TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE
1. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
17th July 1936: The Attempted Coup of 1936
Following a period of troubles in the Second Spanish Republic, a group of military officers attempted to overthrow the left-wing Popular Front government, elected five months previously, by a coup d'etat. Planning started in early 1936, and the coup was launched on 17 and 18 July, using the pretext of the summary execution of a prominent Conservative monarchist, Clavo Soleto, which was itself a reprisal for the murder of Lieutenant Jose Cartillo, a Republican loyalist, by Jorge Bardina, a member of the Fascist Falange.
The rising was intended to be swift, but with the army divided and the outcome in specific local areas was decided by army rebels or anarchist militias. Spanish Morocco fell easily to the rebels - the 30,000-strong Army of Africa had most of the professional elite soldiers who predominantly sympathised with the rebellion, backed by local Muslims who feared the imposition of atheism by the Republicans.
The government retained control of the majority of the country including Málaga, Jaén and Almería. However, Cadiz was taken for the rebels and General Queipo de Llano managed to secure Seville. This victory proved crucial to the rebels - with the help of transport planes from Nazi Germany it enabled the powerful Army of Africa to be flown over to mainland Spain and continue the fight. They were then able to drive north and link up with General Mola's Northern Army.
In the east of the country, the coup was mostly a failure. In Madrid, the rebels were hemmed into the Montaña barracks, which fell with much bloodshed. On 19 July the cabinet headed by the newly appointed prime minister José Giral ordered the distribution of weapons to the unions, helping to defeat the rebels in Barcelona, and Valencia, which led to anarchists taking control of large parts of Aragon and Catalonia. Rebel General Goded surrendered in Barcelona and was later condemned to death.
In the three days of the coup attempt, the result was victory for the rebels in the west and failure in the east. The country was thus divided into Rebel and Republican-held regions, but it left the rebels in a stronger position. Rebels had secured the support of around half of Spain's Peninsular army, which allowing for large numbers on extended leave totaled about 66,000 men, and all of the 30,000-strong Army of Africa. The Republicans retained less than half the supply of rifles, heavy and light machine guns and artillery pieces. Both sides had few tanks and outdated aircraft, and naval capacity was fairly even. Officers' defections weakened Republican units of all types.
The consequence of this outcome was the beginning of the bloody three-year Spanish Civil War. With the rebels getting much better military support from outside the country, particularly from Germany and Italy, the Republicans, though fanatical and determined, were hopelessly outgunned, and worn down by attrition, finally surrendered in 1939. Spain was then subjected to Fascist rule under dictator Francisco Franco for 36 years.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
The Milk Run
Me Time
Lunch
Meditation
Client prep
Missus Time
Twitter Followers = 2,357 (up 6)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 1
@PlavokoRuberto
Unfollowers unfollowed back = 3
@Brand, @divyasuman3, @jasmallwood010
New Followers followed back = 3
@Relation_Killer, @bmoore_20, @amohamoh111Spammers not followed back = 7
@Earlinewc08, @Lavonnaap44, @ctFu7u23Y05chi, @sq1zippyrocks, @zmCory11333, @cuDavidmay303 +1 untraced
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
Today has the feel of a fresh start without any radical changes taking place. Son has returned overnight from Belarus after a trip that went much smoother than I feared it might. I have a busy week for clients and Missus has a week left before the long Summer holiday. I myself get a break from the Weekend Job at the end of this week.
The general vibe is of much to do but with the time and resources available for work rest and play, so it's a case of getting on with it. I have come through a period of overindulgence and I'm now finding balance. I have particularly learned how important to my wellbeing Internal Silence is. My thoughts unleashed lead my mind into all manner of dark places. Being, intending and intuitively deciding are much healthier ways to conduct myself, allowing this avatar to function at its most efficient.
As it happens, I'm teaching the principle of internal silence to two completely different clients this week, so I will be applying controlled thought to how to introduce this discipline to two complete beginners - and relishing the challenge!
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
How much of your thought is serving you?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Sunny!
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Don't like Parmesan? Hard Cheese! :D
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Sarah Silverman -- Tubbin' With Tash
8. TRIVIA
Norovirus (the virus that causes the stomach flu) can survive on an uncleaned carpet for a month or more.
9. ZEN WISDOM
Only three thoughts serve a purpose: what you're doing, what you want and what you like. The rest are wasteful distractions if indulged.
