Potpourri News No 194

Magazine Overview

Title: POTPOURRI NEWS
Issue Date: July 20, 1979
Issue Number: 194
Publisher: JOHN F. SCHUESSLER

This issue of Potpourri News, dated July 20, 1979, presents a collection of news items and reports, primarily focusing on UFO phenomena, scientific speculation, and miscellaneous news from various locations.

UFOs Created By Mind Manipulators: Scientist

This article, originating from NEWS, Indianapolis, IN, dated May 7, 1979, features Dr. Jacques Vallee, a French-born scientist, astrophysicist, and computer consultant. Vallee posits that UFOs may not be unidentified or extraterrestrial, but rather creations of sophisticated mind-manipulators on Earth. He suggests that human technology could potentially generate a UFO experience. Vallee's research, detailed in his book "Messengers of Deception," involved studying UFO sects, cults, witness experiences, and records from the French air force and the U.S. Air Force. While acknowledging that not all UFO reports are nonsense and that witnesses are not necessarily unreliable, Vallee expresses concern about a spreading "dangerous myth." He believes the hope for "salvation from above" through UFO contact is a significant danger associated with the UFO movement. Ironically, Vallee was reportedly the model for the character Lacombe in the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," a movie he feels contributed to the UFO craze, though he admits to enjoying it. Vallee's personal interest in UFOs began in 1951 when, as an astronomer at the Paris Observatory, he and colleagues observed an object streaking across the sky while tracking satellites. Their supervisor's decision to erase the tape recording of the coordinates surprised Vallee, as he considered him a good astronomer who wouldn't discard data that didn't fit a model. Initially skeptical of UFO reports due to a lack of astronomer sightings, Vallee's research revealed that while three out of four reports could be explained by weather balloons, gas, cloud formations, or airplanes, over 2,000 unexplained cases with detailed witness accounts existed since 1947. He notes UFO sightings are reported globally, including in Africa, South America, the U.S., and Europe. Vallee describes UFO group members as "sincere, intense, stable and very happy." He recounts an anecdote about a man who claimed telepathic communication from Jupiter daily. Based on witness reports, Vallee learned that UFOs are typically circular, about 15 feet in diameter, leave physical traces like ground imprints, and can cause electromagnetic interference, such as stalling cars or radios. They also emit a tremendous amount of light and vibrant colors. Vallee states he would be disappointed if UFOs were merely "dumb spacecrafts from another planet."

NASA Given Litter Ticket

This report from PERTH, Australia, via UPI, states that a NASA team in western Australia, tasked with examining Skylab debris, was issued a littering citation by the Esperance Shire Council. Esperance was the first Australian town affected by falling Skylab debris. Shire President Merv Unbray clarified that the notice was issued "in fun." If the National Aeronautics and Space Administration were to pay the maximum fine of $400, the money would reportedly go towards the upkeep of the Esperance Museum.

Islanders Prefer Atlantis Stay Lost

This news item from FUNCHAL, Madeira, via UPI, details objections by authorities on the Portuguese resort island to Soviet research vessels searching for the legendary lost city of Atlantis in their waters. On Wednesday, Madeira's regional government vetoed a request from Moscow's Embassy in Lisbon for permission for a Soviet scientific ship to conduct research.

UFO Reported in Philippines

According to a published report in The Houston Post on Monday, May 28, 1979, a disc-shaped UFO with flashing lights was observed sailing over a city on Luzon, the main Philippine island. Residents of Legazpi in Albay province reportedly rushed out to view the object, described as "enthralled" by its colors before it disappeared over the eastern horizon. This was reported as the second UFO sighting over the Philippines in a week.

Locals Site UFO

This report from the LONDON TIMES, London Mills, IL, dated December 21, 1978, describes an observation by Rhonda Brashear and Paula Helle. The two girls reported seeing a tubular spacecraft on Rts. 116 and 97 around 7 p.m. on December 14. The craft hovered and circled their car, appearing close enough to be almost touched. It then ascended to the east with no noise. The spacecraft was described as being almost the size of a private plane, composed of two parallel tubes and one perpendicular tube, with no visible windows. The girls intended to report their sighting to Professor Allen Hynek of Northwestern University, who was involved with the Air Force's Project Blue Book on UFOs.

Information, Data, Commentary and Speculation

This section is attributed to JOHN F. SCHUESSLER, P. O. BOX 58485, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058. It includes a quote: "All truths are equally true but not equally important."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the exploration of UFO phenomena, presented through scientific speculation, witness accounts, and news reports. The editorial stance, as suggested by the inclusion of Dr. Vallee's theories and the various sighting reports, appears to be open to investigating and reporting on unusual aerial phenomena, even when they challenge conventional explanations. The inclusion of the quote "All truths are equally true but not equally important" suggests a nuanced perspective, acknowledging the existence of various phenomena without necessarily assigning equal weight or significance to all of them. The magazine also touches upon broader news items, such as the Skylab debris incident and the search for Atlantis, placing the UFO reports within a wider context of current events.