SUMMER SOLSTICE, SATURDAY 21st JUNE 2014 06:34 BST

NEW BOOK AVAILABLE NOW!! - ENLIGHTENMENT 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 (21st June 1944)
On the Russian Front...
Soviet Karelian Front opens an offensive against Finnish forces north of Lake Ladoga
Soviet Leningrad Front unsuccessfully attempts to break through Finnish line around Viipuri 
Soviet forces begin landings on islands in the Gulf of Finland - Soviet aircraft attack Kriegsmarine minesweeper M-538 off shore, which is written off
Day 3 of a major offensive by Soviet partisans behind the lines of German Army Group Centre 

In Normandy, France...
A severe storm halts all unloading of supplies and the Mulberry Harbour on Omaha Beach is wrecked - it is never repaired or used again
Sword Beach is still being hit by German artillery fire
General Collins of US VII Corps calls on German garrison of Cherbourg to surrender but no reply is given

In the English Channel...
Two US Coast Guard Cutters and a British tug are sunk in the severe storm with British vessel Grangetotf driven aground
One British and one US destroyer are damaged by mines

In England...
Barrage Balloons and AA Batteries are redeployed to focus on V-1 attacks

In Italy...
British 8th Army attacks German delaying positions on the Trasimene line  
US 5th Army advances slowly against German delaying positions on Route 1 and along the Orcia River

In the Mediterranean...
Kriegsmarine vessels UJ-2106 and SF-284 are sunk by RN submarine Unsparing     

In the Pacific...
On Saipan, Japanese defenders continue to withstand US V Amphibious Corps

Japanese vessel Shoun Maru is sunk by USN carrier-based aircraft
IJN guardboat Kompira Maru is sunk off Tinian 
IJN submarine I-185 sunk by USN destroyer Newcomb and minesweeper Chandler

Despite use of tanks and flame throwers by US forces, Japanese defenders continue to hold caves and other positions on Biak Island

Japanese vessel Kanan Maru is sunk by USN submarine Bluefish off the East Indies
IJN minelayer Tsugaru is sunk by Free Dutch submarine K-14 off the East Indies

In New Guinea...
In Arare sector, US 6th Infantry Division unsuccessfully attacks westward from the Tirfoam River

In China...
Operation To-Go (Hunan-Kwangsi Operation): 
13th Infantry Division of Japanese 11th Army advancing toward Pinghsiang
70th Infantry Division of Japanese 13th Army repels Chinese counterattacks around Tachouchen

In India...
Starving remnants of Japanese 31st Infantry Division withdraw toward Humine despite 15th Army orders not to retreat
Indian 5th Infantry Division advances north from Imphal toward Kangpokpi on the road to Kohima
Japanese 33rd Infantry Division opens new attacks in an effort to outflank the Bishenpur sector south of Imphal 

Today's Air Raids...
Ruhland, Germany by US 15th Air Force
Poltava Air Base, Ukraine by the Luftwaffe, destroying 47 US B-17 Bombers stationed there and damaging almost all the remainder
Berlin by US 8th Air Force and RAF Bomber Command
Wesseling and Gelsenkirchen, Germany by RAF Bomber Command
V-Weapons sites, Northern France by RAF Bomber Command and US 9th Air Force
Livorno and military targets in Italy by US 12th Air Force
Guam by Carrier-based aircraft from USN Task Group 58.4
Truk Atoll by US FEAF and US 7th Air Force
Palau Islands on offshore shipping by US FEAF
Kamiri Airfield, Noemfoor Island by US FEAF
Suain and Wewak, New Guinea by US FEAF
Siangtan and Hengshan, China by US 14th Air Force
Myitkyina and Mogaung, Burma by US 10th Air Force 
Port Blair, Andaman Islands by carrier-based aircraft of RN Eastern Fleet 

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

Twitter Followers = 1,760 (up 7)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 1
@TweetAngelsPR
Unfollowers eliminated = 0
@GSpeight 
New followers = 9
@stitch_ohana, @wiz-mouse, @wiz_monkey, @unda_da_bed, @lattituran, @GensorJuraj, @artwiz, @cornerweave, @sandman1484

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
I was disappointed in my own emotions at the Weekend Job, which I can describe as an unprompted moderate anxiety, and I don't really know where it came from. However, it didn't affect my focus or performance significantly. The reality is that as much as I'd like to I cannot be in complete control of the emotions I experience all the time, but I can at least be continually focused.

I might just have been plain hungry - I demolished three choc biscuits and a packet of crisps in the evening with some relish, and felt better afterwards. In any case, the central objective is to be focused on my goals regardless of any emotion, so that I will continue to pursue.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Is your determination stronger than your emotions?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry and mainly sunny with a north-westerly breeze
Max Temp = 18 degC
Min Temp = 11 degC
Sunrise at 04:35
Sunset at 21:42
Jetstream: Over northern Scotland travelling west to east and static
Weathertrack: High Pressure to the west of Ireland will remain static
Air Pressure: 994 millibars and static

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Roses are red. Violets are blue. Faces like yours belong in the zoo. Don’t be mad, I’ll be there too. Not in the cage but laughing at you.   :D 

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!  
Stewart Lee - audience analysis 

8. TRIVIA
The genetic mutation that created blonde hair in Europe happened about 11,000 years ago, approximately during the last ice age.

9. ZEN WISDOM
Alone, one’s suffering only deepens. Human beings need to be with and among other human beings. Engagement with others forges our character and enriches us.