You are listening to 2ZQ Hot Takes. This time, I’ll be talking about The AI Boondoggle..

There is a lot of information, misinformation, disinformation, and scams going on and around the current and projected statre of AI,from ghost job scams to false promises made by wildly successful enterpise entrepreneurs, to job losses directly attributed to AI implementation, to wildly contradictory predictions made my AI prognosticators, industry veterans, retired tech bros and the exasperated, burnt out, overstretched, over stressed current workforce, to job seekers trying to, in many cases fruitlessly, figure out how to maintain relevance and integrate AI into their work lives.

#2ZQ

#2ZQHottakes

#AI

#Ghostjobs

#AIpredictions

#TheveryhandsomeTimKirk

#LGBT

Thank you so much for your continued suppor!. Please "like' and sunscribe to my podcast!

Feedspot.com has named my podcasts the #5 of the top 20 LGBTstories podcasts on the internet!

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"In this episode of Two Zero Q, we chat with author Samuel Garza Bernstein.

Sam has written a great biography of Cesar Romero entitled: "Cesar Romero: The Joker is Wild"

SAMUEL GARZA BERNSTEIN is a Stonewall Book Award-winning writer, screenwriter, and playwright, as well as the author of Starring Joan Crawford: The Films, the Fantasy, and the Modern Relevance of a Silver Screen Icon. He has lived all over the world and worked in just about every aspect of show business, in a career that began at the age of 17 when he graduated a year early from high school in Austin, Texas, and moved alone to New York City. He splits his time between Porto, Portugal, and Los Angeles, CA, with his husband and their pack of incorrigible dachshunds. 

If you're a fan of classic movies, Hollywood's star-studded golden age, comic book superheroes like Batman, and (along with Darth Vader and the Wicked Witch of the West) one of the three greatest villains in cinema history, the Joker, you'll applaud and even maniacally cackle at this in-depth revelation of the utterly true story of Cesar Romero. And that's no joke!"

—Michael Uslan, Originator and Executive Producer of the Batman movie franchise

from the Foreword  

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Hey Everybody,

It's July, which means that Halloween Season is upon us.

This time, I am sharing my ode to real life spooky experiences. 

Hope you like it.

Boo!

#Pride

#Halloween

#Verse

#SpectralVerse

#ghosts

#lurkingevil

#Gay

#TVHTIMKIRK

#LGBTQ

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You are listening to Two Zero Q: 20 Questions With Interesting People from the LGBT community and friends.

This time, my guest is Kyle Casey Chu (aka Panda Dulce) - a writer, filmmaker, and one of the founding queens of Drag Story Hour.

In June 2022, far-right extremists stormed her Drag Story Hour in an attempt to silence her. She is now using her global platform to tell even gayer stories. She lives in San Francisco.

The Queen Bees of Tybee County is her first novel written for middle grade readers and is receiving rave reviews.

"A kind contemplation on generational trauma, race, and queer identity in the South, this book sparkles with queer joy." — Booklist (starred review)

#Pride

#Gay

#TVHTIMKIRK

#LGBTQ

#DragQueenStoryHour

#QueenBeesofTybeeCounty

#KylChu

#PandaDulce

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You are listening to 2ZQ Hot Takes. This time, I’ll be talking about AI Employment.

The risks, the challenges, the collective 'blind eye' turned to ward the looming, profound changes coming soon and powerfully to all facets of life and the lack of preparedness to these changes, the prospects for employment during and after the changes are implemented, and some more very terrible 'legitimate job offers.'

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You are listening to Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, where we learn the 'Origin Story' of Garrett Glaser

Author of ""FAIRYBOY"

Growing up Gay and Out

in Pre-Stonewall New York and Beyond

Garrett has a fantastic story of growing up in New York City and coming out at age 13 in Manhattan.

His life and times, including being the very first "On-Air" reporter to ever come out on live TV, are parts of his rich, offhandedly compelling autobiography.

#TwoZeroQ

#GarrettGlaser

#FAIRYBOY

#NYTimesBestSeller

#theveryhandsometimkirk

#Gay, #PRIDE, #LGBT

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You are listening to 2ZQ Hot Takes. This time, I’ll be talking about The intentional dissonance between the news about AI and the increasingly stressed workforce, job scams, AI job scams, 'stress testing' human/drone swarm ratios, 'vibe coding' 'package hallucination' scams, Agentic AI, cocktail party AI buzzwords, the rapid elimination of jobs; 'Frontier Firms,' 'Synthetic Brains" the number of new 'tech unicorns in 2025 so far, and we are far from prepared for the multiple armies of robots about to be deployed in our midst. Puny. Humans.

#AI

#AIbuzzwords

#AIjobscams

#Robotics

#2ZQHT

#theveryhandsomeTimKirk

#LGBT

#Pride

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You are listening to Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, where we learn the 'Origin Story' of Author Sharon Flake.

Sharon G. Flake is a celebrated author with multiple honors, including two Coretta Scott King Honor Awards and author of THE FAMILY I’M IN, the third installment in the I’m In series, following her groundbreaking debut The Skin I’m In (2000) and sister novel The Life I’m In (2021).

The Family I’m In explores the complex relationship between Black boys and their fathers, highlighting the challenges they face while growing up and defining what it means to be a man amidst societal pressures. John-John and Caleb, childhood friends, navigate common struggles like family illness, divorced parents, school, and crushes, while dealing with their labels as “nice boys”. Sharon wrote this novel in honor of all the young Black boys who wish to feel seen and heard.

I spoke with Sharon about her life, her understanding of YA mindsets, work and her influences.

“Readers will find much to appreciate about John-John’s meandering journey, which doesn’t spell out lessons but trusts them to reflect independently. [His] central relationships are well developed and poignantly described, and Flake renders his growing pains on the road to maturity in an authentic and accessible voice that will make readers root for him. A thought-provoking portrayal of growing up and defining yourself as a young man. – KIRKUS REVIEWS

#TwoZeroQ

#SharonFlake

#theskinimin

#thelifeimin

#thefamilyimin

#YANovels

#theveryhandsometimkirk

#Gay, #PRIDE, #LGBT

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You are listening to Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, where we learn the 'Origin Story' of Author Rio Cortez

From the New York Times bestselling creative team behind The ABCs of Black History comes a statement-making follow-up that celebrates women, their history, and their future. THE ABC’S OF WOMEN’S HISTORY by Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer centers on the diversity of the disruptors who blazed a path forward for everyone, for readers aged 5 and up. 

I spoke with Rio about her life, her work and her influences.

In a beautiful picture book in verse brimming with G for Groundbreaking women, National Book Award nominee Rio Cortez and illustrator Lauren Semmer celebrate all the joys, challenges, and historic forward movement of American women’s history, with a special focus on the Black women, brown women, transwomen, and other changemakers.

The ABCs of Women's History is perfect for providing a conversation starter about equality, women’s rights, and the brilliant women who shape our world. It’s about historic moments—Kamala Harris being sworn in as the first African-American and first Asian-American Vice President of the United States; Title IX passing through Congress; Seneca Falls, where the first women’s rights convention was held; the Riot Grrrls movement; and so much more. The book is complete with backmatter that shares the details and historical context of the women featured.

Rhymes and rhythm move readers energetically through the selected milestones and figures...A rainbow of hues and variations of composition and perspective keep the art fresh and eye-catching... An inclusive and inspiring look at significant aspects of women’s history.―Kirkus Reviews

#TwoZeroQ

#RioCortez

#NYTimesBestSeller

#TheABCsofWomensHistory

#addiction

#redemption

#theveryhandsometimkirk

#Gay, #PRIDE, #LGBT

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You are listening to "Two Zero Q - 20 Questions With Interesting People," the show that tells the 'Origin Stories' of everyday superheros in the lgbtqi community and friends.

Our guest this time is Tony Keith, PhD.

Join me as Tony and I discuss Knucklehead, a YA poetry collection, which is written as a series of letters to Black boys and men, especially the gay and queer ones, that is full of black-and-white illustrations and unforgettable poetry that will heal, provoke and inspire.

While society often assigns the label “knucklehead” to kids with attitude problems, this brilliant and electric poetry collection by spoken word poet and hip-hop educator Tony Keith Jr. subverts that narrow way of thinking and empathizes with young people who are misunderstood and unheard.

Among other topics, we talk about race, sexuality, privilege and common ground.

“A love letter in verse to Black boys and men….Will resonate deeply with readers and poets on a path of self-discovery.” ~ Kirkus

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You are listening to 2ZQ Hot Takes. This time, I’ll be talking about if the 'employees are alright', worker's concerns about AI, 60 hour 'sweeet spot' work weeks, MORE mass layoffs, "Bullshit Jobs" and their coming obsolescence, Robotic replacements, Prescient Sci Fi, useless, unsolicited advice for the unemployed, a Monty Python reference and workplace 'engagement, trust and RTO mandate fallacies'. Phew.

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You are listening to 2ZQ Hot Takes. This time, I’ll be talking about Mass layoffs, the revolt of the 'low performers’ no longer working for Meta, and dicey legitimate job offers, 2025 1st edition.

A bunch of doozies.

#2ZQHT

#theveryhandsomeTimKirk

#Meta

#layoffs

#legtimatejoboffers

#techlayoffs

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You are listening to 2ZQ Hot Takes.

This time, I’ll be talking about the evolution of Memes, Gen Z Jargon, Gen A Jargon, a brief touch on the frequently off-putting evolution of Emojis, a few standout, irksome LinkedIn codewords in current use among other things, including intentionally mean spirited, contradictory, intergenerational, drastically different connotations of ordinary & usual vocabulary, and the cultural danger of using emojis in business communications.

You might regret the reputation of unknowingly employing "Coworker-core" but don't be Beta or a Doomer Chud who convinces themselves that they are a Glazeworthy Giga Chad.

There is a noticeable bent towards misogyny, casual cruelty and crude sexual innuendo.

If you are not part of these generations, avoid attempting to use the slang. You may believe that you are Based, but will not be giving Aura.

#Memes, #Aura, 

 #2025Jargon, #Slang,

 #LGBT, #TVHTimKirk, #GenZslang

#GenAslang, #LinkedInCodewords, #emojis

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In this Episode of Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, we learn the 'Origin Story' of Actor/Author/Artist

Sean Hemeon is a a gay actor (9-1-1, Criminal Minds, and CW’s Husbands) currently writing a memoir entitled, "The Good Little Druglord," is the inspirational story of a (former) Mormon drug dealer who found redemption as a narc for the federal government—confronting the Russian Mafia, his darkest self and his mother.

Sean has come full circle sharing this journey with others interested in stories of mental health, addiction, redemption, identity, and the enduring bond between mother and son. 

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Two Zero Q: Upton Rand - Gay Men's Field Guide

In this Episode of Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, we learn the 'Origin Story' of Upton Rand, author of "Gay Campgrounds" The Ultimate Gay Camping Travel Guide. Upton shares his background and his odyssey of becoming part of the gay camping community from his distinct perspective of being the #1 bestselling Author of Urban Adventures

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In this Episode of Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, we learn the 'Origin Story' of Brigit Esselmont, founder of "Biddy Tarot," one of the world's best-known and most beloved Tarot readers and teachers and author of "INTUITIVE MANIFESTING : ALIGN WITH YOUR INNER WISDOM AND ATTRACT YOUR DREAM LIFE"

Hey Everybody, "Two Zero Q" has been included in Feedspot's "100 Best LGBT Podcasts worth listening to in 2024" and is #18!

https://podcast.feedspot.com/lgbt_podcasts/

#TwoZeroQ,

#ItuitiveManifesting

#BrigitEsselmont

#Tarot

#BiddyTarot

#theveryhandsometimkirk,

#Gay, #PRIDE, #LGBT

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EJ & Jeff: "The Old Man and the Queer

Two Zero Q. EJ & Jeff: "The Old Man and the Queer"

In this Episode of Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, we learn the 'Origin Story' of Jeff Comerchero and his co-author E.J. Radford.

Long time former Mayor and City Council Member Jeff Comerchero and his co-author E.J. Radford have written a new dual memoir detailing not only their lives, but the unique circumstances that led to a friendship that never should have happened.

Comerchero is a 77-year-old life-long Republican, far to the right on most political, cultural, and social issues.

In stark contrast, Radford is a 26-year-old barber with tattoos over most of their body, including a huge moth covering their neck, body piercings everywhere, and nose rings.

Radford identifies as Trans-Masc, using the pronouns they/he, and is as far to the left as Comerchero is to the right.

Through a quirk of fate, the former mayor found himself in E.J.’s barber chair. Although it was uncomfortable for both, the haircut was stellar, so Comerchero went back, and Radford would soon become his regular barber. 

After several appointments, a very unlikely friendship began to grow, and both gradually started to see their biases fade into the background. The result was that a most unusual, but beautiful friendship developed.

Hey Everybody, "Two Zero Q" has been included in Feedspot's "100 Best LGBT Podcasts worth listening to in 2024" and is #18!

https://podcast.feedspot.com/lgbt_podcasts/

#2ZQ,#TwoZeroQ,

#TheOldManandtheQueer

#TransMasc

#Temecula

#theveryhandsometimkirk,

#Gay, #PRIDE, #LGBT EJ & Jeff: "The Old Man and the Queer

Two Zero Q. EJ & Jeff: "The Old Man and the Queer"

In this Episode of Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, we learn the 'Origin Story' of Jeff Comerchero and his co-author E.J. Radford.

Long time former Mayor and City Council Member Jeff Comerchero and his co-author E.J. Radford have written a new dual memoir detailing not only their lives, but the unique circumstances that led to a friendship that never should have happened.

Comerchero is a 77-year-old life-long Republican, far to the right on most political, cultural, and social issues.

In stark contrast, Radford is a 26-year-old barber with tattoos over most of their body, including a huge moth covering their neck, body piercings everywhere, and nose rings.

Radford identifies as Trans-Masc, using the pronouns they/he, and is as far to the left as Comerchero is to the right.

Through a quirk of fate, the former mayor found himself in E.J.’s barber chair. Although it was uncomfortable for both, the haircut was stellar, so Comerchero went back, and Radford would soon become his regular barber. 

After several appointments, a very unlikely friendship began to grow, and both gradually started to see their biases fade into the background. The result was that a most unusual, but beautiful friendship developed.

Hey Everybody, "Two Zero Q" has been included in Feedspot's "100 Best LGBT Podcasts worth listening to in 2024" and is #18!

https://podcast.feedspot.com/lgbt_podcasts/

#2ZQ,#TwoZeroQ,

#TheOldManandtheQueer

#TransMasc

#Temecula

#theveryhandsometimkirk,

#Gay, #PRIDE, #LGBT

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In this Episode of Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, we learn the 'Origin Story' of author John Garrison.

John is an author and has written "Red Hot & Blue, where he explores the powerful intersection of music, activism, and personal memory through the lens of this iconic 1990 album. 

Blending memoir and cultural history, Garrison recalls his coming out at the height of the AIDS crisis alongside the music industry's first major response to the epidemic. Garrison includes snippets of Porter's letters, telegrams, and song lyrics, showing how Porter's themes of loneliness and longing resonate with contemporary experiences of love in troubled times.

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In this Episode of Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, we learn the 'Origin Story' of author/actor/narrator JasonJune.

JasonJune is a prolific author of novels For young adults.

JasonJune is charismatic and has most recently published a gay romcom entitled "Flopping in a Winter Wonderland" involving love, romance, family and Santa Claus!

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