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May 25, 2012
Mark Clayton: Is Hillary's State Dept. hacking Al Qaeda? Not quite
Erika Bolstad: Temple cancels Wasserman Schultz speech
The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman: The former president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, whose members included the likes of Julia Child, is back with contemporary Shavous cuisine: Ruby Fruit Soup, Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cheese, Key Lime Curd, Calsone Casserole Frittata with Wild Mushrooms, Sun-dried tomatoes and Olives, Baked Tilapia with Pepper Cheese Cream and Brown Sugar Shortbread
May 24, 2012
Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
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The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
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The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
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The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
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Jewish World Review
May 18, 2010
/ 5 Sivan 5770
A salute to FEMA in Nashville
By
Wesley Pruden
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. | George W. Bush taught Barack Obama one big thing, and the new president learned the lesson well. When a storm strikes it's important to send help, not grudging hindrance.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans five years ago, the Bush administration dispatched FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to help. Sending FEMA, the city quickly learned, was only sending in the clowns. The feds dithered in getting to the scene, and dallied once there. "FEMA" is still the ugliest four-letter word in New Orleans.
In the wake of a punishing storm and flood that devastated large swaths of this city's neighborhoods and parts of several surrounding counties, Nashville is giving FEMA high marks. (The press, not so much. The national media has looked the other way.) FEMA has approved $79 million in grants since the Cumberland River, which meanders through Nashville, escaped its banks two weeks ago. "Having this amount of money on the street and having served this many clients, this certainly wouldn't have happened a few years ago," says James Bassham, director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. "There's a lot of great lessons learned."
The Obama administration is learning similar lessons now in the Gulf of Mexico, where a broken oil rig and a runaway gusher is pumping oil into the Gulf. The estimates, some no doubt exaggerated as estimates in the wake of natural disasters always are, run to thousands of barrels a day. President Obama, decrying "finger-pointing," pointed his own finger at British Petroleum and the federal agencies responsible for monitoring the safety of oil rigs.
The weather disasters that befell Nashville and New Orleans are not remotely alike in the scope; many neighborhoods in New Orleans sat under 13 to 15 feet of a toxic soup of salt water, oil, raw sewage and other unsavory stuff for a month. Residents returned from refuge elsewhere to find their houses damp with voracious mold. Many houses, particularly in black neighborhoods, were no longer fit to live in, and remain abandoned and rotting today. New Orleans seemed briefly threatened with extinction.
Neighborhoods near the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville, and Opryland, an amusement park surrounding the Grand Old Opry, were under water for several days. Basements in many houses on higher ground were flooded when up to 15 inches of rain turned streets into rivers and low-lying lawns into lakes over two bleak and soggy days. The water receded, and the tasks of assessing damage and cleaning up began. Ruined furniture, housewares and carpets wait now at curbside for pickup, and the struggle is on with aggressive mold, muck and stench.
But this time there's many a kind word for the feds, who are often mistrusted on principle by Southerners. It's genetic. Genes passed down from long-forgotten great-grandfathers who survived harsh Reconstruction make wariness of "yankee bureaucrats" instinctive. But FEMA's quick response has dissolved residual resentment of bureaucrats, Yankee or not.
Floodwaters surrounded the home of William Nicks in the Bellevue neighborhood and moved so quickly that Mr. Nicks and his wife had to flee to the roof of their house. When they were rescued Mr. Nicks applied for federal help. "We had heard they kicked most of the applications back to make you re-do them just to cull out some folks," he says. "But in one week I got $30,000 in the bank. That's all right."
FEMA officials say they tried to make Mr. Nicks' experience typical. Putting cash in bank accounts, and eliminating the usual bureaucratic hurdles, became a priority. "I think we've tried to streamline as much as we can," Derek Jensen, a FEMA spokesman, tells the Tennessean, the Nashville newspaper. "There's a lot of money out on the streets already, and we're less than two weeks out [from the flood]." FEMA inspectors, armed with laptop computers, became a familiar sight on blighted streets, entering photographs and information for instant communication to FEMA headquarters. Homeowners were typically not asked to fill out the usual reams of forms for dealing with Washington. Evan Kroft, whose home in East Nashville was flooded, filed for a grant to repair damage to his insulation and ventilation system, and four days later received a grant of $2,500. "Then they came out and did a follow-up call to make sure everything went well. Talk about responsive."
The dry-out, clean-up and fix-up will continue for months; residents still are asked to take only brief showers, limit their laundry and wait a while to wash the muck and mud from their cars. But the response from the feds was a nice surprise. Maybe Barack Obama should thank George W. Bush for the lessons in how not to respond to a natural disaster.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Wesley Pruden is editor emeritus of The Washington Times. Comment by clicking here.
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