UFO Potpourri No 426

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: No. 426
Date: July 1999
Publisher: John F. Schuessler
Contact: 9862 West Unser Ave., Littleton, CO 80128-6986; e-mail: [email protected]; Web Page: http://home.mho.net/schuessler
Country of Publication: USA
Original Language: English

Articles

COW MUTILATED IN 1947

This section, sourced from the New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM, September 18, 1994), recounts a cattle mutilation incident that occurred in 1947 near La Cienega, New Mexico. The cow's sexual organs and udder were removed, and its anus was cored out. Felipe Cabeza de Vaca, who was six years old at the time, described the event as being done 'real nice' and noted that no tracks were found. While authorities at the time attributed such incidents to coyotes, the description of the mutilation, particularly the sexual abuse aspect, was considered unusual for animal predation.

UFOS ROAM AT WILL OVER COSTA RICA

This report, from UFO Roundup, details a significant period of UFO activity in Costa Rica during the last week of December 1996 and the first week of January 1997. Sightings were described as grayish-white or silvery discs. The flap began on December 22, 1996, with reports over San Isidro and Quepos. During subsequent nights, air traffic controllers at Jose Santamaria International Airport near San Jose reported radar contacts with unidentified objects. These objects were tracked by radar over various locations, including Ciudad Colon, Santiago de Puriscal, Parrita, Esterillos, and Quepos. A radar operator noted that some objects moved at 'unimaginable velocity.'

On Thursday night, December 26, 1996, pilot Jorge Arturo Malendez Mora, with 26 years of experience, reported seeing 'three OVNIs' (Spanish for UFOs) alongside his Piper Aztec, describing them as 'the size of a Boeing (jetliner)' and capable of maneuvers beyond human piloting skills. He observed them for 40 minutes.

On Friday night, December 27, another pilot reported 'luminous lights' performing aerobatic maneuvers over Ciudad Colon. On Sunday, January 5, 1997, a 'platillo volador' (flying plate) was reported heading for San Isidro.

PROTECTION AGAINST ONLINE CRITICS

This article, from the Wall Street Journal (July 7, 1999), discusses the legal ramifications for individuals posting defamatory or false information online. It highlights the case of Richard Scrushy, CEO of HealthSouth Corp., who hired investigators to unmask anonymous critics. Scrushy sued some individuals and pressed criminal charges for harassment and stalking, resulting in one culprit losing their employment. The message conveyed is that online stalkers and harassers can be identified and face legal consequences.

TEN PERCENT OF ALL PILOTS HAVE SEEN UFOs. FEW DARE TO SPEAK OUT

Sourced from The EXPRESS (London, England, February 8, 1999), this piece focuses on the reluctance of pilots to report UFO sightings. Captain Graham Sheppard recounts his experiences, including a sighting in 1967 of a 30-foot wide disc-shaped craft moving at high speed near his commercial flight from Scotland to London. He and his crew also witnessed two unidentified objects in an aerobatic display over the Bay of Biscay in March 1967, though they initially chose not to report it. After going public in 1993, Sheppard was cautioned by British Airways Public Relations to avoid media contact regarding UFOs.

Now flying as a freelance pilot, Sheppard estimates that 'about 10 percent of pilots have had some sort of experience.' He attributes their silence to a fear of ridicule and of attracting unwanted attention from 'extreme UFO enthusiasts.' Sheppard finds this reluctance frustrating, as pilots are considered convincing witnesses.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO Potpourri are unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), cattle mutilations, and the challenges of reporting unusual experiences. The magazine appears to present a neutral stance, reporting on incidents and testimonies from various sources, including news outlets, UFO reporting organizations, and personal accounts. There is an underlying emphasis on the credibility of witnesses, particularly pilots, and the difficulties they face when sharing their experiences. The inclusion of the article on online critics suggests an awareness of the broader societal context in which such reports are made and the potential for public scrutiny or backlash.