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US citizens in 24 states vote on 'Super Tuesday'

February 5, 2008

"Super Tuesday", today, is a critical day in the U.S. presidential campaign when more than 20 states hold party nominating contests. The latest polls contain good news for Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama will do battle in 22 Democratic contests around the country, including states with large numbers of delegates like California, New York and New Jersey.

The latest national public opinion polls show Obama gaining on Clinton and the race nearly even, but Clinton continues to hold narrow leads over Obama in most of the larger states voting on Tuesday.

Both candidates are relying on a last minute barrage of television ads and quick campaign visits to key states to urge their supporters to vote Tuesday.

Obama cast himself as the agent of change at a rally in Delaware. "I can offer a clear and clean break from the failed policies of George W. Bush," he said. "I will not have to explain my votes in the past." Clinton urged voters to consider her experience during a campaign stop in Missouri. "My opponent has not had to go through that kind of baptism by fire," she said. "Let us not kid ourselves here. This is going to be open season once again, and we need to nominate somebody with the experience and fortitude and know-how to take whatever they send our way and send it right back."

More than 1,600 Democratic delegates are at stake Tuesday, 2,025 delegates are required to win the Democratic nomination. In the Republican race, 21 states are holding nominating contests Tuesday.

Senator John McCain is looking to build on the momentum generated by his wins in the two most recent primaries in Florida and South Carolina.

McCain campaigned Monday in Massachusetts and sought to appeal to both Republicans and independent voters. "As President of the United States, I will preserve my proud, conservative Republican credentials, but I will reach across the aisle to the Democrats and work together for the good of this country," he said. "That is what you want us to do, is work for the good of this country."

McCain is trying to fend off a challenge from former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Romney contends McCain is not conservative enough to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee. "There is that old saying that if there is a race between a Republican acting like a Democrat and a Democrat, the Democrat always wins," he said.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee hopes to do well in some of the southern primaries, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul is looking for a strong showing in Alaska.

More than 1,000 Republican delegates are at stake on Tuesday. A total of 1,191 delegates are required to win the Republican nomination. Most political experts predict that the Democratic contest will go on well after the Super Tuesday results.

The Democrats use a method of proportional representation to award delegates from the primaries and caucuses, while Republicans generally follow the rule of winner-takes-all.

"The number of [Democratic] delegates is large, but they are going to be split in a certain way, so that we will have to go on," said John Fortier, who monitors the election campaign at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington and was a guest on VOA's Encounter program. "But it could be that we could have a clear frontrunner, and I think that is more likely on the Republican side these days. John McCain, I think, has the ability or the prospect of really establishing himself as the clear frontrunner on Super Tuesday."

Looking ahead to the next major contests on the campaign calendar, Maryland and Virginia vote on February 12 while Ohio and Texas hold primaries March 4.


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User talk:Chickenboy

Plesase. I mean so if you want to edit this page or so. Chicken boy is my login page.--Chickenboy 18:08, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: User talk:Chickenboy


text:
User talk:86.129.107.130

Hello and welcome to Wikinews, the free news source you can write!

Why create a Wikinews account?

Well, here are some reasons:

 * The use of a username of your choice.
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We hope that you choose to become a Wikinewsie and create an account. Feel free to ask any questions on my talk page or in the Welcommittee. Be sure to sign your posts and comments on talk pages with four tildes ( ~ ), this will let other editors know you said it.

Cirt 20:42, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

title: User talk:86.129.107.130


text:
Wikinews interviews Mark Bunker, producer of anti-Scientology website 'XenuTV'

February 18, 2008

Television producer and owner of the anti-Scientology website www.xenutv.com (XenuTV), Mark Bunker, also known as Wise Beard Man, chatted online with Wikinews for nearly three hours. More than 120 people followed the interview live (many from Project Chanology), which makes this exclusive Wikinews interview our most attended IRC interview to date.

Bunker started XenuTV in 1999 and began to make videos that he provided for the Lisa McPherson Trust. Bunker has been a critic of the Church of Scientology since 1997.

In 2006, he won a Regional Emmy Award after he and KUSI-TV news reporter Lena Lewis produced a documentary news video on the issues with the United States - Mexico border with San Diego, California.

The Interview
'''Why don't you start by telling us about yourself and what you do.

 * Mark Bunker: I work in TV news in San Diego and have been speaking out about Scientology's fraud and abuse since 1998. I worked "anonymously" for a year before showing my face and starting my website XENU TV.

'''Tell us about your history with criticism of Scientology?

 * M.B.: In 1998 I was living in a house in the Hollywood Hills. The woman who lived there prior to me was a Scientologist.  Probably at the Celebrity Center because I would get her issues of Celebrity magazine and other Scientology periodicals.  Reading them left me bewildered.  They have their own language in many ways.  I was intrigued and visited the Celebrity Center at one point to check the place out with a friend -- as a skeptic, mind you.  I took the personality test, played with an e-meter and got my own personal screening of Orientation before sitting down with the head of the CC. I had seen the 60 Minutes reports in the eighties but didn't have a lot of knowledge at my fingertips. I wish I knew then what I know now so I could have asked pointed questions.

'''Such as?

 * M.B.: I did ask things like, "Do I have to buy all these books? Don't you have a library?" Of course, they want you to buy everything. After 45 minutes, I broke it to him that I wasn't interested. I went home, did a quick search on the net and found out about Xenu. Then I discovered Operation Snow White and Operation Freakout and other crimes committed by Scientology. This was more than some silly little group. I was amazed that this whole different world existed inside the U.S. and no one really paid attention to it.

'''Has the Church ever been convicted of any crimes?

 * M.B.: It has been convicted in Canada for some of the same espionage tactics they used here in Operation Snow White. There have been more but I don't have them at the tip of my fingers. That's the nice thing about the net. You can now quickly research anytime, anywhere.

'''How would you describe yourself in the context of religions, churches, and belief systems, and what you are seeking to accomplish?

 * M.B.: I think I stand outside the religious arena. I'm not interested in buying a ticket for the big game. People are free to believe anything they want but when it comes to fraud and abuse, I think it's important to object.

'''There are other religions that practice things that are just as bad as Scientology. For example the Catholic Church, Scientology and Islam dislike/sin homosexuals. Why protest Scientology? The Catholic Church, in terms of atrocities, has likely committed more? Even Muslim extremism... Is Scientology really worth more to protest than those religions or any other?

 * M.B.: The Catholics standing outside the Boston churches, protesting the priest sex abuse scandals were heroes in my mind. Scientologists who stand up to David Miscavige and say stop disconnection, forced abortions, the RPF [ Rehabilitation Project Force, ed.] and fraud are as well.

'''That was protest the crime and cover-up? Similar to your work?

 * M.B.: Exactly. It says nothing about the Catholic religion to say stop the priest sex abuse. Except it does make one wonder how a religion could systematically cover up such rampant abuse.

'''Other than your experiences with ex-members of Scientology, do you have any special qualification that would make you an expert on so-called "cults", i.e. do you have a degree in sociology, anthropology, psychiatry, psychology, theology, or any similar related subject area?

 * M.B.: None whatsoever. I took one course in world religions back in college. That's it. I am not a psychologist. I am not going to council people in need of therapy. I speak out against fraud and abuse. Anyone can do so. Nor have I studied Political Science but that does not prevent me from speaking out against the Bush administration.

'''Would that include the fields of tax law, i.e. do you have a degree in accounting, finance, law, or any similar related subject area?

 * M.B.: Far from it.

'''Scientology, as many members have claimed, has saved their lives. Do you think, comparing the circumstances, the good things Scientology has done, outweighs the supposed bad things it has done?

 * M.B.: Well, people can feel they gain benefits from a wide range of things. I am not opposed to anyone following Scientology and auditing themselves till the time they drop their bodies. But along the way, many people are getting hurt. Fix that and people would stop protesting. Although I think they may still giggle about Xenu. We have the amazing ability to convince ourselves about anything. Our government is protecting us by wiretapping our phones and getting us into a needless war while letting the real terrorists regroup. But — hey — we were scared and went along with it. Sit in a dark room and imagine there is some scary creature about to get you and you can probably raise some goosebumps. That doesn't mean that there is actually anything in the room. We easily can be tricked and trick ourselves and lead with emotion instead of intellect. So people may feel that Scientology has saved their lives but has it? Have they not also lured them into a group which takes over an increasingly large part of their lives and income, at the same time it is stripping them of their reality to replace it with Hubbard's? I spoke with Billy Sheehan last weekend at the picket and he told me is an OT3 and would talk about anything about his religion. I asked him to tell me about Xenu and Body Thetans and he couldn't. He just can't. He's not allowed to. I am free to do so. How are you becoming a better, more free individual when you have to follow such strict orders or a group that promises to teach you to "Think for yourself?"

'''What will it take to get Congressional Hearings to review the Church of Scientology? Specifically, their tax-exempt status.

 * M.B.: It is going to take a groundswell of media interest into the abuses (of the Church) before it happens. There's a lot of work that needs to be done. On public knowledge versus Scientologist knowledge, that is troubling for me. We on the outside know what is in store for the people moving onto the bridge. I think it is bait and switch to not tell them that their real problems are they are covered with BT's [ Body Thetans, ed.]. That's a major case of fraud in my mind.

'''What, if any, changes or improvements have been made in Church policy and structure since Hubbard died, and more recently too, that might have already addressed, at least partially, issues such as Snow White, Lisa McPherson, disconnection, unrealistic promises of Scientology benefits, etc? On what do you base your answer to this question?

 * M.B.: The only major policy change I've seen from David Miscaviage is the introduction of the Lisa Clause. What Scientology learned from the tragic death of Lisa McPherson is to have all their members sign a form to say they grant Scientology the right to treat them as they did Lisa and to promise not to sue.  Otherwise the group seems to be as militant as when Hubbard was still around which is astonishing in a way.  A cult usually dies with its founder.  I believe Scientology is a cult yet it lurches on with the help of its richest members and the ability to bleed dry the rank and file.

'''I assume you mean "Lisa Clause"?

 * M.B.: Yes. Lisa Clause. As to Scientologists who say that I don't know what I'm talking about, why do I have documents to back up my claims and they have shore stories?

'''How do you think most Church members feel about your protests? What would you say to those who would criticize your protests as misguided or the information you post and expose as untrue?

 * M.B.: We are seeing some indications that the Scientologists inside the group are responding to the protests. There was one insider who got a message of support out. Clearly, when materials like the Tom Cruise tape are being leaked, there are people inside who are concerned about how the group is behaving.

'''We have a somewhat difficult question to put next...Is R2-45 Auditing a joke within Scientology, or is it actually real?

 * M.B.: I think it was probably a sick joke by Hubbard but he did actually put it in some orders. It's not anything I ever discuss. There is so much sensational material about Scientology. People find it hard to believe the actual truth. I have no knowledge of anyone being shot by Scientology and wouldn't claim otherwise. That said, I find it unbelievably odd that DM's mother-in-law supposedly committed suicide by shooting herself with a shotgun...three times. That's weird. But I won't say it's murder.

'''Do they actually run camps associated with that?

 * M.B.: R2-45 camps? Never heard of it. DM loves guns but there's no camps for shooting.

'''What is the next step we should take in raising the general public's awareness of the atrocities of the "Church" of Scientology. Also, besides www.xenutv.com, what are some other, reputable, citable sources of information on these abuses?

 * M.B.: There are plenty of great sites starting with the granddaddy of them all — www.xenu.net. Professor David Touretzky's various sites are well researched and important resources. Stop-Narconon and such. My favorite book on Scientology is Bare-Faced Messiah. It and many others can now be read on the web. I'd like to do audiobook versions of them for people to download. Where, oh where, is the time, however.

'''Why does Scientology accuse people of crimes when they are asked questions?

 * M.B.: Hubbard put it into writing. "Always attack - Never defend." There are policy letters where he ordered people never to answer questions about Scientology but instead twist it around to the crimes of the critic. So when you see that happening in my videos, you are hearing Hubbard's words come through the Scientologist's mouth, which is one of the reasons I never get mad at them. This is what they are taught. They literally can't think for themselves.

'''Why do you think Scientology dangerous? From a European (French) point of view there are many strange organizations in the United States (Nazi party, many religious groups). Why is Scientology your fight?

 * M.B.: I think Scientology is dangerous to individuals who find their realities stripped. I think it's dangerous to families when they are broken up by disconnection. I think it's dangerous to society when they write laws that our politicians back to attack psychiatry. Anytime they stop free speech, I think that's bad in general. Scientology is my fight because others were too afraid to take them on. I hate bullies. Scientology (while dangerous) acts like a big school yard bully. Now if that bully in 4th grade had a crack legal team and a gang of devoted followers who would do dirty tricks to send you to jail, a mental ward or the grave -- he would have been a real threat! Scientology also brings together my general interest in cults, sci-fi and Hollywood in a unique way. I never expected to pick a fight with a dangerous cult but someone had to stand up to them. I thought I could help.

'''And that's part of the reasons you support 'Anonymous' and — apart from DDoS — their actions?
 * M.B.: People need to stand up and speak out. If Anonymous can do that legally and you've shown me you can, then I will happily support that.

'''I've seen your response to their protest on YouTube. You almost seemed proud that a younger generation had "taken up the torch".

 * M.B.: People have been attempting to get Scientology to reform for close to 60 years. They have resisted all change. When I reached out to Anonymous, I thought I may well get attacked myself but I saw immediate reform in the group. Scientology could learn a lot from Anonymous. The biggest protest in the past was maybe 50 - 60 people. Anonymous got thousands of people out everywhere around the globe and did so peacefully. I am proud of them for that. We've laid the groundwork for years. Now hopefully, some of Anonymous will continue to learn more and to speak out. There will be attrition but so far there seems to be an eagerness to make a real positive impact.

'''What happened to Bob Minton? He is alleged to be in favor of Scientology now. Did they give him an 'incentive' to stop his protests of the Church? In a video of yours, posted on YouTube (Scientology: Clearwater Trip - Day 3 - Pt 2), Minton says that the Church attempted to "pay him money" several times. Did they finally succeed? Or was he blackmailed into shutting up?

 * M.B.: I wrote about Bob on my blog last week. He is my friend and I was there through most of his struggle. Scientology launched a global assault on Bob which we came to describe as having the Terminator coming after you. Rather than type it all out again, check out the blog. [xenutv.wordpress.com/about-bob-minton-and-the-lmt]

'''How many members of Scientology do you estimate are within the organization?

 * M.B.: Far fewer than Scientology estimates. They now say ten million but I think they are counting me for coming in and playing with the e-meter. The best source would be the census reports which put the number pretty low. More people claimed to be Jedi Knights than Scientologists in the UK for example.

'''What is your opinion on Free Zone Scientologists?

 * M.B.: I consider them friends. I support their wish to follow Hubbard's technique. They do so without the criminal aspects of Scientology itself. People can knock themselves [out] auditing as far as I'm concerned. I'm worried about the fraud and abuse. I believe Hubbard was a conman and we have the documents to prove it. If the freezoners don't care, I can't stop them. They aren't emptying people [of their] accounts and breaking up families.

'''What do you think Anonymous should do if Scientologists plant fake anons in a protest and act like idiots to show anons up?

 * M.B.: Scientologists pretending to be Anonymous at your pickets, that's bound to happen. That's what Hubbard ordered. Adopt a "suitable guise" and infiltrate an organization to collect intelligence. They also are logging this channel and watching every word here and anywhere else we speak about them. As for the dopey comments, I understand completely that that is the power of being Anonymous on the net. It allows you to say outrageous things with no repercussions. It happens everywhere on the net and I am not offended. People say things they would never say to your face.

'''Are you going to upload the old XenuTV movies (RealVideo) to Google Video or something similar?

 * M.B.: Will my old RealVideos be uploaded to Google? Yes. I have been working on it but I have a full time job and tons of things going one which has only gotten worse since this thing started. I was talking to Tory yesterday and she is overwhelmed by the emails she's getting. I look at them and have panic attacks that I haven't even been able to read all of mine yet let alone respond.

Questions from IRC users
'''As you know now, the Anonymous Protests was extremely huge, but we are planning a second round the 15th of March. And I — a 12-year-old WILL attend, is that a good sign that so young a person wants to be involved, or is it a bad sign?

 * M.B.: Well, it's good if you understand what you're getting yourself into and your parents or guardians are aware as well. Scientology is serious. They won't harm you but they don't play games either. 12-year-old kids get swept into Scientology's Cadet Org and moved into the Sea Org shortly after. That is far more dangerous to a 12-year-old than picketing fraud and abuse.

'''Can you put any of this in a historical context? Have you studied the history of Scientology in relation to its "parent" organizations (cults praying on the elite) in the 18th - 20th centuries ? (Many of L. Ron Hubbard's ideas were taken directly from OTO which he was a member of in his early life for example).

 * M.B.: Hubbard did call Crowley his good friend but I doubt that he was seriously deep into it. I think he stumbled into a situation at Jack Parson mansion in which he could live high off the rich guys cash and steal his hot girlfriend. I think he probably enjoyed a good laugh at the satanic rituals he engaged in but it certainly informed his understanding of how to run such a group and how people can buy into any wacky belief system.

'''By sheer virtue of numbers, we have become very hard to harass, to the point of the personal risk to ourselves being almost negligible. There have been others before us with far more courage who have spoken up against far greater odds. What do you think the effect of our actions have been on these "pioneers"? (yourself included) Do you personally feel that we anons have revitalized the more "serious" efforts of those in the past who have come out with full names - and have probably gotten into problems over this? And do you believe it serves to ease the process for those Scientologists who were already considering leaving?

 * M.B.: To deny Hubbard's connection to OTO is impossible but it also one of the most bizarre aspects of his life and many people would think it impossible and over the top criticism. That was one of the many flaws of the movie, The Profit. Ultimately Anonymous' rise will be beneficial. It can cause people inside to rethink their beliefs and draw media attention to Scientology's fraud and abuse. All very good. The way they rose however is a double edge sword because when I do interviews, I have to respond to white powder mailings and bomb threats. The anonymous nature and early attacks on Scientology make it easier for Scientology to blame these more serious charges on the group. People in the vast unwashed public aren't looking into it very deep and can believe Scientology's distortions. There is also the fear that we old timers can be lumped in with those abuses. I'm sure Scientology is going to accuse me of being a  leader of terrorists. That is a huge risk I run, but in helping reshape Anonymous to a peaceful league group, I believe I am doing a great service to Scientology. Not that they'll thank me. Especially if their tax exempt status is revoked.

'''I was just wondering if you were aware of the many other abuses of other religions such as The Watchtower organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.. They do things strikingly similar to Scientology with regards to killing and abusing members and disconnection policies - now, I'm in no way in favor of the management of Scientology but it does look a little blind to me when these other so-called religions get off scot-free. Have you heard of any such allegations before? My concern is that while a step forward is good against one religion, there are others out there just biding by without no real exposure essentially letting them get away with their abuses. I was also wondering if you knew if The Profit would ever be released for viewing?

 * M.B.: There are some horrible abuses in other churches. I interviewed a couple people in a Christian cult in Wisconsin with horrific stories to tell. I feel I have my hands full fighting Scientology and hope others speak out for what they feel needs to be redressed. I stumbled upon a great site awhile back from former members of the Children of God. This group's founder promoted sex with kids and sent women out to recruit new members by sleeping with them. Watch some of [their] videos and your jaw will drop.  This kind of thing happens every day and we are unaware of it.

'''What do you say to those people that say that Anonymous and the similar groups are religious bigots?

 * M.B.: Just say no. People can believe what they want. Just stop the fraud and abuse and if you speak out against my god Zeus, I will call you a bigot, too!

'''Isn't it strange that some countries are recognizing Scientology as an official religion while other countries pursue the Church? What would you say to lawmakers in the former country? Perhaps a short three things you need to know about the Church?

 * M.B.: While there is a shared humanity, there are differences in laws and customs, too. Religion is such a taboo here in the U.S. that cloaking themselves with that was the smartest think Hubbard ever did. Germany has a unique perspective since it is in their charter that they will never again allow an extremist political group to rise again. That is an important thing to point out. They are not just a church. Hubbard wrote about how they should take over the government and be the ones to say what is legal BEFORE Scientology is stopped. Another important thing to know is that Scientology lies. If they are talking to you, they are lying to you. Look for the documented proof. The third thing, DM is a snappy dresser. Sorry couldn't come up with a third thing right now.

'''What do you think of the fact that Anonymous' motivations are not a moral outrage and are in fact based on the desire to destroy something and get laughs, aka lulz? What about the fact that Anonymous regularly uses illegal activity for its purposes (though we have suspended most in this raid) and is often risque and perverted in nature?

 * M.B.: The thousands in Anonymous who have reached out to me have moved beyond the lulz. There are going to be many who drop out but there are more who will learn and continue. Just this morning a member sent me a link to a Portuguese version of the Anonymous message to get people involved in his country. And a 14-year-old girl in Finland said she gave a class report on Scientology because of this and got an A+ . She also told me she baked a cake for her mom and dad -- and put my name on it. I told her she's done something no one else on the planet has ever done. So the word gets out at the positive succeeds.

'How do you feel about the several nicknames given to you, like Wise Beard Man'' (WBM), and the several slogans accompanying it? And, by the way, what music do you like?

 * M.B.: WBM is great. The people at work love it. I suspect many of the ladies are wearing Wise Beard Man thongs — but won't admit it. And possibly some of the guys. As for my taste in music, I have to admit I was never in my era at anytime in my life. I never listened to the radio growing up so I became a fan of people in old movies like Bing Crosby from the Hope and Crosby films. Don't hate me for it. My taste runs more to Mel Torme and Rosemary Clooney in their later jazz period and can be heard in some of my videos.

'''There was a bomb (hoax?) threat video on YouTube by an "elite anonymous" as he himself called himself. What would be the implications of such an attack? Could this be another plant by Scientology, and could they actually go through with it?

 * M.B.: The bomb threat, this is what comes from being anonymous and starting off on the wrong foot. There will be those who believe it is Anonymous. I sure hope it isn't. It may well be Scientology creating a phony threat. They have that history. However it should be prosecuted because it is terrorism.

'''So you would urge Anonymous to report any such threats to the authorities?

 * M.B.: Yes, Anonymous should report these things and make it clear that it condemns such actions.

'''Anything you would like to add Mr. Bunker?

 * M.B.: Yes. I hate to lose any credibility by saying I love Rosemary Clooney. :-)


text:
User talk:81.96.184.204

Hello and welcome to Wikinews, the free news source you can write!

Why create a Wikinews account?

Well, here are some reasons:

 * The use of a username of your choice.
 * Greater security and privacy, your IP address will be hidden from most users.
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We hope that you choose to become a Wikinewsie and create an account. Feel free to ask any questions on my talk page or in the Welcommittee. Be sure to sign your posts and comments on talk pages with four tildes ( ~ ), this will let other editors know you said it.

Cirt 01:25, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

title: User talk:81.96.184.204


text:
David S. Touretzky discusses Scientology, Anonymous and Tom Cruise

February 6, 2008

David S. Touretzky, prominent free speech activist and critic of Scientology, discussed his opinions on the recent Internet backlash against the Church of Scientology in an interview with former Scientologist and Wikinews reporter Nicholas Turnbull. The recent conflict on the Internet between critics of Scientology and the Church has been spurred on in declarations by a nebulous Internet entity using the name Anonymous that the Church of Scientology "will be destroyed". Anonymous has directed recent protests at Scientology centres across the world, which have attracted significant numbers of individuals supporting the cause. In recent e-mail correspondence with Wikinews, a representative of the Church of Scientology declared that the Church considers the activities of Anonymous to be illegal, and that Anonymous "will be handled and stopped".

Touretzky, a research professor in artificial intelligence and computational neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University, has been a prominent critic of the Church of Scientology since mid-1995, and has been protesting against Scientology vociferously since then; he has also run websites that publish material that Scientology wishes to keep suppressed from the public eye, such as extracts from Scientology's formerly-confidential Operating Thetan (OT) materials. Touretzky views the actions of the Church of Scientology as being "a threat to free speech", and has endured harassment by the Church of Scientology for his activities.

The Church of Scientology continues to suffer damage to its public reputation through increased exposure on the Internet and vocal protests by Scientology critics such as Prof. Touretzky. A recent event that focused intense attention on Scientology's totalitarian attitude was the leak of an internal Church of Scientology propaganda video to the Internet video sharing site YouTube, in which celebrity Scientologist Tom Cruise spoke heavily in Scientology's jargon and stated that that "we [Scientology] are the authorities" on resolving the difficulties of humanity. The declaration of war by Anonymous followed shortly after this leak, in the form of a video posted to the Internet.

The ongoing dispute, cast by some as Scientology versus the Internet, brought Scientology terms such as "SP" (Suppressive Person, an enemy of Scientology) and "KSW" (Keeping Scientology Working) into general usage by non-Scientologists from the late 1990s onwards; increased attention has been drawn to Scientology by the release of the Cruise video in addition to media coverage. This focus has caused an even greater propagation of these terms across the outside world, as Touretzky comments in the interview.

Wikinews asked Prof. Touretzky about the impact that the activities of Anonymous will have on Scientology, the public relations effect of the Tom Cruise video, the recent departure of individuals from the Church of Scientology's executive management, the strategies that Anonymous will employ and Touretzky's experiences of picketing the Church.

The interview

 * How deep do you think the impact of the Anonymous protests and Internet action will be on Scientology’s cashflow?

 * Prof. David S. Touretzky: Anonymous will not have any effect on Scientology gross income. Their stats [statistics] are already in the basement. The only folks left are hardcore true believers who think the Intertubes are full of criminals. What Anonymous might do is increase the pressure on Hollywood celebs to distance themselves from the cult. There was a really good article yesterday about how Anonymous is morphing… changing from hackers or pranksters to a legitimate social protest movement.

 * Yes, indeed... the movement seems to be taking a different sort of shape from just a load of pranksters to a proper, organised protest. So your basic opinion regarding the impact on Scientology's stats is that they are already too low, and failing, for the damage to be significant?

 * DT: That's my view, yes. But that's only one kind of damage. There are several other kinds of damage that may be significant. One is to warn off Hollywood celebs from cozying up to the cult, like Kimora Lee Simmons was just caught doing. And Will Smith too. A second kind of damage has to do with Scientology's attempts to make inroads into civilized society, specifically government programs and local schools.

 * Presumably this would be, in part, because the celebs wouldn't want to sully their own PR [public relations] image.

 * DT: Yes, the celebs have agents and PR people who will tell them in no uncertain terms to stay away from those crazy Scientologists or risk alienating their fan base. It must be difficult to be a Tom Cruise fan right now. What can you say when your idol publicly steps in dog poo and insists it's spun gold?

 * Quite... the leaked video was quite possibly worse than the Oprah fiasco for his reputation, I think.

 * DT: "Tom Cruise is batshit crazy" has entered the national lexicon, along with "SP", "KSW", and "We are the authorities". Yeah, that line ["We are the authorities"] is priceless.

 * Yes, indeed; it has now become part of popular culture and the “blogosphere” has gone crazy over it.

 * DT: There's one more thing I hope Anonymous can accomplish, and that is to shift the focus from Xenu and BTs [“body thetans”, souls said to be attached to a person in Scientology’s secret “OT III” teachings] to disconnection, fair game, fraud, and barratry. Did you know that DM's [David Miscavige, the current leader of Scientology’s] niece is appearing on Inside Edition tonight?

 * I didn't know that she was appearing on Inside Edition, actually. I must catch that.

 * DT: She has nothing to do with Chanology [the recent anti-Scientology movement that has gathered on Internet message boards], but what we're seeing here is a "perfect storm" of entheta [material considered negative by Scientology]. It's all coming together in a chain reaction: The Tom Cruise video, Andrew Morton's bio, Kirstie Alley's craziness, Kimora Lee Simmons, Jenna Miscavige, and there's more to come!

 * I believe the things like disconnection, fair game, the RPF [Rehabilitation Project Force, a Scientology penal system within the paramilitary Sea Org] etc. are all more captivating to the hearts and minds of the general public than Xenu... so do you think that the Church of Scientology will ever be able to recover from this blow to their reputation? In other words, will this be the "beginning of the end" of the Church seriously being able to promote themselves to the general public?

 * DT: I've learned it's impossible to predict what will happen next with CoS [the Church of Scientology]. We try, but we always get it wrong. They have capabilities for self-destructive behavior that far exceed those of normal individuals. Now that Mike Rinder has blown, anything is possible. And he's not the only exec out there who has a gripe with DM.

 * Indeed. There have been many high-profile blows [departures] from upper exec [executive] strata and I wonder how many more the CoS can cope with.

 * DT: Yes, these folks are starting to go public. John Peeler has already done so. And who could have predicted Jenna Miscavige would turn SP? Amazing!

 * A further question, if I may, regarding the impact on Scientology: do you think that the recent activities of Anonymous will have a profound effect on the Sea Org hierarchy and possibly make it harder for the Church of Scientology to continue maintaining their PR image to their own staff members? Could this trigger a massive series of "blows" from the Sea Org?

 * DT: You're probably in a better position [as a former member] to assess the affect on Sea Org members, but my guess is that they won't even be aware of Anonymous actions, or will write them off as crazy Internet hatemongers. I think a bigger impact will come from Jenna Miscavige [leader David Miscavige's niece].

 * What exactly is Anonymous going to do on the 10th? Are their intentions peaceful?

 * DT: Oh yeah, they appear to be *very* concerned about avoiding any kind of violence or unlawful behavior. From what I can see, they understand that any kind of violence or criminality would play into CoS' hands. It would allow CoS to portray themselves as victims and score a PR win. One anonymous person suggested that the policy towards all participants should be: "If you do anything illegal, WE will call the cops on you ourselves."

 * What is your opinion on the reverse: do you think the CoS will be peaceful and legal in its handling of "Anonymous"? In a recent e-mail exchange with Wikinews, a Scientology staff member said that Anonymous would be "handled and stopped" and that the actions "have been reported". Will Scientology carry out its usual harassment, or do you think that it has learned its lesson that such abusive tactics cause more of a backlash?

 * DT: My best guess is that the Scientologists will employ their famous "hiding tech". Doors locked, lights off, and PIs [private investigators] discreetly filming from a distance.

 * I imagine the CoS will attempt their usual approach of trying to turn it into a pro-Scientology rally, as they have done at many smaller pickets, although I feel that it would fail miserably.

 * DT: I was at the pickets in 1997 (twice) and 1999. They tried counter-picketing. They tried harassing us and getting in our faces. Even physically harassed a woman with a seeing eye dog. But eventually they switched to hiding tech. I also did a solo picket on L. Ron Hubbard Way, and they kept trying different ways to "handle" me. I was only planning on spending an hour there, but I was having so much fun I didn't quit ‘till it got too dark to see. I thought about running out to buy a flashlight, but decided to call it a day.  My feet were sore!

 * [laughs] So it sounds like you had quite a day of it, Dave.

 * DT: Yes, I have fond memories of that day. For me, it was like going to Disneyland and seeing Mickey Mouse.

 * What have been your most effective tactics against the CoS, then, Dave, in terms of impact and education of others?

 * DT: The web sites are probably the most effective, but doing radio and TV appearances has also been pretty helpful. I've done over 20 radio interviews and three national TV appearances, two of which were on Keith Olbermann's show. I was gonna say: there's a reason Scientology felt it necessary to counterpicket us in Clearwater.

 * Presumably because of the public exposure?

 * DT: [It] has nothing to do with the public. It's because they don't want to appear powerless in front of their members.  It was a face-saving gesture.  But it didn't work out the way they'd hope. The public will drive by a picket, honk their horn, and forget about it by time they turn the corner. But the members see their cult being publicly mocked by a bunch of SPs, that makes a deep impression. Especially when there are signs about Lisa McPherson's death, or t-shirts containing the text of OT III.

 * Indeed, as their PTS/SP [Potential Trouble Source/Suppressive Person] handling tech [technology] needs to be seen to be "working" at least to Scientologists.

 * DT: So they sent out their members to counter-picket us as a way to make them feel better, but it didn't work. The members behaved badly, and at some level they must have known they were being jerks. So forget about confronting suppression. The new tech is "lock doors, douse lights, and whine as loudly as you can!" My suggested picket sign for large Orgs: "Mike Rinder Blew. You Can Too!". Rinder appeared in a tuxedo at past IAS [International Association of Scientologists] events.  They know who he is.

 * I would have thought that [Scientologists hiding from critics’ protests] to be "non-confront" [refusing to face up to something] in the Scientologists' own doctrine; although they would see it, I suppose, as "cutting entheta comm" [refusing to engage in negative communication].

 * DT: Yeah, I don't know how they explained the strategy switch to their members, but your suggestion sounds right to me.

 * In your experience in pickets, has the "Why are you here? Ok, right. So why are you really here? Hehehe, no... why are you *really* here?" bullbaiting [of protesters] been killed off?

 * DT: My last picket was in 1999.  I imagine, with so many sites being picketed this time, we'll see a variety of strategies.  But bullbaiting picketers was never very successful. For the 1998 solo picket my sign had two sides.  One side said "Doubt is not a crime.  Freedom is not a stat." The other side said "RTC: who crashed gross income?"  That one drove them ape. I didn't fully appreciate why that sign would upset them so much, until some ex-member explained it to me: it was a call for a witch-hunt.

 * I think that kind of stratagem is probably going to be the most effective, because the Scientologists themselves can identify with such things; perhaps it may well be that it touches enough of a raw nerve in their own world, as it were, to give them pause for thinking. Is Scientology losing it grip on maintaining its "Wizard of Oz" world whereby its staff consider the tech to be infallible and the orgs to be clearing the planet?

 * DT: Yes, the members must be having huge doubts by now. But there remains a hardcore of followers who will not look at critical materials. I'd put them in two categories.  First are the old timers who never got the whole Intertubes thing [the Internet]. The second class is younger folk who are just losers.  Not bright or intellectually curious. Maybe ex-addicts who ended up joining staff. They're not going to go surfing the web for entheta, any more than Tom Cruise would.

 * Quite... there were very few "Founding Scientologists" in my day, largely because the purge in the 1980s had cleared most of the remaining ones out, and the remainder had left in disgust following "hard ethics" [severe disciplinary procedures].

 * DT: Yeah, and DM has done his best to alienate whoever was left. […] DM has been a disaster for Scientology.

 * Well, Dave, thank you so much for answering my questions, you've given an interesting perspective on all this.

 * DT: My pleasure, Nicholas.

 * In closing: how long do you think Scientology has got?

 * DT: I think they're looking at a major contraction in the next two years. But they may linger on, a mere shadow of their former ominous selves, for decades.

 * Thank you so much, again. You've been wonderful, and it has been a pleasure talking with you.


text:
Template:News in pictures/Archive/2008/01

Credit: Rico Shen Recently at the 2008 Taipei Game Show, Namco Bandai Games Inc. showcased the beta version of the rhythm game series "Taiko no Tatsujin 11: Asian Version" as it became a hot topic recently in Taiwan. » Full story

Credit: David Shankbone This picture won Wikinews' recent Picture of the Year competition on January 25, 2008. It was an original picture taken by David Shankbone for Protests mark Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia University. » Full story

Credit: Newton2 One of a stunning collection of pictures selected as the candidates for Wikimedia Commons' Picture of the Year, this photo of Broadway tower won first place.

Credit: Rico Shen Not only consumers, executives from digital content industry all supported the 2008 Taipei Game Show to help gaming industry in Taiwan. » Full story

Credit: BOMBMAN The Standard Chartered Marathon, nicknamed "The Greatest Race on Earth", held its third stage in Mumbai, India. » Full story

Credit: takomabibelot Amnesty International staged worldwide protests to mark the sixth anniversary of the first arrival of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. » Full story

Credit: Steven Fruitsmaak Wikinews' overview of the year 2007. » Full story

Credit: ChunDer Lee In the 2008 Taipei City New Year Countdown Party, the Taipei 101 skyscraper showed the "Love Taiwan" mark during the New Year celebration fireworks. » Full story


text:
Template:News in pictures/Archive/2008

This is the archive page of selected pictures in the "News in Pictures" section in 2008.

Find more at...

 * Today's Picture
 * Current Archive Page
 * Stuff we forgot to archive in 2008
 * June 2008
 * May 2008
 * April 2008
 * March 2008
 * February 2008
 * January 2008
 * Archives at 2007

title: Template:News in pictures/Archive/2008


text:
Clinton and Obama in tight race, McCain surges in Super Tuesday voting

February 6, 2008

Voters went to the polls and to caucuses in 24 states Tuesday, providing both Democratic presidential candidates, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama, with significant wins. On the Republican side, Arizona Senator John McCain surged ahead of his main rival, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

's early results showed big wins for Hillary Clinton in some very delegate-rich states, including the state she represents, New York, and Arkansas, where she lived when her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was governor. But she also won the state of Massachusetts, in spite of the fact that Massachusetts Senator had endorsed Obama. Clinton also scored victories in New Jersey, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Barack Obama won his home state of Illinois as well as Georgia, Alabama, Delaware, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Dakota and Kansas. Although Clinton won in the states with the largest delegate counts, Obama will still garner a large number of those delegates because the Democrats award them by proportion of the vote for each candidate.

The biggest Super Tuesday prize, California had Clinton winning on the Democrat side and McCain winning the Republicans.

On the Republican side, it was a good day for John McCain, who won seven states in the early hours of vote counting. Mitt Romney, so far, has won his home state of Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota and Utah. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee won his home state as well as West Virginia, Georgia and Alabama. Both Huckabee and Romney say they will stay in the race, but analysts say the big wins by McCain have given him the momentum and the delegate lead that could help him clinch his party's nomination fairly soon.

In both parties, Super Tuesday was a watershed in that it ended the phase of the campaign when candidates could win a state or two in hopes of building the perception of momentum. From now on it will be a flat-out contest for delegates.

The next contests will be this coming Saturday when Louisiana holds its Presidential primary, Kansas Republicans hold caucuses and Democrats hold caucuses in both Nebraska and the state of Washington. The process of selecting candidates for each party will culminate in the national conventions. The Democrats will meet in at the end of August and the Republicans will meet during the first week of September in Minneapolis.


text:
CIA Director confirms use of waterboarding on terror suspects

February 6, 2008

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency has confirmed that his agency used the extreme interrogation technique known as waterboarding on three terrorism suspects nearly five years ago. In testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, Michael Hayden urged lawmakers not to place restrictions on the interrogation methods available to U.S. intelligence agencies.

Director Hayden's testimony was the most detailed description to date of the CIA's use of "enhanced" interrogation techniques.

"In the life of the CIA detention program, we have held fewer than 100 people," he said. "Fewer than a third of those people have had any techniques, enhanced techniques, used against them in the CIA program."

He confirmed that among those "enhanced" techniques used was waterboarding - which induces the feeling of imminent drowning, and which critics say amounts to torture.

"Waterboarding has been used on only three detainees," he said.

He said those three detainees are Khalid Sheikh Mohammed - one of the architects of the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington, Abu Zubaydah - who is believed to have been a top al-Qaida strategist, and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri - who is believed to have played a key role in the bombing of the USS Cole. All three are being held at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

Hayden said waterboarding was used against the three detainees nearly five years ago because of circumstances at the time, including the belief that additional attacks against the United States were imminent.

Hayden defended the CIA's use of extreme interrogation techniques as lawful, and urged lawmakers not to impose restrictions on such methods.

Congress is considering legislation that would restrict the CIA to using only the interrogation techniques authorized by the U.S. Army's field manual, which does not include waterboarding.


text:
Talk:David S. Touretzky discusses Scientology, Anonymous and Tom Cruise

Details of the interview
Prof. Touretzky was kind enough to give me this interview today (6th February 2008) at 01:26 UTC after I asked on the #scientology channel on the Undernet IRC network whether there was anyone interested in commenting regarding the recent Anonymous outburst. Prof. Touretzky was present on-channel at the time and kindly agreed to speak to me. This occurred publically on-channel rather than in private message. DragonFire1024 (accredited reporter Jason Safoutin) was also present in the chatroom at the time. I possess a copy of the IRC logs but feel that since public posting of channel logs is generally frowned-upon, this would be of questionable ethics. If anyone would like to verify the logs for themselves, please do let me know. --NicholasTurnbull 06:44, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Minor changes made as per request from interviewee
I have made some very minor tweaks to Dave Touretzky's text, as per his request to me via e-mail. Thus, for anyone who wishes to request inspection of the IRC logs for the purposes of journalistic verification, please bear these differences in mind from the original log. --NicholasTurnbull 09:03, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Intro
The introductary paragraphs for this interview seem rather heavily biased against Scientology. Also, I question the claim, cited as fact, that SP (suppressive person) was not a known term prior to the Tom Cruise videos. Wikipedia has had an article on SP since early 2006. I normally try not to weigh in on this series of articles, but this was a bit blatant. Cheers, --SVTCobra 00:57, 7 February 2008 (UTC) Prominent free speech activist and critic of Scientology David S. Touretzky, as interviewed by Wikinews reporter Nicholas Turnbull, gave his opinions on the recent backlash against the Church of Scientology that has erupted on the Internet, recently spurred on in declarations by a nebulous Internet entity using the name Anonymous that the organization will be destroyed. This sentence is a really really big run-on sentence. The previous version reads much better. Cirt 01:16, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

 * Yes, it is, and was a run-on in the original form, too. Either version of that sentence is about four lines long (depending on your browser). I tried my best to interfere minimally, but the interviewer shouldn't be listed first. Break it up, do whatever, to that sentence. However, you haven't seem to have addressed the concerns I listed above. --SVTCobra 01:27, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

 * Hello there SVTCobra: I was referring to what Touretzky himself said about Scientology terms entering the popular lexicon since the recent debacle; this was his claim, not mine, and hence Touretzky was the source. Please read the interview and you will see where he says this: "... "Tom Cruise is batshit crazy" has entered the national lexicon, along with "SP", "KSW", and "We are the authorities". ..." I think, perhaps, the point here is that it has entered the popular currency within parts of the Internet that had formerly had no exposure to Scientology; SP was not used in general currency I think except in sites that specifically were "in universe" within Scientology. This is, at least, what Dave Touretzky was implying. This is rather irrelevant though, because if you can make it better, please feel free to edit the paragraph; but I think that you must understand interviews are only NPOV insofar as they report what the source said, not that they present a neutral view of the subject in question - that would be a fabrication, and of questionable journalistic ethics. The latter approach would be "SPOV" (sympathetic point of view), as NPOV is "tertiary" reporting. Yours, --NicholasTurnbull 01:54, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

 * Hi Nicholas, the subject of the interview is free to expess their pov. But I do believe that any introduction should be written following normal guidelines as well as WN:NPOV. Therefore, on the issue of the term "SP", I think it should be clarified as to when it became publicly known and when it became part of popular vernacular and not rely on Touretzky. Under no circumstance should the interview or the interviewee be used as a source for the introduction, imo (but I think that is rather standard). I did read the interview, but even if I didn't, it ought not bear impact on the introduction. If the interviewee claimed to be God, would you introduce the interview as an interview with "God" or "a man who claims to be God"? (extreme example for illustration of my point). --SVTCobra 02:13, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

 * OK, fair enough. Bear with me, I will reword it shortly and find some decent sources on the topic. --NicholasTurnbull 02:16, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Right, I've reworded the intro. Is this better? Do please let me know. --NicholasTurnbull 02:31, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
 * I think it reads fair and neutral now. I have no objections to the current version. Cheers, --SVTCobra 02:39, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Question about Interviewer
Hello, great interview, but I was wondering about this statement by Touretzky: "You're probably in a better position [as a former member] to assess the affect on Sea Org members". Does that "you" refer to the interviewer, User:NicholasTurnbull? If the interviewer is a former member of Scientology, conflict issues may be of concern. Perhaps this clarification should be made in the opening of the article. Copysan 18:54, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, the "you" does indeed refer to me; you are quite right to point this out. I think this is a standard problem with interviews, though: because interviewers with subject-specific knowledge, often gained through first-hand experience, are often the best at asking experts in that field detailed information about their opinions. I agree however there is a slight problem here and, in hindsight, I am actually quite surprised at myself that I didn't mention it in the lead-in section. I think it must have just been an oversight. I don't think there really is much of a conflict of interest though, because I reported the answers of Prof. Touretzky accurately and without modification, and my questions were presented in a manner that was fairly in keeping with information presented in other Wikinews articles on the same subject and also the POV presented by the interviewee. Thus, I don't think it is too much of a concern in that I don't think the way the interview material was presented has been at all compromised, simply because I am not really a "critic" of Scientology as such, merely an external observer who was formerly a member. It is possibly rather late to be doing so, but I will add a mention within the lead-in; better late than never, I suppose. Thank you for pointing this out, and I'll make sure to make it clearer should this be an issue in future interviews. If you have any advice on how my Scientology-related copywriting could be made more NPOV I would be glad to hear it. Yours, --NicholasTurnbull 17:23, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Addendum inserted. --NicholasTurnbull 17:30, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

Locked?
I'm just visiting here from two other projects I usually work on ('quote and 'pedia), and as I was reading, I wanted to add an explanatory link to the "Keeping Scientology Working" mention in the article, as I thought it would be appropriate. I didn't realize: are all Wikinews articles locked? As a registered user, how do I get the appropriate permissions to add such a simple link to an article? Peace and Passion (talk) 18:53, 23 August 2009 (UTC)
 * All Wikinews articles are fully-protected after seven days (this is called archiving, see WN:ARCHIVE for why we do this). Only administrators can edit these pages. However, you can use the editprotected template on an archived article's talk page to suggest changes to them. Tempodivalse [talk]  18:56, 23 August 2009 (UTC)

 * Adding the Keeping Scientology Working link, as above. (Fourth paragraph, for consistency with linking to "Suppressive Person" in the bracket before it).
 * Also, there's a misplaced apostrophe in the last answer given (I'm assuming, even if it's in the original, your journalistic MoS will allow it to be corrected)

they' may

 * Peace and Passion (talk) 18:58, 23 August 2009 (UTC)

 * ✅ Thanks for the suggestions. Tempodivalse [talk]  19:15, 23 August 2009 (UTC)

 * One more thing, on question 18 there is an issue. Throughout the article there are a multitude of acronyms (due to the subject matter, of course), and all of them are thoroughly noted (and/or explained) except for "RTC" used in question 18.  I'm not sure what that means; it seems quite significant and makes understanding both questions 18 and 19 difficult.
 * Peace and Passion (talk) 19:24, 23 August 2009 (UTC)

 * Unfortunately, I don't know what that acronym means - and it doesn't seem to have been mentioned in the text elswhere. Wikipedia doesn't seem to have anything, and Wiktionary has nothing. I looked it up on Google, but it doesn't come up with anything that might work. As such, I can't help. However, I'll leave the editprotected up for now, maybe someone else knows. Tempodivalse [talk]  19:35, 23 August 2009 (UTC)
 * RTC is Religious Technology Center. --Brian McNeil / talk 20:21, 23 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Ah! Makes sense. Thanks :-) Tempodivalse [talk]  20:29, 23 August 2009 (UTC)

editprotected
 * As noted above, the RTC needs to somehow be noted in the article (or simply linked), as questions/responses #18 & #19 are difficult to understand without that context.
 * Peace and Passion (talk) 19:42, 25 August 2009 (UTC)
 * ✅. Cirt (talk) 19:47, 25 August 2009 (UTC)


text:
US lawmakers to question Pentagon officials about war costs

February 6, 2008 In appearances before Congress on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and a top military official are expected to underscore decreased violence in Iraq. But they are likely to face strong questioning from lawmakers about ongoing war costs.

When President George W. Bush's budget for the 2009 fiscal year was sent to Congress this week, Secretary Gates defended the $515 billion request from the Pentagon.

In the overall figure, he noted, are billions of dollars to support U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the administration's global war on terrorism. "A $70 billion emergency bridge fund that would cover war costs into the next calendar year," he said.

The story behind that figure is the ongoing struggle between President Bush and the Democratic-controlled United States Congress over war funding.

Last year, the president asked for about $190 billion in a supplemental request outside the regular defense budget for war costs in the current 2008 fiscal year. The amount approved by Congress, just over $86 billion, left a large gap.

When Gates and military Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen appear before the House and Senate armed services committees, they will be pressed for harder cost projections, as Congress continues to assess the impact for the U.S. economy of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

White House Budget Director Jim Nussle was asked this week if the Bush administration has a realistic hope it can obtain its Pentagon regular budget and supplemental war funding requests from an opposition Congress. "It's worth whatever we need to spend and we have made, I think, a very careful determination of what that is. So, I don't believe it is just a negotiation point. I think it is what it takes for us to be safe, and to be the kind of super power that can maintain that safety," he said.

Asked why budget figures do not appear to reflect a reduction in costs because of the eventual withdrawal of about 30,000 troops from Iraq to pre-military surge levels, expected to be complete later this year, Nussle would only refer reporters to the Pentagon.

And while the question of troop levels will be a key topic for lawmakers, in the context of questioning on the overall Pentagon budget, Gates may not provide much in the way of enlightenment.

Media reports quoting testimony prepared for the House and Senate hearings say he will point to what he calls significant variables weighing against making any realistic estimate of how much Congress may be asked for in the final year of the Bush administration.

Based on numerous supplemental requests for Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years, members of Congress expect the $70 billion bridge fund to be followed by additional requests to sustain U.S. forces.

As for the $100 billion or so in 2008 supplemental funds that has been held up by bickering between Capitol Hill and the White House, congressional Democrats are looking to testimony in April from the U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus.

That will provide Congress with an update on progress by Iraqi forces toward shouldering more of the security burden, what that means for U.S. troop numbers, and what Americans can expect to be paying as President Bush leaves office and a new administration takes over in 2009.


text:
Many killed in tornadoes across southern U.S.

February 6, 2008 🇺🇸 Tornadoes have been reported across the southern United States, with some sources saying as many as 48 have died. The NOAA have reported that several buildings have been damaged in the tornadoes, including a hospital in Arkansas. At least 69 tornadoes have been reported to have taken place in the last two days, most of which took place on the same day as US citizens were voting in caucuses and primaries on a day known as super Tuesday.

Tennessee
The NOAA has reported that at least 25 tornadoes took place in Tennessee. In Trousdale county there were two fatalities at a home north of the intersection of highways 231 and 25. In Shelby county a roof was blown of an airline hanger at Memphis International Airport. Two homes were also destroyed in Henry county.

In Hardin county there were two fatalities and five injuries as the tornado trapped people in their houses.

Arkansas
The NOAA has reported that at least 19 tornadoes took place in Arkansas. In Pope county there were three fatalities, while a hospital was hit in Stone county, causing the emergency room to be closed.

In Madison county seven tractors were blown over by a tornado and in Putnam county mobile homes and barns received significant damage.

Mississippi
Many tornadoes also took place in Mississippi, including two tornadoes in Lafayette county in which many buildings were destroyed, including a church, at least two shops and several houses.

A tornado was also reported in Alcorn county, in which injuries were reported, along with damage to a community center. Other tornadoes were reported although they are not thought to have created any serious damage.

Missouri
Three tornadoes were reported in Missouri, although two are currently unconfirmed. The two unconfirmed reports are of tornadoes that took place in Butler county. No injuries, fatalities, or damage to property has been reported in either tornado.

In Pemicot county a report of a tornado was made through police radio. No damage was reported for this incident.

Kentucky
Three tornadoes in Kentucky have caused at least seven fatalities and major destruction to property. A tornado in Muhlenberg county caused damage to several houses, although there are currently no confirmed fatalities from this incident. A different tornado in the county did, however, cause three fatalities and numerous injuries, in addition to severe damage to property.

A tornado in Allen county caused at least four fatalities. Further details on this incident have yet to be released.


text:
Space shuttle Atlantis set for launch with Columbus module

February 6, 2008

The United States Space Shuttle Atlantis and the European space station module Columbus are ready for launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, although NASA and ESA have said that there is only a “40 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch times.”

The launch director of Atlantis said that “the scope of the mission is first of course to bring the Columbus laboratory to space, to install it on the international space station, make all the connections, and of course activate the module, power it and bring the cooling and do all the activation."

The ESA Program manager for the International Space Station said that he thought the “the European team are looking forward to the launch on Thursday." Leroy Cain, the American manager of the mission said that he believed "the team is in great shape and we're ready to move forward,"

NASA said that “the five mission specialists for the flight are also spending full days with checklists and practicing their flight tasks.” He also said that the astronauts “have simulators at their disposal that let them rehearse the complex duties required in orbit.” The flight is due to be launched at 19:45 UTC (14:45 local time) tomorrow.


text:
File talk:Internet VS Scientology.PNG

Wow, this is incredibly POV. -Branddobbe 07:54, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

It doesn't make much sense without a legend, you know? --68.144.68.238 08:43, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

How does Japan have no Internet coverage, yet North Korea has the same amount of coverage as China does? 24.83.115.195 00:57, 9 September 2008 (UTC)
 * is the original. The darker the blue, the greater coverage. Gray would be on the whiter side (less coverage). I removed the legend for the specific purpose of the ongoing incident, more of a style thing. Also note that this map is based on nearly 10 year old information. DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 01:03, 9 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Also I do not specialize in map making as it was already there for me to use. But if you want to contact the creator, or maybe make an updated one, the the report it was based off of is currently updated as of 2007 (for the 2008 year). DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 01:06, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

title: File talk:Internet VS Scientology.PNG


text:
User talk:117.196.162.34

Welcome
Welcome!

117.196.162.34, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews:
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
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If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! --Brian McNeil / talk 09:39, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

title: User talk:117.196.162.34


text:
Niece of Scientology's leader goes public with criticism

February 6, 2008

The niece of the Church of Scientology's top leader David Miscavige has come forward publicly with criticism of the organization and of Scientology practices. Jenna Miscavige Hill, daughter of David Miscavige's older brother Ron Miscavige, described Scientology policies which broke apart her family and continue to keep members of her family from talking to each other. Hill criticized Scientology practices in a letter to a public relations spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology and in a broadcast of the television program Inside Edition which aired Tuesday, and was interviewed by an investigative journalist for the New York Post.

Hill wrote an open letter addressed to Karin Pouw, Public Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology International, in response to a 15-page statement issued by Pouw on January 14 which was highly critical of Andrew Morton's new book on prominent Scientologist Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography. Hill's letter was posted to the Internet newsgroup alt.religion.scientology on January 25, and has since been widely posted on other Internet message boards.

In Pouw's statement on Morton's book, she called it a "bigoted defamatory assault replete with lies". In her letter to Pouw, Hill responded "I am absolutely shocked at how vehemently you insist upon not only denying the truths that have been stated about the church in that biography, but then take it a step further and tell outright lies." Specifically, Hill rebuked the Church of Scientology's denial of a practice called "disconnection", where members are instructed to sever all ties with friends and family who are critical of Scientology and deemed a "Suppressive Person", or SP.

Hill wrote that it was this particular policy which broke up her family when she was 16, going on to detail how the Church of Scientology restricted her communications with her parents: "Not only was I not allowed to speak to them, I was not allowed to answer a phone for well over a year, in case it was them calling me."

When contacted for a comment on Hill's letter, Karin Pouw told the Agence France-Presse: "The church stands by its statement of 14 January. The church does not respond to newsgroup postings." Hill explained her motivation for writing the letter to the Agence France-Presse: "My intention is to put it on a public forum so they are pressured into changing their ways -- even if it is just to cover for themselves."

In a broadcast of the television program Inside Edition which aired Tuesday, Hill spoke with reporter Les Trent about Scientology's disconnection policy. Hill described a pregnant friend whose parents are still members of the Church of Scientology; but will not speak with her: "She lives in L.A. - her parents live right around the hill from her, you know she tried to call them when she was having her first child, and they were like: 'No, sorry, I can't speak to you.'" The Church of Scientology told Inside Edition that the allegation made by Hill is "the opposite of what the church believes and practices." Hill last spoke to her uncle David Miscavige four years ago, around the same time that she viewed a promotional video featuring Tom Cruise, at an awards ceremony. This video was recently leaked to the Internet and appeared on the video sharing site YouTube. YouTube took the video down due to a legal complaint from the Church of Scientology, but though the website Gawker.com received a similar legal complaint, Gawker has stated that the video is newsworthy and will not be removed.

Prominent free speech activist and critic of Scientology David S. Touretzky commented on these recent developments, in an interview Wednesday with Wikinews reporter Nicholas Turnbull: "She has nothing to do with Chanology [the recent anti-Scientology movement that has gathered on Internet message boards], but what we're seeing here is a "perfect storm" of entheta [material considered negative by Scientology]. It's all coming together in a chain reaction: The Tom Cruise video, Andrew Morton's bio, Kirstie Alley's craziness, Kimora Lee Simmons, Jenna Miscavige, and there's more to come!" Another critic of Scientology, Mark Bunker of the website XenuTV.com, compared the recent revelations to troubles in Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's family: "Just as L. Ron Hubbard’s family was rocked with turmoil, so it seems is Miscavige’s." Bunker commented on the Inside Edition piece: "This is a jaw-dropping TV segment — although Inside Edition clearly didn’t understand just how important a story they had."

In an interview published Wednesday in the New York Post, Hill stated that she has been harassed by the Church of Scientology for speaking out against the organization: "The church has contacted several of my friends, telling them that I am smearing the church and I am going to be declared a suppressive person and asking my friends if they would disconnect from me and, in at least one case, insisting that they do." The New York Post attempted to contact Karin Pouw for a comment, but she did not respond in time for their publication.


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Talk:Niece of Scientology's leader goes public with criticism

OR
Refers to material gleaned from non-secondary sources. Cirt 12:46, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Source note
I put the interview of David S. Touretzky with Wikinews reporter Nicholas Turnbull in the Sources section instead of the Related news section because A) It's used as a source, and B) It's already in the navigation box at top-right. Cirt 13:08, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Additional coverage

This came out on February 7, so it can't really be used in this article from February 6, but perhaps later on if more things develop. Still, it's worthwhile to note the subject matter is getting more coverage in additional secondary sources. Cirt 14:07, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

ABC News: Nightline

 * We'll see if this gets additional news/media coverage. Cirt - (talk) 01:37, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
 * We'll see if this gets additional news/media coverage. Cirt - (talk) 01:37, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
 * We'll see if this gets additional news/media coverage. Cirt - (talk) 01:37, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
 * We'll see if this gets additional news/media coverage. Cirt - (talk) 01:37, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

 * Already 100 comments posted in response to this piece, at the ABC News website. Cirt - (talk) 05:38, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
 * Already 100 comments posted in response to this piece, at the ABC News website. Cirt - (talk) 05:38, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

 * GlossLip does a nice overview/commentary. Cirt - (talk) 05:41, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
 * GlossLip does a nice overview/commentary. Cirt - (talk) 05:41, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

 * Added another. Cirt - (talk) 16:22, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
 * Added another. Cirt - (talk) 16:22, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

 * Another Village Voice source. Cirt - (talk) 19:08, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
 * Another Village Voice source. Cirt - (talk) 19:08, 25 April 2008 (UTC)


text:
User talk:59.92.2.0

Welcome
Welcome!

59.92.2.0, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

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If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! --Brian McNeil / talk 14:19, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

title: User talk:59.92.2.0


text:
Comments:Niece of Scientology's leader goes public with criticism

We are legion
And so the cracks begin to appear in their facade. This is only the begining.

 * This is what Anonymous should focus on: Finding people close to the head honchos of Scientology that have seen the light. Someone needs to get Nicole Kidman to open up about it. --Kitch 15:14, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

What I Got Out of Scientology
I just see all this blah blah crap about who is crying about such and such. At the end of the day it's all the same crap you might just read in "Woman's Weekly" or some other trash magazine. My experience with Scientology has both positive and negative. The positive was the results I got from using the technology and the negative was from individuals (including me) having their own personal problems with each other or the organisation. What really matters to me is that due to the help I recieved I became drug free after 11 years of a drug soaked hell. I did the Scientology detox and I remained drug free from that time on. I was no good as a father and I used the courses on how to get along with children and they made sense and really helped me. I tried the Scientolog counseling and it worked and my emotional rolercoster of a life stabalized and improved markedly. I was no good at study and the technolog helped me with that. I was a dole bludger and unable to communicate to people in the work place and the communication courses I did totally fixed this.

The 100% truth of it is that I would still be smoking pot, being agressive to my kids, veged out and maybe dead by now if not for L Ron Hubbard's technology. From what I can see the current management are forwarding Hubbard's knowledge to the best of their ability and that is a very good purpose and activity.

Some people get pissed off with the church and attack it usually because they did something wrong. Once they start they find it hard to stop because they must make themselve's right. Once these people start attacking it is very hard for those still using Scientology and supporting the church to actually be friends with them. Such people are negative towards the very thing you are into and they are attacking your beliefs. I speak from experience: this actually happened to me with some friends of mine who decided to attack our church and leave. These guys now attack what I support which makes me not want to bother being friends with them anymore as it would not work out. It's not that I don't like them I just don't want to hang out with people who are bagging out my beliefs and are attacking what I'm trying to support. I believe that You choose to be with people who support you and agree with your choices and goals, and if they actively attack you about your choices and goals you need to take a stand for your own integrity.

Now I'm a successful musician, I manage a restaurant and have an amazing family who are all Scientologists. I've been using Scientology for over 14 years and it's all good and works. I have been a staff member for the church and a parishoner. There is no problems I have had that I have not been able to easily sort out. Yes I've had to cease connection with a couple of friends who started in attacking the church, I did it off my own bat because I din't like what they were saying and the fact that they had started using pot again. The very last thing I'd want to do is hang around with dope smokers again as 11 years of hell as a hardcore smoker really showed me the pain of that path.

I am forever grateful to Ron Hubbard and the current church management for the help I've gotten and without which I would have totally failed in this life. Yes I used the technology and saved myself and that's what it's all about. I created a life worth living, I got off drugs, I was a social security drop out incapable of working, lazy, stoned and useless but I changed all of that by using Scintology. So what if some people have some petty little disagreements with David Miscavage. So what if some people have some spitefullness towards the church and it's management. I don't care because of what I got from this subject and it saved my life.


text:
1960's guru icon Maharishi Mahesh Yogi dies

February 6, 2008 An Indian guru who taught some of the 20th century's most famous celebrities and created a multi-billion dollar spiritual empire has died. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation movement, died at his home in the Netherlands. He is believed to have been 91 years old.

Known for his long white beard and tendency to giggle, he became a well-known counter-culture figure in the 1960's. Members of the Beatles rock music band made repeated pilgrimages to the Himalayan foothills to study his meditation technique, known as TM.

Little is certain about the yogi's early life in central India. His given name and birthday are disputed. It is known he studied physics at Allahabad University.

A professor of psychology at the school, Emmanuel Ghosh, says the guru's academic training, combined with study under a Vedic swami, helped to make him accessible to those in the West seeking alternative answers to life's questions during the socially tumultuous 1960's.

"He had a rational approach," said Ghosh. "He had a scientific background and he could tell the West that 'You could test my theories through science.' He was the first one who started this whole system of reducing stress by breath control, by meditation and you could measure it in objective terms."

Maharishi also tutored other pop musicians, Hollywood actors and film directors. His TM movement attracted millions of followers worldwide who paid hundreds of dollars to receive a personal mantra to recite for 20 minutes, twice a day.

Professor Ghosh at Allahabad University says, despite his fame and success overseas, Maharishi was just one among many gurus in his native India.

"His influence in India has been negligible. Every guru is independent to propagate his own method of salvation or nirvana," said Ghosh. "So he took off for a while [in India] as long as he was appreciated in the West."

Perhaps his biggest legacy in India is the country's largest chain of privately owned schools. Other institutes and universities based on his teachings also exist in the United States and Europe.

In later years, some of the guru's projects and beliefs earned him ridicule, such as hoping to raise $10 trillion to achieve world peace and banish poverty and encouraging followers to learn what he called "yogic flying". While many adherents praise Maharishi for propagating a scientifically verifiable ancient method to help them deal with the stress of modern life, some disenchanted followers considered TM a quasi-religious cult more interested in raising funds than spirits.


text:
User talk:67.70.153.118

Hello and welcome to Wikinews, the free news source you can write!

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Well, here are some reasons:

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We hope that you choose to become a Wikinewsie and create an account. Feel free to ask any questions on my talk page or in the Welcommittee. Be sure to sign your posts and comments on talk pages with four tildes ( ~ ), this will let other editors know you said it.

Cirt 15:41, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

title: User talk:67.70.153.118


text:
User talk:Lsisson

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome!–Doldrums(talk) 16:45, 6 February 2008 (UTC)
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Ledger story
Your article as all sorts of information that did not come from the medical report (unless they decided to do a review of his career as well). Everything must be sourced. --SVTCobra 17:34, 6 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Please add a link to the medical report to the article. Thanks.  —Fellow Wiki  Newsie 17:56, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

title: User talk:Lsisson


text:
User talk:Shawhyd

Welcome
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Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! Jacques Divol 16:48, 6 February 2008 (UTC)
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title: User talk:Shawhyd


text:
UK firm designs hypersonic passenger jet

February 6, 2008 A firm in Oxford, United Kingdom has recently released plans for a hypersonic passenger airplane able to travel at speeds up to Mach 5 with a range of 20,000 km. Reaction Engines of Oxfordshire says the A2 plane could be in service within 25 years, carrying 300 passengers at a top speed of almost 4,000 mph, which is twice the speed of the Concorde. It would be able to reach Australia from Brussels Airport, Belgium non-stop in just five hours.

It is 143 meters (469 feet) long, which is approximately twice the length of the Airbus A380 and would be the first man-made object to cruise for extended periods at such speeds within the Earth's atmosphere. Man-made aircraft have travelled this fast before; they, however, were inefficient rocket powered aircraft, that were only capable of short range.

The cost of a trip on the A2 is expected to be comparable with current first class tickets on standard flights, of around US$6,900 (£3,500), although it is possible prices will drop in the future.

"The A2 is designed to leave Brussels international airport, fly quietly and subsonically out into the north Atlantic at Mach 0.9 before reaching Mach 5 across the North Pole and heading over the Pacific to Australia," said Alan Bond, the head of Reaction Engines.

Due to the heat generated in high-speed flight, the plane would have no windows. Instead, television screens connected to video cameras on the outside of the plane will be placed in front of passenger seats.

The jet may be more environmentally friendly than other planes because it uses liquid hydrogen for power rather than fossil fuel, and thus would not necessarily produce any pollution during the flight. The energy to produce the liquid hydrogen could come from an environmentally friendly source.

"Our work shows that it is possible technically; now it's up to the world to decide if it wants it," Bond said.


text:
User talk:Mephiles602

Cloud Computing Report
Did you get any responses to your request for collaboration on this?

I have a journalism diploma and literally decades of computer industry experience. We could takew WikiNews way out in front of everyone on this. Let's start batting possible story topics around.

Netscr1be (talk) 19:36, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome!–Doldrums(talk) 17:49, 6 February 2008 (UTC)
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Image
Please add a different source to this image as we cannot claim fair use from other news sources. Many thanks --Mark Talk to me 17:52, 11 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Ah yes. I forgot to change the source. --Mephiles 21:19, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Account renamed
Hi, your account has been renamed as per your request on WN:CHU. Sorry for the delay. -- IlyaHaykinson (talk) 07:14, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

title: User talk:Mephiles602


text:
Comments:UK firm designs hypersonic passenger jet

Exciting!
I think this is quite interesting. I always wanted to go to Australia but the journey is obviously too long. --Mephiles 17:54, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

The Environment
Nitrous oxide is indeed emitted by the combustion of hydrogen in air, due to the extreme enthalpy heat generated. This gas is an extremely problematic greenhouse gas, around 300 times more impactive per molecule than carbon dioxide over the course of a century.

Using liquid hydrogen as fuel also releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (at least using the current prevalent production methods), since it is produced by the cracking of fossil fuels. The cryogenic conditions required for liquefication also are predominantly electricity-consuming, which, in most countries is generated with fossil fuels. In fact, all the additional conversions and storage required only serves to release greater volumes of greenhouse gases than would be released with conventional technology and fuels.

Granted, the advantages of flying half-way round the world in five hours are indeed wonderful, but the green credencials claimed by this project are at least questionable. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.47.219.196 (talk) 21:01, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

 * I think that the vehicle is likely to be far cleaner than normal aircraft, including Concorde. With Concorde they found that the exhaust had sulphates in it due to fuel contaminants, but they would be entirely absent in liquid hydrogen; and in addition the aircraft need not produce any net CO2, depending on how the hydrogen was manufactured (for example hydroelectric would be a clean energy source).Wolfkeeper 00:47, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

 * First, how much nitrous oxide is created is likely very trace, and will be lesser in the atmospheric pressures at which this will be used. Second, it will be a lot better than the fuel used by the Concorde, which produced copious nitrogen oxides that both "contribute to global warming" and are detrimental to the ozone layer. --Kitch 17:23, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Nothing new
Projects for hypersonic civil planes have been proposed for decades. The hard thing is turning them into reality. tcp-ip 09:16, 9 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Indeed, and man-made objects have already been at this speed, just not manned ones. --Mephiles 12:34, 9 February 2008 (UTC)


text: File:Reaction Engines A2.jpg

title: File:Reaction Engines A2.jpg


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User:Mephiles602

Hello. To view my user page, please see my one in Wikipedia. User:Mephiles602

News Articles I Have Started

 * NASA considers continuing shuttle use after 2010
 * IE8 Beta 2 will be released soon
 * Abu Dhabi starts constructing 'green city'
 * UK firm designs hypersonic passenger jet

title: User:Mephiles602