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 HISTORY25th April 1953: The discovery of the structure of DNA announced
"Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid" was an article published by Francis Crick and James D. Watson in the scientific journal Nature in its 171st volume on pages 737–738 (dated 25 April 1953). It was the first publication which described the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA, using X-ray diffraction and the mathematics of a helix transform.
This article is often termed a "pearl" of science because it is brief and contains the answer to a fundamental mystery about living organisms. This mystery was the question of how it is possible that genetic instructions are held inside organisms and how they are passed from generation to generation. The article presented a simple and elegant solution, which surprised many biologists at the time who believed that DNA transmission was going to be more difficult to deduce and understand. The discovery had a major impact on biology, particularly in the field of genetics, enabling later researchers to understand the genetic code.
All the plaudits and honours for the discovery went to Watson and Crick. In more recent times, it has been accepted that there was a larger team of scientists involved who all contributed to the discovery, most notably Rosalind Franklin, whose X-Ray crystallography work made the discovery possible. She would have received much more of the recognition she deserved in subsequent years had she not died of ovarian cancer in 1958, aged 37.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Housework
Meditation
Supper
Me Time
Missus Time
Twitter Followers = 2,200 (up 8)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 1@PhoenixPitsFollowed unfollowers eliminated = 0-New Followers followed back = 6@HomeOfGastro, @UltraYOUWoman, @DearWanderlust, @SpendSaveInvest, @TechGeekRebel, @astuteinvestingSpammers not followed back = 3@raising_jupiter, @HeyWeddingDay, +1 untraced
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONI have recently slipped into an unwanted pattern of 4am waking! At least it's happened at a good time, as with clients finishing courses I have more spare time at the moment, so can catch up during the day, as bodymind won't re-charge sufficiently on just 5 hours.
All recent bodymind disruptions and changes I attribute to ageing, also known as DYING! This doesn't distress me like it did at 5 years old when I first found out it was going to happen. On the contrary, because it's at the forefront of my mind, it focuses my mind wonderfully, much more so than people who treat it as the "elephant in the room"
There's not a lot I can do about these changes and the inconveniences they bring. I must simply accept them and make the best use of what still works, and modify behaviour to prevent damage to an increasingly fragile form. I have set a target of 80 in order to achieve maximum difference, and if successful, anything after that will be "bonus time" to make bonus difference with. A more important target is to outlive Missus, as she would be bereft without me and would not receive the quality care she gets now.
The death of any of the four of us, even ex-Daughter, would be disastrous right now in its effect on the rest. It would be helpful if everyone in the nuclear family survived another decade, to see the children fully established on independent paths with their own families. Then Missus followed by me could depart in peace. Of course, this is mainly up to factors out of my control. However, I believe focus on something makes it more likely to occur, so I envisage this scenario daily!
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you conscious that you have a limited time to achieve your objective?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Cloudy, in the morning, rain in the afternoon, dry in the evening, feeling cold
Details
Moon
Weathertrack
Air Pressure
1010 millibars and static
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Passive aggressive has never been my thing. I prefer chasing people with a chainsaw. :D
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Christina Davis - Being an Australian Woman in America
8. TRIVIA
The brains of adult men are about 10% larger in total size than the brains of women. Because men generally have a larger stature and more muscle mass than women, their brains require more neurons to control the body.
9. ZEN WISDOM
Courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin. Compassion without courage is not genuine. You may have a compassionate thought or impulse, but if you don’t have the courage to do or say anything, it’s not real compassion.
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 HISTORY24th April 1916: The Easter Rising
The Rising was launched by Irish republicans to end British rule in Ireland and establish an independent Irish Republic while the United Kingdom was heavily engaged in World War I. It was the most significant uprising in Ireland since the rebellion of 1798, and the first armed action of the Irish revolutionary period.
Organised by a seven-man Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Rising began on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916, and lasted for six days. Members of the Irish Volunteers — led by schoolmaster and Irish language activist Patrick Pearse, joined by the smaller Irish Citizen Army of James Connolly and 200 women of Cumann na mBan — seized key locations in Dublin and proclaimed an Irish Republic. The British Army brought in thousands of reinforcements as well as artillery and a gunboat.
There was fierce street fighting on the routes into the city centre, where the rebels put up stiff resistance, slowing the British advance and inflicting heavy casualties. Elsewhere in Dublin, the fighting mainly consisted of sniping and long-range gun battles. The main rebel positions were gradually surrounded and bombarded with artillery. There were isolated actions in other parts of Ireland, with attacks on the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks at Ashbourne, County Meath and in County Galway, and the seizure of the town of Enniscorthy, County Wexford. Germany agreed to send an arms shipment to the rebels, but the British had intercepted it just before the Rising began. Volunteer leader Eoin MacNeill had then issued a countermand in a bid to halt the Rising, which greatly reduced the number of rebels who mobilised.
With much greater numbers and heavier weapons, the British Army suppressed the Rising. Pearse agreed to an unconditional surrender on Saturday 29 April, although sporadic fighting continued until Sunday, when word reached the other rebel positions. After the surrender the country remained under martial law. About 3,500 people were taken prisoner by the British, many of whom had played no part in the Rising, and 1,800 of them were sent to internment camps or prisons in Britain. Most of the leaders of the Rising were executed following courts-martial.
The Rising brought armed-bvresistance republicanism back to dominate Irish politics, which for nearly 50 years had been mainly democratic constitutional nationalism. The Rising itself was not popularly supported, but the British reaction to it led to vastly increased popular support for Irish independence. In December 1918, republicans, represented by the reconstituted Sinn Féin party, won a landslide victory in the general election to the British Parliament. They did not take their seats, but instead convened the First Dáil and declared the independence of the Irish Republic, which led to the War of Independence.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
The Milk Run
Ironing
Lunch
Sleep catchup
Missus Time
Twitter Followers = 2,192 (up 8)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 1-Followed unfollowers eliminated = 3@jasonsentell, @veradriane, @Tex_n_SingaporeNew Followers followed back = 0-Spammers not followed back = 11
@iamtracy926fgq, @uhwhunyBunn85, @awredblade79EZ, @niconniiieeZy, @YxheliumginEs, @dXbutt5tuffKF, @buelohir1E, @Snsturzynskif5 @PMM_band, @1001ptsUK, @PhoenixPits, @LiveTreeHQ, @intopraxis
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONThe last 24 hours have been a string of events that have had no significant impact but I would have preferred not to occur. These include early waking, urine boners, no rapport with colleagues and a fall-out with a supervisor at the Weekend Job, and losing some worthy tweeps and gaining a whole host of useless ones. Fortunately, these things are not affecting me as they would have done in previous years.
These days, I'm far too single-minded and determined to be distracted just because unpreferred events occur. My mind still wanders into dark places but soon gets pulled back again from these "daymares" and I don't overthink things. With the core of my life untouched, I simply continue to plough my chosen furrow, somewhat chuffed at my more robust nature.
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
How do you react to adverse circumstances?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Dry, cloudy, cold wind
Details
Moon
Weathertrack
Air Pressure
1020 millibars and falling slightly
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I’m right 97% of the time…who cares about the other 4% :D
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Victoria Wood - Menopause and Health Food Shops Live at the Albert 2001
8. TRIVIA
On average, female babies spend a day longer in the womb than male babies. White babies, on average, spend five days longer inside their mothers than black babies, while Indian babies spend six days longer in the womb than white babies.
9. ZEN WISDOM
It is important to keep the promises made to friends. This is the true meaning of friendship. To become people who can do so, however, we must first learn to keep the promises we have made to ourselves.
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 HISTORY22nd April 1915: The first of poison gas as a killing agent
By 22 April 1915, the German Army had 168 tons of chlorine deployed in 5,730 cylinders from Langemark–Poelkapelle, north of Ypres. At 17:30, in a slight easterly breeze, the gas was released, forming a gray-green cloud that drifted across positions held by French Colonial troops from Martinique who broke ranks, abandoning their trenches and creating an 8,000-yard (7 km) gap in the Allied line.
However, the German infantry were also wary of the gas and, lacking reinforcements, failed to exploit the break before the 1st Canadian Division and assorted French troops reformed the line in scattered, hastily prepared positions 1,000–3,000 yards (910–2,740 m) apart. The Allied governments quickly claimed the attack was a flagrant violation of international law but Germany argued that the Hague treaty had only banned chemical shells, rather than the use of gas projectors.
In what became the Second Battle of Ypres, the Germans used gas on three more occasions; on 24 April against the 1st Canadian Division, on 2 May near Mouse Trap Farm and on 5 May against the British at Hill 60. The British Official History stated that at Hill 60, "90 men died from gas poisoning in the trenches or before they could be got to a dressing station; of the 207 brought to the nearest dressing stations, 46 died almost immediately and 12 after long suffering."
The use of chemical weapons did not produce the hoped-for breakthrough for any army in World War I, despite frequent use thereafter - it only served to increase the suffering of the ordinary soldier. Over time, as new chemicals were used, each army developed countermeasures and produced the same gas themselves.
The horrific effects of chemical weapons and their lack of combat effectiveness were one of the few lessons of World War I remembered from the start in World War 2. No army, though having stockpiles, ever used it.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Business promotional work
Meditation
Me Time
Shift 1 of the Weekend Job
Missus Time
Twitter Followers = 2,184 (up 10)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 1@TitanSiegeMMOFollowed unfollowers eliminated = 0-New Followers followed back = 7@taylormade2k, @Connect_Online, @LarryFranky, @Report_Living, @jumaf3, @dominate2day,
@DudaprincDudaSpammers not followed back = 4@jiEvanRossTV, @stararoxmts, @FpHarryKnutsac, @p0LyrahaniLw
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONIt's only looking back on it that I realized I achieved everything I wanted to achieve yesterday - everything from identifying a dodgy app on my Kindle Fire to client follow up to mowing the lawn. With myself I am well-pleased!
With Son away, there is a certain associated convenience and freedom! With him now being an adult, as well as we get on, both he and I value our own space and a week away where neither of us have to worry about each other's sensitivities will do us both good. That said, when he is at home, we have settled into a routine where we each get a fair turn at the available facilities, and only competition for the bathroom causes the odd inconvenience. When he does finally depart, I am certain it will be on the best terms.
I never cease to be fascinated how I have had the polar opposite extremes in my experience as a parent. How can the same person evoke the exact opposite feelings in his children when I have treated them the same? With nurture being equal, it must be nature! The children are a microcosm of my life experience in general - I have experienced all sides of everything. I feel like my particular viewpoint is at the fulcrum of the universe.
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Is it you or is it them?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Dry, cloudy, cool
Moon
Weathertrack
Air Pressure
1026 millibars and falling slightly
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Just back from the optician's and he says I'm colour blind - that came as a real bolt out of the green.
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
RIP Victoria Wood - the wonderful Two Soups sketch
8. TRIVIA
The first feature film created solely with Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) was Toy Story (1995). Over 800,000 hours of mathematical equations went into the film, which works out to more than a week of computer time for every second on the screen.
9. ZEN WISDOM
Just as a diamond can only be polished by another diamond, it is only through genuine, all-out engagement with others that people can polish their character, and help each other to reach greater heights.
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 HISTORY21st April 1836: The Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texan War of Independence. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army in a battle that lasted just 18 minutes.
The Texans, sneaking through the long grass, launched a surprise attack on the Mexican positions. Aware of the events at the Alamo and Goliad, where Texan garrisons were wiped out, the Texan attack was ferocious. The Mexicans were thrown into panic and confusion. Within 18 minutes the Mexicans were routed and a slaughter of the retreating troops took place over several hours. Eventually, 650 Mexicans were killed for the loss of just 11 Texans.
Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, was captured and surrendered the following day and held as a prisoner of war. Three weeks later, he signed the peace treaty compelling the Mexican army leave the region, paving the way for the Republic of Texas to become an independent country. These treaties did not specifically recognize Texas as a sovereign nation, but stipulated that Santa Anna was to lobby for such recognition in Mexico City. Sam Houston became a national celebrity, and the Texans' rallying cries from events of the war, "Remember the Alamo!" became etched into Texan history and legend.
The Battle itself did not involve the main Mexican force under Filisola, but Santa Anna, in fear of his life, ordered this army to retreat to San Antonio. The following Spring rains, disease and shortages of food took its toll on this army and it retreated across the Rio Grande, never to return. Texan independence was now secure.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Client follow-up
Gardening
Business promotional work
Meditation
Me Time
Supper
Quality Missus Time
Twitter Followers = 2,174 (up 5)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 1@HThappsFollowed unfollowers eliminated = 1@techiefairyNew Followers followed back = 4@marshawright, @MarshalArtsYin, @IAmMattCollins, @FX_DigitalSpammers not followed back = 3@thiHeatho22, @ztsanjirou3Ez, @TitanSiegeMMO
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONThursday has of late been the easiest-going day of the week, although it's not 100% beer-and-skittles - there's still stuff to do, but the deadlines aren't tight and it's all easy stuff. Though gardening (which in my case is just cutting stuff down) is not my favourite thing, it's good for both mind and body and I'll be better for it.
I was NOT pleased to discover adware is intrinsic even to the legitimate apps on my Kindle Fire, but it's something I can live with. In time I may even learn how to block it!
On the business front, I have recognized that the web is now accessed by smartphones and tablets, so it's this smartphone generation I must appeal to. This is one reason I invested in a Kindle Fire, the other being to fill the gap between laptop and "dumb" phone. However, for me, I much prefer the cosy cuddly world of the laptop - more powerful bigger screen, nice chunky keyboard and NO GODDAM ADWARE!!
What's particularly blissful is that all this my consciousness simply observes and shares - it doesn't run round and round in my mind - I let intuition do all the decision-making, I simply obey it and enjoy the movie. I consequently feel that I'm truly experiencing life rather than being lost in it.
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you living life or is it simply happening to you?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Dry, sunny in the morning, some cloud thereafter
Details
Moon
Weathertrack
Air Pressure
1028 millibars and falling slightly
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Forget Tinder. My friend met her b/f at an Arthritis Support meeting. She knew he was the one - they just clicked. :D
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Whitney Cummings - skills for living
8. TRIVIA
There is no evidence for what Shakespeare did between 1585 and 1592, the period when he moved to London and began his writing career. Thus, there is no record of how his career began or how quickly he rose to fame.
9. ZEN WISDOM
Those who always have a sense of appreciation and gratitude never reach an impasse in life.
