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Born in Birmingham, England, U.K., Natalie Wood began working in journalism a month before the outbreak of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
She remained in regional Jewish journalism for more than 20 years, leaving full-time writing to help run a family business and then completed a range of general office work.
Natalie Wood and her husband, Brian Fink emigrated from Manchester to Israel in March 2010 and live in Karmiel, Galilee where she continues to work from home, concentrating on creative writing.
Natalie Wood features in Smith Magazine's new Six Word Memoirs On Jewish Life. She also contributes to Technorati, Blogcritics and Live Encounters magazine.
Read Natalie Wood's stories at http://wwwperfectlywritefamilytales.blogspot.com and her general journalism at http://wwwalwayswriteagain.blogspot.com.
© Natalie Wood


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Top 11 tips for entrepreneurs.
Since my house-painting business in my teens to my Clocktower Law days, I've been building startups and advising startups. Here's a smattering of what I've learned.
11. Quit your day job.
It matters that you commit to your startup 100%. Just like you can't be half pregnant, you can't be half of an entrepreneur.
10. Get a real office.
When you work at home or in a rent-a-cubicle space, it is too easy to quit your startup. Sign a lease, make it real, have some skin in the game. Your customers will also appreciate that you are committed and not going away.
9. Be prepared to lose money.
When I launched Clocktower Law in 2001 (after not having practiced law for 6+ years while chasing the Internet 1.0), my MIT serial entrepreneur friends advised me to be prepared to lose money for 9 months. In today's economy, I think budgeting for 12 months of losses is more prudent.
8. Don't worry about what you can't control.
Recessions have happened. They will happen again. Don't worry about the global economy, global warming, or the global war on terror. Focus on what you can control: your attitude, your effort, your choices.
7. Change before you have to.
OK, I stole this one from GE legend Jack Welch. But it's great advice. When you have cash in the bank and don't need to borrow money, borrow money using cash as collateral. The worst time to borrow money is when you need it. The worst time to change your business is when a competitor forces you to. And by the way, steal great ideas from others.
6. Don't fall in love with your idea.
Ideas are a dime a dozen. It's execution that matters. Great execution of a good idea beats good execution of a great idea every day of the week. Examples: pet rock, Facebook, FailBlog.com. I know far too many PhDs who think that life (in general, and startup life, in particular) is or should be a meritocracy. It's not. If it were, then all the PhDs would be CEOs. As one Internet (capital "I" in my book) meme famously says, "The dream is free. The hustle is sold separately."
5. Don't fall in love with patents.
Even if you have a great product, you don't necessarily have something you can patent. Don't waste your money on patents unless you have both (1) a product that is better/faster/stronger than the competition and (2) the product has a feature/benefit that is new to you (not just in your market but across all markets). And don't be a patent troll, that's not what the patent laws are for.
4. Don't fall in love with your brand.
Every startup loves their name. Many fail to vet the domain and end up on the receiving end of C&D letters from trademark owners. Do a solid trademark search, pick a solid name (one you can get both in the real world and in the online world), and move on. It's way less expensive to change your name in month #1 than it is in month #12. And don't be a trademark bully or a cybersquatter, that's not what trademark laws are for.
3. One board at a time.
One of my more satisfying non-startup projects, which turns out to be a good analogy for startups, is the treehouse I built with my kids. (See "The Perfect Treehouse" for more info.) I had little prior building experience and had to figure things out as I went. The result was 13 feet off the ground, 2 stories high, and full of good memories. When friends saw the epic treehouse, they asked how I built it. The answer is simple: "One board at a time." The same is true for startups. Be patient, know your goals (think "begin with the end in mind" to borrow from the excellent "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" book), and take it one board at a time.
2. Just be yourself and you'll be fine.
This is some of the best advice one of my mentors ever gave me. I realized that I didn't have to limit my blogging to patent and trademark law (which, in general, are very boring topics), and suddenly had the leading blog on technology, law, baseball, and rock 'n' roll! I realized that if I always told the truth, even if it was bad news, then I would never have to worry about an alibi. Today, one of the things I enjoy hearing when I meet people for the first time is, "Wow, you sound in person exactly like you sound on your website!" To which I reply, "Yes, that's because none of that is fake!"
1. Get plants.
There will be times when you have done everything you can and you still have no customers. And you will not want to go to the office you have rented. The key to success, as my mentor told me, is not necessarily being in the right place at the right time. The key to success is being. There will be days the only thing you have to do at the office is water the plants.
Erik J. Heels is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Boston-based patent and trademark law firm Clocktower Law. As an entrepreneur, his successful exits include the Heels.com shoe store (sold to Erik's co-founder in 2008), Verio (acquired by NTT for $6 billion in 2000), and his book "The Legal List" (publishing rights sold to Lawyers Cooperative Publishing in 1995). As a lawyer, his clients' successful exits include KAYAK (kayak.com, acquired by Priceline for $2.1 billion in 2013), CloudSwitch (cloudswitch.com, acquired by Verizon in 2011), and Right Media (rightmedia.com, acquired by Yahoo! for $850 million in 2007).

subset: commoncrawl


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Here you will find the Poem Winter Heavens of poet George Meredith
Sharp is the night, but stars with frost alive Leap off the rim of earth across the dome. It is a night to make the heavens our home More than the nest whereto apace we strive. Lengths down our road each fir-tree seems a hive, In swarms outrushing from the golden comb. They waken waves of thoughts that burst to foam: The living throb in me, the dead revive. Yon mantle clothes us: there, past mortal breath, Life glistens on the river of the death. It folds us, flesh and dust; and have we knelt, Or never knelt, or eyed as kine the springs Of radiance, the radiance enrings: And this is the soul's haven to have felt.


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And here is a round-up of this week's Green numbers…
Vice President Biden Announces Six Year Plan to Build National High-Speed Rail Network
Vice President Joe Biden today announced a comprehensive plan that will help the nation reach President Obama?s goal of giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years, as outlined in his State of the Union address. The proposal will place high-speed rail on equal footing with other surface transportation programs and revitalize America?s domestic rail manufacturing industry by dedicating $53 billion over six years to continue construction of a national high-speed and intercity passenger rail network.
As a part of President Obama?s commitment to winning the future by rebuilding America?s roadways, railways and runways, the plan will lay a new foundation for the nation?s
Energy and Carbon Software Market Poised for 300% Growth; Sector Leaders Named
The market for enterprise energy and carbon accounting (EECA) software grew 400 percent during 2010 and is forecast to grow another 300 percent this year, according to research by efficiency system provider Groom Energy Solutions.
The research found that more than 200 large corporations ? including Arch Coal, Bayer, RJ Reynolds, Safeway and Wyndham Hotels ? bought EECA software in 2010.
The report names ten companies as EECA leaders for 2011. They are
The US fears that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, may not have enough reserves to prevent oil prices escalating, confidential cables from its embassy in Riyadh show.
The cables, released by WikiLeaks, urge Washington to take seriously a warning from a senior Saudi government oil executive that the kingdom's crude oil reserves may have been overstated by as much as 300bn barrels ? nearly 40%.
The revelation comes as the oil price has soared in recent weeks to more than $100 a barrel on global demand and
Bridgelux Raises $20M For LEDs
LED chip and array maker Bridgelux raised close to $50 million just a year ago, but is raising even more money, according to a filing. The nine-year-old venture-backed startup which is looking to do for lighting what Silicon Valley has done for communications and entertainment ? make it digital ? has raised $20.74 million of a planned $21 million round.
The company opened a factory in California and was making an effort to scale up its production last year, so
British windfarms blow Vestas towards 25% profit rise
Strong demand from British windfarms helped the world's biggest turbine manufacturer, Vestas, raise profits by 25% over the past year and have boosted future prospects.
UK equipment deliveries totalled 530MW ? a leap from 120MW over the previous year ? helped in particular by shipments for the 300MW Thanet windfarm, which is currently the largest offshore windfarm ever built.
Shares in Vestas soared 5% as the Danish-based group reported
Vodafone [Ireland] embarks on green drive to cut paper bills by 70%
Ireland?s largest mobile operator Vodafone has asked customers to opt to switch to paperless billing as part of its drive to cut down on paper by 70%. The move, it says, will be equal to saving 5,000 trees and 500 tonnes of CO2.
The company today launched its paperless billing campaign ?Goodbye Paper Bills, Hello Trees? and calls on Vodafone customers to make the switch to paperless billing.
EMC? Cork plant cuts energy use by 20% after ?radical? retrofit
EMC?, which employs 1,650 people at its Ovens site, undertook a full retrofit project to implement energy saving technologies at the information technology and data centre site, using free cooling technology systems.
The ?2.5 million project, which was designed and managed by consulting engineering company Arup, will achieve annual electricity savings of 13 million kilowatt hours and an annual carbon emission reduction of 7,000 tonnes.
Hopes of 30% cut in greenhouse emissions dashed
The UK government's plan to push Europe to deeper cuts on greenhouse gas emissions has been dashed by the EU's energy chief.
G?nther Oettinger, the EU's energy commissioner, dealt a heavy blow to the hopes of several member states that have been pressing for a target of slashing emissions by 30% by 2020, against the current 20%.
He said the tougher target would force industries to ….
China bids to ease drought with $1bn emergency water aid
China has announced a billion dollars in emergency water aid to ease its most severe drought in 60 years, as the United Nations warned of a threat to the harvest of the world's biggest wheat producer.
Beijing has also promised to use its grain reserves to reduce the pressure on global food prices, which have surged in the past year to record highs due to the floods in Australia and a protracted dry spell in Russia.
The desperate measures were evident at
Obama Admin: 1M Electric Vehicles by 2015 Still On Course
President Obama?s plan to put 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 was reaffirmed on Tuesday.
A new report issued by the Department of Energy outlines a strategy for achieving that goal, which Obama announced in his State of the Union address last month. David Sandalow, the Energy Department?s Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, said the goal can be reached if the proper steps are taken.
?To succeed in meeting the President?s goal, we?ll need …
Ocean energy could create 70,000 jobs [in Ireland] ? Bord G?is
Bord G?is have claimed that the ocean energy industry could create up to 70,000 jobs and be worth ?120bn to the Irish economy.
In a speech to the Ocean Energy Industry Forum 2011 today, Bord G?is CEO John Mullins outlined his concern that ?not enough investment and planning is being put into developing Ireland?s ocean energy resources,? however.
You should follow me on Twitter here
Photo credit house of bamboo


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Our local Audenshaw locksmiths are trained to know the most secure options for domestic and commercial properties. We can install and fit door chains, internal door locks, and spy holes to doors, to increase security, especially for the elderly and vulnerable. For Audenshaw commercial premises, we can install door bolts, combination locks and change manual shutter lock barrels. For all our Audenshaw customers, we can change door and window handles. All locks supplied come with 2 keys; however, more can be supplied on request, for a small fee.
Want to speak to an expert?
Call: 0344 947 0954
Oval Locks
These are very similar to Euro cylinders, except where the Euro is shaped like an oversized key hole, the Oval lock is contained within an oval lock housing.
Calls made will not be charged


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Maine-Anjou Cattle
The Maine-Anjou breed originated in the northwestern part of France. This area is excellent for beef production as it has both grassland and tillable land.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the cattle in this region were large, well-muscled
animals with light red coats spotted with white. These cattle were known as he Mancelle
breed. In addition to their size and muscling, the Mancelle had a reputation for their
easy fattening. Leclere -Thouin, an agriculturalist, wrote in 1843 that on the community
pastures of the Auge Valley, the Mancelle "were the last to be put onto the grass,
but were the first to be picked out to go to the markets in the capital city".
In 1839 the Count de Falloux, a landowner, imported Durham cattle from England and crossed them with the Mancelle. The cross was extremely successful, and by 1850 Durham-Mancelle animals were winning championships at the French agricultural fairs. In 1908 the Society of Durham-Mancelle Breeders was formed at Chateau-Gontier in the Mayenne district. In 1909 the name was changed to the Society of Maine-Anjou Cattle breeders, taking the name from the Maine and Anjou river valleys.
The Society has worked steadily for the improvement of the breed. Breeders of the cattle were mostly small farmers whose goal was to maximize income from their small area of land. For this reason, the Maine-Anjou evolved as a dual-purpose breed, with the cows used for milk production and the bull calves fed for market. It is still common on many farms to find Maine-Anjou being milked. In many herds, half the cows are milked and the other half raise two calves each.
The Maine-Anjou is one of the larger breeds developed in France, with mature bulls weighing from 2200 to 3100 pounds on the average. Mature cows will range from 1500 to 1900 pounds. The coloring is a very dark red with white markings on the head, belly, rear legs and tail. White on other parts of the body is also common.
The first Maine-Anjou imported into North America came to Canada in 1969. These cattle were then introduced to the United States through artificial insemination.
The Maine-Anjou Society Inc. was incorporated in Nebraska in 1969 and included both American and Canadian members. In 1971 the name was changed to the International Maine-Anjou Association and headquarters were set up in the Livestock Exchange Building in Kansas City, Missouri. The name was changed In 1976 to the American Maine-Anjou Association.
American Maine-Anjou Association, 204 Marshall Road, PO Box 1100, Platte City MO, 64079-1100


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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Brady Quinn is preparing to start his first NFL game since the 2009 season when the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
The Chiefs are expected to be without quarterback Matt Cassel, who sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's 9-6 loss to Baltimore. Quinn finished out the game.
Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said Wednesday that Cassel has not been cleared to play by medical staff and that Quinn, whom he coached with the Cleveland Browns, would be taking snaps with the first team in practice. Ricky Stanzi would serve as the backup.
Quinn is a former first-round draft pick out of Notre Dame who has started just 12 games over the past four-plus seasons due to injuries and ineffectiveness.


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Mobile Developer Bootcamp for Manchester, New Hampshire
2-course track: $2,400 3-course track: $3,600
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Call us today to set up a free demonstration of our on-demand platform. We know that you will see the benefits of our self-paced training platform.


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(Redirected from PARTIES TO ACTION.)Jewish jurisprudence, both in Biblical and in Talmudic times, attached the greatest importance to the laws of property and to their faithful administration by the judges. In regard to the manner of conducting civil suits the Pentateuch contains very few hints. But in Deut. i. 16 the judges are told, "Hear . . . between your brethren"; and Deut. xix. 17 declares, "Both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord." These and other passages support the Talmudic rule that judgment can be pronounced only against a defendant who has appeared; there is no such thing as "judgment by default"—condemnation of the accused because he has not appeared before the court to make defense. This seems in modern times a great defect in procedure, leading to much needless friction; but less than a hundred years ago the English court of chancery had the same disadvantage to contend with: it acquired jurisdiction over the defendant only by his answer, and the latter was compelled to answer the complainant's bill, even though he had nothing to say in defense. But an exception to this rule has been shown under the head of Foreign Attachment—proceedings by a bond creditor against the property of an absent defendant, an innovation arising from the necessities of a later age. In fact, the Talmud suggests (B. Ḳ. 112b) that at least upon bonds and in action for the recovery of deposits there should be judgment and execution without appearance. However, there could not well be a judgment by default, as there was no written complaint.
Job's wish (xxxi. 35), "Oh that . . . mine adversary had written a book"—meaning a "libellus" or formal complaint—indicates that in his day there were written pleadings. But in the procedure known to the Talmud the allegations of plaintiff and defendant are made by word of mouth in the presence of the judges, and are recorded by the clerk, much as were the pleadings in the Anglo-Norman courts in the days of the Plantagenets. The codes deduce from the Mishnah the rule that no written pleadings can be required: "All judicial writings may be written only in the presence of both parties, both to pay the fees of the writers; R. Simeon ben Gamaliel declared that two copies should be made, one for each" (B B. x. 4). For the choice of the court which shall try a civil case see Jurisdiction.
Sittings of Court.As to the time of holding court, the ordinance of Ezra, which appoints Monday and Thursday for that purpose, was recognized by the Mishnah (Ket. i. 1) and by the Gemara (B. Ḳ. 112b, 113a); but the custom has long since fallen into disuse. The courts should not sit on Sabbaths or during festivals (Beẓah iv. 1); for, as the Talmud explains, there would be temptation to write; but if the court does sit and pronounce a judgment, it is binding (Shulḥan 'Aruk, Ḥoshen Mishpaṭ, 5, 1). The rule not to begin a session in the afternoon is made in order that the afternoon prayer should not be neglected by judges and others concerned (Shab. 9b); but if the cause is taken up in the forenoon it may proceed not only during the afternoon, but after nightfall, the judgment then rendered being valid. No one can be compelled to attend a civil trial in the month of Nisan, on account of the (barley) harvest, nor in Tishri, on account of the vintage; and a summons may not be served on Friday or on the eve of a festival (B. Ḳ. 113a). The vacations in Nisan and Tishri were continued in later times, when farming was no longer the occupation of the Jewish people, in order to give litigants leisure to prepare for the festivals.
Cause List.When the proper time comes for hearing causes, the general rule is that the cause first begun should be first heard; but certain classes of plaintiffs are privileged. Thus, according to Ḥoshen Mishpaṭ, 15, 1, seemingly based on a remark of the Talmud (Shebu. 30), the suit of a scholar, though begun later than that of another, should have priority. This is denied by some authorities; but the suit of an orphan must always be heard first; next, that of a widow (following Isa. i. 17—"judge the fatherless, plead for the widow"); and a woman's cause must be heard before that of a man (Ḥoshen Mishpaṭ, 15, 2).
The place always mentioned by the Bible in connection with the hearing of civil causes is the city gate—the wide space left in the broad city wall at the entrance to the town. The gate as a place of trial is not mentioned in the Mishnah, but the Palestinian Talmud mentions the sittings of a court at the gate of Cæsarea. Not much space was needed for civil trials, and they generally came to be held in the house of the rabbi sitting as principal judge. However, there have been Jewish "town halls," such as the "Jüdisches Rathhaus" in Prague, in very recent times.
Days of Court.The first written document issued in a civil suit is the summons ("hazmanah" = "time-fixing"), which is obtained, upon the verbal application of the plaintiff, from the ordinary judges and is signed by them or by one of them. It is served on the defendant by the "messenger of the court" (see B. Ḳ. 112b, where it is said that, issued on Tuesday and served on Wednesday, the court may fix the time of trial for Thursday of the same week). The messenger reports the fact of service, or that the defendant has avoided the service.
According to B. Ḳ. 112b, the messenger is accredited for the purpose of pronouncing the ban, but not for the purpose of delivering the "petiḥah," that is, the formal document of excommunication, which can be made out only upon further proceedings showing the defendant's contumacy (see Contempt of Court).
If the defendant, when first brought into court, desires time to gain a better understanding of his case, or to await an absent witness, or if he asks for time in which to raise by private sale the means of paying the debt, the Talmud (l.c.) permits him a delay of as much as ninety days. In the Talmudic age the Jews were farmers. The modern rule, adapted to a trading people, is less liberal; the Ḥoshen Mishpaṭ (16, 1) will not allow more than thirty days, even when a material witness is absent; it argues that if defendant's witness should appear after judgment it is open to the defendant to bring suit to vacate the judgment and to recover what he has been unjustly compelled to pay.
In Person or by Attorney.In general, both parties should appear in person to carry on their pleadings. The reason is that each may thus be restrained by a sense of shame from denying the true allegations of his opponent, or from asserting what both parties know to be untrue. Yet where a demand belongs to several persons jointly (e.g., to the several heirs of a creditor), in the nature of things one must speak for all (see Agency, Law of, where an attorneyship ["harsha'ah"] for the plaintiff was worked out from this consideration). Upon this theory the plaintiff could appoint an attorney only where his demand was assignable, as in an action for the recovery of land, or upon a bonded debt, or on an undisputed deposit. Such, it seems, was the Talmudic rule; but the Geonim extended to almost all cases the right of the plaintiff to plead by attorney (Ḥoshen Mishpaṭ, 123). The defendant, however, could not divide his liability; moreover, with him the temptation to deny his adversary's assertions is stronger; hence he could not plead by attorney. The only concession made to "honored women" and to "scholars" was that the clerks of the court might call on them at their houses, and there take down, in writing, their statements of fact (ib. 124).
Status of Parties.In the nature of things some parties can not plead for themselves. Infants, boys under thirteen or girls under twelve, the deaf and dumb, and lunatics can plead only through a guardian; and it is the duty of the court to appoint a guardian for such, if they have none, whenever they become parties to a suit. Again, the husband is the natural attorney for his wife as to "property of the iron flock," which he has taken possession of and for which he is liable, but not as to "fluid property" ("nikse melug"); yet where land of this kind bears fruit, the husband, being entitled to the latter, can sue for both land and fruit (ib. 122, 8). A part-owner, such as one of several heirs, can sue for himself and his fellows without letter of attorney, and his fellows are bound by a judgment for the defendant, unless they live in another place, in which case the defendant can tell the acting plaintiff, "Either bring a letter of attorney or sue only for thy own share."
Oral Pleadings.The plaintiff whose attorney has lost a case can not avoid the result by showing that he had before the hearing revoked the power of attorney, unless notice of the revocation had been brought home to the court (ib. 3). Both parties being before the judges, they plead in person; the plaintiff sets forth the facts on which his claim is based, and the defendant answers; when the latter introduces new affirmative matter the plaintiff may reply; and there may be a rejoinder. Where either party admits a fact stated by his opponent, the admission, inthe words of the Talmud, is "better than a hundred witnesses." It will be seen that in certain cases a denial can be made, or affirmative matter pleaded, only under oath, Scriptural or rabbinical.
When an issue is raised by mere denial, the proof is made by the evidence of witnesses in the manner described in the article Evidence. The production of deed or bond ("sheṭar"), unless it has been "established" before a court or judge, must be made by the attesting witnesses, though it is said (Giṭ. 3a et al.) that under the Mosaic law an attested deed proves itself (i.e., is presumably genuine), and that the obligation of bringing the witnesses into court is only rabbinical. A "note of hand" ("ketab yad") may be set up by witnesses proving the maker's handwriting.
The very narrow limits within which weight is given to circumstantial evidence has been shown under Evidence, and some of the presumptions which may guide the judges are given under Burden of Proof and in the article Maxims, Legal. To these may be added the maxim "no one pays a debt before it is due" (B. B. 5b; see, for its application, Debts of Decedents). Hence, such a payment can be proved only by the direct testimony of two witnesses: There is a slight presumption that a man does not go to law without having some ground for it; and there are some cases, known as Miggo, in which the defense is favored, because if the defendant had not been a truthful man he could have introduced more plausible arguments. The discretion which the judges enjoy in certain cases, to decide according to the weight of evidence and the probabilities, is known as "the throw of the judges" ("shuda de-dayyane").
Oath as Alternative to Payment.A solemn oath is imposed on the defendant as an alternative to payment in four cases, the first being provided in the Mosaic law itself (Ex. xxii. 8, 9): (1) a proceeding by the owner of chattels against the gratuitous depositary; (2) where the defendant admits the assertion of the plaintiff in part ("modeh be-miḳẓat ḥayyab bi-shebu'ah"; the most common case); (3) where the plaintiff establishes by the testimony of two witnesses his assertion as to part of his demand; (4) where the plaintiff has the testimony of one witness for his assertion. In these cases the court declares to the defendant, "You must either pay or clear yourself by the solemn oath."
The rules as to the oath of the depositary are given in the article Bailments. Here the Mishnah is very explicit:
- (1) In order to justify a sworn denial of a part of a claim, where the other portion thereof is admitted, the amount demanded must be at least equal to two small silver coins each equal to one-sixth of the "denar," and the amount admitted must be at least one "peruṭah." Next, the admission must be of the same kind as the demand; thus, to admit a claim to a peruṭah, which is of copper, is not a partial admission of having two of the plaintiff's silver pieces; but this rule holds good only when the demand is specific, e.g., if a claim is made for the silver coins, not for the sum of money. Where the demand is for two silver pieces and a peruṭah, the peruṭah being admitted, or for a mina, fifty denars being admitted, an oath is due. The claim being "My father has a mina in thy hand," and the answer, " I owe thee fifty denars," no oath is necessary, "for the defendant is like a man who returns lost goods." So where demand is made for a "litra" (in weight) of gold, defendant admitting a litra of silver; for grain, beans or lentils being admitted; for wheat, barley being admitted. In these cases, and in other similar ones, no oath is required.
- (2) The oath is not required in an action for slaves, bonds or deeds, or lands, nor for things consecrated; and land in this connection includes everything belonging to it, even ripe grapes. But when movable property and land are included in the same demand, and the defendant makes denial in regard to part of the movable property, he must swear as to the land also.
- (3) One who confesses a debt in the presence of two witnesses and thereafter denies it in open court is not admitted to swear, being disqualified as a "denier" ().
- (4) The defendant can avoid denying the rest of the demand if he at once pays over or delivers to the plaintiff the part confessed; for then the suit for that part is at an end, and he stands on the same footing as if he denied the whole cause of action.
By some sort of analogy a widow, or divorced wife who has "lessened" her jointure by admitting the receipt of a part thereof, must, to recover the rest, take an oath (Sheb. vii. 7). This position, taken by R. Ḥiyya, is mentioned only in a late baraita (B. M. 3a). An opinion is expressed by some that proving part of the demand by witnesses calls only for the lesser or rabbinical oath in denial of the rest; but later authorities demand here also the "solemn" or Biblical oath (Maimonides, "Yad," Ṭo'en, iii. 10). Proof by one witness, as the Talmud points out (Sheb. 40a), is by the Law declared only insufficient to convict of crime, but not to require an oath for its contradiction in money matters. The third and fourth (see above) occasions for the oath occupy but little space in Talmud and codes, while the "admission of part" covers a large field. In general, the oath is never required in denying the demand of a deaf-mute, of a person of unsound mind, of an infant, or of the Sanctuary; nor where the plaintiff states his grounds of action as being only probably true (), instead of asserting them to be certainly true ().
Oath by Plaintiff.While generally the judicial oath is taken by the defendant to clear him from liability, in a few cases the plaintiff may recover upon his oath (Sheb. v.-vii.): (1) A hired man: Where the amount earned is established by witnesses, and the employer says he has paid it, and the workman denies it, the latter may swear and recover. (2) One who has been robbed: Where witnesses have established that the defendant entered the plaintiff's house to make an unauthorized distraint, and the plaintiff says, "Thou hast taken such an object," but the defendant denies it, the former swears and recovers. (3) One who has been injured: Where witnesses prove that the plaintiff went to the defendant uninjured and left him wounded, the plaintiff swears and recovers. (4) One who is unworthy of belief: A professional dicer (see Evidence) or a flier of pigeons, for instance, cannot, to discharge himself from a liability, take the usual oath. The plaintiff swears and recovers also in other cases in which the defendant may be discharged by oath; but where both are disqualified the defendant takes the oath which the law imposes on him. (5) The shopkeeper as to his tablet: This does not mean that by his mere oath he can make the charges written thereon stand good against his customer; but where the latter has given an order ("Give my son two bushels of wheat"; "Give my laborer change for a 'sela''"), and the shopkeeper, who has the charge on his tablet, says, "I have given it," though the customer denies it—in that case the shopkeeper may, on his oath, recover from the party giving the order. The Mishnah says that both the shopkeeper and the son or laborer should swear; but to this Ben Nannos objects that if they swear against each other there must needs be perjury, and the outcome of the discussion will be obscure (Sheb. 47b). The later authorities, as Maimonides, hold that both the shopkeeper, swearing that he has delivered, and the laborer, swearing that he has not received, can recover from the employing customer.
The Torah knows nothing of an oath to be taken by the plaintiff; yet in most of the cases in which the Mishnah imposes the oath upon him, the solemn or Biblical oath is to be taken. For the necessity of an oath by him who sues the heirs of his debtor, see Debts of Decedents.
The principal occasion for the rabbinical oath ("shebu'at heset") is the assertion, not founded upon an attested bond, of payment of a debt. Where a loan is made or credit is given otherwise than upon the security of such a bond, and there is no stipulation that payment can be made only before witnesses, the debtor may plead payment (), and make his assertion good by the lesser oath. The weight of authority ("Yad," Malweh, xi. 3; Ḥoshen Mishpaṭ, 69, 2) puts the holder of a note of hand in the same position as a creditor by word of mouth only; but some of the late authorities gainsay this opinion.
Where the defendant denies the facts on which his obligation is based (i.e., denies the loan), and these are proved against him by witnesses, he can not thereafter plead an affirmative defense (i.e., that he has paid) and sustain that defense by the rabbinical oath; for not only has he, as a "denier," lost his credibility, but he can not be admitted to prove such a defense by witnesses; for to say, "I have not borrowed," is an admission that he has not paid (B. M. 17a). Where the defendant admits that the plaintiff counted out and handed to him a sum of money, he can clear himself by alleging that it was in payment of a debt due to him (the defendant), taking the rabbinical oath to support the allegation; but if he denies the delivery of the money he will not be permitted to make such a defense, for if none was delivered, there could be neither gift nor payment.
Where either party was admitted to take the oath, and took it, this ordinarily led, as a matter of course, to a decision in favor of that party. But in those civil suits which were decided upon testimony of witnesses or upon written proof, or upon the pleadings and admissions of fact, the true course (Sanh. 30a) is based on the custom of the "pure-minded" at Jerusalem—to remove the parties, their witnesses, and everybody else from the court-room, so that the judges might discuss the case among themselves () and "finish" the matter (i.e., give their judgment). Careful and slow deliberation was recommended by the men of the Great Sanhedrin (Abot i. 1). When judgment is rendered by a majority the judges are forbidden to disclose how the vote was divided. If one of three judges will not give an opinion for either side there is no court, and new judges, two at a time, should be cooptated until a majority declares for one of the parties. If a majority can not be obtained judgment is rendered in favor of the defendant. (For the corresponding rule in criminal cases see Acquittal.) The judgment need not be made out in writing, unless the successful party demands a transcript.
The Gemara quotes approvingly the saying, "Let the judgment pierce the mount" (Sanh. 6a, b)—a saying paralleling the familiar "Fiat justitia, ruat cœlum"; that is, the judges can not "split" the matter in controversy, but must act upon the law that fits the case, no matter how much hardship will be entailed, for to decide correctly is a duty laid upon them by the Torah: "They shall judge the people with just judgment," and "The judgment is God's" (Deut. xvi. 18, i. 17). Yet a "splitting" is highly recommended when it occurs as a compromise ("pesharah") between the parties, and the judges should advise such a course, for thus only will they fulfil the words of Zechariah the prophet (viii. 16): "Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates." But in later times, when in the countries of the Dispersion it became increasingly difficult for the Rabbis to enforce their decrees against unwilling litigants, their efforts were directed more and more toward inducing the disputants to agree among themselves, and skill in bringing about a compromise before giving a decision on the law of the case was deemed the highest qualification of the rabbi or dayyan (Ḥoshen Mishpaṭ, 12, 2). The compromise made before the judges is like any other contract, and becomes binding only when the formalities are complied with which change the title to property. See Alienation and Acquisition; Execution; Judge; Set-Off.
- Bloch, Die Civilprozess-Ordnung nach Mosaisch-Rabbinischem Rechte, pp. 24-27; the codes cited in the text of the article.


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Local government agencies are concerned by the lack of cybersecurity awareness among government employees and end users. This was a shocking discovery learned from a poll conducted by the Public Technology Institute back in September 2017. The poll found that there were two major factors that were working as obstacles to better cybersecurity. The number one issue was training employees and end users. The number two problem was financial constraints. The survey targeted Public Technology Institute's city and county government membership as respondents.
The quick poll which was titled, How Secure is Your Local Government?[1] found that:
- 42% of the respondents have not performed a network security audit within the past 12 months.
- 62% do not have a formal breach response policy.
48% do not provide comprehensive security and awareness training to end users/government employees. - 54% of the responding organizations do not have cyber liability or data breach insurance.
- Only 55% have an enterprise-wide cybersecurity plan.
- 71% have a staff person responsible for managing their cybersecurity efforts.
Good news and bad news
Though some of these statistics are alarming, some do show that the government is beginning to take cybersecurity seriously. They understand the importance of protecting the personal information of the public.
The topic of cybersecurity has been ranking as a top of priority in other forums, such as the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). In their "State CIO Ten Priorities for 2017" report[2], security and risk issues were ranked as major concerns.
Nick Wilding, head of cyber resilience and best practice at AXELOS, argued that "Staff should be a business' most effective security control, but are typically one of their greatest vulnerabilities."
He warned that "Organizations need to be more certain that they are engaging their people effectively." He went on to say that the person or entity with the most to lose in case of a security breach should bear the majority of the responsibility for sound security procedures. This can be achieved by training and equipping the stakeholders with important knowledge and the tools they need to deal with the threats that loom on the horizon.
Relevance of training
Cybersecurity is dynamic in the sense that it can be likened to a deadly virus that keeps changing in form and improving its own composition against attacks from antidotes. As soon as the cure is found, it has already changed itself and the new cure is no longer sufficient to kill it completely. That is why employees and end users must be better equipped with the ability to anticipate the ever-changing methods used by hackers. Training employees and end users must be completed at regular intervals. It will not work if it's only conducted once or twice. This is the most effective way to ensure that cyber breaches will end someday.
Best practices
The awareness training provided should be directly related to the job description of the recipient trainee with consideration to the information security risks they face. Users should be aware of threats such as phishing and social engineering. They should also be taught the importance of having strong password protection. Too many people still use easy-to-discern passwords and/or the same passwords across multiple accounts. They must be taught new techniques for creating passwords that are difficult to crack. This can only be achieved by conducting the training periodically.
Financial Resources
Most local governments have adopted their cybersecurity framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and that of the FBI'S Criminal Justice Information Services. These agencies offer important security guidelines.
However, local and federal governments have suffered massive data breaches in the past, which have led to the erosion of public trust. Though government agencies have learned a great deal from these experiences, the general public may still not trust that the government has it all together when it comes to cyber threats. In their defense, the government is working continuously on programs and procedures that will anticipate attacks in advance. They're using the best technology to find and close loopholes in their security grid. And lastly, they are starting to train employees on cyber security best practices.
Human error has been responsible for some the worst data breaches, but local governments are still seen as the culprit when it comes to the mishandling of important data. The public has a right to expect its government to work harder and do more to protect the personal information of citizens. Consumers believe that the government has unlimited resources when it comes to solving problems like this, so there's no excuse for them to stumble. Of course, the issues are much more complicated than that, but the sooner every organization has the best cyber security available on the planet, the sooner we can all go back to buying and selling online without worry.
[1] http://www.pti.org/news/
[2] https://www.nascio.org/Publications/ArtMID/485/ArticleID/441/State-CIO-Top-Ten-Policy-and-Technology-Priorities-for-2017


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Landlords Struggle To Fill Housing Rental Vacancies
Landing the best rental house that's within your budget is now easier than ever. Here is where to find the best deals on affordable houses in your city.
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Today's highly competitive market makes it easier for you to find the best deal. According to the Pew Research Center, over 36.6% of American homes were occupied by renters in 2016. And out of the millennials surveyed, about 65% were renting apartments.
Prices have tumbled on rentals from Austin to San Francisco, with many markets having decreases in rents of 25% or more. Individual landlords are resorting to incentives, with up to 2 months of free rent in some markets.
With the help of technology finding a rental house today is easier. All you need to do is to go online and search. You never know you might just land your dream rental home or apartment.
With that said! Take the hassle out of your rental home or apartment search, using the six options mentioned below. These options will help you find your next perfect property.
Although Craigslist has a bad reputation, it can be a great platform to find low-cost opportunities. Nearly 90% of renters often start their rental apartment search on this platform or Zillow.
In Craigslist you'll find numerous big apartment complex as well as private owners who're subletting their homes or landlords who're renting out their properties.
In U.S. rental-housing market, Craigslist is often considered as the largest exchange of real-time information since landlords and homeowners can list their rentals for free.
Besides, they don't have to worry about taking their list down when their rentals are not available because they're not charged. That's why it's easy to find an outdated listing, thankfully you're provided with the option of searching for listing posted today.
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Use these few tips to make your search in Craigslist seamless:
- Eliminate any areas that are 90-minute away from your work location.
- Create a spreadsheet with cells named as follow: size, price range, neighborhood, transportation, and any other consideration you think necessary. Remember to set aside space for notes.
- Bookmark your favorite page.
- Search every day and if you find something you like, respond instantly.
Apartments. com is a popular website that features an extensive list of apartment rentals, but most of the listing are large apartment complexes. It also offers single-family home and townhome listings.
The interesting thing about this site is that it comes with a huge collection of filters, which lets you filter by certain categories such as military, housing, Income-restricted, etc.
It also comes with an overlay system that allows you to view transit lines, neighborhood boundaries, local campus, and transit lines while searching.
Although the details about specific neighborhoods are limited, you can use the map to see the highlighted vacant complexes. On the map, you can indicate your preferred border and neighborhood amenities.
If you find your preferred rental apartment you can capitalize on special deals and other incentives by renting the place via the website.
HotPads was bought by Zillow in 2012. Today, it offers its users an exhaustive list of apartment and house listing across the U.S.
It comprises unique features and an amazing deal of information. The website lets you search for cooperate houses, rooms for rent, sublets, and military, student, or senior housing.
It allows you to search for listings with multiple pictures. Also, it lets you use keywords to search for amenities and neighborhoods. The website comes with over 90,000 ratings and reviews of apartment complexes, neighborhoods as well as individual units.
Just like Hotpads, Zillow also owns Trulia. This website works together with community-based websites like SportCrime.com and EveryBlock.com, to obtain the latest neighborhood-specific information about commutes, crime, schools, local business, etc. It also allows you to view results in map, list, or grid-format.
Trulia app works on both Android and iOS devices and has earned huge popularity for its easy to use interface.
Consult an Expert
It's always a good idea to seek advice from a Relators. Real estate agents are experts on the market and specific neighborhood. Most are always ready to share their opinions, even when you're not ready to buy a property.
One can advise you against renting a house while another can steer you towards rentals. Either way, their contribution can help you make a final decision. Agents also know when there's a vacant house around and who's moving out.
If you can't find an Agent, opt for relocation specialists. Many are authorized to show rental properties so they can help you find what you're looking for in town. Also, they can help you relocate if you're in a tight deadline. They will…
- Arrange movers
- Help you find child care or schools
- Help you ship your pets
- Arrange the shipping of your vehicle
- Arrange for utilities
- Refer you to legal, dental, medical, etc.
And if you find a specialist who's paid a commission by an agency like Worldwide ERC you won't spend a cent on the relocation services.
Find an Affordable House
Finding a beautiful house does not have to cost a fortune. When you browse the websites above you are likely to find several apartments that fit within your budget. In fact, many of America's most desirable cities feature luxury rentals that cost $650 or less. If you are willing to live in a small town or a medium size city, there are also plenty of 1 and 2 bedroom options that can be found for $500 per month or less.
There are a number of great deals available on new houses. The trick to finding a rental for only $500 or $650 per month is to avoid looking at the most expensive cities in the United States. If you can stay away from New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, then you will be surprised at how good deals out there can be.
Take a Ride Around the Desired Areas
Although the internet can help you find the available deals, make an effort to visit the place and see it for yourself.
First, visit the area you want to live in. Stop into small business and local groceries and check for notices in bulletin boards. Stop by apartment leasing offices in person.
You never know you might even receive a waived fee or free month's rent. Go through the latest online reviews of resident or talk with tenants you might meet around the property.
If you don't find what you're looking for, then visit other neighborhoods that have lots of listing. Sit in different locations and observe people.
Take a cup of coffee in a neighborhood café and eavesdrop. Try seeing yourself living in that neighborhood. It won't be long before you notice the bad things and good things about an area.
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Last weekend, the Archdrude's family was joined by (L) Simone Caltabellota, author of the Sardinian novel SA REINA, and (R) Thomas Fazi, author of Pluto Press' THE BATTLE FOR EUROPE. Charming company, gentlemen! (Photo: J. Anonymous)
I've finished my novel and I'm free free free! The fall of the leaves, the end of the summer, the slow crawl towards Christmas: I thought I'd be done ages ago but those fictitious characters just kept on at me tugging away, needy fuckers every one of them. Suffice it to say I'm back. I'm back. Shee-it!
SNAKEWEED by Bibilic Blood
THE ELEMENTS' RAGE (A CLASH OF THE STARS AND MOON) by Urthona
SCARAB by Queen Elephantine
MASTER by Teeth Of The Sea
GRID by Circuit Breaker
JOVEM EXCELSO HAPPY by Putas Bêbadas
Right, that's me done for another month. I'm not psychotic from being in front of a hot computer for months, honest. In fact, I'm going out soon, maybe even down the recycling. Okay, my Brothers, my Sisters, My Lovelies All. I'll check in next month.
Love reign upon y'all,


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You are one decision away from a totally different life
While leading a growing ministry on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Mark Batterson preaches and teaches about the committed life of faith.
Eternity will reveal that holding out is losing out. The message of All In is simple: if Jesus is not Lord of all then Jesus is not Lord at all. It's all or nothing.
The Gospel costs nothing. You can't earn it or buy it. It can only be received as a free gift compliments of God's grace. It doesn't cost anything, but it demands everything. It demands that we go "all in," a term that simply means placing all that you have into God's hands. Pushing it all in. And that's where we get stuck―spiritual no man's land. We're afraid that if we go all in that we might miss out on what this life has to offer. It's not true. The only thing you'll miss out on is everything God has to offer. And the good news is this: if you don't hold out on God, God won't hold out on you. Readers will find Batterson's writing filled with his customary vivid, contemporary illustrations as well as biblical characters like Shamgar and Elisha and Jonathan and . . . Judas.
No one has ever sacrificed anything for God. If you always get back more than you gave up, have you sacrificed anything at all? The eternal reward always outweighs the temporal sacrifice. At the end of the day, our greatest regret will be whatever we didn't give back to God. What we didn't push back across the table to Him. Eternity will reveal that holding out is losing out.
The message of All In is simple: if Jesus is not Lord of all then Jesus is not Lord at all. It's all or nothing. It's now or never. Kneeling at the foot of cross of Christ and surrendering to His Lordship is a radical act of dethroning yourself and enthroning Christ as King. It's also an act of disowning yourself. Nothing belongs to you. Not even you.
Batterson writes, "For many years, I thought I was following Jesus. I wasn't. I had invited Jesus to follow me. I call it inverted Christianity. And it's a subtle form of selfishness that masquerades as spirituality. That's when I sold out and bought in. When did we start believing that the gospel is an insurance plan? It's a daring plan. Jesus did not die just to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous."


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Panel Mount Snap-In Receptacle, 10A/250Vac, CCC Approved
Informations for reference only. – For further informations, please contact our sales office. Corresponding to your previous selections, the list only shows a summary of selected informations which are available online. Discover the right products for your application in the documentations and specifications. For special products, descriptions, or informations which are not listed here, please contact our sales office. |


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1. Introduction: A breakthrough election
Congratulations on an extraordinary history making election!
We can think back with pride to decades of hard work toward our strategic goal of a big enough, broad enough and united enough labor and all-peoples movement that could overcome the ultra-right blockage to all progress. That all peoples movement has come to life, it is dynamic and it has the potential to keep growing.
The election of Barack Obama and a strengthened Congress creates new conditions in our country. There is now the possibility to shift gears and move forward. This new day requires us to further develop our tactics in order to continue to deepen and broaden labor and peoples unity.
There are thousands of experiences that we all have had in these momentous days, some large, some small, all of which express the enormity of change in thinking and readiness for involvement that is underway and that steels us for the battles ahead.
The tears of joy we all shared as crowds gathered to watch the election results here and throughout the world dramatize the new moment we are in.
145 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 55 years after Rosa Parks sat down in the front of the bus, sparking a movement that led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act, the first African American president of the United States, Barack Obama, has been elected.
African American children, Latino, Asian American and Native American children all know now that one day they too can be president.
It will take some time to fully comprehend this event, and the depth of progressive thinking and change it opens up.
In this election, a sense of determination took hold to end the long nightmare of inhumane, corrupt, ultra-right, profit-driven government.
Obamas yes we can – si se puede message of hope and unity became a beacon for millions of voters of all races, backgrounds and ages, worried about their economic security and the future of their children and the planet.
The record numbers of new voters, the voter turnout, the mega- rallies and events, the huge internet social networking, e-mail and texting which will continue post-election, the 50 states campaign, the apparatus put in place to contest voter suppression, all reflect the activism and energy that Obama inspired..
All the Rove-style lies and smears employed by McCain-Palin, which are continuing post-election, could not stop the majority of people from voting for hope over fear. In this election, the politics of bigotry, hate and division did not prevail.
Working people woke up on November 5th with a sense of renewal, raised sights and new energy to become involved. As one union sister in Connecticut put it at a labor breakfast two days after the election, Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. There is legislation to be drafted, there is organizing to be done. Obama cant do it by himself.
We said this election battle against the ultra-right constitutes the center of the class struggle at this time. That it was in the electoral arena that workers, organized and unorganized, would have to fight for a sea change in their ability to win an improved standard of living and quality of life.
The military-industrial-energy complex, the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries and Wall Street, the titans of US capitalism, seek to undermine this labor and peoples victory in order to control and manipulate the agenda of the new president. They certainly want to prevent passage of the Employee Free Choice Act and other major reforms. We can anticipate that they will find partners in their quest within conservative elements of Congress and the corporate media as the battle unfolds.
The labor movement and many progressive and democratic minded forces recognize their responsibility to continue organizing, to deepen unity at the grass roots of the broad peoples movement and build support for a change in priorities to meet the needs of the people for good jobs, union rights, sustainable environment and a new foreign policy based on diplomacy and respect.
The emphasis we have placed on building up the strength of labor and the core forces – African American, Latino, women and youth voters – within the all peoples movement continues to be very important moving forward. An examination of their participation in the election will provide a sound basis for developing our policy of struggle under an Obama administration.
2. Labor and Core Forces
The Labor Movement
The unprecedented unity of all unions endorsing one candidate and pulling out a quarter million rank and filers to lead the mobilization of the entire membership bodes very well for the future.
Not just in the numbers, but in the experience and training that 250,000 organized workers benefitted from.
Not just in the door knocking and phone banking, but in the substance of those conversations, becoming skilled at taking on racism and discussing Joe the Plumber.
Not just during the elections, but for the ongoing campaign to win the Employee Free Choice Act and other demands.
Not just in their own states, but thousands of volunteers traveling to the battlegrounds in a heroic effort which created a near-clean sweep of the Midwest with Missouri still too close to call.
The labor movement is developing a powerful multi-racial cadre of new leaders for our country that can become our future mayors, Senators and Presidents. This is the most powerful expression of political independence in the elections this year.
The AFL-CIO summary of Labor 2008 bears repeating.
* Union members and Working America members voted for Obama 67% to 30%, and in the top-tier battleground states it was four points higher
In Mid-western states with high union density, Obama won with big margins by 13 points in Wisconsin, 16 points in Michigan, 10 points in Minnesota and 11 points in Pennsylvania.
* While McCain won among voters ages 65 and up, union members over 65 voted for Obama by a 46-point margin.
* While McCain won among veterans, union veterans voted for Obama by a 25-point margin.
* 21 percent of voters were in a union or union household.
The level of unity that it took to create this victory is the biggest lesson of the campaign because it will continue to carry the movement for a more equal and just society forward.
The labor movements leadership in taking on the fight against racism and talking directly with all union members about their self-interest in voting for a candidate with a near perfect labor voting record who is African American versus a candidate with a near zero labor voting record who is white is a lasting and living contribution to the whole working class.
Taking on racism and bigotry, the cornerstone of the ultra-right, resulted in a qualitatively changed political balance of forces in our country. Obamas speech on race set the tone. Didnt convince everyone yet, but the bar has moved significantly.
Then there is the other cornerstone of the ultra-right, anti-communism and red-baiting. McCain-Palin claimed Obamas spread the wealth program was socialism, would raise taxes on middle income families and was bad for working people, as if the consolidation of wealth into a few corporate hands was a positive.
This message was rejected. It actually raised interest and curiosity about what is socialism among many working people, presenting an opportunity for deeper discussion about how to achieve full democracy and equality.
Voters responded to Obamas proposal to cut taxes on the 95 percent of the population earning under $250,000 a year, while eliminating the massive cuts that were bestowed at the top by the Bush administration. A post-election survey by Democracy Corps found that Obama had a 9-point advantage (51 eprcent to 42 percent) on who would do a better job on taxes.
John Sweeney and others found many creative ways to counter the spread the wealth distortion. Taxing incomes over $250,000 at a higher rate and lowering taxes for everyone else is reclaiming workers hard earned wages in a country with the greatest wealth gap in history.
The contributions of the labor movement to raising the consciousness of union workers and their families, which will hopefully continue, contributed to the overall rejection, although not unanimous, of the vicious race baiting and red baiting.
African American Vote
The African American vote has long been a bedrock of progressivism, a very advanced and sophisticated vote. Some pundits brushed off the 95% Obama vote as just voting by race. Of course the significance of breaking the color barrier for the presidency was a factor, not just for African American voters but for many voters across the board, and especially racially and nationally oppressed voters. But the African American vote was not limited to that. The community was deeply involved in discussion and debate on the need for jobs and healthcare, the subprime mortgage crisis which hit the African American and Latino communities hardest; and ending the war in Iraq. There was strong support for change that could offer hope and opportunity to young people instead of despair and incarceration. This vote was a complete rejection of the Bush agenda. African America trade unionists played a special leadership role. The percentage of voters who were African American was 13 percent, up from 11 percent in 2004.
Womens Vote
The womens vote was hotly contested. Would Clinton supporters go to Obama? Would Palin peel the womens vote away from the Democrats? With the exception of the religious right, Palin angered and alienated women voters. NOW made a presidential endorsement for only the second time in its history, backing Obama. In New Haven, Connecticut Congresswoman, Rosa DeLauro, got a standing ovation at a packed state-wide rally when she said, how demeaning to women, how disrespectful to women, to think that we would support someone who opposes our right to choice, who opposes funding health care for our children…. 56% of all women voted for Obama. Womens Voices Womens Votes reports that in Ohio Obama did better than the past two Democratic presidential candidates winning 46% of white voters, and just under 50% of white women, ten points higher for single women, constituting a big shift from 2004 when Bush won their vote with a comfortable majority. .
.Latino Vote
The Latino voter registration and naturalization drives and voter turnout achieved a larger percentage of the total vote and shifted the vote further toward Democrats. A survey by the National Association of Elected Officials shows that 72% of Latinos who voted chose Obama. The vote of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans and naturalized citizens was significantly higher. At least nine percent of all voters were Latino up from 8 percent in 2004. The biggest increases were in Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico, and the biggest political shift was in Florida.. Latinos in California played a decisive role in these out of state battlegrounds. Battlegrounds in 2010 and 2012 will include Texas and Arizona as an estimated 50-60,000 Latinos are newly eligible to vote every month. In addition to economic issues and the war, comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship and an end to the raids was a top issue. The mega marches combined with the growing number of Latino union members contributed to the shift. Messages by some Catholic and Pentecostal church leaders placing abortion above economic issues and the environment were not successful. The mobilization, turnout and vote results represent a qualitative change in the role Latinos, Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans in particular, play in national politics and in contributing to the unity of the working class.
Youth Vote
Two-thirds of voters under age 30 voted for Obama, up from four years ago. Obama won 54 percent of white voters under age 30, up 10 points from Kerry. Obamas campaign attracted a large participation from youth. His use of new technology and culture and his outreach on campuses helped catalyze a huge voter registration drive and turnout. His theme of change attracted a large number of young volunteers. Young people made up 18% of the electorate, outnumbering those over 65 for the first time.
3. Political Realignment is underway
The massive loss of jobs and homes and pensions, accumulating losses from the war in Iraq, lack of access to health care and education, brutal immigration raids and incarceration of African American and Latino youth, all came together in a unity of purpose to change direction.
The shocking result of deregulation of the finance industry was the last straw, bringing sections of Republicans, business and military leaders to the Obama camp despite philosophical disagreements.
However, the bedrock of the victory lies with the on-the-ground role of labor and the core forces, essentially in a fight for survival, including Asian voters who chose Obama by 62%, American Indian voters whose went solidly for Obama, Jewish voters went for Obama by 78%, the peace vote and environment vote.
While some commentators dismiss the election results as a perfect storm that does not represent a shift in thinking, a post election survey by Campaign for Americas Future draws the opposite conclusion.
Noting that self-identified moderates and liberals agree with Obamas program, Robert Borosage concludes that this election marks the consolidation of a new majority coalition, and the mandate provided for progressive reform….in what is, increasingly, a center-left nation.
The beginnings of a qualitative shift took place in the 2006 Congressional elections. The broader movement that emerged this year around Obama represents the biggest progressive ideological shift since the 1930's. The rejection of red baiting, racism, and tax baiting against Obama by the voters shows a new majority in opposition to basic Republican right wing ideology.
The challenge before us now is to develop the strategy and tactics that will organize and mobilize at this new level to achieve bold legislation and action on behalf of working peoples needs and further shift the balance of forces. To draw the proper conclusions, we should examine and understand the overall results of this election. CAMPAIGN NUMBERS
1. President: Electoral College The electoral college vote was overwhelming for Obama.
Electoral Vote (Needed to win: 270) Barack Obama 365 (53%) John McCain 173 (46%)
For Comparison: GW Bush 2000 271 GW Bush 2004 286
The states that flipped to Democrat, including Virginia, the capitol of the Confederacy, shatter the decades-old Republican Southern Strategy targeting white voters. Latino voters helped flip Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Florida. The Reagan Democrats in the industrial mid-west broke away and helped carry those states for Obama.
States that flipped to Democrat in 2008: Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada
2. President: Popular Vote Obama won by 6.7 percent in the popular vote with over 66 million votes. Adjusting for votes lost due to voter suppression and barriers, the true vote margin would probably surpass ten points. This is the first time since 1964, when Lyndon Baines Johnson was elected, that a Democratic presidential candidate received more than half of the vote. Obama is only the third Democratic presidential candidate to win more than half the vote since WWII.
Popular Vote Obama 66,882,230 McCain 58,343,671
For Comparison: Popular Vote Margins: Gore 2000 +0.5% Bush 2004 +2.4% Obama 2008 +6.7%
Vote Shift (SEE PDF ATTACHMENT FOR MAP)
Voters shifted Democrat in a rejection of the ultra-right throughout the country, in urban, suburban and rural areas, including in states and counties that McCain carried. In nearly every county of the country the percentage of Democratic votes for president increased and the Republican percentage decreased, not limited to blue states or states that shifted red to blue. The only exception is a section of the South including Tennessee, Arkansas and parts of Alabama and Louisiana where victims of Hurricane Katrina have been disenfranchised. This requires more study to reach conclusions for organizing.
3. U.S. Senate The Democrats increased their numbers in the Senate by seven (with two races still undecided at this time), making it much more difficult for Republicans to obstruct.
U.S. Senate Seats (out of 100) Democrats 58 (+7) Republicans 40 (-7)
Still to call as of this writing: Minnesota is undergoing a recount Georgia will hold a runoff on Dec 2. Jim Martin v. Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
Open Seats Flipped to Democrats: Colorado Mark Udall New Mexico Tom Udall Virginia Mark Warner
Republican Incumbents Defeated: New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen defeated John Sununu North Carolina Kay Hagan defeated Elizabeth Dole Oregon Jeff Merkley defeated Gordon Smith Alaska Mark Begich defeated Ted Stevens
4. U.S. House of Representatives There is an increase of 20 Democrats in the House (three races still to be called), making this a back-to-back wave election carrying on from 2006. Republicans lost 24 races. Democrats lost 4 incumbent seats (FL-16 Mahoney, KS-2 Boyda, and in LA-6 Cazayoux and TX-22 Lampson where victims of Hurricane Katrina were disenfranchised)
Of special note is PA-11 where Lou Bartletta, the infamous anti-immigrant mayor of Hazelton lost his bid for Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives Seats (out of 435) Democrats 256 (+20) Republicans 175 (-20)
Still to be called as of this writing: California -4 Brown v. McClintock Ohio-15 Kilroy v. Stivers Virginia-5 Periello v. Good
Ten of the 20 Democratic pickups CT-4 Jim Himes – defeated Chris Shays last Republican in the House in New England IL-11 Debbie Halvorsen (open) MD-1 Frank Kratovil (open) MI-7 Mark Shauer – Republican District over 100 years MI-9 Gary Peters – Republican District over 100 years NJ-3 John Adler (open ) – Republican District over 100 years NY-13 Michael McMahon NY-29 Eric Massa – a vet and author of Responsible Plan for Withdrawal NM-1 Martin Heirich (open)- Part of the successful 5 for 5 campaign of AFL-CIO OH-16 John Boccieri (open)
5. States There were 11 Governor contests. Democrats now hold a 28-22 edge in Governors nationwide. One state changed the Party of their Governor. Missouris open seat flipped to Democrat.
Governors: Democrats 28 Republicans 22
Democrats made significant gains in seven state legislatures, including flipping the House to Democrat in three states (Delaware, Ohio, Wisconsin). Republicans gained control of one State Senate (Tennessee).
State Legislatures – Democrats Made Gains in Seven States: Connecticut – Senate increased Democratic margins to become veto proof Delaware – House flipped to Democrat Illinois – House increased Democratic margin Nevada – Senate increased Democratic margin New York – Assembly and Senate both Democratic for the first time in 40years. Both houses and Governor Democratic for the first time since the New Deal. Ohio – House flipped to Democrat Wisconsin – House flipped to Democrat
Local Races of Special Note: St. Louis, Missouri – Robin Wright Jones, chair of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, won her State Senate seat 18,000 to 400, after winning her primary by 96 votes with the support of the Youth Voter Collective. State Assembly District 65, California Union leader Carl Wood received 47% of the vote (55,467) against Republican Paul Cook in a district considered impossible for Democrats to be competitive.
2nd District, Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, California .Mark Ridley Thomas, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, won for Board of Supervisors with a strong labor led coalition in his majority Latino and African American District, population 2 million.
6. Ballot Questions: The results of ballot questions were mixed. Affirmative action was upheld in Colorado, however it was voted down in Nebraska. The influence of divisive pro-life and anti-gay bigotry found expression in ballot measures in several states, as well as in the McCain-Palin campaign. Obama carried many of the states targeted.. His acceptance speech gives an excellent lead for standing up for equal rights for everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender or race in order to successfully turn the country around. A national movement has emerged to stop implementation of the California initiative which takes away marriage rights from gay couples. In counter point, the first gay marriage since legalization in Connecticut took place a week after election day.
Affirmative action: Upheld in Colorado – 51 to 49 Opposed in Nebraska – 58 to 42
Womens reproductive rights upheld Colorado – legal rights to fertilized eggs defeated 73 to23 South Dakota abortion ban defeated with 55% of vote California mandate parental notification defeated 52 to 48
Stem cell research was approved in Michigan – 53%
Constitutional Convention questions promoted by anti-abortion and anti-gay rights groups were defeated in Connecticut, Hawaii and Illinois.
However, bans of same-sex marriage passed in three states Arizona – 56% California – 52% Florida – .62% Prohibition of unmarried couples both same-sex and opposite-sex – from adopting or becoming foster parents passed in Arkansas – 57%.
Reviewing the results of the electoral college vote, the popular vote, the wave election in Congress and down ticket races overall confirms that this election was a landslide vote with a clear mandate to change the direction of the country.
4. Build the Party
When Richard Trumka came forward at the Steelworkers convention addressing himself to white union members on the harmfulness of racism, our comrades in the labor movement immediately began circulating that speech at meetings and on the internet until it became viral. That speech took on a life of its own well beyond the labor movement. The ideas were repeated in many ways by other union leaders, raising the level of class consciousness and unity. Our understanding and internationalism, first projected by Karl Marx, that it takes the unity of the entire multi-racial, multi-national working class to win, enabled us to make that contribution, and countless others like it.
From the battleground states and congressional districts to the deep blue districts, Communist Party and YCL clubs plunged into the campaigns and won a lot of respect and new friends, and in some cases some new members and readers of the Peoples Weekly World Nuestro Mundo. But we have not yet succeeded at the kind and size of grass roots recruitment required for a mass Party and YCL.
There is a profound discussion taking place in our country today inspired by Obama and necessitated by the economic crisis. What kind of country do we want to live in? What is the role of government? What is our place in the world? Even public ownership and socialism are being pondered..
We have a lot to contribute to that discussion. The Emergency Program to Repair, Renew, Rebuild we projected during the election is an effective beginning, to be expanded and elaborated especially in response to the financial and economic crisis.
Many of the demands like immediate relief and green infrastructure jobs, union rights and universal, single payer health care and a new foreign policy based on peace and diplomacy draw on what is already in motion in the broader movement. It would be financed by bringing the troops home, cutting the military budget, and ending the tax breaks to the rich.
This common sense democratic program can help build support for the projections by Obama while going beyond.
A stronger Communist Party and YCL with neighborhood clubs and clubs in workplaces that have Peoples Weekly World readers and family and friends around them can make a qualitative contribution toward further shifting the balance of forces in favor of bold, far-reaching solutions.
Enlarging our Party is our most significant contribution toward strengthening the labor and peoples movement. It is part of making the election a success by building strong grass roots collective voices arm in arm with labor and community, and laying the groundwork for electing workers, including Communists, to public office at the local level.
When I look at the new members in Connecticut, I see people who like the Communist Party because they want to be part of a group that helps them stand up for their needs and stand up against any injustice that they see. They want a bigger vision. They want to be part of the movement of today in a way that lays the basis for achieving the socialist vision on the horizon. A lot of our members have said, I was always a Communist, I just didnt know it.
2009 is a big year. On January 20 Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States before a gathering of millions. At the same time, Washington DC will be launching its celebration of the 200th year of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
2009 is also the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party USA. What a tremendous occasion to recognize the outstanding comrades who have come before us, heroes and heroines to end jim crow segregation and lynchings, win the right to vote and organize unions and serve in elective office. It is on their shoulders that we stand today and their stories can inspire people to become a part of us and create new history.
I like the slogan, This is our time. If the election tells us anything it is that many people are more open minded more ready for new ideas and ready for action. Our literature, especially the Election Program and the vote comparison of Obama and McCain were greeted and reproduced by others. The Peoples Weekly World Nuestro Mundo has been a wonderful tool all during this election year. Using our paper as a key tool to build clubs in neighborhoods ready to join with others in the big national movement for change can open the floodgates for a large influx of new members and activists. 5. Continuing to build the all peoples front at the grass roots
There is a lot of anticipation in the air and there are high expectations for a Barack Obama administration. Thousands of people are sending in their suggestions, ideas, hopes and dreams to the special website www.change.gov similar to the input solicited for the Democratic Party Platform hearings and steelworker Bruce Bosticks televised testimony.
President-elect Obama, drawing on his community organizer grounding that helped win the election, has already begun to address the people directly with weekly YouTube and radio messages.
Can you imagine thousands of people writing in to Bush or even Clinton before they were inaugurated?
With so many people hurting economically, the new president has to take immediate action that will provide relief as quickly as possible. The announced priorities to expand SCHIP and unemployment compensation and aid to states and cities for green infrastructure job creation are welcome, as are preparations to repeal many of George W Bushs repressive executive orders.
At the same time we, and many in the labor and peoples broad movement, believe that massive, bold initiatives on behalf of people needs and to create jobs will be essential to meet the crisis in the country and deliver progressive change.
Labors leaders are sitting down now to discuss the big mobilization for the Employee Free Choice Act and other key issues in order to develop tactics that are helpful to the new administration, and that create the necessary push from below. The Employee Free Choice Act is a strategic battle. It will swell the ranks of the organized, and help the economy by raising wages and benefits for millions of workers.
United for Peace and Justice has initiated a similar strategy discussion among peace and justice organizations. How to build the movement to bring all the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan, reverse Bushs never-ending-war policies of domination, and redirect funds from the military budget to human needs.
The organizers of the Heartland Presidential Forum are bringing 2,000 low-income grass roots activists to DC on December 4 to meet with the Obama team. At that forum in Iowa last January, Obama had pledged that even before the inauguration….. were going to be having meetings all across the country with community organizations so you can have input into the agenda for the next presidency of the United States of America.
A similar video of Obama discussing workers right to form unions has been prepared by SEIU to inspire the collection of the final 200,000 signatures to reach one million for the Employee Free Choice Act before January 20..
The immigrant rights movement is discussing its tactics and has issued a letter to the new administration for an end to the raids and for passage of comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship. The issue of guest worker programs will be a point of contention. A rally and lobby is planned for the day after inauguration in Washington DC.
The womens movement and others are organizing demonstrations and petitions around the country demanding that Proposition 8 in California not be enforced to protect the marriage rights of gay and lesbian couples
We should be in the number on January 20 for the peoples inauguration in Washington, DC and house parties for those who cant get off work or travel, to celebrate and join forces for the hard work in the days ahead.
Sam emphasizes this transition period is a time when reforms can and must be won in the wake of a deep and prolonged economic crisis.
The tactical challenge is to push from the bottom in a constructive way to support immediate reforms, while also raising up basic demands for a far-reaching change in priorities.
Speaking during the Democratic convention about his bill HR 676 for universal, single payer healthcare, Rep. John Conyers emphasized it has the support of the people, it is just a matter of time. As we continue to push for HR 676, support for SCHIP is crucial.
People are angry, hopeful and ready to go. Our program to rebuild America should be strong and decisive. There is no other way to meet the emergency needs of this moment as the economic crisis spirals through every sector. We should call for taking the profits out of health care and energy which are basic human rights, and explore public ownership including of the finance and automotive industries .
This was a transformative election for many reasons. The vote for Barack Obama and the conversation on race which he opened up at Independence Hall. The rejection of 30 years of ultra-right horror. The emergence of new grass roots involvement and participation and a shift in thinking. The leading role of the multi-racial labor movement. A renewed respect for our Party and some growth. All point to the process of a rising consciousness and struggle for democracy and equality. All are part of moving forward the progressive arc of history.
As Obama said in his acceptance speech, 'This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change.'
And so the hard work begins. Obama is going to include many people in his cabinet and advisors that we would not pick, but protesting that will not build a movement. Our energy and focus should be invested in building the labor and peoples broad movement at the grass roots. That is how we can give a constructive push in a united way.


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Our History and Genealogy
Hello and welcome to OHGen.net, a free resource for Ohio genealogy.
My name is Sandra Quinn , and you will have noticed that elements of this website have changed. After working for a 3 year term as the volunteer OHGenWeb state coordinator in the USGenWeb project, I am moving on to my other projects.
The newly elected state coordinator for the OHGenWeb Project in USGenWeb is Dale Grimm. You can find the USGenWeb OHGenWeb project here at ohgenweb.org.
The USGenWeb-OHGenWeb volunteers are about as good as they get! I appreciated and enjoyed my time working with them."
My personal goal as state and county coordinator has always been to do what I can to provide guidance to the free genealogy resources which can be found and searched online. This is what lead to my idea for the website - OHGen.net, Our History and Genealogy in 2006. It is my wish to continue developing this site for genealogical researchers.
What resource links will you find at OHGen.net?
- Links to: Indexes to Ohio Vital Records by County
- Links to: Ohio Death Certificates
- Links to: Book of Historical Importance
- Links to: Directions for how to use available websites to get the most out of your research time
Our History and Genealogy
Our History and Genealogy was first designed for easy access to United States Courthouse Vital Records which are found indexed by the Family History Library. With the framework developed for all states in the US, it is quickly growing into a site of many possibilities for genealogy presenters and researchers. As this site grows your contributions and ideas are welcome. If you have a genealogy site and you wish to be linked to, feel free to contact me at ohgen(at)alltel(dot)net replacing the words in ( ) with their corresponding symbols.
This site is best viewed on an 800 X 600 screen display setting.
Off site links may not be part of OHGen.net and OHGen.net is not responsible for their content. Limited use rights may be granted by written or electronic permission.


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V and A - Quilts 1700-2010 - One Not to Miss!
If there is one thing that needs to go in the diary, friends contacted, plans made, tickets purchased and train seats allocated in 2010 its the forthcoming exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, London entitled Quilts 1700-2010.
The marketing department seems to be doing a great job as we've seen mention of it in the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, the Times and plenty of other places. We're very excited as a few of us will be going to the preview on the 17th March.
The exhibition is a unique opportunity to view the V&A's unseen quilt collection as well as key national loans.
The Curator's blog makes for great reading as the opening of the exhibition is about two weeks away. You know how it is for most of us, its Christmas Eve and the quilt binding is still being sewn on as Father Christmas is appearing boots first down the chimney...talk about last minute. So imagine how much work will be going on getting the exhibition ready in time!
The exhibition includes some quilts featured on beds such as the 2002 Quilt entitled "To Meet My Past" by Tracey Emin.
We recently discovered some interesting family history (we had no idea until a few weeks ago) of relatives who were silk merchants and other who were involved in the dyeing industry in London - including such exhuberant and interesting characters as Charles Candy otherwise known as Beau Candy or Sugar Candy (this was in the late 1700s, early 1800s so the time of Beau Brummel, lots of silk cravats and dashing Regency style gents!). The thought of visiting an exhibition based on quilts made from fabrics manufactured during this period is fascinating.
In doing the research it was interesting to discover that William Shipley, who formed the RSA (the Royal Society for the Arts, Commerce and Manufactures) which is now 250 years old and which is based at John Adams House in London, recognised the importance of the manufacture of silk and cotton in England. Dyeing prior to the mid 1750s was mostly done in France. However, the expulsion of the Huguenots from France (the biggest migration in history, many of whom, including my relatives, moved to England in the 1600s and 1700s) led to those skills being brought to London and the development of the dyeing industry along the rivers such as the Wandle and Lea which feed into the Thames in London. Without that impetus England may never have had the level of fabric production that we did during that period. Whilst fabric production in the UK is minimal now we're glad that some of the design and certainly the development of fabric designs still happens here.
We hope you are able to visit the Exhibition while it is on - it finishes on the 4th July 2010.


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