Gary's Nine A Day

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

THURSDAY 13th JUNE 2013 07:33 BST

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE DOWNLOAD, DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD AND AUDIOBOOK - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

FOR MORE WISDOM CHECK OUT MY TUMBLR PAGE

FOR PERSONAL ISSUES, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, WHY NOT CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (13th June 1943)
In the North Sea...
Kriegsmarine patrol trawler V-1109 sunk by Allied aircraft

In the Mediterranean...
The Italian garrison on Linosa Island, the last Axis-held territory before Sicily, surrenders to RN destroyer HMS Nubian.

In the Atlantic...
US Coast Guard cutter Escanaba sunk off Greenland by unknown cause, possibly a mine.

In the Pacific...
Japanese vessel Suzuya Maru sunk by USN submarine Guardfish
Japanese vessel Konan Maru sunk by USN submarine Sargo

Today's Air Raids...
Saratov Oil Refineries, Russia by the Luftwaffe
Bremen and Kiel, Germany by US 8th Air Force
Northern France Fighter patrols by US 8th Air Force and the RAF
Grimsby, England by the Luftwaffe
Gerbini and Catania, Sicily by USAAF
Bougainville Island by US 13th Air Force
New Guinea military targets by US 5th Air Force
Rabaul and Gasmata, New Britain by US 5th Air Force
Dili and Koepang, Timor Island by US 5th Air Force
Nanchang, China by US 5th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Shopping and lunch with Son
Meditation
Missus time thereafter

Twitter Followers = 1,674 (up 1)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 0
Unfollowers eliminated = 0

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
I sometimes get a twang of guilt that I am financially dependent on Missus, particularly when my Practice is quiet. However, this is offset by the fact that in many other ways, she is totally dependent on me. And after all, isn't a marriage a committed partnership? I have learned not to get too concerned where the provision is coming from, so long as it's coming!

I remain vigilant for opportunities, and undeniably everything is sound at the moment. I have freely chosen to live day-to-day, and it is serving me well so far! In fact, this is my Golden Age, so I intend to simply be grateful and make the most of the experience.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you making the best use of what you have where you are?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Showers, some heavy in the morning.
By late morning it will be dry with sunny spells
Dry and clear overnight
Wind will vary between westerly and southwesterly, and will also vary in strength, peaking mid-afternoon when there may be strong gusts
Max Temp = 14 degC
Min Temp = 11 degC
Sunrise at 04:36
Sunset at 21:38

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
My party-piece is a really good impression of a responsible adult : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Rita Rudner in Las Vegas

8. TRIVIA
There are 29 volcanoes in Italy. Of these, only two are currently active - Mount Etna in Sicily and Mount Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands. The potential damage they can cause is fairly limited. Of greater concern is Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that buried Pompeii. At its foot is the large city of Naples. Vesuvius last erupted in 1944 and destroyed three villages. Whereas on Etna and Stromboli the lava flows relatively smoothly, Vesuvius ejects lava explosively, mixed with mud and rock. A major eruption on the scale of Pompeii will completely destroy Naples.

Oddly, there is no word in Latin for volcano. Pliny, the Roman who observed Vesuvius bury Pompeii, called it a "fire-mountain".

9. THE WISDOM I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHERS
"It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest." - Greek saying

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

WEDNESDAY 12th JUNE 2013 07:14 BST

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE DOWNLOAD, DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD AND AUDIOBOOK - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

FOR MORE WISDOM CHECK OUT MY TUMBLR PAGE

FOR PERSONAL ISSUES, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, WHY NOT CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (12th June 1943)
In the Mediterranean...
The Italian garrison on Lampedusa Island surrenders to Royal Navy warships, making a hostile landing unnecessary
Dutch vessel Palima sunk by U-97
Italian vessel Bice sunk by RN submarine Tactician

In Morocco...
King George VI arrives to begin an inspection tour of British forces.

In the Atlantic...
U-118 sunk by USN carrier-based aircraft
USN submarine R-12 sunk by unknown cause off Florida, possibly a mine.

In the Pacific...
USN submarine Trout lands personnel and supplies for the Resistance on Mindanao Island

In China...
Battle of Western Hupei (South Yangtze Operation): 194th Infantry Division of Chinese 6th War Area recovers Mopenchou and Hsinchiangkou

Today's Air Raids...
Saratov Oil Refineries, Russia by the Luftwaffe
Bochum, Germany by RAF Bomber Command
Northern France Fighter patrols by US 8th Air Force and the RAF
North Sea Minelaying by RAF Bomber Command
Plymouth, England by the Luftwaffe
Sicily Military targets by USAAF
Kaimana and Nabire, New Guinea by US 5th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Bathtime
Son Time
Meditation
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 1,673 (no change)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 0
Unfollowers eliminated = 0

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
Today's blogging was delayed 30 minutes by a particularly affectionate cat who sat on my lap. It occurred to me what an awesome priviledge it is that there are both animals and people who trust me absolutely and count on me for their happiness and wellbeing. It was affirmation that I had learned well a fundamentally important lesson that my own parents never did - that relationships are much more important than soil, bricks and mortar, and this needs to show itself in time and energy. The trusting love of living breathing beings towards you is the most wonderful thing about life.

My inner crusade to eliminate random thought continues. I have found the simple procedure of breathe-and-submit calms my mind sufficiently for intuition to predominate over thought. Well in place when I am quietly alone, I intend to expand this mindset into busy and social interaction periods.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What is driving you?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Early morning drizzle will rapidly clear
Dry and cloudy all day
A band of rain, possibly heavy at times, will pass through in the later evening.
Dry and cloudy overnight
A warm and moderate south-westerly wind will blow throughout.
Max Temp = 16 degC
Min Temp = 13 degC
Sunrise at 04:36
Sunset at 21:38

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
My life would make a really funny story if it wasn't happening to me : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Kendra Cunnigham talks about being sexually frustrated

8. TRIVIA
In World War I the Russian army mobilised 12 million men. By the time of the Russian Revolution three years later, 75% of these were killed, wounded or missing.

9. THE WISDOM I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHERS
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia

TUESDAY 11th JUNE 2013 08:15 BST

Sunday, 9 June 2013

MONDAY 10th JUNE 2013 07:45 BST

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE DOWNLOAD, DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD AND AUDIOBOOK - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

FOR MORE WISDOM CHECK OUT MY TUMBLR PAGE

FOR PERSONAL ISSUES, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, WHY NOT CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (10th June 1943)
In Germany...
Italian ambassador Alfieri meets with Hitler

In London...
Combined Chiefs-of-Staff orders initiation of round-the-clock Combined Bomber Offensive against German U-boat bases, aircraft industry, oil facilities, etc
The Royal Navy introduces new radio code Naval Cypher Number 5

In the Mediterranean...
Kriegsmarine vessel KT-12 sunk by RN submarine Safari
In the Atlantic...
US tanker Esso Gettysburg sunk by U-66

In the Pacific...
While evacuating troops from Kiska Island, IJN submarine I-24 is rammed and sunk by USN sub chaser PC-487
Japanese vessel Jimbu Maru sunk by USN submarine S-30 off the Kuril Islands
IJN aircraft carrier Hiyo is damaged by USN submarine Trigger

In China...
Battle of Western Hupei (South Yangtze Operation): Japanese 11th Army withdraws into prepared positions and fortified garrisons, ending the offensive.

Today's Air Raids...
Kursk Sector, Russia on Luftwaffe airfields by Soviet aircraft
Netherlands Fighter patrols by US 8th Air Force
Belgium Fighter patrols by the RAF
Pantelleria Island on the Italian garrison by USAAF. After heavy dogfighting, USAAF claim 34 victories
Kiska Island and Little Kiska Island by US 11th Air Force
Bougainville Island by US 13th Air Force
Rabaul, New Britain by US 5th Air Force
Hengyang, China by Japanese 1st Air Brigade, claiming 5 P-40's shot down in dogfighting

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Bathtime
Gardening
Housework
Meditation
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 1,673 (up 1)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 0
Unfollowers eliminated = 0

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
My life experience has reached a point where frustrations, such as they are, are trivial and short-lived. There's always something to be getting on with or making a difference to, and looking around me, I don't envy anyone else's life experience. The challenges I face I am generally winning, and my life is cosy and comfy, with torments internal and external disempowered.

In the quiet, I can now experience that ultimate blissful stillness of simply being. I am currently on a campaign to carry that inner silence into all other areas of my life so that I will have suffering excluded from my life within a year. With goals set, intentions clear and the right frame of mind, life is currently a good game to play!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you clear in your own mind about where your life is going?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry and cloudy all day.
The sky will clear around dusk and it will be clear overnight
A light south-easterly breeze will blow throughout.
Max Temp = 14 degC
Min Temp = 9 degC
Sunrise at 04:37
Sunset at 21:36

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I took my trousers to a PR company so they'd get a good press : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Milton Jones on teachers

8. TRIVIA
The combination of the oceans' inertia and the gravity of the moon has been slowing down the Earth's rotation for billions of years. When life first appeared, a day was only 12 hours long. Currently, the rotation is slowing down by 2 milliseconds per century.

9. THE WISDOM I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHERS
"Everything worthwhile is scary" - Paul Tornier

Saturday, 8 June 2013

SUNDAY 9th JUNE 2013 07:55 BST

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE DOWNLOAD, DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD AND AUDIOBOOK - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

FOR MORE WISDOM CHECK OUT MY TUMBLR PAGE

FOR PERSONAL ISSUES, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, WHY NOT CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (9th June 1943)
On the Russian Front...
In the Ukraine, Soviet 3rd Guards Army launch an attack along the Mius River.

In Yugoslavia...
Partisan leader Tito is wounded by a Luftwaffe raid

In France...
General Delestraint, leader of Gaullist Secret Army movement, is arrested by the Gestapo

In China...
Battle of Western Hupei (South Yangtze Operation): 85th Infantry Division and 121st Infantry Division of Chinese 6th War Area recover Chihchiang

Today's Air Raids...
Yaroslavl, Russia by the Luftwaffe
Kursk Sector, Russia on Luftwaffe airfields by Soviet aircraft
Catania and Gerbini, Sicily by US 9th Air Force
Pantelleria Island on the Italian garrison by USAAF
Munda, New Georgia Island by US 13th Air Force
Vila, Kolombangara Island by US 13th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
The Milk Run
Me Time
Lunch with Missus
Long Meditation
Missus Time thereafter

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
I'm wise enough to know that I am NOT, contrary to popular belief, the sum of my memories. That said, memory has a fundamental effect on behaviour. On the positive side, the accumulated wisdom enables me to act positively. This positive behaviour can however be sabotaged by unhelpful responses to bad memories.

In my case, I have lost my fear of death, injury and personal consequences. Couple this with decades of hurt turned to anger, and this makes me capable of anything. Fortunately, the dark and destructive energies within me are kept restrained by a combination of learned mind-management, the love of nearest and dearest, and a clear positive intention.

I am wise enough to know that I am robust but not invincible. Were I to neglect the regular disciplines I practice, my Dark Side could easily be unleashed upon the innocent as well as the guilty. The wrath and hatred within me is capable of the most savage destruction. However the love within me is equally powerful, capable of saving and changing lives.

Like anyone, I am at the mercy of events beyond my control. I can be broken or liberated by adversity or fortune. It serves no purpose to waste mental energy on these possibilities beyond my control. What I CAN control is thought. My own thought, left unmanaged, orientates naturally to dark memories. This means that with very little or even no provocation, I am capable of boundless fury. I have learned to avoid people and circumstances that particularly upset me and to where not needed, to turn off thought completely, although not yet perfectly.

And yet I do not resent the existence of my Dark Side. It is fundamental to who I am. Furthermore it has a highly important beneficial role as a defence and deterrent. I cannot make a positive difference if I am exploited to serve other's agendas. I therefore have no issues with defending myself robustly, and I am fully prepared to unleash my wrath and hatred on those who attempt to exploit me. Since I've started doing this, unhelpful people have backed-off, and in my personal life have been completely expelled. I consequently have a happier and easier life.

Where I differ from many of my spiritually-orientated peers is that I do NOT believe that love is the natural state of the universe and darkness is a disease. I believe that existence requires creation and destruction in balance. For me, the fundamental unit of existence is consciousness, which can only know itself by the contrast of opposites. Fulfilment in life does not require the complete triumph of love, but rather simply knowing how it is and who you are. Being and knowing brings with it a joy that unlike anything else has no opposite.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Is life happening to you or are you making life happen?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Cloudy start.
The cloud will thin and evaporate by mid-morning
However, cloud will build again from mid-afternoon.
Cloudy overnight.
A light easterly breeze will blow throughout.
Max Temp = 16 degC
Min Temp = 9 degC
Sunrise at 04:37
Sunset at 21:35

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I believe in personal growth, mainly by too many biscuits : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Mock The Week - best gags

8. TRIVIA
The Barbary Macaque of southern Spain is the only species of wild monkey in Europe.

9. THE WISDOM I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHERS
"If you think education is expensive - try ignorance." - Derek Bok

SATURDAY 8th JUNE 2013 09:41 BST

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE DOWNLOAD, DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD AND AUDIOBOOK - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

FOR MORE WISDOM CHECK OUT MY TUMBLR PAGE

FOR PERSONAL ISSUES, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, WHY NOT CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE

1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (8th June 1943)
In Germany..
After a discussion regarding pro-Axis Russians, Hitler decides:
1. Russians can serve in Wehrmacht units but not form their own units.
2. General Vlasov and the Russian Liberation Army will be used strictly for propaganda purposes aimed at Russians in Soviet-controlled areas.

In the Mediterranean...
RN cruisers and destroyers bombard the Italian garrison on Pantelleria Island

In the Pacific...
Japanese vessel Kahoku Maru sunk by USN submarine Finback north of Palau

In Japan...
The battleship Mutsu destroyed in an accidental explosion, with the loss of over 1000 men.
The Japanese High Command orders the complete evacuation of Kiska Island

In China...
Battle of Western Hupei (South Yangtze Operation): 121st Infantry Division of Chinese 6th War Area recovers Itu

Today's Air Raids...
Gorki Tank Factory, Russia by the Luftwaffe
Kursk Sector, Russia On Luftwaffe airfields by Soviet aircraft
Netherlands RAF Fighter patrols
Sardinia Military targets by USAAF
Wewak, New Guinea by US 5th Air Force
Sumatra and Timor Island military targets by US 5th Air Force
Lungling and Tatung, China by US 14th Air Force
Lamaing, Burma by USAAF

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Missus Time
Shift 2 of the Weekend Job
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 1,672 (down 1)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 0
Unfollowers eliminated = 1
@MarkusRind

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
My training doesn't mean I am free of low moods or disappointments, but they are considerably eased by depriving them of the fuel of thought. In my case, negative chains of thought can be set off very easily by innocuous things like a newspaper headline, particularly if I'm in a low mood.

Some thoughts, whatever my mood, are just always negative, estranged family members being a case in point. Any thought devoted to them just angers or distresses me. However, even pleasant or bland thought can distract me from full consciousness. Random thought is like mud from the bottom of a lake clouding the clear water.

Once you've had the experience of "super-consciousness", you want to be in it all the time. In quiet spaces, I can now quiet my mind qiuckly and easily. I now want to expand that ability into other situations, like social interactions and travelling, my reactions guided not by thought but intuition. I am already well down the road to liberation from fear and suffering, and it's now a case of eliminating their footholds that come from random thought.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you the master of your own mind?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry and mainly sunny, though it will be cloudy in the afternoon
Dry and clear overnight
A light north-westerly wind will veer gradually south-easterly in the evening.
Max Temp = 17 degC
Min Temp = 12 degC
Sunrise at 04:38
Sunset at 21:34

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
A drama about hijacking seemed like a good idea until we shot the pilot : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
QI - Lakes in Canada

8. TRIVIA
By the early fourth century, the Romans had built a road network of 53,000 miles throughout the empire. Each Roman mile was about 1,000 paces (about 4,800 feet) and was marked by a milestone.

9. THE WISDOM I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHERS
"Meditation does not belong to any religion, and meditation is not a belief. It is a pure science of the inner. Learning to be silent, learning to be watchful, learning to be a witness; learning that you are not the mind, but something beyond --the consciousness -- will prepare you to receive truth." - Osho