Saucer Smear - Vol 47 No 08 - 2000

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 47, No. 8
Date: September 5th, 2000
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley
Contributing Editor: Karl T. Pflock

This issue of Saucer Smear, a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism, covers several significant topics including a lawsuit against James Randi, internal MUFON controversies, a review of a new book on the Roswell incident, and commentary on the seriousness of the UFO field.

James Randi Tries On A New Suit

The lead article details a libel lawsuit filed by Eldon Byrd against the well-known debunker James Randi and the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, stems from a public lecture Randi gave at Cal Tech on May 22nd, 1999. During the lecture, Randi read a statement explaining the infamous 'Blackmail Tape'. Byrd and his attorney argue that Randi's statement, which asserted that Byrd was behind a 'blackmail' attempt and that such blackmail 'is a crime', constitutes libel. This is further supported by Randi's earlier written assertion that Byrd 'launched a blackmail campaign' against him. The lawsuit is in the Discovery Process stage, requiring the exchange of interrogatories and documents.

Outrage Over John Carpenter's Ethics, Or Lack Thereof

This section reports on a controversy within MUFON involving John Carpenter, the Director of Abduction Research. Larry Bryant, MUFON's Director of Governmental Affairs, is upset because Carpenter allegedly sold 140 abduction case histories to Robert Bigelow of NIDS for $14,000. Bryant has called for the resignation of MUFON Executive Committee members and the Board of Directors, citing a cloud of impropriety and demanding a full explanation of who knew about the 'Carpenter Affair' and when, along with a public apology for downplaying the knowledge. Carpenter, a professional psychologist, claims the cases were not official MUFON cases and that his relationship with Bigelow dates back to 1995. His current wife, Debra, has defended him and threatened to sue Bryant. New MUFON czar John Schuessler has established an Ethics Committee to review the evidence against Carpenter.

Utter Gibberish Department

This section briefly mentions a lecture by Dr. Linda Corley at the 2000 MUFON Convention, where she discussed her research into symbols found on a beam from the Roswell crash site. Corley translated these symbols, using ancient writings and Latin, to roughly mean: "To go sail, fly, move from a point in time to take or carry away from some place -- toward first the point or goal at which anything arrives -- to be, exist, live, take place, happen and occur -- the mouth singing."

Roswell, The Musical

A professional theatrical production called "Roswell, the Musical" has been performed annually in Roswell, New Mexico, since 1998. The musical is loosely based on the 1947 interplanetary crash. The first act is reportedly true to the crash legend, while the second act deviates into an unrelated love story. The music is said to be good, and the play ends with a closing number where the sheriff appears partially dressed in his girlfriend's clothes.

News Briefies (formerly Tidbits of Trash)

This section provides a collection of short news items:

• Lawsuit Victory: Dewayne Johnson won a lawsuit against conspiracy author Kenn Thomas and Thomas' Adventures Unlimited publishing house for illegally reprinting Johnson's 1950 Master's thesis.
• Kenn Thomas: The publisher, Kenn Thomas, is mentioned as having expressed negative interest in publishing a book by Karl Pflock and Thomas.
• Soviet UFO Study: A Russian scientific journal summarized a 13-year study of flying saucers (1978-1990) by Dr. Yully Platov and Col. Boris Sokolov. Their conclusion was that while strange things are seen, they are insignificant and do not indicate extraterrestrial interference.
• Fate Magazine Article: The September 2000 issue of Fate Magazine features an article, "UFOs: 3-D or 4-D+?", by Karl Pflock and James Moseley, presenting their contrasting views on the UFO mystery. Another article by them is expected in the October issue.
• Roswell Artifact Claim: A New Mexico curio shop owner, David Shoemaker, claims to have acquired pieces of the True Saucer that allegedly crashed at Roswell, but the pieces reportedly come from a farm in Missouri. Shoemaker is a contender for a million-dollar prize offered by the International UFO Museum at Roswell.
• Historical Archives: Barry Greenwood and the Sign Historical Group (SHG) have compiled over seven thousand printed articles on unidentified objects dating back to the 1600s, covering UFOs, SETI, and other phenomena.

PFlock PTalk / "Hey, Ufrogs! Lighten Up"

Karl Pflock, the contributing editor, argues that ufologists take themselves too seriously, which is a primary reason they are not taken seriously by the public. He uses the metaphor of frogs in a pond to describe the self-important nature of many in the field. Pflock suggests that a good laugh at themselves is the best antidote for ufology's internal difficulties and its standing in the 'straight' world.

Book Review: The Roswell Encyclopedia

This section reviews Dr. Kevin Randle's forthcoming book, "The Roswell Encyclopedia." While acknowledging Randle's prolific output and his Ph.D., the reviewer criticizes the book's lack of objectivity, stating that the material is biased to conform to Randle's belief that the Roswell event involved an extraterrestrial craft. The review points out Randle's dismissive remarks about Professor Charles Moore and his discussion of Karl Pflock's past use of a pseudonym. The reviewer highlights Pflock's "Fortean Times" article, which argues that official US government records establish no physical evidence of UFOs before mid-1955. Randle is credited with rejecting some pro-interplanetary evidence, such as the MJ-12 documents and the alien autopsy video, but is criticized for his treatment of John Keel's theories and for downplaying the significance of the Project Mogul material. The review also notes Randle's admission that the Project Mogul material resembles the debris found by Mac Brazel, but argues it's not an exact match. The book's lengthy entry on Kent Jeffrey's statement is mentioned, along with Jeffrey's assertion that postulating complex technology from simple foil and beams is illogical. The review concludes by mentioning that Pflock's own expose, "Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe," will be published by Prometheus Press.

Missives From The Masses

• Christopher Allan (England): Challenges Bill Moore's claim that Dr. J. Allen Hynek was still a USAF consultant in the 1980s, requesting proof and suggesting Moore may be passing disinformation.
• Matt Graeber: Apologizes for misidentifying Dr. Ron Westrum and for inaccurately portraying Dr. Roger Wescott's research, thanking Robert Durant for pointing out the errors.

Reader Letters and Briefs

• George Hansen: Discusses Dr. Colm Kelleher's research on genetics and disappearance, citing Carlos Castaneda, and notes Kelleher's association with Robert Bigelow and NIDS. Hansen also mentions Alexander's doctoral work with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
• Dennis Stacy: Reports seeing seven "Great American Pelicans" in Wyoming, humorously contrasting them with UFOs, and notes that "Half the West is on fire, but otherwise things are normal here."
• Vincent Ditchkus Jr.: Expresses guilt for receiving the newsletter for free and impatience waiting for online updates, subscribing to the publication.
• Sam Enslow: Questions the lack of sensationalism (child molestation, bad checks, academic credentials) in the new 'Smear', wondering if the UFO field is becoming respectable or if its participants are simply aging.

An advertisement for "FOIL ALIENS BY SLEEPING ON YOUR TUMMY!" suggests sleeping on one's stomach to avoid alien abduction, citing a study that 97% of abductees were sleeping on their backs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include legal challenges to prominent figures in the UFO community (James Randi), internal organizational disputes (MUFON), critical reviews of UFO literature (Kevin Randle's book), and a general skepticism towards the more sensational aspects of UFOlogy, particularly in Karl Pflock's column. The editorial stance, as reflected in the content and tone, is critical, investigative, and often satirical, aiming to expose perceived flaws, controversies, and the overly serious nature of some UFO researchers. The publication appears to favor a more grounded, evidence-based approach while not shying away from controversy or humor.