Vatican Publishes Catholic Statistics For The U.S. Ahead Of Pope Francis’ Visit — Consistent With Those In Book.
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by Anura Guruge
Related 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and about 9 to 18 months out-of-date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.
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.
Brian Close — I Am Sorry; What A MAN, But 84 Was Quite The Innings.
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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.
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.
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!
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.
Has Richard Rawling’s & ‘Fast N’ Loud’ Been Audited For ALL Of Their Cash Transactions?
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>> ‘Fast N’ Loud’ — ‘Funniest Videos’.
>>‘Fast N’ Loud’ — profits.
>> ‘Klondike’.
>> ‘Africa’ series.
>> ‘North America’ series.
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Yes, 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.
Labor Leader Jeremy Corbyn Refusal To Sing National Anthem Is A REAL Problem.
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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.
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.
BMW CEO, Harald Krueger, At Frankfurt Auto Show, Faced With An Audience — Faints!
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.by Anura Guruge
Related posts:
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>> Superdome Named After A German Car Manufacturer.
>> Volkswagen’s Super Bowl XLVII ‘Jamaican’ Ad.
++++ Search ‘German’ for other posts >>>>
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.

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.
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
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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.