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testormblog · 30 days

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Learning the Tools

Grade seven was a paradoxical year for me. On Saturdays, I pretended to be quiet and pious in confirmation class aside from my furtive winks at the pretty girl. Yet on Wednesdays, I was as noisy as I could be, banging the hell out of timber boards or tin sheets with a hammer and real religious fervour.

Pop was a tools man. Given I had lurked in his shadow since I began to walk, I wanted to be one too. My Uncle Alan, a bridge carpenter, was one but Dad wasn’t. It befuddled me that my father couldn’t drive a nail or use a screw driver. Maybe, Dad’s fingers lacked the dexterity required. Perhaps, I inherited my dexterity from Mother. She certainly had it to thread needles. Consequently, my father owned very few tools. Pop had probably given Dad the hammer and the hand saw hidden away in our shed although he came by when anything in our house needed repair.

I often ogled Pop’s tools. Alan stored his tools at Pop’s place too. I was careful not to let my light fingers anywhere near those. I learnt that tools were to men what jewellery was to women only useful. Whenever Pop worked with his tools, I watched intently. As I grew, he taught me their uses and how to handle them safely then let me help him. Sometimes, we worked together with the cross cut saw to fell trees. Young though I was, the saw was safer and easier to use with one of us at each end.

In my final two years of primary school, the Education Department gave me the opportunity to attend rural school one day a week at a much larger district school. This scheme strove to prepare boys, without academic prospects due to their circumstances, for a trade, and girls for home duties in readiness for marriage. Despite the government department’s dictum, my school teacher strongly discouraged me and other students from participation. Fortunately, the decision was ours and our parents to make. Since the Railway would issue me a travel pass, my parents didn’t care what I chose to do. So, of course, I was going! I was born to be a tools man. Ronnie was going too. His father didn’t mix his words with the school teacher. With the two class brains absent, the dunderheads remained and only wished to do diddy squat. Our school teacher found the situation quite an inconvenience. For the other four days a week, he attempted to mentally intimidate us whenever possible in front of our classmates. We knew his game and acted, as best as we could, like saints.

So, Ronnie and I caught the train to Beenleigh and walked the kilometre to the school. We were now thirteen and quite familiar with catching trains. Children from a few other country schools joined us. Before long, on our train trips home, an orange peel fight would erupt amongst everybody. Fortunately, we jumped off at the first stop and escaped these and the usual reprimand from the guard.

The first day was a big deal for us. We met the twenty plus other boys in our class. We felt a bit lost to start with amongst so many strangers. We had to find our way around the school too. This had lots of buildings, numerous teachers and hundreds of students compared with our one room one teacher school with forty children from the age of five to fourteen. It was really three schools in one, a primary, a secondary and the rural school with its two big sheds. When I saw inside these sheds, my eyes opened in wonderment. I wanted to use every tool in them. I eyed the electric powered tools enthusiastically. Pop didn’t own any of these! One shed was set up for woodwork and the other for tin smithing and technical drawing.

I thought our teacher was an odd man. Ronnie conferred. We found his mannerisms strange. Today, a person would say he was effeminate. Back then, we, country lads, were innocent of different sexual orientations. Soon after, I’d unfortunately see him drunk outside of school hours. Sadly, the harsh social judgement of the community cost him his job. The man didn’t act inappropriately or unkindly towards us or any boys we knew.

When the new teacher walked in, every single boy’s mouth gaped open in utter silence. A real hero stood before us! A very masculine one! This teacher was Wally Walmsley, an all round cricketer and the coach for the Queensland Cricket Team. Back then, cricketers worked in day jobs too. This hero was a batsman capable of batting in any position and was a master of the leg break and googly bowling techniques. Nobody played up in class! Of course, we boys played cricket with him at lunch breaks.

In woodwork, I learnt joinery, in particular how to dove tail two pieces of wood together with intersecting cut teeth. If one wanted to become a furniture or cabinet maker, they needed this skill. I was just happy I could now repair things that broke at home. The best thing I made was a sewing box with drawers, which I graciously gave to Mother. I really enjoyed working with wood and was quite skilled at it given Pop’s earlier teaching. I found tin smithing more difficult however. Cutting tin sheets into patterned pieces and hammering these into the required shapes to make cake tins and billy cans was easy enough. Alas, I struggled to solder the joins between the pieces of tin neatly. Whilst this worried me at the time, I needn’t have been concerned. I wasn’t destined to be a plumber. Besides, soldering would soon become an obsolete skill when the fabrication of metal tanks and the connection of metal pipework ceased.

Alas, the moment I picked up my pencil and slid my set square and T square around a large sheet of paper in my technical drawing class, my imagination came alive and my ability shone. I was already good at drawing. I realised a plan was just the specifications for a pattern to construct something. I knew about patterns and measurements. I had watched Mother draft and cut out hundreds of patterns for the dresses she sewed her clients. I also had a natural eye for perspective and could draw it in my diagrams. Perhaps, my roaming up and down dale over the countryside had developed my spatial awareness. Then, with my aptitude for mathematics, everything in technical drawing made sense.

I no longer knocked pieces of wood together in a haphazard way to build something. I calculated the size and measurements for my projects and drew scaled plans with different drawings for their various elevations and perspectives. I cut the timber or tin according to these plans and the scales required and built my projects. I used my brain to design and my hands to construct.

I grew from wanting to be a tools man, who followed instructions, to be a design man, who determined the instructions. I’d subsequently learn that draftsmen were the best paid of the trades too.

I had discovered my gift; a gift that would open the door to my future!

#learning the tools #tools man #rural school #woodworking #tin smithing #technical drawing #design man #draughtsman

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nevertoomanyspiders · 3 months

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lineup of The Gang

#doodles #wizard of oz #magic land #dorothy gale #ellie smith #scarecrow #strasheela #toto #tin woodman #iron woodman #cowardly lion #Волшебник Изумрудного Города #Элли Смит #Тотошка #Страшила #Железный Дровосек #Трусливый Лев #scarecrow of oz #tales of magic land

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buttercup-barf · 25 days

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Finally I can post this.

I participated in another artist telephone event in the Russian Wizard Of Oz/Emerald City community, and, well, here's my piece! I liked improvising the designs, that was fun.

#wizard of oz #wizard of the emerald city #shoutout to melnitsa's ''adventures in the emerald city'' that was probably the biggest inspiration for these folks' outfits here #ozma #princess ozma #queen ozma #wogglebug #hm wogglebug te #dorothy gale #ellie smith #tin man #tin woodman #iron lumberjack #scarecrow of oz #strashila #they found the golden cap again and are arguing what to do with it

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alioks-blog · 3 months

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"Wizard of the Emerald City" movie: what we know

The larger Oz fandom is probably focused on the upcoming "Wicked" movie right now, but we want you all to know that there's also a "Wizard of the Emerald City" movie coming (based on Volkov's books), and it's looking VERY promising!

Iron Woodsman's make-up looks sick, we can't even distinguish it from actual metal! And Strasheela will be played by a mime, with his face being animated in post-production later. Lion will be full-CGI.

And here is the wicked fairy Bastinda in all her glory! We love the decorations (in purple hues, by the way!) and the eye patch! Does she have a staff there? Interesting.

What do you call him in english? Cannibal? Anyway, he's looking very scary (yes, there's a Cannibal character in Volkov's canon). Toto is great, and so is our girl Ellie! It's so cool that she's played by an actual 8-year-old girl instead of a more grown-up one. The blurry background of that close-up suggests that maybe she's in a field, meeting Strasheela?

And now, get ready for the part that made us go absolutely BONKERS. Are you ready?

Urfin Jus will be there!!

This is crazy!! Urfin wasn't in the first book-- wasn't mentioned, that is. In-universe, he was serving as Gingema's underling until she was crushed by the wagon/van. But if the makers of this film are putting Urfin in it now, that really must mean that they'd like to make sequels as well. They're planning ahead, good for them! Aaaah, we really-really hope the film will be great and they will make more!

The kid actor is likely there for size reference and effects, since Urfin is supposed to be tiny. He's taller than an average munchkin, but he's still tiny. Which means that there will be scenes where he is around people taller than him? Will we see him interact with the wicked fairies? Or at least stand by them in silence, that would still be awesome!!

We also like his outfit. It's pretty original and canon: his hat has no brims and bells, his shirt is green, but the colours are all desaturated and dark, very fitting for a villain. And the belt??? Gosh darn it, we love a good practical leather utility belt with little bags and satchels. Never imagined Urfin wearing one of these, but it makes so much sense!!

This turned into a bit of a ramble, but can you blame us? We are going insane over this movie that is not even out yet.

#wizard of the emerald city #wizard of oz #волшебник изумрудного города #scarecrow #strasheela #ellie smith #totoshka #iron woodsman #tin man #(writing both names just in case)#urfin jus #bastinda #ozverse

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felicitywilds · 9 months

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and mickey???? dad ran off, mom committed suicide, grandmother tripped down the stairs he never fixed. like its no fucking wonder this boy has attachment issues. he just wants to be important enough for someone to stay

#doctor who #dw #nuwho #mickey smith #rise of the cybermen #also ricky and jake were definitely fucking #by me #dont skip nine #thats why its so important for him to have made the decision to stay in petes world #its HIM choosing to stay #him CHOOSING something for HIMSELF #instead of just being allowed to tag along #the tin dog

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twocorvids · 2 years

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(R&M Season 6 ep 5 spoilers!!!!)

i have to admit…..I REALLY enjoyed this episode. i had a feeling I was really going to, since Rick and Jerry as a dynamic is kinda my guilty pleasure, honestly. i mean, besides the part where there is yet another incest side plot. (seriously, guys, why. why is this the pinnacle of humor to you.) I’mmm not gonna comment on that much more in this post. the interactions between Rick and Jerry were so interesting, though! if for how it shows ricks character progression, if nothing else.

Rick has been considerably softer to/with Jerry with each passing season, and this one just really cemented it. i mean, we had the butt tattoos, and now we have the entirety of this episode, basically. Rick blatantly defending Jerry in the very beginning of the ep? even indulging him in the backyard w the cardboard boxes experiment? in retrospect, the fact that he kinda gave Jerry a magical girl transformation??? the air vent talk, Rick saving Jerry, the whole last convo?

oh god, the last convo between them was so surprisingly….sweet? that does NOT feel like a word that should even come close to explaining Rick and Jerry’s dynamic but damn if it comes close. it did get back to their more classic dynamic towards the end, but even then Rick actually apologized for it. and yet another curveball was thrown our way with Rick keeping Jerry’s fortune. it could be argued Rick would be keeping it to salvage it instead of sentimentality, but that just feels like the exact cop-out Rick would attempt.

besides….just saying…..friendship is reciprocal. Jerry just calling and considering Rick his friend wouldn’t be enough, Rick would have to think the same. i mean, it’d be pretty shitty for a ‘friend’ of yours to just be someone who considers themselves your friend, right?

one last note: I miss morty tho lmaooo. he’s been kinda missing in action this season and I really hope he gets a more interesting plot of his own by the end of it.

#rick and morty #rick sanchez #morty smith #jerry smith #rick and morty season 6 spoilers #rick and morty season 6 #saw the prev for the next ep #and while I’m excited for potentially morty focus #i really want to see r&m as a dynamic back more tbh #I’m very basic in that aspect: I’m here for what’s on the tin

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cyber-corp · 3 months

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smiths pride flag

#what it says on the tin #the smiths #pride #gecko boy

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sunlitsoil · 2 months

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experiencing something similar to post-nut clarity after buying my own pack of cigs and lighter … 😓

#what a waste of money i’m ashamed of myself actually #i was gonna buy a smiths tobacco tin to store them in too but now i’m just put off

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temp-propaganda · 2 months

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I need Lewis and Isami to kiss on screen... I need Isami to get Lewis back and the first thing he does is kiss him on the mouth. everything else about the show has already been peak homosexual behavior but can they please please please not be tragic gays? let homosexuality triumph. can you even imagine the spectacle of it all? given what this show does on the regular?? let them kiss with tongue please.

#why would they even make Lewis Smith if he was only here to get turned into a tin can and then never know peace #I want them to kiss and it's better animated than most of the mech stuff.#I want Isami to be walking around wearing Lewis's dumb anime shirt at the end of the last episode #I'm going to eat drywall

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doctorwho-rewatch · 10 months

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S2E3 - School Reunion

★★★☆☆

What in the CBeebies hell was this episode? I felt like I was watching an episode of M.I. High or something. It had it all - generic comprehensive school, radioactive cooking oil, super smart students working on coding and super secret stuff...Mind you, Anthony Head’s leery head teacher was a real strength of this otherwise childish plot.

That’s not to say it was a bad premise...but it really looked like it would’ve belonged in The Sarah Jane Adventures rather than the flagship Doctor Who series. Speaking of...Sarah Jane!!!!! Full disclosure, I have not watched many Classic Who episodes but I have read enough to know how important of a companion she was and the Doctor’s genuine happiness and being reunited is palpable.

There were otherwise some genuinely good moments in the show - Sarah Jane and Rose trying to one-up each other while the Doctor cluelessly tried to navigate dealing with the “missus and the ex”, Sarah Jane seeing the TARDIS for the first time, and Mickey realising he was the tin dog of the group.

And it explored, really an unspoken part of a companion’s journey with the Doctor - the end. How does one go on after you’ve seen the stars, witnessed indescribable sights and you’re left on Earth? For Sarah Jane, she had to deal with the monotony of human life, constantly waiting for the Doctor to come back for her, waiting for closure. And he didn’t. Instead, he regenerated over half a dozen times, she was relegated as a memory to the back of his mind and he never really talked about her again. It’s almost like pets - they’re a part of your life but for them you are their whole life.

Rose gets a reality check here - she’s not the only one...and she’s not that special. That has to be crushing.

QUOTE: “With you, did he do that thing where he’d explain something at like 90 miles per hour, and you’d go, “What?” and he’d look at you like you’d just dribbled on your shirt?” “All the time. Does he still stroke bits of the Tardis?” “Yeah! Yeah, he does! I’m like, “Do you two want to be alone?”

#doctor who #Tenth Doctor #rose tyler #sarah jane smith #k9 #bbc #NuWho #david tennant #billie piper #elisabeth sladen #tin dog #series 2 #10th doctor

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taylorlynn-art · 2 years

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“I’m a mouse. Duh.”

Digital ✍🏻 09/04/2020

I love Mean Girls. I love Sailor Stars. This was funny in my head 😅

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moviesandmania · 2 years

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TIN CAN (2020) Reviews and release news for claustrophobic sci-fi movie

‘Your fate is sealed’ Tin Can is a 2020 Canadian science fiction film about a parasitologist who is imprisoned in a life-suspension chamber. As the world faces a deadly plague, she must escape and destroy the last of her kind. Directed by Seth A. Smith from a screenplay co-written with Darcy Spidle. The Cut Off Tail production stars Anna Hopkins, Simon Mutabazi, Michael Ironside, Amy Trefry, Tim…

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#2020 #Amy Trefry #Anna Hopkins #Infection #Michael Ironside #movie film #review reviews #sci-fi #Seth A. Smith #Simon Mutabazi #Tin Can #trailer

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thelongstrangedrivehome2 · 12 days

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playlist for the sixteenth of may twenty twenty-four

Tin Machine - Baby Universal

Steve Earle - Justice in Ontario

The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Talking Heads - Wild Wild Life

Lou Reed - The Gun

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - We Came Along This Road

Tina Turner - We Had It All

Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon

The Velvet Underground - Head Held High

The Byrds - Life In Prison

Big Audio Dynamite - Rush

The Smiths - This Charming Man

Frank Ocean - Skyline To

The Rolling Stones - Happy

Cheap Trick - I Want You To Want Me

David Bowie - The Secret Life Of Arabia

Bob Dylan - When I Paint My Masterpiece

Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights

Jakob Dylan and Dhani Harrison - Gimme Some Truth

Peaches - Solid Gold Easy Action

Bloc Party - Helicopter

The Chills - Male Monster From The Id

Fleetwood mac - Gold Dust Woman

Jimi Hendrix - If 6 Was 9

David Bowie - Dead Man walking

Karen Dalton - One Night of Love

Radiohead - 2+2=5 (The Lukewarm)

Rufus Wainwright - Smile

Hey guys, serious question... How would you feel if I quit tumblr, and started posting these exclusively on Medium. I am already posting them on Medium as well

The Long, Strange Drive Home — East FM 88.1 107.1

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