Scientologists Flock To F-L-A

[Fenian_Bastard]

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/florida-city-mecca-for-scientologists/20070924162709990001

Gator fans or the 'Noles?
You make the call.

 

[Chi City 81]

You're being a suppressive person, Fenian. Expect a phone call shortly.

 

[jgmacg]

Get thee behind me, Thetan!

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Xenu has my back, Doc.

 

[Chi City 81]

Well ****. I forgot you were an OT IX.

Kneel before Xenu!

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

My inner clam is holding me back.

 

[andyouare?]

That area is my hometown, and it's freaky as hell walking around there. Sometimes you just want to grab people by the shoulders, shake them and scream "it's all a scam! Are you too stupid to see that!"

There's an outlet mall in Sarasota (about 45 minutes away) where passers by are encouraged to take a "stress test." What they don't tell you is that it's one of their e-meter thingies.

I keep telling myself that the next time they ask me if I want a stress test I'll say, "Do I look like a ****ing idiot?" Next time I'll just shout, "Hail Xenu! Hail Xenu!".

Also, I was looking for work in the area (outside the sportswriting biz) and I found a job that looked pretty good. On the about us section, the business said they followed the economic principals of L. Ron Hubbard. Scratch that one.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Holy cow.
Between that and Crazy Catholic Guy's personal town, fringe religion seems to be a growth industry in Florida.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Let me know when the Mensa members flock to Florida, please. I could be a Florida resident if I wanted to, you know?

This is a bit scary. I haven't been to Clearwater in a few years, but I always liked that town for some reason.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Always had a good time at spring training there, as Clearwater passed the only real test of a good spring training town -- it wasn't Winter Haven.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Have always enjoyed Clearwater Beach. One of my favorite Florida beaches. Can't say I ran across any Scientologists there.

Or at the dog track.

 

[Beaker]

I was in vacation in Florida a couple years ago. Went to Clearwater for a bit, I really enjoyed it, but I always felt there was something odd about the place.

I didn't go to spring training there, but it does seem like it would be a good spring training town-I mean, it's no Fort Myers, that's for sure.

 

[JR]

Jays spring training facility is in nearby Dunedin.

Maybe this explains Ricciardi.

 

[andyouare?]

Have always enjoyed Clearwater Beach. One of my favorite Florida beaches. Can't say I ran across any Scientologists there.

Or at the dog track.

How do you know? Those scientologists are sneaky. They look just like you and me. They even talk the same. The best way to weed out the scientologists is to ask a local if they know any good pyschiatrists. If they tell you that pyschiatry is all a scam, punch them in the nuts and run away.

 

[heyabbott]

Which best describes the Church of Scientology?
It's a cult	79%
It's neither	16%
It's a religion	6%
Total Votes: 90,330

 

[The Big Ragu]

Always had a good time at spring training there, as Clearwater passed the only real test of a good spring training town -- it wasn't Winter Haven.

One thing always struck me about the Phillies complex (this was mid and late 90s) as opposed to the Yankees, which are nearby in Tampa. In Tampa, everything was first class and they had security guards all over the place checking your credential and generally being pains in the asses, because everyone was always afraid of a Steinbrenner sighting (this was when he was still somewhat sharp, tyranical and around when you least expected him). Then you'd drive over to Clearwater and the Phillies facilities were right out of the movie Major League (after the owner decided the players were too 'coddled'). Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe visiting teams used to ride the bus in their uniforms because there was no place to change. I remember commenting once, after having been at the maximum-security Tampa complex and then driving over to Clearwater, that there was nothing stopping me (or anyone really) from walking into the Phillies clubhouse, putting on a uniform, walking out to the field and shagging some flies. It was that low-key and not much more complicated than a high school locker room and field entrance. Were my perceptions wrong?

 

[Armchair_QB]

The first spring training game I ever attended was in Clearwater in the early 80s. Don't remember who the Phillies played but it was so crowded that they set up a rope line on the edge of the warning track in left field and we wound up sitting out there. Still remember the crushed sea shell warning track.

And yeah, Clearwater had a pretty nice beach back in the day plus, by Florida standards, it wasn't really built up. It had it's share of high rises but it wasn't out of control. Don't know if that's still the case.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

I think you need to be clear, AQB.

 

[Football_Bat]

Judging by the thread title, maybe the Scientologists want to take a walk on the wild side.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Thanks, Bat.
I was wondering if anyone was going to catch that.
Doot-doo-doot-doo-doot....