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.

TUESDAY 24th MAY 2016 07:38 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
24th May 1956: The first Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the debut edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland on Thursday 24 May. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union, the pan-European music competition was an inspiration of the Italian Sanremo Music Festival. Lohengrin Filipello hosted the first contest which lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Seven countries participated, with each of them performing two songs. Two jury members from all participating countries cast their votes in secret, based on which song was their favourite. Lys Assia won the contest for the host country Switzerland with the song "Refrain".

This first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest included several procedures that were not repeated in any subsequent edition: Two songs for each country, secret voting, double voting of one country on behalf of another, optional inclusion of the jury members' own represented country in their voting, only "Grand Prix" title reception for the winner, and a single male presenter to host the show. The other Contests include: One song for each country, scoreboard display, jury panel from each country, disqualification of the juries' own country from their voting, material award, and a single or additional female presenter.

The United Kingdom did not enter the first contest but entered for the first time in the following year, coming 6th in a field of ten.

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Ironing
Lawnmowing
Business Promotional Work
Meditation
Making Supper
Me Time
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 2,243 (up 2)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 3
@SystemID, @ShatterRedmusic, @khushburao26
Followed unfollowers eliminated = 1
@SmallBizBrian

New Followers followed back = 4

@artwiz, @april_golightly, @KeciaHambrick, @aswaafa
Spammers not followed back = 2
@lvagroup, @SevickJacquline

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
Poor Son! When you love your child, you go through whatever they go through with them. It's his first bad breakup and it doesn't help when his bank is making life unnecessarily difficult. But when you're going through Hell, the best response is to just keep right on going, and you eventually come through. 

I can only be there if required, and let him get on with the business of getting through it, while in the meantime I address my own concerns. Time Greed is a major issue for me and frustration over it got the better of me yesterday. Fortunately by the time Missus got home I had regained composure, and Acceptance had kicked in - I have to let go of the time and opportunities I won't get and focus on what's available.

With the house to myself and focus centered, I can get on with the business of fulfilling my objectives.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you letting go of what's no longer available?

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

Details

Moon

Weathertrack

Air Pressure
1024 millibars and falling slightly

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I like to put on a show where I dress up as a knight and jump over 25 parked cars riding a horse. I call myself Medieval Knievel :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Unfortunate reporter

8. TRIVIA
Iraq has more than 22 million date palms and is one of the top three date producers in the world

9. ZEN WISDOM
Encouragement means to plant the seed of courage in the lives of others. It is an act of regeneration.

SUNDAY 15th MAY 2016 11:09 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. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
15th May 1916: The Lynching of Jesse Washington
Jesse Washington, a teenage African-American farmhand, was lynched in Waco, Texas, on May 15, 1916, in what became a well-known example of racially motivated lynching. Washington was accused of raping and murdering Lucy Fryer, the wife of his white employer in rural Robinson, Texas. There were no eyewitnesses to the crime, but during his interrogation by the McLennan County sheriff he signed a confession and described the location of the murder weapon.

Washington was tried for murder in Waco, in a courtroom filled with furious locals. He entered a guilty plea and was quickly sentenced to death. After his sentence was pronounced, he was dragged out of the court by observers and lynched in front of Waco's city hall. Over 10,000 spectators, including city officials and police, gathered to watch the attack. There was a celebratory atmosphere at the event, and many children attended during their lunch hour. Members of the mob castrated Washington, cut off his fingers, and hung him over a bonfire. He was repeatedly lowered and raised over the fire for about two hours. After the fire was extinguished, his charred torso was dragged through the town and parts of his body were sold as souvenirs. A professional photographer took pictures as the event unfolded, providing rare imagery of a lynching in progress. The pictures were printed and sold as postcards in Waco.

Although the lynching was supported by many Waco residents, it was condemned by newspapers around the United States.  Although Waco had been regarded as a modern, progressive city, the lynching demonstrated that it still tolerated racial violence; the event was nicknamed the "Waco horror". The city subsequently gained a reputation for racism, but city leaders prevented violence on several occasions in subsequent decades. Washington's death helped alter the way that lynching was viewed; the publicity it received rconsiderably educed public support for the practice, which became viewed as barbarism rather than as an acceptable form of justice. In the 1990s and 2000s, some Waco residents lobbied for a monument to the lynching, an idea that has failed to garner wide support in the city.

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Me Time
The Milk Run
Blogging
Lunch
Meditation
Business Promotional Work
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 2,227 (down 3)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 2
@BubbloUK, @raising_jupiter
Followed unfollowers eliminated = 1
@Evangeline8790
New Followers followed back = 0
-
Spammers not followed back = 0
-

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
My body is being invaded! I am sufficiently in tune with my body to recognize a viral attack at its earliest stages, indicated by producing more phlegm, a sore throat and a negative feeling. Fortunately I have a Rottweiler immune system and a generally ferocious attitude to encroachments in general, be it from viruses, animals or people. I'm certainly not invincible but I have a good history of fighting off infection. 

It doesn't help though that I have damaged knee ligament since January with little sign of healing. I can still walk on said knee but it appears to have gone backwards in the last couple of days. The time has come to consult the local surgery's resident Physio. There's going to be no quick answers however if any at all.

My other deterioration was a masturbation failure. I am used to these if I foolishly indulge an overnight urine boner, but this was the first time I couldn't keep an erection going for my daily orgasm during the day. Unlike proper sex, where unassisted erections have been a problem for some time, solo indulgences have been ok because there's fewer limitations to what you can do and there's no "hanging around". This time however, my erection died on me. Feeling somewhat frustrated I dropped a magic blue tablet and a few hours later had no problem.

Whilst the confidentiality of my clients is sacred, you may have noticed that my own life is a completely open book. I think that if I didn't share my experiences, my cred as a teacher/philosopher would be undermined. Having openly described what I've been through and am going through to those who are interested, the wisdom I offer is clearly grounded in gritty reality.

So, living up to my own philosophy that it's all about how you respond, I am responding intuitively. I will consult more knowledgeable heads regarding the knee. Meantime I am making myself more comfortable by treating virus and knee symptoms with a hefty dose of analgesics. That lightens mood and frees up my mind to function better. Orgasms will have to be restricted to the mid-mornings (sexual peak) where I have the privacy, the bed and the time, ensuring I'm relaxed and well-hydrated. I can no longer successfully fap any time and place! It therefore looks like the apparatus is getting a day off today, which isn't a disaster.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you responding in the right way to what you're facing?

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

Details

Moon

Weathertrack

Air Pressure
1022 millibars and static

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I asked the local librarian if they had any books on paranoia. She whispered, "They're behind you". :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Russell Howard on UKIP

8. TRIVIA
The highest point of the Great Wall of China is in Beijing at Heita Mountain (5,033 feet/1,534 meters). The lowest point is at Laolongtou (sea level).

9. ZEN WISDOM
Without a mentor in life, one can easily succumb to folly and easily become self-centered, capricious and arrogant.

TUESDAY 12th JANUARY 2015 06:29 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. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
12th January 1967
Professor James Bedford becomes the first cryogenically frozen corpse.  
In June 1965, Ev Cooper’s Life Extension Society (LES) offered the opportunity to preserve one person free of charge, stating that "the Life Extension Society now has primitive facilities for emergency short term freezing and storing our friend the large homeotherm (man). LES offers to freeze free of charge the first person desirous and in need of cryogenic suspension." Bedford took the opportunity and was established as their candidate. Bedford suffered from kidney cancer that had later metastasized into his lungs, a condition that was untreatable at the time. Bedford left $100,000 to cryonics research in his will, but more than this amount was utilized by Bedford's wife and son in court, having to defend his will and his cryopreservation due to objections raised by other relatives.

Bedford's body was frozen a few hours after his death, due to natural causes related to his cancer. His body was preserved by Robert Prehoda (author of the 1969 book Suspended Animation), Dr. Dante Brunol (physician and biophysicist) and Robert Nelson (President of the Cryonics Society of California). Nelson then wrote a book about the subject titled, We Froze the First Man. Compared to those employed by modern cryonics organizations, the use of cryoprotectants in Bedford's case was primitive. He was injected with Dimethyl sulfoxide, a compound once thought to be useful for long-term cryogenics, so it is unlikely that his brain was protected. Vitrification was not yet possible, further limiting the possibility of Bedford's eventual recovery. In his first suspended animation stages, his body was stored at Edward Hope's Cryo-Care facility in Phoenix, Arizona, for two years, then in 1969 moved to the Galiso facility in California. Bedford was moved from Galiso in 1973 to Trans Time near Berkeley, California, until 1977, before being stored by Bedford's son for many years.

Bedford's body was maintained in liquid nitrogen by his family in southern California until 1982, when it was then moved to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, and has remained in Alcor's care to the present day. In May 1991, his body's condition was evaluated when he was moved to a new storage dewar. The examiners concluded that "it seems likely that his external temperature has remained at relatively low subzero temperatures throughout the storage interval."

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Client prep, sessions and follow up
Me Time
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 2,065 (down 2)
Non-followed eliminated = 2
@SimplySpacesUK +1 untraced
Unfollowers eliminated = 0
-
New Followers followed back = 0
-
Spammers not followed back =0
-

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION

Pearl Wedding Anniversary was a complete success from Missus viewpoint and a psychological success from mine, in that all my training prevented me self-sabotaging the whole thing.

My central psychological flaw is inappropriate reaction to failure and disapproval. Fortunately, especially in the home environment, I'm very mindful of it, and by tight control of focus can now manage it. 

Missus was not only late leaving work but couldn't phone a taxi (required because of the bouquet of roses I'd had delivered) as the mobile network was partially down (we could ring each other but not phone non-Virgin numbers). I had to order it via the landline, then chase it up when it was late. This of course made timing the anniversary supper difficult and I knew this would degrade the roses before they got home.

Meanwhile I discovered Missus' preferred starter, the prawn cocktail, was well past use-by date and I had to rustle up an alternative. In previous times, all this would have conspired to make me "lose it", utterly ruining the occasion. This time however, I was utterly grounded, focused firmly on each moment, and though I was aware of the emotions, they didn't take over. This was an utter personal triumph, a spectacular achievement in personal development.

Once Missus got home, the annoyance of waiting for the taxi evaporated and supper was a triumph from her perspective. I had dressed up how she likes - jacket-and-tie, designer facial stubble, and by 9pm she was highly aroused and more than ready for The Finale.

The trouble was, I was anything but. Everything about the context was wrong. I had all the clearing up to do (not very arousing!) I had no time to get privately "warmed up" beforehand as Missus wanted my company throughout once I'd cleared the kitchen, and I was going to need to perform in my least favourite scenario - in the later evening and on a full stomach, without any prior arousal.

Thankfully, the magic blue tablets did the job and made me at least functional. This was all about Missus, so I focused on ringing her bells. This I achieved spectacularly, so much so that she was too lost in the contractions thundering through her to care that I never got there. Long past psychologically needing to complete, I was quite happy enough that mission was accomplished.

These anniversary occasions are really, like the wedding itself, all about the woman with man simply playing an essential role. I have no problem with this, as to bring joy and pleasure to someone you care about is in itself a most gratifying experience.    

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What brings you genuine joy?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD

   
Moon:

Weathertrack:

Air Pressure: 987 millibars and rising

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Modern marriage is about sending texts to each other like "do we need anything from the grocery store?" until one of you dies :D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
The Graham Norton Show: Jimmy Carr on oneliners and chatting up

8. TRIVIA
Jellyfish kill more people than sharks

9. ZEN WISDOM
Difficulties impede the progress of those who are weak. For the strong, however, they are an opportunity to open wide the doors to a bright future. Everything is determined by our attitude, by our resolve.

WEDNESDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2015 05:25 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. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
25th November 1984
Band Aid records the song DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?
Singer Bob Geldof was so moved by the plight of starving children, in Ethiopia, that he decided to try to raise money to relieve their plight using his contacts in pop music. Geldof enlisted the help of Midge Ure, from the group Ultravox, to help produce a charity record. Ure took Geldof's lyrics, and created the melody and backing track for the record. Geldof called many of the most popular British and Irish performers of the time, persuading them to give their time free. His one criterion for selection was how famous they were, in order to maximise sales of the record. He then kept an appointment to appear on a show on BBC Radio 1, with Richard Skinner, but instead of promoting the new Boomtown Rats material as planned, he announced the plan for Band Aid.

The recording studio gave Band Aid no more than 24 free hours to record and mix the record, on 25 November 1984. The recording took place at SARM Studios in Notting Hill between 11am and 7pm, and was filmed by director Nigel Dick to be released as the pop video though some basic tracks had been recorded the day before at Midge Ure's home studio. The first tracks to be recorded were the group / choir choruses which were filmed by the international press. The footage was rushed to newsrooms where it aired while the remainder of the recording process continued. 

Later, drums by Phil Collins were recorded. The introduction of the song features a slowed down sample from a Tears for Fears' track called "The Hurting", released in 1983. Tony Hadley, of Spandau Ballet, was the first to record his vocal, while a section sung by Status Quo was deemed unusable, and replaced with section comprising Paul Weller, Sting, and Glenn Gregory, from Heaven 17. Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran sang between contributions from George Michael and Sting. Paul Young has since admitted, in a documentary, that he knew his opening lines were written for David Bowie, who was not able to make the recording but made a contribution to the B-side (Bowie performed his lines at the Live Aid concert the following year). Boy George arrived last at 6pm, after Geldof woke him up by phone to have him flown over from New York on Concorde to record his solo part. (At the time, Culture Club was in the middle of a US tour.)

The following morning, Geldof appeared on the Radio 1 breakfast show with Mike Read, to promote the record further and promise that every penny would go to the cause. This led to a stand-off with the British Government, who refused to waive the VAT on the sales of the single. Geldof made the headlines by publicly standing up to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and, sensing the strength of public feeling, the government backed down and donated the tax back to the charity.

The record was released on 3 December 1984, and went straight to No. 1 in the UK singles chart, outselling all the other records in the chart put together. It became the fastest- selling single of all time in the UK, selling a million copies in the first week alone. It stayed at No. 1 for five weeks, selling over three million copies and becoming easily the biggest-selling single of all time in the UK, thus beating the seven-year record held by Mull of Kintyre. 

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

Twitter Followers = 2,033 (no change)
Non-followed eliminated = 1
untraced
Unfollowers eliminated = 0
-
New Followers followed back = 0
-
Spammers not followed back = 1
@DawnMGrant 

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION

Last night with Missus out, Son, the two cats and I sat in front of the TV watching Francis Rossi live in concert on the TIVO box and enjoying the fruit of the drinks cabinet, and I gratefully realized THIS IS THE LIFE! I had "made it" to where I wanted to be. I had absolutely everything I wanted. All things must pass of course, but the memory I can keep. I was reminded that I had tasted genuine joy and pleasure, something not afforded to everyone.

When joy comes your way, it's best not to spoil it by trying to hold on to it. Like an orgasm, just relax and let it thunder through you - you will spoil it by thinking that it won't last and you will miss the absolute peaks of ecstasy it has to offer.

As I was thinking this, in a flash of inspiration I realized there was a memory to attach to achieve an ongoing goal - the silent mind. The afterglow of an absolutely fabulous orgasm, that calm sense of gratitude and achievement with the dopamine sloshing around in your brain and your mind silent, THAT'S the default mindstate I wish to experience. Remembering that afterglow instantly evokes that state. My aim is to feel that way all day!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What does happiness feel like?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry, cold with cloud building after a clear start, with a moderate north-westerly wind
Max Temp = 7 degC at 2pm
Min Temp = 4 degC at 6am
Sunrise at 07:51
Sunset at 15:56
Moon: 

Weathertrack: The Azores anticyclone is extending over Britain, keeping the country cool and dry

Air Pressure: 1008 millibars and rising

6. TODAY'S ONELINER

I'm looking for a new personal trainer, the last one didn't work out. ;D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!

Bill Bailey on mistrust

8. TRIVIA

The protein in eggs is the highest quality of protein found in any food

9. ZEN WISDOM

Anyone can hit a wall. The anguish felt then is proof of one’s desire to move forward. But all is for naught if you falter at that moment. Action—that is the key to breaking through an impasse.