It’s in regards to Sarah Palin’s response to a Vanity Fair article on her. I don’t know what the Vanity Fair article said, and personally, I couldn’t care less.

Sarah Palin [& tall] said this:

“I don’t read some of it because I know that those who are impotent and limp and gutless, and then they go on, they’re anonymous, they’re sources that are anonymous, and impotent, limp, and gutless reporters take anonymous sources and cite them as being factual references.”

Then The Advocate, a renowned gay magazine, said this:

“Is Sarah Palin using code words to slam gay journalist Michael Joseph Gross, a frequent Advocatecontributor who wrote the much-buzzed-about profile of the former vice presidential nominee in this month’s Vanity Fair?

Palin didn’t mention Gross by name while talking Thursday on Sean Hannity’s WABC radio show, but she seemed to be referring to the article — and pointedly used emasculating words that have long been used as euphemisms for homosexuality — when she called reporters who publish “rumors” about her “impotent,” “limp,” and ‘gutless.’”

Now I say this:

1) What the hell is going on with Sarah Palin’s statement? Are any grammar rules followed there? It’s like a horrible stream of consciousness with random placed words and repetition. I actually find it somewhat painful to read…nonetheless, I digress…

2) When the hell did “impotent,” “limp,” and “gutless” become “euphemisms for homosexuality?! I mean…Urban Dictionary, where I just happen to get all of my definitions, says NOTHING about “impotent,” “limp,” and “gutless” meaning anything related to homosexuality. Actually, when you type in “gutless +gay” on google – guess what comes up?! THAT Advocate article! Gosh…It’s just…Here are the gays making a big deal out of EVERYTHING! I mean, “everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant…It just makes me want to set myself on fire!” LISTEN

3) But seriously people – you know how some people (a large portion of people) feel every time Rev. Al Sharpton shows up demanding the resignation of someone or a feel-good payment for some remark that COULD possibly MAYBE be perceived as racist? Well, most people have learned to just ignore him, but it’s still just so RIDICULOUS…AS IS THIS!!! If Advocate hadn’t brought this up, it would be a NON-ISSUE, but instead it’s turning into a huge debate! When there’s a group of people fighting for equal rights, as we are doing and the blacks successfully did before us, the last thing we need is to receive negative publicity. The absolute last thing we need is the fabrication of such a story about someone beloved by so many of our opponents! Did it not occur to you that the people who love Sarah Palin so much are also the ones who are holding us back – can we please just not piss them off?

4) I’m sorry for saying this, but thinking that Sarah Palin came up with those 3 words that are relatively ambiguous but also happen to (apparently) be ancient euphemisms for homosexuality is giving her WAAAAAYYYYYYY too much credit….or have you just not seen THIS?

The fact is…I think The Advocate’s reaction to Palin’s sound-bite was a BIT off. Their response would’ve been warranted had she said something like: “I don’t read that diva shit, because I know that those faggot fairies are so gay with their limp wrists and gutless waistlines, and then they go on with their anonymous glitters, they’re sources that are fagilously anonymous and just SOOOoooOOOOoooo gay, and those, cream puffs – limp-wristed, and lavender reporters take anonymous sources from those homos and cite them as being factual references.”

But alas…she didn’t.

So stop your whiney-ass bitchin’ and definitely, please, I beg of you – stop giving her so much credit.

- Ross

Post Script – Rev Al Sharpton, I will admit, has made some worthy fights and it is necessary to keep up to date on their continued progress. I am also aware that he has brought to light many instances of not only ambiguous racist phrases but also blatantly racist phrases which are absolutely unacceptable to say about our fellow citizens, and these instances most certainly needed to be dealt with. I may not agree with the way he goes about it in ways that, I believe, actually separate the races and often widen the gap even more, but nonetheless…everyone has their idea of the best way to do things.

Some are SUPER awkward and some are pretty crude, but the truth is…they’re also pretty freakin’ funny…

So enjoy!

Gary Allen may PREFER anonymity, but he…didn’t get it:

Invisible when put over the same color:

Bob Ross, making “happy ‘lil trees” all over the place:

This might actually make me care…

For me, this could easily read “What I do when someone speaks Flemish to me”:

Greatchadayis!

- Ross

I remember her mixed CDs that we always played on the way to and from school (we rarely (or rather…EVER?) drove without music on…and I still don’t to this day!), she had an oldies playlist and if memory serves me correctly, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison was one of the first songs. It’s one of my favorites and never fails to remind me of my sister.

When I got pictures printed to put up in my apartment, I just picked some favorites out of my facebook pictures and when I was going through them, I couldn’t help but notice how many there were of me and Randi.

But when I think about, I shouldn’t be surprised there are so many, because for 21 years, Randi’s been one of my best friends – and I hate that I’m not there to help her celebrate, but I hope she has the most amazing birthday ever!

Love you lots, Rand!

- Ross

Story behind this song:

I first heard this song in this video:

and I liked it :) Not an exciting story, but I like the video and I like the song. hahaha

Greatchadayis!

- Ross

Now I know there’s a HUGE debate out there on what is the best browser, and I’m not planning on solving it here. The truth is, there’s so much that goes on UNDERNEATH the hood of these browsers that I’m only touching the surface (literally). But in all seriousness, it loads webpages and that’s what most of us use browsers for anyway. I don’t think my mom is going to be doing any major programming anytime soon that would lend her the need of anything more than Chrome can offer.

So here are some of the simple and most used features on Google Chrome – and why you should think about using it, too!

That is a screen capture of what Chrome looks like on a mac. Gorgeous isn’t it? So here are the reason why I think it’s the best browser…

1) The bookmarks. This could be reason number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7! I just love that the bookmarks show the icons; therefore, you can just delete the actual text and use the icon – save SO much room! That picture there shows 30 bookmarks – how many are on your screen? This alone in a reason you should use Chrome.

2) Tabs. Super easy to use – just drag them around! Drag to reorder, drag outside of current windows to create a new window or combine windows by just dragging them together.

3) Simple Interface. Back, forward, refresh, home, bookmark. 5 buttoms….I think we can all handle that ;)

4) Address + Search Bar. Same thing, one in the same, both in the same place, not separate. Super convenient. Enough said.

5) Extensions. I’m able to see my facebook notications/wall/messages, my Gmail, my Google Voice, StumbleUpon, I can search for YouTube videos immediately without having to go to YouTube first, I can shorten URLS with the click of one button, I can combine all open windows with one click, and I can search for similar pages. There are HUNDREDS of extensions, these are just the ones I’ve found that are perfect for me.

The only downside for Google Chrome is the system requirements. It is only written for Mac OSX 10.5+ Intel only. There’s a microsoft version, too, but I don’t use windows…so just follow the download link below to see if you have the right system requirements.

So if I’ve convinced you that Google Chrome is awesome enough for you: click here to make your life easier.

If you want some extensions to go with your new toy: go here

Today is Sunday, so tomorrow is Music Monday! I’ll think of something inspirational or enjoyable or something…something to start your week off right!

Greatchadayis!

- Ross

Seeing clever and funny pictures like this make laugh SO hard and often just make my day! So I’m going to share some of my favorites!

I’ve gotten most of them from one of the following sites: FAILBlog, Engrish, Best WTF, and Very Demotivational.
Enjoy!

annnnd…..think of it as kinda like….a Doughnut…

Greatchadayis!

- Ross

That’s why this post will be about “respect,” because that is what we all deserve. Granted, my views will obviously show through in this post, and I apologize if I offend anyone in anyway. The point of this post is to merely explain how I view our differences and how I have learned to cherish them – no matter how great the divide. I hope one day that this view may be commonplace.

So, with that being said, I shall bestow upon you my most cherished belief of this world (and a few others here and there…). I, of course, believe they are the best views. As everyone else tends to think their views are the best! But the difference between me and a lot of other people is that I’m open to discussion about these views. I’m not closeted to the fact that I’m gay, that I’m not at all religious, that I’m fiscally conservative yet socially liberal – these are the things that make me who I am! But something else that makes me who I am is that I have a mind that is open to new ideas and debate.

I tend to base my beliefs on information. For instance, i’ve read more information on the success of the free markets than controlled markets, therefore I believe that free markets prevail. Not to say that regulation isn’t needed, because we can’t ignore the human factor – humans are innately competitive, greedy, make mistakes and rash judgements, and live in a bubble surrounded by their own beliefs.

I also believe humans are innately good.

I remember sitting at the Bistro (a restaurant in my home town) speaking with a friend of mine. We somehow always got into philosophical conversations, so naturally, one was taking place at that time. I mentioned that I think all humans were innately good and that I actually have a lot of faith in society as a whole – even though that faith is often faltering at moments of uncertainty, somehow I always come back to my belief that everything will work out. Being devout in her religion (non-denominational christianity), she said that she did not believe everyone was innately “good.” Instead, she actually believed that everyone was innately “bad” and could only be saved upon the acceptance of Christ.

Although I feel that believing everyone is innately “bad” is a bit of a pessimistic way to live one’s life, I have nothing but respect for her beliefs. Because she deserves that. We all do. It would not be my place to try to convince her otherwise, but instead merely express what I believe and let her soak it up – just as I did with her ideas.

Another example is when I was New Orleans – I visited a gay bar. Across the street, on the corner, was a group of people holding a cross, handing out pamphlets explaining the level of hell we’d go to if we didn’t quit our sinful ways. I didn’t mock them, laugh at them, yell at them, or roll my eyes at them as some people were doing. Why? Why wouldn’t I stand up and say how unfair it is that they stand there and basically chastise us for being who we are? Why didn’t I? Because. Because they live in America and have a right to be there, just as I had the right to be at that bar. No matter how different their beliefs are than mine, I still respected them. I showed them the respect that they weren’t showing us. Do you think they remember me (one person) kindly passing them by? no. But I bet if every gay man and woman on that block did the same thing as I, then I bet they would have remembered it.

The golden rule applies to more than just kindergarten. You must also respect those you wish you to gain respect from…

The fact is, we’re all different. We’ve all been led to believe something or another because of where we were born, what our parents believed, how we were educated, or maybe we had a life altering realization at some point…whatever it may be, we need to learn to embrace these differences and realize that they are what make us all human.

I believe that the average person on this earth feels a strong connection to every other person regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, social status, wealth, or any other differentiating factor. We are all so similar. Although we don’t all believe in the same “son,” we do all live in the light of the same sun, above the same earth, under the same stars.

I also believe that government laws should be applied to ALL people – regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, social status, wealth, or any other differentiating factor. You have the RIGHT to think that gays shouldn’t marry and that women shouldn’t be able to have abortions. But I should also have the RIGHT to believe what I believe and to live my life – one day, hopefully happily married with a family. I ask you for nothing more than a little respect.

Respect to me is kind of like the feeling I get when I watch this video:

I begin tingling in my arms and my neck and a tear begins to swell in my eye. I don’t agree with the war, but I SURE AS HELL support our troops! Cause I want nothing more than for each and everyone one of them to come home safe without a scratch on their body. I RESPECT what they’re doing even though I don’t personally believe in the official cause.

This is what respect is for me. I may be gay and you may be straight. I may not be religious and you may be a devout Christian. I may not believe what you believe and you may not beleive what I believe. But I respect that…not only do I respect it, but I cherish it as part of what makes being alive so great.

THAT I can respect.

Can you?

- Ross

I haven’t been able to look at them…

Under the Crape Myrtle in the back yard, is buried our first family dog of 13 years, Shakespeare. And in the kitchen, under the dining table that’s still there, is where my dog, Merlot, hid for almost a week before she warmed up to me and became my best companion after 2 years. In the back bedroom is where I locked myself in my room after receiving the worst haircut in history – Later it became the headquarters for Ross Frazier Photography. The innumerable amount of memories the Living Room holds is a blog post in and of itself! The entire house of memories could fill a book.

So.

Enjoy the song,

- Ross

1) turn the volume up as high as possible

2) stand up

3) press play

4) dance

If that song doesn’t want make you want to just dance your heart out…then you must not have one…

Just kidding.

Enjoy your Monday!

- Ross

That is one thing I’ve noticed since being here in Belgium – it seems the government and their laws puts a lot more emphasis on trusting the people to actually have some sense for themselves.

There are not stop signs on EVERY corner, you’re simply supposed to yield to the person to your right. I mean, come on people, you’re coming upon an intersection of another street that probably has cars on it – maybe you should come to a stop. They don’t require a sign to tell them to….we do.

Also, I have not ONCE seen a “floor wet” or “caution: slippery when wet” sign. The other day I walked into a magazine/book store; it had been raining and they had polished concrete floors and a tiny rug that did little to help after more than 5 people had stepped on it. The floor in the foyer was quite wet and I trudged on with caution…because it had been raining…and the rug wasn’t suited for heavy traffic of wet shoes, and they had concrete floors…so YES! THE FLOORS WERE WET!!! Immmmaaaaggggggiiiiiinnnnnnne thaaaaat…

And I’m sure this has a lot to do with their legal system, not that everything here in Belgium is hunky-dory, but I can guarantee you that when someone slips on the floor of a store and there wasn’t a “Floor wet” sign, their first instinct won’t be to call their lawyer…and I can’t say the same for a large portion of people back home.

Enjoy the video:

- Ross