In the process I discovered a whole set of visibility options that have appeared on Google Profiles and that the vanity URL that used to work in Buzz (and actually still does) has disappeared.
In the process I discovered a whole set of visibility options that have appeared on Google Profiles and that the vanity URL that used to work in Buzz (and actually still does) has disappeared.

site:plus.google.com inurl:posts/ "julian bond"
Advice from +Mike Acton. See also: https://plus.google.com/105595823502776413734/posts/bGoMeZivh5n
This one is a piece of art / collectors item - you gotta go see it (and fall in love ;-)
Its called:
Kill me Fast - lol
+Matt Jones +Tina ThinkInNewAreas Jonasen I had a '91 900s for a while. Current bikes are a GSXR750K8 with flat bars (125hp BMX, Yee-Haa!) and that white van of the motorcycle world a Burgman 400
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#buzz/search/author%3Ajulian.bond+OR+commenter%3Ajulian.bond
The results are in normal G Search layout rather than being in active G+ or Buzz format.
I guess proper G+ search will come soon. Along with "posts, comments" sub tabs under Posts.
As for vanity URLs, try something like http://profiles.google.com/niraj3k. This will now redirect to your G+ page. (Replace my username with yours).