#aluminum boat paint colors

[astrolovecosmos]

The Planets & Random or Obscure Associations

~Sun~

Creativity, vitality, head of state, the father, games, yellow and orange clothing, articles of value, jewelry, gold, brass, power, diamonds, citrine, topaz, jasper, amber, rhodochrosite, mistletoe, almonds, citrus, succulents, sunflowers, fevers, heart, back, spine, grapes, walnuts, rice, chamomile, frankincense, juniper, saffron, marigold, rosemary, rue, palaces, towers, luxury.

~Moon~

Eternal, cycles, silver, aluminum, pearls, moonstone, opal, selenite, chest, glands, lymphatic system, nervous system, emotions, mother, ancestors, nurture, rebirth, tides, baths, ocean, brew, boat, sap, willow trees, succulents, pale color plants, white flowers, cucumber, cabbage, lettuce, melons, shellfish, pumpkins, lakes, fountains, ports, fishponds, pools, springs, sewers, dairies, toys, reflection, blankets, objects of comfort.

~Mercury~

Communication, journal, pen/pencil, any writing tools, wings, phosphorous, mercury, agate, tiger's eye, brain, nervous system, eyes, respiration, thyroid, speech, hearing, intellect, vehicles, money, bills, paper, books, pictures, parties or social gatherings, scientific instruments, butterflies, messages, mail, hazel, mulberry, myrtle, seeds, aniseed, dill, fennel, lavender, liquorice, marjoram, parsley, valerian, hazelnuts, beans, mushrooms, pomegranates, carrots, celery, libraries, schools, markets, fairs, public spaces, tennis or badminton court, studies, banks, bowling greens, offices, blue, white, or light colored flowers.

~Venus~

Love, relating, lust, high-quality fabrics, copper, bronze, sodium, malachite, tourmaline, emerald, rose quartz, kunzite, sapphire, pastels, throat, kidneys, lumber region, art, music, aesthetics, social life, fashion, jewelry, wine, pleasure, alder tree, fruit trees, paint, ash tree, birch, pomegranates, early flowering, daisy, mint, marshmallow, meadowsweet, mugwort, plantain, tansy, roses, thyme, vervain, yarrow, potatoes, strawberries, wheat, sugar, nectarines, ballrooms, bedrooms, dining room, gardens, fountains, wardrobes, theaters, looking and feeling good.

~Mars~

Lust, conquest, desire, flaming sword, red things, fights, iron, brass, bloodstone, carnelian, cinnabar, pyrite, magnetite, ruby, garnet, hematite, muscles, reproductive organs, blood, kidneys, immunity, heat, action, arms, pepper, sharp instruments, cutlery, attacks, scissors, weapons, physical intimacy, bites, stings, scalds, burns, accidents, hawthorn, pine, thorns, cactus, aloes, anemone, arnica, belladonna, garlic, ginger, hops, mustard seed, nettles, wormwood, chives, onions, leeks, radish, rhubarb, tobacco, labs, furnaces, distilleries, bakehouses, ovens, smiths, butchers, fields, anger, passion, self-focus.

~Jupiter~

Expansion, optimism, religion, religious sites, tin, seduction, turquoise, chrysocolla, topaz, citrine, jasper, liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, sciatic nerve, excess, abundance, prophecy, philosophy, knowledge, universities, foreign travel, luggage, honey, oil, silk, fruit, distinct clothing, merchandise, horses, domestic birds, gambling, indulgence, entertainment, oak, dandelion, sage, endive, chervil, asparagus, figs, churches, temples, palaces, altars, courts, mansions, woods, orchards, winery, cornucopia, connecting with the soul.

~Saturn~

Limits, boundaries, father time, lord of death, shadows, lead, iron, steel, calcium, asbestos, sulphur, diamond, onyx, calcite, skeleton, spleen, skin, teeth, nails, joints, structure, crystallization, old age, blockage, anything dark, wool, heavy materials, agriculture, wheelbarrows, spades, farm houses and buildings, cold, laws, aspen, blackthorn, buckthorn, cypress, elm, toxic plants, hemlock, henbane, belladonna, hellebore, barley, beetroot, safflower, parsnips, spinach, deserts, woods, valleys, caves, church yards, ruins, coalpits, sinks, wells, mud, institutions.

~Uranus~

Eccentrics, mavericks, invention, genius, revolution, change, trends, disruptive science or tech, uranium, magnesium, lapis lazuli, sapphire, aquamarine, azurite, chalcedony, electricity, neon lights, plaid, nervous and circulatory system, pineal gland, chaos, violence, upheaval, astrology, steam engines, coal, machinery, coins, baths, fishponds, dangerous places, computers, magnets, quantum physics, research, welfare, humanity, hypnotherapy, railways, banks, gas, psychiatric hospitals, offices, hospitals, dispensaries, fortified places, chemicals, mingled/mingling, spirit and matter.

~Neptune~

Illusions, veils, diffuse, deception, water, oceans, mysticism, enlightenment, artistic pursuit and understanding, zinc, potassium, amethyst, fluorite, jade, sugilite, coral, aquamarine, pineal gland, lymphatic and nervous system, spine, mental processes, addiction, psychoses, disease, photography, music, substances, gas, religion, poetry, mimicry, chameleon, anesthetic, telepathy, empathy, dancing, psychic gifts, places near water, hospitals, places of healing, jeweler, painters, brewers, musicians, visionary.

~Pluto~

Power, influence, darkness, new life, what's hidden underneath, seeds, volcanoes, deep earth or ocean, bury, explosions, eruptions, abduction, plutonium, smoky quartz, obsidian, jet, pearl, deep reds, reproductive organs, the unconscious, nuclear, transformation, death, birth, rebirth, underworld, riches, earthquakes, big business, murder, detection, detective, invisibility, sneak, enforced change, hidden places, underground, drains, sewers, radioactive places, the occult, black magic, sacrifice, renew.

[judgeanon]

Plastic Skies - Model 7: Mirage IV

Surprise end of the year update on the modeling front. Gonna keep this short and sweet, first because we all have better things to do, and second because I don’t actually have a lot of pics of this one, but yeah. Turns out my father gifted me a cheap little model kit for Christmas. So... this one may get a little personal.

Being former military himself, dad liked to buy my brother and I army toys. We had a massive (to us) box full of cheap army men of every color, tanks and boats and ships and vehicles of (almost) every size, and we would spend long afternoons setting them up over the carpet of our living room. Not really playing games with them, just arranging them in what we thought were the coolest ways. There were other things, toy rifles and pistols and such. To his credit, dad never tried to push either of us towards joining, although the military in our country is an even touchier subject than in the US or a lot of other countries.

Anyway, models were a part of it. It was dad who bought our first ones. Even after we stopped building them, he still bought us a few toy planes here and there wherever we saw them. I remember a particular holiday week on the coast where we spotted a bunch of die-cast planes at a local supermarket, and dad offered to buy us one each day on the way back to the beach. I still have a faded grayish blue Spitfire from that occasion.

All of this to say that, looking back, I think dad gifting me a model kit for the first time in over two decades would feel... a bit heavier. A bit more momentuous maybe. But for reasons that are an extra layer of personal, it didn’t. Still, I did my best to show this cheap little plane some love. And it was nice to get even more evidence that I’m getting at least a little better at this, since it only took me a day and a half to finish it. I do need to learn how to properly sand off models before painting them, and getting the decals on was a bit of an ordeal (that I’ll blame them for), but it was also fun to get a chance to paint a model in full metal colors. Aluminum in this case, all in accordance to the original plane.

A plane that, by the way, I didn’t even know existed until I got this. Turns out it’s a supersonic bomber variant of the Mirage, a fair bit larger and made for longer distances. That’s part of the fun of building kits I guess. Learning about new planes. Although it has left me not wanting to see another Mirage for a while now.

I guess there’s not much else to say about it. The wheels are a bit messy, the seams are visible, and I didn’t exactly bother with any weatherings. Still a nice distraction. And if anything, it’s a good example of something that I hope becomes a trend: next time someone wants to gift me something for any special occasion, howzabout a model?

Anyway, next one might take a while. I’m starting 2023 with an empty bank account and some possible big expenses that will have to be taken care of before I do anything else, but I already know what I want to do and how I want to do it. It’s kinda daunting, mostly because I want to Get It Right, but I do feel a lot more confident about it than I did back in September. So hopefully I can get started soon and it ends up well.

Hope I get to show it off soon too!

[millenniumbuilding]

Why More Homeowners Are Choosing Metal Carports Over Garages

In recent years, a growing number of homeowners have been making the switch from traditional garages to metal carports. This trend is driven by various factors, ranging from cost savings to versatility and environmental benefits. Metal carports offer a practical, durable, and aesthetically pleasing solution for vehicle protection and storage. Let's delve into the reasons why metal carports are becoming the preferred choice for many homeowners.

Cost-Effectiveness

One of the most compelling reasons homeowners opt for metal carports over garages is the cost. Building a traditional garage can be a significant financial investment, often requiring extensive labor, materials, and time. In contrast, metal carports are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install. This cost-effectiveness makes metal carports an attractive option for those looking to protect their vehicles without breaking the bank.

Ease of Installation

Metal carports are known for their straightforward installation process. Unlike garages, which may require permits, foundation work, and weeks of construction, metal carports can often be assembled in a matter of days. Many metal carport kits are designed for DIY installation, allowing homeowners to save even more on labor costs. This ease of installation means that homeowners can quickly and efficiently provide protection for their vehicles.

Durability and Low Maintenance

Metal carports are constructed from high-quality steel or aluminum, materials known for their durability and resistance to the elements. These carports can withstand harsh weather conditions, including heavy snow, rain, and strong winds, making them a reliable choice for vehicle protection. Additionally, metal carports require minimal maintenance compared to wooden structures. They are resistant to pests, rot, and corrosion, ensuring they remain functional and attractive for many years with little upkeep.

Versatility and Customization

Another significant advantage of metal carports is their versatility. Metal carports can be customized to suit various needs and preferences. They are available in multiple sizes, styles, and colors, allowing homeowners to choose a design that complements their home's aesthetics. Additionally, metal carports can be used for more than just vehicle storage. They can serve as covered patios, outdoor workshops, or even as shelter for boats and RVs. This flexibility makes metal carports a practical addition to any property.

Environmental Benefits

In an era where environmental consciousness is increasingly important, metal carports offer a more sustainable option compared to traditional garages. The materials used in metal carports are often recyclable, reducing their environmental impact. Moreover, the production and installation of metal carports typically generate less waste and require fewer resources than building a garage from scratch. Homeowners who prioritize sustainability will appreciate the eco-friendly aspects of metal carports.

Increased Property Value

Installing a metal carport can enhance the overall value of a property. Prospective buyers often view carports as a valuable feature, providing added protection and convenience without the high costs associated with building a garage. A well-maintained metal carport can improve the curb appeal of a home, making it more attractive to potential buyers. This increase in property value can provide a good return on investment for homeowners considering selling their property in the future.

Weather Protection

Metal carports offer excellent protection against various weather conditions. They shield vehicles from harmful UV rays, preventing paint and interior damage caused by prolonged sun exposure. During winter, metal carports protect against snow and ice accumulation, reducing the time and effort required to clear vehicles before use. In rainy climates, metal carports prevent water damage and corrosion, extending the lifespan of vehicles. This level of protection is often comparable to that of a traditional garage but at a fraction of the cost.

Space Efficiency

For homeowners with limited space, metal carports provide an efficient solution. They require less space than a full garage and can be installed in areas where building a garage might not be feasible. This space efficiency is particularly beneficial for urban or suburban properties with restricted lot sizes. Metal carports can maximize the use of available space without sacrificing vehicle protection.

Quick and Flexible Solutions

Metal carports can be an excellent solution for those needing immediate shelter for their vehicles. Whether it's to protect a new car, accommodate a growing family with additional vehicles, or provide temporary cover during home renovations, metal carports offer a quick and flexible solution. Their adaptability makes them ideal for both permanent and temporary use, catering to the changing needs of homeowners.

Conclusion

The increasing popularity of metal carports among homeowners can be attributed to their cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, durability, and versatility. These structures provide excellent vehicle protection, require minimal maintenance, and offer environmental benefits, making them a practical and sustainable choice. As more homeowners recognize these advantages, the trend of choosing metal carports over traditional garages is likely to continue growing. Whether for added property value, space efficiency, or enhanced protection, metal carports are proving to be a smart investment for modern homeowners. Visit Millennium Buildings for further insights and explore our selection of high-quality metal carports.

[mystlnewsonline]

4 Effective Strategies For Preventing Corrosion

(STL.News) Corrosion is a major problem for many industries, causing billions of dollars in annual damages and repair costs.  Yet, despite the widespread prevalence of corrosion, effective strategies to prevent it are often overlooked. For instance, a steel bridge built in the early 1900s in New York City had been corroding rapidly due to exposure to the elements and constant use.  In an effort to save the bridge and prevent further damage, engineers implemented a combination of protective coatings, effective wire-pulling solutions, cathodic protection, and environmental measures. The results were significant - the bridge saw a drastic reduction in corrosion, and its lifespan was extended by several decades. In this article, we'll dive deeper into each of these strategies, exploring the science behind them and providing real-world examples of their effectiveness.  Whether you're in the construction, transportation, or manufacturing industry, these techniques can help you prevent corrosion and protect your assets for years to come. 1.  Protective Coatings Protective coatings are crucial for preventing corrosion on various surfaces.  They act as a shield against corrosive agents, preserving the integrity of the metal.  Different types of coatings are available, including paints, varnishes, and polymers. The correct coating depends on factors like the surface material and the operating environment.  The Golden Gate Bridge's orange color isn't only aesthetic but also a protective coating.  The paint contains zinc, a sacrificial anode that corrodes before the steel, preventing corrosion and extending the bridge's lifespan. As shown in Houston's water and wastewater treatment facilities, epoxy coatings provide a barrier against moisture and chemicals, improving durability and strength. Protective coatings save money and increase infrastructure longevity, whether for bridges or wastewater facilities.  The primary principle of protective coatings is creating a barrier against corrosive agents, preventing them from reaching the metal underneath. 2.  Cathodic Protection Cathodic protection is an effective method for preventing corrosion on metal surfaces constantly exposed to water or soil.  This technique uses a sacrificial anode or impressed current to protect the metal from corroding. For example, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System transports crude oil through the Alaskan wilderness and is protected using a combination of impressed current and sacrificial anodes. The impressed current system generates an electrical current that protects the pipeline, while the sacrificial anodes corrode instead of the metal beneath, providing an additional layer of protection. Similarly, sacrificial anodes made of zinc, aluminum, or magnesium can be used in boats and ships to prevent corrosion from spreading.  This extends the lifespan of the vessel. In summary, cathodic protection offers an effective solution for preventing corrosion in various applications. 3.  Galvanization Galvanization is an effective method to prevent corrosion by coating steel or iron with a layer of zinc that creates a protective barrier between the metal and the environment.  The zinc coating corrodes before the steel or iron, thereby preventing corrosion from spreading. This technique is highly effective in harsh environments, such as coastal areas where saltwater can accelerate corrosion. Galvanization is widely used in many industries, including construction, automotive, and infrastructure.  It can also be used alongside conduit-sealing bushing. For example, highway guardrails are galvanized to prevent corrosion from salt and moisture exposure.  Overall, galvanization is a highly effective technique for the protection of steel to prevent corrosion and extend the lifespan of steel or iron surfaces. 4.  Environmental Measures Environmental measures are effective strategies for preventing corrosion by controlling the metal's exposure to the environment. One way to do this is by modifying the pH level to make the environment less corrosive.  This can be achieved by adding alkaline substances that neutralize the acid, reducing its harmful effect on the metal surface. For example, sulfuric acid used in the extraction process in mining operations creates highly acidic environments that can corrode mining equipment and structures.  Mining companies use alkaline stabilization to prevent corrosion by adding lime or other alkaline substances to the soil or water.  That raises the pH levels and reduces the corrosive impact on equipment. Another environmental measure is using dehumidifiers in storage facilities or warehouses.  Moisture in the air can accelerate the corrosion process, especially in humid environments. Read the full article

[twoguysandaride]

The Brabus 900 XC Deep Blue - 70 MPH on Lake Michigan! 

The all new Brabus Shadow 900 XC Deep Blue Masterpiece Edition features a stunning deep blue paint scheme with elegant leather interior.

Equipped with wet bar, extended navigation package, extended carbon fiber package, media wall, folding aft seats, roof rack, carbon LED roof light bar, fixed sunbed on front deck with storage, air conditioning in main cabin, front cabin, additional power bank with inverter, and antifouling paint.

DEEP BLUE MASTERPIECE EDITION 

Exclusive Limited-Edition Signature Deep Blue paint job, with high labor-intensive fairing, painting, and polishing process. The now iconic Masterpiece color scheme forms a part of a numbered product of limited-edition boats. The striking Mercury Racing carbon fiber accent panel kit on both engines is included in the Limited-Edition boats.

BLISTERING PERFORMANCE

The BRABUS Shadow 900 is powered by Mercury Marine’s latest dual 450R Verado XL 4.6 litre V8 Four Stroke engines, offering class-leading performance in every respect, supplied exclusively with Mercury Joystick Piloting helm control system including skyhook digital anchor and autopilot.

ELECTRONICS

All BRABUS® Shadow 900 models feature a full Glass Bridge / Information Display with two 12" screens with a BRABUS® User-Interface offering a selection of driver-orientated sport modes. The Intelligent Steering Module with integrated trim tab, bow thruster and audio controls will enable you to control the boat even smoother than ever before.

LUXURIOUS CABIN

The large sliding electrical opening sunroof and two large sliding doors open ups the cabin to the elements of the day and together with the L-shaped sofa and table in the rear forms a perfect lounge area to socialize and entertain guests at.

 BRABUS ALUMINIUM STEPS

The Helm is endowed with a BRABUS® branded exclusive aluminum support for feet to complete the sporty and exclusive looks but also to add to the ergonomics when driving the boat.

SIGN OF EXCELLENCE

The helm console is finalized with the exclusive BRABUS® Sign of Excellence signed by Constantin Buschmann. This sign symbolizes the promise that each boat is unique, and hand crafted to the highest possible standards by using the finest materials, newest technologies, and bespoke engineering.

#twoguysandaride #carsoftheday #CarReview #CarReviews #ClassicCar #ClassicCars #ClassicBoat #HowTo #TechHowTo #CarTech #Racing #PontoonBoat #Ford #Chevy #Honda #Toyota #Porsche #Honda #Toyota #Chevrolet #Buick #KIA #Hyundai #GMC #Volvo #Mercedes #Polestar #Ferrari #CarReview #CarReviewChannel #NewCars #Pontoon #FishingBoat #4Wheeler #OffRoad #Dirt #Snow #Sand #Water #Technology #Tech #Bentley #Jaguar #LandRover #Audi #BMW

[fireworkss-exe]

maybe 15 for jalph :)??

15. “I would love to go with you. Not as friends.”

"Little help over here, please? Can you hand me some- AGH! Watch where you're leaning!"

Jack glanced up. Ralph was precariously positioned on the very top rung of a ladder, glaring at the boy on the ground below him. "Sorry," Jack said, standing up straight and out of the way of the ladder. "What do you need?"

Ralph drew an exasperated sigh. "Can you hand me more paper flowers from that box? I ran out of 'em," he explained, gesturing at a garland, strung with colorful paper blossoms, tacked high up on the wall. A box, filled with similar flowers, rested on one of the ladder's lower rungs. Jack took a handful of the box's contents and handed them to Ralph.

The school gym was filled with students milling about- hanging up posters, painting backdrops, and stringing garlands around everything they could find. All of this was in preparation for the upcoming spring ball- the last important event of the school year, and it was taking place in just two days. Jack still hadn't found a date- although it seemed like half his grade had begged him to take them to the dance.

"You know what? I think it's weird that the dance's theme is just... 'spring.' Nothing creative. Why not do, like, a space-themed ball?" Ralph mused, carefully stringing blossoms onto the garland. "I can see it clear as day in my head: aluminum foil stars hanging from the ceiling and all over the walls. What do you think?"

"That's a recipe for disaster," Jack laughed. "That'd be just like the prom in Carrie. You know, that one movie where the girl offs her entire grade at the dance?"

Ralph scowled, but Jack could see the barest traces of a smile on his face. "I just wish there was more effort put into the theme, y'know?"

"You're the one on the student council. If you care so much, why didn't you do something about it?"

Rolling his eyes, Ralph groaned in frustration. "Just because I'm on the student council doesn't mean I have power over everything in the school. The events committee is the group that planned the ball. I had no say in any of this."

Jack ran a hand through his hair. The dance was in two days. Maurice couldn't stop talking about how he'd asked Sam to the big night. Even Roger had landed a plus-one for the celebration. And yet: Jack Merridew, one of the most popular boys in school, had rejected every proposal, leaving him dateless. He tried to hide it, but he was beginning to get desperate. While Ralph worked, the barest scrapings of an idea began to form in Jack's mind...

"Hey, Ralph?" Jack asked. This was it. No turning back now.

"What?"

"Do you have a date for the dance yet?"

Ralph's eyebrows knitted together. "Why, are you going to make fun of me if I say no?"

"Maybe."

As he stepped down from the ladder, Ralph replied, "Jesus Christ, you're going to make fun of me either way, aren't you? No. I don't have a date. Are you happy?"

Jack chewed his lip, taking this information in. Ralph didn't have a date. "We're in the same boat, then."

Something shifted in Ralph's eyes. He sat down on one of the ladder's lower rungs, avoiding Jack's gaze. Finally, Ralph looked up. "I would love to go with you," he murmured, voice sounding oddly weak. "Not as friends."

An ecstatic, incredulous smile broke across Jack's face. "Is it a date, then?"

"It's a date," Ralph echoed, face going beet-red. Suddenly, he grinned. "Thank you."

"Hey, don't thank me just yet, Ralphie-boy," Jack laughed, ruffling Ralph's light gold hair. "The dance is still in two days, after all."

"Doesn't mean I can't be excited," Ralph replied, then lifted up a stack of posters from the floor. "Now, are you going to help me put some of these posters up or what?"

[norabrice1701]

High Octane - Ch. 4

A Powerboat Racer!Zemo x Fem!Reader AU Series

Series Main List

Chapter Warnings: Explicit NSFW 18+ smut (including hate sex, light spanking, possessive marking, unprotected sex (no stated use of contraception), dirty talk, struggle for dominance), explicit language, enemies-to-lovers trope, references to racing related death & danger, reader angst & stubbornness

Chapter Word Count: 5.9k

Chapter 4: Thursday

You wrinkled your nose as Luke Bryan’s “One Margarita” blared from the speakers mounted under Iron Man’s sunshade. It certainly wasn’t Tony’s taste in music, but you knew that Thor didn’t really care about such things. He only cared that the sound system had enough volume to fill the camp.

By now, you were used to the Iron Man Racing Team camp occupying the space of a large circus. Between the bevy of personal motorcoaches for you, Stephen, and others; the Iron Man, herself, and her protective sunshade; the garage trailer and spare parts trailer; and, merchandise trailer for adoring fans – the camp made for an impressive site.

The other racing teams had similar camps up and down the waterfront, but Tony Stark never traveled light. When anything could happen during a race with less than 48 hours to make repairs before the next race, he never wanted to be caught unprepared again. Whether that meant spare couplers, backup torque wrenches, spotless Armani suits, or ice-cold beer for the pit crew 24/7 - it was a lesson that he had learned well.

Stephen already stood beneath the garish red sunshade, arms crossed against his chest as he watched the proceedings. It was impossible to tell how the rest of his night went, and he was never one for divulging his exploits (unless a bystander tweeted an unfortunate photo). He didn’t look at you as you drew up alongside him, but his voice carried over the music. “A thank you wouldn’t go amiss.”

You squinted at him beneath your sunglasses. “Excuse me?”

“A thank you.” He repeated with the full force of his annoyance. “For saving your ass. For tipping off PR that unflattering photos might surface on social media or other outlets.” He sighed, disgusted. “You know, when I said ‘get fucked’, I meant in the orgasmic way - not in the ‘risking the integrity of your position on the team by having a public showdown with Zemo’ way.”

You sighed as the tense frustration from last night resurfaced. “That wasn’t what happened.”

“Sure looked like it to me – and the others at the bar who knew what they were looking at.”

“He stuck his big nose where it didn’t belong, and I told him differently.”

“Yeah. That’s exactly what it looked like.” The force of his sarcasm could strip paint from the boat’s hull.

“Look,” you grit your teeth. “You’re my teammate – you’re supposed to have my back, right?”

“Trust me, if I hadn’t notified PR, you’d have a lot more people raining shit down on you. So, yes, I have your back - and, yes, you’re going to take all the shit that I care to give you and then some if you want to stay in my cockpit.”

It may have been Tony’s boat, but it sure as shit was Stephen’s cockpit. You bit your tongue and let yourself be scolded. In hindsight, you thought that you’d handled yourself pretty well last night. Especially considering how much you wanted to slap the attitude from your first dance partner’s face, and then give the baron a nice shiner for his interference. You hadn’t meant to dance with him – honestly, you hadn’t. But dammit if that’s what he hadn’t lured you into.

“What the fuck is this?” Rocket’s loud, shrill call sliced the thick silence between you and Stephen. “Who in the hell packed this piece of garbage?” He stood on top of the hull with grease smudges on his face, his unusual-colored hair spiked from the stressed tracks of his fingers. “No aluminum! No fucking aluminum!” He lobbed the indeterminate metal component to the ground with a disgusted glare. “We better have stainless hose ends in the trailer, or someone’s head is going to roll.”

“Calm yourself, Rocket.” Thor reassured amicably as he uncovered the exhaust ports. “You know very well that stainless isn’t exactly immune to saltwater, either, and we’re still working to change over the full inventory.”

“Ok, smart guy,” the shorter man spat as he jumped down to the ground. “It lasts longer than fucking aluminum, and I ain’t gonna have them,” he jabbed a finger over at you and Stephen, “tell Stark who tells you who tells me that I didn’t do my job right by installing a faulty part.”

Thor just beamed his megawatt smile and made a grand gesture towards the parts trailer as Rocket brushed by him.

“Well,” Quill grumbled without turning from the propellers. “Someone’s certainly in a mood today.”

“You just focus on the propeller setup, and I’ll worry about him.” Thor reassured, walking around the stern towards you and Stephen, offering a warm smile in greeting. “We’ll have her ready in five, ten minutes tops. Winds of five mph, calm seas – you’ll need a consistently higher trim, and you should get that performance from the setup today.”

Stephen nodded. “And the vibrations that I mentioned?”

Thor returned the nod. “We’ve doubled the clamps on the distributors now. So, if you don’t feel an improvement, we’ll just keep double-clamping every system until we isolate it.”

The water had been so rough during yesterday’s race to nearly rattle the engine to pieces, but now, of course, it was calm enough to skip rocks across. At least, the rough water had exposed a weakness in the boat – a weakness that had been repaired and now needed to be tested.

That was how you found yourself slicing through the open water not 35 minutes later. Two practice buoys resided on the south side of the island, away from the hustle and bustle of the harbor that was only cleared for race day events. The bright sun gleamed down on the hull of your red and gold boat as you cut through through the emerald blue sea.

Iron Man sang beneath your fingers, alive with unmistakable power and razor-sharp precision under Stephen’s competent control. Refreshing energy coursed through you as you kept both hands on the wheel, jostling in your seat with the gentle wave action. As much as you loved the thrill of competition, there was something to be said for the peaceful freedom of simply flying full throttle across the open ocean.

“Torque’s on the line.” Stephen called out as you held her steady, and he consulted his watch. “Gonna let her ride here for two minutes.”

With open water ahead and behind you, you deliberately shifted your focus to the feel of the boat. The vibrations that Stephen had noted after yesterday’s race needed to be fixed, and only the two of you could determine if it was successfully done. You listened to the steady, muffled whine of the engine through your helmet; you felt the force in your seat, the pressure on your body, the traction of the wheel beneath your fingers. You shook your head quickly before speaking up. “I don’t feel anything off.”

“Me, neither.” Stephen confirmed. “The repair job seems to have worked.”

The corner of your mouth tugged to a smile. Little else in your life may be satisfying right now, but at least, this was.

“Turn coming up.” You said, feeling the Iron Man decelerate as Stephen already anticipated the maneuver. The boat cut into the curve as you turned the wheel, and the propellers dug into the water. Without other boats vying for position, you held a clean line and shot smoothly into the clear water as Stephen opened the throttle.

Only… only now, you weren’t alone.

Your face hardened to a scowl at the dark outline barreling towards you on the open water. You didn’t want to believe it, but you recognized it all too easily. Your fingers tightened against the steering wheel, and the muscles of your jaw tensed as you groaned. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

“For as much as you bitch about him, you two do think an awful lot alike.” Stephen shook his head, adjusting the throttles to open the Iron Man’s engines wide.

The black and purple catamaran flew by you as you completed the opposite leg of the oval-shaped circuit. You shook your head, focusing on the buoy ahead. “At least he’s a whole leg behind us.”

“Would that stop you?”

“Unlike him, I don’t pay my throttle man’s salary.” You steered into the turn as the boat’s speed dropped.

“Correct.” Stephen agreed. “And we’re only out here to shake out any bugs from the repairs – not to preview tomorrow’s race.”

That didn’t stop you from glaring at the blurred purple insignia as Zemo Racing streaked by you, going the opposite direction. You didn’t know what Zemo and Barnes were testing, but of course, they just had to pick this fucking time. Shifting your focus to the water ahead of you, you realized that the boat’s speed hadn’t increased after the turn. A quick glance at the gauges revealed a torque of 3500 rpm – well below your usual 6800-7000 pm.

You shot Stephen a glare. “What are you doing? Is something wrong with the boat?”

“No, nothing.” He confirmed, his voice focused. “The slower RPMs can reveal vibrations masked at higher RPMs. That, and… like you said, you don’t pay my salary.”

“Oh, hell no.” Your hands flexed against the wheel. “You are not going to let that bastard pass me on purpose.”

Stephen pointedly ignored you, taking note of the gauges and his watch before punching the throttle. The Iron Man rocketed forward, and the acceleration pressed you against your seat. This was far more like it.

You looked down at the rearview camera and saw Zemo coming up hard behind you. But all too soon, the force of deceleration hit you, and you pounded a palm against the wheel. “No, come on!” You urged. “You can’t let him pass me!”

“I can, and I will.” Stephen scolded. “I’m not going to let you engage him at the risk of breaking something that jeopardizes the actual race tomorrow.”

You grit your teeth in frustration but lined up for the turn anyway – you had a good position and clear sight on the inside curve. Maybe you wouldn’t hit it as fast as you might during a race, but you still had obvious control of the inside line. At least, you did until the black catamaran screamed past you on the port side, forcing you into a sudden, jarring, evasive wide turn. Zemo slid into the curve, stealing your line and smoothly executing the turn.

A growl of frustration passed your lips as adrenaline surged. “Fucking hell!” You peeled off the course, and Stephen decelerated to a stop. “That fucking bastard!” You saw red, breathing hard as you tore at your restraint harness.

“Come on, grow up,” Stephen grumbled over the idling engine. “You know that wasn’t a legal move – he can’t pull that crap during competition.”

“Then he shouldn’t fucking do it now!” You popped your canopy hatch and pushed to your feet. Your racing shoes held solid traction against the sleek hull as you stood to your full height, glaring at the black boat as she came back around the circuit. With all the frustrated force that you could muster, you let loose a loud cry as Zemo’s boat flew by, brandishing your middle finger all the while.

Okay. In hindsight, maybe it wasn’t your best or most mature move. Perhaps you should have just withdrawn back to the shore and not let Zemo see how much he had gotten under your skin. Which he wasn’t, dammit.

He wasn’t.

At least, there hadn’t been any press around to capture your outburst which was more than you could say for your current setting. And, quite frankly, you’d rather be anywhere else than the reception for key sponsors and donors.

Fortunately, Stephen always represented the team well. You did your best to match him, even though all you wanted to do was get drunk and pass out. But that wasn't an option on the night before race day. Instead, you gripped the stem of your mocktail glass tighter and tried to keep your smile in place. You just needed to find an outlet for the tension that steamed beneath your skin.

And, of course, Zemo wasn’t helping.

He mingled through the crowd with graceful ease, sipping a drink of his own. He held himself with such poised, regal bearing – a true indicator of his aristocratic upbringing – and effortless, charming smiles. Leave it to him to know just how to work over a crowd of people with deep, generous pockets.

It incensed you all the more. And even worse – you couldn’t escape him.

Well, at least, until you abandoned your drink and retreated to the women’s restroom. You braced against the marble counter, knuckles whitening in frustration.

The utter prick. The absolute bastard. Why was he always getting the better of you? Why was he always just edging you out of every goddamn line? He certainly wasn’t a mind reader – no matter how his words had rankled you on the dance floor last night. But why… why couldn’t you get the upper hand even just one fucking time?

You drew a deep breath, trying to reign in your thoughts, but still his words lurked in your ear. Was he right? Were you your own worst-enemy? Suddenly, you could hear Stephen’s scolding voice - and alright, maybe there was some truth to that - but what about Zemo? He was doing absolutely nothing to help. Perhaps that explained why you had fallen under his spell last night. And, worse, you couldn’t shake the frustrating feeling that he knew exactly what he was doing.

The heavy door whispered open, and you quickly straightened but didn’t relinquish your grip on the counter. You stared at your reflection in the mirror, hoping to unclench the tight set of your jaw - but you froze at the sight behind you.

Helmut Zemo commanded the space like he owned it, eyes boring through you in the mirror’s reflection. His hands rested casually in the pockets of his navy, well-tailored trousers, looking for all the world like he hadn’t just cornered you in the women’s restroom.

Nothing about his presence helped your mood, and the scowl on your face deepened as you glared back at him. “Get out. Now.”

His head tilted as he regarded you for a long moment before finally speaking. “Not until we get something straight first.”

You shook your head tersely. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Good.” His polished shoes clipped off the tile as he took slow steps towards you. “All the better for you to listen.” He stopped just behind you, a looming presence in the mirror as his face hardened with fierce disapproval. “Maybe you thought you were being clever. Or, maybe you thought you were justified, or that I deserved it. But you should know better than to pull that stunt on the water again.”

Your knuckles tightened against the counter. “You have no fucking business - you’re the one who fucking stole my line. I had that corner -.”

“But I had the edge and the advantage on speed.”

“You blinded me! Threw your spray right in my face - and if I hadn’t… fuck.”

He gave his head a terse, sharp shake. “And none of that excuses your childish response - standing on your hull like that, flipping your middle finger. You only do yourself a disservice.” He moved closer, and a shiver raced through you - a shiver that had nothing to do with the heat emanating from him in contrast to the cold counter beneath your hands. “Imagine if the press had captured you at that moment - do you think that you would still have a job?”

“Of course I would.” You snapped, unable to stop from turning your head to let him take the full force of your harsh stare. “Telling you to fuck off isn’t a condemnation.”

Something sparked in his eyes - something predatory, something primeval - and fuck, nothing about it should make your body burn, make your blood heat with arousal. But as you held his gaze, you realized just how your heart pounded and your breathing quickened. Fuck, fuck - needy, demanding heat started to seep between your thighs.

He wet his top lip, and you were helpless not to follow the sweep of his tongue before he spoke. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t consider it an invitation. After all, why would I associate with someone who deliberately demeans the prestige of the sport and debases herself so thoughtlessly?”

Your hands flew from the counter as you reeled around. You pushed at Zemo’s chest with the palms of your hands, trying desperately to move him but he held his ground. “You fucking bastard! Can’t you see that this is all because of you? Because every time I fucking turn around - you’re there! Every time I find my line - you’re in the fucking way!” You pushed at his chest again, frustrated to find him an immovable force as his face hardened.

“And you’re always there letting me get the better of you. You know what you have to do - same as me. Yet you let yourself get distracted - you let me get in your way.” He shook his head ever so slowly, his eyes dark and ravenous with the last thread of control. “It’s all within your power to be better - to be the best - but you never take it, do you?”

Your body burned as your chest heaved. Your hands clenched, fighting every urge to push at his chest again, to claw at his back, to suck his tongue into your mouth - any goddamn thing to work him up as badly as you were. Your eyes bored through his as the air hung thick and heavy between you. You bit your lip, fighting every instinct within you as you forced a hard swallow before speaking. “You know what, baron? You’re not fucking worth it.”

He snarled as his mouth crashed to yours, all sharp teeth and bruising force and shitfuckyes. You moaned into the heat of his mouth, nails of your other hand digging into his fabric-covered back. He growled, low and determined as you both refused to yield or back down on the intensity as his hand cupped the back of your head. Your tongue invaded the hot cavern of his mouth, deepening the harsh, perfect contact. He chased your tongue and battled for dominance, but you pulled back, biting down hard on his lower lip.

He hissed sharply. “A dirty move.” His hand on the back of your head screwed into your hair, tugging at the roots until you groaned in discomfort. “But, by all means - let’s play dirty.”

His mouth fastened to the column of your throat as your head tilted back under the guiding pressure of his hand. You moaned at the suction of his mouth, at the intentional scrape of his teeth. You knew exactly what he was doing to the tender skin of your neck, placed so high that no shirt collar could possibly hide it. You groaned in frustration. “Not so hard, you bastard.” Your hand thumped against his broad back in annoyance despite the pleasure singing in your veins. “People will stare.”

“Let them stare.” He growled against your skin, tonguing over the lovebites that you both knew would bloom dark purple by morning. “Let them wonder who marked you.” He nipped again at your skin, drawing your shuddering gasp. “Let them wonder who owns you.”

“You don’t own me, asshole.”

His chuckle rumbled along your skin as his strong arm snaked around your waist. “We'll see.” His arm tightened, crushing you against him as he spun you around.

Your backside hit the chilly counter with the hot wall of his body pressed against your front. You clawed at his back, hoping that your nails would snag the fine fabric of his suit jacket as his mouth returned to yours, and you fought him for control. He moved in closer, forcing you to sit back against the counter, a strangled moan leaving you as a strong hand parted your thighs to accommodate the tight press of his hips. You bit down on his lip again as the hard, hot line of his erection pressed against your clothed, aching center.

He grunted at the sharp pain and brought a hand down to strike the swell of your ass above the counter. The jarring contact made you arch into him, a breathless moan in your throat as you clung to him. He hummed in smug satisfaction, cursing low in Sokovian as his mouth reattached to the soft skin of your throat.

You tore at the buttons of his dress shirt, desperate to leave marks of your own. When your nails finally found skin, you raked red lines against his chest, delighting in the hardened pressure of his mouth in response. Fuck, you were so far gone - especially as his hands pushed at the hem of your dress, scraping up your thigh to where you burned with liquid heat.

His finger dragged over your clothed sex, again cursing low in his native tongue. “You are so ungodly wet for me, draga.” He pressed against your clit, mercilessly rubbing through your drenched underwear. You whimpered, trembling in his embrace as curls of pleasure burned up your spine. He chuckled low and dark as he nipped at your skin. "And you say that you're not mine….”

“You don’t -.” Your words broke off with a sharp gasp as he lightly slapped your clit. “You don't own shit.”

“Your mouth is so filthy.” He tugged at the edge of your underwear before his fingers dragged through your wet slick. “Matches the rest of you.” He pushed two fingers in hard without warning, burying up to his knuckles as he spread you open.

Your heel dug into his backside as you cried out at the onslaught. Fuck, it had been so long, and his fingers were so good. You continued to grab and claw at every part of him that you could reach, clinging to him in desperation. He raced your body to the redline of orgasm with the same effortless ease that he raced his boat, and you bit your lip hard to hold back.

He nipped along your ear, his breath impossibly hot. “Stop fighting. Let this happen - let go for me.”

“Fuck you.”

“If you insist.” He sharply withdrew his fingers, and you moaned at the bereft feeling, so damn close yet so damn far. With quick movements, he tore at his belt and trousers, pushing back against you before you even had a chance to look. But the thick, solid feel of his cock sliding through your slick had your mouth instantly watering.

The tip of him caught, and fuck - the stretch of his fingers wasn’t enough. You went dizzy and breathless as he pushed in with a swift stroke, both groaning as your body enveloped his. It shouldn’t feel this good, it shouldn’t feel this right - it shouldn’t feel like everything your life had been missing as he pulled back and slammed deep.

You fell against him, drowning in the intoxicating scent of his cologne and leaving lovebites of your own on his neck. Your body sang with mounting pleasure, but with your last shred of sanity, you refused to let him take you so easily. You clenched your muscles around him, gripping him so tight. Again, you bore down on his cock, tearing a snarl from him that shot a thrill of victory through you.

His rhythm stuttered as he growled, again smacking your backside. "You won't… fuck-." His words choked off with a groan as you tightened around him. "You won't make me come first. It's your turn to finish first for fucking once."

He dragged you from the counter before you could respond. The world spun as he crowded you back against the nearest marble wall, precariously balanced on one leg as he gripped the other tight around his hip. His cock sunk deeper, shooting sparks up your spine with each resumed thrust. There was so much sensation to comprehend as he pounded into you with ruthless precision and pointed determination. Your cries echoed off the marble surroundings as you clung to him, torquing higher each time he buried to the hilt.

"You're so close… I can feel it." His voice was ragged with exertion and restraint. "Like a goddamn vise-grip." He grunted with renewed vigor as your moan trembled against his skin. "I know you want to - so, do it. Take it, and come on my cock."

Your body screamed past the redline, and the rush of orgasm slammed through you. Ecstasy severed your mind from your body as you convulsed around him, clawing him ever closer as he pushed to his own end. The hot spill of him inside you accompanied his long groan as you both existed in the mindless moment of overwhelming release.

Your chest heaved against his, gulping down air as your leg muscles trembled from overuse. Your mind spun, strung-out and overworked as you buried your face against his neck. God, you shouldn't - shouldn't have done this, shouldn't want him to stay right where he was, shouldn't ask him back to your motorcoach, shouldn't let your heart beat in time with his.

He pressed a shockingly gentle kiss over the prominent mark on your neck, making you hiss and clench around his softening length as pain flared along your skin. His lips made another tender pass. "You're so gorgeous…." His words came so low that you weren't sure if he meant for you to hear them, but heat bloomed deep in your sated core as unbidden affection burst in your chest.

He slipped from your body, sliding down your front as if he could no longer resist gravity's pull. A strong hand wrapped around your thigh, spreading you wide as he lowered to taste your combined mess. His tongue swept along your sensitive folds, teasing and licking, before moving to focus on your clit.

You whimpered, scrambling for purchase against anything solid and only finding his lush hair. He mouthed at you with purposeful strokes full of adoring reverence - and fuck, this was something different. Something far too intimate. Gone was the fervent rush, the all-consuming angry need, and your heart threatened to burst. Especially as you looked down and caught his dark eyes raw with desire as he watched you writhe on his tongue.

Your head thumped back against the marble wall, fingers tightening in his hair with a moan. "You're just…," your words came through heavy breaths, "so fucking unfair."

His answering hum vibrated against your clit, and all too soon, you found yourself teetering on the edge. He catapulted you over with relentless drive as you shook apart in blissful release, utterly spent and unable to deny him. His tongue coaxed you through, swiping along your folds and teasing just inside to trigger delicious aftershocks.

Slowly, you came down from the high, finding yourself slump against the wall as you tried to find your breath. You forced a hard swallow, tugging at his hair and hating the warmth that grew in your heart when he placed a final kiss to your slick skin. "Fuck," you breathed, shuddering as your stomach twisted in conflicted knots. "Why did you… I hate you. I fucking hate you."

"I know." He sounded equally wrecked and uncertain as he withdrew. "I know." He licked his lips, breathing heavily as he struggled to compose himself. Unsteadily, he rose to his feet and gathered his trousers as he turned for the closest sink.

You took the chance to escape to the nearest stall, wiping away the remaining evidence of your coupling and surprised to find that he had taken care of most of it. You righted your damp underwear and wrinkled dress, closing your eyes to fortify yourself and calm your spinning mind. Relaxed contentment suffused your blood, and your body hummed with satisfaction. Honestly, you just wanted to go back to your motorcoach and sleep for days. But you knew what waited for you on the other side of the stall door, and your stomach clenched.

What could you possibly say to Zemo after he just fucked you within an inch of your sanity? After he dropped to his knees and made you feel more precious than anyone else ever had?

A vise tightened around your heart as you recognized the feeling. But it wasn’t possible. You weren’t attracted to him. You didn’t care for him. Hell, you weren’t sure you even really liked him. Right? How could you? You knew almost nothing about him. This was just sex and lust - a release of frustrating, boiling tension. It didn't mean a goddamn thing.

But then why had he supped from you like a man who found the elixir of life?

Water started to run at a sink, and you undid the latch on the stall, shoving your conflicting thoughts aside with a deep sigh. He ran his hands under the tap as you approached, wiping his mouth and stooping to swish a mouthful of water. It made sense - he couldn't exactly go back to the reception with your slick on his chin or his seed on his breath.

Shit - the reception. How had you forgotten? A stab of paranoia bolted through you as you frantically turned towards the door. Good god, had anyone knocked or, worse, tried to enter earlier?

"I locked the door." He said softly, drawing your attention. "Doesn't mean the door's soundproof, though."

You nodded hesitantly. "We can only hope."

He reached for a towel, drying his face and hands as he eyed you carefully. "Otherwise, are you alright?"

You blinked back at him, wide-eyed and surprised before finding your voice. "Yeah, I'm alright…." Heat crept to your cheeks, and you didn't catch the lift of your lips as you drowned under his gaze. "Better than alright, actually…."

He nodded slowly, the corner of his mouth lifting with hesitance. "I... I'm sorry that I didn't ask… if we needed protection."

You scoffed, rolling your eyes. "Your prowess isn't that powerful. I wouldn't have let you fuck me bare if I didn't have it covered."

"Doesn't mean it wasn't inconsiderate… or, reckless."

"We're paid to be reckless for a living, aren't we?"

He paused as something infinitely sad flashed across his face and disappeared just as quickly. Slowly, he nodded. "Yes… I suppose we are."

"And you're your own boss, so you have no one to blame but yourself, I suppose."

His mouth pinched to a tight line. "Right." His footsteps fell nearly silent against the marble floor as he stepped away from the counter.

Glancing in the mirror, your jaw nearly fell open at the dark marks already blooming into view on your neck. "Holy shit.” You leaned in closer, running your fingers over the bruised tableau. “Are you sure that you're not part cannibal?"

The only answer that greeted you was the door's soft-close hinge.

0.5 Years Ago

Smoke billowed from the racecourse. The sudden conflagration that consumed the boat mid-race brought everything on shore to a standstill. Your stomach plummeted to your feet as your mouth dropped open, stunned at the sight. It wasn’t the Super Cat class of boats – in fact, your race had just ended – but watching the Super Stock class boat burn still sickened you.

The crowd grew around you, concern and fear palpable in the air. A loud boom echoed across the water as a fireball erupted from the boat’s stern. Your hand flew to your face as you scanned the water for any sign of bright orange helmets, but you were too far away.

Quiet murmuring sounded next to your ear over the nervous pounding of your heart. Zemo stood next to you in the crowd, transfixed by the unfolding disaster and burning boat. Of course, there was no race broadcast in the crane loadout area, and all anyone could do was watch. He continued to speak in low, reverential tones as his fingers worked at his shirt collar. The silver necklace appeared, and he pressed the pendant to his lips. You thought you heard a quiet ‘Amen’ pass his lips.

“They’re alright!” A voice called out to the assembled crowd. “The driver and throttle man escaped before the fuel tank blew, and are safely aboard the rescue boat.”

A weight lifted from your chest, and you felt like you could breathe again. You exhaled a deep sigh, still more shaken than you cared to admit. Even despite all the safety measures, boats still flipped over, engines still burned, and people still died in the world of offshore racing. You hadn’t witnessed the death of a fellow racer during your tenure, but you knew the veterans had seen their handful of tragic goodbyes. It was just a fact that the longer you stayed in the sport, the more likely it became that you would witness someone die on the water.

A shiver ran down your spine despite the humid St. Petersburg, Florida heat.

“Are you alright?” Raspy, accented words reached your ears and you turned to meet Zemo’s concerned gaze. “You look a little pale.”

You forced a hard swallow, bristling in defense. “Yeah, I’m alright.” You nodded vaguely out at the water. “That’s just a sight no one wants to see – but I’m glad they got out.” Turning back to him, your gaze caught on the flash of silver still visible along his shirt collar. “What about you? You… reached for that necklace that you always kiss before each race.”

His mouth pinched at the corners. “Yes… that’s – it’s something of a habit.”

“It looks more like a ritual to me.”

His eyes sharpened with a shrewd edge. “You’re not entirely wrong.”

Your brow pinched in mild surprise. You couldn’t say why, but you didn’t expect him to admit it. Silence lingered as you waited for him to speak, and your brow furrowed. “Aren’t you going to tell me more about it?”

“Quite the personal question, don’t you think?”

You shrugged a shoulder. “You make it quite public each time you dig under your collar.”

People slowly dispersed around you as a thick silence hung between you. Had you really overstepped by asking? Was he offended that you wouldn’t let it go? His inscrutable expression gave you no clarity in either direction, and you swiped your tongue along your top lip before speaking. “Am I really the first person to ask?”

“We each have our own way of reconciling the danger of this sport.” He said swiftly, his face hardening even as his eyes softened with long-held heartache. “The necklace was a gift from my wife upon the birth of our son. And now… now, I suppose you could say that they’re my guardian angels.”

An unfamiliar, fluttering feeling grew in your stomach as his words sunk in. The corners of your mouth started to lift with an unbidden smile but you caught yourself. “That’s….” Words burst in your mind that you’d never associated with Zemo before – sweet, adorable, touching, heart-wrenching. You exhaled sharply, not sure exactly what to say. “Well, thank you… for telling me. I – you know, that makes sense.”

You couldn’t understand the look on his face, but his sharp eyes bored straight through you. The breath caught in your chest, and you couldn’t look away to save your life. At length, he nodded gently and the spell broke. Air rushed into your lungs as he glanced back out over the water before pivoting back towards the shore.

He cast you one last glance, the corner of his mouth lifting handsomely. “Take care, and I’ll see you next race.”

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[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Manta Ray 101 Mitchell's first Corvette creation came in 1959, a rebodied 1957 SS test mule originally built by Duntov. This was the first embodiment of Mitchell's oceanic inspired Corvettes, created for SCCA competition, which Bill dubbed the Sting Ray. The Sting Ray was not only a strong inspiration behind the second generation Corvette, but it was the first in a line of Mitchell's conceptual ideas that would eventually lay the foundation for what would be Mitchell's greatest achievement, the Manta Ray. The Manta Ray concept debuted at the New York International Auto Show in 1965, known then as the Mako Shark I (a non-running model with the outside side pipes rising up into the front fenders).

Mitchell and Duntov disagreed on the on the design at first. Duntov felt cokebottle/narrow waist imposed limitations on the passenger pod. One day at the proving grounds, he was driving the new car when there was a tire failure. Zora held it up against the wall until he ground the fenders off right down to the door line and wheels. By the time it got down this far, the car had stopped. After that, he changed his mind about the utility of the wider fender area. Initial high speed tests revealed that the car was unstable at high speeds. The nose was too low, the front fenders were too high and obstructed the drivers visibility. Rear visibility was next to nothing and the overall 'lift' of the car at speed was unacceptable. Ref. There were two primary versions of the Makos. Mako Shark I, Mako Shark II and the Manta Ray. The three basic versions had many re-paints and minor changes over the years. The were several core design elements common to both Mako's. The basic design included a chopped roof, hinged roof panel, which raised to permit easier entry (flip top), sharp-edged fender lines, highly styled front clip (tilt front end), hood bulge and upswept tail. Gadgets on the cars included prism-type periscope rearview mirror, pop-up brake flaps, James Bond retractable bumpers, and louvered rear window. Features included finned knock-off aluminum wheels, several remote control switches, speakers in the headrests, and a state of the art interior (molded vinyl for wrap-around feel) with a digital readout for the speedometer & fuel gauge (most of the informational gauges were placed on the passenger side of the instrument pod, while only the speedo and tach were placed on the driver's side). In addition to the gauges, there was also a system of warning lights for all major fluid levels and another series of lights to warn of open doors and the like. In Mako Shark I and II, the seats were fixed and the accelerator/brake pedals moved on a one-piece control board. The Mako Shark II, first shown at the Paris Auto Salon in October 1965, was a running model with more conventional rear-exiting exhaust system. The exposed ends of the exhaust were quite highly styled in a boxed and finned arrangement much like the SS Racer. The mako Shark II also featured a retractable rear spoiler, and an extendable rear bumper, whereas the Manta Ray introduced an extended rear "boat-tail" fascia and side pipes which were available for the 1969 Corvettes. The Mako Shark II made use of a 427 Mark IV Big Block mated to a turbohydromatic three-speed automatic transmission.

The Manta Ray (unveiled in 1969), was a slightly redesigned Mako Shark II concept released to tour the show circuit shortly after the launch of the C3 Corvette. The Manta Ray introduced an all-aluminum 430hp ZL-1 V8, which would be an option on the 1969 C3 Corvette.

When the car was converted to Manta Ray, the louvered window concept was dropped in favour of the more conventional sugar-scoop arrangement. The original steering wheel, a small rectangular piece with controls for turn signals and transmission built-in, was changed to a more conventional wheel with the main controls moved to stalks o the steering column (by the Paris show). All Makos utilized the blue to white color scheme inspired by an actual mako shark that was Mitchell's prized catch from an earlier fishing excursion. Just as Mitchell's '59 Sting Ray race car & original '61 Mako Shark concept had a strong influence on the second generation Corvette, the Mako Shark II and Manta Ray concepts left an indelible mark on the third generation Corvette, as well as an influence on the Corvettes of today.

[Ref.: Mako Shark II and Manta Ray: Interview with Larry Shinoda © Wayne Ellwood, 1995]

[wasgreeneyedmnster]

Seahawk Inflatable Boat Set - 2020

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[megagroup-blog1]

Fibreglass produts Pakistan

Megaengs fiberglass school furniture Composits, highly professional staff having more than 20 years of experience in the Fibreglass produts in Pakistan located in Lahore. Megaengs are reliable manufacturer of fiberglass products, Steel Fabrication, Heavy Duty Structure, Light Gauge Steel Framing, Pre-fabricated Canopies & Pre-Engineered Buildings etc. Our commitment is to give our customers the confidence on product selection and educate them on its use. Megaengs invite you to visit our platform for a demonstration of our potentials and a variety of products we have designed, fabricated and delivered…

Mega Marine innovation opened up recreational boating to a whole audience more than six decades ago. That same passion for design and engineering leadership is alive at your Fiberglass pallets Wellcraft dealership showrooms for the 2018 season.

MES Group introduced MEGA MARINE SECTION having production facility in Karachi to account for the needs of shipping companies, forest and fisheries department and for survey fiberglass ladders Pakistan and speed boats for dams and reservoirs at decent cost and excellent state of the art engineering work.

We provide best boat riding fiberglass boats Pakistan We are the number one supplier of pedal Multipurpose Boats. We sell every major brand manufactured, brands including Pelican, Ameriform, Future Beach, Contour, contour ray park, Sun Fun, Sun Dolphin, etc… Pedal boats come with or without motors and some people call them paddle boats. Motorized pedal boats are also known as electric mini pontoon boats.

This information is offered to assist in the purchasing and proper installation of underground direct buries fiberglass tanks. Use the following guideline to communicate with Fiberglass storage Tanks suppliers and installing contractors. Please note that MES (MEGA ENGG SERVICES) does provide a comprehensive installation manual FRP/GRP School Furniture and verbal assistance to all fiberglass door window our products. Mega Gate is a tube design frame, which can be in filled with one of Mega steel tube designs, manufacturers mega fencing, aluminum or stainless steel grp tank manufacturers or steel welded wire panels. The swing gates tube design can also be furnished in aluminum or stainless steel. Mega Gates are protected by an extremely effective coating system, giving long life with a touch of elegance. Fiberglass Cabins and External Sheet Fiberglass Sheets 2mm Corrugated/Plain MS Sheet fixed with riveting or welding process.

Primer coat followed by high-quality anti-rust paint of desired color.3” Fiberglass waste Bins Thermo pore filling next to it for insulation against weathering effects.Steel welded structure of MS sq. pipe or angles to contain insulated material and holding external casing sheets.

[millenniumbuilding]

Top 10 Reasons Metal Carports Are the Ultimate Outdoor Shelter

When it comes to protecting your vehicle and other valuable outdoor equipment, metal carports offer an unbeatable solution. Durable, versatile, and cost-effective, metal carports have become the go-to choice for many homeowners. Here are the top 10 reasons why metal carports are the ultimate outdoor shelter.

1. Superior Protection from the Elements

Metal carports provide excellent protection from harsh weather conditions. Whether it's rain, snow, hail, or the scorching sun, a metal carport shields your vehicle and belongings from damage. Unlike fabric or wood structures, metal carports are resistant to water, reducing the risk of rust and decay.

2. Durability and Longevity

One of the primary advantages of metal carports is their durability. Made from high-quality steel or aluminum, these structures are built to withstand the test of time. Metal carports are resistant to pests, rot, and fire, ensuring they remain sturdy and reliable for years to come.

3. Cost-Effective Solution

Metal carports are a cost-effective alternative to traditional garages. They require less material and labor to construct, which translates to lower costs. Additionally, the long lifespan and minimal maintenance requirements of metal carports make them a financially sound investment.

4. Quick and Easy Installation

Installing a metal carport is a straightforward process. Many manufacturers offer pre-engineered kits that can be assembled with basic tools and minimal expertise. This means you can have a functional outdoor shelter in a matter of hours or days, rather than weeks or months.

5. Versatility in Use

While metal carports are commonly used to protect vehicles, their versatility extends far beyond that. They can serve as shelters for boats, RVs, motorcycles, and outdoor equipment. Additionally, metal carports can be used as covered patios, workshops, or even outdoor storage spaces.

6. Customizable Options

Metal carports come in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors, allowing you to customize them to match your home and personal preferences. You can choose from different roof styles, such as gable, flat, or A-frame, and add features like side panels, enclosed walls, or extra height to suit your specific needs.

7. Minimal Maintenance Requirements

Unlike wooden structures that require regular painting, sealing, and repairs, metal carports are virtually maintenance-free. They are resistant to rust, corrosion, and pest infestations, meaning you can enjoy a clean and functional shelter without the hassle of frequent upkeep.

8. Eco-Friendly Option

Metal carports are an environmentally friendly choice. Many metal carport manufacturers use recycled materials in their construction, and the metal itself is recyclable at the end of its life cycle. Choosing a metal carport helps reduce the demand for new raw materials and minimizes your carbon footprint.

9. Enhances Property Value

Installing a metal carport can increase the value of your property. Potential buyers will appreciate the added protection and versatility that a metal carport provides. A well-maintained carport can be a selling point, making your home more attractive to prospective buyers. 

10. Adaptability to Different Environments

Metal carports are suitable for a wide range of environments, from residential properties to commercial spaces. They can be installed on various surfaces, including concrete, gravel, and dirt. Additionally, metal carports can be designed to withstand specific environmental conditions, such as heavy snow loads or high winds, ensuring reliable performance no matter where you live.

Conclusion Metal carports offer a multitude of benefits that make them the ultimate outdoor shelter. Their superior protection, durability, cost-effectiveness, and versatility set them apart from other options. Whether you need a simple car shelter or a multifunctional outdoor space, a metal carport is a smart and practical choice. With minimal maintenance requirements and customizable options, metal carports provide long-lasting value and peace of mind, knowing that your vehicles and belongings are well-protected. If you're considering adding an outdoor shelter to your property, a metal carport is undoubtedly the way to go. Protect your vehicle and enhance your property? Visit our website Millennium Buildings for detailed information.

[stupendoustrashmagazine]

Prelude

Tonight the act of naming fell through the floor.

We speak permeable solids inflected by light

Move indistinctly: palate of windshield 

Crosshatch hop-cross’d with Ovidian shift,

faux forest, treat’d with colors from closet

Plait plat in a plot to track flotillas down,

Hot air balloons up, celebrating distant

Prairie fair. Farmer’s burnoff coils tall

Ash columns, formations above turbines white.

Learn to kill that hunger for thunderhead drift. 

Can follow on foot synapse, taste confit,

Sketch figure, set type, code python on limb,

Design legend for—scratch the map, lost.

I want the aura to aural irrespective of sense

the quartet of styrofoam boats & balloons

of plastic bags forgiven along with conductor,

for it to catapult group out open window,

An aria, moved, moving, with others. The spleen 

Racket, melange dischord allowing 

harmony’s plural means of resolution.

Pipe seams bead’d with silver solder &

Dreams warp’d with passion’s endurance.

The trespass into yard with inflatable pool

where algal sideburns pastoralize 

a celebratory drowning ritual. 

Come back. Help me frame Matisse (guilty 

Strokes), rust the iron, damper temperment

Unclothed. Spill the hamper & sing it,

that magnolia 

We’ll stay long enough for faith in 

each other’s visions. For something beyond

earthly suffering. Sucked dry wax & cone. 

It is unfortunate, the dragonflies are

Purple & beautiful, abdomen metallic

terrae, nodes aggregate, curvature &

husk. Nearby: a field of lightning. The stroll

through it risked no electrocution. 

Cull’d from material body leads to matter again.

Association of associations.

Together, we’ll erase strip malls frosting away

In our chests, but we won’t be able to stop the ivy

From terraforming, maturing towards strangulation,

A form of survival. Walk a while into notional 

Forest, ash grey hit with newborn beetles,

No radar, cobalt blue tinted dark green.

Skykomish in Summer

In Goldbar Washington boys crossed 

river with driftwood staves feet

slick-step between slime & rock, 

underbelly of serpentine but liquefied,

algaal nets stretched between toes, 

Like scales without edge—stiffened

Cold after crossing were caverns 

shadows hold, shield from radiation,

& though they couldn’t admit this

touch was what they most wanted,

schizoid clouds temporary shelter

against frenetic sun, there in those

caverns the kids dove into pools

Spun in schools of spit & current 

Slippery grips grit on bank’s cove

tangle of nets, sunken conflagrations

Their bodies pressing against the wake   

a force there, a quiet endlessness

sound beckoning shape, the inky jar.

Repossession (1.)

Spring seeds fibrillate, sap drools.

Muddy lawns: aftermath of an approach.

Easter-green paint cracks, reveals cedar siding,

Disintegrates, falls to foundation’s edge close.

One could ask who lived here. Do most times

even though it’s’no secret. They lost it, left

We cut & to the porch fasten 2x4 handrails

(Suing a bank’s a better investment), step

Inside.Maple floorboards, worn-out testimony.

Each creak releases things outside in-

terpretation or language. Bathtub’s got

Concrete top pour’d but unfinish’d

punctured lining by PVC tubes like reeds

for lungs underwater, covered in mud.

The second story framing’s exposed, drywall 

crumbs caked, spackle pocks & joint compound

in gnarled clutches grab remains, fading.

Electrical wires in knots, pigtails,

Copper diminished in conduit. Empty

centers of things usually covered, then valued.

There is then the business of the yard

children’s toys—truck beds blue on body

red, bouquets of acrylic flowers, the 

eyeball amanita thrombosis, marbles 

½-cover’din mud.Dolls, ropes, figurines.

We clean out a carport barn, trash, 

automotive parts, motor oil, glass, aluminum.

Kinetic images sequence, make time elastic,

Revelations flaw; in sensorial beatitudes, a kind of wreckage,

Sight is a museum of things seen, they’re hostages:

Beneath the house, thousands of aluminum

Cans, vinegar, rat nests in an old tent,

Dust so fine it’s crystalline. We rake & bag for hours.

Outside, a doll hung from rhododendron

Its face torched, head cocked to the side, clothes

Missing, darling buds of May hooked at the armpit.

My boss talks about rural zoning laws

As we back out of the emptied house;

The wet half-acre prairie grass fenced-in & barbed

Waits for another debtor; we head again toward emptiness.

Repossession (2.)

In the truck. Behind us, trail-rattle

& typical thrash. My boss tells me

About the gem we’re about settle in.

It’s like wading through bodies, I think.

The metaphor breaks immediately. 

The driveway could be a fractured jaw—

I cut the grass with our Kubota mower.

The shed is fifteen feet away from the tracks

& an old sawmill spits nothing under sky.

Deadly nightshade drifts vascular across cedar

Siding, grey lead-based flakes fall in wet, cut weeds.

The red berries barrage, their Plathian pitch.

The mother-in-law’s a converted shed,

Its floor’s center sags, linoleum squares

Sepia-toned & checkerboard in easy encryption. 

I bleach & scrub the toilet, pour antifreeze in.

The makeshift porch’s missing walls on all sides:

Top hat Styrofoam insulation & DuPont

Foam curdled, cumulous, mustard & rust. I push open

The house’s door. Carpet bubbles carcinoma grey,

Whole sections swell a foot from level ground.

I taste urine & ammonium. Dust gets on our skin.

I grab my razor knife, “Rip in.” He laughs.

The carpet weighs twice what it should, I stack

Pieces on the lawn. The carpet pad has fused

In a foam matrix to subterranean linoleum.

I stab & lever it with a toothed roofing shovel.

D the cleaner & I stop. We just look at it.

Snowflakes, quite idiosyncratic, urea crystals, dust.

Maybe a year or so buildup from cats or dogs.

The bedroom the same. I laugh this time.

Tobacco stains headway, riverine drawings on walls.

Sappy window trim. Popcorn ceiling meteorologist:

Sheet of cottage cheese about to hail.

I go outside to sneak a cigarette near the tracks. 

We shovel the crystal uric acid into buckets.

Makes me think about molecular records.

An atomic record forever void its narrative. 

I pull up tack strip with a roofing shovel.

They’re like reeds, I think. We leave it

Mowed, gutted, clean. It’s quiet here near the tracks.

Sparrows. He starts the truck. Dust all over us.

We pass past things along with clouds.

We head to the dump. I unload. He reminds us

He hates dealing with the public.

Stamp

Over there in rotting field

Grows some storm with an eye

Toward an oak

One could say is trembling

But accounting for wind

Really it moves from force

& force alone while metastatic clouds 

Mid-west median June appraise

Landscape of prairie

& steel beams two-by-foured

In rows holding up a smattering,

Maybe just a platter of

Figurative three-tab shingles—

An economy of pigs, feed, birds, too:

It’s pulmonary, the bristles

Horizontally dance, thistles

In multiplication, an armory

Rucksacking its strength

Gripping seams & susceptible glue

Undone un-doing year

After year—from behind

One window of nondescription

A home chatters, clapboards flap,

Scratching like molars,

A singular flash gives rise

During descent—cast-iron

Frying each cornea clean—

Leaving in singular manner 

Carbonized stump, something

That doesn’t even look

For an original impulse

A root that once gripped

Mineral & dirt, an uneven pitch

Of earth left without

A stamp or reason for being.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#5yrsago Disneyland's original prospectus revealed!

Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, Boing Boing is pleased to present the first-ever look at the original Disneyland prospectus.

Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, Boing Boing is pleased to present the first-ever look at the original Disneyland prospectus. These extremely high-resolution scans were made from one of the three sets of pitch-documents Roy and Walt Disney used to raise the money to build Disneyland. There are no archive copies of this document. Neither the Walt Disney Company nor the Walt Disney Family Museum have it. But we certainly hope both organizations will download these documents for inclusion in their collections.

Roy Disney -- the Disney brother who controlled the company's finances - -- didn't like the idea of Disneyland at first. Walt Disney poached the best talent from the studios to help him flesh out his idea for a new kind of amusement park, eventually winning over Roy, who helped him raise the $17 million it took to build Disneyland.

The first animator Walt took into the project was the legendary Herb Ryman. Over the course of a weekend in 1953, Walt and Herb drew the storied first map of Disneyland, as pictured here. An additional eight typed pages of description and sales copy were added to these pages and the resulting "brochure" was used as an unsuccessful pitch session that Walt and Herb conducted for three different New York bankers.

This document changed hands at auction last year. The new owner has not indicated his interest in exhibiting or sharing the contents of this document. The new owner is Glenn Beck, a noted jerkface, so this is not surprising.

As for the document itself, there's a lot of interesting detail in it. I was quite struck by the extent to which the document focuses on Disneyland as a unique place to shop. This being the post-war boom-years, shopping was coming into its own as an American recreational passtime. And indeed, Disneyland has, at various times in its history, focused strongly on unique gifts. In the 1950s and 1960s, doing your Christmas shopping at Disneyland was quite the thing in LA (in those days, there was a separate, low charge for admission, and ride tickets were extra, so it was very cheap to pass through the gates in order to shop). In the 1970s and 1980s, the parks sported loads of wonderful, bespoke materials (I loved the Randotti souvenirs, especially the Haunted Mansion material). At various times since, the corporate emphasis on merchandise has varied wildly, though thoughtful, high-quality, distinctive merchandise now appears to be back in the mix.

But Walt's vision for what the company at one point called "merchantainment" (!) was more ambitious than anything yet realized inside the berm. Page one boasts of a "mail order catalogue" that will offer everything for sale at Disneyland (a kind of super-duper version of today's Disneyland Delivears). This catalogue was to feature actual livestock, including "a real pony or a miniature donkey thirty inches high."

Once we get to "True-Life Adventureland," we learn of even cooler (and less probable) living merchandise: "magnificently plumed birds and fantastic fish from all over the world...which may be purchased and shipped anywhere in the U.S. if you so desire."

The contrafactual Disneyland of 1953 wrestled with the future just as much as today's Disney parks do. The prospectus promises "slidewalks," a scientifically accurate space-simulator, robotic open kitchens and (of course) merchandise. But what merch! This being the golden age of science kits, Walt and Herb promised to send kids home from Disneyland with "scientific toys, chemical sets and model kits." We were also promised space-helmets. (I want a space helmet!)

Futurism and science fiction have been tough nuts for Disneyland to crack. When the park opened in 1955, there wasn't much budget to kit out Tomorrowland, so a bunch of corporate sponsors were quickly brought in to host some pretty dubious exhibits: the Kaiser Aluminum Hall of Fame (a giant tin telescope, a tin pig, and exhibits about the role of aluminum in American industry); a Dairy of the Future that featured models of cows with IVs in their hocks gazing at videos of pastures; the Dutch Boy Color Gallery (exploring the future through paint mixing). The crowning glory was a big-top tent housing the special-effects kraken from the film of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; it was staffed by a little person who hid inside it all day, making the tentacles wave.

There have been several attempts to remake Tomorrowland, of varying success. At one point, it became a focal point for insouciant Orange County goths, who congregated there every day after school, making good use of their annual passes. These days, Tomorrowland is thoroughly grounded in fiction from recently acquired franchises -- not futurism and the "factual world of tomorrow." There's a rather good Marvel Comics exhibit in the otherwise lacklustre Innoventions building, and lots of Star Wars-themed stuff to go with the revamped Star Tours ride (which is also rather good). No one seems to mind that a franchise set "a long, long time ago" is a dominant feature in Tomorrowland. Pixar is represented through a Buzz Lightyear ride/shooting gallery (where my wife regularly and thoroughly trounces me).

Finally, the prospectus makes a big deal out of the idea of a miniature walk-through land, "Lilliputian Land," where "mechanical people nine inches high sing and dance and talk to you." This is clearly inspired by Walt's experiences touring Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, and is the lineal ancestor of the Small World boats (created for Unicef's pavilion at the 1964 NYC World's Fair) and the Storybookland Boats. More to the point, it shows off how much Disneyland was really an elaborate plan by Walt to let extend the miniature train-set he'd build in his garden as therapy after his mental breakdown. The classic photo of Walt Disney hanging out of a train locomotive, grinning with pure, unfaked joy contain, for me, the real story of Disneyland: a man who struggled with depression and his relationship to the company he founded, restless with corporate culture and anxious to lose himself in play in a world of fantasy.

We are forever grateful to our anonymous source for this extraordinary document. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Disneyland Original Prospectus [archive.org]

A zip file of high-res TIFF files [4GB!] is also available.

https://boingboing.net/2014/05/20/disneylandprospectus.html

[cchmissions]

Barbados Mission Trip 12/19-20/19

Yesterday, 12/19/19, was an incredibly relaxing a fun day for us all. We all arose for a 5:15 am to meet and leave for a 6:00 am bus ride. The bus trip was a beautiful ride that wound up getting progressively fuller as we got closer to the main bus terminal in Bridgetown. We then took a bus from the main terminal to a second bus station, hopped of one bus to get on another and then that bus took us to the beach we would be meeting the affectionately named “Turtle Lady”. The “Turtle Lady” owns a glass bottom boat that would take us to swim with sea turtles and lots of colorful fish.

After the boat ride was finished we got back on a bus and headed back to Bridgetown. We walked through the city to Brown’s Beach were we set up camp for the day so people could shop downtown for souvenirs, lay on the beach, or just sleep. Brice and Amanda Wurdeman brought some of the WISE students to meet us at the beach and give us a ride back to the college. For dinner we stopped on the way to the college for pizza. I never knew that they had actual pizza here on the island, but low and behold they do. We all shared a meal together and then headed back to WISE to debrief with a devotional and then apply aloe vera to our slightly reader skin from the beach. It was a long, fun, and tiresome day. So we all slept very well that night.

Today, 12/20/19, we went hard out our various projects. We would only have half a day for the majority of us to work on the projects as we would be hosting a group of high schoolers from all across the island for a retreat. Before the high schoolers arrived we successfully completed the flower bed walls, completed painting and sealing the basketball court, and with the people not directly involved with the retreat finished painting the Dining Room/Kitchen building. It is difficult to explain just how amazing one of those task being completed would be let alone all three. Just understand that the words typed here do not do it justice.

Through out the week we have also had several smaller odds and ends projects that are not quite as big as the major projects. Nathan Sims fixed a squeaky vent fan on the roof of the chapel that sounded like a fire alarm when it was spinning just right. We have also fixed the printers and scanners in the computer lab to work with all the lab computers. As well as fixing some WiFi extenders in the staff housing areas to have a better connection. These may not sound like big tasks when we think of them back home, but with the staff actively involved with the ministry it is very difficult to find time to spend even an hour if they are lucky to fix these inconveniences. In some cases there is nothing they can do. We managed to fix an issue Brice was having with the scanner in his office. When we told him it was fixed he was very excited as he had been unable to use it for 3 months. These are the things we love to do for the missionaries here. Help them and encourage them. To make their work of ministering to the people of Barbados while we take care of the rest when we are here.

We greatly appreciate the prayers everyone has been sending to our father. Every year the work seems insurmountable and every year he gives us the strength, energy, and focus to do it all and then some. Please continue to pray for us we help the WISE staff with the retreat, continued prayers of safety, and prayers to constantly remember that God has been with us every step of the way.

Everyone waiting patiently to get on the glass bottom boat and go swimming.

A bunch of reder than usual smiling faces after a fun day at the beach.

Anna Marie painting WISE in the center of the basketball court.

The last push to finish painting the back wall of the Dining/Kitchen Building.

Chuck and the Wise students plugging away at the Wall Ball/Tennis Wall.

Guys working to finish the east wall.

Yes that is aluminum foil behind the WiFi antennas of a WiFi extender. How ever, it may look weird but it worked so that makes it not weird.

The basketball court crew putting on one of two layers of sealer.

A finished east wall.

We were able to finish this back wall by the late evening.

A finished west wall.

Chuck, Noah, and Aiden working into the night to finish the other wall.

Some of the high schoolers playing on the newly sealed basketball court.

Everyone together to worship for the evening session of the retreat.

[ceramics4you]

Spring is approaching! Time to clean up your boat and get ready for some beautiful weather and lots of fun! Contact us! We are Mobile! 832-738-7225 > CERAMIC COATING (6-Month to 5-Year Coatings) > Pressure Wash / Dry Microfiber Towels > Clay Bar (Remove Oxidation & Pollutants) > Buffing (Paint Correction) > Paint Prep (Remove all Wax residues from prior wax applications) > Apply Marine Ceramic Coatings Cleaning Services include: (All Marine Products) > Pressure Wash > Hand Wax > High-speed Buffing > Gelcoat Repair > Color Restorer > Scum Removal > Scratch & Swirl Removal > Black Streaks Cleaned > Non Skid Deck Cleaned > Compartments Cleaned > Livewell Cleaned > Electronics Cleaned > Glass Cleaned of Saltwater Stains > Vinyl Cleaned & UV Protected > Aluminum Waxed https://www.instagram.com/tx_coast_ceramic_coatings/p/BvCrNY4Aop_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cqlhapafhscb

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Things To Consider Before Getting A Powder Coating Job

Powder coating is a process that coats parts with a light powder to protect them from corrosion and rust. The powder is applied evenly and thinly to the surface of the metal and baked at high temperatures until it hardens. This process can be used on many different types of metals, including aluminum, copper, silver, and more. However, there are some factors you should consider before getting your hands on powder coatings, such as their benefits and pricing:

Benefits

Powder coating is a popular choice for exterior applications because it offers the following benefits: 

Durable – Powder coating is a durable finish that can withstand elements and high temperatures. It's also resistant to corrosion and scratch-and-chip damage, making it suitable for outdoor surfaces such as boat decks and cars.

Resistant to corrosion - Powder coatings are made out of metalized resins mixed with unique ingredients called fluxes that prevent water from attacking the surface while still allowing oxygen ions (oxygen molecules) through their pores to form an electrically conducting bond between two metals.

Scratch & Chip Resistant: Most types of paints/coatings do not provide much scratch protection compared with bare metal, but powder coating has better abrasion resistance than most other types due to its smooth texture, which makes it easier for abrasions not just scratches but also dents too!

Powder coating is UV resistant: You won't have to worry about needing to repaint your car or house every few years, as powder coating protects it from the elements for longer than paint. 

Easy to clean: You don't need special equipment or chemicals when removing paint from your car or house; just a damp cloth with some soap and water works just fine!

Pricing

Powder coating is much more expensive than paint, but it's less dripping-prone and doesn't have to be reapplied often, so it is a one-time investment. 

Variety

Powder coating also allows you to choose from several colors, including metallic bronze or gold plated options, if you want something brighter than the natural metal colors available in standard spray-on paints like flat black or silver gray shades that are commonly used on cars' bumpers today.

Size

The more extensive or complex your project is, the more likely you'll need multiple coats—and those additional costs won't come as cheap as they do with smaller jobs.

Closing thoughts

There are many things you should consider before making this decision. First, do your homework on the company you want to work for and its reputation. Second, ask yourself if it's something you want while looking out for jobs for your vehicle, like chrome delete. Starting your own business is difficult, but with persistence and hard work, anything can happen!

Article Bio: This article is based on powder coating and is written by an avid online writer.