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The History of The Dragons and why Dragon Tattoos Are So Popular By Becky McClure According to the Webster-Merriam Dictionary, the word dragon is Middle English, from Anglo-French dragun, from Latin dracon. The definition of dragon is: • A mythical animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent with a crested head and enormous claws. • Or someone who is formidable The many depictions of dragons are incredibly diverse and complex. No other creature in mythology has appeared in so many cultures from such remote parts of the world! Many of us think of dragons as a terrifying beast. However, the Eastern dragons are portrayed as good, kind, ancient and intelligent. The Asian Dragons have the most recorded history in the world, especially in China going back thousands of years. The Difference between the Eastern Dragons: Chinese dragons have all five toes. The Chinese believe that all dragons began from China. They believed that as the dragons flew south, they began to lo...

Tree Tattoo Pictures By R. Dercks Tree tattoo pictures are not very common. Are they? Not many people will be having tree tattoos. Have you wondered why it is so? That is because trees have a great significance in many Asian and African cultures. It also has links with Celtic history. The meaning of tree tattoo pictures is linked with all these cultures and the impact and significance is so strong that many people prefer not to get it. Now if you are thinking that you see so many girls with different flower tattoos like roses, daisy, lily, sunflower and leaves like shamrock and others. Are they not tree tattoo pictures? NO! They are not. They are flower tattoos. I am talking about a tree as in whole. So here are some popular tree tattoo pictures for you! The most popular one is the cherry tree tattoo pictures. This female-only tattoo is a symbol of sexuality and beauty but not in literal terms. This tattoo gets its meaning from the Japanese cherry blossom which is a symbol of life whic...

Koi Fish Tattoos - Meanings By Chris P Marks The image of the koi fish is often used in tattoo designs not just because of its obvious elegance and vibrant colors, but more because of the symbolism surrounding it. "Koi" is simply "carp" in Japanese, but the expensive fish that we are all familiar with are carp that have been especially bred since ancient times in China. This special breeding has produced the multi-colored varieties of koi fish that people now collect. Koi are vigorous fish that can swim upstream. An old Chinese legend tells of koi brave enough to swim up the waterfalls of the Yellow River, and that any fish that could reach the point in the river called "Dragon Gate" would turn into a dragon. While the fish originated from China, it is the Japanese who have made it a household name. The koi is a celebrated symbol in Japan-mostly associated with exceptional courage. It is said that this fish, if caught and placed on a cutting board, can lie...

Text As Images in Tattoo Design By William Connor Recently I was approached by someone asking for assistance in designing a pair of tattoos; one of them and one for their partner. They were concerned about using text rather than images. Initially they wanted to simply get a tattoo of each other's names, but through the course of discussion, they began to think about accompanying images that were meaningful to them in various ways. Effectively, they became confused and overwhelmed making their decision. The idea of text compared to images needed to be explained and explored. Text is imagery. Font, point size, kerning, and script all come into play when considering text for a tattoo. The main difference, and even then only in part, is the semantic association with the chosen text. Initially, the couple mentioned above had disassociated the imagery of the text itself with the semantic meaning. Once the elements of the text as art became clear, they needed advice. What style should the...

I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to interview bodybuilder Janelle Gallo. Hi Janelle. Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Janelle Gallo Years bodybuilding: 17 years Years competing: 9 years Height: 5'3" Competition weight: 120lbs Off-season weight: 150lbs Occupation: Certified personal trainer (NASM), certified nutritionist (ISSA) Competition History: 2001 NPC Natural NY State-1st place (heavyweight) 2001 NPC Natural Eastern Classic-2nd place (heavyweight) 2002 NPC Bev Francis Atlantic States-1st place & overall (middleweight) 2002-Musclemania Superbody-1st place 2002 NBI NY State Championships-1st place (Open short class) 2003-Musclemania Superbody-2nd place 2003 NPC Team Universe-5th place (MW) 2006-Musclemania Superbody-1st place 2006 NPC Team Universe-6th place (HW) 2007 NPC Bev Francis Atlantic States Championships--3rd place (MW) 2007 NPC Team Universe Bodybuilding Championships--2nd place (MW) 2007 NPC...

I am pleased to be able to present this interview with bodybuilder Lisa Boushard. Hi Lisa! Can you give us some background on yourself? Hi Paul, I started competing in 2001 and got my national qualifier in 2005. I recently placed 2nd at the Masters 2009 and then 4th at the USA's 2009. I am a Light Heavyweight, and plan on doing the North Americans and Nationals next year. I had hernia repair surgery October 5th which has to be in recovery until the end of December before I can hit the gym again, but can do cardio right now. I am 43 years old and live in St. Louis, Missouri. I work at the Powerhouse Gym of St. Louis as a operations manager and have a website: www.lisaboushard.net . I am married, with 3 cats. I work with Dave Palumbo for show prep and am a sponsored athlete and featured on his website. What was it that first attracted you to bodybuilding? The thing that attracted me to bodybuilding is the amazing physique you can transform with hard work and dedication to the sport. ...

About Chinese Dragon Tattoo - What Most People Don't Know But Should By Fanyun Ding Chinese dragon is a mythical divine beast originated from ancient Chinese folklores. It is now commonly depicted as a huge, serpentine, and scaled creature. Unlike "western dragon" that has been described as evil, Chinese dragon has long been symbolized as the power of auspice both in folklore and art. Created on the land of an agriculture-oriented country, Chinese dragon is believed to bring rain and water, which well explains the position it takes in Chinese culture. For centuries, Chinese people proudly refer to themselves as "Long De Chuan Ren", or "Descendants of the Dragon". This ethnic identity is believed to originate from Huang Di, a benevolent, legendary emperor who was said to have been immortalized into a dragon. Since Huang Di is considered to be the ancestor of Chinese, hence the saying "Descendants of the Dragon". Due to that Huang Di myth, Chin...

Chinese Tattoos - Meaning of Chinese Dragon Tattoos By Declan O Reilly Chinese Tattoos have always been hugely popular. At one stage they were the realm of criminals and the mafia. Now it seems even Hollywood celebrities seem to have caught on to the mystery and allure of the Far East. While it is undeniable that classic Chinese tattoos have an attraction which can easily be appreciated regardless of whether one can understand the often subtle meanings or not. Aesthetics should be the primary consideration when getting tattooed, and Chinese characters are very well suited to this purpose. While tattoos have always been conversation pieces, Chinese tattoos add another element, since the typical viewer will probably ask you the meaning, which allows the wearer to not only translate the characters, but to explain the story behind the decision to make such a lasting statement. Meaning is an important question however and for this reason can make Chinese tattoos date very quickly. Often it ...

Chinese Dragon Tattoo Designs and Meanings By Graeme Wheeler It is believed that the mythical creature developed its appearance from the totem poles of many different tribes in China. As the tribes merged, the different attributes of the dragon's appearance took shape. The Chinese dragon is believed to have evolved over time to incorporate the features of 9 animals to become the mythical creature it is today. These features include the: • Horns of a deer • Head of a camel • Eyes of a demon • Neck of a snake • Stomach of a clam • Scales of a carp fish • Claws of an eagle • Soles of a tiger • Ears of a cow Combine these features together and you have the Chinese Dragon, a very popular tattoo design over the ages and evermore so now. It is common for many oriental pictures of the Chinese dragon to show a pearl or thunder-ball under its chin - representing good luck and wisdom. Some pictures also show Chinese dragons with bat wings, although dragons are able ...

It is my pleasure today to interview bodybuilder Sherri Gray. Hi Sherri! Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am 38 years old, married with 2 children, ages 10 and 7. I work full time and stay pretty busy with the kids' activities and my training. I started competing 3 years ago but started in Figure. I did win a show and placed 2nd in another, but the following year I was being told I was too muscular for the physique they were trying to direct Figure to. They suggested Bodybuilding. So, I started training to compete in BB and did my first show this past April. I won my class and the overall. I also did Jr.USA and placed second. Anyway, I truly enjoy the challenge of BB and watching my body change by how I train and eat excites me! I love it and hope it sets a good example for eating clean and staying healthy for my kids, family and friends. Wow, you look amazing for someone who only discovered Figure/Bodybuilding 3 years ago! Were you already in good shape before ...