Silicon Gulf

Shrine of peripatetic worship That one cannot enter unbowed In forced humility, we contemplate the feet of silent fellow pilgrim strangers and they, too, gaze at ours (Taken on a jeepney ride to Toril, April 4, 2008)

It seems my call for poetry has prompted secret poets to come out of their closets. Thanks all for the submissions. Poetry, in particular, good poetry, is not easy to do. I'm still learning to do it right. Some people seem to have the knack more than others. Which is not to say that people shouldn't try to write poems. What I've noticed from many of the entries submitted is the focus on

Pardon me if this seems overlong: this was written for my Literary Criticism class and the teacher wanted a 5-page report. It seemed a shame to just throw it away after submitting it, so here it is. Speaking strictly from an average moviegoer's perspective, without any pretensions to critical analysis, "Shakespeare in Love" has all the hallmarks of a hit movie. It has everything going in its

This is a report for my class in English and American Literature. The text in question was "The Trial of Martha Carrier" but I expanded the discussion, out of necessity, to include the backdrop of the Salem Witch Hunts. It's a fascinating and well-documented tragedy, well worth a read especially in light of recent recurring events. The stories in Cotton Mather's "Wonders of the Invisible World

Just a quick plug for the recently released book and magazine where my stories are coming out. First, we have the Philippine Speculative Fiction III anthology published and edited by Dean and Nikki Alfar. The book should already be available in Fully Booked and Powerbooks. If you're in Dumaguete, I'm selling copies at Vitafresh Pharmacy in Lee Plaza. Price is P300. I also have a couple of

From Dean: Nikki and I would like to you invite you to the book launch of Philippine Speculative Fiction III. It will be on December 8 at 4PM at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street - just head on down the basement theater. The anthology, third in an annual series, showcases the literature of the imagination from Filipino writers living in the Philippines and abroad. We made sure to select

The original Edwin Arlington Robinson version: Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich—yes, richer

Note: This is not about the movie. Beowulf embodies all the virtues in high regard by the people of the the time: strength -- in his case, superhuman strength -- stamina, skill, courage, daring, leadership, a sense of fair play, and most of all, loyalty to his king. Even his boastfulness, which may be interpreted as mere honesty, is in keeping with the qualities of an Anglo-Saxon hero. Beowulf

There's no greater joy than this: a virgin sheet of bubble wrap smelling of that new box smell crinkly to the ear bouncy to the touch looking so inviting and... pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! (hey! no fair! that was more than your share!) pop! pop! pop! (grab your own side!) pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop!

and now that the season is done we lay down our swords and shields we strip ourselves of armor and helmets we take off our gowns and crowns and we put to stable our stallions and mares no more ten-gallon hats and six shooters and stagecoaches or eagle feathers and tomahawks and warpaint and teepees we turn in our badges and whistles and moneybags and masks we power down our jet packs and