What did I learn from the 8-million word 3-part exclusive on Scientology in the St. Petersburg Times? That absolutely nothing could ever be written about Scientology that would suprise me.  Take the story’s introdution, for example:

“The leader of the Church of Scientology strode into the room with a boom box and an announcement: Time for a game of musical chairs.

David Miscavige had kept more than 30 members of his church’s executive staff cooped up for weeks in a small office building outside Los Angeles, not letting them leave except to grab a shower. They slept on the floor, their food carted in.

Their assignment was to develop strategic plans for the church. But the leader trashed their every idea and berated them as incompetents and enemies, of him and the church.

Prove your devotion, Miscavige told them, by winning at musical chairs. Everyone else — losers, all of you — will be banished to Scientology outposts around the world. If families are split up, too bad.”

I don’t know if this is true or not.  I don’t care.  I choose to believe it because Scientology is so f—king crazy that if this story isn’t true, whatever really is true is probably actually crazier.

So to recap, would I believe that Scientologists bury themselves in warm pancakes on New Year’s Eve?  Yes.

Would I believe that there is an elite sect of Scientologists that communicate directly with Xenu by carving messages on the undersides of John Deere tractors?  Yes.

There is absolutely nothing I wouldn’t believe.  Try me.

*Michael

Word is that the College of William & Mary is considering asparagus for its official mascot.  I, for one, f—king love asparagus and hereby before the world commit to purchasing at least $50 in W&M team merch were this nickname to become official.

Bonus Fact:  The plural form of asparagus is “asparagus”.

*Michael

Great new additions to the Street Scene lineup. Maybe now I’ll go.

*Patrick

Awesome random web photo archive dedicated to “Abandoned Places in the World”. The above photograph is taken from an abandoned vacation resort on the northern coast of Taiwan, called San Zhi. According to the site, it never opened because “construction of the futuristic resort ceased after a series of fatal accidents.”

*Michael

True or False:  This lady looks like a bunny.

No matter what you answered, read this article about an Oregon woman in prison for violating a restraining order and violating her probation.  She was told not to go within 100 yards of a rabbit.

*Michael

Spring is in full bloom, as evidenced by my semi-artistic camera-phone photo.

*Michael

Trader Joe’s humor.  The other side reads “We’re Open.  We’re just takina firm stand against the sun.”  (The window frames were being painted.)

*Michael