Nithing of the Week
I am introducing a new feature today in honor of Cafe Press: Nithing of the Week. I will bestow this name on those whose behavior is deemed by me according to accepted standards of behavior in Norse Heathen culture, especially egregious or reprehensible.
What is a nithing?
Nithing (ON niðingr)
A nithing is a villain, scoundrel, coward, vile wretch. A nothing could also be a truce-breaker or a traitor. A niðing deed (niðingsverk) is an ill deed, or villainy. A person guilty of this sort of behavior was held in contempt.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary (Shorter OED, 3rd ed, 1959) the meaning is “A vile coward; an abject wretch; a villain of the lowest type”. Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) offers this definition “A coward; a dastard; — a term of utmost opprobrium.”
The word nið could be applied to those who failed to provide hospitality; it is also used in the sagas to describe libel, such as in a libelous verse written about another. Such an act could have dire consequences, as in the fate of the hapless Galti:
Brand…slew Galti the son of Ottar at the Hunavatn’s Thing on account of a libelous rhyme by Hallfled. (Landnamabók (3: IV)
I name before all people Cafe Press and those who designed and bought this “Pray for Obama” t-shirt, nithings. Let them stand shamed and condemned before all for their vile and reprehensible behavior.
Hrafnkell Haraldsson is the author of A Heathen’s Day, which since 2005 has addressed the life and thoughts of a modern day Heathen. He is also the founder of the Mos Maiorum Foundation (www.mosmaiorum.org) which is dedicated to the study and support of Paganism as ethnic religion and writes for PoliticusUSA (www.politicususa.com) 
Well played. If I don't get to it today, rest assured I will join you in the boycott/complaint against Cafe Press by this weekend.
Pray for Obama? LOL! Well I'm no Obama fan, but I'll boycott based on the sheer stupidity of that shirt. On the other hand, there is one that says, "Prayer for Obama… May the lord bless and keep him far, far away from my paycheck." Oh, what the heck. Cafe Press should be boycotted based on their prices alone.
Thank you for sharing the meaning of this word. Your blog is looking wonderful, and you are well-spoken as usual.
Thanks, Brainwise!
Chell, even not praying FOR Obama is a huge improvement over praying for his death! And as you say, their prices are ridiculous anyway. Zazzle.com has pulled the crap out of their inventory so I think they're the vendor to go with.