Wednesday 31 October 2012

HALLOWE'EN, WEDNESDAY 31st OCTOBER 2012 07:13 GMT

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1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (31st OCTOBER 1942)

On the Russian Front... At Stalingrad, taking advantage of the German pause, the Soviet 45th Rifle Division counterattacks round the Red October factory.

In Egypt... The Germans counterattack on the coastal sector at El Alamein but fail to recover ground.

In Papua New Guinea... The Australian 16th Infantry Brigade and 25th Infantry Brigade slowly advancing on the Kokoda Track.

In the Atlantic... British vessel Tasmania sunk by U-103. British vessel Marylyn sunk by U-174.

In the Arctic... Soviet submarine L-20 conducts minelaying operations off Norway.

In the Indian Ocean... British vessels Empire Guidon and Reynoldssunk by U-504. British vessel Aldington Court sunk by U-172.

Today's Air Raids...
Essen and Emden, Germany by RAF Bomber Command
Canterbury, England by the Luftwaffe
Northern France raids by RAF Fighter command, particularly on power stations.
North Sea minelaying by RAF Bomber Command
Gona, Papua New Guinea by US 5th Air Force
Rabaul, New Britain by US 5th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging first thing. Using the day intuitively, but it will involve me time, missus time and online marketing.

  Twitter Followers = 1,577 (up 2)
    Nonfollowed Eliminated = 0
    Unfollwers Eliminated = 0

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
After some fakery was needed the night before, yesterday afternoon's "encounter" was fine, and male ego puffed right back up again! I concluded that so long as I'm realistic about timing, I can just enjoy meeting missus needs. In any case, with Son returning, I have a "day off" today!

Son is going through the typical highs and lows of a teenager, and is frequently frustrated (in every sense) as his superior insight and maturity isolates him from his peers. His relationship with his band-members is stormy and ultimately doomed, due to cross-purposes. They are along for "the ride" and Son wants to be a career musician.

I am in the priviledged role of supporting him, which essentially involves just being there for him, listening and the odd light-touch guidance, as he does through all his learning experiences. I take great general pride in my relationship with Son and missus and the difference I make. They alone make my life a worthwhile success, but I shall continue to make a difference everywhere else that I can as well.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What difference are you making to others?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Rain all day, evening and overnight.
Wind will be strong and southerly, veering southwesterly and easing overnight.
Max Temp = 9 degC
Min Temp = 7 degC
Sunrise: 07.06
Sunset: 16.34
Jetstream: Over Scotland and South-Westerly

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
The worst thing about having more money than sense is probably the fact I don't have very much money. : D

7. THE BEST OF MOCK THE WEEK
Series 10 Unlikely Things To Hear in a Restaurant

8. HALLOWEEN TRIVIA
In World War I, there was a haunted U-Boat. UB-65 seemed cursed from construction in 1916 to destruction in 1918.  The building of the ship was plagued by disaster, including the asphyxiation of three crew members by diesel fumes in the engine room and the crushing of two more by a falling girder. While the UB-65 was being tested for seaworthiness, one of the crew members was swept overboard when he was inspecting the hatches. He was never seen again.

During the first test dive of the UB-65, a fracture occurred in a ballast tank, causing the submarine to sink to the bottom of the sea. The crew lacked any means of renewing the oxygen in the vessel and after 12 hours the crew finally managed to raise the submarine to the surface of the ocean. These incidents led to a belief among the crew that the ship was cursed.

But most chilling of all was the ghost. Second officer Lieutenant Richter was killed when a torpedo exploded spontaneously. Thereafter his ghost was often seen standing and staring impassively with his arms folded. Eventually no one wanted to board or be stationed on the ship, so the German Navy called a priest on board to exorcise the ship.

Thereafter things seemed to settle down. On six patrols she sank 6 merchant ships and British sloop HMS Arbutus. But the ship had one last deadly card to play. On 14th July 1918, US submarine L-2 spotted UB-65 and moved in to engage it. Before it could do so, UB-65 suddenly exploded. There were no survivors. The cause of the explosion was never identified.

9. THE WISDOM I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHERS
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." — EPICTETUS



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