SUNDAY 30th NOVEMBER 2014 11:55 GMT

Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

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1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (30th November 1944)
On the Russian Front...
53rd Army of 2nd Ukrainian Front captures Eger and advances toward Miskolc

Germany...
Kriegsmarine gun ferry AF-4 is sunk by a mine in the River Ems

Off Norway...
Kriegsmarine minesweeper M-584 is sunk by mine

In the English Channel...
RN destroyer escort Duff is written off by a mine 

On the Western Front...
British 2nd Army attacks an isolated German pocket west of the Maas
US 9th Army attacks around Linnich, Welz, and Breeck
US 1st Army continues costly attacks in Huertgen Forest
US 3rd Army continues attacks toward the Sarre
US 7th Army attacks around St Pierre and Selestat  

Albania...
Partisans liberate Scutari

Italy...
British 8th Army attacks toward Casa Bettini and captures Albereto
German forces counterattack British 13th Corps of US 5th Army and capture Casa Nuovo 

In the Pacific...
Japanese vessel Kumano Maru is sunk by RN submarine Strategem off the East Indies
Japanese vessel Dairen Maru is sunk by USN submarine Sunfish in the Yellow Sea

China...
Chiang Kai-shek orders US-trained Chinese 22nd Infantry Division and 38th Infantry Division to transfer from Burma to China to help defend Kunming and Chungking

Burma...
British 36th Infantry Division of Northern Combat Area Command liberates Pinwe
In the Arakan, West African 81st Infantry Division occupies Kaladan

In the Indian Ocean...
U-196, en route from East Indies transporting raw materials to Germany, vanishes.

Today's Air Raids...
Bohlen, Zeitz, Merseburg, Hamburg, Neunkirchen, Lutzkendorf and targets of opportunity in Germany by US 8th Air Force
Munich, Germany and Innsbruck, Austria by US 15th Air Force
Bottrop, Osterfeld, Duisburg and Hamburg, Germany by RAF Bomber Command
Liege, Belgium the last day of bombardment by V-1 flying bombs
Northern Italy on transportation routes and military targets by US 12th Air Force
Halmahera Island by RAAF aircraft
Halmahera Island, Celebes Island, Luzon, Negros Island, the central Phillipines and Matina Airfield on Mindanao Island by US FEAF
Iwo Jima and Legaspi Airfield, Luzon by US 7th Air Force
Phu Lang Thuong and Phu Lay, Indochina by US 14th Air Force
Thailand on transportation routes by US 14th Air Force
Chefang, China by US 14th Air Force
Burma military targets by US 10th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Meditation
Me Time
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 1,843 (down 1)
Non-followed Eliminated =1
@zusihadimimi
Unfollowers Eliminated = 1
@GlennTwiddle
New Followers followed back = 1
@priencesdiana
Spammers not followed back = 0     

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
Attended first gig of Son's band. On the face of it, the evening was a success - the gig went well, Son's voice was on-form, the band was reasonably well-received and the sound quality was very good - and the beer was great as well! Son also encountered a doting young lady fan/admirer!

Unfortunately underlying this success was some harsh realities. The band were blown off the stage by the two older more experienced bands above them on the bill who were frankly more exciting

Son has had a bit of a Morrissey thing recently which has influenced his music - or more accurately, taken it over. The band consequently sounded like a competent but uninspiring Smiths tribute band, with none of the power and excitement of Son's previous two bands. As for his doting fan, she was very sweet and caring but reeked of dullness. Son was wisely not tempted away from his more interesting love in Belarus.

Of course this is all my own humble opinion - if Son believes in his current musical direction and the band and doesn't give a flying fuck what I think, all power to him! I'd rather see him ruthlessly determined than agreeing with me! I'll continue supporting him in whatever he wants to do, my misgivings notwithstanding.

For a while at the gig I had a sudden attack of self-pity - the whole I could have been a contender but never had a chance thing. I had to have a word with myself. Firstly I am now completely responsible for my own happiness. Secondly there is only one way to answer critics internal or external - on the field of play, by which I mean the difference I am making with the opportunities given. Self-pity and the pursuit of vengeance is a distraction from that.

It's been important and refreshing to have a break from the normal routine, but it's work not rest that gets things done and makes differences. From tomorrow I will be ready to work!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
How will you respond to criticism and self-doubt? 

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry and cloudy with sunny/clear intervals
A light north-westerly wind will swing north-easterly in the evening 
Max Temp = 9 degC
Min Temp = 8 degC
Sunrise at 07:59
Sunset at 15:51

Weathertrack: A ridge of high pressure extending over Britain from the south will keep things dry for 24 hours
Air Pressure: 1015 millibars and rising

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
The doctor told be the lump in my ear was caused by a lettuce growing in it - I was shocked but that was just the tip of the iceberg! :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Never Mind The Buzzcocks - The French Question

8. TRIVIA
Iraq first took part in the Olympic Games in 1948 and has only won one medal, a bronze in weightlifting in the 1960 Rome Games. Iraq has never competed in the Winter Games.

9. ZEN WISDOM
Happiness is not found in a tranquil life free of storms and tempests. Real happiness is found in the struggles we undergo to realize our goals, in our efforts to move forward.