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If you want a tattoo - even a very small one - and you go to have it priced in a tattoo shop, you might be surprised that even something the size of a nickel will run you $50-$75. When you ask why it's so much, you'll be told that the price is the "shop minimum." But what does that mean and what is its purpose? Are they just trying to scam you out of extra money?

No, it's not a scam. The shop minimum covers the very basic expenses that have to be covered for every tattoo, no matter how big or small. Clean and sterile equipment, clean and sterile workstations, and licensed, health-board certified, insured studios is what you're getting for that shop minimum. The minimum for tattoos is more than that for piercings because more equipment is used and exposure is riskier so the steps that have to be taken to ensure your safety are more extensive than for a body piercing.

So, it's true. A tattoo the size of a nickel could cost the same as a tattoo the size of a half-dollar because of the shop minimum. But do you really put a price tag on your own safety?

In an effort to crack down on organized crime, Japanese officials have arrested one of the chieftains of the notorious yakuza tribe. Kiyoshi Takayama, known to be second in the Yamaguchi-gumi chain-of-command, since their leader (Kenichi Shinoda) was arrested back in 2005. Now with both of their head honchos in the clink, there is now the fear that the Yamaguchi-gumi may start an internal war to determine who should take the top job. This is probably one of many reasons that the law has been hesitant to stand in the way of the yakuza until now, but I hope they'll continue to stand strong in their fight to put an end to organized crime.

Other News This Week:

No, Sir, You May Not Tattoo the Stones Mouth on Your Horse

Illegal Shop in London Closed, Clients Urged to Get Tested For Disease

B.C. Tattoo Shop Burned Down

Kat Von D (famed tattoo artist and L.A. Ink television star) reported on her Twitter page that her house burned down Sunday night, with her hairless cat, Valentine, inside. There don't seem to be any details other than the ones Kat herself has shared on Twitter. She posted a photo of herself standing amongst the charred remains of her L.A. home.

One of the cool things about getting tattooed or pierced is forging a relationship with the artist. You're sharing a very intimate experience with them, so it's understandable that you might feel a special connection with them. Because of that connection, it's difficult to remember that our artist is still, essentially, a stranger that we know nothing about personally. We assume they're trustworthy and we assume they're taking all the steps necessary to ensure our safety. But is it wise to put so much trust in someone we really don't know?

Each of us is responsible for our own health and safety, even after we've entrusted our bodies to someone who is a professional in the field. That means you need to be able to recognize a mistake if it's being made and speak up on your own behalf. But the only way you can identify a lapse in standards is to know what to expect in the first place. Would you even know if your artist did something that could jeopardize your health? The article, How Cross Contamination Prevention Affects You, will help you to understand some of the detailed steps involved in Standard Precautions, which is a set of rules that have to be followed by each and every tattoo and piercing artist.

1TuffCookie writes: "I'll (hopefully) be getting a tattoo soon. It will be on my side, at least partially where the band of my bra sits. What would be the best thing to wear for my session?"

How do you dress for a tattoo like this and still maintain your modesty? If any of you ladies out there have gotten inked in this area, what did you do? Join the discussion on the forum and add your thoughts and advice there.

Adam Pearson, a renowned food stylist (someone who makes the food look really pretty for photos), was escorted off a Delta flight after a passenger reported him as looking "suspicious" because of his "Atom Bomb" knuckle tattoos. The tattoo that spans across his fingers is based on a nickname Pearson has had since childhood. After being questioned and assuring everyone that he was not a threat, he was allowed to return to his flight (and endure the stares and whispers by fellow passengers). What's the point of invading everyone's privacy and exposing them to cancerous radiation during pre-flight scans if all anyone has to do is point at someone and say they look suspicious? Delta has neither apologized for nor commented on the incident, but Pearson (due to his heavy following) has caused quite a stir amongst his fans. Delta is probably not commenting yet because they're still consulting with their lawyers. Pearson says he's not out for blood, but maybe he should be.

In Other News This Week:

Disney Tattoo Guy is Dead

Woman Tried to Cut Out Boyfriend's Tattoo

More Choosing Medical I.D. Tattoos Over Jewelry

Some Shops Found Using Needles Made of Cancer-Causing Metals

Dumbass of the Week: Guy Gives Police False Name; Had Real Name Tattooed On Arm

People who are heavily into body modification don't usually fit the typical mold when it comes to gift giving. I, for one, would much rather get a subscription to one of my favorite tattoo magazines than some cutesy knickknack that will just collect dust on my shelf. My oldest daughter would be mortified to receive anything in the color pink, but give her skulls and chains and she's happy as a clam. Do you have someone in your life that's difficult to buy for because they live on the edgy side of life? Here's a list of ideas that might help you find just the right gift for them this holiday season.

A Jewish surgeon in Germany was gravely offended when he noticed that his patient had a Nazi symbol tattoo on his arm. The symbol is that of the Imperial Eagle perched atop a swastika, which was adopted as a symbol of the Nazis during WWII. At this point, the surgeon had a decision to make, and he decided to leave the operating room and arrange to have a colleague take over. Now that decision is being called into question: did the surgeon have the right to walk out on a patient or was it his obligation to complete the surgery, regardless of his personal feelings?

I know there will be those who will defend the patient saying that the swastika is not always a hate symbol, and they're right. The swastika was never intended to be a symbol of hate, and for centuries it represented "life, sun, power, strength, and good luck." But, for argument's sake, in Germany (where this incident took place) it is illegal to bear or publicly show this symbol, with a punishment of up to three years for doing so. Germans are, understandably, very sensitive to the damage wreaked by the Nazis and Jews, in particular, have good reason to be disgusted by the sight of something responsible for the slaughter of millions of their family members. Hitler isn't ancient history - his regime started less than a century ago and the descendants of the victims are only two and three generations away, so the wounds are still very fresh.

An argument has to be made, also, for the fact that if the surgeon had continued the surgery despite his disdain, he may have been distracted and made a serious mistake that could have compromised the health of the patient. But where do we draw the line on personal offense? Not too long ago, a family doctor refused to treat a patient because they had tattoos and there was a public outcry against that decision (including mine!) The tattoo content wasn't offensive, but the doctor was offended by the presence of any tattoos at all due to his personal beliefs. Are the two situations really that different?

I'm looking forward to reading your comments! Post below and let me know how you feel.

I'm relieved that this story has a happy ending, but it very nearly didn't. Grace Etherington, a 15 year-old in the UK, was struck with a rare disorder - Guillan Barre syndrome - as a result of what should have been a simple ear piercing. An infection turned devastatingly serious when Grace, over a period of a few days, lost all muscle function and was hospitalized just in time before her organs began to shut down. The only way she could communicate was through blinking, and doctors warned her mother that if she survived at all, blinking may be the only thing she would be able to do for the rest of her life. But Grace beat the odds, and a year later is not only walking but also dancing again. (Read the Full Story)

These are the unknown risks associated with something we take for granted every day. Ear piercings are the most common of all piercings and many think it's perfectly safe to pierce themselves or friends or go to unlicensed jewelry retailers. Even with something so common and so simple, it's always better to go to a professional and licensed piercing artist who uses the needle method, not a piercing gun or squeeze trigger piercing units. Trust me, it's worth the extra expense!

In Other News This Week:

Jonathan Shaw Arrested on Weapons Charges

Toronto Tattoo Shop Found in Violation of Health Codes

Tattoo Artist Caught Inking Illegally Says Competition Set Him Up

Washington Teen Shot Outside Tattoo Shop