The News from England

So much great news coverage on the expansion of Scientology in the UK!

Here's one:

New Scientology HQ opens in London
The Press Association Monday October 23, 11:33 AM

The Church of Scientology has unveiled its new London headquarters with a grand opening ceremony.

The controversial religion, which counts Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its followers, is expanding its British operation.

It has bought and refurbished the former home of the British and Foreign Bible Society in the City of London, for its new HQ.

Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard chose London as home to the organisation's first offices.

Several hundred Scientologists braved the driving rain to listen to an address by Scientology leader David Miscavige.

He said: "This day will go down in history. Of all the foreign lands where LRH lived and worked, he called England home.

"This is the city wherein he first defined the human spirit as an immortal being possessed of capabilities beyond anything predicted and so arrived at the axiomatic truths on which the whole of Scientology is founded."

Hollywood actress Anne Archer, whose roles include Michael Douglas's wife in Fatal Attraction, attended the opening.

She was raised a Christian Scientist but joined the Church of Scientology in 1976 and credits it with turning her life around.

The actress conceded that Scientology has received a bad press but said: "All new ideas are criticised but we are doing remarkable things."

Christmas is Coming too Early

It's not even Holloween, but the Capital Building in Hollywood already has its "tree" built, and the drugstore had Christmas ornaments.

Humbug!

Month Against Poverty

Mimg src="http://www.whiteband.org/Gcap/portal_skins/custom/images/top2.gif" width = "400">
One more day of Stand Up Against Poverty Month, and I just learned about it today!

What a fitting time for Muhammad Yunus to win the Nobel Peace prize.

His work as banker to the poor is a revolutionary way to end poverty - by getting people into production.

Interesting fact -- there have been fewer than 2% failure to repay of all the loans he has extended to people who never had enough money to get loans before.

Dear Artist: Andy Warhol - controversial hero/demon

I thought what Pam Blehert had to say Andy Warholabout was such an interesting take on him. I always felt like he was laughing at the rest of us.

Desi's Two Cents: Twists on Proverbs

These little poverbs onDesi's Two Cents gave be quite a chuckle.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Sexual trafficking

There's an interesting discussion on feministing.com on sexual trafficking.

Not something you hear about too often, but a very definite part of life, and something we all need to take more responsibility for.

The Church of Scientology International has produced a series of videos for Youth for Human Rights International to bring the subject of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into sharp focus and make it understandable to eveyone.

The video on the subject of slavery carries a wallop.

Congratulations to LRH for New Guiness Record

Scientology Today has a new story about L. Ron Hubbard being awarded two new Guiness World Records!

Hot stuff!

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Muslims angry at new Danish cartoons scandal

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Muslims angry at new Danish cartoons scandal

There is a point where freedom of speech leaves off and intolerance and bigotry begin.

There is also a point of judgments - is it more important to vent one's prejudiced views than to preserve human life, or to defend the religious freedom of others?

To me it is a matter of responsibility vs. license and I know where I stand.

In the words of Gandhi "Noncooperation with evil is as much a duty as cooperation with good."

North Korea

The Washington Post reports:

In a Test, a Reason to Talk
Bilateral Diplomacy Could Still Roll Back North Korea's Nuclear Arms Effort

By Selig S. Harrison
Tuesday, October 10, 2006; Page A21

"You have learned to live with other nuclear powers," said Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan, North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator, leaning forward over the dinner table in Pyongyang. "So why not us? We really want to coexist with the United States peacefully, but you must learn to coexist with a North Korea that has nuclear weapons."

I'm not sure what the solution is to North Korea, but underground nuclear testing is the worst kind of deja vu I can imagine, and it seems to me that the governments of this planet, whose job it is to protect their citizens, need to increase their effectiveness bigtime.

What is driving North Korea to such extremes that they feel they need to test nuclear weapons?

And what can be done to allay their fears and create the dialogue necessary to have mutual trust and cooperation?

Or are their concerns really legitimate, and we are simply not being provided the facts by our news media?

But one thing is for sure. We need to grapple with this and handle it effectively NOW, and not wait till testing turns to deployment.

I'm a sucker for a puppy

It was love at first site, today, when I saw the most beautiful poodle puppy in the store.

A little girl was carrying her around and I just had to go over and pet the puppy.

Do you ever get over these impulses?

Wassa

As in wassa madda you?

(One of my dad's favorite expressions).

Chilling out

It's finally started to cool off in LA. Last night I didn't need my AC. Today I even felt like putting on a jacket.

I guess summer is drawing to a close after all.

My world is blurry

Staring at my computer screen too long today.

Maybe I need a new eye exam....

(Thank's to Zach Knap's dad for the photo)

Turkthetan's Pictures

I learned about Turkthetan from Creativexpressions blog.

These photos transported me.

I found myself staring at the screen with a big smile on my face.

Exceptional.

Here's one of my favorites.