Update on a Bad Call

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

Back in August of last year, I wrote about an English guy named Kirk Bradley and the rather over zealous tattoo that he had done.  The tattoo was a major vote of confidence for his favourite football (soccer) club, Manchester City.  Bradley, so confident that his team would go the distance and win the 2011 Champion League championship, had a tattoo etched on his upper bicep of the Championship Cup and the words: Manchester City 2011 Champions League Winners.

Well, as of this past Wednesday, Bradley’s all too predictable fate was realized.  Manchester City lost the game that would have put them in the league that you need to be in before you can even get to the Champions League and compete for the championship itself.  Make sense?  If not, all you need to know is that Bradley’s plan to see his team win it all didn’t even come remotely close to fruition.

I wish I could say that any of this comes as a surprise, but it really doesn’t.  Not because I knew that Manchester City wouldn’t advance far enough in the rankings to compete for the championship, but because getting a tattoo of something that hasn’t happened is stupid.  Stupid things typically fail to materialize into smart things.

Ever the optimist, Bradley is now considering having the 2011 on his tattoo changed to a 2017, so that he can fail once again in seven years time and look like a bigger tit than he currently does.  Might as well.  I mean hell, the tattoo is there.  It sure isn’t going anywhere.

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Not in Denmark, You Don’t.

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

I’m starting to think that Denmark doesn’t like tattoos.

Back in February, I posted a link to an article about the Danish prison system’s ban on tattoos in the workplace for guards.  That was quite surprising considering how liberal of a country Denmark is and that Copenhagen in particular has a strong legacy of very good tattoo artists.  I myself still have plans to get to Copenhagen one day in search of the highly skilled Uncle Allan.

Despite this, Copenhagen once again finds itself in the spotlight, this time for handing out a 1,000 kroner ($131 USD, £87 GBP) fine to a tattoo artist who dared to do his job and tattoo a customer’s face.  Denmark apparently has a law dating back to 1996 which forbids a tattoo artist from tattooing a person’s head, neck, or hands.  All together now: WHAT?

I know, I know…that is completely insane.  What really gets me about the whole thing is that the law is from 1996!  It wouldn’t be that surprising if the law came from 1886, but 1996?  It just blows me away.

I don’t have a lot of information on the issue, but from the information that this tiny article supplies, it seems that the cops were just waiting around outside of the shop to bust the guy who had just had his face tattooed.  I guess the cops in Copenhagen don’t have anything better to do.  Not that I’m trying to suggest anything disparaging about Copenhagen, but dudes need to sort this one out.  A law like that is a total step backwards in time.

If there are any Danes out there who can fill me in more on this story, I’d love to hear from you.  In the meantime, come on, Copenhagen.  Get rid of that law.

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Bad.

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

I don’t really like to make fun of people’s tattoos.  Honestly.  I know that sounds a little holier-than-thou, given that everyone at some time or another in their lives has either criticized or otherwise full-on mocked the shit out of someone’s tattoo(s).  You just know that you have.  It doesn’t mean that you still do it, but come on, some tattoos are just bad.

It is in this spirit of accepting that some tattoos are just plain bad and admitting that we are all guilty of at one time or another laughing about as much, that I provide Mike’s Number One Super Important Tattoo Tip For People Planning to Get Elaborate and Extensive Tattoos: If you’re in love with a particular portion of pop culture like, a television series or, oh, I don’t know…Star Wars and you absolutely need to have it tattooed on to your body, well then the most important thing that you need to do is to find a very good tattoo artist.  Why?  Because if you skimp on a tattoo artist and get your entire back tattooed with characters from the Star Wars films by some dude who can’t tattoo, then your tattoos can end up looking like squiggly magic marker renderings of C3P0 and a Luke Skywalker that is more David Bowie than Jedi Knight.  And that particularly sucks when you have tattoos of one of the single most popular film series of all time all over your body because people are constantly going to be looking at your tattoos and wincing.  Because your tattoos are crap.

Hey, since I’m not sparing anyone’s feelings today, I might as well go right ahead and say that a good example of the type of person I was just referring to is 42-year-old Luke Kaye of Swindon, Wilts, England. Kaye has fourteen Star Wars related tattoos and has spent over 100 hours getting his homages to the films all over his body.  The tattoos range from bad to not so bad, to crap.

Oh well, at least Kaye is happy – and sorry ladies, but he’s taken.

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Things Are Tough All Over

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

No doubt about it, the economy is not too good across the world.  This has had varying degrees of impact on everyone, tattoo artists being no exception.  Tattoo artist Jay Moynahan, who owns the Foundation of Youth tattoo shop in Waterbury, Connecticut has experienced a 30% drop in business thanks to the shakey economy.

Moynahan, however, has begun to explore other payment options for people who might not have all the money they need to get a tattoo.  The end result is that bartering for tattoos at Foundation of Youth is an acceptable practice.  Moynahan will trade tattoo work for items such as Wii or Xbox 360 video games/systems, toys for his 2-year-old son, even shoes.  For Moynahan, the idea is to not only get something of value in return for his work even when money is scarce, but also to build up a loyal customer base that will hopefully remain until money isn’t so scarce.

“I believe that a lot of people who are trading will come back, and pay with cash when they have it,” said Moynahan, a Waterbury native who opened the store two years ago. “We want to be as favorable as possible to the customer.”

A cynical person could scoff this whole thing off as a dude who’s desperate for business.  But there’s something about the act of bartering for a tattoo that really highlights the true spirit of an artist.  It may just be one little shop in Waterbury, Connecticut, but I like this idea of Jay Moynahan’s and I wish him luck with it.

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Meet Horiren!

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

Not that it matters whether there’s a male or female hand behind the tattoo machine at any given time, but it’s a fact that some of the greatest tattoo artists currently working in the tattoo universe are female.  Seeing a woman working as a tattoo artist is totally commonplace in various cities and countries around the world.  Japan however, is not one of those places.  Laden with a reputation for an outdated and all around negative attitude toward the tattooed and tattoo artist in general, checking out the work of a female tattoo artist in Japan is not nearly as easy as it is over here in the Americas.

So when I found out that there was an astoundingly good, female tattoo artist from Japan who still practiced the Japanese traditional tattooing of Tebori, I kind of rushed to see what exactly Horiren had to offer.  And…wow, I mean, just…wow.

Oddly enough, unlike most tattoo artists, Horiren made her way into the Japanese tattoo world by practice, study and of course, talent – and not by apprenticing, at any point.  She worked as an illustrator for many years before actually setting off to pursue work as a tattoo artist.  It was during a trip to Australia that she had her first tattoos done, and because she was paying to have what was basically tattoo flash done, she began to consider what it would be like if she designed her own tattoos.  Then, through a process that involved reading American Tattoo magazines, studying photos of Yakuza member’s tattoos in a particular Yakuza journal and of course, actually practicing on herself and friends, Horiren learned her art form.

For the first 8 years of her career as a tattoo artist, Horiren focused on doing small tattoos.  Five years ago, she changed things up a bit and began doing tremendous full back pieces.  Unsurprisingly, her skill level could well handle such a transition.  Though she works primarily in the Tebori style, sometimes Horiren will use a tattoo machine, but only if the person she is doing the tattoo on is short of time or if she had previously begun a tattoo with a tattoo machine.

To get an appointment with her for a tattoo, meet someone who knows her.

- Hey, that’s one more reason to visit Japan!

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Tattooed for a Cause

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

Hey San Diegoans: looking for something to do this weekend?  Why not go get some BBQ, get tattooed and help out with a completely worthwhile cause?

A local woman’s softball team in the America’s Finest City Softball League (AFCSL) is holding a fundraiser this weekend, with the help of local tattoo shop, On Point Tattoo.  One of On Point Tattoo’s artists, Nicole (Coco) Boyce, doubles as a member of The Square Shooters women’s softball team.  The team is attempting to raise money to help teammate and friend Christynn Holt deal with the enormous medical bills as a result of her ovarian cancer.

In addition to struggling to raise the necessary funds for Christynn’s medical bills, the team is also trying to raise enough money to enter the Sweet Madness tournament; a charitable tournament whose theme this year is “Homerun for Christynn”.  All proceeds from the tournament will also go to helping Christynn in her fight against cancer.

Now that you know all the details, why not head over to On Point Tattoo this weekend (1020 Grand Ave. in Pacific Beach), and chose from the four different  ribbons that will be on sale for as cheap as $30 per tattoo?  There is a standard teal ribbon, which the Shooters have been wearing on their uniforms as a reminder of Christynn, their teammate who can no longer play.  Then there is a single pink ribbon for breast cancer.  You can also get one with both ribbons intertwined($50), and finally one that is a camouflage design, using both the teal and pink ribbons.

The proceeds from this will go to Christynn and the girls (which ultimately goes back to Christynn).  Maybe you’ve got a relative or a friend or a loved one of some type who passed away from cancer.  If you’re in San Diego and you’ve got the money and the skin, it can be a great way to honour/remember that certain person, as well as lending a hand with a worthwhile cause.

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Step By Step

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

Hey!  Good news if you have tattoos and live in the state of Illinois – you can now donate blood!  The state of Illinois has officially deemed you human enough to donate blood immediately!

Previously, Illinois state law prohibited anyone with tattoos or piercings from donating blood for a period of at least 12 months following a piercing or tattoo.  In all seriousness though, it wasn’t so much that the state of Illinois previously had a problem with tattooed people, but more a case of the state of Illinois not being sufficiently prepared to regulate the tattoo industry.

Now however, Illinois has a Body Art Division amongst the Department of Public Health.  This Body Art Division is responsible for enforcing and inspecting the tattoo studios and shops of Illinois, ensuring that people who go to get tattoo work or piercing done do so in a clean, safe and hygienic environment.  Since this body is now in place, Illinois was confidently able to pass its Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment law which makes tattooed and body pierced people’s blood just as valuable as anyone else’s – without the 12 month wait.

This law should have been in place years ago, but…better late than never.

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Taking care of your tattoo

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

taking-care-of-your-tattooTattoos are a perfect way to literally make a mark on your body that reflects your personality. It’s a way of being individual and unique and can take years to come up with your favourite design! But although tattoos are fun, arty, beautiful and creative there are also some safety precautions needed to be taken for a period of time after your tattoo has been applied, to ensure your safety until the tattoo has healed. Temporary tattoos are easy to have removed whereas permanent tattoos need plenty of maintenance and care. You have to take major care that they do not get infected. Most popular tattoos involve full sleeve tattoos, back tattoos, upper arm or shoulder tattoos.
Some tips to look after your tattoo

•    The permanently tattooed are must stay bandaged for two weeks. This prevents any air born bacteria getting into the wound and using your blood as a breeding ground.
•    Apply mild ointment to the area to help speed the healing process and to also soothe the area. If any fluid does ooze out do not clean with your bare hands, also dap dry instead of brushing as this can prevent abrasion
•    Avoid taking an excessively hot bath for three weeks especially with upper arm tattoos. Also avoid swimming for three weeks and never keep soap on the tattooed area. Instead use lotions to cleanse and soothe the area
•    Whilst the tattoo is healing you are likely to get peeling on the area. Never remove this manually, instead get a warm compress over the area and it will heal itself. You should also use lotions, anything petroleum based will prevent peeling and scabbing
•    Also when the tattoo is healing, the area will feel itchy as the skin is drying, try not to scratch the area as you are at high risk of infection instead apply a warm compress again and the dry skin will come off naturally.
•    Avoid exposing your tattoo to direct sunlight. Sun exposure can lighten away the design and leave patches behind. It will reduce the glamour, if you want a vibrant tattoo always use sunscreen with minimum SPF30
I hope all these tips helped you with your tattoo and gave you an idea of how to look after it properly. If you follow all these tips carefully and precisely your tattoo will heal perfectly!


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Zodiac tattoos

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

zodiac-tattooA lot of people out there have zodiac tattoos. Some people do it as they have a strong belief in astrology and the stars. Some people do it to have their star sign on show at all times. Some do it as it looks good, and is a good design. For whatever reason people do it, it sure is a popular decision. A majority of these people have there own zodiac sign, but soon have others. Simply because the design suits them better, but some wear their partners zodiac signs on their skin, as a symbol that they will be together forever. Some choose zodiac signs based on what astrology may be saying at the time, such that there can be love matches made by reading astrology. In astrology there are signs that should be perfect together and signs that don’t work. If you follow astrology you may wear the sign of your soul mate.
Zodiac signs go best when you have chosen someone that fits best with the personality you have, as people who follow astrology will know your personality. It is important not to choose the wrong one.

Aries
(March 21 – April 20)
People born in this sign tend to be egoistic and tend to be rude towards others. They can be brave and adventurous

Taurus
(April 21 – May 21)
Taurus people have a large passion for art and for food. They live luxuriously but materialism and greed tend to be their downfalls. They are normally responsible and practical.

Gemini
(May 22 – June 21)
Gemini’s tend to speak their mind at any given situation. They have the gift of the gab and are also known to be very flexible

Cancer
(June 22 – July 22)
Kind, Caring and sympathetic people and believe a lot in intuition

Leo
(July 23 – August 22)
Tend to be dominant and bossy towards others but on the other hand they are powerful, confident and self-assured

Virgo
(August 23 – September 23)
They are analytical and clever, they can be too critical about many things. But they are hardworking, yet modest about achievements

Libra
(September 24 – October 23)
Has a great sense of justice and can attract a lot of friends.

Scorpio
(October 24 – November 22)
Scorpios tend to be envious of other peoples achievements, but are also the emotional ones! They are also very intense and passionate about all they do.

Sagittarius
(November 23 – December 22)
They are talented and sincere and never fail to see the positive in any situation

Capricorn
(December 23 – January 19)
Rational and reliable! But they can tend to be miserable and pessimistic but they do work hard to obtain any goals.

Aquarius
(January 20 – February 19)
Aquarius people are creative, independent and uBut they can also be very self-centred!

Pisces
(February 20 – March 20)
Humble, sensitive and like a Gemini flexible, the down side being that they can be very indecisive and weak at times.


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Pro-fit Institute

May 9th, 2010 by Kat Von

My buddy Irving Scott Henson officially opens his gym Pro-fit Institute (PI) on Sunday! PI is located amid lush greenery along the rich Tanglin Road. In fact, his gym is directly opposite the Brunei Embassy. That’s one heck of a landmark if you ask me!

I visited his gym on Thursday afternoon after walking three kilometers from Forum The Shopping Mall. Don’t ask why. Anyway…his gym looks just gorgeous! Or should I say “happening”? Well, you’ll see it soon enough in the pictures below. It looks so damn good I actually thought of working out. Now that’s rare!

I’m totally digging the red and white theme. It’s easy on the eyes and it exudes a real good vibe!

State-of-the-art technology & equipment.

The PI logo is embossed on every dumbbell. It ain’t stickers folks!

The door to the Men’s locker room…

Lockers for members…
You know what’s weird? I love the toilet! The Muhammad Ali posters they have on the walls are inspirational to say the least!

Here are some of the programmes offered at Pro-fit Institute:
Capoeira Classes
Yoga Classes
Sports Enhancement
Golf & Tennis Performance
Kickboxing
Triathlon Conditioning
Pre and Post Natal Exercise

Unlike some gyms I know of, PI doesn’t use low down tactics to attract or retain customers. Since the day I’ve known Irving, he’s been an upfront kinda guy and that’s exactly how he runs his business. He has put together a great team and that can only mean happy and satisfied customers at the end of the day.

Pro-fit Institute is a members only gym so if you’re open to the idea of keeping trim and fit, do give them a call or even better, visit them at the address below for a tour of the premises! If you drive, you’ll love to know that parking is FREE all day.

Location: Phoenix Park Complex. 316 Tanglin Road #02-01/02
Tanglin, Singapore, 247978

Telephone: 68873574

For more information, visit their website @ www.profit.com.sg or join their Facebook page by clicking here.

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