OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue: May 1989
Volume: 02484
Publisher: OMNI
Country: USA
Language: English
Price: $3.50

Cover Story: Winning the Derby

The cover of the May 1989 issue of OMNI magazine features a striking surreal image of a horse depicted as a dollar bill with flames emanating from its legs, ridden by a jockey. The main headline proclaims "WINNING THE DERBY: HIGH-TECH FORMULAS THAT REALLY WORK."

Featured Articles

Beyond the cover story, the issue delves into several other significant topics:

• The Maharishi Effect: This article explores how students are reportedly tapping into the universe.
• Peter Hagelstein: The magazine features Peter Hagelstein, discussing the creation of "one of the most terrifying weapons in history."
• Reef Madness: An article titled "Reef Madness: Can We Save the World's Oceans?" addresses issues related to marine conservation.
• Novelette by Robert Silverberg: The issue includes a novelette written by the acclaimed author Robert Silverberg.

UFO Update: A 1968 Abduction Case

The "UFO Update" section presents a detailed account of a UFO encounter that occurred in the summer of 1968 near Lake Champlain, Vermont. Two teenage camp employees, identified by pseudonyms Michael and Janet, reportedly witnessed a bright, starlike object that descended and released three smaller discs of light. One of these objects allegedly executed a "bizarre aerial ballet" before entering the lake and approaching the dock where Michael observed its transparent dome revealing two entities.

Interestingly, the two witnesses did not discuss the incident with each other at the time, and Janet initially had no recollection of the event. The sequel to this encounter emerged in 1978 when Michael contacted the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) in Evanston, Illinois. CUFOS connected him with Walter N. Webb, a UFO researcher and assistant head of the Charles Hayden Planetarium in Boston. Webb initiated a five-year investigation into the case.

During the investigation, Webb located Janet, who, though remembering the lights, recalled little else. A subsequent meeting between Michael and Janet under Webb's supervision yielded no new information. To further probe the incident, Webb employed two clinical hypnotists to conduct separate sessions with the witnesses.

Under hypnosis, Michael described flying through space and entering the UFO, where he saw the occupants. He also recalled Janet lying on a rectangular table. The UFOnauts were described as being five to five-and-a-half feet tall, with large, elongated heads, thin limbs ending in three-fingered hands, and wearing light greenish clothing.

Webb highlighted a significant detail: "Perhaps the most striking convergence of detail," he explained, "was an instrument panel viewed by each abductee on the wall beyond their examination tables. This device was depicted in enough detail to furnish rather convincing evidence, in my opinion, of a shared abduction experience."

However, the case also faced skepticism. Robert Baker, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Kentucky, offered an alternative perspective. Baker suggested that both witnesses might have been aware of the hypnosis sessions and their purpose. He posited that they could have been engaged in a romantic encounter at the lake and invented the UFO story to conceal their meeting if discovered. Baker also considered the possibility that Michael was highly imaginative and fantasized the UFO encounter, later converting it into a UFO kidnapping during hypnosis.

Webb strongly refuted these claims, stating that "extensive background character checks" revealed Michael and Janet to be "honest, credible persons who did not perpetrate a hoax or suffer some sort of fantasy, either individually or collectively." The report is attributed to D. Scott Rogo.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of OMNI magazine demonstrates a commitment to exploring a diverse range of speculative and scientific topics, from the practical application of "high-tech formulas" in areas like horse racing to the more esoteric "Maharishi Effect." It also touches upon significant contemporary issues such as ocean conservation and the development of advanced weaponry, reflecting a broad interest in science, technology, and the unknown. The "UFO Update" section, in particular, showcases the magazine's ongoing engagement with paranormal phenomena, presenting detailed case studies and investigations, while also acknowledging and addressing skeptical viewpoints. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and expert opinions from various sides of debated topics.