Crossed Genres is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine that “supports equal rights and equal treatment regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or religion”. It releases monthly themed issues, challenging writers to combine that month’s theme genre with science fiction and/or fantasy (hence the name “Crossed Genres”) and has released an anthology called “Year One”, a collection of stories selected from the first twelve issues of the magazine. The theme for May’s Issue 18, the subject of this review, is “Eastern”, broadly defined as any story set in an Eastern culture. Spoiler Warning from here on out, so read the stories for free here (and if you like the issue, donate or buy a downloadable digital copy) then pop on back for the review.
Year: 2010
here comes the bride
– Oh, how wonderful to find a Pinoy comedy film with an actual plot and witty dialogue and punchlines I actually find funny. I could have wept.
– I love Chris Martinez na.
– Angelica Panganiban is a revelation.
– Jaime Fabregas speaks cute Ilonggo, hee.
– Basta! Excellent cast!
– Cyril: “Angelica does babaeng bakla better than Ruffa Mae.” TRUE.
– I didn’t like the maarte fonts of the subs, but I know how to forgive.
– John Lapus looks like The Dawn’s Jett Pangan.
– “Bonggang-bongga. Bougainvillea.”
– Bongga talaga ‘te. Manood ka na.
lost
Photo from here.
The series is nearing it’s end and I’ve only just finished the first season. Late viewer is late, oh my. I’ve always wanted to see it after the first-season hype, but by the time I found the time (daming time) to see it the bad reviews are already trickling in. Apparently, the plane crash survivors got off the island at some point – then they went back? WHAT? But anyway. First season. So Season 1’s final episode was underwhelming (That’s the smoke monster? That’s it?), so I have a lot of questions, so I find the doctor’s life story boring, so I’m wondering what Michelle Rodriguez is doing in this scene, so the cast members execute perfect blocking every time they have to look over there – but my God, it’s riveting. It makes good TV, no doubt. I will forever love those flashback scenes featuring Locke and Sun, and that scene where they figure out that the message has been repeating itself for 16 years, and Jin’s back story left me teary-eyed. I will watch Season 2 of course. I want to know what’s in that hatch they just blew up.
(NO SPOILERS PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.)
seventh
Nice quiet Monday dinner and coffee to celebrate our seventh month together. Spaghetti and potato salad and and sausages and peach pancakes and mango crepe and whipped cream (Pancake House) and espresso java chip frappes (Starbucks). Windy day. Nice day.
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Had a pedicure yesterday morning after an effing long time. I’d be spending time in Bohol mostly in flip-flops and my un-pedicured toenails would look er disgusting. So. I like this nail polish because it makes my feet look pale:
The parlor I went to was just across the street from the building where I live, and appeared to cater mostly to old women. Haha. I was the youngest person there. It was like stepping into another planet.
Ate managed to remove the indelible ink from my forefinger! Finally. I would’ve wanted to subject my fingernails to a coat or two of nail polish as well, but how will I get my money from my pocket without ruining my manicure? (LOL.) Anyone here know of a place where they let you dry your nails before pushing you out of the salon?
expanded horizons issue 18: a review
Expanded Horizons, which began publishing stories in 2008, is an online speculative fiction publication that aims to increase diversity in the field, “both in the authors who contribute and in the perspectives presented”. Its specific objectives include increasing the number of women authors in speculative fiction, and increasing authentic ethnic diversity in stories written in this field.
It recently made the longlist of the British Fantasy Awards under the category, “Best Magazine”.
In its latest issue (Issue 18), Expanded Horizons includes stories set in India, Nigeria, the US, and the Philippines, with protagonists ranging from a lonely ghost to a woman who craves human flesh. Here are my impressions of the various stories–obviously, Spoiler Warning applies, so do check out the issue before reading on.
weekend zombie
After I got off from work on Thursday (and what a crazy week, jumpstarted by the national elections whew), I just decided to stay in one place and fry my brain with Lost (first season), Mad Men (first season), and some Family Guy and The Simpsons. By “stay in one place” I meant “eat my meals in bed”. It was too hot outside, I was too lazy to write, I was too lazy, period.
Jaykie and I did go out on Friday night to have dinner with my high school friends. Topic? Politics, politics, politics (which to me sounds like work, work, work, but it can’t be helped, what with the current political climate), and Ghia’s stay in Quezon province, where the mall closes at 8:30 p.m. (in Palawan, according to Kuya Wendell, the mall closes at 7:30 p.m. – SURPRISE!) and where you’ll have to suffer a one-hour ride to buy halu-halo.
Some (supposedly candid) pictures. We’re already in Trinoma Conti’s here, after feeding at Pizza Hut:
(Conti’s turtle pie is my favorite.)
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This weekend: Bohol. I’m so looking forward to two quiet days at the beach (no stress, pleaaaaaaaase).
one from denver buston
Heavy Things
by Denver Buston
the world cannot bear the weightlessness of sparrows
or the confetti of our illegible addresses
the moon’s breathless ascent
the world cannot bear it
so the world makes heavy things
like airplanes
and skyscrapers
like your heart
and heavy things fall down
because the world cannot bear them either
Eliza Victoria 