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It occurs to me that it might be tough to explain why a USAID senior representative would travel to one of the richest countries per capita in the world to talk about development issues. I mull this over as I prepare to meet Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia, Greg Beck, in the "Abode of Peace," the small sultanate of Brunei Darussalam on the North Coast of Borneo.
The explanation – which will become clearer in a moment – is that transnational development challenges require multilateral solutions. On July 1, Beck, along with Secretary of State John Kerry, made the journey to tiny Brunei for high-level meetings between the United States and the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). USAID's presence with Secretary Kerry highlights the strong development and diplomacy partnership driving U.S. foreign policy in Asia.
While in Brunei, Beck and Kerry participated in the sixth Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting. The LMI is a partnership between the United States and the five countries of the Lower Mekong River basin (Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam), which share common challenges and opportunities stemming from the river that connects them.
"If people do the wrong things upstream with this river, it can destroy the livelihood of the people downstream," Secretary Kerry said during the meeting. "It sustains the lives of over 70 million people. …In order to meet these challenges, it is essential that we redouble our efforts to balance the demand for resources with sustainability and to develop cooperative approaches." [Complete transcript available here.]
"We currently support a number of activities that can assist LMI partner countries in addressing shared water challenges," Beck said. "For instance, our Water Links program facilitates partnerships among water service providers to expand clean water and sanitation and strengthen climate resilience, as well as address the anticipated impacts of climate change from private power infrastructure development."
USAID engagement alongside State's diplomatic presence in Southeast Asia is helping to support equitable growth in this dynamic region in the areas of agriculture and food security, connectivity, education, energy security, environment and water, and health. The way we're doing this, as exemplified by Kerry and Beck's participation in the Brunei meetings, is by helping to improve communication between countries and encourage regional solutions to the numerous development challenges that impact the entire region.
During the Brunei meetings, I was reminded of the power of regional forums to be catalysts for progress when the foreign minister of Burma – next year's chair of ASEAN – formally invited the U.S., ASEAN and LMI delegates to next year's meetings in the Burmese city of Nay Pyi Taw. A few years ago, no one expected that Burma would be in a position to host these annual meetings in 2014. Regional cooperation can be a powerful promoter of positive change.


text:
Dealer Plates open the door for you
Pay No Sales Taxes on vehicles you purchase
Pay No Registration Fees on vehicles you drive
Run dealer Fleet Insurance on your entire inventory
TriStar Motors is not your ordinary DMV Approved Dealer Education Provider.
TriStar Motors has been a DMV Approved Education provider for over 22 years.
Our curriculum is reviewed every month to incorporate updates in the law.
We are licensed retail car dealers, licensed auto brokers & licensed BPA registration agents.
We walk the walk to talk the talk and we answer dealer questions every day, 7 days a week.
We specifically address the California Vehicle Code and Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations in our training.
Our philosophy in teaching this dealer education course is simple.
We assist the applicant to understand the legal framework available.
We emphasize the legal ramifications of running a dealership in California.
Becoming a licensed used car dealer in California is one of the most HIGHLY REGULATED industries.
Prospective dealers need to fully understand what they are getting themselves into by getting licensed.
We build our dealer applicants the strongest business foundation possible.
Our instructors come from many aspects of the car dealer industry. Our founders were experienced law enforcement training management all retired S.F.P.D. When a licensed dealer violates laws and regulations they will likely face a civil lawsuit from a car dealer attorney representing the consumer.
We are experts at the dealer licensing business and we have years of assisting used car dealers in all of these scenarios.
Every DMV Dealer Education Provider is legally required to cover certain topics.
The truth is not so readily apparent. WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME.
Most providers give students a brief understanding of each topic.
TriStar Motors gives students a comprehensive overview of each topic.
We explain how to accomplish all of the tasks required of a licensed used car dealer.
The background knowledge and information we provide in this course is unmatched by our competition.
Our fees are not comparable to other providers because we are not offering the same product and service.
It's like comparing apples to oranges, or buying a clean title car for a salvage title price.
If you are solely looking for a course certificate for the lowest price possible please use our competition.
Our company stands 22 years strong in quality dealer education and probably would not be a good fit for you.
You definitely get what you pay for in the car dealer education world.
If you are interested in actually learning how to
run a smooth compliant used car business
then TriStar Motors is the first
and only choice.

subset: commoncrawl


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Stay on top of the latest tech news with our free IT News Digest newsletter, delivered each weekday.
Automatically sign up today!
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Online auctioneer eBay officially has notified customers that it will no longer allow them to log on through Microsoft's identity management service, Passport.
As previously reported, the move is the latest blow to Passport, which had originally been marketed as a single online storage place for Internet users' sensitive data. The authentication system has been scaled back to support only services from Microsoft and its close partners.
"As of January 24, 2005, eBay will no longer support Microsoft Passport as a means to sign in," the online auctioneer stated in an e-mail message dated Wednesday and seen by CNET News.com.
A representative of eBay confirmed that the company had sent messages to its members and that it would stop supporting Passport authentication beginning Jan. 24.
Microsoft previously stated that the move was expected, as the software giant has slowly been paring back the Passport service. The service has had to fight security problems, plus regulatory problems and the desire of competitors to create their own system, known as the Liberty Alliance.
Microsoft made changes to its service that prompted eBay to drop support, the online auctioneer previously stated.


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6 months after breast reduction surgery with approximately 600 grams of tissue removed from each breast.
Note: Patients depicted in photos have provided their consent to display their pictures online. Results may vary.
Breast reduction with 300 grams removed from right breast and 400 grams removed from left breast.
Bilateral breast reduction with 700 grams removed from the right side and 850 grams removed from the left side.
Bilateral breast reduction with 900 grams removed each breast.
Reconstruction after mastectomy of the right breast with tissue expander and then Inamed 363 shaped, saline implant and nipple/areola reconstruction. Patient has a breast reduction on the left breast for symmetry.
by cnaponelli May 9, 2019 Dr. Pelletiere was recommended to me by a friend that got a breast augmentation from him a few years ago. I loved the way her breasts looked after the surgery and she highly recommended him. Scheduling a consultation was easy and quick and scheduling the procedure was even quicker. He were very clear on how to prepare for the surgery and what to do after also. Everything he told me in the consultation was true and I absolutely love my outcome!
Dr. Pelletiere was amazing. I have never had any prior plastic surgery and a friend referred me to his office. His staff and he were great and made me feel very comfortable. I gained over 100 lbs while pregnant with my daughter 12 years ago and although I was successful in losing the weight, I had a lot of excess skin left over. Dr. Pelletiere had a lot to work with and did an amazing job. For the first time in 12 years I felt comfortable in my own skin and confident. I had a full tummy tuck and breast augmentation. I couldn't be happier with the results. Dr. Pelletiere was just as responsive post surgery as we was pre. He sincerely cares for his patients and listens carefully as to what they are looking for. I am grateful for what he has done for me!
EW80 - April 15th, 2017
March 30 2019 I went back to Dr. Pelletiere for my third breast augmentation this past January.
I have always had a long term goal of reaching 2000-2500cc's. So far, at 1500cc's now, I am beyond pleased with the results and excited to do another surgery to get closer to my goal size.
Dr. Pelletiere obviously listened to what I wanted, and through emailing back and forth several times, we were able to set a realistic goal and know what to expect for the surgery.
Now I'm a couple months out and I am involve with how they look. He achieved the shape and look I was wanting as well as the position of the implants.
I will always refer him as much as I can because I know he will take care of his patients and do an excellent job!
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Okay, so don't look back and see how long it has been since I posted last. Yes, I know it was May. A lot of bloggers that say that once you get out of the habit of posting that it can be hard to get back into it. I would agree. But also, a lot has happened since May!
I am sitting here now, staring at my Anatomy and Physiology notes, making flash cards to help me study connective tissues. Yep, I am back in school. I am studying Nutrition with a goal to become a Dietitian!
My journey began in the fall of 2011. For almost 15 years I had been working as a landscape architect. I made the decision to go to school to become a landscape architect when I was 16. Very few of us know who we are at 16. And most of us continue to evolve as people our whole lives. Over the past few years, I had discovered that landscape architecture was no longer my passion. It was a hard realization to come to as it felt like I had failed. I spent a good portion of 2011 trying to become "okay" with this realization.
As well, at 16, I didn't realize then what an impact food would have on my life. I was diagnosed with celiac disease at 19. And while it did make an immediate impact on my daily life, I didn't know then how much it would change my whole perspective on food, life – and the world. A few years later, I was lucky to become involved in the Chicago Chapter of the Celiac Sprue Association (Thanks to Ed and Betty for convincing me to get involved!). And then through that, the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center (Thanks, Michelle!). All of those experiences have played a huge part in how I got to where I am right now.
And so I knew I had to get off my bum and do something about these feelings I was having. I was finally okay with leaving my old career behind. So, I did my research and talked to folks in the field and realized that yes, this is where my passion now lies – in healthy, great-tasting food!
So I met with the head of the Nutrition department at the University of New Mexico and figured out how to get this ball rolling in December of 2011. She suggested I go to the local community college and take care of the health sciences prerequisites I would need. So on January 2nd, 2012, I signed up for my first class at the community college – First Aid! The advisor suggested this in order to get me into the system so that I could have existing student/priority scheduling for the summer semester.
And so in May, shortly after my last post here, I started taking one class – I was still working full time in landscape architecture, and saving as much money as we could. I started out with General Chemistry I, which I hadn't had since high school almost 20 years ago. Yikes! Needless to say, I didn't have a lot of extra time this past summer since I was working and battling chemistry! It was enough to get dinner on the table, groceries in the frig and keep the laundry going, let alone blog (or clean the house – thanks, hubby!). But all that work paid off with an A and a feeling that yes, I was headed in the right direction.
This past August rolled around and I left my job to start school full time. It has been an adventure. Education has changed A LOT! Technology, in particular, has changed everything. Last semester was filled with more chemistry, biology, public speaking (yuck!) and my first nutrition class. It is now the third week of the new spring semester and I have a full load of classes, along with some volunteer work to keep me busy. This semester it is organic chemistry, microbiology and anatomy/physiology. Whew! I have also applied to transfer to the University of New Mexico in the fall to start my junior year there. Fingers crossed.
So, that's what I've been up to these last 8 months!
And when KIND Healthy Snacks contacted me asking if I was interested in helping them celebrate National Peanut Butter Day by hosting a giveaway, I said sure! It was a perfect reason to get me back here and finally write this post.
Yes, today, Thursday, January 24, is National Peanut Butter Day.
Happy Peanut Butter Day to you!
Now, I don't know about you, but KIND bars are already some of my favorite gluten free on-the-go snacks. I almost always have a KIND bar in my purse or backpack for those moments when nothing else is safe and available and/or I need something RIGHT NOW! (You have those moments too, right?) I even took a big box of KIND bars to China with us when we went a few years back. If nothing else, I knew I would be able to eat a KIND bar! I love KIND bars over most other bars because they are made from healthy nuts and dried fruits – real food that I can see – with the occasional chocolate drizzle – and peanut butter! As well, they aren't covered in chocolate, so they don't melt. (Although some flavors can stick to their wrapper a bit after they have been banging around in your bag for a while, so eat up!)
KIND was kind enough to send me some samples of the giveaway products to try, most of which are new to me. Did you know that they have a Healthy Grains line of granola-like clusters? I didn't. But I have to say, the peanut butter clusters are pretty awesome! And yes, celiac friends, they use gluten free oats, as it states clearly on the package ingredients.
Last night I was volunteering with some fellow nutrition students and so I took some of each of the products in the giveaway to share with them and everyone gobbled them right up. The verdict was that they were all super tasty! (And everyone but me was a gluten-eater, so you can be assured that they don't "taste" gluten free.)
In honor of today, KIND is allowing me to give away a selection of their peanut butter products! One lucky recipient will receive the KIND Peanut Butter Cube which contains the below:
Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters (2 pouches) – Tastes like crunchy peanut butter and is made of 100% whole grains like amaranth and quinoa
Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein (4 bars) – Healthy, satisfying blend of peanuts and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate. It's so good some people confuse for a candy bar.
Peanut Butter & Strawberry (4 bars) – If you don't have time to make a PB&J sandwich, this bar tastes strikingly the same, and is just as good.
What is your favorite way to eat peanut butter? Let me know below, by midnight Mountain Time on Tuesday, January 29th, and be entered to win a KIND Peanut Butter Cube of your own. One entry per person, please.
I'll start: My favorite way to eat peanut butter is on toast with sliced bananas. Or with a spoon and a chunk of dark chocolate. (I can't pick one favorite, can you?)
*The products were very kindly provided to me free of charge, but the opinions expressed above are my own.


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The Guardian: George Bush yesterday ramped up the war of words between the US and Iran, accusing Tehran of threatening to place the Middle East under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust and revealing that he had authorised US military commanders in Iraq to "confront Tehran's murderous activities".
The Guardian
· US president accuses Tehran of arming militants
· Speech aimed at shoring up support for 'surge'
Ed Pilkington in New York
George Bush yesterday ramped up the war of words between the US and Iran, accusing Tehran of threatening to place the Middle East under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust and revealing that he had authorised US military commanders in Iraq to "confront Tehran's murderous activities".
In a speech designed to shore up US public opinion behind his unpopular strategy in Iraq, the president reserved his strongest words for the regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which he accused of openly supporting violent forces within Iraq. Iran, he said, was responsible for training extremist Shia factions in Iraq, supplying them with weapons, including sophisticated roadside bombs. Iran has denied all these accusations.
Mr Bush referred specifically to 240mm rockets which he said were made in Iran this year and smuggled into Iraq.
"Iran has long been a source of trouble in the region," he said." Iran's active pursuit of technology that could lead to nuclear weapons threatens to put a region already known for instability and violence under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust."
The blunt terms in which Mr Bush portrayed the Iranian threat, and his threat of military confrontation with Tehran involving US troops based in Iraq, elevated the tense standoff between Washington and Tehran to a new level.
The speech also contained the implicit desire on Mr Bush's part for regime change, calling for "an Iran whose government is accountable to its people, instead of to leaders who promote terror and pursue the technology that could be used to develop nuclear weapons".
Equally menacing words emanated from Tehran yesterday, where Mr Ahmadinejad said US influence in the region was collapsing so fast that a power vacuum would soon be created. "Of course, we are prepared to fill the gap," he said.
Though the Iranian president said he backed the leadership of the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, and welcomed the involvement of Saudi Arabia, his offer to occupy the space the Americans might leave behind is unlikely to cool emotions in Washington.
He went on to deride the possibility of the US pursuing military action in Iran, saying it was in no position to do so and claimed that Iran had already acquired enriched nuclear fuels, though they would only be used for peaceful purposes.
In a further cause of tension, Mr Bush accused the Quds force within Iran's revolutionary guards of leading the supply chain to Iraqi extremist groups. As the Guardian revealed earlier this month, the Bush administration is preparing to declare the 125,000-strong Revolutionary Guard Corps a "global terrorist organisation" – a move that would be seen as provocative within Tehran.
According to reports from Baghdad last night, a group of Iranians were detained last night in a raid by US troops on a hotel in the city. Of 10 people arrested, seven were said to be Iranian, including an employee of the Iranian embassy and six members of Iran's electricity ministry in Iraq to discuss contracts for electric power stations. It was not immediately clear why the men had been arrested, or where they had been taken. The US military would only say the action was part of an on-going operation.
Mr Bush's bullish talk of his determination to "take the fight to the enemy" in the carefully choreographed setting of a veterans' convention in Reno, Nevada, was the second of a two-part appeal by him to shore up public support for his flagging strategy on Iraq. In the first speech, made last week, he invoked Vietnam to argue that quitting Iraq now could put the lives of millions of innocent civilians at risk.
Mr Bush yesterday vowed to persevere with his controversial military policy in Iraq, insisting that political and security progress was being made, despite a rising tide of dissent even from high up within his Republican party.
"Our strategy is this: every day we work to protect the American people. We will fight them over there so that we don't have to fight them in the United States of America," he said.
The twin speeches were intended as preparation for a crucial series of debates on Iraq that will dominate Washington for the next few weeks.
In a fortnight the senior general in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and American ambassador in Iraq, Ryan Crocker, will give two days of testimony in which they are likely to argue that the troop "surge" is having some beneficial impact on security levels, though political progress lags behind.
Under the current policy, US troop numbers in Iraq have risen by 30,000 to about 165,000.
As the climax of these intense hearings, Mr Bush himself will present his latest assessment.
Yesterday's speech was the latest clear indication that he will resist any attempt to change course in the prosecution of the war.
Mr Bush's latest attempt to reassure the American people that the war is moving in the right direction came on another tumultuous day in Iraq.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims attending a Shia festival in Kerbala, 68 miles south-west of Baghdad, were ordered to leave the city after intense fighting broke out, reportedly between warring Shia factions. At least 52 people have been killed since Monday, mostly police officers engaging in the battle.


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Thursday, February 3, 2011
When a patient is not a board question
She started off complaining about insomnia and headaches, and then said she had some sort of an "attack" earlier this week. She quickly added that her husband died suddenly three weeks ago, and her therapist recommended that she come to see her doctor. I immediately offered her my condolences.
My mind quickly flipped to a frequent practice board question as I gently asked her about other symptoms. A 40 year old man presents to an outpatient clinic complaining of insomnia, poor appetite, and feeling helpless and lonely. He frequently thinks of dying to join his wife. He lost his wife of 18 years five weeks before. Was she suffering from loss of appetite? Was she able to return to work? Had she thought about hurting herself? What did she mean by an "attack"?
Telling the difference between Bereavement-Related Depression (BRD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a frequent sample board question that I have come across in various forms as I have been doing patchwork board review. Bereavement is an exemption from a MDD diagnosis for two months after the death of a loved one, while the duration of depressive symptoms only needs to be for two weeks otherwise. Board review questions often dance around this time period. This BRD exemption (and the duration of symptoms for MDD diagnosis in general) is also the subject of some controversy as experts are constructing the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed (DSM-V), which is the guide to diagnosing mental illness.
I snapped out of my board review musings and continued to question and console the new widow. When I got up to leave the room, I strongly considered asking the patient if I could hug her. Since it was only my third day on the rotation and I was in the room with the physician's assistant, I decided against it. I think if this would be my own patient in my own practice in the future, I would not hesitate to ask. When I left the room and told the other student about it, I teared up.
I guess my empathy toggle switch is still operating just fine.
Cross posted at Mom's Tinfoil Hat
4 comments:
So descriptive! I love posts like these. So did she get the help she needed? I need to know what happened to her!ReplyDelete
I would have found it very hard not to hug her. :(ReplyDelete
I hope she finds the relief and helps she needs.
She is seeing a therapist, and the doctor saw her and did what he thought was right, treatment wise. The doctor is very empathetic and kind, in my opinion, so I am sure he consoled her, too. I was not in the room when he saw her. Maybe he even hugged her.ReplyDelete
I hope she does, too.
For what it is worth, the day my mother died I had to take my 22 month old child to the pediatrician because she had been coughing and I wanted to be sure she could fly. It meant so much to me that our doctor hugged me. It will be nine years ago this July and I remember it clearly.ReplyDelete


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How did you decide to start playing golf?
Belen Mozo: I decided to play golf because I followed in my brother's footsteps. He started playing golf and I started playing with him.
What do you think of the idea that golf is a man's game?
BM: I don't think it's a man's game. Sports overall can be very masculine, it's fun to see them play it with all their power and long drives. Women might not have the same power, but we are fun to watch in other ways, like our shot-making and short games. We compete with the same intensity and energy as they do.
More From Cosmopolitan
Have you ever been intimidated by the notion of golf being a man's game?
BM: I've never been intimidated playing alongside men. I actually do practice every day with other professional men at Medalist Golf Club. Most are PGA Tour guys, and we place some friendly wagers and well, let's just say I don't lose that much money! It might be the other way around and they might be intimidated playing against me, because if they lose, it's far more embarrassing, right?
Why do you think you've advanced so far in the game in such a short amount of time?
BM: Mostly because I'm a very determined person. I'm a great competitor. I like to practice and take my life and sport very seriously. It's just the passion in me to become better every day and the determination to grow as a player and person as well.
What do you do during intense times of pressure?
BM: I like pressure, I welcome it. It can be really good if you know how to channel it in a positive way. For example, when I feel negative pressure, such as intimidation or nervousness, I try to smile more to help me not take things too seriously. That's who I am and that's how I play golf. If people see me too serious they remind me to smile and relax a little more.
Are there any dichos in Espanol that you live by?
BM: I would say that I'm a big morning person and I believe in waking up early. In Spain there's a dichos, "A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda" which means God helps those who wake early.
What do you remember most about your childhood in Cadiz?
BM: My childhood in Cadiz was very fun, surrounded by my family which is most important. I miss Spain a lot, it was a very similar lifestyle to what I have now, but less intense. I would wake up to go to school and then my mom would pick me up and take me to golf practice. I eventually went to a sport-centered school with some ladies that are playing alongside me here on the LPGA. My life has always been dedicated both to pursuing my education and playing golf and it has been wonderful.
Why should young girls start playing golf?
BM: Oh, I think it's a very humble sport that brings out your best. You also meet wonderful people, play outdoors, travel to beautiful places and learn a lot of great values. One aspect I really like is how golf teaches you to manage your emotions. Walking from shot to shot, good ones and bad ones, you have time to think and manage your emotions, positive or negative. This is a great life lesson, whether on or off the golf course.
How can a strong woman like you find a man who wouldn't be intimidated?
BM: I may come off as strong or intimidating on occasion. I think as a professional athlete you have to sometimes, but once you get to know me no one in this world will find me intimidating!
So your boyfriend is not intimidated by your success?
BM: I think he is, but more than that, I think he's very proud. He's happy that he can share this type of life with me, because he's also a very successful professional tennis player. He knows that alongside him is someone who understands what a competitive life is, is a positive thing and that's why our relationship is so strong.


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SeedGrowth efforts focusing on sudden death syndrome solution
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Soybean growers in the Midwest continue to struggle with sudden death syndrome (SDS), which was discovered in 1971. According to the Plant Health Initiative, SDS is now considered one of the top four yield-robbing diseases in soybean and appears to be spreading. The disease is capable of devastating soybean fields, affecting some growers' entire soybean crops and significantly reducing their yield even up to 90 percent in some years.
Bayer CropScience SeedGrowth (formerly Seed Treatment) is studying a product it believes will combat SDS and give growers a much-needed solution to this problem. This new product is a seed treatment that is applied directly to soybean seed and helps to control the Fusarium fungus that causes SDS.
Sudden death syndrome often doesn't show symptoms in the soybeans until it is too late for the grower to help their crop, said Ethan Luth, SeedGrowth product manager at Bayer CropScience, We know growers are frustrated with SDS, and until now, there hasn't been a complete solution. However, trials of our new product are showing promising results, and we believe it will help growers to prevent losses from SDS.
The fungal pathogen that causes SDS favors cool, moist growing conditions for infection. During soybeans' early development stages, the infection invades the root system, but there are no visible symptoms until after flowering, at which time there are no known treatment options. The fungal infection suddenly becomes obvious as leaves display intervenial yellowing and necrosis, resulting in leaf drop during the critical stage of pod filling and effecting yield potential.
When managing Sudden Death Syndrome, it is important to utilize an integrated approach, stated Luth. Our new SDS product will offer growers a partner to the current genetic tolerance available in many seed varieties today.
Bayer CropScience has conducted a series of field trials to determine the efficacy of its new product against SDS. During the trial harvests, treated plants appear visibly healthier, display greater tolerance to SDS, and researchers are reporting an increase in yield. The product is still in the testing stages, but Bayer CropScience anticipates that the new SDS product may be available for purchase for the 2015 growing season.
In addition, Bayer CropScience acquired AgraQuest, Inc., a global supplier of innovative biological pest management solutions, in August 2012. This acquisition expands the existing biological pest control portfolio of Bayer CropScience centered on its successful VOTiVO¨ biological seed treatment that protects against pathogenic nematodes. It also allows the company to further leverage the biotechnology platform acquired through Athenix Corporation.
Adding more biologicals to our SeedGrowth product portfolio allows us to bring seed companies and growers integrated solutions to the disease challenges they face, stated Luth. We believe that products based on biological modes of action also will complement the trait technology in
our pipeline.
To learn more about Bayer CropScience, visit http://www.bayercropscience.us


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Thank you flowers
Need to really show your appreciation? You can say 'thank you' in style with an impressive gift of thank you flowers. Whether you go for traditional or modern, vibrant or pastel shades, simply special or big statement: we'll make sure the effect is just what you're looking for.


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- General Details
- Location Info
- Rental Terms
- 50 km Airport
- 4 km City Center
- 4 km Beach
- 2 km Minibus Station
- 4 km Restaurants
- 2 km Supermarkets
- 4 km Medical Care
- 450 TL Cleaning
- 1000 TL Refundable Deposit
YalıkavakYalikavak dubbed as the St Tropez of the Bodrum Peninsula. Yalikavak is situated on the Aegean Coast and has a wonderful climate characterised with hot summers and mild winters. The summer season is from May to late September, with temperatures from 26°C in May up to 34°C in July.
The once sleepy fishing village is growing into a major centre on the peninsula whilst still retaining its charm. It now boosts three major supermarkets, local clinics and a number of hotels open all year round offering cinema, jazz nights, yoga etc for both local residents and visitors. Yalikavak is renowned for it's amazing sunsets, unspoilt shoreline and clear blue seas. It is ideal for sailing and water sports and attracts many foreign yachts to the marina
The newly named Palmarina operates througout the year with a fantastic new shopping village and nightclub to match the best in the world. Some of the top restauranters from Istanbul and exclusive designer shops are included in the new development. Admittedly the owner is aiming at the 'millionaire if not billionaire' market but we can vouch for the fact that it is a spectacular place to visit if only to see the incredible 'Superyachts' moored there. If you are feeling adventurous maybe you can even charter a yacht yourselves.
Yalikavak is located just 15 km from Bodrum town and is surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery on the Bodrum Peninsula. The relaxed atmosphere makes it the perfect resort for those who want to experience authentic turkey, providing real local life at reasonable prices. Nearby Bodrum will more than fulfil your nightlife requirements with a wide array of shops, bars and clubs. It is only 20 minutes away by minibus (dolmus).
All beaches along the peninsula are clean and the water crystal clear. Sun loungers and parasols which you can use are provide by near by bars. It is courteous to buy a drink if you a using the sun beds , this is common arrangement on most beaches along the Bodrum peninsula. There is a good selection of restaurants and bars and the atmosphere is very relaxed. The small harbour has good selection of traditional Turkish restaurants selling excellent fresh sea food, you can usually manage to find a table on the edge of the harbour which proved for marvellous views during you meal. For snacks you can visit one of the several cafes in the small town centre. Where every you choose to dine you will find that the staff are very friendly and the service is excellent.
Yalikavak really does provide something for everyone.
After you receive the booking confirmation you will be asked to pay an initial deposit of 50% of the total cost of the rental. This payment should be made promptly, within five days of reserving the property, unless otherwise arranged.
The balance of the holiday cost must be paid at least 8 weeks prior to arrival. This allows us time to make the necessary arrangements. If you arrange your holiday within 10 weeks of arrival then full payment is due at the time of booking. The security deposit must be paid with the balance payment. If paying by credit card, the security deposit will be taken as a credit card slip. V.A.T not included in the prices
Electric and water
Full payment or payment of the deposit itself indicates acceptance of these terms and conditions, which form a contract between you and SPM Tur. Emlak Paz. Ltd. Şti.
If you cancel your holiday
To cancel the entire holiday, the Party Leader must write to our Reservations department, by recorded delivery at the address on your booking confirmation. Cancellation takes effect on the date we receive your letter. If you cancel after we confirm your booking, you must compensate us for losses, as we incur costs from the moment you make the booking. The closer your cancellation is to the departure date, the less likely we are to recover the costs. Our cancellation charges therefore increase as the departure date approaches, as shown below.
If you have to cancel for a reason covered by your insurance policy, you should be able to recover the cancellation charges. Claims must be made directly to the insurance company concerned. When only some members cancel in a group that has booked a holiday together, the charge will be based on the price of their holiday only. Remaining passengers in the group must pay any increased costs for the holiday.
The following cancellation charges apply:
70 - 43 days prior to departure 30% of the cost of your holiday or loss of deposit whichever is greater.
42 - 29 days prior to departure 50% of the cost of your holiday or loss of deposit whichever is greater.
28 - 22 days prior to departure 70% of the cost of your holiday
21 - 15 days prior to departure 90% of the cost of your holiday
14 - 0 days prior to departure 100% of the cost of your holiday
Your accommodation is available from 04:00 pm on day of arrival and must be vacated by 10:00 am on day of departure. This time is needed to prepare the accommodation properly for incoming guests. If, due to unauthorised late check out we have to accomodate incoming guests elsewhere, the costs incurred will be taken from your security deposit. However if circumstances permit, we can sometimes be flexible on check in/check out times, but this must be pre-arranged. Please inform us of your flight numbers and arrival and departure times.
Party Size
At no time must any more persons occupy a property than agreed at the time of booking, except with prior written agreement. Property owners, their agents or SPM Tur. Emlak Paz. Ltd. Şti.reserve the right to refuse admittance if this condition is not observed.
Immediately upon arrival at your holiday home please familiarize yourself with the layout of the property and identify any potential hazards e.g. unexpected steps, slippery surfaces etc. Please also read fully the Welcome book provided for the house.
Holiday, personal and travel insurance is essential for your own protection and we strongly recommend that you and all members of your party be suitably insured. Insurance is not included with villa rentals. The owners and Smile Property Management acting as their agents cannot be held responsible for personal injury or accident however caused and therefore advise guests to have full holiday insurance.
Payments should be made in accordance with the instructions sent with our confirmation. Where a property is held with a deposit rather than full payment then the balance must be received at least 8 weeks before arrival. If full payment is not received by that time we will re-advertise the property and you will lose your deposit.
We trust you to report to us any breakages or damage and request that the property is left in a clean and tidy state. You will be required to pay for any repairs, replacements or extra cleaning as necessary.
We have carefully selected and inspected all the properties that we advertise and we endeavour to maintain high standards. However, inevitably, items break or require maintenance, therefore please be aware that you may encounter maintenance staff during your stay. Please also remember that these are private homes-please leave the villa in a reasonably clean and tidy condition. We reserve the right to charge for extra cleaning if necessary. This will be deducted from your security deposit..
If you have a problem during your holiday, immediately inform SPM Tur. Emlak Paz. Ltd. Şti.who will then endeavour to put things right. You can find the emergency telephone number in the Welcome book provided. If you fail to do this we cannot accept responsibility, as we have not had the opportunity to investigate and rectify the problem. Problems affecting your stay will always be treated the same day although there may be times, such as weekends and public holidays, when repairs may take longer.
Call out charges: We are contactable 24 hours a day on our emergency help line number, should you require our help, however should we be called out to the property as a result of your own negligence, the home owner may see fit to charge you a call out fee.
Most are usually maintained and in commission from May to October (although some are maintained year round) Sometimes pool equipment breaks or needs maintenance. We cannot be held responsible if a pool is not in commission due to circumstances beyond our control though every effort will be made to solve any problem as quickly as possible. Use of swimming pool is at guests own risk and we specifically request the supervision of children at all times whilst in the pool area.
You are responsible for the keys whilst they are in your possession and for their safe return to Smile Property Management. Our Welcome book may include certain instructions relating to your property and the safe use of equipment etc. which must be followed.
Damage Deposit
The majority of our guests are civilized, have a great holiday and leave the properties reasonably clean and tidy. Unfortunately there will always be a minority who will abuse hospitality. Of course we understand accidental damage may occur, however, we are also concerned with properties which require excessive cleaning after stays. With this in mind we require a modest security deposit at all properties. Assuming the property has been left in a reasonably tidy condition, and there are no breakages, your deposit will be returned to you between 7-10 days after your holiday.
No pets are allowed in the properties unless stated.
We reserve the right to provide alternative accommodation if due to circumstances beyond our control, a property is unavailable for occupancy. In these circumstances the alternative accommodation will be comparable to the property contracted. In certain circumstances when we are unable to offer alternative accommodation, and at our own discretion, we may pay for emergency accommodation, the total cost of which will not be more than the cost of the contracted accommodation.
All our houses are prepared with every care, but remember they are private houses and not hotels. They are taken at guests own risk and the villa owners or Smile Property Management are not liable for damages or injury to person or any property belonging to any person. In consideration of the fact that we act only as booking agents, no liability is accepted whatsoever for any aspect of the arrangements and, in particular, for any loss, personal injury or death however incurred. Although all reasonable endeavours are made to ensure the accuracy of information provided and the quality and facilities of the villas, we cannot accept any liability whatsoever for problems that occur while guests occupy the villa of their choice. All information has been provided in good faith and no liability is accepted for any misrepresentation of villa material or accommodation. Disputes are referred to Turkish law.
Responsibility of our company
Description and Website Accuracy
All information contained on our websites has been compiled from up to date details and we have taken care to ensure its accuracy. There may however be occasions when an advertised facility is either modified or unavailable. Such situations may be dictated by local circumstances, necessity for maintenance, local construction work, water shortages, adverse weather, fuel shortages, power cuts or other circumstances beyond our control. If we are advised of this, we will of course inform you as soon as possible, but we cannot be held liable in such circumstances


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Swine flu could wreak more havoc on US economy, says economist (w/ Video)
H1N1 influenza could slow growth in key industries and stall already-weak GDP growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2009, says a health economist in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business.
"Tourism and travel are vitally important sectors in the economy of many U.S. cities and communities," Bryce Sutton, Ph.D. "Depending upon the severity of the spread of the virus, consumers and businesses may respond by restricting travel and vacation plans, which would dampen an already weak recovery in these areas."
AAA estimates that as many as 60 million Americans annually travel 50 miles or more from home during the country's peak travel periods, which fall on the days that surround the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Sutton says airlines, hotels and other service industries negatively impacted by recent trends of tightened consumer spending could face double jeopardy should H1N1 infections or simply fears of exposure keep would-be travelers at home.
Other business sectors could suffer, too, if sick workers and absences cut deeply into productivity and revenues, Sutton says.
"Although business managers have had time to prepare contingency plans, those that already have cut the numbers of employees in an effort to reduce costs during the downturn may be hardest hit," Sutton says. "In many cases, companies that already are working with the bare minimum staffs face further productivity challenges should large numbers of the remaining employees contract H1N1."
Sutton says more research is needed to measure the more precise impact of the H1N1 virus once the traditional U.S. flu season has passed. Until then, statements on the economic influence of the virus will reflect educated predictions based on the history of previous pandemics and their reported economic effects.
"The most recent case we have to study is the Asian SARS outbreak in the early 2000s, which negatively impacted a range of industries in Asia. The effects led to a regional loss of between 0.5 and 2 percent of GDP," Sutton says. "H1N1 impact predictions are based on examples like this one in which virus fears traditionally have had a negative influence on the economies of impacted regions.
"However, the H1N1 preparation has been much better when compared to the response of health agencies during the SARS outbreak and that could counter some potential negative impacts," he says.
Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham (news : web)


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Arcadia Locksmith
Mobile Locksmith services in Phoenix, Arizona.
Arcadia Locksmith is a Mobile Locksmith – a family-owned business.
We offer many services, including car lockout, house lockout and safe lockout, mailbox replacement, rekey, lock change, commercial services, car key replacement, ignition repair, lock repair, and much more.
Our Company main goal is to deliver fast Services and to meet Our customers with a smile.
Call today to schedule an appointment!
Business Name:
Arcadia Locksmith
Mobile Locksmith services in Phoenix areaPhoenix Arizona AZ 85011United States
About Phoenix
Phoenix ( FEE-niks; Navajo: Hoozdo; Spanish: Fénix or Fínix, Walapai: Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and one of only two U.S. state capitals with a population of more than one million residents, along with Austin, Texas.Phoenix is the anchor of the Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, which in turn is part of the Salt River Valley. The metropolitan area is the 11th largest by population in the United States, with approximately 4.85 million people as of 2020. Phoenix, the seat of Maricopa County, has the largest area of all cities in Arizona, with an area of 517.9 square miles (1,341 km2), and is also the 11th largest city by area in the United States. It is the largest metropolitan area, both by population and size, of the Arizona Sun Corridor megaregion.
Neighborhoods in Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona Heights, Ashland Place, Bel Air, Bethany Homes, Biltmore Heights, Brandywine, Camelback Sierra, Central City, Coronado, Del Norte Place, Earll Place, East Orangewood, Eugene Place, Evanston, Fairview Place
Things to do in Phoenix, Arizona
Our Newest Profiles


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Low, Sir David
Low, Sir David lō [key], 1891–1963, British cartoonist, b. New Zealand. In 1919 Low went to England, where he worked on the London Star (1919–27). Thereafter he successively joined the staff of the Evening Standard (1927–50), the Daily Herald (1950–53), and finally the Manchester Guardian (from 1953). At the Standard he became noted for his sharp and perceptive caricatures and cartoons on national and international affairs. He created
Colonel Blimp,a caricature of the pompous British ultraconservative. Low's cartoons have been collected in A Cartoon History of Our Times (1939), Low on the War (1941), Years of Wrath (1946), which covers the period from 1931 to 1945, and The Fearful Fifties (1960).
See his autobiography (1956).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: European Art, 1600 to the Present: Biographies


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I've been sick for a month now.
Okay, maybe it only feels that way. Real time? Four days, but it might as well be a month.
I learned a valuable lesson this week, though: Don't watch soaps when you're sick.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm fairly cranky and whiny when I'm sick. So, watching my favorite soap – in this case 'General Hospital – turned into an impossible chore when I started focusing on everything that was wrong on GH instead of right.
What am I talking about?Read more here


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What's on Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen? Mustard and relish!
Reindeer hot dogs are making a splash at Fredhots and Fries in Glenview, Ill. And while the ballpark innovation is confusing to kids (the excited tot in this video thinks that these are the hotdogs Santa feeds to his reindeer, not the ones he makes out of them), the dogs are supposedly firmer, and better tasting than the average frank. If you're making a pilgrimage to Fredhots to get a bunful of Rudolph, better make it quick, though. The meaty treats are only here for the holiday season, and won't be back till next year. Link via CNN.


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Comment spam is a fact of life for blogs and sites with an open door policy for comments and interaction. Comment spam arrives on your website in two main ways. Occasionally by hand posting of time-wasting idiots who post nonsense for fun or try to get links to their site by posting links to their site everywhere, but more often by robots, little Internet programs that crawl around looking for websites with comments and posting links to online gambling and medications for improving your sex life or extending your life.
Here are some examples.
- Pitiful Time Wasters
- The pitiful time wasters are the people, often kids, who have nothing better to do but search the Internet for random subjects and then post comments like "Your site sucks", "f**k you", "This is such a stupid waste of time", "Why don't you have pictures of naked women?", and my personal favorite, "You don't have what I'm looking for. I hate you." You cannot easily control these, but for the most part, WordPress and most blogging and CMS tools tend to spot these using sophisticated filtering and stop them or hold them for moderation, especially if it the comment spam includes swear words.
- Link Needers
- The web is built on links. Search engines increase page ranking dependent upon who you link to but mostly who links to you. People try all kinds of tricks to get their website to the top of the search engine rankings, and link needers are coming after you. By posting a link to their site on your site's comments, they have bypassed the traditional kind request for a link to their site and forced one upon you. Sometimes they are tricky and try to make the comment match the content, but you can usually tell the difference.
- Comment Spam Robots
- Comment spam robots are the worst of the comment spam criminals. These are software robots that crawl around the Internet looking for open comments. When they find them, they hook in and start leaving comments all over your site about whatever they are dishing out, usually drugs, medicines, male enhancements, vitamins, gambling, and porn. Their comment spam rarely arrives alone but hits multiple posts throughout your site with the same comment, or a slight variation on a theme. WordPress and other blogging and CMS developers work hard to fight comment spam robots off, protecting their users. It gets harder and harder as people keep designing smarter detection avoiding programs, but the developers usually keep a step ahead of these criminal time wasters.
- Sneaky Comment Spammers
- The sneaky comment spammers are the ones you really have to look for. They require more work to determine if they are legitimate. These are the nice comment spammers. They say things like:
- "I really like your site, keep up the good work."
- "This is a beautiful site."
- "It looks like you worked hard to create this site. Good work."
- "I like what you have to say. I'm going to tell my friends."
- "This is really good information. I'm going to mark it as a favorite."
When these first started showing up, I preened. I even pointed them out to my husband with pride. Then I learned that these were NOT legitimate but creepy comment spam robots that were lying and creating links to their sites. Some investigation found that some of these links were indeed hooking up with pharmacy and gambling sites. DAMN! These are the sneaky comment spammers! More and more comment spam prevention tools help to eliminate these, but if you get a lot of "nice comments" within a day or two across many posts – you've been hit by a sneaky comment spammer.
Stay tuned for A Day in the Life of a Paranoid Website Administrator, where I talk about what it's like being not only a paranoid website administrator, but a comment watcher. We'll also talk about what you can do to tackle and fight back against comment spam.
Site Search Tags: comment, spam, comments, spammer, website, administrator, blog, admin, spam, spam+bots, comment+spam
Copyright Lorelle VanFossen


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Blue Fish Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon Old Ivory
Blue Fish Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon in a Wondrous Variegated Old Ivory ~ Freshly cut from original spool straight from the Blue Fish Days. Lovely 1 inch wide by 108 long ~ Equal To 3 Yards ~Light and flowing ~ Individually Hand Dipped. A Total of 108 Inches ~ Brighten up the 1992 Peasant Tunic and Dress ~ The 1999 Ribbon Dress ~and matching Pants ~ The Holiday 1993 Collection anything With Button Holes and soo Much More! Great for all Fish pieces!! Also Unreal on the Velvets! Guaranteed to be a Pleaser and Looks absolutely Romantic!


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Ubuntu 12.04, codenamed Precise Pangolin, rolled out last month. The new version of the popular Linux distribution brings updated software and new features, including the highly-anticipated Heads-Up Display (HUD) interface. The HUD is one of several excellent improvements that have helped to make Ubuntu's Unity desktop shell even better in Ubuntu 12.04
When Unity was first unveiled in 2010, it was introduced as a new graphical frontend for the Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Canonical later brought Unity to the desktop, making it the cornerstone of the company's Linux usability enhancement efforts. Ubuntu 11.04 (released last year) was the first version that shipped with Unity as the standard environment on the desktop.
Unity has come a long way since Canonical and the Ubuntu community began working to iron out its rough edges on the desktop. The performance and stability issues that afflicted earlier versions have largely been remedied. It was already in great shape back in October when version 11.10 was released, but it has benefited from further refinement.
The Unity environment is responsive and robust in 12.04, offering the reliability that one would expect from a mature desktop shell. This important milestone in Unity's development is timely. Ubuntu 12.04 is a long-term support (LTS) release, which means that it will receive updates and commercial support for longer than regular releases. Every fourth version in Ubuntu's six-month release cycle is an LTS release, so a new LTS release is issued once every two years.
In previous versions, long-term support meant three years on the desktop and five years on servers. Canonical has changed the plan a bit for Ubuntu 12.04—it will be the first LTS release to receive five years of support for both the desktop and server flavors. The company is aiming to attract enterprise desktop adopters and OEMs with the extended LTS commitment.
Although Unity's quality has grown to the point where it fulfills our expectations, the user experience still falls short in a number of ways. We identified several key weaknesses in our last two Ubuntu reviews, some of which still haven't been addressed yet. These issues still detract from Unity's predictability and ease of use.
Global menubar
The global menubar, which is one of the defining characteristics of the Unity environment, still poses a number of problems. The global menu model simply isn't compatible with the window-specific menu system used in Linux applications. The effort to bolt these conflicting paradigms together could be executed better.
Despite displaying the menu contents outside of the window, the menus are still window-specific. By design, the global menu bar displays the menu of the focused window. This proves awkward in some applications with dialogs and multiple windows.
If you open the file properties dialog in the file manager, for example, the file manager menu will not be accessible in the menu bar until you either close the dialog or switch focus back to a regular file manager window. When you move your mouse into the menu bar, you simply get nothing.
This behavior isn't consistent throughout the desktop. There are some applications where giving focus to a dialog causes menu items to become inaccessible and some (such as the terminal) where the menu of the parent window remains visible while a dialog has focus. The latter is obviously preferable and should be the standard behavior through the application stack.
Another issue is that application-wide functionality isn't merged into the menus that are displayed for some child windows. A good example of a window where this issue proves problematic is the Firefox Web browser's bookmark manager.
If you open the bookmark manager dialog, the global menu bar will display the window's specialized menu contents. But functionality that is relevant across the entire application, such as the "Quit" and "Help" menu items, isn't accessible. You have to give a regular browser window focus in order to get back to those items, because they are tied to the menu from those windows.
The Unity menu is displayed globally, but it's still contextually tied to the window. That's not going to be obvious to new users, who are going to wonder why the "Quit" menu item goes away when they have a dialog open. There are also ways in which this behavior is annoying for experienced users. The standard
Ctrl+Q keyboard shortcut, for example, doesn't work in Firefox when the bookmark manager has focus.
You can see this phenomenon in several other applications, such as the Empathy instant messaging client that comes with Ubuntu. You don't get a "Quit" menu item or the
Ctrl+Q shortcut when a conversation window has focus because that menu item is part of the menu for the buddy list window.
We've been highlighting this problem since our review of 11.04, but it hasn't been fixed yet. Due to the manner in which the global menu system is bolted into the environment, it's not clear if there is even a practical solution to the problem. As long as the menus are defined by the individual applications with the assumption that they are tied to a specific window, the problem isn't going to be trivial to address.
It's worth noting that GNOME 3 is moving towards a model where window-specific functionality is presented in the window and application-specific functionality is exposed separately in a global menu. Although that approach also poses serious usability problems, as we discussed in our recent GNOME 3.2 review, it potentially offers a way to move towards better global menus.
Assuming that global menus are desirable, the ideal formulation is one in which the application-wide items and window-specific items are merged into a single global menu. The application-wide functionality will remain constant while the window-specific top-level menus will change depending on the window that has focus. Thanks to GNOME's new approach, there is already a technical mechanism in place for specifying which menu items should be treated as global.
Even if you could achieve the ideal formulation, however, it's not really clear that global menus improve the user experience enough to justify all this effort. The idea of moving menus out of windows and putting them in a global space made a lot of sense in the Unity netbook environment where the number of vertical pixels is heavily constrained. But it can be downright inconvenient on a conventional computer with a high-resolution monitor or multiple displays.
Aside from the significant functional mismatch between the global menu bar and the way that the widget toolkits handle menus, there are also still a number of annoyances that afflict Unity's presentation of the menu. The menu fade-in and truncated title discussed in our previous reviews are still disorienting. The fact that the menus aren't visible until the cursor hovers over them still poses a discoverability problem.
As we wrote in our Ubuntu 11.04 review, the global menu implementation in Unity is far better and more comprehensive than some of the previous hacks offering similar functionality. But it doesn't fully address all of the behavioral disparities.


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In this blog post we will be showing you a simple checklist that is designed to compel you to ruminate about some of the most important considerations when setting up a new Aquaponic system. Our checklist is created for hobby, home and school scale systems that have one hundred gallon fish tanks and sometimes even larger. This checklist, however, will not thoroughly cover the planning needed for commercial scale systems or small farm scale systems.
So regardless if you are planning to buy a complete Aquaponics system or build your very own system, we strongly suggest you peruse through this list so you can better plan your system. Extracting information from this checklist is highly recommended since this can be very helpful for our team when we are assisting you so we can make sure that we are giving you the best possible solution to meet your needs and goals.
Personal Considerations
- Have you ever tried participating in a reputable training course in Aquaponics?
It doesn't matter if you are taking classes in Aquaponics from us or from other companies, regardless we highly suggest that you try several hands-on trainings with professional instructions that are actively growing with Aquaponics for a minimum of three years. It is very important that you collect as much reliable information as you can before you make a commitment to buy or build your own Aquaponics system.
- Are you the type of person who likes to do Do-It-Yourself projects? Or are you the type who prefers to buy something that is already designed?
This is one of the most important considerations you have to make before you start with Aquaponics. Do know that DIY Aquaponics can be really fun and not to mention rewarding most especially if you make it successfully to its completion but a word of warning though, DIY Aquaponics takes a long time to make since you will be figuring it out on your own. If you are in a hurry and if you can't wait for your Aquaponics system to be set up then you should go for a proven system that comes with a set of instructions as well as technical support. But whichever you choose you can rely on us as we provide individual components and complete systems to cater to whichever path you decide on. You can read one of our articles to learn more about the basic aquaponic gardening rules of thumb for DIY aquaponics.
- Are you always traveling? Are you constantly away from your plants and fish for long periods of time?
Even though there are things that are already automated, a conventional system will often require to be attended to on a daily basis even if it's only for a couple of minutes. If let's say you are not going to be around your system, it would be a great idea to ensure that you have someone you can depend on who is trained and who knows how to take care of your system if in case you'll be out travelling.
- Do you have goals for your Aquaponics system? If so what are they?
This may cause you to ask a series of questions like: Do you intend to grow a wide array of food weekly for your family's needs? Are you only tinkering and experimenting? Do you intend to eat your fish? Another question is what is the whole point of all this, what are your plans for your system, why are you doing this? All these questions should be thought out carefully so you can plan and strategize your system appropriately. These are very important pieces of information for us to know so we can assist you to ensure that you get only the best system to meet your growing objectives.
- Do you have the necessary finances to buy the equipment you need both at the start as well as constant supplies needed like supplements and fish feed?
The size of your Aquaponics system will have to depend on your objectives and goals. It could range from a couple hundred bucks to thousands of dollars. It is also worth mentioning that the scale of your system as well as your management of it will also necessitate continuous financial support to cover for additional expansion just in case and the cost of supplies and utilities. You can read one of our article that will show you an initial and ongoing costs for choosing your grow light.
Planning Your Physical Space
- How much space are you willing to dedicate for your Aquaponic environment?
This question not only considers the size of your Aquaponics system but also you need to look at the area if you can effortlessly move around so you can have access to your grow beds and your fish tank. Without a doubt, it is indeed handy to have a small work surface but you also need to plan for possible expansion in the near future. So basically, if you have intentions to expand your system in the future then might as well consider very carefully the space where you will be putting up your system. You can make use of our Space Planner to have an idea of some of our already set up Aquaponic systems that are designed in various configurations to suit your preferences and your needs.
- Can your floor support the weight of your Aquaponic system?
Bigger home systems can be very heavy. You see, a gallon of water weights around 8.5 pounds almost nice so if you have a two-hundred-gallon tank with a sump tank and two media bends then it will probably weigh more than a ton. A bigger system like that is best placed on ground level especially on a concrete pad or any reinforced floor system that can serve as its weight.
- Is your floor easy to clean whenever it gets wet?
Did you notice that we didn't use the word "if" in this sentence? This is because at some point water will really get to your floor whether it's an accident or not. Most of the time water gets to your floor in cases of overfilling like if you fill your system with too much water or if your fish splashes water around when you feed them. Regardless, we want you to know that if you have an Aquaponic system it is very likely that your floor will get wet. This is the reason why we suggest that you settle your system on a surface that can easily be cleaned and that you don't mind getting wet. Simply put, do not put your system on the carpet of your living room.
- Is fresh water easily accessible to you? Is it nearby?
Once you have an Aquaponic system you need to know that your system will frequently require water refilling because of natural losses through transpiration and evaporation. It would be convenient on your part if you have a source of fresh and de-chlorinated water found near your system so you can fill and top off water without hassle.
- Do you have a washbasin near your system?
This is an excellent item to have and it comes very handy when you are washing your test equipment, your nets, your product and most especially your hands.
- Do you have several GFI outlets accessible?
We highly recommend that you use GFI protected outlets. These items protect you from the possibility of electrocution since you will be mixing power with water. We also strongly recommend that you place your outlets away from the floor or off the floor and it has to be above the water line.
- Is your electrical service dependable?
If your location rarely gets any power outages then it is very likely that you'll take this one for granted. But do know that this should be a primary concern for individuals in many different parts of the world and it can really negatively impact your system. That is why it is very important to have a dependable backup power. You should find other alternatives if in case your location gets regular power outages.
- Is your system in a secure and safe location?
If you have pets around and if you have little children then it should be your primary concern to check for possible hazards to both your pets and your children as well as to your system. It is important that you know that the risk of drowning and accidental electrocution is very real if your children are playing around your system unsupervised especially if they are active children who likes to climb around the system the same goes for your pets. If they are tinkering with your system this can also create unwanted repercussions such as the death of your plants and pet fish.
- Are you going to put your system outdoors?
This will have to depend on your climate. If your climate can accommodate it then you can have the option to grow your system outdoors for the rest of the year but you also need to ensure that your system will be safe from natural predators like raccoon who are fond of eating prized koi and fresh fish. A lot of Aquaponic system owners share this concern.
Environmental Considerations
- What is your water source?
You have to know where your water comes from and not just that you also need to know about the quality of your water, as these two are very important. You need to provide your fish and your plants with a good source of de-chlorinated water and it would also be great if you have tested your water source for any possible toxins, presence of heavy metals, hardness levels, contaminants as well as its pH level. Knowing all these will allow you and us of course, to decide on a proper filtration system to make sure that only good and quality water are channeled to your system.
- Does your environment have sufficient ventilation?
It is very important that you make sure that your system has adequate ventilation. It is imperative that you ensure the regular exchange of fresh air to manage temperate and humidity levels as well as other factors that might affect your plant's quality.
- Does your environment require cooling or heating?
This would depend on your building or room or climate, as a system owner you need to offer both cooling and heating solutions so you can regulate air temperature and optimize the conditions within your system for your plants.
- Do you have a source for cooling and/or heating?
There are actually a number of ways for you to cool or heat your environment; ways that you need to consider and research like geothermal, shade cloth, radiant heating and natural gas among others.
- Are you going to need to heat the water?
The answer to this will have to depend on the question prior to this question and it will also rely on the type of fish you want to keep in your system. A good range would be a water temperature of sixty-six to seventy-four degrees Fahrenheit but then again this would have to depend on the type of fish you want to raise. You can also read this article to get an idea on where to get fish for your aquaponics system.
- If your answer to the previous question is yes then do you have a source for heating your water?
There are plenty of options for heating like natural gas, solar thermal, electric heat and propane. Sometimes heating may also need a combination of different methods.
- Are there sufficient amounts of natural sunlight for your plants? Around ten to sixteen hours a day?
If your system is in your garage or in your basement then you will require artificial lighting. Again, this will depend on your climate because if your climate were not suitable for growing your system even if you are in a greenhouse then you would still be required to have artificial lighting. You also must consider your seasonality, building, plant selection, system orientation, climate zone and your overall goals for your system. You can also read this article to learn on how to create a lighting setup that is suitable for your own growing environment.
The Living Elements
- What type of plants are you planning to grow?
At this point if you are still unsure then don't worry that is perfectly okay. But you need to know that the type of plants you choose to grow has a huge influence of the kind of system you will eventually end up buying. Media beds are essential to our systems and with this you can grow a wide array of crops very easily. Generally, media beds are by far the most flexible and versatile as it can work really well for long term fruiting crops like cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. What works well in Deep Water Culture troughs are Kale and Chard and other leafy greens like the different varieties of lettuce. But if you can have a combination of both, a media bed as well as Deep Water Culture within the same system the better. You can also read one of our article to know more about aquaponics plants. You need to know what type of plants you intend to grow and when you want them to grow as these considerations will affect your choice of temperature, lighting system and nutrient requirements among others.
- What type of fish you do you plan to keep?
Your choice of fish is also crucial and there are also quite a number of factors you need to consider like what species are locally available in your city? Are these species of fish permitted? Are you going to raise edible fish? If it isn't part of your plan to eat your fish then maybe a better option is to go for Koi. You see, fish are categorized by temperature and each distinct species has its own required temperature range that is ideal for their growth and their health. Take for instance trout. Trout are cold-water fish and they prefer a temperature of fifty to sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit, as it's highest. Another example is tilapia. Unlike your trout, tilapias are warm-water fish that loves a temperate of seventy-two to eighty-two degrees. The kind of fish you will decide on will influence the temperature of the water in your system and it would also influence the need to heat or cool your water. There are actually so much more you can learn about fish species in Aquaponics. You can also read this article to determine the kind of environment your aquaponics fish must have.
System Components and Supplies
If you have plans on making your own system then these components will be very useful. Our comprehensive systems contain all the principal components you'll ever need when building your own Aquaponic system. Furthermore, we've also included some additional options for you to choose from. We'd like to think that the components of a typical Aquaponic system are software and hardware.
The software components are the supplies you need to optimize and manage your system on a regular basis. The hardware components, on the other hand, represent all the equipment and materials you need to physically construct the Aquaponic system.
Once again, this list is created to be simple so you can recall all the necessary supplies and components you may need soon as you start building your own Aquaponic system. Some of the things listed here may only be optional since it will depend on the type of design your system has and its requirements.
For your software supplies that you need to optimize and manage your system, you will need the following:
- Water Quality Test Kit – This is a Master API kit that is very affordable. You need this to test critical water quality parameters.
- Cycling Kit – You need a cycling kit for the safe introduction of your fish into the system. This is a source of nitrifying bacteria and a source of ammonia needed to jumpstart the nitrification cycle.
- pH Adjusters – If you have an Aquaponics system you need to constantly adjust your pH level as part of managing your system. There are several pH adjusters that are tailor-made for Aquaponic systems.
- Testing and Monitoring Equipment – There are quite a number of water quality parameters that are very crucial to be able to monitor factors that are beyond the scope of your Master API test kit like iron, dissolved oxygen, temperature and many more.
- Fish Food – As soon as you have your Aquaponics system set up you will need a constant supply of fish food. We can provide you with USDA certified organic fish feed but we also offer conventional fish feed for those who like to go for the traditional feed. Feeds come in a variety of pellet sizes and each one is made to meet the specific nutritional requirements of your fish depending on their growth stage.
- Fish Care Products – Examples of fish care products include thermometers, fishnets and therapy solutions.
- Gardening Supplies – Examples of gardening supplies include sprayers, and pruning shears among others.
- Pest Management Supplies – As an Aquaponic system owner you will need several pest management supplies because pests can ruin your plants and eventually this can lead to a domino effect that can also result to the death of your fish. There are very specific products you can use that are safe for Aquaponic systems.
- Seeds and Seed Starting Supplies – You will also be required to have a constant supply of germination trays or a seed starting kit and seeds to help your plants grow to a good start.
Now that we have finished discussing and enumerating our software supplies we will now go to the hardware supplies or the pieces of equipment and materials you need to construct and put up your system. The following are the components you need for your Aquaponics system.
- Fish Tank or Fish Tanks
- Grow Bed or Grow Beds – Examples of grow beds include wicking beds, DWC (Deep Water Culture) or Media beds.
- Grow Bed Stands – The stands are needed to support the weight of your grow beds.
- Sump Tank – This one is optional and it will depend on the quantity of your media beds.
- Plumping Pipe and Fittings – Your plumbing pipe and fittings will depend on the type and number of grow beds you have and system layout to name a few.
- Stand Pipes and Siphons – These are the tools you need to have in order to flood and drain your media beds. We highly recommend you use bell siphons since you can utilize them in almost all systems.
- Water Pump – The size of your water pump will depend on the required tank exchange rate, the number of grow beds, pump head height the widths and the number of fittings and your plumbing lengths.
- Filtration System – This is an active carbon filter or a de-chlorination solution given to detoxify incoming water from chloramines and chlorine that can destroy your bacteria and your fish.
- Aerator, Air Stones and Airlines – These are needed for your Deep Water Culture Beds and your fish tank.
- Grow Lights– Grow lights are optional depending on the availability of sunlight and the location of your system.
- Liner – Again this is an option if you are building your own Deep Water Culture troughs and custom tanks.
- Heating Elements – Heating elements are also optional depending on your fish species, and water temperature and the capacity of your system to maintain consistent temperatures.
- Grow Media – Examples of grow media include inert media, expanded clay or shale.
- Monitoring Systems – There are plenty of options you can find here depending on your current situation and your desire to maintain remote control of system parameters.
- Vertical Systems – These are also an option if you want to use vertical space.
- Backup Systems – Back up systems are optional but it is strongly recommended in cases of power failure and power outages so you can save the lives of your fish.
- Timers and Controllers – These are needed for pumping and lighting and other systems that need occasional operation.
Now you are ready to build and grow!
We are hoping that you will find this startup-planning checklist helpful to get your supplies, space and your equipment organized before you start building your system. The succeeding steps are made to get your system constructed, flowing water and cycling and adding fish species and plants to your system.Social tagging: Aerator > API kit > cooling > Cycling Kit > Grow Media > heating > Liner > pH Adjusters > Sump Tank > system components > system supplies > ventilation > Water Pump


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You are currently browsing the daily archive for January 4, 2010.
Ooops, I see that a year ago I intended to add phototiura to my blogroll, and got distracted . . . never happened til now. And here was that "bright lights" post almost a year ago; to see the other two, just type "bright lights" into the search window.
Mimicking a question from "bright lights," guess the whereabouts 0f the light below. Answer at end of post.
Here, within Fort Story, is old Cape Henry light, the FIRST ever public works project of the US federal government; winning bid went to a New York bricklayer for just over $17,000 dollars. It took about a year to complete.
After a century of use, it was replaced in 1881 by the new Cape Henry light.
The old Cape Henry light is open
Here are both lights as seen from the Chesapeake Bridge-Tunnel. Correct me if I'm missing some alternate explanations, but there were a full dozen bulkers anchored just outside the CBT, Is this an uncommon economic indicator?
Cape Charles light, on the opposite side of the mouth of the Chesapeake is a skeleton tower.
Those ponies are fattening themselves on cold salt marsh grass, so the light out beyond the loblolly pines must be the
Assateague light, marking the channel between Assateague and Chincoteague. By the way, just south of Chincoteague is an island popular for birding and fishing called . . . Assawoman. Would I kid about that?
I had to foto the caveat at the end of the first paragraph below. I do respect the honesty.
Benjamin Harrison was president from 1889 until 1893; I wonder if he launched an investigation of lighthouse effectiveness after the wreck of Despatch. What has become of past presidential yachts? Who was the last president to enjoy an official presidential yacht?
All fotos by Will Van Dorp, whose journey to be smitten by the beauty of other watersheds and ports soon ends. Back to work.
Top lighthouse was Tybee Island Light Station, just east of Savannah. "Tybee" is the Yuchi word for "salt." Hmm.
Anyone have more lighthouse fotos/stories to share?


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Eagle ScreamSound effect of Eagle Scream.
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So far, we've heard a lot of bluster coming from Barack Obama and his allies on Capitol Hill about how the voters will punish Republicans for opposing a series of gun-control measures that didn't even keep all the Democrats in the fold. The real problem with "the audacity of mope," as National Hotline's Josh Kraushaar writes today, is that voters may end up punishing Democrats in key 2014 Senate contests. Obama and the Democrats just learned the wrong lesson over their spectacular and embarrassing failure, and may lose the Senate as a result:
If this doesn't demonstrate the limitations of the president's political muscle and the influence of his newly minted Organizing for Action lobbying group, I don't know what does. Yet, despite the embarrassing setback, Obama nonetheless argued that he still held the upper hand, politically: "If this Congress refuses to listen to the American people and pass commonsense gun legislation, then the real impact is going to have to come from the voters." That couldn't misread the political environment heading into 2014 anymore. That's the audacity of mope.
Put simply, the 2014 Senate elections will be fought predominantly on the very turf that is most inhospitable to gun control–Southern and Mountain West conservative states. It's no coincidence that three of the four Democrats who opposed the Toomey-Manchin bill are facing difficult reelections in 2014 and presumably are attuned to the sentiments of their constituents. Blame the National Rifle Association for the bill's failure, but the lobby is feeding into already deeply held opposition to gun regulations and a broader sense of anxiety about the president's and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's intentions–particularly given the president's past publicized remark about "bitter" rural voters who "cling to their guns and religion." It doesn't take much for the gun-rights crowd, significant in these states, to jump to inaccurate conclusions given that history.
And how do the White House or allied groups plan on punishing gun-control opponents? The notion of challenging the Second Amendment is as fanciful as it is self-defeating. Democratic primary voters in the deep South have significantly different views on gun rights than their coastal counterparts. Even if they support expanded background checks, the chance of landing a candidate running a one-issue campaign against brand-name Democrats like Mark Pryor and Mark Begich defies common sense. Three years ago in Arkansas, liberals poured their money and manpower in to defeat former Sen. Blanche Lincoln in a primary with the state's lieutenant governor. Even though Lincoln was unpopular in the state–later losing reelection to Republican Sen. John Boozman by 21 points–she fended off the challenge.
In fact, Kraushaar wonders if Obama is signaling to Democrats who abandoned him that he won't be doing much to stave off Republican challengers next year:
Surely the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which has its hands full with the competing interests of its incumbents, doesn't want to see the type of internal conflict that's riven their Republican counterparts over the last four years. They've encouraged their vulnerable Southern members up for reelection to cultivate independent brands, to show they don't follow the president blindly. That's what Pryor, Begich, and Sen. Max Baucus of Montana did in opposing the background-check compromise. Obama didn't say it outright, but he came awfully close to suggesting he won't be supporting members of his own party who deserted him at a key moment of his presidency.
Kraushaar later concludes that Obama's impotence on gun control will damage the chances for a White House win on immigration reform. Perhaps, but the two issues don't line up all that closely; there are different constituencies in gun rights and immigration reform, and the problem in the latter issue is clearly a lack of government action for people on both sides of the issue. It might lessen the influence that Obama has on the outcome (if any) for immigration reform, but Obama hasn't really been part of that effort in any significant degree anyway. That wasn't the case on gun control, where Obama pulled his party into a fight it had long avoided, and for good reasons.
Kraushaar's colleague Jill Lawrence claims that Democrats will continue fighting for gun control, blaming an "intensity gap" for Obama's loss. But is that what really happened? Even her own analysis seems to argue otherwise:
Many blame the intensity gap for what Giffords describes as a Senate in thrall to the gun lobby. How intense is the NRA? Here's an example from former Sen. Ted Kaufman, who was Vice President Joe Biden's chief of staff in 1994,when Biden was the lead senator on a crime bill that included a 10-year assault-weapons ban. During Biden's 1996 campaign, Kaufman told me, a fellow from Biden's office was going fishing in rural southern Delaware. He drove down a dirt road, got out, and walked another mile, to a stream, "and some guy comes by and hands him an anti-Joe Biden leaflet from the NRA," Kaufman said. "These are incredibly dedicated folks."
But …
Bloomberg was the first to play hardball in campaigns through his super PAC, Independence USA. The other group he founded, the bipartisan Mayors Against Illegal Guns, announced this week it is scoring senators on their gun votes–just like the National Rifle Association. Obama is urging Americans to "sustain some passion about this" and tell members of Congress that if they don't support expanded background checks, "you will remember come election time." There's no doubt that Organizing for Action, the political group dedicated to his agenda, will remember.
So will Giffords, the former congresswoman who was shot in the head two years ago in Tucson, Ariz., and now leads gun-safety efforts through her group Americans for Responsible Solutions. "Mark my words: If we cannot make our communities safer with the Congress we have now, we will use every means available to make sure we have a different Congress, one that puts communities' interests ahead of the gun lobby's," she wrote Wednesday night in a gut-wrenching New York Times op-ed.
A day before the Senate vote, Mark Kelly–Giffords's husband–said they will try to oust Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a longtime Giffords friend, if he opposed sensible gun-safety measures. His vote Wednesday helped kill the bipartisan compromise that would have expanded background checks to online and gun-show sales. Yet Flake is not up for reelection until 2018, and therein lies the challenge: Will anyone remember this issue, and the impact of these votes, by then?
Combine that with the massive grassroots efforts from Obama's OFA and the media blitz that overwhelmingly favored gun-control legislation, and you have to wonder how anyone could believe that the NRA was winning an "intensity gap." Morning Joe, the most moderate of MSNBC's shows, and CNN's primetime host Piers Morgan went on full-time campaigns for the assault-weapons ban and universal background checks, for instance. All of this took place in the immediate aftermath of a horrific massacre of the most innocent of victims. And yet, Gallup showed that only 4% thought gun control was the most important issue facing the nation, even after all the hysterical coverage and rhetoric.
Obama lost because he miscalculated the mood of the nation, and the danger to Democrats in pushing gun control. And that may make him a very lonely Democrat in DC by 2015.
Update: Matt Lewis sums up the "90% support" issue nicely:
I'm not saying that the polls were skewed, but rather, that they are easily misinterpreted. The fact that 90 percent of Americans favor something is largely irrelevant. Most Americans probably favor chocolate over vanilla, but that doesn't mean they are intent on doing anything about it.
When measuring polls, it's important to weigh intensity versus preference. According to Gallup, just 4 percent of Americans see guns as the most pressing problem to be addressed. So the support for gun control is an inch deep and a mile wide.
Why does this matter? It tells us that while Americans might prefer background checks, but it's not an issue that will drive them to the polls. Meanwhile, the minority of Americans who want to defend the 2nd Amendment are likely much more passionate.
The experts agree. Consider this quote from Dan Balz's column: "If you ever wanted a textbook example of intensity trumping preference, this is it," said Ross K. Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University."


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THURSDAY, Oct. 3, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- Reading award-winning literature may boost your ability to read other people, too, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that when they had volunteers read works of acclaimed "literary fiction," it seemed to temporarily improve their ability to interpret other people's emotions. The same was not true of nonfiction or "popular" fiction -- the mystery, romance and science-fiction books that often dominate best-seller lists.
Experts said the findings, reported online in the Oct. 3 issue of Science, suggest that literature might help people be more perceptive and engaged in their lives.
"Reading literary fiction isn't just for passing the time. It's not just an escape," said Keith Oatley, a professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto. "It also enables us to better understand others, and then take that into our daily lives."
Oatley was not involved in the new research, but worked on some of the first studies to suggest that reading literature can boost people's empathy for others. His team has found that those who read a lot of fiction tend to show greater empathy on standard tests, but the same is not true of avid nonfiction fans.
That type of study cannot prove that literature boosts empathy -- empathetic folks may just be drawn to reading fiction. But the new study does offer "cause-and-effect" evidence, Oatley said.
For the study, researchers at the New School for Social Research, in New York City, set up a series of five experiments in which participants read either literary fiction, popular fiction, nonfiction or nothing at all before taking some standard tests.
One test is known as "Reading the Mind in the Eyes." People have to look at photos of actors' eyes, and then guess what emotion is being expressed in each. The test is considered a measure of empathy.
Overall, study participants fared better on the test after reading literary fiction, versus the other three conditions.
It was a small improvement, according to lead researcher David Comer Kidd, a Ph.D. candidate in social psychology. "It's not like taking people from a (grade) 'C' to an 'A,'" he said.
But, Kidd added, the effect was seen after only about 10 minutes reading, and it was a statistically strong finding -- meaning it's unlikely to have been due to chance.
"Literary" fiction has no hard-and-fast definition. So Kidd and colleague Emanuele Castano chose contemporary works that have won or been finalists for prestigious literary awards. They included "The Round House," by Louise Erdrich, "Salvage the Bones," by Jesmyn Ward and the short story "Corrie" by Alice Munro.
"Popular" fiction included best-sellers like "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn, and Danielle Steel's "The Sins of the Mother."
What's so special about literary fiction? "For one, it's usually more focused on characters than on plot," Kidd noted. But beyond that, he said, there is usually no single "authoritative narrator" who takes us through the story.
"It demands that the reader almost become a writer and fill in the gaps. You really have to think about the characters," Kidd said.
Oatley agreed. "Alice Munro doesn't tell you what to think," he said. "You, yourself, have to make inferences about characters. And that's often what we're doing in our real-life conversations."
Or at least that's what people could do. Often, Kidd said, their daily interactions with other people are more automatic, and don't involve deep consideration.
Reading could offer a way to "practice" your social skills and use them more in real life, according to another researcher not involved in the study.
"It's like how pilots train in a flight simulator," said Raymond Mar, an associate professor of psychology at York University, in Toronto, who has collaborated with Oatley.
"This is a great study," Mar said of the new report. But he added that the overall research in this area is "still in its infancy" -- and one key question is whether literary fiction really is better than other fiction.
Mar and his colleagues recently found that fans of romance novels tended to do best on tests of empathy. Unlike the current study, that one did not test people after having them read different types of fiction. So it's possible that there is something else about romance-novel readers that makes them more understanding of others.
Still, according to Mar, it's too early to tell people to trade in their Danielle Steel for Alice Munro -- at least if the goal is boosting empathy.
It's also possible that plays, movies or, yes, even TV shows could build your empathy muscles, according to Kidd. But reading may be special, he said, because it provides no visuals and you have to engage your imagination more.
Everyone agreed that the findings suggest literature is important beyond entertainment or improving vocabulary. "There's a common belief that reading literature is frivolous, or not practical," Mar said. "But there's a growing body of evidence that it's important in skills that we need in our lives."
More information
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has more on empathy.