Saucer Smear - Vol 55 No 05 - 2008

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 55, No. 5
Date: May 30th, 2008
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Type: Non-Scheduled Newsletter

This issue of Saucer Smear, the official publication of the SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY, offers a diverse collection of news briefs, investigative reports, and commentary on ufological and paranormal topics. The newsletter is dedicated to the highest principles of ufological journalism.

News Briefs

Dr. Rupert Sheldrake Assaulted

The issue begins with a report on an incident on April 2nd, 2008, where Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, a Fortean researcher, was stabbed in the thigh while speaking at the 10th International Conference on Science and Consciousness in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The assailant, identified as Hirano Kuzuki, had been acting oddly and claimed to hear voices and see demons. Sheldrake, who was speaking on "Memory and Morphic Resonance," was fortunate that the assailant tripped, preventing a more serious attack. Dr. Sheldrake is expected to fully recover, and Kuzuki is being held on $200,000 bail.

"Fotocat Report #4: Norway in UFO Photographs"

Vince Ditchkus contributed a lengthy item about "Fotocat Report #4: Norway in UFO Photographs - The First Catalogue." This extensive report, prepared by two scientists, covers UFO photographs from Norway between 1900 and 2005. While it is a monumental effort, it reportedly contains few unsolved cases and offers no definitive conclusions about the origin of the phenomena, suggesting the authors may not subscribe to the interplanetary theory. The report includes details on the "Hessdalen Phenomena," mysterious lights seen in Norway, which are considered by the report to be of purely natural origin, possibly related to piezoelectricity. These sightings are described as pulsating lights near the ground, similar to those seen in Marfa, Texas, and Brown Mountain, North Carolina. While of interest to geophysics and atmospheric physics, they are deemed of little interest for ufology.

Sacsahuaman Mysteries

The editor, James W. Moseley, revisits the pre-Inca Peruvian fortress of Sacsahuaman, which he visited fifty years prior. The focus is on the architectural mysteries of the site, particularly how primitive Indians quarried and transported massive stones, some weighing over two hundred tons, and fitted them together with extreme precision. The structures are described as beyond current understanding, baffling modern man's ability to explain or duplicate them.

"The Drones" Investigation

The issue references the April 2008 MUFON Journal's investigation into "The Drones," described as the most dramatic UFO photographs since Gulf Breeze. The article questions the odds that such clear photographs were taken within a short period in the same state (California) and involved multiple witnesses whose identities remain unestablished.

Gulf Breeze Syndrome

The "Gulf Breeze syndrome" (1987-1989) is discussed, with Ed Walters identified as the key figure behind the photographs and events. The editor's investigation, detailed in his 2002 book "Shockingly Close to the Truth!", concluded the case was a hoax for fun and profit. Dr. Bruce Maccabee, an optical physicist who endorsed the photos, had his objectivity compromised by receiving several thousand dollars for writing the introduction to Walters' first book, with Walters receiving a $200,000 advance. MUFON reportedly saw a membership increase due to the Gulf Breeze sightings. Dr. Maccabee is noted to have retired from his physics job and is moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a career in music.

Gray Barker Documentaries

The "Strange History of the Gray Barker Documentaries" section honors the late ufologist Gray Barker. His estate was sold to the public library in Clarksburg, West Virginia. A Hollywood cinematographer, Ralph Coon, made a documentary on Barker titled "Whispers from Space." While Coon's initial film was considered too long and included irrelevant parts, he has reportedly released an improved version on DVD. The anonymous DVD received by the editor included this film, along with religious overtones and an exorcism ritual, possibly linked to Dr. Gene Scott.

"Shades of Gray" Documentary

A new documentary about Gray Barker, titled "Shades of Gray," is being produced by a young West Virginian employed by Public Broadcasting. The editor has been interviewed for this project.

Twentieth Century Fox UFO Documentary

The editor was interviewed by a film crew from Twentieth Century Fox for a UFO documentary to be included as an "extra" with the DVD re-issue of "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The project head is John Cork of Cloverland.

Betty and Barney Hill Case

Two new books have been written about the famed 1961 Betty & Barney Hill abduction case. The article discusses the ongoing debate about whether the case was a hoax or a genuine experience. It highlights that after their abduction, the Hills experienced poltergeist phenomena, including objects moving mysteriously and electrical appliances malfunctioning. The article also mentions Kathy Marden's book, "Captured: The Betty and Barney Hill Experience," and "Encounter at Indian Head," edited by Karl Pflock and Peter Brooksmith.

Polish Abduction Case: Jan Wolski

An interesting abduction case from rural Poland on May 10th, 1978, involving a farmer named Jan Wolski, is detailed. Wolski was approached by two short, greenish-faced humanoid entities and taken aboard a hovering white craft. Inside, he observed black crows and two entities. He was subjected to a procedure involving two dishes. The craft was described as white on the outside and dark inside, about 4.5 meters high and as long as a bus, with rotating drill-like objects. Strange footprints were found at the site, but there is no other proof. Wolski died in 1990.

Stephenville, Texas UFO Flap

An abduction of lower credibility is reported from the Stephenville, Texas area. Don Ray Walton, author of "The Coming Human Aliens," claims to have received new information that our solar system is headed toward a massive "Black Hole" and that humans will be offered salvation by 14,999 alien races.

Orfeo Angelucci

Timothy Green Beckley provides a review of "Son of the Sun - The Secret of the Saucers," two books by Orfeo Angelucci, a prominent contactee from the 1950s. Angelucci described long periods of illness and a nervous disorder, leading him to move to southern California. Beginning in May 1952, he reported numerous contacts with UFOs and their occupants, including a ride in an interplanetary craft where he saw Earth from a thousand miles out in space.

"Exopolitics" and Joseph Buckman

The "exopolitics" movement is seeking a political candidate to endorse their views. Joseph Buckman, running on the Libertarian ticket in Utah, is highlighted for his slogan "It's not about lights in the sky, but about lies on the ground." He calls for the government to release secret information and hold open hearings on extraterrestrial activity.

Bosnian Meteorite Case

A Bosnian man, Radivoje Lajic, has had his home hit by meteorites five times in less than a year. Experts confirmed the rocks were genuine meteorites, and Lajic believes he is being targeted by extraterrestrials. The stones reportedly only hit his house during heavy rainfall.

Paranormal Activity in Federal Way, Washington

An online newspaper report from Federal Way, Oregon, details two women claiming a paranormal person has been placing sensors on their bodies and visiting them, engaging in sexual intercourse. These incidents reportedly began two years prior.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Saucer Smear include the ongoing investigation into UFO phenomena, the nature of alien encounters (contactees vs. abductees), the skepticism and debunking of certain cases, and the persistent mysteries surrounding unexplained events. The editorial stance, as expressed by James W. Moseley, appears to be one of critical inquiry, often leaning towards skepticism regarding sensational claims while acknowledging the existence of genuine unexplained phenomena. The publication seems to favor detailed investigations and historical context, often referencing past cases and publications within the ufology community. There is a clear distinction made between "real UFOs" and other unexplained lights or phenomena, and a tendency to label certain cases as hoaxes or misinterpretations when evidence supports it, as seen with the Gulf Breeze case. The editor also expresses a preference for straightforward reporting over speculative "exopolitics."