dehydrated at the time of her death, and if that was the true cause of death. "Dr. Zumwalt, the Past President of the National Association of Medical Examiners, stated in his attached letter of November 19, 2001: Post mortem vitreous levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine are reliable for assessing pre-mortem dehydration. These tests have been accepted as scientifically valid for more than 20 years by forensic pathologists around the country. "Dr. Coe's research is recognized internationally on diagnosing dehydration by the use of vitreous electrolytes. Dr. Derrick J Pounder, MB ChB, forensic pathologist and professor of forensic medicine at the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, writes that 'the analysis of vitreous humour from the eye taken at autopsy is an established method for the diagnosis of dehydration. The leading international authority in this field of post mortem biochemistry is Dr. John Coe. Post mortem blood is never used. Ketones are not necessarily found in dehydration.' "The defense had one expert with similar expertise of John Coe, M.D. and Calvin Bandt, M.D., William Sturner, M.D., who co-authored a peer-reviewed article with Dr. Coe. The defense has withdrawn him. The Estate suspects that since his research is closely aligned with that of Dr. Coe and Dr. Bandt, he would never participate in denigrating his colleagues or his own noted research. The defense challenges the research of Drs. Coe, Bandt and Sturner with 'experts' who have never published on the use of post mortem vitreous as the best reflection of antemortem serum conditions. The experts for the defense attack the validity and reliability of post-mortem chemistry analysis with statements such as 'I don't do it and it doesn't make sense to me.' "Incredibly, the defense argues that there is no physical evidence of Lisa's dehydration. All of the evidence of dehydration comes from FLAG staff and records, as well as the physical autopsy. Contrary to the defense position, the ESTATE's experts do not rely exclusively upon the vitreous tests. "The first indication of Lisa's dehydration came from MLO nurse, Judy Goldsberry-Weber, who testified that another Lisa attendant, librarian Alice von Grundelle, came to the MLO office asking about dehydration. 'Dehydration was what she specifically asked me about, gave her that and let her evaluate. She asked me if - in my nursing if I had ever taken care of people that had a dehydration problem and how they behaved, and I gave her an affirmative, yes, I had. And it was not uncommon for them to behave irrational for a short period of - give them enough fluids or whatever, you know, you get help and turn - you can turn it around in a matter of hours was what I - in my previous experience it had happened." "On a log written by Lisa attendant Rita Boykin, dated November 30, 1995, there is an entry timed at 1 a.m., which states that Janice Johnson had just visited and stated that Lisa needed a 'quart of fluid.' Later on December 1, 1995, at 11:00 a.m., Janice Johnson comes back to see Lisa and writes that Lisa needs 'Needs 2L fluids when awake and attempt to feed.' The attendants never got 2 liters of fluids down Lisa after that. Petzold noticed also that Lisa's mouth was dry. The last several days Petzold said it was 'alarming', Heather was 'frantic.' In addition to these particular indicators of dehydration, it is also undisputed that all guards were called off beginning December 1, 1995, because Lisa was no longer a threat, she had quieted down. "All of this is evidence of dehydration written or testified about by FLAG staff neatly fits in the time frame dictated by the objective postmortem chemistry levels which indicate Lisa would be in an 'uremic coma,' not unconscious, but very somnolent, obtunded, and moribund around December 1, 1995, per Dr. John Coe and Dr. Calvin Bandt. "Then on December 5, 1995 Janice Johnson finally returns to see Lisa in the early evening. She described Lisa's skin looking like a child's skin when it is dehydrated. In her police statement of, she said that Lisa was 'very dehydrated at that point ... ummm, very thin.' She further states that Lisa was 'majorly dehydrated, everything really dry, mucous membranes get real, real dry. There's just this sunken dehydrated look.' "Dr. Werner Spitz, Estate's expert forensic pathologist, has opined that based on the testimony of an attendant, Laura Arrunada, Lisa was likely dead in the bath tub in the hotel around 4 p.m. according to Arrunada's observing a relaxed sphincter muscle, evidence of neurological compromise. "Confirming the deposition testimony of Robert Davis, M.D., the written autopsy protocol reports signs of dehydration: Hippocratic facies is present; Crusted blood is present at the nares; Crusted brown dried material is present within the mouth, on the lips; Crusted (dried) material is present on the eyelids; Right and left pleural cavities are free of fluid; The pericardial cavity has 2 cc of pale clear fluid; The peritoneal cavity is free of fluid. "The foremost expert in the world on post mortem chemistries is John I. Coe, M.D. He has been recognized as 'a universally acknowledged expert on the body's chemistry following death.' His C.V. lists 42 articles and 8 textbooks. A full professor of pathology and medical examiner for 30 years, Dr. Coe has no equal. 'The autopsy report indicated dehydration in certain aspects of it, the description, and then the postmortem chemistries were an ancillary, an important ancillary, I will admit, in making me think that dehydration was a significant factor. There was a discussion of a formation of a thrombus in the popliteal vein and a pulmonary embolus, and I can only say that when we had the chance to examine the microscopic, but I'm not going to say that it wasn't truly pulmonary embolus. I would say is that the pulmonary embolus indicates a total obstruction of that, but at least no more than that. And on that basis, in the absence of dehydration or some other factor, I would not expect that to be fatal. It was therefore my ultimate conclusion that dehydration was the underlying cause. "Calvin Bandt, M.D. ran the clinical laboratory at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where he collected over 6,000 vitreous samples used by Dr. Coe in his research and peer reviewed articles. It is his opinion from day one, along with Dr Coe, that Lisa was severely dehydrated, which dehydration caused her to be in an 'uremic coma.' 'I think at least in the last two days, that she would have been in the last stages of uremic coma, that she would have probably been responsive, she could have moved around, that she would have been extremely weak, that she would have been very confused, that she would have been very somnolent, she would not be very active, she would not be very verbal. She would have looked very much like she looks in that one autopsy picture where she has the endotracheal tube in her mouth, and one of the things in there that fits very well with that is the condition of her mouth. You can see crusted material on her teeth. This is very common in people who are in a very obtunded state, that they aren't able to swallow very well, and they get a lot of bacterial growth and dried mucus and so on in their mouth, and it's a very typical picture of poor oral hygiene.' "Lawrence Repsher, M.D., pulmonologist and board certified in critical care, opined that there is no physical evidence in the written autopsy, pictures, or slides that Lisa died from a pulmonary embolism. It is inconceivable that the bruise on Lisa's left lower thigh, only 2-7 days old, could cause trauma to the popliteal vein. 'You don't die from pulmonary embolism without having a dilated right heart chambers and increased lung weight.'" Message-ID: 1r8f1u8klirb022j3gg6oj30114nur65hd@4ax.com Message-ID: ar8f1uoo2kki5chmb3p1nifrpq66evamnk@4ax.com Message-ID: ir8f1u05bv4in053p1jq9p4rtf67b40kch@4ax.com Message-ID: 9v5qr6$g4@netaxs.com
Blackbird
Blackbird, a new book by Janet Lauck describes her life, including childhood experiences with Scientology. From a review on Salon.com: "Jennifer was 7 when her mother died. Her family then went from living a middle-class life in Huntington Beach, Calif., to a disjointed existence in Downtown Los Angeles. Her father married 'Deb,' a member of the 'Freedom Community' church, a pseudonym Lauck uses for what was in actuality the Church of Scientology, and then had a fatal heart attack. At age 10, Lauck and her brother, Bryan, were orphans and left in the care of their cold, authoritarian stepmother who attempted to break the little girl's will. Lauck writes of being mistreated by 'Deb,' sexually molested by a counselor at a church-run summer camp and, finally, abandoned by the awful stepmother, sent at age 10 to live by herself in one of the church's group homes and to earn her keep by working as a janitor's assistant at a local school. Years later her brother committed suicide." Message-ID: TRE0XUBB37238.6684953704@anonymous Message-ID: u1ih1uokdnrme0s06tptlhp0rb34ceibd4@4ax.com
Celebrity Center
Celebrity Center International in Hollywood will be hosting an event starring David Carradine. "David Carradine and the Cosmic Rescue Team in concert. Celebrity Centre International, Wednesday, December 19 7:30 pm. Lounge at the Espresso Bar Dance -- if you Dare! Laugh at it All!" Message-ID: 3C1983D4.1957@freeatlast.com
ECT
An article in the Sunday Times on December 9th described the battle over electoconvulsive therapy (ECT), including the role of Scientology and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights. "Campaigning bodies such as the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), an offshoot of the Church of Scientology (which is opposed to most aspects of psychiatry) wants ECT to be banned. Brian Daniels from CCHR will tell you that ECT has been used in Nazi concentration camps and other heinous institutions. This may be true, but it misses the point. The answer to misuse is not non-use but correct use. Opponents also used to point to the broken bones resulting from ECT convulsions. Nowadays, however, thanks to the muscle relaxant, the only sign of the electricity passing across their brain is the patient's toes twitching. But this does mean that a higher dose of electricity is needed to obtain a seizure. "Daniels is adamant that ECT has no positive effect. 'All they've done is numbed the person to the point where whatever was troubling them has been completely masked. If you were bashed over the head with a sledgehammer and then told to walk off down the street, you'd walk off going, 'Ow, my head hurts,' but you wouldn't think about your problem.' "He points to people like Diana Turner, 55, who was in her 20s when she had six 'doses' of ECT at a clinic in Worthing, West Sussex. 'Some of the other patients must have had far more than me; they were like zombies,' she recalls. Turner had gone to her GP complaining of headaches. Looking back, she says, they resulted from the tension of running a home; she had three children under the age of four. But she was diagnosed as suffering from depression and referred to a psychiatrist. 'On my second visit, he said, 'If you don't want to take tablets, I've got another treatment that might make you feel better.' So I said I'd try it.' She doesn't remember being told what it was. She was taken to a clinic once a week. "A recent study by Dundee and Aberdeen universities had some surprising results: 150 patients who had received ECT two weeks earlier were asked: 'Did ECT help you?' Of these, 110 said yes. Of the 11 among them who had not consented, nine also said yes. It is possible that some try to give the 'right' answers to health-care professionals, and that two weeks after treatment they may be too confused to give a true answer. But it is hard to dismiss these findings. Think of the alternatives, and the desperate need of those to whom ECT is given." Message-ID: nbck1u8un2up7so2vccdt2mk7roumqm5ua@4ax.com
Dallas
The Dallas News reported on December 9th that the Scientology org there would like to receive the donation of a computer for the holidays. "Dallas-area nonprofit organizations have shared their hearts' desires with us, responding to the Texas Living section's call to publish their groups' needs in our 15th annual Holiday Wish List. Whether the requests be for books and computers to challenge the mind, for food to nourish the body, or for volunteers to rekindle the spirit, our hope is to bring people together in this season of giving. "Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Dallas, 1850 N. Buckner Blvd., Dallas 75228, 214-572-6600, wants a video projector (1200+ lumens), a big-screen TV (about 50-55 in.), and 10 laptops (with active matrix screen, 3.4+GB, 64 mgb ram)." Message-ID: klk91u0h3cj6s3denumrijlocb4v4q22o8@4ax.com
Germany
Taz reported on December 12th that Scientology has lost an attempt to have Ursula Caberta, of the Hamburg Working Group on Scientology, fired. "Yesterday the Scientology organization failed in its attempt before the Hamburg administrative court to have Ursula Caberta, the sect commissioner of the Interior Ministry, relieved of her duties. Scientology's application was rejected as impermissible. Because the decision concerned homeland security, the Scientologists have no right to appeal." The German government announced on December 13th that it will support Ms. Caberta in a lawsuit brought by Scientologists in Florida. "The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany communicated to the US State Department its recommendations concerning the basis of the lawsuit filed by Mr. Hubert Heller, against Mrs. Ursula Caberta, in the US Federal District Court, district of central Florida. The Embassy directed attention to the fact that Caberta, a member of the German state, holds a position with the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. "The subject of the complaint is devoted entirely to the activities of Mrs. Caberta or her staff in Germany in their official capacities as staff of the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. "Based on the fact that the complaint may only be validly directed to the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the Federal Republic of Germany, representing the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg in accordance with international law, invokes state immunity and requests immediate withdrawal of the complaint. A court in the United States does not have jurisdiction in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg in the Federal Republic of Germany, and is not in the position to institute court proceedings there." Berlin.de reported on December 13th that a court has decided that the Office of Constitutional Security will no longer be allowed to recruit Scientologists in Berlin in their surveillance of the organization. "The 27th chamber of the Berlin administrative court today decided that Berlin Constitutional Security must forego the recruitment and implementation of members or staff of the Berlin Scientology Church as paid 'undercover people' for its surveillance. "The Berlin Scientology Church used the unsuccessful attempt of Berlin Constitutional Security to recruit one of its staff as a so-called 'undercover person' as an excuse to file a complaint that would forbid offering staff or members of the church money or financial advantages for collecting data and information about the church or its members and passing it on to Constitutional Security. "The court was not able to determine that the use of undercover people against the Berlin Scientology Church was currently called for. The state of Berlin had made a plausible case, but it did not support this type of surveillance. The court said it did not suffice to state in general that results from constitutional security observations could be presented only after a longer, undetermined time by reason of the object of surveillance operating on a limited basis due to being aware of being observed. The court said that evidence of actual anti-constitutional behavior or activities by Scientology, or that related to their alleged endeavors to infiltrate key positions of the state, had not been presented by the state of Berlin." Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1011212212143.124A-100000@darkstar.zippy Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1011213202614.114A-100000@darkstar.zippy Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1011214081152.114A-100000@darkstar.zippy
Honolulu
The Honolulu Advertiser published a profile on the local Scientology org on December 1st. "Our denomination: Pan-denominational: 'Anyone of any religious background can come and practice,' said Sakura Thompson, church spokeswoman. Where we are: 1148 Bethel St. Our numbers: Active, about 80-100, but thousands pick up reading materials about Dianetics, 'the modern science of mental health,' Thompson said. Lead pastoral counselor: Amy Suzuki. "What we believe: According to the Scientology Handbook, based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard, the essential tenets of Scientology are: You are an immortal spiritual being. Your experience extends well beyond a single lifetime. And your capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized. Furthermore, man is basically good. He is seeking to survive. And his survival depends upon himself and his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe. "What's special about us: Courses and services are offered in these areas: interpersonal relations, overcoming the ups and downs of life, personal values and integrity, understanding others, working more efficiently, marriage and raising children. Some services are used by artists and celebrities." Message-ID: jmll1ukre6409gun56pv731onp47r6ps7e@4ax.com
Christmas Carols
The Los Angeles Times reported on December 15th that a group from Scientology joined other performers at the Montrose Shopping Park. "The Crescenta Valley High School Singers are among the strolling musicians who will serenade shoppers today in the Montrose Shopping Park. The high school group will perform from noon to 1 p.m. in the 2200 and 2300 blocks of Honolulu Avenue in Montrose. Other performers are the Church of Scientology choir from 1 to 2 p.m.; the Valley Brass Quintet from 2 to 4 p.m.; and the Wilson Middle School Singers from 4 to 5 p.m. Singers will also perform in the shopping district Dec. 22." Message-ID: 9vfnq3$jh7@netaxs.com
Sports Injuries
A press release from Scientology on December 11th publicized the use of Scientology touch assists in treating sports injuries. "Techniques used at Ground Zero to help workers deal with injury, upset and fatigue have found use in dealing with sports injuries. They can reduce healing time and focus a person's attention on the task at hand. Licensed physical therapist, Ruth Agustin, who learned how to use the Hubbard Dianetic Assist procedures during her volunteer work at Ground Zero, has started using them in her practice where she treats sports-related injuries. "'I've been using these Hubbard Assists since September,' says Agustin, a therapist at Mid-Hudson Comprehensive and Medical Diagnostic in Throgs Neck, NY. 'It's so good to see people getting better -- even the chronic cases, the ones where people were told it is hopeless.' "Agustin points out that anyone can learn and administer the assists, but points out first aid is applied when needed. She is pleased that now she has effective tools that she can use to help a person to focus and handle physical problems better. Agustin says, 'I got into the physical therapy field to help people, and now with these assists I can deliver that promise better.'" Message-ID: rl9e1u0fn102jsh2sa5pad4na4brjnbipd@4ax.com
Protest Summary
Caroline Letkeman reported a protest at the Vancouver Scientology org on December 8th. "We brought hundreds if not thousands of people uptone with our very positive picket signs and very positive presences. Dozens of people came by to find out what we were picketing and to take one of our flyers. "One woman came out of the building to hand out copies of a new scn publication 'Voice of the Volunteer Minister: The Volunteer Minister's Newspaper. Gerry charmed her out of a copy and contributed it to the International Archives. "We had some actual contact by a scientologist who spoke on the subject of the picket. His name is Ty-bor or Ty-borg, we weren't sure which. I asked Ty-borg his last name but he wouldn't say. Ty-borg confronted us with some very unusual questions. He began with a series of questions such as, 'How many people die in hospitals a year?' and 'Why aren't you picketing them?' 'How many people in Canada die from prescribed drugs?' Gerry gave him his best estimates, and nope, he was wrong on all numbers. But Ty-Borg had the numbers right at the tip of his analytical mind. "Gerry told him that we were doing a Lisa McPherson Memorial Picket, and Ty-borg responded that he had 'studied her case and she died of a blood clot.' That's why it was so odd when Ty-borg seemed to want to impart information of a medical nature about 'my daughter.' Later, I realized it was simply that he had mistaken me for Lisa McPherson's mother. Obviously he didn't know she was deceased. "It was kind of a tense few minutes when I kept on demanding that he explain what he meant by 'your daughter's medical information.' At first, I thought he was being exceptionally cruel in his bullbaiting, but it was just a case of mistaken identity. I gave Ty-borg a copy of our handout, and pointed out which side of the handout had to do with my daughter, Ann. As Ty-borg disappeared back into the scn building, he encouraged me to study the Lisa McPherson case." Message-ID: gjma1ugmod5crn4kj9an699up69jo77d4s@4ax.com
Boy Scouts
The Los Angeles Times congratulated two boy scouts on December 15th for earning the rank of Eagle Scout at a Scientology-sponsored troop in Tujunga. "Two members of Boy Scout Troop 8 of Tujunga have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. It was awarded in front of more than 100 friends, troop members and Scouting officials at a ceremony at the Church of Scientology, Celebrity Centre, in Hollywood, Troop 8's charter organization. "Matt Fleming, 18, of Lake View Terrace had seven years of steady advancement through the Scouting ranks. For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Matt repaired a large section of trails in the Angeles National Forest. This task, organized wholly by Matt, involved more than 350 hours of work by parents and Scouts. Matt is a graduate of Verdugo Hills High School. He works for the Church of Scientology in Hollywood. "Adam Candler, 18, of Burbank joined the Scouts in 1994 and steadily moved up the ranks to Eagle. For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Adam repaired a large section of trails in the Angeles National Forest -- more than 500 hours of work by parents and Scouts. Matt is a graduate of Burbank High School. He recently joined the U.S. Navy." Message-ID: 9vfnlr$jh7@netaxs.com
Reed Slatkin
The Los Angeles Times published an update on December 15th on Scientologist Reed Slatkin and his infamous Ponzi scheme. "The investment empire run by EarthLink Inc. co-founder Reed Slatkin was a scam virtually from its inception in the mid-1980s, according to a report filed Friday by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court trustee and Slatkin's creditors. The report, which is the first detailed look at the inner workings of one of the largest alleged Ponzi schemes in history, said Slatkin reported about $700 million in bogus profits to investors from 1986 to 2001. "The report, co-written by trustee R. Todd Neilson and the bankruptcy case's creditors committee, alleges that Slatkin took in $593 million from more than 800 investors over 15 years. Although he distributed hundreds of millions in purported stock market profits to investors, the report alleges, he made only about $65 million in actual gains. Most of the payments were actually money taken in from other investors - a classic Ponzi scheme. "A 'select few' of Slatkin's investors profited from the scheme, the report alleges. Seventy-five investors received $151 million more than they originally invested, according to the report. One Slatkin associate, convicted felon Ron Rakow, got back $2 million more than he paid in and his family members were paid $6 million more than they invested, the report alleges. "The report claims Slatkin went to some lengths to deceive investors. Among other moves, Slatkin allegedly doctored brokerage statements to report phony earnings and set up a Swiss phone line - complete with a 'genuine European ring' - that forwarded calls back to one of his Santa Barbara numbers as a way of convincing investors that their money was safely ensconced in Swiss bank accounts, the report said. Investigators have found no evidence that the accounts exist. "Slatkin began his investment business with money from fellow Scientologists in 1985, according to testimony he made two years ago. His roster of clients eventually included actors, Hollywood producer Armyan Bernstein, CNN commentator Greta Van Susteren and Internet mogul Sky Dayton." From the Santa Barbara News-Press on December 15th: "The harshly worded accounting of the local man's alleged fraud was filed Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Barbara by Todd R. Neilson, the trustee appointed by the court to investigate after Mr. Slatkin filed for bankruptcy in May. Mr. Neilson will explain his report Monday in court to Mr. Slatkin's investors, some of whom have lost millions. "In simplest terms, the report claims, Mr. Slatkin's 'club' was a massive Ponzi scheme, where money paid by later investors was used to pay artificially high returns to the initial ones, with the goal of attracting more investors' money. It provides details of Mr. Slatkin's assets, liabilities and financial affairs uncovered during months of investigation by Mr. Neilson's team and a committee of creditors. "Mr. Slatkin's credibility with investors apparently was founded in large part on his connections to Earthlink, whose stock value soared after its creation in 1994. And many of his initial investors were members of the Church of Scientology, in which he and his wife are ordained ministers. "'Due to his newfound 'paper' wealth generated by the Earthlink investment, Slatkin was seemingly propelled into a euphoric sense of financial invincibility,' the trustee wrote. 'Investments were made in highly speculative projects with the assumption that 'financial lightning' would again strike for Slatkin. During the discussions the trustee has had with Slatkin relative to various investments, Slatkin continued to cling to the illusion that the 'dot.com wand' would somehow touch investments in companies that had never generated profits and had no foreseeable hope of doing so, and magically transform them into financial behemoths. In fairness to Slatkin, he is not the only person in the United States so afflicted.'" Message-ID: 20011215141720.05835.00000316@mb-mf.aol.com Message-ID: FAS6ZHUD37241.6378703704@anonymous
Terrorism Workshop
The New Haven Register reported on December 13th that the New Haven, Connecticut Scientology org will host an anti-terrorism workshop. "A free, anti-terrorism workshop, Solutions for a Dangerous Environment, will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Church of Scientology of Connecticut, 909 Whalley Ave." Message-ID: qukl1ucvb02ssfbo934eremlb0i0sv47kl@4ax.com
A.r.s. Week in Review is put together by Rod Keller ©
This collection is organised for WWW by Andreas Heldal-Lund.
Only edits done by me is replacing word encapsuled in * or _ with bold and underscore, and made links into HTML.
