Kiffa Beads from Africa

BackgroundKiffa beads are rare glass beads named after the Mauritanian city of Kiffa.Kiffa beads represent one of the highest levels of artistic skill and ingenuity in beadmaking, being manufactured with the simplest materials and tools available: pulverized European glass beads or fragments of them, bottle glass, pottery shards, tin cans, twigs, steel needles, some gum arabic, and open fires.The making of powder glass beads in West Africa may date back a few hundred years, and to possibly 1200 CE in Mauritania. Maure powder glass beads are believed to copy older, Islamic beads, of the type made in Fustat and elsewhere. The making of Mauritanian powder glass beads appears to be an ancient tradition.ProductionGlass is finely crushed to a powder and mixed with a binder such as saliva or gum arabic diluted in water. Decorations are made from the glass slurry (crushed glass mixed with a binder and applied with a pointed tool, usually a steel needle). The beads are placed in small containers, often sardine cans and heated to fuse the glass on open fires.Kiffa beads are made in various shapes and colors: blue, red, and polychromatic triangles with yellow, black, white, red and blue chevron-type and decorations that resemble eyes; blue, red and polychromatic diamond shaped beads; cigar shaped and conical beads as well as a variety of small spherical and oblate beads. Color sequences observed on traditional beads with polychromatic decorations are always the same, i.e. red-yellow-black (dark brown)-yellow-red-white-blue-white. For their wearers, all these beads held amuletic properties. The colous, shapes and the many different intricate decorative patterns all having specific meanings, most of them forgotten today.Modern beadsWith the passing of the last of the remaining traditional bead makers during the 1970s, the craft became extinct. Since the early 1990s, organized groups of women bead makers are again making Kiffa beads, using basically the same traditional methods. The craftsmanship of the new beads, however, has not reached the high standards and the quality that can be observed in the old beads. Hopefully with practice and a viable market for the beads this new generation of beadmakers can continue to improve their craft. Western artists have made their own versions in polymer clay or lampworked glass, but none of the modern creations gee close to resembling the beauty of traditional specimens. The same applies to modern imitations made elsewhere, such as in Indonesia.If you find Kiffa beads be sure to buy some and wear them with pride!

Range Hoods How to choose an exhaust system

Range Hoods How to choose an exhaust systemPurchasing a range hood can be a costly and confusing business. Not only do you have so many designs to choose from, but what power of fan do you need? What kind of filters? Whats the difference between the metals used, or whether its a gemercial unit or custom made?Fan/ blowerPower: CFMBlowers are rated by CFM that is, how much air they move, and the requirement is based on the stove top you have. The more heat produced the bigger the blower you need. Check with the manufacturer of your stove for their regemendations as well as your local code requirements. A general guide is: for every 10,000 BTUs your cooktop produces, you need 100 CFM. For example, a cooktop producing 90,000 BTUs would need a 900 CFM unit.You should purchase an adequate size, but dont go overboard. If you choose a fan much larger than you need, you could end up ventilating your whole house!Internal or external fanAn internal unit is positioned inside the range hood and pushes the air outside through the duct. An external unit sits outside of the house, on an exterior wall or roof and draws the air out. These are useful for larger fans where noise can begee an issue. Note: often external units will require 10 duct and so you must also check if that is a feasible option with the structure of your home.Safety featuresConsider purchasing a unit with built in heat sensors. These will turn the fan on should excessive heat be detected and draw the heat out of the kitchen. Make sure you also chose a unit that is UL listed and HVI certified.FiltersDifferent gepanies have different options from regular mesh filters, baffle filters and stainless steel trays that trap grease. Modern units have filters that are dishwasher safe. Baffle filters give a professional restaurant style look but can be more expensive. What you chose is usually a personal preference on style rather than function.

Vintage Shirts Guide

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Ultra Fair Shipping Charges-Yet Rated Low on Star Syste

I Sell fishing lures and generally charge $1-$1.50 for up to five lures. I do not charge handling costs. I do not charge for Delivery Confirmation when I use it. In spite of all that I continue to be rated at less than the full 5 Stars on okays new Seller Rating System. I firmly believe that I could ship my items FREE and still get less than 5 Stars. I do not understand the mentality of Buyers who can't see the bargain I am giving them on shipping. I also ship 6 days a week and sometimes TWICE each day. My Shipping Stars for delivery timeare also less than a full 5! I am not looking to make the "Honor Roll" but something is wrong with this new 5 Star system

12 Oral B Toothbrushes Original Pack Design Fake

BEWARE OF PURCHASING ORAL B TOOTHBRUSHES FROM SELLER JW JEWELRY. They turned out to be fake. The labels could be easily scratched off. My original Oral B brushes have a coating on the label that is impossible to scratch off. Viewed under a microscope, the bristles are not the same. The casting is also poor. The fake brushes do not fit the toothbrush properly. The packaging is not the same as the original. The bristles are not the same color as the original. The little rings supplied with the fake brushes when viewed under the microscope are clearly not the same as the original. IF YOU DO BUY THE BRUSHES AND THEY ARE FAKE , YOU HAVE 45 DAYS TO FILE A CLAIM WITH PAYPAL. I filed a claim and Paypal sided with me and gave me a full refund including shipping.

Unlock Code Instructions for HP iPAQ Cell Phones

Unlock Code Instructions for HP iPAQ Cell Phones for All Networks
In this guide I will show you how to enter unlock codes
into your Alcatel cell phone so that it will be unlocked from your
current
network carrier such as Orange UK, AT

HOYT VECTRIX XL, THE SMOOTHEST BOW IN THE WORLD!

Anyone thinking of buying a bow in 07 cannot over look the new Hoyt Vectrex XL. This is the most smoothest, sweetest shooting bow on the planet. I took the Mathews challange and found them inferior to Hoyt. The Hoyt is far and away the better of the two. A smooth draw, no hand shock, and as quiet as can be. And a better price tag to boot. If you plan on buying a bow this year, make it a hoyt!
And as always remember "Friends don't let friends shoot Mathews".
Bowhunter217.