Fakta - 1973 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: FAKTA?
Issue: 6
Volume: 1973
Date: 1973
Publisher: FAKTA?
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of FAKTA? is a journal dedicated to philosophy, physical and psychic phenomena, and unusual events. The cover features a stark image of a tower structure with a person observing, and the title "FAKTA?" with issue number 6 and the year 1973. The subtitle describes it as a "Journal for philosophy, physical and psychic phenomena and unusual events."

Editorial Content and Announcements

The "FRA RED." (From the Editor) section on page 3 and 4 reveals that FAKTA? will cease publication. The editor, Asle Overholdt, expresses sadness over the decision, attributing it to a lack of subscribers and his personal need to return to school. He thanks the readers for their support over the years and expresses hope for the magazine's potential return. A reader, Knut AAsheim, writes in to express his disappointment and thanks Overholdt for his dedicated work. The editorial also mentions the sale of the magazine's offset printing machine.

Articles and Features

"Visst spøker det" (Ghosts are certainly there)

This article explores the concept of ghosts not as spirits of the deceased, but as residual imprints of strong emotions and events left on the environment. The author suggests that these "imprints" can be felt by sensitive individuals and can linger for centuries, especially in places with less disturbance. The article contrasts this with the idea of ghosts as restless spirits, proposing that strong emotional scenes can be "replayed" and felt, often accompanied by cold and unease. It also touches upon the idea that individuals can influence their environment with their thoughts and emotions.

"Bokeksplosjon" (Book Explosion)

This piece discusses the phenomenon of a "book explosion" in the USA, where an overwhelming number of books are published annually. The article cites an article from Dagbladet, which in turn references Timothy Foote, chief of the review department at Times magazine. Foote notes that while many books are published, only a fraction are reviewed. The core issue, according to the article, is that publishers are prioritizing quantity and commercial appeal over quality, leading to a significant increase in "scrap" or low-quality content. This is driven by the economics of the publishing industry, which invests heavily in marketing and sales rather than editorial quality.

"Sporløst forsvunnet - men hvorhen?" (Disappeared Without a Trace - But Where To?)

This section details two mysterious disappearances. The first case is that of Owen Parfitt, who vanished from his wheelchair on a veranda in Shepton Mallet, England, on August 22, 1939. Despite extensive searches by local police and even Scotland Yard, no trace of him was ever found. The article emphasizes the baffling nature of his disappearance, occurring in broad daylight and without any witnesses or signs of struggle. The second case involves the disappearance of a woman and two men from a small airship on May 23, 1962, after its last radio transmission. The airship later crashed, but was found to be empty. The article questions whether individuals can leave this world without dying, highlighting these as profound mysteries.

"Mer om E. Cayce" (More about E. Cayce)

This short piece clarifies a detail regarding Edgar Cayce's predictions. It corrects an earlier statement about geographical upheavals by 1982, stating that Cayce's readings refer to the period between 1958 and 1998 AD. It also addresses a mistranslation of a prediction about Northern Europe, clarifying that the original text speaks of Europe being "changed" rather than "disappearing," suggesting geological shifts rather than complete obliteration.

Literary Overview

The magazine includes a "Litteraturoversikt" (Literary Overview) section that lists and briefly describes several related publications and organizations. These include:

• BREVCIRKELN ARCANUM: A Swedish study circle focusing on esotericism, UFOs, metaphysics, occultism, and parapsychology.
• DANSK UFO TIDSSKRIFT: A Danish UFO journal published by the Dansk UFO Center.
• DET GRØNNE BLAD & AQUARIUS: Magazines focusing on a new way of life, non-violence, and community.
• GICOFF-INFORMATION: A publication featuring UFO reports.
• INTERSTELLAR COMMUNICATION: A periodical described as philosophical, parapsychological, and space-oriented.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of FAKTA? are the unexplained, the paranormal, and the philosophical implications of unusual phenomena. The magazine appears to maintain an open-minded but analytical approach, presenting cases and theories for reader consideration. The editorial stance, as evidenced by the closure announcement, is one of dedication to the subject matter despite the challenges of maintaining readership and financial viability in Norway. The focus on UFOs, psychic phenomena, and unexplained events suggests a commitment to exploring topics outside mainstream scientific discourse.

This issue of FAKTA? magazine, dated 1974, is primarily focused on UFO phenomena, the panspermia theory, and the mysteries surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. It also serves as a directory for various UFO-related organizations and publications, mainly from Scandinavian countries.

Panspermia: Life from Space?

The lead article, "NOBELPRISTAGER HAR LANSERT FANTASTISK IDÉ: Livet til Jorden med romskip ?" (Nobel Prize Winner Has Launched Fantastic Idea: Life to Earth via Spaceship?), discusses the theory of panspermia. It begins by referencing Svante Arrhenius's (1859-1927) idea that life's first spores came from space. The article notes that this theory has been revisited and expanded upon by modern researchers. It highlights a new hypothesis from Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel, who suggest that if panspermia is true, life might not survive unprotected in space, leading to the possibility that it could have been transported to Earth via spaceships from other advanced civilizations. The article mentions that by the year 2000, humanity might possess the technological capability to land a spaceship with selected spores and microbes on a distant planet. It also touches upon the idea that other highly developed cultures might have seeded life on Earth billions of years ago. The article is attributed to Aftenposten's evening edition from October 15, 1973, and is presented as a shortened version.

The Devil's Triangle

Another significant section is dedicated to the "Djevelens Triangel" (The Devil's Triangle), also known as the Bermuda Triangle. The article, translated from an English piece by Marshall Smith in COSMOPOLITAN (September 1973), describes the area east of Miami and south of Bermuda as a region of unexplained disappearances of ships and aircraft. It notes that the US Coast Guard has records dating back to World War I of such incidents. The article details the search efforts, which are often fruitless, and the subsequent archiving of these cases. It mentions various theories proposed by "Triangle observers," including astrologers, ESP practitioners, and even a self-proclaimed witch. Key questions raised are why there are rarely last radio calls and why wreckage is never found. The article recounts the disappearance of the USS CYCLOPS in 1918 and mentions that similar events have likely occurred for centuries, with ancient explanations involving pirates. It highlights a period in 1969 when four ships were found adrift without crew within a two-week span. The article also touches upon the growing interest in the Bermuda Triangle from the media and occultists around 1950, who often attribute the events to the supernatural. It includes accounts from individuals like Jim Richardson, a taxi pilot whose colleagues have disappeared, and Kenneth Benson, an ex-pilot who notes the fear among pilots flying over the area. Three main theories are discussed: 1) The solution lies on the seabed, possibly related to a mysterious stone connected to Atlantis, as suggested by Edgar Cayce. 2) The cause is in the airspace and beyond, involving UFOs and potential alien abductions or magnetic networks. 3) A more flexible theory that blames both natural and supernatural forces, including earthquakes, weather, and even Satanic influence. The article also mentions that eyewitness reports from the Triangle are broadcast on radio station WKAT in Miami, and that zoologist J. Mansin Valentine believes he has found evidence of Atlantis north of Bimini. He has co-authored a book with Charles Berlitz on forgotten world mysteries and claims to have seen numerous UFOs. Normann Bean, an electrical engineer and UFO enthusiast, suggests that many disappearances go unreported and attributes some of the incidents to the Gulf Stream and UFO abductions. The article notes that observers often see luminous objects in the sky over Key Biscayne. A specific incident on Christmas Eve 1967 involving a yacht that disappeared after hitting something in the sea is recounted. A Norwegian sailor reported seeing luminous objects and feeling drained of energy. The article also discusses the unique compass variations in the Triangle area, referencing navigational texts like BOWDITCH. It mentions that a similar phenomenon occurs in the Pacific Ocean east of Japan, referred to by Japanese and Filipino sailors as the "Devil's Sea." The US Coast Guard officially characterizes the events as "coincidental," attributing them to the Gulf Stream and Caribbean weather. However, meteorological research is ongoing at the University of Miami, with Dr. Joanne Simpson describing the area as a "thunderstorm center."

Directory of UFO Organizations and Publications

The magazine provides a comprehensive list of UFO-related organizations and their publications, primarily from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark:

• ISIS: Based in Reykjavik, Iceland, this publication covers various life questions and is edited by Inger Schiøtt. It costs DKK 20.00 per year and is in A5 format.
• NORSK UFO FORUM: Based in Trondheim, Norway, this forum publishes in A4 format, with 15-20 pages and 5 issues per year. From 1974, it will have two editions: one with reports and another with general content. The subscription is DKK 15.00 per year for each edition. K. Stenødegård is the editor.
• SØKAREN: A Norwegian journal focusing on life philosophy, with varied content, good print quality, about 24 pages in A4 format, and 10 issues per year. The cost is SEK 34.00 per year (SEK 18.00 for half a year). Sven Magnusson is the editor.
• TELLUS: The membership journal for Malmö Interplanetariska Sällskap (Malmö Interplanetary Society) in Sweden. It covers astronomy, space research, parapsychology, philosophy, archaeology, and UFOs. It is published 6 times a year in A5 format and costs SEK 15.00 per year.
• UFO-ASPEKT: The organ of the Fredriksberg UFO Studiekreds (FUFOS) in Denmark. It is published 6 times a year in A5 format, with about 30 pages, and costs DKK 24.00 per year. Steen Landsy is the editor.
• UFO-INFORMATION: The membership journal for the national organization UFO Sverige. It covers all aspects of the UFO phenomenon. The subscription price is not listed. Carl-Axel Jonzon is the editor.
• UFOene: Published annually in A5 format. The price is unknown, but a sample issue costs DKK 3.00. H.C. Petersen is the editor.
• UFOLOGEN: Based in Sweden, this publication deals with UFO reports. It is published 6 times a year in A4 format, with about 16 pages, and costs SEK 25.00 per year. Håkan Blomqvist is the editor.
• UFO-NYT: Based in Denmark, this publication handles UFO reports and is the organ for Scandinavian UFO Information. It is published 6 times a year in A5 format, with about 40 pages. The subscription price is DKK 35.00 per year.
• UNIVERSUM: A quarterly journal of 40-50 pages covering a wide spectrum of topics. The subscription costs DKK 22.40. V.J. Brøndegaard and Povl Strube are the editors.
• FLYING SAUCER REVIEW: An English UFO journal covering almost all aspects of the UFO phenomenon. It is published 6 times a year with about 32 pages and costs £2.40. It is published by F.S.R. PUBLICATIONS LTD. in London.

The magazine also lists several publishers:

• PARTHENON: Helsingborg, Sweden.
• STRUBES FORLAG: Copenhagen, Denmark.
• VALBY ANTIKVARIAT & BOGIMPORT: Valby, Denmark.
• BORGENS FORLAG: Copenhagen, Denmark. This publisher has released literature of interest to FAKTA?'s readers, including "FANTASTISKE VIRKELIGHED" by Pauwels and Bergier, and "MENNESKEHEDEN MELLEM LIV OG DØD" by Filip Stenson.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the scientific and speculative aspects of life's origins (panspermia), the unexplained phenomena of the Bermuda Triangle, and the broader field of UFO research and parapsychology. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various theories and information from different sources, including scientific, anecdotal, and speculative accounts, without necessarily endorsing any single viewpoint. The magazine acts as a hub for information exchange within the UFO and paranormal community, particularly in Scandinavia.