"The Ultimate Adventure," Chick Corea (Concord)

Inside Bay Areahas this review of Chic Corea's latest album, being released this weekend:

Muses come in all forms. Chick Corea's current one comes in the shape of L. Ron Hubbard, the creator of the self-improvement movement known as Dianetics and the founder of the Church of Scientology.

Corea, a 12-time Grammy winner and recently named NEA Jazz Master, first mined the Hubbard oeuvre for inspiration on 2004's concept album "To the Stars." Regardless of what one thinks of the controversial author, as well as such famous followers as Tom Cruise, "To the Stars" was certainly a solid effort that featured Corea leading his reunited Elektric Band.

"The Ultimate Adventure" is certainly a trip. The pianist, who helped change the face of jazz as a member of Miles Davis' groups in the late '60s, blends flamenco melodies, North African grooves, Middle Eastern rhythms and straight-ahead jazz improvisation on this new album, which follows the career retrospective "Rendezvous in New York." Corea will support this record with a concert Saturday at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley.

Scientologists Seek Legal Status in Bulgaria

I found this article in Google news today. It comes from the Sofia news agency:

31 January 2006, Tuesday.

The Church of Scientology has moved to seek legal recognition in Bulgaria, a representative of the religious organization has revealed.

Martin Weightman, human rights director of the Church's European office, has revealed that they had already talked to a member of the Bulgarian government.

Weightman told Sofia-based Darik radio that a "good dialogue" has been held, and that the Scientologists were willing to cooperate with the local authorities.

Bulgaria has once turned down a request to register the Church of Scientology, in 1991.

But Weightman said that registration appeal was not made by the Church, but apparently by unidentified supporters.

Now that the legislation has changed, the Church hopes to face no hurdle in the procedure.

Scientology Church in the UK Taking Action Against Proliferation of Drugs

There is an interesting press release at http://i-newswire.com/pr54326.html about actions being taken in the UK to combat drug use.

There is more information on this campaign on the web site about Scientology activities in the UK.

Sussex and Scientologists

It's scenes like this that make Sussex such a wonderful place to live or visit.

Another wonderful thing about it, from my point of view as a Scientologist, is the presence of so much Scientology history in the town of East Grinstead.

Thousands of Scientologists from around the world converged on Sussex this weekend for the annual celebration of the founding of the International Association of Scientologists.

It featured news about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights and the Church of Scientology International Human Rights Office, including the Scientology European Human Rights Office in Brussels.

And all in the most beautiful environment on earth!

Sites like this are commonplace in Belgium. What a beautiful country.

The Church of Scientology International has a European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office in Brussels, and I had the opportunity to stop in and see it on my last trip to Belgium.

It's very exciting to see the wonderful work the Scientology religion is doing to combat drug abuse, illiteracy and crime and to forward human rights.

Europe is, obviously, one of the world superpowers, and influencing the EU and its member states to make positive social change and to improve its stance on human rights is a very worthwhile activit