UFO Newsclipping Service - 1999 06 - no 359

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated June 1999, focuses on the phenomenon of UFO abductions and sightings, with a prominent article on artist and researcher Budd Hopkins. The magazine explores various aspects of UFO encounters, including eyewitness accounts, scientific investigations, and cultural interpretations.

Article: Artist Brings UFO Abduction Home to New York

This article by Austin Bunn profiles Budd Hopkins, an artist and UFO researcher who has dedicated over 20 years to collecting testimonies from individuals who claim to have been abducted by aliens. Hopkins maintains a scrapbook of 'scoop marks' and other physical evidence left by alleged abductions. He is organizing a conference featuring experts like Jerome Clark, Stanton Friedman, and David Jacobs, along with over 50 abductees, including Linda Cortile, known for the 1989 Brooklyn Bridge abduction case. Hopkins uses hypnosis to retrieve memories, believing aliens suppress them. He notes that abductees rarely report interest from aliens in the heart, suggesting a non-human, possibly malevolent, but not necessarily malicious, intent. Hopkins resists connecting his abstract art to his UFO research, though parallels are noted. The article highlights Cortile's own abduction experience and the support group Hopkins runs for abductees.

Article: The Alienist

This section appears to be a continuation or related piece to the Budd Hopkins feature, discussing his work and the broader implications of UFO beliefs.

Article: UFOs: the biggest coverup, or the biggest hoax in history (Part XII - Conclusion and Summary)

By Jon Baughman, this concluding part of a series summarizes various theories about UFOs. It touches upon government cover-ups, alien presence, popular culture influence, and the possibility of secret military development programs. The article mentions the Drake Equation and the SETI program's search for extraterrestrial intelligence, noting its lack of success in detecting radio signals. It also references astronaut sightings and the mysterious lights seen in Central Pennsylvania in 1997. Skeptical viewpoints are presented, questioning the credibility of some reports and suggesting natural explanations or hoaxes.

Article: UFO puts on a show in Rialto

Gregg Patton reports on a sighting by Michael Hawkins and Lia Simmons in Rialto, California, who described a disc-like craft with four brilliant green lights. The object stopped mid-flight, then showed red 'thruster sparks' before ascending rapidly. Hawkins, a former Air Force mechanic, stated it was unlike any aircraft he had seen.

Article: A Moment in (Recent) History

This section, likely a continuation of Baughman's series, discusses the ongoing debate about UFOs, government cover-ups, and the scientific approach to investigating these phenomena. It references Dr. David M. Jacobs' research on alien abductions and hybrid programs, and former Pentagon staffer Col. Corso's claims about space-based weapons. The article also touches upon astronaut sightings and the SETI program.

Article: Air Force base may be source of UFO sightings

This article from the Tuscola County Advertiser explains that strange lights reported in the county were likely flares dropped from Selfridge Air Force Base planes during a training exercise. A base spokesman, Don Jarosz, stated that flares are used to evade heat-seeking missiles and disintegrate before hitting the ground. Residents described seeing orange lights, and some reported multiple lights appearing and disappearing.

Article: Regular people record irregular events

By Tony Perry, this is the second part of a series on UFOs and religion. It features Stan Gordon, a UFO researcher from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, who has been collecting UFO reports since 1959. The article highlights the Kecksburg incident of 1966 as a focus for Gordon's research. It also introduces other researchers like Robert Hostler and Doug Brightbill, who investigate UFOs and other paranormal phenomena. The piece touches on the skepticism surrounding UFO reports and the difficulty in obtaining credible evidence.

Article: Fire ball streaks across Eastern Oregon night sky

This report describes a fireball seen over Eastern Oregon and Washington, likely part of the Lyrid meteor shower. Eyewitnesses described a flaming orange object with a tail, and some speculated it impacted a field. Peter Davenport of the National UFO Reporting Center confirmed the event was likely a meteor.

Article: Growing belief in UFOs tied to millennial fears

By Tony Perry, this is the first part of a three-part series on UFOs and religion. It explores how the concept of aliens has become prominent, often linked to millennial fears and end-times prophecies. Ted Daniels of the Millennial Watch Institute suggests that a cultural shift has led people to believe in aliens more than the future. The article references Orson Welles' 'War of the Worlds' broadcast and current media trends that feature UFOs and alien encounters. It also touches on the theological and existential questions raised by the possibility of alien life and how it might alter humanity's view of God.

Article: Trust no one, and watch those cows

This article by Wes R. Smalling discusses UFO sightings and cattle mutilations in Dulce, New Mexico. It mentions the FBI's conclusion that mutilations were due to predator attacks, but ranchers and researchers remain unconvinced. The article explores theories involving secret underground alien bases and potential government involvement, including the possibility of radioactive waste from Los Alamos being a factor.

Article: UFO experts explore 3 theories about aliens

By Tony Perry, this is the third part of the series on UFOs and religion. It presents three theories about the nature of aliens: benevolent protectors, teachers of new consciousness, or beings that serve as 'supper'. Alex Heard's research on the Unarius Academy of Science and Planetary Activation Organizations is mentioned, along with the idea of aliens inviting earthlings into a galactic federation. Conversely, evangelist Chuck Missler and David Flynn believe aliens are offspring of Satan and fallen angels, seeking to deceive mankind. The article also discusses the connection between UFO sightings and demonic possession, referencing Ezekiel's descriptions of divine beings.

Article: 'UFO' incident still puzzling after 30 years

By Ralph Heibutzki, this article revisits a 1966 UFO sighting in Hillsdale, Michigan. Residents and college students reported seeing a mysterious object. The U.S. Air Force, through Dr. J. Allen Hynek, attributed the sighting to swamp gas, a conclusion that was met with skepticism by those who witnessed the event. The article details the accounts of witnesses and the lack of a definitive explanation, highlighting the ongoing mystery surrounding the incident.

Article: UFO sightings were 'frightening'

By Ralph Heibutzki, this article continues the account of the 1966 Hillsdale UFO sighting, focusing on the experiences of Susan Pollman and the Merrill family. It describes their fear and the subsequent investigation by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who offered the swamp gas explanation. The article notes the media attention the event received and the skepticism faced by witnesses. It also mentions other sightings in the area and the possibility of military aircraft or pranks being responsible.

Article: Tri-Citians report seeing giant fireball

This report from the Tri-City Herald describes a fireball seen over Eastern Washington, likely from the Lyrid meteor shower. Eyewitnesses reported a large, flaming orange object with a tail. Peter Davenport of the National UFO Reporting Center commented on the event.

Article: THEM FILES

This section, by Roger Pinckney, explores Minnesota's history of UFO sightings, dating back to 1897. It features accounts of strange lights, alleged encounters with figures in flight suits, and unexplained phenomena like the disappearance of deer. The article also touches on cattle mutilations and the persistent belief in government cover-ups related to UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents UFO sightings and abduction accounts as significant phenomena, often linking them to broader cultural anxieties, religious interpretations, and potential government secrecy. While acknowledging skeptical viewpoints and scientific investigations, the overall tone leans towards exploring the unexplained and the possibility of extraterrestrial involvement. The recurring theme of millennial fears and the search for meaning in uncertain times is prominent, suggesting that UFO beliefs may fill a cultural void. The publication appears to be a compilation of news clippings, providing a diverse range of perspectives and reports on the UFO phenomenon.

This issue of Foreign News, dated April 18, 1999, with a cover story from Richmond, B.C., Canada, delves into various unexplained phenomena, including UFO sightings, the mystery of Bigfoot, and the enduring fascination with Nostradamus' prophecies. The publication also features reports on unusual events such as mysterious sewage falling from the sky, strange animal deaths, and unexplained killings.

UFO Sightings and Astronomical Explanations

The cover story, "It's not time to call the X-Files quite yet," by Chantal Brasseur, reports on UFO sightings in Steveston, Richmond, Canada. Residents described a bright, disk-like object exhibiting unusual behavior, changing shapes, and moving rapidly. However, Graham Conway, president of UFO BC, suggests that the planet Venus, currently very bright, might be responsible for many of these sightings. Dave Balam, a research associate at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, and Jaymie Matthews, an associate professor at UBC, concur that Venus's brightness and atmospheric refraction can create illusions of movement. Despite these astronomical explanations, Conway notes that some reported sightings are "definitely not Venus."

Another article, "Strange lights reported over White Rock," details multiple independent sightings in White Rock, B.C., Canada, over a weekend in May 1999. Reports include a "huge blue plasma ball" and a "boomerang-shaped object with eight lights." John Conway, president of UFO B.C., expressed impressment with the quality of eyewitness accounts. Despite investigations, authorities like Transport Canada and the Ministry of Defence had no official explanations.

A report from the UK, "Danish X-File team to investigate sighting of battleship-sized UFO," details a sighting by a British charter jet pilot over the North Sea. The object was described as "battleship-sized," silver-coloured, and pencil-thin, immersing the cockpit in "incandescent light." The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed receiving the report, but the Ministry of Defence stated their interest was limited to impacts on UK airspace.

"Pilot's close encounter with UFO" describes a similar incident where a British charter jet pilot and crew reported being "buzzed" by a "long, cylindrical object" over the North Sea. Three other pilots independently logged seeing the object. The CAA confirmed the sighting, noting an "unnatural bright light" and a radar return, but stated the matter was closed.

An older report from Toronto, "She saw a saucer -- wishes she hadn't," recounts Carol Brown's experience of seeing a "huge wierd thing" from a crowded train in June 1967. She described it as a "fat, cigar shape" about 200 ft. long. Despite her efforts to find other witnesses, she faced disbelief.

"It stopped the engine, doused lights" details Karl Farlow's encounter with a "15-foot wide, egg-shaped UFO" in Southampton, England. The object reportedly caused his truck's lights and engine to fail, as well as those of a nearby Jaguar sedan.

"Canada won't talk about what a Manitoban saw" mentions Stephen Michalak's claim of being burned by exhaust gases from flying saucers at Falcon Lake, Manitoba. The Department of National Defence declined to make the investigation report public.

Bigfoot and Cryptids

"Idaho anatomy professor stalks legend of Bigfoot" introduces Jeff Meldrum, an anatomy professor researching Bigfoot. Meldrum's evidence includes numerous plaster casts of footprints that he believes show anatomical details inconsistent with human feet. However, other academics remain skeptical, citing the lack of physical evidence beyond footprints and anecdotal accounts.

A cyberspace reading from the Internet Virtual Bigfoot Conference (IVBC) discusses the "bigfoot phenomenon," citing persistent sighting reports and footprint discoveries as evidence. It also touches on hair samples being studied and the possibility of satellite imagery revealing Bigfoot.

Mysterious Phenomena and Strange Events

"Mysterious sewage from sky splattering Utah houses" reports on an unusual series of events in the Salt Lake Valley where raw sewage fell from the sky onto houses. The Federal Aviation Administration ruled out commercial jets as the source, and authorities were investigating.

"Strange cattle deaths renew investigation" details ongoing investigations into unexplained animal deaths on the Tres Ritos Ranch in New Mexico. Reports include cows found dead with possible mutilations, missing organs, and signs of bruising. The phenomenon is noted to be seasonal and more prevalent on weekends.

"Dogs' killer a cat, bear, or 'sign from God'?" describes a series of unexplained dog killings in Woodleaf, North Carolina. Nine dogs were found dead with deep puncture wounds and other injuries, leading to speculation about the cause, ranging from wild animals to a "sign from God."

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)

"The light way to track an alien" discusses a new approach to SETI, proposed by Nobel laureate Charles Townes. Instead of just listening for radio signals, astronomers will now use telescopes to search for powerful laser flashes from distant stars. The Berkeley group will use a 30-inch telescope to scan 2,500 nearby Sun-like stars. The article highlights the simplicity and potential of this method, contrasting it with the historical skepticism faced by Townes's ideas.

"New solar system, new notions of God" explores the theological implications of discovering extraterrestrial life. Astronomers and theologians met to discuss how the existence of planets orbiting Upsilon Andromedae might challenge existing religious concepts of humanity's unique place in the universe. The article touches on the potential for broadening understanding of the divine and the challenges to evolutionary and religious doctrines.

Nostradamus and End-of-World Prophecies

"Nostradamus fever grips Japan" reports on the surge of interest in Nostradamus' prophecies in Japan, fueled by economic uncertainty and global events. Books, media, and the internet are filled with interpretations of his predictions, particularly concerning millennium doom. The article notes that while many see it as a distraction, some hardcore believers and cults have been inspired by his writings.

Paranormal Radio and Belief Systems

"Broadcast beams down paranormal" focuses on Art Bell, host of the popular overnight radio show "Coast to Coast." The show covers a wide range of paranormal topics, including UFOs, conspiracy theories, and alien encounters. Bell's approach, which includes interviews with experts and listener calls, has garnered a large audience. The article also touches on the show's controversial guests and the potential influence of such content on listeners, referencing the Heaven's Gate tragedy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the unknown, the unexplained, and the human fascination with phenomena beyond conventional understanding. From extraterrestrial life and cryptids to prophecies and unexplained events, the articles explore the boundaries of science, belief, and speculation. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena, presenting both skeptical and believing viewpoints, and highlighting the ongoing search for answers, whether through scientific investigation, eyewitness accounts, or cultural interpretations. The magazine seems to cater to an audience interested in the fringes of knowledge and the mysteries of the universe.