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California Hass Avocados 🥑

What Makes an Avocado Delicious? Scientists Seek Clues to Fruit's Flavor As anyone who loves avocados will tell you, the perfect fresh avocado has a smooth, buttery texture and a rich, often nutty flavor. Aroma is, of course, part of what we perceive as flavor. Scientists already know that Hass avocados, the kind that’s most widely sold in the United States, have at least 25 aroma compounds or, technically speaking, aroma volatiles. Though the word “aroma” might imply that they have a role in avocado flavor, the precise contribution of each of these aroma volatiles has, for the most part, not been well studied, according to Agricultural Research Service plant physiologist David Obenland at Parlier, California. The aroma compound pentanal is a good example. It may be responsible for the nutty flavor of a ripe Hass avocado. Right now, however, there’s not enough scientific data to confirm that role, nor to indicate the amount of pentanal needed to impart the nutlike flavor, Obenland ...
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When your child excels at Jigsaw Puzzles

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A toddler excelling at jigsaw puzzles indicates advanced cognitive development, specifically strong visual-spatial skills, high pattern recognition, and excellent hand-eye coordination. It suggests a capability to mentally rotate shapes, understand part-to-whole relationships, and likely demonstrates patience, concentration, and problem-solving abilities above average for their age. What Excelling at Puzzles Indicates: Visual-Spatial Intelligence: They can visualize how pieces fit together and recognize patterns in colors, shapes, and orientations. Advanced Problem-Solving: The child is likely using logical strategies (like finding edge pieces first) rather than just trial-and-error. Fine Motor Control: Developing precision in hand and finger movements (grasping, rotating, fitting). High Focus and Patience: Ability to stay engaged in a task, promoting longer attention spans and emotional regulation (perseverance). Cognitive Maturity: This often reflects strong memory and an ability to ...
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RIP Chris 9.8.62 - 8.27.25

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Suicide Grief: Coping with a Loved One’s Suicide The loss of someone you love from suicide can be devastating. But there are ways to navigate the shock, confusion, and despair and begin the healing process. By Lawrence Robinson and Melinda Smith, M.A. Dealing with suicide loss Facing the loss of a loved one is always difficult, but losing someone to suicide can add another level of pain to your grief. The shock and anguish following a suicide can seem overwhelming. As well as mourning your loved one’s passing, you’re likely also wrestling with a host of conflicting emotions and struggling to come to terms with the nature of their death. You may feel guilty, wishing you’d done more to prevent their suicide, upset at yourself or others for having missed any clues to their intentions, or even angry at your loved one for abandoning you. Many people grieving a suicide start to question the relationship they shared with the person, wondering why it wasn’t enough to keep them alive. Some even...
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