Blogging on Faith and Culture
Wayne Forte is a Californian artist with a capacity to capture Biblical concepts in charcoal. He incorporates text into his images. He’s the leader of a visual arts team at his local church, Coast Hills Community Church, Aliso Viejo, California. They get two weeks notice on the sermons. Pictured here is one of Forte’s versions of Jonah’s life. Into the fish, out of the fish, and under the plant.
I’ve posted on Marmite’s “The Blob” campaign over at Duncan’s TV Adland tonight. The 40 second ad was filmed on the main street of Thames, New Zealand and borrows from Four Square’s iconography. The ad was too scary for some UK viewers and after complaints was moved out of viewing times available to children. I’ve discovered that the Marmite we’re used to here in Australia and in New Zealand is sweeter than the original UK version. Both Marmites pre-date Kraft’s Vegemite.
I see that EBay has bought Skype for 2.6 billion dollars. I wonder if they’ll be introducing live auctions using Skype. Or if they’ll be providing for live chats between vendors and buyers?
I also note that Skype has made available update downloads:
Skype 1.3.0.67
Skype 1.4.0.56 (Beta)
The Dullest Blog in the World is truly dull. However it’s the centre of fascinating conversation. The most recent post was back in April but has attracted 245 comments since.
Standing in the Middle of the Room (April 21)
“I was standing at a central point in the room. The walls were all at approximately the same distance from me. I continued to stand there for a few moments.”
Comments from this last week…
“I was attacked today… my attacker was a very big mouse with one very big hamer 
he said that my cheese was not good enough ….. and my walls were laughing at me…i hate my walls”
“Never say “hate your walls”… they have ears…and they will gang up and close in on you. Always give good cheese to hammer yielding rodents cause they live inside your walls.”
The Dullest Blog has probably slowed down because of the launch of the author’s cartoon blog.
Thanks to Darren Hight in Dunedin for the link.
Jen Reed, from Sydney, has just launched her blog, “Jen’s Musings”, focusing on life, following Jesus Christ, living in the West, being and doing church innovatively, and making poverty history.
The New Yorker cartoon by Alex Gregory, published on Monday, September 12.
“I had my own blog for a while but I decided to go back to just pointless incessant barking.”
Thanks to Jordon Cooper and Rudy Carrasco…
Synod’s over and it’s time for a rest today. In between domestic duties I posted on two TV adverts at Duncan’s TV Adland.
Rexona Stunt City was filmed in Sydney for a European campaign promoting Rexona for Men. The ad is full of stunt men who must continually swing their arms up in the air to hang from helicopters and girders, walk through blazing heat, all in a day’s work.
[eminimall products="Rexona"]
Altoidia is a series of mockumentaries promoting sour mints, playing on the cultural arrogance of English explorers of the past.
[eminimall products="Altoids"]
Today is September 15 - the day back in 1992 when our daughter Kristen died, aged 18 months. She would have been 14 now.
I’m reminded of Kristen whenever I hear Eric Clapton’s song, “Tears in Heaven” which played at her funeral.
Or when I see daffodils. I was on my way to pick up the family to go to the church daffodil festival when she walked onto the road and was hit by a car.
Or when I cook frozen peas. She loved them.
Or when I see an 18 month old blonde learning to walk with confidence.
We’ve adjusted our lives to the terrible gap she left behind. And mostly left behind the horror of having her life snatched away. I remember the look in the driver’s face as he told me that his own daughter was the splitting image of Kristen. I remember the support of a multicultural community who came to grieve with us. The sobs of a friend on the phone as he expressed the grief of God.
This morning I introduced the Queensland Synod to Louise Elliott’s picture book, “Noah’s Boat”. Set in Australia it has Noah resisting the voice in his dreams. Eventually he starts work on a boat for his family and animals. Over time native animals, birds, reptiles and insects make their way to his building site, telling him that they too have heard the voice. With their advice he learns to build an amazing environment onboard his boat.
I was first alerted to this book by Jan Whyte from Toombul Districts Uniting Church. This was an offering to the wider church from members of the Cafe Church there who believe in vision statements that have imagery rather than just words.
Louise Elliott, the author, is a clothes designer living in Cleveland, Queensland. She designs cloth dolls, rag dolls, rag toys, doll and animal kits, as well as writing and illustrating her own books. Originally from England, she came to Australia in 1983 and did a degree in anthropology and religion at Queensland University.
Noah’s Boat was published by Lothian in 2003 and retails at about $27.
See Louise’s web site at www.uq.net.au/~zzgellio
I’ve just downloaded my voting papers for the NZ election on Saturday September 17. I’m in the Ohariu Belmont electorate, based on my previous life in Tawa, Wellington. The incumbent is Peter Dunne, United Future. At the moment it looks as though National is edging ahead of Labour. Helen Clark and Don Brash are the two main contenders for the position of Prime Minister.
Stuff.co.nz have an excellent election section, including blogs kept by Rodney Hide, ACT, Jeanette Fitzsimmons, Greens, Don Brash, National, Winston Peters, NZ First, Jim Anderton, Progressives, Tariana Turia, Maori Party, Steve Maharey, Labour, and Peter Dunne, United Future NZ.
It’s fascinating to see that www.maoriparty.nz redirects to the National Party site: www.taxcuts.co.nz
Postkiwi Duncan Macleod posts on life, faith and culture in Australia, drawing from his involvement in the creative industry, the Uniting Church, the blogosphere, generational research, the emerging church and life on the Gold Coast.
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