======== Subject: New at XENU TV: Borders Books From: "Mark Bunker" Date: Sun, 30 May 1999 10:33:03 GMT Message-ID: XENU TV attended the Dianetics event at Borders Books in Glendale, CA yesterday and put together this little piece. http://www.xenutv.com/originals.htm ======== Subject: Re: New at XENU TV: Borders Books From: "Mark Bunker" Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 06:17:28 GMT Message-ID: >For one, I am extremely grateful to Mark Bunker to produce and >make these videos no matter what format he chooses to put them. > >Asking him to do stuff to make up for some personal machine >handicap without volunteering first is not very polite, IMHO, >and risks killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Well, first...thank you Grady and Tilman for your support and understanding. I have been exhausted from doing all this work. I was up till 4 a.m. last night finishing the video and updating the web site so I didn't have much energy left to write a report. I went through it in greater detail than I ever thought possible last night on irc and I didn't have it in me to recount it again. I just got back from work and still feel like a Sea Org member on Thursday afternoon but to keep my stats up I will try to post a very brief account of the event. On Friday, I phoned Borders to verify the time of the Scientology table exhibit. While speaking with the manager, I asked if it would be okay to videotape the event for my web site. She said she had no problem with that but would check with the Scientologists and asked for my name. Feeling devilish, I decided to alert them that I was coming so I gave her my name and phone number. I didn't point out that the final digits spell out XENU. She said she'd get right back to me but I never got a call back. Saturday, I was to meet Xenu at the store for a two person "picket" but Xenu remained trapped in his mountainside prison so I thought I would be on my own. I then overheard some folks outside the store talking about Scientology in not so flattering terms so I chimed with my two bits and we struck up a conversation. One couple left after ten minutes or so (they had never heard of Xenu but I rectified that) and another gentleman pulled up a chair and joined me. This was his first time at a "picket" and I use that term loosely because it certainly was not organized to be any sort of picket. In fact, I just wanted to come and shoot a little footage not knowing what would happen. This fellow had come to ars for the first time a few days ago and decided to come forward and get involved. His main concern was the cult's deal with the IRS which he found to be repulsive. I would certainly agree. With the fellow's assistance, I was able to set up my camera and shoot some video. Not having anyone brave enough to operate the camera, I usually have to put it on a tripod and just jump in front of it to chat. Having a second person around at least gives me a greater feeling of safety about the camera. I also had a large batch of Lisa flyers and "No Christ" flyers from Jeff Jacobsen (thanks Jeff) and this gentleman was very pleased to hand them out. We spent about a half an hour in front of the store, answering questions and passing out flyers. While speaking with one woman outside, she informed me that she will never buy a book from Borders again. That certainly wasn't my intent in being there but who am I to say where she should shop. The Scientologists made sure that I was not allowed to shoot inside but I put the camera outside the main door and shot there. This did seem to cause some enturbulation inside where the Scientologists had a modest table, seating two, not very far past the main entrance. There were a few copies of Hubbard books and a sign offering free "Stress tests". I understand they also had an e-meter but I did not see it. I occasionally went through the store before shooting and saw an occasional wog seated at the table but there was no throng waiting to hear about the fastest growing religion. After a half hour, I went in to talk to the folks at the table but they were packing up and leaving. The guy who was manning the table, was peaking out at us from behind a book display. When I came up to him, he picked up a book and pretended to be reading and would not talk to me. This was the standard action. Lots of noses in books, no communication at all. I asked if he knew anything about Lisa MacPherson or the "No Christ" quote but he would not speak. The woman from the table came over and told the guy that I was some "loony". That amused me. I told her, "So, I'm loony because I know about Xenu blowing us up in volcanoes 75 million years ago when Earth was known as Teegeeack, but Hubbard wasn't loony for thinking it up?" No response. Then I turned around and saw that there was a major support team behind the scenes. There were several other Scientologists there with their cell phones and walkie talkies including...DAN!!! One of the two fellows who picketed my home. I leapt with joy at the sight of my old friend and went over with my hand outstretched but he refused to shake it. I asked Dan, "what's the matter with you?" and in the only comment he made to me, he softly replied "What's the matter with YOU, man?" I tried to communicate with him but he picked up a book and stuck his nose in it and wouldn't blink. I told him how much sympathy he had garnered on the net from folks watching him in my revenge picket video but he didn't budge. I invited him outside to appear on camera but he didn't seem interested. I finally gave up and went out to get my camera. I got a shot of Dan through the door, still unmoving, "reading" that same book. The manager then ran out to shoo me away and I called it a day. It was a very low key, minor affair but that's all I expected. All in all, it was a fun event on a lovely, California day. Wow, that was wordier than I expected. Can I sit down now, please? I need to watch one of the backlog of X Files episodes that have been piling up over the last few months so, If you need me, I'll be unwinding. Hail Xenu!