Saucer Smear - Vol 44 No 03 - 1997

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 44, No. 3
Date: March 20th, 1997
Publisher: OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism. It features a mix of editorial commentary, book reviews, reader letters, and news items related to UFOs and related phenomena.

Editor's Notes and Book Project

Editor James W. Moseley announces that he is in the process of writing a major UFO book with noted Roswell expert Karl Pflock. The book, tentatively titled "Shockingly Close to the Truth," will also feature cartoons by Matt Graeber. A contract has been signed, and publication is hoped for by the end of the year, which is declared "The Year of the Saucer."

Miscellaneous Ravings

Robert Todd's Technical Tracts

The newsletter highlights the work of UFO researcher Robert Todd, who has published seven technical tracts primarily focusing on the Roswell Incident and MJ-12. Due to their technical nature and Todd's abrasive personality, these tracts have not received widespread attention. Todd's latest publication, "The Spot Report: Bill Moore and the Roswell Incident: The True Believers Deceived," examines three fake government documents from 1947 that were publicized by the Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR) and Bill Moore, who is suspected of being the forger. Stanton Friedman is also mentioned as being potentially duped by these documents. Readers are urged to contact Robert Todd for these tracts, with the seventh priced at $2.50.

Stanton Friedman and the MJ-12 Manual

An interesting tidbit concerning Stanton Friedman's book "TOP SECRET/MAJIC" is presented. The book discusses an alleged MJ-12 Operations Manual titled "Extraterrestrial Entities and Technology Recovery and Disposal." This manual references Area 51 in Nevada, which did not exist until around 1960, yet the manual was supposedly written in 1954. The editor questions whether the manual's authors possessed precognitive abilities or if remote viewing was involved.

Art and Research

David Huggins Exhibition

Ufological contactee and artist David Huggins of Hoboken, New Jersey, is exhibiting his work in a series of showings in New York and California. A black and white rendition of one of his paintings is featured on page 2. Inquiries about his paintings can be directed to Aarne Anton at American Primitive Gallery.

Kent Jeffrey's Recantation?

In 1994, Kent Jeffrey authored "The Roswell Declaration," a petition to get the government to admit the Roswell Incident was of extraterrestrial origin. Rumors suggest that Jeffrey has since "recanted" and no longer believes in the premise of his declaration. Further details are expected in the MUFON Journal or Phil Klass's SUN Newsletter.

Dr. Steven Greer's Initiative

Dr. Steven Greer of CSETI is planning a conclave of knowledgeable UFO witnesses to testify publicly about their experiences in the early Spring of 1997. This initiative stems from his lack of response to letters sent to government officials and agencies. Witnesses are reportedly free to violate security oaths.

James Randi and Magicians

James Randi and other magicians are reportedly horrified and enraged because magician Herbert Becker is exposing the secrets of their professional magic tricks on talk shows. This is seen as revenge for magicians' refusal to believe in psychic phenomena.

Critiques of Remote Viewing

Courtney Brown Scolded by Peers

A critique of remote viewer Courtney Brown's work, published on the Emory University Web Site on January 25th, is discussed. Scott Lilienfeld, an assistant professor of Psychology at Emory, defends Brown's academic freedom but criticizes his book "Cosmic Voyage." Lilienfeld states that the book lacks scientific data and consists of unverified subjective experiences, neglecting to mention critiques of remote viewing by Ray Hyman and the findings of a government-appointed scientific panel that concluded evidence for its operational value is unavailable.

Lilienfeld recounts challenging Brown to a simple controlled experiment to test his psychic abilities, which Brown refused, citing that such tests are "old hat" and that he did not want to "drag Emory" into controversy. Lilienfeld finds this rationale disingenuous, as Brown uses his Emory affiliation to lend legitimacy to his work.

Further Remote Viewing Critiques

Richard Elkin, Co-Director of "Hoosier UFO Forum," shares his experience attending a Courtney Brown lecture. Elkin found Brown's presentation of Scientific Remote Viewing (SRV) to be unconvincing, with tales of psychically following UFO occupants and claims about the Federation of Planets. Elkin concludes that SRV is of little value to UFO research due to its unverifiability.

Jeffrey King of Houston, Texas, provides a follow-up on Courtney Brown's claims regarding a "Saturn-Like-Object" (SLO) allegedly accompanying Comet Hale-Bopp. Brown claimed a noted astrophysicist would confirm the SLO's existence and provide photographic proof. However, Dr. David Tholen of the University of Hawaii identified the presented photo as a doctored image of Hale-Bopp. Both Art Bell and Whitley Strieber, who had endorsed the photo, reportedly now agree it is a fake.

Upcoming Events and Book Reviews

UFO Conventions

Announcements are made regarding upcoming UFO events:

• National UFO Conference (NUFOC): To be held in Springfield, Ohio, on September 6th. Local co-sponsors are Don Weatherby and Wendy Ban.
• 50th Anniversary Festival at Roswell, New Mexico: Scheduled from July 1st through July 6th. The editor plans to attend.

Books Worth Browsing

• "Left at East Gate: A First-Hand Account of the Bentwaters-Woodbridge UFO Incident, its Cover-Up and Investigation" by Larry Warren and Peter Robbins is described as the definitive work on the late 1980s UFO incidents at Bentwaters, England. The publisher is Marlowe & Co. The book is listed as non-fiction, with "Uncorrected Proofs" available and the official release due in May. The editor expresses skepticism about Warren's story, particularly the question of why he, as a military policeman, was informed of secret ET contact.

• "The Official Alien Abductee's Handbook: The Ultimate Self-Help Guide for the New Millennium" by Joe Tripician and "The Alien I.Q. Test: Are We Up to the Challenge?" by Clifford Pickover are mentioned as two May manuals that might ease the strain of forced introductions with aliens.

Reader Contributions and Opinions

Gail Aggen on Asteroids and Tribulation

Poetess Gail Aggen of Kansas City writes about the current media attention on asteroids and wonders if organizations like the NSA and Majestic 12 have an "inside track" on potential impacts. She relates this to a verse in the Book of Revelations describing a "great mountain burning with fire" being thrown into the sea.

Phil Klass's Questions

Jovial old Phil Klass poses two questions: (1) Is "Saucer Smear" improving, or is old age affecting his faculties? (2) If it is improving, is it because the editor is trying to make it the best UFO newsletter, an objective Klass deems hopeless compared to SUN Newsletter.

Klass also expresses interest in signing up for a "remote viewing" course with Ingo Swann, specifically to "remote view" a photography session for the "Victoria's Secret" catalog.

Christopher Allan on the Millennium

Christopher Allan of England corrects the editor on the start date of the third millennium. He explains that the Christian Calendar, established by Dionysius Exiguus, has a miscalculated date for Christ's birth, placing the new millennium's start incorrectly. He suggests that based on the accepted birth range of Christ (7-4 B.C.), the new millennium has already begun.

Letters Regarding Colonel Phillip Corso

• George Knapp, a TV personality and UFO lecturer, shares his impressions of Colonel Phillip Corso. Knapp met Corso in 1992 and was impressed by his background after an investigation. He believes Corso will be a significant whistleblower, but his claims will be difficult to prove, and labels him as "highly-evolved" rather than a "bullshit artist."
• Bill Moore, a Roswell authority, expresses a similar opinion to Karl Pflock regarding Corso, calling him an "opportunist" and comparing him to Al Bielek or Bill Cooper. Moore notes that ufology should be happy to have "another kook to fawn over."
• Herbert Taylor, a Roswell researcher, states that Karl Pflock's re-evaluation of the Glenn Dennis story has removed the last obstacle to definitively dismissing the Roswell Incident. Taylor believes there is no credible witness testimony for an "Impact Site," alien bodies, or spacecraft, calling it a "Great Myth of the Space Age" spawned by Mogul balloon debris found by 'Mac' Brazel.

Tim Brigham's Concerns

Tim Brigham of Gulf Breeze, Florida, writes to demand that "Saucer Smear" cease and desist using his copyrighted phrase "The Devil's Advocate." He also notes that a web search for "Saucer Smear" led to the "Gay Guide to Key West," where Rose Lane Gardens was listed under businesses that are "gay owned and operated or gay friendly."

George Earley on UFO Books

UFO writer George Earley concurs with Dick Hall's list of "bad UFO books" and suggests "Saucer Smear" run a contest for readers to submit their candidates for the Ten Best and Ten Worst UFO books of all time.

George Hansen on Children's UFO Books

Psychic researcher George Hansen alerts readers to Larry Kettelkamp's new book "ETs and UFOs: Are They Real?" published for junior readers. The book covers various cases and is dedicated to Pat Marcattilio, whose "UFO/ET World Traveling Museum and Library of Scientific Anomalies" is listed as a source of information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Saucer Smear" maintains a critical and often skeptical stance towards many UFO claims and personalities, while also promoting its own book project and upcoming events. The editor, James W. Moseley, frequently injects his personal opinions and humor into the articles and reader letters. There is a strong focus on debunking or questioning the credibility of certain UFO researchers and their claims, particularly concerning the Roswell Incident and remote viewing. The newsletter also serves as a platform for promoting UFO conferences and books within the ufology community. The editorial stance appears to be one of rigorous investigation, often bordering on cynicism, towards unsubstantiated claims, while still engaging with the broader UFO subject matter.