Saturday, June 30, 2012

Congressional Baseball Game Ends In Republican Slaughter

WASHINGTON -- The political scorecard stood tied -- a Supreme Court victory for the Democrats, an attorney general contempt charge for the Republicans. It was time to decide Thursday's victor -- on the baseball field.

For the 51st year, members of Congress took to the diamond for the annual congressional baseball game. As usual, it was Republicans vs. Democrats. Away from the steps of the Supreme Court and the halls of Congress, under the Nationals Park lights, the Democrats slaughtered the Republicans, 18 to 5, in seven innings.

"We started off the morning great, we won that one," said the Democrats' pitcher, Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, referring to the Supreme Court's health care ruling. "But then you have to give them a little bit of a win on the Holder contempt-charade-circus this afternoon."

The GOP-led, late-afternoon vote holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress forced both teams to forego pre-game practice. Team managers said the game showed something good about an institution most Americans now hold in disdain.

"This is about baseball and apple pie and what's right about America," said Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the Republican manager. He said he and the Democrats' manager, Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Doyle, were "tighter than ticks" on baseball and charity.

"It's probably the only thing we agree on today -- playing baseball for charity," Doyle said. Later, in the Democrats' dugout, Doyle joked, "If anyone did get hurt today, they would all have insurance."

The teams played for nearly three hours in Washington's sweltering heat, showing diligent fielding, grim turns at bat and almost none of the vitriolic jabs they wield at their day jobs in the Capital. The Democrats brought 17 representatives, including Rep. Linda Sanchez of California. The Republican roster included 36 representatives and a senator, Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Democrats took control in the top of the second inning, scoring 11 runs. Rep. Mark Critz (D-Pa.), pinch-running for Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), scored first, quickly followed by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.) and Ben Chandler (D-Ky.). With the bases loaded, a hit by Richmond drove in runs by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and pinch-runner Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.).

Polis banged out the game's only home run in the fifth inning, capitalizing on poor GOP fieldwork.

All the Republicans' runs were scored pinch-runners: Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (Tenn.), Rep. Robert Dold (Ill.), Rep. Erik Paulsen (Minn.), Rep. Bill Shuster (Pa.), and Rep. Sam Graves (Mo.).

Even in crushing defeat, Republicans found solace. They hit far better than last year. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) credited the improvement to practice with a staffer who used to play for the Tampa Bay Rays.

"We saw the speed we're going to see tonight, which we didn't have last year," Womack said.

But by the bottom of the fifth, Republicans were down 13 runs -- and they needed a rallying cry.

"Take all that anger over the Supreme Court out," a reporter overheard in the GOP dugout.

Democrats failed to score in the final two innings.

Richmond was MVP of the Democrats' lineup, pitching the entire game and blasting several hits to the outfield. A former varsity pitcher at Morehouse College, the 37-year-old congressman was throwing 80 mph fastballs and said he felt less pressure this year than last.

Fans wasted little time using the day's events to frame their taunts. Democratic staffers shouted "Justice Roberts" and "We got health care" while Republicans were at bat.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) took seats in the stands. Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz joined the Democrats in celebrating after the game.

Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) threw out the first pitch to his son, the senator. Before the game, Ron Paul was inducted into the game's Hall of Fame for a home run he hit out of the park in 1979 (when the game was played on the Four Mile Run field in Alexandria, Va.).

Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.), said the game was a sweet ending to a rough and tumble day in politics.

"It's sort of nice to rub it in a little bit," Baca said. But "once we get back there tomorrow, its back in the trenches."

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/congressional-baseball-republican-slaughter_n_1636191.html

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[NFL: Kansas City Chiefs] - CHIEFS TO EXPAND TV LINE-UP FOR 2012 SEASON

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Source: http://sportspyder.com/teams/kansas-city-chiefs/articles/6775915

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AP: Kings take Robinson 5th overall in NBA draft

??Add Your Comment | Read (0) Comments

Published 6/29/2012 in Sports

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) ? Thomas Robinson embraced his 9-year-old sister and broke down as soon as Commissioner David Stern announced the Sacramento Kings had taken him fifth overall in the NBA draft.

It had been quite an emotional ride for Robinson to get to Thursday night.

"I worked hard to get here and to see it all right in front of me, I got emotional," he said. "It was everything. everything that I had been holding in came out."

In January 2011, Robinson received a phone call from his younger sister Jayla, who told him that their mother had died of a heart attack in his hometown of Washington, D.C. The two had been raised by their single mother, Lisa Robinson. In a span of three weeks, they had also lost their grandfather and grandmother, and Robinson's father had never really been involved in his life.

Robinson endured through the hardship on the court as a valuable sixth man at Kansas in 2010-11 and then one of the best players in the country this past season.

Robinson, the first unanimous first-team All-American since Blake Griffin, led the Jayhawks to the national championship game against Kentucky, where they lost 67-59. He averaged 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in 31.8 minutes in his junior season and led the nation with 27 double-doubles.

He was considered perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the draft and the Kings need plenty of immediate help after missing the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

While Anthony Davis was the expected No. 1 pick, Robinson was in the running to go as high as second, but the Kings were fortunate he fell to their spot.

"It kind of went based on team needs," Robinson said. "The teams that skipped me didn't need me at that position. The Kings took a chance on me and took me at five. I'm going to make the best of it."

The Kings are coming off another disappointing season, finishing the shortened campaign 22-44 to miss the postseason once again. Coach Paul Westphal was fired after just seven games and replaced by Keith Smart, who will be back for his first full season next year.

With a run of high draft picks, the Kings have some pieces already in place, most notably center DeMarcus Cousins, who averaged 18.1 points and 11 rebounds per game in his second season.

Tyreke Evans, the 2010 Rookie of the Year, had career lows with 16.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, and ended the season as a small forward after playing point guard for his first two seasons.

Isaiah Thomas, the final pick of last year's draft, took over the starting point guard role and averaged 11.5 points per game. He was much more effective than first-round pick Jimmer Fredette, who averaged 7.6 points per game and shot 39 percent from the field.

Robinson will provide a big boost defensively to the team that allowed the most points per game in the NBA last season.

"They're a talented team with Tyreke at the guard spot and DeMarcus down low," Robinson said. "I'll try to build them up with rebounding and energy."

KU's Tyshawn Taylor was the No. 41 selection in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers who then promptly sold the rights to Taylor to the Brooklyn Nets.

Taylor and Robinson were two of the mainstays of the Jayhawks' surprising run to the NCAA Championship game where they lost to Kentucky. The Wildcats had a record six players drafted.

Source: http://www.gctelegram.com/news/NBA-Draft---T-Robinson-6-29-12

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Friday, June 29, 2012

Enbridge Energy Partners LP Upgraded by Oppenheimer (EEP)

June 29th, 2012 ? 0 comments ? Filed Under ? by ABMN Staff

Enbridge Energy Partners LP (NYSE: EEP) was upgraded by Oppenheimer from a ?market perform? rating to an ?outperform? rating in a research note issued on Friday.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Analysts at Zacks reiterated a ?neutral? rating on shares of Enbridge Energy Partners LP in a research note to investors on Monday. They now have a $31.00 price target on the stock. Separately, analysts at Barclays Capital reiterated a ?positive? rating on shares of Enbridge Energy Partners LP in a research note to investors on Monday, May 21st. Finally, analysts at Wells Fargo & Co. upgraded shares of Enbridge Energy Partners LP from a ?market perform? rating to an ?outperform? rating in a research note to investors on Friday, May 18th.

Shares of Enbridge Energy Partners LP opened at 30.18 on Friday. Enbridge Energy Partners LP has a 52 week low of $24.66 and a 52 week high of $33.85. The company has a market cap of $8.602 billion and a P/E ratio of 16.46.

Enbridge Energy Partners LP last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 30th. The company reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the analysts? consensus estimate of $0.37 by $0.09. Enbridge Energy Partners LP?s revenue was down 17.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Enbridge Energy Partners LP will post $0.36 earnings per share next quarter.

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (Partnership) is engaged in owning and operating crude oil and liquid petroleum transportation and storage assets, and natural gas gathering, treating, processing, transportation and marketing assets in the United States.

Stay on top of analysts' coverage with American Banking & Market News' daily email newsletter that provides a concise list of analysts' upgrades, analysts' downgrades and analysts' price target changes for each day.Click here to register.

Source: http://www.americanbankingnews.com/2012/06/29/enbridge-energy-partners-lp-upgraded-by-oppenheimer-eep/

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JVC's Tiny HD Action Camera Looks Like a Freaking Tank [Video]

JVC's new GC-XA1 ADIXXION action camera is loaded, combining the best features of the competition into a compact, everything-proof package. No extra add-ons to buy. Is this the most-powerful compact action footage weapon yet? More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1E10S-Xds88/jvcs-tiny-hd-action-camera-looks-like-a-freaking-tank

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Equine Supplement And Information About Your Horse's Allergy

A good equine supplement is perfect for your horse?s health. If the horse carries a healthy immune system, just like lots of horses, he?ll inhale the air full of pollens, take in any food he wants and will not have health issues. In your horse?s case, these frequent ingredients cause his immune system to overreact and convey signs and symptoms. One reality we need to pay attention to is the fact that no matter how okay your horse may look, any symptom besides perfect health and a deep vibrant coat color signifies he is not really healthy. We have a propensity to believe a pet is in good health if he only requires a couple of medications or wants just a few supplements to keep him going. Things such as dry, brittle feet, a little cough only when starting out, runny eyes and similar slight symptoms are all indications of an imperfect immune system.

Some horses are delicate to specific drugs, just like humans are. Some horses produce an adverse response to penicillin shots. Vaccines could cause allergic reactions, and a few horses are sensitive to the carrier of a specific vaccine. Reaction to a vaccine might be local (producing heat and swelling at the site of the shot) or endemic, building a situation in which the horse enters into shock. Most responses to vaccine are produced by the carrier, rather than the antigen itself; when a new vaccine is analyzed it is primarily to make certain the vaccine works well and that horses don?t react detrimentally to the carrier. In case a horse reacts to a vaccine, he could acquire some local swelling and muscle soreness, or may break out in hives. If this sounds like a problem every time the horse receives that particular vaccine and it?s one you don?t wish to leave out from your vaccination problem, you should discuss this together with your veterinarian.

Some horses have been discovered to show an ?allergy-type? response to barley of any type. There have been instances when horses have tolerated a high barley intake merely to show a response when bedded on barley straw. Reaction, shown by irregular behavior, lumps & bumps or filled legs, can occur after many years on the same barley-loaded diet. Sometimes it appears that the horse?s system is unable to cope ? as when barley is taken away from the feed the condition goes away.

In some cases horses have shown a mysterious reaction, even though on a cautiously balanced diet, and when barley was taken from the diet the situation subsided. When put back on the regular ration later that year there was no negative reaction to it. Eminent researchers suspect that for many animals a minor intolerance of barley pre-disposes a response to an additional allergen, which may be briefly inside the horse?s surroundings, one example is some types of plant pollen.

An excellent equine supplement is perfect for your horse. If the horse is atopic, his immune system will react right away to the allergen since he has inherited a genetic sensitivity to specific proteins. He will also show an immediate allergic reaction to skin tests and for that reason he will have excessive levels of the antibody known as IgE. If he is not genetically prone he is known as non-atopic and an allergy will establish after recurring exposure to the causative allergen. If he is atopic, your horse will probably be made sensitive the very first time he is come across the protein, (allergen). If he is non atopic, sensitization evolves over a longer time; no damaging reaction seems to occur within this sensitization. Some time later after recurring allergen exposure, the full-blown allergic attack will take place. It is believed that non atopic allergies entail another antibody generally known as IgG as well as (but not always) IgE.

Get information on how horse specialists take good care of their beloved equines. To understand more about their different tips and professional views go here.

Source: http://petsandmorepets.com/2012/06/equine-supplement-and-information-about-your-horses-allergy/

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Enjoy the Wilderness through a Variety of Recreational Hunting ...

Hunting animals for consumption is something that has been conducted ever since man's initial days. Primitive men sought after animals primarily to survive. They used the animals as a source of food, and they also utilized the fur for clothing. Presently, while people still occasionally hunt for food, the custom has already eventually become more of a hobby. Several people treat it as some form of sport; they participate in trophy hunting.

In the United States, hunting is a fairly common hobby. Lots of places in the country have varied wildlife, providing hunting aficionados the chance to refine their abilities. For several people, they want hunting smaller-sized animals like rabbits, opossums and squirrels, while others prefer birds like geese, ducks, and doves. Others are even more adventurous; they hunt beast of preys including cougars, coyotes, and mountain lions.

There are also people who prefer big game hunting; they seek out elk, bear, several species of deer, and many others.

Hunting is exciting for plenty of people, but mainly because it involves animals, there are regulations that need to be followed. For instance, there is the open season. Open season is a time when hunters are permitted to hunt and kill selected species. Closed season is when a certain species is safeguarded from hunting. Open and closed seasons are designated to protect animals during a period when they are most susceptible, like during their breeding seasons. These laws are also established to help conserve wildlife overall, and to manage nature's balance. Aside from the wildlife protection, gun permits are also a prerequisite for whoever is participating in all forms of hunting.

In case you would like to be involved in any form of hunting, such as guaranteed elk hunts, you ought to be aware of the policies in your state.

By visiting acknowledged hunting lodges, specialists can also offer you information regarding these guidelines. They will also advise you on the proper locations where you can do some shooting.

First timers in guided deer hunts and other sorts of hunts may experience uneasiness as they have no idea what to expect. They may also have to acquire adequate shooting skills if they want their endeavor to be successful. Aside from preparedness, guts and skills, the ideal equipment is also crucial.

Hunting, just like guided elk hunts, can be hugely stimulating, but it also poses some risks, especially since it involves animals. Even with a firearm in one's hands, one can still get attacked by a wild animal. Safety factors are a priority issue, and ample understanding can supply supplemental protection. To learn more info on state laws, hunting and safety, websites like HuntInfo.org can help.

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Lawmakers reach compromise on roads, student loans ? Forex ...

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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, center, joined by other House GOP leaders, gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 27, 2012, following a political strategy session. From left are, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Boehner, Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-NC, and Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)Facing weekend deadlines for action, congressional leaders have agreed to deals overhauling the nation's transportation programs without a Republican provision forcing approval of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, and avoiding a doubling of interest rates for new student loans, congressional officials said Wednesday.

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Teacher, 4 students held over alleged hazing

By NBC Los Angeles and news services

FONTANA, Calif. -- A Southern California high school teacher was arrested on suspicion of directing students to assault at least one other student in a classroom hazing incident, police said Sunday.

Emmanuel Delarosa, 27, along with four students were arrested Saturday after a student who said he was a victim of the hazing contacted school police, Fontana police Sgt. Robert Morris said.


Investigators alleged that Delarosa, a summer school teacher at A.B. Miller High School, knew about the hazing ? and in at least one instance directed some students to carry out the hazing to curb behavior problems in the classroom, Morris said.

Police: High school cheerleaders suspended for hazing incident in Utah

He declined to describe the nature of the hazing, citing the ongoing investigation.

At least one student suffered minor injuries, Morris said.

NBC Los Angeles reported that several students has been interviewed by?detectives.

Jail records show that an 18-year-old student arrested in the case faces charges of assault, child cruelty and attempted sodomy. Fernando Manuel Salgado was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

5 found duct-taped: Boston University students under investigation

The names of the other three male students were not released because they are minors. Police said they were arrested for investigation of assault and child endangerment.

Delarosa was booked for investigation of child endangerment and released on bail.

The Associated Press and NBC Los Angeles contributed to this report.

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook

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Banks Kick Commercial Real Estate Loans Down Road ~ Messages ...

Banks Kick Commercial Real Estate Loans Down Road

'; div.innerHTML = summary; } //]]> Finance : One of our big calls in late 2007/early 2008 was the disaster that was to be happen in commercial real estate. Many REITs since then have imploded 80-90%+ before rebounding to some degree as we rejoice over the solutions of flooding paper dollars in every direction, and into every orifice; or PPP as we like to call it. [May 19: Paper Printing Prosperity Defined] It's strange how the issues in commercial real estate - while still somewhat pressing for smaller regional banks - have been tossed out the window as if they are not material or won't matter. Granted, a massive lobbying effort to help the upper crust of society (and by proxy the financial oligarchs) was a "success"...
  1. [Dec 22, 2008: Wall Street Journal - Property Developers Ask for Government Bailouts]
  2. [Jan 13, 2009: Bailout Nation Continues in Commercial Real Estate Land - "Lemme In on that Money"]
  3. [Feb 23, 2009: Fed May Need to Recast TALF on Commercial Real Estate]
  4. [Apr 17, 2009: Surprise Surprise - Federal Reserve Succumbing to Commercial Real Estate Lobby]
  5. And... victory ---> May 19: The U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday further widened its safety net for downtrodden credit markets by making older commercial property loans eligible for an emergency program.
... because if anyone needs our tax dollars its guys who have multi hundred million to multi billion portfolios of commercial assets. How they would ever be able to put food on the table without Joe6Pack ponying up is beyond me.

But there seems to be more at play here. There seems to be a very similar issue as is happening in the residential market. A lot of dragging of feet by banks to actually take property back even in cases of very long delinquencies. In commercial they are just "rolling it over" - kicking the can. In the residential market on the other hand, I've read a lot of anecdotal stories of people living in homes "rent free" for month, after month, after month - far longer than the "6 month-ish" that is typical for eviction notices. Part of it a system swamped by foreclosures but there is more to the story... after all if you want to keep up appearances as a "healthy bank" the last thing you want to is to bring back property on your balance sheet and therefore have to finally take the TRUE financial hit.

Since our accounting boards (FASB) sucumbed to government pressure in March and changed the rules, we can now mark to "myth" and as long as the property is not officially foreclosed, the banks can mark it at what they perceive to be a correct value indefinitely. To put it in simple numbers

  1. Gave mortgage out in 2006 at $280,000
  2. Sitting on balance sheet at some value X
  3. Actual value today = $170,000
  4. Proceedings in foreclosure = $120,000
So I can keep it at X on my balance sheet (inflating it) or if I do the actual foreclosure I have to take the $160,000 hit as I "admit" what the value of my "asset" is. I am simplifying this a bit, but that's the 40,000 foot idea. Now multiply that "whistling past graveyard" activity across millions of homes in the United States of Bailout.

So instead, as a bank - I want to show the world I'm "healthy"; I can calculate how many foreclosures each quarter I can actually take the hit on to keep up appearances, and only proceed on those. As for the rest? Kick that can! A lot of consumers are increasing their savings rate since they are sitting in homes month after month "payment free". That's one way to get the national savings rate up - millions with no house payment. Green shoots! And if those "savers" are even more *lucky* they can continue to live rent free until one of a multitude of current or prosposed government housing initiatives comes and showers them with taxpayer money. Another win / win / win (ahem). As long as you are creating a mirage of prosperity that is.

One of my favorite terms is "kick the can" - it is represenative of so many things in the country, political to individual. When you don't want to face an issue - just kick it. Far. It appears the banks are doing it - both in residential and now similar trickery is happening on the commercial real estate side. Rents going down? Tenancy flailing? All issues that should cause us concern? That's ok - here's an extension! Come see us about it in 2012 - we'll talk then.

Let's delve into the details.

  • For the past six months or so, Wall Street has been bracing for what many fear may be the next shoe to drop on the already battered U.S. economy: a U.S. commercial real estate bust that could rival the housing market collapse.
  • Yet, lenders have been keeping that shoe in the closet -- forestalling foreclosures by extending loans, despite rapidly rising mortgage default rates. "In today's environment, it's obviously not very attractive to foreclose on a borrower," said Matthew Anderson, co-founder of real estate consulting services firm Foresight Analytics.
  • The U.S. commercial real estate sector has been grappling with a credit crisis that has dried up some of its most important sources of lending. That has left many borrowers unable to refinance maturing mortgages. Even when they can obtain financing, borrowers are often obtaining much less than they need.
  • But banks have been loathe to foreclose on the mortgages and are extending them. "They're taking loans that don't have a cash-flow problem, but definitely have a valuation problem, and they're pushing those out to the future," Anderson said. Banks account for about $1.7 trillion, or half, of U.S. commercial mortgages outstanding.
Here is the key.. foreclosed loans as a % of nonaccruals is lower NOW than 3 years ago when the economy was "roaring". Just amazing...
  • Yet foreclosed loans as a percentage of nonaccruals has been declining, down to 19.7 percent in the first quarter from over 30 percent three years ago, according to the most recent statistics from Foresight.
  • The practice of extending loans has become so prevalent, it has earned its own catch phrases -- "push-outs," "kicking the can down the road" and "a rolling loan gathers no loss." (I love the last one)
Banks have many reasons not to foreclose.
  1. First, it's an expensive processes.
  2. Secondly, banks are not in the business of owning real estate. When they sell a property, they face the same distressed market their borrowers would face, leaving them saddled with more losses. They also have learned a "perverse lesson" from past commercial real estate downturns, Anderson said. After they dumped bad loans in the early 1990s, banks watched as buyers of the distressed loans, such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc's Whitehall Funds, made a fortune when the market rebounded.
  3. Banks already are dealing with losses from other sectors, such as home mortgages and credit cards delinquencies. Pushing the commercial real estate problem further into the future may allow banks to be in a stronger position when they finally face the issue.
So it appears the problem is "fixed"... err..
  • "Rolling it over does not solve the issue," Daniel Penrod, senior industry analyst for the California Credit Union League said. "But at this point, adding another negative to the current economy could be disastrous. If this were the only factor in the economy that was struggling, we could let it play out with all the other factors. Allowing it to catch its breath for six or 12 months may help shorten the current recession."
  • Property values could fall should loan extensions not be long enough to give borrowers confidence that they will retain the properties. A three to nine-month extension could discourage a borrower from paying for needed maintenance and improvements.
  • Postponing foreclosures may compound a bigger problem of loan maturities ahead. Some $270 billion to $275 billion of loans are set to mature next year. Ultimately, the refinancing of the rolled over loans may soak up the available capital at the expense of new loans.
  • "If it continues, essentially for most of the next decade, we're really just going to be dealing with today's and yesterday's debt," Anderson said.
To conclude, some crazy old school thinking at the end of the article - the horror of such a concept ... to be whispered out loud in this day and age. Please avert your eyes.
  • "If a borrower can't get additional financing, it should be foreclosed and liquidated," Parkus said.
*GASP*

[Apr 2, 2009: US Office Vacancies Surge, Rents Biggest Drop in 7 Years]
[Mar 30, 2009: WSJ - Commercial Property Faces Crisis]
[Jan 27, 2009: As Hotel Vacancies Rise, So Do Risks of Default]
[Jan 6, 2009: New York Times - As Vacant Office Space Grows, So Does Lenders' Crisis]
[Nov 20, 2008: Commercial Real Estate Finally Hitting Home in Financial Media]
[Nov 11, 2008: General Growth Properties Looks to Join Its Tenants]
[Jul 21, 2008: Add Mervyn's to Our Growing list of Retailers Heading to the Great Sunset]
[Mar 4, 2008: WSJ - Building Slowdown Goes Commercial]
[Dec 2007: Credit Downturn Hits Malls]


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Obama heads South to raise campaign cash

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Prison raid frees 40 inmates in restive Nigerian city

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Raging Colorado wildfire grows, threatens gated community

COLORADO SPRINGS (Reuters) - An out-of-control wildfire near some of Colorado's most visited tourist sites expanded overnight and kept some 6,000 people from their homes on Monday, threatening a gated community nestled in the foothills near the famous Garden of the Gods.

The fire sent a mushroom cloud of smoke nearly 20,000 feet into the air over Colorado Springs, shadowing Pikes Peak, whose vistas helped inspire the patriotic tune "America the Beautiful." Closer to the blaze, trees were visibly twisting from the heat.

A famous cog railway that transports tourists from around the world up the picturesque mountainside said it would be closed on Tuesday for a third straight day. The highway that leads up to Pikes Peak has been closed since the fire began nipping at its base over the weekend.

The closures on Pikes Peak, billed the world's second-most visited mountain after Japan's Mount Fuji, have drawn attention to the fire's negative impact on the tourism industry just at the start of the peak summer season.

Fire crews called in massive C-130 military planes on Monday, which swooped low through plumes of black and white smoke to dump fire retardant on the flames.

Firefighters on the ground concentrated on the gated upscale subdivision of Cedar Heights, overlooking the Garden of the Gods whose towering red rock formations jut up from the ground, trying to protect residential houses from nearby flames.

Raging about 80 miles south of Denver, the Waldo Canyon fire had initially prompted the evacuation of 11,000 people at the weekend although residents of the town of Manitou Springs were allowed home on Sunday night.

One of those residents was retired nurse Carol Yeager, 76, who left her stucco home on the orders of police late on Saturday, grabbing a handful of personal effects and her four cats.

"The flames were shooting skyward," she said. "It's cleared up a lot, but police told us if the wind shifts, it's touch and go, and they said to be ready to evacuate again."

FIRE NEAR AIR FORCE ACADEMY

The fire was also within six to 10 miles of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as winds fanned the flames in its direction, and fire authorities listed the academy as being threatened by the blaze along with utilities and watershed.

A recreation area belonging to the Academy was ordered evacuated due to its proximity to the fire, and all trails leading west of the school were closed, the base said.

The blaze would still have to traverse rough terrain, burning down through steep canyons and up mountain ridges, before it could reach the Air Force Academy itself, Academy spokesman Meade Warthen said.

"We don't have any reason at this particular point to think we're going to be inundated, but we're standing by," he said. "There are contingency plans in place. If we need to implement them, we will."

The Department of Homeland Security said it was providing the Federal Emergency Management Agency financial assistance to help battle the Waldo Canyon blaze and other fires, noting the threat to 250 homes in the area.

The blaze ignited as firefighting resources were stretched by the monster High Park blaze northwest of Fort Collins, a university city north of Denver along the state's tinder-dry Front Range.

"We're going to be continuing to have to deal with these fires for weeks to come," U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said. "We anticipate it's going to be a long fire season."

The High Park Fire - the second-largest blaze on record in the state and its most destructive - has consumed 83,205 acres in steep canyons since it was sparked by lightning two weeks ago. It is blamed for the death of a 62-year-old grandmother in her mountain cabin and has destroyed 248 homes.

An estimated 4,300 people remain evacuated from their homes as that fire burns through grass, brush and Ponderosa pine.

In southwestern Colorado, the Weber Fire grew to 8,300 acres overnight but firefighters held it about one mile southeast of the small town of Mancos, east of Mesa Verde National Park. Roughly 50 homes were evacuated, officials said.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Utah, a fast-growing 39,000-acre (15,780-ha) wildfire continued to rage largely out of control on Monday after burning an estimated 30 homes and killing 75 sheep between the rural communities of Fountain Green and Indianola.

Governor Gary Herbert, who toured the fire by helicopter on Monday, estimated the property losses so far at $7 million. No injuries have been reported, but Herbert said fire officials did use a helicopter to rescue some shepherds from the fire's path.

More than 500 structures have been threatened by the Wood Hollow fire, forcing up to 1,500 people from homes.

"The big worry now is the weather. Everything that can be done is being done," Herbert told a televised news conference.

(Additional reporting by Ellen Miller in Grand Junction, Deborah Zabarenko in Washington, and Jennifer Dobner in Salt Lake City; Writing and additional reporting by Mary Slosson; Editing by Eric Walsh)

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Monday, June 25, 2012

Massachusetts health care model under scrutiny (cbsnews)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

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Benefits and drawbacks connected with flat roofing











Flat roofs really possess a small slope to prevent build-up of rain water. Rain water may well cause harm to your roof including leakages, cracks, as well as rusting.

You can expect roofs that do experience a problem with "pooling" or "ponding" of water, to deteriorate that much more quickly. Polished wood, embellished ceilings or maybe wall surfaces may be spoiled if your flat roofing does start to leak as a result of inadequate drainage.

A flat roof demands significantly less material and labour so is quite a bit cheaper to install than a pitched rooftop but if it is not regularly maintained it may cost more in repairs in the long run.

Snow can accumulate on this form of roof structure instead of dropping off and flat roofs fall in more often than others beneath the weight. In britain where we're not usually subjected to heavy snow fall like several other places around the world this occurs much less usually.

A flat roof structure will often make a good space to setup an eco-friendly roof or even install solar cells.

Though Flat rooftops are generally not well suited for our summer although can reduce energy cost in winters. It can make the household even warmer as it absorbs more of the sun's heat compared to a pitched roof top.

Flat roofs might have a shorter life span as compared with a pitched roof based on precisely what materials are used.

Sheer roofs normally form awkward wall surfaces that can not be used within the residence. Flat versions eliminate this issue. Flat roofs tend to make potential flooring additions more economical and simpler, if needed.

The materials now utilised by the vast majority of credible flat roofing companies have vastly improved and at present are usually tough and highly technical. These kinds of materials tend to be routinely used alongside insulating material as well as other products such as roof top lighting, fascias, cladding and rainwater goods to optimize the efficiency and life expectancy of newly installed rooftops. If you're going to add roofing to your dwelling or wooden garden shed, be certain to consider all the choices and get guidance from a professional roofer.

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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Germans looking for mole in the ranks

By NESHA STARCEVIC

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 9:38 a.m. ET June 23, 2012

GDANSK, Poland (AP) -Who is the mole in the German ranks?

Germany coach Joachim Loew is trying to plug a leak that has allowed news of his lineup plans to be all over the country's media hours before matches at the European Championship.

The most recent case was ahead of Friday's quarterfinal against Greece, when Loew made three major changes to his attack. Germany still won comfortably 4-2, but Loew was not happy with the leak.

The players say it was none of them. Loew suspects their agents.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Spain beats France, faces Ronaldo

PST: Xabi Alonso scored two goals in his 100th international appearance Saturday, leading Spain to a 2-0 win over France and a spot in the European Championship semifinals.

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US foetus? cancer removed in womb

London: An unborn baby girl in the US was detected with an extremely rare cancerous tumour in the mouth, but doctors successfully removed it in one of the world's first such surgeries in the womb.

Leyna Gonzalez was born healthy five months later, The Sun reported.

She is now nearly two years old, and the only sign of cancer is a tiny scar on her mouth.

Her mother Tammy's pregnancy scan at 17 weeks showed Leyna had an aggressive mouth tumour. It looked like the baby was blowing a bubble, the daily said.

Article continues below

Doctors said it was a rare tumour called an oral teratoma, and that there was little chance Leyna would survive.

Surgeons used a laser to cut the tumour from Leyna's lips after pushing a super-fine needle into Tammy's womb for the hour-long operation at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida.

Details of the case has been published in US medical journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

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1984 Formula formula - 30' Boat in Fort Lauderdale, Florida


30 formula
Trailer: Not Included
Fuel capacity (gallons): 41-50
Engine Make: mercruiser
Use: Fresh Water
Primary Fuel Type: Gas
Engine Model:
Engine Type: 454
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Condition: Used
Beam (feet): 8.5
Hull Material: fibeglass
Hull ID Number: MPDT7864D191
For Sale By: Private Seller
Model: formula
Length (feet): 30.0
Type: Bay
Make: Formula
Year: 1984

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LeBron's triple-double lifts Heat to NBA title

Published: Friday, June 22, 2012 at 6:57 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, June 22, 2012 at 6:57 a.m.

Not that one two summers ago, the welcoming rally where he boasted of multiple titles, perhaps without realizing how hard it would be to win just one.

He dreamed of this moment, with teammates surrounding him and the NBA championship trophy beside him.

"You know, my dream has become a reality now, and it's the best feeling I ever had," James said.

James had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, leading the Miami Heat in a 121-106 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night to win the NBA Finals in five games.

Ripped and ridiculed for the way he announced he was leaving Cleveland and taking his talents to South Beach, it's all worth it now for James.

Best player in the game. Best team in the league.

And now, NBA champion.

"I'm happy now that eight years later, nine years later since I've been drafted, that I can finally say that I'm a champion, and I did it the right way," James said. "I didn't shortcut anything. You know, I put a lot of hard work and dedication in it, and hard work pays off. It's a great moment for myself."

And for his teammates, who watched the Dallas Mavericks celebrate on their floor last year.

James left the game along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for good with 3:01 remaining for a round of hugs and the start for a party he's been waiting for since arriving in the NBA out of high school as the No. 1 pick of the 2003 draft. James hopped up and down in the final minutes, shared a long hug with opponent Kevin Durant, and then soaked in the "MVP! MVP! chants during the raucous postgame.

"I wanted to become a champion someday," James said. "I didn't know exactly when it would happen, but I put in a lot of hard work."

He was a choker last year, the guy who came up small in the fourth quarter, mocked for "shrinking" in the moment while playing with what he called "hatred" in trying to prove his critics wrong.

He came to Miami seeking an easier road to the finals but found it tougher than he expected, the Heat coming up empty last year and nearly getting knocked out in the Eastern Conference finals this time by Boston. Facing elimination there, James poured in 45 points on the road to force a Game 7 and the Heat won it at home.

"It was the hardest thing I've ever done as a basketball player," James said. "You just put a lot of hard work into it and you hope that one day it will pay off for you."

This time, with a chance to clinch, the Heat took control in the second quarter, briefly lost it and blew the game open again in the third behind their role players, James content to pass to wide-open 3-point shooters while the Thunder focused all their attention on him.

The disappointment of losing to Dallas in six games a year ago vanished in a blowout of the demoralized Thunder, who got 32 points and 11 rebounds from Durant.

Bosh and Wade, the other members of the Big Three who sat alongside James as he promised titles at his Miami welcoming party, both had strong games. Bosh, who wept as the Heat left their own court after losing Game 6 last year, finished with 24 points and Wade scored 20. The Heat also got a huge boost from Mike Miller, who made seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points.

That all made it easier for James, the most heavily scrutinized player in the league since his departure from Cleveland, when he announced he was "taking his talents to South Beach" on a TV special called "The Decision" that was criticized everywhere from water coolers to the commissioner's office. James has said he wishes he handled things differently, but few who watched the Cavs fail to assemble championship talent around him could have argued with his desire to depart.

In Miami he found a team that didn't need him to do it alone, though he reminded everyone during this sensational postseason run that he still could when necessary. He got support whenever he needed it in this series, from Shane Battier's 17 points in Game 2 to Mario Chalmers' 25 in Game 4.

In the clincher it was Miller, banged up from so many injuries that he limped from the bench to scorer's table when he checked in. He made his fourth 3-pointer of the half right before James' fast-break basket capped a 15-2 run that extended Miami's lead to 53-36 with 4:42 remaining in the first half.

The Thunder were making a remarkably early trip to the finals just three years after starting 3-29, beating the Mavericks, Lakers and Spurs along the way. With Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and James Harden all 23 or younger, the Thunder have the pieces in place for a lengthy stay atop the Western Conference.

But their inexperience showed in this series, a few questionable decisions, possessions and outright mistakes costing them in their franchise's first finals appearance since Seattle lost to Chicago in 1996. Westbrook scored 19 but made only four of his 20 shots, unable to come up with anything close to his 43-point outing in Game 4, and Harden finished a miserable series with 19.

"It hurts, man," Durant said. "We're all brothers on this team and it just hurts to go out like this. We made it to the finals, which was cool for us, but we didn't want to just make it there. Unfortunately we lost, so it's tough."

Nothing they did could have stopped James, anyway.

Appearing fully recovered from the leg cramps that forced him to sit out the end of Game 4, he was dominant again, a combination of strength and speed that is practically unmatched in the game and rarely seen in its history.

Wade skipped to each side of the court before the opening tip with arms up to pump up the fans, then James showed them nothing wrong with his legs, throwing down an emphatic fast-break dunk to open the scoring. He made consecutive baskets while being fouled, showing no expression after the second, as if he'd hardly even known he was hit. Drawing so much attention from the Thunder, he started finding his wide-open shooters, and the Heat built a nine-point lead before going to the second up 31-26.

Oklahoma City got back within five early in the third before consecutive 3-pointers by Chalmers and Battier triggered a 27-7 burst that made it 88-63 on another 3-pointer by Miller. James didn't even score in the run until it was almost over, hitting a pair of free throws after he was flagrantly fouled by Derek Fisher while powering toward the basket.

Gone was the tentative player who was mocked for shrinking on the big stage last year, too willing to defer to others who didn't possess half his talents. This time, he was at peace off the court and attacking on it, vowing to have no regrets and playing in such a way they wouldn't be necessary.

Miami had outscored Oklahoma City by just 389-384 over the first four games, but the Thunder were buried under a barrage of 14 3-pointers, tying the NBA record.

"They just hit 3s after 3s. They got it going and we couldn't stop them," Thunder center Kendrick Perkins said. "Things just didn't go our way."

Notes: Miami became the third team to sweep the middle three games at home in the 2-3-2 format. The Detroit Pistons took all three from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004 before the Heat did it against Dallas in 2006. ... Coach Erik Spoelstra tied Rick Riley for the Heat franchise record with his 34th postseason win. He is 34-22, while Riley was just 34-36. ... The four-game losing streak that Oklahoma City finished the season with was its longest of the season. The Thunder had dropped three straight games to Memphis, Miami and Indiana from April 2-6.

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Saturday, June 23, 2012

GOP leader fires back at newspaper over First Amendment protections

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has fired a salvo at The Washington Post after two of its columnists wrote that he has been inconsistent on First Amendment issues.

McConnell, who considers himself an ardent defender of First Amendment freedoms, pushed back in an op-ed published in The Post Saturday.

The battle started June 17 when editorial page editor Fred Hiatt wrote that Republican leaders have changed their position on campaign finance disclosure because the flood of anonymous money to campaigns helps their party.

He cited McConnell?s statement on NBC?s ?Meet the Press? in 2000 that ?Republicans are in favor of disclosure? and a lot of disclosure at that: ?Why would a little disclosure be better than a lot of disclosure??

Now Republican lawmakers oppose the Democrats? Disclose Act, which would require groups spending millions of dollars to influence campaigns to reveal their biggest donors.

?What?s changed? Sadly, only one thing, and it?s not the merits of the argument. The playing field has tilted toward Republicans, and they?re in no hurry to tilt it back,? Hiatt wrote.

Two days later, Post columnist Ruth Marcus, weighing the arguments for amending the constitution to limit independent expenditures, noted that McConnell once supported such an amendment.

She quoted McConnell?s argument: ?These are constitutional problems ? demanding constitutional answers.?

The Post columns were published shortly after McConnell delivered a major speech at the American Enterprise Institute urging conservatives to do all in their power to protect the First Amendment?s speech protections.

McConnell scolded The Post Saturday for questioning his motives and overlooking what he sees as the serious threat government intimidation poses to free speech.

?Unfortunately, many journalists have been less concerned about a president using his powers to silence critics than in drawing false inferences about the motives of those blowing the whistle,? he wrote.

?Post columnist Ruth Marcus went back to 1987, to my introduction of a constitutional amendment to allow limits on self-funding millionaires as evidence of my supposed hypocrisy,? he added.

McConnell said he quickly realized he was wrong to propose such an amendment and publicly testified against the idea nine months after proposing it.

?Not only have I voted against this idea every time it?s come up but I have also led the opposition,? he wrote.

McConnell argued that he has not changed his position on disclosure.

?Some, including Hiatt, have pointed to a 12-year-old quote in which I expressed support for disclosure not just for politicians and parties but maybe even for certain outside groups. This supposedly proved that I now oppose disclosure measures I used to support,? he wrote.

McConnell said Hiatt omitted concerns he raised at the time about the possibility of donors to controversial advocacy groups receiving harassment.

?My concern remains what it was in 2000: Selective disclosure would be used to harass people who have participated in the political process or to scare others from doing so,? McConnell wrote.


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Movie Review: 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World' ? CBS Philly

(Kiera Knightley and Steve Carell star in "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.")

(Kiera Knightley and Steve Carell star in ?Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.?)

By Bill Wine
KYW Newsradio 1060

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ? Talk about a ticking clock: when this romance begins, the near-future world is about to end.

When a laser that?s been sent to space to protect Earth from a 70-mile-wide asteroid that?s rushing toward it fails to do so, people start preparing for the impending apocalypse, the end of humankind.

2c2bd2 Movie Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

(2? stars out of 4)

Thus begins the offbeat final-days comedy-drama, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, in which people are told that they have three weeks to live.

Steve Carell plays Dodge Petersen, a soft-spoken insurance salesman whose wife, when she hears the devastating news, bolts from their car and their marriage.

When Dodge?s friends begin throwing caution to the wind and start acting reckless because, well, why bother following any rules at this point, Dodge keeps playing by the rules of civility.

He even takes in a stray dog.

Keira Knightley is Penny Lockhart, a British upstairs neighbor of Dodge?s whom he has never even spoken to, a free spirit and incurable romantic who?s involved with a self-absorbed musician who mistreats her.

As Dodge and Penny get to know each other, Penny delivers a letter to him that was incorrectly delivered to her apartment and that she never bothered to give him.

He?s aghast when he reads it to discover that it was from the love of his life, the only woman he ever really loved, the one who got away, and that now it?s probably too late to do anything about it.? And it?s Penny?s fault.

So, with neighbors looting at will, Dodge and Penny decide to follow through on Penny?s suggestion that he try to find his original sweetheart while she attempts to reconnect with her family.? That?s why they get out of Dodge and hit the road somewhere in Southern California, heading east in search of their lost loved ones.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World juggles genre, starting out as an edgy, satirical black comedy, then becoming a quirky road flick, and eventually ending up a melancholy romantic drama.? Not, as they say, that there?s anything wrong with that.

Debuting director Lorene Scafaria (who wrote Nick and Nora?s Infinite Playlist), working from her own script, sets up her premise efficiently and economically, without a lost of fuss, and in the process shows us a distinctive directorial hand in the early moments.

But then she switches hands, and tones, and genre.? When the intensity dips noticeably, we tell ourselves that it?s not the end of the world.? And then we realize: oh, wait, well, yes it is.

An able supporting cast -? including William Petersen, Melanie Lynskey, Adam Brody, Patton Oswalt, Connie Britton, Rob Corddry, and Derek Luke ?- helps make the heavyhearted trip sufficiently pleasant.? But it?s the leads who remain in the driver?s seat.

The chemistry between Carell and a deglamorized Knightley, while not ample, is sufficient for the film?s purposes.? They may not quite make us feel the inevitability of where things go, but they certainly connect.

Still, it?s Carell on his own who really impresses, enormously sympathetic in a beautifully modulated, low-key performance (more dramatic than comedic, when you come right down to it) in which he uses his deadpan style to convey the palpable pain that he?s in.

Like the record that Penny plays at one point, the film gets stuck here and there, but not enough to make you wish you weren?t there.

So we?ll count down to 2? stars out of 4 for Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, a bittersweet but not gloomy romantic dramedy that will at the very least stop you from seeking an exit for the end of the movie.

More Bill Wine Movie Reviews

CBS Philly Entertainment News

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Taliban siege at Kabul hotel kills at least 23

Elite Afghan police backed by NATO forces ended a 12-hour siege on Friday at a popular lakeside hotel outside Kabul. Msnbc.com's Alex Witt reports.

By Cheryll Simpson, NBC News in Kabul, and Reuters

Updated at 7:38 a.m. ET Friday: KABUL ? Guests swam for their lives after five Taliban gunmen attacked a lakeside hotel in Afghanistan, killing at least 18 people and taking 50 others hostage in a siege lasting several hours, according to reports.

The militants -- armed with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns -- attacked the exclusive Spozhmai hotel in the Qargha Lake recreation area late Thursday, bursting into a private party and shooting dead hotel workers.?

The local police chief told NBC News that all five insurgents were killed. The Associated Press quoted local police as saying the civilian death toll was 18 - including hotel guards and a policeman - and likely to climb.?


Many terrified guests jumped into the lake in darkness to escape the carnage, according to Afghan officials and local residents.

More photos: Afghan, NATO forces fight back?after Taliban gunmen take hostages at lakeside hotel

Ahmad Jamshid / AP

A soldier from NATO-led forces, center, outside the Spozhmai hotel after the attack came to an end on Friday.

Reuters journalist Hamid Shalizi reported?that the guests were a party of wealthy Afghans.

NBC News producer Cheryll Simpson said on Twitter that heavy gunfire could be heard from the hotel, which is about six miles from the center of Kabul.

The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the hotel was used for "prostitution, alcohol and immorality,"?she reported.

For the deeply conservative Taliban, men and women who simply mingle, perhaps flirt, are condemned as pimps and prostitutes who deserve punishment sanctioned by God.

8-year-old cleaner tells of attack
Rasoul Khan, 8, who works as a cleaner at the hotel, told Reuters that Taliban gunmen ?were asking everyone where the pimps were. They shot anyone who would not co-operate with them."

The young boy had a facial injury.

With a quavering voice, Ebadullah, 14, another cleaner at the hotel, described how one of his friends wet himself when an insurgent demanded information on the whereabouts of other guests.

Musadeq Sadeq / AP

People hide from militants outside the Spozhmai hotel on Lake Qurgha during an attack on the hotel on Friday.

"He cried and said that he was an orphan and was the only bread winner for his family," he told Reuters.?

At a military hospital in Kabul where the wounded were treated, engineer Salder Rahi recalled how he had gone to the hotel to meet his brother and three friends. By the end of the ordeal, his sibling was among the dead.

"They opened fire on everybody. Everybody just ran. There was a party outside and I saw the father shot dead and his wife wounded," Rahi told Reuters.

Massoud Hossaini / AFP - Getty Images

NATO UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters fly near the Spozhmai Hotel in Qargha lake in the outskirts of Kabul in the early hours of Friday.

Abdullah Samadi, 24, was just settling in at the hotel when he heard a huge blast from an RPG, followed by gunfire.?"We tried to escape, but we were surrounded by suicide bombers. We hid ourselves beneath a tree until morning. God protected us," he said.

The gunmen, Samadi said, had been closely watching their prisoners and searching for illegal stocks of wine.

"Around dawn they came closer to us and we had to jump in the water," he said. "We were there until 9 a.m. and then the situation got better and we slowly, slowly swam toward security forces."

Elite Afghan quick-response police backed by NATO troops freed the remaining hostages and killed the gunmen in an operation that only began in earnest after sunrise to help security forces avoid unnecessary civilian deaths in night-time confusion.

Two NATO attack helicopters could be seen over the single-story hotel building and a balcony popular with guests for its sunset views.

'Crime against humanity'
The incident again highlighted the ability of the Afghan Taliban to stage high-profile attacks even as NATO nations prepare to withdraw most combat troops by the end of 2014, leaving Afghan forces to take the lead against the insurgency.

Authorities are about midway through a transition process during which security responsibility is being handed from NATO-led foreign troops to Afghan forces.

"This is a crime against humanity because they targeted children, women and civilians picnicking at the lake. There wasn't even a single soldier around there," said General Mohammad Zahir, head of the Kabul police investigation unit.

Qargha Lake is one of Kabul's few options for weekend getaways. Restaurants and hotels that dot the shore are popular with Afghan government officials and businessmen, particularly on Thursday nights.

Ahmad Jamshid / AP

More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.

Guests at the Spozhmai must pass through hotel security before entering the hotel, where tables with umbrellas overlook the water, but security is relatively light for a city vulnerable to militant attacks.

Violence across Afghanistan has surged in recent days, with three U.S. soldiers and more than a dozen civilians killed in successive attacks, mostly in the country's east where NATO-led forces have focused their efforts during the summer fighting months.

Several well-planned assaults in Kabul in the past year have raised questions about whether the Taliban and their al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network allies have shifted tactics to embrace high-profile attacks targeting landmarks, foreigners and Afghanistan's elite, extending a guerrilla war once primarily waged in the countryside.

Afghan insurgents attacked Kabul's heavily protected diplomatic and government district on April 15 in an assault, eventually quelled by Afghan special forces guided by Western mentors, similar to one in September 2011.

President Hamid Karzai told a special session of parliament on Thursday that attacks by insurgents against Afghan police and soldiers were increasing as most foreign combat troops prepare to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.?

Reuters contributed to this report.

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