AUSTRALIAN UFO SIGHTINGS UP 7 PERCENT

AUSTRALIAN UFO SIGHTINGS UP 7 PERCENT

CANBERRA, Australia (Wireless Flash) -- Thirteen is a lucky number for Australia's paranormal buffs: The country is 13 percent weirder than last year. That's according to a new "Weirdness Index" just released by the Australia Centre for Mystery Investigations, which measures the incidence of weird paranormal activity. So far in 2000, sea monster sightings and poltergeist hauntings are both up 17 percent from last year and UFO sightings have increased 7 percent. Australian Bigfoot sightings also took a step up from last year, increasing 11 percent, while hoaxes are down 60 percent and apparitions are materializing 11 percent less than they used to.