Saucer Smear - Vol 38 No 06 - 1991

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 38, No. 6
Date: July 30th, 1991
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism. It includes a mix of news, personal reflections from the editor, updates on UFO conferences, book reviews, and letters from various individuals within the UFO and skeptical communities.

Miscellaneous Ravings

The editor begins by noting that a "DREADED X" on the envelope means removal from the mailing list unless a response is received, and that donations are welcome. He announces that back issues from 1983 onward are still available, but rights to periodicals before 1983 have been sold to Tom Benson in Trenton, N.J., who will provide a book list for $1.25. The magazine is also selling its soft-cover book, "UFO Crash Secrets at Wright Patterson Air Force Base," for $12.95, with a discount for autographed copies.

Upcoming Events and Conferences

The newsletter reminds readers about the upcoming 28th National UFO Conference (NUFOC) in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 13th-14th, with speakers including the editor, Tim Beckley, and others. Reservations can be made at the Holiday Inn/Cleveland Airport or through the United Aerial Phenomena Agency (UAPA). The editor also mentions attending Tim Beckley's conclave in Phoenix, Arizona, where contactee Howard Menger will be a speaker. Additionally, a strange event in Orlando, Florida, involving Pat Marcattilio, Walt Disney World, and MUFON, is noted for August 23rd-25th. A New Hampshire MUFON UFO Conference on September 29th will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Betty and Barney Hill abduction case.

Parapsychologist Stewart Robb

The issue reports the death of parapsychologist Stewart Robb of Anaheim, California, at age 81. The editor recalls knowing Robb for many years, including their shared appearances on Long John Nebel's talk shows. Robb is described as a brilliant, highly-educated man with interests in Nostradamus and classical music, particularly his exploration of Rosemary Brown's ability to play compositions in the style of classical composers, supposedly channeled from the "Other Side." Robb was a firm believer in an afterlife and conducted seances in his living room using a tape recorder. The editor recounts a specific session in 1973 where his daughter Betty, then about 10, made a statement that was followed by a whispered "She's a fake" and "It couldn't be true," which the editor found inexplicable, though he doesn't believe in spirits.

Book Reviews and Mentions

The issue mentions Bill Moore's book "UFO Crash at Roswell" and its supplement, "The Roswell Report: A Historical Perspective," noting that Moore has apparently made peace with the authors Kevin Randle and Don Schmitt, as well as Stanton Friedman. Howard Menger's new book, "The High Bridge Incident - The Story Behind the Story Released After 35 Years of Silence," is also recommended.

News Briefies

• Several brief news items are included:
• UFO researcher Bob Oechsler is on the editor's "Shit List" for failing to provide an article on Coral Castle.
• Jennifer Brown-Jacobs of the Portland (Oregon) UFO Group is distributing a report detailing life-threatening events affecting ufologists.
• The editor is donating approximately $75,000 worth of pre-Columbian antiques to the Fort Lauderdale Archaeological Society.
• Gene Steinberg's magazine "Caveat Emptor" has apparently folded.
• Five Avenger aircraft found off the coast of Florida are not the ones that disappeared in 1945, though another group claims to have found them elsewhere, possibly within the Bermuda Triangle.
• Ed Biebel has mysteriously dropped out of contention to become the Arizona State Director for MUFON.
• Harold Salkin, a New York City New Age pioneer, has ended a 2-year "slump."
• James David Moseley (unrelated to the editor) was denied parole in Georgia.
• Erik Beckjord and his companion are in England chasing crop circles, with Beckjord claiming to have found a volcanic formation on Mars resembling Senator Ted Kennedy.
• A contact is sought for individuals interested in UFOs with access to UNIX systems.

Letters to the Editor

This section features several letters:

• Phil Klass (CSICOP): Klass clarifies that his comments are personal views and not made as a spokesman for CSICOP. He explains that local/regional skeptic groups create their own organizations and bylaws independently of CSICOP. He addresses allegations made by some members of the Southern California Skeptics (SCS) against former SCS director Al Seckel, suggesting that if evidence exists, it should be submitted to California state authorities and the IRS, as CSICOP has no investigative powers. Klass also contrasts his own extensive career and recognition in "Who's Who in America" with Bill Moore's perceived lack of similar honors.
• Monty Cantsin: Cantsin criticizes Klass's "artistic sensitivity" and suggests he wouldn't recognize an Aztec sacrificial blood-receiving basin.
• Daniel Cohen: Cohen recounts a past dispute with Phil Klass that became "nasty." He advises against dealing with Klass, whom he considers irrational, and states he resigned from CSICOP because other "Fellows" privately agreed Klass was acting badly but wouldn't speak out publicly. Cohen questions why a "scorched earth policy" is pursued against those who disagree on UFOs and psi.
• Bill Moore: Moore responds to a lawyer named Gersten, questioning Gersten's competence and integrity, citing his work defending cocaine dealers and his alleged role in losing a Freedom of Information lawsuit. Moore also recalls Gersten's past promises to set up a UFO abduction study foundation and his theory that modern UFOs could be explained by Nazi technology. Moore recounts an incident in 1983 where he established a lawyer-client relationship with Gersten, only to hear the same information later on national television.
• Erik Beckjord ("Gashawk"): Beckjord criticizes Bill Moore for allegedly giving information to the government for free, which he claims damaged ufologists and led to Bennewitz being institutionalized. He questions why Moore is quoted and respected, calling him the "Charles Manson of ufology."
• Michael Dennett (Skeptic): Dennett notes that Al Seckel is no longer listed as a technical consultant for CSICOP and that his group seems to have been dropped, suggesting it would be fair to follow up on this.
• Jim Oberg: Oberg humorously refers to ufology as providing "slim pickings" for satirists, stating that "old dead horses are being beaten." He also admits he might have been wrong about the Kecksburg UFO case, suggesting it could have been a crashed Russian vehicle that the U.S. government encouraged a UFO interpretation for.

Other Contributions

• Martin Cannon: Described as seeing himself as "one Jew against a world of Nazi stormtroopers," Cannon draws connections and conclusions based on "weak tiny threads," and is perceived by some as thinking everyone is a Nazi agent.
• Timothy Good: The British UFO author thanks "Saucer Smear" for being the only UFO journal he reads cover to cover.
• Hilary Evans: Another British ufologist, Evans defends Jenny Randles against "persistent rumors," questioning the mental health of the rumor-mongers and defending Randles' reputation and contributions to UFO research. She highlights the support Randles received during the Friedman-Harris legal dispute as evidence of her standing.
• Jim Melesciuc ("Orbiter"): Melesciuc clarifies his previous comments on crop circles, stating he does take them seriously and is intrigued, but believes the evidence suggests they are created by natural phenomena, hoaxes, or other mechanisms, and lack similarity to older landing traces. He questions where the UFOs are that are supposed to be making them.
• John Ford (Long Island U.F.O. Network, Inc.): Ford denies any feud with William Knell, stating that the New York UFO Research Community, with LIUFON's assistance, is working to expose Knell. He claims Knell's organization is in shambles and that Knell fabricated evidence for the "Kissena Park UFO Landing Site" and the "South African UFO Crash."

Editorial Stance and Recurring Themes

This issue of "Saucer Smear" reflects a complex landscape of ufology, characterized by ongoing debates between proponents and skeptics, internal disputes within organizations like CSICOP, and the promotion of conferences and books. The editor, James W. Moseley, maintains a somewhat irreverent and critical tone, engaging with various personalities and controversies within the field. Recurring themes include the challenges of funding UFO research, the credibility of witnesses and researchers, the role of skepticism, and the personal rivalries that often characterize the ufology community. The magazine appears to serve as a platform for diverse viewpoints, even those critical of its own editor or contributors, as seen in the letters section. The overall stance seems to be one of open discussion, albeit with a clear editorial voice that is not afraid to express opinions and engage in criticism.