tattoopheliac

Well, the other guys seemed to like the results from posting this on here instead of the one sided biased votes received at the shop. They kinda want it to be a weekly thing. But of course if I loose this thing too often I do have a bit of pride and will have to postpone...LOL.

Anyway, I invite professionals, amateurs, and enthusiast alike to place comments, to critique, and give an overall judgment of best piece entered. Of course there is a little story behind this little contest and for those of you that don't know it it is just that I simply complement my apprentices and shop artists and boast of there skills and how good they so this little contest started. Just in the shop side at first but the opinions we felt were one sided because most people new who did what piece. So here we are.....And if you happen to recognize who did what piece still attempt to leave an unbiased opinion.

TY in advance.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34643688@N03/sets/721...

This is the thing. I told a couple apprentices at one of the shops that they are as good or better than some of the other artists in that same shop, myself included. So I told them to pick one of my pieces they felt they could not compete against and we will see.

Thus far the contest seems to be one sided because the images are hanging in the shop with make shift voting booth and I think most of the responses are swinging in a certain direction because they know who did what piece. After all, most of the people that come into our shops come there often.

So what I wanted to do was to post the pictures here not saying who did what and let you all decide. Both the regular tattoo fan and the few real professionals here. Yes, one of these are mine the others are by an apprentice and the remaining are by shop artists.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34643688@N03/sets/721...

A link to all four images. I wanted to try an post it somewhere they cannot be compared to other images but I aint all that computer savvy so this will have to do. If you can identify who did what try to maintain an unbiased opinion. If you pick a better image (strictly by skill and not because it is or is not the type of imagery you are into) please express why you feel that image is better. I would like to hear what people see and what they do not see that other may.

I just picked up a pretty decent 50' plasma and am considering on getting a blue ray. Figure if I finally quit hording some money and got a nice tv I should buy a blue-ray to really experience what my tv is capable of correct?

Anyway, I have read through many of the questions here on YA! but the only things I can find is people stating buy a PS3 instead of a blue ray player because it is cheaper. What are they talking about? I find blue rays all over the internet for around 150-200. The last I checked the PS3 is double that. I already have a gaming system. What I want to know is what am I looking for when I pick a blue ray player? Are they all the same for picture quality? Forgive my ignorance but I don't know the slightest when it comes to this stuff. My TV is a 720p and I went with this because the cost was so great between 720p and 1080p and the only noticeable difference between is when you are fairly close to the TV. I have a large living room and you sit about 8-10 ft from the TV so the 720p was fine for me. It is a plasma with 8000:1 cont. ratio but I did some research and found that the craziness of these numbers are pretty much a hoax (these numbers became a useful sales gimic as of lately - link to contrast info: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/29651). They basicly state these exaggerated numbers mean VERY little. Best judgment is with your own eye.

But what type of numbers am I looking for in a blue ray player to take advantage of what my tv is capable of?

sorry for the long question

Ok, I don't really know squat about these tv types but I ran across a deal I could not pass up. I got a 50' plasma for under 800.00. I am sure I got a steal but what I don't what are the pros and cons for a LCD vs. Plasma. The only thing I visually noticed is that the plasma seems to have brighter colors or at least more solid blacks making the colors appear brighter and the plasma has a glass screen that has a bit of a glare and the LCD has plastic.

I am considering getting another tv of one of these types for my entertainment or man room but would like to know honest opinions concerning these tvs not a sales person running over the literature I can find anywhere.

Thanks

It is amazing that a couple of states have such lazy statutes when it comes to tattoo and the application of tattoos. Specially North Dakota, New Mexico, and Washington DC. These states have NO statutes what so ever regarding the application of tattoos.

Guess what I am getting at, knowing this why would anyone just walk into a shop in these areas and get a tattoo? The artist is required to have no formal training. They are not regulated by the health department. Sorry, but this just makes me slink back in my chair and say heck (usage of this work to be minorly correct on YA!).

Sorry, I just posted this a bit ago but for some reason it went in the wrong section.

So, I am sure I will catch some flack for this because I have been catching flack for several years now. But we all know of those 'do-it-yourselfers' out there (scratchers) that are hurting people and themselves. So why don't those of us that know better actually give positive advise to these people instead of just calling them names and telling them how stupid they are? After all, most of them are going to do it no matter what anyone tells them so don't you think it best that we give them at least some minor pointers in machine tuning and techniques to use and at least keep them from really hurting someone?

Sure, tell them how stupid they are and that they should obtain an apprenticeship like the rest of us but knowing good and well they will not do this and go on with there kitchen counter tattoo work we should give them at least some small advise to get them in the right direction.

I just set up a 360 profile and uploaded a couple of photos to the flikr thing. But for some reason it seams that the photos are showing on my 360 profile page. What could be the problem?

The screen says I don't have any public photos in my photo album but indeed I do. I am stumped.

I singed and closed on my first home purchase in June of 08. I am the only signer and I am engaged not married and may file head of household but I may let her claim my daughter and me just the house. Anyway, I was wonder if I will be eligible for this first time home buyer tax credit that was created last year and how much. I heard it was more like an interest free loan than a tax credit but I am also uncertain of the amount.

Ok, I am a first time home buyer that recently relocated from Ft. Lauderdale to Jackson, TN. Are there any tax breaks I should be aware of? Can the cost of moving be deducted? Purchase of new household equipment: lawnmower, washer & dryer, etc... deductable?

I have always only done EZ filing except for my business filing (that is another mess I have to deal with being I moved or opened a new shop - one reason for the long move).

Also, I am not married (yet - engaged). Should I allow my fiance to claim my daughter and me stick with claiming the house and move stuff being it is in my name?

Any and all advise is gratefully appreciated. I want to be prepaired when I do begin filing. Thanks in advance.

My humidor has always stayed at around 70%. I recently moved from FL to TN. Now that it is winter up here and my heater is no most of the time I can't seem to keep my humidor above 55%. I have added 2 humidifiers to it which seems extreme. It is only a 110 count humidor and now has 4 small humidifiers. Any suggestions would be great.

I have posted a couple of questions on here that I think were resolved. How do I choose the best answer?

I am an avid RPG fan. I have played KoTOR through several times and current going through KoTOR 2 a second time. I am playing it again because I am having a hard time finding a RPG for the 360 that compares to this series. Tried Lost Odyssey - didn't like, Elder Scrolls 4 - didn't like...

What do you think?