Tattoosday Goes to Sweden, or Sweden Comes to Tattoosday

Walking down 7th Avenue on Friday, October 19, I spotted a sleeved arm approaching, Sorry, it was a couple. Man and a woman, young, in their mid to late 20's...(apologies if you are reading this and are younger).<br /><br />Behold, the guy was game for talking tattoos. In fact, Jörgen Wiklund, visiting from Sweden, was extremely cool and patiently indulged me as I tried to write down names in his native tongue.<br /><br />Jörgen wasn't sure how many tattoos he had...he guessed around 15 or so. I snapped two. First, since we are in New York City, this seemed apropos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKpAHzqNqu_2rSHYG5IvFr5QD5Ss4uL7XyMedZ3A3YQn6bbvGz8naLTjYxXc0PzQjYlkybBTPzGEmTa8EqaoApnQuJlh9N76r3lmlGEou62ezGhLGcidXMjl8C8iIgeJEsJ0l4EjSGAic/s1600-h/100_5607.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123891173723413922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKpAHzqNqu_2rSHYG5IvFr5QD5Ss4uL7XyMedZ3A3YQn6bbvGz8naLTjYxXc0PzQjYlkybBTPzGEmTa8EqaoApnQuJlh9N76r3lmlGEou62ezGhLGcidXMjl8C8iIgeJEsJ0l4EjSGAic/s400/100_5607.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B2tMlLJsOPLS2qITQ02HKy92F2kn-V9xGFG8N2-k5bzHlfaUrRn02iGxoadHBk_QiXsBVaWqVrMYFHRsKPXJFKZN68SsU_kqztmXAmpcCXlC1Wxeb6PkHMP5hQXdst5bKmMg5edn7AIQ/s1600-h/sq-dee-perf-bass-mtv.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124510615381679570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B2tMlLJsOPLS2qITQ02HKy92F2kn-V9xGFG8N2-k5bzHlfaUrRn02iGxoadHBk_QiXsBVaWqVrMYFHRsKPXJFKZN68SsU_kqztmXAmpcCXlC1Wxeb6PkHMP5hQXdst5bKmMg5edn7AIQ/s320/sq-dee-perf-bass-mtv.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Jörgen characterized all his tattoos as whimsical, fun, spur of the moment decisions. This is a tattoo representing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dee_Dee_Ramone">Dee Dee Ramone</a>, as a duck. He elaborated that his girlfriend had a duck-like haircut and earned the nickname "Ducky," so this piece was a tribute to her.<br /><br />The Ducky Ramone was inked at <a href="http://beta.blogger.com/profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=163953513">Evil Eye Tattoo in Stockholm</a>.<br /><br />Jörgen also let me take a picture of this interesting piece, which he says is an homage to the musician <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roky_Erickson">Roky Erickson</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoDM0h73JuYz7nox3Xyur2bSPWlWwAjCKSXKv2_WePtUegLvB5q_hhwfFfDUgyfetDHLZa3oDOA5k4W1fwDn_6j9G6P3LozekhXR4ZfAcgtucq0F8a-82Y7idYufBszHjxqZBGANDZxim/s1600-h/100_5608.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123890907435441554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoDM0h73JuYz7nox3Xyur2bSPWlWwAjCKSXKv2_WePtUegLvB5q_hhwfFfDUgyfetDHLZa3oDOA5k4W1fwDn_6j9G6P3LozekhXR4ZfAcgtucq0F8a-82Y7idYufBszHjxqZBGANDZxim/s400/100_5608.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />It took some searching, but this tattoo is based on what I'm guessing is an out-of-print or special edition cover of Roky Erickson and the Aliens CD <span style="font-style: italic;">I Dream of Demons</span> :<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgbPin_As-RaIyCRGbYEUN_zyQFbyc55PgfoeRmh_Jirx3Xo803YcUvqK8OSB85B4s9opAPH_mp9I1iZmwpBzhZE4N7_rYv_qDa4ehuC1ihKRFW_2WemwvvTejSrInaMdft_NNbYIrzTN/s1600-h/9-i-think-of-demons.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124519424359603682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgbPin_As-RaIyCRGbYEUN_zyQFbyc55PgfoeRmh_Jirx3Xo803YcUvqK8OSB85B4s9opAPH_mp9I1iZmwpBzhZE4N7_rYv_qDa4ehuC1ihKRFW_2WemwvvTejSrInaMdft_NNbYIrzTN/s400/9-i-think-of-demons.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>When I asked who Roky Erickson was, thinking he was perhaps a Swedish musician, he enlightened me, saying he was from Texas and that he was "the greatest musician that ever lived."<br /><br />When he asked if I had heard of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Floor_Elevators">13th Floor Elevators</a>, I said sure (one song on my BilliPod, "You're Gonna Miss Me," from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Fidelity_%28film%29"><span style="font-style: italic;">High Fidelity</span></a> soundtrack. You can hear the song <a href="http://www.rokyerickson.net/">here</a>, streaming on Erickson's website.<br /><br />The whole demon motif ties into the storied history of Erickson and his past with drug use, electro-shock therapy, and mental illness.<br /><br />Jörgen had this tattoo done in his home town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harnosand">Härnösand</a>, in northern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a>, at a shop called <a href="http://www.limeway.se/241976/Pauls_Custom_Tattooing.aspx">Paul's Custom Tattooing</a>.<br /><br />Jörgen was a real treat to meet. He and his girlfriend (who is tattoo-less) are/were in town for a week. I suggested she get her first tattoo in New York to commemorate her trip here. The were both good sports and I want to thank Jörgen and his significant other for their participation in Tattoosday and the contribution of the first international contribution to the blog.

Tattoosday Goes to Sweden, or Sweden Comes to Tattoosday

Walking down 7th Avenue on Friday, October 19, I spotted a sleeved arm approaching, Sorry, it was a couple. Man and a woman, young, in their...

Read more »

You Must Believe in Spring

I think that what makes Tattoosday successful are all the interesting, unusual, pieces that most people walk by, see, and wonder, "What the heck is that tattoo all about?"<br /><br />I'm going a little bit out of sequence here, as I still have two sets of tattoos from last week (from Mike and Jörgen) that I am still writing up. This one, however, is a little less work so I am getting it out of the way first. I spotted this on the inner arm of a guy waiting outside of Starbucks at the corner of 92nd and 3rd in Bay Ridge:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDi7mQtE0zyZ67Ew2iWJZNjP8lDZb30rN7FuDT5Qv47aC5dBsYNRa48E7hQSjV5mtzJ0tx5HPqF3NySN76xxykw4oCwPyCe7qvSFH_uqgaav52ac1q7t0YrBDVlWl0obr1vDu1ErFCtAb/s1600-h/100_5633.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123890546658188674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDi7mQtE0zyZ67Ew2iWJZNjP8lDZb30rN7FuDT5Qv47aC5dBsYNRa48E7hQSjV5mtzJ0tx5HPqF3NySN76xxykw4oCwPyCe7qvSFH_uqgaav52ac1q7t0YrBDVlWl0obr1vDu1ErFCtAb/s400/100_5633.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>It seemed pretty unusual so I stopped and asked him about it. He told me that it was an album cover. "Which one?" I asked. This one:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIAC6XJXdug55951JHtP_5g8or8LHa_b7BnI6Z35C7J6arTm3f3pb6lXOBkKdaF6Sr7RZm3hRBjicrgO8M1H5MUemiU7cnKZL5pKdxKDUwWD9aP_G-kQBjGEnDHRO82gy-W89Cm-Nb2hY/s1600-h/41GTKyMnsJL._SS500_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124124905843662258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIAC6XJXdug55951JHtP_5g8or8LHa_b7BnI6Z35C7J6arTm3f3pb6lXOBkKdaF6Sr7RZm3hRBjicrgO8M1H5MUemiU7cnKZL5pKdxKDUwWD9aP_G-kQBjGEnDHRO82gy-W89Cm-Nb2hY/s400/41GTKyMnsJL._SS500_.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Clarence, the possessor of the tattoo, had this representational tattoo inked in honor of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Evans">Bill Evans</a>' 1980 album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Must_Believe_in_Spring" style="font-style: italic;">You Must Believe in Spring</a>.<br /><br />The piece was tattooed at <a href="http://nyadorned.com/tattoo/index.htm">New York Adorned.</a><br /><br />I would have delved further into why this album was so important to him that he had it tattooed onto his arm, but the person he was waiting for came out with his coffee, and his dog started barking at other dogs, so I figured I wouldn't bother him anymore.<br /><br />Clarence, thank you for your contribution to Tattoosday and, if you'd like, feel free to <a href="mailto:oxypoet@gmail.com">e-mail me</a><br />as to the significance of this record.

You Must Believe in Spring

I think that what makes Tattoosday successful are all the interesting, unusual, pieces that most people walk by, see, and wonder, "What...

Read more »

Link O' The Day

Remember the Hawaiian Tattoo in Brooklyn (read post <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/10/hawaiian-in-brooklyn.html">here</a>)?<br /><br />Here's <a href="http://articlewagon.com/Article/Hawaiian-Arm-Tattoos/6833">a related article</a> about Hawaiian arm tattoos.

Link O' The Day

Remember the Hawaiian Tattoo in Brooklyn (read post here )? Here's a related article about Hawaiian arm tattoos.

Read more »

Atom Strange

On the way to work Thursday morning, I was passing through the <a href="http://www.manhattanmallny.com/">Manhattan Mall</a> from the subway whe I spotted a guy reading a paper at one of the tables on the bottom floor. This was peeking out from the bottom of his right sleeve of his t-shirt:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV2mKXp3nPxyP8TQsgkNWGsb2AE8E4m1p0s1141NZW4glFaHCiuvIZbWkxKyowEvwOqA_0_Sfoocq4XikwtCLn81YgXeGG032bNOoryQpBf1bDe0ASa0WKG5chGrd5uJuql_ZP64NRl3N/s1600-h/atom3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122893057683561602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV2mKXp3nPxyP8TQsgkNWGsb2AE8E4m1p0s1141NZW4glFaHCiuvIZbWkxKyowEvwOqA_0_Sfoocq4XikwtCLn81YgXeGG032bNOoryQpBf1bDe0ASa0WKG5chGrd5uJuql_ZP64NRl3N/s400/atom3.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />I walked up (after dodging a few commuters passing through the mall) and asked him if I could talk to him about his tattoo. He gestured to the empty chair opposite him and started chatting.<br />His name is Alex.<br /><br />At this point, I had only really seen the bottom of what was a half-sleeve. The stars and black lightning blots were compelling enough to get me to stop. Then he pulled his sleeve up to his shoulder to reveal the whole of the piece:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bZrtKek1Gg6oy678n23vPZypmaVkHj3V7vONgapgn9Q2rLnyEFwkVqkYKdtS1nUiPYGuIVplvLeCgRZXfQgqAemDdGJmgfmcN8xpvEtx3ZxhCAMS4fIs2c218ZSQZJCPxMDDI9kdXdlr/s1600-h/100_5592.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122892293179382882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bZrtKek1Gg6oy678n23vPZypmaVkHj3V7vONgapgn9Q2rLnyEFwkVqkYKdtS1nUiPYGuIVplvLeCgRZXfQgqAemDdGJmgfmcN8xpvEtx3ZxhCAMS4fIs2c218ZSQZJCPxMDDI9kdXdlr/s400/100_5592.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>The majority of the piece was done by Scott, who used to work at <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/#">Dare Devil Tattoo</a> on Ludlow Street. The bolts were inked in later at <a href="http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7098974/new_york_ny/venus_modern_body_arts.html">Venus Modern Body Arts</a> on East 4th.<br /><br />When I asked Alex what inspired this work, he said that he is a big science fiction fan, from <a href="http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Verne">Jules Verne</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells">H.G. Wells</a> to more modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_science_fiction">"hard" sci fi</a> which has a deeper connection to hard scientific fact. I discussed my own appreciation of <a href="http://www.philipkdick.com/">Philip K. Dick</a> and talked about how, if you read too much of his work, you start to feel the author's reknowned paranoia, and it begins to affect the way one thinks. Here's a closer look at the piece:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ01qzSwsMQW3sRQJmqfH_Wy5WU2WPc1q5W-koVbxS64tO4HobLLIeITDW280l9kB23hpQ1Y7kKgy4CzNd1B6LcrPN2fB4eaAzMDLjFbx-t0jM57xRVZsk2g-zVu-6cyAuk6lemK-MZjOS/s1600-h/atom2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122892619596897394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ01qzSwsMQW3sRQJmqfH_Wy5WU2WPc1q5W-koVbxS64tO4HobLLIeITDW280l9kB23hpQ1Y7kKgy4CzNd1B6LcrPN2fB4eaAzMDLjFbx-t0jM57xRVZsk2g-zVu-6cyAuk6lemK-MZjOS/s400/atom2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>I asked him about any other tattoos. He briefly flashed one on his upper left shoulder that he got when he was younger. He indicated that he was thinking of having it removed/covering it up and incorporating it into a themed piece spanning his back and connecting to the other sleeve.<br /><br />He did have this tattoo on his inner forearm:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFKLWhU_Kk5pa17bm3iKxRRvuNzbDTKzizJDO52KvCSL9HS28BZibWMsndAdscBqHIOhriSOodHSKhDg66vTMXIOpA-WUPWSbaZasNKE7Uwl5ts1WTIteas-a81gVBRWYKNOTaBrHOf1u/s1600-h/100_5593.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122892125675658322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFKLWhU_Kk5pa17bm3iKxRRvuNzbDTKzizJDO52KvCSL9HS28BZibWMsndAdscBqHIOhriSOodHSKhDg66vTMXIOpA-WUPWSbaZasNKE7Uwl5ts1WTIteas-a81gVBRWYKNOTaBrHOf1u/s400/100_5593.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />I assumed it to fit in with the sci fi theme, but he also indicated it referred to his band. Oh? What band?<br /><br />He is in a band called <a href="http://www.atomstrange.com/">Atom Strange</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtZDLnHNvdNnsq8cs3OAjb74qZ4-SoUmtnPeinf9UI_rYqx_xe2y9lWlrm31sG_HfkvP1_9-0Uw_wPrTUmSpilf2MVwgsIfdbql8k-7FvDGTvKjKMg9BiyAleJMrk6v95vze19CGYFptY/s1600-h/SurferBand.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123059745364319586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtZDLnHNvdNnsq8cs3OAjb74qZ4-SoUmtnPeinf9UI_rYqx_xe2y9lWlrm31sG_HfkvP1_9-0Uw_wPrTUmSpilf2MVwgsIfdbql8k-7FvDGTvKjKMg9BiyAleJMrk6v95vze19CGYFptY/s400/SurferBand.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>He's the guy on the far left. I later learned he was the guitarist.<br /><br />"What kinds of music do you like?" Alex asked.<br /><br />I told him I liked pretty much everything that I used to say I liked everything but country, but then I discovered <a href="http://www.lucindawilliams.com/">Lucinda Williams</a>. He nodded in agreement. "Lucinda Williams is great," he added.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5LllrkfIn3j5vuMBusw7VDnqnQNt9veVRWIYNXGnu8D_wQd5qMGWcdPi72T-4gSH8Gf-Gt66fMJGGcsoxvaScWekXxHpk9sU3I0lxFmI0oMOzlQ_V-cb3s_1k3MVruluePA4HJcILyTQ/s1600-h/atom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123060681667190130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5LllrkfIn3j5vuMBusw7VDnqnQNt9veVRWIYNXGnu8D_wQd5qMGWcdPi72T-4gSH8Gf-Gt66fMJGGcsoxvaScWekXxHpk9sU3I0lxFmI0oMOzlQ_V-cb3s_1k3MVruluePA4HJcILyTQ/s400/atom.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />He reached into a bag and handed me Atom Strange's CD. The theme matched his tattoo. You can order the CD <a href="http://www.atomstrange.com/">here</a>. I''ll be reviewing it in the near future over on <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/">BillyBlog</a>.<br /><br />Here's a shot, not taken by me, in which you can see Alex and his tattoos in action:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BitogksWn8bVKmoaBWGvSs7P0LoKVsOghv4-PO4wb5lDfiei6pNQws0g_1lFK-UydOdJd7NMyiNUqUqg5uJsBq47g8i2t7fRMT5jt_mzNV4iJswucA63kuka3yxySEEGMxTYY-p1BKDp/s1600-h/normal_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123058980860140882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BitogksWn8bVKmoaBWGvSs7P0LoKVsOghv4-PO4wb5lDfiei6pNQws0g_1lFK-UydOdJd7NMyiNUqUqg5uJsBq47g8i2t7fRMT5jt_mzNV4iJswucA63kuka3yxySEEGMxTYY-p1BKDp/s400/normal_1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />I have listened to the CD once through and I like it, but will give it some more attention before writing about it in detail. Alex said that some people compare them to early <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20onblur=%22try%20%7Bparent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully%28%29;%7D%20catch%28e%29%20%7B%7D%22%20href=%22https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BitogksWn8bVKmoaBWGvSs7P0LoKVsOghv4-PO4wb5lDfiei6pNQws0g_1lFK-UydOdJd7NMyiNUqUqg5uJsBq47g8i2t7fRMT5jt_mzNV4iJswucA63kuka3yxySEEGMxTYY-p1BKDp/s1600-h/normal_1.jpg%22%3E%3Cimg%20style=%22margin:%200px%20auto%2010px;%20display:%20block;%20text-align:%20center;%20cursor:%20pointer;%22%20src=%22https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BitogksWn8bVKmoaBWGvSs7P0LoKVsOghv4-PO4wb5lDfiei6pNQws0g_1lFK-UydOdJd7NMyiNUqUqg5uJsBq47g8i2t7fRMT5jt_mzNV4iJswucA63kuka3yxySEEGMxTYY-p1BKDp/s400/normal_1.jpg%22%20alt=%22%22%20id=%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123058980860140882%22%20border=%220%22%20/%3E%3C/a%3E">Stone Temple Pilots</a>. I certainly see (and hear) why.<br /><br />Anyway, thanks much to Alex for letting me interrupt his breakfast and paper on Thursday morning.<br /><br />You can hear samples and see the band profile on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/rofile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=5518635">their MySpace page</a>.<br /><br />I reviewed the CD over on BillyBlog <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2007/10/atom-strange-rocks.html">here</a>.

Atom Strange

On the way to work Thursday morning, I was passing through the Manhattan Mall from the subway whe I spotted a guy reading a paper at one of...

Read more »

The Phoenix and the Bulldog

Autumn has come to <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/?front_door=true">New York City</a>, making the mission of Tattoosday slightly more difficult. Cold weather sends tattoos scurrying under longer sleeves and lengthening hem lines.<br /><br />However, this week gave us a slight reprieve, and yesterday I spotted this nice piece in the plaza in front of the <a href="http://www.bordersstores.com/index.jsp">Borders</a> at <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhHrucuc8-LfjFpOTkv9iCEw9-EpzC8SpQZYNy-E_xSaLBLdaJPChcn_AtS_CKKgMQ31YcuSi0ybte6TUwlNiafSC1oAMu-mUrIbmWWb3gCe2Dz8_3en5emH9zHIiJMisSX-3X6VCG_DO/s1600-h/100_5562.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122078787718814658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhHrucuc8-LfjFpOTkv9iCEw9-EpzC8SpQZYNy-E_xSaLBLdaJPChcn_AtS_CKKgMQ31YcuSi0ybte6TUwlNiafSC1oAMu-mUrIbmWWb3gCe2Dz8_3en5emH9zHIiJMisSX-3X6VCG_DO/s400/100_5562.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Actually, I only spotted the tail feathers of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_%28mythology%29">phoenix</a> dropping below the short-sleeved left arm of a New Yorker named Dave Sperandeo.<br /><br />Dave said that the phoenix, which is a more common tattoo subject, represents his starting over after a divorce. This nice piece was inked by Peter at<a href="http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3718793148"> Peter & Cubo's Tattoing & Body Piercing</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_Park,_Queens">Ozone Park, Queens</a>.<br /><br />Dave offered up a second piece, on his left leg:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68ujR3qAvtnR53GOSyzeukETN88-xbzhWTgSBbWwgigvIINYZ-EhNkcOl9md0gQswdZ1qo8SN1dZ6xVmOZ_lqIPxWVzCEUK3OLrrzdWBa6acvoRjZxHNLXekEDQcmVMN3Wc7OkhEpptHq/s1600-h/100_5563.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122078676049664946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68ujR3qAvtnR53GOSyzeukETN88-xbzhWTgSBbWwgigvIINYZ-EhNkcOl9md0gQswdZ1qo8SN1dZ6xVmOZ_lqIPxWVzCEUK3OLrrzdWBa6acvoRjZxHNLXekEDQcmVMN3Wc7OkhEpptHq/s400/100_5563.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />As you may have guessed by the bulldog with the fire hose, Dave is a New York City fireman. He had this inked five years ago when he graduated from the academy and became a member of the <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/home2.shtml">FDNY</a>. I especially like the nice touch of the three blue water droplets at the end of the hose. This one was tattooed by Cubo at the same shop in Ozone Park mentioned above.<br /><br />Thanks again to Dave for offering up his ink and keeping Summer alive for Tattoosday for a little bit longer!

The Phoenix and the Bulldog

Autumn has come to New York City , making the mission of Tattoosday slightly more difficult. Cold weather sends tattoos scurrying under long...

Read more »

Buddhist Regret: A Follow-Up

This is a follow-up to <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/10/buddhist-regret.html">this post</a> regarding Vicki's tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8OkVU0YjU4-pe7qLqNoqq8Soxt5DjeS2O0DUMBnfs8IOJvggYew2ifdYqrSUnhiZJhaBQ4hi8BizLpkFZB8Nvx3kIvJnrhhKpT2Gi_AIjVrtZCdMBzHOC7wZME0t4afO64EdALJ8VT6M/s1600-h/100_5352.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118448754374678898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8OkVU0YjU4-pe7qLqNoqq8Soxt5DjeS2O0DUMBnfs8IOJvggYew2ifdYqrSUnhiZJhaBQ4hi8BizLpkFZB8Nvx3kIvJnrhhKpT2Gi_AIjVrtZCdMBzHOC7wZME0t4afO64EdALJ8VT6M/s400/100_5352.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Vicki was under the impression that this meant "the Path to Enlightenment". She also told me that the tattoo meant nothing to her and that she was considering having it removed.<br /><br />If she reads this post, her feelings may become even stronger.<br /><br />I hesitated before posting this, but because she was so down on this piece, I figured, if anything, I'd be doing her a favor.<br /><br />This Chinese characters do not reflect what she understands the tattoo to mean. From the top down, the first element is the triad of dashes on the upper right. These three strokes represent the number three. The large character at the top of the tattoo caused some consternation among my co-workers who are fluent in Chinese that I showed this to. One couldn't identify it at all and the other said that it most closely resembles the kanji meaning "look" or "see".<br /><br />The bottom character was easily identified by those I showed the picture to.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGAWNXs06haL1F0mHz_lpfl028c_pvRJmNRjc0CVo__owDO3t4A3UQc2fyhqk88DBF11h_f-CuFfCxBPvdKBU649C1qrJjAmez-GrB6m8iU8tPIg_bzJuJpTquGmGMI5hYEk8LWGbde0L/s1600-h/ist2_1185783_chinese_zodiac_cow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121958520044592018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGAWNXs06haL1F0mHz_lpfl028c_pvRJmNRjc0CVo__owDO3t4A3UQc2fyhqk88DBF11h_f-CuFfCxBPvdKBU649C1qrJjAmez-GrB6m8iU8tPIg_bzJuJpTquGmGMI5hYEk8LWGbde0L/s400/ist2_1185783_chinese_zodiac_cow.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>The character on the right in the illustration above matches the bottom character in the tattoo. It is the character for "cow". I am now theorizing that the top character is a distortion of the word "year" and that Vicki's tattoo represents the astrological year of the cow, or the ox, denoting people born in 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, or 1901. Although she mentioned she was 27, which would have put her birthday in 1980. Hmmm.<br /><br />The alternative, that it is just gibberish, "three look cow," is also a possibility. She did say that she found the kanji in a cartoon in a philosophy textbook.<br /><br />Regardless, it certainly makes the tattoo more interesting. Vicki, if you wish me to remove this post, please <a href="mailto:oxypoet@gmail.com">e-mail me</a>. I did not create this follow-up mean-spiritedly, but merely as a further exploration of your tattoo.<br /><br />There's a whole site called <a href="http://www.hanzismatter.com/">Hanzi Smatter</a> that analyzes "the misuse of Chinese characters in Western culture." They display some tattoo examples that illustrate that bad ink happens quite often, especially when tattooing using foreign words and characters.<br /><br />My advice, when getting a tattoo of this nature, would be to go to at least two, if not three, opinions from independent, unrelated authorities of the language, before permanently inking a non-English piece. Hell, some people have a hard time with English! Check out <a href="http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_068144013.html">this story</a> from earlier this year in Chicago. Or <a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E0D7113BF934A25754C0A9679C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/T/Tattoos">this story</a> from 6 years ago.

Buddhist Regret: A Follow-Up

This is a follow-up to this post regarding Vicki's tattoo: Vicki was under the impression that this meant "the Path to Enlightenme...

Read more »

Anger Management

It is my practice, when someone is heavily inked, and they've agreed to let me take a picture, to ask them to offer up the piece that means the most to them.<br /><br />Last week I approached a guy named John in front of Madison Square Garden. He had numerous tattoos on his arms and looked like an excellent <span style="font-style: italic;">Tattoosday</span> candidate. However, when I asked him what tattoo was the most special, he raised his right pant leg to show me this interesting design on his calf:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9TM0EsC_HoKEpmCM3f31Acp62CafHZUJEWGbk6K3e_n3UdiGpxKxZOGnNjFehiTwAwrDdpsHbqrpgoA2pHxNfaxFQqBjLiJjKNd9PC-kwneB4B_lWqDdPzhnXpYPZbdAYyuVN5JoQR3u/s1600-h/100_5425.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119930737135131362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9TM0EsC_HoKEpmCM3f31Acp62CafHZUJEWGbk6K3e_n3UdiGpxKxZOGnNjFehiTwAwrDdpsHbqrpgoA2pHxNfaxFQqBjLiJjKNd9PC-kwneB4B_lWqDdPzhnXpYPZbdAYyuVN5JoQR3u/s400/100_5425.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>John described this "biomechanical" design as a shield that keeps his demons locked inside. The tribal symbol is an anchor that keeps him grounded. He was very open and acknowledged that he had anger management issues. The tattoo gives him strength to control those issues.<br /><br />This tattoo is one of 15 that John has. It was inked by <a href="http://www.doombrotherstattoo.com/hrt/index.html">High Roller Tattoo</a>, in Hicksville on Long Island, NY.<br /><br />After thanking John, I asked the woman standing next to him if she had any tattoos she wanted to share. She did. Donna has two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji" style="font-style: italic;">kanji</a> characters on her lower back that I wasn't able to get complete photographs of. I asked her to, at her convenience, send me better pictures, if she was interested in joining these pages. She said the kanji meant a lot to her, so I am interested in finding out why.<br /><br />Thanks John, again, for your participation. Here's hoping Donna will <a href="mailto:oxypoet@gmail.com">e-mail me</a> about her tattoos.

Anger Management

It is my practice, when someone is heavily inked, and they've agreed to let me take a picture, to ask them to offer up the piece that me...

Read more »