May 24, 2012 Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation Near-nuclear nation threatens to walk out of summit unless it gets its way Clifford D. May: What Iran's Rulers Want Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble? Kimberly Lankford: Switching Medicare Advantage Plans Mid-Year Bryan McIver, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Understanding hyperthyroidism and its variety of treatment options French rights groups want Google to stop suggesting 'Jew' Two-fly rule for Beijing toilets The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak! May 23, 2012 Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: Baghdad talks highlight Western naivete Putin's latest defiance shows Obama's whisper didn't work Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts Lisa Gerstner: 4 Money-Etiquette Questions Answered Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You Art Markman, Ph.D.: Get smart: How to bulk up your creativity muscles Israeli scientists use skin cells to help repair heart muscle Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right May 22, 2012 David S. Cloud and Kathleen Hennessey: Obama changes mind on Pakistan invite to NATO summit --- and then gets dissed by country's president US Senate approves new sanctions against Iran ahead of Baghdad talks Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide Supreme Court: Twins can't claim dead dad's benefits Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage Environmental Nutrition editors: The lowdown on a low-acid diet Pomegranate juice maker used deceptive ads, FTC judge rules Relatives outraged over spoof on Hamas chief's killing 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 James K. Glassman: 5 Stock Picks Among Online Retailers 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 Caroline B. 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The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes May 16, 2012 Jackson Holahan: The Aleppo Codex Jonathan Tobin : Iran Declares Victory in Nuclear Talks Kiplinger Reports, Summarized Anne Kates Smith: 7 Stocks That Let You Sleep Tight 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 Dennis Prager: God and Man at (and for) Liberty 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 Environmental Nutrition Editors: Get the facts on palm sugar sweetening The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES) May 14, 2012 Richard Simon: Purple Hearts for domestic terror victims? Nando Pelusi, Ph.D.: The privacy paradox: Surrounded by strangers, we risk isolation, anxiety Chris Farrell: Investing Lessons from the Great Recession Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia Tiffany O'Callaghan: New hormone mimics effects of exercise without the sweat The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight May 11, 2012 Rabbi B. Shafier: Why happiness will always be elusive Charles Krauthammer: Echoes of '67: Israel unites Howard LaFranchi: With G8 snub, US-Putin 'reset' off to stumbling start Jeremy J. Siegel: Investors, Relax About Rising Interest Rates 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 Clifford D. May: The Real Palestinian Refugee Problem 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 Harvard Health Letters: Palliative care: Underused therapy yields surprising benefits Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month Rachel L. Sheedy and Susan B. Garland : Make the Right Moves to Boost Benefits 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 John Rosemond: Parents, stop destroying the American male Valerie J. Nelson: Maurice Sendak, author of 'Where the Wild Things Are,' dies at 83 Bob Frick: Angst Over Annuities Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Why did my blood pressure suddenly shoot up? Lisa Gerstner: Lower the Rate on All Your Loans The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : Springtime soba with miso sauce offers a coloful mix of fresh textures and flavors May 8, 2012 Edmund Sanders: Netanyahu suddenly cancels new elections, forms unity government Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: Farewell to European superstate Anne Kates Smith: 4 Stocks That Mimic Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson The Rise of Miniature Medical Robots: Fantasy Fast Becoming Reality Paul Takahashi, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Never suffer night leg cramps Jessica L. Anderson: Extended-Warranty Warning The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day with the Best Cookie Ever (Includes techniques) May 7, 2012 Mark Clayton: Homeland Security warns major cyber attack aimed at gas pipeline industry underway Angus Roxburgh: Putin Decoded: World view of a Russian feeling dissed Kimberly Lankford: Navigate a Course for Long-Term Care Kevin McCormally How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.: Harvard Health Letters: How do you treat a Baker's cyst? Joanne Capano: Healthy Snacks for Children: The Choices May Surprise You The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: Classic Creamy Spinach Dip with a Fraction of the Calories and Fat May 4, 2012 Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Holy 'trivialities' Jonathan Tobin: Bibi v. Barak will be no contest this time around Steven Goldberg: Blue Chip Stocks On Sale Worldwide Art Pine Slow Productivity Growth a Blessing --- For Now Sue Hubbard, M.D. : The Kid's Doctor: Are Kids Too Wired? Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D: Foods that are good for your smile Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H.: Eating Well: Foods that are good for your smile The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Strawberry rhubarb parfaits are elegant yet simple to assemble May 3, 2012 Michael Freund: Who's Afraid of the Messiah? Clifford D. May: The Foggiest War Susan B. Garland: Insurance to Cover Old Old Age Steven Goldberg 6 Reasons to Bet on a Big Bull Market Harvard Health Letters: Treating prostate cancer --- no rush to judgment Larry Gordon: Harvard, MIT partner to offer free online courses Naomi Nix : Man gets free trip to Chicago after postcard sent by mother in 1957 finally reaches him The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Intensely Italian vegetable frittata is a seriously simple standby

Jewish World Review Fixit: If you're about to buy a new furnace, read this info first By Karen Youso http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT) Q: We want to replace our furnace with a new one and take advantage of the $1,500 federal tax credit. What should we look for in a new furnace? A: Good question. The wrong furnace installation could cost you hundreds of dollars a year — thousands over its lifetime — and affect the comfort and quiet in your home, maybe even your safety. And you probably would just live with it. At a cost of $3,000 to $8,000 and lasting 15 to 20 years, a new furnace isn't an easy do-over. The first step is to educate yourself. Don't just rely on a contractor or utility to make the decision for you. You're basically buying two items: a furnace and its installation. Usually it's a package deal, but you have to make sure that it works for you. The best furnace poorly installed will not deliver what it should; even the best installation won't make a furnace perform better than it can. LOOKING AT FURNACES: —Know your abbreviations. AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is how well the furnace uses gas. Generally, the bigger the number, the better. AFUEs of more than 95 percent are required for natural gas and propane appliances; fuel oil is 90 percent. (It's 90 percent for boilers.) —Buy efficient. The furnace will need to be efficient to qualify for the tax break. But the real reason is that these furnaces will save you money over the years. It's been calculated that there can be a $300 difference yearly between mid-efficiency and high-efficiency furnaces, or $6,000 over a 20-year lifespan. —Buy sealed combustion. The furnace's burner is sealed from household air, protecting you from carbon monoxide. —Ask for the variable-speed fan. Some furnaces have poor fan quality or design, needlessly wasting electricity (your money), creating uneven heating and noisy ducts. A variable-speed fan help prevent these. The contractor should verify that it's compatible with your ductwork. —Compare. Often a contractor or utility will offer just one or two models. If they aren't what you want, tell them. (Energy Star furnaces and boilers are listed at www.energy star.gov.) SELECTING CONTRACTORS: Selecting the right furnace is just half the equation; you also need to have it installed well. —Get bids from several contractors. One can be your utility, of course. (Utilities selling furnaces are just like any other contractor.) Be sure contractors spell out what they are going to do so you can compare bids. Price is important, but cheapest isn't always best. If they can't get you the type of furnace your want, keep looking. —Ask if NATE-certified technicians will do the work. They train and recertify technicians so skills are current. —Ask if ACCA Standards for Quality Installation are used. The standards require that certain quality steps are followed and documented. For example: furnace of correct size; compatible components; sealed combustion; operation controls testing; proper operation, and maintenance shown to the consumer. —Don't forget. In addition to a federal tax incentive, check with your utility for a rebate. This column includes information from Minnesota Office of Energy Security. Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. Karen Youso is a columnist for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. Send a note by clicking here. Previously: Dusty ducts Bedbugs, not spiders, are nighttime biters Preventing fly clusters as it gets cold; Cleaning jugs Guidelines for purchasing pearls Flu-free keyboards; catfish noodling; furniture bubbles Pruning fruit trees; collecting tax credits Remove cabinet buildup; freezing corn Rice falling out of wall; cloudy glasses When the rubber hits the road; Chiggers I and II Updating older sprinkler systems Stinky hot water Don't just toss the polish; cleaning pad not good for counters Tackling musty basements Common cracks; more on cleaning vases Old spices; Presidential birthday wishes Venting a dryer; ear wax Sour milk solution; Fluorescents and ultraviolet radiation Keep squirrels from feasting on bird seed 60 degrees efficient, largely intolerable; more on moldy odors in washers Some tips for sunscreen safety Old pipes leave homeowner in hot water; Bug ID needed Carpet stains above garage Eisenhower dollars; foggy mirror Where to put CO monitor; absorbent towels Removing bumper sticker without damaging car; rechargeable-battery tools over in unheated garage Mouseproof 101; cleaning sticky tools Pass on the crapstastic cheapsakes Give your guests the right to shoes Forced Family Fun serves its purpose Expert advice helps take worry out of choosing exterior paint color Take guesswork out of being a good guest Natural lawn, garden worth the labor You can rely on these landscape plants Selling stuff on eBay can test patience All set for things yet to come Laminate flooring can be a good value A whiff of vinyl Storing, handling old photos © 2007, Star Tribune. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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