Turner has focused his career on the human face with the objective of creating a narrative between the viewer and the subject. Turner paints his subjects after carefully
studying the multiple photographs he has taken with a concentration on their essence as opposed to their features. Rather than a photographic survey of Long Beach, Turner’s expressionistic portraits reveal the psychological drama and emotional fabric, intrinsic and specific to Long Beach.

The artist paints each portrait directly on glass with thick impasto brushstrokes that can only come from a trained eye and deft, experienced hands. The transparency of the glass creates a surface which reflects the viewer and the environment, while its materiality speaks to the inner fragility. Additionally, the shade of paint underneath each work becomes a defining characteristic of the work. The infinite combinations of location, population, and color add to the dynamics of the exhibition.

Flux plays an integral role in the conceptual underpinnings of Ray Turner’s work. As these works travel and are exhibited to nationwide audiences and locations, local
residents are integrated into the body of work adding new layers to the growing “Population”. This exhibition will be accompanied by a full-color catalogue, which will
include Turner’s latest portraits of Long Beach’s “Population”, as well as an essay about the artist’s work by art historian and exhibition co-curator Peter Frank.

The Museum will also be showcasing works from its permanent collection in the second floor galleries this summer with selections from The Wilma and Roland Duquette
Collection and The Jason Wong Estate. All of the Museum’s summer exhibitions will be celebrated at LBMA After Dark on Thursday, July 7, 2011 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum’s exhibitions, events and programs, visit our website at www.lbma.org.

About the Long Beach Museum of Art Located on a magnificent bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Long Beach Museum of Art features a historic mansion and carriage house, expansive galleries and gardens, oceanfront dining at Claire’s at the Museum and a unique Museum Store. The galleries and store are open Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday – Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students and seniors age 62 and older, free for Members and children under 12, and free for everyone on Thursday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and all day on Friday. Claire’s is open Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and and Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (562) 439-2119 or visit www.lbma.org.

Demonstrating their deep commitment to this charitable initiative and support of The Trevor Project’s mission, CB2 will also host a “weekend of charitable shopping” June 25 – June 26, offering consumers the opportunity to get involved, by donating five percent of all sales from online, catalog and all nine CB2 brick-and-mortar locations to The Trevor Project.

“CB2 is proud to support The Trevor Project in their work with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community,” stated Marta Calle, Director of CB2.  “The Trevor Project is a very important organization and we are passionate about their cause to save young lives.”

“As a national corporate partner of The Trevor Project, CB2 is a leader in good corporate citizenship,” said David McFarland, Interim Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. “For their psychological well-being, youth need to know that they are accepted for who they are, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. CB2 supports those ideals.”

The Trevor Project was founded in August 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film, “Trevor,” when this story about an LGBTQ teen who attempts suicide was set to begin airing on HBO. Since that time, The Trevor Project has risen to national prominence in the realm of suicide prevention among youth. In addition to operating the only national crisis lifeline for LGBTQ youth, the organization is the first in the nation to offer suicide prevention services to youth in digital spaces, including counseling via instant message, and the largest online social network specifically for young LGBTQ people. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has appointed The Trevor Project to a leadership role in the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and the organization is a lead resource for the White House initiative, StopBullying.gov.

CB2 is honored to support The Trevor Project and to help promote their message of acceptance, diversity and compassion for all regardless of sexual identity, gender or race.  Other charitable initiatives for the brand include the CB2′s annual ‘Can Do’ food drive. For more information about the CB2 / Trevor Project partnership, visit http://www.cb2.com/Helping-Others/Trevor.aspx.

The site is free membership and it is loaded with features and it is just starting. Out”R”us will be unveiling a new version by the end of the summer 2011, loaded with features that will even make Facebook wonder how come they missed such important features.

Since it’s official launch on May 1st 2011, the site has received over 500,000 hits, not usual for a startup website with so much competition. Out”R”us is also standing by their decision of “Not” having advertising take over the site’s contents, so no pop-up ads, banners and spyware will be seen by its members.

“We have created a place where everyone can feel comfortable, making friends and openly share their life experiences or ask for advice from other Members.

“The majority gay social network websites now that are out there, seem to be over-glorified personals with some very minor social functionality. They seem to use social network as a buzzword, versus what they actually are. When people think Social Networking, they think Facebook and MySpace. That’s what we closely resemble in comparison to. Our core focus is on bringing the LGBT community together and creating friendships and letting members share their life experience.

OutRus LGBT Social Network is an edu-tainment social network website where Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & transgender can freely SHARE, EXPLORE & MEET with other Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & transgender 1627000244 around the world. “I have always believed that the LGBT Community should had the opportunity to experience one another on a ‘global network,’ learned prejudices would be virtually non-existent,”

OutRus is a social network targeted toward the LGBT Community. Out”R”us is also open to teens and is standing by its principals of Not being a dating site as are most gay social network sites.

http://www.outrus.com

“This is How We Roll: Art from the Female Skater Community”

These women are skaters, but their scope lies beyond wheels, trucks and bearings. Roller skating and skateboarding is a common thread and significant part of their lives, BUT it is not all they can do. They are not “one trick ponies.” They are artists representing diverse themes, media, and styles.

Come see the work of these talented women and support the Long Beach arts at this entirely FREE event.

Saturday 7-10 p.m.
May 7th, 2011
Complimentary hors d’oeuvre and cocktail reception

COMPLIMENTARY PARKING at 1001 E. 3rd St. LB 90802 at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Access lot from 3rd St. and walk 2 blocks south on Bonito Ave. to Studio 1021 on Broadway.

This month, the Portfolio barista steps out from behind the coffee bar to showcase a series of new pieces. When it comes to her art, LaRose (formerly Kaplowsky) is kinda old-school, opting for pencils, pen and paper rather than a computer, keyboard and a mouse. Her photo-realistic pieces—created with Prismacolor pencil and Sharpie markers—have garnered rave reviews and rewards in the past few years. Not only was she featured among a handful of ‘must-see’ local artists in the January issue of Long Beach Live magazine, but also was awarded the grand prize in Sharpie’s national 2009 “Write Out Loud” competition.

LaRose has followed her creative muse from a very young age and studied formally at both UCLA and CSULB. “I have been drawing since I was able to hold a pencil,” she recalls. “It seems that even when you’re in the worst of places with nothing at all, there are always pencils and paper. I started drawing with whatever pencils I could get my hands on, whether it was just a yellow #2 pencil or a $2 set of Crayola colored pencils from the grocery store. When I went off to high school, I discovered a whole new world of art. I put my pencils away for a while and found solace in ceramic sculpture. It wasn’t until after taking a life drawing class at Cal State Long Beach that I realized I could create the 3-dimensional feel of a sculpture with my old pencils and paper. My goal now is to create the most realistic drawings that I can. Years of technical training and life experience have brought my art to a whole new level. At one point I used my ability to draw as an escape, now it is my passion.”

Objects and scenes of everyday life are cause for inspiration for LaRose. “Everything inspires me. Every color, texture, feeling, and person that I come across brings something new to the table. The specific drawings are not meant to be taken literally, but to bring a different emotion to every person that sees them. The feelings that they bring to me are not always going to be the same as everyone else, but the important part is that they create an emotion. My goal is not to tell my story, but to create a new one.”

For more information, go to: http://kristinkaplowitz.com

“Apple made a wise and responsible decision to dump an offensive app that demonized gay and lesbian people,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “The real winners today are LGBT youth who are safer and less at risk for receiving Exodus’ malice and misinformation.”

“We’re thrilled that Apple has removed this ‘gay cure’ app from the iTunes store after more than 146,000 people signed this petition,” said Mike Jones, Editor at Change.org, the platform used by Truth Wins Out to launch the petition. “The message Apple is sending here is clear: there is no place for ‘ex-gay therapy’ on the Apple platform.”

Exodus’ app was not only offensive, but it relied on twisting legitimate research in its effort to dehumanize LGBT people. For example, Gary Remafedi, a researcher from the University of Minnesota, asked Apple earlier in the week to remove Exodus International’s app from its online store because he claimed it grossly distorted his work.

Apple’s move to drop the app brings it in line with every respected mental health organization in the nation. The American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and American Counseling Association have all rejected “ex-gay” therapy, saying that it can result in serious harm to the mental health of its victims.

“This is not a question of free speech, but of stopping a virulently anti-gay organization from peddling false speech at the expense of vulnerable LGBT youth,” said John Becker, Truth Wins Out’s Director of Communications and Development. “Exodus may pose as the victim, but they are a victimizer that has left a trail of shattered lives and broken families. We are grateful that Exodus has lost at least one platform with which to disperse its dangerous message.”

Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism and the “ex-gay” myth. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.

Change.org is the world’s fastest growing platform for social change, with more than 3 million readers a month. Change.org provides daily news and information about important social issues and empowers people to take action.

Each week throughout the show, die-hard Lynch fans and curious newcomers alike can view one of Lynch’s seminal films presented by the Long Beach Cinamatheque. Each screening will be accompanied by the release of a limited edition, signed 18” x 24” print. Films will be screened at the Art Theatre of Long Beach on Friday nights at midnight (BLUE VELVET, March 4th; ERASERHEAD, March 12th; LOST HIGHWAY, March 18th; WILD AT HEART, March 25th), and FREE at Cherry Beach at 7pm (DUNE, March 4th). The Art Theatre of Long Beach is located at 2025 East 4th St., Long Beach, CA 90814. Details here: http://lbcinema.org

David Lynch’s filmic oeuvre manages to pull noir, camp and—sometimes—even brutal realism together into ominous narratives and this uniquely intermeshed sensibility has been inspiring artists of all mediums for decades now. Those included in this show work primarily in two-dimensions, a format well-suited to probing Lynch’s eccentric visual world. Some explicitly respond to or appropriate the director’s imagery, like UK artist Famous When Dead whose “Rabbit” is a refined portrait of the quietly patriarchal animal that appeared first in an online sitcom and later in “Inland Empire,” or Aurora Armijo’s distraught portrait of Lynch’s repeat leading lady, Laura Dern.

But others take a looser approach. Handiedan’s “Lost Highway” is, like all of her work, fragmented and darkly nostalgic—in other words, wholly resonate with a Lynchian aesthetic—and Bryan Schnelle’s slick explorations of the visually absurd have an unsettling glamour that would be at home in “Mulholland Drive,” or even parts of “Blue Velvet.” David Atkinson’s bloody “What About Bob” makes implicit, eerie Lynchian violence aggressively explicit, and John Ottinger’s “Dark Father” speculates on what would have happened if Lynch had directed “Return of the Jedi.”

It’s been forty years since David Lynch moved to Los Angeles, and thirty-five since “Eraserhead” debuted. In that time, he’s become embedded in the collective psyches of aesthetes and film buffs. This exhibition explores what his legacy might mean, though it makes no definitive interpretation, generously leaving the interpreting to its viewers.

About Phone Booth Gallery
Established in 2008, Phone Booth Gallery exhibits many talented contemporary artists from around the globe. Owned and operated out of Long Beach, CA. www.phoneboothgallery.com

About Long Beach Cinematheque
Long Beach Cinematheque is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by Logan Crow and dedicated to the celebration and study of classic and independent cinema by providing opportunities for the Long Beach community to experience and share film classics throughout the city; by curating special events that incorporate film with live music and multimedia art; by collaborating with independent organizations and theatres in shared community events; by supporting with scholarships the efforts and dreams of student filmmakers; and by welcoming guest speakers such as filmmakers and film historians to speak to audiences as part of their cinematic experience.

For more information about the event, or to schedule an interview with any of the artists, please contact Garry Booth.

Launched as Fabulis.com seven months ago, the renamed and newly expanded Fab.com:

• Now has more than 110,000 members with 40% logging in at least 10 times per month, 25% visiting more than 50 times per month, and upwards of 5,000 new users joining on a weekly basis.
• Just introduced the largest worldwide directory of gay-friendly places with accompanying rankings, reviews, tips and photo uploads, complementing the site’s interactive profiles and extensive database of gay-relevant events.
• Offers a full-featured iPhone app including the ability to check in, identify your current location, name the people you’re with, upload images, rate places, provide tips, and perform all other functions available from the Web.
• Just closed the first $1.75 million Series A financing with investors including First Round Capital, The Washington Post Company, Baroda Ventures, and Zelkova Ventures, adding to an earlier $1.25 million in angel financing.

“Before Fab.com, people thought of gay social networks as dating sites. Fab has a completely different mission,” said founder and CEO Jason Goldberg. “We help gay men meet new friends anywhere in the world, find places to go and things to do that suit gay tastes, share their experiences through reviews and rankings, and in general expand their social circle in a way that fits the gay social graph.”

Passport to the Gay World

Goldberg, a serial entrepreneur who previously founded the social news site Socialmedian that was sold to XING AG in 2009 as well as the employment website Jobster, was inspired to create Fab after encountering difficulty in finding gay-centric online recommendations while working in Europe.

He set out to fill the void with a new platform that would serve as a central clearinghouse of gay-oriented activities and destinations as well as providing a safe forum for gay conversation removed from Facebook communications with family and co-workers.

In a unique approach to promoting member interaction, Fab builds user profiles by adding content based on the member’s check-ins and answers to questions posed by other users – whether they know each other or not. The site currently handles more than 15,000 user-answers to questions every day, essentially hosting dozens of freeform conversations that help “Fabbits” get to know each other as well as exchange advice on navigating the gay environment.

Users can check in directly on Fab or import their Facebook check-ins, search for gay-oriented events by city and date, filter those searches by Fab followers if desired, and view lists of top-ranked Fab people, cities and tags (e.g. writer, activist, gamer, foodie, musician, blogger, etc.) to quickly zero in on people with common interests.

With the new Fab Places feature, members can also browse a database of more than 50,000 gay-rated locations in categories ranging from travel, food, nightlife and bed and breakfasts to arts, shopping, buildings and outdoors – complete with comments that meet gay needs in a way that reviews like those on TripAdvisor and Yelp cannot.

“If you’re going to Boston next week and you post that on your Facebook wall, it’s not going to help you when you get there. With Fab, you can find out what events are going on in Boston, who’s going to be there, arrange to meet, and research gay-friendly hotels and restaurants – all in one place,” said Bradford Shellhammer, co-founder and chief creative officer. “Facebook still helps you communicate with your current friends, but Fab gives you a whole new channel for expanding your horizons and connecting with the gay community wherever you go.”

What could be more fab than that?

About Fab.com

Fab.com – the fun way to discover the gay world – is the definitive resource for gay men, helping them find “fab” places to go, things to do and people to meet. Fab’s website and mobile applications provide instant access to the largest global index to gay-centric places and events, unique interactive profiles that assist in making new friends, and other features that quickly connect members to the best of gay life. The company is headquartered in New York and has development operations in Pune, India and Deinze, Belgium.

“Long Beach residents and businesses have always responded generously to our request for donations,” said Mayor Foster.  “This year’s food drive goal is to collect 100,000 pounds of food, which would provide three meals a day to approximately 2,547 families for a week.”

Food Finders will collect from locations and then distribute the donated food to more than 100 organizations in Long Beach.

“Many families won’t be able to have festive dinners or toys for the kids this year without our help,” said Arlene Mercer, Food Finders executive director.  “Once again, we are asking for canned and packaged food as well as pet food.  This year, we are also asking for monetary donations to help Food Finders purchase turkeys and hams to be given to Long Beach families.”

The Friends of Long Beach Animals will be collecting and distributing the donated pet food to owners who are finding it a challenge to provide for themselves and their pets.

“It is a tragic reality that some pet owners are forced to consider the relinquishment of their pets due to the lack of household funds needed to properly feed and care for their animals,” said John Gonzales, president of the Friends of Long Beach Animals.  “We ask that everyone include a pet food item with their donation.  Helping our neighbors and their pets during difficult times will make Long Beach a better place.”

The newest partner in the food drive is the nonprofit We Love Long Beach.

“The Long Beach Community Food Drive is the perfect chance for all of us to work together and make a difference in the lives of families and individuals throughout our city,” said Scott Jones, co-founder/director of We Love Long Beach.  “We’re once again grateful for the partnership between Food Finders, the Mayor and Friends of Long Beach Animals.  One hundred thousand pounds!  Let’s do this!”

For a complete list of suggested items and drop-off locations, visit www.longbeach.gov/mayor.  Additional collection sites will be added in the coming weeks.

About Food Finders
Food Finders, Inc. is a multi-regional food bank that serves as a conduit between the donors, service agencies and people in need.  The non-profit provides food to feed the impoverished and hungry people, and referral services in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.  For more information, visit www.foodfinders.org.

About Friends of Long Beach Animals
Friends of Long Beach Animals is a non-profit organization committed to saving animals’ lives through spay/neuter programs.  They are dedicated to responsible pet ownership, education and humane treatment of all animals. www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org

About We Love Long Beach
We Love Long Beach is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to know and serve the people, the neighborhoods and the city of Long Beach. Through service learning education, neighborhood events, service projects and strategic partnerships, WLLB is fostering active citizenship in the lives of people throughout the city. www.welovelongbeach.org

Photo Credit: Sue Cassidy

Hey girls and boys!  So a couple months back I over heard this 5’10″, 155lbs, auburn, hazel eyed man talk about this thing called Down Tag and it intrigued me.  For those of you all who know me when I’m intrigued I must know more!!  So sure maybe it was those hazel eyes that first caught my attention (but damn he’s straight!!) but I was really interested in this product that he created to save lives.    You know Lady V is all about making a difference and saving lives!   So I finally womaned up to ask Shane for an interview. Without hesitation Shane agreed and invited me over his place.  I would meet with him at his home for the interview making sure that I do not get excited whilst looking into his face.

Upon arriving to his place in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, I was taken aback by the attention to detail. Envision myself and Shane in a cozy room with intimate lighting, a bouquet of white Casa Blanca Lilies, champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and lush, fluffy pillows on the living room floor.   Shane was a true gentleman as he looked deep into my eyes and says,“Are you ready Lady VaJayJay?”    My heart skipped then stopped several beats as I gracefully looked at Shane and asked in a womanly deep tone of voice, “Ready for what?” he replied with a hint of a smile,“ For the interview.”   (Ahhh snap…back to reality!!)

I took a deep breath and started with my intimate interview with Shane.

Lady V: What’s your full name?

MSH: “My full name is Michael Shane Hill, although starting back in high school, I’ve been going by my middle name…so Shane will do.”

Lady V: What is it that you do for a living?

MSH: “For about 10 months now, Downtag encompasses and drives everything I do. Most recently though, prior to Downtag, I was the Director of Operations for The Babb Group (www.TheBabbGroup.com) for the past three years.”

Lady V: What is Downtag?

MSH: “Downtag is the culmination of my passion for helping people and years of riding motorcycles.”

Lady V: How does Downtag actually help someone?

MSH: “Downtag, for all sakes and purposes, is a guardian angel that watches over you and steps in to help in case of an emergency. Whether you are journeying alone or traveling with a group of friends, should you find yourself in a life threatening emergency, the Downtag system is setup to not only recognize that situation but initiate the response of first responders like Police, Fire, and EMS to your location. A secondary and tertiary result of the system is that the medical personnel at the hospital will be able to access your pertinent medical information within the golden hour and our dispatchers will be able to contact you emergency contacts, allowing them to meet you at the hospital much sooner than with current available methods.”

Lady V: What’s the Golden Hour you just mentioned?

MSH: “The Golden Hour is defined as the time period of one hour in which the lives of a majority of critically injured trauma patients can be saved if definitive surgical intervention is provided. Only 60 minutes from the moment of injury to notify the police; dispatch an ambulance to the scene; transport the victim to a hospital; summon the appropriate surgical and support staff; and perform the necessary life-saving surgery. From an EMS standpoint, those 60 minutes pass very quickly. Time is, literally, of the essence!”

Lady V: Who are Downtag’s customers?

MSH: “Downtag’s current target clientele is motorcyclists, although literally anyone can benefit from the services Downtag will offer. Whether you are a backpacker, mountain climber, motorcyclist, or just your “average joe”, Downtag will make your life safer.”

Lady V: Why focus on motorcyclists and not backpackers?

MSH: “The reason for singling out motorcyclists for our launch is twofold; launching a new business is easier when you can target a single demographic and, as a daily motorcycle rider, I know the market and understand the need for such a product and service as Downtag.”

Lady V: What is the coverage area for Downtag?

MSH: “Downtag will initially only be available within the United States, although I already have emails coming in requesting we scale the coverage to the international level. Motorcyclists from Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Australia have written in pleading that I bring Downtag to their areas right away, which will obviously happen the minute the business supports such a move.”

Lady V: How did you come up with the name?

MSH: “The term ‘went down’ is often used as a way of saying that a motorcyclist was involved in an accident. As unoriginal as the name may be, ‘Downtag’ is the tag that may save your life, should you ‘go down’.”

Lady V: What inspired you to do this?

MSH: “Due to the downed economy, a business partner and I were selling off a handful of investment properties in Arizona late last year. To facilitate the sales, I was literally living in both Arizona and California for about six months. This living situation required me to travel back and forth between Orange County and Mohave Valley, AZ, sometimes up to three times per week. I made the trip, every time, on my motorcycle. To cut down on traffic and construction delays on the interstate, I almost always made the trip in the middle of the night. Riding alone, in the dark, on desolate highways brings with it a very eerie feeling and lots of time to contemplate “what would happen if I crashed right now”. After searching for a product that would allow EMS workers to access my medical history and a tracking service so I wouldn’t “be alone” on my trips, I found that there isn’t a single product/service out there that allows for this. Necessity being the mother of invention, I decided that I’d step up to the plate. Granted, the original idea stemmed from a selfish need; but after doing market research, I found out that I’m not the only person out there that has wanted this problem solved. I’ve had everything from backpackers to scuba divers to motorcyclists to single parents that want to sign up as soon as we are operational.”

Lady V: How long did it take you to manufacture the product?

MSH: “Well, there isn’t a product quite yet. We’re still looking for funding to launch. The tag itself will be laser etched in-house and takes about 60 seconds to manufacturer. The tag, of course, being one small piece of the much bigger whole that is Downtag.”

Lady V: If I get lost and if I had this tag on, would you come and rescue me?

MSH: “If I was the closest emergency responder to you, absolutely!”

Lady V: What is your mission with Downtag?

MSH: “In short, to save lives. As broad and undirected as that may sound, that is exactly what Downtag boils down to – a product and combination of services that will allow people to enjoy their life with the peace of mind that should something happen, they won’t be alone, even if there is nobody around them when the situations takes a turn for the worse.”

Lady V: I’ve done some research and saw that you have applied to win some funds to launch Downtag. How is it coming along?

MSH: “Ah, you must be referring to the Pepsi Refresh Project. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the contest. Although the idea that Pepsi came up with is a novel one, it’s near impossible for the “little guy” to compete against the larger companies and organizations that are vying for the same grant. No matter how well received Downtag has been, it’s a near impossible fight for a single guy like myself to go up against entire cities, county school districts, or nationwide non-profit organizations. That didn’t stop me from trying, however; I knew what I was up against when I signed up. I’m considering not winning the grant as “part of the journey” and not necessarily a loss or hurdle that I had to overcome.”

Lady V: How can the community as a whole be of help to you in launching your product nation/worldwide?

MSH: “Imagine a racehorse, well trained, knowing what needs to be done, anxiously waiting in the gates, ready for door to open so it can take off down the track and blow the competition away. I am that horse! What’s needed to get that gate open is the funding to launch, which I am fighting against the current economy to find. If anyone out there would be interested in making a substantial return on their investment and wouldn’t mind helping me save some lives, I’d love to hear from them. Even just helping me connect to a potential investor or investment group would be an answer to many prayers!”

Lady V: What other potential uses is Downtag capable of?

MSH: “That’s a great question. Although a majority of future Downtag clients will undoubtedly be people who enjoy extreme activities, like riding motorcycles or mountain climbing, another group that would find tremendous benefit would be children and their parents. Without question, with today’s available technology, the traditional identification bracelets that are still sold in elementary schools are a bit dated; and dare I say ,even obsolete. Downtag carries the potential of revolutionizing what is considered standard identification for school age children. As an ex-latchkey child myself, I know what it means to be that child walking to or from school, alone, without any real identification, wondering how long it would take for an adult to contact my mother should something happen to me…wondering how they would even know who my mother was.”

Lady V: Does Downtag come blinged out or in variety of colors?

MSH: “The physical tag, again, being one piece of the full puzzle that is Downtag, will be available in various colors. I’m even entertaining the potential of having the option for gold, silver, and platinum tags, for those who want to be safe without giving up style.”

Lady V: What is the cost to the your customers going to be?

MSH: “Well, without being operational, I can only speculate as to how much this is going to cost the consumer. What I can tell you is that the cost will be considerably less than what most people spend a year on their Auto Club membership or even Starbucks, for that matter, and will carry a considerable amount of benefits beyond just towing your car or helping you stay awake for an additional couple of hours. Also, a goal of mine is to get motorcycle insurance companies to help mitigate the cost to the consumer by providing each person with a discount on their yearly premiums, equal to or greater than the out of pocket cost for a Downtag membership. In theory, if I can get companies like Geico and Progressive to provide a $60 per year discount on your premiums and our membership costs $60 per year, you’re not paying anything. If Downtag costs $40 per year, you’re saving $20 every year and are considerably safer than you would be without Downtag.”

Lady V: Is Downtag currently a product and service available to the public?

MSH: “Not yet, unfortunately. Once I am able to secure funding to launch, it will take about 90 days to get all of our systems developed, the dispatch center operational, have all of the security measures put into place, etcetera before we will be officially ‘open for business’.”

Lady V: How do we go about ordering them?

MSH: “Once we are up and running, the quickest way to sign up will be by visiting our website, www.TheDowntag.com. There isn’t much need for a physical store for a product and service like Downtag, so online, mail order, and phone orders will be the primary methods of signing up. We are accepting pre-orders at this time.”

Lady V: Alright enough of the strawberries are hitting me now! Let’s get into some real Q&A!

MSH: “Strawberries? I love strawberries! Wait, we are talking about the fruit, right?” [laughing]

Lady V: What are your stats?

MSH: “Stats? Wow, this interview is taking me back to the days of AOL chat rooms. I’m 28, going on 45, 5’10” and 155 lbs., with auburn hair and hazel eyes.”

Lady V: Are you single?

MSH: “Currently I am single, if we’re talking about another physical person being in my life. I don’t know if my mistress, Downtag, would allow me the time to actually go out and date anyone though.”

Lady V: Why are you stalking me so much?

MSH: “How am I supposed to keep you safe if I don’t keep my eye on you?” [laughs out loud]

Lady V: Anything else you would like to add?

MSH: “Outside of badly needing to find investors to turn a life saving idea into a life saving reality, as a shameless plug for a pet project that I started, I am heading a walk-a-thon team for Autism Speaks. Your readers can learn all about it by visiting www.BlakesWarriors.com.”

My closing remarks about this interview is that I wished I was at his house and he was feeding me strawberries. Oh well that’s why it’s The World According to Lady VaJayJay.   Please make sure to look Shane up and see watch for the upcoming release of the DownTag product!  Who doesn’t love a guy trying to save lives….