Northern UFO News - No 76

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFONEWS
Issue: 76
Date: September 1980
Publisher: NORTHERN UFO NETWORK (NUFON)
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of NORTHERN UFONEWS is a monthly series publication of the NORTHERN UFO NETWORK (NUFON), edited by Jenny Randles and with cover design by John Watson. The issue is noted as being reduced in size due to a lack of UFO activity and holidays, with the editor, Jenny Randles, taking a break between September 12 and 29.

Editorial: 'A message from the UFOs:- or 100 lines, Mr Ufologist:'

Jenny Randles, the editor, uses this space to express concern over the perceived lack of original thought and active investigation within the ufology community. She criticizes what she sees as a tendency for many to believe that the absence of active cases gives them a right to an 'unscheduled holiday,' rather than using the time to probe, analyze, think, reason, discuss, and speculate. Randles contrasts this with her earlier editorial where she championed UFO writers who produced books, which she notes led to some criticism. She clarifies that she was not disowning groups or investigators but pointing out the futility of accumulating 'logs' without building anything. She uses the analogy of log cabins, stating that theories need to be proposed, tested, rebuilt, and created afresh, which she feels is not happening, leading to stagnation in the field.

Randles recounts a recent social evening with Peter Warrington, his wife Rosalind, and Paul Whetnall, where a discussion about an alternative psychological theory for UFO origins led to the formulation and testing of a simple experiment. This experiment, requiring no special equipment, involved lively discussion and the participation of four individuals. She notes that while the specific theory and experiment are not detailed, the process generated intriguing questions about the UFO phenomenon. Randles urges more ufologists to engage in such activities and report on their findings, stating that NORTHERN UFONEWS and NORTHERN UFOLOGY will continue to be a vehicle for this.

She concludes by observing that UFOs seem to have 'withdrawn their labour' and suggests that, whatever their origin, there is a method to this apparent madness, possibly involving a 'swift kick up the backside for a few lazy ufologists.'

Results of the Cover-Quiz

This section refers to a previous issue's request to find 'John Watson's little man' on the covers of NORTHERN UFOLOGY. The locations are listed for January 1979, April 1979, and August 1980. For the 1979 NUN covers, he is described as lurking in the sea off South Wales, and on the new 1980 cover, disguised as a pylon.

News Round-Up

This section provides updates on various UFO-related events and publications:

• Conference in Birmingham: A reminder for a conference at Dr. Johnson's House, Bull St, Birmingham on October 11, focusing on UFO Close Encounters, featuring speakers like John Day (allegedly abducted) and Frank Johnson. Organized by PARASEARCH and UFOSIS, tickets are £1.00. The event is expected to be a full-day affair, with no plans for a Sunday continuation.
• Debate in Birmingham: Following the conference, a debate organized by Birmingham University on November 8 will pit ufologists against sceptics in a courtroom style. Readers are asked for input on points to be made in the 1½ hour allotted period for the pro-UFO case.
• London Event: The Psychic and Mystics Fayre at Alexandra Palace on September 27 & 28 is mentioned, featuring ancient mysteries, tarot, astrology, psi, and UFOs.
• MAUFOG Conference: MAUFOG (Manchester Area UFO Group) has held its first working party to plan an all-British group conference. They are awaiting NUFON's first meet (organized by Martin Keatman) to set a date.
• HAPI and Atmospheric Studies: Graham Hall has a new address, and 'Atmospheric Studies' has a new telephone number. A research project analyzing temporal distribution of UFO events successfully predicted a midlands flap in July. A significant wave in the UK is predicted for early 1983, with a 'mini-flap' expected in November/December 1981.
• Sunday Mirror Series: The Sunday Mirror (September 14, 21, 28) is featuring a major series on a previously unpublished abduction case from June 1978 on a lonely Oxfordshire road.
• NUFOIS Files: Syd Henley of NUFOIS requests that requests for copies from the NUFON/UFOIN files be addressed to his home address, with cheques payable to him.

Elsewhere This Month

• FORTEAN TIMES No 32: Features include mysterious cats, a mystery blob from the sky, and ufological studies.
• MAGIC SAUCER No 10: A children's magazine with stories of UFOs from children.
• PROBE No 2: A glossy magazine from NUFOR (SW) with articles, pictures, and reports from South West England.

Forthcoming New Attractions

• The Interrupted Journey: John Fuller's book on the Betty and Barney Hill abduction, first published in the USA in 1965, is being published in the UK on September 25 by Souvenir Press.
• The Janos People: Frank Johnson's book is due from Spearman on October 9.
• The UFO Phenomenon: A paperback by Von Buttlar is released by Star.
• Encylopedia of UFOs: Ronald Story's mammoth encyclopedia is released by NEL.
• Photographs of the Unknown: Robert Rickard's book featuring photographs of mysterious phenomena, including UFOs, is also released by NEL.
• The Roswell Incident: Charles Berlitz's book on the American CE3 case is due from Granada in January.

On Declining an Invitation, and the Elephant-Flap Effect

Author: Peter Warrington

Peter Warrington explains his decision to decline an invitation to speak at the NUFON conference in Birmingham. His primary reason is that the program appears to be already cramped and congested, with too many events and speakers. He observes that attendees often complain about this, yet conferences continue to be organized in this manner. Warrington believes that conference time should be dedicated to original thought on enigmas, rather than being padded with accounts of recent cases, which he feels belong in journals. He argues that the laws of copyright do not apply to facts, such as UFO reports, and that notes prohibiting discussion of UFO events are worthless and damage the image of organizations.

Warrington then introduces the concept of the 'Elephant-Flap Effect,' inspired by a conversation with his 'elephant' (a metaphorical representation of his own thoughts). He recalls writing a similar article to Aime Michel's 'The Cat-Flap Effect' for a NUFON conference in Sheffield in May 1976, titled 'Move down the Universe please - hold tight!'

He discusses the size and scope of the universe, suggesting that a single advanced civilization could maintain a watching brief over the rest of us, hindering or assisting progress. He quotes Michel's article, which posits that the first civilization to cross the 'Cat-Flap point' explodes into Galactic space. Warrington's own contribution suggested that if physical transport were unnecessary, an intelligence could exist on a level far more aware than humans, monitoring all actions and thoughts. He proposes that the UFO phenomenon might be a by-product of such an existence, or an intelligence test for entry into a 'universal united nations.' His 'elephant' awarded his ideas 9.95 for content and two buns and an acacia branch for originality.

UFO Induced Paralysis?

This section details a case involving FS, a 52-year-old man with high blood pressure and an anxiety complex. On August 26, 1977, at 04:25, while taking out the ash-can, he observed two W LITS moving very high from SW to NE. He scanned the sky with binoculars and saw 35 such lights over 15 months. On November 25, 1978, at 04:30, he saw the lights again, which grew in size to that of a saucer, appearing fluorescent white and trembling. FS felt great fear, and the right side of his head went numb. He dropped the binoculars and rushed inside, experiencing a feeling of impending doom. He performed silly tasks to cope, and after 15 minutes, the numbness subsided, but he felt rough for about an hour. He regarded this as a warning, burned his UFO books, and 'gave up' UFOs. Four months later, he reported to his doctor, fearing a stroke. A specialist attributed his illness to his anxiety complex. FS now claims to be at peace, having taken up an allotment. The case is considered important for understanding the psychology of UFO reactions, but FS is unlikely to be amenable to investigation.

Encounter Generates Super-Strength in Witness

Source: MUFORA report 79-142

This report details two encounters related by KBJ, an ambulance driver and former Army NCO. The first, less interesting, encounter occurred on September 15, 1979, at Salford ambulance station. KBJ saw two dull red lights with orange halos moving E-W over Stockport, appearing fuzzy and moving independently. MUFORA suggests these might have been birds reflecting streetlighting.

The second, more significant, encounter took place on September 1968, at 03:00, at Dakelia army barracks in Cyprus. While guarding the upper floor with a large Turkish Wolfhound, KBJ noticed the dog growling and its fur standing on end, which was unusual as the dog was normally fearless. KBJ sensed movement outside and heard a high-pitched sound, acute and penetrating, inside his head. He opened the door to a small landing and saw something climbing the stairs. It was humanoid, wearing a light blue, tight-fitting suit with a 'dog-collar' around its neck. The face was flat with an orange glow, the eyes were large (2½ inches across) and glowed red, and the hair was red, thick, and rough. The apparition appeared to float rather than climb and swiveled its head in an impossible fashion. KBJ slammed the door shut, terrified. The high-pitched sound increased, and KBJ's hands shook. He sat on the bed, holding a spear-gun. The dog whimpered under the bed. A sliding noise approached the door, and KBJ picked up his spear-gun. The noise slid away, and the high-pitched sound stopped. KBJ remained on the bed shaking until a guard arrived at 04:15. He reported that his arm, leg, and shoulder joints ached for a week, and the dog became a 'devout coward,' reacting fearfully to any threat.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the state of ufology, the need for critical thinking and original research, and the reporting of witness accounts. The editorial strongly advocates for a more proactive and analytical approach to the subject, criticizing complacency. The news round-up highlights upcoming events and publications, indicating ongoing activity in the UFO community. The witness reports, particularly the 'UFO Induced Paralysis' case and the 'Encounter Generates Super-Strength' case, showcase the personal impact and unusual phenomena associated with alleged UFO encounters. The 'Elephant-Flap Effect' article introduces a more theoretical and speculative aspect, exploring cosmic-scale intelligence and the nature of UFOs within that context. The overall editorial stance, as expressed by Jenny Randles, is one of urging the community towards deeper investigation and critical engagement with the subject matter, rather than passive observation.