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La Vall de Núria
"The Valley of Núria"
is a south-opening valley coming down from the crest of the Pyrenees within the municipality of Queralbs, province of Girona, community of Catalonia, Spain.
The floor of the valley lies about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level and is accessible from the south via a rack railway (the Vall de Núria Rack Railway) or by foot, and from France to the north by footpaths.
There are no roads to access the valley.
The place is historically notable for the 1931 drafting of the first Catalan Statute of Autonomy, in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Núria.
"Wikipedia"
République monastique du Mont-Athos.
L'Aktè est célèbre pour les vingt monastères orthodoxes qui y sont établis depuis le Xe siècle. Ils forment une République monastique du Mont-Athos dont la montagne fait partie, et qui jouit d'un certain degré d'autonomie au sein de la République hellénique. Au sommet se dressent un crucifix en acier, une petite chapelle et un refuge.
Aktè is famous for the twenty Orthodox monasteries that have been established there since the 10th century. They form a monastic Republic of Mount Athos of which the mountain is part, and which enjoys a certain degree of autonomy within the Hellenic Republic. At the top stand a steel crucifix, a small chapel and a refuge.
Utrecht - Oudegracht - Zadelstraat
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Construction of the belfry began in 1313. Since 1402, documents in which the city privileges have been registered (privileges granted to Ghent in 1180) have been stored here in a secret room.
The belfry also served as the observation tower. Until 1442 this role was played by the tower of the church of St. Nicholas. In 1442, the guard moved to the belfry. Until 1869 he was in charge of the city's security.
In the foreground: the cloth hall (15th century).
Kyaingtong was the seat of a Sawbwa or Saopha, Shan chieftain or king. They were equivalent to Maharajas in India during the British period. Shan State used to be fragmented into small principalities until the independence of Myanmar in 1948 when the local rulers ceded the power to the Union of Myanmar.
It is noted that each of the former principalities are fragmented into small territories of ethnic minorities that demand autonomy.
Kyaingtong's fortification still remains at some locations in the town.
This is Gytheio. It is located in the northeastern corner of Mani and lies on the northwestern end of the Laconian Gulf. Gytheio was built on a hill called Koumaros or Laryssio in one of the most fertile areas in Mani, near the mouth of the Gythium River, which is usually dry and has been nicknamed Xerias "dry river"; today, most of the Xerias is covered by Ermou Avenue. Further northeast is the delta of the Evrotas River. Offshore are several small islands; the most important of these islands is Cranae, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Gytheio is only 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Sparti.
The reputed founders of ancient Gythium were Heracles and Apollo, who frequently appear on its coins or in other legends, and Castor and Pollux, the former of these names may point to the influence of Phoenician traders from Tyre, who, we know, visited the Laconian shores at a very early period.
In 455 BC, during the First Peloponnesian War, it was burned by the Athenian admiral Tolmides who besieged the city with 50 ships and 4,000 hoplites. It was rebuilt and was most probably, the building ground for the Spartan fleet in the Peloponnesian War.
In 370 BC, the Thebans under the command of Epaminondas besieged the city successfully for three days after ravaging Laconia. However it was recaptured by the Spartans three days later.
In 219 BC, Philip V of Macedon tried to capture the city but without success. Under Nabis, Gythium became a major naval arsenal and port. During the Roman-Spartan War, Gythium was captured after a lengthy siege. After the war finished, Gythium was made part of the Union of Free Laconians under Achean protection. Nabis recaptured Gythium three years and the Spartan fleet defeated the Achean fleet outside of Gythium. Gythium was liberated by a Roman fleet under the command of Aulus Atilius Serranus. Subsequently, Gythium formed the most important of the Union of Free Laconians, a group of twenty-four, later eighteen, communities leagued together to maintain their autonomy against Sparta and declared free by Caesar Augustus. In Roman times Gythium remained a major port and it prospered as a member of the Union. Some time in the 4th century AD, Gythium was destroyed. What happened to Gythium is not recorded but it is thought to have been either sacked by Alaric and Visigoths, pillaged by the Slavs or destroyed by the massive earthquake that struck the area in 375 AD. After the earthquake Gythium was abandoned. It remained a small village throughout the Byzantine and Ottoman times. Its importance grew when Tzannetos Grigorakis built his tower at Cranae and more people came and settled at Gytheio. But during the Greek War of Independence, refugees flooded into Mani and made Gytheio a major town.
The modern Gytheio opened a port in the 1960s. Ferries sail from Gytheio to Kythira almost daily and also to Crete twice a week. Gytheio is the largest and most important town in Mani and it is also the seat of the municipality of East Mani.Most of the ruins of ancient Gythium are now submerged in the Laconian Gulf. Some walls' remains can be seen today on the sandy beach of Valtaki and in the shallow waters, where the well known Dimitrios shipwreck lies stranded (see previous pictures of the shipwreck, Lost Horizon and Broken Promises).
.....for the autonomy of this city and the freedom of its citizens?
Your uber to A Thousand Windows
The sublime Collonges la Rouge - Corrèze - New Aquitaine - France - Europe
Depuis l’époque Gallo-Romaine
A l’Époque Gallo-Romaine, le site est habité, dès 844 il fait partie de la Vicomté de Turenne (qui a un statut d’autonomie, surtout fiscale, unique en France). Véritable état féodal devenu un des plus grands fiefs de France. La vicomté de Turenne jouit du Moyen Âge au XVIIIe siècle d’une autonomie complète.
1738, le dernier héritier vend la Vicomté de Turenne à Louis XV afin d’éponger ses dettes de jeux. Cette vente sonne la fin des privilèges.
A partir du XIe siècle, le village se développe autour du Prieuré, le tympan et le clocher de l’église en sont les vestiges romans.
A la fin du XVe et début XVIe siècle, Collonges devient le lieu de résidence des officiers de justice, d’administration et autres hauts fonctionnaires de la Vicomté de Turenne. De là proviennent de nombreux castels, manoirs et leurs tours en poivrière, qui ornent le village et contribuent à la richesse architecturale de Collonges.
En 1880, le phylloxéra détruit la vigne, qui eût une période de gloire à Collonges du XIIe au XIXe siècle.
Son vin blanc était réputé avec un raisin de qualité : muscat, bacot, gamay, herbemont. Disparait avec la vigne, le métier de vigneron…
Au XIXe siècle, la cité tombe en léthargie et des maisons commencent à tomber en ruine. Au XXe siècle, l’exode rural entraîne la perte d’une grande partie de la population.
La « renaissance » de la cité débute en 1905 avec le classement de l’église aux Monuments Historiques. Les premiers travaux de restauration commencent dans les années 30, grâce notamment au maire Charles Ceyrac et à la Société des Amis de Collonges.
La particularité de Collonges vous l’aurez compris est son grès rouge…
Une situation originale qui fait le charme de ce village construit en totalité grès rouge sur un sol calcaire.
Collonges-la-Rouge situé sur la Faille Géologique de Meyssac, longue d’une dizaine de kilomètres, qui sépare le grès du calcaire.
Seuls quelques villages sont construits avec cette pierre : Meyssac, Lagleygeolle et Noailhac.
Profitez de votre escapade à Collonges pour arpenter les ruelles des autres petits villages aux nuances de grès rouge.
Un parcours d’une vingtaine de kilomètres (en voiture) vous dévoilera les mystères de cette faille avec 5 stations explicatives…
Ce circuit est disponible à l’Office de Tourisme de Collonges-la-Rouge.
Mais qu’y a-t-il dans ce grès qui donne cette couleur rouge ?
Vous pensez peut être que les Collongeois repeignent chaque année les pierres ? Non, non, sa couleur est due à la présence d’oxyde de fer.
Un peu plus de 2% d’oxyde de fer dans le grès donne cette couleur si atypique et originale, vous le verrez partout sous les toits de lauze ou d’ardoise des maisons nobles.
Source Vallée de la Dordogne - ROCAMADOUR - PADIRAC
COLLONGES-LA-ROUGE
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Since Gallo-Roman times
During the Gallo-Roman period, the site was inhabited, from 844 it was part of the Vicomté de Turenne (which has a statute of autonomy, especially fiscal, unique in France). True feudal state which has become one of the largest strongholds in France. From the Middle Ages to the 18th century, the Viscount of Turenne enjoyed complete autonomy.
1738, the last heir sells the Vicomté de Turenne to Louis XV in order to pay off his gambling debts. This sale marks the end of privileges.
From the 11th century, the village developed around the Priory, the tympanum and the bell tower of the church are the Roman remains.
At the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th century, Collonges became the place of residence of the officers of justice, administration and other senior officials of the Vicomté de Turenne. From there come many castels, manors and their pepper-pot towers, which adorn the village and contribute to the architectural richness of Collonges.
In 1880, phylloxera destroyed the vine, which had a period of glory in Collonges from the 12th to the 19th century.
Its white wine was renowned with quality grapes: muscat, bacot, gamay, herbemont. With the vine, the profession of winegrower disappears ...
In the 19th century, the city fell into lethargy and houses began to fall into disrepair. In the 20th century, the rural exodus led to the loss of a large part of the population.
The "rebirth" of the city began in 1905 with the classification of the church as a Historic Monument. The first restoration work began in the 1930s, thanks in particular to the mayor Charles Ceyrac and the Société des Amis de Collonges.
The peculiarity of Collonges you will understand is its red sandstone ...
An original location which makes the charm of this village built entirely in red sandstone on limestone soil.
Collonges-la-Rouge located on the Geological Fault of Meyssac, about ten kilometers long, which separates the sandstone from the limestone.
Only a few villages are built with this stone: Meyssac, Lagleygeolle and Noailhac.
Take advantage of your getaway to Collonges to walk the alleys of other small villages with shades of red sandstone.
A course of around twenty kilometers (by car) will reveal the mysteries of this fault with 5 explanatory stations ...
This tour is available at the Collonges-la-Rouge Tourist Office.
But what is it in this sandstone that gives this red color?
You may think that the people of Collonge repaint the stones every year? No, no, its color is due to the presence of iron oxide.
A little more than 2% iron oxide in the sandstone gives this atypical and original color, you will see it everywhere under the lauze or slate roofs of noble houses.
Source Dordogne Valley - ROCAMADOUR - PADIRAC
COLLONGES-LA-ROUGE
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Piacenza : Basilica of St. Antonino ( Patron of Piacenza ) -Side View - IV Century - (To Enlarge )
Questa Chiesa è importantissima perché dopo la distruzione di Milano da parte dell'Imperatore Federico Barbarossa e la successiva vittoria dei comuni Padani contro lo stesso a Legnano il 29 Maggio del 1176 ,qui ci furono i preparativi per la pace di Costanza ,con cui l'imperatore riconosceva l'autonomia comunale .Questa infatti fu per oltre 800 anni la cattedrale di Piacenza ,fin quando fu pronta la nuova cattedrale che abbiamo già mostrato .
This church is very important because after the destruction of Milan by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and the subsequent victory of the Padan municipalities against the same in Legnano on 29 May 1176 ,here there were preparations for the peace of Constance with which the emperor recognized municipal autonomy .This was indeed the cathedral of Piacenza for abaut 800 years ,until the new cathedral that we have already shown was ready .
Den 9 juni 2022 är det exakt 100 år sedan Åland fick sin självstyrelse
June 9 2022 Åland Islands celebrates 100 years of peaceful autonomy
finland.fi/life-society/aland-islands-to-commence-celebra...
All that suffering
The constant anxiety
The feeling of being surrounded
by terrible people who
only care about themselves.
The devastation of how we treat our animals
or the cruel Earth we’ll leave behind
The sickness off our souls
The worst of us when
We had so much potential
Let it all out
the rage of how men
still gain control over women’s bodies.
How we’re losing control over our autonomy
and our democracy.
Let it all out
the sadness that comes from racism
from profit over people
from homophobia and greed
No one can bear it for very long.
Let it all out
The way we treat those who aren’t able bodied
or young as if they are useless.
Or the way necessities are the most
expensive to those who are poor.
Let it all out
How humans still insist on
a gender assigned at birth and
are ruled by a faulty biology and
not by the will and the spirit.
You can’t keep all those toxins inside of you.
You don’t need to be beautiful.
You just need to be honest
and real with yourself in a surreal world
to devastate the best of us.
La Tristesse Durera Toujours
**All photos and poems are copyrighted**
When your country continues to profit off of institutionalized racism, it is not freedom. When your country continues to give guns more rights than humans, that is not freedom. When your country denies people the right to body autonomy, that is not freedom. When your country does not provide a safe space for non Christians to attend public school, that is not freedom. When your country actively suppresses voting rights, primarily in those neighborhoods where African Americans, Natives, and Latinx humans live, that is not freedom. When your country allows corporations to oppress its workers and release toxins that lead to disease and death into the air and drinking water, valuing profit over human safety, that is not freedom.
When your country urges you to look up to your forefathers as heroes and these same people owned humans, you have to challenge this notion. When your country criticizes you for protesting and fighting for those who committed treason to be held accountable, you need to speak up. When your country continues to cause danger abroad and at home for immigrants, you need to realize this is unjust and fight for change.
This is my United States of American flag photo. It's an untitled work by Nick Cave from 2018. art21.org/artist/nick-cave/
**All photos are copyrighted**
"My anxiety is this: not that this community's autonomy would be usurped by Peking, but that it could be given away bit by bit by some people in Hong Kong." ― Chris Patten (The last Governor of Hong Kong)
DSC_0314-TopazStudio
In the United States of America, we've created a situation already where too many people have had to work for a corporation in order to have health care. Even something simple as a broken bone can cost someone thousands of dollars out of pocket in this country. I've personally known colleagues who have literally worked until they dropped dead because, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to afford chemotherapy.
So, when corporations recently stepped up and said they would help pay for their employees to travel out of state for an abortion, the first impulse was to be "grateful that corporations were taking a stand," But, as in the corporations sponsoring the Pride parade, many of these corporations have supported anti-choice legislators. All this leads me to a few points....
1. Corporations won't save us. In most places in the world, profit is valued over people and even in countries outside the US where they have health care for all people, corporations have a very strong pull with the government and policy.
2. We should follow the money in terms of what corporations actually truly support and hold them accountable.
3. When you have to depend on a corporation for body autonomy, this is a very bad situation.
4. There will always be individuals in our country who are artists and do not work for a corporation. These are humans who should be celebrated not punished. If we want creative ideas and individual thought, we need to realize that body autonomy and health care should be provided to all citizens.
**All photos are copyrighted**
It was Monday when they took out your blood and bone marrow. How could you keep this all to yourself when you could save a life? Besides, they found a potential donor and he is wealthy and ready to go on SpaceX again. On Tuesday, they demanded a kidney. You really only need one to function. You may think the quality of your life is important but this other person is a CEO of a major company. On Wednesday, they took out a lung and on Thursday your liver. Finally, they came for your heart on Friday.
You were a murderer, they said, for walking around with these things inside your body when you could save so many others. Your body is a ward of the state and you no longer have control over it.
Did you really think the lack of body autonomy didn't affect you?
For those on TikTok, I saw this video and I was like yes this here...and remember, we've given a ton of power to corporations in this country and profit over people so the lack of body autonomy is dangerous for everyone who isn't very wealthy. We know who will be left and what will be left of us.
www.tiktok.com/@maryclareclark/video/7113843543856155946?...
**All photos are copyrighted**
Den 9 juni 2022 är det exakt 100 år sedan Åland fick sin självstyrelse
June 9 2022 Åland Islands celebrates 100 years of peaceful autonomy
finland.fi/life-society/aland-islands-to-commence-celebra...
Ragusa rises on the Iblei Mountains, is located in the south-eastern part of Sicily.
It was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1693 and was rebuilt in Ragusa Alta and Ragusa Ibla.
This division was the result of various conflicts, but the most significant was undoubtedly that between the two main churches, in particular between the San Giorgiani and the San Giovannesi, who were linked to one or the other church, defending their autonomy.
The baroque historic center of Ragusa, or Ibla, represents the flagship of the city and thanks to the numerous churches and palaces it constitutes the most fascinating and historic part of Ragusa.
Thanks to its baroque architecture, the historic center has been included among the UNESCO world heritage sites.
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Ragusa sorge sui Monti Iblei , è localizzata nella parte sud-orientale della Sicilia .
Fu completamente distrutta dal terremoto del 1693 e fu ricostruita in Ragusa Alta e Ragusa Ibla.
Questa divisione fu il risultato di diversi contrasti, ma il più significativo fu senz’altro quello tra le due Chiese principali, in particolare tra i San Giorgiani e i San Giovannesi, che erano legati all’uno o alla altra chiesa, difendendone la propria autonomia.
Il centro storico barocco di Ragusa, ovverosia Ibla, rappresenta il fiore all’occhiello della città e grazie alle numerose chiese e ai palazzi costituisce la parte più affascinante e storica di Ragusa.
Grazie alla sua architettura barocca, il centro storico è stato inserito dall’Unesco tra i patrimoni mondiali dell’umanità.
Ragusa rises on the Iblei Mountains, is located in the south-eastern part of Sicily.
It was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1693 and was rebuilt in Ragusa Alta and Ragusa Ibla.
This division was the result of various conflicts, but the most significant was undoubtedly that between the two main churches, in particular between the San Giorgiani and the San Giovannesi, who were linked to one or the other church, defending their autonomy.
The baroque historic center of Ragusa, or Ibla, represents the flagship of the city and thanks to the numerous churches and palaces it constitutes the most fascinating and historic part of Ragusa.
Thanks to its baroque architecture, the historic center has been included among the UNESCO world heritage sites.
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Ragusa sorge sui Monti Iblei , è localizzata nella parte sud-orientale della Sicilia .
Fu completamente distrutta dal terremoto del 1693 e fu ricostruita in Ragusa Alta e Ragusa Ibla.
Questa divisione fu il risultato di diversi contrasti, ma il più significativo fu senz’altro quello tra le due Chiese principali, in particolare tra i San Giorgiani e i San Giovannesi, che erano legati all’uno o alla altra chiesa, difendendone la propria autonomia.
Il centro storico barocco di Ragusa, ovverosia Ibla, rappresenta il fiore all’occhiello della città e grazie alle numerose chiese e ai palazzi costituisce la parte più affascinante e storica di Ragusa.
Grazie alla sua architettura barocca, il centro storico è stato inserito dall’Unesco tra i patrimoni mondiali dell’umanità.
Foresta di Lombardia Val Masino, denominata appunto “Bagni di Masino”. Al suo interno l’ERSAF ha realizzato un percorso attrezzato dedicato alle persone ipovedenti o non vedenti. L’uso delle più avanzate tecnologie permette la scoperta delle varie realtà naturali, anche in completa autonomia. La presenza di accompagnatori e guide specializzate consente di estendere l’esperienza anche all’arrampicata sui massi. È presente anche un percorso per diffondere la pratica dell’orienteering.
Inside, ERSAF has created an equipped path dedicated to visually impaired or blind people. The use of the most advanced technologies allows the discovery of the various natural realities, even in complete autonomy
Broto, Sobrarbe, Aragón, España.
Broto es un municipio de España en la provincia de Huesca, Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón. Tiene un área de 128,50 km² con una población de 531 habitantes (INE 2018) y una densidad de 4,28 hab/km².
La villa de Broto es la cabecera natural del Valle de Broto, y tradicionalmente ha sido el lugar de reunión del Conzello de Broto, una institución del valle que antiguamente hacía las veces de parlamento y diputación de todos los pueblos del mismo, donde se debían tomar todas las decisiones que implicasen a los vecinos de éste; concesiones de explotaciones forestales y agropecuarias, regulaciones económicas y arrendamientos, facerías (especialmente importantes en este lugar las que lo unían con el valle francés de Barèges), tribunal, etc. La institución todavía es funcional hoy en día, aunque en un grado mayor de como lo estaba antiguamente, hoy en día es gobernada sobre todo por los núcleos de Broto y la vecina Torla-Ordesa. Sus funciones están hoy muy menguadas respecto al grado de autonomía de que gozaba con los antiguos fueros, dado que contaba con auspicio de la casa real aragonesa, siendo por primera vez regulado su funcionamiento en el siglo XIII.
El Conzello efectuaba sus reuniones dentro del edificio de la Cárcel, que además incluye dependencias que se utilizaron hasta el siglo XVIII como prisión, y donde algunos de los reclusos realizaron grabados en las paredes, algunos de ellos con singular destreza, que se han convertido en uno más de los múltiples atractivos de la villa, siendo visitables en fechas concretas.
El núcleo de Broto se estructura en torno a la carretera nacional, llamada Avenida de Ordesa a su paso por la villa, con todos los comercios abiertos a ella. La iglesia se encuentra en la parte más elevada del pueblo, al mismo lado de la carretera que la cárcel, aunque esta segunda se encuentra más cerca del río. Por el lado sur de la carretera cabe buscar la Plaza de las Herrerías (también llamada "de la Santa Cruz" o "de los Porches") que constituye una de las visiones más hermosas de la población.
Los dos barrios que componen Broto están separados uno a cada orilla del Ara, con el barrio de la Santa Cruz en el norte, y en el sur el llamado Barrio de los Porches. Es una costumbre muy arraigada en los pueblos del Alto Aragón considerar y nombrar como barrios diferentes simples agrupaciones de casas que, como en este caso, están separadas únicamente por un curso de agua sobre el cual se levanta un puente. Antiguamente ambos barrios estaban unidos por un único puente medieval que fue desgraciadamente destruido en el transcurso de la Guerra Civil (cabe destacar la crudeza que alcanzó dicho conflicto en esta zona de Aragón, llegando a su punto cumbre con el fenómeno llamado la Bolsa de Bielsa). Hoy en día entre ambos barrios la carretera circula por un puente de hormigón.
Actualmente, puente románico sólo se conserva el que cruza por encima del río Sorrosal junto a la llamada Cascada del Sorrosal, un salto de agua que se precipita de una pared de roca hasta caer por debajo de la villa de Broto. El puente del Sorrosal está hoy en día cerrado al tránsito de personas que tienen que pasar por un puente paralelo habilitado a pocos metros y que, así mismo, conduce al vecino lugar de Oto.
Broto is a municipality of Spain in the province of Huesca, Autonomous Community of Aragon. It has an area of 128.50 km² with a population of 531 inhabitants (INE 2018) and a density of 4.28 inhabitants / km².
The town of Broto is the natural head of the Broto Valley, and traditionally it has been the meeting place of the Conzello de Broto, an institution of the valley that formerly served as parliament and deputation of all the towns of the same, where they had to take all decisions involving its neighbors; forest and agricultural exploitation concessions, economic regulations and leases, faceries (especially important in this place those that linked it with the French valley of Barèges), court, etc. The institution is still functional today, although to a greater degree than it was in the past, today it is governed mainly by the towns of Broto and neighboring Torla-Ordesa. Today its functions are greatly diminished with respect to the degree of autonomy it enjoyed with the old fueros, since it was sponsored by the Aragonese royal house, its operation being regulated for the first time in the 13th century.
The Conzello held its meetings inside the Prison building, which also includes rooms that were used as a prison until the 18th century, and where some of the inmates made engravings on the walls, some of them with singular skill, which have become one more of the multiple attractions of the town, being visited on specific dates.
The nucleus of Broto is structured around the national highway, called Avenida de Ordesa as it passes through the town, with all the shops open to it. The church is located in the highest part of town, on the same side of the road as the jail, although the latter is closer to the river. On the south side of the road, you can look for the Plaza de las Herrerías (also called "de la Santa Cruz" or "de los Porches") which constitutes one of the most beautiful views of the town.
The two neighborhoods that make up Broto are separated, one on each bank of the Ara, with the Santa Cruz neighborhood in the north and the so-called Barrio de los Porches in the south. It is a deeply rooted custom in the towns of Alto Aragón to consider and name as different neighborhoods simple groupings of houses that, as in this case, are separated only by a watercourse over which a bridge rises. Formerly both neighborhoods were linked by a single medieval bridge that was unfortunately destroyed in the course of the Civil War (it is worth noting the harshness that this conflict reached in this area of Aragon, reaching its peak with the phenomenon called the Bielsa Stock Exchange) . Today between the two neighborhoods the road runs over a concrete bridge.
Currently, the only surviving Romanesque bridge is the one that crosses over the river Sorrosal next to the so-called Cascada del Sorrosal, a waterfall that falls from a rock wall until it falls below the town of Broto. The Sorrosal bridge is nowadays closed to the transit of people who have to go through a parallel bridge enabled a few meters away and that, likewise, leads to the neighboring place of Oto.
...is a south-opening valley coming down from the crest of the Pyrenees within the municipality of Queralbs, province of Girona, community of Catalonia, Spain.
The floor of the valley lies about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level and is accessible from the south via a rack railway (the Vall de Núria Rack Railway) or by foot, and from France to the north by footpaths.
There are no roads to access the valley.
The place is historically notable for the 1931 drafting of the first Catalan Statute of Autonomy, in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Núria.
@Wikipedia
In my view, the year 2025 may later be remembered as one of those fateful years that turned the course of history - comparable to 1914, though for different reasons. In 1914, a world still shaped by old monarchies, elites and ideals collided with the realities of industrial total war, and the shock triggered political, social, and economic change never seen in the history before.
The year 2025 has had its share of wars, catastrophes, and political instability. But in a dark sense, much of that feels familiar, bloody business as usual. The truly new element, the one with the potential to scale into a transformation of the 1914 magnitude, is the speed of artificial intelligence development. I have followed ChatGPT from the beginning, and what happened in 2025 felt unreal - not a linear improvement, as if years of progress were packed into months.
And the impact will land everywhere. In media, Deepfaked faces, voices, and "credible" footage can be produced at scale. In art and culture, it changes the way of creation itself. In warfare, it rewards speed, autonomy, and information advantage. And inevitably, states will try to harness this power, they do it always.
If this trajectory continues, we may look back on December 31, 2025 as a threshold. Those of us who watched that sunset were not simply ending a calendar year. We may have been witnessing the sunset of an older world - one that is still here, still familiar in many ways, but already beginning to recede before our eyes.
Ragusa rises on the Iblei Mountains, is located in the south-eastern part of Sicily.
It was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1693 and was rebuilt in Ragusa Alta and Ragusa Ibla.
This division was the result of various conflicts, but the most significant was undoubtedly that between the two main churches, in particular between the San Giorgiani and the San Giovannesi, who were linked to one or the other church, defending their autonomy.
The baroque historic center of Ragusa, or Ibla, represents the flagship of the city and thanks to the numerous churches and palaces it constitutes the most fascinating and historic part of Ragusa.
Thanks to its baroque architecture, the historic center has been included among the UNESCO world heritage sites.
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Ragusa sorge sui Monti Iblei , è localizzata nella parte sud-orientale della Sicilia .
Fu completamente distrutta dal terremoto del 1693 e fu ricostruita in Ragusa Alta e Ragusa Ibla.
Questa divisione fu il risultato di diversi contrasti, ma il più significativo fu senz’altro quello tra le due Chiese principali, in particolare tra i San Giorgiani e i San Giovannesi, che erano legati all’uno o alla altra chiesa, difendendone la propria autonomia.
Il centro storico barocco di Ragusa, ovverosia Ibla, rappresenta il fiore all’occhiello della città e grazie alle numerose chiese e ai palazzi costituisce la parte più affascinante e storica di Ragusa.
Grazie alla sua architettura barocca, il centro storico è stato inserito dall’Unesco tra i patrimoni mondiali dell’umanità.
‘Self-help’ and ‘autonomy’ are useful skills to teach children, though admittedly, I often fail at ensuring these skills are promoted in a loving and supportive way. On more occasions than I care to admit, I often find myself flippantly saying, “just do it already!” or in a state of frustration, opt to undergo tasks in my own seemingly more-efficient way. It would be easy for children to mis-infer that ‘autonomy’ is the golden rule in standards of living – when it isn’t.
It certainly runs a risk of undermining the equally-important issue of ‘inter-dependency’. We are, after all, gregarious beings, with an identity firmly fixed in the context of community…
‘Place2Be’ is launching the UK’s first Children’s Mental Health Week; a charity that provides emotional and therapeutic services to children, in schools across the country. Please make sure to visit their website and be made aware of the very prevalence of child mental health...
In one of its pages, it reads, “...one of the most important life-skills we teach our children is knowing when to ask for help.”
In reality, children, in one way or another, are always asking for help; the task for us, as carers, is to listen.
All photos copyright 2015-2025 by Gerd Michael Kozik No further use of my photos in any form such as websites, print, commercial or private use. Do not use my photos without my permission !
a Santiago Calatrava sculpture installed in the park at River Point, Chicago.
Calatrava’s intention in this sculpture is for it to simply grow from the ground. Within each figure, an internal logic of autonomy delivers lyrical forms and implies a sense of elevation and spiritual uplifting, reflecting the building’ it sits in front of’s mirrored architectural arch.
Night view of Niigata City from a bridge over the Shinano-gawa river, which is only 367 km long although the longest river in Japan.
Niigata City is one of the 20 government designated cities (政令指定都市) that are given a higher level of autonomy than ordinary municipalities. There are only three such cities on the Japan Sea coast, namely, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Niigata. It clearly reflects the economic disparity between the Japan Sea coast and the Pacific coast. Japan Sea Coast is called Ura-Nihon (裏日本, backdoor or minor Japan) as contrasted with Omote-Nihon (表日本, frontdoor or major Japan).
The disparity is supposed to be created by the two factors: climate and geo-politics. Japan Sea coast has suffered from heavy snowfall, which has significantly constrained economic activities especially in the past. Japan's international trade partners have used the Pacific Ocean for transporting goods, and the trades with Russia and North Korea have been limited.
I hope the latter factor would be mitigated not in the distant future.
Derniers tests pour le nouveau boitier Canon. Il se connecte au trépied et se déplace de façon autonome pour réaliser toutes les images que vous n'osez pas faire vous même.
20 ans d'avance chez Canon France Bretagne.
Je préfère ne pas donner le nom de celui qui ose laisser son boitier comme ça pour réaliser une photo, même si je le fais moi même souvent. Un inconscient....
Les Kaolins - Ploemeur
“In order to become myself I must cease to be what I thought I always thought I wanted to be, and in order to find myself I must go out of myself, and in order to live I have to die.”
-Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation (New York: New Directions, 1972), 47.
, “We have a choice of two identities: the external mask which seems to be real and which lives by a shadowy autonomy for the brief moment of earthy existence.”
-Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation, 297
Your hope - even your 'theory' - was that the socialisation of the means of production would end human misery. Granted, the red elites trying to realise your theory failed, partly because their views of socialisation were incomplete as they themselves (and not society) wanted to control it. Their understanding of 'means of production' was way too narrow and did not give enough space and autonomy to the fields of intellectual thought and religious sentiment. After the catastrophes of the 20th century we are all a bit wiser (hopefully). But could you ever have imagined that "Facebook", the matador of a late capitalist and manipulative culture industry, would sail under the flag of the socialisation of the means of communication? Rotate in your grave, Karl!
Cashapp & Venmo: $AnnairaOtakuOnna
Makeup: Eilian makeup & lips by Zibska *Get this item at the Engine Room event!* www.flickr.com/photos/zibska/
This was a political piece of "art" I created three years ago. I never thought I'd post it because it felt too disturbing to me. After the SCOTUS rulings from the past two days, though, I felt it was time. Children (and everyone else) now at risk of greater gun violence, and women prevented from making their own personal choices about their health and bodily autonomy. We are regressing and spiraling down the drain faster and faster. This isn't the future I'd hoped for the coming generations.
I composed this image while hiking the rocky coastline of Brittany, an area known as Brittany.s Emerald Coast.
Brittany (also known as Bretagne or Breton) in France’s northwesternmost region, is a hilly peninsula extending out toward the Atlantic Ocean. Its lengthy, rugged coastline is dotted with beach resorts such as chic Dinard and walled Saint-Malo, built on rock in the English Channel. It is also known for its magnificent - and often magnificently preserved - early European architecture, dating to the 5th century.
Brittany is the traditional homeland of the Breton people and is one of the six Celtic nations retaining a distinct cultural identity that reflects its history,. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, a nationalist movement seeks greater autonomy within the French Republic, or independence from it.
This building has a long story. For the townspeople of Amiens it is a symbol of their autonomy. In 1113 Amiens gained autonomy approved by the king Louis VI of France (1081-1137). But the Earl of Amiens, Enguerrand I de Coucy (1042 – 1116), didn't like that and his son Thomas de Marle, Lord of Coucy (1073-1130), didn't like that either, after he succeeded his father. So they made war on Amiens in 1115. The city fought against them and the Earls had to barricade themselves into an old Roman fortress in the middle of the city. Louis VI got angry and paid them a visit with his troops but he couldn't capture the fortress and thus the troops sieged the Earls for 2 years. Then the king's troops were victorious and they had the fortress razed to the ground. The townspeople built this belfry from 1406 to 1410 as a symbol of their autonomy. They used the bell tower to warn of fire or enemies (earls), as armoury and prison.
The belfry burned down in 1562 and in 1742. After the fire in 1742 it was rebuilt in 1749 and this time it looked like it looks today. So our version is like the 18th century version. They cast a bell called Marie-Firmine. It weighed 11 tonnes. Marie Firmine rang every hour.
In 1940 the evil Germans dropped bombs on the belfry and the roof burned down. The bell fell down and broke into pieces. The building was left in this pitiful state until 1989.
In 1989 the belfry was restored just the way it was in 1749. It is listed in the additional list of French historical monuments. And there were important changes from the original. The two mayors Amiens had in 1988 and 1989 had a sculptor include their portraits as mediaeval sculptures at the entrance of the belfry (not much has changed since the times of feudal systems) and the mayor of 1989 insisted they put in a carillon instead of an 11 tonnes bell. I have to admit, the latter was a good idea.
The physiology of balance is complex, requiring autonomic coordination of input from sensory systems and output to motor systems in a negative feedback loop to keep the animal in balance. Even without a centralised brain, the snail can perform remarkable manoeuvers with the skill and grace of a gymnast while maintaining complete control of its balance.
For Macro Mondays theme 'Balance'.
No snails were harmed in the making of this photograph. The small piece of bracken was first carefully positioned to check composition, bokeh and exposure, then the snail was added. I had originally wanted the snail on the top of the bracken, but it (quickly!) moved along to the end, checked there was no other place to go, then turned around and went back. The entire shoot with the snail lasted only a couple of minutes then the snail was well-rewarded with its favourite red lettuce. I chose this shot because it reminded me of Kate Winslet in That Scene from Titanic.
The Dinh Vua Mèo, or Hmong King’s Palace, was built in the early 20th century by Vuong Chinh Duc, a powerful Hmong leader whose wealth stemmed from the opium trade. The palace is a stunning fusion of architectural styles, combining Chinese feng shui principles, French colonial influences, and Hmong cultural motifs. Constructed by skilled Chinese craftsmen, its intricate carvings, tiled roofs, and strategic design reflect both the grandeur and functionality required during a time of political autonomy and territorial pride. Today, it stands as a symbol of the Hmong people’s cultural resilience and the region’s layered history.
Local folklore surrounding the palace tells of a forbidden love between a Hmong prince and a commoner, a romance that defied the rigid social expectations of the time. When their secret was uncovered, the couple faced the wrath of the king, who forbade their union. The tale diverges in its endings: one version recounts their tragic separation, with sorrowful echoes said to haunt the palace halls; another imagines a daring escape into the remote mountains, where they lived in anonymity but free to love. This duality—tragedy and freedom—adds an air of mystery and poignancy to the palace’s storied past.
Model Trang Nguyen
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Freedom (Latin libertas) is understood in a broad sense as the possibility to choose between different options and to make decisions without being forced to do so. In modern philosophy, theology and law, the term generally designates a state of autonomy of a subject. Source
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For the sake of truth and freedom, one sometimes has to defy the usual rules of good manners.
<Michel_de_Montaigne (1533 - 1592), actually Michel Eyquem, Seigneur de Montaigne, French philosopher and essayist. >
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100 Wukang Rd., Shanghai
The anger of the demonstrations and protests did not infect everyone. Just a short distance away from the blockade, youths steeped in consumerism were still relaxing and having fun. This is partly due to the blockade of information by the authorities, and partly due to the fact that thirty years of condoning and exploiting consumerism and suppressing social autonomy have created a large group of people who are indifferent to the fate of others.
On the night of 26 November 2022, a demonstration took place in Middle Wulumuqi (Urumqi) Road, Shanghai in memory of the victims of the fire in Wulumuqi (Urumqi), Xinjiang, the casualties of which were caused by the building being locked up as a result of absurd anti-epidemic measures which made it impossible for residents to escape. The police ended up arresting many of the demonstrators and loading three police buses:
www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2022/11/27/chine-de-...
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596578107540099076
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596570771081424896
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596572854933663746
twitter.com/smashcherryM/status/1596573951899369472
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596573231787507713
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596579177700163584
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596807003078549505
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596587392437305344
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596615782418780160
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596858254792892416
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596807681372610560
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596612817326587905
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596620498930393090
etc.
On the evening of the 27th, a large area of the neighbourhood where the demonstration took place last night was suddenly blocked off, allowing only people to leave and not enter, perhaps to prevent further demonstrations from gathering there.. A large number of people gathered at the intersections of the blocked-off neighbourhoods, which gradually festered into a new demonstration.
The demonstration on the night of the 27th:
twitter.com/zonghengjp/status/1597636556369850369
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596839928058744839
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596573755723374592
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596848557365301250
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596800397397856256
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596848447700672513
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596846410061725696
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596833070879223812
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596847889439166465
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596833340023525377
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596844625238831105
twitter.com/whyyoutouzhele/status/1596842613629669376
etc.
"The autonomy of nonhuman nature seems to me an indispensable corrective to human arrogance"- William Cronon
Thank-you to all who take the time to comment on my photos, it is greatly appreciated <3
La Vall de Núria
"The Valley of Núria"
is a south-opening valley coming down from the crest of the Pyrenees within the municipality of Queralbs, province of Girona, community of Catalonia, Spain.
The floor of the valley lies about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level and is accessible from the south via a rack railway (the Vall de Núria Rack Railway) or by foot, and from France to the north by footpaths.
There are no roads to access the valley.
The place is historically notable for the 1931 drafting of the first Catalan Statute of Autonomy, in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Núria.
"Wikipedia"
"The Bremen Town Hall (German: Bremer Rathaus) is the seat of the President of the Senate and Mayor of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. It is one of the most important examples of Brick Gothic and Weser Renaissance architecture in Europe. Since 1973, it has been a protected historical building. In July 2004, along with the Bremen Roland statue, the building was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of its outstanding architecture and its testimony to the development of civic autonomy in the Holy Roman Empire." (Wikipedia)