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Positive Train Control
Positive Train Control (PTC), a means to prevent accidents due to train crew errors, has been a priority of the National Transportation Safety Board since the 1970s. The recent Chatsworth accident, where a train engineer missed a red signal because he was texting on his cell phone, moved the federal government to mandate the installation of PTC on all passenger railroads and freight main lines by December 31st, 2015.
Positive Train Control is achieved by hardware and software that continually monitors and enforces the train crew's compliance with movement authority (the permission to occupy a portion of track for a certain distance, time, or speed), and intervenes in case of human error. PTC consists of three major functions:
- preventing train-to-train collisions
- preventing trains from exceeding speed limits
- protecting work zones with personnel near or on the tracks
The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making detailing the regulatory requirements with which all PTC systems must comply. Besides describing the history and context of the new rules, the NPRM specifically states that "wherever possible, FRA has attempted to refrain as much as possible from developing technical or design standards, or even requiring implementation of particular PTC technologies that may prevent technological innovation or the development of alternative means to achieve the statutorily defined PTC functions." Appropriately, PTC is being defined as a function, not a product.
Efforts to implement PTC products have been afoot for years. The freight railroads are now chafing at the scope and cost of the unfunded PTC mandate, calling into question whether it can be met by 2015. Five years is a short time to standardize a technology and to deploy it on a grand scale--over 30,000 locomotives and 100,000 miles of track for just the five largest freight railroads.
The Universe Beyond PTC
As narrowly defined by the FRA, Positive Train Control by itself does not suffice to run a high-speed passenger railroad. Achieving a safe flow of rail traffic requires myriad systems that generate and communicate movement authorities to each train, perform track clear detection (when a portion of track is free to be entered by a train), dispatch and optimize traffic flows, monitor system status and health, and even drive the trains in the smoothest and most energy-efficient way. These systems are known by an alphabet soup of acronyms that are often specific to signalling practice, railroad culture, or specific products in various countries. Those who wish to dig deeper might read the book Railway Operation and Control by Joern Pachl, for an accessible and culturally comprehensive overview of quite a complex subject.
Today, Caltrain uses a widespread technology known as Centralized Traffic Control (CTC). A dispatching office in San Jose operates the peninsula corridor by remote control, through relay-based logic that safely sets all switches and signals. The train crew is responsible for observing signals and speed limits, and may communicate with the dispatcher by voice radio. This system is ill-suited to running high traffic densities at high speeds; therefore, an improved signal system is considered a top priority in the Caltrain 2025 plan (now being merged into the Peninsula Rail Program). That system is known internally as CBOSS.
Caltrain's CBOSS
CBOSS, or Communications-Based Overlay Signal System, implements PTC functions and many additional features. Its key benefits are stated to be:
- increased safety, implementing all three functions of PTC
- increased capacity of the peninsula corridor, as measured in trains per hour
- enforcement of traffic separation between freight and passenger trains, to support Caltrain's transition to lightweight EMUs
- reduction of crossing gate down-times
Like many modern train control systems, CBOSS consists of train-borne equipment, wayside and track equipment, a dedicated radio communication network, and an interface to the dispatching center. There are plans to reuse as much hardware and software as possible from the emerging PTC systems being developed by and for the freight railroads.
CBOSS Meets HSR
In November 2008, after CBOSS specifications were well underway, high-speed rail suddenly became a realistic prospect rather than a distant fantasy. Sharing the peninsula corridor with HSR has enormous implications for CBOSS. Consider the changes:
- The peninsula corridor will become a small portion of the future statewide HSR system.
- To operate at 220 mph in all weather conditions (e.g. Tule fog), high-speed trains will be fitted with train control systems that may be different, more sophisticated or more capable than CBOSS.
- Grade crossings, a major focus area for CBOSS, will largely disappear from the peninsula.
- All track circuits, signals, interlockings, etc. will be reconfigured or replaced when tracks are added or modified.
- The high speed rail project has far deeper pockets than Caltrain, so retaining existing infrastructure is less pressing a concern because economies of scale can be realized statewide.
Train Control Systems Are Hard
Developing, integrating, testing and deploying safety-critical software and hardware is no picnic. It is neither easy, quick, nor cheap, especially when the technology is new. The recent history of train control system development, even here in the Bay Area, is littered with projects that were delivered years late, millions over budget, or even not at all. Without fail, new train control systems follow the development profile shown in the cartoon at right.
- BART developed a new signalling system known as AATC (Advanced Automatic Train Control) starting in 1998. Difficulties with integrating the software with the hardware eventually forced BART to scrap AATC in 2006 after $80 million had already been spent.
- MUNI's Advanced Train Control System, intended to improve capacity of the MUNI Metro, was late, over budget, and did not perform as intended. It caused the spectacular MUNI Meltdown in 1998, and still struggles to achieve its performance objectives.
- Amtrak developed an overlay PTC system for the Northeast Corridor known as ACSES, to supplement the legacy cab signal system. Derived from a French technology, it entered testing in 1996 and did not achieve reliable data radio operation until 2005.
- ERTMS, the European Railway Traffic Management System, is probably the most ambitious system development in the last decade. ERTMS attempts to unify technology and operating practices across Europe. Its development was dogged by requirements instability, and its high cost made for a questionable business case where existing train control systems already functioned adequately. A software error even caused a minor accident in 2007. Deployment is years behind schedule and massively over budget, with major fiascos in the UK and the Netherlands.
One can reasonably infer that it is exceedingly unlikely that Caltrain, but a small speck in the universe of passenger rail, can single-handedly develop something as technically complex and refined as CBOSS within any reasonable schedule or budget--much less if it hitches its wagon to freight PTC. The HSR project raises the stakes even higher than the FRA PTC deadline, because CBOSS must first work reliably to enable the construction of HSR infrastructure while maintaining Caltrain operations. A failure would be compounded--imagine Caltrain's CBOSS program delays cascading to the statewide HSR system, resulting in idle tracks with no trains. Despite the best intentions and deep expertise of the development team, the chances of a fiasco are alarmingly high.
Of course, this nightmare scenario is not a foregone conclusion, although one would hope that the mere prospect would be considered one of the highest risks to the Peninsula Rail Program, whether on technical performance, cost, or schedule.
CBOSS compared to ERTMS
The CBOSS project has ambitions that reach beyond Caltrain. A report states that "Caltrain has noted with some focus that if desired or required, CBOSS is capable of being readily extended, not only to adjacent properties, but broadly within the industry to ensure solid and sustained support within the industry." There's even hopeful talk of CBOSS being considered for HSR. Since CBOSS wants to play in the big leagues, it's only appropriate to compare it to the current state of the art, namely ERTMS (the European Railway Traffic Management System, often referred to by its component system ETCS, the European Train Control System). Why ERTMS, despite the development failures cited above?
In short, that was then, this is now.
ERTMS is now over the development "hump" and is gradually maturing to the point of becoming a worldwide standard in passenger rail applications. Despite its European origins, it is now being deployed in many countries outside of Europe; it's hard not to notice Australia, China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea or Taiwan jumping on the ERTMS bandwagon.
The following comparison points out key differences between CBOSS and ERTMS:
Who controls the specification | |
CBOSS: Caltrain | ERTMS: UNISIG, a consortium of suppliers, and the ERTMS Users Group in Brussels, composed of European rail administrations. |
Is it a standard? | |
CBOSS: No, although it's envisioned to spread beyond Caltrain. | ERTMS: Yes. Does not belong to any operator or vendor. Once agreed upon, the standard is administered by the European Railway Agency. |
Requirements maturity | |
CBOSS: Low to moderate. All reviews are performed by stakeholders (Caltrain, consultants, FRA, vendors) who have an interest in CBOSS going ahead as planned. No independent requirements validation performed other than expert consensus on the specification. Heavy reliance on expertise of developers. | ERTMS: Moderate to high, after a long period of requirements instability. Requirements honed by many organizations that set aside their respective technological and cultural traditions. Initial deployments are complete, requirements are stabilizing, and validation experience is being fed back into the ETCS 3.0.0 System Requirements Specification due out in 2012, the culmination of nearly two decades of development. |
Development risk | |
CBOSS: Development "hump" looms ahead. Risk managed by "debate" instead of formal systems engineering risk management methods. Caltrain / Peninsula Rail Program implicitly take on all technical, schedule and budget risks, with CBOSS and PTC squarely in the critical path of the Peninsula Rail Program. | ERTMS: Already developed and de-bugged using a lot of other people's sweat, pain, and money. ERTMS is over the development "hump" and the majority of risks have now been retired. The proof is in the pudding: for example, Mattstetten - Rothrist in Switzerland is operating at 242 trains/day with headways of 110 seconds and speeds of 200 km/h. |
Development expense | |
CBOSS: High. In its first phase, this is undeniably a research and development project. The rigorous testing and certification of safety-critical software and hardware is not cheap, especially when requirements instability causes several rounds of change orders and regression testing. | ERTMS: Low, provided the standard is complied with. Development is complete and the system is already in wide operation. Non-recurring expenses would arise primarily from bringing ERTMS to the U.S. for the first time. |
Deployment expense and economies of scale | |
CBOSS: Recurring cost expected to be low, due to reuse of hardware and software designed for freight PTC (e.g. low-cost wayside interface units). Leverages the economies of scale from a PTC installed base that is planned to rapidly surpass ERTMS. | ERTMS: Perceived to be high, because of the complexity of the system. While multiple vendors exist, they operate as a consortium (UNISIG) that may function as a de-facto cartel. Some economies of scale realized across many international installations, although they may not be passed on to customers. |
Radio communications infrastructure | |
CBOSS: Undetermined, although IEEE 802.11n (Wi-Fi) or 802.16e (WiMAX) is possible. | ERTMS: Dedicated GSM-R digital cellular voice & data. GSM is an aging "2G" standard that will soon be obsolete, and the wayside infrastructure is expensive to install. Radio spectrum does not currently exist, and would need to be allocated by the FCC outside of commercial GSM cell networks. |
Support for highway grade crossings | |
CBOSS: Enables "smart" crossing gates that stay open when a train makes a station stop just short of the crossing. Enables real-time health monitoring of crossing warning devices, with automatic train speed restriction in case of failure. These capabilities will be developed despite the high probability that Caltrain will be largely grade-separated for HSR. | ERTMS: Does not integrate with grade crossing warning devices, which remain a separate system. |
Support for high speed rail | |
CBOSS: Claimed to be fully compatible, to the extent that developers have experience with foreign HSR systems. There has been no explicit engineering coordination between CBOSS developers and the CHSRA and its consultants (besides a few consultants moving from CBOSS to the HSR project), and California HSR requirements and design criteria are undetermined. | ERTMS: The new standard for high-speed rail in Europe, used on nearly every high-speed line opened to service in the last five years. |
Interoperability | |
CBOSS: Based on freight PTC technology, so freight PTC equipment (UPRR and Amtrak) can operate seamlessly on the peninsula. | ERTMS: Would require installation of train-borne equipment in addition to PTC, for any UPRR or Amtrak trains operated on the peninsula (e.g. using a surplus Caltrain diesel on the front of the train). On the other hand, if the ERTMS standard were selected for California HSR, compatibility with HSR would be built-in from the start. |
System of units | |
CBOSS: United States customary units. | ERTMS: Metric system, requiring conversion of all legacy documentation, databases, and equipment. |
Flexibility | |
CBOSS: Allows the definition of up to 64,000 train performance profiles. | ERTMS: Allows only 18 (?) different train performance profiles. (section 220.127.116.11 of the ETCS specification) |
Risk of vendor captivity | |
CBOSS: High. Despite its ambitious vision, Caltrain remains a tiny operation with less than 50 route miles and $100M yearly operating budget. The entire CBOSS contract will be awarded to one winning bidder, and Caltrain would have no back-up if the vendor lost interest in the product. (This happened recently with Caltrain's dispatching software, instantly made obsolete when the vendor walked away from the product.) | ERTMS: Low. Multiple vendors including some of the biggest names in the business, although without a large U.S. presence due to the protectionist stance of the industry. Wide range of off-the-shelf products, in conformance to mature and widely-used standards specifications. Growing installation base guaranteed by European mandate. |
Country of origin | |
CBOSS: Made in the U.S. of A. using All-American stimulus dollars. | ERTMS: Not Invented Here. Has letter 'E' in acronym. |
The Case Against ERTMS
Most arguments against the suitability of ERTMS for the peninsula corridor, advanced by a key CBOSS developer, fall into three broad categories.
- The Exception Hypothesis: Caltrain is different, unique, and special. Mixed train performance, grade crossings, etc. require a special system that mitigates operating hazards that are unique to Caltrain. The new train control system must accommodate all operating rules. Outside people just can't understand the unique operating needs and environment of Caltrain.
- Blind Faith in U.S. Freight PTC: Caltrain must use a system that is interoperable with freight trains, especially on the Gilroy branch. Freight PTC is a mature technology that will become a standard and be deployed nationwide by 2015. Freight PTC is the ideal base for Caltrain's needs, and reuse of freight PTC components will guarantee low costs. Caltrain must use a radio system that operates within legacy railroad frequencies.
- Not-Invented-Here Syndrome: U.S. railroad folks are a conservative bunch, and ERTMS would be too much change to swallow at once. ERTMS does not meet Caltrain's operating needs or U.S. operating practices. ERTMS isn't PTC. ERTMS still doesn't work. ERTMS contains latent software bugs that will degrade safety and might cause a fatal accident. ERTMS is not interoperable with U.S. freight trains. ERTMS is metric. (yuck!) ERTMS is controlled by European bureaucrats and the U.S. had no input to the specification. ERTMS can't be used as-is and must be modified at great expense--and bastardizing ERTMS is worse than developing something new and better.
The Case For ERTMS
Suppose that Caltrain's primary business is to carry passengers, and not to undertake major new technology development projects with a price tag more than twice annual revenue.
Suppose that a CBOSS development failure is actually not an option, since it would snarl the entire Peninsula Rail Program.
Suppose that there are many program risks that threaten the smooth execution of the Peninsula Rail Program, and that CBOSS development risk borrows more trouble than it's worth when demonstrated solutions exist.
Suppose that using a train control system shared by Caltrain and HSR is actually desirable, for a rail corridor shared by Caltrain and HSR (minority freight traffic notwithstanding).
Suppose that Caltrain developing a new train control technology for HSR amounts (at best) to the tail wagging the dog, or (at worst) to the future need for redundant on-board equipment on every single high-speed train in California.
Suppose that operating rules can be tailored to the technology, rather than demanding that the technology conform totally and completely to operating rules and "elicited needs." (with the added opportunity of invoking paragraph 8.3.(c)... hint hint)
Suppose that being locked into a single vendor does not promote vigorous competition and healthy long-term viability of your supplier base.
Suppose that freight PTC might not become all that it's cracked up to be, especially not by the 2015 deadline of the government's unfunded mandate, forcing Caltrain to continue operating obsolete, unreliable diesel trains long past their expiration date.
Suppose that Caltrain is capable of the same zeal and pragmatism in pursuing FCC spectrum for GSM-R (or any other minor regulatory obstacle) as they display when running the red tape to import off-the-shelf European EMU trains that are "non-compliant" with FRA regulations.
If these suppositions sound remotely reasonable, then the Peninsula Rail Program should take the bold and visionary step of adopting ERTMS--warts and all. ERTMS would mitigate development risk, guarantee future compatibility with HSR, and avoid dependency on a single vendor.
If these suppositions are false, then maybe it's time to invent a better mouse trap than ERTMS. Best of luck with that.


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iOS: NoCrop for iPhone and iPad gets you around having to crop your photo before you upload it to Instagram, Twitter, or any other service that wants you to crop or resize it first. The app adds the necessary whitespace around your photo to make it fit.
It's a little frustrating to upload your photos to Instragram (and services like it) that want to crop your photos to squares when your phone is capable of taking beautiful wide sweeping photos or long portrait shots. NoCrop steps in by giving you the ability to add white borders around the top and bottom of your widescreen shots or the left and right sides of your portrait photos so they're square, and can be uploaded to any photo hosting service that requires square images. When you import a photo, the aspect ratio is automatically set to Instagram's requirements, and you can tweak the size of the final image in the app.
You can use NoCrop after you take a photo, or load up photos you've previously taken, and before you hit upload, you can choose to share the same photo on Twitter and Facebook in addition to Instagram, or to just save the final product to post later. Of course, by adding whitespace on any side, you decrease the size of the viewable part of the photo, but if it's a tradeoff you're willing to make to get the whole picture uploaded without croppig, NoCrop is worth a look. The app is completely free, and available now in the iTunes App Store.
#NoCrop (Free) | iTunes App Store via Addictive Tips

subset: commoncrawl


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Day of the Dead: Art, Culture, Spirit
This traditional holiday, The Day of the Dead, is a profoundly serious occasion frequently celebrated with great joy experienced through reconnecting with lost loved ones. It is an expression of the belief that death is not the end of life, but the continuation of life in whatever world comes next.
The exhibition will feature handmade folk art, interactive displays and bilingual labels.
Companion Events
5:30-8 pm Thursday, October 8 Opening Reception
Sunday, November 1 to celebrate the Free Family Fiesta from noon-5 pm. Download a flyer.
This exhibitions will be on display September 26-November 7.
A partnership with Casa Guanajuato Quad Cities


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So, she says (BrE) nappy and cot and loo and peebo (that one is the creche's influence, I think). I've had a little influence on her (and her father) with (AmE) washcloth and bathtub (as opposed to BrE bath). But I took it upon myself to sing the ABC song with (BrE) zed, which led me to entertain myself by making up new endings for the sake of rhyme:
...double-you, ex, why and zedIn fact, when rocking her to sleep I'd entertain myself by changing the last line each time. But all my zed training was all for (BrE) nought/(AmE) nothing, since this came into our lives:
Now I know my ABCs...
...and it's time to go to bed
...next time you can sing instead
...and a zombie is undead
...you're a Grover born and bred
...can you get that in your head?
Now the ABC song bring cries of "Elmo, Elmo!" and Grover sings it beautifully and Americanly. (Her rendition/rendering of it is the ringtone on my (BrE) mobile/(AmE) cellphone.) I was also being very good about saying (BrE) ladybird, not wanting her to be the odd one out for saying ladybug, but then we started singing this song, and the more transparent compound won:
Which is to say that Sesame Street is running our lives. And you know what? I don't really mind all that much. It's much better than Barbie or the Teletubbies or Thomas the Tank Engine, in my book. First, it has a great aesthetic--largely due to the Muppets. Second, it has a great sense of humo(u)r that speaks to child and parent on different levels. I mean, have you seen their Mad Men parody? Or the reggae joy that is Do de Rubber Duck? (And I'm always secretly thrilled/shocked when Hoots the Owl says near-taboo things like "Don't be a stubborn cluck".) Third, the songs are good enough to listen to even when your child is napping, and you just can't say that about the Wiggles. A lot of that is, again, the humo(u)r. I also think that the fact that the (BrE) programme/(AmE) show is made in the mother-city of the musical comedy helps. I also like that it is grounded in a kind of reality (where one has to brush one's teeth and learn to share)--it's not about a dream space like In the Night Garden (which is the drug of choice for toddlers in the UK at the moment, and which I just (BrE) can't get on with aesthetically or interest-wise). And Sesame Street is made by a production company that is all about children. Any profits it makes go toward(s) projects for children around the world.
What makes me reflect on all this is the fact that Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary (which means that I was 4 when it first started--part of their original demographic), and the BBC website published a piece called "Why did Britain fall out of love with Sesame Street?", which was interesting reading. Grover gets her Street fix in a number of ways. She was introduced to it by an animatronic Elmo doll, a gift from her American Papa. Then we got a CD of Sesame Street songs and now we have probably about five 20-minute sessions with SesameStreet.org each week. (Grover: "Puter. Elmo. Turn it on. Apple puter."*) The shop in our library (yes, our library has a shop, like a museum) sells Elmo and Ernie dolls, but the library holds no Sesame Street books or DVDs, strangely.
One British television executive is quoted in the BBC piece as "The style of the programme is a tad out-dated - there are very few puppet shows around now. Perhaps LazyTown, but that's a very different tempo". Um/Erm, who cares? Does my toddler really need something with a faster tempo? Wouldn't it be nice to encourage a longer attention span in children? And what's wrong with puppets? Children go to bed at night with cuddly toys, not two-dimensional animations.
Unlike in the rest of the UK, Sesame is enjoying a renaissance in Northern Ireland, where a franchise version, Sesame Tree, is produced locally, with funding from several peace and reconciliation organi{s/z}ations.
I do wonder a bit if different preferences for children's literature and television in the two countries reflect different ideas about childhood. The things that I know and love from childhood are (orig. AmE) wacky. The characters are brash and outgoing. Americans in the 1950s had Howdy Doody, but the British had the Flower Pot Men on Watch with Mother. The British program(me)s seem to have a lot more narration than American ones, which seem to have more direct interaction between characters and children. From the Flower Pot Men to Clangers to the Teletubbies, there are many British children's television characters who don't speak in discernible language, whereas American children's television is extremely focused on verbal humo(u)r (click on any of the Sesame Street or Howdy Doody links above). Of course, there are plenty of exceptions to these generali{s/z}ations, but they stand out when I reflect on the children's television that adults talk about.
I was prompted to think about this even more after I posted a status update to Facebook yesterday, in which I proclaimed (too hastily) that there should be a law that all children's picture books should rhyme. I take that back, but I will say that any children's book with text is not a very good one if there isn't some joy to be found in the use of language. An American friend in Japan responded that:
A British friend of mine in Japan HATES Dr. Seuss, and says his kids didn't like it either. Sounds like a blog topic to me....So here we are. First thing to note about Dr. Seuss is that the British tend to pronounce it as Doctor [sju:s] or sometimes even Doctor [zju:s] (we've looked at the reason behind that before), whereas for Americans, it's Doctor [su:s]. But after that point has been made, there are certainly lots of people in the UK who like Dr Seuss, but, like my friend in Japan, I've heard British people say he's overrated (and have never heard an American fault the stories--though not everyone loves his drawing style). And I do wonder whether that is because Americans are looking for brash humo(u)r and language play in their children's stories, while the British are looking for calm and comfort.
I expect that this is the type of topic that's going to touch nostalgic nerves, so fire away! I'm in the (AmE) home stretch before a big deadline, so please excuse me if I go a bit quiet for the next couple of weeks. I hope I've given you plenty to talk among(st) yourselves about.
*An aside: It's a little scary how many brand logos Grover already knows before the age of two. We're not (BrE) label-Mabels, and she doesn't watch commercial television, but having flown on Delta four months ago, she still points at triangle-chevron-type things and says "Airplane!" We were in a cafe the other week and she was pointing out the window saying what sounded to me like "Books, books!" Then I reali{s/z}ed it wasn't books but Boots--she knows the logo and the name of the (BrE) chemist's/(AmE) drug store chain where we buy her nappies/diapers. Today she went to the door with glee, exclaiming "Ocado man!" (Indeed, it was.) And pointed at their logo with interest, saying "Ball". Of course, she's learn{ed/t} the Sesame Street brand too, not to mention Maisy, Charlie and Lola, and Miffy, which are brands of a type too. The most embarrassing thing is when she sees the Coca-Cola logo and says "Mummy". I really thought I'd hidden that dirty habit.


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For BBQ repair in Golf give us a call us at 561-807-7750 and will arrange a service appointment at the time most convenient for you. We will often preorder the parts that are needed for your project to make it move faster. Once the parts are in, our technician will be on his way to fix your BBQ grill. He will bring with him all the tools and equipment needed for you particular project. He will examine your grill, take it apart and clean it if necessary. Once he discovers the problem, he will get to fixing it right away. Our technicians work fast because they know the job well. Here are some of the things we often do:
- Burners repair
- Electrode repair of sparking unit
- Conversion of propane to natural gas and vice versa
- Gas shut off valve install
- Valve repair and install
- Barbecue grill install and removal
- Side burner repair
- Push button and rotary igniter modules
- Gas leaks
- Grill grates repair
- Searing trays repair
- Heat stones and lava rocks repair
- Low heat issues
- Gas regulators, hoses, and attachments repair
After the job is complete, our BBQ repair technician will plug everything back in and make sure that gas hook up is working properly. BBQ safety is very important to us. That is why it's often best to call a professional when dealing with grills. After an appointment with us, you can be sure that your BBQ is working correctly, is safe to use and is giving you the best tasting food possible.
Why Choose Us To Do BBQ Repair in Golf For You:
We are the most trusted BBQ Repair in Golf company in your area. Our company has more than 30 years of experience doing BBQ repair and cleaning. We are family run and family owned business. Our goal is to keep our customers satisfied and to extend the lives of their grills for as long as possible. You can be sure that we will do a great job for you because our team is simply the most knowledgeable and the most detail oriented. Our employees are all factory trained and certified. They are familiar will all brands and models of BBQ grills. We offer you the best prices, genuine parts with 3 years warranty on them and friendly customer service! We are simply number one when it comes to BBQ Repair in Golf!
Contact Us:
For BBQ repair in Golf, please call us at 561-807-7750! Or fill out of short online form! We serve Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Broward, Collier, Hendry, Martin, Miami-Dade and Golf County. We will be more than happy to help you with any of your problems and answer all of your questions. Our services include gas BBQ repair, smoker BBQ repair, electric BBQ repair, portable BBQ repair, charcoal BBQ repair, freestanding BBQ repair, built in BBQ repair.
Other Services:
In addition to BBQ repair in Golf, we also do BBQ cleaning and BBQ restoration. We repair, install and clean outdoor kitchens including cooktops, pizza ovens, sinks, outdoor refrigerators, wine coolers, dishwashers, beer taps, smokers, hibachi grills, warming drawers, patio heaters and much more.


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Ikea Corp., the Swedish housewares giant, says it will begin selling solar panels to its customers in Britain as it aims to tap into a growing market for renewable energy fueled partly by the U.K.'s solar subsidies.
The retailer has already gone green to power its own stores, with the goal of using renewables to produce 100 percent of its energy needs by 2020. Ikea says it will begin offering the photovoltaic (PV) solar panel packages — which include installation — at all 17 of its British stores within the next 10 months.
"[Ikea's] offer of panels made by China's Hanergy Holding Group Ltd, a power producer and manufacturer of thin-film PV panels, involves a minimum spend of £5,700 [$9,200], for which customers get 18 panels, which should break even within roughly seven years." 'We know that our customers want to live more sustainably and we hope working with Hanergy to make solar panels affordable and easily available helps them do just that,' said Joanna Yarrow, Ikea's head of sustainability in the UK and Ireland."
The Wall Street Journalquotes Steve Howard, Ikea's sustainability chief, as saying the company aims to make the initiative into "a real business" even though the margins will be slim compared with other products sold by the retailer.
"In recent years, the company has aggressively pushed a portfolio of products intended to curb energy consumption, including LED bulbs, ultra efficient appliances and products that conserve water. Sustainability plays a massive role in IKEA's marketing efforts."Solar panels, however, are a pricey solution for customers, even though IKEA claims it can offer them cheaper than most competitors due to its scale and willingness to shoulder low margins."
Solar panels have come down in price in recent months because China, where the vast majority of the world's photovoltaic cells are produced, has suffered a glut due to overproduction.
Beijing is even offering tax rebates to manufacturers in an effort to prop up the struggling sector, according to the BBC.
The BBC says:
"Manufacturers will be refunded 50% of the value added tax from 1 October 2013 to 31 December 2015, the state-owned Xinhua news agency has reported."Chinese firms emerged as key players in the solar power sector in recent years."But weak demand and trade rows have resulted in overcapacity, leaving leading firms with huge debts."According to the Xinhua report, the country's top 10 solar panel makers have up to 100bn yuan ($16.3bn; £10bn) in debt."Earlier this year, China's Suntech Power Holdings, the world's biggest solar panel maker, defaulted on its debt."That was followed by a default by LDK Solar Company, the world's largest producer of solar wafers."Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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JC Penney looks to old CEO to secure its future
JC Penney looks to former CEO Ullman to secure its future after former Apple exec's plan flops
NEW YORK (AP) -- J.C. Penney is hoping its former CEO can revive the retailer after a risky turnaround strategy backfired and led to massive losses and steep sales declines.
The company's board of directors ousted CEO Ron Johnson after only 17 months on the job. The department store chain said late Monday, in a statement, that it has rehired Johnson's predecessor, Mike Ullman, 66. Ullman was CEO of the department store chain for seven years until November 2011.
The announcement came after a growing chorus of critics including a former Penney CEO, Allen Questrom, called for Johnson's resignation as they lost faith in an aggressive overhaul that included getting rid of most discounts in favor of everyday low prices and bringing in new brands.
The biggest blow came Friday from Ullman's strongest supporter, activist investor and board member Bill Ackman. Ackman had pushed the board in the summer of 2011 to hire Johnson to shake up the dowdy image of the retailer. Ackman, whose company Pershing Square Capital Management is Penney's biggest shareholder, reportedly told investors that Penney's execution "has been something very close to a disaster."
On Saturday, Ullman received a phone call from Penney Chairman Thomas Engibous asking him to take back his old job, according to Penney spokeswoman Kate Coultas. The board met Monday and decided to fire Johnson.
Neither Johnson nor Ullman was available for an interview.
The early investor reaction to the shake-up was negative. J.C. Penney shares tumbled $1.39, or 8.8 percent, to $14.48 in trading about two hours before the market opening on Tuesday.
Until early last week, some analysts thought the board would give Johnson, a former Apple Inc. and Target Corp. executive, until later this year to reverse the sales slide. A key element of Johnson's strategy was opening "mini-shops" in Penney stores featuring hot brands to help turn around the business. They began opening last year and had been faring better than the rest of the store.
"I truly believed that he had until holiday 2013," said Brian Sozzi, CEO and chief equities strategist at Belus Capital Advisers. "Today's announcement is an indictment of his strategy."
Under Ullman, the chain brought in some new brands such as beauty company Sephora and exclusive names like MNG by Mango, a European clothing brand. But he didn't do much to transform the store's stodgy image or to attract new customers. He's expected to serve mostly as a stabilizing force, not someone who will make changes that will completely turn the company around.
"What they need is a little bit of stability and essentially adult supervision," said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consultancy. "(Ullman) did nip-and-tuck surgery. But this was a place that needed radical surgery."
Sozzi said he thinks that Ullman will serve only as an interim CEO. He expects the Plano, Texas, company's board to hand off the job to another executive who may want to take the company private.
Ullman is getting a base salary of $1 million and the company didn't sign an employment agreement, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Johnson's removal marks a dramatic fall for the executive who came to Penney with much fanfare. There were lofty expectations for the man who made Apple's stores cool places to shop, and before that, pioneered Target's successful "cheap chic" strategy by bringing in products by people such as home furnishings designer Michael Graves at discount-store prices.
Few questioned Johnson's savvy when Penney hired him away from his job as Apple's retail chief in June 2011 to fix a chain that had gained a reputation for boring stores and merchandise.
But Johnson's strategy led to sputtering sales and spiraling losses. The initial honeymoon with Wall Street ended soon after customers didn't respond favorably to his changes. Johnson revised his strategy several times in an attempt to bring back shoppers, with little success.
The turnaround plan was closely watched by industry observers who wanted to see if Johnson could actually change shoppers' behavior. The plan failed. And now worries are mounting about the company's future.
Penney's stock price Monday evening showed investors' frustration with Johnson and it's uncertainty about Penney's future. When news began to leak after the market closed that Penney was ousting Johnson, the stock, which had closed at $15.87 in the regular session, climbed nearly 13 percent to $17.88 in after-hours trading. But after Penney announced Ullman would take over, the stock reversed course, falling as far as 11 percent from its regular closing price, to $14.10. That was 21 percent off its after-hours high.
Johnson's future at Penney became uncertain after the department store retailer reported dismal fourth-quarter results in late February that capped the first full year of a transformation plan gone wrong. Penney amassed nearly a billion dollars in losses and its revenue tumbled almost 25 percent from the previous year to $12.98 billion.
Under Johnson, 54, Penney ditched coupons and most of its sales events in favor of everyday low prices. It's bringing in hipper designer brands such as Betsey Johnson and updating stores by installing specialty shops devoted to brands such as Levi's to replace rows of clothing racks.
Johnson's goal was to reinvent Penney's business into a trendy place to shop in a bid to attract younger, wealthier shoppers. The plan turned off shoppers who were used to heavy discounting. Once-loyal customers have strayed from the 1,100-store chain. It hasn't been able to attract new shoppers to replace them.
Initially, Wall Street supported Johnson's ideas. In a vote of confidence, investors drove Penney's stock up 24 percent to $43 after Johnson announced his vision in late January 2012. But as the plans unraveled, Penney's stock lost more than 60 percent of its value. Credit rating agencies downgraded the company deeper into junk status. On Monday, the stock closed down about 50 percent from when Johnson took the helm.
In one of the biggest signs of the board's disapproval of Johnson's performance, Johnson saw his 2012 compensation package plummet nearly 97 percent to about $1.9 million, according to an SEC filing last week. He didn't get any stock or option awards, or a bonus. In 2011, he had received a stock award worth $52.7 million on the day it was granted. The award was given to Johnson after he was named CEO and made a $50 million personal investment in the company.
In yet another blow to Johnson's turnaround strategy, Vornado Realty Trust, one of Penney's biggest shareholders, sold more than 40 percent of its stake in the company last month. The company's chairman and CEO, Steve Roth sits on Penney's board.
A court battle with department store Macy's Inc. over a partnership with Martha Stewart also has raised questions about Johnson's judgment. Macy's, which has had long-term exclusive rights to the Martha Stewart brand for products such as bedding and bath items, is trying to block Penney from opening Martha Stewart mini-shops, planned for this spring.
Macy's contends that Penney's deal with Stewart infringes on its own deal with the home maven. If Penney loses, it will have to take a big loss on the products that it ordered from Martha Stewart Living.
While acknowledging that Penney made some mistakes during the fourth-quarter conference call with investors, Johnson said Penney would start offering sales in stores every week — about 100 of the 600 or so the chain offered each year prior to his turnaround plan. And it would bring back coupons.
Critics have said that one of Johnson's greatest missteps was that he didn't test the pricing plan with shoppers. He argued that testing would have been impossible because the company needed quick results and that if he hadn't taken a strong stance against discounting, he would not have been able to get new, stylish brands on board.
"Experience is making mistakes and learning from them, and I have learned a lot," Johnson said at the time. "We worked really hard and tried many things to help the customer understand that she could shop any time on her terms. But we learned she prefers a sale. At times, she loves a coupon."
During his tenure, Johnson had spoken of being around for the long-haul and referred to his plan as a multiyear strategy. His plans were only partially realized. Shops for Joe Fresh featuring brightly colored clothes were launched last month. A new home area sporting names like Jonathan Adler and Michael Graves is set to launch this spring. Other brands were expected to be unveiled in coming years as the stores transformed into a collection of up to 100 mini-shops.
But the company's board wasn't willing to wait. Now that Johnson is out, the worry on Wall Street is that Ullman won't be able to turn around business fast enough.
"Ullman is in a crisis zone," said Sozzi. "This is not a normal situation. He has a short window to get in and see what's wrong with the company and put a Band-Aid on the fundamental problems."
Associated Press Business Writers Candice Choi and Joseph Pisani contributed.


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Image | Data Sheet | Manufacturer | Part Number | Product Type | Quantity | Availability | Price | Condition | Full Description |
Stetco | 0150NA | 4241 | Available | New | Stetco 0150NA |
With over $1 billion of available inventory, 1-Source Electronic Components is the one-stop electronic component distributor and electronic component supplier for all board-level electronic, electric, and interconnect components, plus any raw materials and tool requirements you may have.
The 1-Source Electronics group of companies provides a full suite of services to the electronics manufacturing industry. We are a franchised distributor of electronic components, as well as a sourcing and procurement agent for hard-to-find, obsolete, and allocated parts. In addition, we provide excess inventory consignment, electronic engineering and product design services, prototyping, contract manufacturing, handheld portable computing products, and software application development services.
1-Source.s wide-ranged line card consists of electronic component parts across the board, from more than 300 industry-leading manufacturers of semiconductors, integrated circuits (ICs), transistors, resistors, passive, actives, capacitors, diodes, LEDs, optoelectronics, fuses, relays, switches, connectors and tools.
1-Source Components has the highest availability of electronic components, as well as hard-to-find items, including allocated and obsolete parts, and surplus electronic component parts too. (Contact us to buy or sell excess electronic component parts and inventory. Consignment and warehousing available.) 1-Source has all grades of electrical parts, including mil-spec, industrial grade and commercial grade parts.
1-Source Component.s vast network of reliable contacts, local sourcing, and O.E.M excess inventories, as well as our over $1 billion of available inventory, assist us in getting you the quality electronic components you need at the most competitive prices. We are well known for our great prices, great selection, and as the leading online source for hard-to-find and hard-to-buy electronic component parts. When you buy electronic components from 1-Source you can be sure you are getting only the best parts at the best prices.
Whatever your manufacturing need, come to 1-Source to buy electric components from the leading electronic component distributors and electronic component suppliers!


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The geraniol flavour standard helps train professional tasters to recognise the potency of geraniol characters. Geraniol boasts a distinct rose-like fragrance, a sweetly floral and rose-like taste akin to the flavours of rose hips and rose water. It's a typical flavour that occurs in beers – imparted from hops (Humulus lupulus) and hop essential oils. The flavour threshold of geraniol is 0-100 ug/L.
The amount of geraniol imparted is controlled by the wort boiling, hopping process, and fermentation conditions.
Elevate your sensory expertise and order the geraniol flavour standard for a heightened flavour perception experience.
We ship globally – shipping costs may apply depending on your region
Minimum Order: £275
Sensory Terms
– Rose
– Floral
– Rose hips
– Rose water
Cause of Flavour
The geraniol flavour standard helps train professional tasters to recognise the potency of geraniol character. It's a typical flavour that occurs in beers – imparted from hops (Humulus lupulus) and from hop essential oils.
The amount of geraniol imparted is controlled by the wort boiling, hopping process and fermentation conditions.
This flavour provides floral character to the beer and is generally desirable.
For non-alcoholic beverages this flavour may be imparted via product carryover during bottling changeover processes
Other Information
Beer Flavour Wheel Number: 0162
Flavour Level: 0-100 ug/l
Recommended flavour standard / sensory reference standard of: American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC) and the European Brewing Chemists (EBC)
A very small number of people can be sensitive to geraniol – if a sensory panellist has an allergy to perfume and fragrances we recommend for them not to taste this flavour standard.
FlavorActiV GMP Flavour Standards
Only Pharmaceutical Quality GMP Flavour Standards provide sufficient quality for professional sensory panels to train and validate with.
We produce encapsulated GMP (Pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practice) Flavour Standards that are safe to both smell and drink. The compounds within our capsules impart the aroma, taste and mouthfeel of a specific defect or positive flavour into a beverage for the purposes of taster training, calibration and quality control.
Our individual flavour GMP Flavour Standards are sold by flavour, each flavour pack contains 5 capsules, each separately blister packaged. Our sensory kits contain a mixture of flavours, each separately blister packaged, read the product description for flavour details.
We ship globally, and have over 20 years of experience at it. Our GMP Pharmaceutical Flavour Standards are produced to the highest standards, and as such, their shelf-life is strong and their quality consistent.
FlavorActiV's flavour centre is the world's only pharmaceutically run facility dedicated to the production of flavour reference standards. The Flavour Centre is a state-of-the-art facility housed within the campus of world-renowned Quay Pharma near Liverpool in the U.K.
The Flavour Centre was designed by FlavorActiV from the ground up at the direct request of global customers as they looked to move away from inferior food grade 'certified flavour standards' to GMP Pharma, a standard that ensures safe, stable, traceable, consistent and long shelf-life products.
All FlavorActiV's industry-leading encapsulated flavour standards are manufactured following GMP at our Flavour Centre. All aspects of manufacture are overseen by Quay Pharma who are audited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory agency (MHRA). We also welcome customer audits.
Only FlavorActiV GMP flavour standard capsules bear our mark of authenticity.
We brand each of our capsules so that our customers know they're getting the Pharmaceutical GMP Quality that only FlavorActiV provide.
Industry leading packaging and shelf-life
FlavorActiV flavour standards are blister packaged, which extends shelf-life and protects capsules from potential contamination. The average shelf-life of FlavorActiV flavour standards is 18 months to 4 years, depending on the flavour compounds.
We will never ship in pots or plastic packaging, here's why…
Blister packaging protects capsules from the environment until they are ready for use. Blister packaging greatly reduces the amount of headspace for possible flavour escape. As each capsule individually blister packaged, making use of one capsule still leaves all others protected. FlavorActiV Flavour Standard packaging is 100% recyclable, as opposed to polypropylene which is not widely recycled.
Pots are semi-porous, they allow molecules to pass through and flavour to be lost, their significant headspace also adds to substantial flavour escape as a gas, even when using just one capsule all those remaining in the pot are exposed.
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Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.


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The following terms and conditions govern all use of the Deal Perform Coupon and/or Deal Website. The Website is owned and operated by Deal Perform Network, Inc. The Website will publish Coupon and/or deals (Offers) each day that can be purchased in exchange for an offer Voucher (Voucher) or a printed coupon. The Website is offered subject to acceptance without modification of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules, policies and procedures that may be published from time to time on this Website by Deal Perform Network (collectively, the Terms of Use).
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It looks much like a straightened-out glazed, cream-filled donut flattened a bit on top.
Wikipedia says otherwise - a delicate pastry made with choux paste and filled with crème pâtissière (pastry cream or custard) and then topped with (often but not always) chocolate icing.
My curiosity was piqued by Sadaharu Aoki's Matcha-green éclairs. I'm 'chicken' when it comes to dark green unrelated to pistachio. Fauchon's iconic symbol must be the éclair!They are celebrating their 120th year in the food business. Their colors are black and white along with hot pink and deep fushia.
These superb éclairs au café at the Patisserie Cador are more traditional. They reside in the perfect Louis XVI-style salon de thé just across from the Louvre at 2, rue de l'Admiral Coligny. A French éclair and you can eat in the appropriate setting! Fauchon's Éclair Aquatique! I love going to the pool and French piscines are the best anywhere, and these remind me of Paris piscines. Gérard Mulot can be depended upon for classic French pastries. 76, rue de Seine in the 6th is open at 6:30 AM and on Mondays when most Paris patisseries are fermé (closed). You can not go wrong here. Green is the hot color in Paris this trip and especially in the patisseries. I love the way the pistachio nut (or the coffee bean) is planted neatly on top at Jean-Pierre Carton on 6, Rue de Buci, so there's no question what's inside. éclair is the Fr. word for lightening. It's believed the pastry got its name because of the sheen when coated with confectioner's glaze. Antonin Carême (1784-1833), had much to do with developing French pastry and recipes. The "Paris Pastry Marathon", if such a thing existed, would beat out New York in a heartbeat. There seems to be a running battle who can come up with the most creative pastries in Paris. It would be fun to be a bystander at this marathon.BONJOUR Paris ECLAIRS!


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Saturday, March 20, 2010
Ciambellone - Italian Easter Bread - Pink Saturday
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I had some fun testing recipes for the Italian Easter Bread that's called Ciambellone. I'm not going to talk about the two recipes that failed, other than to say my evil eye is now trained on the developers and, once they recover, they'll get with the program and do a better job. I am happy to report that I did find a workable recipe. This link, Chef's Line , will take you to a pod cast that demonstrates exactly how Easter Bread is made. Ciambellone falls somewhere between a cake and bread on the culinary periodic table. It tastes like soft biscotti and that, of course, makes it perfect to serve with coffee or tea. It also requires no special equipment to make. Flour is piled onto an immaculately clean board and the remainder of the ingredients are added to a fist-made well and mixed into the flour using your equally immaculate fingers. It's then formed into rings and baked. I prefer to make one large ring and use a ring mold to enhance the appearance of the Ciambellone. The recipe appears below the next photo.
I also want to share a great recipe for Soft Sugar Cookies with you. It comes from Denise at Cottage Sisters. I stumbled on it while searching for the Italian Easter Bread. She was kind enough to share the recipe and photo with me so I could pass them on to you. I hope you'll take a look at her fabulous site.
Photo courtesy of Cottage Sisters
Ciambellone - Italian Easter Bread...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of Kitchen Guy at Chef's Line
4 cups flour
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 egg for egg wash
Confectioners' sugar for dusting
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a large baking sheet or a 9-inch tube pan. Set aside.
2) Mound flour on a board. Create a well in center of mound. Using your fingers, begin alternating liquid and other dry ingredients into well, mixing until all ingredients are combined. Knead, adding additional flour if needed, to form a smooth dough.
3) Divide into one or two parts and shape into fat rings. Beat additional egg with a teaspoon of water. Brush top of ring with egg wash. Place on baking sheet or into tube pan. Bake 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Yield: 1 or 2 coils.
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Lemon Tea Cookies - One Perfect Bite
Chinese-Style Almond Cookies - One Perfect Bite
Kona Coffee Cookies - One Perfect Bite
This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.
49 comments :
- Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...
Mary, this looks so lovely and fresh! Have a nice weekend.
- March 20, 2010 at 1:53 AM
- Regina said...
Happy Pink Saturday Mary.
This is truly lovely and tempting.
Thank you for sharing. - March 20, 2010 at 2:59 AM
- Ana Powell said...
Wishing you a lovely Pink Saturday.
A lovely suggestion x - March 20, 2010 at 3:34 AM
- DailyChef said...
Oh this looks too good! Always look forward to your festive recipes.
- March 20, 2010 at 4:12 AM
- MaryMoh said...
That's a beautiful loaf of bread...love the shape. The pink frosting make sit look romantic :P
- March 20, 2010 at 4:36 AM
- Deb in Hawaii said...
Both the bread and the cookies look amazing. You are baking up a storm. ;-)
- March 20, 2010 at 5:00 AM
- Sinful Southern Sweets said...
Both are just amazing! I've had a few Easter Bread tragedies myself, but I may have to dust myself off and give this a try!
- March 20, 2010 at 6:38 AM
- Allie and Pattie said...
Mary, my Nonna used to make a very similar type bread to have with breakfast, though she had a different name for it. I love the looks of this one and will try it this week. My 4th son LOVES soft sugar cookies and proclaims them "his" when I make them as he doesn't eat anything fancier! LOL
xoxo Pattie - March 20, 2010 at 6:55 AM
- Martha said...
It looks lovely -- I've had Greek Easter breads but never anything Ialian and it looks so easy to make. Of course, for Good Friday tea and Easter Saturday breakfast hot cross buns are a must!
Happy Pink Saturday! - March 20, 2010 at 7:06 AM
- T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...
I am always intriqued by the different Easter Breads that begin to appear this time of year. Hopefully, this season I will be able to give one a try.
- March 20, 2010 at 7:44 AM
- Angie's Recipes said...
I am a huge fan of all kinds of bread. Ciambellone would make a perfect breakfast!
- March 20, 2010 at 7:47 AM
- Inspired by eRecipeCards said...
Bread... such a soul affirming food.
And this may be the first time I have seen you recommend a site on your blog... heading there now, highly recommended indeed - March 20, 2010 at 8:35 AM
- PeggyR said...
Those look and sound delicious!
- March 20, 2010 at 9:47 AM
- Bob said...
That looks so good. Wish I had some for breakfast!
- March 20, 2010 at 9:50 AM
- Joanne said...
My grandmother always used to make Italian easter bread. It was something that I looked forward to all year! She would sprinkle the top with cinnamon and we would freeze some of it and have it for breakfast for months afterward. She would be so happy if I made this for her! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
- March 20, 2010 at 10:12 AM
- Rachel said...
Both are new to me and they have are so worth a try!
- March 20, 2010 at 10:33 AM
- ♥ Kathy said...
You always put me in the mood to bake :) Happy Saturday!
- March 20, 2010 at 11:00 AM
- Kristen said...
I must get with the program and start investigating traditional foods that go with different holidays. The only Easter bread that I have heard of is the one with the eggs baked in it. This one looks wonderful. Thank you again for enlightening me.
- March 20, 2010 at 11:21 AM
- Lori said...
Thanks for making me aware of this bread. Sounds so good.
- March 20, 2010 at 11:33 AM
The bread is beautiful & looks like a yeast bread - must try it soon. I can't get the link to the cookies to work.
Martha in KS - March 20, 2010 at 11:57 AM
- Unknown said...
years ago I read a novel that included a recipe after each chapter or so. Ciambellone was one of the recipes. I had no idea what it was or how it was suppose to turn out....but I tried it and messed up miserably. I think this is the first time I've seen what it's suppose to look like LOL...so i think it's time to try it again :) It looks so good
- March 20, 2010 at 12:44 PM
- Mary Bergfeld said...
Martha, the link has been repaired. Thanks for letting me know. Mary
- March 20, 2010 at 1:02 PM
- Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...
Mary, your cookies look so pretty and so good! Very lovely post and tempting too. Happy Pink Saturday and Happy first day of Spring.
Sandi - March 20, 2010 at 1:17 PM
- Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...
I just have to ask if you ever heard of Italian Easter Pizza with ham and eggs!! My friend's mom makes it and I LOVE it!
Debbie - March 20, 2010 at 2:46 PM
- Ginny said...
Oh yes, I am going to make this bread for Easter! I have a lot of Polish traditions, but not Italian, for Easter. Thanks!
- March 20, 2010 at 3:19 PM
- NKP said...
Looks so soft and delicious. I had never heard of it before.
- March 20, 2010 at 3:37 PM
- CC said...
As always mary, everything looks so tempting and wonderful...and again as always, I love your writing and the histories of the dishes and foods you make. I love coming to visit you. Happy Pinks..have a lovely weekend.
- March 20, 2010 at 4:39 PM
- Carla and Michael said...
The bread looks so light and fluffy. This is one I had to google. I didn't realise that it could be sweet or savory. You are so full of great info. Keep it up. We are all learning a great deal from your posts. Thanks and Happy Week End.
- March 20, 2010 at 6:14 PM
- Susie Jefferson said...
As always - moutwateringly pretty - or is it prettily mouthwatering... either way, how gorgeous.
Happy Pink Saturday! - March 20, 2010 at 6:36 PM
- Unknown said...
Happy Pink Saturday!!!
Charo - March 20, 2010 at 6:42 PM
- The Domestic Adventurer said...
Thanks for visiting my blog. Yours is fabulous. I love your photos.
The cake and cookies look perfect for the first weekend of spring. - March 20, 2010 at 6:54 PM
- Dana Fallentine said...
Perfect timing! I was looking for great spring recipe's!
- March 20, 2010 at 9:14 PM
- Kim said...
The ciambellone looks wonderful, perfect for coffee or tea.
I'm drooling over the sugar cookies, especially that pink frosting. Going over to check out her site now. - March 20, 2010 at 9:14 PM
- Martha said...
What a perfect pink Saturday! :-)
- March 20, 2010 at 9:30 PM
- Maggie said...
I might get crazy and make the soft sugar cookies tomorrow- I love it when the cookies are soft like that!
Sorry to visit so late, but glad I could enjoy your pinks!
Happy PS!
In Shoes we Trust,
Maggie Mae
"Do these shoes match this purse?" - March 20, 2010 at 10:50 PM
- sophia said...
Yummmm~ I like that it doesn't have yeast, as I'm kinda impatient having to wait hours for the bread to rise. ;)
- March 21, 2010 at 12:25 AM
- À LA GRAHAM said...
That cookie looks so good. As for the Italian Easter bread...I've never heard of or ate so I am
intrigued...thanks for sharing! - March 21, 2010 at 1:04 AM
- 3 hungry tummies said...
Oh I'll have enough time to pratice before Easter! Thank you!
- March 21, 2010 at 5:49 AM
- Claudia said...
looks delicious!!! makes me hungry
- March 21, 2010 at 8:08 AM
- Nadji said...
Un pain magnifique et très bien réussi.
Bon dimanche. - March 21, 2010 at 8:58 AM
- Hootin Anni said...
Everything looks so yummy. Soft sugar cookies, huh? Oh my, what a treat. And the Ciambellone...I'm just more curious as to how to pronounce it....is it CHOW-belonie?
Hope your weekend has been swell so far. - March 21, 2010 at 9:21 AM
- Mari said...
- March 21, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Oh my ... either (and/or BOTH) would go very well with my tea about now ;-)
Happy Belated Pink Saturday!
Hugs and blessings, - March 21, 2010 at 2:11 PM
- The Chef In My Head said...
Oh Mary, Bread!!! Maybe God doesn't want me to learn how to bake bread. He knows I would be as big as a house.
This looks beautiful and the cookies are so simple and pretty. I love them. Thank you, your attention to detail is always so impressive!! Happy Sunday~LeslieMichele - March 21, 2010 at 2:31 PM
- Beverly said...
I've never heard of this bread, but I'm sure I would love it with my cup of coffee.
Happy Pink Saturday, Mary. - March 21, 2010 at 9:06 PM
- Katy ~ said...
Hope you had a happy pink Saturday for surely these would make me happy.
- March 23, 2010 at 4:57 AM
- Anna said...
Ciao Mary!
I learned all about Ciambellone in Rome and yesterday, made a Ciambellone Bicolore. I'm about to post it, but I think it's funny you and I were both baking this same European cake. - March 23, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Thanks Mary for featuring my cookies on your lovely blog......I really appreciate it! Denise xoxo
- March 23, 2010 at 2:07 PM
- Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...
Very nice with the lemon, my grandma always used anise, what region in Italy are your folks from , my family was from Rome and Bari.. some of your recipes remind me of hersm glad to meet you and thanks for visiting my blog today :) claudia http://pegasuslegend-whatscookin.blogspot.com/
- April 11, 2010 at 3:18 PM


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The moral of the bird feeder
I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and filled it with seed. What a beauty of a bird feeder it is, as I filled it lovingly with seed. Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.
But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue. Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table, everywhere!
Then some of the birds turned mean. They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket.
And others birds were boisterous and loud. They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food.
After a while, I couldn't even sit on my own back porch anymore. So I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone. I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio.
Soon, the back yard was like it used to be … quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.
Now let's see.
Our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, and free education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen.
Then the illegals came by the tens of thousands. Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing five families; you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor; your child's 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn't speak English.
Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to "press one" to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than "Old Glory" are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.
Just my opinion, but maybe it's time for the government to take down the bird feeder. If you agree, pass it on; if not, continue cleaning up the poop!