Last Rites Announcement

Last Rites Reborn!

Join us to celebrate
July 22nd through 24th


Last Rites is proud to announce a very exciting point in its evolution. We are now becoming more of a destination than ever before as we are now undergoing a major makeover. We are literally gutting our space, knocking down almost every wall and rebuilding from the ground up.

Not only will we be expanding our overall square footage, but we are flipping the entire layout altogether and giving Last Rites Gallery utmost prominence and increased space for a better viewing experience. And of course, the Last Rites Tattoo Theatre's new set design will surely take the client’s experience to new dark realms like never before.

Aside from a more elegant dark décor throughout, Paul is adding some new surprises that are sure to inspire even the most unsuspecting guest. The all new Last Rites will truly live up to the commitment of furthering it's notoriously dark and haunting yet equally warm and inviting atmosphere that makes it so unique. Last Rites is and always will be a true sanctuary for all that share a like-minded appreciation for art that originates from the dark side of the human condition.

As Last Rites steps boldly across this threshold, One can expect to see a greater focus on support for our familiars in the art community with the development of painting and tattoo seminars from notable artists, live painting events and gatherings, artist roundtable discussions, a completely new and innovative online community and of course, let's not forget those surprises we mentioned!

Join us in celebrating this new era for Last Rites
The Grand Reincarnation Weekend

Friday July 22nd
Chet Zar and Craig LaRotonda Opening Reception
~ The inaugural exhibition for the all new Last Rites Gallery ~

Saturday, July 23rd
Unveiling Party for the all new Tattoo Theatre.
~ Come help us launch the new Last Rites ~

Entertainment, refreshments, giveaways, prizes and more!

Sunday, July 24th
Live painting sessions throughout the day.
~ With the Last Rites family of artists (artists TBA) ~

Watch master painters bring their works to life!


Please stay tuned for more details & announcements.

Last Rites is located at 511 West 33rd Street - suite 3N | NY, NY 10001


Sources
La Sumisa
Last Rites


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Tattooed, Pierced and Pregnant

There are many reasons why people get tattoos and piercings. Some common ones are:

1) Self expression

"I think as long as they are tactful they are art." ~~Carrie

2) To remember a memorable event or person

"To remind me where I have been and that I don't want to return to that point." -Bruce

3) To feel unique

"I had my tongue pierced way back when and as soon as it became mainstream I took mine out, and now I have my tragus pierced, when it becomes popular, out it will come." -Dawn

"They are a way to express your individuality. Celtic knots look really neat, and a tattooed ankle won't hook on stuff." -Julie

4) As a sign of rebellion or independence

"For the most part I got mine for freedom but yes, rebellion, too." -Carrie

Note: Sometimes people regret getting tattoos and piercings.

"I got my first tat when I was 18. I think I got it because I could. I got the second 2 weeks later, and thought it was cool. I hate them both now and I will be having them lasered off. I am actually taking my son with me to show him what I have to go through to get rid of a stupid mistake." -Teresa

I am Pregnant and Have a Piercing, Now What?

A) Navel Piercings

"I had a belly ring when I got pregnant with my son, took it out the night I found out. I was pretty stressed about being pregnant and figured now is better than later with taking it out. Got it done again after he was born, guy did it off center, took it out again, and then got it done again through scar tissue -- OUCHY! Took it out over a year ago because of gallbladder surgery and never put it back in." -Jessica

A common concern is if you should remove your navel piercing if you are pregnant. You shouldn't need to remove it although you might want to consider seeing a professional piercer and changing it to a flexible bar (a PTFE bar). Your ring will be tight as your skin stretches, which will irritate the piercing and cause it to heal out due to the pressure. The soft flexible bar will prevent this from happening. How long you have had your piercing and how big your belly gets also has an effect. As a guideline, if the area around your piercing changes color and is a darker red than normal, change it to a flexible bar. It is not painful to change it.

B) Tongue or Genital Piercings

Rings that are not large in diameter are good choices to wear as your baby should be able to deliver past your piercings without affecting the delivery. A bar in the clitoris or hood can be uncomfortable if it becomes entangled during delivery. Talk to your doctor or midwife if you are concerned about the size and affect your piercings might have during delivery.

If you are having a cesarean section, you should not need to remove your piercings as they can be taped. The only exception is a tongue piercing. A tongue bar might cause problems for the anesthetist if it becomes necessary to put a tube down your throat. It would be advisable to wear a flexible bar although some anesthetists might ask you to remove your tongue piercing.

"Have my tongue pierced, over 3 years. I was supposed to take it out during labor and delivery but I kind of forgot to. Luckily I didn't have any problems." -Jesse and Jessica

C) I am Pregnant and Have a Tattoo - Now What?

A pregnancy will affect your tattoo in different ways, depending on the placement. If your tattoo is near the stomach area, not only can it stretch, but there is no guarantee that it will go back to its original shape after the birth of your baby. Tattoos are definitely affected by stretch marks. Chances are if your mother or grandmother had stretch marks, you will too.

"When I was 18, I got a four-leaf clover on my pelvis. About three years later, I became pregnant and noticed that I now had a six-leaf clover. The clovers have all stretched and it looks like one green blob. I can't wait to have it removed." -Teresa

"I got my tattoo when I was 2 weeks pregnant and didn't have a clue I was! It's on my lower back and I was very worried about it getting distorted since it was new and being in a stretchy spot. I gained 50 pounds and luckily it's still perfect!" -Jess

Intricate designs such as tribal pieces, Celtic knots and geometric designs (such as circles) could wind up distorted, or worse, a blob. Simple designs such as clouds may look better.

If your tattoo is in the small of your back, it should not prevent you from getting an epidural. The ink from the tattoo is a permanent part of the dermis of the skin. The epidural needle passes through the epidermis, dermis and into an area near your spinal cord quite easily. You might want to consult with your doctor and anesthesiologist to see what they recommend if you have concerns.

D) I'm Pregnant and Want a Tattoo/Piercing

It is not advisable to have any body decoration procedure that would involve breaking the skin while you are pregnant. This includes procedures like piercing, tattooing or scarification. Most studios have made it a policy not to perform tattoos or piercings on anyone pregnant or breastfeeding. When you get a tattoo or piercing, you face a small chance of an allergic reaction or an infection. It just isn't worth the risk when you can just wait a few extra months and then get the tattoo or piercing you desire.

Any invasive procedure normally involves a small risk of infection. If you are pregnant, this might adversely affect your baby. You also risk contracting a blood borne disease if the needles used are not properly sterilized or are contaminated in some way. Your body is changing and you have enough to worry about without the added worry of caring for a new piercing. It is better to have a piercing completely healed before becoming pregnant; otherwise it might not heal properly until after your baby is born.

"I wouldn't recommend getting a tattoo while pregnant. All causes of infection are to be avoided during pregnancy, as your immune system does not work the way it normally does. Even minor infections should be treated promptly during pregnancy. Anything that could even potentially result in an infection in the blood is particularly to be avoided, so that would include getting a tattoo. Fortunately, pregnancy does not last very long, and waiting a few weeks or months is a very small price to pay to protect your child's health." -Cynthia Flynn, CNM

E) Pregnancy doesn't mean the end of your tattoo or piercing!

Being pregnant doesn't spell the end of your tattoos and piercings. If you take good care of your piercings during your pregnancy you will still have them afterward. Take precautions during labor and delivery to safeguard yourself and your baby -- you'd hate having your hood or clitoris tearing because the piercing got caught somewhere!

Similarly, when you want to get a tattoo, have it done in a place that won't stretch or have a simple design done. That way, the tattoo should remain relatively unharmed by stretch marks.

Above all, have procedures done before planning a pregnancy, or afterward. The risk of contracting an infection, which could possibly affect your baby, is not worth satisfying your desire to have a tattoo or piercing immediately.

If you have concerns or questions about tattoos or piercings, it's always best to talk to your doctor, healthcare provider or midwife.


Sources
La Sumisa
Pregnancy.org
HauteMama.com
Venus by Maria Tash


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Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry - Tattoo Documentary

Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry explores the roots of American tattooing through the life of its most iconoclastic figure, Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins. Considered by many the foremost tattoo artist of all time, Collins is the father of modern day tattooing, whose uncompromising lifestyle and larger than life persona made him an American legend.

Through rare interviews, photographs and hours of archival footage, Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry: The Life and Times of Norman Keith Collins, explores the past, present and future of the global tattooing phenomenon. Featuring interviews with Sailor Jerry's protege, Ed Hardy.



Sources

La Sumisa
Hulu



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Tattoo Artist Nigel Kurt - The Best in the UK

Nigel Kurt started his tattooing career in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He opened his own studio, Fun House Tattoos in Barnsley in 1993. Nigel is well known for his black and grey work and has won many awards over the years.

A tattoo artist from South Yorkshire has been named Best UK Male by the UK Tattoo Industry.

Barnsley tattoo artist Nigel Kurt, who has run Fun House Tattoos since 1993, said he was "chuffed" when presented with the award on 15 May in Liverpool.

Mr Kurt said he did not like tattoos when he was younger but he changed his mind after seeing the work of American tattoo artist Jack Rudy.

"He more-or-less invented portrait in tattoos," he said.

Mr Kurt specialises in photorealism, creating tattoos to look like pencil drawings, using black and grey inks.

His work ranges from colour tattoos of well known characters, including ITV's Coronation Street character Hilda Ogden, through to people requesting a drawing of their loved ones - including parents, children and pets.

Mr Kurt who has worked in the industry for 20 years has had many requests for tattoos but there are some areas of the body he will not work on.

"We don't tattoo faces and we don't do hands either. If someone comes in with something that won't make a nice tattoo, we won't do it."

The shop has seen a rise in inquiries since body art became popular with celebrities, including pop star Cheryl Cole and footballer, David Beckham.

"Every week we get at least one or two people coming into the shop asking for copies of David Beckham's tattoos," said Mr Kurt.

"There are hundreds of people walking around with copies of celebrity tattoos."

Despite receiving the award, Mr Kurt said it would not change him.

"Once I stand out that shop I'm just a slightly scruffy man walking down the street," he said.

To contact: 01226 779595

Or visit the shop which is located at:
Fun House Tattoos
140 Sheffield road
Barnsley
S70 1JH


Sources
La Sumisa
BBC News


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Aldo Distefano's Five Tattoo Commandments

Aldo Distefano is a living art. With his body emblazoned completely with tattoos, the artist has been decorating people's bodies for more than a decade. As skin is his canvas, the American tattoo artist is excited about setting up shop and a learning school in the country.

He reveals that the reason why tattoos have always been such a rage is because mankind since the beginning has been obsessed with permanence. "Though tattoos are usually associated with biker boys and rebellion, our ancestors were also infatuated with body art. Be it cross, skull, wedding band or Chinese characters, tattoos have always been a way of expressing yourself. And even if you don't know what you want, you do want one (tattoo) on your body."

From celebs to your neighborhood hunk, tattoos have become the perfect style statement. But before you get into the chair, remember, "Your body is your temple, decorate it wisely."

Aldo's Five Commandments:

1)Hygiene factor: You don't want to get a tattoo done in doctor's cabin but make sure that the place is hygienic and the needles, equipment and gloves are sterilized.

2)Artist's Portfolio: You might get awed by the attractive designs on the tattoo parlor wall, but before you let the guy give you a permanent tattoo, make sure you know his style and his work experience.

3)Significance: It's going to be there for life, so make sure you don't get something you regret a few years down the line. Your current girlfriend/boyfriend's name might seem like the right thing now, but few years down the time, you might have to cover it up.

4)Diet: While you might think going their drunk might lessen the sensation- it's not a good idea as alcohol thins out the blood and you'll end up bleeding more. Better would be to carry a chocolate to give you instant energy.

5)Post tattoo care: Yeah, you are eager to see the tattoo in its full glory but give it at least two weeks time to heal. Put water based creams instead of petroleum (vaseline) products. And do not pick or scratch the scabs.


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Magnet Implant

Magnetic children have been springing up across former Yugoslavian nations recently. Their stories are a little dubious, but some scientists and body-modification fans have been irresistibly drawn to the idea of merging man and magnet, with startling results.

Magnets have long been a source of fascination for we curious apes, drawing the attentions of generations of scientists, writers and philosophers. The ancient natural philosopher Thales thought that they might perhaps have a soul, prompting Aristotle to note (with perhaps a hint of snarkiness), "[he thinks] all things are full of gods." 2600 years later the rapper Shaggy 2 Dope summed up the frustrations many of today's youth feel when physics intrudes into their lives, pleading, "fucking magnets, how do they work?"

History is littered with experiments in magnetism; from Shen Kuo's successful use of magnets in navigation by 1088, to William Gilbert's investigations of Earth's magnetism published in 1600, to my own experiments in the mid-1980s, which involved inserting bar magnets into my nostrils and trying to make paperclips stick to my nose.

I wanted a magnetic nose. I still do, and who wouldn't? A magnetic nose is not something to be sniffed at (or with; removing bar magnets from sinus cavities is not a pleasant task for anyone involved). Imagine being able to sense north through a tingling in your nose, feel your mobile phone ringing in your face, or spend the night locked in a pleasant nasal embrace with your dream lover of opposite polarity. The possibilities are as endless as the variation in your mileage.

In Eastern Europe my dreams of magnetic people have supposedly become reality, for a very low value of supposition and a very tenuous definition of reality. Boys and girls with 'magnetic bodies' have been springing up all over the place, without a nose-bleed or a hidden bar magnet in sight.

The latest is Ivan, a six-year-old Croatian boy with "the ability to attract metallic objects, from coins to heavy frying pans, to his body" according to the, er, well, Guardian sadly. He follows ten-year-old Serbian girl Jelena, and her seven-year-old compatriot, Bogdan, who is supposedly banned from going near anything electrical and therefore won't be on Twitter any time soon.

All three are claimed to be magnetic, but this obviously isn't the case. Bogdan is pictured with china plates and a TV remote control plastered to his chest, while Jelena is able to 'attract' mostly-plastic cigarette lighters - not objects you would really expect magnetism to act on.
The videos are rather oddly staged, too. None of the footage shows any objects being impelled by any force, or moving without human assistance; the items are always placed carefully against the flesh, with big surfaces in contact rather than, say, the edge of a knife. Larger, heavier items are positioned at the top of the chest with the child leaning backwards, suggesting that actually a lot of the weight is pressing into the skin, not pulling against it (and both boys are generously proportioned, allowing some of the weight to rest on their tummies).

It also bugs me that the demonstrations are so unimaginatively lame. If my ejaculate somehow gave rise to a magnetic boy I can think of a thousand experiments way cooler than sticking cutlery to him. It would be nice to see him lift a cloud of iron filings off of the ground with a wave of the hand, or put a compass near him, or have him picked up by one of those electromagnetic cranes they use to pick up cars in junkyards, or make him be the first person to wing-walk on the underside of a wing.

In short, these aren't very convincing displays. Human skin is greasy and oily and stretchy and can be pretty sticky - most men at some point in their lives will experience the agony that comes when you sit naked on a leather chair in hot weather and then stand up, only to find the bottom half of your scrotum still welded to the seat. There's nothing in the videos that can't be explained by sticky skin and some careful positioning.

My dream isn't quite dead though. Thanks to the efforts of artists and scientists, magnetic people do exist. Quinn Norton wrote a fascinating essay for Wired in 2006 which describes the adventures of body modification artists Jesse Jarrell and Steve Haworth, who worked in collaboration with graduate student Todd Huffman to develop implants that would allow them to sense magnetic fields through their finger-tips.

The implants were tiny - miniscule fragments of iron encased in a silicone sheath to prevent rejection - but the results were startling. "In time, bits of my laptop became familiar as tingles and buzzes. Every so often I would pass near something and get an unexpected vibration," Norton relates, in an article that is well worth reading in full.

In Britain, graduate student (and science blogger) Jawish Hameed at the University of Reading has been living with his own magnetic implants for over two years.

His implants are tiny neodymium disc magnets inserted in the ring and middle fingers of his left hand. They are 3mm in diameter, and just 0.7mm thick, and coated in a material called Parylene C to prevent any reaction with the surrounding tissue. Doctors at the university refused to perform the surgery, so Hameed had the procedure carried out by a body modification artist, Mac McCarthy. It sounds risky, and he tells me that he did it with his family's 'minimal knowledge', "They had concerns of its long term effects. But over two years with the implants without incident has comforted them somewhat!"

The magnets are positioned in the pads of the finger-tips. Electromagnetic fields can stimulate the magnets, and their tiny movements and vibrations are picked up by the tightly-packed mechanoreceptors (nerves that sense mechanical pressure and distortion) in Hameed's fingers, allowing him to experience magnetism as little tugs and tingles.

I asked him what it felt like. "It startled me on numerous occasions when interacting with everyday things like cash machines, microwaves, speakers and even my own laptop," he says, "I was suddenly aware of the silent spin and working of the hard drive and the cooling fan. I could feel a field around microwaves from about a foot away."

His experiences then are similar to Quinn Norton's, with household objects suddenly interacting with his senses in whole new ways. "Each magnetic field induces a different sort of feeling, depending on the strength and frequency of the current that drives the electromagnetic fields," he tells me, "It is hard to describe an analogy but [it] feels like the vibrations from wind."

A simple interface, consisting of an electromagnetic coil on a wire-frame wrapped around the finger, allows a computer to deliver signals to the implants. Initial tests have been promising, although there is obviously a long way to go before anything like this could be used widely. There are many possible applications, particularly for the blind. He has been able to use the implants to receive Morse code, and has experimented with transmitting information from an ultrasonic ranger to the implants to help people 'feel' the environment around them.

He also plans to integrate the implants with his mobile phone, "I'm currently preparing a mini ring-sized wearable interface to injecting text messages from my phone." Even without the interface, he says his extra sense has practical uses: "I use it quite regularly to sense if a wire is carrying AC household current."

Check out the video below, it shows how the procedure is done.



It goes to show that where we find fairy tales, science is often not far behind. Jawish Hameed is not 'Magnetoman', but there's something quite amazing about a species that, given five wonderful senses with which to experience our world, sets about trying to build a sixth.


Sources
La Sumisa


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Body Modification

The concept of body modifications has long been prevalent in the human race. Put in simple words, ‘body modification’ refers to the process of making changes in the body. The changes incorporated can be temporary or permanent in nature. Primarily done for the purpose of beautification, body modification has emerged to be very different from what it had started as. The need as well as the ways for body modification has undergone transformation. This concept of making changes in the body has various implications and differs from culture to culture. While sharp objects, to tattoos to amputations are all categorized as ways to modify any part of the body, jewelries are the most common element that is used in body modifications.

Apart from being a fashion statement, body modifications in early days were done for purely religious reasons. This thing still prevails in the modern times where examples can be cited from various regions. Believers do so with this faith that their sacrifice and pain will satisfy God and they will be granted their wishes. The pain inflicted on the body while doing so becomes immaterial at that time.

Tracing back to the times of Indus Valley civilization, ornaments or jewelries has played a crucial role in body modifications. Earrings, anklets, necklaces, nose rings all excavated from the ruins have proved that they were in use in those days. The Bronze statues of a dancing girl excavated at one such site bore proof of the same fact. Bangles, rings, head bands also found at the excavation sites are evidence of the fact that even men used these for body modifications.

For many cultures across the world, body modifications have an altogether different need and importance. It is an inherent part of their culture and they are taught to imbibe this from their very childhood. Say for example in Myanmar, the women of the Padaung tribe has this tradition to wear tight neck rings around their necks. The practice starts at a tender age of 5. While at this time, the number of ring put around the neck is one, the number soon increases with time. It’s quite prevalent among them to wear as many rings as possible around their calves too. The ultimate reason for doing so is to modify the neck as in the process it gets elongated at times to alarming rates. Other body modifications followed by tribes related to this use jewelry extensively for elongating their ear lobes or ear piercings done previously.

Instances of body modifications can also be found in the American culture where the use of labrets is common among First Nations people inhabiting the North west coast. Modifications of the lips with the use of lip plates are common among Sara and Mursi people, mostly of African origin.

Body modifications can hence be categorized as common and ‘extreme’. While some are temporary and easy to do like body piercing, ear piercing, dermal anchoring which is placing a small steel bead on the skin, neck rings and tattooing – some can be really dangerous and harmful. The extreme kinds consist of tongue splitting and extra ocular implant.

With time, the sense of fashion has undergone a considerable change. For so long, footwear, jewelry and handbags co ordinate perfectly with stylish attire drew the attention in the crowd. Now is the time, when a ethnic embroidered apparel from India or a chic Indo western wear is well complimented by a perfectly done body modification.


Sources
La Sumisa
Tattoo Articles


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Arizona Tattoo Expo

This coming weekend, the Mesa Convention Center hosts the 11th annual Arizona Tattoo Expo, where the tattooed and those looking to get tattooed can explore styles and designs by nearly 150 artists.

The convention draws upward of 7,000 people a year and is an opportunity to promote tattooing, said expo founder Sage O'Connell, who owns Urban Art Tattoo in Mesa.

Most of those who attend sport the full-range of tattoos, from sleeves to back pieces to tiny ankle tattoos, but O'Connell says nearly 25 percent get inked there for the first time - a phenomenon he attributes to the success of cable television series like "L.A. Ink," "Miami Ink," and "Inked."

"I see people that might not have gotten a tattoo that now have seen the show(s) where they saw other people that were like-minded and said, 'You know, I really want to do something that commemorates my father,' or, 'I really want to do something that shows my kids how much I love them,' " O'Connell said.

Sean Dowdell, owner of Club Tattoo with five Valley locations, said the TV shows have made tattooing more mainstream, showing that tattoos are a way of expressing people's individuality. In 2006, nearly 24 percent of American adults, aged 18 to 50, had at least one tattoo, according an article that year in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dowdell, along with his wife and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington, opened Club Tattoo in 1995,when tattooing was just infiltrating the mainstream. Now, Club Tattoo participates in nearly 20 conventions a year.

"I think years ago, people associated tattoos with kind of a biker mentality or lifestyle," Dowdell said. "Now people will come up to you on the street and check out (your work) and recognize that particular style."

When he opened Club Tattoo, Dowdell estimates there were maybe four tattoo conventions each year worldwide. Now, "there's one every weekend, probably at three different locations in the United States alone," he said.

"There are so many tattoo shows that it's a bit saturated," he said.

One thing that separates this weekend's convention from similar ones is the focus on area art, Josh Gargalione said.

Gargalione, who goes by the name "Uncle Josh," has been tattooing for more than a decade and works at Lady Luck in Tempe.

Gargalione said a lot of the work done by artists at the convention is the result of pre-booked appointments. Last year, Club Tattoo had 18 appointments for four artists. Usually artists tattoo regulars or spend the weekend finishing large pieces.

The expo is more of an opportunity for artists and the Valley's tight-knit tattoo community to socialize, Gargalione said. More than 70 area shops are represented at the convention, though there will be an international artist from Spain and a few more from around the country.

"A lot of time, people will get tattoos from people that are out of town, because you don't have the opportunity to go into another state to go get tattooed," Gargalione said.

Like many conventions, the Arizona Tattoo Expo conducts contests - best black and white, best themed, most erotic - and seminars, including one on piercing by Dowdell, for tattoo artists.

Contest winners earn cash prizes, including $250 for the best tattoo of the day and $500 for best of show, and gain public recognition for their work, which often results in new and repeat customers.

In an effort to differentiate the convention, O'Connell is hosting a fine art show. The art, featuring everything from sculpting to airbrushing to oil painting, is all done by tattoo artists to showcase artistic ability, he said.

Arizona Tattoo Expo

What: The expo includes more than 150 artists from 70 area shops as well as seminars, contests and an art show. When: Noon-11 p.m. Saturday, May 21 and noon-8 p.m. Sunday, May 22. Where: Mesa Convention Center, 201 N. Center St. Admission: $20 per day, $30 for the weekend. Ages 15 and under free with adult. Details: 480-644-0812, www.aztattooexpo.com


Sources
La Sumisa
AZ Central


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Beware of Scratchers - Tattoos Gone Wrong

They're part-time tattooing wannabes called "Scratchers." It's a group of people who have taught themselves the art of "permanent ink." It's growing in popularity and leaving people right here in the Tri-state with more than just a design on their body.

From the beginning, Steve Cupp - the owner of Vertigo Tattoo in Oxford - has been outspoken about safe tattooing practices. He's been creating body art since 1997, but what he's seen grow in popularity lately is just plain shocking.

"You know they will come in with holes in them, puss and all kinds of stuff and they end up hospitalized," said Cupp.

Steve's talking about the aftermath of "scratching."

"As a general rule we'll get five or six clients a week or so they will come through the door with something God awful," said Cupp. "As it grows people think they want to be a part of it and they'll get on the Internet and find a machine and find some needles and with absolutely no training what so ever start trying to tattoo their friends."

This may sound harmless enough in itself, but Scratchers have been coming under serious attack by real tattoo artists because the un-trained practice could be deadly.

"There are tons of infections you can get - Hepatitis A, B and C, there's Staph infection there is MRSA," said Cupp.
Scratchers usually teach themselves how to ink with the help of videos and homemade tattooing equipment, then those Scratchers put their services out there for un-knowing takers.

Alex Cooper became a victim at 16.

"I talked to one of my friends who I went to school with and he got a tattoo from a guy in a house and I didn't know the dangers of it so I got one," said Cooper. "Saran wrap on the kitchen table, no kind of clean substance, basically dry wiping."

"You could be Picasso with a tattoo machine but what your doing is not right," said Doug Paxton, a professional tattoo artist. "It's always been and up and down phenomenon that it will be a fad for a couple of years then it goes up and down its always been that way but these other reason is it's a fast and easy way to make money."

Doug Paxton told us this type of tattooing could literally be the death of a customer if proper health procedures aren't strictly carried out.

"It's nasty and if it's not taken care of properly, you're going to the hospital or worse," adds Paxton.

So how popular is a tattoo? The Pew Research Center in January of 2007 said 36 percent of 18-25 year olds have at least one tattoo.

"I feel like I was extremely lucky to not have any of that happen like the mesa or any kind of staph infection…really," said Cooper.

Professionals say if you're thinking about getting a tattoo make sure the artist follows strict health and safety precautions with sterilization techniques monitored by health officials. They say if a studio is run by a professional you're going to see equipment packaged in a protective pouches that remain sealed until it is opened in front of a customer.

Local health departments regulate tattoo studios in many jurisdictions, which should give the person getting a tattoo some piece of mind about health risks but you want to do your homework. Make sure you ask a lot of questions before you decide to let someone put that tattoo design on your body.



Here are some of the question you should ask.

What are the laws in your city/state on tattooing?

What certifications and/or licenses are required to tattoo legally in your city/state?

What is the procedure of operating an autoclave? what temperature must the autoclave reach and for how long?

What is a blood-born pathogen and how do you prevent the spread of it, and cross-contamination?

How do you thoroughly clean and disinfect needles and tubes before autoclaving?

What layer of epidermis of the skin must you not enter to prevent scarring of a tattoo?

What is plasma, and what does the leakage of plasma during a tattoo indicate?

These are only a few of the things that are absolutely necessary for a tattoo artist to know, and if you can't answer all of these questions with concise understanding, you are not ready to be a tattoo artist.

Here is the Cincinnati Health Department's Requirements of Operators:

(A) Compliance. All operators of tattoo and/or body piercing services must comply with all provisions of OAC 3701-9-05 and 3701-9-06.

(B) Training and Education. All person(s) involved in the operation that have access to the tattoo and/or body piercing equipment shall have annual training for:

(1) Basic first aid, similar in content to course offered by American Red Cross.

(2) Universal Precautions against blood-borne pathogens that meet requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) specified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.1030.

(C)Operator Responsibility. The operator shall be responsible for all persons performing tattooing and/or body piercing within the operator's establishment.

(D) Other Requirements. Any additional requirements requested by the Health Commissioner.


Sources
La Sumisa
Fox 19


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Things to Remember After Getting Tattooed

It will break your heart if your tattoo doesn't look as good as it used to be when you had it done. You may even end up spending an equal sum of money on re-touching it. It's essential for a tattoo to look nice once it heals and if you don't want that that to happen to you, here are some tattoo after care tips suggested by tattoo artist Al Alva:

Cleaning and moisturising
A newly done tattoo is as good as a wound. The epidermis of the skin reacts to the wound and secrets a transparent fluid to protect germs from entering the body. The surface of the tattooed skin must be cleaned regularly without wetting it in water. You can take a piece of cloth, wet it in water and dab it on the tattoo to clear it of germs. Moisturises it with a body lotion afterwards.

Apply ointment
Calendula is a herbal remedy which heals wounds and soothes the skin. Apply a very thin layer of the cream on the tattoo thrice a day. Continue the treatment for the first 15 days.

Don't go for a swim, or the jacuzzi
Take short showers when you bathe. But going for a swim or taking a steam bath will lead your skin to form scabs as a reaction to chlorine and heat respectively and spoil the texture of tattoo. The thicker the scabs the lighter will be the colour of your tattoo when it heals.

Avoid sweating
If you are a health freak, don't exercise for 15 days after you get a tattoo. The salt in your sweat causes the same damage to the tattoo as chlorine or sea water by forming scabs.

Keep away from the sun
Long exposure to the sun could cause the tattoo to discolour. Avoid applying sunscreen and wear long sleeves to protect the area.

Don't shave
If you have got a tattoo on a spot where you need to shave regularly, avoid doing so till the tattoo is completely healed. Shaving may cause your skin to peel and erode the ink within.

No scratching
Your tattoo will start itching within first five-six days. Itching is a sign that your skin has started to heal but do not scratch, rub or press it against your body. It is possible that by doing so you may be scratching the ink out of the tattoo even before it can settle down in your body.


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Last Rites Gallery presents solo shows by Anthony Pontius and Sarah Joncas - Saturday, April 30th, 7pm‏

Last Rites Gallery presents:

Solo shows by:
Anthony Pontius and Sarah Joncas
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 30th, 7pm-11pm

ANTHONY PONTIUS, THE DECAY:

One of the most unique painters to emerge from the modern surrealist movement, Anthony Pontius is a maverick of medium - never following a formula, he experiments with various paint, thinner, and every vehicle in between to achieve unexpected and unprecedented results. Fluid and unabashed, his paintings do not shy of the bravado of bold brushstroke or a valiant splash of color, yet manage to retain an understated elegance. As recognizable images unravel into subconscious forms, these combinations of representational art with sinuous abstraction evoke intense emotion through the power of suggestion. In his latest body of work, Anthony examines the importance of the human connection to history:

"By using past and present techniques of painting and written histories, I invent my own nostalgic experiences and narratives. I examine imagery, stories and concepts from both the past and present and place them in a shared setting. The established conflicts and connections found in this union enable an image that is flexible for many audiences. I implore traditional and contemporary practices of painting and mix these approaches to form new arrangements. I may use classical clarity to represent and to define a specific part of a story, and at the same time use the ambiguity of abstraction to complete the formation of the work. From this, a new myth develops. It is a story that is familiar yet it has not been cultivated by anyone. The combination of specific imagery and less comprehensive moments creates an accommodating proclamation that allows the viewer to share the anxiety and beauty of human involvement with its identity. This approach allows me to represent our alignment with the annals of history. This display of beauty and complexity of the unknown provides a foundation to what we consider the past and present. As with history, these paintings are not clear or concise. They are fluctuating consequences wielded from contribution."

SARAH JONCAS, LILITH:
Last Rites Gallery presents Lilith, new works by Sarah Joncas. Using powerful and sexually charged energy, "Lilith" takes on a darker context with Joncas painting in full-force celebration of the original femme fatale. Combining explicit imagery with more subtle anthropomorphic iconography, she leads us into a world of seduction and mystery.

"My show Lilith is not necessarily as a direct allegorical reference, but more so for what she represents. According to Jewish Mythology, Lilith is considered to be the true 1st wife of Adam, her unwillingness to submit caused her to rebel from Eden in search of her own dark path. As such, she’s been written as the temptress, the mysterious and the devil. Taking from fairytale and folklore inspirations, much of the work borders on the fantastical, indulging and sometimes turning other mythological females into similar demoniac beings. Though working with a relatively more aggressive theme than usual, I’ve kept the melancholic and pensive tone that my work is most well known for. In general, I’ve always focused on the alienated female subject as well, making a theme on the legendary archetype a natural course for me to take. In a sense, I see this body of work as a bit of a return for me. Though the women I’m portraying in these pieces are bolder, more sexual and more mature than those of my previous work, I’ve decidedly brought back some of the whimsy that I’d abandoned after years of schooling. In effect, this body of work has been especially fun for me to create, which is more or less the reason I got into painting in the first place."

Sarah Joncas was born in 1986 and grew up within both Hamilton and Niagara Falls, Ontario. She currently resides and works out of Toronto, Canada. Her interest in the visual arts developed at an early age, starting with the dedicated drawings of dinosaurs and lizards. Eventually the study and enjoyment of working from existing images stirred up the need in Sarah to create images of her own; ones that could reflect the world, yet also appease the personal feelings/ideas that she herself maintained. With this, her direction changed gradually from the world of animation, towards a path in fine art.

About Last Rites Gallery:
Established in 2008, Last Rites has become a premiere gallery for the Dark Art movement and a haven for artists who prefer to explore the ominous, uncomfortable, and eccentric in their work. Striving to showcase some of the most thought-provoking art in contemporary surrealism, Last Rites creates an atmosphere where the artist can harness limitless expression and the observer can reflect inward, inspired to understand that which resides in us all. Since it’s inception, media accolades now include Juxtapoz, Inked Magazine, Tattoo Society, Hi Fructose, NY Post, and the Channel 11 News. Paul Booth, featured by Rolling Stone as “King of Rock Tattoos”, opened Last Rites after 20 years of contributions to the tattoo and art community. Networks including Discovery, TLC, MSNBC, and MTV, continue to share Last Rites' reputation with the world.
On display April 30th to June 5th, 2011.

CONTACT:

Celeste Fuechsel
Assistant Director
1-212-560-0666
info@lastritesgallery.com
Last Rites Gallery, 511 W. 33rd street, 3fl New York, NY 10001

Sources

La Sumisa
Last Rites Gallery



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Skin and Bones Tattoo Exhibit

For centuries, long before their landlubber cousins sported shoulder skulls and bicep beauties, seafaring men have offered up their skin to the tattoo artist's needle. The results are as plain as the anchor on Popeye's forearm.

"There's a thin wall between life and death at sea," says Craig Bruns, curator of "Skin & Bones — Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor," a touring exhibition now on display at Mystic Seaport. "You're going to want talismans for good luck, and you're going to want them on your very body, almost like a second skin."

Even fictitious sailors had them.

In Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick," for example, the imposing harpooner Queequeg was covered in tattoos. "This tattooing had been the work of a departed prophet and seer of his island, who, by these hieroglyphic marks, had written out on his body a complete theory of the heavens and the Earth, and a mystical treatise on the art of attaining truth," Melville wrote. "So that Queequeg in his own proper person was a riddle to unfold; a wondrous work in one volume; but whose mysteries not even himself could read."

"Skin & Bones" unravels some of those mysteries.

Using everything from antique needles to old postcards, it traces the connection between American sailors and tattoos from Colonial times right up to current-day U.S. Coast Guard sailors. Plus, visitors can sit at a "Tattoo-A-Tron" and get their own faux tattoo.

The exhibit debuted in 2009 at Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. Mystic is its first port of call since then, and it will remain here through Sept. 5.

"Sailors were working folks," Bruns explains. "They were the lowest rung on the social ladder, just above slaves. They were feared. They looked weird. They had their own jargon, and they were rowdy. And they had these tattoos."

There were practical reasons for all the body art, of course.

First, tattoos were a form of identification. Sailors had little in the way of personal possessions, and they depended on tattoos to indicate their citizenship, religious affiliation and date of birth.

Tattoos also showed where a sailor had traveled, whether he crossed the equator, how many miles he sailed, significant military battles he was in, names of ships on which he served and names of shipmates who died.

"By 1770, there was already a very complex tattoo culture," Bruns says. "It's a mark of masculinity. Of belonging. Of patriotism."

"Skin & Bones" has early tattoo equipment on display, from the sail-making needles of the 1700s to the advent of Samuel O'Reilly's electric Tattoo Machine in 1891. There also are examples of tattoo "flash" — the books of tattoo designs that served as portfolios for shipboard tattoo artists.

One of those flash books, owned by a sailor named C.H. Fellowes in about 1900, is on loan from Mystic Seaport. It's one of the oldest flash books still in existence.

Beyond such artifacts, the exhibit is filled with the tattoos themselves.

You have dragons, American flags, hula girls, hearts, roses, ships, figureheads, coils of rope, mermaids, whales, eagles, shields, fish and stars. Some swabbies preferred the "twin screw" tattoo: a pair of propellers that sailors thought would keep them from drowning and propel them back to shore.

On one wall of the exhibit is the classic, 1944 Saturday Evening Post cover, "The Tattoo Artist," painted by Norman Rockwell. It shows a brawny sailor getting the name "Betty" tattooed to his arm, underneath the crossed out names "Sadie," "Rosietta," "Ming Fu," "Mimi," "Olga" and "Sing Lee."

There are nuggets of nautical tattoo trivia, too.

For instance, Macy's shoppers may be interested to know that the department store's red star logo is identical to the red star tattoo on the arm of founder Rowland Macy, who worked on a whaling ship when he was a teenager.

Here's another tidbit. Sailors believed they could survive a shipwreck if they tattooed a pig on their left foot and a rooster on their right foot. This may be because shipboard animals traveled in crates that floated if they were tossed overboard.

"Some tattoos were very allegorical, and others were pretty direct," Bruns says. "It was all part of being a sailor and being part of that world."

Today's sailors are represented in a series of video interviews with Coast Guard officers talking about their tattoos.

"There is something unique about my Neptune tattoo on my left calf," says Emilio Mercado, a petty officer recorded at the Sector Delaware Bay Station in Philadelphia. "The tattoo doesn't show the eyes of Neptune, since I'm acting as the eyes of Neptune right now for the United States Coast Guard and the nation. ... Once I retire, the eyes will be drawn in the tattoo as a completion of my duty and to ensure safety for my own life."

American sailors have decorated their bodies with tattoos for more than 200 years. Discover why in this new traveling exhibit from Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. Skin & Bones presents over two centuries of ancient and modern tattooing tools, flash (tattoo design samples), and tattoo-related art, historic photographs, and artifacts to tell the story of how tattoos entered the sailor's life, what they meant, and why they got them.

A tattoo could be a memento of a voyage, a memorial to a lost shipmate, or a talisman to ward off evil spirits. They also had a practical side: tattoos were used to prove identification in event of catastrophe or imprisonment. Regardless of the purpose, the tattoo served to prove the wearer's membership in a maritime brotherhood.

The exhibit traces the progression of purpose and design to the present. Some of the connections are surprising: The famous red star logo of Macy's department store is believed to have been inspired by a tattoo founder R.H. Macy got while on a whaling voyage in the South Pacific on the Emily Morgan (a predecessor of the Museum's 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan).

Skin & Bones brings together the most comprehensive presentation of design flash on this subject. From eagles and flags, to ships and animals, to lost shipmates and loved ones, visitors can survey the evolution of tattoo design through the decades. One of the oldest surviving books of American flash, bearing the name C.H. Fellowes, belongs to Mystic Seaport and is on display. Visitors can also see the range of tattoo-making tools, from rather crude sail-making needles to Samuel O'Reilly's revolutionary electric tattoo machine of 1891.

Visitors will be invited to get their own tattoo in an interactive "tattoo booth" where a recorded "tattoo artist" talks to them about their chosen design as he inks a pretend tattoo on their forearm using a video projection effect. They can also try their hand at sketching a tattoo and share the results.

By the end of the exhibit, you will know if you have a tattoo, thank a sailor!

Sources
Jim Shelton

Ear Gauges

Do you want to express your feelings in an artistic way? Do you want to create a new fashion statement to become unique among your group? Well, a new fashion trend that is becoming popular among different age groups is the so called ear gauges. It is a process of stretching your ear holes so as to fit large earrings or gauges. This is exceptional and very fashionable.

But, ear gauging is not totally a new trend in fashion. Many countries are already practicing it as part of their culture and tradition. This is also a form of body modification techniques which include body piercing and tattooing. If you have the courage and patience to feel the pain of ear gauging, then this fashion is suited for you.

Ear gauges range from a wide variety of sizes, styles, and designs. These are available in different jewelry stores and they can be found at affordable prices as well as fancy. Along with the gauges, you will also need tapers for those who already have pierced hole. This is needed to stretch the ear holes and achieved the desired diameter.

But for those who still do not have ear holes, you need first to let your ears be pieced with a piercing professional. This would take a long time because; you’ll need to wait for the wound to heal. Even with those who already have ear hole, you will still need to wait for the holes to increase in size. This is a process so you don’t need to rush up.

Ear gauging requires the help of a piercing professional to prevent complications. The area should always be cleaned with antiseptic solution to avoid infection. It will take approximately two week before you can wear ear gauges and display your unique fashion style.

Sources
Office 20 Con
La Sumisa

Avoiding Tattoo Infection

TATTOOS are becoming popular, especially among young people who do not balk at having symbols or letters printed on various body parts.

Decades ago, tattoos could only be seen on outlaws, convicts, sailors or members of notorious gangs. Today, tattoos are part of body decoration.

However, you have to know first some safeguards for your protection. Remember, putting tattoo is like wounding yourself even if it is the henna type. Like any  puncture or cut,  having or  tattoo puts you at risk for infections and disease.

Make sure you're up to date with your immunizations especially hepatitis and tetanus shots and plan where you'll get medical care if your tattoo becomes infected. To avoid problems, choose a trusted artist.

Signs of infection include excessive redness or tenderness around the tattoo, prolonged bleeding, pus, or changes in your skin color around the tattoo.

If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin disorders, a condition that affects your immune system, or infections or if you are pregnant, ask your doctor if there are any special concerns you should have or precautions you should take beforehand. Also, if you're prone to getting keloids, it's probably best to avoid getting a tattoo altogether.

To make sure your tattoo heals properly:

* Keep a bandage on the area for up to 24 hours.

* Avoid touching the tattooed area and don't pick at any scabs that may form.

* Wash the tattoo with an antibacterial soap. Do not use alcohol or peroxide. They will dry out the tattoo. Use a soft towel to dry the tattoo. Just pat it dry and be sure not to rub it.

* If you don't have an allergy to antibiotic ointment, rub some into the tattoo. Don't use petroleum jelly — it may cause the tattoo to fade.

* Put an ice pack on the tattooed area if you see any redness or swelling.

* Try not to get the tattoo wet until it fully heals. Stay away from pools, hot tubs, or long, hot baths.

* Keep your tattoo away from the sun until it's fully healed.

Even after it's fully healed, a tattoo is more susceptible to the sun's rays, so it's a good idea to always keep it protected from direct sunlight. If you're outside often or hang out at the beach, it's recommended that you always wear a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor of 30 on the tattoo. This not only protects your skin, but keeps the tattoo from fading.

Types of Body Modification

Sometimes It is hard for people to believe the meaning of Body Modification, but once you read this you might realize it has always been present in our lives.

Explicit ornaments

Body piercing – Permanent placement of jewelry through an artificial fistula; sometimes further modified by stretching.

Ear piercing – The most common type of body modification.

Dermal anchoring Similar to transdermal implants, giving the appearance of a small bead on the skin.

Pearling – Also known as genital beading.

Neck ring - Multiple Neck rings are worn to stretch the neck.

Scrotal implants

Eyeball tattooing – Injection of a pigment into the cornea.

Extraocular implant (eyeball jewelry) – The implantation of jewelry in the outer layer of the eye.

Surface Piercing – A surface piercing is a piercing where the entrance and exit holes are pierced through the same flat area of skin.

Microdermal implants

Transdermal implant – implantation of an object below the dermis, but which exits the skin at one or more points.

Surgical augmentation

In contrast to the explicit ornaments, the following procedures are primarily not meant to be exposed per se, but rather function to augment another part of the body, like the skin in a subdermal implant.

Breast implants – Insertion of silicone bags filled with silicone gel or saline solution into the breasts to increase their size, or to restore a more normal appearance after surgery.

Silicone injection

Subdermal implant – implantation of an object that resides entirely below the dermis, including Horn implants.

Removal or split

Hair cutting

Hair removal

Male circumcision – the partial or full removal of the foreskin, sometimes also the frenulum – conversely some men choose to take up foreskin restoration.

Female genital cutting – removal of the labia minora or the clitoral hood.

Frenectomy

Genital bisection – splitting of both the underside and the top of the penis, including Genital inversion.

Meatotomy – splitting of the underside of the glans penis.

Headsplitting – splitting of both the underside and the top of the glans penis.

Nipple removal

Nipple splitting

Nullification involves the voluntary removal of body parts.

Body parts that are removed by those practicing body nullification are for example Fingers, Penis (penectomy), Testicles (castration), Clitoris, Labia or Nipples. Sometimes people who desire a nullification may be diagnosed with body integrity identity disorder or apotemnophilia.

Subincision – splitting of the underside of the penis, also called urethrotomy.

Lingual frenectomy

Tongue splitting – bisection of the tongue similar to a snake's.

Trepanation, drilling a hole into the skull.

Applying long-term force.

Body modifications occurring as the end result of long term activities or practices.
Corsetry or tightlacing – binding of the waist and shaping of the torso.

Cranial binding – modification of the shape of infants' heads, now extremely rare.

Breast ironing – Pressing (sometimes with a heated object) the breasts of a pubescent female to prevent their growth.
Foot binding – compression of the feet of girls to modify them for aesthetic reasons.

Anal stretching

Non-surgical elongation of organs by prolonged stretching using weights or spacing devices.

Some cultural traditions prescribe for or encourage members of one sex (or both) to have one organ stretched till permanent re-dimensioning has occurred, such as: The 'giraffe-like' stretched necks (sometimes also other organs) of women among the Burmese Kayan tribe, the result of wearing brass coils around them. This compresses the collarbone and upper ribs but is not medically perilous.

It is a myth that removing the rings will cause the neck to 'flop'; Padaung women remove them regularly for cleaning etc.

Stretched lip piercings – achieved by inserting ever larger plates, such as those made of clay used by some Amazonian tribes.

Others

Branding – controlled burning or cauterizing of tissue to encourage intentional scarring.

Ear shaping (which includes Ear cropping , Ear pointing or "elfing")

Scarification – cutting or removal of dermis with the intent to encourage intentional scarring or keloiding.

Tooth filing

Bodybuilding

Controversy

The head of a man with conspicuous tattoos and other body modifications. Some sources of controversy stem from the notion of attempting to artificially beautify the natural form of the body, often leading to charges of disfigurement and mutilation. Extreme forms of body modification are occasionally viewed as symptomatic of body dysmorphic disorder, other mental illnesses, or as an expression of unchecked vanity.

Unlicensed surgery (i.e. the plastic surgery field) performed outside of a medical environment can often be life-threatening, and is illegal in most countries and states."Disfigurement" (a subjective term) and "mutilation". (regardless of any appreciation this always applies objectively whenever a bodily function is gravely diminished or lost, as with castration) are terms used by opponents of body modification to describe certain types of modifications, especially non-consensual ones. Those terms are used honestly uncontroversially to describe the victims of torture, who have endured hurt to ears, eyes, feet, genitalia, hands, noses, teeth, and/or tongues, including amputation, burning, flagellation, piercing, skinning, and wheeling.

"Genital mutilation" is also used somewhat more controversially to describe certain kinds of socially prescribed modifications to the genitals, such as circumcision, female circumcision, castration, and surgeries performed to conform the genitals of individuals with intersex conditions to those of typical males or females.

Individuals known for extensive body modification.

Rick Genest, has had his entire head and torso tattooed so as to appear like a human skeleton.

Pete Burns, had extensive polyacrylamide injections into his lips, along with cheek implants, several nose re-shapings and many tattoos.

Elaine Davidson, the "Most Pierced Woman" according to the Guinness World Records.

The Enigma

Lolo Ferrari

Julia Gnuse ("The Illustrated Lady")

Cindy Jackson, had more cosmetic surgery procedures than anyone else in the world.

Katzen ("Cat woman")

Tom Leppard, formerly considered by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the world's most tattooed man.

Erik Sprague ("The Lizardman"), with sharpened teeth, full-body tattoo of green scales, bifurcated tongue, and recently, green-inked lips.

The Scary Guy, his nose, eyebrows and ears are pierced and tattoos cover 85 percent of his body.

Lucky Diamond Rich, holds the Guinness world record as "the world's most tattooed person" as of 2006.

Hao Lulu, extensive cosmetic surgery in 2003 to alter her appearance, tagged "The Artificial Beauty".

Horace Ridler ("The Fantastic Omi"), tattooed in a pattern of curved black stripes, often described as zebra-like.

Pauly Unstoppable, the first person to get the white of their eye tattooed.

Stalking Cat ("Cat man") Stelarc, got a cell-cultivated ear implanted into his left arm.

Jocelyn Wildenstein ("Lion Queen / Cat Woman")

Fakir Musafar, having exposed himself to body piercing, tightlacing, scarification, tattooing and suspension.

Waka Flocka Flame chooses Ink over Mink

American rapper and hip-hop artist Waka Flocka Flame shook up the charts and the airwaves with his debut album, Flockaveli. This crunkster quickly became a musical sensation and is known for sporting some rockin' ink and serious jewelry. But underneath all that bling is a heart of gold.

Waka Flocka Flame is a huge animal lover and is giving a shout-out to all the helpless fuzzy animals who are killed for their fur. The rapper has joined PETA's iconic "Ink, Not Mink" campaign and is showing his skin to help animals save theirs.


Waka thinks that "[fur] is nasty!" and urges the hip-hop community to "understand what you buy." Animals who are killed for their fur, such as foxes, minks, rabbits—even dogs and cats—are bludgeoned, stomped, electrocuted, and often skinned alive. Waka shares his disgust and exclaims, "Damn … electrocuting and killing animals!" Undercover investigations reveal the horror as the animals struggle and scream in pain as workers peel the skin from the writhing animals' bodies. 

Waka Flocka Flame shot two additional ads for PETA. Check out the explicit and tame versions now!

Animals endure tremendous pain and suffering before they are turned into coats, vests, hats, and other accessories. The only way to prevent such unimaginable cruelty is never to buy or wear any fur or fur trim and to encourage others to do the same. As Waka Flocka Flame prepares his sophomore album, Triple F Life: Friends, Fans, & Family, one F you'll never see him in is fur.

Slice & Burn

"A decade ago, in Boston for her 35th birthday, she paid a call on a body-modification artist. Ms. Hamilton wanted what's known as a 'slash and burn.' She selected a spot on her right arm to be ritualistically cut, dabbed with alcohol and set aflame. 'It's sort of like a tattoo except 5,000 times more painful,' she said. 'And when they cut you, my God, they cut you.'"

Tattoos in the Work Environment

Millions of Americans have at least one tattoo. It's a growing way to express creativity, individuality or solidarity, and a certain aesthetic. However, some employers are still a little leery about workers having visible ink.

It's a fairly common story these days: someone interviews for a position (usually dressed in a business suit or "business casual," and once he or she gets the job, the jacket comes off and the tattoos come out.

Many people feel that unless it's a job that requires tattoos, they can't go into most office settings with a sleeve of tattoos. But when people get to know the person underneath the ink, they often see that they're more than just the images.

Some bosses say they feel the tattoos have no impact on job performance. But many employers may not have that same vision. Most people say they don't judge a book by its cover, or a person based on appearance, but the reality is many do.

But there's little doubt tattoos are more mainstream than even twenty years ago. A 2008 survey showed a quarter of US adults in their 30's, and 32% of 25 to 29 year-olds have at least one.

But it's the placement of body art that could be the issue at hand. Taking into account what kind of career a person wants is a factor in where on the body a person gets a tattoo.

Despite their popularity, visible tattoos could still lead some people to question the wearer's professionalism. Whether or not the idea of visible tattoos is unprofessional, many with ink stand behind the decision they made. And the beauty, as well as the shock.

Body Modification & Cultures

A very strange in our society and culture of many societies around the world is that of body modification. body modification has been around for hundreds of thousands of years for various reasons. The first change had something to do with the cultural significance in many cases, but do so in other cases it was just vanity. People from cultures around the world during the time they were with their physical appearance, and wants to go to great lengths. Improving

The concept of beauty is one that seems the same all over the world and time, but that simply was not the case. In particular, a long-necked African culture are considered beautiful. It 'really so important that women have a long neck, in which metal rings around the neck by a very young age and gradually add more rings around the neck in force have taken an unusually long time. This change is so serious that when the metal rings were removed from their necks, these women would not be able to hold my head up.

At one point, small feet were considered beautiful and very important to have women in Japan. It was considered so important for a firm base of small women who have one child, Japanese women have their feet bound in narrow bands to prevent their feet from growing.

One of the most common types of change is the tattoo. The tattoo has been through age and is only becoming more popular over time. One reason for this increase in popularity is based on television programs that have glorified the culture of tattooing. People from all walks of life are tattooed in those days. In recent days, tattoos were reserved for specific social groups. This is no longer the case and the people themselves are tattoos, just because it's popular to do and what it has become more culturally accepted.

The most severe forms of Body Modification includes branding. If a person is stigmatized, the temperature is very hot super high heat metal device, and that means the skin for a few seconds on hold, causing severe burns. This particular type of body modification is very dangerous because it burns easily become infected.

A modification of the body is very strange that come into fashion with the Underground pop culture systems. A stainless steel or Teflon implanted under the skin piece, shocks form on the outside of the skin. This is quite rare, but it's still popular.

Another strange kind of body modification is "gauging". After the pierced ears is certainly not new, but this particular spin on the ear piercing is something new. It starts with an individual simply bored with their own ears. Then a larger device is inserted into the hole every week or so until the hole expands to 2 inches in diameter.

What type of Body Modification choose whether it is a tattoo or implanted under the skin with the metal, the reasons are usually very personal. Although there are more popular for people with strange body modifications, many of these changes in the body is still pretty taboo. The only exception would be a tattoo. This is a particular kind of change in the body.