Archive | June 11, 2015
June 11, 2015  

Acadia “Seal Harbor” In The News Again — This Time Re. Martha Stewart/Edsel Ford Mansion (Near Cooksey Drive)

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by Anura Guruge

Related Posts:
>> David Rockefeller donates land …
>> Cooksey Overlook, “Acadia”

++ Refer to ‘Acadia‘ index page at TOP ↑ ↑

From the U.K. ‘Daily Mail’. Click here to access original.

Click these snippets from the “Daily Mail”
to ENLARGE and read here.


Neato!

I think I know where this mansion is. I think we have even driven by it twice. Kind of hard to miss.

From what I can see it is on the way to our ‘secret’ Cooksey Overlook. Well to be fair ALL the grand mansions are that way.

June 11, 2015  

Another Two Thumbs UP For “European-Cars”, On eBay, (Outside Philadelphia) From Whom We Got Our Jaguar XJ8.

Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail.
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by Anura Guruge

Related posts:
>> Burgundy 2002 red Jaguar XJ8.
>> 2015: Green 1968 MGB breaks hibernation.
>> MGB: Dec. 30, 2014 in 18°F.
>> ‘The B Hive’ for MGB parts.
>> MGB gets Steve Barlow treatment.

>> “Brit Bits” in Rye, N.H.
>> Jaguar Association, Andover, MA.

++++ Search ‘MGB’ many other posts >>>>

europeancarsthumvbsup

Click to access their, not recently updated, Facebook page.

Car Cheer06112015

I have already said GOOD things about Dave Gitman of ‘Car Cheer’, in Trevose (outside of Philadelphia), who sells lots of cars on eBay under the name “European-Cars”.

We got our Jag XJ8 from Dave via eBay.

Well I had it inspected for its N.H. Inspection Sticker (by “B-Boys” of Barnstead, NH) yesterday and had it registered, in NH, at the Alton Town Office on Monday.

In both instances everything went well without a hitch and that is why I felt compelled to say MORE good things about Dave and his operation.

The paperwork that Dave supplied (albeit for a small charge) was immaculate. The NH registration was completed without a single query or ‘do you have this‘. I liked that. So, paperwork, as he said it would be, was PERFECT. He has a wonderful, very proficient, assistant and she did us all proud. [Thank you.]

The car sailed through the inspection. Found nothing wrong. Paul Bousquet even went onto say that everything underneath was in excellent shape! His only concern was that I might have a problem opening the driver’s door from the inside. I had to laugh. The first time I was in the car I too thought that I was stuck and that the driver’s door would not open. I shouted at Dave. He laughed. It works FINE — the handle needs to be pressed harder than you would expect. Now that I am used to it I don’t think twice about it. Door opens fine. So that was the ONLY ‘problem’ that Paul found. I am delighted.

So credit where credit is due.

I can ONLY talk about my transaction and Dave did GOOD.

So, I will wholeheartedly recommend Dave, “Car Cheer” and “European-Cars”.

Yes, of course, being the professional cynic that I am I was skeptical and somewhat concerned buying a car, over the Internet. But, Dave showed me that it can be done and it can be done with great success.

June 11, 2015  

Sony’s 2 New Cameras, A7 RII & RX10 II, Puts Me In A Quandary

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by Anura Guruge

Other Related posts:
>> Search ‘camera’, ‘Panasonic’, ‘Canon’ & ‘Samsung’ for other related posts >>>>

newssonys

Well, to be fair and honest, it is what I class a ‘nice problem to have’. I don’t really need to get another camera. So just on the basis of that I can get rid of this quandary. IF I am not going to get a new camera, to replace the cheap, $375, refurbished Canon T3i I bought last year — I have no ‘problems’ to deal with. And maybe that is really what I should do. Plus, given that I am far from rich I really shouldn’t indulge in two ‘expensive’ hobbies — the ol’ British cars, though all rather cheap, still requiring me to write checks.

But, I have to say, woW, wOW, WOW.

I have kept an eye on the Sony mirrorless Alpha range for the last 9 months or so. I even got to take some pictures with one when we were at ‘Four Corners‘ in April. I volunteered to take the picture of visitor — straddling the ‘Point’ — and he had a new Sony Alpha. It was neat.

The Sony A 7 RII appears to be incredible — but at $3,500+ way more than I am willing to pay for a camera. I don’t really see the point of spending more than say $1,700 for a camera + lens for what I want to achieve. Anything more would just be for show and that doesn’t have that much appeal.

I had kind of settled on a Pentax K3. When I was growing up Pentax was the choice of professionals. I can’t remember whether I have ever owned a Pentax BUT the name appeals to me. The K3 is one heck of a camera for the price. It will do everything I want it to do and its price is coming down (daily).

RX10M2_right_bgwhBUT my real dilemma is the new Sony RX10 II.

It is not a DSLR and it is mirrorless. Its ONLY negative, as far as I am concerned, is that it is FIXED lens and I, by getting the Canon T3i, had hoped to get back into interchangeable lens cameras. But, I am really not that much into swapping lenses. It is a pain. I only have two lens right now and I am kind of fine with that.

In reality I might be better off with the RX10 II or possibly even the OLD RX10 since taking videos, to me, is a necessary evil as opposed to something that I crave to do.

Well it is nice to have options in life. 

June 11, 2015  

Google Doodle For Copa América 2015 Start In Chile On June 11.

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by Anura Guruge

Last Google Doodles:
>> Mathematician Abu al-Wafa’ al-Buzjani.
>> US Women’s FIFA World Cup.

**** Check Category ‘Google Doodle‘ (in sidebar) for other Doodles >>>>

copaamericagd1

Click images to access the Google Doodles.

Permanent access, independent of date,
provided via the Google Doodle Archive.

Yet AGAIN very strange coverage by Google. Of course it makes sense that this Google Doodle
is shown across South America
— BUT WHY Nepal and Laos? Was that a mistake?

copaameriacovergae

This is the MAIN international football (footie) tournament for
national teams in South America. It is a big deal. A mini World Cup.
Click here for the Wikipedia entry for this event.

copa-america-tv-schedule

June 11, 2015  

Will Pope Francis’ Newly Created Sex Abuse Tribunal Start By Trying Despicable, Ex-Boston Cardinal Bernard Francis Law — THE OUTLAW.

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by Anura Guruge

Some Related Posts (click to access):
* Pope & the destitute priests?
* Coming U.S. via Cuba.
* Peace with nuns, riles Cubans.
* Visits by popes to the U.S.
* Prior Pope – U.S. President Meetings.

>> Francis mum on Irish gay vote.
>> Francis has dig at gay marriage.
>> Francis nixes gay French ambassador.

† Pope Francis co-writes song.
† Weak Francis chokes re. Keith O’Brien.

† Francis says the darnest things 

++++ Search on ‘pope‘ for many other posts >>>>

sextribunalpopedsfgfsa

Click to ENLARGE and read this SNIPPET from AP, via “The New York Times”. Use link below to access the original.

Click here to access the original AP coverage at “The New York Times”.

>> I personally think that this is TOO LITTLE, too late.

>> Seems more like more window dressing and attempts to paper over the cracks than an effort that will really crack down on these CRIMINALS.

>> IF this tribunal is sincere and has any teeth let it start by prosecuting THE OUTLAW, Boston’s despicable Bernard Francis Law, living it up in Rome, while his victims continue to suffer.

>> I think the Victims Groups, worldwide, will agree with me.

>> We have had decades obfuscation from the various popes and the Vatican on this serious CRIMINAL matter. If the pope is serious lets see some ACTION fast.

>> Let us see Bernard Francis Outlaw put in a cell, as a prisoner, for the crimes it is well documented that he committed.

June 11, 2015  

The Best Auto Repair In Alton, N.H. “B-Boys” In Barnstead.

Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail.
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by Anura Guruge

Related posts:
>> Black, 1989 Jaguar XJS.
>> Burgundy 2002 red Jaguar XJ8.
>> 2015: Green 1968 MGB breaks hibernation.
>> MGB: Dec. 30, 2014 in 18°F.
>> ‘The B Hive’ for MGB parts.
>> MGB gets Steve Barlow treatment.

>> “Brit Bits” in Rye, N.H.
>> Jaguar Association, Andover, MA.

++++ Search ‘MGB’ many other posts >>>>

Click to ENLARGE and read.

I wish somebody had told me about “B-Boys” years ago when we first moved to Alton 8 years ago. It would have saved me a LOT of grief, time and MONEY!

“B-Boys”, run in the main by ‘Dad’, Paul Bousquet (70), is everything I want from an auto repair shop: accommodating, forthright, comprehensive and reasonable. Paul over the last 2 weeks has been a revelation to me. I, even with my gift of gab, can’t say enough good words about him. There are some people on earth that as soon as you deal with them that you know that they are ‘salt of the earth’. Paul is one of them. He impressed me, no end, the first time around BUT I didn’t want to sing his praises until I had a second encounter. Well that was on Wednesday, June 10, 2015. He inspected my XJ8. He charged me $39.95 for the NH State Inspection and for putting on my front number plate. That was a fair price. Like I told him as I was leaving, having made an appointment next week for the XJS to be inspected, he HAS ME! I am not taking my cars and the van anywhere else. He can have all our business.

I only have one concern. Though he looks in much better shape than me and I assumed me was roughly my age he is 70 years old. I want Paul around for a LONG time. I know I will never find anybody as good as him. Yes, I have met his son, Jeff, but it has been Paul who has done all the work for us so far. I ardently hope that Jeff, in time, will step into some mighty big shoes.

I found “B-Boys” in the phone book. I was in desperate need of someone to do a ton of work on our 2002 Chrysler van and get it through an inspection. “VAIN” in Alton let us down. The KIA Sportage whose lease was coming due had to be returned to KIA before June 1. Deanna had made an appointment with “VAIN” to get an estimate on Wednesday, May 27th so that I could determine whether we keep the van or get something else. We dropped the van off on Tuesday so that they would have plenty of time. Did not matter. 4pm Wednesday and they hadn’t even looked at the van! I really needed to make a decision by the weekend. I started dialing numbers. Told Deanna to bring the van home. I was not leaving it there till the next day. 24 hours was enough.

Amazes me the number of ‘shops’ in Alton that refuse to handle rust work! Vehicles in New England rust. How can you claim to be an auto repair shop in New Hampshire if you refuse to touch any rust work. That is like saying you are a dentist but are incapable of extracting a tooth. We knew the van needed some rust work attended in order to pass inspection. I wasn’t going to take it to two shops for that — one for the rust and the other for the mechanical work.

B-Boys, the name a play on their French surname ‘Bousquet’, was the fifth number I called. It was nearly 4:30 in the afternoon Wednesday. Paul answered. He said he was a full-service shop. Yes, he could take care of the rust. Told me to bring the van over. He said he will get me a price the next day and try to have it all done, if the price was acceptable, by Saturday, maybe Friday. We got the van to him by 5pm! He was true to his word. His prices were not bad. I was impressed.

He knew Jags. He knew and had worked with British cars. Unlike Alton mechanics he is willing to work on any car — personally order and get hold of any required part. My type of shop.

I only had one request with the XJ8. He had to make sure his hands were squeaky clean. And when I took the Jag over he had made sure his hands were clean.

So, if you haven’t figured it out as yet, I am recommending, HIGHLY RECOMMENDING, Paul Bousquet of “B-Boys” as one heck of a mechanic and owner of a full-service, no nonsense auto repair shop. If you are within 30 miles of Barnstead do yourself a favor. Go to B-Boys. You will thank ME for this tip.

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