WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL 2015 07:09 BST

Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (1st April 1945)
On the Russian Front...
German 9th Army conducts unsuccessful attack around Kustrin
13th Army of Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front captures Glogau
2nd Ukrainian Front crosses the Vah River
6th Guards Tank Army of Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front captures Sopron on the Hungarian-Austrian border

Germany...
Radio Werewolf, run by Goebbels, begins broadcasting to increase German resistance
SS orders Dornberger, von Braun, and V-weapons research and development team to evacuate from central Germany to Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps
Thousands of prisoners of Dora-Nordhausen concentration camp are evacuated and force-marched toward Bergen-Belsen camp

On the Western Front...
Canadian 1st Army begins crossing the Rhine at Emmerich and resumes command of Canadian II Corps, which is already across.
British 2nd Army expands its bridgehead at Emmerich and crosses the Dortmund-Ems canal
US 9th Army spearheads meet US 1st Army at Lippstadt, completing the encirclement of the Ruhr, trapping German Army Group B and elements of Army Group H
US 3rd Army advances rapidly, attacking Fulda, and mops up bypassed pockets
US 15th Army begins taking control of Allied-occupied western Germany
US 7th Army continues to assault Aschaffenburg but encounters little resistance elsewhere
French 1st Army expands its bridgehead across the Rhine

Italy...
Operation Roast: 
British 8th Army conducting limited attacks against German positions between Lake Comachio and the Adriatic Sea

New Guinea...
Australian 6th Infantry Division completes the clearance of Japanese positions from hills south of But

In the Pacific....
Japanese relief ship Awa Maru, carrying Red Cross supplies under international protection, is mistakenly sunk by USN submarine Queenfish in the Formosa Straits

Luzon...
USN Task Group 78.4 lands 158th Regimental Combat Team at Legaspi - the town is captured unopposed
US 6th Army is attacking around Villa Verde Trail, Shimbu Line, and Imoc Hill

Negros Island:
US 8th Army is attacking around Talisay and Granada

Cebu Island:
US 8th Army is attacking around Bolo Ridge

Okinawa:
Operation Iceberg: USN Task Force 51 lands elements of III Amphibious Corps and XXIV Corps of General Buckner's US 10th Army around Hagushi on the west coast of Okinawa against minimal resistance. 1st Marine Division and 6th Marine Division of US III Amphibious Corps are landed on the left flank by Northern Attack Force (USN Task Force 53) 7th Infantry Division and 96th Infantry Division of US XXIV Corps is landed on the right flank by Southern Attack Force (USN Task Force 55). Yontan airfield and Kadena airfield are quickly captured. General Ushijima's Japanese 32nd Army, rather than defending the beaches, has concentrated its forces around Shuri. Several ships offshore are damaged but not sunk by Japanese kamikaze attacks.

Off Japan:
A Japanese cargo ship, an IJN escort vessel and a sub-chaser are sunk by mines. 

Burma...
Remnants of Japanese 15th Army are withdrawing into the hills east of Kyaukse and Kume
Remnants of Japanese 33rd Army withdrawing from Meiktila toward the Pyawbwe area
British 14th Army advances south from Meiktila

Today's Air Raids...
Southern Germany on railway targets by US 15th Air Force
Maribor, Yugoslavia by US 15th Air Force
Northern Italy Calcinato, Crema, Mantua, Monselice, transportation lines, supply depots, and military targets in the Po valley
Venice, Italy on shore batteries by US 15th Air Force
Sanga Sanga Island and Bongao Island by USMC aircraft
Formosa sweeps by US FEAF - Japanese vessel Taiga Maru is written off
Tokyo by US 20th Air Force
China on Shanghai airfields and widely scattered targets throughout southern and eastern China 
Central Burma on transportation routes by US 10th Air Force

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

Twitter Followers = 1,901 (down 1)
Non-followed eliminated = 1
untraced
Unfollowers eliminated = 0

New Followers followed back = 0

Spammers not followed back = 0

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION 

Day 10 and first formal weigh-in of Operation Equinox and I am incredulous!! My weight has dropped by a paltry 2lb. I'm finding it very hard to understand as the calorie reduction has been so drastic. I am clearly burning fat but nothing like at the rate I was expecting for such a big calorie reduction. 

I am however no less determined that my current diet will be my lifelong diet from now on. If I persist, my weight must inevitably keep going down. My body is "hanging-on" to what I've eaten - I'm much less "regular" and what's produced is harder to "do" and is much more solid. I am sure that metabolism has also slowed. All the same, I must be burning more than I'm consuming.

If by Day 30 I'm still only dribbling off pounds then I will consider getting even more drastic. Right now it may be that the body is retaining more water. I shall press on with the current regime and see what happens.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU

How determined are you to develop yourself?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD

Dry and cloudy start

Showers arrive by mid-morning and will persist thereafter

A cold moderate westerly will blow throughout

Max Temp = 4 degC at noon

Min Temp = 2 degC at 7am

Sunrise at 06:41

Sunset at 19:42

Moon:

 

Weathertrack: Weather fronts will move south across Britain today

Air Pressure: 1018 millibars and falling slightly

6. TODAY'S ONELINER

Don't you hate it when people answer their own questions? I certainly do! :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!

Peter Kay on the wrong lyrics

8. TRIVIA

Russian Emperor Peter the Great placed a tax on beards in 1705. He hoped that the tax would encourage men to have a clean-shaven look that was popular in Western Europe.

9. ZEN WISDOM

When we have the attitude that each moment of each day, each gesture and step we take, is truly mystical and full of wonder, we will live our lives with greater thought and care. We will also have greater respect and appreciation for the lives of others.

    

TUESDAY 31st MARCH 2015 07:18 BST

Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (31st March 1945)
On the Russian Front...
7th Guards Army of Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front crosses the Vah River and captures Nitra
6th Guards Tank Army of Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front attacking around Sopron on the Hungarian-Austrian border
27th Army of Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front captures Kormend and Szentgotthard on the Hungarian-Austrian border

On the Western Front...
British 2nd Army is attacking around Hoch Elten, Haaksbergen, Neuenkirchen, and Alstatte, and crosses the Ems River
US 9th Army crosses the Rhine at Wesel and continues pushing spearheads toward the east to isolate the Ruhr
US 1st Army is attacking Paderborn and continues driving north and east to isolate the Ruhr
US 3rd Army attacking toward Kassel, Mulhausen, and Meiningen
US 7th Army is fighting its way into Aschaffenburg and advancing toward Wurzburg-Schweinfurt-Kitzingen area, Wertheim, Ochsenfurt, and Neckargemund
French 1st Army crosses the Rhine near Speyer and Germersheim
French Army Detachment of the Alps concludes attacks against Petit St Bernard Pass on the Franco-Italian border
SHAEF reports it is attempting to cope with 350,000 displaced persons

USA...
General Lucius Clay is appointed Eisenhower's deputy for the military government of occupied Germany
Col. William O. Darby, having been on staff duty in the US, departs for an inspection tour of Italy

In the Pacific...
Bougainville Island:
Tanks support Australian II Corps operations against Japanese 17th Army around Slater's Knoll

Luzon:
US 6th Army is attacking around Salacsac Pass No. 2, Mount Myoko, Santa Maria valley, Calauan, and Mount Macolod

Off Okinawa:
IJN submarine I-8 is sunk by USN destroyers Morrison and Stockton

China...
Laohokou operation: 
Yoshitake Detachment of Japanese 12th Army captures Nanyang

Today's Air Raids...
Halle, Brandenburg, Zeitz and targets of opportunity in Germany by US 8th Air Force
Linz and Villach, Austria by US 15th Air Force
Hamburg by RAF Bomber Command - in a highly successful raid, six U-Boats are sunk in port
Northern Italy transportation lines, supply depots, and military targets by US 12th Air Force
Treviso Rail Yard, Italy by US 15th Air Force
Borneo on military targets by US FEAF - four cargo ships are sunk offshore
Keelung and military targets on Formosa by US FEAF
Bonin Islands by US 7th Air Force fighters
Omura and Tachiarai, Japan by US 20th Air Force - a sub-chaser is sunk offshore
Indochina on military targets by US 14th Air Force
Hainan Island by US FEAF
Ningpo airfield, Shihkiachwang, Sinyang, Yanglowtung, Sienning, and military targets throughout southern and eastern China by US 14th Air Force
Burma on military targets by US 10th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Meditation
Me Time
Missus Time
Client prep and session

Twitter Followers = 1,902 (no change)
Non-followed eliminated = 0
Unfollowers eliminated = 1

@lftrmp
New Followers followed back = 1
@_GinnyCarter

Spammers not followed back = 0

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION 

Though I am no less determined and on track, two disappointments I have encountered early on in Operation Equinox is firstly there was no rapid immediate loss of weight and secondly the "feeling" hasn't eased off. By tea-time I felt awful, but that made Missus' bacon omelette, a treat she only rarely makes, was particularly wonderful. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a meal so much!

Logic dictates that I must succeed and the "feeling" is only occasional - perhaps the anticipation of food was itself the trigger. I have generally got through Weekend Job shifts, which are fasting days quite well so long as I keep hydrated.

I am feeling a little sorry for Son in his long-distance relationship as he struggles with jealousy - it is essential he gets control of it, as it's a relationship killer. I am myself very grateful that I'm way past all that and it was never really a problem I ever had. The one time Missus did get a crush on someone, I felt hurt rather than jealous, and that was enough to snap Missus out of it.

The spectre of Daughter, after several weeks of blissful absence, has reared her ghastly head once more - as usual getting her mother to spend money, this time on a rail fare to York on Saturday. I compromised and told Missus she could go but the money had to come out of her Christmas pot. 

These issues are of course only flea-bites on what is truly a blissful life. I continue to be focused and profoundly grateful.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you still fighting issues that have actually been long-gone?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Heavy blustery showers driven by cold gale-force winds throughout
Max Temp = 5 degC at 7am
Min Temp = 1 degC at midnight
Sunrise at 06:43
Sunset at 19:40
Moon:

  
Weathertrack: Britain is in a very strong and wet westerly airflow between depressions to the north and a large anticyclone to the south
Air Pressure: 994 millibars and rising

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I used to think Pi was 314, but then someone told me I was missing the point :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Tim Vine oneliners

8. TRIVIA
Cats can only sweat through their paws

9. ZEN WISDOM
Violence erupts when one person blames another for a problem or conflict. Conversely, nonviolence is a way of life in which one resolves, “Let me be the one to change first.” If this spirit were to be embraced, how much more at peace would our families and society itself be. 
     

MONDAY 30th MARCH 2015 09:00 BST

Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (30th March 1945)
On the Russian Front...
2nd Shock Army of Soviet 2nd Byelorussian Front captures Danzig
Remnants of German 2nd Army are forced into a pocket around mouth of the Vistula River
Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front advances toward Bratislava
9th Guards Army of Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front crosses the border into Austria
German vessel Jersbek is sunk by a mine in the Baltic

On the Western Front...
British 2nd Army captures Emmerich, Elten, and Winterswijk and advances rapidly
US 9th Army is attacking around Marl, Polsum, Buer Hassel, Buer, Bottrop, Eigen, Sterkrade Buschhausen, and the Emser canal
US 15th Army activates XXII Corps for the Allied occupation of the west bank of the Rhine
US 1st Army approaches Paderborn and continues driving north and east to isolate the Ruhr - General Maurice Rose, commanding US 3rd Armored Division, is killed in action
US 3rd Army is advancing rapidly northward and eastward
US 7th Army is attacking against strong resistance around Aschaffenburg but advancing elsewhere

North Sea...
U-965 is sunk by RN frigates Rupert and Conn off northern Scotland

In the USA....
President Roosevelt arrives at Warm Springs, Georgia for several days of rest

In the Pacific...
Off Hainan:
IJN auxiliary sub chaser Shinan Maru sunk by USAAF aircraft

Luzon:
US 6th Army is attacking around Mount Myoko, Mount Mataba, Calauan, and Mount Macolod

Negros:
Elements of US 8th Army capture Bacolod and Japanese remnants withdraw into the hills

Okinawa:
USN Task Force 54 with ten battleships plus cruisers, destroyers, destroyer escorts, and rocket-firing landing craft continues bombarding the island with air support from USN Task Force 58 and Task Force 52.1

Off Japan:
IJN guardboat Eikichi Maru is sunk by USN submarine Tirante off Kagoshima

China...
Laohokou operation: 110th Infantry Division and 115th Infantry Division of Japanese 12th Army is advancing toward the Likuanchiao-Laohokou line

Burma...
British 36th Infantry Division of Northern Combat Area Command begins redeploying to Mandalay and transfers to command of British 14th Army - Allied operations in Northern Combat Area Command come to an end
Japanese forces are crumbling on British 14th Army front around Taungtha - Meiktila - Thazi

Today's Air Raids...
Farge, Wilhelmshanen Bremen and Hamburg, Germany by US 8th Air Force - these raids are particularly successful - 20 U-Boats, a cruiser, an escort vessel, an S-Boat, 2 minesweepers, a submarine-tender, 4 freighters, and 2 tugs are all sunk
Berlin and Erfurt, Germany by RAF Bomber Command
Northern Italy on transportation lines, supply depots, and other targets throughout northern Italy, including San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Rovereto, Chiari, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Legnago, Ora, and Romano di Lombardia by US 12th Air Force
Marcus Island by US 7th Air Force
Oelin and Kuching, Borneo by US FEAF
Bongao Island and in the Sulu Archipelago by US FEAF
Formosa on military targets by US FEAF
Off Japan minelaying by US 20th Air Force
Nagoya, Japan by US 20th Air Force
China on Chungmow Bridge, Hsuchang, Changanyi, Hankow, Neihsiang, Fang-cheng, Nanyang, Anlu, Japanese positions, transportation lines, supply depots, and other targets throughout southern and eastern China by US 14th Air Force
Burma Japanese positions, transportation lines, supply depots, and other targets around Loiwing, Pawngleng, Nawnghkio, Laihka, Kogleng, and Loi Putau by US 10th Air Force

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

Twitter Followers = 1,902 (no change)
Non-followed eliminated = 2
untraced
Unfollowers eliminated = 0
New Followers followed back = 2
@ChairWarkPolFed, @354Madeline

Spammers not followed back = 0

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION 

This character finds himself generally chuffed with himself. This is because he's largely responsible for creating a cosy little bubble-world where everyone in it feels happy, free to be themselves, safe and warm. I had time yesterday to just sit back and relish the delicious cosiness of it all. I am utterly, deeply and profoundly grateful! 

At last! The needle on the weigh scale nudged tentatively below the 15 stone mark - a loss of 2lb in the first week of Operation Equinox. I find it hard to understand why, with such a drastic calorie reduction, I hadn't lost 7. It's probably because unlike the first two weight loss successes, I'm doing much less exercise this time. I'm going to have to move more if I want to see it fall off.

With my only other immediate concern being annoying but not inhibiting technical glitches with Virgin e-mail, I have no true obstacles in my way to achieving my goals of making a difference my way.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU

For what in your life are you most profoundly grateful?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD

Dry and cloudy with sunny periods until late afternoon

Heavy rain then arrives and will persist thereafter

A moderate south-westerly wind will strengthen, becoming very gusty overnight

Max Temp = 10 degC at 10pm

Min Temp = 3 degC at 9am

Sunrise at 06:46

Sunset at 19:38

Moon:

  

Weathertrack: A ridge of high pressure will be followed by a strong depression both moving rapidly east across Britain
Air Pressure: 1004 millibars and falling rapidly

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
When my doctor diagnosed me as being chronically inquisitive, I had a lot of questions. :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Bobby Lee on race

8. TRIVIA
Egypt has the largest Arabic population in the world. 

9. ZEN WISDOM
There’s no need for us to be held back by the past or how things have been so far. The important thing is what seeds we are sowing now for the future.

SUNDAY 29th MARCH 2015 07:07 BST

Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (29th March 1945)
On the Russian Front...
2nd Shock Army and 19th Army of Soviet 2nd Byelorussian Front are fighting their way into Danzig
8th Guards Army and 5th Shock Army of Soviet 1st Byelorussian Front capture Kustrin - only 1000 German troops escape death or capture
Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front forces German Army Group South into further retreat and isolates some German forces south of Lake Balaton

On the Western Front...
British 2nd Army is attacking around Emmerich, Netterden, Rheine, Winterswijk, Osnabruck, Beikelort, and Coesfeld
US 9th Army is attacking around Dorsten, Marl, Polsum, Feldhausen, Schoven, Gladbeck, and Sterkrade
US 1st Army attacking north toward Paderborn to isolate the Ruhr
US 3rd Army captures Lauterbach and advances rapidly northward and eastward
US 7th Army attacking against strong resistance around Aschaffenburg but captures Mannheim
Final V-1 flying bomb launched from the Netherlands, ending the V-1 offensive

North Sea...
British vessel Jim is sunk by a Kriegsmarine Seehund two-man submarine

English Channel...
RCN frigate Teme is written off by U-315
U-1169 is sunk by RN destroyer escort Duckworth

In the Pacific...
South China Sea:
US FEAF sink two IJN coast defence vessels and a cargo ship
Japanese escort No. 84 is sunk by USN submarine Hammerhead

Luzon:
US 6th Army is attacking around Mount Mataba, captures Lipa, and attacks into Dita

Negros Island:
USN Task Unit 78.3 lands elements of 40th Infantry Division of US 8th Army at Pulupandan Point which moves rapidly inland towards Bacolod

Mindanao Island:
The end of organized Japanese resistance in the Zamboanga sector

Kerama Islands:
US 77th Infantry Division declares the islands secure and open an anchorage, seaplane base, and artillery positions for the upcoming invasion of nearby Okinawa

Okinawa:
Carrier-based aircraft from USN Task Force 52 attack airfields and naval facilities on the island whilst USN Task Force 54 with ten battleships plus cruisers, destroyers, destroyer escorts, and rocket-firing landing craft continues bombarding the island

China...
Laohokou operation: 
77th Army of Chinese 1st War Area counterattacks Japanese 34th Army and recovers Nanchang

Burma...
British 36th Infantry Division of Northern Combat Area Command captures Namsaw and patrols make contact with Chinese 50th Infantry Division around Kyaukme

Today's Air Raids...
Salzgitter and Berlin, Germany by RAF Bomber Command
Northern Italy on transportation routes and military targets by US 12th Air Force
Toshien, Kiirun, Byoritsu, and Eiko, Formosa by US FEAF - three sub-chasers and a cargo ship are sunk offshore
Japan Carrier-based aircraft of USN Task Group 58.1 and Task Group 58.3 attack targets on Kyushu and in nearby waters - thre auxillary sub-chasers, a patrol vessel and ten cargo ships are sunk
Haiphong and military targets in Indochina by US 14th Air Force
Singapore by US 20th Air Force
China on Japanese positions, transportation lines, supply depots, and other targets around Hengyang, Chuchou, Isuho, Nanking, Namyung, and Yoyang by US 14th Air Force
Aungban and transportation routes in Burma by RAF aircraft

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

Twitter Followers = 1,902 (no change)
Non-followed eliminated = 0
Unfollowers eliminated = 0
New Followers followed back = 0

Spammers not followed back = 0

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION 

I learned something new about myself at the Weekend Job - the importance of keeping hydrated! Not getting a drink before the start of the shift, I felt awful, aggressive and in a foul mood until first break when after a pint of coffee I was a completely different person. I ensured I was fully hydrated after that!

This experience makes me wonder if a lot of the aggressive behaviour I had previously attributed to hunger was actually due to dehydration. Certainly the success of Operation Equinox now clearly requires adequate hydration - I shall ensure that happens!

Keeping my drastic calorie-reduction from Missus will be more difficult over the next fortnight of school holiday, but not impossible! With her lack of peripheral awareness, I believe I'll manage just fine.

Keeping hydrated doesn't stop my unstable moods, but it certainly damps them down, making self-management a lot easier. I now want Operation Equinox to continue automatically (aside from the daily blog photo) freeing up my consciousness to focus on emptying the mind of unnecessary thought and rising to Higher Consciousness.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU

Do you understand why you are behaving as you do?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD

Dry and cloudy start

Rain arrives mid-morning and persists thereafter, occasionally heavy.

Rain finally clears shortly before midnight, and it will be dry overnight

A moderate westerly or south-westerly will blow throughout

Max Temp = 6 degC at 8am

Min Temp = 3degC at midnight

Sunrise at 06:48 BST

Sunset at 19:36 BST

Moon:

 

Weathertrack: A depression and associated troughs will move east across Britain today
Air Pressure: 997 millibars and static

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I’m very good friends with 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know y :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Jon Lajoie - I Don't Give A F**k

8. TRIVIA
According to the Outer Space Treaty, the moon is under the same jurisdiction as international waters. The treaty also says the moon can be used for peaceful purposes by all nations, and it prohibits weapons of mass destruction or military bases of any kind on the moon.

9. ZEN WISDOM
“Thank you” is the essence of nonviolence. It contains respect for the other person, humility and a profound affirmation of life.

SATURDAY 28th MARCH 2015 08:11 GMT

Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
 
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (28th March 1945)
On the Russian Front...
Soviet 3rd Byelorussian Front captures Balga, completing destruction of German 4th Army (except those elements evacuated by sea) along the East Prussian coast 
2nd Shock Army and 19th Army of Soviet 2nd Byelorussian Front are fighting their way into Danzig
Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front are attacking German Army Group South and advancing beyond the Raab River

Germany...
Hitler dismisses Heinz Guderian as chief of OKH and replaces him with Hans Krebs
The final meeting of the Russian Liberation Committee leaders takes place. They decide to move all Russian troops in Axis service to Innsbruck and surrender to the western Allies
V-2 launchers are withdrawn out of range of London and Antwerp to avoid capture by the advancing Allies

On the Western Front...
Eisenhower, communicating directly with Stalin, states that the Western Allies will not advance to Berlin
British 2nd Army breaks out of its bridgehead and advances eastward
US 9th Army is attacking around Dorsten, Kirchhellen, Hamborn, and Neumuhl
US 1st Army swings north to encircle the Ruhr region
US 3rd Army vanguard approaches Lauterbach
US 7th Army attacking toward Aschaffenburg, Mannheim, and Heidelberg
US 15th Army is ordered to control occupied German territory and continue to besiege the German-held French Atlantic ports of L'Orient and St.Nazaire

In the Atlantic...
US vessel Oklahoma is sunk by U-532

In the Pacific...
Off the East Indies:
IJN minesweeper W-11 and Patrol Boat No. 108 are sunk by patrolling US FEAF aircraft

South China Sea:
Japanese vessel Asogawa Maru is sunk by USAAF aircraft
Japanese vessel Honan Maru is damaged by USN submarine Bluegill, run aground, and subsequently destroyed

Luzon:
US 6th Army is attacking around Mount Myoko, Mount Baytangan, Mount Mataba, Lipa, San Augustin, and Mayondon Point

Cebu Island:
US 8th Army is attacking Japanese positions around Lahug airfield

Mactan Island:
A detachment of US 8th Army is landed

Kerama Islands:
Japanese garrisons are being cleared by elements of US 77th Infantry Division

Okinawa:
Carrier-based aircraft from USN Task Force 58 and Task Force 52.1 attack targets on the island and in nearby waters whilst USN Task Force 54 with ten battleships plus cruisers, destroyers, destroyer escorts, and rocket-firing landing craft continues its bombardment
USN minesweeper Skylark is sunk by a mine

Off Japan:
IJN Coast Defense Vessel No. 33 is sunk by carrier-based aircraft from USN Task Force 58
IJN auxiliary sub chasers Cha-167 and 175 are sunk by US aircraft off Kyushu
IJN auxiliary sub chaser Cha-178 and Japanese vessel Tensei Maru are sunk by mines
IJN escort vessel Mikura is sunk by USN submarine Threadfin off Kyushu
Japanese vessel Nase Maru is sunk by USN submarine Tirante off Kyushu
USN submarine Trigger sunk by IJN patrol vessel Mikura, Coast Defense Vessel No. 33, and coast defense vessel No. 59 off Kyushu

East China Sea:
Two coast defence vessels and a cargo ship are sunk by patrolling US FEAF aircraft

China...
Laohokou operation: 
4th Cavalry Brigade of Japanese 12th Army unsuccessfully attack Laohokou
Japanese 34th Army captures Hsiangyang and Fanchengchen

Burma...
Remnants of Japanese units are withdrawing from the Meiktila area
Burma National Army mutinies against the Japanese and joins the Allies

Today's Air Raids...
Antwerp, Belgium by two V-2 rockets - the last two ever fired
Berlin, Hanover and targets of opprtunity in Germany by US 8th Air Force
Truk Atoll by US 7th Air Force
Negros Island by US FEAF
Tainan, Formosa by US FEAF
Bonin Islands by US 7th Air Force fighters
Hanoi, Haiphong and military targets in Indochina by US 14th Air Force
China, Indochina and Singapore coastal minelaying by US 20th Air Force
China Japanese positions, transportation lines, and other targets throughout southern and eastern China by US 14th Air Force
Burma Japanese positions, transportation lines, supply depots, and other targets around Wan Hong, Hon-na, Kyu-sawk, Nanghkio, and Na-ti by US 10th Air Force

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

Twitter Followers = 1,902 (no change)
Non-followed eliminated = 1
untraced
Unfollowers eliminated = 1
@SteveFrerich

New Followers followed back = 1

@wilson41829203

Spammers not followed back = 1

@gravitycc

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION 

I had another "unofficial" peek at the weigh scale and this time it showed a pound less than start weight. I am exactly 15 stone and a 40" waist - 40" trousers now fit snugly not tightly. Two days of clandestine fasting will hopefully push things on. I'm still some time away from the Day 10 weigh-in so by then I expect the effect of water will be cancelled out and I'll have a more realistic picture.

I now have Son and Missus at home for a fortnight - this will make life a little more complicated but hopefully not excessively difficult.

I am launching a new internal mental initiative to keep my focus on my goals - it's been "all over" of late. I know full well how crucial good focus is to fulfilment, happiness and success so my focus is now on focus itself!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU

Are you actively taking steps to move your life closer to where you want it to be?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD

A day of showers, some heavy, with sunny intervals

A strong south-westerly or westerly wind will blow throughout

Max Temp = 11 degC at 2pm

Min Temp = 6 degC at 9pm

Sunrise at 05:51

Sunset at 18:35

Moon:

Weathertrack: A series of depressions and consequently unsettled weather will sweep east across Britain over the weekend
Air Pressure: 1007 millibars and falling

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I watch so much Netflix that rather than suggesting more shows for me to watch, it’s started suggesting I go outside. :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
I Just Had Sex (feat. Akon)

8. TRIVIA
WWII casualties totaled between 50 and 70 million people. More than 80% of this total came from four countries: Russia, China, Germany, and Poland. More than half of these casualties were civilians, most of whom were women and children.

9. ZEN WISDOM
Our hopes, desires and ambitions are powerful forces existing within us for the shaping of the future. They are the generating forces that create the future. To lose hope or give up one’s goals because of the setbacks of the moment is to diminish one’s own life potential. Hopes, dreams, faith and sense of mission enable us to open up our lives.