diff --git a/scrapy/core/engine.py b/scrapy/core/engine.py
index c544956a4..e019ada9f 100644
--- a/scrapy/core/engine.py
+++ b/scrapy/core/engine.py
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ class ExecutionEngine(object):
         next loop and this function is guaranteed to be called (at least) once
         again for this spider.
         """
+        print ">>> spider_idle!"
         res = self.signals.send_catch_log(signal=signals.spider_idle, \
             spider=spider, dont_log=DontCloseSpider)
         if any(isinstance(x, Failure) and isinstance(x.value, DontCloseSpider) \
diff --git a/scrapy/signalmanager.py b/scrapy/signalmanager.py
index 4a3e3d92d..a80b32530 100644
--- a/scrapy/signalmanager.py
+++ b/scrapy/signalmanager.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from scrapy.utils import signal
 
 class SignalManager(object):
 
-    def __init__(self, sender=dispatcher.Anonymous):
+    def __init__(self, sender=dispatcher.Any):
         self.sender = sender
 
     def connect(self, *a, **kw):
diff --git a/scrapy/utils/misc.py b/scrapy/utils/misc.py
index 139408939..c2842ca93 100644
--- a/scrapy/utils/misc.py
+++ b/scrapy/utils/misc.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def arg_to_iter(arg):
     """
     if arg is None:
         return []
-    elif not isinstance(arg, dict) and not isinstance(arg, BaseItem) and hasattr(arg, '__iter__'):
+    elif not isinstance(arg, (dict, BaseItem)) and hasattr(arg, '__iter__'):
         return arg
     else:
         return [arg]