Antique Invention For Weaving

The warp-weighted loom uses a system of holding the warp threads parallel under tension by tying them in small bunches to weights made of stone, pottery or metal. From the beginning of Western history until the Middle Ages, the main weaving tool was this type of loom. Loom weights have been found in Catal Huyuk, an ancient city in Anatolia that dates to 7000 BCE, and use of the warp-weighted loom persists to the present day in part of Norway. Although its particular form has varied through the ages and by locality, its essential parts remained the same.The loom consists of two vertical uprights, a horizontal warp beam, a shed rod, a heddle rod, and weights. The warp threads are tied to the horizontal beam at the top and hang down vertically towards the ground. The weights, in this case, made of clay, are then attached to the ends of the warp threads, which are then grouped together and tied so that the spun threads don't untwist. The warp-weighted loom greatly increased weaving efficiency and allowed weavers to create huge, magnificent works and tapestries.

Tacky Or Trendy?

Made from used bicycle reflectors, Canadian designer Amrita Takhar creates a stunning, and green, collection of jewelry that not only looks beautiful, but keeps you safe at night. JGB
+ amrita.co.uk+ canadiandesignresource.ca

Photo Of Interest

Indiana Harbor Belt R.R. switchman demonstrating signal with a "fusee," used at twilight and dawn when visibility is poor. This signal means "back up." Calumet City, Ill. January 1943. Photograph by Jack Delano

Children Raised By Animals

This is an excerpt from Genie's story. Sadly there are many more similar ones. Feral Children A feral child is a child who has lived isolated from human contact starting from a very young age and who has remained unaware of human behaviour and unexposed to language. These are a bunch of such cases, including ones were children were raised by animals.On November 4, 1970 a girl was discovered. She had been locked in a room alone for over ten years. She was tied to a potty chair and left to sit alone day after day. At night, she was tied into a sleeping bag which restrained her arms. She was put into an over-sized crib with a cover made of metal screening. Often she was forgotten. On those nights she slept tied to the potty chair.At first, people could hardly believe that Genie was thirteen years old. While she seemed to understand a few words, the only words she could say were, "stopit" and "nomore." She had a strange bunny-like walk— she held her hands up in front of her like paws and moved in a halting way. She could not chew solid food and could hardly swallow. She spat constantly. She sniffed. She was not toilet-trained and could not focus her eyes beyond 12 feet. She weighed 59 pounds and was 54 inches tall.

Vintage Photos Of Pyramids

Old Photos Of The Pyramids
Some old photos taken from the book 'Egypt Caught in Time' by Colin Osman and from the collection of photos and postcards from the Great Pyramid of Giza Research Assocation.(via Information Junk)