Saucer Smear - Vol 51 No 02 - 2004

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 51, No. 2
Date: February 25th, 2004
Publisher: OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE 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, offers a mix of news, commentary, and critiques within the UFO community. It addresses the magazine's circulation, highlights personal stories, and reviews recent publications and events.

Tidbits of Trash

The editorial team expresses gratitude for renewal responses, noting a higher percentage of non-subscribers contributing. They provide net circulation figures for their website (www.martiansgohome.com) for 2003, with 8,597 visitors and 516,434 hits, and invite reader commentary on these figures.

• News and Updates:
• Betty Hill: The veteran abductee, now 84, is reported to be in recession from lung cancer. Her famous abduction experience with her late husband Barney occurred in 1961.
• Barry Greenwood: Publisher of "U.F.O. Historical Revue" is folding his publication due to lack of interest, despite having researched many obscure cases from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
• UFO Magazine: The publication has emerged from another reorganization and is back on newsstands, with Don and Vicki Ecker continuing to publish what the editors describe as "sensationalized trash."

Commentary and Critiques

Critique of UFO Magazine: The issue begins by criticizing a poem in UFO Magazine's February/March 2004 issue and then focuses on the magazine's cover headline "There is no God." This is linked to claims by John Lear, who has made numerous outlandish statements about UFOs, including underground alien bases, crashes, and a treaty with aliens. The article notes Lear's appearance on the Art Bell radio show, where both agreed the U.S. government should not reveal all it knows about interplanetary matters. Publisher William Birnes of UFO Magazine is quoted as saying they will be more inclusive but maintain editorial skepticism.

The Taos Hum: A New York Times article, sent by Chris Roth, discusses the Taos Hum, a phenomenon heard in Taos, New Mexico, and other areas. It is described as sounding like a distant diesel truck idling, with some people feeling vibrations. Scientific tests have been inconclusive. Gregory Speis, a senior electronic technician, found nothing provable in his study and stated, "I'm the kind of guy that believes in UFOs even though I've never seen one; and I would say this is not as provable as a UFO."

Todd Zechel and FOIA Lawsuits: The "In Depth Diatribes" section introduces Todd Zechel, formerly prominent with Bill Spaulding in CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy), known for filing Freedom of Information (FOIA) lawsuits. Renegade lawyer Peter Gersten and Larry Bryant are also mentioned. Zechel retired from the UFO field after a mild stroke. He is recalled for forcing Phil Klass to admit socializing with a Russian spy and for running up a large phone bill while a guest in 1977. Zechel's current activities and his email to Karl Pflock, accusing Pflock of being part of a disinformation project and accepting CIA covert funds, are discussed. Zechel's theory about the Roswell Incident being a "radar-reflecting disc strung from a cluster of six balloons" is noted as "shockingly close to the truth."

Book Review Corrections: The magazine corrects a previous statement about Charles Berlitz's book "The Roswell Incident" and William Moore's "The Philadelphia Experiment," clarifying the publication order and noting that Moore took exception to the claim that he and Berlitz ended up hating each other due to royalty disputes.

Uri Geller and Michael Jackson: An offbeat item mentions psychic Uri Geller's claim of being a close friend of Michael Jackson and hypnotizing him to deny rumors of abusing male children.

World Economic Forum Seminar: The issue reports on a dinner seminar at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, titled "The Conspiracy Behind Conspiracy Theories: Have Extraterrestrials Made Contact With Government Leaders?" The seminar was closed to the public, and the article speculates on its true purpose and mentions Richard Boylan as the pro-UFO commentator.

PFlock PTalk / Jim McDonald

Review of "Firestorm: Dr. James E. McDonald's Fight for UFO Science" by Ann Druffel: Karl Pflock reviews Ann Druffel's book, calling it important but flawed. He states it is a must-read for those interested in ufology and its history, but warns of errors in judgment and fact. Pflock criticizes the book for being a "sprawling, repetitive, undisciplined morass" that buries a biography with irrelevant asides and conspiracy theories, including suggestions that McDonald's death was self-inflicted and that he was a CIA plant. He points out factual errors, such as the misidentification of "Project Blue Book Special Report 14" as the Robertson Panel Report. Pflock also critiques Druffel's summary of the Socorro, New Mexico landing, calling it inaccurate and including a false claim about a government vehicle cleaning the site. He notes that Druffel has become an authority on McDonald's quest to gain scientific respectability for ufology.

James McDonald's Struggle: The review highlights McDonald's personal characteristics—difficult, single-minded, brilliant, abrasive, politically naive, and heroic—which enabled him to challenge the scientific establishment but also contributed to his ultimate failure, along with discrediting campaigns by enemies like Phil Klass and Donald Menzel.

Missives from the Masses

Kevin Henderson: Praises "Smear" as the only UFO journal that matters for thinking people, remembering it long after figures like Budd Hopkins are forgotten. He commends Moseley for calling spades spades and irking those who protest his style.

George Earley: Agrees with the critique of Phil Klass's comments on Todd Zechel, noting that both Klass and Clark have moved on from past errors, though Klass revisits the past when convenient.

Denis Corey: Suggests turning "Smear" over to Karl Pflock to make things easier, but acknowledges that people would still send items to Moseley.

Christopher Roth: Expresses intrigue about Steve Currey's plans for a Hollow Earth expedition and Mormon folklore about a hollow planet. He tracked down Currey's website, which advertises kayaking and rafting trips, but also details an expedition to the Hollow Earth, promising visits to the River Hidekkel, the City of Jehu, the Garden of Eden, and the palace of the King of the Inner World, claimed to be King David. Roth finds this Barnum-esque and suggests it might be false advertising.

Lost Luggage Returns: A humorous anecdote about a suitcase lost for 24 years.

Aliens a Gas: A story from Russia about a family experiencing a mass hallucination attributed to gas from a stove, after seeing a UFO.

Rob Swiatek of FUFOR

Swiatek describes "Smear" as an "oddball thing" and a "useful font of UFO information and humor." He observes that the International UFO Museum and Research Center seems to be setting scientific ufology back. He also believes the UFO enigma won't be solved in his lifetime, suggesting the basic solution is a nonhuman intelligence, and the task is to convince others of this. He questions whether the Commander is ready to hit the lecture circuit again.

Frank Conway

Conway divides the ufological community into "Researchers" and "Storytellers." He identifies with the Researchers, like Jerry Clark and Stanton Friedman, who try to apply the scientific method. He argues that UFOs have minimal real-world impact, which is why the Air Force is indifferent and there is no "cover-up." He believes that when researchers become "True Believers," science is abandoned. Conway sees no light at the end of the tunnel for ufology, citing its lack of practical consequence and the absence of solid, irrefutable evidence in 57 years, questioning why there are no clear photographs of UFOs or occupants.

Lost Luggage Returns: A brief mention of a lost suitcase found after 24 years.

War Breaks Out Over Battlefield: A newspaper headline.

William Potogi: A story about a man who died after a witch doctor's ritual meant to make him bullet-proof.

Miles Lewis

Lewis, Director of the Scientific Anomaly Institute, praises "Smear" for its information despite its lack of connectivity to the "cursed" Net. He is working on establishing a new non-profit lending library and research institute called the Anomaly Archives, which will house over 1,000 books and publish a quarterly newsletter. He requests donations of money, materials, and past issues of "Smear." He expresses concern that "Smear" and the National UFO Conference might cease to exist.

Dan Poling

Poling sends a donation to keep "Smear" going, noting his book "Shockingly Close to the Truth!" is holding steady on Amazon.com. He humorously describes Moseley and others as having the distinction of studying something that doesn't exist but having fun doing it.

PFlock PTalk (Continued): The review of Ann Druffel's book continues, detailing how James McDonald was named to conduct a UFO study sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences, which was derailed by the Air Force's decision to fund an "objective" study by the Condon Committee. It also asserts that Phil Klass's charges against McDonald were baseless misrepresentations. The review concludes that McDonald's personal struggles reflect those of ufology at large, and his characteristics, while enabling his contributions, also led to his failure.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical and skeptical stance towards many aspects of the UFO community, including specific publications, researchers, and alleged phenomena. While acknowledging the importance of UFO research and history, "Smear" prioritizes factual accuracy and scientific rigor, often questioning sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims. The editors express a commitment to honest reporting and a desire to see ufology treated with greater scientific seriousness, while also maintaining a sense of humor about the often-bizarre nature of the subject matter. There is a strong emphasis on historical research and the personal struggles of key figures in the field, particularly James E. McDonald.