CREATIVE RUG DISPLAYS

Creative rug displays give lovers of handmade area rugs, especially oriental rugs, ideas for many different ways to use them. Hand woven rugs are truly works of art. Different weavers working on the same design will produce different looking rugs. These beautiful rugs are meant to be admired and usually meant to be walked on.

Unfortunately, those who love their handmade rugs and regularly collect them often find themselves with no usable floor space left. They must find less traditional and more creative ways of displaying them in their homes. Below are some examples:

HANG IT ON A WALL

One of the most elegant creative rug displays is a rug that is hung on a wall. It can be secured at the top by several different methods or secured to the wall from each side. The rug should be light in weight. It can be in the center of a wall, or several similar rugs could be hung in a row on a long wall or in whatever arrangement pleases the eye.

WAYS TO HANG YOUR RUGS ON A WALL

• Wall hangers made specifically for hanging rugs and tapestries on walls.

• A piece of cloth sewn to the back side of the rug with openings on either end for a pole or rod to go through, which can then be fit into wall brackets.

• Small rugs can be mounted behind glass for displaying on the wall.

• At ABC, we can apply a Velcro strip to the back of the rug and cut a thin piece of wood with the matching Velcro strip stapled or glued to the wood with holes drilled for nails. When the rug needs cleaning, just pull off the rug with the Velcro still attached and bring it to our plant for cleaning. If desired, the Velcro strip can be easily removed from the rug if you decide to display the rug on the floor.

OTHER CREATIVE RUG DISPLAYS

• On a sofa or chair.

• On a table.

• As a very dramatic headboard in your bedroom.

• On a quilt stand.

• As a bedspread on a bed.

Please continue reading here for a continued list of creative rug displays with illustrations as well as 2 important caveats to always be aware of.

RANSOMWARE

WHAT IS IT?

Just recently (September 2023), ransomware cyber-attacks crippled a number of casinos and hotels in Las Vegas owned by Caesers Entertainment and MGM Resorts International. Unfortunately, cyber-attacks, especially ransomware, can happen to anyone, anywhere. Here is some information...

Ransomware, a malicious software or malware, is a technique used by hackers (cybercriminals) to encrypt documents on a PC, lock out the user, and demand a ransom to regain access to the data on the computer.

This type of malware can typically enter a PC either through an email attachment or directly from a browser, if a website infected with it is visited. It is also able to access a PC data through a network.

In recent years, extremely malicious ransomware attacks were caused by malware such as WanaCry (WanaCrypt0r 2.0, or WCry) and NotPetya.

WannaCry was actually a type of ransomworm, a piece of malware that can self-replicate, and continue to grow exponentially, just as a real disease does.

NotPetya was different in that it didn’t seem it was created to make money as other ransomware does. Even if users did pay, their data could never be recovered. NotPetya seemed to be a deliberate, malicious, and destructive attack.

These two wreaked havoc across the globe in 2017. They sparked so much alarm that more people than ever before had good reason to back up their files. Backing up files effectively deadens a ransomware attack. Even so, too many of us have short memories and cybersecurity experts warn against getting lazy about backing up files.

RANSOMWARE HISTORY

What is surprising is that ransomware in nothing new. The first instance of its threat was detected over 30 years ago in 1989, when an AIDS conference was ‘attacked’ by floppy disks.

Early ransomware contained a warning from the FBI, attempting to trick unknowing users into paying a fine or they would be accused of trafficking in child abuse imagery.

On March 19, 2019, a ransomware attack crippled one of the world’s top aluminum makers in the U.S. and Europe, Norsk Hydro. The company is one of a handful that produce end-use products for aluminum. The attack had far-reaching consequences. Norsk’s special automated ultrasonic testing systems to precisely scan its products for impurities could not be relied upon, meaning customers such as automakers Daimler and Ford Motor Co. especially, would not be able to use their products.

The task to clean the systems at Norsk Hydro or restore the backups was monumental. The lesson to learn is the more automation introduced into systems, the more and stronger the cybersecurity must be.

ENCRYPTION and RANSOMWARE

Encryption is the innovation that enabled ransomware authors to not only lock up the screen but encrypt all the data. This meant the data would still be locked up even if the user was able to uninstall the ransomware itself. The user had to make the payment in order to get the unlock key.

Cryptolocker, was an example of a piece of ‘cryptoransomware’ found active in 2013 and 2014. Petya has been active since 2016. Other examples of this type of ransomware include Cerby and Locky, among others.

Ever since the first attack, it has been a relentless duel of one-upmanship between the bad guys and the cybersecurity experts and researchers. Unfortunately, ransomware is still alive and well.

BITCOINS and RANSOMWARE

The early types of malware did not last long because bank transfers could be tracked and cash payments were hard to pull off. It was the invention of the bitcoin in 2009 that gave the hackers the means to take ransom payment without involving banks.

MOBILE PHONES and RANSOMWARE

Ransomware can also attack and lock users out of their Android mobile phones. The open-source nature of the Android operating system makes Android phones more vulnerable to attack. One malware was actually able to avoid detection from Google’s security system and was downloaded in an app from the Google Play Store.

Google cannot control all Android mobile phones, only its own phones, the Nexus and Pixel phones, whereas iPhones are less vulnerable because Apple can push security updates quickly to all its phones at once.

WHO DOES RANSOMWARE ATTACK?

Please continue reading here for more information on ransomware as well as what to do and what NOT TO DO to protect yourself from ransomware.

SOUL CAKES

Soul cakes have a very long and interesting history and may very well have been the precursors to our modern day trick-or-treating at Halloween. This is because the baking, as well as the collecting of soul cakes and singing songs (called 'souling'), took place around the end of October or early November, corresponding roughly to our traditional Halloween celebration of the last day of October.

Soul cakes may come in many different forms. They can be a type of bun adorned with currants and arranged in the shape of a cross. Some are flat and oval, and others are plump. Some resemble a small fruit cake and others are just sweetened with spices. No really authentic recipe remains. (We have included a few easy recipes at the end of this article!)

Barmbrack, a dark tea cake with berries, dried fruits, and nuts, was also popular along with soul cakes. At one time, tokens such as rings, beans, and peas were baked inside the cake and a slice was given to each family member. A penny found meant riches while a pea meant a healthy future. A ring would mean an approaching marriage while a thimble would be for one who would never marry. A small piece of cloth meant the recipient would be poor.

THEORY OF THE ORIGIN OF SOUL CAKES and SOULING

Many theories abound about the origin of soul cakes and souling. Below are some of the more interesting ones:

THE DRUID FESTIVAL OF SAMHAIN OR SUMMER'S END

One claim is that soul cakes were made during Samhain, the ancient Druid festival of the dying sun god. This festival featured bonfires to ward off evil spirits. Samhain was also known as Summer’s End, a celebration of the harvesting of nuts and berries.

A rather morbid theory is that the cakes were used as part of a lottery. If you drew the one burnt cake in the pile, you got to be the human sacrifice for the coming year!

A variant of the above involved throwing a stone into a bonfire which would burn all night. If a stone came up missing in the morning, it was believed the owner would die before the next year.

Another not so dire theory is that soul cakes were used as offerings to placate wandering angry ghosts.

This pagan ceremony was replaced in the 4^th century with All Hallows, the mass for Christian saints.

BRITAIN'S ALL SAINTS' DAY and ALL SOULS' DAY

Beggars in Britain would make their way from house to house on November 2nd. Their payment for the soul cake was a performance of some sort.

Some theories suggest soul cakes were handed out to 'mummers,' costumed entertainers who would make their way around on the holiday.

SOUL CAKES ADOPTED BY THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

By the 8th century, soul cakes had been adopted by the Christian church. Consecrated and blessed, they were given to poor travelers who might approach a local monastery.

BEGGARS ON ALL SOULS' EVE

Another theory was that soul cakes were used to pay beggars who came around on all Soul's Eve and offered to say prayers for the family's departed souls. A cake given was a soul saved!

IN IRELAND

Some say in Ireland, peasants would beg door-to-door on All Hallows' Eve for food. If the family had soul cakes to give them the household would be free from a prank and the cake recipients would then offer prayers for them to help them get into heaven.

SOUL PAPERS GIVEN WITH SOUL CAKES

Sometimes 'soul papers,' solicitations of prayers for the deceased, were given to the parish poor along with the cakes. They were often given as charity on behalf of a departed.

SOUL CAKES IN CATHOLIC CUISINE TODAY

Today, soul cakes are still a part of the Catholic cuisine and baked in celebration of All Hallows' Eve.

SOUL CAKES - NOT THE ONLY GOODY

PASSED OUT in OLDEN TIMES

Please continue reading here to find out what other goodies were passed out in olden times as well as some recipes for soul cakes you might like to try out.

OCTOBER 2023 DISCOUNT SPECIAL

Free Washing on Every 2nd SYNTHETIC Rug

Brought into our Plant for Cleaning in October!