By now, you probably have heard that Scientologists were fined $600,00 Euros in France:
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: Fundamentally Wrong)
The LA Times has an 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 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
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.
Posted by: bsci | October 29, 2009 10:34 AM
The Gullibilit-E meter.
Posted by: Sigmund | October 29, 2009 12:35 PM
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.
Posted by: Michael | October 29, 2009 1:33 PM
L Ron loves me this I know
'cause my E-meter tells me so.
Posted by: wrpd | October 29, 2009 6:00 PM
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.
Posted by: Badger3k | October 29, 2009 7:24 PM
They use a similar device in the "Intention Experiment", now sign up for the montly seminars costing 200 quid each.
Posted by: Jose | November 20, 2009 9:11 AM
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.
Posted by: Ivana | July 19, 2011 8:52 AM
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?
Posted by: Lesley | July 25, 2011 9:21 AM
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.
Posted by: Harvey | July 28, 2011 6:42 AM
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.
Posted by: Abe | August 1, 2011 6:40 AM
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.
Posted by: Peter | August 2, 2011 7:46 AM
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.
Posted by: Rachel | August 3, 2011 9:54 AM
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.
Posted by: Sean | August 9, 2011 9:18 AM
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.
Posted by: Fitz | August 10, 2011 10:04 AM
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. : ( .
Posted by: Jeff | August 15, 2011 5:22 AM
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. :( .
Posted by: Fitz | August 16, 2011 7:07 AM
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.
Posted by: Kenny | August 18, 2011 4:48 AM
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.
Posted by: Kenny | August 19, 2011 5:40 AM
Good blog can't wait to hear more.
Posted by: Thomas | August 22, 2011 5:25 AM
I dont comment frequently, but when I do it’s usually for some thing thats brilliant.
Posted by: Pete | August 22, 2011 10:05 AM
Employers, employees and manufactures of equipment or supplies are responsible in some way for health and safety.
Posted by: Jeff | August 24, 2011 4:46 AM
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?”
Posted by: Gerrad | August 30, 2011 8:47 AM
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."
Posted by: Paul | September 1, 2011 4:42 AM
A great article,its time those Bozo's were exposed.
Posted by: Levi | November 22, 2011 5:34 AM