anarchy-ears

[anarchy-ears]

I have to ask. That star on your chest.. What exactly is it? It looks awesome. It puzzles me though how it got there!

Thanks! :-) It is medical-grade silicone - about as firm as my ear cartilage - and was hand-carved by my mod artist. It's about 2.5" square and 1/2" thick, and was done in Dec. 2012. If you look close you can see a small scar between my top-most tattoo star and the implant. Because the implant is cut out inside he was able to squeeze it through a smaller incision. I'll probably remove it at some point (not any time soon I hope) and tattoo a few more stars to cover the damage.

[anarchy-ears]

I got my cheeks pierced yesterday! :-D

You like?

[anarchy-ears]

Hi! I was reading through your blog and noticed you said there was an ear-pointer in NH! I was wondering who it was! I'm not too big into big cities like NYC so staying in-state would be so fucking awesome :)

Why hello there :-) Ryan Ouellette is well-reputed body mod artist in Nashua, NH: ryanpba.tumblr.com

[anarchy-ears]

Happy New Year! The parties were great last night =)

[anarchy-ears]

[anarchy-ears]

Body modification & job hunting

Well, it's been a while since I last updated this thing. It's been a very fun year, though fairly unremarkable otherwise. I spent lots of time bodyboarding and chilling at the beach (ohhhh I can't wait until summer 2015!!), attended a bunch of raves, got off my ass and started cycling again, and rocked a green mohawk for many months.

I'll update on my mods in future posts, but, being in the job market, I'd like to discuss body modification in the workforce generally, from my perspective. I'm a computer engineer currently working for a research institution in New York City. I get a helluva lot of freedom to say and do what I want (as long as the job gets done), and I meet with clients face-to-face every couple weeks on average. These clients are usually middle-managers, lawyers, academics, clerks and other IT folks who work in education and government. As I said, I rocked a green mohawk for several months. Much to my surprise, one client, an old lawyer who looks like Bill Cosby and never smiles... LOVED my hair! Most of my other clients complimented me on it, as did a bunch of people in my office who I had never met. Like I said, I get away with a lot... but it is heartening to know that people appreciate it at the same time. Granted, that wouldn't fly at all if I were working as a consultant for any large corporation in this town; although the kind of company I want to work for will be okay with a green mohawk, I need to get that job first!

I've been (half-heartedly) in the market for a new job for quite a while now... I had a job offer after my third interview, back in January 2013 (I turned it down because they wanted personal passwords - fuck you!). Then, I got braces in March 2013. I've interviewed with well over 20 companies since then, and time after time I hear "we're looking for someone with more experience" even though my resume matches exactly what they need and they're fully engaged and happy and smiling in the interview and it couldn't possibly go any better. Sometimes the interviewer will stare at me for a minute, especially if there is more than one... I try to maintain eye contact with the speaker and ignore the other people. I can only assume that they're looking at my ears. I don't know how noticable my split tongue is, but I doubt it goes unseen.

I am convinced that my body modifications have no impact on my job interviews. Why? Because I keep getting called back for second, third, even fourth round interviews. Period.

And that's the frustrating part! Although I didn't observe it at first, I am increasingly convinced that it is my braces that are causing me not to get these jobs, because they see me as being young. I've got grey fucking hair!!! I was absolutely incredulous the other week, when I aced the company's technical exam (fastest time by far!) and knocked the interview out of the ballpark... and then a few hours later received an email saying that they went with someone with more experience.

MORE EXPERIENCE? I know I face some stiff competition in this town - it's New York. But who the fuck are these companies hiring, Zuckerbergs and Dijkstras? I've been doing this shit for over 10 years and you don't want to hire me for a job you advertise as 2+ years experience??!!

If I get turned down at a fourth-round interview, it isn't because of my body mods. And in most cases, I don't think it has anything to do with a lack of experience. Nope. Braces. It's a double-edged sword... I'm at that age when I'm starting to appreciate my youthful looks (if you got it, work it, right?) so if I look 23, hey, I'll take it. But not hiring me because I don't look old enough?

I don't need your stinking fucking job anyways.

[anarchy-ears]

I haven't seen any updated blogs?

I’ve been meaning to update for months, but I’m a lazy bastard like that (I’m on facebook all day) I guess the only updates are that, I’m almost done coloring my wing, had my navel repierced last month, rocked a green mohawk for most of the year, lost my $130 light gloves at a rave two weeks ago, and I'm still looking for a new damn job.I suppose I’ll put together a few posts, especially one about the job situation (imo, my mods make no difference, but it’s not as simple as that)… check back over the coming week for updates.

[anarchy-ears]

Wert! Oh ‘Cuse, how I don’t miss thee. After four years at Syracuse University, I can attest to how much the weather sucks :p But you absolutely MUST smoke a blunt in the graveyard next to the campus, it’s so tranquil… The best body mod “artists”/practitioners travel around the world from time to time, and Scarab Body Arts in downtown Syracuse often plays host. Check out their website http://www.scarabbodyarts.com/ and maybe get in contact to find out more (I’ve never actually been there myself (I didn’t get any piercings or mods until moving to NYC after graduation ^_^ ))

Anyone know of any shops that do awesome ear pointing in the syracuse/surrounding states?

[anarchy-ears]

yay! i am so happy to find your blog. i have wanted to find info about mods that you have but the internet is so all over the place with info! i have always wanted my ears pointed and my tongue split. how much did the pointing cost? im sure you answered somewhere but im on my phone and everything is taking forever to load. i saw that someone does them in new hampshire? i have friends there, do you know what shop?

Hiya :-) Ears were $400 the first time; my guy is awesome so I always give a nice tip. I had my ears repointed twice, and all-told I’ve spent about $900 to get them how they are. The tongue was $300, plus a nice tip :-)

I figure I have about $2000 invested in body mods and $5000 in tattoos, and they are absolutely worth every penny

I have heard good things about Ryan Ouellette, of Precision Body Arts in Nashua, NH...

[anarchy-ears]

do you consider your braces as a body mod? they are really cute btw!

Thanks :-) By definition, orthodontic braces modify the position of the teeth and bone structure of the jaw, so it absolutely is body modification. Most people get braces (and health insurance doesn't cover them) because theyre considered aesthetic. In my case, my teeth were so screwed up that they were chipping and breaking each other and biting into the top of my mouth, so it is more of a 'necessity'. That said, when I think of 'body modification' I'm thinking of something surgical that involves a scalpel and/or stitches, not tattoos or piercings.

[anarchy-ears]

Hello. I was just wondering if you could tell me the name of the shop/artist that did your ears. Thank you. ^^

Brian Decker @ Pure Body Arts in Brooklyn, New York City

[anarchy-ears]

Spent last Sunday volunteering at the Folsom Street East street fair here in New York City. It's basically the same shit year after year - same vendors, same volunteers, same perennial attendees... I volunteer because it takes about 20 minutes to see the whole thing, but the people - oh the PEOPLE! They make the whole thing worthwhile =) By volunteering, at least I have a reason to be there, instead of just being a wall-flower. Plus, I've had the opportunity to meet tons of cool/smart/well-heeled people, so Folsom is really one of the few times a year that we can all socialize. Because of the internet, the fetish and BDSM world has moved "underground"... you don't need to hang out at a bar to find a hookup, and so far fewer people are brave enough to venture out in gear (or even just show up!). I had received my fabulous new tights last Friday and was thrilled to be able to wear them out on the town all weekend. The Pride Parade is on Sunday down Fifth Avenue, and I just spent $90 today on Mardi Gras beads to throw while I'm marching in it. It's soooooooooooooooo much fucking fun!!! 100x more fun than watching from the sidelines!! Lots of organizations openly invite people to march with them, so me and some friends are going to march with the "The Center", the main LGBT community center in town. And I'm dying to wear those tights out again =D As for the mohawk idea... yeah, I did a buzz-cut instead :-\ Had a job interview 2 hours ago... went well, but pretty clear to me that I'm not the most skilled candidate for the position, so I don't expect to do another interview. Pity, because I interviewed with the CTO (chief tech. officer) who was wearing a t-shirt and shorts back from a client visit - the perfect office culture that I'm looking for. Oh well, let's hope I have at least one more next week, to justify the buzz cut instead of the mohawk. And as for the photo itself, I look like I'm squeezing a huge shit out. I'm about as photogenic as a meth addict.

[anarchy-ears]

I miss my teal mohawk! I'm due for a haircut this week and need to decide between a bland buzz-cut or a bodacious mohawk =p I'd love to have it in time for the NYC pride parade this weekend. Problem is, I'm doing 2 or 3 in-person interviews each week for mid-level computer engineer positions, and if I do get a mohawk it'll be for at least a month.

I'm unfortunately leaning towards the buzz-cut, because even though the kind of company that I want to work for will be 100% okay with it, I need to get the job first. On the ~other~ hand, now is the time to do it.

What do you suggest?

[anarchy-ears]

Definitely with her on the earbuds! They're terrible... The wraparounds are better but still cheap. Get them big aviator head phones and listen hi-fi style :-)

Pretty much the most annoying part of the Swiss Cheese Ear life; finding headphones that fit, deliver quality sound & don’t fall out. Enter, Sennheiser x Adidas OCX 685i Sports headphones. The only pair of inner ear earbuds which I can wear walking down the street & at the gym; they wrap around the ear to prevent falling out and the angled bud ensures my tragus punches can’t push them out. Not the most glamorous look (especially with my messy fringe and overgrown undercut), but anything that withstands 4mm & 11mm ear punches is okay with me! 🎧🎶🎶

[anarchy-ears]

Are you into guys or girls?

I don't judge a person on their genitals :-)

[anarchy-ears]

Well, I'm an actress and I'm 100% sure I want my ears pointed. But, I'm kind of afraid that having pointed ears will hinder me from getting any callbacks... It's always been a dream of mine to have pointed ears and it's also been a dream of mine to be an actress... but I don't want to have to give up one or the other. Do you have any advice?

You would get callbacks, but we do have to be realistic here... your success as an actor is defined by what others think of you. You probably won't ever be cast in a "normal" role on a mainstream film - pointy ears may distract from the main plot or characteristics and convey an 'otherness' that the director doesn't want - fair enough. Having long hair would be helpful though. I think you would be a lot more likely to get roles in theater, independent films, and TV. First and foremost though, it comes down to how you portray yourself. Make yourself a brand, organized and professional. Be realistic about having a facial body modification in an industry obsessed with looks. But realize that if you work hard enough and/or can persuade the right people, you can still take on some awesome jobs :-)

[anarchy-ears]

I'm thinking about getting my ears pointed, but I'm kind of nervous about the pain... How much does it hurt? And also, how did you keep your ears from getting infected? (Regardless of the pain, I'm still pretty sure that I'm gonna go through with it, I just want to be prepared for it).

Cool! :-D It hurts about as much as having no hat on a windy winter day, for 3 or 4 days - uncomfortable but very bearable - ibpruofen seems to be a lot better for the pain of body modification than vicodin or percocet, for me at least (perc + 2 beers works nicely tho). I was expecting it to hurt more than it did. As for infection, all I did was leave it alone and not touch them more than to tape them for the first 2-3 weeks. A little neosporin for the first 3-4 days seems to lessen the scarring