Researchers announce:"We have solved the "dark matter" riddle.

    A groundbreaking discovery in the fields of astronomy and physics was announced today by Fabiola Gianotti, Director-General of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).  Standing before a large gathering of scientific-journal reporters on Thursday morning who were called together for a press conference Gianotti proclaimed, "I am pleased to announce that we have solved it.  We now have the answers to the questions of 'Dark Matter, and 'Dark Energy'".

    The notion of so called "Dark Matter" was first proposed in 1933 by the Swiss astronomer,  Fritz Zwicky.  Zwicky was the first to notice that all clusters of galaxies moved much faster than could be accounted for by their visible mass.  This has led Astronomers on an eighty three year quest to solve the riddle of the missing matter that Zwicky dubbed "Dark Matter".  
    The force which is commonly referred to as "Dark Energy" was first discovered in 1998 by two teams of astronomers who used light measurements from distant supernovae to prove that, contrary to expectation based on all previous observations,  the expansion of the Universe is accelerating.
    Together, the observations suggest that Dark Matter and Dark Energy might account for as much as 80% of our universe.  The notion that what we can observe with our finest instruments may only comprise 20% or less of what actually exists has baffled scientists for decades.  
    Charlse R. Alcock, director of the Harvard-Smithsonian center for astrophysics told us, "Look, you need to understand one very important thing about Dark Matter and Dark energy.  We call them "dark" because we haven't directly observed them.  We have observed the effects of an unknown matter, and an unknown energy at work in our Universe, thats it.  So basically we have no idea what they might actually be".  
    All of that consternation came to a swift end this week thanks to the groundbreaking work at CERN, says Hitoshi Murayama, a professor of physics at Berkley.  "The researchers at CERN realized this week that all this time we had been going about it all wrong.  A few of us started tossing around the idea that maybe it wasn't really all that important, and it was like a lightbulb came on.  Just like that we had our new theory".
    Fabiola Gianotti told us that as the new theory occurred to her team at CERN, they immediately began testing and experimentation.  As we are all well aware, it is important in any scientific study for researchers to remain objective, and to conduct experimentation which can either prove, or disprove new theories.  We started with applying the new theory to examine Dark Matter and our results were as predicted.  Dark Matter and Dark energy are actually made entirely of what researchers are calling "Doesn't Matter".  Astounded by the apparent simplicity of their findings, Gianotti and her research team began to apply the new model to other, more ordinary things, and as Gianotti said, "That is when things began to get REALLY interesting.  When we began to examine other structures in the universe, we began to find that so long as we remained truly objective, the results always seemed to be the same.  Even ordinary matter, as well as all the empty space, and even things that are difficult to measure such as ideas, feelings, and beliefs, absolutely everything we looked at seemed to be made entirely of "Doesn't Matter".
    With a tremendous amount of excitement, the team at CERN began reaching out to colleagues around the world to share their idea with the hope that other physicists could run their own tests and corroborate the data.  The information surged around the globe and was taken up by astronomers and physicists in every country, and every scientist who has remained objective has confirmed that they too have found that the entire universe is in fact made entirely of Doesn't Matter.

    A few researchers, such as Christian Batista, Professor of theoretical condensed matter physics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville disagree with the new theory.  "Its absolute rubbish", Batista said in a telephone interview.  "At first I was impressed, because when I looked at Dark Matter, and even distant galaxies they did in fact seem to be made of Doesn't Matter, but when I began looking at my career, my religious values, and my children the new theory fell apart.  I found that these things are all made up of 'Matters Very Much'".  Most other researchers dismiss Batista's findings as biased.  When the other 37 other physics and Astronomy professors at the University of Tennessee were asked to corroborate Batista's findings, only two came up with the same result as Batista.  One of these was Adolfo Aguiluz, professor of Theoretical condensed matter physics.  "Over-all I stand with Batista on this issue" said Aguiluz.  "I did find that Batista's religious views are made of Doesn't Matter, but our common ground came when I looked at Batista's children, who are definitely made of Matters Very Much".  When we asked Aguiluz what evidence he had to support this claim he said "My kids sometimes play at the Batistas' house with their kids, and it's the only peace and quiet I ever get".   The other 35 researchers found that not only are Batista's career, religious values, and children made entirely of Doesn't Matter, but so is Batista himself.    The head of the University of Tennessee physics and astronomy department, Hanno Wietering said that the discrepancy is easily explained.  "Mr. Batista's findings have been influenced by his opinions.  Opinions which are also entirely made up of Doesn't Matter".
    We asked Fabiola Gianotti about this quarrel going on in the physics department at the University of Tennessee, and many other places around the globe.  Gianotti at first seemed a little surprised that Tennessee even had a physics department, but quickly regaining her composure she said "It is safe to say that Mr. Weitering is correct.   People are made of Doesn't Matter, so obviously their opinions are also made of Doesn't Matter."  Gianotti added "It's surprising how much trouble can come of something that's made of Doesn't Matter, but when you remain objective you can see that the trouble itself is also made of Doesn't Matter.  The stars and galaxies are made of Doesn't Matter.  The Earth is made of Doesn't Matter.  You are made of Doesn't Matter, and so am I and so is everyone else.    Your children? Doesn't Matter.  Your hopes, dreams, fears?  All Doesn't Matter.".
    It may take the world a little while to get used to the fact, but the research is conclusive and the results are overwhelming.  The entire universe and everything in it is made entirely of Doesn't Matter.  Perhaps this new understanding of our universe will help us all relax, and even be a little kinder toward one another...   not that in the end it matters.
   

for the love of conversation

    Those who call me friend, probably already know this about me (and I thank you for understanding).  For many of my Facebook "friends" it is probably not so obvious, and to those who really don't know me at all I am sure it has been, and will continue to be a source of gross misunderstanding.
    When I post things online that seen outrageous, inflammatory, or insensitive, I am NOT trying to offend or convince any one of anything.  In our overwhelmed and mentally numb electronic social culture I often use these "hot buttons" in an attempt to snare the attention of people who might otherwise just scroll right past without really noticing.  My INTENTION is to invite intelligent discussion of the topic.  Not to convince anyone that my view (or the viewpoint implied by the inflammatory post) is correct and should therefore be adopted by all.  No, I am actually asking (in my own way) if anyone wants to discuss the topic with me.  I value the thoughts and opinions of others, and appreciate when they are shared with me in a rational way.  I see this sharing of thoughts and opinions as an opportunity to better understand the topic, my own views, and the people who are participating in the discussion.
    I LOVE INTELLIGENT DEBATE.
    I appreciate discussing sensitive and provocative topics with people, I find it intellectually stimulating, thought provoking, and entertaining.  I was always taught that, "You don't discuss politics, religion, or sex, in polite conversations"…   but I've always found that these are some of the most fertile topics for interesting conversation to be had. I've always been more interested in being "real" than in being "polite".
    I also find it fascinating that most of the time, even when at first it seems that my opinion on a topic is RADICALLY different from the opinion of the person I am discussing it with, very often after a good discussion we find that our opinions and thoughts are more similar than dissimilar, and that semantic issues and sensitivities to personal experience have only made it seem that we disagree on the surface.  This may be quite close to the root of all social strife, and is very close to the reason why I love debate so much.  I think in truth we are all much more alike than is apparent in our "flash card," "sound bite," "headline," "hash-tag" driven modern communication, which while making the world more "connected," is likely driving us all further socially and emotionally apart.
    I am NOT a person who refuses to give fair consideration to a contrary point of view.  In fact I will gladly give full consideration to any information which is presented in a rational, intelligible way.  Having my perspective change due to being exposed to new and persuasive information is one of my favorite things in the world.  This doesn't mean I will instantly be persuaded by your views.  More likely is that I will consider your input, and offer a rebuttal for YOU to consider, hoping that you will do the same, and the conversation will be able to move forward…that is how debate WORKS.
    I am, however, a person with many well formed opinions.  A well formed opinion is one that has been shaped by careful consideration and examination of all available information.  If you are a person who gets angry or disgusted when another person doesn't agree with you, or accept your opinions as "correct," you are not a rational person, and are currently incapable of intelligent debate…  you might want to work on that.  A knee jerk emotional reaction to information is NOT a well formed opinion.  Neither is a belief based on a preference for a particular perspective or answer.
    Opinions seem to be thought of as offensive in our culture, which I have never really been able to understand.  Opinions by definition are something that can change as new information is learned.  What people refer to as BELIEFS, on the other hand, are more often nearly concrete in the believers mind, regardless of what information is presented to the believer, that to a critical thinker might alter or contradict the held belief.   To me that makes opinions seem like a GOOD thing, even if I disagree with them, and beliefs seem like a kind of frightening lack of interest in truth and the development of ones understanding of reality.
    So to summarize-if anything I post has upset or offended you in the past, or does so in the future, I apologize for stimulating your negative feelings.  However I would encourage you to speak up, and join in a conversation that you CLEARLY have feelings and opinions about, and lets both EVOLVE our understandings about the topic, instead of just assuming that you have fully understood the point I was trying to make, that your current opinion is infallible,  and choosing to be offended.
    If you are incapable of doing any of these things, please block me so that I don't make you uncomfortable in your bubble.  Causing upset to those individuals who are incapable of considering the possibility that information may exist which would alter their previously held beliefs and opinions is not actually my goal.  Its more that Im looking for intelligent, rational people with whom I might enjoy a lively debate/conversation.
    Thanks for reading.

the TAO of TATTOOING 46

Foreword

In this series of blog entries I will offer my fledgling, humble interpretations of Lao-Tsu's 81 chapters of the Tao te ching, as it applies to tattooing.  I am in no way attempting to represent myself as a master of Taoist philosophy, however Lao-Tsu's teachings have inspired me for several decades, and I often look to them for inspiration in dealing with the many challenges of my chosen profession.
   I intend to find my way through each of the chapters, and compile them here in my blog until they are complete, at which time I will publish them in book form for my friends and colleagues in tattooing. I hope that my interpretations might assist and inspire my peers, my clients, my friends, to better understand tattooing, and the meaningful impact it has on all of our lives.  And if perhaps these interpretations lead anyone back to the original teachings of Lao-Tsu, well then I will have truly done something to enrich the world.

When I say "call me if you have any concerns", I actually mean it!

      When I have finished the tattoo appointment, and I say to you… "text or call if theres anything you're concerned about with the tattoo." I do ACTUALLY mean it!
    So your tattoo session is finished, Ive put your bandage on and suggested a course of action for your after-care, and you're off!  All finished and its all up to you now right?  WRONG!
    I offer every client an over-view of after-care theory based on many years of experimentation and experience with what methods my work normally responds well to.  The aftercare recommendations I offer you are sufficient for nearly every client, with no further instruction being required in order to heal the tattoo perfectly.  However, everyone is a little different, and some clients do require differing tactics to properly heal their work.  There is no way that I can know this in advance, of course, but if I were to offer every single client everything I know about tattoo aftercare theory it would have to come in the form of a small textbook, which I think would only serve to overwhelm and confuse the few clients who actually bothered to read it.
    When a tattoo heals PERFECTLY, you would hardly even notice it healing.  In an ideal situation the tattoo doesn't ooze plasma, doesn't stick to anything, there is no redness, little or no swelling, nothing that resembles a rash or pimples in the surrounding tissue,  it just looks to be drying out, and there will be no pain, virtually no tenderness, and no visibly raised scabs.  When a perfectly healing tattoo does peel, the flakes coming off of it will be small, tissue-paper thin, nearly colorless, and tend to slough off with little or no physical sensation whatsoever.
    Things that help a tattoo heal perfectly include but are not limited to:

* Good overall physical health

*Closely following aftercare recommendations

*Rest

*Age plays a role (younger bodies heal faster)

*Healthy Diet and exercise routine

*Appropriately soft, loose, lint-free clothing, if any, over the tattoo while healing

*Avoid contaminates and physical exertion for a few days post-tattoo

    It is not at all uncommon for tattoos to have minor issues during the healing process.  Perhaps its just a little red, a little swollen, or oozing more than you would expect, etc.  None of these symptoms are in and of themselves anything to be OVERLY concerned about, they can all be part of a tattoo healing normally.  However, each of them can, if left un-checked, lead to VERY SERIOUS issues with the healing of the tattoo and result in a long, painful, and unhappy healing experience, as well as the loss of color, and the build-up of unwanted scar tissue.
    Ever had a tattoo heal rough? It can be miserable, and may result in anything from thick hard scabs, to cracking, bleeding, puss, pain, swelling, sensitivity, rashes, even fever!  When your tattoo heals badly, it will almost certainly loose some of the pigment we worked so hard to put in, and if you end up with scarring it may be many months before the skin has settled enough to allow for touch-ups to be performed.
    Most if not all of these issues can be avoided altogether with minor changes to your aftercare, or simple extra steps in your after-care regiment.  If you take the extra steps or modify your methods at the FIRST sign of any difficulty it can usually be avoided altogether, but if you do nothing, and try to just "muscle through it", you may be signing yourself up for weeks, or even months of discomfort and disappointment, not to mention having to endure it all again for touch-ups!  The trouble may be that you might not know what to do if your tattoo is irritated or if the healing is on the verge of taking a turn for the worse.  That is why it is of VITAL importance that you CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY if you are experiencing ANY unexpected difficulty or abnormal symptoms during the healing process.
    I am usually near my phone, and if you text me or call me with concerns about your tattoo, I will typically get back to you in less than an hour, and often I will return your text immediately.  I don't mind if you text me late at night, early in the morning, on a day off or on a holiday-

 I am HERE FOR YOU

- and I want nothing more than for your tattoo experience to go as smoothly as possible from consultation to being fully healed.
    Things that can negatively impact the healing of your new tattoo include but are not limited to:

*Poor overall physical health

*recent illness or injury pre-tattoo

*Disregarding aftrer-care recommendations

*insufficient rest (especially if your tattoo is below the waist)

*Poor diet and exercise routine

*Drinking to the point of being drunk, and/or using hard drugs

*Wearing tight, corse, materials on the healing tattoo

*Exposure to contaminants (children's hands, cats paws, and crowded bars are good examples)

*Touching your tattoo with your hands before washing your hands

*over exertion (take a few days off from the gym, or yoga, etc)

    It happens occasionally that clients come back for their next session after a month or more since their last session, and I will ask "how did your last session heal for you?", and they tell me "It was rough, I had some difficulty".  It is disappointing enough to me to know anyone has had or is having a rough healing experience, but its even more frustrating if I wasn't given the opportunity to help avert the trouble in the first place.  Our second appointment is NOT the time to tell me your tattoo didn't heal well after the first appointment!  So PLEASE, don't hesitate to reach out to me if your tattoo is doing ANYTHING you are unfamiliar with, concerned about, or unsure of.  I promise you that I will be HAPPY to hear from you, and that there is a VERY good chance that by contacting me at the FIRST sign of trouble may give us the opportunity to divert you from having a miserable couple of weeks.
    So please, don't second guess yourself on it, if its midnight, or christmas morning and your new tattoo has you concerned for some reason, Im only a text message away!  Please give me the opportunity to advise you and counsel you during the healing process if you need a little help so that your work heals the way it should and we can make the entire experience as pleasant as possible.

the TAO of TATTOOING 45

Foreword

In this series of blog entries I will offer my fledgling, humble interpretations of Lao-Tsu's 81 chapters of the Tao te ching, as it applies to tattooing.  I am in no way attempting to represent myself as a master of Taoist philosophy, however Lao-Tsu's teachings have inspired me for several decades, and I often look to them for inspiration in dealing with the many challenges of my chosen profession.
   I intend to find my way through each of the chapters, and compile them here in my blog until they are complete, at which time I will publish them in book form for my friends and colleagues in tattooing. I hope that my interpretations might assist and inspire my peers, my clients, my friends, to better understand tattooing, and the meaningful impact it has on all of our lives.  And if perhaps these interpretations lead anyone back to the original teachings of Lao-Tsu, well then I will have truly done something to enrich the world.

the TAO of TATTOOING 44

Foreword

In this series of blog entries I will offer my fledgling, humble interpretations of Lao-Tsu's 81 chapters of the Tao te ching, as it applies to tattooing.  I am in no way attempting to represent myself as a master of Taoist philosophy, however Lao-Tsu's teachings have inspired me for several decades, and I often look to them for inspiration in dealing with the many challenges of my chosen profession.
   I intend to find my way through each of the chapters, and compile them here in my blog until they are complete, at which time I will publish them in book form for my friends and colleagues in tattooing. I hope that my interpretations might assist and inspire my peers, my clients, my friends, to better understand tattooing, and the meaningful impact it has on all of our lives.  And if perhaps these interpretations lead anyone back to the original teachings of Lao-Tsu, well then I will have truly done something to enrich the world.

the TAO of TATTOOING 43

Foreword

In this series of blog entries I will offer my fledgling, humble interpretations of Lao-Tsu's 81 chapters of the Tao te ching, as it applies to tattooing.  I am in no way attempting to represent myself as a master of Taoist philosophy, however Lao-Tsu's teachings have inspired me for several decades, and I often look to them for inspiration in dealing with the many challenges of my chosen profession.
   I intend to find my way through each of the chapters, and compile them here in my blog until they are complete, at which time I will publish them in book form for my friends and colleagues in tattooing. I hope that my interpretations might assist and inspire my peers, my clients, my friends, to better understand tattooing, and the meaningful impact it has on all of our lives.  And if perhaps these interpretations lead anyone back to the original teachings of Lao-Tsu, well then I will have truly done something to enrich the world.