Saucer Smear

Magazine Overview

Title: Saucer Smear
Issue: Volume 50, No. 1
Date: January 5th, 2003
Publisher: The Saucer & Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of "Saucer Smear", the official publication of The Saucer & Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society, begins its fiftieth year with a mix of news, commentary, and reviews on UFO phenomena and related topics. The cover boldly proclaims "SHOCKINGLY CLOSE TO THE TRUTH!". The editorial staff includes Editor and Still Supreme Commander James W. Moseley, J.S., and Contributing Editor Karl T. Pflock.

Semi-Important Notice

A "Semi-Important Notice" alerts subscribers that if the letter "X" follows their name on the envelope, they will be removed from the mailing list unless a "Love Offering" is received shortly. This encourages continued "non-subscription" to what is claimed to be the second-oldest UFO magazine on the planet, noting that the British Flying Saucer Bureau was founded a year earlier.

Flash: MUFON Headquarters Under Attack!

A "Flash" report details an incident from the December issue of the MUFON Journal, where the MUFON International Headquarters in Colorado was reportedly attacked on November 7th. A driver lost control of his pickup truck, crashing through the front doors and a plate glass window before fleeing the scene. The driver was later apprehended. The article questions if this could be part of a conspiracy to shut MUFON down, noting a significant decrease in their membership.

Tidbits of Trash

This section features "Tidbits of Trash," including a 27-page report on Utah's "haunted ranch," purchased by billionaire Robert Bigelow of NIDS. The report, written by George Knapp, details paranormal events, animal mutilations, UFOs, and strange creatures. It mentions the "Skinwalker" or "Shape Shifter" from Native American legends and a peculiar incident involving a bullet-proof wolf that was shot multiple times but remained unharmed. Readers can obtain a copy of this treatise for ten dollars.

A book titled "Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction" from the National Academy of Sciences is mentioned as having potential implications for UFO research, with the editors hoping for a review.

C'est La Guerre...

A small advertisement announces "An Evening of Clairuvance with Terry S. Wick," featuring a quote about not forgiving someone and hoping they join him in "excruciating monotony."

Valley Cover

This section highlights Judy Messoline's UFO Watchtower, located above a gift shop in Hooper, Colorado. The San Luis Valley is noted for its history of unexplained phenomena, including mutilated livestock. Ranchers are now reluctant to report such incidents to avoid attracting attention.

Dilbert Comic

A "Dilbert" comic strip is included, humorously depicting an alien offering advanced technology, only for the characters to decide to kill the alien and sell the autopsy video.

Mothman Convention and Local Legends

The first annual Mothman convention in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, is discussed, recalling the 1967 paranormal occurrences linked to the Mothman sightings and the subsequent collapse of the Silver Bridge. The article notes how towns have capitalized on local legends, citing Roswell, N.M., Aztec, N.M., "Bigfoot," and the Lake Champlain monster as examples. McMinnville, Oregon, is also mentioned for its famous UFO photos.

Editor James W. Moseley is scheduled to speak at the annual bash sponsored by the local library in Aztec, N.M.

Dr. Frank Stranges' Health

A form letter from Dr. Frank Stranges' wife, Julie, reports that both are unwell, with Dr. Stranges suffering from a persistent infection following an operation. He is described as a significant figure in the saucer scene since the 1950s.

"Taken" Sci-Fi Series

The editors express a general disinterest in science fiction but mention the ten-part sci-fi channel series "Taken" on UFO abductions. They were turned off by the first episode's fictionalization of the Roswell Incident, particularly its portrayal of the military's cover story about a "Mogul Balloon" crash, noting that the term "Mogul Balloon" was not publicly known until the 1990s.

Karl Pflock's 2001 book "Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe" is recommended for those seeking the truth about Roswell.

Ronald Mallett's Time Machine

Physicist Ronald Mallett at the University of Connecticut is developing a real-life time machine, capable of transporting particles or humans. An opponent is quoted as saying it's about trying to "amass all the matter in the universe into a very small region."

UFO Newsclipping Service and Animal Mutilations

Lou Farish's "UFO Newsclipping Service" is mentioned for its translations of Argentine newspapers detailing a series of animal mutilations, along with UFO sightings and a "small green drawf." Information on how to subscribe is provided.

Gray Barker Remembrance and UFO Field

The magazine frequently remembers its late ufological friend Gray Barker, who died in December 1984. The editors reflect on the possibility of forgetting these events as time passes.

Raelian Cult and Human Cloning

The Raelian cult's belief that life on Earth was created by aliens and their claim that the first human clone will be born from a female follower are discussed. The cult's headquarters are in Quebec, Canada, where they operate a theme park called UFOland. The claim has met skepticism, but the Raelians have resources. A laboratory in West Virginia was forced to close due to government warnings against human cloning experiments.

Brief Biased Book Reviews

Robert Anton Wilson's latest book, "TSOG: The Thing that Ate the Constitution," is reviewed. Wilson, described as a social philosopher on the fringes of the UFO movement, expresses unhappiness with the state of freedom in the US. The book's acronym stands for "The Tsarist Occupation Government." The magazine advises readers to purchase the book for $16.95.

Rick & Carol Hilberg's Booklets

Booklets published by Rick & Carol Hilberg of Ohio's United Aerial Phenomena Agency (UAPA) are mentioned. One booklet, "A Ufological Snapshot: 1980-1981," is based on a theory that "real" space visitors were active in the early 1940s and ceased major "flaps" by 1973. Hilberg believes the UFO phenomenon is still active, attributing the scarcity of sightings to lazy investigators and the internet.

Karl Pflock PTalk / Loose Cannons

Karl Pflock's column discusses the Roswell incident, questioning the role of Col. William H. "Butch" Blanchard and the credibility of witnesses Frank Kaufmann and Walter Haut. Pflock suggests that Haut may have promoted Kaufmann's tales despite knowing they were false. He references an interview with Major Jesse Marcel from 1979, where Marcel mentioned Haut contacting AP about the "crash-retrieval."

A sighting of a nearly-landed craft by a Kentucky housewife is mentioned, along with her husband also observing the object. The article notes that proof in such cases is usually limited to eyewitness accounts.

An "Other days" section from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette mentions a rumor of a "wild man" near Jim Allen's place in Heber Springs, Arkansas.

Missives From The Masses

Dr. Gary Posner of the Tampa Bay Skeptics organization writes about the "Face" on Mars, presenting a high-resolution photo and suggesting it should be viewed upside down to reveal its intended meaning as a sculpture of a human holding another entity.

Stanton Friedman responds to an anonymous critic, defending his involvement in UFO research, particularly regarding the Betty and Barney Hill case and his work on the MJ-12 documents. He lists his extensive speaking engagements and publications.

Dr. Bruce Maccabee reviews a book, finding it amusing and illuminating, though he disagrees with a chapter on Ed Walters & Gulf Breeze. He notes his own entry in the book as "the piano man" for providing entertainment at MUFON Symposia.

Dr. Leo Sprinkle congratulates the editor and asks about the height of a blonde pictured in a previous issue.

Miller Johnson comments on a program about the Roswell Crash, specifically addressing the recreation of an aluminum I-Beam. He clarifies that he, as the Industrial Designer, was not commissioned by Dr. Marcel and that the I-Beams were funded by Kent Jeffrey. He also humorously suggests selling "Genuine Crash Site Dirt" as a novelty item.

Mike Gensler praises "Saucer Smear" for its focus on the human element behind UFO phenomena, calling it academically valuable.

Jean Misner expresses enjoyment of the book and recalls spending time with George Adamski and George Hunt Williamson.

Dick Freeman, editor of "Batteries Not Included," humorously notes the resemblance of a "Roswell girl" in a previous issue to "Debbie D., infamous Scream Queen."

"Ray X" clarifies his preference for being addressed as "Boxholder" to avoid mail-sorting robots.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings, historical cases, and the paranormal, often with a critical or skeptical eye towards official explanations and sometimes even towards other researchers. There is a strong emphasis on eyewitness testimony and the challenges of proving extraordinary claims. The editorial stance appears to be one of deep engagement with the UFO phenomenon, often questioning established narratives and encouraging readers to critically examine evidence. The publication also seems to value wit and satire, as evidenced by the inclusion of the Dilbert comic and the often-humorous tone of the articles and letters.