Latest Bad News for Scientology - Freewinds Sealed

[ScroogeANDMarley]

Full story here: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-17221

"Scientology's "cruise ship", the Freewinds has been sealed and docked by officials in Curacao. It is known that all Scientology members who have reached higher OT levels have spent some time on the yacht, and have thus been exposed to the carcinogen. Both local and Nederlands-based investigators and government officials are investigating. ..."


Apparently, the asbestos stories we've been hearing all these years are true.

[Achán hiNidráne]

Come now! L. Ron showed us that cancer is just the product of engrams and once you've acheived "Clear" a little thing like asbestos shouldn't hurt you. Also, the Co$ is the apotheosis of ethical behavior, surely they'd never expose their followers to anything dangerous! ;)

[Wolfman]

If I am to judge the veracity of this report by the quality of writing, I'm gonna' have to say I'm skeptical without more info. The introductory paragraph alone made me cringe...it doesn't actually identify until the fourth paragraph what the carcinogen is that they're talking about. And what about the fact that the decision to release the info was to prevent "remours".

I'm not fan of Scientology, and I guess there's no reason to think this report is not true. But honestly...can't these people at least learn the basics of news reporting? It was painful to read this.

[Big Les]

That's because that's not a news report. It's a press release of sorts hastily written by internet types.

The local paper photographed in this forum thread (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287791) is where the story originates, complete with pic of the SS Asbestos.

[Showmeproof]

Tom Cruise is so hardcore he eats carcinogens for breakfeast. I mean, according to Cruise, to overcome any sort of mental illness, you just need to change your diet. Tom Cruise laughs in the face of carcinogens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Les]

When he drives past an ocean-going liner full of asbestos, it's not like other people. Because he knows he's the only one that can help. He's the authority on carcinogenic fibrous minerals.

[Achán hiNidráne]

"Asbestos? Have you ever seen asbestos?"

[Maniacal Laughter]

"I mean, someday we're probably going to read about asbestos in history books!"

[More Maniacal Laughter]

[ScroogeANDMarley]

Gawker has picked up on the story - http://gawker.com/tag/tom-cruise/

And yes, it was written very quickly (and very poorly, sorry about that). I never thought Gawker would link to it or that CNN would be contacting me about it. Once again, sorry about the extremely poor writing.

[Big Les]

That was you? No worries, I realise it was rushed for a reason. I think it's great that stories like this are breaking with independent media, and in some cases, regular Joes.

[Gravy]

Why would such advanced beings have any use for such a primitive pleasure delivery device as a cruise ship?

[Beerina]

Asbestos? Ahh, good times for Skeptics, good times. Trying to point out that it was only when ground up as dust particles and inhaled that it was a problem, and then only when done for years, but then the "media/political complex" jumped on board with the caveman-like mantra "asbestos BAD", and spent a hundred billion dollars removing it from schools, where it was causing no problem because it was already in place, but introducing problems because ripping it out fractured and particalized it.

A big one lost due to foolishness. Good times, good times.

[Magyar]

on a side note. Did anyone catch last nights Law and Order?
Total dig on Scientology :)

[Tanstaafl]

on a side note. Did anyone catch last nights Law and Order?
Total dig on Scientology :)


I look forward to seeing the tape tonight. Thanks for the heads up, I might not have watched it otherwise (taped it for the wife).

[Big Les]

Asbestos? Ahh, good times for Skeptics, good times. Trying to point out that it was only when ground up as dust particles and inhaled that it was a problem, and then only when done for years, but then the "media/political complex" jumped on board with the caveman-like mantra "asbestos BAD", and spent a hundred billion dollars removing it from schools, where it was causing no problem because it was already in place, but introducing problems because ripping it out fractured and particalized it.

A big one lost due to foolishness. Good times, good times.

I quite agree. In this case though, it's been periodically exposed for 20-odd years, most recently dust getting into the AC system (causing this sealing). OTs have visited and revisited the ship many times, and Sea Org members will have spent weeks at time on board.

Given that Scientology had staff at other orgs removing the stuff by hand wearing only dust masks, to avoid getting it removed professionally, and also given that the ship was only recently refit, I wouldn't be surprised if this stuff had been released due to the same irresponsible behaviour.

Even if (as I hope) no-one's health has been badly affected - them's the breaks as far as the authorities are concerned, even if its a bureaucratic over-reaction (I would suggest more erring on the side of caution, which has then been exploited by those who can make jobs and money out of the resulting panic). The Sea Org and wider Co$ have lost their only ship, probably for good, degrading their ability to spread BS. Result.

[Gazpacho]

For $100 a pack you can buy niacin-doped cigarettes that will run out the asbestos damage.

[Btodd]

For $100 a pack you can buy niacin-doped cigarettes that will run out the asbestos damage.

With the added benefit of running out part of your 'radiation dosage', thereby decreasing your chance of getting lung cancer. :eye-poppi

"Not smoking enough will cause lung cancer. If anybody is getting a cancerous activity in the lung, uh....the probabilities are...that it's radiation dosage, coupled with the fact that he smokes. And what it does is start to run out the radiation dosage, don't you see? But I would say that would be better than not running out any of the radiation dosage at all, and the number of lung cancer cases- which exist, of course- that don't smoke....are just forgotten about by these societies. But they are very numerous." - L Ron Hubbard

[ScroogeANDMarley]

I-Reports finally gave me the ability to edit that piece, so was able to put in the lead sentence that was SUPPOSED to be there in the first place. Reads a little better now.

"Not smoking enough will cause lung cancer..." - I'd better get myself a pack of Kools.

[Nogbad]

With the added benefit of running out part of your 'radiation dosage', thereby decreasing your chance of getting lung cancer. :eye-poppi

"Not smoking enough will cause lung cancer. If anybody is getting a cancerous activity in the lung, uh....the probabilities are...that it's radiation dosage, coupled with the fact that he smokes. And what it does is start to run out the radiation dosage, don't you see? But I would say that would be better than not running out any of the radiation dosage at all, and the number of lung cancer cases- which exist, of course- that don't smoke....are just forgotten about by these societies. But they are very numerous." - L Ron Hubbard

His words are so wise that to a mere mortal like me he appears to be talking complete pish.

[Old Bob]

Asbestos, I worked with it in the 60s. Building material for housing cut with power saw no protection. Would come home with so much stuck in my hair, could not run a comb through. Then we used the blue soft stuff at the back of heaters. 66 and no trouble but didn't smoke. Our lungs can expel the stuff as long as the little hairs are intact in the tubes which smoking destroys. The PTB wish to get rid of asbestos roofing as infrar red can't penetrate. ( can't do a satellite count) A question "Religious freedom for all mad cults, mainstream and what ever except Scientology"?

[Big Les]

I really hope that's a parody post.

[a_unique_person]

Asbestos? Ahh, good times for Skeptics, good times. Trying to point out that it was only when ground up as dust particles and inhaled that it was a problem, and then only when done for years, but then the "media/political complex" jumped on board with the caveman-like mantra "asbestos BAD", and spent a hundred billion dollars removing it from schools, where it was causing no problem because it was already in place, but introducing problems because ripping it out fractured and particalized it.

A big one lost due to foolishness. Good times, good times.

No, it can cause cancer due to a brief exposure. It's a question of the odds of particles getting caught up in your lung in the right way. The longer the exposure, the better odds, but still possible with only a short exposure.

Ripping it out when it is stable is stupid, unless done correctly. Some friends of mine found some buried in their back yard, and dug it up, to dispose of it. Stupid.