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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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...




Sunday, March 18, 2018

Gonzo Weekly #278

 Gonzo Weekly #278
THE HELTER SKELTER IS COMING DOWN FAST ISSUE
NOTE: BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH OUR ISP THE GONZO WEEKLY SITE IS UNAVAILABLE, SO USE THE ABOVE LINK
In this extraordinarily groovy issue, Alan and Phil discover that The Beatles were not as squeaky clean as they were portrayed, Jeremy goes to see Eddie and the Hot Rods and Department S, Neil explores Psychedelic Australia, Graham looks at the latest Hawkwind news, Doug continues with his history of Split Enz, and Jon once again visits Mu Mu Land alongside a bloke called Andy Gell, and sulks cos he isn't allowed to let smoke grenades off in his garden.
Hail Eris!
And there are radio shows from Strange Fruit, AND Mack Maloney, AND Friday Night Progressive, there are columns from all sorts of folk including Neil Nixon, Kev Rowlands, Roy Weard, C J Stone, and Mr Biffo AND the irrepressible Corinna. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and southern dibblers who have gone for a snooze (OK, nothing to do with small marsupials who have probably got hangovers and have decided to have a little rest, 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:
Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, Andy Gell, Brian Epstein, Roger Daltrey, Brian Eno, Neil Young, Eminem, Liam Gallagher, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progessive, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Stephen William Hawking CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA, Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd, OBE, Jerzy Stanislaw Milian, Gary Burden, Count Hubert James Macel Taffin de Givenchy, Craig Jamieson Mack, Nole Floyd "Nokie" Edwards, Claudia Fontaine, Matt Dike, James Whittaker "Jim Bowen", Liam O'Flynn, Tony Klinger, Billion Dollar Babies, Man, Delius, Edward Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Jeremy Smith, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Department S, Doug Harr, Split Enz, Alan Dearling, Phil Bayliss, The Beatles, Neil Arnold, Psychedelic Australia, Flake, Freshwater, Ash, Helium, Tymepiece, Glass Web, The Chocolate, The Elois, The Throb, The Thorts, Inkase, Australian Playboys, Blackfeather, Clapham Junction, The Creatures, The Vince Maloney Sect, Fraternity, The Master's Apprentices, The Vegetable Garden, Zoot, Rick Springfield, Kev Rowland, Apartment 213, Alan Reed, Almanac, Altavia, Sonata Arctica, Pocket Size, Root, Terra, Mr Biffo, Hawkwind, Jon Downes, The Wild Colonial Boy, Martin Springett, Joey Ramone, New Kids of the Block, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, Geri Halliwell, Nirvana, ACDC, Ska
And the last few issues are:
Issue 278 (The Beatles)
Issue 277 (Auld Man's Baccie)
Issue 276 (Dukes of the Orient)
Issue 275 (Martin Gordon)
Issue 274 (Steve Took)
Issue 273 (Live Dead 69)
Issue 272 (George Butler)
Issue 271 (Mark E Smith)
Issue 270 (Eric Clapton)
Issue 269 (Narnia)
Issue 267-8 (Happy New Year)
Issue 265-6 (The Who)
Issue 264 (John McLaughlin)
Issue 263 (The magic Band)
Issue 262 (DikMik)
Issue 261 (Leonard Cohen)
Issue 260 (Amsterdam Squat Festie)
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 HO HO HEN HOPS

The Gonzo Daily - Sunday
And for no real reason Sunday's notifications are done in rhyme
 
It's Sunday so again its time
to do the daily blogs in rhyme:
 
It may be Spring, but we're covered in snow,
the heaviest its been for years,
I'm not compaining I'd have you know
I'm not resorting to gloom and tears,
but it means our plans for the week ahead,
will have to change, just wait and see,
and we'll do something else instead,
It will work out somehow, wait and see.
 
ciaou....
 
Forgive me for banging on about our webTV show, but it matters a lot to me, and I would be grateful for an many people as possible to see it, and spread the tidings of it far and wide:
 
 
But now, here is the news:
 
THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY:  Hymn to Obatala
KEITH CHRISTMAS NEWS
PLYLIST: SF 248 – 4 MARCH 2018 – NEW IMPROVED ACTI...
THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
 
Gonzo Weekly #278
THE HELTER SKELTER IS COMING DOWN FAST ISSUE
 
In this extraordinarily groovy issue, Alan and Phil discover that The Beatles were not as squeaky clean as they were portrayed, Jeremy goes to see Eddie and the Hot Rods and Department S, Neil explores Psychedelic Australia, Graham looks at the latest Hawkwind news, Doug continues with his history of Split Enz, and Jon once again visits Mu Mu Land alongside a bloke called Andy Gell, and sulks cos he isn't allowed to let smoke grenades off in his garden.
 
Hail Eris!
 
And there are radio shows from Strange Fruit, AND Mack Maloney, AND Friday Night Progressive, there are columns from all sorts of folk including Neil Nixon, Kev Rowlands, Roy Weard, C J Stone, and Mr Biffo AND the irrepressible Corinna. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and southern dibblers who have gone for a snooze (OK, nothing to do with small marsupials who have probably got hangovers and have decided to have a little rest, 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:
 
Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, Andy Gell, Brian Epstein, Roger Daltrey, Brian Eno, Neil Young, Eminem, Liam Gallagher, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progessive, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Stephen William Hawking CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA, Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd, OBE, Jerzy Stanislaw Milian, Gary Burden, Count Hubert James Macel Taffin de Givenchy, Craig Jamieson Mack, Nole Floyd "Nokie" Edwards, Claudia Fontaine, Matt Dike, James Whittaker "Jim Bowen", Liam O'Flynn, Tony Klinger, Billion Dollar Babies, Man, Delius, Edward Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Jeremy Smith, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Department S, Doug Harr, Split Enz, Alan Dearling, Phil Bayliss, The Beatles, Neil Arnold, Psychedelic Australia, Flake, Freshwater, Ash, Helium, Tymepiece, Glass Web, The Chocolate, The Elois, The Throb, The Thorts, Inkase, Australian Playboys, Blackfeather, Clapham Junction, The Creatures, The Vince Maloney Sect, Fraternity, The Master's Apprentices, The Vegetable Garden, Zoot, Rick Springfield, Kev Rowland, Apartment 213, Alan Reed, Almanac, Altavia, Sonata Arctica, Pocket Size, Root, Terra, Mr Biffo, Hawkwind, Jon Downes, The Wild Colonial Boy, Martin Springett, Joey Ramone, New Kids of the Block, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, Geri Halliwell, Nirvana, ACDC, Ska
 
And the last few issues are:
 
Issue 278 (The Beatles)
Issue 277 (Auld Man's Baccie)
Issue 276 (Dukes of the Orient)
Issue 275 (Martin Gordon)
Issue 274 (Steve Took)
Issue 273 (Live Dead 69)
Issue 272 (George Butler)
Issue 271 (Mark E Smith)
Issue 270 (Eric Clapton)
Issue 269 (Narnia)
Issue 267-8 (Happy New Year)
Issue 265-6 (The Who)
Issue 264 (John McLaughlin)
Issue 263 (The magic Band)
Issue 262 (DikMik)
Issue 261 (Leonard Cohen)
Issue 260 (Amsterdam Squat Festie)
 
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 58 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: Sunday

ON THIS DAY IN - 0037 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius’ will and proclaims Caligula emperor. 
And now some more recent news from the CFZ Newsdesk

  • To build up mussels, you need to know your fish
  • Beluga whales dive deeper, longer to find food in ...
  • Asian elephants have different personality traits ...
  • Why are there so many types of lizards?

  • Complete genomes of extinct and living elephants s...

  • 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)

    Friday, March 16, 2018

    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.




    THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN ESCAPES

    The Gonzo Daily: Friday/Saturday
     
    Today we took receipt of some smoke bombs that I want to use for a particular stunt in our webTV show, and Corinna wouldn’t let me set them off in the garden. And then to make it even worse, Graham said that it was not a good idea either and that they should be tested under “controlled conditions”.
     
    Neither of them seemed to accept my plea in mitigation that I am an “artist” and that as such I should be able to let off an many pyrotechnics in my own garden as I wanted.
     
    Reluctantly I agreed, and so I shall let you all know what transpires.
     
    ciaou....
     
    Forgive me for always banging on about our webTV show, but it matters a lot to me, and I would be grateful for as many people as possible to see it, and spread the tidings of it far and wide:
     
     
    And if you fancy supporting us on Patreon:
     
    And by the way chaps and chappesses, a trip to the Jon Downes megastore seems to be in order: if you want to make me a happy fellow, you can:
     
    buy my novel:
    buy the record by the main protagonist of the novel who isn't me in an elephant mask, honest:
    buy my single:
     
    But for now, here is the news:
     
    COMING THIS WEEKEND
    TONIGHT IN ITALY
    WALLAGES OF YES NEWS
    THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
    THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY:  FRANK ZAPPA - COSMIK ...
     
    Gonzo Weekly #277
    THE CAN BLUE MEN SING THE WHITES? ISSUE
     
    We visit the Northeast of England to meet Davey and Nick from Auld Man's Baccie, Alan finds DakhaBrakha, an insane ensemble from The Ukraine, Doug starts to explore Split Enz and the Finn brothers, Neil looks at New Zealand psychedelia, and Mr Biffo pitches a new TV show.
     
    Hail Eris!
     
    And there are radio shows from Strange Fruit, AND Mack Maloney, AND Friday Night Progressive, there are columns from all sorts of folk including Neil Nixon, Kev Rowlands, Roy Weard, C J Stone, and Mr Biffo AND the irrepressible Corinna. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and southern dibblers who have gone for a snooze (OK, nothing to do with small marsupials who have probably got hangovers and have decided to have a little rest, 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:
     
    Eric Burdon, Silver Fox Cafe, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, The Mind Map, Motorhead, Jeff Beck, Robert Smith's Meltdown, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progressive, Canterbury sans Frontieres, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, NME, Jeff St John, Trevor Graham Baylis CBE, John Charles Kenneth Gardestad, Brandon Dean Jenkins, Ronald Lawrence Victor Prophet, Bill Burkette, Alexander Buchanan, Patrick Doyle, Barbara Dickson, Jessica Lee Morgan, Billion Dollar Babies, Rick Wakeman, Tangerine Dream, Auld Man's Baccie, David Curtis, Nick Phillips, Doug Harr, Split Enz, Alan Dearling, DakhaBrakha, Neil Arnold, New Zealand Psychedelia, Kev Rowland, Toothgrinder, Trepaneringsritualen, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, Until the Sky Dies, Veni Vidi, We Came as Romans, Wildness, World War Me, The Adicts, Apartment 213, Mr Biffo, Digitiser The Show, Roy Weard, CJ Stone, Hawkwind, Jon Downes, The Wild Colonial Boy, Martin Springett, ElectricNick, The Beatles, The Wonder Years.
     
    And the last few issues are:
     
    Issue 275 (Martin Gordon)
    Issue 274 (Steve Took)
    Issue 273 (Live Dead 69)
    Issue 272 (George Butler)
    Issue 271 (Mark E Smith)
    Issue 270 (Eric Clapton)
    Issue 269 (Narnia)
    Issue 267-8 (Happy New Year)
    Issue 265-6 (The Who)
    Issue 264 (John McLaughlin)
    Issue 263 (The magic Band)
    Issue 262 (DikMik)
    Issue 261 (Leonard Cohen)
    Issue 260 (Amsterdam Squat Festie)
     
    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 58 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?

    NESSIENEWS (Caveat Lector)



    loch ness monster: 2018-03-11
    Rip Hepple, veteran Loch Ness Monster expert, has published the latest issue of his long running Loch Ness newsletter, "Nessletter" (dated February 2018). The main focus of his newsletter this issue is the search for Nessie DNA, though the story he tells of the mysterious yellow water of Loch Ness is ...

    NEWS FROM NOWHERE: Friday/Saturday

    ON THIS DAY IN - 1190 - The Crusaders began the massacre of Jews in York, England. 
    And now some more recent news from the CFZ Newsdesk


  • Surprising new study redraws family tree of domest...
  • Monkey Vocabulary Decoded
  • This Caterpillar Makes Noise the Same Way a Tea Ke...
  • Brazilian study discovers six new species of silky...


  • Wildlife secrets of Nigeria's last wilderness


  • 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)