THURSDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2014 07:18 GMT

NEW BOOK AVAILABLE NOW!! - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

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1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (20th February 1944)
In Norway...
The Norwegian Resistance sinks ferry Hydro on Lake Tinnsjo, which was  carrying a German cargo of heavy water for atomic weapons research. This loss effectively ends any further progress on developing a Nazi atomic weapon. 

In Italy...
German 1st Fallschirmjaeger Division begins moving into positions on Monte Cassino
German 14th Army ends unsuccessful major attacks against US VI Corps in Anzio beachhead, thwarted mainly by American air superiority.

In the Mediterranean...
RN LST-348 is sunk by U-410
RN LST-305 is sunk by U-230 

In the Atlantic...
RN destroyer Warwick is sunk by U-413 
RN sloop Woodpecker is heavily damaged by U-256 and subsequently sinks

In the Pacific...
Japanese defenders continue to resist US 106th Infantry Regiment and Marine battalion on Eniwetok Island

New Zealand 3rd Infantry Division eliminates remaining pockets of Japanese resistance and secures Nissan Island

Japanese vessels Nanyo Maru and Taijin Maru are sunk by USN submarine Pogy 

In Burma...
In the Arakan, Sinzweya Admin Box continues to hold out against Japanese attack 

Today's Air Raids...
Helsinki, Finland by Soviet aircraft

Operation Argument: US 8th Air Force initiates "Big Week" by sending more than 1000 heavy bombers into action over Germany with more than 800 fighter escorts.
Today's Targets:
Leipzig, Oschersleben, Brunswick, Tutow Air Base, and targets of opportunity - The Luftwaffe loses an unsustainable 94 fighters.

Stuttgart, Germany by RAF Bomber Command
Haamstede Air Base, Netherlands by US 9th Air Force
Netherlands Luftwaffe airfields by RAF Bomber Command
V-Weapons sites, Northern France by RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force
North Sea minelaying by RAF Bomber Command
London by the Luftwaffe
Jaluit Atoll by USN aircraft from Task Group 58.1
Wotje Atoll and Mille Atoll by US 7th Air Force
Alexishafen, New Guinea by US 5th Air Force
Rabaul, New Britain by US 13th Air Force
New Ireland offshore shipping by US 5th Air Force
Ceram Island by US 5th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Me Time/Meditation
Online marketing/promotion
Supper with Missus
Bradford Beerfest with Son

Twitter Followers = 1,713 (no change)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 0
Unfollowers eliminated = 0
New followers = 0 

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
I don't think I've been so clear in my mind what my life is for, where I want to go and what I want to do. Everything I do however small, I see the difference it is making. This clarity about who I am and what I am for enables me to enjoy perpetual peace of mind!  

However I am not naive and I am aware of my frailties. I am currently enjoying the absence of external threat, a rare privilege indeed. But if/when I am thrown into struggle, I believe I have the grounding and focus to find fulfilment even in that. In the meantime I simply express profound gratitude for these currently benign circumstances.

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU 
Are you leading a fulfilling life? If not, what are you doing to make that happen?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Blustery showers throughout the day, heavy at times. Showers will clear in the late afternoon and it will be dry with clear periods thereafter
An initially strong south-easterly will gradually ease to moderate by evening
Max Temp = 9 degC
Min Temp = 3 degC
Sunrise at 07:17
Sunset at 17:26

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
The Lottery is a tax on people who are bad at maths  : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Did a Coronation Street star once make Christine Bleakley remove all the red M&Ms from a bowl for him?  

8. TRIVIA
Things found in bear stomachs include snowmobile seats, engine oil, and rubber boots

9. ZEN WISDOM
Hope is invincible. Hope changes everything. It changes winter into summer, darkness into dawn, descent into ascent, barrenness into creativity, agony into joy. Hope is the sun. It is light. It is passion. It is the fundamental force for life’s blossoming.