REALL News - Vol 03 No 11 - 1995

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 3 Issue 11, published in November 1995, is the official newsletter of The Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). This issue features a critical analysis of a prominent UFO abduction case, alongside discussions on other topics of interest to skeptics and researchers of paranormal phenomena.

Skybald: Some Comments on the Goodland, Kansas Double Abduction of November 7, 1989

This lengthy article by Martin Kottmeyer re-examines the Goodland, Kansas Double Abduction case, which involved witnesses "Susan" (later identified as Skye Ambrose) and "Jennifer." The case, documented by John S. Carpenter, describes a UFO sighting followed by a close encounter with a hovering object emitting beams of light and causing "black waves" on the witnesses' windshields. Hypnosis sessions reportedly yielded consistent abduction narratives from both individuals, leading Carpenter to conclude the case supported the "bizarre reality" of the UFO enigma.

Kottmeyer, however, offers a skeptical perspective, proposing prosaic explanations for the events. He suggests the initial bright object seen for nearly an hour was likely the planet Jupiter, which was prominent in the eastern sky that night. He dismisses Carpenter's reasoning for rejecting Jupiter as a possibility. The "flashing lights, colors, and little motions" are attributed to scintillation and autokinesis, common phenomena that can be misinterpreted. The "black waves" on the windshield are explained as an optical effect caused by heat currents and air turbulence, similar to schlieren photography, which can be observed when driving at night with a bright light source.

Kottmeyer further speculates that the "cone of light" might have been the headlight of a terrestrial vehicle, specifically a corn picker, during harvest season. He notes that November 7th falls within the typical corn harvest period in the Midwest. The "missing time" reported by the witnesses is attributed to the several stops they made to observe the object and potential conversations.

A significant portion of Kottmeyer's argument focuses on the potential influence of the movie "Communion," released shortly before the hypnosis sessions. He points out that "Susan" and "Jennifer's" accounts, particularly their descriptions of the alien entities (Grays with triangular faces, large black eyes) and the abduction setting (auditorium with tiered seating), bear striking resemblances to details described by Whitley Strieber in his book "Communion." Kottmeyer suggests that the witnesses may have been unconsciously influenced by publicity surrounding the movie, even if they denied prior knowledge of UFO literature.

Kottmeyer concludes that the case, despite its apparent correlations and the witnesses' claims of UFO virginity, can be interpreted in entirely prosaic terms. He argues that the absence of corroborative witnesses and the unusual duration of the sighting (over an hour) point towards misinterpretation rather than alien intelligence. He views the case as another example that builds the argument against the reality of alien abductions.

REALLity Check

This section, written by David Bloomberg, covers several distinct topics:

Subliminal Messages

Bloomberg critiques a CBS News report on subliminal messages, characterizing the subject as having "died a while ago." He notes that despite scientific tests showing no effect, proponents rely on personal anecdotes. He criticizes a segment where a seller of subliminal tapes claimed his products worked, comparing it to psychics who claim others are fake but they are real. He concludes that none have proven their case.

Wenatchee Witchhunt

This segment analyzes a Dateline NBC report on alleged child abuse conspiracy in Wenatchee, Washington. Bloomberg draws parallels to the false memory problem and the Salem witch trials. The case originated from claims by a young girl, the foster child of the investigating detective. Numerous arrests were made, often based on the testimony of a few young girls, some with a history of false accusations or psychological issues. Bloomberg highlights how confessions were obtained, sometimes under pressure, and used in trials. He notes that while some defendants with good lawyers were acquitted, others, particularly those less able to afford legal representation, were convicted. The segment mentions a lawsuit filed by an acquitted individual and calls for an investigation into potential official wrongdoing.

Editor's Notes and Chairman's Message

Bob Ladendorf, the Newsletter Editor, provides an editor's note defining "skybald" as "worthless" or "good for nothing." He also introduces Martin Kottmeyer as a frequent contributor.

David Bloomberg, the Chairman, thanks supporters and outlines plans for redesigning The REALL News with more graphics and digest pieces. He shares details about the publication's creation using Macintosh Classic and Publish It! software. He also announces upcoming REALL meetings, including a lunch meeting on December 9th to discuss REALL's plans for 1996 and beyond, and the regular January 2nd meeting. He mentions plans for speakers, including one from Germany, and encourages member participation in writing articles.

Bloomberg also discusses his own writing workload and encourages other members to submit articles, suggesting topics could range from book reviews to general interest pieces, or even letters to the editor.

REALL Contacts and Purpose

The newsletter provides contact information for REALL, including a P.O. Box in Springfield, Illinois. It clarifies that REALL is a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to rational thinking and the scientific method. REALL does not reject paranormal claims a priori but is committed to objective, critical inquiry. It also states that permission is granted to other skeptic organizations to reprint articles with proper credit, and requests copies of such reprints.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism towards paranormal claims, particularly UFO abductions and alleged conspiracies. The editorial stance, as represented by Martin Kottmeyer's analysis and David Bloomberg's "REALLity Check" segments, is to apply critical thinking and the scientific method to investigate extraordinary claims. The newsletter actively seeks prosaic explanations for phenomena often attributed to the paranormal, emphasizing the importance of evidence and the potential for misinterpretation, psychological factors like false memory, and cultural influences. REALL positions itself as an organization committed to objective inquiry rather than a priori rejection of paranormal claims.