WELCOME TO THE CFZ BLOG NETWORK: COME AND JOIN THE FUN
Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.
The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.
It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...
Olivia bought Prudence a new collar - pink designer studded leather. It makes Pru look stylish, svelte and ever so slightly menacing. A bit like my youngest step-daughter, then....
(Top Picture) Prudence models her new collar (Bottom picture) And at the end of the day, three tired ones rest....
Unless we are very much mistaken, it is a badger! There used to be badgers visiting the garden about 20 years ago, but they played havoc with the lawn, so my father erected an electric fence to keep them out. I think that I prefer badgers to lawns....
My favourite record of the year bar none. The band go from strength to strength, and on this pleasantly understated record, the songwriting is stronger than ever...
2 The Divine Comedy: There goes the Knighthood
Neil Hannon is one of the best, and most consistent of our contemporary songwriters. He is by turns funny, poignant and sad, and I am a massive fan. That being said, I saw the band live about 12 years ago and they were horrid...
3 Ringo Starr: Y Not
Bizarrely, the Beatle least likely to score on the credibility stakes has been making some smashing records since he qualified for his free bus pass. There are some really smashing moments on this record - and remember he turned 70 this year.
4 Brian Wilson: Reimagines Gershwin
Basically does exactly what it says on the tin, but does it with lashings of aplomb and flair. The man is a true hero, and one of the few people in pop music for whom the overused word 'genius' is actually apt.
5 Gorillaz: Plastic Beach
The third, and in many ways the best installment from the cartoon band, who now feature half of The Clash. This was the soundtrack for my springtime, and what a spring it was..
..who sent us a Christmas present of $20 yesterday. Thank you very much mate. It will go towards heating the animals during this excrutiatingly hard winter..
On this day in 2004 the third most powerful earthquake ever recorded occurred off the cost of Sumatra leading to the Indian Ocean Boxing Day Tsunami. The tsunami caused the death of over 230,000 people and is thought to be the fifth most deadly earthquake in history. And now, the news:
This blasted recession is really beginning to hit. Unlike some of our competitors we are not going to try and blackmail you into donating by saying that we won't continue if you don't. That would just be vulgar, but our lives, and those of the animals which we look after, would be a damn sight easier if we receive more donations to our fighting fund. Donate via Paypal today...
CLICK COVERS TO BUY DIGITAL VERSIONS OF OUR MAGAZINES FOR ONLY £2.50
SPECIAL OFFER: GET AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE BEST CRYPTOZOOLOGY BOOK OF THE YEAR
Richard Freeman's remarkable new book is now available. However, for some reason known only to themselves amazon.co.uk have listed it as taking 3-5 weeks to arrive.
This, dear friends is nonsense, but should you want to ensure earlier arrival then you can buy it here, personally autographed for the special discount price of £12.99 (post free in the UK) click the link below:
From Her to Eternity by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Tago Mago by Can ColumbiabyBig Star Glorious noise perfectly suited to remastering old copies of A&M
In November Sahar Dimus, our guide on four CFZ Sumatra expeditions, died of liver failure leaving a widow Lucy and four Children. On the 2nd November, Dezyama D. Sangma, wife of our friend and colleague Dipu Marak, our collaborator on the 2010 Indian expedition died, leaving her grieving husband and two small children.
This year's CFZ appeal is to raise money for their two families. Please be generous.