Tattoos For the Math and Science Geek? 1186
An anonymous reader writes "I've been thinking of getting a sleeve of math and science tattoos for quite a while now. With the money saved up, the only question remaining is, what equations/ideas should I get? I know for certain that I'm going to include some of Maxwell's equations, and definitely Ohm's Law. So, if you were going to put a tribute to the great math and science minds on your body forever, which ones would you choose?"
Not me but... (Score:5, Funny)
I like the fermata symbol (Score:5, Funny)
Smith Chart (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Smith Chart (Score:4, Insightful)
Don't mod me for flamebait but I think that really looks bad. Tattoos rarely look good in their prime, and always end up faded and smudged. They don't make you look tough or interesting, just trashy.
Re:Smith Chart (Score:5, Insightful)
It really depends on the tattoo, and how it was intended to look. Other factors include how the person takes care of themselves. A lot of people don't consider, "how will this look in 30 years." The same goes for body piercings. How will it all look when you're collecting your kids from school, when your grandkids are born, or when you're 90+ years old in a nursing home. Likewise, a sleeve (like the article asks) it may seem like a great idea, until you get a job somewhere in the Southern US, at a company with a strict policy about visible tattoos.
I've known folks who had needed to wear long sleeves year round, because they loved the idea of getting a tattoo that everyone would see and appreciate, a decade before. It's all fun and games until it's 110+ degrees outside, and you wish you could toss off the shirt before getting into the oven previously known as "your car", except the office "no visible tattoo" policy extends to everywhere "office" including the parking lot and anywhere visible from the parking lot.
That's not to say don't get one. Just consider what the future results could be. Folks do all kinds of crazy things to themselves. There are a whole bunch of body modifications that can be (and are) done. Is a face tattoo, or even math equations from your ears to your fingertips really the best way to express yourself?
How to pick a tattoo (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
The "no visible tattoo" policy is the antithesis of the 1st Amendment. Stop giving corporations more power than the government has.
Or the "no visible tattoo" policy is the heart of the 1st Amendment. Stop giving the government more power than it should have. I think the only people that could win a "no visible tatto" lawsuit would be survivors of the holocaust.
Re:Smith Chart (Score:4, Insightful)
Being discharged from a company for being a bigot is a consequence of your speech.
Having to wear long sleeves at work is elimination of your right to speak, no matter what you have to say.
Being discharged from a company for [saying something] is a consequence of your speech.
Being discharged from a company for [displaying something] is a consequence of your "speech".
Having to wear long sleeves at work is good sense if displaying tattoos get you discharged.
No it isn't (Score:5, Insightful)
The "no visible tattoo" policy is the antithesis of the 1st Amendment.
Please people, read the first amendment and try to understand it.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
It starts - and pay attention - "Congress shall make no law".
Do you see anywhere that Congress has made a law that says visible tattoos are bad?
This is a corporate policy. If you are hired, they are welcoming you in the door onto their property - on their terms. If they say you have to wear purple underwear to work here, guess what? YOU DO.
Employment is optional. Nobody has to give you a job. If they don't like your tattoos they don't have to hire you. It is really as simple as that. You have to do what the boss says - it's a job. It is not a right.
So back OT, to the guy who wants a sleeve of math equations, my advice would be DON'T. It's fun, it's nerdy, I can see the appeal. But you are limiting your options.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
"My company has a policy that states you may not have visible underwear."
My company has a policy that states you may not have invisible underwear.
Re:No it isn't (Score:5, Interesting)
Note that the employer is breaking federal law if 'x' is:
States have innumerable laws such as can't make hiring, firing, compensation, layoff, transfer, training, benefits, retirement, or promotion decisions based on:
So clearly employees do have recourse for discrimination. Your "a job is a privilege not a right" is about a hundred years late.
Also, yes the first amendment only applies to congress (and state governments from the 14th amendment) but the question here isn't of law, it's of whether something is right or wrong. Freedom of speech is the defining principle of American culture and law, and its violation is rightfully greeted with disgust.
Re:No it isn't (Score:5, Insightful)
the question here isn't of law, it's of whether something is right or wrong.
Ah, but it *is* a question of law. That was my whole point.
OP said that the First Amendment somehow made it okay for him to have tattoos and get any job he wants. Which is absolutely silly if you've ever taken the time to read it. The First Amendment only prohibits Congress from making laws that abridge free speech.
The morality of it is a different conversation, and one that has absolutely nothing to do with the First Amendment.
Re:No it isn't (Score:4, Informative)
Or you could just, you know, get another job. It's up to you. Where did this bizarre idea that someone else is responsible for your job come from? Has this idea ever been tried before, on a large scale? How did it work out?
Really? (Score:5, Informative)
This is the most poignant question you've seen in a long time? Seriously?
Ok, look. Here's some wiki for you. [wikipedia.org]
2,332,760 / 4,314,880 * 100% = 54%
54% of the arable land in North America is not utilized. If you want to live on a farm go do it. Uncle Sam will even help. [google.com] But if you're totally punk rock and don't want to "be part of the machine", then go be Amish. They manage it pretty well.
The reason why nobody actually does this is because that way of life is stupefyingly difficult. Up before dawn to a full day of hard labor every single day.
Go spend a week on a real farm. Just a single week. I'm sure they'd be glad for the help. I'll bet you don't last two days. I doubt I would.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
My father became fabulously rich not growing the most alfalfa of any farmer in the state.
Re:Really? (Score:4, Interesting)
From what I've seen, even if you do 10,000 acres of grain (be it corn, wheat, beans, etc) there are DEFINITELY times of the year when you don't do nuthin.
Of Course, the planting season and the harvest season are pretty busy (24x7 if you can).
But, if all you do is grain, there are some times when the most difficult thing you do is going to your favorite breakfast joint to drink coffee and tell tall tales.
The hard kind of farming is when you deal with livestock. Those kinds of farms.... Yeah. It stinks. Literally and figuratively. Having livestock makes it hard to get away on vacation - ever, it's a dawn to dusk type of career. No, I'm not a farmer, but I live in farm country and I have a lot of friends who are farmers or grew up on farms. Most grain farmers have some sort of livestock though, from what I've seen. Until they want to slow down when they get old, then they sell off the livestock. Yes farming is hard, but it isn't torture, and it can be very profitable.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
They don't make you look tough or interesting, just trashy.
To you.
I actually think it looks pretty nice. An abstract, pleasant-looking pattern, without going all stereotypically tribal.
As an aside, they aren't supposed to make you "look tough or interesting". They're supposed to be an outward expression of personal values through art. If you don't like that, I suggest staying away from music, books, and other artforms, as apparently that's not your thing.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Girl in a tattoo shop: I want a small animal tattooed on my thigh. How much?
Tattoo Guy: Rabbit, Tiger or Dog - $10 each. Giraffe is free!!
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Before you do it (Score:5, Insightful)
Think twice. Do you *really* think this will be so important to you forever?
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Insightful)
Even worse, what if we find out the laws are wrong?
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Funny)
That's why you never should tattoo physics laws, just mathematical theorems -- they change rarely.
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Insightful)
In that case, definitely the most beautiful and famous theorem you can come up with is Euler's identity [wikipedia.org]. e^(i*Pi) = -1.
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Informative)
Um, if you're gonna get it tattoo'd, you probably want to go with the more traditional form of: e^(i*pi) + 1 = 0. This single equation shows a relationship between 5 important mathematical constants, as opposed to the other form, which just shows 3 (I don't think -1 qualifies, as i is the more fundamental).
Or, you could go with the more general form: e^(i*theta) = cos(theta) + i*sin(theta).
I might also go with the Euler product form of the Riemann zeta function [goo.gl], arguably the greatest unsolved problem in all of mathematics: sigma(n=1, infinity, n^-s) = pi(p prime, inv(1 - p^-s)).
I wouldn't worry about putting stuff on your arm that might get proven wrong—it doesn't mean F=m*a isn't a significant step in the evolution of human thought just because Einstein improved upon it. Speaking of Einstein, how about the Minkowski invariance relation (I think that's what it's called?): s^2 = x^2 + y^2 + z^2 + (i*c*t)^2.
Another significant idea worth memorializing is Godel's Incompleteness Theorem...you'd have to find a form using logic notation.
Finally, you might think about getting N E R D C O R E across your knuckles...
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Insightful)
They ARE wrong, especially Ohm's Law. They're very, very good approximations for most cases, but they're not exactly correct. Even Einstein's equations are probably wrong, and don't agree with actual results in navigation of space probes: see the Pioneer Anomaly.
If you want equations that are exactly correct, stick to proven mathematical theorems, like a^2 + b^2 = c^2, not equations describing physics.
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Informative)
For the same reason, if I claim to be a soothsayer, and accurately predict specific global events far into the future, it would not mean that I am speaking the truth. There is no conceivable means by which I could have known that those events would have occurred. I simply guessed correct, but my statements were not true. Truth is the product of the recognition of reality - so with no possible means by which I could have recognized future events, I cannot speak truth about them.
Even your mathematical truth, e.g. Pythagoras' theorem, is only true in the context of Euclidean geometry.
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Insightful)
If you fire a cannon, measure where the projectile lands, and conclude that the difference between that and the value calculated by Newton's equations has anythnig to do with relativity, then you have either a very powerful cannon or a very powerful imagination.
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Interesting)
And anon specifically asked for math and science geekery, so you've got a good point. If you want a scientific tattoo, stay away from Ohms law. If you want an engineering tattoo, go for it, get it done, and close the ticket.
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Insightful)
Indeed. (Score:4, Insightful)
But then again, I'm an old coot that never got the tattoo thing.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Which is precisely what will happen if your mom forces you to get it removed and then bills you for the procedure by taking it out of your allowance for the next 10 years.
Which just goes to show you, if you're a minor, make sure your parents are ok with it.
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Insightful)
Well, if he saved up the money for a whole sleeve either a) he is paid ridiculously (or rather well with exceptionally few expenses) or b) he has thought about it for at least a few weeks.
I mean, if he was going for a big cock on his forhead, maybe $60 or so, then I would agree but... a person saving up for a whole sleeve has at least found out how much that costs and been saving up. I guess I am assuming that its a decent artist and going to be a bit more flourish than just written equations in a standard font (I would guess just having some guy scroll a whole bunch of equations on your arm would be pretty cheap overall if you agreed not to tell anyone who did it)
I have a small tatoo that I want to get, I don't need to save up cash for it, but, I have been thinking about it on and off for about 3 years, and havn't found an artist or posted on slashdot for advice... I imagine this one has been stewing a while.
-Steve
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Funny)
if he was going for a big cock on his forhead, maybe $60
Crap. I got completely ripped off on mine.
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Funny)
I mean, if he was going for a big cock on his forhead, maybe $60 or so, then I would agree but...
Note that no tattoo was mentioned in that sentence ...
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http://www.funatiq.com/images/crazy-math-tattoo.jpg [funatiq.com]
How could it be a mistake?
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Hotlink didnt work ... try this link instead:
http://www.funatiq.com/simply-funny/crazy-math-tattoo/ [funatiq.com]
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Insightful)
Asking Slashdot alone for ink advice means he/she is still not sure what to get. I have a bunch of friends with ink. Each of them thought the whole thing through and two have even gone as far as mocking up the art in Photoshop. If you are unsure of what to get you need to give it more thought, PERIOD.
He/she also better hope that they have a competent artist. It never hurts to search out reputable tattoo shops or ask people who you see with great ink work (they should be more than happy to tell you). I know people who have been victim of just going to any old shop and getting crap work done. And avoid the friend of a friend who does his/her work out of their home or apartment. Either they suck, are slow as hell or disappear before they even start to fill it in and have some or all of the money (I know one case of each). Find a reputable shop with a reputable artist. Sometimes you have to wait a long time (weeks/months/years) before you get in the chair. But if its going to stick with you for the rest of your life you better know the quality of the artist.
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Funny)
Also consider the possibility that this could get you in trouble in a math/physics exam. I thought I'd never go back to a classroom, but was pushed into a post-grad course - and was prohibited to use my old faithful HP49G on the financial/accounting exams "because it is alphanumeric and can be used for cheating"! I had to borrow a 30 year old 12c, but you won't be able to borrow a clean pair of arms.
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Insightful)
Think twice. Do you *really* think this will be so important to you forever?
A good test is to think about your favorite thing when you were one half your current age. If you had that tatooed on you today, would you be happy about it? Your future self may feel the same about your current fashion interests.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Bad test. I'm far more likely to like something when I'm 40 that I liked when I was 20 than I am to like something when I'm 20 that I liked when I was 10.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Irrelevant. If he is say, 26 (or anything in that ballpark, or greater), this is crazy. You are comparing the decision making abilities and foresight of a 13 year-old child to those of an adult. The poster has certainly been thinking this over and wants to get at tattoo. No one is advising him to get a dragon screwing a pentagram on his forehead and skulls and swear words on his hands. There's nothing wrong with a t
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Funny)
Hm... You know what, I think I'd be okay with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle tattoo. Thanks for the advice!
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Also what if you ever live in a culture with a dim view of tattoos. It could lead to you not being allowed in certain places or keep you from getting a job. The only thing I would ever consider getting a tattoo of is my name on my chest and my blood type and severe allergy in a couple of languages on my for arm.
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Interesting)
Sounds like you've never gotten a tattoo. Before you get one you build up all this inherent meaning and long-term significance to the tattoo. Afterwards, you realize that it's just a cool picture (or phrase, whatever) that you wanted. Even if times and tastes change it's a cool link to who you were back when you got it.
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Funny)
do you *really* think that the laws of physics will ever be less important?
Right, but which of those rules won't change. F=ma? Good approximation for large, slow things, but not actually true since we found out about the speed of light. What happens when we explain dark matter and dark energy? Physics is all subject to change, since it tries to approximate a set of rules that we aren't really sure about. Mathematics is constant because it writes its own rules.
The perfect tattoo: in a single 72-point font, the last digit of Pi.
Backup plan: your five top choices for laws of physics that we all know to be true today, but that we will know to be false before you die. Then you can cross them out as they are disproven.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
The perfect tattoo: in a single 72-point font, the last digit of Pi.
The last 2 digits are 42.
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Funny)
I just bought a bottle of wine from a cashier with a very large interesting tattoo running the entire length of his arm. It had Chinese lettering over an interesting background of the Sun, Moon, and other elements.
I asked him what it said and he looked very sad and replied 'It says don't get a tattoo when you're drunk'.
I didn't have the heart to press him for the real translation because he looked like it was too embarrassing.
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Insightful)
mark of sub-average intellect
You mean, like, it identifies him as the type of person to go around making dumb assumptions about people whose choices are different from his?
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Insightful)
We're supposed to be logical and have superior reasoning abilities, and there's absolutely nothing logical or reasonable about getting ink permanently injected into your skin.
Yes, because making snap, blanket statements about people's lifestyle choices is the epitome of logic and reason.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Insightful)
...but he's going to have a lot more work than the guy with short hair and a suit.
You've obviously never met a business major...
Re:Before you do it (Score:4, Insightful)
We're supposed to be logical and have superior reasoning abilities, and there's absolutely nothing logical or reasonable about getting ink permanently injected into your skin.
That's the most common FUD you hear about geeks and nerds. In reality, geeks characterize themselves with poor social skills, a simple single-mindedness that often misses the forest for the trees and an inability to treat viewpoints other than their own as valid.
Your post is symptomatic of that kind of thinking. There are logical reasons to get tattoos, your inability to realize is pathetic.
Re:Before you do it (Score:5, Funny)
Apparently you have never heard of a process called "tanning". Some of us still have grand-dad's WWI tattoos, nicely framed.
Euler's identity (Score:5, Insightful)
0=e^(i*pi)+1
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
That's why I love that particular expression: addition, multiplication, exponentiation, the additive identity, the multiplicative identity, equality, everybody's two favorite irrationals, and the imaginary unit, all in one beautiful package.
Euler's Identity, Entropy & Gaussian Distribut (Score:5, Interesting)
Don't ask for other people's opinions. (Score:5, Insightful)
If you don't know what you want then just wait until you do. One of the worst things you can do for a tattoo is ask what other people think you should get. You'll end up with something that they want and it may be cool now but years down the road it won't mean anything to you.
Tattoo's are suppose to be for life. If it's something that you foresee down the road that you'll not be interested in and go "why did I ever do that, ugh that's so yesterday" it wasn't a very good idea.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
the empty set (Score:4, Insightful)
The coolest math tattoo you could get would be nothing at all. Just hold up your arm and say "it's the empty set" and have them marvel at your coolness.
Seriously, tattoos are lame. Resist the urge. It's going to be an ugly green smear you will regrat.
Re:the empty set (Score:5, Insightful)
Tattoos aren't in and of themselves lame. People get all sort of lame tattoos, however. There's an awful lot of really beautiful stuff out there too.
You're largely thinking of low-quality ones done in pen ink by some guy in a back room. Those tend to be real crap jobs that over time look like shit.
Modern tattoos done by a qualified artist are an entirely different animal in terms of how they look, and how they hold up over time.
And, really, if the sum total you have to add is "tattoos are lame", why are you even bothering to comment? You obviously have nothing better to contribute to the topic.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, it's thousands of years old. At the moment, I would agree, it is a bit of a fad. But, again, in and of themselves, tattoos aren't the problem, it's bad choices on what to get, and where to get it. Admittedly, it's a lot more prevalent.
I actually understand what you're saying, I just don't understand the bile --
Re:No. Tattoos look like trash. (Score:5, Funny)
Umm, no? He realizes that while he likes his tattoos not everyone shares his opinions?
I think my cock is awesome but I don't show up for a job interview in crotchless chaps.
Re:No. Tattoos look like trash. (Score:4, Funny)
I think my cock is awesome but I don't show up for a job interview in crotchless chaps.
Best. Analogy. Ever.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:No. Tattoos look like trash. (Score:5, Funny)
That's why you show up for a date bathed and with your teeth brushed.
Ohhhh...
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Tattoos 50 years ago were about getting drunk while in the navy.
And don't forget: the reason why you did that back then was to prove what a Real Tough Man(TM) you were.
I'd love to see what those 70-year-old guys think now that half the teenage girls they see have more ink than they do. I knew a number of middle-aged guys thiry years ago who had got tattoos when they were twenty years younger, and they all felt kinda stupid about it then. By now they must feel unbelievably stupid, because they realize that what their younger selves considered a mark of manly toughness
Re:the empty set (Score:5, Insightful)
Quaternions and Euler Angles!!! (Score:4, Interesting)
You definitely want Quaternions and Euler Angles:
The story behind Quaternions justifies permanent ink if any math theorem ever did: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternion [wikipedia.org]
Fermat's last theorem... (Score:4, Interesting)
Cubum autem in duos cubos, aut quadratoquadratum in duos quadratoquadratos, et generaliter nullam in infinitum ultra quadratum potestatem in duos eiusdem nominis fas est dividere cuius rei demonstrationem mirabilem sane detexi. Hanc BRACCHIUMis exiguitas non caperet.
with one small change...
Beta mu pi... (Score:5, Funny)
In the greek alphabet:
beta mu pi integral of e^x
which gives you
ButtSex
Let me see. (Score:3, Insightful)
Tattoos hurt, they endanger your health, they are expensive, and most of all they are superficial. AKA they are for looks only.
Gee... At one time only drunk sailors thought this was a good idea and now you want to show how geeky you are with them?
Might I suggest Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica the full text of course.
Bazinga!
Re:Let me see. (Score:4, Interesting)
OK, yes, they hurt. That's true.
As far as endangering your health, it means you're going to the wrong damned shop. Any tattoo place that doesn't have an autoclave, and single-use needles should cause you to flee. I've never seen an artist not using latex gloves, not using sterile gear, and not using ink in little disposable cup that get tossed when they're done. Any modern shop is actually very clean, and if it isn't, don't go there.
As to being purely superficial, lots of people get tattoos that have a strong meaning to them (and, admittedly, lots don't). Some people get tattoos so that other people can see them and say "wow, he's got a tattoo, cool". Others get them entirely for themselves -- you can't see any of mine unless I want them to be seen. You're making absurd generalizations -- if 40% of Gen-Xers are sporting ink, there's almost no generalization you can accurately make about why people get them.
Somehow I knew a story about tattoos on Slashdot would trot out a bunch of people who know absolutely nothing on the topic. Now everybody gets to make categorical statements they can't support with anything but opinion.
Not everything outside of your experience is bad, or stupid. Just something you don't know about.
Re:Let me see. (Score:5, Insightful)
I think by "superficial", he means that they are purely decorative - even if of some sentimental value to the wearer.
And this is true, but I wouldn't tell someone not to wear their wedding ring just because it is superficial.
I'd be much more concerned about the expense of laser removal once the tattoo fad passes.
And if you don't think that this is a fashion fad, may I interest you in some vintage mid-90s facial piercings? You'll never need cosmetic earlobe repair surgery, because giant, comical rings embedded in your earlobes will be cool forever.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
>As to being purely superficial, lots of people get tattoos that have a strong meaning to them (and, admittedly, lots don't).
So? That breakup with that one girl has a pretty strong meaning, but it doesn't mean you should permanently remind yourself of it on your skin. There's no shortage of regrettable ink that starts with the phrase "This meant a lot to me."
Strong feelings or "deep meaning" don't necessarily justify anything.
>Somehow I knew a story about tattoos on Slashdot would trot out a bunch of
Re:Let me see. (Score:4, Informative)
Somehow I knew a story about anything on Slashdot would trot out a bunch of people who know absolutely nothing on the topic.
Fixed that for you. (Now, do I get modded Flamebait or Insightful...that's the real question.)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Somehow I knew a story about tattoos on Slashdot would trot out a bunch of people who know absolutely nothing on the topic.
Who's to say that some of the naysayers have done their research and actually know what they are talking about? I don't believe a therapist that specializes in suicide needs to have necessarily experienced suicide. So you are into tattoos...your expert opinion isn't necessarily better than one who doesn't have tattoos but have done the research. The experience of getting a tattoo do
Seriously? (Score:5, Insightful)
Think of how dignified those tattoos will look when you age and your whole body looks like Reagan's neck. Do you really want to explain to your grandkids why you thought a math equation or Mighty Mouse or a kanji character that means "desk" was something that held enough meaning that it required you to permanently scar your body with it?
This applies to everyone who resolves to get a tattoo before deciding what it is of, btw.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I've never regretted any of my tattoo work. Well, I sometimes think I should have made one bigger. As for explaining them? I'll simply tell the tykes that I like them. Beyond that I don't think I should have to fit your ideals on what's exceptable.
No, they do not make me tougher. I never expected that.
They do not make me stick out as an individual. I got them for mysel
I have a meaningful tattoo (Score:3, Interesting)
You don't think that some ideas or symbols are worth marking your body with?
I have a tattoo of the symbol for infinity on the center of my back. Any T-shirt covers it up so 95% of the people I meet haven't seen it and don't even know I have ink. I got the tattoo after thinking of the idea and considering it for 1 or 2 years. My Dad took me to the artist who did all of his tattoos right after my high school graduation ceremony, and paid for it as a graduation present.
I got the tattoo because the concept of i
Science Tattoo Emporium (Score:5, Informative)
With explanations too:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/category/science-tattoo-emporium/ [discovermagazine.com]
The fallout symbol (Score:3, Interesting)
I knew a guy who had the fallout symbol tattooed across his left shoulder blade,
maybe 4 inches across, in all its black and yellow glory.
I asked him why, but I don't recall his response.
He did allow that reading physics textbooks in coffee shops was a good way to pick up girls.
If you want to be different, don't (Score:4, Funny)
In other words if you get a tattoo, someday later you'll meet someone else who has the same one, or someone who knows someone who has it. Then you'll realize that your attempt at "individuality" was a failure. At which point hopefully you went to a clean enough shop that you didn't pick up hepatitis in the process.
Get a fractal (Score:5, Interesting)
Don't (Score:3, Interesting)
Forget the tattoo. Just stick with t-shirts from ThinkGeek or whatever like the rest of us do.
Someday when the anti-intellectual revolution comes and Sarah Palin is looking for some fresh necks for her guillotine (aka "Freedom Slicer"), your elitist tattoo will get you killed.
Am I joking? Sometimes I don't even know.
Don't do it! (Score:5, Funny)
in the 90s I got a tattoo of the solar system on my back and brontosaurus tattoo on my chest. now both are incorrect :(
Re:Don't do it! (Score:4, Interesting)
File under "selfish" (Score:3, Insightful)
Are just a few ways that you could use that money to make a difference in science that will help others. When you die your tattoo will eventually rot away with the rest of your body. But if you sponsored something that helped science or math progress, people would know of you for some time.
Be unique... (Score:5, Insightful)
The older I get, the older that the "hip" crowd gets, and it just looks plain pathetic to be 30+ and have all these tattoos... Just think how bad the population is going to look 20 years from now - you'll have all these 40 yr olds that have way too much "ink" and you'll have none. I can't wait to be one of the very very few people who can say "I didn't get a tattoo because I wanted to be unique" at my 20 yr high school reunion.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
alternative choice (Score:5, Funny)
Get tats of chicks with big boobs -- boobs can never, ever be proven wrong.
Black Hole entropy - (Hawking's tombstone) (Score:3, Interesting)
The Question! (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Quite simply, (Score:4, Interesting)
It is better to tattoo P=NP, because you still can modify it later, if the opposite gets proven (just strike trough the equality symbol).
Re:Quite simply, (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Quite simply, (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
some people, yeesh... (Score:3, Insightful)