MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 129

Magazine Overview

The Minnesota MUFON Journal, Issue #129, dated January/February 2008, features a cover story titled "Texas, The New Hot Spot for UFOs" by Dick Moss, MUFON MN State Director. The issue also includes a listing of Minnesota MUFON meetings and a table of contents for the articles within.

Texas, The New Hot Spot for UFOs

Dick Moss discusses the unpredictable nature of UFO flaps, noting that Texas has recently become a focal point. He questions the reasons behind regional flaps, suggesting they often occur near sensitive installations. Moss observes that searching "Texas UFOs" online yields a mix of sighting descriptions, positive comments, and negative rants against witnesses, lamenting the tendency of some to present themselves as experts without knowledge. He recounts the story of a farmer's son who experienced harassment for reporting a sighting and mentions the "Valentich case" to illustrate the possibility of large objects. Moss also touches upon the idea of "trained observers" and the persistent efforts to debunk UFO phenomena, referencing Stan Friedman's term "noisy negativists."

Ricky Sorrells, a machinist, shared his experience of seeing a flat, metallic object hovering about 300 feet over a pasture near his home in Dublin. Initially, friends made fun of him, but hearing similar accounts from others in the Stephenville Empire-Tribune provided validation. Sorrells described the object as large, without seams, nuts, or bolts, and has seen it multiple times. He notes that an average of 250 UFO reports are submitted daily worldwide, with some objects being seen by multiple people.

An NGO Solution For UFO Study

Billy Cox, from De Void and the Sarasota Herald Tribune, proposes that a non-governmental organization (NGO) could be instrumental in bringing the U.S. back to investigating UFOs. Ted Roe, executive director of the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena (NARCAP), suggests that a transparent NGO could work publicly to resolve significant UFO cases. Roe acknowledges that such a group would need strong documentation to credibly comment on the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH). He also notes that investigations into military airspace incursions quickly fall under national security, creating transparency issues. Roe believes the government would benefit from empowering an existing credible effort rather than creating a new one.

The CE4 Corner

Craig R. Lang discusses the powerful effects of close encounters on experiencers and the potential alien agenda. He addresses the question of where research material originates, highlighting that abduction research often relies on hypnotic regression. Lang emphasizes the need for careful, non-leading hypnotic regression to distinguish between metaphorical, creative, and biographical recall. He stresses the importance of understanding the context of information derived from regressions, including how it was obtained and whether it aligns with other known information. Lang notes that alien-derived scenarios, such as apocalyptic predictions, are common but often inconsistent and fail to materialize, suggesting their literal content may be unreliable. However, the context in which this information is given, and the experiencer's observations, can provide more reliable insights into the encounter process and potential alien agendas.

Lang also discusses the unreliability of alien responses to questions about their origin, often providing nonsensical or inconsistent answers. He suggests that the value lies not in the literal content of alien statements but in understanding the context and circumstances of their communication. The experiencer's own observations, especially when derived from clean hypnotic regressions, are considered more reliable. Investigators' contextual observations also add significant reliability to UFO research.

UFO Hunters On The History Channel

This section reviews a new HD series on The History Channel called "UFO Hunters." The series follows experts investigating historical UFO accounts. The article mentions the show's premiere and highlights the backgrounds of the team members: Bill Birnes (publisher of UFO Magazine), Pat Uskert (investigator), Jeff Tomlinson (scientific intern), and Dr. Ted Acworth (mechanical engineer from MIT). The team examines evidence like videotapes, audiotapes, witness interviews, and declassified documents, traveling to encounter sites and conducting interviews. The series explores incidents such as the Harold Dahl sighting off Maury Island in 1947, which involved strange aircraft and fiery debris, and a reported abduction in New Hampshire in 1961 where a map of an unknown solar system was drawn.

Other incidents covered include a pilot's encounter near Catalina Island in 1980, debris falling in eastern Mexico in August 2007, and numerous sightings in the Hudson Valley. The article also mentions the show's website and interactive map feature. The production team and The History Channel's commitment to historical programming are noted.

Intelligent extraterrestrial life: The other inconvenient truth?

Dom Armentano, a guest columnist, discusses how the UFO phenomenon has entered presidential politics, with candidates like Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson being asked about their views. He mentions a "disclosure initiative" involving Laurance Rockefeller and former government officials aimed at opening up secret UFO files. Armentano argues that UFOs are a legitimate public policy concern and that confirmation of extraterrestrial life would have profound societal, religious, scientific, and economic impacts. He posits that a more significant revelation might be that elements of the U.S. government have known about and covered up UFO discoveries for over 50 years, potentially shaking the nation's political foundations. Armentano cites evidence from books, declassified documents, and testimonials suggesting a systematic government deception since the Roswell incident. He speculates that the secrecy may stem from fear of public panic, an inability to understand or control the phenomenon, a desire to exploit technology, or the perceived threat UFOs pose to national security. He concludes that systemic public deception threatens democracy and that Americans deserve the truth.

Strange Brew: NASA, UFOs and Lawsuits

Leonard David reports on a lawsuit settlement requiring NASA to provide documents to investigative journalist Leslie Kean regarding the 1965 crash of an unknown object in Pennsylvania. The incident involved witnesses seeing a fireball and a subsequent military recovery of a spacecraft-like object. NASA has agreed to search for records related to various UFO incidents, including Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, Cosmos 96, and "fragology."

France to publish UFO archive online

This article reports that the French space agency, CNES, will publish its archive of UFO sightings and phenomena online. The database contains approximately 1,600 incidents collected over 30 years. Names of reporters will be withheld to protect their privacy. The archive is expected to go live in late January or mid-February and includes reports from the public and airline professionals.

Air Force's UFO reversal doesn't fly

Angela K. Brown reports that the Air Force backtracked on earlier statements regarding a UFO sighting in Stephenville, Texas. Initially, officials denied any planes were in the area, but later confirmed that 10 F-16s were training nearby. Residents reported seeing a UFO and fighter jets, with Kenneth Cherry of MUFON noting that the Air Force's explanation did little to satisfy locals. The article mentions that the Air Force had previously investigated UFO sightings until Project Blue Book ended in 1969.

What makes an Extraterrestrial Ethical versus Manipulative?

Peter Tremblay's article, based on the work of John Lash and Dr. Michael Salla, explores how to distinguish between ethical and manipulative extraterrestrials. Ethical Extraterrestrials respect human free will and seek to empower humanity, while manipulative ones use deception, religion, or coercion to control humans. Lash suggests that "Archons" are manipulative extraterrestrials who create "control systems" through organized religions and ideologies. Ethical Extraterrestrials, conversely, are described as "Aeonic" beings who promote higher consciousness and self-determination. The article emphasizes the importance of critical thought and empathy in recognizing these differences and rejecting ideologies that promote fear and control.

At Least NORAD Is Tracking Santa Claus

Billy Cox discusses the "100th Monkey Effect" in relation to UFO transparency. He notes that following a government-level UFO discussion in Tokyo, NORAD will track Santa Claus in real time. The article also touches upon statements from Japanese officials regarding the existence of UFOs and potential military responses.

Wikipedia UFO Entries & CSICOP/CSI

David Rudiak writes about his experience editing a Wikipedia article on the ETH, claiming that his contributions supporting the ETH were deleted by a "CSICOP debunker." He also mentions censorship of opinion polls and historical material supporting the ETH.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes the need for critical thinking and discernment when evaluating UFO phenomena and alien contact. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official government explanations and a call for greater transparency. The role of organizations like MUFON and NARCAP in independent investigation is highlighted. The articles explore various facets of the UFO topic, from specific sightings and historical cases to philosophical discussions about the nature of extraterrestrial intelligence and its potential impact on humanity. The editorial stance appears to favor open inquiry and a belief that UFOs are a legitimate subject of study, despite societal skepticism and potential government cover-ups.

This issue of UFO Magazine, dated December 2007, features several articles related to UFO research, publications, and events.

Wikipedia and the UFO Debate

One article discusses the challenges of engaging in public UFO debates, particularly on platforms like Wikipedia. The author argues that Wikipedia's open editing policies can be exploited to distort controversial topics and censor opposing views. The piece encourages readers to become Wikipedia editors to ensure a more balanced presentation of UFO information, emphasizing that while original research cannot be cited, existing research by notable figures like Jerry Clark, Bruce Maccabee, and Richard Hall can be referenced.

New Magazine Launch: Alien Worlds

A new glossy magazine titled "Alien Worlds" is set to launch on UK newsstands on February 8th. Edited by Stuart Miller, formerly of "UFO Review," the magazine will cover UFOs/UAPs, SETI, and astrobiology. It will be available internationally and via subscription. The website http://www/alienworldsmag.com will provide details and news updates. The site currently features a guest article by Stan Friedman on "Flying Saucers and Science."

Local Writer Releases New UFO Book

George Fawcett, a local author and UFO investigator with 67 years of experience, has released a revised and enlarged edition of his book, "UFO Repetitions: A Challenge to Scientific Investigations." Fawcett has investigated over 1,200 UFO sightings and has published extensively in various UFO-related publications. He has been a consultant for the movie "UFOs - Target Earth" and founded several UFO study groups. His book costs $10.00 plus postage and handling.

Pope Condign And UAP

This section discusses an article about Nick Pope in "US UFO Magazine" (issue #141). It raises questions about Pope's knowledge of "Project Condign," a classified UFO study, and when he became aware of its existence. The article also touches upon the term "UAP" (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), suggesting it may have been coined for the Condign report, though earlier uses from 1964 are noted. The author expresses anticipation for more information as defense files are released.

International UFO Congress

The 17th Annual International UFO Congress is announced as the world's largest UFO convention, extended to eight days and nine nights. It will be held at the Aquarius Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, from February 23 to March 1, 2008. The event will feature 40 speakers and 35 exhibitors. New additions include a live interview segment with Dr. Dan Burisch and a keynote presentation by UFO researchers Philip Mantle and Spyros Melaris discussing the "Alien Autopsy Film." The conference offers various packages and ticketing options.

Minnesota MUFON

Contact information is provided for Minnesota MUFON, including State Director Richard Moss, Field Invest. Coord. Bill McNeff, and Journal Editor Joel Henry. The Minnesota MUFON Journal (MMJ) is a free PDF publication available online. Information is also given for MUFONET and the National MUFON Hotline.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a strong focus on UFO research, investigation, and dissemination of information through publications and conventions. There's an emphasis on presenting a balanced view of UFO phenomena, even when confronting perceived "debunkers." The articles highlight the work of experienced researchers and the importance of accessible information for the public. The editorial stance appears to be pro-research and critical of censorship or undue skepticism in the UFO field.