NOOMA is there for us

We can get anything we want,
from anywhere in the world,
whenever we want it.
That’s how it is
and that’s how we want it to be.
Still, our lives aren’t any different
than other generations before us.
Our time is.

We want spiritual direction,
but it has to be real for us
and available when we need it.
We want a new format
for getting Christian perspectives.

NOOMA is the new format.
It’s short films with communicators
that really speak to us.
Compact, portable, and concise.

Each NOOMA touches on issues
that we care about,
that we want to talk about,
and it comes in a way
that fits our world.
It’s a format that’s there for us
when we need it,
as we need it,
how we need it.

The blurb on the NOOMA series of films. Submitted by Marika Rose.

Spectrum

Blue with a hint of your mother.
Jesus Christ, what is with you and green?
What I’m sure was once nice wallpaper
before you stained it with your nicotine.

My dentist’s office orange. I still remember
his dandruff slowly wafting into my gaping jaw.
It’s pink, but not totally pink. It’s purple,
but not totally purple. Sorry for

spazzing earlier, I had a seizure.
White if it had a wine spill on itself and let it dry.
Maybe a half hour before the first stars
start showing up in the night sky.

Red as the cute boy to my right’s hoodie.
I’m sorry for polluting your stats.
That awful color, that forever remains a reminder
grandma needs to be cut off after the third glass.

Dark red. Velociraptor cloaca.
Shark invested water blue. Unsure-
whether-boy-or-girl baby room color.
Nothing looks like a proper color any more.

Comments in the xkcd survey about identifying colours.

Elegy from an Opposition

For every child who instead of being cooped up in a small flat
is playing in a brand new children’s centre
—that is Gordon’s legacy.

For every patient who is treated in a brand new hospital,
instead of suffering on a waiting list
—that is Gordon’s legacy.

And for every person in an African village
whose life has been transformed by the cancellation of world debt
—that is Gordon’s legacy
and it is our legacy too.

We can be proud of what Gordon has done
and thank him from the bottom of our hearts.

From a Labour party email, 12th May 2010. Submitted by Marika Rose.

In the Beginning

On days one to two: Wees –
two or more per day; Poos –
one or more per day;
Poo at this stage is called meconium
or mec for short. It’s very dark
brown green black and sticky
and it’s already in the bowel
at the time of birth.

On days three to four: Wees –
three or more per day; The
amount of wee increases,
and the nappies feel heavier than before.
Poos – two or more per day;
The colour changes and looks more green.
These poos are called ‘changing stools’
and they change because your baby
is taking in more milk and digesting it.

On days five to six: Wees –
five or more heavy nappies per day;
(see what heavy means overleaf).
Poos – At least two soft, yellow poos
per day; They’re yellow, because there is
no more mec in the bowel.

Day seven onwards: Wees –
six or more heavy nappies per day;
Poos – at least two soft, yellow poos
per day; greater than the size of a two pound coin
– not just skid marks. You might notice
little seedy particles in it – that’s fine.

From the National Childbirth Trust notes ‘What’s in a nappy’. 16 May 2010.

A silent fall of immense snow

He moved

forward a few

fine chattering gems.

He knew exactly who would

now sneeze calmly through an open
door. Had there been another year

of peace the battalion would have made
a floating system of perpetual drainage.

A silent fall of immense snow came near oily
remains of the purple-blue supper on the table.

We drove on in our old sunless walnut. Presently
classical eggs ticked in the new afternoon shadows.

We were instructed by my cousin Jasper not to exercise by country
house visiting unless accompanied by thirteen geese or gangsters.

The modern American did not prevail over the pair of redundant bronze puppies.
The worn-out principle is a bad omen which I am never glad to ransom on purpose.

A Snellen chart from the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 2007. Submitted by Jim.

Seriously

Please, I need help.
I’ve had marital problems
Honey, I think it’s time that we start talking about a divorce.

Larry, we’re gonna be fine.

…professional, you name it
Larry, we’ve received a number of letters denigrating you
and, er, urging us not to grant you tenure

I need help

We’re gonna be fine.

I’ve tried to be a serious man
We’re gonna be fine.

I’ve tried to do right, be a member of the community
We’re gonna be fine.

Please, just tell him I need help, please?
We’re gonna be fine.

I need help.
We’re gonna be fine.

The rabbi is busy.
He didn’t look busy.
He’s thinking.

From the trailer for A Serious Man, 11 May 2010. Submitted by Marika Rose.

Ecce homo

This is the man.
What does the man think
of grey and white?
The man likes grey
and white, of course.

“Man should be brave.”
Ah oui. And what
does he think of blue?
It’s perfect.

French Connection window display in Leeds, 9 May 2010. Submitted by Marika Rose.

This house


Council is example of bureaucracy gone mad
Council devoid of common sense
Different rules for different folk
Planners are sterile bureaucratic vandals.

Gateshead planners are philistines
Gateshead planners think 400 votes count for nothing
Thank you –
Not surprising to have more local support than elected councillors.

The buffoons
Can’t see
Won’t listen
Don’t speak

Your local councillors
Who do they think they work for
Council’s abuse of powers lamentable
Council are not even handed
Councillors are devoid of grey matter.

Wrong use of power
Planners cannot loose face
Surprise surprise this lot want our votes

This house is detrimental to the area.

From signs plastered all over the windows of a house in Gateshead, 4th May 2010. Submitted by Marika Rose.

Grundy remarked let slip

Grundy remarked let slip safely cross shall take small price dropped money at gas stations only generated with jewels smart girl but try ome closer joyleen dice michigan child even racto howled seemed inclined her breasts than leaving red or black formal dress chief considered undane version whether the readily solved that makes high flow low pressure air compressor stay with the wrong remarkable gift walk back can affect pirates cove treasure knew that dark shapes torso pressed for similar your set first five san bernardino servations are cold inside husband was not been somewhat like ll moyers four kinds of activists remain longer she might circled the probably here extra eyes jacks or better on excite against the himself away bats swarmed ncarnation she language into forever twenty one atlanta urely this olph fought light toward are all magic mirror dod payline officially made the oncoming married her asked for goblins took red eyes on sick dog olph wanted were abraded tapestry that sudden downdraft hat kind egm magizine three girls more intense was wondering match for not diminish i love reality big brother six golden vegetation goblin form the spirit what counts small tingle double street sign banished because ada saw much harder certain compelling mutual agreement poker bankroll management bags dropped his room poke their annoy her and bottom hang straight up form for the momentary teeth bit spun off next question easy dice games about food that this swung over the bear mouths gaping download pictures from blackjack inquired guardedly opened out ust hold roads looked should inquire rite way house leveling ortunately not can take been known then approached his fangs free down load card games man had after they the blow know these aversion for where did fuzzy dice come from recognized the this had was then marks the all around cole brothers circus discount tickets worm called could save and departed that expression tender body jacks or better free play been good eleven years seeming life olph grimaced erhaps that buy awp was beyond even scare for that leaving the fter several from full house stephanie other kinds any time sounded bad hen return wrist was deuces wild characters quiltlike floor stay clear bumped down but these into progress free bonus round slots well satisfied hat sailboat rlene fathomed started crying put him fruit machine emulator downloads she spoke the fireplace colors not with something learn quickly gaming machine cheats illusion puffed curse had stand vertically with each most utterly red engliah bulldogs got there his speed other plants nothing untoward the betrayal discovercard down skeletons had was impressive itness has the breeze stronger than high current low voltage transformer and closer olph inhaled small clearing this isle hey gouged upper back shoulders neck hands feet other necessitie cave ended but desperatio creature vote this disaster even or odd worksheets not said now knew stayed back think about winding path blackjack and caribbean stud in casinos was reach want you merwoman had said hotly become betrothed fruit machines home use how tired little trouble seeing the would happen land when baseball wild card closing and progress when and quickly hey tried her lover jack nickolson the joker picture costume his troop suddenly very said anything your assistance forested mountain dew-point comes in contact with and watched condemned for two together arrows and mean that buying fruit machines undania right winner and are invisible indeed used more fruit play free pai gow four hours pits here ent you any mistake him more poker run rides in creston wv ing snapped agician always that far recognized bravery ffectively invisible backseat hand job year the meal with were made regret being olph pushed wild card hostesses see whether was just her alive domestic service had those lyrics going on twenty-one bones when monster hunt plaque set olph inquired ask him overdrive let it ride instead she reputation precedes eyond the one path present seemed bonus fun games ditionally awakened square buildings distant one guess these glanced around half way house for sex offenders most outrageous herself with fingers were clumsy flier ith these egm services inc dangling down the developmen all focusing will send boat tilted one one twenty twenty incomplete coverlet overtake.

A spam comment posted to my content strategy blog, 13 April 2010, with the blue of the hyperlinks preserved.