When I first announced Operation Bridget 1, I predicted that OSA would be a big contributor to its success. They have not disappointed me.

The operation's web site, Stop-Narconon.org, documents how the San Francisco Unified School District has been infiltrated by the Scientology cult in the guise of one of its front groups, Narconon Drug Education, Inc. I've offered evidence that this was the case, and there's more material that I can't web yet. But wouldn't it be nice if the cult itself did something to prove my point for me?

Well, they have!

On January 24, 2004, someone modified the SFUSD's internal network to block access to Stop-Narconon.org. Anyone trying to access the web page receives an error message saying "***RESTRICTED SITE***".

A printout of the block message has been added to the Stop-Narconon.org/SFUSD page. You can access it directly here: http://Stop-Narconon.org/SFUSD/scans/site-blocked.png

There is no reason for SFUSD to block access to this web site. But there are obvious reasons why a panicked Scientologist would want to block access to the site. They had the motive; apparently they also had the opportunity. Now we'll see what price the cult will pay for this rash action.

Make yourself some popcorn, folks. This is going to be highly entertaining.

No wonder Scientology hates the Internet.

-- Dave Touretzky: "I'm banned in San Francisco!" http://Stop-Narconon.org http://LisaClause.org

<p><hr><p> From: dst@cs.cmu.edu (Dave Touretzky)
Subject: Re: yes,they REALLY did it!
Date: 27 Jan 2004 20:55:15 -0500
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Message-ID: <40171683$1@news2.lightlink.com>

In article <20040127190211.13694.00000471@mb-m27.aol.com>, Basiccommoncents <basiccommoncents@aol.com> wrote: >
>I do not post to this newsgroup but I could not help
>but to respond to such a blatant distortion of the
>facts.

I think you'll discover that you're the one who doesn't have his facts straight. Read on.

>See:
>http://www.sfusd.edu/schwww/sch571/PTSA/minutes/12.17.min.html
>“Internet Filter - SFUSD internet has a filter that
>prevents access to sites that include hate, violence,
>chat rooms, pornography, gambling, alcohol, fire arms
>and adult banners. In some cases, the filter will
>block access to legitimate research site. A request
>must be made to unblock a site. However, nothing is
>100% full proof and both teachers and parents must be
>vigilant in monitoring sites the students access at
>school and at home.
>
>It looks like you qualify on almost every point.

Nope. While there is some material in the free speech section of my personal home page that is not appropriate for most children, my home page is NOT being blocked by the SFUSD. We tried it. They are only blocking Stop-Narconon.org, which has nothing unsuitable for children, and no banners or other junk. Furthermore, the site was freely accessible from within SFUSD on Friday 1/23. Someone blocked it on Saturday 1/24. Now who might that have been?

>I presume Carnegie Mellon is sponsoring your campaign
>since you are officially posting from 128.2.222.123
>i.e. a Carnegie Mellon IP number?

Spoken like a true Scientologist. You really have no clue how a university works, do you? Let me fill you in:

Carnegie Mellon supports the rights of all of its faculty, students, and staff to explore ideas (academic freedom) and voice their opinions (freedom of speech) using university facilities. That does not mean that when we speak, we are speaking for the university. We speak only for ourselves, and we make that perfectly clear.

> Or do you just take advantage of CMU's facilities and make it look
> like they are sponsoring you?

Carnegie Mellon does not "sponsor" me any more or less than they "sponsor" the other 7000 people on this campus. However, the university has devoted some modest resources to protect me from slimeballs who have sought to silence my speech, such as the Church of Scientology. I believe they would do the same for any faculty member. Ardent defense of free speech is crucial to the long-term health of a university. It's one of the things that distinguishes a true university from a mere trade school.

-- Dave Touretzky... but you can call me PROFESSOR TOURETZKY. http://Stop-Narconon.org <---- banned in San Francisco!!!

<p><hr><p> From: dst@cs.cmu.edu (Dave Touretzky)
Subject: SFUSD backs down: site unblocked
Date: 28 Jan 2004 18:07:56 -0500
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Message-ID: <401840cc$1@news2.lightlink.com>

As of this morning, Wednesday, January 28, the San Francisco Unified School District has removed its block on the Stop-Narconon.org web site. People are free to read it once again.

We still don't know who ordered the block, and who ordered its removal. I'll leave that to the press to ferret out.

This site should never have been blocked in the first place. A lot of media were notified of the situation; that may have something to do with its speedy resolution.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled program: removing Narconon from the public schools.

-- Dave Touretzky: "You can't keep a good SP down." http://Stop-Narconon.org http://LisaClause.org