Saucer Smear - Vol 54 No 10 - 2007

Magazine Overview

This issue of SAUCER SMEAR, Volume 54, No. 10, dated November 20th, 2007, is presented as a "NON-SCHEDULED NEWSLETTER" dedicated to the highest principles of ufological journalism. The editor, James W. Moseley, also identifies himself as the "Supreme Commander". The publication is from the SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY, based in Key West, Florida. The issue includes contact information, a phone number (718-966-3694), and a website (http://www.ufo51.com).

Editor's Note: It's Time to Renew Your SAUCER SMEAR Non-Subscription

Editor James W. Moseley begins by asking non-subscribers to send a "generous Love Offering" to offset the financial losses of publishing the zine. He notes that an "X" after a name on the envelope indicates a need for renewal. He extends "Sincere wishes for a Merry Xmas" and fondly remembers Gray Barker and Karl Pflock.

"SMEAR" POLICY (IF ANY)

Moseley states that while a genuine scientific mystery exists, the ETH (Extraterrestrial Hypothesis) seems too simplistic after all these years. He believes the mystery has paranormal and spiritual overtones and may not be solved soon, but it's fun to try. The magazine "definitely are not skeptics" and have had UFO and paranormal experiences, but they dislike those who take the subject too seriously. They tolerate many viewpoints and appreciate the social aspects of the UFO field.

WAS THE "ROSWELL INCIDENT" A PSEUDO-RELIGIOUS EVENT ???

The editor discusses the advertisement for "Roswell Soil", which he confirms is real. He notes that he has ordered a sample but has not yet received it. He criticizes the "Roswell 'researchers'" like Kevin Randle and Stanton Friedman for the commercialization of the incident, stating that the "Roswell Incident" has "all the markings of a disorganized religion." He draws parallels to "Holy Land Earth" being sold, citing an item from Chris Roth about "Holy Land Earth Arrives at U.S. Shores" with a ceremony befitting its sacred nature.

The article describes a ceremony where "white gloves, tuxedoes, and black coats suggested something important was arriving." The Rabbi and photographers present hinted at a spiritual nature. A man emerged from a ship's hold carrying a silver tray with packages of "dirt". This is compared to the "Holy Land Earth" shipment in New York, which is described as "rich, fertile soil" meant for burial ceremonies and graveside visits, declared authentic by a certifying Rabbi, and packaged in 16-ounce pouches for $20.00. The editor notes that the president of "Holy Land Earth" is named Steven Friedman, questioning if he is related to Stanton Friedman.

New Mexico Soil and the Santuario de Chimayo

Researcher Steve Barnett provides a communique about the Santuario de Chimayo in New Mexico, known as the "Lourdes of the Southwest". Pilgrims are drawn by the "healing powers of the 'miraculous dirt'" found in a small room beside the chapel. Barnett mentions that the hole is refilled by priests from another location, and he has heard of people selling soil from this room online. He also notes that the magazine sent for its "Roswell soil sample" after seeing an ad in "UFO Magazine". The price had increased from $4.95 to $9.95 plus shipping. The agent stated the soil was from "Corona", the name of a town closest to the Brazel/Foster Ranch, the site of the "debris field" and a likely location for a wrecked Mogul Balloon. However, the samples are mailed from Staten Island, NY, leading the editor to question the logistics and expense.

A SAD UPDATE ON ERIK BECKJORD

This section reports on aging Bigfootologist Erik Beckjord. A 35-page Internet rant by Tara Hauki, titled "One Life, One Heart: My Story. Tara Hauki and Jon-Erik Beckjord", details a recent event. Beckjord, his girlfriend Chris, and Hauki went into the California woods searching for Bigfoot. Chris left after an argument, and Beckjord later abandoned Tara, leaving her stranded. She managed to escape after walking several miles. The article notes that Beckjord is old, alcoholic, overweight, and possibly has cancer, and that he once tried to extort $1,000 from the editor.

NEWS BRIEFS

• Mars Caves: NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft discovered entrances to seven possible caves on a Martian volcano, fueling interest in potential underground habitats, though the high altitudes make them poor candidates for human habitation.
• USOs (Unidentified Submerged Objects): The magazine discusses USOs, mentioning the Shag Harbor incident (1967) and numerous reports from the California coastline since the 1950s. Researcher Ann Druffel suggests an underwater base might exist off the coast from Santa Barbara to Long Beach.
• Redondo Beach, California Incident (January 1956): Residents reported a large glowing object gliding down and floating on the ocean surface. Witnesses, including police officers, observed it. The object caused the water to froth and bubble before disappearing. Rescue efforts found no wreckage.
• James Randi's Million Dollar Offer: The magazine reiterates that James Randi's offer for proof of the paranormal is flawed. It also notes Randi's new focus on consumer protection, specifically regarding expensive audio speaker cables.

Photo and Roswell Soil Update

A cropped photo, which has appeared online, is presented. It shows the editor looking forlorn with an empty camera, while a woman, identified as Lisa Davis (later director of NUFOC), gleefully holds up the missing film. The editor recalls this incident occurring at a NUFOC convention. The probable film thief is identified as Nick Redfern.

The "sacred Roswell Soil" has arrived at a cost of $14.95, described as a small packet of "tan-ish sand" with an unimpressive "Certificate of Authenticity" card. The product is called a "rip-off".

The Rio de Janeiro UFO Case (August 1966)

A brief re-hash of a startling UFO case from near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is presented. Two Brazilian engineers, Miglay Byena and Manuel Cruz, were researching flying saucers and had built a laboratory. They went to Vintem Hill, a location known for frequent flying saucer sightings. A saucer-like object was seen descending, and local citizens confirmed the event. A few days later, local boys found the engineers dead. Police investigation and autopsy found no clue to the cause of death. The article notes that a Pentagon official was interested until he realized it was a foreign event, as the U.S. Air Force's mandate is to protect America, not Brazil.

Kecksburg, PA Incident (1965)

Due to the persistence of journalist Leslie Kean, NASA has agreed to search its archives for documents related to the Kecksburg crash. The magazine considers this case less confusing than Roswell and believes something unusual occurred that night, possibly a Russian satellite with "hieroglyphics". Researcher Stan Gordon is mentioned as having researched this case.

Dr. Roger Leir and Alien Implants

The magazine mentions American podiatrist Dr. Roger Leir, who performs surgeries to recover "alien implants" from people who believe they were abducted. The editor expresses skepticism about the implant syndrome, questioning how they function and if similar anomalies are found in non-abductees.

Roswell Alien Autopsy Film Hoax

An update on the Roswell Alien Autopsy film of 1995 is provided. Both sides admit the film was a fake. England's Ray Santilli and Gary Shoefield made a film about how it was faked for profit, but claim it was based on authentic 1947 footage. British filmmaker Spyros Melaris claims he created the film as an illusion with sculptor John Humphries and that there was no authentic 1947 footage. Legal action is expected.

Comparative Religions

A humorous list comparing various religions' views on "Shit Happens" is included.

Time Magazine: Christ of the Hills Monastery

A brief report from Time Magazine about Samuel Greene Jr., founder of the Christ of the Hills monastery in Blanco, Texas. Greene claimed a painting of the Virgin Mary wept tears of myrrh, but later confessed to faking it with eyedroppers and rosewater. He also pleaded guilty to indecency with students. He died at 63.

RIP REVEREND GILL

The Reverend William Booth Gill, a witness to an unusual UFO sighting on June 26, 1959, died on June 13, 2007, at age 79. Gill and 37 Papuans saw a bright disc-shaped object hovering low over the sea for over four hours. The object had a platform with humanoid figures. Gill waved, and the figures waved back. The UFO emitted a bright blue light. Smaller UFOs were also seen, and the object returned the next night. Gill denied misinterpreting Venus. The case remains unexplained.

Chilean Ufologist Antonio Huneeus

A brief mention of Chilean ufologist Antonio Huneeus, who almost lost his UFO files due to storage unit payment issues. A friend helped him retrieve his belongings.

UFO Magazine (October 2007 Issue)

The magazine reviews the October 2007 issue of "UFO Magazine", highlighting three items:
1. A letter from Budd Hopkins severely criticizing Whitley Strieber.
2. A mention of "A Real Alien on Page 40" (which is not there), but photos on pages 42-43 of "something" in Puerto Rico, described as subliminal and resembling Erik Beckjord's photos.
3. An interview of UFO author Ray Fowler by Nick Redfern, discussing Betty Andreassen's abduction experiences and a threat to expose Betty and Bob Luca for hoaxing.

Recommended Book: "Unexplained Phenomena"

The magazine recommends the book "Unexplained Phenomena" by Bob Rickard and John Michell, co-authored by Rickard, founder of "Fortean Times" magazine. The book covers mysteries that interested Charles Fort. The authors state that reality is more interesting and expansive than conventional views.

Letters to the Editor

• Stanton Friedman writes regarding an article about the 1952 Air Force orders to shoot down UFOs. He clarifies that the article did not state that US military jets were shot down by UFOs, but rather documented over 200 military plane losses reported by the New York Times in the early 1950s. He confirms that orders were issued to shoot down UFOs if they did not land when instructed. He also encloses maps of New Mexico showing the town of Corona, near the Foster Ranch, and questions the logistics of mailing Roswell soil samples from Staten Island.
• Chris Roth writes that if "Open Contact" occurs, ufologists will be irrelevant. He believes most Americans will be more interested in what televangelists and politicians say.

Other Letters

• Kevin Randle, Ph.D. writes about people lying about their military background, mentioning Sonny Desverges and his 1952 UFO sighting. He clarifies that his original article focused on military fakers and not necessarily UFO sightings.
• Jerry Lucci challenges ufologists to produce evidence that UFO phenomena are extraterrestrial in origin, offering a lifetime non-subscription to "Smear" for winning entries.
• Michael Dennett thanks "Smear" for information about a TV show about a ghost story in Roswell, which turned out to be about a space alien. He questions if Stanton Friedman's hour-long segment is appropriate, given the editor's skepticism about Roswell and MJ-12.

Editor's Closing Remarks

The editor thanks Matt Graeber for his cartoons and mentions his health problems. He also thanks others who help produce "Smear".

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently questions the simplistic explanations for UFO phenomena, particularly the ETH. It expresses skepticism towards commercialization of UFO incidents, such as the "Roswell Soil" product, and likens such practices to religious cults. The publication also critiques individuals within the UFO community who take themselves too seriously or engage in questionable practices, such as alleged hoaxes or personal misconduct. The editor maintains a stance of open-minded skepticism, acknowledging personal experiences while demanding rigorous evidence and questioning sensationalistic claims. There's a recurring theme of debunking hoaxes, such as the Roswell Autopsy film, and highlighting the complexities and ambiguities within UFO research. The magazine also touches upon related topics like paranormal experiences, alleged alien implants, and historical UFO cases, often with a critical or questioning perspective.