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23.2.19

Photolemur Review and Comparison



I have used 'Photolemur' and this software in my opinion, although there is a learning curve involved.
It is very intuative and could well challenge Photoshop for editing images!

28.3.18

Sanctions handed out by Cricket Australia

Well here it is, what the whole cricketing world has been waiting for!
Straight from the email issued by the CEO of Australian Cricket James Sutherland.
"


An update from James Sutherland

Dear Australian Cricket Fans,

The Cricket Australia Board met this afternoon (Melbourne time) to consider the final report of the investigation into the incident in Cape Town, which was conducted by Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity at my direction.

We understand the ongoing concern felt by you regarding this situation and I want to share the findings and sanctions with you directly.

Summary of Sanctions

The range of sanctions available to Cricket Australia under our Code of Conduct are extensive.

The Board has considered these and determined that the following sanctions will be offered to each player in accordance with the Code of Conduct process:


Steve
Smith

Suspension of 12 months from all international and domestic cricket

David
Warner
Suspension of 12 months from all international and domestic cricket

Cameron Bancroft
Suspension of 9 months from all international and domestic cricket


All three players will be permitted to play club cricket and will be encouraged to do so to maintain links with the cricket community.

All three players will be required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket. This will be a condition of future selection.

Leadership

Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft will not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the conclusion of their suspension from international and domestic cricket. Any consideration of future leadership would be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public, form and authority among the playing group. David Warner will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future.

As our Chairman David Peever said tonight, the sanctions issued are significant penalties for professional players and the Board does not impose them lightly. I believe that they properly reflect a balance between the need to protect the integrity and reputation of the game and the need to maintain the possibility of redemption for the individuals involved, all of whom have learned difficult lessons through these events.

The key findings of the investigation, along with the sanctions summary (above) can be viewed here.

As custodians of our great game, we are confident that we have acted carefully and responsibly, taking into account the impact this incident has had on the Australian cricket community and the players.

As mentioned in my email to you this morning, Cricket Australia will also initiate an independent review into the conduct and culture of our Australian men’s teams as an important step in rebuilding and reestablishing your pride in Australian cricket. Further details will be announced shortly and we will keep you updated on the review as it progresses.

I would again like to take the opportunity to express our appreciation for the feedback we have received from the Australian public. We recognise the damage this incident has done to the integrity and reputation of Australian cricket and we are committed to doing all we can to restore your faith in the men’s team and the game.




James Sutherland
Chief Executive Officer - Cricket Australia"


It would appear from this that the Cricket hierarchy have, quite rightly, taken this infringement very seriously.
Reading between the lines it would appear that Dave Warner's past history has come home to haunt him.  It would seem that he will never again represent Australia in a leading capacity.
I myself consider these sanctions to be fitting and these men have no one but themselves to blame for the situation they are in.

As a foot note I think the 'luckiest' man to escape any form of repremand was our coach Darren Lehmann.  If  he did not know what was going on, he bloody well should have ?

 I wait with bated breath to see what further sanctions are handed out.
Cheers for now
Opa

26.3.18

Australian Cricket Scandal - update

Just to let you know how seriously the Australian Cricket Board is taking this latest ball tampering incident.
The Australian Captain Steve Smith and his Vice Captain Dave Warner have been 'asked' to relinquish their respective positions and the Captaincy has been handed to another senior player not involved in the disastrous ball tampering incident.
This situation will remain until a full investigation is carried out by the appropriate officials from Australia.

Here is an update from James Sutherland who is the CEO of Australian Cricket:
 "To our Australian Cricket Fans,
 I would like to provide you with an update on the situation with the Australian Men’s Cricket Team and the investigation currently underway into what transpired at Cape Town.
 Our Head of Integrity will arrive in South Africa shortly to continue his inquiries around the specifics of the ball tampering incident.
 I am traveling to South Africa this evening, arriving on Tuesday morning local time, at which point I will meet with our Head of Integrity to understand the findings of the investigation to that point, and to consider the outcomes.
 We are aiming to be in a position to fully update the Australian public on the investigation and outcomes on Wednesday morning AEDT.
We understand the strong interest everyone has in this situation and we are following due process to properly address all of the relevant issues involved. We recognise how important the fans are to our game, and this process is the beginning of restoring your faith in Australian Cricket.
 James Sutherland Chief Executive Officer - Cricket Australia"

The sooner this is sorted out the better, it will take years to recover from this scandal and I hope that the people involved will receive the punishment they deserve.
 In my opinion, they should not represent our country again.
Cheers
Opa

25.3.18

What's on my mind? Nice of you to ask:) I need to vent OK.
I'm angry and it is to do with sport .
The sport of  Cricket to be precise.
Our national Australian team is playing a Test series in South Africa against the SA national side.
OK so far, things have got heated between the players of both sides, on and off the field.
 Fair enough, as the saying goes 'all's fair in love and war!'
 However it has just been revealed that our (Australian ) captain and leadership group have coluded to cheat by tampering with the cricket ball being used in the match.
When called out by the umpires they tried to cover up the action?
 All picked up by the TV cameras and commentators !  The captain and vice captain have stood down from their positions in this Test Match.
To me cheating in any form is abhorant and to see it occuring at such a high level makes me sick to my stomach, and has damaged the reputation that many honest sports men and women, for many years, have worked hard to establish.

    Fair enough play it hard and furious but at least know that when it's over you can hold your head high and know that you have given it you best shot.

These national sportsmen (and now I use the term loosely) are role models to the youth of our nation and is it now alright for them to follow the example that has been set?
In my opinion 'no bloody way' and these cheaters should be dealt with in a manner that lets the followers know that cheating in any form is not accepable.
Cheers
Opa





20.9.15

Economy - Finance - Is the Perfect Storm Brewing for the World

I have a 'gut' feeling that the World is heading for what I would call a 'Perfect Storm' and I'm not talking Mother Nature (that's another worry) !
What I am most concerned about is the current condition of the 'Financial World' and that my friends effects all of us, no matter where you live !!!
[Disclaimer: Let me say up front that I have no formal Financial Education and any opinions expressed by me are only that 'opinions' !
My opinions are based on over 40 years of being a Business Owner and being able to survive through a number of so called Credit Squeezes and Recessions]
My big concerns are listed below but not in any particular order as in their own right they are all important:
  • Interest Rates, historically low (America at 0%, Australia 2%, this is making borrowing 'too' easy which leads to more 'debt'!
  • Debt both Domestic and Soveriegn, the numbers in the Debt ledger are mind boggling ( and if numbers I have read are true debt has nearly trebled since the GFC in 2008)  Prob due to the first point above!
  • Gross Domestic Product, at .2% growth Australia is a whisker away from being in a 'recession' cycle!  and it is 24 years (so I'm told) since Australia has had 'negative' growth.  Bad Sign that one :(
  • Refugee situation, you might say what has the refugee situation got to do with 'finances' ?  I just ask ?  Where does the money come from to pay for the Refugees being relocated to all the Countries that are being compassionate enough to accept them into their welcomeing arms?
  • Global Warming,  again the cost of 'fixing' Global Warming seems to be aimed right at the Taxpayers Pocket!
  • Government Fragmentation, by this I mean the inability of the Ruling Party of Government, no matter, where in the World be it in the USA or Australia , to get through Laws that are needed to encourage Progress!
Sorry for my 77 year oldies Rant but I am not holding out much hope for the future :(  However I would sure love to hear from one of my readers with some good news  !
Cheers for now
Opa
Image attribution: Jeny - https://pixabay.com/en/cloud-storm-sky-storm-clouds-278230/