LO!

Magazine Overview

Title: LO!
Issue: #1
Date: February 1995
Publisher: United Aerial Phenomena Agency
Description: A new Fortean newsletter dedicated to exploring phenomena that are dismissed by the scientific establishment, encouraging an open mind.

Welcome to LO!

The inaugural issue of LO! introduces itself as a new Fortean newsletter, inspired by Charles Fort's work. The editors express excitement about bringing reports on unusual phenomena that science tends to ignore or 'damn'. They promise to cover a wide range of fascinating happenings from around the world and invite readers to share their own experiences, newsclippings, or articles. The title 'LO!' is derived from Fort's first book, 'The Book Of The Damned'.

Mystery Craters

This section reports on a strange orange substance found growing inside small craters formed by meteors that crashed in pastures near St. Robert, Quebec, in June 1994. Scientists conducted tests and indicated it was a common form of earthly fungus, not an alien life form. However, local farmers expressed doubts to CBC-TV and kept their children and livestock away from the site. The source is cited as Gene Duplantier, Ontario, Canada.

Western Cattle Mutilations

A wave of cattle mutilations in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada has reignited debate about their cause. Over two dozen cattle in New Mexico and one in Nevada have been affected, along with four in eastern Colorado. Gary Shoun, Colorado state brand commissioner, believes most mutilations are the work of natural predators that consume soft tissue, such as eyes, udders, lips, and anus. However, veterinarian Garth Lamb of Las Vegas, who performed a necropsy on a mutilated steer, stated that predators could not have caused the injuries, noting a 6-inch diameter hole cut from the steer's skull and the removal of its penile organ, with the body wall "sealed shut."

Mystery Bells

Patrick Dearen reported hearing a sound like tinkling bells while camping in Castle Gap, near the old Comanche Trail Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River. This area is rumored to be where the treasure of Maximillian, deposed emperor of Mexico, is buried. Two other individuals in the Big Bend area also reported being awakened at midnight by the tolling of bells. A woman named Sue in Big Bend National Park also reported hearing bells and music at dusk, which intensified her feeling of apprehension, prompting her to leave the area.

Saint's Blood Liquefies

In Naples, Italy, the congealed blood of the 4th-century martyr St. Januaruis liquefied on schedule in September, a phenomenon that residents consider a good omen. This event, held in two small vials, occurred as prayers were said in the church of Santa Chiara. The twice-yearly liquefaction, which scientists have not fully explained, has occurred almost without fail since the Middle Ages. The faithful believe the liquefaction on the saint's feast day, September 19, is the most important of three such events.

Horses Discovered with Slashed Tongues in Redmond, Wash.

A pair of horses in Redmond, Washington, suffered mutilated tongues in separate incidents, which officials believe were deliberate acts of cruelty. The animals' nearly severed tongues were reattached, but the injuries remained a mystery. King County Police spokesman Jerrell Wills stated they were stumped, and the owner, Lori Cronin, expressed that it did not look like an accident. A puzzling aspect was the lack of blood at the scene. The cuts were described as precisely executed, leaving only an eighth of an inch of tissue on the right side to hold the tongues together.

Strange Monolith

A 600-pound granite slab with a carving of a humanoid figure holding up its hands was found in the basement of a museum in Columbus, Georgia. Discovered in Douglas County in 1909, the carving has baffled experts, with explanations ranging from an Indian princess' gravestone to prehistoric art or a message from outer space. American Indian movement member Mike Curry noted its resemblance to the cover of 'Chariots Of The Gods.' The rock, referred to as 'Jack,' was dragged by oxen to the Roberts' home and propped against a tree.

Eerie Sightings

Stan Rowe, owner of the Sundance Guest Ranch in British Columbia, shares stories of ghosts. He recounts an incident in 1978 where two young women reported seeing three apparitions dressed in old-fashioned attire who walked through a barbed-wire fence and disappeared. Rowe also tells of a business associate who, while rounding up cattle, got separated from his group during a downpour and later returned with a puzzled expression, claiming an 'Indian girl' had asked him for directions.

Secret Tunnel in Sphinx

Workers repairing the Sphinx in Giza have discovered an ancient passage leading deep into the statue's body. Evidence suggests it dates from pharaonic times, but the builders, purpose, and destination of the tunnel are unknown. Giza antiquities chief Zahi Hawass plans to reveal more after February 1995, but predicts treasure-seekers will be disappointed, expecting only rocks that will offer experts a closer view of the Sphinx's interior.

Mysterious Lines

Straight lines, invisible except by satellite, have been observed across Australia's Nullarbor plain. These parallel lines, up to 250 miles long and visible only during daylight via infrared satellite equipment, are baffling scientists. Investigations show no known geological structures to explain them. Ian Barton, a senior physicist, described them as surface images and ruled out atmospheric explanations. He suggested a different type of soil structure, vegetation, or moisture pattern as a probable cause, noting the lines appeared slightly cooler than the surrounding land.

Publication Details

LO! is published quarterly by the United Aerial Phenomena Agency, P.O. Box 347032, Cleveland, Ohio 44134. Editors are Allan J. Manak and Rick R. Hilberg. Managing Editor is Carol J. Hilberg. Subscriptions are four issues for $7.00 or eight issues for $13.00. Outside the U.S.A., add $3.00 per year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on phenomena that defy conventional scientific explanation, aligning with the Fortean tradition of examining the 'damned' and unusual. The editorial stance is one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond mainstream scientific acceptance. Themes include unexplained aerial phenomena, mysterious animal events, paranormal encounters, and ancient enigmas. The publication aims to challenge conventional thinking and present intriguing cases for reader consideration.