Flustra cornata, consisting of colonies of simple marine invertebrate animals. Le monde de la mer. 1866.

There were two wo types of konaki: the rounded hut and the elongated or double hut. The rounded huts were most common; walls woven from pliable branches and roofs covered with layers of straw, reeds, and grass. A central wooden pol, which supported these layers, is then placed during the construction and then removed when the hut is completed. It was affective againts rain and insulates against temperature fluctuations. The elongated huts, mostly found in the mountains, offered expanded space and enhanced stability against harsher weather. The shape of the huts is mostly due to the circular enclosure of the fire and the way people gathered around the fire to warm themselves. The construction of konakia was mostly done by women.

Sarakatsani women constructing hut. Carsten Hoeg

"Strong fir branches are staked deep into the soil to construct the perimeter vertical frame. The circular base and the other horizontal layers leading to the roof and the roof dome are made of flexible beech tree wood while the outer layers of the hut are covered with whatever protective material the area provided, e.g. rye straw, various foliage such as ferns, dense layers of bushes, reeds or fir branches. Without nails at their disposal, all the joints are tied with wicker: a hard-to-find material which grows close to water, near rivers and fountains. Its thin and flexible shoots acts as a simple rope of sorts. Practicality aside, beautiful and fragrant wicker is believed to repel evil and is associated with healing and many cult beliefs dating back to ancient times. In the case of the Sarakatsani, wicker is also used to make crosses that are placed above the main entrance of the hut as well as the top of the domed roof, becoming a kind of amulet and protecting the house from evil forces."

Normal. Nutrition: An Elementary Text. 1955.

Raghib Al-Isfehani ( Abul-Qasim al-Hussein bin Mufaddal bin Muhammad)

from ʻAjāʼib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʼib al-mawjūdāt (The wonders of creation, or literally, Marvels of things created and miraculous aspects of things existing) by Zakriya ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini (circa 1203-83) is among the best known texts of the Islamic world. It is often referred to as “The Cosmography.“ 

Stereolab - October 1993

At this rate, we could probably just turn Doom & Gloom into an Aadam Jacobs Collection appreciation blog. The goods just keep on coming (and coming). To wit! The volunteers behind this heroic tape preservation project just rolled out a bunch of early Stereolab tapes, allowing us to follow the Groop across the Midwest in the fall of 1993. What a gift!

From the Reptile House in Grand Rapids to a blazing in-store at Reckless Records in Chicago, from the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis to Northern Lights in St. Paul — these recordings are pure primal 'lab, loud and blown out, motorifik and marvelous. Chew some John Cage Bubblegum and get into it.

Tim Gane: We’re pretty derivative actually, it’s just that the groups we rip off are too obscure. We just like certain sounds which we couldn’t get around if we tried. We’re trapped by pop music pretensions.