Inside Scientology, + links

Based on a recommendation from the former Mr. Sponge, I’ve been reading Janet Reitman’s Inside Scientology. I did not think it was possible for me to hate this cult more than I already did, but now I do.

Scientology sucks up to Louis fucking Farrakhan

Scientology held their own members prisoner and treated many of them abysmally

Scientology is first and foremost an investment racket in which they shake down members for money and then invest in more tax-free property

Scientology routinely terrorizes their opponents — even the IRS backed down on Scientology’s terms

A simple IRS forensic audit of Scientology would put an end to this cult, but for that to happen we would need:

A President with balls (figuratively speaking)

A Congress that would instantly impeach and remove any judge issuing any court order stopping an IRS audit of Scientology

A mobilization of combined local and federal law enforcement to protect each and every individual involved in auditing Scientology

They are, simply put, some of the worst people in the world, and their leader David Miscavige, is human waste personified.

How evil is Scientology? I finally got around to watching Hobo with a Shotgun last night, and the over-the-top bad guys kept reminding me of Scientologists. Just to give you an idea of how bad the bad guys are, they make a psychotic hobo with a shotgun look like a credible good guy by comparison.

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On schedule with my other stuff so I thought I’d commemorate my finishing the Reitman book with a quick links dump:

Ian Welsh on London burning

Harold Bloom on Bush, etc.

Fox being Fox

First new 9/11 news I’ve seen in years

PZ’s new blog home is here

If I did have money to invest, I’d seriously consider putting some into Amazon

I would not, at this time, invest in a restaurant

And if I wanted some money, I’d look to see which cheap labor-seeking European companies are building plants in the U.S.

USPS considering laying off 120,000 because they’re too fucking stupid to bump 1st class stamps to 75¢ while cutting overnight deliveries to $5 (thereby putting FedEx and UPS out of business forever)

This map of state by state cigarette taxes looks remarkably similar to a map I saw a while back of which states have the highest mortality rates (think red) (and I suspect this healthcare bar chart broken down by state would follow the same pattern)

Hungary does not, apparently, have any laws about using earthmoving equipment to turn industrial tanks into water parks

From the Iowa State Fair, Michele Bachmann as Dorothy, deep-fried butter on a stick and corn in a jar

And from Dave Trott, which candidate would you pick?

Candidate a) He’s been known to associate with crooked politicians. He’s consulted astrologers for help with decisions. He chain smokes, and drinks 8 – 10 martinis a day.

Candidate b) He’s been kicked out of political office twice. He stays in bed until nearly noon. He used opium in college. He drinks copious amounts of whiskey and champagne. People accuse him of being a warmonger.

Candidate c) He’s a decorated war hero. He doesn’t smoke, and only drinks an occasional beer. He’s a vegetarian and he’s never committed adultery. He’s a charismatic leader.

Answers here, but I suspect you all knew better than to go with C. This taps into new research that suggests all our great leaders are somewhat messed up in the head. The longer I stay off antidepressants, the more I’m beginning to realize that most of what I know that’s really good to know, I learned only because I’m bipolar, and that the only reason I don’t go up and down anymore is because I stopped taking meds and instead learned more about myself. If your life has always been swell, you probably don’t know yourself or your capabilities as well as the less perfect folks among us.

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Posting to this blog is my lowest priority right now, but then again, it’s what I do did do. Did.

Do.

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• butter on a stick
• Cult of Scientology
• David Miscavige
• Hobo with a Shotgun
• London burning