9 Steps for Displaying a Living Christmas Tree

9 Steps for Displaying a Living Christmas Tree Some people  really hate to buy a tree only to turn around and throw it away. You may be one of them.  Displaying a potted  living Christmas tree  can perk up the season and can provide a tree for your yard or landscape a few days after the holiday, to commemorate an extra-special season.  A containerized Colorado blue spruce  is especially good for preserving if you live in an area where it thrives. Your local nursery can advise you on the type to purchase for your landscape. It  is not hard to keep a potted tree alive long enough to  plant,  but you need to be careful in following these recommendations exactly to improve the  trees survival chances. For one, it can be inside  only  from four to  10  days. You also need to expect to give the tree several days of your attention before and after bringing  it  inside.   Advance Prep Local nurseries will have potential conifers that can be purchased several months in advance for delivery near Christmas.  If you live in a climate where the ground  freezes, you  need to dig  a planting hole during moderate temperatures because the tree needs to be planted shortly after Christmas. No matter the climate, youll want to know where the tree will go to  ensure that it will thrive  (with the proper soil, sun, etc.). Caring for a Living Christmas Tree Your tree will come in a container with soil or as a bare-root tree that is  balled in burlap (b-n-b). If its a b-n-b tree, youll need mulch and a bucket to bring it indoors.  But first, you start in the garage. Gradually  over time, introduce your living tree from outside to inside. Take three or four days using the garage or enclosed porch for acclimatization. A tree that is dormant and exposed to immediate warmth will start to grow. You want to avoid any quick resumption of growth.  Youll also need to reverse the acclimation process exactly to plant the tree after the holiday  celebration.While the tree is on your porch or garage, check for insects and insect egg masses.Visit your nearest lawn and garden supply store and purchase a spray with an anti-desiccant or anti-wilt chemical to minimize needle loss. Use it while the tree is in the garage. This particular product also prevents  the loss of valuable moisture  for the tree coming into a climate-controlled home.  When finally taking the tree inside, locate your tree in the coolest part of the room and away from heat ducts, to keep the tree moist.Place the tree in its container in a large galvanized tub or a comparable item, keeping the  root ball  intact. Stabilize the tree in the tub in a straight and vertical position using rocks or bricks.  This tub confines water and needles into a more manageable and cleanable space. It will also contain any mess you might have and limit problems associated with a live tree inside the home.   If it is a b-n-b tree, place it in a smaller container inside the tub, if it doesnt fit the tub snugly. Fill any empty space around and on top of the root ball with mulch to retain as much moisture as possible.  Water your tree in its container directly as often as necessary to moisten the roots, but do not get them soggy. Never overwater beyond moist.Leave your tree inside no longer than seven to 10 days (some experts suggest only four days). Never add nutrients or fertilizers, as they may initiate growth, which you dont want to occur in a dormant tree.Carefully introduce tree back outside using the reverse procedure of keeping it in your garage for a few days, and then plant it in the ground.

How Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Works

How Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Works In the quest for ever-improving fuel efficiency and emissions reduction, an old and very promising idea has found new life. HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) technology has been around for a long time but has recently received renewed attention and enthusiasm. While the early years saw many insurmountable (at the time) obstacles whose answers would only come as sophisticated computer controlled electronics were developed and matured into reliable technologies, progress stalled. Time has, as it always does, worked its magic and nearly every problem has been solved. HCCI is an idea whose time has come with nearly all of the parts and pieces of technology and know-how in place to make a real go of it. What is HCCI? An HCCI engine is a mix of both conventional spark-ignition and diesel compression ignition technology. The blending of these two designs offers diesel-like high efficiency without the difficult- and expensive- to deal with NOx and particulate matter emissions. In its most basic form, it simply means that fuel (gasoline or E85) is homogeneously (thoroughly and completely) mixed with air in the combustion chamber (very similar to a regular spark-ignited gasoline engine), but with a very high proportion of air to fuel (lean mixture). As the engines piston reaches its highest point (top dead center) on the compression stroke, the air/fuel mixture auto-ignites (spontaneously and completely combusts with no spark plug assist) from compression heat, much like a diesel engine. The result is the best of both worlds: low fuel usage and low emissions. How Does HCCI Work? In an HCCI engine (which is based on the four-stroke Otto cycle), fuel delivery control is of paramount importance in controlling the combustion process. On the intake stroke, fuel is injected into each cylinders combustion chamber via fuel injectors mounted directly in the cylinder head. This is achieved independently from air induction which takes place through the intake plenum. By the end of the intake stroke, fuel and air have been fully introduced and mixed in the cylinders combustion chamber. As the piston begins to move back up during the compression stroke, heat begins to build in the combustion chamber. When the piston reaches the end of this stroke, sufficient heat has accumulated to cause the fuel/air mixture to spontaneously combust (no spark is necessary) and force the piston down for the power stroke. Unlike conventional spark engines (and even diesels), the combustion process is a lean, low temperature and flameless release of energy across the entire combustion chamber. The entire fuel mixture is burned simultaneously producing equivalent power, but using much less fuel and releasing far fewer emissions in the process. At the end of the power stroke, the piston reverses direction again and initiates the exhaust stroke, but before all of the exhaust gases can be evacuated, the exhaust valves close early, trapping some of the latent combustion heat. This heat is preserved, and a small quantity of fuel is injected into the combustion chamber for a pre-charge (to help control combustion temperatures and emissions) before the next intake stroke begins. Challenges for HCCI An ongoing developmental problem with HCCI engines is controlling the combustion process. In traditional spark engines, combustion timing is easily adjusted by the engine management control module changing the spark event and perhaps fuel delivery. Its not nearly so easy with HCCIs flameless combustion. Combustion chamber temperature and mixture composition must be tightly controlled within quickly changing and very narrow thresholds that include parameters such as cylinder pressure, engine load and RPMs and throttle position, ambient air temperature extremes and atmospheric pressure changes. Most of these conditions are compensated for with sensors and automatic adjustments to otherwise normally fixed actions. Included are individual cylinder pressure sensors, variable hydraulic valve lift and electromechanical phasers for camshaft timing. The trick isnt so much as getting these systems to work as it is getting them to work together, very quickly, and over many thousands of miles an d years of wear and tear. Perhaps just as challenging though will be the problem of keeping these advanced control systems affordable. Advantages of HCCI Lean combustion returns 15 percent increase in fuel efficiency over a conventional spark ignition engine.Cleaner combustion and lower emissions (especially NOx) than a conventional spark ignition engine.Compatible with gasoline as well as E85 (ethanol) fuel.Fuel is burned quicker and at lower temperatures, reducing heat energy loss compared to a conventional spark engine.Throttleless induction system eliminates frictional pumping losses incurred in traditional (throttle body) spark engines. Disadvantages of HCCI High cylinder pressures require stronger (and more expensive) engine construction.More limited power range than a conventional spark engine.The many phases of combustion characteristics are difficult (and more expensive) to control. It is clear that HCCI technology offers superior fuel efficiency and emissions control compared to the conventional tried-and-true spark ignition gasoline engine. Whats not-so-certain yet is the ability of these engines to deliver these characteristics inexpensively, and, probably more importantly, reliably over the life of the vehicle. Continued advancements in electronic controls have brought HCCI to the precipice of workable reality, and further refinements will be necessary to push it over the edge into everyday production vehicles.

The New Deal - Critical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The New Deal - Critical Analysis - Essay Example Roosevelt’s address was then followed by that of Hoover’s in 1936 that was more or less an overt display of animosity between the republicans and democrats but it also contained significant details regarding the New Deal. As promised by Roosevelt, the New Deal was meant to steer the American economy out of recession but naturally, the entire conservative faction opposed it, as it infringed upon the inalienable constitutional right of the people that there right to liberty. Despite the pressing issue of recession at hand, the speeches seemed more or less like a duel between the Democratic and Republican ideology, perhaps in this regard Hoover generated a much more aggressive response. Hoover compared the government under Roosevelt and the ‘New Deal’ as the European movement at that time; an oppressive regime that shackled the American citizens and was also deemed worse than the bondage of Egyptian. (p. 182) Such extreme analogies clearly gives an unbiased re ader or listener the idea that it was meant to undermine the support Roosevelt had garnered over the years and would definitely overshadow the positive sides of the New Deal, if there were any. Reading Roosevelt’s speech, getting the government involved in the regulation of economy not only has its advantage but as Hoover saw it, this created a greater barrier because corruption and lack of checking on government can cause them to use the wealth for their own benefits. However, in this regard Hoover’s reign was marred by such unethical practices as pointed out by Roosevelt. However, this only affirmed the aforementioned point that both speeches were like onslaught on both parties rather than actually suggestions for reforms to help the nation out of the recession spiral. An interesting aspect of Hoover’s speech that was ostensible even with a quick perusal was that his ideology and propositions largely rested upon abstract views, which held its appeal vastly amo ngst the population that was driven by its idealistic sensibilities. As further highlighted by Huey Long in his 1935 address, Hoover’s abstract thoughts and even more abstract plans to help the American society was exactly why Roosevelt won support and eventually assumed the responsibility of the state. Long stated, â€Å"It is not out of place for me to say that the support which I brought to Mr. Roosevelt to secure his nomination and election as president - and without which it was hardly probable that he would ever have been nominated – was on the assurances which I had that he would take the proper stand for the redistribution of wealth in the campaign.† (p. 175) On the other hand, Herbert Hoover just made vague allusions to an ideal American society unlike, Roosevelt’s firm assurances and promises to adopt the right steps in order to redistribute wealth. Long’s speech actually provides the views of an individual who at first backed Rooseveltâ €™s election but later on opposed some of the shortcomings of his New Deal that hardly had any impact on the current problems that deepened the crisis stemming from the unfair distribution of wealth, therefore it provides an interesting perspective not only on Roosevelt’s policy but sheds great light on the standard of living of the American citizens. Therefore, Long’

Mary Barnett Trial Handoutiter's choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mary Barnett Trial Handoutiter's choice - Essay Example The case was categorized as a second degree murder because Mary Barnett was charged with intentional murder without premeditation. I have been asked to be on the jury to review the testimony and claims of the defendant, prosecution, and witnesses, and to come up with a fair verdict. Caroline Hospers’ statement clearly indicates that Mary Barnett was addicted to liquor products, and she could never carry out the duties and responsibilities of a good mother. In other words, Barnett had been following a bad lifestyle mainly because she lived without a husband. Hospers’ argument that Barnett went to visit her fiancà © ‘just to party and have a good time’ with him cannot be taken into account because it is Hospers’ personal view only (Chaffee para 4). Perhaps, Barnett and Caroline might not be in good terms, and therefore Hospers’ observation that ‘the baby was not taken care of properly’ should not be considered in order to support prosecution arguments (Chaffee para 4). Officer Mitchell tells that Barnett intentionally left her baby to get to California in time and she was aware that she would not be back for a while. Referring to Barnett’s initial responses, Mitchell asserts that Barnett was really informed of what she was going to do when she planned to leave the baby unattended in the apartment. Taking care of the baby was not the first priority of Barnett because she was extremely excited to visit her fiancà © at that time. Although Barnett had tried to arrange a babysitter for Alison, she could not find one, and therefore she just decided to leave her baby in the apartment for a few days. While analyzing the view of Dr. Parker, a professional psychiatrist, the defendant is competent to stand the trail on the charges she was accused of because Barnett developed depression and anxiety problems only after the shocking death of her daughter. According to Dr. Parker, Barnett â€Å"was mentally competent on

Essay Example for Free

Essay The objective of this paper is to compare the major players in the beverage/soft drink industry, Pepsi Co. Coca Cola Co. This paper will give you sound information on which company to invest in as well as taking a deeper look at both companies over all. My analysis will be made based on the company’s income statements, horizontal, vertical analysis, balances sheets and financial statement ratios. This along with other information should give you a clear picture of which company is the best company to invest in. Researching this analysis is needed find the soundest corporation for investment. Out of the myriad of sodas, Coca Cola and PepsiCo. are the most recognized name and the most known rivalry in the soft drink industry. Coca-Cola owns the somewhat disputed title as being the best cola brand worldwide. Some on the other hand know PepsiCo as the rival brand because Coca Cola has had such great marketing and advertising. In 2004, PepsiCo achieved marginally growth rate in net profit and sales, where Coca Cola has maintained profit margin. The PepsiCo. presented lower short-term liquidity risk to investors compared to Coca Cola. Coca Cola and PepsiCo. There was low long-term solvency risk with PepsiCo’s risk being marginally greater than Coca Cola’s. PepsiCo’s overall asset in my opinion was more proficient than Coca Cola. These and other companies help investor confidence and market share with their sales margins. PepsiCo stock is dividend-generating stock, but Coca Co la has had a higher yield and payout. Coca Cola has had a superior profit margin and dividends are lucrative to investors in this industry but PepsiCo’s diversification, low short-term liquidity risk, low long- term solvency risk, make it a proficient asset application for PepsiCo stock look like a better investment. The competition between these two soda giants is strong. Having said that, there is still a point where price is not the issue but taste. Some people swear by the taste in this loyal brand market. These two corporations have concentrated on cultivating brand management through applicable advertising, marketing campaigns. According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, â€Å"Coca-Cola remains the best globally recognized brand across all industries for ages, while PepsiCo’s brand ranked number 26 in year 2008.† PepsiCo has been able differentiate itself from competitors by tapping into other markets like chips and healthy alternative foods. While PepsiCo is known for their soda, their expansion is clear in showing there is a need for other things being non-soda. The time for vitality comes with diversification because there are true signs of a shift in consumption. The decrease in soda consumption raises PepsiCo. has positioned it to continue to remain profitable for its shareholde rs. The income statement of PepsiCo’s COS to sales percentage slightly rose from 43.31% in year 2004. Coca-Cola’s five-year average COS to sales percentage was only 35.26%, much lower than PepsiCo. Coca Cola was able to achieve a higher gross profit margin with lower COS to sales percentage. PepsiCo is the consequence of its tougher pricing structure. â€Å"PepsiCo arguably has the most diverse set of distribution systems of any consumer product company, including direct store delivery (DSD) at Frito-Lay and our bottling partners, warehouse delivery for Quaker products, and warehouse delivery and chilled DSD at Tropicana. The reach and scale of these systems provide considerable cost efficiency and system effectiveness in driving value. Our systems deliver product freshness and quality for the consumer; generate cash flow for our retail customers, and pro- vide economic value for PepsiCo. Our products respond very well to merchandising, and need to be replenished ofte n because they sell so quickly. By having our DSD associates deliver products and stock the shelves themselves, we save retailers money by doing this labor for them, and help make sure our products are fresh, available and displayed to our advantage.† http://www.pepsico.com/Download/2004-Annual-English.pdf According to the Business Insider, Coca Cola has 42% of the market share while Pepsi Co. has 31%. The annual revenue for two companies is $35.2 billion and $57.8 billion respectively. Coca Cola spending roughly $2 billion on advertising while their rival spend around $1.1 billion. http://www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-vs-pepsi-timeline-2013-1?op=1 â€Å"PepsiCo is the largest food-and-beverage company in the United States, and the second-largest in the world, after Nestlà ©. If PepsiCo were a country, the size of its economy—sixty billion dollars in revenues in 2010—would put it sixty-sixth in gross national product, between Ecuador and Croatia. Many studies point to the ubiquity of high-calorie, low-cost processed foods and drinks as one of the major drivers of this condition. Snacks, in particular, play a role in childhood obesity, which is growing even faster than obesity in adults. Americans consume about fifty gallons of soda a year, more than four times the a verage per-capita consumption sixty years ago. Americans also ingest about thirty-four hundred milligrams of sodium per day, twice the recommended amount; sodium has long been linked to high blood pressure. almost half of PepsiCo’s business is overseas (thirty per cent of it in developing countries), foreign markets eventually tend to follow U.S. trends. The markets of the future may well be in â€Å"packaged nutrition†Ã¢â‚¬â€in enriched products like PepsiCo’s SoBe Lifewater, which contains vitamins, and in its pricey Naked line of fruit juices and smoothies, which contain antioxidants. Another growing category is â€Å"functional† foods and beverages, like varieties of the sports drink Gatorade, which PepsiCo markets for specific physiological or metabolic attributes. (Thanks to Gatorade’s new â€Å"fit series,† you can drink G1 Prime before you work out, G2 Perform during your workout, and G3 Recover when you’re cooling down.† http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/16/110516fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=2 The above quote taken from the New Yorker shows that diversity in such a highly competitive beverage market, diversity is needed. Coke depends on the consumption of their product. That is still their main source of revenue for the company. It could be said that maybe PepsiCo is too diverse. I would say I see this as an example of ensuring a proper return to the investor and keeping the integrity of the company. PepsiCo displayed advanced long-term affluence risk due to its higher debt to equity ratio of 1.24 and higher long-term debt to equity ratio of 0.68 on average, compared to Coca-Cola’s 0.90 and 0.29. The soda industry is wide and there are always new players but PepsiCo has managed its debt obligations more so than Coca-Cola by the measure of times interest earned ratio. PepsiCo had a better average return on common equity of 33.92% than Coca-Cola’s 30.29%, whereas both companies had similar return on assets with Coca-Cola’s 16.54% average only being slightly better. PepsiCo and Coca Cola are the leaders in the caramel color soda market. There earning regardless of the company you select show the investor that their staying power is evident. References Books Brigham, E, F, Erhhardth, M, C (2005). Financial Management Theory and Practice. Eleventh Edition. South Western Publishers Thomas, A, (2002). Introduction to Financial Accounting. Fourth Edition. McGraw Hill. Websites Kulawik, A (2009), The development of Coca Cola Advertising Campaigns, retrieved on November 29th, 2010 from, http://images.nexto.pl/upload/publisher/All%20Free%20Media/public/the_development_of_coca-cola_advertising_campaigns_(1886-2007)_demo.pdf Andrew (2002), A brief Pepsi History retrieved on November 29th 2010 from, Day, J (2008), Theme: Analyzing Financial Statements, retrieved on 30th November 2010 from Gattis ,C,G.(2009).Using Financial Ratios http://bluepointstrategies.com/uploads/White_Paper_-_Using_Financial_Ratios.pdf [30th November 2010]

The Controversy Over Internet Censorship Essay example -- Television M

The Controversy Over Internet Censorship   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For many people, using the Internet has become practically a new way of life, especially for college students and the like.   Various types of information can be accessed at the touch of a button: anything from encyclopedias, to surveys and essays, to articles from magazines, and adult sites.   Anyone who pays for their Internet service is usually offered space for his or her own web page, and even many free services provide space for personal web pages.   All of this available space can be used for any number of reasons: posting newsletters for community groups, advertising for businesses, or just voicing one’s opinion.   For those of us who know how to use this information, or at least how to find what we need out of it, it’s a very good thing. But what about children?   If adults can access this information with such ease, what’s stopping kids from checking it out too?   Who decides what’s appropriate for kids and whatâ€⠄¢s not when their parents aren’t constantly leaning over their shoulders?   And what about posting things that may be offensive to other people, no matter what age they might be?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With easy access to the Internet and the multitude of Internet services providing all this free web space, many people decide to take advantage.   A person may have a very strong opinion about a subject and feel the need to voice that opinion on a personal web site, whether it is for the purpose of talking about his or her self, or informing others of a particular issue.   What happens when it’s an opinion that some think is funny, yet others find hurtful and offensive?   Can sites like this be censored in order not to offend people?   But what about the people who find it amusing?   Isn’t t... ...hould take in to consideration the thoughts and feelings of others who may be offended, and should also be aware of the influence their information can have on children and others.  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Works Cited Legislation to Repeal the Internet Censorship Provisions of the Communications Decency Act.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Electronic Privacy Information Center.   19 Jan. 1997. Is There a Right to Speech that Advocates Illegal Acts or Violence?   Electronic Frontier  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Foundation.   Racist Speech on College Campuses.   Electronic Frontier Foundation.   Marriott, Michel.   "Rising Tide: Sites Born of Hate."   New York Times.   18 Mar 1999.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     

Phidias & Associates Essay

In the best interest of the productivity and success of Phidias & Associates, I’d like to suggest the adoption of a corporate strategy already in use by NASA and other leading countries across the world. Corporate napping is an exceptionally cost-effective and efficient way to improve the accuracy, alertness, and speed of workers by as much as 34%. The conversion of Phidias & Associates to a nap friendly zone would enhance the experience of around 92% of employees. Immediate improvements in energy, creativity, problem-solving, and job satisfaction would be in the bright future of this company. The first step to realizing the reality of this advancement is the addition of a nap room to the offices of Phidias & Associates. What other room in our building can offer such impressive gains for our country? A nap room doesn’t need to be elaborate. Many companies utilize a sound proof room, several couches, and a dimmer switch to provide a place for employees to recharge and renew. Rather than rearranging the office space, I’ve discovered an even easier alternative for the company to immediately begin reaping the benefits of corporate napping. The company MetroNaps rents and sells individualized EnergyPods to high-paced future-thinking organizations like Phidias & Associates. For only $12,485, we could purchase an EnergyPod. There’s also the option to rent EnergyPods for only $10/per employee/per month. A productivity boom is only a small investment away! In addition to a place to nap, our employees will require one other change to fully embrace this advancement. In America, a strong negative stigma surrounds the concept of napping in the workforce. This judgment is holding back our country’s and company’s potential for success. Other countries, like Japan, and some of our own country’s top leaders, like Thomas Edison and John Kennedy, utilized napping for its purpose-the restore energy. A few brief informative meetings and distribution of educational materials could change the mindset of Phidias & Associates to view napping as a tool for our company’s growth. Ten and twenty years ago, large and successful companies modernized their facilities by adding fitness centers. Realizing that physical and mental health extends beyond the benefits of exercise, corporate napping is what’s missing from our organization. By becoming a leader in the industry, we can harness the secret gains of this largely unknown trick to boosting productivity. Nap rooms benefit the executives, the employees, and the advancement of Phidias & Associates. Please consider the lofty paybacks of installing a nap room and e-mail me your reply.