SUNlite - Vol 01 No 01

Magazine Overview

SUN LITE, Volume 1, Number 1, published May-June 2009, is a new magazine dedicated to shedding light on ufology and UFOs from a skeptical perspective. The cover features a sunset and a quote from Dr. Richard Feynman suggesting that UFO reports are more likely due to terrestrial intelligence than extraterrestrial. The magazine aims to fill the void left by the cessation of Phil Klass's 'Skeptics UFO Newsletter' following his passing.

Editorial Stance and Mission

Editor Tim Printy explains that SUN LITE is intended as a 'lighter version' of SUN, offering a skeptical examination of UFO cases and opinions. He emphasizes the importance of objective reporting, free from conspiracy theories and wild claims. While open to articles from 'the other side of the aisle,' the expectation is for them to be fact-based and well-reasoned. The magazine is distributed in PDF format, prioritizing electronic accessibility.

Key Articles and Features

The Phil Klass Almost Nobody Knew

Gary P. Posner writes about the lesser-known aspects of Philip J. Klass's personality, highlighting his courtesy and willingness to share his extensive files with researchers, even those who disagreed with him. The article includes a poignant 'last will and testament' attributed to Klass, expressing a belief that UFOlogists will never truly understand UFOs.

Who's Blogging UFOs?

This section reviews various blogs focusing on ufology and related topics. It discusses Kevin Randle's blog, his commentary on Phil Plait's views, and Frank Warren's 'UFO Chronicles,' which covers a wide range of stories, including Robert Bigelow's funding of MUFON. Billy Cox's 'De Void' blog is criticized for its one-sided perspective. Kentaro Mori's 'Forgetomori' blog is noted for analyzing paranormal stories, including a 'flying triangle' sighting in Chile that was later identified as military aircraft. Phil Plait's 'Bad Astronomer' blog is mentioned for its focus on scientific events and debunking hoaxes. Paul Kimball's blog, though retired from the UFO field, is also mentioned. The article also touches upon UFOFU (a French blog), Ufology Research (Chris Rutkowski), Dr. David Clarke's blog on MOD files, and Skepticblog, which features Phil Plait and Brian Dunning.

The Roswell Corner

This section critically examines various aspects of the Roswell Incident. It discusses new 'witnesses' and the efforts of investigators like Kevin Randle to promote their narratives. The article debunks claims made by Randle regarding Professor Charles Moore's calculations and highlights inconsistencies in the accounts of Patrick Saunders. It also addresses the repetitive nature of arguments used by Roswell proponents and critiques Dennis Balthasar's selective use of 'facts' in his arguments against skeptics. The section also delves into the military records of Jesse Marcel Sr., revealing discrepancies with his public statements about his wartime exploits and education, and questions the validity of his testimony regarding the Roswell debris.

Jesse Marcel - The Evolution of a Roswell Witness

Bruce Hutchinson details the transformation of Jesse Marcel Sr. from a seemingly credible witness to a figure whose testimony became increasingly questionable. The article contrasts Marcel's original account with later, more sensationalized versions presented by other 'storytellers' in books like 'UFO Crash at Roswell' and 'The Truth About the UFO Crash at Roswell.' It highlights how Marcel's early assertions about the debris and his military service were often ignored or contradicted by later accounts, relegating him to a historical footnote until a renewed effort to promote him as a key witness.

The Big Sur UFO Lives Again!

This article revisits the Big Sur UFO case, which was previously debunked by Kingston George. Robert Hastings is criticized for re-hashing the case with minor points to suggest it remains unexplained, while also implying that George, Phil Klass, and Kendrick Frazier are government stooges. Hastings's defense of his work in online forums is described as evasive, leading to his ban for spamming his book.

The Arizona UFOs - Twelve Years Later

The article discusses the Arizona UFO videos, which are largely attributed to flares dropped over the Barry Goldwater test range. It addresses conspiracy theories suggesting these flares were intended to distract from a V-shaped formation of lights observed earlier. The author notes that even explanations involving aircraft formations are often rejected by witnesses and investigators, who seem unwilling to accept anything other than an extraterrestrial explanation.

The ISS is Causing UFO Reports

This brief section suggests that reports of UFOs are sometimes caused by the International Space Station (ISS), implying that a lack of public awareness about the ISS's activities leads to misidentification.

Whatever Happened To...

This section briefly touches upon various UFO-related topics, including the 'Morristown UFO hoax' and the 'Condon study.'

Another UFO Chase

This brief mention refers to a UFO chase, likely related to one of the cases discussed elsewhere.

Bill Birnes and Peter Davenport Taken In by UFO Hoax

This article criticizes Bill Birnes and Peter Davenport for being misled by a UFO hoax, suggesting a lack of critical evaluation on their part.

Just the Facts

This is a brief, standalone statement or section, the content of which is not detailed in the provided text.

The Illusionists

This section likely discusses how certain phenomena or claims are presented in a way that creates an illusion of evidence or truth, possibly related to UFOlogy.

E-mails to the Editor

This section is a placeholder for reader correspondence, indicating a forum for feedback and discussion.

What Has 60 Years of UFO Research Accomplished?

This article likely provides a critical assessment of the progress and findings of UFO research over six decades, probably concluding that little verifiable evidence has emerged.

UFOs on the Tube - UFO Hunters

This section discusses the television show 'UFO Hunters,' likely offering a skeptical review of its content and approach.

Book Reviews: Buy it, borrow it, bin it

This is a standard review section where books related to ufology are discussed, with recommendations on whether to purchase, borrow, or discard them.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overarching theme of SUN LITE is skepticism towards UFO claims and the practices of UFOlogists. The magazine emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, factual evidence, and objective analysis. It highlights instances where UFOlogists may misinterpret data, rely on flawed testimonies, or promote unsubstantiated theories. The editorial stance is to provide a platform for reasoned debate and to challenge the prevailing narratives within ufology, often by contrasting them with scientific explanations or by pointing out logical fallacies and inconsistencies in witness accounts and investigative methods. The magazine also seems to champion the work of debunkers and skeptics who have contributed to the field, such as Phil Klass and Phil Plait.

This issue of Kowflop Quarterly, dated December 8, 1995, focuses on critically examining UFOlogy and specific incidents, particularly the Roswell Incident. The main cover story, "The Greatest Secret Never Kept," delves into the controversy surrounding Major Jesse Marcel and the Roswell crash, questioning the narrative that has evolved over decades and suggesting that the pursuit of truth has been overshadowed by vested interests, tourism, and the desire for fame.

The Greatest Secret Never Kept

The article begins by addressing a renewed effort to resurrect the credibility of Major Jesse Marcel Jr. and his father's story about the Roswell Incident. It criticizes tactics used to defend Marcel's narrative, such as dismissing critics as 'debunkers' or 'messengers.' The author suggests that the 'Storytellers' are reluctant to abandon the exciting elements of the Roswell saga, even if they contradict other accounts. The core of the argument is that the Roswell Incident has become so powerful and alluring that the truth is no longer sought or admitted, benefiting the town of Roswell through tourism, witnesses through fame, investigators through adulation and royalties, and UFO organizations through newfound respectability.

The narrative questions Jesse Marcel's account of discovering the crashed spaceship, noting that he only heard about it from the sheriff's office and was sent with Sheridan Cavitt by Colonel Blanchard. It highlights that Marcel initially showed the debris to his wife and son, but later instructed his son not to talk about it, suggesting a lack of initial security concern. The article posits that for thirty years, the story of the crashed spaceship remained largely unknown, even to Presidents, due to the 'gestapo-like tactics' employed by the Military Police under Major Edwin Easley, who allegedly intimidated residents to ensure silence.

However, the article suggests that Easley's control did not extend to Louisiana, where Jesse Marcel Sr. reportedly told friends about recovering a crashed UFO in 1947. This casual sharing of information is presented as the catalyst for the Roswell story breaking. The author implies that a 'special group' tasked with keeping the secret became complacent, failing to prevent Marcel from speaking about it.

As years passed, more witnesses emerged, and the 'cabal' allegedly engaged in damage control by planting information in archives to suggest a mundane explanation, such as a balloon project. The article concludes this section by stating that the 'greatest secret never kept' can now be told, portraying Jesse Marcel Sr. as a courageous figure who exposed the truth, despite being a 'bumbling Major' who 'goofed.' The shrine in Roswell is presented as a testament to his courage.

Big surprise: The ISS causes UFO reports

This section discusses how the International Space Station (ISS) is frequently mistaken for UFOs. Reports from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) for March 2009 indicate several sightings that appear to be ISS passes, including in Chicago, Ohio, Utah, and California. Witnesses describe the ISS as extremely bright, accelerating rapidly, and difficult to track with binoculars. The author notes that the ISS moves about a degree per second, requiring only 5-10 seconds to cross a typical binocular field of view. The article suggests that witnesses who have seen numerous 'craft' like this may be confusing satellites for UFOs.

One witness who checked the ISS schedule on 'Heavens-above' found that the station's pass matched their sighting. The ISS can indeed appear brighter than Venus and illuminate clouds, creating an eerie effect. The author recommends considering the ISS as a common source of UFO reports and advises checking 'Heavens-above' for ISS events.

Another UFO "chase"

This piece recounts a UFO report from Peter Davenport's NUFORC website about a man in Pennsylvania who saw two bright lights in the sky on November 28, 2008. The lights were estimated to be only a few hundred feet off the ground and appeared to be moving. The man drove about 25 miles to follow them before losing sight of them. He was convinced they were not stars due to their brilliance.

The author easily solves this mystery, suggesting the lights were Venus and Jupiter. Peter Davenport also suspected this, noting that the man drove southwest, the direction where the planets were located. Venus and Jupiter set before 8 PM, explaining their disappearance. The author concludes that the man was simply curious and did not check an astronomy website or contact an amateur astronomy club for an explanation.

The Trindade research project?

This short section questions the progress of Brad Sparks' "Trindade Research Project" on UFO Updates, initiated in 2003 to analyze a specific UFO case and silence 'debunkers.' After six years, the lack of substantial reports suggests the project is not moving forward, leading the author to remark, "Where have I heard that story before?"

The independent study of the "Ramey memo"?

In 2002, Kevin Randle and James Houran wrote an article in the International UFO Reporter suggesting that three independent laboratories should investigate the document held by General Ramey. The author laments the lack of progress, implying that UFOlogy is not interested in such studies, which contributes to Roswell remaining a 'mystery.'

Bill Birnes and Peter Davenport taken in by UFO hoax

This article criticizes Bill Birnes and Peter Davenport for their handling of a UFO hoax orchestrated by Joe Rudy and Chris Russo. The hoax involved launching helium-filled balloons with burning road flares, which Rudy and Russo claimed was a test of UFOlogists. The author notes that while the police identified it as a prank, some UFOlogists, including Davenport and Birnes, supported the case. The hoaxers even appeared on television as eyewitnesses, which the author deems unethical for an experiment.

The article details how Bill Birnes canvassed witnesses and presented the flare explanation as 'implausible,' suggesting the lights were from a 'huge triangular craft.' It also mentions that the hoax video was shown at an Illinois MUFON symposium. The author questions why MUFON's Illinois state director, Sam Maranto, was unaware of a MUFON report identifying the case as a hoax, suggesting a potential bias due to Maranto's support for similar videos.

The author argues that modern UFO investigators are more gullible due to the Internet and media, unlike in the 1960s. They are reluctant to be labeled 'debunkers' and tend to exaggerate claims, leading them to fall for hoaxes. The article compares the Rudy and Russo hoax to a similar event reported in Time Magazine on April 8, 1966, demonstrating that UFOlogists can be blinded by witness testimony without critical examination. The author concludes that the hoaxers were sentenced to community service for releasing balloons that posed a threat to low-flying aircraft.

Just the facts

This piece defines 'fact' in the context of UFOlogy, arguing that many proponents misunderstand the term. A fact is something that most reasonable people can agree upon and not dispute. The author uses the example of Kevin Randle's claim about handling exotic debris from Roswell, stating that it is a fact that Randle made the claim, but not a fact that the debris was alien. Proof, the author explains, is established when evidence is used to verify claims, and without testing, such claims remain unproven.

The article criticizes UFOlogists for confusing facts, evidence, and proof. Anecdotal testimony from witnesses is considered evidence, but it only establishes that a witness claims to have seen something, not that it actually happened. The author emphasizes that many UFO reports are not facts but rather claims that require verification.

The Illusionists

This article, written by Matthew Graeber, critiques the UFO phenomenon as a 'dog and pony show' or 'illusion' that captivates imaginations. The author argues that UFOlogists, or 'Grand Illusionists,' have never produced tangible evidence of UFOs, such as actual saucers or alien creatures. Instead, they lead followers through cycles of expectation and mystery.

With the help of the media, UFOlogists have spread sensational stories of crashed saucers and government cover-ups, which the author dismisses as 'smoke and mirrors.' Unlike magicians, UFO experts rely on their self-appointed status, which is threatened if their 'illusion' is exposed. The article points to the New Jersey hoax (road flares and balloons) as an example of how UFOlogists readily fall for such tricks, demonstrating that they are 'UFOologists' who readily take the bait.

The author suggests that UFOlogy is destined to 'sputter and fizzle-out' as the Internet exposes the illusion. The New Jersey hoaxers proved their point, showing that illusionists are not always immediately recognizable. The article notes that the hoaxers were sentenced to community service for their prank.

E-mails to the editor

This section presents a collection of fictional emails to the editor, simulating common viewpoints within the UFO community. These include:

• Debunker!: A believer in UFOs who claims to have been in the Army and learned about cover-ups, asserting a spaceship crashed at Roswell.
• They weren't flares!: A skeptic who rejects the explanation that flares caused the Phoenix UFO videos, stating they have seen the videos hundreds of times and flares don't look like that.
• Missing time: An individual claiming multiple abductions and possessing pictures of spaceships, offering to share their book.
• Exaggeration: An angry UFOlogist who claims their database contains millions of unsolved UFO stories and accuses debunkers of exaggeration.
• USAF =liars: A former USAF member who claims the military teaches people to lie and uses this ability to trick debunkers.
• Project Mogul......pfffffttt: A proponent of a grand conspiracy regarding Roswell, who dismisses Project Mogul as irrelevant and claims a 'no-fly' zone existed over the Foster ranch, making it impossible for balloons to have landed there.
• CSI Lover!: A critic who finds an article about Big Sur factually flawed, questioning the author's knowledge of orbital versus sub-orbital differences.
• MJ-12: A believer who claims the government has created a massive UFO cover-up since Roswell, citing MJ-12 documents as proof and inviting people to a lecture for more information (requiring payment).
• Lack of respect: A UFO 'experiencer' who claims to have seen a large, close UFO, experienced missing time, and believes thousands of people missed the event. They also mention their team won a game that night.

UFOs on the tube

This section reviews the History Channel's show "UFO Hunters," criticizing its lack of scientific rigor. The author finds the show's "scientific experiments" to be flawed and unconvincing. Examples include:

1. Simulating Arizona UFO videos: Using maritime safety flares over a harbor, which the author argues are different from the original sighting and at different altitudes. A proper test, the author suggests, would involve observing the Barry Goldwater test range with cameras from a distance.
2. Testing Roswell debris: A piece of debris found at a supposed crash site was determined to be plastic, but the show highlighted that this type of plastic was not available in 1947. The author points out that debris found on the ground doesn't have to be from the 1947 timeframe and could have been dropped more recently.
3. Testing abductee blood: Two potential abductees showed similar blood chemistry results, but no blind experiments were conducted to see if non-abducted individuals had the same traces. The doctor involved reportedly took a neutral stance and made no conclusions.

The author describes Bill Birnes as a gullible and ridiculous investigator, citing his acceptance of an ex-marine's claims about UFOs and his boasting about having documentation of an Army Officer time-traveling twenty years into the future. The show is deemed not investigative journalism but rather a distortion of history, with the author suggesting it should end with the "Looney Tunes" theme song.

Book Reviews

This section provides reviews of three UFO-related books:

• Buy it! (No UFO library should do without it): Allan Hendry's "The UFO Investigators Handbook." The author highly recommends this book, stating it is honest about the pitfalls of UFO sightings and a guide for investigating UFO events. It is noted as being out of print but available in used bookstores and libraries.
• Borrow it. (Worth checking out of library or borrowing from a friend): Don Schmitt and Kevin Randle's "UFO Crash at Roswell." Despite acknowledging flaws, the author considers it an important document for the Roswell saga, containing valuable witness statements made before contamination became an issue. The timing of these interviews is highlighted as significant, predating widespread public awareness and financial incentives.
• Bin it! (Not worth the paper it is written upon - send to recycle bin): Philip Corso and William Birnes' "The Day After Roswell." The author dismisses this book as full of "wild stories" about Corso using Roswell debris to change human history and create modern electronics. Corso is characterized as a modern-day "Walter Mitty," and the author questions why ex-military officers feel the need to inflate their resumes with such tales.

What has 60 years of UFO research accomplished?

This article, referencing Allan Hendry's "UFO Investigator's Handbook," argues that UFOlogy has made no significant advancements in sixty years. The author contends that unless new methodologies are developed, the next thirty years will mirror the futility of the past. UFOlogists collect reports and conclude that UFOs are intelligently controlled craft, often implying alien spaceships without identifying the controllers.

The article discusses Peter Sturrock's attempt to have scientists examine UFO evidence, noting that the panel was unimpressed and commented on the low standards of research. While Sturrock trumpeted the panel's critique of the Condon report, the panel ultimately agreed that nothing had been learned from studying UFOs.

The author criticizes UFOlogy for chasing grand conspiracies and various crash stories without producing any verifiable evidence of recovered craft. The government's alleged ability to hide everything is mentioned, but no documents confirm the recovery of anything exotic. The article also addresses 'trace evidence' from UFO landings, noting that most samples are analyzed by amateurs, not scientific organizations, and that the results are not completely inexplicable.

Abduction stories are explained as potential sleep disorders, and the author points out that UFOlogists declined to present evidence to the PBS program NOVA in the 1990s, suggesting a fear of having their evidence tested. The article also criticizes 'UFO coin collectors' who gather reports without critically evaluating them.

The author questions MUFON's use of funds for special teams, given the lack of cases producing evidence. They suggest that UFOlogy should establish all-sky video coverage, similar to amateur astronomers monitoring meteors, to gather actual data. This would involve multiple cameras with overlapping fields of view, potentially mobile for focusing on areas of increased UFO activity. The author believes such research would be used to debunk UFO sightings, which UFOlogists would likely not be interested in.

Ultimately, the article concludes that UFOlogy needs to change its approach, as continuing the same methods will yield the same results. It questions whether UFOlogy seeks real data for scientists or is content with perpetuating a mystery to sell books and gain media attention.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFOlogy, the questioning of witness credibility, and the exposure of hoaxes. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, advocating for rigorous scientific investigation and evidence-based conclusions. The authors challenge the prevailing narratives within UFO circles, particularly concerning the Roswell Incident, and highlight the tendency for UFOlogy to rely on anecdotal evidence, conspiracy theories, and sensationalism rather than verifiable proof. There is a strong emphasis on distinguishing between claims, evidence, and facts, and a call for greater intellectual honesty and scientific rigor within the field. The issue also points to natural phenomena and deliberate hoaxes as common explanations for reported UFO sightings.