Saucer Smear - Vol 51 No 01 - 2004

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 51, No. 1
Date: January 10th, 2004
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley
Contributing Editor: Karl T. Pflock

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is dedicated to ufological journalism and features a collection of articles, reports, and letters from various individuals within the UFO community. The publication addresses recent sightings, historical cases, and the broader landscape of UFO research and its associated personalities.

Miscellaneous Ravings

The editorial section begins with an apology for errors in the previous issue's masthead, correcting the year to 2003 and including the Whole Number 366. It also addresses those who did not renew their subscriptions, offering a "Second Chance." A recent UFO report from Kenny Young details a sighting near Morehead, Kentucky, on November 30th, 2003. An unidentified object landed in a field, and later, screams were heard, described as a female voice pleading for help. Police found no evidence of an abduction. Dr. Virgil Davis, a college professor, provided a calm account of the sighting.

Another report describes an apparent fleet of seven flying saucers seen over Heilbronn, Germany, around October 6th of the previous year. These objects, described as emitting an "unearthly, orange-red glow," were later identified as balloons made of kite paper, attributed to "a group of ufologists."

Karl Pflock's Contributions

Karl Pflock contributes an item about an intended expedition to the "Inner Earth," organized by Steve Curry, scheduled for June 26th to July 19th, 2005. The expedition plans to use a nuclear icebreaker to search for an opening at the North Pole, with a capacity for 108 passengers at a cost of $20,000 each. The article also references the legend of Admiral Richard Byrd's alleged flight through the Inner Earth in 1947.

Pflock also discusses a multi-group effort by major UFO organizations, including CUFOS, FUFOR, MUFON, NARCAP, NIDS, and NUFORC, to study physical evidence related to flying reports. He expresses cynicism about such cooperative efforts, citing past failures due to egotism and adherence to pet theories, referencing attempts by Robert Bigelow and Steve Barnett.

Passing Parade: Charles Berlitz

The issue notes the death of author Charles Berlitz on December 18th, 2003, at the age of 90. Berlitz, grandson of Maximilian Berlitz, was a former U.S. Army Intelligence officer and author of books on language and mysteries, most notably "The Bermuda Triangle." He was also an early promoter of the Roswell myth, co-authoring "The Roswell Incident" and "The Philadelphia Experiment - Project Invisibility." The editor recalls being friends with both Berlitz and William Moore and mentions Berlitz's lectures at NUFOC conventions.

News in Brief

A satirical news item from Washington D.C. reports the U.S. White House expressing disappointment that aliens from "Xygal 8B" chose to land in Italy rather than the U.S., with a quote from press secretary Scott McClellan.

Another item discusses a possible ghostly visitor captured on security cameras at Hampton Court Palace in London, England, where a figure in a strange costume was seen reaching for a door handle.

Maverick ufologist Larry Bryant of Alexandria, Virginia, is mentioned for petitioning his state court for a "Writ of Mandamus" to stop the practice of using churches for polling places, and for his FOIA requests regarding flying saucer secrecy.

A new museum, billed as "the world's first museum of alien studies," has opened in Portland, Oregon, offering a "3-D thrill ride" and other attractions.

Another Brief Book Review: Rick Hilberg

This section reviews Rick Hilberg's sequel booklet, "A Gray Barker Reader II," which reprints five more columns by Gray Barker from "Flying Saucers" Magazine. The review highlights Barker's detailed account of a trip to New York City and his dredging up of forgotten UFO researchers. The tone is described as nostalgic, recalling a time when researchers felt they knew "Important Things about a Real Mystery."

Recommended Reading

Two books are recommended: "SHOCKINGLY CLOSE TO THE TRUTH! Confessions of a Grave-Robbing Ufologist" by James W. Moseley and Karl T. Pflock, and "HOW TO SHIT IN THE WOODS, 2ND REVISED EDITION" by Kathleen Meyer.

PFlock PTalk / AND THE MAD COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON!

Karl Pflock's column discusses a National Institute for Discovery Sciences (NIDS) report linking animal mutilations to prion diseases. The report suggests these mutilations are part of a monitoring operation by an advanced organization to determine the spread of prion diseases and serve as a warning about the human food chain. Pflock questions who might be behind such an operation, suggesting it's not the U.S. government. He also references Phillip Duke's theory about AIDS being developed by aliens.

Miscellaneous Fillers

Brief filler items include a dispute between factions of the Church of Satan over a proposed theme park, and a review of Moseley and Pflock's book "Shockingly Close to the Truth."

Lettres to Ye Olde Editor:

This section features correspondence from various individuals:

• Phil Klass writes, expressing interest in "Saucer Smear" and referencing past comments about ufologist W. Todd Zechel and Jerry Clark's changing assessment of him.
• William (Bill) Jones of Ohio State University writes to express support for "Saucer Smear" and offers duplicates for their UFO collection.
• Scott Bond sends a check and expresses disappointment at the low turnout for the NUFOC convention, urging a "Last Hurrah."
• Chris Roth shares a news story about a radar blip near the White House on November 20th, suggesting it could be an actual UFO sighting, despite official explanations.
• George Earley, a veteran UFO researcher, questions the mathematical feasibility of John Lear's claims about alien spacecraft picking up large numbers of people.
• "Commander Y" sends a non-subscription pledge for 2004 and discusses the difficulty of re-engineering alien spacecraft, referencing the Kecksburg saucer.
• Betty Hill, an abductee, sends a Christmas card mentioning her improving health after chemotherapy.
• Bob Barnes sends a check and copies of his latest UFO projects, which involve transferring old UFO-related audio onto digital media.

More Correspondence

• Colonel John Alexander writes from Afghanistan, noting that people in Kabul have no idea about UFOs.
• Gaines Crook, a retired engineer, discusses the difficulty of proving the paranormal and the "garbage" thoughts provoked by UFOs.
• Jerry Lucci writes about the new MJ-12 documents and asks about Bill Moore.
• Carlos Mentira writes a humorous piece, suggesting Karl Pflock take over "Saucer Smear" if the editor retires, and mentions the possibility of Space People landing.

Sidelines...

• Pointless Hijack: A brief report about a man sentenced for hijacking a British Airways plane, noting the flight was already heading to his desired destination.
• Fossil earliest rise of males: A brief news item about the discovery of the oldest known male animal fossil.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include recent UFO sightings and reports, historical UFO cases (Roswell, Kecksburg), the personalities and organizations within the UFO research community, and the challenges and controversies surrounding the study of the paranormal. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical engagement, acknowledging the excitement of the field while maintaining a degree of skepticism and humor, particularly regarding cooperative efforts among organizations and the more outlandish claims within ufology. The publication also serves as a platform for personal anecdotes and correspondence from its readership.