Saucer Smear - Vol 41 No 04 - 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 41, No. 4
Date: May 15th, 1994
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism, featuring an interview with ball lightning researcher Bob Golka, discussions on psychic phenomena, reviews of UFO books, and commentary on various UFO-related events and personalities.

"SMEAR" Interviews Bob Golka, The King of Ball Lightning!

The lead article introduces Bob Golka, a scientist fascinated by ball lightning since the late 1960s. Golka believes ball lightning, a natural electrical phenomenon, is a distinct state of matter that is not yet fully understood by physics. He is dedicated to producing it artificially, having transcribed Nikola Tesla's unpublished notes from 1899, where Tesla created 1.5-inch balls of ball lightning. Golka has experimented extensively with Tesla coils, and currently uses sophisticated U.S. Government-funded equipment to produce balls of lightning lasting up to 3 or 4 seconds. He operates at 2,500 amps and 20 volts, with plans to increase amperage significantly. The practical value of this research, Golka suggests, lies in its potential to unlock fusion power, an energy source that could provide mankind with energy for millions of years. The article notes that fusion research has been slow, but ball lightning offers a new approach, and Golka hopes his work might lead to a Nobel Prize. The magazine has known Golka since the late 1960s and wishes him well.

Psychic Metal Bender on the Loose!

This section details experiences with psychic metal bending. The editor recounts a private demonstration by Uri Geller in Miami, where Geller bent a spoon with a light touch. The article then introduces Lea Boldt, a German woman who prefers bending forks, stating spoons are "too easy." Boldt has a background in psychic ability and a UFO experience in Germany. She became interested in metal bending after attending a workshop at a UFO conference. Boldt claims a special power comes over her, enabling her to bend forks, even twisting stems into tight loops, which she has demonstrated to the editor multiple times. The article suggests that while it may be psychic power, it could also be a learnable technique. Lea Boldt is scheduled to give a workshop on metal bending at an upcoming UFO convention.

Miscellaneous Ravings

This section covers a variety of topics and commentary:

• Hoax Letters: Two hoax letters are discussed. The first is from "Col. Michael Aquino," containing harsh criticisms of figures like Russ Estes, Jim Dilettoso, and Erik Beckjord, accusing them of various psychological and personal problems. The second hoax letter was sent to UFO skeptic Jim Oberg from "Department of the Air Force; Headquarters United States Special Projects Agency; Groom Lake, Nevada," signed by "Larry G. Shockley, Col., USAF-SPA." This letter compliments Oberg's "debunking" work and invites him to Groom Lake to assist as a "Damage Control Specialist" due to increased attention on "Advanced Alien Technology."
• John Mack's Book: The release of Harvard psychiatrist John Mack's book, "Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens," is noted. The article mentions a New York Times Magazine article about Mack, highlighting his Pulitzer Prize and suggesting his book will be taken seriously. Phil Klass is quoted as dismissing the book. A Time Magazine article is also mentioned, detailing how a woman infiltrated Mack's circle as a fake abductee.
• August C. Roberts: The passing of UFO pioneer August C. ("Augie") Roberts on April 9th, 1994, at age 73, is reported. Roberts was known for a UFO photo taken in 1952 and another showing a possible UFO over the Hudson River. He was also one of the original "three men" active in Albert K. Bender's International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB). Roberts remained in touch with Bender until recently, but Bender refused to discuss the UFO mystery.
• Book Reviews:
• "Watch the Skies: A Chronicle of the Flying Saucer Myth" by Curtis Peebles is favorably reviewed, with the author having placed markers in the text to highlight mentions of the editor. The use of the word "myth" is noted but considered acceptable as it can mean "popular belief or tradition."
• Len Stringfield's "Status Report VII" from his "UFO Crash/Retrieval" series is discussed. Stringfield believes the Roswell case will be credible as new sources emerge and expresses confidence in the testimony from his previous reports, though he doubts the government will confirm the Roswell crash.
• A new book by Kevin Randle and Don Schmitt, "The Truth About the UFO Crash at Roswell," is mentioned as a successor to their previous work, promising new witnesses and theories.

News Briefies

• Bill Moore: Reports that "Far Out" Magazine has folded, but Moore's Fair-Witness Project ("Focus") is returning.
• "Pursuit" Magazine: This Fortean magazine has not appeared in years, and its editor refuses to disclose the date of the last issue or the reasons for its hiatus.
• Editor's Travel: The editor is heading to Clarksburg, West Virginia, for a documentary on Gray Barker, and then to San Diego for Tim Beckley's convention.
• Pat Marcatrillio's Congress: The "5th Great UFO/ET Alien & Abduction Congress" near Trenton, NJ, was a "fiasco," with two main speakers (John Keel and Tim Beckley) failing to appear and low attendance.
• "Classified Communications": A March 1994 issue features an article on "The UMMO Affair," described as a strange and complex UFO-related event from the 1970s, mainly from Spain.

Letters to Ye Olde Editor

• August C. Roberts: In his last letter, Roberts mentions health issues requiring him to stay in bed and expresses appreciation for "Saucer Smear" keeping him informed. He also notes the absence of reporting on "The Amusing Randi."
• Robert Anton Wilson: Recommends Jacques Vallee's "Revelations," finding Vallee's arguments about UFO phenomena and government deception plausible. Wilson also considers the "Rich Lunatic Hypothesis" (RLH) as an explanation for various phenomena, suggesting that wealthy individuals might finance absurd theories for amusement.
• Bill Moore: Comments on the new Roswell books by Schmitt and Randle, expecting them to be "shot down."
• Brian Parks: Corrects Christopher Allan regarding the Roswell teletype, stating that a line about "no further investigation being conducted" is a standard FBI referral, not related to the Army Air Force. Parks refers to multiple FBI documents and notes disputes between the FBI and rival intelligence agencies.
• Robert Douglass: Suggests that the editor should embrace "false and misleading info." as it adds to the "Moseley mythos" and "legend of Gray Barker," and questions why the editor wants to avoid stirring up neurotics.
• Walter Rogers: Agrees with the editor about John Keel's inaccuracies regarding the origin of the crashed saucer myth, attributing it to Frank Scully.
• Phil Klass: Questions the fairness of TV show producers in balancing UFO skeptic guests with pro-UFO guests, posing the question of whether air time should be equal or proportional to the number of guests.
• Gary P. Posner, M.D.: Responds to a critique of John Merrell regarding alleged "psychic" Noreen Renier, offering his own chapter on Renier for a new book.
• Michael Dennett: Praises the cartoons and notes the shift in the back page content from Stanton Friedman to a "parody of 'SUN' and a satire of CSICOP."
• Monty Cantsin: Makes several humorous observations, including questioning Stanton Friedman's grant for a basement nuclear lab, suggesting Khalid Mohammed sue Robert Anton Wilson for comparisons, and inquiring about Barbara Becker's knowledge of Bob Lazar's brothels.

Subliminal Vision Expert & Bigfoot Hunter Erik Beckjord Writes

Bejckjord reports on his visit to Nevada and the fringes of Area 51. He notes that "Old Faithful," a possible UFO under testing, has seemingly stopped flights at 4:50 a.m. on weekdays due to publicity. However, flights continue over the Jumbled Hills and can be seen with night vision devices. He observed several UFOs taking 30-minute flights covering 15 miles. Security guards patrol roads without lights, suggesting they use night vision. Rumors indicate guards could be fired if they are subpoenaed to court regarding Area 51 encounters. Beckjord also mentions a new book, "Crop Circles Apocalypse," which shows time-lapse photos of hoax crop circles, leading him to state that no crop circle is valid unless witnessed being made.

Author-priest is fired for not believing in God

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Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a stance that is critical of skepticism, particularly figures like Phil Klass and CSICOP, while often giving credence to UFO phenomena and researchers, even those with controversial claims. There's a strong emphasis on investigative journalism within the ufology field, with a focus on debunking hoaxes and uncovering what the editors perceive as the truth. The magazine also seems to have a long-standing relationship with many figures in the UFO community, as evidenced by the numerous letters and mentions of past interactions. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs and related phenomena, often challenging mainstream scientific or skeptical viewpoints. The inclusion of humorous cartoons and personal anecdotes suggests a desire to engage readers on multiple levels, maintaining a tone that is both serious about the subject matter and aware of its sometimes eccentric nature.