PhilB

Realism != pessimism. I'm not saying the current situation is right, just that it is. You have no idea what my attitude is.
Just because you think people shouldn't be getting judged by their appearance, doesn't mean they aren't. I am of North African/Middle Eastern decent. Should I explain to border guards (not as much an issue now, thanks to Nexus card) and airport security that they shouldn't let that make them give me extra scrutiny because I'm an atheist who was born in this country, thus taking me out of the potential terrorist category? No, I realize that there is a stigma associated with looking like me, and I show up extra early if I ever have to deal with security (maybe I should cross with tattoos more visible. Sleeve depicting science themes should help them rule me out!)
Is it right? You decide. But it definitely is.

And I want to live in this great utopia, with world peace, where the lion lay with the lamb, and we all get magical blowjobs from the heavens, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen any time soon.
Actually, everyone has the right to tell you that, but you also have the right to tell them to stuff it. You makes your choices, and you lives with the consequences.

And I want to live in this great utopia, with world peace, where the lion lay with the lamb, and we all get magical blowjobs from the heavens, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen any time soon.
Actually, everyone has the right to tell you that, but you also have the right to tell them to stuff it. You makes your choices, and you lives with the consequences.

And I want to live in this great utopia, with world peace, where the lion lay with the lamb, and we all get magical blowjobs from the heavens, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen any time soon.
Actually, everyone has the right to tell you that, but you also have the right to tell them to stuff it. You makes your choices, and you lives with the consequences.

Ditto.

All I can say is that in this area, 3 hours of work for a deuce would be like a major discount. Most places, I'd say a hundred an hour is gonna be about the minimum.
You play, you pay.
You can always find someone working at a truck-stop or out of a motel, or go to a "tattoo-party", but you'll get your $50 worth there.

Funny if I want to find source material for a tattoo the last thing I would look at is some bullshit flash web site. Most of the stuff is drawn on the computer and isn't even tattooable, not to mention the designs are horrible. I usually find non tattoo related reference if I am looking to get a tattoo drawn for me. If I want a particular bird or flower tattooed on me, I would find a book that has some good illustrations or photographs of them, or maybe just run the idea by the tattooer see if they already have the necessary reference material or even need it.
Paying for a tattoo design on the internet is about as stupid as paying for porn on the internet.

Just got more work done on the Sleeve of Science. Last two sessions start on the 9th picture.

Final bit done on my Horiyoshi III piece. Tattooed by @Stewart Robson at Frith Street Tattoos.
I love the detail & colours in this.

Horiyoshi, himself, liked this on Stewarts Instagram. Thats one hell of a compliment.

Awesome. You'll have a leg up on all the young kids. Motivation, work ethic, and paying for your own shit tends to keep things in perspective.
I went back to school in my 30s and graduated last year with my BSc. in Computing Science. Try not to get mad at the kids' sense of entitlement. They usually had me speak at orientation, because I would lay down the polite version of "Nobody owes you shit, and no one is responsible for your success but you. Your profs don't care, they are here to do research and are usually forced to teach, which many of them hate (and it shows)."
But, you know...with some jokes thrown in...Ahem.

I had a trauma doc at my hospital buy my partner and I coffee for doing some kick-ass patient care today. The dude still died, but felt good to hear a doc tell me I did a good job rather than yelling at me for not doing "enough". This was even after he threw up nasty coffee-ground vomit all over the team.

Awesome. You'll have a leg up on all the young kids. Motivation, work ethic, and paying for your own shit tends to keep things in perspective.
I went back to school in my 30s and graduated last year with my BSc. in Computing Science. Try not to get mad at the kids' sense of entitlement. They usually had me speak at orientation, because I would lay down the polite version of "Nobody owes you shit, and no one is responsible for your success but you. Your profs don't care, they are here to do research and are usually forced to teach, which many of them hate (and it shows)."
But, you know...with some jokes thrown in...Ahem.

Awesome. You'll have a leg up on all the young kids. Motivation, work ethic, and paying for your own shit tends to keep things in perspective.
I went back to school in my 30s and graduated last year with my BSc. in Computing Science. Try not to get mad at the kids' sense of entitlement. They usually had me speak at orientation, because I would lay down the polite version of "Nobody owes you shit, and no one is responsible for your success but you. Your profs don't care, they are here to do research and are usually forced to teach, which many of them hate (and it shows)."
But, you know...with some jokes thrown in...Ahem.

Awesome. You'll have a leg up on all the young kids. Motivation, work ethic, and paying for your own shit tends to keep things in perspective.
I went back to school in my 30s and graduated last year with my BSc. in Computing Science. Try not to get mad at the kids' sense of entitlement. They usually had me speak at orientation, because I would lay down the polite version of "Nobody owes you shit, and no one is responsible for your success but you. Your profs don't care, they are here to do research and are usually forced to teach, which many of them hate (and it shows)."
But, you know...with some jokes thrown in...Ahem.

Definitely looks like they are setting it up for self-destruction.

I don't have any ink that you can see when I'm in a t-shirt really, just the bottom of a wishy-washy black and grey half sleeve. However, I do have stretched lobes and keep my head closely shaven, and feel I get some stares for this at times. My partner and I were eating in a restaurant in Italy and a middle aged woman was openly staring at me for the majority of the time we were there, not even bothering to hide her expression of disdain/disgust/disapproval. It was probably the most uncomfortable I have felt in a social situation. She didn't speak English and I don't speak Italian so I knew of no way to tell her how rude she was being without coming across as a typical "Brit Abroad"... a big part of me wanted to give her a slap and a short, sharp "NO!", just to get my point across but somehow I'm not sure that would have been helpful!!
Apart from that I get curiosity and interest from time to time but generally I don't think my 'look' is that interesting or different these days, I blend in with the public majority pretty much. I do think that the more heavily tattooed you become, the more you are inviting stares, but that's cool and to be expected, you are after all making yourself into a walking art gallery, and art is there to be appreciated.
I think in the case of the "your body is a temple" brigade I would be more affronted that they thought I gave a fuck what their god thought of what I did to myself. I consider myself a man of science, but I don't go to every crucifix wearing person I see and tell them there is no evidence for religious deities and it causes more problems than it solves (in my opinion). Likewise I feel that we deserve the right to similar courtesy and have an entitlement to NOT have ill informed religious doctrine shoved down our throats.

just read this and thought it should go here Just a Fat Tattooer

My usual response to the "Your body is a temple" comments is something like "Have you ever seen a temple without decorations on the walls?"

Staunch atheist, scientist, and skeptic here.

Got more work done on the Sleeve of Science.
Last week was adding the Abacus, and lots of background elements (blood lines for more smoke, some galaxies, line work for planets, etc). Abacus from elbow ditch to just below armpit was not the most fun.
This week was the entire chest panel:

(large version in the album, or you can click on the one above).
This was done yesterday, so, obviously, imagine all the blues to be properly muted when it is healed (some of the same blues used in the wolf coverup on the other chest panel).
Good news: As long as this heals properly, I never "have" to get tattooed on my chest ever again!

Got more work done on the Sleeve of Science.
Last week was adding the Abacus, and lots of background elements (blood lines for more smoke, some galaxies, line work for planets, etc). Abacus from elbow ditch to just below armpit was not the most fun.
This week was the entire chest panel:

(large version in the album, or you can click on the one above).
This was done yesterday, so, obviously, imagine all the blues to be properly muted when it is healed (some of the same blues used in the wolf coverup on the other chest panel).
Good news: As long as this heals properly, I never "have" to get tattooed on my chest ever again!

Good point. My squidpants started as a memorial to my mom.

Good point. My squidpants started as a memorial to my mom.

I like Santa Muerte as a tattoo image. Haven't put much thought into actually getting one, but who knows...
I say go for it.
Here's one from Scott Sylvia:

Congrats on the new house!