OLEAN — The tattooing and body-piercing business Freedom of Expression has relocated from the Buffalo area to open a shop in downtown Olean.
Freedom of Expression, co-owned by Eric and Renee Wantuck, had operated at McKinley Mall in Hamburg for a year but they decided to move to the Southern Tier primarily so their family could be raised in a less urban setting. They had previously lived in South Buffalo.
The Wantucks said their 317 N. Union St. business offers tattoos that start at $30 and body piercings for $25.
Freedom of Expression has “literally 10,000 designs for tattoos,” said Mrs. Wantuck.
So far, “We’re averaging 40 piercings and 25 tattoos a week,” she said, noting the business hosts tattoo parties.
Mrs. Wantuck said, “We have two artists on staff” for tattoos.
“We use state-of-the-art equipment,” she noted.
Also, “We have a whole line of products to care for the tattoo to keep the color,” Mrs. Wantuck said.
The business also has an assortment of body-piercing jewelry and several lines of name-brand clothes, including Rocawear, Phat Farm, Baby Phat and NBA attire, plus designer handbags by Louis Vuitton and Coach.
Additionally, Freedom of Expression carries candles, incense and mushroom waterfall lamps.

www.zwire.com

BRUSSELS – The Belgian health minister is planning to introduce new rules to control the practices of body piercing and tattooing, it was reported on Thursday.

La Derniere Heure newspaper said the new legislation is designed to reduce the health risks linked to piercing and tatooing and should come into effect in September.

Under the new rules, tattoos would be banned for anyone under 18 as would pierced nipples or genitals.

Sixteen to 18 year olds could have other parts of their bodies pierced provided they had clearly verifiable permission from a parent or guardian.

Cildren under 16 would be banned from having any sort of piercing.

The only exception to this rule would be for pierced ears in cases where a parent or guardian had given their permission.



The tattooing and piercing professions would also have to face tough new rules if the legislation entered into force as planned.

Anyone wishing to work in the industry would have to get special permission from the Belgian health ministry.

Premises would have to be kept meticulously clean and piercing equipment would have to be sterilised or thrown away after each use.

Poorly carried out piercings can spread a number of very serious diseases, including hepatitis B and HIV.

www.expatica.com

Washington, June 10(ANI):

A study published in the journal of General Dentistry shows that wearing a tongue stud may cause fatal infections.

Along with chipped teeth, recessed gums and nerve damage, getting the tongue pierced can result in fatal infection, such as Ludwig's Angina or Endocarditis.

Ludwig's Angina, a bacterial infection of the floor of the mouth, occurs after a tooth infection, mouth injury, oral surgery and oral piercings.

Endocarditis occurs when bacteria travels into the bloodstream through the piercing hole and infects the heart. Patients with a history of heart defects are at risk for Endocarditis.

"Most body piercers are unlicensed and are not members of the medical profession," said Dr.William J. Dunn, the author of the study.

"Because of this, health histories are not recorded or reviewed, emergency medical kits are not available, antibiotics are not prescribed and postoperative care is not available," he added.

Post-operative care can also help identify these serious infections before they become fatal.

"People are told to expect some swelling from a tongue piercing but if they don't receive follow-up care, they may not be aware of when it is abnormal swelling," Dr.Melvin K. Pierson, the spokesman of the DDS, said.

Unclean piercing equipment can cause other infections, such as blood borne hepatitis. Also, if a patient is not instructed to avoid touching the piercing, they might spread infections with their own fingers.

"I don't recommend piercing. Because of the risks associated with this unregulated procedure, if someone is considering an oral piercing, they should discuss it with their medical or dental professional," he added.


www.newkerala.com

Summer seems to be the tattoo or piercing season of the year. Many people return from vacations with piercings or tattoos. But people should be aware of the dangers that can be found in bodyart parlors.

Robert Trotter, district health officer, said people must seek an artist who is likely to do a safe job.

"People need to be careful because it's their own health and their own bodily appearance that is at stake here," Trotter said.

Trotter said people should make sure the facility has a current license from the state board of health.

He said people should also pay attention to their surroundings and to look for underage people, dirty work surfaces and instruments that are not taken from sealed, individually wrapped sterilization packages.

Trotter said these are all red flags warning an individual to seek another establishment.

Diane Welshans, owner of Phoenix Graphics in Oxford, said customers should look for a Preventative Disease Transmission certification from the Red Cross.

Welshans said jewelry should be made from surgical steel.

Welshans also said if customers are allergic to latex gloves, they should request vinyl gloves be worn. Welshans said people can be allergic to benodine and triple antibiotic ointment, so alternative cleaning solutions must be available.

Some cleaning solutions, such as alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, should not be used on a tattoo or piercing during the healing process, Welshans said.

"A piercing can take from three to six months to a year to heal," she said.

Welshans said signs of infection include pain, swelling, redness, off-color discharge or fever.

www.thedmonline.com

Wearing a tongue stud puts people at risk for chipped teeth, recessed gums and nerve damage. However, most people don't realize that getting an oral piercing also places them at risk for developing a fatal infection, such as Ludwig's angina or endocarditis, according to a report in the May/June 2004 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.
Ludwig's angina, a bacterial infection of the floor of the mouth, occurs after a tooth infection, mouth injury, oral surgery and oral piercings. After getting an oral piercing, the mouth has an open wound which allows bacteria to travel through the bloodstream. Bacteria then cause the floor of the mouth to rapidly swell, which can block the airway or prevent the swallowing of saliva.

Endocarditis occurs when bacteria travels into the bloodstream through the piercing hole and infects the heart. Patients with a history of heart defects are at risk for endocarditis. At the dentist's office, a medical history is taken which helps the dentist determine who is at risk and those patients are given antibiotics prior to certain dental procedures in order to avoid this potentially fatal problem.

"Most body piercers are unlicensed and are not members of the medical profession," says William J. Dunn, DDS, MAGD, ABGD, author of the study. "Because of this, health histories are not recorded or reviewed, emergency medical kits are not available, antibiotics are not prescribed and postoperative care is not available."

Postoperative care can also help identify these serious infections before they become fatal. "People are told to expect some swelling from a tongue piercing but if they don't receive follow-up care, they may not be aware of when it is abnormal swelling," says Melvin K. Pierson DDS and AGD spokesperson. "A person might have an angina attack and not know it."

Unclean piercing equipment can cause other infections, such as bloodborne hepatitis. Also, if a patient is not instructed to avoid touching the piercing, they might spread infections with their own fingers.

"I don't recommend piercing," says Dr. Pierson. "Because of the risks associated with this unregulated procedure, if someone is considering an oral piercing, they should discuss it with their medical or dental professional."

Ludwig's angina:


A life-threatening acute severe infection of the jaws that causes swelling that can close off the airway. This can be treated with an incision and drainage.
Endocarditis:


A disease caused by a microorganism infecting the heart valves or endocardium. The microorganism can enter the blood stream through the piercing wound. This can be treated with antibiotics.


www.eurekalert.org

IT'S OFFICIAL: work has begun on the Castro Valley Performing Arts Center.

Groundbreaking took place last week at the site of the old tennis courts at Castro Valley High School. The brief ceremony included addresses by Castro Valley schools superintendent Jim Fitzpatrick, Castro Valley High principal Debbie Coco and performing arts committee member Jo Loss. The special guest was East Bay Orchestra conductor Michael Morgan, a noted supporter of arts programs in the schools. The ceremony was also highlighted by music by Castro Valley students.

Morgan has performed at fund-raisers for the performing arts center and his presence at the groundbreaking underscored his belief in the value of the arts in the schools and the community and culture.

The Performing Arts Center is scheduled to open in early 2006.

SPEAKING OF MUSIC IN CASTRO VALLEY, we are very lucky that two of the East Bay's best entertainment deals are right here in Castro Valley.

Chouinard Winery offers all sorts of musical styles, from Cajun and blues to rock and jazz at its Sunday afternoon concerts, all for $30 per carload of folks.

Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner, but they will soap your car if you show up with non-Chouinard wine! (just kidding). Chouinard Winery is located at 33853 Palomares Road in Castro Valley. Call 510-582-9900 or see www.chouinard.com for additional information.

Westover Winery is also offering a music series this summer with music by The Marshall Law Blues Band on June 20; reggae with Red Di July 18, and Cajun music by Tom Rigney and Flambeau Aug. 22. Tickets are $35 per carload; pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the shows from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Call 510-537-3932 for information and reservations, or visit the Web site at www.westoverwinery.com.

GIVING BLOOD WILL BE AS EASY as stopping for a cup of coffee on June 17. That's when the American Red Cross will set up a bus in front of Starbucks in the Castro Village shopping center.

The bus will be on hand from 2 to 7 p.m. but appointments are preferred. You can sign up online at www.BeADonor.com (sponsor code is CASTROVILLAGE) or call 510-881-8777 to schedule an appointment. Every donor will receive a gift, but please remember an ID is required for all blood donations.

The Red Cross also suggests you eat a good meal or snack and drink plenty of fluids before donating blood. And it's also important to eat within four hours of your scheduled donation to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Call 800-GIVELIFE for additional information.

IT'S BOTH GOOD AND BAD NEWS for customers of The Music Company in Castro Village. Owner Mel Speed has permanently closed the doors at the shop in Castro Village after 15 years. But as the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens.

Mel says that CD sales had been dropping off dramatically in the last few years due to all the music downloads from the Internet. But as CD sales decreased, he notes, other parts of his business were increasing -- namely his DJ services, body jewelry and piercing.

He saw the writing on the wall, closed the store and opted to rent space on the boulevard, between Bank of America and Jack in the Box. The new shop will offer body jewelry, piercing and permanent makeup on the first floor and house his DJ business on the second floor at 3053 Castro Valley Blvd.

Meanwhile, he is still doing business as The Music Company on the Internet and over the phone, taking orders from his many loyal customers. Talk about customer service -- Mel offers free CD delivery to Castro Valley, San Leandro and San Lorenzo customers.

Considering the rent he was paying, it's more than worthwhile to offer free delivery, he says with a laugh.

Mel is an example of a "find a need and fill it" businessman. He got the idea to open The Music Company on a Saturday afternoon when he was driving down Castro Valley Boulevard and reached into his glove compartment for a tape. Bored with the selections on hand, he realized if he wanted to purchase a new tape he'd have to drive out of town because Castro Valley did not have a music store.

That was 1989 and thousands of tapes and CDs ago, but today's fans still love music; they are just getting it delivered in a different way, he says. Customer reaction has been unhappy but supportive and understanding, he says. "Not a single one said they didn't understand why I had to close the store."

So it's goodbye to The Music Company but hello to new businesses for Mel Speed. Look for them to be open by July 4. You can reach The Music Company at 510-537 9334 or visit it online at www.themusicco.net.

A POSTPONEMENT: Wannabe Sherlocks who planned to solve the mystery of "Murder in the Old West," co- sponsored by both the Sunrise and Castro Valley Rotary Clubs, will have to wait.

www.contracostatimes.com

DETROIT -- Tattoos and body piercings, whatever you think of them, are here to stay.

From NBA stars to twentysomethings to suburban housewives, body art or belly button rings are all over. With that in mind, the Wayne County Consumer Protection Task Force is reminding residents to make sure their adornments are done right.

Forty-three establishments are licensed by the county's Environmental Health Division, and those are the only places where one may legally perform piercing or tattoo work.

An area of concern, however, are so-called tattoo or piercing "parties," often held in private homes that lack the sanitary areas tattoo and piercing establishments must provide.

Blood-borne diseases, including hepatitis and AIDS, can be spread by dirty needles, and infections and other maladies can accompany improper piercings.

Earlier this year, an 18-year-old Lincoln Park boy was cited under a city ordinance for performing piercings on about 15 high school students, including some minors, at his house.

His mother later turned over the piercing equipment to police.

A 1998 county ordinance, which allows the Environmental Health Division to license and inspect such establishments, lays out several rules for parlors, including:

lMinors may not receive body art or jewelry piercings without parental permission. Establishments also must confirm the age of anyone who appears to be under 25, and keep records of those checks for inspection.

lMobile body art establishments are prohibited.

lBody art may not be performed on anyone who appears to be drunk or under the influence of drugs.

lA medical screening questionnaire, seeking histories of AIDS, hepatitis, allergies and certain skin diseases, is required before the procedure begins.

lPractitioners must wear medical gloves during the procedure, and all reusable instruments must be sterilized and placed in sealed, dated packaging.

lSingle-use needles or other sharp objects, as well as razors, must be disposed of immediately.

Violations could result in fines of up to $500 and/or 90 days in jail.

Robert Haggerty, owner of Beyond Reality in Wyandotte, said people who want to get tattoos or piercings should be aware of the following when visiting a prospective shop:

lMake sure you're comfortable with the place. Are the people behind the counter clean and friendly?

lMake sure there are autoclaves (sanitizing machines) onsite. Ask for certification that they have been inspected within the last 30 days.

lMake sure the establishment is licensed. The license, usually from a county board of health, should be prominently displayed.

lMake sure all instruments used to perform the work are in sterile bags. You may ask the artist to use brand-new needles during work.

lTake a look at a portfolio of the artist's work. Make sure they're capable of doing the work you want.

www.thenewsherald.com

Superstar Bill Cosby, during a gala last month commemorating the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision, made comments about low-income people that have stirred a nationwide debate about the poor in general and black people in particular.

Among other things, Cosby was reported to have said, "The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting."

The comedian and actor, according to a transcript from The Washington Post, also said:

"People putting their clothes on backward: Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong? ... People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn't that a sign of something, or are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up? Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up ... and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body? What part of Africa did this come from? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a ... thing about Africa."

And, he added, this: "With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all that crap, all of them are in jail. Brown versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem. We have got to take the neighborhood back. ... They are standing on the corner and they can't speak English."

Since news of Cosby's tongue-lashing, I've been receiving messages from readers wondering when I was going to "weigh in" on the issue.

Is he right or wrong? Wasn't it insensitive for him to say such degrading things about the poor?

I was determined not to speak to this issue because there were enough people discussing it in various forums.

Then I received an e-mail from reader Joe H. Allison, who reminded me of a commentary I wrote in 1996 that he described as "a masterpiece" and that he said spoke to some of the same topics that Cosby addressed.

Allison saved a copy, all this time, and he sent it to me.

So, without addressing the Cosby statements, let me rerun what I wrote eight years ago, published under a rather sarcastic headline, "All dressed down and nowhere to hang -- or work":

Hey, boy! Yeah, I'm talking to you, and don't turn away from me like you don't want to hear it. I've been meaning to say this to you for a long time. But just now -- this moment you turned your back to me and began to awkwardly stroll away -- I realized I could no longer hold my peace.

Just like that, it hit me. As you walked away I couldn't help but notice that the bib of your cap was still pointing toward me and your eyes were on the other side of your head. I could have understood it, perhaps, if you were wearing a baseball catcher's mask, but you were dressed to go out.

By the way, the price tag is still dangling from the head gear. I could understand that, too, if you were Minnie Pearl of the Grand Ole Opry, but you've never had that much class. Never mind who Minnie Pearl is. Just shut up and listen because I've got to say this.

Please don't take offense. Come to think of it, I don't care if you do take offense, because someone has needed to tell you this long before now. It looks like the job has fallen to me. So here goes.

Boy, pull up your pants! You heard me right. I said pull up those droopy pants of yours. Don't give me that stare. I am tired of looking at your underwear, and I'm sick of seeing you constantly tugging at your pants to keep them from falling to your knees. I'm serious. Unless you are a true freak of nature and your waist really is beneath your behind, pull up your pants, put your shirt inside of them and put on a belt.

Yeah, sure, I'm aware of fashion statements, but you don't really want to hear what your "statement" is saying to me, do you?

I've accepted the earrings, the lopsided haircut and the gaudy jewelry. I've even come to grips with that limp in your walk and that often indecipherable speech. I'll give you all that.

Watch your mouth, young brother. You don't have to tell me about styles of my generation. I know how big my Afro was, and I know I wore bell-bottom pants and Nehru jackets. But regardless of what I wore, the clothes fit.

Now I know why you never took books to school. Your hands were so busy catching your falling trousers that textbooks only got in the way. I told you not to look at me like that.

And take that cap off your head when you're inside!

By the way, where are you going?

What do you mean, "None of your business?" I've told you about smarting off. I asked, where are you going?

What?

A job interview?

Oh, now I understand why you're still unemployed.

www.dfw.com

Tories a well-oiled machine, but Grits have more fun

They call it Bubbleland, a quadrennial lifestyle more than a place where journalists pay $7,000 per week (excluding hotels) to track every step taken by leaders on their election campaign tours.

Here, the real world fades into a blur of 15-hour days inside a bubble of photo opportunities, news conferences and leader scrums where commando-like wagonmasters hustle reporters onto jets or buses for the mad dash to the next campaign event or story-filing opportunity. After that, of course, there's the odd cocktail hour or money-losing casino visit.

My first week of travel-budget-busting activity was spent with Conservative Leader Stephen Harper as he blitzed the country from Vancouver to St. John's, Nfld. The second week followed precisely the same route on Prime Minister Paul Martin's plane, ending up sleepless in St. John's at week's end, eagerly contemplating an escape from the tour so that, after harvesting my sadly neglected lawn, I can curl into a fetal position and start whimpering for larger pants and a new liver.

So in the most important horse race between Harper and Martin, that being the one to win over media hearts, how do they compare? Here's a handicapping of the tours behind the headlines and cameras.

The party leaders: If Stephen Harper could go through life without meeting another reporter, he'd be a happy old man. And it showed on the first week. He shuffled unenthusiastically to the back of the plane twice to chat, although you could almost see an aide twisting his arm down the aisle.

Paul Martin, on the other hand, almost relishes mixing it up with media scum, even during campaign meltdown moments. He regularly sauntered back to hobnob with reporters, including the one named "most surly reporter" on tour by Martin's press secretary, a designation I claimed with considerable pride.

Advantage: Martin.

The Organization: The Conservatives of 2004 are a well-oiled machine compared to their hapless 2000 tour. Everything clicks more or less on time, the wagonmasters will gamely tackle even the most bizarre request and their first-rate sherpas deliver luggage to your hotel room.

The Liberals are a to-the-second military operation and show no mercy to any columnist pleading for more writing time due to an aching head. But they provided media with filing rooms equipped with a revolutionary device called a telephone, a technology that eluded the Conservatives at most pitstops. And no matter how negative the commentary, tour media handlers beamed smiles at you in the morning, apparently on the mistaken belief things would improve the next day.

Advantage: Even.

Spin doctors: There's a titanic battle of wits and quips going on between Martin's Scott Reid and Harper's Jim Armour. They both have the rare skill of being able to generate killer quips on command while deploying a biting sense of dry humour to attack the other guy's leader.

While Reid has a well-earned reputation for trying to bully reporters who stray off the preferred Martin message, he's inside the prime minister's circle of love and has his ear. Armour is far more forgiving (and therefore more effective) with renegade reporters, but is often left outside the loop by Harper's often-prickly press secretary.

Advantage: Even.

The Partying Party: It's true: Liberals have more fun. Even the spectre of a 4 a.m. conference call won't stop Team Martin from painting the town red after a daunting day on the road. The Conservatives, except for the aforementioned Armour, tend to keep to their own nocturnal schedule, which usually involves sleeping.

Advantage: Liberals.

The Planes: Martin has a Starjet aircraft that is usually chartered by professional sports teams. It features extra wide leather seats and tolerant, if slightly cool, flight attendants. There's the bizarre spectacle of a cop guarding the plane's back door even in flight, as if someone's going to break out or bust in at 30,000 feet.

Air Canada pulled out all the stops for the Conservatives, deploying the friendliest flight attendants in the aviation world backed by food far superior to the mush served on any airline I've flown. And, bonus, they awarded media full Aeroplan points for kilometres travelled.

Advantage: Conservatives.

Photo Ops: Harper abhors them and only performs for the cameras under extreme duress. His only prop, a phoney $100-million cheque signed by Martin to represent the sponsorship scam, was cheesy at first blush and looks worse every day. Martin, on the other hand, would exploit a five-year-old if it created the potential for a front page cutline. Which he did. Twice.

And yet, not a single potential beneficiary was in sight when Martin paraded his seniors' program before the cameras. A missed opportunity by the king of photo ops.

Advantage: Harper.

Scrums: Harper delivers crisp, clean responses to any question, rarely rambling longer than a couple of sentences. Martin is a clip artist's nightmare, jabbering off wildly in all directions which may, or usually may not, be related to the topic of discussion.

Advantage: Harper.

The Essentials: Both campaigns seem to buy the philosophy that a fattened-up journalist provides kinder, gentler coverage. That would explain why they ply you with food and booze on the buses, the planes, in the filing rooms and, just when you can't eat another bite, fine restaurants.

While the Conservatives tend to be healthier, the Liberals are heartier. That ensures the scariest part of the entire campaign will be stepping on the weigh scale.

Advantage: Liberals (unless you're on Atkins).