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"adventure of a lifetime ~ by Coldplay"
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Bow to the beauty-
Tuscany Charm - Italy
Giovanni Maw© - all rights reserved
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The shoulders drop forward, the head is bent - the typical posture of smartphone users puts immense strain on the neck. Even a slight tilt of the head puts about 12 kilos of pressure on the neck, according to scientists.
Beija-flor-de-topete (Stephanoxis lalandi). (Vieillot, 1818).
Visit: www.birdier.com, and post your birds images there!!!!
it's a fine site, where you can organize your photos in different ways.
Visit my gallery at: www.birdier.com/user/bertrando-campos
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IMPORTANT: for non-pro users who read the info on a computer, just enlarge your screen to 120% (or more), then the full text will appear below the photo with a white background - which makes reading so much easier.
The color version of the photo above is here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO:
So far there's only been one photo in my gallery that hasn't been taken in my garden ('The Flame Rider', captured in the Maggia Valley: www.flickr.com/photos/191055893@N07/53563448847/in/datepo... ) - which makes the image above the second time I've "strayed from the path" (although not very far, since the photo was taken only approximately 500 meters from my house).
Overall, I'll stick to my "only-garden rule", but every once in a while I'll show you a little bit of the landscape around my village, because I think it will give you a better sense of just how fascinating this region is, and also of its history.
The title I chose for the photo may seem cheesy, and it's certainly not very original, but I couldn't think of another one, because it's an honest reflection of what I felt when I took it: a profound sense of peace - although if you make it to the end of this text you'll realize my relationship with that word is a bit more complicated.
I got up early that day; it was a beautiful spring morning, and there was still a bit of mist in the valley below my village which I hoped would make for a few nice mood shots, so I quickly grabbed my camera and went down there before the rising sun could dissolve the magical layer on the scenery.
Most human activity hadn't started yet, and I was engulfed in the sounds of the forest as I was walking the narrow trail along the horse pasture; it seemed every little creature around me wanted to make its presence known to potential mates (or rivals) in a myriad of sounds and voices and noises (in case you're interested, here's a taste of what I usually wake up to in spring, but you best use headphones: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfoCTqdAVCE )
Strolling through such an idyllic landscape next to grazing horses and surrounded by birdsong and beautiful trees, I guess it's kind of obvious one would feel the way I described above and choose the title I did, but as I looked at the old stone buildings - the cattle shelter you can see in the foreground and the stable further up ahead on the right - I also realized how fortunate I was.
It's hard to imagine now, because Switzerland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world today, but the men and women who had carried these stones and constructed the walls of these buildings were among the poorest in Europe. The hardships the people in some of the remote and little developed valleys in Ticino endured only a few generations ago are unimaginable to most folks living in my country today.
It wasn't uncommon that people had to sell their own kids as child slaves - the girls had to work in factories or in rice fields, the boys as "living chimney brushes" in northern Italy - just because there wasn't enough food to support the whole family through the harsh Ticino winters.
If you wonder why contemporary Swiss historians speak of "slaves" as opposed to child laborers, it's because that's what many of them actually were: auctioned off for a negotiable prize at the local market, once sold, these kids were not payed and in many cases not even fed by their masters (they had to beg for food in the streets or steal it).
Translated from German Wikipedia: ...The Piazza grande in Locarno, where the Locarno Film Festival is held today, was one of the places where orphans, foundlings and children from poor families were auctioned off. The boys were sold as chimney sweeps, the girls ended up in the textile industry, in tobacco processing in Brissago or in the rice fields of Novara, which was also extremely hard work: the girls had to stand bent over in the water for twelve to fourteen hours in all weathers. The last verse of the Italian folk song 'Amore mio non piangere' reads: “Mamma, papà, non piangere, se sono consumata, è stata la risaia che mi ha rovinata” (Mom, dad, don't cry when I'm used up, it was the rice field that destroyed me.)... de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaminfegerkinder
The conditions for the chimney sweeps - usually boys between the age of 8 and 12 (or younger, because they had to be small enough to be able to crawl into the chimneys) - were so catastrophic that many of them didn't survive; they died of starvation, cold or soot in their lungs - as well as of work-related accidents like breaking their necks when they fell, or suffocatig if they got stuck in inside a chimney. This practice of "child slavery" went on as late as the 1950s (there's a very short article in English on the topic here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spazzacamini and a more in depth account for German speakers in this brief clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gda8vZp_zsc ).
Now I don't know if the people who built the old stone houses along my path had to sell any of their kids, but looking at the remnants of their (not so distant) era I felt an immense sense of gratitude that I was born at a time of prosperity - and peace - in my region, my country and my home. Because none of it was my doing: it was simple luck that decided when and where I came into this world.
It also made me think of my own family. Both of my grandparents on my father's side grew up in Ticino (they were both born in 1900), but while they eventually left Switzerland's poorest region to live in its richest, the Kanton of Zurich, my grandfather's parents relocated to northern Italy in the 1920s and unfortunately were still there when WWII broke out.
They lost everything during the war, and it was their youngest daughter - whom I only knew as "Zia" which means "aunt" in Italian - who earned a little money to support herself and my great-grandparents by giving piano lessons to high-ranking Nazi officers and their kids (this was towards the end of the war when German forces had occupied Italy).
I never knew that about her; Zia only very rarely spoke of the war, but one time when I visited her when she was already over a 100 years old (she died at close to 104), I asked her how they had managed to survive, and she told me that she went to the local prefecture nearly every day to teach piano. "And on the way there would be the dangling ones" she said, with a shudder.
I didn't get what she meant, so she explained. Visiting the city center where the high ranking military resided meant she had to walk underneath the executed men and women who were hanging from the lantern posts along the road (these executions - often of civilians - were the Germans' retaliations for attacks by the Italian partisans).
I never forgot her words - nor could I shake the look on her face as she re-lived this memory. And I still can't grasp it; my house in Ticino is only 60 meters from the Italian border, and the idea that there was a brutal war going on three houses down the road from where I live now in Zia's lifetime strikes me as completely surreal.
So, back to my title for the photo above. "Peace". It's such a simple, short word, isn't it? And we use it - or its cousin "peaceful" - quite often when we mean nice and quiet or stress-free. But if I'm honest I don't think I know what it means. My grandaunt Zia did, but I can't know. And I honestly hope I never will.
I'm sorry I led you down such a dark road; I usually intend to make people smile with the anecdotes that go with my photos, but this one demanded a different approach (I guess with this latest image I've strayed from the path in more than one sense, and I hope you'll forgive me).
Ticino today is the region with the second highest average life expectancy in Europe (85.2 years), and "The Human Development Index" of 0.961 in 2021 was one of the highest found anywhere in the world, and northern Italy isn't far behind. But my neighbors, many of whom are now in their 90s, remember well it wasn't always so.
That a region so poor it must have felt like purgatory to many of its inhabitants could turn into something as close to paradise on Earth as I can imagine in a person's lifetime should make us all very hopeful. But, and this is the sad part, it also works the other way 'round. And I believe we'd do well to remember that, too.
To all of you - with my usual tardiness but from the bottom of my heart - a happy, healthy, hopeful 2025 and beyond.
People who complain that software engineers build unwieldy, unfriendly and outright mindboggling user interfaces need to look back in history to realize that hardware engineers have not always been much better in that respect. A good place to do that is the Railway Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
September 1, 2018 - Kearney Nebraska US
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Oh Yeah... Lightning Storm that evening... It came in late, and I had gear packed and ready in case a storm started to brew. Only a 30% chance but that means its gonna storm in Nebraska.
NWS had just issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Phelps & Kearney Nebraska Counties and it was moving right in my direction. I had time to get into position and wait for the show to begin! I ALWAYS have front row tickets to this type of show!
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Dale Kaminski @ NebraskaSC Photography
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Ah, strawberries and raspberries! It's easy to see why I love them. Here's a breakdown of some possible reasons:
* Taste:
* Sweetness: Both fruits are naturally sweet, providing a burst of sugary goodness.
* Tartness: Strawberries and raspberries often have a slight tartness that balances out the sweetness, making their flavor more complex and refreshing.
* Juiciness: They are both juicy fruits, releasing a burst of flavor when you bite into them.
* Texture:
* Softness: They have a soft, delicate texture that's pleasant to eat.
* Seeds: The tiny seeds in raspberries add a slight crunch and interesting texture.
* Versatility:
* Eating alone: They're delicious eaten fresh on their own.
* Baking: Strawberries and raspberries are fantastic in cakes, pies, jams, and more.
* Other uses: You can add them to yogurt, cereal, smoothies, or even salads.
* Health Benefits:
* Vitamins: Both fruits are good sources of vitamins C and K.
* Antioxidants: They contain antioxidants that may help protect your cells from damage.
* Aesthetics:
* Colour: Their vibrant red color is visually appealing.
Ultimately, the reason you like strawberries and raspberries is likely a combination of these factors. Perhaps you particularly enjoy their sweetness, their refreshing tartness, or the way they look. Maybe you appreciate their versatility in recipes, or simply the pleasure of eating them fresh from the garden.
Do any of these reasons particularly resonate with you?
2J74 Southport to Manchester Oxford Road, formed of 150138 trailing 156428, has deposited a solitary passenger at Hoscar station. In the 2016/17 period the station was the least used station in Lancashire with just 1024 recorded passengers although this was up from 900 in the previous year. There are just 8 services, 4 in each direction, that call at this lonely outpost Monday to Saturday.
June 16, 2017 - Hwy 15 South, Nebraska US
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Some good photo ops, as I was driving south. Tornado Warning now on the cell just to the east. Had to get to the Hwy 15 / Hwy 41 Junction to watch the wall cloud move just to the west of Wilber Nebraska.
A few of these might be a little blurry, though structure was wanted to show here. It was my only Tor Warned storm all day, as I was now close to 13 hours on my chase day. I was getting tired and I wasn't about to chase a tornado in the dark, so to get close and witness what I could as there was no light left. 1"-2" Hail now was pounding my windshield and it would only get worse. Though I rolled down the window and shot these final shots...
Final Day shots that is...
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Dale Kaminski @ NebraskaSC Photography
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Telle était la devise d'un jeune homme de cent ans que j'ai connu il y a quelques années, à qui je demandais son secret de jeunesse et de vitalité...
June 25, 2025 - South of Cairo Nebraska US
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Watch that afternoon's Chase on Flickr Click Here
Visit my Photostream Archive of Severe Weather
A vast landscape is dominated by swirling, ominous clouds hinting at an approaching storm. The darkened sky contrasts with the subtle light of the horizon, casting a moody atmosphere over the open fields. Sparse vegetation on the gentle hills adds to the stark beauty of the scene.
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Dale Kaminski @ NebraskaSC Photography
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“The Eye Moment photos by Nolan H. Rhodes”
“Theeyeofthemoment21@gmail.com”
“www.flickr.com/photos/the_eye_of_the_moment”
“Any users, found to replicate, reproduce, circulate, distribute, download, manipulate or otherwise use my images without my written consent will be in breach of copyright laws.”
August 10, 2023 - Kearney Nebraska
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On the open plains of Nebraska...
August was a GEM month for severe storm structure. Folks... I didn't miss a beat.
Pure Eye Candy this one is. Open air supercells developing right as the dry line passed over us in South Central Nebraska.
I wasn't going to get underneath this one though it was close. I could have chased it, but I wanted to get the structure that day. Oh I got what I came for!
I had planned accordingly. Knowing that the storm was going to pass as it rapidly developed to the due east. I waited for bit under the hail core before I got into position to capture this storm.
Building Billowing Beautiful updrafts on the back side of this storm were memorizing. Perfect Supercell structure.
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www.youtube.com/user/thaicucsinhluongnghi#p/u/17/9XW_EiEbJ2I (CHU Y KI VAO NGUOI DANG LAM SLOWMOTION TRONG CLIP AY LA PIK NGAY) minh khong the nao nhin cuoi hon dk nua khi mot nguoi anh cua minh la popper kha noi tieng ngoai HA NOI lai co the co nhng tro dua nhu the nhi ??? noi that ra thi anh ay la D-MACHINE (du~ng) anh d~ung , có cả anh duy nữa :)) [XL~ MOI NG VI MINH DA PR ANH TRAI MINH WA NHIU ] va minh da hua la he nay se ra HA NOI tham moi ngoi : babyT ; A Duyyyyyyy (OMEGA crew) ; A Duy tu ki (lifestyle crew) va A trai cua minh D-machineeeeeeeeeeee. minh vs a du~ng hoi tra'i nguok . vi minh di theo dances con a di popping nhung noi chung thi 2ae minh deu iu nhay nhay .
* biet dang sau may ong dag dung la ai kg ??? nhung "thien than" va cung la " nhung ng anh" trong nhom GAMEON . sau khoi chup hinh ong ay con loi minh vao tu ki chung :s thoi thi hen a d-machine và anh DUY he nay 2ae minh lam lai nhung tro khi nharrrr . E LUN NHO CAC ANH :* :* :*
OI sao hinh nay minh ki waaaaaaaaaaaa :o
NOTICE
moi nguoi oi minh dang tim partner nen ai co kha nang dances haoc cam nhan minh co the dances thi lien he vs minh nhe
DJ : 01265519383
DJ'S YAHOO : dj_pjkopulu_spank
ok . mog hop tac nherrrrrrrr
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ImCpNqbJw
minh rat ghien bai nay :)va say goodbye
moi ngay hay lam wen voi mot nguoi ma ban kg pik , de cuoc song nay luon moi nher
“Any users, found to replicate, reproduce, circulate, distribute, download, manipulate or otherwise use my images without my written consent will be in breach of copyright laws as well as contract laws.”
“The Eye Moment photos by Nolan H. Rhodes”
nrhodesphotos@yahoo.com
Read the full story here : www.beboyphoto.com/Beboyblog/Articles/Bali-Beboy
You can buy this photo here : www.beboyphoto.com/
Created for dA Users Gallery Challenge 144 – 181
With thanks to....
Background • Nathies-Stock
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For all commissioned work, please contact me via the contact form on my Website
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© Copyright Parée Erica. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this image in any form without express and written permission from me is illegal