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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Monday, October 07, 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.



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.




OTT Xtra 26.1



https://youtu.be/NWjFKijGAH4

Well, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first episode in our new series: On The Track Xtra! We hope that you enjoy it. 

It is a little more rough and ready than the normal show, but I think that is no bad thing. If you hear strange noises in the background of the segments which feature me doing a piece to camera, those are the filters of the two tanks in the office; one containing Clarence the walking catfish, and another containing a large and massively elusive leaf fish that we have been looking after for Max ever since he went off to university, something in the region of ten years ago. At least, I’ve always thought it was a leaf fish, and worse, have been telling everyone it’s a leaf fish for the last decade. However, when I looked her up today to try to display my academic chops by giving her Latin name, she doesn’t look like any of the leaf fish on Google. But that’s the way the cookie crumbles. 

This episode contains Richard and Carl talking about Reinhold Messner and the yeti, me and Charlotte on the Loch Ness Monster, giant eels, and Richard Freeman meeting Wally the comedy rhinoceros with dramatic results. 

Enjoy

LAKE AND SEA MONSTER NEWS

The hunt for Lake and Sea Monsters is probably the most iconic branch of Cryptozoology. Following our successful Mystery Cat and BHM Study Groups, we feel that these sightings should also be archived and published in a regular round-up of the stories as they come in. Curated by Sally Watts and Richard Muirhead.

BIGFOOT NEWS IN BRIEF





Gatlinburg, TN - Oct 3, 2019 - Gather Up Events is extremely excited to announce the James “Bobo” Fay, from Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot, and ..


The series of images was reportedly taken about 2 a.m. Saturday, and posted on Facebook by Bigfoot 911, a research group devoted to creatures of ...
Bigfoot Photographed in North Carolina?
A Bigfoot research group in North Carolina has released a photograph which they say shows the famed cryptid lurking in a forest.

THE GONZO BLOG DOO DAH MAN WAITS

The Gonzo Daily: Monday
Thank you very much to everybody who has written over the past forty eight hours, sending their good wishes. Mother is still in hospital, and I suspect that she will be for the next few days, at least. However, today she was sitting up by the side of the bed, and eating, which has got to be a good thing. We shall be going to see her later, probably tying it all in with collecting Carl, who is down here to help us hold the fort while Graham is in America. Things are rather fraught at the moment, but I expect they will all come together eventually. These things usually do.
Please remember us in your thoughts and prayers.
ER EDITOR SEZ: THE DIGITAL PRAYER FLAG
You guys have been doing massive amounts of praying for Corinna. I believe that the outpouring of good vibes transmitted electronically, being a little like a Tibetan prayer flag. Find out more:
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/p/a-prayer-flag-lung-
Blessed be.
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/the-gonzo-track-of-…
THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Fred Frith “Solo Ele...
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/for-those-of-you-in…
FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN MY DAY JOB
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/goodbye-to-mr-baker…
GOODBYE TO MR BAKER
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/thom-world-poet-dai…
THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/frank-zappa-en-pass…
FRANK ZAPPA EN PASSANT
CHECK OUT THE GONZO STORES:
AND OTHER STUFF FEATURING VARIOUS GONZO CONTRIBUTORS:
Our webTV show:
https://www.facebook.com/OnTheTrack/posts/632561497117057
And if you fancy supporting it on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/CFZ
And by the way chaps and chappesses, a trip to the Jon Downes megastore may seem to be in order:
https://gonzotesting.blogspot.com/…/a-notion-of-shopkeepers…
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?
AND THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GONZO MAGAZINE:
Gonzo Weekly #357/8
THE CRIMSON ISSUE
http://www.gonzoweekly.com/
In this remarkably disciplined issue Doug goes to see King Crimson, Alan goes all psychedelic at O.Z.O.R.A in Hungary, Mad Iccy meets Roddy Radiation of The Specials, we go on patrol with PAART, Bart goes to see Yes et al in the Royal Affair, Jon has his PIP Assessment, and Graham brings us bad news about Ginger Baker
Hail Eris!
And there are radio shows from Mack Maloney and Friday Night Progressive AND Strange Fruit, there are columns from Kev Rowland and Mr Biffo, C J Stone, and Roy Weard, but Neil Nixon and the irrepressible Corinna are on hiatus. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and antichinuses who have lost their shoes (OK, nothing to do with tiny marsupials who are searching for their footwear, 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:
Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Leonard Cohen, Adam Cohen, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Prog Awards, Thom Yorke, Sinead O'Connor, The Rolling Stones, Yes, Asia, Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy, Richard Freeman, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progressive, Canterbury Sans Frontieres, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Richard Theodore Otcasek, Edward Joseph Mahoney, Ida Laila, Daniel Dale Johnston, Jeffrey Craig "Jeff" Fenholt, Dalibor Andonov, Anthony Paul Mills, John Cohen, Mick Schauer, Larry Wallis, Harold Mabern, Jr., Yonrico Scott, Robert C. Hunter, Rick Wakeman, Gerry Beckley, The Waterson Family, The Fall, Richard Wright and Dave Harris - Zee, Chasing the Monsoon, Doug Harr, King Crimson, Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team (PAART), Alan Dearling, O.Z.O.R.A. Festival, Steve Hillage, Miquette Giraudy, Youth, Raja Ram, Basil Brooks, Naxatrax, BaBa ZuLa, Zion Train, Raja Ram, Eat Static, Mad Iccy (Icarus Ruoff), Roddy 'Radiation' Byers, Kev Rowland, Wayfarer, Witchskull, Witchsorrow, Yesternight, Kenny Mitchell, Greenrose Faire, Tony Klinger, Hawkwind, Ginger Baker, Jonathan Downes, The Wild Colonial Boy, Martin Springett, Joan Aiken
And the last few issues are:
Issue 357-8 (King Crimson)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-355-6.html
Issue 355-6 (Elfin Bow)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-355-6.html
Issue 353-4 (Melanie S Jane)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-353-4.html
Issue 351-2 (Royal Affair)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CE…/gonzo-351-2-fvxuatzgf.html
Issue 349-50 (Experimental Sonic Machines)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-349-50.htm
Issue 347-8 (Gary Duncan)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-347-8.html
Issue 345-6 (RDF)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-345-6.html
Issue 343-4 (Auburn)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-343-4.html
Issue 341-42 (America)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-341-2.html
Issue 339-40 (Kev Rowland)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-339-40.html
Issue 337-38 (Zee)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-337-8.html
Issue 335-36 (Raz)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-335-6.html
Issue 333-34 (Nepal)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-333-4.html
Issue 331-32 (Scott Walker)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-331-2.html
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:
http://www.gonzoweekly.com/pdf/
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 60 who - together with a Jack Russell called Archie, an infantile orange cat named after a song by Frank Zappa, three other cats, 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 elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention Archie and the Cats?

NEWS FROM NOWHERE: Monday

ON THIS DAY IN -  1949 - The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was formed.
And now some more recent news from the CFZ Newsdesk

  • Nashua man pleads guilty to smuggling monitor liza...
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  • Parasitoid wasps may turn spiders into zombies by ...
  • Features that make Male lizards sexy to females ar...
  • Rare bumblebee to get boost from bilberries in cag...
  • Blue whale fossil provides evidence that baleens g...


  • 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)