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February 12, 2010

How To Ward Off Viruses

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Owen Jones @ 8:34 am

Protecting your computer from viruses is getting more and |more difficult each day. While it may sound a little paranoid, it is true that you cannot let your guard drop for one moment. Even commercial giant Microsoft has found its own computers infected on more than one occasion.

Do you remember the ‘good old days’, before the arrival of the Internet and downloadable programs? Life was straightforward then in terms of computer viruses. The primary way to catch a virus then was via floppy disks. By today’s standards, it used to take quite a while before a virus was able to infect a computer and slow down the system. The antivirus software of that time was usually able to identify and eliminate viruses before they caused too much harm. Additionally, computer users were fairly knowledgeable about how to protect themselves by scanning all floppy disks before using them.

The Internet changed all that. The Internet provided a conduit by which viruses could move from host to host with lightening speed. A computer user had to begin to think about email, email attachments, peer-to-peer file sharing, instant messaging, and software downloads as virus entry points. Today’s viruses can strike through multiple entry points, spread without human intervention, and take full advantage of weaknesses within a system or program. With technology advancing everyday, and the convergence of computers with other mobile devices, the potential for new kinds of threats also increases.

Fortunately, the development of antivirus software has kept pace with the virus threats. Antivirus software is indispensable to a computer’s ability to ward off viruses and other malicious programs. These software products are designed to guard against the ability of a virus to enter a computer through email, web browsers, file servers and desktops. Moreover, these programs offer a control feature that handles deployment, configuration and updating. A computer user should remain diligent and follow a couple of simple steps to guard against the threat of a virus:

You should evaluate your current computer security system. With the danger of a new generation of viruses being able to attack in a large number of ways, the tactic of having just one kind of antivirus software has become obsolete. You need to be certain that you have protected all aspects of your computer system from the desktop to the network, and from the gateway to the server. Consider a more comprehensive security system which encompasses several features including antivirus, firewall, content filtering, and intrusion detection. This type of system will make it more difficult for the virus to infiltrate your system.

You should install antivirus software developed by a well-known, reputable company, because new viruses erupt daily, so it is important that you update your antivirus software daily. Become familiar with your software’s real-time scan feature and configure it to start automatically each time you boot your computer. This will protect your system by automatically checking your computer each time it is powered up.

Set your antivirus software to scan all new programs or files no matter from where they originate from and exercise caution when opening binary, Word, or Excel documents of unknown sources particularly if they were received during an online chat or as an attachment to an email.

Make sure you perform regular backups in case your system is corrupted. It may be the only way to retrieve your data if you computer becomes infected.

There are numerous applications available to consumers, so with a little research, you should be able to pick the program that is right for you. Many programs provide a trial version which allows you to download the program and test its capabilities. However, be aware that some anti-virus programs can be difficult to uninstall, so as a precaution make sure you set up a System Restore point and take back-ups before installing it.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the cheap antivirus software. If you have an interest in such software, please go over to our website now at Computer Antivirus Software

February 11, 2010

How To Install A Home Theater Set-up

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Owen Jones @ 1:29 pm

It is sure that the most important consideration in setting up a home theater system is the size of the room where you will set up the home theater system. Therefore, the size of the most important part of a home theater set-up, which is the screen, is also reliant on the size of the room. Regardless of the size of the room, the minimum suggested size of the screen is 28 inches.

A flat screen television is also suggested, because it will cut down on reflections and glare. Speakers are also dependent on the size of the room. Obviously, you would require more speakers in a very large room than in a small one.

You might want to put a lot of small speakers in a large room or one large speaker in a small room. The acoustics of the room is an important issue in this. Therefore, I recommend that you either get an expert in or get a wireless sound set-up that can be built upon.

The average number of speakers in a starter set-up in an average sized room would be five or six. The more speakers you use, up to a point, the greater the reality, but lots of speakers also means that you do not need thunderous volume too. There are many considerations when it comes to the sound – far more than with the screen.

You will want surround sound, with woofers, sub woofers, treble and bass speakers all with the Dolby control set-up, probably all controlled by a graphic equalizer. All these controls can be confusing, but once you have the sound right, you will know it. It will sound like a full-sized movie theater.

Another important constituent of your home theater system is the DVD player. Your DVD player really must have a progressive scan. This is because a progressive scan produces sharp and flicker-free pictures. However, the progressive scan facility depends on the television unit, because not all television sets support progressive scan signals.

An possible upgrade might be a five-disk carousel DVD player. All of these things also depend on the amount of money you have, of course. However, if money is short, begin with the best DVD player you can afford and use a few old speakers and the biggest television set you can get hold of. Later, you can upgrade the television or the speakers.

The furniture is crucial too. You have to feel as if you are undergoing a special experience. The goal is to have reclining seats, but you can start with large bean bags. Add air conditioning and a fridge for cold drinks and a few tables for nuts and candy and you are almost there.

My concluding touches would be old movie posters, photos of movie stars, a collection of autographs would be great, a replica Oscar and any other memorabilia you can think of. Then set all this off with some subtle lighting that you can raise or dim as required.

Sound, camera, action!

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with Home Movie Theatre. If you are interested in a Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site.

Dieting For Children – It Is Time To Take Steps

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Owen Jones @ 9:16 am

It is difficult to see so many children literally overburdening their bodies at such young ages by being overweight. These kids cannot run, jump or play with other children because their bodies simply will not allow them to do so. Dieting is a necessity for these kids despite our best efforts to insulate them from the self-esteem issues that often accompany obesity.

If you have a child that is well outside the average weight range for his or her age, you are the one who must take the required steps to ensure that they shed those excess pounds in order to live a life that is as close to average as possible. The first thing you have to do however is consult your child’s physician about the best possible course of action to safeguard the health of your child.

Put quite bluntly however, if you do not make the effort to assist your child to shed those pounds you are putting the health of your child at risk. We do not let our kids play in the street, we do not let them run about with knives, why on Earth would we permit them to commit suicide by candy? If you have a child that is obese, the following tips ought to help you and them with their dieting.

First of all, do not make food a punishment or a prize. Food is part of the difficulty with your children and you should not use it against them. Instead, introduce them to healthy alternatives. Do not keep junk food in the house and do not let them purchase lunch at school. Pack their lunches for school so that you know what they are getting. If you do not give them junk food to take away and they cannot have it when at home, they will be better off.

Incorporate healthy snacks into your family’s eating plan rather than junk food. Fresh fruit, chopped vegetables, nuts, and frozen yogurt are good healthy snacks for your children. When in doubt, consult the food pyramid but watch calories in the process. You want your children to eat a well balanced diet and eliminate junk food and sweets.

Cut out the juices and pop. This may be a huge problem in your house but the best gift you can offer your child is a deep and long-lasting appreciation of water. Water works to make their stomachs feel full and keeps them hydrated for the added exercises you should be introducing into their lives.

Have them take dance lessons, take up a sport, or simply get out and run around the yard. The worst thing you can do is to allow your children to become comatose television, computer, or video game zombies. Get them out of the house and get them active. This helps in two ways. First of all, they are not eating if they are outside playing and having a good time. Second, they are burning calories as they play which is a big bonus in the dieting process of your children.

As your child begins to lose weight, you should begin to notice a very big difference in not only the way he or she bears his or herself but also in his or her interaction with others. Your child will experience a renewed self-confidence as the pounds come off and the teasing at school stops.

If you are at a total loss as to how to help your child take the weight off there are camps that are intended specifically to deal with weight problems and building self-esteem in children ages 7-19. A camp may be just the answer you are looking for. Another thing to think about is to lead by example. If you do not eat junk food, if you are active, and if you do not engage in emotional over-eating your child will not be learning those behaviours from you or having them reinforced by you.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with our blog why can’t I lose weight. If you have an interest in losing weight, please go over to our website now at Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

February 10, 2010

Crock Pot Cooking In The Summer

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Owen Jones @ 9:04 am

When the weather outside warms up, the kitchen can be a terrible place to be. There are lots of things you can do however, when it comes to cooking a nice home made meal that does not necessitate traditional stove top or oven cooking.

Learn to utilize some of the less heat-creating equipment in your kitchen, such as the crock pot, in order to truly beat the summer heat and keep your cool while making a nice hot meal for friends and family.

So, how does crock pot cooking really help overcome the heat? Simply put, the crock pot in and of itself gives off far less heat when cooking than an oven or stove top. This is the first and possibly the best reason to make the most of the crock pot in your summer meal planning.

You should also consider the fact that by not heating the house by using your stove top or oven you are also lessening the load on your air conditioning (or other cooling methods) so you are not requiring it to work overtime in order to compensate for the extra heat that other cooking methods introduce.

This makes crock pot cooking a win-win situation as the expenditure involved in using a crock pot are far less than the costs involved in operating a stove or oven. Whether electric or gas, your stove and oven are serious energy users. Add to that the fact that you are not raising the temperature in your home by traditional means of cooking and you are using even less electricity.

Unfortunately, the general consensus has been that crock pots are meant for comfort foods and hearty winter meals. The truth is that the crock pot should be one of your best loved and most often utilized cooking methods. When it comes to cooking with a crock pot, the options are almost limitless. Almost anything that can be baked can be cooked in the crock pot and many, many more magnificent and enticing meals and treats as well.

Benefits of Crock Pot Cooking

In addition to the cost benefits mentioned above, when it comes to crock pot cooking there are many other advantages that are worth mentioning. For a start the bulk of the work involved in crock pot cooking takes place early in the day when you are fresh rather than at the end of a hectic work or play day.

The result is that you are less likely to forget an ingredient or make some other mistake, which can easily happen when trying to cook after a hectic day.

Second, many great crock pot recipes include the vegetables that ensure that we get the nutrients we require. So often, when preparing a meal at the last minute, vegetables and other side dishes are left out for the sake of expedience. Crock pot cooking, on the other hand, is a meal in one pot.

Another good reason to use a crock pot for your summertime cooking is the simplicity of washing up. Unlike conventional cooking with several pots and pans, most crock pot meals are completed in one pot. This clearly reduces the hardware needed to be washed up or loaded into the dishwasher (or if you are the same as me – both) afterwards.

So, you spend less time cleaning up, just like you spent less time slaving over a hot stove. Well, make that no time slaving over a hot stove and after the washing up is done, you can get back to making the most of the sun set, playing with the dog or kids, or just waiting for the first stars.

While there will never be a method of cooking that suits everyone, crock pot cooking comes pretty close. So, if you have a crock pot collecting dust somewhere in the back of your cupboard it is time to get it out, dust if off, and dig up some great summertime crock pot cooking recipes.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the 2 quart crock pot. If you have an interest in cooking or crock pots, please go over to our website now at Large Crock Pots

February 9, 2010

Xbox And Home Theater

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Owen Jones @ 12:46 am

There are several video game systems on the market, but if you are looking for a game system that also can be used for home theater entertainment, then the right choice has to be the Xbox game console. Usually, it is the case that children will want to play games in the daytime on holidays and before bed during the week, whereas parents will want to watch films at night before retiring to bed. Therefore, the two age groups need not clash often with their use of the home theater system.

Therefore, if you can get a device that fulfills both the roles of playing games and playing films, you can save some money. The Xbox game console fits this role, because the Xbox is one of the new generation of video game consoles that can also play films on DVD or whatever disk format.

The Xbox is actually a very hi-tech piece of equipment, something that non-game players might not have realized. It meshes easily with a home theater system because it has wide screen video capability, HDTV screen resolutions and Dolby Digital and DTS sound support, making it a perfect home theater set-up component.

The Xbox is also a good looking piece of equipment, which will match any existing black home theater equipment you may already have. It does not look like just a plastic toy. It was invented by Microsoft and has a powerful, stylish look. The Xbox’s case is black with an X on it and a green Xbox logo resembling a jewel.

The Xbox is basically a cut-down computer as it has many components of a personal computer like an Intel processor, NVidia graphic chips and an internal hard drive among others. PC’s are general purpose tools, whereas the Xbox is designed for playing DVD’s in more ways than one. In other words, it is a dedicated computer. It is dedicated to the task of playing DVD’s and it does it very well.

However, it also has four controller sockets in the front of the box for connections and it has an Ethernet socket for multi player games that allows other gamers on the Internet to take part in the game. The Xbox system includes as standard: the controllers with a 9 ft cable, a standard AV cable, and an AC power cord. It also comes with a DVD loading tray and a multi signal audio-video connector for easy connection to televisions and other home theater systems.

The Xbox will change the way you think about games and how you play them, because it is so committed to making interactive games a reality and as exciting as possible. Games are written especially for it such as the Dead or Alive series and the Halo series too.

However, their are sports games to be had too such as football and Formula 1 motor car racing. The graphics, sound and overall reality are remarkable. Finally, for parents who are worried about what their kids are watching, playing or doing, there are parental controls built into the Xbox.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with Home Theater Screens. If you are interested in a Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site.

February 6, 2010

Buying Skydiving Equipment

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Sydney Jordan @ 12:44 pm

There’s more to skydiving gear than only two weights and jumpsuits. There are much more accessories that you’re going to need if you would like to leap safely high up in the air. Here are the things you have to have around to get into this intense sport.

Altitude aides. One of the most mandatory devices for a skydiver is an altimeter and there are loads of types to pick from. Select an altimeter that is easily read and has a guaranty. Buy from stores that offer a lifetime guaranty. This is particularly helpful in case you in truth drop it in the creeper pad.

Audible Caution Devices. These devices would most probably not be as urgent but wearing this when you skydive can offer you security benefits. You may not rely on it so much but having a caution device that alarms when you go beyond your altitude is undeniably handy. These are especially handy if you’re a skydiver who wants to get into freefly, flat-fly and breaking off high. This device helps because each freefall time changes each time you dive. If you are not kidding about freeflying most pros advice that you could have an audible as a safety kit that guides you when you travel in higher speeds. Audible devices can come in assorted kinds from the basic models to the more complicated which fundamentally turns into a log book that records freefall time and speed and sync up with your PC as a factor of your numbers. Actually the more features an audible device has, the dearer it is.

Shielding Helmets. Another compulsory skydiver’s gear is a helmet. Should you decide on buying one then you want to consider safety and comfort. Do difficulty on finding one that fits you completely. For additional protection, you can get a full-face helmet. This accessory is good for those that wear contacts. On the other hand, going with open-faced helmets let’s you communicate better because your face is more exposed. But wearing open-faced helmets exposes both your mouth and jaw. Another pair of glasses would be purchased to get more protection.

Another pair of eyeglasses would be acquired to get more protection. Another protecting accessory is the leather frappe hats. These hats are needed for a skydiver but give tiny protection when it comes to injuries. This is a good choice particularly if you are a seasoned diver.

Glove Protection. Gloves are important to shield your hands. Wearing one protects you from scratches, burns, accidents and the chillier weather. Get one that is thick enough in order that it protects you from the cold and thin enough so you are still fragile enough to feel your handles. To get the best glove to skydive, purchase one from a specialty store and not your common sports shop.

Hook Knives Safety. Having hook knives around is required for skydiving. You will need this should you come across a line-over malfunction with you reserve chute. There are tons of hook knives to choose between. Decide on the ones that you not only like but that’s handy enough to fit your rig. Never place your hook knife near your chest area as you may lose it immediately. The number one place for this widget is right in your leg. Keep your knife blades pointed by not using it for other reasons.

Learn more about Sports Gear. Stop by Sydney Jordan’s site where you can find out all about Outdoor Sports Gear.

Minor Holidays And Occasions In The USA

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Owen Jones @ 5:34 am

Hereunder is a directory of minor holidays and occasions in the United States. Some of them are virtually unknown, and others are quite obscure.

April Fools’ Day – (April 1): the day for practical jokes (only before noon in the UK). Its origins are obscure, but it bears a similarity to an ancient Roman festival for the goddess of nature.

Arbor Day – (last Friday in April): devoted to trees and their preservation. It is held on December 22 everywhere else in the world.

Armed Forces Day – (third Sunday in May): a day to honour the US armed forces.

Citizenship Day – (September 17): replaced Constitution Day in 1952 by presidential proclamation.

Daylight-Saving Time: was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, but became the Uniform Time Act in 1966. It is not observed in Hawaii, the Eastern Time Zone of Indiana, most of Arizona (except on the Navajo Reservation), American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

Election Day – (Tuesday after the first Monday in November): presidential elections are held in years divisible by four and elections for all members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate in years evenly divisible by two.

Fathers’ Day – (third Sunday in June): was first celebrated in West Virginia in 1908, but this distinctively American holiday was not made official until 1972.

Flag Day – (June 14): was first celebrated in 1877, which was the centenary of the adoption of the modern design. Truman approved the Flag Day Bill in 1949.

Groundhog Day – (February 2): on this day the groundhog peeps out of his burrow. If he sees his own shadow there will be six weeks of Winter to follow, otherwise Spring is just around the corner.

Halloween – (October 31): All Hallow’s Eve is the day before the feast of All Saints. It started as a pagan custom honouring the dead and a celebration of Autumn. ‘Trick or Treat’ is purely American with no historical foundation.

Kwanzaa – is a secular celebration by African-Americans to commemorate their African heritage. It commences on Dec.26th when a candle in a candelabrum is lit every day for seven days. It was first observed by Maulana Karenga in 1966.

Mothers’ Day – (second Sunday in May): was conceived by Anne M. Jarvis of Philadelphia as a way for children to pay homage to their mothers. It received presidential proclamation in 1914.

National Maritime Day – (May 22): was proclaimed in 1935 to memorialize the SS Savannah’s first successful transatlantic crossing by a steamship in 1819. It is also a day of remembrance of merchant mariners who died in defense of their country.

National Teachers’ Day – (Tuesday of the first full week in May): is when pupils are meant to honour the teaching profession.

St. Patrick’s Day – (March 17): has been borrowed from Ireland where it is their national saint’s day.

St. Valentine’s Day – (February 14): was originally to honour two saints martyred by Emperor Claudius (214 – 270), but has been devoted to lovers since the Middle Ages.

Susan B. Anthony Day – (February 15): Anthony (1820 – 1906) worked for women’s rights and suffrage.

United Nations’ Day – (October 24): commemorates the endorsement of the UN Charter in 1945 by the then five permanent members of the Security Council.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching Franklin planner pages. If you have an interest in calendars, organizers or promotional calendars, please go over to our website now at Promotional Desk Calendars

February 1, 2010

The Best In The Antivirus Industry

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Owen Jones @ 12:49 pm

Most computer enthusiasts in the United States have heard of the foremost American antivirus vendors. Manufacturers such as Symantec, McAfee, Computer Associates, and Trend Micro. These companies have a market leading presence in the United States. Microsoft, too, has plans to become a major player in this huge growth market.

In fact, Microsoft acquired intellectual property and technology rights from GeCad software in 2003, a company based in Bucharest, Romania. They also purchased Pelican Software, which had a behaviour orientated security product, as well as the Giant Company Software for spyware and Sybari Software, which managed virus, spam, and phishing filtering.

A great deal of debate centered on whether Microsoft would end up in a domineering position in the antivirus market by simply bundling its newly acquired software technologies up with its Windows operating systems at no cost. This is a comparable technique that has been used in other markets such as word processing and Internet browsers. In fact, this is precisely what did take place. Microsoft has come out with a free product called Microsoft Security Essentials.

It is too early for me to tell whether MS Security Essentials is a world-class antivirus product, but it is not free to everyone. Microsoft has been struggling with Windows piracy for a while now with its Windows Genuine Advantage sneaky download and sure enough, this new product from Microsoft will only work on Windows systems and even then, only with operating systems that pass the Windows Genuine Advantage check. (Please click the link at the bottom the page to find out more).

There is nothing wrong with that per se, but it does mean that hardly anyone in the Third World will be able to make use of it, because a pirated operating system comes bundled with every computer that I have ever seen in Asia and probably elsewhere too. People save for years in order to afford a computer and the last thing they worry about when they plug it in is whether the operating system is genuine or not.

Of course there is a quantity of other antivirus manufacturers well-known in this market. There are many companies with great market presence in other countries that are starting to become more extensively recognized. These vendors include GriSoft from the Czech Republic, Sophos from the United Kingdom, Panda Software from Spain, Kaspersky from Russia, SoftWin from Romania, F-Secure from Finland, Norman from Norway, Arcabit from Poland, VirusBuster from Hungary, Nod from Thailand and AhnLab from South Korea.

It is not yet apparent where the industry is heading and everyone in this market faces a rapidly changing landscape. The amount of effort required to find and provide updates for new viruses is quite staggering. Malware programs are becoming more and more complicated and the quantity of them is increasing.

Many companies may find themselves without the resources to equal the hard work of those truly bent on creating chaos. The antivirus companies are receiving hundreds of new examples of viruses a day! What is more, the new viruses are getting “cleverer” in that they propagate themselves quickly and they often hide themselves too. Some are even smart enough to move around in a system by renaming themselves in an effort to make it hard to remove them.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching the Microsoft antivirus software. If you have an interest in such software, please go over to our website now at Computer Antivirus Software

January 31, 2010

Choosing Golf Equipment

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Rhys Jones @ 9:48 am

Buying golf equipment can be like throwing your money into the wind, but armed with some fore-knowledge you can save yourself some time and money when you’re selecting golf clubs for yourself. As with most things in life, you can either spend a lot of money in one go or you can spend a little several times, until you get what you really need.

If you are just beginning and are not 100% certain that you want to commit yourself to the addictive game of golf, you should either hire golf clubs at the clubhouse on the golf course, or purchase a starter set of golf clubs.

Purchasing a set of beginner’s golf clubs allows you to become accustomed to them; allowing you to concentrate on your game instead of pondering how this odd set of golf clubs you just hired is going to work out.

As you become better at golf, you should invest in a better set of clubs more fitted to you.

Generally, a set includes a driver, one or two fairway woods, numbers 4-9 irons, a wedge or two and a putter.

As you become more experienced and start thinking about new clubs, you may want to consider purchasing your driver separately. Some players want a driver to give them more accuracy, others need more distance.

There are numerous types of golf ball available and the golf ball box will usually have a chart on the back to direct you to the right ball for your needs. As you learn more about the game and get better at it, you should experiment with different balls which could improve your accuracy and/or your distance.

Having the right golfing equipment is an important aspect of the game, so buy wisely!

If you are fairly new to golf, you could do worse than visit our Golfing Tips for Novices, where you will learn more about choosing Golf equipment. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

January 30, 2010

Food – Preparing And Storing It – A few Handy Tips

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Owen Jones @ 7:09 am

In these times of superior awareness of the shortages in the world and the recent economic problems in the whole world, but particularly in the wealthy Western countries, which are the powerhouses of most Third World countries’ progress, people are more aware of waste. It is a sin again to throw away food, like it was 50 years ago.

This can only be a good thing although it is a disgrace that it took an international financial crisis to make us remember the lesson. Nowadays, waste of any kind is greeted with public censure and so it is at home too. Most people spend a very high proportion of their outgoings on food and so anyone who wants to cut back, has to first look to this quarter to make a saving.

However, saving does not inevitably mean ‘not buying’, it can and should mean ‘not throwing away’. In other words, prepare your food and do not let your food go off. Preparation and storage are the key words. With that thought in mind, here are a few of my tips for preparing and storing food correctly.

Bread – tons of bread is thrown away every day, because it has gone stale or mouldy and yet it is totally needless. Store your bread in the deep freezer and not in the bread bin. A whole loaf will slice frozen with the proper knife and sliced bread will come away slice by slice. There is no need to defrost as it only takes a minute or two at room temperature.

Bananas – most people understand that banana skins go black if stored in the fridge, but most people do not know that bananas can be frozen solid. Yes, the skins will still turn black, but the fruit will be undamaged.

Cake – to stop cake from going stale, store it in a tin with an apple. The moisture in the apple will stop the cake from going hard.

Watercress – to prevent watercress from wilting, store it upside down in water, that is stalks up.

Salt – salt often gets damp, particularly if stored in a steamy kitchen without sufficient ventilation, but you do not have to fret about that if you put two or three grains of rice in the salt cellar. They will soak up the moisture before the salt.

Cereal – stop cereal from going soft by resealing the bag with a few clothes pegs. Your cereal will last weeks more.

Jam – boiling jam produces a scum which has to be skimmed off and thrown away. This wastes jam, goodness and flavour. However, if you whisk a knob of butter into the mixture at the last minute the scum will not appear, saving time and goodness.

Funnel – you always seem to need a funnel when you do not have one. Then you vow to get a funnel for the next time. Do not bother. Just cut the top nine inches off a plastic bottle of cola. It makes an excellent throw-away funnel. Some of the larger bottles even have a handle on them which is even better.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with researching the programmable crock pot. If you have an interest in cooking or crock pots, please go over to our website now at Large Crock Pots

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