"Body art Once Taboo now art"
             You've seen them; you've hated them; you've loved them. What are they? Tattoos.
             Up until a few years ago the only people in society with tattoos were people who were involved with evil cults, the army, or crime. Often people who were involved with cults had the symbol of their organization tattooed on their body to symbolize their involvement. Many criminals who had served a serious sentence also had tattoos. They tattooed such things as clocks, bars, or tear drops on their bodies to show that they had either served time or lost a friend while they were in prison. Members of the army often tattooed the names of their loved ones on their body to act as a reminder of the things they left behind. This act of tattooing was often crudely done with such things as guitar strings and pen ink. Often these procedures led to disease and infection.
             With the advances of technology in this day and age the act of tattooing has become an art. Today tattoo artist usually take an apprenticeship course in a college and become certified by the board of health to perform the act of tattooing. Tattoo artists also use such precautions as latex gloves, dry heat sterilizers or autoclaves, new needles, and regular hepatitis B shots. This brings the frequency of disease and infection down dramatically. In fact, there has not been one reported case of HIV transmission through tattooing anywhere in the country since tracking data began in 1985. By comparison, there has been at least 7 cases of HIV transmission associated with dentist and dental workers.
             Many people refer to tattoos as just "ink under the skin". But in actual fact they are much more than that. Most people when they get a tattoo, they get it to represent something, such as their religion, culture, or even their love for something or someone. I would like to talk for a moment on the types of tattoos;
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