Archive | September 15, 2015
September 15, 2015  

Vatican Publishes Catholic Statistics For The U.S. Ahead Of Pope Francis’ Visit — Consistent With Those In Book.

francisphilseminary2.Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail
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by Anura Guruge

CoverOriginalScreenCaptureRelated Posts:
>> Pope Francis’ U.S. Visit — THE book.
>> Pope Francis to stay at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
>> ‘Vine Voice’ Amazon review of Pope Francis book.

++++ Search on ‘pope‘ & Check Category ‘books‘ for many other posts >>>>

It has now become customary for the Vatican to publish these
Catholic statistics for the host country
ahead of each papal visit.

They typically tend to be slightly optimistic
and about 9 to 18 months out-of-date
— given that they insist on using numbers that they maintain in Rome
as opposed to those available directly from the country.

Francisvisitstats1

Click to ENLARGE and read here.

Use this link to access original at the ‘Vatican Information Service’ (VIS).

The equivalent numbers from my book
“Pope Francis’ U.S. Visit — 2015: A Guide For The Curious“.
It is available from Amazon (worldwide) as an eBook
(that can be read on ANY device) for 99 cents.
A paperback, for $7.50, is also available.

Francisvisitstats2
Francisvisitstats3

September 15, 2015  

Brian Close — I Am Sorry; What A MAN, But 84 Was Quite The Innings.


.Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail
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by Anura Guruge

Other Related posts:
>> Clive Rice …
>> Richie Benaud passing.
>> “We didn’t start the fire” …

++++ Check Category ‘Cricket’ for many other related posts >>>>

Ain’t this the truth? What a GUY. One of my all time heroes.

Click here to access the U.K. “Daily Mail” tribute.

brianclose111

Yes, I saw this, LIVE, on TV in 1976 —
Close and Edrich at Old Trafford against Holding, Andy Roberts and Daniels.
I remember it well.

NOTE: NO Helmets. These were REAL men.

brianclose453535

YouTube video of Brian Close getting peppered by Michael Holding, at Old Trafford, in 1976.
I watched this, IN AWE, live, on TV. I still remember it.
Now this was REAL cricket. NO helmets. Real men!

Brian Close — What a MAN.

briancloseyt

brianclose

Given our difference in age I only saw him towards the end of his career.

But, of course, he was a legend. A giant. I saw him during the 1976 West Indies Test Series. That was a turning point in my life. I was 23 years old and was working for IBM — at Hursley in Hampshire. I belonged to Hampshire Cricket Club (as a non-playing member, of course) and for the first time in my life getting the chance to see a lot of professional cricket. Gordon Greenidge and Andy Roberts both played for Hampshire and I knew them. So the 1976 Test Series was big. I followed it avidly. Yes, I went to Lord’s for the Saturday of the Test. That became my ‘thing’. Saturday of the Lord’s Test Match. That ’76 Series was epic. Changed my life. That is when I really became addicted to cricket. I still have so many books about that series INCLUDING the big Bob Frindall’s Score Book.

This (->) is how I will always remember Brian. That is what he looked liked (mainly) in the mid-1970s. I saw him at Somerset and in Hampshire. In those days I watched Somerset, in Somerset, whenever I could. I spent many weekends in Bristol and Somerset was ‘next door’. So Brian is no stranger to me.

84, even by his standards, wasn’t a bad knock. So I can’t complain.

I will miss him. What a guy. They don’t make them like that anymore. When I see batsman ducking into the ball, as did Eoin Morgan on Sunday, it makes me so mad. Helmets have been the bane of cricket. Batsman think they can handle the short stuff because they have the protection. They NEVER saw Brian and John Edrich. Now that was cricket.

Thank YOU, Brian. That, as you must know, was quite the INNINGS. You will always be ‘Not Out’ in MY book.

September 15, 2015  

Has Richard Rawling’s & ‘Fast N’ Loud’ Been Audited For ALL Of Their Cash Transactions?

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by Anura Guruge

Richard+Rawlings+Richard+Rawlings+Enjoys+Beach+OSm_b0Be3oDlRelated Posts:
>> ‘Fast N’ Loud’ — ‘Funniest Videos’.
>>‘Fast N’ Loud’ — profits.
>> ‘Klondike’.
>> ‘Africa’ series.
>> ‘North America’ series.

>> ‘Hotel Impossible’

 ++++ Search ‘cars‘ for other automotive related posts >>>>

fast-n-loud-52Yes, I know it is a ‘Reality Show’ and as such that all that we see is NOT real. That said the BIG deal that Richard Rawling makes about ALL of his cash dealings, most of them in excess of $10K, makes me wonder … In the U.S. there are strict rules and regulations about individual transactions exceeding $10K. In some cases there are IRS forms, Form 8300, that need to be filled and submitted. It is possible that Richard does all of that or that all of the purported ‘cash’ deals are just for the camera. Yes, it is a ‘Reality Show’ but they do portray an alarming disregard for the LAW. Last night we saw an episode where Aaron just jumps into a car they bought — cash — and starts driving it back. No registration? No plates? Not right.

As a diligent taxpayer, I really would feel so much better if the IRS checked ‘Gas Monkey‘ to make sure that all those cash transactions have been properly reported. At a minimum lets make sure that ALL the cash transactions shown on TV were reported. That seems fair.

As I have bitched before I take umbrage to the way they play ‘fast N’ loose’ with financial matters on this ‘Reality Show’. The so called ‘profits‘ that they show at the end of each show are beyond misleading. They do not take into account salaries, equipment, rents, taxes or overhead! That is wrong.

But it would be worse still IF they didn’t play right by the IRS — not to mention the State of Texas. So I hope that somebody will take notice and check.

SMILE.

September 15, 2015  

Labor Leader Jeremy Corbyn Refusal To Sing National Anthem Is A REAL Problem.

Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail.
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by Anura Guruge

Related posts:
>> Mhairi Black, SNP …
>> I am OK with Cameron win.
>> Does Ed Miliband have Indian?
>> Doodle for 2015 U.K. elections.

++ Scottish referendum results.
++ Scottish referendum. …

Click on images to ENLARGE and ‘study’ here.
Use link below to access original.

corbynno1 corbynno2
Click here to access the original at the U.K. “Daily Mail”.

I knew nothing of him, not even his name, until he was elected the new Labor Leader replacing the Indian-looking Ed Miliband. But over the last few days I have watched a few ‘clips’ about him on “Sky News” and done a bit of reading. He seems like decent, genuine bloke — that I can relate to. We are of the same generation.

However, this claim that he refused to sing the National Anthem at a memorial service to remember the heroes of the Battle of Britain bothers me greatly. What I do NOT know is whether this was specific to the occasion or whether he, known to have been a vehement anti-monarchist, refuses to sing the National Anthem, point-blank. Either way this is a PROBLEM. I can sympathize with his pacifist agenda. But HONORING the HEROES of the GLORIOUS Battle of Britain transcends pacifism. We are talking straight PATRIOTISM. IF not for all those that sacrificed all they had to fight WW II the World would be a very different place. So please let us NOT confuse pacifism with the sacrifices and bravery of those that gave their all in WW I and WW II.

It is also ‘OK’ to be an anti-monarchist. I was one a long, long time ago, before the Queen won me over, head-over-heels.

My problem is that YOU cannot be Her Majesty’s Leader of the Opposition and refuse to sing OUR Glorious National Anthem (and yes, I do have issues with its theme and words, especially now that Britain is very much multireligious and multicultural). The National Anthem is symbolic. It, like the flag, parliament, and the monarchy, HAVE to be RESPECTED for what it is. That is not negotiable. This is a problem.

I do not give a monkey’s about his dress. That is up to him and yet again I appreciate. But the National Anthem is a whole different matter. I am NOT amused. I will keep an eye, and ear, open on this.

September 15, 2015  

BMW CEO, Harald Krueger, At Frankfurt Auto Show, Faced With An Audience — Faints!

.Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail
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.by Anura Guruge

Related posts:
>> Pope Francis nixes Mercedes Benz popemobiles.
>> Mercedes-Benz QED moment.
>> Mercedes-Benz confirms drivers are mentally challenged.
>> Proof that Mercedes-Benz drivers are clueless.
>> Superdome Named After A German Car Manufacturer.
>>  Volkswagen’s Super Bowl XLVII ‘Jamaican’ Ad.

++++ Search ‘German’ for other posts >>>>

bmwfaint

Click to access U.K. Daily Mail coverage.

bmwyutb1

Click to access 1 minute YouTube video.

I do sympathize. I too would rather faint and leave the stage than EVER having to extol the virtues of a German car.

This guy, I hear, is known for his publicity stunts including doing presentations with his fly at ‘half mast’ — wearing pink, frilly underwear! Again you have to feel sorry for him. He has the misfortune of having to promote German bloody cars.

And on the same day Jaguar DEFIES gravity
rather than succumb to it.

Watch this, the Jaguar F-Pace and be AMAZED.

jaggravity

Click to access AMAZING YouTube video of the new Jaguar F-Pace doing the loop-the-loop — just like what WE used to do during the ‘Battle of Britain’. Jaguar soars, BMW grovels.

September 15, 2015  

Aberdeen (Artio) Global High Income Fund, BJBHX — ONLY For Those Hell Bent On Losing Money.


.Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail
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by Anura Guruge

Related posts:
0/ Final goodbye to BJBHX.
1/ BJBHX $0.26 cap gains for 2014.
2/ BJBHX stopped hemorrhaging for a day.
3/ BJBHX depressing news.
4/ BJBHX: sticking it out till 2015.
5/ BJBHX has decent December 2013.
6/ Uncontrollable Infatuation With BJBHX.
7/ BJBHX: I Bailed With Regret.

++++ Search ‘BJBHX‘ for other related posts >>>>

BJBHX chart from MarketWatch.

bjbhxsept1

I feel bad, real bad, for those that are still in BJBHX. With interest rates set to go up and the stock market taking a beating there is only one way that the BJBHX NAV was going to go and that was NOT upwards. BJBHX kept me afloat during the worst of the 2008 – 2012 financial crisis. I do not know what I would have done if not for BJBHX. But that was then, and this is now. I always knew that 2015, with interest rates bound to go up, was going to be painful for BJBHX. That said I hung on to it, albeit with a reduced holding, until May 2015. I then bailed and I am so glad I did. I invested all of my BJBHX holdings in AMZN and have been writing options against the stock. SMILE. Sure beats BJBHX.

I did tell you to bail, with me, in May. The NAV was $9.77 then. It is $9.17 today. A 6% drop in 6 months. That can be painful.

From what I can see the only rationale for staying with BJBHX is IF you have need to lose some serious money. Well, some people do — to offset huge Capital Gains or reduce their nett worth. BJBHX is the perfect instrument, these days, to achieve that. It will help you lose money with style. IF you are not that keen about losing money then BJBHX is NO LONGER for you. Their run, and it was good in the glory days when junk bonds were king, is now over. So I am just trying to help you. OK?

Best of luck. Fingers crossed for Thursday. I actually want the Feds to raise the damn interest rates. Lets move on. Get it out of the way. This slow drip-drip wait is a waste of time. Yes, a volatile market is fun but it is also nice to see the market chugging upwards.

September 15, 2015  

Captivating, Pure Black & White Photographs By Simonet

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by Anura Guruge

Other Related posts:

>> Abraham Corona photography
>> 1st pics with Sony a77 II from Cameta
>> Sony a77 II from Cameta Camera?
>> Getting Sony a77 II rather than RX10 II

>> Search ‘camera’, ‘Sony’, ‘Canon’ & ‘Samsung’ for other related posts >>>>

simonbw2 simonbw1


Click here to access his WordPress blog with these black & white pictures.

Another fellow WordPress blogger I was lucky enough to find because he happened to ‘like’ one of my posts. This is always fun. His pure, black & white pictures hit the spot. Very striking. My new Sony a77 mk II does have a built-in monochrome mode. One of these days I will have to play around with that, but I am not at all sure if I could take striking images like this. Kudos. ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’. 

Here is one of MY Sony a77 mk II pictures converted to B&W with software.

DSC01445B&W

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