Saucer Smear - Vol 53 No 01 - 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 53, No. 1
Date: January 25th, 2006
Publisher: James W. Moseley J.S.
Type: Non-Scheduled Newsletter

This issue of Saucer Smear, a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism, features a mix of nostalgic reflections, critical analyses of prominent figures in the field, and reports on various UFO-related incidents and research.

About Phil Klass

The lead article delves into the legacy of Phil Klass, a prominent skeptic in the UFO community. The newsletter notes that Klass is deceased and references a letter he allegedly wrote in 1980 concerning Stanton Friedman's potential move to Canada, suggesting Klass was attempting to sabotage Friedman's move by pointing out his alleged anti-scientific bias. The letter was reportedly sent to the Institute of Aerophysics in Ottawa, Canada. The article also mentions Klass's role in outing Ed Walters of Gulf Breeze UFO fame for alleged past offenses and his alleged involvement in James McDonald losing a research grant. Furthermore, Klass reportedly contacted the FBI regarding William Moore's MJ-12 documents. The piece concludes by characterizing Klass as a "gut fighter" against superstition, leaving it to opinion whether he was vicious or merely determined.

Miscellaneous Ravings

This section covers a variety of topics:

• Secret Saucer Base in New Mexico?: An article discusses mysterious markings resembling crop circles found in the New Mexico desert, which are linked to the Church of Scientology. These markings are said to match the logo of the Church of Spiritual Technology, an affiliated organization. The Church is described as secretive about its efforts to preserve the writings of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard.
• Remote Viewing and Alien Bases: The newsletter references an article from "Soul Travel Magazine" detailing four alleged underground extraterrestrial bases identified through government Remote Viewing experiments. The locations mentioned are Mt. Perdido (Pyrenees Mountains), Mt. Inyangani (Zimbabwe), Mt. Hayes (Alaska), and Mt. Ziel (Australia). The article notes the absence of Dulce, New Mexico, from this list, which is often associated with Paul Bennewitz.
• Weirdology Magazine: Two items from Rick Hilberg's "Weirdology" are highlighted. One discusses a possible migration of the Mothman from West Virginia to Tennessee, or the presence of Bigfoot. A witness described a detailed encounter with a creature standing next to a road sign, noting its human-like head and peculiar triangular appearance, though the witness was identified as a "noted abductee" named Sandy Nichols.
• Texas UFO Drains Swimming Pool?: An account describes a couple who witnessed an oval-shaped object hovering over their property, emitting a golden glow. The following day, they discovered that the water level in their swimming pool had dropped significantly.

Exopolitics and UFOs

This section discusses the growing movement for "Exopolitics," which advocates for public hearings on humanity's relationship with extraterrestrial beings. It highlights Paul Hellyer, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, who has joined forces with non-governmental organizations like Dr. Steven Greer's "Disclosure Project." Hellyer expresses concern about intergalactic war and states that UFOs are as real as airplanes. The article notes that while Canada is unlikely to hold public hearings soon, it would be interesting if they eventually do.

Obituaries and Tributes

• Bob Pratt: The death of ufologist Bob Pratt at age 79 is reported. Pratt, a former non-subscriber of "Smear," began his career writing for the National Enquirer and later focused on UFO incidents in Brazil, authoring "UFO Danger Zone: Terror and Death in Brazil - Where Next?"
• Walter Haut: The passing of Walter Haut, co-founder of the Roswell (N.M.) UFO Museum, at age 83 is noted. Haut was the press officer at Roswell Army Air Field in 1947 when the "flying saucer" incident occurred. His recollections were reportedly "enlarged" in an interview with Wendy Connors.
• Timothy Green Beckley: The publication of Timothy Green Beckley's book "Strange Saga - A Life-Long Hunt for UFOs & Aliens; Unknown Creatures; (and) The Truth About Government Cover-Ups" is announced. The book includes autobiographical material and discusses a bizarre UFO-related event in Brazil in 1996 involving two deceased electronic technicians found with lead masks and coded letters.

Letters and Contributions

The "Missives from the Masses" section features contributions from readers:

• Erik Albrektson: Submits a piece titled "How Saucer Smear Changed My Life," accompanied by before-and-after photos suggesting a positive transformation.
• Gary Hemphill: Expresses gratitude for the publication and reflects on the contributions of Gray Barker and Ray Palmer to the UFO field, suggesting the subject appeals to lonely individuals.
• David Clewell: Offers a brief comment on the subject's appeal and the nature of "experts."
• Patrick Huyghe: Jokingly questions the current state of UFO reporting and suggests covering more "socially redeeming" topics.
• Jerry Clark: His contribution is mentioned as being on the next page.
• Michael Dennett: Praises the previous issue and comments on the passing of J. Richard Greenwell. He also discusses Phil Klass and William Moore, noting his own past experience with critical letters to the editor.
• Ann Druffel: Comments on the fascination of "Smear" and highlights the importance of Dick Hall's contributions to FUFOR and the archiving of James McDonald's UFO collection.
• Dave Swink: Provides an update on the Roswell UFO Museum, noting the introduction of admission fees and changes in volunteer perks.
• Matt Graeber: A cartoonist, questions Martin Kottmeyer's critique of Carl G. Jung's influence on ufology, suggesting Kottmeyer might be overly influenced by anti-abduction writer Susan Chancy.
• Chris Roth: Clarifies his academic background as an anthropologist and mentions discussions about vampire beliefs and sightings of orange ball-shaped UFOs with individuals in Siberia.
• Frank Conway: Expresses sympathy for hurricane damage to the publisher and reports on the success of Pat Marcattilio's convention, including a speaker on Near-Death Experiences.
• John Barlow: Reflects on the appeal of "Saucer Smear" and identifies two major problems in the UFO subject: attraction of ego-driven individuals and the lack of qualifications for participation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the critical examination of prominent figures in ufology, both skeptics and proponents, the exploration of alleged extraterrestrial phenomena through various means like remote viewing, and the personal experiences of witnesses and researchers. The editorial stance appears to be one of engagement with the subject matter, often with a critical eye, but maintaining a sense of humor and a commitment to ufological journalism. The newsletter acknowledges the aging demographic of early ufologists and the challenges of attracting "new blood" to the field, while also expressing a belief that UFOs are part of the paranormal rather than solely physical alien spacecraft.