Robert Gillis grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Boston College High School and U/Mass Boston. Although he's been a professional computer programmer for nearly 20 years, his first love has always been writing, and he has written a regular opinion piece for the Foxboro Reporter since 1996. He and his wife Susan live in Foxboro, home of the Superbowl champion Patriots. He is very active in the Foxboro community; in addition to being on the board of directors for the Foxboro Jaycees since 2000, he has participated in and chaired many Jaycee community development projects over the years, and he has served as that organization's web master since 1998. He has a great love for the group's primary fund raiser, its Haunted House (the largest non-profit Haunt in New England since 1989) and has been a part of it since he joined the Jaycees in 1993. He created and maintains the web site for the Foxboro Doolittle Home, a life care retirement center where senior citizens live their lives in dignity and quality of life. He has been asked to take, and has accepted, a position on the board of trustees for the Doolittle Home. He and his wife have also run food drives for the Foxboro Food Pantry. He has recently started volunteering working cameras and doing some directing for Foxboro Cable Access. In 2005, he has taken his love of photography in a new direction and is selling his photographs at his website, GillisPhotos.com. You can read over a decade of his Op/Ed pieces at www.robertxgillis.com. He published his first book, "Nana," available at Amazon.com or www.NanaGillisBook.com. Written in memory of a his beloved grandmother, he hopes that anyone who has loved a senior will read this book. You can contact Robert at robertxgillis@aol.com.

My passion is ...

...one of the most popular videos on xtube.

I know too much about ...

The science of phased temporal distortions and microgravametric anomalies unique to class K stellar objects.

My parents always told me ...

If you ever travel back in time, don't step on anything because even the tiniest change can alter the future in ways you can't imagine.

My childhood ambition ...

I was told those records were sealed.

My favorite memory ...

...was a long time ago, before this dark time when passing ruffians can say 'ni' at will to old ladies. There is a pestilence upon this land. Nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.

Why I write ...

www.RobertXGillis.com

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

A first person account of the horrific blimp accident at the Eiffel Tower in 1709.

My first job ...

Helping to fake the moon landing. Working with George Lucas was an honor.

My best moment ...

helping to negotiate a lasting peace in the Mideast, finally reuniting Virginia and West Virginia.

My inspiration ...

Like most people in this day in age, when faced with a moral dilemma, I ask myself, "What would Britney Spears do?" And then I do the opposite of that.

Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Science fiction

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Boston, Mass, February 21 A science club's gathering to watch last night's lunar eclipse turned to horror when the moon suddenly exploded.

A large crowd of astronomy buffs and curious stargazers gathered Wednesday night at Boston Community College of Floral Design to watch the first lunar eclipse of 2008.

A dozen telescopes were set up and about 5000 people took advantage of the opportunity. The eclipse began at about 8:45 p.m., with the best viewing between 10-10:45 p.m.

The crowd murmured its "oohs" and "ahs" as the familiar red shadow of planet Earth fell across the lunar surfa...

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