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thedisabilitybookarchive · 4 months ago

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Disability in Non-Fiction #1: Plain Text Edition

A plain text version of this post. Here you will find detailed image descriptions and easier-to-read versions of each book summary. If you think that any image descriptions/summaries need to be updated, please let me know!

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‘How to Live Free in a Dangerous World’- Lawson, Shayla

[ID: A book cover. The background is a pale orange colour. In the centre, a large photograph of a person with brown skin standing in front a desert under a blue sky. They have short braided brown hair swept over their left eye, and have their arms crossed over their chest, with one hand resting on the side of their face. The title “How to Live Free in a Dangerous World” is around them in large orange writing that covers the length of the photo. The subtitle “A Decolonial Memoir” is to the right their head in very small white writing. The author’s name “Shayla Lawson” is below the title, at the bottom of the photograph, in smaller yellow writing. Black text at the bottom of the cover reads, under the author’s name, reads “author of ‘this is major’, a national book critics circle award finalist”. /end]

Summary:

Poet and journalist Shayla Lawson follows their National Book Critics Circle finalist This Is Major with these daring and exquisitely crafted essays, where Lawson journeys across the globe, finds beauty in tumultuous times, and powerfully disrupts the constraints of race, gender, and disability.

With their signature prose, at turns bold, muscular, and luminous, Shayla Lawson travels the world to explore deeper meanings held within love, time, and the self.

Through encounters with a gorgeous gondolier in Venice, an ex-husband in the Netherlands, and a lost love on New Year’s Eve in Mexico City, Lawson’s travels bring unexpected wisdom about life in and out of love. They learn the strength of friendships and the dangers of beauty during a narrow escape in Egypt. They examine Blackness in post-dictatorship Zimbabwe, then take us on a secretive tour of Black freedom movements in Portugal.

Through a deeply insightful journey, Lawson leads readers from a castle in France to a hula hoop competition in Jamaica to a traditional theater in Tokyo to a Prince concert in Minnesota and, finally, to finding liberation on a beach in Bermuda, exploring each location—and their deepest emotions—to the fullest. In the end, they discover how the trials of marriage, grief, and missed connections can lead to self-transformation and unimagined new freedoms.

‘Being Seen’- Sjunneson, Elsa

[ID: A book cover. It is a dark black with faint, grey, writing over it. The writing, from top to bottom, reads: “Elsa Sjunneson” “Being Seen” “One Deafblind Woman’s Fight to End Ableism” All in capitals. The “I” in “Being Seen” is designed to look like an opening of sorts, with a ray of light coming through. /end]

Summary:

A deafblind writer and professor explores how the misrepresentation of disability in books, movies, and TV harms both the disabled community and everyone else.

As a deafblind woman with partial vision in one eye and bilateral hearing aids, Elsa Sjunneson lives at the crossroads of blindness and sight, hearing and deafness—much to the confusion of the world around her. While she cannot see well enough to operate without a guide dog or cane, she can see enough to know when someone is reacting to the visible signs of her blindness and can hear when they’re whispering behind her back. And she certainly knows how wrong our one-size-fits-all definitions of disability can be.

As a media studies professor, she’s also seen the full range of blind and deaf portrayals on film, and here she deconstructs their impact, following common tropes through horror, romance, and everything in between. Part memoir, part cultural criticism, part history of the deafblind experience, Being Seen explores how our cultural concept of disability is more myth than fact, and the damage it does to us all.

‘Disability Pride’- Mattlin, Ben

[ID: A book cover. The background is made of simple, colourful red, cream, white, yellow and teal shapes. Large text reads, from top to bottom: “Disability Pride” in large, black capitals, “Dispatches from a Post-ADA World”in smaller, black capitals, “Ben Mattlin”, in slightly bigger red capitals. /end]

Summary:

An eye-opening portrait of the diverse disability community as it is today and how attitudes, activism, and representation have evolved since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In Disability Pride, disabled journalist Ben Mattlin weaves together interviews and reportage to introduce a cavalcade of individuals, ideas, and events in engaging, fast-paced prose. He traces the generation that came of age after the ADA reshaped America, and how it is influencing the future. He documents how autistic self-advocacy and the neurodiversity movement upended views of those whose brains work differently. He lifts the veil on a thriving disability culture—from social media to high fashion, Hollywood to Broadway—showing how the politics of beauty for those with marginalized body types and facial features is sparking widespread change.

He also explores the movement’s shortcomings, particularly the erasure of nonwhite and LGBTQIA+ people that helped give rise to Disability Justice. He delves into systemic ableism in health care, the right-to-die movement, institutionalization, and the scourge of subminimum-wage labor that some call legalized slavery. And he finds glimmers of hope in how disabled people never give up their fight for parity and fair play.

Beautifully written, without anger or pity, Disability Pride is a revealing account of an often misunderstood movement and identity, an inclusive reexamination of society’s treatment of those it deems different.

‘Crip Kinship’- Kafai, Shayda

[ID: A book cover. The background is light blue, with colourful pictures of butterflies, flowers and a house setting featured in the centre. Lower right centre of the image, a black figure in a long sleeved, billowing dress, holding a curved black walking stick in their right hand. Behind them, a drawing of a room with a table, chair, pink wall with a window, and a blank wall with an orange picture. Text on the book cover, from top to bottom, reads: The title “Crip Kinship” in large black font at the top of the image, The subtitle “The Disability Justice & Art Activism of Sins Invalid” in smaller black capitals, in the upper right corner of the image, The authors name “Shayda Kafai” in medium black capitals in the lower right of the image, partially overlapping the figure in the dress. /end]

Summary:

The remarkable story of Sins Invalid, a performance project that centres queer disability justice.

In recent years, disability activism has come into its own as a vital and necessary means to acknowledge the power and resilience of the disabled community, and to call out ableist culture wherever it appears.

Crip Kinship explores the art activism of Sins Invalid, a San Francisco Bay Area-based performance project, and its radical imaginings of what disabled, queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming bodyminds of colour can do: how they can rewrite oppression, and how they can gift us with transformational lessons for our collective survival.

Grounded in the disability justice framework, Crip Kinship investigates the revolutionary survival teachings that disabled, queer of colour community offers to all our bodyminds. From their focus on crip beauty and sexuality to manifesting digital kinship networks and crip-centric liberated zones, Sins Invalid empowers and moves us toward generating our collective liberation from our bodyminds outward.

‘Sounds Like Home’- Wright, Mary Herring

[ID: A book cover. The background is yellow. A black and white photograph in the centre shows two young black children and a dog in front of a car. The title “Sounds Like Home” is at the tope in large, curvy black writing. The subtitle “Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South” is written in small orange writing, on three black bars on the right side of the cover. The author’s name “Mary Herring Wright” is written in curvy black writing, slightly smaller than the title, at the bottom of the cover. /end]

Summary:

Mary Herring Wright’s memoir adds an important dimension to the current literature in that it is a story by and about an African American deaf child. The author recounts her experiences growing up as a deaf person in Iron Mine, North Carolina, from the 1920s through the 1940s. Her story is unique and historically significant because it provides valuable descriptive information about the faculty and staff of the North Carolina school for Black deaf and blind students from the perspective of a student as well as a student teacher. In addition, this engrossing narrative contains details about the curriculum, which included a week-long Black History celebration where students learned about important Blacks such as Madame Walker, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and George Washington Carver. It also describes the physical facilities as well as the changes in those facilities over the years. In addition, Sounds Like Home occurs over a period of time that covers two major events in American history, the Depression and World War II.

Wright’s account is one of enduring faith, perseverance, and optimism. Her keen observations will serve as a source of inspiration for others who are challenged in their own ways by life’s obstacles.

‘The Right to Maim’- Puar, Jasbir K.

[ID: A book cover. The background is white. A painting stretches from the bottom of the cover to bottom of top quarter. In the upper quarter of the cover, text reads: The author’s name “Jasbir K. Puar” is at the top in black writing. The title “The Right to Maim” is immediately below this in red caps. The subtitle “Debility, Capacity, Disability” is immediately below this in smaller, yellow caps. The painting is immediately below this. The background is a dark cream. It appears to show a humanoid figure climbing a mound. Two other figures appear to be falling off the mound. There are splashes of red paint around the mound and the figure on it. /end]

Summary:

In The Right to Maim Jasbir K. Puar brings her pathbreaking work on the liberal state, sexuality, and biopolitics to bear on our understanding of disability. Drawing on a stunning array of theoretical and methodological frameworks, Puar uses the concept of “debility”—bodily injury and social exclusion brought on by economic and political factors—to disrupt the category of disability. She shows how debility, disability, and capacity together constitute an assemblage that states use to control populations. Puar’s analysis culminates in an interrogation of Israel’s policies toward Palestine, in which she outlines how Israel brings Palestinians into biopolitical being by designating them available for injury. Supplementing its right to kill with what Puar calls the right to maim, the Israeli state relies on liberal frameworks of disability to obscure and enable the mass debilitation of Palestinian bodies. Tracing disability’s interaction with debility and capacity, Puar offers a brilliant rethinking of Foucauldian biopolitics while showing how disability functions at the intersection of imperialism and racialized capital.

‘Uncomfortable Labels’- Dale, Laura Kate

[ID: A book cover. The background is a close photograph of some kind of knitted garment, and its label. The garment is blue. The label is in the centre. Text on the label reads: The title “Uncomfortable Labels” in large black caps The subtitle “My Life as a Gay Autistic Trans Woman” in smaller black caps, lower left of this The author’s name “Laura Kate Dale” at the bottom of the label in black writing. A smaller label attached to the bottom has a single, black capitalised “M” written on it. /end]

Summary:

“So while the assumption when I was born was that I was or would grow up to be a neurotypical heterosexual boy, that whole idea didn’t really pan out long term.”

In this candid, first-of-its-kind memoir, Laura Kate Dale recounts what life is like growing up as a gay trans woman on the autism spectrum. From struggling with sensory processing, managing socially demanding situations and learning social cues and feminine presentation, through to coming out as trans during an autistic meltdown, Laura draws on her personal experiences from life prior to transition and diagnosis, and moving on to the years of self-discovery, to give a unique insight into the nuances of sexuality, gender and autism, and how they intersect.

Charting the ups and downs of being autistic and on the LGBT spectrum with searing honesty and humour, this is an empowering, life-affirming read for anyone who’s felt they don’t fit in.

'Brilliant Imperfections'- Clare, Eli

[ID: A book cover. A photograph of stones can be seen. Over it, a dark box stretching from left to right at the top of the image. Text in the box reads: “Brilliant Imperfection”, in large caps. “Brilliant” is in green, “Imperfection is in white. “Grappling With Cure”, in small, green caps. “Eli Clare”, in white caps. /end]

Summary:

In Brilliant Imperfection Eli Clare uses memoir, history, and critical analysis to explore cure—the deeply held belief that body-minds considered broken need to be fixed.

Cure serves many purposes. It saves lives, manipulates lives, and prioritizes some lives over others. It provides comfort, makes profits, justifies violence, and promises resolution to body-mind loss. Clare grapples with this knot of contradictions, maintaining that neither an anti-cure politics nor a pro-cure worldview can account for the messy, complex relationships we have with our body-minds.

The stories he tells range widely, stretching from disability stereotypes to weight loss surgery, gender transition to skin lightening creams. At each turn, Clare weaves race, disability, sexuality, class, and gender together, insisting on the nonnegotiable value of body-mind difference. Into this mix, he adds environmental politics, thinking about ecosystem loss and restoration as a way of delving more deeply into cure.

Ultimately Brilliant Imperfection reveals cure to be an ideology grounded in the twin notions of normal and natural, slippery and powerful, necessary and damaging all at the same time.

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A short list of 8 non-fiction books featuring and/or discussing disability!

I don't highlight the non-fiction section of the archive enough, so I think this is a perfect opportunity.

A plain text version of this post exists here, featuring more detailed image descriptions of each book cover and easier-to-read versions of every summary.

Books on this list:

‘How to Live Free in a Dangerous World’- Lawson, Shayla

‘Being Seen’- Sjunneson, Elsa

‘Disability Pride’- Mattlin, Ben

‘Crip Kinship’- Kafai, Shayda

‘Sounds Like Home’- Wright, Mary Herring

‘The Right to Maim’- Puar, Jasbir K.

‘Uncomfortable Labels’- Dale, Laura Kate

'Brilliant Imperfections'- Clare, Eli

All of these books and more can be found on the Disability Book Archive.

Happy Disability Pride Month!

#books #disability books #disability #disability representation #the disability book archive #lgbtq books #lgbtq+#lgbtq representation #non fiction #disability pride month #disability pride #disability history #link #images #described #alt text #plain text #disability in non fiction #part 1

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total-drama-brainrot · 8 months ago

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RRRAAAHHHH, IL P!NOAH SM‼️‼️‼️‼️ Anyways, I’m wondering..

What happens during the earlier episodes, like Jamaica, Yukon, and even Egypt?

PLEASE TELL US WHAT HAPPENS, PRETTY PLEASE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

I think I've already delved into this somewhat, but for the most part the Psycho!Noah AU is canon-compliant (until the point of divergence). So a lot of the plotlines and such that happen throughout Island, Action and World Tour remain unchanged.

There is one key difference, though, in the fact that Noah's regularly toying with the show's audience. So in a lot of the challenges he'll do something absolutely batshit insane in the background- but he's quiet enough to not be noticed by his fellow castmates (save Izzy, or occasionally Owen) because his persona of a 'stoic, bookish nerd' is intentionally uninteresting and unthreatening enough for people to gloss him over.

For example, whilst canon Noah shows visible concern for Ezekiel in the World Tour intro, p!Noah watches him fall and grins, baring fanged amusement directly towards the camera.

Or, in the Yukon episode, when Noah hugs and is immediately rebuffed by Bridgette, he shoots the nearest camera a downright dangerous look- something both eerily blank and drowning in animosity- before motioning to lunge at Bridgette. Of course, Owen's quick to scoop up his little buddy into a heat preserving hug, so Noah's feigned attack doesn't work out, but the threat is there.

He later on clarifies in the confessional that he despises rude people; manners cost nothing, but rudeness might just cost someone their kidneys.

Or in Egypt, when he's left alone with just Izzy and Owen? Your boy plays dress up with his besties. He and Izzy wrap Owen up in the bandages (instead of Izzy herself being the one to 'mummify' herself) which Owen lets happen because he's kind of terrified of his girlfriend and his best friend just that good of a pal. They try to convince Owen to backtrack through the pyramid and scare the others who decided to 'go under', by pretending to be an actual mummy, but Izzy ends up getting too excited by the prospect and running ahead without them.

Instead, Noah and Owen stumble their way through to the other end of the pyramid, encountering mummy Ezekiel on the way. Owen gets spooked by the prospect of a real mummy, but Noah's not scared in the slightest* and even offers to fight it off- to protect Owen, of course. No other reason. (Fighting an actual mummy isn't exactly out there for a show as whacky as Total Drama, and Noah is always ready to throw hands with assumed adversaries.)

Owen, in his fear, runs away before Noah can 'defend his honour', leaving the crazy nerd to trail along in disappointment. Things continue as per canon from there.

(The Egypt change is a little sillier than the others, because p!Noah is primarily concerned with his own entertainment- that's his Top Priority- and he's more interested in playing a fun little prank on the rest of the cast with Izzy than he is using the solitude of the pyramid to torment the audience.)

Then there's smaller changes throughout the other episodes:

In Jamaica Noah's visibly ecstatic when DJ gets hurt on his third run of the course, and the audience can clearly see him holding back laughter when Gwen gets attacked by the electric eels during the diving challenge. He also actually participates in the first challenge, though he fails to uproot any 'treasures'.

In Paris, Noah forgoes the ball-throw trick (though it would've been a backup had his first option failed) by instead growling at the Sasquatch, intimidating it into leaving their team alone. He still dodges the lasers during "Oui, My Friends" and messes up their team's statue, but instead of just giving it extra limbs Noah somehow manages to Frankenstein his creation into something almost eldritch- before Alejandro fixes it.

In Japan, he initially tries to volunteer for the pinball challenge, citing his status as A Gamer as reason for his sudden interest (though it's really because Noah's just as much of a thrill-seeker as Izzy), but the honour goes to Alejandro because the baby panda seems to be inexplicably afraid of Noah. Their commercial has an odd grainy quality to it whenever he speaks in it, and his empty eyes never trail from the camera's lens, but no one on the cast notices.

In New York, he saves his team from an untimely demise by shooting his most deranged smile towards the alligator, though his team are fully unaware of this. Luckily the liability waver Chef had it sign negates Noah from any obligation to reimburse the reptile for the emotional/mental damages. He's still The Baby in the second challenge, that remains unchanged.

In London, he's a lot less abrasive towards his team during the clue hunt. He's also the one who ends up stripping the guard, because he gets bored of him and Owen repeatedly tying in rock-paper-scissors and Tyler's staunchly against it- Noah likes to think of himself as a Polite Young Man, all things considered, so he wasn't gonna make his teammates do something they didn't want to- and they find their first clue faster than in canon. That temporal lead is quickly squandered by Owen slowing down their team in his effort to get Noah to laugh at his jokes. The "eel" comment never happens as, after Tyler volunteers himself for the rack, Noah wastes no time abusing the opportunity to torture someone. Tyler's far too preoccupied to recognise the manic laughter that echoes through the dingy room as Noah's sadistic enjoyment, and Owen is just glad his little buddy is having fun (even if he wasn't the one to make him laugh).

As for earlier seasons... I haven't really thought that far back yet. A lot of the changes listed above were made up off the top of my head, too, so... 😳

But it'd be in the same vein as the differences here; Noah does small concerning things in the background of shots that don't really effect how the rest of the episodes play out, but are just enough for the greater audience to notice and sweat over.

I imagine, in-universe, there's probably compilation clips of "Noah Going Feral In The Background" or "Top 10 Moments Where Total Drama Contestants Almost Fell Prey To Noah", which he and his friends would watch post-season during their sleepovers to laugh at. Thankfully, their fellow cast members are kind of out of touch with the fanbase- save for Sierra, but she's already been discussed.

*I was gonna clarify why p!Noah isn't scared here when canon Noah is, but this posts already kind of long and the explanation is very wordy & science-heavy so... maybe in another 'lore' drop?

#in summary; p!noah's a creepy cryptid that haunts the background of the show #p!noah quickly became the most popular au on this blog apparently #yes i AM pulling au content out of my ass because ja3 sent me a cute reaction image. what about it?#and also because they asked very politely AND because they drew fanart for the AU but MOSTLY because of the reaction image #total drama #psycho!noah au #silly ideas #replies

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samanthahirr · 1 year ago

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The Quartermaster's Mission Holiday

The Quartermaster’s Mission Holiday

Another installment in the continuing series of “Stories Sam Isn’t Writing,” here’s a breezy outline for an alternating POV, 00Q meet-cute and romance set at James Bond’s home in Jamaica. This story takes place in an alternate timeline where Bond retired before Q became the new quartermaster. When M dispatches Q to Jamaica to recruit the former-agent back into MI6's service, a new kind of relationship develops.

Q’s POV: Six months after his promotion to Quartermaster, Q is summoned to a private meeting with M in her office. He assumes she’s going to request a mission-status update for 009, but instead M has a top-secret mission assignment for Q. She’s sending him to Jamaica to get in touch with the former 007, who retired from MI6 a couple years ago, and disappeared without a trace. James Bond’s reputation is legendary; Q has heard plenty of stories about Bond’s lethal exploits and incorrigible charm. And now M says it’s up to Q to convince Bond to return to the service; MI6 needs him back as 007.

This is a ludicrous task for Q—convincing a complete stranger to return to the agency he walked away from years ago! Nevertheless, M insists. She reassures Q that Bond has always had respect for his quartermasters. Her mouth turns up in a private smile. “He likes smart. And you’re the smartest employee I’ve got.” Given no choice in the matter, Q is promptly packed off to Bond’s location—a location so secret that only M knows it, and which Q is forbidden from sharing with anyone—with a promise that M will contact Bond to forewarn him of Q’s coming.

Bond’s POV: Bond gets a phone call from M informing him she’s calling in an old favor. Bond says, “You don’t have any left.” She laughs, “I still have an infinite number of favors, considering I’m single-handedly keeping the tax office from sniffing out your years of gambling winnings.” Bond snarls with begrudged fondness.

M tells Bond that her new quartermaster’s identity has been compromised by an enemy faction, and she’s intercepted word of a hit out on him. She’s sending Q off the grid—to Bond—for protection while she eliminates the source of the danger. Q will be covertly shadowed as far as Bond’s door, and then Q’s safety will be Bond’s responsibility. Bond acts pissed off, but he has been feeling restless lately. This mission should spice up the boredom.

Q’s POV: Bond is indeed expecting him when Q arrives at Bond’s waterfront cabin on a secluded, private beach in Jamaica, and Q’s reception goes better than he expected. (He was prepared for Bond to shut him out or threaten to shoot him.) Bond welcomes Q inside and gives him a tour of the small but scenic cabin. Bond isn’t unfriendly, but he lays out strict ground rules for staying in his home, including keeping away from the rear windows, never going more than 50 yards from the cabin alone, and drilling Q on the locations of all the spare guns, etc.

Q assumes Bond is a paranoid veteran who’s going batty in retirement. Over beers on the dock that first evening, admiring the truly stunning sunset, Q bluntly informs Bond that he’s been sent to recruit Bond back to MI6. Bond scoffs, “No you haven’t.” Q assures Bond that M needs him back as 007. Bond corrects him that M says Q needs protection from an international hit. Q bursts out laughing. Bond assures him that M swears Q’s life is in danger, and Bond is meant to see to Q’s protection for the next short while.

“That’s even more preposterous than my own mission,” Q marvels. “My god, I must really have been sent to recruit you back, if that’s the story she sold you.” Bond presses Q on his certainty. “I would know if my cover ID had been breached; I have alerts tracking that.” Q dips his toes in the water and sighs. “No, unless she’s lied to both of us, and there’s some secret, third reason for my trip, I’d say my version makes far more sense than yours. For all that my mission seems destined to disappoint her.” Q offers some scathing assessments of Bond’s lack of field readiness, disparages Bond’s fitness, etc. Bond is more than a bit bemused as he watches Q lay into him, recalling a similar conversation with a vivacious brunette 10 years prior.

Alternating POVs: Over the next few days, Bond insists on keeping Q within his sights at all times. They go out fishing on Bond’s yacht and spend time reading, walking the beach, and snorkeling. They discuss Bond’s last mission—the one that drove him to retire. Q makes a few earnest attempts to sell Bond on Q being a good quartermaster, extolling his own intelligence and the kinds of digital support he and his revamped branch offer to agents nowadays. (It would be an easier sell if he’d been permitted to bring any of his MI6 equipment with him. Or if Bond allowed WiFi at his home.) Bond seems to find Q’s earnestness endearing and amusing. And Q is frustrated by Bond’s lack of interest in all things MI6 and his continuing belief in a threat to Q’s life.

Although, the more time Q spends enjoying the fresh air and sunshine and disturbing lack of technology, the more Q suspects Medical of whispering in M’s ear. He’s received more than a few cautioning lectures about burnout since his appointment as quartermaster, and yes he knows they have a valid point, but there’s simply too much work to do, getting the branch modernized and hiring staff with newer skill sets. The prospect of this “mission” being a mandatory holiday galls, but at the same time it’s putting his recent lack of a personal life into perspective. God knows, he hasn’t even had time to open Grindr since he took the job….

Q and Bond sleep together on day 3, and it's such a thoroughly satisfying experience for both of them that they continue to do so. The less they talk about threats to Q and the merits of MI6, the better they get along, until they start to actually enjoy one another’s company. Bond is surprised to realize that he was perhaps lonely prior to Q’s arrival.

On Day 5, mercenaries actually do come to assassinate Q. Bond kills them with a good deal more skill than Q had expected, living up to his legend and then some. Once the last man is dead, Bond reports the attack to M. Q hacks into the mercenaries’ phones and sends their recent money-transfer records to M. An hour later, M calls back that they’ve identified the mole in MI6 who sold Q out, and she has dispatched another double-0 to eliminate the mole’s foreign handler. Q asks whether it’s safe to return to MI6 now, and she says to give them a couple more days to establish a new cover identity for him. Q asks about his ‘mission’ to recruit Bond. She tells Q to disregard those orders and advises Q to relax: “Medical says you’re due a holiday.” All he can do is laugh at the irony.

Bond and Q dispose of the corpses in an illegal limestone quarry that Bond just so happens to know about, some ten miles inland. They have sex a few more times, including on Bond’s yacht. And now that the threat to Q has passed, Bond drives Q around the island to see the sights. Bond belatedly notices that, while his vigilance naturally ramped up once he took charge of Q’s security, Bond hasn’t truly let his guard down in the two years since he left the service. Always looking over his shoulder, always defensive. What kind of a retirement to civilian life was that?

After two more days, Bond drives Q to the airport, and they say their goodbyes. “Look me up if you’re ever in London,” Q says, and Bond laughs as though he can’t read the sincerity in Q’s eyes. Q nods his acceptance and returns to London well-rested and tanned and with many fond memories of Bond and his tropical paradise retreat. The combination of man and locale could almost have been heaven, if only Q’s cats had been there with him. And if he were allowed to set up a WiFi router.

A week later, Bond seals up his cabin on the cove and takes to the sea, his course set for the UK. He arrives at Q’s door with three suitcases and a saucy grin. He gives a stunned Q a kiss on the cheek in greeting and says, “After letting you crash at my home for a week, I’ve decided you should return the favor.” Q welcomes him in, looks at his three suitcases, and asks, “How long are you planning to stay?” Bond checks around Q’s cottage, confirms there’s no sign of a partner in Q’s life, and pulls Q into a proper kiss, the kind he’s been missing ever since Q left Jamaica. “However long it takes MI6 to find me a new flat.” Q is stunned. “What…you’re back at MI6?” “You were very convincing, Quartermaster.” Q grabs Bond and kisses him passionately.

The End.

#007 fest 2023 #007 fest #teamqbranch #00q #stories sam isn't writing #my writing #romance #james bond

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justforbooks · 2 years ago

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By the mid-1950s, the singer Harry Belafonte had taken the lead role in an Oscar-nominated film, Carmen Jones; reached No 1 with his album Calypso, which helped find a mainstream audience for that musical style and became the first album ever to sell more than 1m copies; and headlined major venues around the US.

However, Belafonte found himself unable to use the main entrance to the Las Vegas hotels where he regularly performed – nor could he eat, stay or gamble in them. On tour in the south, he faced an evening curfew because of his skin colour. When he starred with Joan Fontaine in the then controversial film about an interracial relationship, Island in the Sun (1957), he was advised not to mention Fontaine in press interviews for fear of suggesting a romance between them. He learned that the power and respect that usually accompany fame and fortune could be largely illusory as far as black entertainers were concerned.

The enduringly handsome Belafonte, who has died aged 96, had great success not just as a honey-voiced singer and a compelling actor, but also as a passionate and erudite campaigner for civil rights.

The seeds of his ambition and his social conscience were sown by his tough childhood. Harold Bellanfanti was born in Harlem, New York, and raised in a cramped apartment. His parents came from the Caribbean. His father, also called Harold, had been born in Martinique and was an itinerant ship’s cook; his mother, Melvine, born in Jamaica, worked as a domestic servant.

When Harry was six, his father left the family.

The boy was sent by his mother to study in Jamaica, where his American accent made him feel like an outsider at school. In Jamaica, he loved visiting the banana markets; many years later, after his international success with The Banana Boat Song (Day-O), he observed: “Not by chance did that song become my signature. I knew of what I was singing.”

After a few years, Belafonte returned to New York, dropped out of high school and entered the navy. It was 1944 and he was 17. Two strokes of good fortune changed his life. First, he met Marguerite Byrd, a young teacher from a black middle-class family, who four years later became his wife. He abandoned the menial jobs he had been doing and, thanks to the GI Bill of Rights, became a student and enrolled at Erwin Piscator’s drama school, where his peers included Marlon Brando and Sidney Poitier. With the latter, Belafonte trained at the studio theatre of the pioneering American Negro theatre in Harlem.

Except for some off-Broadway shows, he found little work as an actor and began singing, mainly in jazz clubs, such as the Village Vanguard and the Royal Roost in New York, earning a reasonable living for a couple of years. He also began recording, including some of his own songs. Tiring of the routine, in 1950 he opened a small restaurant, the Sage, in Greenwich Village, entertaining customers with folk songs. This, and his attachment to calypsos (he became known as “the Calypso King”), changed his style, and he was soon performing in more prestigious venues. He had signed a deal with Jubilee Records in 1949, and his records began to sell. Throughout his career, he recorded dozens of albums, including live concerts at Carnegie Hall, New York.

Belafonte won a Tony award in 1954 for his performance in the musical revue John Murray Anderson’s Almanac. By then, his film career was under way. After playing a headteacher in Bright Road (1953), he was cast in Otto Preminger’s 1954 movie version of the Broadway hit Carmen Jones, opposite Dorothy Dandridge. This all-black adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen, in which both his and Dandridge’s voices were dubbed, was a considerable success.

In 1957, Belafonte had top 10 hits in the UK with The Banana Boat Song and the title track from Island in the Sun, before achieving his biggest recording success with Mary’s Boy Child, which spent seven weeks at No 1 in 1957 and was re-released for the following two Christmases.

He began to appear on television, toured successfully in Europe and recorded several programmes for BBC television, working for a fraction of his normal fee because he enjoyed the extended nature of the shows, which gave him time to develop his performance. He became one of the first major artists to tour with a multiracial band and he integrated black performers into orchestras in prestige venues where the musicians had been exclusively white.

Belafonte and Byrd divorced in 1957, and he married Julie Robinson, the first white dancer to work with the Katherine Dunham company. The breakdown of his marriage had led Belafonte to seek psychiatric treatment, and his psychiatrist’s husband, a stockbroker, subsequently became Belafonte’s agent and manager, replacing Jack Rollins, the man responsible for masterminding Belafonte’s early career.

The 1950s was a period of considerable civil rights activism for Belafonte, who cited his friend Martin Luther King as the dominant influence on his life. When they first met, in 1954, they were in their mid-20s. “His courage was really quite remarkable,” Belafonte recalled. He embraced King’s message of nonviolence and lent his support to protest movements. With King, Belafonte was one of those who planned the 1963 march on Washington.

In the following year, he helped to raise and then personally delivered, with the assistance of Poitier, $70,000 in cash to support the work of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Greenwood, Mississippi. Facing hostility from the Ku Klux Klan, the SNCC was striving to register black voters in the region. “In Mississippi’s vicious climate,” Poitier wrote, “the chances of a Klansman taking a potshot at me were actually pretty high.”

A television show, Tonight With Harry Belafonte (1959), brought Belafonte an Emmy, making him the first African American man to win the award. He returned to the screen in The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959); the story of racial conflict within the science-fiction genre worked effectively. In the same year he made a thriller, Odds Against Tomorrow, with a racial subtext behind the animosity between two criminals.

Belafonte won a Grammy for best folk performance in 1960 for a powerful album of chain gang songs, Swing Dat Hammer. In 1965 he won another Grammy for best folk recording for an album he made with Miriam Makeba, the anti-apartheid activist. But another musical collaboration, with Petula Clark on her TV special in 1968, raised Belafonte’s profile further. During their performance of the song On the Path of Glory, Clark held Belafonte’s arm – much to the objection of an executive from the show’s sponsor, who feared that this show of intimacy between a white woman and a black man would enrage southern audiences. Clark refused to cut the performance from the programme, which had a warm reception when it was broadcast.

Returning to acting in 1970, he played a black angel, sent to earth to help Zero Mostel, in The Angel Levine, which he co-produced. He fared better producing Buck and the Preacher (1972), directed by his co-star, Poitier. The pair’s subsequent film, Uptown Saturday Night (1974), proved less successful.

In the mid-1980s, inspired by the success of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Belafonte helped to organise the charity single We Are the World, written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and recorded by an all-star lineup of musicians including Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Diana Ross. The song reached No 1 in the US and the UK and won a Grammy. In 1987 Belafonte replaced Danny Kaye as UNICEF's goodwill ambassador; that year he chaired an International Symposium of Artists and Intellectuals for African Children in Senegal.

Having played himself in the satires The Player (1992) and Prêt-à-Porter (1994), Belafonte made a third film for the director Robert Altman, who cast him as Seldom Seen, a gang boss and club owner, in Kansas City (1996), for which Belafonte received the New York Critics Circle award for best supporting actor. Although he had not taken a leading role in a feature film for nearly 20 years, he was sufficiently tempted by the part of the bigoted Thaddeus Thomas in White Man’s Burden (1995), opposite John Travolta. He also joined the cast of Bobby (2006), Emilio Estevez’s film about Bobby Kennedy, whom Belafonte knew in the 60s.

Belafonte belatedly considered entering full-time politics in the Democratic party, but work, social commitments and family took precedence. Among his ongoing social concerns over the years were the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; a school for emotionally disturbed boys; the prevention of gang violence; and his own Belafonte Foundation of Music and Arts.

He remained a force to be reckoned with, in 2002 likening the then US secretary of state Colin Powell to a slave who “got the privilege of living in the house if you served the master, exactly the way the master intended to have you serve him”. He lent his support to the Occupy movement in 2011, and when asked in a Guardian interview the following year which living person he most despised, he replied: “George W Bush, for his betrayal of America.”

His autobiography, My Song (2011), was followed by a documentary about his life, Sing Your Song. His final film role was a cameo as a veteran activist in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman (2018).

In 2008, following divorce from his second wife, he married Pamela Frank. She survives him, along with the two daughters of his first marriage, and the son and daughter from his second.

Harry Belafonte was one of the most important and influential campaigning black musicians in American history, though for the public at large he was better known for most of his career for the relaxed, middle-of-the-road image that he projected through his calypsos.

His true character was very different, for in the 60s he used his wealth, fame and organisational skills to bolster the civil rights campaign in the US and bring American attention to the apartheid regime in South Africa, playing a crucial role in promoting the careers of the South African musicians Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela.

He was always a smartly dressed figure with a powerful physical presence and a glorious husky growl, but was also a man of considerable bravery. He took part in such major events as the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery – where he made speeches, but had to leave town lying on the floor of a car, along with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, to escape the Klansmen.

But the suave crooner of calypsos was regarded with suspicion by black power leaders because of his links with the white establishment. Belafonte had his own campaign for bringing change, and was quite happy to talk to white politicians, though in 1986 he turned down a request from governor Mario Cuomo to stand for the Democrats as senator in New York.

His agenda included forging links between black Americans and Africa, and in the 60s he helped to organise a trip to several African countries for SNCC activists, because he felt they needed to know more about the continent. But his most important role in Africa was in the anti-apartheid campaign, and his help for exiled South African musicians.

Belafonte first learned about Makeba after being approached in the lobby of the Dorchester Hotel in London by Trevor Huddleston, the priest (and later bishop) who helped found the anti-apartheid movement. Belafonte helped her to obtain a visa to the US and then guided her to becoming an international celebrity. They often performed and toured together, with Makeba calling him “my big brother”, and it was with Belafonte that she performed in 1962 at President John F Kennedy’s birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden. Belafonte helped Masekela, also an exile in the US, by arranging a scholarship for him.

In 1988 Belafonte released the South African-influenced album Paradise in Gazankulu, which included the political songs Capetown and We Are the Wave, and in the same year he gave a powerful speech at the Nelson Mandela 70th birthday tribute at Wembley Stadium, watched by a television audience of hundreds of millions across the world. In 2003 he was reunited with Makeba, when they recorded an album together.

Throughout his career he always matched his genial persona with political commitment – and sometimes anger. A passionate campaigner for gun control in the US, he chastised fellow black Americans in 2013 for failing to speak up on the issue. The easy-going calypso singer and actor was also a major political force.

🔔 Harry Belafonte (Harold George Bellanfanti), singer, actor and activist, born 1 March 1927; died 25 April 2023

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

#JUST FOR BOOKS #Harry Belafonte #in memoriam

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greensparty · 5 months ago

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Nirvana Boston: Part 1 - Green Street Station

This year marks 35 years since the release of Nirvana's debut album Bleach and it also marks 30 years since the passing of Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain. In honor of one of my Top 3 Favorite Musicians of All Time, I'm beginning a new multi-part series Nirvana Boston, in which I'll look at all of the concerts Nirvana did in Boston.

The first installment of this series is their first MA show in 1989!

July 15, 1989 Green Street Station (Jamaica Plain, MA)

Green Street Station's July 1989 shows

The debut album Bleach had just been released in June 1989. The band's lineup was singer / guitarist Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Chad Channing and guitarist Jason Everman. This was the first time performing in Massachusetts for the Seattle band. Cobain had broken his guitar the night before and didn't have a replacement, so he actually didn't play guitar at this show, leaving Everman as the sole guitarist at this show. The venue in JP was around in the 80s-90s. There was about 15 people in the audience. They did mostly songs off of Bleach, although "Polly" which later appeared on Nevermind was played, as was their early staple "Spank Thru".

A rare Cobain singing and not playing guitar show

Everman, Cobain, and Channing. Above two photos by Stacey Egan

After the show, the band stayed with local photographer JJ Gonson at her apartment in Watertown, MA (WOW - that's where I live!). Gonson said "I got a call from a friend in a Seattle band asking if we could put up Nirvana, a new band on tour and playing at Green Street Station. My boyfriend, Sluggo, and I went to the show and they came back to our apartment in Watertown." Cobain mentioned having an upset stomach, so they went to a nearby convenient store for Strawberry Quick. Kind of cool that they actually stayed in Watertown. Gonson took some photos of them at her apartment and they have appeared in multiple books, magazines and galleries, but until recently I had no Idea that's where they were photographed. Gonson said she last spoke to them at their legendary 1992 Reading Festival show (check out the live album and DVD Live at Reading if you haven't yet).

the time Nirvana stayed in Watertown, MA

Here is the audio recording of that show via YouTube:

youtube

Up next: Part 2 will explore Manray in 1990

#nirvana #music nerd #1989 #kurt cobain #krist novoselic #chad channing #jason everman #boston music #watertown #nirvana boston #green street station

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ingek73 · 2 years ago

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‘God Save the King’ doesn’t fall from Jamaican lips so easily. Soon we’ll be a republic

Barbara Blake-Hannah

Barbados beat us to it, but this week our prime minister made throwing off the colonial yoke a top priority. It won’t be easy, but watch this space

Published: 14:59 Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Britain, take note. A post-Elizabethan era is taking shape here in Jamaica. And it looks like a republic. “The government will be moving with haste and alacrity towards transforming Jamaica into a republic,” said our prime minister, Andrew Holness, on Monday. “Please move ahead with speed,” he urged his minister of constitutional affairs. If there are obstacles, the government will do whatever it takes.

But then, the signs have long been there. Little or no notice was taken in Jamaica of the Queen’s jubilee last year. There was no bunting, no official party at King’s House. The main celebration was a big party celebrating a different jubilee – the 50th anniversary of The Harder They Come, the Jamaican feature film that introduced reggae and Rastafari culture to the world. But our most notable celebrations in 2022 honoured the year in which Jamaica also celebrated 60 years of independence from British colonial rule, with many activities, memorials and galas honouring that national history.

The visit to Jamaica by Prince William and his wife, Kate, last March was designed to generate a swell of pride in the Caribbean’s ties to the “mother country” and the Queen’s rule over the colonies of the British empire. Instead, it merely highlighted Jamaica’s longstanding call for slavery reparations, and reawakened calls to end Jamaica’s history as a British colony ruled by the Queen.

Anti-jubilee anger was also apparent in Belize – the first stop on the royal tour – when indigenous citizens also told William “not on our land”, protesting against the “colonial legacy of theft” when he planned to land his helicopter on a football field in their community. That same month, Belize had hosted a meeting of heads of government of Caricom, the political and economic union of 15 Caribbean member states; and after the royal visit, ministers signalled their intention to remove the Queen as head of state.

The reparations fire became a volcano in November 2021, when Barbados became a republic. Barbados! The “small island” we in Jamaica referred to with a sneer as “Little England” took the big step ahead of us. To rub it in, the prime minister of Barbardos, Mia Mottley, declared her country’s music superstar Rihanna a national hero, thumbing her nose at Jamaica, which has yet to truly honour its even greater superstar Bob Marley. The then Prince Charles stood solemnly as the union jack was lowered.

That did it for Jamaica. If Barbados could do it, so could we! Removing the Queen as head of state immediately became Jamaica’s most popular topic of discussion. This was not about her colour and race (though neither is immaterial): it was about her role as inheritor and keeper of Britain’s history of slavery and colonialism, the fundamental and continuing reason for Jamaica’s poverty and its associated ills.

Monarchists will oppose any effort to cut ties, but they contend with a social media debate suggesting an overwhelming majority of Jamaicans have been angered by the treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan. Meghan is biracial, like so many of us, and that anger cannot help but speed the decisions of many colonial nations to step away from having a British monarch as head of state.

For 70 long years, God saved gracious Queen Elizabeth to reign over us, happy and glorious. But the familiar words don’t fall from our lips as easily for Charles. The prospect of him and his former mistress Camilla being crowned king and queen of Jamaica is not relished by many, while Harry’s book, Spare, opens a window on the dysfunctional nature of a monarchy ruled by the “men in suits” who set the agenda and make the decisions. The view is not pretty.

The Jamaican government has created a new ministry with a specific mandate to lead Jamaica along the steps to becoming a republic – and promises that it can be accomplished within a year. When the monarch is replaced as head of state, it looks likely from current discussions that a president will be appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition and confirmed by a two-thirds majority of both houses of parliament, with a term of office of six years, and limited to two terms. Much needs to be done, but now there’s “h��aste and alacrity”: Jamaica is ready to build a future of its own.

Barbara Blake-Hannah is an anti-racism activist and a former TV broadcaster in Britain

#prince harry #meghan markle #duke of sussex #duchess of sussex #abolish the monarchy #jamaica

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ausetkmt · 1 year ago

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All throughout June, Black Music Month is being recognized nationally.

In honor of the month, here are five Black musicians who are considered pioneers of their genres.

Robert Johnson: Considered the “King of the Delta Blues,” Robert Johnson is considered one of the originators of the genre that went on to serve as the basis for country, rock, pop and more. Known posthumously as one of the greatest blues performers of all time, Johnson’s recordings such as “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Love in Vain” and “I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” have been covered by musicians such as Elmore James, The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters and more.

Although Johnson’s recordings are limited to just 29 songs taped from 1936 to 1937, his staple guitar sound combining lower rhythmic elements and higher melodic licks alongside slide guitar helped pioneer the Delta blues sound.

Juan Atkins: As a part of the “Belleville Three,” Atkins is recognized for his role in developing Detroit techno. Known for helping coin the term “techno” as a way to describe his music, Atkins first formed Cybotron alongside Richard “3070” Davis in 1980.

Influenced by Afrofuturism-inspired funk, German synthesizer musicians such as Kraftwerk and Italian disco, Cybotron’s sound combining synth and a drum machine with beats similar to the New York sound helped provide the foundation for Detroit techno. Also inspired by the Chicago house scene, Atkins has had a career spanning over 40 years as part of groups such as Model 500.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe: As the “Godmother of Rock’N’Roll,” Sister Rosetta Tharpe pioneered the genre and helped influence musicians such as Little Richard, Odetta, Mavis Staples, Tina Turner and Bob Dylan, amongst others.

In her teens, Tharpe had already played with legendary musicians such as Duke Ellington in New York City before touring with gospel legends the Dixie Hummingbirds. Also known as the first gospel singer known nationally and the first gospel artist to record with a company, Tharpe pioneered rock’n’roll as well with the help of her Les Paul Custom. With her electric guitar, she helped create its custom sound through techniques such as her hammer-clawed guitar plucking and fast-paced playing, helping bring the swing sound and traditional melodic elements to rock’n’roll.

DJ Kool Herc: As the “Father of Hip Hop,” DJ Kool Herc’s 1973 block party is known as the place of the birth of hip cop culture. With his innovative“Merry-Go-Round” technique using two turntables and a mixer to create breakbeats, Herc laid the foundation for what would develop as the hip-hop genre. The musician also helped bring the toasting technique, which originated from Jamaica, to his sound, debuting his use of the technique at the famed 1973 party. From toasting, eventually, emceeing and rap would develop.

Sam Cooke: As a soul icon, Sam Cooke’s contributions to the genre influenced a variety of artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and more. Considered the “father” of the genre and the “King of Soul,” Cooke’s career began with his work as part of the Soul Stirrers. With the group, Cooke, as lead singer, helped bring gospel music to the younger crowds. Eventually, Cooke shifted to the pop music sphere and, from 1957 to 1964, had 30 top 40 hits on the Billboard charts, including “You Send Me” and “Cupid.” Cooke also took part in the civil rights movement, recording “A Change is Gonna Come” as the anthem of the movement. The song was preserved by the Library of Congress in 2007 for its impact.

In this article:

DJ Kool Herc,Juan Atkins,Robert Johnson,Sam Cooke,Sister Rosetta Tharpe,Thehub.news

Veronika Lleshi is an aspiring journalist. She currently writes for Hunter College's school newspaper, Hunter News Now. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing and making music. Lleshi is an Athena scholar who enjoys getting involved in her community.

#5 Black Musicians Who Pioneered Genres to Honor This Black Music Month #Black Music #Black Music Month

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anthrofreshtodeath · 1 year ago

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I’m going to Boston in a few months. Any recs on must-sees and food spots?

Hmm, if it’s your first time, do all the touristy stuff. Here’s what I’d recommend sight-seeing/event wise:

1) Fenway Park - no brainer! Even if the Sox aren’t in town or it’s the off-season, take a tour. The history is rich and it ends with a pretty cool museum walkthrough.

2) the freedom trail - this is a lot of fun and some of the tour guides are super funny and knowledgeable. This is a nice primer for the most famous lore of Boston.

3) Boston Public Library (main branch in Copley Square) - the library is huge and the architecture is a lot of fun to look at. Best part? The Triumph of Religion mural by John Singer Sargent.

4) Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and MFA Boston - the Gardner is great for more Sargent pieces, as well as the heist that took place there decades ago! You can see where the missing paintings used to hang. The MFA has a stunning Kehinde Wiley in addition to lots of great exhibits.

5) the USS Constitution - this is a cool thing to see on a trip to Charlestown, especially if you’re already there to see the Bunker Hill monument. The Consitution has a cute interactive museum that’s pretty informative about the ship and its travels.

6) the Museum of African American History - right in the heart of Beacon Hill! Learn about Beacon Hill’s history as a Black neighborhood and the legacy of Black resistance in the city of Boston.

Honorary Mention: TD Garden - a sports cathedral (go to a C’s game if you can!), a day trip to Salem (I named my kid after the place it’s so much fun!), Jamaica Plain’s Latin Quarter (patronize some local latine businesses and eat some bomb Dominican food), the North End (little Italy - cultural hub!)

And some food places I’d recommend:

1) Archie’s New York Deli in Downtown Crossing (by Macy’s) - go for breakfast. Their deli sandwiches are good, too, but the yahoo breakfast sandwich is like an egg McMuffin on crack. So tasty. They even have homemade ketchups and sauces!

2) Bova’s bakery - I’m a simple bitch for this one but oh god is this place good. Gotta go for: a lobster tail, a cannolu, or ricotta pie. Or if you’re like me, all three and a cookie on the side.

3) Carmelina’s- another famous North End place. What can I say? I’m a sucker for good Italian. Get the Sunday macaroni. You’ll thank me later.

4) Parziale’s bakery - time for more baked goods. And while you’re at it, grab a slice of Sicilian style pizza to go. It’s so fucking good.

5) Zoe’s Chinese Restaurant- go out to Somerville for these bomb soup dumplings.

I’m sure there’s so much more food out there to try! These are the best things I remember eating off the top of my head. And if you’re at Fenway, have a Fenway Frank, please. And a sausage and peppers from one of the carts outside. The guys’ll be sure to tell you how much cheaper it is to buy from them than inside the stadium.

Have tons of fun!

#ask anthrofreshtodeath #I’m sure there’s so much more to recommend but if it’s your first time I don’t wanna overwhelm you

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jamaicashoreexcursions · 2 years ago

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Private Shore Excursions Jamaica

Your private shore excursions at super low rates and high quality experience is only a mouse click away. Best Jamaica Tours is the number one Tour Company in Jamaica offering the best.

If you will be arriving in Jamaica via cruise, look no further. Our commitment to excellence is beyond measure. With us, you are not seen as a mere customer but rather as a visiting friend who deserves the best.

The Falmouth Cruise Port is the newest and biggest in Jamaica. It is home to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Shipping Line. Finding us on the port is easy, once you book we will give the instruction on where exactly on the port we are located.

Treat yourself to a great time here on the island. Don’t allow your time on the island to be like just another day at the office. Book now and let us help you to explore Jamaica. Our commitment to your satisfaction is second to none. Our low rates and high quality service has made us into a household name.

Top Shore Excursions Falmouth Jamaica

#private shore excursions falmouth jamaica #best shore excursions jamaica #falmouth jamaica excursions

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bestjamaica · 2 months ago

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Top Things to do in Jamaica

When it comes to unforgettable experiences in Jamaica, the Luminous Lagoon Tour stands out as a must-do adventure. At Best Jamaica Tours, we take pride in offering this breathtaking excursion like no other. The Luminous Lagoon, located in Falmouth, is one of only a handful of places in the world where the water glows in the dark due to bioluminescent microorganisms. This rare natural wonder is sure to captivate your senses and leave you in awe of Jamaica’s extraordinary beauty.

As the Guardian of Satisfaction, we ensure that every detail of your Luminous Lagoon Tour is handled with care, from the moment you book to the completion of your adventure. Our commitment to excellence sets us apart, and we strive to create a magical experience for every visitor, whether you're traveling solo, as a couple, or with a large group. No group is too small to excite us, and none is too large for us to handle. We tailor our services to meet your unique needs, ensuring that every guest enjoys the same high standard of service.

At Best Jamaica Tours, safety and comfort are our top priorities. Our professional drivers are not only trained in defensive driving, but also highly skilled in tour guiding, making your journey both safe and informative. As you travel to the Luminous Lagoon, our drivers will share fascinating insights into the history and science behind this glowing phenomenon, as well as the rich cultural heritage of the surrounding area.

Our mission at Best Jamaica Tours is to offer you more while you spend less. We are committed to providing affordable, high-quality tours without compromising on the experience. With our Luminous Lagoon Tour, you can witness one of nature’s most magical spectacles at a price that fits your budget. We believe that experiencing Jamaica’s beauty shouldn’t come with a hefty price tag, and we’re dedicated to offering the best value for your money.

Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in one of the most unique and mesmerizing attractions in Jamaica. Book your Luminous Lagoon Tour with Best Jamaica Tours today, and let us take you on a journey of wonder and discovery. Let the magic of the glowing waters create memories that will last a lifetime! Jamaica Best Tours

#private tours jamaica #best tours in jamaica #jamaica top tours

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centuryjm21 · 4 days ago

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Tips for Successful Investing in Rental Properties in Jamaica

As the real estate market in Jamaica continues to thrive, with homes for sale in Jamaica and Jamaica houses attracting investors from near and far, the opportunity to build wealth through rental property investments has never been more enticing. Whether you're eyeing a cozy studio apartment or a sprawling beachfront villa in one of Jamaica's vibrant communities, investing in Jamaica real estate can be a savvy financial move - but it's not without its challenges.

At 21st Century Real Estate, we've helped countless clients navigate the ins and outs of becoming successful Jamaica real estate investors. From finding the perfect Silverbrook Apartments or homes for sale in Jamaica to maximizing your rental income and managing tenants, we've compiled our top tips to set you up for success in the world of Jamaican rental property investment.

Location, Location, Location

When it comes to rental property investments, location is arguably the most important factor to consider. Look for neighborhoods in high-demand areas with low vacancy rates, good schools, and easy access to amenities like shopping, dining, and public transportation. In Jamaica, popular areas like Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios are always in high demand for both long-term rentals and short-term vacation rentals.

Do Your Due Diligence

Before purchasing any Jamaica houses or homes for sale in Jamaica, it's crucial to do your homework. Research average rental rates, occupancy rates, and operating expenses for similar properties in the area. Hiring a professional inspector to assess the condition of the home can also help you avoid costly surprises down the line. Don't forget to factor in additional costs like property management fees, insurance, and potential renovations or upgrades.

Crunch the Numbers

Once you've identified a promising property, it's time to run the numbers. Determine your projected rental income, operating expenses, and expected cash flow to ensure the investment aligns with your financial goals. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a property that will generate a monthly cash flow of at least 1% of the purchase price. This will help you cover your mortgage, taxes, insurance, and other costs while leaving room for a healthy profit.

Leverage Your Equity

If you already own a home in Jamaica or elsewhere, you may be able to use the equity in that property to finance the purchase of a rental property. This can be an effective way to grow your real estate portfolio without having to come up with a large down payment upfront. Just be sure to carefully consider the risks and speak with a financial advisor before tapping into your home equity.

Build a Reliable Team

Successful rental property investors know that they can't do it all alone. Surround yourself with a team of trusted professionals, including a knowledgeable real estate agent, a skilled property manager, a reliable contractor, and a savvy accountant. These experts can help you navigate the complexities of property acquisition, tenant management, maintenance, and tax planning.

Embrace Technology

In the 21st century, technology has revolutionized the way we manage rental properties. From online listing platforms and virtual tours to automated rent collection and maintenance tracking, there are countless tools and apps that can streamline your operations and save you time and money. Embrace these technological advancements to maximize the efficiency of your rental properties.

Screen Tenants Thoroughly

One of the most critical aspects of rental property investment is finding and retaining high-quality tenants. Take the time to thoroughly screen applicants, checking their credit history, employment status, and references. This can help you avoid the headaches of late payments, property damage, and evictions down the line.

Maintain the Property

Keeping your rental properties in top condition is essential for attracting and retaining tenants, as well as preserving the value of your investment. Develop a proactive maintenance plan and budget for regular upgrades and repairs. By staying on top of property maintenance, you can minimize costly issues and ensure your tenants are happy and comfortable.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Even the most carefully planned rental property investments can encounter unexpected challenges, from natural disasters to tenant disputes. Build up a financial cushion to cover vacancies, repairs, and other unforeseen expenses. Additionally, ensure you have the appropriate insurance coverage in place to protect your investment and your tenants.

Stay Informed and Adaptable

The real estate market is constantly evolving, and successful rental property investors know how to adapt to changing conditions. Stay informed about market trends, new legislation, and industry best practices. Be willing to adjust your strategies as needed to maximize your returns and ensure the long-term viability of your investments.

By following these tips and leveraging the expertise of the 21st Century Real Estate team, you can navigate the world of rental property investment in Jamaica with confidence. Whether you're looking to add a cozy Silverbrook Apartments unit to your portfolio or a sprawling beachfront villa, the opportunities for building wealth through Jamaican real estate are abundant. So why wait? Start your journey to becoming a successful rental property investor today.

#house for sale in jamaica #jamaica houses #houses for sale in jamaica #jamaica real estate #homes for sale jamaica #21st century real estate #silverbrook apartments

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