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Allspice, known scientifically as Pimenta dioica, is a tree whose berries are harvested and dried for use as a seasoning. The tree grows up to 40 feet tall and produces a sweet, yet peppery scent from its bark, leaves and berries. Pruning an allspice tree keeps it growing in an aesthetically pleasing shape and ensures it remains healthy. To prune allspice, you need about 20 minutes per year and a few supplies from your local gardening store. Ideally, you should prune allspice near the end of summer.
EPS (expanded polystyrene) and EPP (expanded polypropylene) are two types of expanded plastic foam. They are both light, durable and inexpensive to manufacture. Both find extensive use in packing, insulation, model-making and various types of safety gear. The two plastics have different physical properties, making EPS more suitable for some applications and EPP for others. Other differences include the chemicals used in their manufacture and their relative environmental impact.
Social networking website Xat offers dozens of options for customized online chats, including specialized group chat rooms and user-created chat boxes. Thought Xat focuses on human interaction, chat bots – or Xat bots – serve as automated stand-ins capable of simulating normal conversation via artificial intelligence. In most cases, Xat bots act as chat room moderators when human chatters aren't available.
Bluetooth accessories for your phone, MP3 player and computer are a convenient way of extending their capabilities without stringing cables across your office or your person. All Bluetooth peripherals are designed to be used within a 30-foot range of a paired device, while wearable peripherals conserve power by being used within a shorter range, called a personal area network. The number of available devices and their range of prices can make a purchasing decision difficult. Nearly all Bluetooth accessories are compatible with any Bluetooth device, so feel free to buy an iPad keyboard for your Android phone if that's the…
Percent problems using proportions don't have to be stressful as you try to solve them. Get tips on percent problems using proportions with help from a professional math teacher in this free video clip.
Absolute value equations or inequalities have a number of different uses you may not be aware of. Learn about uses for absolute value equations or inequalities with help from an experienced math tutor in this free video clip.
The study and science of hydraulics is properly called fluid mechanics. In automobiles, hydraulics are used most widely for power steering and power braking, although vehicles with manual transmissions often use a hydraulically actuated clutch. Systems that use hydraulic pressure are particularly useful for delivering an enhanced force in direct proportion to the force exerted by the operator, making -- for instance -- light and heavy braking a reliable and predictable event.
As much as human resources professionals must rely on resumes, past work experience, recommendations and the interview process in making hiring decisions, there’s no way to guarantee an applicant will adequately perform in his new position or fit the intangibles of a team environment. Because of this, many large organizations require new hires to undergo a probationary period during which supervisors evaluate them based solely upon on-the-job criteria.
A waveform file, identifiable by its three-letter extension WAV, is the default audio file format for Windows operating systems. Commonly called “waves”, these files represent one of the earliest methods of recording high-quality audio to a digital format. Despite the rise of audio compression codecs such as MP3 and Ogg Vorbis, uncompressed waveforms still find use in many audio applications today.
Named for its inventors, the Yagi-Uda antenna -- often known simply as a Yagi -- is a Japanese-developed radio aerial. Rather than sending or picking up signals on all sides, Yagis are directional antennae that receive and send signals from a specific direction. Because Yagi's focus is only one direction, it doesn't lose as much power over a long distance as an omnidirectional aerial. If you make a phone call from a remote location, the signal is stronger with a Yagi. Yagi antenna also provide television or wireless Internet in remote locales.
Whether you are an avid gardener or a novice just starting out, weeds are a universal problem in almost any outdoor space. If hours of pulling and preening doesn't sound like the perfect way to spend your sunny summer afternoons, try controlling the weeds before they start. Create a physical barrier that keeps unwanted plants from coming up in your bountiful garden or landscaping.
Elementary teachers use all available senses to help students learn and remember new skills and material. Young students learn using all sensory input, but, by age 10, most students choose which sensory input they prefer for learning. Use of multisensory teaching techniques reaches all the students in the classroom, regardless of age. It ensures that every student has a chance to learn.
A toilet placed in a basement may require features that a main or upper-floor toilet does not possess. You have the option of choosing a specialized toilet to fit your existing plumbing, or altering your present plumbing plan to accept a traditional toilet. Either way, it will be necessary to locate your home's main sewage drainage pipe in order to properly assess your needs. Keep in mind that budget restrictions may limit your basement toilet installation options.
The MagicJack telephone service allows you to place and receive calls using your computer's Internet connection. To do so, MagicJack must connect to the closest MagicJack proxy server to your network. This connection is automatic and, while the closest server is most often the best server, you may encounter times when your local server experiences issues. If this is the case, you can force MagicJack to bypass your local server and connect to the next best server.
Of all foundation types, the post and beam is probably the easiest. Unlike concrete or wood foundations, the entire house is resting on the piers or posts you have installed in the ground. Laying the beams on top of them is much easier than actually installing the piers. Piers require a great degree of planning, but once you get the first one, the rest become easier.
Ice and water shield is a membrane material that protects your roof against moisture. It's best uses are as an underlayment for sloped roofs, a waterproofer under certain roofing materials, and as a weather guard in cold climates. Ice and water shield is not intended for all types of roofs in all climates, so understanding how and why it is used can help you determine if your roof would benefit from its installation.
Certain equity strategies are at play when using a normalized return. Find out about equity strategies using a normalized return with help from a certified financial planner in this free video clip.
Brake rotors need to be machined to correct distortion or damage to the braking surfaces. Restricted access to this service or field expediency may force the installation of new pads on bad rotors. Short-lived mobility may allow the avoidance of tow charges and permit the vehicle to reach a suitable repair location. This temporary repair method is not recommended. No reputable repair facility would engage in such activity, and many municipalities enforce legislation that prohibits ineffective or dangerous workmanship on brake systems.
Brambles are prickly, thorny, berry-producing plants of the genus Rubas. They are members of the rose family. Blackberries, raspberries and dewberries are all brambles. Other berries, such as boysenberries and loganberries, are hybrids or cultivars of these berries. Brambles are fast-growing perennials cultivated for their delicious fruit, but because of their fast and thick growth, when found in the wild, they are often considered invasive.
Spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Office, OpenOffice Calc and GoogleDocs, collect data from other cells using cell references. If you copy or move a formula to another cell, its cell references change to reflect the formula's new position. To keep these values constant, you need to format the formula to use absolute references, which are indicated by a dollar sign before the column letters and row numbers, such as "$A$1." Changing each cell reference in a lengthy formula can be tedious, but most spreadsheet programs allow shortcut keystrokes which change all cell references simultaneously.
Properly caring for your Kanekalon Braids makes the difference between a glamorous and lackluster hairstyle. According to Hair Style City, Kanekalon is a well known synthetic fiber used in many standard braids. While Kanekalon braids are used in many salons and available for over-the-counter purchase, improper handling of the braids, for example, can result in the tearing of hair fibers that can damage your scalp and the growth of additional follicles. Consequently, avoiding hair breakage -- natural or otherwise -- is essential for maintaining the health and style of your locks.
A truck's ground is the foundation of its electrical system. A basic electrical system is like a racetrack, with electrons going away from the power source on the positive wires and back toward the power source on the negative. A grounded chassis or engine block is essentially one big negative wire, a return track for electrons. Testing for excess resistance in the ground is one of the simplest things you can do with the electrical system, and an important first step in any troubleshooting procedure.
When taking out a loan on a vehicle or real estate, the lender will determine your loan to value ratio, defined as the amount of the loan compared with the worth of the property. Value includes the vehicle’s fair market value minus the equity you have in it. You can finance your vehicle for more than you paid for it under limited circumstances through institutional lenders, but most dealers are reticent to offer such deals.
SurfaceGard penetrating sealer, made by TileLab, is a liquid sealer formulation designed to repel water, oil, dirt and stains by penetrating into the surface of tile, stone and grouting. SurfaceGard sealer also inhibits mold and mildew growth. It’s intended for use in food preparation areas and on floors and other high-traffic areas. SurfaceGard is nonabrasive, pH-neutral and low-odor. But you must apply it correctly if you want it to last and to protect a surface as it's designed to.
Kwikset deadbolts are designed to provide top-level security to the main entrance of your house. There are several metal tumblers inside the lock; the ridges on the underside of the correct key depress the tumblers the correct amount, allowing the lock to turn. A problem with one of the tumblers will make the lock hard to open. In most cases, there is a way to fix the tumbler without a significant investment of time.
The red, green and blue color space is the most commonly used in computer graphics and imaging. Each color is represented by its own channel, the combination of which produces the full-color images we see onscreen. Some graphics editors, however, support an augmented version of the RGB color space called RGBA, where the “A” represents something known as the alpha channel.
Sony's PlayStation 3 video game console comes with a visualizer feature that transforms the audio being played through the PlayStation 3 system into an image that is displayed on the television's screen. While you cannot purchase additional visualizers for your PS3 system, you can use the visualizers preinstalled on your system and download new visualizers should they be released by Sony.
Insulation is an important part of keeping your home running smoothly and efficiently. When placing insulation in your vaulted ceilings, it is beneficial to install insulation products that have the proper R-value into 2x10 framing. Both rigid foam insulation and blanket insulation fit into framing on vaulted ceilings.
The Impala is a full-size product of Chevrolet, which is a division of General Motors. The model was manufactured between 1957 and 1985, intended to be what Ed Cole -- Chevy’s then chief engineer -- called a “Prestige car within the reach of the average American citizen.” Impala was reintroduced in 1994 for a two-year run, then again in 1999. It still is in production as of November 2011. The Impala has been a popular platform for law enforcement use since its introduction.
Whether you're covering a walkway or xeriscaping your yard, spreading gravel can be a laborious task. Using the right tool goes a long way toward making the job easier and sparing your back muscles from fatigue. If you're moving the gravel by hand, select the right shovel for the job. A heavy-duty shovel that's your size is a sound investment, useful for a range of applications in addition to moving gravel.
The abbreviation “MRP” has two meanings. These are Material Requirements Planning and Manufacturing Resource Planning. The man in the street would be impatient with the distinction, but for industry insiders there is a vast difference between the two. Each is a different manufacturing strategy with the second involving far more work and theory. To complicate matters further, Manufacturing Resource Planning includes a step called Material Requirements Planning. To distinguish the two theories, Material Requirements Planning is abbreviated to MRP I and Manufacturing Resource Planning is called MRP II.
"Violet" is the common name for several plants, including the widespread and easy-to-grow houseplant, African violet. Separate or divide this type of violet when it outgrows its pot. You can also divide a violet for propagation. Typically, each plant can be divided into two, three or four different plants, each of which will grow into its own healthy African violet if properly cared for.
Cement is crucial for a number of commercial and residential construction projects. Driveways, garages and home foundations are all frequently constructed using cement mixed with sand and water. Caulk seals gaps between concrete and other materials. It also seals cracks that appear over time. Using the right caulking for the job ensures that your caulk will create an airtight seal and last for as long as possible.
You should always shop around when buying car insurance to find the best price. Find cheap car insurance with help from a dedicated insurance professional in this free video clip.
The muffler is an important part of the exhaust system on a car. When an engine large enough to power even a small car runs without a muffler, the noise created is extremely loud. Typically, the larger and more powerful the engine, the louder the noise would be. Mufflers were created as a way of reducing and managing the noise created by engines.
It cannot be understated how important it is to warm your car before you drive it. Learn about the importance of warming your vehicle before you drive it with help from an expert in the automotive industry in this free video clip.
When installing ceramic tile in your bathroom, kitchen or laundry area, use cement board as its backer. It stands up to water so well that some municipalities’ building codes require its use. Although cement board resists water, it will not completely protect your home from water damage.
The first in a series of role-playing video games for the PlayStation, the Xbox and other popular consoles, "Star Ocean" plays as a Science Fiction space opera with elements of magical fantasy. The plot involves a strange virus infecting an alien planet and turning its inhabitants to stone. Players can choose from a number of different characters, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. While opinions may vary, the game contains a few players who could be considered better than most others.
Cars require oil as a means to lubricate and cool engine components. The importance of clean oil that contains the correct viscosity at operating temperatures for a specific engine maintains engine performance and life. Oil is a relatively cheap preventive maintenance product, compared to the critical engine components that can fail as the result of dirty oil, lost viscosity and low oil crankcase levels. Every vehicle owner should pay strict attention to the manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals, the specific viscosity and types of oil prescribed for the car.
Cement board is a material made of cement-based fibers and then covered with a nylon mesh. It is a very common construction material, but you have probably never seen it because it tends to be backer board for tile and brick projects throughout a house. Some types of siding are also based on the cement board design. It is rare for cement to develop water damage, but in poor conditions it may become weakened.
Part of the installation process when it comes to WonderBoard is ensuring that the joints have been properly accounted for so that they help the overall installation absorb movement during the seasonal shrinkage and growth of the house. If the joints are not cared for properly, you can have issues ranging from tiles popping up off the floor to cracks in the grout due to excessive movement.
Used as storage for herbs, extracts and medicines, apothecary cabinets still capture home designers’ imaginations. An apothecary cabinet might seem an unlikely candidate for simple living tips, but organization is the cornerstone of simplicity. Apothecary cabinets can have upward of 90 drawers and come in a variety of styles. Using its design appeal and its storage potential can add attractive and useful home elements to your sense of style.
Repairing knotty pine planks may be possible if they are not warped or misshapen from moisture. Complications including the presence of mold or mildew add steps to the knotty pine repair process, and may render the project inappropriate for do-it-yourself repairs if the mold or mildew is severe. Water-damaged knotty pine furniture typically requires professional evaluation and repair, as the contours of drawers and cabinetry require advanced woodworking skills for achieving proper restoration.
Lenders and other creditors report information to the credit bureaus. This data is used by the bureaus to create your individual credit report. Information in your credit report determines your Fair Isaac Corporation, or FICO, credit score, which ranges from 300 up to 850. If you're purchasing a vehicle, it's important to understand how having Tier 1 or Tier 2 credit can impact the terms of your auto loan.
Customer relationship management systems, or CRM, can bolster and increase your sales volume if built and used properly. By learning the demographics, buying behaviors and significant trends that predict your customer's future needs, your business can be proactive in marketing to your customer base. This information accelerates the lead-to-sales cycle when used correctly. Adding these advantages to your sales campaigns can increase your revenue to new, impressive levels.
Entering an established market with a new product requires the consideration of the number of established competitors currently offering the same or similar items. A new business selling your product can threaten company profits, so it's in your best interest that your competitor does not succeed by taking a portion of your customers. One way to offset new competitors entering your market is to initiate retaliatory price cuts.
If you decide to sell an item by consignment, it means you are letting someone else sell the item for you. The seller will take a commission or portion of the item's selling price. Many consignment sellers pick and choose the items to sell in their stores, so you might find that you'll need to sell some of your items on your own.
A backyard porch is a functional addition to a home design. It allows you to entertain outdoors without having to use your grassy backyard for seating. Once the sun goes down, you need adequate lighting for your backyard porch that doesn't hinder the mood or natural elements of outdoor living.
If you are a New Jersey resident but do not own the home you live in, you are not eligible to receive the Homestead Tax Rebate in the current tax year. New Jersey changed its tax rules that allowed tenants to receive the tax rebates in 2008.
To increase the volume of car sales at a used car dealership, multimedia marketing strategies should be used. In addition to local newspaper, radio and television advertisements, online marketing will increase your customer base by allowing your inventory to be explored by the increasing number of buyers who search for used cars via the Internet. By combining thorough marketing strategies with competitive offers, your dealership can experience a substantial increase in customer traffic.
