gistfile1.php

<?php

//set page value
if(isset($_GET['page'])) {
  $page = $_GET['page'];
} else {
  $page = 1;
}

//create pdo
$dbh = new PDO(...);

//get num rows
$stmt = $dbh->query("SELECT * FROM pages");
$rows = $stmt->rowCount();

//calculate last page
$rows_per_page = 2;
$lastpage = ceil($rows/$rows_per_page);

//check $page within range, if not, set it to nearest value
if($page > $lastpage) {
  $page = $lastpage;
}
if($page < 1 ) {
  $page = 1;
}

//create LIMIT clause
$limit = ($page - 1) * $rows_per_page;

$sql = "SELECT page, content FROM pages ORDER BY pubtime DESC LIMIT $limit, $rows_per_page";
foreach($dbh->query($sql) as $row) {
  echo stuff or whatevs
}

//sort out prev and next links
if($page < $lastpage) ? $prev = '<a href="/news/?page=' . $page - 1 . '">prev</a>' : '';
if($page > 1) ? $next = '<a href="/news/?page=' . $page + 1 . '">next</a>' : '';