Hello Kitty rules the Air!

Taiwan airline EVA Air has contracted with the character owners to create three Hello Kitty themed jets -- right down to the food boxes and hand lotion.

They could probably make a lot of money selling Hello Kitty travel packs!

Tattoos -- What was a joy becomes an embarrassment?

I've thought about a tattoo more than once, living as I do in an area where it's very popular. But I've lived long enough to know that what I would have wanted at one point probably is not what I would want on my body now -- at least not in that form. Plus I have always had delicate skin. This article says that 1 on 6 people will want a tattoo removed this year, even as a new tattoo parlor opens -- somewhere -- every day. It's estimated that among people aged 18 to 29, nearly half of them have tattoos.

To remove it without leaving a scar or a negative, blackened tattoo can take anywhere from 15-20 visits to the removal specialist, in 6-8 week intervals. We're talking hundreds to thousands of dollars. The better your immune system, the easier it is for your body to adsorb the dye. The darker your skin, the more risk there is of leaving a ghost tattoo, a lighter version of the removed design.

Blue and black tattoos are the easiest to get rid of. Reds are hard -- yellow, orange and white almost impossible to remove. Start thinking about a cover tattoo!

Exceptions for me? If I had an ugly scar to cover, I might find a really good artist and do an oriental tattoo around the area. Ironically, my one visible scar looks like it could be a black light flower, so I've never bothered to get a tattoo over it! Since I keloid scar, I would hesitate to get permanent eye makeup. I've never even dared to get my ears pierced.

And what is the polite thing to say about tattoos? I have always complimented people on tattoos I thought beautiful just as I do jewelry -- that's how I'd assumed they were meant to be seen. But recently I read that some people find it intrusive to have people comment on their tattoos -- or suggestive.

Folk with tattoos, how do you view it? I wouldn't comment on a tattoo while doing a massage on someone I didn't know -- it might be located in an area usually covered by clothing. But if it's on your arm, or shoulder, a place often not covered by clothes? Is that public adornment?

Moving Karma

Well, it's time to go from cryptic comments to full bore plans. I'm moving at the end of the month.
( Only Locals Need Click Through )

Edited: Moving boxes, folks. I have a bunch of Amazon book boxes, thanks!

Ignore the screams --

It's a combination of being on a convention panel on Norse mythology, and knowing I have already packed my book on Norse mythology. And trying to contact a doctor. If I press 0 for an operator, it clicks a bit and hangs up. If I stay on the line, there's a pause, and it says "Good bye!"

* STABBITY * STABBITY * STABBITY