text:
This is a collection of third-party modules contributed to the Apache HTTP
server project.
The modules are:
mod_allowdev, mod_auth_cookie, mod_auth_cookie_file, mod_auth_external,
mod_auth_inst, mod_auth_systemm, mod_eaccess, mod_bandwidth, mod_cache,
mod_cgisock, mod_urlcount, mod_disallow_id, mod_layout, mod_lock,
mod_peephole, mod_put, mod_qs2ssi, mod_session, mod_fastcgi, mod_cvs,
mod_macro, mod_random, mod_roaming, mod_ip_forwarding, mod_ticket, mod_define
and mod_monitor.
WWW: http://www.apache.org
No installation instructions: this port has been deleted.
The package name of this deleted port was: apache-contrib
PKGNAME: apache-contrib
distinfo: There is no distinfo for this port.
NOTE: FreshPorts displays only information on required and default dependencies. Optional dependencies are not covered.
No options to configure
Number of commits found: 27
- remove apache13 and ports depending on apache13 from portstree
with hat apache@
- sync apache13 related EXPIRATION_DATE
With Hat: apache@
- Set EXPIRATION_DATE to an actual date (9.0 is behind, so guess 2 months from
- This can be changed later as needed, if at all, either way we won't remove
until after 9.0 is released.
With Hat: apache@
Reported by: dvl via freshports
- set EXPIRATION_DATE to "one week after FreeBSD 9.0-RELEASE-p0"
with hat apache@
- Get Rid MD5 support
- Use APACHEMODDIR and APACHEETCDIR consistently in pkg-plists
- DO NOT bump PORTREVISION
- Mark SAFE apache@ ports MAKE_JOBS_SAFE=yes
- Oops... USE_LDCONFIG shouldn't have been committed
- Portlint cleanups
PR: ports/117084
Submitted by: "Philip M. Gollucci" <email@example.com>
- Convert to new USE_APACHE
- Add SHA256
- Move mod_macro to list of optionnal modules
- pkg-descr cleanups
- Set apache@ as MAINTAINER
Add a missing RUN_DEPENDS.
Pointy hat to: me
Approved by: erwin (mentor)
- Add WITH_MODULES_PORTS knob. If the user defines it, will be install
the latest version of the modules available in ports tree.
- Bump PORTREVISION
- Add CONFLICTS
Approved by: erwin (mentor)
Use the new Apache bits from bsd.port.mk.
Submitted by: dinoex
Use MASTER_SITE_APACHE*.
Submitted by: Kimura Fuyuki <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Add MASTER_SITE_RINGSERVER to MASTER_SITES.
portlint: - begin with a capital - don't end with '.' - remove port name
- don't exceed 70 characters
Set maintainer to firstname.lastname@example.com
"Remove broken sites from master sites, fix subdir according to new directory
Massive style enforcement - use ^I instead of spaces for variables identation.
Change the install target. Hopefully this will make bento happy. Sugested by
That should do it. "I promise to stop doing commits before eating breakfast"
bento doesn't have a real working apxs. Use these unil bsd.apache.mk is
Add new port: www/apache-contrib Collection of third-party modules
contributed to the Apache HTTP server project
Servers and bandwidth provided byNew York Internet, SuperNews, and RootBSD
No vulnerabilities have been reported in the past 14 days
* - modified, not new
All vulnerabilities


text:
While not the end all of existence, liberty has been the much sweetness of mine. Here in America, it is clearly on the decline.
People often take liberty for granted. When I was a kid, I always thirsted for the freedom that I had and didn't think much of the hard fought freedom that was handed to me as an American Citizen.
It is not a perfect world and perfect is the enemy of the good in things like liberty. It is a gray area at times. But, rest assured, the growth of our Federal Government is mostly an encroachment on personal freedom, one way or the other. The constitution was mainly to limit the type of government we seem to be building in the form of Leviathan, meet George Orwell.
Today, we seem to be on our way down the rabbit hole of totalitarianism via micro-tyranny. I feel for the youth.
Keep in mind, it is easy for me. I have lived most of my life free except from the tyrant of me. I can always remember and treasure the time I lived doing what I want as long as it not preventing someone else doing what they want – read that as beyond hurting someone's feelings.
Being able to do, say and think what you want is so precious. I am thankful for it and can still do that today, mostly by finding a sunny spot in nature in what is becoming a global asylum.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|10 Mar 1987
|Filing date
|31 May 1984
|Priority date
|31 May 1984
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Jerry M. Kennon, James V. Faulkner, Jr., Theodore H. York
|Original Assignee
|Westinghouse Electric Corp.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (7), Referenced by (5), Classifications (9), Legal Events (6)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
The present invention relates generally to apparatus which transmits and receives modulated signals and, more particularly, to a transceiver which is capable of determining its prescribed reception frequency by measuring the frequency of its carrier signal output.
Power line communication systems are used to communicate between stations that are operatively coupled to a power line. A typical application of a power line communication system is used by an electrical utility to communicate between a central station and a plurality of remote stations. A central communications unit is located at a central station and is operatively coupled to the power line. This central station is equipped to transmit commands to thousands of remote locations which are equipped with receivers that are also operatively coupled to the power line. At the remote locations, such as consumer residences, the receivers are typically incorporated in load management terminals. The load management terminals are connected to non-essential electrical equipment, such as air conditioners or water heaters, that can be shed during periods of peak electrical power usage. Each load management terminal is assigned a unique address in order to permit the central station to selectively send commands to a particular consumer residence or request data therefrom. In this type of system, messages can be sent from the central station to the remote station and, in some applications, vice versa. The message emanating from the central station would include load shedding commands or requests for meter readings. Return messages from the remote stations could be status reports or meter readings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,874 which issued to Pai on Dec. 19, 1978 discloses a load management terminal having a plural selectable address formats for a power line communication system. A distribution network communication system having branch connected repeaters is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,489 which issued to Dudash on Feb. 10, 1981. Various types of load management terminals that can be used with power line communication systems are known to those skilled in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,366 which issued to Kennon on Jan. 31, 1984 discloses a microprocessor-based load management terminal with reset capability. Also, a load management terminal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,059 which issued to Kennon et al. on Aug. 30, 1983. Load management terminals are provided with digital demodulators that are capable of demodulating incoming messages received from the power line. For example, a coherent phase shift keyed demodulator for power line communication systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,284 which issued to Boykin on Apr. 5, 1983 and a coherent phase shift keyed demodulator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,964 which issued to Boykin on Jan. 19, 1982.
Although various techniques of power line communication systems are known to those skilled in the art, one particular technique is to modulate a carrier signal with a base band data message and inject the modulated signal onto the power line. This modulated signal would be transmitted along the power line and, when received by another station, the message would be subsequently demodulated and interpreted. Various modulation techniques are known. One particular modulation technique involves a phase shift keyed (PSK) modulation, by a base band data signal, of a higher frequency carrier signal. A typical carrier signal in this type of application would be approximately 12.5 kHz and the base band data signal would be approximately 76 baud. The base band data signal and the carrier signal, in a phase shift keyed system, are introduced as separate inputs into an exclusive-OR (EOR) gate. Changes in the logical state of the base band data message cause the phase of the carrier signal to be shifted.
When the phase shift keyed message is received by a remote station, it is demodulated and the message is decoded. A digital demodulator suitable for demodulating messages of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,964 which issued to Boykin on Jan. 19, 1982. Improved digital demodulators are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,514,697 and 4,516,079 which issued to York. A more recent improved digital demodulator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,650 which issued to York et al. Although these digital demodulators are particularly well suited for demodulating phase shift keyed messages, other demodulating apparatus could also be used.
Regardless of the particular demodulating technique used, the carrier frequency must be known in order that the demodulator can effectively sample the incoming signal during the demodulating process. Since the demodulator must be able to discern a valid incoming message from spurious electrical noise, precise sampling techniques are used and the results of these sampling techniques are subjected to an algorithm to determine whether a valid incoming message is being received and to demodulate the message. The known frequency of the incoming message is used to determine the period of time between samples. If the digital demodulator did not know, in advance, the frequency of the incoming message, proper demodulation of the message would be impossible.
Transceivers which are used in conjunction with power line communication systems are initially provided with information relating to the frequency of messages which will be incoming to the transceiver. If all transceivers were intended for use with a single frequency, the value of this single fixed frequency could be incorporated within the demodulating algorithm. However, since various carrier signal frequencies are used in different power line communication systems, some means must be provided for informing the digital demodulator of the exact prescribed frequency value of valid incoming messages.
Since typical power line communication devices, such as the load management terminals, comprise microprocessors which are used to demodulate and decode incoming messages, the prescribed transmission and reception frequency for the transceiver can be stored in the memory of the microprocessor. Typically, this value would be stored in a location of the microprocessor's read-only memory (ROM). Since a typical design of a load management terminal could utilize any one of a plurality, such as eight, of possible carrier signal frequencies, the stored value of the prescribed frequency for a particular transceiver would be one of eight preselected values. Although the use of read only memory (ROM) provides non-volatile storage of the prescribed frequency values which is not susceptible to loss during power outages, severe electrical transients, such as lightning, could possibly have an adverse effect on the non-volatile random access memory NOVRAM location containing the selected value. If, for some reason, the selected value of the prescribed frequency is destroyed, the digital demodulator would not be able to properly demodulate incoming carrier-based signals.
This problem can be addressed in various ways. One possible means for preventing the loss of the prescribed value during electrical transient conditions would be to fix this value with hardware. For example, three switches would provide sufficient resolution to store the binary representation for one of eight possible frequencies to designate the prescribed frequency of the transceiver. This type of hardware storage of the frequency value would be immune to electrical transient conditions. However, a significant disadvantage of this method is that both the transmitter and the receiver would have to be individually configured at additional cost and would require the use of port pins on the microprocessor that are needed for other functions. Another way to address the problem of possible loss of memory relating to the prescribed frequency value is to custom design the demodulator algorithms to be applicable to only one frequency. This technique also has severe disadvantages. The digital demodulator of the transceiver, which is typically "masked" to a read-only memory (ROM), would then be unique to a single frequency and would not be applicable to transceivers which require alternate frequencies. Therefore, no single ROM would be appropriate for general use in all transceivers. Additional costs would be incurred, not only in the individual designing of these multiple digital demodulators, but also in the inventory requirements and particularly assembly procedures that would also be necessitated.
It is therefore advantageous to provide a transceiver with the flexibility to adapt to one of a plurality of possible carrier frequencies without having to manufacture distinct transceivers for each frequency. The present invention provides a transceiver that is capable of determining its own prescribed receiver frequency following a power outage or other transient condition.
The present invention comprises a means for generating a high frequency signal that has a higher frequency than any potential carrier frequency. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this high frequency signal has a frequency of 1 mHz. The present invention also comprises a means for generating a signal when a negative edge of a carrier signal occurs. It should be understood that the present invention could operate alternatively by responding to a positive edge of the carrier signal, but the preferred embodiment described herein is configured to be responsive to negative edges.
The present invention also incorporates a counter which accumulates a value which is representative of the number of pulses, or changes of logical state, of the high frequency signal. By storing the value of this counter upon successive occurrences of negative edges of the carrier signal, the number of pulses that occur during one period of a carrier signal can be determined. If the period of a signal is known, the frequency of that signal can easily be calculated. More simply, since the period can be determined by multiplying the number of pulses stored in the above-described counter by the known period of the higher frequency signal, the result of this calculation can be compared to a look-up table to directly determine the frequency of the measured carrier signal. After this interval is determined, it can therefore be compared to a look-up table which contains all of the possible frequencies for the transceiver. After matching this interval with one of the frequencies of the look-up table, the prescribed frequency of the transceiver can be stored in the NOVRAM.
Since the frequency of transmission by the transceiver would be identical to the frequency of incoming signals or have a known relationship (such as �2 kHz) with the frequency of incoming signals, the ability to determine its own output frequency, which is actually measured, would provide the transceiver with the ability to determine expected incoming frequency. The functions of counting the high frequency pulses, responding to the negative edges of the carrier frequency and determining the interval between successive negative edges is accomplished by a microprocessor in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The present invention will be more fully understood by a reading of the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 represents an electrical schematic of a transceiver within the scope of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a typical carrier signal;
FIG. 3 illustrates a typical carrier signal, a high frequency signal and the related pulse count during the determination of a single period of the carrier signal; and
FIG. 4 is a flow chart representing the logical steps performed by the present invention.
The present invention relates generally to transceivers and, more particularly, to a transceiver which is configured in such a way that it is capable of determining its own prescribed carrier frequency for reception by momentarily generating its transmission carrier frequency and measuring its period. Since the frequencies of transmission and reception are the same or have a known relationship to each other, the transceiver made in accordance with the present invention is therefore able to accurately determine the frequency of modulated incoming messages even though this information had been previously lost due to some electrical transient condition, such as lightning.
FIG. 1 is a schematic which illustrates the pertinent components of a transceiver made in accordance with the present invention. Prior to a detailed discussion of the interrelationships between the components of FIG. 1, each major component will be discussed individually.
The microprocessor U4 is an eight-bit, single-chip microcomputer unit which includes an MC6801 microprocessor unit which is upward object-code compatible with the MC6800. The microprocessor U4 can function as a monolithic microcomputer or can be expanded to a 64K byte address space. It is TTL-compatible and requires one 5 volt power supply. It includes 4096 bytes of ROM, 192 bytes of RAM, a serial-communications interface, parallel I/O and a 16-bit six-function programmable timer. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microprocessor U4 is type MC6801U4 which is available from the Motorola Corporation. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microprocessor U4 would contain numerous software programs which are related to the operation of a load management terminal, a repeater or any other type of two-way communications device. For example, the digital demodulator would be a software program stored in its memory. The demodulator disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,964 or in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,514,697 and 4,516,079 represents exemplary digital demodulators which would be stored and operated in the microprocessor U4. It should be understood that the microprocessor U4 would also contain programs for performing various other I/O functions, calculating electrical usage, and responding to various load shedding commands received from the central station described above.
The custom chip U1 includes a receiver front end and deadman circuits which provide operative support to the microprocessor U4. Relating to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the custom chip U1 senses the occurrence when the unregulated voltage source (VUNR) achieves a value that is sufficient to permit operation of the circuitry of FIG. 1. This would occur during the power-up sequence following a power failure. Although the custom chip U1 would typically be designed to perform many functions relating to the operation of a power line communications device, only the particular functions that are related to the operation of the present invention will be discussed below.
The custom chip U1 is connected, by line 12, to the unregulated voltage source (not shown in FIG. 1) and, when a sufficient unregulated voltage level is achieved (approximately 10 volts), the reset signal R is released, on line 14, from the custom chip U1 to the microprocessor U4. This reset signal R, as indicated in FIG. 1, is also received by the semiconductor chip U7 and the semi-custom chip U5.
The semiconductor chip U7 comprises four NAND gates, G1-G4, as shown. One of its functions is to combine a 1 mHz signal, received from the microprocessor U4 on line 16, with the IOS output from the microprocessor U4 to form a chip select signal CS. The 1 mHz signal is output from the microprocessor on line 18 and is directed, on line 16, to NAND gate G2 of the semiconductor chip U7. The chip select signal CS is then received by the non-volatile memory (NOVRAM) components, U2 and U3. When the chip select signal CS is enabled, the memory responds to signals from the read/write (R/W) outputs of the microprocessor U4. Also, the semiconductor chip U7 operates, in cooperation with the custom chip U1, to provide a controlled power-down sequence when a power failure occurs. If a loss of power is sensed by the custom chip U1, a power fail signal (PWFA) is sent, on line 20, to both the microprocessor U4 and the semiconductor chip U7. When a power-fail condition is sensed by the custom chip U1, this PWFA signal is sent to the microprocessor, via the IRQ interrupt signal to immediately cease operation and rapidly prepare itself for an imminent loss of power. This signal is also sent, on line 22, to NAND gate G3 of semiconductor chip U7. Typically, the microprocessor U4 would have approximately 3 milliseconds to perform its required functions between the occurrence of the interrupt request IRQ signal and a total loss of power. At the end of this power-fail delay period, the reset signal R is placed in a logically low condition. When this occurs, NAND gates G3 and G4 cooperate to cause a memory STORE signal to be sent to the non-volatile (NOVRAM) components, U2 and U3.
The non-volatile memory (NOVRAM) components, U2 and U3, permit the microprocessor U4 to store its memory during power-fail conditions. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the NOVRAM's, U2 and U3, are type 2212 which are available from the XICOR Corporation. This particular type of NOVRAM is particularly advantageous because it comprises both random access memory (RAM) and electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). Each memory location of the NOVRAM really comprises two associated memory locations. This type of configuration is known to those skilled in the art as "shadow-RAM". The RAM portion of the NOVRAM components is a normal read/write memory that can run at regular bus speeds and is treated in a manner similar to any other kind of memory. During operation of the present invention, the microprocessor U4 can therefore read and write from the NOVRAM's, U2 and U3, in a normal manner. Many types of data are stored in the RAM. For example, the unique address of a load management terminal which comprises the transceiver, electrical power consumption data and many other types of information are passed between the microprocessor U4 and the NOVRAM's. Other types of information stored in the RAM include load timers, receive and transmit buffers, status information, time, configuration data and the result of the transceiver carrier frequency test that is a result of the operation of the present invention. However, when a power failure occurs, the RAM memory of the NOVRAM's, U2 and U3, is copied into its shadow-RAM which is EEPROM. This would occur when a power-failure condition is sensed. As described, a PWFA signal is sent, on line 20, from the custom chip U1 and is received as an IRQ interrupt by the microprocessor U4. This signal is also simultaneously received, on line 22, by the semiconductor chip U7. This signal results in a STORE signal which is sent from the semiconductor chip U7 to the NOVRAM's, U2 and U3. The transfer of the information from RAM to EEPROM takes approximately 10 milliseconds and the time between the PWFA signal and the complete loss of power is extended by the use of a capacitor circuit which stores enough energy to provide power to the NOVRAM's until their transfer of data is completed. Therefore, following a power failure, important information is stored in the EEPROM portion of the NOVRAM's.
Following the termination of a power failure time period, when the unregulated voltage VUNR rises to an acceptable level, the reset signal R is released and rises to a logical high signal on line 14 from the custom chip U1 to both the microprocessor U4 and the semiconductor chip U7. This reset signal not only informs the microprocessor U4 that sufficient power is available for operation, but also causes a RECALL signal to be generated from the semiconductor chip U7 to the NOVRAM's U2 and U3. When this RECALL signal is received by the NOVRAM's, they copy the stored information from their EEPROM memory to their RAM memory. Once transferred to the RAM, this data can be easily manipulated by the read/write functions of the microprocessor U4.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, the NOVRAM's, U2 and U3, are associated with the microprocessor U4 in both address and data communications. Since the NOVRAM's are organized in a four-bit configuration, each eight-bit byte of data transferred to or from the microprocessor U4 is split in half and stored in both NOVRAM's. Data bits 0 to 3 (D0-D3) are stored in NOVRAM U2 and data bits 4 to 7 (D4-D7) are stored in NOVRAM U3 as shown in FIG. 1. The microprocessor U4 also transfers an eight-bit address to both NOVRAM's in order to identify each byte of data transferred to or from the NOVRAM's.
The microprocessor U4 is also associated with a crystal Y1 which is capable of providing a 4 mHz stream of pulses to the XTL1 and YTL2 inputs of the microprocessor U4. The 4 mHz signal is divided, by the microprocessor U4, to a 1 mHz signal which is output from the microprocessor, on line 18, to both the semiconductor chip U7 and a semi-custom chip U5.
The semi-custom chip U5 is specifically designed to perform many functions relating to the operation of two-way communications devices. Although the semi-custom chip U5 includes numerous other components, only those components of semi-custom chip U5 which are related to the operation of the present invention will be discussed herein. The semi-custom chip U5 comprises a programmable divider 30. The programmable divider 30 has three select port pins, S1-S3, which are used to determine the frequency of the carrier signal used for transmission. The use of the three select ports, S1-S3, represent three binary bits that provide a choice of eight unique frequencies of carrier signal. The programmable divider 30 divides the 1 mHz input frequency to one of these eight output frequencies based on the hardware strapping of these three ports. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the eight available output carrier frequencies are: 7.35 kHz, 7.81 kHz, 8.33 kHz, 8.93 kHz, 9.62 kHz, 10.42 kHz, 12.5 kHz and 13.89 kHz. Based on the particular strapping of the port pins, S1-S3, one of these eight carrier frequencies would be constantly output, on line 32, to a modulator 34 when the programmable divider 30 is enabled by a signal on line 50. The modulator 34, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is an exclusive-OR (EOR) gate with two inputs. One of the inputs, as described above, is the carrier signal received from the programmable divider 30 on line 32. The other input to the modulator 34 is a base band data signal, on line 36, received from the data output port of the microprocessor U4. The modulator 34 operates as a normal EOR gate and, therefore, logic level changes of the base band data signal cause phase shifting of the carrier signal as it is output from the modulator 34. During normal operation, a transmitted signal is first coded into a base band data format and then is used to modulate the carrier signal by the modulator 34. When a signal is being transmitted by the microprocessor U4, a Rx/Tx signal is output by the microprocessor U4, on lines 38 and 40, to a transmitter circuit 42. Although not particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, it should be understood that the Rx/Tx signal, on line 40, would be used as one of two inputs to an AND gate within the transmitter circuitry. The other input to this AND gate would be received on line 44. Therefore, it should be understood that both signals would be required for transmission of a modulated message by the transmitter 42 by injection onto the power line. Modulated data, after being output by the modulator 34 on line 45, is amplified by the amplifier U6 and sent to the transmitter 42 on line 44. The transmitter 42 is coupled to a power line system in such a way so as to be able to inject the modulated signals onto the power line when a signal on line 40 is received.
The discussion above relating to the modulator 34 and amplifier U6, along with their related signals on lines 36, 38, 40, 44 and 45, relates to normal message transmissions. However, it should be understood that the importance of the present invention is related more directly to the very short period of time that occurs, following the end of a power failure, immediately after a reset signal is output from the custom-chip U1 on line 14. After sufficient voltage is restored to the system, the present invention operates to determine the proper frequency to be used by the digital demodulator which would be incorporated within the microprocessor U4.
Prior to describing the present invention in detail, a few important aspects of FIG. 1 must be discussed. It should be understood that the programmable divider 30 requires an ENABLE signal, on line 50, before it will output a carrier signal on line 32. Furthermore, during a power outage condition of any significant duration, capacitor C21 will be discharged. Also, the I/O port of microprocessor U4 which is labeled "DATA AND FREQUENCY SENSE" serves as both an input and an output port. During normal operation, this I/O port of the microprocessor U4 operates to output base band data messages to the modulator 34 on line 36. However, during a power-up situation, this I/O port is used as an input port to receive a carrier signal.
The present invention operates during a power-up sequence to determine the frequency of its prescribed carrier signal. As discussed above, the present invention operates on the basic assumption that the same frequency of carrier signal would be used for both receiving signals from a power line and transmitting signals to it. Therefore, if the microprocessor U4 is able to determine the frequency of the carrier signal being output by the programmable divider 30 on line 32, it will also be able to determine its prescribed input frequency which is an important criterion for its digital demodulator.
In order to fully understand the operation of the present invention, it is necessary to understand the conditions of various portions of the circuitry of FIG. 1 during a power fail condition and immediately after restoration of power. Therefore, the operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to the voltage level and logical state of relevant components and signals.
Following a power failure, when no voltage is available to the circuitry of FIG. 1, the R signal from the custom-chip U1 is at a logical low level. Similarly, the 5 volt supply, which is connected to resistor R3 of the semi-custom chip U5, is unavailable. Therefore, there is no voltage drop across either resistor R3 or diode D4 and capacitor C21 is discharged.
At the instant that power is returned to the system, the unregulated voltage VUNR begins to rise. When the value for VUNR, sensed by the custom-chip U1, rises to a predetermined threshold, a logical high R signal is output on line 14. At essentially the same time, the positive 5 volt supply is available to the semi-custom chip U5, where it is shown connected to resistor R3. The R signal is immediately available to the microprocessor U4 because of its direct connection, by line 14, to the custom chip U1. At that same initial instant of the power-up sequence, the logically high R signal is able to pass through diode D4 and the 5 volt supply of semi-custom chip U5 is able to pass a current through resistor R3. Normally, the voltage available across resistor R3 and diode D4 would cause the input of inverter 60 to go high and, therefore, output a logically low signal, on line 66, to NAND gate 62. However, it must be remembered that capacitor C2 is discharged at this instant following the initialization of the power-up sequence and, therefore, as capacitor C21 is charging, the voltages from the R signal on line 14 and the 5 volt power supply of the semi-custom chip U5 are not available to the input of the inverter 60. Because of this, the input of the inverter 60 remains low and its output remains high. The presence of the charging capacitor C21 is very important to the present invention because it causes this logically high output from the inverter 60. This output from the inverter 60 performs two important functions. First, this logically high output from the inverter 60 provides a logically high input to the OR gate 64. Since one of the two inputs of the OR gate 64 is therefore high, a logically high output is provided from the OR gate 64, on line 50, to the ENABLE port of the programmable divider 30. This causes the programmable divider to output its carrier signal on line 32. A second important function performed by the logically high output of inverter 60 is that it provides a logically high input to NAND gate 62 on line 66. Meanwhile, the carrier signal which is output on line 32 from the programmable divider 30 is directed to the other input of the NAND gate 62, on line 68.
As long as the output of inverter 60 is in a logically high state, the carrier signal, from lines 32 and 68, are passed through the NAND gate 62 onto line 70. Therefore, this carrier signal is available, on line 70, to the input port of the microprocessor U4 for measurement of its period and determination of its frequency.
As the capacitor C21 charges, the input to inverter 60 will eventually reach a logically high level. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this charging time takes approximately 0.3 milliseconds. After capacitor C21 is charged and the input to the inverter 60 reaches a logically high level, the output of inverter 60 becomes logically low and, therefore, one of the inputs to NAND gate 62 is logically low. Also, the output from inverter 60 would no longer provide a logically high input to OR gate 64. Therefore, since the output of inverter 72 is logically low during a power-up sequence, the output from the OR gate 64, on line 50, is logically low and the programmable divider 30 is no longer enabled to output the carrier signal on line 32. However, during the charging time of the capacitor C21, the microprocessor U4 has sufficient time to measure the period of the carrier signal, which is input on line 70, and determine its frequency period.
As discussed above, the crystal Y1 provides a 4 mHz signal to the microprocessor U4. As also discussed above, the microprocessor U4 reduces this frequency to 1 mHz and outputs that signal on line 18 to the programmable divider 30 and the semiconductor chip U7. The present invention makes use of this 1 mHz signal, within the microprocessor U4, for an accurate measurement of the period of the carrier signal being input on line 70. During the operation of the present invention, the microprocessor U4 has two signals available to it. One is the carrier signal which has a frequency of approximately 7.35 kHz to 13.8 kHz and the other signal is the 1 mHz signal which has been reduced from the 4 mHz input received from the crystal Y1.
FIG. 1 illustrates the hardware components utilized by the present invention. Below, the logical procedures performed by the microprocessor U4 will be described in detail along with a discussion relating to the pertinent wave forms.
FIG. 2 illustrates the typical carrier signal 80. As discussed above, a carrier signal used in accordance with the present invention could vary in frequency from 7.35 kHz to 13.8 kHz, depending upon the selected frequency indicated by the straps (reference numerals S1-S3 of FIG. 1) of the programmable divider. The square wave carrier signal 80 consists of a series of alternating logic level changes and therefore comprises a series of positive edges PE and negative edges NE. The time between successive negative edges describes the period P of the carrier signal 80. Of course, if this period P can be measured, the frequency of the carrier signal 80 can be determined.
FIG. 3 illustrates three curves which are plotted on the same time scale. Wave form 3A is an expanded view of the carrier signal 80 of FIG. 2. The distance between two successive negative edges represents the period P of the wave form. Wave form 3B represents a higher frequency signal that is used to measure the period P of the carrier signal 80. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wave form 3B would have a frequency of 1 mHz since a signal of that frequency is readily available for the reasons discussed above in relation to the microprocessor (reference numeral U4 in FIG. 4). The 1 mHz signal of wave form 3B is operatively associated with a counter that is responsive to each successive pulse of wave form 3B by incrementing the value of its contents. This incrementing pulse count is schematically represented by curve 3C.
The microprocessor of the present invention can easily be configured to generate an interrupt signal based on the occurrence of either a negative edge NE or a positive edge PE of a designated wave form. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microprocessor is configured to generate an interrupt upon each occurrence of a negative edge NE of the wave form 3A, which is the carrier signal of the transceiver. Upon each occurrence of the negative edge interrupt, an interrupt capture flag (ICF) is set and a relatively short software program senses this flag and stores the instantaneous value of an input capture register (ICR) upon its occurrence. This program can, therefore, observe the value of the counter, which is known as the input capture register (ICR), for two successive interrupts and determine the magnitude change of the ICR between two successive negative edges. Regardless of the value of the ICR when the first of the two ICF's occur, the program can determine the number of pulses that occurred between the successive negative edges by subtracting the initial value of the ICR from the subsequent value of the ICR. Since the frequency of wave form 36 is known to be 1 mHz, the period of time that occurs between successive negative edges of the carrier signal 80 can be calculated.
As an example of the operation of the present invention, an exemplary sequence of events will be described in relation to FIG. 3. For purposes of this example, it will be assumed that the wave form 3A, which is the carrier signal 80, has a frequency of 12.5 kHz. Of course, during the operation of the present invention following a power-up sequence, this frequency is unknown and must be determined. When the microprocessor (reference numeral U4 in FIG. 1) is first caused to be operative following a power failure condition, the software program of the present invention is executed. At some period of time, prior to the instant illustrated as time T0 in FIG. 3, the input capture flag (ICF) of the microprocessor is armed in order that a subsequent negative edge will be generated upon the following occurrence of a negative edge of the wave form 3A. The 1 mHz signal, wave form 3B, is generating its pulses at this time and the input capture register (ICR) is accumulating the pulse count associated with wave form 3B. Upon the occurrence of the first negative edge NE of the carrier signal 80 the input capture flag (ICF) is set. This occurs at time T0. The program immediately stores the initial ICR value of the total pulse counts at time T0. This total pulse count is indicated by TPC0 in FIG. 3. The program would then monitor the input capture flag ICF in order to determine the occurrence of the immediately subsequent negative edge NE of the wave form 3A. During this time, prior to the subsequent occurrence of the next negative edge NE, the 1 mHz signal continues to cause the input capture register (ICR) to accumulate the pulses which are illustrated as C1, C2, C3 . . . CN in FIG. 3. When the next negative edge NE occurs, the input capture flag (ICF) is set and the program responds by immediately storing the value of the input capture register (ICR) at that time. As illustrated in FIG. 3, this second negative edge occurs at time T1 and the value of the input capture register (ICR) at that time is represented by TPC1. By subtracting TPC0 from TPC1, the number of pulses that occurred during the time span from time T0 to time T1 can easily be calculated.
Since the frequency of wave form 3B is known and the total pulse count TPC that occurred during one period of the wave form 3A is known, the period P of the carrier signal 80 can easily be calculated. However, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frequency of the carrier signal 80 is determined directly by matching the total pulse count TPC in a look-up table to its corresponding frequency. An exemplary look-up table used to perform this function is illustrated in Table I below:
TABLE I______________________________________TPC CARRIER FREQUENCY______________________________________136 7.35 kHz128 7.81 kHz120 8.33 kHz112 8.93 kHz104 9.62 kHz 96 10.42 kHz 80 12.50 kHz 72 13.89 kHz______________________________________
As can be seen in Table I, a total pulse count (TPC) of approximtely 80 would be expected if the carrier frequency is 12.5 kHz. Therefore, by comparing the total pulse count TPC, which is calculated by subtracting TPC0 from TPC1, to the entries of the look-up table, the frequency which most closely matches the total pulse count TPC can be determined to be the prescribed carrier frequency for the transceiver. As can be seen in Table I, the eight frequencies used in this preferred embodiment of the present invention result in total pulse counts (TPC) that differ by eight pulses from their nearest alternative value. Therefore, if the calculated value of the pulse count interval between negative edges of the carrier wave is compared to the values shown in Table I, an error of �3 pulse counts will still result in the proper selection of the prescribed frequency. For example, measured values of TPC that range from 77 to 83 will result in the selection of 12.5 kHz from the look-up table.
It should be noted that the value of TPC0 will almost never be zero. This is due to the fact that the 1 mHz signal, wave form 3B, begins immediately upon a power-up, whereas the first occurrence of the input capture flag (ICF) at time T0 is necessarily delayed by some small period of time from the first instance of a power-up condition. During this short period of time, various reset functions are performed by the microprocessor and the input capture flag (ICF) is set. For example, data list pointers are initialized and I/O ports are configured immediately after a power-up sequence begins. Only then, after the setting of the input capture flag (ICF), will a subsequent negative edge NE of the carrier signal 80 cause the interrupt program to execute.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart which represents the logical functions performed by the program of the present invention. As indicated by function block F1, the program first sets the input capture flag (ICF) to be enabled on a subsequent negative edge of the associated wave form. Next, the program executes a tight loop of rapidly repeated instructions, as illustrated by logic block F2, in which it watches for a change in the status of the input capture flag which would indicate the occurrence of a negative edge of the associated wave form. If the negative edge has not occurred, the program immediately looks at it again. The program will continue to observe this input capture flag until it changes. When the program observes that the negative edge has occurred, as indicated by the change of status of the input capture flag (ICF), it immediately reads the value of the input capture register (ICR) and stores it for future reference. This step is indicated by logic block F3 in which the initial value of the input capture register is stored in a variable called TEMP4. This would occur at time T0 in FIG. 3. After storing the initial value of the input capture register (ICR), the program immediately goes into another tight loop, as indicated by logic block F4, in which it watches for the next occurrence of a negative edge of the associated wave form. Until this subsequent negative edge occurs, the program will continue to watch for it. When the negative edge occurs, as would be indicated by the change of status of the input capture flag (ICF), the program immediately reads the value of the input capture register (ICR), as indicated by logic block F5, and calculates the total pulse count by subtracting the value of TEMP4 from the most recent value of the input capture register (ICR).
Comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, it should be understood that the value of the variable TEMP4 is equivalent to the value TPC0 indicated in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the value of ICR in logic block F6 would contain the value of TPC1 in FIG. 3. Therefore, after the calculation is performed at logic block F6, the measured value of TPC, the total pulse count occurring between subsequent negative edges of the wave form 80, is known. Following this calculation, the program would compare this value of TPC to the look-up table stored in read-only memory (ROM) as indicated by logic block F7 of FIG. 4. Following this determination of the precise prescribed frequency of the carrier signal, the program would exit, as illustrated by logic block F8.
It should be understood that the actual determination of the carrier signal frequency is not the final step taken by the microprocessor during the power-up sequence. After the prescribed carrier frequency is determined, this value is compared to a storage location in the NOVRAM (reference numerals U2 and U3 in FIG. 1) in which the previously known value of the prescribed carrier frequency was stored. If these two values are identical, the microprocessor would continue to operate in a normal manner. However, if these two values are not identical, the storage location in the NOVRAM is changed to correspond with the recently determined carrier frequency value and an alarm location is set in order that this discrepancy can be communicated to a central station at a later time. Therefore, if the stored value of the prescribed carrier frequency has been adversely affected because of some transient condition, such as a lightning storm, the transceiver made in accordance with the present invention can still operate properly because it now has determined what its prescribed frequency is and can both receive and transmit messages at that frequency. However, for information purposes, the alarm signal is transmitted to the central station in order that the previous existence of the transient condition will be known.
Upon initial manufacture of a transceiver made in accordance with the present invention, the stored value of the prescribed frequency is, of course, zero or some other improper value. However, it should be apparent from the above discussion that the transceiver will determine its own proper prescribed frequency upon the occurrence of the first power-up sequence. Therefore, the present invention provides a means for permitting the transceiver to determine its own prescribed frequency, based on its output transmission carrier frequency, so that the transceiver can determine its frequency upon the occurrence of an adverse transient condition which partially affects its memory or upon initial installation following manufacture. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail, it should be understood that alternative embodiments are to be considered within the scope of the present invention. In order to more fully understand the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, particular values of its components are described in Table II.
TABLE II______________________________________Reference Numeral Type or Value______________________________________U2 Type 2212 (XICOR)U3 Type 2212 (XICOR)U4 Type 6801U4 (Motorola)U5 Semi-Custom ChipU6 Type 3140U7 Type 74HC03 (Quad 2-Input Open Drain NAND gate) C17 39 pf C18 39 pf C21 .1 μfD4 Type 1N4148R1 12KΩR2 1KΩR3 3KΩY1 4 mHz Crystal 34* 2-input EOR 60* Inverter 62* 2-Input NAND 64* 2-Input OR 72* Inverter______________________________________ *These components are incorporated in semicustom chip U5
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|4 Nov 1976
|5 Dec 1978
|Sencore, Inc.
|Channel frequency analyser
|29 Jun 1978
|25 Nov 1980
|E-Systems, Inc.
|Digital frequency deviation meter
|28 Jun 1979
|22 Sep 1981
|Rca Corporation
|System and method for frequency discrimination
|17 Jul 1980
|30 Nov 1982
|Nissan Motor Company, Limited
|Method of testing transceiver and transceiver including testing apparatus
|22 Mar 1978
|13 Dec 1983
|Novak Albert P
|Device for the automatic editing, at the receiver, of unwanted program material from broadcast electrical signals
|Title not available
|Title not available
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|3 Nov 1989
|24 Aug 1993
|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
|Radio frequency transmitter capable of sensing abnormal state for use in a wireless security system
|1 Dec 1993
|20 Sep 1994
|Electronic Innovators, Inc.
|Distributed intelligence engineering casualty and damage control management system using an AC power line carrier-current lan
|14 Jan 2011
|4 Feb 2014
|Stmicroelectronics S.R.L.
|Crosstalk suppression in wireless testing of semiconductor devices
|3 Feb 2014
|17 Oct 2017
|Stmicroelectronics S.R.L.
|Crosstalk suppression in wireless testing of semiconductor devices
|14 Jan 2011
|12 May 2011
|Stmicroelectronics S.R.I
|Crosstalk suppression in wireless testing of semiconductor devices
|U.S. Classification
|455/67.11, 324/76.47, 324/76.55
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|31 May 1984
Owner name: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION, WESTINGHOUSE BL
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:KENNON, JERRY M.;FAULKNER, JAMES V. JR.;YORK, THEODORE H.;REEL/FRAME:004267/0477
Effective date: 19840524
Owner name: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION,PENNSYLVANIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KENNON, JERRY M.;FAULKNER, JAMES V. JR.;YORK, THEODORE H.;REEL/FRAME:004267/0477
Effective date: 19840524
|22 Mar 1990
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|7 Jun 1990
Owner name: ABB POWER T&D COMPANY, INC., A DE CORP., PENNSYLV
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORP. OF PA.;REEL/FRAME:005368/0692
Effective date: 19891229
|18 Oct 1994
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|12 Mar 1995
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|23 May 1995
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 19950315


text:
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Feb 16, 2013 - 1:13 am
I am now two weeks post op from my left sided single mastectomy. Today I tried to go out wearing a sports bra and a soft fiberfill form. I was so miserable, that I ended up removing both in the car. It was so uncomfortable and sore having it next to my skin. Will I always go bra-less with a uni-boob? Looks kind of wierd, but that is how I am most comfortable right now.
I called my aunt who also had a single mastectomy 2 years ago. She said that she makes trips to the bathroom to continually adjust her "foob". She said it keeps riding to the middle of her chest. This sounds so depressing to me.
Please tell me how you have adjusted and let me know what I can expect in the future when my incision is fully healed.
(I can't help but wondering if I should have had a double mastectomy, but can't imagine feeling this sore on both sides)
Thank you for insight and thoughts.
Feb 16, 2013 - 8:35 am
I had a mastectomy 7 years ago and I always thought I would get reconstruction but I did not. In order to get a proper fit, you need to go a place that has sales people trained in these items.I live in MASS and we have a store called Lady Grace. The women in there know how to fit the bras and the 'boob' s. They re trained in it. They are wonderful
This is probably the issue with your Aunt also
Also, you have not healed yet, that is why the bra is uncomfortable right now.
Also, my daughter always says to me don't be embarrassed with one boob, that's your battle wounds you should be proud of the battle.
Feb 16, 2013 - 11:05 am
I was thinking the same thing. You are just 2 weeks out, it's TOO SOON to have something touching you like that all day! BUT there are professionals wonderfully trained skilled at fitting breast prothesis and it can even be covered by some insurance. The one near me is called Houston Wellness Boutique. http://www.houstonwellnessboutique.com/Home_Page.html That may be no where near you but you could call them and see if there is one in your area that they know of!
They have some GREAT technology and no you absolutely DO NOT have to be stuck forever with the amazing wandering foob!
Feb 21, 2013 - 11:34 am
There are stores that specialize in fitting women that have had breast cancer. I know that they can help you out. Your oncologist may even know of a store.
Good luck!
Feb 16, 2013 - 11:15 am
I had a single mastectomy and didn't wear but a very soft pillow type prosthesis for the first four weeks. It takes about 4-6 weeks before soft tissue heals.
I was then fitted for the right type of prosthesis for me by a qualified mastectomy fitter. Please see one, don't just buy a prosthesis online. A qualified fitter will be able to find the right size for you that fits almost like the real thing.
In due time, one even forgets that they have a prosthesis. One day, now many years ago, I was in my car, ready to put the key into the ignition and kept thinking I forgot something. I looked at my bag, and etc. everything was there and then I looked down and saw the empty side. I forgot to put my prosthesis on. I went in, put it on and returned to my car. So in time you due become use to it.
I have had men friends since the day so long ago now (August 1994) and they never cared that I had a part of me missing.
In due time, give yourself time to heal.
Feb 19, 2013 - 10:31 pm
I just wanted to send you a warm welcome and a big hug!
Feb 16, 2013 - 12:30 pm
I had a double mastectomy, but at first I was going to get a singled until they saw something on a preop MRI on the other breast. Personally, I think it would be much harder to figure out how to live with one breast than none ( I was a DD prior to bc). I think perhaps had I been smaller, it would have been easier to live with one. I think if my partner,Brian, had not been so easy going and accepting of living without reconstruction, it would have been much harder. I know I push thoughts away so I don't bring up a bunch of cancer related emotions and go down that path.
There is a good group of women on the website, breastcancer.org who have had a single mastectomy. You can find them in the forum called Mastectomy Without Reconstruction. I am sure you will find lots of support there. I highly recommend you try it. I use both csn.cancer.org and breastcancer.org.
Do you have a Mastecomy Boutique in your area? We have a wonderful one in our area. Make sure there is a certified fitter if you go. There are many different styles of prosthetic breast forms and bras to choose from. Your fitter should let you try as many as you want until you find something that you like. Take a list of your question, concerns, and fears with you and go over them with whoever is helping you.
Remember, you are only TWO weeks post op from a mastectomy. You had a major surgery done and are bound to be sore. Perhaps it will be hard emotionally, but if it is giving you pain, it may be better to speak to your surgeon about that. I know for myself, the first time I went out to the grocery store in a tee shirt with no breasts, I thought everyone in the world would be staring at me. Turns out no one even gave me a second glance. It was all in my head.
I wish you the best in your recovery and hope to see you on breastcancer.org as well.
Feb 16, 2013 - 1:30 pm
I had a bilateral, so I can't speak to the issues of a single. But I can reiterate how important it is to see a good fitter. Mine was recommended by the cancer center, and worked directly with my insurance. But you can google 'mastectomy bras name of city'. If you have to, it is worth traveling for a good fitter. I recommend you bring a fairly snug t-shirt style blouse without patterns if you have one. That way you can clearly see in the mirror how well the prosth and bra work. You should only have to go once a year or so. Also, Nordstrom has a good reputation for quality fitters. In either case, you will want to call and make an appointment so they will have time allocated to focus on you.
I agree with everyone else who said it is too soon for a bra and prosth (even a comfy sports bra and pillow prosth). Give your body more time to heal before trying again. In the meantime, many here use ruffles and scarves to hide an imbalance. I hope this helps you.
Feb 28, 2013 - 4:28 pm
I had a lumpectomy, but, I know at my cancer center they have everything any woman going thru bc might need, for a single mastectony or a bi. Have you checked yours there? The one here is in the gift shop right inside the cancer center.
Wishing you good luck,
Feb 19, 2013 - 1:40 am
They told me to wait 6 week before getting fitted .I am very place with the way my breast look in my clothes can't tell which one I lost and they a weighted so they don't ride up.Before I was fitted I used what they called softie the cancer suvivor sent me 2 and a leasure bra that help a lot too.
Feb 20, 2013 - 9:16 am
I just had a single. I decided to wait for reconstruction. I have not gone in for reconstruction yet. I was diagnosed in 2003.
partly I didn't have it done was I dislike surgery and partly my surgeon retired. I found that wearing loose clothing hides it. Also most people don't pay any attention.
But I seem to be the exception.
Feb 20, 2013 - 12:19 pm
I also had a left-sided single mastectomy in 1987. As others have said, it is important to find a specialty store. They have great information!
Who knew, for example, that there is a swimming prosthesis? The first time I went swimming, my foob sank to my belly button (using silicone prosthesis). The second time, I used a soft form and it nearly floated up and away! Lol! A swimming prosthesis is weighted just enough, so you won't have these problems.
I eventually decided on reconstruction, in part because I was just 33 at the time and love to swim.
You will heal and not have to go braless!! Give yourself time.
P.S. I would think a sports bra would not have enough give to be comfortable right now. They have stretchier bras such as the Ah Bra that offer a little support without being as constricting. Good luck!
Feb 20, 2013 - 12:44 pm
I had wanted a double mastectomy from the start but talked out of because of my stage 3 diagnosis and the lymphnode involvment. I just never thought I would ever go back and have the other removed knowing the pain. But I did after more lumps occurred in the second breast. My doctor and mother the nurse advised me to do one at a time since so traumatic and treat the cancer side first. Then have the second removed if I still felt the same way.
If I had not had more lumps I probably would have refrained from second mastectomy just because I am not comfortable with all the surgery though you wouldn't know it after all the biopsies and tests I have done over the 15 years of survival I have had. I ended up having second mastectomy one year to the day of the first one and that scared the hell out of me. I was 37 at the time and I did not include reconstruction in the gig. I still am a flat liner and am comfortable in my own skin never having that attachment to my breasts. I just have side affects from everything done and given including the surgery so less is more for me. You truly have to do what you are comfortable with and will be able to live with the rest of your life. That is not the same for each one of us...
Good luck, Tara
Feb 21, 2013 - 9:41 pm
I had a single last October and was perplexed over the sme issue. I waited almost 12 weeks to go for a fitting but I am so glad I went. p Although I do still have tenderness in my chest, I wear it constantly. The key is a good fit. It does not move around or cause pain. If it is too tight against my skin I either adjust it or wear a looser mastectomy bra. I walk for exercise so I wear a looser bra to keep it from rubbing my skin. I was very frustrated with the foam fillers and very happy that my "gal" works so well! Ask your dr. when you can go for a fitting. Many insurance companies cover the bras and the prosthesis so check with yours and find out what they will help with. Best of luck! Teri
Feb 24, 2013 - 7:32 pm
In 2003 I had a full masectomy on my right. I have never had reconstuction. It is really to early for you to probably be wearing anything. Just wear some loose shirts while you are healing. What you need to do if you have insurance is get a prescription for bras and a silicone form. I live on the East coast and I went to Lady Grace. They helped fit me with the right form and bras. The form will fit inside the new bras and won't move around on you. Check with your insurance company but most pay at least 80% if not more. I wore the bras and forms for years until I had my sternum and 3 ribs removed due to recurrance. Now forms are too heavy and throw off my balance so I go braless. I am long past worrying about what people think. I do tend to wear shirts with layers or that drape so you can't tell. Make sure the choice is what YOU want. Don't worry about others.
Mar 03, 2013 - 12:37 pm
I had a single mastectomy Nov 2011 and though I have a prostesis, and wear is most of the time, there are some days, or some activities, that I prefer to go without it. As a biker chick I already had a number of doo-rags and scarves that I wore through chemo and now I wear them around my neck to camoufalge my flat side. There are many websites and You-tube video's that show how to tie scarves, as well as department store staff for a more hands-on approach.
Good luck!


text:
April* was furious with her boyfriend. "He told me I looked pretty this morning. It ruined my day!"
You probably know what it's like to get a compliment that should make you feel better but actually makes you feel bad. Maybe it doesn't feel genuine or it feels like a back-handed criticism. When this happens, does your reaction reflect your own insecurities and anxieties or is it an accurate reading of an underlying message?
Here's a really common example. Say you've lost a lot of weight and someone says, "You look fabulous! Did you lose weight?"
You might feel thrilled by the evidence that your hard work has paid off and people are noticing. Or you might feel that it's a purposeful reminder that you did not look good before. You might also resent being under the scrutiny of others – your weight and your appearance is your own business and no one else's, right? And why do you have to have lost weight to look good? Even worse, you may have no idea why you don't like compliments, but as soon as you get one, you go off your diet.
These reactions capture an important feature of giving and taking compliments: they are a lot more complicated than they might seem. Teasing out some of these hidden meanings can make it easier to give compliments that will be accepted and to take in genuine compliments even when they're given awkwardly.
Low self-esteem: My PT colleague Guy Winch discusses this important reason that some people have difficulty. If you feel badly about yourself, it is almost impossible to take in something good that someone says about you. You don't believe it, so how can they?
Competitive feelings: Are you afraid of competing or of being seen as competitive? Do you feel that the person giving you a compliment is competing with you? Or thinks that you're competing with them? All of these very common worries can make it hard to hear and take in a compliment. And interestingly, worries about these same things can make it hard to give a compliment that sounds sincere, even when you really mean what you're saying.
Anxiety about what others think about you: Numerous authors have looked at the very common issue of gaining weight (or doing something else to destroy your good feelings and good work) as a result of getting a compliment. In the classic book Fat is a Feminist Issue Susie Orback says that we equate our bodies with our very essence. When you get a compliment that seems to say that only the pretty parts of you are acceptable and admirable – something you might actually believe yourself – you become distressed. You might secretly say to yourself, "But what about the other parts. Are they so bad that they have to be hidden forever?" And you may reject the compliment, the person giving it, and the behaviors that have led you to it.
Fears of intrusion: Mary Elizabeth* is a beautiful young woman who carefully selects her clothes everyday. She has elegant taste and an eye for bargains that fit her beautifully and make her look like she has spent a fortune on her wardrobe. But she becomes enraged anytime someone looks at her or compliments her. Her clothes are for her, she says, not for anyone else. Her fear is that she will be taken over by someone else's taste or judgment. "What if they don't like something that I really love. Should I stop wearing it just because they don't like it?" She doesn't believe that she should, but she is afraid that she will be influenced by their comments.
Even a lack of compliments can be a problem. Mary Elizabeth says that if she gets used to compliments, and then someone doesn't say something about a particular outfit, it will change her feelings about it.
Here's the deal: any compliment can have many different meanings. But if someone goes to the trouble of giving you a compliment, why not take it at face value? They have gone to the effort to communicate something to you. Even if you feel that it is not valid, or that it has a competitive component, or that it might influence how you feel about yourself…why not do as my mother used to instruct me when I got a compliment as a child: Just smile, say, "thank you so much," and let it go. If you keep turning it over in your head, or feeling that your day has been ruined by either a compliment or a lack of a compliment, remind yourself that you're responding to some of the underlying meanings that a compliment can have, not necessarily to the real intended meaning.
And if you want to give a compliment, you can know that there are many ways it can or will be taken. But if it's genuine, even if it is rejected, it reflects your good will and effort to give someone else a gift. If they can't take it in, you can try to find other ways to give compliments to that person in the future. But it doesn't mean that you've done something bad. And remember this: you can't always know it, but even when someone turns away from your nice words, they actually (and sometimes secretly) enjoy it later.
What do you think? I'd love to hear about your experiences giving and getting compliments!
*all names and identifying information changed to protect privacy
Teaser image: istock


text:
Hi 'hounds,
Will be visiting Atlanta, Emory University for a conference, for a week next Sun-Fri from San Diego. No car, probably with colleagues in tow for some meals, but mostly solo. Meals, by and large, will be supplied by the conference, but I more than willing to skip conference food for a reasonable walk (up to 1.5miles) to visit some local chow. I'm sure there are local faves, but no need to suggest Mexican, Sushi, or Burgers - all are well over-represented here in SD.
My colleague traveling with me is South Indian and has already bookmarked a visit to Saravana Bhavan - good or bad, she's been before and it will be on the itinerary.
Otherwise, have scoped these places from the board - all more or less beside Emory or in Decatur - would be willing to rent a car 1-2 days for worthwhile quick food trips, but the conference is way too packed for any long excursions.
BBQ - Community Q BBQ / Maddy's
Local/Farm-to-Table - Cakes & Ale / Farmstead 303 / Floataway Cafe(?)
Breakfast - Flying Biscuit Cafe
Sandwiches - Super Pan Latino Sandwich Shop (looks a little far by foot, but looks really good/different)
Thanks for the help!
Cakes & Ale Restaurant
254 W Ponce De Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
Floataway Cafe
1123 Zonolite Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306-2015
Flying Biscuit Cafe
1655 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307


text:
Heading out for two runs in a single day—logging "doubles" or "two-a-days"—is standard practice among elites. But most mortals wouldn't dream of it: not enough time and too much injury risk.
"There is a misconception that doubles are something only high-mileage, elite runners do," says Steve Magness, an exercise physiologist and cross-country coach for the University of Houston. "But a lot of runners can benefit from them." Including time-crunched folks trying to squeeze in miles and veterans looking to step things up. For good reason: Studies suggest doubling up and running in a depleted state can boost fat-burning, train the body to use glycogen more efficiently, and stimulate mitochondria production (more mitochondria can delay fatigue).
More: Double Up Your Daily Runs
"By shortening the time between runs, you're challenging your body to recover faster," says Greg McMillan, an exercise physiologist and coach in Flagstaff, Arizona. "And a faster recovery is a good thing." But bad things can happen if you overdo it. Here's when it makes sense to double up—and how to do it safely.
How to Plan for Back-to-Back Marathons
Little Time, Big Dreams
"Cumulative mileage matters—no matter how you do it," says Brad Hudson of Hudson Elite Marathon Performance in Boulder, Colorado. You can boost your total miles by doubling once a week—and still keep a rest day.
4 to 10 hours after a key workout like an interval session or a tempo run, go for an easy 20-to 45-minute run, and don't fret about pace. This will boost mileage and aid recovery from the first workout by increasing blood flow to the muscles and flushing out lactic acid and other metabolic waste products. The result? Fresher legs for your next run.
"The best massage you can get is from a second run," says Hudson. On days you can't bear the thought of lacing up again, try pool-running, cycling, or the elliptical (try these four workouts borrowed from other sports to mix it up.) Such options offer similar recovery benefits without the pounding, says Hudson.
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Buying a Second Home: 7 Questions to Ask First
Looking at real estate is a popular occupation in resort communities — almost everyone indulges in a little fantasizing. Some travelers go further, however, and ask themselves if it makes sense to purchase a hideaway as a second home or investment.
It's a tough question — while there are the usual rent vs. own trade-offs to consider, there are some extra concerns that surround the acquisition of vacation property. As summer winds down and prices drop in many recreational areas, this fall or winter might be the ideal time to buy in your favorite warm-weather resort. According to Freddie Mac, 30-year second home mortgage rates are lower than they were at the beginning of 2014, the lower end of their historical range. However, interest rates and home prices have been on the move — the window of opportunity is still open, but it may be closing.
The following are seven key considerations for those examining the possibilities of second home ownership.
1. How much use will the property get? This depends on everything from how committed the buyer is to the property location to whether he or she will be able to get away for extended periods of time. Those who desire the flexibility to travel widely or who have a job that makes it a struggle to get away may be better off with rental condos, cabins or hotels.
2. What's the rental market like? Buyers who plan to offset costs by renting the house out when they're not there should verify the property's occupancy rate, especially during the times the owner is less likely to use it. If there are a lot of vacancies in the area, owners don't count on regularly getting rental income from their chalets.
3. What mortgage rates are available? Second home mortgage rates can be higher than those of primary residences. Those who need the property's income to qualify for a mortgage should definitely expect to pay more — in that case, the home is classified as investment property, which makes it a riskier deal for the lender. Applicants using tools like LoanExplorer from LendingTree should make sure to indicate that the purchase is a second home or rental when they request mortgage rates.
4. What will insurance cost? Insurance premiums in some popular recreation areas can be really high. Ocean front property, for example, may be susceptable to floods and high winds, and forested locations are often vulnerable to fire hazards. Also, owners planning to rent out their properties should plan on additional liability insurance expense.
5. Is real estate in the area over-priced? Smart buyers don't rush in. Instead, they research the real estate market in the areas they're considering – not just current values, but trends in recent years. Buyers should look at occupancy rates – in some areas of the country, absentee owners and investors have acquired an unusually large portion of the properties being sold, artificially inflating prices and creating the possibility of a speculative price bubble.
6. Will the mortgage interest be deductible? According to the IRS, a second home is generally eligible for the mortgage interest deduction. However, there are restrictions if the total of all mortgages (including 2nd mortgages) against both the first and second homes exceeds the agency's limit ($1.1 million in 2014). In addition, the mortgage interest and other deductions are taken differently if the property is rented out. The deductibility of interest is a major factor in property affordability, so buyers concerned about it should definitely check the details with the Internal Revenue Department (IRS Publication 936) and consider consulting a tax advisor.
7. How is the cash flow? A big part of the vacation / rental purchase decision comes down to cash flow. Ideally, the buyer can afford the mortgage payment and other expenses without relying on rental income. For those who can't, the regularity and dependability of the property's earnings are a key consideration. On the outgo side, buyers should know what expenses like utilities, taxes, and property management and maintenance will cost. They should create a detailed budget to make sure they can cover the monthly bills on the new property.
One absolute about vacation homes: they should not be purchased if there is any question about being able to afford them. Ultimately, a vacation home should be a haven for relaxation, not a new source of stress.


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(UPI) -- Shayanna Jenkins pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a perjury charge connected to the murder case against former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez.
Jenkins was arraigned in Fall River Superior Court and is due to return for a pre-trial hearing set for November 6. She was indicted because of testimony she gave to a Bristol County grand jury hearing evidence about Hernandez, her boyfriend.
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semi-pro football player from Boston. Lloyd was dating Jenkins's sister prior to his death.
Jenkins and Hernandez have a young child together.
Defense attorney Janice Bassil said that Jenkins and Hernandez shared only certain parts of their lives with one another. "Their relationship, in many ways, had elements of what I refer to as 'Don't ask, don't tell,'" Bassil said.
Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Bomberg said that Jenkins disposed of evidence from the home she shares with Hernandez after Lloyd's murder. According to Bomberg, Jenkins collected a box from the basement of the couple's home in North Attleborough, Mass., and then tossed the box in a dumpster.
When a grand jury questioned her about her actions, Jenkins testified she had no memory of where she went or where she got rid of the box.
"She told the grand jury she dumped it in a dumpster, but she couldn't tell anybody where it was,'' Bomberg said.


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The Los Gatos town council approved a retail firearms ordinance Monday night that will regulate any new gun dealers who want to set up shop in town. Among other things, the ordinance requires gun dealers to receive a conditional use permit that's subject to annual renewals. It also bans gun and ammunition sales at homes.
Future gun dealers will be required to locate at least 250 feet away from any youth-centered businesses, schools, day care centers, government buildings, places of worship, parks and trails.
That provision automatically means Templar Sports, 611 University Ave., will be out of compliance with the new ordinance. But the council gave Templar four years to come into compliance, with Councilwoman Diane McNutt voting "no." McNutt said the time frame was "arbitrary."
Other than grandfathering Templar, the council action means there are now just three locations where gun dealers will be allowed: One is almost directly across the street from Templar. The other two are at University Avenue and Winchester Boulevard, just north of Blossom Hill Road.


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Some time between the years 964 and 988, a new title appeared on a document that was not specifically dated. A case was heard before the shire court and the witness to the . . . oath was the reeve described in the record as the "scirimannes". . . This recorded instance of an official title being linked to the jurisdiction of the shire was a decisive phase in the development of the word "Sheriff".The next step . . . came with the term "sciresman" used to describe negotiations between Abbot Aelfhun and a man identified as a "scyresman" . . . The title identified an official delineation of a king's agent and an administrator within the shire.
During the reign of King Cnut (1017-1035) . . . the official royal title "scirgerfa" began. This was a combination of two Anglo-Saxon words and was indicative of the advanced status and responsibility of the High Reeve. The new title scirgerfa was soon adapted to common speech to scir-reeve, which ultimately became the word Sheriff.
While in Rome in 1027, King Cnut wrote a letter which formally identified the word sheriff. The letter in part read:Edward the Confessor and King was the patron saint of the Very Rev. Edward Sorin, Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross. That's why Father Sorin, founder of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, named one of its principle buildings St. Edward's Hall and named a school he founded in Austin, Texas, St. Edward Academy. Today it is St. Edward's University. Its web site has featured a biography of the Confessor King Saint.
"I command all the sheriffs and reeves over my whole kingdom, as they wish to retain my friendship and their own safety, that they employ no unjust force against any man neither rich nor poor, but all men of noble or humble birth shall have the right to enjoy just law, from which there is to be no deviation in any way, neither on account of the royal favour nor out of respect for any powerful man, nor in order to amass money for me."
The letter shows that the word sheriff was used in its present form in 1027 relative to English maintenance and administration of the shires. It also shows a sense of noble justice by the king; that no man shall be held to a greater or lesser standard by their status or birthright. Further, it acknowledges that the government of the shires was blessed in the name of God and that the king was empowered by holy ordinance to rule the land through the administration of the sheriffs. Finally, the letter identified that the collection of taxes through the sheriff was a matter of law, not a matter of choice, and fully enforceable as well as unavoidable. . . .
When Edward the Confessor succeeded King Cnut in 1042, the sheriff was the custodian of all the shires within his reign. The sheriff had full authority to execute any and all of the king's commands. It was the sheriff's responsibility at this time to keep the king's peace, raise the hue and cry, and punish any violators. . . .


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Arabian meatballs in eggplant sauceExtra recipe: eggplants in eggplant sauce
During the caliphate of the Abbasides (749-1258 AD) the Arabian cuisine was at its prime. In its heydays the Caliphate reached from modern Tunesia to India.
The culinary arts were highly regarded. Poets composed works on their favorite dishes, cookbooks were dedicated to the caliphs. There were also scientific works on the properties of all kinds of foodstuff and the effect they had on human health. Many Greek and Latin works were translated into Arabic. This Arabic knowledge spread throughout Europe through translations in Latin made on the Iberic paeninsula.
The influence of the Arabian kitchen on the European one is undeniable, but the extent of this influence is hard to define. A number of exotic ingredients became known in Europe through the Arabs: rice, spinach, eggplants, apricots and lemons, to name a few. Arabs were also middlemen in the trade of spices between Europe and the Far East. Direct influence from Arabic culinary texts however seems very small. There are dishes which are called Sarracen in medieval European cookbooks, but these cannot be traced to Arabic recipes. These dishes are often prepared with dried dates, figs, raisins, or are coloured heavily.
The Arabian cuisine itself has been influenced primarily by the Persian culinary arts, but also by the Bedouin and Turkish kitchens.
On this page are an Arabic recipe for meatballs of lamb in eggplant sauce and an extra recipe from Italy for eggplants in eggplant sauce. More medieval recipes from the Arabian cuisine on Coquinaria: Spicy meatballs, Pasties with eggplant and spinach stuffing, Stir-fried lamb, and Deep-fried braids.
Tacuinum Sanitatis
Arabian science formed a bridge between the knowledge of Antiquity and the European Middle Ages. One subject was the properties of foodstuffs and the role they played in the health balance of persons. Many texts were translated from Greek and Latin into Arabic. These generated new texts that were translated back into Latin on the Iberic peninsula and spread out over Europe. One example is the Tacuinum Sanitatis, written in the eleventh century by the physician Ibn Botlar. In the thirteenth century this book was translated into Latin. Tacuinum is a Latinized verion of the Arabic word taqwm, that means 'table' (in the meaning of 'chart'). Literally, Tacuinum Sanitatis means 'health table'. Not only foodstuffs were described, also the workings of the seasons and even the directions of the wind, with their effect on our physical health and possible remedies. This schematic knowledge of the humoral pathology is based on wotks of the Greek-Roman physician Galen (second century aD) and Hippocrates (around 400 bC). Several beuatifully illustrated manuscripts of the Tacuinum Sanitatis were produced in Italy att the end of the fourteenth century. You'll find several miniatures from these manuscripts elsewhere on this site (1, 2, 3), and below you'll see another one.
Eggplants (or aubergines)
I had already chosen the recipe for Buran before reading the paper of C.Perry on the history of this dish ('Buran: Eleven hundred years in the history of a dish', see bibliography). The reason I chose it was because it was so delicious! Below you find a very short summary of his paper. To grasp the finer points you must absolutely read the paper itself.
The dish Buran is named after the bride of caliph al-Ma'mun. The wedding was in 825 AD (222 AH, the islamic era). The nuptials must have been splendid, in luxurious festivities as well as in luscious banquets.
Dishes called Buran appear in the middle of the tenth century. Eggplant was an exotic fruit in ninth century (AD) Baghdad. Originating from India, it was at first mistrusted. It was supposed to be bad for your health, and the inherent bitterness of the eggplant did not help its popularity. Perry presumes that Buran was the first recipe in which the eggplant was first parboiled in salted water to remove the bitterness, and thus helped making the eggplant acceptable.
The eldest dishes named Buran contain no meat. Perry traces the history of the dish through the centuries and regions, with variations with meat, with vegetables and grains, and even variations without eggplant.
The extra recipe, South-Italian from the fifteenth century, is a descendant of the meatless Buran. Sicily was ruled by Arabs until the end of the eleventh century, and the Duchy of Naples was by turns ally and enemy of Mohammedan Sicily. This proximity is also noticeable in the kitchen.
The Kitab al-Tabikh, a cookbook from Bagdad from the thirteenth century
The text for this recipe is given only in English. The recipe is from Kitab al-Tabikh, published by A.J. Arberry in 1939 as A Baghdad Cookery Book. This edition is reprinted in the splendid volume Medieval Arab Cookery, which contains essays on and translation from medieval Arab culinary texts, edited by M. Rodinson and C. Perry (Prospect Books, 2001).
The cookbook Kitab al-Tabikh is written by Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Karim al-Katib al-Baghdadi in the year 1226 AD (623 AH). Nothing is known of the author. The manuscript, an autograph, was discovered and edited in 1934 by the Iraqi scientist Daoud Chelebi. Later other, extended versions were discovered, such as the Kitab Wasf al-At'ima al-Mu'tada (also published in Medieval Arab Cookery).
Like the recipes in European medieval cookbooks, the Arabian recipes are meant for the upper class. All known vegetables, fruits and herbs are used. Chicken is highly regarded. Sheep and lamb are prepared. Spices are also highly regarded, including some that have not or only very rarely found their way into European kitchens, such as musc and betel.
The original recipe: meatballs in eggplant sauce
The original text is Arabic, and that is a language I have no knowledge of. That is why I offer the English translation of Charles Perry. Edition: 'A Baghdad cookery book', in Petits Propos Culinaires, November 2005. The recipe can be found on p. 58.
|Buran. The way to make it is to take eggplant and boil it lightly in water and salt, then take it out and let it dry awhile, then fry it in fresh sesame oil until it is done. Peel it and leave it in a plate or large bowl, and mix it well with a ladle until it becomes like a pudding. Throw in a little salt and dry coriander. Then take Persian yoghurt, mix garlicwith it, throw it on that eggplant and mix well with it. Then take lean meat and beat it well [and make it into small meatballs], and take fresh tail fat (sc. and melt it), and throw the meatballs into it and stir them until they are browned. Then cover them with water and boil them until the water dries up and they return to their fat (i.e. begin to fry in the fat). Put them on the surface of the eggplant, sprinkle with cumin and finely pounded cinnamon and use it.
Modern adaptation of the recipe
Tailfat from sheep may be hard to come by. You could use sesame oil and/or olive oil instead. Lard can't tbe used, as that is pork meat.
For 4 persons.
1 eggplant
3 Tbsp. sesame oil or 1 Tbsp. sesame oil + 2 Tbsp. neutral oil
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 decilitre (3 fl.oz) yoghurt
2 garlic cloves, crushed
500 gram (1 pound) ground meat of lamb
40 gram (1/4 cup) sheep fat (optional)
1/2 tsp. in all of ground cumin and cinnamon
Preparation in advance
Boil the eggplant for five minutes in water with salt. Let it drain, cool and dry. Heat oil in a casserole and stew de eggplant on a very slow fire with the lid on until it is very soft (30 to 45 minutes). Turn the eggplant a couple of times. Pull the skin off the eggplant, and mince the flesh with a fork or in a blender. Temper with yoghurt, garlic, salt and ground coriander.
Form small balls of the minced lamb meat. Choose a casserole in which the balls fit snugly. Heat sheep fat or oil, fry the meatballs until they are brown. Pour enough water in to cover the balls. Let it simmer until the water has evaporated. Add the eggplant sauce to the meatballs, heat through. The modern cook would add some salt and pepper to the meatballs.
To serve
Serve the meatballs in the casserole, or on a dish. Sprinkle with ground cumin and cinnamon just before serving. If you want to add some colour, garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
In Arabic medieval cookbooks dishes are often served in the pan in which they were prepared. The rim is wiped clean, and sometimes the food is sprinkled with rosewater.
Extra recipe: Marignani, eggplants in eggplant sauce
I have included this recipe of eggplants in eggplant sauce because it seems to me a descendant of the Arabic recipe given above. It is taken from an Italian cookbook at the end of the fifteenth century, edited by T. Scully (see bibliography). The anonymous author is called Cuoco Napoletano.
|Piglia li marignani he falli bene netare he bene mondare sutilmente; poi pone a focho uno pocho de aqua he falli dare uno bullore; che siano tagliati in quarti he pone in quella aqua uno pocho de sale, he non li lassare bullire piu che doi Pater Noster; poi cavali fora sopra uno tagliero he falli sugare; poi infarinali he frigeli; et como li harai friti, scola fora quasi tuto lo olio; poi piglia una spica de aglio he pistala bene cum uno quarto de quisti marignani; he poi habi uno poco de rigano de quello se mette sopra le alice, he pistalo cum lo aglio cum uno pocho de pane, pipero, saffrano he sale; poi distempera tute queste cise insieme cum agresto he cum uno poco de aceto; poi getta ogni cosa insiema in la padella a frigere un pochetto; poi meteli in piatti he manda a tavola cum specie fine.
|Take eggplants and wash them and peel them well. Then add a little water on the fire and bring to the boil. Cut the eggplants [first] into quarters and add some salt to the water. Do not let them boil for more than two Our Fathers. Take them out on a cutting board and let them drain. Then cover them with flour and fry them. When they are fried, pour almost all the oil out [of the pan]. Take a clove of garlic, grind this with one quart (amount) of the eggplant. Take some oregano, the kind you put on little anchovies. Grind it together with the garlic and some bread, pepper, saffron and salt. Temper all this with verjuice and a little vinegar and put all in the pan to fry a short while. Then dish up and serve it [sprinkled] with fine spices.
Modern adaptation of the recipe
For 4 persons as a side dish.
4 small eggplants or 2 big ones
2 Tbsp. flour
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. dried oregano
crumbs of 1 slice of white bread
pepper,salt and saffron
2 Tbsp. verjuice or applecider vinegar
1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
olive oil
1 tsp. in all of sugar and cinnamon
Preparation in advance
Blanch the peeled and quartered eggplants in water with salt for 1 minute. Let them drain, pat them dry. Cover the pieces of eggplant with flour. Fry in plenty of olive oil, drain again. Pour almost all oil from the pan.
Take a quarter of the total amount of eggplant, blend in the blender with garlic and bread crumbs. Add oregano, pepper and salt. Heat the verjuice with vinegar, crush the saffron threads in it. Add this to the pureed eggplant.
Return the pieces of eggplant and the eggplant sauce to the pan in heat through, or fry the eggplant parts again and serve the warm sauce separately.
To serve
At once, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
All descriptions of ingredients
Tail fat - In Europe and large parts of the world there are sheep with small, thin tails. However, in the Middle East and North Africa you find since prehistoric times the so called 'fat-tail sheep'. Every one in four sheep in the world is a fat-tail sheep. These sheep store the fat in the tail, instead of throughout their body. The tail is enlarged because of the fat. This storage of fat in the tail results in lean meat. The tail fat, which melts at lower temperature, was much appreciated in the Middle Ages in the Arab cuisine, not only to prepare meat, but also in sweet dishes. (source: Alan Davison, The Oxford Companion of Food)
Verjuice - The juice of sour, unripe grapes. You can still buy it, but you may have to look for it. In the Netherlands verjuice as also made from unripe apples and sorrel. You can use applecider vinegar as a substitute. More about verjuice and a recipe to make your own verjuice
The editions below are in my possession. Links refer to available editions.
All books mentioned on this site (with short reviews)
- L.C. Arano, Tacuinum Sanitatis. Middeleeuwse gezondheidsleer. Utrecht [etc.], 1976.
- A.J. Arberry, A Baghdad Cookery Book (Kitab ab-al-Tabikh) (Islamic Culture XIII 1939), reprinted with commentary by C. Perry in Medieval Arab Cookery: Papers by Maxime Rodinson and Charles Perry with a Reprint of a Baghdad Cookery Book , Prospect Books, 2001, pp.19/89.
- Alan Davidson, Tom Jaine, The Oxford Companion to Food 2nd Ed (Oxford, 2006)
- C. Perry, "Buran: Eleven hundred years in the history of a dish" in: Medieval Arab Cookery: Papers by Maxime Rodinson and Charles Perry with a Reprint of a Baghdad Cookery Book , Prospect Books, 2001, pp.239/250
- C. Perry (vert.), A Baghdad Cookery Book (n). Petits Propos Culinaires 79 (November 2005)
- M. Rodinson, "Studies in Arabic manuscripts relating to cookery" in Medieval Arab Cookery: Papers by Maxime Rodinson and Charles Perry with a Reprint of a Baghdad Cookery Book , Prospect Books, 2001, pp.91/163.
- T. Scully, The Neapolitan Recipe Collection: Cuoco Napoletano. Ann Arbor, 2000