With all that’s known now about #Scientology after decades of court cases and journalistic exposes, it's still kind of amazing to see that people are forking over huge amounts for the miracles sold by this group. We have two fun examples for you today.

We thought the Wall Street Journal did a fine job with an overview of #Scientology's efforts to grab even more influence in Clearwater, Florida. But we really wanted to hear from Mark Bunker, who is running again for city council there, and he came through.

It’s always interesting when the national press takes a look at #Scientology’s actual doings in places like California or Florida, and what a fine job by the Wall Street Journal on the situation in Clearwater. But will the people there ever get the message?

May 18, 1980 Seattle attorney Vince Larson and son David are in a 12-person group ascending the slopes of Mount Adams, 33 miles east of Mount St. Helens. Joining are Bainbridge Island orthodontist Fred Grimm and daughter Allison. At 8:32 a.m., they watch, stunned, as St. Helens blows itself apart.

#OTD in 1957, Paul McCartney attended Woolton Fete and watched John Lennon perform with his band. They would meet after the show.

We wanted to remind the people of Clearwater what they’re dealing with as once again their political leaders cave to #Scientology. We figure it’s best if they heard directly from the organization’s founder himself in a rare recording of him plotting his Florida invasion.

For this week’s #podcast episode, we caught up with Andrew Cartmel to chat about the differences between writing for the screen, the stage, and the page! Listen here: linktr.ee/fictionfanspod #booksky 💙📚

You can find the transcript for this episode, and all our other episodes, on our website: www.fictionfanspodcast.com/blog

And if you enjoy our episodes, we’d love if you’d leave us a review on your podcast platform of choice! You can also support us on Patreon, where you’ll find bonus clips, exclusive eps, and more fun nonsense: www.patreon.com/fictionfanspod

To celebrate the release of MOTHER & SLAUGHTER today by @lizshiptonauthor.bsky.social , we’ve got an interview with her up on our blog! Read it here: www.fictionfanspodcast.com/post/author-... #booksky 💙📚

Just two weeks ago a Florida city voted to give a street to #Scientology even though it wasn't necessary to the church's planned new project there. Now, officials in another important location are about to surrender to another of Scientology’s unnecessary requests. What gives?

Here's my #KTLA report on California's gas tax going up today www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhhu...

Run Windows Apps on Linux with WinBoat #Linux

12 years ago I invited @chriswarcraft.bsky.social to a soccer game to support the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in pro sports. He got on a plane and flew halfway across the country to be there. I’m proud to support his campaign, please give him money if you can. secure.actblue.com/donate/kluwe...

In advance of Northwest Washington's warmest season, here are three gardening tasks to plan ahead for.

Team Algae showed up in Huntington Beach today to protest Trump's corrupt swamp.

One of my three Gymnocalycium cacti is flowering spectacularly right now. It seems to be rather thermophile like me. #kaktusgegenrechts #bloomscrolling #succulents #cactus

The hearing in Danny Masterson’s criminal appeal in Los Angeles yesterday was a pretty interesting contest between two very skillful attorneys who each acquitted themselves quite well. And now, here's the full transcript. Let the Monday Morning Quarterbacking begin!

Think pink!

Apparently Gerbera daisies come in extra large now. #BloomScrolling

Heather Cox Richardson is encouraging people to make the call. "Flood the zone." @hcrichardson.bsky.social Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

A few blooms from the #cactus collection today. #PlantSky #BloomScrolling

Once again, Alex Barnes-Ross was invited to speak at Parliament about #Scientology's abuses in the UK. The former London staffer just can't be held back as he continues to educate British leaders about what really goes on in David Miscavige's secretive cabal.

I posted a longer format video over on YouTube if you’d like to learn more. m.youtube.com/watch?v=8o-j...

Seeing #Scientology members speak to the Clearwater council in favor of a street being shut down for their 'mecca,' it struck us we were witnessing something very unusual. But do these Clearwater pols actually realize what's going on in their town? We give them a clue.

It's Father's Day 2026 here in the US, but for many #Scientology families it's only a reminder that church leader David Miscavige rips apart families for sport. Geoff Levin, whose heartbreaking story is told in 'Brothers Broken,' tells us what this day means for him.

"Both the Winter and the Summer Solstices are expressions of love...that characterize our experiences in the Earth school ..." - Gary Zukav. Wishing you a lovely evening and joyful Summer Solstice! 🧡🧡🧡 #dailyflowers 🌱 #flowerreport #bloomscrolling #OrangeSaturday

Last night Clearwater’s city council took its final vote and, with 3 members voting yes, #Scientology will get what it wants as a downtown avenue is 'vacated' and closed off from the public right-of-way. Mark Bunker was there to speak against it, and we asked for his thoughts.

When you joined Scientology, did someone in your family try to talk you out of it? We have a remarkable artifact of one person's regret for getting involved in this controlling organization, and we're interested in what memories it elicits from our other readers.

Imperial Valley College launched an amazing program to train students for the promised lithium boom. Only the lithium boom hasn’t come: www.latimes.com/california/s...

Another day, another scandal that would obliterate the careers of any democrat and any democrat in their near-vicinity, but will have zero effect on anyone because it involves republicans.

😮🌵 #Pareidolia #Iseefaces #FacesInThings #FacesInPlaces #ThingsWithFaces #Ostrich #Cactus

The outcry comes after a local hospital announced the closure of its emergency room in the face of multimillion dollar state mandates.

The debate about #Scientology in the case that put Danny Masterson in prison is really heating up — even Masterson has decided to weigh in. And yet we don’t know if it will have any effect on his chances of getting a new trial. ALSO: Your Proprietor talks to a skeptical robot?

GKN’s senior vice president attended the special Garden Grove City Council meeting to publicly answer questions from city leaders.

Tonight's striking conjunction, Venus and Jupiter, in suburban New York.

Second day of #cactus #blooms #flowers

Flowers on my cactus This Morning

Like anime? Then go listen to this podcast!

Prepare yourself for a brutal story of #Scientology manipulation and extortion, carried out for no more reason than totalitarian control of vulnerable people. This is what Scientology does, again and again.

Good morning! A moment of silence in remembrance of my #garden after 3 nights of rapacious foraging from a doe that, Tom suggests, may actually have given birth to those two (yes, 2) fawns *in our yard*. I couldn't kick her out last night until she got her fawns. She was in no hurry to leave.

For this week’s #podcast episode, we were joined by @atlinmerrick.bsky.social of Improbable Press to chat about tips for submissions, common missteps writers make when talking to publishers, and the editing process. Listen here: linktr.ee/fictionfanspod #booksky 💙📚

And if you enjoy our episodes, we’d love if you’d leave us a review on your podcast platform of choice! You can also support us on Patreon, where you’ll find bonus clips, exclusive eps, and more fun nonsense: www.patreon.com/fictionfanspod

#Scientology's abuses are recorded in decades of court documents, journalistic exposes, and the accounts of former members. But how does the church reassure politicians that it's all overblown? We have a stunning example of that in a new document obtained by Alex Barnes-Ross!

In 2020 a former #Scientology insider ran for elected office in Oregon, and we helped warn voters. Now, that politically-ambitious former Sea Org exec has popped up in another part of the country, and is credited with drafting new legislation there! Yikes!

Go ahead — stop and smell the roses!

Long Beach, here we come! Join us for our final rally before Election Day. Sunday at 4pm at the Long Beach Arena. RSVP Here: www.mobilize.us/becerraforgo...

The vast majority of job listings I’m seeing on LinkedIn are for stupid AI companies and it’s the worst, it’s awful

Things are really heating up in Clearwater over #Scientology’s latest takeover attempt, and we’re fortunate that Mark Bunker is keeping an eye on it. He gives us a detailed account of last night's odd meeting between Scientology's cutouts and Mayor Bruce Rector.

Here’s the monarch butterfly I saw flitting around the milkweed recently