Saucer Smear - Vol 55 No 08 - 2008

Magazine Overview

'Saucer Smear' is a non-scheduled newsletter, Vol. 55, No. 8 (Whole No. 414), dated September 5th, 2008. It is published by the SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY and edited by James W. Moseley. The publication aims to provide a 'light-hearted but positive look at the flying saucer scene, shockingly close to the truth.'

Interviews With A Weather Balloon??

The lead article discusses a new book by Lawrence Spencer titled "ALIEN INTERVIEW - Based on Personal Notes and Interview Transcriptions Provided by: Matilda O'Donnell MacElroy". The book details interviews with an extraterrestrial entity named AIRL, who survived the Roswell crash in 1947. AIRL was a 40-inch-tall humanoid entity that communicated telepathically and was captured by the U.S. military. Matilda O'Donnell MacElroy, a nurse with the Women's Army Air Force Medical Corp, was the only one AIRL would communicate with. AIRL learned English and shared a long story about her race, 'The Domain', which has existed for billions of years and controls a large part of the universe. Spencer reportedly destroyed all documents received from MacElroy due to paranoia. The article notes that the existence of AIRL and MacElroy is not guaranteed, and Spencer himself advises caution regarding the factual accuracy of the transcripts.

Gary McKinnon Case

The issue briefly touches upon the case of Gary McKinnon, a British hacker who embarrassed the U.S. military by penetrating sensitive computer sites. His extradition to the U.S. is discussed, with his final appeal to the European Court of Human Rights mentioned.

Larry King's UFO Specials

An observation is made about a Larry King UFO special on CNN. The first half hour featured military men discussing missile and communication disruptions, while the second half devolved into shouting with 'Believers' (Stanton Friedman, Paul Kimball) and 'skeptics'. The article suggests the 'Believers' were not very believable.

The Roswell Legacy Book

A forthcoming book, "The Roswell Legacy: The Untold Story of the First Military Officer at the 1947 Crash Site", by Dr. Jesse Marcel Jr. and Linda Marcel, is mentioned. The article notes that Dr. Marcel Jr. is seeking fame and fortune from his father's role in the Roswell Incident. A skeptic, Robert Todd, obtained Major Marcel's military records, suggesting Marcel Sr. lied about his background and pilot status, casting doubt on his description of the Roswell debris.

Skepticism and Debunking Organizations

The magazine expresses its view that extremist UFO debunkers are as deluded as extreme believers. CSI (formerly CSICOP) is singled out for its method of avoiding individual UFO cases and sticking to scientific platitudes. The article humorously describes CSI's 'Superstition Obstacle Course'.

Gulf Breeze Case

Your editor infiltrated a radio show in Pensacola, Florida, hosted by Renee Bookout, featuring investigator Craig Myers, who wrote a skeptical book about the Gulf Breeze UFO flap. The article concludes that the Gulf Breeze case, Craig Myers' book, and the old call-in radio format are likely dead.

The Roswell Rock

The Roswell saga continues with the introduction of the 'Roswell Rock', found by a local businessman. This rock has unusual magnetic properties and is scored with celestial depictions. An anthropologist compared it to a lodestone, and it is claimed to mirror crop circles from England. The mayor of Roswell was impressed, and experts suggest it could be of extraterrestrial origin.

UFO Community Dynamics

The issue discusses the intense feuding on the internet between ufologists. It highlights the break between Paul Kimball and Stanton Friedman, noting their differing ufological views. The article also touches on the complex and sometimes incomprehensible views of ufological historian Jerry Clark and his feud with the late Karl Pflock.

Dr. Edgar Mitchell's Claims

Former astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell has reiterated his claims of a vast UFO cover-up by governments worldwide, stating that material recovered at Roswell was from an extraterrestrial craft. He claims to have met with the Intelligence Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who confirmed his beliefs. The article notes Mitchell's association with NIDS and his ESP experiments on the Apollo 14 flight, and questions the timing of his statements in relation to an X-Files movie.

Alien Worlds Magazine

Contact has been made with Stuart Miller, editor of the English UFO magazine 'Alien Worlds'. The magazine is described as having better paper than 'UFO Magazine' but not as satisfying as 'Fortean Times'. The editor of 'Saucer Smear' declined to write a column but granted permission to reprint from 'Smear'.

Letters to the Editor

Several letters are included:

• Michael Dennett praises the 'Roswell Festival' report and notes the passing of Erik Beckjord, a photographer known for his UFO photos.
• Molly Hanson remembers Erik Beckjord as entertaining and a truth-seeker. She mentions finding a hard copy of his work and possibly cleaning it up.
• Rick Hilberg notes Al Greenfield's prediction of a UFO event in Houston and questions whether it was real or a lucky guess, while respecting Greenfield as a researcher.
• Jim Lynch expresses delight in reading 'Saucer Smear' and mentions his experience with a crystal skull named Sparky, attributing various positive effects to it.
• Chris Allan, a semi-skeptic from England, views the Roswell case as a 'dead duck' and suggests one must either accept a government cover-up or that the ET case is a dud. He questions Dr. Jesse Marcel's motives for his book.
• Matt Graeber comments on the Mogul Balloon explanation for Roswell, suggesting that parts of a Mogul balloon train could have fallen on the Foster property and near Vaughn, consistent with wind drift data.

Miscellaneous Items

Brief, unrelated news items are included at the bottom of pages, such as 'Burglar surrendered to toy giraffe', 'Couple split after having 300 babies', and 'FBI tries to fight zombie hordes'. A short piece on 'God's dirt' is also present, as is a news item about a fire chief arrested for indecent behavior.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the Roswell Incident, the nature of evidence and testimony in UFO cases, the dynamics within the UFO research community (including feuds and skepticism), and the potential for government cover-ups. The editorial stance is generally open-minded towards UFO phenomena but critical of sensationalism, unsubstantiated claims, and what it perceives as flawed methodologies from both extreme believers and debunkers. The publication maintains a somewhat irreverent and critical tone, particularly towards organizations and individuals it disagrees with, while still engaging with the subject matter seriously.