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Monday, January 26, 2015
New to 26262? Have I got a primer for you
Can ADAS systems mitigate driver error and reduce traffic deaths? The evidence suggests that, yes, they help prevent accidents. That said, ADAS systems can themselves cause harm, if they malfunction. Imagine, for example, an adaptive cruise control system that underestimates the distance of a car up ahead. Which raises the question: how can you trust the safety claims for an ADAS system? And how do you establish that the evidence for those claims is sufficient?
Enter ISO 26262. This standard, introduced in 2011, provides a comprehensive framework for validating the functional safety claims of ADAS systems, digital instrument clusters, and other electrical or electronic systems in production passenger vehicles.
ISO 26262 isn't for the faint of heart. It's a rigorous, 10-part standard that recommends tools, techniques, and methodologies for the entire development cycle, from specification to decommissioning. In fact, to develop a deep understanding of 26262 you must first become versed in another standard, IEC 61508, which forms the basis of 26262.
ISO 26262 starts from the premise that no system is 100% safe. Consequently, the system designer must perform a hazard and risk analysis to identify the safety requirements and residual risks of the system being developed. The outcome of that analysis determines the Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) of the system, as defined by 26262. ASILs range from A to D, where A represents the lowest degree of hazard and D, the highest. The higher the ASIL, the greater the degree of rigor that must be applied to assure the system avoids residual risk.
Having determined the risks (and the ASIL) , the system designer selects an appropriate architecture. The designer must also validate that architecture, using tools and techniques that 26262 either recommends or highly recommends. If the designer believes that a recommended tool or technique isn't appropriate to the project, he or she must provide a solid rationale for the decision, and must justify why the technique actually used is as good or better than that recommended by 26262.
The designer must also prepare a safety case. True to its name, this document presents the case that the system is sufficiently safe for its intended application and environment. It comprises three main components: 1) a clear statement of what is claimed about the system, 2) the argument that the claim has been met, and 3) the evidence that supports the argument. The safety case should convince not only the 26262 auditor, but also the entire development team, the company's executives, and, of course, the customer. Of course, no system is safe unless it is deployed and used correctly, so the system designer must also produce a safety manual that sets the constraints within which the product must be deployed.
Achieving 26262 compliance is a major undertaking. That said, any conscientious team working on a safety-critical project would probably apply most of the recommended techniques. The standard was created to ensure that safety isn't treated as an afterthought during final testing, but as a matter of due diligence in every stage of development.
If you're a system designer or implementer, where do you start? I would suggest "A Developer's View of ISO 26262", an article recently authored by my colleague Chris Hobbs and published in EE Times Automotive Europe. The article provides an introduction to the standard, based on experience of certifying software to ISO 26262, and covers key topics such as ASILs, recommended verification tools and techniques, the safety case, and confidence from use.
I also have two whitepapers that may prove useful: Architectures for ISO 26262 systems with multiple ASIL requirements, written by my colleague Yi Zheng, and Protecting software components from interference in an ISO 26262 system, written by Chris Hobbs and Yi Zheng.
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 9:22 AM 0 comments
Labels: ADAS, Autonomous cars, Digital instrument clusters, Driver distraction, ISO 26262, Paul Leroux, Reliability, Safety systems
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Driving simulators at CES
The experience got me thinking about the types of vehicles currently in simulation or in the lab that I fully expect to drive in my lifetime: cars that are virtually impossible to crash, cars that make it painless to travel long distances, and, ultimately, cars that worry about traffic jams so I can read a book.
|Re-incarnated: The QNX reference
The resulting virtual drive showcased the capabilities not only of QNX technology, but of our ecosystem as well. Using the video footage, we provided camera inputs to Itseez' computer vision algorithms to demonstrate a working example of lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition. By capturing GPS data synchronized with the video footage, and feeding the result through Elektrobit's Electronic Horizon Solution, we were able to generate curve speed warnings. All this was running on automotive-grade Jacinto 6 silicon from Texas Instruments. LiDAR technology from Phantom Intelligence rounded out the offering by providing collision feedback to the driver.
|The lane departure and curve speed warnings in action. Screen-grab from video by Embedded Computing Design.
Meeting the challenge
While at CES, I also had the opportunity to meet with companies that are working to make advanced ADAS systems commercially viable. Phantom Intelligence is one example but I was also introduced to companies that can provide thermal imaging systems and near-infrared cameras at a fraction of what these technologies cost today.
These are all examples of how the industry is rising up to meet the challenge of safer, more autonomous vehicles at a price point that allows for widespread adoption in the foreseeable future. Amazing stuff, really — we are finally entering the era of the Jetsons.
By the way, I can't remember what booth I was in when I drove the simulator. But I'm willing to bet that the people who experienced the Jeep at CES will remember they were in the QNX booth, seeing technology from QNX and its key partners in this exciting new world.
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 9:37 AM 0 comments
Labels: ADAS, Autonomous cars, CES, Concept car, Reference vehicle, Romain Saha, Safety systems
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Tom's Guide taps QNX concept car with CES 2015 award
Tom's Guide? If so, you're not alone. Every month, this website attracts more than 2.5 million unique visitors — that's equivalent to the population of Toronto, the largest city in Canada.
The folks at Tom's Guide test and review everything from drones to 3D printers. They love technology. So perhaps it's no surprise that they took a shine to the QNX technology concept car. In fact, they liked it so much, they awarded it the Tom's Guide CES 2015 Award, in the car tech category.
To quote Sam Rutherford of Tom's Guide, "After my time with QNX's platform, I was left with the impression there's finally a company that just "gets it" when it comes to the technology in cars. The company has learned from the success of modern mobile devices and brought that knowledge to the auto world…".
I think I like this Sam guy.
Engadget was also impressed...
The Tom's Guide award is the second honor QNX picked up at CES. We were also shortlisted for an Engadget Best of CES award, for the digital rear- and side-view mirrors on the QNX technology concept car.
If you haven't seen the mirrors in action, they offer a complete view of the scene behind and to the sides of the vehicle — goodbye to the blind spots associated with conventional reflective mirrors. Better yet, the side-view digital mirrors have the smarts to detect cars, bicycles, and other objects, and they will display an alert if an object is too close when the driver signals a lane change.
In addition to the digital mirrors, the QNX technology concept car integrates several other ADAS features, including speed recommendations, forward-collision warnings, and intelligent parking assist. Learn more here.
The folks at Tom's Guide test and review everything from drones to 3D printers. They love technology. So perhaps it's no surprise that they took a shine to the QNX technology concept car. In fact, they liked it so much, they awarded it the Tom's Guide CES 2015 Award, in the car tech category.
To quote Sam Rutherford of Tom's Guide, "After my time with QNX's platform, I was left with the impression there's finally a company that just "gets it" when it comes to the technology in cars. The company has learned from the success of modern mobile devices and brought that knowledge to the auto world…".
I think I like this Sam guy.
Engadget was also impressed...
|A forward-looking approach to seeing
behind you.
If you haven't seen the mirrors in action, they offer a complete view of the scene behind and to the sides of the vehicle — goodbye to the blind spots associated with conventional reflective mirrors. Better yet, the side-view digital mirrors have the smarts to detect cars, bicycles, and other objects, and they will display an alert if an object is too close when the driver signals a lane change.
In addition to the digital mirrors, the QNX technology concept car integrates several other ADAS features, including speed recommendations, forward-collision warnings, and intelligent parking assist. Learn more here.
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 1:14 PM 0 comments
Labels: ADAS, Awards, CES, Concept car, Mobile connectivity, Paul Leroux
Thursday, January 8, 2015
A behind the scenes look at creating an integrated driving experience
|Lynn Gayowski
The video below not only gives a behind the scenes look at the making of our latest technology concept car based on a Maserati Quattroporte GTS, but it features team members talking about the technology behind the car and what QNX brings to the table (or garage in this case) to enable a customized car in mere months.
Yes, the QNX CAR Platform has cool features and amazing reliability. But another draw for our customers is the platform's pre-integrated partner technologies. The platform gets silicon, apps, and services working together so OEMs don't have to solve this problem for themselves. It makes development time shorter and helps the focus to stay on branding the user experience. As Alex — one of the software engineers interviewed — mentions, after seeing what we did in the Maserati, "Just imagine what our customers can do!"
We targeted an integrated driving experience for this vehicle and I think this focus is evident in the finished product. The user interface and ADAS features are intuitive, and let's be real, gorgeous. Check out this video that summarizes the making of the 2015 QNX technology concept car:
You'll see many members of the concept team working hard throughout this video, but a shout out as well to all of the developers who contributed to the QNX CAR Platform, QNX operating system, and acoustics technologies that made this amazing vehicle possible. Congratulations to all of you for a job well done!
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 9:28 AM 0 comments
Labels: CES, Concept car, Concept team, Lynn Gayowski, QNX CAR
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Finalist for Engadget Best of CES Awards 2015
By Lynn Gayowski
Best of CES Awards 2015, in the Best Automotive Technology category!
With advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) influential in the design of this year's QNX vehicle, replacing the mirrors on the Maserati with digital screens to warn of possible collisions and enhance visibility for the driver was a natural choice.
Not only do the side-view screens eliminate blind spots, they also give a red warning overlay if an obstacle is in the way when making a lane change. If the coast is clear, the overlay is green.
The rear-view display is a wide-angle view behind the car that provides the driver with an expanded picture that's larger than what you'd see with a typical mirror.
Powered by the reliable QNX OS, these digital mirrors could be a feature that helps drivers of the future avoid accidents.
If you're attending CES, check out the digital mirrors and the many other ADAS and infotainment demos in the QNX booth: North Hall, Booth 2231.
Best of CES Awards 2015, in the Best Automotive Technology category!
With advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) influential in the design of this year's QNX vehicle, replacing the mirrors on the Maserati with digital screens to warn of possible collisions and enhance visibility for the driver was a natural choice.
Not only do the side-view screens eliminate blind spots, they also give a red warning overlay if an obstacle is in the way when making a lane change. If the coast is clear, the overlay is green.
The rear-view display is a wide-angle view behind the car that provides the driver with an expanded picture that's larger than what you'd see with a typical mirror.
Powered by the reliable QNX OS, these digital mirrors could be a feature that helps drivers of the future avoid accidents.
|The rear- and side-view video displays in the 2015 QNX technology concept car based on a Maserati Quattroporte GTS offer a complete view behind and to the sides of the vehicle, eliminating blind spots.
If you're attending CES, check out the digital mirrors and the many other ADAS and infotainment demos in the QNX booth: North Hall, Booth 2231.
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 5:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: ADAS, Awards, CES, Concept car, Lynn Gayowski
Now with ADAS: The revamped QNX reference vehicle
|Tina Jeffrey
I walked into the QNX garage a few weeks ago and did a double take. The QNX reference vehicle, a modified Jeep Wrangler, had undergone a major overhaul both inside and out — and just in time for 2015 CES.
Before I get into the how and why of the Jeep's metamorphosis, here's a glimpse of its newly refreshed exterior. Orange is the new gray!
The Jeep debuted in June 2012 at Telematics Detroit. Its purpose: to show how customers can use off-the-shelf QNX products, like the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment and QNX OS, to build a wide range of custom infotainment systems and instrument clusters, using a single code base.
From day one, the Jeep has been a real workhorse, making appearances at numerous events to showcase the latest HMI, navigation, speech recognition, multimedia, and handsfree acoustics technologies, not to mention embedded apps for parking, internet radio streaming, weather, and smartphone connectivity. The Jeep has performed dependably time and time again, and now, in an era where automotive safety is top of mind, we've decided to up the ante and add leading-edge ADAS technology built on the QNX OS.
After all, what sets the QNX OS apart is its proven track record in safety-certified systems across market segments — industrial, medical, and automotive. In fact, the QNX OS for Automotive Safety is certified to the highest level of automotive functional safety: ISO 26262, ASIL D. Using a pre-certified OS component is key to the overall integrity of an automotive system and makes system certification much easier.
The ultimate (virtual) driving experience
How better to showcase ADAS in the Jeep, than by a virtual drive? At CES, a 12-foot video screen in front of the Jeep plays a pre-recorded driving scene, while the onboard ADAS system analyzes the scene to detect lane markers, speed signs, and preceding vehicles, and to warn of unintentional lane departures, excessive speed, and imminent crashes with vehicles on the road ahead. Onboard computer vision algorithms from Itseez process the image frames in real time to perform these functions simultaneously.
Here's a scene from the virtual drive, in which the ADAS system is tracking lane markings and has detected a speed-limit sign:
If the vehicle begins to drift outside a lane, the steering wheel provides haptic feedback and the cluster displays a warning:
The ADAS system includes Elektrobit EB Assist eHorizon, which uses map data with curve-speed information to provide warnings and recommendations, such as reducing your speed to navigate an upcoming curve:
The Jeep also has a LiDAR system from Phantom Intelligence (formerly Aerostar) to detect obstacles on the road ahead. The cluster displays warnings from this system, as well as warnings from the vision-based collision-detection feature. For example:
Here's a short video of the virtual drive, taken at CES by Brandon Lewis of Embedded Computing Design, in which you can see curve-speed warnings and lane-departure warnings:
Fast-boot camera
Rounding out the ADAS features is a rear-view camera demo that can cold boot in 0.8 seconds on a Texas Instruments Jacinto 6 processor. As you may recall, NHTSA has mandated that, by May 2018, most new vehicles must have rear-view technology that can display a 10-by-20 foot area directly behind the vehicle; moreover, the display must appear no more than 2 seconds after the driver throws the vehicle into reverse. Backup camera and other fastboot requirements such as time-to-last-mode audio, time-to-HMI visible, and time-to-fully-responsive HMI are critically important to automakers. Be sure to check out the demo — but don't blink or you'll miss it!
Full-featured infotainment
The head unit includes a full-featured infotainment system based on the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment and provides information such as weather, current song, and turn-by-turn directions to the instrument cluster, where they're easier for the driver to see.
Infotainment features include:
Qt-based HMI — Can integrate other HMI technologies, including Elektrobit EB Guide and Crank Storyboard.
Natural language processing (NLP) — Uses Nuance's Vocon Hybrid solution in concert with the QNX NLP technology for natural interaction with infotainment functions. For instance, if you ask "Will I need a jacket later today?", the Weather Network app will launch and provide the forecast.
EB street director — Provides embedded navigation with a 3D map engine; the map is synched up with the virtual drive during the demo.
QNX CAR Platform multimedia engine — An automotive-hardened solution that can handle:
- audio management for seamless transitions between all audio sources
- media detection and browsing of connected devices
- background synching of music for instant media playback — without the need for the synch to be completed
Support for all smartphone connectivity options — DLNA, MTP, MirrorLink, Bluetooth, USB, Wi-Fi, etc.
On-board application framework — Supports Qt, HTML5, APK (for Android apps), and native OpenGL ES apps. Apps include iHeart, Parkopedia, Pandora, Slacker, and Weather Network, as well as a Settings app for phone pairing, over-the-air software updates, and Wi-Fi hotspot setup.
So if you're in the North Hall at CES this week, be sure to take a virtual ride in the QNX reference vehicle in Booth 2231. Beneath the fresh paint job, it's the same workhorse it has always been, but now with new ADAS tech automakers are thirsting for.
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 8:53 AM 0 comments
Labels: ADAS, CES, Concept car, Digital instrument clusters, Infotainment, QNX CAR, QNX OS, Reference vehicle, Safety systems, Texas Instruments, Tina Jeffrey
Monday, January 5, 2015
QNX and Qualcomm Technologies give show goers another stunner at 2015 CES
Year after year, CES attendees are repeatedly amazed by the advances in automobile infotainment. Not so long ago, it was about having a great stereo in the car and maybe a tiny screen in the center stack with a primitive navigation system. Then came Bluetooth connectivity… multiple multimedia screens… front and rear displays… gaming… 3G and 4G connectivity… Wi-Fi hotspots…
This year, QNX Software Systems and Qualcomm Technologies are bringing you something really special — a "mashup," you could say, of a Maserati Quattroporte GTS, the QNX OS, the QNX CAR Platform, and the Snapdragon™ Automotive Solutions (SAS) platform, all working together in a show-stopping technology concept car.
The QNX concept team worked closely with Qualcomm Technologies to create an immersive in-vehicle experience using advanced technologies for infotainment, digital instrument clusters, and driver assistance systems. These systems feature high-resolution UIs with multi-touch support, 3D graphics for navigation, and LiDAR-based obstacle detection. And note the side mirrors have been swapped for smart displays that eliminate typical vehicle blind spots and present relevant color-coded overlay information to promote safer driving.
Inner beauty
What's so special about the SAS platform? First, let me define what it is (put on your tech hats): a highly integrated, thermal-efficient automotive-grade platform that incorporates an optimized combination of CPU, GPU, 4G LTE modem, GPS/GNSS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. What's special is that it is engineered to not only enhance the driver and passenger experiences with the infotainment features we know today, but it future-proofs the vehicle for next-generation features — some of which haven't even been dreamt of yet. More important, it allows automakers and tier ones to accelerate development schedules and to focus on creating feature-rich, reliable infotainment and safety systems built with solutions such as the QNX CAR Platform.
Let's take a closer look at the three areas of this special technology concept car where I think the presence of SAS makes the biggest impact: the instrument cluster, the infotainment system, and the driver assistance system. And keep in mind that this vehicle is more than a showcase of what's "out there" and possible — it's a test bed we'll use to gain relevant experience and knowledge that we can apply to future technologies in real cars.
The all-digital, reconfigurable instrument cluster
The cluster — the go-to information display for drivers — on the technology concept car can cycle through a number of views, providing the driver with relevant data on what's going on, in, and around the car in real time. Rear-view park assist, current audio track, navigation data, forward-collision warnings, and vehicle data are all examples of information rendered in the cluster:
The infotainment system
You can't help but notice the 12" portrait touchscreen next to the instrument cluster. The system is built using the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment — an automotive-hardened software platform built on the QNX OS. The QNX CAR Platform runs on the SAS hardware and implements a sophisticated UI design that supports voice recognition, touch (including tap, swipe, and pinch and zoom on the map), and synchronizes with the rear-seat control system, allowing rear-seat passengers to manage navigation, song selection, and temperature settings.
Here's a photo of the touchscreen in action. As you can see, it's displaying map info, an incoming call, and a "Now Playing" section. If you simply tap the map, which is powered by Elektrobit (EB) street director navigation and works with EB electronic horizon, it will automatically take over two-thirds of the screen:
Driver assistance system
The car's driver assistance system makes use of LIDAR and ultrasonic sensors to detect the presence of obstacles around the vehicle and renders warning information to the driver through the cluster or side-view displays, and also through an obstacle awareness system made up of dashboard LEDs. This system projects color-coded warnings onto the windshield to indicate the location and proximity of the object.
Other highlights include:
- "Always On" rear-view display — The rear-view mirror has been converted into a display that renders a wide-angle perspective of the area behind the car
- Elektrobit electronic horizon — Topographical map data is used to provide curve-speed recommendations and warnings that are displayed in the cluster
If you have the opportunity to see this car at CES, I highly recommend it — it really is an amazing technology concept vehicle that showcases the next-generation of automobile infotainment and safety. It will be located in the Qualcomm booth located in Central Plaza #21A Jan 6-9. If you cannot make it to CES, you can learn more here.
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 5:24 PM 0 comments
Labels: CES, Concept car, Concept team, Connected Car, Infotainment, QNX CAR, Qualcomm
Volkswagen and LG Gear up with QNX
Earlier today, QNX Software Systems announced that infotainment systems powered by the QNX Neutrino OS are now shipping in several 2015 Volkswagen vehicle models, including the Touareg, Passat, Polo, Golf, and Golf GTI.
The systems include the RNS 850 GPS navigation system in the Volkswagen Touareg, which recently introduced support for 3D Google Earth maps and Google Street View. The system also offers realtime traffic information, points-of-interest search, reverse camera display, voice control, Bluetooth connectivity, rich multimedia support, four-zone climate control, a high-resolution 8-inch color touchscreen, and other advanced features.
|Bird's eye view: the RNS 850 GPS navigation system for the Volkswagen Touareg SUV. Source: VW
"At Volkswagen, we believe deeply in delivering the highest quality driving experience, regardless of the cost, size, and features of the vehicle," commented Alf Pollex, Head of Connected Car and Infotainment at Volkswagen AG. "The scalable architecture of the QNX platform is well-suited to our approach, enabling us to offer a full range of infotainment systems, from premium level to mass volume, using a single, proven software base for our Modular Infotainment Modules (MIB) and the RNS 850 system."
QNX and LG: a proven partnership
QNX also announced that LG Electronics' Vehicle Components (VC) Company will use a range of QNX solutions to build infotainment systems, digital instrument clusters, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for the global automotive market.
The new initiative builds on a long history of collaboration between LG and QNX Software Systems, who have worked together on successful, large-volume telematics production programs. For the new systems, QNX will provide LG with the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment, the QNX Neutrino OS, the QNX OS for Automotive Safety, and QNX Acoustics for Voice.
for more than a decade... helping LG deliver millions
of high-quality systems to the world's automakers"
— Won-Yong Hwang, LG's VC Company
"QNX Software Systems has been our trusted supplier for more than a decade, providing flexible software solutions that have helped LG deliver millions of high-quality systems to the world's automakers," commented Won-Yong Hwang, Director and Head of AVN development department, LG Electronics' VC Company. "This same flexibility allows us to leverage our existing QNX expertise in new and growing markets such as ADAS, where the proven reliability of QNX Software Systems' technology can play a critical role in addressing automotive safety requirements."
Visit the QNX website to learn more about the Volkswagen and LG announcements.
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 3:58 PM 0 comments
Labels: Acoustic processing, ADAS, Connected Car, Digital instrument clusters, Infotainment, Navigation, Paul Leroux
To infotainment... and beyond! First look at new QNX technology concept car
The technology in today's cars is light-years ahead of the technology in cars 10 or 20 years ago. The humans driving those cars, however, have changed little in the intervening years. They still need to focus on a host of mundane driving tasks, from checking blind spots and monitoring road signs to staying within the lane and squeezing into parking spaces. In fact, with all the technology now in the car, including a variety of brought-in devices, some drivers suffer from information overload and perform worse, instead of better, at these crucial tasks.
Advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, can go a long way to offset this problem. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes — from drowsiness monitoring to autonomous emergency braking — but most share a common goal: to help the driver avoid accidents.
Which brings us to the new QNX technology concept car. As you'd expect, it includes all the advanced infotainment features, including smartphone connectivity and rich app support, offered by the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment. But it also integrates an array of additional technologies — including cameras, LiDAR, ultrasonic sensors, and specialized navigation software — to deliver ADAS capabilities that simplify driving tasks, warn of possible collisions, and enhance overall driver awareness.
Mind you, the ADAS features shouldn't come as any more of a surprise than the infotainment features. After all, QNX Software Systems also offers the QNX OS for Automotive Safety, a solution based on decades of experience in safety-critical systems and certified to ISO 26262, Automotive Safety Integrity Level D — the highest level achievable.
Okay, enough blather. Time to check out the car!
The "I want that" car
If the trident hasn't already tipped you off, the new technology concept car is based on a Maserati QuattroPorte GTS. I won't say much about the car itself, except I want one. Did I say want? Sorry, I meant lust. Because omigosh:
The differentiated dash
Before we run through the car's many features, let's stop for a minute and savor the elegant design of its QNX-powered digital instrument cluster and infotainment system. To be honest, I have an ulterior motive for sharing this image: if you compare the systems shown here to those of previous QNX technology concept cars (here, here, and here), you'll see that they each project a distinct look-and-feel. Automakers need to differentiate themselves, and, as a group, these cars illustrate how the flexibility of the QNX platform enables unique, branded user experiences:
The multi-talented digital instrument cluster
Okay, let's get behind the wheel and test out the digital cluster. Designed to heighten driver awareness, the cluster can show the current speed limit, display an alert if you exceed the limit, and even recommend an appropriate speed for upcoming curves. Better yet, it can display turn-by-turn directions provided by the car's infotainment system.
Normally, the cluster displays the speed limit in a white circle. But in this image, the cluster displays it in red, along with a red bar to show how much you are over the limit — a gentle reminder to ease off the gas:
Using LiDAR input, the cluster can also warn of obstacles on the road ahead:
And if that's not enough, the cluster provides intelligent parking assist to help you back into tight spaces. Here, for example, is an impromptu image we took in the QNX garage. The blue-and-yellow guidelines represent the car's reverse trajectory, and the warning on right says that you are about to run over an esteemed member of the QNX concept team!
The rear- and side-view mirrors that aren't really mirrors
By their very nature, car mirrors have blind spots. To address this problem, the QNX concept team has transformed the car's rear- and side-view mirrors into video displays that offer a complete view of the scene behind and to the sides of the vehicle. As you can see in this image, the side-view displays can also display a red overlay to warn of cars, bikes, people, or anything else approaching the car's blind zones:
The ADAS display for enhancing obstacle awareness
I don't have pictures yet, but the car also includes an innovative LED-based display lets you gauge the direction and proximity of objects to the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle — without having to take your eyes off the road. Stretching the width of the dash, the display integrates input from the car's ultrasonic and LiDAR sensors to provide a centralized view of ADAS warnings.
The easy-to-use infotainment system
To demonstrate the capabilities of the QNX CAR™ Platform for Infotainment, we've outfitted the car with a feature-rich, yet intuitive, multimedia head unit. For instance, see the radio tuner in the following image? That's no ordinary tuner. To change channels, you can just swipe across the display; if your swipe isn't perfectly accurate, the radio will automatically zero in on the nearest station or preset.
Better yet, the radio offers "iHeart drive anywhere radio." If you drive out of range of your favorite AM/FM radio station, the system will detect the problem and automatically switch to the corresponding digital iHeartRadio station. How cool is that?
Other infotainment features include:
- Natural voice recognition — For instance, if you say "It's way too cold in here," the HVAC system will respond by raising the heat.
- Integration with a wide variety of popular smartphones.
- Support for multiple concurrent app environments, along with a variety of Android and HTML5 apps, as well as an HMI built with the Qt framework.
- A backseat display that lets passengers control HVAC functions, navigation, song selection, and other infotainment features.
The oh-so-awesome partners
The car is a testament not only to QNX technology, but to the ecosystem of technology partners that provide complementary solutions for QNX customers. Peek under the hood, and you'll find the latest tech from Elektrobit, iHeart, Nuance, Pandora, Parkopedia, Phantom Intelligence, Qualcomm, RealVNC, Rightware, and TE Connectivity.
The other stuff
Do not, for one minute, think that the Maserati is the only attraction in the QNX booth. Far from it. We will also showcase a significantly revamped QNX reference vehicle, outfitted with lane departure warnings, traffic sign recognition, and other ADAS features, as well as the latest version of the QNX CAR Platform — more in an upcoming post.
Visitors to the booth will also have the opportunity to experience:
- a 3D navigation solution from Aisin AW
- a digital instrument cluster designed by HI Corporation
- two QNX CAR Platform demo systems, one powered by a dual-core Intel Atom E3827 processor, the other by an NVIDIA Tegra Visual Computing Module
- the latest incarnation of the Oscar-winning Flying Cam SARAH aerial camera system
Posted by QNX Team Auto at 9:18 AM 1 comments
Labels: ADAS, CES, Concept car, Connected Car, HMIs, Infotainment, Paul Leroux, Safety systems
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Cateye surprised us last year in the Bike LIghts Shootout. They sent a tiny 250 lumen light called the Nano Shot and it blew us away with its form factor, quality, brightness and price. It kind of reminded us that Cateye is a Japanese company that makes quality stuff. The feel of their products is different and all the mounts and design elements are well thought out. Check our review of the Nano Shot here: https://reviews.mtbr.com/cateye-nano-shot-2012-mtbr-lights-shootout
We asked them about their materials and manufacturing and they shared with us this video about how they test their products.
This year at Interbike, they showed us two products that left us with a very good first impression.
First is the Nano Shot Plus. It's the big brother of the 250 lumen Nano Shot as the Plus variety sports 600 lumens. That means that this is enough light for real trail riding. The Nano Shot on the helmet is a great complement to this one. MSRP is $120. We were impressed with last year's $100, 250 lumen light so this $120, 600 lumen light seems pretty exciting.
2 super-bright, ultra-efficient LED's fire up 600 lumens in a lightweight design and rechargeable via any USB port. High mode for 1.5hrs, Low mode for 4hrs, or Hyper-Constant mode for 12hrs. 160 g.
|96.4 X 58.6 X 35.6mm
|160 grams (light unit and battery)
|Light source:
|High intensity white LED X2
|Light output:
|600lm / 5000cd
|Run time:
|Li-Ion rechargeable battery (3.7V-2800mAh)
|Recharge time:
|approx 8hrs (USB2.0 recharge) 80% full recharge in 5hrs.
|Recharge/discharge number of times:
|about 300 times(until the rated capacity drops to 70%)
|Low battery indicator, lighting mode memory function

subset: commoncrawl


text: The line between historical obscurity and fame is often a fine one. It's not surprising then that on July 4th no one thinks about the most important document produced by Congress before the Declaration of Independence: the Declaration of the Causes and of the Necessity of Taking Up Arms. As its title implies, it was a justification for…Read More


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French Cuisine Cookbook
French Food
French Cuisine Cookbook
French Food. Quick and Easy Cooking. Best cuisine traditional recipes & classic dishes. CookbookTop Rated & reviewed recipes of your favorite cuisine. 100% FREE app. Start cooking at home! Discover the taste of real food with handy "step by step" instruction. Join HikersBay family - over 12 000 000 users discover new tastes with us!NEW RECIPES added every week! Only tested recipes for dishes of the best cuisines.- Delicious recipes with photos- Search recipes by category - Check and add reviews- Organize and manage your own recipes collection - Share best dishes with friendsFind, share and comment recipe collections of your favorite dishes.We offer a lot of recipes reviewed which our team other users.Our app is the best recipe source for cooking appetizers, weeknight dinners, holiday meals & desserts.


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- This event has passed.
Duncan Classes
December 1, 2019 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am PST
An event every week that begins at 9:00am on Sunday, repeating until December 29, 2019
Event Navigation
Duncan Classes
The Isadora Duncan Project, Inc. was founded in 1999 to continue the tradition of passing down the direct heritage of Isadora Duncan.
Ongoing dance classes are offered for adults. Its performing group,the Isadora Duncan Repertory Dancers, presents Duncan's extant choreography.
Adult Classes: Duncan elements are taught as class moves from floor, to barre, to center through traveling rhythms. Exercises free the torso and build stamina. Selected repertory is introduced in each class.
Emphasis is on dancing! Previous dance experience is recommended.
Adult Classes are taught by Christina Bergren Fessenden. A graduate of UC Berkeley, she began her Duncan studies with Mignon Garland in 1974 performing under her direction with the San Francisco Duncan Dancers until 1977. At that time, she along with several of Garland's former students started their own company, the Dionysian Duncan Dancers. A co-founder, she was artistic co-director of that company from 1977-1995 conducting classes and touring extensively throughout California for many years. Included in their Duncan repertory were several group pieces choreographed and taught by Maria-Theresa. In the 90s members of the DDD made several trips to Russia where they received coaching from former members of the Moscow Duncans. They gave their final performance at the Kremlin in 1995. For more information about attending this class, please contact Christy Pape via email: email@example.com or phone (415) 652-1637.


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Highway construction worker Mike McGillicuddy says he feels like he's surrounded by unidentified flying objects while on the job. There's no mystery to the lights he sees at night, though.
Highway construction worker Mike McGillicuddy says he feels like he's surrounded by unidentified flying objects while on the job.
There's no mystery to the lights he sees at night, though.
They're GloBugs, powerful but glare-free "balloon lights" that enable McGillicuddy's contracting crew to work all night resurfacing Interstate 55 from north of Clear Lake Avenue south to East Lake Shore Drive.
The lights, being used on Illinois Department of Transportation projects for the first time this year, provide optimum visibility for the crew, which is milling and resurfacing 6 1/2 miles of I-55 and a small portion of Interstate 72.
"It gives us a near-daylight condition in the immediate vicinity of the machinery," said McGillicuddy, a Glenarm resident and area manager for United Contractors Midwest, the parent company of Illinois Valley Paving of Springfield, which is contractor for the nearly $17.5 million project.
There's the motorist-safety factor, as well.
"I think the best part about them (GloBugs) is that traffic can see them from so far away," said Jared Smith, an equipment operator for the project whose crew works from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Tim Thomas, equipment manager for UCM, said the GloBugs manufactured by Multiquip Inc. are used because IDOT changed the lighting requirements written into its contract with the company.
Before, the lights only had to be on the equipment. Now, the entire work area has to be lighted.
"They put off a lot of light, and there's not a lot of glare," Thomas said. "It doesn't bother the guys working on the machines or the traveling motorists.
"They (the GloBugs) do a really good job lighting up the project. Everyone on the project said they have been very pleased with the quality of light."
Thomas said the company checked the lighting capability of several options and found that the GloBugs were best at reducing glare, which is one of IDOT's many requirements.
A GloBug's nylon balloon encloses, diffuses and softens the light from a 1,000-watt halide bulb.
According to a Multiquip representative, the list price for a single GloBug can be anywhere from $4,000 to $6,500, depending on the model.
Thomas said the company paid about $3,000 per light.
About 40 UCM employees are working nights to complete the resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, fence replacement and drainage repairs along the two interstates.
The crew is using 20 GloBugs on this project. McGillicuddy said the company owns 35 such lights.
Weather permitting, the I-55/I-72 road work should be finished in late September.
Meagan Sexton can be reached at (217) 782-6882.


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For small orders (Less than 100 more than 10 units) stock can ordered in Natural Corrugated, Natural Kraft, Natural Recycled and Matt Black.
A minimum quantity of 100 per size applies for other colours.
* Clear PVC Lids are available for these sizes (prices are the same as for cardboard lids).
Boxes are delivered flat-packed ready for *folding and assembly (*see folding instructions, main menu).
- Sort by Default Order


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Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery
Splash ~ Heart (Large) Dangle Earrings
My intention with the Splash Collection of pink sand jewellery is to capture the essence of Bermuda's stunning pink beaches as a tiny wearable piece of art. Each piece in the collection is hand crafted from start to finish. I first design and carve each model in wax, then the form is cast and polished before my team of Bermudian artisans set each design with pink Bermuda sand using the finest jewellery grade resin.
This listing is for the larger of the two petite hearts. See photo for comparison, it is the second in on the left, this heart is 13mm 11mm.
If you have any queries about this piece or ordering online, please don't hesitate to enquire at 441-236-9009 or firstname.lastname@example.com. We'd be delighted to help you pick the perfect piece.


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A look at what's happening around the SEC:
It's NFL draft week, which should once again serve as a showcase for the talent that has helped the SEC remain the top conference in college football. The three-day event begins Thursday evening, and several SEC players will be in New York City that night to celebrate when they are picked in the first round.
Speaking of the draft, numerous players from the SEC rank among the top offensive prospects waiting to hear their names called on Thursday night and beyond.
South Carolina's Bruce Ellington isn't listed among those top prospects, but he also hopes to find a professional home by the end of the weekend, ending several months of work toward becoming a draft pick.
Texas A&M's Jake Matthews is ready to carry on his family's legacy in the pros.
Cancer survivor -- and sophomore offensive lineman at Auburn -- Shon Coleman will announce a pick at the draft this week.
By now we've all heard about Jacob Coker transferring in from Florida State, but what happened with three quarterbacks -- Phillip Sims, Luke Del Rio and Phillip Ely -- who transferred away from Alabama? AL.com's Michael Casagrande takes a look.
Condolences to Florida coach Will Muschamp, whose father, Larry, died late last week and was honored at a memorial service on Sunday.
Arkansas seems to be finalizing the pieces on its offensive line.
Over the weekend. The Tennessean's Jeff Lockridge took a look at where SEC teams stood after spring practices.


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Wrong-way crash near Oakland shuts down Parkway East
Car collides with SUV on Interstate 376, then hits tractor-trailer
A wrong-way driver caused a three-vehicle crash that closed the inbound Parkway East for several hours Monday morning, state police said.
The 21-year-old woman was headed east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 376 shortly before 4 a.m. when she collided head-on with an SUV near Oakland, police said.
Her car then drifted into the front of a tractor-trailer, police said.
VIDEO: Watch Amber Nicotra's report
SLIDESHOW: Photos of the parkway crash
The woman suffered what police described as "major injuries" and was taken to a hospital, as was the SUV driver, a 47-year-old man who had "moderate" injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
Police said the SUV driver was wearing a his seatbelt but they do not know if the woman was wearing hers.
Police have not yet determined why the woman was driving the wrong way or how her car incorrectly entered the westbound lanes.


text: Midnight Special is a perfect complement to Back at the Chicken Shack, which was recorded the same day. Organist Jimmy Smith, tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, and guitarist Kenny Burrell always make for a potent team, and with drummer Donald Bailey completing the group, the quartet digs soulfully into such numbers as the groovin' "Midnight Special," "Jumpin' the Blues," and "One O'Clock Jump." Highly recommended. - Allmusic.com


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Once upon a time, dining was something you did in a dining room. But in today's scrappy food scene, the white table cloths and chandeliers aren't a prerequisite for destination-worthy cuisine. From Charleston to Tokyo, some of the hottest restaurant in the world are found in the most unlikely places—creative sandwich shops lurking in the back of bars, Michelin-level feasts in converted warehouse spaces, and secret supper clubs in the poky European living rooms of complete strangers. At this point, eating in a traditional restaurant setup is starting to feel positively quaint.
Fierce competition, coupled with a global scarcity of both willing investors and prime real estate, has prompted restaurateurs to get creative when it comes to finding a place to feed people. But now that offbeat venues have become de rigueur, everyone's looking to get in on the action, and these days, discerning restaurant-goers expect a talking point with their tofu tacos.
In an era when you're as likely to enjoy a Michelin-starred meal at a grocery store counter in Brooklyn as in a haughty Parisian hotel, unusual dining experiences can no longer trade on novelty factor alone. At the global eating destinations we've rounded up below, the food is just as remarkable as the setting. Read on to discover 11 great restaurants in unexpected places, from authentic Asian soul food served at a gas station in Charleston, to a public toilet offering the most hyped tasting menu in London.
RELATED: 10 Secret Restaurants That Are Actually Worth Getting Into
RELATED: 10 Dining Trends You Need to Know


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|Perl-Sensitive Sunglasses
Use The Macro Recorder, Luke (Re: Using Win32::OLE and Excel - Tips and Tricks)by Corion (Pope)
|on Jul 26, 2007 at 11:20 UTC ( #628896=note: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
In addition to this very good introduction, here's my approach to automating things in Excel that I know how to do manually in Excel. These steps apply to any (Office) application that has a macro recorder:
That's all there is to it and it sure beats poring over the documentation to find out the needed function names.
Similar lists exist at Re^3: Problems with Microsft's new Office 'XML' and Re: Convert word(.doc) file to html file, but as this appears to be a good starting page for people working with Win32::OLE, I figured to put it here as well.
In Section Tutorials


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Ray Part 2
Tags: RPG Games / Killing Games / Arcade Games / Shooting Games / Multiple Choice Games
Publisher: CoFlash.com
Video Walkthrough
Ray Part 2 plays like an interactive movie, you make the decisions on how the story plays out, with a number of mini-games along the way. Choose your weaponry as you progress, but be careful, the cash you have left at the end affects your score! With several choices to make, you won't see the entire game with only one playthrough, and your final score will award you one of several ranks, try to see them all! Don't worry about dying, if you make a fatal mistake, you get your chance to try that part again without going back to the start.
· Play This Game = Use Your Mouse
Embed this game
Share this game


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When Gumbel was talking about the incredibly ugly stadium last night, he mysteriously mentioned on two occasions how "pretty" it looked against the Dallas skyline. That would have been a nice comment: 1) if it were true 2) if he was a woman talking to other women or 3) if his audience was the Today Show.
Tags: Brett Favre, Bryant Gumbel, football, green bay, NFL, Packers, Refs


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SYDNEY - Retiring Michael Hussey said Sunday there is quality and quantity to replace him despite becoming the second experienced batsman to quit Australian cricket's middle order ahead of a critical 12 months.
Hussey's announcement on Saturday that he will retire from international cricket after this week's final Sydney Test against Sri Lanka, came a month after Ricky Ponting revealed he was calling time on his 17-year career. His departure has created another middle order batting vacancy going into February's tour of India, followed by Ashes series in England and Australia.
But Hussey, 37, who will play his 79th and last Test this week, insisted there was talent available to step in after his surprise decision to retire, despite averaging close to 80 this Australian summer. "I'm not worried about the team whatsoever. We've got some fantastic candidates to come in -- probably too many to name," Hussey told reporters.
"Maybe (brother) David Hussey could get a run -- one Hussey out, one Hussey in. History has shown players have come and gone. But the game continues to move forward, and it'll be no different with me," he said. With Phil Hughes already recalled to replace Ponting, Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja is almost certain to get first crack at Hussey's spot, while all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is in the 13-man squad for the Sydney Test as injured Shane Watson's replacement.
The younger Hussey and fellow Victorian Rob Quiney -- used and discarded already this summer -- will also be among candidates, along with Alex Doolan and Callum Ferguson. Hussey said his decision to walk away, mostly for family reasons as he did not want to commit to a six-month-plus stint away from home next year, had shocked his teammates.
He rang them all personally on Saturday after breaking the news to Australian captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur. Paceman Mitchell Starc admitted he was surprised and said Hussey's replacement would have big shoes to fill. "He's still in great form with the bat, as we've seen through this summer so far," Starc said on Sunday.
"He's going out the way he wants by the sound of things, and it's going to leave a big hole." "It's hard to replace Ricky Ponting -- now we've got to replace him and Mike Hussey, so it's a big gap." Hussey said he was comfortable with his decision to walk away after the Sydney finale, despite his great recent form.
"I do still love the game, but I'm not up to the rigours, pressures and stresses of international cricket anymore," Hussey said. Hussey, who made his Test debut at 30, has scored 19 hundreds in 78 Tests and averages 51.52. He retires in outstanding form, averaging 180.00 after two Tests in the current series against Sri Lanka.


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This is the top article on Investors Business Daily at the time of writing.
[W]hile private companies are getting all this unwelcome and hostile attention, local governments across the country have been quietly doing exactly the same thing — cutting part-time hours specifically so they can skirt ObamaCare's costly employer mandate, while complaining about the law in some of the harshest terms anyone has uttered in public.
The result is that part-time government workers — many of them low-income — face pay cuts that can top $3,000 a year, and yet will still be left without employer-provided benefits.
Here is just a small sampling of local news reports about what local government officials are saying about ObamaCare, and the steps they're taking to avoid or minimize its costs.
[…]Dearborn, Mich.: "If we had to provide health care and other benefits to all of our employees, the burden on the city would be tremendous," said Mayor John O'Reilly, explaining why the city is cutting its more than 700 part-time and seasonal workers down to 28 hours a week. "The city is like any private or public employer having to adjust to changes in the law."
Indiana: "What I'm seeing across the state is school districts, unfortunately, having to reduce the hours that they are having some of their folks work, primarily so they don't have to worry about the (ObamaCare) penalties, or they don't have to provide them health insurance, which would be very, very costly," said Dennis Costerison, executive director of the Indiana Association of School Business Officials. Ft. Wayne Community Schools, for example, are cutting yours for nearly three-quarters of its part-time aides.
Omaha, Neb.: "The biggest problem is everyone said that ObamaCare is only going to help cut costs. Nothing could be further from the truth," said Mike Kennedy , who serves on the board of Millard Public Schools, just outside the city, and figures ObamaCare will raise its costs by $400,000. A neighboring school district is reducing hours for up to 281 part-time employees to avoid $2.5 million in new costs, which will result in pay cuts of up to $3,300.
Long Beach, Calif.: "We are in the same boat as many employers," said Tom Modica, Long Beach's director of government affairs. "We need to maintain the programs and service levels we have now." So the city is going to cut hours for 200 part-time workers so it doesn't have to pay $2 million to provide health benefits.
Salt Lake City, Utah: "With new provisions in the Affordable Care Act, there was going to be a significant burden upon Granite School District and our taxpayers to offset the cost of benefits," said spokesman Ben Horsley. He says covering the district's part-time workers would cost about $14 million, and so about 1,000 will have their hours cut to 29 a week.
[…]Virginia: "The Commonwealth of Virginia is grappling with the same issues that many businesses in the private sector are as they struggle to deal with the costs imposed by the Affordable Care Act," Paul Logan, a spokesman for Gov. McDonnell, said. The state is requiring that about 7,000 part-time government workers put in no more than 29 hours a week.
Texas: "The Affordable Care Act has added so much complexity and administrative burden that there is nothing affordable about it," said Jared Pope, who is consulting with Texas municipal governments on ObamaCare. Dallas expects its health costs to climb $2.1 million next year. Plano is cutting hours to avoid $1 million in new costs.
Kern County, Calif.: "It will affect multiple departments, a majority of departments," said the county's deputy administrative officer Eric Nisbett, explaining that unless the county cut worker hours for 800 employees, ObamaCare would cost it up to $8 million a year.
Allegheny County, Pa.: "There's frustration and anger and sadness and resentment, you know, but you don't have a voice," said adjunct English professor Clint Benjamin in the wake of the Community College of Allegheny County's decision to cut hours for about 400 adjunct faculty and other employees so it wouldn't have to pay $6 million in ObamaCare-related fees next year.
Medina, Ohio: "We feel bad as a city administration and as a council in having to cut hours from 35 to 29," Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell said. "We have the budget to pay the people, but we do not have the budget to pay for the health care." If they hadn't made that cut, the city faced up to $1 million in new health costs courtesy of ObamaCare.
It's not just private companies who are cutting back on hours in order to escape being forced to pay for health insurance. I think I can pretty much guarantee that no one on the left thinks about where money comes from when they are giving these speeches about how much they care about everyone and how they will give everyone free money. The truth is that if you have a job, you are paying for people who don't have jobs so that they can have the same life that you have without having to work. That's what progressivism means. Equality regardless of wisdom and prudence.


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Radiation Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to damage or kill cancer cells by preventing them from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy, like surgery, is a local treatment used to eliminate or eradicate cancer that can be encompassed within a radiation field. Radiation therapy is not typically useful in eradicating cancer cells that have already spread to other parts of the body. Radiation therapy may be externally or internally delivered. External radiation delivers high-energy rays directly to the tumor site from a machine outside the body. Internal radiation, or brachytherapy, refers to the implantation of a small amount of radioactive material in or near the cancer.
Prior to the development of platinum-based chemotherapy, radiation therapy was frequently used in an effort to prevent ovarian cancer recurrences after surgery (adjuvant radiation therapy) or to treat recurrences. Currently, radiation therapy is sometimes used to treat a very localized recurrence, or as a treatment in women who cannot tolerate chemotherapy drugs. Radiation may also be used as palliative treatment (treatment of symptoms), when shrinking a tumor may provide symptom relief. In the vast majority of cases, however, the use of radiation therapy has been replaced by chemotherapy. Ongoing clinical trials are still trying to evaluate whether radiation therapy may have a place in the overall treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer.1
Delivery of Radiation Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
Modern radiation therapy for ovarian cancer is given via machines called linear accelerators that produce high-energy external radiation beams that penetrate the tissues and deliver the radiation dose deep into the areas where the cancer resides. These modern machines and other state-of-the-art techniques have enabled radiation oncologists to significantly reduce side effects, while improving the ability to deliver a curative radiation dose to cancer-containing areas and minimizing the radiation dose to normal tissue. For example, with modern radiation therapy, skin burns almost never occur, unless the skin is being deliberately targeted or because of unusual patient anatomy. For widespread ovarian cancer, the entire abdomen is often treated with radiation, with boosts to areas of large cancer growths in the pelvis.
After an initial consultation with a radiation oncologist, the next session is usually a planning session, which is called a "simulation." This is a treatment planning session, during which the radiation treatment fields are determined. Of all of the visits to the radiation oncology facility, the simulation session may actually take the most time. During simulation, patients lie on a table somewhat similar to that used for a CT scan. The table can be raised and lowered and rotated around a central axis. The "simulator" machine is a machine whose dimensions and movements closely match that of an actual linear accelerator. Rather than delivering radiation treatment, the simulator lets the radiation oncologist and technologists see the area to be treated. The simulation is usually guided by fluoroscopy, so that a patient's internal anatomy can be observed (mainly the skeleton, but if contrast material is given, the kidneys, bowels, bladder or esophagus can be visualized as well). The room is periodically darkened while the treatment fields are being set, and temporary marks may be made on the patient's skin with magic markers. The radiation oncologist is aided by one or more radiation technologists and often a dosimetrist, who performs calculations necessary in the treatment planning. The simulation may last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the complexity of what is being planned. Once the aspects of the treatment fields are satisfactorily set, x-rays representing the treatment fields are taken. In most centers, the patient is given multiple "tattoos" to mark the treatment fields and replace the marks previously made with magic markers. These tattoos are not elaborate and consist of no more than pinpricks followed by ink, appearing like a small freckle. Tattoos enable the radiation technologists to set up the treatment fields each day with precision, while allowing the patient to wash and bathe without worrying about obscuring the treatment fields. Radiation treatment is usually given in another room separate from the simulation room. The treatment plans and treatment fields resulting from the simulation session are transferred over to the treatment room, which contains a linear accelerator focused on a patient table similar to the one in the simulation room. The treatment plan is verified and treatment is started only after the radiation oncologist and technologists have rechecked the treatment field and calculations, and are thoroughly satisfied with the setup.
Treatment Schedules
A typical course of radiation therapy for ovarian cancer would entail daily radiation treatments, Monday through Friday, for 3 to 5 weeks. This may vary depending on individual circumstances. The actual treatment with radiation generally lasts no more than a few minutes, during which time the patient is unlikely to feel any discomfort. Anesthesia is not needed for radiation treatments and patients generally have few restrictions on activities during radiation therapy. Many patients continue to work during the weeks of treatment. Patients are encouraged, however, to carefully gauge how they feel and not to overexert themselves.
Side Effects and Complications
The majority of patients are able to complete radiation therapy for ovarian cancer without significant difficulty. Side effects and potential complications of radiation therapy are limited to the areas that are receiving treatment with radiation. The chance of a patient experiencing side effects, however, is highly variable. A dose that causes some discomfort in one patient may cause no side effects in other patients. In patients who undergo one or more surgical operations, bowel obstruction may occur. If side effects occur, the patient should inform the technologists and radiation oncologist, because treatment for these side effects is almost always available and effective.
Radiation therapy to the abdominal/pelvic area may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping or increased frequency of bowel movements or urination. These symptoms are usually temporary and resolve once the radiation is completed. Occasionally, abdominal cramping may be accompanied by nausea. It is not unusual for some patients to note changes in sleep or rest patterns during the time they are receiving radiation therapy and some patients will describe a sense of tiredness and fatigue.
Blood counts can be affected by radiation therapy. In particular, the white blood cell and platelet counts may be decreased. This is dependent on how much bone marrow is in the treatment field and whether the patient has previously received or is currently receiving chemotherapy. These changes in cell counts are usually insignificant and resolve once the radiation is completed. However, many radiation therapy institutions make it a policy to check the blood counts at least once during the radiation treatments.
Late complications are infrequent following radiation treatment of ovarian cancer. Potential complications do include bowel obstruction, ulcers, or cancers caused by the radiation. The probabilities of these late complications are also affected by previous extensive abdominal or pelvic surgery, radiation therapy and/or concurrent chemotherapy.
Adjuvant Radiation Therapy
It is important to understand that many patients with ovarian cancer already have small amounts of cancer that have spread into the lymph nodes and cannot be detected with any of the currently available tests. Undetectable areas of cancer are referred to as micrometastases. The presence of micrometastases causes cancer recurrence following treatment with surgery alone. An effective treatment is needed to cleanse the body of micrometastases in order to improve a patient's duration of survival and the potential for cure. The delivery of cancer treatment following local treatment with surgery is referred to as "adjuvant" therapy and may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or biologic therapy.
Adjuvant radiation therapy administered after surgery was frequently used before effective chemotherapy was developed. Adjuvant radiation has largely been replaced by adjuvant chemotherapy. However, the combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy following surgical removal of the cancer may help prevent cancer recurrences.
Austrian researchers treated 64 women with advanced ovarian cancer who underwent surgery and chemotherapy treatment with Paraplatin®, Ellence®, and prednimustine. After this initial treatment, 32 women who had no remaining detectable cancer were assigned to receive either no further treatment or radiation therapy. The radiation therapy regimen consisted of the delivery of high-energy rays to the whole abdominal area, with additional treatment to the pelvis and para-aortic areas, over a period of 4 weeks. After 2 years, 31% of the women who had received radiation therapy and 44% of those who had not received radiation therapy had experienced a recurrence. After 5 years, 51% of those who had received radiation therapy and 74% of those who did not experienced a recurrence. The 2-year survival rates were 87% in women who received radiation therapy and 61% in those who had not. The 5-year survival rates were 59% for the radiation therapy group and 33% for the group having chemotherapy only. This clinical trial suggests that the additional use of radiation therapy following surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and prolong survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
Palliative Radiation Therapy
The goal of palliative therapy is to decrease cancer symptoms, such as pain , in order to improve a patient's quality of life. Prior to the development of effective chemotherapy regimens for patients with ovarian cancer, whole abdominal radiation was frequently used to control ovarian cancer growth. In order to treat the entire abdomen, lower than normal total doses of radiation therapy were used.
When chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancers are relatively localized, they can be palliatively treated with large doses of radiation. In other instances, cancer may have invaded critical areas such as the spinal cord and can cause considerable symptoms such as pain or weakness. Radiation therapy in these instances is usually effective in "palliating" the symptoms. The radiation oncologist usually selects a dose that is expected to be effective, but is also under the tolerance of the nearby normal tissues and organs. The radiation oncologist will also take into account whether chemotherapy is being administered.
Researchers in Pittsburgh recently treated 16 women who had recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. All patients received high-dose (or high-fraction) radiation therapy, which was delivered once or twice per day, to the entire abdominal area. This regimen was relatively convenient for the patients, and the high doses allowed more cancer cells to be destroyed. All women experienced relief from their symptoms, including 5 who had complete pain relief and 7 who had partial pain relief. Thirty-one percent also experienced shrinkage of the cancer and most patients reported an improvement in their quality of life. The average duration of the response to treatment was 22 weeks, and the average survival time was 3 months. The main side effects of the treatment were nausea and vomiting, which lasted for 1 to 2 days.
These results indicate that short courses of high-dose radiation therapy to the entire abdominal area may help relieve pain and other symptoms and improve quality of life for women with recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
Strategies to Improve Treatment
The progress that has been made in the treatment of ovarian cancer has resulted from improved development of adjuvant chemotherapy treatments and from participation in clinical studies. Future progress in the treatment of ovarian cancer will result from continued participation in appropriate studies. There are several areas of active exploration utilizing radiation therapy to improve the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Consolidative Adjuvant Radiation Therapy: Some clinical centers continue to evaluate whether the addition of radiation therapy to chemotherapy can improve the cure rates achieved with primary chemotherapy alone. Some clinical trials have suggested that the additional use of radiation therapy following surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and prolong survival compared to chemotherapy alone; therefore, additional trials are ongoing to determine the optimal method of combining chemotherapy and radiation and to confirm the benefits of adjuvant radiation chemotherapy.
Intraperitoneal Radioactive Isotopes: Radiation therapy can also be administered by placing an isotope into the area of the cancer or in the area where micrometastasis (unseen cancer) is suspected. This is also called intracavitary radiation treatment. Isotope therapy does not penetrate very deeply and can only be used for treatment of cancer cells on the surface of the lining of the abdomen and pelvis. Researchers are evaluating radioactive isotopes linked to monoclonal antibodies that "home" to ovarian cancer cells when injected into the abdomen. This is a promising new approach for treatment of ovarian cancer that grows predominantly around the cells lining the abdomen and on the surface of the large and small bowels.
Palliative Radiation: Doctors are evaluating shortened courses of radiation therapy to provide optimal relief from symptoms of recurrent cancer with minimal inconvenience. For example, a single radiation dose of 700 cGy or 4 doses given of 300 c/Gy given twice a day have been utilized. This mode of radiation therapy is convenient and the larger doses increase the number of cancer cells killed. Symptomatic improvement occurred in all 16 patients treated with this program. Thirty-one percent of patients experienced shrinkage of cancer. The average duration of improvement was 22 weeks. The main side effects were nausea and vomiting for 1-2 days. There was improvement in the quality of life in most patients but not in those who were the most incapacitated by their cancer. These doctors concluded that a short, intense course of radiation therapy to the entire abdomen provided palliation for some patients with chemotherapy resistant ovarian cancer.
Ethyol®: Because radiation therapy produces significant side effects, there is great interest in developing compounds that protect normal cells from radiation damage. Ethyol® is a compound that protects some organs from side effects of radiation and chemotherapy and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in selected situations where radiation or Platinol® chemotherapy is administered. Clinical trials continue to evaluate the use of Ethyol® with radiation and other chemotherapy agents in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.
1 Armstrong, D. "Ovaries and fallopian tubes." In: Abeloff MD ed. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2008: 1827-50.
Leesburg or Sterling
Fax: 1-855-831-9022 or 703-858-3111
Phone: (703)-858-3110


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After months of dancing around each other on the mobile app charts, Where's My Water? and Where's My Perry? team up for a very Where's My Holiday? special.
Having struck gold with the original crocodile-powered liquid physics puzzle game and it's Phineas and Ferb-themed spin-off, Disney wraps both mobile stars up in a free Christmas present for fans everywhere. The game's stars share the spotlight, splitting the game's 12 levels down the middle. It's available now on iTunes and Google Play.
Along with the Where's My Holiday? game, Disney as also released a free-to play reef building game for Apple and Android devices called Nemo's Reef, based on the hit animated film Finding Nemo, which was recently released on Blu-ray.
KotakuMobile is your one-stop shop for all of Kotaku's Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 game coverage. Follow @KotakuMobile on Twitter and stalk us on Facebook.


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NutriSource® Adult Dog Chicken and Rice Formula provides super premium nutrition in a scientifically formulated easy to digest food.
Real chicken is the number one ingredient in NutriSource® Adult dog food. Chicken is a source of high quality protein to help maintain muscle mass and strength. Chicken has a rich, wholesome taste that dogs love.
NutriSource® combines chicken, rice, and carefully selected ingredients in the precise blend to balance all essential nutrients necessary for optimum health, well being and long life. Readily available nutrients in chicken and rice go to work on the inside, resulting in less waste.
Email about quantity discounts and $5.00 route deliveries in certain areas of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. For larger amounts Pet and Kennel Supply Direct Ship Program offers delivery in 15 Midwestern states for as little as $45.00.
Available in 6.6 lb & 33 lb bags.
Guaranteed Analysis
|Crude Protein (Min.)
|260 g/kg
|Crude Fat (Min.)
|160 g/kg
|Crude Fiber (Max.)
|40 g/kg
|Moisture (Max.)
|100 g/kg
|Selenium (Min.)
|0.5 mg/kg
|0.5 mg/kg
|Vitamin E (Min.)
|175 IU/kg
|175 IU/kg
|*Omega - 6 Fatty Acids (Min.)
|30 g/kg
|*Omega - 3 Fatty Acids (Min.)
|6 g/kg
|*Glucosamine (Min.)
|550 ppm
|550 mg/kg
|*Chondroitin (Min.)
|150 ppm
|150 mg/kg
|* Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (Min.)
|100 mg/kg
|100 mg/kg
|*Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (Min)
|.5 mg/kg
|*Lactobacillus Acidophilus (Min.)
|50 million CFU/lb
|50 million CFU/lb
|*Enterococcus Faecium (Min.)
|35 million CFU/lb
|35 million CFU/lb
|*Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Min)
|900 million cells/lb
|900 million cells/lb
Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), white rice, oatmeal, fish meal (a source of fish oil), beet pulp, natural flavors, flax seeds, dried egg product, brewers yeast, potassium chloride, salt, proteinated minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, cobalt proteinate, selenium proteinate), yeast culture (saccharomyces cerevisiae, enterococcus faecium, lactobacillus acidophilus, aspergillus niger, trichoderma longibrachiatum, bacillus subtillis), vitamins (vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), glucosamine hydrochloride, choline chloride, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), chondroitin sulfate, yucca schidigera extract, calcium iodate, rosemary extract.


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On January 20, 2006, Matrixx Initiatives, Inc, the maker of Zicam cold remedy products, agreed to settle a class action lawsuit by paying out $12 million to 340 plaintiffs, who claim Zicam nasal spray permanently damaged their sense of smell, a condition known as anosmia. In the summer or 2005, Matrixx also settled the only lawsuit that has gone to trial, with a 42-year-old computer consultant, for an undisclosed amount.
As of January 18, 2006, according to the company's filings with the Security and Exchange Commission, there were 49 different lawsuits pending against Matrixx involving approximately 400 individuals.
The lawsuits began in 2003, with some persons claiming to have lost the ability to smell as a result of using Zicam spray only once. For instance, the first lawsuit was filed in October 2003, in the US Western District Court of Michigan. The complaint by Plaintiff, Dennis Christensen, said that he experienced an immediate and intense "stinging and/or burning sensation in his nose" after using Zicam.
"Since this one and only use of Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Spray, plaintiff Dennis Christensen has totally lost his sense of smell," the lawsuit said.
In its answer to the complaint, in regard to Zicam spray, Matrixx said it had met all of the FDA "requirements to lawfully market an over the counter homeopathic drug in interstate commerce in the U.S."
But here lies the problem. Because Zicam contains the naturally occurring mineral zinc, long recognized as being safe, it is considered a "homeopathic" remedy, and is exempt from the regulations that govern the testing and manufacturing of regular drugs. As such, Zicam was not required to obtain FDA approval before entering the market.
A second lawsuit was filed on December 18, 2003, in Etowah County, Alabama, by Janie Sutherland, and also named Wal-Mart as a defendant.
The third lawsuit was filed in Maricopa County, Arizona, in January 2004, by 3 plaintiffs claiming to have lost their sense of smell and taste immediately after using Zicam.
After that, lawsuits began sprouting up all over the country.
The recent settlement agreement with the 340 plaintiffs, was announced jointly by Matrixx spokesman, Robert Murphy, and Arizona lawyer Charles Zimmerman, on behalf of a group of attorneys representing plaintiffs from all across the country.
Under the terms of the settlement, the average pay-out per plaintiff will be about $21,000, but the amount will vary based on the extent of the injury to each individual.
Matrixx spokesman, Murphy, said the company was not admitting liability, but settling the case made good business sense because Matrixx had already spent about $12 million in legal fees defending against claims related to the nasal spray.
However, $12 million here or there is mere chickenfeed to Matrixx when considering the fact that the company markets 22 products in the booming $3-billion-plus over-the-counter cough and cold industry. Its zinc nasal spray gel is the only one of its kind on the market and has reportedly sold more than 10 million bottles since it was introduced to consumers in 1999.
Cold-Eeze, was a competing zinc spray, but after being hit with a few anosmia lawsuits, the product was pulled off the market by the manufacturer in 2004, after only a year on the shelves.
According to Matrixx earnings reports, the company's net sales last year were more than $46 million during the first 9 months of 2005, which was about 40% higher than sales during the same period in 2004.
Besides, according the company's January 2006, SEC filing, Matrixx expects about 40% of the $12 million to be covered by insurance.
However, the settlement does not cover all lawsuits filed against Matrixx. About two dozen are still pending involving Zicam nasal swabs, as are 32 lawsuits filed outside of Arizona. And, it has not slowed Zicam users from filing new personal injury claims against Matrixx.
According to the FDA adverse-event database, in 2004, there were 133 adverse reaction reports on users of Zicam products. Most of the complaints involved the nasal gel and the loss of smell. However, because smell heavily influences taste, people often report a loss of taste along with the loss of smell.
Because these products are not required to prove efficacy, not surprisingly, studies have shown that zinc nasal sprays are pretty much ineffective. While two placebo-controlled trials showed that intranasal zinc gluconate modestly shortened the duration of cold symptoms, 2 other studies found the product provided no benefits.
In any event, never mind the lawsuits, the company recently came under the scrutiny of a much larger predator. On March 21, 2006, Matrixx received a letter from the Federal Trade Commission's East Central Region Office in Cleveland, Ohio, notifying the company that the FTC is conducting an inquiry into the company's advertising and promotional activities for the following products: Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel; Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs; Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs for Kids; Zicam Cold Remedy RapidMelts; Zicam Cold Remedy Chewables; and Zicam Cold Remedy Oral Mist.
The purpose of the inquiry, according to the company's April 2006, SEC filing, is to determine whether Matrixx engaged in "unfair or deceptive acts or practices" in violation of the FTC Act. The agency has requested that the firm provide certain information by April 27, 2006.
Matrixx says it is cooperating fully and believes that its advertisements and promotional activities are accurate and comply with "laws and regulations in all material respects."
In another interesting turn of events, on November 23, 2005, the FDA sent Charles Hensley, co-inventers and patent holder of Zicam, a letter about another one of his other products called Vira 38, which he apparently was marketing on a web site as an effective means of treating influenza, bird flu and SARS.
The FDA informed Hensley that by selling an unapproved drug, he was violating federal law, and basically, told him to knock it off or he could face legal action including the "seizure of illegal products."
Some ear, nose and throat specialists say the problem with Zicam is that the force of the spray bottle propels the product too high into the nose where it comes in contact with the tissue containing the olfactory nerve. No doubt with this in mind, last year, Matrixx developed a new "control tip" for the bottle that is supposed to prevent the gel from reaching this sensitive area of the nose.
At about the same time the new tip was announced, Matrixx launched a major advertising campaign featuring testimonials from product users, including one presumably aimed at drug addicts, by none other than radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, the old prescription drug-fiend himself.
Which means its probably safe to predict that sales may increase among coke heads, or other illicit drug snorters, with little danger of potential lawsuits being filed by a group of consumers who can't smell that well to begin with.
More information for injured parties can be found at Lawyers and Settlements


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An Evening of American Chamber Music, The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
- May 9, 2013 7:30 PM
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth proudly present An Evening of American Chamber Music on Thursday, May 9, 2013 featuring the works of three FWSO Composers-In-Residence: Gabriela Lena Frank, Kevin Puts, and Behzad Ranjabaran. The FWSO's commitment to new music and dedication to musical excellence is exemplified in the Composers-In-Residence program, and this collaborative concert brings together three American composers influenced by uniquely different cultural heritages. The performance begins at 7:30 pm at the Modern auditorium and is FREE OF CHARGE. Concert-goers are invited to remain after the concert to meet the performers, all musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Admission is FREE, but concert-goers must have a ticket in order to attend. Tickets may be reserved in advance by calling the FWSO Ticket Office at 817-665-6000 or visiting the FWSO Ticket Office in person at 330 E. Fourth St. Suite 200, Fort Worth 76102.
Behzad Ranjbaran Selections from Six Caprices (violin duo)
Gabriela Lena Frank Las Sombras de los Apus (cello quartet)
Kevin Puts Lento Assai (string quartet)
Behzad Ranjbaran Fountains of Fin (flute trio)
Qiong Hulsey, Violin Lesley Cleary, Cello
Kim Torgul, Violin Karen Hall, Cello
Michael Shih, Violin Keira Fullerton, Cello
Steven Li, Violin Leda Larson, Cello
Dave Hermann, Viola Louis-Philippe Robillard, Cello
Swang Lin, Violin Shelley Jessup, Cello
Jan Crisanti, Flute


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In John, 10, Our Lord, explaining the parable of the sheepfold, calls Himself "the door" through which the true shepherds must pass. The meaning is that teachers of religion must have a mission from Him. This is the interpretation given by Saint John Chrysostom, Father Rickaby, Father Lagrange, and other commentators. Others, with Saint Augustine, think that Our Lord refers to the sheep rather than to the shepherds in these verses; He would affirm that to be saved one must come under His influence. Archbishop MacRory holds that He compares himself to a door with reference both to the sheep and to the shepherds; "I am the door of the sheep. All others are thieves and robbers. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in, and go out, and shall find pastures" (John, 10:7-9).
- "door". . CatholicSaints.Info. 24 October 2009. Web. 24 September 2020. <>


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How Brain Networks Influence Eating Disorders
New research to better understand and treat eating disorders has determined that the brains of people with anorexia and obesity are wired differently.
In the studies, neuroscientists discovered a variety of brain activity across a spectrum of eating behaviors — from extreme overeating to food deprivation. This variation in neurological response influences both the development of an eating disorder and the way in which we respond to a weight loss program.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Currently, more than two-thirds of the U.S. population are overweight or obese — a health factor associated with cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and cancer.
"This body of work not only increases our understanding of the relationship between food and brain function but can also inform weight loss programs," said Laura Martin, Ph.D., one of several researchers whose work being presented at a meeting of cognitive neuroscientists in Chicago.
"One of the most intriguing aspects of these studies of the brain on food," Martin said, is that they show "consistent activations of reward areas of the brain that are also implicated in studies of addiction."
However, how those reward areas respond to food differs between people depending on their eating behaviors, according to the new brain imaging study by Laura Holsen of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital and colleagues.
Holsen's team conducted fMRI brain scans of individuals with one of three eating conditions — anorexia nervosa, simple obesity, and Prader-Willi syndrome (extreme obesity) — as well as healthy control subjects.
When hungry, those with anorexia, who severely restrict their food intake, showed substantially decreased responses to various pictures of food in regions of their brains associated with reward and pleasure. For those who chronically overeat, there were significantly increased responses in those same brain regions.
"Our findings provide evidence of an overall continuum relating food intake behavior and weight outcomes to food reward circuitry activity," Holsen says.
Holsen believes her findings are relevant for everyday eating decisions in healthy individuals. "Even in individuals who do not have eating disorders, there are areas of the brain that assist in evaluating the reward value of different foods, which in turn plays a role in the decisions we make about which foods to eat."
In a related research effort, Kyle Simmons of the Laureate Institute works with fMRI scans to determine the brain's response when an individual sees food.
The brain scans show an apparent overlap in the brain region called the insula that responds to seeing food pictures, and the region of the insula that processes taste, the "primary gustatory cortex."
Simmons is currently expanding this work to better understand the differences in taste preferences between lean, healthy individuals and obese ones. "We simply don't know yet if differences exist between lean and obese participants," he says.
"And knowing which brain regions underlie inferences about food taste and reward is critical if we are going to develop efficacious interventions for obesity and certain eating disorders, both of which are associated with enormous personal and public health costs."
Source: Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS)
Brain network photo by shutterstock.
Nauert PhD, R. (2018). How Brain Networks Influence Eating Disorders. Psych Central. Retrieved on September 27, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/news/2012/04/04/how-brain-networks-influence-eating-disorders/36897.html
Last reviewed: By a member of our scientific advisory board on 8 Aug 2018
Published on Psych Central.com. All rights reserved.


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3 Plank Variations to Build a Stronger Runner
Avoid going stale (or getting bored!) with these three variations to your plank position—a key exercise for core development andBy The Run Experience
How to Troubleshoot Why You're Hungrier on Rest Days
Ever notice how you can eat what you need to on heavy training days, but when it comes to that weekly rest day, you're simply dyinBy Lori Nedescu, MS RD CSSD
How to Breathe While Running So You Don't Get Tired
In this video you'll learn three different breathing styles crucial to preventing fatigue and putting a smile on your face.By The Run Experience
11 Educational Board & Card Games the Whole Family Will Enjoy
Watch your kids grow and learn (while having fun too!) with these family-friendly games.By Natalie Hay
Stability vs Cushioning vs Minimalist Shoes: What Works & Why
In this video you'll find out whether a stability, cushioned or minimalist shoe is best for you and why.By The Run Experience
Essential Grocery List for Social Isolation
With shelter in place and quarantine orders due to COVID-19, having a well-stocked kitchen is a priority. Here are the essential iBy Lori Russell, MS RD CSSD
Household Fitness Hacks
Before you splurge on equipment for home, here are 10 regular household items you probably already have at home that are perfect tBy Angela Bekkala
Pantry Meals to Fuel Your Training
Whether you're avoiding the grocery store due to a pandemic or just trying to save money, you can make nutritious meals with ingreBy Megan Harrington
5 Easy STEAM Projects for Hands-on Learning at Home
Low prep, minimal materials, and lots of fun!By Natalie Hay
Thoughts All Runners Have While Self-Quarantined
"Alexa, what's the best way to wash my running shoes?"By Michael Nystrom
No results were found for "10K Running in Colleyville, TX"


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Ben Meadows:
- Price:
- $198.65
- Description
- Specifications
- Reviews
Small, 30" - 34" waist.
Extra wide 6˝ waist back is foam filled and lined with soft brown leather for back support and comfort. Five rounded nylon loops hold up to 15 lbs. of accessories, and two nylon utility straps, each with a chrome brass 200 snap and a 2˝ nickel plated ring, keep tools handy. Optional suspenders available for use with Model 08-01041, Small, Medium and Large. Each meets ANSI #A10.14 1991.
We encourage our customers to let us know what experiences they have had with our products, whether good or bad. By submitting a review, you can share your experiences with others and also provide valuable feedback to us as well. With just a few simple steps, you can add your review of this product.
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12 Servings
½ cup blanched slivered almonds
5 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
9 tablespoons chilled unsalted margarine, cut into pieces
3 tablespoons (about) ice water
½ cup red currant jelly
2 teaspoons sugar
6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted margarine
2/3 cup pareve whipping cream
2 ½-pint baskets fresh raspberries or strawberries
Bittersweet chocolate shavings
Powdered sugar
For crust:
Combine first 4 ingredients in processor. Process using on/off turns until almonds are finely chopped. Add flour and salt and blend until mixed. Add margarine and cut in using on/off until mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix in enough water until dough begins to clump together. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400° F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Fold dough in half. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable sides. Unfold dough. Trim edges, leaving ¼-inch border. Fold border over to form thick sides. Press dough firmly against sides of tart pan. Freeze 10 minutes.
Pierce bottom of dough all over with fork. Bake until golden, piercing with toothpick if crust bubbles and pressing up sides with back of fork if slipping, about 25 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool.
For filling:
Simmer jelly and sugar in heavy small saucepan until slightly thickened, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Brush inside of crust with about 1 ½ tablespoons jelly mixture.
Place 6 ounces chocolate and margarine in medium metal bowl. Bring cream to simmer in small saucepan. Pour over chocolate mixture; let stand 1 minute. Stir chocolate mixture until melted and smooth. Pour into crust. Chill until filling is set, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Starting at edge, arrange berries in circles atop tart. Rewarm jelly mixture; brush over berries. (Can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature before continuing.)
Sprinkle chocolate shavings in center of tart. Lightly sift powdered sugar over chocolate shavings. Remove pan sides. Transfer tart to platter and serve.


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- Home
- Government
- Departments & Services
- Community Development
- Property Maintenance
Property Maintenance
Property Maintenance
The City of Inver Grove Heights Property Maintenance program was established in an effort to educate residents on the requirements of the City Code that were adopted in an effort to maintain the health and safety of our residents while maintaining property values. The following is a list of the most common violations of city code and its citation. Click here to be directed to the City Code.
Grass and Weeds 5-9-4 (D)
Please be mindful to keep yards cut to a height of no more than 8 inches and free of brush piles. Overgrown yards and brush piles can harbor rodents and animals and can give a property the appearance of vacancy which may attract vandals and crime.
Junk Vehicles 5-9-4 (B)
Vehicles being stored on a residential lot must have updated tabs and be operable. If a vehicle is inoperable, it must be stored in a garage or off the property until it is in working condition. You may perform repair work on your own vehicle; however it is illegal to run a vehicle repair operation out of a private, residential home.
Fences 10-15-12
Fence permits must be obtained before installation. Fences may be erected up to the property line with all portions of the fence, including the posts, on the owner's property. The finished side of the fence must face out and fence height cannot exceed 42 inches in the front yard and may be no taller than 7 feet in the side and back yards. All fences must be maintained in good condition.
Trash and Refuse 8-6-5
All residents should have their trash collected by a licensed collector on a regular basis. Garbage can attract rodents and other animals to residential areas causing a potential health hazard. Storage of garbage in a residential area is not allowed for more than 14 calendar days. Trash containers should not sit at the curb any more than 12 hours prior to collection.
Home Businesses 10-15-26
Home businesses are allowed in the city, but must meet the following requirements:
- Engaged in only by persons residing in the subject dwelling.
- Conducted entirely within the dwelling, not in attached or detached accessory structures.
- Evidence of the occupation shall not be visible from the street.
- No signs other than those permitted in R districts are permitted.
- No stock in trade is stored on the premises.
- On site retail sales are not involved.
- Entrance to the home occupation is gained exclusively from within the dwelling.
- When the home occupation is a beauty/barber shop, entrance to the home occupation shall be a separate, direct entrance and shall not be from within the dwelling.


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Multi-jurisdictional facility uses Spillman to manage critical jail operations
Des Moines, Wash. – March 27, 2012 – A recently formed regional jail in Washington is using new software from Spillman Technologies to help manage jail records, images, and inventory.
SCORE, or the South Correctional Entity, is a new multi-jurisdictional jail created by seven cities in King County, Wash. The facility opened in September 2011 and has the potential to house more than 800 inmates.
After evaluating multiple public safety vendors using an RFP process, SCORE selected Spillman due in part to the company's reputation in the region, said SCORE director Penny Bartley.
"We chose Spillman because of the strong presence in Washington State," Bartley said. "… Spillman had very strong customer references."
Using Spillman's Jail Management module, the jail can book inmates using an efficient, step-by-step automated booking checklist. Customizable assessments enable jail personnel to determine whether an inmate poses a security risk and what type of medical care he or she requires. The Imaging module enables personnel to capture and edit mug shots and attach them to inmate records within the Spillman system.
SCORE personnel can also use Spillman's Inventory Management module to ensure that the jail remains adequately stocked with supplies. The software enables agency personnel to see an item's balance and reorder point, view suppliers' contact information, and track the status of orders.
SCORE is operated by the cities of Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila. The facility is one of 143 agencies in Washington and more than 985 throughout the nation using Spillman software.
Spillman Technologies is a public safety software provider headquartered in Salt Lake City, serving police departments, sheriff's offices, communications centers, fire departments, and correctional facilities nationwide. Spillman specializes in integrated software solutions, including Computer Aided Dispatch, Records Management Systems, Mobile Data & Field Reporting, Mapping & GIS, Crime Analysis & CompStat, Jail Management Systems, Fire, Data Sharing, and Personnel & Resources. For more information about Spillman, visit www.spillman.com.