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chronotsr · 1 month

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Pre-G1 Modules, part 2 - Palace of the Vampire Queen and DK1-3

Asterisk 1: The first standalone module, Palace of the Vampire Queen

(Another proud DND tradition, evil woman with her tits hanging out, representing here. This adventure is by Pete & Judy Kerestan, the operators of Wee Warriors.)

I'm trying really hard to not get TOO bogged down in exterior details to the adventures themselves, but a small preamble about Wee Warriors. Wee Warriors was a little company that was born to publish DND supplements. They were one of many, there were many zines and magazines and fan supplements going around, for example Judge's Guild forms at roughly the same time. They worked with TSR after a while to publish these things, so they were unofficial-but-official in a weird way. Early DND culture functions less like a business and more like a hobby community. Most of the early DND people knew each other in some capacity, it's only when DND got really far away from Lake Geneva that distinct cultures started forming island effect-style.

Good enough, let's keep going.

Our preamble gives us the basic of the adventure, dwarf island harangued by vampire queen, the undead keep abducting people to eat their blood. Conspicuously absent is any kind of information about a suggested level or party size.

It's cute, right? The styling is so welcome and loving in a way that TSR products will not have for a long, long time.

It's very rote, lots of very basic traps and stocked rooms. Not much to see he--

T-telepathic kittens that improve your morale? This is one of those moments where you just instantly know. The hobby isn't as different as you might thing. This is the exact sort of adorable shit you'd see on one of those big streamer shows. We all love our cats. They are our strength.

There genuinely isn't much to say about the rest of the module, other than that there is a shocking amount of child murder. There is an evil castle with a vampiress in it and you gotta go whack people til you can claim the reward money. About the most interesting twist you'll find in here is that there's a fakeout queen, and that the genuine queen will immediately take the (unnamed) dwarf princess hostage to secure her escape. I do appreciate that, if you're going to make every room just be a combat encounter with loot in it, the decision to make the key a table with room/creatures/max damage/description is sound. I'm kind of surprised this table-style key never caught on, given the 'doom monster closets' design that typifies a lot of early DND.

I wish that there was a great revelation waiting here for you, that the first non-TSR adventure was a forgotten classic? But it's really not. It's some monster-stocked rooms with the rare trap, and a vague preamble. Temple of the Frog showed a lot more creativity. I am kind of strangely fond of these lovingly inked maps though, it makes me long for hand-inked maps again. The Dungeon Master's Kit product line continues for two more entries (The Dwarven Glory and The Misty Isles) to form a soft trilogy.

Bonus Round: Skimming the rest of the Wee Warriors Dungeon Master's Kits

So the thing about the DK product line is that it's not very interesting. But since I had to get a copy, I'm making it your problem by talking about them more.

Everything about this room fascinates me. There is so much going on here that isn't explained. And then you keep going to room F7:

Again, nothing is fucking explained. The monsters are in conflict because why not? There's actually a great idea in here, (although again, why is child murder so prevalent?)

There are wisps of interesting narrative here, but all that's actually presented is like…the end-state? "Evil high priest who is abusing a tragedy to push his agenda" is a solid plot point. The idea that returning the treasure can cause conflict is great. But also, holy shit 500k gp diamond. That's enough exp to max your character in one fell swoop???

Moving onto Misty Isles, this is more of a…. setting than a module per-se. There's some implied plots I suppose. Here's some of the weirdest things:

The leader of the dwarves on one island is implied to be gay, which is a strange decision given how we don't have any other practical information about him, and has melted all his gold into one pile

A profit-prophet who gives oracles for bribes

Many, many dwarf seems to have access to actual modern day machine guns?

A band of monks are looking for a girl stolen by zombies. Why….did they steal her? Why is there hope of rescuing her? They're zombies, they're going to eat her!

I cannot do this justice myself:

That's….that's a lot. You want to randomly roll for nearly 600 magical objects? Sometimes designers Simply Say Words. The "My PC is the most bestest guy ever and could never be defeated" stories you hear people whinging about take a very different context when you realize there's just, GMs running around handing people literally 600 random magical items. Eventually you're going to roll and get the best items in the game. Note also, literally zero way of detecting any of the traps.

This random paragraph implies the existence of gamemaster-less play, a thing I guess could hypothetically exist with the degree of randomization, but. What?

Absolute queen shit. You go succubus lady! And the fairytale logic is cute cus, if the party got mad when they found out about this, they could always give her weight from some magic bullshit, like turning her into lead. Oops!

And it just goes on and on. There's a Cthulhu reference, there's a party of fighters who casually want to rape women (why were 70s gamers like this), the obligatory slavery character, et c. It's not the first setting released for DND, there are multiple people in front of this, I believe Empire of the Petal Throne won overall [fuck MAR Barker, nazi scum], and City State of the Invincible Overlord certainly predates it by a year. In 2024, it's a pretty tedious read. It reads like a list of ideas, because it is. There's some maps, but the maps are very sparse.

#ttrpg #tsr #dnd #dungeons and dragons #0e #chronotsr

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nightmare-grass · 17 hours

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Descendants Rewrite

I got so irked with the lazy naming conventions and lack of coherent worldbuilding in the Descendants franchise, so I took my Disney obsession and made this. Enjoy!

Villain Pairings

- Maleficent/Chernabog (less of a romantic pairing and more of a professional workplace relationship and power couple, they rule the island with an iron fist and plot to break the barrier)

- Evil Queen/Magic Mirror (Grimhilde brought him out in human form for one night to conceive a child with enough magic to rival Maleficent, the only one she saw as a threat to her status)

- Evil Queen/Hans (he wanted to be king, and his wife is beautiful to be sure, but she’s the one wearing the pants in this relationship, he’s the backstabbing boy toy)

- Cruella DeVille/Clayton (he hunts exotic animals, she turns them into stylish outerwear, they’re a surprisingly functional couple who own the Isle’s main clothing production company, it’s more like a sweat shop that employs the poorest children on the Isle)

- Hades/Mother Gothel (she works for him like Meg did but her deal keeps her eternally young and beautiful, plus they’re just similar people, and even gods get lonely sometimes)

- Yzma/Horned King (Yzma uses necromancy to bring Horned King out of the Black Cauldron, now they’re a bony power couple vying for control of the island)

- Gov. Ratcliffe/Queen of Hearts (he’s no stranger to kissing royal ass to gain favor and status, and she appreciates his flattery and his bloodthirsty ruthlessness)

- Claude Frollo/Lady Tremaine (they’re similarly horrible people, both French, need I say more?)

- Ursula/John Silver (these two are born schemers, liars, and cheats, John is just a bit more of a softy than Ursula)

- Scar/Sabor (they’re both big cats, they’re both evil, they both commit patricide to the protagonists, it’s kinda obvious)

- Shere Khan/Sabor (what can I say? Sabor gets around, she’s not the type to settle down)

- Madam Mim/Willie the Giant (both shapeshifters, both chaotic, messy couple)

- Dr. Facilier/Morgana (Call of Cthulhu vibes frame how these two met, Morgana supplies Facilier with magic from the mermaid world, and she can occasionally take on human form or make Facilier a merman, she’s his new friend from the other side)

- Captain Hook/Madame Medusa (both into hunting for treasure, both hate kids, but then one drunken night they sleep together and they panic. They abandon the kid to be raised by Mr. Smee)

Single Villains

- Jafar (I wanna have him steal Jasmine’s and Aladdin’s baby and raise it as his own to turn it against its parents)

- Drizella Tremaine (she’s ugly and ill tempered, and I’m out of young men villains)

- Gaston (he’d probably compete with Hans for the Evil Queen based solely on her beauty)

- Shan Yu (I’m out of female villains who aren’t weak and ugly. Plus I think he’d have a wife among the Huns, I can’t see him getting with any Disney villain.)

- Rourke (I can see him trying to pursue Gothel, but she’s tied down to Hades)

- Honest John (he’s a fox, not sure who I would pair him up with)

- Prince John (he’s a lion, not sure who I’d pair him up with)

Henchman Support Group

- Smee

- Snoops

- Gideon

- King of Hearts

- Jasper and Horace

- Kaa

- Sir Hiss

- Iago

- Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed

- Wiggins

- Pain and Panic

- Lawrence

- Le Fou

VKs

- Mal Faery (Antichrist-like, daughter of Maleficent with magical intervention of Chernabog)

- Dark Fairy powers like Maleficent, potential to get stronger like Chernabog, most powerful at night, can turn into a dragon but that’s a new power by the start of the story

- Eveline Grimhilde (daughter of the Evil Queen Grimhilde and the magic mirror entity, partly raised by Hans of the Southern Isles, goes by Evie)

- One of her powers is brief moments of omniscience, and she’s a little afraid of mirrors but doesn’t know why (it’s cuz she’s got a fear of being trapped)

- Jay Deja (son of Jasmine and Aladdin of Agrabah, stolen and raised by Jafar)

- Has instincts leading him to seek freedom and travel, but also has a complex about making his father proud, basically Rapunzel of Agrabah

- Carlo S’tan DeVille (son of Cruella DeVille and William Cecil Clayton, goes by Carlos, Jasper and Horace are terrible influence uncles)

- Parents barely give him the time of day, likes animals but hides it from parents and uncles, very good at sneaking around

- Uma Silver (daughter of Ursula Triton and Long John Silver, idolizes her mom but was mostly raised by John so she took after his pirate ways)

- Harry Hook (son of Captain James Hook and Madame Medusa, raised by Mr. Smee, has daddy/mommy issues so he’s constantly seeking approval from people who demean him, like Uma)

- Guinevere Gothel (daughter of Hades and Mother Gothel, goes by Ginny, crushing on Carlos, Pain and Panic get saddled with babysitting her a lot)

- Has very few powers from Hades but has lots of knowledge about dark magic and powerful entities like gods

- Dizzy Tremaine (daughter of Drizella Tremaine and an unknown man of the Isle, maybe Le Fou or Wiggins, her actual name is Daisy but she chooses to go by Dizzy for a bit more street cred)

- Her mom treats her similarly to how she treated Cinderella, teaching her at a young age how to cook, clean, and sew, and now relies on Dizzy for most household chores, feigning incompetence so Dizzy feels like she has to do everything herself.

- Celia Facilier (daughter of Dr. Facilier and Morgana, cousin of Uma, works at her dad’s shop, inherited her mom’s affinity for potions)

- Dr. Facilier sees things like it’s he and his daughter against the world, they have the potential to rule it all if they can get the right connections, and that puts a bit of undue pressure on Celia.

- Maddy Fadiddlehoffer (daughter of Madam Mim and Willie the Giant, adept shapeshifter and playful trickster)

- Heartly Crimms-Ratcliffe (daughter of John Ratcliffe and the Queen of Hearts, parents are divorced so she lives with her mother)

- Puts up with her mom’s temper and navigates her moods like her life depends on it, cuz it does. The King is hardly a help in this matter.

- The Bimbettes were so obsessed with Gaston that, when he’s banished to the Isle for his crimes, they willingly follow him. He’s had a son with each one of them, but none of the girls stuck around to raise the kids and now Gaston is a single dad of three strapping boys. Their names are Gerald, Giles, and Gaspard.

- Yzma and Horned King cannot have kids normaly, it’s just not possible with their biology, so they craft a homunculus to rival Mal and Evie, and they call him Churan, roughly meaning savior in Incan

Auradon Kids

- Benjamin “Ben” Beaumont (son of King Adam and Queen Belle of Auradon)

- Golden boy of Auradon Prep, his parents learned from Adam’s mistakes and raised a thoroughly good son.

- Audrey Rose (daughter of King Phillip and Queen Aurora of Auradon)

- Received gifts from Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather like her mother, but never faced hardship, never learned humility. Grew up a bit spoiled.

- Jane Fairchild (daughter of the Fairy Godmother to Cinderella)

- Being trained to become the next Fairy Godmother, but is also highly sheltered by her mother, which irks her because of how she doted on Cinderella and let her go to parties.

- Chadrick “Chad” Charming (son of Queen Cinderella and King Christopher “Kit” Charming)

- Parents never wanted their son to face hardship like Cinderella went through, but as a result Chad became spoiled and overconfident.

- Anthony Tremaine (son of Anastasia Tremaine and Robert Baker)

- Had a humble life in the village, but was bullied by his cousin Chad.

- Lan “Lonnie” Fa (Daughter of Fa Mulan and Li Shang, war heroes of China)

- Likes slow paced farm work with her grandparents, and prefers more girly pursuits than her mom did, but secretly feels shame about this because she idolized her mom growing up.

- Jordan (Daughter of The Genie)

- A fickle and temperamental teen, who struggles with shapeshifting and hates that she’s not as effortlessly charming and funny as her dad. Not constrained by bottle magic but will only give out wishes when it suits her.

- Melody Triton (daughter of Queen Ariel Triton and King Eric Caspian, granddaughter of King Triton of Atlantica and great niece to Ursula and Morgana the sea witches)

- Adventurous, loves the sea, often finds trouble without meaning to

- April Liddell (daughter of Alice, official ambassador to Wonderland)

- April and Melody are usually stumbling into new realms and new adventures

- Jane Darling (daughter of Wendy Darling, official correspondent with Neverland)

- First ever Lost Girl, good friends with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell

- Arabella Triton (Daughter of Attina Triton and heir to the Atlantica throne)

- Niece of Ariel, cousin of Melody, Attina is a strict mom like her father before her, but she means well and Arabella knows it

Worldbuilding

- Auradon is a magical country. The royalty of each Disney movie rules a kingdom within Auradon, basically kingdoms are like cities within this country.

- Haven’t decided who made Auradon Prep, but it’s a prestigious boarding school where students learn about the world, how to hone their magic if they have any, and how to rule a kingdom one day if they are royalty.

- Candidates for who made the school are the Fairy Godmother, the Blue Fairy, the Enchantress, or Belle and the Beast/Adam. Maybe it’s a council of fairies, and Belle and Adam were like the top donors since it would be founded closest to their kingdom?

- The Fairy Godmother is the only one canonically who has the power to reverse time, so as a protective measure and to make an example of the past villains of each kingdom, she plucks the villains from their timelines right before their deaths and the council of Fairies combines their magic to make the barrier on the Isle of the Lost, a veritable prison island where the villains could rehabilitate themselves. It was seen as a more humane punishment that made the royals sleep better at night.

- Auradon the country is like a smaller version of Europe with a faster moving history, where technology, fashion, and societal norms progress faster than they did in our world. Ariel and Eric’s kingdom is very Italian inspired, Belle, Adam, Cinderella, Charming, Aurora, and Phillip rule kingdoms in the French corner of the map, Rapunzel, Eugene, Snow, and Florian got the Germany sector, Arendelle is up in the Netherlands/Norway quarter, and there’s an England/Ireland/Scotland/Wales section where the British and American characters came from. Farther off to the East is a land where Agrabah, China, and Kumandra are. In the West, there’s the Polynesian islands, the Americas, all that is pretty far off. It’s like Epcot? Kinda?

- Hades is content with his status on the island because he knows he’s a god, he rules the underworld, and although Zeus has him on a leash now where he can only manifest within the Barrier or in the Underworld, he’s biding his time. He’s immortal, and everyone will fall into his domain eventually, he just has to let the others do all the heavy lifting and then swoop in to claim the throne in all the chaos.

- Chernabog and Maleficent hate being limited, and they’re two of the most powerful beings on the Isle, so it was inevitable that a partnership would develop between them.

- I just realized how many single dads there are in my rewrite. Gaston, Smee, Long John Silver, Jafar, and to some extent Dr. Facilier even though he’s a bit closer with Morgana than John is with Ursula. Drizella, Queen of Hearts, and Mother Gothel are the only single mothers, I guess if you consider that Hades wouldn’t be much of a presence in Ginny’s life. I presume you could also consider Maleficent a single mom, if Chernabog is just as distant as Hades is.

- I really glossed over how the Bimbettes each gave Gaston a son and each left him, he really is the epitome of Manipulate, Mansplain, Manwhore.

- Just like in the movies, there’s an animal world that goes along with the human world events, but they don’t really intersect. Scar, Sabor, and Shere Khan don’t talk to humans except for in very select cases, like Mowgli who was raised by wolves. Mice in themselves have their own special case, where Cinderella and others close to her can understand their language, but they’ve got their whole mouse society thing going on, like with Basil and the Rescuers. This set up is how we get Robin Hood and other such anthro animal characters, and how they’re separate from the main human stories.

- So far Kronk and Anastasia are two of the most prominent former villains to be reformed and brought to Auradon. They were released on good behavior before any of the villains paired up and had kids, and they were part of an early effort to try and reform some of the island residents that ultimately went nowhere. Kronk has a very popular restaurant that features traditional South and Central American cuisine, and Anastasia lives with her baker husband in Cinderella’s kingdom. The other two in this failed experiment were Drizella and the King of Hearts, but Drizella proved unwilling to change, and the King hasn’t done much with his new life of freedom since he lacks direction without the Queen of Hearts. Drizella was returned to the island under Lady Tremaine’s custody and the King elected to return to his queen’s side on his own.

- Ok so there’s a bit of a plothole in my rewrite, and that’s how the Isle of the Lost functions. It’s full of villains, so all the heroes don’t have to deal with them or the trauma of having them killed, so the only people who can be in charge of managing the residents of the Isle within its borders are villains. The good fairies and magic users of the world created the barrier, but they’re not gonna govern the people inside, yknow? So who governs? I envisioned the Isle as being divided into gang territories run by the most powerful villains, but surely the fairies would’ve seen that coming? So they should’ve put someone powerful in charge, at least at first, in the hopes that they’d maintain order. And I think that character should be Hades. He’s a god, he oversees the dead and most of these villains were killed in their original timelines, so he’d be familiar with them and their weaknesses that lead to their downfalls. I think we should give Hades a redemption of sorts, where the Olympians put him in charge of ruling the Isle of the Lost in the hope that giving him something else to do among the living this time will keep him out of trouble, but it’s just another chain weighing him down in his own mind, making him hate Zeus even more, so he decides to rule from the shadows and lets the villains run amok. Mother Gothel is the only one who has an inkling of his true power, on his own he can rival Chernabog and Maleficent combined.

#disney #long post #descendants #Disney descendants #Disney movies

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grantgoddard · 1 month

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Mister Soul Of Jamaica … and Thamesmead : 1938-2008 : reggae artist Alton Ellis

The first record played on the first week’s show of the first reggae music programme on British radio was a single by Alton Ellis, a magnificent singer/songwriter too often overlooked when reggae legends are named. I immediately fell in love with his soulful voice, his perfect pitch and his beautifully clear enunciation, rushing out to buy ‘La La Means I Love You’ [Nu Beat NB014], unaware it was recorded two years earlier. Like many of Ellis’ recordings, this was a cover version of an American soul hit (despite the label’s songwriter credit), though Ellis distinguished himself from contemporaries by also writing his own ‘message’ songs with striking lyrics and memorable hooks. My next single purchases were noteworthy Ellis originals:

‘Lord Deliver Us’ [Gas 161] included an unusual staccato repeated bridge and lines that demonstrated Ellis’ humanitarian pre-occupations, including “Let the naked be clothed, let the blind be led, let the hungry be fed” and “Children, go on to school! Be smarter than your fathers, don’t be a fool!” Its wonderful B-side instrumental starts with a shouted declaration “Well, I am the originator, so you’ve come to copy my tune?” that predates similar statements on many DJ records.

‘Sunday’s Coming’ [Banana BA318] has imaginative chord progressions, a huge choir on its chorus and lyrics “Better get your rice’n’peas, better get your fresh fresh beans’’ that locate it firmly as a Jamaican original rather than an American cover version. Why does it last a mere two minutes thirty seconds? The B-side’s saxophone version demonstrates how ethereal the rhythm track is and shows off the dominant rhythm guitar riff beautifully. It’s a masterclass in music production.

It was only after Ellis had emigrated to Britain in 1973 that a virtual ‘greatest hits’ album of his classic singles produced by Duke Reid was finally released the following year, entitled ‘Mr Soul Of Jamaica’ [Treasure Isle 013]. I recall buying this import LP in Daddy Peckings’ newly opened reggae record shop at 142 Askew Road and loved every track on one of reggae’s most consistently high-quality albums (akin to Marley’s ‘Legend’). It bookended Ellis’ most creative studio partnership in Jamaica when Reid had to retire through ill health.

What was it that made Ellis’ recordings so significant? Primarily, as the album title confirms, it was that his voice uniquely sounded more ‘soul’ than ‘reggae’, occupying the same territory as Jamaica’s ‘Sam & Dave’-like duo ‘The Blues Busters’. I have always harboured the sentiment that, if he had been able to record in America during the 1960’s, Ellis could have been a hugely popular soul singer there. Maybe label owner Duke Reid shared this thought, having recorded ‘soul’ versions of some of Ellis’ biggest songs for inclusion in a 1968 compilation album ‘Soul Music For Sale’ [Treasure Isle LP101/5]. However, at the time, reggae was a completely unknown genre in mainstream America, so Reid’s soul recordings remained unknown there. [The sadly deleted 2003 compilation ‘Work Your Soul’ [Trojan TJDCD069] collected some fascinating soul versions by Reid and other producers.]

Secondly, Ellis’ superb Duke Reid recordings were backed by Treasure Isle studio house band ‘Tommy McCook & the Supersonics’ whose multitude of recordings during the ska, rocksteady and reggae eras on their own and backing so many singers/groups demonstrated a tightness and professionalism that is breathtaking. Using only basic equipment in the studio above Reid’s Bond Street liquor store, engineer Errol Brown produced phenomenal results for the time, operating a ‘quality control’ that belied the release of dozens of recordings every month.

Finally, Ellis’ recordings displayed a microphone technique that was unique in reggae and demonstrated his astute knowledge of studio production techniques. At the end of lines, he would sometimes turn his head away from the microphone whilst singing a note. Because Jamaican studios were not built acoustically ‘dead’, Ellis’ head movement not only translated into his voice trailing off into the distance (like a train pulling away) but also allowed the listener to hear his voice bouncing off the studio walls. ‘Reverberation’ equipment to create this effect technically was used minimally in studios until the 1970’s ‘dub’ era, so Ellis seemed to have improvised manually. Perhaps he had heard this effect on American soul records of the time?

On one of his biggest songs from 1969, ‘Breaking Up Is Hard To Do’ [Treasure Isle 220], you can hear Ellis use this effect during the chorus when he sings the words “everybody knows”, particularly just prior to the fade-out. It is similarly evident on Ellis’ vocal contribution to the brilliant DJ version of the same song, ‘Melinda�� by I-Roy [on album Trojan TRLS63] recorded in 1972.

The same vocal technique is audible on other songs including ‘Girl I’ve Got A Date’ [Treasure Isle DSR1691] in which Ellis elongates the word “tree” into “treeeeee”, as well as “breeze” into “breeeeeeze”, whilst moving his head away from the microphone.

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I had always been intrigued by Ellis’ recording technique but had not thought anything more of it until, entirely by accident half a century later, I found startling 1960’s footage recorded at the Sombrero Club on Molynes Road up from Half Way Tree, Jamaica. Backed by Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, an uncredited vocal group I presume to be ‘The Blues Busters’ performed their 1964 recording “I Don’t Know” [Island album ILP923] during which one of the duo (Lloyd Campbell or Phillip James) moves his head away from the microphone at the end of lines, similar to what can be heard on Ellis’ recordings.

This started me searching for 1960’s footage of Ellis performing live. Sadly, I found nothing (either solo or in his previous duo with Eddie Parkins as ‘Alton & Eddy’ [sic], similar to ‘The Blues Busters’) to see if he emulated this vocal technique on stage too. For me, it remains amazing that the smallest characteristics audible in a studio recording (particularly from analogue times) can offer so much insight into the ad hoc techniques adopted to overcome the limitations of available technology. The ingenuity of music production in Jamaica during this period was truly remarkable.

Prior to emigration, Ellis had toured Britain in 1967, performing with singer Ken Boothe. Whilst in London, he recorded a single ‘The Message’ [Pama PM707] in which he raps freestyle rather than sings, fifteen years prior to Grandmaster Flash’s hit rap track of the same name, and declares truthfully “I’m the rocksteady king, sir”. Its B-side pokes fun at 'English Talk' that he must have heard during his visit. The backing music is the clunky Brit reggae of the time, but Ellis’ subject matter is fascinating for its innovation.

1971’s ‘Arise Black Man’ [Aquarius JA single] includes the lyric “From Kingston to Montego, black brothers and sisters, arise black man, take a little step, show them that you can, ‘coz you’ve got the right to show it, you’ve got the right to know it”. The verses and chorus “We don’t need no evidence now” are backed by a big choir. It’s a phenomenal tune despite not even having received a UK release at the time. (Was the chorus a reference to Britain's 1971 Immigration Act in which a Commonwealth applicant was "required to present [...] forms of evidence" to "prove that they have the right of abode" in the UK?)

The same year, ‘Back To Africa’ [Gas GAS164] has the chorus “Goin’ to back to Africa, ‘coz I’m black, goin’ back to Africa, and it’s a fact’ backed by a choir once again. There’s an adlibbed interjection “Gonna stay there, 1999, I gotta get there” that predates Hugh Mundell’s seminal song ‘Africans Must Be Free By 1983’.

Again in 1971, Ellis re-recorded his song ‘Black Man’s Pride’ [Bullet BU466], previously made for producer Coxson Dodd [Coxson JA single], with it’s shocking (at the time) chorus “I was born a loser, because I’m a black man”. The verses are a history lesson in slavery: “We have suffered our whole lives through, doing things that they’re supposed to do, we were beaten ‘til our backs were black and blue” and “I was living in my own land, I was moved because of white men’s plans, now I’m living in a white man’s land”. I consider this phenomenal song the direct antecedent of similarly themed, outspoken recordings by Joe Higgs (‘More Slavery’ [Grounation GROL2021]) and Burning Spear (“Slavery Days” [Fox JA pre]) in 1975. If only this Ellis song was as well-known as Winston Rodney’s! [In initial recorded versions, “loser” was replaced by “winner” and the song retitled ‘Born A Winner’.]

I first discovered Ellis’ song ‘Good Good Loving’ [FAB 165] as the vocal produced by Prince Buster for a DJ track by teenager Little Youth on the 1972 compilation album ‘Chi Chi Run’ [FAB MS8, apologies for the language] called ‘Youth Rock’. At the time, I was crazy about this recording, combining a high-pitched youthful talkover with a solid rhythm and Ellis’ trademark voice in the mix. I will be forever mystified as to why the DJ (sounding like Hugh Mundell/Jah Levi) seems to refer to “Cool Version by The Gallows [sic]” in his lyrics!

In 1973, Ellis released the song I never tire of hearing, ‘Truly’ [Pyramid PYR7003], that benefits from such a laid-back rhythm that it feels it could come to an abrupt stop at times. It is one of Ellis’ simplest but most effective songs and has become a staple of reggae ‘lovers’ singers since, employing wonderfully unanticipated chord changes. It sounds like a self-production, even though UK sound system man Lloyd Coxsone’s name is on the label. This should have been a huge hit record!

There are so many more Ellis tracks from this fertile early 1970’s period that make interesting listening, recorded for many different producers and released on different labels. Sadly, no CD or digital compilation has managed to embrace them all. I still live in hope.

After Ellis moved permanently to Britain during his late thirties, he must have struggled in the same way as some of his contemporaries, trying to sustain their careers in the ‘motherland’. Despite UK chart successes, Desmond Dekker, Nicky Thomas, Bob Andy and Jimmy Cliff were very much viewed as one-off ‘novelty’ hitmakers by the mainstream media rather than developing artists. Worse, Ellis had never touched the British charts. Neither did the majority of reggae tracks produced then in British studios sound particularly ‘authentic’ to the music’s audience, let alone the wider ‘pop’ market. Ellis performed at the many reggae clubs around Britain but the rewards must have been limited.

Ellis’ British commercial success came unexpectedly when another ‘novelty’ reggae single shot to number one in the UK charts in 1977. Its story is complicated! The previous year, Ellis’ 1967 song ‘I’m Still In Love With You’ had been covered in Jamaica by singer Marcia Aitken [Joe Gibbs JA pre]. A DJ version by Trinity over the identical rhythm followed called ‘Three Piece Suit’ [Belmont JA pre]. Then two young girls, Althia & Donna, recorded their debut as an ‘answer’ record to Trinity on the same rhythm and named it ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ [Joe Gibbs JA pre]. Other producers released their own ‘answer’ records, rerecording the identical rhythm, all of which could be heard one after the other blaring from minibuses’ sound systems in Jamaica at the time. Unfortunately for Ellis, Jamaica had no songwriting royalty payment system in those days.

I remember first hearing ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ as an import single on John Peel’s ‘BBC Radio One’ evening show. Even once it had been given a UK release [Lightning LIG506], Ellis was still omitted from the songwriting credit by producer Gibbs. Legal action followed and eventually Ellis was rewarded with half of the record’s songwriting royalties (for the music but not the lyrics), a considerable sum for a UK number one hit then. The same track (re-recorded due to producer Joe Gibbs’ intransigence) was then included on an album that Althia & Donna made for Virgin Records the following year [Front Line FL1012] that had global distribution, earning Ellis additional royalties.

Also in 1977, Ellis produced twenty-year-old London singer Janet Kay’s first record, a version of hit soul ballad ‘Lovin’ You’, released on his ‘All Tone’ label [AT006] that, prior to emigration, he had created in Jamaica to release his own productions. Ellis’ soul sensibilities and music production experience inputted directly into the creation of what became known (accidentally) as ‘lovers rock’, a uniquely British sub-genre that perfectly blended soul and reggae into love songs recorded mostly by teenage girls. This ‘underground’ music went on to dominate British reggae clubs and pirate radio stations for the next decade, even pushing Kay’s ‘Silly Games’ [Arawak ARK DD 003] to number two in the UK pop singles chart two years later.

Into the 1980’s and 1990’s, Ellis continued to release more UK productions on his label, including a ‘25th Silver Jubilee’ album [All Tone ALT001] in 1984 that revisited nineteen of his biggest hits, celebrating a career that had started in Jamaica as half of the duo in 1959. I recall Ellis visiting ‘Radio Thamesmead’ in 1986, the community cable station where I was employed at the time. He was living on London’s Thamesmead council estate and was interviewed about his label’s latest releases.

On 10 October 2008 at the age of seventy, Ellis died of cancer in Hammersmith Hospital. He had been awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaica government in 1994 for his contributions to the island’s music industry. I continue to derive a huge amount of satisfaction from listening to his many recordings dating back to the beginning of the 1960’s and wish he was acknowledged more widely for his outstanding contributions to reggae music.

Now, when I think of Alton Ellis, I fondly recall my daily car commute into work at KISS FM radio, Holloway Road in 1990/1991 with colleague Debbi McNally, us both singing along at the top of our voices to my homemade cassette compilation playing Alton Ellis’ beautiful 1968 rocksteady version of Chuck Jackson’s 1961 song ‘Willow Tree’ [Treasure Isle TI7044].

“Cry not for me, my willow tree … ‘coz I have found the love I’ve searched for.”

[I have curated an Alton Ellis playlist on Spotify though many significant recordings are unavailable.]

#Grant Goddard #Jamaica #London #lovers rock #music #radio #radio station #Radio Thamesmead #record shop #reggae #Youtube

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purplerakath · 1 year

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What I think the Owl House Season 3 Would have Been

I’m trying to use what we got to reconstruct what could have been, as best I can. I have a few notes before we get into this in earnest.

First is that Thanks to Them is probably the most accurate to the Season 3 that could have been, while the other two were later in production so rewriting is easier. So 3x01 is a lot more re-editing, while 3x02 and 3x03 are more rewriting.

I also think that due to how 3x01 plays, it’s the majority of the season’s runtime.

Escape from the Human World (Eps 1-10)

So the timeskip between the immediate aftermath of King’s Tide to the actual plot of Thanks to Them is roughly the entire in-plot time of the first two Seasons combined. It has been 2-3 months since Luz and the others arrived. Which to me feels like this is where the majority of the episodes would go.

I also feel like the separate plot threads in Thanks to Them were re-organized to fit into one episode. Camilla and Luz’s scenes feel earlier than the Hunter/Luz Beloshunt. And then the Hexolio treasure hunt feels later on still.

Worrying about what to feed the Demon Realm kids would be easy scenes in Ep 1-2 of a season, with hints of Belos around foreshadowing the end of the ep block. Luz in class is a good mid-point moment, establishing where the plot is ending (Haunted Halloween) and how their failures weigh on her. Then Belos gets into Hunter, slowly growing more powerful until we get to the end. And the Hexolio Treasure hunt would be the final two eps of the block.

The opening montage covers more or less a good set of things that would be one of-episodes, and what isn’t there is in Willow’s scrapbook. We also have the Witch Hunter Wannabe Jacob to be an interim villain while Goo-Belos skulks around attacking bunnies. A slice of life with ominous angst hanging over it.

Back to School (Eps 11-14 or 11-15)

So this is a bit fuzzier, the best use of this space is three-fold.

Establish what happened in the Boiling Isles

Establish the weapons and tools going into handling the Collector

Spacing out the events from the first act from the third act.

I figure the Hooty backstory goes here, a better explanation for how Eda and Lilith were un-collected. And what the Collector is and what they need to do to stop him. On the side of the Eda team in this season.

This means a smaller role on Luz and team Hexside as they work through their baggage from the end of Act 1, hatch Luz’s palisman, check in on the surviving Hexside encampment, and whatever the real plan was with Boscha and the angry kitten. I do think Kiki is the boss fight at the end of this segment, but I feel like it’s a lot more of a ‘Luz and co get a break before the actual endgame’ space.

This feels like it should be the shortest portion, the only way it gets longer is if they put any backstory beats in here for lore junkies.

Nightmares Real and Imagined (Eps 15-19 or 16-20)

So I think the bridge point between the two sections happens as we saw. Collector nabs everyone, starts torturing our heroes cause Belos said it was a good idea. I don’t know if Belos starts in Raine or just ends up in them in a longer season run.

It would make sense to burn a few ‘characters that I guess exist but nobody likes’ such as Terra or the other Coven Leaders who aren’t people we like. No longer having them as concerns if they’re just- withered husks after Belos is done.

A lot happened in the 55 minute version of this section, but I can see each section (the nightmares, the Collector’s games, the travel across the island) being more or less their own episodes. While Belos does Belos nonsense in the background. Culminating in ‘breathing’ and the Collector realizing where Belos has gotten to.

The other advantage to a longer run is more Papa Titan trying to get Luz attention (probably also in the previous section as well, but more here). That someone is out there trying to help. He’d also be the right way to make Light Glyphs the anti-Collector spell.

Luz ‘dying’ is the end of the first half of the finale. And the second episode opens on her in the space between. Then Titan Luz and fighting and NOW EAT THIS SUCKA! It feels like the right tempo when you look at say Season 2′s ending.

Now, here’s where I get greedy.

And they Lived Happily Ever After (Ep 20)

See, I can see the ending credits + postcredits scene as its own episode. Visiting with each of the characters a little bit to set-up that no, the story didn’t end there. It feels too long for a stinger on a 20 minute episode, but I don’t know how feasible it’d be as a standalone.

But I want it as a standalone, so we have more than just a glimpse of who everyone is, we get to actually enjoy some dialog. Del telling Hunter he’s doing a good job. Boscha being pissed she’s washed up while Willow went pro. Whatever weird pirate life Amity has going on. How Amity and Lilith became mentor and student again. What is Vee up to other than baseball.

This isn’t strictly needed, but it would be the right tonal end for the series as a whole. As, yes, sure, fighting genocidal colonizing bastard has been a staple of the show. A huge focus of the show is caring about these characters. So seeing them living their lives would matter more than watching one gooey bastard get stomped on.

No matter how deeply satisfying that was.

#the owl house #I wish we got a full season 3 #I love what we got #but I want more #I am greedy #and we deserved to see Vee being siblings with Luz more #and also whatever Dariador is #and a huntlow kiss #and more dread pirate amity #luz noceda #amity blight #edalyn clawthorne #king clawthorne

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bostonfly · 1 year

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I have started listening to compilations of the Shipping Forecast, a BBC Radio 4 production that is no fancier than its name suggests: It is, simply, a program featuring weather reports that narrate the gales and tides around the British Isles.

[...]

Read at 5:20 a.m., 12:01 p.m., 5:54 p.m. and 12:48 a.m. G.M.T., each briefing begins with the same words: “And now the Shipping Forecast, issued by the Met Office.”

Although each individual transmission has traditionally been short — limited to 380 words at most, and often not more than a minute or two of speech — when heard in hourlong compilations, the Shipping Forecast is poetic and hypnotic, a free-form ode to the seas.

The forecast presents a kind of audio tour: The announcer begins in Viking, a sea area near the Orkney archipelago, before directing the listener’s attention around the British Isles, intoning rhythmic phrases like “Wight, Portland, Biscay,” “good, occasionally poor, becoming very poor at times in Plymouth” or “low Southeast Iceland, 1,000, losing its identity by the same time.”

#bbc #radio #insomnia

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pix4japan · 1 year

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Super Discount Store

The Don Quijote super-discount store near the south exit of Yokohama Station used to be a name-brand fashion outlet years ago with beautiful store window displays and had an air of class and quality. I used to visit there just to check out the nice suits and neckties they had on display. Sadly, my wallet was not thick enough to actually purchase something.

Economics forced the New York Fifth Avenue wannabe-store to close shop and hand over the reins to Don Quijote—a 24/7 super discount store that barely keeps isles wide enough to meet fire standards in an effort to jam as many cheap products as they can onto the store floors.

This scene of items on the sidewalk in front of the store is a good example of what the store interior has to offer. Don Quijote will have any foreign-made knock-off you could need whether it's snacks, furniture, toiletries, appliances, automotive products, and more.

That said, they also retail reasonably priced groceries in the basement floor, and sell name-brand products at a price you’d be hard pressed to find in Tokyo’s Ginza.

It is possible to fill your Japanese studio flat with all of the basic necessities, appliances, and furniture from this store. If you are into garish designs, materials, and patterns, this store has you covered!

Visiting any Don Quijote is like a treasure hunt for some shoppers. Staff intentionally rearrange the layout of each floor and move products around so much that if you find your favorite snack or dog food and go back a couple months later, you will have to search all over again and have “fun” doing so since the inside of the store is just as mind-numbing crowded, is flooded with colorful posters, might have promotional videos playing next to each other for different products, and has that theme song constantly embedding itself into your brain.

Fujifilm X100V (23 mm) with 5% diffusion filter ISO 1000 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/2.0 Pro Negative High film simulation

#富士フィルム #ストリートスナップ #横浜駅西口 #ハロウィン #ドン・キホーテ #pix4japan #Pro Negative High film simulation #Fujifilm X100V #Japan #Yokohama #Halloween #discount store #Don Quijote #urbanscape photography #street photography

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devenrue · 2 years

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The Bloodwake is DONE! Whew! That was a lot of fun! I have just the ship with assets available on my site as well. Now on to creating a treasure map for the Isles & then 2 town maps! https://devenrue.com/products/pirates-of-blood-reef-isles

#pirate #map #cartography #deven rue #ttrpg #dnd #maps #fantasy cartography #fantasy #pirates life for me #pirates #vtt #vtt maps #vtt map

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yashvitours · 2 days

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The Romance of Venice: Navigating the Canals and Alleys of Italy’s Floating City

Think of Venice and you think of gondolas gliding through silent canals, lovers whispering beneath elegant bridges, and ageless loveliness that appears unreal. Venice is indeed much more than a city: it’s a romanticism alive and waiting to be discovered. Explore its maze-like water streets or alleys lined by ancient walls like palaces. Imagine experiencing this firsthand! Whether you’re searching for international tour packages that whisk you away to Venice’s magic, or need help finding air ticket booking agents in Gandhinagar, we can help you craft the perfect Venetian adventure.

Gondola Gliding: A Journey Through Time

Your experience in Venice starts with the typical kind of thing you would expect — riding a gondola. One can sit comfortably in the velvety black gondola which has been usually driven by a very experienced person known as a gondolier. When moving slowly over the water, the natures of this column gradually unfold before us. There are high buildings decorated with beautiful sculptures along the streets, large palaces on the water’s edge, bridges built in the old times that seem like they are talking to you, colorful clothes hanging out of the windows above. The soft sound of splashing waves and the rocking of the gondola’s hulls may soothe one into a dream.

A Treasure Trove of Landmarks: Unveiling Venice’s Grandeur

No visit to Venice is complete without exploring its iconic landmarks.

Piazza San Marco: Venice’s heart is in this lively square! Where the scene is dominated by Saint Mark’s Basilica which has towering domes having stunning mosaics upon them. One can either take an elevator up the Campanile and enjoy breathtaking panoramas or just sit back and relax while the atmosphere is filled with flying pigeons amidst street entertainers.

Doge’s Palace: This grand palace which was once the seat of the Venetian power is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture; so explore its opulent halls, peek into the infamous Bridge of Sighs, and imagine the grandeur of the past Venetian doges.

Rialto Bridge: You must visit this iconic bridge. You can take pictures from it or walk inside its arcades which are shopper’s paradise.

Beyond the Landmarks: Unveiling Venice’s Hidden Gems

While the famous landmarks deserve their recognition, Venice’s true magic lies in its hidden gems.

Get Lost in the Alleys: Leave the main tourist areas and navigate the annoying and many are small streets or calli in Venice. One can find appealing squares, kept secret courtyards with vivid flowers and small shops in Venice that sell household goods which are made in the country.

Discover Cannaregio: Get away from the noise and experience the more peaceful district of Cannaregio. Either the historical Jewish Ghetto or the remarkable Ca’ d’Oro having an outstanding example of Venetian Gothic architecture is worth seeing.

Explore the Islands: Beyond the main Isle, tap into the charm of Murano, celebrated for the history of its unique and captivating glass-blowing or Burano, a plethora of colorful buildings and conventional lacemaking.

A Feast for the Senses: Indulge in Venetian Delights

Venice is not just about sights; it’s about indulging in all your senses.

Savor Cicchetti: To truly experience local cuisine, these Venetian tapas are a perfect match. Whether it’s creamy cheeses or the sea food on the small plates, with a glass of wine you can sample in a bacaro (wine bar) the experience will be complete.

Gondola Serenade with Dinner:For added romance flavor, while on a journey on a gondola serenaded by a musician, have a multi-course dinner on board.

Learn to Make Pizza: Join a culinary class and explore how to make real Venetian pizza with fresh home-grown products and in an old-fashioned way.

Venice: A City That Steals Your Heart

Venice is a city that remains in our memory long after we leave. It is a place that exudes the whispers of history from all directions, emanates romance and reveals a new fascination with each twist you take. It doesn’t matter whether you’re paddling through its waterways, searching for secluded piazzas or feasting on regional cuisine; this city will cast its spell upon you.

Ready to Create Your Venetian Fairytale?

We specialize in creating customized tours and travel packages designed to help you experience the true essence of Venice. From romantic getaways to family adventures, we can craft an itinerary that perfectly suits your interests and allows you to discover the hidden gems and iconic landmarks that make Venice so unique.

Yashvi Tours And Travels specialize in creating customized tours and travel packages from ahmedabad designed to help you experience the true essence of Venice. From romantic getaways to family adventures, we can craft an itinerary that perfectly suits your interests and allows you to discover the hidden gems and iconic landmarks that make Venice so unique. Whether you’re looking for domestic tour packages, Looking for the best travel agency in ahmedabad, or an unforgettable Venetian adventure, we can help you design the perfect trip.

#traveling #travelagency #yashvitoursandtravels #toursandtravels #travels #yashvitravels #travelagent #tourandtravelsagency #yashvitours #travel

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curryvillain · 1 year

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Music From @JimmyCliff & The PAragons Featured In @DeathInParadise Christmas Special!

Many of your favourite TV shows and Films joined in on the holiday season and premiered special episodes and versions of their respective creations. One of those was the Island-inspired series “Death In Paradise” which is featured on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The crime drama series features Jamaican Actress Shantol Jackson who joins a cast who solves mysteries on the fictional…

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influencermagazineuk · 17 days

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Lights, Camera, Action! Stunning Locations in the UK to Shoot Your Next Masterpiece

Looking to shoot a cool reel for your Instagram, a music video or even a film? The United Kingdom boasts a wealth of captivating landscapes and architecturally rich settings, making it a filmmaker's paradise. Whether you're crafting a heart-wrenching indie flick, a pulse-pounding music video, or a social media reel, the UK offers a diverse backdrop to bring your creative vision to life. For the history buff with a camera, Scotland's dramatic castles like Eilean Donan or Dunvegan provide a touch of medieval charm. Imagine epic battle scenes or brooding monologues set against the backdrop of these ancient fortresses, their windswept ramparts whispering tales of the past. London, a bustling metropolis, offers a different kind of grandeur. Iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge or Buckingham Palace can add a touch of quintessential British flair to your production. Explore the cobbled streets of Notting Hill for a quirky, bohemian vibe, or capture the fast-paced energy of Piccadilly Circus for a truly urban feel. The rolling hills and picturesque villages of the Cotswolds are perfect for a story that oozes quintessential English charm. Think thatched-roof cottages adorned with vibrant flowers, charming country pubs, and babbling brooks – a scene straight out of a Jane Austen novel. For a taste of the otherworldly, head north to the Scottish Highlands. The dramatic landscapes, with their rugged mountains, vast lochs (lakes), and sweeping valleys, are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. Imagine a lone figure silhouetted against a fiery sunset over the Isle of Skye, or capture the mystical allure of the standing stones at Callanish. Wales, with its dramatic coastlines and moody mountains, offers a wild, untamed beauty. The dramatic cliffs of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park or the fairytale-like beauty of Snowdonia National Park are perfect backdrops for stories that evoke a sense of adventure and mystery. But the UK's beauty isn't limited to wide-open spaces. Abandoned industrial sites offer a unique, post-apocalyptic aesthetic. Picture a gritty music video set against the backdrop of a derelict steelworks, or a dystopian film shot in a forgotten warehouse.Don't forget the power of the unexpected. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden alleyways, quirky cafes, or colorful street art – sometimes the most captivating locations are the ones you stumble upon unexpectedly. So, grab your camera, unleash your creativity, and get ready to explore the UK's cinematic treasures. With its diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, the UK is a filmmaker's playground waiting to be discovered. There are many films shot in the UK on the places we mentioned, and are a lot to explore! Films shot in the United Kingdom A - Aaja Mexico Challiye - Ahir Bhairav (film) - Angel Has Fallen - Animal (2023 Indian film) - Annapolis (2006 film) - Avatar (2009 film) B - Bad Apples (upcoming film) - Barun Rai and the House on the Cliff - The Beatles: Get Back - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Bhaijaan Elo Re - A Bit of Light - Born a King - Butterfly (unreleased film) C - Carla (film) - Carry on Jatta 3 - The Cave (2019 Thai film) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film) - City Under the Sea - Close (2019 film) D - Danielle Cable: Eyewitness - The Dark Knight - The Day of the Jackal (film) - Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - Den of Thieves 2: Pantera - Dunkirk (2017 film) E - English (2013 film) - Entebbe (film) G - Gadgetman - Ganapath - The Giant Behemoth - Gladiator II - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (film) H - The Haunting (1963 film) - Heart of Stone (2023 film) - Hedda (upcoming film) - Helen (2008 film) - Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard - Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans - House of Salem I - Inception - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade K - Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... - Kanchana 3 L - The Last Letter from Your Lover - Let Them All Talk (film) - Lloyd & Hill - London Bridge (film) - London, Paris, New York - Loving You (2003 film) M - Mission Raniganj O - One Day (2011 film) - One More Shot (2024 film) - One Shot (2021 film) P - The Parent Trap (1998 film) R - Raiders of the Lost Ark - Rebus (film) - Red, White & Royal Blue (film) - Rogue (2020 film) S - Sat Shri Akaal England - Saving Private Ryan - Statement of Youth - The Swimmers (2022 film) T - Tenet (film) - Tere Sang Yaara - That Is Mahalakshmi - Tropic of Ice U - Upgraded (film) W - The Wasp (2024 film) - What Became of Jack and Jill? - Wicked (2024 film) - Wicked Part Two Y - Yaariyan 2 Z - Zam Zam (film) Read the full article

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openshop1 · 27 days

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Discovering Hidden Gems: Embracing Openshop, Ireland's Premier Online Marketplace

In the digital age, the world is at our fingertips, and nowhere is this more evident than in the bustling landscape of online marketplaces. Among the plethora of options available, one shines brightly on the Emerald Isle – Openshop. With its commitment to showcasing the finest offers and uncovering unique treasures, Openshop has become synonymous with convenience, community support, and exploration in Ireland's online shopping scene.

Imagine strolling through a bustling marketplace, where every corner holds a new surprise and every vendor has a story to share. This is the experience that Openshop aims to recreate in the virtual realm. From artisanal crafts to bespoke fashion, from gourmet treats to innovative gadgets, Openshop is a treasure trove waiting to be explored.

One of the most appealing aspects of Openshop is its dedication to supporting local businesses. In a world dominated by corporate giants, it can be challenging for small enterprises to thrive. However, Openshop provides a platform for these businesses to showcase their products and connect with a broader audience. By choosing to shop on Openshop, consumers not only gain access to unique and high-quality goods but also contribute directly to the success of local entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, Openshop offers a seamless shopping experience, making it easy for consumers to find what they need and support their neighborhood companies with just a few clicks. Whether you're searching for a special gift, upgrading your home decor, or simply treating yourself to something indulgent, Openshop has you covered.

What truly sets Openshop apart is its commitment to uncovering the unusual and the extraordinary. While mainstream online marketplaces may offer convenience, Openshop goes a step further by curating a selection of products that spark joy and inspire curiosity. It's not just about buying something; it's about discovering a piece of Ireland's rich tapestry, whether it's a handcrafted piece of pottery or a delicious artisanal jam made with locally sourced ingredients.

In addition to its diverse range of products, Openshop also fosters a sense of community among its users. Through features such as customer reviews, seller profiles, and interactive forums, Openshop encourages dialogue and engagement, turning the act of shopping into a shared experience.

As we navigate an increasingly digital world, online marketplaces like Openshop play a crucial role in preserving the vibrancy of local economies and celebrating the creativity of small businesses. By choosing to support Openshop, consumers not only gain access to a wealth of unique products but also become active participants in their community's success.

So, why wait? Join the adventure today and embark on a journey of discovery with Openshop. Whether you're a seasoned shopper or a curious novice, there's something waiting for you in Ireland's leading online marketplace. Uncover hidden gems, support local businesses, and experience the joy of shopping like never before – all with Openshop.

For more info :-

Online Marketplace in Ireland

Buy Gaming Accessories Online

#Online Marketplace in Ireland

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bottlebrief · 2 months

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#finlaggan #gem:#hidden #islay’s #mystique #old #reserve #review #scotch #spirits:#the #unraveling #whiskey

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kayameincke91 · 3 months

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allmyblogs · 3 months

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Why Shopping in Maui is a Must-Do Experience

Maui, with its stunning beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture, is a dream destination for travelers seeking relaxation and adventure. However, beyond its natural beauty and outdoor activities, Maui offers a unique and enriching shopping experience that should be noticed. From local artisans crafting one-of-a-kind treasures to upscale boutiques featuring luxury goods, shopping in Maui is an integral part of the island experience. In this blog post, we delve into why indulging in some retail therapy on the Valley Isle is an absolute must.

Cultural Immersion

Shopping in Maui isn't just about acquiring material goods; it's a chance to immerse yourself in the island's rich cultural tapestry. Local markets allow visitors to interact with artisans and vendors who proudly showcase their Hawaiian heritage through crafts. Each item tells a story rooted in the island's traditions and history, from hand-carved koa wood sculptures to intricate Hawaiian quilts. By supporting these local artisans, visitors take home a piece of Maui and contribute to preserving its cultural heritage.

Unique Souvenirs

Forget generic souvenirs mass-produced elsewhere. Shopping in Maui allows visitors to find genuinely unique souvenirs that capture the essence of the island. Whether it's a handmade piece of jewelry featuring rare Koa wood or a locally sourced macadamia nut oil skincare product, Maui's shopping scene offers an array of distinctive treasures that remind you of a memorable trip. These authentic souvenirs make for cherished keepsakes and support the local economy and artisans who pour their hearts and souls into their creations.

Aloha Fashion

Maui's fashion scene is as vibrant and diverse as the island itself. From laid-back surf shops in Paia to upscale boutiques in Wailea, there's something to suit every style and budget. Embrace the island vibe with flowy sundresses, Hawaiian-print shirts, and handcrafted accessories from natural materials like seashells and coconut husks. Not only will you look the part, but you'll also feel the spirit of aloha coursing through your wardrobe. Shopping for locally-made clothing and accessories reduces your carbon footprint by supporting sustainable fashion practices and reducing reliance on imported goods.

Culinary Delights

Every trip to Maui would be complete with indulging in its delectable culinary offerings, and shopping plays a crucial role in satisfying your taste buds. Explore bustling farmers' markets with fresh tropical fruits, organic vegetables, and homemade treats. Sample locally-produced coffee, honey, and chocolate, and bring home a taste of Maui's culinary prowess. Additionally, specialty food shops and gourmet grocers offer a curated selection of artisanal products perfect for creating a memorable island-inspired feast in the comfort of your home.

Luxurious Escapes

For those seeking a taste of luxury, Maui boasts an array of high-end shopping destinations catering to a discerning clientele. From designer boutiques showcasing the latest fashion trends to upscale galleries featuring world-renowned artists, indulgence awaits at every turn. Treat yourself to bespoke jewelry adorned with rare Hawaiian pearls, or peruse exclusive home decor collections inspired by Maui's natural beauty. Shopping in Maui isn't just about acquiring goods; it's about indulging in a lifestyle of elegance, refinement, and sophistication.

In conclusion, shopping in Maui is far more than a mundane task; it's a transformative experience that enriches your journey and deepens your connection to the island. Whether you're seeking cultural immersion, unique souvenirs, aloha fashion, culinary delights, or luxurious escapes, Maui offers something for every discerning shopper. So, next time you find yourself on the Valley Isle, be sure to carve out some time to explore its diverse shopping scene. Who knows? You might discover a hidden gem that becomes the highlight of your trip.

#shopping

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