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Hard to say just where this weapon hasn't reached. Created in communist Russia, the AK-47 has shown up in 92 countries, has been part of 90% of wars in the second half of the 20th century (sometimes on both sides) and has killed at least 7 million people. It won over American rifles in Vietname, replaced spears in warrior tribes in Africa, it became an icon in Mozambique's flag, a monument in Nicaragua and, today, is in the hands of Islamic terrorists and drug dealers. At the age of 60, the AK-47 tells the story of the 20th century.

In the 1940s, weapon designers realized that the machineguns used in the trenches during WWI were out-of-date. With the invention of armoured tanks and wide-range artillery, whoever stood still in the open field was under serious risk of being hit. Unlike the lingering conflicts in WWI, with these weapons the fights were fast, urban with moving troops looking for moving targets. This is how the first assault rifle, the Sturm Gewehr, was born - a light German weapon, with intense and instantaneous firing power.

When WWII was over, Russia's domination was extended to Germany and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin decided to create a similar automatic weapon, that could be used in every communist country. In order to decide which weapon would become Soviet Union's trademark, the government promoted, in 1947, a contest between designers. The winner was a former WWII soldier that had begun drawing the weapon five years earlier, while on a hospital bed.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

In 1941, Mikhail Kalashnikov was 22 and working with Soviet tanks' mechanisms in WWII. During the nazi invasion of Moscow, he was forced to ride one of the tanks himself to fight against Hitler's troops. The Germans bombed 90% of the city, including Kalashnikov's tank. His right shoulder was destroyed and he was sent into a hospital, where he stayed for nearly a year. With nothing better to do, he spent his time drawing weapons. "Once, a soldier in the bed next to me asked me: 'Why do we have one rifle for 2 or 3 soldiers, while each German has automatic weapons?' So I decided to design one for us.", he told British newspaper The Guardian, in 2003.

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Pics / Re: beautiful Indian eyes

« on: February 10, 2010, 08:12:03 PM »

GN n take care

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Beauty Fashion LifeStyle / Ultra Violet Tattooing

« on: February 10, 2010, 08:10:48 PM »

UV tattoos or blacklight tattoos are tattoos made with a special ink that is only visible under a blacklight. They are particularly popular in the raver subculture. The tattoos can be completely invisible in normal light, although scarring from the tattoo machine in the application process may remain, and therefore still show. A UV tattoo becomes visible under blacklight, when it glows in colors ranging from white to purple, depending on the ink chosen. Colored ink is also available, where the ink is visible in normal light (as with a regular tattoo) but the ink will glow vividly under UV light. However, some UV inks are not as bright under normal light as normal tattoo ink and are considered not as vibrant.

UV tattoo ink is not commonly known or used, as very few varieties of UV inks are approved for use. It is also many times more expensive than regular tattoo inks. Some people have had reactions to ingredients in the ink, ranging from minor itching to dermatitis. Several UV inks are suspected carcinogens and allergens and at this time, no research has been conducted into the possible side effects of long term exposure. Some UV inks are known to yellow or turn slightly brown with sun exposure.

UV inks are not as bright under normal light as normal tattoo inks, and do not blend during application, as normal inks do. Their effect will be dulled if regular ink is used on top of them. Therefore, for vibrant, high impact tattoos, normal ink should be used, allowed to heal, and then highlighted with UV inks. Only highly experienced tattooists should apply UV tattoos, and should have a blacklight within arm’s length of the tattoo chair. When applying white or clear UV ink, this blacklight should be turned on throughout the procedure. UV inking takes a little bit longer than normal, due to UV inks being a little thinner and harder to work with, and because the tattoo must be wiped and checked under a blacklight frequently during application.Also note that for non-colour based UV work, it is possible that outlines can become an issue. If the artist isn’t careful, any ink or other materials they use to outline their design can become part of the work. This is not normally an issue with standard tattoos as normal coloured ink covers this. However for fully hidden UV art, this can be a problem, as it will most likely not be even, or well distributed within the work, and reveal some of the art instead of being mostly hidden (scarring can always give away the art).

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