I've been known to ... "start businesses. I don't know where it comes from. My father was in the insurance industry and my mother works for school systems, you couldn't come from a more rigid work background yet at the same time at home and as a family, my parents are always so much fun and so relaxed and loose that maybe it's the mixture of the two. The pure mixture between both of my parents and both their career and their family life. I was starting things up as a child. I got in trouble. I didn't always really conform to the rules, but never in a way that, you know how some kids don't conform to the rules and you just know that things aren't going to end up good for them in the end. But for me, most of my report cards said, James is very bright and does not apply himself to the things he needs to apply himself to. I think my parents, at the same time, found it frustrating and also funny because you can't fault a kid if he's smart but if he's not following the rules ..."

Interests: "I read obsessively. I admire, collect and dabble in creating art. Being in LA, I definitely like to hike. This is part if the reason I moved out here because the topography is so amazing. You can go out to the hills, or the desert, the beach. Traveling, but who doesn't like to do that. I write still in my spare time. When I started the magazine. Pop Smear. It's very much an art project between my brother and I. A lot of that came from our own writing. I still like to keep up on that." 

Turn-ons: "Forward progress, I love it. I like to see change, I like to see innovation whether that be in a person or in a business or in a city or in politics. Whatever it might be. I like positive change, I like things moving forward. I like to be surprised. I don't like to get caught  surprised but I like to be pleasantly surprised. When you see something that's just amazing that you never would have expected or never would have predicted, that to me is a pleasant surprise. You know sometimes you can see the writing on the wall, whether it be politics and whoever gets elected, or something that you sort of see a situation that's going to develop and you know how it's going to end up. But it's the ones where you didn't see it coming, I like that."

Turn-offs: "I don't like people who bullshit, it's not my style and I don't really find a need for it. People who have to follow the rules all the time. I can choose whether to follow them or not, it's when I watch other people who are so scared to step out of the rules that someone else established for them, it makes me nuts. Just that one person, who has that small little patch of power and they just follow the rules and it's not making sense all the time." 

Special Talents: "I can cook. I can do backflips. I glide through LA traffic at a high rate of speed with no accidents."

Awards: "I don't really chase those down. I just do what I do, I don't look to collect awards or titles or any kind of professional designation, per se. I let my work speak for itself."

Charities: "One of my best friends died of cancer when we were just 13. She was provided housing at the Ronald McDonald House, so this has always been a charity
close to me. Every company I've ever owned always had a charity component to it. Aside from the Star Dates, although maybe that whole thing can be considered a charity project. We always dedicate a certain amount of time and services. Right now, obviously the business that we're in a lot of the stuff that we do is gang tattoo removal. It's sort of services for people who just can't afford it and the people who are most at need. Those are the people who are most in need and we're happy to provide those services. Because otherwise they just don't have a chance." 

15 minutes of fame: "I once had to explain to an aggressive radio host that `I am NOT high maintenance ... I'm low tolerance.'"

Travels: "Been around the US, Europe, Asia. I have not been to South America. But I love to travel. I'll do any kind of traveling. I'll sit on the beach, or go into their city or an adventure vacation, canoeing."

Spirituality: "People's individual spirituality is best expressed in their own actions."

Fashion sense: "I'd say I'm a traditionalist, but also very casual. It would not be surprising for you to walk into a medical clinic that I run and I'm wearing jeans and a T-shirt and a pair of sneakers. That's what I'm comfortable in." 

Staying healthy: "I live in LA, I have no choice, I have to. I hike, bike. I have an actual personal trainer. I do a little bit of sparring. The one thing I'm not interested in is the gym. I don't like the repetitiveness of it. When I was in high school and college, I was a gymnast. I actually was recruited at Syracuse to do gymnastics for them. Everything is done with your own body weight, it's all about the physics and the apparatus. When I do train, it's always with a personal trainer, outdoors, just something that's more action type."

What touches my soul: "When I see other people realize their potential. We all do it on a daily basis in small ways. Sometimes we're not recognizing it but when you see it and they see it and it happens at the same time, a breakthrough in terms of an idea or a success, whether it be a family, business or a personal relationship success, when you see that, that to me is kind of the core of life. Because it's positive and you feel good about it because you accomplished something and the people around you can look at that, and say wow, and they're happy for you. Those are the kind of things that touch me."

... on WOMEN 

I first notice ... "her eyes. No, I'm not going to tell you that, that's not true. The first thing I notice actually, is her face. The face can be so expressive and it tells you everything. People don't even have to speak and you just look people in the face and kind of get a sense of how you feel about them. Obviously people surprise you, but the face tells all."

Ideal woman: "She should be funny, she should find me fun. She should be smart, she should be driven, but not in that crazy driven way as I've explained before. Those to me are probably the most important qualities. Obviously you want somebody who's beautiful too. And I also like people who are grounded. Sometimes it's fun to spend time with people who are exciting because they can just really whip up a frenzy in a moment but really when it comes down to it in a relationship, is someone with good solid family values, someone who has a spiritual component to them."

I can't resist a woman who ... "is both smart and sexy but doesn't seem to know it."

Most important quality in a woman: "Sense of humor, it has to be. You have to be able to laugh with each other."

Ideal date: "I like to talk, I like to drink wine. I love to explore something new. This has gotten me in trouble before, but you know how a lot of people will go to their old tried and true dating restaurants, romantic locations. It's the same thing and I guess that's probably smart because they know they're gong to get good service and good food, a good environment. But then after a while you're playing a very non spontaneous game. So I like to be spontaneous but sometimes it doesn't work. So you go and the situation was a disaster, but then that's funny. I'll try anything because I want it to be new. Just because the person is new, I think that the environment should be new too. We're both exploring it together."

I'd call a woman back after a first date ... "if I saw the qualities that I was talking about earlier. If you made me laugh and I found you to be engaging, smart and of course, a little mysterious."

I'd never date a woman who ... "is a bigot. Definitely not, that says so many terrible things about you."

How I show I care: "I like to think I'm romantic. This is probably a typical answer, but you pay attention to her. It shouldn't be too hard if she's interesting. If that person's interesting to you, you're going to want to be romantic. I think that paying attention to somebody, whatever the situation is, whether it be a conversation, or a an activity or thinking about them when they're not there and maybe sending a little gift over or picking up the phone." 

What makes a woman unforgettable: "Most of the women I've met are kind of unforgettable. If I'm going to spend some time with somebody, I'm not going to forget that person. Obviously some people you have a stronger bond with, but if I took the time to spend any time with you, then I'm going to remember you."

What I wish women understood more about men: "Would I be breaking some sort of male code if I tell you? I have to check back with the guys and get back to you on that. Maybe that sometimes by not trying to push an issue with a man, you'll have more success with that issue. That's just something I've seen before. Whether it be someone that I'm with or a friend or just a casual observation. I think sometimes women try to push something or try to get an issue to move along in many senses of the word, and they don't understand why the guys not responding, and the guy obviously pulls back. Whereas the guy wouldn't have pulled back if the issue wasn't pushed."

One thing a woman has never done for me yet: "Well, yeah, you know what I would like, I'd like to see a woman plan a surprise trip out of the country or just some crazy place that she's never been, pay for it, set the schedule, and show me a good time. It'd be nice to have it done the other way. Not all the time, and maybe not even more than once, but I'd definitely like to experience that."

... on RELATIONSHIPS 

Views on relationships: "Am I interested in getting married and having kids one day, I am. I enjoy it both ways, definitely."

What I love most about being in a relationship: "I think it's what everybody likes, the trusting companionship where you can speak in shorthand and just kind of get each other. Whereas if you're forming a new relationship or relationships that aren't as strong where you don't see the person as often, they're a little more work. But in general, when you have a mate, that's your companion."

Top relationship keys: "I think it's got to be mutual respect. And if you got that, it doesn't matter whether you like what that person likes, if you have a respect for them, then I think that works. Some of the best relationships I've seen, aren't the people who look good on paper because it's what is it that goes on between you, how do you feel about your partner."

A woman in a relationship with me can expect ... "surprises. She should expect a fun time. I think she can expect to be exposed to things that she's never been exposed to because to me life is kind of an adventure. And when I'm with someone who I care about, I want to share that with them so she can expect adventure."

What I expect: "The same thing, I want to laugh, I want to be surprised, I want to learn stuff. I want to grow with that person. And I've seen it with other people as well. You start a relationship, and you're at one point, where you step back and say, `wow, look how much we've both changed for the positive and look how much we've both learned along the away.' A certain percentage of that is the direct result of being together."

When I'm in love, ... "I'll do anything to make that person happy."

What makes me feel close to a woman: "You know those moments I was telling you about earlier about when people are realizing their actions, it's like everything's gelling for them. I think when you have an experience or a conversation you had, just sort of that eureka moment, you both have that intense kind of connection, and that doesn't happen often. That's cool, and that's something that can make me feel very close."

Greatest relationship lesson: "Its all about compromise!"

What makes a woman marriage material: "That's a long list. You're not sure in the beginning, I don't have a real rigid set of rules. I know how I feel about the value of family and the value of marriage and the value of having fun and being progressive in your thinking and your actions. It's like making a soup, there's a lot of stuff that you can put in it and there's a lot of ways you can get a good soup out of it. " 

... on SEX 

What makes sex good: "Well there's a lot of ways that sex can be good. I can't narrow that down."

I feel my sexiest ... "always."

... on LIFE

Making my mark: "I would like to think that the things that I create last beyond me. That something like a Dr. Tattoff can continue to correct mistakes in generations. Just something where it sort of goes beyond you and what you can do personally with your personal connections. It can leave some sort of legacy behind that it's a continuing action, sort of like an artist paints a painting and then dies, that painting is studied and creates inspiration and sold over again. For the rest of time. A lot of people have that saving one life at a time kind of approach and I like to save lives in bulk. Like a painting, I use that analogy again, you paint it, you give it to somebody and it hangs on their wall. You paint it, you sell it and it goes into a museum, and so many people see it. And that just sort of reverberates. I like that. I like that big impact."

Responsibility to society: "First of all, I feel an obligation to give back to the next generation the way that my parents and their generation gave to me. You see a lot of crazy situations and a lot of that has to do with not great parenting. So I've learned, obviously when you're in high school, you don't think anything about your parents is cool or nice, but very quickly when I started to move out in the world and see how other people were raised, I have a lot of respect for that. And I think it's the responsibility of adults and particularly parents to dedicate themselves to be sure and have that obligation to `teach your children well.'"

Valuable life lesson: "One lesson? I learn a lesson a day. The simple thing is, if you want something to happen, you got to make it happen yourself. It's not good to sit around and things are going to get heaped on you, although sometimes it happens and it's nice. But if you have a vision or something that you want, you got to go out there and do it."

Three things I must do in this lifetime: "There's so much more traveling that I want to do. I definitely want to do a lot more traveling internationally. Id like to live in another country, which I've never done. Or at least get out of the state for a certain period of time. Obviously I love this country and I love the opportunities that democracy, in particularly a capitalist country can offer to someone like me. But I also think that it's not as pure as it sounds. And I'd like to be able to step outside of the US and sort of look in. You know these Scandinavian countries are so interesting to me. They don't want Americans living there because it's clean, everything's architecturally beautiful, the men, the women, everybody looks good. So those places sound interesting to me, whether it be Finland or Sweden, something up there. I would like to have the experience of raising children, it's a huge responsibility but at the same time what an awesome experience, what a great gift."

Best advice received: "I get a lot of advice. I look kind of young for my age. So I've always gotten these older guys, `listen kid, what you need to do is this ...' OK whatever you say, but good advice, I think it was shut up and listen."

Best advice I've given a woman: "Shut up and listen."

... on HIS FAVORITE THINGS

Movie: "The Breakfast Club."

TV Show: "This is not going to endear me to women, but my favorite TV show literally is Modern Marvels on The History Channel. Oh, it's such a great show."

Book: "Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I read less than I used to, but I still read, you have to. My other favorites are The Four Agreements and The Outsiders"  

Music: "Killers, Sigur Ros, Bob Dylan, The Thrills, The Raconteurs, Gotan Project, My Chemical Romance, Libertines, Radiohead."

Food: "Asian Cuisine."

... final THOUGHTS

Wheels: "My favorite car that I ever had which was 5 years ago, was a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, T-tops, Firebird, black, Smokey and the bandit. So the muscle cars for me is really where it's at. I drive a BMW, but I've been looking around to find something that I like."

Pets: "I recently lost my two fish. 7 years, they both died together, tank tragedy,"

Always in my refrigerator: "I like to cook. My refrigerator is packed and you will always find a wide variety of sauces and condiments. I cook for dates, for myself, for my family, for my friends."

Hottest possession: "I have this pair of Diesel jeans that I can't seem to get rid of that are in terrible shape. I can't seem to stop wearing them. And I'm sure people wonder what I'm doing. Even my family kind of looks at me and says, `didn't you get those 5 years ago?' My collection of photographs of my family and friends and my childhood and my childhood in my 20s, that's something that I definitely cherish. Probably one of the most important things to me."

I'd change places for 24 hours with ... "Mick Jagger ... but 40 years ago."

I'd most like to hang out with ... "Bill Clinton. He's all the mixture of smart, funny and mischievous and empowering. Just to watch people react to him. I've only heard him speak in person once and got to shake his hand afterwards and what he does to a crowd to inspire him, I don't know what it is, he has some weird sort of charisma, so I'd love to hang out with him. He's so persuasive in a very non-assuming and non-confrontational way. You just want to like him because you just feel like he likes you."

Celeb I'd love to take on a date: "Rachel Bilson, absolutely beautiful and classy. She is the total ingénue."

Why I'm such a great catch: "Did somebody say that? I think people appreciate a genuine, fun person, and that's me. I think sometimes it's a little off-putting because I'm very honest, very straightforward and I'm the real deal. And some people don't want that, some people want all the flash and the cash. But I feel like if you can have flash, cash and be genuine at the same time, I think that's a pretty good catch."

Me in a word: "Passionate."