The Corpus Callosum

In general, I try to be respectful of cultural groups, even ones that
are rather aberrant. Somehow, though, I find it exceedingly
difficult to muster any sympathy or respect for Scientology.

By now, you probably have heard that Scientologists were fined $600,00
Euros in France:
href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iB4zZrgJt9_M4ltYiwOwQxcAnMmQ">

href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iB4zZrgJt9_M4ltYiwOwQxcAnMmQ">Scientologists
convicted of fraud in France

…The Paris case followed a complaint by two women, one of whom says
she was manipulated into handing over 20,000 euros in 1998 for
Scientology products including an “electrometer” to measure mental
energy…

(link HT: href="http://fundamentallywrong.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/links-roundup-whats-up-religion/">Fundamentally
Wrong)

The LA Times has an href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-france-scientology28-2009oct28,0,6643393.story">extensive
writeup of the Paris conviction. For some reason, coverage of
Scientology is a big deal in LA.

Meanwhile, back at Scienceblogs, scientists are all going to wonder,
what is an
“electrometer?” It is difficult for nonbelievers to learn of such
things. But it turns out that there is not only an explanation,
but an actual photograph, somewhere on the Internet. Not only
that, but the photograph shows none other than L. Ron Hubbard
himself. With a sort-of smile. Looking not unlike John
Travolta, without the makeup.

The photo is from href="http://www.life.com/image/76796742/in-gallery/25371/30-dumb-inventions">LIFE
magazine, and it is reproduced from a screenshot of a Flash
presentation, making the text not fully legible. The full text is
as follows:

Hubbard Electrometer, 1968
American science fiction writer and founder of the Church of
Scientology L. Ron Hubbard uses his Hubbard Electrometer to determine
whether tomatoes experience pain, 1968. His work led him to the
conclusion that tomatoes “scream when sliced.” [emphasis added]
In this photo: L. Ron Hubbard
Photo: Evening Standard/Getty Images
Jan 01, 1968

Note that Hubband appears to have stuck a ten-penny nail in the
tomato. So sad it must be.

So the Hubbard Electrometer can be used to detect the emotional state
of plants…as though there is no other explanation for a change in the
electrical properties of a vegetable, when you insert a metal object
into it. LIFE brazenly called this a “dumb
invention.” Which it would be, quite plainly, if the stated
purpose were the intended purpose. But no, the intended
purpose is to separate people from their money. It does that, all
too well.

Comments

#1 bsci
October 29, 2009

It’s actually not very hard to see an electrometer. If you ever see scientologists hawking books on the street and asking if you want to sit down for an audit, they always have an electrometer on the table. That said the tomato picture is great.
#2 Sigmund
October 29, 2009

The Gullibilit-E meter.
#3 Michael
October 29, 2009

Los Angeles is home to the headquarters of the Church of Scientology along with its celebrity VIP center, hence the connection to the newspaper. L.A. is also the home to many other wacky religious headquarters, far outnumbering Vatican City, which only has the one.
#4 wrpd
October 29, 2009

L Ron loves me this I know
’cause my E-meter tells me so.
#5 Badger3k
October 29, 2009

Great! I’ve saved this page so I can use it in a discussion with a scientologist that we have been having at the freethought & rationalism board. This is easier than me trying to upload a document dealing with this very subject. This e-meter BS is like the kirlian aura bit that some people still buy into.
#6 Jose
November 20, 2009

They use a similar device in the “Intention Experiment”, now sign up for the montly seminars costing 200 quid each.
#7 Ivana
July 19, 2011

Ar ôl un diwrnod ar ddeg heb idiot o’r enw Sam, ei fod yn ôl yn y gwaith. Pan fydd y penaethiaid o gwmpas, ei fod yn frown ymyl flaen. Gwneud unrhyw esgus i fynd i mewn i’r ystafell ydynt mewn, fel pe dweud “edrych arna. Wyf yn gweithio”. Roedd ei agwedd at ffrindiau gwaith arall pan nad yw’r meistri yn cael eu gwmpas yn “Yr wyf yn well na chi”. Mae’n tynnu jôc ac mae’n ddoniol (yn ei feddwl). Ond os ydych yn tynnu yn jôc arno. Rydych yn yr isaf o’r holl ffurfiau bywyd ac efe yells ei ben i ffwrdd fel strancio bedair oed. Parc o fewn 6 troedfedd (2 fetr) ar ei gar smart ac rydych yn ei blocio.
#8 Lesley
July 25, 2011

Stellen Sie sich folgende Fragen. (1) In welchem Teil der Vergangenheit würden Sie gerne leben? (2) Warum möchten Sie in dieser Zeit leben? (3) Können Sie in dieser Zeit nur mit den Werkzeugen und Geräten zur Verfügung zu jener Zeit überleben?
#9 Harvey
July 28, 2011

Die Dächer sind aus unterschiedlichen Materialien hergestellt. Holz, Stroh, Schiefer, Stein, Metall, Kunststoff und alles andere, die verwendet werden können. Meistens hängt, wo Sie sind in der Welt und wie viel Sie kaufen können, um welche Art von Dach haben Sie.
#10 Abe
August 1, 2011

Where are we now on the evolution path ? Are we becoming civilized or still going down the path of increasing destructive powers ? Our medical knowledge increases with leaps and bounds of each war, but not as greatly as our destructive weapons.
#11 Peter
August 2, 2011

Kuhu me nüüd arengust teed? Me oleme muutumas tsiviliseeritud või ikka läheb teele suurendada hävitava võimu? Meie meditsiiniliste teadmiste suureneb hüppeliselt iga sõda, kuid mitte nii palju kui meie hävitusrelvade. Kui meie meditsiinilisi teadmisi tõusnud nii kiiresti kui meie relvad, suudame elada kaks või enam sajandeid.
#12 Rachel
August 3, 2011

Pam mae pobl yn newynu i farwolaeth mewn byd sy’n cynhyrchu mwy o fwyd nag y mae’n ei angen? Ar dudalen we ei ddweud ei fod yn ganlyniad i logisteg o symud yr bwyd. Rwy’n dweud, mae’n fwy i’w wneud ag elw na diffyg y gallu i symud yr bwyd i lle mae ei angen. Hefyd, mae rhai gwledydd y trydydd byd yn allforio bwyd sydd eu hangen arnynt er mwyn iddynt gael arian ar gyfer pethau eraill. Os ydym i gyd yn hyd yn oed hanner ffordd at yr hyn a alwn yn ddynoliaeth, fyddai neb yn llwgu. Ond rydym yn bobl ac yn methu â byw hyd at ein delfrydau da.
#13 Sean
August 9, 2011

Yalnız Londonda iğtişaşlar və BBC saytda digər sahələr barədə oxu olmuşdur. Bu rioters incapacitated qədər Onlar rezin güllə, CS qaz və bibər spreyi istifadə etməlidirlər. Sonra Əfqanıstana onlara gəmi onlar davranmaq necə öyrənə bilərsiniz.
#14 Fitz
August 10, 2011

Terfysgoedd unwaith eto rhwygo trwy nifer o ddinasoedd Lloegr. Bydd llawer o bobl yn troi i fyny ar gyfer eu man gwaith heddiw i ddod o hyd iddo ddrylliwyd neu’n waeth, dinistrio. Faint mwy o yn mynd i golli eu swyddi fel eu man gwaith gael ei ddinistrio? Dod yn y fyddin ac yn cael dim dal wahardd wrth ddelio â’r terfysgwyr. Maent eisiau brifo eraill trwy frics taflu a phethau eraill, felly dylai fod yr un fath drais yn ôl ar eu cyfer.
#15 Jeff
August 15, 2011

Meine letzte Woche von der Arbeit an der Regierung Schema. Zurück zur Arbeitslosigkeit Warteschlange nächste Woche. Das Programm war nur für 13 Wochen und endet in vier Tagen. Langeweile und kaum genug Geld zum Leben. : ( .
#16 Fitz
August 16, 2011

Minu viimane nädal kallal valitsuse kava. Tagasi töötuse järjekorda järgmisel nädalal. Kava oli ainult kolmteist nädalat, mis lõpeb nelja päeva pärast. Igavus ja vaevalt piisavalt raha, et elada. .
#17 Kenny
August 18, 2011

Dim ond dau ddiwrnod yn fwy ar ôl y diwrnod hwn o weithio ar y cynllun llywodraeth. Yna yn ôl ar y ciw diweithdra wythnos nesaf wythnos tri ar ddeg o wneud gwaith a dim ond yn cael 45 y cant o’r isafswm cyflog ar ei gyfer a’r llywodraeth ryfeddodau pam nad yw’r cynllun yn boblogaidd Os byddaf yn cael ei dalu isafswm cyflog fyddai gen i! fwynhau yn fwy ac yn cael rhywfaint o arian a arbedir i fyny.
#18 Kenny
August 19, 2011

Olen visted Monet sivustot viime kolmetoista viikko sen kanssa työni, niin on tylsää ja muut mistyfing. Onko saada jonkin verran tietoa. Kuten, kun Japanissa muutama vuosi sitten, tulin niin lähellä Bamboo Forest Kiotossa. Se ärsytti minua, koska olisin halunnut visted sitä.
#19 Thomas
August 22, 2011

Good blog can’t wait to hear more.
#20 Pete
August 22, 2011

I dont comment frequently, but when I do it’s usually for some thing thats brilliant.
#21 Jeff
August 24, 2011

Employers, employees and manufactures of equipment or supplies are responsible in some way for health and safety.
#22 Gerrad
August 30, 2011

An elderly couple were having dinner one evening when the husband reached across the table, took his wife’s hand in his and said , “Clara, soon we
will be married 50 years and there’s something I have to know. In all of these 50 years, have you ever been unfaithful to me?”
Clara replied, “Well, Paul, I have to be honest with you. Yes, I’ve been unfaithful to you three times during these 50 years, but always for a good reason.”
Paul was obviously hurt by his wife’s confession, but said, “I never suspected. Can you tell me what you mean by ‘good reasons?”
Clara said, “The first time was shortly after we were married, and we were about to lose our little house because we couldn’t pay the mortgage. Do you remember that one evening I went to see the banker and the next day he notified you that the loan would be extended?”
Paul recalled the visit to the banker and said, “I can forgive you for that. You saved our home, but what about the second time?”
Clara asked, “And do you remember when you were so sick, but we didn’t have the money to pay for the heart surgery you needed? Well, I went to see your doctor one night and, if you recall, he did the surgery at no charge.”
“I recall that,” said Paul. “And you did it to save my life, so of course I can forgive you for that. Now tell me about the third time.”
“All right,” Clara said. “So do you remember when you ran for president of your golf club, and you needed 73 more votes?”
#23 Paul
September 1, 2011

Doctor Dave had slept with one of his patients and felt guilty all day long.

No matter how much he tried to forget about it, he couldn’t.

The guilt and sense of betrayal was overwhelming. But every once in a while he’d hear an internal, reassuring voice that said:

“Dave, don’t worry about it. You aren’t the first doctor to sleep with one of their patients and you won’t be the last. And you’re single. Just let it go..”

But invariably the other voice would bring him back to reality, whispering:

“Dave you’re a vet.”
#24 Levi
November 22, 2011

A great article,its time those Bozo’s were exposed.
#25 Gerrad
March 12, 2012

Your writing is poor but the article you produce is gorgeous. This reminds me of a girl I used to date, she was gorgeous but poor. But when she was no longer poor, she ditched me!
#26 Roger
April 23, 2012

I was walking down the road a little bit distracted because I was eyeing up the pretty nurse up ahead and never noticed the open manhole right in my path! So the next thing I know i’m falling and coming to an abrupt halt, and the pain, and even more pain! And now i’m lying in a hospital bed but here’s the good news, that pretty nurse, that eye candy, she is now tending me and boy am I loving it!!!!
#27 Chan
May 11, 2012

The two lovers Tom and Alice were holding hands just as the comet lit up the sky. Tom said to Alice “Thats good luck, make a wish”. Alice said “I wish this to be the best year ever”! But the comet was crashing to earth and it landed in the vicinity that Tom and Alice were standing in wiping out a quarter of the worlds population. It was not good luck!