In 1972 the Bee Gees drummer left to join a band dedicated to a cult leader named Maharaj-ji. A few years later George Harrison of the Beatles produced a different band dedicated to the same cult leader. Carlos Santana was given the name Devadip by his abusive guru Sri Chinmoy. Donovan traveled to India with the Beatles studying Transcendental Meditation. Soon the Doors, Mick Jagger and the Grateful Dead would all be practicing TM. The Beach Boys recorded one of Charles Manson's songs. Leonard Cohen dropped out and moved into a Zen Monastery, but his guru would be ousted for sexual abuse. Musician turned cult leader Mel Lyman was dubbed the "East Coast Charles Manson." John Travolta and Frank Stallone recorded a vinyl record made up of Scientology lyrics that went gold.
These are just some of the fascinating stories in Cult Rocked
"What the Hell is your problem, Buddy?" That was Will Smith after some goofy gay guy tried to kiss him on the mouth at Cannes - prompting the question, what is wrong with gays?
I did a post last night about John Travolta trying to suck some guys' dick while he slept, and could probably spend the rest of my blogging life telling you about other weird things I've actually seen gays do, making me also wonder if this is the world "gay supporters" are fighting for? Because if it is, I can guarantee you, somebody's going to get hurt. I mean, when mild-mannered Will Smith says he "shoulda sucker-punched" a guy, you can only imagine what someone with a less congenial spirit, or awareness of his media image (if he has one) might have done.
That bozo could've got fuuucked up.
And how's this incident playing out in the media, even now? As Will Smith slapped a guy - like he's violent - not as some too-forward fag violated another man's personal space. That seems to be what the game is now. To create a public space - but one without personal space - so anyone, who acts like there is, can be condemned for not acquiescing to other's predations.
In other words, pretty soon women and gays will be chasing straight men around their desks at work, because it was so much fun when assholes did it to women in the '50s and '60s.
But, if that's true, why'd they make those "Mad Men" stop to begin with?
While reading at the Althouse blog, it occurred to me that I've never heard a Lisa Marie Presley song, when she's supposed to be a recording artist or something. This one starts off promising, but then quickly degenerates into a mediocre meander, forgetting they've got a great guitar hook to lean on and falling back on that my-dad's-sleepy-eyes-are-now-on-heroin look instead. If The King's alive, as many still "believe," this'll explain why he hasn't shown his face.
I only ran across the song because Elvis' little girl is either a Scientologist or a former Scientologist (no, "normal" is not an option) and I needed something to prove all the super-expensive "training" those cultists go through doesn't make them perfect, "clear," or even any good. Plus, I didn't think you'd buy this headline without something else Scientology-related to make it plausible, and some crap tune called "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" (not to be confused with the classic BTO - thanks, CJ) seemed to fit the bill - here goes:
John Travolta 'tried to perform oral sex act on Grease co-star Jeff Conaway as he was sleeping'
I've mentioned this frequent homosexual "move" before (and apparently such behavior's fine with "gay" marriage activists who, I guess, will soon be demanding it take the place of getting down on one knee and proposing) so I'm thinking this story might contain a sliver of truth. It's certainly been mine.
Scientology frowns on homosexuality, of course - seeing it as a defect caused by those bloody "thetans" and NOT one possibly caused by staring into Jeff Conaway's (or George Clooney's) eyes too long. L. Ron Hubbard was weird that way. Mitt Romney is, too.
Whatever the case may be, I say, as a way to help "cure" a fellow Scientologist, Lisa Marie Presley should immediately offer to let Travolta gaze into her precious peepers while she sings this song:
Because, if he's anything like me, it'll surely break him of all desire, for anyone, ever again,...
Isn't it amazing that, even though Scientology's celebrities are told, and tell others, how special they are and what "powers" they have (remember that embarrassing Tom Cruise video?) The Law of Quantum Failure keeps striking them, regularly, in public? John Travolta couldn't help but kill his kid (there were people who predicted it) or make the worst movie of all time, Battlefield: Earth. None of them can speak without saying something incredibly stupid, etc.
Hell, even with all that e-meter auditing, Kirstie Alley's fat ass can't even learn to keep her tongue in her mouth.
I think the Los Angeles Times' Neal Gabler gets Charlie Sheen a bit:
Bruce Willis once described the basic trajectory of celebrity in America as having four stages: You arrive, you peak, you bomb and you come back. Whether he realized it or not, Willis was also describing the phases that anthropologist Joseph Campbell had discerned for the hero across cultures — save for one thing. Heroes don't bomb. That is a distinctly American interpolation, one designed to ensure that our demigods never confuse themselves with gods. As our stars rose into the heavens, we reserved the right to humble them, to bring them back to Earth. Think of Eddie Murphy or John Travolta or Tom Cruise, all of whom seemed to get too big for their britches and were brought down a peg for it.
So Charlie Sheen's verboten media blitz flaunting a lifestyle that is decidedly not shared by the vast majority of his fans (how many of us have two live-in porn star "goddesses" or can profess to have consumed an amount of cocaine that would have killed a mortal?) explicitly violates the contract, which seems to have been Sheen's point.
He says he isn't off the rails like Mel Gibson or Lindsay Lohan. He insists he is the engineer. He is doing exactly what he wants to do, what his riches and fame allow and entitle him to do. As he puts it, he is embracing his "rock star" life.
The irony is that living large and doing exactly as he pleases has long been a central ingredient in Sheen's appeal. His role on "Two and a Half Men" as a womanizing, footloose bachelor seems lifted out of his real life, which is one of the reasons it is funny. We think we are seeing Sheen spoofing himself. When Sheen reminded us that his life is even more extreme than his character's, the media turned censorious — an example of trying to have your comedy and revile it too. Sheen is absolutely right to call this hypocrisy. He has never pretended to be a Boy Scout. He has always purported to be precisely the opposite.
And now Roseanne Barr, of all people, has stepped forward to add another dose of reality to the proceedings.
The comedienne, who worked with Lorre on "Roseanne" from 1990 to 1992, wrote three blog posts on her website supporting Sheen and insulting Lorre's writing on "Men," which she described as "s--- jokes and adolescent sniggering over breasts and women's body parts lines."
"I never really worked with him, as he was mostly drunk when he was on my show, and too busy making deals with my producers for shows that copied mine...to turn in too many good scripts," Barr wrote of Lorre.
The 58-year-old actress added that Brett Butler, who worked with Lorre on "Grace Under Fire," and Cybil Shepard, who worked with him on "Cybill", also suffered at Lorre's hands and "were often out in the parking lot screaming at Chuck and crying."
That sounds like WINNING! if I've ever heard it,...
The Houston Press' TV reviewer caught it (like a virus) even if no one else did:
I thought I imagined it at first, or was suffering the onset of hallucinations brought upon by sleep deprivation, strong drink, and three consecutive nights of watching Steven Tyler undress the audience with his eyes. But for maybe the first time since Season 10 of Idol began, I actually rewound my DVR to rewatch something.
It starts out ambiguously enough that you know something hinky is afoot, then moves into uncomfortably quasi-spiritual territory before flashing the "S"-word. And why am I talking about it so much? Because it was one of the few mildly surprising moments of an otherwise utterly predictable evening.
I included the clip,...because I imagine a few of last night's failed contestants - and not a few of you "suppressive persons" - might need some auditing in the near future.
"One of the few mildly surprising moments of an otherwise utterly predictable evening." Ha! - See what happens, Mr. & Mrs. Conformity-As-Entertainment, when they don't think they can get Charlie Sheen?
They start coming after YOU!
Because you've proven - with your lack of independence, Gawd-awful taste in entertainment, overall low standards, and tumble weed-infested lack of imagination - you're prime-cut cult material! You'll go for ANYTHING! (As long as it blinks and promises to be uplifting at the end, you're recruitable.)
Not only that, but you're too dumb to be insulted by their backhanded flattery (oh yeah, they want you, because you're fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked UP!) and, of course, you won't cause a fuss or a scene. You're not going to stop watching American Idol over some little ol' commercial, are you? Of course not, not you. Us, maybe (well, we never watch American Idol to begin with) but not YOU. Your brain's already turned to fucking mush. There's tons of commercials on T.V., right? What's one more?
Much to our surprise, The New Yorker is continuing Lawrence Wright's coverage of the Scientology cult, with proof from L. Ron Hubbard's military files that - in the words of Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis - "Scientology is based on a lie.”
A lie that proves the cult of Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Juliette Lewis (above) Anne Archer, and a whole host of other Hollywood residents, is most definitely NOT a religion - but IS a scam!
Now that's what we call a Valentine's Day present!
Oh, we love you, too, New Yorker! And not just for the movie reviews this time! We mean it:
Singers aren’t supposed to have dairy before a show, but we all know I’m a rule breaker.
--Justin Bieber - convincing himself he's on the cutting edge because he eats pizza - in Spiked Magazine.
Victor Davis Hanson has a nice screed, about all of those who "rage against reality", while those of us who were raging for a reality-based outlook have been called "crazy".
It is a insane fact, of these insane times, that anyone who points out insanity will be labeled insane themselves.
Matt Drudge links to a "Top Psychic" (what are the qualifications for that designation?) making us wonder - in the year 2011 - what the difference is between those who believe in such NewAge mystical powers and the Haitians killing one another because they're convinced sorcerers are spreading cholera?
Does Matt Drudge also "rage against reality"?
We pointed you to Oleg Atbashian's "What to Ask Progressives" already. But did we mention that's only it's subtitle? It's real title is "Question Insanity".
If you hold such views, could you be said to "rage against reality"?
And how are you different from those Americans The Wall Street Journal covered who rely on "Hoodoo"?
Can't it be said they, too, "rage against reality"?
Spiked Magazine calls this "Our Brave New World of Malthusian Madmen" but no one enamored with Malthusian ideas will willingly call themselves "mad", just as we can't get Tom Cruise or John Travolta to admit they're in "a dangerous cult".
And, even worse, in all these cases there is hardly anyone willing to talk sense into any else's head - to make them "not crazy".
It's not even considered a goal.
Because, if you try to do that, you, too, will be labeled "crazy".
(We always thought the gates to evil were J.K. Rowling's "special girl spots",...)
Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Al Gore have major environmental regrets. Unfortunately, being idiots isn't one of them.
And there's still no word on when we're getting back the money they've wasted. We know Al's got a lot of it.
Somebody ought to start demanding it.
It's about time: "The Northern Territory Department of Health has warned the Church of Scientology not to give people medical advice on how to detox from drugs and alcohol."
Great. Now if we can only save John Travolta from himself we'll be all good.
In court papers filed Friday, a former high ranking officer of NXIVM depicts the cultlike group as a self-help and ethics school that is secretly a place for its leader to explore opportunities for sex and gambling money.
Susan Dones, a trainer who ran the Colonie-based company's former Tacoma, Wash., center, told a bankruptcy court last week that Keith A. Raniere, the creator of the teachings used in NXIVM's self-improvement courses, may have motives beyond the education of human potential.
Dones said NXIVM presents Raniere "as the most honest, ethical, Nobel (sic), man who had the answers to mankind's problems" yet his training sessions are "used as a venue to stalk their students ... who might fit into Raniere's profile of sexual conquest and who might be willing to 'give' Raniere money to feed his gambling problem."
Raniere, who uses the name "Vanguard," and NXIVM President Nancy Salzman, Dones claimed, acted maliciously toward members who were "sold on Raniere being someone he is not and that NXIVM 'mission' is something it is not."
"I was informed and believe that Raniere/Vanguard was having sexual relationships with multiple women, sometimes with more than one of them at the same time (many of these women were told that they were the chosen one; several of them were members of NXIVM's executive board which is a per se conflict of interest and all them had to keep their relationship with Raniere a secret from the NXIVM community because it was feared that many members were not 'evolved enough' to be able to deal with this information)," Dones stated in her court declaration.
Ahh, yes, women:
Where would all these cults and frauds be without them?
It's embarrassing the BBC is doing this story, in this depth, while most American outlets - broadcast and cable - allow Scientology's open intimidation to continue without a mention - as they also promote it's celebrities. The media now has the words of ex-members - people who ran the cult - and, still, the American media say nothing of substance.
There's barely a clamor in the blogosphere, either, even though a suggestion to investigate Scientology's tax-exempt status was one of the most suggested ideas Barack Obama received, when he asked for them online. He didn't take the idea seriously, acting as though the subject was beneath him. As a matter of fact, to say cultism's a subject worthy of dissection at all, seems to be an indicator of kookiness to some, if not most, when received online.
It's definitely not as popular as homeopathic "medicines".
Any real dissection of cultism must necessarily go into areas most wouldn't consider, or find comfortable. What influence is having so many cultists in entertainment, and business, having on our culture? What are the messages within the roles cult actors choose or the songs cult artists sing - and why? Are there messages at all? How much of the brainwashing they've received has America received by extension? How much, of what certain segments of 21st century America value, can be found in cult doctrines? And not just from Scientology but also from est, The Landmark Forum, and every other "human potential" group and/or wannabe religion or cult leader, all acting on our citizens simultaneously?
How "free" have we actually been?
Why does the richest and most famous woman in the world, Oprah Winfrey, support Scientologists, when she has to know what type of organization they represent? Why can she do it for them - and many other cult-related entities - without serious criticism from the society at large? How and where are cults and cult organizations helping each other and why?
If their ideas are wrong, and following their advice is futile - like Oprah promoting The Secret - how much are they costing the country? What high-priced assumptions have we, as a country, internalized? The divorces, separating of families, lawsuits, everything - how much?
But, still, journalists appear to think, except in bit pieces thrown to and fro, there's no story here. Our guess is that's because, like Christine O'Donnell, they've all got a bit of the crazy belief business in their pasts, but - unlike O'Donnell - they've been conned to think it would be a mark against themselves (as hypocrites or "being judgmental") to investigate it now.
Well, that's cult thinking right there, because what a journalist is supposed to do is what needs to be done, to tell the story that needs to be told, to get the truth out because - whether you're the victim or it's someone else - there's nothing worse than living a lie (Screw Star Wars - that's The Matrix - Who's Watching The Watchmen?):
Was John Sweeny being followed? Of course he was.
Did this "church" - that's mysteriously exempt from paying taxes to America - set out to drive BBC reporter, John Sweeny, crazy? Yes it did.
Was the church willing to lie about it? Yes they were.
Then, damn it, what exactly do we have here?
We think we've got a cult - and there's many of them - and many major news stories to go with them, regarding who's in and who's out, and what they're up to. We think it almost goes without saying, that liberalism wouldn't be liberalism without them.
Isn't this brilliant? Right after I did a post calling North Korea's soccer coach the victim of a giant cult - and pointing out that no one in the delusional West seems to want to lift a finger to save him - The Wall Street Journal comes out with a lone editorial saying the world should do just that:
"A fortnight into the World Cup, the spoiled millionaires on the French team can return home to hear catcalls after their off-field meltdowns, and the Americans can take satisfaction in their dramatic last-minute win to move on in the tournament. The stakes are higher for North Korea's players, who must wonder if they're destined for the Gulag after their 7-0 loss to Portugal this week.
In a mini-profile in courage, Coach Kim took the flak for his squad. 'It was my fault for not playing the right strategy,' he said, promising 'to reach our objectives' against Ivory Coast today. He and his players may literally be playing for their lives. In the event of another defeat, we think all of North Korea's players and coaches deserve an offer of asylum from the rest of the world, because the Dear Leader doesn't take kindly to national humiliation."
I am convinced, in the near future, it will be seen as a mark of shame not to have actively been working against cults during the last decade, much in the same way answering the question, "What did you do during the war, daddy?" turned out to be a toughie for some during other times of crisis. Why? Because, as the WSJ editorial makes clear - even without mentioning cultism - they know what's going on:
Just as those who write about Oprah, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirsti Alley, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and others, know what's going on in our country - they just don't have the balls to go there.
"It is certainly not politic for a general or his staff to express their contempt for civilian authorities publicly. But what is far more important-- from the standpoint of national security-- is whether what those authorities have done deserves contempt.
My hope is that General McChrystal will write a book about his experiences in Afghanistan-- and in Washington. The public needs to know what is really going on, and they are not likely to get that information from politicians."
Or, I would add, from journalists or almost anybody else - that's why the job's left to bloggers. The John Edwards scandal made it clear - there are some subjects that are taboo to certain types and, come hell or high water, they won't go there - until it's obvious they have no choice. And what does Thomas Sowell think the answer is? A real man ("a soldier's soldier") like General McChrystal, finally stepping forward to spill the beans.
" Just imagine, for a moment, a Chuck Schumer or John McCain standing up in the U.S. Senate to call for a probe into John Travolta's bizarro buddies and the allegations -- proven many times over in numerous court cases -- that Scientology is more economic scam than 'religion.'"
"James Arthur Ray had spent the money that customers prepaid for future events when his business collapsed in October, according to a class-action lawsuit a Tucson attorney filed against Ray.
In the suit, filed by local lawyer Todd Jackson, plaintiffs estimate that 1,000 or more people had prepaid James Ray International for future events when three people died at a Ray event near Sedona on Oct. 3. When Ray's business subsequently stopped holding new events, no money was left to pay back customers who had prepaid as much as $12,000 for future events, the complaint says.
Jackson, representing Ray customers Susan Smyser, Patricia Franklin and Kim Wilson, filed the suit in Maricopa County Superior Court April 2.
The three women had separately fronted about $24,000 to Ray's company for events scheduled for 2009, 2010 and even 2011: '21st Century Alchemy 2010,' 'Urban Shaman,' 'Quantum Leap 2009,' and 'Practical Mysticism 2010,' among others."
Now how can I imagine a truly "enlightened" world when I see women so stupid it could be argued they already got their money's worth out of these deals:
Using 21st Century Alchemy, this Urban Shaman took their minds on a Quantum Leap into Practical Mysticism, and now their money is gone, too.
"A self-described Wiccan had a man's phone number programmed in her cell phone under the word 'sacrifice' before she stabbed him to death, then claimed he had tried to rape her, authorities said Thursday."
"Blake Fielder-Civil has turned to crackers celebrity cult Scientology in a bid to stay clean after rehab.
The ex-husband of AMY WINEHOUSE, who's back with her, is taking a big interest in the oddball organisation which counts TOM CRUISE, JOHN TRAVOLTA and WILL SMITH as members.
A friend said: 'He has been reading lots of Scientology books and researching it on the internet.
'He is seriously thinking about becoming an active member.
'Blake has been trying out all kinds of ways to readdress his life since doing rehab.
'He's been eating healthily. Then he got heavily into bikram yoga. Now it's Scientology.'"
Portrait of a man who can't handle stimulants. (Kidding.) Wow. I never saw this coming. I thought he was smarter than this. But, if the photo above is any indication, they've really got the whole mind, body, spirit thing working on him something fierce. Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait and see. But we've seen this - the haircut, at least - before:
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