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...

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Tuesday, July 08, 2014

WEIRD WEEKEND 2014 ACCOMMODATION LIST (Many thanks to Suzi Marsh)


Weird Weekend 2014 Accommodation List

Hotels, Inns and B&Bs

The Anchor Inn
http://www.theanchorinnhartland.co.uk/contact%20us.html
Probably the best bet for accommodation. Pretty much next door to the venue with doubles from £45 a night and a 3 nights for 2 offer on at the moment. Comfy rooms in a traditional pub.
Distance from venue: 2 minute walk

2 Harton Manor
http://www.twohartonmanor.co.uk/
Another guesthouse close to the venue. B&B from £40 pppn.
Distance from venue: 5 minute walk down the road.

Hartland House Spa & Cottages
http://www.hartlandhouseretreat.com/
Posh spa hotel with lots of facilities including swimming pool and jacuzzi. Variety of rooms and self catering cottages available to hire sleeping from 2 to 15 people.
Distance from venue: 1.5 miles (about half an hour's walk)

Coastguard Cottages
http://www.coastguardcottagestoke.com/
B&B close to the coast with doubles from £65
Distance from venue: 1.8 miles

Hartland Quay Hotel
http://hartlandquayhotel.co.uk/
Nice pub with basic rooms from about £50 pppn.
Distance from venue: 2.7 miles
Blegberry B&B
http://www.blegberrybedandbreakfast.co.uk/
Lovely B&B close to the beach with rooms from £75 a night.
Distance from venue: 2.8 miles

Self catering

Pattard Cottages
http://www.pattard.com/
A selection of cottages in a rural location an easy walk from the village.
Distance from venue: 0.6 miles

Mettaford Holiday Cottages and Hartland Camping Barn
http://www.hartlandpeninsula.co.uk/campsites-caravanning-campingbarn-hostel/hartland-camping-barn.html-0
A great budget option with basic accommodation for up to 15 people. Can be booked individually or as a group. Shared access to pool and sauna. Also 8 self-catering cottages.
Distance from venue: 1.2 miles

Cheristow Farm Cottages
Upmarket cottages with spa and sauna access close to the South West Coast Path.
Distance from venue: 1.7 miles

Camping and Caravans

Hartland Caravan Holidays
http://www.hartlandcaravanholidays.co.uk/
Static caravans sleeping 6 from £50 a night.
Distance from venue: 2 minute walk

Hartland Caravan and Camping Park
http://www.hartlandcamping.co.uk/
Campsite suitable for tents and caravans with hot showers and pitches from £6.50 per adult per night.
Distance from venue: 2 minute walk

Loveland Farm Pod
http://www.lovelandfarmcamping.co.uk/thepod.html
Posh camping in a geodome for six people in a rural location.
Distance from venue: 1.5 miles

Stoke Barton Farm and Campsite
http://www.westcountry-camping.co.uk/
Campsite with tent and caravan pitches on a working farm close to the coast. Pitches from £7 per person per night.

Distance from site: 1.8 miles
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CRYPTOLINK: Crete croc attracts tourists

A word about cryptolinks: we are not responsible for the content of cryptolinks, which are merely links to outside articles that we think are interesting (sometimes for the wrong reasons), usually posted up without any comment whatsoever from me. 



Greece has its own lake monster — and it's no Nessie.
The Fire Brigade and authorities on the resort island of Crete say a 6-foot crocodile was spotted last week in a man-made lake near the seaside town of Rethymno.
Regional official Vangelis Mamangakis said Monday it was unclear how long it has been there. He told private Antenna TV that parts of the lake have been fenced off and efforts will be made Thursday to remove it.
Mamangakis said the crocodile was probably a pet that grew too big for its owner, who "thought it would be a good idea to dump it in the lake."
Residents are blaming the crocodile for missing lambs and ducks, and souvenir shops are now selling inflatable crocodiles...


Of course, it is probably an escaped pet but there are theories out there that Nile crocs could possibly swim across the Mediterranean....
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TODAY'S BIG CAT NEWS

The hunt for British Big Cats attracts far more newspaper-column inches than any other cryptozoological subject. 

 There are so many of them now that we feel that they should be archived by us in some way, so we are publishing a regular round-up of the stories as they come in. 

The worldwide mystery cat phenomenon (or group of phenomena, if we are to be more accurate) is not JUST about cryptozoology. At its most basic level it is about the relationship between our species and various species of larger cat. That is why sometimes you will read stories here that appear to have nothing to do with cryptozoology but have everything to do with human/big cat interaction. As committed Forteans, we believe that until we understand the nature of these interactions, we have no hope of understanding the truth that we are seeking. 
  • VIDEO: Cougar Loving
  • VIDEO: Woman details cat_ mountain lion encounter
  • VIDEO: PDZA Surprise Tiger Cub

  • VIDEO: Rare Sumatran tiger cubs make debut at Lond...
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    FORTEAN BIRD NEWS FROM THE WATCHER OF THE SKIES


    What has Corinna's column of fortean bird news got to do with Cryptozoology?

    Well, everything actually!

    In an article for the first edition of Cryptozoology Bernard Heuvelmans wrote that cryptozoology is the study of 'unexpected animals' and following on from that perfectly reasonable assertion, it seems to us that whereas the study of out-of-place birds may not have the glamour of the hunt for bigfoot or lake monsters, it is still a perfectly valid area for the Fortean zoologist to be interested in. 



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    THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN HOPS AND SKIPS

    The Gonzo Daily - Tuesday
    www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/about.html

    There are two interesting pieces of butterfly news today. As all butterfly devotees and readers of my inky fingered scribblings will know, last year was one of those rare years when the long tailed blue (L boeticus) invaded Britain in some numbers and bred on the south coast. These years are few and far between, but the first British specimen of 2014 has been reported in Somerset. And even rarer, there are reports that a scarce swallowtail, which is a European species and an incredibly rare vagrant to the UK has been seen in a garden in Worcestershire, although it has been suggested it was a British resident several hundred years ago. Being so far from the sea I would suggest that this has been accidentally (or deliberately) released from captivity. But I would love to be wrong.
    GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Nube 9 & Joey Molland - Come and Get it
    http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/gonzo-track-of-day-nube-9-joey-molland.html
    THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
    http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/thom-world-poet-daily-poem_8.html
    HEALING VIBES FOR RONALD
    http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/healing-vibes-for-ronald.html
    Aspen Music Festival stages Frank Zappa at Belly Up
    http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/aspen-music-festival-stages-frank-zappa.html
    Steve Hackett talks Genesis reunion
    http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/steve-hackett-talks-genesis-reunion.html
    DRONE FOR DAEVID
    http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/drone-for-daevid.html
    Geoff Downes Interview
    http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/geoff-downes-interview-prog-rock.html
    The latest issue of Gonzo Weekly (#85) is here to read or download at www.gonzoweekly.com. It has Raoni Metuktire aka Chief Raoni and Clearlight on the front cover and features an interview with Cyrille Verdeaux in which he discusses his work with this legendary eco-warrior and Amerindian chief. Merrell Fankhauser recounts an odd story about John Lennon and UFOs. There is an interview with Paul May about the forthcoming Atkins/May Project album, Doug Harr visits Queen in San Jose, and Rosie Curtis goes to a cosplay convention, whilst Jon muses about The Happy Mondays. There are also new shows from Friday Night Progressive, and from the multi-talented Neil Nixon at Strange Fruit and a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and newts in shoes (OK, no unlikely shod caudata, but I got carried away with things that rhymed with OOOOS) than you can shake a stick at. And the best part is IT's ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!
    The full list of artists featured is: Jack White, Yes, Jon Anderson, Jon Davison, Robert Plant, Dave Grohl, Greg Allman, Bob Dylan, Ian Gillan, Daevid Allen, Clepsydra, Michael des Barres, Merrell Fankhauser, Arthur Brown, Spirit Thom, Galahad, The Who, Marillion, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progressive, Annik Honore, Dermot Healy, Josephine Pullein-Thompson, Wayne Henderson, Andre Popp, Erik Norlander, Lana Lane, Hugh Hopper, Mick Abrahams, Martin Guitars, Cyrille Verdeaux, Clearlight, Paul May, Rosie Curtis, Queen, Happy Mondays, Hawkwind, Scott Walker, Beatles, 1D, Cher, Iggy Pop, Weird Weekend, Joanne Hogg & Frank Van Essex, Lava Engine, Ancillotti, Blaze, Subway to Sally
    Read the previous few issues of Gonzo Weekly:
    All issues from #70 can be downloaded at www.gonzoweekly.com if you prefer. If you have problems downloading, just email me and I will add you to the Gonzo Weekly dropbox. The first 69 issues are archived there as well. Information is power chaps, we have to share it!
    To make sure that you don't miss your copy of future issues make an old hippy a happy chappy and subscribe
    http://eepurl.com/r-VTD

     *  The Gonzo Daily is a two way process. If you have any news or want to write for us, please contact me at  jon@eclipse.co.uk. If you are an artist and want to showcase your work, or even just say hello please write to me at gonzo@cfz.org.uk. Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun, spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining. See you tomorrow...

     *  The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginatively - The Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: www.gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-gonzo-news-wots-fit-to-print.html

    * We should probably mention here, that some of our posts are links to things we have found on the internet that we think are of interest. We are not responsible for spelling or factual errors in other people's websites. Honest guv!

    *  Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures (and several others) is an old hippy of 54 who - together with an orange kitten named after a song by Frank Zappa puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish, and sometimes a small Indian frog. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention the orange kitten?
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    BIGFOOT NEWS IN BRIEF



    FINDING BIGFOOT: Cliff Declares Hoaxers Would Not Hide Behind Piles of Brush–Huh?
    FINDING BIGFOOT on Animal Planet is a fun show. It is an amusing end to the weekend on a relaxing Sunday night. But, that having been said, last ...

    Bigfoot: First DNA Analyses Of Sasquatch Published
    In North America, they are called Bigfoot or Sasquatch. In the Himalayan foothills, they're known as yeti or abominable snowmen. And Russians call 

    View web version
    Today in Bigfoot History | JAN 27, 1976 | 5 Tracks Cast Near Snoqualmie River in WA. › A portion of the Snoqualmie River in Washington State We are

    Creationist "Bigfoot" Veterinarian Wants Cash to Sequence Nephilim
    Foerster has been working with Melba Ketchum, a creationist veterinarian who claimed to have isolated Bigfoot DNA. Ketchum also believes that ...

    Bigfoot, Yeti? Hair Samples Match DNA from Paleolithic Polar Bear, Known Mammals
    The first ever systematic genetic analysis of evidence purporting to be from so-called anomalous primates such as yeti and migoi in the Himalaya, ...

    SouthEastern Ohio Society For Bigfoot Investigation
    SouthEastern Ohio Society For Bigfoot Investigation. May 19 ·. From Creature Weekend at Salt Fork and Deerassic Park. SouthEastern Ohio Society ...

    Bigfoot spotted at Virginia coast
    SAN ANTONIO -- We thought he died in San Antonio. Then, we found out it was a fake. Now, Bigfoot footage once again has gone viral. This time ...

    1840 Wild Man...Detailed Account of Capture of a Possible BigFoot and Two Cubs, page 1
    Below is an account of this possible captured Bigfoot and it's Cubs. Now, remember this is from an 1840 Newspaper and facts are scarce. Either way 

    Bigfoot Field Work in Pawtuckaway State Park
    The Crypto Crew: Follow up field work or a reported bigfoot sighting in Pawtuckyaway State Park in New Hampshire. This was conducted back in Feb.

    Bigfoot Illustrated Zana the Wild Woman [Bigfoot Illustrated]
    Bigfoot Evidence ⋅ Shawn
    Here's another Dred Funn Original Comic Style. This one is on Zana. Zana's story is extraordinary. She is said to have been captured in the forests of 

    Can You Guess This Howl?
    This audio was posted by Project Bigfoot on YouTube and one person thinks it's could be the Loup-Garou of Louisiana. The Loup-Garou! pronounced 
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    OLL LEWIS: Yesterday's News Today

    Yesterday’s News Today

    On this day in 1898 the gang boss and confidence trickster Soapy Smith died. Smith got his nickname from a particular con where he would sell soap at inflated prices which came with the chance of winning money (hence why people paid the inflated prices), however he carefully made sure that the biggest prizes went to his fellow gang members to be recycled for the next game. In order to attract crowds for this and other rigged games he would often create exciting attractions to draw people in; one of these attractions was a petrified man named McGuinty.

    And now the news:

  • WATCH: A Shark-Deterrent Wetsuit (And It's Not Wha...
  • Black bear euthanized after frequenting area
  • Brazil's 'Snake Island' Is The Place Of Nightmares...
  • Anti-depressants disrupt fish's brains
  • Bear rescued after head gets stuck in cookie jar
  • Mystery crocodile confounds Crete cops
  • Thailand must act to prevent resurgence of illegal...
  • Rare Poitou donkey born in Massachusetts
    • The gunfight that killed Soapy Smith, told through the medium of song:
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