SUNDAY 4th JANUARY 2015 09:55 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 (4th January 2015)
On the Russian Front...
Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front is heavily engaged in Budapest

On the Western Front...
British 2nd Army begins attacking west of the Ourthe River

The Battle Of The Bulge:
US 1st Army attacks around Beffe, Lamormenil, Odeigne, Baneux, Jevigne, Lansival, Heirlot, Odrimont, St Jacques, Bergeval, and Salm on the northern flank of the Bulge
US 3rd Army attacking around Pironpre, Pinsamont, Rechrival, Hubermont, Lutrebois, and Harlange on the southern flank of the Bulge

Operation Nordwind: 
US 7th Army makes minor local counterattacks 

Albania...
Albanian provisional government asks US, UK, and the Soviet Union for formal recognition

In the Atlantic...
Norwegian vessel Polarland is sunk by U-1232 

Off Japan...
Japanese vessel No. 15 Horikoshi Maru is sunk by a mine  

Burma...
US 475th Infantry Regiment of Northern Combat Area Command completes the crossing of the Shweli River 
British 14th Army encounters strong opposition around Budalin
British 3rd Commando Brigade occupies Akyab unopposed

Today's Air Raids...
Berlin by RAF Bomber Command
Royan, France by RAF Bomber Command
Po Valley and military targets in Northern Italy by US 12th Air Force
Verona, Bronzolo, Vicenza, Padua, Trento, and Bolzano, Italy by US 15th Air Force 
California, USA by Japanese baloon bombs - no damage caused
Luzon Island, Palawan Island, Mindanao Island, Borneo and Celebes Island by US FEAF 
Celebes Island by RAAF aircraft
Sumatra on oil facilities by RN aircraft from Task Force 63
Tacloban Airfield by a single Japanese bomber, destroying 11 US aircraft on the ground
Off Luzon on US shipping by kamikaze aircraft - US vessel Lewis L. Dyche, loaded with bombs and fuses, explodes, killing all hands. USN escort carrier Ommaney Bay is written off.
Formosa on airfields and offshore shipping by USN aircraft from Task Force 38 - three auxillary sub-chasers and a cargo ship are sunk
Iwo Jima by US 7th Air Force
Ft Bayard, Samah Bay, Lohochi, Sinyang, Hankow, China by US 14th Air Force
Namsang airfield, Inailong, Bawgyo, Japanese positions, supply dumps, and other targets around Man Kat, Hsenwi, Yi-ku, Se-hai, Nawnghkio, Na-lang, Twinnge, and Mogok, Burma by US 10th Air Force 

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
The Milk Run
Me Time
Lunch
Meditation
Me Time
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 1,849 (down 2)  
Non-followed Tweeps unfollowing = 1
Untraced
Unfollowers Eliminated = 1
@Journorach
New Followers followed back = 0
Spammers not followed back = 0
 
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
The theme of the moment is responding correctly to threats and challenges. The biggest of these at the moment is Daughter, who is cajoling money out of Missus, who, despite being treated apallingly, is more than willing to do so. 

This would be tolerable if the disposable income was there, but it isn't! Venting my fury at either parasitic daughter or gullible and naive Missus is simply inappropriate and ineffective. The only realistic option is to wield my power over Missus to reduce the catastrophic bleed of cash to a trickle.

The Discipline of Acceptance is a crucial factor in the situation. Daughter IS ruthlessly parasitic and Missus IS simply and innocently naive. Resenting these things won't change them. The situation requires a measured, calculated, controlled response.

There's a wider general principle here - that life is ABOUT challenges and meeting them in the right way. A life without challenges has no purpose! Self-development is thus not about the elimination of challenges, but responding to them better.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you responding to the challenges you face in the right way?   

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry and cold throughout, and sunny during the daytime
Cloud builds after dusk 
A light to moderate south-westerly will blow throughout
Max Temp = 3 degC at midnight
Min Temp = -2 degC at 10am
Sunrise at 08:24
Sunset at 16:00

Weathertrack: High pressure over western Europe will keep Britain dry and cold
Air Pressure: 1034 millibars and static

6. TODAY'S ONELINER  
Indifference is currently very popular, but who cares? :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY! 
Les Dawson on Parkinson 1976

8. TRIVIA
In 2008 the average world life expectancy was 66 years

9. ZEN WISDOM
We should never decide that something is impossible and buy into the belief, “I’ll never be able to do that.” The power of the entire universe is inherent in our lives. When we firmly decide, “I can do it!” we can break through the walls of self-imposed limitations.