Resistance is futile, punk

Las Vegas Klingon

What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas, unless you have someone take a picture and then you put it on your blog.

This little Klingon put up his fist to me (I'm 6'2") and I'd had a few drinks so I asked him if he was challenging me to a fight. He told me that I was too young to die so we agreed to be peaceful.

Welcome

The Wakazashi (alternative spelling Wakizashi) is a short sword used in Japan as early as the 16th century. It is approximately 12-23 inches in length and worn blade edge up. It was worn by the Samurai, during the Momoyama and Edo period along with the Katana as part of a matching set called a Daisho. If the Katana was broken, the shorter Wakazashi could be used in its place. It was also considered ‘bad etiquette’ to wear a long sword indoors, so by the use of a Wakazashi the Samurai would not be vulnerable indoors.

The use of the Wakazashi did not however stop with the Samurai. Often they were manufactured for ‘non-warrior class’ individuals such as merchants or artisans who were forbidden to wear long swords. For this reason it became a duel purpose weapon, for use both indoors and by anyone who could afford it.

Due to the different markets for this short sword it would be made in one of two ways. Firstly simple and elegant as part of a Daisho for the purist warrior, secondly more ornate with vibrant carvings for the more refined tastes of the middle class.

As with all swords, it was often made with a specific person in mind and so length would often be dictated by height. If a Wakazashi were made for a tall man it would be referred to as an O-Wakazashi due to the extra length. Transversely a shorter blade was referred to as a Ko-Wakazashi.

Science fiction & fantasy symbols/icons: Battlestar Galactica

This is from the Sci-Fi Channel's new Battlestar Galactica. It's the banner of humanity, I guess it's a pheonix. I am currently working on a fat sock/sleeve tattoo, or rather my favorite tattoo artist is. (Check out Ugly Bill the Special Technique at Chronic Tattoo in Pacific Beach, San Diego.) But I'm also thinking about the next tattoo. I already have a Star Wars Rebel Alliance symbol on my chest, a grenade on my ribs, a bird in my armpit and a sword on my hip. Anyway, I'm planning on incorporating several other symbols such as the Battlestar Galactica pheonix crest, the Klingon Empire from Star Trek, the Star Wars Empire, Thulsa Doom's two snakes facing each other over a sun from Conan the Barbarian, and maybe some Cobra, Thundercats or Transformers. I am actively searching for ideas and welcome suggestions.

Star Trek: Klingon Empire

On Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach, during the summer of 2002, I met a girl with this symbol tattooed on the back of her leg. She was with two guys, who could've been her brothers or on shore leave with her, whatever. I didn't think so and so didn't hit on her, but I wish I had. Tattoos don't make girls beautiful, but some girls...well, oh well that one got away....

Star Wars: Empire

This is the symbol in Episodes Four Five Six. There is a symbol in Episodes One Two Three nearly identical to this but it has eight spokes instead of six.

Star Wars: Rebel Alliance

Before the release of Star Wars Episode One Phantom Menace, I had a Rebel Alliance symbol tattooed on my chest. I still like it, but among the many mistakes made or allowed by George Lucas, the symbols were switched around in Episodes One Two Three. I figure some of the gear used in Episodes Four Five Six is supposed to be recovered from earlier times so the Rebels don't care how it looks but that is a retroactive attempt at logic and basically it sucks. Anyone have a better explanation?

Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

I'm a little mad at myself. My brother Mike and I chilled in Hawaii and spent a lot of time in the sun. We had sunblock on and thought we were being healthy but also thought we were getting tan, only to later learn that we should have been using sunscreen instead of sunblock. Who tells this to average dudes living in southern California? Oh well, my tattoos are happy for the mistake.

Aloha, brah, hang loose

This isn't a great photo but you can see some of the symbol used for Ghost Dog, the Japanese birds of war symbol on my gut and the wakazashi on my side. This past summer, my brother Mike and I vacationed in Hawaii, which is 6 hours from San Diego, but only 5 hours from Tokyo so there are tons of Japanese vacationing there. Walking around Waikiki with my shirt off, many Japanese took good long looks at my wakazashi tattoo. I don't know if they were impressed or insulted, none of them dared to say anything.

Way of the Samurai

GHOST DOG: WAY OF THE SAMURAI by Jim Jarmusch, starring Forest Whitaker in the title role. Throughout the film, and the soundtrack by the RZA, are quotes from the HAGAKURE read by Whitaker as Ghost Dog, a modern day hitman who lives his life by the ancient code of the samurai. These are quotes from the book that didn't make it into the film.

"A samurai will use a toothpick even though he has not eaten. Inside the skin of a dog, outside the hide of a tiger" (Yamamoto Jin'emon, Hagakure 32).

"You cannot tell whether a person is good or bad by his vicissitudes in life. Good and bad fortune are matters of fate. Good and bad actions are Man's Way. Retribution of good and evil is taught simply as a moral lesson" (Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure 43).

"A person with a bit of wisdom is one who will criticize the times. This is the basis of disaster. A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad" (Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure 49).

"The heart of a virtuous person has settled down and he does not rush about at things" (82).

"A person who does not want to be struck by the enemy's arrows will have no divine protection. For a man who does not wish to hit by the arrows of a common soldier, but rather by those of a warrior of fame, there will be the protection for which he asked" (154).

"It is a principle of the art of war that one should simply lay down his life and strike. If one's opponent also does the same, it is an even match. Defeatings one's opponent is then a matter of faith and destiny" (157).

"Learning such things as military tactics is useless. If one does not strike out by simply closing his eyes and rushing into the enemy, even if it is only one step, he will be of no use" (159).