Data Performance Technology Delivering System Longevity

BURBANK, Calif. -- Longevity is probably the number one wish for any mechanical device. In the case of a car, it may not be the fastest, it may not be the prettiest, it may not have every modern convenience, but if it’s consistently reliable and lasts through the years, that driver is going to be a happy one. The same could be said for any machine someone depends on, from a toaster to a printing press.

At the end of the day, an enterprise is simply concerned with getting the job done. Diskeeper brings longevity to systems to assist in reaching that goal for years to come.“Gordon Brothers has used Diskeeper for over 10 years on all of our Windows servers,” said Joe McEachern, Manager of Technology Operations at Gordon Brothers of Boston Massachusetts. “We began using Diskeeper on our PCs during the last 12 to 24 months. Diskeeper also contributes to us rarely needing to replace a failed hard drive.”There are numerous barriers to system longevity, most dealing with mechanical failures such as drive crashes. While it may seem that there are many potential causes such as the drive not being well-constructed or being inherently faulty, a drive can have considerable assistance in shortened life from excessive read and write I/Os caused by file fragmentation.Efficient Mode new in Diskeeper 2011 minimizes the time and resources used by Diskeeper to restore and maintain peak performance and reliability. New Efficient Mode is smart enough to detect fragmentation that is a problem and targets it for priority handling. The software further contains two unique technologies closely married together to achieve the ultimate in system performance: IntelliWrite® technology to prevent up to 85% of fragmentation before it ever happens—an industry first—and New Instant Defrag™ which understands how files are used and immediately defrags the ones that will be used right now.Longevity also means consistent performance—another benefit which Diskeeper provides. “System performance has improved significantly,” McEachern said. “Help Desk tickets related to performance have definitely decreased dramatically since we began using Diskeeper,”Because of today’s advanced computing technology resulting in far greater rates of fragmentation than ever before, simple defrag technology no longer fully addresses the issue. Diskeeper® 2011 data performance software goes beyond defrag with key technologies to give optimum system performance and longevity.Fragmentation is native to the file system, and it causes files and free space to be scattered about the disk in pieces (fragments). Because the system needs to seek out thousands or tens of thousands of fragments each time a file is read, a considerable toll is taken on hard drives. The same is also true when files must be written to severely fragmented free space. Fragmentation can reduce hard disk lives by 50 percent or more.

At the end of the day, an enterprise is simply concerned with getting the job done. Diskeeper brings longevity to systems to assist in reaching that goal for years to come.

Hamilton Beach Recalls Toasters Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a significant decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.Description: The Hamilton Beach recall involves model 22600 toasters with specific series codes. These series codes begin with the letters C or D, and have the format of CXXXXBI or DXXXXBI, where XXXX is a four-digit number ranging from 0190 through 5290. The model number and series code are printed on the bottom of the toaster. The toaster has a chromed steel exterior, a front control panel with a rotary toast shade selector and function buttons arranged in an arc, a front removable crumb tray and Hamilton Beach printed across the front of the toaster.To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.> Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 379-2200 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908Importer: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc., of Glen Allen, Va.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Hamilton Beach at (800) 379-2200 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.hamiltonbeach.com. General toaster safety information available from Hamilton Beach at (http://tinyurl.com/43va5sd).SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety CommissionManufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toasters and contact the firm to receive instructions on how to obtain a free replacement toaster.Sold at: Mass merchandisers and department, grocery and home center stores nationwide and various online retailers from February 2008 through June 2011 for between $30 and $40.CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting www.saferproducts.gov.(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)Units: About 300,000Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or re-sell this or any other recalled product.Name of product: Hamilton Beach classic chrome 2-slice toastersIncidents/Injuries: Hamilton Beach has received 15 reports of toasters that did not pop-up as intended, including three reports of minor damage to kitchen cabinets. There were no reports of injuries.

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Six of the best: SIX MULTITASKING GADGETS

We all love gadgets that can perform two tasks simultaneously. We select six of the best multitaskers you shouldn't be without Updated Classic - Swan Teasmade STM100N2 - pounds 59.99 from www.lakeland.co.uk As a nation with a tea-drinking habit such as ours, it's no surprise that in their heyday these gadgets lived in more than two million UK homes.

Slice Some Soldiers - Tefal Toast n Egg - pounds 37.99 from www.sainsburys.co.uk Multi-talented toasters can usually only boast about the different thickness and variants of bread they can toast or warm, but this one looks over at them with a big grin on its face. The Tefal can take on thick and thin slices of bread, croissants or bagels and toast them to perfection, plus at the same time it'll poach an egg for you, or boil one if you'd rather.Much more compact that its predecessor, this unit can brew up to four cups and, in addition to the important alarm function, has a handy reading light too. We await the internet-enabled version eagerly.Water music - H2O-powered Shower Radio - pounds 34.99 from www.firebox.com This clever box of tricks is here to replace those woeful in-shower radios, which have batteries that last no time at all. Your running water runs through this FM radio's micro turbine as you loofah and, in turn, this charges the internal battery. Saves cash, gets you clean and updates you on the weather - it's everything you've ever needed.Write And Record - Spy Pen Video Camera - pounds 49.99 from www.iwantoneofthose.com You don't need to put yourself in harm's way to experience the thrills of being an undercover agent - just grab yourself one of these Bond-esque ballpoint pens. Hidden inside is a camera and video recorder, both of which offer pretty decent quality, and it can also record sounds via a tiny built-in microphone. You can load it with up to an hour's worth of surveillance before slotting into your USB drive and sipping a shaken not stirred Martini.Fortune Finders - Treasure-seeking Sandals - pounds 39.95 from www.gadgets.co.uk With these sandals you can keep your feet away from the heat of the sand plus seek out small change as you wander down the beach, potentially uncovering a larger haul. These sandals are mildly ridiculous, but strap them on and they've the ability to seek out metal up to two-feet underfoot.

Fortune Finders - Treasure-seeking Sandals - pounds 39.95 from www.gadgets.co.uk With these sandals you can keep your feet away from the heat of the sand plus seek out small change as you wander down the beach, potentially uncovering a larger haul. These sandals are mildly ridiculous, but strap them on and they've the ability to seek out metal up to two-feet underfoot.

SPECTATOR'S NOTES, THE

The coalition wants to change the 'discriminatory' law of succession and allow any first-born daughter to ascend to the throne. People witlessly nod their heads at the idea that male primogeniture is an 'anachronism'. Mr Murdoch's Sunday Times has decided that such a change would be 'a perfect wedding present' for Prince William and Kate Middleton. I think they'd prefer an electric toaster. Why, after all, is primogeniture itself not an anachronism?

But the Big Society can only work if nonstate institutions, such as the Church, fulfil their role. In education, the Diocese of Westminster has a peculiar idea of how to do this. The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in west London is, by common consent, its most successful Catholic school.ShareGift takes such shares off you, sells them and distributes the profits to other charities. Five years ago, it had distributed �5 million. Today, the total is �15 million.It has helped 1,750 different charities.It ignores, says my professor, 'the processes of self-selection and selection occurring from age 16, which are the main form of social mobility'. These include staying on in the sixth form, attempting A levels and getting good grades, and deciding to apply to a good university: 'Thus the universes from which choices can be made may rise to about 30-40 per cent independent'. The propaganda picture of 'a tiny noblesse trampling on an enormous peasantry' is false.The Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, says that David Cameron's Big Society has 'no teeth'. He may be right.It has the most valuable of all Big Society assets - the enthusiastic participation of parents. Yet it is this which the diocese dislikes. So determined has it been to avoid appointing governors who are current parents at the school that it has even (successfully) contested a legal action on the subject. The diocese has replaced popular governors with its placemen. What seems to irk the authorities is that this Catholic school is, indeed, Catholic. They want to water down the school's religious character to make it more 'inclusive'. This is part of a wider weirdness in which good schools are seen as divisive just because they are successful. How can the Big Society flourish when its greenest shoots are blighted?Non-functioning wealth has been put to work. There must be a wider lesson here.Compulsion will never come in here.An overall majority for a party backed by fewer than 40 per cent of those voting is dangerous. But I do not want indecision institutionalised: 'Gouverner, c'est choisir'.What should one think about our 'two and-a-half-party system'? Unlike most Tories, I am pleased that our existing system is capable of representing voters' uncertainty by producing no clear result.letter just received from a learned academic correspondent questions the way the figure that only 7.1 per cent of pupils attend independent schools is deployed. It used to argue that their representation at good universities is utterly disproportionate. But that 7.1 per cent is a percentage of the entire school population.Why is succession by blood allowed at all? Once you start asking these questions, it is hard to stop; that is what republicans intend. Luckily, our monarchy is constructed not on rationalist principles but by history. History teaches that a hereditary system must be secured by consent. The method of succession does not matter in itself: what matters is that it is agreed. The idea that the 'rightful' king has been denied his crown can destroy civil peace. It is why the abdication crisis in 1936 was taken so seriously, and why it is malicious to suggest that Prince William should succeed instead of his father. So change is delicate. The notion that reform should be introduced just because it looks 21st century and makes the Liberal Democrats feel a bit happier is pitifully shallow. Luckily, it has to be pondered by all 16 countries of which Elizabeth II is Queen, and it involves amending or repealing the Bill of Rights, the Coronation Oath Act, the Act of Settlement, the Royal Marriage Act, the Union with Ireland Act and the Regency Act. By the way, under the present 'discriminatory' arrangement, queens have reigned for 123 of the past 174 years.As part of the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, the Prince of Wales appears on the internet reading from St John's Gospel, chapter 14. I can't help smiling when he pronounces the words 'In my Father's house are many mansions, ' though (as the Basic English version next to the original reminds us) 'mansions' here means 'rooms' rather than 'stately homes'. It is an excellent lesson for Holy Week, though, being Jesus's words after the Last Supper. The line which follows immediately after '. . . many mansions' is one the most moving in the Bible: 'if it were not so, I would have told you.'Still struggling to summon up my own interest, let alone anyone else's, in the AV referendum, I asked the opinion of the greatest leader to have lived and thrived under AV - John Howard, four times prime minister of Australia, whom I saw in London recently. Mr Howard says: 'The compulsory AV system has worked well in Australia, but it could have unknown consequences in the UK because Britain effectively has a two-and-a-half-party system whereas we have a two-party system.' The word 'compulsory' in his answer reminds one that Australians have, by law, to vote. This seems to have the surprising effect of discouraging support for minor parties.A classic problem for the Big Society is the difficulty of aggregating the tiny contributions of many to achieve critical mass. A trailblazer is the charity, ShareGift, now 15 years old. Contributions from Spectator readers helped get it off the ground following an article I wrote at its inception. ShareGift implements the beautifully simple idea of its chairman, Claire Mackintosh. Lots of people have small parcels of shares which it is not worthwhile to sell because the cost of the commission wipes out the profit.

An overall majority for a party backed by fewer than 40 per cent of those voting is dangerous. But I do not want indecision institutionalised: 'Gouverner, c'est choisir'.

Toast beef for dinner

A BURGER that can be popped into a toaster to cook is about to hit supermarket shelves.

Tillman's Toast Me! burgers can be put into the toaster straight from the freezer.The German meat company claims its 100 per cent beef burgers - heated on the highest toaster setting - will not drip fat.Tillman's UK boss Jon Gymer claimed: "There's nothing else like it out there at the moment."

Tillman's UK boss Jon Gymer claimed: "There's nothing else like it out there at the moment."

Toaster blaze

A FAMILY escaped after a blaze broke out in their kitchen.

The kitchen was only slightly damaged by the fire, but the remainder of the flat was severely smoke damaged.Eight firefighters from South Shields fire station attended but the family had managed to put out the fire before the crews arrived.Firefighters were called to West Stevenson Street, in South Shields, at around 8.35 last night.A Tyne and Wear fire and rescue spokesman said: "The cause of the fire is believed to be a faulted toaster."

A Tyne and Wear fire and rescue spokesman said: "The cause of the fire is believed to be a faulted toaster."

The Benefits of an Opt-in Email List

Opt-in email lists are all the buzz today. And for good reason - a well developed and maintained opt in email list is a great way to boost your subscriber's familiarity and confidence in you. This can lead to more sales and revenue for your online business. Many businesses swear by their opt-in email list and work diligently to maintain and build it.

Murray Williams is one of the owners of HelpfulInternetMarketing, a site that is designed to help the new entrepreneur just starting out. After having met many dead ends in his own internet marketing journeys, he decided to develop this site and assist others by offering quality articles and software that have been screened for their helpfulness. To view the site and the articles and software, please visit HelpfulInternetMarketing.About the Author:Opt-in email lists are so highly regarded due to their very nature. These are people who are interested in your business and products and have agreed to receive information or offers from you. This can be a goldmine as these subscribers are already receptive to offers from you.The best way to communicate with your subscribers is to craft your emails in the form of a newsletter with a personal touch. Adding your personality to your letters (don't go overboard, though!!) will help the recipients get to know you and help make your customers more receptive to your offer. Remember, on average, it takes contacting your subscribers seven times before they purchase from you, so a well written newsletter is a plus. It doesn't have to be long - you don't have to write something as long as this article! Are you breathing a sigh of relief? Good!!OK, now you've got some subscribers (even if it's only a few!), so now how often do you contact them? It depends on what you're selling, but a good rule of thumb is to send to your opt in email list at a minimum of a one week interval. I can tell you from personal experience that I don't care to receive opt-in emails more often than once a week. Some I get everyday, and because I get them so often, I tend to ignore them.This all sounds great, but how do you develop an opt-in email list of your own? The first place to start is to invite viewers to subscribe to your list, newsletter, or what have you by putting a small form on your site asking for their name and email address. To encourage them to sign up, you'll want to offer something your subscribers would find valuable and is related to your business. For example, if you're selling toasters, a free guide to selecting the right toaster and the features and drawbacks of different makes and models would be quite valuable for anyone looking to purchase a toaster.

Murray Williams is one of the owners of HelpfulInternetMarketing, a site that is designed to help the new entrepreneur just starting out. After having met many dead ends in his own internet marketing journeys, he decided to develop this site and assist others by offering quality articles and software that have been screened for their helpfulness. To view the site and the articles and software, please visit HelpfulInternetMarketing.

Savvy savers

Home guru Alison Cork gets you more ..for less ..pounds 18 energy- saver for pounds 3 News this week that energy bills are set to climb AGAIN will have us all diving for the off switch on our gadgets. But it's so much easier if you have a PowerDown plug. It saves energy by automatically switching off all the home entertainment equipment connected to your TV. They are currently on special promotion for only pounds 3 - the normal price is pounds 18. Grab one now, while stocks last, at e.ON's energy shop at www.eonshop.co.uk ..Less dough for a toaster ? Less than a tenner for a toaster? This model is worth buying now and storing for the day your current one bites the dust (you know it's going to happen!). The LOGIK L02TB10 Black two- slice wide-slot toaster is currently just pounds 9.99 (originally pounds 14.99) from Currys. see www.currys.co.uk for this and other bargains.

Website of the week FOCUs DIY are closing down and they're having a massive sale. Don't miss the chance to stock up on DIY, motor and garden essentials. There's 50 per cent off bathrooms, 40 per cent off wallpaper and a petrol mower for pounds 127.49. see www.everythingmustbesold.com ..Clean up for just a fiver ? sUPeRDRUG have a great offer on the new Dettol No-Touch Hand wash system - the one in a stainless steellook container. Normally it sells for pounds 9.99 but it's on offer at superdrug for only pounds 4.99. swot up on hygiene at www.dettol.co.uk/missionforhealth ..Fine dining for a tenner ? TOP chef Michael Caines, who has two Michelin stars, is offering two courses from his seasonal menu for just pounds 9.95 at MC Bar & Grill restaurants in exeter, Chester, Manchester and Glasgow. Book via www.Bookatable.com

Save or splurge

? James Tanner chopping board pounds 5 (www.matalan.

co.uk, 0845 640 2020) ? Pastel 5-piece utensil set pounds 4.97 (www.matalan.co.uk, 0845 330 3330) TOTAL: pounds 555.56 Smeg FAB30QR Tfridge freezer pounds 1,080 (www.comet.co.uk, 0844 800 9595) Cucumber X worktop saver pounds 14 (www.josephjoseph.com, 020 7261 1800) Three-piece Tknife set pounds 10.29 (www.lakeland.co.uk, 015394 88100) Tajine in Figue T1.1l pounds 48 (www.occa-home.co.uk, 0844 879 4258) 30l Simple Human pedal bin pounds 89.99 (www.johnlewis.com, 08456 049049) 24cm casserole Tpot in Graded Blue pounds 125 (www.lecreuset.co.uk, 0800 373792) Typhoon storage set Spounds 25 (www.redcandy.co.uk, 0121 449 6123) De'longhi kettle and Stoaster pounds 75 each (www.nextdomesticappliances.co.uk, 0844 844 8907) Slipad 3-piece Tknife set pounds 1.62 (www.ikea.co.uk, 0845 355 1141) 1.2l tagine Xpounds 18.99 (www.lakeland.co.uk, 015394 88100) Swan 30l pedal bin pounds 30 (www.very.co.uk, 0844 822 2321) 24cm Tstockpot pounds 40 (www.tesco.com, 0845 600 4411) Enamel storage Sjar set pounds 15 (www.marksandspencer.co.uk, 0845 603 1603) Kettle S pounds 29.99 and toaster pounds 34.99 (www.argos.heals.co.uk, 08700 240780) Joseph Joseph elevate X 6-piece utensil set pounds 41 (www.co.uk, 0845 330 3330) Next 60R fridge Tfreezer pounds 375 (www.

heals.co.uk, 08700 240780) TOTAL: pounds 1,583.28

Five Levels of Selling

This past week, my wife inadvertently drop kicked our toaster oven and caused it to experience a catastrophic failure. The toaster oven, the microwave and my grill are necessary to sustain life at our house if I have to fix any food. The toaster oven is great because it works well for just the two of us and I don�t have to fire up the oven to bake or broil something.

When you think about how you market your product, at what level are you selling your product? Is there something that you could do to help move to a higher level and increase your sales and/or your profitability?Level 2 selling is when the product features are provided. This information may be beneficial to a knowledgeable consumer, but it didn�t mean a lot to me. It was then that I turned to my wife for help. She was able to provide me with an explanation for each of the features.We finally decided on one of the toaster options, purchased it and headed home to fix the salmon. All the way home I kept thinking about the different levels of selling and it dawned on me that I had experienced another level of selling many years ago when I got my first apartment in New York. One of my first visitors was an Electrolux sales person and my first acquisition was an Electrolux vacuum. I had acquired an old canister vacuum from my parents before I left for New York, but I remember the sales person dumping dirt on my carpet. I got out my hand me down vacuum and cleaned up the mess the best I could. The Electrolux sales person then cleaned where I had cleaned and demonstrated how much more the Electrolux picked up than my existing unit. I bought the Electrolux.Level 4 selling is when the benefits can be turned into �You can� statements. What I really wanted was someone to tell me that because of the convection feature that I could cook my salmon better or faster. Maybe that the cooked food would be juicier or more flavorful because of this feature. (Oh well, I can dream can�t I?) I am such a sucker for a good salesperson that I can be easily maneuvered from the perfectly adequate basic unit to a high end sale if someone will just help me justify that the high end unit will help me to do something beyond what the basic unit will allow me to do.Level 5 selling is when the product can be experienced or demonstrated to outperform the other option or options.Level 3 selling is when the benefits associated with the features are provided. An option on one of the ovens we looked at was a convection feature. I had no idea what that was and my wife explained that it helped provide a more even heat. While I thought the even heat thing sounded good, I didn�t really understand what that meant to me.Level 1 is self service. I even cornered an �associate� to get more information, but she really didn�t have anything to offer.It was about this time that I came to realize that there was boxed inventory above the display. Pulling down box after box, it became apparent that the manufacturers had outlined the features of each unit on the exterior of the box.

When you think about how you market your product, at what level are you selling your product? Is there something that you could do to help move to a higher level and increase your sales and/or your profitability?

A powerful plea

ELECTRICAL gadgets are sought to raise cash for a heart charity.

Mike Lucas, BHF retail director, said: "We're delighted to have joined up with Currys and PC World for this appeal and I'd like to encourage everyone in Tyne and Wear to have a rummage for unwanted electricals, each and every one we receive will be giving hope to those suffering from heart disease."The retailers are asking people to drop off goods to their Tyne and Wear stores throughout July for resale in British Heart Foundation stores.For more information visit: www.bhf.org.uk/dropitin

For more information visit: www.bhf.org.uk/dropitin

Some Ideas For Cooking With Quinoa!

If you are trying to prepare healthier foods for your family, quinoa is a food that you may want to add to your meal plans. This versatile grain-like food (it is actually a seed, not a grain) can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

Basic quinoa recipe is the easiest technique that you can try on. Dispense water and quinoa into a pot and allow it to simmer. It will probably take about fifteen minutes. A change in quinoa's color from white to translucent will tell you that it is already done.Of course, there are many other ways to make quinoa. You can try it in everything from breakfast recipes to stir fry recipes - Your options are endless!Cheese puffs is another scrumptious toaster oven formulae for quinoa. Fresh quinoa or quinoa flour may be used for this recipe. Supplement it with dairy products like butter. Milk and egg are added to make it healthier. Then finally, pleat in the grated cheese. Use a greased muffin tin and bake in a 425 degree oven for about fifteen minutes.If you want an easy to prepare dessert, quinoa pudding recipe is a good option. All you need to do is mix all the ingredients. Our main ingredient is cooked quinoa. Brown sugar, ground almonds or walnuts, and vanilla are used as sweeteners and flavors for our pudding. Shredded coconut and orange grind, being good fruits gives of additional nutritive value. We also put milk, beaten egg, cinnamon, and salt to achieve the best taste for our pudding. Afterwards, pour it into a baking plate in advance of putting it into preheated toaster stove for 45 minutes. It is the taster who will decide if whether he wants the pudding hot or cold.Quinoa PuddingBasic Quinoa RecipeQuinoa recipes for corn breads are set by preheating the oven at 425 degrees. Using a blender, you must mince the quinoa. Mix it with the remaining dry ingredients like corn meal, baking soda and baking powder. To make it even more delicious, try topping it with a little sea salt and brown sugar. The mixture of beaten egg and butter should also be added. Put into a toaster oven and bake on a baking piece for 25 minutes.Quinoa Cheese PuffsLasagnequinoaA well-known Italian dish named Lasagnequinoa is also a quinoa recipe, but this time with a twist. You must start by stir-frying onions and garlic using an olive oil. Hamburger should be cooked until it is already brown in color; after which, you may add the tomato sauce and tomatoes to achieve the expected taste. Oregano and salt will make it even more appetizing. Place it into a 350-degree preheated toaster oven after allowing it to seethe. Make sure to put the sauce into a baking saucer before adding coatings of quinoa and cheese. Finally, you may complement the recipe by adding parmesan cheese on the topmost layer.

Of course, there are many other ways to make quinoa. You can try it in everything from breakfast recipes to stir fry recipes - Your options are endless!

6 Slice Toaster Oven = Savings

The 6 slice toaster oven is probably the most common large size toaster oven. A toaster oven is simply an electric oven made to sit on top of the counter.

There are several great features available on 6 slice ovens. They can have 1 touch preset functions and even an interior light. Often times it has an extra deep interior plus, sometimes the interior is non-stick.You can find ones that include rotisserie capability with the kit included. A not as common function on these is the dehydrate function.The number of toasting levels can vary from toaster oven to oven.Just a few brands of the 6 slice toaster oven are: Black and Decker, Oster, Hamilton Beach, and Euro-ProReducing electricity usage with the smaller oven naturally lowers your electricity bill and saves you money. If you are concerned about the environment, then lowering your electricity consumption benefits the earth too. It is important for all of us to do what we can.There are a lot of recipes on the internet for being made in your toaster oven. However, for the most part, if it fits in the 6 slice oven then it can be cooked in one.You should try to think of what things that you may want to cook if you like to use timers. The timer may range from 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. Some may even be up to 4 hours and/or a stay on feature.When making toast in one of these counter top ovens, the bread is laid flat on the rack. The door is closed and when the toast is done the oven turns off. Open the door and remove the toast. You don't ever have to wonder if what you want to toast will fit.It is a very versatile kitchen appliance. Some have a unique separate warming compartment.A 6 slice toaster oven is more likely to have the convection feature available (see convection toaster oven article). If you need more oven space for entertaining and holidays then a 6 slice oven is the one to get.The electricity savings from using a 6 slice toaster oven instead of your regular oven is a nice benefit too. This savings starts with the lower voltage required as compared to the voltage required to operate a regular oven. Heating a smaller oven size saves time and electricity. Also, your 6 slice oven doesn't heat up the kitchen like a regular oven does. Therefore, the air conditioning doesn't need to work as hard.Since we lead busy lives now, the time saved on heating a smaller oven is appreciated too. You are able to get dinner cooking sooner because of shorter time for the oven to be ready to use.Before buying a 6 slice toaster oven be sure to consider your counter space. Measure the area and then check the oven dimensions that you are interested in to make sure it will fit.

Just a few brands of the 6 slice toaster oven are: Black and Decker, Oster, Hamilton Beach, and Euro-Pro

Tales of Titania: at puff & fluff pr

I have been comforting one of my clients all evening after the focus group we staged to test his new oh-so seasonal/retro/convenience deep-frozen toastable Arctic roll. It didn't go down well. "These people are all idiots," he says. "They're worried about it melting in the toaster but it says 'no mess, no fuss' on the pack. Can't they read?" They can, of course, but they still don't believe. "Find me a panel of real people who are more gullible!" And so more NPD is doomed to fail.

To cheer him up I pop round the corner to Mr P's for some biscuits. "The leedoing store for alil you ned," as it says in a suspiciously positive internet review. In fact, our local convenience store appears to be on its last legs. "Where's the stock Mr P?" I ask. "There is no life left here," he says enigmatically. Actually, there's a lot of life, mostly behind the chiller cabinets and scuttling along in the gap between the lino and the skirting board. "When did you last clean this floor?" I ask him. "Flash cuts dirt in half for one and sixpence," he says. So, predecimalisation then. I try to interest him in a job lot of ex-research toastable Arctic rolls, but that would involve switching on the freezer unit.Since the diet of Messrs Steiner, Gissing and Bracey now includes products from Carrefour, my money's on Ocado.

Since the diet of Messrs Steiner, Gissing and Bracey now includes products from Carrefour, my money's on Ocado.

Pal wants lime twist for kitchen

MY friend has been trying to buy a bread bin, toaster and kettle in lime green but has been unsuccessful. As I have had help from your column before, I wondered if you could advise her too? - Elaine Frost, by email

Unfortunately, there is no matching bread bin. But personally I wouldn't try to find something similar from another manufacturer, as it will never work.ZENA SAYS: A lot of manufacturers have toned down the colours their kitchen accessories are available in... but not Bodum!Instead, buy a bread bin with a neutral finish, such as plastic, wood or stainless steel.

Instead, buy a bread bin with a neutral finish, such as plastic, wood or stainless steel.

Show me the money, say brides

HARD-UP couples are snubbing wedding present lists and getting guests to help finance their big day instead.

Two-thirds of those planning to tie the knot prefer to get cold hard cash over other types of traditional wedding gifts such as toasters or dinner service sets, research has revealed.Most put the money towards paying for their honeymoon and one in six use the cash to cover the wedding day itself.

William Brown of money transfer service Western Union, which commissioned the research, said: "With the average cost of a wedding at around pounds 18,000, it's not surprising couples are turning to friends and family to help bear the financial burden."

Urbanite and WTMD Team With SocialToaster for the Great Baltimore Check-In

BALTIMORE, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Urbanite Magazine and listener-supported WTMD (89.7 FM) have teamed with SocialToaster to promote the Great Baltimore Check-In. The Check-In, a social networking game that helps players learn more about Baltimore, runs through September 30. Anyone with a mobile device can play.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to work on such a cutting-edge project with Urbanite and WTMD," says SocialToaster creator Brian Razzaque. "We're especially pleased to help people realize all of the great things happening here in Baltimore."For more information about The Great Baltimore Check-In and SocialToaster, visit http://www.thegreatbaltimorecheckin.com or http://www.socialtoaster.com.SOURCE SocialToasterSocial marketing tool SocialToaster lets Urbanite and WTMD easily spread the word about the Check-In through multiple social networks thanks to supporters of the game, called Ambassadors. By signing up to be a Check-In Ambassador, new and existing players can share news about the Check-In - and score points toward prizes.Contact: Jo Yun (443) 393-2600 x225 jyun@socialtoaster.comAdditionally, a drawing will be held exclusively for Check-In Ambassadors on Friday, August 5. The prize? A $50 gift certificate to Talara Restaurant and Wine Bar in Harbor East. Also on Friday, a Flash Event will take place at 7 p.m. in Baltimore's Belvedere Square, where 10 players could win an author-signed copy of Dishing Up Maryland.

SOURCE SocialToaster

Sara Lee Agrees to Sell Its North American Refrigerated Dough Business to Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc. for $545 Million

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. -- Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) announced today it has signed an agreement to sell its North American Refrigerated Dough business to Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc., a division of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RAH) for $545 million. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of calendar year 2012.

About Ralcorp Holdings, Inc.About Sara Lee CorporationRalcorp produces Post branded cereals, a variety of value brand and store brand foods sold under the individual labels of various grocery, mass merchandise and drugstore retailers, and frozen bakery products sold to in-store bakeries, restaurants and other foodservice customers. Ralcorp's diversified product mix includes: ready-to-eat and hot cereals; nutritional and cereal bars; snack mixes, corn-based chips and extruded corn snack products; crackers and cookies; snack nuts; chocolate candy; salad dressings; mayonnaise; peanut butter; jams and jellies; syrups; sauces; frozen griddle products including pancakes, waffles, and French toast; frozen biscuits and other frozen pre-baked products such as breads and muffins; frozen dough; and dry pasta. For more information about Ralcorp, visit the Company's website at www.ralcorp.com.In May 2011, Sara Lee Corp. announced that it was evaluating strategic options for this business, which provides a full range of private brand products including basic and specialty biscuits, crescent rolls, pizza and pie crusts and toaster pastries. These products are packaged for and sold to leading food and mass retailers.Each and every day, Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) delights millions of consumers and customers around the world. The company has one of the world’s best-loved and leading portfolios with its innovative and trusted food and beverage brands, including Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Sara Lee and Senseo. Collectively, our brands generate nearly $9 billion in annual net sales from continuing operations. Sara Lee has approximately 20,000 employees in its continuing operations worldwide. In January, 2011, Sara Lee Corp. announced that it will divide the company into two pure play publicly-traded companies. One company will be focused around the current International Coffee and Tea business, while the other company will be focused on the North American Retail Meats and North American Foodservice businesses. For more information on this news, and on Sara Lee's brands, please visit www.saralee.com.“The sale of our North American Refrigerated Dough business to Ralcorp is another step forward for Sara Lee as we continue to prepare for our separation into two publicly-traded companies,” said Marcel Smits, chief executive officer, Sara Lee Corp. “It will better enable our North American business to focus on its branded meats and frozen desserts products and establish a platform for a strong and independent future.”

Ralcorp produces Post branded cereals, a variety of value brand and store brand foods sold under the individual labels of various grocery, mass merchandise and drugstore retailers, and frozen bakery products sold to in-store bakeries, restaurants and other foodservice customers. Ralcorp's diversified product mix includes: ready-to-eat and hot cereals; nutritional and cereal bars; snack mixes, corn-based chips and extruded corn snack products; crackers and cookies; snack nuts; chocolate candy; salad dressings; mayonnaise; peanut butter; jams and jellies; syrups; sauces; frozen griddle products including pancakes, waffles, and French toast; frozen biscuits and other frozen pre-baked products such as breads and muffins; frozen dough; and dry pasta. For more information about Ralcorp, visit the Company's website at www.ralcorp.com.

Some Useful Kitchen Appliances & Their Importance

Kitchen Appliances have been designed to simplify our cooking tasks. As we have developed innumerable cooking recipes to satisfy our taste buds, we have designed and developed kitchen appliances to aid us in our cooking almost on daily basis.

On the other hand, Kitchen Appliances such as coffee grinders, automatic mills, barbeque ranges, nutmeg graters, double boilers, pellet stoves, homemade meat smokers, bread maker, waffle maker are required on an infrequent basis as and when you wish to prepare a special dish.Beginning a day with juice, toast and scrambled eggs which means you do need to invest in juicer, toaster and pan along with a cooking range or microwave.Well, these are few of the most basic appliances required in any kitchen. Apart from these, you could even go for specially designed kitchen appliances which are designed and cater to specialty cooking especially regional cooking. Each cuisine be it Asian, Continental, French, Italian, Thai, Chinese etc has its own set of cookware and even cutlery. Specialty cuisine when cooked and eaten in suitable cookware makes you savor the food even more, considering it has been cooked and served in its authentic style and manner.Followed by a afternoon break which means you need to invest in a tea or coffee maker and oven to bake some freshest of chocolate chip cookies for yourself. In case you prefer making your own breads, croissants, you do need a bread maker while for baking cookies, brownies and vegetable pies, the oven or the microwave has to be kept handy at all times.With special occasions such as parties, anniversaries, birthdays and get-togethers which mean cooking for large quantities, you could be requiring large sized cooking pans, salad bowls, serving ware and even dinner sets which make it easy and convenient for you to cook and serve the food for the guests.As you begin to prepare lunch, you could be requiring a gas cooker, blender, mixer and host of cooking pans and ladles which aid you making your lunch in say half an hour or an hour to the maximum. This again depends upon what you are cooking and for how many people you are cooking.At the same time, you do need refrigerators and freezers to store fruits, vegetables, meat and other dairy products. A dishwasher simplifies washing and cleaning of greasy cookware and dinner ware to a great extent.

Well, these are few of the most basic appliances required in any kitchen. Apart from these, you could even go for specially designed kitchen appliances which are designed and cater to specialty cooking especially regional cooking. Each cuisine be it Asian, Continental, French, Italian, Thai, Chinese etc has its own set of cookware and even cutlery. Specialty cuisine when cooked and eaten in suitable cookware makes you savor the food even more, considering it has been cooked and served in its authentic style and manner.

Author: Christian Wilson

Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts

If your mom's like mine, she probably gave you lots of advice on what to do about mostly everything, including giving gifts. But sometimes what your mother didn't tell you about giving gifts is what matters most.

2. And did your mom ever tell you that if you give an inexpensive (i.e., cheap) gift, the receiver will think you're a tightwad or have bad taste? They will. It's not that gifts have to be expensive, but they do need to have some class or meaning to the person you're giving the gifts to. You can get by with any gift as along as it has a symbolic or fun meaning to them. But never give cheap because you're, well, cheap!5. The last thing that your mom probably never told you about giving gifts is that when in doubt, give money. She probably told you giving money as a gift showed poor taste and planning. Well, poohey, Mom. No one dislikes getting money as a gift! No one! Money may just be the most thoughtful gift of all. After all, it's the one thing everybody needs, can use and probably won't ask for-unless they're your kids, that is.3. The opposite of this is true too, and mom probably never told you this either. Gifts don't always have to be expensive. What gifts do need to be is meaningful or useful. No matter what the cost, a gift that a person can't use or doesn't need will be stuck in a closet and forgotten. The same is true for the meaning of a gift. Maybe you want to give a friend a bottle of bubbles because it reminds you of the summer when you were both six and loved them so much you two spent days blowing bubbles. By all means do! Your friend is certain to love the gift and be reminded of those days too.4. Which brings us to the next thing Mom probably never told you about giving gifts. Gifts don't have to be oooh, so serious. Some of the best gifts in the world are silly, but they bring a smile to a person's face. These are usually some of the best gifts in the world to give-and get. In this stressful, turbulent world we live in, we all could use a gift that makes us smile and reminds us not to take everything so seriously.

5. The last thing that your mom probably never told you about giving gifts is that when in doubt, give money. She probably told you giving money as a gift showed poor taste and planning. Well, poohey, Mom. No one dislikes getting money as a gift! No one! Money may just be the most thoughtful gift of all. After all, it's the one thing everybody needs, can use and probably won't ask for-unless they're your kids, that is.

Author: Cindy Carrera

How To Successfully Display Christmas Lights

Nothing says Christmas is here more than a tangled set of tree lights. Lights are as important at this time of year as mince pies and stockings. There seems to be no end to how far people will go with their Christmas decorations and lights either with entire houses being lit up becoming relatively common. There are a few important things to take into consideration when purchasing and using Christmas twinkling lights however that if overlooked can cause frustration and in some cases even danger. This article acts as a guide to getting it right with Christmas decorations and how to make the most of them.

HOME ELECTRONICS.*** In warm weather, pull the curtains closed to minimize the heat from the sun.*** Use fans or high efficiency room air conditioners if you have a big house.*** Try putting like fabrics together so they all finish drying at the same time, and do not over dry your cloths.

Indoor Christmas lights and outdoor Christmas lights are a great way to decorate the home at this time of year. By following the advice above, your home will look fantastic and undoubtedly get the neighbours talking! One final word of warning - If you are using a large number of Christmas lights to highlight your home, it may be wise to seek out the services of a professional electrician who will ensure everything is safe and functioning well.

Author: Kathryn Dawson

Tips to Save on Electricity

Essentially, there are only two approaches to reducing that monthly utility company payment - reduce energy consumption or produce your own energy. We'll keep getting shocked by large monthly energy bills if we keep purchasing electricity from the power company and throwing it away through sloppy energy habits.

Knowing where you want to use your lights is the crucial first step towards decorating your home with lights. Are the lights going outside or inside? Are they being used in a tree or to illuminate something in particular? Once you have a plan you can begin to measure up. Nothing causes more frustration than a set of lights that doesn't quite reach far enough or is to long and has been clumped together at one end. Use a tape measure or other measuring device to find out more or less the exact length and size of area that is going to be decorated with lights as this will help you choose enough lights or a string of lights that is the right length. It is also crucial that the electrical sockets being designated for the lights are included in the plan as their location and distance from the area being illuminated need to be factored in.The size of the bulbs and the lights themselves should also be considered early on. A very small tree lit up with very large light bulbs is not generally a great look and vice versa. If you are lighting up your house or an outside tree perhaps, you may want to choose lights that are fairly large as too small bulbs just won't provide much of an impact or dramatic Christmas effect. Sometimes a mixture of sizes can work very well for example the top of a Christmas tree can look good adorned with small, dainty bulbs whilst the bottom of the tree can look great with slightly larger bulbs with a more intense colour.When choosing lights, pay close attention to the wattage as nothing is worse than a constantly tripping power supply in the home. You don't want the lights to go off every time a toaster is put on or a hairdryer is used. Make sure there is enough electricity to go around with the addition of Christmas lights around the house. Christmas lights generally come in a series circuit or a parallel circuit. If you are using a large number of lights then a parallel circuit may be better to use as when one bulb goes out the remaining lights stay illuminated. With a series circuit when one light goes out, they all go out until the offending bulb is found and replaced.For example,for a child or teenager, you could take them out for the day to a theme park, bowling, cinema or one of the many games warehouses now available for parties and celebratory gatherings. You could throw a surprise party or go to the zoo for the day - or at least head out for some fish and chips and a big gooey cake! For older birthday celebrants, why not head out for a fun and wholly unsophisticated evening day at an amusements arcade, at the seaside or maybe a safari park. Think about the things you used to enjoy when you were young and take a step back in time to enjoy it all once again! Lose your stress for a day and enjoy a relaxing day of fun and laughter with ice-creams and chips depending on the weather, and then head to the pub later on for a few pints and to enjoy yourselves together. Or you could go upmarket and treat your lucky person to a smart day in the country and a posh lunch, focusing on fun and banishing all talk of work!LIGHTING.*** Always be certain to put a correctly sized pot on the stove top. Using a little pot on a big burner will simply be wasting the heat your stove is producing. Also, heat your content more quickly by placing a lid on your pot.Train your brain and test your intelligence with this fun game-with over 120 different puzzle teasers and questions designed to twist and test your brain in different ways! The logic and lateral thinking puzzles can be played alone or with a group of family members or friends - great for having some fun together and enjoying some good natured ribbing!*** Sleep mode on your personal computer saves energy, but your screen saver does not. Adjust your settings to begin saving electricity immediately.*** If possible, be sure to place your refrigerator away from the oven and dishwasher because the heat from these two appliances would only make your refrigerator work that much harder to stay cool.*** When adjusting the temperature in your house, refrain from setting your thermostat extra high or extremely low. An extreme setting won't change your house temperature any faster, and if you forget to reset the thermostat, you could end up wasting energy.IN THE KITCHEN.APPLIANCES.You can see your energy bills drop once you implement these easy ideas. These ideas don't take much time and for the most part don't cost anything, and you can begin to save on electricity right away.*** Before every new load, be sure to clean the lint out of your dryer's lint trap.The Brain Fitness Kit*** In locations that get a lot of use, like the kitchen and the bathroom, replace standard light bulbs with CFL light bulbs. These bulbs use much less energy and last as much as 10 times longer so while they cost a bit more on the front end, they will save on electricity over time.*** Other items that draw energy even when they are not in use are game consoles, such as Wii or Xbox 360.*** Save on electricity by turning off your central air conditioner and cooling on the rooms that you are using.If you're not a morning person, then getting up for work is never particularly pleasant! So why not lighten the mood a little with these excellent mood stamps - also wonderful for a celebration Sunday breakfast! These great stamps put two messages on your tasty toast- either a cheerful 'good morning' or a romantic 'I love you', for the ultimate in those small romantic gestures that warm your loved one's heart! These are fun gifts with a very sweet twist and will delight all who receive them! Just make that toast nice and hot and buttery! All you need to do is press the stamp into the bread and then pop it directly into the toaster, and the message will almost magically appear! Why not combine this lovely toast with a relaxing breakfast in bed with fresh coffee, juice and some lovely flowers to really treat them to a hotel like experience. You could even nip out and get their favourite newspaper to complete the treat!*** Battery charges for the gadgets in your life (such as your cell phone) consume energy even when they are not charging your equipment. Always unplugging the charger from the wall (not just the gadget) will reduce your level of electricity consumption.*** Reduce the thermostat setting on your water heater to 120 degrees and when you are going to be away for awhile, set the temperature "vacation" to really save on energy consumption.If the lights are going to be used outside, it is crucial that outdoor lights are purchased for this. Using lights that are designed for indoors for this purpose can be very dangerous indeed as rain and indoor electrical wires do not mix well. Furthermore, outdoor lights are tougher and will withstand bad weather conditions. Indoor lights would be much more likely to break when banged around in the wind or battered by the rain.*** Most lightly soiled clothing cleans up just fine in cold water, so wash in cold water whenever possible to reduce the demand on your water heater.TIP. . . You can plug several electronic items or appliances into a power strip and turn them off using the switch on the strip. This will cut the power completely without going through the trouble of unplugging everything.*** You can hang your clothes on a line and avoid the cost of running your dryer all together.*** Don't pre-wash your dishes by hand. Scrape off the food from your dirty plates and set the dishwasher to pre-rinse.Whilst your loved one enjoys their toast, why not have some laughs with fun gifts like the excellent Brain Fitness kit?HEATING and COOLING.Mood Toast StampsIndoor Christmas lights and outdoor Christmas lights are a great way to decorate the home at this time of year. By following the advice above, your home will look fantastic and undoubtedly get the neighbours talking! One final word of warning - If you are using a large number of Christmas lights to highlight your home, it may be wise to seek out the services of a professional electrician who will ensure everything is safe and functioning well.*** Every degree you lower your heater or raise your air conditioner will save on electricity.*** When it's not in use, close the damper on your fireplace. When your chimney is not in use, be sure to close its damper to ensure that heat does not escape your house.*** If you have a window installed air conditioner, either cover it or remove it from the window in the off season.*** Open the drapes to let heat into the house in the winter - it�s a great solar powered home energy saver!*** The more you open your refrigerator door the more this appliance needs to work to keep your food cold. Keep the door closed to minimize refrigerator run time.*** You can save energy by allowing the air in your home to circulate as it should, so be sure that your furniture is not blocking any air vents.

You can see your energy bills drop once you implement these easy ideas. These ideas don't take much time and for the most part don't cost anything, and you can begin to save on electricity right away.

Author: John P. Joseph

How To Find Gifts That Feature The Fun Factor

In these slightly gloomy and cash strapped times,it makes sense to treat your friends and loved ones to a selection of fun gifts at their birthdays and other celebrations - presents that will make them smile and raise their spirits! there are a huge range of fun gifts available, with something to choose from for all ages, interests and your budget! You can also go one step further and think about how to incorporate Even better, there are a huge range of fun gifts available, with something to choose from for all ages, interests and your budget! You can also go one step further and think about how to incorporate fun gifts into a special day for your lucky person, creating a special memory that will be treasured forever.

*** Even after they are shut off, many household appliance continue to consume power. Computers, VCRs, televisions and kitchen appliances should all be unplugged when not in use to ensure that they stop consuming electricity.*** Always wash a full load of laundry. Or be sure to adjust the water level whenever the load is not full.These fun gifts should get the mood into the light and humorous atmosphere you're hoping for - and ensure that your loved one really does let go of their stresses and worries for the day and enjoys themselves! Remember too that all the best fun gifts are available online, and there's a huge catalogue of unusual fun gifts to be discovered... leaving you only to complete your transaction securely and without any queues... and it will all be delivered to your door with no inconvenience to you! When they arrive all neatly packed, you can have fun wrapping your fun gifts with some lively and amusing papers and bright tags, and creating a little pile of lovely presents to delight and amuse your favourite person. Certainly all your efforts will make them smile and feel very special indeed - and no doubt they won't be the only one smiling as you feel the warm glow of satisfaction that your fun gifts have gone down so well!*** Always load the dishwasher to full capacity before running it -- this appliance uses the same amount of electricity and water regardless of how many dishes you are washing.*** Turn off the lights when not in use.*** Set your refrigerator to 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit.*** Instead of using your full size oven, try using the microwave or toaster oven whenever possible.

These fun gifts should get the mood into the light and humorous atmosphere you're hoping for - and ensure that your loved one really does let go of their stresses and worries for the day and enjoys themselves! Remember too that all the best fun gifts are available online, and there's a huge catalogue of unusual fun gifts to be discovered... leaving you only to complete your transaction securely and without any queues... and it will all be delivered to your door with no inconvenience to you! When they arrive all neatly packed, you can have fun wrapping your fun gifts with some lively and amusing papers and bright tags, and creating a little pile of lovely presents to delight and amuse your favourite person. Certainly all your efforts will make them smile and feel very special indeed - and no doubt they won't be the only one smiling as you feel the warm glow of satisfaction that your fun gifts have gone down so well!

Author: John Smith