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Chinese symbol tattoos are rapidly growing in popularity all round the world. In fact, more than six thousand people search for the phrase “Chinese Tattoos” on the internet every single day.

But that’s not surprising as Chinese symbol tattoos are extremely beautiful and mysterious. Thanks to the movies and popular culture, most people in the west can recognise these Chinese symbols but can’t understand them. So that makes these tattoos a rather exotic form of self expression.

But beyond that, there are other more gender specific reasons for the popularity of these tattoo designs.

Women are attracted to the numerous subtle meanings and over-arching themes that the Chinese symbols can express, such as hope, freedom and love. Men, on the other hand, are drawn to Chinese symbol tattoos because in western culture they’re strongly associated with martial arts movies.

So if you’re considering getting a Chinese tattoo, here’s a quick beginners guide to Chinese symbols.

The system of Chinese writing began more than 4000 years ago and doesn’t have an alphabet. This is perhaps the biggest difference for non Chinese people to understand.

Instead, Chinese writing relies upon a large number of symbols that represent spoken ideas or concepts. Each symbol represents a different spoken word.

In 1710 AD the Kangxi Dictionary was created by imperial decree and contained more than 47,000 symbols. However, since then that number has risen to more than 70,000 symbols to represent the growing number of nuances and meanings in the modern language.

But having said that, the average Chinese person only needs to know around 5,000 of these Chinese symbols to be able to read and understand anything that’s written in Chinese.

Can anything be written in Chinese symbols?

Thanks to the sheer number of symbols available, anything can be translated into Chinese. Even the most subtle meanings and nuances can be achieved using a combination of symbols.

What is Kanji?

Kanji is the term used to describe Chinese symbols that have been adapted to mean Japanese words. The meaning of the symbols in Chinese and Japanese can be the same but they may be pronounced differently. Alternatively, they may express completely different ideas.

Can I get my name, or someone else’s name, translated into Chinese Symbols?

Yes, of course. But it’s worth bearing a couple of things in mind. First, Chinese names are written in reverse order, which means that your last name appears before your first name. Second, if your name is foreign to the Chinese language, symbols will have to be selected that represent your spoken name.

As you can see, the whole issue of Chinese writing is extremely complex, so the first major rule when you’re getting a Chinese symbol tattoo is to…

Make Sure That Your Chosen Words Are Correctly Translated

Before you allow anyone to put a tattoo needle anywhere near your skin, make sure that you have discussed your chosen design with someone who can understand Chinese writing. And make sure that they are used to advising people about the meaning of Chinese symbols for use in tattoos.

Whatever happens, resist the temptation to ask the first Chinese person that you know to check the meaning of your intended design. They may not know the exact meaning that you want and provide you with the wrong symbol.

For example, one women asked a waiter at her local Chinese restaurant to draw the Chinese symbol for free on a napkin. Unfortunately, this English word can be translated into Chinese in one of two ways. She wanted “Freedom” he gave her the symbol for “Free of charge”.

So consult a Chinese speaking tattoo specialist and you’ll avoid the permanent embarrassment of a Chinese tattoo that doesn’t mean what you thought it did.

The second rule of getting a successful Chinese symbol tattoo is to…

Get A Custom Design

To create a high quality tattoo, your artist will need a quality design to work from. So it’s important to spend some money on getting a custom design professionally made to your order. This will provide you with a crisp, clear Chinese tattoo that means what you think it does.

Okay, you could search the internet and find a free translation service, but in most cases the end result will be a small and poorly defined image which is unsuitable for creating a quality tattoo. If you find a tattoo artist who is prepared to use such a poor design you’ll end up with a blurred mess which may have lost its meaning.

Chinese symbol tattoos represent a highly individual and beautiful way to express your personality. If you follow these basic guidelines you will be rewarded with a unique piece of body art which will last you for the rest of your life.

Chinese tattoos that include authentic characters and symbols can form the basis of beautiful designs which carry a deep and personal meaning.

But due to the complex nature of Chinese writing it’s extremely easy to end up with a permanent embarrassment trapped under your skin unless you take a few basic precautions. So to help you avoid these Chinese tattoo disasters, here are the top five mistakes to look out for;

1) Mistranslation

Chinese writing is very complex and carries many subtle meanings. It’s extremely easy to end up with something unexpected written all over your skin. Here are two classic example of these “misunderstandings” that I’ve heard about recently;

a) A woman wanted a Chinese writing tattoo, but she knew about the dangers of mistranslation. So she went in to a local Chinese restaurant and asked one of the waiters to write out the Chinese characters for the word “free”. He duly obliged and she took the design to a tattoo artist who provided her with the tattoo of her dreams.

Unfortunately, he didn’t understand what the design meant and the word “free” has two meanings in English. It can mean freedom, which was the meaning that the lady wanted, or it can mean free of charge.

And you can guess which version the waiter translated into Chinese symbols!

So she ended up with the words “free of charge” tattooed on her skin. And when she discovered the mistake it cost her almost $1,000 to get the tattoo removed.

An expensive misunderstanding!

b) A women with a Chinese tattoo was under the impression that the symbols said “love birds”. Wrong! Due to a mistranslation it meant one of three things, that she loves birds, that she is a bird lover, or that she loves the male reproductive organ.

A slightly extreme example, but it shows you the mistakes that can happen and the amount of embarrassment that they can cause.

2) Poor Quality Designs

Chinese writing is extremely complicated so the design of your tattoo has to be precise otherwise the meaning will be lost. One slight alteration or a missed stroke can completely change the meaning of the design.

Unfortunately, due to a combination of poor quality tattoo designs and western artists who try to add their own style to the Chinese characters, thousands of people end up with Chinese tattoos that are incorrect and meaningless.

3) Not Knowing What They Mean

I know this might sound unbelievable, but you’d be amazed at the number of people walking around who don’t know the meaning of their Chinese tattoo.

But tattooing is a form of self expression, and if you don’t know what your design means it becomes rather pointless. So if you plan to get a Chinese character tattoo, make sure that you know what it means before the treatment begins.

4) Misalignment

Chinese characters become meaningless if they are applied upside down or back to front. But this mistake is often made by tattoo artists who don’t understand the symbols that they are using. Once they lose track of which way round the designs should be used, it’s just luck whether your design is applied correctly.

End result? Another meaningless embarrassment.

5) Standard Tattoo Parlour Designs

Most tattoo studios offer hundreds of Chinese symbol designs to choose from. The different options fill binders and walls in tattoo parlours all over the world. Unfortunately, many of these designs have been wrongly translated or have missing strokes which renders them meaningless. And even if the design that you choose is correct, there will be thousands of people around the world with the same design.

If you want a Chinese writing tattoo that enhances your individuality it’s important to avoid these standard designs and get a native Chinese speaker to create a custom design which will express your own personal values.

At one time chinese tattoos were strongly associated with criminals and the mafia. But these days all that has changed thanks to a new wave of celebrities and tattoo artists who have recognised the attraction of these intriguing tattoo designs. Every day thousands of people are looking for information about chinese tattoos, as the Chinese culture continues to spread around the modern world.

Part of the popularity of tattoo designs based on Chinese writing is due to the fact that most people in the West won’t understand what it means. Chinese tattoos, more than any other type of tattoo design, are a great way to get speaking to people. Not only will people ask what the characters say, but you’ll also be able to tell them why you choose to display such a message.

Most Chinese tattoos represent ideas, values or beliefs, such as happiness, love, peace etc, which are easily understood all round the world. However, if you decide to get tattooed with Chinese characters, here’s a serious warning; (i) make sure your consult someone who speaks Chinese as their first language about your chosen design, and (ii) make sure you trust them.

There are so many subtle meanings and nuances in the Chinese language that one slight alteration to the design or mistake in translation can leave your body displaying a message that’s vastly different from what was intended.

For example, you might think that your design says one thing when it really means something entirely different and pehaps extremely insulting. It’s not been unknown for an artist’s mistake or a practical joke to cause years of humiliation. Let’s face it, would you like to walk around with a tattoo that’s insulting to a quarter of the world’s population?

Alternatively but less dramatically, the meaning of certain Chinese symbols can change quickly, causing your tattoo to become irrelevant and out of date within a short space of time. So please consult someone who speaks Chinese about your chosen design before you get started. Find out what the characters mean and what they symbolize.

In my opinion, the most impressive Chinese tattoo designs include both writing and an image. Men generally opt for a Chinese dragon, while women look great wearing a phoenix tattoo. Both of these mythical creatures are worshipped in China as they represent power and luck.

Alternatively, you may decide that you only want a Chinese calligraphy design. However, it’s important to bear in mind that these written characters can look rather bland and uninspiring unless the artist is extremely talented. So if you want your tattoo to consist entirely of Chinese writing make sure that you find an artist who has experience in writing Chinese calligraphy.

But whatever you choose, make it your aim to create a design of lasting importance to you, instead of just hopping on the latest fashionable bandwagon.

Chinese tattoos are a beautiful and mysterious form of self expression, especially if they include the Chinese writing symbols. So if you’re planning to get one of these tattoos, here’s how to get the perfect design.

Number 1: Get Your Chinese Character Tattoo Right The First Time

Chinese symbol tattoos are one of the designs that are most likely to go wrong. Mistranslations, poor designs and bad alignment can all render your new design meaningless.

Sure, you can get them removed, but at present it’s a painful and costly process that isn’t guaranteed to be 100% successful.

So take your time, get professional advice and make sure you get a good quality, authentic design that you’re happy with before you go under the needle. Don’t end up looking like the victim of a cruel practical joke.

Number 2: Don’t Use Kanji Designs From Tattoo Studios

Many tattoo studios provide a variety of pre designed Kanji symbols that you can have tattooed onto your body. These are cheap and quick, but suffer from a number of major disadvantages.

First, many of them have been poorly translated, so you may end up with a design that means something different to what you expected. Second, many of these standard designs have been drawn incorrectly, which destroys their meaning.

So instead of going into your local tattoo studio and picking a design off the wall or from a folder, do your own research. Decide the words that you want to appear in your Chinese tattoo, get them professionally translated and then get a custom design created to your order.

Number 3: Get Advice From A Chinese Person

This is absolutely vital. Chinese writing is extremely complex and can often be used to give one word in several different meanings. So make sure you speak to a Chinese person who can verify that you have the right symbols to match your intended meaning. If possible, make sure that they have experience of Chinese symbol tattoos.

Number 4: Select Your Words Carefully

When you get a new tattoo, it’s important to assume that it will be with you for the rest of your life. So before you decide to get a Chinese symbol tattoo think long term and try to select wide over-arching ideas that express who you are and what you stand for.

For example, timeless ideas such as freedom, love and hope are always good choices.

And whatever you do, avoid fashionable words as they have a nasty habit of falling out of fashion within a short space of time. The aim is to select a design that you’ll be as happy with in twenty years time as you are today.

Number 5: Select Your Artist Carefully

A tattoo that solely consists of Chinese characters can look rather plain unless the writing is completed with a certain amount of style and flair.

Even worse, it’s easy for non Chinese artists to unintentionally deface the delicate Chinese symbols. Chinese calligraphy is very precise. The strokes have to be a certain shape and be aligned properly, otherwise the meaning of the design can be lost.

So it’s vital to select a tattoo artist who is experienced in producing Chinese calligraphy.

Finally, if you want your Chinese tattoo to have even more impact, consider adding a small picture to your Chinese symbols.

The Chinese dragon is popular with men, while the Chinese phoenix is a favorite with many women. Both of these mythical creatures represent power and luck and will make a wonderful addition to your perfect Chinese tattoo.

One of the first things families consider when they start planning their holiday is the budget. While everyone wants to do it all and have a great time, unfortunately there are only so many dollars that can go into the trip. The key to getting everything you want for your trip is making those dollars go further. A cheap holiday can often be accomplished by doing a little research from the comfort of your own home.

Thanks to the internet, we can now compare airfare, car rentals, hotel rates and even attraction ticket prices online in just a few clicks on the home computer. This also has made the companies offering travel get into competition to have the lowest price, and with a little research you’ll find a lot of bargain savings.

When you first look for a website to browse for your vacation reservation, make sure to go to a reputable site. Not everyone who sends you an e-mail and has a webpage really is a business with good practices. The better-known reputable sites are ones such as http://Expedia.com, http://Traveocity.com, and http://Orbitz.com. These have all been in business for some time and have a proven track record.

You will want to go site to site and compare the price for the travel reservations you are looking to purchase. You can choose if you just need one service, such as airline tickets or hotel rooms, or if you need a combination of these items. If you are going to need more than one service, you may want to bundle them together in your search. Often there will be additional savings for booking multiple items.

When you are purchasing airfare, be careful before you buy. There are a few things to make sure you know before you hand out your credit card number. First, check for any restrictions on the ticket. Some are non-refundable, and while they are more affordable, if you are worried about possible changes in your schedule, it may be better to pay for a more expensive ticket. Also, the first price you may see on a ticket may seem too low to be true. Make sure it has all the appropriate taxes and fees included before you get too excited. If they have not been added in, they may lump an additional $50 – $100 on the price, per ticket.

Once you have made your selection, make sure to print out all the documentation that shows your purchase has been made. This may be useful down the road if there are any problems with your purchase.

If you are not a fan of online shopping and you are worried about all of your reservations being put into the system correctly, once you have booked, double check. A few days after your purchase pull out the papers you printed as a record of your order. They should have confirmation numbers. You can call the hotel or car rental location, give them that confirmation number and make sure they have everything correct.

Booking your vacation reservations can be made much easier by booking them online. From your airline flights to hotel to restaurant reservations, you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. This can save you time and energy in planning your trip and you can look for bargains.

Research is essential before planning your vacation. If you plan and research, then you can look for cheap holidays and bargains to help you save money. By comparing prices, you can find the best price for your budget and you can save money. By checking prices online, you will be able to save yourself energy and effort and you can make reservations with just a click of your mouse.

When choosing a travel website, make sure that you read all of the terms and conditions to make sure that you understand everything. Before purchasing, add in all the costs for the ticket, including tax, shipping, handling, etc., because sometimes the bargain may not really be that much less expensive than purchasing directly from the company.

Discounted rates for cheap holidays may also be found by booking early. Airlines and hotels are prone to offer bargains if you purchase in advance of the planned travel date. That is why you want to do your research before you take your trip. Early reservations are a great way to find that deal to help make your vacation budget stretch further.

Make sure that you check the integrity of the website to help protect your money and investment. A well-known website is better than one that you have never heard of. You should choose a website like http://Expedia.com to make airline, hotel, and car rental reservations. Ask your friends and family about websites that they have used to help you find one that you can trust and be sure of. This can help make sure that you will be satisfied with your purchase.

An essential thing that you need to do when making online vacation reservations is to print everything out. This means that any receipt or email that you get describing your purchase should be printed out to make sure that there are no problems. Taking them with you on vacation can help you to protect yourself.

After you place your online order, you need to be sure that you get an email confirmation. All websites send a confirmation by email after you purchase something. If you do not get that email, then you need to check with the website to make sure that the order was placed correctly.

If you are nervous about booking your vacation online, then you can always call the website directly and make sure that your reservations are all ready to go. By giving the customer service person the confirmation number and other information, they should be able to give you all of the details and confirm your trip. Online reservations can save you both time and money.

There is really no such thing as a good cheerleading routine that does not have a great music mix. In order to really wow all of the judges and blow away the competition, you need to have a terrific mix that is going to keep the cheerleaders motivated and the crowd cheering in a frenzy of delight. Today, there have been quite a few companies to come out with incredible music and mixes that are just right for almost any kind of cheer squad to use at their games, events and possible competitions that they may be entered into.

The majority of cheerleading squads are on the lookout for awesome mixes that are going to be unique and leave quite an impression on all of the judges at a competition. The last thing that you are going to want to do is use a pre-made music mix when you are entering a regional or national competition. When you do this, you are obviously running a great risk of having the same music as another school. Also, most judges can end up spotting such a track right off because they are constantly judges these competitions. Really, the ideal mix will come from a reputable company that specializes in unique mixes to fit the need of various cheerleaders and their coaches.

Some cheerleaders will also try and make a homemade mix to bring out to events and competitions. This can be a good idea, only if you happen to have quite a bit of experience when putting together sharp music mixes. When you do so, it is really important that you make sure that you have a decent song selection so that they blend together nicely to create a smooth transition between songs and sound effects.

If you have ever had the chance to check out one of the exciting cheerleading competitions either on your cable sports channel or in person, then you have been lucky enough to catch some of the hottest mixes that squads like to use today. With the right mix, you will have a group of cheerleaders who are excited and enthusiastic about showing the crowd the routine that they worked so hard on for months and months. When you have a group of cheerleaders that you are working with or coaching, it may be necessary to show them the importance of a music mix that will get them the attention that they are looking for from the crowd and judges.

The elusive stand-up comic with worldwide exposure known as Dave Chappelle recently produced a film that is part music-video, part documentary. Using his fame to give back to the community, Chappelle commissioned several buses to load up people from his semi-rural community and take them to New York City for the block party of a lifetime. Chappelle provides food, hotel stays, and transportation for the invitees, and the look on their faces as he invites them really can put a smile on your face. No tickets were on-sale for the concert; Chappelle kept it largely underground, only informing a few of the local neighborhoods about the performance.

Headlining artists at the super-secretive show included such hip-hop heavyweights as Kanye West, the Fugees, the Roots, and several other notable artists. The concert was provided free of charge by Chappelle to help give back to the people that supported him throughout his career, as well as providing a means for racial cohesion through the cross-section of races and ages of the people whom he invited.

The movie follows Chappelle as he gets the show together, handing out golden tickets to the show like a modern-day Willy Wonka. Part of the humor provided by the film is the expressions on the faces of some of the older white women who agree to make the trip to New York to experience something new. And that is exactly what Chappelle was hoping for; exposure of his favorite music to those who would not normally give it a second’s listen. The film provides a message of unity and hope, giving a very positive outlook on racial relations. Chappelle is his usual goofy self, providing one-liners and humorous allusions that keeps the audience in stitches between acts.

Those who love Chappelle’s sense of humor but are not fans of the hip-hop genre may not get what they were expecting in this film; while Chappelle puts laughs in throughout the film, the focus is clearly on the music. The artists themselves put their best foot forward, showcasing various talents in the genre with their finest works. All in all, the film is well-suited for those already familiar with the artists that are involved or those who have an open mind towards new musical tastes. It provides an introspective look at the cultures and communities that separate us, and how our differences can help us to bind together.

The card game of poker, often associated with Old West saloons and gunslingers, has recently seen an explosive upsurge in popularity in the United States. The televised big-money tournament World Series of Poker and World Poker Open games have created poker celebrities and millions of poker fans. Naturally, the next step in the evolution of a sport is charity games. Though the idea is a new one, some organizations are embracing the idea of charity poker tournaments as a new and exciting way to raise money for good causes.

There are many venues jumping on to the charity poker bandwagon, and the events are attracting fans, celebrities, and millions in funds for non-profit organizations. In October of 2005, Pulver Enterprises hosted the “Best Bet for the Cure: Charity Poker No-Limit Texas Hold’Em Tournament” at their Voice on Net conference in Boston. The tournament raised thousands for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, and attracted celebrity participants such as John Ratzenberger and poker star Phil Hellmuth. Since Boston does not allow gambling, the fund-raising took place in the form of a raffle. Ofer Gneezy, President and CEO of iBasis won the top raffle prize – a $10,000 buy-in seat to the World Series of Poker Tournament. Winners of the poker games received the coveted bronze Pulver cup.

Another recent charity poker tournament was held in Las Vegas. The Cory Lidle Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament boasted 103 entrants, several of them celebrities, and raised over $20,000 that was donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the tsunami relief effort. Celebrity participants included baseball players Cory Lidle, Adam Dunn, Mike Lieberthal, Ron McKinnon, and Eric Chavez, actor William August, MLB free agents Tom Wilson and Scott Erickson, and rising poker star Thomas Keller. The winner of the event, Kelly Flynn, took home $30,000.

In addition to live charity poker tournaments, many Internet casinos hold charity poker tournaments with the proceeds being donated to various causes. If you love to play poker and like to make a difference in the world through charity, you might consider signing on to play in a charity poker tournament. You will get to interact with other players, do something good, and who knows – maybe you’ll meet a poker celebrity or two! Visit your favorite Internet casino or type in “charity poker tournament” in a search engine to find one starting up near you today.

The jewelry we wear defines us, our personality and creates the kind of character we want to project whether it is at work, for formal wear or casual; therefore, most of us put a lot of thought when purchasing any piece of jewelry especially if you are planning on wearing it often. When in doubt what to choose to fit your personality or when looking for an important piece of jewelry that you know you will wear everyday for the rest of your life such as an engagement ring, you need to go with what is classic and eternal.

Chanel jewelry has always created its products in mind with tomorrow, whether it is cosmetics, clothes or jewelry and that is the only reason why it is one of the most famous designers in the world.

The Chanel History

The first Chanel store was opened in 1910 and was offering only ladies wear, however, their dedication and talent soon received its much deserved success and by 1926 it become world famous by creating ‘the little black dress’. Chanel jewelry was not created until mid 1900s along with watches. For over 50 years Chanel jewelry has offered its clients only the most unique, elegant and classic pieces that you can ever imagine; simple, eternal and sophisticated no matter what you wore with it or for which occasion.

Shopping For Channel Jewelry

Because Chanel jewelry is world famous and extremely on demand in every single part of the world shopping for it should only be done at authorized dealers or their own stores as unfortunately there are many Chanel jewelry fakes on the market today. However, the easy way to tell the real Chanel jewelry from the fake is to look for the companies logo, which is are two ‘C’s’ back to back crossing each other. Also, it is very important you obtain a written certificate of authenticity on purchase, which will carry all the details of the jewelry purchased, its value and the stamp of the House of Chanel.

Investing in Chanel jewelry is always wise because they use only the highest quality gemstones and precious materials, which almost never loose their value but along the years as the item will stop from being manufactured anymore, can double or even triple in price. Log on Chanel’s official website and enjoy their new jewelry collection called ‘Dual’ made in order to reflect only two colors: black and white.