Speculation online has suggested both the author and his rock star wife, Amanda Palmer, are also part of the mysterious cult – but Gaiman was quick to dismiss the talk.
“I think there are about three mad people [saying that],” he told The Big Issue. “Only they keep repeating the same things. And then you get other people come in and say, ‘This isn’t actually true’ and they never reply, just go elsewhere. Bonkers people.”
Gaiman is preparing to head out on what will be his final book tour, travelling across America’s Midwest to promote new release, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, in a series of events that will undoubtedly attract huge numbers of fans.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is partly based on real events from his childhood, including the suicide of one of the Gaimans’ lodgers – a young South African called Johannes Scheepers – who used the family’s Mini to gas himself. The police and ambulance took the body away and Gaiman’s father immediately sold the car, never telling his young family of the incident.
Gaiman recalled: “I went through my entire childhood thinking, ‘Why don’t things that happen in books happen to me?’ And yet this thing had happened and none of us knew. None of the children knew. All we knew was that the Mini had gone away – and here’s another car.”
He added: “It’s not a book about my family – it’s absolutely my landscape. You can point to any specific place in this book and point to it and say: this fairy ring was there. That patch of rhododendron? That was real.
"But the parents are not my parents. My mother was not an optician. The red squares are not the whole picture. I’ve no doubt academics out there will have ridiculous fun wondering what he’s actually saying here. But it was not plotted in a way I sometimes plot things. I just went into it going – I’ve got a suicide...”
To read the full interview with Neil Gaiman, see this week’s Big Issue, on sale now
Scientology Disconnection — Who Qualifies To Be Declared?
JUNE 1, 2013 BY LEAVE A COMMENT
This is the second in a series of postings examining the subject of Scientology disconnection practices. See Disconnection — Scientology’s Nasty Secret. Who qualifies for disconnection?
The simple answer is “anyone deemed an undesirable.”
It used to be true that one disconnected from Suppressive Persons if they could not be handled.
And Suppressive Persons are denominated as those individuals who display the majority of characteristics of the anti-social personality.
Old School Think
According to “old school” Scientology thinking:
As they only comprise 20% of the population and as only 2 1/2% of this 20% are truly dangerous, we see that with a very small amount of effort we could considerably better the state of society. Well known, even stellar examples of such a personality are, of course, Napoleon and Hitler. Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Christie and other famous criminals were well known examples of the anti-social personality.THE SOCIAL PERSONALITYMan in his anxieties is prone to witch hunts. All one has to do is designate “people wearing black caps” as the villains and one can start a slaughter of people in black caps. This characteristic makes it very easy for the anti-social personality to bring about a chaotic or dangerous environment. Man is not naturally brave or calm in his human state. And he is not necessarily villainous. Even the anti-social personality, in his warped way, is quite certain that he is acting for the best and commonly sees himself as the only good person around, doing all for the good of everyone – the only flaw in his reasoning being that if one kills everyone else, none are left to be protected from the imagined evils. His conduct in his environment and toward his fellows is the only method of detecting either the anti-social or the social personalities. Their motives for self are similar – self-preservation and survival. They simply go about achieving these in different ways. Thus, as Man is naturally neither calm nor brave, anyone to some degree tends to be alert to dangerous persons and hence, witch hunts can begin. It is therefore even more important to identify the social personality than the anti- social personality. One then avoids shooting the innocent out of mere prejudice or dislike or because of some momentary misconduct.
Further in this same reference is an admonition:
The frailty of showing how the harmful people can be known is that these then apply the characteristics to decent people to get them hunted down and eradicated. The swan song of every great civilization is the tune played by arrows, axes or bullets used by the anti-social to slay the last decent men. From HCO BULLETIN OF 27 SEPTEMBER 1966 THE ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY THE ANTI-SCIENTOLOGIST
The Brave New World of Corporate Scientology
According to what is now considered “normal” one can suddenly find oneself a target for disconnection for activities that could hardly be considered “anti-social” or “suppressive” – a mother who refuses to disconnect from her son or daughter who blew from course or took drugs. A husband who will not allow his wife to take out a mortgage on their house. Or even lesser “crimes” of refusing to unfriend someone on Facebook or being unwilling to attend events.
As time goes by and the hardcore keeps shrinking — leaving the ever more robotic to keep the lights on – the standards of what qualifies one for labeling as a “Napoleon, Hitler or Dillinger” becomes increasingly insane.
The Lord of Flies children who occupy most of the MAA roles in Scientology these days (usually second generation Scientologists who have ONLY known the world according to Corporate Scientology) are unmoved and unemotional about the injustices, hardships and insanities they mete out in the name of “Keeping Scientology Working,” “No other fish to fry,” “Command Intention” and whatever other platitudes they spout. These are Apocalypse Zombies wound up and walking inexorably in the direction they have been pointed. Rationality or common sense are not in their vocabularies.
Scientology “Thought Crimes”
If you have the idea that this is all somehow going to magically get better, unfortunately, the ONLY evidence is that it is going to get worse.
The “crimes” for which you can be subjected to “disconnection” have already edged VERY close to “thought crimes”.
Thinking bad thoughts about “COB” will get you removed from the building, and you might find friends and family giving you the stink eye, but you have to do something else (lip off to an IAS Reg or refuse to show up for an event) before you get a “Non Enturb” Order and subsequent verbal declare (or the latest technique – for another posting – the “letter declare” with a highlighted “Policy” attached). But the day is coming when it will be overtly acceptable to declare people and order any remaining Scientologists to disconnect from them for their THOUGHTS. IT is closer than anyone would have thought possible a decade ago. The highest crime in the Corporate Scientology Universe these days is no longer “communicating”, it is “Expressing CI (Counter Intention) to Command” (this ranges from open revolt — rare — to unacceptable facial expressions).
Sadly, long gone are the days when one was allowed to “think for themselves” or “question authority” or “never desert a comrade in need” or “never permit your affinity to be alloyed.”
In fact, this whole subject crashes headlong into something really fundamental. And I think it is worth revisiting as it provides some workable and simple stable data that are VERY fundamental to achieving happiness and meaning in life:
The Code of Honor
1. Never desert a comrade in need, in danger, or in trouble.2. Never withdraw allegiance once granted.3. Never desert a group to which you owe your support.4. Never disparage yourself or minimize your strength or power.5. Never need praise, approval or sympathy.6. Never compromise with your own reality.7. Never permit your affinity to be alloyed.8. Do not give or receive communication unless you yourself desire it.9. Your self-determinism and your honor are more important than your body.10. Your integrity to yourself is more important than your body.11. Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today, and you make your tomorrow.12. Never fear to hurt another in a just cause.13. Don’t desire to be liked or admired.14. Be your own adviser, keep your own counsel and select your own decisions.15. Be true to your own goals.
Katie Holmes Gets Some On The Set Of "Mania Days"
When Katie Holmes was Stepford Katie and married to Tommy Girl, he wouldn't do her, but he sure as hell wouldn't let anybody else do her in front of a camera for a movie. (The most intimate Katie and Tommy Girl ever got was the time that he wooed her with a turkey baster full of L. Ron Hubbard's freeze dried sperm as the high-ranking bridge queens of Scientology hummed the E.T. theme song and John Travolta and Kirstie Alley twirled around under fluorescent lighting.) But now that Katie is free of Tommy Girl she can openly get it on! Katie and her co-star (and supposed piece) Luke Kirby had fake sex on the set of their movie Mania Days in NYC yesterday. Get that piece of man anyway you can, Katie.
Meanwhile, Tommy Girl is looking at these pictures and feeling sad inside. His Thetans are frowning, because if he wasn't a famous Scientologist, he could get it on with a hot piece.... out in public... around some greenery... inThe Ramble.
Whoops! Tom Cruise accused of dating mystery woman after ex-Scientologist lookalike on motorcycle is mistaken for the famous actor
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commentsIt sent the rumour mill into to overdrive.A helmet clad Tom Cruise with a shapely mystery woman tightly clinging hold of him atop a motorcycle outside the famed Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California.Only problem is, it turns out the man identified as Tom on two different occasions, May 23 and 27, is not the actor.Mistaken identity: It was thought Tom Cruise had started dating again after being spotted leaving the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California, on May 23 but it has been revealed to be a lookalikeIn an ironic twist, the motorcycle rider and his mystery woman on the back are ex-Scientologists.The Huffington Post has revealed the man is a former church member who wrote a rap about Tom's religion, Tizaiano Lugli.And, on the bright red Ducati, was not a mystery woman but rather his wife Jamie.Similar features: Revealed to be singer Tizaiano Lugli, the two men do look a lot alikeRegulars at the hotel, the pair had been on a 'date night' when they were photographed leaving.The singer even made a joke about trying to avoid the Oblivion actor.Tizaiano posted a picture of him and his wife at the Chateau saying: 'Gangsta night, hopefully no Tom Cruise.'Ironic: Tizaiano and his wife Jamie are ex-Scientologists and regularly attend the hotelThe two men do have similar features and with bike helmets on it was easy to see how the mistake had been made.Tom also owns a Ducati and enjoys ferrying pretty ladies around on the back of bikes. In 2005 he rode into the premiere of the War Of The Worlds with then-fiancee Katie Holmes on the back of his bike.Tom has been single since his split with wife of five years almost a year ago on June 29.Earlier this year at the premiere of his sci-fi film Oblivion the star told E! he has not had time to date.Easy rider: In 2005 the actor rode into the premiere of the War Of The Worlds with then-fiancee Katie Holmes on the back of his bikeThe 50-year-old said: 'I'm not thinking about it right now. Right now I'm thinking about the movie.'His former wife however, may be starting to think about that.On May 23 Katie was photographed heading to dinner with her new co-star Luke Kirby – adding fuel to the rumours that they are more than just friends.The pair have reportedly been getting closer and closer as they film Mania Days in New York.Ex files: On May 23 Katie was photographed heading to dinner with her new co-star Luke Kirby
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2334503/Tom-Cruise-accused-dating-mystery-woman-ex-Scientologist-lookalike-motorcycle-mistaken-famous-actor.html#ixzz2V23T6xR9
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A Scientology film festival?
By:
Will Smith’s AFTER EARTH, a $130 million sci-fi adventure he dreamed up and toplines with his 14 year old son Jaden, opened to middling business and some of the worst reviews possible this weekend. The New York Times snorted that where once upon a time millionaires gave their kids toys, now they star them in a movie, adding that Jaden came off as a spoiled brat. One critic wondered if it was the worst movie ever made. But then, he noted, there was always BATTLEFIELD EARTH, John Travolta’s Scientology-themed unintended laugh-producing version of founder L. Ron Hubbard’s sci-fi book that earned instant notoriety for its magnificent awfulness as it crashed and burned when it was released in 2000.
When Will Smith did press at LA’s Four Seasons in 2008 for SEVEN POUNDS there were reports he’d founded a Scientology school for kids. I asked him if he had converted to Scientology and he emphatically said “No.” But after SEVEN POUNDS, which did disappointing business as a follow-up to his Oscar-nominated work with the same director on THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, Smith, now 44, took a four year hiatus from filmmaking. I could never understand why someone who was the world’s top box-office star, who had become a virtual Hollywood hit factory, who could do anything he wanted movie-wise, would just …. walk away. Was it a midlife crisis? The awareness that when you’re at the top there’s only way to go and that ‘s down? Did he just want a break after working pretty much nonstop since he was a kid? So on the green, not red, carpet at the AFTER EARTH premiere last Wednesday, I asked him what prompted that break.
Smith answered: “I felt creatively I had hit a ceiling. I got to a place in my life, and even in my family, as a parent, as a husband, where I’d reached the extent of my knowledge, the extent of my abilities, the extent of my capabilities. And I had to study. I had to train. I had to get smarter and become more expansive. Or I had done my best work.”
So while shepherding Jaden thru THE KARATE KID in China which he produced, Smith conceived of AFTER EARTH where as critics have noted he does very little in the film but sit, injured, in a space cockpit while Jaden carries the burden of the film by running around fighting CGI monsters. Critics have also noted that the movie’s tagline, “Danger is real, Fear is a choice,” sounds very much like a Scientology slogan.
So for those who see AFTER EARTH as really a Scientology course, I suggest a future Scientology Film Festival where it would be joined by Travolta’s BATTLEFIELD EARTH and Tom Cruise’s WAR OF THE WORLDS. Cruise as you might remember insisted that a Scientology tent be put up on set so crew members would have access to -- lunchtime lectures? -- and where the H.G. Wells’ source story was changed so that aliens came, as in true Scientology doctrine, not from outer space but from within the planet, having been here waiting for a chance to pop up for thousands of years. And while it may not be equal to the diversity of Cannes, Berlin, Venice or Toronto it sure could be a hoot.
Will Smith’s After Earth Labeled Scientology Propaganda, Can He Still Deny He’s A Scientologist?
L. Ron Hubbard never does well at the box office. Will Smith thought he’d go the John Travolta route. No, I don’t mean he’s taken to enjoying “massage”rendez-vous with men in upscale spas (although Jada Pinkett-Smith’s open marriage comments aren’t helping anything). No I’m talking about the Will Smith/After Earth Scientolog controversy. By now you’ve probably heard the movie bombed this weekend with critics universally panning it. But did you know that many are condemning it as Scientology propaganda? Did Will Smith just make his Battlefield Earth?
As you’ll remember, Battlefield Earth was Travolta’s love letter to Scientology. It did horribly and I’ll forever think of him now with long nasty snakes coming out of his huge dome. I never bothered to watch it. I just got that mental pic from the stills. But John never wavered in his acknowledgment of being a Scientologist. He’s always embraced it regardless of how it made him look in Hollywood. Did Will just come out with this movie? Can he still deny he’s a Scientologist after all the little hints?
What hints? The Hollywood Reporter had guest columnist and former Scientologist, Marc Headley, review the movie and point out all the Scientology references. He found quite a bit. From the idea that fear is a choice to Will’s personality-less character to the climatic volcano scene at the end, Headley confirms the movie is spot-on Xenu loving. “The movie’s climax takes place on a volcano that could have been ripped right off the cover of Dianetics, the look is so similar. In Scientology, the volcano is a common thread through many different teachings. This image was used not only on the cover of Dianetics, but has also been used in many of Scientology’s TV ads over the years.”
So here’s the most important question – will this hurt Will Smith’s career. He hasn’t had many flops and this isn’t just a flop. This could be a Tom Cruisejumping on the couch moment. Tom, to his credit, talks Scientology but has never been dumb enough to make a movie about it. He keeps his movie persona separate from his religious one which is why people still see his movies. Will it be the same for Will? He refuses to acknowledge he’s Team L. Ron but he puts this crap out. Was he trying to introduce Scientology to the masses a la Travolta or is this just the case of a whole lot of coincidences? More importantly, has Mr. Fourth of July Blockbuster lost his touch with his audience over Scientology? Will Smith could recover but will he?
Getting steamy! Katie Holmes wears just a bra as she shares a passionate kiss with Luke Kirby on set of Mania Days
By SHYAM DODGE
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She is rumoured to be dating him in real life.
So it's not surprising that Katie Holmes appeared to inject authentic passion into her scripted kiss with co-star Luke Kirby on set of Mania Days filming in New York.
The steamy embrace had the two actors locking lips as a shirtless Katie, wearing only her bra, straddled Luke in a show of unbridled desire, on Friday.
Passionate embrace: Katie Holmes wore only her bra in a steamy scene with co-star Luke Kirby on set of Mania Days filming in New York, on Friday
Hot! Katie locked lips with her Canadian co-star as she straddled him while cameras rolled
Katie's long brunette locks hung in a tangled mess over her naked shoulders as she smooched with the Canadian independent film actor.
Luke, for his part, closed his eyes as he embraced his 34-year-old co-star.
At one point the actor, also 34, cradled his head on Katie's chest as she pulled him in close for a passionate hug.
Tangled mess: The actress' long brunette locks hung over her naked shoulders as she smooched with the independent film actor
The after glow: Katie was positively beaming after her choreographed make out session
Deeply felt: The 34-year-old actress appeared to inject authentic passion into the choreography
The pair were spotted smiling after the choreographed make out session, with the actress even puckering her lips as she appeared to banter with the hunky thespian.
The kiss comes after rumours that the two are dating off screen.
In mid May Luke was spotted taking Katie to dinner in the Big Apple as the duo were clearly enjoying one another's company.
Taking a breather: The two actors appeared to be panting during their steamy scene
Sweet emotion: Luke cradled his head on Katie's slender shoulder
Getting in the way: The boom mic hovered over the two stars as Katie braced herself by holding onto a brick wall with her left hand
A source revealed to the New York Daily News that the former Dawson’s Creek star has been acting out of character around her neighbourhood of Chelsea, saying: ‘The last month you rarely see her anymore.
‘Whatever she’s trying to hide I don’t know, but she’s not going in the main entrance [of her building] any more.’
Meanwhile, it is thought that Luke and Katie, who are very ‘flirty’ on set, were ‘almost holding hands’ in public earlier this month.
That special touch: Luke caressed his famous co-star's dark locks as they performed for the cameras
Smile bright! The pair were clearly in a good mood after their onscreen make out
But when Katie noticed she had been seen she reportedly jumped in a cab, leaving Luke on the street.
In Mania Days - produced by Spike Lee and set to release in 2014 - Katie stars as a manic depressive poet who becomes pregnant by a manic depressive rapper.
The romance, which begins in a psychiatric hospital, is said to bring out all of the beauty and horror of their shared condition.
Garden scene: The actress wore her hair in a top knot in-between takes on set
Intimate chat: The Batman Begins star enjoyed a quiet chat with an unidentified moustachioed friend
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2334255/Katie-Holmes-wears-just-bra-shares-passionate-kiss-Luke-Kirby-set-Mania-Days.html#ixzz2V23kFNf3 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
SCIENTOLOGISTS WORRIED THAT THEIR MESSAGE ISN’T GETTING TO MAINSTREAM AMERICA WITH AFTER EARTH FLOP
June 2 2013
Hollywood, CA – Every time a new religion comes to the fore it has trouble, well almost always. It is rare that new religions are able to simply ingratiate themselves into society. Many religious leaders have found that out the hard way, take guys like Jesus and Mohammad for example.
There are many reasons why that is such a challenge but, primarily, it is due to trying to upend strongly-held beliefs by the masses, something which is necessary to implement a new system of belief. Often, more often than not, those religion fail and fall into obscurity or infamy, but that has not been the case for Scientology.
Perhaps because it is so different, and perhaps because the organizations has done such a good job recruiting famous people, Scientology has emerged from its cultish roots and become something viable for the masses. While still controversial, the religion has managed to stick around and not inspire mass suicide, something that very few other upstart faiths have ever been able to do. However with the box office disaster that is ‘After Earth’, a movie laced with Scientology ideology, some within the faith are concerned that their message isn’t hitting Middle America and converting them the way they had hoped.
While not officially a part of the Scientology canon, ‘After Earth’ was shepherded by closet Scientology acolyte Will Smith and contained many references to the religion, some more overt than others.
The movie landed at third in the box office and is expected to fall rapidly because aside from the message that people were apparently rejecting it also sucked.
M. Night Shyamalan did direct the film so the odds of it being good going in were not great regardless of its subject matter.
“This is certainly not the result we were looking for. We had hoped that so many years after Battlefield Earth was released people would be a little more conducive to what we are trying to express to them through the power and beauty of film but apparently that is not the case,” said a Scientology spokesperson. “We tried to be a little more subtle in this one but clearly we still have a lot of work to do to access mainstream America, the regular folks who have been brainwashed by regular religions for so long. We believed that Will Smith would allow us that access but apparently not and now we’ve possibly ruined his career.”
Smith is still a big star overseas and all Scientology aspects of the movie will likely be lost in translation.
“It’s really too bad for the Scientology people who really do seem to be trying hard to convince people that their religion is real and actually worth their time because clearly that message is not getting through at all. In fact people seem to be actively rejecting it which really has to suck for them,” said Scrape TV Religion analyst Bertram Gas. “I guess the one good thing is that the movie studio actually put up the money for this movie and not Scientology so it’s not like they lost anything, they just didn’t gain anything, well aside from a realization that perhaps America still just isn’t interested in enlightenment, at least not yet.”
It’s not clear when the religion will be allowed to access the nation again.
William Ashford, Business Correspondent
NEWS > BUSINESS > SCIENTOLOGISTS WORRIED THAT THEIR MESSAGE ISN’T GETTING TO MAINSTREAM AMERICA WITH AFTER EARTH FLOP
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