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...

Search This Blog

WATCH OUR WEEKLY WEBtv SHOW

SUPPORT OTT ON PATREON

SUPPORT OTT ON PATREON
Click on this logo to find out more about helping CFZtv and getting some smashing rewards...

SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER



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...




Monday, June 29, 2020

THE LATEST FROM CFZ CANADA

The Centre for Fortean Zoology was founded in the UK in 1992 - nearly 20 years ago. Over the past two decades it has expanded to become a truly global organisation. We opened our American office in 2001, our Australian office in 2009, and in 2011 - we were proud to welcome CFZ Canada, curated by Robin Bellamy to the CFZ global family.







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

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 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.


THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN DOES STUFF, BUT HE'S NOT TELLING YOU WHAT



The Gonzo Daily - Monday/Tuesday
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/
And for no real reason Sunday's notifications are done in rhyme

And so, another week begins. And so far it seems that it is going to be exactly the same as last week; dealing with doctors, arguing with the NHS, and trying to explain to people why the photograph which circulated last week and was described as a mysterious large fish in Loch Ness, is 99% certain to have been made with Photoshop.

As far as music is concerned I would suggest you all check out the long overdue release of Neil Young’s ‘Homegrown’.

As one would have hoped it contains some deliciously melancholy songs as good as anything else have a road, but it also contains a few bits of raucous rock and roll pressure quite fun, and two strange spoken word pieces, one of which is about rescuing a baby after the baby ‘s parents were killed in a freak hang glider accident. Entertaining as these peculiar pieces are, it is hard to see why even Neil Young thought that they would add to the successfulness of the album as a cohesive whole.

But Neil Young is as mad as a bag full of cheese and is nigh on impossible to second-guess, and that - I guess - is one of the reasons we all like him.

I never really knew what it meant, but keep on trucking!

https://baboon.wixsite.com/website-1

Like so much else in our uncertain world, you might have thought that the new Gonzo Web Radio website was never going to arrive. Well, there were times that I felt the same way. However, I’m happy to say that a beta version of it is now available for your perusal. It is even optimised to work on both computers and phones. Check it out at the address above, and let me know what you think in the comments.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will probably have noticed that the Gonzo Multimedia websites have changed and are in a process of flux, so there are no individual sales links at the moment. But check out www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk for a thing of wonder. The Gonzo Books site is now pretty well done, although there are still nine authors who need personal pages. You can find it ay www.gonzopublishers.com and there is also a new CFZ Publcations website at https://baboon.wixsite.com/website then tell me what a clever fellow I am. It even has a haiku to explain why some links are not finished:

"These links do not work,
now but they will do so soon,
we apologise"

YER 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-…

ALL TODAY'S GONZO NEWS WOT'S FIT TO SQUINT

https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/chris-squire-making…
CHRIS SQUIRE: The making of Chris Squire's Fish...
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/rick-wakeman-hopes-…
RICK WAKEMAN: Hopes that coronavirus will see the ...
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/jon-anderson-more-o…
JON ANDERSON: More on his new single
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/gonzo-track-of-day-…
GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: I Call Your Name (Remaste...
https://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/…/thom-world-poet-dai…
THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

THE GONZO PRIVACY POLICY
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/p/privacy-policy-this-…

And the CFZ Privacy Policy is here:
http://tinyurl.com/y7b9rlog
And, yes,
http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/p/privacy-policy-this-pr…

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 eleven 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 #395/6
THE STELLAR ISSUE
www.gonzoweekly.com

In yet another singularly non-standard issue for singularly non-standard times Richard Stellar tells the story of how Diane Warren,Sharon Farber and Gev Miron collaborated on 'I'm Standing with You' - A Musical Collaboration in support of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Jon gets confused with the semantics of of recent protests, Alan reviews some recent music, Jon reviews a book by a 60s icon, Alan collates covid-19 stories from around the world. Graham reveals the latest from the world of Hawkwind, and we see some massively groovy things from Martin Springett of The Gardening Club. And is there more? You can bet your arse there is...

And there are radio shows from Mack Maloney and Friday Night Progressive, AND Merrell Fankhauser, but no sign of Strange Fruit this week, there is a column from Kev Rowland, and one from C J Stone, but Mr Biffo, Neil Nixon and Roy Weard, are on hiatus. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and di8bblers who have got the blues (OK, nothing to do with tiny marsupials who are listening to the new Bob Dylan album, 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:
Covid-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter, George Floyd, Trevor Rabin, Alan Dearling, Covid Connections Part 4, Pamir Yilmaz, John Perry, Friday Night Progressive, The Merrell Fankhauser Show - Rockin and Surfin and Merrell interview, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Ricky Valance (born David Spencer), Katsuhisa Hattori, Paul William Chapman, Pau Dones Cirera, James "Slim" Hand, Patricia Eva "Bonnie" Pointer, Daniel John Stolper, Frank Bay (born Frank Bass), Allan Evans, Rupert Hine, Marcello Abbado, Fabiana Anastacio Nascimento, Dulce Pinto Bressane, Stephen Norman Priest, Rosemarie Wright, Werner Bohm (Gottlieb Wendehals, Nana Tuffour (James Kwaku Tuffour), Nguea Laroute, Keith Tippett, (Keith Graham Tippetts), Yohan (nee Kim Jeng-hwan), Dame Vera Margaret Lynn CH, DBE, OStJ, (nee Welch), Rick Wakeman, The Fall, The Mitchell Trio, Barrie Guard & David Cunningham, Dave Bainbridge, Eliza Carthy, Michael Bruce, Angels of Mercy, Ed O`Brien, Lacertilia, Roger & Brian Eno, Tony Klinger, Chris Chappel, Kev Rowland, Marin Springett, Kenny Mitchell, La Chinga, Lords of the Trident, Decline of the I, C J Stone, Hawkwind, Martin Springett, Jenny Boyd,

..And the last few issues are:

Issue 395-6 (Diane Warren/Sharon Farber)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-395-6.html
Issue 393-4 (Daria Kulesh)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-393-4.html
Issue 391-2 (Little Richard)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-391-2.html
Issue 389-90 (Ian Anderson)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-389-90.html
Issue 387-8 (A Guy called Gerald)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-387-8.html
Issue 385-6 (Tony Henderson)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-385-6.html
Issue 383-4 (London Remixed)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-383-4.html
">Issue 381-2 (Greta)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-381-2.html
Issue 379-80 (Andrew Weatherall)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-379-80.html
Issue 377-8 (The Future)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-377-8.html
Issue 375-6 (Big Sean)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-375-6.html
Issue 373-4 (End of the World)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-373-4.html
Issue 371-2 (New Year)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-371-2.html
Issue 369-70 (Christmas)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-369-70.html
Issue 367-8 (Register to Vote)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-367-8.html
Issue 365-6 (Rick Wakeman)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-365-6.html
Issue 363-4 (Focus)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-363-4.html
Issue 361-2 (Martin Springett)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-361-2.html
Issue 359-60 (Robert Hunter)
https://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo-359-60.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 and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention Archie and the Cats?

NEWS FROM NOWHERE: Monday

ON THIS DAY IN -  1236 - Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon took Cordoba in Spain.

And now some more recent news from the CFZ Newsdesk


  • Genome of beloved sea otter Gidget now available f...
  • Moths have a secret but vital role as pollinators ...
  • New test identifies lobster hybrids

  • 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)