#Specialty Freight

[wolflogisticssolutions]

Exploring The Benefits Of Specialty Freight Services And Top Freight Brokerages

Specialty freight services are needed when transporting valuable or sensitive products. These services help to guarantee that your cargo gets the attention and handling it deserves.

Visit us for more details: https://wlsfreight.com/exploring-the-benefits-of-specialty-freight-services-and-top-freight-brokerages/

[nauticaltrain]

hits you with the napier beam hits you with the napier beam hits you with the napier beam hits you with the napier beam

(headcanons under the cut)

Porter:

Open-top hopper, carries anything, he's not fussy

laidback, observant, leader

big and tall, and i mean big and tall

the most mature, but ultimately a goofball at heart

not afraid to chew out the other freight, hasn't given up on Slick's redemption arc yet

just a good dude

likes showtunes and dad jokes

has a crush on Lumber

Lumber:

Centerbeam flatcar, transports packaged lumber

friendly, intelligent, big-hearted

real environmentalist type, supports sustainability as much as is possible

he and Hydra are besties, they have a surprising amount in common

absolutely oblivious to Porter's crush, just thinks they're friends

could probably survive in the wild

has to be herded back onto the tracks regularly, he gets distracted by flora and fauna very easily, petted a deer once and wouldn't stop talking about it for a week

gets along well with gardeners, lumberjacks, park rangers, and naturalists

Slick:

DOT-111 tank car, can carry anything that doesn't require pressurization, but mostly transports crude oil

vindictive, audacious, manipulative

short and compact little tanker

a real pain to be around, punky and vain

terrible, bitter animosity between her and Hydra, not even the silly sibling rivalry kind, they hate each other

unlike CB who crashes trains because he's cracked, Slick is 100% sane. she does it for money. she would be lying if she said she didn't feel bad at all, there's some remorse buried deep down

you know that saying 'hurt people hurt people'? yeah that

weirdly quick skater, like she moves a little too fast for a car

accessories bitch

Hydra:

DOT-113 tank car, pressurized cryogenic materials only. Liquid hydrogen is his specialty, naturally

confident, mysterious, opportunistic

long and lean, can almost look Porter in the eyes

very proud of his status, loves that he carries such high-profile materials

as for his rivalry with Slick, he thinks she's reckless and she thinks he's uppity. Many nasty arguments

not sure how his friendship with Lumber came about, but is happy about it nonetheless

futurist, believes the advancement of science will benefit society exponentially

will rant about clean energy whenever he can, annoys the rest of the yard with it constantly, a bit of a braggart

got that slinky kapa kitchen energy

(group image not to scale, just wanted them together :))

[samgirl98]

Mending a Family 20/?

Prev | Next

Have some fluff from Jason's family

Jason didn’t want another situation like Talia to happen, so he asked Raven for help. She was happy to help.

“The spell I put around the house will help cloak it from prying eyes. Even if someone finds out the address and tries to find it, they’ll always end up back in the village. It has an added bonus; you’ll know if someone is looking for your house.”

“Thanks, Raven, I owe you one.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I’m glad to help keep my little niece and nephew safe.”

Jason smiled. He was quickly looking at Raven as an older sister and Roy as an older brother. 

(Is this how it could’ve been with his old family?)

“Still, I want to thank you. How about I make you some waffles since it’s still morning? It’s one of my specialties.”

Raven smiled, “Well, I never turn down free food.”

“Ohh, can I help, daddy?”

“Of course, lad.”

They ended up covered in flour. Danny’s hair was almost as white as his ghost half.

“So, Jason, tell me, how’s it going with your new powers,” Raven asked after breakfast.

Jason sighed, “It’s a bit tough, but I’m getting there. I’m no longer going intangible at random times. I’m flying better, and Danny is teaching me how to make shields and ectoblasts. The ectoblasts are easier. I only have to call some up, point, and blast. It’s almost like a gun.”

“Daddy is really good at paying attention and learning—hey, stop that daddy!”

Jason laughed as he wiped the syrup from his little boy’s mouth. Jazz smiled fondly while she fed Ellie. Ellie giggled, her two little teeth on display.

That’s when it hit Jason like a freight train. He was happy. It felt like it was overwhelming him and going to overflow from his body. He knew everyone around the table could feel his happiness and didn’t care.

Raven gave him a warm smile.

“I’m glad you found this, Jason. You deserve it,” Raven said. She meant every word of it.

He didn’t know if he deserved it, but unlike a certain emotionally constipated billionaire, he knew Jason wouldn’t question it. He would hold on to this happiness with both hands and never let go.  

Danny hugged Jason with still sticky hands.

Jason owed his happiness to his little boy.

____

Bruce woke up feeling miserable.

What else was new?

The night before had been tough. There had been an Arkham breakout. Thankfully, the Joker hadn’t escaped. Bruce didn’t know what he would’ve done to the clown if he had.

(Where was his son? He was alive. He was away from the protection of Bruce’s cape.)

They had found Crane and Victor Fries but had yet to find Killer Croc.

(Was Jason dealing with villains and rogues alone?)

Bruce stretched. He bypassed the curtains and left them closed. The sunlight would hurt his eyes. He went to eat breakfast. Alfred put a plate and a cup of coffee in front of him. Bruce ignored the food and went straight for the cup of joe.

“Have you heard from Jason,” Bruce asked the older man.

(He thought Jason would always stay close by; stay in Gotham.)

“No, Master Bruce,” the butler answered with a hint of disapproval.

Bruce frowned.

“He’s my son, Alfred.”

“Hmm, well, your actions speak louder than your words, sir.”

Bruce frowned after his surrogate father as he left Bruce alone at the dining room table. A phantom chill went through the silent room.

(Jason wasn’t supposed to leave.)

The silence damned him.

I hope you guys liked this chapter. Special thanks to BatPeg and Jozette_Rosewood_125. One of them gave me the prompt for waffles, and the other person gave me a prompt for cooking time with Jason.

@itsberrydreemurstuff @idontgetpaidenoughforthisshit @skulld3mort-1fan @theauthorandtheartist @emergentpanda-blog @jaggedheart11 @fisticuffsatapplebees @booberrylizard @fantasticbluebirdfan @thegatorsgooseoose @cyrwrites @kjoboo91 @crystallicedart @amaramizuki666 @spekulatiusmuffin @meira-3919 @kilasmess @bubblemixer @lexdamo @wonderland-daisy @mj-arts-n-stuff @amyheart19 @dolfay @the-church-grimm @undead-essence @aph-mable @lizisipancardo @purrloin77 @writer-extraodinaire @charlietheepic7 @sinfulloccultist @nootherusernameworked @coruscateselene @chaoticchange @itsberrydreemurstuff @gmkelz11 @feral-bunny31 @paroovian @thatonegaybitch68 @d4ydr34min9 @overtherose @fandomwandererer @vipower001 @thordottir45 @blackrabbitt3t @rosecinnamonbun @bianca-hooks123 @epilepticnerd @dat1angel @consouling @flamingenchiladadragon @all-mights-asscheeks

[muppetable]

*pulls up with starbucks and sunglasses* incorrect quotes day guys

Remus, at an awards show: Well, first of all, I’d like to thank Logan, the love of my life, for telling me Roman was going to win so don’t bother to prepare a speech.

Remus: I apologize for saying 'fuck' in front of Patton.

Virgil: You just said it again.

Patton:

Remus: I am not a role model.

Patton: Hold the fuck up.

Virgil: Excuse me?

Patton: I said hold the fuck up.

Virgil:

Patton: I’m the fuck up, hold me.

Virgil, to Logan: Please, picking locks is my specialty.

Virgil: *throws a brick through the window*

Virgil: Okay, let’s go.

Logan: A pessimist sees a dark tunnel.

Patton: An optimist sees light at the end of the tunnel.

Roman: A realist sees a freight train.

Virgil: The train driver sees three idiots standing on the tracks.

Virgil: I can’t believe all these people are wearing black. black is supposed to be my thing, they’re all just posers.

Janus: Virgil, for the last time, we’re at a funeral.

[pippindot]

Lots of good vibes for Pip please. Her tummy is still getting bigger. She does not seem uncomfortable, and is in fact currently begging me for breakfast, but I don't like to see this increase. I'm suspicious this is actually a result of her very low protein diet, as she's having no other symptoms of liver distress. We all need some protein to build albumin, and albumin is what keeps your fluid inside your blood vessels. Low albumin means leaky vessels means ascites. There are some other liver formulations out there with slightly higher protein, so we might climb the scale. The main goal of low protein is to avoid neurological symptoms, and we haven't had any of those, so it should be safe to try. Nutrition consult tomorrow and I hope they're ready for the freight train.

Worst case, I may bip my little self on over to their ER and get some diuretics for her. The timing is very poor since we are traveling for Boofest, but at least we are going to be in an area with a lot of specialty services.

Most of all, she seems in good spirits and is not having any trouble breathing. Let's hope this is temporary and won't require long term medication to manage. I want to preserve her kidneys as much as we can.

[aviatrix-ash]

Here's a lil peek into the world of wrenching on planes:

One of the things that's both unfortunate/fortunate about being a mechanic is most often, you do have to buy your own tools, and it's expensive starting out for a newbie mechanic. Fortunately, it means you personally own everything you need to work & aren't chained down to staying with a shitty company. You can just roll everything you got to the place down the street or start a shop of your own. Also means you're not stuck suffering with the cheapest garbage the penny counters in accounting found on amazon.

But unfortunately, that still means starting out it rough as hell. A new toolbox shadowboxed with even all the basics to start out, even if it's all cheap amazon and Harbour Freight stuff, will easily cost about $2,000+. Not including specialty stuff required for different tasks.

But unfortunately the affordable tools are often made up of cheaper steels wear out or break quick and you're in a rut, luckily harbor freight has a lifetime warranty on all their hand tools and will swap out your broken one for a new one, free no questions asked. Tho you're still in that rut and possibly out of luck if your $1 socket shatters while you're stuck up in the tail of a Boeing 777 grounded at an airport 300 miles from the closest store that closed 4 hours ago. So most mechanics upgrade to the better quality one as they wreck the cheap ones. Now those sockets are $45-50+ a piece. Wrenches too, the one set I got today would have been about $600+ on the snap on truck. 😵‍💫 Mine were 160 tho, and the only type of that wrench shape I could find that was SAE and not metic (the different shapes + ratcheting ends means everything). Guess I'll find out how they hold up in time 🥲

Unfortunately that means the mechanic is left having to invest tens of thousands of dollars into their tools. I've met car and aircraft mechanics who've been in the trade for a very time said they've put well over $100k into their tools and stopped counting long ago.

But yah it's a mess out there. 🥲I doubt/hope I don't get to that point in the future, but I know for sure I'll come close over maybe 5-15+ years as most of my stuff now is flea market/yard sale finds and cheap stuff. And you can claim those things on taxes, but they make it wacky af with how you determine if a tool is meant to last a year or longer. . :'))

[golden-spike]

Here's a compliment: I'm glad we're mutuals! Also your blog is great, and I'd like to hear a random HC about Golden Spike! Thank you~😊

Thank you for the compliments. They are much appreciated.

Also It is not a HC it is about me. It would simply be a truth hmhmhahahah. Let me see..

When my tank is too full it hurts.

My frame has been maintained using the parts of other centennials which have long since been scrapped.

I am just as strong as a big boy engine but I am also about 30 miles faster, I believe. HOWEVER, the big boy type engines climb inclines much easier with a train full of freight. We have our specialty uses.

[menardsrail0]

Exploring Menards Rail: Your Ultimate Guide to Railroad Materials and Supplies

In the vast network of transportation, railroads stand as timeless arteries, connecting cities, industries, and people across vast distances. To ensure the smooth functioning and safety of these essential conduits, quality railroad materials and supplies are paramount. Among the names synonymous with reliability and excellence in this domain is Menards Rail.

With a legacy spanning decades, Menards Rail has established itself as a leading provider of railroad materials, offering everything from rails and ties to turnouts and crossings. Let's embark on a journey to explore the comprehensive range of offerings by Menards Rail and understand why it remains a trusted choice for railroad needs.

Rails: At the core of any railroad infrastructure lie the rails themselves. Menards Rail offers a diverse selection of rails, meticulously crafted to meet industry standards for durability and performance. Whether it's standard gauge rails for mainline tracks or specialty rails for niche applications, Menards Rail ensures quality that you can rely on.

Tracks: Building a robust railroad track requires precision and the right materials. Menards Rail provides a comprehensive range of track components, including track spikes, tie plates, and joint bars, to facilitate the construction and maintenance of reliable tracks that can withstand the rigors of heavy freight or passenger traffic.

Turnouts: Turnouts, or railroad switches, are critical elements that enable trains to transition from one track to another smoothly. Menards Rail offers a variety of turnouts tailored to different track configurations and operational requirements. Whether it's a simple switch stand or a complex turnout system, Menards Rail delivers solutions that ensure seamless rail operations.

Crossings: Railroad crossings are points where roads intersect with railway tracks, demanding specialized materials to ensure safety for both vehicular and rail traffic. Menards Rail offers a range of crossing materials, including warning signs, crossing gates, and track panels, designed to enhance safety and efficiency at railroad crossings.

Ties: Railroad ties, also known as sleepers, provide the crucial foundation for rails, absorbing the stress and weight of passing trains. Menards Rail supplies high-quality ties made from various materials, including wood, concrete, and composite, catering to diverse requirements and environmental conditions.

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In essence, Menards Rail stands as a one-stop destination for all railroad materials and supplies, backed by a legacy of excellence and a commitment to quality. Whether you're involved in railway construction, maintenance, or renovation projects, Menards Rail offers the expertise, reliability, and comprehensive product range to meet your needs.

Conclusion: In the dynamic world of rail transportation, reliability, and quality are non-negotiable factors. Menards Rail emerges as a stalwart in the industry, offering a diverse range of railroad materials and supplies that meet the highest standards of performance and durability. From rails and ties to turnouts and crossings, Menards Rail provides solutions that ensure the safety, efficiency, and longevity of railroad infrastructure. Whether you're building new tracks, maintaining existing lines, or undertaking railroad removal projects, Menards Rail is your trusted partner every step of the way. Choose Menards Rail for your railroad needs, and experience the difference that quality and expertise can make in powering the wheels of progress.

[limalatina]

:: all's fair in love & carnival games ➢ f2f 001.

❝ ℝ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕕, 𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕝𝕦𝕖…𝔾𝕠 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕝, 𝕗𝕦𝕔𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦. ❞ ❤️

Of all the cringeworthy ideas attributed to the university, this one by far had to be the worst. Heart-shaped knickknacks, pink tinsel, and fairy lights lined the stalls along the pathway. Students acted like lovesick idiots while posing for cheesy couple photos. The whole thing made Santana feel tacky by association. She hated herself for even agreeing to come, instead of denying Rachel as usual. The two had spent over an hour meandering around, taking in the sights and the attractions. Her friend made several attempts to get her to crack a smile and have fun, most of which Santana ignored. She took the opportunity when Rachel seemed distracted to slip away. She would text her later explaining she wasn't feeling well and she'd be off the hook.

Santana had been in a funk for a few weeks now. She'd thrown herself into schoolwork instead of socializing with friends. Not even an impromptu trip to the nail salon had the same desired effect it used to. She didn't know why her mood change was so drastic, but it all started when her ex showed back up in town. Something about Giselle avoiding her got under her skin. Call her a spoiled brat or whatever — she wasn't used to not getting what she wanted. She'd tried to swallow her pride and temper that big ego of hers for the sake of holding a conversation; Giselle wouldn't let up, though. It felt like it was time for a new approach.

Santana messaged Giselle asking if she'd like to meet up, only to get shot down again. This time, by a not-so-nicely-worded poem. She could've called her mom and asked her to ping her location, but that seemed excessive, even for a madwoman like her. After some time passed with no response, she was content to give up and go home. The black Dior boots she had on weren't very functional, and while her look was stylish, it failed to withstand the dipping temperatures. She decided to seek refuge indoors and warm herself up with some hot chocolate instead. Santana hadn't expected to stay long, not with that shrill carnival music making her want to commit murder, but as fate would have it, she spotted Giselle sitting alone at one of the tables.

In that moment, she wished for something stronger in her cup to calm her nerves. It'd been three years since they'd spoken directly, having severed all ties following their breakup. Santana didn't know what sort of reaction she was in for. She'd intended to find out, though. Despite that nagging voice in her head that told her not to get caught back up in this whirlwind.

Santana ordered another hot chocolate before making her way over. She placed the cup down gently enough to not spill it, then propped an arm up on the table so she was hovering on one side of Giselle. "I took the liberty of adding sugar since you obviously don't like to play nice these days. All I ask is if you don't like it, please refrain from throwing it in my face. It took me forever to do my hair this morning." Her tone was playful while still rife with sarcasm: a Santana Lopez specialty. She switched positions then and slid into the bench on the opposite side of the table. When she finally made eye contact with Giselle, that overabundance of confidence faltered for just a moment. The realization hit her like a freight train. The woman sitting across from her was still the most beautiful thing she'd ever laid eyes on.

It took her a minute to recover, but she played it off the best she could. Complimenting Giselle now would only sound disingenuous and make her look like a sap. "When you didn't message me back, I figured you were busy. It's good to know you're still just dodging my texts. Old habits die hard, I guess." Communication had never been either of their strong suits, but they were fools to think not talking would solve any of their problems. "So, are you here alone or...?"

@wmu-giselle

[artadaykeepsthecraziesaway]

Trucking Solutions to Make Freight Hauling an Easy Errand!

Hauling freight in a flawless manner isn't a drop in the bucket as it includes the well-suited work of various components like trailers, truckers and so on. The shipper, in a bid to rope in the most efficacious freight carrier, prepares to distribute chunks of change. But that doesn't guarantee singling out the best of the trucking companies for hauling the pricey freight. The carriers, trying to pull in additional shippers, frequently resort to misconception that makes it unthinkable for the shippers to make a discrete decision of the right transportation company.

A freight specialist is the sound decision in such an occasion. The freight dealer fills in as a go-between for the shippers and the freight companies. He is the person who wipes out the complicated part and comprehends the transportation needs of the shippers, and furnishes them with the most fortunate freight services.

Each shipper has distinct freight needs. Some arrangement in oversized load freight, while the others have specialty freight. Appropriately, the trucking services they require are likewise customized and interesting. The freight dealer is related with various distinct freight companies, who work in hauling an assortment of freight. The vast majority of these companies are equipped with fortes trailers like lowboy, multi-hub, step deck, removable goose neck, level bed and so forth. The intermediary productively interfaces the shippers with the freight companies that suit their needs best.

Other than this, the freight merchant additionally helps the shipper in more than one manner. He is the person who keeps up with tenacious communication with the shipper in regards to the freight on the way. Before associating the shipper to the freight transportation company, the freight dealer additionally guarantees the work of the most efficacious truckers, so the freight is hauled effectively and impeccably.

Most freight transportation companies depend on professionalism. But laying hands over such companies is very backbreaking; the freight dealer, in such cases, comes to the salvage of the shippers, and associates them with the relevant trucking companies.

Pricing is the other considerable component that decides the determination of the freight services. Most freight companies charge extreme prices for their freight services, taking up which would positively make an opening in the shippers' pockets. The freight merchant holds an assortment of freight companies in kitty offer both exceptionally and humble priced transportation services, the shippers can pick the most felicitous services, as per their spending limits.

Various trucking companies delicate oversized load shipping services to the shippers. Like hauling of iron bars, substantial chunks, warmers, chillers, automotive parts, heavy apparatus and so forth. These specialty goods need extraordinary trailers and following standards for faultless transportation. As they include heavy speculation, the shippers look for the most faultless oversized load shipping companies for its transportation, which again isn't a simple task. This is where the freight specialists come into the image, and recommends the catalyst freight company to the shippers.

[wolflogisticssolutions]

Comprehensive Specialty Freight Services

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Visit us for more details: https://wlsfreight.com/

[katelyn-scstudyabroad]

The “study” part of study abroad

I was flung hard back into student life this past week when classes resumed with my first class being at 6:45am on Monday. I quite literally had to wake up with the roosters (Vietnam definitely has different standards for where animals can be kept. During my travels around I literally saw cows grazing in urban residential areas).

Classes at FTU meet twice a week for periods of two hours and fifteen minutes. So far my classes have usually began late and/or ended early, but they still end up being longer than what I am used to. One nice thing is that all of my classes are conveniently located in one building. The downside to many classes being in one building, however, is that the elevators get very hectic during class change times. There ends up being a mass of students in line to get on them and then the max amount of people possible squeeze into each elevator. I personally opt to take the stairs over dealing with this. My lowest class is on the sixth floor so I should have killer legs by the time the semester finishes.

Class grades are mostly dependent on a group midterm project and a final exam. There’s not really smaller assessments or assignments. I also have not had to purchase any textbooks or access codes, a typical semester expense that I am glad to not have. All of my classes have Facebook groups where lecture notes and important announcements are posted, and every class has a student monitor who keeps attendance and is available for questions. Although all of my classes are in English, sometimes things are in Vietnamese, but fortunately my peers have been helpful in translating and explaining things.

After all this discussion about my classes I realized I neglected to put which courses I am actually taking, so here they are: International Trade Policy, Basic Marketing, Logistics and International Freight Forwarding, and Supply Chain Management. I am aware that none of these are particularly unique, but one interesting thing I have found about them is they cover content in the context of Vietnam. I just had a meeting for a group project that analyzes the supply chain models of global brands and comparable Vietnamese brands. As a supply chain major I look forward to learning about Vietnam in this context and seeing how this project progresses.

Outside of class I had a fairly relaxed week where the focus was just trying to settle into regular life in Hanoi after traveling around. I tried out a recommended laundry shop. I have found that in Vietnamese cities there’s not usually self-service laundromats, you have to use laundry services where they wash and dry everything for you. They generally charge around $1USD/kg and so far all of the services I have used have done a good job, so I can’t complain.

I also tried more food options within walking distance of where I live. The people who run this one restaurant always try to persuade me to come in whenever I walk past so I finally gave them a chance and realized that I have been sleeping on them. They served very delicious bún chả, a Hanoi specialty consisting of pork served with vermicelli noodles and vegetables. It is also custom to eat seafood spring rolls as a side pairing. It makes for a very filling meal on a rainy Hanoi evening. This may sound silly, but I also found that the Circle K is a great spot. There are Circle K’s everywhere and they usually have seating areas. Their banh mi and coffee combo for 21k dong (roughly $0.89) makes a great afternoon pick-me-up between classes. I also like to stop by for late night snacks.

I have also been spending more time with the other exchange students. Sometimes we’ll have meals together and the other night a group of us went to a jazz club just to try something new. I also hope to do more with local students as well, but it has so far been easier to socialize with the exchange students.

I did not think to take many photos this week since I was no longer in tourist mode, but here’s a few, featuring bún chả and jazz as mentioned.

[sweet-dining-car]

could you tell us about your fan kid for Electboose?

Yeah!

Surge and Marley are nearly identical twins. The looked very very similar when they were young but one Surge is an engine and Marley is a freight. Marely is a specialty freight and carries whatever is needed if it is needed, she often works with Surge. Surge is an electric engine like Electra, thats pretty much it.

Surge is technically oldest but he often just does what Marley tells him to do. They both love each other very much and don't really argue much. Marley chooses to work with Surge instead of joining most of the other young freight just because she likes to work with her brother. She is still good friends with the other freight though.

Surge looks much like Electra in style but he prefers reds like CB. Surge actually likes to hang out with Dinah and Greaseball once he is a bit older. Electra doesn't like this too much but still allows them to hang out just because of Dinah. Surge is very good friends with the children of the other components and later dates one of Krupp and Wrench's daughters. Surge uses they/them and he/him pronouns and is bi-curious at the moment (17)

Marley is very social and out going but is more calm and relaxed with Surge. She likes to hang out with the Rockies and Flat-Top. She is friends with the other freight children as well as most of the coaches. Marley knows the most about "The Crash" because Caboose told her what had actually happened. She doesn't judge either of her parents for what happened but does slightly judge Greaseball for leaving Dinah. Marley wears a black and silver freight uniform that has some red accents.

I am still working on their actual designs as well as the other fankids so it may take a little while

[the-iron-orchid]

Canvas-making: Materials

Here's what you will need, I go into detail on each under the cut!

Wooden stretching frame

Wooden dowels

Cotton fabric

Bookbinding thread

Kitchen twine

Gesso

Upholstery Needles

Bulldog clips

3" Paintbrush

Sandpaper

Dust Mask

Mixing cup

Distilled water (optional)

(links are just examples, I'm not affiliated with any of them!)

The Frame

Traditionally, we use a simple frame with half-lap joints, held together by bolts or even just lashed together with twine. This allows it to be disassembled when not in use. However, you can absolutely salvage the inner stretching frame from an old canvas, or make a frame from inexpensive stretcher bars you can get at most hobby and art supply stores. These usually friction-fit together; you can also glue or staple them for more security.

You need to leave room on the inside of the frame for the stretching technique. If you want a specific final canvas size, add about 8 inches (20cm) to each dimension when buying stretcher bars. (For example, if you want a 12x14 final canvas size after trimming, you should get two 20-inch and two 22-inch stretcher bars.) It's better to err on the side of larger, as it will give you some extra area to test your paints on!

You will also need four 3/8 inch (9-10mm) thick hardwood dowels, cut to roughly 2 inches (~5cm) shorter than the inside dimensions of your frame. The inside dimensions of our example frame would be roughly 17x19, so you would cut two 15-inch dowels and two 17-inch dowels. (You can also make smaller canvases with the same frame, just by using shorter dowels!)

Fabric

You want a plain medium weight 100% cotton fabric with a nice even weave, like Kona or Pimatex. (Avoid muslin, it stretches far too much and may tear!) You can find Kona cotton in the quilting section of most fabric stores. I personally prefer Pimatex, and I buy it from Dharma Trading Company.

Threads

For lashing the fabric to the dowels, you will want linen bookbinding thread. Other threads will stretch, break and/or tear your fabric. Size 35/3 is good, 25/3 is better. You can get this at most art supply or craft stores (albeit rather overpriced) or at a specialty bookbinding supply shop online. One spool will last a very long time.

For the actual stretching, just get a ball of some good old-fashioned 100% cotton kitchen twine from the grocery store.

Gesso

Any decent quality acrylic artist's gesso will do. My teacher prefers Winsor & Newton; I often use Liquitex. For colored grounds, I like to use Matisse Background Colors. If you are planning to paint with transparent watercolor, you may want a specialty watercolor ground like these from Daniel Smith or Golden. You don't need a huge bottle; this process doesn't use as much gesso as traditional canvas.

Tools

Upholstery Repair Needle Kit: The big curved-tip needles will make this a lot easier. Find them at any fabric or crafts store, or Amazon.

Bulldog clips: Not strictly necessary, but they do make it easier to stitch the fabric to the dowels. Binder clips can also work. Get them at any office supply store or 'borrow' some from work

Paintbrush: A regular 3-inch synthetic flat paintbrush from the hardware store or Harbor Freight will do just fine.

Sandpaper: A hand-sized piece of 240-300 grit is plenty. I like to use drywall sanding mesh because it doesn't get blocked up by gesso dust so quickly.

Dust Mask: Please wear a dust mask when sanding your gesso! I prefer to do this outside, it's real messy.

Disposable Cup: For thinning your gesso. I just use an old yogurt container or such.

Distilled Water: For thinning your gesso. Not 100% required.

[junglefurytrash]

Starlight Express but it’s Pokemon Pt.5

So it’s been way too long since I did Part 4 of StEx but they have Pokemon, sorry about that. But now it returns! This time, it’s the other Coaches who’ve been in the show.  Not sure who else I’ll do after this. Perhaps the Freight?

I know I said I would only do Belle the Bar Coach in another earlier part, but I decided to go back on that and do Memphis Belle too. She’s still a Coach who was in the show after all, even if only for a brief time! She doesn’t have a proper type specialty, but given her team we can say Grass/Psychic specialist. Her team is (from top left to bottom right): Swadloon, Abra, Galarian Slowpoke, Persian, Lapras, and Meganium. - Swadloon, Abra, and Galarian Slowpoke each represent the fact Memphis is a Sleeper Coach. - Swadloon creates and wraps itself in leaf blankets to protect itself. They would absolutely make blankets for Memphis too to keep her protected and cosy, especially on winter days. - Abra are said to sleep for up to 18 hours a day, but can also get Memphis out of danger using Teleport if need be. - Slowpoke as a whole are known to be more dopey, but I went with regular Slowpoke because it’s tail is said to taste sweet, and Memphis herself is a sweet and good-hearted lady. - Persian meanwhile represents general elegance and sophistication, which Memphis as an older Coach definitely has. - Finally Lapras and Meganium are both said to be very gentle Pokemon, again befitting Memphis Belle’s gentle and kindhearted personality.

Onto our OTHER Sleeper Coach, Duvay! She is without a doubt a Normal type specialist. Her team is (from top left to bottom right): Delcatty, Slakoth, Komala, Mareep, Furret, and Jigglypuff. - Delcatty is said to be very un-fussy about where they sleep, choosing whatever spot works and dozing off there. People also joke it has a travel-cushion for fur around its neck. Very good and calm house pet for Duvay. - Slakoth are said to sleep for up to 20 hours a day, even more than Abra. Again, a very calm and simple pet for Duvay to look after. It enjoys being brushed after Duvay returns from work. - Komala meanwhile are quite literally BORN asleep, somehow. They also enjoy clinging to friendly Pokemon trainers. Duvay’s Komala is always clinging to her, be it on her shoulder or her arm, and she adores it. :) - Mareep is the only Pokemon here to not be Normal type. It’s fleece is very fluffy, and I imagine it’s little light-up tail would be a good alarm of sorts for Duvay. Also, counting sheep joke. - Furret are said to curl up around their offspring to help them go to sleep. Also Furret is, VERY big and long and fluffy. Absolutely the perfect Pokemon for Duvay when she gets tired. - And lastly Jigglypuff’s singing can help people go to sleep. Not that I imagine Duvay NEEDS it, but hey, we all have those nights.

Other Belle now, our Bar Coach, and she was BY FAR the hardest come up with ideas for. But her type specialty is, vaguely, Grass/Bug. Her team is (from top left to bottom right): - Shuckle, Vanillish, Petilil, Breloom, Polteageist, and Combee. - Shuckle helps her with making juice, as Shuckles are known to be able to make a tasty berry juice in their shells. - Combee likewise helps with making drinks sweet, as it’s a bee and thus collects honey, which can be used in drinks. Belle’s is a female too, so it may eventually evolve into a Vespiqueen. - Vanillish also helps with making drinks, in their case being able to cool down drinks with their icy breath, or by making ice cubes to go into the drinks. - Petilil’s leaves on the top of its head are mentioned to be harvested safely from the Pokemon and used to make an energising tea. Belle may not make teas often at work, but someone’s bound to order it. It gets along well with Combee! - Polteageist is here because, it is quite literally a haunted teapot. It can still MAKE tea though, and trusts Belle enough to help with providing it while at work. Hers is a legitimate Antique form, passed through the family. - And lastly there’s Breloom, who acts as Belle’s bar bodyguard and bouncer. It’s simultaneously friendly, but also able to pack a very strong punch that can rival BOXERS.

Last but not least, Carrie! Who as you can see, is a Fighting/Flying/Grass specialist. What a combinaton. Her team is (from top left to bottom right): - Sneasler, Pidove, Steenee, Machoke, Pelipper, and Gogoat. - Carrie’s whole team as a whole focuses on helping her in her job of helping people with their luggage, which could definitely prove to be a lot or be heavy even for someone specialising in it.  - Machoke and Gogoat are seen in the games being able to carry both heavy cargo AND people. Machoke in the Gen 3 games are even seen helping with house-moving services. - Pelipper are said to be able to carry Pokemon around, so I don’t see why it wouldn’t be able to help with bringing someone else’s Pokemon safely onboard. - Sneasler are also mentioned to be tough and strong. They’re also quite sassy Pokemon, which definitely fits with Carrie’s personality. Sneasler’s are also said to be more solitary Pokemon, but Carrie’s is the opposite, being very extroverted and cheeky. - Steenee are said to have a strong body that can withstand Flying type Pokemon, so it’s quite safe to have around Pidove and Pelipper. Steenee are also said to have a sharp kick, no doubt helpful when combatting someone trying to steal someone else’s luggage. - And lastly Pidove is part of her team in reference to carrier/messenger pigeons. Though Pidoves aren’t used for that, they’re a bit too forgetful for the job, they’re loved by trainers anyway for being loyal and sincere. Carrie’s Pidove likes to sit on her head while she’s working.

[delicatefury]

I worked for 4 years in the Yale Library System. I primarily worked in Bass Library (cool, literally underground library) but I often had to go on delivery runs to Sterling Memorial Library (the main library, and the building on all the brochures) and I’d take the occasional shift there.

Sterling looks like this on the outside

And like this on the first floor

But this is the stacks

And this is the basement stacks, where the specialty collections are.

Can you imagine having to shelve books at nearly midnight when the library is empty? That’s not even touching the damn freight elevator I had to use to move books around.

honestly kinda unfortunate that the only spooky library aesthetic is the victorian fancy bookshelves dark academia one bcos like. ok here's some library stories.

while i was at the university the library was undergoing a major refurbishment so for a little while the print journals were being stored temporarily down in the basement.

basically nobody ever consulted the print journals bcos 99% of stuff undergrads would be looking up is online these days so every time i went down there it was dead fucking silent & empty. you had to walk through what felt like several miles of empty basement to reach the collection, which was in a room w a photocopier shoved in the corner and a bunch of these:

u turn the handles to move these around (saves space) and every time you had to go and check the aisles first on the offchance that someone was in there so they wouldn't get u know. Compacted.

many years ago i did a week's work experience with the National Library of Scotland. here it is:

but that's just the tip of the iceberg. it keeps going down the side of the bridge, like so:

i got a tour of the stacks while i was there. it's floor after floor of this:

the bookshelves are made of metal & i was treated to the 'fun fact' that the shelves are, bizarrely, load bearing. for this reason they have to be constantly vigilant about fire hazards because even a relatively small fire could cause a bookcase to buckle from the heat, which in turn could cause the whole building to collapse in on itself like a house of cards.

this has haunted me ever since!! thank you.