Tats...........

When and why did tattoos become so popular? I remember when just sailors got them, had MOM or some old girlfriends name on his arm, and hung out in pool halls and bowling alleys. We had an old family friend who had a tattoo on his arm, Nils Olson, and I always looked at him in awe.

Nils was from Chicago, born in Sweden, and was a master carpenter for the Baldwin Piano Company. Nils was a friend of my Aunt Eva's, who lived in Marion, Indiana. They went together for many years. He was as nice as they come.

We moved in to a new house which had a pool table in the basement, I spent a lot of time practicing, thought I was pretty good. Nils came over for a visit, accepted my challenge. He had spent his off hours in pool halls for many years. He was gracious about it, but, well, he cleaned me. He and his tattoo.

Saw one guy today, arms and legs covered with tats, nickle sized rings in his ear lobes, tats on the back of his neck. I guess. I guess one of the reasons athletes get payed so much money is so they can pay for all those tats. Just wonder when that mindset came in that you needed ink all over your body. In years to come I can hear little children saying, "Show me your tats, grandma."

Popular tattooed Barbie causes controversy

By Chris Francescani

The doll with the dragon tattoo?

With pink hair and tattoos across her shoulders and neck, U.S. toymaker Mattel's latest collector's edition Barbie doll could be compared more to the edgy female heroine of author Stieg Larrson's best-selling Millennium trilogy than to the more traditional Barbies.

Since its release earlier this month online, the $50 (31 pound) limited edition doll designed by Los Angeles-based fashion company tokidoki and aimed at adult collectors, has sold out but not before causing controversy.

"Is the New 'Tokidoki' Tattoo Barbie Inappropriate for Children?" the magazine U.S. News & World Report asked in a recent headline.

Some parents in the United States also questioned whether the toy company that launched the original Barbie in 1959 should be promoting body art.

"It's teaching kids to want tattoos before they are old enough to dress like that," Kevin Buckner, of Virginia, told a local television station.

No one was available from Mattel to comment on the issue but not all the feedback has been negative. Some adults said the doll reflected modern fashion and pop culture.

Report: Feds say OSU players traded, sold 36 items

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A newspaper reports that Ohio State football players are alleged to have improperly traded dozens of items to the owner of a tattoo parlor, receiving tattoos, $14,000, and in one case a sport-utility vehicle.

The report by The Columbus Dispatch says it obtained a letter Thursday that was sent from the U.S. Department of Justice to Ohio State officials in December. The document lists 36 items that players are said to have sold to Eddie Rife or traded for tattoos since 2008.

The newspaper reports that investigators say one player received a 2003 Chevy Tahoe, purchased by Rife for $3,500, in exchange for a watch and passes to the 2010 Rose Bowl.

Only a portion of the transactions were deemed violations by the NCAA, and five players have been suspended for the first five games of the upcoming season. A related NCAA investigation into coach Jim Tressel continues.

What is happening to this world?

What is happening to this world?

People dying all over the world, earthquakes, floods, snow and the top headlines are about Ben, did he or did he not rape that girl, and Tiger, well he paid for all of his. He got upset on the golf course. My Dad, the Doctor, his last golf game threw a whole set in a lake, one club at a time, and then went home.

When and where did the tattoo craze start? And I suppose, why? You almost have to go down to  high school basketball to see un-tatted arms, and I have seen a few there. I can just hear some sweet little grandchild some day saying, "Show me your tats, grandma."

One tat artist here in town went from an old Chevy to a new Caddy. Business is good. But I still wonder, why?

You used to see tats in bowling alleys and pool halls, and a few old seamen. You almost looked down your nose at someone with a tat, only second class citizens had tats. And in those days, where to get one done (the old Seven Seas in San Diego) if you wanted. Now you can go to the mall or your neighborhood tattoo artist.

I think the first tat I ever saw a tattoo was on old Nils Olsen, a Swede, nicest guy on earth, dated my aunt in Indiana. He was a master carpenter with the Baldwin Company, piano makers. He was in Dayton on a visit and we went to our rec room, oddly enough, to shoot a game of pool. Heated game, he rolled up his shirt sleeves, and lo and behold, a tattoo on his right arm. I was embarassed to look. He had been in the Navy in Sweden and got one then, I later found out. Nothing was ever said about Nils's tat. In those days, tats and sex were not discussed.

Why do people think they are flattering? I saw a lady in Meijers today, legs and arms covered with tats. She was  not a thing of beauty anyway, in my book, and the tats did nothing to enhance her. Don't know what the tats cost, but she paid for her groceries with food stamps.

When did shaved heads start? Everywhere you look, shaved heads. What is with that? Are they going bald so they just shave it all off? The human head, shaven, is not a thing of beauty. Do they have to shave them every day, maybe it was Gillettes idea. If they shave their face and head, it must take a while. And at the cost of the new 4-blades, that vibrate, lot of money.

(Don't tell anyone, I store my razor in Olive Oil when I am done, a little talc in the Olive Oil, let it vibrate a little, been using the same blade since early last December). I shave slow, works great, four months going on five, not bad.

Like the rest of the world, just waiting for the next disaster, or like the Republicans, "Wait till November."