Saucer Smear - Vol 59 No 06 - 2012

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 59, No. 6 (Whole No. 452)
Date: July 15th, 2012
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of Saucer Smear, a publication dedicated to ufological journalism, features a range of articles and commentary on UFO phenomena, paranormal events, and skeptical investigations. The cover highlights a 'Mystery Airship' from an early UFO flap.

Featured Articles and Commentary

Timothy Green Beckley's New Book

The issue reviews Timothy Green Beckley's latest book, "The Secret Space Program: Who is Responsible? Tesla? The Nazis? NASA? or a Breakaway Civilization." The book features contributions from Sean Casteel, Tim Swartz, and 'Commander X'. It poses questions about Nazi involvement in space programs and Nikola Tesla's role. While the review suggests the answers are likely negative, it encourages readers to consult the book for details. The review also notes an illustration related to the famous 1896-1897 UFO flap, which is considered by researchers like Jerry Clark to be genuinely mysterious.

James Randi's 'Million Dollar Challenge'

A significant portion of the magazine addresses issues surrounding magician and debunker James Randi and his 'Million Dollar Challenge'. The article details a case involving Randi's companion, Deyvi Pena, who used a stolen identity and received a lenient sentence. The 'Fatal Flaw' of the challenge is discussed, highlighting that even if a claimant proves paranormal abilities, the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) would not acknowledge the supernatural. The article also critiques the difficulty of proving paranormal abilities to a degree that would satisfy skeptics, suggesting that such powers, if they exist, are not reliably demonstrable enough to win Randi's challenge.

Nick Redfern and the 'Men in Black'

Ufologist Nick Redfern is featured in an article discussing alleged 'Men in Black' (MIB) interference. Redfern reports experiencing telephone interference whenever he discusses the MIB phenomenon, particularly during a radio interview. The article questions whether these glitches are deliberate attempts to silence him or simply technical issues.

The Aztec UFO Crash Story Reexamined

This issue dedicates a substantial section to re-examining the 1948 Aztec, New Mexico UFO crash story, first popularized by Frank Scully. The article presents evidence from a 1991 'International UFO Reporter' piece by William Jones and Rebecca Minshall, and references other researchers like Jerry Clark, Scott Ramsey, and Paul Kimball, who largely consider the Aztec case a hoax. The article critiques Scully's account, particularly his 'System of Nines' theory, and notes that local residents in Aztec are certain no crash occurred. It suggests that the story has become part of Aztec's folklore rather than its history. The authors also mention their own past investigation in 1953-1954, which included interviewing Frank Scully and Silas Newton, and note that they dismissed the Aztec case as a hoax at the time.

Other Commentary and Reviews

• Fortean Times: The magazine provides a free advertisement for 'Fortean Times', a monthly publication focusing on strange phenomena, founded by Bob Rickard. It praises 'Fortean Times' for its research and dispassionate weird-watching.
• James Carrion's Theory: The article discusses James Carrion's theory that flying saucers, including the Roswell incident, were government-created hoaxes intended to deceive the Soviets. The magazine's editors express disagreement with Carrion's viewpoint, noting his resignation from MUFON.
• Rick Hilberg: A letter from Rick Hilberg recalls 1950s UFO sightings in Europe, particularly France.
• Hal Pattee: Hal Pattee offers a skeptical view on the Fatima miracle and discusses the 'sealed prophecy' related to Vatican officials.
• Anthony Braglia: Braglia defends the Roswell 'Dream Team' against accusations of dishonesty from Tim Printy, emphasizing their commitment to truth.
• Tim Printy: Printy responds to Stanton Friedman, expressing skepticism about alien spaceship evidence and noting that a prominent 'top ten UFO case' was debunked as a re-entering rocket booster.
• Jerry Clark: Clark shares his approach to new claims, advocating for modesty and provisional hypotheses due to the complexity of phenomena.
• Public Opinion: A statistic from the National Geographic Channel indicates that 80 million Americans believe UFOs exist, with many not fearing an alien invasion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a stance of critical inquiry, often leaning towards skepticism regarding extraordinary claims while acknowledging the genuinely mysterious aspects of some UFO sightings. The editors express a preference for evidence-based investigation and are critical of what they perceive as sensationalism or unsubstantiated theories. There is a clear emphasis on debunking hoaxes and exposing fraudulent claims, as seen in the extensive coverage of James Randi and the critique of the Aztec story. The magazine also touches upon the broader cultural and psychological factors that contribute to belief in UFOs and the paranormal. The editorial stance is one of 'benevolent skepticism' towards both orthodox and unorthodox views, aiming to explore the frontiers between the known and the unknown without adhering to any single party line.