modify: the documentary.

after days of putting it off, i finally got around to watching the documentary modify. and i was blown away by what i saw.


first and foremost, i realized that i had never really put too much thought into what was actually considered modification. this documentary covers everything from body building to gender reassignment surgery: both things that i would never have put into the body modification category until i saw this film.


the film covers many aspects of modification and lets you really explore the world. it talks about religon, goverment, enlightment, and basically why people get things done to themselves.

everyone who has ever questioned, considered, or hated body modification in any shape or form should watch this documentary. it answers so many questions and splits open a world that not many people understand.


hell, i wouldn't even say i fully understood modification, and i still don't, but i understand it a lot better now after watching this documentary.


there are things shown on it that i would never get done to myself, but it helps me understand why people do.


body modification is all about being happy with the way that your body looks. it's about being comfortable in your skin. it's not about what makes other people happy. there are some people that that do modification for enlightment, religious beliefs, spiritual reasons, etc. this documentary explains it all and ends with one simple fact: it's all about what you're content with and not about what others have to say about it.

guest blogger rachel venard comments on her tattoos.

a good friend of mine, rachel venard, has a number of tattoos that i really like and that i really admire the stories behind, therefore, i asked her to write me a blog post explaining her tattoos. this is what she had to say:



I had always admired tattooed women when I was younger, so I knew that I would at least get a few of my own. When I was fourteen I took Indian ink and a needle to my hand creating a horrible looking heart on my left hand. When I was eighteen I decided that it was time to get more with meaning and the shitty heart covered up. I had the word "Love" inked on my left wrist and "Hate" on my right. After the first three an addiction started that led to "Daj mi Buzi" on my ankle catering to my Polish heritage. After time spent homeless "Beware Doll You're Bound to Fall" was placed upon my back. The lyrics from the Bob Dylan song became the most important tattoo I had gotten so far. A Buddha that was never finished was just above the Dylan lyrics so that became the next venture to finish. I ran into a tattoo artist who was willing to finish up my Buddha if I would allow him to add his to his portfolio. I couldn't miss the opportunity so I let him finish it up. I wouldn't be the same without all of my tattoos, I wouldn't have the opportunity to share my stories and reasons for getting them. The thrill of getting a new tattoo will hopefully always remain with me.

when piercings work against me.

this isn't much of an educated post, more of a personal one, but it does relate to the topic of this blog.


i'm going out tonight with a guy i met and for once, my piercings are making me insecure. i worry about the impression i give with holes in my ears and metal in my face.


i guess i never really thought about adverse reactions when i got my piercings done. they always gave me a little more self confidence and i always felt like they fit my overall look, but now i find myself wishing they weren't there.


but, i'm glad that they are. maybe, i'm just hoping to prove to myself that someone can actually want to spend time with someone who made changes to what they were given. now i feel like this is just a ramble, but i'm nervous and second guessing myself.


does this happen to anyone else?

just a few thoughts.

i have yet to watch the documentary "modify", but i will get around to it and post something describing it and my reactions and thoughts.


i've been thinking seriously lately about getting surface piercings on my hip.


now, i had never heard of this type of piercing until i was doing research for this blog and i don't know too much about them, besides that i really like the way they look. i'm going to be doing some more research on this topic, because i've heard that there are quite a few things that can go wrong with them, especially something called rejection.

does anyone have any surface piercings that can tell me what they're like and what the healing process is?


regardless, i'm going to look into it and post more about it when i have more information.

expect a movie review...

special thanks go out to eric who recommended i watch a documentary called modify. and so, this weekend, i'm gonna pop the movie in and check it out. i'll be sure to post an entry with my thoughts on the whole thing. so, stay tuned. (:

conventions.

while browsing the internet, i came across this and i think it's great.

i come from a pretty sheltered place in the middle of pennsylvania and never even heard of tattoo conventions. hell, if you even got a tattoo in that town, people thought you were some kind of freak.

i would love to go to one of these. it's a brilliant idea. i would love to just be able to talk to people about anything tattoo related. i could explore the art from other cultures, hear the stories behind artists. it'd be incredible.

has anyone ever been to one?
what's it like?

nostril piercings and all their glory.

the nostril piercing is the most common form of a nose piercing (others include the septum and the bridge). the nostril can hold various kinds of jewelry: rings, studs, screws, and pins.

the most common procedure for getting a nostril pierced is by using a surgical needle that is quickly pushed through the side of the nostril. the jewelry is then attached to the end of the needle and pulled into the nose. the piercer should use either a clamp or a recieving pole to control the needle.

a nostril piercing can take anywhere from a couple to six months to completely heal. it's very important to take care of the piercing during this time. it's VERY important that you do not play with the jewelry during this healing process. doing so can result in soreness and unsightly bumps called keloids. also, you should clean the piercing with saline solution or something recommended by the piercer.

by the way, make sure you do your research on the shop where you get this done. ask the piercer to show you the fresh needle as he takes it from the package and watch him clean the jewelry.