"She Who Must Be Obeyed" (my wife) has graciously allowed me to alter my flesh by getting a tattoo. Much thought has gone into this. David Spade put it well after getting a Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes tattoo on his shoulder. He said you have to be careful putting a cartoon character on your skin because what's popular now could be Mary Worth ten years from now. For you youngsters who don't know Mary Worth, that joke is hilarious and frightening. This is my skin, man! So, I've been scanning a lot of images seeing a lot of cool stuff but not really seeing me. Until this. Science tattoos. What better way to express my inner geek than a tattoo of the quadratic formula on my bicep? Or maybe the gravitational constant? Or maybe a portrait of Enrico Fermi? Or maybe... Oh, the possibilities.

(On a side note: my wife has the right of first refusal saying that she's the one who has to see it all the time, not me after all. Yes, dear.)


Four Replies to Speaking Of Tattoos...

Matthew Preston | October 6, 2007
I suppose the "Mary Worth" theory applies to science tattoos as well. It would be hilarious for a formula to be proven wrong at a later date! Kind of like getting a flat-earth map, or an earth-centric galaxy tattoo back in the day.

Steve West | October 6, 2007
Hah! True. Although a flat world map has a certain appeal.

Amy Austin | October 7, 2007
Good husband. E happens to have a Calvin & Hobbes tatt on his calf. I wasn't consulted on this.

Tony Peters | October 8, 2007
Consulting ones wife would in many cases lead to refusal....or a demand for equal time under the needle. My father saw my tattoo's all 13 of them for the first time this summer and he was impressed with a few of them. Especially my last which is a Tribal Sun on my left shoulder that was given to me last year for my birthday while in Italy


Web Junkie

Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »

Killer Home Decor (Literally)

From chalk outline welcome doormats to dead horse head pillows à la The Godfather (with protruding tongue, no less), this website features decorations to give your home that perfect serial killer feel. I especially like the pooling blood carpet. Go »

Guns are Not Really a Laughing Matter

Recent conversation with Brenda. Brenda: What would be the hardest thing for you to give up for Lent? Me: Shooting guns. Go »

My Faith in Humanity is Restored

This is a true story I saw on a travel blog website. Late one night, a woman and her husband received the tragic news that their three-year-old grandson in Denver had been murdered by their daughter’s live-in boyfriend. The boy was being taken off life support at 9 o’clock that evening and his parents opted for organ donation which would take place immediately upon his passing. Go »

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Recent conversation with Brenda: While watching “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” in bed... Me: Do you want to have sex? Brenda: No. Go »

Thorough Movie Reviews Revisited

Are you one of the group of people, like myself, who insist that they are not influenced by movie critics and make your film choices based on whim, fancy, instinct or some other method completely unrelated to some "professional's" opinion? Perhaps you should visit this website where you can rate (not review) movies yourself, and compare the result with a series of national reviewers to see whose opinion most closely matches yours. Maybe that particular reviewer deserves a second look since you two seem to be on similar movie viewing wavelengths. Go »

I Hate Dentists At Halloween

This list of the worst candies to give at halloween includes toothbrushes commonly given by dental professionals. My dentist when I was a kid not only gave out toothbrushes but floss and a stern lecture on the way out the door for me and my parents. Jerk. Go »