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by Anura Guruge
A full update, refresh and augmentation to ‘The Last 9 Conclaves‘ I published during the sede vacante. Here is the TOC. 152 Kindle pages. Available all platforms: PC, Mac, iPhones, iPads, Andoroids …
Click for more details.
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..by Anura Guruge
++++ See Category ‘Books’ on sidebar for my other book posts >>>>
The March 12 to 13, 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis (#267), on the 5th ballot, was my ‘the next pope‘ election — the conclave that was the subject of both my ‘The Next Pope‘ books (published in 2010 and 2011). Much of my papal blogging, starting in 2008, also was about the ‘next pope’ and hence the ‘next conclave’ — which happened to be this one in March.
So it would have been incongruous if I did not update my ‘conclave’ book to include the 2013 conclave. Given that I already had most of the information already in my head or documented somewhere on a blog post, it wasn’t like I needed to do much research. So I decided to do an update, refresh and augment the ‘Last 9 Conclave‘ book, which I published 3 days after Benedict XVI’s (#266) announcement that he was resigning, as soon as we got back from vacation. So that is another project off the ‘to do’ list.
This book, I will, luck permitting and technology willing, bring out as a cheap paperback. So, that is another new project.
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..by Anura Guruge
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As I was writing the the first book on ISON I realized that it was too detailed for today’s always in a hurry, habitually time-challenged folks. I was, however, not going to carve up the first book because somebody will find all that detail useful. But, I knew I had to do a Reader’s Digest ‘condensed book’ version of it. So, that is what this 2nd Comet ISON book is about: a cut-to-the-chase, mainly in bullet-point form, Quick Reference for busy people.
It was also designed to be as conducive as possible for mobile device small screen perusal. As such it is like an APP for Comet ISON. Keep it tucked away inside a smart phone (e.g., iPhone or Android) or a pad and whip it out anytime one wants information about ISON, such as dates, times, speeds etc.
Since my goal is to make this as accessible as possible I have priced it at 99 cents. [If you can't afford that just send me an e-mail and I will gift a copy to you per my commitment to charity and acts of random kindness.]
My very artistic sister-in-law, Leanne Davis Caires did the original artwork for the cover. As far as I know this is the FIRST ISON specific artwork — and it is for sale. Check out Leanne’s Etsy craft store.
New, Quick Reference book. Click to access Amazon description and Look Inside.
Click to ‘Look Inside’ for more.
Somebody just this morning asked about dates and distances. All of that is covered. Click to learn more.
Do you really know everything you should about ISON’s name. It is all in here. Click for more.
Click to access book description at Amazon.com
Click to get FREE Kindle reading APP from Amazon for whatever device you have whether it be iAnything, PC, Android, Palm etc. etc.
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by Anura Guruge
Click to access book description at Amazon.com
I had to get this book out before the Comet, covering millions of miles a day, got ahead of me.
I started working on it on December 29, 2012, when Deanna forwarded an e-mail from one of her cousins about the comet. That e-mail just had a link. And, as soon as I read the newspaper article about it (per that link), in the British ‘The Independent’, I knew I had to write about this comet. I felt it was destined in my stars — as they would say in Sri Lanka. I had been working for over a year on a book on asteroids. So the transition was pretty easy. I was working on that book when I got the e-mail. I just saved that book. Opened a new copy of it, and used it as the template for the new book. Yes, I started writing that day itself. I don’t mess around.
I finished the text of the book on March 29, 2013. So exactly 3 months to write 50,000(+) words — and I had the 5 weeks of craziness with the papal transition, during which I did publish 3 other Kindle eBooks.
So, yes, this is my 4th book in 2013. I did three books in 2011 and was getting worried that I would never equal that again.
Lot more yet to be done.
Yes, a companion blog, ‘Comet ISON‘, went live just now! What can I say. I was in sales and marketing for better part of my life. But, today was stressful.
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…by Anura Guruge
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…by Anura Guruge
My latest all consuming interest lies in here.
My job is done. And I am pretty damn happy with what I accomplished. My goal was to become “Mr. Next Pope” – and that I did.
Time to move on. Actually I had already moved on prior to the papal resignation, as some of you knew.
My wife has been bugging me for over a year to stop this pope ‘nonsense’ because it cost us money, rather than make us any. It was but an expensive hobby.
So moving onto pastures greener. Yes, my wife wants me to do some ‘adult‘ writing because there is always money in that and she is convinced that I will be exceptional at that. Who am I to argue.
But, first priority is astronomy. I have a couple on ongoing ‘near Earth‘ projects to complete. NEOs are so much fun, so much data to crunch, and there is no ‘child abuse‘ to get in the way.
So, unless there is an unexpected sede vacante there will be no more posts on this blog for the remainder of 2013 — other than notification of new books. Yes, there are a couple of more pope books I plan to write, hopefully in 2014. I might blog a bit during that time just to get my hand back in.
I am hoping to continue blogging daily, on my personal blog, as I do now, on a variety of topics ranging from U.S. GDP and investments to adult topics that might make many of you cringe.
In case you hadn’t sussed it out I am not a Catholic. Never was and never will be. Since I was about 18, which was 42 years ago, I have not believed in an afterlife, soul, spirit or anything like that. I totally believe that my life is immaterial, accidental and inconsequential. Here today, gone tomorrow and that is it. Kaput. So, I have no particular affinity to popes or Catholicism. Papal history was just a subject to study and master. Now time to move. Need to conquer NEOs. Need to write ‘adult’ stuff to keep the wife even happier.
It has, indubitably, been a lot of fun. I learned a lot. That was the raison d’être. I met a few really decent people. That was a bonus. I had fun. Kept me from getting into other trouble.
So now I part company with my favorite farewell in such scenarios:
No, that is not from the Bible (as far as I know).
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.by Anura Guruge
++++ Do SEARCH on ‘pope’ for my other posts on this topic >>>>
≡≡≡≡ Visit my ‘Popes and Papacy’ blog for my daily updates on all maters popes.
Yes, Bergoglio WAS on my published ‘top 10′ list in ‘The Next Pope 2011′, page 4. That is indisputable.
So, lets go through what I did get right:
1/ I did list Jorge Mario Bergoglio as one of my ‘top 10′, though he was my last. But, better than those that did not have him at all in their lists. Proof: pages 4 & 29 of ‘The Book‘.
2/ I said on December 6, 2010, I said: “The Next Pope Is Also Likely To Be Over 75”. Proof: this post & page 7 of ‘The Book‘.
3/ On April 20, 2010, I said: “The Next Pope: Non-European, Non-Curial With ‘Clean Hands’”. Proof: this post & page 11 of ‘The Book‘.
4/ I adamantly maintained that the next pope will not be from Africa, Asia or the U.S.A. Proof: this ‘pigs will fly’ post at a minimum & page 12 of ‘The Book‘.
5/ I was beyond categorical that the next pope will not be ‘Peter anything‘. Proof: this post as a start & page 221 of ‘The Book‘.
6/ I did foresee that the new pope might assume a brand new name. Proof: page 226 of ‘The Book‘.
Find me anybody else who got as much right … in published, verifiable form.
Page 226.
