Unless you walk around Manchester with your eyes fixed firmly on the floor - or sky - you’ll probably have noticed a series of plain white posters, each containing a poem and little else.

It’s all the work of one Norris Necante, who I’m led to believe is Stretford-based poet Mike Fitzgerald. He’s part of York Road Chorlton, a collective of three artists and creative types who are looking for ‘more talented people with similar interests’.

Always quick off the mark, Manchester’s Flickr community has photographed a few of Norris’/Mike’s poems - Ten a penny Jenny is particularly entertaining.

See Norris’ Myspace blog for a few more prime examples.

I hate hot weather - I can’t concentrate and hayfever pretty much incapacitates me - so logically I’m dead against global warming. These people are too, and they’re doing something about it:

As a retort to multi-million pound, jet set rock stars (see Wembley stadium for details) this Garden City Social is a Climate Camp fundraiser special!

Featuring: Salty Doggg and Waverton Collective in an electroacoustic sound mash up; DeFunkles (fresh off the back of releasing his new EP, expect a storming set); Huckleberry Sound System (banjo-twanging DJ sounds) plus poetry and god knows what else…

Expect drink and snacks, all provided by those nice people from the Climate Camp.

What’s particularly interesting about this event, from 8pm til midnight on Saturday 7 July, is the venue - the Yard Theatre in Hulme. Ever heard of it? Me neither. And, better still, it’s apparently opposite the Junction, which is possibly the strangest pub I’ve visited in Manchester.

Spotted on the monthly mailout from the NUJ’s Manchester office:

The latest issue of the radical poetry and arts magazine, Citizen 32, exploring the theme of class, will be launched at the Briton’s Protection pub as part of Manchester’s May Day celebrations on 3 May.

Interviews and articles on Billy Bragg, Jimmy McGovern, and American Beat poets Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Bob Kaufman are among the attractions in this issue, along with a feature on the poetry of the Chartists and quality poetry and short stories from established and emerging new writers.

American poet George Wallace, Suffolk County’s poet laureate and the Poetry Chics from Belfast will be headlining the launch event, backed by Manchester Trades Council and Manchester NUJ branch.

The night kicks off at 7.30pm, with open mic spots available. Admission is £3.50 or free to the magazine’s subscribers - you can get three issues by sending a cheque for £10.50, payable to Citizen 32, to 49 Ferndown Road, Brooklands, Manchester.

Citizen 32, which has featured the likes of Harold Pinter and Simon Armitage in the past, is co-edited by Manchester NUJ Branch member Dave Toomer. You can email him at david.toomer@ntlworld.com.

Here’s something for the film-makers out there:

The deadline for the next call for submission for The Bigger Picture (for work to be shown on the Big Screen in Exchange Square) is 16 March. For round 2 The Bigger Picture is particularly seeking film and video works that are about, or engage with, the world of sport in the widest sense, from football to mountain culture - rock climbing and base jumping, or Skateboarding! More information on The Bigger Picture web page.

And one for the writers too:

There are 10 days left to submit to Transmission Magazine Issue 8. We are looking for short stories on the theme of Survival. Even if you have already sent work in but think you have another tucked up your sleeve, we would love to hear from you! In response to many of your questions we have published an updated set of submission guidelines to help you when you are submitting your work.

Good luck if you’re getting involved!

My favourite Manchester-based illustrated literary zine publishes its new issue this week:

Transmission Issue#07 with original short fiction on the theme of ‘Time’ is lavishly illustrated throughout, features interviews with authors Haruki Murakami and Jon McGregor, and writing advice from Ian McGuire.

… and to top it all the magazine comes with a limited edition hand-printed letterpress cover - oh, how we spoil you!

As always, Transmission is available from the city’s best stockists: Cornerhouse, Magma and Blackwells.

Or if, like me, bookshops make you feel slightly queasy, you can also buy your copy online for £4.