#gerard a. besson

[forgedfromlove]

Folklore of Tobago: Mermaids and Fairymaids

“There be mermaids here and Leviathans, great denizens of the deep. Among the swirling currents and white-capped blue-green waters, just where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, close by St. Giles and near to Misty Marble Island, past Anse Gouleme and Anse Briant, towards Bird of Paradise Island and down the coast past Speyside to Fat Hog Bay, it is remembered from long ago that this was where the mermaids came to play.

Tobago mermaids are male and live in the deep, deep sea. They mate with the fairy maids of the rivers and the secret mountain pools. Riding upon the crests of waves, they are handsome men like kings of old or warriors of long ago, beplumed and richly garbed. They may grant a wish, transform mediocrity into genius, and confer wealth and power.

Sometimes the water people seek relationships with mortals. Some men are particularly attractive to the fairymaids, especially men with smooth skin.

The fairy maid is said to be beautiful with long, lush hair and one tiny foot in the shape of a deer’s hoof. She may use her power to “turn” a man’s head. She may steal his shadow and leave him quite demented. In which case, accompanied by friends and family and with the help of a “workman,” he must go to the river and address the water, pleading for the restoration of his lost shadow. This done, he must leave the water's edge and not look back.

Fairymaids may be found in caves behind waterfalls or beneath certain bridges where the river runs deep and swift. In days gone by, they were seen near certain waterwheels.

To discontinue a relationship with a fairy queen, an offering of two pairs of shoes must be made. The first must be burnt on the beach. The fairymaid wil then rise out of the water and ask if she is to be paid for past services. The answer must be, "nothing but this pair of shoes." The second pair must then be thrown into the waves.”

-from Folklore and Legends of Trinidad and Tobago, by Gerard A. Besson.

[coochiequeens]

“If you support Cannes you support predators. Cannes seem proud of their history supporting rapists and abusers.” -Eve Barlow journalist

One year after the explosive defamation trial played out between ex-spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard—becoming a grotesque pop culture spectaclealong the way—Depp is set to debut his comeback film Jeanne du Barry at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday evening.

Ahead of the premiere, supporters of Heard have launched a campaign online using the hashtag #CannesYouNot, calling out the festival and Depp, whom Heard accused of verbally and physically abusing her repeatedly throughout their marriage. A jury found both parties responsible for separate instances of defamation, but awarded Depp $15 million, with Heard winning a $2 million judgment.

“If you support Cannes you support predators,” journalist Eve Barlow posted on Instagram. “Cannes seem proud of their history supporting rapists and abusers.” One slide of her post features Depp alongside photos of other Hollywood men with various abuse allegations made against them, including Roman Polanski, Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen, Gerard Depardieu, and Luc Besson.

“We think it’s hypocritical for the Cannes Film Festival to have an anti-discrimination, anti-abuse policy, while opening the festival with a film starring Johnny Depp,” the operator of the Twitter account @LeaveHeardAlone told Variety. “The Depp v. Heard trial became the vehicle through which the backlash against the #MeToo movement went viral. Hollywood industries seem to be riding that backlash to return to the status quo.”

Also on Tuesday, Academy Award-winning actress Brie Larson, who is a Cannes juror this year and a historically outspoken advocate of Time’s Up, dodged a question about Depp during a press conference.

“You’re asking me that?” she responded when asked whether she��d attend the Jeanne du Barry world premiere. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand the correlation or why me specifically. You’ll see, I guess, if I will see it. And I don’t know how I’ll feel about it if I do.” (Depp’s film is not playing in competition at Cannes, and thus Larson, as a juror, is not required to see it.)

Another star who gave a similarly noncommittal response to the Depp debacle was Natalie Portman. When asked by Vanity Fair in May if she had an opinion on Cannes opening with the Depp movie, Portman responded, “I haven’t read much about that. But it can always be better. We will keep pushing for it to be better.”

[beasanfi1997]

Arthur and the Invisibles from Luc Besson and Phenomena from Dario Argento are actually similar stories because Arthur and Jennifer Corvino likes bugs, while the villains Maltazard and Frau Bückner were raped by Weevil and a ugly Person and then they made a deformed Children like Darkos and Frau Bückner's son and Betameche, the bee and Inga the monkey in the end they helped Arthur and Jennifer to fight against Maltazard and Frau Bückner but Darkos remain alive because he helped Arthur, Selenia, Betameche and the bee to defeat his father while the son of Frau Bückner was killed by Jennifer's bugs in the lake

[galleryyuhself]

Gerard Besson, HBM, DLitt (h.c.)

[drzito]

Las 242 peliculas que he visto en 2023 (parte 2)

122. Martyrs (Pascal Laugier, 2008)

123. Of time and the city (Terence Davies, 2008)

124. Pandorum (Christian Alvart, 2009)

125. La casa del diablo (Ti West, 2009)

126. Catfish (Ariel Schulman y Henry Joost, 2010)

127. Rare exports: Un cuento gamberro de navidad (Jalmari Helander, 2010)

128. Final Destination 5 (Steven Quale, 2011)

129. Infierno blanco (Joe Carnahan, 2011)

130. La maldicion de Rookford (Nick Murphy, 2011)

131. Berberian sound studio (Peter Strickland, 2012)

132. Turistas (Ben Wheatley, 2012)

133. Across the river (Lorenzo Bianchini, 2013)

134. Colonia V (Jeff Renfroe, 2013)

135. Como todas las mañanas (Toni Nievas, 2013)

136. El Congreso (Ari Folman, 2013)

137. The Sacrament (Ti West, 2013)

138. Vivir en peligro (Paul Wright, 2013)

139. El sopar (Pere Portabella, 2014)

140. Lucy (Luc Besson, 2014)

141. Sueñan los androides (Ion de Sosa, 2014)

142. Uno tras otro (Hans Petter Moland, 2014)

143. Equals (Drake Doremus, 2015)

144. Dope (Rick Famuyiwa, 2015)

145. 13 horas: Los soldados secretos de Bengasi (Michael Bay, 2016)

146. El Caso Sloane (John Madden, 2016)

147. El Contable (Gavin O'Connor, 2016)

148. El Vacio (Jeremy Gillespie y Steven Kostanski, 2016)

149. Holy Hell (Will Allen, 2016)

150. La autopsia de Jane Doe (André Øvredal, 2016)

151. Maria (y los demas) (Nely Reguera, 2016)

152. Swiss Army Man (Dan Kwan y Daniel Scheinert, 2016)

153. Without Name (Lorcan Finnegan, 2016)

154. Brawl in Cell Block 99 (S Craig Zahler, 2017)

155. Caras y Lugares (Agnes Varda y JR, 2017)

156. Good Time: Viviendo al limite (Benny y Josh Safdie, 2017)

157. Hagazussa (Lukas Feigelfeld, 2017)

158. Secretos Oscuros (Michael Pearce, 2017)

159. Ghost in the shell. El alma de la maquina (Rupert Sanders, 2017)

160. The Cloverfield paradox (Julius Onah, 2018)

161. Illang: La brigada del lobo (Kim Ji-Woon, 2018).

162. Normandia al desnudo (Philippe Le Guay, 2018)

163. Al otro lado de la ley (S Craig Zahler, 2018)

164. Apuntes para una pelicula de atracos (Leon Siminiani, 2018)

165. El odio que das (George Tillman Jr, 2018)

166. 303 (Hans Weingartner, 2018)

167. El Convento (Payl Hyett, 2018)

168. La primera purga: La noche de las bestias (Gerard McMurray, 2018)

169. Mudo (Duncan Jones, 2018)

170. Noche de lobos (Jeremy Saulnier, 2018)

171. 6 en la sombra (Michael Bay, 2019)

172. Bait (Mark Jenkin, 2019)

173. Escape room: Sin salida (Adam Robitel, 2019)

174. Fyre (Chris Smith, 2019)

175. Sator (Jordan Graham, 2019)

176. Swallow (Carlo Mirabella-Davis, 2019)

177. Us (Jordan Peele, 2019)

178. Ventajas de viajar en tren (Aritz Moreno, 2019)

179. Bad Boys for Life (Adil El Arbi y Bilall Fallah, 2020)

180. El año del descubrimiento (Luis Lopez Carrasco, 2020)

181. Last and First Men (Johann Johannsonn, 2020)

182. Socias y Enemigas (Miguel Arteta, 2020)

183. Undergods (Chino Moya, 2020).

184. A tiempo completo (Eric Gravel, 2021)

185. Belle (Mamoru Hosoda, 2021)18

186. Black Phone (Scott Derrickson, 2021)

187. Candyman (Nia DaCosta, 2021)

188. Censor (Prano Bailey-Bond, 2021)

189. Destello Bravio (Ainhoa Rodriguez, 2021)

190. El Escuadron Suicida (James Gunn, 2021)

191. Eles transportan a morte (Samuel M. Delgado y Helena Girón, 2021)

192. Escape Room: La Pel·lícula (Hèctor Claramunt, 2021)

193. Espiritu Sagrado (Chema Garcia Ibarra, 2021)

194. Hellbender (John Adams, Zelda Adams y Toby Poser, 2021)

195. King Car (Renata Pinheiro, 2021).

196. La casa de las profundidades (Julien Maury y Alexandre Bustillo, 2021)

197. La Hija (Manuel Martin Cuenca, 2021)

198. Lamb (Valdimar Jóhannsson, 2021)

199. Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2021)

200. Malignant (James Wan, 2021)

201. The ice road (Jonathan Hensleigh, 2021)

202. The Medium (Banjong Pisanthanakun, 2021)

203. Tiempo (M night Shyamalan, 2021)

204. Tros (Pau Calpe, 2021)

205. You are not my mother (Kate Dolan, 2021)

206. Aftersun (Charlotte Wells, 2022)

207. Almas en pena de Inisherin (Martin McDonagh, 2022)

208. Ambulance. Plan de huida (Michael Bay, 2022).

209. Argentina 1985 (Santiago Mitre, 2022)

210. As Bestas (Rodrigo Sorogoyen, 2022)

211. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Ryan Coogler, 2022)

212. Cangrejo Negro (Adam Berg, 2022)

213. Crimenes del futuro (David Cronenberg, 2022)

214. El agua (Elena López Riera, 2022)

215. El triangulo de la tristeza (Ruben Ostlund, 2022)

216. Emily, la estafadora (John Patton Ford, 2022)

217. En los margenes (Juan Diego Botto, 2022)

218. Enys Men (Mark Jenkin, 2022)

219. Eo (Jerzy Skolimowski, 2022)

220. Flux Gourmet (Peter Strickland, 2022)

221. La hija eterna (Joanna Hogg, 2022)

222. La paradoja de Antares (Luis Tinoco, 2022)

223. Men (Alex Garland, 2022)

224. Modelo 77 (Alberto Rodriguez, 2022)

225. Muertos muertos muertos (Halina Reijn, 2022)

226. O corpo aberto (Angeles Huerta, 2022)

227. Predator. La Presa (Dan Trachtenberg, 2022) 

228. Puñales por la espalda: El misterio de Glass Onion (Rian Johnson, 2022)

229. RRR (SS Rajamouli, 2022)

230. Suro (Mikel Gurrea, 2022)

231. Vesper (Kristina Buozyte y Bruno Samper, 2022)

232. You won’t be alone (Goran Stolevski, 2022)

233. X (Ti West, 2022)

234. Asteroid City (Wes Anderson, 2023)

235. Barbie (Greta Gerwig, 2023)

236. El banco de Dave (Chris Foggin, 2023)

237. Elemental (Peter Sohn, 2023)

238. Indiana Jones y el dial del destino (James Mangold, 2023)

239. Llaman a la puerta (M Night Shyamalan, 2023)

240. Mision Imposible: Sentencia Mortal - Parte 1 (Christopher McQuarrie, 2023)

241. Nadie te salvara (Brian Duffield, 2023)

242. The Creator (Gareth Edwards, 2023)

[albonium]

he's backing luc besson and gerard depardieu fuck him

why's bbc interviewing mathieu kassovitz when he hasn't been relevant for years

[sesiondemadrugada]

Léon (Luc Besson, 1994).

[hatingwithfears]

ALL THE BOOKS I READ IN 2021.

117 BOOKS. 38,063 PAGES.

Jonathan Allen, Amie Parnes- Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency

Ellis Amburn- Subterranean Kerouac

Thomas Aquinas- Selected Writings

Marcus Aurelius- Meditations

Lee Baer- The Imp of The Mind: Exploring The Silent Epidemic of Obsessive Bad Thoughts

Lily Bailey- Because We Are Bad: OCD and a Girl Lost in Thought

Nicholson Baker- The Fermata

James Baldwin- Jimmy’s Blues: Selected Poems

Julian Barnes- The Man in The Red Coat

Sharon Begley- Can’t Just Stop: An Investigation of Compulsions

Ingmar Bergman- Images: My Life in Film

David Berman- Actual Air

Philippe Besson- Lie With Me

Kai Bird, Martin J Sherwin- American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer

Roberto Bolano- Cowboy Graves

John Boswell- Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality

Thomas Brothers- Help!: The Beatles, Duke Ellington, and the Magic of Collaboration

Craig Brown- 150 Glimpses of The Beatles

Anne Carson- Autobiography of Red

Ann Charters- Kerouac

Michel Chion- Eyes Wide Shut

Rachel Cusk- Second Place

Nelson A Denis- War Against All Puerto Ricans

Michael Eric Dyson- Long Time Coming

Margaret Edson- Wit

Bart D Ehrman- Heaven and Hell: A History of The Afterlife

Scott Ellsworth- The Ground Breaking: An American City and It’s Search for Justice

Mariana Enriquez- The Dangers of Smoking in Bed

Jeffrey Eugenides- Fresh Complaint

James Finley- Merton’s Palace of Nowhere

Jim Forest- Living With Wisdom: A Life of Thomas Merton

Monica Furlong- Merton: A Biography

Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder- Selected Letters

Garth Greenwell- Cleanness

Oakley Hall- Warlock

Faith G. Harper- Unfuck Your Brain

Joel F. Harrington- Dangerous Mystic: Meister Eckhart’s Path to The God Within

Ethan Hawke- A Bright Ray of Darkness

Makato Fujimura- Art+Faith

Julian Herbert- Bring Me the Head of Quentin Tarantino

Frank Herbert- Dune

Tracy Hickman- Wayne of Gotham

Sasha Geffen- Glitter Up The Dark: How Pop Music Broke the Binary

Eddie S Glaude Jr- Begin Again

Neal Goldsmith- Psychedelic Healing

Blake Gopnik- Warhol

Mira Jacob- Good Talk

Nick James- Heat

Lesley-Ann Jones- The Search for John Lennon

Stephen Graham Jones- The Only Good Indians

Stephen Graham Jones- Night of The Mannequins

Carl G. Jung- The Undiscovered Self

Carl G. Jung- Answer to Job

Carl G. Jung- The Red Book

Jack Kerouac- The Beat Generation

Jack Kerouac- Visions of Gerard

Jack Kerouac- Good Blonde and Others

Soren Kierkegaard- Fear & Trembling

Soren Kierkegaard- Sickness Unto Death

Val Kilmer- I’m Your Huckleberry

Stephen King- Later

TJ Klune- The House in The Cerulean Sea

Martin Laird- Into a Silent Land: A Guide to The Practice of Christian Contemplation

Travis Langley- Batman and Psychology

Raven Leilani- Luster

Ben Lerner- The Topeka School

Jonathan Lethem- Motherless Brooklyn

Carmen Maria Machado- In The Dream House

David Mamet- Writing in Restaurants

Greil Marcus- The Weird, Old America: The World of Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes

James Martin- Learning to Prey

Cormac McCarthy- The Counselor

Thomas Merton- Bread in The Wilderness

Thomas Merton- Mystics and Zen Masters

Thomas Merton- The Springs of Contemplation

Thomas Merton- Seeds

Ottessa Moshfegh- McGlue

Ottessa Moshfegh- Eileen

Ottessa Moshfegh- Homesick For Another World

Ottessa Moshfegh- Death in Her Hands

Jon Mundy- A Course in Mysticism and Miracles

Sayaka Murata- Earthlings

Graham Nash- Wild Tales

Adam Nayman- Paul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks

Christopher Nolan- Inception

Philip Norman- Wild Thing

Barack Obama- A Promised Land

Tommy Orange- There There

Chuck Palahniuk- The Invention of Sound

James Patterson- Deadly Cross

Richard Powers- The Overstory

Leah Raeder- Black Iris

Marieke Lucas Rijneveld- The Discomfort of Evening

Sogyal Rinpoche- The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Robbie Robertson- Testimony

Richard Rohr- The Naked Now

Philip Roth- Goodbye Columbus

Philip Roth- Letting Go

Lillian Ross- Picture

Jean-Paul Satre- Being and Nothingness

Paul Schrader- Transcendental Style in Film

Frederick Seidel- Poems: 1959-2009

Gary Snyder- No Nature

Bob Spitz- The Beatles

Oliver Stone- Chasing The Light

Howard Suber- The Power of Film

Courtney Summers- Sadie

Quentin Tarantino- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

David Thomson- Murder and The Movies

Jeff Tweedy- How to Write One Song

Ocean Vuong- On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

Benedict Wells- The End of Loneliness

Edward White- The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock

Peter Wohlleben- The Hidden Life of Trees

Kevin Young- Brown

Ed. Willis Barnstone, Marvin Meyer- The Gnostic Bible

Ed. David Carter- Allen Ginsberg: Spontaneous Mind: Selected Interviews

Ed. Jonathan Cott- Bob Dylan: The Essential Interviews

Ed. Barney Hoskyns- Joni: The Anthology

Ed. Thomas P. McDonnal- A Thomas Merton Reader

Ed. Bill Morgan- The Letters of Allen Ginsberg

Ed. Nduka Otiono, Josh Toth- Polyvocal Bob Dylan

[palaugranetes]

🔵BLAUGRANETS🔴

Arnau: Has anyone ever told you a plank of wood would do a better job at acting than you? @Riqui

Francisco: 🤭🤭🤭🤭

Ronald: I mean, you gotta give him credit though, he acts like he has some sense sometimes.

Arnau: 😂

Riqui: Ha ha ha hilarious

Arnau: I wish I was kidding.

Riqui: Has anyone told you you are as funny as a doorknob?

Arnau: 😒

Riqui: 😗✌🏻

Riqui: Night night idiots.. big match tomorrow.

Ronald: Yes run along little one.

Riqui: Shut it tree.

27 March 2021

Ansu: So no Riqui...

Iñaki: Man that really sucks

.....

Ansu: There have been more cards in this damn match than goals.. wake up dammit.

Arnau: How many damn shots.. off target.

Ansu: *insert "paaaaiiiiiinnn" gif*

Iñaki: I am falling asleep... score already!!

Arnau: Surprise surprise.

......

Ansu: WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!

Pedri: How was that a red card??!

Ronald: He didn't even touch him😂😂😂

Ronald: What was that?!

Ansu: @Oscar you should have decked the ref while you're at it.. you were being sent off anyways.

Ronald:😂

-----------

Oscar: 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😤😤😤

Pedri: Understandable.

Oscar: You guys saw it.. I was not hallucinating it right!?

Iñaki: We saw

Pedri: You were not

Riqui: Why do I even bother coming to this..

Pedri: It really is messed up.

Riqui: Thanks

Pedri: No really, I think you would have truly made a difference.

Riqui: 😭💙💙💙

Frenkie: Hello.. This is Frenkie's ghost saying if I see a ball in the coming 24 hours I'm gonna lose it.

Sergiño: You are probably going to bro.

Frenkie: 😣😣😣 I know

Francisco: Get some rest..

Riqui: Congrats on your goal bro @Francisco

Francisco: ❤❤❤

Frenkie: I plan to.

Ronald: Two opposites of the playing spectrum Frenkie and Riqui.

Pedri: Balance.. where is it

Ansu: A myth.

Frenkie: Night night guys 💙❤

Francisco: Sleep well mano✌🏻💙❤

Riqui:"Ronald: The opposites of the playing spectrum Frenkie and Riqui." SIGHS..

Pedri: 😕 I'm sure we'll have balance soon.

Ansu: With how things are going!?

Pedri: Shhhhhh

Ansu: 🙄

Pedri: Night night guys! Match tomorrow ✌🏻❤💛

28 March 2021

Ilaix:

Ilaix: So true @Sergiño so true.

Sergiño: bro he was the first name to pop up in my head.

Ilaix: Accurate though.

Arnau: Agreed

Riqui: Our resident "Sensitive boy"

Ilaix: 😌😌😌😌😌

....

Arnau: Who apparently has disappeared.

Ilaix: Where are you @Ansu come and face the music.

....

Riqui: Well he ignored your asses so hard.

Arnau: 😒😒

Ilaix:

Dembz: Shamelessly😌

Sergiño: 🤝🏽

Dembz: 😉😉

Ansu: It was only ONE TIME @Ilaix

Ilaix: Sure it was

Ansu: TONY STARK D WORDED WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?!

Ilaix: I wasn't talking about that bro.. we all shed tears that day

Ansu: shut up

Riqui: 👀

Francisco: What are you talking about then?

Ansu: No

Arnau: Say it

Ansu: No

Ansu: Moving on

Ansu: Who is Gerrard?

Sergiño: 🤦🏽‍♂️

Ilaix: Don't change the subject!

Ilaix: This video was like "When in doubt say Leo"

Pedri: As they should

JC: "I cannot speak spanish yet, but seems like he's a funny guy" yes he's hilarious @Sergiño

JC: He is just a bag of laughs isn't he.

Francisco: Is Gerard your summoning word dude?

JC: I am always here.. reading

Francisco: D'accord...

Riqui: Look at you 👏🏻👏🏻

Francisco: Gracies nanu 💙

Riqui: 🥺

Riqui: Best of luck tonight @Pedri 💪🏻💪🏻

Dembz: Who is Ricky?

Pedri: Rubio?

Dembz: He is but

Dembz: No

Ilaix: 😂😂😂😂

Riqui: Miralem MY NAME IS EVERYWHERE HOW EVEN

Pedri: "Riqui: Best of luck tonight @Pedri 💪🏻💪🏻" ❤💛❤💛❤

Ronald: Love this.. I'm gonna start calling you Ricky now

Riqui: Shut up Ronron

Ronald: Not happening Ricky

Oscar: I mean.. you walked into that one.

Ronald: hush

Ansu: Typos is what that video is about.

Carlitos: Ricky 😂 Gerrard 😂

Carlitos: I shouldn't be laughing at typos but I am kinda really bored watching Les Tres Bessones with Luki

Oscar: Curly watching Curly people.

Oscar: Cute

Ansu: Relatability

Riqui: I LOVE THEM

Arnau: Of course you do.

Sergiño: So Mira was not wrong when he guessed you'd be the one to memorize Disney songs huh

Ilaix: 😂

Pedri: He also said he's the youngest... he's not

Pedri: He's just the tiniest 😬😬

Dembz: 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Riqui: Bro.. that cut... deep

Francisco: Always a surprise with this one

Carlitos: 😂😂😂He's not wrong

Arnau: One of us is missing and I haven't heard a peep out of him since yesterday.

Oscar: He's probably taking a nap between naps.

Iñaki: He is not

Riqui: @Iñaki has the tree said anything about what we discussed??

Riqui: You know what, I'll talk to you on PM.

Iñaki: Okay

Carlitos: 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

Oscar: What is he planning?

Carlitos: How would I know I'm in Madrid

29 March 2021

Ansu: I gotta say.. I'm kinda hurt

Ansu:

Ansu: So what if he is your neighbor

Ansu: I dare you. I double dare you

Ansu: DO IT

JC: 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

JC: I will pay good money to see that happen.

Riqui: Remember when Leo dyed his hair blond?!

Pedri: I was so shook. I almost did it myself🙄

Riqui: OMG

Pedri: But then I thought about it and decided not to.

Ilaix: Your mom said no, didn't she.

Pedri: She did yeah 🙄🙄🙄

Oscar: 😂😂😂😂

Ansu: When Geri threatened us

Ansu:

JC: We still are very much 😥😥😓😟

Oscar: He really is taking his sweet time with you and rizos.

JC: I HATE IT.

Ansu:

Riqui: AND THEY WERE DELICIOUS!

Ronald: Sure they were

Riqui: WHY ARE YOU ON MY CASE THESE DAYS!! GO AWAY

Ronald: Tough.

Ansu: I expected more from you @Dembz tsk tsk tsk

Ansu:

Dembz: That movie question took me out.. There were so many I couldn't decide

Ansu: Excuses

Dembz: 😒😒😒😒😒

Carlitos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFmYUIGBjDE

Carlitos: @Riqui look away

Riqui: I hate you

Iñaki: Remember Los Protegidos?? I used to love that show!!

Ronald: Guys...

Carlitos: "Iñaki: Remember Los Protegidos?? I used to love that show!!" OH WOW, WHAT A BLAST!! It was amazing!!

Iñaki: YES!!

Oscar: "Ronald: Guys..." Yes?

Ronald: Where's Frenkie?

Francisco: He is probably sleeping. HE BETTER BE

Ronald: Good point

Carlitos: "Iñaki: YES!!" SI O NO? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOyXiZkGoeU

Iñaki: 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Oscar: I was so happy when the reboot news came out!!

Carlitos: YEEESSSS

Francisco: I feel bad for Frenks

Arnau: the amount of messages he is going to wake up to is gonna make him freak out

Francisco: That and I feel he won't get benched on Monday

30 March 2021

Riqui: Imagine not having Leo or Frenks for El Clasico

Arnau: No thank you

Ronald: GOD

Riqui: We know both will play.

Ronald: Sadly

Dembz: We should all get the yellows on their behalves

Riqui: With the 5 minutes I will probably be getting?!

Dembz: Rephrasing, the ones who start on Monday should volunteer to do their work

Dembz: Better?

Francisco: So you Serg and Oscar and possibly Ronald

Ronald: Gladly

Oscar: You know I am always ready to fight anyone

Dembz: I said Yellow cards Oscar NOT RED

Oscar: Yes yes

Riqui: 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Iñaki: Another way we can help Frenkie is if we all go to sleep now.

Riqui: Not sure if you're 22 or 82

Iñaki: Both now go to sleep

[365days365movies]

January 20, 2021: Taken (2008)

Well, I know one thing about this movie. He’s gonna find ‘em. And he’s gonna kill ‘em. And also, Luc Besson didn’t direct this movie! Yeah, my bad, he wrote this movie. But, then, he also wrote Leon, so I wasn’t entirely wrong. Anyway, 2008!

I remember this year well. Obama was elected the first Black president of the United States of America; the Olympics took place in Beijing, months after a massive earthquake in Sichuan; the Large Hadron Collider was totally gonna make a black hole; and, of course, the most important news event of that year: Iron Man and The Dark Knight came out.

And of course, the film Taken came out, creating what is arguably the most repeated film meme ever. Or, at the very least, it’s WAY up there. It’s a 12-year old meme at this point, but lemme tell ya: this thing was HUGE in 2008. Not the movie itself, just the meme. And I could lie and tell you that I’m watching this movie because it’s another French action thriller, and it’s fitting, but…

...it’s the meme. It’s 100% the meme, I’m not gonna lie to you guys. So, uh...yeah, Taken, let’s do this. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Recap

Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is dreaming of his daughter and wife. In the modern day, he brings a birthday gift to his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), and his bitter ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen), who is married to a very wealthy man, Stuart (Xander Berkeley). Bryan, meanwhile, is a recent and comparatively poor retiree, whose friends come over for a night of drinks.

Retiree from what, you ask? Well, it’s likely the CIA, given that his friends refer to military missions and Langley. They invite him to join security detail for a pop star, Sheerah (Holly Valance), In the process, he saves her from crazed fans, including a knife-wielding assailant. Not sure why that guy wants to LITERALLY STAB HER, but somebody needs to look into that guy!

Out of gratitude, Sheerah gives Bryan some references to give to his daughter, who wants to be a singer, apparently. However, when he sees her and Lenore the next day, all she wants from him is permission to go on a trip to Paris with her friends. When he shows his doubts for her safety, she’s upset, and his wife berates him for...government and military service? I mean, that stuff breaks up marriages, of course, but GODDAMN, Lenore’s bitter about it! Whoof.

Bryan’s definitely being made to be sympathetic, while Lenore’s the opposite of that. And Bryan’s understandably worried about his daughter’s safety, as she’ll be abroad. And we get the idea that Bryan’s a bit of a helicopter parent, but...c’mon! He’s underage daughter is asking to go to Paris with her friends! It’s cause for a parent to be worried, and yet Lenore is like, “She needs to be freeeeeeeeeee!” And that’s made even WORSE by the fact that both of them lie to Bryan, a father who clearly loves his daughter, because she’s actually following U2 on a music tour around Europe!

Which...really? U2? Who the hell can stand that much Bono, for their ENTIRE EUROPEAN TOUR? Anyway, what I’m saying is, Lenore sucks, and I’m not Kim’s biggest fan either. But I get the feeling that, given the one thing I know about this movie...Bryan’s gonna be proven right. So Kim and her friend, Amanda (Katie Cassidy) go to Europe, alone, despite Bryan’s understandable misgivings. 

They IMMEDIATELY get hit on by Peter, a French boy who gives them a ride. He invites them to a party, Amanda accepts for them, and this is OBVIOUSLY A BAD IDEA. That’s even further confirmed by Peter making a mysterious call, telling the other person about the girls’ location. Kim doesn’t call Bryan, as promised, and Amanda is clearly a TERRIBLE influence. Looks like Bryan was completely right to be concerned, if his daughter’s gonna be so irresponsible. Oh, also because they’re about to get kidnapped.

Luckily, Kim had called Bryan just before, after realizing that he had called her, and he guides her through the upcoming kidnapping. With his help, although she gets kidnapped, Bryan is able to figure out that the kidnappers are Albanian, and that one of them is a six-foot tall bearded man with a moon and star tattoo on his right hand DAMN THAT’S OBSERVANT. But still...she’s been Taken.

Someone picks up the phone...and he says the speech.

Had to do it, folks. It’s the most iconic scene in the film. Time for action! Bryan calls a friend with Langley connections, then goes straight to Lenore and Stuart’s place, who find out that BRYAN WAS FUCKING RIGHT GODDAMMIT HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW 

 Having COMPLETELY FUCKED UP, Lenore asks Bryan to get her back safely. They actually figure out that the men who kidnapped her are professional sex-traffickers, who specialize in kidnapping travelling women and putting them in prostitution. But they tend to disappear...within 96 Hours. That’s how long Bryan has to find her, as well as being an alternate title for this film!

The time limit, by the way, is a common construct for the action-thriller. You know, “she has 12 hours to live,” that kind of deal. Thrillers are going to be peppered throughout this year, and there are a few coming up as well, so might as well start with this one, right?

Bryan flies to Paris, then makes his way to the apartment, tracing Kim’s steps up to her kidnapping. He also finds her destroyed phone, alongside an SD card with photos. From this, he gets a blurry look at Peter. I get the feeling that his face isn’t about to look much better. Speaking of, Peter’s playing his old tricks at the airport, and is caught by Bryan. Painfully caught. After Bryan fights off another guy, and chases Peter up a road, Peter also gets caught by karma.

80 hours left. Having exhausted options, Bryan meets an old contact, Jean-Claude (Olivier Rabourdin), who tells him where the Albanians hang out. He hires an Albanian translator, then heads for a prostitute-heavy area. He harrangues a prostitute until her manager comes out, whom he puts a small microphone on. With the translator’s help, he discovers that they’re having “merchandise problems” at a construction site. 

Following a hunch, he makes his way there, and sees several drug-addicted young women in a makeshift brothel. Also there is his daughter’s jacket. The prostitute that has it, however, is not exactly cognitively sound at the moment. So...she’s Taken. By Bryan, who fights his way out of the brothel and construction site, with gunshots, explosions, and car chases along the way.

Bryan brings the girl back to a hotel, where he somehow gets ahold of an IV and medicine, and detoxes her in the room. Which, given the time frame and other factors...seems like a very large risk to take for testimony that, let’s be honest, right not exist. Still, as this is happening, he gets a call from Jean-Claude, asking to meet.

56 hours left. After 7 people dead, a destroyed trailer, and 3 people injured (and probably stolen medicine from a hospital, let’s be honest), Bryan isn’t exactly the best friend of the French government. He escapes police custody and heads back to the hotel, where the girl is cogent enough to remember where she got the jacket: from Kim herself, at the house with the red door on the road of paradise. No, really.

Bryan gets to the house, and poses as Jean-Claude...badly. He apparently passes his bluff check, and takes advantage of a corrupt police system, and makes them give him protection money. Over the course of the conversation, he figures out that one of them is Marco. Which means that he found him. And he said that when he found him…

After that spree is done, he searches the facility and looks for Kim. He doesn’t find her...but he does find Amanda. And sadly, he’s too late for her. Turns out, though, that he didn’t kill Marko (Arben Bajraktaraj), the leader of the group. And of course not! He has some questions.

Bryan tortures Marko using electricity, and he reveals that Kim’s been sold quickly, as she is a virgin. She’s been sold to Patrice Saint-Clair (Gerard Watkins), although Marko doesn’t know where he is. And so, Bryan fulfills his promise, and electrocutes him. He then makes his way to meet Jean-Claude at his home. And, uh...that’s when he crosses a line.

...Um. Bryan shot his wife. And yeah, Jean-Claude’s clearly not on the up-and-up, but he’s not directly complicit in the kidnapping of his daughter. And yeah, he’s in Bryan’s way, but JESUS CHRIST DUDE. He officially loses the moral high-ground here for me, even if his cause is just. Jean-Claude concedes, and Bryan gets the information that he’s looking for and leaves, knocking Jean-Claude out in the process.

Bryan goes to the Saint-Clair residence, where an auction is taking place for various young women. The last of these is, of course, Kim. Having barged into a booth of one of the buyers, he forces him to buy Kim (ew). Unfortunately, he’s caught and chained to a pipe, where Saint-Clair’s henchmen are about to kill him. But, of course...

Bryan escapes and kills Saint-Clair in the process, but not before finding out that Kim’s been Taken to a boat. He obtains a car, and after a length (and seizure-inducing) car chase, gets onto the boat, which is owned by the Sheik, a man of unknown Arabic origin. And yeah, in case you were wondering, this feels very...VERY...wrong. It’s brief, yeah, but...you gave a rich Arabic guy multiple wives obtained through illegal means and made them the main villain? FUCKIN’ OOF BRUV

Anyway, as expected, Bryan kicks the asses of everybody on the boat, and finally rescues Kim, killing the Sheik in the process. The two have a tearful embrace, and Bryan NEVER LETS HER OUT OF HIS SIGHT AGAIN PROBABLY. THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT BONO. THIS IS ALL YOUR GODDAMN FAULT.

Well, Bryan wins the I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG GODDAMIT award, Kim gets to go home and meet that singer from before, Lenore gives Bryan some consideration as a human being for once, Stuart stepfathers, and that’s Taken! Also, WHERE IN THE HELL ARE AMANDA’S PARENTS, A GIRL IS DEAD

Epilogue soon!

[althe-fandoms]

Full list of fandoms

Supernatural (Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Castiel, Rowena, Crowley, Chuck Shurley, Jack, Bobby Singer, John Winchester)

Criminal Minds (Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, Penelope Garcia, David Rossi, Aaron Hotchner, Jennifer Jareau, Emily Prentiss, Luke Alvez, James Gideon, Kate Callahan)

Why Don't We (limelight) (Zach Herron, Jonah Marias, Corbyn Besson, Jack Avery, Daniel Seavey)

Disney Princesses (Elsa, Anna, Repunzel, Merida, Tiana, Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, Mulan)

One Direction (boy band) (Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik)

Taylor Swift (Swifty)

5 Seconds of Summer (5sos, rock band with boy band charisma) (Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Calum Hood, Michael Clifford)

Green Day (Rock Band) (Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt)

My Chemical Romance (rock band, MCRmy, killjoy) (Gerard/Gee Way, Mikey Way, Frank Iero, Ray Toro, Matt Pelissier, Bob Bryar)

Panic! At the Disco (Pop rock band, sinners) (Brendon Urie/Beebo, Ryan Ross, Dallon Weekes, Brent Smith, Jon Walker)

Rick and Morty (tv show) (Rick Sanchez, Morty Smith, Summer Smith, Beth Smith, Diane Sanchez, Jerry Smith, Mr. Nimbus, maybe occasionally Bonnie Sinclair-Sanchez)

Harry Potter (book / movie series) (Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Bellatrix Lestrange)

More will be added as my obsessions grow

[forgedfromlove]

Traditions of the Trinbagonian Wake

Both text and illustrations taken from Folklore and Legends of Trinidad and Tobago, by Gerard A. Besson. Art by Alfred Codallo, Avril Turner, Peter Shim, Stuart Hahn, and Sue Ann Gomes:

“The wake for a deceased member of the village is a noisy affair and almost not at all sad! Several of the activities of a wake are depicted in the picture above: the "raconteur", who is regaling the children with his stories; the limbo dancers who need strong thigh and back muscles to succeed; and, inside the house, the neighbours, family members and friends who came to sing hymns and mourn the deceased. Below are the bongo dancers, challenging each other with their complicated choreographies.

Card playing is going on, and kind women have baked cookies, biscuits and other goodies and pass them around with coffee. A wake usually takes place at night, when flambeaux light the yard, making the shadows of the villagers dance upon the bark of the trees.”

Limbo

“Is an athletic ‘dance game’ played at wakes. Its origin is lost in time, but West African visitors seem to recognise a slight resemblance to one of their children's games. In any case, this dance is wholly Trinidadian. Like calypso, it is popular throughout the West Indies.

Limbo is the reverse of the high jump. A stick is held by two men at about three feet high and dancers pass under without touching the bar, to the singing of the chantwell, accompanied by the beating of the qua qua (dried bamboo slits). No part of the body except the sole of the feet should touch the ground. As the stick is lowered after each round, the dancers keep falling back to the ground, leaving only the most supple man or woman to claim championship honours.”

Bongo

“A folk-dance, this complicated, athletic pastime is usually performed at wakes. It relies on the principle that one dancer has to repeat the movement of the other, plus add one of his own. As the bongo goes on, the movements become more and more intricate, as one dance-step, twist or turn is added on top of the other. The winner is the dancer who can repeat the other's movements to perfection and with beauty, and the loser is the one who fails in remembering the string of movements.

The bongo is usually accompanied by handclapping and "qua-qua" - that is, two pieces of bamboo rhythmically beaten together.”

[internationallookbooks]

🍃Folklore in T&T🍃

Every country has its own rich folklore. Stories of creatures and myths; legends and rituals.

Below are some of the best books based on the folklore of Trinidad and Tobago. In this post, I've teamed up with The Witchery Cove.  She has made her own list of books based on her blog centred around educating people about ancient religions and the supernatural. 

Check out her blog post here and catch up on all her other post to get familiar with the unworldly tales! 

And at the end are some of my thoughts on the books listed below~

Folklore and Legends of Trinidad and Tobago by Gerard Besson

This book tells the tales of the diverse characters in Trinidad and Tobago's folklore and of the superstitions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Papa Bois, douens and Soucouyant are some of the most well-known characters but even more can be read about in this interesting book.

Trinbagonian Folklore: As Told in Poetry by Amber Drappier

A poetry book that describes the stories behind the islands' folklore characters and behaviours.

Legends of the St. Ann's Flood by Debbie Jacob

For a long time, no one knew the reasons behind the flood that struck St. Ann's. That was until a boy named Jabari was tasked by Papa Bois, the king of the forest, to spread the news of what had actually transpired after being rescued from the river queen, Mama Dlo.

Folklore Stories of Trinidad and Tobago by Al Ramsawack

This book is a compilation of short stories written by Ramsawack about the various superstitions and characters that Trinidad and Tobago spin tales about. The influences for these stories come from all over including French, East Indian, Spanish and African cultures.

Al Ramsawack is a famous author who has recently published Folklore Stories in July, 2018 and is currently available to the public. This article from the newspaper highlights in more detail of who he is and the work he has done thus far.

My Thoughts~

Here are my opinions of mt favourite and least favourite books from the list even though I have read them all at one point before.

Honestly, of the 3,  Folklore and Legends of Trinidad and Tobago by Gerard Besson is my all time favourite book where Trinidad's folklore is concerned. It is well written and sets the appropriate tone of story telling to fit the characters and superstitions being portrayed.  The stories in this book used to scare me as a child but I've grown to appreciate the spreading of our culture it has done.  As with Amber Drappier's collection of poetry. It is simply great for casual reading.

However, I personally found that the Legend of the St. Ann's Flood had a good start but became very slow in the middle of the story. I became too bored with the book back in primary school and I did not have any appreciation for the overall story. I had many friends who enjoyed the book but to me, it was not written in a way to keep me constantly hooked. Perhaps if I read it again my opinion will change. But I do wish that more persons would give it a read as it really isn't a bad book.

[galleryyuhself]

Galleryyuhself - A look back

Galleryyuhself - What a year... Iwer sang the anthem, Drew, we never expected your passing. Marlene McDonald did pass away. Cyber security in Trinidad and Tobago was challenged big time. That shark backpack was super annoying. People wore pink for Barbie, Gerard Besson said goodbye. Machel Montano and a whole book on Woodbrook was enjoyed by the public...COVID-19 alledgedly ended. Jada ...too soon, Denise and Leroy Calliste made us cry for losing them. CRIX did a nostalgic product everybody loved and Prince Harry set the tone with his tell all.

L o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o w h a t 's t o c o m e i n 2 0 2 4.

[thisdaynews]

Gerard Pique & FC Andorra: Why Barcelona defender bought a fifth-tier Spanish team

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/gerard-pique-fc-andorra-why-barcelona-defender-bought-a-fifth-tier-spanish-team/

Gerard Pique & FC Andorra: Why Barcelona defender bought a fifth-tier Spanish team

FC Andorra’s Estadi Prada de Moles has just one stand with capacity for around 530 fans

Surrounded by mountains and 4,000ft above sea level sits the 530-seater Estadi Prada de Moles.

It is here, in the tiny Andorran village of Encamp, that Barcelona defender Gerard Pique dreams of hearing the Champions League anthem.

He has heard it before, of course, having won the competition four times as a player. But now he wants to experience it as a club owner.

In December, soon after transforming tennis’ Davis Cup, the Pique-owned Kosmos group bought FC Andorra, then in Spanish football’s fifth tier.

Pique has big ambitions for Spain’s version of Salford City – the English non-league team owned by six former Manchester United players.

With one promotion secured already, Pique, manager Gabri and first-team player Federico Bessone talk BBC Sport through a remarkable five months.

‘A risky venture’

Pique with the squad at the announcement of a sponsorship partnership with Andorra bank MoraBanc

FC Andorra, who were founded in 1942, have played in the Spanish league system since 1948.

When Kosmos took charge of the club, they were struggling with debt, one point off the relegation places and 17 points behind the leaders of the Primera Catalana.

“No-one thought FC Andorra could be a very interesting prospect, but we analysed it and thought it had great potential,” says Kosmos director Ferran Vilaseca.

Pique, 32, heard of the club through “friends of friends” from Andorra and thought “it could be an interesting opportunity”.

“The main difference with other clubs in Spain is here there’s a whole country backing up the team,” says the Spain centre-back.

“We don’t want to be just an investor, we want to be involved in the team, to make it better and place the team in higher divisions.”

The World Cup winner’s first move was to appoint former Barcelona players Gabri and Albert Jorquera as manager and assistant manager respectively.

Gabri spent 13 years at the Nou Camp, winning the Champions League in 2006. The 40-year-old had been in charge of Barca’s youth teams and managed Swiss top-flight side FC Sion before moving to Andorra.

“Friends and family were surprised and questioned me because it was a risky venture,” he says.

“They asked if I was sure because it involved a change of country and I had to leave my family.

“Leaving the professional world to go down so many levels, you have little to gain and a lot to lose. But Gerard convinced me – his attitude especially.”

A Barca makeover

Gabri won the Champions League at Barcelona as a player

Gabri acknowledges taking charge of a semi-professional team in the Spanish fifth tier was “very different to what I was used to”.

“My first impression was it’s an amateur team which trained with quite difficult means with a difficult schedule,” he says. “The players have jobs – they work during the day and train at night.”

The squad, which included several Andorra internationals, has been given a Catalan makeover and now features graduates from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, including Bessone, Marti Riverola, and Adria Vilanova – the son of late Barca boss Tito.

“Players like Riverola or Bessone were at some point in a team with me or players like [Barcelona forward] Leo Messi,” Pique says.

Argentine defender Bessone, who has played for Swansea City and Leeds United, dropped a division from Catalan side Prat to join FC Andorra.

There he has been reunited with former Charlton team-mate Ruben Bover.

“I rang him and asked him what he was doing there because, with all due respect, this was the Primera Catalana,” said Bessone.

“It was not easy to move. I decided to join because I liked everything they were telling me. And, amazingly, everything they have told me has come true.”

Bessone has played for Barcelona B as well as Swansea and Leeds

Bessone remembers Pique from the Barcelona academy, and played alongside Messi in the C team.

“Before my first game, Pique came to Andorra to introduce himself and explained what was going on,” said Bessone.

“He remembered me from our time together at Barcelona. It says a lot about the kind of humble, friendly person he is.”

Because of his playing commitments, Pique was only able to watch a handful of games in person last season.

“I would like to go more often but Barcelona has a very tight calendar,” he says. “But I follow the games.

“My parents and my brother have gone to support the team several times – they were present the day they won the league.”

Gabri adds: “He always tries to come to speak to the players and encourage them and be close to the team.

“It was a bit difficult for the players at first. There was a lot of change, and then Pique was coming to games. There was a bit of nervousness and pressure.

“But when you know Gerard, he gives you confidence. Now it’s a bit more accepted.”

‘The lads have never seen so many fans’

An estimated 1,500 fans watch FC Andorra win promotion

The Pique effect has not just been felt on the pitch.

“At the beginning the fans did not believe what was going to happen,” says Vilaseca. “I remember the first game I went to see there were 10-15 people. Nowadays there can be 300-400 fans.”

Bessone estimates there were 1,500 fans present when the team secured promotion last month – packing out the stadium’s one stand and watching from the road behind, adding “the lads from Andorra had never seen so many fans.”

“With the results and our improving league position we’ve been able to attract more and more people,” says Gabri. “There’s been a very big change from the people who came before and who come now.”

Pique could not attend as it came a day after Barcelona were beaten by Valencia in the Copa del Rey final.

“When we started to follow the club the idea of promotion was real, but we were aware of the difficulty,” he says.

“The squad kept believing in the project and trained even harder. Their attitude is what got us promoted this year. I was really proud.”

FC Andorra will play in the Tercera Division next season

Copa del Rey return and the future

Pique says he is aware of Salford City, who were bought by his former Manchester United team-mates Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, while another ex-United player, David Beckham, is also now a co-owner.

They are preparing for their first season in the English Football League after four promotions in five years.

“Having former professional players involved in lower-division teams is something positive,” says Pique. “It gives them extra support and make these leagues more interesting, for supporters and media.”

Next season, FC Andorra will play in the Tercera Division and will be in the draw for the Copa del Rey for the first time in 24 years – offering a potential meeting with Pique’s Barcelona.

Gabri says the first aim is to reach the Segunda Division and turn professional.

“I think it can be done,” he says. “Andorra is a country that wants to do something beautiful with football.”

He plans to be at the club for a “long time”, describing it as: “like a child that you want to watch grow up”.

Pique is “ambitious” and does “not want to talk about boundaries in this project”.

Asked if he will ever play for the club, he said: “I’m a Barcelona player and at the moment I’m not considering anything else.”

But what of his hopes of bringing European football to the club?

“Gerard says his dream is to listen to the Champions League song in Andorra,” says Vilaseca.

“We want to go step by step, with a lot of humility and respect to other teams. We have great ambitions. Dreams are difficult but not impossible.

“We want to become one of the key representatives of Andorra within the Spanish landscape and European landscape, for the country to be proud of this team.”

Additional reporting and translation by Becky Grey.

FC Andorra will play in next season’s Copa del Rey and could meet Barcelona

Read More

[snaliap-blog]

Research Application

Research Question: To what degree does the population of Trinidad believe in local folktales?

Certain things to note:

my population sample is limited to Trinidad for geographic reasons (inter-island transport is inconsistent and unreliable) and

I chose the topic of folktales and not folklore, as folklore constitutes of folktales, superstitions, dances, songs, remedies, etc.)

To conduct research on this topic over 20 secondary sources of information was used including published books on Folklore as well as internet resources. For primary sources of information surveys were distributed online as well as semi-structures interviews were conducted.

The quantitative research method, surveys, was chosen as a primary research method since it was objective, cost effective and easily administered to large number of participants. The survey was distributed online via Survey Monkey.  The link to the survey was given to friends, family and colleagues. Ellij Nicholas, the supervisor, also indicated that he would share the link to some high school teachers and students that he knew, so that the sample would include people between 13-18 year olds. 

The survey questions were structured accordingly:

Participant demographics

Familiarity with Folk

 Whether or not participants have had 1st hand encounters with folktale charachers or if they know someone who has had. (This is to help ascertain the level of belief of the participant).

Whether or not the participant does anything to ward off folktale characters (This is to help ascertain the level of belief of the participant). As even if they claim not to have believed in folklore, sometimes people would do things like pray for protection. So whilst they say they don’t believe in folktale characters, on some level to do five it credence.

Semi-structured interviews, a qualitative research method, were conducted to help offer more insight into the topic as surveys would show what people believe, but interviews could help explain why they do or do not believe in folklore. The interview candidates were not randomly chosen. Chinelle had reached out to her contacts and was able to secure participants from Mayaro. The participants from Chaguaramas were volunteers that we solicited at the filming location and the interviews in Lopinot we organised by reaching out through official and unofficial means. Initially we wished to visit Moruga and conduct interviews there as the village was mentioned multiple times in various secondary sources as a place with rich folklore, but after contacting the person in charge of the Museum in Moruga who directed us to someone in Lopinot, who then directed us to someone else, that happened to be a family member or one of the crew’s co-worker, who then recommended Mr. Martin Gomez). Mr. Gomez himself then gave us a brief tour of the area and led us to another person we were able to interview.

Importance

As communication technology and media have brought the country closer to the rest of the world, we must figure out what our cultural identity is and how to maintain it. Research into the continued belief of folklore is important as it provides insight into the current state of local culture. It will also help to determine if there is a decline of oral traditions being passed down and what this could mean for the continued existence of the local culture.  

Research for Book Content

Chinelle and I compiled data on each folktale and carnival character entry and then combined it with primary sources of information (i.e. semi-structured interviews) to create the initial descriptions to give the illustrator.

In addition to Kumar Mahabir and Gerard Besson’s books, we also came across Myths and Maxims by Josanne Leid and Unnatural Encounters by Amber Drapier. Using these books as well as others and various online sources we decided on what content to include in our book and how we would go about it.

As our research into prior media continued we realised that we wanted to include a section on local superstitions. To gather this information we reached out to friends and family members and collected some of their beliefs via whatsapp, email, telephone and in person.

The next section that we ended up including in the book was the Tales of Lopinot. Our visit there led us to a lot of content that we had not uncovered in other books before. While there we were provided with a rich history and were charmed by the community. Thus we dedicated an entire section on the area and structured it around the heritage site and the interview content from Mr. Martin Gomez.

We had always wanted to include a section on Bush medication and gathered the information from the interviews we conducted.

After finding scarce information on local Carnival Characters in the various local bookstores, we concluded that to make our book more unique we would include a section on them. This was justified as Carnival Characters can be considered local folklore even though it is tied to a festival. The Carnival Character section was created using mostly secondary sources as we were unable to find many people who could describe them to us and we were unable to secure an interview an expert like Peter Minshall.