The Phenomenon Times

Magazine Overview

Title: The Phenomenon Times
Issue Date: May 2009
Publisher: UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia
Type: Bimonthly Journal

This issue of The Phenomenon Times, published by the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia, focuses on an investigator profile, paranormal research methods, and UFO phenomena. The cover prominently features investigator Laszlo Novak.

President's Report

Attila Kaldy, President and Editor, welcomes readers to the 2009 autumn edition. He notes the team's busy schedule with expeditions, investigations, and incoming reports. The 'Paranormal Investigators - The Challenge (Season 2)' is nearing completion, with Dominic McNamara composing the scores for the final episodes. The re-run of episode five is scheduled, and season two is set to begin in September. Kaldy mentions important committee meetings aimed at strengthening the society and planning its future. He highlights recent media coverage of UFOs and declassified military documents, noting the increased maturity in reporting. Two workshops are planned, and Kellie Pataky is mentioned as being overseas. The next meeting is scheduled for June 10th. Congratulations are extended to Larraine Cilia for her article featured on the front page of the local paper.

Vice President's Report

Larraine Cilia, Vice President, reports on an eventful April. Team RACE conducted a 3-day expedition into mountainous terrain for night watches, but no unexplained phenomena were captured on film. The UFO topic gained media attention in April due to the release of Top Secret Classified Military Files by the UK Government, featuring footage shot by Laszlo Novak. Kate Murphy created a documentary titled "Looking Up" featuring Cilia and other society members, which was shown at the Campbelltown Arts Centre and received a large public response, leading to an influx of sighting reports. An update on 'Paranormal Investigators' series 2 is provided, with a nationwide airing on Channel 31 starting in July, comprising 18 episodes.

Investigator Profile: Laszlo Novak

Laszlo Novak is introduced as a founding member of the UFO Society of Western Sydney, established in August 2000. He is recognized for his UFO encounter on June 5th, 1999, and his video documentation of a large UFO over Campbelltown on June 26th, 1999. This encounter sparked his deep interest in the UFO phenomenon. Novak is described as dedicated and enthusiastic, often seen with a camera ready to document any strange occurrences. He has traveled extensively and was a guest speaker at a UFO conference in Budapest. He has also appeared in various media programs and tabloids, including 'Seven Nightly News' and 'Paranormal Investigators'.

The Ouija Board

This section explores the controversial Ouija Board, also known as Psychic Boards, Talking Boards, or Egyptian Luck-Boards. Its origins are traced to the 19th-century spiritualism movement, possibly evolving from the 'Planchette' and the Alphabet Board. The first 'Ouija Board' was produced in the United States in 1890 by Elijah Bond, Charles Kennard, and William Maupin. The name 'Ouija' is said to have been spelled out during a session, though other theories suggest it derives from the Moroccan city of Oujda or a combination of French ('Oui') and German ('Ja') words. The article notes that forms of divination and automatic writing have ancient roots, with examples from the 18th-century Swedish scientist Emmanuel Swedenborg and ancient Greek divinations. The enduring human desire to contact the 'other side' is attributed to the belief that consciousness survives physical death.

The text discusses the horror stories linked to Ouija Boards, distinguishing between myths and potential truths. It notes that some in the paranormal research community use Ouija Boards as an experimental method for myth-busting historical claims. The Paranormal Research Division has attempted to conjure spirit activity using such devices, sometimes with verified results, even when information received was unknown to participants. The myth that Ouija Boards invite 'evil' entities is dismissed; the encountered phenomena are described as 'ill personalities' that have survived their physical hosts. The article concludes that the physical world is more to be feared than any spiritual entities.

Dom's Corner

This section, titled "Breakthrough Propulsion Physics; once upon a time," is continued from the August 2008 issue.

Tesla Coils and Fringe Propulsion

This section discusses Tesla coils as devices that are not fully understood, with many claiming they are related to the back-engineering of 'downed craft'. A remarkable demonstration involves lighting fluorescent tubes without wires when placed near a Tesla coil's field. The article then connects this to Bob Lazar's descriptions of 'gravity wave generators' used in advanced craft. It suggests that Tesla's experiments might offer insights into generating large voltages for regenerative onboard systems. Extrapolations of Tesla's early notes on saucer-like craft describe atmospheric effects and light shows that corroborate witness testimonies. An extract details the appearance of such craft: glowing metal sheets in semi-darkness, and a hot air-like effect with magnetic distortion in sunlight. Descending or lifting craft show red glows, while orange, yellow, green, and blue indicate different speeds, with blue becoming bright white at the highest speeds. The use of super-conducting magnets is proposed as a way to simplify and reduce electricity needs for flying machines. The article also touches upon the high-pitched whine associated with Tesla's arc lights and suggests that aircraft/spacecraft emit similar noises at low frequencies. It draws parallels between Tesla's early experiments and UFO phenomenon descriptions. The potential for solid-state voltage generation is linked to Tesla's legacy, suggesting future advancements may stem from his work.

Recent Article and Local Interest

A recent article in the Macarthur Chronicle about UFOs has sparked significant local interest, prompting people to share their own close encounter experiences.

Reported Sightings

Ambarvale: On April 4th, around 7 pm, an unusual object described as a rectangular shaped rod was observed travelling south. The object was photographed before disappearing into the south after a plane passed. The photo was submitted to the Macarthur Chronicle.

Rosemeadow: In July 2006, a security guard reported seeing two orange coloured lights flying towards him. The lights travelled from Ambarvale over Rosemeadow towards Appin and disappeared. There was no sound, and no structure was visible against the glow.

Donna and Chase's Sighting (Rosemeadow/Ambarvale): On August 1st, 2006, between 6:33 pm and 6:43 pm, Donna and her son Chase witnessed two orange glowing lights flying towards them. They filmed the event, but the camera's data was corrupted. The sighting lasted approximately 10 minutes.

Bradbury: An eyewitness submitted a report of filming a UFO in 2006. At 9 pm, a large golden light was observed moving slowly over rooftops from East to West. It was silent and did not have a spotlight. Upon filming, the object shot off to the stars at a sharp angle. The witness is convinced it was a UFO and has film evidence. Another friend also captured strange shapes in the sky the same day.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the investigation of paranormal phenomena, particularly UFO sightings, and the exploration of fringe science and technology, exemplified by the focus on Nikola Tesla. The magazine promotes the work of the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia (UFO-PRSA) and RACE (Research of Australian Close Encounters) through investigator profiles and reports of their activities. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into unexplained phenomena, encouraging research and documentation while critically examining evidence, as seen in the discussion of Ouija boards and the comparison of Tesla's work to UFO technology. There is a clear emphasis on documenting and publicizing sightings and research within Australia.