Tyler: Welcome, John. Judging from our communications in the process of setting up this interview, you seem to be in good spirits. Is there any particular reason for this vigor?

John: Maybe I’m ready to predict what life will be like in 2045, how ingrained GOOGLE will be, and how we as humans will take responsibility for the environment.

Tyler: Go on.

John: Hardware manufacturers have to be real about their long-term strategies. Where are we going to dump all the stuff that becomes redundant? As consumers, we have to take responsibility for what we want. For example, a new cell phone every year-Afanasy, Little Lazoo, Missy Evon and the cast say if you want portable communication, take a chip. Insert the thing inside yourself.

Tyler: And GOOGLE?

John: They’re already showing signs of maturity in their strategy. I thought they were a bit much while mapping the planet, but I get the feeling they’re ready to put their POWER to good use.

Tyler: Just what do you mean by “POWER” and why with a capital P?

John: Responsibility is power, in the giant’s case, it clearly has acquired clout and status-a position of responsibility by being able to provide for so many people on so many levels-shareholders, Internet users, and so on.

The caps on the word Power is a notation I use in the work to differentiate between Lazoo a human shell, James Elton, and LAZOO the PointSlayer an entity with InterDimension ability. The same as power and POWER as is the case in GOOGLE’s statue as both icon and service provider.

Tyler: You won’t mind that I say, because I know you a little better now, that to people reading this, that sounds arrogant, or the ravings of a lunatic…

John: How many people are we talking about-five, six, maybe twelve counting the people who approve of it? No but seriously, GOOGLE like Microsoft is at the core a group of like-minded individuals who as a collective have huge voices. GOOGLE has the luxury; while it’s a massive company in the business world, its image, or its persona is totally pliable. At a glance, GOOGLE is still an almost blank canvas, with a text field and above that a brand name, with six letters, the number of letters in what it does, and that is SEARCH.

GOOGLE has proven it can do anything it wants to do, but it’s who it is because it’s composed of responsible entities. Hence the position it’s acquired for itself in history. Like I always say, imagine if Bill Gates were someone like, well you know the type, like, ah? You know, dictator type, with megalomaniac tendencies, you know?

Tyler: What do you think the Hardware Manufacturers are going to do?

John: There’s huge money in reversing what has happened. Recycling the Hardware out there for FUEL, and building products. Stop producing new materials, and turn existing waste into a renewable energy. Create a demand for new materials made from what we have, and let the resources replenish themselves.

Tyler: So this is why you’re in such a good mood?

John: Because I never thought I’d be writing the second GUIOPERA.

Tyler: How does GOOGLE, the future, and the environment tie into GUIOPERA II?

John: GUIOPERA II is in 2045. The environment is a major concern as we all know. GOOGLE has the opportunity to affect change. I mean who else, Microsoft aside with WINDOWS, do we instantly go to for help nowadays. And they’re damn good at getting a job done quietly. I woke up one day and they had GOOGLE MAP the planet.

Tyler: I understand that you’ve changed GUIOPERA II from GLOBAL ATTACK to something else?

John: My dad died in June this year, and after a month of feeling lost, I woke up one morning and the whole thing just came to me. And to me a character’s story is more important than the plot.

Tyler: I’m sorry to hear about your dad, but go on.

John: My lead characters, John Lazoo and Polina Rada, a lot of the time are not central to the story. Even though I set out to tell Lazoo or Polina’s story, when I hear Missy Evon’s or Arley’s story, I’ll tell that.

In 2009, John Reyer and John Lazoo, with the help of Missy Evon who is now twenty years old, are writing new stories. Metofeaz Litigatti has disappeared. Jon Le Mac is in South America running his Hotel business. LMLA-ink no longer relies on the POEMBOOK or the STORYBOOK for their stories. Lazoo and Genisis are contemplating starting a family, and Afamasaga has accepted responsibility for telling the story and is mostly settled in his new life.

Afamasaga and Lazoo imagine the world Little Lazoo will grow up in.

Tyler: What do you mean ‘Metofeaz Litigatti has disappeared’? Isn’t he integral to writing the stories? What happened to him?

John: In the time line, which I try to uphold wherever possible, Metofeaz disappears around 2004. But that’s another whole new story in eBook Feeaz Fontain, which is under development and due for publishing in 2011.

Tyler: You mentioned Missy Evon, or Missy Lévon, as she is known in your last eBook-Jon Le Mac – Book 1 (The Making of LMLA-ink); does she grow up to be writer for LMLA-ink like Metofeaz Litigatti?

John: Missy’s great, isn’t she, ah?

Tyler: Yeah. She seems like a child beyond her years, holding it together despite her parents who seem less competent than her-especially her father-like she’s the character, the child behind the parents, who holds things together.

John: It would appear that way, but as duty would have it, she has a greater calling than that. As John Page was to Polina Rada, Genisis Jones is to John Lazoo; Missy is Little Lazoo’s GuidingMaster.

Which makes things interesting, as I first introduce Little Lazoo into the end-to-end saga in eBook BrocoliFlower page 40. Little Lazoo is seven years old in the year 2020, and Missy is thirty-one years of age; long story short, in GUIOPERA II they are co-stars.

All I can say is that she did write for LMLA-ink for a while, and there’s a possibility that her writing, as a child in Jon Le Mac Book 1, could well be where Afamasaga got the idea for the Dimensions, and all the entity stuff from, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Tyler: Only through reading the LMLA-ink SESSIONS did I get an insight into some of the characters and a crash course in some of the back story. But aren’t you overdoing it, a bit? As far as over exposing the characters-maybe even giving too much away?

John: You like the SESSIONS? I mean do you like the concept? Anyways, the SESSIONS are as the name says, a transcript of the times when LMLA-ink gets together to write. Also, there’s a possibility that the SESSIONS came about after Afamasaga got wind that the offices were being bugged. By who? Who knows? That’s another story…

But to answer your question about exposure; that’s what I do. I stress test the story, plot, the back story, and naturally the strong characters come forward, the lead characters take a break, and I over expose everything, leaving no place for the faint hearted, and the weaklings to hide.

Tyler: Yes, I do like the concept of the stories-it’s that intertextuality game you like to play-postmodern fictional authors writing fictional stories disguised as autobiography. But where’s your motivation to pump out the work, and in such quantities, come from?

John: It used to be for career purposes. But then I accepted that I am a writer and would do it for nothing. Now it’s a case of responsibility, in that I’ve seen on a couple of sites where the eBooks are-manybooks.net, getfreeebooks.com and scribd.com-that there have been a couple of downloads and to me now, even if there were only three or four fans of Lazoo, Polina, Missy, that’s enough to make me want to fulfill my obligation as an entertainer. And also to deliver on a promise of sorts to resolve all the issues the characters inherit in the plot.

Tyler: Do you know who your fans are?

John: When I started out, like I said, it was all business and about making a new career, which I thought would be as an ideas guy. So, in my head, I targeted women from about twelve years to I think about sixty-five. It took me a while to get there, ’cause in Lazoo, Genisis would’ve definitely appealed to twenty-fives and upwards. Then Rozelle and Polina came along. But in the GUIOPERA I and work since, I made a conscious effort to try and get “girls” of all ages. I had to wait for Harry Potter to pass, as if it ever will, ha ha? Now it’s whoever feels for the characters.

Tyler: Did you think you’d amass the body of work you have already?

John: A mass? Maybe a Mess. No but seriously, I always want to build a body, or something that makes sense and has a purpose. I want it to be self-sufficient, and without being pigheaded, I want it to provide its only life source and its own rules, so all aspects can be judged using its own relativity. This comes from not having an education I suppose, and having to make up your own game. Much like the poor kid, without the real toy, or game, they make up their own version of the real thing, out of bits of wood, old clothes and broken dolls, you know?

Tyler: But isn’t that a blessing in disguise-having to amuse yourself? It makes you more imaginative? And lack of education, for an intelligent person, just makes you think outside the box, where new ideas and inventions lay.

John: Absolutely! But as I learn new things, I find myself wanting to implement them straight away. But I have to be careful of the style which has changed dramatically over the past four years. Only yesterday I was trying to categorize the change in style, and I think I’ve formulated a progression that gives my development some sort of artistic spin.

I can say the Trilogy: John Lazoo, Wipe, etc. is work influenced by Impressionism. GUIOPERA I by Surrealism and GUIOPERA II and stuff I’m working on now is Realism influenced. But clearly, I insert Impressionism and Surrealism wherever I can. Ultimately, I’d love to use all three styles i.e. in the GUIOPERA format, I can have PART 1 written as an Impressionist would, and Part 2 Surreal and 3 classical, you know?

Tyler: Wow, that all sounds like very serious literature and you obviously have a real devotion to creating the work properly, but on a less serious note, you keep producing stories in a sort of serial manner that reminds me of comic strips or comic books, especially the superhero kind, where the story continues on and on. Would you say Batman, or any DC or Marvel comics, or their cartoon or movie equivalents, were big influences on your work?

John: Definitely! Well, they are influences on me personally and the way I treat my lead characters who are molded on so many influences, from De Niro’s Taxi Driver to Nicholson’s Cuckoo to the Batman, and in the end, I think the result is Lazoo is an Antihero.

But to answer your question, as a concept, comic books, soap operas, sitcoms are all tried and proven formulas for telling a saga, for whatever reason-advertising revenue? Building a fan base? All of them I was mindful of when I constructed etfiction and then the GUIOPERA format, which will have other derivative products as time goes on.

Oh, by the way, Little Lazoo in GUIOPERA II is a Christian Bale Batman fan.

Tyler: You strike me as a writer whose imagination has run wild and the characters and stories pull you in all directions. Early on, I believe you told me you had some sort of master plan written out for all the characters and books, or am I wrong? Are you still writing the books you planned out, or do you just add as you see fit? How do you decide which story next to focus on?

John: When I started out, I had this story about this guy (Lazoo) an illiterate; a representation of myself and where I was in life-unable to fulfill any of my potential due to not being able to do the fundamentals-function day-to-day, communicate, I was dysfunctional. Through finding myself, which took all of John Lazoo, WIPE, Illicit, the POEMBOOK to get out, I suddenly realized I had been able to create things.

Early 2007, I realized what I had created, and I told myself to pretend I was this massive Superstar on the Internet, and to start behaving like one, and treat the work with due respect.

Harry Potter was at its peak; George Lucas announced he was taking Star Wars to TV. And so I took a whole year off to plan how I was going to present the stories as an end-to-end saga, and to watch the market place, and also the Internet download thing-with YouTube vs. pay for stuff. And also Hollywood, which was a really interesting period with Scorsese’s Departed, The Good German, The Good Shepherd all having this weird ass feel about them, which felt a lot like what I was trying to do-Character-centric story, void of location, environment, like Impressionism with Surreal expression.

After reading reviews of my work and admitting to myself that I had long way to go in terms of conforming to convention, I decided to divert all energies to creating a format, that could be accepted in the mainstream, and also appear as a progression in my evolving style-GUIOPERA I, which was not perfected until eBook BrocoliFlower.

Then I looked at the story and said to myself I had to tie Lazoo and Polina Rada into one story and came up with the New American Dream, which I write about in eBook Jon Le Mac Book 1.

But at the end of the day, like you point out to me, for which I am grateful, it’s all about John Lazoo.

Tyler: In my last interview with you at the beginning of this year, you mentioned your father, who was a taxi driver, wanted you to be a doctor. Has his passing away affected the work? You mentioned that you were lost for a month.

John: It’s crazy how things go. I normally never mention real people in my life in the work, and when I do, I try and disguise them, so only they know what I’m on about. But something made me single out my dad, who was an immigrant from Western Samoa to New Zealand in the 50’s. Yeah, he wanted me to be someone and get an education. But that’s not the way things went. My sister, who’s a TV producer back in NZ, went to University-you guys call it college; my brother in Sydney, Australia is a chaplain; he did Uni also. And even my brother who lives down at Surfer’s Paradise studied law for a bit. I dunno; well I do, but I can’t quite put my finger on the exact reason why I didn’t do what my father wanted me to do. But the answer to your question is a definite Yes. GUIOPERA II I think is my chance to pay respect to him for what he did for himself, and in that respect, for all fathers out there who left their home countries as young men in pursuit of something better for themselves.

Tyler: You mentioned in BrocoliFlower somewhere that John Reyer does what he does because of a promise he made to his mother on her deathbed. Is there any truth in that?

John: Mmm…yep! BrocoliFlower Chapter 3 Part 1 on Page 13 Metofeaz Litigatti tells Lavenda Stevonsen that John Reyer’s a pretty serious type of character and that all shenanigans and the carrying on is in aide of fulfilling the promise.

It’s actually weird that I talk about this in what is essentially marketing of my work, which is for personal gain. But I’m comfortable with what I’ve done, and that is I’ve basically sold my soul to the world. And for such a private person, which I am, it is really interesting to me how I could do that to myself. I suppose my self-destructive tendencies have taken on a new twist. I unwittingly used to find myself in some dangerous situations; now that I am doing something positive, I find myself having messed my life up by writing John Reyer Afamasaga into the books.

Tyler: I was just going to ask you about that-you said you normally don’t incorporate real people in the stories, so what made you decide to fictionalize yourself?

John: From 2002 till my father’s death, I couldn’t find a “reality” that suited me. I was going through change, leaps and bounds, but everyone around me still saw me as who I used to be. Transmutation, a process where the old you mutates into the new you, is meant to be a seamless process, as you have day to day responsibilities which you have to fulfill; some of those tasks are performed under circumstances created by the “old” you. I needed somewhere to live as the old me, as I was being treated, when in actual fact I was a different person now, which no one would accept. So in day-to-day life, I was at war trying to maintain my new self, and in the books I was able to release all frustrations and negative energies.

Tyler: Why would you say you’ve messed up your life by fictionalizing yourself?

John: I’m pretty private, and I feel I was forced into doing what I did. But in saying that, I think I can handle anything that comes my way now.

Tyler: Is the fictional you the one you want to present to the world-a way of being extroverted, while still protecting yourself from exposure?

John: All I know is God has a plan, and I feel that I’m a very lucky guy to be able to spin things in my head to cope with the reality I find myself in.

Tyler: While you’re in this open frame of mind, would you mind explaining why you’re feeling great, when you’re father has just passed away, and in your words you’ve ruined your life?

John: I suppose it’s got to do with how I now feel responsible for my family name. I’m extremely task oriented, and I have a task now. I accept that as a son, while my parents were alive, I was a total failure. But now that that Chapter has ended, I feel like I have an opportunity to begin a new Chapter.

My sister’s son, my nephew Teddi, made a representative rugby union team. I received an email from his parents saying, “He played for his Granddad!” And I watched his little brother Sano play rugby on YouTube.

Tyler: Is there a woman anywhere in your life at the moment?

John: I have a few very good friends who helped me through the time I was lost. But I’m not even looking for anything like that. I believe she’ll find me when she’s ready.

Tyler: When does GUIOPERA II begin?

John: Saturday 5th September 2009. It goes as all GUIOPERA’s do, till Christmas day.

Tyler: And I trust there were will be more works to follow it?

John: Most definitely, my friend. Let’s put it this way, Missy, Lazoo and myself are already working on LAZOO II-GUIOPERA 5, in which Genisis Jones is pregnant.

Tyler: Do you think you’ll always write about these characters-Lazoo, Genisis, Polina and all the others, or do you foresee a day when you give them up, and start a whole new fictional saga?

John: I’ve planned till 2020 using Lazoo and co. At the moment, Lazoo, Genisis, Polina, Missy, Metofeaz, Le Mac and the rest of the cast have been good to me, and like I said, the poor souls have inherited a lot of issues in the story I have to resolve for them. For example, in the GUIOPERA II, Little Lazoo is one messed up guy; he suffers panic attacks; he has self-mutilation tendencies. I have to help Lazoo’s son resolve issues, his dad and I are responsible for.

But to answer you question in full, if for whatever reason I was not able to carry on the franchise I have painstakingly crafted, almost costing me my sanity at times, I am pretty confident I could create something bigger and better, in a reality where I was who I really am.

Tyler: Hmm, and just who might you really be? Are you saying you’re a limited being in the real world, rather like your characters are entities inhabiting human shells? Do you think we are all capable of greater things and life gives us blinders?

John: Tyler, it’s sometime between 5:00 and 6:00 in the morning here. After I answer this question I have to ready myself to face the day as a normal person, working in a day job, to pay the rent. I write when I can. One day I hope to write when I want.

Tyler: Okay, John. Thank you for your time. We look forward to the GUIOPERA II premiere.

Geographic business diversification can be a complicated technique to master on your own, especially as an investor just starting out. A helpful way to become comfortable is to learn from a mentor whom you know and trust and who has demonstrated success when it comes to geographic diversification. Because the subject is so complicated, it is common to seek professional advice to get an insiders guide to tactical asset allocation methods such as geographic business diversification. In any event, the decision on how to geographically diversify your account should be made by you and you alone-nobody knows what you want better than your do yourself!

Geographic diversification tips you receive from an expert can be crucial components to a robust portfolio. One example of potentially profitable diversification that comes to mind is opening a business in a foreign market. Talk to an expert entrepreneur who has started a business in another country and is willing to give you pointers on achieving that goal. Opening your own business abroad is a perfect way to achieve geographic business diversification, and it can make for quite an exciting adventure!

Seek out a project that would not only provide future capital but would also be something you enjoy. Why go into business if it creates no personal pleasure? Generally, if you are passionate about something, you have a greater likelihood of becoming successful. Once you open a business and it becomes profitable, you can open more stores or branches globally to achieve even greater geographic business diversification.

When it comes to diversifying areas of your business, it’s important to keep in mind what different areas of the world may need. From there, figure out how their needs align with what you like to do. I often give the example of a remote island. Islands serve as vacation getaways for tourists from all over the world. As a future business owner, you may have something to offer up-and-coming destination hot spots that they don’t already have. Perhaps an investor from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, could open a cheese cake stand in the South Pacific Samoan islands? After all-what are the chances they already have one?

Achieving geographic business diversification through owning a small business in a foreign location is not an easy feat; many small businesses actually fail within the first 3 years. Opening a franchise business can help get your feet wet, if you have little or no business experience. A franchise can help you understand every aspect of a business. If you are unsure of what type of franchise to open, the internet can be a valuable tool for making your decision. Do not jump into this decision without the proper research. A franchise is not for everyone and it takes away a lot of the creativity you have as an owner.

Another geographic business diversification insider tip is to set up an Internet business. Owning an Internet business can be a great way to earn extra capital without having to do much work. While the start up may be extensive and require time and money, in the end, you can be selling your product while you sleep.

The beauty of the Internet is that time is not an object and you have the potential to reach any customer in the world! You do not need brick-and-mortar buildings, just an active online connection. For global business diversification purposes, it’s always a good idea to have your website made up in 3 or 4 different languages so your product can reach more consumers. The Internet can also provide you with the ability to import your materials from other countries that produce the items at a lower cost.

Thinking with a global business diversification mindset is not only a way to expand a portfolio but also a way to create some great tax advantages for yourself. Each country taxes business activities in a different way. While you may pay high taxes for a business in one country, you may find just the opposite in another country. By diversifying business opportunities geographically, you also set yourself up for potential tax deductions as you can write off your business expenses and asset depreciation.

Geographic business diversification is a fundamental element to a diverse portfolio. Each market operates in a different manner and has several different economic indicators that will tell you how profitable you potentially can or cannot be. Make sure you put in the proper effort and research to understand the tax laws and benefits in the country you are investing in. Going into this blind can be disastrous and will not lead to a favorable outcome. Most importantly, find something you enjoy and give it your all!

1: An Ohio restaurant specializing in cheeseburgers offers a lifetime 25% discount for anyone who has a tattoo of a cheeseburger and at an unrelated tattoo studio in a nearby town, they’re offering a 25% discount on cheeseburger tattoos- Sounds suspicious.
2: Tattoos are rarely done in ink, what is commonly called inks, are actually suspended solid color particles, mostly metal salts and plastics, but not vegetable dyes as commonly believed.
3: There are no reported cases of HIV infection from a tattoo in the U.S., but there are three from dentist’s offices.
4: More women than men are getting tattooed today.
5: Tattoos are considered a minor medical procedure.
6. Until 2006 it was illegal to get a tattoo in Oklahoma
7: Lucky Diamond Rich of New Zealand is the most tattooed person in the world, and after running out of space, has started putting lighter tattoos on top of the darker ones, and vice versa.
8: Robbie “the coon” Koch recently broke the world’s record by inking 577 tattoos in 24 hrs. The old record was held by Kat Von D of the television show, “LA Ink.” Update- Hollis Cantrell actually owns the record as of 2009 (801 tattoos) but Robbie the coon sounded better. Hollis’s final tattoo was on his thigh.
9: The first recorded tattoo is believed to have been found on a mummified iceman in 3300 BC. He had 58 tattoos, mostly dots and lines.
10: In 1876 Thomas Edison invented a machine that ultimately became the tattoo machine, but it took modifications by Samuel O’Reilly in 1891 to adapt the device for tattooing.

11: The record for the longest tattoo session is 43 hours and 50 minutes and was completed by the very observant and talented artist Melanie Grieveson, of Australia. The tattooed was Stephen Grady.
12: In 2005 Kimberly Smith was paid $10,000 to have Golden Palace.Com tattooed on her forehead by the casino, to help pay for her daughter’s education. The casino is noted for its outlandish promotions.
13: Thomas Edison had five dots tattooed on his left forearm, similar to the dots on dice.
14: Lip tattoos only last 1 to 5 years and need to be frequently retouched, the most common a cosmetic lip liner.
15: The second most common reason for tattoo removal is mistranslation.
16: In 2010 Channel will unveil its new line of fashionable temporary tattoos. The set of 55 tattoos sells for $75.
17: Most Tattoo machines hold between 1 and 10 needles and some ancient methods using rakes hold up to 27.
18: Anil Gupta is considered NYC’s most expensive tattoo artist at over $350 per hour.
19: In the majority of cases, the outline of a tattoo shouldn’t bleed at all, and the shading for only a few minutes.
20: As of 2006, 1 in 4 women aged 18 to 50 have at least one tattoo.

21: U.S. President James Polk is said to be the first white man to have a Chinese character as a tattoo.
22: A brothel in Cologne, Germany is offering any patron who gets a tattoo of the businesses logo, by their in house artist, free entrance for life ($6.25 US) and discounts on lap dances ($25.00 US. ea)
25: The word “tattoo” has been in the top ten searched terms since Lycos started tracking search engines.
26: Democrats are more likely to have a tattoo then republicans, 18% to 14%.
27: January 23, 2010. A new US Marine Corp directive prohibits anyone with a full sleeve tattoo from becoming an officer. It also prohibits tattoos on the hands, wrists, fingers, and the inside of the mouth.
28: July 17th, 2009. 18 year old Kimberly Vlaminck sues a Romanian tattoo artist over the 56 stars that she awoke to, scattered across her face, 53 more than see asked for. She later admitted that she lied in the lawsuit and had asked for all fifty six.
29: Blues singer Janis Joplin had a wristlet tattoo and a small heart on her left breast.
30: In Oregon, it is a felony to practice tattooing without a license or in an unlicensed shop.

31: Heiress and socialite Paris Hilton had one tattoo to her credit, the name of then boyfriend Nick Carter on her right butt cheek. It has since been removed by laser.
32: The traditional Samoan tattoo, pe’a, covering the body from mid torso to the knees, takes 3 months to complete and up to 1 year to fully heal. A typical session lasts from dawn till dusk, or until the pain becomes too great, and resumes the next day unless the skin needs a few days to heal.
33: In a 2002 survey, 8 of the top 10 voted, “most beautiful people in the world” had tattoos.
34: Tattoos done today don’t turn blue when they age, unless they were originally blue, the inks are much more stable.
35: The first occurrence of the word tattoo in the Oxford English Dictionary came in 1769 and is credited to Captain John Cook.
36: A rooster tattooed on one leg and a pig on the other is said to protect a sailor from drowning. Neither animal can swim.
37: Queen Kamamalu of Hawaii (1808-1824) was the first woman to have her tongue tattooed.
38: Most tattoo artists will not tattoo a pregnant woman.
39: Some tattoo artists claim that if you shield a new tattoo from sunlight for the first two years it will remain brighter and clearer for decades.
40: Over 40 million people in the U.S. have tattoos.

41: 26% of Americans with a tattoo say they make them feel more attractive, with women voting that way almost 2 to 1 over men.
42: Tommy Lee of Motley Crue holds the record for highest altitude tattoo, having been inked in 2008 at 45,000 feet. The tattoo was said to cost $150,000 dollars.
43: 73 year old Isobel Valley, the world’s most tattooed women, has every square inch of her body tattooed, except her face, and also has fifty piercings, 15 of which are visible. The majority of the piercings are below the belt because she wants to jingle when she walks, she says.
44: An increasing number of people are having medical alerts tattooed to aid doctors in case of an emergency.
45: 43 year old former soldier Shawn Clark has the names of all 232 British soldiers killed in Afghanistan tattooed on his back.
46: At one time red ink was known to fade; not so with today’ inks.
47: The title of The “Hardy Boys” #47 is “The Mystery of the Whale Tattoo.”
48: When Cortez landed on the Mexican coast in 1519 he was horrified to find the natives practicing devil worshiping and had somehow permanently marked images of their idols on their skin. He called it the work of the devil.
49: A tattoo of an anchor on a sailor indicates they have sailed across the Atlantic.
50: One third of Americans with tattoos say they make them feel sexier.

51: Tattoo ink is injected into the second layer of the skin, the dermis, and become encapsulate by the body as a defense mechanism, leaving the image stable and intact.
52: Gabrial Carbona, an American teenage hit man for a Mexican cartel, has his eyelids tattooed so they never look closed. His idea is not working as well for him in prison.
53: Jimmy Buffet sings about tattoos in this song of the same name, “It’s a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling.”
54: In the 1920’s, American circuses employed more than 300 people with full body tattoos and paid them up to $200 a week, a lot of money during those times.
55: The percentage of males and females with tattoos is now statistically equal.
56: Tattoo equipment is sterilized in an autoclave, a high pressure steam machine, similar to a pressure cooker and how hospitals do theirs.
57: 57% of people without a tattoo feel that those with them are more rebellious and threatening.
58: 35 0f the first 43 U.S. Presidents reportedly have tattoos.
59: Tattoo inks are not regulated by the by any government agencies so there is no way of knowing exactly what’s in them.

60: Winston Churchill’s mother, Lady Randolph Churchill, had a tattoo of a snake on her wrist. They were popular for rich aristocrats during that period. She chose a snake because it could be easily covered by a bracelet.
61: U.S. President Andrew Jackson had a giant tattoo of a tomahawk that ran down the length of the inside of his thigh. No one knows exactly why.
62: Almost all U.S. corporations have some form of restrictions or policy regarding tattoos on the job.
63: As of Sept. 29th 2009, the 19 year old ban on tattooing was lifted in DeKalb, Illinois.
64: Actress Halle Berry has a tattoo of a sunflower on her rear end covering up the name of her ex, baseball player David Justice.
65: The popularity of tattooing during the latter part of the nineteenth century and first part of the twentieth century owed much to the circus sideshow.
66: People with antisocial personality disorder are more likely to have a higher number of tattoos in more visible locations, and covering a larger percentage of their bodies.
67: Ancient Egyptians used tattoos to differentiate between slaves and peasants.
68: During the late 18th century in Europe, collecting the tattooed heads of Maori people became so popular that many were murdered to meet the demand. The heads were commonly paid for in guns.
69: In the 1870s the Japanese government outlawed tattoos forcing the practice underground where it flourished.
70: 3% of Americans say having a tattoo makes them feel more athletic.

71: The world’s most tattooed women, Isobel Varley got her first tattoo, a flower, at age 49.
72: 4% of consumers spend over $1000 on a tattoo.
73: When you see someone’s tattoo you are viewing it through the first layer of the skin, the epidermis.
74: 50% of all tattoos are not covered up by clothing and are openly visible.
75: Tattoo machines can make upwards of 200 hits per second, that’s up to 12,000 times a minute and 720,000 an hour.
76: In ancient Greece and Rome, tattoos were considered barbaric and were only used to mark slaves and criminals.
77: 52% of those in prison are tattooed.
78: In recent studies, memorial tattoos have been shown to overwhelmingly turn grief into joy and morning into celebration by creating a lasting memory.
79: A 2009 study conducted at Liverpool Hope University found that people with three or more tattoos had significantly lower levels of self esteem.
80: 4% of Americans say that their tattoos make them feel healthier.

81: It is untrue that white or lighter colored inks are more painful to use.
82: A tattoo is art, only, if the person doing the tattoo is an artist and a skilled technician.
83: President James Buchanon had a tattoo of a scantily clad woman on his chest with the initials BFL (bachelor for life).
84: In 2002, 18 year old hair dresser Lee Becks was shocked to find out the tattoo he thought said, “Love, honor, and obey” actually translated to, “at the end of the day, this is an ugly boy.”
85: New York City outlawed tattoos from 1961 to 1997 because of a tattoo related outbreak of hepatitis “C”.
86: In a 2002 study a group of male high school and college students viewed pictures of models with and without tattoos, and graded them in 13 categories. The models with tattoos scored much lower in 9 of the 13 ratings.
87: Some people experience pain or a burning during sensation during an MRI because of the metallic particles in some inks.
88: The US Navy prohibited tattoos of naked women during World War II, so many future sailors had to get their tattoos reworked to include cloths.
89: The first recorded instance of death following tattooing was reported in 1837 in France. The young woman, a prostitute, was covering up another unwanted tattoo and died from the infection that followed.
90: Apr. 30, 2009. To celebrate Barbie’s 50th birthday Mattel comes out with the new “Totally Stlylin’ Barbie, complete with a set of place able tattoos, one a lower back tattoo featuring the name Ken.

91: 35% of all NBA players have tattoos. Michael Jordan has none and teammate Dennis Rodman has at least 22.
92: Lorette Fulkerson was the last woman to work the circus sideshows, retiring in 1995 at the age of 80.
93: Eyeball tattoos are not done with a machine, but rather, the ink is directly injected into the eye with a syringe.
94: Urine was sometimes used in early ink mixtures.
95: 5% of Americans with a tattoo say they make them feel smarter.
96: The first case of a syphilis being transmitted by a tattoo came in 1853. The artists ink was drying up so he spit in it, transferring the disease.
97: Never go back to the person who gave you a bad tattoo to have it fixed, it will not get better.
98: The time to ask questions is before you get a tattoo.
99: Good tattoos aren’t cheap and cheap tattoos aren’t good.
100: Women are more than twice as likely to have a tattoo removed as men.

101: Over 50% of the tattoos created today will be removed by laser at great expense, intense pain and permanent minor scaring. Think before you ink.

Polynesia consist of various islands in the Pacific Ocean such as Hawaii, Easter islands, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, Marquesas Island and New Zealand. Polynesia is a fusion of two words 'poly' which means 'many' and 'nesia' which means 'islands'. Polynesia means 'many islands'.

The Polynesians were skillful navigators (sailing masters). The Polynesian societies were ruled by kings, chiefs, and ritual specialists.

The Polynesians were noted for specialization in various fields of work such as priesthood, sculpture, canoe making and building construction. Training in the form of apprenticeship was offered to trainees on the mastery ways of handling tools and materials. They were also instructed on the body of beliefs and ideologies that were linked to any of the artistic creations. These accounts for the high technical and aesthetic standards that are the hallmark of artwork in Polynesia. That is why their works are branded by art historians as genius creations.

Owing to the social hierarchy that existed in Polynesia, art was associated with rank and power. Initiation rites were organized for the youth to enter into adulthood. The Polynesians believed in ancients and therefore practiced ancestral veneration and the performance of extravagant funeral ceremonies.

The Polynesians produced various forms of art such as painting, sculpture, textiles, architecture, feather work and pottery. Body painting in the form of tattooing was a prestigious art in Polynesia. It was an important art form for the Marquesan warriors because it was believed to offer spiritual protection of the individual. Nobles and warriors accumulated various patterns to help increase their status, mana or spiritual power and personal beauty. For full protection, the tattoo-covered the entire body. The interiors and exteriors of both the ceremonial and communal meetings houses especially the rafters are painted in symbolic patterns in various colors serving both aesthetic and spiritual purposes.

Images of deities usually referred to as fishermen gods and ancients were carved in wood with multiple figures attached to their bodies. The ancestral figures probably represented clan and district ancestors who were revered and honored because of their protective and procreative powers. They played a central role in human fertility.

The Polynesians are blamed for the production of a decorated bark cloth called Tapa. It was produced from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree by the Polynesian women. Its production processes were complex and time-consuming.

It was used extensively for clothing and bedding. Large sheets of the tapa are used were and still are produced for exchange. It is used for wrapping objects and it is believed to bestow sanctity or holiness on the object. Some were also used for ceremonial or ritual purposes. These ones were dyed, painted, stenciled and sometimes perfumed. Bodies of high ranking denied chiefs were traditionally wrapped in the tapa cloth. During funeral and marriage ceremonies, tapa exchanges form an integral part.

Meeting houses and ceremonial homes were constructed by the Polynesians. There were carved relief panels along the walls of the buildings that depicted specific ancestors.
Intellectately painted shapes cover the rafters. They also built temples for their war gods and other deities.

Elegant feather cloaks were created for mainly men of high rank. Most of the cloaks were produced in Hawaii. Every aspect of the cloak reflected the status of the wearer. The materials used were extremely precious specifically the red and yellow feathers from the mamo birds.

The cloak linked its owner to the gods. Aside offering spiritual protection of the gods to the wearer, their dense fiber base and feather matting provided physical protection.

The Western part of Polynesia produced the Lapita pottery (ceramic vessels) for domestic, religious and spiritual uses in the premises, homes, and ceremonial homes.

The rich artistic culture of the Polynesians educates us that artists must strive to attain a high key of professionalism in their artistic productions in any area of ​​expertise that they choose as their specialty. The handling and usage of tools and materials for artistic productions must be handled in dexterity as was done by the Polynesians. This would help in the advancement of art in the society.

WHY PANAMA?

Panama is more than just a Canal … it is definitely way much more! The Republic of Panama is a cosmopolitan metropolis with a great biodiversity of nature where you can find a mix between tranquility and a well developed city.

In fact, Panama is a paradise to invest, to enjoy, to shop, a paradise of service, of friendly people, with seven ethnic Indian groups that still conserve their millenary traditions, with a Canal serving the world in between two oceans, a Canal considering to be the eight wonder of the world, with a variety of the most famous international chains of hotels, convention centers and a sustainable ecology in development, Panama is this and way much more!

Panama is considered to be in the 3rd position for "best place to retire in the world"; The Republic of Panama is also considered to be the best place to live outside the United Estates. This is according to the revised "International Living" magazine and experts that promote the life style of US citizens retired in foreign countries. The "American Association of Retired Persons" a magazine for retired people, has also considered Boquete and Chiriquí in the Republic of Panama to be one of the four best places to have a home outside home. This rating was given after ten key indicators that included security, beauty, costs, climate, political stability and others.

Everything is reliably close and accessible in the Republic of Panama "Center of the World and heart of the Universe" counting with direct flights from the United Estates, Europe, Asia and Latin-American, with more than 150 private banks, business centers where you can buy or sell any type of product at the best international prices. Panama is a commercial empire!

The Free Trade Zone (Colon City) in the Republic of Panama is the second most important trade center of the World after Hong Kong. This position is given since Panama has the best route or shortest from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean to move global trade. For these reasons, the Republic of Panama offers a great variety of Malls (Multiplaza, Multicentro, Los Pueblos and others) and duty free shopping centers with an excellent relation between quality and price where you will be able to experience the best shopping of your life !

INVESTING IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA:

When you buy in the Republic of Panama, you will find more amenities than in other retiring heavens such as Costa Rica, the costs are simply lower as well as crime rates. In the Republic of Panama you will find less bureaucracy and less interfering with the local authorities when is about investing.

The Republic of Panama is one of the most globalize countries in Latin America. Panama is also a member of the (OMC) which stands for "Organización Mundial de Comercio" or "World's Commerce Organization", it is also part of the (ALCA) "Area de Libre Comercio de Las Americas" or "Free Trade Sector of the Americas "in which the Republic had the privilege to be the convention center for 2 years in a row (2001 & 2003) and has already started negotiations to be part of the (MERCOSUR) and (APEC).

You would not require special permits or inscriptions prior to your investment in the Republic of Panama. The Law of Stability of Investment (1998) protects all foreign investors from any change on taxes, the 10 year labor laws and other costs after an investment has been registered.

The Republic of Panama has proportioned various ways to incentive foreign investors which include;

* A US dollar based economy.

* Low inflation rates without risk of currency changes

* Total absence of exchange controllers

* Same treatment to foreigners and locals

* One of the most flexible countries in the world

* No restriction to foreign owned corporations

* No restriction to fusions, acquisitions or corporations of shared risk

* An existing Free Trade Zone

* A large percentage of bilingual labor force

* The Republic of Panama is nominated # 1 in the region for low cost of living and low
operational cost from the Tripartite Committee which consist of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Commission (ECLAC), the American Estates Organization (OAS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The Republic of Panama is totally covered by the OPIC, MIGA, IDB and other multilateral entities.

The Political Risk Service (PRS) named the Republic of Panama to be one of the three countries in the hemisphere with best qualifications for investment.

These are just some of the reasons why Panama is the best place for your businesses and investment.

COST OF LIVING IN PANAMA

The Republic of Panama has costs of a third world country in a first world country. Panama Real Estate cost can be 1/10 of values ​​in the United States and the cost of living is about to to all mayor cities in the US. Below is a quick list of mayor living cost as reference, in many cases retirees can sell their present living properties, buy one better in Panama for of of the cost and live a better life style for many years with the of of their sale, with change.

Estimated Monthly Fixed Costs in US dollars:

Electricity in Panama $ 80.00

Water in Panama (Very Safe to Drink-The Best in Latin America) $ 20.00

Phone Bills in Panama (Includes Monthly Fee and Estimated Usage) $ 50.00

Living Maid in Panama (If you can afford it its highly recommended) $ 150.00

Cell Phone cost in Panama $ 50.00

Condo Maintenance Fee in Panama $ 150.00

Internet Service in Panama (Residential) $ 20.00

Cable TV Service in Panama $ 50.00

Gasoline in Panama (2.35 per Gallon – Estimate) $ 50.00

Groceries in Panama (Monthly for Family of 4) $ 400.00

Fire Insurance in Panama (Building) $ 150.00

Health Insurance in Panama (Basic Coverage for Family of 4) $ 150.00

Car Insurance in Panama (Based on a $ 25,000 Auto) $ 35.00

Private School Fees in Panama (per kid) $ 130.00 – $ 500.00

Additional Expenses

Private School Tuition in Panama $ 300.00

General Medicine in Panama $ 35.00

Dentist in Panama consultancy $ 35.00

Gymnasium monthly fees in Panama $ 45.00

Dinner at a luxury restaurant in Panama (2 pax) $ 50.00- $ 80.00

Movie theater fees in Panama $ 3.50

Taxi fees in Panama $ 1.50

Tax (ITBM) in Panama 5%

SECURITY IN PANAMA

The Republic of Panama is the safest country in Central and South America. It counts the highest qualifications on security for tourists according to the Pinkerton Intelligence Agency, is a warm, economic, comfortable and adventurous place to retire, invest and live how you have always dream of.

CLIMATE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama counts with the ideal geographical position and atmospheric conditions. Here in Panama, you can find the perfect climate for al tastes, sunny, tropical, warm exotic beaches and over 1,200 islands that surround us. At the same time you can enjoy a fresh climate at the high lands of Chiriquí, El Valle, Boquete or Cerro Azul among the most popular spots at a few hours from Panama City.

It is very important to mention that in the Republic of Panama there are no hurricanes, active volcanoes or earthquakes because of its privileged geological position.

The Republic of Panama counts with to climatic stages "Dry" (December-April) and "Green" (April-December) seasons. The Green season its know for the drastic changes of sun light and tropical rain that makes the country "Green".

The temperature in the Republic of Panama during the year is 27 ° C y 16 ° C-25 ° C in the valleys and mountains. The north winds refresh us during "dry" season. The tropical rains are usually in between 5 to 45 minutes while the sky partly opens and lets the sun rays penetrate or country.

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

"Panama seems to be apart from Central America sustained by its canal, banks and a free trade zone" The Economist.

GEOGRAPHY IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The republic of Panama occupations 75,990 km2 with 9 provinces: Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Colce, Veraguas, Darien, Colon, Los Santos, San Blas and Herrera. Up north the Panamanian coastline borders the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific on the Southern coast of our Isthmus at only 1hr from each other. On the west side of the Republic of Panama is Costa Rica and Colombia on the East Side.

POPULATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama has 2,839,177 million habitants (July, 2001). It is a mix of ethnicities from different origins; Spanish conquerors, blacks and indigenous groups. Panama is a place where all cultures collide.

RELIGION IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama has the following religious statistics; Catholics: 85%; Christians: 12%; Orthodox: 3% "Hindus, Muslim and Buddhists"
All cultural groups practice their religion freely in the Republic of Panama.

LANGUAGE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Spanish is the official language in the Republic of Panama. However, English is used frequently by Panamanians and businesses in the Republic of Panama.

POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama has a stable democratic political system who actually promotes the foreign investment. Panama is an independent nation that counts with a wide legal framework which supports the national security for Panamanians and foreigners.
Panama's actual president is Mr. Martin Torrijos.

CURRENCY IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Since 1904, the Republic of Panama uses the Balboa as its currency. The Balboa is equivalent to the US dollar which circulates in the Republic of Panama as well.
The Republic of Panama has maintained the lowest inflation rates in the hemisphere (2%) in the last 40 years.
Traveler checks, credit card or debit cards can be used to make payments in the Republic of Panama.

BANKING CENTER

Panama City counts with over 150 international and local banks offering a modern legislation on IBC's (International Business Corporations), Private Interest Foundations, high interest rates on certificates of deposit and more! Banks such as Citibank, HSBC, BNP / Paribas and Dresdner are some of the ones you will find in the Republic of Panama.

TIME IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The official time of the Republic of Panama is the same as the East Coast of the United Estates which is (GMT-5).

ELECTRIC POWER IN PANAMA

The electric power in the Republic of Panama goes at 110w-60hz and 220w.

TELEPHONE SERVICE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Internet, phone lines and cell-phone services are excellent. You can make or receive international phone calls in Panama City. The country code for the Republic of Panama is 507.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Because of having an excellent geographical position and one of the most important routes in the world for international trade, "The Panama Canal", our country is one of the most important spots for logistics on transportation and cargo services in the world.

The Republic of Panama counts with modern ports on the Atlantic Coast as well as the Pacific Coast. Our ports are connected with a Panamanian Rail Way. We count with excellent roads, national and international airports in which all are capable of processing cargo.

The Republic of Panama offers one of the most important maritime systems of commercial routs in the world.The public transportation cost in Panama City is of less than 25cents of a US dollar; taxis fees in Panama City starts from $ 1.00 USD per passenger, in case of an extra passenger you should add a 25% or 25cents per dollar.

You can reach any province of the Republic of Panama through de Albrook bus terminal or by contacting a local tour operator. We suggest a private tour services such as the fist private tour service in the Republic of Panama. (www.panamaprivatetours.com).

An example of the price for a bus ticket to David, Chiriquí is of $ 10.60. However, this may take long hours and a few stops to eat, etc. In order for you to travel comfortable we suggest a local tour operator as mentioned above.

DRIVERS LICENCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Any driver's license is valid in the Republic of Panama for 90 days. However, you should always carry your passport in case you get stopped by a police officer. The minimum age required to obtain a drivers license in the Republic of Panama is of 18 years of age.

MEDICINE AND MEDICAL SERVICES IN REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama offers medical services that are top rated like in the United Estates and other countries. Panamanian medical top standards include the public and private service as well. You can find a wide range of hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, ambulance services; insurance companies that are just a part of a complete medical service system and medical specialties that are found in Panama and Central America. In Panama you will also find a large number of medical professionals; surgeons, medics, paramedics, nurses with vast experience that will confirm the best medical assistance for you and your family.

The Panamanian health center "Ministerio de Salud", is the institution in charge of determining and conducting health politics in the Republic of Panama.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Private and public schools in Panama are supervised under the Panamanian Minister of Education. Panamanian school systems are organized under primary and secondary "high school" levels which are six years each. University degrees are also offered in the Republic of Panama. There are also a few US universities such as Louiville and Florida State University. The Republic of Panama has over 20 different universities.

Monthly fees for School Trasnportation in the Republic of Panama: US $ 35.00

TOURSISTIC DESTINATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama is "affordable tourism"
For many, Panama is the today's best country for ecotourism. The unique geographical position that Panama has "a bridge connecting two continents" gives the opportunity to enjoy fascinating primitive tropical rain forests and a biodiversity that counts with over 944 bird species. This is more than in the United Estates and Canada together!

It is convenient to know, that all this nature is accessible at only 1 hour from Panama City. Panama's National Parks are vast with almost 5 million acres in size; this makes 25% of Panama's total size. Panama has plenty unexplored virgin forests and for those who have, there is a local saying: while in other countries you see 20 tourists observing one bird specie, in Panama you find one tourist observing 20 species.

Panamanian National Parks that we recommend you to visit:

1. Altos de Campana Natural Park

2. La Amistad Nacional Park

3. Marino Isla Bastimentos Nacional Park

4. Cerro Hoya Nacional Park

5. Isla Coiba Nacional Park

6. Chagres National Park

7. Darién National Park

8. El Copé National Park

9. Camino De Cruces National Park

10. Metropolitano National Park

11. Portobelo National Park

12. Sarigua National Park

13. Soberanía National Park

14. Volcán Barú National Park

We can not leave our beautiful beaches behind! Panama has over 1,200 islands and 2,400km of coast including the Pacific and Atlantic coast together. There is a wide range of beaches to pick from starting from all inclusive resorts to fascinating getaways. Both coasts in the Republic of Panama are separated by only 55 miles, this means that you could snorkel on the Atlantic coast in the morning and bathe in the Pacific after.

Many international experts are impressed by the world class adventure that river navigation offers in the Republic of Panama. This includes kayaks, tubes, rafts and motorized river boats. Panama has river sites where you could find 20 rapids in one afternoon. Canoe excursions, excursions, rappelling and surfing offers similar experiences to anyone looking for extreme adventures.

The Republic of Panama is characterized by its fishing. Even from Pre-Hispanic times, the rumors were that Panama had abundance of fish in its coasts and that "Panama" mean abundance of fish in local Indian dialect.

There are many options for fishing in the Republic of Panama. The most fascinating aspect is that you could fish at a short distance the following styles; fly fishing, trout or big game fishing at Piñas Bay.
We recommend http://www.panamaprivatetours.com as the most comfortable and private option to travel in the Republic of Panama.

HOW TO GET INTO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The following lists of countries do not require a visa to get into the Republic of Panama:

Argentina, Argentina, Israel, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Portugal, El Salvador, Portugal, Spain, Spain, United Kingdom, United States of America, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, , Belgica, Bolivia.

Countries that require a visa to access the Republic of Panama:
Chad, Chipre, Egypt, ilipines, Peru, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Ecuador.

Countries that can get into the Republic of Panama using a tourist card:
Antigua / Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, South Korea, Curacao, United Estates, Vatican, Granada, Greece, Guyana, Isladia, Jamaica, Japan, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Samoa, San Cristobal / Nevis, San Marino, Saint Vincent, Santa Lucia, Sao Tome, Sweden, Suriname, Taiwan, Trinidad / Tobago and Venezuela.

The remaining nationalities require authorization and visas to access the Republic of Panama.

Estamped Visa: You can get a stamped visa at Panamanian Consulates in your country.

Authorized Visa: The authorized visa can be obtained at Panamanian consulates in your county with direct authorization from Migration in the Republic of Panama as well as an authorization from the Panamanian Security Council.

Tourist Card: This card can be purchased for $ 5.00 USD and is sold at travel agencies or airlines. Every tourist must have a valid passport except US citizens that would only need to present a valid ID.

HOW TO SEND YOUR PET INTO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The following list of requiements are for the pet lovers who wish to bring thei own domestic animals into the Republic of Panama.

– The first step to bringing a pet into the Republic of Panama is to get a hold of a health and rabies certificate given by a veterinary. Both documents must get stamped by the Panamanian Consulate.

– Three (3) days before the animal's arrival, you must present an application to the Department of prevention and control of Zoonosis. The document must include the general information of the animal; age, sex, color, name, etc. The flight number, airline, owner's information must be given as well. This application must specify the duration of the animal; permanent or temporary.

– You must pay the amount of $ 130.00 USD in concept of quarantine to the National Bank of Panama. This branch is located in the International Airport.

– Alter introducing the National Bank's receipt to the department of quarantine, you will be free to enjoy your pet's company in the Republic of Panama.

As a matter of fact, the Republic of Panama is one of the 5 countries with out rabies!

For more information please log in http://www.panamahotrealestate.com or contact us at info@panamahotrealestate.com

Interview with John Reyer Afamasaga, author of “John Lazoo.” Afamasaga discusses his latest work, the “GUIOPERA” which he has recently published chapter by chapter online.

Tyler: Welcome, John. I’m pleased to interview you today because the “GUIOPERA” is really quite a unique book, bringing together many of the elements from your previous novels, “John Lazoo,” “WIPE,” and “Illicit Blade of Grass.” Do you consider it as a continuation or sequel of those works or is it a work that stands on its own?

John: It’s a round up of the LMLA-ink Trilogy – “John Lazoo,” “WIPE” and “Illicit Blade of Grass.” All ideas are from John Lazoo and all written by Metofeaz Litigatti, produced and directed by Jon Le Mac and John Reyer Afamasaga. Or it’s an introduction to the Trilogy for someone who has just joined in.

Tyler: What I most admire about the “GUIOPERA” and all your books is how you play with the notions of reality and how you connect everything together from one book to the next, even including yourself, a real person, as a character in the books, so my next question is along those lines. What’s real and what’s not real to you?

John: There’s two parts to the answer to your question, Tyler. Part one is about the “Actual” relevant to the input or what you get back from what you outlay or put in. And secondly is how you feel about something, or how the outcome, or “Actual” makes you feel. Nothing else is relevant.

Tyler: In your mind did you answer my question that I just asked you, or was it your intention to confuse the issue?

John: Neither, I was just proving my point. The fact you want me to quantify something as debatable as reality, based on my idea of what’s real, which you have no idea of what that is, only allows you and I to judge for ourselves the experience of asking that question and answering it. To put it simply, there is only the ACT and the experiencing of the ACT.

Tyler: So are you saying the truth doesn’t matter anymore?

John: I’m saying we live in such a fabricated world now, due to diminished values of laws, both of man and even the laws of science, which now can be falsified by new developments. That man really does believe that he is God. And with this idea in his head, and with the wealth at his fingertips, yeah I’d say the truth really doesn’t matter to the common man who relies upon capitalism and all its mechanisms to get through his life.

Tyler: You say new developments have falsified old laws. It sounds as if you are scared of the future?

John: Not at all, it depends on what drives the new developments. Whether its money, or it’s for the good of mankind. More people are dying from AIDS, war or malnutrition, and supposedly we are more technologically, scientifically and scholastically advanced than any other man in the cyclic history of mankind. Where’s the balance in that lopsided equation, ah?

Tyler: John, you have a tendency to write yourself as a character into your writing. Are you in character as we speak, or are you speaking from the common man’s perspective?

John: I’m very common Tyler; I have an Internet connection like you and a lot of the people in the developed countries. I feel I have an opportunity to voice views which may resonate with what other people feel, which may equate to some sort of consciousness.

Tyler: You didn’t answer the question, John. Are you in character, or are you the guy who is responsible for putting together etfiction and the “GUIOPERA”?

John: We all put the work together.

Tyler: We? When you say “we” I take it you mean LMLA-ink?

John: Yep.

Tyler: LMLA-ink of course is an acronym for four of your characters who collaborate, so which of those characters do you identify with more-Lazoo, Metofeaz, Le Mac or yourself?

John: Probably Metofeaz, to be honest. He’s just a writer, and that’s all I want to be.

Tyler: Is there any difference at all between you, the flesh and blood Afamasaga, and Afamasaga as he appears in the works?

John: I’m not allowed to kill people in my everyday life. But seriously, it’s Metofeaz Litigatti who I found the easiest character to be. No acting required; maybe a bit of rearranging to my environment. Lazoo is also there, when times are tough, and Le Mac comes out when things are going well and I want to be a little extravagant. And Afamasaga manages all four of them, so the switches are seamless and I don’t seem to have any disorder of any kind that is recognizable… And I remember what each of them does, says and writes, whoever I maybe at the time…

Tyler: In the “GUIOPERA,” Lazoo says of you, “I knew Afamasaga when he was a diaper dwelling devil, with disregard for authority; hell he’d poop before, after and while he congested corn flakes.” How did he find out this information about you? When your characters demean you like that, don’t you just want to use your power as an author to kill them off?

John: It wasn’t Lazoo who said that. It was JPS over the phone. John Lazoo holds the phone as he laughs at the senile character in Chapter 27, PART 3, paragraph 8.

Tyler: John, you frequently refer to yourself as “the Samoan” and “the Pacifican” in the novels, and in the “GUIOPERA” you state that at age five you hadn’t learned English. Are you willing to tell us anything about your mysterious past? Is this information true?

John: I’m pretty much full Samoan with a splash of German blood. I live in the Pacific.

Tyler: You carry on about the evils of capitalism and Lazoo seems to detest Vanity. Yet, one gets the feeling that you are trying to build products for Hollywood, the epitome of the things you seem to hate.

John: Yeah, it is a bit confusing isn’t it? I mean, I write about four characters who are all me, three of them called me. And yes I would love to work in Hollywood, but that’s just a dream. And a dream is worth very little; as they say, “Dreams are free,” ah?

Tyler: About the “GUIOPERA.” Before we discuss the plot and characters, I want to ask, since you put down the evils of capitalism, does technology also fall under that category?

John: I don’t actually put capitalism down. I just make observations from what I see. Technology is an enabler.

Tyler: John, I ask about technology specifically because of the medium in which you write. I understand you write in short paragraphs and short chapters to benefit the online or modern, gadget-using reader. Will you explain more about that? Do you equate yourself with writers of flash fiction?

John: I’ve never read flash fiction. The style the “GUIOPERA” is written in takes, a bit from the style that I write novels in, and relies on the same way a person processes information when they watch a movie or TV. I think of these two aspects and then I apply a technique we (LMLA-ink) designed called Le Mac’s Action Sequencing, to produce the GUIOPERA styling.

Tyler: In terms of your plots and characters, what do you think is the greatest difficulty in reading your material from the viewpoint of your readers?

John: In the “GUIOPERA,” it would be that the reader has to think back to the last time I was writing the scene I’m carrying on. But, once it’s finished, then hopefully they can experience it again by reading it from start to end. In fact, I hope that the reader can have 2 experiences: 1 – reading the “dailies” so to speak and 2 – reading the movie, once it’s complete.

Tyler: What do you hope readers will most appreciate about your writing?

John: Hopefully the reader will appreciate the story as a whole and love a few of the characters. I don’t rate myself as a writer per se.

Tyler: If not a writer, what do you call your craft then?

John: I wanted to be an ideas guy, you know-the guy who does the least work and gets credit for “Creating.” So I started creating concepts by presenting them in a project document type manner, you know; overview, definitions and so on. Then I got frustrated at not being able to find people to “Realize” the “Visualization” of the “Concept” i.e. writers, artists and film directors. So, I began to write them in what I felt would be an ideal format that stems multiple markets-eBooks, to Mobile products, to movie ideas and I ended up with the “GUIOPERA,” which is tailored for a browser.

Tyler: Okay. Let’s get into the details of the “GUIOPERA.” First of all, where does that title come from?

John: GUI = Graphical User Interface, OPERA.

Tyler: I accused you above of intentionally trying to confuse the question I asked you about reality. In the “GUIOPERA,” do you also want to confuse the reader? You constantly switch scenes and you must have at least two dozen characters you want us to keep track of. Although your style is different, I’m reminded of film noir where the viewer gets snatches of scenes, none of which make sense until the end. Would you say your style is similar in that manner, especially in the first half or so of the “GUIOPERA”?

John: I write what I would like to see in a movie, in the form of a novel. Yes, that could be confusing to someone who’s just joined in.

Tyler: In your earlier novels, while you played with reality, the characters appeared to be “real” but in this novel, we learn a secret about the characters. Are you able to reveal that secret here, or will you give us an explanation of why you decided to play with reality to such an extent?

John: What secret are you talking about Tyler? It’s obviously are very good one; I don’t even know it. Oh, excuse me; I’m sorry; that the characters are entities? I talked about it a couple of times in “WIPE” – Page 4. In “WIPE” I refer to an entity that was elusive: “…an entity that is still not captioned in a single line…” And again on Page 28 of “WIPE” when John Page was undergoing transmutation: “…If such an entity existed, John Page wishes to be the one whose body it could use if it were to come down to this dimension to claim this hype…”

Tyler: John, the “GUIOPERA” also centers around a great battle, a war being waged by your primary characters. Can you tell us a little bit about that battle?

John: The war is not between the primary characters of the “GUIOPERA.” Even though JPS is the Antagonist, his presence is mostly only made known through the way the primary characters Lazoo, Afamasaga, Polina, John Page etc. feel about him.

Tyler: Since we were talking about technology a few minutes ago, will you explain to us what you see as the role of technology in this novel?

John: Technology in this novel gives me a simple way of explaining the concepts behind the travel between the dimensions and the way the characters communicate in their form of telepathy-F3quenZor. For instance, when I’m talking about transportation between the dimensions, I use simple networking and Internet protocol terms like: Pipe, gateways, encryption, etc.

Tyler: John, one thing that intrigues me is how you first came up with the idea to create these characters. I believe you wrote “John Lazoo” first, but you have long had plans to write a whole series of books. Where did this idea come from and how did it develop-is it all planned out now, or is it still developing?

John: Everything is all planned right to the end book where Little Lazoo, John Lazoo’s son takes his place in the Semi-System.

Tyler: Did you always want to be a writer-so many writers say they wanted to write since childhood, myself included-or are you one of those who just accidentally fell into it?

John: Accidentally fell into it.

Tyler: As a child, what did you envision yourself as being when you grew up?

John: My father, a Taxi driver, wanted me to be a surgeon, doctor, type of somebody.

Tyler: But that’s what your father wanted. What did you want?

John: I wanted to be a Superstar Sportsman, like Jon Alfabet in “GUIOPERA II GLOBALL ATTACK” (Sept-Dec 2009), an idea that was pitched to a major Hollywood studio around 2001-2002. Obviously nothing came of it, but I’m going to resurrect it later this year using the GUIOPERA brand as a vehicle in getting it out to the market.

Tyler: GUIOPERA II?

John: Yep, the GUIOPERA will now take place each year. The story will change in terms of the characters involved, but in the end the reader will find the saga is non-stop, encompassing all of what has been setup by John Lazoo, Genisis Jones, Polina Rada and the rest of the cast.

Tyler: Why did you create the GUIOPERA?

John: etfiction the publishing brand for the eBooks; John Lazoo, etc is purely a creative venture. Under that banner, I don’t consider market forces or business disciplines. The GUIOPERA is hopefully more accessible to a wider audience, presenting a platform which is accessible via computer or mobile, and accessible to readers who may find the eBooks a bit much. But hopefully through the GUIOPERA, they are able to enter into the etfiction level with some sort of understanding from having read the GUIOPERA.

Also the GUIOPERA is a vehicle for an advertising platform (MobileAdApps) where LMLA-ink apply a tried and proven method of Advertising known as Product Placement. We believe that product placement within a classic (written) story that will stand the test of time can be more valuable than any other form of Product Placement in whatever medium.

Here’s an example…

I used Coke in WIPE, and then referred to the same scene/passage in the GUIOPERA – CHAPTER 23, PART 2. Polina is very sad right after John Page AKA PAGE1 has passed on, so she goes to London to be with Alexvale whom she associates with her former GuidingMaster and step dad PAGE1:

Alexvale stands with his feet on the ground….Trafalgar Square is jammed. The Coca-Cola sign seems happy with the way its red syrup spills onto the WIPE emblem. (From WIPE – Page 68)

Now let’s say that etfiction and the GUIOPERA eventually get recognized for what they are-Great Stories. And people read them, etc… Then this product placement would’ve have worked. The only reason why it works, however, is that right from the start I have been very selective about who and what I place in all of the stories, so there’s value already by just involving brands that have earned their place on the landscape as I call it i.e. Cocoa-Cola, IBM, Nike, Microsoft and the like.

Tyler: Where’s Google?

John: GUIOPERA II – GLOBALL ATTACK, late 2009.

Tyler: What for you is the benefit of writing?

John: Writing itself.

Tyler: Good answer. John, I asked you about the character in the “GUIOPERA” you most identify with, but do you have a favorite character and why that particular character?

John: Afamasaga; he’s almost the real me.

Tyler: Yes, minus the killing. I think my favorite character is Polina Rada, perhaps because she is an innocent child in so many ways, yet so vital to the overall plot. Do you have anything you want to share with us about your creation of her?

John: I think she’s going to be great in “GUIOPERA III The SystemSpectacular ” (Sept-Dec 2010),” where she is grown up and is a megastar of Madonna’s greatness.

Tyler: John, the “GUIOPERA” ends with “to be continued”-will you tell us about your plans for the next book?

John: You’ll just have to wait for it.

Tyler: All right. But I am impatient. Thank you for joining me, John. It’s been a pleasure. Will you let our readers know about your website and what information they can find there about your books and how to buy them?

John: GUIOPERA.com-The “GUIOPERA” is FREE, but it isn’t cheap.

If you are traveling to Laie on kam Hwy. just after passing Kahuku elementary school, look up towards the ko'olau mountain range. On the third ridge (from left to right) sits a huge banyan tree. I noticed this at a young age when traveling to town on the way to doctor appointments. It never ever anything much while growing up, only that I would look that way way each time the trek was made through my life and it still continues to this day. For me that tree signifies something that is so ordinary and simple that it is just 'there' and overlooked by many and yet has a significant impact in someway as to how I view our surroundings past and present.

Men like President Kimball, whose raspy voice still gives me chicken skin when I hear it. My Mentor who prepped me in mind and body for the challenges that I would encounter threw out life since the condition of my body, for their warm love and support for our family in helping make the conversion to the church easier for my mother. Ralph which last name escapes me but use to live behind the Toelupe's on the corner. No matter what kind of day it was, his simple act of kindly gestures like wandering and smiling went a long way. Sam Choy who allowed us and many like us to continue to put food on our table when their was none and kept tabs with his IOU black book.

With Christmas at BYU Hawaii gone and another year quickly to follow, I just wanted to share my gratitude from elders before me what have taught me well the values ​​of the Gospel and the truthfulness that it stands for, also for the upbringing of family values ​​and their solid foundations like that of the root of this tree on that ridge. I do not know how to write these sort of stuff but I do know that I am extremely grateful for their examples. Some are still here and continue to grace me with their examples, others though have passed on and their memories live on through examples I have picked up on while living in Laie, Hawaii.

Then there are those who are still here that has done just as well for me and our Town of Laie . My Aunt who is always last to sleep and first to wake ~ always there no matter what, she's the greatest! Emma Ernestburg for her long diligent service to the scouting program ~ the makahiki's were awesome. Sister Shumway, my old piano teacher (yes, the kid has skills) she always made me feel comfortable and confident when recitals approached. The Yakuza, need help of any kind … he is The Man! I learned so much from him as he did his daily jobs. Everyone knows if you need something to be fixed-he got whatever you need …. bikes, truck rack, generator, bucket, strainers! President Feinga (squeeze his son), as a young man I had my hands continuously crushed by this guy with the Barry White voice. Deacons at the time, we would sit up as he made his way to shake our hands and we would try our best to squuuuuuuuuueze back which bought a little grin to his face as if to say is that all you got. Mrs. Enos, Mrs. Au, Mrs. Almadova, Ms. Au, Mr. Enos the best school teachers on this earth! the librarian and his huge dog driving around in his small MG car.

Walter Wong, with their little shack at laie school and BYU-H and all of uncle walter's tiki carvings, and then there was his awesome dog who climbed the coconut tree about 15ft and bought the coconut down and peeled it ~ I think his name was loop. Norman Thompson Sr. the man with the largest umu pit in the land, he smoke out the whole town but he makes the best kalua pig. Junior Ah You, this man is one of the most giving persons I know of, his time and knowledge shared with the community plans for all to be involved comes from the love he has for Laie!

Lilo Galeai, another great man who speaks softly but still is heard everywhere he goes … want to know the history of the Samoans coming to Hawaii to start a new life, he is the most qualified to do so, ask'em, we did, just make sure not 11:30 or he going turn the lights off! So much knowledge and wisdom by all our older generation to share with us, and they want to but we just do not ask too often. Even the younger generations I have learned from, and it is not the fact that they do what we ask of them because they are too scared, but because they do it out of respect and love (sometimes a little love tap helps!) .. .you too I have learned from.

Where is this leading … duh! I told you I do not know how to write this kinda stuff. but I just wanted to share my appreciation for everything that I have been blessed with. My healthy Family on Oahu and on the North Shore, the brotherhood with the boys, this place which we call home, the leaders of the church and community, the everyday ordinary people, this site and the admins that allows us to keep it real! Thank you one and all for coming into my life and leaving a positive influence with me, and rest assured I will in turn pass it on to those I meet. Be like that tree that sits on that ridge, and leave something behind that will leave a lasting impression on us all. Have a great 2008 … and if you ever need tickets to Polynesian Cultural Center , do not forget Davids sister Ano and Sam & Goo store's mom also works there too! In the copy cat words of one of the best OG on this earth …. "My love to you all".

I am discovering simultaneous, two handed drawing techniques through my own individual style of art creation. Every time I create new artwork, I find my hands making similar movements while drawing.

I have been heavily inspired by Polynesian, Samoan, and all forms of tribal art. I’m not the first person in the world to draw with both hands at once, but I have discovered and documented several drawing techniques to make the process easier to describe and teach to others.

I have not always drawn with two hands at once. Simultaneous two handed drawing is the next step in my individual creative process. If I never learned how to draw with one hand, I could have never taught myself to draw with two hands.

It feels much different to draw with two hands than with one. When you draw a line on the paper with one hand, it’s the equivalent of having one personality in a room. When you draw a line with two hands, it’s like have two personalities in a room. These two personalities can either talk with each other, or they can go off and “do their own thing”.

I created the term “Hand Mirroring” to describe when both hands are simultaneously drawing two similar lines or shapes. Imagine one hand is drawing a circle, and the other hand drawing a circle as well. This is like both hands are talking to each other. Whatever one hand does, the other does. If one hand draws a line, the other hand is also drawing a line. This is an easy concept for us to wrap our brains around. Mirroring = mimicking.

Where it starts to get convoluted, is when we try to allow the hands to have their own personality and each “do their own thing”. Imagine one hand drawing a circle, while the other is drawing a square. I refer to this type of drawing as “Hand Independence” and “Detachment”. With Independence, the hands are detached from each other’s movements so they can function Independently from one another. As opposed to Mirroring, where they are functioning dependently and opposite of each others movements.

Detachment begins in the mind and ends on the paper. It’s the mental and physical process of separating the hands from one another so they can function as two individual artists. Independence is the act of drawing with two hands at once. First we must detach from our hands, so they can detach from each other and act independently of one another.

In music, tempo means speed. In Simultaneous Two Handed Drawing, tempo means the speed at which the hands draw in relation to each other. The speed of drawing is an important part of detachment. Typically with Mirroring, the hands also tend to mimic each other’s speed. Learning to detach the hands from each other’s movements allows each hand to achieve maximum potential.

To gain weight and muscle can be a tough task for many of us possessing a fast metabolic rate and a skinny body. I understand as that was my case until I grew in excess of 97 lb’s in 16 months. You can definitely add 5-10 healthy KG’s or 10 – 20 lbs to your build in just 1 – 2 weeks. I’m about to instruct you how to gain weight and muscle quickly.

Gain weight and muscle of up to 7 lbs in the first week – possibly more.

Discover how to increase muscle size and mass – gain  muscle without flab.

Keep your passion and love for working out at an all time high.  

To gain muscle you should workout and eat in a specific manner – its not hard. First lets examine your eating habits. You need to stack up on creatine in this initial week and consume plenty of fluid. This is a key to gain weight and muscle quickly. Fluid intake is crucial during all of your work outs. The creatine stacking means 25 grams to be consumed per day for the initial 7 days. This by its self may add 5 kgs to your muscle bulk and can increase your athletic ability. It truly is that straightforward at the beginning to gain lean muscle.

Additional ergogenic aids you could think about to gain weight and muscle are whey powder, glutamine and a multi vitamin pill. Vitamin B is terrific during this phase as it improves appetite and eases stress. As for eating – be ready to eat mountains of food. Get a large stock pot and boil meats such as chicken, beef or pork – cut off the fat first. Add heavy starchy veges such as potato’s, sweet potato’s or samoan taro. Then throw in the other vegetables like carrots, spinach, garlic etc. A big pot full of this ought to provide you with 3-4 feeds. Add to this other food like yoghurt, fruits, or snacks. There is no requirement to be too fussy and compute calories – just make your tummy plump and satiated. To gain weight and muscle you should consume more calories than your body uses, so EAT HEAPS!!!!!! The most crucial fact that I cant over emphasize is that you must eat to gain more muscle. You must eat like you’ve never eaten before. (but not junk food like donuts and chips or candy). Try MCT and olive oils also.

As for the working out to add weight and muscle you truly should concentrate on heavy weight and most exertion per session. A normal mass building workout to gain weight and muscle just about always involves compound barbell & dumbell movements such as squats, bench press, shoulder press, pull-ups (wide grip), and dips. The amount of iron used for each, the number of repetitions, and the frequency of working out, can clearly be modified so it matches your physique, present strength, and muscle conditioning objectives. Its also worthy to mention that working out too frequently is both precarious and unhelpful. Supplementary training doesn’t imply you can add weight and muscle. Your body doesn’t grow muscle during work outs, it actually grows stronger during the restoration time between work outs.  You will gain weight and muscle during your recuperation period. As such, its very important for athletes to evade over-training, and to add in suitable recuperation periods between repetitions, sets, and workouts. You do not need to go overboard, but you need to subject your body to unusual intensity every session to gain weight and muscle. Keep your sessions below sixty minutes. Brief hard and heavy.

As you see your frame gain weight and muscle from several minimal changes to diet and training there will be a great increase in your energy and esteem, but the improvements experienced in weeks 1-3 wont be so terrific after several weeks. To continue to gain weight and muscle you should remain determined and enthusiastic. Your tiring sessions are a source of inspiration in themselves but occasionally you will not feel like working to gain weight and muscle at the fitness center. Its at these times that determination is required to gain weight and muscle – stand up, get your workout bag and get going. By the time the session has finished you will be happy you went and after the workout you will be more than happy – you will have made another move in the right direction toward success. Before long not working out will make you feel weak and unwell as your body will crave those sessions. Just remember do not over do it. Rest is also valuable for motivation as it lets you recover and unconsciously sense when you are equipped for another intense conditioning session.

For hundreds of thin people, the ambition is to gain weight and muscle, but however much they eat they stay weak. Many men are naturally skinny, that means their body burns more calories than others. The simplest means to gain weight and muscle is to consume more food than your body burns up. By providing the body with more food to gain weight and muscle, this ratio can be changed and muscle mass can be increased. Weight lifting is of great value in this context, which allows the body to take in more nutrition from the diet by improving the amount of particular hormones and increasing muscle size.  

OK its really easy to gain weight and muscle so GET TO IT !!!

Tribal tattoos are extremely popular today for both men and women, but where did they come from? These tattoos have been found on early cave paintings, and even on some mummified bodies found trapped in some glaciers. The “bronze man” was said to have died over 5,000 years ago and was found covered from head to toe in tribal tattoos. These tattoos go back so far in history that it is hard to pin point the exact origin. Egyptians and Indians can date these tattoos back centuries so we know they have been around for a very long time.

New age tribal tattoos became popular again by the widespread surge of Western culture. Once people became more interested in the tribal meanings and symbols the popularity only increased. These tattoos were actually outlawed in most locations around the world for centuries so their resurrection was a surprise. The younger generations of local tribes began experimenting with older and newer tribal tattoos until eventually they became more accepted again.

Most tribal designed tattoos were associated with people living on islands. Pacific, Samoan, Polynesian, and Melanesians are all some of the ethnicities that prides themselves on being known for their tribal tattoos. Most of this style of tattoos used to be applied in the tau tau form, or tapping. This is where the tattoo is applied with a tapping motion that allows the needle to strike your skin into a design. This option is way more painful than that of the tattoo gun used today. Luckily the process is not only much quicker than it was in ancient times; it is less painful as well.

Tattoos in general have been a great way for people to express themselves and their beliefs for years. It is funny when you go back in time and look at how far the tattoo and the tattoo process have come. Tattoos were sported by royalty and people of important for centuries and then all of a sudden they were outlawed and looked at like a disease. Now in the 21st century the tattoo is becoming more widely accepted than it was just fifty years ago. Hopefully after a few more years more people can appreciate the beauty of these creations and applaud them rather than be offended by them. Although their future is uncertain, it is sure that the tattoo is a trend that is with us forever.