Must see TV

It looks like we, the LGBT audience, will have a lot to look forward this winter.  Long gone are the days when catching a queer character on TV was a rarity. An ill-conceived two-dimensional, flat and unbelievable one at best. Now its more like you can’t turn it on unless seeing a least one gay, bi or trans character on every other show, ranging from to “Masters of Sex” to DC’s “Gotham”. Yes, that’s correct, even the world of Batman got a lot “gayer”. Here are the TV and online shows that have caught my attention in a good way and in no special order.

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“Transparent” is getting great reviews.

Transparent. Extremely interesting new series from Amazon Prime. Tells the story of Maura, formerly Mort (played by Jeffrey Tambor), a 70-year-old divorced, retired college professor who comes out as transgender to family and friends. Which causes everyone’s secrets to spill out. Superb acting and direction, an interesting story-line with a healthy dose of drama, comedy, quirkiness and surprises along the way and a realness to it which is the show’s greatest strength. This combined makes “Transparent” one of the best and moving series of the year.

Orange is the New Black. In this comedy drama we follow Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) who is doing time inside a low security women’s prison in NYC for smuggling drugs with her girlfriend (lover to be exact) years ago. On the way we meet some fascinating, believable and some likable characters who’ve made bad decisions in life. My personal favorite: trans woman Sophia Burset played by the beautiful Laverne Cox, who I saw during the San Diego gay pride this summer. The show is a Netflix original series and in its second season. Based on the 2010 memoir “Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison” by Piper Kerman.

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Viola Davis shines in “How to get away with murder”.

How to get away with murder. ABC’s new hit show from the creators of “Scandal” and “Gray’s Anatomy” – which was enough to get me personally excited in the first place. A brilliant criminal defense professor (Viola Davis) and a group of ambitious law students become involved in a twisted murder plot that will alter their lives. Good writing – full of suspense and twists and turns – and good acting thanks to Oscar-nominee Viola Davis and a group of relatively unknown, up-and-coming actors (look out for hunky Jack Falahee who plays Connor, a gay student who’s determined, ambitious and doesn’t hesitate to bend the rules if it serves his purpose).

Looking is all about awkward dates, unglamorous sex and boyfriend troubles. It tells the story of three gay friends in San Francisco who are standing on cross-roads, each in their own way. Much unlike older gay shows like comedic “Will and Grace” or steamy hot “Queer as Folk” HBO’s “Looking” is all about “real gay men with real issues”. Men who just happen to be gay. Men that feel so real that the gay male viewer can easily relate to them (at least I could). The first season didn’t hit it off immediately but steadily grew on the audience. The second season is being filmed and airs early next year.

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With a lot of gay/bi characters and storylines “True Blood”managed to build a solid gay fanbase.

True Blood. A horror/fantasy/romance that focuses on vampires and other creatures in New Orleans. A fun and at times very (homo)erotic story-plot – not to mention stunning actors and actresses – certainly makes it worth watching (over and over again). NO GAY MAN should miss the sizzling hot scenes between sizzling hot Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) in the seventh and last season.

Orphan Black. An exciting science fiction series about human cloning. We follow con artist Sarah (played by the oh so brilliant Tatiana Maslany) and her gay prostitute brother Felix (Jordan Gavaris) as they tackle mad scientists, religion fanatics, secret service agents and cold-blooded criminals whilst trying to solve a creepy mystery from their past. A Canadian series from BBC America that has its third series in production to premiere in 2015.

Gulity pleasures
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Four best friends explore their ever evolving sexuality in popular web series “The Hunting Season”.

The Hunting Season. Comedy-drama based on a very popular and painfully trutful blog called “The Great Cock Hunt” (also a book now). A story of four young, single, gay friends in NYC. The main character Alex (Ben Baur) is a blogger at Gawker by day and writes about his social life with his friends anonymously by night. The storyline is reminiscent of “Sex and the City” but way gayer and more sexually explicit (as is currently the trend). The series are much more ambitious than other web series.  Still waiting for the word if the second series is coming.

My Gay Roommate. Web series that deals with modern-day antics of a young gay man Nick (Noam Ash), such as loosing his virginity and exploring the world of Grindr. Not expertly acted nor is it a high budget one. However the script is often good and funny. In its third season and I look forward to see more.

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“Don’t trust the B…” is truly hilarious at times thanks to Kristen Ritter.

The New Normal is a comedy about a wealthy Californian gay (male)couple who decide to have a baby with a straight working class (girl)friend. Not cutting edge but a sweet, funny and harmless show (in a “Will and Grace” sort of way) that didn’t get to the second season.

Don’t trust the bitch in apartment 23. June (Dreama Walker) moves in with party girl/con artist Chloe (Kristen Ritter) in NYC and you could say they don’t hit it off (mildly speaking). Finger snapping funny and in a way very “gay” (although it only has one gay supporting character). James Van der Beek, from “Dawson’s Creek”, plays himself in a supporting role. Unfortunately it got cancelled last year after only two seasons, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching!

Main photo (above): From gripping sci-fi tv series “Orphan Black”.

Note: Ok it may be exaggerating a little bit to say the LGBT characters can be seen on every other show. However it is true that television has actually increased its portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans characters this year, with the edge going to cable and the Internet over broadcast networks, according to a new study by the advocacy group GLAAD. The study found that 3.9 percent of 813 characters regularly seen on prime-time network scripted series will be lesbian, gay or bisexual, a total of 32 characters. An increase over last year’s 3.3 percent. But down from the 4.4 percent record high for LGBT depictions on network series in 2012.Among cable TV shows, there were 64 regular LGBT characters, up from 42 last season. And though not many transgender characters are featured they are on the rise and can be seen on cable and net series such as “Transparent”, “True Trans” and “Orange Is the New Black”.

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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