MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 142

Magazine Overview

Title: MUFON Minnesota Journal
Issue: #142
Date: March/April 2010
Publisher: MUFON Mutual UFO Network

UFOs and Sound

This article, written by Dick Moss, MUFON MN State Director, explores the auditory aspects of UFO sightings, a phenomenon often overlooked as UFOs are typically perceived as silent. While most observers do not report hearing sounds, some incidents involve 'sky quakes' or loud compression waves, particularly when a UFO accelerates rapidly. The article notes that airplanes are not supposed to produce sonic booms over the continental US, suggesting these sounds originate from other events. Sound travels at approximately eleven hundred feet per second, and a UFO ten thousand feet away speeding away could theoretically produce a sonic boom after about nine seconds, though this is rare. Some UFOs have been reported to emit high-pitched sounds that can distress animals, with some cases involving animals bleeding from their mouths, noses, and ears, suggesting the sounds might be directed. UFO literature also describes instances of sounds heard during sightings, such as car radios producing static as a bright object passes overhead, and taped recordings of humming sounds from hovering UFOs. The article touches upon telepathy as a primary mode of communication for entities, but notes that abductees report aliens using incomprehensible sounds. A 1967 incident in Ithaca, NY, is recounted where a woman's car was stopped by a humming disk-shaped object, and she heard strange, jerky voices.

Aliens Might Not Be Friendly, Warns Astronomer

This section reports on a warning issued by British astronomer Marek Kukula of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. He advises that scientists searching for alien life should involve governments and the UN, as there is no evidence that extraterrestrial intelligent life would be benevolent. Kukula suggests that contact could have unforeseen consequences, necessitating governmental and international discussion. The article mentions a two-day conference at the Royal Society in London on the detection of extraterrestrial life and its consequences, as well as an astrobiology conference in Texas. Douglas Vakoch of the SETI Institute advocates for a more active search strategy. Professor Simon Conway Morris, an evolutionary biologist, discusses the likelihood of universal Darwinian evolution leading to intelligent life elsewhere and suggests that alien technologies might exist. He also muses that if he were an alien, he might not answer the 'telephone' of human transmissions.

The CE4 Corner – Glimpses of the Extraordinary

Written by Craig R. Lang, this section details hypnosis sessions that unexpectedly turned into close encounter regressions. Lang notes that individuals seeking hypnosis for other reasons sometimes reveal underlying experiences related to UFOs. He categorizes these experiences, including 'extensive experiences' (classic abduction scenarios), 'quickie' abductions (brief processing), and 'single event' or 'collateral' encounters. Collateral experiences involve someone related to an experiencer undergoing abduction, or a witness observing a UFO or entities without being abducted (CE1 or CE3). Lang also discusses the 'Oz-Factor,' where surroundings become eerily silent, often preceding a close encounter. He speculates that witnesses in these cases may be psychic or sensitive, allowing them to perceive phenomena others cannot.

Invisible Extraterrestrials? World-Leading Physicist Says "They Could Exist in Forms We Can't Conceive"

This article features remarks by Lord Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society and astronomer to the Queen. Rees suggests that extraterrestrial life might exist in forms beyond human comprehension, potentially 'staring us in the face' without recognition because we are looking for beings similar to ourselves in terms of mathematics and technology. He likens this to a chimpanzee's inability to grasp quantum theory. Rees also raised the question at a conference whether the discovery of aliens would cause terror or delight. The article also mentions Frank Drake of SETI, who stated that satellite TV and the digital revolution are making Earth invisible to aliens by reducing radio and TV transmissions into space. Drake noted that the 50 light-year-wide 'shell' of analogue transmissions is vanishing, replaced by digital signals that appear as white noise. Milan Cirkovic of the Astronomical Observatory in Belgrade points out that the median age of planets in the Milky Way suggests technological civilizations should be older than Earth's, leading to questions about why they are not observable. The article presents three possibilities for the lack of observable extraterrestrial life: humans are the first, life is too rare/far, or advanced civilizations exist but are undetectable.

My Advice About UFO Disclosure If The Government Is Really Serious

This post from the UFO Disclosure Countdown Clock blog offers advice on how governments might approach UFO disclosure. The author argues that 'soft disclosures' of UFO files by various countries have begun to loosen information restrictions but have not led to admitted ongoing concerns. The author notes that a poll indicated a significant portion of the American public is not ready for disclosure, with many believing UFOs are government projects or hallucinations rather than alien craft. The author suggests that the first step should be to inform the world that meteorites have indicated life, establishing that 'LIFE' is not exclusive to Earth. This should be followed by releasing information related to SETI. The author proposes a phased approach over several years before full disclosure, possibly including discussions about 'portals' as a means of alien arrival.

1981 Lexington/Eddyville, Nebraska Case

This detailed account, written by William I. McNeff, MNMUFON Asst. State Dir., describes a sighting by a reliable witness and three friends (RR, RJ, and J). The group investigated reports of UFO activity near Lexington, Nebraska. They observed a bright, multicolor object that bobbed and circled, changing colors. Initially mistaken for Venus, the object's behavior and movement contradicted astronomical explanations. The witnesses encountered a Nebraska State Trooper who was unhelpful. Later, while on a hill, they observed another object to the northeast, which was also bobbing and circling faster. The objects appeared to be about 5 miles away, as big and bright as a full moon. They then formed a formation around a larger object, described as a perfect octagon with a circle around it, covering a vast area. The witness estimated the formation to be immense. The objects then engaged in a dogfight-like maneuver, streaking and accelerating before darting off in various directions. The witness reported possible missing time and described the event as 'bizarre' and 'awesome.' Another witness, a hog farmer, also reportedly saw the formation and streaks of light.

Royal Astronomer: 'Aliens may be staring us in the face'

This article reiterates the views of Lord Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, who stated that aliens might exist in forms humans cannot recognize. He believes that the search for extraterrestrial life is more promising than ever due to improved telescopes. The article also references Dr. Frank Drake's concerns that digital TV signals are making Earth invisible to aliens. Drake noted that the analogue TV and radio signals that once surrounded Earth are vanishing. The article also mentions the concept of artificial uteruses being developed and dating back to 1924.

Mars Needs Placentas?

Written by Jason Gammon, this article speculates on the reasons behind the forced implantation and later removal of fetuses by aliens, as reported by abductees. Gammon proposes that aliens may require the placenta to be at least partially developed for the fetus's growth, acting as a buffer between the mother and the artificial uterus technology used to grow the fetuses after extraction. The article notes that artificial uterus technology is currently under development.

Guest Speaker at April 10, 2010 MUFON MN meeting

This section announces Ken W. Storch as the guest speaker for the MUFON MN meeting. Storch, with 35 years of UFO investigation experience, including cases like cattle mutilations and the Dulce, NM, incident, will present "Proof beyond a Reasonable Doubt, aka, A Cop's Case for an Arrest Warrant on Flying Saucers." He will discuss the implications of investigating flying saucers, the term 'flying saucer' versus UFO, and problems associated with disclosure. Storch will also detail a case that prompted FBI agents to visit his police station and discuss high strangeness events in an Amish community in Missouri. His background includes service in the US Air Force and as a SWAT team member.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the multifaceted nature of UFO phenomena, including auditory aspects, the potential for alien hostility, and the challenges of detecting and understanding extraterrestrial life. There is a strong emphasis on witness accounts and the detailed investigation of specific cases, such as the 1981 Nebraska sighting. The journal also explores the implications of UFO disclosure and the scientific and societal challenges associated with potential alien contact. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, encouraging investigation and discussion while acknowledging the complexities and uncertainties involved.

The Minnesota MUFON Journal, Issue 9, Volume 2010, dated February 24, 2010, is a publication focused on UFO phenomena, investigations, and related topics. It features articles on historical cases, practical advice, organizational news, and new media projects.

Articles and Features

Churchill Demanded UFO Briefing: Secret Files This article, sourced from AFP and dated February 17, 2010, discusses newly declassified Ministry of Defence files from Britain. These files reveal hundreds of UFO sightings by Britons between 1994 and 2000. Notably, the files show that Winston Churchill, as British prime minister, requested a briefing on UFOs from his secretary of state for air. The reply indicated that sightings could be explained by earthly phenomena like optical illusions, mistaken identification, or hoaxes. The article also highlights specific cases, including a man in Ebbw Vale, Wales, who reported a 'tube of light' encounter in 1997, leading to illness and a skin condition, and a policeman who saw a UFO over Stamford Bridge in London in 1999. Another case from Birmingham describes a blue triangle UFO leaving a 'silky-white' substance.

David Clarke, a UFOlogist from Sheffield Hallam University, suggests that the changing shapes of reported flying saucers may be influenced by science fiction media like 'The X Files' and 'Independence Day', or by advances in technology.

Seven Tips to Better UFO Photos and Videos Written by Malcolm J. Brenner and dated January 27, 2010, this article provides practical advice for improving the quality of UFO photography and videography. Brenner laments the poor quality of many recent UFO images, often attributed to the limitations of digital cameras and autofocus systems. He offers seven tips:

1. Get a Tripod: Essential for stabilizing shots, especially with telephoto lenses.
2. Focus Manually: Advised to disable autofocus, as it struggles with low-light, distant points of light.
3. Shoot 35mm Film: Recommends using old, manual film cameras, suggesting that the electrical interference associated with UFOs might affect modern digital equipment.
4. Take the Filter Off: Lens filters can create unwanted secondary or 'ghost' images, especially when shooting towards light sources.
5. Freeze Time: Use a fast shutter speed (sports or action mode) to stop subject movement.
6. Get a Better Camera: Suggests that physically larger imaging chips in digital cameras generally produce higher quality files.
7. Shoot the Invisible: Explores capturing images in the infra-red and ultraviolet spectrums, noting that regular film can be sensitive to UV light.

Brenner emphasizes that technical savvy must be combined with a skeptical attitude, warning against treating UFOlogy as a religion and advocating for rationality and scientific application.

Venezuela's Curious Phenomenon Reported by George A. Filer, MUFON Eastern Region Director, on February 24, 2010, this section details a strange meteorological occurrence from the Scientific American in 1876. On October 24, 1876, near Maracaibo, Venezuela, a family of nine was awakened by a loud humming noise and a vivid, dazzling light. The phenomenon caused violent vomiting, extensive swellings, and the development of black blotches that turned into virulent sores. The hair on the side of the head that was underneath during the event fell off. The house remained uninjured, and no detonation was heard. The trees around the house withered nine days later. The report notes a similar susceptibility to electrical effects in both animal and vegetable organisms.

First Contact - Rich Dolan Rich Dolan announces his involvement in a new television project called 'First Contact'. He explains that the show aims to investigate UFO phenomena seriously and entertainingly. The team includes himself (team leader), Jaime Windon (photojournalist), Mike 'Lucky' Lukowiak (paranormal investigator), and Rob Simone (UFO investigator). They have been filming investigations, including cases from 1952 and 2002 in Washington D.C., and exploring the area around the abandoned Camp Hero military base in Montauk, Long Island, known for 'The Montauk Project'. Dolan expresses his belief that the world is stranger than imagined and that their investigations will be genuine, not just TV productions.

Prehistoric UFO and ET images found in remote cave in India Authored by Michael Cohen and dated February 17, 2010, this article reports on the discovery of prehistoric cave paintings in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, India. Anthropologists found intricate paintings depicting aliens in space suits and UFO-shaped craft. One painting shows a UFO that appears to be beaming something down or up, possibly representing an ancient UFO abduction scenario. Another image might depict a wormhole. Local archaeologist Mr Wassim Khan believes these anomalous images suggest interaction with beings from other planets, supporting the 'ancient astronaut theory'.

UFO Reports in Minnesota This section includes a brief report of a UFO sighting in Plymouth, Minnesota, on February 19, 2010. A white sphere UFO, described as half the size of a pencil, was observed without sound, blinking lights, or wings. The object was photographed with a cell phone camera.

MUFON News and Information

An announcement from MUFON HQ by James Carrion, dated January 12, 2010, states that Carrion is relinquishing his position as MUFON International Director effective March 1, 2010, due to lack of time. He will transition to the role of MUFON Business Manager. Clifford Clift is announced as the new MUFON International Director. Carrion expresses confidence in Clift and thanks the membership for their support.

Information is provided for Minnesota MUFON, including contact details for State Director Richard Moss, Assist. State Directors Lorna Hunter and Bill McNeff, and Journal Editor Joel Henry. The article notes that Richard Moss will be retiring at the end of March.

Details are also given for the MUFONET communication system and the National MUFON Hotline for reporting UFO news. The Minnesota MUFON Journal (MMJ) is described as a free PDF publication available via email request or on their website.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal consistently promotes the serious investigation of UFO phenomena, encouraging a rational and scientific approach. It highlights the importance of law enforcement involvement in investigating sightings, as exemplified by Ken Storch's work. The publication also embraces new media, such as the 'First Contact' TV show, and explores historical and archeological evidence for UFO activity. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, grounded in evidence and critical thinking, while acknowledging the profound and mysterious nature of the UFO subject.