Last month, we took a look at Ötzi, the Iceman up in Bolzano, Italy—his mummified remains offering, among myriad other insights, one of the earliest instances of tattooing.

With that in mind, we leave you this week with the following moment of international YouTube Zen: fresh ink bestowed—old-school style—onto the back of a Cleveland police officer, on the occasion of his visiting Bangkok. (Click to view video):

The cop, Sergeant Robert Bartos, tells me in an email that Piya Dhammu Piku, aka "Uncle Monk," has earned the respect of local policemen, who come to him for his skills as a tattoo artist.

Says Bob:

"What is not on the video with me is that once the actual tattooing was completed, [Uncle Monk] prayed over and anointed the tattoo he had just given me. And as crazy as this may sound, with my brother watching, he rested his hands on my back for about 8-10 min. While praying, his hands felt like they were on fire. I mean very noticeably hotter that the ambient air..."

Freaky.

Bob's new art is a Thai Buddhist protection tattoo, aimed at guarding the wearer against invasive weapons (think: bullets and knives). It's a tactic that, according to a National Public Radio feature last August, is gaining a global base of devotees among members of law enforcement, the military and other professions in the line of fire:

"For centuries, Thai soldiers have covered their bodies in protective tattoos called Sak Yant. Today, the ancient ritual is booming and thousands of people—in Thailand and beyond—are flocking to master artists to have the powerful designs inked on their bodies."

A quick search of YouTube would seem to bear that out.

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