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First it makes a mess of your car, then the cat chokes on a decoration, only for the tree to dry out by Christmas Eve. There's a lot that can go wrong with a Christmas tree – unless you know what to look out for. Berlin (dpa) – As jolly as bringing home a Christmas tree should be, there are plenty of ways it can go wrong. Getting your tree from the lot to the living room is both an art and a science. Here are five tips on avoiding common Christmas trees mishaps, from keeping it fresh and decorating it safely to giving it new life when the season is over. 1. Don't assume a fake tree is better for the environment Artificial trees promise convenience and less mess, but most are made from non-recyclable plastics and may contain harmful substances. Many only last a few years before looking shabby and ending up in landfill. Studies have found problematic chemicals in some artificial trees, including substances that can affect health and the environment. Real trees are better for the climate while they grow, absorbing CO2 and supporting local ecosystems. For the lowest impact, choose a locally grown, organically certified tree. Potted trees sound appealing, but unless the root ball is substantial and undamaged, most won’t survive long after Christmas. 2. Don't get sap and needles all over your car Nothing says “bah, humbug” like a Christmas tree mishap on the road. A tree that’s not properly secured in or on your car can turn into a dangerous projectile in an accident. Before you buy, make sure your tree can be netted to keep branches compact and minimize the mess of pine needles, insects and sap. Bring along blankets to protect your car’s interior and sturdy straps for tying down your tree. If your tree fits inside your car, fold down the back seats and wrap the tree in a blanket, trunk facing forward against the passenger seat. Secure it with straps to the car’s lashing points, and never let the trunk poke between the front seats. If it sticks out more than a metre, mark it with a red flag or warning light, especially in the dark. Transporting on the roof? Only use a proper rack and tie the tree tightly, trunk forward, with a blanket underneath to prevent scratches. Keep branches from sticking out and cover the tree with a tarp to prevent it drying out in the wind. Cyclists: stick to short trees, use a trailer or cargo bike, and never try to balance a tree under your arm or tie it sideways. 3. Don't let your tree dry out by Christmas Day Nobody wants a brown, needle-dropping tree before Christmas morning. Whether your tree is potted or cut, avoid placing it near radiators or other heat sources. If you have underfloor heating, set the tree on a pedestal to reduce drying from below. Even after it’s been cut, your tree still drinks up water – one to two litres per day, even for small trees – so make sure your stand is always topped up with cool tap or rainwater. Avoid sharp cuts to the trunk and skip additives like flower food or sugar; plain water is best. 4. Don't let it kill your pet Cats and dogs see Christmas trees as the ultimate playground, but baubles and tinsel can spell trouble. Glass ornaments can shatter and injure curious paws, so you may want to opt for pet-proof plastic decorations. Tinsel, while festive, is especially hazardous if swallowed, as it can cause life-threatening intestinal blockages. Before decorating, consider your pet and avoid anything that might double as a tempting toy. 5. Don't let it go to waste after Christmas When the festivities are over, don’t just throw your tree out with the rubbish. If you bought a tree with a healthy root ball, you can keep it in a cool, sheltered place until the risk of frost passes, then plant it in your garden for years of enjoyment. For cut trees, there are plenty of ways to help your garden. Place branches over sensitive plants for winter protection, or use fallen needles to create humus for acid-loving plants. Shred the tree for mulch, use branches as climbing supports, or lay pine needles around rose beds to repel slugs and snails. The following information is not intended for publication dpa coh mew

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

More than 40 years ago, Stephen King wrote a story about a deadly game show playing out in a dystopian world – in the year 2025. Now, "The Running Man" is heading to the big screen (again) with the help of Edgar Wright. Expect action-packed material and food for thought. Los Angeles (dpa) – A new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel "The Running Man", published under his pen name Richard Bachman and set in a dystopian America in 2025, is returning to screens with spectacular action entertainment and a disturbingly timely message. Fifty years ago, the master of horror came up a story that he eventually published in 1982 as "The Running Man", albeit under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. The fresh adaptation owes much to the signature directing style of Edgar Wright, of "Shaun of the Dead" and "Baby Driver" fame, and to a star-studded cast featuring Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Michael Cera and Emilia Jones. Glen Powell as a new action star For Powell, after films such as "Anyone But You", "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Twisters", this is his biggest action role to date, propelling him up the Hollywood ladder. He plays Ben Richards, a man desperately trying to raise money for his sick daughter’s care in a society deeply divided between rich and poor. His last hope is a deadly game show with a large cash prize. In the hit show "The Running Man", contestants must run for their lives for 30 days while professional killers hunt them down. Their fight for survival is broadcast live to an enthralled audience nationwide, and the prize money rises with each day they survive. To maximize ratings, the show is manipulated by slick producer Dan Killian (Brolin). Usually the brutal game ends with the runner’s death, but Richards fights bravely and cleverly against the hunters, and gradually wins over the usually bloodthirsty viewers. "There's something about this guy who's an ordinary guy who's feeling cheated by a rigged system," Powell told dpa. "The system is built to crush people that are trying to do their best, to provide for their families. And this is a guy who's fighting against that system." "The Running Man" is a true burst of adrenaline, with Richards constantly on the move. The stunts were pretty tough, Powell said with a wink, admitting he had to take a few knocks. One eye-catching scene sees him abseil down a building facade wearing only a towel. The actor shows off his muscles, but he's by no means matching the old Ben Richards character from the first "Running Man" film in 1987. And that's a good thing. Schwarzenegger paved the way Powell has big shoes to fill. After all no less than "Terminator" star Arnold Schwarzenegger played the character with massive muscle power. Back then, his character turned into a policeman who, framed by a conspiracy, is wrongly branded a criminal and hopes for freedom in return for taking part in the murderous game show. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the 1987 film diverged sharply from King’s source material. Its only setting was a combat arena, where Richards dispatched his pursuers in just one round. By contrast, Edgar Wright’s "Running Man" hews closely to the novel. The hunt in the dystopian world stretches over 30 days. The runners race through a divided futuristic nation of slums, abandoned residential districts and high-tech cities. Meanwhile, a powerful TV network keeps viewers glued to their screens with brutal game shows of every kind, and whips people up against the contestants with propaganda and lies. Alarming vision The things that King predicted in his book, including deepfakes (AI-generated videos that look real but are in fact manipulated), are "quite alarming," the director told dpa. "Dystopian fiction generally is presenting you with a warning," he noted, explaining that he read the novel with great enthusiasm as a teenager around 1988. "But also, I think, it is an entertaining action film," Wright said. "Its job is to hold a funhouse mirror up to reality." This director certainly knows how to lighten a dark story with witty touches. He got Schwarzenegger's blessing to print a photo of the former action star on $100 bills. In a "retro-futuristic" detail, he also weaves videotapes in the film, as a homage to the book’s 1980s publication. The runners must record a piece each day with an old video camera and send it to the game show’s producers as proof. Josh Brolin – perhaps best known for his role in another sci-fi adaptation, "Dune" – plays the at-first-charming, perfectly groomed producer who, in Brolin’s words, hides "the worst dark side of us". He manipulates and controls the masses, like in an authoritarian system. Powell is amazed at King’s foresight in writing "The Running Man" more than 40 years ago. "So much of what he wrote has come true, unfortunately. And the world that Ben Richards occupies is eerily similar to ours." His advice to audiences: have fun with the film and look around you. "It really makes you think, which I don't think a lot of action movies really do this these days." The makers have received high-profile support from King. (The author distanced himself from the earlier Schwarzenegger version because it hardly resembled the source material.) The 78-year-old wrote on X that the new film was fantastic and drew a comparison with the action hit "Die Hard", which became a box-office smash in 1988 and made Bruce Willis a star. The following information is not intended for publication dpa mub xx a3 lif

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Berlin (dpa) – A hollow sound when you knock on a pumpkin tells you it's ripe and ready to eat. Another sign to look for is a stem that is dry, woody and brownish, with no liquid seeping out when pressed. Once you've checked your pumpkin is ripe and ready, it's time to make perhaps the heartiest thing you can use it for: a creamy soup. The Hokkaido variety is particularly handy since it does not need to be peeled (the thin skin softens during cooking). Pumpkin soup with bac on and pumpkin seed pesto Ingredients: 600 g Hokkaido pumpkin 300 g swede 200 g potatoes 2 onions 2 cloves of garlic 8 g ginger 2 bay leaves olive oil sea salt 200 ml dry white wine 1 bunch parsley 1 tbsp pumpkin seed paste 2 tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp Parmesan 150 ml cloudy apple juice 1 tbsp honey 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 4 slices bacon 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds Method: Wash and dry the pumpkin, remove stalk and seeds, then roughly dice. Peel and roughly dice the swede, potatoes, onions, garlic and ginger. Sauté the onions, ginger and half the garlic with the bay leaves in 4 tbsp olive oil in a large pot until golden brown. Add the diced pumpkin, swede and potatoes and continue to sauté all over for about 8 minutes. Add 1 tsp salt, deglaze with white wine and pour in about 600 ml water. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently with the lid on for about 25 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Meanwhile make the pumpkin seed pesto: wash and shake dry the parsley, pick off the leaves and blend finely with the remaining garlic, 100 ml olive oil, pumpkin seed paste, 1/2 tsp salt, lemon juice and Parmesan. Remove the bay leaves from the soup. Blend the soup finely with 150 ml apple juice and season with salt, honey, cayenne pepper and a little lemon juice. Add a little more liquid if needed. Fry the bacon in a pan without oil until crisp. Divide the pumpkin soup among bowls and serve with pumpkin seed pesto, pumpkin seeds and bacon. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn cwg yyzz n1 av coh

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From gleaming cutlery to fresh-smelling garlands, these tricks will help you get your home spick and span for Santa. London (PA Media/dpa) – Can you feel it? The Christmas lights are on, window displays have been given the wow factor, and magical displays are drawing us closer to the big day – with feel-good festive fixes topping the to-do list. Especially if you’re setting the stage for holiday hosting, decking the halls, and making sure your surfaces, tableware and crystal are as shiny and sparkly as the twinkling lights on the tree. To get your home guest-ready, Lynsey Crombie, a home advice specialist and presenter on UK TV, shares her top tips to make your festive season prep quicker, easier and more joyful. 1. Shine up your cutlery with a bicarb bath “Give dull silverware a festive glow by soaking it in warm water with a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda,” says Crombie. “Leave it for 10–15 minutes in a sink lined with tin foil, rinse, and buff dry for that just-polished shine… perfect for your Christmas table setting.” 2. Sharpen scissors with tin foil “No need to buy new scissors before wrapping season! Simply fold a sheet of tin foil and snip through it several times. “It sharpens the blades, keeping your cuts crisp for ribbons and wrapping paper,” she explains. 3. Tidy up wrapping paper rolls Keep wrapping paper neat by sliding an empty toilet roll tube over each roll, suggests Crombie. “It stops edges from unravelling, preventing torn paper and saving time during festive gift prep.” 4. Lemon and bicarb oven rescue “Mix lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda into a paste to tackle grease and baked-on grime,” advises the cleaning expert. “Spread it inside the oven, leave for 30 minutes, then wipe clean for a fresh, zesty finish.” 5. Remove candle wax with a cool iron To lift melted wax from fabrics or tablecloths, she says to place a paper towel over the wax and gently press with a cool iron. “The heat loosens the wax, and the paper absorbs it for a mess-free clean.” 6. Make your tree sparkle with a hairdryer “Before decorating, use a cool-setting hairdryer to blow off dust from artificial branches,” suggests Crombie. “It fluffs them up and gives your tree that fresh-from-the-forest look.” 7. Sprinkle carpets with festive scents “Mix a few drops of essential oil, like cinnamon or orange, into bicarbonate of soda. Sprinkle over carpets, leave for 15 minutes, then vacuum for a home that smells like Christmas magic.” Be careful around pets, she adds. 8. Garland freshener with essential oils “Give artificial or dried garlands a festive scent by lightly spraying them with water and a few drops of pine or cinnamon essential oil.” She says your home will smell like Christmas in seconds. 9. Tackle glitter spills with a lint roller As Crombie points out, glitter gets everywhere, but a lint roller picks it up in seconds. “Run it over surfaces, tablecloths, and even upholstery to keep your home sparkle-free.” 10. Polish glassware with white vinegar “Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water, dip a soft cloth, and polish glassware for a streak-free festive shine. “Perfect for wine glasses and vases… dry off with a lint-free cloth.” 11. Speed-clean with a caddy Before guests arrive, she says to keep a small cleaning caddy stocked with essentials. “Antibacterial spray, cloth, and lint roller – a five-minute blitz through each room will have your home guest-ready in no time.” 12. Freshen up your fridge “Place a small bowl of bicarbonate of soda mixed with a few drops of citrus essential oil in your fridge,” suggests Crombie. “It neutralises odours, keeping it fresh with all the festive treats and leftovers.” The following information is not intended for publication pa dpa coh

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)