def read(*parts):
    """
    Build an absolute path from *parts* and and return the contents of the
    resulting file.  Assume UTF-8 encoding.
    """
    with codecs.open(os.path.join(HERE, *parts), "rb", "utf-8") as f:
        return f.read()
def _init_signals(self):
        """Initializes the backends and gtk signals """
        self.connect("cursor-changed", self.on_select_row)
        _signals = BackendSignals()
        _signals.connect(_signals.BACKEND_ADDED, self.on_backend_added)
        _signals.connect(_signals.BACKEND_STATE_TOGGLED,
                         self.on_backend_state_changed)