Saucer Smear - Vol 44 No 02 - 1997

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 44, No. 2
Date: February 10th, 1997
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor and Still Supreme Commander: James W. Moseley, J.S.

This issue of Saucer Smear, the official publication of the SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY, offers a critical and often skeptical look at various UFO phenomena, events, and personalities within the field. The newsletter is characterized by its direct, sometimes blunt, editorial voice and its engagement with contemporary UFO research and controversies.

Roswell Update

The upcoming Roswell UFO Encounter '97 festival, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the alleged crash, is a major focus. The International UFO Museum has moved to larger quarters. The festival is expected to draw over 150,000 attendees and feature a UFO film festival, satellite broadcasts, and numerous speakers including William Shatner, Budd Hopkins, Whitley Strieber, Stanton Friedman, Linda Howe, John Mack, and Bob Dean. However, controversy surrounds the event, with long-time Roswell researchers Karl Pflock and Kevin Randle reportedly on a 'shit list' due to concerns about the festival's bias and commercialism. Jesse Marcel Jr., son of the original witness, will attend but not lecture.

Karl Pflock, in an email to Glenn Dennis, expresses strong skepticism about the Roswell crash narrative. Based on his research, he is certain that no flying saucer crashed near Roswell in 1947, suggesting the debris found by Mac Brazel was likely from Project Mogul. Glenn Dennis, considered the last major living civilian Roswell witness, is also being questioned, as his story about a nurse seeing dead alien bodies is being abandoned by some, including Kevin Randle, who plans to publish a book titled "The Decline and Fall of Roswell". Randle still believes in an extraterrestrial explanation for the incident.

UFO Country!

This section promotes the Roswell UFO Encounter '97 festival, detailing its dates (July 1-6), expected attendance (150,000+), and a wide array of activities including a UFO film festival, satellite video feeds, a celebrity-studded TV finale, poetry readings, Native American ceremonies, tours of alleged crash sites, global meditation, and a conference. It also provides contact information for the event and its website.

Project Awareness Conference

This is a brief announcement for the Fifth Annual Gulf Breeze UFO Conference, to be held March 21-23, 1997, with contact details provided.

Tidbits of Miscellaneous Trash

This section covers several smaller items:

• Cash-Landrum UFO Case: MUFON's John Schuessler is writing a book about the 1980 case involving two Texas ladies and a nephew who were frightened and harmed by a low-flying UFO. The author speculates it was a U.S.-made radioactive rocket device that went astray. The women sued the government for damages and lost.
• Faces on Mars: The mystery of the 'faces' on Mars is expected to be resolved by new probes. The author predicts the images will disappear as sharper pictures are taken, similar to how Martian 'canals' vanished. Researcher Erik Beckjord admits erosion might be the cause but calls it "guided erosion".
• Mimi Hynek's Death: The death of Mimi Hynek, widow of Dr. J. Allen Hynek (founder of CUFOS), is reported. She passed away in October 1996.
• Uri Geller: The newsletter notes another confirmation of Uri Geller's ability to make spoons bend, with the bending continuing after he has touched them.

A Jaundiced View of "Scientific" Remote Viewing

This lengthy article critically examines Courtney Brown, Ph.D.'s book "Cosmic Voyage" on Scientific Remote Viewing (SRV). The author questions the military's abandonment of RV due to unreliability and Brown's claims of its scientific nature. Brown alleges contact with Martians who have an underground base in New Mexico, and the Grays, as well as a Galactic Federation. The author suggests a test where Brown remotely views a football game and compares the results to a live description. The article notes that Brown's book is endorsed by Whitley Strieber and John Mack, who are scheduled to speak at the "Project Awareness" conference.

Ye Olde Mail Bag

This section features correspondence from various individuals:

• Whitley Strieber lists "Saucer Smear" as a top UFO researcher page on his website and challenges Moseley to a Macarena contest with Stanton Friedman to solve the MJ-12 controversy.
• Dr. Ellen Crystall accuses researcher Bruce Cornet of illegally using her research materials, including copyrighted videotapes and photographs, for a lecture without permission, calling it sex discrimination.
• Robert Anton ("Bob") Wilson expresses disgust with personal attacks in "Smear" regarding Earl Curley and James Randi, comparing them to CSICOP's tactics. He argues that scientific evidence, not personal character, determines the validity of theories like evolution or relativity.
• Chris Roth laments the death of Carl Sagan, noting his criticisms of abduction scenarios made him vilified. He also recounts a journalist's experience with Uri Geller, suggesting Geller's spoon-bending was a trick.
• John Alexander clarifies that information about the National Institute for Discovery Science is available on their website (www.accessnv.com/nids).
• Jerome Clark enjoyed Dick Hall's piece on bad UFO books but has a soft spot for books by Adamski and Barker.
• Don Webb announces his new book, "The Seven Faces of Darkness: Practical Typhonian Magic", focusing on Set-Typhon.
• Gary Hemphill states he has not seen any UFOs despite trying, and notes that women he knows are reading Courtney Brown's "Cosmic Voyage".
• John Shirley heard Stephen Greer speak about 'vectoring' UFOs using remote viewing and claims success, but offered no evidence. Shirley calls Greer a convincing speaker and a prevaricator, warning that Greer claims a government-connected group of experiencers will 'come out' soon.
• Monty Cantsin criticizes "Smear" for ignoring 'Guardian' when he was trying to get attention and for showing interest only after his disappearance. Cantsin suggests aliens attempt colonization in remote areas like the Amazon jungle and asserts that only the worst writers get published.

Other Mentions

• Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto, had a UFO sighting in 1952, described as a cylindrical object with lighted portholes.
• The newsletter mentions the George Adamski contactee movement and its newsletter "Update!" published by Jim Wales.
• The upcoming third millennium date (Jan. 1, 2001) is clarified.
• A comic strip, "ROBOTMAN", by Jim Meddick, is included.
• A cartoon depicts aliens visiting relatives for the holidays.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include skepticism towards sensational claims within the UFO community, particularly concerning the Roswell Incident and alleged alien contact. The editorial stance is critical, often questioning the motives and evidence presented by prominent figures. There is a strong emphasis on distinguishing between scientific evidence and speculation or commercial exploitation of UFO phenomena. The newsletter also highlights the ongoing research and debates within the field, featuring contributions from various researchers with differing viewpoints. The editor, James W. Moseley, appears to favor a more grounded, evidence-based approach, often expressing doubt about extraordinary claims unless rigorously supported.