text:
Lynne Cheney sees the world in black and white. Or, rather, in red, white and blue. Or at least she would have young Americans see it that way. She begins this forty-page children's book with a textbook example of ethnocentrism:
I wrote this book because I want my grandchildren to understand how blessed we are. I want them to know they are part of a nation whose citizens enjoy liberty and opportunity such as have never been known before.
Of course, Lynne Cheney has not seriously contemplated the levels of "liberty and opportunity" in, say, the Netherlands or Canada today, or Choctaw society in 1600. She doesn't mean her declaration as a serious statement of comparative history–it's just nationalist cheerleading.
Americans fortunate enough to have lived in another country for an extended period or to attend a college that prompts students to rethink such pat evaluations will not be convinced by these sunny pronouncements. Nor will Cheney's twenty-six alphabetical entries–"A is for America," "B is for the birthday of this nation," etc.–win them over.
But then, this book isn't aimed at adult readers. It's not intended to be thought about. It may not even be intended to be read but merely to be waved, for it includes no fewer than 120 different images of the Stars and Stripes, from front cover to back.
But let's think about it anyway.
Perhaps the empty nationalism in A Patriotic Primer does more good than harm. After all, Abraham Lincoln, among others, was favorably influenced by Parson Weems's equally silly A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits of General George Washington: With Curious Anecdotes Equally Honourable to Himself and Exemplary to His Young Countrymen. Lincoln believed that the Founding Fathers were great men. At the outset of the Lincoln-Douglas campaign, speaking on July 10, 1858, in Chicago, he said:
"I should like to know if taking this old Declaration of Independence, which declares that all men are equal upon principle, and making exceptions to it–where will it stop? If one man says it does not mean a Negro, why may not another say it does not mean some other man? If that Declaration is not…the truth, let us tear it out! [Cries of 'no, no!'] Let us stick to it then, let us stand firmly by it then."
Eventually, taking America's founding ideals seriously, Lincoln brought the rights of man back to life in a nation that was not letting them influence public policy.
Maybe somewhere out in Nebraska, or rural Alabama, or even in Somalia, waiting to immigrate to the United States, some boy or girl will similarly be made more idealistic about our nation's possibilities and will become a better future leader because of this primer.


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... there is food available on-site but for payment
The breakkie thread got me thinkin', is there owt on offer on the Friday night or is it a trip to the chippy? I'm easy either way (but I do like to eat something before being easy either way ).
Fat blokes bounce better
"The human race is being overun by muppets, it's like fraggle f*ckin rock down here!!!"
flipfly - Dec 2012
Bring some stuff along for a barrbie and I'll do it on mine for ya..:
We're having a barbeque
I was going to have one of Bakerman's finest steak and kidney puddings, but if there's BBQ space free*...
*Polite request for a bit of BBQ space, please
mmmmmmmmmhhhhhhm a whole chicken
I'm hungry already
"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much" Oscar Wilde
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe"Albert Einstein
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius, and a lot of courage, to move in the opposite direction."Albert Einstein
PUI since 2004
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"Its about being a grown up hooligan - and if that
means a dark visor, remus open pipe and a bit of speeding out of town then all
well and good"

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Let me get this out of the way first. I'm not saying Rob Jackson of Phandroid faked the images of the LG "B" phone he posted this week, but the folks from LG that sent him the pics did.
LG is working on a new Android phone that has an IPS LCD display similar to the iPhone 4. This new phone will not be announced till next month at CES, but LG wanted to create some online buzz so they leaked some images to Phandroid. As BriefMobile points out, the images are a poor Photoshop job, but it wouldn't be the first time that a company edited images of a new product before leaking them to the press.
Some of you might have picked up on this, but most of the leaks you read on tech blogs are controlled by the companies trying to create buzz for their new products. LG is excited to bring an IPS LCD display to Android, so they snapped some pics of their new phone to show it off. I guess they didn't achieve the level of brightness on their IPS display that they wanted, so someone edited the pics to make them look better.
The pics don't really matter though because the important thing with this leak is the display technology.
LG claims their new IPS LCD offers 700 nits of brightness, a 230 percent improvement over the best Android display, Samsung's Super AMOLED technology. The iPhone 4 IPS display was actually manufactured by LG, so this new technology is an improvement over the original.
No details are provided on the resolution, but the IPS display on the iPhone 4 runs at 960×640. I'll spare you all the other marketing speak, but check out Apple's site for more info on their retina display.
The leaked pictures also compared the LG B to the iPhone 4 to demonstrate how slim it is. We don't have the exact measurements but the LG B looks thinner than the iPhone 4, which measures in at only 9.4 mm.
Thankfully, we won't have to wait much longer to get the full scoop on this new phone and IPS display. LG has a big media party scheduled on the night of January 5th and they have been tweeting that "seein is believin" when it comes to the super bright and super slim "LG B".
We also know LG will be showing off the Optimus 2X next month, so I'm excited to see how these two devices compare. For all we know, the "LB B" might actually be the Optimus 2X with a new display for the U.S. market. Check back in a couple of weeks for the full details.


text:
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text:
You are here
Passwords: Saskia Hamilton on John Berryman, Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell
25th Anniversary Program
Date and Time:
June 5, 2012 - 7:00PM
Event Location:
Kray Hall
$10, $7 for students and seniors, free to Poets House Members
Poet and editor Saskia Hamilton looks at three post-war American poets, examining their formal innovation and selective use of the confessional, as well as their complex mutual friendships.
Saskia Hamilton is the author of two books of poetry, Divide These (2005) and As for Dream (2011), Her collection Canal was published in the UK in 2005. She is co-editor of Words in Air: The Complete Correspondence between Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell (2005) and editor of The Letters of Robert Lowell (2005). She teaches in the English Department of Barnard College, where she is also Director of the Women Poets of Barnard Program.
Event Sponsored By:
Poets House
Event Type:
Readings and Conversations


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Collector gold rush continues
Will there be no end to the commemorative knick-nacks? We've posted earlier about some of the Royal Wedding stuff you can currently buy. But if the Kate Middleton doll from the Franklin Mint isn't your thing, here are some other items you might consider.
Knit your own Royal Wedding
The Daily Mail has a story about an interesting souvenier kit.
For sale through the Ivy Press Shop, this kit includes a cast of royal characters, PLUS "[w]e've included suggestions for creating a selection of customized guests, too, so you can use your own creativity in putting them together."
The backdrop of Westminster Abbey is included. So put yourself into the action.
If you can knit.
Tea towels
Nothing says English like afternoon tea (and scones), but the afternoon ritual just isn't complete without a nice (Royal) tea towel.
From John Lewis.
Party attire
Partytime Direct has some festive attire for the big day. How about a Union Jack dress?
If that's not quite your thing, maybe the Union Jack Funky Afro Wig:
Royal Wedding thimble
The Thimble Guild describes it this way:
So romantic, so exclusive! Prince William and his beautiful bride, deftly painted by Julie Menzies with commemorative text on the reverse.


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November 6, 2017 by norman lebrecht
Only in America.
Specifically, in Utah:
An email was sent to the parents of each participating student Oct. 11 from Payson Junior High drama teacher Carol Gregory and Principal Carl Swenson.
"This movie was not previewed or approved and some inappropriate material was viewed by the students," the email stated. "As parents, you may want to visit with your student about this."
Read on here.
Next Article Previous Article
Comments (36)
Yup, that's Utah. Not a good week for the state between this and losing BYU's classical radio station.
They do still have the Piano Guys, though.
God there's some daft people around and we ARE living in the 21st century not the 11th!
"visit with" in this context presumably means "talk to".
No. In merka when they say "talk to" they mean "talk about".
Apparently it was the 1999 remake with Hugh Jackman, not the 1955 version — according to the article, it showed some of the actual images that are only hinted at in the original.
Then again, in Utah, pictures of women without bonnets pretty much qualifies as "porn" 😉
I'd be surprised if the Hugh Jackman version included anything that could remotely be called "pornographic". It was a made-for-television event, and played in prime-time. Television censors in the US have very strict guidelines.
You would be surprised that some parents would find nude photos in junior high school class inappropriate, despite the fact that TV broadcasters believe otherwise?
There's a school of porn, now? Amazing!
Still, I can't understand why they would want to show Oklahoma to their students. There's not much sex in that, as far as I remember.
Nakedness notwithstanding, this is the show that has that catchy number "I Cain't Say No" about a girl who, wait for it, "cain't say no." Pretty racy stuff for a 1940s musical.
What is daft about parents wishing to raise their children with values different from those of Hollywood and from the author and commentators on this blog?
Ignorance that's what is daft. Trying to inflict their narrow
mindedness on everyone and seeing evil where there isn't any.
Pot, meet kettle.
Yes, we're a real wild bunch here!
That's not my point.
Only that some parents have different values and there is no reason to mock them for it.
It's the 24 hour news cycle; EVERYTHING is news – which is mostly activism these days anyway. "Crazy pink fox crosses road wearing hat"; oh, sorry, that's the Twitter-sphere.
According to this story the objection was to one scene that included nude images.
If it's "only in America" that some parents (religious Moromons, likely) would not want their junior high school to show this, why is that a criticism of America or of those parents?
They have mixed up "porn" with "corn".
"As parents, you may want to visit with your student about this."
The problem is… " sex" or "nudity" are the things the parents least wanted to ever admit to their children that they knew anything about.
My 6th grade Catholic elementary school put on a performance of the highlights of Oklahoma circa 1960. The nuns couldn't or wouldn't find a boy and a girl to sing the song "People will say we're in Love", so they cast two boys to sing it.
What an innocent time that was.
And yet many of these teenagers probably play Grand Theft Auto at home and own firearms.
Umm .. probably not.
They're Mormons.
Why the need to sniff out and assume hypocrisy?
BTW, traditionally Orthodox Jewish schools would also not show a movie that had nude images and their students would also not have guns or be playing violent video games.
Shocking isn't it, to find out that such people exist in the 21st Century?
You think Mormons don't own guns? They do. They're not especially different from regular American Christians in terms of gun ownership.
Would the kids be allowed to watch 'Oklahoma' in Oklahoma?
For those who have not read the article, there are several different issues.
One understandable one, from the article: "The movie was shown to students in violation of Nebo School District's media policy, according to spokeswoman Lana Hiskey. Films shown in their entirety must be approved by a school's principal, Hiskey said, and reviewed by the teacher. 'None of those things happened,' Hiskey said."
So, protocol was not followed.
OTOH, what about the following assertion by one parent: ""A pornographic movie was shown in a classroom setting to approximately 125 students … among other things, the movie contained an 8-second close-up of 10 full-frontal images of 10 naked women," the post read, not naming the movie as "Oklahoma!""
A pornographic movie? Count me as skeptical. As the article states: "Several images of women in provocative poses can be seen during the film, although most are obscured or appear to be blurred. A content guide on the Internet Movie Database describes the scene as containing 'no complete nakedness.'"
I thought the issue was not the choice of adjective, but whether the school showed a movie that had a scene that violated community standards.
The newspaper reported that there was in fact such a scene. Whether or not the movie database would call it explicit.
The movie is on YouTube, I see.
So, if you know where the scene is, find it and let us know if it's reasonable to believe that it's within the standards of parents who normally shelter their children from sexual images.
I was not clear.
Yes, I have looked at the eight seconds in question. (In the video I watched, they are at 1:05:49-58.) You have to freeze-frame and inspect the screen closely to see the outlines of female bodies. I somehow doubt that the movie was shown in the classroom in 4K HDTV on a giant monitor to permit the students to see those images in any significant detail, and I doubt even more that the teacher stopped the movie for all the children to inspect these hazy images.
To extrapolate from a few intentionally-fuzzy girlie picks in the background of a scene for eight seconds, to claiming that Oklahoma is a "pornographic movie," is…well, it speaks for itself. I'm skeptical about the judgment of someone who makes such a specious assertion.
As for sheltering children from "sexual images," they saw more of a woman's naked body if they were breast fed.
I saw a few seconds (when Jackman first goes over to inspect the pictures) where you can definitely see everything. Not in up-close HD detail, but definitely enough to see that breasts and pubic hair are clearly exposed and on display, and in a pornographic way (as opposed to artistic — these are not Rubens or Titians on the wall).
I'm not a teacher, but I would definitely have reservations about showing those few seconds to a roomful of hormonal teenagers. Those might well be the only 5 seconds they remember from the entire movie.
Here is the apparently 3-hour (!) Hugh Jackman version on YouTube. Can anyone identify where the offending scene is?
Such as it is.
OK. I just watched the 10 seconds (1:05:49-58). As a public school science teacher in Wisconsin, I would definitely feel very uncomfortable showing that to High School kids. It's not just the images, it's the reaction of the two men and what they say and how they say it.
This is the kind of thing that teachers with any experience have a sixth sense about. You are asking for trouble if you show a scene like that without following school protocol.
This has nothing to do with the community, religion, or personal belief system. It's all about common sense.
You make valid points: both that the actors' reactions to the images are problematic within the context of such a viewing, and the putative failure of the teacher to follow protocol.
But the men's reactions were not an issue articulated by those listed in the article who objected to the viewing of the movie. Isn't it interesting that the objection was to the ability to see (barely — pun intended) images of nude women, but not to the leering at them by the actors (in their roles)? Hmmmm….
Parents complain about anything and everything. Sometimes they simply dislike the teacher and purposely look for things to complain about.
The images become the target because they are an objective fact. One can argue about the leering men but not those images.
Teaching is a hard profession but it is even harder if you are stupid.
I wonder if the offending scene in the film is the dream sequence where the prostitutes in the dance hall are trying to lure Laurie into a liaison with Judd Fry:. here from 1:17:00
I wonder if any parent saw the scene or if the label of "porn" was based on their child's embroidered description of it.


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Eagles headed back to state
Eagles handle Potter-Dix in district final.
Even when the sets became close, Brady's volleyball team was in complete control of Potter-Dix beating the Coyotes in straight games 25-17, 25-16 and 25-17. The Eagles advance to the D1 state volleyball tournament in Grand Island.Valerie Most and Alexis Mann began the game serving strong and giving the Coyotes problems as the Eagles jumped out to a 20-3 lead.
The Coyotes came back scoring 10 straight points to get back into the game.
All the while, head coach Lynne Johnson smiled watching her team to send a message that she wasn't worried.
"I try and stay calm to keep them even keeled," Johnson said. "The more emotional swings girls have during the game, the more momentum swings that are likely to happen."
An overwhelmed Potter-Dix squad settled down and competed with Brady the next two sets but only led once in the second set, 9-8.
Brady had a two kills from Alexis Franzen and one from Tara Callahan and kept the lead for the remainder of the match.
"We made some errors in the second set but the girls kept their minds positive," Johnson said. "Errors are going to happen and we've worked on moving to the next play all year."
The Eagle netters again jumped ahead 7-1 and rolled to win the third set and secure a state berth.
Brady was led by Josie Palmer, Madison Elliott and Callahan with five kills each.
From the service line, Mann and Most combined for 33 serves and four aces.
Brady takes on a 28-3 Bruning-Davenport/Shickley team on Thursday at Grand Island Central Catholic High School with first serve at 6:30 p.m.
Johnson said the team knows BDS has a good outside hitter but she isn't their only threat.
"The rest of the team is pretty good I'm sure or they wouldn't be where they are at state," Johnson said.
She noted that the Eagles will continue to work on their side of the net and have some defensive things to tune up before their first match.
"We need to make sure blocks are where they need to be and are higher," Johnson said. "With their outside hitter, if you can't stop her you have to slow her down with getting hands on balls."
Johnson said the girls have experience at state which should calm the nerves a little bit.
"This team has quite a few girls that have played at state before," Johnson said. "That should allow us to focus on the task at hand."
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One day the phone rang inside the modest home of Charles Spainhour and his wife Della Mae. It was about 1915 and a single phone call would lead the Spainhour family to a legacy spanning three generations and nearly the entire history of motion pictures.
Editor's Note: This is the third part in a five part series exploring the history and social impact of the Twilight Theatre in Greensburg and Kiowa County.
One day the phone rang inside the modest home of Charles Spainhour and his wife Della Mae. It was about 1915 and a single phone call would lead the Spainhour family to a legacy spanning three generations and nearly the entire history of motion pictures.
The Spainhour's had established themselves as well-respected business people when they arrived in Greensburg, first opening the West Side Café in 1908 and later managing the Carey Hotel. The bed and breakfast-type establishment was next to the railroad depot and in 1910 it was equipped with the newest in bathroom technology, an indoor commode and tub.
"Charles, I need to get out of town," said the voice on the other end of the phone.
It was the owner of a silent movie theater in Fowler, 65 miles to the west.
He was leaving town in a hurry, for possibly scandalous reasons, and offered to sell his theater to Spainhour for a mere pittance.
Family members are unsure of the exact sale price, but supposedly there was enough in 8-year-old Ben Spainhour's piggy bank to pay for it.
Charles hopped on the next westbound train and bought it on the spot.
Charles' 1947 obituary writes "The family moved to Greensburg in 1908, making this their home with the exception of about a year." It seems probable the family moved to Fowler when Charles owned the local theater there, though it was for only a short time.
An Oct. 26, 1916, report in the Greensburg Progressive wrote, "Charles Spainhour came in from Fowler Tuesday. He has sold his picture show there." While the accuracy of brief news at the time is questionable, the report insinuates Charles was living in Fowler.
In January 1917 Charles would purchase The Empress, a theater on Main Street, and simultaneously lease a space in a new building across the street.
"Mr. Spainhour closed a deal with C.C. Perry the latter part of last week whereby he became the owner of The Empress Theater and took charge of the show on Monday," read a Jan. 18, 1917, report in The Signal. "During the past year or so he has been associated with the inside workings of the movie game and has equipped himself with the knowledge necessary to run a show which will please the people."
The new building, constructed by local businessmen Henry Wacker and H.L. Miller, was built on a lot cleared by fire in 1913.
Spainhour would lease the new building and open it in April 1917 as the new auditorium. It would later be christened "The Twilight Theatre."
In an interview later in life, Charles' son Benjamin said his father paid $25 per week to rent the theater space.
And so began a long history of movies in Greensburg brought to the big screen by the Spainhour family — Charles, his son Ben and eventually his grandson Con.
But it was the well-dressed Charles who would began the family's local legacy with hard work, business savvy and a dash of pioneer charm.
A Man Named Charles
Charles Augustus Spainhour was born on March 4, 1876, in Santa Fe, Ind.
His family moved to Sylvia, Kan., in about 1882. He had five sisters; Ella McLeon, Clara Echols, Lucy Bailey, Florence Hamlin and Mary Billings, all of whom still survived at the time of his death in 1947.
Della Mae (McElroy) Spainhour was born on June 20, 1881, to Ben and Edmonia McElroy near Queen City, Mo. She had one sister and three brothers; Cora (McElroy) Snowbarger and William, Melvin and Oscar McElroy.
The entry in the Kiowa County History book and Charles' 1947 obituary list Benjamin, their first and only son, as having been born in 1907. He was actually born on Oct. 4, 1906. Charles married Della Mae on Oct. 21, 1906.
There are also conflicting accounts in the Kiowa County History Book and newspaper obituaries about when Charles, Della Mae and young Benjamin moved to Kiowa County, whether it was in 1907 or 1908.
Interestingly, Benjamin's birthplace is Stafford, Kan., in 1906, which likely means the Spainhour's lived there, if briefly, before moving to the county.
Settling in Greensburg and running the Twilight Theatre, Charles established a reputation for being a friendly local fixture with a wide circle of friends.
He was a highly respected businessman, but also dedicated his time towards civic causes.
He taught Sunday school at the Christian Church and was the president of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce.
He started war bond drives, Red Cross drives and raised local money for the USO during the war.
"It seemed like he was always in a suit," said Charles' granddaughter Suzan (Spainhour) Stremel. "He was always in a suit and tie, he was a very dapper man. Good looking. Always smiling. I spent a lot of time on his lap. Whenever I was around him I wanted to sit on his lap. He would smile and make me feel good. He was such a friendly guy. I don't remember him much at the theater as much as in his living room when we would visit."
Stremel was only 8 years old when her grandfather Charles died in 1947, but she said she remembers the tall, friendly, generous man who knew everybody in town.
"I remember people always talking about him. My father would comment about how Charles never turned anyone down if they needed some money. Dad said he was sure grandpa died with a lot of people owing him money," laughed Stremel.
He was also a shrewd businessman and by all accounts had the know-how and often daring constitution that defined early movie exhibitors.
The film world moved at a rapid pace in the early days, changing quickly from a sidelined novelty into a legitimate entertainment enterprise.
Charles was at the forefront of film projection, buying state-of-the-art equipment and installing a sound system to accommodate the new wave of talking pictures; all at a risk to his business and livelihood.
There are stories of Charles driving a school bus and painting houses to earn money to keep the Twilight Theatre open in the lean years. "Tickets were ten cents, everybody thought he was getting rich, but he wasn't."
A Loyal Friend to Those Who Loved Her
Della Mae died suddenly in September 1934 of an unknown illness at St. Anthony's Hospital in Dodge City.
Her obituary, which appeared in the Sept. 27, 1934, edition of the Greensburg News, mentioned her commitment to the local church, her devotion to the businesses she had managed with Charles and that she had cared for her niece Marguerite McElroy as if she was her own.
"The Rev. W.A. Smith, pastor of the Christian Church of which she had been a faithful member for many years, had charge of the services. The men's quartet, composed of Blaine Miller, W.A. Smith, Kenneth Lenager and C.S. Looney sang 'The Olde Rugged Cross, 'List to the Voice' and 'Beulah Land.' Miss Bethel Long presided at the piano."
Little has been written about Della Mae, but later in his life Charles would recall fondly their journey to Kiowa County and her devotion to the family businesses and her only son Benjamin.
Five years later in 1939, Charles remarried a local woman named Harriet Smith.
Harriet came from a line of Kiowa County settlers and a prominent Greensburg family.
"She had been in Greensburg forever," said Con Spainhour, Benjamin's son and Harriet's grandson. "She was the only grandmother I knew, she was quite a woman. She knew everybody and everybody knew her."
Harriet's sister Vivian Smith, one of the two Smith sisters, interestingly, was married to Henry Wacker, the man who co-built the Twilight Theatre building in 1916.
Jerry Smith, born in 1939 to Harriet's brother Lawrence, remembered Charles from when he was a child.
"Charles and Harriet would come out to the farm a lot," said Smith who grew up just outside of Greensburg. "When I had a birthday I'd invite some of my friends out and we'd go out to a show at the Twilight. That was a big deal for us kids. At that time all we had was radio out at the farm, and it wasn't even very good radio. We kept up on what was happening in World War II by going to see the news reels at the movies."
Harriet would live in Greensburg for the rest of her life staying involved in civic organizations and becoming the Kiowa County Register of Deeds for a time.
She passed away in 1981 just before going into surgery to fix a broken hip.
She had been injured in an accident after a large sign, advertising the Greensburg Holiday Home Tours, had fallen on her.
"She was quite a lady," said Suzan, her granddaughter. "I always thought she was one of the most beautiful women I've ever met. Her skin was gorgeous and she dressed immaculately."
Suzan said Harriet might have had a bit of a tentative relationship with Benjamin and the rest of the Spainhour family. When Charles died in 1947 he left the Twilight to Benjamin and Harriet may have felt slighted.
"I don't think Ben ever really warmed up to her," said Suzan. "It was cordial, but I am not sure if Charles turning the theatre over to Ben set well with her family. It kind of left her family out and I don't think she was happy about that. Ben, of course, took care of her the best he could."
A Quiet Train Ride
It was a very quiet trip for 14-year-old Con Spainhour and his grandmother Harriet.
What began as a hopeful journey to spend time with his grandpa became a mournful train ride, bringing Charles' remains back to Greensburg.
It was August 1947 and Charles, the prominent theater owner, loving father and beloved neighbor, had died in a Kansas City Hospital of uremic poisoning, a result of prostate trouble.
He was too young to fully understand the conversations that surrounded him, but young Con would soon move to Greensburg where his father would take over the family business and one day, he would do the same.
Benjamin and his wife Katheryn Louise Brown of Bucklin, whom he had married on April 15, 1928 in Alva, Okla., had relocated to Springfield, Mo with his son Con and his daughter Suzan, born in 1939.
"Things were not very lucrative for him when he got out of High school," recalled Con. "He worked for the railroad for a while. He wrote the messages by hand and when that train came by it wouldn't stop, it would just pick those messages up as it passed. He had beautiful handwriting. His handwriting was marvelous."
The family relocated to Missouri in the 1920's where Benjamin worked as a telephone lineman for more the 20 years.
"We lived in a suburban place in Springfield," recalled Con. "Dad had bought and developed it into a house he wanted over the years. He worked midnight to eight at AT&T, so I didn't have a whole lot of day-to-day contact with him while I was growing up. I was in school during the day and when I got home we had to be quiet, so he could sleep."
After high school Benjamin operated a Twilight Theatre spin-off movie theater 10 miles to the west in Mullinville called "The Dawn," without much success, Con recalled.
There was some reluctance on Benjamin's part to return to Greensburg and run the theater after Charles died.
Con believes his father returned to Greensburg, partly because his children, who had visited their grandfather in Greensburg almost every summer, but also because the Twilight was still doing a brisk business.
"I'm not sure why dad moved back," recalled Con. "I think the reason he moved back was because of me. I think that was a sacrifice they made for me. I was thrilled. I couldn't stand the humidity of Missouri and I loved Greensburg. I loved the dry air and the cool breeze that rolled in at night. I loved being in town and I loved the theater."
Soon after Charles' death, Benjamin, Katheryn, Con and Suzan relocated to a small duplex next to Charles' home in Greensburg.
Charles had built the modest two-family building as a rental property some years earlier.
"It was an exciting time for me," said Suzan. "We were going to take over the theater; gosh we were coming up in the world! We felt very welcome in Greensburg being Charles' granddaughter. We felt very comfortable there."
A news brief in the Sept. 4 1947 edition of The Signal reported on Benjamin's takeover of the theater, but hinted at a still uncertain future for the Spainhour's and the Twilight.
"Friends here will be glad to learn that Ben Spainhour this week assumed the management and operation of the Twilight Theatre," wrote the report. "While it is more or less on a temporary basis at the present time, Mr. Spainhour told a Signal representative this week that 'We hope that arrangements can be made so that it will be a permanent proposition. Our family is enjoying the prospect of returning to be among friends in Greensburg and Kiowa County.'"
Ben would continue to own and manage the Twilight, in some capacity, until 1980.
Bought and Paid For
The movie business in 1947 was in flux and television was invading American homes at a feverous rate.
Home television ownership jumped from 3.6 million sets sold between 1942-49 to nearly 6 million sets sold each year from 1950-59 according to data collected by the National Television Archives. In 1959 about 67 million television sets had been sold in the United States.
The integration of television in southwestern Kansas homes was slower than more urban areas, which benefited the Twilight.
Ben remembered later that he was unsure, at the time, if he could make a living operating the theater with television's looming impact on ticket sales.
But business must have been good.
Within two years Ben moved out of the duplex and into The Robinett Building on Main Street.
Ben had purchased it for his family and after some renovations moved his wife and two children into the three-bedroom two-bath brick former medical office building.
"As a little kid I thought it was absolutely enormous. Mom was ahead of her time when it came to decorating. She really decorated it nice," said Suzan. "It was a good place to live. I lost a yard so my playground became the John Deere lot just east of the house. If we did anything outdoors it was in the John Deere lot. And, of course, we were right next to the theater."
A few years later, in October 1954 Benjamin finally purchased the Twilight Theatre building, which, until then, had been rented from the Miller family.
"Sometime in 1954 Cinemascope came into the picture," wrote Ben in an interview later in his life. "Most theaters went for it. I talked it over with Mrs. Miller and told her she would have to remove the switchboard and tear out the stage front and it would probably cost as much as $10,000. I asked her if she wanted to do that or if she would sell me the building."
Benjamin purchased the theater, made the renovations and reopened in about a week, showing "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" a backwoods romance picture featuring a young Howard Keel alongside Jane Powell.
Cinemascope was a widescreen aspect ratio created by Hollywood studios to differentiate movies from television and is widely considered the first major change in projected picture size. It is wider than the modern 16:9 "widescreen" format.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1954) was one of the first major films released on the format.
A Family Affair
"On Saturday nights just about everybody came to town," remembered Jerry Smith. "You farmed during the week and then you came into town to buy your groceries. There would be cars parked up and down both sides of Main Street. Stores didn't close until 9 o'clock. It was a neat town. Everybody knew everybody and the movies were a big part of that."
The Twilight Theatre, now officially owned by the Spainhours, became a family affair.
"I sold popcorn there since when I was a kid," said daughter Suzan. "Dad would set me on a box so I could reach the controls. I think I sold popcorn until left for college. It was a family business, mom sold tickets, dad worked the projectors and I sold the popcorn."
Suzan, now a lover of antiques, still cringes when she thinks about one of her regular duties.
"Dad and I would go outside when the movies were finished and tear down those movie posters," she laughed. "I would rip them down and crumple them up. Boy if I knew then what I know now."
Benjamin was well-known for his film selection, showing lots of family movies, and having matinees on Sunday. He would show the occasional horror or more mature-themed films, most memorably at midnight showings on New Year's Eve.
"Dad was deliberate in what he would show and I think Greensburg appreciated that. He never showed a movie that any kids in town couldn't come to see by themselves."
Suzan would leave Greensburg after high school, travel to Japan, marry her husband and settle in Kirksville, Mo., in 1971 after completing her degree at the University of Kansas.
She said she while she loved the theater, she never had any thoughts of owning it.
"It was a great place to live and grow up. I really enjoyed my time in Greensburg."
The Final Curtain
In 1968 Benjamin had invested well and was able to retire just after his 58th birthday, leaving the day-to-day operation to local employees, but he was still placing the film orders and doing administrative work from his new home in Oceanside, Calif.
He spent his own twilight years playing cards, golfing and enjoying the company of friends.
Kathryn passed away from cancer in Nov. 1973 and Benjamin remarried twice before he died in 1993.
He married Maria Caldwell in 1975 and after she died in 1979 he married Virginia Lockwood.
"He wanted to play golf, play bridge and have happy hour. He had an absolutely wonderful time there," said daughter Suzan. "Greensburg wasn't a place for him to retire. Dad was an active person and had no desire to move back to Greensburg. He made a lot of friends and went on plenty of trips. It was a great place for him. He was happy he didn't have to shovel snow anymore. He said he did that for 58 years and he wasn't going to do it anymore."
In 1980 Con would return to Greensburg to take over the Twilight, but with the small town theater getting pushed aside by the modern mega-plex, it was only a matter of time before the Twilight would close its doors, seemingly for good.
"I knew I would get the theater for a lot of years," recalled Con. "When Charles died, he left the theater to Ben and I think it was with the understanding that it would come to me one day. Charles realized how much I loved the theater."
Though as a child, he had been dazzled by the majesty of his grandfather's movie house, as an adult, the thought of returning to Greensburg to run the theater wasn't as appealing.
Con had left Greensburg to pursue his pharmacology degree at the University of Kansas and had established pharmacies in eastern Kansas.
He lived in Topeka, had started a family of his own and was a father of eight.
"The business wasn't great at that time," he said. "Dad was running two changes a week, two different pictures. It was closed Tuesday, Wednesday and maybe Thursday. He was running the theater from California. People in Greensburg were managing it for him."
Five couples in Greensburg are known to have managed the Twilight at some point; Carl and Laurine Abbott, Wayne George and Betty Montgomery, Cleve and Betty White, Frank and Frances Jenkins and John and Pam Glenn.
Con returned to Greensburg in 1980 and managed the theater until it closed in 1989.
"I had always wanted to run the theater. From the time I was six I had always wanted to do that and it was a good time to do it. I took it over and ran it for its final years as a family theater."
With plummeting ticket sales and overwhelming repair bills, the theater closed to little fanfare. Benjamin, now 82 years old, would be alive to see the doors of his father's theater close for the last time.
"Most people, back then, they thought it was a treat to go see a movie and it was," said Jerry Smith. "When I was younger I would go at least once a week, sometimes more than that. But I'll admit, it was quite a while since I'd gone in and saw a movie when they closed. But after it closed, a lot of people missed it and everybody wondered if it would ever open again."
This article benefited from the tireless research and generosity of Ed Schoenberger.


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(A CHAPTER OF A DIARY)) 23.~.19-13 "When the Germans push us out of here, your report certainly~ wind surprise Hitlerite Germany! What is the use of beginning a work which wind never come to an end?" Scornful and sarcastic remarks like these repeatedly were voiced by my two bunker-fellows since this morning when our protector brought me this copy-book and a pencil.
Why in the world did this pessimists and alarmists hide in this bunker, when they were convinced that sooner or later we would be detected? These poor fellows, shipwrecked like me consider as proper madness to put to writing my former and anticipated experiences.
Did my escape occur only a month ago? Then, also at noon, breathless and bathed in perspiration, I pressed myself into a gap beneath the roof. Outside were dying away the voices of the last women-inmates of the camp being brought to the lorry which would carry them to their death.
Miraculously I once again escaped a certain end of my life ! So it seems to, me a marvel that I am sitting here pressed inconceivably close to my fellow- sufferers in our low pit, Lit by an unsteady flickering light of a tiny kerosene lamp and hardly able to breathe since the air supply is very scant. How quiet it is: no roll-call and no yells of commanding voices.? We speak very little and in whisper, because the goat-stable under our bunker lies is situated near the village road. Here and there steps of a passerby are heard, a dog barks close by; the goat scratches with its legs and bleats loudly. How fortunate and enviable is the goat that it is free to go about outside, while we are dwelling like moles beneath the surface of the earth !
Am I thankless again? Did I even dare to think about the safety of a bunker while I was hiding in the gap beneath the roof in the camp ? The final annihilation of the camp by no means came as a surprise to any of us. Ever since early in may when the hitherto relative quietness turned into a mood of panic which usually precedes every "Action" of extermination, and the "lord" over our life and death, Thomanek, more and more dropped his pretensions of being a "good" manager , all of us knew that our days were numbered. More frequently and with more vigor, people were punished for slight offenses, thrown into the cellar and beaten by Thomanek in public. Then, one morning he shot three persons entirely groundless and convicted two others to fifty blows with a stick. Several days later he ordered a nightly roll-call of the camp. Under terrible threats the rest of their money and valuables (which they had managed to conceal in their clothes) was snatched away from these panic-stricken people. Deadly fear and the helpless despair of the camp-inmates increased their torments day by day. Workers employed outside were able to leave the camp at least for a few hours and were lucky to escape the horrors for a short time. Several of them never returned. They managed somehow to "vanish" The nights were an endless nightmare. Almost nobody dared to undress. One rolled himself sleeplessly on the hard plank-bed, all senses extremely tense; was not a shot fired? Were not steps approaching? Instantly one started up with terrible heartbeats and ran to the window... no, nothing ! not yet !
At the first dawn of the morning of June 23rd. I was lying on my camp-bed in an unquiet slumber, after a sleepless night. All of a sudden a girl of our bedroom, who was standing near the window, burst out in a choking voice a cry of panic. In a second I was fully awake and rushed to the window. Yes, that's that ! Our waiting was at an end and presumably our lives too ! German gendarmes in steel helmets and Ukrainian policemen surrounded the camp. I turned round and fixed my gaze on the consumptive panic-stricken pallid faces of my companions in my room. None of us could utter a word. But before we were able to form a clear thought, the order-servicemen rushed through the camp rooms and drove everyone into the courtyard. The Jewish camp-leader, Wolf, who had awaited us, ordered a roll-call. He ordered the men to turn to the right and the women to the left. Then he numbered us in military fashion. Soon, Thomanek appeared surrounded by his gang of hangmen , his broad and tall figure overtopping all the others. Like a beast sneaking to its prey, he approached the people who wire doomed to death. His head was bent a little forward, the plump, face red like a crayfish and in his sparkling eyes lust for murder. He stopped a few paces in front of his victims and stood, his: legs spread wide and both hands resting on his sides examining the miserable creatures for a few minutes without uttering a word, while they all stared at him in silence dumb-founded with horror, as if they were hypnotized.
Then suddenly he screamed with his grating voice: "Lie down whoever raises his head will be shot" Obediently and without resistance almost 500 people fell down and prostrated themselves in the dust. It was a pitiful sight, yet could they have done otherwise ? Would resistance against this gang of murderers, armed from head to foot, be of any use Thomanek called out some people and ordered them to turn aside and wait there. In every "Action" a minimal percentage of Jews were left alive. Their duty was to restore order when the massacre was over, to clean, repair and pack the personal effects of the executed. The "fortunate", who by the call of Thomanek had been granted life again, jumped up and with blissful bright faces, hurried to leave the lines as quickly as possible. Hardly one of them even glanced at the remaining inmates, although some had relatives and friends among them.
While Thomanek was making the selection, some of those prostrated ventured to raise their heads and began to beg for their lives. Involuntarily, I raised my head also and glanced at the dreaded man. I did not do so in order to pray for his mercy, because that act would be entirely senseless. Neither did I feel suddenly awakened courage, or a contempt of death. The continuous panic of the past weeks and the naked fear of death of tile last hours increased and reached the limit of the bearable. At that moment I felt nothing any more. Almost by my side was Iying a man, the camp barber, who had raised his head: "Mr. camp, manager, surely you know me, let me live!" he implored. Thomanek lifted his automatic rifle, leveled it and aimed in my direction. It seemed that he was aiming at me. For a fleeting instant it occurred to me that it would be better to be shot here, so that an end might come to the agonies, and I asked myself whether the bullet would cause pain, and at once the shot was fired. Without knowing what had happened, I looked at my blood stained right hand and my blood spattered frock. As I raised myself a bit in order to look for my wound, I saw the barber Iying crooked in a pool of blood. It was his blood that spattered my hand and frock. Thomanek shot several other people. One man whose lung was hit suffered terrible agonies: he was groaning and coughing up blood.
Only later when the sorting out was finished. and the men were driven to the big gate on the other side of the camp, a German gendarme released the man from the suffering by shooting him in the head. The horrible dying of the man and the other gruesome sights made no impression on me any more. I was as if stupefied and obeyed apathetically the Germans' orders, when the women were led to the rear entrance of the camp, and were ordered to sit down in front of the bath-house.
Thomanek with his constables followed the men. Shortly after- words we heard a lorry driving up to the front, the Germans' howling orders, a confusion of voices and the crack of rifle shots.
The process of death for the men had begun ! Forty to fifty men were brought on to the lorry, which drove them to the place of execution out of town, where mass graves were ready to receive them . Mass graves which in a few hours time, we too would Sink into. I tried to imagine that soon I should he dead, but I was unable to form a clear thought. My head was as if hollowed, I was sitting on the ground among the women without seeing anybody. My hands were mechanically playing with dry soil, rubbing hard little clods, pushing round stones, without knowing what they were doing. I do not know how long I was absentmindedly dozing, yet one hour certainly passed. But a sudden stir among the women brought me back to reality. A young order-serviceman approached one of the gendarme watching over us, probably to ask for something. At first, the German hesitated a little, but finally he said: "As far as I'm concerned, bring them the water". The youth, a lad, hardly 16 years of age, during the last year had lost his parents and his sisters. His twin-sister hitherto had managed to survive extermination.. She was now sitting among us, the doomed to die. When Thomanek was sorting out the people, the lad despairingly. asked him to release his sister. Thomanek refused even to listen to him and finally shouted at him at the top of his voice, so that the lad made off quickly. Apparently he now wanted to part from his beloved sister. As a pretext to do so, he brought a large bucket full of water and put it in the middle of the place where the women were sitting. Then, he sat down near his sister and started in a low voice to talk her into something. The young girl did not even pay attention to him. She remained sitting motionless near the bath-house, her head leaning upon the wall and her eyes closed. Although I was sitting only a few paces apart and the despairing lad, in his efforts to persuade his sister to something, spoke more and more loudly, in my state of stupor I hardly took notice of what he was saving. Yet some words which he had repeated several times penetrated into my subconsciousness and caused even a slight astonishment : what could he mean by this:' He said something like: "The little house" and later: "The door was left ajar''. But I forgot it all again as the girl suddenly started up and wildly shouted at her brother: "Leave me alone and go away !" Then, she ran to the other side, sat down near her girl-friend, sobbing and embracing her. The poor lad grasped his head with his hands and ran away without turning round to catch a last glimpse of her. Some of the women raised their heads and followed him with their glances, but most of them took no notice of the incident and persisted in silent, resigned despair. No word was to be heard aloud, no cries, nor weeping, sometimes only suppressed painful groaning. Just like me, the others too seemed resigned to their unavertible, gruesome fate. and sank more and more deeply into an apathy, which the events of the external environment could not penetrate any more.
In all probability, if my state of hypnotic trance had lasted to the bitter end, I would have been dragged weak and helpless onto the lorry,. But all at once an event, unimportant in itself, definitely tore me out of my resignation and brought me back to reality. The waiting for death continued for several hours, the sun half risen fairly high in the sky, the air grew hot and the shade lessened. At last I heard no more the noise of the lorry, when it arrived or left. Suddenly the siren howled, an air-raid alarm was sounded, the first since long ago, when the Germans, in their triumphant drive, penetrated deep into Russia and almost reached the gates of Moscow.'The prolonged fragmentary howling penetrated like a sound of a fanfare into my consciousness. The mist of stupefaction disappeared and with relentless clarity I realized my terrible condition. The guards surrounding us gazed at one another incredulously and mockingly grinning looked upward to the radiant clear sky of June, and contemptuously shrugged their shoulders. The siren stopped howling and suddenly a low deep, buzz was heard, which became gradually stronger the nearer it came. The flak (the anti-aircraft fired) began to bark anti tiny clouds detonated high above in the air a tiny movable point could be observed; it was buzzing slowly and clear air. Then I saw the plane. It flew so high that only penetratingly, but soon disappeared front my field of sight. The Germans and the Ukrainians observed it too. Some of them voiced contemptuous remarks, which were supposed to be witty, and aroused outbursts of Iaughter.
A wild anger and a hot desire for revenge awoke in me with such violence that it became red before my eyes, and every sense of fear vanished. I tried to imagine what the future would be like: I felt sure that it would be different from what it was now. Not one plane would appear in the sky but hundreds of them, and our oppressors would soon cease from laughing. When the siren sounded the alarm, they would no more be joking, but like hunted hares would rather hasten to reach the dugout. with a feeling of hatred I glanced at the well-fed self-complacent faces. Yet, I should not live to see the triumph -- how these people of the master-race took to flight.
At the same moment an idea flashed into my mind that, properly, nothing could happen to me any more. I was irrevocably condemned to death, so if I tried to save my life and were caught, nothing could happen to me any more, so that an attempted escape was worth trying at any rate ! I looked around attentively.
The women were sitting on the ground singly or in groups, leaning against the wall of the bathhouse; now and then one of them stood up in order to sit down elsewhere. Some of them eased nature between the bath-house and the barbed-wire; every sense of shame had died out. At last my searching look fell on the dilapidated little house, which was situated in front of the bath-house, where some of the order-servicemen had been accommodated. I racked my brains in a feverish effort to find a way of rescue. As I was observing the little house, the words which the young order-serviceman had whispered to his sister came back to my mind. "The little house !" Did he mean this one ? probably, yes, as there was no other one close-by. was the door really open ? It seemed to be closed, but as I observed it intensively for a few minutes I saw that it was being slightly moved by the wind to and fro. It had been left ajar. I had no idea what it looked like inside the house, but that was of no importance any more. my mind was made up: I must get into the house at any cost; the rest, I thought to myself, would have to be solved later. First of all I looked round for the young girl, who with an air of complete indifference was sitting near her girl-friend. Even the air-alarm did not tear her out of her state of torpidity. I concentrated all my attention upon the house.
To the left of the door there was a window, in front of which a sleepy German gendarme was sitting on a case turned upside down. On the other side, two Ukrainian policemen were standing and conversing in a low voice. Slowly and carefully I began to approach the house, by rising and sitting down after every few steps, repeating this maneuver at short intervals. In a short time, which in my trembling impatience seemed to be a whole eternity, I reached at last the hotly-desired aim -- the door left ajar -- and cowered close to it on the ground. In the same moment I was hit on the back with the butt of a rifle, and one of the Ukrainians shouted that I should instantly get away from there. Dejected, but not discouraged, i went away and sat down among a large group of women. After a short while I ventured to shoot a glance at the Ukrainian. I was afraid that I had aroused his suspicions and he would keep an eye on me. He stood no more in front of the house, but went away with his colleague and was speaking to with a German. He paid no attention to me.
So I began anew with my sneaking maneuver, but this time I was more careful and slower than before. Before I ventured to advance one step, I carefully looked around to see if one of the guards were watching me. This time getting there took longer, but finally I again reached very close to the house, a distance of only a few paces before the door. There I sat down, because I lacked the courage to advance for fear of being driven away again. True, except for the German Gendarme, who was still sitting on his case struggling to over- come sleepiness, none of the guards was nearby. But my first unfortunate attempt proved that nothing escaped their attention.
A long while passed and I was unable to pluck up the courage to reach a decision. Finally, it was Thomanek himself, who unawares, by his appearance alone, prompted me to act without delay.
The lorry of death drove up in front of the rear entrance of the camp. The gate in the barbed-wire fence few open, and our executioners were approaching in a dashing marching-tempo, led by the beaming murderous Thomanek. At the top of his voice he shouted at a number of miserable trembling women: "Na maids, now it is your turn !" As he was approaching, all the guards stood at attention and saluted him respectfully, their eyes fixed on him.
At the same second I prostrated flat on the ground. my fingertips touching the door. with a swift jerk forward I opened slightly the door and with lightning speed I pushed myself through the narrow gap and shut noiselessly the door behind me. I was within ! For the moment I remained lying motionless on the concrete floor, my senses utterly tense, breathlessly listening to what was going on outside. Did any-body notice my disappearance, would our persecutors come to take me back: Outside rose a tumult of wild crying, the begging voices of women, desperate cries,bawling commands, and cracking beatings. The pitiless bestial torturers were forcing the first miserable women onto the lorry !
My terrible throbbing heart slowly calmed down, and I began to think over my situation.To remain lying on the floor was impossible, because any moment someone could open the door and detect me. The house contained a little room, in which there stood several camp plank-beds, and a little kitchen. I tried to lie on one of the plank-beds and hide myself under a coarse blanket, but I instantly understood that it was no hiding-place. In front of the window, with his back standing to me, was the fat gendarme who had been sitting before on the case. Thomanek was standing in front of him talking and looking over his head straight into the house. So it seemed to me at any rate. I left the bed and returned, crawling on all fours, to the kitchen. In one of the walls there was a great hole through which I instantly pushed myself. Now I found myself in a narrow room which had, surely, served its former inhabitants as a hiding-place, when the house had been , part of the Ghetto. probably, they had partitioned off, by means of a thin wall of tiles, a narrow part of the kitchen, and had masked the hole with a board or a cupboard. There was nothing I could put before the hole; I was at a loss and started looking round in the narrow room. On the ground stood a watering can, half filled with water, and in a corner there were gardening tools. The room was almost dark, only a faint filtering light came from the roof. As I looked upwards, I saw that on the one side, between the rafters and the ceiling of the kitchen, there was a narrow gap, which was closed on the other side by a wall of tiles. Though the house was low, nevertheless, the gap was too high for me to reach.
However, fear of death makes one very pliable. I no longer remember how I managed apelike to climb up the smooth wall and wind myself into the gap which was hardly half a meter high. Long thick nails protruding out of the rafters, tore the flesh of my back, but neither the burning pain, nor the bleeding wounds prevented me from creeping deeper into the narrow space. As I felt that some tiles under me had loosened, I scratched them with my fingernails and arranged them again, turning and winding like a snake while doing so.
I can hardly describe those breathless minutes. I remember that I was working feverishly and that like a hollow-hammer, my heart was beating the time. At last, I finished and was lying motionless and breathlessly in my really wonderful hiding-place. My body was dripping with perspiration, my mouth, eyes and nose were full of dust and cobwebs. I was pressed tight between the tiles and the rafters so that I was hardly able to move. The midday sun, which penetrated through the holes in the roof, burnt relentlessly and my hiding-place became stiflingly hot. Should I be able to endure for hours in these unnatural conditions, in the almost airless space:' In addition to everything else, I suffered from an unbearable thirst, as I had had nothing in my mouth since last night. I did not know how much time passed since my adventurous flight into the house. Outside continued the sinister tragic noise: the lorry had not yet left. Suddenly, I heard a low, an almost imperceptible stir in the house; someone entered stealthily and crept also into the little bunker beneath me. Then I was able to gather from the excited whispering that there were two women. They were rustling with something and pushing an object, probably to trying to cover the hole in the wall. I was lying' completely motionless and hardly dare to breathe. Unfortunately, what I was afraid of had come ! Someone shouted outside: "Here they hid themselves these damned girls !" The door flew open with a crack, pieces of furniture were overthrown, heavy steps stamped round and the miserable women were already detected. Accompanied with curses.. they were pulled out,and in spite of their imploring entreaties -- terribly beaten.
My heart stopped throbbing, when I saw the bunker lighted with an electric torch. Did I put the tiles properly; could they have seen my shoes? The light of the torch disappeared, the heavy steps withdrew, again nobody in the house, and I was saved ! Soon afterwards the lorry had driven away with its crying and shouting "load" and I sank in an unquiet sleep, of deepest exhaustion and strained nerves. Maybe, it was no sleep at all but a swoon.
The occurrences of the last hours surpassed the endurance of man ! Twice more the lorry came to fetch its sinister freight. Shaken with horror. I had twice more to listen to how my companions were callously dragged to their death.
In the meantime my limbs became stiff and numb. the tongue lay dry and hard in the mouth. the lips were swollen and split, and I was hardly able to move them. It became a little bit earlier as the sun gradually went down and the day turned cooler. Again, this time it was the last lorry which had driven away, and now it became horribly still in the court yard. All was over!
More than four hundred innocent people were entirely groundlessly brutally murdered. But the earth did not open up to devour the bestial thoughtless murderers. No! The sun too continued to shine unconcerned; a goat was bleating gaily in the Aryan quarter, and people were heard laughing.
My hands delved into the dust of the roof and an unalterable rage shocked me. I wanted to cry but did not. I wanted to curse but it turned out to be a thanksgiving for my salvation! How wretched indeed is man ! How cowardly he is and paltry..
Time seemed to stand still. Would this horrible day never come to an end? A deathly silence prevailed in the Camp. Were the amnestied murdered too? Or were they transferred to another camp?
At last it grew dark and I prepared to leave my hiding-place. The most difficult problem was the removal or the tiles. Because of Iying for hours motionless, all my limbs had become numb. Slowly and laboriously I managed to descend to the wall-bunker. There I rushed to the watering-can and drank greedily of the stale lukewarm water. What an easement to be able to cool the dusty dry mouth and the dry throat! Shorty afterward I Ieft the house which had saved me, it being no easy decision to go out into uncertainty.
The moon shone brightly as I was warily crawling in the shadow of the building, approaching the house of the women. My exaggerated caution was entirely superfluous Not a single German was in the camp or even close by. .Thomanek celebrated together with his faithful staff the great triumph of the extermination.The order- servicemen had enough troubles of their own and did not care at all to keep guard.
In fact, who was to be guarded? The few miserable despairing remainders, who filled with grief had hidden themselves in the darkest corners ? When after long tiresome seeking and wandering in gloomy empty rooms. I at last found a few women, my unexpected appearance aroused deadly fear among them. In their. over strained state, they took me to be a ghost and I was at pains to quiet them. After I had told them the story of my wonderful escape I was at last able to stretch myself on one of tile camp plank-beds.
The immediate danger of death was over ! I had survived another "Action" of extermination ! But was I really safe ?
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Best of Burque
We need your votes for the 20th Annual Best of Burque poll!
C'mon, you know you love judging people
From photography to massage to comedians, the Alibi needs your help determining who are the best, brightest and most-valued businesses in the 505. This is the 20th annual Best of Burque, and we've spiced things up with new categories, a new look and some clever updates to your favorite categories. So sit your booty down, get your clickin' finger ready and submit those votes. Log in, add, delete and change your answers all you want, just get them done before March 12 at noon.


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Welcome to my little hiding place in cyberspace!
This is my third year as a participant in the One World One Heart event hosted by Lisa Swifka of A Whimsical Bohemian. This is the 5th and final year of the event, so it is a bit bittersweet.
I have enjoyed meeting so many beautiful bloggers and "discovering" countless talented artists during these events.
A bit about me:
My name is Heidi, though I am more commonly known around thius land of bits and bytes as Digital Misfit.
I am a 35 (patooey!) year old woman freezing my ample posterior off up here in northern Ontario, Canada.. During my childhood, I was never without a crayon or pencil in my hand. I loved to draw, play with clay, pretty much anything artsy.
Then for years I put away the toys, focusing on work and other mundane stuff.
A few years ago, when I became ill and unable to work, I stumbled upon a crafty website called Craftster (heyyyy to all my Craftster friends who are visiting!). I was so inspired that I bought a sewing machine, stocked up on craft supplies from every genre and got my hands dirty again. I have been experimenting with everything from doll making to mixed media art, hand embroidery to polymer clay. I love it all! This year I plan to take up crochet (I am DETERMINED to learn, dammit!) , purse making, and small scale quilting. My current main crafts include felt, embroidery and embroidery design, and painting.
Now for the stuff you are all here for: the giveaway!
Today I am giving away 2 completely unrelated items that I made especially for this event.
First up is a mixed media painting on wrapped canvas entitled One World.
This goddess is painted with watercolor crayon, progresso pencils, graphite pencil, acrylics, and ink with decoupage bits from a vintage Dutch copy of Jane Eyre. The sides are painted so she is ready to hang as-is.
BOTH of these items will go to ONE winner, which will be drawn from the comments below using random.org on February 17th. The last day to enter will be February 16th at 11:59 pm EST (GMT -5h).
This giveaway is open to bloggers worldwide. You do not have to be a participant of One World One Heart to enter, but you MUST have an active blog (ie: not a blog you created this morning to enter the giveaways).
If your blog does not have contact information on it, please leave your email address in your comment so that I can reach you in the event that you win. To avoid spam, you can write it as myemailaddy (at) emailprovider (dot) com
If you want to participate in One World One Heart, you can still jump right in! Just visit the website to find out how. I look forward to visiting all of the OWOH 2011 participants over the next 2 weeks. Big hugs to all of you!
aka Digital Misfit


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Defining intellectualism down
With Ted Cruz, Texas' former solicitor general, on track to win a U.S. Senate seat in three months, the far-right Republican is starting to receive some attention from the national media. The New York Times, for example, has a feature on Cruz this morning, emphasizing his "intellectual heft."
The piece quotes a former Cruz professor saying the candidate stood out even among his Ivy League peers as "intellectually and morally serious."
It led Isaac Chotiner to note this gem from a Gail Collins column:
In a blog posting early this year, Cruz vowed that as senator he would fight against "a dangerous United Nations plan" on environmental sustainability that he said was aimed at abolishing "golf courses, grazing pastures and paved roads." He blamed all this on the Democratic financier-philanthropist George Soros.
That's clearly not encouraging, but I'd add that Cruz also authored a proposal in Texas that would allow the state to ignore a federal law it doesn't like, nullifying the Affordable Care Act by partnering up with another state that felt the same way. This stems from a crackpot legal theory that was resolved by the Civil War.
"Intellectually and morally serious"? I'm afraid not.


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100% ceramic
Depicting traditional Japanese pottery designs, this set of six striking Onuma Bowls is decorated with a range of intricate motifs. Carefully crafted from 100% ceramic, these simple, stunning bowls make an eye-catching set on the dinner table and will impress guests a treat.
Mix and match with other designs in the Onuma Collection.
The Onuma ceramic crockery has been specially created with care and designed with intricate, Japanese motifs. This striking collection of kitchen and dining accessories will ensure all eyes are on the table when you serve guests at dinner parties. The traditional combination of cool blue and snow white will stand out against rustic wooden tables, as well as simple, crisp white table linen.
Material: 100% ceramic
Design: Set of six ceramic bowls with traditional Japanese motifs
Colour: Blue & white
Made with love in: Japan
Designed with love in: Satigny, Switzerland
Available size:
5.2 cm x 11.2 cm
Care: Dishwasher safe. Do not microwave.
Want more information on materials, manufacturing and care: Read our buying guide
Free delivery & returns
Enjoy free delivery on all orders over £50 within mainland UK. Shop confidently, too, with 100 days free returns (including gifts!), so if you don't absolutely love your order, don't hesitate to send it back – free of charge, no questions asked. Visit our delivery page to find out where else we deliver and the associated delivery fees.
Good things come to those who wait
Occasionally, some collections may have longer-than-normal delivery times. As a thank you for your patience, you'll save on all products with a delivery time of three or more weeks: the longer you wait, the more you save.
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"While the Onuma collection is dishwasher safe, please avoid placing these items in the microwave."
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in this section
Haas paper noted by Google Scholar as top 10 most cited since 2006
A paper by ECE Emeritus Professor Zygmunt J. Haas and co-authored by Computer Science Professor Joseph Y. Halpern and his student Li Li has been cited by Google Scholar as a top 10 most cited paper since 2006.
The paper, "Gossip-based ad hoc routing" is referred to as "classic papers," which are highly-cited papers in their area of research that have stood the test of time. For each area, Google lists the ten most-cited articles that were published during the prior ten years.
Haas's article is listed under the area of Engineering and Computer Science and the research field Computer Networks and WIreless Communication.
Google Scholar's list of classic papers includes articles that presented new research, to the extent their indexing system is able to automatically determine. It specifically excludes review articles, introductory articles, editorials, guidelines, commentaries, etc. It also excludes articles with fewer than 20 citations and, for now, is limited to articles written in English.
This release of classic papers consists of articles that were published in 2006 and is based on Google's index as it was in May 2017. Classic papers can be browsed by selecting one of the broad areas and then select the specific research field of interest.


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Chicago on Sunday recorded four homicides--the highest one-day total since January, a RedEye analysis of preliminary police data found.
According to police:
At 3:30 a.m., a 20-year-old man was shot to death in the 2800 block of East 76th Street in South Shore.
Later that morning, an 82-year-old woman was found beaten to death in the 7800 block of Euclid Avenue in South Shore.
At 4 p.m., a 21-year-old was fatally shot in the 6500 block of South Green Street in Englewood.
At 6:30 p.m., a 18-year-old was shot in the 7900 block of South Paulina Street in Auburn Gresham. He later died.
Seven homicides were logged on Jan. 26, the deadliest day of the year, according to police information.
Citywide, gunshot homicides were recorded in the last week in Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, Roseland, Washington Heights and West Englewood, according to RedEye data.
Fifteen homicides have been logged so far in May. Fifty-one homicides were recorded in May 2012, RedEye determined.


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Heart Disease and Stroke Atlases
- 2010 Atlas of Heart Disease Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Heart disease has consistently been a public health concern and is the leading cause of death in the United States. For coronary heart disease alone, the estimated direct and indirect costs for the overall U.S. population are approximately $165.4 billion for 2009.
- 2008 Atlas of Stroke Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Stroke is a major public health issue with direct costs for care estimated at $41.6 billion and indirect costs in terms of lost productivity from either illness or death estimated at an additional $21.1 billion for 2007.
- Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Among American Indians and Alaska Natives
Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, heart disease and stroke are the first and sixth leading causes of death.
- The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke
An estimated 17 million people worldwide die of cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart attacks and strokes.
- The Atlas of Stroke Mortality: Racial, Ethnic and Geographic Disparities in the United States
The third in a series of CDC atlases related to cardiovascular disease, published through a collaboration between CDC and West Virginia University.
- Men and Heart Disease: An Atlas of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mortality
This atlas is available in hard copy only.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men of all racial and ethnic groups, and although about half of all heart disease deaths occur among men and half among women, more than 70 percent of premature (i.e., younger than age 65 years) heart disease deaths occur among men.
- Women and Heart Disease: An Atlas of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mortality—Second Edition
This atlas is available in hard copy only.
While there is growing awareness that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, claiming more than 372,000 lives in 1995 alone, few studies of heart disease in women have examined geographic disparities.
- Page last reviewed: July 23, 2013
- Page last updated: July 23, 2013
- Content source:


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From Openmoko
This page is for selling, buying or exchanging Openmoko devices and accessories.
For Sale
List here if you have one for sale. By location.
I am in the market for a used phone vw ride at g mail $200
- I have a GTA02 with battery, neoprene holder, and charger for sale. It has an old 1.6 build of android on it currently. Comes with 512mb $225, paypal accepted ben at eflow dot org
New Hampshire / New England Area
- GTA02 850Hz(US). Great condition, 512MB SD-Card(and adapter), Wall-Charger, stylus, neoprene case, headset, and has Android on it currently. PayPal Accepted. Will ship anywhere in the US. $250 Nick: doobe01 AT gmail DOT com
San Francisco
- Two spare GTA02 batteries, and a Neoprene GTA02 carrying case for sale. Make me an offer. Email ken at restivo dot org
- Selling Neo FreeRunner A6 + buzzfix. Auction at eBay. Starting bet 75€ plus shipping. Two batteries, invisible shield, sleeve, charger with adaptors, 512MB microSD, original packaging, etc. Paypal accepted.
- I have a GTA02 with battery, neoprene holder, and charger for sale. It has an old 1.6 build of android on it currently. Comes with 512mb $225, paypal accepted ben at eflow dot org (I will be in Kenya starting in April)
List here if you want a phone and what price you're willing to pay. By location.
- North Carolina, United States
Im ready to ditch my proprietary phone for one which is free (as in freedom). Im pretty serious about it and would buy a new FreeRunner if there was a retailer with US-band models in stock. If you are getting rid of yours please contact me. I am willing to pay a fair price. Now a happy Freerunner owner. In need of a few accessories though. If you are willing to part with some please email: wes (dot) frazier (at) gmail (dot) com
- New Jersey (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon County)
I'm starting a GNU/Linux business targeted at the masses and want to buy a Neo FreeRunner. Can't afford more than $150 or so (need money for stock / advertising / other expenses). Willing to work out a deal of some kind 50% now 50% later / trial basis (since it might not suffice given development status) / open to ideas. email: chris (at) domain: kglug.org
- Charleston(South Carolina,USA)
I just purchased freerunner. I was looking on linuxdevices.com and say when the Neo 1973 came out, it had an upgraded package that included several accessories and was all included in a plastic carry box. if anyone has one they would like to part with alonog with an openmoko lanyard, contact me please. nismoadam(at)gmail dot com
- Mijail
I want to buy NeoFrerunners phone to sell in Argentina. My mail is firstname.lastname@example.com
- StealthCP (UK)
I want to purchase a used (or spares/repair) Neo 1973 in order to replace the damaged TFT screen in my Freerunner, condition depends on screen will purchase from anywhere, would pay no more than £100, more if other components/peripherals are included. Contactable in #openmoko or via e-mail at dpreid AT gmail DOT com.
- klon (Lithuania)
I want to purchase Openmoko stock stylus — the original one with pen, laser pointer and flashlight. My adress is abdullakh ET gmail DOT com


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In this lesson, a correlation between chlorophyll, sea surface temperature, and sunlight will be derived from NASA satellite data. Students will download a year's worth of data on each of these variables for the Gulf of Maine. Data will be... (View More) imported and displayed as both a line plot and an Excel graph. Chlorophyll density, which corresponds to the density of photosynthetic phytoplankton, will be analyzed and compared/related to sunlight and sea surface temperature data. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, an online glossary and a list of related AP Environmental Science topics. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free


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NORTH LITTLE ROCK First-year Arkansas Head Coach Bret Bielema and his staff on Thursday made their first appearance in central Arkansas since signing his first Razorbacks recruiting class.
Bielema held a media session prior to meeting with fans and boosters at a dinner in North Little Rock's Verizon Arena to celebrate and break down the 2013 signing class, which includes four in-state players — five if you include Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College transfer Martrell Spaight, a former North Little Rock High School standout.
"My early indication on Little Rock is that the arrow is up [in talent]," Bielema said.
In his address to the media, Bielema expressed his excitement for the newest group of players, especially the in-state players. He cited Arkansas Director of High School Relations Bobby Allen in helping bridge the gap for relationships when Bielema first arrived.
One of the biggest talking points was the saga of the now-signed Alex Collins and his mother taking his National Letter of Intent from him on National Signing Day.
In the press conference, Bielema was asked about the allegations from Collins's mother that Arkansas could possibly be swaying her son to come to Fayetteville with some illegal activity.
"The part that I've always carried through my whole life is that if you always tell the truth, you don't have to remember what you said," he said with a smile. "[It's] kind of the same thing in recruiting ... So no, there wasn't anything other than the standard operating procedures [occurring]. I know that she was kind of throwing that scenario out there. I know I'm confident in what myself and my coaches and my university....We dotted all the I's and crossed all the T's."
Arguably two of the biggest signees for Bielema and the Hogs came late in the process, with Collins and offensive lineman Denver Kirkland. Both were rated as four- or five-star recruits by various publications. Kirkland, out of Miami Booker T. Washington High School, chose Arkansas over Miami.
The Kirkland signing capped a haul of large offensive lineman for Bielema, all of which are at least 6-3 with all but one over 300 pounds. The lone lineman not over 300, Dan Skipper, comes in at 6-10, 295 pounds. It's a group that's important to the coaches, especially since they will be used to support Bielema's punishing running style.
"Coach [Bielema] comes in here pounding the ball from the Big Ten," Offensive Coordinator Jim Chaney said. "I get this wrap of the pass-happy cat from Tennessee. The reality, the harsh reality, of the SEC is it's a size and speed conference. You have to have the stature in the front to play."
Bielema and his staff were also asked about the junior college signees, four of which are junior college All-Americans. Bielema said that while getting talent was definitely the main reason, it was important to make sure the players fit not only with the team but the community as well.
The staff will take the night to meet and greet fans in the area to discuss the newest players before heading back to Fayetteville to begin preparations for spring practice.


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"John Broder of The New York Times has an interesting piece on Al Gore's financial profit tied to his global warming alarmism and push for renewable energy. Gore's venture capital firm invested in Silver Spring Networks, a company that makes hardware and software to improve efficiency in the...
Free Market Capitalism vs. Crony Capitalism
Free market capitalism can be defined as "a system wherein individuals are free to pursue their own interests, make voluntary exchanges, and hold private property rights in goods and services." Allowing consumers and producers to trade at mutually agreed upon prices, free market capitalism is a system characterized by voluntary rather than coercive exchange. In such a system, the role of government is limited: protecting individuals' basic rights to life, liberty, property, and association; providing a legal system for the enforcement of contracts; and defending individuals against internal and external threats of physical force.
By contrast, whether referred to as cronyism, corporatism, mercantilism, liberal fascism, or venture socialism, crony capitalism is simply the cooperation of government and business. While this cooperation benefits the involved business and politician(s), it generally hurts the politically and corporately unconnected. Furthermore, the power and benefits of crony capitalism can often lead to corruption, a fact which James Madison recognized when he stated, "Wherever there is an interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done, and not less readily by a powerful & interested party than by a powerful and interested prince."
The mechanisms of crony capitalism are numerous: Bailouts, stimulus, special loans, too-big-to-fail, favors, mandates, barriers to entry, political appointments, tax breaks, campaign contributions, 'sole-source' procurement, connections, grants, government-union cooperation, exemptions, government sponsored enterprises, political insider trading, and legal bribery.
Unlike in a free market capitalist system, under crony capitalism it is often more profitable for businesses to spend resources lobbying legislators for handouts in the form of grants, loans, or tax advantages, and protections against competition in order to increase their profits. In turn, the government's willingness to hand out special privileges promotes the politically well-connected rather than those who seek to earn the preference of investors and consumers based on merit. The gains of such activities usually accrue to the businesses and politicians involved at the expense of consumers and taxpayers. Consumers have to pay higher prices due to decreased competition, and taxpayers have to foot the bill for loans, grants, bailouts, and tax breaks. Thus, crony capitalism creates a system of privatized gains and "socialized losses."
In recent years, the collaboration between corporations and government has increased. A major example of crony capitalism occurred late in the Bush administration with the large corporate bailouts implemented under TARP. Another more recent case is the Obama administration using part of the 2009 Recovery Act stimulus to support alternative energy companies like Solyndra, which declared bankruptcy shortly after accepting the government's loan.
Anger over situations like these took center stage during the Occupy Wall Street protests during the Fall of 2011. These protests blamed the 2007-2009 Recession on the financial industry. According to the Occupy Wall Street protestors, large corporations simply have too much power to influence the legislative process in Congress.
The protestors favor one of the two opposing solutions that have been put forth to prevent crony capitalism. That solution is to increase government regulation of businesses. Opponents of this option however point out that large corporations and the politically well-connected have too much influence on the legislative process because, more often than not, the politicians and government bureaucrats involved in that process are not able to withstand that influence.
The second solution proposed is to diminish government power and intervention in the economy. As long as there is some favor to be had from government, business will pursue it. Thus, so the argument goes, the only way to truly stifle the mechanisms of crony capitalism is to remove the ability of the government to hand out favors and limit it to its primary responsibility of protecting individual rights.
This topic explores the differences between crony capitalism and free market capitalism. The sources gathered here shed light on some of the mechanisms of crony capitalism, provide many examples, and offer various views of the causes and remedies for it.
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Gap's Styld.by Catalogue
When Gap approached us to style their summer collection, we were instantly drawn to easygoing outfits accompanied by pops of colour and polished accents. For men, crisp basics (like an open button-down and casual shorts) work perfectly for warm weather; for women, cropped blue jeans look effortless paired with a chic dip-dye striped tank! As always, accessories are key: belts (like his sleek brown version or her bright yellow skinny) and cool kicks (black lace-up sneaks for him, pointy-toe heels for her) offer fun finishing touches and inject a little personality into each look. Check out other ways to style Gap's summer collection and get inspired at styld-by.com!