Greetings, Body Art Fans!

This weekend is the annual US BellaOnline Editor Gathering, and we're all headed to Chicago! I'm extra excited as I'm going to be taking the Amtrak Empire Builder train to get there and back, complete with my own sleeper car. So if you are in the Chicago area this weekend, you just might see us running around town...

New and Recommended Articles:

World Record Piercings Now Number 1501
A Wyoming man has set new world record for body piercings. If it's something you've always wanted to do, the new number to beat is 1,501.

Hook Pull Rituals
Ancient hook pull rituals are not just for tribal cultures anymore. They are finding meaning and context for modern primitives too.

Tattoo Taxation and Body Piercing Pricing
As the economy crunches down on state budgets, many lawmakers are looking for areas of revenue to make up shortfalls. And it turns out that body art has been mostly untaxed up until now. But that may soon change.

Hot Links:

• The Tattoos of THE EXPENDABLES
  What could go better with action, guns and a cast of movie all-stars but tattoos? Take a look at the tattoos of THE EXPENDABLES, the upcoming feature from actor-writer-director Sylvester Stallone.
• Bodypainted Bicyclists in Fremont's Solstice Parade
  Each year the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle has a Summer Solstice Parade, and it starts off with a cadre of up to 200 bodypainted bicycle riders!
• Tattoo Conventions
  Summertime is a great time of the year to get out and soak up some tattoo culture. Never visited a convention before? You don't know what you're missing!
• Tattooed vs Untattooed Poll
  How important is it to you that your partner share your love of tattoos? Stop by the forums and take part in the tattooed vs untattooed poll!

You can upload your tattoo pictures to Bellaonline and then rate your favorites! It's fun and free, and you can upload or vote here.

If you have a body art question, please come on over to the online forum. It's a great place for chatting about body art and getting an answer.

I really love your feedback and welcome your questions, so if you have something to tell me or ask, please send an e-mail or drop by the forum! Please pass this message along to family and friends who you know are interested.

Rae
Body Art Editor
http://bodyart.bellaonline.com