Tony Ortega

Scientology and The Master

Steven Thrasher Named National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association Journalist of The Year

Congratulations are in order! The Voice's Steven Thrasher has just been named the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association journalist of the year. Chris Geidner -- formerly of Metro Weekly, now of BuzzFeed, and frequent Voice video guest -- won NLGJA's other annual award, the Sarah Pettit Me ... More >>

SCIENTOLOGY ABANDONED BY L. RON HUBBARD'S GRANDDAUGHTER AND DAVID MISCAVIGE'S FATHER

Multiple sources are telling the Voice that Scientology's International Base in California has experienced stunning new defections -- Roanne Leake, who is L. Ron Hubbard's granddaughter, has "blown" the base, which was her home for more than 20 years. But just as shocking, at about the same time, th ... More >>

Scientology 451: Commenters of the Week!

We used the news from Russia this week as an excuse to mix up a shaker of vodka martinis. After quite a few glasses garnished with olives, we got a bit lightheaded, but we never felt the desire to ban L. Ron Hubbard's books. This was a strange week of Scientology news around the world, but we kept ... More >>

Scientology on the High Seas: Posing as Archaeology Students for the Sardinians

In November we started a new feature here on Fridays: the Voice has obtained hundreds of copies of L. Ron Hubbard's previously unpublished "Orders of the Day," which he gave to crew members as he sailed the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Our documents cover the period from late 1968 through 1971, a ... More >>

Battlefield Earth: Still Making the World Safe From Scientology Nearly 12 Years Later

Last night, I noticed this excerpt from a Canadian interview show, and boy, did it bring back memories. It's a priceless reaction by actor Kim Coates when he's asked about Battlefield Earth by CBC show host George Stroumboulopoulos (who mercifully goes by "Strombo"). I mean, imagine having that mov ... More >>

Scientology Spectacular: Commenters of the Year!

"M-A-R-C-O-T-A-I. They'll never figure out it's me with this fake Italian accent!"​Here on this final day of 2011, we're replacing our usual Saturday morning celebration of the week's best comments with a special announcement. Our IT department has done the math, we've run those numbers throu ... More >>

L. Ron Hubbard Schools Richard Nixon: Sailing on the Apollo Nov 27 - Dec 3

On November 18, we started a new feature here on Fridays: the Voice has obtained hundreds of copies of L. Ron Hubbard's previously unpublished "Orders of the Day," which he gave to crew members as he sailed the Mediterranean. Our documents cover the period from 1968 to 1971, and this time we're look ... More >>

Scientology Leftovers: Commenters of the Week!

​We're still recovering here in the underground bunker from this week's big feast. The leftover turkey is still holding out as we look back on the past week of Scientology watching here at Runnin' Scared. We started things off Sunday morning with a look at Part 3 of "The Money Machine," the g ... More >>

Scientology vs. Pollution, a Lisbon Cocktail Party, and More: Sailing on the Apollo Nov. 20-26

Last week, we started a new feature here on Fridays: the Voice has obtained hundreds of copies of L. Ron Hubbard's previously unpublished "Orders of the Day," which he gave to crew members as he sailed the Mediterranean. Our documents cover the period from 1968 to 1971. In this installment, we're lo ... More >>

Scientology's 'Super Power' Building: Cash Cow for the Church

Part 4 of the epic Scientology series at the St. Petersburg Times hit the web last night and hits streets in Florida this morning. This fourth installment focuses on Scientology's biggest construction project: its "Super Power" building that was started a decade ago and still isn't finished. Whethe ... More >>

Desperate Scientology Fundraising Caught on Video (UPDATED with more Video)

For the last week, the excellent journalists over at the St. Petersburg Times have outdone themselves with their best series on Scientology ever -- a look at the desperate fundraising by the church, which runs employees ragged and puts intense pressure on ordinary church members. Naturally, the chu ... More >>

Scientology Sunday Service: Your Thanksgiving Week Open Thread!

We have some especially good Sunday Funnies for you this week as we open up a thread for our loyal readers to jabber on about whatever they want. We figured they better be good Funnies, because chances are Tobin and Childs are sucking up all the attention in the Scientology watching world this morn ... More >>

Scientology, Indubitably: NYC Anons Make Their Fancy Raid on the 46th Street 'Org'

As advertised, last night's "fancy raid" put on by the local chapter of Project Chanology (the Anonymous wing that protests Scientology) was a sartorial riot. About 20 young Anonymous members showed up with Snidely Whiplash mustaches (even the women!) and with interesting choices in head wear. I ... More >>

Scientology Chillaxin': Commenters of the Week!

This disturbing image blatantly ripped off from WhyWeProtest.net​Was this a week for Scientology watchers, or what? Things started off just after midnight on Sunday morning as we scrambled to alert our readers that what we've been waiting for had finally arrived: the launch of the new investi ... More >>

Scientology's Grand Scheme of Greed Was Kickstarted by the 9/11 Attacks -- St. Pete Times

It's here -- part 3 of the new St. Petersburg Times blockbuster series about the extreme pressure Scientology puts on its members to donate money. And we're thrilled to see this video of Synthia Fagen anchoring the report about the International Association of Scientologists and its constant beggin ... More >>

L. Ron Hubbard Christens the Apollo 43 Years Ago Today: For The First Time, His "Orders of the Day"

​ For you Scientology watchers and Scientology history buffs, we think we have something very special for you today. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard sailed around the Mediterranean in a small armada of vessels, going from port to port. Each day, he issued ... More >>

Scientology Chillin' With Hip Hop! A Video That Cannot Be Unseen

Oh my. Another jaw-dropping video produced by Scientologists for internal use has made its way to the outside world. Take a look, and after the jump we'll tell you what we've been able to find out about this latest testament to Scientology hipness.

Scientology Sunday Service: Your Open Thread For November 13

​Last week, we started something new here at the underground bunker, and it was a smashing success. We brought back the tradition of Sunday Funnies, in this case materials produced by Scientology organizations, which tend to be unintentionally hilarious. We then opened up the comments section ... More >>

Scientology Seasickness: Commenters of the Week!

I'm OT VIII, I'm king of the world!​It's been a light posting week, but our commenters did not let us down. We've had so much fun with singing on the Scientology ship Freewinds and other madcap adventures, even as we ventured outside the underground bunker. We started things off this week wit ... More >>

Scientology Dyspepsia: Commenters of the Week!

Cheezburger.com​We're feeling a bit woozy after this week of Scientology watching here in the underground bunker. Not sure if it was something we ate, or just the thought of Tom Cruise hurling at Gold Base that has us a bit dizzy. Anyway, Mr. Cruise was very much on our minds this week, as h ... More >>

Scientology Dumpster-Dive: Commenters of the Week!

Clearing the planet, one dumpster at a time​For our longtime, loyal readers and commenters (of all persuasions), I just want to say how much I appreciate your continued interest in things we're doing here at the underground bunker. This week, we got a huge influx of new folks as our stories we ... More >>

Scientology Transfusion: Commenters of the Week!

Eternal soul? Works all night? Exteriorizes? Hmmm.​It was a frantic week here at the underground bunker, where we keep an eye on all things Scientology-related. While we gathered material for some big stories, we managed to post several quick observations, some of which featured a medical the ... More >>

Scientology and Forced Abortions: Testimony of an Enforcer

Filmmaker Mark Bunker has released another preview from his upcoming documentary, Knowledge Report. In this segment, Gary Morehead talks about his role as a security officer at Scientology's secretive California desert headquarters, Int Base, where he oversaw the operation that persuaded pregnant ... More >>

Scientology Mocked at the South Pole: Now That's Cold

​ We continue to work very hard on some upcoming stories; in the meantime, we have this interesting image from the bottom of the world. I found it here. I have no information on it -- it might be months or years old, for all I know. I only know this: I want to hear from this person, so that ... More >>

Scientology Officially Probing the Village Voice!

​We've just received confirmation that ace reporter Jim Lynch has been handed a new assignment, and that assignment is us! Today, he called a PR firm in San Francisco that we used to work with, asking about "the finances of the Village Voice." The finances of the Voice? Hey, Jim, when you fi ... More >>

Scientology and Disconnection: "No One's Going to Take My Eternity Away"

Lori Hodgson keeps telling me she's going to give me the entire story of her time in Scientology. Well, I'm still waiting. In the meantime, she talked to Mark Bunker for his upcoming movie Knowledge Report, and this morning he released a segment of that interview. For those of you still confused ... More >>

Scientology Symposium: Commenters of the Week!

It was an unusual week here for us at our Scientology watching operation. We left the underground bunker for a trip to Southern California, but still managed to put together a few stories while on the road. And our commenters did not let us down, with some of them carrying over debates they were hav ... More >>

Scientology Apotheosis: Commenters of the Week!

Well, this was a week we've been looking forward to for some time here in the underground bunker. And now that we've finally finished our big countdown, there's a slight feeling of letdown here at Scientology-watching central. Even the cats are listless. But let's look back at a week that was. We s ... More >>

Scientology Internal E-Mails: Even More Depressing Than You Might Assume

For a few weeks now, we've been watching with some incredulity the material coming out of a particular Scientology "org," which is located in Birmingham, England. A Scientology-watcher who calls himself "CarltonBANKS" has been posting pretty amazing material from the Birmingham org's net servers wh ... More >>

Scientology Internal Documents Leaked in SF? We Ask the Experts

​We've been watching a developing story in San Francisco, where Lauren Smiley at our sister paper, SF Weekly, has been covering an interesting defection from the Church of Scientology's "org" there. Chanology SF, the very active Anonymous chapter in that city, was celebrating the apparent fac ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology: The Readers Poll!

​You've watched us reveal all but the top five entries in our big countdown, The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology -- now it's your turn to vote for your own list! Here's the link you've been waiting for -- now go and tell us who you think is doing the most to contribute to the Church of Sc ... More >>

This Guy Has My MacBook? Tracking Programs Get Viral Love in Stolen Laptop Stories

Laptop thief?​Throughout 2011 so far, we've had our eyes on some great viral marketing, like the so-called Times Square video screen takeover and the naked gaming parties that are actually a bunch of actors. Then, in the month of May, there were two stolen laptop sagas, and at the center of ea ... More >>

Parker/Spitzer is Coming on to CNN: Tonight, The Liveblog!

​The evening of reckoning IS FINALLY HERE! Yes: Parker/Spitzer -- Eliot Spitzer's CNN debut -- is coming on to CNN tonight. DON'T FORGET: You can watch with us, as myself and some of my Runnin' Scared co-bloggers will be liveblogging the shenanigans and the "That's what she said" count straigh ... More >>

Poll: Do You Care about the New York Times/Wall Street Journal Newspaper War?

​Maybe you heard, maybe you didn't, but the news of the week seems to be that the Wall Street Journal has finally launched their new metropolitan coverage section, Greater New York. Hooray! Also: IT'S WAR, MOTHAFUCKAS. But do you care?

Photos: Barack Obama Is Hanging Out in the East Village Like Right Now

We'd like to welcome our new office neighbor for the day, President Barack Obama, who got started speaking at the Cooper Union about five minutes ago. In the meantime, Cooper Square and the East Village has turned into a bona fide shitshow.

Crime Beat: SEC Renews Vow to Take Acquitted Bear Stearns Duo Tannin and Cioffi to Civil Court -- Shades of O.J. and Scrushy!

Hedge fun: Matthew Tannin and wife Joyce were all smiles after his acquittal last month on criminal charges. The Bear Stearns hedge funders Ralph Cioffi and Matthew Tannin, found not guilty last month of fraud in the only major criminal prosecution even indirectly related to Wall Street's meltdown ... More >>

Crime Beat: SEC Renews Vow to Take Acquitted Bear Stearns Duo Tannin and Cioffi to Civil Court -- Shades of O.J. and Scrushy!

Hedge fun: Matthew Tannin and wife Joyce were all smiles after his acquittal last month on criminal charges. The Bear Stearns hedge funders Ralph Cioffi and Matthew Tannin, found not guilty last month of fraud in the only major criminal prosecution even indirectly related to Wall Street's meltdown ... More >>

Jockbeat: Barra Bemoans Shrinking (Print) Sports Sections; Ortega Tells Him To Stop Whining

​For many years, there's been a feeling that SportsBusiness Journal is a publication only for insiders. Well, the web has changed the definition of "insiders," expanding it to heretofore unthought of numbers, and I can't think of any sportswriter, editor or fan who doesn't need to see and absorb B ... More >>

Tom Wolfe Whines on Moon Shot Anniversary

It's the anniversary of NASA's moon shot, which means we get yet another bitch session from a disappointed Great American about our shocking lack of colonies on other planets.We remember a nearly identical whine from Tom Clancy some years ago, no doubt on another portentous anniversary -- it might h ... More >>

New York Headlines, and a Voice Index

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]We've moved your daily New York headlines, GO HERE FOR TODAY'S ESSENTIAL STORIES.The lineup for this week's issue of the Village Voice:Letters: Afghan War  La Dolce Musto: Jim Carrey Pounds a Muscle Bear on All Fours! Tom Robbins: Vanguard of the Sena ... More >>

Get your New York Headlines

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]We've moved your daily New York headlines, GO HERE FOR TODAY'S ESSENTIAL STORIES.The lineup for this week's issue of the Village Voice:Letters: Tsk-tsk La Dolce Musto: Shocking Secret about Gay Porn StarTom Robbins: Bloomberg's Homeless Pledges Fell Far Sh ... More >>

Wednesday's Headlines: Natasha Richardson hit nothing, simply fell in beginner's ski lesson, public waiting to hear extent of head injuries

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]Your Wednesday New York headlines...Natasha Richardson flown to New York, public still waiting for word of how serious her head injuries are from skiing accident......on life support, 'brain dead' say family members.IRS plans deduction to help Madoff victi ... More >>

Saturday's Headlines: 'So I killed someone. That makes me a bad guy?'

HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart AssetYour Saturday New York headlines...Second suspect in December hate-murder of Ecuadoran immigrant arrested: "So I killed somone. That make me a bad guy?"Jimmy Fallon admits being nervous before starting his run at "Late Night." See Rob Harvilla's Voice story ... More >>

Letters 7.23.08

Scientology's Crushing Defeat

Letters

More Fun With Editors in Chief

Daughter, Wife--What's the Diff?

Letters