Thursday 30 June 2016

FRIDAY 1st JULY 2016 07:36 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

1st July 1916: The Battle of the Somme
The first day on the Somme, 1 July 1916, was the opening day of the Battle of Albert (1–13 July), the name given by the British to the first two weeks of the Battle of the Somme. Nine corps of the French Sixth Army, the British Fourth and the Third armies, attacked the German 2nd Army of General Fritz von Below, from Foucaucourt south of the Somme northwards to Serre, north of the Ancre and at Gommecourt, which was 2 miles (3.2 km) beyond, in the Third Army area. The objective of the attack was to capture the German first and second positions from Serre south to the Albert–Bapaume road and the first position from the road south to Foucaucourt.

The German defence south of the road mostly collapsed and the French had "complete success" on both banks of the Somme, as did the British from Maricourt on the army boundary, where XIII Corps took Montauban and reached all its objectives and XV Corps captured Mametz and isolated Fricourt. The III Corps attack on both sides of the Albert–Bapaume road was a disaster, making only a short advance south of La Boisselle, where the 34th Division had largest number of casualties of any Allied division on 1 July. Further north, the X Corps attack captured the Leipzig Redoubt, failed opposite Thiepval and had a great but temporary success on the left flank, where the German front line was overrun by the 36th Division, which then captured Schwaben and Stuff redoubts.

German counter-attacks during the afternoon recaptured most of the lost ground north of the Albert–Bapaume road and fresh attacks against Thiepval were costly defeats. On the north bank of the Ancre, the attack of VIII Corps was another failure, with large numbers of British troops being shot down in no man's land. The VII Corps diversion at Gommecourt was also costly, with only a partial and temporary advance south of the village. The German defeats from Foucaucourt to the Albert–Bapaume road, left the German defence on the south bank incapable of resisting another attack and a substantial German retreat began, from the Flaucourt plateau to the west bank of the Somme close to PĂ©ronne, while north of the Somme, Fricourt was abandoned overnight.

Several truces were observed to recover wounded from no man's land on the British front, where the Fourth Army had lost 57,470 casualties, of whom 19,240 men were killed. Nine Victoria Crosses were subsequently awarded. The French had 1,590 casualties and the German 2nd Army lost 10,000–12,000 men. Orders were issued to the Anglo-French armies to continue the offensive on 2 July and a German counter-attack on the north bank of the Somme by the 12th Division, intended for the night of 1/2 July, took until dawn on 2 July to begin and was destroyed. 

The offensive continued until 18th November, after which due to weather conditions and lack of resources it was ended. In that time, the Allies had advanced six miles across a 16-mile front, at the cost of 481,842 British soldiers and about 250,000 French. The Germans lost 236,194 soldiers. One of the main objectives, to distract the Germans from their offensive at Verdun, failed. That battle continued, though the Germans also failed at Verdun.

The cost of the battle, bourne mainly by the British, and the negligible gains have been a source of grief and controversy in Britain ever since. 

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Me Time
Meditation
Shift 1 of the Weekend Job
TV Comedy Night

Twitter Followers = 2,286 (up 3)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 0

-
Unfollowers unfollowed back = 0
-
New Followers followed back = 2
@CroftEdwards, @foodieduud
Spammers not followed back = 1

@n2buttalips1w

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
A very Yin-Yang time! Sleepwise, all caught-up and I'm enjoying working with my clients. Son is off to Belarus, which wasn't my preference but his journey is going smoothly so far. Missus has developed a new psychotic behaviour, which I now have to manage. I used to get really upset at her relapses and setbacks but I've now come to accept that she is mentally ill with no cure and not to suffer alone, but spread the information. 

My most crucial life-lesson is that none of these events is "me" or is any reflection on me. They are just waves that the universe emanates. This understanding has given me a wonderful peace of mind. So long as I keep up with my disciplines, I can maintain this level of superconsciousness and enjoy the movie.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION  FOR YOU
All that stuff going on in your head - which of it is "you"?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Dry and cloudy in the morning, showers in the afternoon, sunny spells before dusk

Details

















Moon





Weathertrack














Air Pressure
1004 millibars and static

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
A balloon gives my kids a solid hour of entertainment:
3 minutes of fighting over who gets the balloon
57 minutes of crying after it pops :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Classic Benny Hill

8. TRIVIA
A normal, healthy amount of food for an average teenager or adult is about 1,800- 2,600 calories a day. During a bingeing episode, it is not unusual for someone to eat 20 to 25 times that amount, which is more than 50,000 calories - roughly equivalent to an entire extra-large pepperoni pizza, a tub of ice cream, a package of cookies, a bag of potato chips, and an entire cake. Bulimics might engage in this type of eating several times a day.

9. ZEN WISDOM
Perception, not seeing, is believing

Wednesday 29 June 2016

THURSDAY 30th JUNE 2016 05:21 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

30th June 1860: The Oxford Evolution Debate
The 1860 Oxford evolution debate took place at the Oxford University Museum in Oxford, England, on 30 June 1860, seven months after the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. Darwin himself was unable to attend due to illness. Several prominent British scientists and philosophers participated, including Thomas Henry Huxley, Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, Benjamin Brodie, Joseph Dalton Hooker and Robert FitzRoy. The debate is best remembered today for a heated exchange in which Wilberforce supposedly asked Huxley whether it was through his grandfather or his grandmother that he claimed his descent from a monkey.

Huxley is said to have replied that he would not be ashamed to have a monkey for his ancestor, but he would be ashamed to be connected with a man who used his great gifts to obscure the truth. 

The encounter is often known as the Huxley–Wilberforce debate or the Wilberforce–Huxley debate, although this description is somewhat misleading. Rather than being a formal debate between the two, it was actually an animated discussion that occurred after the presentation of a paper by John William Draper of New York University, on the intellectual development of Europe with relation to Darwin's theory (one of a number of scientific papers presented during the week as part of the British Association's annual meeting). Although Huxley and Wilberforce were not the only participants in the discussion, they were reported to be the two dominant parties. No verbatim account of the debate exists, and there is considerable uncertainty regarding what Huxley and Wilberforce actually said.

Nevertheless, Huxley's powerful speech greatly enhanced the popularity of Darwin's theory and undermined that of fundamentalist Christianity.

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Tidying/organizing
Meditation
Quality Son Time
Supper
Me Time
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 2,283 (up 8)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 0

-
Unfollowers unfollowed back = 0
-
New Followers followed back = 0
-
Spammers not followed back = 8
@xukwraps777, @iksehrahtT, @aYBanh_mi77, @WdMyfairlazysZ, , @wlmardfet55 +3 untraced

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
Thursday has not got off to the greatest start due to sleep disruption. I woke up at 3am both horny and heartburned - heartburn won! I must have skipped an Omeprazole dose yesterday. So having relieved the heartburn, the cats pestered me for an early breakfast and I was craving a cup of tea, then the Consulting Room light bulb spontaneously died causing a mild adrenalin rush before I established it was indeed the bulb and not a more serious electrical problem.

At some point today I must therefore catch up and pay off some sleep debt. However, it has been a triumphant first half of the week for my Hypnotherapy Practice and life in general. It has left me fulfilled and grateful and put this morning's unwanted early start into context.

Yesterday evening, the whole family and the two cats were settled in the front room. Son was making me laugh and everyone else just made me happy. It was one of those perfect moments of contentment that I will always remember. At this moment there is absolutely nothing missing from my life - apart from a little sleep!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What makes you content?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Dry sunny start, cloud building and light showers from the afternoon

Details
















Moon






Weathertrack














6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I'll probably never get over what's-her-name. :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Jimmy Carr on sex in comedy

8. TRIVIA
The name “Earth” comes from Old English and Old High Germanic words (eorthe and erda, respectively) for “ground” or “soil,” and it is the only name for a planet of the solar system that does not come from Greco-Roman mythology.

9. ZEN WISDOM
The part of you that is listening is the only part that's really you.

Monday 27 June 2016

TUESDAY 28th JUNE 2016 06:42 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

28th June 1914: The Assassination at Sarajevo
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, occurred on 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo when they were shot dead by Gavrilo Princip. Princip was one of a group of six assassins (five Serbs and one Bosniak) coordinated by Danilo Ilić, a Bosnian Serb and a member of the Black Hand secret society. The political objective of the assassination was to break off Austria-Hungary's South Slav provinces so they could be a new nation of Yugoslavia. The assassins' motives were consistent with the movement that later became known as Young Bosnia. The assassination led directly to the First World War when Austria-Hungary subsequently issued an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia, which was partially rejected. Austria-Hungary then declared war.

In charge of these Serbian military conspirators was Chief of Serbian Military Intelligence Dragutin Dimitrijević, his right-hand man Major Vojislav Tankosić, and the spy Rade Malobabić. Tankosić armed the assassins with bombs and pistols and trained them. The assassins were given access to the same clandestine network of safe-houses and agents that Malobabić used for the infiltration of weapons and operatives into Austria-Hungary.

The assassins, the key members of the clandestine network, and the key Serbian military conspirators who were still alive were arrested, tried, convicted and punished. Those who were arrested in Bosnia were tried in Sarajevo in October 1914. The other conspirators were arrested and tried before a Serbian court on the French-controlled Salonika Front in 1916–1917 on unrelated false charges; Serbia executed three of the top military conspirators. Much of what is known about the assassinations comes from these two trials and related records.

The assassin himself, Gavrilo Princip, was too young by 20 days under Habsburg law to be executed, and was instead sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison. Kept under harsh conditions and under-nourished, Princip made several suicide attempts before dying of Tuberculosis on 28th April 1918

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Lawnmowing
Session planning
Meditation Supper
Client session
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 2,275 (up 3)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 0

-
Unfollowers unfollowed back = 3
@drawrainpix, @vijaybdixit, @CEOlNG
New Followers followed back = 3

@robertfilardo, @GeorgeHalachev, @unbergHen
Spammers not followed back = 3
@yNjohn117lenno, @e2BS9966RB, +1 untraced


3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
My life-purpose is clear and twofold: the spreading of memes via hypnotherapy and social media, and the care of my mentally ill wife. To enable me to do this, maintenance tasks are also required. Having such clear purposes, a clear sense of self, and a sound personal philosophy free of contradictions and paradoxes adds up to Peace of Mind, life's greatest prize.

I don't attribute reaching my own personal Shangri-La to any greatness within myself. I reject completely the concept of free will and ultimately it's just Physics. This avatar is particularly grateful that it's had the experience of seeing things how they are, rather than be lost in the waking dream of living, and spread that knowledge as seeds ready to be grown in suitably fertile minds.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Is it more important to live or to know why?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
After a bright sunny start, heavy rain arrives in the afternoon, though it will pass in the evening

Details


Moon






Weathertrack














Air Pressure
1015 millibars and falling

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
What you really learn from marriage counseling is that you’re not the only person your spouse won’t listen to.

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
John Oliver on Brexit

8. TRIVIA
There are 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the adult human body

9. ZEN WISDOM
Uncertainty is life, certainty is death

MONDAY 27th JUNE 2016 09:33 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

27th June 1743: The Battle of Dettingen
This battle was noteworthy as the last time a British monarch (George II) led his troops into battle. It was fought during the War of Austrian Succession between the French army of Louis XV and an alliance of British, Hanoverians and Austrians determined to stop France and Prussia dominating Europe.

The Allied army had found itself reduced in size, isolated and out of supplies. The French commander, the Duc de Noailles, knew that the Allies would have to retreat to Hanau. The Duke cut off their retreat and intended to completely destroy the army. 

Eager to finish the job, French forces against orders attacked too soon, losing the support of their artillery, and the French, devastated by a counter-attack, were forced to withdraw. The Allied army was consequently saved and successfully retreated.  

The war continued until 1748 when a peace deal was struck between the opposing sides.

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

Twitter Followers = 2,272 (up 6)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 0

-
Unfollowers unfollowed back = 1
@magicboomz
New Followers followed back = 2
@StartUpMindset, @willemvzyl
Spammers not followed back = 5
@YGgeekilyYK @ENGLISHspudawb, @qRtomjcomptonj, @wsaTheStemstar @TerriBauman


3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
After the equilibrium was disturbed by Missus' psychotic episode on Thursday, the fallout is miraculously threatening to be zero! Missus employers said nothing on Friday, and Missus is confident they won't today, meaning she "got away with it". 

Obviously anything Missus says has to be be seen in the light of the Delusional Disorder from which she suffers, although I can believe a busy staff, eager to avoid grief and losing an established member of the team, increasing the burden on the rest, would have a strong motive for "letting it go". If Missus isn't sent home today, I will assume we're in the clear.

Though the incident was upsetting, there is a positive - it was a POSITIVE delusion (they're usually negative) and Missus morale, living in a happy home where she's loved and appreciated, is high, which keeps her condition "metastable".

I have realized that "busy-ness", having deadlines to keep, is essential to my own personal wellbeing, forcing my day to be structured and therefore balanced. After a period of distraction, I'm appreciating the return of order. I've also with fresh vision moved tasks around, giving higher priority to the most "time critical" tasks.

I've learned that life is ever-flowing and dynamic, and you adapt and change with it, passing on your learning while there's still time.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Is your life moving in a useful direction?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Dry with sunny intervals and a strong breeze, which will die back after dark

Details

















Moon






Weathertrack














Air Pressure
1014 millibars and falling

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
They call cat people crazy but we're not the ones outside at 5AM every morning putting fresh dog poop into tiny baggies. :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Taylor Morgan - Lazy Lovemaking

8. TRIVIA
Bananas, watermelons, avocados and pumpkins are large berries, but strawberries are not berries at all. True berries grow from a flower. A strawberry is an aggregate fruit.

9. ZEN WISDOM
Avoiding a conflict will make defeat certain.

Wednesday 22 June 2016

THURSDAY 23rd JUNE 2016 07:13 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

23rd June 1991: The release of Sonic The Hedgehog
The game was released in North America, Europe and Australia on June 23, 1991, and in Japan the following month. The game features an anthropomorphic hedgehog named Sonic in a quest to defeat Dr. Robotnik, a scientist who has imprisoned animals in robots and stolen the magical Chaos Emeralds. Sonic the Hedgehog's gameplay involves collecting rings as a form of health and a simple control scheme, with jumping and attacking controlled by a single button.

The game's development began in 1990, when Sega ordered its AM8 development team to create a game featuring a mascot for the company. After considering a number of suggestions, the developers decided on a blue hedgehog with spikes along his head and spine and renamed themselves "Sonic Team" to match their character. Sonic the Hedgehog, designed for fast gameplay, was influenced by the games of Super Mario series creator, Shigeru Miyamoto. Sonic the Hedgehog uses a novel technique that allows Sonic's sprite to roll along curved scenery, which originated in a tech demo created by the game's programmer, Yuji Naka.

The game was well received by critics, who praised its visuals, music, and speed of gameplay. The game was also commercially successful, establishing the Genesis as a key player in the 16-bit era and allowing it to compete with Nintendo and their Super NES console. It has been ported a number of times, and inspired several clones, a successful franchise, and adaptations by other media.

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Me Time
Gatepainting
Washing Machine Cleaning
Business Promotional Work
Meditation
Supper 
Quality Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 2,266 (up 10)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 0

-
Followed unfollowers eliminated = 0
-
New Followers followed back = 1
@pennywisemama
Spammers not followed back = 9
@Xcpapare1vJ, @TMadara1bhu, @BIqarnivore1m, @EnjoiSkate87ib, @fsTheFired3mon, @tnmountaindrew, @Sabinatms, @FInotupinhurr7, @ourJBexperience
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONThursdays are turning out to be my "Sunday" and consequently my favourite day of the week, with the maximum me time. This doesn't mean zero stuff to do, but the day with the fewest time pressures.  

With a meditation regime now thoroughly restored, things are calm and my mind is in "just get on with it" mode. My emotions are of peace and gratitude, a good way to start the day!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What is your default "baseline" emotion?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Dry and mild with sunny intervals

Details

Moon





Air Pressure
1016 millibars and static

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I finally summed up the courage to tell my parents they're gay :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Amy Anderson on Bradjelina

8. TRIVIA
Kurt Cobain's hometown of Aberdeen, Washington State, now has the welcome motto "Come As You Are"

9. ZEN WISDOM
The accepting and enthusiastic embracing of uncertainty are key to a fulfilling life.