Southwest's Four Corners is region of beauty, mystery

By Steve Hammons

In fiction and fact, the Four Corners region of the American Southwest has long been an area associated with beauty, Nature and mysterious phenomena.

The convergence of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah is an arid region of dramatic rock formations, fantastic canyons, vast dry plains as well as the pine-covered mountains of Colorado’s southern Rockies.

American Indian nations and communities of the Navajo, Hopi, Ute and others are also found in the Four Corners. Many American Indian tribes have beliefs and legends related to unconventional phenomena.

Mysteries in the area are sometimes associated with the American Indian residents, the ancient history of the region as well as secret government activities and even UFOs.

Accounts of a UFO crash in northwestern New Mexico in 1948 continue to be part of UFO lore.

STORIES AND REPORTS

Popular and prolific western novelists and World War II veterans Louis L'Amour and Tony Hillerman are just two writers who explored the cultural, historical, physical and metaphysical landscape of the area. The works of both writers have been adapted for TV and movies.

Both Hillerman and L’Amour had strong connections to the Four Corners. Hillerman’s mystery novels about two Navajo Nation tribal police officers set in the region gained tremendous popularity. L’Amour lived part of the time in the Durango, Colorado, area where he did much of his writing.

And, both men delved into unusual and anomalous phenomena associated with the history of the area and the people who live there.

Hillerman’s Navajo police characters Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee often faced strange phenomena in their investigations. L’Amour made an interesting departure from his more conventional Old West tales in his 1988 novel set near the Four Corners titled "The Haunted Mesa" about a portal into another dimension.

L’Amour’s part-time home in Durango plays a part in the ongoing research about UFOs. Some researchers claim that in 1948, the year following the alleged Roswell incident, another unusual flying craft crashed south of Durango near the town of Aztec, New Mexico.

According to these reports, secret U.S. government teams responded to the area and flew in scientists to examine the situation. They reportedly flew in to the airfield at  Durango and and then traveled by road the 35 miles to Aztec, according to some researchers.

As part of the clandestine operation, the craft and possibly bodies were obtained and transported to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, a center for analysis of foreign aircraft and technology.

A March 28, 2010, article in the Durango Herald newspaper reported that a former U.S. government “remote viewer” (one of the psychic spies who allegedly used ESP to gather intelligence) spoke about the Aztec incident at the 13th annual Aztec UFO Symposium held in March 2010.

The individual, Lyn Buchanan, told the audience that his remote viewing consulting and training firm examined the Aztec UFO crash reports and concluded there is truth to the accounts, according to the article.

"In short, there was a crash,” Buchanan was quoted in the Durango Herald as saying. “The ETs in that ship weren't dead; they were alive. And negotiations happened between them and the government."

The same newspaper article also reported that Buchanan revealed to the symposium audience that the George Clooney character "Lyn Cassady" in the 2009 movie "The Men Who Stare at Goats" was based on Buchanan.

SECRET SIGNAL

In the second of my two novels, "Light’s Hand" (the sequel to "Mission Into Light"), I also take readers into the Four Corners region with three members of the secret 10-person Joint Reconnaissance Study Group (JRSG).

The main character, Mike Green, along with Amy Mella (an Air Force captain) and CIA analyst Jennifer Thorsen are sent from their home base in San Diego to the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona and then on to Durango.

Their first task is to link up with two National Security Agency (NSA) officials who are interviewing a good friend of the Joint Recon Study Group, WWII Marine Code Talker veteran Joe Bear, at his home.

The NSA has picked up signals intelligence (SIGINT) coming from deep space. And, the signals appear to be in two codes – World War II Navajo Code Talker language and Morse code.

Green, Mella and Thorsen are to find out what is involved, assist as needed and report back to their team leaders and the JRSG commanding officer in San Diego, Tom O’Brien, an Air Force colonel. They are authorized to access information from the two NSA agents and from Joe’s interpretation of the mysterious message.

From northeastern Arizona, the three JRSG members are sent on to Durango to interview a former Army intelligence officer who is now an instructor at the state college there. He reportedly has knowledge about unconventional topics of interest to the JRSG.

They are also directed to scout around the Durango area to locate a suitable property for a safehouse. The reason is not immediately clear to them.

In the partial excerpt below from Chapter 7, Mike, Amy and Jennifer arrive in the Navajo Nation after flying from San Diego to Farmington, New Mexico:

[Extended novel excerpt below.]

By lunchtime they were pulling into the small Navajo town of Kayenta in the northeast corner of Arizona. The village was a jumping off point for trips to Monument Valley and other nearby scenic sites.

Mike drove the final stretch down the highway and turned off on a gravel road. After three or four miles, they spotted Joe’s and Maggie’s names on a mailbox and drove up the dusty road toward the house, sitting on a small hill. They noticed Joe’s pick-up next to the house and a navy blue sedan parked in front. Mike pulled up behind the sedan and the three of them got out.

Joe opened the front door and stepped out on the front porch, raising his hand in greeting and smiling broadly.

“Welcome,” he simply said as Amy and Jennifer hugged him. Mike managed to find Joe’s hand for a shake. Then, more hugs all around as his wife Maggie came out to the porch.

“Come on inside you three,” Maggie said as she led the way.

In the living room, Mike, Amy, and Jennifer saw a woman and a man sitting on one of couches typing on laptop computers. Joe introduced them.

“This is Jane Danski and Mark Jensen from the NSA. They wanted to talk with me about some things. I think O’Brien wants you to talk with them too.”

After more handshakes and introductions all around, everyone took a seat, except Maggie, who went out to her kitchen.

Jane Danski explained that they were authorized to fill in the JRSG operatives on the reason they were talking with Joe. She and Jensen spelled out the situation briefly. A Morse code transmission coming from deep space had been detected by NSA signals intelligence.

After a lot of research on the translation from Morse code, someone knew enough about World War Two cryptography to suspect it might be related to the Code Talkers, or something similar.

Joe had confirmed it and had made a preliminary interpretation for them. They were writing their reports, which they would soon transmit via communications equipment in their car that included a satellite uplink connection. They would send their encrypted reports directly to the NSA in Maryland.

Mike, Amy, and Jennifer had become accustomed to unusual events since they joined the JRSG. However, that fact didn’t dampen their excitement. Amy posed the obvious question.

“Are you free to tell us what Joe thinks the message says?”

Danski and Jensen both shook their heads in the affirmative.

“Go ahead Joe, if you want,” Mark Jensen said.

As calm and steady as ever, Joe gave them his interpretation of the message.

“As you know, back in the war, we used Navajo words for animals and natural things to stand for military meanings, to identify things like aircraft, ships, troops, or military activities.”

“Out of the message these folks gave me, and I figure it was translated the right way from Morse code by the NSA, there were some key words.”

“I picked up Code Talker words for ‘ships,’ ‘scouts,’ ‘friendly indigenous forces,’ ‘liberation,’ which was a term we used back then to mean a few different things. Also, the words ‘secret’ or ‘covert,’ ‘landing,’ such as a plane or marine beach landing, and a word that could mean ‘supplies.’ There were some other references to ‘darkness’ or ‘night time’ and ‘light’ or ‘daylight.’ I also think some of the words were trying to say something about a time frame or schedule.”

“The basic message, as best as I can figure out, is something like ‘scouts will recon a target covertly at night, or during the dark, to liberate the local friendlies. Then, later, a landing will bring supplies in the day or daylight.’ Something like that. That’s what I make of it anyhow.”

They all glanced at one another and it was obvious they all were thinking along similar lines. The NSA people knew, in general terms, that the JRSG was working on usual phenomena, such as UFOs, among other things. Jane Danski posed the question to them.

“So, Mr. Bear, do you have an idea what this might mean? What do you think?”

ON TO DURANGO

After this meeting at Joe Bear’s house in northeastern Arizona, Mike, Amy and Jennifer head to Durango where they are to interview a Dr. Ben Westman, an anthropology instructor at Fort Lewis College, a state college there. Westman is reportedly a retired Army intelligence officer.

They have been assigned to interview him, take notes and make reports on what he tells them.

Then, they are to conduct reconnaissance in the Durango area to find a property suitable for a secure “safehouse.”

Their trip to Durango is partly described in the following excerpts:

They were on the road by eight o’clock the next morning. Amy was driving their rental car east northeast on U.S. 160. After about an hour, the highway took them past the small park that marked the meeting point of the states of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado.

U.S. 160 cut through the corners diagonally and a minute later they were in Colorado. The road climbed steadily through hilly country due north to the town of Cortez. More trees and green plants, they noticed.

The highway turned east at Cortez and Amy was now piloting the rental car steadily higher into the mountains. The road curved through beautiful pine-covered forests and pastures where horses grazed. Before long, they’d be pulling into Durango. Amy wondered if they should call the man they were supposed to interview today, or wait until they got oriented and rested.

“What do you guys think? Want to get in touch with this Ben Westman guy right away today?”

Mike just wanted to get where they were going and get out of the rental car.

“I say let’s get settled in our rooms, get something to eat, walk around Durango and get our bearings, then decide.”

Jennifer was in no rush.

“Sounds good to me. Colonel O’Brien told us to take our time and add on some R&R days for ourselves too. We’ll be better interviewers if we’re rested, I think.”

In another fifteen minutes they were getting into the outskirts of Durango. Neighborhoods of homes were nestled here and there among the pines. The road brought them to the central part of the town, tucked in the San Juan Mountains.

On Main Avenue, downtown buildings still reflected the 1800s history of the Durango. Now, shops, restaurants, and offices filled the restored downtown area. The Animas River flowed right through the middle of town.

They drove past the train station where the famous Old West steam train was ready to take visitors further up north into the mountains. Up to the town of Silverton at over eleven thousand feet and back.

On a small plateau above downtown was Fort Lewis College, where the man they were to contact was a professor of anthropology.

After backtracking, Amy found the inn they were looking for and pulled in the parking lot. On the drive up, the three had decided to get a one-bedroom suite instead of two adjoining rooms. They all wanted to get out of the car and walked together up to the lobby. It was a newer inn just outside of town on U.S. 160 with residential style suites complete with kitchens.

They brought in luggage and cleaned up. It was lunchtime too and they had left Kayenta without much of a breakfast. All three were eager to scout around town. Mike had been in Durango a few times before.

“There’s a lot to see around here. Purgatory ski resort, the Mesa Verde National Park ruins, and San Juan National Forest. This is wild country. Bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, elk, a lot of wildlife.”

Amy was getting a funny feeling. For some reason, this town felt familiar, yet she’d never been here before.

“I like the feel of this town. I sort of feel at home.”

Jennifer looked at her with a smile.

“I know what you mean, Amy. I’m glad we have some extra time here after we do this interview. It’s good Mike’s been here a few times before too. We’ve got some advance recon on the area. Let’s get some lunch in town and look around.”

They left the inn and drove for a few minutes back into town. They found a small restaurant not far from the train station and ordered sandwiches. The window next to their table faced Main Avenue and they watched the people and cars pass by. It was a sunny sixty degrees or so outside today. Visitors and locals walked around town, enjoying the day.

Amy wanted to call Westman that afternoon. If they were going to reach him at the college they should call before the end of the day. They only had his office phone number at the campus.

“We’ll feel better about taking some R&R when we’re done with our duties, I think. I say we get in touch with him after lunch.”

Jennifer agreed.

“Work first, then play.”

“Sounds good to me,” Mike said.

As they ate their sandwiches, Amy pulled a cell phone out of her fanny pack and dialed a number she had written down in her small notebook.

“I’m trying to reach Doctor Westman. Yes, I can leave a message. Voice mail is fine, thanks. Doctor Westman, this is Amy Mella from Colonel O’Brien’s group. My associates and I are in Durango and we would like to meet with you at your convenience. I will call you back when you return from lunch.”

ANTHROPOLOGY INTELLIGENCE

When they finished their meal, they walked around the downtown area. The architecture of many of the old nineteenth century hotels and other buildings gave them a feeling of the Old West. Western art galleries, hotels, saloons, and stores offering everything for the outdoor mountain life lined Main Avenue. Over an hour passed quickly as they explored.

Sitting on a sidewalk bench soaking up the sunshine, Amy called Fort Lewis College again.

“Doctor Westman? This is Amy Mella again. Yes, sir. That will be fine. Will do. See you shortly.”

“He’s back from lunch and done teaching classes for the day and told us to come over to his office at the college.”

After walking back to where their rental car was parked, they drove up to the small mesa where the college campus overlooked Durango. They found a visitor parking and Amy asked some students for directions to the anthropology department. A short walk through campus brought them to Ben Westman’s office. The door was open and a man in a checkered flannel shirt stood up from the desk and waved them in.

“Hello, welcome to Durango,” he said as he reached out to shake hands.

“Hello Doctor Westman. I’m Amy Mella. This is Mike Green and Jennifer Thorsen.”

“Have a seat folks. First off, call me Ben. So, I understand you’re part of one Tom O’Brien’s research groups and he wants you to talk with me, eh?”

Westman got up from the desk and closed the office door.

“I’ve kept in touch will Tom over the years. We were in Vietnam together. Back in the sixties and seventies I was working in Army intelligence. Retired as a major in seventy-eight. Went back to school and got my Ph.D. in anthropology and I’ve been teaching here for over ten years.”

“O’Brien called and told me you three were coming up to get some intel from me. Sounds like an interesting little research group you’re part of. ‘Joint Reconnaissance Study Group’ is it? Well, I think I can shed some light on some of your inquiries and help out your group.”

Mike and Jennifer had taken out small notebooks and pens.

Westman lowered his voice just the slightest bit.

“You folks are getting to the heart of quite a few important issues. Things I’ve studied for government projects like yours, and things I’ve researched myself. From talking with Tom, it sounds like your group is on the right track. I’ve seen your mission statement and O’Brien’s told me about some of your latest work.”

“I think I can speak with some expertise on the human and social aspects, some of the geography and geology, and even some of the metaphysical stuff. Do you want to ask me questions? Or I could just tell you some of the things I think are important and you can follow-up if you want?”

Amy, Mike, and Jennifer looked at each other and shrugged.

“Go ahead, Ben,” Amy said.

He leaned back in his chair and looked at them for a moment.

“Enjoying Durango? It’s a great area up here. Well, I think I should tell you folks about where I’m coming from in terms of your research. You know, I have seen your mission statement. O’Brien sent it to me. I’ve worked on similar projects where we’ve looked into a lot of the stuff your group is now assigned to. I was thinking it might be helpful if I just give you a brief overview of what I know. What do you think?”

“Just go slow enough for us to take notes,” Mike said as he pulled out his small note pad and pen.

“Sounds good to me,” Jennifer agreed.

“Maybe we can just follow-up with questions here and there,” Amy added.

Westman nodded.

“Sure, ask away. Well, okay then. As I understand it, your group has some basic areas to look into such as social and human issues, the possible Earth changes scenarios, and the unusual or metaphysical arena. I’ll try to go down the list of your group’s areas of research.”

HUMANITY AND EARTH

“On the human part of it, from an anthropologist’s point of view, the human species is obviously still evolving. Hopefully into something worthwhile. Our societies have a lot of rough edges. There is still a lot of suffering all around the globe. Too much of it. We’ve got a ways to go.”

“So-called ‘Earth changes’ theories might be somewhat legitimate. This planet is also still evolving. There’s ongoing geological activity. There are some volcanoes around the world that could pop. The recent movement of the Pacific Plate, though devastating to some specific areas, is only a relatively small part of the Earth’s crustal area. Any number of seismic or volcanic events could occur.”

“Things like this would affect the human population in the line of fire. And yes, some places currently above sea level could be underwater. Temporarily from a tsunami, or somewhat permanently from rising water.”

“Now, how this all fits into the metaphysical realm, that’s interesting all right. You know, when I was a young man, I wasn’t very religious, very spiritual. Through what I learned in the Army, and from life, I’ve changed my ways over the years. If you believe in Heaven and angels, really believe, well, I guess that would qualify as some other dimension in the physics sense of it. I don’t doubt that some of those near-death experiences are people scratching the surface of the Heavenly dimension.”

“As far as UFOs, crop circles and the like, well, something sure seems to be going on. Never saw one. I honestly don’t know much about it officially. Never worked on anything that weird. But I’ve done a little reading on it. Pretty strange stuff.”

“The Army did do some work with ESP. Remote viewing, telekinesis, things like that. This is part of the evolution of humans I was talking about. We’ll develop greater intelligence of various kinds, if given time.”

“The DNA deep-memory theories have been around since the sixties. There were psychological researchers claiming to have accessed actual memories of ancestors. Legitimate, hallucination, or wishful thinking? Who knows? It makes sense that many different kinds of information could be encoded on the DNA helix, including memories of important or peak events, or knowledge needed for survival.”

“As far as ancient times here in North America, who the early people were and where they came from, there are some new and interesting discoveries about that. Think about the generations who lived in North America for centuries upon centuries before being ‘discovered’ by the Europeans in modern times. Some very unique cultures developed. Some very interesting knowledge about certain things. Interesting old legends, too.”

Westman leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on an open desk drawer. He took a sip from a mug of coffee on his desk.

“I guess it’s just a step-by-step process to learn about and understand these things. The continual expansion of knowledge.”

They knew Westman was busy, and didn't want to take any more of his time ... for now anyway.

“Maybe we better get on that safehouse search, Ben,” Amy proposed. “Mike, Jennifer, what do you think?”

Both nodded their agreement.

“Let me give you a phone number and address of a property and real estate group I know of,” Westman offered and pulled a business card out of his wallet. “Their office is right in town by the train station. I’ll give them a call and tell them to take care of you.”

Amy also gave him the phone number and room number at the inn where they were staying.

“Well, maybe you three want to regroup and get in touch with those real estate folks. Since tomorrow’s Saturday, you might be able to make some progress this afternoon. Maybe they can get you started with some property locations and addresses. You’ve got the whole weekend to look around.”

They decided to follow his advice, said their good-byes and thanks, and headed out to the college parking lot. It was a bright, beautiful day and the sun was warming things up. The sky was a deep, dark blue. Jennifer drove as they followed a street that took them down the hill into Durango below.

SAFEHOUSE RECON

They parked in town and walked around until they found a restaurant. In a small booth, they were trying to put the pieces together. The developments they were dealing with now and many of the original JRSG missions were starting to make more sense, in a somewhat terrifying way.

Over coffee and another bite to eat, they made their plans to contact the real estate office Westman had referred them to.

After finishing lunch and paying the check, they walked back out into the beautiful day on Durango’s Main Avenue. As it turned out, the real estate office was just down the block and across the street from the restaurant.

It was in one of the older buildings from the eighteen hundreds. They walked up a narrow stairwell to the second story offices and a receptionist steered them to a nearby office where a man sitting at a desk waved them in.

“Hi folks. I’m Gary Billings,” he said as they shook hands. “Have a seat.”

“So, Ben Westman says you’re looking to lease a property outside of town somewhere. I know of several that might be what you’re looking for. A couple are on more than ten acres. Real nice homes among the pines. A few are horse properties. Some of the owners really want to sell, not lease, but the right lease deal might be something they’d consider.”

Billings gave them some property information sheets with photos and specifics on several homes scattered around the outskirts of the Durango area on nice pieces of land. He gave them an idea about where they were, and how far of a drive each was from town and main roads.

They told him they were looking at the properties for their boss back in San Diego, which was true.

Billings proposed that they review the dozen or so property information sheets he’d given them and send them to their boss if they wanted. When they narrowed down the field a bit, he could then drive them out to the properties and show them around.

“Durango’s a great place. I’ve been here nearly twenty years. Got out of the big city rat race. It’s God’s country up here. Your boss is smart to be looking at this area. You folks just give me a call anytime.”

They shook hands and thanked him, and Billings gave them each a business card. Once outside on the sidewalk, they decided to take a drive outside of town.

They headed north up Main Avenue through town. As they continued on past the outskirts of town, a narrow, green, and beautiful valley spread out on both sides of the road.

The Animas River paralleled the road and the Durango to Silverton train track, more or less. But the river knew no straight lines and meandered in gentle curves through the green pastures where horses grazed.

Rugged mountains covered with pine forests surrounded both sides of the valley. Snow could be seen on the high peaks. Bears, elk, and a diverse population of wildlife roamed these mountains. Living wild and free, surviving, mating, raising their young, and dying.

They spotted the train filled with people making its way back down the mountains toward town from Silverton.

Along both sides of the road were nice homes and small ranches, many of which had been built recently. Not exactly a building boom in Durango, but steady growth. People discovering the beauty and small town atmosphere.

Durango residents were sometimes refugees from the big cities and from some of the jet set-saturated Colorado ski towns where the rich and famous played.

The road climbed steadily higher into the mountains. It was beautiful country. Maybe God’s country at that, like Billings had said.

Open source intel on special topics available now

By Steve Hammons

In recent days there has been much speculation about the possible release of information by controversial organizations about unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

At the same time, it is worth noting that a robust amount of open source intelligence (OSINT) on this topic is already available online, in books and via other communications platforms. It is true that some information is unreliable. However, there are also websites and other sources that appear to be highly reliable and credible.

Two such online sites that seem worth exploring are AfterDisclosure.com and MajesticDocuments.com. There are also many other websites and resources that are equally valuable and interesting.

For anyone interested in the subjects of UFOs and extraterrestrial visitation as well as research and speculation about other leading-edge scientific inquiries, the OSINT currently available appears very adequate to provide a fairly solid understanding of the situation at hand.

Of course, there are still many unknowns and much information is kept secure, probably for a number of reasons. Some of the rationale for information restriction and operational security (OPSEC) may not seem reasonable to many people, yet other reasons could be quite valid and understandable.

EDGE-SCIENCE RESEARCH

Many researchers and interested people are very curious about reports of various kinds of unconventional and anomalous phenomena that include UFOs.

Additional interesting topics are theories of multiple dimensions (including theories of an afterlife), beings and creatures that may move in and out of these hidden dimensions (including angels) and the related subject of near-death experiences (NDEs).

Synchronicity (odd coincidences that may have meaning) and the related concept of non-locality (things being connected in ways independent of time and space) are also fascinating to many people.

Likewise, extrasensory perception (ESP) and anomalous cognition of various kinds are subjects of interest not only for average people, but also for defense and intelligence activities, as reflected in the research and operations of U.S. Project STAR GATE.

A subsequent concept called “transcendent warfare” seems to demonstrate the useful nature of unconventional programs like Project STAR GATE.

Although these and other edge-science subjects often overlap, the many reliable communications platforms providing valid information on such topics sometimes specialize in one or two elements.

It is interesting to note that some research into these areas is being conducted at major universities by respected investigators. They are using sound scientific methods to explore, measure and try to understand these unusual phenomena.

As noted, the OSINT available on these kinds of subjects can be found in excellent non-fiction books and articles, credible websites and even some TV programs. Some works of fiction such as novels and movies also can provide valuable insight and quite a bit of truth.

SEAMLESS TIPPING POINT

On the subject of UFOs, it has long been rumored that information has been gradually and steadily emerging for several decades now. One view is that there has been a planned process of acclimation to prepare people for some of these more surprising developments.

If that is true, it is probably wise because some unconventional phenomena could be quite disorienting, disconcerting or even dangerous. There certainly are indications that these are factors to take seriously.

Many people hope for a silver bullet of UFO disclosure to reach a tipping point of greater public knowledge about such situations. However, it may also be true that the acclimation process will result in a seamless trajectory of steadily greater understanding.

Whether new information is released in some kind of controversial public way or not, there undoubtedly will continue to be increased awareness about many of these interesting and forward-leaning areas of research, including UFOs.

In that sense, the debate about the official information restrictions versus openness and transparency in government may not be as important as it appears, at least in relation to some situations.

The more significant issue may be the maturity and responsibility we demonstrate in handling the truth about subjects that could be very challenging to adjust to.

From Sedona to Heaven: What is the dimension we call ‘Heaven?’

By Steve Hammons

As scientific theories, popular discussion and significant indications about the possibility of other dimensions in our universe become more accepted, many people point out that unidentified flying objects (UFOs) could be several different kinds of phenomena possibly related to multiple dimensions.

As we know, many UFO sightings involve stars, weather phenomena, conventional aircraft and probably advanced human military aircraft-spacecraft.

However, some of these flying objects may very well be extraterrestrial spacecraft, some type of vehicles or other anomalous phenomena. When certain objects like this are repeatedly tracked on radar and observed by very reliable witnesses (sometimes multiple witnesses), it seems reasonable to accept this possibility.

In a “multiverse” that we might be living in, there are many possibilities to wonder about. Could some UFOs come from other natural dimensions? Such other dimensions could be hidden from us through elements of physics and Nature that we do not fully understand.

Because of the probability that some kind of intelligent other beings are involved, we could also wonder if they are friendly and good, hostile and evil or something altogether different that would be challenging for us to understand.

And, could some of the beings not be biological, and some of the flying objects not solid, but be some sort of energy or quantum form?

GUARDIAN ANGELS

Credible studies on the “near-death experience (NDE)” from a number of researchers have resulted in strong indications that there may be an afterlife or some other dimension that humans have often referenced in spiritual traditions.

Seemingly related to the NDE phenomena, in 2008 the Baylor University Institute for Studies of Religion made public the results of a survey that many people found surprising. More than half of people polled believed they had been helped by a guardian angel during their lives.

Interestingly, one in five of the people who responded identified themselves as not being religious.

The survey of 1,700 people also asked questions about various religious topics. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed agreed with the following statement: "I was protected from harm by a guardian angel."

Agreement with the statement was consistent across educational levels, geographic region and religious denominations, according to Christopher Bader, director of the Baylor poll.

Bader said in a TIME magazine article, "If you ask whether people believe in guardian angels, a lot of people will say, 'sure.' But this is different. It's experiential. It means that lots of Americans are having these lived supernatural experiences."

He added that the amount of people saying they believed they were protected by an angel was "the big shocker."

The same TIME article also quoted Randall Balmer, chairman of the religion department at Barnard College in New York. Balmer stated that the Baylor survey reflects that "Americans live in an enchanted world" and that "There is much broader uncharted range of religious experience among the populace than we expect."

In another response to the study, an ABC News article quoted Rodney Stark, a professor of social sciences and co-director for studies of religion at Baylor. Stark said, "While I knew there were a lot of people who had such [beliefs in angels], I wasn't prepared for the frequency of it."

FROM SEDONA TO HEAVEN

In my novel Mission Into Light, I explore the ideas of NDEs, another dimension and encounters with beings who reside there.

The incident involves the main character, Mike Green. On an operation in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain national wilderness area north of Sedona, Arizona, with the San Diego-based 10-person U.S. Joint Reconnaissance Study Group, Mike is shot by a sniper or snipers hidden on high ground and is hit in the leg. Another bullet grazes his skull.

He instantly loses consciousness, falls to the ground and starts loosing significant amounts of blood. Other team members immediately start first-aid for Mike and another wounded teammate.

Meanwhile, he has a near-death experience:

Slowly, Mike's awareness returns. He is disoriented. He looks below and sees his own body, unconscious and bleeding profusely from the leg and head. Another member of the group is bloody from his shoulder down to his hand, the arm of his shirt soaked with blood.

He sees his friends pinned-down by two snipers below him. Below him? Where is he? Had he somehow gotten to a high point along the cliffs?

Mike sees his Uncle Jack directly below him, firing bursts from his automatic weapon and pulling more ammo clips from his pockets.

Near Jack lies Mike’s own body. Jack picks up Mike's body, throws him over his shoulders and tries to make his way down a hill, which Mike watches from above.

Slowly, the green forest below him fades from Mike’s view. Darkness comes over him.

Then, a point of light becomes visible on the horizon. He is being drawn toward the point of light, first slowly, then more quickly, as if he were shooting river rapids in a canoe. The point of light draws closer and Mike finds himself in a tunnel of beautiful golden light.

He seems to slow down now, like the inevitable calm water at the end of a river’s rapids. Mike drifts slowly through the tunnel and the golden light becomes brighter. Other colors seemed to sparkle through the golden light like hundreds of tiny rainbows.

Ahead, he can see figures that seemed to be people. As he flows closer to them he can make out four beings. They seem to be waiting for him as he comes closer and closer.

Then, he finds himself surrounded by the four figures. He knows them. They are his four grandparents and they embrace him. They passed on many years ago, though were a big part of his life when he was a kid. The five seem to float in the light. His grandparents communicate with him in unison.

They tell him, "Yes, Mike, this is the land of the Great Spirit. It is the beautiful place that many religions and philosophies have always taught."

"There is constant rejoicing and peace in this land. But we feel sadness at the hardships faced by our people in your world. And we feel a longing to help the people there."

"There are groups of beings who want to bring the two worlds together, to make Heaven and Earth one place. There are efforts underway to accomplish that very mission."

"That work is proceeding. One day soon, that miracle will come to pass, and there will be a great celebration, a great happiness among all the people."

"You, Mike, must return to the other world, and tell your family and friends about what you have seen."

"We have one more thing to show you, something you have a need to know."

Then, they help Mike take a fantastic journey into deep memories in his DNA, or maybe it is time travel into the ancient past of the Cherokee people in their Smokey Mountain homeland, or maybe both simultaneously. He learns some amazing things.

He learns about connections between UFOs, extraterrestrials and Native Americans in the era before Europeans entered into the ancient Cherokee homeland in the Smokey Mountain region. He also learns about pending unconventional developments.

After this experience concludes, he finds himself with his grandparents again.

"Mike, you must now return to the other world. You still have many more seasons before you join us here in the Spirit land."

They embrace him again, with happiness. Slowly, the golden light begins to fade and Mike is moving back through the tunnel of light. He sees his grandparents waving good-bye to him until they fade from his sight.

The light grows dimmer and dimmer until it is only a point on a distant horizon. And then, darkness.

Mike's next sensation is the sound of other people talking. He opens his eyes and sees a hospital room in Sedona, his friends gathered around his hospital bed.

He tries to tell about his experience.

"I was floating above the fight at the canyon, watching you scrambling for safety. I saw my own bloody body being carried by Uncle Jack down the rocky path away from the snipers."

"A tunnel of golden light led to the land of Spirit ... It wasn't a dream."

"I was in the golden light, and saw my grandparents."

The others listen carefully as Mike tries to recall details of his journey and his meeting with his grandparents.

After he finishes his story, Mike looks closely into the faces of the friends around his bed. Some of their eyes are wider than usual. Some are expressionless, though a smile can be seen in their eyes.

The group's commanding officer, combat veteran Air Force Colonel Tom O'Brien, standing near the door, gives Mike a knowing wink.

Book ‘A.D. After Disclosure’ explores UFO mysteries, human race

By Steve Hammons

A new book by a historian and a Hollywood writer-producer about the complex issues of the UFO situation seems to be both radical and conservative, vast in scope and specific in detail.

This book provides a valuable, mind-expanding look at a significant scientific and cultural issue facing us today.

In an article posted online on Nov. 6, 2010, I wrote an overview, preview or preliminary review of this new book, A.D. After Disclosure: The People’s Guide to Life After Contact by Richard M. Dolan and Bryce Zabel.

Working from the press release about the soon-to-be-published book and an advance look at a pre-printing nearly-final PDF, I was able to get a good feel for Dolan’s and Zabel’s valuable information, perspectives and theories.

When I obtained a hard copy of A.D. After Disclosure, held it in my hands and began a detailed reading and study of it word for word, I was struck by how comprehensive the book really is.

It is not just about more disclosure on UFOs. It is also a solid look at the current state of American and global society and the human race on our planet. The book helps us examine where humanity has been, where we are now and where we are going.

Much of the book is actual fact. Other parts of it are logical conclusions or theories based on known fact and reasonable circumstantial evidence. And yet other elements go out on a limb about what the mysteries of the UFO situation might involve and how they could unfold.

MANY POSSIBLE SCENARIOS

When I finished reading the final page, the next phase was trying to absorb and organize in my own mind about the many points, scenarios and circumstances that the authors look into. That’s not easy, though it may be one of the most interesting aspects of reading the book.

Dolan and Zabel invite readers to think seriously about the possibilities.

How will we humans respond to the many possible situations and outcomes if more information becomes public about UFOs and visitors or “others?”

How will I, as an average human being, react? In fact, how I am reacting now to the apparent steadily emerging open source intelligence (OSINT) on this subject available to us at this point in time and in coming days?

Why do I say that, to me, A.D. After Disclosure seems both radical and conservative? This is because the authors look at a very unusual unknown, or really a complex set of many unknowns, from the viewpoint of our current everyday life and the present state of affairs on planet Earth.

Although Dolan and Zabel certainly expand readers’ thinking tremendously, the fact is that human consciousness, with or without more revelations about the UFO mystery, could change in ways that would be more fundamental and more significant than even these authors propose.

They don’t pull many punches. They speculate about the significant changes and adjustments that could occur on virtually all levels of society and in our lives once we reach a tipping point of learning more about these interesting, important, complex and sensitive situations.

Dolan and Zabel don’t sugarcoat it. In fact, many of their proposed scenarios give us reasons to be very careful and even understand the alleged need for decades-long information security on the UFO topic and other possible surprising discoveries.

While the authors obviously advocate for more public awareness about a variety of down-to-Earth subjects and various unusual phenomena, they are not naïve about possible difficult and problematic outcomes. Dolan and Zabel seem realistic. They look at some best-case scenarios and some worst-case outcomes as well as the middle ground.

In some of the more theoretical sections of their book, the authors are giving it their best educated guesses, based on reasonable and logical aspects of history and current events.

And, they freely admit that they may be wrong about some of the possible effects of more public knowledge about UFOs, various kinds of other intelligent beings and the way planet Earth is currently being run.

PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS

From our day-to-day routines to changes in our understanding about Nature and the universe (or even the “multiverse”), our viewpoints will develop further, possibly quite a lot. That is one of their main messages.

In many ways, A.D. After Disclosure reminds me of a well-known chapter in the 1992 firefighter training book, Fire Officer's Guide to Disaster Control by Charles Bahme and William Kramer. That manual mainly looks at the conventional situations that fire agencies and firefighting professionals can face.

But in the chapter "Disaster Control and UFOs," Bahme and Kramer also address unconventional situations that could require special training and awareness by public safety officials. These include public psychological reactions as well as the kinds of physical dangers firefighters often encounter such as hazardous materials (hazmat) precautions and mitigation.

In other words, it is about preparedness and readiness on many levels. Dolan and Zabel focus on this too.

Psychological and emotional factors, social and cultural issues, defense considerations, public safety elements, intelligence community participation and mass media’s handling of ongoing new knowledge and understanding are just a few of the areas explored in A.D. After Disclosure.

The book reminds us that we must be adaptable to change while retaining our fundamental identity as human beings.

Qualities like basic human decency, honor, strength, compassion and similar positive human traits will serve us well in a variety of possible future situations, whether they are unusual and unconventional or more conventional and normal.

In the closing words of their firefighting manual chapter on “Disaster Control and UFOs,” Bahme and Kramer remind firefighting professionals about the crucial importance of planning, adequate resources and good leadership.

Dolan and Zabel also advise us to consider these factors, and others, as we move inevitably toward change and new understanding of UFOs, several kinds of unusual phenomena and the state of the human race on Earth.

‘Dark Skies’ TV series about UFOs, ETs, secret agency, 1960s era now on DVD

By Steve Hammons

A special DVD collection of the 1996-1997 extraterrestrial and UFO-related NBC TV series “Dark Skies” is scheduled for release in the U.S. on Jan. 18, 2011.

“Dark Skies” follows a young congressional staff member, John Loengard, as he comes to Washington, D.C., during the period from 1961 to 1967.

When Loengard (played by Eric Close) is recruited into a secret government UFO agency, he and his girlfriend (Megan Ward) find themselves in the strange world of extraterrestrial invaders and government operatives trying to deal with the challenging situation.

The release of the series on DVD is sure to increase awareness and preparedness about various scenarios generally associated with the UFO phenomena.

People placing advance orders can receive the DVDs by Dec. 9, 2010, when ordering directly from the Shout Factory! home video company.

A “Dark Skies” DVD collection was also released in the UK in October 2010.

The series was created and written by Bryce Zabel and Brent Friedman. It aired on Saturday nights in 1996 and 1997, and included 18 one-hour episodes as well as a two-hour pilot. Zabel and Friedman have both had distinguished careers involving many successful TV projects.

The special U.S. DVD release includes three hours of audio commentaries with the creators and actors Close and Ward about the series pilot and closing episodes. A 90-minute documentary section gives viewers behind-the-scenes insight into the creative and TV business elements of the series.

TRUTH THROUGH FICTION?

The original NBC promos and Emmy Award-winning title sequence opening each episode featured the provocative statement, “They're here ... they're hostile ... and powerful people don't want you to know. History as we know it is a lie.”

The fast-paced action and suspense drama focused on the experiences of the characters played by actors Close and Ward as they learn more about the disturbing dangers facing the U.S. and the human race.

“Dark Skies” provides insight about possible or probable secret operations and organizations dealing with UFOs, ETs and other unconventional phenomena.

The series also gives viewers perspectives about the 1960s by incorporating real events, music and public personalities of that era.

Other leading actors play fascinating roles. J.T. Ward plays a Navy officer who is part of the secret “Majestic-12” agency dealing with the UFO and ET situation. Jeri Ryan is a covert agent in the same organization.

John M. Jackson also gives an impressive performance. Interestingly, Jackson portrayed the real-life commanding officer of the Roswell Army Air Force base in the revealing 1994 TV movie Roswell.

Many other actors contributed to the series, playing roles of people like President Harry Truman, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Dr. Carl Sagan, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Marilyn Monroe, Sen. Robert Kennedy, Navy Adm. Roscoe Hillenkotter, Dr. Timothy Leary and others.

Viewers revisit the 1960s yet see those years in a new light, looking deep behind the curtains – behind what we thought was reality.

THEN AND NOW

There are interesting parallels between “Dark Skies” and the current NBC series “The Event.” Both deal with secret goings-on regarding UFOs and unusual visitors or beings.

In both shows, a naïve young couple find themselves thrust into the middle of frightening and mind-bending conspiracies involving shadowy and dangerous agents and the UFO phenomena. Both series involve a U.S. president and his administration trying to deal with the situation, and deciding how much to tell the public. And, both tell us that beings appearing to be normal humans may not be.

“Dark Skies” creator and writer Zabel also recently co-authored a book with researcher Richard M. Dolan called A.D. After Disclosure: The People’s Guide to Life After Contact. This book certainly dovetails with “Dark Skies,” which was probably a TV series ahead of its time.

There are many video clips, promos and episode segments of “Dark Skies” on YouTube and other online platforms.

Zabel's and Dolan’s website AfterDisclosure.com also contains links to information on the series and the upcoming DVD release as well as related developments and research.

The special DVD collection will most likely be a valuable contribution to the ongoing learning curve and acclimation for Americans and people around the world as we prepare to deal with more information about UFOs, extraterrestrials, unusual intelligent beings and mysterious scientific discoveries.

New book ‘A.D. After Disclosure’ – adjusting to UFO truths and realities

By Steve Hammons

Can we handle the truth about UFOs? And what exactly are those truths? What are the impacts on societies, the international community, humanity and planet Earth? What adjustments will be needed and made?

These are just a few of the questions explored in the newly-published book A.D. After Disclosure: The People's Guide to Life After Contact by Richard M. Dolan and Bryce Zabel.

According to an Oct. 21 press release, the book is "speculative non-fiction" and "confronts all the disturbing challenges facing government, science, religion, media, culture, law, education, and politics once the denials end. How do we cope with the reality that we are not alone?"

The book examines various scenarios that could occur, and probably will, regarding increased transparency during and after events and processes related to the UFO phenomena.

Since it is widely suspected, or has already been determined, that some UFOs are advanced spacecraft from "elsewhere," who are they, what are they doing and what do they want? How have government officials been handling the situation and what will their position be going forward?

The press release states that the book, "combines meticulous fact-finding from historian/researcher Richard M. Dolan and journalist/screenwriter Bryce Zabel to confront seven decades of secrecy on the world’s most revolutionary subject."

The authors predict a radically changed worldview after official acknowledgment that at least some UFOs are intelligently-controlled physical craft from somewhere besides Earth.

TIPPING POINT

Our worldview may indeed change, but how will our day-to-day lives be affected? There will obviously be significant updates to our science textbooks for kids and college students. Our spiritual views could certainly also could be a factor.

And, as apparently has been the case for decades, our defense and intelligence communities will continue to fulfill an important role.

The two authors have robust backgrounds that make them uniquely qualified to tackle this complex and fascinating subject. Dolan is a respected historian, researcher and speaker who wrote the pioneering historical book series UFOs and the National Security State. Zabel is a former CNN journalist who became a Hollywood writer and producer, and also served as chairman of the TV Academy.

Zabel created five primetime network series including the UFO-related "Dark Skies" series that aired on NBC and won the 2008 Writers Guild screenwriting award. A "Dark Skies" DVD set was recently released in the UK and special-edition DVD set is due for release in the U.S. soon.

The authors have created a website, AfterDisclosure.com, filled with essays and insight from experts in the field and abundant information about related research.

Dolan's Keyhole Publishing released the hardcover book Oct. 25. It will also be available as an e-book. Zabel's Stellar Productions has movie and TV rights.

A.D. After Disclosure envisions a tipping point when the process of public disclosure makes the transition to open announcements and acknowledgments about at least some of what is known about UFOs.

And what would trigger such a tipping point? The authors explore several possible factors that are probably in play right now.

When more information does begin to surface publicly, the range of elements involved could be quite broad, the authors indicate. Various aspects of society, government, media and science would make significant adjustments – as will individuals, families, communities and societies.

PREPAREDNESS MANUAL

A.D. After Disclosure provides a manual of sorts to examine and consider what we might be wise to prepare for. Our readiness to deal with the new information and greater understanding about these sensitive and complex issues will be key in successful adjustment to more openness on this topic.

In fact, if the speculation is true about a decades-long process of acclimation to get us ready, our psychological and emotional readiness is an important consideration in more disclosure.

This new book will surely help the preparedness process and move the ball forward toward greater public knowledge about the situation.

The authors seem to feel that more disclosure is inevitable. They are probably correct. The elements they examine include how it might occur, what government officials might say – or not say – on the TV news and what the full scope of effects on humanity will be.

What new technologies could emerge? Those exotic devices and technological knowledge our defense and intelligence communities may have already acquired could be released into the pipeline to better benefit all of us.

Low-cost and nonpolluting energy sources may be available. Advances in medical science could heal the injured and cure the sick. We could experience greater prosperity, peace and happiness on many levels around the world.

But is there a downside? In part, this goes back to the question of who are these "others," as Dolan and Zabel call them, who apparently are engaged in some kind of activities involving Earth and the human race?

Is there more than one type? Which are friendly or hostile?

Like our human international challenges, this might be difficult to sort out and our defense and intelligence communities may still have a big job in front of them.

Another concern relates to other kinds of negative impacts on human culture. Would we humans think less of ourselves in the face of other intelligent beings who are far more advanced in several ways? Would some people kowtow and worship visiting beings in some kind of unhealthy cult-like way? What does the human race bring to the table?

And, what is the deep history of the situation? Did this just begin in the World War II era or has it been going on for centuries and in many cultures? For example, is there some particular link to Native American Indian history that we should investigate?

Readers of A.D. After Disclosure will encounter these questions and many more. Plenty of answers are also provided in the book ... at least tentative and reasonably probable and possible answers are presented.

Readers can consider the very-educated guesses and speculation from Dolan and Zabel and make up their own minds.

Human mind and UFOs: Dilemmas and dangers

By Steve Hammons

The psychological factors surrounding the topic of UFOs and visitors to Earth from elsewhere seem to involve complex circumstances.

One example may be the paradoxes of UFO sightings. Often, people see something in the sky that looks odd and may jump to the conclusion that it could be something very, very unusual such as a spacecraft of some kind.

In other cases, something truly anomalous is seen, often by multiple reliable witnesses, and the sighting is explained away as something natural or a misperception.

When people may spot a top-secret advanced military aircraft, they reportedly are allowed to believe it is an alien spaceship.

And when people see other kinds of very unusual craft that don’t appear to be human-built at all, they may be told that it is simply an advanced secret military plane.

The human mind does sometimes have a tendency to want to interpret and understand what the eyes see. This can result in inaccurate conclusions. At other times, the mind may not want to admit what it has seen or what is apparent, and prefers denial.

MIXED MESSAGES

Another interesting aspect in the area of UFO sightings is that active efforts to keep the situation secure and discreet over the decades may have had many influences on people.

Some individuals will conclude that every UFO sighting is by a troubled person who is having delusions. Other people might think that every UFO sighting is a real extraterrestrial or inter-dimensional spacecraft that is being covered-up.

The psychological operations (known as PSYOP) involved in UFOs and a range of other leading-edge scientific phenomena could be complex, mixed, harmful or helpful. Because they are usually secret, it is difficult to know.

And, who is conducting the deception, covert activities and mysterious goings-on involved with UFOs and other unconventional phenomena? There probably are multiple players involved.

Are we simply being persuaded or guided in certain directions for reasonable, legitimate and even positive purposes? Or, are we being deceived in ways that could be dangerous?

Again, answers to these questions seem elusive and complex.

Persuasion and the manipulating of opinions and viewpoints are common. Attorneys in the courtroom, advertisers of products for sale, politicians and others try to persuade us all the time. That is a normal and legitimate part of life, though sometimes problematic.

As we dig down into the reasons for, and methods of the persuasion, as well as the underlying truths, we may also evaluate the whole process more completely and see it in a certain light. The same is probably true of the many kinds of forward-leaning scientific research into subjects that seem to be strange, far-out and sometimes hard to understand.

UFOs are a good example, but not the only one.

Using careful analysis, avoiding jumping to conclusions and keeping open minds, we might be able to get a better grasp on these interesting kinds of situations.

But what if our minds themselves are directly affected in some way we don’t understand?

POSSIBLE SCENARIOS

Research into the human mind has made significant advances of many kinds. Again, there are paradoxical factors. In some cases, knowledge of medicine and psychology has been misused. In other situations, we have used this greater understanding to help individuals and humanity as a whole move forward in positive ways.

In the case of “non-lethal weapons” there has been the development of methods that can substitute for shooting bullets and dropping bombs. Some of these methods may work directly on the brain and body in some way.

These may include mind-altering drugs sprayed over a population, broadcasting certain wavelengths of various kinds of energies or even deploying foul-smelling odors.

There can also be methods that are much more sophisticated and subtle. Some of these may be highly technological and some may be more natural and non-technological, such as various kinds of extrasensory perception (ESP) and telepathy.

What actually is deep inside our minds at the deeper levels of consciousness anyway? Can we gain important insight through introspection, prayer, meditation, contemplation and tapping creativity?

Is it possible to gain useful solid information through ESP, like U.S. teams in Project STAR GATE did?

How might various kinds of psychological influences like these be playing a part regarding unconventional and anomalous phenomena such as UFOs and other leading-edge research areas?

And, if certain psychological methods are part of the overall scenario, who or what might be involved? Defense and intelligence agents? Angels? Alien beings? Are they good, bad or ugly? Is there a higher intelligent force of some kind involved?

As with other kinds of influencing or intervention, are methods and goals constructive and positive, or destructive and hostile? Should we resist and defend against them, or embrace and learn from them?

There seem to be no easy answers, but the questions are interesting and probably relevant.

By trying to keep our eyes open, our thinking clear, our feet on the ground, and looking both outwardly and inwardly with strength and compassion, we may be able to appropriately deal many kinds of contingencies.

Adequate preparedness of public now on UFOs, new discoveries?

By Steve Hammons

According to some researchers, one important reason for security about UFOs is the concern that information related to this topic could be upsetting or too disorienting for the general public.

Part of that thinking is reportedly the possibility that the situation could be more complex than simply one intelligent civilization traveling to Earth from their home planet to look around and make contact with humans.

The situation could involve new discoveries about multiple dimensions and inter-dimensional travel and phenomena. It could relate to time and space operating in ways that are surprising to us. In addition, there could be several kinds of beings and life forms involved in various kinds of anomalous or unusual phenomena.

Some researchers theorize that since the World War II era there may have been efforts to prepare and acclimate people about these kinds of new discoveries.

If so, then have movies, TV shows, books, articles and similar communication platforms adequately prepared us for what might be ahead?

PUBLIC SAFETY

A 1992 firefighter training manual, "Fire Officer's Guide to Disaster Control," addressed the issue of UFOs in a very interesting chapter titled Disaster Control and UFOs.

According to authors Charles "Chuck" Bahme and William Kramer, the two main hazards are powerful anomalous energy fields and psychological impacts, including problematic public anxiety and subsequent behavior that could create public health and safety problems. Some of these safety issues are addressed in the section Adverse Potential of UFOs.

People interested in the UFO field as well as general public safety would be well-advised to review this chapter. The authors are respected in their fields and have robust professional backgrounds and experiences.

We might expand on Bahme’s and Kramer’s UFO chapter to include other kinds of unusual phenomena that could also create concern or worry by the public.

What if some other kind of mass psychological phenomena took place? After all, recent discoveries in the field of human consciousness indicate that the deep human mind is still mysterious, as demonstrated by the research and operations of the U.S. defense and intelligence activity known as Project STAR GATE.

Things like extrasensory perception (ESP) and the connectedness of consciousness could be a bit surprising and disorienting if sudden tipping points or paradigm shifts occurred.

And, of course, things like human consciousness, multiple dimensions and UFOs could all be intertwined in some way that could be even more complex.

It might take a while for us to respond, adjust and get oriented while keeping our feet on the ground and our heads on our shoulders.

PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP

Some social scientists might conclude that the best approach to wide communication about some new discoveries would be a safe, slow, gradual process of education and orientation. Certain leading-edge scientific topics and forward-leaning research can be challenging to wrap our minds around.

Disclosure about various particular aspects of scientific and defense developments would seem to naturally be linked to public readiness and preparedness.

Books like "A.D., After Disclosure: The People's Guide to Life After Contact" by Richard Dolan and Bryce Zabel, due out this month, may be an example of solid psychological preparedness.

A smooth transition to new knowledge, understanding and even technologies seems to be a desirable outcome when it comes to public education about special scientific topics. In fact, in some important ways, certain new discoveries have not only important scientific and psychological aspects, but spiritual elements as well.

If we do face emerging unconventional situations, we might want to stay rooted in our basic human decency, our fundamental social and cultural touchstones, and even our sense of humor.

Authors Bahme and Kramer tell us in the conclusion of their chapter on Disaster Control and UFOs that planning, adequate resources and good leadership are all important for public safety professionals who handle many kinds of challenging situations.

This advice probably includes both the conventional and unconventional scenarios that could emerge.

‘Jellyfish’ witness description of UFO significant?

By Steve Hammons

Citizens who witnessed something that appeared to be unusual in the sky over the Chelsea area of New York City on Oct. 13, 2010, do not seem to agree on what they saw.

However, one witness was quoted as saying he thought the object or objects seemed to resemble “a jellyfish made of lights.”

This description may be significant.

Tim Powell, 28, was quoted in media reports as saying the objects were "the most bizarre thing I've ever seen.” Powell reported, “It looked like a jellyfish made of lights that just hovered in the sky like it wanted to be seen."

There have been witnesses in other cases in the UK, Texas and Ohio in 2008 and 2009 where witnesses described an appearance of an object that looked like a “jellyfish,” “octopus” or something with “tentacles.”

In past cases, some witnesses thought this seemed to look like something organic or living.

However, researcher Ray Stanford, a pioneer in studies of UFOs by use of optical and electronic instrument systems, said about previous similar UFO reports in the UK and Ohio in 2008 and 2009 that, "Although some UFO-generated physical phenomena may, through human mind's ever-interpreting 'lens,' look 'organic' (as though what was observed is something alive), that absolutely is not the case."

According to Stanford, this tentacle-like effect is "most often and readily visible when a craft is either slowing down or moving very slowly over an uneven surface."

Stanford had noted that a case of a UFO’s "tentacle" appearance reported over a wind turbine farm near Conisholme, England, on Jan. 4, 2009, may have been "constantly changing, torque-generating plasma beams" related to an exotic propulsion system.

He proposed that the "jellyfish" or "octopus" visual effect could actually be what is called a "magnetoplasmadynamic" or "magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)" field.

Stanford also prefers to use the terminology "anomalous aerial objects (AAOs)" instead of “unidentified flying objects (UFOs)."

In certain UFO sightings, Stanford stated witnesses often see a "pulsing" visual effect associated with some anomalous objects but the "jellyfish" appearance is not the object itself. He has even seen this effect himself and filmed it several times, he said.

What are these objects seen by multiple reliable witnesses? The recently-published book "UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go on the Record" by journalist Leslie Kean and the upcoming book "A.D., After Disclosure: The People's Guide to Life After Contact" by Richard Dolan and Bryce Zabel may shed light on these kinds of interesting situations.

SIMILAR WITNESS REPORTS

The Conisholme case in the UK occurred near a 213-foot-high wind turbine. The UFO was described by witnesses has having "tentacles of light," The Guardian newspaper reported.

Local resident John Harrison stated he saw a "massive ball of light with tentacles going right down to the ground" above the nearby wind turbine farm on Jan. 4, 2009. "It was huge. With the tentacles it looked just like an octopus," he was quoted as saying by the UK newspaper The Sun.

His description was similar to that of a local peace officer in the Stephenville, Texas, area who described a UFO he saw on police video in January 2008 as appearing like a "jellyfish."

In another case reported by researcher Linda Moulton Howe, a woman in central-eastern Ohio saw a large orange glowing object in the sky near her house in the early morning hours of Nov. 2, 2008. She said it looked like an "amoeba” and it changed shape as it moved at a low altitude above the trees.

Howe also reported that, similarly, in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 2008, an Ohio truck driver, reportedly with a background in military aviation, said he saw a glowing yellow and white object that "seemed like a biological shape" and "organic" above the tree line in eastern Ohio near the Ohio River. He also said it resembled a "cocoon."

In another UK case, a resident in Wimbleton posted feedback on a local media website of The Guardian newspaper. The resident reported an object that he said looked like "a large bright pink jelly-fish looking object surrounded by a pink haze."

He wrote "Until this morning I was skeptical about UFO sightings. I looked out my flat window (in Wimbledon) this morning over towards Merton way and to my surprise notice a large bright pink jelly-fish looking object surrounded by a pink haze. it appeared to be hovering over or above the pylons in the distance."

SCIENCE OF UFO PROPULSION

According to researcher Stanford, "The 'jellyfish' phenomenon (contracting and expanding at a rate highly reminiscent of a jellyfish pulsating in water) was first filmed (8 mm daylight movie) by me at 12:55 in the noon hour of Sept. 18, 1956."

He remembers the incident. "Three of us there about 1/2 mile from 'Giant Rock' [in southern California's Mohave Desert] each saw the phenomenon surrounding the descending craft, until two jets from Edwards Air Force Base chased it away. And even as we watched, we compared it to each other as looking like a jellyfish pulsing in water."

However, Stanford and his associates believed they knew what the appearance meant. "Fortunately, we had enough background in science that we realized it was really a pulsating magnetoplasmadynamic (some use the term 'magnetohydrodynamic') field, visible due to light-emitting plasma (and/or, simply ions) contouring the object's magnetic field."

Stanford also noted that, "The pulses, per se, occurred mostly during the aborted descent. How so? I asked Dr. Jean-Pierre Petit about that during the 1976 CUFOS [Center for UFO Studies] conference in Chicago. I spoke there about my project's studies of UFOs using optical and electronic instruments at Dr. J. Allen Hynek's request."

"Petit was taking questions during his very important presentation titled 'Magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) Aerodynes' (See pages 201-233, Proceedings of the 1976 CUFOS Conference). Had UFOlogers at-large studied Petit's paper, they could be much farther along in understanding UFO propulsive physics," Stanford explained.

Stanford also said that Petit "explained that in steady flight, conditions are such that MHD flow is stabile and shock-free, but in, for example, descent, this must be constantly altered for several reasons. Resultant instabilities of the MHD flow create shock disturbances which must be constantly damped, so we see the pulsed interplay between increasing instabilities and decreasing instabilities in the MHD flow around the craft."

Stanford added, "It looks as though a craft is breathing, but that is only an interpretation the human mind makes in searching for analogs. In such case, it is a big misinterpretation. Likewise for the 'tentacles,' which are really only constantly-changing, torque-generating plasma beams."

"But, they can bend under the 'Lorentz force' and other forces which are most often and readily visible when a craft is either slowing down or moving very slowly over an uneven surface," he said.

Journalism evolving on leading-edge science and UFOs

By Steve Hammons

The journalism craft and profession continues to rise to new standards of quality and maturity in the coverage of leading-edge scientific developments, including the uniquely puzzling topic of unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The most recent incident involving a UFO near a Chinese airport has been covered by ABC News, USA Today, TIME magazine and other credible mainstream media platforms.

A press conference in Washington, D.C., Sept. 27, 2010, involving the testimony of several former U.S. Air Force officers about UFOs near military bases led to mixed though generally responsible and professional news media coverage.

These two recent examples are just a few in the continuing story of journalism coverage of the possibility that Earth is being visited by some kind of unusual intelligent beings – or at least that there are some kind of odd objects in the skies being spotted by thousands of credible people, as well as being tracked on radar.

GRASSROOTS JOURNALISM

In modern times, we can probably say that a front page article of a small town newspaper in New Mexico on July 8, 1947, was a major step in journalistic coverage of this situation. On that summer day in the era following World War II, the Roswell Daily Record announced in a large-font headline “RAAF Captures Flying Saucer on Ranch in Roswell Region.”

The story quickly spread through news outlets around the country and around the world.

The commanding general of the Eighth Air Force subsequently informed reporters that the object was actually a weather balloon, and the base intelligence officer and commanding officer of the 509th Bomb Group at the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF), the only atomic-bomb air base in the U.S., had made a mistake.

Many people now believe that the Roswell Daily Record had the story right the first time.

Some researchers of the UFO subject claim that national security concerns about this situation led to top secret projects and operations to determine if there was a threat, if advanced technologies could be acquired and if diplomatic relations could be established with possible extraterrestrial civilizations.

These projects and operations also may have required that security should be maintained about this sensitive and possibly dangerous scenario. As a result, various strategies were implemented to publicly deny or deflect reports of UFOs that appeared to be intelligently-controlled craft of some type.

Making sure journalists and the organizations they worked for stayed away from or ridiculed the UFO subject could have been part of these security protocols, according to some investigators. These security measures may have taken on even more importance as additional details about this situation emerged and came to the attention of defense and intelligence personnel tasked with understanding and dealing with it.

ENHANCING PROGRESS

Many journalists may have wanted to stay away from the subject for fear of ridicule. Some in the media prefer to ridicule other people and topics, rather than be the subject of mockery themselves.

This is natural and is human nature. And, it could be used to good effect in keeping news coverage of UFOs within parameters that were helpful for secrecy and security.

Today though, it is possible that these policies and historical trends are changing and evolving. Decades of discreet acclimation and psychological preparedness may make Americans and the international public less likely to panic in the face of the admission that we are being visited by unusual intelligent beings.

Now, journalists can pivot and cover the subject in sober and responsible ways that enhance public understanding about possibly very significant scientific and cultural developments in this area.

Just as old media platforms are changing and new ones are emerging, it also seems like the time to take a new look at the evolution of news coverage about forward-leaning subjects like UFOs and unconventional visitors to Earth as well as other fascinating "edge science" subjects.

Respecting national security requirements or even avoiding ridicule are reasonable, understandable and even appropriate in the minds of many people.

At the same time, robust and responsible journalism also has its place. If conducted appropriately, this kind of journalism can enhance social, cultural, scientific and national security progress.

Defense, intelligence communities face UFO challenges

By Steve Hammons

To explore the current situation regarding possible visitation to Earth of intelligent beings from other planets and/or other dimensions, some people say we should look back to, at least, the 1940s.

According to many researchers, during the World War II era a mysterious phenomenon began to show itself – unidentified objects in the sky, sometimes near military aircraft. American air crews nicknamed the objects “foo fighters.”

Also during the World War II era, there are claims that crashes of unusual craft that contained occupants may have taken place. The recovery and examination of such craft and occupants would have certainly created amazement and concerns among defense, intelligence and scientific experts and officials.

Other researchers say we should look much further back in history than World War II. They say there are indications that some kind of, or several kinds of unconventional and secretive intelligent beings have been part of Earth for centuries.

Across human cultures and civilizations, there are ancient stories that seem to possibly be related to unusual beings of several kinds. The legends and insights of Native American Indian tribes could be particularly helpful.

Research by people in the defense, intelligence and scientific communities would also probably have looked at this much broader picture to determine if UFOs and their pilots, crews and passengers were simply a specific phenomena, or part of a much more complex tapestry in a more mysterious universe.

ALIENS, ANGELS AND AGENTS

Today, it is sometimes assumed that unconventional visitors or beings would be from another planet in another solar system and galaxy, possibly from another time, or another bordering dimensional neighborhood of our universe or “multi-verse.”

This might very well have some truth to it. There are indications that this kind of scenario is something that we would be wise to prepare ourselves for.

In fact, some people say that elements of the defense, intelligence and scientific communities have been trying for some time to educate, acclimate and prepare us for such a situation.

Yet, to expand our thinking about unusual possibilities, we might also consider the concept of angels as one type of extraterrestrial or inter-dimensional being. Stories about angels tell us that they sometimes move between our worldly dimension and the one we call the afterlife or Heaven.

And, it is assumed that many of them once walked the Earth as average humans, then became spiritually advanced during and/or after their life on Earth as they passed on to another dimension, or possibly accessing multiple other dimensions.

Additionally, there seems to be a general belief that angels, if they exist, behave in secretive and mysterious ways, often behind the scenes and with plans and agendas that are sometimes difficult to understand.

In this sense, they seem to behave like covert intelligence agents, although we probably expect angels to rise to higher levels of professional conduct in their methods and objectives.

How should we try to understand such apparent diverse concepts as angels possibly existing around us along with beings from other planets who come here in advanced spacecraft?

If this spectrum of possibility was real, would the goals of multiple kinds of beings be the same? Would they have different agendas and different ideas of moral and ethical behavior?

Would these diverse beings have something in common, such as greater understanding of the physics of the universe and how time, space, energy work? Would they use the same kinds of wormholes, portals and star gates to get from one place to another?

Do they utilize extrasensory perception and mental telepathy in the same way? Do they perceive a larger and more fundamental force in play or even a master plan of some kind?

DISCOVERY, CHANGE AND UNDERSTANDING

People in the defense, intelligence and scientific communities tasked with tackling such questions might have found the job challenging and difficult. Many of them might have been psychologically unprepared for some of these contingencies.

The same could be said about the rest of us too.

As we move forward amid various reports of UFO encounters, new and different scientific views of Nature and the Universe, and greater understanding about the potential of human consciousness, we all may find it challenging and difficult.

There may even be threats to consider that are different from, and in addition to the conventional dangers we face such as nuclear war, degradation and pollution of Earth’s natural environments and overpopulation.

Still, there seem to be many kinds of potential benefits and rewards. These include achieving greater understanding of the world around us, acquiring and developing advanced technologies that benefit humanity and our planet, mitigating human suffering and enhancing the development of the human species.

The UFO situation is probably quite complex, just like many of the other predicaments and dilemmas we face throughout life.

We know that humans often find it difficult to get along with other humans. Adding other intelligent beings to the mix – including beings who could be quite different in certain ways and more advanced in some ways – is bound to require and result in change.

What kind of change? That seems to be a reasonable question.

So who do we look to for answers? To our defense, intelligence and scientific communities? To our friends, families and communities? To our personal beliefs, perceptions and gut feelings?

Probably all of the above. In fact, to try to deal with significant discovery and change that could be around the corner in these interesting areas of science and psychology, it might be helpful to develop a range of resources that help all of us gain greater understanding.

Upcoming book ‘After Disclosure’ is guide to UFOs, life after ET contact

By Steve Hammons

Researchers and readers of all kinds are looking forward to the October 2010 publication of the new book A.D. After Disclosure: The People's Guide to Life After Contact by Richard Dolan and Bryce Zabel.

The two authors have robust backgrounds in writing and research about UFOs and extraterrestrial visitation to Earth.

Dolan’s multi-volume UFOs and the National Security State explores the complex and multi-faceted aspects of this fascinating subject. He is a frequent speaker on the UFO topic and has appeared on many TV programs that attempt to examine it.

Zabel is a former CNN journalist and now Hollywood writer and producer. He won the 2008 Writers Guild of America award for the Hallmark miniseries Pandemic and has written feature film scripts for Warner Brothers, Universal, Fox, Disney and New Line.

He co-created the NBC drama series, Dark Skies (scheduled for DVD release in 2011). His writing and producing of the original made-for-TV film Official Denial dovetailed with his work on the development team of the Steven Spielberg series Taken.

So what will the publication of A.D. After Disclosure tell us?

PRAISE FROM RESEARCHERS

Apollo 14 Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Sc.D, says, "This new book by Richard Dolan and Bryce Zabel is an important attempt to prepare us for what will one day be inevitable: an open understanding that we are not alone. Not in this universe, and not even on Planet Earth."

Nick Pope, former chief of the “UFO desk” for the UK Ministry of Defence states, “What if the UFO cover-up is real and what if it ended? After Disclosure poses this fascinating question and looks at the societal consequences of such a revelation.”

Pope concludes that, “Richard Dolan and Bryce Zabel have produced a thoughtful and provocative analysis that goes well beyond the usual scope of books on UFOs and alien life."

And Stanton T. Friedman, MSc., nuclear physicist and author of Top Secret/Majic notes that, "Considering the overwhelming evidence that Earth is being visited by alien spacecraft and that many intelligence agencies and military groups have known this to be true for some time, we certainly need to consider the serious question of what happens when disclosure actually occurs.”

“This book by Zabel and Dolan is the first in-depth attempt to answer that question. It is long overdue and sets a high standard of discussion about this very complex issue. Well worth reading," said Friedman.

Investigative journalist and New York Times best-selling author of Crossfire Jim Marrs tells us, "You may not have ever considered what life will be like after the reality of UFOs becomes publicly known. But Richard M. Dolan and Bryce Zabel have. Their book is absorbing and thought provoking. Don't miss it."

Stephen Bassett, executive director of the Paradigm Research Group claims, "Disclosure, the formal acknowledgment by the world's governments of an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race, is inevitable. So was this how-to book on what to do when a new world begins."

PREPARATION AND READINESS

Zabel himself writes, “We want our book to be accessible to people who have never read a UFO book before, to be a 'cross-over' project. Given that we're already living in life after contact, albeit in official denial and secrecy, we think it's time to get the general population up-to-speed on the issues so that when the truth finally is widely accepted it won't be such a shock.”

“The reality is that this transition from denial to truth is coming at humankind sooner than later now,” According to Zabel. “When the line gets crossed, it's going to affect everything from the economy and government to religion and science and even media and culture.”

Zabel adds, “The book, weighing in at over 300 pages … touches on all these issues. Lurking behind them all is the warning, one we've often heard expressed by concerned observers, that history is replete with cases where the weaker civilization is overwhelmed and ultimately destroyed by the stronger one. Think Cortez and the Aztecs.”

“We just don't think that has to be the fate of humanity,” says Zabel. “We do, however, believe that knowing what's coming and being mentally prepared is absolutely the most intelligent thing we can do now to make sure the outcome we get is the best one available when it all goes down.”

“What if UFO secrecy ended tomorrow?” Zabel asks. “What happens when the powers-that-be finally admit that we are not alone? And that the Others we share the universe with are not light years away, some kind of cosmic pen-pals chatting by radio telescope, that they are here, now. How will the truth change our society and your life?”

“A.D. After Disclosure is the first work of non-fiction to tackle these questions about the new winners and losers in government, science, religion, media, culture, law, education, and politics,” Zabel notes. “Life will go on, but it will never be the same.”

This book seems sure to be a valuable new resource for people trying to figure out what is going on with regard to UFOs and rumors of extraterrestrial visitation to, and activities on Earth.

Dolan and Zabel certainly seem to take it seriously, as do many other researchers and citizens who have carefully looked into this interesting and important subject.

One theory is that there have been decades-long public preparedness and acclimation efforts to get us ready for these kinds of developments.

Are we ready?

Many people think they are. But such a situation could be quite challenging in many ways.

The new book A.D. After Disclosure will undoubtedly inform and fascinate us, help public readiness and take us to the next level of understanding about this sensitive situation.

(For more information, visit the Dolan-Zabel "After Disclosure" site).