Lo! - No 02 - 1995 05

Magazine Overview

LO! Magazine, Issue #2, dated May 1995, is an intellectual newsletter that challenges the mind, focusing on mysterious and wondrous phenomena. The cover headline is 'BEHOLD: THE MYSTERIOUS, THE WONDERMENT OF THE WORLD.' The publication is by the United Aerial Phenomena Agency, with Allan J. Manak and Rick R. Hilberg as editors.

Vampire Ants

The issue reports on vampire ants attacking the 10,000 residents of Envira, a small town in the Amazon jungle in Brazil. These fire ants, of the genus Solenopsis, appeared after the area was cleared of jungle growth, eliminating natural predators like birds and spiders. The ants sucked blood from animals and children. The report cites CFTO-TV, Toronto.

Ice Fall in Chino, California

A chunk of ice, believed to be toilet refuse from an airplane, crashed through the roof of a high school French class in Chino, California, on March 21st. No one was injured, but the ice left a hole about 3 feet in diameter. Carol Long, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Los Angeles, stated the agency would check flight records to determine the ice's origin. The source is the Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 22, 1995.

Woolly Mammoths

A new study suggests that a population of woolly mammoths survived for about six thousand years after their presumed extinction, roaming an island northwest of Alaska even as the Sphinx was being built in Egypt. Twenty-nine teeth and tooth fragments found on Russia's Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean were dated to about four thousand years ago. The source is Delve magazine, No. 10 March 1995.

Chemist Claims Meteorite from Mars

Kurt Marti, a planetary chemist at the University of California at San Diego, claimed on March 30th that a 40-pound meteorite that landed in Africa 32 years ago is a piece of Mars. The meteorite, named Zagami, crashed to Earth in Nigeria in 1962 and was recovered. A study of its chemistry, published in the journal Science, found that gas trapped in bubbles within the meteorite's glass chemically matched the Martian atmosphere composition measured by the Viking spacecraft. Marti estimates Zagami wandered in space for about three million years before landing on Earth. The source is the Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 31, 1995.

The Beast of Bodmin Moor

Children in England's southwest believe in the 'Beast of Bodmin Moor,' a creature sighted on the moor. The government has agreed to spend $13,000 to investigate claims of wild catlike animals mauling livestock and frightening children. Bodmin Moor is described as a large, lonely swath of land. Legend links it to King Arthur. In recent years, residents like Rosemary Rhodes have reported attacks on farm animals, with Rhodes losing sheep. She believes the beast is an assortment of pumas, cougars, and black panthers. Douglas Richardson, curator of mammals at London Zoo, viewed Rhodes' videotape and confirmed the animal appeared to be a black panther. The National Farmers Union reports over a dozen farmers have experienced attacks on sheep and calves. The Jamaica Inn pub has seen increased bookings due to publicity about the beast.

Mayaysia's Bigfoot

A hunt for a massive, 8-foot-tall hairy creature called 'Bigfoot' in Malaysia's southern state of Johore involved army, police, wildlife experts, and jungle tribes. Fresh footprints, measuring about 1½ feet long with four toes, were found in dense undergrowth. Superstitious villagers feared the footprints belonged to another 'Bigfoot,' and performed rituals to drive the creature away. The source is the Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 13, 1995.

Underwater Noise Mystifies Californians

A mysterious underwater noise pulsed off Monterey, California, on a Thursday. Experts suggested the sound was manmade, but scientists from the Naval Postgraduate School could not capture it on special hydrophones. Professional diver Jay Murray recorded a low-pitched, heartbeatlike vibration, estimating it to be manmade. Jim Miller, a scientist at the Naval school, agreed the steady beats suggest human origin. The source is the Santa Barbara News Press, September 2, 1994, via COUD-I.

The "Maori Triangle"

An eerie area in the New Zealand bush, dubbed the 'Maori Triangle,' is described as a Bermuda Triangle where people, animals, and hillsides vanish. Area resident John Paheke states, 'People go in and never come back.' The secrets of the triangle were reportedly known by Pakira Tutaki, who died in 1976. Recently, three ancient posts marking the 4,000-acre Triangle were found, sparking scientific interest. Tutaki's nephew, John Paki, has a map revealing the area's secrets, but it remains undeciphered. The source is Delve Report, November 1994.

"Piranha Panic" Grips Israel

In the Sea of Galilee, Israel, a fisherman named Yaakov Ezri caught three fish that were savage-looking, 6 inches long, with sharp teeth, leading to fears of man-eating piranhas. Israel Radio treated the find as serious news. However, Daniel Golani, a fish detective, determined the teeth were not those of a piranha but were made to cut through plants and nuts. He identified the fish as a common picu, a vegetarian distant cousin from Brazil. The source is the Washington Post Dispatch, December 18, 1994, via COUD-I.

Dog and Whale in Love

An interspecies friendship is reported between a wild beluga whale named Wilma and a pet Siberian husky named Rocky in Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. Jim Johnson, the owner of a bed and breakfast operation, facilitated their interaction. Video footage shows the two communicating, exchanging greetings, and nuzzling, with the whale making high-pitched noises and the dog responding with its own sounds. The source is the Toronto Sun, January 16, 1995.

British Jet Has "?" Encounter

A British Airways jet reportedly had a close encounter with a fast-moving UFO on January 6th. The pilots reported a brightly-lit triangular object hurtled towards them before veering off. Air traffic control informed them there were no other planes in the area. The Boeing 737, flying from Milan to Manchester with 60 people on board, was over the Pennine Mountains when it was 'buzzed' by the object. CAA spokesman Chris Mason called suggestions of a UFO 'purely speculative,' noting that near-miss incidents often turn out to be air balloons or small private aircraft. The source is the Melbourne, Australia Herald Sun, January 19, 1995.

Publisher Information

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 $7.00 for four issues or $13.00 for eight issues. International subscriptions add $3.00 per year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of LO! Magazine revolve around unexplained phenomena, mysterious creatures, and unusual events from around the world. The magazine presents a wide array of intriguing reports, from cryptids like Bigfoot and the Beast of Bodmin Moor to alleged extraterrestrial encounters involving a UFO and a potential Mars meteorite. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting these phenomena as worthy of investigation and public awareness, encouraging readers to ponder the mysteries of the world. The publication aims to be an 'intellectual newsletter that challenges the mind,' suggesting a serious approach to reporting on these often-sensational topics.