Oh they are shitting their pants. They're more or less still doing everything they did when I was there, although they've "improved" certain aspects of program to avoid problems with the five-oh.
It's been so much fun. They called the cops on us three times already. I'm beginning to think the cops are getting a little pissed off chasing down me for using a video camera but the hilarity on tape makes it all worth it.
I think they're giving up on the cops, though. They haven't called em on us today yet, but it's only noon so who knows. I'm mailing my tapes back to myself in VA for safe keeping in case the cops decide to confiscate em (When I asked if videotaping was illegal the cop told me "well.. we can confiscate the tapes and make that determination later as part of the investigation") FOR USING A FUCKING VIDEO CAMERA we got Four cop cars and a chopper. They even boxed us in. I've never had so much fun. I was laughing half the time, making sure to point out the absurdity of the situation to the officers present. One was a pretty nice guy but the others were total assholes. I don't think they really liked me either, not that I care.
The previous night there was a rumble at Del Taco while we were going through the drivethroughs (funny story if you have a fucked up sense of humor). Some kid was getting kicked in the head by a group of guys... The lady at the drivethrough didn't seem too shocked. After asking around it seems that such things are pretty much a weekly occurence. According to one girl they had guns the week previously. Anyway. For that incident, there were a grand total of two police cars and a fire truck. The response time was also much worse (as opposed to when they were called on us). I'm glad to see the Redlands police have their priorities in order. This town is a total shithole. You do NOT want to be on the streets here.
Oh. And they read Fornits. They tried to tell the cops they were "scared" and we were interfering with their website (good to know they're hurting, but they made it seem like a crime and tried to have us arrested). The cops asked me if I understood they might be spooked to which I responded: "I don't see that as relavant to the current situation. Either I've broken a law or I haven't."
I don't really mind them calling the cops on us. Every time they do I make sure to tell them all about Benchmark, hand out anti-cult literature, etc... Maybe the next time a student calls the program they won't be told to "follow the program".
All in all it does look like the program is hurting. It sure looks like there are far fewer "students" on average than there used to be. I'm pretty happy about that. We haven't even brought out the (metaphorical) big guns yet. I'm reluctant to speak more about that at the moment since staff reads Fornits but I can basically report that we've already accomplished our main goal in heading out here and the rest of the days will be spent rubbing salt in their wounds (metaphorically).
One of the main reasons I've done this is to show that it can be done, that simply with a sign, a video camera, and/or some creativity you can at the very least send staff into red alert. According to the cops they'll be putting out a restraining order on me within the next few weeks so it might be my last time down here (to which I just told them that somebody else would go in my place). I'll have to ask Richard Bradbury how he avoided that situation.
Anyhoo. Back to fun.
