THE REPELLENT REPUBLICAN RACE: Santorum's (2nd place) win is not a referendum on who he is as a man (inhumane and ignorant), or who he is as a candidate (pandering and mean).

Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center For Lesbian Rights

"In the repellent race to the bottom (no pun intended) it should be no surprise that Santorum did so well in the Iowa caucuses. Mitt Romney is in a major stall, and in a field of class clowns Rick Santorum stands out as particularly cartoonish. [snip] Santorum's win is not a referendum on who he is as a man (inhumane and ignorant), or who he is as a candidate (pandering and mean). It is simply the gasping statement of a thankfully dying breed of Americans -- those who fear, loathe or hate anyone different from themselves, who mistrust or reject the idea that government can and should be a force for good, and who detest even the slightest exposure to information or ideas that challenge their world view." - Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center For Lesbian Rights, via press release.

Santorum and the ‘Creep Factor’

¨Rick Santorum will ultimately lose because he has a screw loose. The “Creep Factor” will come into play if he ever gets to the general election. This is a man with serious issues that include the fetus situation and his obsession with homosexuality. There is something profoundly wrong with Santorum and it will be his undoing...¨ read it all,  by Wayne Besen, HERE

·  Thanks to Kate Kendell, HERE
·  Thanks to National Center For Lesbian Rights
·  Thanks to Truth Wins Out, sidebar
·  Thanks to Wayne Besen
·  Thanks to Joe.My.God.

HEALING PRAYERS BEING RECEIVED IN GUATEMALA -- Thank you everyone from the family of Beverly Emiko

Mom and Paul selecting rare textiles for their Maya collection last year

UPDATE:  Sacatapequez, Guatemala, Central America

Dear Friends and all of you much loved and appreciated supporters of our dear Beverly Sakai,

Yesterday we asked for your prayers of  ¨comfort and  peace¨ for Beverly and just a few minutes ago the family of Beverly Emiko Nakatani Sakai telephoned me to report that the doctors are cautiously pleased and optimistic as Beverly is now eating well, begun to heal and regaining physical strength. Her general physical health and well being (she held her son Pauls hand strongly and even did a few simple strengthening exercises in bed encouraged by son Tom) has taken a turn for the better last night and into today. 

Last year. Mom at home doing her favorite cross-word puzzle

Thanks be to God and Thanks to each of you.  Blessing to you and yours and may we ask you to continue to keep Beverly in your prayers.

Peace be with you. Prayers of transition requested for our dear friend Beverly...

Prayers ascending for peace of mind and for the continued comfort of Beverly and her loving family

Peace be with you

A bad case of déjà vu: ¨...the Republicans and the Loony Religious Fringe¨

¨Every single one of the sops Newt Gingrich and the other Republican candidates are throwing the far right have been scripted for them by generations of so-called Reconstructionist "thinkers", Roman Catholic ideologues and Christian Zionists that have been pushing the religious community -- and America -- steadily in the direction of overthrowing democracy and replacing it with some version of an Americanized theocracy...¨  please read it all, by Frank Schaeffer,   HERE

·  Thanks to Frank Schaeffer, sidebar
·  Thanks to Flickr Photosharing
·  Thanks to "Burn In Your Hell" by Herr Müller

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 - 2012: Work in progress from my studio...

Full Bloom II  3´x 4´

The Otherside of the Volcano 4´x 5´

Feastival (painted pot), Feast Table II, Orchid Chair (six different chairs/orchids)

Insider View Feastival Pot

Feast Table II, Feastival Pot

·  Thanks to Juan Carlos, photos
·  Thanks to Taller Staff
·  Thanks to 2011 into 2012
·  Thanks to Caniz (door to door shipping)

´Tis the night before another New Years Eve. Saying goodbye to 2011 is hard for me...

Some colors and textures of 2011

 Big times. Big days. Little and big parties with friends...it´s been a lovely Holiday Season (yes, I celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas too at the foot of the volcano) 2011. There´s are new acquaintances who offer fresh smiles, nice additions and color my horizon differently. I need and want them (mostly) to add to the

experience, a shared experience with those I love and cherish.

2011 at the foot of the volcano


There´s been sad moments as dear ones fade away into the sunset of their own being and it´s so hard to let go, to say no,  to deny, to repaint reality before the paint is dry. I over-try to hope even before and after I cry ¨do not go¨ away from me, I try to insist and demand things aren´t as they really are (sometimes)...it´s the life I learn as ¨I am willing to accept the things I can not change and become willing to change the things I can...¨  (sometimes with a grudge).

It´s in the Trust of God that all will be well no matter what...ít´s trusting that becomes gratitude to me.  ´Tis the night before another New Years Eve...saying goodbye is hard for me...I often love the known and unknown in all that I see/feel each year...I cling to my very own version of reality.

 Leonardo Ricardo, Sacatapequez, Guatemala, Central America

P.S. I just got up from bed for a few moments because the volcano roared me awake...it´s still dark, it´s Five A.M., the volcano is complaining or celebrating -- which will it be (or simply letting off a little steam, like me)?

·  Thanks be to God

AT THE FOOT OF THE VOLCANO - 2011 - Fiestas, Feasting, Friendships/Families and Lifelines/Lifesytles Linking - Sacatapequez - Guatemala

Dr. Julio Cesar Quiñonez/re-elected Mayor and Chepe his right hand ¨councilman¨ too, Lisa Jensens despidida, Juan Carlos delivers dozens of ¨Angel Food¨ bags to the elderly, The Gang of Four/Five (Tom taking the picture), Stained Glass Window by Nathan Laskey,  Sue Patterson of ¨Wings¨, John Holden/live lava, The Ladies of Fuentes, Violeta and nieta, Juan Carlitos, Gold Award winning Historian Elizebeth Bell, The Dogs of December (not pictured ¨Honey¨ and ¨Frida¨)

Gene Siesting, Birds Chirping, Minature 1´x 1´ painting, Garden Party Fiesting, Judy Sandlier Preening, Guest of a Guest Visiting, Marcos´ Waking, Our Garden Bursting, Tables Nesting, Turtles Finning, Frida Posing, Little Tables Positioning, ¨Honey¨ Peeking, Juan Carlos' Tia Visiting, Irene and Cynthia Feasting, Juan Carlos Presenting and a Little Bench for Resting.

My heart is full, my life, my art, my passion for ¨being¨ continues to unfold before me and I am alive and thankful to be exactly the person I was created to be.

At the Foot of the Volcano

¨It´s the way that we see things that makes the World be things¨
Dorothy Johnson

·
33 years sober
Thanks be to God
2011
Leonardo Ricardo/Len Clark Beardsley
D.O.S. December 13, 1978

PART FOUR/ MY FAVORITE ERUPTIONS UNDER THE VOLCANO 2011: Prayers for Alcoholics and Addicts, Elizabeth Taylor Knew, Cultural Prejudice, Doubletalk From Lambeth Palace

NINE
For Those in Immediate Danger
¨Heavenly Father, save all in immediate danger due to addiction. We no longer trust ourselves or anyone else; but help us to trust you as our only way out. We beg for your help right now: to pick up the phone, to make the call, to let someone know, to admit the truth: that we have lost the war with alcohol and drugs. It is over, now, Lord, you are our last, best hope; our only one. We can’t even believe that you would stoop so low as to pick us up. Yet you are ever strong to save and eager to love us, despite our overwhelming sins and grief. Lord, by whatever means necessary, help us to surrender now to your loving power. Put aside our pride, heal our shame, calm our nerves, quiet our hearts and show us, O Lord of Power, that you will get us through this to new and better life, if only we are humble enough to ask in the Name of Jesus. Lord, we never knew we needed a Savior; but we do.¨ Amen.

Mar 31, 2011
FROM THE DAILY OFFICE: ¨Prayers for Alcoholics and Addicts¨ by Josh Thomas
HERE

TEN
WE DIDN´T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT ELIZABETH TAYLOR DID -- SEPTEMBER 19, 1985 --

DINNER WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Early evening on September 19, 1985 a group of specially invited guests -- including the fabulous/beautiful and bejeweled friend to all, Lillian Bernie Wallen Ezer (RIP) of Beverly Hills, who was the only female present at our party and later served as hostess at our table-- gathered at my duplex near Fourth and La Cienega--just a few blocks from Cedars Sinai hospital. Champagne corks popped and drinks flowed and we were lucky to all be alive! We were having a little pre-party before a very special dinner later at the downtown Los Angeles´ Bonaventure Hotel. All were thrilled and dressed elaborately, rented several limousines and with great thanks to my somewhat homophobic ¨employer/dinner-sponsor´ in New York, Sirco International Corporation, Burt Siris (RIP), Chairman, we were ready to attend a ¨star studded¨ dinner after purchasing a ¨Silver¨ table (I don´t think I knew there were ¨Gold¨ tables available for purchase or I would have pushed for a ¨Goldie¨) at the AIDS Project Los Angeles’ Commitment to Life dinner. Intertestingly, Dame Elizabeths face, hair and lovliness is exactly the ¨minds eye¨ image (above, although she wore a gorgeous gown) I recall it to be as she made her presentation at the dinner that night. It was the start of decades of her warriorlike activism when fighting HIV/AIDS!

Mar 23, 2011

Dinner With ELIZABETH TAYLOR: Just me, my coworkers, our round ¨silver¨ table and 2,500 others at the Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles
HERE

ELEVEN
"Cultural prejudice has not only succeeded in making most heterosexuals hate gays; it has succeeded in making most gay people hate themselves" Randy Shilts

¨I wholeheartedly agree with this quote from the late Randy Shilts, but I would add that it is cultural prejudice, fueled and reinforced by religious prejudice against LGBT people, spewed by all too many clergy who have vilified Gay people from their pulpits, that has spawned this hate by their justification of that hate and discrimination, that frequently leads to vilification, bashings and murders of LGBT people.¨ the Reverend Dr. Jerry Maneker 

Feb 26, 2011

Christian Hate Spewers : ¨Every single drop of blood shed by LGBT people, either through suicide, bashing, or murder, is on the hands of homophobic clergy...
HERE

TWELVE
The Archbishop of Canterbury supports Bishop Orombi's exclusion of homosexuals.* How does excluding people for who they are even pretend to be Christian?

In his press conference yesterday in Dublin, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, condemned the actions of the Ugandan rag "Rolling Stone" (not to be confused with the US magazine) for calling for the hanging of "homos". He pointed out that words matter ..... when uttered by what he called "this rotten, disgraceful Ugandan publication" and they have serious consequences. Responsibility needs to be taken, he said.
¨The same goes for the Archbishop. Words matter. In the same press conference he defended Ugandan Archbishop Henry Orombi's anti-gay stance. The Irish Times put it this way: "Defending Bishop Orombi, Archbishop Williams, head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, emphasised that, as with other relevant Anglican primates, Bishop Orombi’s position concerned “exclusion from ministry on grounds of behaviour, not orientation”.

Jan 31, 2011

Defending Bishop Orombi? We need to ask the Archbishop of Canterbury to stop speaking out of both sides of his mouth... HERE

PART THREE/MY FAVORITE ERUPTIONS UNDER THE VOLCANO 2011: The First Memorial Day, Fundamentalist/Evangelical Warning, ¨My Love¨ a poem



SEVEN

¨The first known observance of Memorial Day was in Charleston, South Carolina in 1865; freedmen (freed enslaved Africans) celebrated at the Washington Race Course, today the location of Hampton Park, and each year thereafter. African Americans founded Decoration Day, now referred to as Memorial Day, at the graveyard of 257 Union soldiers and labeled the gravesite "Martyrs of the Race Course" on May 1, 1865. Black Charlestonians created this American tradition...¨

 May 29, 2011

AFRICAN AMERICAN FOUNDERS: DECORATION DAY/MEMORIAL DAY 1865
HERE
 

EIGHT
Ignorance has been elevated to a new form of "virtue"

Apr 23, 2011

FUNDAMENTALIST/EVANGELICAL WARNING: ¨If Religion Kills America There Will Be No Resurrection (Happy Easter!)¨ Frank Schaeffer HERE

NINE
Following the murder David Kato, Ugandan poet Musa Okwonga dedicated his poem "My Love" to David Kato and Eudy Simelane. LGBTI Activist David Kato was murdered in his home in Uganda in January and lesbian football player Eudy Simelane was gang-raped, beaten and stabbed to death in South Africa in 2008. Musa Okwonga has now turned "My Love" into a multimedia project.

Apr 17, 2011

MY LOVE COMES THROUGH ANYTHING: ¨The cleverest geneticists can’t fathom him, Priests can´t defeat him with venomous rhetoric...¨ HERE