Chuck's Laird68.com - The Blog

Thursday's Quotes

2008-07-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in Peace. God is awake."
-Victor Hugo

The Presets - This Boy's In Love

2008-07-13T18:12:00.000-06:00

The Presets - This Boy's In Love

Thursday's Quotes

2008-07-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

I have to learn that the aim in life is God's, not mine. God is using me from His great personal standpoint, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him, and never say -- Lord, this gives me such heart-ache.... He simply asks me to have implicit faith in Himself and in His goodness.
-Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost For His Highest"

A New Look

2008-07-07T23:01:00.000-06:00

Hey Guys,

I decided the web site needed a new look so I've started the fun (<- sarcasim) process of making huge changes in the site's over all look, feel and content. I'm dropping some of the galleries and other content, I just don't have the time to keep updated and fresh and I'm putting the site's focus back onto my art and photography.

It's a very slow process to make this large of a change, one I'm expecting to take several weeks....

I have the basics done for the main site, I still have all the partner sites to do and then go back and pretty it all up.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Peace and Love Always -Chuck

http://laird68.com

Thursday's Quotes

2008-07-03T08:56:00.000-06:00

"A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains."
-Danish proverb

Laird68.com June 2008 Stats

2008-07-01T19:14:00.001-06:00

Visitors: 2,135

Page Loads: 4,575

Image Views: 103,351

Free Image Count: 1,071

Free Images Added: 1

Most Downloaded Wallpaper: Night Light Pride

Check out my newest images [ Here ]

Calendars - 36 Free Images and Counting

Digital Puzzles - 248 Free Puzzles and Counting

Doodles - 5 Free Images and Counting

Mazes - 55 Free Images & Counting

Post Cards - 18 Free Images and Counting

Personal Photography - 65 Free Images and Counting

Stock Photography - 437 Free Images and Counting

Wallpaper - 484 Free Images and Counting

Word Hunts - 87 Free Images and Counting

A Personally Thank You - June 2008

2008-07-01T18:59:00.002-06:00

A Personally Thank You

I would like to personally thank the below people for buying merchandise from my web stores in June. I feel very humbled and honored you have chosen to purchase my work.

Thank You - Chuck

John O - KS, US - I Triathlon Sticker
Sheryl C – GA, US - Meerkat Shirt
Jennifer W – VA, US - I SKI BRECKENRIDGE Magnet
Heather M – DC, US – Hobbits Shirt
Mara M – FL, US - Pride Color Purple Coaster
Marcia G – IL, US – Meerkat Shirt
Veronica B – MD, US – Meerkat Journal
Dean L – SD, US - Man Hole Sticker
Danielle D – ON, CA – Acceptance Tile
Ulrich K - CH - 2 BB Trucking Stickers
Tammy D – NY, US – Griffins Sticker
Yvette C – CO, US - I Raft Sticker
Trevor L – CT, US - He Died Sticker
Joyce K – WA, US - American Vintage 1951 Shirt
Carol B –TX, US – Medusas Shirt
David B – FL, US - 8 Cut Shit
Alice M – MD, US - Meerkat Sticker
Jon S – CO, US - I Raft Sticker
Felicia G – LA, US – ARMY Sticker
Michelle – OH, US - Tao Lotus Flower Shirt
Jennifer – CA, US – 4 Navy Shirts

The Stores

CafePress.com
http://www.cafepress.com/laird68
Shirts, Aprons, Buttons, Hats, Underwear, Prints, Posters, Cards, Coffee Mugs, Ornaments, Framed Prints, Bags, Mouse pads, Magnets, Clocks, Calendars, and More

Zazzle.com
http://www.zazzle.com/laird68
Cards, Prints, Coffee Mugs, T-Shirts, and More

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 30

2008-06-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

Will you love me? by =Jaz-is-rad on deviant ART

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 29

2008-06-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

When You're Gone... by ~ShallowMe on deviant ART

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 28

2008-06-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

This is.... simply... LOVE by ~AmuthAlexiel on deviant ART

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 27

2008-06-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

The Man of Her Dreams by ~lalunasuicide on deviant ART

Thursday's Quotes

2008-06-26T12:51:00.000-06:00

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
-Scott Adams

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 26

2008-06-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

.amore. by *EleCtrOfunK on deviant ART

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 25

2008-06-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Kiss by ~lesuperstar on deviant ART

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 24

2008-06-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

Jonny and me by ~X-tar on deviant ART

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 23

2008-06-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

Morning Kisses by ~ejbayton on deviant ART

Eddy’s Greeting

2008-06-22T09:53:00.001-06:00

Eddy’s Greeting is a new wallpaper/image I created last night and it’s a new style of art for me, one I think I will spend a lot more time exploring. I know I’m a pretty undisciplined artist, meaning, in truth, I’m pretty lazy… I take a lot of short cuts and focus little on details, but I’m getting better.

Anyway, Eddy’s Greeting was created using 3D imaging software, I spent a lot of time on each item, it’s placement, and making sure the overall scene looked complete. I then modified it using photo-editing software. 3D images can be cold and have a very computer generated look to them. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing 3d art, but I wanted to try and create something a bit softer this time, something with more of a traditional art feel to it.

Overall the image took about 6 hours to do and I’m pretty happy with it, I’ll keep working this style of art for a while to see where it takes me.

Free wallpaper downloads are available [here]

-Chuck

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 22

2008-06-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

Chris And Topher 06 by ~Dave3of4 on deviant ART

Daft Hands - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

2008-06-21T09:39:00.000-06:00

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 21

2008-06-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

Love knows no gender.... by ~bonesandrainbows on deviant ART

Test Your Reaction Time

2008-06-20T09:35:00.001-06:00

This is fun!
The automobile driving manual says the average driver's reaction time is: .75 seconds....... or 1 car length for every 10 mph....... Test your average reaction time.. Be very careful this can be addictive. Click on the link below and good luck.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 20

2008-06-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

True love by ~marves on deviant ART

The World is an Unkind Place for Gay Refugees

2008-06-19T14:08:00.003-06:00

INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The World is an Unkind Place for Gay Refugees Commemorating June 20, World Refugee Day

By Hossein Alizadeh

Just two years ago, Arash and Javad (not their real names), two young Iranian men were building their future together. Arash was pursuing a successful career in Iran's financial sector and Javad was a university student in Tehran. Now the men live in abject poverty in a remote area of Turkey. They have no income and are frequently forced to scavenge for food in their neighbors' trashcans. Javad, a diabetic, needs regular monitoring and medication, which he cannot afford. His health has deteriorated to the point where he regularly suffers diabetic comas.

How did two young, upwardly mobile Iranians end up in such dire circumstances? The answer to this question is simple. Arash and Javad are gay men forced to flee their country as refugees. According to the Iranian penal code, homosexual conduct is a crime that is punishable by death.

Arash and Javad met in 2005 and conducted their relationship in secrecy for over a year. But late in 2006, Javad's father caught them in an intimate act. Incensed at being dishonored, the ultra-religious man locked his son and his partner in the bedroom and rushed to the kitchen to get a knife, intending to kill them on the spot. Arash and Javad managed to escape through a window but knew that if they stayed in Iran either the mob or the morality police would soon catch up with them. Left with no choice, they fled to neighboring Turkey and applied for refugee status.

According to UN statistics, there are currently over 21,000 refugees in Turkey, 2,500 of whom are from Iran. Turkey is the preferred destination for many Iranian refugees because they do not have to get entry visas. However, once gay refugees arrive in Turkey, the situation is bleak. Due to the volume of applications, it normally takes up to two years for them to be reassigned to a country willing to accept them. During the transitional period, gay refugees are only allowed to live in small towns, without the right to work or pursue education. While the UN Refugee Agency may provide some financial aid, the amount is nominal and before they are eligible they must be recognized as "genuine" refugees. This is a process with results that are not guaranteed.

Arash and Javad have been interviewed twice by the UN Refugee Agency since their arrival in Turkey in December 2006. So far they have not been recognized as refugees, and therefore they are not eligible for any financial or medical aid.

This can lead to destitution for gay refugees, like Arash and Javad, who are forced to leave their country to escape persecution and death. Unlike other refugees, who travel in groups and enjoy various degrees of support from their family, church, or party members, gay and lesbian refugees are often disowned by their family members, have no support network, and in most cases do not have enough resources to survive the resettlement process.

The situation of gay refugees is complicated because the Turkish public and law enforcement agents are very hostile to sexual minorities, despite the fact that homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey. In recent years, many gay and lesbian refugees have been subject to verbal and physical attacks. As a consequence, they are often forced to remain indoors during the day for their own safety, and venture outside only at night, under cover of dark, when they are less likely to be recognized as foreign and can more readily hide their sexual orientation.

Tragically, there is no organization that attends to the needs of gay and lesbian refugees worldwide. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, along with a few human rights and resettlement agencies, tries to respond to the refugee crisis but the overwhelming volume of cases makes it impossible to do without large-scale intervention. The US government currently spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to resettle religious and ethnic minorities who are persecuted in their home countries. Isn't it time for our government to show some interest in protecting this vulnerable population, too?

Hossein Alizadeh, a gay Iranian who won asylum in the United States, is Communications Coordinator at the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is a leading human rights organization solely devoted to improving the rights of people around the world who are targeted for imprisonment, abuse or death because of their sexuality, gender identity or HIV/AIDS status. IGLHRC addresses human rights violations by partnering with and supporting activists in countries around the world, monitoring and documenting human rights abuses, engaging offending governments, and educating international human rights officials. A non-profit, non-governmental organization, IGLHRC is based in New York, with offices in Cape Town and Buenos Aires. Visit http://www.iglhrc.org for more information

email: executive_director@iglhrc.org
phone: 212-268-8040
web: http://www.iglhrc.org

The Mission of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission is to secure the full enjoyment of human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation or expression, gender identity or expression and/or HIV status.

Thursday's Quotes

2008-06-19T10:39:00.000-06:00

"We work in the dark, We do what we can, We give what we have, Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task, The rest is the madness of art."
-Henry James

30 Days of Kissing In Celebration of PRIDE – June 19

2008-06-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

Share the love by ~carthaki on deviant ART