While the general economy has underperformed in the past several years, the crop farming sector has been not just stable, but profitable. A recent University of Illinois report comparing the returns from publicly traded companies from 2007 until the end of the first quarter of 2011 showed an 8.6 percent market value increase from agriculture-related companies and companies in the S&P 500 experienced a decline of 2.7 percent. "We looked at 21 agriculture-related midwestern companies in five sectors: fertilizer, equipment, seed and genetic companies, crop production companies, ...

If it was easy to learn, it will be easy to remember. Psychological scientists have maintained that nearly everyone uses this simple rule to assess their own learning. Now a study published in an upcoming issue Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests otherwise: "Individuals with different theories about the nature of intelligence tend to evaluate their learning in different ways," says David B. Miele of Columbia University, who conducted the study with Bridgid Finn of Washington University in St. Louis and Daniel C. Molden ...

Hampton Inn Atlanta-Southlake Morrow Hotel offers convenient lodging to guests attending the Wild Azalea Festival at Reynolds Nature Preserve in Morrow, GA. The 2nd annual event will take place April 16, 2011 from 10am - 3pm. Visitors can enjoy miles of hiking trails through the 146-acre park featuring hundreds of natural azaleas. Reynolds Nature Preserve is part of Clayton County Parks and Recreation. It is home to many varieties of azaleas including Florida Natives Azaleas and Pinxterbloom Native Azaleas. The park's Wild Azalea Festival includes exhibit displays, live ...

This release is available in German. Many transportation companies in Germany have a serious problem: their trucks are only carrying part loads or returning to base empty. In the German road freight sector, the number of kilometers driven without a load has stagnated at around 20 percent since 2006. But experts expect the volume of road freight to increase dramatically in the near future, and innovative concepts will be needed to prevent a parallel increase in the number of empty trips. Such journeys are uneconomical for the freight carriers, who can only operate ...

PruHealth has announced it is now offering intermediaries the ability to quote on the new products whilst on the road, with the launch of its new iPad quote app. The new PruHealth iPad quote app was made available to download through iTunes and is open to all intermediaries with access to the PruHealth Adviser Zone. The new app is the first of its kind in the industry, giving advisers the opportunity to quote and apply on individual policies and quote for SME groups of 3-9 members. PruHealth worked directly with intermediaries during the development of the app ...

ST. LOUIS – On the cover of a recent edition of the journal Neurosurgery, the highest circulation medical journal in the field, readers saw an artist's intricate depiction of the high-flow brain bypass technique developed by SLU professor of neurosurgery, Saleem Abdulrauf, M.D. Also in the March issue (Volume 63.3) of the journal, Abdulauf shared details of a surgery he performed to treat a patient's brain aneurysm, a weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. A leader in neurosurgery innovation, Abdulrauf's high-flow procedure means improved ...

LV= has teamed up with former England rugby star Matt Perry and cricket legend Mike Gatting OBE to unveil its groundbreaking new kit recycling initiative at The Stewart Hedlam School in Bethnal Green, East London. For the first time, families, schools and clubs will be able to give their unwanted rugby and cricket kit which will be donated to disadvantaged young people in the UK and overseas. With lack of access to equipment cited as one of the greatest barriers to children participating in sport, LV= SOS Kit Aid has set an ambitious goal of providing young people of ...

If you've ever stood in front of a hot stove, watching a pot of water and waiting impatiently for it to boil, you know what it feels like to be a solar physicist. Back in 2008, the solar cycle plunged into the deepest minimum in nearly a century. Sunspots all but vanished, solar flares subsided, and the sun was eerily quiet. "Ever since, we've been waiting for solar activity to pick up," says Richard Fisher, head of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC. "It's been three long years." Quiet spells on the sun are nothing new. They come along ...

This is the second of a six-part series on improving your writing style. Whether you write for business or academic purposes, there are a few golden rules that will help you sharpen up your prose. Part 2: Vary your sentence lengths Back in the day, when I was teaching high school English, the phrase 'varied sentence length' was one of a few key criteria for earning top grades in writing assignments. University students and business writers can likewise attain the same 'top grades' for their writing by remembering this simple ploy. Put simply, sentences that are all ...

The low pressure area formerly known as System 92S has strengthened overnight and developed into Tropical Storm Errol today, April 15. Infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite showed strong thunderstorms near Errol's center, but they remained off-shore from Western Australia's northern coast. An infrared image on April 14 at 0517 UTC (2:47 p.m. Australia/Darwin local time) from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument (that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite) shows that Tropical Storm Errol's strongest thunderstorms with the coldest, highest cloud tops ...

Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast today announced that Sherry Norman Sybesma of Arlington, Texas has been selected as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the council effective immediately after a national search. Ms. Sybesma has been serving as interim CEO since January 1, of this year and will provide the continued vision and leadership for the council three years post realignment - a core business strategy which joined two legacy councils encompassing six counties along the central coast. Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Sybesma said, "Girl Scouts of California's ...

Here is a truth that most women never want to hear and most men will never know about: in nearly every major city in the world, there exists an underground community of men who specialize in one thing, how to seduce beautiful women. In less than 5 years an "almost science" of seduction has developed and these underground communities of men practice day and night these devastatingly effective techniques that seduce and make women happily fall for their charm. This is not fiction. This subject exists, these men exist, and they are pushing the boundaries of this coveted science ...

The series everyone is talking about, ITV's 'The Only Way is Essex', paints an interesting 'Hollywoodafied' picture of the UK's south eastern county. However, Park Resorts, the caravan holiday specialists, note there has been a positive correlation between the show's airing and the increasing interest in their Essex holidays Andy Edge from Park Resorts comments: "Since the airing of the show, we've seen a massive increase in popularity for our Essex holidays. In the last 2 weeks, bookings taken in March for our Essex parks have improved by 15% since last year. Off the ...

Free bingo site Costa Bingo has decided to reward its members in order to celebrate it second birthday. The online bingo provider has become synonymous with no deposit free bingo over the last eighteen months and this guaranteed jackpot has an unprecedented prize for a free game. Bingo Social and other affiliate sites are billing this event as a winner takes all game and therefore urging bingo fans to get involved. If more than one player manages to win this hugely lucrative game of bingo then the prize may be shared but there is a high chance that the whole GBP100,000 ...

You're less than hours away from your date with an amazing person. You know the time and the place, but you have no clue what to wear, and you haven't begun to think about how to transform from a workday mess into a nighttime showstopper. We've all been there! Busy and looking for love, with barely enough time to spare to find a look that would "wow" any potential suitor. Help is on the way! On August 1st, 2011, The Style Suite by Shawn Mackenzi, an upscale and exclusive style lounge that helps singles prepare for their next date, will open its doors to single men and ...

During its grand opening, Eagle Rock Bed and Breakfast will offer 10% discounts off their regular room rates, as well as a bottle of local wine with each two night stay. According to proprietor Jim Chilcoat, "Eagle Rock prides itself as being one of the nicest, yet most affordable bed and breakfasts on Vancouver Island." This elegant guest house offers luxury bed and breakfast accommodations with en-suite rooms designed for extra comfort and an inclusive wholesome English breakfast made from freshly grown and sourced local produce. Chilcoat states, "Eagle Rock is equally ...

Social websites are definitely the current buzz of the Internet with many sites wanting to be that hub that connects users to content and other individuals across the web. And with many users looking to take matters into their own hands, people are keen on creating their own version of such a site. But before building a social website, users frequently research what options they have, and if using a third party, what other sites use them. One of the top social network platforms out there is SocialGO, who have a wide range of brand name clients, as well as small businesses ...

As the world of ecommerce continues to quickly evolve, companies like Niche Retail, a Magento Enterprise Partner, have been taking full advantage of the online retail tools currently available in the market. By operating as a fully functional ecommerce, customer service and distribution operation for brand owners and manufacturers, Niche Retail has been making ecommerce possible for brands who may not have easy access into a crowded and confusing marketplace. In an online world packed with large scale operations like Amazon and Ebay, Niche Retail has been giving others ...

Daniel Milstein of Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group has been ranked the #1 loan originator in the United States, according to the Scotsman Guide's Top Originator's 2010 List. Milstein's ranking is based on the volume of loans he closed in 2010. "I'm certainly pleased to be ranked as the top producing loan originator in the United States again this year," said Milstein. "It's a confirmation of my success as an originator and having a very loyal base of customers, as well as Gold Star's commitment to providing the highest level of personal financial services. Our overriding ...

It's not always easy to come up with a gift for a baby. FaveCraft.com and Red Heart Yarns have come together to create a comprehensive eBook filled with adorable knitting patterns for babies. Each of these projects makes a practical gift for any little one. Most babies arrive in the summer, according to a 2006 study from the Centers for Disease Control. In fact, August is the peak time for mothers to welcome their newest bundles of joy. While summer may not seem like it's around the corner, preparation is key when creating the perfect knit or crochet baby gift. Starting ...

Reinforcing its position as a leading news portal for green living, TreeLiving.com is pleased to announce their partnership with two leading eco-friendly companies, Planet Home Remodeling and Sunny Life Solar. Under the terms of their agreement, Planet Home Remodeling will sponsor TreeLiving's recently launched Facebook game, select online series, news content and the website's monthly newsletter. Sunny Life Solar will also sponsor the newsletter as well as select series and the "Weekly Facts" series of online videos. "We are proud to partner with Planet Home Remodeling ...

The Hepatitis B Foundation, celebrating its 20th anniversary as the global authority dedicated to eliminating hepatitis B worldwide, is pleased to announce that Joan Block, RN, BSN, executive director and co-founder, will be honored with Penn Asian Senior Services' 2011 Distinguished Health Leader Award. Each year, Penn Asian Senior Services (PASSi) through its Distinguished Health Leader Award recognizes one individual who has made a significant contribution in the area of health for Asians in the United States. PASSi cited Block's dedication to eliminating hepatitis B ...

American Sensor Technologies, Inc. (www.astsensors.com) has obtained 79/2009/EC approval for two pressure ranges of its AST Model AST2000 and Model AST4000 OEM pressure sensors. The approval is a necessary European Community Directive for components and systems intended for installation on hydrogen-powered vehicles. "This approval allows AST to serve the growing market of hydrogen powered vehicles. We are the only EC79 approved sensor supplier in the world." - Karmjit Sidhu, Vice President Business Development and AST Co-Founder The 79/2009/EC approval was obtained ...

Media Music Now is excited to expand its voice over services to include voice imaging for DJs and radio stations. It seemed a natural progression for a company that already provides royalty free music, voice overs and audio production services to a global client base. "Mostly we provide audio services to a corporate client base, however due to an increased number of enquiries from DJs and radio stations, it seemed the next obvious step for us to expand our voice over services to include DJ drops, intros and radio imaging. Voice imaging is a competitive marketplace ...

Blue Skies Recycling, a full service recycling company specializing in food and organics waste collection for composting, unveiled its new and improved, user-friendly and interactive website. With the makeover in full effect, visitors can explore new features, new facts, and new tips on how to make their business more sustainable. BlueSkiesRecycling.com now provides visitors with insight into the extensive history of Blue Skies and its founders, and addresses the unique needs and challenges of today's business owners. With waste disposal in his blood- literally- Blue ...