text:
|Intercommunication system for vehicle
|Automatic non-computer network no-stop collection of expressway tolls by magnetic cards and method
|Airport surface vehicle identification system and method
|Dual mode electronic identification system
|Vercellotti et al.
|Oscillation maintenance circuit
|Steinhagen et al.
|Circuit arrangement for generating a control signal in dependence upon the occurrence of an extreme value of a sinusoidal oscillation and use of such a circuit arrangement
|Steinhagen et al.
|Method and apparatus for integrated data capture and electronic article surveillance
|Transponder arrangement
|Schuermann et al.
|Deactivatable security tag
|Lamond et al.
|Road safety installation with emission of sound messages
|Baloutch et al.
|Approaching vehicle informing system and method
|Stolen object location system
|Traffic speed surveillance system
|Broadcast band siren alarm transmitter system for vehicles
|April, 1993
transmission means disposed in the first vehicle for transmitting a message to the second vehicle by addressing the message with the second registration number where the message has the first registration number disposed therein; and
reception means disposed in the second vehicle for receiving the message and projecting the message to an operator of the second vehicle, the reception means further being adapted to store the first registration number upon receipt of the message to enable to return response to the message to the first vehicle without additional addressing by a user.
The present invention relates generally to data acquisition systems, and, more particularly, the invention relates to data acquisition systems having passive components for transmitting information relating to a vehicle's environment.
Data acquisition systems are currently available that rely on external sources to provide environmental information. For example, navigation systems for vehicles, such as boats and automobiles, rely on the global positioning system ("GPS") to provide precise longitudinal and latitudinal information. This information can be used by an on-board computer programmed with environment software, such as with maps and charts of the area, to help navigate the vehicle. A problem with such systems is the cost. The transponder necessary to communicate with the satellite network is expensive, thus making such systems impractical under ordinary circumstances.
Another problem is that the location information is only as useful as the environment software programmed into the on-board computer. If the environment software is incomplete or changes then the location information has only limited usefulness. Further, the level of detail for any particular area can also be very limited. And, if the environment software is updated then each vehicle using such software must also be updated or risk having outdated information.
Some automobile navigation systems also include traffic control functions which attempt to optically determine the environment by reading traffic or street signs and watching lines on roads. These systems are limited by optical conditions though. If weather is bad or a headlight on the automobile goes out, then the navigation system has the same problems reading the environment as does the operator.
Vehicle data acquisition is not limited to navigation and traffic control systems. The environment for a vehicle can also include being aware of other vehicles in the area. For this limited function, radar or other mass detection systems could be used but, again, at great expense. Further, such systems give no information as to a type of vehicle. For example, commercially available mass detection systems can not detect whether the vehicle behind the transmitting vehicle is an emergency vehicle.
Intervehicular communication can also be helpful when an emergency vehicle is in the vicinity. Often, an operator does not notice the emergency vehicle, for example, an ambulance approaching an intersection perpendicular to that being traveled by the operator. Numerous intervehicular communication devices are available, such as citizen band radio for example, which would allow the ambulance to contact cars to warns them of its approach. A problem with such intervehicular communication is that these systems must be separately purchased and installed in cars. Also, the intervehicular communications in use today have long ranges which means that every warning from an emergency vehicle must be prefaced by location information or the car will not know whether the emergency broadcast is directed toward it. Also, if the emergency vehicle is a police car commanding the operator to pull the car to the side of the road, there is currently no mechanism for forcing the car over if the operator resists, short of chasing the car in extremely dangerous chases.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a vehicular data acquisition system that provides navigation information, traffic control information, and intervehicular communication.
It is another object of this invention to provide a navigation system that is less affected by weather conditions.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a data acquisition system that provides information relating to area vehicles.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a data acquisition system that provides intervehicular communication.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an intervehicular communication system that allows remote control of one vehicle by another vehicle.
These and other objects of the invention will be obvious and will appear hereinafter.
The aforementioned and other objects are achieved by the invention which provides, in one aspect, a data acquisition system. The invention provides an extremely versatile system for navigating and controlling a vehicle as determined by the environment of the vehicle. The system comprises a transmission means, a transponder means and a reception means.
The transmission means is disposed in the vehicle for periodically transmitting a carrier signal. The carrier signal can have identification information encoded thereon to identify a source of the transmission. Such information is necessary if a goal of the system is to determine such things as distance. For example, if the carrier is transmitted and returned indicating the car is approaching a stop sign then a distance to the sign could be important. Therefore, identification information is used to know whether the car is the originator of the carrier and when it originated. A distance can then be computed.
When a transponder means is within a predetermined range of the vehicle transmitting the carrier, the transponder means encodes on the carrier a code representative of environmental information. Continuing the above example, if the transponder means is located on a stop sign, a code is placed on the carrier signal which is indicative to a car that it is approaching a stop sign. Such code is a predetermined set of numeric codes known by the vehicle. Thus, the carrier encoded with a decimal code "100" could be a stop sign. Codes need not be fixed. A traffic signal can transmit a different code depending on whether the traffic signal is a red light or a green light. Further, codes can spell signs having location specific information or non-traditional messages, street signs, direction signs, or temporary conditions, for example.
One code designates voice transmission. When this code is encountered, the data that follows the code is a digital representation of a voice signal, thereby providing intervehicular communication.
The vehicle then receives the coded carrier signal in the reception means. The reception means deciphers the code to determine the message relating to the environment. Depending upon the implementation, the message can then be displayed, it can be audibly interjected into the vehicle's sound system, or it can be used to actually control the vehicle.
In further aspects, the invention provides methods in accord with the apparatus described above. The aforementioned and other aspects of the invention are evident in the drawings and in the description that follows.
The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an automobile using a data acquisition system in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an interrogator unit in accordance with the invention as shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a graph of a typical carrier wave and an encoding signal, respectively, as used by the invention;
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a transponder in accordance with the invention as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the transponder of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an emergency vehicle using intervehicular communication in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of intervehicular communication by a law enforcement vehicle in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a reader unit.
While the present invention retains utility within a wide variety of control and data acquisition systems and may be embodied in several different forms, it is advantageously employed in connection with an automobile, or other vehicle such as a boat, for example. Though this is the form of the illustrated embodiment and will be described as such, this embodiment should be considered illustrative and not restrictive.
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention where an automobile 12 remotely ascertains traffic information. An interrogator unit 10 disposed in the automobile 12 transmits a transmitted signal 14. The transmitted signal 14 is a carrier signal which is optionally encoded before transmission with source identification information, inter alia. The carrier signal is generally a radio frequency ("RF") wave which, in the preferred embodiment, oscillates at a center frequency of approximately 920 MHz. This high frequency has the advantages of high data rate allowing for redundancy, error detection, distance computation, information exchange, and voice communication. Also, in the case of a passive transponder 20, high power density at higher frequencies provide faster charging of the transponder energy storage circuitry, a capacitor for example. This is due to the fact that power is proportional to frequency as is shown by the following relationship: P=C*v2 *f
One skilled in the art will realize that other frequencies can be used and that noise reduction techniques, such as frequency hopping using spread spectrum, can be used to avoid interference with other transmissions in this band.
The transmitted signal 14 is broadcast periodically. In the preferred embodiment, the transmitted signal 14 is broadcast once every one hundred milliseconds, or ten times per second. When a transponder 20, which is attached to a traffic sign 16 in this example, is within the range of the interrogator 10 then the transponder 20 accepts the transmitted signal 14, encodes the transmitted signal 14 with information, and transmits a retransmitted signal 22 back to the interrogator 10.
The transponder 20 encodes the transmitted signal 14 with a code indicating a type of traffic sign 16 to which the transponder 20 is attached. The interrogator 10 contains a database having the correlation of the codes to the traffic signs. For example, a code "1100" could indicate "STOP" while "1101" could indicate "YIELD." For instructional signs, street signs, or other more textual signs, codes for alphanumeric characters are also available to spell words and numbers. One skilled in the art will realize that though the illustrated example is of a single traffic sign, multiple transponders can be located in the area of the car which are substantially simultaneously interrogated such that the car 12 can have a complete knowledge of the environment.
In another embodiment, the code includes geographical coordinates of the sign location or another code indicative of sign location. The car 12 could then work with a map stored on-line or removably stored on media such as CD-ROM, for example. Each transponder, or a selected subset of transponders, would then assist in navigation by indicating a map location to a user of the car 12. The selected subset of transponders may be selected according to established criteria, one sign every one hundred meters for example, or by type of transponder, all transponders indicative of road delineation, for example.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the interrogator 10 which is disposed in the car 12. A single antenna 24 is used in this embodiment and a switch 26 is used to move the interrogator 10 between transmitting and receiving modes. In an alternative embodiment, the switch 26 is removed and a separate antenna receiving at a different frequency is used such that the interrogator can continuously transmit and receive.
The interrogator is shown with the switch 26 in the receive mode such the transmitted signal 14 comes in through the antenna 24 to a tank circuit 28. The tank circuit 28 is a selectivity filter which determines a resonant frequency for the circuit. In the illustrated case, a single frequency is used and the interrogator switches between transmitting and receiving mode. In an alternative embodiment where the interrogator transmits and receive simultaneously, the transmitted signal 14 is transmitted at one frequency and the retransmitted signal 22 is transmitted at a second frequency so that the transmitted signal 14 and the retransmitted signal 22 do not interfere with each other. In the preferred embodiment, the tank circuit is a high Q circuit tuned to resonate at the RF center frequency.
The signal having the resonant frequency of the tank circuit 28 is then passed to a low-noise amplifier 30. The low-noise amplifier 30 amplifies the signal while minimizing additional noise.
The amplified signal is passed to an image filter 32 which is a band-pass filter used to reject signals, vibrations, or radiation of certain frequencies while passing a predetermined frequency band. This increases the signal-to-noise ratio.
The output of the image filter 32 goes to a demodulator 34 which removes encoded information therefrom. The encoding used in the preferred embodiment is phase shift keying as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The demodulator strips the encoding from the carrier signal, discards the carrier signal and retains the encoding as an encoded signal.
The encoded signal is then passed to a clock generator 38 and a baseband processor 36. The clock generator simply generates a clock pulse each time a new cycle in the encoded signal begins. In the case of modulation frequencies that are in excess of the clock speed of the processor 36, the frequency is stepped down. The base band processor 36 translates each cycle of the encoded signal into a corresponding digital value, i.e., `0` or `1`.
One skilled in the art will realize that the functionality of the baseband processor 36 is not necessarily a microprocessor. The functionality can be attained using other circuitry. In the preferred embodiment, the functionality is attained using an application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC").
In one embodiment of the invention, the baseband processor 36 also performs error correction and ensures that a valid packet has been received. These two tasks can take any of multiple forms. In the preferred embodiment, packet validity is ensured by checking a preamble and post-amble in the packet. That is, each packet starts and ends with a predefined sequence of bits. Error correction is performed by redundantly transmitting each bit and interlacing the transmission with a predetermined sequence of bits.
The digital values are transmitted to a processor 40 which accepts a new digital value on each clock pulse from the clock generator 38. The processor 40 examines the digital values and groups the digital values as binary codes. In the preferred embodiment, the binary codes are ten bits each. A database of code values and their correspondence to traffic instructions or alphanumeric characters are stored in a programmable, read-only memory ("PROM") 42.
The random access memory ("RAM") 48 is shown as temporary data storage used by the processor 40.
The traffic instructions are then displayed to a user via a display 50. In the preferred embodiment, the display 50 is a liquid-crystal display ("LCD") or a vacuum fluorescent display. The display 50 can also be an audible computer generated or recorded voice, or other such information conveyancing device well known in the art. In the case of recorded voice messages, the messages would be stored on a mass storage device 46, such as a magnetic media hard disk, and would be addressed with information stored in the aforementioned database.
The mass storage device can also be used to record historical information. For example, the interrogator can store traffic data related to roads traveled such that dependence upon transponder is minimized. If a car 12 often travels the same roads, the interrogator can store speed limits, inter alia, such that information is displayed to the user faster. Another use for historical data is as a "Black Box" analogous to those used on aircraft. In the case of a collision, data related to the car and traffic conditions are recorded for later analysis.
The interrogator 10 continuously initiates new carrier signals on which the aforementioned encoding and subsequent decoding occurs. The transmitted signal 14 is a carrier signal which is an oscillation that is optionally encoded. The encoding on the transmitted signal 14 in the preferred embodiment, at minimum, indicates a source of transmission and a transmission code. The transmission code is either a time stamp or a code that is related in an internal database with a time stamp of transmission. In this way, distance to the transponder can be approximated by monitoring an amount of time for the transmitted signal 14 to be repeated by the transponder 20 and returned. The time for the round trip, minus a substantially constant transponder encoding time, is approximately proportional to a distance to the transponder. Thus, the car 12 will know not only that there is a stop sign ahead but a distance to that stop sign, for example.
This also enables the interrogator 10 to estimate vehicle speed. By knowing distance to an object at one time, and distance to the same object at a later time, an average speed can be calculated. The speed can be indicated to the operator of the vehicle or included in the transmission signal 14 for law enforcement purposes. An example of how this is used is in a boat where water currents affect traditional speedometers, the speed indicated by the interrogator 10 with respect to a buoy would be far more accurate.
A data bus 44 is also provided for interaction with the interrogator 10 such that additional information can be encoded on the transmitted signal 14. The interaction can provide static inputs or dynamic inputs. The static input can, in turn, be a direct input or a programmable input which is stored locally in RAM or on the mass storage device 46. An example of a static, direct input is a speedometer reading from the car's speedometer. An example of a static, programmable input is a registration number. A registration number for the car will change each time ownership of the car is changed and is, therefore, programmable. Such programming can be done through input devices such as a keyboard, a pointing device, or other such input device.
The dynamic input is an input that changes and is not stored. An example is an outgoing message which is to be transmitted to another vehicle or other receiving station as is later herein described. In this case, an alphanumeric or voice message is input through the bus 44 by a keyboard, microphone, or pointing device.
The information to be encoded onto the transmitted signal 14 is sent from the processor 40 to a modulator 52. The modulator 52 synthesizes a modulation signal indicative of the information.
The modulation signal is then sent to an oscillator which generates a carrier wave mixed with the modulation signal to create the transmitted signal 14.
Optionally, a band pass filter may be inserted at this point to clean the transmitted signal 14.
The transmitted signal 14 is then passed to an exciter 58 which preamplifies the signals to provide sufficient drive for the power amplifier 60.
The exciter 58 drives a power amplifier 60 which amplifies the transmitted signal 14 for transmission out through the antenna 24.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate how the aforementioned information is encoded on the transmitted signal 14 by graphically depicting a carrier signal 70 and an encoded signal 72 thereon, respectively. The abscissa of the graph of the encoded signal 72 has units of time but also corresponds to the section 74 of the transmitted signal 14 enclosed by dashed lines in FIG. 3A. One skilled in the art will realize that the transmitted signal 14 is the summation of the carrier signal 70 and the encoded signal 72 and is drawn for optimum illustration and not waveform accuracy.
Phase shift keying is used in the preferred embodiment to encode the information into the encoded signal 72 and is described herein. One skilled in the art will realize that other forms of modulation and keying can be used to accomplish the encoding. For example, amplitude modulation of the carrier signal 70 can be used to transmit information from the car 10, and the transponder 20 can then encode using frequency shift keying. Various other combinations are also possible, such as using differential phase shift keying for example.
The carrier signal 70 is time segmented in intervals of duration P where each duration P designates a single bit of information. Therefore, the duration P is inversely proportional to a data rate of the communication system.
In the binary system of the preferred embodiment there are two phases defined where each corresponds to a logical zero or one. Region 74 shows an encoded signal 72 having no phase change, or a zero degree phase shift. This is defined for this example as a logical zero.
Region 76 shows the encoded signal 72 where a segment has been phase shifted by one hundred eighty degrees. The phase shift indicates a logical one. The frequency transition occurs after an end of an interval P thus allowing differentiation of consecutive zeroes or ones. The segment 72 of the transmitted signal 14 would then be decoded as the following logical sequence: 0 1 0
One skilled in the art will realize that other choices of phase changes can be used to define the binary system without detriment to the invention. Further, such an encoding method is amenable to encoding using systems of other bases. For example, ten phase changes could be defined to correspond to a decimal encoding system.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a transponder 20. The transmitted signal 14 from the interrogator 10 is received by an antenna 80 and is passed to a tank and storage circuit 84. As previously described in the interrogator 10, a switch 82 is used to switch between receiving and transmitting modes. Alternatively, multiple antennas are used for continuous transmission and reception.
The tank and storage circuit 84 is tuned to receive a radio frequency transmission having a center frequency of the carrier signal 70. The energy transmitted by the transmitted signal 14 is stored until there is sufficient energy available to power the transponder circuitry. In the preferred embodiment, the energy is stored in a capacitor and overvoltage protection is provided to maintain the voltage within acceptable limits.
The level detect 86 monitors a voltage level in the tank and storage circuit 84 and allows propagation of the transmitted signal 14 once the voltage is sufficient.
The transmitted signal 14 is then passed to both a zero crossing detector 88 and an encoder 90. The zero crossing detector 88 monitors the transmitted signal 14 for zero crossings. Each time the voltage of the transmitted signal 14 passes through zero a toggle signal is sent to the encoder 90 and a sense of the transmitted signal. The sense is an indication of whether the signal is going positive or negative. In this way, the encoding is performed only on a predetermined portion of the transmitted signal. Thus, the transmitted signal can have information from the car 12 encoded on a top portion of the transmitted signal and the transponder 20 can then encode information only on the bottom portion, preserving the car's encoded information. Likewise, one skilled in the art will realize that peak detection, edge detection or various other methods can also be used to segregate the encoding signals.
When the encoder 90 receives the toggle signal from the zero crossing detector 88 indicative of the transmitted signal 14 going below zero volts, the encoder 90 begins placing a preprogrammed code on the transmitted signal 14. The code is stored in memory 92 and is fed to the encoder 90 to encode the transmitted signal to produce the retransmitted signal 22. In an embodiment having a static value for traffic signs, lane dividing lines, et cetera, the code is a 10-bit code burned into an erasable, programmable, read-only memory ("EPROM"), though a PROM, a ROM or other such device. In an alternative embodiment, the code is selectable or programmable. Selectable codes are used for devices having a limited, finite number of choices. For example, a traffic light would send one code indicating that the light is green, a second code indicating that the light is yellow, a third for red, and additional codes for other conditions such as flashing red, a green arrow, et cetera. Selectability can be achieved by an electrical input, appropriate for the traffic light example, or a set of dip switches on the transponder 20.
Other examples of transponders that transmit variable information are those attached to measuring devices. Sensors can be integrated with a transponder to inform vehicles of wind speed, moisture levels, ambient temperature, barometric pressure, et cetera.
Programmable codes are used for situations where the indication is non-standard or has such a large group of possible choices that it is impractical to make it selectable. Examples of non-standard indications are instructional signs, for example "PLYMOUTH ROCK NEXT RIGHT," street signs giving a name of a street, et cetera. These types of signs are generally programmed with alphanumeric codes where one code corresponds to a single alphanumeric character. Another example is an indicator used by a road construction crew. The crew could at various points wish to instruct traffic to detour, keep right, lower the speed limit, et cetera. Standard codes are then programmed into the transponder 20 or, if a standard code is not available, alphanumeric codes are used. One skilled in the art will realize that an external interface through a keyboard, serial link to a computer, or other such user interface would be provided for such programmability.
Another application of the invention is to provide the interrogator with financial information such that money transfers are accomplished electronically without requiring a user to exit the vehicle or even stop the vehicle. One method of accomplishing this task is to program the interrogator with bank account information. By way of example, the vehicle would then approach a toll booth and be informed of an amount of the toll that is being requested. The operator could then indicate acceptance by hitting a "PAY" key after which the account information is encoded by the interrogator onto the transmitted signal. The toll booth deciphers the account information and, subsequently, the account is debited by the amount of the toll. The vehicle would, of course, not have to stop to perform this transaction.
The toll booth example can, of course, be expanded to include any of various other transactions. For example, the vehicle goes to a fast-food restaurant for food. The oral request for payment from the order board could also be accompanied by an electronic request for payment. Hitting the "PAY" key then alleviates a need for a cash transaction, thus expediting the food receipt.
Another method of accomplishing this task is to place a credit/debit card reader in the vehicle. When the vehicle then comes to an establishment requesting payment, the card is inserted and the number is transmitted. Alternatively, the card number could also be recalled from a previous use or from keyed entry such that it need not be inserted each time a request for payment is requested.
The switch 82 is then switched to transmission mode and the retransmitted signal 22 is transmitted out of the antenna 80.
In an alternative embodiment, power is supplemented or externally supplied instead of being drawn from the carrier wave. Power supplementation in the preferred embodiment is provided by a solar cell in conjunction with a battery. The solar cell provides solar generated power as a primary supplement to the power supply of the transponder 20 with the battery used as an additional backup, thus extending battery life. The solar cell and the battery can be used interchangeably, supplemented or complemented by other power devices. For example, a thermopile could also be used to supplement the power supply from ambient heat.
External power is used when available but is not required. An example is that of the traffic light previously described. Power is tapped from the traffic signal since it is readily available.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the interrogator 10 is integrated with the sensory system of the vehicle. For example, the fuel gauge registers a low fuel indication, or simply falls below a predetermined amount. The interrogator 10 then "reads" a sign indicating there is a gas station ahead or the gas station ahead is the last for numerous miles, the interrogator could apprise the operator of the condition and suggest appropriate action.
In a further embodiment, the transponder 20 is a passive device as previously described, either with or without supplemental power input, but two transmission frequencies are used. A first transmission frequency is a substantially constant broadcast signal for supplying power to the transponder within a range of the transmitter. The second signal is the data signal which then corresponds to the transmitted signal 14 from a vehicle. In this way the first transmitted signal supplies a substantially constant power supply such that the data signal can be quickly processed and returned to the vehicle without significant delay.
FIG. 5 illustrates the transponder 20 using multiple antennas for simultaneous receiving and transmission. This embodiment also details the encoding circuitry of the transponder 20.
The transmitted signal 14 is first received by an antenna 100 and passed to the tank and storage circuit 84. In the preferred embodiment, the tank circuit is a high Q circuit tuned to resonate at the RF center frequency. The RF voltage is rectified and charge is stored on a capacitor whose voltage is monitored by the voltage level detector 86.
When the voltage is sufficiently high, the level detector 86 flips an RF switch internal to the level detector 86, disconnecting the charging circuit and connecting the RF line to the RF amplifier 102. At this time, the voltage level detector block also emits a "power-on reset" (POR) signal 104 which resets the digital timing circuitry. The POR signal 104 is an input to many of the remaining blocks to reset those blocks. The lines to the blocks are not shown so as to simplify the diagram.
The RF amplifier 102 regenerates the RF signal to an amplitude sufficient to drive the subsequent circuitry. The amplified RF signal is next multiplied by the frequency multiplier 112 and divided down by the frequency divider 106.
Use of the frequency divider 106 is design specific and is generally required only if the carrier frequency is extremely high. The preferred embodiment is using a carrier wave with a center frequency of almost one gigahertz. Therefore, to reduce memory costs and at the same time increase receivability of the encoded information, each bit of encoded data is repeated by the transponder multiple times, ten for example. By doing so, slower memory can be used since new data from the memory is only necessary at a frequency of the center frequency divided by the amount of repetition. In this example, one gigahertz divided by ten is one hundred megahertz. Thus, slower memory can be used and the repetition allows the interrogator 10 to accurately decipher the code.
Besides simple redundancy, the increased data space can also be used for error detection. This can be accomplished in numerous ways such as prefacing and terminating each data bit with a predetermined code or convolving the code with a mask, for example.
The frequency divided RF signal is then used to clock the address counter 108 which was just reset to its starting value by the POR 104. The counter sequences the data out of the non-volatile memory 92 and into the shift register 110. One skilled in the art will realize the shift register 110 can be eliminated in which case the data and the memory contents would be buffered into the following stage.
Once the address counter 108 performs its sequencing, it ceases to clock the memory 92 until after the next POR 104, but it still continues to clock the shift register 110. In this way, power is not used to repeatedly readout the memory, and the shift register simply continues to cycle until the stored voltage, or VCC, falls below a threshold of the level detector 86.
The data out of the shift register 110 is used to phase modulate the frequency multiplied signal. The frequency multiplier 112 performs a frequency multiplication on the carrier wave to generate a clock for the modulation signal, thus avoiding the necessity of an oscillator. Preferably, the amount of the multiplication has a bottom limit of at least twice the frequency of the carrier wave. This allows one full cycle of the modulation signal to be encoded onto a half cycle of the carrier wave. A greater multiplication factor is preferred and is limited only by the speed of the circuitry doing the encoding and, ultimately, the decoding.
The phase modulation is approximately one hundred eighty degrees to differentiate from a binary zero or one. This phase modulated signal is then added to the amplified RF signal in the adder 116 which adds the phase modulated signal to the amplified RF signal.
This addition is timed by the zero-crossing detector 88 so that the addition is performed at only the positive or negative half-cycle of the RF signal, in the preferred embodiment, the lower half-cycle. This permits encoding of the upper half cycle with data supplied by the interrogator 10.
After the addition is performed, the resulting signal is then amplified by a second RF power amplifier 118 and coupled to an antenna 120 for transmission as the retransmitted signal 22. In this embodiment, the frequency of the retransmitted signal 22 is not reduced. Thus, it is necessary to physically or electrically isolate, using polarization for example, the two antennas 100, 120, such that each does not interfere with the other.
An optional decoder 122 is shown, although the exact connections of its outputs depends on the circuit implementation. In general, the decoder could be used to instruct the transponder 20 to perform optional functions, permit two-way communications, or permit the incoming data to act as a "password" to enable or inhibit the transponder 20.
At this point it is likely evident that a predetermined protocol should be used such that the vehicle sending the transmitted signal can determine ownership upon detection. There are numerous possible ways to organize the signal and the actual content will vary by application. The following is a description of the arrangement on the preferred embodiment along with an explanation of the application. Also, a ten bit system is assumed. Redundancy will not be included in this description.
The transmitted signal is encoded by the interrogator on a positive half cycle of the carrier wave as follows:
|Start Flag 10 bits VIN 100 bits Vehicle data 100 bits Transmitted Variable message End Flag 10 bits
The start flag and the end flag indicate the beginning and end of transmission. Many possible flag combinations can be used such as alternating zeroes and ones, for example.
The VIN is the vehicle identification number of the vehicle. For cars this is a unique number that can be used to determine ownership of a signal. For example, once the transmitted signal is sent, a retransmitted signal must be received to garner useful information therefrom. If a signal is sent from car #1 and received by car #2, the distance to the transponder and the vehicle speed can not be attained. Further, it is not known whether that signal is conveying new information or information known previously, i.e., is the transponder indicating the set of lights that is already known or another set of lights ahead. Further, monitoring stations can then be used by law enforcement to monitor VIN's for stolen or wanted vehicles.
The vehicle data is a registration number and a speedometer reading. The registration number, in the preferred embodiment is used for vehicle identification for intervehicular communication as is later herein described. The speedometer reading is again for law enforcement so that police can monitor vehicle speeds without radar using manned or unmanned law enforcement stations. An example of how this could be used is as follows. The law enforcement station is placed on a side of a road and is either programmed with, or automatically determines the established speed limit for the area. As vehicles then pass, the law enforcement station monitors speed as transmitted from the vehicle. If the vehicle exceeds the speed limit the law enforcement station transmits a code for an electronic citation to the vehicle indicating that it has received a citation. The citation is then either transmitted to a central police station or stored for later download. A hard copy of the citation can then be mailed to the address of the owner of the vehicle and, if necessary, the citation can subsequently be enforced.
This speed determination can be made redundantly by using other speed ascertaining techniques in conjunction with that transmitted by the vehicle. An example of such a technique is monitoring field strength of the transmitted signal to determine distance to the vehicle and taking multiple samples to determine vehicle speed, again without indicating to the vehicle that it is been monitored.
The transmitted message is, again, for intervehicular communication. This can be voice or other data. Though a maximum packet size of two kilobits is used, this area is variable dependent upon the size of the message being sent.
FIG. 6 illustrates one form of intervehicular communication with respect to emergency vehicles. In the illustration an ambulance 130 uses an interrogator 132 to broadcast a transmitted signal 134 to a vehicle 136 in front of the ambulance. This broadcast could include a code receivable by the vehicle 136 indicating an urgent emergency broadcast and along with the message. The message could be a verbal message broadcast through a speaker 140 within the vehicle or tied directly into the car's stereo system.
This example can be expanded for bidirectional intervehicular communication. By adding a microphone to the vehicle's communication system, voice communications between vehicles is enabled. Using the previously described data organization system, an example of how this is performed is as follows. One vehicle initiates a call by keying into a keypad the registration number of another vehicle, vehicle #2. This can also be done using a voice recognition or other such input device. A voice or typed message is then transmitted on the transmitted signal to vehicle #2. Vehicle #2 receives the transmitted signal and recognizes its own registration number in the message. The message is then decoded and displayed or played through a speaker, as the case may be. The registration number of the sending vehicle, vehicle #1, is also included in the message so the operator of vehicle #2 need only hit a respond key to transmit a return message.
FIG. 7 illustrates another form of intervehicular communication with respect to emergency vehicles. In the illustration a law enforcement vehicle 150 uses an interrogator 152 to transmit a transmitted signal 154 to a subject vehicle 156. The transmitted signal 154 in this case is directed toward a specific vehicle and, therefore, addresses the message by registration number or other such addressing code. In the case that the registration number is not known, the license plate has been removed for example, a transmitted signal from the subject vehicle 156 can be intercepted using methods well known in the art and the registration number can be withdrawn therefrom.
Once communication is established, the message from the law enforcement vehicle 150 can be presented by the subject vehicle's interrogator 158 to the operator of the subject vehicle 156. The message could be a verbal message to pull the car to the side of the road, for example.
Assuming that the message is ignored, the law enforcement vehicle can then issue a shutdown code in the transmitted signal 154 to force the subject vehicle 156 to stall, or shut down its engine. This shutdown code would cause an interrupter 160 to discontinue electrical energy from the subject vehicle's battery for example. The interrupter 160 can in practice be located at various points in the vehicle's electrical system, fuel system to discontinue fuel to the engine, or other vital systems of the subject vehicle 156.
The interrupter 160 is one possible method of remotely controlling the subject vehicle 156 using the invention. Since a vehicle equipped with the invention has a substantially constant knowledge of the vehicle's environment, assuming an infrastructure of transponders is in place, the vehicle can interface with the interrogator to operate the vehicle. For example, since the vehicle knows the distance to the stop sign, the placement of the road delineation lines, the speed limit, location and distance to other vehicles by monitoring the output signals of the other vehicles, inter alia, the vehicle can then operate without user input to guide the vehicle.
If the subject vehicle 156 is equipped with a fully autonomous embodiment of the invention, or auto-pilot system, the law enforcement vehicle 150 could then, instead of shutting the subject vehicle 156 down, simply direct the vehicle to pull to the side of the road and the subject vehicle would do so whether an occupant wished to comply or not.
FIG. 8 shows an interrogator wand 170 having a compact interrogator 172 installed therein. The interrogator wand 170 is used for reading the coded contents of a transponder 10. For example, an installer wishes to know which of two transponders is coded with "ONE WAY", for example. The interrogator wand 170 is then held over the transponder 10. The interrogator 172 then reads and deciphers the code contained therein as previously described and displays the contents on a visual display 174.
While the applications described herein have in the examples been restricted primarily to cars and boats, the inventions has numerous other applications. For example, in surgical rooms constantly accounting for sponges is of great importance to avoid leaving a sponge within a patient. The invention can be used to alleviate such a problem. Since the code for a transponder could be simple in this application and the transmission distance would be short, the transponder could be simplified to be a very small ASIC. The transponder 10 would then be placed in the interior of each sponge. By waving the interrogator wand 170 over a patient, a doctor could be confident that no sponges remained within the patient.
Since the interrogator wand 170 is in either event either directly reading a code from a transponder 10 or looking for the presence of a transponder 10, the interrogator wand 170, in the preferred embodiment, is made for short range transmission and is highly directional. Applications can, of course, be found where these limitations are not helpful. But, for the two example cited, the directional nature helps locate the transponder 10 and the short range nature ensures that only the transponder 10 being interrogated will respond. Again in the preferred embodiment, the distance of the short range transmission is designed not to exceed one meter. Naturally the signal itself continues beyond that range but the power conveyed to a transponder beyond that range is insufficient to supply power to the transponder circuitry.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.


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Montreal to Tokyo, Japan - $792 CAD roundtrip including taxes
American Airlines has dropped the price of their flights from Montreal to Tokyo, Japan down to $792 CAD roundtrip including taxes.
This is 30% below the typical best prices on flights between Montreal and Tokyo.
The flights have 1 stop each way, in either Dallas or Chicago.
Availability for travel
Late August, September, October, and November 2016.
How to find and book this deal
1. Try the following Google Flights search...
Google Flights search: Montreal to Tokyo, Japan
Google Flights search: Montreal to Tokyo, Japan
2. Click on the departure date box to open up the calendar view, and look for other dates throughout 2016
3. Click through from Google Flights to the American Airlines website.
screenshot from American Airlinesthe American Airlines website
Live deal discussion & travel advice
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3 Responses to "Montreal to Tokyo, Japan - $792 CAD roundtrip including taxes"
This worked for me! Just got two roundtrip tickets to Tokyo for October. Thanks!
Do you think this deal will come back? :(
Fortunately, I've booked right away, awesome deal, but it's not live anymore. Best price right now is 1165$, geez thank you so much for this awesome deal. Japan here I come !
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subset: commoncrawl


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Crowded with tourists, local people, cheap price souvenior, high-tech and low tech gadgets, cheap clothes, cheap food, made in China, and fake things… The shopping area consists of three parallel streets in Mong Kok: Fa Yuen Street, crammed mostly with ...Read More »
Hang Heung 恆香餅家
Name: Hang Heung 恆香餅家 Address: 579 Nathan Rd, Mong Kok, Hong Kong 旺角彌敦道579號地下1號舖 Tel: 2394 7668 Openning Hour: 10:00~21:30 Recommendation: Wife Cake 老婆餅 合桃酥 杏仁餅Read More »
Kee Tsui Cake Shop 奇趣餅家
Name: Kee Tsui Cake Shop 奇趣餅家 Address: 135 Fa Yuen St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong 旺角花園街 135 號地下 Tel: 2394 1727 Openning Hour: Recommendation: Kwong So Cake 光酥餅 Red Roasted Cake 紅豆燒餅Read More »
Ming Court 明閣
Name: Ming Court 明閣 Address: Langham Place Hotel, 555 Shanghai St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong 旺角上海街555號朗豪酒店6樓 Tel: 3552 3300 Openning Hour: 11:00~22:30 (Dim Sum ends at 14:30) Recommendation: Shrimp Dumplings 蝦餃 Steamed chicken feet with black bean sauce 鳳爪 Steamed ...Read More »
The Yau Tsim Mong District can be found on the southern part of the Kowloon peninsula. The total gross acreage is around 7 km2. According to the 2003 Population Census, there are 278 400 residents population in the Yau Tsim ...Read More »


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Techniques to Photograph Fire and Pyrotechnics During Daytime Hours – PictureCorrect: "If you've ever thought the difference between digital and film photography was simply a matter of media, think again. There's just no comparing the level of detail hidden in the average RAW file with what you're bound to get out of an old-school photo negative. So when an abandoned Belgian abbey and a team of Brazilian martial-artists fell in photographer Von Wong's lap for a daytime shoot, the sunny skies didn't dissuade him from getting collaborator and fire-eater Andrey DAS to join:"
'via Blog this'
Friday, September 27, 2013
Understanding Exposure Value in Photography – PictureCorrect
Understanding Exposure Value in Photography – PictureCorrect: "Before explaining Exposure Value (EV for short), it helps to know what Light Value (LV, for short) means. When you find something (whether it's a person, a landscape, or even a ninja), there are (generally speaking) two main levels of light you need to deal with. The first is the average amount of light in the area (we call this luminance or brightness), and the second is the amount of light bouncing off of the subject (also known as Light Value, or LV for short)."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Posted by steve at 10:59 PM No comments:
Gigapixel | OutdoorPhotographer.com
Gigapixel | OutdoorPhotographer.com: "Digital photography is an amazing medium. The rate in which quality and performance are increasing is staggering, and the possibilities are endless. It's as if the digital age has opened up an entirely new world of thinking; I'm constantly amazed at the new things I see and how modern-day photographers push the envelope to create mind-blowing work that borders on the bleeding edge.
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Heres the brand new LeMove remix of Where Are You Now by the wonderful Jenny Mayhem.
Jenny Mayhem is a folk/electronic singer originally from Barbados. At the age of seventeen, she travelled north to start a life in the Toronto music scene. Jenny spent several years fronting progressive rock act ADA, later switching gears to focus on her solo career. Four releases later, Jenny has built a dedicated following online and around the world.
Jenny Mayhem songs have been featured in non-profit documentaries such as "Bicycle City" and "Ball of Light". They have been used by O'Neill, Blumarine, Invoker, and the City of Buenos Aires. Her music has gained positive attention in Toronto's Exclaim! and The Grid magazines. Her voice has been sampled by electronic artists Supreme Being and Tiger Tsunami, amongst others.
Jenny Mayhem latest solo release is "TV Waltz" – a folk acoustic single including remixes by Draaiwinti and O S L O. She continues to write, record and collaborate with artists in Toronto and in the online community.
Jenny Mayhem and the Fuzz Orchestrator met many years ago in a dingy Toronto rehearsal space. Plagued by bad hairstyles and blessed with a taste for The Mars Volta, they began their music journey as a progressive rock band – fresh off the boat from Barbados and Cyprus.
Ten years later, they're working on something that sounds a little more like your grandma's records. Starting with the release of "Bad Girls" on August 4th, Jenny & the Fuzz Orchestrator venture into a sound that mixes a Tarantino classic with Mary Poppins in flight. Their second track "Where are You Now" will be available October 4th, quickly followed by a remix from Portland producer LeMove on October 13th.


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Over the weekend I made an engraving file (it uses a HP plotter language) after talking to the local engravers. I send him the file on Monday morning and Kate collected the engraved belt buckle for me that afternoon. My only gripe is he engraved the design on it the wrong way up so I will have to feed the belt in backwards.
I then decided to try colouring the design. I coloured it with a sharpie and then used a cloth to rub the excess off the surface. I am not sure about the result.
Tonight I did a test stitch of the designs for the shirt onto some black felt. It might get recycled into some patches.
The big number might need a different fill method as it is not that even at the moment. There is also something up about the back left foot of the salamander.
I ordered a couple of baseball caps, some buttons and received a black t-shirt and a couple of black sweatshirts. They were very cheap off eBay and the quality is not as bad as I feared. I hope to uses them to make a workshirt. One shirt will be cut up to supply fabric for new collar and pockets on the other. If I can just use the sleeves I might end up with a sleeveless top left over.
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.


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Toddler Gets New Chance at Life Thanks to Stem Cell Trachea
The youngest recipient of an experimental treatment involving stem cells is a toddler – and her parents couldn't be happier about it.
Hannah Warren, a cheerful almost-three-year-old, will soon be going home from the hospital for the first time in her young life. And while spending the first two-plus years of her life in the children's wing of a central Illinois hospital may sound like a nightmare, her parents are thrilled that their little girl is alive and well. It's all thanks to her own stem cells, and the hard work of physicians who saw past a certain death sentence.
Born without a windpipe, Hannah has been unable to ever eat, drink, swallow, or even breathe on her own. Until she was brought back to the States from Seoul where she was born, Warren's parents were given no hope that their daughter would live. Then, in April 2013, Hannah underwent a surgery that gave her a chance at life for the first time.
The experimental procedure implanted a three inch windpipe that doctors and scientists had created from Hannah's own stem cells. The cells came from bone marrow extracted from the girl's hip bones, which was set to multiply on a plastic scaffold. It took less than a week for the tiny windpipe to completely form. While she'll need a revision surgery (to implant a larger windpipe) in about five years, right now Hannah and her parents are enjoying the happy toddler's new lease on life.


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We have preexisting thoughts as to what our abilities are and how we are able to perform in this society. In education, our minds are shoved into an oppressive framework meant for only those who reflect the appearance and experiences of the leaders in academia. People of color, children of color, are told from a young age that they are lazy, stupid, ignorant, criminal minded, uneducated as a whole, prone to violence and criticized for any achievements they make. For example, when a student gets accepted into a university with competitive entrance, all people of color are assumed to have been accepted not due to their academic abilities, but due to affirmative action. I find it funny that white women benefit more than anyone else from affirmative action, but people of color are always the targets of derision when discussing affirmative action.
These criticisms of the character and abilities of people of color start in preschool and elementary school, and then continue into higher education. These stereotypes contribute to the formation of their academic self-concept—the feelings, attitudes, and perceptions students hold about their academic ability (Schneider, 2012). People of color are stereotyped viciously in the U.S. and other places around the world when it comes to academic achievement and how they can contribute to the betterment of society. These stereotypes contribute to Black and Latinx students not only being incorrectly categorized as having a learning disability, but also to them being disciplined 3 times more often and harshly than white counterparts for the same infractions (CRDC). When this happens in pre-K and elementary, children may associate education with negativity, and may internalize the discipline by adopting the belief they are "bad". These stereotypes may also contribute to the self-fulfilling prophecy phenomena which happens when a person is bombarded by views, forced into a box so much they become exactly what was expected, but not who they are.
Some schools are fighting against these stereotypes by starting programs as mentioned in the text book, and others are choosing to use different types of discipline that may actually encourage students to be better. One school in Baltimore called Robert W. Coleman elementary utilizes meditation practices in place of detentions and suspensions and added a fifteen minute yoga session to the start of each day (CBS News 2016). They practice "mindfulness exercises and yoga" in order to take the students away from the situation and encourage self reflection (Gaines, 2016). The school has found by implementing mindfulness rather than punishment, the student's grades have gone up by 10%, and there have been zero suspensions since the start of the intervention. Another school, Visitacion Valley School in San Francisco, which is majority Latinx and Hispanic, started having their students sit for two times a day in meditative silence for only a few minutes during the day. They call it "Quiet Time" and since its implementation, there have been 79% reduced suspensions (NBC, 2014).
For those students who never had a proper intervention, they went on to high school and university without the proper coping mechanisms to face the inherent racial bias in academia. The picture below is just one of the hundreds of screenshots related to a case where a Latina grad student was assumed to have plagiarized for utilizing a healthy vocabulary in her papers. The professor circled the word hence, indicated the student should cite the source of this word by saying "This is not your word", and accused her of plagiarism while shaming her in front of her class (Martinez, 2016).
"My last name and appearance immediately instills a set of biases before I have the chance to open my mouth. These stereotypes and generalizations forced on marginalized communities are at times debilitating and painful. As a minority in my classrooms, I continuously hear my peers and professors use language that both covertly and overtly oppresses the communities I belong to. Therefore, I do not always feel safe when I attempt to advocate for my people in these spaces. In the journey to become a successful student, I swallow the "momentary" pain from these interactions and set my emotions aside so I can function productively as a student." -Tiffany Martinez
This is the experience of millions of students of color around the country, and is labeled in psychology as stereotype threat—the anxiety students feel when they are faced with expectations consistent with the stereotypes associated with the group they belong to (Schneider 2012). An example of this is when a woman of color is being treated badly, and the stereotypes about her race are that she is "angry and loud". If she reacts to the bad treatment in any way, it will be dismissed as her just being a "stereotypical [insert race here]". In academia this is apparent from teachers in response to students. There are notions about a Latina and a Black student (as shown above in the picture), that affect the way a teacher perceives the work done. They may underestimate the skills of the students based on skin tone, name or background and that discourages students from being successful (Schneider, 2012). There are ways to combat the negative teacher expectations through training (Schneider 2012). There is still a long way to go in the realm of racial biases including in academia.
CDC. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/data.html
Cynthia McFadden, Tim Sandler and Elisha Fieldstadt. (2014). SanFrancisco Schools Transformed by the Power of Meditation. NBC News. Retrieved at: http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/san-francisco-schools-transformed-power-meditation-n276301
Gaines, James. (2016) This School Replaced Detention with Meditation. Upworthy. Retrieved from: http://www.upworthy.com/this-school-replaced-detention-with-meditation-the-results-are-stunning
Martinez, Tiffany. (2016). Academia, Love Me Back. Viva Tiffany At WordPress. Retrieved from: https://vivatiffany.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/academia-love-me-back/
Schneider, F.W., Gruman, J.A., & Coutts, L.M. (2012) Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.


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30 years ago today: Robert Plant plays the Pacific Coliseum with the Black Crowes, holds his own with the upstarts
Remember concerts?
Thirty years ago today Robert Plant played the Pacific Coliseum on his Manic Nirvana Tour, with the fast-rising Black Crowes as guests.
Maybe you were there?
To jog your memory, here's my review, which was originally published in the September 27, 1990, issue of the Georgia Straight:
Robert Plant threw me for a loop at the Coliseum last Friday (September 21). From the lacklustre sound of his latest album, Manic Nirvana, I had the impression that the 42-year-old rock legend had drifted off into boring-old-fartsville, never to return again. I even expected the former Zepman to be blown off the stage by up-and-coming openers the Black Crowes.
No such luck.
The Black Crowes were good, mind you. But after seeing them close up last month at Club Soda, the big old rink couldn't compare. Their sound was lousy, too, even though the righteous feel of thoroughly rockin' tunes like "Jealous Again", "Thick N' Thin", and the new video/single "Hard to Handle" came through in the crunch.
These guys are young, and if they stay on the right track should have a great future ahead of them. The fact that the trusty bottle of Jack Daniels they brought on stage remained untouched beside the drum kit during the entire show says something about their priorities.
When Plant and his four-piece band hit the stage, it was a totally different story, sound-wise. I can't remember the last time I heard such clear, echo-free vocals in the Coliseum, and all the instruments sounded fine too.
Wearing steel-tipped cowboy boots, black jeans, sequined vest, and a Jimmy Page t-shirt—and with a long-stemmed rose dangling from a back pocket—the golden-haired rock god led his vibrant young apprentices through a collection of his top solo hits ("I'm In the Mood", "Ship of Fools") and the odd Zeppelin gem ("Goin' to California").
Guitarist Dougie Boyle was a stand-out, recreating all the trademark body shifts and loose kicks of Jimmy Page, without blowing a note. Plant himself pulled out a square-bodied, psychedelic-looking guitar for some bluesy riffs on "Anniversary", but a guitar god he ain't.
He seemed to be enjoying himself, though.
For his second encore Plant came out gripping a can of Sprite, making you wonder if he gets paid for that. But any real or imagined soda-pop plug was quickly forgotten when he launched into "Living Loving Maid"—driving the 11,000-plus fans wild—and topped things off with "Tall Cool One".


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|Other names
|Diagram showing some of the sphingolipidoses
|Medical genetics
Sphingolipidoses are a class of lipid storage disorders relating to sphingolipid metabolism. The main members of this group are Niemann–Pick disease, Fabry disease, Krabbe disease, Gaucher disease, Tay–Sachs disease and metachromatic leukodystrophy. They are generally inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, but notably Fabry disease is X-linked recessive. Taken together, sphingolipidoses have an incidence of approximately 1 in 10,000, but substantially more in certain populations such as Ashkenazi Jews. Enzyme replacement therapy is available to treat mainly Fabry disease and Gaucher disease, and people with these types of sphingolipidoses may live well into adulthood. The other types are generally fatal by age 1 to 5 years for infantile forms, but progression may be mild for juvenile- or adult-onset forms.
Accumulated products[edit]
- Gangliosides: Gangliosidosis
- Glycolipids
- Glucocerebrosides
|Deficient enzyme[1]
|Accumulated products[1]
|Generally accepted treatments
|Niemann-Pick disease
|Sphingomyelin in brain and RBCs
|Autosomal recessive
|1 in 100,000[2]
|Usually fatal by the age of approx 1.5 years but may live well into adulthood[3]
|Fabry disease
|α-galactosidase A
|Glycolipids, particularly ceramide trihexoside, in brain, heart, kidney
|Between 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 120,000 live births for males[5]
|Enzyme replacement therapy (but expensive)
|Life expectancy among males of approximately 60 years[6]
|Krabbe disease
|Glycolipids, particularly galactocerebroside, in oligodendrocytes
|Autosomal recessive
|About 1 in 100,000 births[7]
|Bone marrow transplant (high risk, potential failure, effectively provides enzyme replacement to the central nervous system from six months post-transplant, if done in the earliest stages; less effective enzyme replacement provision for the peripheral nervous system)
|Untransplanted, and in the case of a failed transplant, generally fatal before age 2 for infants
|Gaucher disease
|Glucocerebrosides in RBCs, liver and spleen
|Autosomal recessive
|About 1 in 20,000 live births,[8] more among Ashkenazi Jews
|Enzyme replacement therapy (but expensive)
|May live well into adulthood
|Tay–Sachs disease
|Hexosaminidase A
|GM2 gangliosides in neurons
|Autosomal recessive
|Approximately 1 in 320,000 newborns in the general population,[9] more in Ashkenazi Jews
|Death by approx. 4 years for infantile Tay–Sachs[10]
|Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD)
|Arylsulfatase A or prosaposin
|Sulfatide compounds in neural tissue
|Demyelination in CNS and PNS:
|Autosomal recessive[11]
|1 in 40,000 to 1 in 160,000[12]
|Bone marrow transplant (high risk, potential failure, effectively provides enzyme replacement to the central nervous system from six months post-transplant, if done in the earliest stages; less effective enzyme replacement provision for the peripheral nervous system)
|Untransplanted, and in the case of a failed transplant, death by approx. 5 years for infantile MLD
Metabolic pathways[edit]
See also[edit]
- ^ a b c d If not otherwise specified, reference is: Marks, Dawn B.; Swanson, Todd; Sandra I Kim; Marc Glucksman (2007). Biochemistry and molecular biology. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-8624-X.
- ^ Niemann-Pick disease from Genetics Home Reference. Reviewed: January 2008. Based on an incidence in a general population of 1 in 250,000 for types A and B and 1 in 150,000 for type C
- ^ NINDS Niemann-Pick Disease Information Page at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Last updated October 6, 2011
- ^ Banikazemi M, Desnick RJ, Astrin KH (2009-07-08). "Fabry Disease". eMedicine Pediatrics: Genetics and Metabolic Disease. Medscape. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ Mehta, A.; Ricci, R.; Widmer, U.; Dehout, F.; Garcia De Lorenzo, A.; Kampmann, C.; Linhart, A.; Sunder-Plassmann, G.; Ries, M.; Beck, M. (2004). "Fabry disease defined: Baseline clinical manifestations of 366 patients in the Fabry Outcome Survey". European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 34 (3): 236–242. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2362.2004.01309.x. PMID 15025684.
- ^ Waldek, S.; Patel, M. R.; Banikazemi, M.; Lemay, R.; Lee, P. (2009). "Life expectancy and cause of death in males and females with Fabry disease: Findings from the Fabry Registry". Genetics in Medicine. 11 (11): 790–796. doi:10.1097/GIM.0b013e3181bb05bb. PMID 19745746.
- ^ "Krabbe disease". Genetics Home Reference. United States National Library of Medicine. 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
- ^ Gaucher Disease at National Gaucher Foundation. Retrieved June 2012
- ^ GM2 Gangliosidoses – Introduction And Epidemiology at Medscape. Author: David H Tegay. Updated: Mar 9, 2012
- ^ Colaianni, Alessandra; Chandrasekharan, Subhashini; Cook-Deegan, Robert (2010). "Impact of Gene Patents and Licensing Practices on Access to Genetic Testing and Carrier Screening for Tay–Sachs and Canavan Disease". Genetics in Medicine. 12 (4 Suppl): S5–S14. doi:10.1097/GIM.0b013e3181d5a669. PMC 3042321. PMID 20393311.
- ^ Gieselmann V, Zlotogora J, Harris A, Wenger DA, Morris CP (1994). "Molecular genetics of metachromatic leukodystrophy". Hum. Mutat. 4 (4): 233–42. doi:10.1002/humu.1380040402. PMID 7866401.
- ^ Metachromatic leukodystrophy at Genetics Home Reference. Reviewed September 2007
External links[edit]
- Sphingolipidoses at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
|This biochemistry article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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This post isn't music related. As everyone is all too aware Robin Williams took his own life months ago and that hit me a lot harder then than I ever expected it to for a myriad of reasons. I held off on posting this for a long time just to get passed the outpouring of memorial posts immediately following his passing and because I just couldn't do it.
I've enjoyed watching, hearing and reading every single piece of Robin Williams career that I could. He always made me laugh even if I didn't wholly understand the material as a little kid or I had seen the same piece a thousand times. When I found out he'd hung himself I was especially devastated, it was like a piece of my childhood died.
Anyway, Robin's performance at the Metropolitan Opera House isn't new (it was recorded in 1986), it isn't rare (there are thousands of clips on youtube), and it might not be his best work but it means the most to me (especially that bit at the end). Hopefully the DMCA demons leave it be for just a little bit. Enjoy.
Robin Williams – Live @ The Met by Wes – Shadowboxing.Org on Mixcloud


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Coach Consultants – Bill Colvin & Marilyn Colvin Boon
The Coach Consultant brings changes in both the world of Coaching and the world of Consulting by combining the two.
Life, Business, Financial Health, Relationship Coaching are modern disciplines under the heading Coaching which has evolved from mentoring, counselling, psychology & NLP.
Are you, your relationships or your business in crisis? Not knowing which way to turn, what to do and even the steps to start making a difference?
Do you run a business or is the business running you? Financial coaching will save you time and money, help put you on the path to profits rather than losses.
Do you just want someone to help you in the direction you wish to go and to keep you on track? Or do you require someone to walk you each step of the way.
You have come to the right place to unlock your full potential in any area of your life. Health, Finance, Career, Family, Relationships, Spiritual or Business.
Bill or Marilyn, your coach consultants are here to help you. We have the experience, we have the success and know how to work with individuals and organizations to bring out the best.
Bill's expertise and strengths are in Finance and Business strategy, Team building and meeting and exceeding targets and goals.
Marilyn's expertise and strengths are in Health and Relationships with a combination of NLP, Coaching & Hypnotherapy.
We discuss your needs and commitment to being coached either face to face or over the phone or in groups.
We will send an outline of our discussion prior to the start of any coaching, project or contracted term together with the agreed fee.
The fee can be a set rate per month, by % increase in your gross annual revenue, or through productivity projects. Whether you are a small or medium sized business we will work with you and your organization.
Prices are exclusive of GST.
We do not hold you to any long term contract. Once you have found yourself satisfied with the results we conclude business with you in 30 days from date of notification in writing.
Phone and email support is not limited. We aim to respond within one hour. We also run small group workshops to assist our clients in their coaching journey.
You can fill out the form below to contact us via email or call Bill on 0421 826 134 / Marilyn on 0415 493 778
Visit my Facebook page, facebook.com/marilyn.coachconsultant
Whether it was Marilyn herself, or her merely facilitating my own decision to change my life, I came out of our sessions, not a different person, but a better one. A more developed person. I was travelling a particular route and I saw her on the road as a beacon lighting the next portion of my journey.
I consider her a close friend and confidant. I recommend her in the strongest possible way to anyone willing to admit they don't already know everything.
Danny Z Strategic Management Consultant, Brisbane 2009


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Welcome to SAE Outlaw Performance, Inc.
SAE Outlaw Performance, Inc. has been producing high horsepower and high quality parts for their customers for about a decade. SAE can help you with developing your engine to its fullest power potential.
Mike has been involved with engine development for over 2 decades and has produced some of the fastest motorcycles at the tracks…Suzuki is what most of his work is, and the Hayabusa is his specialty.
From building a mild street engine, to all out large displacement strokers, we can do it all.
SAE also is a tuning facility…with a DynoJet 250, Eddy Current load cell and real time air fuel monitoring we have the ability to get maximum results out of your combination.…
|•Billet Fuel Rails
|•Custom Fuel Injection Mapping
|•Boring and Re-Plating
|•Cylinder Head Porting
|•Cylinder Head Development
|•Cam Sprockets
|•Heavy Duty Clutch Springs
|•Engine Development
|•Billet Spigots
|•Clutch Slave Supports
|•Billet Bottle Brackets
|•Oversize Buckets
|•Valve Guide Offsets
|•Air Shifters
|•Billet Block Off Plates
|•Piston Lightening
|•Transmission Undercutting and Repair


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Wisconsin junior and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Robbie Earl is one of the most exciting players to watch in all of college hockey. Earl leads the Badgers in goal scoring this season with 24 goals. He finished second on the team with 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists), and was named the Frozen Four Tournament MVP after Wisconsin's 2-1 win over Boston College on Saturday to lay claim to the 2006 National Championship.
Hockey's Future spoke with Earl before team practice on Friday and after Wisconsin's championship win over Boston College on Saturday.
HF: First off, congratulations on winning the National Championship.
RE: Thank you
HF: One thing that has been discussed about you guys as a team is that this whole process from the beginning of the season to winning the national championship is like climbing a mountain. How would you describe the journey going from the beginning of the season to where you guys are at right now?
RE: That's a good question. It is a long journey. Our coach says that it's like climbing Mt. Everest. It's an eight-month journey that starts in August. We've had an easier road up earlier in the season but then in January we had hit a couple of bumps in the road. We were able to get past that and at each stop we try to get a little bit better. Now we are at the top. It's just gradually getting there. We just kept doing what we've been doing and here we are.
HF: So what does it feel like at the top of that mountain now that you've made it?
RE: The view is pretty good. I really like and it really is a great feeling too.
HF: Can you talk about your team's great penalty kill against Boston College? They got several power play opportunities and you just shut them down each time.
RE: Yeah, our penalty kill was working all year and it was working again tonight. It's about our pride in our penalty killing and that's pretty much about it.
HF: You were named the MVP of the Frozen Four Tournament. How was that for you?
RE: It's an individual award and it's hard to be overly gratified because it's a team effort, but it is a great feeling.
HF: You had a pretty good game tonight against BC but you also had a great game against Maine on Thursday too. Can you talk a little about that one?
RE: I had a timely goal to go up 3-1 and that really lifted our spirits to get through the game. The other goal allowed us to put the game away. It's a really great feeling to get that win and be a part of that.
HF: You, along with Joe Pavelski and Adam Burish have been clicking so well together all year long, yet you guys are such different players. What is it about the three of you together that just makes it all work?
RE: You hit it on the head, that we're all different players. I'm more of the dynamic, offensive guy. Joe is more of the playmaker, making all the plays and feeding me the passes and Adam is able to make space for us and he does a good job of that. I think all the different personalities and all of the different playing types kind of compliment us.
HF: With everything that you have gone through, what do you feel was the most significant part of your developmental process as the season has gone along?
RE: I think it's just adjusting to the ups and downs of the season. We were on a high 18-2-2 ride in the early part of the year and then we kind of slipped. I tried to be kind of a leader to help get us back to the caliber that we could be. That was kind of a tough thing for me having to battle through those times. But now, it's evident that going through the tough times has paid off because we're here and we battled through those tough times and been able to get ourselves back on our feet and get back to working towards what we've wanted to achieve.
HF: You're one of the more electrifying players in the collegiate ranks, is that an attribute that you're naturally born with or was that something you developed over your hockey playing years growing up?
RE: You're born with that kind of excitement. I love to score goals and I love being the offensive type. I enjoy it and that's my game. I try to stick to my strengths. I also love to shoot the puck and use my speed as well. That's all part of being an electrifying player and I take great pride in that. So I just think that it's something that you're born with. I enjoy being that type of player (smiling).
HF: One thing that seemed to motivate you guys over on the bench was the crowd. They were so loud and so supportive of you guys. What was that like being on the bench and being able to see and listen to all of that?
RE: Oh, it obviously gives us that upper hand to have that kind of fan support behind us. It was unreal. To have 18,000 fans behind you going wild is a great feeling and a great atmosphere, and continually lifting our spirits too.
HF: What are some of the things that you'd like to continue working on to help make yourself a better player?
RE: I'd like to become a well-rounded player, to be better along the walls and to be better physically. For me, it's just rounding out my entire game and become that type of player. I have that offensive skill already so it's just maintaining those effective things and get better at playing along the walls that will help me get to the next level. I just want to develop my body. It's just that development process that goes along with being able to go up the ranks.
HF: Being one of the few African-American players in college hockey, have you been able to become sort of like a mentor to other young African-Americans to help encourage them to pick up the game of hockey?
RE: Not so much right now. I haven't been fortunate enough to be a part of doing something like that yet. It is something that I'd like to be able to do when I'm established. That's something that I'm looking forward to doing. Right now, I just need to establish myself as a player so that it'll help make me better in being in that role.
HF: You were drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can you talk about what it was like being drafted by them?
RE: Yeah. It was unbelievable. They're an original six team and it's amazing to be a part of such a prestigious tradition and organization. They're a first class organization and it's something that I take great pride in and hopefully one day, I'll be wearing a Leafs jersey. It's a wonderful feeling and I'm just really excited to be a part of that organization.
Copyright 2006 Hockey's Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.


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Slow beauty is a way of understanding beauty that loves persistence and freshness, and that implies a lifestyle." The Slow beauty's philosophy explained by Alexandra Nicolau, CEO of Ecologic Cosmetics, links personal and sensorial pleasure of take care of oneself to the desire of approaching to nature. That is the reason behind the increasing Made in Spain brands seeking for respectful cosmetics with environment and our skin.
This is the case of ESDOR Cosméticos, an eco-beauty brand which came out from a natural progression of "a love story between wine and beauty". The Grupo Matarromera, a recognized nationally viticulture group, as a result of the their obssession for research arround grapes and the desire of use all resources provided by Mother Nature; they thought and patented a process of polifenoles extration, one of the most powerful detoxs. "So then in just three years we get a line of cosmetics based on grapes", explains Rebeca Fariñas, the ESDOR Cosméticos brand's manager.
Because the effort and work of brands as Grupo Matarromera or Ecologic Cosmetics, there has began a research of natural components applicables to beauty products.
Thanks to the pioneer vision of her fundator, Linda Nicolau, Ecologic Cosmetics was born with the aim of a high quality cosmetic brand which exclusively uses traditional methods, respects nature and avoids waste generation. As Alexandra Nicolau reports "in 1993 any of these values was contemplated by the majority of the national products, and furthermore general public was concerned".
Today, "Spanish consumer has changed completely, who wasn't used to support or understand about a eco-friendly product even less if was a local one.", thinks about Alexandra Nicolau. "In Spain even nowadays it's difficult to award people about sustainability", an affirmation also supported by ESDOR, however, for the last years Rebeca Fariñas reported it has been a noticeable increasing of environment compromise of ideas coming from EEUU or Nordic countries. Even though, both afirms of the increasing knowledge and education arround not only about taking care of nature, but also about being awarded of what we eat or what we use; and also how that can infers to our healthy and wellness in long-term.
There has being an increase of compromise with nature and ourself in Spain.
Evidently, reassure both, that natural cosmetic is more respectful with skin, because a high percentage of actives used are natural instead of being chemical. That minimize the risk of allergies or intolerances, as a result the consumer is sure of being using the more natural and quality product available. Moreover, there is something beauty and poetic about looking for the nearest beauty, the one surrounded us.
ESDOR remarks on paying attention to any product composition, "there are a lot of brands on the market which looks as natural but then they are not at all. The ideal is having products above 80% of natural actives and avoiding fuel derivates, oil minerals, artificial colorings and "parabenes".
Even though, a complete ecological product takes a further step: is that which aims for doing the less damage to environment noticing not only the product, but also process, packaging, carbon footprint….For instance, at Ecologic the vintage packaging of their products is thought not only asking for protect the purity of their ingredients, not only for helping economy, but also for the elevated cost of bring components or products from other countries. Both brands aims for local.
The key of slow beauty: avoid miraculous products "flash effect" and trust in a beauty without hurries, with time for us. "A phylosphy which doesn't only talk about taking care of skin, but also talk about a lifestyle: entrust with oneself, refuse stress, enviroment respect, responsible consume, fair trade and of course, an ecologic effective cosmetic with gradual results long-lasting.", defends Ecologic Cosmetics. "I think that you must totally take care of yourself and be respectful with what Mother Nature has awarded us, because all counts".


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Haagen-Daz Marketing Analysis
?The Business Review
?Identify all the problems and opportunities
?Setting the sales objectives
?Defining the target market
?Setting the marketing objectives
?Developing a positioning strategy
?Marketing Mix
Haagen-Dazs were the pioneers in the market for creating distinctive and indulgent taste experiences by marketing to an untapped segment - the adult ice cream lovers. The Haagen-Dazs brand quickly developed a loyal following. Its early success was created by word of mouth and praise.
Marketing Strategy
Haagen-Dazs overall marketing strategy will be to create an image of offering the highest quality ice cream to all of their customers. The business will be located in a high traffic area where Customers will be reached through advertisements such as fliers, newspaper ads, and through its grand opening ceremonies. A special marketing program will also be incorporated by offering special coupon prices for nearby restaurants, hotels, city pool, the donut shop, and the gas station to customers who purchase any product at Haagen-Dazs. Major marketing will be conducted through newspaper advertisements and local flier distribution during the first three months of operation. Market Segment
According to Advertising Age (September, 1999), premium ice cream and frozen yogurt products are losing market share to mid-priced and other frozen dessert products. Information Resources reported that frozen ice products comprised a third of the $2.4 billion ice cream category for the year ending May 21, 1995, generating $717.7 million, up 9.3% from the previous year. Based on this information, it is anticipated that the frozen dessert market can be divided into two customer segments. The first segment prefers premium ice cream and frozen yogurt products. The other segment obviously includes those that prefer frozen ice products. Shave ice products are ideal for today's health-conscious...
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Zubebi Resort
Il resort occupa un'area di 2,5 ettari fra le colline che sovrastano il paese di Pantelleria. Il nome deriva da "Zibib" termine col quale gli antichi Arabi... Read more
The area to the south of the Montagna Grande is dotted with Favaras of every dimension. Their queen, the "Favara Grande" (Big favara) is one of the most magnificent sights on the whole ridge.
It evaporates from a crack in the ground that towers 800m above the landscape beneath, immersed in silence, far from any man made building to distract you from the mythical view. The mouth of the Favara is covered with branches on which water condenses and falls in trickles of water. From close up the Favara reminds you of a multicoloured and picturesque Nativity creche.


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Next stop for a proposed family shelter here is the county Planning Commission. It got a thumbs-up, last Tuesday, Nov. 18, from the West Fairfax County Citizens Association Land-Use Committee.
It was already endorsed by the Springfield District/Fairfax Center Land-Use Committee. "We'll also bring this plan to the Sully District Council and share it with them," said Carey Needham, chief of the Building Design branch of the county's Department of Public Works.
The 20,000-square-foot shelter is proposed for construction between the Hampton Forest and Stringfellow Road intersections on Route 29, just west of Meadows Farms Nursery. It would house up to 20 families and predominantly serve single parents with children — mainly in elementary school or younger.
Nearly 80 homeless families are on the county's waiting list for shelter, all year 'round. And although there are homeless shelters in three other parts of the county, none exists in the western part where the need is just as significant.
The 5.7-acre site would have no direct access from Route 29. Instead, entry would be via the adjacent Estates of Fairfax subdivision, through a service-road stub. A modified traffic signal is planned for Hampton Forest Road.
THE SHELTER would be mostly two stories. Two transitional housing units — each 3,000 square feet and serving three families — would also have two floors. They'd have shingle roofs and siding with brick accents to fit in with nearby homes.
The proposal also includes some 50 parking spaces, an outdoor playground and a multi-use court. The shelter would have a maximum of 17 daytime staff members, plus four volunteers.
According to Needham, 30-70 percent of the shelter families will be employed, as well as about 75 percent in the transitional housing units. A Department of Family Services van or minibus shuttle is planned to take the residents to shopping areas or to other transportation to get to their jobs.
Project manager Magdi Imbabi, with the Public Works Department's Planning and Design Division, made last week's WFCCA presentation. Then he and Needham fielded questions from the panel.
"Where is the funding on this?" asked WFCCA's Carol Hawn. "It's $5 million for just the shelter, and we're essentially fully funded to build it," replied Needham. "One million is being taken from the Housing Trust Fund." Phase two — construction of the transitional housing units — would come later.
"Is this it, or is there room to expand?" asked WFCCA's Jim Hart. Answered Imbabi: "It's near a resource-protection area, so there's not much room to expand; this is it."
Hart made a motion to approve the shelter application, provided it has a "high-quality, architectural design compatible with the surrounding neighbors" and no access from Route 29. WFCCA also encouraged the county to make a commitment about the shuttle service and to save as many trees as possible. Approval was unanimous.


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Whether it is about details or complete solutions, we are there for you.
Nike is more than just a company that sells shoes.
Nike innovates the future.
When releasing the 31st version of the iconic Pegasus running shoe, Vaengad was invited to join up with their very own product specialist and renowned long-distance runners: Kjell-Erik Ståhl and Sara Lahti to create the launch.
Kjell-Erik, a two-time winner of the Stockholm Marathon and a holder of the race record time: 2.10.38, also ha the reputation for being one of the most active competitors with 12 marathons in one calendar year, shared his thoughts on long-distance running and what makes a difference and how to succeed.
Vaengad helped curate, art direct, and produce this extraordinary launch in collaboration with Nike Running Sweden and Löplabbet.
Art direction & production by Vaengad
All photos by Petter Johansson
Images courtesy of Nike Sweden


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Card and Bookstore
Here you will find some short essays on the use of Tarot as an oracle or means of divination. The essays have been composed in a manner attempting to avoid aspects of spiritual materialism so that the information will be accessible to the greatest number of people. I apologize in advance if any of the material is offensive to your spiritual sensibilities. Please feel free to contact me regarding any of the information presented in these pages.
Bev Thornton.
Want to join the Tarot Ring?
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Copyright © 1997 Bev Thornton, All Rights Reserved.


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I snuck by the house this morning to take a peak at the cabinets and, to my delight, the countertops were being installed right when we got there! They are BEAUTIFUL and look so luxurious! We had quartz (Cambria Torquay) countertops in our last home, and while I loved them, they just aren't as beautiful as real stone. These countertops are marble called Shadow Storm. This particular marble is supposedly one of the most durable marbles that exists. It's much less porous than Carrara and is comparable in durability to granite, according to the saleswoman at the stoneyard. How can something so beautiful be less expensive (by $800!!!) than a manufactured stone? Craziness.
So, remember when I mentioned before that I was nervous about the cabinet color coming out right? Well…*gulp*. I'm a little shaky in the chest writing this. There's nothing more I'd like than to write how perfect everything turns out, but not everything is always perfect in a renovation…or anything in life, right? Despite the color looking "perfect" on the sample, it just looks different when it's painted all over. This isn't necessarily a BAD thing, it's just different than my expectations, so I'm having to get used to the color.
It's more of a robin's egg blue, and not as gray as I thought it would be. The word that keeps coming to my mind when I see it is "pretty". Since when is "pretty" a bad thing, Emily? It's not! …it's just not completely my style. I'd gladly pick it out for someone else who may be a little fancier than myself, but us Morrison's are a laid back crew. We wear jeans to church, we don't dress up all that much in general, we rarely have an occasion for fine China, and we drink beer and two buck chuck from Trader Joe's! But this kitchen…this kitchen calls for fine wine and at least 4″ heels at all times of the day! Sorry, kitchen, you may be a bit disappointed with your owners. lol. Okay, enough personifying a kitchen. I'm still a little "I have an infant" crazy.
I was more nervous than anything to show Alex. He already told me he wanted more gray, less blue, when I showed him my original paint samples, and this was waaaaaaaay more blue than those were. I text him these pictures and, thankfully, he's been really positive about it. Although it is bluer than he'd want, he can see it looking more our taste once the dark floors are showing, the tile backsplash is in, lighting is hung, and the runner is on the floor. Gosh I love that guy! He really knows how to bring my mind to a good place when I start to panic.
I've yet to decide wall color for any space in the house. It'll be something I do myself after we move in. I'm leaning towards a gray (even thought I swore I was over gray!), or a creamy white. We'll see…my brain isn't that far ahead yet.
I also got a peek at the tile going in around the bathtub and I looooooooove it. This bathroom started out as mediocre at best. I'm honestly a bit shocked at how good it's looking considering the layout. I love being surprised by things turning out better than expected!
The vanity is being painted today (Sherwin Williams "denim") and moulding around the mirror is being built and installed, and hopefully the vanity lights will get installed too. This space is just such a pleasant surprise. Mixing high end (marble tile around tub and marble countertops) with low end (subway tile and ceramic tile floors, re-using old vanity and mirror, $20 vanity sconces) is my favorite part of designing. I could make a killer room given a massive budget, but doing a complete (NON-DIY) renovation of a master bathroom for around $8k? That's a challenge to tackle. Most master bathrooms run between $15-$20k. The small square footage is saving my butt big time in here.
Two more days before everything is supposed to be completed!! I can't imagine it all being done by then…we'll see!


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Throughout the past few articles you've learned about the improvements we've made to the strength of the engine, and beefing up the fuel and cooling systems. This install we reveal why all of those modifications were necessary: forced induction.
One of the biggest let downs about the BRZ/FR-S was the lack of a turbocharged option. It seemed so simple, just pull the motor from the WRX and, voila, boost! Instead we were left with a car that, while well balanced, just wanted enthusiasts begging for more. Thankfully there is a healthy aftermarket that was practically frothing at the mouth at the opportunity to add forced induction.
As you recently read, we've completed modifying the cylinder heads and valve train to make sure the FA20 has sufficient and efficient breathing ability. In this installment, we're going to pull back the curtain on what was done to modify the cooling, lubrication and fuel/spark systems to withstand the power and reliability we expect to achieve with this build.
Welcome back; it's been a while! We've been hard at work getting down to business with our Pikes Peak Airstrip Attack and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, both part of the Pikes Peak Speed Week. While we were running around losing our minds, SCR Performance was hard at work making great progress with the BRZ build. Last time, we covered what it takes to build a bottom end stout enough to handle our power demands. This week we're diving into the cylinder heads to see how SCR improved the breathing capacity of the FA20/4U-GSE.
SoCal native, Andy Kuo's 2007 WRX was the first vehicle feature we shot as part of the tour. It couldn't be a more fitting ride as it exemplifies everything that Revvolution stands for. It has the looks, the style and the performance we love.
Last week we gave you a behind the scenes look at the magic SLVA was conjuring up with the creation of the wide-body for our BRZ. In this installment, we change our focus to the drivetrain build as we've had lots of inquiries into what will motivate this beast.