Azimut Zahad - 2016 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: AZIMUT ZÁHAD
Issue: 1 (13), Ročník VII.
Date: January 2016
Publisher: AZIMUT ZÁHAD
Country: Slovakia
Language: Slovak

This issue of Azimut Záhad, an online magazine dedicated to mysteries and secrets, presents a diverse range of intriguing topics, from historical enigmas and unexplained phenomena to the activities of UFO research organizations.

Úvodné slovo (Introductory Word)

The editorial, penned by Martin Toth, reflects on the quarter-century existence of their research movement. It highlights the intention to delve into the archives and revisit long-forgotten yet unresolved questions, suggesting a focus on historical mysteries and persistent enigmas.

Kto riadi naše mozgy? (Who Controls Our Brains?)

This article explores the concept of synchronicity and unexplained coincidences. It poses the question of whether our actions are guided by an external force or if these events are merely random occurrences. Several anecdotes are presented, including:

• A young architect in London who was saved from a suicide attempt by a train stopping just in time.
• Theodore Rozsak, who inexplicably hummed a John Lennon song while Lennon himself passed by.
• A tragic coincidence where a child drowned in a pond, mirroring a fictional scene involving actors Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland.

The author suggests that our brains may hold more answers than we currently understand, and that synchronicity remains a locked room of mystery.

Africká Atlantída (African Atlantis)

This feature delves into the legend and history of Timbuktu, a city in Mali, once a rich trading hub and a center of Islamic learning. Founded by the Tuareg in the 12th century, Timbuktu was famed for its wealth, attracting European explorers who sought its treasures. Despite its legendary status, the first European to reach it and return was René Caillié in 1830. The article describes the city's decline and its current remote state, mentioning the threat of destruction to its historical sites and the ongoing search for its lost treasures.

Kto bol Jack Rozparovač? (Who Was Jack the Ripper?)

The article revisits the infamous case of Jack the Ripper, the serial killer who terrorized London in 1888. It discusses the ongoing fascination with his identity, with over 200 suspects proposed, including royalty. A recent theory suggests the killer might have been a woman, based on DNA analysis from saliva found on envelopes. The piece also touches upon the victims and speculates on possible motives, questioning whether the killer was acting alone.

Magická sila netvorov? (The Magical Power of Monsters?)

This section explores the possibility of prehistoric creatures still existing in hidden parts of our planet. It references legends from various cultures and presents modern-day sightings:

• A report from Texas in 1976 about a bat-like creature with a four-meter wingspan.
• A sighting in 1983 of a pterodactyl-like creature near the Mexican border.
• The discovery of a fossilized Pteranodon in Texas with a sixteen-meter wingspan.
• A sighting of a large, prehistoric-looking bird over Egypt.
• The rediscovery of the coelacanth, a fish thought to be extinct for millions of years.

The article questions whether humanity might yet encounter biological sensations that connect us to prehistoric times.

Jantárová komnata (The Amber Room)

This article recounts the history and mystery of the Amber Room, a chamber decorated with amber panels, originally created for the Prussian King Frederick William I and later gifted to Tsar Peter the Great of Russia. Stolen by German soldiers in 1941, it was dismantled and shipped to Königsberg (Kaliningrad). Its fate after that remains unknown, with theories suggesting it was either lost during the war or destroyed in a fire. The article mentions the ongoing search for the lost treasure and the reward offered for its discovery, as well as the construction of a replica in the Catherine Palace.

Nález z Cluj Napoca (Discovery from Cluj Napoca)

In 1974, near Cluj Napoca, Romania, workers discovered three small objects alongside the bones of a mastodon. While two were identified as bone fragments, the third was a metallic object, 20.2 cm long, made of a complex alloy primarily of aluminum (89%). The analysis indicated it was a modern material, possibly a component of a flying machine, with its presence alongside million-year-old bones posing a significant enigma. The article references a Daily Mail article suggesting this could be evidence of ancient UFO visits.

Čo nového v MUFON? (What's New at MUFON?)

This piece discusses the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), the largest amateur UFO research organization. It details MUFON's efforts to modernize its image and recruit new members, with its director Jan Harzon likening its activities to 'The X-Files.' The article notes that while MUFON claims to conduct scientific research, its approach is often criticized as lacking rigor, with many cases being anecdotal or difficult to verify due to single witnesses and incomplete data. It also touches upon MUFON facing accusations of being involved in government conspiracies and promoting 'Exopolitics.'

Rady počas celoeurópskej epidémie čiernej smrti v 14. storočí (Advice During the Pan-European Black Death Epidemic in the 14th Century)

This section humorously presents a list of bizarre and unscientific remedies from the 14th century, such as smelling flowers, avoiding cold lettuce, drinking vinegar, and washing with urine. It concludes by ironically remarking on how little alternative medicine has changed since the Middle Ages.

Ako prebiehalo stretnutie PHOENIX? (How Did the PHOENIX Meeting Go?)

This article reports on a meeting organized by SAVPJ o.z. for enthusiasts of unexplained mysteries, held from July 15-17, 2016. The event featured various speakers and topics, including "Hydrogen, Semiconductors, and Cosmic Medicine" by Aleš Rumler, and "Nine Mysteries of the Past" by Rudolf Irša, which discussed sea levels before the Santorini eruption. Other presentations covered topics like the 'Aljošenka' entity, the legend of Bruncvík, UFOs, and mysterious art.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of mystery, the unexplained, and historical enigmas. There's a clear interest in ancient civilizations, lost treasures, unsolved crimes, and potential evidence of extraterrestrial or advanced ancient technologies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting various theories and historical accounts without necessarily endorsing any single explanation. The inclusion of both historical mysteries and contemporary UFO research suggests a broad scope within the realm of the unexplained.

Title: AZIMUT ZÁHAD
Issue: 1 (13)
Date: January 2016
Publisher: Azimut záhad
Country: Slovakia
Language: Slovak
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Article: Jak se Kollár mýlil (How Kollár Was Mistaken)

This article critically examines the linguistic theories of Jan Kollár, a prominent figure known for his work "Slávy dcera" (Daughter of Glory). While acknowledging his literary merits, the author focuses on his controversial philological ideas. Kollár advocated for replacing the term 'Slované' with 'Slávové' and proposed that the 'daughter of glory' in his poem referred to the daughter of the Slavs, not glory itself. His linguistic arguments often surprised his contemporaries, such as deriving the name 'Poláci' (Poles) from the word 'phallus'.

Kollár's theories extended to claiming Slavic roots in numerous European geographical names, particularly in England and Italy. He posited that ancient Italy was essentially Slavic, with its inhabitants being 'Vlachoslávové' (Vlach-Slavs), and that Latin was a Slavic language. He believed Slavs migrated to Europe from India, bringing with them customs like the worship of Shiva.

His views were met with resistance, as he perceived widespread animosity towards Slavs and his advocacy for them. This led him to see 'adversity and injustice' everywhere. By 1844, during his second visit to Italy, he had become completely and uncritically devoted to the idea of Pan-Slavism. His appointment as an extraordinary professor of Slavic Archaeology in April 1849, following the establishment of a new department, was seen as a reward for his contributions to resolving issues in the region.

Following the 1848 revolution (and Bach's and Stadion's reorganization of schools), Kollár, who had been living in Pešť (Budapest), did not wish to return there. He was appointed to learned societies across Europe, including Prague, Krakow, Zagreb, Belgrade, Szczecin, Moscow, and Odessa. In August 1850, he received the Order of Franz Joseph I and lectured his few students in German.

In 1853, a year after his death, his major work, 'Staroitalia slavjanská' (Slavic Old Italy), was published. This 900-page book, with 400 illustrations, argued that Italy had always been Slavic. He supported this with etymological derivations, such as: 'Vitalija' (Italy) from 'Vít' (victory) or 'Svantovít'; 'Tiber' from 'zubr' (bison); 'Campania' from 'Kopanja'; 'Latium' from 'Volotje' (meaning 'vůj' - ox, hence 'Vlachoslávové' or 'Volochové'); 'Etrusk' from 'tur' (aurochs); 'Apeniny' from 'Oheniny' (volcanoes emitting fire); 'Vcesuv' from 'Žežov' (glowing lava); 'Pompeje' from 'Popely' (ashes); 'Heculaneum' from 'Hor-sluno' (hot sun); and 'Roma' from 'ur-umo' (aurochs goddess). He also believed Slavs brought customs like Shiva worship from India.

Kollár's magnum opus received little acclaim, which he perhaps did not anticipate. He expected no positive reception from Germans or Italians regarding their supposed Slavic origins. The book, printed in a thousand copies, was expensive and largely unsellable, eventually being distributed to schools.

Article: Čo je nové v slovenskej záhadologii? (What's New in Slovak Ufology?)

This section discusses the current state of ufology in Slovakia, characterizing it as a field divided between rational approaches and pure fantasy and charlatanism. The author notes that this is not unique to Slovakia and compares the situation to widening scissors, questioning if they will eventually break.

The article reviews recent events from the past year. A significant event was the international conference "Energia života" (Energy of Life) held from April 1-3, 2016, in Bratislava, which focused on topics like pyramids and was described as a playground for fantasists. The conference, organized by "Naša svetelná o.z." (Our Luminous Association), was closed to the public, and information from within did not leak out, which the author suggests might be for the best, given the discouraging names of participants and speakers (e.g., Osmanagič, Klaus Dona, V. Uvarov, Blochová).

Another event was the PHOENIX conference in Zázrivá on July 15-17, 2016, organized by SAVPJ. However, it was noted that few Slovak participants attended, with the reason for this being unclear. SAVPJ had also planned an excursion to Uhrovec Castle, but it was canceled.

A positive development in research efforts is highlighted with Jozef Petrík's explanation of a 'gravitational anomaly' near Lačnov as an optical illusion. The author praises SAVJP for addressing problems directly.

Regarding new publications, Gabriela Slováková's book "Zo života duchov" (From the Life of Ghosts), which contains cases of encounters with ghosts, is mentioned.

The magazine also reflects on the longevity of the publication 'XParanormál', noting that two years after its first issue, it's unclear if anything new will emerge, as even websites are declining and new materials are scarce.

There's a general observation that the organizational life of UFO clubs is fading, with only remnants of active contact possibly maintained by the Trnava UFO club, based on their website announcements.

An event at the ARTFÓRUM bookstore in Bratislava on October 4, 2016, featured a talk by Dr. Muldašev, organized by the Medical Society of Natural Medicine. This talk preceded the XX. Interdisciplinary Medical Congress of Natural Medicine, grandly titled 'Medicine of the Future'. Muldašev is known for his pseudoscientific theories about the origins of humans in Tibet, claiming the entire 'human gene pool' originates from Atlantis.

Finally, the article mentions a commentator named Peter "Insider" who shares his views on world events related to ufology via the Czech "Svobodné vysílač" (Free Transmitter). His claims include that the assassinated Russian ambassador in Turkey was not human, that there are 'super soldiers', that humans can transition to the 5th dimension, and that numerous alien races inhabit Earth. The author dismisses these as "nonsense squared."

The section concludes by reiterating that Slovak ufology is complex and the divide is widening.

Other Content

The magazine includes a visual element depicting scientific skepticism versus blabber and phantasmagoria, represented by a pair of scissors.

It also provides publication details: Azimut záhad is a non-periodic online magazine for Slovak researchers and ufologists. Issue 1 (13) was published in December 2016. The editor is Martin Toth, with graphic design by Jakub Cepník and language correction by Willant Zoltán and others. Submissions can be sent to [email protected]. The magazine can be downloaded for free from the website of the Club of Psychotronics and UFO in the Slovak Republic (KPUFO.EU/SK). Reproduction of any material requires editorial consent.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to adopt a critical and skeptical stance towards pseudoscientific claims, particularly in the realm of ufology and historical linguistics, as exemplified by the critique of Jan Kollár's theories and the analysis of Slovak ufology. It contrasts 'scientific skepticism' with 'blabber and phantasmagoria', suggesting a preference for evidence-based investigation. The publication aims to provide a platform for researchers while also highlighting and questioning unsubstantiated or fantastical theories. The editorial stance seems to favor rational inquiry and critical analysis of paranormal and fringe topics.