MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 122

Magazine Overview

Title: Minnesota MUFON Journal
Issue: #122
Date: November/December 2006
Publisher: MUFON (Mutual UFO Network)

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal features a collection of articles and reports related to UFO phenomena, skepticism, and related societal issues. It includes a detailed account of a UFO event and its public reactions, discussions on abduction theories, a report on government secrecy, and personal testimonies of sightings.

Reactions to a UFO Event

This section, by Dick Moss, MN MUFON State Director, details public comments from a Fargo newspaper regarding a UFO event near Tappen, North Dakota. The incident involved a sixteen-year-old boy who encountered tall, black entities in a pig corral on September 11th. The entities were seen dragging a sow, and the boy, armed with a .22 rifle, shot one of them, eliciting a screeching sound. A fifth entity approached him, and he was thrown to the ground. The encounter resulted in damage to the corral's fencing, with steel sheets being pulled from the wooden boards. The entities and the pig vanished. The article highlights the range of public responses, from belief to skepticism and ridicule, noting over a hundred postings. Some comments were irrelevant, others suggested alien involvement in earthly problems, and some expressed religious interpretations, linking UFOs to demonic activity. The author also recounts being in Tappen for a funeral shortly after the incident, which was described as a landing trace case, and notes the public's reaction to his presence. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for increased educational outreach and membership for MUFON to make a significant difference in public understanding of the UFO phenomenon.

The CE4 Corner

Authored by Craig R Lang, this section explores the question of UFO abduction and examines various explanations. Lang begins by questioning the fundamental nature of UFO abduction and the certainty with which some people offer answers. He discusses the 'earthlights' theory, which posits that UFO sightings and abductions can be explained by piezoelectric effects in the earth's crust generating plasma discharges. This theory is linked to research by Michael Persinger, suggesting that electrical effects on the human brain can induce experiences similar to close encounters. Lang expresses doubt that this theory fully accounts for the complex, deeply experiential phenomena of abduction, such as anomalous surgical scars.

The article then addresses the 'False Memory' hypothesis, which suggests that abduction memories might be implanted through hypnosis. Lang references an article from 'Skeptical Inquirer' and discusses the use of hypnosis by researchers like John Mack. He notes that skeptics, such as Phil Klass and Carl Sagan, questioned the reliability of hypnosis, while figures like "The Amazing" Kreskin also expressed doubts about its ability to access objective truth. Lang shares his own experience testing the 'false memory' hypothesis, finding that experiencers resist explanations like 'swamp gas' and that while hypnosis can yield meaningful material, it should not be taken as purely biographical. He argues that abduction accounts, even from hypnosis, can sometimes correlate with physical evidence and with accounts from other abductees, suggesting objective verifiability. Lang views hypnosis as a healing tool as much as a research tool, emphasizing that the experiencer and their experience should not be invalidated.

Lang also explores other potential explanations for UFO abductions, including religious views (angelic or demonic), the 'nuts-and-bolts' ET hypothesis (aliens from other star systems), and the Jungian or paranormal view (metaphysical entities). He concludes that no single explanation fully covers all cases and that the true nature of the phenomenon remains a mystery.

Earth a Penal Colony for Aliens?

This article by Paul Everest reports on a symposium at Saint Mary's University organized by Halifax's Redstar Films Ltd. The event featured historians, authors, and filmmakers discussing topics ranging from space exploration to cryptozoology. A central question posed was whether Earth could be a penal colony for an alien race. Redstar Films President Paul Kimball discussed UFO sightings and referred to them as a "cosmic Watergate." Stanton T. Friedman, a former nuclear physicist, presented on 'Flying Saucers and Physics,' suggesting that advanced civilizations could harness nuclear fusion for interstellar travel. Friedman also speculated that Earth might serve as a dumping ground for prisoners from another extraterrestrial society, with aliens monitoring human civilization. Marishka Brown found the symposium's discussions about possibilities fascinating.

Think Cosmically, Act Locally: UFOs and Politics

This section, referencing an interview with Jim Marrs, discusses the intersection of UFO phenomena and politics. The author notes Marrs' comments on world hunger and globalization, suggesting a theme of "somewhere, somebody wants it that way." The author reflects on the understaffed and underpaid state of social services, the cyclical nature of public outrage and political promises, and the perceived "dumbing down" of society through educational policies like the "No Child Left Behind" act. The author expresses frustration with the control and dissemination of "truth" by unseen forces, suggesting that disinformation campaigns and a climate of ridicule have bogged down the public's understanding of UFOs. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of individuals sharing their stories through the internet and other self-publishing tools to raise awareness.

FBI Told of National Security Issue Buried in UFO Tale

This report from ArriveNet details an investigation by Starstream Research that revealed the FBI's involvement in concerns over a potential national security breach. The investigation uncovered that the FBI met with an undisclosed party to discuss a UFO tale involving former and present government intelligence officers. Concerns were raised that secure government vaults at a USAF base and Los Alamos National Laboratory might have been breached under the guise of a UFO investigation. Previously, counterfeit government UFO documents had been identified as containing counter-intelligence information potentially released to the KGB. Gary S. Bekkum of Starstream Research suggests that their investigation may have stumbled upon a counter-intelligence operation, linking the use of phenomenology for intelligence gathering to real cloak-and-dagger activities.

Ken's OBE Interview - Part III: UFO: Resting "nice-as-you-please, on the green grass ..." Little "Alien Men" Scurried Across Her Porch

This article, by Ken Korczak, recounts a story told by a Deputy Sheriff named David Randall from Marshall County, Minnesota. Randall and his partner encountered a silent, glowing, red-orange flying globe of light, described as the size of a basketball, which landed behind trees. Shortly after, Marge Conner, a resident of Grygla, Minnesota, reported a similar experience. She saw a pulsating, orange-red globe of light and then witnessed three to four "little men" with big heads and frail bodies scuttling past her windows. The "little men" moved unnaturally fast and had dark bodies with lighter heads. Conner's animals scattered due to the commotion. Randall, who had his own encounter the night before, found Conner's story convincing, stating that what they saw was unexplainable.

Alien Lore No. 88: Are Greys The Devil's Minions?

This section discusses the theory that UFOs and aliens might be agents of Satan. It references an article by David Clarke from The Fortean Times website, which explores the subset of alien lore suggesting UFOs are "barges of The Great Deceiver." The article mentions Reverend Billy Graham's speculation that UFO occupants might be angels sent by God, and President Ronald Reagan's public musings on alien motives. It highlights the views of Christian fundamentalists like John Weldon and Zola Levitt, who unequivocally state that UFOs are manifestations of demonic activity, with the increasing number of UFOs signaling the coming of the Antichrist. An editor's note mentions a program that acknowledged aliens as both good and evil angels, suggesting that belief in aliens has become mainstream in the Christian community.

SECRECY NEWS from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy

This brief report from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy, dated October 18, 2006, discusses the implementation of President Bush's executive order on improving the processing of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The Attorney General's report indicates a positive impact on federal agencies' FOIA operations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the analysis and interpretation of UFO sightings and abduction experiences, the role of skepticism and belief, the potential for government cover-ups or involvement in UFO phenomena, and the intersection of UFOs with religious and philosophical viewpoints. The journal's stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, presenting various perspectives from eyewitness accounts to skeptical analyses and theoretical explanations, while also advocating for greater public awareness and organizational growth within MUFON.

Title: Minnesota MUFON Journal
Issue Date: November 3, 2006
Publisher: Minnesota MUFON
Country: USA
Language: English
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Content Summary

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal delves into several intriguing topics, starting with a critical look at the effectiveness of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reforms. The article suggests that while agencies have prepared improvement plans and posted them online, the actual impact on disclosure policy and productivity is questionable. The use of postcards for acknowledging FOIA requests is highlighted as a 'novel idea' by the Attorney General, though the author implies it's more about efficiency than true productivity improvement. A case involving the Federation of American Scientists suing the National Reconnaissance Office for unclassified budget data is mentioned, noting that despite a court ruling in their favor, the documents have still not been provided, with the Justice Department appealing the order.

The journal then shifts focus to the "Anomalous zones of Russia: Medveditskaya Chain," a region located near Zhirnovka in the Volgograd region. This area, characterized by hills up to 250 meters high, is described as a place where car brakes fail, watches go wrong, and silvery fog that leaves burns on skin is encountered. Witnesses report frequent UFO sightings and globe-lightings, with some observing lightning balls moving above the Earth's surface and burning through trees. The area is also noted for two flat, parallel underground tunnels, speculated to be old military bases, natural faults, remnants of an ancient civilization, or alien bases. The zone is also linked to the "Devil's residence," and researchers from Kosmopoisk have been studying it for two decades. The article mentions strange spherical, triangle-shaped, and luminous objects, as well as water springs, one with distilled water and another radioactive. Despite the scientific interest, the area has not been visited by official scientists, only amateur enthusiasts.

Another section details a "Brooklyn, Wisconsin Circles In A Horse Pasture & Ash Like Substance" report from HBCC UFO Research. A witness describes finding two circles in their horse pasture, one approximately 12-15 feet across and another about 25 feet in diameter. The smaller circle contained three piles of an ash-like substance. The witness reported touching the substance and experiencing light-headedness and a throat 'filling-up' sensation, noting their own allergic sensitivity. The report also mentions two flashes of bright, white lights seen passing the witness's windows. HBCC UFO Research is investigating this incident and has contacted BLT Research, which specializes in investigating circles.

A separate initiative, the "Livestock Watch Program (L.W.P.)," is introduced by Barb Campbell of the Saskatchewan Provincial Paranormal Research Centre Inc. This program, running from winter 2006 to spring 2007, aims to examine cases of unexplained animal deaths seriously. It seeks cooperation from various entities, including the Cattlemen's Association, Rural Municipalities, the Department of Agriculture, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, insurance agencies, and universities for lab work. The program will standardize the examination of animal death cases and ensure proper investigation procedures, sample analysis, and forwarding of results. Farmers are encouraged to report suspicious animal deaths, and their identities will be kept confidential, with photos from past animal mutilations being used as visual aids.

The journal also provides contact information for various UFO research groups, including Minnesota MUFON, HBCC UFO Research, and the Saskatchewan Provincial Paranormal Research Centre Inc. It details how to obtain the Minnesota MUFON Journal (MMJ), a free PDF publication. A map of a section of Brooklyn, Wisconsin, is included, possibly related to the reported sighting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Minnesota MUFON Journal consistently focuses on unexplained phenomena, UFO sightings, and anomalous zones, presenting reports from various research organizations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, encouraging public participation in reporting sightings and sharing information. There is a clear interest in documenting and investigating events that fall outside conventional scientific explanation, as evidenced by the coverage of the Medveditskaya Chain and the Wisconsin crop circle incident. The journal also touches upon the complexities of information access through FOIA, suggesting a critical view of government transparency efforts. The inclusion of the Livestock Watch Program indicates a broader interest in paranormal and unexplained events beyond just aerial phenomena.