If you recall, last week’s news was fairly long, so this week will be just a short update. I want to start off this week with an e-mail I received from Scott at Inkfliction Tattoo in Sioux City. As you may recall, a few months ago I posted a story about Scott’s studio running a charity tattoo drive to raise money for cancer research. Here’s what Scott had to say about it:
hey rob, this is scott magnetti, owner of inkfliction tattoo in sioux city iowa….1st of all i would like to say thanks for the article…we had an amazing amount of support not only from that article, but from the entire Siouxland community…we did that event as a way to raise awareness for cancer..its a disease that is non discriminatory..it affects women, men, children, etc…when we were approached to see if there was a way we could help, we new we could do something special. Kevin, ( my business partner) and myself were extremely busy that month…we set our goal at 1000.. not only did we hit our goal, we raised close to 8000…we did that at 25 dollar tattoos( cancer ribbons in any color), as well as a walk that we participated in at 35 dollars a person…we cannot say thank you enough to everyone that helped making this event a huge success…and the money raised went to some very worth while org….once again i would like to say thank you and from the crew here at Inkfliction, we deeply appreciate not only what you did for us but what everyone did…we look forward to 2011 so we can do this event again
So a big thanks to all the ModBlog readers who helped spread the word about this event to make it as successful as it was. If you know of any mod-related charity events going on, please submit them, so we can get the word out to those who may not know about it. Speaking of charity events, Twiztid Ink in Alvarado TX is holding it’s quarterly clothing drive next month.
The shop owner, addressed only by Twiztid, said he is holding his quarterly gathering giving back to the community. His latest event, Twiztid Ink Coverage, is a clothing drive that will be open to anyone who wants to join him bringing housecoat-style robes, slippers, socks or other clothing items on a trip to Alvarado’s Nursing Home. Twiztid said the facility is home to about 100 residents with about 60 being women and 40 men for whom he would like to offer the clothing. The Twiztid Ink Coverage clothing drive Saturday, September 4 begins at 9 a.m. with donuts and coffee at the meeting place. Patrons are invited to join in the ride at 10 a.m. and deliver new or gently used, cleaned clothing for Alvarado seniors at Alvarado Nursing Home 101 N. Parkway. Following the delivery, everyone is invited to spend a few minutes or a few hours sharing stories with seniors.
Not only is Twiztid helping out the nursing home by bringing the clothing, he’s encouraging participants to come along for the drop off and spend some time with the seniors. My grandmother, before she passed, was in a nursing home for a couple of years, and I know the highlight of any day would be getting a visitor. Now, in something completely unrelated, take a look at this find sent in by quinnnchick:
To find out the rest of the story, continue reading The article above, and the rest of it which you can find right here, is from the LA Times in 1905. It turns out a man had gotten a doctor to implant a bar into his scalp, to which he could affix horns, as well as replace two of his teeth with caps that allowed for tusks to be fitted in. I’ve always thought that sideshow workers had an affinity with the modded community, I just didn’t realize that transdermals were an option back then. To go back even further in time, scientists are realizing that the Nacurrie skeleton, discovered in 1948, may very well be the first documented occurrence of skull manipulation.
The shape of his cranium suggests Aborigines practised body modification, manipulating the contour of the skull, he said. The skeleton of Nacurrie suggests his skull shape was modified by subtle means, probably by massage from his mother’s hands. Several other skeletons found in the Murray-Darling area also had modified skulls. Cranium manipulation has been common throughout different cultures. By some reports, it was the most popular type of body modification after circumcision, said Professor Brown, whose findings are published in the Journal of Human Evolution.
As interesting as this is, I wonder how accepted this practice would be in today’s westernized world. I’m sure Conehead fanatics would be ecstatic about this. There are still Conehead fans out there right? While we’re on the subject of fanatics, I happen to know a couple of people who are very dedicated to their LEGO collections. I’m sure they’ll get a kick out of this next story.
A Lego person is a couple of inches tall on a good day, so it’s not exactly easy to draw a dragon, skull, or Harley Davidson logo on the arm of one. Seemingly, that’s just what Barcelona’s Grey advertising agency did to promote a line of Pilot’s extra-fine tipped pens.
Now I’m not a LEGO collector by any means, but if I saw these guys on the shelf, I’d be sure to pick them up. Too bad they’re probably just a clever photoshop.
This next story was submitted by AmberLilith, and it surrounds a somewhat troubling situation in the UK. I say troubling because I know that there is a community built around DIY modifications. I would definitely be interested in hearing their thoughts on a potential ban on DIY tattoo kits being sold online.
“The sale of tattoo equipment online is not regulated in any way, and well known internet auction sites, who are not prepared to sell items such as knives, are prepared to ignore the welfare of people and the risk of spreading diseases. These results are a big burden to those who do everything they can, to work in a safe and hygienic environment and in accordance with local health and safety laws.”
In addition to the kits being sold to unlicensed individuals (who go on to tattoo others), the kits don’t contain any form of instructions, or directions on proper sterilization. There actually isn’t even any proof given that the materials have been sterilized prior to being shipped. I’d like to believe that the people buying these kits will do research into safe practices, but with so much bad information floating around the internet, I’m a little worried that I’m going to be posting a story soon about an outbreak of hep from someone who didn’t bother to sterilize their equipment.
Well, that’s it for this week (I warned you it would be a short week), but I’ve got some great stories to feature later in the week so look forward to those.
BME/News and Modblog highlight only a small fraction of what
I WANT TATTOOED LEGO MINIFIGURES!!!!
I WANT TATTOOED LEGO MINIFIGURES!!!!
I’ve met a handful of people who have picked up comparatively cheap tattoo kits on Trademe.co.nz here in New Zealand. These people are covered in gross work, the worse kind of scratcher’s work. I say leave them to it. If they want to pick up crap guns, give each other hepatitis, and go around boasting about it, more power to ‘em. Can’t save every one. Nor should we want to!
I’ve met a handful of people who have picked up comparatively cheap tattoo kits on Trademe.co.nz here in New Zealand. These people are covered in gross work, the worse kind of scratcher’s work. I say leave them to it. If they want to pick up crap guns, give each other hepatitis, and go around boasting about it, more power to ‘em. Can’t save every one. Nor should we want to!
i too would love a tattooed lego guy or gal.
i also want to thank you for the update on the charity story.
it’s great to know about people from what i consider to be *my* community doing such lovely things to help others.
also, having grandparents who spent time in homes before their passing- i know how much visits would mean to them and i really like the idea of modified folks going to visit- you immediately have a subject to talk about!!
thanks for putting a smile on my face rob.
i too would love a tattooed lego guy or gal.
i also want to thank you for the update on the charity story.
it’s great to know about people from what i consider to be *my* community doing such lovely things to help others.
also, having grandparents who spent time in homes before their passing- i know how much visits would mean to them and i really like the idea of modified folks going to visit- you immediately have a subject to talk about!!
thanks for putting a smile on my face rob.
@Jon P
I’m really tempted to agree with you.
But it also makes me think of this really shady tattoo shop down the street from my best friend’s house. I have no idea what it’s like inside, but I know they’ve been busted by the cops several times for drugs, and the sign outside looks pretty bad. I worry about innocent/ignorant people who may be young/not know much about tattoos, go to a shady shop opened by someone that bought some kits online, and wind up getting an infection or a disease.
For my first tattoo, I went to a shop I didn’t know much about. They seemed clean, but hey, I don’t really know. They did pretty good work, I’m pleased with the result, but I got tested afterwards just to be safe, and thank goodness I didn’t catch anything. Sometimes I just think, shit – I really hadn’t done my homework and was still lucky enough not to catch anything.
@Jon P
I’m really tempted to agree with you.
But it also makes me think of this really shady tattoo shop down the street from my best friend’s house. I have no idea what it’s like inside, but I know they’ve been busted by the cops several times for drugs, and the sign outside looks pretty bad. I worry about innocent/ignorant people who may be young/not know much about tattoos, go to a shady shop opened by someone that bought some kits online, and wind up getting an infection or a disease.
For my first tattoo, I went to a shop I didn’t know much about. They seemed clean, but hey, I don’t really know. They did pretty good work, I’m pleased with the result, but I got tested afterwards just to be safe, and thank goodness I didn’t catch anything. Sometimes I just think, shit – I really hadn’t done my homework and was still lucky enough not to catch anything.
Lego is just great!!! I’m so impressed!!! I want to have them))) I still like Lego)
Lego is just great!!! I’m so impressed!!! I want to have them))) I still like Lego)
When I was a Kid the only bod mod gear was Moms sewing needles so we used them to do tats and piercings (mainly ears and noses), kids now use proper needles and even have some concept of aseptic technique . The State wants to control every aspect of our lives, we have enough law already. Eating sugar is BAD- control it! Smoking is BAD- ban it! Burgers are BAD- regulate it!
ENOUGH, if someone wants to maim themselves with home tats, thats their choice, NOT a bunch of tea party bible wielding freaks
.EDDY
When I was a Kid the only bod mod gear was Moms sewing needles so we used them to do tats and piercings (mainly ears and noses), kids now use proper needles and even have some concept of aseptic technique . The State wants to control every aspect of our lives, we have enough law already. Eating sugar is BAD- control it! Smoking is BAD- ban it! Burgers are BAD- regulate it!
ENOUGH, if someone wants to maim themselves with home tats, thats their choice, NOT a bunch of tea party bible wielding freaks
.EDDY
Now if that LEGO figure were actually drawn on…
Now if that LEGO figure were actually drawn on…
I definitely don’t think there should be a ban on tattoo machines. If someone wants a machine and wants to learn to tattoo themselves then thats awesome. I have a couple friends with machines who mainly tattoo themselves. They also tattoo their friends. Obviously that could be risky, but as long as they are cleaning their shit and using new needles and tubes I’m all for it. The problem is the shops, they need to be regulated, checked for cleanliness and such instead of any person being allowed to just open one up and start tattooing people.
I definitely don’t think there should be a ban on tattoo machines. If someone wants a machine and wants to learn to tattoo themselves then thats awesome. I have a couple friends with machines who mainly tattoo themselves. They also tattoo their friends. Obviously that could be risky, but as long as they are cleaning their shit and using new needles and tubes I’m all for it. The problem is the shops, they need to be regulated, checked for cleanliness and such instead of any person being allowed to just open one up and start tattooing people.
I was just having this discussion the other day about DIY tattooing, I live in Edinburgh, Scotland and there is a growing community of people who are untrained, untalented, and unsanitary that are tattooing people of out of their houses for either free or incredibly cheap prices.
Not only does this pose a risk to those both doing and getting the work done due to blood born pathogens, it also undercuts the real artists ability to make money, and finally it means that people are covering themselves with terrible quality work.
The fact that you can’t buy a kitchen knife set in a store here without getting asked for ID but you can order a tattoo machine and set up shop in whatever grungy flat you’re living in seems to be a major disparity to me.
The tattoo shops here are pretty heavily regulated when it comes to sanitary standards, I see no reason that the access to equipment shouldn’t be regulated at the same high standard, for everyone’s sake.
I was just having this discussion the other day about DIY tattooing, I live in Edinburgh, Scotland and there is a growing community of people who are untrained, untalented, and unsanitary that are tattooing people of out of their houses for either free or incredibly cheap prices.
Not only does this pose a risk to those both doing and getting the work done due to blood born pathogens, it also undercuts the real artists ability to make money, and finally it means that people are covering themselves with terrible quality work.
The fact that you can’t buy a kitchen knife set in a store here without getting asked for ID but you can order a tattoo machine and set up shop in whatever grungy flat you’re living in seems to be a major disparity to me.
The tattoo shops here are pretty heavily regulated when it comes to sanitary standards, I see no reason that the access to equipment shouldn’t be regulated at the same high standard, for everyone’s sake.
Amen Eddy
Amen Eddy