Friday 31 January 2014

SATURDAY 1st FRBRUARY 2014 06:00 GMT

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE DOWNLOAD, DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD AND AUDIOBOOK - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

FOR MORE BITE-SIZED WISDOM, CHECK OUT MY
TUMBLR PAGE

FOR PERSONAL ISSUES, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, WHY NOT CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (1st February 1944)
On the Russian Front...
Soviet 2nd Shock Army captures Kingisepp
German 18th Army makes an unsuccessful counterattack around Luga
German divisions in the Korsun pocket withdraw to shorten the perimeter while XLVII Panzer Korps attempts to reach them 

In Warsaw...  
Gestapo chief Kutschera is assassinated by the Polish resistance 

In France...
Official formation of Forces Francaises de l'Interieur (FFI) - the French Resistance loyal to De Gaulle is reorganized into a single cohesive organization.  

In the North Sea...
Kriegsmarine vessel UJ-1702 is sunk by RAF aircraft 
German vessel Valencia damaged by RAF aircraft and runs aground

In London...
Initial plan for the invasion phase of Operation Overlord issued  

In Italy... 
British 10th Corps fight to expand bridgehead across the Garigliano River against stiff German resistance
US II Corps attack Castellone and Majola Hill 
At Anzio, US VI Corps abandons its attacks and goes over to the defensive
RN destroyers Tumult and Tenacious bombard Recanati and Pedaso overnight

In the Mediterranean...
In the Aegean Sea, Kriegsmarine vessel UJ-2124 is sunk by RAF aircraft off Delos
US vessel Edward Bates is damaged by a Luftwaffe attack and abandoned 
Kriegsmarine 10th Torpedo Boat Flotilla conducts minelaying operations

In Washington DC...
Combined Chiefs of Staff postpone Operation Overlord from May until early June.

In the Pacific...

IJN destroyer Umikaze is sunk by USN submarine Guardfish 
Japanese vessel Toei Maru is sunk by USN submarine Seahorse 
IJN submarine I-171 is sunk by USN destroyers Guest and Hudson off the Solomons
Japanese vessels Nanka Maru and Tacoma Maru are sunk by USN submarine Hake off the East Indies

Operation Flintlock - The Invasion Of The Marshall Islands
With some of the nearby islets in the Kwajalein Atoll captured, main US landings commence against Roi Island, Namur Island, and Kwajalein Island
USN Northern Attack Force (Task Force 53) lands 23rd Marines of 4th Marine Division on Roi Island, and 24th Marines Division on Namur Island
USN Southern Attack Force (Task Force 52) lands US 7th Infantry Division on Kwajalein Island
Marines quickly defeat light Japanese resistance on Roi and secure the island 
Marines on Namur encounter strong Japanese resistance 
Landings are supported by USN aircraft attacks on shipping and military targets.  

In New Guinea...
In the Dumpu-Bogadjim sector, Australian 18th Infantry Brigade captures Crater Hill
A US naval base is established at Finschhafen 

In Burma... 
Chinese 38th Infantry Division attack around Taihpa Ga  

Today's Air Raids...   
Berlin by RAF Bomber Command
Albano Laziale, Cori, Poggio Mieteto, and San Valentino, Italy by US !2th Air Force
Myitkyina, Burma by US 10th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Me Time
Shift 2 of the Weekend Job
Me Time (Missus away)

Twitter Followers = 1,705 (up 2)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 0

Unfollowers eliminated = 0

New followers = 2

@Mike_Beeston, @Heathen2010  

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
I occasionally get what I call "Semi-Insomnia" - waking halfway through the night rather sleeping through. I have learned not to get anxious about such occurrences, and put the time to good use getting in front with blogging. I find my body-clock corrects itself over the next day or two.

Unless I fall asleep early, a double-bonus of time presents itself as Missus is going to the theatre with Daughter, although I will probably use that time for purely recreational purposes.

Waking in the "small hours" of the morning is rather oddly pleasant. I am too awake to sleep yet the mind is blissfully still and focused only on the task in front of it. it is how I would choose to be all day! I will make the most of it while it lasts.  

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Can see opportunity in the unexpected or unwanted occurrences of your day? 

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
A dry and clear start
Showers arrive by mid-morning and will persist all afternoon
In the evening showers merge into a prolonged period of heavy rain
By late evening rain will break up back into heavy showers
Showers persist with decreasing occurrence and intensity overnight 
A consistent south-westerly wind will intensify to a peak in the late afternoon, easing gradually thereafter
Max Temp = 5 degC
Min Temp = 1 degC
Sunrise at 07:54
Sunset at 16:48

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I walked into a bar the other day and ordered a double - the barman brought out a bloke who looked just like me.  : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
QI - The Beatles "Help!" conspiracy theory 

8. TRIVIA
Celebrities who have had a history of eating disorders include Paula Abdul, Karen Carpenter, Jane Fonda, Elton John, Princess Diana, Lynn Redgrave, Billy Bob Thornton, and Joan Rivers.  

9. ZEN WISDOM
How aware are we of our own inner life, our spirituality—something so intangible yet so priceless? How much effort do we make to perceive that which is not obvious, which can neither be seen nor heard? The exploration and enrichment of the human spirit is what determines our very humanity.   
     

Thursday 30 January 2014

FRIDAY 31st JANUARY 2014 06:28 GMT

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE DOWNLOAD, DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD AND AUDIOBOOK - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

FOR MORE BITE-SIZED WISDOM, CHECK OUT MY
TUMBLR PAGE

FOR PERSONAL ISSUES, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, WHY NOT CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (31st January 1944)
On the Russian Front...
Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front and 4th Ukrainian Front attack the German 6th Army around Krivoi Rog and Nikopol

In France...
French Resistance forces attack the aircraft factory at Figeac

In the English Channel...
Kriegsmarine 5th S-Boat Flotilla attacks a British coastal convoy, sinking 3 vessels

In the Mediterranean...
German vessel Leda is sunk by RAF aircraft off Samos Island 

In Italy...
II Corps of US 5th Army attack around Cassino and Cairo
British 10th Corps of US 5th Army reaches Monte Purgatorio
In the Anzio beachhead, despite heavy air support, US VI Corps unable to advance against Cisterna and Campoleone, and the attacks are abandoned

In the Atlantic...
U-592 is sunk by RN sloops Wild Goose, Starling, and Magpie 

In the United States...
USN aircraft carrier Franklin is commissioned

In the Pacific...
Japanese vessels Yasukuni Maru, Hiro Maru and IJN minelayer Nasami are sunk by USN submarine Trigger 

Operation Flintlock - The Invasion of the Marshall Islands
A USMC reconnaissance force lands on Majuro Atoll and finds it occupied by a single Japanese sailor. It becomes the first pre-war Japanese territory captured by the Allies
Carrier-based aircraft from USN Task Force 58 attack Japanese shipping and installations at Kwajalein Atoll, whilst under command of US 5th Fleet, troops of Joint Expeditionary Force commence landings. Underwater demolition teams are used for the first time. Elements of US 25th Marine Regiment land on islets around Roi Island and Namur Island, whilst Elements of US 7th Infantry Division land on islets around Kwajalein Island.

New Zealand raiders are withdrawn from Nissan in the Green Islands by USN Task Group 31.8 following reconnaissance mission

IJN guardboat Seisho Maru is sunk by USAAF aircraft off Celebes Island

In New Guinea...
In the Dumpu-Bogadjim sector, the Australian 18th Infantry Brigade attack Crater Hill against fierce resistance, whilst Australian 8th Infantry Brigade reaches Crossing Town on the coast

In Malaya...
29th Army activated under Japanese Southern Army to control units in Malaya, Andaman Islands, and Nicobar Islands

In Burma...
West African 81st Infantry Division renews its advance southward down the Kaladan valley

Today's Air Raids...    
Klagenfurt, Germany by US 15th Air Force
Gilze-Rijen airfield, Netherlands by US 8th Air Force 
V-Weapons sites, Northern France by US 8th Air Force and RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force
Artena, Sezze, Fondi, Priverno, and military targets in Southern Italy by US 12th Air Force
Udine and Aviano, Italy by US 15th Air Force
Wotje Atoll, Mille Atoll and Jaluit Atoll by US 7th Air Force
Bogadjim, Alexishafen, and military targets in New Guinea by US 5th Air Force
Rabaul, New Britain by US 13th Air Force and US AirSols
Ceram Island by US 5th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Me Time
Shift 1 of the Weekend Job
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 1,703 (down 1)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 2

Unfollowers eliminated = 0

New followers = 1
@WestHam_News

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
After a sluggish day yesterday, I feel much more energetic today - I know where I'm going and what I'm doing! I feel very much like my consciousness is "watching the movie" while it all goes on around me. I believe that good opportunities present themselves every day, but you need the focus mindset to be aware of them. Today I am ready to catch them!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you alert, ready for the opportunities that will present themselves today?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD   
After a damp drizzly start, there will be a window of dry weather in the morning.
Rain arrives in the afternoon and will become heavy at times
Rain will ease to light showers by mid-evening and will peter out slowly overnight.
A moderate south-easterly will strengthen to a peak in the early evening then ease back and swing south-westerly overnight
Max Temp = 6 degC
Min Temp = 1 degC  
Sunrise at 07:56
Sunset at 16:46

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I have survived pepper spray and mustard gas - I'm a seasoned veteran : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!   
Mock The Week quickie: The Evolution Of Man  

8. TRIVIA
The first African-American Oscar winner was Hattie McDaniel who was awarded the 1939 Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. Twenty-four years would lapse before another African-American would win: Sydney Poitier for Lilies of the Field (1963), which was filmed in just 14 days.

9. ZEN WISDOM
Difficulties impede the progress of those who are weak. For the strong, however, they are an opportunity to open wide the doors to a bright future. Everything is determined by our attitude, by our resolve.