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For slightly longer than a week, crews from South Plains Contracting in Seguin have been working to dismantle the structure deemed unsafe by engineers.
Last week, the crews tore down the side bleachers.
This week, the main structure came down.
But it wasn't the spectacular sight that some would imagine.
There was no cloud of dust — no dramatic collapse.
Using chains, cables and brute force of heavy machinery, the crews toppled the structure safely avoiding the nearby oak trees.
An excavator then tore through the foot-wide beams, twisting and snapping them as easily as one bends thin wire.
Workers at the scene said they were first concerned that the structure would be too strong to collapse.
They were wrong. What little steel that was left at the concrete base snapped.
Engineers had previously predicted this, saying that years of paint had been coated onto the structure. But old paint was left, allowing water to seep into joints and slowly rust away the beams.
Baseball fans need not worry though.
The college will be rebuild the stadium.
For the next 20 years, Beeville ISD will be using the field and the college has until September or early October to have it ready.
Just what the new stadium will look like is still up in the air.
College trustees recently agreed that they were not going to build what they termed the "Cadillac" of ballfields.
"I am talking about a good solid medium of the road stadium that we can be proud of but it can very functional," said Laura Fischer, during a recent board meeting.
This month, the board expects to have an estimate on what it will cost to build the new complex.
Taxpayers also can breathe a sigh of relief — they don't plan to increase the taxes.
College President Dr. Espinoza said, "My recommendation it would come out of our collection of taxes — at our current rate."
Jason Collins is the editor at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 121, or at email@example.com.


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By Audry Olmsted
Landowners struggle daily to keep their crops, animals and land free of pest damage that can harm their livelihood.
A newly encroaching pest – the feral hog – has made the eastern side of the state its home and New Mexico State University is offering a symposium for landowners to learn about the dangers of feral hogs and how to control and manage them.
The symposium will be held Dec. 9 at the Tucumcari Convention Center.
People interested in participating are asked to reserve a seat at the symposium by Dec. 6.
"Quay County is a real hot spot for feral hogs," said Tom Dominguez, agricultural agent for the Quay County Cooperative Extension Service. "They are a real nuisance and destructive to rangeland and water lines. They also harbor diseases that are detrimental to wildlife."
Dominguez said feral hogs were originally brought to the area for hunting purposes and that they also migrated to the area along the Canadian and Pecos rivers. The animals are prolific breeders, which has contributed to the problems for landowners.
Sam Smallidge, an NMSU Extension wildlife specialist, will talk with participants about the history of feral hogs. Manny Encinias, an NMSU Extension beef cattle specialist, will discuss domestic herds and wildlife interactions.
Justin Stevenson, a wildlife disease biologist with USDA Wildlife Services, will give information about diseases and dangers, and rules and regulations concerning feral hogs. Ron Jones, who is also with USDA Wildlife Services as a wildlife damage specialist, will discuss management and control of the animal.
Ken Cearley, a wildlife specialist with Texas AgriLife, will discuss Texas' feral hog situation.
Three New Mexico Department of Agriculture continuing education units can be earned for attending the symposium. Supplementing the program, USDA Wildlife Services will offer private rodenticide applicators training and testing for anyone interested.
There will be time during the symposium for attendees to ask questions of the experts.
The Eastern New Mexico Feral Hog Symposium is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Tucumcari Convention Center. There will be a $10 charge at the door for lunch and for materials.
For more information or to reserve a seat at the symposium, call Dominguez at the Quay County Extension Office at 575-461-0562.

subset: commoncrawl


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Swords and Sandals is the gladiator RPG that started it all and it's still the best. So arise gladiator -- come be the fighter we know you can be!
2016-06-30 00:38
2016-04-10 06:28
We are producing a whole series of new games and we want beta testers!
Please send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com and tell us your
basic ASL information and why you think you would make a great beta tester!
2012-04-20 17:37
2012-03-22 14:33
Gladiators rejoice! We're pleased to announced the release of the classic original Swords & Sandals game on Android mobile and iPhone. Featuring 18 tournaments, lots of weapons and spells and fast paced RPG combat, it's perfect for gladiators on the move.
2012-03-14 16:42
We have just uploaded a new version that contains some major changes to the game. The biggest is the change to the shop UI and a few bugs have been fixed. Take a moment from destroying your enemies and read through the list below or read through the change log once you log into the game.


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The iconic bust of Nefertiti is part of the Ägyptisches Museum Berlin collection, currently on display in the Altes Museum.
circa 1370
|circa 1330 BC
in hieroglyphs
Nefertiti (pronounced at the time something like *nafratiːta[1]) (c. 1370 BC – c. 1330 BC) was the Great Royal Wife (chief consort) of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nefertiti and her husband were known for changing Egypt's religion from a polytheistic religion to a henotheistic religion. They revered only one god, Aten, the sun disc. This was not strictly monotheism, as they did not deny the existence of other gods.
She had many titles; for example, at Karnak there are inscriptions that read Heiress, Great of Favours, Possessed of Charm, Exuding Happiness, Mistress of Sweetness, beloved one, soothing the king's heart in his house, soft-spoken in all, Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt, Great King's Wife, whom he loves, Lady of the Two Lands, Nefertiti'.
She was made famous by her bust, now in Berlin's Altes Museum, shown to the right. The bust is one of the most copied works of ancient Egypt. It was attributed to the sculptor Thutmose, and it was found in his workshop. The bust itself is notable for exemplifying the understanding Ancient Egyptians had regarding realistic facial proportions. Some scholars believe that Nefertiti ruled briefly after her husband's death and before the accession of Tutankhamun as Smenkhkare, although this identification is a matter of ongoing debate.
- See also : Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt Family Tree
Nefertiti's parentage is not known with certainty, but it is now generally believed that she was the daughter of Ay, later to be pharaoh and the sister of Mutnedjmet.[2] Another theory that gained some support identified Nefertiti with the Mitanni princess Tadukhipa.
The exact dates of when Nefertiti was married to Amenhotep IV and later promoted to his Queen are uncertain. However, the couple had six known daughters. This is a list with suggested years of birth:
- Meritaten: Before year one or the very beginning of year one.(1356 BC).
- Meketaten: Year 1 or three (1349 BC).
- Ankhesenpaaten, also known as Ankhesenamen, later queen of Tutankhamun
- Neferneferuaten Tasherit: Year 6 (1344 BC)
- Neferneferure: Year 9 (1341 BC).
- Setepenre: Year 11 (1339 BC).
In Year 4 of his reign (1346 BC) Amenhotep IV started his worship of Aten. The king led a religious revolution, in which Nefertiti played a prominent role. This year is also believed to mark the beginning of his construction of a new capital, Akhetaten, at what is known today as Amarna. In his Year 5, Amenhotep IV officially changed his name to Akhenaten as evidence of his new worship. The date given for the event has been estimated to fall around January 2 of that year. In Year 7 of his reign (1343 BC) the capital was officially moved from Thebes to Amarna, though construction of the city seems to have continued for two more years (till 1341 BC). The new city was dedicated to the royal couple's new religion. Nefertiti's famous bust is also thought to have been created around this time.
In an inscription estimated to November 21 of year 12 of the reign (approx. 1338 BC)[citation needed], her daughter Meketaten is mentioned for the last time; she is thought to have died shortly after that date. Circumstantial evidence which shows that she predeceased her husband at Akhetaten include several shabti fragments of the Queen's burial which are now located in the Louvre and Brooklyn Museums.[3] A relief in Akhenaten's tomb in the Royal Wadi at Amarna appears to show her funeral.
During Akhenaten's reign (and perhaps after) Nefertiti enjoyed unprecedented power, and by the twelfth year of his reign, there is evidence that she may have been elevated to the status of co-regent[4]: equal in status to the pharaoh himself. She was often depicted on temple walls the same size as the king, signifying her importance, and shown worshiping the Aten alone. Perhaps most impressively, Nefertiti is shown on a relief from the temple at Amarna which is now in the MFA in Boston, smiting a foreign enemy with a mace before the Aten. Such depictions had traditionally been reserved for the pharaoh alone, and yet Nefertiti was depicted as such.
About Year 14 of Akhenaten's reign (1336 BC), Nefertiti herself vanishes from the historical record, and there is no word of her after that date. Theories include a sudden death by a plague that was sweeping through the city or another natural death. A previous theory that she fell into disgrace is now discredited since the deliberate erasures of the monuments belonging to a queen of Akhenaten have now been shown to refer to Kiya instead.[5] Regardless, the verifiable knowledge of this episode has been completely lost to history.
The Coregency Stela may show her as a co-regent with her husband, who possibly ruled after his death. It is thought by some scholars that Nefertiti changed her name, first to Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten and later to Ankhkheperure Smenkhkare and that she enjoyed a brief sole rule under the latter name. it is also believed that, as her husband's co-regent and successor she might have attempted to reconcile the Atenist and Traditional religions[6] Nefertiti would have prepared for her death and for the succession of her daughter, now named Ankhsenamun, and her stepson, Tutankhamun. They would have been educated in the traditional way, worshiping the old gods. This theory has Neferneferuaten dying after two years of kingship and was then succeeded by Tutankhamun, thought to have been a son of Akhenaten. He married Nefertiti's daughter Ankhesenpaaten. The royal couple were young and inexperienced, by any estimation of their age, and Ankhesenpaaten bore two stillborn (and premature) daughters whose mummies were found by Howard Carter in Tutankhamen's tomb. Some theories believe that Nefertiti was still alive and held influence on the younger royals. If this is the case, that influence and presumably Nefertiti's own life would have ended by year 3 of Tutankhaten's reign (1331 BC). In that year, Tutankhaten changed his name to Tutankhamun, as evidence of his return to the official worship of Amun, and his abandonment of Amarna to return the capital to Thebes.
As can be seen by the suggested identifications between Tadukhipa, Nefertiti, Smenkhkare and Kiya, the records of their time and their lives are largely incomplete, and the findings of both archaeologists and historians may develop new theories vis-à-vis Nefertiti and her precipitous exit from the public stage.
No concrete information is available regarding Nefertiti's death, but the location of Nefertiti's body has long been a subject of curiosity and speculation. There are many theories regarding her death and burial.
The "Younger Lady"
In the most recent research effort led by Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities, a mummy known as the "The Younger Lady" was put through CT scan analysis and researchers concluded that she may be Tutankhamun's biological mother, Queen Kiya, not Queen Nefertiti. Fragments of shattered bone were found in the sinus, and blood clots were found, so the theory that the damage was inflicted post-mummification was rejected and a murder scenario was deemed more likely. Another reasoning to support Kiya's placement in KV35 is that after Tutankhamun returned Egypt to the traditional religion, he also moved his closest relatives, father, grand mother, and biological mother, to the Valley of the Kings to be buried with him (matching the list of figurines and drawings in his tomb). Nefertiti may still be in an undiscovered tomb.
Previously, on June 9, 2003, archaeologist Joann Fletcher, a specialist in ancient hair from the University of York in England, announced that Nefertiti's mummy may have been one of the anonymous mummies stored in tomb KV35 in the Valley of the Kings known as "the Younger Lady". However, an independent scholar in the field of Egyptology, Marianne Luban, had already made the same speculation as early as 1999 in an article posted on the Internet, entitled "Do We Have the Mummy of Nefertiti?"[7]
Luban's points upholding the identification are the same as those of Joann Fletcher. Furthermore, Fletcher suggested that Nefertiti was in fact the Pharaoh Smenkhkare. Some Egyptologists hold to this view though the majority believe Smenkhkare to have been a separate person. Dr. Fletcher led an expedition funded by the Discovery Channel that examined what they believed to have been Nefertiti's mummy.
The team claimed that the mummy they examined was damaged in a way suggesting the body had been deliberately desecrated in antiquity. Mummification techniques, such as the use of embalming fluid and the presence of an intact brain, suggested an eighteenth dynasty royal mummy. Other features the team used to support their claims were the age of the body, the presence of embedded nefer beads, and a wig of a rare style worn by Nefertiti. They further claimed that the mummy's arm was originally bent in the position reserved for pharaohs, but was later snapped off and replaced with another arm in a normal position.
However most Egyptologists, among them Kent Weeks and Peter Locavara, generally dismiss Fletcher's claims as unsubstantiated. They claim that ancient mummies are almost impossible to identify with a particular person without DNA; and as bodies of Nefertiti's parents or children have never been identified, her conclusive identification is impossible. Any circumstantial evidence, such as hairstyle and arm position, is not reliable enough to pinpoint a single, specific historical person. The cause of damage to the mummy can only be speculated upon, and the alleged revenge is an unsubstantiated theory. Bent arms, contrary to Fletcher's claims, were not reserved exclusively to pharaohs; this was also used for other members of the royal family. The wig found near to the mummy is of unknown origin, and cannot be conclusively linked to that specific body. Finally, the 18th dynasty was one of the largest and most prosperous dynasties of ancient Egypt, and a female royal mummy could be any of a hundred royal wives or daughters from 18th dynasty's more than 200 years on the throne.
In addition, there is controversy about both the age and gender of the mummy. On June 12, 2003, Hawass also dismissed the claim, citing insufficient evidence. On August 30, 2003, Reuters further quoted Hawass as saying, "I'm sure that this mummy is not a female", and "Dr Fletcher has broken the rules and therefore, at least until we have reviewed the situation with her university, she must be banned from working in Egypt."[8] Hawass has claimed that the mummy is female and male on different occasions.[9]
The Elder Lady?
A KMT article called "Who is The Elder Lady mummy?" suggests that the elder lady mummy may be Nefertiti's body [10]. This may be possible due to the fact that the mummy is around her mid-thirties or early forties, Nefertiti's guessed age of death. Also, unfinished busts of Nefertiti appear to resemble the mummy's face, though other suggestions include Ankhesenamun and, the favorite candidate, Tiye. More evidence to support this identification is that the mummy's teeth look like that of a 29-38 year old, Nefertiti's most likely age of death. Due to recent age tests on the mummy's teeth, it appears that the 'Elder Lady' is in fact Queen Tiye and also that the DNA of the mummy is a close, if not direct, match to the lock of hair found in Tutankhamun's tomb which bears the inscription of Queen Tiye is the hairs coffin. To date, the mummy of this famous and iconic queen has not been found.
Iconic status
Nefertiti's place as an icon in popular culture is secure as she has become somewhat of a celebrity. After Cleopatra she is the second most famous "Queen" of Egypt in the Western imagination and influenced through photographs that changed standards of feminine beauty of the 20th century, and is often referred to as "the most beautiful woman in the world".[11][12]
Recently, it has been suggested by Swiss art historian Henri Stierlin that the famous bust is a copy dating from 1912. He claims that it was made to test the use of ancient pigments.[13]
- ^ James Allen, Middle Egyptian, (Cambridge University Press), 2004.
- ^ Egypt State Information Service - Famous women
- ^ Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, (Thames & Hudson), 2004, p.156
- ^ Reeves, Nicholas. Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet. p.172 Thames & Hudson. 2005. ISBN 0-500-285527
- ^ Dodson & Hilton, p.156
- ^ Reeves, C.N., Akhenaten, Egypt's False Prophet (Thames and Hudson, 2001) p. 164
- ^ Do We Have the Mummy of Nefertiti?
- ^ Hawass comments - No Discrimination
- ^ Times Online - King Tut tut tut
- ^ http://www.egyptology.com/kmt/summer2001/
- ^ Queen Nefertiti of Egypt
- ^ Nefertiti - Crystalinks
- ^ Famed Nefertiti bust 'a fake': expert
External links
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nefertiti


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Pinot Noir, Porcini & Brookies
Pinot Noir, Porcini & Brookies August brings all the great activities of The Home Ranch back country. The Zirkels are filling with mushrooms, the streams are filled with hungry Brookies, and I have a bottle of Marsannay Burgundy Pinot Noir. They make for a fabulous meal! The Porcinis harvested from the forest are cleaned, and then the Brookies are cleaned. I sauté the mushrooms with grape seed oil and finish them with parsley, shallots, garlic and butter. The Brookies are then drenched in flour and pan seared with grape seed oil, placed on a platter, and topped with a masterpiece of mushrooms. Serve with a chilled … Continued


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Well done Kelly, JJ, Wardo, all the ladies, and others who look sharp and put some thought into the occasion… aesthetically speaking. But to all the boys who wore ball caps and t-shirts, you look like a bunch of high school jocks who haven't grown up. Get some style for christs sake! Not a suit necessarily, just some proper stylish duds. Meola in camou? Jesus that is lame. Ya ya ya the kid rips I know.
Ted….welcome to the North Shore, land of many boys and few men…..but you're on point with that comment
Braddah in the flanel looks crazy.
Dion needs new pants the grub.


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La Tomatina
Where: Buñol, Valencia , Spain
When: A week long celebration culminating with a squashed tomato fight on the last Wednesday of August
What: There is no reason for this event other than pure fun.
La Tomatina started in 1945 when a food fight among friends broke out in the streets. They enjoyed it so much that they repeated it again the next year and every year since then. The event just grew until the holiday was banned during the period under Franco for having no religious significance. It started again in the 1970s after his death.
Why: If you have ever wanted to throw a squashed tomato at anyone, here's your chance.
Be part of the madness where 30,000 people come together to hurl 90,000 tomatoes at each other, but there is a distinct order to the chaos.
The first event starts at 11 am. A ham is placed upon a cockaigne pole (a large, greased pole), and the tomato fight begins once someone is able to climb to the top and bring it down.
People compete with each other, climbing over one another, in order to be the one to pull down the ham. With this victory, a cannon is fired to signal the beginning of the fight and then it's every man for himself. It only lasts for an hour, but this will probably be the funniest hour you will have all year.
Getting there:
The nearest airport is at the coastal town of Valencia around 40km from Buñol. Easyjet fly from London Stansted, London Gatwick and Bristol. Ryanair fly from London Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands and Dublin. Clickair operate from London Heathrow. Iberia fly from London Heathrow. Arrange your accommodation in Valencia and make the trip to Buñol for the day of the tomato battle. Trains set off from Valenica's Estacio de Nord every hour and the trip takes around 55 minutes.
Other food fights
around the world:
chinchilla melon festival
Where: Chinchilla, Australia
When: Every two years. The next one is due 14-17 February 2013
What: A festival where participants ski, slip, slide and even bungy into squashed melon.
WhY: The city is famed as the 'Melon Capital' of Australia as it produces a quarter of the country's melons.
The festival is a celebration of this.
The sking is hilarious as people squish their feet into watermelons using them as skiis and slide down a course of soap and melon gunk.
Later visitors can also eat the stuff at the food halls.
Battle of the Oranges
Where: Ivrea, north-east Italy
When: End of February
What: This is a three-day orgy of orange-throwing insanity
Why: It is part of an ancient six-day carnival that attracts 100,000 spectators and 4,000 participants, wearing floppy red bonnets and tucking into plates of beans ladled out from caudrons in the town square.
WhY: The festival stems from the 19th century when rebellious commoners defiantly threw away food the feudal lord had given them. These days it is a battle between the hundreds of 'commoners' on the ground and guards in nine combat carriages, who throw oranges at each other.
cheese rolling festivalS
Where: Chester, Gloucester, Stilton, UK
When: April, May and June
WhAT: Cheese makers roll balls of cheese down hills
WHY: No one knows how this competition started, but they say this English eccentricty dates back to Roman times. Incidentally, Cheshire cheese is one of the oldest in the world. It is said it was originally made in a mould shaped like a cat, which later became famous as the smiling Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. The competition entails pushing blocks of cheese down a hill, around an obstacle, in relays of three. Local cheesemakers vie against each other to become the cheese rolling champion. The event is so popular that Stilton are campaigning to turn cheese rolling into an Olympic sport.
custard pie championship
Where: Coxheath, Kent, UK
What: Participants throw custard pies at each other
WHY: The inspiration for this charity event came from a Charlie Chaplin comedy, Behind The Screen. Fully grown adults, dress up in fancy dress and hurl custard pies at each other.
They are awarded points for throwing a pie squarely in their opponent's face and extra points for the most original and amusing throwing techniques. Participants get to throw five pies in the first heat, seven in the semi-finals and a maximum of ten pies in the final.
Grape Throwing Fiesta
Where: Binissalem, Mallorca
When: Last weekend of September
WhAT: Grapes are used as missiles
Why: The grape growing season ends with thousands of people following a piper to the fields. Once there, everyone pelts the grapes that never made it into the wine at each other.


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modular exponentiation
Essentially, you use and substitute each term with its residue modulo 13*23, so you have smaller numbers. Optimally, using decomposition in base 2, you reduce to power 2 (and powers of 2, by induction). Read the wikipedia (or google for modular exponentiation if it is not clear enough).


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SEATTLE — Alaska Beyond Magazine and Alaska Beyond Magazine, Horizon Edition, the inflight magazines for Alaska Airlines, published by Paradigm Communications Group, received honors in the magazine division of this year's Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism competition, winning seven awards. Paradigm editors, art directors and free-lancers received three first-place awards, two second-place and two third-place awards. The SPJ's Western Washington Chapter awards were presented June 13 at the SPJ annual banquet honoring Excellence in Journalism among magazine, newspaper, Internet and broadcast media for work done in 2014.
Alaska Beyond Magazine, won four awards. The magazine received two first-place awards: Personalities Reporting, Eric Lucas, "Tom Douglas" and Pictorial Photography, Art Wolfe, "Photo Page." The magazine received one second-place award: Headlines, Staff, Alaska Beyond Magazine and also earned one third-place award: Environment and Science Reporting, Eric Gold, "Sustaining Sustainability."
The staff of Alaska Beyond Magazine includes Paul Frichtl, Editor; Michele Andrus Dill, Senior Editor; Jeff Bond and Ben Raker, Associate Editors; Eric Lucas, Contributing Editor; Margaret Elson and Patty Warkentin, Art Directors; Whitney Little, Associate Art Director; Ken Krass, Advertising Director; Mimi Kirsch, Publisher; and Ed Kirsch, CEO.
Horizon Edition Magazine won three awards. The magazine received one first-place award: Arts and Entertainment Reporting, Scott Driscoll, "Teenage Drama." The magazine also received one second-place award: Arts and Entertainment Reporting, Ted Fry, "Puzzle Creators" and one third-place award: Personal Service Reporting, Michelle Martin, "Digital Fitness."
The staff of Horizon Edition includes Paul Frichtl, Editor-in-Chief; Michele Andrus Dill, Editor; Ben Raker and Jeff Bond, Associate Editors; Nancy O'Connell, Art Director; Whitney Little, Associate Art Director; Ken Krass, Advertising Director; Mimi Kirsch, Publisher; and Ed Kirsch, CEO.
Paradigm Communications Group is a custom-publishing company headquartered in Seattle. Paradigm has been recognized regionally and nationally with numerous awards for editorial and design excellence.


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"First off I have to thank everyone that made the weekend possible, Compass360 Racing, and my sponsors, LiUNA and CTF. It's great to have their support, have them backing me, it just motivates me to do well, especially here," said DiMeo. "I wanted to put on a good show for everyone here at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, so with three wins, that was a pretty good end to the weekend and I hope we can maintain this going into New Jersey."
In Touring Car A, Jason Wolfe sought the same feat as DiMeo in terms of a weekend sweep of the three races. Wolfe led the whole way until the second last lap of the race when Francis, who had started second, passed to take the lead. Francis end up winning the race by 5.845 seconds.
"At the beginning of the race I was sliding all over the place, I was just trying to find grip out there, and one of my teammates Jason Cherry, made a mistake on turn nine, got sideways and I was able to get by him and move into second place," said Francis. "Then it was just chasing down Wolfe and keeping the pressure on him until he finally made a mistake and I was able to get on the inside of him on turn three and squeeze him to the outside and then kept on going."
Shea Holbrook finished on the podium for the third time in as many races. Holbrook started from the rear of the field after a violation found in post-race technical inspection on Saturday, but bounced back nicely on Sunday.
The Touring Car B race was fairly straightforward in terms of the top two positions. Stacy was able to streak away from his first series pole position. He lead the entire race for a flag-to-flag victory, winning by some 24.328 seconds over Brian Price. Price won the first three races of the season.
Behind them though, was a seriously intense and dramatic battle for third place. Taking the position at the flag was P.J. Groenke.


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Unsweetened Applesauce
October 5, 2011 | Print | E-mail | Filed under apple, canning
Despite my obvious love for all things pumpkin this time of year, I can't forget another sweet star of autumn – the apple. Having never made my own applesauce before, this year it became top priority on my ever-growing list of things to preserve. I'm really not sure what I've been waiting for, either! It was easy, especially with the help of the nifty apple peeler my mother-in-law got me for Christmas a few years ago, although you certainly don't need one to get the job done. I usually buy unsweetened applesauce at the store, so I was wondering if I'd be able to can my own. When I found the basic recipe for applesauce in the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving though, I was happy to find that there's no sugar required in order for the applesauce to be safe for preserving – only lemon juice. You certainly can add sugar if you like, and perhaps a dash of cinnamon as well. After how easy it was to make, I think I may just be taking another trip to the orchard!
- 6 lbs apples (about 18 apples)
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
Peel and core the apples, and cut them into chunks.
In a large dutch oven, add about half as much water as there are apples. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and boil gently, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes or until the apples are tender. Remove from the heat and strain.
Puree the apples in a food processor until smooth.
Return the applesauce to the dutch oven and add in the lemon juice. You may optionally add 1 and 1/2 cups sugar, but it is not needed (however, the lemon juice is needed to assure the necessary acidity of the finished product). Bring the applesauce to a boil over medium-high heat. When ready to can, prepare your supplies. Bring the temperature of the glass jars up by processing them in hot water for several minutes. Heat a few cups of water in a small saucepan for the lids. Boil a few cups of water in a small saucepan for the lids. When ready to fill the jars, maintain the applesauce at a gentle boil over low heat. Ladle the hot applesuace into the jars, leaving 1/2″ head space. Process 20 minutes. Makes about 6 eight-ounce jars (with sugar, you'll get 7-8 eight-ounce jars).
24 Responses to "Unsweetened Applesauce"
Jessica Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 11:11 am
I just made applesauce the other day as well! So good! I added cinnamon and pumpkin puree to mine…delicious!
Katie Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 11:53 am
If you leave the peels on and run it through a food mill, it will be a beautiful rosy color (and you don't need to peel them!) Cortlands make an especially attractive applesauce when done that way!
Jenna Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Yum! And I totally have that same apple corer/peeler (and love it). It really speeds things up with apple pies and such, doesn't it?
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
I love that Ball cookbook. I bought a copy for my mom and grandmother last year… I need to grab a copy for myself! I'm always calling my mom to look up canning tips/recipes for me!
Tracey Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
I love homemade applesauce, but I still haven't learned to can. It's one of my goals though, and I hear that Ball book is awesome.
Jessica @ How Sweet Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
definitely want to try this – love it!
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
I need to look up that recipe in the Ball book. We love applesauce with a little cinnamon, but we don't ever think to buy it OR make it.
carolinaheartstrings Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Looks like a wonderful batch. I need to do this too! I have a ton of apples.
SnoWhite @ Finding Joy in My Kitchen Says:
October 5th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
I'm so glad you gave applesauce a try!! We've gone through about 15 lbs of apples in applesauce so far this fall, and we're just getting started
We add cinnamon and nutmeg to ours — and we don't puree it; we prefer some apple chunks.
Katrina Says:
October 6th, 2011 at 8:17 am
I love a good applesauce recipe, and I only buy unsweetened. Love this!
Casey@Good. Food. Stories. Says:
October 6th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
I'm a chunky applesauce girl too (I'm also a lazy girl who hates to clean the food processor, so that helps!).
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction Says:
October 6th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Lovely! I usually freeze my applesauce, but I might have to try canning some. Perfect for applesauce cake all year long.
Jamie | My Baking Addiction Says:
October 9th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I am so envious of your canning skills! Love the idea of homemade apple sauce. Great gift from your mother-in-law too. I totally need to pick one of those babies up!
Hugz Says:
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:49 am
This post seems so completely unnecessary to me. If I want apple sauce, I make it fresh EVERY TIME I want it. If I make roast pork, for baby food, for a cake, for apples turnovers…. I peal, core and slice 2 apples, put in a microwave-safe bowl, add a splash of water, cover and zap on high for about 4mins, or until soft. Then, depending on the texture I want, I either mash it with a fork, for chunky, or hit it with mister buzzy (my stick blender). For sweets, i add pinch of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon, for savory, a pinch of salt and some fresh cracked black pepper. It confuses me why people would by it in a jar when it is so simple to make and SOOOOO much cheaper.
Tracy Says:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:04 am
"Hugz" – I'm sorry you feel that way. As with all the canning I do, it's about using fruits and vegetables picked at the peak of the season and preserving them without all the chemicals and preservatives you'd find in their grocery store counterparts. Also, while I can certainly pop into my grocery store in the middle of winter and pick up a few apples that were most likely trucked in from Florida, I prefer to source locally as much as possible and to preserve what I gather so that I can enjoy local fruits and vegetables all year round. Hope that helps.
Sarah Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 12:25 am
Yum! We also have been making applesauce for the past couple years. "WHY would you can is actually a question I hear a lot." Along with the reasons Tracy mentioned, we find it to be the most economical way to supplement our diet. If you buy in season and in bulk (or have a generous friend with a bumper crop), you can make large batches of food for little or no money. Also, we wind up with a better-tasting product by preserving at the peak of the season rather than buying out-of-season produce. There is little more disgusting than a mealy apple! As Tracy touched on, there important health, environmental and economic benefits that come from buying from local sources as often as possible. Finally, I must admit that there is a primal satisfaction that comes from surveying all those jars and knowing that my work is going to provide food for my family for the rest of the year. I know it sounds corny, but there you go!
I follow the same recipe, but I use my stick blender to puree in the pot. It's easier, less to clean, and I can leave some chunks. I jar the first half the batch as plain applesauce, and then I add pumpkin or apple pie spice blend to the rest for spiced applesauce. We love both versions!
Sarah Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 12:26 am
You can also freeze this recipe in freezer-safe containers if you don't want to can it.
Kimberly Says:
November 19th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Made a batch of this with about 4 lbs of McIntosh apples that I had intended for hand eating before realizing they were too soft for my taste. The biggest problem I had was that I added too much water and let the apples boil too long [apparently 7 min was too long] and it turned out a bit too smooth for my taste – almost creamy. But, for my first attempt at canning on my own, not too bad.
Amy Says:
May 28th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Thank you for your recipe. I am baking muffins that require unsweetened apple sauce; I was at the supermarket looking for it, didn't have any luck, found your recipe came home and made it myself. It's smells and tastes Amazing, I look forward to making my muffins. Thanks, I learned something new, useful and tasty.
leighanne Says:
July 13th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
How long do the jars of apple sauce keep for?
Tracy Says:
July 16th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Leighanne – The general rule for most preserves is that they will keep for at least a year in a cool, dark place. Hope that helps!
Nicole Buresh Says:
September 25th, 2012 at 12:51 am
Awesome recipe! I will definitely be making this again. I was unsure how it would taste but loved it. I added 5 tablespoons of sugar to add a little of sweetness to it and was blown away.
Jenifer Says:
October 7th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Can you substitute fruit fresh for lemon juice?
Tracy Says:
October 10th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Jenifer – The USDA recommends using bottled lemon juice because it has been uniformly acidified so that it has a consistent level of acid. In a recipe like this where there is no added sugar, I would definitely follow that recommendation to ensure that the resulting product is safe for preserving. Hope that helps!


text:
The European project is doomed without reform
By James K. Galbraith
The collapse of the Soviet empire in 1989 and of the USSR in 1991 have become walled off in Western minds as events from an alien time and place.
But they should remind us that the architecture of human governments is not eternal. Communism was once a powerful threat to its capitalist rivals. But when circumstances change, the bright hopes of an age are prone to crash in disillusion.
Europe was a bright political project at the formation of the European Community and again when it expanded at the end of the Cold War. Its purpose was not so much power as peace: truly a noble vision.
But that noble project was built on an end-of-history economics, on frozen-in-time free-market notions and on dogmatic monetarism linked to arbitrary criteria for deficits and public debt.
In the wake of a global financial meltdown, these no longer serve. Unless they are abandoned soon, they will doom Europe as surely as communism doomed the empire of the East.
Flawed construction
Europe's structure is also suspended between two stable formations: the federated nation state and the international alliance. This in-between structure is called a confederacy, and it is something that was tried and which failed in North America on two occasions, most recently in 1865.
The South lost the US Civil War, in part, because it left too much power in state hands, and so could not in the end raise the funds or the men required to keep its armies in the field.
And following defeat, it took almost 70 years – until Roosevelt's New Deal in 1933 – before sufficient measures were taken to begin to overcome the dire poverty and economic stagnation of that region. This history too has been walled off in modern minds.
The distinctive European combination of millenarian economic ideas and unstable political structure faced a powerful shock from the global meltdown. With vast holdings of toxic US assets, investors sought to cut their losses by selling weak and small sovereigns: Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain.
Ignored problems
Thus yields soared on those debts, while they fell simultaneously on US, German, French and British bonds. There was no sudden discovery that Greece was ill-managed or that Ireland had had an unsustainable construction boom. Those facts were known. The new event was the meltdown, the flight to safety, and the waves of predatory speculation that have followed.
Therefore what happened was a solvency crisis of the banks, as always happens in debt crises.
It was true in the 1980s, when the Reagan administration, no less, felt obliged to prepare a secret plan to nationalize all the major New York banks should a single major Latin American debtor declare default. It was true in 2008-09, when preventing the imminent collapse of Bank of America, Citigroup and others trumped all other US policy concerns.
It is obvious that the entire recent thrust of European policy has been to find ways to paper over the problems of Europe's banks: with phony stress tests, with new loans, with loud talk, with denunciations of profligacy in Greece or anywhere else – with anything except an honest examination of what lies at the heart of the problem.
Intolerable situation
Today Greece – under a resolute government and against heavy internal protest – has met the onerous conditions imposed on it. But for what?
For loans that are immediately recycled to the European banks, adding nothing to Greece's prospects except more debt? This will not lower interest rates, restore growth, or bring success to ongoing internal reforms. It is an intolerable situation and it will not continue for long.
Along one road there lies a future of defaults, panic, dissolution of the eurozone, and hyperinflation in the exiting countries, with a collapse of the export markets for those that remain.
The final consequence will be large population movements – as happened from the American South. For if Europe insists on reducing its periphery to poverty, it cannot expect those affected to sit still and accept their fate.
Along the other road lies the assumption of common responsibilities for sustained convergence, based on a new economics of mutual support.
Along this path sovereign debts below the Maastricht ceiling will be taken over and converted to European bonds and there will be a public-private investment program to restore growth and employment – as some of Europe's wisest leaders demanded in a manifesto just a few days ago. There will follow in due course the constitutional reforms needed to adapt Europe and its policies to the conditions of the post-crisis world.
Europe must therefore choose, and soon, as Charles de Gaulle said in 1969, "between progress and upheaval" – "Entre le progrès et le bouleversement."
James K. Galbraith holds the Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. Chair in Government-Business Relations at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin. His next book, Inequality and Instability, is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.
This article originally appeared at the Deutsche Welle website.
5 Comments
Yes the EU needs some reform. The problem is how it gets there, and what happens in the meantime. The banks will always be a liability until they are reformed or collapse. That is the first priority. It is what is stalling the sovereign reforms. Greece's problems are linked to the problems with the banks. Until the banking crisis is resolved you cannot resolve the sovereign crises.
Those who understand Monetary Sovereignty, long have known the euro is a flawed concept. It is a gold standard without the gold. It is a fiscal straitjacket, absolutely guaranteed to end in disaster.
The euro nations surrendered the single most valuable asset any nation can have — Monetary Sovereignty — and now wish to cure their problems with the single worst possible solution: Austerity.
These nations are applying leaches to cure anemia.
There are but two long-term solutions for the PIIGS and the rest of the euro nations:
1. Leave the EU and regain Monetary Sovereignty
2. Create a true United States of Europe, in which the EU assumes the role of federal government, and supplies euros to the states via deficit spending.
Every other proposed solution is stopgap, guaranteed to fail.
Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
I agree but will the Germans accept fiscal transfers to Greece and Ireland? So break up is more likely.


text:
Chapter 15 Lost Truths
Lotor and Kaladan awoke to find they'd been forced to their feet. Surrounded by soldiers of the king, the two prisoners were led from the docking hanger to the throne room. Both exchanged glances knowing the wrath they were about to face. Failure was something Zarkon frowned upon. Treason was something he absolutely abhored. And as far as he was concerned, both men were traitors. And treason warranted the harshest punishment, death. With their hands bound behind them, they walked slowly with the guards occassionally shoving them in the back. If it hadn't been for the restraints, there would have been an ensuing blood bath. Sylvana led the group with the invisibility pendant in her hands. She swung the trinket from its chain nonchalantly as she walked.
While it felt like hours, the walk was only a few moments long. Soon they were in sight of the throne room. At Sylvana's command, the doors swung open and she led the prisoners and her men to the menacing presence of King Zarkon. While the sight of the king would have been more than enough to strike fear in the hearts of most prisoners, Lotor and Kaladan looked on with defiant glares. The king's expression was one of utter hatred. His eyes staring daggers into the two druel prisoners. Sylvana bowed humbly before Zarkon and began to speak.
"Great king, I have brought you the traitors as you commanded." Turning to the prisoners she commanded them to kneel before the king. Both ardently refused.
"On your knees you scum!" She shouted as two guards forced the two upon their knees.
"Excellent. You've done well Sylvana. Tell me, just how did you manage to capture them so quickly?" Zarkon asked.
"The Arusian princess unwittingly led me right to them. They bargained for her life with theirs. It was truly pathetic. It would appear princess Allura has forgiven your son for his transgressions of the past. She ran away crying like the miserable little pidgeon that she is when she realized her dear prince would soon face his death."
"You bitch!" Lotor barked.
"Silence traitor!" A guard barked as he kicked Lotor to the ground. He forced the former prince back up by his hair. The look in Lotor's eyes was nothing but firey spite. If looks could kill, the bodycount would have been staggering. He wasn't the only one with burning anger in his eyes. Kaladan was equally as defiant toward the king. The last time he'd seen Zarkon was before the woman Kaladan loved, Selena was brutally raped to death. His blood boiled with thoughts of vengence and fury. But there was little he could do. The bonds that restrained his hands were tied very tight. They were only loose enough to ensure the blood wasn't cut off from his arms to his wrists.
Zarkon sat on his throne looking down at the prisoners. Coralle sat at his side on a smaller ornate throne. Normally she would have stood beside him. But now that she carried the king's offspring, her every comfort was seen to. Upon her face was a pretty but venomous smile. She rubbed her stomach signifying her protectiveness of the spawn growing inside of her. Haggar stood on the other side of the druel king with a fiendish grin. She would soon unveil her ultimate creation to King Zarkon and his court. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation of the event. Lotor could see the old witch's excitement and knew it did not bode well for any who opposed Zarkon. For a moment, he thought of Allura. The look of fear in her eyes as she fled the cave. But this time, the fear was not of him but for him. He knew he was going to die. And at least now he could die knowing Allura had forgiven him. He could die knowing he had her respect, not her hatred. That was the only comfort he had.
Looking down at his prisoners, Zarkon stood up and walked down the long staircase that led from his throne. His steps became more stern and determined as he got closer to the court floor. He looked at Sylvana with an approving glance.
"You've done very well. Go and take your place beside my queen. You shall be responcible for her safety. Kill all who dare to threaten her." He ordered.
"As you command royal sire." Sylvana said with an evil smile as she ascended the staircase.
Zarkon looked down at Lotor. His generous nature suddenly turned vicious as he struck the young druel with the back of his hand. The blow sent Lotor reeling but somehow he managed to keep on his knees.
"I gave you power. I gave you the right to rule in my name, to conquor and dominate all life beneath you! And this is how you repay me! You betray not only me, but the entire druel empire!" He barked.
"The empire means nothing to me anymore. She is the only thing that matters in my life."
Zarkon snarled knowing that the 'she' Lotor was refering to was Allura.
"Very soon Lotor, you won't have a life. You're going to die, and this time I intend to make sure you don't make any miraculous returns from the dead. I'm going to watch you bleed out like a stuck pig." Zarkon growled.
"Really? Is that how it was when you killed my grandfather!" Lotor roared.
Zarkon stood deathly still and his eyes widened.
"How do you know of such things?"
"You killed him. You waited til his back was turned and you stabbed him through the heart!"
Zarkon grabbed Lotor's hair forcing his head back in a painful angle. "Tell me how you know that you little bastard! Tell me!"
"I saw it in a dream. I saw you run him through with your sword. I heard a man refer to you by your name." Lotor gasped barely able to breathe or swallow.
Zarkon released Lotor from his grip. He gasped and sputtered finally able to breathe again. He looked up with blood running from his mouth. "Who was he father? Who was he, and why do I look like him? And why did you look different now than when you killed him? Halfbloods don't change their form as they age. Why is this different for you?"
Zarkon looked down at Lotor and Kaladan, fury brimming within his aged body. "Stand them up, and take them to the dungeons." The king growled in a dangerous tone.
The prisoners were forced to their feet and turned away from the throne. Zarkon walked past them to be in front of his soldiers. Kaladan looked at Lotor seeing the rage in his face. It was an understandable rage. If there was a way to be found out of this situation, then heads were going to roll. Both druels would see to that.
"I'm glad this old Doom cruiser still works. How long has this thing been sitting on Namoria now?" Avian asked checking the navigational screen.
"A long time. It was the only ship abandoned after the massecre. It's our only hope of getting past planet Doom's security without being noticed. The cloaking device has been updated. Hopefully they won't be asking too many questions about our business here." Genar answered. He looked over at Kezrin. He had a look on his face that was both anticipation and old anger. Genar motioned to his younger cousin.
"Kezrin, we're only there to rescue the king. Your business with Haggar will have to wait til another day. Agreed?"
"I make no promises Genar. I make no promises." The purple haired druel answered sternly.
"Take it easy Kez. We're gonna need your power for the rescue. The old witch can wait." Avian said.
Kezrin said nothing more but gave a gruff sigh of his agreement.
"As far as any of us know, Zarkon won't be expecting a rescue. That should give us some advantage. We'll have to work quickly once we're there." Genar stated.
"Fine by me. I can't wait to put my foot up some doomite ass once we land." Avian said.
"Just so we understand each other Avian, we're doing this to rescue King Danzar. Leena has grown up into a strong, wise young woman, but she is not yet ready to assume the responcibilities of ruling an entire planet. She needs her father to guide her in the ways that we cannot. We can only be her advisors and her guardians. Namoria needs its king." Genar scolded.
"I know that. I'm not as reckless as you think I am Genar. I just like finding a little trouble every now and then." Avian replied.
"That may be, but I'm the one who usually has to come and get you out of it." Genar stated with a sigh.
"Yah, yah." Avian muttered as he looked at the navigation screen again. "We'll be there soon. We're in the outer reaches of the Denubian galaxy now. Doom's not too far off."
"Good. I suggest we all have our weapons with us when we land. Things are likely to get ugly when we set foot on Planet Doom." Genar replied.
"Just the way I like it." Avian said with a smirk.
The long walk to the dungeons was marked by screams of tortured prisoners, men dying of starvation and thirst and women weeping in fear. It was a walk Lotor knew only too well. He once came to the prisons to chose women who would be his slaves. Now he was going to be one of the prisoners. He and Kaladan both would be confined there until they were to be executed. Zarkon led them down the dark, dank corridor lit only by dim and dying torch flames. The smell of mold, rotting food, sweat and other unpleasent odors choked any air that might have passed through. At last they stopped at the cell Zarkon had recently visited. Within the cell was the druel known as Danzar. Once a king himself, he became a prisoner of Zarkon long ago. The door opened and Zarkon stood to the side of the entrance. He smiled cruely as he looked into the dimly lit cell.
"I've brought you some company to help you pass your last hours of life." He growled as Lotor and Kaladan were shoved into the cell. The guards unbound their hands and then shackled them in the front. They would be able to move a little more freely, but still unable to put up much of a struggle.
Danzar's eyes widened when he saw Lotor standing before him. Lotor in turn was equally as shocked to see the man he'd recalled in his dream. Both looked at each other for a moment before turning to Zarkon.
"Lotor, you're alive." Danzar gasped.
"How does he know my name?" Lotor asked.
"Tell him Zarkon. Tell him the truth. He deserves to know." Danzar growled.
"What truth? What's going on?" The former prince demanded.
"Say hello to your father, Lotor." Zarkon said coldly as he stood at the door.
The shock felt like ten bolts of lightening had struck him all at once. Lotor felt his knees go weak and his blood turn cold. The light blue color momentarily drained from his face leaving it a paler hue. He stumbled backwards and fell back against the wall. Kaladan rushed to Lotor's side to keep him from injuring himself as he fell back. Lotor's eyes were wide as saucers, and his mouth was tightly shut with his teeth showing. Zarkon saw the expression on Lotor's face and relished in the shock he must have felt.
"Tell him all of it brother. Tell him how you destroyed our entire family. Tell him how you killed our father for the sake of your greed!" Danzar shouted.
"I'll let you have that honor... brother. It will give the three of you a way to pass the last hours of your pathetic lives. Tomorrow, the three of you will die." The king of Doom warned before leaving the dungeons.
While the sentries stood outside to guard the prisoners, Lotor, Kaladan and Danzar were left in their cell. "He was never my father?" Lotor asked over and over still in a state of shock.
"Lotor...my son," Danzar began. "It is true. Zarkon stole you from me after you were born and raised you as his son. I know you must be very confused and have many questions. There is a great deal you were never told. There are so many things about your family you need to know. I only wish I could have saved you from him sooner. Now you have suffered because of my failure."
"Then it's true. Zarkon killed my grandfather. I saw it in my dream. I saw my grandfather. He looked, I looked almost like him." Lotor said trying to snap himself back into reality.
"You dreamed of your grandfather's death? Then the prophecy is coming true."
"What prophecy?" Lotor asked.
"To answer that you must know who your grandfather was. You must know about the family Zarkon stole you from. Even if these are to be our final hours, you should at least know the truth."
"Lotor, remember what you told me when you met with the princess. The spirit of her father came and said there were things you didn't know about your past." Kaladan interjected.
Danzar looked at the red haired druel beside Lotor. "Who are you?" He asked.
"Kaladan. I was once a high commander in Zarkon's armies. I renounced him and his empire after seeing the cruelty he perpetrated upon defeated civilizations. He killed the woman I loved and left me for dead upon planet Taebos. I became a pit fighter for several years. Not long ago I met Lotor and together we escaped planet Taebos. We fled to planet Arus to warn princess Allura of Zarkon's plans to attack her people. She would have been taken prisoner with us if we hadn't bartered for her life with ours." Kaladan answered.
Lotor shook his head trying to regain his senses. He looked at Danzar. "Who was my grandfather?" He asked.
"He was a servant of the empire. He was charged with capturing several territories to expand the power of the Druel Empire. But like Kaladan, he saw suffering amongst the people of defeated planets. At first he tried to turn a blind eye to it as he'd been taught that to be merciful was to show weakness. He was told he was serving the needs of his empire and his people. He believed at first it was all for the benifit and survival of the druel race. He tried to make himself hard to the suffering of others, while deep down he disapproved of their treatment. He saw men of all ages forced to do backbreaking labor without little food or water. Children were forced to live in squallor while women were forced to serve the soldiers in every possible way. Many young girls lost their virtue long before they were ready. The men under his command were little more than animals. Many were half breeds like him. Many were far less removed from their pure blood druel parents. He saw children violently tortured, women being raped, and men being worked to death. The more he tried to turn a blind eye, the more the memories of the horror's he'd witnessed haunted him. Until at last he could no longer ignore the suffering of those people." Danzar paused for a moment taking a breath and then continued his story.
"It was not only defeated peoples who suffered, but the druels themselves suffered as well. Many battles were violent and bloody, and many young druel soldiers died brutal deaths. Those deaths haunted your grandfather. But it didn't matter to the empire's elite. Pure bloods often did not do battle themselves, but rather let the halfbreeds fight their battles for them. They were seen as expendable and abundant. It was something your grandfather could no longer accept. He could not ignore the burden on his conciousness any longer. And he was not the only one who felt that way. There were many who felt the same way. They decided that the bloodshed had to stop. Too many lives, both druel and those of other worlds were being wasted for petty greed." He finished.
"What was his name?" Lotor asked.
"Your grandfather's name was Keltor. He turned against the tyrany of the empire and began fighting against the powers that had charged him with expanding the territories. Most saw him as a traitor to his empire, but there were also many who sided with him and his beliefs. They fought along side of him to flee the empire. One of those who shared his belief would later become his bride. A young druel noblewoman named Loeena fell in love with Keltor. He had also fallen in love with her. She was one of the few noblewomen who displayed kindness and compassion toward the defeated prisoners. But any kindness she displayed toward them was sternly frowned upon by her family and those who believed as the empire believed. Her parents forbid her to have any contact at all with Keltor, but she loved him too much to leave his side. The night he came to take her away, her sister Namora kept watch while she snuck out of her home. Her family found out what had happened and demanded to know where Loeena and Keltor had fled to. She refused to give up their location, and so her family forced her before the emperor. She was condemned as a traitor and executed by her own family." Danzar explained.
"How can a family condemn their own child to death for doing something honorable?" Kaladan asked.
"Fear of their own lives. If they helped Namora then they would themselves be rounded up and executed. So they turned over their own daughter as a traitor. She became the sacrificial lamb for her family. It was only through news spread through the empire that Keltor and Loeena learned of Namora's death. The particulars of her demise were never known, but it was known she would have died an agonizing death. There was no distinction made between men and women when it came to executions, and in some cases the women suffered more horribly than the men." Danzar said.
"What about the dream I had? Can you tell me about that? Why did Zarkon look different in the dream than he does now?" The questions were swirling in Lotor's mind quicker than he could ask them.
"You saw an image of the palace on your true home world, Namoria. Keltor and Loeena led those who chose to come with them away from the empire. They found a planet on the fringes of the Denubian galaxy. It could support life and sustain the refugees who fled from the empire. With time and effort, the planet became our home. After the royal palace was built, a shrine was placed in the garden in memory of Namora. It was through her sacrifice that those druels who chose a different way of life could have that life. Keltor named the world Namoria. He wanted to live a life free of war and conquest. And those who wished to live in peace were welcomed on Namoria. The population was primarily druel halfbreeds, but there were those of other civilizations wanting a better way of life as well. Those who wished to live in peace were welcomed on Namoria. Even a human from Earth who found himself crashlanding on our homeworld was welcomed. One of Keltor's daughters became close to him, and he married her with her father's blessing." Danzar explained.
"All of Keltor's children were raised to live in peace and exist beside those of other races without agression. Unfortunately, one of those children did not favor our father's beliefs. And that child was your uncle, my older brother Zarkon." Danzar continued.
"That's what he meant. That's what Alfor meant when he said the key to my past lies in the dungeons of castle Doom. He was talking about you. It's still hard for me to believe that you're my father, and Zarkon is my uncle. It's hard for me to believe anything you're telling me, but I know you're speaking the truth." Lotor said shaking his head.
"Yes. It's all true. And that leads me to the dream you spoke of. Zarkon heard stories from elder refugees about how powerful the druel empire was. He heard stories of domination and conquest. But when he approached his father, Keltor discouraged any talk of those days. Deep down, he had not yet reconciled with his past. Everytime Zarkon insisted upon hearing about the empire, he and Keltor got into very heated arguments about the subject. Keltor thought by repressing his past he would protect his family from it. But repression is exactly what drove Zarkon to believe as he did. He didn't want a peaceful, simple life. He wanted the power and supremecy the empire offered. And he wanted to start by making Namoria part of the empire. That was something Keltor and the others would never allow. He went so far as to tell Zarkon if he wished to be a part of the empire, he would do it alone." Danzar elaborated.
"And that led to a showdown for the crown." Lotor stated.
"Exactly. Though Keltor did everything he could to avoid it, Zarkon would not let it rest. He stated that Keltor and those who followed him tainted the empire with weakness. That halfbloods tainted the empire. He believed the only way they could ever have favor with the empire again was to serve the emporor. Keltor refused and said Namoria would never join the empire. It was then Zarkon challenged him for control of the Namorian throne. All knew that a fight between father and son would only bring unrest to the people, but it was a fight that could not be avoided. Zarkon would not rest until he had what he wanted. Keltor finally agreed to dual him. If he lost, then Zarkon would win the throne. But if Zarkon lost, then he would forever lay down his desire for power within the empire. That or he would leave Namoria and never return."
Danzar paused again to take in a deep breath before continuing his story. "Keltor and Zarkon dualed. Keltor was a master swordsman. From what I have heard you have inherited many of his skills with the blade. Zarkon was fair with the blade, but let much of his skill be wasted upon his frustration and anger. It did not take long for Keltor to defeat Zarkon and retain the crown. But Zarkon would not accept defeat. He waited until his father let his guard down and then attacked. The wound was severe and soon our father died. But before he drew his last breath, he spoke of a prophecy that struck fear into the heart of my brother. He said one of his blood would come foward to carry his spirit into battle against the empire. That was the prophecy he left with his dying breath." Danzar said.
"It was after that I challenged Zarkon for control of the throne. He had murdered our father, and by our laws he could not claim the crown. He saw my challenge as a waste of time, but simply for sport would humor me."
"Who won that dual?" Lotor asked.
"I did. While my skills were not as good as my father's, I had a better handle on my emotions despite the fact my older brother had just murdered my father. And this time I made sure Zarkon made no sneak attacks. The moment he lost his sword and went down I had palace guards restrain him. I admit I wanted to kill him. He murdered our father, Namoria's king. But more bloodshed was what my father wanted to avoid. So instead I banished Zarkon from Namoria. He spat nothing but venom and hatred toward our whole family. He swore he would have revenge. After he was taken from Namoria I had a forceshield created to keep our world safe. I knew my brother would be bitter, but I could not have imagined the depths he would stoop to in order to gain his revenge." Danzar answered.
Drawing another breath he continued. "It was several years before I would know what had happened to my older brother. For those years he did not bother us. We mourned the loss of our father and continued on with life as he would have wanted us to. For my mother however, those years were frought only with grief and despair. She never recovered from Keltor's death. Eventually she died of a broken heart and joined her husband in the spirit realm. It was a hard time for those of us who remained. But seeing as I was king, I had to carry on our father's legacy. None of us wanted nor could allow it to die. It was all we had left of him. I married a young druel woman named Amia. I had hoped that Zarkon would never bother our family again. I was wrong. I was terribly wrong." Danzar stopped. He tried to fight the tears he'd held back for so many years.
"Amia had just given birth to you my son. But you were not the only child born to me. Amia also bore a baby girl. That girl is your twin sister, Leena."
"I have a sister?"
"Yes. But because of what your uncle did you were never able to meet or grow up with her. It had not been long after your birth when Zarkon found a way to break through the force sheild's defenses. The shield was a creation of technology. And Zarkon used a servant of the black arts to find a way onto Namorian soil. She was a witch who used the darkest of magic to gain entrance into the palace. She was a beautiful woman, but her beauty was only a veil for her evil. She appeared suddenly in the nursery where you and Leena were being observed and picked you up from your crib. A nurse saw what was happening and demanded to know what the woman was doing. She laughed the most evil ever heard from a woman's lips. Then she vanished. She vanished with you in her arms. She tried to take Leena as well but the nurse caught her before she could finish the deed. Then I heard a voice over the speakers on the castle control center. A voice I knew all too well, but that voice had changed. It was much harsher than I remembered. There was a rasp to it I never remembered before. Then his face was on the view screen. There beside him stood the witch with you in her arms. The witch was adressed as Haggar. And it was Zarkon, my own brother who bid her to steal you from your crib. It was my brother, but it wasn't my brother. His appearence had drastically changed. He had the appearence of a pure blood druel. He looked less human and more like a grotesque monster. He told me I would never see you again."
At last the tears finally came, but Danzar did not sob. The tears were silen, and his expression was one of regret and saddness. Lotor watched solemly as those tears fell to the grimy stone floor. Everything Zarkon had ever taught him, ever told him was all a lie. Every bit of it was a lie. Now he understood why there was no true relationship between them as father and son. Zarkon had never been his father. His father was sitting with him in a prison cell. While there was still a glimmer of hope that reigned within Danzar, his spirit had been all but broken.
"I can't believe what he did. I never imagined it was even possible, but Zarkon had the witch Haggar perform a ritual that purged every ounce of human blood out of him. He effectively killed the human side of himself. He was no longer a half blood. He's been pure druel from that day. But more than that, it brought to light the evil that lived within him. Inside he was a monster, and now the outside matches it."
"No more...please no more. I...I don't think I can stand to hear anymore right now." Lotor pleaded. It was all too much for him to take in at once. All of it so much and so fast, he felt as if his head would explode. And he knew that there was much more to be learned. He never imagined that Alfor's words would lead him to the shocking truths he discovered. The problem was, he might not live long enough to know the many other secrets of his past.


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Democrat Sue Dowell received about 60 percent of the vote and defeated Independent Wendell Smith in the race for Quay County Commission District 1.
Officials said the unofficial vote total was 2,061 for Dowell and 1,359 for Smith.
"I feel really excited and look forward to representing the people in Quay County," Dowell said Tuesday night.
Totals are unofficial until the canvas, scheduled during Friday's County Commission meeting, said Quay County Clerk Ellen White.
White said 60 percent of Quay County's 5,979 registered voters participated in the election. About 53 percent of registered Quay County voters participated in 2008, she said.
Dowell said it was good to see so many voters get out and cast their vote.
"Since day one I have said citizen participation is vital," Dowell said.
Smith said he appreciated all those who took the time to go out and vote. He said he wishes Sue Dowell well and will support her in any way he can as she serves as commissioner.


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QCS Staff
Pay raises for teachers and instructional assistants are key components of a 5-percent budget increase that the Tucumari Public School Board of Education approved Thursday for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, compared to budget for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.
The school board approved the 2014-2015 budget at a special meeting held Thursday.
The projected budget for 2014-2015 is about $13.3 million, $660,000, or 5.3 percent, more than the 2013-2014 budget of about $12.6 million.
The budget increases for the next fiscal year were led by a state-mandated 3-percent increase in teacher's salaries, a 6-percent increase in instructional assistants' pay, projected increases in utility rates and costs associated with the new greenhouse program at Tucumcari High School, Leola Patterson, TPS business manager, said.
The board also voted to allow Patterson to make adjustments to the budget as needed, as long as Superintendent Aaron McKinney is aware of those changes and they are brought to the board for final approval.


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|By Frogman9595 (Frogman9595) on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 11:17 pm: Edit
Anyone who's gotten their scores back want to weigh in on whether they think this is possible?? Still no scores for me . Anyone with 790s want to share what they think their miss/omit was?
|By Bacchanalian (Bacchanalian) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 11:59 pm: Edit
I omitted six and got a 790. I'm guessing I missed 2-3 questions, which should have given me a raw score of 40 to 41. And yes I'm bitter about coming one question away from an 800.
|By Gxing (Gxing) on Friday, June 25, 2004 - 11:24 pm: Edit
From what I heard, Barron's practice tests for the Math IIC is a lot more difficult than the real IIC. Taking this into account and considering the generous curve, what's the minimum raw score I need on Barron's for an 800??
Thanks in advance!!!
|By Yumpop (Yumpop) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 12:29 am: Edit
I got a 36 on the 1st practice test i took in Barron's... I totally ran out of time and didn get to finish!! But on the real thing, scored 800.
|By Jaug1 (Jaug1) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 12:48 am: Edit
Alright. Question. I took the May IIC test...omitted 2..maybe got 3 or 4 wrong (haven't gotten the score sheet), and got a 770. Does that make sense to you guys?
For background, I just finished AP Calc BC with around a 99% average along with what I am predicting to be a 5 on the AP.
|By Kenenisa (Kenenisa) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 12:59 am: Edit
Each test is different. Some tests turn out harder than others. They scale the grades based on percentiles, so you never know how many it's going to take to get an 800. Your test might've been an easier test.
|By Anxious_Mom (Anxious_Mom) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 01:14 am: Edit
The Collegeboard uses a system called "equating" - a statistical method that allows them to scale the raw score and take into account the "difficulty" of a specific test. Because of that, questions on different versions of the test are not worth equal points - thus 1 wrong on a particular test may equal a score of 800, 790 or perhaps even as low as 770. The only way to make sure that one would get an 800 is all questions answered and none wrong, however an 800 may not necessarily mean a perfect score either.
I've also seen unusual circumstances occur. For example, I saw where a question was poorly worded and dropped from the test - if it also happened to be ranked a "hard" question by CB, then by dropping the question the test became "easier" and stiffer "equating" was applied - thus only 1 question wrong equalled a 770.
|By Jsknicks (Jsknicks) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 10:17 am: Edit
My friend took May's Math IIC and got 44 raw for a 790. Now I'm almost certain that I got a 43 raw on the June test for a 780. I think that they've changed the scale from a 43 equaling 800 to a 45=800. Bad luck for us.
|By Jason817 (Jason817) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 11:18 am: Edit
I got a 40 raw average on Barrons Practice tests and got a 710 on the real
|By Kewlkiwi102 (Kewlkiwi102) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 04:47 pm: Edit
On June's IIC i got a raw of 44 and got 800...sooo....
(44 raw...i know...bad test day for me)
|By Smkumar0 (Smkumar0) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 04:58 pm: Edit
Hey guys, I'm new. I'm wondering if when you get the SAT II score report, will they show us what we got wrong and stuff on the Math test?
|By Studyguy346 (Studyguy346) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 04:07 pm: Edit
mine didn't.. I couldn't find any stats except my score and percentile. I didn't even see my raw score.
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Marvelous Muffins
Total Time
Prep 10 mins
Cook 20 mins
I was intrigued when I saw this recipe because I'd never seen a muffin recipe that used Cream of Mushroom Soup as an ingredient. Haven't tried these, but they sound like they would go great with a bowl of soup or some roast and gravy. From the book, "Joey Green's Mealtime Magic."
Ingredients Nutrition
- 2 cups sifted flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1⁄4 cup shortening, melted
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Spray 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt; make a well in the center. Set aside.
- In another bowl, combine soup, egg, and shortening; pour into flour well. Stir until just mixed (overmixing will cause the muffins to be tough.).
- Fill prepared muffin pans two-thirds full. Bake 20 minutes. Serve warm.


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- Game Details
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- Images
- Cheats & Walkthroughs (54)
BioShock News
Displaying 16–30 of 57 articles
Teaser Site For Irrational Games' "Project Icarus" Goes Live
"What is Icarus?" The hell do I look like? Some kind of know it all? What I do know is that a new teaser site, presumably for Irrational Games super secret Project Icarus, has now gone live, and it's filled with all kinds of non-information. Read More?
Gore Verbinski Still Trying To Make BioShock Movie, Promises R Rating
Director Gore Verbinski has an eye for style. Verbinski's remake of The Ring and Pirates of the Caribbean are both stylish, good looking films, an important trait for someone looking to adapt BioShock to the big screen. Even though Verbinski is no longer tied to the BioShock movie as a director, he's remained a producer and told IGN he's...
Next BioShock Could Move Away From 2K Marin
Though Take-Two Interactive said BioShock 2 sales were "slower than expected," the game was profitable for them and Take-Two leadership has clarified that they don't intend to leave the franchise behind. With 2K Marin working on X-Com, however, what does that mean for BioShock's future Read More?
The MMO Report: Thursday, April 22nd
Happy 4/22 everybody! It's time for another fantastic episode of the MMO Report. This week Casey stops by to inform you about the massive success the Blizzard Store had by selling a new pet and flying mount, a new MMO that's targeting women who wish they could live a life of leisure on a tropical island, and answers your e-mails in Uncle Casey's...
Rumor: 2K Working On A BioShock MMO?
Here's a crazy, out-of-left-field, WTF style rumor: According to "mysterious sources" quoted by game blog Destructoid, 2K games is working on a BioShock MMO. Although there's little evidence of the truth or falsity of this rumor, it's an interesting idea. I'm on the fence as to whether an MMO set in the city of Rapture is a great idea...
BioShock 2 Has Already Shipped 3 Million Copies
The return to Rapture is off to a good start for Take-Two Interactive's bottom line. BioShock 2 has shipped more than 3 million copies, according to Take Two-'s first quarter fiscal 2010 results. It's worth noting that's that 3 million figure is shipped, not sold. We'll have a better idea of where BioShock 2 is at after the NPD Group numbers...
Nugget From The Net: Awesome Big Sister Costume
Something about Bioshock and Bioshock 2 inspires amazing cosplay. Check out this video of a realistic Big Sister suit from College Humor.
From Hell to Rapture: Composer Garry Schyman and the Music of Dante's Inferno and BioShock 2
The Feed got a chance to speak with composer Garry Schyman, who created the music for both Dante's Inferno and BioShock 2 (along with the original BioShock). And to make things even more fun, we crowd sourced a bunch of our questions to YOU the faithful readers of The Feed, so read on to see if your question got asked. We also have a little...
Sinclair Solutions' Top 5 Rejected Plasmids For BioShock 2
Creating plasmids for Andrew Ryan's underwater metropolis of Rapture isn't as easy as it looks, and people rarely take the time to consider what went into bringing about such revered ability boosts like Incinerate or Hypnotize. And while plasmid creation is a taxing process, the results have been undeniably fruitful. Of course, like...
Irrational Games (AKA 2K Boston) Revealing Mysterious New Game In 2010
With BioShock 2 arriving in just a few scant weeks, a sequel developed largely without the input of BioShock developer Irrational Games (formerly 2K Boston) and creative director Ken Levine, it's natural to wonder what those guys have been up to since BioShock. Levine told GameSpot, however, the answer to that question will be revealed sometime...
X-Play Breaks Down the Best Games of the Decade
The past decade in gaming featured some of the best games ever created, and X-Play is here to document that with this three-part look at the best that the aughts had to offer. Watch these videos and let us know if you agree or disagree with Adam and Morgan's assessment of the best of the 2000's. Is your favorite game represented in the...
2K Boston Now (Once Again) Known As Irrational Games
BioShock developer 2K Boston has revealed to Game Informer that the company will be dropping its current name, which was applied after the company was acquired by Take-Two, in favor of its previous one, Irrational Games. For most gamers, the new/old name brings back memories of the developer's acclaimed horror shooter System Shock 2, and that's...
Verbinski Out Of Bioshock Movie
When last we heard news of the Bioshock movie, Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski was directing a huge-budget movie for Universal. Then, Universal got cold feet over the money the epic flick was costing it, and pulled the plug on Verbinski in favor of making a cheaper Bioshock movie in another country. Verbinski was like, "I...
2K Boston Working On A New "Shooter"
Given the critical and financial success of 2K Boston's underwater anti-utopian masterpiece Bioshock, it's hardly surprising that the developer's "next big project" is a shooter, as GameSpot AU reports. Then again, the words "first-person" don't precede "shooter" in the job listings...
Take A Guided Tour Through BioShock 2's 'Something Under The Sea' Room
BioShock fans have already been poking and prodding the mysterious office room that launched the online reality game for BioShock 2. Even though BioShock 2 has been delayed into 2010, 2K Games showed up at Comic-Con 2009 with a new way for fans to discover clues about what's next for Rapture. The company actually recreated the office with...
X-Play Presents Great Horror Games
9,085 Views | 00:56
TheFeed: Nightcap - Episode 2 - 08.06.09
11,580 Views | 31:31
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Unreal Engine 3 New Features GDC 2009 Trailer
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Games for Cheap Bastards: Recession Edition
4,332 Views | 02:13 | 2 Comments


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Listen To Chris Brown & Rihanna's New Song 'Nobodies Business'
They teamed up twice in the recording studio in 2011, and now, weeks after Chris Brown split from his model girlfriend Karrueche Tran, he and Rihanna have collaborated on a new song, "Nobodies Business," for Rihanna's new album "Unapologetic."
The Bajan beauty confirmed the duet news earlier this week when she posted a photo featuring the handwritten track listing for the album on her Instagram page.
Lyrics for the song include: You'll always be the one that I wanna come on to/ Boy let me love you and show you how's spice show you off/ I wanna be your baby, you'll always be my baby/ Tell me what you want now. I'm gonna be your girl/ And I wanna make you mine/ And it ain't nobodies business.
Rihanna and Chris Brown were one of the music industry's hottest couples until he assaulted her after the Grammy Awards in 2009. The two have since reconciled and are rumored to be dating again.
Rihanna's new album drops Nov. 19 and includes collaborations with rappers Eminem and Future.
Check out a snippet and "Nobodies Business" below:


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pansymarinacci818's Contributions
05/24/13 Community Articles
V2 Cigarette And V2 Cigarette 8149
If you're having problems sleeping with the evening, you could be unaware you have sleep apnea. This disorder happens when the airway collapses somewhat when one particular rests, impeding in the person's inhaling styles. This really is harmful. This article...
05/24/13 Community Articles
What You Have To Know About Exposed Skin Care 557
From capsules to padding, the store shelving are whole up of merchandise which can be supposedly ,developed to provide you reduce spots and all of-about bad pores and skin. Do any of them basically job? This is some must-know acne info that can help you...
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Peter Dean Rickards
In 2000, the majority of Jamaicans (in Jamaica) were still not online but that was the year that record executive Josef Bogdanovich and photographer Peter Dean Rickards connected the island's vibrant music scene to Internet audiences via 'Kingston Signals' - the first Jamaica-based web program to broadcast live (and uncensored) from the turntables of hardcore soundsystems to broadband from the island - 3 hours per day, 3 times a week, for 2 years.
It was during the days of Kingston Signals that Rickards first picked up a digital camera, primarily as a means of providing a rapidly growing online audience with up-to-the-minute visuals to go with the incredibly raw sounds that were emanating from the turntables in Kingston.
In this collection of clips filmed in 2001, former Killamanjaro frontman Ricky Trooper is seen performing as all the sounds did - in a small studio space in the basement of Globe Furniture on Constant Spring road...the first home of Downsound Records in Kingston.
* Saved from the hard drive of twitter.com/rosssheil