Saucer Smear - Vol 30 No 09 - 1983

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 30, No. 9
Date: November 20th, 1983
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Type: Non-Scheduled Newsletter

Gala Fall UFO Party and Editorial Moves

The issue opens with an announcement for the "GALA FALL UFO PARTY" scheduled for Saturday, December 3rd, to be held at the editor's "palacial estate" in Guttenberg, N.J. The announcement humorously details bus routes from New York City and mentions that the editor has sold his building and will be living part-time in Key West, Florida, where he also plans to sell ancient pre-Columbian artifacts. The Fort Lee, N.J. post office box will remain valid, and "Smear" will continue to be published on a non-scheduled basis.

Tid-Bits of Trash

This section includes brief notes and reader correspondence. Harry Levelson, a former OMNI writer and UFO researcher, has moved to Florida and can be reached via P.O. Box 19-0958, Miami Beach, Fla. 33119. An anonymous threat note was received, postmarked De Pere, Wisconsin, but was deemed a "kindly joke." The editor mentions having a copy of "UFO Contact from Reticulum" by William J. Herrmann and Wendelle Stevens, which they intend to review. Loren Coleman's new book, "Mysterious America," is also noted, published by Faber & Faber.

"Saucer Smear" Attends a Real (?) Honest-to-Goodness Scientific Conference

The editor recounts his experience attending the first annual conference on "Science, Skepticism, and the Paranormal" in Buffalo, New York, sponsored by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). The conference, held at the State University at Buffalo, featured lectures on topics such as "Paranormal Health Cures," "Why People Believe: The Psychology of Deception," and "Animal Mutilations, Star Maps, UFOs, and Television." The audience and speakers were largely academics, including college professors and students, with a notable presence of amateur magicians. The editor highlights magician James Randi, who was a prominent figure, and mentions other speakers and attendees like Bob Sheaffer, Piet Hoebens, Dr. Gary Posner, and Marcello Truzzi. The article discusses the schisms within the skeptical community, with Truzzi leading the moderate wing and Klass and Randi representing the hard-liners. The editor notes that skeptics, like believers, seem to enjoy gossip and that they perceive the media as biased against them. The organizational structure of the conference is praised for its punctuality, with a bus service used to keep sessions on schedule.

Missives From the Masses

This section features letters from readers. One letter, attributed to "GRAY BARKER," discusses a "Black Curse of Klass," suggesting it's a powerful rune that could cause harm in ufology and demonstrates knowledge of Freemasonry, Allister Crowley, and the Illuminati. The writer suggests burning the issue or using meditation and reciting the "Ufologist's Creed" to counter it.

Erik Beckjord of the National Cryptozoological Society writes regarding Phil Klass, agreeing with his "curse" but emphasizing the need to continue searching for evidence. He notes a general wave of "despair and pessimism" in the field, suggesting that UFOs and other phenomena will resist scientific proof for a long time.

Gary P. Posner, M.D., writes to the editor, questioning the editor's use of terms like "Dreadful skeptic" and "dogmatic skeptic." He reiterates his desire to believe in UFOs but asks for persuasive evidence of the same quality required by physicists. He criticizes the editor's statement about Phil Klass's right to interpret evidence, arguing that it distorts the scientific attitude and endorses pseudoscience.

Budding author Ken Behrendt suggests that UFO skeptics' arguments about witness reliability and perception are a "smokescreen" hiding a "religious war between differing faiths," with believers ultimately holding the triumphant view.

Dave Schroth addresses a query about atmospheric factors causing optical illusions, confirming that they can make a light source appear to rotate or spin, citing examples like the "rotating lights of Japan" (Venus) and the 1957 saucer flap.

Further Correspondence and Commentary

Barry Hoffman writes about his ongoing efforts to "refine, develop and augment the Bjorkian Method of contacting the Space People," mentioning harassment from neighbors and plans to test the method in Manhattan's Times Square.

Kal K. Korff is seeking the original "Straith letter" to investigate who fabricated it, believing that modern technology can lift latent prints from old documents.

Greg C. Cushing provides updated information on the whereabouts of Wendelle C. Stevens, who is now residing in Tucson, Arizona.

Researcher John Barlow poses a mystery regarding John Keel's book "Our Haunted Planet," noting that a later "REVISED EDITION" appears to be identical to the original. He also mentions Keel's 1966 paperback "The Fickle Finger of Fate" and a character resembling Keel.

Captain William Nash defends his inclusion of Morris K. Jessup among "scientific men of competence," arguing that Jessup's past work, including telescopic observation of an eclipse, supports this. He also clarifies that he did not claim Jessup's and McDonald's deaths were mysterious, but that Hal Starr did.

George Earley comments on Captain Nash's remarks, stating that atmospheric propagation of sound is affected by wind and suggesting Nash should review basic sciences.

Tom Benson of "The Sixth Quark Journal" writes about the "Grenada saga" and suggests inviting Sir Eric Gairy to be a "guest of honor" at an upcoming event.

The Bjorkian Method Cartoons

Two cartoons illustrate "The Bjorkian Method." The first, inspired by a letter from Kris Bjork, depicts a man exclaiming "I'M READY FOR SEX!" and a woman responding with a technologically advanced explanation of procreation by fission. The second cartoon shows a man shouting "SAUCER LUST" and a woman in a spaceship stating, "ON THE PLANET WHERE I COME FROM, WE PROCREATE BY FISSION. SO, WHY DON'T YOU JUST SPLIT."

AIDS Kills Nun

A brief, unrelated item reports the death of a former nun from AIDS shortly after returning to Canada from Haiti, where she had been rehabilitating prostitutes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently features a blend of ufological news, personal anecdotes, and reader commentary, often with a skeptical or critical edge towards certain aspects of the UFO community and its detractors. The editor, James W. Moseley, maintains a distinctive voice, blending serious reporting with humor and a willingness to engage with both believers and skeptics. Recurring themes include the nature of evidence in ufology, the motivations of skeptics, and the ongoing debate surrounding various paranormal claims. The magazine appears to encourage open discussion and a critical examination of the subject matter, even when it involves challenging established figures or ideas within the field. The editorial stance is one of critical inquiry, often using satire and wit to explore complex topics.