To add to the rubish collection:
I hate people who claim traditions which they do nothing about to justify their tattoos. Why invent fake traditions instead of just admitting your own taste or the weakness of following a trend?
I was working at the world exhibition in Hannover in 2000 and in the African hall I heard visitors talking to the Africans about the relevance of their tattoos and brandings as a tribute to "primitive" cultures like those found in Africa...
Thankfully the response was not anger but amusent - and by the way you did not find any tattooed African! LOL!
Happy birthday 2maro...the 16th (And unfortunately there's no stopping the less than superior quality tattooists. Thank God for those superior quality ones. There are sooooooooo many AMAZING mind blowing tattooists out there. I add them to our myspace every time I stumble upon them!! LOVE IT LOVE IT GOTTA LOVE IT!!)
Well continue having fun, see you around