Houston Sky - no 09 - Feb-Mar 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: HOUSTON SKY
Issue: No. 9
Date: February/March 1996
Publisher: Houston Sky
Type: Bimonthly UFO Newsletter for Houston-Area MUFON Members and Others.

A Response to NOVA by Budd Hopkins

Budd Hopkins, a renowned UFO abduction researcher, penned a strong rebuttal to the February 27, 1996, NOVA television special titled "Kidnapped by Aliens?" Hopkins, who was invited to participate in the program's development, expresses deep disappointment with how the phenomenon and his work were misrepresented. He criticizes NOVA for abandoning objectivity, balance, and scientific rigor, likening the program to sensationalist tabloid television designed for Sweeps Week ratings.

Hopkins refutes astronomer Carl Sagan's assertion that abduction accounts are delusions or hallucinations, noting that Sagan has not conducted his own investigations. He criticizes NOVA for not offering abductees psychological tests or psychiatric interviews, instead presenting preselected material to 'experts' who had never met the witnesses. Hopkins highlights the case of a family where the mother's abduction memories were real and not hypnosis-induced. He details how NOVA suppressed vivid eyewitness testimony, including the father's account of aliens taking their son, and emasculated the family's story, implying the abductees were delusional.

Hopkins also criticizes NOVA's portrayal of hypnotic sessions, suggesting the program edited his 'body inventory' method to imply he was leading witnesses into sexual recollections. He notes that many credible individuals, including professionals, declined to appear on the show due to career risks, leaving only a few young, independent abductees. NOVA's implication that abduction experiences are solely due to hypnosis and lack physical evidence, while suppressing contradictory data like daytime abductions and physical marks, is seen as a deliberate deception.

He concludes that NOVA's program, by discrediting abductees and implying their experiences are false, will intimidate future witnesses from coming forward. Hopkins likens the program to a 'middle-brow Jenny Jones or Geraldo,' and states that the producers should be ashamed.

Worth Repeating: Putting Reputations on the Line

This section features a quote from Jacques Vallee from the UFO Experience Conference on October 7, where he discusses the reluctance of scientists to become involved in UFO research due to the potential for "absurd attacks from the rational zealots." Vallee suggests that scientists often lack the time, resources, or training to investigate these complex stories, leading them to "give up and turn away," thus reinforcing the reluctance of serious witnesses to come forward.

Meteorlike Object Lights Up Skies of Region

Reprinted from the Louisiana MUFON newsletter, this article reports on a bright, greenish fireball seen on January 13, 1996, around 5:30 AM, crossing the skies of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The object suddenly seemed to explode. Some sources suggest it might have been space junk or a meteor. Witnesses reported the object exploding close to their location. One witness driving north on Highway 30 reported a strong sulfur-like odor after the event. Mike Sandras of the Kenner McMoran Planetarium is seeking further information from anyone who witnessed the object.

Deep-Throat

This column discusses rumors from the UFO grapevine. It mentions Ray Santilli's comments on CompuServe regarding the alien autopsy hoax footage and his acknowledgment of a commercial opportunity. It also reports that Kal Korff is pursuing Santilli and his film through the English judicial system, alleging artificial grain addition. The column notes that Budd Hopkins may be writing a book on the Linda Cortile/Napolitano case and mentions a skeptical book about the Ed Walters story by former Florida MUFON members Carol and Rex Salisberry.

UFO Notebook by Bill Eatwell

This article reviews physicist Alan C. Holt's theoretical model, the "hyperfield resonance effect." Holt's model aims to understand interactions between energy patterns in space-time and a seven-dimensional hyperspace, suggesting that coherent energy fields can induce resonant interactions. The goal is to find a way to manipulate gravitational fields using electromagnetic fields. The theory proposes a "hydromagnetic propulsion engine" that would interact with energy currents to neutralize or alter local gravity fields, potentially enabling rapid space travel or hyperspace jumps.

Of Moon Shots and Ghost Astronauts: Did Deke Slayton Take His Last Flight After Dying?

This article, reprinted with authors' permission, details a puzzling incident involving the late astronaut Deke Slayton. On June 13, 1993, hours after his death, a Formula One racing plane, N21X, took off from John Wayne Airport in California. This plane was identified by witnesses and later cited by the FAA for noise violations. However, the aircraft was reportedly in an aircraft museum in Sparks, Nevada, with its engine removed. Bobbie Slayton, Deke's wife, confirmed the incident and stated the FAA citation is still in her possession. The article questions how the plane could have flown without an engine and how it could have been started. Bobbie Slayton suggested Deke might have taken six hours to find Gus Grissom (his best friend who died in the Apollo I fire) to help prop the plane.

Review: UFOs and Science: The Collected Writings of Dr. James E. McDonald

David Mayo reviews "UFOs and Science," a compilation of the writings of Dr. James E. McDonald, a scientist with degrees in chemistry, meteorology, and physics. The reviewer highlights McDonald's rigorous scientific approach to UFOs and his advocacy for the extraterrestrial probe hypothesis. The book covers his correspondence, his critique of government reports like the Condon Report and Project Bluebook, and his presentations. It is divided into sections on his writings on significant concerns, selected writings on UFOs (including government cover-up and specific cases), and the full texts of his UFO papers. Mayo emphasizes the publication's importance for providing access to previously unpublished or unavailable material and recommends it as an indispensable addition to ufology libraries.

Houston & Texas Events

This section lists upcoming events for MUFON and related groups in the Houston area and elsewhere, including the Austin MUFON Experiencers' Support Group, VISIT (Vehicle Internal Systems Investigative Team), HUFON (Houston UFO Network), the Gulf Breeze UFO Spring Conference, and the Ozarks UFO Conference.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features critical analyses of media portrayals of UFO phenomena, particularly when they are perceived as biased or dismissive of witness testimony, as seen in the extensive critique of the NOVA special. There is a strong emphasis on scientific investigation and the importance of credible research, exemplified by the review of Dr. James E. McDonald's work and the discussion of Alan Holt's theoretical physics. The publication also highlights unusual or unexplained events, such as the meteor-like object sighting and the Deke Slayton 'ghost flight,' presenting them for reader consideration. The editorial stance appears to support open inquiry into UFO phenomena while maintaining a critical eye towards sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims, encouraging readers to look back periodically for a 'sanity check.' The magazine serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas within the UFO community, acknowledging the diversity of views among its members.