tattoo removal

The weak economy is affecting most businesses, but not tattoo parlors. Even in bad times, people will splurge on body art. And for those who later elect to have them removed, it's often a tattoo business that lasers away the ink. DailyFinance's Loren Berlin visited Tattoo Lou's to check out the state of this colorful industry.

Like them or loathe them, tattoos are going mainstream as a growing number of Americans now sport body art. And despite the recession, the tattoo industry has been doing well. Even its flip side -- tattoo removal -- can be lucrative.

I once saw a man at his sentencing hearing sporting a spider's web tattoo covering his chin and jaw. Given how many employers now require employees to cover any tattoos they might have, this fellow's prospects are probably limited to telemarketing. He'll have to make a lot of license plates to pay...

Tuesday is shaping up to be the biggest election in my lifetime and no matter who you plan to vote for there are plenty of freebies being handed out. National companies like Starbucks and Ben & Jerry's handing out free coffee and ice cream on Tuesday, but only one business is giving away a...