The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] Newsletter

2006-11-18

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

This is just a quick roundup of what has happened recently:

 

CFZTV

 

As dedicated CFZ watchers will no doubt know, the planned launch of CFZtv at the Weird Weekend singularly failed to happen. There were a number of technical problems, server issues, and personnell problems to sort out, but finally we have a functioning CFZtv website with ten videos and even the beginnings of a Radio CFZ project.

This is only the beginning. For the time being, we have had to cut our coat according to our cloth and are using YouTube as a server. However, we are in negotiations to get a dedicated media server of our own, and things are looking very promising.

As well as hosting out own video shorts, we are working on longer projects (a 40 minute film of our latest expedition to Lake Windermere, with the cringeworthy title `Eel or no Eel` will be up in a few days, but we have other projects in mind. Have YOU got any footage of an unknown animal? A mystery cat? A lake monster? Send it to us, and we will include it in a new section of the CFZtv site.

We hope that eventually this will be a proper web-based TV station, with scheduling, and full-length documentaries - some of which will be available to buy on DVD. However, in the mean time, what we have will have to do.

But as I encoded the whole damn thing from scratch I am quite proud of it all....

 

WEIRD WEEKEND 2007

 

The 2007 event will be held on the17th-19th August 2007 at Woolfardisworthy Community Centre. The following speakers have already been confirmed:

Dr Charles Paxton
Dr Iggy Tavares
Dr Darren Naish
Mike Hallowell
Ronan Coghlan
Richard Freeman

Watch this space...

PUBLISHING SCHEDULE

The ongoing project to reissue all the CFZ publications as perfect bound paperbacks is nearly complete. Apart from the yearbooks (which will remain spiral bound for the forseeable future at least), the last title to be completed is Jon Downes' Smaller mystery carnivores of the Westcountry which will be available imminently, as will Strength through Koi ; Jon's long awaited collection of short stories about fish.

In the new year you can look forward to the release of the 2005/7 Yearbook (long delayed, I am afraid), new titles by Dr Karl Shuker, Chris Moiser, Neil Arnold, Richard Freeman, Mark North, Corinna James, Marcus Matthews, Nick Redfern, Ken Gerhard and Jon Downes....

LATEST ISSUE OF ANIMALS & MEN

Issue 39 is being printed this week, and contains the following articles:

3:   Editorial

4:   Faculty of the CFZ

6:   Newsfile

21: Obituaries

25: Mystery Cat Diary

30: Aquatic monster study group

40: COVER STORY: Expedition 

      Report: Gambia 2006

47: In search of Kentish

      manbeasts

50: Weird Weekend 2006

53: CFZ People

54: CFZ News

55: Letters to the editor

57: Reviews

59: The Sycophant

60: Cartoon by Mark North

 

As always we would like to stress that running the CFZ is an expensive business, and we need as much help as we can get. If there is anybody out there who is minded to give us gifts of time, expertise, equipment, or money then please get in touch.  
 
If you are not a member, why not think about joining. You can do it online at our website or by post from the CFZ office. Subscriptions are £12 (UK) £15 (EEC) £22 (Rest of world). You get four issues of our journal, and the chance to join in our activities around the world….  
 
Onwards and Upwards,  
 
 
Jonathan Downes

____________________________________________
Jonathan Downes
Director, Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ],
Myrtle Cottage,
Woolfardisworthy,
Bideford,
North Devon
EX39 5QR

 

Telephone: +44 (0) 1237 431413
Mobile:        +44 (0) 870 1935443
email:           jon@...
website:       http://www.cfz.org.uk

CFZtv          http://www.cfztv.org

yahoogroup: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/CFZ_Volunteers/