Video: Death, sorrow after Syrian rebels attack convoy

>>> overseas we continue to follow this fighting in syria . the rebels way outgunned and up against seemingly impossible odds as they fight the regime and fight their way across the country side . our richard engel is reporting and today encountered the fighting up close. he reports from ariha.

>> reporter: 11:00 a.m . attack helicopters circle the sky. from a roof top we hear the assault begin. it sounds like artillery and tracings from the helicopters. we move down to the alley to try to find out why syrian forces are attacking this city of 70,000 south of aleppo . we see civilians fleeing from open areas searching for cover and rebels on motor cycles on the main square . it appears a large military con voy was passing through and as the troops were moving past here the rebels in this town opened fire on them. in a make shift rebel media center activists try to upload videos of the attack they have taken with small cameras. they show me syrian tanks are now firing. the rebels attack the convoy to prevent reinforcements from reaching aleppo but now this city is paying for it. back on the alleys men on motor cycles tell us there are bodies up the street, many. in a mosque, we find them along with their distraught relatives. witnesses say the victims were civilians standing outside a mosque and attacked by a helicopter. there seem to be many casualties. here eight bodies have been brought. they can't get them to the hospital so they are putting ice on top of the bodies. they can't move them because there is too much helicopter and mortar fire coming in. men embrace the deceased. oh, uncle, oh uncle this man cries. the rebels seem desperately outgunned and may have taken on a battle thap can't win. each fighter says he only has about six bullets and home made grenades. how are you going to defend yourself against a tank assault? god is with us he says. back in the media center bad news has just arrived. one of the rebels media activists has just been killed, one of more than a dozen killed today. and the rebels never stop the convoy headed to aleppo . nbc news in northern syria .

>> two things here. we are happy to be able to report that after filing his report richard and his team were able to safely get out of ariha and are now safe and in northern syria . one more note here we learned prior to going on the air tonight nbc news has been able to confirm that president obama has signed an order calling for mostly clandestine u.s. forces to support the rebels in syria .

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/48452569/

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HBT: Pirates' Burnett loses no-hitter in 8th inning

11:00 p.m. EDT update: Burnett retired the side in order in the ninth to finish a one-hit shutout?of the Cubs. It was his first shutout since 2006, his first year with the Blue Jays, but his 10th overall. He moved to 13-3 with a 3.27 ERA for the season.

10:39 p.m. EDT update: Burnett lost the no-hitter on an Adrian Cardenas single with two outs in the eighth.

Burnett previously hit Darwin Barney in the helmet with a pitch in the eighth, forcing Barney from the game. It was a breaking ball, though, and it actually was only rib-high, except Barney had the misfortune of ducking right into it.

Despite the little bout with wildness, Burnett easily could have gone into the ninth with the no-no intact. He threw a 2-2 curve to Cardenas that looked like a strike on the outside corner, but it was called a ball with the catcher having been set up inside. Cardenas lined the next pitch to right field.

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With one no-hitter already under his belt, the Pirates? A.J. Burnett is now six outs away from No. 2. He retired the Cubs on six pitches in the seventh and is at just 74 pitches after seven innings.

It?d be a sharp contrast from Burnett?s previous no-hitter against the Padres on May 12, 2001. Pitching for the Marlins, he walked nine batters that night and threw 129 pitches against a lineup that included Rickey Henderson, Ryan Klesko and Dave Magadan (hitting cleanup!). Burnett has walked just two batters tonight.

If Burnett can get it done, it?d be the first time the Cubs have been no-hit in 47 years.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/31/a-j-burnett-takes-a-no-hitter-into-eighth/related

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Commonsense & Wonder: Illegal immigration and crime

The Obama administration released illegal immigrants who went on to commit more crimes, including charges of 19 murders, 3 attempted murders and 142 sex crimes, the House Judiciary Committee said in a report Tuesday.

All told, the nearly 47,000 illegal immigrants the administration was notified of but declined to deport between 2008 and 2011 under its Secure Communities program had a recidivism rate of 16 percent, the committee said.

They were just part of the nearly 160,000 immigrants ? most of them here legally ? who were flagged by Secure Communities during the three year period but who were either not eligible to be deported or who the administration decided to release. Those immigrants went on to be charged in nearly 60,000 more crimes, according to the committee and the Congressional Research Service, which issued a report on the matter.

The findings stem from the Obama administration's Secure Communities program, which was designed to identify immigrants who run afoul of the law and who the administration decides it wants to deport.

While hundreds of thousands have been sent back home under the program, 159,286 were not put in deportation proceedings during the period under review, CRS said.

About three quarters of those weren't eligible for deportation because they were legal immigrants and their criminal records didn't rise to the level of deportation, though nearly a quarter could have been deported, CRS said.

Those who could have been deported but were released later went on to commit the 19 murders, 3 attempted murders and 142 sex crimes, the Judiciary Committee said.

"The Obama administration could have prevented these senseless crimes by enforcing our immigration laws," committee Chairman Lamar Smith said. "But President Obama continues to further his anti-enforcement agenda while innocent Americans suffer the consequences. His unwillingness to enforce immigration laws puts our communities at risk and costs American lives."

Mr. Smith requested the CRS report, which used data he had subpoenaed from the Homeland Security Department.

The department didn't immediately return a request for comment Tuesday morning.

Secure Communities has come under fire from both sides of the aisle.

Many Democrats say it casts its net too wide, which means illegal immigrants who have committed relatively minor offenses could be deported. But Republicans, led by Mr. Smith, say the administration is actually being too picky in those it chooses to deport, which results in criminals being released back onto the streets to commit more crimes.

In one of the cases, the committee said, an illegal immigrant named Evin Adonis Ortiz was identified by Secure Communities but released, and later went on to be charged in the killing of California man. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, police said Ortiz and two others robbed a 68-year-old grandfather and then killed his grandson when he tried to chase the bandits down.

The Obama administration has set records for deportations, removing about 400,000 aliens a year. But it has dramatically altered the composition of those being deported, shifting attention away from rank-and-file illegal immigrants and towards those who already have criminal records or who have repeatedly broken immigration laws.

In June President Obama announced yet another policy that shields most illegal immigrants age 30 and under from deportation. That policy won't fully take effect until the middle of August, but it has already had an effect on those being deported.

Through June 16, 51 percent of those being deported had criminal records. But in the month after that, the percentage jumped to 57 percent ? a record high rate.

Source: http://commonsensewonder.blogspot.com/2012/07/illegal-immigration-and-crime.html

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Bad View? Disguise It | Zillow Blog

Mountain vistas, green pastures and rolling tides. These are the views real estate advertisements boast about. Unfortunately, many of us are more focused on disguising bad views ? think hideous pink shacks and way-too-close apartment buildings ? than showcasing good ones.

We turned to a handful of design and landscape experts who offer these tips for camouflaging even the most unsightly scenery:

Window placement

If you?re building or remodeling, give some serious consideration to where?? and at what height?? the windows should go. Want light in your new kitchen but can?t stand the idea of looking into the neighbor?s bedroom while doing the dishes? Consider installing windows above eye-level. You?ll get all the light without the blight.

It?s curtains for you

Never underestimate the power of a window covering! Plantation shutters, for instance, can go a long way toward hiding the hideous?? so can sheers when partnered with heavier drapes. You?ll pay a little extra for custom-made shades that lower from the top of the window, but you?ll find they work wonders to let in light while blocking the view down below.

Frosted, etched or stained glass lets in natural light while minimizing the view. A less expensive and less permanent option is to apply decorative window film to the pane.

Go green

Consider installing a glass shelf or two across the front of your window frame, then fill the shelves with light-loving plants. The same effect can be accomplished with a well-placed hanging vine or large, potted ficus.

Turn to the outdoors

Employ a good landscape designer who can suggest plants that will grow tall or wide?? or whatever is required of them. Be sure to let the professionals know if the eyesore you?re trying to disguise is only visible from your outdoor space or if it?s something that bugs you every time you peer out your picture window. Invite the landscaper in to take a look; knowing exactly what you?re waging war against will dictate what artillery you should take into battle. Be sure to check the local codes or HOA regulations to ensure your plant choice is acceptable.

And don?t think only in terms of green and growing. A stately stone wall or waterfall, or a custom iron screen may be just what it takes to improve the view.

Pitch in

If your view is of a poorly maintained home, you may want to?? gently ? approach the neighbors and ask if there is anything you can do to help them clean up or care for their property. It could be that the homeowner is simply not able physically or financially to do the work themselves.

Related:

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Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-07-31/bad-view-disguise-it/

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Diane von Furstenberg joining Roxy for ?playful' swimwear collection

Diane von Furstenberg has announced she's joining forces with surf and snow lifestyle brand Roxy for a limited edition swimwear line called DVF loves ROXY.

Set to launch globally for Spring/Summer 2013, the range will blend Furstenberg's iconic bold prints with Roxy's signature surf culture-inspired silhouettes.

Comprising 35 pieces, the line will include swimwear, beach cover-ups, board shorts, rash guards, and beach bags.

"I am so excited to work with Roxy," Furstenberg told WWD of the partnership. "The collection is playful and fun...we wanted to empower women to go for it and ride the wave."

With prices ranging from $38 to $88, DVF loves ROXY will be available at selected DVF and Roxy stores across the globe, as well as the roxy.com e-commerce site and surf specialty outlets across the US.

Furstenberg, who is best known for her signature printed wrap dress and cites Michelle Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow among her fans, has previously joined forces with high street brands such as Gap and Current Elliot.

She is also one of the 24 designers, along with the likes of Jason Wu and Marc Jacobs, that will be part of the capsule holiday collection for US retailers Neiman's and Target in December.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/diane-von-furstenberg-joining-roxy-playful-swimwear-collection-112902859.html

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US hits out at Asian nations over religious freedom

The United States warned the world was sliding backwards on religious freedoms, slamming China for cracking down on Tibetan Buddhists and hitting out at Pakistan and Afghanistan.

As the State Department unveiled its first report on religious freedoms since the start of the Arab Spring, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it was a "signal to the worst offenders" that the world was watching.

"New technologies have given repressive governments additional tools for cracking down on religious expression," Clinton told a US think-tank, adding that pressure was rising on some faith groups around the globe.

"More than a billion people live under governments that systematically suppress religious freedom," she stressed.

"When it comes to this human right -- this key feature of stable, secure, peaceful societies -- the world is sliding backward."

The 2011 International Religious Freedom Report noted that last year governments increasingly used blasphemy laws to "restrict religious liberty, constrain the rights of religious minorities and limit freedom of expression."

In China "there was a marked deterioration during 2011 in the government's respect for and protection of religious freedom in China," the report said.

This included "increased restrictions on religious practice, especially in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries."

"Official interference" in traditional Tibetan religious practices had "exacerbated grievances and contributed to at least 12 self-immolations by Tibetans in 2011."

China's has not yet given an official response, but a Xinhua commentary said there was "no justification" for the criticism and accused the United States of "blatantly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries".

"The US action will only backfire by creating more suspicion and distrust rather than fostering mutual understanding and improving relations with other countries," said Xinhua.

China and North Korea, where the report noted that religious freedom does not exist in any form, along with Myanmar are among eight nations designated as "countries of particular concern" for failing to accept religious rights.

They are accompanied by Eritrea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan.

Highlighting the situation in Indonesia and Afghanistan, the report recalled the case in Pakistan of Aasia Bibi, the first Christian woman to be sentenced to death for blasphemy in the country.

And while in Afghanistan the constitution says that followers of other religions are free to worship as they please it also maintains "that Islam is the 'religion of the state,'" the report said.

The Afghan government's "failure to protect minority religious groups and individuals limited religious freedom," it insisted.

Much of the focus of the 2011 report however was on the countries involved in the Arab Spring, where popular uprisings have ousted autocratic leaders.

Despite gestures by Egypt's interim military leaders towards greater inclusiveness, sectarian violence had increased, the report said, denouncing "both the Egyptian government's failure to curb rising violence against Coptic Christians and its involvement in violent attacks."

Clinton, who visited Egypt earlier this month, said she had had "a very emotional, very personal conversation with Christians who are deeply anxious about what the future holds for them and their country."

Egypt's new leader, President Mohamed Morsi, who emerged from the Islamic Brotherhood to become the country's first democratically-elected president, had vowed in their talks "to be the president of all Egyptians."

But Christians were asking "will a government looking explicitly to greater reliance on Islamic principles stand up for non-Muslims and Muslims equally? Since this is the first time that Egypt has been in this situation.

"It's a fair question," Clinton said.

The report also warned that European nations undergoing major demographic shifts have seen "growing xenophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim sentiment, and intolerance toward people considered 'the other.'"

It complains of a "rising number of European countries, including Belgium and France, whose laws restricting dress adversely affected Muslims and others."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-hits-europe-egypt-over-religious-freedoms-191252336.html

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UVa researchers hope new cancer treatment will shorten hospital ...

Credit: Sabrina Schaeffer -- The Daily Progress

The hope is that the new approach will allow doctors to be more aware of patients? statuses and the respond faster to problems.

University of Virginia doctors are hoping that a new approach to care for those with advanced cancer will shorten their stays in the hospital and improve the quality of their lives.

?Actually, my father was ill and died of cancer in a hospital,? said Dr. Paul W. Read, a professor of radiation oncology at UVa.

He started thinking about ways to improve treatment.

?The question is how can we provide these patients with the best care, the best quality of life,? Read said.

The hope is that the new approach will allow doctors to be more aware of patients? statuses and the respond faster to problems by combining new software, a team of health care providers and new methods of radiation treatment.

The team will include a wide range of specialists, including palliative care doctors, whose aim is to deal with patients? pain.

Experts plan to build a new computer modeling system to track how patients are doing in categories ranging from pain and weight loss to spiritual wellbeing. The custom software will monitor patients much more closely than off-the-shelf systems do, Read said, and flag medical staff when problems appear. The custom software will be used in conjunction with some already available software.

Symptoms can even be tracked while patients are at home, said Dr. Leslie Blackwell, one of the doctors involved.

Read points to studies that have shown having a palliative care physician in addition to normal treatment can improve outcomes for patients markedly.

?If this was a drug, it would be a multi-billion-dollar drug,? Read said.

Outside experts said that?s a big point.

?Most patients would prefer to be in the comforts of their own home rather than in the hospital, especially at the end of their life,? said Dr. Keri Hall, vice president for quality and medical affairs at the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Dr. Daniel Mendelson, a professor at the University of Rochester and medical director for palliative care at the Highland Hospital in New York had similar thoughts.

?That?s what you have to focus on, living the best you can for whatever time you?ve got,? he said.

On the radiation front, doctors are hoping to refine the ?one big dose equals many small doses? line of thinking to ?one targeted dose equals many small doses.?

The treatment is aimed at those with cancer that has reached the bones. The focus is on reducing the amount of time they have to spend being treated in the hospital along the way.

A 30-minute procedure will replace one that currently lasts weeks, officials hope.

The idea is to be more focused and produce a lot less toxicity, Read said.

?We?re not going to treat someone?s whole stomach to treat someone?s spine,? he said.

The hope is that the new approach will cut the cost of caring for such patients while simultaneously giving them better quality of life.

The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services is underwriting the new approach with a $2.57 million grant that runs three years. It is expected to create three new jobs.

Read hopes to have the program running at full steam in a year, with kickoff much sooner than that.

Source: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jul/30/uva-researchers-hope-new-cancer-treatment-will-sho-ar-2096223/

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