Thursday 21 April 2016

THE "PINK MOON", FRIDAY 22nd APRIL 2016 06:14 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. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

22nd April 1915: The first of poison gas as a killing agent
By 22 April 1915, the German Army had 168 tons of chlorine deployed in 5,730 cylinders from Langemark–Poelkapelle, north of Ypres. At 17:30, in a slight easterly breeze, the gas was released, forming a gray-green cloud that drifted across positions held by French Colonial troops from Martinique who broke ranks, abandoning their trenches and creating an 8,000-yard (7 km) gap in the Allied line. 

However, the German infantry were also wary of the gas and, lacking reinforcements, failed to exploit the break before the 1st Canadian Division and assorted French troops reformed the line in scattered, hastily prepared positions 1,000–3,000 yards (910–2,740 m) apart. The Allied governments quickly claimed the attack was a flagrant violation of international law but Germany argued that the Hague treaty had only banned chemical shells, rather than the use of gas projectors.

In what became the Second Battle of Ypres, the Germans used gas on three more occasions; on 24 April against the 1st Canadian Division, on 2 May near Mouse Trap Farm and on 5 May against the British at Hill 60. The British Official History stated that at Hill 60, "90 men died from gas poisoning in the trenches or before they could be got to a dressing station; of the 207 brought to the nearest dressing stations, 46 died almost immediately and 12 after long suffering."

The use of chemical weapons did not produce the hoped-for breakthrough for any army in World War I, despite frequent use thereafter - it only served to increase the suffering of the ordinary soldier. Over time, as new chemicals were used, each army developed countermeasures and produced the same gas themselves. 

The horrific effects of chemical weapons and their lack of combat effectiveness were one of the few lessons of World War I remembered from the start in World War 2. No army, though having stockpiles, ever used it.

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

Twitter Followers = 2,184 (up 10)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 1

@TitanSiegeMMO
Followed unfollowers eliminated = 0
-
New Followers followed back = 7
@taylormade2k, @Connect_Online, @LarryFranky, @Report_Living, @jumaf3, @dominate2day, 
@DudaprincDuda
Spammers not followed back = 4
@jiEvanRossTV, @stararoxmts, @FpHarryKnutsac, @p0LyrahaniLw 

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
It's only looking back on it that I realized I achieved everything I wanted to achieve yesterday - everything from identifying a dodgy app on my Kindle Fire to client follow up to mowing the lawn. With myself I am well-pleased! 

With Son away, there is a certain associated convenience and freedom! With him now being an adult, as well as we get on, both he and I value our own space and a week away where neither of us have to worry about each other's sensitivities will do us both good. That said, when he is at home, we have settled into a routine where we each get a fair turn at the available facilities, and only competition for the bathroom causes the odd inconvenience. When he does finally depart, I am certain it will be on the best terms.

I never cease to be fascinated how I have had the polar opposite extremes in my experience as a parent. How can the same person evoke the exact opposite feelings in his children when I have treated them the same? With nurture being equal, it must be nature! The children are a microcosm of my life experience in general - I have experienced all sides of everything. I feel like my particular viewpoint is at the fulcrum of the universe.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Is it you or is it them?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Dry, cloudy, cool
















Moon





Weathertrack














Air Pressure
1026 millibars and falling slightly

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Just back from the optician's and he says I'm colour blind - that came as a real bolt out of the green.

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
RIP Victoria Wood - the wonderful Two Soups sketch

8. TRIVIA
The first feature film created solely with Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) was Toy Story (1995). Over 800,000 hours of mathematical equations went into the film, which works out to more than a week of computer time for every second on the screen.

9. ZEN WISDOM
Just as a diamond can only be polished by another diamond, it is only through genuine, all-out engagement with others that people can polish their character, and help each other to reach greater heights.

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