LMG is based in Portland, Oregon and was the creation of Chris LaMontagne (owner) and Ani Larson (co-owner), both whom have extensive education and experience in a wide array of outlets in the entertainment industry. LaMontagne received a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island and followed his education by continuing to study in Marketing and Business Management. He relocated to the Northwest to pursue a career as an audio engineering. Larson attended the Art Institute of Phoenix and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Marketing. She decided from there that her passion was in the music industry and worked for a music marketing and PR firm before moving to Portland in 2008. The goal was to create a single avenue that can create a tailored approach to the needs and ambitions of aspiring artists, no matter what their area of expertise. Through LaMontagne’s and Larson’s work in the music industry, they have been able to build important fundamental relationships that can be passed on to artists involved, as well as interconnecting and cross marketing within the company itself. 

LMG emphasizes a grassroots and viral approach to marketing, insisting upon a personal connection with their artists. They differ from traditional agencies and labels because they cater their services to best fit with the desires and direction they artist desires for their personal career, whether it be mainstream popularity or an at home fan base that can turn aspirations from a part time pass time to a lucrative career. Currently, they are building an expanding their repertoire to encompass more demands, as well as branching out beyond the northwest. LMG is fully operational and accepting new clientele in all areas.

Christian LaMontagne 
LaMontane Marketing 
802.342.0522 
MontaneTFE@gmail.com 
 
Ani Larson 
LaMontane Marketing 
503.438.0668 
AniLarson@gmail.com

Today, on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche unveiled an ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car featuring hybrid and electric drive technology.

The 918 Spyder concept combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities. For example, it is planned to provide an emission level of just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer on fuel consumption of only three liters/100 kilometers (equal to approximately 78 mpg U.S.), which is truly outstanding, even for an ultra-compact city car. This car, however, is intended to offer the performance of a super sports car with acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in just under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph), and a lap time on the Nordschleife of N ?rburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT.

The 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. This trio ñ made up of Porscheís new Cayenne S Hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car with electric drive on the front axle and a flywheel mass battery, and the two-seater high-performance 918 Spyder mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology ñ clearly demonstrates not only the great bandwidth of this new drive technology, but also the innovative power of Porsche as a genuine pioneer in hybrid drive.

The highly-innovative 918 Spyder concept car combines Porscheís Intelligent Performance philosophy with the high-technology from motorsport, with classic but modern design to make a truly convincing statement.

Innovative powertrain combines race-bred V8 engine with electric drive
This open two-seater is powered by a high-revving V8 developing more than 500 horsepower and a maximum engine speed of 9,200 rpm ñ as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 horsepower (160 kW).
The V8 combustion engine is the next step in the evolution of the highly successful 3.4- liter power unit already featured in the RS Spyder racing car and positioned mid-ship, in front of the rear axle, giving the car excellent balance and the right set-up for supreme performance on the race track.

Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission that feeds the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle. The front-wheel electric drive powers the wheels through a fixed transmission ratio.

The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. The big advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the regular electrical network. A further point is that the carís kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the brakes, thus providing additional energy for fast and dynamic acceleration.

Driverís choice of four distinct driving modes
A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes: The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16 miles. In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.

The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance. Most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels, with Torque Vectoring serving to additionally improve the carís driving dynamics.

In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused on pure performance with the highest standard of driving dynamics on the track, running at the limit to their power and dynamic output. With the battery sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power (E-Boost), when overtaking or for even better performance.

With the hybrid drive system offering this wide range of individual modes and applications, the 918 Spyder is able either to achieve lap times comparable to those of a thoroughbred racing car, or the extremely low emissions and high fuel economy figures of a plug-in hybrid.

Advanced body structure and design offer more than just good looks
Like the drivetrain, the lightweight body structure of the Porsche 918 Spyder also bears out the carís DNA carried over directly from motorsport: The modular structure with its monocoque bodyshell made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFP) and liberal use of magnesium and aluminum not only reduce weight to below 1,490 kg, or 3,285 lb, but also ensure supreme driving precision thanks to a high level of torsional stiffness.

Reminiscent of highly successful, legendary racing cars such as the Porsche 917 and the current Porsche RS Spyder, the 918 Spyder, with its design concept so typical of Porsche arouses powerful emotions. The combination of racing car dimensions, clearly structured design with perfectly balanced surfaces, and innovative details throughout, creates an ideal synthesis of form and function ñ following Porscheís design DNA.

The smooth balance of tradition and progress gives the car a powerful stance on the road. Variable aerodynamics, typical of Porsche, ensures both visionary and traditional highlights especially around the rear spoiler. The striking rear hoods extending out of the headrests, in turn, not only fulfill an aerodynamic function on the 918 Spyder, but also accommodate retractable air intakes with a ram air function.

High-tech interior provides glimpse into the future
The driver and passenger are not only embedded in contoured sports bucket seats but also form part of the cockpit, which provides a synthesis of efficient functionality and ergonomic high-tech operation. Additionally, the cockpit offers a glimpse at the potential interior architecture of future Porsche super sports cars. The three free-standing circular dials for road speed (left), engine speed (middle) and energy management (right) would appear to come directly from a racing car in the ë60s, bearing out that unique philosophy of driver orientation so characteristic of Porsche.

The center console rises up towards the front in the 918 Spyder and houses a touch screen for intuitive control of the carís functions, serving to reduce the number of visible controls and maintain the principle of direct operation.

The control units relevant to the driver are mainly concentrated on the three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel, while the variable driving modes are supplemented by a switch enabling the driver to call up various drive programs and serving as the push-to-pass button for E-boosting. Instrument illumination, finally, varies from green for the consumption-oriented running modes to red for the performance-oriented driving programs.

The Porsche 918 Spyder concept also comes with further innovative functions such as the Range Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover, naturally allowing the driver to influence that range through the appropriate choice of power and performance.

In cities with environmental alert areas the Range Manager also states whether the driver is able to reach a certain destination on electric power alone.

Applying this information and using further info on the availability and location of special energy filling stations, the driver is then able to choose his personal style of driving as well as the right battery charge and filling strategy.

Offering a unique combination of extremely low fuel consumption, supreme performance and long electric range, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept represents an essential milestone in Porsche’s strategy on the way to genuine electric-mobility.

Hip-hop sensation DRAKE is going green – he’s using his first ever solo tour to promote eco-friendly technology.

The Best I Ever Had hitmaker is performing at colleges across America on his Away From Home Tour, which kicks off in Charleston, Illinois on 6 April (10) and includes stops at the New Orleans’ Jazz & Heritage Festival, and The Bamboozle music festival in New Jersey.

 

And he wants to set a good example by teaming up with The Campus Connection Tour to promote the use of biodegradable materials on his tour bus and backstage at the concerts.

Drake’s also pledged to create an eco-friendly tour rider, insisting all his requirements from dressing room accommodations to meals will be environmentally-conscious, according to TheSmokingGun.com.

http://www.rapweekly.com/rapweekly/?p=5988

 

Miley Cyrus dumped her Toyota Prius? Well,  according to a recent blog post she traded it in because, well, you be the judge.  Here is what she said about her new Mercedes Benz Hybrid SUV: “Hey guys! Yesterday I got photographed in my new car and I want everyone to know I still haven’t given up hybrids! Mercedes came out with a new hybrid suv and I love it! Its blueish/blackish/purplish. Haha! I got a new dog named Mate who’s a German Shepard so like I said in a previous blog he is kinda out growing my prius! Anyways I love yall!” Xox

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Must be nice.

Author: Anne Mitsu

Tensions creep in the moment you start planning to file your tax returns. Filing returns may be quite a task but you cannot ignore them. If you plan to file the returns electronically then you may reduce your stress level to some extent. This is not a difficult process but requires some tax software or a web site that files returns. There are some legal internet tax sites that are administered by tax professionals who make the process of preparing a return easy and error free. All you need to have an internet connection. You file your tax return and receive a receipt which you may save in your email. It would be better if you keep a print with you for further reference.

Easy filing: You only need to input your details into the software and wait for it to do the rest for you. The software would check your calculations and rectify the basic errors that crop up in manual calculations. Calculation seems to be a small issue but a minor difference could get you audited. I feel anybody would want to stay away from audits.

Tax norms: With e-filing facility you don’t have to comprehend the complexity of tax code. The codes and rules change every year adding to your complexity. If you wish to file returns without complexity difficulty then you may try e-filing Simple process Sign up to an internet site; create your user account to login as a member. Once you log in as a user you would be asked some questions like your name, date of birth, family size, annual income etc. When you provide all your details that is similar to the W2 form then the program calculates the best possible tax situation for you. After this, all important information is placed into appropriate forms and the returns are filed with IRS. IRS would accept the returns if there are no errors and you would receive an acknowledgment within a few days.

Rectification of errors: Once all your information is input, the program does an error check before sending the return to IRS. If errors are found, you come to know about them immediately and correct the errors right there. If you take the non-electronic route to filing returns then the process becomes long and time consuming. You have to wait for IRS to get back to you.

Fast refunds: Refunds are processed quickly and you have cash in hand much faster than it would take in non-electronic filing. If you have a bank account, then your bank details can be input into the program for IRS to deposit the refund into your account.

You may have fears about putting in personal details on tax websites as your personal information may be distorted but if you are able to find a legitimate website for filing taxes then it neither would divulge your information to any third party nor would it misuse your information. You must discuss with co-workers and friends and look for websites that they have used for filing their returns.

Three Tax Breaks For Eco-Enthusiast :

Take The Bus

Bus, train, subway and van-pool commuters can now get equal tax benefits with those who drive solo to work and pay to park. Assuming their employers offer a plan, mass transit users and van-poolers can put aside up to $230 a month of their salary pretax for commuting costs–the same set-aside allowed for parking. Previously, transit riders were limited to $120 a month.

Pedal To Work

A new law lets your employer reimburse you $20 a month for bicycle commuting as a tax-free fringe benefit–a pittance but a nice nod to peddlers. You can’t take both the bike benefit and the mass transit benefit for commuters. So if you bike to the train, take the $230 a month mass transit benefit instead.

Drive a Hybrid

Taxpayers stuck paying the AMT can finally claim the credit for hybrid cars purchased in 2009 or 2010, but only if they buy Ford Motor hybrids. Honda Motor and Toyota Motor hybrids no longer qualify. The top benefit for 2009: a $3,000 credit for a two-wheel-drive Ford Escape or Mercury Mariner. For 2010, buy before April 1 to get a $750 credit.

For more details, go to www.ase.org/taxcredits

 

 

Author: Dexter James

This Valentine’s Day, gift your sweetheart something unique and different and make her feel really special. Also start a green and eco-friendly revolution by giving her these exclusive organic gifts. Eco-friendly Roses, give her roses which are grown without any harmful pesticides; because an attempt to smell your hidden love inside the ordinary rose may make her feel dizzy. So make her feel your love in a green way and gift her organic rose. Buy a Valentine rose with VeriFlora Certification. This certification ensures that it was grown organically.

Eco-friendly Heart-shaped Candles are eco-friendly candles for the candlelight dinner. Paraffin candles made of petroleum residues, are very hazardous for the environment. Switching over to eco-friendly candles is better idea. The conventional candles add more to an already polluted environment. Smokeless and biodegradable organic candles are so much useful. Try some organic candles available in heart shapes. Also you can have candles made of veg-based wax, soy wax or beeswax.

Eco-friendly Pillows and Sheets, because sheets made of organic cotton and bamboo fabrics are also a wonderful idea for Valentine day gifts. Nothing could be better than to sit on these smooth sheets hand in hand. These organic sheets feel very comfortable. Another great gift idea is a pair of organic pillows to make a perfect setting for green love (Go for a green pillow fight)

Eco-friendly Jewelry. Nothing could be better than giving her a beautiful range of organic fashion jewelry made of recycled metals and glass. In this recession period, they are a hit as no jewelry is as less expensive then eco-friendly jewelry. This affordable jewelry is available at almost all the jewelry shops. They look colorful and sophisticated. Moreover, gifting her jewelry made of natural things such as beads and seashells could be an exciting idea.

Eco-friendly Fashion Apparel is comfort. Hanging out in organic clothing has got no parallel, if you compare the sheer elegance of various fabrics. Gift her some beautiful and colorful dresses made of bamboo fabrics or soy fabrics or organic cotton and ask her how she feels like. “It feels next to your smooth and kind touch,” could be the answer. Believe me, you will see no dearth of these organic clothing.

Eco-friendly Accessories: Gifting her range of organic fashion accessories could be an icing on the cake. Buy her an organic designer belt made of completely green materials. Even the buckles of such belts are made of recycled metals. You can also give her handbags, handkerchiefs and scarves made of organic materials.

Eco-friendly Reading is Last but not the least. I suggest reading a book. I don’t know which type of paper Jodi Helmer has used to print his book, but one thing I am sure of that anybody who reads “The Green Year” will instantly become a dedicated follower of green lifestyle. So make her read this green book this Valentine Day and see her developing into an aware and conscious green citizen.

Urban Green

part, have also adopted measures to ensure that their products are in tune with environment-friendly standards. Ethical fashion is gradually but steadily gaining ground as a viable means of doing business for these designers. Beyond Going Green when we encounter the words “ethical fashion,” the first thing that usually comes to our minds is organic, recycled and environment-friendly products. But ethical fashion goes beyond that. It also covers the advocacy of fair labor practices, where the rights of workers in the fashion industry aren’t trod upon. It means promoting respect for artisan skills and helping sustain these skills. Designers who are advocates of ethical fashion are discerning in the choice of materials that they use. These may include the following: - Organic cotton - Recycled materials - Bamboo - Hemp - Natural materials like vegetable dyes Ethical fashion designers are also champions of manufacturing processes that have the least impact on the environment. For instance, they limit the use of harmful chemicals in their garments. People who support ethical fashion know that the production of these products affect everybody, from the farmer to the consumer. This is why there is a conscious effort to make sure all materials and processes satisfy the principles of ethics. Steady Growth, Increased Awareness The deteriorating condition of the environment has been a wakeup call for people. During recent years, there has been a boom in the organic lifestyle. This has brought about a heightened awareness among people that this way of life is now being adopted in many areas - inside the home, at work, in the way we eat, and now, in fashion. In the beginning, there weren’t very many choices in organic clothing that consumer were offered. But these days, it isn’t so difficult to find high quality; attractive clothing as there is many alternatives that come in

Eco Fashion

different designs, colors and materials. Ethical fashion practices are no longer just limited to clothing. Jewelry and beauty products are now also made with all-natural materials. A prospect for the Future It is clear that ethical fashion is here to stay. Even top players in the fashion industry are looking to produce eco-friendly materials. Brands such as Levi’s, Banana Republic and Marks and Spencer are offering green products. In 2004, a fashion show devoted to the showcasing of ethical fashion was launched and designers and consumers alike look forward to it year after year since then. Aside from runway shows, the event also features conventions and symposia as venues for in-depth discussions about sustainable fashion practices. There is reason to believe this fashion event will continue to enjoy enormous support. In 2007 alone, the show has attracted over four thousand participants.

About the AuthorFor some stylish accessories Queens Leather is a leading supplier of Leather Laptop Cases and Luggage. Or for something a little more modern Head Rebel is the place to go for trucker hats and beanies.

Portland, OR - In addition to its crisp, refreshing taste, Pepsi is refreshing the world through its Pepsi Refresh Project. Pepsi is giving away $1.3 million in grants to people and ideas that will make a difference in our world, and local non-profit Minority Information Outreach (MIO) is one of the ideas in the running for a $25,000 grant. Online voting determines which ideas will receive a grant with voting ending February 28th.

Minority Information Outreach is a Portland-based organization that provides underprivileged youth in the Portland Public School District, specifically Roosevelt High School, with computers in order to continue classroom teachings at home. This grant will provide 2,500 computers to low-income students in the Portland Public School District, significantly impacting their lives and education.

RahMiel Mitchell, MIO founder, “established Minority Information Outreach with a vision to deliver needed computers to Portland’s low-income families, enabling them to connect to their community and the resources they need to improve their lives and their futures.” He is excited for this opportunity from Pepsi to allow this vision to become a reality for 2,500 more students and the chance to further this growth of our youth.

The Pepsi Refresh Project is giving 10 - $5,000 grants, 10 - $25,000 grants, 10 - $50,000 grants and 2 -$250,000 grants to great ideas, all that fall into the categories of health & fitness, arts & culture, food & shelter, the planet, neighborhoods and education.

Vote online today at http://www.refresheverything.com/rahmielmitchell Vote everyday between now and February 28th to give students in the Portland Public School District a better chance at success!

About Minority Outreach Information:
Minority Information Outreach (MIO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide eco-friendly computer implementation to low-income families in the Portland Public School district. Technology resources don’t reach into many homes where they’re most needed. Many families do not have the money to own a home computer. The result is a disparity between student learning in the academic environment and furthering the student’s progress at home. We also receive refurbish computers and recycle them back into our neighborhood community to decrease our electronic waste in our landfills.

Sustainable Fashion: Polyester Vs Cotton you might think you know which fabric is superior; you may even have debated the issue. But do you know which is better for the environment? The confusion lies in the fiber itself. Cotton is natural and polyester is synthetic. Natural has become synonymous with green and clean. So cotton is better, right? Not entirely.

Let’s be honest textiles are toxic to produce, energy consuming and water intensive given the raw materials required to produce them.

Cotton can be replanted and is therefore renewable but this doesn’t count for much if it is not grown sustainably. Cotton production contributes to an inconceivable amount of global pesticide and insecticide use. Organic cotton is fantastic in that does not use these but it is still incredibly water intensive, often diverting water away from communities. Cotton irrigation is a major contributor in the depletion of the Aral Sea.

Polyester requires less water but is more energy intensive requiring wood and oil to produce, thereby contributing to global warming from harmful greenhouse gases. Polyester however, is 100% recyclable and in some countries, like Japan, garment recycling is possible through recycling centers. This will hopefully be undertaken by many more countries, until perhaps recycling our polyester clothes will become as commonplace as recycling other paper and plastic products. In addition to being recyclable, polyester fibers are now starting to be produced from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials.

Combining all these factors it is easy to assume that there is no clear winner for the environment in terms of production and perhaps there isn’t. But a garment’s ecological footprint does not end once it is produced. To derive a meaningful evaluation the life-cycle of the product must be assessed. For apparel this can include low-impact maintenance, as it is the energy and water consumption expended over the lifetime of a garment that must be considered.

Polyester is more stain-resistant. It can be washed in cold water and dries quickly. Cotton garments waste energy. They must be washed more frequently as they are less stain-resistant, often require hot water to remove stains and need to be tumble-dried to dry in a comparable time frame. Synthetic fabrics like polyester do not lose their shape like cotton and therefore increase their wear life, further reducing environmental impacts.

The nature of clothing and seasonal fashion means that the textile industry is a major contributor of global warming. The industry needs to become eco-conscious and as with all solutions there needs to be a multi-pronged strategy. Until manufacturers and growers are required to factor in environmental costs, products that do less damage will cost more. It is up to us as consumers to dictate demand. The real challenge is not people switching from natural fibres to synthetic ones as we have been wearing polyester for decades now. The real challenge lies in convincing the consumer to pay for more ecologically sustainable clothing. Would you?

About the Author Art Activist is the owner of an ethical t-shirt design and printing business. Brand resistant is a business model for the future. Evolving from social, environmental and political passion, we hope to use the power of words and images to effect change. http://www.brandresistant.com

Make your designs interesting and let your personality shine through. Don’t play it too safe, as you just won’t have anything unique to offer.

Ali: www.meclothingbrand.com

Having a unique product can generate lots of buzz on its own with very little effort and if you combine your unique product with some solid online and offline marketing you could do extremely well.  Ali’s music video approach of “ME Star” combines a variety of local urban music artist with the talent to make headlines for his clothing company.  Both of these tips should be combined in any successful marketing strategy when you start a clothing Line.  Elusive print company used all eco friendly printing, water based ink and organic fabrics to make T-Shirts. www.elusiveprinting.com

Video Directed by: Beejan Iranshad