Jerry Seinfeld and Scientology

Over the years I've been asked many times, "Just what is the story with Seinfeld and Scientology?" So here's the answer, in the man's own words as given exclusively to Parade

On Studying Scientology
“I last really studied, oh, it’s almost 30 years ago. But what I did do, I really liked, in terms of it’s very...it was interesting.

Believe it or not...it’s extremely intellectual and clinical in its approach to problem-solving, which really appealed to me. I actually got to it from my auto mechanics teacher in high school, who was into it, and he was telling me about it. In my early years of stand-up, it was very helpful. I took a couple of courses. One of them was in communication, and I learned some things about communication that really got my act going.”

“It was just things about understanding the communications cycle... Even the volume at which I’m speaking now is the right volume for where you’re sitting. I’m almost performing, in a way.”

“You would just understand that there’s this kind of voice, and then there’s this kind of voice, and then there’s this kind of voice. I wasn’t a natural performer at all, so I learned. I was always a pretty good writer in the beginning, but I really had to learn how to perform. Just a little thing like that, understanding that really helped me on stage to understand how you have to invade the space of the audience a little bit. I learned that early on. It was a very helpful thing to learn. You have to invade them just a little bit. Not too much, because then it’s obnoxious. But you can’t be short of them either, or you won’t control them."

"They have a lot of very good technology. That’s what really appealed to me about it. It’s not faith-based. It’s all technology. And I’m obsessed with technology."
To read the whole article: http://parade.com/

Philadelphia Inquirer story on Rescue Workers' Detox Project

A friend sent me this recent Philadelphia Inquirer story on this project.

It is a detox program that was created specifically for the thousands of 9/11 rescuers who have experienced terrible health problems as a result of inhaling/ingesting toxic gases and dust during their rescue work.

How horrifying that THESE people, the ones who were the most heroic after that event, have lived every day for the last six years with the symptoms they describe in this article. How horrifying that many have died as a result.

Whatever you think about Mr. Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch, he deserves every kudo, particle of admiration and expression of thanks for not only creating this program, but also staying with it and keeping it funded so it can be available AT NO COST to all 9/11 rescuers.

Here is the link to the Philadelphia Inquirer story: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/gallery/20071007_Clinics_results_make_9_11_responders_believe.html Be sure to click on the "related stories" link, just under the sauna photograph. These are the personal stories of several graduates. Amazing. Heartwarming, and heartbreaking, all at the same time.

Here is a link to the Detox Center itself: http://nydetox.org/