Friday, November 23, 2007

Order of the Chronicles of Narnia Books

Earlier today, Kuya Andrew was asking me for the order of CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia books. I found it hard to remember the order of the books because I didn't read the books in order. And quite honestly, the series' events are quite confusing.

The books were published in the following order:
1) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - 1950
2) Prince Caspian - 1951
3) The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - 1952
4) The Silver Chair - 1953
5) The Horse and His Boy - 1954
6) The Magician's Nephew - 1955
7) The Last Battle - 1956

Harry Potter Fans Get a Chance to Win a Part in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

In a unique promo, a website is offering the chance of a lifetime for a Harry Potter fan to have a walk in role in the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie. The bad news... you can only join if you live in UK. :(

For UK residents, you can find the contest here.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Discovering Mathematics: The Art of Investigation



I admit it... I ♥ Math. It might not love me that much, but I absolutely love it. So when I heard about the Discovering Mathematics: The Art of Investigation (Dover Books on Mathematical & Word Recreations), I was intrigued and sieged with want.


Saturday, October 20, 2007

I am Joining the Mindanao Bloggers Summit

badge_mbs1.jpg

This Saturday, expect me to be busy as a bee (as if that's not my usual state), because I am attending the First Mindanao Bloggers Summit (MBS1). MBS1 is going to be held as part of the 6th Mindanao ICT Congress and 1st BIMP-EAGA ICT Conference.

It is going to be held at the NCCC Mall of Davao (located along McArthur Highway in Davao City) on October 27, 2007 from 9 am to 6 pm. Registration and participation is totally free for all bloggers. Just register HERE.

The tentative Program of MBS1 is as follows (may change):

Opening Remarks: Building a Bloggers Community by Blogie Robillo
Keynote Speech: Blogging & Participatory Governance by Hon. Pete Laviña
Blogging in Mindanao: Travel & Technology by Bob Martin
Socio-Cultural Mindset of the Mindanaoan by Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ
LUNCH
Transition from “Emo” to Niche Blogging by Kim Castillo
Blogging as a Way of Life: Problogging & New Media by Jayvee Fernandez
How to Optimize Your Wordpress Blog for Top Search Rankings by Marc Macalua
Presentation of Summit Resolutions: The Role of Bloggers in Fostering Understanding & Peace in Mindanao
Pick Their Brains Session with A-List Bloggers: Abe Olandres, Aileen Apolo, Andrew dela Serna, Bob Martin, Jayvee Fernandez

And to make things more interesting, we also have three Side Events:
Mindanao Bloggers Fellowship Night
Venue: 2/F Casa Habana, Habana Compound, Rizal St., Davao City
Time: 9:00 PM
No entrance fee!

You Got Blogged! DigitalFilipino.com / MindanaoBloggers.com Review-a-Blog Competition
Review a Mindanao blog and win cash prizes! Are you a Mindanaoan? Make sure your blog is included in the Mindanao Blog Directory.
Here's how to join. View the entries here.

Mindanao Blog Awards

Not your usual blog contest: categories include Best Advocacy Blog, Best Travel Blog, Best Bisaya Blog, Best Blog of Mindanao, and more! To be nominated, submit your blog to the Mindanao Blog Directory.
This contest will be launched during the Summit.

MBS1 is proudly organized by Davao's The Usual Suspects: Pete, Andrew, Blogie, Dom, Jun, Kim, Marc, Migs, and Ria (me).

The MBS1 is made possible through the support of the following:
Special Event Sponsors
Join the DigitalFilipino.com Club!
Dimsum Diner
Swiss Deli

Major Sponsors
Councilor Peter Laviña
NoKiAHOST.COM P5/day webhosting
Globe Broadband
ACT for Peace Programme

Minor Sponsors
Davao’s Food Huntress
Web Design Philippines
Orange County Real Estate
Web Developer Philippines
BisayaBloggers.com
Fwendz Diner
Artcom Printing Services
Cubepixels Design Studio

Donors
Lane Systems
Snap Graphic & Sign
Motorcycle Davao
Eric Clark Su

Want to be an MBS1 Sponsor? CLICK HERE.

Want to join? REGISTER NOW!!!

Monday, October 08, 2007

Poetry by Pablo Neruda


Recording by Miranda Richardson for the Lyrics and Poetry Soundtrack of Il Postino.


Poetry

by Pablo Neruda

And it was at that age ... Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
no they were not voices, they were not
words, nor silence,
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there I was without a face
and it touched me.


I did not know what to say, my mouth
had no way
with names,
my eyes were blind,
and something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire,
and I wrote the first faint line,
faint, without substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
of someone who knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the heavens
unfastened
and open,
planets,
palpitating plantations,
shadow perforated,
riddled
with arrows, fire and flowers,
the winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,
drunk with the great starry
void,
likeness, image of
mystery,
felt myself a pure part
of the abyss,
I wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind.


This poem is a simple but very powerful description of how poetry captures a poet, how it suddenly arrives without warning, and gives meaning and beauty to everything.