It took six, but Nurse Jackie is in!

I just finished watching episode six of 'Nurse Jackie' and I'm damn glad that I stuck with it. It started off really out there with one dimensional characters, but it's finally got it right.

5 reasons to love 'Nurse Jackie'

1) Edie Falco - I watched only a bit of 'The Sopranos', it wasn't for me. A lot of ppl have complained that they can't see her as someone else. Well, I can't see her as anybody besides 'Nurse Jackie.' She started off awful, not likeable, just not into her. Now I like her, need her, want her. :)

2) Supporting cast is superb. Thor is awesome! Seriously, we get short snippets of him, but the actor commits so well. Student Zoe is hilarious. She's exactly what we don't see enough of on tv. Gay nurse friend is kinda stereotypical, but almost in a 'I know I'm stereotypical kinda way'. Hot shot doc is now getting layers. British doctor is SOOO hilarious! (Minus the husband, no chemistry there..get rid of him..or is that the point??)

3) It's 30 min. I don't know about u, but I don't need an hour any more. I just don't have the patience. I love these short quickie shows. You're in, you're out and it's over. They've started to add more sub stories, which is great too.

4) They got Swoosie Kurtz!!! Okay, I fucking love Swoosie Kurtz. Seriously, she's amazing! I used to watch 'Sisters' (yes, I just admitted it). She's only a guest star, but I really hope to see her again, she elevates everybody.

5) It's like real life. There's up, there's downs, it's life. I don't like shows that try to be dramatic or try to be comedic...just be real. This episode finally made the show real!

If you disagree with me, well fuck you!!!

If you're gonna yell, FUCKIN YELL AT ME!!!

I think it's the brother in me that makes me very protective of those around me. Be it my family, friends, employees...if you cross the line, I will end you. Simple as that. =)

Now the line is a confusing one. You see, I have no qualms about calling my own father a 'fuck face' or my sister a 'cunt' and I will probably let you do it too. If it's justified! :)

What I don't like is uncalled for stupid-ness on the part of others.

Let's talk about yesterday, when I get a call from my staff saying that some Mother reamed her and another staff out. The issue was completely stupid and she's yelling at my staff. NOOOOOO FUCKING WAY!!! I even get confirmation from another staff who happened to walk in on it, who was like it 'I walked in, saw the crazy and just left.' Then I find out that my staff was so upset that she was actually crying over the incident.

I'll never get this kinda shit. Who was brought up where it's okay to scream at somebody in a public space over stupid nothing-ness? See now I grew up in a house, where I screamed at my family, slammed doors, and all that. But in public, we are as civilized as we can attempt to be.

Customers screaming at somebody who's half their age even makes more sense. They're making shit money, they're doing their best, and you scream at them. To me, that makes you scum! Worse than scum...you're what scum shits out after a big ass meal.

Here's my biggest beef, NOBODY SCREAMS AT ME!!! It's soooooo irritating! Look at me. I'm 5'8', 140, not much muscle, kinda dorky looking...it can't be, 'cuz they're intimidated by me. But I just don't get the face-face screamers. I get some upset folks via the phone, but that's it.

As someone who works in customer service, I see it a lot of stupid. How about you?

Or as a customer, have you ever flipped out on an employee?? If so, do u regret it or encourage it?

How'd I forgot about Ernest???

Okay, Okay, Okay...I can't believe that I completely forgot about Ernest? Come on, you remember Earnest! You must've watched his movies at least a hundred times growing up. Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Got to Jail. All classics in my book and yet, I have no clue where all of his movies went to.

I'm thinking they were all taped from TV to VHS. Do you remember those days? CityTV's night at the movies!!! You'd watch the movie, press pause when the commercials came on and then start recording again. Recording off the TV was a freakin' art form. You'd want to get it perfectly, so that nobody could tell that you taped it off the tv. Plus you had to remember to press pause again or otherwise, you'd miss a scene and that'd make your Pa not so pleased w/ your taping skills.

How'd I remember Ernest? Thanks to this article that talks about actors and typecasting.

Now I want to watch all the old Ernest movies (preferably from a VHS feed). Oh and Big Top Pee Wee. All the great films from the late 80's early 90's will come alive again at my place.

Who's in?

Holy Freakin Awesome, Batman!

Okay, look at this pic and tell me if you think if it's real or not. Apparently not! It's a freakin action figure. 12" toy of supreme awesome-ness. Check out this link and see how lifelike this toy truly is.

I don't know about you, but I don't pay much attention to action figures these days, but if this what they are today, SIGN ME UP!

Back in the day, we had TMNT that could pose and that was pretty kick ass. Or a He-Man that you could twist to one side, press a button, and he'd twist back. Remember when Cabbage Patch Dolls began and they just sat there all hunched over and then with the next generation, you could make them up stand up? That was pretty big news.

This is taking it to a whole different level. This toy seriously creeps me out. Imagine that you're sleeping, wake up and see this beside your bed. Don't tell me that you wouldn't let out a little high pitched scream or two.

If you're big on toys, update me on what's out there. Cuz if this is where it's at, I'm getting back into playing with action figures.

G.I Joe - Blows!

I don't know about you, but this has been one disappointing summer of movies. It just seems like nothing is really grabbing my attention.

Take the trailer above for G.I. Joe. It's just lame. Really? This is the best that they could offer. Look, I think Channing Tatum is super hot, but I'd rather watch screen caps of 'Fighting' than check this film out. The action looks beyond fake and the attempt at humour is sub par. Marlon Wayans is the least funny Wayan.

I don't know about you, but I grew up watching the G.I. Joe cartoons and then pretending to be them with my friends out in the backyard. I think we created better scenarios than this trailer presents.

In other words, WAHHHHHH WAHHHHHH WAHHHHHH! ;) I'm just not looking forward to this and I really wanted to.

How about you? You going to see this film? Have you enjoyed anything this summer? So far, my favourite is 'The Hangover.'

Remix or Let it Ride...

So recently I have befriended someone who does things in a complete opposite way than I am used to.

I have always followed the adage of Margaret Cho "You never mix your new gay with your old gay. They're like Siamese Fighting Fish." It's odd cuz it's something that I have always been doing...I never even liked mixing my Smarties or Skittles together as a kid. I would always empty the package, sort them by colour, and then eat them accordingly. Keeping my circles of friends separate just like the Skittles colours seemed to be very logical.

My friend, however, is a mixer. He likes to take all the groups that he has and blend them all together, like they're each an ingredient in a sweet, thirst-quenching mojito. Without one ingredient, the drink just wouldn't taste the same.

I guess doing it this way you are always the star of the show.

You would be the common link between all, so it would always be like you were the host of the social party. But doesn't this create more drama?

Picture one group of gay/bi/trans friends and how each interact and how each person has their niche already carved out. Now throw in another group, just like that one. Will there not be clashing?

Will ANTM music start and the words "Wanna be on top?" start chiming through the gathering of people as they fend off people trying to "take their place"?

All these circles intertwining, are we not tempting fate to create "the perfect storm" of homosexual drama?

I guess by keeping everything segregated I am trying to limit the amount of chaos that could erupt in my face. Rivalries, diva egos clashing, sleeping around and trying then to avoid.

I'm just curious as to what others do?

Are a you mixer or not?

If so, how do you handle it?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

Promoting Disability!

Often times, my work, academics, and art collide together perfectly. This week is no different.

I am in the process of researching an essay for my equity and human rights course. The essay is on individuals with disabilities and employment opportunities. There is a huge untapped pool of intelligent individuals who are not receiving work in some part to the attitudes of those that are in the position of hiring. Instead of looking at the positive contributions, they may immediately jump to the negative start-up impact of accommodating someone with a disability. When no such impact may exist. I've read through about 20 journal papers so far and it's going to be a great paper. :)

At work and in life, I'm often reminded that I exist with an invisible disability. New encounters with people see that the topic may come up and it always seems to surprise them at first. Which is odd, cuz why can't somebody be like me and be hearing impaired? They try to find the hearing aids and it's like a game of 'where are they?' They sit in my ear canal, not exactly a place that people spend hours staring at. I'd hope that my eyes would lure them in, not a hole in the side of my head. :P

I'm producing a cabaret at Buddies in Bad Times on Monday August 24th featuring only artists that identify as queer and disabled. Not just queers, not just disabled, not allies. I think it's important that minorities within minorities be recognized. Especially a grouping that may be forgotten or over looked. The most interesting thing with this project is those that by law definitions and mine do classify as disabled who don't own that word. I'm certainly someone who sees myself as fitting into the mainstream, but I've also proposed shows that put it right out there, 'deaf, bi, and sick' - makes things pretty clear. ;) "Hard & Able: celebrating queer disability" will be on Monday August 24th. If you want to perform, let me know by July 10th at jay@ajaystewartproject.com.

At my work, we're presently taking accessible customer service training and it's a great initiative. Although, the training is a bit of a joke. If someone is blind do you: 1) point and say 'hey, it's just over there.', 2) 'pet their guide dog without permission' or 3) 'assist them as needed.' It's like saying is the sky 'blue', 'yellow', or 'maroon.' There should be some thought put into the training and trust, I've made my comments well known to those facilitating. :) Thankfully, I'll get to put 200 of my own staff through the training and make my own adjustments.

Secretly, this has been a life long passion of mine to remove the stigma of what disability represents. From the gr. 12 debate that had my opponent arguing the merits of sterilizing disabled individuals, where I crushed him and the entire class that was on his side.

To me, disability is a spectrum statement that covers such a vast amount of individuals. However, people still seem to see it as one thing: individuals incapable of taking care of themselves.

When I'd say a vast majority are strong empowering individuals that consistently demonstrate that the only limitations that exist are those that you put on them.