Saucer Smear - Vol 49 No 10 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 49, No. 10
Date: December 1st, 2002
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY

This issue of "Saucer Smear" marks the final publication for the year 2002. The editorial content begins with a direct appeal to readers to renew their subscriptions, framed within a holiday greeting. The magazine then transitions into promoting several books related to UFO phenomena.

Featured Books and Publications

• "Shockingly Close to the Truth!": This book, by James W. Moseley, is still available for $25 plus $3 postage. It is described as having sold remarkably well.
• "Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe": Authored by Karl T. Pflock, this book can be ordered for $25 plus $3 directly from Pflock at his New Mexico address. A review from Publishers Weekly is included, highlighting Pflock's exhaustive research spanning eight years and his transformation into a skeptic.
• "UFO Crash Secrets at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base": This is described as a "little-known classic" by James W. Moseley. The second edition is still in print and available for $10, or $9 autographed, from "Smear" headquarters. The book reportedly details stories of crashed saucers, recovered ETs (dead and alive), and includes photos released by the Soviets allegedly showing an alien recovered from the Roswell wreckage.

Editorial Notes and Observations

The editor notes that the previous issue was printed on high-class glossy paper due to a printer's error, which made folding difficult and increased mailing costs. This will not happen again.

Tidbits of Trash

• Moon Landing Skepticism: The editor raises questions about the authenticity of the American Moon landings, referencing a forthcoming book by Jim Oberg of NASA, who is described as a UFO skeptic. The book aims to teach children how to deal with "strange claims." The article notes that a significant percentage of the population (up to 20%) are skeptical about the government's claims regarding the Moon landings.
• Bart Sibrel Incident: The issue recounts an incident where Bart Sibrel, who made an anti-Moon-landing film, confronted astronaut Buzz Aldrin, demanding he swear on a Bible that he had walked on the Moon. Aldrin reportedly punched Sibrel, and prosecutors declined to press charges.
• Linda Cortile Abduction: An article from "UFO Magazine" by Yancy Spence is highlighted, detailing the alleged abduction of Linda Cortile on November 30th, 1989. Spence, an employee of the New York Post, claims to have witnessed limousines and alien beings involved in the abduction.
• Pennsylvania UFO Incident: A follow-up to a previous report about a man allegedly killed by a UFO in Pennsylvania states that the official cause of death was a cocaine overdose. However, the article questions what happened to witnesses who saw the man dangling in the air, suggesting a possible cover-up.
• Dale Rettig's Visit: The editor mentions a visit from Dale Rettig, a former teen ufologist and San Francisco lawyer, who reminisced about past NUFOC conventions.
• Roswell Promotion: A November 22nd special about Roswell on a science-fiction channel is mentioned, which includes appearances by Karl Pflock and Kevin Randle. The promotion involved a press conference in Washington, D.C., aiming to gain the release of secret government records on UFOs.
• Kecksburg Incident: The Kecksburg, Pennsylvania incident of December 5th, 1965, is discussed as a legitimate unsolved case that the government later claimed was a meteorite. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a military truck hauling away an acorn-shaped metal object, possibly a Russian spacecraft.
• Steven Spielberg's "Taken" Series: A Steven Spielberg series called "Taken," based on the abduction syndrome, is set to air on December 2nd, described as a booster for a larger pro-UFO effort.
• Roswell Archaeological Dig: A 6-day archaeological dig at an alleged Roswell landing site, led by scientists from the University of New Mexico, reportedly found something surprising, though details are kept secret due to a contract.
• "The Roswell Crash: Startling New Evidence": The editor watched this TV program, which he found to be a re-hash with little new information. An anomalous furrow was found at the crash site, possibly caused by the "saucer," along with a piece of a weather balloon. The program concluded that final proof of an extraterrestrial crash is still missing.
• Gary McKinnon Hacking Case: A story from the London's Daily Mail details how Gary McKinnon, a Brit, hacked into top secret Pentagon databases from his home in an attempt to find information about flying saucers. He faces extradition to the U.S. on terrorism charges.
• William Levengood and Crop Circles: The issue touches upon "Doctor" William Levengood of BLT Research Team, Inc., and his work on crop circles and cattle mutilations. Levengood's doctorate from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is questioned, as NAS does not issue "degree equivalents." BLT's results have not been duplicated elsewhere.

PFlock PTalk / Is There a UFO Investigator in the House?

Karl Pflock presents a letter from a prominent ufologist who wishes to remain anonymous. The letter criticizes several well-known UFO writers, including Jerry Clark and Stanton Friedman, for allegedly making up UFO stories for profit and for lacking investigative work. The author suggests that Clark's contributions are primarily through his encyclopedias, while Friedman is accused of taking credit for others' work, such as Marjorie Fish's research on the Betty and Barney Hill case, and of "proclaiming" rather than investigating.

Brief Book Bashings

• "Nikola Tesla Journey to Mars - Are We Already There?": This book by Sean Casteel, published by Tim Beckley's Global Communications, explores Tesla's connection to Mars exploration and claims of secret societies and advanced technology. The book is available for $20, including postage.

Lettres to Ye Olde Editor

• Miller Johnson: Submits information about the "Face on Mars" in the Cydonia region, stating that high-resolution images from the 2001 Mars Global Surveyor have proven it to be a rock formation with shadows. He also mentions "Ahjac Surveyor Reproductions" and suggests that Martian entities or saucer craft crews have a "wry sense of humor."

Letters to the Editor and Contributions

• Dan Cohen: Responds to remarks made in the previous issue, clarifying his statements about a past incident and denying any mention of "hybrid babies." He reiterates that his description was about a "galactic cloud which altered human gene structure."
• Thomas Lee Curtin Jr. (MUFON Field Investigator): Expresses gratitude to the magazine and its contributors (Moseley, Pflock, Keel, Steiger) for influencing his interest in the paranormal. He advocates for an "ultradimensional theory" and a skeptical yet believing attitude in paranormal investigation.
• Tom Benson (Former MUFON New Jersey State Director): Discusses Bob Girard's theory that crop circles are "physical evidence left behind from man-made energy-beam experiments," suggesting U.S. and British collaboration in developing precision-controlled beaming technology, possibly microwave energy. He references a theory by Jean-Jacques Velasco about infrared beams creating crop circles.
• Stanton Friedman: Writes to correct an article about his participation in a Flatwoods event, stating that he spoke on both Friday and Saturday, not just Friday. He also details the contents and price of his "Blue Book Special Report #14" and criticizes the lack of on-site investigation by some writers.
• Anonymous Fan (Huntsville, Alabama): Reports strange happenings in Huntsville, including helicopter flights, lights in the sky, pet disappearances, and possible mutilations. Similar phenomena were noted in Gainesville, Georgia.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers a wide range of UFO-related topics, from alleged sightings and crash retrievals to skepticism and debunking efforts. There is a clear advocacy for investigating UFO phenomena, with a critical eye towards those who may be perceived as lacking in genuine fieldwork. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider various perspectives while maintaining a critical approach. The magazine also seems to have a long-standing commitment to its readership, as evidenced by the direct appeals for subscription renewals and the detailed discussions of past and ongoing UFO cases. The inclusion of letters from various contributors and the "mystery guest" column suggest an effort to foster dialogue within the ufological community.