The Hall of Famer made the claim during an episode of his podcast last month
'So, listen, I drive from coast to coast, and this s*** is flat to me,' the big man said
Shaq doubled down by saying satellite imagery could be 'drawn and made up'
The claim was in defense of Kyrie Irving - who said the same thing last month Guess all his free throws actually entered another dimension at the top of their arc and must therefore be deducted from the historical scores? It does explain why he was such a lousy free throw shooter...
#1
"Copernicus? Cracka, get serious!"
Shaq's takin' a knee. "You're delirious."
Diversity's rainbow?
O'Neal on the downlow?
"Not even a teensy bit curious."
#12
Another great example of why its so instructive when celebrities wish to educate the rest of us on things like "diversity". They're clearly brighter and more contemplative than the rest of us.
#16
Shaq left LSU early for the big NBA bucks. I saw a PR ad not long ago with him saying he went back and got his degree, because he promised his mama he would. He's always seemed to me to be a pretty good guy and role model to the kids. Hoping this this is just him goofing around. (Too bad Wilt was his free throw model...)
Iranian pilgrims will participate in this year's annual Haj, Saudi Arabia said on Friday, despite ruptured ties between the two nations. For the first time in nearly three decades Iran's pilgrims - which would have numbered about 60,000 - did not attend last year's Haj after Riyadh and Tehran failed to agree on security and logistics.
Tensions remain as Saudi Arabia repeatedly accuses Iran of fuelling conflicts by supporting armed movements in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Bahrain. But after talks between the two sides, the Iranians will join this year's ritual which takes place at the beginning of September.
"The ministry of Haj and the Iranian organisation have completed all the necessary measures to ensure Iranian pilgrims perform Haj 1438 according to the procedures followed by all Muslim countries," the official Saudi Press Agency said, referring to this year in the Islamic calendar.
The Haj ministry said that the kingdom, home to Islam's holiest sites, welcomes "all pilgrims from all the different nationalities and backgrounds".
Although the verbal sparring continued, Saudi media reported in December that the Saudi minister in charge of pilgrimages, Mohammed Bentin, had invited Iran to discuss arrangements for this year's Haj.
An Iranian delegation visited Saudi Arabia in February for talks with Bentin. In early March, Iran said there had been progress.
"Most of the questions up for discussion have been resolved and a couple of issues are remaining," Iran's ISNA news agency quoted Ali Ghazi Askar, the Iranian supreme leader's representative for Haj affairs, as saying. "If those questions are resolved, we hope pilgrims will soon be sent to Saudi Arabia."
A major issue was compensation for the families of hundreds of people killed in a stampede during the 2015 Haj. Iran says 464 of its citizens died in the disaster.
More than 1.8 million faithful took part in last year's Haj. The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims who can must perform it at least once in their lives.
Iranian pilgrims have for the past two years not attended the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah in western Saudi Arabia, known as umrah, which occurs outside Haj. Tehran suspended its umrah participation over the assault of two Iranian teenage boy pilgrims by Saudi police at Jeddah airport in early 2015.
Ghazi Askar said Iran had raised this issue as well, and if the culprits were punished, "the lesser Haj will also be restored".
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/20/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
"Rolling, rolling rolling. Keep them doggies rolling, rawhide!:
*whip crack*
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/20/2017 7:56 Comments ||
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#2
Don't try to understand 'em
Just rope, throw an' brand 'em
Malaysian police are expected to make a few more arrests, including an "important person", in connection with the murder of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported on Sunday.
Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar declined to elaborate on details when speaking to the state media, adding that the arrests would be made at the appropriate time.
"I don't deny we are targeting new individuals including North Korean nationals involved in this murder and we will use all legal channels to apprehend them. Although I can't reveal who they are, we believe there is an 'important person' among them," he told state media.
Malaysian police have previously identified eight North Koreans wanted for questioning in connection with the killing of Kim Jong Nam, some of them hiding in the North Korean embassy. A Vietnamese woman and an Indonesian woman have already been charged in the case.
Kim Jong Nam was killed on Feb. 13, when Malaysian police say two women smeared super toxic VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
On Thursday, police said Interpol issued a "red notice", the closest to an international arrest warrant, for four North Koreans wanted in connection with the murder.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/20/2017 00:00 ||
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The various economic rules and regs would be hard enough to untangle without the globalist deep-state that currently controls things, but the vindictiveness I expect to blossom forth from Brussels will be epic.
#6
Brussels will be 12 billion and a trade surplus down and Britain wins on tariffs and fees.
There's also more EUSSR serfs here than British citizens in the EUSSR vassal states.
[France24] MONT-DE-MARSAN (FRANCE) (AFP) - Faced with the risk of drones being used to snoop or carry out attacks on French soil, the air force is showing its claws.
At Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France a quartet of fearsome golden eagles is being trained to take out unmanned aircraft in mid-flight.
The roar of a departing Rafale fighter jet gives way to the buzz of a drone lifting into the air on a runway at the air base, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of Bordeaux.
Suddenly, a loud squawk fills the air as a beady-eyed eagle bears down at breakneck speed from a control tower 200 metres away.
In about 20 seconds the raptor has the drone between its talons, then pins it to the ground and covers it with its broad brown wings.
The drone has been destroyed: Mission accomplished for D'Artagnan.
British troops have arrived in Estonia as part of a major Nato mission in the Baltic states to deter Russian aggression. Around 120 soldiers from the 5th Battalion The Rifles landed at the Amari airbase on Friday, 25 miles south-west of the capital, Tallinn.
They were welcomed by Estonia’s defence minister, Margus Tsahkna, on their arrival from RAF Brize Norton. Eight hundred British troops are due to be stationed in the country as part of one of the biggest deployments to eastern Europe in decades.
The first batch will set up a UK headquarters in the country before the rest arrive next month. They will work alongside French and Danish forces to “provide a proportionate, defensive and combat-capable force to defend our Nato ally and deter any form of hostile activity against the alliance”, the Ministry of Defence said.
Britain is taking a leading role in the Estonia battlegroup, while other nations are deploying troops to Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as part of Nato’s Enhanced Forward Presence battalion.
Around 300 UK vehicles have also left the UK this week by ferry headed for Estonia, including Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior infantry fighting vehicles and AS90 self-propelled artillery pieces.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/20/2017 00:00 ||
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The German defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen, on Sunday rejected Donald Trump’s claim that Germany owes Nato and the US “vast sums” of money for defence.
“There is no debt account at Nato,” Von der Leyen said in a statement, adding that it was wrong to link the alliance’s target for members to spend 2% of their economic output on defence by 2024 solely to Nato.
“Defence spending also goes into UN peacekeeping missions, into our European missions and into our contribution to the fight against [Isis] terrorism,” Von der Leyen said.
Umm, no, to borrow a line, "that's not how it works." Your NATO commitment is the baseline, and you add spending for other defense on top of that, just as we do.
Trump, who was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, said on Twitter on Saturday – a day after meeting the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, in Washington – that Germany “owes vast sums of money to Nato & the United States must be paid more for the powerful, and very expensive, defense it provides to Germany!”
His words prompted criticism, also published on Twitter, from a former permanent representative to Nato under President Obama. Ivo Daalder, permanent representative from 2009 to 2013, wrote: “Sorry, Mr President, that’s not how Nato works. The US decides for itself how much it contributes to defending Nato. This is not a financial transaction, where Nato countries pay the US to defend them. It is part of our treaty commitment."
The same treaty to which the other members pledge, and to which they pledged to meet certain minimums. Which many of them aren't doing. But if Ivo is correct in that the US can decide for itself how much to contribute to NATO, great -- let's contribute LESS and see how it goes...
Trump has urged Germany and other Nato members to accelerate efforts to meet Nato’s defence spending target.
Von der Leyen said everyone wanted the burden to be shared fairly
...meaning, mostly by Uncle Sugar...
and for that to happen it was necessary to have a “modern security concept” that included a modern Nato but also a European defence union and investment in the United Nations.
Which is all soft, easily hidden spending that can be inflated to look good...
German defence spending is set to rise by €1.4bn ($1.5bn) to €38.5bn ($41.4bn) in 2018 – a figure that is projected to represent 1.26% of economic output, the finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, has said. In 2016, Germany’s defence spending ratio stood at 1.18%.
Meanwhile, Britain, France and the UK are shipping troops to the Baltic states...
During her trip to Washington, Merkel reiterated Germany’s commitment to the 2% military spending goal.
When, Frau Chancellor? Perhaps in your lifetime?
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/20/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
Can't pay nothing. "Kosten" of supporting Merkel's Democrat "Flüchtlinge" (refugees)that were allowed to enter via the back dung gate is breaking the bank.
#3
During her trip to Washington, Merkel reiterated Germany’s commitment to the 2% military spending goal.
Of course, of course Frau Merkel. Mostly soft power, of course, foreign aid that can only be redeemed by buying German products. Or budget proposals that only exist on paper...
#4
Let me translate the President's tweet for you.
"Vast sums" means:
Send a German infantry division to Afghanistan by May to help sort out the mess there before it gets worse this summer, and
We also could use a bunch of food and medical supplies in the refugee camps in Jordan. Please put together monthly $100M euro care packages and drop them off at Ramstein. We'll handle the delivery, and
Oh, and you're kind of being mean to our NATO buddy Greece. Knock that off. It is messing up their defense budget.
#5
It was the grandparents of those now running things who participated in the Nazi period, newc, and as a result their country was reduced to rubble and they enjoyed the experience of being occupied by their conquers for some time thereafter It is not fair to demand that their grandchildren, born long after, continue to carry guilt for that which they did not do.
It seems to me President Trump's statement was another moving of the Overton Window. Until now everyone was happy that Germany was willing to not militarize, because they so thoroughly do whatever they turn their hand to.
#6
It was the grandparents of those now running things
Um, those running things in Germany are the ones who recently opened the gate to a massive Islamic movement into Europe, which will set up another potentially major blood bath.
#8
Um, those running things in Germany are the ones who recently opened the gate to a massive Islamic movement into Europe, which will set up another potentially major blood bath.
Very true, Albemarle Thud1564, and they deserve blame for that. But the Nazis were the project my grandparents' generation committed on my mother and hers. My last grandparent died in 1978.
#9
An underlying fact or potential teaching point may possibly be lost on some. In my opinion, at least one of the reasons Germany has become a wealthy, economic power broker is; since the end of WWII it has pretty much avoided foreign conflicts and entanglements, or getting involved in everyone else's business.
#10
Maybe Germany is spending the money, just not spending it properly. If British reports are true, it seems Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen should have been fired some time ago.
#14
I'm sorry Steve, but your comment is not accurate.
"Umm, no, to borrow a line, "that's not how it works." Your NATO commitment is the baseline, and you add spending for other defense on top of that, just as we do."
The - non enforceable - commitment is:
Spending at least 2% of gross domestic product on defense. To be reached by 2024.
Not on NATO.
Posted by: European Conservative ||
03/20/2017 21:28 Comments ||
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#15
I keep harping on it because again, Germany is invading Europe with their immigration trailing wife.
[Defense Blog] Turkey is ready to buy S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia on a loan granted by Moscow, Rostec state corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov said in an interview Tuesday.
"Turkey is expressing its wish, they would like to receive a loan," Chemezov told the Rossiya 24 broadcaster "As soon as an agreement is signed and a decision is made on the amount of the loan, then we will sign a contract on the supply, including the S-400."
The S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler)is an air defence missile system developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau of Russia. The new system replaced the S-300P and S-200 air defence systems of the Russian Army.
China was the first to buy the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. It was announced in the spring of 2015 that the relevant contract had been signed. According to media outlets, the deal was worth about $3 billion. Related: Russia promotes air defence systems and tank’s armour in Turkey
[WashingtonExaminer]. The Secret Service will permanently remove a top special agent from her position after an investigation into her Facebook comments that she would rather not defend President Trump or take "a bullet" from him, but some agents are concerned she will simply be transferred to another government job. Removal is too good for her. Maybe assign her to Grizzly Adams' detail?
About two weeks ago, the Secret Service placed the agent's prior post -- the special agent in charge of the Denver District, the top job in that office -- on a list of agency openings, according to two Secret Service sources.
Kerry O'Grady, the agent in question, is on administrative leave amid an internal Secret Service investigation into her Facebook comments about Trump.
"As a public servant for nearly 23 years, I struggle to not violate the Hatch Act. So I keep quite and skirt the median. To do otherwise can be a criminal offense for those in my position. Despite the fact that I am expected to take the bullet for both sides. But this world has changed and I have changed. And I would take jail time over a bullet or an endorsement for what I believe would be disaster to this country and the strong and amazing women and minorities who reside her. Hatch Act be damned. I am with Her."
#8
Been watching Patriot on Amazon Prime. Well written, acted and directed. The best part is the depiction of elite intelligence agencies as the bumbling bureaucracies that they we have seen them to be.
Posted by: regular joe ||
03/20/2017 13:41 Comments ||
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#9
The Secret Service used to be respected. Lately, they've been acting like low-rent mall cops.
It seems like the decline occurred after they were reorganized into DHS.
[ConservativeRead.com]. Trump’s budget directs $2.6 billion to border wall -- and that’s not all
The specifics of the prototype project and the bidding process are detailed in two, nearly identical 132-page Requests for Proposals, posted Friday night to the Federal Business Opportunities website.
What kind of wall?
Each prototype will be 30 feet long and built in San Diego, according to the requests for proposals.
Beyond that, bidding contractors have much latitude in what kind of wall they propose.
Under the new timeline established in the documents, interested bidders will have two weeks to create and submit a design concept of what the border-wall prototype will look like, with two design options for companies. The reporter is a little loose with the word "plans," but interesting nonetheless (imo).
#1
They should add a few bear traps, fire ant mounds, swinging logs on ropes, and trip wire air horns to enhance their chances in the bidding process. (Just my opinion)
About 90-95% of the barrier will be constructed as a "multi-layered fence system"[24] with the IDF's preferred design having three fences, pyramid-shaped stacks of barbed wire on the two outer fences, a lighter-weight fence with intrusion detection equipment in the middle, an anti-vehicle ditch, patrol roads on both sides, and a smooth strip of sand for "intrusion tracking".[25]
The barrier contains an on-average 60-metre (200 ft) wide exclusion area.[26] The width of some sections is larger (up to 100 metres (330 ft)) due to topographic conditions.[27] The width of some sections (about 6% of the barrier) is 3 metres (9.8 ft) where the barrier is constructed as a concrete wall up to 8 metres (26 ft) high. These sections are narrower, require less land, and provide more protection against snipers. Wall construction is more common in urban settings, e.g., Qalqilyah and Jerusalem, and in areas where people have been killed by snipers Wiki
#1
He did not have 6 heart transplants--only one. Wait a minute, it may be that this is fake news, he isn't reported to have even one. However, it may be that he faked his own death.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[France24] MONT-DE-MARSAN (FRANCE) (AFP) - Faced with the risk of drones being used to snoop or carry out attacks on French soil, the air force is showing its claws.
[ConservativeRead.com]. Trump’s budget directs $2.6 billion to border wall -- and that’s not all
