Saucer Smear - Vol 32 No 06 - 1985

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 32, No. 6
Date: July 25th, 1985
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of SAUCER SMEAR, a non-scheduled newsletter, delves into various aspects of ufology, book reviews, personal anecdotes, and skeptical analyses. The publication maintains a critical yet engaged tone, characteristic of its editor, James W. Moseley.

Miscellaneous Ravings

The "Miscellaneous Ravings" section begins with an item about a book titled "Mount Shasta, Home of the Ancients," edited by non-subscriber Bruce Walton. The book, published by Health Research, features a chapter (Chapter Two) that was reprinted with permission from "Jim Moseley's Book of SAUCER NEWS" (1967). This chapter, originally titled "The White Man's Legends of Mt. Shasta," appeared in SAUCER NEWS circa 1955 under the pseudonym Richard Cohen. The editor clarifies that the material was actually "borrowed" from an older, unremembered book about Mt. Shasta. The review notes that "Mount Shasta, Home of the Ancients" has 25 chapters and over 130 pages, and quotes the book's forepiece: "All of these stories may not agree together, yet in every one of them lay hid something of the truth, a grain of gold in the ore of fable that might be found by him who had the skill and strength to look."

Next, the editor thanks Timothy Green Beckley for a poster from his hard-core pornographic movie "Driller." The editor expresses intrigue at Beckley's ability to run a successful business from both ends of the moral spectrum, being the editor of "UFO Review" and involved in "Global Communications." Beckley is quoted as saying, "I just give them what they want." The piece notes that Beckley has called Moseley "negative" but that they have no quarrel, with Beckley remaining a member of the Permanent Organizing Committee of the National UFO Conference (NUFOC), of which Moseley is Permanent Chairman.

The issue then presents predictions from the National Enquirer's "leading psychics" for the second half of 1985. These include an earthquake in Peru exposing an ancient UFO, Hugh Hefner becoming a born-again Christian and turning his mansion into a religious retreat, disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, a mermaid discovery in California, Princess Stephanie of Monaco posing nude for Playboy, astronauts seeing a ghost on the space shuttle, and the ghost of Steve McQueen haunting his ranch. For flying saucer fans, the juiciest prediction is that a Colorado TV news crew will capture a spectacular UFO on film, convincing experts that extraterrestrials are real.

UFO Theory and Airport Stress

An item from Ashtar Herron Lee presents a theory that people near airports may be misidentifying conventional planes as UFOs, and that a significant portion of "normal" air traffic actually consists of UFOs. Lee suggests this is why many air traffic controllers experience stress, drink, take drugs, or attempt suicide, as they "know what's going on, can't do anything about it." Lee claims these UFOs are "Pharae," "Fairies," "angels," or "elementals," and that he is their ruler, or "pharon pharae," though he has trouble controlling them.

Moseley Fights to Stay on Map

A brief AP report notes that mapmakers omitted Moseley, Oklahoma, from the 1984 state map, prompting town "official envoy" Jay Hannah to advocate for its inclusion.

Pine Bush Teacher May Be Spaceman

A cartoon depicts a conversation where one person says, "Boy! I'm glad you're still awake. I was captured by a UFO and taken to another planet."

Social Page

The "Social Page" features a photograph of researchers at a dinner party hosted by Dr. Thornton Page, a former NASA scientist. Attendees include Jim Oberg, Dr. Page, a "weird space creature" (a life-sized doll brought by Oberg), and the "humble 'Smear' editor." Astronaut Karl Henize and the wives of the participants are noted as missing from the photo. Another photo shows an entity dubbed "Swimming Pool Man" next to a pool in Fort Lee, N.J. The page also includes a story about Rev. Mosley (not the editor) being jailed for failing to remove junk from his home.

News Briefies

This section covers several short news items:

• John Anthony/Gilbert Ziemba: UFO researcher "John Anthony," alias Gilbert Ziemba, has apparently died suddenly. He recently started a zine called "The UFO Forum Newsletter." Ziemba had served prison time but had gone "straight."
• Gay Bigfoot in China: The "National Examiner" reports on a gay Bigfoot in China, nearly 8 feet tall and weighing 350 pounds, caught molesting boys. It allegedly escaped after being captured.
• Astronaut Karl Henize: A "Press-Time FLASH" reports that Karl Henize's space shuttle flight was aborted on July 13th, requiring a delay of at least another week.
• Joseph Newman's Invention: An article from the Charlotte Observer discusses Joseph Newman's invention, which reportedly produces more energy than it consumes. Despite a successful demonstration to newsmen and engineers in Washington, the patent office shows no serious interest.
• Sex in Outer Space: A "Psychology Today" article predicts that by 1992, "intimate behavior" between males and females will be expected in the USA's first permanent space station.
• NUFOC Convention: The next National UFO Conference (NUFOC) annual convention is expected to take place the second weekend of June, hosted by Hal Starr of Phoenix, Arizona.

Testicles Endangered by Break Dancing

A brief article by G. TIMOTHY JOHNSON, M.D., warns that break dancing can cause injuries. A caption under a photo of a Bigfoot states: "MILD-MANNERED Bigfoot has more than passing interest in young boys."

Letters to Ye Olde Editor

This section features correspondence from readers:

• Bob "Raving Robert" Schiller: Questions Moseley's decision to expose the Ricklesham Forest case, suggesting it might put "Smear" out of business. He criticizes CSICOP for being "hot on squelching UFOs" and questions why Klass, Sheaffer, and Oberg focus on tabloid claims. Schiller believes CSICOP is paranoid and that people who believe tabloids are "real fruitcakes."
• Barry Greenwood: Co-author of "Clear Intent," Greenwood comments on the "RendleSHAM" review. He notes that the "Probe Report" article focused more on British investigators than the case itself, and that SCUFORI stated it was not their intention to investigate the sightings. Greenwood confirms the authenticity of a tape recording, corroborated by Col. Halt and Lee Spiegel, and states it aligns with the Halt memo. He also discusses Larry "Art Wallace" Warren's initial reticence to be identified with the case and clarifies that a quote attributed to him in "Sky Crash" was a "ridiculous exaggeration." Greenwood also mentions that voice stress analysis of TV tape recordings is unreliable due to extraneous signals.
• Blaine Hamrick: Argues against Moseley's dismissal of the Rendlesham Forest case, suggesting the British authors might be "overzealous Ufologists." Hamrick proposes that the case might involve an unusual event, not necessarily a UFO, such as an accidentally launched nuclear missile. He states he has a contact under Col. Halt who assures him that "something happened which the military and Col. Halt in particular did not understand and became extremely concerned about." The editor's note dismisses RendleSHAM as "a very un-proven one."
• Wayne Aho: Responds to a previous bulletin, defending dowsing as a technique used by American forces in WWII. He contrasts his own experiences (Omaha Beach, D-Day) with those who "insult others" or are "into Events & Pioneering." He also corrects the spelling of a Chinook word and lists his military affiliations. He poses a rhetorical question about historical persecutors of figures like Columbus and Galileo, and quotes a proverb about knowing and not knowing.
• Greg Long: Expresses "convulsive terror" to a symbol in the latest "Saucer Smear" and begs forgiveness. He is involved in studying "Nocturnal Light phenomena on the Yakima Indian Reservation." Long finds the recent letters "boring" and misses the "anti-Klass letters" from previous issues. He describes Mr. Beckjord's writings as "paranoid and narcissism" and questions Moseley's shift towards skepticism, asking if he has "slid into your skepticism due to an avoidance of 'real-life' experiences with strong UFO cases." He looks forward to future issues and hopes his work on the Yakima Reservation will be well received.

The editor notes that investigating RendleSHAM "didn't work" to renew faith.

• Allen Benz: Shares graffiti overheard at MUFON '85: "I saw a disc up in the air / A silver disc that wasn't there / I saw some more such discs today / I wish the things would go away!"
• Lindy Whitehurst: Comments on Dr. James Oberg's suggestion that UFOs from Mexico might be drug smugglers. Whitehurst argues that UFOs exhibit sharp, erratic movements and bright lights, unlike the slow, constant movements and hidden lights of drug smugglers' aircraft. She finds Oberg's explanation lacking and notes that he has no doctorate.
• Ron Schaffner: Critiques the Roswell incident, calling it a "valid crashed saucer case" based on "second-hand testimony" after 38 years. He questions why it must be an extraterrestrial craft and why such incidents occur near White Sands Proving Ground. Schaffner suggests a terrestrial craft might have gone astray and concludes that if all crashed saucer stories are true, they are crashing at a higher rate than commercial airlines.

Institute of Fortean Studies (USA) Letter

Loren Coleman, Director of the Institute of Fortean Studies (USA), writes a letter to James Moseley. Coleman praises "Saucer Smear" as a scholarly journal that "opened a window to the psyche of ufology." He suggests that if mainstream magazines knew the "juicy gems" contained in "Smear," it could rival "The Weekly World News." Coleman shares an edited tidbit from his upcoming book, "Curious Encounters," about Moseley. He describes Moseley as "one of the foremost figures in ufology," whose "personal and folksy style has made his name a buzz-word in the field." He views Moseley as an "appealing and popular figure" who annually receives national recognition awards.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a consistent editorial stance of critical inquiry and skepticism, particularly towards claims that lack robust evidence or are presented without sufficient rigor. While Moseley acknowledges the importance of ufology and the contributions of various researchers, he is quick to challenge unsubstantiated assertions and expose potential hoaxes or misinterpretations. The publication encourages reader participation through letters, fostering a lively debate on UFO phenomena. Recurring themes include the analysis of specific UFO cases (like Rendlesham Forest), the exploration of alternative theories (such as Ashtar Herron Lee's), and the critique of skeptical organizations like CSICOP. The issue also highlights the intersection of ufology with popular culture, media, and even fringe predictions, demonstrating a broad, albeit discerning, interest in the unexplained.