Split (1)

train · 2.6M rows

text stringlengths 13 81.7k
More on Clinton's Sudan bombing.
The only new evidence on Clinton’s Sudan bombing weakens the case for it.
The administration claimed the plant was actually a disguised chemical weapons factory. Administration officials said that soil samples taken outside the plant had shown the presence of a substance known as Empta, whose only function was to make the nerve gas VX. The plant, moreover, was heavily guarded, the administra...
In yesterday’s column, Chatterbox cited a few additional arguments that undermine the Clinton administration’s insistence that the presence of EMPTA, or what it thought to be EMPTA, proved that the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory had been making or storing the nerve agent VX. It’s probably worth noting, too, that nobod...
But all this analysis is based on what could be learned in 1998. Has new information challenged this consensus?
Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon, authors of The Age of Sacred Terror, want you to think so. The book was published in 2002, but its arguments about Al-Shifa are acquiring greater currency with the publication of Richard A. Clarke’s Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terror, which similarly states that Al-Shi...
1. After 9/11, no one can deny that al-Qaida posed a serious threat. That disinclines potential critics to bellyache about Clinton’s attack on Osama Bin Laden’s purported assets.2. At the time, there was a lot of loose talk about the bombing being a “Wag the Dog” strategy to distract the American public from the Monica...
But the bombing of Al-Shifa did kill a night watchman, and it probably also brought harm to those dependent on its pharmaceutical products. Moreover, Al-Shifa was privately owned—not, as best we can tell, by Bin Laden—so the bombing couldn’t be justified as punishment visited on the government of Sudan for harboring te...
Q: Did you ever travel to the section of Khartoum called Hilat Koko with any member of Al Qaida?A: Yes, I did. … I learn that in this building they try to make chemical weapons with regular weapons.
Benjamin and Simon call this “partial, but striking, corroboration of the Clinton administration’s 1998 claim that al-Qaida was involved in producing chemical weapons in Khartoum.” Quite true. But what they neglect to state in the text—it’s buried in a footnote—is that Al-Shifa is not located in Khartoum’s Hilat Koko n...
EMPTA could have been produced at one of the two sites and then transferred to the other for storage, the completion of the chemical process that would turn the EMPTA into VX, and perhaps the loading of the agent into weapons. In view of al-Fadl’s testimony and the chemical analysis of the soil sample, the most plausib...
This is desperate conjecture. A much simpler explanation would be that Clinton bombed the wrong building. The al-Fadl testimony about chemical weapons (which Benjamin and Simon excoriate the media for ignoring at the time) does absolutely nothing to establish that Al-Shifa manufactured or stored or had anything to do w...
It is possible that we’ll one day learn Al-Shifa was a legitimate bombing target. Most of the information about this incident is still classified. Benjamin, Simon, Clarke, and the rest of the Clinton national security team had access to a lot more intelligence than the rest of us do. But based on the evidence available...
Forrester is predicting big growth for the mobile payments market in a new report out today, spanning 2013 to 2017. The market research firm is anticipating that the U.S. mobile payment market will see $90 billion spent in 2017, an incredible 48 percent compounded annual growth rate over the $12.8 billion that was spen...
This is pretty much in keeping with other predictions we’ve been seeing, like the $110 billion in transactions anticipated by Juniper Research across not only the U.S., but also the rest of North America and the Western European markets, or the $191 billion annual figure for 2017 predicted by ABI Research for global NF...
As for Forrester, it sees growth in mobile payments driven by proximity payments, which, while currently the smallest subcategory of mobile payments according to the research firm, should become the fastest growing. Those will account for $41 billion of payments made via mobile by 2017, according to Forrester’s Denée C...
There are still some soft-spots where mobile payments will run into challenges, according to Forrester. One of those is in mobile remittances, since consumers seem less eager to transact domestic and cross-border P2P and bill payment transactions on their devices, vs. online shopping or paying via NFC. Startups in this...
The key to future growth for mobile payments will be convincing consumers that it is a much better alternative to the prevailing payment method, Forrester says. Highlighting convenience, security, and improved user experience are what will convince users to come on board, but it’ll require that there are clear and pres...
I’d argue that every year of the last two or three has seemed at the outset like the one where mobile payments could really take off and become mainstream. Consumer interest is growing, and initiatives like ISIS and Google Wallet are actually launching and usable in real-world locations, so there’s every reason to beli...
Sells print property to private equity firm OpenGate Capital, but retains brand.
Copy protection giant Macrovision, which expanded into television program navigation with its $2.8 billion acquisition of Gemstar-TV Guide earlier this year, has struck a deal to sell the TV Guide Magazine print property to Los Angeles-based private equity firm OpenGate Capital.
The price of the deal, which is expected to close on or around December 1, 2008, was not disclosed. Since Macrovision had already classified the TV Guide Magazine business as a discontinued operation, no gain or loss will be recognized for financial reporting purposes by the company as a result of the divestiture. The ...
TV Guide Magazine, which has some 21 million weekly readers but faces steadily increasing competition from the Web as a source of TV programming news, had already been identified by Macrovision as a non-core asset when it first described its plans for the Gemstar-TV Guide businesses. Other businesses within Gemstar-TV ...
The TV Guide Website can be used to remotely program TiVo digital video recorders, for example, and Macrovision plans to extend that capability to cable customers of its interactive program guide. TV Guide Online has also developed some key search technology, particularly relating to bring Web content to the TV, which ...
“That is why we decided to retain that property,” says Corey Ferengul, Macrovision EVP of Marketing.
More important, Macrovision will also be retaining ownership of the venerable TV Guide brand, which is used on its electronic program guides. The company is granting a license of the brand to TV Guide Magazine to support its publication. It is also licensing TV Guide’s program listing to the magazine, which will contin...
Whether Macrovision and TV Guide Magazine continue to have a relationship under which they share editorial content remains to be seen. While one of the original features touted for “My TV Guide” was show recommendations from TV Guide editors, neither Ferengul nor TV Guide president Scott Crystal would discuss whether T...
Moreover, Crystal won’t disclose what plans, if any, TV Guide Magazine and OpenGate have to create an online component of the publication after the divestiture from Macrovision is complete.
It is possible that the cross-promotion and multi-platform advertising currently conducted between the magazine, Website, TV channel and IPG business will persist, says Crystal, even after the sale is complete.
For his part, Crystal says that he and TV Guide Magazine staffers are excited about the future under OpenGate.
Ascent Media sells Visiontext to SDI Media.
Jesse Shanahan is an astrophysicist and science communicator, specializing in public speaking, outreach, and accessibility in STEM.
The highly-reflective surface of Saturn's icy moon, Enceladus, indicates the presence and abundance of consistently fresh surface ice, like no other moon in the Solar System.
A mere 790 million miles from Earth, nestled in the diffuse outer rings of the planet Saturn orbits a small, unobtrusive moon. With a diameter about as wide as North Dakota and a maximum surface temperature of approximately -200 degrees Fahrenheit, it seems unlikely that this pale, frigid rock would be of any significa...
This is the mysterious Saturnian moon, Enceladus, with its limb illuminated by the Sun, its face lit up by light reflected off of Saturn, and an eruption directed downward, towards the middle of the image.
Enceladus was first discovered in 1789 by the British astronomer, William Herschel, who was more famous for his discovery of the planet Uranus. Ironically named after a Giant in Greek mythology, Enceladus remained an elusive speck for almost 200 years after its discovery. Its small size and the surrounding glare from S...
This was the Voyager mission's best view of Enceladus, captured by Voyager 2 on August 26, 1981 from a distance of about 109,000 kilometers. The Voyager images revealed Enceladus to have a tectonized surface that was, in places, wiped clean of craters.
Most significantly, the Voyager scientists noticed that Enceladus has a surface of smooth, bright ice. Quantitative observations have confirmed that in unprecedented fashion: Enceladus is the most reflective object in the entire Solar System. The reason its polished surface is scientifically compelling is that it indic...
A map of Enceladus' surface geography, shown similarly to maps of the Earth in a Mercator projection.
The high reflectivity, smooth surface, and active, watery jets also helped Voyager scientists predict that Saturn’s E-ring was formed from particles spewed from Enceladus’ surface. Sadly, Enceladus fell back into relative obscurity until the Cassini mission reached Saturn in 2004. While the landing of the Huygens probe...
Saturn's E-Ring, as imaged here by Cassini, is created by it's frozen Moon, Enceladus, ejecting icy material over time. Enceladus is the bright spot at the image's center.
Cassini provided scientists with a wealth of data about Enceladus’ surface and the composition of its powerful plumes. This data showed evidence of a deep saltwater ocean with an energy source beneath Enceladus’ surface. The presence of water, warmth, and organic molecules are the necessary requirements for sustaining ...
Not only does the existence of this moon give hope for life elsewhere in our galaxy, but it also could radically redefine our understanding of biological life. Our current definition of life is based solely on observations of the diverse organisms on Earth. The discovery of extremophiles - organisms that can live in ha...
An image of an eruption on Enceladus' surface (L) shown alongside a simulation of the curtain-like eruption from Earth-based scientists (R).
It’s easy to imagine that extraterrestrial life could violate one or more of these requirements, as robustly defining life is still an ongoing area of research in science. Many creative minds in science fiction have pushed back on this definition of life, exploring the possibilities of silicon based life forms (X-Files...
Even if Enceladus doesn’t hold extraterrestrial life, studying its environment could yield clues about the development of life on Earth and hints that our understanding of the requirements for life is incomplete. Many scientists theorize that life first began near hydrothermal vents deep in Earth’s ocean, though there ...
A colony of Riftia tube worms surrounding a hydrothermal vent in the ocean near the Galapagos islands.
Unfortunately, the Cassini mission is slated to end with the spacecraft’s descent into Saturn’s atmosphere later this year. Although numerous missions have been proposed to follow up on Cassini’s observations, there are no current missions planned to return to Enceladus. Neither a lander nor an orbiter -- not even one ...
TODAY’S PLAY: In race 8, play a $3 exacta wheel of Alstom with all and then reverse the play for $2. Then play $5 win on Alstom. Total play is $50.
YESTERDAY’S RESULTS: Don’t Cry for Me had the lead but faded in the stretch. Loss of $50 for the day.
TODAY’S PLAYS: In the seventh race, the Johns Call, $20 win, $10 place on Simmard. In the ninth, $10 win, $10 place on Skorton. Total $50.
YESTERDAY’S RESULTS: In the second race, we had $30 to win, $10 place, $10 show on 9-1 Hope for Us All; of course, he ran fourth. Lost $50.
TODAY’S PLAYS: In the 7th (The John’s Call ) Kindergarten Kid is sharp and that last drill is eye popping…8-1 morning line so let’s bet $25 win and place. Total Bet: $50.
YESTERDAY’S RESULTS: In race 7 the #1 Equestrio did not pick up his feet…chalk lovers delight in the Birdstone. Lost: $50.
TODAY’S PLAYS: Let’s play a pair of $20 doubles using both Sisterhood and Coral Glade in the fourth with Vee in the fifth. Then $10 to win on Adirondack Dancer in the nightcap. Total bet: $50.
YESTERDAY’S RESULTS: Good Deed was never a serious threat. Quiet Ending ran well finishing second but we still lost $50.
Dec. 13 - The Bank of England will have to inject more stimulus into the flatlining economy next year, says BoE policymaker Paul Fisher.
Years into the financial crisis and the UK is struggling more than most developed economies to recover so isn't it time for -- policy rethink. -- I spoke to Bank of England policymakers Paul Fisher. First solely inflation target in -- mean it isn't set by bankers have by the government and and that's -- -- from them so...
More than 200 volunteers are expected to attend Girls Inc. of Orange County's annual Winter Workers event Saturday that aims to help local families in need.
The national nonprofit's Costa Mesa office is organizing the effort to help 24 families receive some of the 180 baskets filled with food, hygiene items and other family essentials.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Girls Inc.'s Youth and Family Center, 1815 Anaheim Ave., Costa Mesa. Madasen McGrath, who sang at the Pacific Amphitheatre last July, will perform a song specifically written for Girls Inc.
"It's rewarding to see so many people come out and dedicate their time to bettering the lives of the youth of Orange County," CEO Lucy Santana said in a prepared statement. "And what we're seeing at this event is that many of our own girls are coming to volunteer their time as well. This is especially meaningful becaus...
Twelve of the families to receive the baskets are involved with Girls Inc., with the remaining 12 associated with other county nonprofits, including the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter, THINK Together and Shalimar Learning Center.
For more information, visit http://www.girlsinc-oc.org.
In the new Dishonored 2 gameplay, Emily Kaldwin uses her supernatural abilities and tools against robots.
If you preorder Dishonored 2, you'll get the opportunity to play the stealth-action game a day early, Bethesda announced today via press release. The publisher also revealed a new gameplay trailer called "Kill the Grand Inventor."
The gameplay video follows protagonist Emily Kaldwin in her attempt to assassinate Kirin Jindosh, an inventor who created the clockwork robots seen in Dishonored 2's first trailer. She infiltrates his home, then comes face-to-face with said robots. Jindosh taunts her as they attempt to detain her. Many of her supernatu...
Dishonored 2 releases November 11 on PS4, Xbox One and PC. Unlike the first game, the sequel's main characters are voiced. Creative director Harvey Smith told GameSpot that voiced protagonists allow for a "warmer" game, adding that testing this out in Dishonored's DLC was very helpful.
"It was crazy how useful it was as a developer," Smith said. "You often get players to a certain point and you really want them to look at this thing, but they just don't see it. And so sometimes you can have the character go, 'Wow, look at that!' [laughs]. That's a goofy example, but it works."
Smith previously told GameSpot that Dishonored 2 can be played entirely without supernatural powers. Emily is able to refuse The Outsider's offer and rely on nothing but flesh and steel.
You can check out more Dishonored 2 gameplay videos through the links below.
New Dishonored 2 gameplay video shows "creative kills"
Dravid cautioned against getting carried away by Pathan's success with bat.
Captain Rahul Dravid on Tuesday cautioned against getting carried away by Irfan Pathan's success with the bat and labelling him as an all-rounder in Andrew Flintoff mould.
Left-arm pacer Pathan slammed four sixes and eight fours during his knock of 83 from 70 balls as India thrashed Sri Lanka by 152 runs in the first one-day cricket international at the VCA Ground here.
But Dravid said Pathan was a long way from being a true all-rounder.
"He's a bowler who can bat. His primary job is to bowl well. We know he can bat too, but let's not get carried away and describe him as another Andrew Flintoff," he said to a pointed query.
Asked about Pathan's promotion to number three in the batting order, Dravid said "we thought it would be better for him to have a go when the ball was hard in the first 20 overs rather than later against the spinners when the ball would be soft.
"We thought that me and (Mahender Singh) Dhoni, who's a fine finisher, would rather play out the spinners."
"The partnership between Sachin and Irfan gave us the platform to score 350 runs," Dravid added.
The captain said it was one of those days when everything went the team's way.
"It was just one of those days when whatever we did clicked and our plans succeeded. We played well in all departments of the game. It was a splendid team effort," Dravid, later declared the man of the match for his fine knock of 85 not out, said.
"Sachin Tendulkar batted beautifully and it's great for the team. He looked in splendid touch as if he's not been off the game at all in these last six months," said Dravid while describing the ace batsman's splendid knock of 93 and his 164-run stand with Pathan.
Tendulkar was coming off after a six-month lay-off following an elbow surgery. His last ODI was against Pakistan on April 17 at Delhi.
Describing the Nagpur wicket as a good one, Dravid said he had to bring on spinnners early in the Lankan run-chase so as to slow down the visitors' scoring rate.
"Their run rate was 7.5 or so and they seemed to be taking off. I brought Harbhajan and Sehwag on to slow down the game and it worked wonders as we got rid off Jayasuriya and Sangakkara in two overs which, I feel, was the turning point," he said.
"Not very often do we win a game by such a huge margin and it happened against a top side like Lanka. As I said, everything clicked today.
"The victory was a good beginning but we should not get carried away as we have to go a long way (to win the 7-match rubber)," he concluded.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray warned that “not a single brick will be allowed to be placed for the bullet train in Mumbai” until the infrastructure of local railways was made better.
He also said that stampedes would continue to occur in Mumbai till hordes of migrants keep pouring into the city, a day after 22 people were killed in a crush at Elphinstone railway station.
On Friday, a stampede on a narrow footover bridge at the Elphinstone railway station during the rush hour had led to deaths of at least 22 people and injuries to 30.
Thackeray said his party leader Bala Nandgaonkar had written to authorities for building a new bridge at the stampede spot but no action was taken on his suggestion and instead Nandgaonkar was told to approach the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
The Kakodkar committee had proposed an expenditure of Rs one lakh crore to improve the railway infrastructure but nobody acted on it, he claimed.
Instead, the bullet train project, costing the same amount, is being implemented, he said.
“Does one need bullet train or improvement of basic rail infrastructure,” he said.
Thackeray also targeted Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirit Somaiya for his silence on the “crumbling” rail services.
“When the Congress was in power, this man used to go about measuring the height of platforms. Where is he now when such tragedies are happening in the BJP-led regime,” the MNS chief alleged.
He claimed he did not visit the stampede spot or the hospital on Friday as “politicians are there at such spots only for television cameras”.
“They (Railways) say the stampede happened due to rains. It is not the first time that it rained in Mumbai,” he said.
“A list of issues related to Mumbai locals will be given to railway officials on October 5 with a deadline. If things don’t get better, we will see,” he said.

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.