Come Up and See Mae West Via Blogger & Playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo

“Come up sometime and see me.” This legendary line was made popular by the one and truly unique Mae West. Mae West was not a conventional woman, by a long shot.  In her day, she was considered to be a trouble maker of sorts.  Mae drove the cops nuts!  What made her so unique?  Why did that uniqueness cause so much concern amongst the so called pious of the day?  To explore that and also discuss the celebration of Mae West’s birthday, I am happy to welcome LindaAnn Loschiavo, a playwright and blogger who has a deep interest in Miss West. LindaAnn, thanks for doing a Candid Conversation.

LindaAnn L.: It’s a great pleasure to connect with you, Cliff, and your readers.

Cliff T.: Off the hop, I have to ask did Mae West really say “Come up sometime and see me!”? 

LindaAnn L.:  The line was originally written for Winnie, a drag queen character in Mae’s 1926 stage play “The Drag.”  Here is Winnie's line of dialogue:  "So glad to have you meet me. Come up sometime and I'll bake you a pan of biscuits."  That was Mae West's intentional echo of the very well-known line of the late great female impersonator Bert  Savoy, who used to say, "Oh, Margie! You must come over!"  In 1932, six years later, Mae repeated the line in the screenplay for “She Done Him Wrong.”  Her character, Lady Lou, says it to Captain Cummings (Cary Grant).  Play the clip on YouTube -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dgYqkNCZ1Y --- to see exactly how she said it in the film.

Cliff T.: Are there other quotes made famous by Mae West and, if so, which are the more known? 

LindaAnn L.:  My Mae West Blog is full of her popular quotes. Here’s a link to dozens:
http://maewest.blogspot.com/2011/02/mae-west-quotations.html
In addition to her very famous one-liners, I offer a section in every post called: “In her own words.”  Mae West’s statements are taken from magazine interviews she gave during her career. She was often asked to comment on Marilyn Monroe, what her latest projects were, etc.

Cliff T.: From what I can see on your blog, Miss West appears to have had many run ins with the law and also had to deal with many civil cases as well.  Which are the most notable in your mind, LindaAnn?  

LindaAnn L.: Mae West was first arrested in Connecticut in January 1927, then arrested in NYC on February 9, 1927 and jailed overnight. The police were basically trying to close down her first gay play “The Drag,” which was having its try-outs before Mae brought it to Broadway. She was also arrested on October 2, 1928 and her second gay play, “Pleasure Man,” was raided and padlocked. That was only the start of many lawsuits, some frivolous and launched by people who wanted money.  When Mae became a successful movie star, people sued her for plagiarism.  However, the judges (perhaps realizing that rich people are often a target) always sided with Miss West.  Then in 1935, Frank Wallace, a vaudeville dancer she had married in April 1911 (but never lived with) was out of work and tried to claim this was a valid marriage, that they had never been divorced, and he was thereby entitled to half of her six-figure income and her assets. At the time, Mr. Wallace was unemployed and Mae was earning over $300,000.  This lawsuit ran for two years but, ultimately, his claims on her income were denied. The judge saw through these arguments and realized he was merely a fortune hunter. After he separated from Mae in 1911, Mr. Wallace had married someone else, so the judge said he came to petition the court “with unclean hands.”

Cliff T.: She also seemed to keep the Hollywood censors busy, too. Was this a deliberate thing, was she trying to push the limits or widen them?

LindaAnn L.:  Mae West was the only Hollywood actress who wrote her own material. Additionally, she was from a broad-minded New York City culture where liberties were taken for granted on the live stage. But when she tried to put those jokes or all that playful innuendo into her screenplays, the censors were afraid of what the general public might think. Also, the male dominated film industry perhaps resented dealing with a strong woman. (In contrast, all other actresses were given a script written by someone else.)

Cliff T.: It is obvious that there were many dimensions to Mae West, but getting to what I wanted to know about is the event you are having on August 17, “Onstage Outlaws,” an interesting title.  Can you describe the event and what a person will see when they enter the venue? 

LindaAnn L:  As the Mae West Blog documents in several posts and pictures, in 2008, I held an exhibition in the same restaurant where Mae West had auditioned the gay waiters in 1926. The New York Sun wrote this: And that's the idea behind an exhibition at Village Restaurant [62 West Ninth Street] called "Onstage Outlaws: Mae West and Texas Guinan in a Lawless Era," which runs through mid-September.  See:  http://maewest.blogspot.com/2006/09/subversive-influences-on-mae.html .  In 2008, the free exhibition "Onstage Outlaws: Mae West and Texas Guinan in a Lawless Era" was popular. The restaurant was open late and there was a lot of foot traffic. On the walls were numerous enlarged vintage photos with captions.  There was several private press parties connected with my exhibit but no talks or lectures since it was a public eatery where paying customers were dining. In 2015, seven years later, I decided to revisit the topic with a multi-media event with vintage photos and rare film footage. On Monday, August 17, 2015, it will be held in Mae’s former court room; the building is now a public library. So both Onstage Outlaws” sites were buildings Mae West had actually been inside --- as well as Texas Guinan.

Cliff T.: Will there be any screenings of Mae West’s films or workshops of any kind during the event? 

LindaAnn L: Though I have done numerous Mae West events for eleven years, I never show her films. These events have to do with Mae West, the New Yorker the human being.  Since anyone can see her films on YouTube or rent them, I want my events to relate more meaningfully to her personal history.  On August 17, 2015, I’ll show rare clips from Texas Guinan’s silent films. One lucky person will win a set.

Cliff T.: The event celebrates the birthday of Mae West. But, I sense it is more than just a party to remember Mae West. What would you like to get across to an audience about Mae West?

LindaAnn L.: All the events feature rare vintage photos that introduce people to the pre-Hollywood film star called Mae West.  She wrote a lot of material that was made for gay men and black people, attempting to give marginalized people visibility onstage.  She was very brave, risking everything to champion these groups at a time when blacks and whites did not share the same stage and when you could not join a union if you identified as gay.  She was a heterosexual woman who strongly believed in equal rights and was willing to go to jail for her beliefs.  Many of her colleagues avoided doing things like this.  I don’t think people realize how courageous and talented she was.

 Cliff T.: I see that you are also featuring another performer Texas Guinan. I never heard of her, but she was also from what I see quite a character, did she and Mae work together?

LindaAnn L.:  Yes, when the women met during the 1920s, Mae was a struggling actress who had just begun to write her own plays.  Texas Guinan was a speakeasy hostess earning more than $700,000 (for 10 months of work). Previously, Texas had starred in five dozen silent films (1917-1922), so she was quite well-off.  Texas Guinan was one of the backers --- people who invested $$ in Broadway plays --- that Mae turned to when she needed financing to put on a show.  They became friends.  Texas was often arrested when her night clubs were padlocked by federal agents, so she sympathized with Mae’s legal troubles.  To learn more about her, see my Texas Guinan Blog: http://TexasGuinan.blogspot.com

Cliff T.: I noted on the blog that you have that you are a playwright. When did you get interested in Mae West?  

LindaAnn L.: Jefferson Market Court (now a library) is near my house. Though the Sixth Avenue building has so much women’s history attached to it, the plaque outside only names the two male architects. Every time I passed the building, I wanted to find a way to let people know how much had transpired inside in those court rooms. I began writing newspaper articles about these women.  Here is one piece I wrote: http://thevillager.com/villager_129/fromactivistandauthors.html.  Then I thought of writing a play that would be three acts, each act devoted to a different female who had been arrested and jailed there --- such as Catholic worker Dorothy Day, Margaret Sanger, birth control pioneer, etc.  But there was too much information of these women to cram into one play so, instead, I decided to focus on Mae West.
 
Mae’s life had so many ups and downs. Unlike Texas Guinan, who became wealthy making silent films and then got wealthier in night clubs, Mae West struggled in obscurity for decades.  Each time Mae made progress, there would be a serious setback.  But no one had told this story before, set during the Prohibition Era, when she was struggling.  It was her court trials that made worldwide headlines, giving her the attention she desired but also the infamy that can be humiliating.

Cliff T.: LindaAnn, I have to ask, what does it feel like to slip into the persona of Mae West? What do you think of her legacy overall? 

LindaAnn L.: Her legacy is why I started my blogs on Jefferson Market Court, Mae West, Texas Guinan, etc.  When we held the first auditions for my play “Courting Mae West” back in 2004, the actresses who came to audition had no idea that Mae West, Texas Guinan, Starr Faithfull, and some others in the play were real people who walked the earth.  This may sound shocking but it’s true.  Actresses hoping to be cast in “Courting Mae West” were completely unaware that Mae West had been a major movie star and a Broadway sensation.

At the time (2004), there were only a few “ancient” Mae West fan sites, archival sites no longer being updated.  I wanted to send my actresses to one place where they could find out about these human beings, so I began my blogs.  Now that I have blogged about Mae West for 11 years, many more people come to my blog and, let’s say they “borrow” from it.  I’ve made it easy for others to write about her.  As to her legacy, while Marilyn Monroe has many lively fan clubs, Mae West has none.  Mae has never been on a USA postage stamp either.

There used to be an annual birthday party for her birthday in Los Angeles, California hosted by Ramfis Diaz in his apartment, a private event strictly by invitation (not public).  When Mr. Diaz died, other fans were either too lazy or too disinterested to carry on the tradition on the West Coast, sad to say.

Cliff T.: Did you ever think that the attraction to Mae West would get as big as it has gotten in this day and age? 

LindaAnn L.: For the past eleven years, I have held numerous types of Mae West events in New York City, where she was born in 1893, and it’s often a struggle to get the local newspapers and magazines (such as The Village Voice, New York Magazine, Time Out New York, or Brooklyn publications) to print these calendar items --- despite the fact that my events are usually free (or under $10). Therefore, I tend to think that either the editors don’t know who Mae West is or they may feel their readers don’t know or won’t care. I’ll bet if I hosted a Marilyn Monroe or Elvis event, my phone would ring off the hook. Those people still have fan clubs who would help spread the word, you see. Over the years, I’ve seen that the attendance at my Mae West events is usually “a mature audience.” I’d love to be able to attract a younger crowd. The “Mae West fans” are an endangered species, I fear, Cliff. That said, I am very happy to share these thoughts with you and your followers.

Cliff T.: Like I said earlier this is one conversation that has so many dimensions to it. That said I really want to thank you for letting me and the readers of Candid Conversations peek into the fascinating world that Mae West lived in.  

LindaAnn L.:  It was a great privilege to do so.

Come up sometime – http://MaeWest.blogspot.com is authored by native New Yorker LindaAnn Loschiavo, playwright and Mae West blogger, she is hosting a birthday celebration featuring the star and another gal Texas Guinan. 

The event takes place Monday. August 17, 2015 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.  Location: Jefferson Market Library, 425 Sixth Avenue in New York, NY.  The best part: it’s free for the public to attend and there will be food and a raffle, too.  

More info on the event can be obtained at 212 243 4334.

The website for all things Mae West: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com 
 

LindaAnn Loschiavo wrote to us from New York, NY.  

The F Files aka Paranormal Activity In Florida & The Society That Has Begun To Investigate

Florida is known for many things among them sun and surf as well as a club scene that is pretty vibrant. It's also a place where many seniors stay in the winter, among them lots of Canadians.

However I did not know that Florida was considered to be among one of the hotter spots for paranormal activity, that is until I read a press release asking for people to come forward if they have been the victim of an alien abduction or an encounter with said aliens.

The release from the Florida Paranormal Society got my attention and I contacted Evan Pedone, the founder of the organization to find out more.

Evan thanks for doing a Candid Conversation today.

Evan P.: Hi Cliff: I would like to say thank you for doing a story on our society. It is a privilege to be here with you today.

Cliff T.: The Florida Paranormal Society, interesting what do you do?

Evan P.: Hi Cliff: The Florida Paranormal Society is a research and exploration organization that focuses on the Paranormal. We consider our members modern day explorers. When we perform an investigation, we refer to them as expeditions. Our mission is to uncover the truth in the mysteries of the world. The name Paranormal means outside the range of normal experience…or scientific explanation. Where science ends…we begin. Science and the Paranormal can be friends, however we can’t limit ourselves based on the shortcomings of science or what we believe to be fact at this given time. If humanity did that, we might still think the earth is flat.

Cliff T.: How long has the FPS been around for?

Evan P.: FPS has been a dream of mine for quite a long time. However, it did not come into fruition until last year. In 2013, I decided…it is time to live the adventure.

Cliff T.: I often ask this question, what led to the creation of the organization? The reason I ask is that it is not only interesting to find out the origins of an entity like yours, but the personal background. Was there an event in your life that sparked the decision to create the FPS?

Evan P.: What led to the creation of the society was a culmination of passion, curiosity and a desire to explore. I decided that it was time. I grew up dreaming of traversing this world, searching for lost cities, cryptids and myths and legends. I studied UFOs as a kid, and into my adult life and believed that there had to be something more. I began to expand my horizons and delve into the history of past explorers such as Percy Fawcett. I became a Cryptozoologist and released my theories on the Yeti in my fictitious novel "Expedition Everest". My aim is to take the Florida Paranormal Society beyond what other research organizations will do to uncover the truth. As for life events that would steer me in this direction, I would just say that I was made this way. My wife Ashley and myself are really a lot like Scully and Mulder from the X Files. It is quite funny actually. We are creative thinkers.

Cliff T.: Does the society work in a particular part of Florida or do you go state wide?

Evan P.: Our society will go statewide, and actually we are looking to go international. Our focus is to travel any location, no matter how remote, and bring our expertise and passion for exploration. One of my planned expeditions is the Lost City of El Dorado. It is something we are in development with, and is my dream.

Cliff T.: Evan I am curious about the members or the society, are they from all walks of life? And, how do you deal with children who encounter the paranormal.

Evan P.: In our society, individuals come from all different walks of life. You can be an ardent skeptic, or a devout believer. You can be a scientist, you can work at McDonalds. All are welcome to join. As for dealing with Children and the Paranormal, depending on the age, will greatly determine our approach. Moreover, I think you have to use good judgement on the information you provide. Our main focus of the organization is uncovering the truth, at the same time, we have to be responsible on how we present that information, especially to kids.

Cliff T.: Is there a membership requirement for those wanting to join the society?

Evan P.: To join our society we require a $29.99 annual membership fee. This entitles them to a membership card that we will send them in the mail, and will allow them to join us on our expeditions. We do an interview with the individual to get a better feel of qualifications to make sure they are a good fit for our society. This is actually done by our senior members. Anyone is welcome to join, however we also want to protect the integrity of the society. Both skeptics and believers are welcome.

Cliff T.: in your press release you mentioned that there has been an increase in UFO sightings and alien encounters, your asking people to contact you via the society's web page. What exactly has happened for you to reach out to the public?

Evan P.: We are reaching out to the public because there have been a lot of documented sightings in the Coral Springs area this year.

Cliff T.: I am going to assume that the activity is state wide, is that correct?

Evan P.: There has been activity state wide, in fact as you may be aware the Gulf Breeze sightings of years ago are some of the most well documented, and controversial UFO sightings of the modern era. However, right now we are focusing our energies on the Gulf Coast, and the recent sightings in Coral Springs.

Cliff T.: What kind of detail do you need to know regarding a sighting or an abduction?

Evan P.: When we perform an expedition, and there are witnesses to an event, we perform the expedition in a manner that would be able to withstand scientific scrutiny. It is important that we get as much information about the individual as possible, ranging from basic information such as name (can be kept confidential) and age to the events that unfolded. Moreover, we attempt to collaborate this with other witnesses that might have not come forward, and preferably would not know the initial witness. Furthermore, we attempt to gather any type of physical evidence such as video footage, recordings, to weather that day, and were there any type of weather phenomena. It is imperative that we get as detailed information as possible, and sometimes these can be very personal questions. This is not meant to discredit the individual, but quite the contrary...it is meant to corroborate it.

When FPS gives credence to a story, the world can know that the event is real, has been verified, and that it is the truth. We cannot risk the integrity of our society at any point. If a story cannot be verified we label it inconclusive, however that doesn't mean we don't continue the search, and that the case is closed. It just means we haven't verified it...yet.

Cliff T.: Evan are you looking to speak with people from a particular age range or anyone who feels they have had these experiences?

Evan P.: Anyone who has had these experiences.

Cliff T.: And, you are asking that they contact you via your website?

Evan P.: Absolutely. The best way to reach us at the society is through www.floridaparanormalsociety.com

Cliff T.: Since the press release has gone live have you gotten any responses?

Evan P.: Surprisingly...no. This is really odd. We expected to get some responses. However, it is not uncommon. Individuals often don't want to come forward because they are afraid of what others will think if the story got out. Moreover, we have to document the event. It is what our society does. Now we are willing to keep the individuals identities confidential, but we still have to document the event to make it scientifically sound. Most cases of the paranormal, we believe, go unreported because of fear.

Cliff T.: Once you have collected enough interviews with people what will you do with the information, are you planning to shed the insights you gain with the public?

Evan P.: Absolutely. As you can see on our website. All future expeditions are now being documented via video and are released in a documentary format free for public viewing on our website. In fact, we are getting ready to host a weekly radio show. Therefore, anyone interested in the Paranormal can follow us and see regular updates via our Blog which is at our website.

Cliff T.: Evan it's been interesting to learn more about what you do and I appreciate your taking time to do a Candid Conversation with me.

Evan P.: Thank you. It is my pleasure.

Evan Pedone, founder of the Florida Paranormal Society joined in a Candid Conversation from his office in Florida.

The website http://www.floridaparanormalsociety.com/home.html if you are in Florida and want to contact them about any paranormal activity, or if you want to respond to the request about an abduction by aliens or UFO sightings.

My Single Peeps, The New Way to Match Make Online

Have you ever been on the receiving end of this question. Hey can you get me a date? Seth Menachem has. He decided to “Fix” the problem by creating a rather unique site. Www.mysinglepeeps.com. The idea is simple tell people about your single peeps and hopefully they will get a hook up. Seth joins me in this Candid Convention to talk about the new way to match make.

Cliff T. Seth thanks for jumping in on this topic. I never would have thought someone would put such a site up on the net.

Seth M: I’m glad you like it. Wait, you’re saying you like it, right?

Cliff T.: I love the concept, obviously having so many peeps, as you call them, asking for a date drove you to set up the site. What was the tipping point or was there a particular peep that finally drove you to go online with this idea?

Seth M: I have a lot of single friends—and they all ask me for advice. I write some of their dating profiles and help them respond to emails. But that’s when they’re being proactive. Often, they’re frustrated by the difficulty in meeting a great person to date. So one night, while deciding what to write about next, I got a text from a friend lamenting his single status. I decided then and there if they’re not going to do something about, I would. So I started writing bios of my friends—I wanted them to be real—the kind of stuff they wouldn’t say about themselves, while also reading funny, and charming. I thought of a name for the site, put the first one on a blog, and posted a link to it on Facebook at around midnight. By early the next morning I was flooded with comments and emails.

Cliff T.: How did your single friends react when they found out you were posting about them?

Seth M: I started with Yitzy. He’s my best friend, and I knew he would go along for the ride when he saw what I did. He loved it. So did the girls who wrote to him. Soon I was getting requests from people to write about them.

Cliff T.: From what I read the idea is simple. A post is put up about a peep on the mysinglepeeps.com site not by the peep but, by the person who is a friend of the peep. Then any responses are forwarded by you to the person who the post is about. I would assume some like the idea, others do not. How do you deal with the ones who say uh this is not what I need from my friends?

Seth M: Well, that’s a newer idea. Initially I would write about everyone. A couple of local papers hired me to write about strangers for them so I started building the site that way. But I knew it was limited. So I created a way for people to write about their friends and add them to the site. I’m not a techy so it’s a bit glitchy right now. Hopefully I can find someone to volunteer to help me with the tech part of the site as it needs it.

Cliff T.: I am assuming that the majority do not mind the posting how often do you get asked to remove a person?

Seth M: It’s happened a couple of times. One friend got engaged and said it was time to come off of the site, rather than simply writing TAKEN across his picture. The other was someone who was very happy with her profile—she took the jokes in stride, and thought she looked good—but she is from a conservative Persian community and she got a lot of flack from them to take it down. I felt badly for her that the pressure from her community was so strong, but she didn’t feel it was worth the problems it caused, so I removed her from the site.

Cliff T.: Is the gender ratio the same or are they're more of one sex than the other who get on the site?

Seth M: I’m guessing it skews more female heavy, as they seem to be more open to the experience.

Cliff T.: It's a question begging to be answered, have you ever found out that a peep is still married?

Seth M: There are a few who are married—and if I wasn’t directly involved, I was tangentially involved. For example, one friend dated a girl, and when they saw they weren’t a match, she began dating his friend. They’re now happily married. Or at least married. How do I know how happy they are?

Cliff T.: For the most part I am assuming here that the site is for men and women seeking each other out. But, do people of other sexual orientations get posted on mysinglepeeps.com?

Seth M: I have gay peeps, as well. Take a look. One of my first gay peeps was Rex Lee, a great guy, and a talented actor, who was extremely revealing to me in his profile.

Cliff T.: Seth it sounds like you have a lot of fun with mysinglepeeps.com I bet maintaining the site keeps you pretty busy?

Seth M: It does. Too busy, to be honest. I just took a break from writing for the papers as the weekly columns were getting to be too much, while still balancing my acting and writing career, and my family. I have two kids—one and three—and that alone will tire someone out. So I’ll keep posting peeps when I have time, and the site is still open to other people who want to put up profiles on their single friends.

Cliff T.: Well I want to thank you for sharing the story behind mysinglepeeps.com.

Seth M: You’re welcome. Thanks for reaching out!

Seth Menachem is the man behind www.mysinglepeeps.com you can visit the site and check out the peeps that are on it out for yourself or post a peep and of course find a peep yourself.

For more information about Seth Menachem himself visit his page at http://www.sethmenachem.com.

Seth Menachem wrote us from Los Angeles California.

Zuuzs? Huh? What is that? Patricia Blair Explains In This Edition Of Candid Conversations

Have you heard the expression what do you get for the person who has everything? Or, how about he/she is so difficult to buy for.  Sometimes it is just not easy to find a gift for a person on a good day much less at Christmas.  One of the famous lines people will give when asked about what they want for Christmas is “I don't know.” The flip side is having to deal with a list that is long and or filled with some pretty pricey stuff.

zuuzs.com staff decided to do a survey via its Facebook page, asking friends who they think is the hardest person to buy for.  Though not scientific people responding to the survey picked husbands as the most difficult to buy for.  My reaction to that was, really?  So I contacted Patricia Blair, zuuz's VP of marketing to explain the survey and the concept of zuuzs.  Patricia, great to meet you here on Candid Conversations.

Patricia B: Thank you so much for the opportunity!  It’s a great time of year for zuuzs!

Cliff T: A survey, that is a neat idea.

Patricia B: Well, social media is meant to be an engaging platform, right?  And so we thought, why not ask our friends what they were up to this gift-giving season.

Cliff T: Was this a planned idea or did it just pop up in a meeting?

Patricia B: It just popped up.  Zuuzs was designed to be a socially interactive online shopping site—where shoppers can share they're deals and receive cash back.  So it’s important to us that we also interact with our customers to get their thoughts and ideas.

Cliff T: How many people responded to the post on Facebook?

Patricia B: Almost 1,000 responded to the “Most difficult to buy for?” question. Over 2,000 responded to the open-ended “What do you want most for yourself for Christmas?”  And over 1,000 responded to the specific list of “What was at the top of they're wish lists"? 

 Cliff T: Patricia, I have to admit reading that husbands are harder to buy for than any other group is a surprise, was that your reaction as well?

Patricia B: No, not at all.  I wasn’t surprised because at my house, my spouse is impossible.  First of all, he’d much rather give than get—which works out nicely for the family, but just one Christmas I’d like to WOW him with a gift.  Also, electronics are high on his list, and he’d much rather pick those out himself so he makes sure he gets exactly what he wants.

Cliff T: How are you connecting the results to using the zuuzs site?

Patricia Blair: Zuuzs tries to make our online shopping experience as easy and fun as possible.  The survey helped inform two ways to shop: We designed a holiday shopping page [www.zuuzs.com/shopping/] that arranges gifts by price point and by who you’re shopping for—kids, men, ladies, etc.  So browsing is easy!  Zuuzs also takes our shopper's preferences (for retailers, products and so on), and when someone signs into their zuuzs account, they get an automatic selection of great deals that are most relevant for them specifically.

The holiday shopping page is working so well, we are currently designing a New Year’s Resolutions page for January, coming out next week and a “Love is in the Air” shopping page that will come out in mid- to late-January.

Cliff T: Speaking of zuuzs, what is it and how does it work?

Patricia B: In short, zuuzs shoppers get cash back for shopping with our more than 800 major retailers including Wal-Mart, Nordstrom, Target, Ulta, Macy’s, etc.  Specifically, customers go to zuuzs.com and create a short profile that identifies their favorite stores and products.  Zuuzs customizes they're shopping experiences, pulling the best and most relevant offers from over 800 retailers.  When customers are ready to shop, they click on the deals or the retailers they are interested in, and zuuzs transfers them to the retailers.  Once there, customers make their purchases, and zuuzs sends them they're cash-back reward. Amounts vary, depending on the purchases and retail partner.

Cliff T: How long has zuuzs been around for and does the name zuuzs mean anything in particular?

Patricia B: Zuuzs has been around for just over a year, though we really started promoting it during the first half of 2012.  The zuuzs name came from our founder, tied to a nickname his wife had as a child. Very sweet story.

Cliff T: So wives or anyone else can use the site to shop find what they want and get cash back on purchases, interesting.  What is the typical amount that a person can get from a transaction on zuuzs?

Patricia B: It really depends—on the customer, on the retailer and on the items purchased.  Some of our partners offer up to 10 percent!  But 2-5 percent is the average.

Cliff T: From what I see you have to be a member to get the cash back, that said do you offer special incentives for members and for those who become a member of the zuuzs community?

Patricia B: Basically, it’s really easy to join, and it’s easy to invite your friends into your zuuzs circle. From there, members have access to the good deals and the cash back. 

Cliff T: What are some of the other things members can do, i.e. can they make up wish lists or customize the account to look for special items etc?

Patricia B: One of the things we hear great feedback on from our members is the customized deals that we offer them when they first log on.  Based on each member’s purchases, we scour our retailers for bargains, and offer those up whenever someone first jumps on our site. 

Cliff T: Of course one of the big questions at this time of the year is with respect to shipping.  Patricia, I am assuming that that is dealt with via the merchants on the site?  I am also assuming that clients need to deal with things like returns via the merchant as well.

Patricia B: Yes, once the purchase is made, shipping and returns are between the merchant and the buyer.

Cliff T: Getting back to the survey what were you aiming to do, by that I mean were you looking to get people to think about what they are buying or was this just a fun thing to do?

Patricia B: zuuzs is all about engaging our members—and the survey seemed like a great way to encourage conversation over Facebook!

Cliff T: Besides thinking about what to get what are the other things shoppers should be doing to make it easier to shop online?
Patricia B: Here are some tips for savvy, safe online shopping:

• Order online and pick up at the store.  Get the browsing benefits of online shopping while still getting near-instant gratification by ordering online and picking up at the store.  And you can save lots of money! 
• What’s the shopping trifecta?  Retailer rewards + credit card cash (or points) rewards + zuuzs cash back equals maximum rewards for your gift-giving. 
• Look for free shipping.  Shop online stores that offer free shipping either across the board or when you spend a certain amount in one order.  Many retailers also ship to store for free. 
• Don’t store credit card information.  Unless you shop an online store frequently, don't allow them to store your credit card information. Many online stores keep your credit card information as the default, so make sure you check this before logging off. 
• Keep your passwords sacred.  Never save your user names or passwords on computers you share with others. 
• Shop the “buy x, get y” deals.  You could potentially get enough gifts for all your friends in one fell swoop. And capture the savings. 
• Skip the gift wrapping upcharge.  It can add $5 or more to your cost. 
• Read the fine print.  Some retailers don't allow you to use coupons on sale or clearance items. 
• Save by ordering from out-of-state retailers.  If there are no retailer facilities in your state you save on sales taxes.  For instance, in DFW this translates into about 8 percent; in Chicago about 10 percent savings.  This benefit will likely be legislated out of existence soon, so this may be the last holiday to take advantage of it. 

Cliff T: Well with a name like Zuuzs and concepts like doing surveys to engage members it sounds like you think outside the box and have fun doing it? Is that a fair statement?

Patricia B: Absolutely! That’s the whole point of zuuzs.  We’re serious about saving, but we want to have fun at the same time!

Cliff T: Patricia, I want to thank you for sharing the story about the survey and Zuuzs, it has been fun.

Patricia B: I am always happy to share. And I invite your readers to visit zuuzs and tell us what they think at contact@zuuzs.com.

Patricia Blair is the VP of marketing at zuuzs.com.  Recently zuuzs did a survey on they're Facebook page and found that the majority of people cited husbands as the most difficult people to shop for.

Zuuzs is a site featuring over 800 merchants, members can get cash back by clicking through zuuzs to they're favorite retailer.

Patricia spoke with us via email from her office in Dallas, Texas. 

Candid Conersation #35 Peter Grabosky On Running For Municipal Council In Halifax Nova Scotia

Way back when I had more hair, meaning when I was younger, I met a gentleman by the name of Peter Grabosky. Pete was involved with a youth group in Greenfield Park Quebec. I decided to become a part of that group. Peter and I became good friends and have been for many years now.

Peter has been in the military for years starting out as a sailor, working in signals and then moving into logistics as a cook. Now in his current incarnation he is a buyer for DND. But, that is going to change if Pete has his way. You see Peter Grabosky has decided to jump into the fray that is politics and he is doing so at the civic level running for council in Halifax.

Pete welcome to Candid Conversations.

Peter G: Thank you Cliff for inviting me I appreciate the opportunity to chat with you. It’s been a while.

Cliff T.: Some would ask are you nuts, do really want to enter politics given the attitudes people have towards political figures. My question is based on the fact that I know you are interested in politics, you always were even at a young age. So why now, what prompted a run for HRM council?

Peter G: As you are well aware, I have been interested in the affairs of the community and I guess when I was younger I used to enjoy watching question period on T.V. and listening to the CBC current affairs shows. In high school I ran for student council for five years representing my class or grade. And, then in grade 11 I ran for School President. I did not win, I came in second but, I surely fell in love with the debate and interaction with other students working to find out the needs of the students.

I have been serving in the Canadian Forces for over 20 yrs and as a serving member I had to remain neutral. I am retiring soon I felt that this is a great opportunity to give to my community & stop debating with the television when watching Tuesday night council meetings. We often hear we need a change but, this time in HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality) there has to be a whole new vision & direction. HRM has been managed and mismanaged for 19 years. And, I believe that I can provide sound, experience and leadership to work with a new group of councilors to improve transit, provide homes for the homeless & establish a equitable fair tax system.

Cliff T.: What district are you running in and why did you choose it?

Peter G: I am running in District 11 Spryfield, Sambro, Prospect Rd. It is on the Western shore of HRM and it is the 4th largest district with 30 distinct communities. I live in the district and will represent both the district and HRM. 

Cliff T.: What would you say are the key issues that you are getting feedback on in the run up to election day in HRM?

Peter G: I am hearing about the need for road repairs, transit issues, Access-A-Bus service, speeding vehicles, fair taxation and the feeling of not being heard. Our district is suburban/rural and residents feel that their concerns have not been held to high standard vs the concerns on the Peninsula.

Cliff T.: Are there any red hot button issues that seem to be popping up as you go around speaking with voters? And, if so what do you think or more accurately speaking what would you like to see done about that red hot button issue?

Peter G: Within Dist. 11 Metro Transit is a red hot button. The Sambro Loop communities have fought a battle for public transit for many years almost losing their bus. The Prospect Communities, are not served at all by Metro Transit & we are only 20 minutes from downtown.

Cliff T.: If you could pinpoint what is missing in the political discourse in HRM, what would that be. What issue do you think needs attention that is not getting any at all and why is it important?

Peter G: Since Halifax won the Shipbuilding contract prices of housing, rents & condo prices are rising exponentially due to speculation. Low cost housing practically does not exist. I believe rent control has to be be studied and I am a proponent of mixed housing developments and as a councilor I would work with developers and other councilors to create communities that are environmentally sustainable. I would convince developers that it would be in their interest to build new developments with ample green spaces to play as in parks and introduce small variety stores, bakeries, shops in the local neighborhood so families are self sustaining without having to use their vehicles to purchase a litre of milk. Presently, cookie cutter housing developments without any amenities within 5 km are being built and this must end in my opinion. We must rely less on vehicles and more on public transit.

Cliff T.: A real big problem is low voter turnout. Many see political figures as less than honest people, some would go as far as to say many are more like mobsters. Knowing that you can not change everyone's mind how are you combating this thinking?

Peter G: In the last election in HRM slightly over 36% of the population voted in 2008. Yet, if one follows HRM politics for the past number of years I believe the voter in HRM will respond positively in this election because there is an air for a cleaning of house! Citizens have become more engaged this time around and I personally began visiting homes in mid-June knocking on doors and visiting business’s from West Dover thru Brookside, Spryfield, over to Sambro Communities.

I will say that I have heard from at least 2/3’s of the people and they tell me that this has been the first time anyone has visited their door and shared personally election literature and bothered to visit and listen. Therefore, I believe we have developed a relationship and I hope an open-ended dialogue that will continue. As it is both the responsibility of the candidate and the voter to remain in touch and engaged to seek solutions to issues and creating a trusting relationship.

Cliff T.: Having come from a big city, Montreal, do you think Halifax and the region can and will one day be a rival to cities like Montreal and Toronto and if so how?

Peter G: No. Halifax Regional Municipality is an entrance to Canada and an East Coast playground but, it will not rival the major cities like Montreal or Vancouver. There are many factors that Halifax would have to create and because of its geography major businesses would not locate to HRM. I believe there is no need to compete HRM is complimentary to the larger cities and it is O.K. to be number two as we are distinct, proud and very welcoming here on the East coast.

Cliff T.: It is tough going out and working a campaign. What or who inspires you to go on especially when you are feeling tired or have heard and said the same things over and over?

Peter G: It is the voter, the resident when I knock on the door who has questions and really is engaged with his/her community who provides me with energy and they offer vision and hope to me. I began thinking that people don’t care about their municipality or municipal politics but, I have been proven wrong. There are some that are disgruntled, or indifferent but, usually after some discussion we come to agree that municipal affairs is vital to our very existence. My wife, Anne is an inspiration and my backbone. She is my strength. Finally, the late Jack Layton is my light that drives me to pursue a positive outlook seeking compassionate, hopeful solutions to challenges, keeping a vital, open mind to all suggestions and not work against the residents but, for them in a creative, ethical and morally accountable direction.

Cliff T.: Have you been surprised by anything or anyone yet as you campaign?

Peter G: I have been pleased and humbled people I have just met or made friends with that wish to volunteer their time, experience and some financial donations. There is a misconception that people are tired of politics and politicians. That is a false assumption because people really care and want to be productive, participants in their grass-roots decision making. I am so proud to have met so many good, fully engaged artists, members of various cultural groups, business leaders, government employees, moms & dads with families full of hope who are determined to contribute and be included in this democratic process.

Cliff T.: Pete it has been interesting to hear or, shall I say read your thoughts. Thank you for taking time to do a Candid Conversation. 

Peter G:Thank you Cliff, your wisdom and experience as a journalist is evident by the questions you have presented I was honoured to have the opportunity to discuss the HRM Election and respond to some of your queries. It is only days away and we will soon see a new Mayor & Council get elected in Halifax Regional Municipality and I have been honoured to be part of creating a new vision for tomorrow.

To follow Peter Grabosky and his campaign you can visit him on Facebook at his page Peter P. Grabosky or, his main page at http://www.facebook.com/peter.grabosky and http://www.hrmpetergrabosky.ca/. Peter is running for a council seat on the HRM council in Halifax NS. He wrote to us from Halifax. The election for mayor and councilors plus the school board trustees takes place October 20th 2012. For more on the election visit, http://www.halifax.ca/election/index.html.

Get Cracking & Get Walking For Calgary's Seniors & The Golden Age Cub Of Calgary A Candid Conversation With David Howard From The Canadian Legacy Project

There are a number of walks for different causes that take place in Canada each year. A new one has been launched in Calgary. It's the Calgary Seniors Walk in support of the Golden Age club of Calgary. The organization provides a variety of services to persons who are pre-seniors as well as those who are seniors.

The club itself has been around since 1951, the walk to raise funds for the club is a new concept. To talk more about the event and what it means for the club I have reached David Howard from The Canadian Legacy Project. Mr. Howard thanks for walking over to your desk to write back to me and the readers of Candid Conversations

D. Howard: I am thrilled you have taken an interest in this important fundraising event.

Cliff T.: First off congratulations on the launch of the seniors walk in Calgary. This must be very new territory for the club and the Canadian Legacy Project.

D. Howard: This is very exciting event and we are thrilled to be presenting it and working with the Golden Age Club to help them raise their profile in the community and raise much need funds for their organization and the tremendous work they do in the community.

Cliff T.: It seems like doing walks for charities and organizations has become quite the norm these days What prompted the decision to jump into this form of fundraising?

D. Howard: Our walk is very different than any other out there, as walkers under the age of sixty five have to walk the four block route balancing an egg on a spoon, signifying the difficulties seniors have getting around day to day. The event is during lunch hour in downtown Calgary and all walkers will be wearing their yellow event t-shirt, so it is bound to make an impression with corporate Calgary and raise the awareness we need to support our seniors.

Cliff T.: What role does the Canadian Legacy Project have or was this just something you are doing to get the ball rolling for the Golden Age Club?

D. Howard: The Canadian Legacy Project created the event and we are funding and managing the event to support the Golden Age Club. The Canadian Legacy Project is a non-profit with the mission to improve the lives of our disadvantaged youth, seniors and veterans and mobilize collective action in celebrating our legacy.

Cliff T.: Mr. Howard, how did this start, I mean was this your organization's idea or was the first steps made by the Golden Age Club?

D. Howard: I met with the Golden Age Club roughly a year ago and was overwhelmed by the great work they do in the community and saddened that they could do so much more and support so many more seniors if they had the finical resources to do so. With that idea in mind we set out to create an event that would help them raise funds and awareness, not only for their membership but, all seniors. Too many of our seniors are living in poverty and/or are becoming shut ins and, this is something we need to change. They are the builders of this country and we need to support them in their time of need.

Cliff T.: From what I see your plan to have those under the age of 65 walk with eggs on spoons to signify the day to day difficulties that seniors face getting around? Mr Howard I have a sneaking suspicion there is going to be a lot of cracked eggs by the time the walk is done!

D. Howard: I hope so, the more broken eggs the better, because that means we have had good support by the Calgary community. But not to worry, we do have a street cleaner taking care of the mess immediately after the walkers finish.

Cliff T.: What kinds of challenges do seniors face that you want to highlight in this event and what kinds of programs will the money be used for?

D. Howard: There are thousands of seniors living in Calgary's East Village and the majority of these seniors are living in poverty, they do not have the means to get out in the community and socialize and they become shut ins. There are also a large percentage of these seniors that can not afford a proper meal. So the event will raise funds for the Golden Age club so they can help these seniors. The Golden Age Club has an amazing facility but, they lack the funds needed to effectively run the programs our poverty stricken seniors need.

Cliff T.: I am assuming that the way for people to get involved if they want to raise funds during this walk is to sponsor a walker or to become a participant, are there other ways that people can get involved?

D. Howard: We are encouraging people to walk or sponsor a walker, or better yet get a team together sand raise pledges and come out for a fun and unique event.

Cliff T.: These kinds of events can be complex in nature. Were there challenges? And, if so what kinds of challenges did you face when you started to put the event together.

D. Howard: The main challenge is getting people to understand that we have so many seniors that need our support and they are too proud to come out directly and ask for it. As a community we are failing in giving back to those who built this great country and paved the way for so many to have such great success.

Cliff T.: I have to ask are you going to be one of those egg carrying walkers?

D. Howard: You bet, I am raising pledges and will be there on August 30th with egg on spoon and ready to walk

Cliff T.: I am sure that you will be thinking about seniors you know during this event, is there anyone special that helped you keep going during the preparation of the event?

D. Howard: My grandparents showed me the importance of giving back to the community you do business in and I owe them allot for showing me how important it is to do just that.

Cliff T.: Will the legacy Project also be looking at doing this kind of walk for seniors in other cities?

D. Howard: We have had those discussions with other group’s across Canada and are doing some research but, for now, we need to build the best event we can here in Calgary. 

Cliff T.: Well I do think you are well on the way. My best to you the volunteers and the walkers. 

D. Howard: I appreciate you taking an interest in the vent and hope all your followers will come out and support us on August 30th. 

David Howard is with the Canadian Legacy Project. The organization helps youth seniors and veterans who are disadvantaged through various events and donations. 

They recently signed on to help the Golden Age Club of Calgary with they're project, a walk in support of the club. The event itself takes place on August 30th at 12 PM MT in Calgary. For more info on the event you can visit the page at  http://www.calgaryseniorswalk.com

Dave Howard wrote to us from his location in Calgary AB.

Sal Dickinson Explains How You Can Get A Real Deal On Vacations In Florida

I have had the pleasure of visiting Florida, I went to Miami for a week and it was toasty warm and cool at night. The hotel I stayed at was nice and my room had a great view of the Atlantic. I went as part of a team to do a trade show so I in effect got a free vacation, with a little work tossed in for good measure

I'd go back in a minute but, trips like that one don't come about to often and vacations can be expensive. One company offers a unique opportunity for travel minded individuals who want to visit Florida without having to smash a lot of piggy banks to do it.

Who and are they and how do they do it? Ah, glad you asked. The company is Vacations Auctions Inc. and the how is via www.floridavacationauction.com. I am happy to say I reached the founder and CEO Sal Dickinson. I am sure a lot of vacationers are looking forward to finding out more about how they can visit Florida for fraction of the cost. Welcome to Candid Conversations.

Sal Dickinson: Thank you Cliff. It’s a pleasure to be part of Candid Conversations. Thanks for having me.

Cliff T.: Off the bat I have to say this is one of the more unique ideas I have come across online. An auction for trips to a particular place in this case Florida. How did you come up with this concept?

Sal Dickinson: Back in the mid 1990s I was the marketing and sales executive of a large, resort company and we were one of the early adopters of the internet. Given it was new to business back then, I was reading as much as I could on internet marketing and learned of an auction held by Cathay Pacific, an Asian airline. It intrigued me and I thought there was application for like auctions domestically, particularly in the leisure market. I started collecting domains and 15-plus years later I left the corporate world to start my own business and launched FloridaVacationAuction.com 

Cliff T.: What kinds of vacations can a person bid on?   

Sal Dickinson: Our site offers a wide variety of accommodations and attractions or experiences from the panhandle of Florida all the way down to the Keys. You can bid on 3-nights at a luxurious 4 Diamond, beachfront resort like the Loews Don CeSar Hotel, including a $100 resort credit, or on 2-nights on a number of quiet romantic Bed & Breakfast Inns we have throughout Florida. Attractions and experiences range from a number of dolphin experiences such as the Dolphin Harbor at Miami Seaquarium to Indoor Skydiving at iFly Orlando to admission for four to the Tallahassee Automobile Museum. There’s something for everyone.

Cliff T.: To bid on an auction does one have to sign up and is there a fee to be a member of the site and if there is a fee how much is it?

Sal Dickinson: There is no fee to be a member of our site but you do need to sign up in order to place a bid. You can still shop all of the offers and take advantage of the buy direct option from any of our hotels or attractions without ever having to sign up. Folks can also sign up for our newsletter without signing up to bid. And once a person wins an auction, their winning bid is all they will be charged – bids are tax inclusive and we have zero add-on fees or service charges. 

Cliff T.: Sal how long does the auction last for and is there a starting bid? 

Sal Dickinson: Auctions last for one week, starting and concluding at 10 pm EST on Sundays. Starting bids begin at 20% of retail value, so as an example, 2-nights at Hawks Cay in the Florida Keys opens with a beginning bid of only $150. Bids follow in increments of $5.

Cliff T.: One of things one must probably note is that the auction is for the vacation or vacation spot, not things like flight and car rentals. Besides that is there any other ting or things that are not included?

Sal Dicinson: Each of our auctions are essentially advertisements that also promote buy direct specials, most at savings of 20-30%. Some offers and auctions have incremental fees such as a resort fee or cleaning fee at our vacation homes, and auction redemption can be blacked-out or exclude holidays but, each of those exclusions are clearly identified in each offer.

Cliff T.: Are there any spots in Florida that are big draws for people or do you find that the various parts of Florida fair equally in an auction?

Sal Dickinson: The Orlando/Central Florida market is always popular, as are the Florida Keys. We also see a lot of interest in all of our beach destinations, from Sanibel Island to St. Pete to Palm Beach and north to St. Augustine. And surprisingly our inland cities offers such as Gainesville and Tallahassee also move well each auction cycle. People like to have different leisure experiences, especially at great savings and that is something folks can regularly find on our site.

Cliff T.: I am assuming that the goal for floridaVacationauction.com is to increase the profile of Florida, that said Sal are you finding that there has been an increase in interest with regard to vacationing in Florida?

Sal Dickinson: Absolutely. We are the official auction partner of VISIT FLORIDA, the State’s official tourism organization and visitation to Florida has materially grown. Our own site has experienced consistent growth year over year since our inception, with users from 140 countries, but I want to note Floridians are one of our largest markets as they know Florida and understand the value they can get on hotels and attractions on our site. 

Cliff T.: On the other side of this of course are those looking to get people to visit their vacation spot. Sal, I bet this must be somewhat of a challenging sell, given that you asking a client to let people bid on a vacation package or location at below what they normally charge I am assuming you put the concept of an auction as a way to promote the business would that be an accurate way of looking at it?

Sal Dickinson: Spot on Cliff! As I mentioned before, our auction site is an advertising promotional site where hotels and attractions promote their business and their buy direct offers. Each auction, which repeats every 4 weeks, is only for one voucher, not dozens, so the consumer exposure is high for the business with minimal downside.

Cliff T.: Besides repeat bidders are you also getting repeat clients offering spots and vacation packages?

Sal Dickinson: We have a lot of repeat or long term businesses promoting their offers on our site. The Miami Sequarium for example, has been with us for more than five years and has three different offers/auctions with us. On the bidders side, we have more than 200 repeat bidders that have won 20 or more auctions. Our intent was to create the proverbial win-win and given the level of engagement of repeats both from consumers and tourism businesses, I’d say we’ve achieved that.

Cliff T.: This is a very unique way to offer vacationers a way to find a great vacation spot or package. Are you planning or currently setting up site for other states or even other countries?

Sale Dickinson: Expansion into other markets, domestically and eventually internationally, has always been part of our plan. We’re currently in final stages of dialogue with two other states, one in the South and the other in the Northeast, that will hopefully go live before the end of this year.

Cliff T.: Before I forget, how do you ensure that people pay for the package or the location they are going to? 

Sal Dickinson: If you are the winning bidder on an auction, your credit card is charged that winning bid and you receive a confirming email with a link to your voucher within 5 hours of that auction’s conclusion. You can also sign into your account to access that voucher as well. 

Cliff T.: There are some things I have not covered here, if people want more info is there a way they can get in touch with someone, or is there an FAQ section on the site where questions can be answered and do you also offer a forum for people to communicate with you and or each other?

Sal Dickinson: Instead of a FAQ we have a How It Works page in the main navigation of our site, as well as a live chat function that if not staffed, users can leave a message, as well as a Contact Us form that will promptly be responded to. They can also email customerservice@floridavacationauction.com

Cliff T.: Nobody wants to or expects to have a bad time on a vacation, that said it does happen. After the bidding and vacationing is done if a client is not completely satisfied do they deal with you or the operator who offered the package or vacation spot? 

Sal Dickinson: The answer is both. Hopefully the hotel or attraction would immediately remedy any negative issue a consumer may have. If not, we have had winners contact us and we’ve either refunded their monies or provided them with a credit on their account to be applied to future auctions, depending on circumstances and their preferences. We maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and through our customer service plan to keep it! 

Cliff T.: It's a novel concept, as I mentioned before. I really appreciate your taking time out to explain Florida Vacation Auction to the Candid Conversations readership. Best to you and the crew at Florida Vacation Auction.

Sal Dickinson Thank you Cliff. I appreciate the opportunity for our site to be shared with your readers.

CEO Sal Dickinson leads the team at www.floridavacationauction.com To find out more, bid on a package or just to see what the site is about click on over to the link above. As mentioned the site offers packages and stays at locations in Florida. Sal Dickinson wrote to us from his office in, where else, Florida.