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Secrets of the housekeeper
It was about 8pm on Sunday 17 December 1922 and an 18 year old Ruby Anderson had been screaming out in pain for about an hour. Her father, Thomas, no doubt worried, went to fetch the horse and trap from the paddock to take Ruby into Geelong Hospital. As it was a Sunday, there would be no doctor available for a house call, especially at this late hour.
Thomas was a widower, his wife Sophia had died three years earlier. He was now alone and was left caring for his two daughters – Ruby and twelve year old Violet – his eldest son Leslie lived close by with his wife. Thomas was a farmer at Sparrowvale, about five miles from Geelong; a large acreage that was the original Geelong Racecourse and location for the early Marshall Railway. Thomas and his daughters would likely have occupied one of the purpose built employees cottages on the land leased by the Geelong Harbour Trust for the purpose of land cultivation, irrigation and running stock.
Ruby had been the housekeeper for her father for six years. She would cook and clean and her father would allow her out to spend time with her lady friends a few nights a week, often returning home after 11pm. Thomas had no reason to believe that his eldest daughter was hiding anything from him and she had not once indicated that she had been feeling unwell. But on that Sunday night when her father was racing to get the horse he was stopped before he could get far out the door. Violet yelled for her father to 'come quick…Ruby got a baby'. Thomas ran straight back into the house and moved Ruby to his bed. Meanwhile, Ruby had asked her old brother Leslie to find some castor oil for the pain. As he left the house he heard the 'squeal of a youngster…it sounded like a baby's cry'. Confused, he rushed back into the bedroom where Ruby was, thinking that's where the cry had come from. Upon re-entering the bedroom Leslie saw 'blood all over the floor and a baby underneath the bed'. An almost identical depiction of what Thomas has seen when he rushed into Ruby's room. Leslie 'struck a match and saw the baby under the bed…the baby had its throat cut'.
Separately, both men asked Ruby what she had done. She told her father she had no idea what had happened and looked at him as if she had no idea who he was. What is possible Ruby was mentally unstable and had no recollection of what she had done to her newborn son?
Detective Sickerdick's interview notes from VPRS 30/P0, Unit 1994, Item 53.
Soon after the discovery of the newborn baby boy, Thomas alerted the police. Detective Frederick Sickerdick from Geelong arrived at the house two hours after the events took place and saw the horrific, bloody scene. The child with afterbirth still attached was lying on the floor and he noticed a knife covered in blood was placed on a shelf above the bed. Detective Sickerdick questioned Ruby about her memories of the events which had obviously recently taken place in the bedroom and made notes about his findings. The Detective's impressions of the house in which Thomas and his two daughters were residing painted a sad picture when he stated that it 'was in a frightfully filthy condition consisting of very little furniture and no home comforts'. He also noted that Thomas had no control over his eldest daughter who 'visited Geelong 3 or 4 nights during a week and her company whilst in Geelong were girls who have a bad reputation, she would walk home and arrive there at all hours'. Asked who the father of the baby was, Ruby's story changed when initially she told the Detective that 'some elderly man was responsible for her trouble, she did not know his name nor did she know where he lived'. Although, further into her interview she told Detective Sickerdick 'that a youth named Russell who [was] 18 years of age resided at Barramunga [was] the father of her child'.
Two months later, in February 1923, Ruby May Anderson was to stand trial in Geelong on the charge of murder. Her father, brother and sister all made statements about the unknown pregnancy and subsequent cold-blooded murder of a newborn baby, only a few minutes old. Doctor Frederick Wallace, a resident surgeon at the Geelong Hospital undertook the post-mortem and testified that the cause of death for the newborn male child was 'caused by haemorrhage and shock', that there was an 'extensive incision transversely across the front of the neck'. There was conjecture about whether the birth had affected Ruby's mental condition, which was Doctor Wallace said was, 'very frequent in females at that particular time…the mind might possibly take some time to become normal [after birth]'. Asked at the end of the trial if Ruby wanted to make a statement about the events, to which she bluntly answered, 'I have nothing to say'.
Ruby was initially sent to Geelong Gaol before being transferred to Coburg's Female Prison and finally ending up at the Melbourne Gaol. After spending less than two months behind prison walls, Ruby Anderson was released to freedom 'by special authority'.
Phoebe, May 2018
Ruby Anderson prisoner photo, c1923
PROV, VPRS 30/P0, Unit 1994, Item 53
PROV, VPRS 516/P2, Unit 14, Prisoner no. 7492
Geelong Advertiser
Heritage Council Victoria, Victorian Heritage Database
Tagged: born and bred, historical research, history, family history, family tree, geelong, genealogy, murder, crimes, criminal history
Love triangles and lunacy
For seven months, John Wilson rode the tram line between Carlton and Prahran working as a conductor. He directed travellers, punched their tickets and often carried a razor in his pocket.
John was engaged to Stella Marks, a 23 year old servant who worked for Mrs Mary Fox in St Kilda but had been living in Collingwood with Mrs Annie Reid. The only problem was that Stella was actually in love with Mr McEwan and John was quickly working that out for himself. Stella had not only been distant, John had seen 'Stella leaning on the arm of McEwan as [he] was coming on the tram'. Proof enough for him that Stella was rapidly moving further away from him.
John Wilson was madly in love with Stella and had grown much attached to the young servant girl but he had been warned by Mrs Reid that he was 'foolish to be so madly in love if she loved another one better'. Stella confided in Mrs Reid the she had planned to meet with Mr McEwan until she was reprimanded by Mrs Reid. Stella responded by telling her that she would no longer see McEwan and she was 'going to marry Johnny on Thursday…[after he] had stopped all day and would not leave till she promised to marry him'. Stella was still fonder of McEwan who had even bought her an engagement ring, but Wilson was extremely jealous and she was initially betrothed to him.
That same evening, in the height of Melbourne summer in 1891, the engaged couple, Stella and John went for a walk together in the Darling Gardens in Clifton Hill when William Swan walked by and saw the woman fall. On his approach he noticed that she was covered in blood.
The razor that John had carried with him on the tramways was used to slit the throat of his beloved Stella, shortly followed by a self-inflicted wound to his own throat.
Darling Park Gardens Collingwood, c1900-09. Image courtesy of SLV collection
John returned to his home close by, which he shared with his brother William and local school teacher, Robert Hodgson. John walked in and said to his brother, 'I have done it tonight…I have been trying to cut my throat'. Puzzled, William asked why, to which John responded, 'it was all through the girl'. Still confused, William asked for further clarification. John told him bluntly that, 'that [was] not the worst of it, [he] had cut the girl's throat'.
With his confession, William insisted John and he go to the police station to confess to the murder where he told Constable George Shaw that he 'would not have cut her throat if [he] thought [he] could not have cut [his] own afterwards'. John was by this point, pleading insanity.
The Wilson brothers were originally from St Arnaud in the north west of Victoria, in 1889 the two moved to Tallangatta near Wodonga where they found work. However, William had noticed a change in his brother when he 'complained of pains in the head. He said the sun affected him. He said he had sunstroke in New South Wales and was very bad…he was very peculiar in his manner, wild look in his eyes, strange look'. This was the time where William also noticed that John had become very particular and protective of his razor.
Catherine, John and William's mother also had 'quite gone in the mind. She [had been] worse when she was bearing children…when she was bad she was subject to delusions, fancy things that did not exist'. From this evidence, doctors claimed that it was entirely possible, if not likely, that John could also be temporarily insane and murdered is fiancée in a frenzied attack. An attack, John claimed he had 'not the slightest recollection of…he did not know what had taken place'.
While three doctors, including Dr Thomas Dick, the Medical Practitioner and Inspector of Lunatic Asylums believed, and in fact, testified that John could have been deemed insane, whether from severe sunstroke or genetics, a jury took only one hour and ten minutes to deliberate that John Wilson was indeed guilty, but not insane. Justice Molesworth of the Melbourne Supreme Court sentenced the prisoner to death. A petition for mercy failed and John Wilson, the man who killed his sweetheart was condemned to be hanged.
Entrance buildings at Melbourne Gaol, c.1858-1864. Image courtesy of SLV collection
On 23 March 1891, less than two months after he had slit the throat of his true love, Stella Marks John was to drawer is final breath in the Melbourne Gaol, where he had been an inmate since 16 March.
The imminent hanging was surrounded by much anticipation and 'long before the hour of execution hundreds of morbid creatures packed the street outside the gaol walls, where they could neither see nor hear what was going on inside, letting their horrid imagination console them for the loss of the actual sight'. The crowds waited, the rope was tightened, a cap was placed over Wilson's head where he was heard to utter his last words, 'trusting in Jesus everlastingly', the bolt drawn and instantaneous death ensued. John Wilson's body hung in the gaol for an hour before he was cut down.
Phoebe, April 2018
PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 19, John Wilson
PROV, VPRS 515/P1, Unit 44, Page 234
Advertiser (Adelaide)
Age (Melbourne)
South Australian Chronicle (Adelaide)
Weekly Times (Melbourne)
Floating body of evidence
***WARNING: this post contains confronting and/or upsetting themes***
'The nails and cuticles were coming off. The hair loose from the scalp, patches of greenish brown all over the body…the string of her nightcap was tied round her throat tolerably tight'. This was how Catherine Lyfield was found when her body was exhumed from the Merri River near Dennington, south-west Victoria. Lying in the outhouse of the Shamrock Hotel in Port Fairy where the inquest was held, the middle aged woman was severely decomposed with a number of loose teeth and a damaged skull.
Henry Lyfield was a dairy farmer from Rosebrook, about five kilometres north-east of the seaside town of Port Fairy. Henry's first wife Sarah had died in 1864 at the age of 43 years old; their eldest living child was sixteen and their youngest child was just a year old. Three months later the 36 year old father of eight re-married. His second wife was Catherine Harper, a nineteen year old servant girl.
'Articles found on body'. VPRS 30/P0, Crimal Trial Brief, Unit 1121, Item 619.
Caroline Snell was Henry's third child and had moved back into the family home with her father and stepmother after her husband Williams' death. Caroline and her thirteen year old daughter Elizabeth joined her older sister Jane back at the family dairy farm. The three would often overhear Henry and Catherine fighting, with it frequently becoming violent. At least once Henry began hitting his wife to the ground, choking her and threatening to kill her.
One evening in mid-October 1896, Caroline, Elizabeth and Jane were all in bed by 8 o'clock; the three sharing a room next door to Henry and Catherine. In the early hours of the following morning the women were woken by the sounds of low screams. Thirteen year old Elizabeth, 'heard the sound once, like something hitting against the [adjoining] wall…a noise like somebody having a struggle', shortly followed by the sounds of heavy footsteps. By 5 o'clock that morning the three women and Henry went about work as normal milking the cows, upon their return to the house Henry handed a bundle of soiled clothes to Caroline to wash, stating that, 'here are the clothes, she will never want them again'.
Peering into the other bedroom at the front of the house, usually shared by the couple, Elizabeth spotted Catherine lying on the floor, covered up, unmoving.
The following evening Caroline was awoken by the sound of footsteps in the front room. Claiming that she 'heard a noise like someone dragging a heavy thing about the floor towards the front outside door', she went to inspect that morning to no avail. Walking in to the shed the next day to collect some potatoes for the family's next meal, Caroline noticed 'something covered over with straw and two bags…and saw a part of the face of a human being'. Caroline had uncovered the body of her stepmother Catherine.
Meanwhile, Henry was going about his daily life, telling people that his wife had walked out on him and he'd not heard a word from her.
By 26 October 1896, friends and peers were having to identify the remains of Catherine and a post-mortem examination was being undertaken on her mangled and decomposing remains.
In February the following year the case had to be moved from the local county court in Warrnambool to the Supreme Court in Melbourne. Henry Lyfield and his daughter Caroline Snell had been charged with the murder of Catherine Lyfield and had both pleaded insanity. Caroline had confessed to assisting her father in murdering her stepmother after he threatened her. Henry was said to have been annoyed at his wife for keeping a strict eye on him and his movements with his daughter. Whilst beside her bed praying, Henry moved behind his wife and 'threw a string round her neck. She struggled and screamed' and Caroline 'struck her with a hammer'. Killed, she was then taken to the Merri River and her body dumped.
Catherine's need to keep a close eye on his husband was not because she was a possessive wife, it was because she was aware of the incestuous relationship that was going on between father and daughter.
During the proceedings much more came to light than domestic violence and the murder of Henry's second wife, Catherine. Journalists, sitting in on court proceedings reported that 'Lyfield, according to the testimony of his own daughter and granddaughter, [was] a triple murderer, and [had] habitually been on terms of criminal relations first with one and subsequently with both of them…two children [had been] born as the result of the incestuous intercourse with the daughter [and] the inhuman father is alleged to have killed them in cold blood and buried them on this farm', the third and only surviving child grew up believing her father was William Snell.
Henry Lyfields mugshot, 1897. VPRS 516/P1, Unit 51.
On 15 February 1897, Henry Lyfield was found 'not guilty on the grounds of insanity'. He died in 1901 at the age of 71 years old of natural causes in Melbourne Gaol.
Caroline Snell was 'unable to plead on grounds of insanity', and in March 1917, twenty years after first stepping into the Melbourne Gaol Female Prison, she was transferred to Melbourne Benevolent Asylum.
Caroline Snell's mugshot, 1897. VPRS 516/P2, Unit 12
PROV, VPRS 30/P0, Unit 1121, Item 619
PROV, VPRS 515/P1, Unit 51, Henry Lyfield, Prisoner no. 27794
PROV, VPRS 516/P2, Unit 12, Caroline Snell, Prison no. 6495
Evening News (NSW)
Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts (Queensland)
Horsham Times (Victoria)
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Queensland)
National Advocate (NSW)
Adelaide Observer (SA)
Ballarat Star (Victoria)
South Australia Register (SA)
Tagged: born and bred, family tree, family history, crimes, criminal history, victorian history, genealogy
Drug dens and "boring" family trees
I was tasked with a project from my grandmother; "I know nothing about my fathers' side of the family". This was not a statement, but a not so subtle quest for her genealogist granddaughter to undertake. She wanted me to get a move on with my own family tree.
My grandmother hails from South Australia and made the move to Victoria in the 1950s, met my grandfather and never left. All of her family stayed dotted around South Australia and no one had really had the inclination to be the keeper of the family history – until me!
My grandmother tells stories of her crotchety old grandmother, Penelope. A forceful woman whose domineering presence was felt, and who strictly enforced the 'children should be seen and not heard' rule. She remembers Sunday's after church, spent in her grandparents' stately home, where no fun, laughter or joy was to be shared on the holiest day of the week. Her grandfather, Henry, was a well-respected bank manager, who she fondly remembers as a state class, rifle-shooting gentleman. He died suddenly and unexpectedly when she was only 5 years old.
This was as far as my grandmother knew of her paternal side of the family. And for all intents and purposes the rest of the family was fairly benign and there was nothing worth noting in the family history…or so she thought.
After a brief search I was able to fill in some blanks. There was nothing remarkable, nothing that made any dramatic ripples. That was until I was researching my grandmother's great grandfather – my great great great grandfather – Alfred Hughes. The year following the death of Alfred's first wife, Mary Anne – my ancestor – he re-married Roseanna. Three years later, in 1879 Roseanna was attending the inquest into her husbands' suspicious death at the King's Head Hotel in Adelaide. Before his death, Alfred had been under the care of Dr Sprod who had been treating him for 'low spirits and weakness'. The day before his death he went about his day as normal but appeared drowsy and 'down-hearted' on his return from lunch. Later in the day, Alfred took another turn and when his colour changed the doctor was summoned. Dr Gardner arrived in a few short minutes and believed that the patient 'was suffering from apoplexy'. After further medical advice from Dr Corbin the pair 'put mustard poultices on [Alfred] but he continued insensible, and died shortly after 7 o'clock pm'.
A local chemist assistant, Mr Robert Beddome, testified that for the two to three months prior to Alfred's death, he remembered him frequenting the shop to purchase laudanum. The morning before his death he asked Mr Beddome for some laudanum 'to send to the country for some friends' – a common practice, and one which was not questioned at the time. Mr Beddome packaged the opiate into the requested three one-ounce bottles for Alfred to allegedly send on to his country customers. Laudanum, was an opiate which was commonly used for pain relief and was readily acquired without a prescription, or directions for use.
An Opium Den, 1881. Image courtesy of SLV.
Whilst the foreman stated that there was no sign of a missing bottle, the jury returned with their verdict of his death being 'caused by deceased drinking the contents of a one-ounce bottle of laudanum while in a state of temporary insanity…'. The coroner agreed and declared Alfred's death as an accidental opium overdose. Not uncommon, yet no less tragic end to a life for the father of five.
During the nineteenth century, the use of 'therapeutic' opiates remained largely unregulated and recreational use was quite common. Up until the 1880s the practice of importing opium was 'widely accepted due to the revenue derived from taxation duties'. In Victoria, opium was deemed illegal in 1905, however there is evidence of opium den's operating in Melbourne up until the late-1950s.
So, the bland family history that my grandmother guaranteed me of, was in fact a little off the mark and not to my disappointment (in the least morbid way).
And, just for the record, she was thrilled with the discovery!
Returning to the South Australian roots on a family holiday, c1970. Image courtesy of Phoebe's private collection.
South Australian Register (Adelaide), 8 December 1879, p. 6.
Evening Journal (South Australia), 8 December 1879, p. 3.
Burt, Daniel, 'The History of Melbourne's opium dens and their continuation into the 1950s', ABC News, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-23/curious-melbourne-opium-dens-in-little-lon/9575652, accessed 26 March 2018.
Rowe, James, 'Pure Politics: A Historical Look at Australian Drug Policy', Alternative Law Journal, vol. 26, no. 3, 2001.
Tagged: born and bred, family tree, family history, genealogy, opium, inquest, south australia, history, historical research
Prostitutes and vagabonds
Prostitution. Vagrancy. Insufficient means. Just a few of the punishable crimes Phoebe Harris was imprisoned for in her short life.
Phoebe Harris' story is not an unusual one for the time. That doesn't mean it is any less sad. Born somewhere between 1862 and 1865 in England, by the time she was in her early-twenties, Phoebe was charged with her first offence and sentenced to two months of hard labour. Four months after that first charge, she was again sentenced to two months hard labour. In fact, Phoebe's prison record is a large and varied list of her movements between police stations, court houses and gaol's over almost forty years.
Phoebe Harris' mug shot. Image from female prison register, PROV, VPRS 516/P2, Unit 9, p. 226.
In 1885 Phoebe found herself locked up in the Horsham police station for using 'obscene language'. By 6 o'clock the next morning, only an hour after being checked on, Phoebe was missing from the lock up yard where the 'staple of the door having been wrenched off by the means of an iron bar'. Her husband, Abraham had been seen loitering around the yards. Phoebe was found and re-arrested three hours later and sentenced to two months for obscene language and a further six months for escaping.
After this, Phoebe's register is a litany of offences. Crimes which held terms of anywhere from one month and a fine of a few pounds for soliciting prostitution, to six months for 'invisible' or 'insufficient means', to twelve months of hard labour for larceny. She frequented the pages of the Victorian government police gazettes and newspapers for these offences, which were always followed by the words – 'repeatedly convicted'. A known criminal around Melbourne, who spent her whole adult life being so poor that she was continually charged with having no money to live by and thus turning to prostitution to survive and then being charged for that.
In August 1915 the Truth reported that 'Harris, who has an impediment in her speech was once a tailoress, but now she is known in official circles as "Big Phoebe", one of Fitzroy's many frail flossies' was charged with having insufficient means and was known 'to be a common prostitute'.
Victorian government gazette, 19 September 1908.
On paper Phoebe led a sad life of imprisonment, which was an eternal cycle that continued to put her in gaol. The one consistency in her life at least gave her a place to sleep and food to eat, although not desirable.
In April 1921, Phoebe was sentenced to a further twelve months imprisonment in the female prison in Coburg (Pentridge). Less than seven months later in early November 1921, Phoebe Harris, the brown-eyed brunette and former tailoress and prison laundry attendant was finally set free from gaol when she collapsed after a 'fainting fit' and was carried to the hospital. After not regaining consciousness for four days, Phoebe eventually died of advanced kidney disease at the age of 53 years on 6 November.
Do you have a criminal in your family tree that you would like to learn more about? Contact us today to see how we can help you!
Phoebe Harris (AKA Phoebe Josephs) prison register, No. 5190 - PROV, VPRS 516/P2, Vol. 9, Pg. 226
Phoebe Harris inquest - PROV, VPRS 24/P0, Unit 1014, Item 1921/1140
Victorian police gazette
The Herald (Melbourne), 22 June 1909, p. 5
Truth (Melbourne), 21 August 1915, p. 3
Argus (Melbourne), 19 December 1908, p. 20
The Age (Melbourne), 19 December 1908, p. 16
Argus (Melbourne), 3 January 1885, p. 12
Tagged: family history, family tree, genealogy, born and bred, historical research, history, criminal history, crimes, victorian history
All is not as it seems: family trees and lore
Every family tree is made up of many branches; each ancestor holds their own timeline and individual story. Sometimes these stories, or part thereof, can be uncovered and we can put 'flesh on the bones' of an ancestor. Sometimes the stories we're presented with when beginning a family tree can be sad, traumatic and downright confusing. But what we need to try and heed is that these stories need to be understood in context to the era and the circumstances surrounding an ancestor.
Recently we were presented with the (little) known facts about an ancestor – name, wife's name and date of death – as well as the family lore that he was 'not a very nice man'. A story that was kept in the back of our minds, but something we believed to be irrelevant to the overall family tree. After some thorough research we were able to form more of a story about this man who had left an impression of impending doom on his family.
In July 1940, Phillip Bourke enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Forces (2nd AIF) after the declaration of war ten months earlier. Two months after enlisting, Private Bourke departed from Melbourne and found himself disembarking in Palestine where he was eventually stationed in Dimra, a mere 10km north-east of Gaza City. Just over a month after his arrival, Private Bourke was evacuated and admitted to the General Hospital for what was to be the first of several visits. After this first visit he was diagnosed with a post-concussion headache and sent to re-join his unit. Less than twelve months later he was re-admitted to hospital with further head injuries before eventually being assessed as 'fit for duties other than active service…' No doubt a disheartening experience for someone who had lied about his age on to join the Australian armed forces.
By January 1942 Private Bourke was again admitted to hospital, and this time the diagnosis was neurosis. Bourke was then classified as permanently medically unfit for service by the medical board and shortly after boarded a ship to return to Australia. Immediately upon his arrival to Melbourne he was transferred to 115 General Hospital Heidelberg and diagnosed with 'anxiety neuroses'. More than two months later, Private Bourke was transferred to Caulfield Hospital before being discharged permanently.
The impact of warfare on servicemen and women could be detrimental to an individuals' physical and mental health, which could, if untreated, impact upon family, friends, peers, colleagues and loved ones' on their return home. We now know that Private Phillip Bourke's diagnosis of 'anxiety neuroses' would be today classified as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treated accordingly; at that time, it would have been known as 'burnt-out soldier' syndrome.
The family story of a father, grandfather and great grandfather being an angry man may have in fact been true, but the story behind that man was very different. The circumstances behind his demeanour, fits of temper and general cloudy nature had a reason, one which was likely never spoken of or explained and was also quite common for returned servicemen (and women).
Warfare varied for every participant and effected each person in differing ways, whether they be on active service or on the home front, or whether they were injured physically, mentally or remained without a scratch the effects were irreversible.
Sometimes we can't believe everything we are told. Sometimes we can't just judge a book by its cover.
Is there a mysterious ancestor in your tree that you would like to find out more about? Contact us today to see how we can help.
Enjoying the sunshine from one of the top verandahs at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, c1940-46. Image courtesy SLV
Tagged: family tree, family history, genealogy, world war 2, war, born and bred, historical research, history
Truth or Dare: Desertion and Divorce in one family tree
Nothing screamed 'scandal' like an article in Truth – a sensational and melodramatic tabloid which specialised in the reporting of scandalous events around Australia.
In 1916 desertion, perceived adultery and eventual divorce was just the story to be featured in the Melbourne publication of Truth, particularly if there were titbits of disgrace for either or both parties.
In May 1916, after almost 15 years of marriage Thomas Spry petitioned for divorce from his wife Everes, fifteen years his junior. The couple and their three children had moved between farming pursuits in New South Wales to Victoria and back again. After nearly twelve years of marriage, Thomas declared that Everes had 'willfully deserted' him and no longer performed her wifely duties out of, and particularly inside the bedroom. This, of course, was the type of scandal that Truth just loved to report about. Snippets of the trial appeared in the newspaper, reporting that Thomas had continually and lovingly provided for his wife before she, on several occasions 'took ill' and was hospitalised at Royal Park for a nervous breakdown (on more than one occasion). What Thomas failed to mention in his written divorce petition before the courts, but was thoroughly reported about in the newspaper was the fact that his wife had discovered a prescription which was to assist with 'certain diseases', he claims, he was afflicted with, prior to their marriage. Everes finding the prescription, which Thomas claimed had been written almost 30 years earlier – and which he had for reasons unknown kept – asked her doctor what it was for. Yet, Thomas didn't believe that it was an issues, he passed the blame to his estranged wife and stated that, 'the only conclusion I can come to is that when the money was done love was too'.
Truth, 13 May 1916, p. 3.
Everes did not fight Thomas' claim, she did not write to the court of her response to the claims of desertion nor appeared in person to have her voice heard. Eliza, her mother, did appear and claimed that all the blame could not be attributed to her daughter and her mental state. Eliza believed that Thomas was 'rather sweet on a servant girl' and had partly attributed Everes' reasons for not sleeping with her husband because 'his breath was so strong with rum and tobacco that she could not sleep with him'.
Briefly, Thomas was questioned about whether his intent to divorce was because he had the desire to marry again. He denied that he had neither a prospective new wife nor the inclination to find someone. That same year – within 6 months – Thomas did indeed marry again.
Do you want us to uncover the scandal in your family tree, or get to the bottom of a family mystery? Contact us today to see how we can help you.
Studio portrait of unidentified married woman face obliterated, c1880-90. Image courtesy SLV
Truth (Melbourne), 13 May 1916, p. 3.
PROV, VPRS 283/P0, Unit 240, Item 1916/15.
Tagged: family tree, family history, genealogy, divorce, born and bred, historical research, history
Family trees and Google mysteries
The internet is a great and powerful tool. Google answers any and all of our questions, from determining the currency of Ghana to advice on how long to cook the Christmas turkey. However, there are pitfalls to the electronic encyclopaedia that many of us use on a daily basis: you can't believe everything you read online!
Someone came to us with a quandary; they had just started the exciting journey of researching their family history online. They had found their ancestor who, in 1882 had passed away in a fairly large Victorian metropolis; they had also found this same ancestor buried in Adelaide over twenty years later in 1903. They had told us that their ancestor was married twice and had 20 children. Now, large families were not unusual in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century, although 20 was an extraordinarily large number of children for one woman to birth in a fairly short period of time. And dying in one location and being buried in another several decades later was a very unusual concept for that time.
With some thorough research using primary sources, such as births, deaths and marriage records, wills and probate records and census records, we were able to establish that there were two women with the same maiden name – one having children with one man in Victoria and another marrying and having children in South Australia. The women's timelines are similar and potentially could have been the same woman, except for a few pieces of vital information – the Victorian couple were married in the UK and migrated to Australia a decade after the South Australian couple were married and the women had several of their children at the same time – in two different states!
So, while we love the internet and what it allows us to do in our everyday lives, and in our research pursuits, you need to make sure you take it all with a grain of salt. There are many records available online which are digested copies of original, primary records and sources, these are a great source of information and can assist with research if used in the right way. However, it is also very easy to get one ancestor confused with another which may have the same name and this can be seen through the likes of sites such as Ancestry.com. Whilst it is a great resource there is no regulation on what information can be uploaded and shared between 'trees'; there is no requirement for sources for where information has been obtained.
Just don't believe everything you read on the internet!
If you have a funny looking branch in your tree, or just a question about an elusive ancestor, contact us today to see how we can help.
Tagged: family tree, family history, genealogy, born and bred, history, historical research


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Donald Trump Signals Opposition To Debate Rule Changes, Claims He "Easily Won" First Matchup With Joe Biden - Deadline
Donald Trump signaled that he would oppose changes to the rule of the second and third presidential debates, while claiming that he "easily won" the first match up with Joe Biden. "Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time?" he tweeted on Thursday. Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2020 In response to widespread criticism of the debate on Tuesday, primarily over Trump's repeated interruptions of Joe Biden, the organizers of the debates said that they are considering changes, including additional structure to ensure "a more orderly discussion of the issues." The Commission on Presidential Debates, a bipartisan group that has sponsored the gatherings since 1988, reportedly is considering one measure that would allow for a candidate's microphone to be turned off if they flout the rules. Trump has done this dance before when it comes to debates. Earlier in this cycle, there was some speculation that he would not participate, as he claimed that the commission was "very biased." As the debates approached, his campaign pressed the commission to add another debate or move the schedule, while suggesting a list of moderators. None of them were picked. Related Story Chris Wallace Expresses Frustration At Donald Trump For Chaotic Debate, Doubts Some Possible Rule Changes Now Trump seems to be keying up a standoff with the commission, which is expected to unveil their new rules in the next day or so. He could refuse to abide by them and skip the debates. Or, as has been the case in other situations, he could dangle the prospect until the last minute, and then declare some kind of victory when he shows up. On Wednesday, Tim Murtaugh, communications director of the Trump campaign, said in a statement, "They're only doing this because their guy got pummeled last night. President Trump was the dominant force and now Joe Biden is trying to work the refs. They shouldn't be moving the goalposts and changing the rules in the middle of the game." Kate Bedingfield, deputy campaign manager for the Biden campaign, said, "Joe Biden is looking forward to the Town Hall in Miami. He'll be focused on answering questions from the voters there, under whatever set of rules the Commission develops to try to contain Donald Trump's behavior. The president will have to choose between responding to voters about questions for which he has offered no answers in this campaign — or repeating last night's unhinged meltdown." Scientific polls conducted since the debate have shown that viewers thought that Biden won the debate, not Trump.
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Judge delays deadline for release of migrant children held by ICE
The deadline was first set for Friday, and had it not been extended the migrant children ran the risk of being separated from their parents.
A migrant child disembarks a U.S. Border Patrol bus at the processing center and shelter in Deming, New Mexico on May 27, 2019.Adria Malcolm / Reuters file
July 16, 2020, 7:15 PM EDT
By Julia Ainsley and Daniel Barnes
WASHINGTON — A federal judge in California extended the deadline she first imposed that mandated the release of immigrant children detained with their parents in ICE family detention centers.
Immigration & The Border77 Democrats send a letter to Biden criticizing his border and immigration policies
The deadline was initially set for Friday, and had the deadline not been extended the migrant children ran the risk of being separated from their parents and released.
Judge Dolly Gee had ordered the release of the children in June, after determining that the coronavirus pandemic had made the family detention centers unsafe. She wrote at the time that the family detention centers were "on fire."
PoliticsJudge delays ruling on ICE detention, meaning migrant parents and kids could be separated Friday
Gee said the government is already violating her earlier order by holding them longer than 20 days. The average child has been in detention more than 100 days. Ninety-seven children are affected by the order.
Gee has now extended the deadline to July 27 after both parties asked for more time to negotiate how the children will be released.
Gee only has jurisdiction over the detained children, and her order only applies to them, meaning that ICE may have to decide whether to release children with their parents or separate families. ICE has opposed releasing their parents.
Lawyers for the migrants say they should be released while awaiting the outcome of their asylum cases given the rising number of COVID-19 cases in ICE detention.
Julia Ainsley
Julia Ainsley is homeland security correspondent for NBC News and covers the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department for the NBC News Investigative Unit.
Daniel Barnes
Daniel Barnes reports for NBC News, based in Washington.


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Q: Review my partitioning strategy and partition information of Ubuntu server I've installed Ubuntu Server 10.04, for serving as a samba server and development web server in my home network, on the following box:

*

*Pentium III 733MHz @133MHz

*768 MB RAM

*HD 1: 20.5 GB

*HD 2: 41 GB

What I did, as far as partitioning is concerned, is as followed:
HD 1:

*

*Primary partition [/] 19 GB

*Logical partition [swap] 1.5 GB

HD 2:

*

*Logical partition [/home] 41 GB

Is this a reasonable configuration? Coming from a predominantly Windows (and a little bit of Mac OS X) environment, I believe a primary partition is needed for booting the system. But I think I read that I could do away with a primary partition altogether for a linux environment, and make it a logical partition as well, because Linux can boot from a logical partition. I believe this was suggested to make creating a multi boot system easier. While I don't have a need for a multi boot system though, is using only logical partitions still advisable nonetheless?
Furthermore, when printing out the partitioning info, I expected partitions to be named consecutively as:
/dev/sda1 Linux
/dev/sda2 Linux swap / Solaris

/dev/sdb1 Linux

But got:
/dev/sda1 Linux
/dev/sda2 Extended
/dev/sda5 Linux swap / Solaris

/dev/sdb1 Extended
/dev/sdb5 Linux

Now, if memory serves me correct, an extended partition is indeed needed for a logical partition. This is correct, right? However, what I don't understand is why the logical partitions are numbered sda5 and sdb5 in stead of sda3 and sdb2 respectively. Is this a sign that there are still undiscovered / hidden partitions on both drives? Or is this a conventional naming strategy I was unaware of?

A: It's a very reasonable configuration for two drives and for a home server/dev machine.  If you were only on one drive, I'd avoid /home altogether, personally; if you don't make a separate /home partition, files located on that path would simply share space with everything else on the / partition.  In Unix, you mount partitions or devices (such as CD/DVD-ROM drives) onto paths; when mounted, all files under that path are then accessed from the partition or device mounted there.
Think of / as your C: drive--the system and all your software will go there, while /home is where you will keep all of your user data, your files, your source code, etc.
As for sda5 et al, you're right that it's a naming strategy: sda1 through sda4 are primary partitions, and sda5 on are logical partitions.  Making logical partitions is simply a default behavior in the interest of preserving the limited number of primary partitions available.  It would work equally as well if it was sda2 or sda5.
I've actually never booted from a logical partition (your boot partition is / here; the boot files actually live under /boot) and therefore don't know how wise or not it is, but I don't think you need to think about it here either since you specify you are not expecting to multi-boot this machine.  Logical partitions are a mechanism for getting around the 4 primary partition limit and many boot managers only have the capability to boot from a primary partition.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Home/Out Now/How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Controller to a PC
How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Controller to a PC
A keyboard and mouse are great, but some games are better with a controller. If you have a Nintendo Switch Pro controller, you can connect it directly to a PC.
This is an excellent option for gamers who want to use a controller but don't have a PC-specific controller available. It can also be the perfect option when playing emulated Nintendo games on your computer. Read on to find out how to connect your Switch Pro controller to your PC.
How to Connect a Wired Switch Controller to a PC
Before starting, make sure you have a working Switch controller with full battery life and a USB cable for it. You will need to connect this to a USB port on your PC. Follow these steps to get your Switch controller connected.
With the USB cord, connect one end to the Switch controller (if it is a removable USB cord.)
Connect the other end to a USB port on your PC.
Your PC will notify you if it recognizes the connected device. If not, try unplugging the USB and then plugging it back in, or restart your PC if that doesn't work.
Now you can use your controller with your PC. If you want to use your controller with a program like Steam, we've got a section on that further down.
How to Connect a Wireless Switch Controller to a PC
If you have a Switch controller that doesn't require a wired connection, you can also connect it to your PC through Windows 10 Bluetooth device settings menu. This can be done with both Pro controllers and Joy-con controllers. This is also a straightforward process, and all you need is the controller and your PC. If your PC doesn't have built-in Bluetooth, you use a Bluetooth dongle or adapter.
Here's how to establish a Bluetooth connection:
On your PC, go to Start and search for Bluetooth, and open Bluetooth and other devices settings to get to the Bluetooth menu.
Select Add Bluetooth or other device.
Select Bluetooth.
On your Switch controller, press and hold the Sync button at the top of the controller until the lights turn on.
The controller will appear on your PC as a Pro Controller or something similar. Click on it when it appears.
After it's connected, Select Done.
Now you can use your Switch controller with a wireless connection on your PC.
How to Use a Switch Controller On Steam
If you're gaming on a PC, you're likely using Steam to launch and play your games (if not, we'll walk you through how to use your controller with other programs, too.) Thankfully, Steam has Nintendo Switch Pro configuration support for these controllers.
Open Steam and select Steam > Settings in the top left.
Go to Controller > General Controller Settings.
Big Picture mode will open, and you can see if your connected controller is working with Steam. You should be able to use your controller to choose the options.
From here, you can select what kind of controller layout you want to use through Steam and calibrate it. You can use the Nintendo button layout or the layout of other controllers like Xbox. Now, all you need to do is open a game and begin using your controller. Check the settings with your game, though, as you may need to enable a controller before using it. Some Steam games don't support a controller at all.
When you launch a game on Steam, you may need to set up the controller within this game's settings as well. If a Steam game is fully compatible with a controller, typically, the button prompts will change to reflect the type of controller you're using. You may be able to remap the buttons and analog sticks in the game's settings.
How to Use a Switch Controller With Non-Steam Games
Steam makes playing games with your Switch controller easy. But with any non-Steam games or emulators, you will need to use another method to connect your controller to the game. This will depend on what game you are playing and if it provides support for controllers.
You can connect your Switch controller to your computer using the methods above. Still, when you're in-game, you may first need to navigate to controller settings and set it up before it is compatible with whatever you are playing.
This can be accessed in most games through an Options or Settings selection in the game's main menu. From there, look for an option to set up a controller or configuration. You may want to look up your specific game to check if it is compatible with controllers on a PC.
Play Your PC Games With a Switch Controller
A Nintendo Switch controller is an excellent option for playing PC games. If you don't have other options, such as a Playstation or Xbox controller, or a PC-specific one, a Switch controller will do the job just as well. It's extremely easy to set up a Switch controller with your PC as well, requiring only a USB connection or using Bluetooth. If you use Steam, they make it easy to connect a Switch controller to your games.
By following the guide above, you'll be able to play your favorite games with a controller in no time.
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OddBallers gameplay


...fallen in love with a shoe style only to find they don't have it in your size?
...visited 2 or 3 or 4 shoe stores, not finding anything you really like?
...wished your small town shoe store had more variety?
...been frustrated because you just can't find a pair of shoes you like?
If Adidas has it their way, this will all be a part of your past.
This past Tuesday (1.11.11) at the 2011 National Retail Federation's convention in New York, Adidas unveiled a back-to-the-future spinning interactive Virtual Footwear Wall. This innovation makes it possible for shoppers to look through as many as 8,000 shoes portrayed in 3-D format. Shoppers will be able to spin the shoe to look at it from different angles, zoom in on specific details, listen to a video, or learn fun facts about the shoe.
All these shoes will be at your fingertips, through the use of a touch-screen display.
Interestingly, the shopper isn't the only one to benefit from this high-tech innovation.
Retailers will now be able to offer a complete line of Adidas shoes regardless of the square footage of their store. As Chris Aubrey, VP, Global Retail Marketing for Germany-based Adidas said, "We've leveled the playing field for small retailers. They can now act like a big flagship store in a town like New York."
This wall was made possible through a joint partnership between Adidas and Intel. Unfortunately, it is still a visiion for the future. Current plans are to roll out the first prototype in the UK in 2012.


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Committee Members Present: Commissioner Martha Knutzen, Commissioner Theresa Sparks, Kirsten Boyd, Chris Caldeira, Chris Carnes, James DeVinny, Julie Frank, Ted Guggenheim, Jordy Jones, Nancy Lawlor, Mara M. Montenegro, Jorge Romero-Lozano, Kristine Oreskovich, Lisa Scheff, Stephen Schwichow, Morningstar Vancil.
Committee Members Absent: Jason Alley (excused), Virginia Benavidez (excused), Sally Buchmann, Scott Campbell (excused), Jay Dwyer (excused), Danny Kirchoff, Yoseñio Lewis (excused), Johnnie Pratt (excused).
Staff Present: Larry Brinkin, Domenic Viterbo.
Guests Present: Chris Daley, Kevin Gogin, Jordan Green, Jasmine, Carolyn Laub, Ren Phoenix.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call:
Commissioner Knutzen called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. Mr. Brinkin called the roll.
2. Approval of Minutes of January 21, 2003:
Mr. Romero-Lozano moved to approve the minutes as written. Ms. Scheff seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Public Comments for Items Not on the Agenda:
4. Panel on Public School Issues:
Ms. Caldeira introduced Jasmine, a 17-year old senior at Thurgood Marshall High School, who is president of the school's Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA). She said that she came out as a lesbian while in the 8th grade at a Catholic middle school that she attended. In her freshman year, she was reluctant to come out, but then she met a popular junior girl who helped her come out. The two became girlfriends and had helped her gain the confidence to be out in school. Her girlfriend was president of the school's GSA, and when she graduated, Jasmine became president. She also stated that because of her studies and other extracurricular activities, she doesn't have too much time to devote to the GSA. If no one is able to take over the GSA when she graduates, the club may be discontinued.
Jasmine says that though the GSA wasn't attracting a lot of people to join, it isn't being looked down upon. She, along with an advisor, put a slide show together depicting images of LGBT people that was shown at school. She said that most students who come out don't want to make it public. About 30 other students have come out to her confidentially because she is the most out person at school which makes her comfortable to talk to. She has been asked to speak before her peers, students at other high schools, and college students about coming out. She said that the key to gaining the respect of your peers is confidence. You must have the confidence to be yourself or else people look down on you. Since Jasmine is confident about herself and her sexual identity, she hasn't gotten a lot of negative responses.
Jasmine said that the school's teachers are very supportive; students are encouraged to be themselves. She said that she is kept positive and happy due to the great people who surround her. She said that her family is very supportive of her, but her mother is worried mostly about the hardships she may face in the future as a result of being out. Ms. Vancil asked if any teachers have come out to her. Jasmine said that two teachers came out.
Jasmine mentioned that last year, her school held an event called Day of Silence that was sponsored by the Gay Lesbian Straight Network to honor people who've been brutalized by hate crimes. She hopes to make this year's Day of Silence more successful.
Ms. Lawlor introduced 17-year old Jordan Green. Jordan said he came out in the summer of his eighth grade year to his mom and her family. He said that year, he and his sister, accompanied by his mother, went to summer camp and he was caught kissing a boyfriend. Through his one-week stay at camp, he felt that he had experienced blatant homophobia because he was passed up for honors and was moved to a different cabin from where his boyfriend was. From this experience, he vowed to himself to come out in high school. His mother was very supportive of him though his father wasn't quite as accepting.
Jordan had been going to the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center (LYRIC) for 3 years prior to coming out in high school. He is attending School For The Arts which is a very liberal, open-minded school. On the second day of his freshman year, he met David and Jessica thus forming his support system. This year the three of them became co-presidents of their school's GSA.
Jordan said that by finding the strength and confidence to come out, he was seen as a leader, then became a peer educator teaching sex education. By working with LYRIC as an intern for the young men's health coordinator, he began educating others by putting on workshops and traveled around the country.
Jordan said that he attended workshops on how to run a GSA. Jordan said that other out students his age only want to have fun, and that the GSA's main focus is education. Students visiting the GSA are encouraged to check out their library of LGBT-themed books or other resources they provide.
The GSA has been more education-focused, but Jordan says that they may focus on more social aspects next year. He added that when the social aspect of their GSA changed to being more education-focused, attendance dropped. He said that numbers decreased because people thought it would be a place to be social, to find out who's gay. Eventually more students come out and are invited to the GSA and use it for support, a place to feel accepted.
Ms. Oreskovich asked if straight students attend their workshops. Jasmine replied that her personal friends and allies who are straight would attend workshops to show their support. Jordan said that when he first joined the GSA it was mostly straight, but they were allies.
Ms. Lawlor introduced Mr. Kevin Gogin, Director of Support Services for Sexual Minority Youth, which is a program within the School Health Programs Department of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). He founded the program in September 1990. He added that his program has three components: 1) working with students individually, 2) curriculum development and education, and 3) professional development. Most of Mr. Gogin's work is concentrated mostly at the high school level, though he's called to assess younger students as well.
Mr. Gogin passed out a job description for Sexual Minority Youth Liaison Coordinator (SMYL) for the Health Promotion Committee. The position would be on the high school level. He added that SMYLs are also provided to kindergarten through middle school (K-8) campuses. The SMYLs provide resources to students which includes a drop-in and/or GSA. For K-8 campuses, SMYLs provide a violence prevention event as well as a gay pride event. In the middle school level, there are 10 clubs called either Rainbow, Diversity, or Respect Clubs and are working well. Ms. Boyd asked what happens to kids if they decide to come out in elementary school. Mr. Gogin said that because of funding, SMYLs aren't provided to elementary schools, though there are on-site learning support consultants and nurses. The organization, Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE), has been helpful with broadening their youth meetings to include kids who might be queer as well as children of gay parents.
Commissioner Sparks asked if gender identity is addressed particularly regarding the incidents of last year. Mr. Gogin said that it's much easier nowadays for students to come out as transgender or gender variant than it was 10 years ago, though there are still challenges. He added that education starts with the discussion of gender identity. He said students as early as 6th grade exhibit signs in a variety of ways. San Francisco has policies in place to help aid them in accommodating transgender students even though there are no written policies in the SFUSD. For transgender students, bathrooms and locker rooms are provided and dress codes are not an issue. Mr. Gogin's office can even help students change their sex on school records. They can also find someone on-site whom they can be out to about their gender identity.
Mr. Gogin said that policy exists regarding discrimination against LGBT teachers; however, they cannot dictate their sense of safety. It is clear that LGBT teachers and students have the right to be out if they choose to be.
Carolyn Laub is with the Gay/Straight Alliance Network (GSAN), a network of all the GSAs around the state, primarily high schools. There are currently about 325 GSAs in the state of California. GSAN is a student movement led by students. GSAN started 4 years ago to network the GSAs in the Bay Area, only 40 at the time. Since then they've expanded geographically. GSAN helps foster leadership, provides resources, and supports students who want to be leaders and activists and helps them deal with challenges. Unfortunately very few students from San Francisco have gotten involved though more students outside of San Francisco are active because of strong district program support and strong teacher/adult presence at the school-site level. Ms. Laub passed out a draft policy guide pertaining to transgender students which was created because more school districts are confronting more transgender students coming out at earlier ages. These pose more challenges to schools than questions about sexual orientation. She introduced Chris Daly with the Transgender Law Center with whom she's worked to help put together the policy guide. She said that GSAN has worked with LYRIC and Mr. Gogin's program to help put on the Overcoming Homophobia Meeting for Youth (OHMY) conference each February. This year's event attracted about 500 students. She added that an arts collaboration with LYRIC taught students about different types of media, such as printscreening and graphic design. The students later produced an exhibit. She produced several posters that were created by students through the collaboration that were distributed to all the GSAs in California.
5. Approval of Resolution Honoring Life of Mary Dunlap (Action Item):
Commissioner Knutzen said that the resolution would be voted on at the next Commission meeting. She noted that Cynthia Goldstein, of staff, had written most of the resolution. Commissioner Knutzen, Mr. Brinkin, and Ms. Lawlor shared their personal reflections of Mary. Ms. Lawlor moved to recommend the resolution to the Commission. Ms. Carnes seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Report of the Senior Issues Task Force:
Mr. Brinkin said that the Task Force met on February 4 and is continuing to work on the LGBT Senior Issues report. He said that the Task Force is still working on the recommendations. A draft copy of the report will be sent out on Friday to the Task Force members for review and then will be discussed and voted on at next month's meeting. It will then be given to the Commission for approval at its March 27th meeting. Then members of the Commission on Aging and Adult Services will receive a draft copy of the report for their approval at their April meeting.
7. Report from Gender Identity Guidelines Revisions Task Force:
Mr. Brinkin reported that a draft copy of the report has been given to the City Attorney's office and is currently being reviewed.
8. Recommendation for Appointment of New Members (Action Item):
Ms. Lawlor reported that she, along with Commissioner Knutzen, Mr. Alley, Ms. Vancil, Mr. Brinkin, and Ms. Nicholson, was part of the recruitment committee who interviewed six applicants to the Committee. She said that out of the six applicants who submitted letters of application by the deadline, three were chosen: Bill Kirkpatrick, Aleem Raja, and Lauren Williams. If the Committee votes to recommend them, their names would be given to Commission Chair Malcolm Heineke for appointment. Ms. Vancil moved to recommend the three applicants to the Commission. Mr. Guggenheim seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
9. Retreat Planning:
Mr. Brinkin described the process on how the retreat will be planned. Mr. Brinkin added that Former Commissioner Stephen Herman, an administrator with City College of San Francisco, has allowed the Committee to use the auditorium at 33 Gough Street that was used for last year's retreat. Mr. Brinkin will send the possible retreat dates to Committee members. Commissioner Knutzen suggested that Committee members provide their availability for all retreat dates via e-mail to staff. A retreat planning committee will be selected at next month's meeting.
10. Commissioners' Report:
Commissioner Knutzen announced that a community group is advising the Commission regarding environmental racism. The group advised the Commission that rather than having a hearing, it should consider having a series of workshops. This is so that a more informed hearing will result. Mr. Brinkin said that the group will be meeting tomorrow and will decide on having a hearing, scheduled for March 13, or the workshop idea.
Mr. Brinkin announced that at the upcoming February 27th Commission meeting, a resolution will be presented in honor of the memory of Harry Hay to his partner, John Burnside.
11. Staff Report:
Mr. Brinkin reported that staff will participate in Public Interest Law Day at Hastings School of Law on February 22nd. Staff members will staff a table and interview law students interested in interning at the HRC during the summer.
Mr. Brinkin reported that an intern from Jewish Vocational Services would join staff on March 3rd for 12 hours weekly for five weeks providing assistance on the LGBT Senior Issues report.
Mr. Brinkin announced that he was Acting Diretor last week and is this week while the Director is on maternity leave. Cynthia Goldstein will be Acting Director for two weeks afterward.
Mr. Brinkin announced that members of staff led a few TAP and Gender Identity trainings throughout the month and have more trainings lined up through March.
Mr. Brinkin reported that Los Angeles has had its own Equal Benefits Ordinance for about a year, and its City Council just voted unanimously to strengthen the ordinance to be more like San Francisco's.
Mr. Brinkin announced that at the March 13th Commission meeting, the LGBTH division will report on LGBT immigration issues with invited speakers.
Mr. Brinkin announced that Aleem Raja, a new LGBTAC member, is a finalist for grand marshal of the Pride Parade along with himself and Carolyn Laub, one of the panel speakers.
Ms. Boyd announced that she organized a women's' rap session for Pride.
Mr. Jones announced a transgender rap session at the LGBT Community Center's Senior Room tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Schwichow reported that he attended a national conference of Unitarian Universalists Office of LGBT Concerns in Kansas City, MO.
Ms. Vancil announced that she would be speaking about racism at the 18th Annual Empowering Women of Color Conference: Fighting for Liberation at UC Berkeley at 10:00 a.m. on March 1st.
Mr. Brinkin moved to adjourn in honor of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon's 50th anniversary as a couple. The meeting was so adjourned at 7:40 p.m.


Whether you celebrate your father, stepfather, grandfather, or best father figure in your life, the holiday known as 'Father's Day' is marked around the world as a day to honor the role fathers play in families and societies in general.
Some dads enjoy the practical, some the humorous, some like to add to a favorite hobby, and some look for the intelligent gift choice. A few require some combination of the above, and then there are those who demand days, even weeks, devoted to thinking of some really clever and unexpected Father's Day gift. The best dads, perhaps, only look for a day with some time put aside to spend together, preferably out on the water in your Monterey.
Father's Day varies by country, but is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June – the 17th this year – in the United States and the U.K., Argentina, Bahamas, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, France, Greece, Guyana, India, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, to name just a few.
Father's Day dates for other countries include the first Sunday in September for Australia, the second Sunday in August for Brazil, February 23 in Russia, and Italy and Spain honor fathers on March 19. In the colorful country of Thailand, Father's Day is set as the birthday of the current king.
No matter which day you celebrate it, Father's Day is the day to mark the contribution that your father has made to your life. If your Dad has introduced you to the wonderful world of boating, we have some suggestions for a gift to show him he's Number One.
There are many nautical theme gift sites, and then there are more substantial gift sites for boat owners that feature gadgets and technical toys, new accessories, gifts to add comfort or improve safety, or items that can be personalized with his initials or the boat's name. Time spent together out on the water is recommended but not mandatory, but it will be special, and really sets the stage for presenting him with that perfect gift – for his boat.
And don't forget Monterey Gear. We have many perfect gift ideas you can purchase online for any of the men in your life.
You may think he always knows best, but show him you know what's best when choosing his Father's Day gift!


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Marvel Actor Dead at 37 After Skiing Accident in French Alps
Gaspard Ulliel was airlifted to a hospital with head injuries after a brutal collision on the slopes in the Savoie region.
Woman Whose Baby Was Torn From Her Arms By NYPD Receives $625K Settlement From NYC
'A RECKONING'
Anna Kaplan
Updated Dec. 14, 2019 9:05PM ET / Published Dec. 14, 2019 4:07PM ET
A woman whose 1-year-old child was ripped from her arms by police officers in Brooklyn has been awarded a $625,000 settlement from New York City, officials said. Jazmine Headley was seeking unspecified damages in a federal lawsuit, filed in August in Brooklyn, after NYPD officers pulled her 18-month-old son away from her while responding to a call about a dispute with a guard in an administrative building about a year ago. "Ms. Headley came to the city seeking help, and we failed to treat her with the dignity and respect she deserved," Olivia Lapeyrolerie, a spokeswoman for New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, said in a statement. "While this injustice should have never happened, it forced a reckoning with how we treat our most vulnerable." Mayor de Blasio publicly apologized to Headley days after the incident. Her son, who was still breastfeeding at the time, "had been brutally wrenched from his mother's arms, taken by strangers to a police precinct, and released to spend the night without his mother for the first time in his life," according to the lawsuit. The suit also claimed that her son suffered physical, mental and other injuries during the altercation.
Read it at NBC News


text:
SolarEdge Moves Beyond Solar With Energy Storage Acquisition, Virtual Power Plant Launch
source: http://feeds.greentechmedia.com/~r/GTM_Solar/~3/MZHZLuscfQw/solaredge-moves-beyond-solar-with-energy-storage-acquisition-virtual-power
SolarEdge reported record revenues and profitability for the first quarter of 2018 on Wednesday — along with plans to move into markets beyond solar power optimization.
On the energy storage front, SolarEdge announced an $11.5 million acquisition of Gamatronic Electronic Industries Ltd., an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems provider for commercial and industrial businesses around the world. CEO Guy Sella noted that the acquisition is the second major step for the company outside the solar arena, the first being last year's launch of inverter-embedded EV charging systems.
Another came last week, with SolarEdge's launch of a cloud-based virtual power plant management system, one that could turn its fleet of solar optimizers and inverters into nodes of a distributed energy resource control platform.
Last week's launch marks the debut of a system that's already controlling homes in projects in three countries, said Lior Handelsman, co-founder and vice president of marketing and product strategy, in a Monday interview.
In Vermont, utility Green Mountain Power is tapping SolarEdge's capabilities to manage a small but growing fleet of smart homes equipped with Tesla Powerwall batteries, grid-controllable water heaters, Nest thermostats, and smart EV chargers, he said. In the Netherlands, utility Eneco is using the company's platform for its CrowdNett home battery offering.
In Australia, utility AGL picked SolarEdge, along with Tesla and LG, to roll out its long-awaited residential virtual power plant project, said Handelsman.
These projects are all using SolarEdge's inverters as the home's central control point for solar panels, batteries and electric vehicle chargers — constantly updating battery status, solar power output status, household load and other key data, he said. But they also serve as the end node for a cloud-based platform that orchestrates their operation in aggregate.
"You cannot control 10,000 systems separately. Each system has its own capabilities, its own parameters," he said. "We provide for you the ability to see exactly how much available energy you have," and how much flexibility is embedded in that fleet, providing the assurance that these distributed energy resources can perform a number of valuable grid services.
For distribution utilities, those could range from reducing load during systemwide peaks, serving as a non-wires alternative, or upgrading a local, stressed-out substation or feeder line — two areas of focus for Green Mountain Power.
For retail energy providers, SolarEdge's cloud platform could provide the tools to shave costs and increase revenues based on moment-to-moment fluctuations in energy prices, as well as gain market share in the distributed energy field, said Handelsman.
SolarEdge is not getting into the business of aggregating and bidding connected homes into various revenue-making opportunities on its own. "We are not going to compete with our customers. We provide technology and solutions to our customers," said Handelsman.
Nor does it expect virtual power plants to become a significant portion business in the near future. Sella noted during Wednesday's conference call that the new VPP service is not expected to "add to our revenues in 2018 in any significant manner."
"Once they gain acceptance, they are expected to generate recurrent revenues at high margins," Sella noted. Unlike SolarEdge's competitive hardware-based business, these VPP services will be embedded in products for virtually no extra cost.
Handelsman noted that the market for these services is still limited by regulatory and economic constructs that make it difficult for customers, utilities and vendors to recover the revenues for the services that the technology can provide. "Most of our existing fleet could be turned on in this fashion," he noted.
SolarEdge isn't the first to move into the grid services field. In 2016, chief competitor Enphase unveiled its own grid optimization service, based on early work with utilities such as Hawaiian Electric, to tap its existing microinverter fleet for valuable grid edge intelligence.
Enphase scaled back its work on this and other non-essential lines of business, including its energy storage offering, in the face of mounting losses and increased price pressure from SolarEdge, as well as incumbent string inverter makers such as SMA, Fronius and ABB.
SolarEdge reported first-quarter 2018 revenues of $209.9 million, up 82 percent from the same quarter last year. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of March totaled $400.8 million, compared to $345.1 million at the end of 2017.
The company also offered second-quarter 2018 guidance of revenues between $220 million to $230 million. Gross margin is expected to remain flat within the range of 36 percent to 38 percent.
Its Simple to Earn Free Energy. Really http://reduceandsaveenergy.com/switch


JUST IN: Neymar New Transfer Move to Real Madrid, Might leave PSG. Gareth Bale to be flogged!!!
SPAIN. NEYMAR will only swap PSG for Real Madrid if Gareth Bale moves to Manchester United, reports in Spain have claimed.
Real would love to keep Bale and play him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar in what would be a truly formidable attack. But in order to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, Gareth Bale will be sold.
Real Madrid would love PSG star Neymar to become their big Galactico signing at the end of the current campaign.
Reports have suggested the Brazil international is unhappy in his current surroundings and is already eyeing a fresh challenge at the end of the season.
Real and Manchester United have the financial might to sign him but it is the La Liga giants who appear to be his likelier destination.
Real will need to pay at least £200 Million to bring the player back to La Liga, and in order to raise funds, they will need to flog several star players.


text:
IANS·
With record spike of 86K cases, India's corona tally crosses 40 lakh
File photo: KM/Umar Ganie
New Delhi: India on Saturday recorded the highest spike of 86,432 cases taking the total tally to 40,23,179 cases, Union Health Ministry data revealed.
A total of 1,089 deaths were registered in the last 24 hours taking the toll to 69,561.
Out of the total confirmed cases, 8,46,395 are the active cases, while a total of 31,07,223 have recovered from the virus so far. With 77,072 recoveries in a day, the recovery rate has increased to 77.23 per cent.
The number of patients recovering is on a steady rise over the past several months. As the daily recoveries increase, India has registered more than 60,000 recoveries each day.
Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit with a total of 8,63,069 cases and 25,969 deaths; followed by Andhra Pradesh with 4,76,506 cases and 4,276 deaths. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal, and Bihar come next.
According to the data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India conducted a record 10,59,346 tests in a single day on Friday, taking the total number of samples tested so far to 47,738,491.
On the global front, India still remains the third worst hit nation with the Covid-19 pandemic while the US and Brazil lead the board with 62,00,518 and 40,91,801 total cases, respectively. India is a few thousand cases short of crossing Brazil.


text:
Finalists for master students' teaching award
By Astri Kamsvåg
Leif Egil Hem, Finn Kinserdal og Francisco Santos are the three finalists for the Master's Students' Award for Excellence in Teaching 2019. Which one of them wins the award will be a well kept secret until the graduation ceremony on 14 June.
The Student Committee at NHH has received many good nominations this year and has chosen three finalists for the award.
"The number of nominations is considered relative to the size of the courses the lecturers are teaching, and we have emphasized the content of the nominations when choosing our finalists. The jury soon became unanimous in who we believed stood out of the nominees", says Raymond Lægreid, Head of the Master's Program in the Student Committee.
The jury has focused on the following criteria:
ability to communicate
academic expertise
THE FINALISTS
Of the 28 nominated lecturers, the jury has chosen the following top three finalists, in alphabetical order:
Leif Egil Hem, Professor at the Department of Strategy and Management. The jury states that "Hem shows great enthusiasm about what he is teaching and makes a huge effort to make sure that everyone understands the topic. His feedback sessions were terrific, and he obviously reads the assignments very thoroughly."
Finn Kinserdal, Associate Professor at the Department of Accounting, Auditing and Law. The jury states that "Kinserdal is able to make a somewhat dry topic exciting, and he is extraordinary engaging and inspiring. He has contributed to develop and update several of the accounting courses by making them more relevant and digitalized."
Francisco Santos, Associate Professor at the Department of Finance. The jury states that "Santos has very good interaction with the students during class. He explains the material in an excellent way, and he makes the course understandable and very interesting".


2008 December » Embroidery Talk Has Moved!
As I've noted before, your choice of supplier can have a major effect on the success or failure of your business. Given that the choice of a supplier can be so important, it is certainly a choice that should be made with care. The problem is that there are a large number of machine embroidery supply companies out there. Do a Google search for "machine embroidery supplies" and you come up with 211,000 results. How do you know, among all those possibilities, which one is the right one for you?
One way to find a supplier would be to ask friends or acquaintances in the same business what supplier they use. Often the best way to find out how well a supplier performs is to talk to those people who do business with that supplier. That is one of the reasons why so many businesses run testimonials on their web sites. These companies want to let potential customers know that they are already successfully serving the market.
Another method of researching potential suppliers is to visit forums like T-shirt forums.com. There are a wide variety of embroidery and machine embroidery forums available on the Internet, although some are much more active than others. If you do choose to take this path, please keep in mind that every answer you get may not be an informed one. Forums can be very helpful places, but there are also people who will post information based on hearsay or gossip. If someone does have a definitive opinion, positive or negative, about a particular supplier, probe a little more to see if you can find out how that opinion was formed.
Search engines may be a way that some people use to find a supplier. You could simply type in your search term, say "machine embroidery thread" for example, and elect to buy from the company that appears at the top of the list. Keep in mind, the top company may not be the best company, as sites are ranked according to complex search algorithims, not according to quality of merchandise or customer service expertise.
Some embroiderers may elect to choose a supplier based on that suppliers ability to provide a particular item. Say, for instance, you were interested in purchasing Iris Thread. There are very few suppliers in the United States who can supply Iris machine embroidery thread so, if you wanted that thread, you'd have to make a purchase from the companies that offer it, like EnMart.
In the end, the choice of a supplier is a very personal one. It is about more than simply finding the cheapest price. It should also be about quality of merchandise, expertise and responsiveness of support staff, and a commitment to excellence. At EnMart, I believe we have all those things. If you'd like to see for yourself, place an order and give us a chance to prove it to you.
Yesterday, we discussed how to decide on the size and type of patches you want to embroider and offer to your customers. Today we will be discussing how to embroider single patches. We have gotten some questions on this subject, so I will do my best to provide you with some good tips on the best way to easily create embroidered patches one at a time.
The first thing to keep in mind is the fact that, if you are starting with already created blanks to which you will add a design, you are way ahead of the game. It is possible to create your own blanks from scratch and then add your design, but the process requires more cost and more time than buying blanks from a supplier.
Once you have received your blanks, the next thing you need to do is add your design. The first thing to do is create a patch template. If you know you will be using the same size patches regularly, scan one patch and then digitize a running stitch around the edge of the image. Be sure your stitching starts and stops at the top of the patch. Once that is done, create another file for the design to go on the patch using your template file as a base.
The best way to embroider a single patch is use a large piece of sticky backing, like EnMart's Peel-N-Stick backing, and hoop the backing with the adhesive side up. This will hold the emblem in place. Once you have hooped your backing, program your machine to stop at the end of the first running stitch. This is the stitch that defines the outline of the patch. Once the machine has sewn the outline stitch it will stop. Place the blank emblem on to the adhesive backing using the running stitch as a template for placement. Restart the machine. It will then sew the rest of your design. When the machine is finished sewing, simply unhoop the backing and tear off the excess.
Also, there is a patch holder attachment for embroidery machines manufactured by a company called Kormak. We are not affiliated with this company, nor do we offer this product for sale through EnMart. We also have never used this attachment. Basically, we know nothing beyond the fact that such a thing exists. I just thought, in the interest of information, I would pass the link along.
When starting up a business, one thing most people know that they need is customers. After all, you can have the best machines in the world, buy the best supplies, and create the greatest embroidered designs, but that all won't matter if you can't find people to buy what you create. Every business needs customers to stay alive, and it isn't enough to just open the doors and hope a customer or two stumbles through them. You have to go out and recruit customers. The following are a few simple ways to do that without spending a huge amount of money.
Method #1: Wear Your Work – One of the best advertisements for your business, and a great way to get people into your shop is for you, your employees if you have them, and your family to wear the garments you embroider. Make sure you always have a supply of business cards on hand, so when someone asks where you got that great jacket or shirt you can hand them a card with all your contact information on it.
Method #2: Donate your work – Most communities are always having a fundraiser or some kind or another. Maybe the school is raising money for a new gym, or your church has an annual Christmas bazaar. If it is allowed, ask if you can set up a booth to sell your work, and donate half the proceeds from any sales you make to the event. If you are not allowed to sell, donate some items. If you do donate, make sure that your business will be recognized in some way, either in a program or through an announcement during the event. Again, make sure you have business cards available to hand out to those who ask about your work.
Method #3: Join local business groups – Most cities and towns have a Chamber of Commerce. There may also be a variety of other clubs and organizations in your town which target a specific business group. Investigate these organizations and pick one or two to join. This is a great opportunity to network with other business owners. Don't be afraid to mention your business and to ask for leads from other business people in your area.
Method #4: – Ask for Referrals – Once you do start building your customer base, don't be afraid to ask for referrals. One method of referral would be for satisfied customers to recommend you directly to others. Another might be for a satisfied customer to give you a list of people on whom they think you should call. You can also ask satisfied customers for testimonials, which you can use to show new customers the kind of work you do.
As an employee of EnMart and Ensign Emblem, I see a variety of shirts and jackets with our corporate logos on them every day. I own several shirts myself. There are days when I look around the offices and everywhere I look I see our corporate logo. It's a nice feeling, and a great way to create a sense of community.
When most machine embroiderers think of ways to increase their business, corporate branding might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Many people tend to associate corporate branding with large corporations. There are probably thousands of people walking around with Google or Microsoft logos on their clothing. There are probably far fewer wearing the logo of Ed's Garage which is down the street in the town where you live. If, however, you can find ten or twelve Ed's Garage type businesses in your town, you can generate a nice revenue stream through corporate branding work.
Corporate branding can work for any business, no matter what the size. Although many people tend to take seeing a company logo on a t-shirt or jacket for granted, studies have shown that almost half the people in any given group will process information they see better than they process information that they hear. A shirt or jacket with a corporate logo is a quiet and classy way to advertise, and one that may stick in many people's minds better than a radio or television ad.
A shirt or jacket with a logo can also be great branding for your own business. Create some different types of shirts and a jacket or two and wear these clothes when you go to the grocery store, the bank or simply for a walk around your neighborhood. You never know when you might meet someone who will see the logo on your clothes and ask where you had it done. Suddenly, a simple shirt has become a great way to advertise your business and a potential vehicle for future sales.
The proper use of backing can make a big difference in the success or failure of your embroidery projects. A average machine embroidery shop will need to have at least a stock of cutaway backing and a stock of tearaway backing on hand to ensure that the shop can handle whatever projects may come. Shops that do a wide variety of projects may need to have a more specialized inventory. If you're new to backing or new to machine embroidery, here is a list of the basic supplies you may want to have on hand.
Item 1: Cutaway Backing – Cutaway backing provides a stable base for delicate or stretchy fabrics. This sort of backing is also generally cut with scissors around the finished design. Cutaway backing is generally sturdier than other sorts of backing.
Item 2: Tearaway Backing – As the name implies, tearaway backing can be torn from around the stitched design. Tearaway backing is a very popular stabilizer choice as it is easy to use and easy to remove from the finished design. Good quality tearaway backing will tear easily in either direction and will tear away from the stitched design without damaging the garment or the stitching.
Item 3: Water Soluble Backing – This is a biodegradable backing/topping. It is ideal for monogramming and appliques. This is the backing you should use when you want to keep your stitches from sinking into the fabric that you are embroidering. When soaked in water, this stabilizer dissolves.
Item 4: Cap Backing – If you often embroider hats and caps, you'll want to have some of this type of backing on hand. Our cap backing is our heaviest weight tearaway product. Cap backing is designed to improve the crispness of letters and columns.
With this basic inventory, you should be able to handle the majority of jobs that come in to your shop. If you are often asked to stitch designs on pieces that are difficult to hoop, you may want to consider adding some additional items to your inventory. Peel and Stick backing has a pressure sensitive coating and a release liner. It is the ideal backing when you need to embroider small items that can't be hooped. If you prefer to use another type of backing, you may also coat your backing with spray adhesive, and hold the item to be stitched in place that way.
In last week's EnMart NewsBites I mentioned that I would be discussing Twitter and social media on the EmbroideryTalk Blog this week. Today seemed like a good day to do that. While I don't have the space or the time to go into an in depth discussion of why and how social media can be helpful to your business, I wanted to take a bit of time today to cover some of the basics.
First of all, let's define social media. Basically, a social media site is any site that depends on user generated content and user participation. Facebook and Linkedin are considered social networking sites. So are a lot of the embroidery forums many of you may visit. Twitter is a social networking and micro blogging site. Delicious is a way to share bookmarks and information as is StumbleUpon. All these sites are ways to interact with other people and ways to share information.
If you own a business the advantages of being on these sites can be huge. Facebook and Linkedin allow you to network with other professionals. Twitter lets you broadcast a constant stream of information about what sorts of things your business is doing. Delicious and Stumbleupon can be a great way to promote your website or to promote your expertise in a particular area. Best of all, the majority of these sorts of sites are free and cost only your time.
One big advantage of using social media is the fact that you have a built in window you can use to see what your customers and potential customers think about your business. Knowing what your customers want and/or need is a vital piece of information if you want to grow your business. Using social media allows you to talk to your customers directly and allows them to give you real time feedback. Social media also allows you to address problems and concerns instantly, even if your customer doesn't mention the issue to you directly.
If you aren't familiar with social media, I would suggest you pick one site and start trying it out. Twitter may be the easiest, as it only requires that you post small comments of 140 characters or less. Look for other people who are in the same business as you are, or who may be potential customers and start following those people. Many of them will follow you back. Before you know it, you'll have built up an audience of potential customers and they'll start spreading your message to other potential customers. It can, and does, happen.
Naming your business is an important part of creating your company image. What you call your business can have an impact on how people see you, whether or not people choose to do business with you and even whether or not people can find your business at all. The right business name can help propel you to success. The wrong business name won't necessarily torpedo your business, but it will put one more obstacle in the road to your success.
If you're contemplating starting a business, here are a few things to consider before you select a name for your new venture.
Tip #1: Think about what you want to be, not just what you are – If you're just starting out you may only have one embroidery head and your goal of adding screenprint is just a wishful thought. When naming your business you need to remember that where you are now may not always be where you are. Try to avoid names that limit you, either to a geographical area or to one category of business.
Tip #2: Try the name out several times – Naming a business is a lot like naming a child, you're going to say whatever name you choose many, many times. Before you settle on a name, try out your candidates in several different situations. Pretend you're answering a phone and use your potential business name in the greeting. Use it in a fake press release. Mention it to friends. Ask people who might not know what sort of business you're planning what your prospective name brings to mind. The more you test the name, the more likely you are to find any pitfalls.
Tip #3: Beware of odd spellings or made up words – Naming your business Mbroidery or Threadz may look and sound cool, but such names will most likely require more advertising dollars if they are to stick in people's heads. You also have to take into account web site domains and web searches. People aren't naturally going to sell embroidery without the e or threads with an s instead of a z. Using an out of the ordinary spelling or word choice just means you'll have to work harder to make sure people remember your business name.
Naming your business can be one of the most important marketing decisions you ever make. It's wise to take the time to do your research and give your options some thought before you settle on a final choice.
It's no secret the economy is in a slump at the moment. A lot of cities and towns, even a lot of states, are suffering from loss of jobs and loss of revenue. Now, more than ever, it is more important to support businesses in your state and in your local area. Businesses that are making money are businesses that are employing people. Giving at least a portion of your buying dollars to businesses that operate in your state and in your area is just a smart thing to do.
EnMart is proud to say that we currently employ people in Michigan, Nevada and New Jersey. Our parent company, Ensign Emblem, also has plants in Illinois, Georgia and California. If you live in any of those states, spending your embroidery supply dollars with EnMart will help keep employees in your area working.
Our corporate headquarters is in Traverse City, Michigan. It is no secret that Michigan has been hard hit by the economic problems that have plagued the U.S. A lot of businesses are closing up shop in Michigan right now. As a Michigan based embroidery supplies company, EnMart is working to help Michigan embroiderers stay in business. That's why we offer the best embroidery supplies we can find at reasonable prices. The Michigan economy needs every successful business it can get, and those businesses need to support each other.
Not only does buying from EnMart make smart economic sense from a "buy local" standpoint, it also make sense from the "buy quality" standpoint. All the items we sell, from thread to backing to bobbins, are the items we use. We know these products work because we've seen them work in our plants every day. If you're looking to reduce inventory costs, buying quality, and buying from EnMart, will certainly help you achieve that goal.


text:
Q: How can I search for values in a .txt file in python? I just need a little help with my code.  I ask for name input and I try to make the code check if the input is in the user, but it always says that it's the user's first time.
name_file = open("NAME_DATA.txt", "r")

name = str(input("Hello, What is your first and last name?\n"))

if name in name_file:
  Clear()
  print("Good to see you again! It looks like you have used this before!")
  tm.sleep(3)
  name_file.close()
if name not in name_file:
  Clear()
  print("I see this is your first time using this software. Have fun!  Just a disclaimer, your
  name will be added to the name_data.txt file, but we will never share anyones name!")
  tm.sleep(5)
  name_file = open("NAME_DATA.txt", "a")
  name_file.write(str(name) + "\n")
  name_file.close()

Please somebody help me with this!!

A: You need to read the text file.
Try this code:
name_file = open("NAME_DATA.txt", "r")
data = name_file.read()

name = str(input("Hello, What is your first and last name?\n"))

if name in data:
  Clear()
  print("Good to see you again! It looks like you have used this before!")
  tm.sleep(3)
  name_file.close()
else:  #if not name in data:
  Clear()
  print("I see this is your first time using this software. Have fun!  Just a disclaimer, your
  name will be added to the name_data.txt file, but we will never share anyones name!")
  tm.sleep(5)
  name_file = open("NAME_DATA.txt", "a")
  name_file.write(str(name) + "\n")
  name_file.close()

A: As @Mike67 said in the comments before I could:
name_file = open("NAME_DATA.txt", "r").read()

Will read the file as text (string)
you can also use .readlines() to make a list from each line in the txt files for further processing

A: You should really consider using the with context manager when working with files, this way you do not need to worry about opening and closing file handles. Additionally I would be surprised if you do not get an error on the conditional block name not in name_file given you open the file with a different mode before closing it again. I would do something more like this
with open("NAME_DATA.txt", "r") as name_file:
    data = name_file.read()

name = str(input("Hello, What is your first and last name?\n"))

if name in data:
    Clear()
    print("Good to see you again! It looks like you have used this before!")
    tm.sleep(3)
else:
    Clear()
    print("I see this is your first time using this software. Have fun!  Just a disclaimer, your
  name will be added to the name_data.txt file, but we will never share anyones name!")
    tm.sleep(5)
    with open("NAME_DATA.txt", "a") as name_file:
        name_file.write(str(name) + "\n")