MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 044

Magazine Overview

This issue of the MINNESOTA MUFON Newsletter, dated November/December 1993 and identified as Issue #44, focuses on the scientific approach to studying UFO phenomena, the patterns observed in abduction cases, and discussions surrounding key figures and events in ufology.

From the State Director

The State Director emphasizes the need for 'good detectives' in MUFON, likening the study of UFOs to piecing together circumstantial evidence. The core tenet of science, the repeatability of results, is highlighted as crucial for understanding the universe. The director notes that symposium speakers often discuss patterns in UFO behavior and alien actions. The presentation by Budd Hopkins on 'INVISIBILITY AND THE UFO ABDUCTION PHENOMENON' is mentioned as a starting point for understanding these patterns.

Patterns in Abduction Cases

The newsletter details recurring patterns observed in UFO abduction cases, starting with the seminal Betty and Barney Hill case. These patterns include missing time, physical paralysis, an interest in human reproduction and sample taking, the use of mental telepathy, preoccupation with physical examination, physical sequels (like marks on the body or car), and the use of hypnotic regression. The 1973 Hickson-Parker case and the Villas-Boas case in Brazil are cited as further examples reinforcing the theme of alien interest in human sexuality.

Budd Hopkins' work, particularly in 'MISSING TIME' and 'INTRUDERS,' is discussed. 'MISSING TIME' introduced the concept of abductions without conscious recall, where 'screen memories' are created to conceal the reality. The 'tagged-animal' syndrome, where abductees develop new scars, is also mentioned. 'INTRUDERS' focuses on the aliens' interest in the human reproductive process, including artificial insemination, fetus removal, and the creation of hybrids.

Dr. Thomas E. Bullard's research is presented, concluding that abduction reports show distinct patterns that differ from folklore and are replicated across international investigators, lending them serious consideration.

Dr. David Jacobs' work in 'SECRET LIFE' is noted for establishing a typical sequence of abduction events, including procedures like 'mindscan' (staring at the abductee from close proximity) and the experience of being submerged in liquid while still able to breathe. Hopkins' reports on cases involving pairs of humans abducted together, who later meet in the real world, are discussed as suggesting alien curiosity about human friendships and romantic relationships. A newer pattern involves humans teaching hybrids about Earth and life, with young children instructing small hybrids and adults teaching older ones about geography and social customs.

MINNESOTA MUFON Meetings

Announcements are made for upcoming Minnesota MUFON meetings on Saturday, November 13, 1993, and Saturday, December 11, 1993, both held at The Irish Well in St. Paul, with social and meeting times specified.

Book Recommendations

Readers are encouraged to pick up books like 'EXTRATERRESTRIALS – FRIENDS AND FOES' by George C. Andrews, 'BRINGERS OF THE DAWN' by Barbara Marciniak, and 'REUNIONS' by Dr. Raymond Moody to keep them company during the winter months.

LEAR, LAZAR, AND MJ-12 by William McNeff

This article examines the controversial figure of John Lear and his communications regarding a case in Rochester, MN. The author finds Lear to be a sincere and intelligent individual, potentially possessing important information about UFOs.

The article clarifies the origin of the 'Krill papers,' stating they were written by John Grace, who was with the Air Force at Nellis AFB. Lear suggested the name 'Krill' as an inside joke. The initials 'O.H.' were made up by John and Lear to allow Grace to release the papers anonymously. Lear refutes claims that 'O.H.' stood for 'Original Hostage,' explaining it was a joke and that Bill Cooper's assertion of seeing the papers in the Navy in 1970 was incorrect. Lear denies participating in any hoax, though he was approached in 1987 to hoax an alien encounter.

Lear discusses a Russian spy satellite photo from July 1988 showing a disc over Groom/Papoose Lake, near where Bob Lazar claimed to have worked for the Department of Naval Intelligence on advanced extraterrestrial spacecraft. Lear expresses belief in Bob Lazar's story, particularly regarding concepts like the instantaneous propagation of gravity, gravity waves, and the stability of elements up to 115. He also notes the potential agreement between Lazar's claims and physicist Tom Bearden's theories on scalar potentials and gravitational waves.

The article addresses a dispute between Timothy Good and John Lear, where Good allegedly misinterpreted Lear's statements. Lear denies admitting his sources were unreliable and states that Good promised a correction in the US version of 'Alien Liaison' which did not occur. Lear identifies Bill Cooper and Paul Bennewitz as sources Good considered unreliable, asserting Cooper was never a source and that he provided information to Cooper in late 1987. Lear states Bennewitz was the first to discuss the murder of 44 scientists by 'grays,' later confirmed by Naval Intelligence briefings read by Lazar.

Lear reveals that General James H. Doolittle was his source for the existence of MJ-12, disclosing this fact after the General's passing out of respect. He mentions Doolittle's connection to the Lear family and his research into 'foo-fighters' and Swedish 'ghost rocker' sightings.

The Krill Papers and Bob Lazar's Claims

The Krill papers' claim of a firefight in an underground New Mexico base resulting in the death of 44 scientists is presented with skepticism regarding the security guard's lax discipline and the aliens' extreme reaction. The author poses questions about John Grace's identity and the reliability of his sources.

Bob Lazar's statements about alien craft and artificial gravity propulsion systems are discussed. The author finds no serious fault with Lazar's scientific claims, relating them to Einstein's Theory of Relativity and recent experiments with electron pairs demonstrating instantaneous information transfer. The stability of elements up to 115 and the potential connection between gravity and electromagnetism, as proposed by Tom Bearden, are also mentioned as supporting Lazar's theories.

Timothy Good/Lear Dispute

Timothy Good's reliability is questioned, with the author suggesting Good misinterpreted Lear's statements. Lear denies admitting to unreliable sources and sought a retraction from Good.

FIRE IN THE SKY revisited!

This section discusses an article from a UFO magazine that critiques the movie 'Fire in the Sky,' based on the Travis Walton abduction experience. The article questions why the movie deviated so much from the truth.

Dan Drasin reports that the UFO community was impressed by the personal impact of the story on Walton but questioned his agreement to the 'goopy scene' depicting the abductee being stuffed in a beehive of green slime. Critics described this sequence as 'unmitigated semi-neo-Gothic exophobic propaganda.'

According to one explanation, the producers of 'Fire' aimed for a different look than the CBS mini-series 'Intruders,' instructing Industrial Light and Magic to create a distinct alien sequence. The latex/beehive interior of the craft is cited as an example.

Tracy Tormé, the writer of 'Fire,' also wrote 'Intruders.' He approached Walton with the idea for the movie, initially having no preconceived notion of its truth but becoming convinced after spending time with the family. Tormé did not write the script with the special effects-laden alien sequence. However, when he saw the film with Walton, the abduction experience in the movie metaphorically matched Travis's feelings of suffocation and panic.

Travis Walton himself has mixed feelings, calling the movie 'great' but concerned about public reactions. He emphasizes that the 20 minutes he remembers of the missing five days were a 'psychological state,' including feelings of claustrophobia and suffocation, which are hard to communicate visually. He feels the movie accurately generates the 'panicky feeling of suffocation' and communicates the 'notion of being subject to overpowering forces of impending horror, powerlessness, and the sense of being manipulated and the sense of violation.'

Dan Drasin is disturbed by the graphically depicted scene, calling it 'pointless physical and psychological violence' that could 'radically misinform the public' and set back public perception of the phenomenon.

Tracy Tormé's next project is a Western, moving away from UFOs. The article notes that 'The Walton Experience' will be reissued as 'Fire in the Sky.'

Rumbles of grumbles

MUFON's Walt Andrus arranged private screenings of 'Fire.' MUFON held discussion groups afterward. Many ufologists questioned the fictional flourishes in the 1975 incident and why Walton, a private person, allowed such dramatic license. Tormé apologized in a letter to MUFON for discrepancies between the book and movie, but complaints continued.

Bill Knell: The Rush Limbaugh of Ufology?

This section reviews Bill Knell's newsletter, describing him as a controversial figure who is critical of MUFON, symposiums, and what he calls 'NUTS!' Knell accuses the 'MUFON Hierarchy' of spreading disinformation and boring information.

The author acknowledges that while Knell can be dismissed as a 'nut,' there is a 'shade of truth' in what he says. Knell's press release, 'The UFO Cover-Up by NASA: Probes Destroyed-Disabled, Rockets Destroyed, Alien Artifacts Hidden!', is discussed. Knell compares the NASA announcement of losing touch with the Mars Probe to the mysterious destruction of the Soviet Probe Phobos II after it photographed a cylindrical object under the Mars moon.

Knell's newsletter also rehashes stories about astronauts Glenn, Cooper, and Armstrong being 'dogged' by UFOs and spacecraft experiencing 'problems' near UFO appearances. The article questions whether Knell offers anything new.

Knell also cites less known incidents, such as ABC's 20/20 planning a special in 1980 about over 20 English scientists who died mysteriously after speaking publicly about a secret U.S./British space program, which was never aired. Knell plans to present 'proof of NASA and other governmental cover-ups' in upcoming lectures.

The author compares Knell to Rush Limbaugh in terms of entertainment value but suggests neither has unique or profound knowledge of government affairs.

Space Probe Finds Signs of Life on Earth

This article, reprinted from Twins Cities Extra, discusses a new analysis of spacecraft data that suggests strong evidence of intelligent life on Earth. Astronomer Carl Sagan and colleagues noted that stray radio signals, similar to those from radar and television stations, provide the only indication of intelligent, technological life on Earth, based on data from the Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft.

Other signs of life detected include abundant amounts of oxygen, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere, and the plant substance chlorophyll, detected by near-infrared photography.

Paranormal Group Meeting

An announcement for a Paranormal Group Meeting on Saturday, November 27, 1993, at The Irish Well, featuring speaker Marion Senn & Windwalker. A notice states there will be no meeting in December. Another meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 22, 1994, with speaker Wells Horvereid discussing 'Possession.'

Meetings du jour!

Announcements for meetings of the Tesla Society (November 20, 1993), Noetic Science (December 4, 1993), and Theosophical Society (November 15, 22, and 29, 1993) are included, with details on speakers, topics, and locations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently explores the intersection of UFO phenomena with scientific inquiry, emphasizing pattern recognition and critical analysis. There's a clear interest in abduction cases and the potential for a scientific framework to understand them, as advocated by the State Director. The issue also delves into controversial figures and claims within ufology, such as John Lear and Bob Lazar, while critically examining media portrayals of UFO events like the Travis Walton case. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation, encouraging a detective-like approach to UFO evidence, while also acknowledging the skepticism and differing opinions within the UFO community, as exemplified by the discussion of Bill Knell.