OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: April 1986
Price: $2.50
Cover Headline: MOOD ALTERING SCENTS: EXPERIMENTAL PULLOUT SAMPLER INSIDE-P.50

Articles and Features

UFO UPDATE This section details the rise of computer bulletin boards dedicated to UFO phenomena, focusing on COMPUFON, a service founded by Michael Hart. COMPUFON, based in Duvall, Washington, began in November 1984 and has since grown significantly, upgrading to an IBM PC capable of storing 5,000 pages of text and boasting over 100 members. Users are greeted with an A-to-Z menu covering topics from the Freedom of Information Act to the status of Zeta Reticuli. A key feature is its extensive list of UFO reports, primarily sourced from Bob Gribble's National UFO Reporting Service, with additional contributions from organizations like the Aerial Space Phenomena Review and Project Stigma. Sightings are categorized as nocturnal lights, daylight discs, radar signals, or electromagnetic effects. Hart, who previously worked as a computer consultant for the Mutual UFO Network, is now dedicating more time to COMPUFON and plans to expand the service internationally, aiming to establish similar systems in San Francisco and ease communication for users in Germany, Italy, and Japan. He notes the expense and slowness of international communication but hopes to make the service accessible globally.

Users can access information directly via modem or request printouts that Hart will mail free of charge. Hart explains his motivation for creating this service stems from his "innate curiosity" and the belief that it provides an "important service."

To reach COMPUFON by modem, users can dial 1-206-788-5901. The article is attributed to Dennis Stacey.

Other Cover Features

Beyond the UFO update, the cover also highlights other articles within the issue:

• MOOD ALTERING SCENTS: An experimental pullout sampler is featured on page 50.
• LOVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY: This section includes "Money Talks" and is located on page 78.
• PLUS: WORLD'S LARGEST PUZZLE COLLECTION: This indicates a feature on an extensive puzzle collection.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue appears to cover a diverse range of topics, from the increasingly technological approach to UFO research via computer bulletin boards to more speculative or futuristic themes like "Love in the 21st Century" and the practical application of scents. The inclusion of a "World's Largest Puzzle Collection" suggests a broader interest in human ingenuity and problem-solving. The editorial stance, as indicated by the focus on UFOs and technological integration, aligns with OMNI's reputation for exploring science, technology, and the unexplained.