Saucer Smear - Vol 55 No 02 - 2008

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 55, No. 2
Date: February 15th, 2008
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism. It features a quote from Dr. J. Allen Hynek, the Scientific Consultant to Blue Book, expressing his belief that the solution to the UFO problem will be a "quantum leap" for science. The publication is edited by James W. Moseley and has Vince Ditchkus as contributing editor.

UFOLOGY IN HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

The lead article, a continuation from the previous issue, questions the National UFO Reporting Center's claim that Hudson County, N.J., has had 775 UFO sightings since 1975, making it the top county in the U.S.A. The editor, James W. Moseley, who lived in the area from 1972 to 1983, recalls only two local sightings and finds the figure "dead-out wrong." The article quotes the current police chief of North Bergen, N.J., William Galvin, who expresses disbelief that the town would be number one on such a list, stating that the police department has never received a UFO report.

The article then revisits the George O'Barski "little men" case from early 1975. O'Barski, while driving home from his job at a liquor store, reported seeing 8 to 11 "little men" emerge from a landed saucer in North Hudson Park to take soil samples. Budd Hopkins, a regular customer at the liquor store and a famous abduction guru, persuaded O'Barski to go public. Moseley interviewed O'Barski and noted that Hopkins controlled the distribution of the story, leading Moseley to wonder if Hopkins had "contaminated or even invented the story." While believing in "little men" landings, Moseley finds it odd that they were mostly confined to the 1950s and questions a 1975 landing so close to his former residence.

In the summer of 1976, UFO researcher Timothy Green Beckley organized a "Happening" in North Hudson Park to commemorate the O'Barski incident. Beckley invited a psychic from Chicago for a seance, but neglected to inform Hopkins, who "owned" the case. Hopkins reacted strongly, threatening to prevent Moseley from publishing anything. Moseley felt this was an "arrogant hot-head letting off steam." The "Happening" itself was disrupted by a hostile crowd of mostly Hispanic men. The seance continued on the roof of a nearby apartment building called Stonehenge. The article notes that two minor events at Stonehenge were claimed to confirm O'Barski's sighting, but Moseley points out O'Barski was the sole witness and the "physical evidence" of scoop marks is not proof of alien invasion. A lady familiar with Budd Hopkins and Jerry Clark considers them "twits," a sentiment the editor agrees with.

News Briefies

Strange Secrets: An in-depth study of real X-Files by Nick Redfern and Andy Roberts is mentioned, covering topics like Sea Serpents, Crop Circles, UFOs, Men in Black, and ESP.

Nick Redfern's Review: Prolific UFO writer Nick Redfern posted a favorable review of "Saucer Smear" on his "UFO Mystic" web site.

Paul Kimball's Redstar Films: Paul Kimball is opening a branch office in Los Angeles, with Greg Bishop heading the L.A. office and Nick Redfern as a contributor. This is seen as a positive development, with "good people" rising in the ufological scene.

David Hamel's Spaceship: A story from Ontario, Canada, about farmer David Hamel, who spent 32 years building his own spaceship from telepathically-transmitted plans from aliens. He died at age 83 without completing it. The abduction occurred on October 21st, 1975, involving three silver-suited visitors from Kladen.

James Randi's Offer: James Randi announced he would discontinue his million-dollar offer for proof of the paranormal as of March 6th, 2010. He claims "major personalities" in the field avoided the challenge and applicants were "honestly self-deluded." The article questions whether Randi truly understands scientific method and hopes the prize money actually exists.

Mind-Energy.net Critique of Randi: A website called "Mind-Energy.net" criticizes Randi's offer as setting himself up as judge and jury, suggesting a neutral panel of judges is needed. It argues that Randi and his followers are perpetuating a "scam of equal and opposite sort" to those they expose.

Julie Shuster and Roswell: Julie Shuster, czar of the International UFO Museum in Roswell, N.M., is described as moderating her stance on the 1947 Incident. She states that "Greed and ego are rampant in the UFO field." The article mentions plans for a multi-million dollar resort and conference center for UFO enthusiasts, including a UFO-themed amusement park.

UFOs and Government Disclosure

Roswell and Government Secrecy: Julie Shuster discusses how people were told not to speak about the Roswell Incident, even by military personnel, to receive V.A. loans or government assistance. The article notes that despite claims of government silencing, none of the "talkers" about the Roswell Incident have been silenced, as far as anyone knows.

UK Ministry of Defence Files: England's Ministry of Defence is set to publish about 7,000 British UFO cases investigated in recent years, starting in spring 2008. The first batch will include files on the Rendlesham (Bentwaters) Incident. While some see this as disclosure, questions remain about whether all information will be made public. Some experts suggest these files might lend credence to the theory that unsolved UFO incidents were military activities during the Cold War.

US Government Files: The article questions when the U.S. government will open all its files to the public.

Specific UFO Cases and Phenomena

The "Face on Mars" and Richard Hoagland: The article discusses Richard Hoagland's promotion of the "Face on Mars" and other alleged alien artifacts on Mars and the Moon, which he claims NASA is covering up. A photo is presented showing astronaut Al Bean with a pentagonal-shaped glow, which Hoagland claims is evidence of alien "glass-like ruins." Dwayne A. Day explains this as an internal reflection from the Hasselblad camera's aperture.

The Taos Hum: A newspaper article sent by Steve Barnett describes the mysterious low-frequency sound known as the Taos Hum, heard in Taos, New Mexico. Scientific investigations in the early 1990s failed to find a source, leading to the probable explanation that it is a result of a specific ear condition, rather than an external phenomenon.

Stephenville, Texas UFO Flap: Chris Roth, future editor of "Saucer Smear," summarizes a recent UFO media frenzy in Texas concerning an apparent saucer blitz over Stephenville around January 8th, 2008. The article notes that some witnesses have questionable backgrounds and that media coverage of these sightings may be linked to prophecies and expectations of Christ's return. It also mentions that Stephenville was prominent during the 1890s airship wave and the 1897 Aurora, Texas 'crash'.

George Hunt Williamson: The article touches on George Hunt Williamson, described as an interesting but not entirely admirable figure in ufology, who had multiple names and identities.

Kolonel Kal K. Korff: Kolonel Kal K. Korff, known for his anti-UFO efforts, is releasing a 1,200-page book titled "Secret Wars: Defending Against Terrorist Plots." His publisher, Prometheus Books, is known for debunking paranormal claims.

Letters to the Editor and Contributions

Chris Roth: Provides a summary of the Stephenville, Texas UFO media flap.

Dan Poling: Subscribes to "Saucer Smear" for another year, noting it's a highlight, especially after the Weekly World News ceased publication.

George Hansen: Praises "Saucer Smear" as the "best periodical in ufology."

Nick Redfern: Appreciates the humor in "Saucer Smear" and discusses his Roswell books, theorizing that the Roswell Incident involved high-altitude balloons with Japanese POWs used in experiments testing the effects of Cosmic Ray exposure.

Robert Sheaffer: A hard-core skeptic, recounts an encounter with former Arizona governor Fife Symington at the Arizona State Fair, describing him as a "pathetic little forgotten has-been."

Matt Graeber: Criticizes Jerry Clark's statements about "Smear's" readership and accuses him of "back stabbing" and malicious behavior.

Carlos Mentira: Defends Moseley's remark about George Hunt Williamson's wife potentially being murdered, stating that no one was harmed by the comment.

Tristam Jones: Expresses a preference for no explanation for UFOs, stating he knows everything about them except "Who they are, where they come from, and what they want." He shares a fascination with Adamski, Keyhoe, and John Keel, and admires Gray Barker for his lack of self-importance.

Bruce M. Forrester Jr.: Advises keeping an eye out for Flying Saucers, especially with the "re-emergence of the Goddess Types of Blondes."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of "Saucer Smear" include skepticism towards official UFO reporting centers and sensationalized media coverage, a critical examination of prominent UFO researchers like Budd Hopkins and James Randi, and a focus on specific UFO cases and phenomena. The editorial stance, as expressed by editor James W. Moseley, is one of critical inquiry, questioning claims, and seeking evidence while maintaining a sense of humor and acknowledging the complexities of the UFO field. There is a clear distrust of those who appear to be self-serving or overly dogmatic, whether they are proponents or debunkers of paranormal phenomena.