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Every once in awhile, I think I will like to highlight some blogs who are blogging about body modification, whether it’s tattoos, piercings or other forms of body art.

Today, I checked out one of my favorite kink blogs over at Gloria Brame’s site. I thought for sure she would have some wonderful posts on body modification.

Alas - she does have a body modification category, but sadly - it only contains two posts…and hasn’t been updated since February 2005 (boo!).

But - they are great posts with interesting photos - you can find them both here and here - - especially that last one! I won’t drink a glass of water without thinking about this one!

Maybe Gloria will get in the body mod mood again someday and post some more of these gems!

Bushido : Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo - This gorgeous book delves into the elusive world of traditional Japanese tattooing. The Samurai spirit, Bushido, is an integral component of Japanese tattooing that is traced through the imagery and interpersonal dynamics of this veiled subculture. The eloquent text is based largely on Takahiro Kitamuras experiences as client and student of the famed Japanese tattoo master, Horiyoshi III. Over 200 beautiful photos by Jai Tanju capture the breathtaking tattoo artistry of Horiyoshi III. Five original, unpublished prints by Horiyoshi III, like those in his acclaimed book, 100 Demons of Horiyoshi III, are included here. Bushido: Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo is certain to fascinate everyone with an interest in tattoo culture.

Takahiro Kitamura, who tattoos as Horitaka, currently resides and works in California. Katie Kitamura is pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of London. Jai Tanju is a photographer in San Jose, California.

An excellent article here at BME: How I got into body modification and how stereotyping is wrong!

Body modification is not a cry for attention; it is me expressing myself.

Tattooing, piercing, henna art . . . these are all forms of what we call ‘body art’. Artistic expression in the form of body art is less shocking than it was a decade ago.. less shocking than it was 5 years ago… and becomes less and less shocking to the ‘mainstream’ as time goes on. Society has begun to accept body art as a form of artistic expression - - the body as the canvas.

Acceptable art has over the years evolved from being on paper, to canvas and even on walls, through to being on the human body.

Once associated with mean bikers on mean machines, jailbirds and hardcore gangsters, tattooing is now a fashion must-have and has lost its dodgy edge.

Messages of love or hatred for your mother-in-law, drawings of insects and sentences describing your private fantasies can adorn any part of the body.

Letting your body be your canvas - Independant Online News

Allergic contact dermatitis accounts for a significant number of visits to a dermatologist’s office and is usually caused by substances that come into contact with the skin:

That itchy rash you get when you wear earrings might not be because you bought them from the sales rack; and the redness on your finger when you wear your wedding ring is not a “sign” that your marriage is in trouble. You may be one of the million of individuals who have allergic contact dermatitis. Look around you and at what you’re wearing. You may find the cause of your discomfort: you may have a metal allergy.

Read more about Allergic Contact Dermatitis here

Traditional Henna Designs - Henna body decoration is generally practiced on festive occasions, religious ceremonies, most notably, weddings. In all cultures that practice henna painting it is the hands and feet that are commonly decorated; for weddings the designs can extend onto the arms and legs. Design motifs vary from culture to culture. For instance, North African Henna Designs tend to be geometric or composed from highly stylized flowers. Indian designs are usually drawn within a square, rectangle or circle which is then surrounded by a myriad of smaller patterns that cover the hands and lower arms, the feet and ankles. Motifs are taken from a vast Indian decorative vocabulary: Moghul flowers, Paisly patters, complicated tendril designs, stars, vines, spirals, leaves, checkerboards, water drops and waves.

A surprisingly moving retelling of the Bard’s famous romantic tragedy in fine Troma fashion, complete with a Manhattan setting, gratuitous violence, body-piercing, and a hard-driving alternative soundtrack. Winner of the Raindance Audience Award.

Tromeo and Juliet features the work of “Scooby Doo” and “Dawn of the Dead” screenwriter James Gunn and more tromatic obsessions than one can shake a nipple-ring at! In director Lloyd Kaufman’s hands, Will Keenan and Jane Jensen provide an intoxicating screen chemistry that has garnered critical acclaim from critics everywhere.

Featuring All the body-piercing, kinky sex, and car crashes that Shakespeare wanted but never had, Tromeo and Juliet is a modern classic! Features a showstopping turn as Lemmy from Motorhead as the narrator [Source]

You can view the trailer for Tromeo and Juliet here

Kiss Me, I’m a Piercer

Who doesn’t need one of these? The perfect gift for your favorite piercer!

I’m seeing these all over the place - - tattoos inside the lower lip. Anyone have one of these done? How good is the pain?

H2Ocean is the most effective product for cleansing and healing your body piercings. This is the only aftercare product that is natural to your body. Increases circulation to the piercing and accelerates the healing process. Will help to reduce lumps, scar tissue and itching. Ozone friendly, sterile spray is 4 oz.

James Lambert from AgapePress (reliable news from a Christian source) - wonders why people would do it: I feel compelled to ask: Why? Before you go down to the local tattoo parlor or visit a body piercing practitioner, ask yourself: “Can I really see this on me for the rest of my life? Or will this form of ‘expression’ later hurt me?”

Along with that gem of wisdom (as if any of us aren’t already asking ourselves that very question the moment we decide to get a piercign or a tattoo) - James also offers this one: “Ask God - that’s always the best way to get direction.”

I asked god for world peace once. God didn’t answer. What makes me think god will concern himself with my trivial question about piercing? Heh.

In other news, Kimberly Dreiman from the American Chronicle believes that tattoos and body piercings are “are a way for Satan to mock what God has created”. She further states that they are not pleasing to the lord.

She quotes Leviticus 19:28 “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves, I am the Lord.”

It is interesting, in this context, to read what other verses Leviticus 19 has to say:

Verse 9: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.”

Verse 19: “Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.”

Verse 26: “Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.”

Verse 27: “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”

Verse 28: “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.”

Which means, of course, we are not pleasing to the lord if we garden the edge of our land, plant tomatoes AND cucumbers in our garden at the same time, wear linen and silk simultaneously, eat our steaks rare or medium rare, cut our hair (or for you men - shave your face) AND/OR get a tattoo.

We’re doomed, I say.

Tattoo and body-piercing shops must meet health and safety regulations under a measure signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich Friday that also aims to increase the number of potential blood donors in the state.

Under the law, tattoo and body-piercing shops must follow state health and safety requirements for sterilization and sanitation techniques.

They also must register annually with the Illinois Department of Public Health and be open for inspection.

Because Illinois did not previously regulate the facilities, blood banks had to turn away potential donors for a year after they had gotten piercings or tattoos, said Margaret Vaughn, government affairs coordinator for the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers.

The new law takes effect for all of the estimated 425 tattoo and body-piercing facilities in the state July 1, 2007. - Chicago Tribune

WSLS NewsChannel 10 is finding that not too many public schools have policies against body piercing:

The dress code for Bedford County schools says that a student’s appearance should not distract or disrupt others, and luckily for places like Caspian, they say piercings no longer fall into that category.

Christine Alstad, Bedford Co. Student: “I never thought of them as a distraction anyway. Like I don’t look at someone’s ear and not learn anything in school.”

Hutchens: “It does give the people more choices and they can express themselves more and it’s not all about you need to wear this and you can’t wear this.”

And the piercing question is even wearing well with one local parent.

Krysti Shirley, Parent: “I’m amazed.. I’m surprised. But I think it’s a great expression of each individual’s personality, so if the school is okay with it, I think it’s great.”

Great for many students who say the new relaxed dress code gives them more room to be themselves.

Hutchens: “It’s not all about rules, you’re giving us more freedom and I think that’s better.”

Other schools in our area we called say they don’t have policies on body piercings.

Some ask students to remove piercings during gym class to avoid getting hurt.

Others have rules against spiky jewelry

Ever hear of a school having a policy against piercings?

Spirit+Flesh - In the author’s own words from his website: “If you’ve ever seen my photographs in “Modern Primitives”, “Body Play” magazine or on television programs, you must get a copy of this new coffee table art book. After 50 years photographing my own body play and the play of others, here is a deluxe retrospective collection of amazing images you’ll find nowhere else… 296 oversize pages, three pounds worth! This book is a “must have” for all serious body modifiers, tattoo and piercing studios. A collectors item.”