Women's Health Awareness
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The Lone Cypress Tree, located along the scenic 17-Mile Drive in Monterey and Carmel, is one of the most iconic landmarks on the California coast. This solitary cypress has withstood the test of time, weathering countless storms and braving the salty sea air for over 250 years.
The tree is believed to have sprouted sometime in the early 1770s, making it one of the oldest living things in the area. Its unique location on a rocky outcropping, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, has made it a popular subject for photographs, paintings, and even logos for the Pebble Beach Company.
The Lone Cypress Tree has become a symbol of resilience and perseverance, standing strong despite the challenges of its harsh environment. It has even survived attempts to remove it from its precarious perch. In the 1940s, the tree was propped up with cables to prevent it from falling into the ocean, and in the 1980s, a replacement tree was planted nearby in case the original finally succumbed to the elements.
But despite its fame and popularity, the Lone Cypress Tree is still a living thing that requires care and attention. In recent years, the tree has faced a number of health challenges, including the effects of climate change and invasive pests. The Pebble Beach Company has taken steps to protect and preserve the tree, including limiting public access to the area around it and implementing conservation measures.
and, Good morning ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و
Prevent coronavirus infection by washing hands and gargle!!!
I hope you have all safe and, wonderful weekend to all (*˘︶˘*).｡.:*♡
【memo】
@Skin Fair 2020
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DS'ELLES-(Wear)-LUCIE -CARAMEL CATWA HEAD APPLIER
👍DS'ELLES Creation Mainstore
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@Bloom
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.::Supernatural::. Sammy Necklace Gold
👍.::Supernatural::. Mainstore
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Doe: Breathe - Blondes
*:..Silvery K..:*Head Dress(SAKURA)
::GB::Cami Tank (Maitreya) White
MINIMAL - Vege Background 8
Capture taken during recent trip to NYC. The local security personal did prevent looking for other options and perspectives during that visit...doing what they are supposed to do...next time...have a good remaining week. Thanks, Udo.
Created for the Kreative People Contest 40: "Locked & Latched"
Thank you for your visit, comment or fave. All are much appreciated.
All rights reserved. This photo is not authorized for use on your blogs, pin boards, websites or use in any other way.
Photos and textures used are my own.
*Working Towards a Better World
I believe that this street artist in Brooklyn, New York has just about said it all about driving with good advice!
Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! xo💜💜
The truly spectacular Quiraing is an icon of Scotland. Many people visit only the first short section of path. My intention was to walk around it, but heavy rain prevented me from doing so. A real shame, as the site is so spectacular.
The truly spectacular Quiraing is an icon of Scotland. Many people visit only the first short section of path. My intention was to walk around it, but heavy rain prevented me from doing so. A real shame, as the site is so spectacular.
Well been a week since my last post and working on some new hobbies so this isn’t my usual post. I have begun to treat myself with some preventative herbal medicine right now I am working on my immune defenses given its everything season out there. I spent many months reading and researching and have narrowed some things down that seemed to have some great abilities to fire up the immune system pre sickness and I think this one so far is a winner you can look up the ingredients and their benefits on your own if you are interested as I can only tell you what works for me.
Immuno-T
1 part each dried Elderberry, Rose Hips, Echinacea Root, Astragalus, Ginger
I like mine herbs powdered so mix in a spice grinder for maximum extraction; otherwise 3-4 tsp in a 1l mason jar filled with boiling water, let steep 10 minutes drink then hot or cold and a spoonful of honey makes the medicine go down so does a slice or two lemon.
I took this on Oct 24th, 2021 with my D850 and Tamron 15-30 f2.8 G2 Lens at 30mm, 5s, f8 ISO 64 processed in LR, PS +Topaz ,and DXO
Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress
Flit needs a new heart, she rumages through the dump and finds some makeshift armor; she comes up with a pipe, some streetsigns and an old funnel.
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Oz notes: The Wicked Witch of the East enchanted the Tin Woodman's axe to prevent him from marrying his sweetheart, after being bribed by the lazy old woman who kept the Munchkin maiden as a servant, and did not wish to lose her.
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It's great to be totally absorbed in just enjoying a natural event. High water and surging waves over sharp rocks meant an hour sped by. Every shot is different , and the timing was so important, to prevent everything disappearing in a sea of foam. My mind created castles, valleys, waterfalls and cities. City of delusion is a fitting track by Muse
Early one morning, on the Ottawa River before freeze-up, a pair of Hooded Mergansers drift westward against the current. Perhaps because of hunting (the kind of hunting where shooting birds seems more important than eating them, because Mergansers are not prized eating ducks) they are incredibly skittish. I was lying behind a fallen tree on the shore, and although the male sensed something, he remained calm, and they drifted along, their purpose a mystery.
This species, whose scientific name means ‘crested diver’, is the only Merganser species found naturally in North America only (aside from some wandering birds showing up in the UK from time to time.
And as always la province de Québec remains to the north of us, across the River.
I just spent two weeks trapped in a hotel in Calgary trying to prevent and then trying to end a significant work stoppage in Canada, and nothing seems more restorative than the possibility of getting out into a gradually melting forest. Or lying alongside the River.
El tren (S592) procede de la Estación de Xàtiva y está a punto de parar en el apeadero de Genovés. Además acaba de salir del túnel nº 3, cuyo extremo opuesto ya conocemos.
Desde este punto de observación tomamos una imagen similar, pero la niebla de aquel momento impedía ver el túnel.
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The train comes from the Xàtiva Station and is about to stop at Genovés halt. In addition it has just left tunnel No. 3, whose opposite end we already know.
From this observation point we took a similar image, but the fog of that moment prevented us from seeing the tunnel.
Some people can subconsciously prevent you from becoming your best self.
Everything you do in this life- where you go, what you say, what you do and who you do it with is the result of your thoughts.
A big reason people fight is because people identify with their thoughts. When we were growing up, most of us believed that thoughts come from the inside. We thought that they were innately a part of us and that we *are* our thoughts. We started building our whole identities around our own little internal monologues.
And the bigger the idea, the more of your identity it represents. This is why politics and religion are such hotly debated topics, because they're such big ideas. If I say your political idea is a bad idea, and you base your identity on that idea, then effectively what you're hearing is that I'm calling you a bad person. You think that I'm attacking you, not the idea.
Something that might be even more common is that people just straight up attack the individual as a proxy for attacking that person's idea.
Somewhere along the way, a few people started realizing they had it all wrong.
In practice, a much better way to think about it is that the universe has an infinite number of streams of thoughts, so to speak, that our brains can kind of tap into like different radio stations. With this analogy, we no longer have to view ourselves as a series of thoughts but rather as an empty vessel by which thoughts pass through. Now we're like the DJ of a radio station, not the individual song. The self is merely an observer. It was this distinction that sparked one of the most famous philosophical debates of all time, which is, I think therefore I am versus I *do* therefore I am.
Spolier alert, you should pick the latter.
In this analogy, the self is determined by our ability to pick and choose different ideas from different streams of thoughts and combine them to form new ideas. Sort of like picking ingredients to make a sandwich.
This is different from the first paradigm, in which we would just take everything from the same stream and hope that the sandwich turns out good anyways.
Therapists know that this works, that's why when people come in complaining about depression, they're told to use the term "negative intrusive thoughts".
The idea is actually pretty simple. If you don't take ownership of the idea and instead you assign a label to it, then you can categorize it as something that life just happened to send your way but something that you're also allowed to throw away. You don't have to hold on to it because it's not actually a part of you. It's just a shitty song on the radio station.
So how does this all relate to other people holding you back?
To be continued..
Credited to Austin Ambrozi on TikTok
The sandhill cranes at Bosque del Apache generally fly in to their night haven ponds just at sunset (from my past experience, which admittedly is limited). This year they mostly waited until after sunset, preventing getting their aerial portraits with beautiful warm light. On this evening a Loggerhead Shrike stopped by to pose on a sign, providing a nice consolation prize. Although they are mostly insectivorous, the bit of a hook in the bill also is indicative of their ability to eat small mammals.
Heron on the Isle of Wight pond on Bookham Common on the lookout for any passing lunch . I once saw about twenty heron in flight over this pond ( see shot in first comment box ) , it was quite a sight but weather conditions prevented any sort of a decent capture . There is/was a heronry very close to the pond , but since some issues with water levels and a sluice being replaced I have not seen the herons in large numbers these days .
Hello my amazing Flickr friends !!
Today is an orange day at Color My World Daily and the theme at Crazy Tuesday is Partly Obscured. I decided to go with a flying cow, just lifting off. This is a very rare sight since usually flying cows don’t want to show the exact manner they are lifting off while flying. It is to prevent air traffic since there isn’t such a thing as flying cows tower control… This is why you can see that our flying cow was partly obscured by an orange panel in order to hide the lift off technic from everyone and keep it a secret… I would love to talk more about flying cows but I have to work and I’m pretty much sure I have a meeting this morning. See you later my friends !
Mucho, mucho amor for you my friends !!
Thank you so much for all your lovely comments / favs/ general support / happy thoughts!! Stay safe and well!! And see you soon on Flickr !
"Paddington, see what I have found here!" Molly happily pulls something out of water
"No, no! Dont pull the rope Molly, there may be a ship tied up on the other end! You might pull it on the rocks!" Paddington shouts
We believe that Paddington managed to prevent maritime disaster
Happy Teddy Bear Tuesday!
🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻
The "knobby-ness" of these tree branches brings up the subject of "pollarded" trees. Severe cutting/trimming of the branches to prevent normal expansion of size, year to year. The resultant tree shapes have been popular in Europe in formal landscaping since at least the 17th century. The practice has a deep history, with more practical origins.
I used to hate the look, but after reading up on the history, I am more tolerant and even interested. Typically, such trees are trimmed back severely--to the branch knobs--every year or two.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollarding
One of the reasons to employ pollarding, according to Wikipedia, is: "to maintain trees at a determined height". That would seem to be the reason it is used here.
HTmT!
To prevent winter depression, it is wonderful to go outside, breathe in the fresh air and soak up some light, even if the sun is not shining as much as you would like. In the hilly countryside of South Limburg, all of this is available, including peace and space.
The photo was taken on the “Dikkebuiksweg” (Fat Belly Road) from Wijlre to Eyserbos. A narrow road closed for cars, with two nasty
Depuis le premier octobre, la campagne de dépistage du cancer du sein est lancée en France.
Mesdames, une simple mammographie pour éviter bien des soucis... !
Griffon Vulture adult flight_w_ (Gyps fulvus)-6538
Like other vultures, it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over open areas, often moving in flocks. It establishes nesting colonies in cliffs that are undisturbed by humans while coverage of open areas and availability of dead animals within dozens of kilometres of these cliffs is high. These huge birds grunts and hisses at roosts or when feeding on carrion.
In many cultures around the world, particularly in Western societies, vultures are viewed with disdain. Commonly, people tend to look down on these birds as dirty, ugly, and unhygienic, failing to recognise their importance. People of other cultures, however, hold the vulture in high regard. This is true with the inhabitants of the Tibetan plateau, where vultures are part of traditional funerary customs. In this culture, people are not buried after death as a means of controlling preventable infectious diseases. Instead, the dead are laid to rest in the sky. Monks prepare the bodies of the deceased and set them on platforms to draw the attention of nearby vultures. The vultures discover these human bodies, ingesting them and carrying them off into the sky. Many people view this as one final good deed as the deceased is able to offer something to another living creature before going off to rest in the sky. This practice is not unique to Tibet, however. Historical evidence suggests it has been practiced by cultures around the world for over 11,000 years.
The maximum recorded lifespan of the griffon vulture is 41.4 years for an individual in captivity
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Dati Tecnici
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a) Nikon D800E + Nikon MB-12 Battery Pack Impugnatura con impostazione live View;
b) Sigma 150mm f/2.8G APO-Macro DG HSM (impostazione fuoco a Infinito fisso) + filtro Canon Close-Up Lens 500D 72mm + paraluce;
c) Formato “24:36” – Dimensione Immagine Originale“L-7360x4912 Dpi” – Dimensione Originale File Mb 103 – Qualità “Raw” – Espsizione “Media a Prevalenza Centrale” – I. Dinamico “HIGH” – Spazio Colore “S-RGB” – Stabilizzazione “No” – Messa a Fuoco “Manuale” – Impostazione Iso “400” – Bilanciamento del Bianco “Auto 1” – Regolazione Immagine Colore “0-0-0-0” – NR su ISO Elevati (Moderata - Bassa);
d) Focale impiegata 150mm;
e) Rapporto di Riproduzione Ingrandimento 0,68/1,00;
f) Esposizione Tempo 1/250s con apertura a f.4,4 su Monopiede Manfrotto;
g) Cavetto Elettonic Nikon MC-36 (per evitare le vibrazioni);
h) Sono stati impiegati due Flash: il primo di schiarita Nikon SB-900 Wireless (tenuto a mano) posizionato leggermente in basso a destra con parabola direzionata verso le ali della prima farfalla a circa 90cm programmato sul “Canale A” con riduzione del lampo di 1+1/3 di stop + diffusore a cupola SW-13H (Nikon) + il secondo Flash Gruppo Nikon Kit Macro RiC1 con 4 Seedlight SB-200 pilotate in Wireless (I due superiori con applicato il Filtro diffusore Nikon SW-11a quelli superiori schermo libero) + (riduzione del lampo delle lampade superiori di – 1/3 stop, aumento della potenza del lampo delle lampade inferiori di +1/3 ) + Nikon Wireless Speedlight Commander SU-800 montato sulla slitta della macchina:
i) Lettura Esposimetrica Media a Prevalenza Centrale (campo di azione della lettura fra le zampe delle due farfalle a sinistra e il busto della farfalla a destra) con impostazione a priorità dei diaframmi;
l) E’ stato utilizzato il Faretto Manfrotto regolato ad 1/3 della potenza (luce 1900°Kelvin) posizionato in alto sopra la scena all’altezza delle due farfalle superiori in modo da attutire le leggere ombre azzurre e abbassare la temperatura cromatica della scena per vivacizzare i colori pastello delle striature arancioni delle ali delle farfalle. Tutto il lavoro è stato effettuato verso le ore 6,45 del mattino (luce laterale diretta quasi al sorgere del sole);
m) Impostazione Asa 400/Asa;
n) Conversione del File Raw in Tiff con Nikon Capture NX 2;
o) Prima Post-Produzione Corel Photo-Paint X5 e Nikon Capture NX 2;
p) Seconda Post-Produzione con Adobe Photoshop CS6;
q) Post-Produzione di completamento con Nikon Capture NX 2.
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Mio breve Curriculum Vitae su LinkedIn: - My Brief Curriculum Vitae on LinkedIn:
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Visualizza il profilo di Luigi Mirto/ArchiMlFotoWord
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Tutti i diritti riservati © 2014 da ArchiMlFotoWord/Luigi Mirto/Photography
Nessuna immagine o parte di essa può essere riprodotta o trasmessa in qualsiasi forma e con qualsiasi mezzo senza preventiva autorizzazione.
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All rights reserved © 2014 by ArchiMlFotoWord/Luigi Mirto/Photography
No images or part thereof may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission.
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Pieride del biancospino [Aporia crataegi]
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“Mosca - “Pieride del biancospino (Aporia crataegi)”</”
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Pour changer des spots proches du bien connu Étang de Berre, rendons nous cette fois-ci entre Tarascon et Avignon lors d'un spot bien garni avec un ami en ce tout dernier jour de mois de février 2020 où j'ai mis en boîte, quelques FRET biens sympas comme je les aime avec un beau train orangé signé Colas Rail avec la belle Vossloh G1206 N°13 avec ses 2 V212 CV ainsi que ses belles ballastières, toutes, aux mêmes couleurs que Colas Rail que j'ai mis en boîte quelques minutes auparavant mais soudain, un train qui court pas les rails se présenta à moi.
Toujours sous le beau ciel bleu digne du Sud, passant à moyenne allure dans les environs de Graveson en ce tout début d'après-midi, le beau Train Meuleur Scheuchzer Grizzly N°104L que j'ai cliqué pour la toute première fois depuis belle lurette, s'est permi de faire une très longue balade de journée afin de rejoindre le Train Colas Rail à Nîmes en assurant le Train MA100 N°818963 reliant le BV de Valence à la Base de Travaux de Nîmes (CNM) via la Rive Gauche du Rhône avec un concerto + salut de la part des 2 agents, qui ont bien sûr, brisés le silence de la pampa Gravesonnaise pour notre plus grand plaisir !!!
Pour faire simple, le train meuleur Grizzly 104L effectue les opérations de maintenance préventives ou curatives du rail en pleine voie et dans les appareils de voie, en éliminant les défauts tels que les déformations du profil, l‘usure ondulatoire et bien sûr les Head-Checks, tout ca, généralement durant les nuits.
Prise de vue : 28 février 2020 à 13:33 à Graveson (13).
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click to activate the icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream;
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
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I begin this photographic story with a description, starting from far away, from very far away, it is a story that speaks of chains, innocent men condemned to death, a voice that comes from a painting, chains that break by themselves, a barred door that opens spontaneously: we are in Palermo (Sicily), it is the 23rd (18th is also reported) August 1392 during the reign of Martin V, the Marina square (located in the Kalsa district of Palermo), overlooking the port (Cala), is the place designated for capital executions by hanging, in this way the population and sailors can witness the hangings, a few meters from the square is the church of " Our Lady of the Port", also known as the "church of the chain" due to the presence nearby of one end of a large and long chain which, when hooked to the two sides of the entrance from the sea to the port, thus put under tension, the same prevented Saracen pirate ships from entering it; the gallows is now ready for three condemned men to death, the sudden arrival of a violent storm prevents the imminent execution, the gendarmes and the condemned men take refuge in the nearby church of Our Lady of the Port, avoiding reaching the prison, the gendarmes tie the three unfortunate men with double chains, barricade the heavy church door from inside, the execution is postponed until the next day; during the night the gendarmes fall asleep, the three condemned men certainly cannot sleep, that is their last night, they approach a painting of the Virgin Mary placed on the altar, ask mercy from the Holy Mother, they invoke her incessantly, a voice is heard coming from the Sacred Image, the Divine Infant that Mary holds in Her arms has granted them freedom, the chains break without making a sound, the door opens spontaneously, the three incredulous men come out into the square, news of what happened immediately spreads, the gendarmes awakened by the clamor recapture the three condemned men, but the population resists, requests the intervention of the king, who arrives and learns of what happened, since the miracle has occurred he considers them innocent and therefore declares them free. Thus was born the cult of the "Our Lady of the Chain", She holds a long chain in Her hands. She is attributed the gift of Powerful Liberator, from all kinds of constraints, both physical and psychological. This cult quickly spread throughout Sicily, but also beyond, to Calabria, Puglia, Campania, and Lazio. In the locality of Cronarmerina, in the Piazza Armerina area (Enna), it is said that in the event of a difficult birth, the chain held by the statue of Our Lady of the Chain was placed on the pregnant woman's belly, thus facilitating the birth. This beginning introduces the current photographic story made on the first Sunday of May 2025, taken on the occasion of the "Great Feast" that Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania) dedicates to its Most Holy. The patron saint, Our Lady of the Chain, is celebrated every 5 years (with several exceptions). This celebration is characterized by the carrying in procession of the heavy marble statue, weighing approximately 800 kgs, made by the Gagini school, through the streets of the town, together with the relic of the “Virgin Mary’s Hair”. Every year, the “normal” celebration is celebrated, without carrying the Sacred Effigy in procession, always on the first Sunday in May and the second Sunday in August. Extraordinary events attributed to this Virgin Mary Statue have occurred in Castiglione. In 1612, the "miracle of sweating" occurred, linked to the "redemption of the mere and mixed empire." In short, during the Aragonese and Spanish occupation, Castiglione di S. (S. as Sicily) was subject to the rule of feudal lords, who exercised the "mere and mixed empire," thus having full powers of jurisdictional sovereignty over Castiglione in place of the king. The population attempted to "redeem" these rights to escape taxes and feudal arbitration, obtain their own autonomy, and be administered by royal magistrates. It is said that during a critical moment in the attempt to redeem the "mere and mixed empire," the statue of the Our Lady of the Chain "sweated," a supernatural phenomenon interpreted as the participation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Infant in the suffering of the population, with her approval and protection in the process of redemption-liberation (a manuscript records what happened). In April 1809, after weeks of incessant prayers, the Statue was carried in procession to invoke Our Lady of the Chain to halt the advance of a lava flow from volcano Etna that threatened to destroy homes and fields in the Castiglione area. In 1879, the Statue was carried in procession behind the Castle to invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to put out a devastating fire; in 1946, at the end of World War II, a solemn procession was organized with the heavy Statue carried on shoulders, to thank the Blessed Virgin Mary for the end of the conflict; in 2020, the "Great Feast" was not celebrated due to the Covid-virus emergency. One aspect worthy of consideration is the deep attachment of the population of Castiglione di S. to the cult of Our Lady of the Chain, a cult that becomes a distinctive feature in the small communities of people of Castiglione scattered across many countries, some very far away. For example, in an interview with people who have moved to Australia (including their children or grandchildren) and now live in Brisbane or Sydney, we read that in every home of people off Castiglione there are always iconographic elements of Our Lady of the Chain, sacred images, small statues, postcards, paintings. And so, the anniversary of the "Great Feast” which occurs every 5 years, is a long-awaited moment for those who live abroad. The time comes to organize themselves into groups, take those who can, the same flight, and thus return to their native land, embrace their families again, and be able to see the Most Holy Mother again who "visits the town" walking its streets. A little curiosity: the first names "Cateno" or "Catena" are typically Sicilian names, originating from this Marian devotion. For example, our current and well-known mayor of Taormina (Messina), a politician, is named Cateno De Luca, as is the writer Catena Fiorello. Finally, a personal thought of mine: my paternal grandfather emigrated to the USA to find work and support his family. My grandmother remained in Taormina with their two children, her work as a photographer (she was the daughter of Gaetano D'Agata, assistant photographer of Baron-photographer Wilhelm von Gloeden, as I mentioned in a previous photo story) was not enough. My grandfather subsequently had to return to Sicily prematurely due to the outbreak of World War II. This photographic story of mine was created with constant, unceasing thought of all those Sicilians who emigrated abroad for work.
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Inizio questo racconto fotografico con descrizione, partendo da lontano, da molto lontano, è una storia che parla di catene, uomini innocenti condannati a morte, una voce che proviene da un quadro, catene che si spezzano da sole, un portone sbarrato che si apre spontaneamente: siamo a Palermo (Sicilia), è il 23 (viene anche riportato il 18) agosto 1392 durante il regno di Martino V, la Piazza Marina (si trova nel quartiere Kalsa di Palermo), si affaccia sul porto (Cala), è il luogo deputato alle esecuzioni capitali per impiccagione, in tal modo la popolazione ed i marinai possono assistere alle impiccagioni, a pochi metri dalla piazza si trova la chiesa di “S.Maria del porto”, conosciuta anche come la “chiesa della catena” per la presenza nelle vicinanze di una estremità di una grossa e lunga catena che, quando agganciata ai due lati dell’ingresso dal mare del porto, messa così in tensione, la stessa impediva alle navi pirata saracene di entrarvi dentro; la forca è ora pronta per tre condannati a morte, l’improvviso sopraggiungere di un violento temporale impedisce l’imminente esecuzione, gendarmi e condannati riparano nella vicina chiesa di S. Maria, evitando di raggiungere il carcere, i gendarmi legano i tre malcapitati con doppie catene, sbarrano da dentro il pesante portone della chiesa, l’esecuzione viene rimandata all’indomani; durante la notte i gendarmi si addormentano, i tre condannati non possono certo dormire, quella è la loro ultima notte, si avvicinano ad un quadro della Madonna posto sull’altare, chiedono misericordia alla Madre Santissima, la invocano incessantemente, una voce si ode provenire dalla Sacra Immagine, il Divino Infante che Maria sorregge in braccio ha concesso loro la libertà, le catene si spezzano senza fare rumore, il portone si spalanca spontaneamente, i tre increduli escono nella piazza, si sparge immediatamente la notizia di quanto accaduto, i gendarmi svegliati dal clamore riacciuffano i tre condannati, ma la popolazione si oppone, richiede l’intervento del re, il quale sopraggiunge e viene a conoscenza dell’accaduto, poiché c’è stato il miracolo li considera innocenti e quindi li dichiara liberi. Così nacque il culto per la “Madonna della Catena”, Ella regge tra le mani una lunga catena, Le viene attribuito il dono di Potente Liberatrice, da ogni sorta di costrizione in senso lato, fisico e psichico, culto che rapidamente si diffonde maggiormente in tutta la Sicilia, ma anche oltre, in Calabria, Puglia, Campania, Lazio. In località Cronarmerina, sul territorio di Piazza Armerina (Enna), si racconta che in presenza di un parto difficile, sulla gestante si adagiava sul ventre la catena tenuta in mano dalla statua della Madonna della Catena, per favorirne così il parto. Questo incipit, per introdurre l’attuale racconto fotografico, realizzato la prima domenica di maggio del 2025, in occasione della “Festa Grande” che Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania) dedica alla sua SS. Patrona, la Madonna della Catena, che viene celebrata ogni 5 anni (con diverse eccezioni) caratterizzata dal portare in processione la pesante statua di marmo, del peso di circa 800 kg, ad opera della scuola dei Gagini, per le vie del paese, insieme alla reliquia del “Capello della Madonna”, mentre ogni anno si celebra la festa “normale”, senza portare in processione il Sacro Simulacro, sempre la prima domenica di maggio, e la seconda domenica di agosto. Eventi straordinari in quel di Castiglione, attribuiti a questa Madonna ne sono accaduti, nel 1612 avvenne il “miracolo della sudorazione”, legato al “riscatto del mero et mixto imperio”, in breve, Castiglione di S. durante l’occupazione aragonese e spagnola, era soggetta al dominio da parte di signori feudali, che esercitavano il “mero et mixto imperio”, avevano così pieni poteri di sovranità giurisdizionale su Castiglione al posto del re, la popolazione cercò di “riscattare” questi diritti per sottrarsi a tasse ed arbìtri feudali, ottenere una propria autonomia, ed essere amministrati dai magistrati regi, si narra che durante un momento critico del tentativo di riscatto del “mero et mixto imperio” la statua della Madonna della Catena avrebbe “sudato”, fenomeno sovrannaturale interpretato come partecipazione della SS. Maria e del Suo Infante alle sofferenze della popolazione, con la Sua approvazione e protezione nel processo di riscatto – liberazione (si legge quanto accaduto in un manoscritto). Nell’aprile 1809 dopo settimane di incessanti preghiere, la statua fu portata in processione, per invocare la Madonna della Catena nel fermare l’avanzare di una colata lavica proveniente dall’Etna che minacciava di distruggere case e campi del territorio di Castiglione; nel 1879 la statua fu portata in processione dietro il Castello, per invocare l’intercessione della SS. Maria per far cessare un devastante incendio; nel 1946 alla fine della seconda guerra mondiale, si organizzò una solenne processione con la pesante statua portata in spalla, per ringraziare la SS. Maria per la fine del conflitto mondiale; nel 2020 la “Festa Grande” non fu celebrata, causa l’emergenza dettata dal Covid-virus. Un aspetto degno di considerazione è il profondo attaccamento della popolazione di Castiglione di S. al culto della Madonna della Catena, culto che diviene una nota distintiva nelle piccole comunità di Castiglionesi che si trovano sparse in molte nazioni, alcune lontanissime, ad esempio, in una intervista a persone trapiantate in Australia (anche, i loro figli od i loro nipoti) che vivono a Brisbane od a Sydney, si legge che in ogni casa di castiglionesi sono sempre presenti elementi iconografici della Madonna della Catena, immagini sacre, piccole statue, cartoline, quadri, ed ecco che la ricorrenza della “Festa Grande” che si verifica ogni 5 anni, è un momento attesissimo da coloro che vivono all’estero, giunge il momento di organizzarsi in gruppi, prendere chi può, lo stesso volo aereo, e così ritornare alla terra natia, riabbracciare i familiari, poter rivedere la SS. Madre che “fa visita al paese” percorrendo le sue strade. Una piccola curiosità, il nome proprio di persona “Cateno o Catena”, sono nomi tipicamente siciliani, provengono da questa devozione mariana, ad esempio il nostro attuale e conosciuto sindaco di Taormina (ME), uomo politico, si chiama Cateno De Luca, od anche la scrittrice Catena Fiorello. Infine, un mio personale pensiero, mio nonno paterno emigrò negli USA per cercare lavoro e così poter mantenere la famiglia, mia nonna restò a Taormina con i loro due figli, il suo lavoro come fotografa (era la figlia di Gaetano D’Agata, assistente fotografo del barone-fotografo Wilhelm von Gloeden, ne ho parlato in un mio precedente racconto fotografico) non era sufficiente, successivamente mio nonno dovette anzitempo rientrare in Sicilia per il presentarsi del conflitto mondiale, questo mio racconto fotografico è stato realizzato pensando costantemente, incessantemente, a tutti quei Siciliani emigrati all’estero per necessità di lavoro.
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In a narrow calle workers had dug up many of the stones to have access to services under them. For some reason Venetian paving stones are flat only on one side. Perhaps that helps prevent them from moving when there is flooding ?
Chinese mob being prevented by the police from demolishing the information booth of Hong Kong protests supporters in Mariahilfer Straße in Vienna last Saturday
I know this kind of people, because I lived and worked in China almost three years. Normally they're friendly and peaceful people, and I like them very much. But being brainwashed by using only Chinese information sources even in a foreign country like Austria, most of them are completely unable to understand people who aren't brainwashed the same way. So authorities allowing public criticism of their government will go over their heads and make them extremely angry and ready to use violence.
There were about a hundred police officers present, and they prevented a mass brawl caused by the Chinese mob right from the beginning. They did a good job.
Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of 70 acres (28 hectares). It is the former natural tidal river Avon through the city but was made into its current form in 1809 when the tide was prevented from going out permanently. A tidal by-pass was dug for 2 miles through the fields of Bedminster for the river, known as the "River Avon New Cut", "New Cut", or simply "The Cut". It is often called the Floating Harbour as the water level remains constant and it is not affected by the state of the tide on the river in the Avon Gorge, The New Cut or the natural river southeast of Temple Meads to its source.
Netham Lock at the east end of the 1809 Feeder Canal is the upstream limit of the floating harbour. Beyond the lock is a junction: on one arm the navigable River Avon continues upstream to Bath, and on the other arm is the tidal natural River Avon. The first 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) of the floating harbour, downstream from Netham Lock to Totterdown Basin, is an artificial canal known as the Feeder Canal, while the tidal River Avon follows its original route. Downstream of Totterdown Basin, the floating harbour occupies the former natural course of the River Avon, whilst the tidal River Avon flows through an artificial channel known as the New Cut. This separation of the floating harbour and the tidal River Avon allows boats in the harbour to remain floating at low tide, reduces currents and silting and prevents flooding.
Between Bristol Temple Meads railway station and Hotwells, the harbour and the River Avon run parallel at a distance of no more than 5⁄8 mile (1 kilometre) apart. Downstream of Bristol Temple Meads railway station, the floating harbour meanders through Bristol city centre, Canon's Marsh and Hotwells. At Hotwells, the floating harbour rejoins the tidal River Avon, via a series of locks, and flows into the Avon Gorge.
Bristol Harbour was the original Port of Bristol, but as ships and their cargo have increased in size, it has now largely been replaced by docks at Avonmouth and Portbury. These are located 7 mi (11 km) downstream at the mouth of the River Avon.
Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of 70 acres (28 hectares). It is the former natural tidal river Avon through the city but was made into its current form in 1809 when the tide was prevented from going out permanently. A tidal by-pass was dug for 2 miles through the fields of Bedminster for the river, known as the "River Avon New Cut", "New Cut", or simply "The Cut". It is often called the Floating Harbour as the water level remains constant and it is not affected by the state of the tide on the river in the Avon Gorge, The New Cut or the natural river southeast of Temple Meads to its source.
Netham Lock at the east end of the 1809 Feeder Canal is the upstream limit of the floating harbour. Beyond the lock is a junction: on one arm the navigable River Avon continues upstream to Bath, and on the other arm is the tidal natural River Avon. The first 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) of the floating harbour, downstream from Netham Lock to Totterdown Basin, is an artificial canal known as the Feeder Canal, while the tidal River Avon follows its original route. Downstream of Totterdown Basin, the floating harbour occupies the former natural course of the River Avon, whilst the tidal River Avon flows through an artificial channel known as the New Cut. This separation of the floating harbour and the tidal River Avon allows boats in the harbour to remain floating at low tide, reduces currents and silting and prevents flooding.
Between Bristol Temple Meads railway station and Hotwells, the harbour and the River Avon run parallel at a distance of no more than 5⁄8 mile (1 kilometre) apart. Downstream of Bristol Temple Meads railway station, the floating harbour meanders through Bristol city centre, Canon's Marsh and Hotwells. At Hotwells, the floating harbour rejoins the tidal River Avon, via a series of locks, and flows into the Avon Gorge.
Bristol Harbour was the original Port of Bristol, but as ships and their cargo have increased in size, it has now largely been replaced by docks at Avonmouth and Portbury. These are located 7 mi (11 km) downstream at the mouth of the River Avon.
14th March 2024. The little pool under Bryer Court used to be home to about a hundred Ghost Carp. Unfortunately, the water is so shallow, and the fish got so big, that their fins and backs were often out of the water and they got sunburn. They had to be moved into the big lake and then they were moved with all the other fish in 2004 when the main lake was ‘refurbished’.
The Bryer ‘pond’ used to be full of bulrushes. Moor hens and their young were able to nest there in complete safety because, although the water is only a few inches deep, the foxes couldn’t get at them – they won’t go into water.
The Bryer Court pond was emptied and resurfaced as part of the major repairs to the surface of Beech Gardens, but has since been restored, albeit with less attractive vegetation.
Since 2019, Bryer Court pond looks more like a municipal swimming pool than a lake because the bottom has become an unnatural shade of blue. This is caused by a vegetable dye which is being put in the water. The purpose is to get rid of ‘blanket weed’ which, if left unattacked, can take over the lake. It works by filtering the sunlight and this prevents the weed from photosynthesising which it needs in order to grow.
Parce que la prévention est importante
Parce que nous sommes toutes concernées
Parce que, survivante de cette saleté, je sais qu'il n'existe meilleur médecin que nous même
Parce qu'en ce jour précisément, plus que jamais, cette cause m'importe, ma maman aurait eu 76 ans aujourd'hui si, il y a 32 ans, ce petit ruban rose avait suffi à changer la donne...
Because prevention is important
Because we're all concerned
Because, survivor of breast cancer, I know that there is no better doctor than ourselves
Because on this very particulary day, more than ever, this cause matters to me, my mother would have been 76 years old today if, 32 years ago, this little pink ribbon had been enough to change the game...
While the storm conditions prevented much color in the sunrise this morning, it still provided a dramatic backdrop at the always nice South Tufas.
Reminder that the Los Angeles DWP is keeping Mono lake artificially low below the state-mandated level and actively harming its ecosystems in order to supply only ~1-2% of just the city of LA's water supply. The city of LA uses ~30% of its water on watering grass lawns.
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve
Sturgeon moon taken from road down to Blackdog, near Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
A big bank of cloud on the horizon prevented a clear view well past moonrise.
Laccadives has not really achieved commercial levels in its tourism. One has to be thankful for the policies of the Indian government which prevents consumption of alcohol and presence of too many tourists, lack of fresh water and such. Not necessarily by design but it just happens to work like that.
In the developing world, wherever there are deep waters, obliging children act as divers and showmen to show off their prowess and eagerness and make some money. Laccadives was no different as the kids were having a blast hitting the cool emerald green waters at Agatti from a fishing vessel moored near the jetty.
Unlike other destinations, there was no obligatory solicitation by the participants, just pure fun.
_DSC6025 nef 2 exp
With the backdrop of a 1960s white elephant that might actually come good - the Varsity Line flyover - DB Cargo Shed no. 66150 powers north on the supposedly "slow" lines at Bletchley with the 8.22am Dollands Moor - Daventry (6M45).
With few trains now timetabled to stop on the Fast line platforms, they have been fenced off with access through heavy-duty sliding barrier gates, one of which can be scene on the right. It's a sad state of affairs but security guards now patrol each platform enforcing the 'restricted access' - their role, to prevent suicides.
1.09pm, 25th April 2018
Sunrise this morning at Downhill Beach looking towards Mussenden Temple.
Mussenden Temple is a small circular building located on cliffs near Castlerock in County Londonderry, high above the Atlantic Ocean on the north-western coast of Northern Ireland.
It was built in 1785 and forms part of the estate of Frederick Augustus Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry. Built as a library and modelled from the Temple of Vesta in Italy, it is dedicated to the memory of Hervey's cousin Frideswide Mussenden.
Over the years the erosion of the cliff face at Downhill has brought Mussenden Temple ever closer to the edge, and in 1997 the National Trust carried out cliff stabilisation work to prevent the loss of the building.
The inscription around the building reads, "Suave, mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis e terra magnum alterius spectare laborem." "Tis pleasant, safely to behold from shore / The troubled sailor, and hear the tempests roar." The quotation is from Lucretius De Rerum Natura, 2.1-2
Now part of the National Trust property of Downhill Estate & Mussenden Temple, the grounds encompassing Mussenden Temple, and its manor house (Downhill Castle) are open to the public all year, from dawn to dusk. The temple itself is open on certain days, and admission is free. The Temple offers views westwards over Downhill Strand towards Magilligan Point and County Donegal and to the east Castlerock beach towards Portstewart, Portrush and Fair Head.
The temple obtained a licence to hold civil wedding ceremonies in 2007.
Last year, I visited Comet Falls at the end of July and promised myself I'd get back earlier in the year this summer to see higher flows. I was thwarted by late snowmelt, preventing any visits without crampons and an iceaxe before the end of July. I had to put my visit off a week after the official opening of the trail, but Crisse and I made it up at last.
This waterfall and I had a rude introduction. I was running late after belting up the hill (1,400' in less than two miles), out of breath, crabby and thinking I wasn't going to make it before dark (had no flashlight--dummy). Now I'm beyond giddy when we meet. I have to run right up to the base and tell her how much I missed her. Then I get soaked in the return greeting, and everyone is reacquainted. Yes, I'm a nerd. Yes, I talk to waterfalls. It's easy--most have personalities as distinct as people.
After my proper soaking, Crisse and I went back down the hill to the lower tiers. You can see a little peek of the huge slab of snow and ice at the base of the second tier. Even in August! I saw layer after layer of freeze and refreeze, blue ice and snow melted together as a record of each passing day of winter. I can only imagine the violence of the winters at Comet.
So here she is in her 380' of "spring" glory. I still like my first shot better (much deeper greens, and the flowers were out), but I love being able to see all the water flowing down. This shot has a slight touch of bokeh on the falls itself, due to shooting at f/5 with the ND filter. Here is a place to spend hours and hours while playing!
Taken just at the end of the full eclipse- the first line of clouds from the remnants of Hurricane Simon prevented taking shots of additional phases as the moon set. Note the scattering of faint stars.
Two trees.
Our PROBUS Club Happy Snappers recently undertook a trip into The Rocks for an excursion with the intention being that we were to primarily photograph the architecture.
Once again I became distracted and lost focus when I spotted these two trees across the street from where I was standing and immediately the challenge changed from architecture to botany.
With just the right amount of sunlight filtering through the urban landscape it provided the ideal setting for this image as the trees also acted as an additional filter to the prevent the sunlight reaching the sandstone background.
The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
A pair of giant hands rising from the water have been unveiled on Venice's Grand Canal — a sculpture by contemporary artist Lorenzo Quinn intended to highlight the devastation of climate change.
The artwork, titled Support, shows two huge hands emerging from the canal to "support" the historic Ca' Sagredo Hotel in such a way that they appear to be preventing the 14th-century building from sinking into the water.
But the hands can also be seen as powerful enough to dismantle and drag down the building, should they choose to — a dual representation intended to represent the power of human beings "to love, to hate, to create, to destroy," Quinn said.
"At once, the sculpture has both a noble air as well as an alarming one … the hands symbolise tools that can both destroy the world, but also have the capacity to save it," a statement on his website reads.
Support was unveiled to coincide with the opening of the 2017 Venice Biennale, a major art show held in locations across the city.
But the choice of city was intentional for Quinn.
Earlier this year scientists warned that Venice could disappear underwater within a century if sea levels continue to rise.
"The work generates an instinctive and immediate understanding of the environmental impact for places such as Venice," the statement reads.