Tons of British aid donated to help Hurricane Katrina victims to be BURNED by Americans

[movie zombie]

well, i''m back from seeing 49 movies in 8 days at the toronto international film festival and find the following to be more unbelievable than anything on the big screen and more nauseating than any midnight madness ''splash'' flicks:


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid%3D16147117%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D94762%26headline%3Dexclusive--58--up-in-flames-name_page.html


"Everyone is revolted by the chaotic shambles the US is making of this crisis. Guys from Unicef are walking around spitting blood.

"This is utter madness. People have worked their socks off to get food into the region.

"It is perfectly good Nato approved food of the type British servicemen have. Yet the FDA are saying that because there is a meat content and it has come from Britain it must be destroyed.

"If they are trying to argue there is a BSE reason then that is ludicrously out of date. There is more BSE in the States than there ever was in Britain and UK meat has been safe for years."


geez, and i thought some of the movie plots were over the top........but once again, life proves to be stranger than fiction.

peace, movie zombie

 

[MINE!!]

I admit that it does seem frustrating! But there are processes to go through and things that must be done. If we do not let in the food... BAD US BAD US.... But IF someone gets sick BAD US BAD US!!! In these situations, the rules cannot change, regardless of the intentions!!!

 

[movie zombie]

yes, Mine, there are rules....and sometimes rules are meant to be guidelines rather than absolutes. it boggles the mind to think that the FDA is trying to protect starving people from british meat goods when it doesn''t do adequate testing to protect us from our own meat products.

peace, movie zombie

 

[MINE!!]

No Mz.. these are not guidelines, these are laws to help protect citizens from something that MIGHT hurt or make people sick. No one can scream that they want change and then complain when it happens. I am happy that the Britian tried to help. But why didn''t they clear this help with the US government to be SURE that this was not going to happen? Or with the FDA.. knowing that there is already a ban on meat from there. The tax payers money could have gone toward something like... places for the displaced families to live??????

I''m sorry, I just do not agree, rules are rules.. when it comes to the saftey that the FDA provides and tries to upkeep.. they cannot slack off. All it would take is ONE sick person for there to be a friggin meltdown about how the government was remiss...

 

[mightyred]

Mine, under Nato, American soldiers are entitled to eat these very rations, yet the starving of the American South will see them go up in smoke because of FDA red tape madness. I think that was the point being made here.

Not to mention they were specifically requested by Washington/US authorities and much of that food includes vegetarian rations.

 

[movie zombie]

thank you for reading the article, mightyred..........

peace, movie zombie

ps if i had the choice between starving to death or watching my child starve to death or eat those british rations, i''d opt for the rations........

 

[AGBF]

I don't watch television unless there is a funeral for someone important to me or unless there is a major storm. I have put on the television to watch the coverage of Hurricane Rita. I saw a doctor who tried to help out at the airport in New Orleans FOUR DAYS after Hurricane Katrina, while the elderly lay in pools of urine unable to get a drink of water, the living piled in among the dead. He and another physician colleague were not allowed in by the Coast Guard because they didn't have Louisiana licenses. They tried to argue that they could just help to triage the patients, not treat them, until FEMA approved physicians arrived to relieve them, but they were not admitted to the airport at all.

One of the physicians (the one being interviewed) kept stressing the lessons that needed to be learned form this, not dwelling on what was over. He said that Americans want to help, want to volunteer in a crisis, and there have to be better plans to allow them to do that.

I called the phone number to volunteer with evacuees being brought into the DC Armory, going through channels since people had been asked to register, not just to show up at Armory as some were doing. I left my name and phone number with a volunteer at a hotline and said I was a social worker. I followed this up with an e-mail giving my credentials. Several days later I was called back, a message left on my machine, saying I would be notified if I was needed. I spoke to no one. No one really knew what skills I had so no one knew where I could help. In all probability there are no phones for social workers to use and therefore no way that they can help the evacuees to move on with their lives, but at least we could have helped sort clothing or counseled people who had been traumatized.

Things are just so broken that I don't even know where to start to fix them.

One idea that comes to mind is a NATIONAL registry of licensed professionals who can, when a State of Emergency has been declared, go to any state to work in their fields without pay for a limited amount of time. That will not address how to organize volunteers when any able-bodied people can be used to do something like distribute cups of water to the elderly lying on the floor of an airport baggage area! Had volunteers been brought in to do that, some of the elderly who died, would have lived!!!

Deborah

 

[cinnabar]

Just out of interest, here''s an article that tells you the sort of thing that''s in these UK food rations. They don''t all contain mad cow meat. Some of them contain mad sheep meat. And mad fruit pudding and custard.

BBC article

I think it''s interesting how each country puts stuff that it considers comforting for its own troops in its own rations, hence the UK packs contain very English desserts, candy etc. I remember the US dropping food parcels to starving Afghans, who looked at treats like jars of peanut butter and said "You eat this stuff?"

I just hope we never need food assistance from any country that prizes sheeps'' eyeballs or those big fat white grubs you dig out of logs with a twig.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/22/2005 1:52:24 AM
Author: cinnabar
Just out of interest, here''s an article that tells you the sort of thing that''s in these UK food rations. They don''t all contain mad cow meat. Some of them contain mad sheep meat. And mad fruit pudding and custard.

I will take any mad custard that is left over. Mad fruit pudding might be too adventurous. What is it?

Deb

 

[fire&ice]

First, it''s insane. Mad if you will.

That said, we live in a ligititous (mad spelling) society. It just takes one person who *claims* to get sick on these rations or a person who *claims* malpractice (adds new meaning to ''first do no harm") & gone are anyones good intents.

I just know in my little world - my DOG has insurance through TDI (therapy dog).

Deb, I think a national registry for disaster is a great idea. If we can mobilize a team of rescue/search/therapy dogs, we can mobilize people. GET ON THAT!!!!

Why do you think that a think tank would only target PRIVATE college left with damage from the storm?

Mad!

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/22/2005 9:02:32 AM
Author: fire&ice
Deb, I think a national registry for disaster is a great idea.
...
GET ON THAT!!!!

I do think it is a good idea. The Red Cross has been taking care of this for many years. People go through a Red Cross training program and are then called to the sites of emergencies. My cousin (an MSW) and her husband (a Ph.D. psychologist) did this as volunteers for many years. They were always being flown to the site of one hurricane after another. The state in which the disaster takes place is immaterial to the Red Cross and its volunteers. They can go anywhere. The problem arises when the Red Cross isn't there (as with Katrina) or, rather, isn't there yet. Sometimes people are needed before anyone can mobilize. Not all disasters come with warnings. (Witness the 9/11 attacks.) The idea of a National Registry would be to allow people to walk in off the street, dirty, on vacation, just travelling through...and still practice their professions if they happened to be where a disaster occurred. I am not sure who has jurisdiction on this. Each state licenses its own professionals (which is madness in itself), yet the Red Cross gets around this. To form a National Registry one would have to find out how to circumvent state licensing laws in the event of an emergency. The Red Cross may know something we don't know about how this has been done before. I would guess it would take an Act of Congress.

Deb

 

[fire&ice]

Maybe all professionals should register with the Red Cross.

Red Cross will do classes for free. My husband is first aide trained by them. He has some special emblem on his hard hat & a card. I don''t know if that means he is registered.

As for the state to state thing, I know in my husband''s profession - there is a reason. For example, if you practice in FL, you need to know hurricane standards - in CA - earthquake standards.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/22/2005 10:38:49 AM
Author: fire&ice
As for the state to state thing, I know in my husband''s profession - there is a reason. For example, if you practice in FL, you need to know hurricane standards - in CA - earthquake standards.

I agree! I think it is ridiculous that one has to get a license to be a hairdresser or a physician or a dental hygienist every time one moves, however! This is one country and some professionals do the same thing wherever they work. If state laws differ slightly, they can be changed to one standard. I lived in what is called the "tri-state area" when I was in Connecticut. I was within commuting distance of New York State, although not of New Jersey. (My town bordered New York State!)

So I obtained social work licenses for New York and Connecticut. Now, although I live in Virginia, I am within a stone''s throw of TWO separate jurisdictions with separate licensing laws: Maryland and the District of Columbia. To be able to practice within 10-15 miles of my home in every direction I would need THREE separate licenses!!! That is MADNESS! It would even be madness in your husband''s field, because for him to practice in an area as small as the area I am describing he would have to know the geology and geography of the entire region!

Deb

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/22/2005 10:38:49 AM
Author: fire&ice
Maybe all professionals should register with the Red Cross.

The Red Cross pays to fly its volunteers to disaster areas, so they need to commit to a minimum of two weeks work. That system works for them; it is relatively efficient. It would not allow qualified professionals who happened to be at the scene of a disaster to help, however. Unless the Red Cross was willing to set up a registry of all licensed professionals just so that if they happened to be somewhere, that they could work there. I cannot see the Red Cross doing that, though. Nor would I be sure I would want them to do so. I like o feel my dollars go to service, not bureaucracy when I give to the Red Cross. An Act of Congress would save the Red Cross from having to spend its resources on building yet another system. I wonder how expensive it would be to create a National Registry? We need doctors to be able to get into an airport to help the elderly who are lying in urine while dying of thirst, yet no one wants to pay for anything the government does with his taxes!


Deb

 

[cinnabar]

Date: 9/22/2005 9:02:32 AM
Author: fire&ice
First, it''s insane. Mad if you will.


That said, we live in a ligititous (mad spelling) society. It just takes one person who *claims* to get sick on these rations or a person who *claims* malpractice (adds new meaning to ''first do no harm'') & gone are anyones good intents.

I''m sure you''re right, unfortunately. It seems particularly mad to me, that the water supply of New Orleans is probably going to be toxic for months at least, and people are worrying about a mythical risk from food. The worst thing anyone is going to get from British food aid is cooties.

Wouldn''t surprise me at all if they sued for that, though.

 

[cinnabar]

Date: 9/22/2005 7:03:38 AM
Author: AGBF


I will take any mad custard that is left over. Mad fruit pudding might be too adventurous. What is it?

Deb

Fruit dumpling is a traditional school dinner item, or something made by our great-grandmothers in a time when they had 12 mouths to feed, and more time than money. It feeds a lot, on cheap, simple ingredients. And it''s stodgy, it''s filling, it sticks to your ribs as we say.


170g (6oz) Fine Brown Breadcrumbs
110g (4oz) Wholemeal Flour
110g (4oz) Suet, finely chopped or Butter
110g (4oz) Sultanas
110g (4oz) Currants
2 Eggs, beaten
1 Large Cooking Apple
1 lemon, juice and zest
2 tbsp Black Treacle
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1 tsp Ground Cumin
Fresh Orange Juice to mix

Boil square of cotton or linen cloth, about 24 inches square, a few minutes.
Spread it out on a table, sprinkle with a tablespoonful of wholemeal flour, tossing the flour to coat the main centre of the cloth quite thickly.
Place the eggs and treacle into a bowl, beat lightly together.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix well to a stiff consistency, adding a little water, if needed.
Place the mixture in the middle of the cloth.
Bring up the edges and tie with a string, leaving a little space for expansion.
Hold the tied ends of the cloth and gently pat to produce a rounded shape.
Place the pudding into a saucepan of boiling water, which should reach halfway up the side.
Cover and simmer gently for 4 hours.
Checking occasionally, top up the water as need.
Once cooked plunge into cold water for about one minute to release it from the cloth.
Place onto a plate and place the pudding into a hot oven for a few minutes to dry off the skin.
Serve hot with custard or other sweet sauce
Serves 8-10


No one today has four hours to spare for cooking such things, but you can buy them ready made and just reheat in the microwave. Another name for this is "Spotted Dick", which amuses schoolchildren.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/22/2005 11:51:00 AM
Author: cinnabar
Another name for this is 'Spotted Dick', which amuses schoolchildren.

Well, thank you so much for the recipe! It is quite different from the kind my grandmother used to make, but fascinating. The weird thing is that I have heard of "spotted dick" and didn't have a clue what it was! (I recently looked up some words: "condign" which I didn't know and my husband couldn't figure out from his Greek and Latin and "commensal" (which I had guessed at and he had confirmed). Now I can add, "spotted dick" to my growing vocabulary!

Deb

 

[movie zombie]

i find the fear of litigation to be bogus. we are asked to sign waivers of responsibility at every turn. the same could be done in this case. additionally, the FDA does not adequately monitor our own food supply. at least the NATO rations have been approved by a ''body'' somewhere.

its seems insane to me that rules and procedures are the most important thing when people are dying right in front of you.

peace, movie zombie

 

[cinnabar]

The British food was eventually cleared.

The Times

It doesn''t look like fear of litigation, so much as left hand not knowing what right hand was doing. Someone in Washington asked for this food specifically, without worrying about outdated import prohibitions. Then some jobsworth threw his or her weight about and got anal about the "rules". It''s one of many things that should be looked into when they do the official enquiry.

The Mirror, by the way, is a tabloid newspaper with daily photos of topless young ladies. Their information came from Associated Press and the story was in numerous more trustworthy publications, but the tone of the Mirror article was designed to cause trouble rather than just state facts.

 

[mightyred]

Thanks for the update cinnabar. I of course read TheTimes and Guardian but mix in a little Mirror and Sun when things get a little too safe and predictable!

On another note.....did I read that AGBF and Fire&Ice agreed on something .......again?!

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/28/2005 10:28:18 PM
Author: mightyred
On another note.....did I read that AGBF and Fire&Ice agreed on something .......again?!

It's been happening more and more and I, for one, am thoroughly frightened by it .

Deb

 

[Lorelei]

Cinnabar, good as spotted dick is, I far prefer golden syrup sponge with custard

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/29/2005 5:14:27 AM
Author: Lorelei
Cinnabar, good as spotted dick is, I far prefer golden syrup sponge with custard

...and the recipe for this is?

Deborah

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/29/2005 6:54:02 AM
Author: AGBF

Date: 9/29/2005 5:14:27 AM
Author: Lorelei
Cinnabar, good as spotted dick is, I far prefer golden syrup sponge with custard

...and the recipe for this is?

Deborah

Try THIS for size Deb!

Steamed Syrup Sponge

3 tablespoons golden syrup
175g self rising flour
1 rounded teaspoon baking powder
175g softened butter
3 large eggs
175g soft light brown sugar


You will also need a well buttered 2 pint (1.2 - litre) pudding basin, and a double sheet of foil measuring 16 by 12 inches ( 40 by 30 cm)


First of all butter the basin then measure 3 tablespoons of golden syrup into it( grease the spoon first). Now take a large mixing bowl, sift the flour and baking powder into it, add the softened butter, eggs, and sugar. Then use an electric hand whisk ( or a large fork and a lot of elbow grease - freestanding mixer) and beat the mixture for about 2 minutes until thoroughtly blended.

Now spoon the mixture into the basin, use the back of the spoon to level the top, then place the foil over, making a pleat in the centre. Then pull it down the outside of the basin and tie string around the rim, taking it over the top and tying it on the other side to make yourself a handle for lifting. Then trim off the excess foil all the way around. Now place the pudding in a steamer fitted over a saucepan of boiling water and steam the pudding for 2 hours, check the water level frequently. If a steamer isn't available, use a large saucepan with a lid and stand the basin in that, make sure the pan doesn't burn dry and keep the water level at least halfway up the side of the basin.

To serve, loosen the pudding all round using a palette knife, invert it onto a warm plate if desired and pour another 3 tablespoons of warmed syrup over the top. Serve with custard or cream - personally I think custard is the best with this!!! I can add a homemade custard recipe too if you would like Deb!!

This is the perfect heavenly pudding for cold days, the only bad thing about it is it has about a gazillion calories per spoonful

It sure is wonderful though

SERVES 4- 6

 

[Lorelei]

Thinking about it, you really need the custard recipe to serve with the pudding!

Real Custard Sauce

1 pint ( 570ml) single cream ( light cream/ thin cream)
8 fl oz ( 225ml) milk
1 vanilla pod, if not available use essence to taste - about a teaspoonful
5 yolks from 5 large eggs
1.5 oz ( 40g) caster sugar ( fine sugar, not confectioners, the powdery stuff - the one that is a little finer than granulated)
2 level teaspoons of cornflour


DON'T PANIC IF IT CURDLES!!!!!!!!!

First of all take a saucepan and heat the milk and cream together with the vanilla pod, until the liquid simmers. Remove from heat and allow the vanilla pod to infuse for 15 minutes.

Whisk the egg yolks, cornflour and sugar together in a large bowl. Remove vanilla pod and gradually whisk the cream and milk mix into the egg yolks. Pour the mixture into the pan, use a gentle heat and bring to simmering point, whisking continually - it will thicken by this point. This is the point where it can look grainy and curdled - don't worry, it will smooth out when cooled and whisked. Serve with the sponge pudding either warm or well chilled. SERVES 4 - 6

YUMMERS

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/29/2005 8:48:49 AM
Author: Lorelei
Thinking about it, you really need the custard recipe to serve with the pudding!

Oh, my, yes! The recipe looks GREAT! I love tres leches cake and this reminds me of it a bit. I do have one question, though: what is, "golden syrup"? Is it corn syrup? We have a product in the US called, "Karo" which is a sweet, corn syrup. The only other syrups I can think of are: maple syrup, honey, and molasses (treacle).

Deb

 

[Lorelei]

Deb I think dark Karo syrup would be the closest, golden syrup is a very thick, golden syrup you buy in a tin, a true British staple! Karo or maple syrup would work, unless there is a British specialty shop that stocks it. It is made by a company called Tate and Lyle, a green tin with the Lion symbol on it. You might find it on the internet somewhere, it also keeps forever which is useful! I think it would be good with maple syrup, although not the lite one YOU NEED THAT SUGAR!!

ALSO HONEY MIGHT BE NICE!

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 9/28/2005 10:41:56 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 9/28/2005 10:28:18 PM
Author: mightyred
On another note.....did I read that AGBF and Fire&Ice agreed on something .......again?!

It''s been happening more and more and I, for one, am thoroughly frightened by it .

Deb

Maybe I''m making a Virginian out of you yet!

Did you read the rumor that Ben Affeck was moving to VA to run against George Allen in the Senatorial race?