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(Source: Bridging the Gap Project)
Group photo of workshop participants and VIP guests
Opening ceremonies of the workshop with the opening speech delivered by
H.E. Dr. Hla Myat Thwe (Social Minister, Ayeyarwady Region)
APCD Executive Director Mr. Piroon Laismit and H.E. Mr. Winn Naing Tun
(Director General, Department of Rehabilitation) formally sign the Letter of Cooperation
Message of appreciation from Mr. Winn Myat Thu (President, Shwe Minn Tha Foundation)
H.E. Mr. Winn Naing Tun with APCD Project Manager Ms. Jitkasem Tantasiri
Mr. Piroon giving the certificate of completion to a participant with disability
Introduction of workshop trainers Dr. Thita Soonthornvipat and Dr. Wissanee
Supraditareporn from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology of Chiang Mai Rajabhat
University of Thailand
Workshop proper on mushroom post-harvest technology and food processing
Mr. Winn Myat Thu shows different types of mushrooms grown at the mushroom
farm in Pathein
Presentation of group work by participants
Testing sample mushroom products from Thailand
Mushroom samples from Pathein
Visit to the Shwe Minn Tha Foundation's mushroom farm
Group photo of APCD staff and local partners
Straw mushrooms being grown at the mushroom farm
Pre-workshop meeting at the Shwe Minn Tha Foundation office
Presentation of APCD publications to Mr. Tin Zaw Moe (Director, Social
Development Department, Ayeyarwady Region)
Post-workshop wrap-up meeting group photo


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Come to do kayaking in Tenerife, back and forth avoiding the stunning cliffs of Los Gigantes with expert guides who will show you the particularities of the geological landscape that rises above you.
After arriving at the bay of "El Eco", we will have a swim and will practice some snorkeling in the cliffs and in its incredible crystalline waters, a heavenly place.
Also, if you are a lover of nature and birds of Tenerife, the west coast of the Teno massif, where is the Cliff of Los Gigantes, hosts some species of great interest such as Tagarote hawk, the guincho and also crows, which they are the goal of the birdwatchers of Tenerife.
Oh, and so you know, kayaks are initiation to canoeing, so they are very easy to use without having to have previous experience. And, of course, you can choose between two-seater or individual kayak, depending on how you decide to have fun on board.
We care a lot about safety, and even though these waters are always pretty calm, there will be a speedboat in case we need any sort of help.
So, do not hesitate any longer and experience the sensation of touring the waters of Tenerife by kayak while admiring the film landscape of the incredible Canary Islands.
This activity can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 24 hours after booking.
After this time, Teno Activo has established that you have up to 1 day before the activity to cancel and get a refund.
If the activity had to be cancelled because of weather conditions, you would have a full refund.

subset: commoncrawl


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1-on-1 coaching can help people complete there goals and dreams by keeping someone accoutable and by creating S.M.A.R.T Goals.
I love speaking to churches, prisons, office parties, school events because I know that impowering men, impowers the family around them.
Discover your Strengths, Understand your Value, Accomplish your Goals, and Live out your Dreams
As men, its easy to believe that we are no longer needed or valued within the home. This however could not be further from the truth. Its time for you to understand your power and purpose withing your homeGET STARTED NOW
I offer
I look forward to serving you whether you need a one-on-one coach, a speaker for your next event, a speaker for your workshop/keynote, or you want to join the community of men in the Summit of Fatherhood Mastermind
I offer two different programs. One coaching program that focuses on your strengths, value, goals and dream. The other coaching program focuses a father's Identity within the family based off the Fatherhood Summit.Click Here
I speak mainly about 3 diferent subjects including: Leadership begins in the home – You matter at home
You matter because of your struggles – Struggles shape us.
Personality Styles – You were created special
I keynote mainly about 3 diferent subjects including: Leadership begins in the home – You matter at home
You matter because of your struggles – Struggles shape us.
Personality Styles – You were created special
Summit of Fatherhood
Ray Matz of Game Changing dads and I have built a community were men can come and struggle together. This accountablity group is focused on helping men accomplish their goals and dreams. Changing the world begins at home.Click Here
I have seen first hand what growing up without a dad can do to your own children. Science backs up the facts that good fathers are needed in the family. There are so many different effects of children growing up without a dad in the home. Below are SOME of the effects growing up without a dad has on his children.
Effects of a Fatherless Father
63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average.
Behavior Problems
85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)
Crime and Anger Issues
80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes –14 times the average. (Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26)
Pregnant Teenagers
71% of pregnant teenagers lack a father. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release, Friday, March 26, 1999]
Client Testimonials
Don't take my word for it – here's what my clients say:
"I recently spoke at and watched several sessions from Matt's Annual Fatherhood Virtual Summit and was impressed by the amazing lineup of speakers he had assembled from all the major areas of faith, fatherhood, marriage, and business.
If you want to be a better dad, I highly recommend checking out Matt's Coaching Programs, Mastermind Group, Podcast Interviews, Virtual Summits, and Live Workshops."
Ricky Shetty
Daddy Blogger
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My biggest win for this last year came when I completed my bachelor's degree. While this may not seem like a huge deal to some people, it is to me.[…]Read more
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2018 Another Statistic At the beginning of every year, people from all over the world come up with new goals. Goals that they want to keep. Goals for a better[…]Read more
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The Department of Commerce has proposed the adoption of a set of principles that the agency says will be comparable to a consumer online privacy "Bill of Rights," recognized by the United States government.
"America needs a robust privacy framework that preserves consumer trust in the evolving Internet economy while ensuring the Web remains a platform for innovation, jobs, and economic growth," declared Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in announcing the initiative. "Self-regulation without stronger enforcement is not enough. Consumers must trust the Internet in order for businesses to succeed online."
As Locke's comment suggests, this is a major initiative towards some kind of Federal oversight of online privacy practices. But the privacy items, yet to be specifically enumerated, won't actually be called anything as fun as the phrase used for the first ten amendments to our constitution.
Instead they'll be dubbed "Fair Information Practice Principles" (FIPPs), intended to promote "increased transparency through simple notices, clearly articulated purposes for data collection, commitments to limit data uses to fulfill these purposes, and expanded use of robust audit systems to bolster accountability."
The DoC's "green paper report" also recommends the creation of a Privacy Policy Office within the Department of Commerce. The PPO would work with the Federal Trade Commission in creating "voluntary but enforceable codes of conduct" for online content providers and social networking sites. They would adopt whichever code they thought appropriate to their service, but bottom line: it would be enforced by the FTC.
Adherence to the code would then provide companies with "safe harbor" protection against complaints about their online data collection practices, the paper recommends.
In addition to obligatory calls for more global cooperation, the document urges Congress to consider a Federal commercial data security breach notification (SBN) law, setting national standards for the protection of commercial information—rather than the hodgepodge of state laws currently in effect.
Bill of FIPPs
The FIPPs concept isn't something that the DoC just pulled out of its hat. It's rooted in the Privacy Act of 1974, which requires a code of fair information practices for federal agencies. As the Federal Trade Commission has interpreted the mandate, it incorporates five protocols: "(1) Notice/Awareness; (2) Choice/Consent; (3) Access/Participation; (4) Integrity/Security; and (5) Enforcement/Redress."
The Department of Homeland Security has its own set of Privacy Act rules. They include the following.
- Transparency: DHS should be transparent and provide notice to the individual regarding its collection, use, dissemination, and maintenance of personally identifiable information (PII).
- Individual Participation: DHS should involve the individual in the process of using PII and, to the extent practicable, seek individual consent for the collection, use, dissemination, and maintenance of PII. DHS should also provide mechanisms for appropriate access, correction, and redress regarding DHS's use of PII.
- Purpose Specification: DHS should specifically articulate the authority that permits the collection of PII and specifically articulate the purpose or purposes for which the PII is intended to be used.
- Data Minimization: DHS should only collect PII that is directly relevant and necessary to accomplish the specified purpose(s) and only retain PII for as long as is necessary to fulfill the specified purpose(s).
- Use Limitation: DHS should use PII solely for the purpose(s) specified in the notice. Sharing PII outside the Department should be for a purpose compatible with the purpose for which the PII was collected.
So what the Federal government is in effect recommending is the extension of some version of its own internal privacy standards to the commercial Web.
"The FIPPs-based framework that we envision would allow companies to direct resources to the principles that matter most for protecting privacy in a particular technological, business, or social context," the green paper explains. "Establishment of a FIPPs-based framework could occur through action by industry, civil society, the Executive Branch, or Congress, and enforcement agencies can also help this framework take hold."
In other words, the possibility of the White House or Congress implementing this idea is now on the table. The Department of Commerce says it will seek public comment on the report.


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Conner-Lee Vineyard
The Bookwalter family has worked with the Conner, Lee and Sullivan family owners of Conner Lee Vineyard for over 28 years, planting, redesigning, harvesting and producing every vintage. Today, we buy over half Conner Lee's produce and bottle these wines in our top selections. It is a special 150 acre vineyard in a cool site in central Washington growing fruit for over ten of Washington's best wineries. We harvest the oldest 1987, 1988 and 1991 blocks of cabernet sauvignon and 1992 merlot, along with cabernet franc, syrah, malbec and chardonnays all of various chosen clones. Jerry Bookwalter with Tom Thorsen and David Ayala built and grew daily over the last 25 years the many blocks we harvest with guidance from John Bookwalter and his leading international consultants Zelma Long and Claude Gros. Together now with Caleb Foster as winemaker, who has produced Conner Lee wines since 1992, the shared depth of understanding of the vineyard shines through the Bookwalter portfolio produced with Conner Lee fruit.
Elephant Mountain Vineyard
Developed in 1995 and owned by the Hattrup Family, Elephant Mountain Vineyard is high on the southern slopes of the Rattlesnake Ridge at the base of Elephant Mountain, in the Yakima Valley Appellation.
The vineyard has a unique warm micro climate, soil type and outstanding wine growing management which John Bookwalter recognized from his first harvests from Elephant Mountain Vineyard in 2006.
Elephant Mountain Vineyard has unique advantages of slope, elevation, and gravelly & calcareous soils, and long growing season with extra frost free days. These advantages are realized with the diligent growing team of this new vineyard who work closely with us to grow fruit to our highest expectations. We produce outstanding cabernets and syrahs every year from Elephant Mountain, often showing them off in our wine club wines.
Bacchus & Dionysus Vineyards
The Sagemoor group is comprised of Sagemoor Farms, Bacchus Vineyards, Dionysus Vineyards and Weinbau Vineyards. Sagemoor, Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyards are located together on the dramatic banks of the mighty Columbia River on the southwest facing hillsides. Here the ice age floods exposed the various ideal gravel beds for planting red and white wines, especially cabernet. Jerry and Jean Bookwalter raised their family from 1976 until 1982 at Sagemoor Vineyards planting and raising the many blocks we love and harvest today. The Blocks of Dionysus #18 & #12A cabernet sauvignons, #15 merlot and Nuestadt clone riesling overlooking the Columbia are on some of the best gravely slopes in the heart of wine country. Mostly now a generation old, they provide the consistent extraordinary quality we enjoy bottling in our top wines. With Kent Waliser we've worked closely for years custom growing our wine styles in each block allowing us to realize the common goal of growing great wine.


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Contact Us
Thank you for taking the time to review our work. We would love an opportunity to show you how we could enhance the look and feel of your home. While you may have appreciated what we've been able to do for others, just imagine how special we could make your home!
Please feel free to contact us below, or call us at 732-821-0067 for a free, no obligation consultation and let Do Molding do what we do best…make your home shine!


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Summer is a good time for children to expand their awareness of the world outside winter classrooms. It is an especially good time to travel to new places, immerse oneself in art activities or gain perspective in history and culture. This article has six educational activities for kids on summer vacation in Minnesota. Parents interested in reading about further summertime intellectual stimulation for their children may also enjoy a previously published article, Best Summer Reading Events For Kids.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2400 3rd Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 870-3000
The MIA offers many multi-session classes and single-session studios for youth ages 4 to 17 to explore art by visiting galleries and working in the studio with art educators and guest artists. Find a class and a date that works for you with the 2014 Youth Summer Schedule Overview or pick the type of class you are looking for at Youth and Family Programs. Additionally, MIA offers free Family Days on the second Sunday of each month, where the entire family will create art, take artful adventures and meet with local artists, dancers, musicians and storytellers.
Related: Best Resources For Homeschool Families In Minnesota
American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 871-4907
ASI is offering a series of Summer Day Camps throughout July and August on Thursdays for children entering grades one through five. For just $50 per child per session, thirsty young minds can discover the history and culture of Sweden and the Norse land. Produce art, participate in creative play and hear stories during indoor and outdoor activities. All of this is done with fun themes such as Vikings, Pippi Longstocking, Nordic Culture and Food.
Free First Saturday at Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 375-7600
Plan a family excursion to the Walker on the first Saturday of each month this summer. Open the world of art to your kids ages 6 to 12 as they participate in an array of activities and art making. The rest of the family can tour the gallery while the kids are having their fun. A few of the fun themes are Sonic Circus, Performance Play and Fly Away Home. Visit the website for dates and times of each event.
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post
43411 Oodena Drive
Onamia, MN 56359
(320) 532-3632
Date: July 5 – Bead a Ring, Aug. 2 – God's Eye Activity, Sept. 6 – Dream Catchers
Travel to the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post on a Saturday and learn the story of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. For a nominal fee, children age 8 and up can spend about an hour enjoying the story reading and get refreshments while they learn how to make a genuine artifact. In July's program, they learn bead-stringing technique and will go home with their own handmade ring. August visitors will take home their own hand-woven "God's Eye" replicas of ceremonial shields from the southwestern United States American Indians. September visitors weave a dream catcher supposed to protect their dream world. While you are there, check out the restored 1930s trading post filled with American Indian gifts produced by Mille Lacs artisans.
Related: Best Fun Things to Do In Minnesota Before School Starts
Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site
1620 Lindbergh Drive S.
Little Falls, MN 56345
(320) 616-5421
Experience the humble life of a young farm boy who grew up to electrify the world about the possibilities of aviation by flying alone from New York to Paris. Charles Lindbergh's boyhood affinity for aviation, technology and nature were noteworthy. Costumed characters portraying Lindbergh family members and neighbors share insights about the lad. Kids can pitch in helping with chores on the farm, try a "Spirit of St. Louis" flight simulator and release their energy on an interpretive trail along the river and the nearby Charles A. Lindbergh State Park. This is only an hour away from the Mille Lacs Museum.
History HiJinx: Robot Mania!
Minnesota History Center
345 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
Date: Tues. through Sat. through Aug. 15, 2014
Readers may recall the genius of sketches and models by Leonardo da Vinci. So too will students have the opportunity to create models of movable figures. Kids get to view toy robots in the new History Center exhibit, Toys of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Then they get to create their own robots from paper and cardboard back in the classroom. Perhaps being exposed to the creativity of a Mr. Potato Head, Gumby or a Barbie doll will inspire a budding young Renaissance Man or Lady.
Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn., and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.


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The Australian Meat Industry Council is warning the closure of a West Gippsland slaughterhouse is having a knock-on effect through the industry.
PrimeSafe has suspended the licence of the LE Giles abattoir at Trafalgar after getting a video showing alleged mistreatment of pigs.
The abattoir buys pigs, sheep and beef from saleyards across Gippsland and local producers say the abattoir's closure will hurt their businesses.
The Meat Industry Council's chief executive, Kevin Cottrell, says the animal cruelty allegations are concerning.
"There's always a fallout. Anything that affects our industry always has a knock-on effect," he said.
"The concern that the industry would have at the moment is that we have put standards in place and training in place and apparently that's not being accessed by every operator and so the industry needs to fix that."
The manager of the Baw Baw Livestock Exchange, John Cochrane, says the abattoir's closure will damage the local industry.
He says local producers depend on regular buyers like the Trafalgar slaughterhouse.
"Oh it takes a buyer out of the market and a family company that has been around for years and years," he said.
"Probably not a main buyer but he always bought a lot of cattle and he always bought Gippsland cattle."


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an impressive ritual bath (mikve) dating to the time of the Second Temple (first century CE) was exposed inside an underground cave. An anteroom, flanked by benches, led to the bath. A winepress was excavated alongside the ritual bath.
The walls of the mikve were treated with ancient plaster and were adorned with numerous wall paintings and inscriptions, written in mud, soot and incising. The inscriptions are Aramaic and written in cursive Hebrew script, which was customary at the end of the Second Temple period. Among the symbols that are drawn are a boat, palm trees and various plant species, and possibly even a menorah.
According to Royee Greenwald and Alexander Wiegmann, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the inscriptions are a mystery. Some of the inscriptions might indicate names. The symbols depicted on the walls are common elements in the visual arts of the Second Temple period.
Simple: Jews lived in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. That's the bottom line.


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|11:10 AM PT12:10 PM MT1:10 PM CT2:10 PM ET14:10 ET18:10 GMT2:10 11:10 AM MST1:10 PM EST1:40 PM VEN22:10 UAE1:10 PM CT, August 25, 2019
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas Attendance: 38,989
Still wary of Trout, Astros seek sweep of Angels
MLB Headlines
- Molina among Cardinals to test positive
- MLB: Final tests may delay Marlins-O's
- Nationals reinstate Soto from COVID list
- Francona undergoing tests, return unsure
- Dominant Bieber looks to stifle Reds
Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch wanted no part of lauding the success his pitchers have enjoyed this series against Los Angeles Angels superstar center fielder Mike Trout, particularly in high-leverage situations.
Before recording an RBI single off Astros reliever Joe Smith with one out in the seventh inning Saturday, Trout was 0-for-7 on the weekend. He'd stranded teammates in scoring position in the two plate appearances prior to his run-scoring hit and did so twice in the series opener Friday.
Trout represented the tying run when he came to the plate with the bases loaded in the fifth inning Saturday, only to lift a fly ball that Astros center fielder George Springer corralled for the final out. He flew out to Springer again with David Fletcher on first base in the ninth and has left five batters in scoring position this series.
The Astros stand one win away from a series sweep.
"It doesn't have an answer," Hinch told reporters of Trout batting just 1-for-9. "If I had it, I wouldn't give it to you; we've got a few games with these guys left. It's very uncomfortable when Mike Trout comes up to bat. It's really hard when he comes up to bat with a chance to tie the game early in the game with (Astros starter) Wade (Miley).
"Just in general he's a dangerous guy, so get in (Sunday) and hopefully give him a rest day or not give him too much to hit and then get to the next team. I'm never comfortable, even though we've had a nice couple days against him."
Left-hander Framber Valdez (3-6, 5.58 ERA) will start the series finale for the Astros on Sunday.
With right-hander Aaron Sanchez on the 10-day injured list (right pectoral soreness), Valdez will make his first appearance for the Astros since July 15 against the Angels in Anaheim, when he allowed seven runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts over four innings.
Valdez was 0-4 with a 15.55 ERA over his last four appearances before being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock (for whom he is 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA over 10 appearances this season). He is 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA over four career appearances (two starts) against the Angels.
Right-hander Jaime Barria (4-5, 6.35 ERA) gets the start Sunday as the Angels look to avert the sweep. Barria did not factor in the decision in his last start on Aug. 20 at Texas after working five innings and allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts. He has allowed three runs or fewer in nine of 13 appearances this season.
In four career starts against the Astros, Barria is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA, including a 1-0 mark and 0.82 ERA in two starts at Minute Maid Park. Sunday will mark his first start against the Astros this season.
One bright spot for the Angels in their 5-2 loss Saturday was the 425-foot home run rookie second baseman Luis Rengifo blasted in the fifth inning off Miley. It marked his third home run and sixth extra-base hit this month and offered the Angels a flash of his surprising power.
"The power's starting to shine through," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said of Rengifo. "We've said it all along: For his stature, he's got a lot of power, it's just a matter of consistent contact. He hit a home run at Texas, he hit one (Saturday) -- some of the home runs he hits are moonshots. So, he has tremendous amounts of power."
--Field Level Media
Updated August 25, 2019


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In the US in the 70s, divorce suddenly became o.k.. That is, it became acceptable for married couples to say that things hadn't worked out, and then split up. Divorced people not only began to fill Updike novels, but were, in the course of time, accepted by and large everywhere as perfectly normal, and went about their lives, often remarrying and even having new families, and no one had to wear a big letter D on his or her chest. The legal changes boiled down to one person being enough to initiate a divorce, but of course this wasn't so much a cause as an effect of a broader social change: women increasingly gaining respect as equals to men, and thus capable of making the decision to end a marriage on their own. Because in most cases, certainly early on in the divorce boom, it was the women who wanted to get out.
Why can't country divorce be like this? I wonder if what we're seeing now, in Scotland, Catalonia, and perhaps also – with serious qualifications – Ukraine, is the beginnings of a change in attitudes about what it means for countries to break up. Or rather, for one group of people, living in a contiguous area, to break up with their neighbors, leaving the nation-state they've shared and either forming their own or joining another. It seems to me that the 21st century could be the century of country divorce. There may well be an evolution of attitudes ongoing, one that will bring the coalescence of a new set of broadly accepted rules and procedures for these breakups. The key being not the consent of both parties – as in the Czechoslovakia breakup – but rather the breakers-away deciding themselves, by democratic vote, and by some generally taken-to-be-decisive supermajority – perhaps two-thirds "ayes" – to leave.
Not everyone shares the new attitudes, and perhaps some of the folks espousing them are cranks. Separatism of all sorts has traditionally been confined to the margins of politics. But Artur Mas and Alex Salmond are perfectly normal politicians, and in setting up independence referenda and advocating for them, they've used perfectly legal means, if pushing, particularly in Mas's case, into grey areas of the law of Spain. They've made arguments that, if perhaps too much colored by the romantic for most contemporary taste, aren't the stuff of nut-jobs. I would argue they're something like the divorce advocates of the early 70s, who pushed for others to adopt attitudes that theretofore had been acceptable only among urban libertines, mostly of the larger coastal cities, who were certainly marginal to American society as a whole.
I can't say anything about anyone down in Crimea, and anyway, given different attitudes about the nation and the state, and the shaky hold of meaningful democracy in that part of the world, this is clearly a very different case from the other two. Also, it must be said, Putin's methods of breaking Crimea away from Ukraine are repulsive. Hillary Clinton is quite right, I think, to compare him to Hitler and this to the case of the Sudetenland. That said, from what I heard during several years of living in Russia, and from talking to my Russian friends now, I would gather that a truly free vote were held in Crimea – perhaps in a couple of decades, using procedures worked out in Scotland and Catalonia – independence or unification with Russia would win easily.
So of course outsiders can screw everything up, as in Ukraine now. Let's say, though, that the outsider isn't a horrid jerk who's moved into your house without asking and is sleeping downstairs on the couch with your wife, threatening your kids if they complain to the neighbors about the setup. O.k., perhaps he's a jerk, and yes, he's had a fling with your wife. But he hasn't moved in, and if, perhaps, he and your wife have slept together, those things do happen – we accept that now, as an unpleasantness of life for some, as part of a transition to an aloneness or being-in-a-new-coupleness for others. Even leaving one country not to be another, but to join another, might well be, one day, just one of those things that happen. With everyone at least being civil to one another afterward, when they run into each other in the grocery store.
The change in attitudes about such things hasn't taken hold widely, of course. We can see that in the huffiness, for example, of not only most British and nearly all Spanish politicians outside Catalonia, but also in the pronouncements of various EU officials, who shouldn't really have any stake in either instance but have made clear they as one hold traditional anti-secessionist views, in their every pronouncement on the forthcoming Scottish and Catalonian referenda. The sanctity of marriage, before meaningful self-determination, for all of them, it seems. Moreover, there isn't yet anything like an accepted set of procedures to guide the process of secession. But this is always the case with new political ideals, and the procedures for making them real. Think of the popular vote, before the standard procedures for that came to be broadly accepted as such worldwide, in the long aftermath of the Second World War. (These were even honored in the breech, by the fake elections held throughout the socialist world, with the de-democratization largely confined to the stage of choosing candidates, not by having secret policemen follow anyone into the voting booth.) Or think of the system of parties using primary elections to choose their candidates. This is used in only a few countries even now. But the system is spreading elsewhere, if slowly, and I'm sure it will be commonly accepted as necessary to democracy everywhere, within a few decades.
And why shouldn't secession be available too to states and provinces, counties and district, and cities, within countries – that is, to those who'd form new ones, by breaking off from the ones they occupy now? It seems to me this will be the logical next step. If we all hold as valid the notion that political entities are formed by the active choice of those who inhabit them, how could it be otherwise? Really this is only what follows Locke, at least in my reading. Absent this active choice – which, it seems to me, should certainly be able to be re-made, not made only once – how can any political entity be legitimate? And how can we be that far, I think, from this notion becoming widely accepted, as part of the received canon of ideas, about how people can and should decide how best to rule themselves?


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The old aphorism "As above, so below," has often been used in a secular context to mean that things experienced on a macroscopic scale find expression all the way downstream in the microcosm of everyday life. As Dr. Micah Salkind, Special Projects Manager in the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism at the City of Providence, suggests in his exhibition statement for the current show at the Gallery at City Hall, "When it comes to the built environment, our federal policies, such as urban renewal, have implications on policies and cultural shifts affecting the City of Providence's downtown streetscapes."
As a native of Providence, Roberta Kaufman took countless photographs of structures that were demolished as part of the urban redevelopment plan envisioned in 1982 by Mayor Cianci. She recalls riding her bike around the old train tracks of the Providence-Worcester Rail line as Bill Warner's massive infrastructural plan began to take shape. The photographs in this exhibition represent a small sampling of the archive of work Roberta produced over the course of 50 years.
Dr. Salkind thought it would be illuminating to pair Roberta's work with that of documentary filmmaker and painter Carla Ricci, a recent transplant to Providence. He says, "Carla Ricci observes the cultural shifts that have taken place in the City with a less retrospective gaze. To me it seemed that, if viewed together, Roberta's photographs and Carla's paintings might give audiences a robust, rounded perspective on the moment we find ourselves in now, in which dogmas are being complimented and challenged by the ideas and viewpoints of newcomers. We have much to learn when we honor the legacies of our past and encourage bold new visions for the future."
As Above, So Below: Visions of Transformation in Down City Providence by Carla Ricci and Roberta Kaufman August 15 through October 14 | August 15: Opening Reception between 4:30pm and 6:30pm