Under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

As mentioned in the previous post, I was having some luck spotting some tattoos while riding my bike along the path that runs along the southern tip of Brooklyn.

Last weekend, I was riding north and passed a woman sunbathing in a bikini in the grass along the bike path. I noticed she had some sort of intricate pattern inked on her foot. Yes, I am that committed to Tattoosday that when I see a woman in a bikini, I notice her foot!

However, I chose not to stop and disturb her and kept riding. Yet, the image of her tattooed foot hounded me, and by the time I had reached the 69th Street Pier and grabbed some water at a local store, I had decided to head back a couple of miles and see if she was still there.

Of course, she was gone. I stopped my bike and looked at the spot where she had been and thought of what might have been. I checked the time on my phone and was getting ready to head home when a guy named Danny walked by on the path. He has 12 tattoos. I approached him and we started talking about his ink.

Danny offered up this lower back piece:


This seemed the most appropriate tattoo to discuss as we were standing under the Verrazano Bridge. This long shot gives a better idea of the appropriateness of the tattoo:


Danny is Brooklyn-born and raised, and a lot of his friends growing up were graffiti artists. This street-style tattoo is true to his upbringing and a key element of his roots in South Brooklyn.

The piece was inked by Mr. Kaves at Brooklyn Ink. Danny explained that Kaves ran Brooklyn Ink before the current owner Joe had the shop (he has work by Joe as well). There's a nice piece about Mr. Kaves in Prick Magazine here.

Kaves is a founding member of The Lordz, a well-known rock-rap band. They were featured in five episodes of a show called "The Brooklyn Way" which aired on FUSE. The show website is here.

As an added bonus, here's a clip of the Lordz, featuring Everlast, performing their song "The Brooklyn Way":



Thanks to Danny for sharing his Brooklyn ink with us here on Tattoosday!

Cinema Technology Magazine - Asia-Pacific

Broadcastpapers is proud to announce that it is to publish a special Asia-Pacific Edition of Cinema Technology - the magazine from UK-based technical society, the BKSTS.

With a history spanning over 70 years, the BKSTS (British Kinematograph, Sound and Television Society) aims to encourage, sustain, educate, train and represent all those involved in the business of providing moving images and sound in any form and through any media.

Published quarterly, Cinema Technology Asia-Pacific will not only include the best coverage of cinema issues from the European edition, but also look at developments such as D-Cinema, content protection and projection technologies as they affect the Asia-Pacific, a region with some of the largest and most advanced cinema markets in the world.

Cinema Technology Asia-Pacific will be distributed to the major cinema chains, independents, manufacturers and consultants throughout the region and will be launched at AIMC – the Australian International Movie Convention (1st-4th September, 2008, Gold Coast, Australia).

src:http://www.broadcastpapers.com/cinema-technology-magazine.cfm?objid=494

C+T Awards 2008 - Winners Announced!

A gala presentation at the Shore Club in the Sydney seaside suburb of Manly saw the announcement of the 2008 C+T Awards for Innovation. Sponsored by Content+Technology magazine, the awards are designed to recognise innovation in productions, projects and products in the media industries throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

According to Content+Technology Publisher Phil Sandberg, "This year's Awards saw a record number of entries - some 36 in all - from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, the Philippines and India. It is a testament to the ingenuity of our entrants and that of the Asia-Pacific region.

"We intend to capitalise on the success of this year's awards with the hosting of a seminar series designed to introduce our entrants and other interested parties to companies with experience in technology investment, in the hope that they can help our aspiring innovators take their ideas to the next level."

The C+T Awards for Innovation will be back in 2009 to coincide with the SMPTE Australia Conference & Exhibition, July 21-24, 2009, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Australia.

The winners of the 2008 C+T Awards for Innovations are:

Cutting Edge/Lateral Linking
Recognition of Innovation (Television Production)
for AFL Specialty Camera Engineering

Firelight Productions
Recognition of Innovation (Rich Media Production)
for Scorched

TVNZ/Freeview NZ
Recognition of Innovation (Project/Facility Roll-Out TV)
for Deployment of Statistical Multiplexed MPEG-4 SD/HD with EPG

Park Road Post Production
Recognition of Innovation (Project/Facility Roll-Out Film)
for Development of RED Camera Post Workflow

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Recognition of Innovation (Project/Facility Roll-Out Rich Media)
for ABC Now

Ruzz TV
Recognition of Innovation (Technology Development)
for the Quentin QA Workstation

FairlightAU Pty Ltd
Recognition of Innovation (Technology Development)
for Xynergi Media Production Centre

Mediaware
Recognition of Innovation (Technology Development)
for Mediaware inStream Insertion Server

Robert Clemesha, Magna Systems & Engineering
Recognition of Innovation - Hall of Fame

src:http://www.broadcastpapers.com/ContentTechnology.cfm?objid=7

Mobile, emails caught in bugging powers

NEW Queensland police powers to bug telephones will extend to monitoring private telephone and mobile calls and reading emails.

Concerned lawyers yesterday warned again that tight controls needed to be imposed to prevent misuse of the powers.

Brisbane criminal lawyer Jim Coburn said the process would need to be very carefully overseen by the Public Interest Monitor.

Mr Coburn said the tapping powers available to the police and the Crime and Misconduct Commission would also impact on how criminal defence cases could be run in future.

"If the police are presenting taped conversations or intercepted emails as evidence, then obviously we would need to vigorously investigate whether the tapes or emails were genuine or had been edited or tampered with in any way," Mr Coburn said.

"It's going to complicate trials and maybe make some of them longer."

The new laws give police and the CMC the power to intercept any data capable of being transmitted across a telecommunication service including mobile calls, land lines and emails.

Police Minister Judy Spence said other states already had the powers.

source:http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,24263233-5014239,00.html

Chris Honors His Mother with a Back Piece

Last weekend, while riding my bike along the Shore Promenade at the southern tip of Brooklyn, I spotted the back piece above.

Although it is not completed, Chris, to whom the tattoo belongs, was more then happy to share it with us.

The story of this tattoo goes back a bit. Chris explained to me that, when he was seventeen, his father took him to get a tattoo. He got a piece on the left side of his back. He recalls his mother being beside herself over this, upset that he had gotten a tattoo at such an early age.

You can tell from the photo that, on the left side, one of the wings is covering the previous tattoo. Eventually, one won't be able to tell it was there.


Chris' mother passed away several years ago and he began this back piece to honor her memory. The central figure is the religious icon from Mexico Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Not only is it a spiritual tribute, but it is a practical one in that it is covering up the tattoo that Chris so vividly recalls upsetting his mother.

This grand design has been a work in progress for three and a half years. Renee at Memphis Tattoo has been the artist working on the piece. Work from Renee at Memphis Tattoo (now called Top Shelf Tattoo) appeared previously on Tattoosday here.

Thanks to Chris for sharing his tribute to the memory of his mother with us here at Tattoosday!

April's Tribal Piece

No offense to people with tribal tattoos, but they (the tattoos, not the people) generally don't generate much interest from me.

Unless they are incorporated into a bigger design concept (like this tiger lily piece), they don't seem particularly interesting. I know, I know, that's a sweeping generalization, and there will always be exceptions.

But tribal arm bands, anklets, or lower back designs are just that: designs. Often aesthetically pleasing, sometimes not. These tattoos (again, generally) are more about the look of the piece and the desire for a tattoo, than about a deep meaning about a specific person or event. Sure, you may have got that tribal piece to commemorate the time that your dog Lassie saved your son Timmy from a rattlesnake in the bottom of a well, but how does such a blogworthy event translate into an inked pattern?

But, I digress. The title of this post is "April's Tribal." On occasion, a tribal piece does call out to me, as April's did last Friday at the 86th Street subway platform in Bay Ridge. Again, there is no earth-shattering story behind it, and had it been smaller in scope on an ankle or lower back, I may have kept walking.

But April's tattoo is bold and striking:


She had this inked in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, by a friend with whom she has lost touch. He was just starting out as a tattooist.

She had initially envisioned having a short sleeve, but after the initial back piece was completed, she just never finished it off. April didn't seem too concerned, though: "It's on my back, so I never see it," she smiled.

Thanks to April for sharing her tribal piece with us here at Tattoosday!

Dell making cheap computers for India, China

BEIJING, China (AP) -- Dell Inc. unveiled four low-cost computer models for China, India and other emerging economies Wednesday in a new bid to tap the potential of high-growth markets outside the United States.

The two notebook and two desktop PCs are the first Dell models designed especially for emerging markets, said Steve Felice, the U.S. computer maker's president for the Asia-Pacific.

They are meant for small-business users and are to be sold in 20 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Strong sales in Asia helped Dell turn in better-than-expected results in the last quarter despite a slowing U.S. economy. It is due to report its latest quarterly results after the U.S. markets close Thursday, and analysts are watching whether it can maintain its growth pace.

"Our success is going to be largely dependent on our ability to expand globally," Felice said in an interview.

Dell and rivals Hewlett-Packard Co., Taiwan-based Acer Inc. and China's Lenovo Group are expanding aggressively in emerging economies as sales growth in the United States and other developed markets slows.

Dell's first-quarter sales in China, India, Russia and Brazil -- markets known collectively as BRIC -- grew by 58 percent, about 10 times the U.S. rate, Felice said. He said Dell expects 20-30 percent annual growth in those markets in coming years.

Prices for the new Vestro notebooks will start at 3,299 yuan ($475) and for the desktop PCs at 2,999 yuan ($440).

Dell, based in Round Rock, Texas, broke with its usual development and marketing strategy for its latest products, Felice said.

"We used to design products for global requirements and distribute the same product globally," he said. "In this situation, we started with talking to emerging country customers, designing a product for emerging countries, and our initial launch of the product is only in emerging countries. That's a big departure in our strategy."

The new Dell models were created by a Shanghai design center set up to focus on emerging markets, Felice said.

The move reflects a growing focus by global computer, automobile, consumer goods and other companies on creating products for increasingly prosperous customers in China, India and other emerging economies.

Beijing-based Lenovo, which acquired IBM Corp.'s PC unit in 2005, is targeting China's vast but poor rural market with a basic PC released last year and priced as low as 1,499 yuan ($220).

According to Felice, industry forecasts say China's computer sales should grow from 50 million units last year to 500 million by 2015, or double that year's projected U.S. sales.

Dell built its U.S. business with Internet- and phone-based direct sales but has added retail distribution in China and elsewhere to reach more buyers.

In China, its computers are sold in 2,700 outlets of the Gome and Suning electronics store chains, which Felice said account for about half of Dell's Chinese sales. He said Dell has a total of about 13,000 retail outlets worldwide.

"These economies are growing so fast that we don't want to miss out on the opportunity," Felice said. "But if we just use the direct model, it might take too long to get there."

Dell is trying to expand its presence in China outside Beijing, Shanghai and other big eastern cities and sees 50 percent of potential sales in small, inland cities, Felice said.

source:http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/biztech/08/27/dell.emerging.economies.ap/index.html

Untouchable is Something to Be

John had much ink and, as often happens when I ask, a previously unseen tattoo is revealed which is just as impressive as all the other visible work.

John offered up this right upper arm piece, a pin-up straddling a bomb. It's exceptional work and I found the source material on which this is based, a concert poster for the Against Me!:

The poster is from a October 14, 2005 gig in Portland, Oregon at Loveland, with the bands The Epoxies, Smoke or Fire and The Soviettes. The designer is Mark McCormick Lee Zeman* who is associated with the company Mad Pakyderms.

A little more detail from the tattoo:


John said that the art, and hence the tattoo, represents to him the sentiment that "untouchable is something to be". He had this done when he moved away from home, went out on his own, and started taking care of himself.

The detail in the tattoo is incredible. His wife Liz, who was with him, made sure I took a shot of the top of the piece and captured the detail and shading in the planes:


This was inked by Chance Kenyon out of Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

John was on his way back home from New York where he was spending his honeymoon with his new wife Liz. See the post below to see the tattoos John and Liz got to commemorate their union.

Thanks to John for sharing his awesome tattoo here on Tattoosday!

*I initially reported that Mark McCormick designed the poster, as it was attributed to him on the poster website, Expresso Beans. I e-mailed Mark through his company's website to tell him about the post and he wrote back:

Hey Bill!

That is AWESOME!!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I am Mark McCormick, but Mad Pakyderms is myself and Lee Zeman. That particular poster was created by Lee. If you could credit him accordingly that would be amazing! I'll be sure to let him know about it and direct him to your site to see it for himself. I'm actually moving to NYC myself next month. Perhaps you'll see me on the street someday and ask me about my own tattoos. HA! Awesome site, man! Thanks again! Battle on!

CHEERS!
Mark
http://www.markmccormickart.com/

I have amended the post to give proper credit to Lee Zeman. You can see more or Lee's work at www.gigposters.com here. If you've never checked out the gigposters site, do yourself a favor and go exploring. It's fun!

Building Their Own Nation

At the tail end of my discussion with John about his tattoo (see the post above), he revealed that he was here in New York with his new wife Liz. Ah, a honeymoon in the Big Apple!

Liz and John posed the above tattoos for the occasion. I generally don't go on and on about the photos I take, but I just love how this photo came out: John's wrist nesting lightly in Liz's hand. The matter-of-fact delicacy and naturalness of their two arms connecting just makes the photo that much more compelling.

Anyway, Liz explained that this was the logo for the Young Pioneers, and that their slogan "Build your own nation," or "Make your own country," seemed an appropriate visual metaphor for a new life together.

And, I completely agree.

But, as a disclaimer, I had difficulty locating this exact emblem and connecting it to the youth organization in the former Soviet Union. But, my being able to do so is moot. The logo is striking and it's symbolism is brilliant.

Thanks to Liz and John for sharing their nuptial ink on Tattoosday. Here's wishing them a long, happy life together!

Four Important Tips on High-End Notebooks

We have come a long way since notebooks came to the market for the first time. Back then a notebook was not only heavier in weight but also lacked features that are very common in the modern notebooks. For instance, few would have ever imagined to get connected to the Internet sitting at the balcony in wireless environs with the help of a built-in wireless card in their notebook.

Similarly, the notebooks in their earlier incarnations didn't carry enough space to store a collection of your favorite movies. Thanks to the constant innovation in the notebook technology, we have been getting more facilities than we can ask for. As the demand of the business travelers for efficient notebooks are on the rise, notebooks manufacturers are investing time and resources to find answers for their targeted consumers.

Needless to say, modern notebooks have brought with them a wide array of user-friendly features. However, not every notebook has all the features you would expect for convenience. The ones that have rich and convenient features such as more storage facility, faster processing speed and lighter weight come with a price tag that beyond the reach of many. Moreover, they have been manufactured keeping in mind of the specific needs of the notebooks users. Hence, those who don't need these rich features shouldn't worry about their higher price range.

Given the tricky terrain of choosing a notebook, a few tips on how to take the right plunge will surely do a world of good to the notebook buyers. Here they go:

CPU: Let's face it- the most important requirement for a convenient computing experience is the processing speed. Irrespective of their requirements, most buyers prefer to buy notebooks with Dual Core chips. However, they will cost your higher than most of the low-budget notebooks. If you want a combination of economy and mobility, you will find several low-budget notebooks with the Intel's Celeron processors. Although they aren't they super performer in terms of process speed, they, however, will be suitable for most of your basic computing needs.

RAM: Technically, if your notebook has a good RAM as per your specific requirements, you will always enjoy working on your laptop. When it comes to the RAM of a notebook, it largely depends on your particular computing needs. For instance, if you wish to run some basic applications, a RAM of 1 GB should be fine. Likewise, a 1.5 GB RAM will be essential for your notebook if you are thinking of photo editing and basic 3D gaming apart from running the basic applications. Consider a 2GB or higher RAM as a part of your notebook's configuration if you are serious about high-end graphic work, video editing and high-performance 3D gaming.

Portability: Notebook manufactures have always roped in the portability factor to promote their new editions of notebooks. Most of the notebook ads boast of the slim factor of the featured notebook. While a slim and light notebook is definitely better for frequent fliers, these notebooks are usually lack some additional features such as internal optical drives, large and fast hard drives, and extra ports. Besides, while most notebook promos brag about their light-weight, practically, your notebook carry bag will include the weight of your power adapter among other accessories. So, the total weight of your laptop carry bag will go well beyond what you have seen on those promos.

Price and Warranty: Most low-priced notebooks are not ideal if you are working on them for long hours. Some of their components may not withstand the demanding work schedules and are likely to through problems within a shorter span of time. Also, you are less likely to get an extended warranty on these shoe-string budget notebooks. Preferably, you should go for a notebook that is that offers you at least a 3-year warranty. Although it will cost you a little higher than your projected budget, it always pays off in the long run. Remember, you don't buy notebooks every year.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for PoloMercantil Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roberto_Sedycias

Top 4 Laptops For Digital Video Recording

Until very recently if you wanted to record digital video onto a computer you would be restricted to using a desktop machine. However, thanks to improvements in processing power, memory and hard drive space, there are a new breed of machines which make the dream of using laptops for digital video recording a reality. Here are what are considered to be the top 4 laptops for digital video recording available on the market today.

1. Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV650 Notebook w/ Built-In TV Tuner and HD DVD ROM Drive
This is an extremely powerful notebook which really does cram a lot of features into a very small space! For starters, there are dual hard drives which offer 200GB of space for your recordings, along with 1GB of memory to ensure that applications run lightening fast. This machine also includes a built in TV Tuner allowing you to record from satellite, cable, antenna or any other video playback device. The HD DVD ROM Drive allows you to not only burn straight onto dual layer DVDs but also to watch the latest HD DVD movies on the go! Also included is Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, which makes it easy to manage all your digital media.

2. Sony VAIO AR190G Notebook w/ Blu-ray Recordable Drive
The perfect laptop for digital video recording should be slim and lightweight and that is exactly how you will find the Sony VAIO AR190G Notebook. Some features to mention include a TV/PVR docking station allowing you to watch and record TV pictures. Also included in the machine are a Dual-Layer DVD Drive and Blu-ray recordable drive, so you can easily burn your videos for safe keeping. The 200GB hard drive is large enough to store hours of film and there is 1GB of memory to make sure your programs run effortlessly.

3. HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC
The HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC features an in built NTSC Analog TV Tuner/ATSC Digital Tuner allowing you to record, pause and even rewind TV pictures. The machine also includes the latest version of Windows Vista Home Premium. The thing that really makes this a great laptop for digital video recording is the fact that the machine can be fully upgraded to feature a huge 4GB of memory, and a truly enormous 500GB hard drive!

4. Alienware Area-51 m9750 Notebook PC
Alienware are famous for their gaming PC's and the Area-51 m9750 Notebook is one of the best when it comes to digital video recording. The notebook comes already installed with Windows Vista Home Premium, giving you the ability to record, rewind and pause live TV, and the fantastic option of recording 2 shows at once! Another great feature is that you can upgrade this laptop to have 4GB of memory, and two 320GB hard drives, giving you a total storage space of 640GB - the largest of any of these top 4 laptops for digital video recording.

Conclusion
As computer technology advances, so more and more tasks will be able to be carried out while you are mobile. Hopefully this list of the top 4 laptops for digital video recording will open your eyes to a new realm of possibilities that can now be achieved on laptops.

Gary Hendricks runs a website about laptops. Visit his website at Best-Laptop-Guide.com to learn more about selecting the best laptops and accessories to suit your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Hendricks

Acer Laptops Are Fast and Reasonably Priced

It seems just a few years ago that everyone was hungry for the latest desktop technology. Remember when the flat screen appeared? What a desktop saver that was, making our work area seemingly grow and expand overnight. Did most of us even consider having a laptop? Nah - that just seemed like super luxury to most of us.

Fast forward a few years and laptops are flying off the shelves. Seems you're not cool if you're not carrying a laptop into the coffee café. And did you know most colleges now have their classes on the Internet - even using email to communicate with students. Now the number one college item is a laptop computer. Students can carry it with them everywhere and instantly access their courses and homework projects.

Today, laptops have all the modern technology, they're fast, mobile and are even being built with sturdy exteriors for employees to use on construction sites, interior decorating, insurance claims and anywhere else to save us time and costs. Laptops are even faster with plenty of memory for gamers.

The Acer laptop is a current favorite with the college and gamer crowd due to its superior memory management and low cost.

The Acer Aspire 3050-1733 gets a five start rating and is priced around $538 for a new machine. It comes with 512MB of memory and 80BG on the hard drive. At 9lbs, it's sturdy and portable and an excellent investment as a first-time purchase. The Acer laptops can last for several years and at this price, you won't be crying when it's time to upgrade.

Not keen on purchasing new? There is an endless supply of refurbished and used Acer laptops available for purchase. A refurbished laptop is a computer that has been used between one day and three months that was returned to the manufacturer after being purchased new. A used laptop is a machine that is traded in to upgrade to a newer model or is being sold as used on an auction or classified site. A used machine usually means you buy it as is.

A refurbished laptop usually comes with a warranty from the manufacturer. Be sure to ask if it is not mentioned in the sale. Buying a refurbished Acer laptop can mean a machine with faster speed and more features. Acer backs up their refurbished laptops with a 90 day warranty.

With the wide range of prices and options, there's an Acer laptop out there to satisfy even the most seasoned purchaser.

Acer Laptops for affordability and reliability. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melvin_Sullivan

How a Notebook Computer Can Penalize You

Computers were invented for computation. But computers are no longer just a computing device. It has turned into something much more essential. It is no longer a device that is used only for official purposes. It has come out from the office into the living rooms of our homes. Computers have become useful for each and every member of the family. It is used by dads for official work, by moms to chat with her friends or pay the bills through the internet. She also uses it for searching for a particular shop or restaurant or even to find recipes. Granny uses it to see the horoscopes or playing games with her grand children. Students can use it to do their assignments and kids use it for playing games.

So you can just imagine how wide the area of application of computers are. The popularity of computers has led to some serious innovations The innovations ultimately gave rise to some sophisticated form of computers. The result of it is the most fashionable notebook computer or laptop. Let us move our discussion onto the notebook computer and how you may be penalized if you own one.

Notebook computers are used and are seen quite often these days. Its recognition is high because of its attractive and gorgeous look. Besides look it is also known well for its flexibility and versatility. Laptop computers are extremely suitable for those who travel a lot and those who need to work in multi locations. Before the invention of laptops, it was very difficult to work in multi locations. People need to go to the cyber places to perform their job. If they are traveling then there is really no means of keeping their work updated. Their work suffers and time gets wasted. But laptops bring an end to such issues. The hard drives and the flash drives carried externally can store a huge amount of data. This assists you in working with that light weight machine. You can configure your notebook computer the way you like and want. With it you can do work, go on surfing the net and even watch movies and listen to music.

Recently, there has been a huge drop in the price of laptops while performance has increased. There are however some compromises that you need to make. The desktop computers are priced lower than a well configured laptop with some overall flexibility. Just for the portability that you can carry it wherever you want, you need to pay a premium amount for it. For the comfort of using it, you have to incur the notebook computer penalties. Desktop computers are easier to upgrade than laptops. Laptops don't provide as much space for memory. Desktop computers are even easier to repair and maintain. Laptops are not only difficult to repair but also require skilled technicians to deal with the technical problems

Therefore, even though a notebook computers may attract you with its sleek look and portability, you may be penalized by its disadvantages

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for computers, laptops and software. When shopping for used computers, used laptops and used software, we recommend you shop at only the best online stores for used computer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Desktop VS Laptop

Though both are personal computers; desktop and laptops are designed for two different purposes. Desktop as the name suggests is placed over desks. It is not a portable device. It has to have a definite position. The desktop is larger in size and has three different components that combine together to make it complete i.e.: the Monitor, C.P.U, and keyboard. Without one of them the desktop PC is incomplete and useless.

Though in the superficial description of the two, laptops seem to be an all time better option, it is necessary to know they have their own disadvantages too.

Desktops since is complete only with its three components together, implies that they are different. Therefore you can choose each of them separately. Generally the pre-determined/ branded desktops do not give the best of each of its components. However here you can choose the best configuration for your desktop yourself and combine them to give you a magnificent end product. In the same way, if there arises any problem with a particular part of the computer, it can be replaced or changed individually. Desktops are better at performance and boast higher capacity than laptops.

Laptops do not offer such wide configuration options to choose from. In newer models, the options for customizing your configuration would be narrower. Though in laptops there are a thousand models to choose from, choice in desktops would always surpass laptop options. In terms of performance and its hardware capacity, you cannot avail a 10,000 rpm hard disk or a 21 inch monitor like you can in desktops.

Desktops have higher expansion options than laptops. The expansion slots in them allow you to add new hardware to the device. Technology in its effort to bring laptops in par with desktops has included PC card slots. However they still lag behind. Most desktop PCs have multiple upgrade options available to them; memory, hard disk and processor upgrades can be easily done at low cost. In contrast, despite improvements, laptops have few upgrade options.

When comparing the prices, desktop computers have always been cheaper than laptops for comparable performance and features.

Though laptops lag behind technologically, they let you take your PC with you. They let you do your work anywhere you carry it along. Be it office, home or while traveling. Even in terms of power consumption laptops are better than desktops. Laptops are best to serve the purpose it is designed for. No matter how advanced desktop computers are each has its own purpose and each serves it best. It is only the incredible urge for better that underestimates laptops.

We would suggest that the computers of reputed brands should be only bought from well known computer store There you can get a warranty against any manufacturing and material defects, so that you can claim your due when required. Moreover the branded computer store can provide you the best deal in a computer purchase.

Monty Alexander has earned a good name as an article writer. He has written hundreds of articles which cover home shop online shopping, mobile store and many more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monty_Alexander

Cell Phone Terminology - The ABCs of Cellular Phones

If you are planning to take a trip overseas and want to know if your present cell phone will work, you will need to know the meaning of a variety of cell phone terms. Most of these definitions deal with cell phone networks and the types of phones that can be used with them.

One of the first terms that you may run across is AMPS, which stands for Advanced Mobile Phone Service. This type of cell phone service is what is known as 1st generation cell phone technology. While this type of system is no longer used in the United States, a small number of foreign countries still rely on AMPS for their mobile service (although major cities worldwide ceased its operation in 2000).

Simply put, AMPS was the first type of mobile service for cellular phones and was introduced in 1983 by Bell Labs. It was an analog- based system that uses separate frequencies for each individual conversation. Due to this feature, AMPS utilizes much more computer power in handling the rising number of cell phone calls.

There was also a higher occurrence of static and noise when using this operating system, and eavesdropping was possible with the use of a scanner. This eavesdropping can allow an unauthorized person to clone the Electronic Serial Number that defines each cellular phone for billing purposes and can place that information on a number of different cell phones while the owner of the original device pays the bills. Again, this system is no longer used in most countries around the world.

Many countries are now using CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access. This type of system is known as 2nd generation (2G) technology and is based on a digital standard. A CMDA system spreads the transmissions of a particular cell phone call across a wide number of frequencies by using an assigned code that is given to each user.

If a signal is described as being digital, it means that the sound waves, radio waves, and other data in a transmission are translated into a computer binary code, a language that the computers that are involved in making the cell phone call can easily understand. This method requires much less computer power than the AMPS systems, and the cell phone calls themselves are much sharper and clearer. A type of this 2nd generation mobile service is a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), which is a European system that is widely used in many countries overseas.

Lastly, there is 3rd generation (3G) technology that is known as WCDMA, which stands for Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. This system uses wideband digital radio communications that allows the transmission the Internet, multimedia features, videos, and a variety of other applications that demand more computer capacity. Though these 3rd generation systems are fast becoming the systems of choice for many cell phone service providers in the Untied States, many foreign countries do not provide availability to them as of yet.

Knowing the terminology that describes cellular phone operations can help you to determine if your cell phone will function in another country. You can check with the cell phone providers that are located in the country that you are planning to visit or find any information that you may need via the Internet.

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Choosing a Laptop For College

These days a laptop is almost essential for a school or college student. Fortunately, there is a large range of inexpensive laptops to choose from, but which one to actually get depends on a few factors. The first question is what the student will be doing on it. An Arts major will not need to run specialized programs on it and thus could do with a less powerful system. If the student is going to load a graphic design program, for example, a laptop with faster processing speeds and higher memory content is a must. The student's requirements are also important for choosing between a Windows or an Apple laptop. Apple laptops tend to be more expensive, but some prefer their ease of use. The Windows machines have a greater selection of software to use and you need to decide now what software you want to run on it before committing to one or the other operating platform. If you are getting a Windows laptop, the Vista Home Premium package is the best value for money and should have everything that a student needs.

The next step is deciding on the more technical requirements. I will briefly describe the more important ones to help you in your decision making. With modern software demanding so much memory, I would suggest getting a laptop with at least 2 gigabyte (2 GB) of RAM memory. The memory capability of the hard drive ought to be around the 200 GB mark, if not higher. If you are able to, choose a laptop with a 64-bit dual core processor made by either Intel (e.g. Intel Core 2 Duo) or AMD (e.g. AMD Turion). Next, think about the portability of the laptop. You don't want to get one that is too heavy to carry around campus.

Thirdly, list other features that might be essential to your requirements. I recommend getting a laptop with at least a 15 inch screen. No doubt you will want a DVD drive and a CD burner. Most students need Internet connection, so an Ethernet card is a must as is a wireless card (at least 802.11g). Carefully consider the size of the keyboard. Some laptops have smaller, condensed keyboards, but if you are going to be doing a lot of typing then a full-size keyboard is a must.

To get more of an idea on what types of student laptops are available, visit StudentLaptops.biz. Their prices are very reasonable and you can simply order online. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Webber

Laptops Going Green

You can help the environment by making one simple decision. By going green with your computers. This is done by choosing notebooks computers that are environmentally friendly and long on charge. New "green laptops" take the idea of an environmentally friendly notebook computer even further. They are smaller than other notebooks, last longer on a charge, and comply with most environmental regulations. These ultraportble, small footprint, lighter weight notebooks are inherently "greener" than heavier, larger footprint products for a few reasons: They are designed to deliver the desired performance while consuming fewer materials for manufacturing and less energy for shipment and distribution. Packaging requirements are also reduced, saving materials and energy. Laptops don't use as much power as a desktop, mostly because the processor is only drawing about 35W or less, compared to about 65W or more for a desktop CPU. The added benefit is that your electrical bill won't be as high either.

Less Hazardous Components

Although notebooks are typically much more energy efficient than desktops. They are, however, no greener than desktops in other regards. They typically contain the same hazardous components, and they are not easily recycled. However, a few "greener" notebook computers are now on the market.

Lenovo's Thinkpad X300 is the company's first EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) Gold certified notebook. Only 15 notebooks have achieved this rating to date. The X300 uses mercury free LEDs to illuminate its display. This saves energy, and allows for a thinner display. It uses a solid state drive, which is much lighter, more reliable and faster than a conventional hard drive. It also contains a low voltage processor and has improved "battery stretch" software for energy savings. It meets the Energy Star 4.0 criteria and is 25% more efficient than Lenovo's previous generation notebooks. The packaging materials for the X300 are 90% recyclable, and the use of toxic materials such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic have been reduced.

The MacBook Air is one of Apple's greenest computers. The Air's display was the first from Apple to be mercury and arsenic free. The all aluminum case was also a good choice as aluminum is easily recyclable and highly desirable by recyclers. The Air qualified for a Silver EPEAT rating (all the circuit boards are bromide and PVC free). It's also Energy Star 4.0 certified. On PC Magazine's energy consumption tests, the 14 Watts it produced while idle is consistent with Energy Star's 14 Watt (and under) requirement. The reading was taken while the system was running Leopard after 15 minutes of idle time. You can get the Macbook Air fitted with a 64GB solid state drive, which will further reduces its power requirements. Apple paid attention to the retail packaging of this machine, and reduced it by 50%.

Green Computing Is Here To Stay

Any way you slice it, green computing is here to stay. Laptops will get more efficient, smaller, and safer for the planet. EPA estimates that in the next five years purchases of EPEAT registered computers could reduce hazardous waste by 4 million pounds and save enough energy to power two million homes.

Paul E. Steinberg is the webmaster and owner of Laptops and Computers He guides you as an expert in the computer field, with a degree in computer technology and 20 years of hardware, software, and network experience. Visit his site for great buys on top computer brands.

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Microsoft releases beta 2 of Internet Explorer 8

Microsoft Corp released on Wednesday a second test version of Internet Explorer 8, delivering a feature-complete upgrade to the world’s most widely used Web browser.

The world’s largest software maker said the latest version — beta 2 — of Internet Explorer, which has a market share of about 75 percent, comes with new features to enhance privacy, ease-of-use, and security.

Microsoft first released a test — or beta 1 — version of IE 8 in March, but that was aimed at letting Web developers take a first look at the new browser. This latest version is aimed at a broader consumer audience.

The company would not disclose when it planned to officially launch IE 8 nor how many people are expected to download the test version of the new browser. It released Internet Explorer 7 in October 2006.

Microsoft has pledged to deliver more regular updates of Internet Explorer, whose lead has been chipped away by Mozilla’s Firefox browser.

The latest version of Internet Explorer replicates features found in Firefox 3, the latest version of that Web browser, including a “smart” address bar that remembers and redirects user to website addresses they have visited before.

Internet Explorer 8 also offers a mode called “InPrivate Browsing,” which ensures that history, temporary Internet files and cookies are not recorded on a user’s PC.

There is also a security feature that allows a user to block content coming from third-parties trying to track and aggregate the user’s online behavior.

Microsoft also updated already announced features such as “Activities,” which allows a user to use information found on one page, such as an address, in conjunction with an online service such as mapping without leaving the original site.

The latest test release of Internet Explorer 8 is available for download at www.microsoft.com/ie8.

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7 Ways to Cool Down a Laptop

Have you ever noticesd that your laptop gets very hot after using it for some time? Well, if that happens very often, it can be risky since you could burn up the internals of the machine. It is important to monitor how hot your laptop is and take steps to cool it if necessary.

In this article, we will take a look 7 different ways to cool your laptop. These ideas include using a laptop stand, moving to a colder room and also turning down your power consumption on the laptop.

1. Use A Hard Surface
First up, you should always place your laptop on a hard surface. That helps the fans circulate in the laptop. If you have your laptop placed on a soft surface (e.g. a fur carpet) the circulation is not as good and it will tend to get warm very fast.

2. Use A Laptop Cooling Stand
The next way to cool down your laptop is to use a laptop cooling stand. These days, you can buy laptop cooling stands quite cheaply and these contain fans which help to cool your laptop immensely. They also encourage better posture by forcing you to use your laptop more ergonomically.

3. Turn Down The Display Brightness
The display screen on your laptop generates quite a bit of heat. You will want to turn down the brightness if you are in a dark place, so as to cut down the heat generation. Turning down the brightness also allows you to conserve battery power.

4. Move To A Cooler Place
An obvious way to cool down your laptop is to move to a cooler place. If you're sitting in the hot sun typing on the laptop, the machine ain't gonna stay too cool, now is it? Move to an air-conditioned room or cafe and cool the machine down.

5. Turn On Power Saver Mode
Most laptops these days have a 'power saver' mode which you should invoke if the laptop gets too hot. The power saving modes usually turn down the display brightness and spin down the hard drives if the machine is idle for a fixed period of time.

6. Close Some Applications
If you open many applications on our laptop, these will generate heat as well. With more open applications, the laptop's CPU has to work harder, resulting in more heat generated. Hence, by closing down some un-needed apps, you will cool your laptop down.

7. Remove Some USB Devices
USB ports are a well-known heat generator. The more USB devices you have connected to your laptop, the more heat it will generate. Plug out the un-needed USB devices and your machine will start to cool down.

Conclusion
I hope the above has shown you 7 good ways to cool down your laptop. Remember, your laptop is expensive! Don't ruin it or melt it by allowing it to overheat. Cool it down whenever it gets too hot and you'll increase its durability. Until next time, good luck and happy computing?

Gary Hendricks runs a website about laptops. Visit his website at Best-Laptop-Guide.com to learn more about selecting the best laptops and accessories to suit your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Hendricks

Gaming Laptops As Your Gift?

Today, everyone knows gaming laptops are really expensive. Although prices have fallen over a few years, the consumers have to spend a huge sum of money if they want to have some experience over these ultimate computing machines.

Is is truly expensive. Yes it is true but how far are the benefits for these gaming laptops?

The gaming laptop has many hidden benefits & practical uses & ONLY a few people realize how reliable are for gaming laptops to be.

Is it also practical? YES!

At first, the ideal gift must be fun, joy and pleasure to the receiver. A top of list of gaming laptop can offer a long hours of fun & enjoyment to these new proud owner.

Flash back to past & think which gifts made us tears? Which ones offered you the most complete joy? Chances for joy are high when it let us to remember the memorable time.

Luckily they are still more cheaper practical gifts could be given away. However, perfect gifts have to be fun & can be shared with others.

A gaming laptop can be a gift for the whole family, it can be shared with everyone. Laptops are versatile and completely portable, as they can be moved around inside home or used while on the car rides to other places. Beside, a laptop can be a practical fun gift for all member of family.

Nobody realized that gaming laptops are high quality computers which have a high performance of specifications. They are really excellent for based running company or a home business & office.

Although not all students cannot afford one of these laptops, they do not realized as it is important to submit their class assignments in fast way. Today with the Internet growing, gaming laptops can also be the perfect tools for parents to keep in touch with their college going children. Now, most of the gaming laptops also have a built-in webcam to let the users communicate instantly.

A gaming laptop is a very pleasure machine that everybody adhere them so much. Most of the latest products get high quality of sound and visuals which are excellent for theater viewing or photo edit session. What is fanstastic about these stuff, the users can have a home theater entertainment running in their laptops.

Is the price of this gift make you think twice? If you reconsider the price of relationship & smile more than price itself, it is no regret to have the laptops as a memorable gift. The receiver will surely be pleased & overjoyed with a gaming laptop as an unforgettable gift. Beside from cherishing the side of the moment, there are many more practical reasons to justify such an expensive item. Actually, it can be a perfect gift in the first place for receiver's heart.

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Vicki's Shamrock Tattoo

Earlier this month, I posted this tattoo which was a tribute to Olivia Rose, a new daughter born to Vicki. I mentioned in the post that it was Vicki's tattoo below her neck which first grabbed my attention, but that Vicki offered up her newer piece for us here at Tattoosday.

Vicki has recently sent me a photo of the original tattoo I saw on her. It's a nice, simple shamrock and hearts.

This, like the other piece, was inked at True Blue Tattoo in Queens. Alex McWatt is the artist.

Vicki writes: "I got the design for a few reasons. First of all, I am Irish and I wanted to get something to celebrate my heritage without getting a flag tattoo. Second, my boyfriend, the love of my life, is 100% Irish, and I wanted to get a tattoo to symbolism me and him - that is what the two hearts are for. I chose to get it on the back of my neck so it would be out there for the world to see."

Thanks again to Vicki for sharing her ink here with us on Tattoosday!

Vincent Bears the Spear of Longinus

I met Vincent Corrigan on the way to the subway on 33rd Street between 7th and 6th Avenues. It was a giant arm piece that crawled up under his shirt and onto his shoulder that first caught my eye.

However, he offered up the piece above and, in the course of speaking with him, I took pictures of three other tattoos that were notable. I am going to discuss them in reverse order.

First, this piece may be familiar to many:


That's the Guinness harp, a trademark recognizable to beer connoisseurs:


Not to overstate the obvious, but Guinness is a dry stout beer that originated in Dublin, and is thus a matter of pride for the Irish. Mr. Corrigan, as one might venture from his surname, is of Irish ancestry.

The harp is on the top of his left bicep and is one of his older pieces. In fact, he credits Ryoko at Brooklyn Tattoo for taking what was previously a bit of shoddy inkwork, revitalizing it with some excellent restoration and making a respectable tattoo out of it.

Further down the arm, on Vincent's inner left forearm, are two symbols I recognized immediately:


The top one is the logo familiar to fans of the band Audioslave. The fiery emblem appeared on the band's debut album cover.

Vince is a singer and a huge fan of the singer Chris Cornell (lead singer of Audioslave, and more famously, Soundgarden).
I also am a fan of Cornell's (although I haven't seen him in concert,
unlike Vince who guesses he's seen him twenty times).

Below the Audioslave logo is one of the four runes representing band members from Led Zeppelin:


These runes appeared first on the band's fourth album. The rune tattooed on Vincent's arm is the one on the far right and according to Wikipedia:

Robert Plant's symbol is the feather of the Egyptian goddess Ma'at, representing truth, justice, fairness and writing, encapsulated by an unbroken circle representing life. According to Egyptian mythology, Osiris, the god of judgment and death, would take the heart of those who died and put it on a balance with the feather of Ma'at. If the heart outweighed the feather, the person's soul would go to hell, but on the other hand, if the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul would go to heaven.

However, Plant's rune is significant to Vincent because he is the lead singer.

And now to the amazing piece at the top of this post, well worth another look:


Vincent indicates that this is the "Spear of Longinus," one of the many names given to The Holy Lance, which was the weapon used to pierce the side of Jesus Christ during the Crucifixion.

The name Vincent has an origin in the meaning of the word conqueror and the surname Corrigan
derives from a root word which means "spear" or "lance". It is this primary parallel that gave Vincent the urge to ink this relic of Christianity onto his arm. It appears that the tattoo is modeled after the Hofburg Spear which is kept in Vienna.


This spear is an object of fascination in literature and the arts, often as the subject matter for narratives pertaining to the Crusades, with a link in some cases to Ireland. This brings the spear of Longinus an additional link to Vincent's pride in his Irish ancestry.

The spear tattoo, along with the Audioslave and Robert Plant tattoos, was inked by artist Eric Wigger at The Devil's Rose Tattoo in Blue Point, New York, on Long Island.

Thanks to Vincent for sharing all his ink with us here at Tattoosday!

Tattoosday, Across the Pond

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and earlier this month a young lass named Mel over in Newcastle contacted me to ask my blessing to spin off the blog over in England. I blessed and she's off with it. Check it out here.

Kelly's Memorial for a Best Friend / Carpe Diem

I spotted this beautiful cross of flowers on the back of Kelly's neck in front of the entrance to Penn Station on Seventh Avenue.

Regular readers may sense a little bit of déjà vu. Did I say her name was Kelly? Sure did. She was, in fact, the third woman named Kelly whose tattoos I photographed in just two days.

Kelly's floral cross is a memorial for her best friend who died in the last few months. The tattoo was inked just a month ago. She didn't offer many details about her friend's death, nor did I press her for them, as she seemed to me that she was still deeply saddened by his passing.

It almost seemed appropriate that she had a second tattoo, which had been her first, inked on her left ankle about two years ago.

The phrase "carpe diem," Latin for "seize the day," is among the most popular "word tattoos," and for good reason. The concept of carpe diem has helped people live their lives proactively, rather than passively. Juxtaposed with a memorial for a young person who was taken from life early, it seems especially poignant.

Both tattoos were done by Civ at Lotus Tattoo in Sayville. Work from Lotus has appeared previously on Tattoosday here.

Thanks to Kelly for sharing her two tattoos with us here. The loss of a close friend is not easy. Here's hoping both pieces give her the strength she needs to move forward and past this difficult time.

Kelly Remembers her Grandmother

This awesome portrait was jumping off of Kelly's right shoulder in Penn Plaza last Wednesday.

Kelly has ten tattoos in all, but she chose this portrait for Tattoosday, inked six years ago by Joey Ortega at Kingpin Tattoos in Harker Heights, Texas.

This was, according to Kelly, Ortega's first portrait, and he created for her a lasting memorial to her grandmother, who had meant the world to her.

The portrait is accompanied by the phrase "may angels lead you in," a lyric from the song "Hear You Me" by the band Jimmy Eat World:

May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads, the sleepless go
May angels lead you in

Kelly was in town visiting with her friend Amber. They have matching tattoos. See them below here.

Thanks to Kelly for sharing such a meaningful tattoo here with us on Tattoosday!

Bonus footage- the video from "Hear You Me":

Punx: Two Friends from Texas

This is a continuation of sorts, from the post above.

When I met Kelly, she was hanging out with her friend Amber. And although Kelly appeared to be the more inked of the two, Amber was very positive and enthusiastic about the concept behind Tattoosday.

So after taking a picture of Kelly's tattoo, I turned to Amber and asked if she wanted to share as well.

The two decided to show off their "Punx" tattoos, both inked on their wrists on the occasion of their 21st birthdays.

According to Amber and Kelly, the "Punx" label is affiliated with the band The Transplants, headed by Lars Fredrickson, formerly of the band Rancid. According to Kelly and Amber, it is common for fans of the band to get this tattoo as a mark of solidarity.

They don't remember the name of the shop where they had these spur of the moment tattoos done, but they do recall that it was a place near the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas.

Thanks to Amber and Kelly for being so cool and sharing their ink with us here at Tattoosday!

A Cool Frog Tattoo on a Hot Day

In probably one of my shortest posts, I present you with the frog above, inked on the left leg of Kelly.

I spotted this beautiful tattoo as Kelly and a friend were waiting for some food at a cart on the corner of 33rd and 7th Avenue.

Her hands were full and she seemed a bit in a hurry, so I don't have a lot of details (as well as not a perfect picture), but Kelly was in New York, visiting from Florida, and she has loved frogs since she was a kid.

Even though the picture is a bit washed out and the back part of the tattoo is partially obscured, one can still see the vivid color and phenomenal detail that makes this piece just pop off of the skin.

Kelly has 7 tattoos in all (one of which is a cool, but not as cool as this one, frog on the back of her right leg.

This frog was inked about two and a half years ago at Livewire Tattoo Studio in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The artist was Angelo, who is no longer listed on their website.

Thanks to Kelly for sharing her awesome amphibian tattoo here with us at Tattoosday!

Frankie and Her Brother, Forever in Ink

Frankie designed this cartoon portrait of herself with her brother holding hands. The tattoo is on her left bicep. That's her on the right, with the red hair.

She had this inked at Village Pop Inc. on West 4th Street in Manhattan. I caught Frankie on the R train and took the photo on the 95th Street platform in Bay Ridge.

Thanks to Frankie for sharing this poignant tattoo here with us at Tattoosday!

Crys Shares His Colorful Arm

When I passed Crys on Seventh Avenue last Friday, I knew I had to stop and ask about his arm.

Aside from the matching ohms-within-nautical stars on both elbows, Crys has two main pieces on his left arm.

Chronologically, the dragon came first:

He got it basically because he liked the design. It was inked by Nick at True Blue Tattoo in Austin, Texas.

The kanji surrounding the dragon were added later at Atomic Tattoo & Body Piercing, also in Austin. These were gifts from Crys' girlfriend. According to Chrys, going clockwise from the top, the kanji represnt love, honor, peace and life.

After that, he went back later to Atomic Tattoo and added the fire around the dragon to give his arm more color.

Finally, he added the Buddha at a shop in Houston:

Actually, a friend of his, Corey, from Austin, designed and drew up the initial sketch. Crys doesn't remember where it was inked.

Thanks to Crys for sharing his arm with us here on Tattoosday!

The Only Tattoo Blog that Educates its Readers About the Clutius Manuscript AND the Hoplite Phalanx

As you may have guessed from the title above, this is an educational post.

Anna has four tattoos, but it was this one, on the back of her left calf, that caught my eye as she passed me on Seventh Avenue last week. I stopped to ask what this was all about. And I felt like I was back in the classroom. Absolutely fascinating!


This piece is based on the art found on the Chigi Vase:


So why is the Chigi vase, a piece of Corinthian pottery dating back to around the 7th century, B.C., important? Anna explained that it is on the vase that the first artistic representation of the Hoplite Phalanx formation appeared. Or, the earliest surviving representation. It is in this battle formation that soldiers are lined up in such a way that the soldier next to them uses their shield to protect their neighbor. The economic formation proved very effective and it was an important step in democracy, as a group of soldiers banded together to form one cohesive unit.

Anna is an alumna of Reed College in Portland,Oregon, where she studied the Classics. I didn't mention to her at the time that I was a graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles, a similarly small liberal arts college where there is a deep tradition of teaching the Classics. So, I got why she had this tattooed on her, not to mention how nicely done it was in the first place.

Aside from the liberal arts background, I also related to Anna on the level that she is originally from the Central Coast of California, near San Luis Obispo. Although my connection to California is in L.A., to the south, I still have 12 years of life in the Golden State ingrained in my identity.

This segues to the piece on her left arm, a watercolor-like tattoo of a plant:


This is in fact, a strawberry plant, which is an integral part of the agricultural identity of the central section of California. The tattoo is based on the watercolors first recorded in what is known as the Clutius Manuscript, a 16th Century work of early botanical paintings. You can check out the link below for more information on this collection.

Anna, who also blogs here about her adventures with fresh vegetables and fruits in New York City green markets, had these tattoos inked in Portland by the artist Amy Cole. Ms. Cole works out of Tiger Lily Tattoo and Design.

Thanks to Anna for sharing her cool (and thought-provoking) body art here with us at Tattoosday!

Surgeon General's Warning: A Varga Girl Smoking on Your Arm Looks Awesome

Meet Priscilla. That's her above on Maeve's arm, as seen last week on 6th Avenue. Maeve offered her to Tattoosday from among the thirteen tattoos she has. Priscilla, as Maeve calls her, is based on the pin-up art of Alberto Vargas. Check out more of his work here.

The work on which she is based initially had her as a blonde, but Maeve, made her a brunette. She also chose to have her smoking because, although she acknowledges that it's bad for you, it's still pretty cool-looking.

This beautiful tattoo was inked in November 2007 by Aryn at Twysted Imagez Tattoo Studio in Alexandria, Virginia.

Thanks to Maeve for sharing Priscilla here with us at Tattoosday!

Massimo Shares A Tribal Design

I met Massimo on the plaza in front of Penn Station last Friday and talked to him about this cool piece he has on his right foot.

He was visiting from Milan and, according to him, designed and tattooed this himself about seven years ago. He had a friend who was a tattoo apprentice around that time, who taught him the basics of tattooing.

He began by saying this was Hawaii-inspired, which is understandable, as it has the "look" of a Hawaiian tiki in its design.

He also said that the top part is inspired by the fact he had been doing a lot of cycling, which
lot of cycling, which influenced the top half of the tattoo. A closer look reveals a resemblance to a bicycle wheel:


He was also very candid with me and said that he was smoking a lot at that time and he would wake up the next day and find incredible designs lying around. This was one of them.

After I took the picture, Massimo had second thoughts, hesitating about letting me post this on Tattoosday. He was worried that his design would be copied. I appealed to him and I must have been convincing, as he changed his mind and assented.

Thank you, Massimo, for sharing this design with us here at Tattoosday!