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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Friday, March 29, 2019

BIG CAT ROUND UP

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.


"OH YOU MAMBOS ARE KILLING ME" SAID THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN

The Gonzo Daily: Friday/Saturday
Oh well, I have just bitten the proverbial bullet, and bought a new computer. A 2x hexcore no less. My main studio and office computers have been double quadcore for the best part of the past  decade, but I had no idea that they had been superceded by hexcore. However, Sod’s Law being what it is, no sooner had I bought the damn thing, that I found that there are now octocore and 2xoctocore machines. However, they are both somewhat more than I wanted to pay, so must remain a mildly irritating irrelevance.
Why am I telling you all this?
Well, apart from the fact that I suspect that many of you will find my lamentable technical ineptitude amusing, the new computer will be arriving on Monday or Tuesday, which means that—as, for once—I want to do this properly, I am likely to be out of action for much of next week. The main focus of my activities will be transferring all the data that I need from my current machines.
Graham has always had a peculiarly Luddite attitude towards Win10, but as Microsoft will be withdrawing their technical support from Win7 in January (and we shall not even mention Win8) he is being forced to accept Win10 at last. So as to maske his transition less unpleasant than it might otherwise have been, I am handing over my old Win10 machine to him, so he can get au fait with the OS, and also with the various bits of software that I have been using and with which he currently has no hands on experience. The main one of these being the latest version of the video editing software that we  all use.
So, when you add to that the fact that II need to get the latest episode of OTT, and the April newsletter up and running by Sunday, then I am sure you will agree that I have a lot on my metaphorical plate at the moment.
Toodle-pip
YER EDITOR SEZ:
THE DIGITAL PRAYER FLAG
Regular readers will know that we recently shared the positive news about Corinna's health with you all, and that - at least at the moment - she appears to be cancer free. I am convinced that her condition is a direct result of the good wishes, prayers, and positive vibes from thousands of people around the world.
A prayer flag (Lung ta) is a colourful rectangular cloth, often found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas. They are used to bless the surrounding countryside and for other purposes.
Find out more:
I believe something similar happens with positive vibes transmitted electronically, and - having used it to such good effect with my dear wife's condition, I want to try it on a larger scale. I am still trying to work out the details, so watch this space.
Blessed be.
ALL TODAY'S GONZO NEWS WOT'S FIT TO PRINT:
THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY:  Joey Molland of Badfi...
The RAZ Band Feat. Badfinger Legend Joey Molland T...
HUNTER THOMPSON STORY
A MISCELLANY OF WONDROUS STORIES FROM YES
THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
For those of you who are interested in such things, the Gonzo Privacy Policy is here:
And the CFZ Privacy Policy is here:
And, yes,
CHECK OUT THE GONZO STORES:
UK
US
AND OTHER STUFF FEATURING VARIOUS GONZO CONTRIBUTORS:
Our webTV show:
And if you fancy supporting it on Patreon:
And by the way chaps and chappesses, a trip to the Jon Downes megastore may seem to be in order:
Meanwhile I continue to pretend that I am a popstar, because now I have sold eight whole copies of my new album Coldharbour. If I continue at this rate I will get a silver disc sometime at the beginning of the next millenium. Coldharbour, by the way, can be found here: https://jondownes1.bandcamp.com/releases
I think it is really rather good, but then again I would say that wouldn't I?
I do have good news to impart: Lars Thomas' book about the mystery land animals of Scandinavia and the Baltic States has been uploaded, and over at Gonzo the first volume of Kev Rowland's The Progressive Underground is also imminent. And at Fortean Fiction, my latest novel - 'Zen and Xenophobia' - vaguely a sequel to 2015's 'The Song of Panne' - is now available.
! would warn you that if you are of a nervous disposition, or easily offended, you will find parts of my novel both offensive and upsetting. There is sex, violence, drug abuse, occultism, pornography, firearms, politics, religion, and not a little sociology. But there is also love, kindness, faith, and redemption. And it's a cracking good yarn. Or I think so, at any rate. All I would say on the subject before bidding you farewell is Caveat Lector. And I'm not gonna explain what that means, because because if you don't know what that means then you probably shouldn't be reading the book in the first place.
AND THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GONZO MAGAZINE:
Gonzo Weekly #329/30
THE EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN ISSUE
In a specially green issue we bring you the adventures of Charlie X, Steve Andrews tells of the awful fires in Colombia, and Jon and Charlotte go on climate strike. John goes to see Steely Dan and Steve Winwood, we interview Martin Gordon about his Brexit inspired single, Graham keeps us up to date with Hawkwind news, Alan writes about Chrysalis, we review the new book by Stephen Clarke 1980, and Jon is amused by the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
Hail Eris!
And there are radio shows from Mack Maloney and Friday Night Progressive AND Strange Fruit. AND there is a column from Kev Rowland, BUT C J Stone, and Neil Nixon, Roy Weard, Mr Biffo, and the irrepressible Corinna are on hiatus.  There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and rock wallabies who've blown a fuse (OK, nothing to do with the relatively small macropods who are having electrical problems, 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!!!
This issue features:
Bohemian Rhapsody, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Michael Epstein, Queen, Michael Jackson, Jon Anderson, Yes, Martin Gordon, Shakti Fest, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progressive, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Douglas Sandom, Stephan Ellis, Edward Isaac Bickert, CM, Paul Williams (ne Paul William Yarlett), André George Previn, KBE (ne Andreas Ludwig Priwin), Leo de Castro
(ne Kiwi Leo de Castro Kino), Keith Charles Flint, Magenta Devine (nee Kim Taylor), Sara Romweber, Mike Grose, Edward Taylor (Eddie Taylor Jr.), James Dapogny, Asa Brebner, Hal Blaine (ne Harold Simon Belsky), John Kilzer, The Fall, Rick Wakeman, The RAZ Band, America, Alan Dearling, Neil Goodwin, Charlie X, Chrysalis, John Brodie-Good, Steely Dan Band, Steve Winwood, Kev Rowland, Hallux, Hartmann, Infinitee, Infrared, Issa, James Christian, Jared Gold, Jupiter Society, Gregg McKella, Dr Sardonicus Midwinter Nights Dream Psychedelic Festival #2, Paradise 9, Broken Lines, Lost Tuesday Society, Sendelica, Twink, Tony Klinger, Steve Andrews, Colombia, Kogi Mamos, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, climate change, Hawkwind,  Jon Downes, The Wild Colonial Boy, Martin Springett, Thom the World Poet, Stephen Clarke
And the last few issues are:
Issue 329-30 (Charlie X)
Issue 327-28 (Hawkwind)
Issue 325-26 (Gonzo)
Issue 323-24 (Irvine Welsh)
Issue 321-22 (Discordianism)
Issue 319-20 (Brix Smith)
Issue 317-18 (Christmas)
Issue 315-16 (Steve Miller)
Issue 313-14 (Hawkwind)
Issue 311-12 (Extinction Rebellion)
Issue 309-10 (Steve Hillage)
Issue 307-8 (Michael Moorcock)
Issue 305-6 (Maartin Allcock)
Issue 303-4 (kOZFEST)
Issue 301-2 (Ringo Starr)
Issue 299-300 (Aretha Franklin)
Issue 298 (Alan in Hungary)
Issue 297 (Shir Ordo)
Issue 295-6 (Robert Berry)
Issue 294 (Bow Wow Wow)
Issue 293 (Stonehenge)
Issue 292 (Rolling Stones)
Issue 291 (Alien Weaponry)
Issue 290 (Frank Zappa)
Issue 289 (Misty in Roots)
Issue 288 (Paula Frazer)
Issue 287 (Boss Goodman)
Issue 286 (Monty Python)
Issue 285 (ELP)
Issue 284 (Strangelove)
Issue 283 (Record Store Day)
Issue 282 (Neil Finn and Fleetwood Mac)
Issue 281 (Carl Palmer)
Issue 280 (Steve Andrews)
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!
You can download the magazine in pdf form HERE:
SPECIAL NOTICE: If you, too, want to unleash the power of your inner rock journalist, and want to join a rapidly growing band of likewise minded weirdos please email me at jon@eclipse.co.uk The more the merrier really.
* 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.co.uk
* 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 59 who - together with a Jack Russell called Archie, an infantile orange cat named after a song by Frank Zappa, and two half grown kittens, one totally coincidentally named after one of the Manson Family, purely because she squeaks, puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish. 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 Archie and the Cats?

NEWS FROM NOWHERE: Friday/Saturday

ON THIS DAY IN - 1461 - Edward IV secured his claim to the English throne by defeating Henry VI’s Lancastrians at the battle of Towdon. 
And now some more recent news from the CFZ Newsdesk

  • 'Seeing' tails help sea snakes avoid predators
  • From vibrations alone, acacia ants can tell nibble...
  • Hope for fighting disease known as Ebola of frogs
  • Indigenous hunters have positive impacts on food w...
  • Ecosystem changes following loss of great white sh...

  • AND TO WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK... (Music that may have some relevance to items also on this page, or may just reflect my mood on the day)