"We just wanted tattoos."

Some women in Springfield, MO are facing serious health risks after getting tattoos from a DOOR-TO-DOOR tattoo salesman. OK folks, that ain't right. My favorite part of the story below is the description of the homemade tattoo gun.


SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Some women in Springfield are regretting their decision last week to get a tattoo from a door-to-door tattoo salesman. At least one person had to be hospitalized and the others face serious health risks. Friday night, a man knocked on doors holding a tattoo gun and offering his services. Tamra Eason described the tool as homemade, but still agreed to pay for a tattoo. So did two other women in her apartment complex. "It was wrapped with black tape, had a pin underneath it, had fishing wire going through it, you could tell it was a homemade gun," Eason said. The next day, Linda Falls passed out and had to be hospitalized. "I passed out in the store and they said I should have it checked out," Falls said. All the women have an infection in the tattoo area and have been told to get tested for HIV and hepatitis. The health department said it's always worth the extra money to get a tattoo from a licensed professional with the right equipment and sterilization procedures."Getting a tattoo is like a wound. There's a risk of disease that may be long term or life threatening. It's a serious decision," said Jaci McReynalds, with the Greene County Health Department. "We just wanted tattoos, and now we're paying for it," Eason said.

When Hairy met Sunny

One can't go out of town these days without spotting a TAR moment it would seem. Perhaps the high percentage of the out-of-town TAR is that when traveling you almost always have your camera on you for that unexpected photo-op, and it's a good thing (or bad, as the case may be) I had my digital device in hand to capture this unsightly spectacle for you to enjoy. We spotted the perpetrator jogging on Good Friday afternoon- perhaps he had the day off from work to celebrate this religious holiday- it was quite warm in Houston, and I suppose this gent felt the warm weather warranted him going shirtless.

Unfortunately for any innocent bystander who crossed his path, instead of savoring a satisfying sweet from the Easter bunny, they were instead given a tasty treat of eye candy in viewing the full glory of his hairy chest and back! I nearly lost my appetite, but in the name of serious photojournalism, whipped out the camera and did a little jogging myself to capture his fury physique for all to admire.

DIY Surgery???!!!

Yes, you read that correctly. In today's age of the do-it-yourselfer, we have the food network- showing you, the average Martha or Rachel Ray wannabe, how you too can make gourmet meals in 30 minutes or less- "why bother with expensive culinary school when you can watch our tv show and follow these easy steps to having your own gourmet meal?! "

Or how about one of my favorite channels, TLC, which shows you simple tricks round the clock to redecorate your home on a small budget, taking the old junk in your house and transforming it like new? Sure, the paint might look better if you had a professional come in and do it, and the small construction project, retiling, or flooring might not be as good a job if you do it yourself, but hey, the idea is to save money right???

Well the latest trend in the DIY world has been taken to a whole new level (or World, if your name is Aladin): The Do it yourself Lasik eye surgery. Now instead of leaving those perky medical issues and surgeries to the doctors, we can save time and money by performing eye surgery on ourselves- ignore the fact please that this procedure has not been entirely approved by the FDA (frankly, I'm horrified that the FDA would even consider making part of this legal, but I guess I'm just old fashioned), and follow these easy steps to new and improved eyesight! Simply find a quiet place in your home, take the drugs that they give you to provide minimal pain management (this is the part that's still pending FDA approval- the virtually painless surgery that they claim), shoot the laser in your eye (be careful not to blink!), shoot it in the other eye (again, no blinking you wimp!), and put on your eye mask and allow the proper amount of time for recovery. The pictures do it so much more justice than I could:


Oh. My. Gosh. Words cannot even describe the horror that this suggests. Oh, and PS, so does that mean that after I (tentatively) perform successful surgery on myself that I could take a correspondance class from home and learn how to fly a plane without ever getting profession instruction as well, as the pictures suggest??

"Abreast" of East Nashville Politics

Perhaps my fits and giggles are characteristic of a 13-year-old boy, but it sure doesn't stop me from finding humor in this East Nashville political sign.

Am I the only one who thinks that John's last name is a little inappropriate??? Or maybe I'm just the only one who pays attention to seemingly insignificant details around me. Either way, I was a bit "titillated" when I passed this sign today.

I hope Mr. Arriola's political career doesn't go "bust" because of his signage faux pas... What a "boob!"