Saucer Smear - Vol 30 No 04 - 1983

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Vol. 30, No. 4
Date: April 30th, 1983
Publisher: SAUCER SMEAR
Editor and Supreme Commander: James W. Moseley

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism. It features a collection of "Miscellaneous Ravings" and letters from various individuals involved in or commenting on the UFO and paranormal fields.

Miscellaneous Ravings

The editor, James W. Moseley, begins with a "FINAL WARNING" about the upcoming 1983 National UFO Conference (NUFOC) in Tucson, Arizona, providing contact details for local chairman Ed Biebel. He also reminds readers of the annual Spring UFO Party in Guttenberg, New Jersey, and gives his phone number for details. Another convention is mentioned at the Ramada Inn in Albany, New York, sponsored by the Scientific Bureau of Investigation, Inc. (SBI), with details available from Pete Mazzola.

The newsletter then touches upon Allen Greenfield of Atlanta, a former co-founder of NUFOC, who has written a booklet detailing his shift from belief to skepticism in ufology. The editor seeks a publisher for this work.

William Steinman, a West Coast investigator, is looking for Richard Miller, who channeled the "Solar Cross" tapes.

A somber note is struck with the announcement of the death of David Stupple, an associate professor of Sociology at Eastern Michigan University. Stupple, though a skeptic, was sympathetic to the UFO movement and was working on a sociological history of the subject. He had attended NUFOC conventions and was remembered as a kind person.

The editor expresses surprise at former Captain Jim Oberg appearing on ABC-TV's "The Last Word" as a "Soviet Space Expert." While acknowledging Oberg's erudition, the editor finds him too right-wing and fast-talking. The newsletter notes that some in the UFO field suspect Oberg of being a CIA agent, and "Saucer Smear" admits to having doubts, citing Oberg's home phone number ending in "00" as suspicious.

Finally, a Bigfoot story from "Weekly World News" is mentioned.

News and Reports

"Women's underwear drives computer crazy" reports on Russian scientists discovering that synthetic fibers in women's underwear disrupted a computer system. The solution was for women programmers to wear woolen undergarments.

"Organ to end 8-year silence" and "Christmas trees should be mutilated" are headlines from the "METRO" section of the Herald-Journal, dated October 23, 1981, but their content is not detailed in the provided scan.

"Cop in morgue swears: 'I saw a resurrection'" details an incident in Illinois where Clara Anne Woods, pronounced dead by two doctors, reportedly sprang back to life. Police detective Gary Wright claimed to have witnessed a resurrection, while hospital pathologist Dr. Stanley Bobowski called it a medical "fluke." Woods had fallen and experienced a state of unconsciousness, possibly due to mixing rings with alcohol.

"Human Skin, Nail Found in Juice" reports that a woman in New Maysville, Indiana, found a piece of human finger skin and part of a fingernail in a can of Stokley-Van Camp tomato juice.

Letters to the Editor

Bill Moore, a UFO author, writes about his observations of the circulation of Jim Oberg's books in metropolitan libraries, noting that they had seen little to no circulation, while books like "Philadelphia Experiment" and "Roswell Incident" were well-worn.

John Keel, writing as "Oliver T. Dufribble," expresses his annoyance with "Saucer Smear," calling its content boring and repetitive. He questions the relevance of Moseley's speaking engagements and criticizes the NOVA show for its low ratings and perceived unfairness to ufologists. Keel also comments on George Adamski, calling him a "wonderful old fraud," and suggests that contactee claimants are intriguing and should be studied. He also addresses Richard Ogden, implying he is the same person as "Mr. Ogden." Regarding the decline of UFO magazines, Keel states they have never sold well and are generally regarded as garbage by the public.

Jon Beckjord is mentioned in relation to a Bigfoot weight testing problem, similar to one faced by Ivan Sanderson in 1949.

Jeanne Dixon is mentioned as soon to reveal that herpes was introduced by beings from outer space.

Captain Bill Nash, a retired Pan American Airways pilot, responds to George Earley's criticism of UFO reports lacking sound, arguing that atmospheric pressure waves are not necessarily "blown away" by winds aloft and can be heard distinctly. He concludes by stating, "With my taste appendage planted firmly in my jowels, I remain - Bill Nash."

Ken Behrendt thanks "Saucer Smear" for printing his interpretation of the "Geller Effect" and for reviewing the book on Adamski, stating he will now avoid it due to the review. He emphasizes the need for minimum standards of credibility in ufology.

Piet Hoebens, a cartoonist and newsman from Holland, writes about "psychic attacks" and a Russian device that can allegedly turn western statesmen into "raving idiots" from a distance, using the Dutch cabinet for target practice.

Laura Mundo, a UFO researcher and authoress, thanks Moseley for his review of her book, "The Mundo UFO Report." She clarifies that she offered Barker the profits before publication and that her quarrel was with him as a publisher for printing the book as he saw fit. She discusses her "3½ dimensional theory" and mentions that her associate, James Wales, and his wife Marge, took out a second mortgage to fund the book's publication. She also states she has several unfinished manuscripts.

Barry Greenwood of MUFON writes that there is no government conspiracy regarding UFO data, citing a 21-page "Top Secret" affidavit from the NSA that was heavily censored. He suggests the government may be as baffled as the public and that CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy) exists to support efforts to find out what is going on.

Other Articles and Columns

"Worm Digging Cost Man Life" and "Fuel for city buses passes through two middlemen" are headlines from other publications mentioned at the end of page 6.

Jon Beckjord writes about his upcoming trip to Loch Ness in July to use new slow-scan video gear for Bigfoot research. He seeks companions for the expedition and mentions that Jim Moseley might also go. He also discusses his experience with the International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC), which he felt was afraid of bringing "public discredit" due to his espousal of "lunatic fringe" ideas. He notes that the ISC's journal and newsletter are good efforts, despite their dislike of Forteans.

Blaine Hamrick reports that the UFO scene is quiet, with no UFO-related activity for weeks, leading him to pursue hobbies like collecting license plates from other planets.

Arthur Goodtone writes about "X-Fleet vs. Triangle Fleet," describing Triangle craft and their effectiveness. He addresses Jim Moseley as "Commander of the X Fleet."

Gene Steinberg writes a letter to Jim Moseley, breaking his seven-year silence on UFOs. He reflects on past events that demonstrated the complexity of the UFO phenomenon, influencing researchers like John Keel and Jacques Vallee. Steinberg believes that if Jerry Clark no longer believes in paranormal UFOs, he is denying his own senses. He notes the decline in new ideas and the "tiring rehash" in the UFO field, challenging researchers to test their beliefs against the evidence.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a diverse range of perspectives within the UFO and paranormal communities, from believers and investigators to skeptics and critics. There's a recurring theme of questioning authority, whether it's government secrecy regarding UFO data or the perceived biases of scientific organizations. The editor, James W. Moseley, maintains a critical yet engaged stance, often injecting humor and skepticism, particularly regarding Jim Oberg and the general state of UFO research. The newsletter also highlights the challenges faced by independent researchers and the struggle for UFO literature to gain mainstream acceptance. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to question and investigate, while also maintaining a degree of critical distance from extreme claims or paranoia.