Starbucks

Clearwater really is a sleepy town.

Do you remember when the big news of the year was Starbucks opening a downtown store?

There are thousands of Scientologists in the Clearwater/Tampa area who reach out into the community with thousands of hours of volunteer activities to help the community. For more data on this see, the website Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, www.scientology-fso.org, Community News and Events link.

Flag training is the best. My daughter is on full-time training at the Flag Service Organization. She has been winning and moving well throughout and is now auditing on her Class IV internship.

Clearwater Sunset

It's a beaut. Isn't it?

Auditors Day 2006

Auditors Day is celebrated every year in September, and the clebration at Flag is the best one in the world, as this is the "mecca" of Scientology and more auditing occurs at Flag that anywhere else on Earth.

We had our celebration last night and it was great!

Really, since David Miscavige announced the Golden Age of Tech ten years ago, the gains people have had from auditing and the speech of their results has accelerated so dramatically that there are far more people moving up the Bridge than ever before.

Moving up the line

There's no place like Flag to progress in Scientology. That's why so many Scientologists have moved here.

But one of the great things about this is that the volunteer actions in the Tampa Bay area are outstanding. There is always something you can do to help. And it's so much fun!

Clearwater Scientologist has a Great New Blog

Stan Dubin has a great new blog called a Fresh Opinion

He posts stories about the news and shows how aspects of the Scientology religion relate to these. But the difference between Stan's blog and that of many others is that he doesn't just watch what's going on, he's in there with solutions on making things better.

It's interesting but in Scientology the concept of making things better is really a part of your life. It's the living, breathing aspect of our religion.

There's a lot of great information on how to use Scientology to improve your life in the Scientology Handbook

Mythology of the Fort Harrison Hotel

Our very own Fort Harrison, part of the spiritual headquarters for the Scientology religion for 31 years, is part of the mythology of the Rolling Stones:

During the Rolling Stones' third tour of the United States in 1965, Richards came up with the guitar riff for the song. The Stones were staying at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida for part of their tour, and one night Richards suddenly woke up, turned on a tape recorder, and promptly played on his guitar the riff that opened "Satisfaction" before returning to bed. He would later describe it as: "...2 minutes of 'Satisfaction' and 40 minutes of me snoring."

Later, Richards brought it to the studio where the Stones were recording. Jagger took an immediate liking to the riff, but Richards was concerned that it sounded too much like Martha & The Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street". In an interview, Jagger later said that "I think Keith thought it was a bit basic. He was too close to it and just felt it was a silly kind of riff." Jagger proceeded to write up lyrics for the tune, trying to make a statement about the rampant commercialism that the British Stones had seen in America. Richards said of the songwriting process for "Satisfaction": "Mick wrote all of the words that say anything and I wrote the hook. I woke up in bed with this riff and I thought 'I've gotta put that down.'"

Friends on the Other Coast

Now that I live in LA I don't get to see my Clearwater friends nearly enough.

But just in the past 24 hours, a friend of mine who'd been living and working on Clearwater for the past 7 years moved back to LA. It was so great to see her. She hadn't changed at all (and she was nice enough to say that I hadn't either).

And then just now I got a call from another Clearwater friend and it was so good to hear from her.

So I guess I stay connected.

You run into all your friends in Clearwater

If you are a Scientologist and you are visiting or living in, you'll eventually run into all your friends here.

Okay. That's an exaggeration. But only just.

The funny thing is if you have been to lots of different Scientology churches, as I have. You see someone and you know you really like the person and "just saw them" know (or knew) him or her really well. But who is it? And then you realize that it's true you knew this person really well. You were roommates 25 years ago in England, or that person was your course supervisor in Copenhagen three years ago....

And another fantastic thing about being in Clearwater is that as the "mecca" of Scientology you get briefed by senior executives from all over the world. And if you plan your trip right you will even be here when David Miscavige acts as emcee for one of the international events that are held here, such as the celebration of the L. Ron Hubbard's birthday which is held in Clearwater every March.

Scientology's new mission: Seminole Heights outpost

I thought this story from the Tampa Tribune deserved a replay here:

The beige two-story house at 902 E. Louisiana Ave. in Seminole Heights has a cozy feel to it, with hearts carved into the window shutters and brick steps leading up to the black iron gate at the door. If it wasn't for the huge white banner announcing the "Church of Scientology Mission of Old Tampa Bay,'' one would think it was some family's home.

From this humble post, Scientologist Milton James plans to reach out to the African-American community.

The mission, opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday evening, will offer lectures and introductory courses on things such as Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's study and communication techniques.

"This technology can be used in the

African-American community,'' said James, the mission's executive director. "And as an African-American, I feel a responsibility to take the technology to African-Americans to help improve their conditions.''

The Seminole Heights facility is the third Scientology mission in Tampa Bay. The others are in Belleair Bluffs and Clearwater. Unlike church-run outreach centers, Scientology missions are run by parishioners.

In addition to basic Scientology courses, the mission also will offer Dianetics counseling, the core practice of Scientology. And in a couple of months, James plans to offer purification rundowns, a process that purports to remove harmful toxins through exercise followed by several hours in a sauna, while taking a regimen of vitamins, minerals and oils.

Freedom Magazine has a wonderful story about the work of Scientology Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology of Tampa and the work they did to help others after last year's tsunami in South East Asia.




Here is one of the stories she tells:

"Among the survivors Jessica aided was a woman who, more than three weeks after the catastrophe, still refused to leave her battered home. Jessica heard about the woman from a concerned neighbor who asked if the Volunteer Ministers could help. "She was terrified the wave would come again, and said she could still hear the rushing, roaring water, an incessant noise which haunted her day and night," Jessica said. "She was completely gripped in the past moment that the wave came crashing onto the shore, smashing into her village."

"The young Volunteer Minister gave her an assist known as a "locational," directing her attention outward to her surroundings. Soon the woman began to brighten. She realized she no longer had the tsunami's overpowering noise rushing through her head and that the wave itself was gone. She started to laugh, then to talk. And then, for the first time in weeks, she stepped outside her door. She looked around, smiling, and told Jessica she saw there was more life to be lived.>> more

Scientology in Tamapa

The Church of Scientology of Tampa is a real asset to the Tampa Bay area including Clearwater and St. Petersburg. They are constantly expanding their programs to service the community, and have a community center where they offer tutoring and chaplain help. Their Scientology Volunteer Ministers are famous for the work they do in disaster relief.

New Web Site for the Church of Scientology of Tampa

There is a beautiful new site for the Church of Scientology of Tampa
It's filled with news about Scientology activities in the city and in Clearwater.

Save the Date- International Association of Scientologist 21st Anniversary Celebration

This Friday is the IAS event in Clearwater.

You don't want to miss this one.

It was held in the UK on Friday - a great Scientology presence in East Grinstead for the weekend.

It's in Clearwater on Friday and in Los Angeles at the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles - in a big tent at the front of the building.

The rest of the English-speaking Scientology churches have their event next weekend, and non-English speaking in the weeks following that.

Scientology on the Article Factory

I just found a new section on the Article Factory about Scientology, with a very good articles about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

This summer Mr. David Miscavige gave a very heart-warming speech about the work of the Volunteer Ministers to help the victims of last winter's tsunami in South Asia.

We certainly didn't expect Hurricane Katrina to destroy New Orleans and man other towns on the Gulf Coast.

And we didn't expect Hurricane Stan to hit with the ferocity it did.

Nor did anyone predict the earthquaqe in Pakistan.

It has been a terrible year for natural disasters.

I'm very proud of my friends who are Scientology Volunteer Ministers and what they have done and will continue to do to help others.

Congratulations Tom and Katie

With all the hoopla over Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announcing Katie's pregnancy, I though I'd post the facts about what Scientologists believe and what a Silent Birth is.

This is from the Scientology Home Page

What is a “Silent Birth”?

In the book, Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard writes that for the benefit of the mother and child, silence should be maintained during childbirth. This is because any words spoken are recorded in the reactive mind and can have an aberrative effect on the mother and the child. The same applies to the vicinity of any injured person. To find out why, read Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
www.dianetics.org

As to why this is done, that information is readily available. It is in Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health and there is a terrific DVD that covers the basics of Dianetics that can be ordered online at www.scientology.org Anyone is welcome to stop in to any Scientology church of mission and ask to see the DVD. Staff there will be more than happy to show it to you.

Anti-Drug Conference

Drugs is a serious situation everywhere today. I'm really glad my church and Scientology Churches around the world work to educate kids about the truth about drugs.

There's a very interesting article on a web site about effective Scientology solutions on a drug conference being held in Brussels at the Church of Scientology Internation European Office of Public Affairs and Human Rights where members of government and civil society are meeting to discuss what they can do to impinge on this situation.

Clearwater Volunteer Ministers Head Up the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Effort

Because we have so much experience in hurricane relief, Scientology Volunteer Ministers from our home town are leading the disaster relief effort in Louisianna.

Hundreds more are needed, so if you know anyone who wants to help please encourage them to visit the Scientology Volunteer Ministers web site and check out how they can join us.

The need is intense and will go on for months, so please help us now.

Scientologists from Italy Travel to Clearwater

Scientology is very popular in Italy, and so many Italian Scientologists travel to Clearwater every year to participate in the advanced training and auditing (spiritual counseling) offered only in Clearwater.

I have some very close Italian friends, and it is always a pleasure when they come and we can renew our friendships.

Clearwater is a terrific city to live in - very friendly, great weather, and, or course, Scientology spiritual headquarters.

Speaking of Scientology and Italy, here's an interesting Italian web site (with a page in English) that gives information on