Wednesday 6 April 2016

THURSDAY 7th APRIL 2016 07:34 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

7th April 1994: The Rwandan Genocide

The Rwandan genocide was a genocidal mass slaughter of Tutsi and moderate Hutu in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority government. During the approximate 100-day period from April 7 to mid-July 1994, an estimated 501,000–1,000,000 Rwandans were killed, constituting as much as 70% of the Tutsi and 20% of Rwanda's total population. The genocide was planned by members of the core political elite known as the akazu, many of whom occupied positions at top levels of the national government. Perpetrators came from the ranks of the Rwandan army, the National Police (gendarmerie), government-backed militias including the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi, and the Hutu civilian population.

The genocide caused the well-armed, well-trained and well-equipped Tutsi-dominataed RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) to restart its offensive after an uneasy truce and rapidly seize control of the northern part of the country before capturing Kigali in mid-July, bringing an end to the genocide. During these events and in their aftermath, the United Nations (UN) and countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Belgium were criticized for their inaction, including failure to strengthen the force and mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) peacekeepers, while observers criticized the government of France for alleged support of the Hutu-led government after the genocide had begun.

The genocide had a lasting and profound impact on Rwanda and its neighboring countries. The pervasive use of war rape caused a spike in HIV infection, including babies born of rape to newly infected mothers; many households were headed by orphaned children or widows. The destruction of infrastructure and the severe depopulation of the country crippled the economy, challenging the nascent government to achieve rapid economic growth and stabilization. 

The RPF military victory and installation of an RPF-dominated government prompted many Hutus to flee to neighboring countries, particularly in the eastern portion of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), where the Hutu genocidaires began to regroup in refugee camps along the border with Rwanda. Declaring a need to avert further genocide, the RPF-led government led military incursions into Zaire, including the First (1996–97) and Second (1998–2003) Congo Wars. Armed struggles between the Rwandan government and their opponents in DRC have continued to play out through proxy militias in the Goma region, including the M23 rebellion (2003–2013). Large Rwandan Hutu and Tutsi populations continue to live as refugees throughout the region.

Today, Rwanda has two public holidays commemorating the genocide. The national commemoration period begins with Genocide Memorial Day on April 7 and concludes with Liberation Day on July 4. The week following April 7 is designated an official week of mourning. The Rwandan Genocide served as the impetus for creating the International Criminal Court to eliminate the need for ad hoc tribunals to prosecute those accused in future incidents of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
The Paper Run
Me Time
Quality missus time
Client prep
Supper
Client session
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 2,122 (up 2)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 0

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Followed unfollowers eliminated = 0
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New Followers followed back = 2
@romie971, @tinatamman
Spammers not followed back = 0
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3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
My search for anti-adware for my Kindle Fire HD6 has so far proved fruitless. I was darkly amused when THE ADWARE INTERRUPTED MALWAREBYTES DURING A SCAN to post its ad! I think we can conclude this app is not much cop. Somebody somewhere must know how to shift adware! The search continues.

On a more victorious note, I had an excellent quality day with Missus yesterday, though it does of course include managing her OCD-driven loon habits, like inspecting doorways and multiple handbag checks. With Son having a day out, and Missus' injured calf-muscle much-improved, quality frolics ensued after a period of both personal and marital inactivity. Everybody and everything "worked" and she's "booked an appointment" for more today! 

I have to acknowledge that much of the wellbeing we are enjoying now is a direct result of modern medicine. Missus is perpetually full of more drugs than Ozzy Osbourne in the 80's and I am on two repeat prescriptions myself. Throw in my two surgeries and Missus' one, and I think you can see that quality of life would be most dire without the good ol' NHS. I am most profoundly grateful! 

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you appreciative of where the good things come from?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Mainly cool and dry with a cold wind - showers in the evening, some heavy.

Details

















Moon
New Moon

Weathertrack














Air Pressure
1001 millibars and rising

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Went to the shop the other day to buy six cans of Sprite. Only when I got home did I realize I'd picked 7Up. :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY
George Carlin - Swearing On The Bible

8. TRIVIA
Wombat dung is cubic

9. ZEN WISDOM
Youthfulness is not determined by age. It is determined by one’s life force. One who possesses hope is forever young. One who continually advances is forever beautiful.

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