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Got this little guy last night from Perez. HE IS SO SAD

Happens to me all the time as people are always mistaking me for Justn Timberlake.

Yes, that it's it: cover your face so that no one will be able to recognize you.

Hey everyone, Now I am sure we have all had people come up to us and have some negative comment thrown at us about our tattoos. What have been some actual quick thinking comebacks you have used to sort of defend/make the idiot go away. I'll start it off: My wife and I were in a clothing store and this lady comes up to us and said "Look at that awful tattoo, I don't like to see that on a woman". My wife's zippy comeback was "Ya well I don't like to see a mustache and a beard on a woman either but there is nothing I can do about yours..." We laughed and she walked away all frown faced LOL

ive asked people to delete whatever picture theyve just taken of me pretending that they hadnt, they were pretty embarassed to have been busted. that or depending on their rudeness i give them the finger. yep, i'm a lady.

If you have time, the 'thumb through the fly/zipper to look like a penis' trick is a good one. Or make the sex gesture with forefinger entering thumb/forefinger deal. That or just flip them the bird. Imagine how cool their family album will look with a tattooed dude dropping some sneaky sex gestures.

Came here to discuss helping NY with their health codes. Will end up staying for the awesome!

Robin I am so glad you and your family are safe, Iwar and the rest of us were concerned for your well being. This kind of senselessness is infuriating.

Look at my thread about chemical compisition of tattoo pigments. Nobody want to reveal them, insisting its a "trade secret', yet probably a lot of these guys want to go to government agencies in a vain attempt to protect the trade. Can't have it both ways unfortunately. I think trying to get the government involved is just plain playing with fire. They will regulate and tax this thing to death. Look what happened in Oregon, apprenticeships are actually illegal, "tattoo school" is the only way to go there. Can't people understand that the authorities can never appreciate the informal teaching methods that is involved in any true apprenticeship? Gotta be "official", which includes unwarranted fees and ludicrous rules written by people that have absolutely no interest in tattooing whatsoever. Keep them out of it, educate the customer on what standards to insist on. True professionals have done a pretty good job of this on their own, because they care about the trade and have ethics. Quti trying to protect people from there own lack of judgement.

Your wife is much more witty than I. I would of called her a "Cock-sucker" all deadwood style. major props to your lady buddy.

Hey all, Scott recently posted to his blog here a letter from a friend regarding some positive action we could take regarding the glorification of tattoo schools. If you haven't read it, read it. Since letting my own indignation die down a bit, and especially since watching the first episode of Marcus Kuhn's Gypsy Gentleman and VBS' Tattoo Age, I have felt that the best responses are the indirect ones, that through creativity and a passion for tattoos, we needn't start protesting in the streets or bombarding TLC's hotlines, but instead simply continue to create / receive great tattoos, supporting the industry through legitimate projects like the ones just mentioned and being living, breathing examples of quality tattooers and educated customers. But Scott's post is related to the tattoo schools themselves, not to TLC (part of a billion-dollar corporation) and it brings up a good point that we, as a community, should instead be looking to the tattoo school businesses. As you know, I am not a tattooer, but I feel very strongly about so-called tattooers taking shortcuts, these businesses reaping the benefits and basically everyone just straight up losing on all sides. I've drafted a rough letter that can be sent to council members in Schenectady where one of the schools is located. I would love to get some feedback and hopefully we can make this a great one. I don't know enough about the health code aspects of it, so any more info. there would be great. LST member Witera33it has some new information from the NYS Dept. of Health regarding where to send the letters, so as we get the specifics worked out, take a look at the letter and please give some input. I guess it takes the mass media to create this groundswell, but hopefully contacting council members or the Dept. of Health will help in either stifling or shutting down these parasitic companies, or making new ones think twice before they open and start spreading their kitchen table scratcher gospel to millions of teenagers and 20-somethings who never thought about tattoos once in their lives but are now viewing it as a quick and easy alternative to becoming a banker. Thanks, hope this is helpful and constructive.

I've had the same guys as Valerie and I usually just mean mug the fuck outta them. Or I cross my arms and put my non tattooed hands over my tattoos. If someone asks me at a convention if they can take a photo I usually say yes unless it's because they want to go get the same thing done. Sneaky photos without asking is a really big no-no though. To my knowledge I haven't had the random tourist on the street photos but my best friend had some lady run up to her and start screaming "omg you kat von d" at her. She had hot pink hair at the time and has japanese and traditional style tattooing so needless to say she looks nothing like kat von d.

I've been a Raiders fan since Eazy and the boys wore the black cap.

A big thank you for joining in and adding your voice to our forum and this sticky subject. And don't worry, it's not always controversy and horrifying tragedy, sometimes we just laugh at dumb pictures together.

has anyone recommended TATTOOING THE INVISIBLE MAN by Hardy?

is he english? or an american just wishin' he was an english skinhead?

Heard from Black Metal Robin! he's fine and left a message on my profile if anyone would like to read what he wrote!

To be honest, I've already seen two apprentices leave my friend's studio, and another leave another friend's, because it was "too hard" in the end. Actually, one was asked to leave, because they hadn't bothered to draw anything they said they'd been doing at home, but it still goes back to the "too hard" excuse- maybe apprenticeships are enough. I mean, this is just from what I've seen, though, I've never had an apprenticeship myself of course!

Oooooooo, you should be sorry! We're mint, man! And even when we're not doing great... well, at least we're not 5under1and. ;)

I am always having to get things for my missus as she can't move, because of the cats. She'd get me to do the washroom thing for her as well, if she could.

My dog Clyde...we were tired:

my only question, and i'm only asking because this issue has been discussed on here, is does this bring too much government attention then to tattooing in general? will this then be grounds for more regulation on tattooing as a whole? i'm all for writing letters, but i guess i'm also worried that it will do more harm than good. maybe it won't though?

Stay safe, Iwar and Robin. Sending positive thoughts your way.

Would probably help if I included the letter... Dear _______, As you may be aware, the TLC television network is airing a series called Tattoo School that features a business called the Tattoo Learning Center, which operates facilities in San Diego, California and Schenectady, New York. Amidst all the recent publicity that it has garnered, I am urging you to please oppose this business. The trade of tattooing is one of the few occupations left in which a master trains an apprentice. This working relationship lasts years in order for the apprentice to acquire the mechanical, artistic and interpersonal skills necessary to complete a tattoo that is done correctly and is in line with strict guidelines established by the Department of Health. Tattooing is a licensed practice and a lack of knowledge regarding infection control and training related to blood-borne pathogens can create severe health risks. For a fee, the Tattoo Learning Center purports to teach years of training in a mere two weeks time. As a member of the tattoo community, I am appalled that such organizations are gaining legitimacy. I am disgusted by the flagrant disregard for the industry as a whole, and I shudder to imagine the health code violations which are bound to happen when so-called students are unleashed on the general public with only a modicum of training. Although these tattoo schools have always existed, they did so on the very fringe of the tattoo industry and had never been given much legitimacy simply because any tattooer –– or any tradesman, for that matter –– worth his or her own salt knows that paying a fee (usually ranging from $2,000 to $6,000) and spending a couple weeks in a classroom cannot begin to prepare anyone for real-world experience. However, because the TLC network has chosen to glorify this shortcut to tattooing, I am compelled to do everything within my power to oppose the Tattooing Learning Center and other businesses like it. Regardless of your opinion of tattoos or the tattoo industry, it is one of the richest and most sacred trades in our country and throughout the world. Centuries-old traditions are passed from master to apprentice, secrets are fiercely guarded and you would be hard-pressed to find the kind of support, loyalty and friendship between peers and coworkers in any industry. A doctor only becomes a doctor after years of schooling and multiple certifications. A master luthier can only be called a master after undergoing rigorous training. A sommelier is not simply a wine enthusiast because it has taken a lifetime to understand the complexities of wine. And any competent tattooer has spent years making tattooing his or her life work. Please oppose the Tattoo Learning Center in Schenectady and others like it. Sincerely...

Found this today and instantly recognized Ft. Mason at 1:05 (where the SFMOMA with the Ed Hardy show is located and where watched fireworks on the 4th). Makes me wish I had remembered my skateboard = )

Apparently I'm not the only one in the household who's into LST :D

As far as I know, if you book enough in advance it shouldn't be a problem. I think all you have to do is call the shop but I'm sure Dari could let you know better than I about that.

I can not speak highly enough of the guys at BlackHeart. My dude got his back from Rassier and it's one of the craziest things I've seen! If i was only ten hours away from them I'd be there a lot I can tell you that much! I'm hoping that as soon as I'm allowed back in the USA, a Cali trip will follow shortly after.

some progress on my backpiece!

part two is here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRi4fpvzefs

Just got this one done. Manee Friday from Imperial Tattoo in Downtown Portland.