text:
San Francisco legacy bars: a toast
Public tapped to list culturally significant S.F. bars, restaurants
You know you are not in Kansas anymore when the guardian of your city's heritage asks the citizens to help draw up a list of bars, dives and haunts that have become part the city's cultural legacy.
Bars and restaurants come and go in San Francisco, but some of them, says Mike Buhler, executive director of San Francisco Architectural Heritage, have "intangible significance" that reflect the spirit of the city.
Earlier this year, the organization listed 25 eating and drinking establishments it felt were important - and now it wants the public to nominate 25 more. Voting begins Monday on Heritage's Facebook wall ( www.facebook.com/SFHeritage) and on Twitter (#SFLegacyProject).
Heritage's initial list of 25 legacy institutions includes some of the usual suspects, such as the famous Tadich Grill on California Street, as well as the more obscure, such as Wild Side West, a lesbian bar in Bernal Heights. It includes the Pied Piper Bar in the Palace Hotel, which began as a gentleman's bar, and the Hotel Utah Saloon on Fourth Street, a place Architectural Heritage says once hosted patrons such as "gamblers, thieves, ladies of the night ... charlatans and police." The legacy places contain history: the Buena Vista, where Irish Coffee was first perfected in the United States, and La Cumbre Taqueria on Valencia Street, where the owners invented the "Mission-style" burrito.
The list celebrates the landmark Cliff House, perched on the edge of the continent, and the somewhat less famous Whiz Burgers deep in the Mission. It includes the Hang Ah Tea Room in Chinatown and Sam Jordan's Bar and Grill in the Bayview.
San Francisco has always been renowned as an eating and drinking town. The oldest place on Heritage's list, the Tadich Grill, was established in 1849, five years before McSorley's Ale House in New York, celebrated by the legendary writer Joseph Mitchell as New York's oldest saloon. There is also the Old Clam House, on Bayshore Boulevard, which has been in the same location since Abraham Lincoln was president.
The first 25 pay attention to the city's culture: Cafe Trieste, important in the Beat Generation era; the Twin Peaks Tavern, a major gay landmark in the Castro; and Sam Jordan's, famous in the black community.
Classics not listed
But the list left off a number of places that San Franciscans may consider important - the first 25 included the Java House at Pier 40, but not Red's Java House, at Pier 32; the Tadich Grill, but not the noted Sam's Grill on Pine Street, which dates from 1867.
The Top of the Mark, a classic cocktail lounge if there ever was one, is not on the first list. Neither is Harry Denton's Starlight Room at the Sir Francis Drake, or the rooftop bar at the Marriott Marquis, a hotel locals call the Jukebox Marriott.
Lefty O'Doul's, a hofbrau and bar on Geary Street downtown is on the list, but Tommy's Joynt, a similar institution on Geary at Van Ness Avenue, isn't.
That is the situation Architectural Heritage wants to correct. "There are a lot of places missing," Buhler said of the list. "There is a lot of enthusiasm for the project."
If it works out, he said, a logo will be developed that owners of the legacy establishments can put in the window, similar to the "Zagat Rated" logos displayed all over town. There is a book project in the works as well.
Buhler thinks it is important to recognize places that are part of the legacy of the city. "They are community centers, part of our social heritage," he said.
Architectural Heritage began its list after several significant establishments appeared threatened. The first was the Tonga Room, a tiki bar in the Fairmont Hotel. It was not doing well, and the hotel owners planned to convert it into something else.
But after preservationists put up a fight, business picked up, the owners changed their mind, "and now," Buhler says, "there's a line out the door to get in."
The Gold Dust Lounge had "last call" after a row with the landlord. Fans of the joint tried to get the place declared a city landmark, but failed. Buhler said that failure gave Heritage the idea for a different kind of landmark - the legacy bar and restaurant.
The Gold Dust story had a happy ending. It lost its Union Square location, but reopened near Fisherman's Wharf.
Expanding the list
To be eligible for Heritage's listing, a business must have been in operation for at least 40 years, "feature distinctive architecture or design, and contribute to the cultural heritage of the surrounding neighborhood or the city."
Some examples Heritage is considering for its expanded list are the St. Francis Fountain on 24th Street, the Little Shamrock bar on Lincoln Way, and Mitchell's Ice Cream on San Jose Avenue. Some other nominees: the Garden Court in the Palace Hotel and Beep's Burgers on Ocean Avenue near City College.
Buhler said he was encouraged by a huge outpouring of support for keeping Maxfield Parrish's Pied Piper painting in its namesake Palace Hotel bar after the hotel announced it wanted to sell it. The hotel's owners reversed the decision in only three days.
"I've never seen anything quite like that," he said.
The polls open Monday and close May 6.
Cast your vote
San Francisco Architectural Heritage will accept nominations for its legacy bars and eateries project through May 6. Where to offer your ideas:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfheritage
Twitter: #SFLegacyProject
Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com


text:
Grand Prince
When two princes fall in love with the same woman, they become embroiled in a dangerous battle for the throne and the heart. Prince Lee Whi (Yoon Shi Yoon) and Sung Ja Hyun (Jin Se Yeon), the beautiful and righteous daughter of a high government official, fall in love with each other. But Lee Whi's older brother, Prince Lee Kang (Joo Sang Wook), also falls in love with Ja Hyun despite being married to her best friend, Yoon Na Gyeom (Ryu Hyoyoung). With the king in ill health and an invasion threatening the country, government officials pressure the king to choose a successor. The ambitious Lee Kang will do anything to become the Crown Prince, but the artistic Lee Whi has no interest in the power struggle. When Lee Whi is sent into battle to prove his worthiness to rule, can he avoid the deadly traps set by Lee Kang and return to the woman he loves? "Grand Prince" is a 2018 South Korean drama series directed by Kim Jung Min.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
How Photographic Film Is Made (Oct, 1940)
How Photographic Film Is Made
"Mustard" plants and chemical "noodles" contain the elements that must be put into film base and emulsion before your camera can do its work.
PHOTOGRAPHY has wedged its way into our daily lives so securely that we do not view it with the alarm and mysicism people did when Daguerre announced the first successful photographic process one hundred years ago, in 1839. We have come to expect and accept the seemingly impossible with little exhibition of surprise or enthusiasm. This is, in many ways, unfortunate, for the real joy of science comes from knowing her intimately—knowing how she can make so few characters play so many parts, disguised outwardly but working inwardly to the same objective.
In photography, a marvelous example of the far reaching ability of science to piece many parts into a useful unified system is to be found. The sulphur-containing compounds found in "mustard" plants eaten by cattle play a most significant part in creating the sensitivity of the film used in the ordinary box camera. Silver is used as money to purchase a coating of its own light-sensitive compounds. Such commonplace farm products as cotton and vinegar (acetic acid) are combined to produce a beautifully clear and flexible film base for the sensitive emulsion. The household chapped – lip – cure— camphor—is also used in making the transparent film base. From slaughter-house clippings (ears, tails, hides, etc.) photographic gelatine is produced.
Finally is fabricated a highly sensitive film which "catches" light, reflected from the subject and focused by the lens, creating an invisible image which can be developed into a visible picture.
Behind the scenes in the actual manufacture of film exists the maze of chemical and mechanical routines pictured in the accompanying illustrations, shown here through the courtesy and assistance of Agfa Ansco.
The clear flexible film base is made essentially from commonplace materials. One type of base is prepared by nitrating ordinary cotton by a mixture of sulphuric and nitric acids, forming nitrocellulose, which is then dissolved in suitable organic solvents along with a quantity of camphor. The heavy viscous liquid which results is known as "dope," which is the material used to flow out on heated bands to form the final film base.
A window in the casting machine allows constant watching as the base is produced. The "dope" flows onto a continuously moving band which carries the thin coating through a drying cabinet before the base is finally wound up, ready for coating with the emulsion. As the rolls wind up, the film base passes small metal chains which carry away static electricity.
From cattle comes gelatine. Ears, tails, and hides are used for gelatine extraction. Gelatine is located directly beneath the epidermis. First run gelatines are used for photographic purposes; second runs for food stuffs; and third runs for glue. The "mustard" plants eaten by cattle contain sulphur compounds which are found in minute quantities in the gelatine extractions. If it were not for these minute impurities, photographic emulsions would have practically no sensitivity. Emulsions prepared with gelatines made from rabbits, an animal which does not eat the mustard plant or other "hot" plants, show little sensitivity. The preparation of photographic emulsions is an unique procedure that is both an art and a science. Much technical knowledge is required, besides extensive experience. Every raw material is tested chemically and practically through laboratory tests and in the preparation of trial emulsions. Gelatine is allowed to soak in water and then is heated carefully to the melting point. Calculated amounts of soluble chlorides, iodides and bromides are added to one quantity of gelatine-solution while a known amount of silver nitrate is added to a second quantity. When these two solutions are mixed, a suspension of sensitive silver compounds is formed which is poured into chilling trays where it is cut into cubes (called "noodles") for washing. When completely washed of reaction byproducts, the "noodles" are melted again, before coating onto the film base.
Full width rolls of film are closely examined and any possible defects are noted.
Rolls of finished film, enclosed in light-tight cases are racked up to await their call by the slitting department, where a machine cuts the film into proper widths.
All of these operations are complicated by the fact that they must be carried on in total or almost total darkness.
Trained girls guard film quality by carefully examining sheets of cut film with special safe-lights to detect any possible physical defects. Every sheet of film is examined in this manner. Motion picture film, in long reels, is run over a safelight, in similar fashion.


text:
Click on more info to Add to order and more
Product code: 222393
Drayton thermostatic radiator valves provide low cost control of individual room temperatures. Available in 8mm, 10mm and 15mm sizes, the reverse flow body allows vertical or horizontal flow or return mounting. RT212 is manufactured in a UK factory and rigorously tested to conform to the BS EN 2151 standard which is recognised throughout Europe.


text:
Free Mobile Online Games
Viking King
Viking King is a fast paced arcade game in which the player tries to avoid Odin's wrath. The allfather is smashing down fists to slay the mortals and he is raining down ice and fire on them. But luckily these Swedish pagans are forged in Valhalla by the hammer of Thor himself and so they can nimbly avoid attacks. The game gets faster and faster while Odin gets more and more angry. But fear not, you know if you fall your comrades await in Valhalla! Do not hesitate to play Viking King now, it is completely free and the first Viking to the battle will also be the first to the feast!
Beauty Shop
Run your very own flourishing beauty shop! Keep your customers happy by satisfying their wishes as fast as possible and get your shop in higher ranked categories!
Games for Girls
Devil's Triangle
Aye – for this adventure you don't only need to talk like a pirate, you also need to act like one if you want to find all of the treasures of the Seven Seas. The sea is full of dangers and they will come to get you, so gear up and face them head on. Arrr.
Action Games
Cute Memo
Train your brain with the cutest Memory game you can find. You'll match cuddly bunnies and litte chicklets and many more lovely animals. Get ready that your brain's memory will be challenged on dynamic levels from various cute animal images.There's a surprise beneath every card. Match the pairs as fast as you can and set the new highscore! The rules of the Cute Memo memory game are easy: It is the basic memory game and it consists of a 3x3 matrix. The faster you complete each game the more points will be added to your score.
Skill, Games for Girls


text:
How does Marquette University's mission impact you in your daily work?
The Marquette mission pervades every school, college, department and office on this campus — you cannot escape it, nor would you want to. My work in University Advancement very directly supports our students and faculty, who really live out our mission of leadership, faith, service and excellence.
What is your favorite thing about working for Marquette?
I really enjoy working among Marquette students because their high level of activity and energy is contagious. Each day, they serve as a reminder of the importance of my work in development.
How would you describe the University Advancement team?
The University Advancement team is a vibrant mix of individuals who have a singular focus of bringing resources to this university. We share common and well-defined goals at work, but our personal interests vary greatly. This keeps life interesting.


text:
Giants take another close one from Dodgers to finish sweep
San Francisco, CA – Matt Cain tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball to earn his first win of the year, and Hunter Pence smacked two doubles and drove in four in the San Francisco Giants' 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to complete a three-game sweep.
Cain (1-2), who was a 16-game winner last year, fanned four and surrendered five hits while walking three for San Francisco, which has won six straight on the heels of a five-game skid.
"He got us into the eighth inning, and as usual our boys are entertaining and made it close again. But I was happy for Matt the way he threw the ball," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Cain had 6.79 earned run average entering Sunday's tilt.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-2) allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks over six frames for the Dodgers, who have dropped four contests in a row.
"I feel better about our club walking out of here right now than I did walking in," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We played them tough the whole series."
San Francisco built a 4-0 lead after seven, but a three-run eighth got LA back into the game.
With the bags full and two away in the frame, pinch-hitter Adrian Gonzalez rolled a two-run single back through the box off Jeremy Affeldt to cut the deficit in half. Dee Gordon then reached on an infield single to bring home another run to make it 4-3.
But Jean Machi came on and induced an inning-ending groundout off the bat of pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston. Sergio Romo worked a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his 12th save of the year.
The Giants jumped ahead after plating a run in the first, another in the third and two more in the fifth.
Three straight base hits by Andres Torres, Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval loaded the bases before Torres was thrown out at home on Buster Posey's groundout. But Pence's groundout to shortstop brought home Scutaro for the game's first run in the opening inning.
Scutaro hit a one-out single and Posey's walk two batters later put runners on first and second in the third for Pence, who ripped a double to left to bring home Scutaro.
In the fifth, Sandoval worked a two-out walk and Posey singled to center before Pence poked a Tobago to right for a 4-0 San Francisco advantage.
Game Notes
San Francisco recorded three one-run wins to earn the sweep ... Los Angeles was 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base ... Pence has seven doubles this year.


text:
Servicios Personalizados
Links relacionados
- Citado por Google
- Similares en Google
South African Journal of Science
versión On-line ISSN 1996-7489
versión impresa ISSN 0038-2353
S. Afr. j. sci. vol.111 no.5-6 Pretoria may./jun. 2015
Unearthing a hidden treasure: 60 years of karst research in the Far West Rand, South Africa
Aljoscha SchraderI; Frank WindeII
IFaculty of Natural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
IIMine Water Research Group, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Karstified dolomitic formations situated in the Far West Rand goldfield of the Witwatersrand Basin constitute a significant groundwater resource in semi-arid South Africa and would be of strategic importance for alleviating the increasing water stress in nearby metropolitan areas. The deep-level gold mines operating below the dolomites have suffered from large volumes of dolomitic groundwater flowing into the mine voids, rendering mining both expensive and hazardous. In order to secure safe and economical mining, the overlying dolomites were dewatered. Here we review research over 60 years, conducted in three of the four major dolomitic compartments affected by dewatering. After more than six decades of research, these aquifers are arguably the most investigated karst systems in South Africa, and possibly worldwide. The data generated are, in many respects, unique, as many measurements can never be repeated, covering stochastic events such as a major water inrush into mine workings and some of the most catastrophic sinkhole developments ever recorded. Given the potential value for improving the understanding of general and local karst hydrogeology, our main goal for this paper is to alert the scientific community to the existence of this resource of mostly unpublished data and research. A no less important aim is to support a systematic collation of these studies which are in danger of being irretrievably lost as mines increasingly close down. Ecological and economic impacts of the flooding of mines in and around Johannesburg emphasise the lack of reliable historical mine data to optimally address the matter. We provide the first comprehensive, yet not exhaustive, overview on the existing studies, briefly discussing scientific content as well as obstacles for utilising the scattered, and often non-peer reviewed, information sources.
Keywords: karst hydrogeology; dolomitic aquifers; groundwater; deep-level gold mining; dewatering; grey literature; data preservation; GIS database
The goldfield of the Far West Rand is a major deep-level mining area of South Africa, located approximately 50 km south west of Johannesburg (Figure 1). The gold-bearing reefs are covered, amongst others, by thick karstified dolomites, which host some of the largest groundwater resources in South Africa, supporting a range of high-yielding karst springs. Deep-level gold mining in the Far West Rand started in 1934 and soon affected the hydrological and hydrogeological environment.1 Mining-related impacts included the dewatering of the dolomitic aquifers that caused several karst springs to dry up (Figure 1) and the diversion of streamflow from a river into a nearly 30-km-long pipeline. The impacts of mining have not only initiated numerous water-related studies, but have also created the necessity for ongoing research to develop environmentally acceptable mine closure strategies and sustainable long-term water management options.
Given the large volumes of water involved, and their proximity to water-stressed metropolitan areas affected by increasing water scarcity,2 we believe that the systematic compilation and evaluation of existing relevant information will be crucial to understanding long-term impacts of historical mining and successfully utilising these valuable water resources in the future.
More than six decades of water-related research in the Far West Rand has generated an enormous amount of knowledge, expertise and data with great potential for developing sustainable post-mine closure strategies in the Far West Rand. The current uncontrolled rise of acidic mine water in the West, Central and East Rand regions poses severe threats to the environment, which will cause significant cost to the taxpayers. This situation illustrates the dire consequences of haphazard and unprepared mine closure, exacerbated by a lack of access to historical data and information. It is therefore imperative to prevent a similar loss of data and expertise in the Far West Rand - the largest of the remaining active goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin. It is necessary to proactively collate all the available relevant data whilst access to underground structures is still possible and operational mining companies are still in a position to address potential gaps in order to avoid the negative consequences of closure.
Collating the large amount of knowledge proves, however, to be difficult, as much of it is spread across many role players, including the various mining companies/houses, governmental departments, municipalities, consultants and research institutions. Information held by dedicated archives and structured databases is often unavailable, whilst tracing the location of specific reports can be challenging. These difficulties are exacerbated by changes in government personnel as well as in the structure of the mining industry, which often results in existing reports and data no longer being retrievable, as is the knowledge and insight of experts who are no longer working in the field. This phenomenon is termed the 'loss of institutional memory'1, which leads to repetition of research in the best case and loss of irreplaceable unique information in the worst case.
Another obstacle to utilising the accumulated knowledge results from the fact that much of it was generated without exposure to peer review, or other methods of quality assurance. A large proportion of the literature produced over the last six decades consists of reports drafted by private consultants, government officials and technical mine personnel. Generally driven by matters affecting day-to-day operations, some urgent and case specific, these studies have in common a strong focus on practical applicability rather than scientific rigour. Moreover, many reports are of limited circulation as they are contained in internal, unpublished or confidential documents, severely limiting public access. As a consequence, whilst undoubtedly containing particularly unique data and information, many reports hardly satisfy strict scientific standards in terms of objectivity, quality assurance and referencing. The lack of proper referencing, in particular, frustrates tracing and verifying the sources of information. Dedicated sections explaining the methodology applied for generating the presented data are commonly absent. All this limits the ability of researchers to assess the reliability and quality of the data and information, thus reducing their scientific value. Consequently many reports have to be approached with caution in order to avoid compromising the quality of follow-up studies. Unfortunately this applies to the bulk of available consulting reports which often liberally use information and data from third parties without quoting the original sources.
In addition to raising awareness to these challenges, we aim here, for the first time, to provide a structured overview on the scope and extent of existing literature. To this end, each available study is allocated to one of six topical categories. Geographically, we focus predominantly on literature pertaining to the three currently dewatered groundwater compartments (Venterspost, Bank, Oberholzer) to which the overwhelming majority of studies refers.
As the number of documents concerned with hydrological issues in the Far West Rand runs into the thousands, this overview is not exhaustive. Ideally, this review should be followed by systematically archiving the available sources - preferably in digitised format to allow for collation in a single, centrally managed and searchable electronic database.
Topical categories of research in the Far West Rand
This review covers hydrogeological research in the Far West Rand from the mid-20th century, when industrial-scale deep-level mining, as well as large-scale dewatering of the dolomitic compartments, commenced to the present (2012). Excellent overviews on the course of events related to deep-level mining in the Far West Rand and associated hydrogeological impacts are provided by Swart et al.3 and Winde4. Based on these and other sources, six major research themes were identified, into which the available studies are categorised: (1) general geology of the study area, (2) groundwater-related problems faced by the mines, (3) ground instabilities and sinkholes following the dewatering, (4) hydrogeological characterisation of dolomitic compartments, (5) mining-related water quality issues and (6) closure of mines. These categories are briefly discussed, with a focus on some of the most prominent sources.
General geology of the study area
First published reports of geophysical investigations in the Far West Rand5,6 date back to the 1930s7. De Kock7 compiled those findings as well as numerous company reports from gold mines, comprehensively addressing the geology of the Far West Rand, describing the major geological formations as well as structural geological features such as the major faults and intrusive and impermeable dykes. Trending roughly north to south, the latter form the eastern and western boundary of the groundwater compartments and thus are essential for understanding the hydrogeology of the Far West Rand.
The work of De Kock7 provided the basis for later and more detailed studies of the area. Subsequent geological descriptions supplementing his work include those of Brink8, the South African Committee for Stratigraphy9, Engelbrecht10, Robb and Robb11 and McCarthy12.
Groundwater-related problems faced by the mines
In many instances, hydrological research was initiated by the ingress of large volumes of groundwater from the overlying karst aquifers into the mine void.
In 1957, a tracer test was conducted in the area at Blyvooruitzicht Goldmine in the Oberholzer Compartment (Figure 1) which aimed to determine the rate of recirculation of water pumped from the underground mine void to the surface, followed by ingress into the mine void.13 From this test, conclusions were drawn on the groundwater flow velocity as well as on the volume of groundwater stored in the dolomite and possible leakage through dykes. The consequences, practicability and economic viability of dewatering the groundwater compartments have been discussed in several unpublished reports.14-17
The most significant study on this topic was performed by the Interdepartmental Committee of Dolomitic Mine Water between 1956 and 1960 under the authority of the Minister of Water Affairs. This study thoroughly examined a range of aspects associated with the ever-increasing ingress of groundwater into the growing mine voids. The resultant 'Jordaan Final Report'18 was a compilation of findings from several detailed studies (e.g. Enslin and Kriel19) that, inter alia, also investigated environmental and economic consequences of the dewatering of the two dolomitic compartments under investigation. Many hydrological data (e.g. spring flow volumes) that appear in later studies originate from the Jordaan Report', even though the source is not indicated in many instances. Following the recommendations of the report, legal permission to dewater the Oberholzer compartment - as defined by Wolmarans20 - was granted to the Chamber of Mines by government after the 4-year investigation was concluded. Two of the three mines involved had already started this process well before the permission was granted, as two springs had already ceased to flow. 21
In 1968, a massive inrush of groundwater occurred at the West-Driefontein mine (Figure 1). The event that eventually led to the dewatering of the Bank Compartment was described in detail by Cartwright22 and Cousens and Garrett23. Valuable facts relating to inrush volumes during and prior to the event are to be found in an unpublished report from the Acting Secretary for Water Affairs.24
After official dewatering of the compartments commenced, numerous studies (see following sections) were carried out, aiming to characterise the aquifer system and adjacent geological formations, in order to respond to the various hydrogeological consequences of dewatering and resulting problems encountered during daily operations.
Ground instabilities and sinkholes following dewatering
After dewatering commenced, ground instability - in the form of subsidences and often dramatic sinkholes - rapidly developed. The consequence of lowering the water table demanded scientific attention. Early descriptions of the phenomenon exist25,26; later, the processes were described comprehensively by Brink8. Bezuidenhout and Enslin26, Kleywegt and Enslin27 and Kleywegt and Pike28 evaluated data from gravimetric surveys carried out in order to delineate high-risk areas for sinkhole formation. In accordance with the serious consequences of sinkholes for the local population and infrastructure, and the associated public and political attention given to the matter, these surveys were unprecedented in terms of their level of detail and spatial scale. The findings of these surveys indicated that the formation of sinkholes depends on specific geological and hydrological conditions relating to the depth and shape of the bedrock surface26-28, the nature and thickness of the (weathered) overburden28, the original depth of the groundwater table26-28 as well as the presence or absence of surface (stream) water26-28. Most sinkholes formed in the outcrop area of the chert-rich dolomitic formations (i.e. Monte Christo and Eccles Formations) and were often associated with fault zones, fractures and dyke edges as well as the stream bed of the Wonderfonteinspruit. Beukes29 found a possible effect of rising water tables (termed 'rewatering') on the rate at which new sinkholes develop. Swart30, Swart et al.3 and Winde and Stoch1 outlined the possible impact of sinkholes on the recharge rate of the dolomitic compartments based on historical heavy rainfall events. Although desirable in order to assess groundwater recharge of compartments under the present conditions, reliable long-term data indicating the impacts of sinkholes on recharge rates do not exist. More recent studies reviewing the history and extent of sinkhole development in the Far West Rand, without necessarily introducing new aspects or concepts, exist from De Bruyn and Bell31 and Van Niekerk and Van der Walt32. A vast quantity of unpublished data (comprising some 2500 documents) on dewatering-related ground movements from 1964 to 2007 has been assembled by the State Coordinating Technical Committee. This work was and is complemented by work at the Geobasecamp of Gold Fields Ltd. in Oberholzer, where many data relating to sinkholes and ground subsidence are captured in a dedicated geographic information system (GIS).
Hydrogeological characterisation of dolomitic compartments
The hydrogeology of the dolomitic compartments, focusing on the structural geology, groundwater storage and recharge as well as the determination of hydraulic parameters, has been assessed by a range of comprehensive and detailed studies. In an early seminal study, Enslin and Kriel19 delineated surface catchment boundaries of the dolomitic compartments and assessed monthly and annual water balances including artificial sources of recharge and discharge. Subsequent comprehensive hydrological studies exist from Brink8, Jordaan et al.18, Enslin33, Enslin and Kriel34, Fleisher35, Vegter36 and Foster37.
Martini and Kavalieris38 described the general genesis and morphology of the Transvaal dolomites, especially the caves. Processes involved in the weathering and karstification of the dolomites in the Far West Rand were described by Morgan and Brink39 who outlined three vertical zones distinguished by their degree of karstification: a highly weathered nearly porous zone followed by a cavernous zone as well as weakly fractured to solid dolomite. The hydraulic characteristics of vertical fissures in the dolomite were described by Wolmarans and Guise-Brown40 and Wolmarans41. Cross-cutting through all geological formations, these fissures transport groundwater from the dolomite into the mine voids. According to the authors, the hydraulic properties as well as the ability to conduct groundwater down to the mine voids, largely depends on the large-scale folding of the dolomite, whereas fissures in areas of synclinal folding (tension zones) generally generate more ingress water than fissures in areas of anticlinal folding (compression zones). Descriptions of the petrography, thickness and distribution, as well as the hydrology of non-dolomitic rock formations associated with the dolomitic aquifer system, can be found in De Freitas42.
Various pumping tests have been undertaken for the hydraulic characterisation of the dolomite. Schwartz and Midgley43 derived values of transmissivity and the storage coefficient of the Bank Compartment by applying the method of Theis44 to data recorded during the inrush event that flooded West-Driefontein in 1968. Fleisher35, De Freitas42 and Bredenkamp et al.45 describe further pumping tests evaluated by a range of methods. Results indicate a high heterogeneity of the dolomite with transmissivities ranging from a few hundred to several thousand metres squared per day. Geo Hydro Technologies46 conducted slug tests in the Pretoria Group rocks covering the dolomite at the southern edge of the outcrop area; values of hydraulic conductivity thus obtained were generally lower than those found in the upper dolomite.
In the pumping test analyses quoted above, as well as in those conducted in similar aquifers in South Africa (e.g. van Tonder et al.47), it was found that the determination of the storage coefficient is problematic, as values in many cases showed a so-called distance-dependency (referring to the distance between the observation and pumping well). A possible explanation for this observation was provided by Neuman (1994, personal communication quoted in Kirchner and Van Tonder48).
The (effective) porosity, which was found to decline with depth, has been assessed by Enslin and Kriel19, Enslin and Kriel34, Fleisher35 and Foster (unpublished data, quoted in Foster49). Applied methods include pumping tests as well as borehole and mine shaft log evaluation, spring flow analysis and water balance studies.
On the basis of spring flow hydrographs, groundwater recharge of compartments was described by Fleisher35 as a two-phase system with an immediate and a delayed component. The long-term average recharge volume of compartments, often quoted as percentage of rainfall, was estimated from natural spring flow volumes18, the Hill-method35 and (long-term) pumping rates of mines50,51. Bredenkamp52,53 estimated recharge in two similar dolomitic compartments using chloride profiles and a 14C model, respectively. The possibility of artificially recharging the aquifer via boreholes has been investigated by Enslin et al.54 who identified possible recharge areas on the basis of data from the gravimetric survey quoted above.
Mining-related water quality issues
Groundwater quality issues relating to the problem of acid mine drainage have been addressed.55 Pyrite, occurring in mined ore reefs, produces iron hydroxide and sulphuric acid when it comes into contact with water and oxygen. This highly toxic acidic solution may decant on the surface after flooding of abandoned mine voids. As stated by Pulles et al.56, decanting of mine water is likely to occur to some degree in the Far West Rand after mining ceases. Although the environmental threads linked to acid mine drainage were recently under discussion for other mining areas of South Africa,57 detailed studies of these aspects are largely lacking in the Far West Rand.
In a study jointly funded by the Water Research Commission and the Far West Rand Dolomitic Water Association, Dill et al.58 investigated the effects on the quality of groundwater resources of the common practice of using tailings materials for the filling of sinkholes. Dill et al.58 suggested that uranium levels of up to 300 mg/L are to be expected in leachate from such fillings. These levels indicate that tailings-filled sinkholes are a major risk for polluting groundwater.
Pollution of the environment caused by the water- and airborne transport of uranium originating to large extents from large slimes dams has been addressed by Wade et al.59, Coetzee et al.60, Winde61-63, NECSA64, Barthel65 and IWQS66. These studies report on elevated concentrations of uranium in ground- and surface water60,61,63,66,67, riverine sediments59,60,65, soil60,65, fish63,64 and livestock64. Current research focuses on the possible associated health risks, including concentrations of uranium and processes and pathways involved in the spreading of uranium. As a major issue in this regard, Winde67 pointed out the general lack of reliable scientific knowledge on long-term health effects of uranium, which is also reflected by the wide range of uranium limits for drinking water given by different organisations and countries.
Closure of mines
In recent years, as mining in the Far West Rand has passed its zenith, research has shifted towards the challenges of sustainable mine closure and associated hazards. Winde and Stoch1, Usher and Scott68 and Winde et al.69 comprehensively address the environmental impacts of mining with special reference to mine closure strategies. A report of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry70 briefly assesses the future (post-mining) water supply potential of the dolomitic compartments. Winde and Stoch71 were the first to examine the opportunities associated with mine closure by exploring the potential of the area for beneficial post-closure use of mining residuals and infrastructure.
The water quality issues mentioned above, as well as the availability of water, will be influenced by the post-mine closure management of rewatering of the compartments. Different authors have estimated the time it will take for compartments to fill up with infiltrating groundwater once the mines stop pumping. Estimates for the period for the mine void and the dewatered compartment to re-fill range from 15 years69 to 30 years51. Usher and Scott68 estimated the time it will take for the rewatering of the dolomites (but not the mine void) from groundwater balance studies at a maximum of 30 years and from numerical modelling at 21 years (only Bank Compartment). The time estimated for the rewatering of the Gemsbokfontein West compartment was 7.5 years72 or between 5.8 and 46 years73.
The processes of rewatering may be influenced by the formation of a mega-compartment, which could result from hydraulic linking of the previously discrete groundwater compartments of the Far West Rand.18 This is likely to have serious implications for many features of the hydrological system such as spring flow, the rate of groundwater recharge and the resultant groundwater quality. Although the issue was already mentioned in the Jordaan Report18 in 1960, the matter has not yet been resolved. The existing uncertainties complicate the assessment of post-mine closure scenarios with regard to aquifer conditions and the associated environmental aspects. As a result, even in investigations into other aspects, an assumption is made about the hydrogeological future by choosing one of the two opposing scenarios58,74 (i.e. reactivation of spring flow or formation of a mega-compartment in which springs remain dry) or taking both possibilities into account70.
The mega-compartment concept has recently been subject to opposing views. The concept has been highlighted by Usher and Scott68 and Scott75, the latter proposing the possibility of preventing the formation of a mega-compartment by artificially sealing the tunnels that interconnect compartments. Investigations by Gold Fields in collaboration with the Department of Water Affairs showed that this option was not economically feasible (Stoch 2014, oral communication). The mega-compartment concept was rejected by Dill et al.58 and Swart et al.51. Whilst the mega-compartment concept has largely been addressed exclusively on a speculative basis, Swart et al.51 provided the only existing study employing a scientific methodological approach (based on Darcy's Law) in order to approach the issue on a hydraulic basis. Consequently, Van Niekerk and Van der Walt32 and Winde and Erasmus74 propose that the existing research on the topic (i.e. hydraulic consequences of piercing of dykes) is insufficient to reach any firm conclusions.
Conclusions and recommendations
The Far West Rand is a major deep-level gold mining area in South Africa and hosts significant groundwater resources. We have identified some particularities and issues related to the literature relevant to hydrological research in the Far West Rand. Related research over the past six decades has produced a large volume of literature, which is difficult to evaluate systematically owing to a lack of a coherent, central archiving facility and a marked lack of quality-assurance procedures. By subdividing the many complex and overlapping studies into six major topical categories, an overview is provided which reduces the overwhelming complexity of the collection of relevant studies to manageable proportions. The identification of relevant studies for future researchers is hereby simplified. The number of documents obtained (amounting to a total of 765 entities) is listed in each topical category discussed in this review in Figure 2.
Water quality issues related to mining is the single largest category of the six topics covered in this review with a quarter of all documents relating to this aspect (Figure 2). Next largest is the two groundwater-related aspects addressing the hydrogeological properties of dolomite and related water flow. The closure of mines ranks last in terms of the number of relevant documents, as many mines are still active. This study highlights the need to address this aspect in more detail in future. The relatively modest number of documents relating to ground stability reflects the short-term nature of scientific attention.
Once the causes of the sudden appearance of sinkholes and ground subsidence had been understood, the number of dedicated studies on this aspect decreased. However, documents relating to routine observations of ground movement by the State Coordinating Technical Committee alone are currently estimated to number 2500, which would render this aspect by far the best covered.
The fact that much hydrological knowledge is contained in unpublished documents such as internal and confidential reports of companies is a major issue that hampers the effective utilisation of available data. Furthermore, because many documents do not meet scientific standards it is often difficult to evaluate the reliability and quality of the information. However, by putting individual studies into the context of related studies, as well as through intercomparisons, this obstacle can often be overcome, allowing the use of unique and often unreproducible data and studies.
In an effort to ameliorate the problems relating to the literature describing the Far West Rand, an initiative by the Mine Water Research Group of the North-West University (Vaal Triangle Campus) is currently underway. This initiative involves the systematic compilation of all available relevant documents into a single archive approaching some 6000 hard copies. These documents are in the process of being digitised and collated in an electronic catalogue. It is envisaged that all relevant numerical data will ultimately be extracted, georeferenced and transformed into electronic formats for the subsequent incorporation into a central GIS-supported database.
We graciously thank the National Research Foundation of South Africa (grant no. 86331) for financial support.
With sadness we learned that Dr Eliezer Joshua (Leslie) Stoch passed away on 24 August 2014. As a long-term resident he was passionate about the study area and much of what is reported in this paper is based on his vast and comprehensive collection of historical documents and was inspired by his contagious enthusiasm for this unique region. We dedicate this paper to him.
Authors' contributions
A.S. drafted the first version of the article and selected the relevant literature. F.W. provided input and background knowledge to all parts of the text and helped with structuring, editing and writing of the final version.
1. Winde F, Stoch EJ. Threats and opportunities for post-closure development in dolomitic gold mining areas of the West Rand and Far West Rand (South Africa) - A hydraulic view. Part 1: Mining legacy and future threats. Water SA. 2010;36(1):69-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v36i1.50908 [ Links ]
2. United Nations Environment Programme. Geo-2000 global environmental outlook, overview. Nairobi: United Nations Environmental Programme; 1999. [ Links ]
3. Swart CJU, Stoch EJ, Van Jaarsveld CF, Brink ABA. The lower Wonderfontein Spruit: An exposé. Environ Geol. 2003;43(6):635-653. [ Links ]
4. Winde F. Karst, uranium, gold and water - Lessons from South Africa for reconciling mining activities and sustainable water use in semi-arid karst areas: A case study. In: Jones JAA, editor. Sustaining groundwater resources. Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media; 2011. p. 35-53. [ Links ]
5. Krahmann R. The geophysical magnetometric investigations on the West Witwatersrand areas between Randfontein and Potchefstroom, Transvaal. Trans Geol Soc S Afr. 1936;39:1-44. [ Links ]
6. Pelletier RA. Contributions to the geology of the Far West Rand. Trans Geol Soc S Afr. 1937;40:127-162. [ Links ]
7. De Kock WP. The geology and economic significance of the West Wits Line. In: Houghton SH, editor. The geology of some ore deposits in southern Africa, volume 1. Johannesburg: Geological Society of South Africa; 1964. p. 323-386. [ Links ]
8. Brink ABA. Engineering geology of South Africa, volume. 1. Pretoria: Building Publications; 1979. [ Links ]
9. South African Committee for Stratigraphy. Stratigraphy of South Africa. Part 1. Pretoria: Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Geological Survey; 1980. [ Links ]
10. Engelbrecht CJ. The West Wits Line. In: Antrobus ESA, editor. Witwatersrand gold - 100 Years. Johannesburg: Geological Society of South Africa; 1986. p. 199-223. [ Links ]
11. Robb LJ, Robb VM. Gold in the Witwatersrand Basin. In: Wilson MGC, Anhaeusser CR, editors. The mineral resources of South Africa. 6th ed. Pretoria: Council for Geosciences; 1998. p. 294-349. [ Links ]
12. McCarthy TS. The Witwatersrand Supergroup. In: Johnson MR, Anhaeusser CR, Thomas RJ, editors. The geology of South Africa. Johannesburg: Geological Society of South Africa, Council for Geosciences; 2006. p. 155-186. [ Links ]
13. National Mechanical Engineering Research Institute. Water problem at West Driefontein G.M. CO. Report No 2. Pretoria: New Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd.; 1957 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
14. Enslin JF. Report on the groundwater in the mining areas of Blyvooruitzicht, West Driefontein, Doornfontein and Venterspost mines and its relation to the supplies of the Oberholzer and Venterspost loop irrigation boards. Pretoria: Geological Survey; 1954 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
15. Interdepartmental Committee on Dolomitic Water Pumped by Mines. Depletion of water stored in Oberholzer Compartment. Interdepartmental Committee on Dolomitic Water Pumped by Mines; 1958 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
16. Knight K. An estimate of the total quantity of water abstracted from the Oberholzer Dolomitic compartment up to the end of 1964, the possible rate of replacing the water and the feasibility of so doing. Rand Mines Ltd; 1964 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
17. Irving CJ. Comment on the dewatering of the Oberholzer Dolomitic Compartment. Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mining Co Ltd; 1964 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
18. Jordaan JM, Enslin JF, Kriel J, Havemann A, Kent LE, Cable WH. Final report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Dolomitic Mine Water: Far West Rand. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry; 1960 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
19. Enslin JF, Kriel JP. Some results obtained from a hydrological study of a dolomitic catchment area in the Transvaal, Union of South Africa. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs, Division of Hydrological Research; 1959. [ Links ]
20. Wolmarans JF. The least unsafe route, volume 1. Carletonville: Webb and Partners; 1982. [ Links ]
21. Stoch EJ, Winde F. Threats and opportunities for post-closure development in dolomitic gold mining areas of the West Rand and Far West Rand (South Africa) - A hydraulic view. Part 3: Planning and uncertainty - Lessons from history. Water SA. 2010;36(1):83-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v36i1.50910 [ Links ]
22. Cartwright AP. West Driefontein - Ordeal by water. Johannesburg: Gold Fields of South Africa Ltd., JG Ince & Son Ltd.; 1969. [ Links ]
23. Cousens RRM, Garrett WS. The flooding at the West Driefontein Mine. S Afr Inst Min Metall. 1969;69(9):421-463. [ Links ]
24. Acting Secretary for Water Affairs. Far West Rand: De-watering Bank Compartment: Through West Driefontein Gold Mine: Effects on farming community: Application for urgent decision re purchase of properties and/or water rights. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs; 1968 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
25. Foose RM. Sinkhole formation by groundwater withdrawal: Far West Rand, South Africa. Science. 1967;157(3792):1045-1048. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.157.3792.1045 [ Links ]
26. Bezuidenhout CA, Enslin JF. Surface subsidence and sinkholes in the dolomitic areas of the Far West Rand, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. In: Land subsidence 1969. Proceedings of the Tokyo Symposium; 1969 Sep 17-22; Tokyo, Japan. Gentbrugge: Unesco/IAHS; 1970. p. 482-495. [ Links ]
27. Kleywegt RJ, Enslin JF. The application of the gravity method to the problem of ground settlement and sinkhole formation in dolomite on the Far West Rand, South Africa. In: IAEG 1973. Proceedings of the International Association of Engineering Geologists Symposium on sinkholes and subsidence -Engineering geological problems associated with soluble rocks; 1973 Sep 10-13; Hannover, Germany. Essen: Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Erd- und Grundbau; 1973. p. 301-315. [ Links ]
28. Kleywegt RJ, Pike DR. Surface subsidence and sinkholes caused by lowering of the dolomitic water-table on the Far West Rand Gold Field of South Africa. Ann Geol Surv (S Afr). 1982;16:77-105. [ Links ]
29. Beukes JHT. Ground movement and the formation of sinkholes due to the partial rewatering of Venterspost Compartment 1975-1978. In: Geological survey (South Africa). Proceedings of the Seminar on the Engineering Geological Evaluation of Sites on Dolomite. Pretoria: Geological Survey; 1987. p. 86-95. [ Links ]
30. Swart CJU. Storm water infiltration into dewatered dolomitic compartments via sinkholes in river beds. Gold Fields Ground Stability Group. Memorandum No GF/GSG/2000/19. 2000 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
31. De Bruyn IA, Bell FG. The occurrence of sinkholes and subsidence depressions in the Far West Rand and Gauteng Province, South Africa, and their engineering implications. Environ Eng Geosci. 2001;7(3):281-295. http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.7.3.281 [ Links ]
32. Van Niekerk HJ, Van der Walt IJ. Dewatering of the West Rand dolomitic area by gold mining activities and subsequent ground instability. Land Degrad Dev. 2006;17(4):441-452. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ldr.749 [ Links ]
33. Enslin JF. Dolomitic water supplies in the Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. Memoirs Internat Assoc Hydrogeol. 1967;8:433-476. [ Links ]
34. Enslin JF, Kriel JP. The assessment and possible future use of the dolomitic ground water resources of the Far West Rand, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. In: Papers of the International Conference on Water for Peace volume 2; 1967 May 23-31; Washington DC, USA. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office; 1968. p. 908-918. [ Links ]
35. Fleisher JNE. The geohydrology of the dolomitic aquifers of the Malmani subgroup in the south-western Transvaal Republic of South Africa. DWAF Technical Report No GH 3169. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry; 1981 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
36. Vegter JR. Dolomitic water supplies with special reference to southern and western Transvaal. DWAF Technical Report No GH 3353. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry; 1984 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
37. Foster MBJ. The hydrogeology of dolomitic formations in the southern and western Transvaal. DWAF Technical Report No. GH 3643. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry; 1989 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
38. Martini JEJ, Kavalieris I. The karst of the Transvaal (South Africa). Int J Speleol. 1976;8(3):229-251. http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.8.3.1 [ Links ]
39. Morgan DJT, Brink ABA. The Far West Rand dolomites. In: National Water Well Association, editor. Proceedings of the International Conference on Ground Water Technology; 1984 Nov 14-17; Johannesburg, South Africa. Worthington: National Water Well Association; 1984. p. 554-573. [ Links ]
40. Wolmarans JF, Guise-Brown FH. The water hazard in deep gold mining of the Far West Witwatersrand, South Africa. In: Asociacion Nacional de Ingenieros de Minas, Consejo Superior de Colegios de Ingenieras de Minas. Proceedings, World Congress on Water in Mining and Underground Works (SIAMOS-78); 1978 Sep 18-22; Granada, Spain. Granada: Asociacion Nacional De Ingenieros De Minas; 1978. p. 329-346. [ Links ]
41. Wolmarans JF. Ontwikkeling van die dolomietgebied aan die verre Wes Rand: Gebeure in perspektief [Dewatering of the dolomitic area on the Far West Rand: Events in perspective] [dissertation]. Pretoria: University of Pretoria; 1984. Afrikaans. [ Links ]
42. De Freitas MH. The effect of non-dolomitic rocks upon the flow of water in the Bank Compartment. London: Geology Department, Imperial College; 1974 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
43. Schwartz HI, Midgley DC. Evaluation of geo-hydrologic constants for the Far West Rand dolomitic formations. Civ Eng S Afr. 1975;17(2):31-36. [ Links ]
44. Theis CV. The relation between the lowering of the piezometric surface and the rate and duration of discharge of a well using ground-water storage. Trans Am Geophys Union. 1935;16(2):519-524. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/TR016i002p00519 [ Links ]
45. Bredenkamp DB, Fayazi M, Botha LJ. Interpretation of pumping test in the Gemsbokfontein East Compartment - A typical heterogeneous karst system. DWAF Technical Report No GH 3727. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Directorate of Geohydrology; 1991 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
46. Geo Hydro Technologies. Geohydrological investigation of the groundwater conditions at West Driefontein, a division of Driefontein Consolidated Ltd. Report No. WES\97\103. Pretoria: Geo Hydro Technologies; 1998 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
47. Van Tonder G, Bardenhagen I, Riemann K, Van Bosch J, Dzanga P Xu Y Manual on pumping test analysis in fractured-rock aquifers. WRC Report No 1116/1/02. Pretoria: Water Research Commission; 2002. [ Links ]
48. Kirchner J, Van Tonder GJ. Proposed guidelines for the execution, evaluation and interpretation of pumping tests in fractured-rock formations. Water SA. 1995;21(3):187-200. [ Links ]
49. Foster MBJ. First revision of the geohydrology of the Zuurbekom and Gemsbokfontein Compartments. DWAF Technical Report No GH 3542. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry; 1987 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
50. Foster MBJ. The groundwater resources of the Far West Rand dolomitic compartments. DWAF Technical Report No. GH 3607. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry; 1988 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
51. Swart CJU, James AR, Kleywegt RJ, Stoch EJ. The future of the dolomitic springs after mine closure on the Far West Rand, Gauteng, RSA. Environ Geol. 2003;44(7):751-770. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0820-3 [ Links ]
52. Bredenkamp DB. Recharge estimation based on chloride profiles. DWAF Technical Report No GH 3804. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Directorate of Geohydrology; 1993 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
53. Bredenkamp DB. Use of natural isotopes and groundwater quality for improved recharge and flow estimates in dolomitic aquifers. Water SA. 2007;33(1):87-94. [ Links ]
54. Enslin JF, Kleywegt RJ, Buekes JHT, Gordon-Welsh JF. Artificial recharge of dolomitic ground-water compartments in the Far West Rand Gold Fields of South Africa. In: International Association of Hydrological Sciences, editor. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Land Subsidence; 1976 Dec 13-17; Anaheim, CA, USA. Ann Arbor, MI: International Association of Hydrological Sciences; 1977. p. 495-506. [ Links ]
55. Durand JF. The impact of gold mining on the Witwatersrand on the rivers and karst system of Gauteng and North West Province. J Afr Earth Sci. 2012;68:24-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2012.03.013 [ Links ]
56. Pulles W, Banister S, Van Biljon M. The development of appropriate procedures towards and after closure of underground gold mines from a water management perspective. WRC Report No 1215/01/05. Pretoria: Water Research Commission; 2005. [ Links ]
57. Winde F, Stoch EJ, Erasmus E. Desktop assessment of the risk for basement structures of buildings of Standard Bank and ABSA in Central Johannesburg to be affected by rising mine water levels in the Central Basin. Final Report (Volume I of III). Potchefstroom: Mine Water Research Group, North-West University; 2011 [unpublished report]. http://dx.doi.org/10.2747/0272-36188.8.131.523 [ Links ]
58. Dill S, Boer RH, Boshoff HJJ, James AR, Stobart BI. An Assessment of the impacts on groundwater quality associated with the backfilling of dolomitic cavities with gold mine tailings. WRC Report No 1122/1/07. Pretoria: Water Research Commission; 2007. [ Links ]
59. Wade PW, Woodborne S, Morris WM, Vos P Jarvis NV. Tier 1 risk assessment of selected radionuclides in sediments of the Mooi River catchment. WRC Report No 1095/1/02. Pretoria: Water Research Commission; 2002. [ Links ]
60. Coetzee H, Winde F, Wade PW. An assessment of sources, pathways, mechanisms and risks of current and potential future pollution of water and sediments in gold-mining areas of the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment. WRC Report No 1214/1/06. Pretoria: Water Research Commission; 2006. [ Links ]
61. Winde F. Challenges for sustainable water use in dolomitic mining regions of South Africa - A case study of uranium pollution. Part I: Sources and pathways. Phys Geogr. 2006;27(4):333-347. [ Links ]
62. Winde F. Uranium pollution of the Wonderfonteinspruit, 1997-2008. Part 1: Uranium toxicity, regional background and mining-related sources of uranium pollution. Water SA. 2010;36(3):239-256. [ Links ]
63. Winde F. Uranium pollution of the Wonderfonteinspruit, 1997-2008. Part 2: Uranium in water - Concentrations, loads and associated risks. Water SA. 2010;36(3):257-278. [ Links ]
64. South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA). Report of radioactivity analysis of fish and chicken. Job code RA 08190, 28 Aug. 2007, for Driefontein GM. Pretoria: South African Nuclear Energy Corporation; 2007 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
65. Barthel R. Radiological impact assessment of mining activities in the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment area, South Africa. In: Merkel BJ, Schipek M, editors. The new uranium mining boom, challenge and lessons learned. 6th International Conference. Freiberg: Springer; 2011. p. 517-527. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22122-4_60 [ Links ]
66. IWQS (Institute for Water Quality Studies of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa). Report on the radioactivity monitoring programme in the Mooi River (Wonderfonteinspruit) catchment. Report No. N/C200/00/RPQ/2399. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry; 1999. [ Links ]
67. Winde F. Uranium pollution of water resources in mined-out and active goldfields of South Africa - A case study in the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment on extent and sources of U-pollution and associated health risks. In: Water Institute of Southern Africa, International Mine Water Association. International Mine Water Conference [CD ROM]. Pretoria: Document Transformation Technologies; 2009. p. 772-781. [ Links ]
68. Usher BH, Scott R. Post mining impacts of gold mining on the West Rand and West Wits Line. In: Hodgson FDI, Usher BH, Scott R, Zeelie S, Cruywagen LM, De Necker E, editors. Prediction techniques and preventative measures relating to the post-operational impact of underground mines on the quality and quantity of groundwater resources. WRC Report No 699/1/01. Pretoria: Water Research Commission; 2001. p. 5.1-5.117. [ Links ]
69. Winde F, Stoch EJ, Erasmus E. Identification and quantification of water ingress into mine voids of the West Rand and Far West Rand goldfields (Witwatersrand Basin) with a view to long-term sustainable reduction thereof. Final report, Project No 5512. Pretoria: Council for Geoscience; 2006 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
70. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Vaal River System: Large bulk water supply reconciliation strategy. Groundwater assessment: Dolomitic aquifers. Prepared by DMM Development Consultants, Golder Associates Africa, SRK, WRP Consulting Engineers and Zitholele Consulting. DWAF Report No P RSA C000/00/4406/06. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Directorate National Water Resource Planning; 2006. [ Links ]
71. Winde F, Stoch EJ. Threats and opportunities for post-closure development in dolomitic gold mining areas of the West Rand and Far West Rand (South Africa) - A hydraulic view. Part 2: Opportunities. Water SA. 2010;36(1):75-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v36i1.50909 [ Links ]
72. Van Biljon M, Krantz R. Predicted rate of rewatering the Gemsbokfontein West groundwater compartment. Report to Harmony Gold Mining Limited. Johannesburg: Rison Consulting; 2001 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
73. De Roer K. Hydrologic impact of rewatering of the Gemsbokfontein dolomitic western subcompartment on the Wonderfonteinspruit, South Africa [thesis]. Potchefstroom: North-West University; 2004. [ Links ]
74. Winde F, Erasmus E. Peatlands as filters for polluted mine water? - A case study from an uranium-contaminated karst system in South Africa. Part I: Hydrogeological setting and U fluxes. Water. 2011;3(1):291-322. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w3010291 [ Links ]
75. Scott R. Investigation of the post mining impact on groundwater in the West Rand and West Wits Line mining areas. Third interim progress report to the Water Research Commission. Pretoria: Water Research Commission; 1997 [unpublished report]. [ Links ]
Aljoscha Schrader
Faculty of Natural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X60
Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
Received: 24 Apr. 2014
Revised: 28 Aug. 2014
Accepted: 16 Sep. 2014


text:
More coming soon!
|Except where indicated, all contents included on this site is copyrighted (C) 2003 by Keith Elkin.com and may not be reproduced in part or in whole without permission. Q-Link, PC-Link, AOL, Habitat, and Club Caribe are registered service marks of America Online, Inc. Dreamscape and V-Zones are Trademarks of Stratagem Corporation. We are in no way affiliated with Stratagem Corp. or America Online, Inc. Comments, questions, suggestions? Send email to firstname.lastname@example.com email to email@example.com.


text:
Are you Organised for Christmas?
We have a Fantastic range of Personalised Gift Ideas for Family, Friends, Colleagues & Classmates & Teachers!
Do you need Inspiration for your next Party? Check out our Easy Cake Hacks & Party Photos!
Are you Ready for Christmas?
Check Out our Fun range of Personalised Christmas Gift Labels. We have Something for Everyone!
Show your Appreciation with Our Gorgeous range of Personalised Teachers Gift labels. Make it Extra Special and include a Photo of your Child!
10% off Orders Over $60. Enter the Code MATESRATES in the Discount Field at Checkout!
$5 Flat Rate Express Shipping
FREE for Orders over $100
$5 Flat Rate Express Shipping
FREE for Orders over $100
'Mickey and Minnie Mouse' Personalised Party Decorations Printed with your Child's Name & Age. An Adorable Theme for a Birthday Guaranteed to Make your Celebration even More Special! Whether you're having a Small Gathering at Home or Celebrating at a Local Park or Venue we have Something to Suit You. Our Matching Themed Party Supplies will Beautifully Transform your Party Space with Little Effort.
• Water-proof and Durable
• High-Quality Professional Print
• Products Available Separately as well as in Discounted Party Packs
• Australian Made
• Large Banner
• 2 x Flag Bunting
• A3 Poster
• 2 x A4 Posters
• Invites *
• Party Bags with Labels *
• 600ml Water Bottle Labels *
• Chocolate Labels *
• 7cm Round Stickers *
• 3.5cm Round Stickers *
• Cup Stickers or Pop Top Labels *
* Select Quantity from Drop-Down Menu Above
For Detailed Product Descriptions - Click Here
• Large Banner
• Flag Bunting
• A4 Poster
• Party Bags with Labels *
• 350ml Water Bottle Labels *
• Chocolate Labels *
• 3.5cm Round Stickers *
• Cup Stickers or Pop Top Labels *
* Select Quantity from Drop-Down Menu Above
For Detailed Product Descriptions - Click Here
Our products are professionally Printed and handmade once an order is placed. Customisation is only for the details shown in each product. We are unable to print personal messages or custom text. This ensures that your decorations print perfectly and that all text prints legibly. Please enter the details for printing in the space provided, notes can be added at checkout if needed.
Please note that not all products are personalised. For example, the cup stickers & 3.5cm round stickers. Consumable items like wine, beer, water bottles, tic tac's and chocolate bars are not included and will need to be purchased from your favourite retailer. Sample images are created digitally and shown for your reference. For Detailed Product Descriptions including Measurements - Click Here.
Red Black Minnie Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Club House Girl Girls Unisex Boys Boy 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th First Birthday Party Where to Buy Australian Shipping Where can I get in Australia Custom Customised Customized Personalised Handmade Hand made Party Decorations Party Supplies Online Party Shop Store with Afterpay After Pay Zip Laybuy Party Themes Parties Cheap Party Supplies Invites Invitations Invitation Favours Loot Bags Drink Labels Mini Aldi Chocolate Bar Bars Labels Label Wrappers Round Lollipop Stickers Pop Top Juice Water Bottle Labels Tic Tac Mint Labels Party Packs Vinyl Canvas Banners Posters Wall Displays Posters Fun Cute Beautiful Unique Kids Character Themed Party Supplies Decor Brisbane Sunshine Coast Gold Coast Logan Beenleigh Sydney Melbourne Perth Hobart Darwin Adelaide Printed Print Party Decorations
Any licensed images and/or characters that may be featured in a design are not licensed and some differences may ensue. All trademarks of the image and/or character belong to their respective owners and are not being sold.
Please keep in mind that colours may vary slightly since not all monitors and screens are the same. We recommend viewing on a desktop computer for best results.
Get 10% off when you Spend over $60.
Automatically Applied at Checkout.
$5 Flat Rate Shipping Australia Wide.
All Orders Shipped with Express Post.
FREE Shipping for Orders over $100
Free Shipping for Orders over $100
Australian Owned & Made
High Quality Professional Print
Shipping for 2020 Closes at Midnight on Sunday 13th of December. All Orders are Express Posted for Delivery Before Christmas. Our Office will be Closed from 3pm on Wednesday 16th December and we will Re-Open again on Monday 4th of January at 9am.
10% off Orders over $60
Discount Automatically applied at checkout. Place your Order Today!


text:
I admit, I hastily read through the Favre quote in the previous post. I'll also admit I have some lingering ill-will toward the guy. But what I took as Favre taking a fairly clear shot at the Pack by sort of making equivalent 1 year with the vikes to many years with the Pack, others are taking as Favre equating his time with the Vikes as having a sense of belonging kind of like the time he spent with the Pack. At the very least his wording is poor and I've trained myself to be suspect of how he words things. But I have to say, it's also possible he's not taking a shot at the Packers.
Either way, the bottom line is that the Vikes still have to deal with the waffling now. So we got that going for us, which is nice.


text:
Release Date: 2012 |
One of the defining traits of a hipster is that they are always quick to give up on something that's mainstream
Very true.
You may recognize the sample immediately, as it's the same from Eminem's "My Name Is", arguably the rapper's biggest song.
Holy shit! I never noticed and that was on my songs of the year list.
This is a great review and I'm shocked there are no comments yet. Pos'd.
Album Rating: 4.0one comment wtf lol
great album
Album Rating: 4.0candles in the sun is ma jam
the only song i dont really like is wheres teh fun in forever, not much of an idea for a song there
Album Rating: 4.0yeah it feels like it should be an interlude almost
how many drinks is the best song ever tho even tho its lyrics are a little...creepy
Album Rating: 3.5This album may cause spontaneous panty dropping.
Album Rating: 4.0ur mom may cause spontaneous panty dropping
this guy is a FANTASTIC live singer, wow
still so much staying power y'all
I've only heard Quickie (which I don't think is on here) and Adorn but this guy seems super talented
yeah quickie is good song from his first, sorta ignored album. almost all of this is really great though, as were his sneakily released little "Art Dealer Chic" EPs from last year
dat last paragraph
dropkicking hoez
listening to album for the first time
this rules
still need to listen to this all the way through
Digging: Your Arms Are My Cocoon - Your Arms Are My Cocoon
Album Rating: 3.5nigga wearin shades like he pitbull or sum
Album Rating: 4.5soooooooo good
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


text:
Word of the Day, Website of the Day, Number to Know, This Day in History, Today's Featured Birthday and Daily Quote.
Word of the Day
Cacophony ka-KAH-fuh-nee (noun) Harsh or discordant sound; dissonance; harshness in the sound of words or phrases - www.merriam-webster.com
Website of the Day
Best movies of 2012
If you're a movie buff, check out this Web page of American Film Institute, which lists the best movies and television of 2012. Take a moment to browse the rest of the website as well – it has lots to offer movie fans.
Number to Know
24: Percent of people who have never succeeded at keeping their New Year's resolutions.
This Day in History
Dec. 30, 2006: Deposed President of Iraq Saddam Hussein, convicted of the executions of 148 Iraqi Shiites, is executed by hanging.
Today's Featured Birthday
Basketball star LeBron James (28)
Daily Quote
"Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true." - Alfred, Lord Tennyson


text:
The wildlife and surrounding scenery provide a peaceful ambiance to your vacation home in De Leon Springs. Renowned for its fishing, boating and ecotours, this city welcomes all visitors. Daytona International Speedway and Boardwalk Amusement Area and Pier are just a couple of the must-sees in the area. Are you looking for specific amenities for your getaway? Many of our vacation rentals feature full kitchens and laundry facilities.
Are you searching for attractions to see during your stay? Venture out of your vacation home and check out everything that makes De Leon Springs a fun spot to vacation. These are some of the top attractions to put on your list, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city center:
Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast or just want to appreciate the scenery, De Leon Springs is a great spot to appreciate mother nature. These are some of the area's noteworthy features, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city center:
Fly into Daytona Beach, FL (DAB-Daytona Beach Intl.), the closest airport, located 16.1 mi (25.9 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that works for your travel itinerary, you can also fly into Orlando, FL (SFB-Orlando Sanford Intl.), which is 27 mi (43.5 km) away.
Our 2020 property listings offer a large selection of 64 vacation rentals around De Leon Springs. From 50 house rentals to 5 condo and apartment rentals, find a unique house rental for you to enjoy a memorable holiday or a weekend with your family and friends.
Whether you're traveling with family or friends, here are the areas with the largest selection of vacation rentals for a holiday trip or just for a weekend in De Leon Springs:
For other neighborhoods, please use our search bar to access the selection of vacation rentals available.
Vrbo offers a large selection of vacation rentals near lovely places in De Leon Springs. From Vrbo travelers, the top most popular points of interest to stay for a holiday trip or just for a weekend are:
But there are many other points of interest around De Leon Springs listed on Vrbo where you can find your place to stay. Please use our search bar to access the selection of vacation rentals available near the point of interest of your choice.
Yes, of course. Vrbo has 50 Houses in De Leon Springs. Our other popular types of vacation rentals in De Leon Springs include:
But you can also enjoy a great stay in one of our other vacation rentals including Studios and more.
Yes, you can select your preferred vacation rental with pool among our 17 vacation rentals with pool available in De Leon Springs. Please use our search bar to access the selection of vacation rentals available.


text:
No, it's long on ideas, but short on specifics as well as understanding how debt and math work. This is another attempt to socialize the losses. While it sounds as if it will help homeowners, its real goal is to help the banks – they're the ones who will again benefit.
I can think of many ways to help the PEOPLE more effectively than this. And no, doing a ton of little things will not help, it only makes the math worse. Doing nothing is indeed better than making your debt burden so large that it's mathematically impossible to recover without national default. Newsflash: the math is already that bad (Death by Numbers).
Obama may subsidize mortgage debt
A program would help struggling borrowers before they default. Feds would use government money to make payments more affordable.
By Tami Luhby, CNNMoney.com senior writer
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Obama administration is looking at subsidizing the mortgage payments of struggling borrowers before they default, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
If it comes to pass, the program would blaze a new trail in the federal government's foreclosure prevention initiatives. Until now, the efforts have focused on helping those already behind in their payments through interest-rate reductions and other loan modifications. The Bush administration had not committed any money to helping borrowers.
Obama, however, has pledged to spend at least $50 billion to help borrowers in trouble. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said Tuesday that the administration would release its plan within a few weeks. He and Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan have been meeting with banks, housing advocates and trade organizations this week to listen to their foreclosure prevention proposals.
Details remain scarce, but at this point the subsidy plan entails having struggling homeowners take an affordability test and undergo a re-appraisal to see if they are eligible. The subsidy would allow servicers to adjust the loan terms without having the mortgage's investors take a loss, which should make them more open to the loan modification.
Assisting borrowers before they default would help stop the wave of foreclosures, which are estimated to top two million this year. That, in turn, will help stabilize home prices.
"This will help put a floor on home values," said one person familiar with the negotiations.
Obama's plan is also likely to include ramping up the streamlining of modifications for borrowers already in default. Already, several banks and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are working with homeowners to make their monthly payments more affordable by reducing interest rates, lengthening loan terms and deferring principal to the end of the loan.
Stocks on Wall Street reversed early losses after reports of the plan began to surface.
Meanwhile, lawmakers and regulators are asking financial institutions to halt foreclosures until Geithner unveils his plan. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said that 95% of banks should put a temporary moratorium in place.
Foreclosure filings - default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions - continued to climb in January, though at a slower pace than the month before, according to RealtyTrac. That was still 18% higher than in January 2008.
Lenders repossessed 66,777 homes in January. A total of 1,081,395 homes have been lost to foreclosure since the housing crisis hit back in August 2007.
Barney Frank (and for that matter 99% of government) understands nothing about the current economic situation and how to solve it.
There is no free lunch, economics is underpinned with math. While you can use taxpayer money to fund a buy down of someone else's mortgage, you still have the obligation, it has just become a socialized obligation. Too many socialized obligations will eventually lead to national default.
Inflating debt away does not work either - you simply deflate away your future purchasing power, thus paying back the debt in other ways. All debts get repaid with interest in one way or the other, or they are defaulted upon. The bankers who issued and leveraged up the debt should be forced to default themselves for the good of our country before our country is forced to default entirely.
Bankruptcy laws need to be changed back so that individuals can default on debts too, just like companies who are able to do so through chapter 7 proceedings.
Home prices need to come down, and the misplaced debt needs to be defaulted by those who hold it. There has been no proposal that I'm aware of that begins to chisel down the debt via a default process. That has to happen to keep the present system going and to have any chance at future growth.


text:
Welcome to Foodie Friends Friday
Back to School Party!
Thank you so much for linking up to our Labor Day Party last week, it was a huge success. We couldn't do it without you sharing all your delicious recipes.
Below are the recipes that received the most clicks
Here are the Host Favorite Recipes from last week. You can find the links to all the recipes which Caught OUR Attention last week on the Daily Dish.
Welcome to Foodie Friends Friday!
Please take a moment to read through the rules before getting started, Thank You!
*By linking up you agree that you read these rules and all photos/recipes are original and belong to you. You agree to allow Foodie Friends Friday and any of it's affiliated websites or publications (Social Girls Media, LLC) to use photos, links, and recipes for reprint and/or republishing and distribution without monetary compensation to you. If photos & recipes are used, proper link backs to you will be included.
Adding Links back to Foodie Friends Friday and our Button is our only form of advertising to bring in more people to see YOUR recipes.
Please remember to do this. It benefits you! To thank you, we will continue to feature those with links throughout the year on various outlets.
Social Media Linky:
Linky Party Code:


text:
Double Swan
Regular price $120.00
Sticks + Stems Co. Offers same day delivery
Monday - Saturday on all orders placed before 3PM EST.
Sunday orders must be placed 24 hours in advance.
Please note certain flowers, vases and other products pictures are subject to availability and may be substituted for a similar item if unavailable according our substitution policy.
We look forward to creating a masterpiece just for YOU.
// Sticks + Stems Co.


text: WeeSpecs two-piece design is made from a very soft hypo-allergenic material and can be adjusted for a custom fit. The inside frame of the goggles seals around the skeletal socket reducing pressure on the eyeball and allows a baby's eyes to open and close naturally. Preemie size fits head circumference <lt/>28cm.


text:
Sandy Hook report: Adam Lanza acted alone in slayings; motive may never be determined
Report paints picture of deeply troubled Lanza
Adam Lanza acted alone and is the only person criminally responsible for last December's Sandy Hook shootings.
Lanza's motive remains unclear and may never be discovered.
No mental health professionals who treated Lanza suspected that he would ever commit the type of horrific act he committed last Dec. 14, when he killed his mother, then drove to Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 20 students and six educators.
Lanza killed himself within one minute of police officers responding to the school.
Those were among the key findings of a report released Monday by the office of Danbury State's Attorney Stephen Sedensky III, who is charged with criminal investigations in the Western Connecticut district that includes Newtown.
RELATED: Full state's attorney's report
RELATED: Profiles of the Sandy Hook victims
The document released Monday is not a complete or final recounting of the shootings. A much longer state police report, expected to be thousands of pages long, still has not been released, and it's not clear when that report will come out.
The summary released Monday unveils several key details about that morning and about Lanza's life.
The summary said it was clear that Lanza "intentionally committed horrendous crimes, murdering 20 children and 6 adults in a matter of moments, with the ability and intention of killing even more."
Police said Lanza's actions were planned, including his suicide.
All of the Sandy Hook victims were shot with a Bushmaster rifle, while Lanza killed himself with a single shot from a Glock 20, 10 mm pistol, in a classroom. He killed his mother, Nancy, by firing four shots with a .22 caliber Savage Mark II rifle in her bed at their home at 36 Yogananda St. in the Sandy Hook section of Newtown.
All of the guns Lanza used were legally purchased by his mother. Adam Lanza did not have a pistol permit.
Had Lanza survived, he would have been charged with 26 counts of murder under special circumstances, two counts of attempted murder under special circumstances, one count of murder and seven other major felonies.
There is no clear indiction of why he killed and why he targeted Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Nancy Lanza told a friend in November 2012 that her son had not gone anywhere in three months and would only communicate with her by e-mail, though they lived in the same house.
On Dec. 10, 2012, four days before the murders, Nancy Lanza said her son had "bumped his head badly" and that there was some bleeding, "but he was okay."
The previous month, Nancy Lanza had informed her son of her intention to move to either North Carolina so he could get a computer job, or Washington state to attend "a special school." He apparently wanted to go to Washington.
Lanza "had a cell phone but never used it. Calls all went to voicemail. His father (Peter) would just email him when he wanted to reach him," the report said. Lanza's relationship with his father deteriorated in late 2010, which was the last time he saw him.
Some witnesses told police that Lanza was emotionally distant from his mother, who said she didn't work because of her son's condition and took care of all of his needs. Others said he was close to his mother and "she was the only person to whom (he) would talk."
Even though Lanza's mother did his laundry daily since Lanza often changed clothes during the day, Nancy Lanza was not allowed in his room, "even to clean."
"No one was allowed in his room," police said.
The report says "a person who knew the shooter in 2011 and 2012 said the shooter described his relationship with his mother as strained because the shooter said her behavior was not rational."
Among Lanza's behaviors noted in the report were that he "was particular about the food that he ate and its arrangement on a plate in relation to other foods on the plate," demanded certain dishes not be used for particular foods, and disliked birthdays, Christmas and other holidays, refusing to let his mother put up a Christmas tree.
"The mother explained it by saying that the shooter had no emotions or feelings," the report says. "The mother also got rid of a cat because the shooter did not want it in the house."
Lanza briefly worked at a computer repair shop, and his hobbies included building computers, writing poetry and hiking, but he continued to become more of a loner through late middle school and afterward. He played the saxophone as a child.
Two other big hobbies for Lanza were shooting guns with his mother and playing video games. In addition to some of the violent video games he owned, he enjoyed "Super Mario Brothers" and "Dance Dance Revolution." Two of the games showed suicide by gunshot.
Over the years from late 1990s and into the 2000s, Lanza had various medical evaluations, the report says. In the late 1990s he was described as having speech and language needs and was being followed for seizure activities. His mother consistently described him as having Asperger's syndrome.
In preschool he showed "repetitive behaviors, temper tantrums, smelling things that were not there, excessive hand washing and eating idiosyncrasies."
Lanza was obsessed with mass murders, especially those committed at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. in 1999.
The report found that Lanza had "significant mental health issues that, while not affecting the criminality of the shooter's mental state for the crimes or his criminal responsibility for them, did affect his ability to live a normal life and to interact with others, even those to whom he should have been close."
He showed "discomfort with changes, noise and physical contact with others," and refused to take suggested medication or participate in behavior therapies.
When he was in the fifth grade, Lanza produced a book as part of a class assignment, "Big Book Of Granny," in which the main character has a gun in her cane and shoots people. The story also includes violence against children, a recurring theme for Lanza. There is no indication this assignment was ever handed in.
The report confirms Principal Dawn Hochsprung's role in saving the lives of staff members. She yelled "Stay put!" to office staff and went with school psychologist Mary Sherlach to confront Lanza. Both women were killed.
The report also mentions a staff member who, having heard noises, smelled gun powder and seen bullet holes in the front lobby, warned numerous other staff to get back in their rooms, went around locking doors, and stayed on the phone with a 911 operator.
Lanza is referred to by name on first reference and merely as "the shooter" on every additional reference.
The report identifies each of the seven adult victims, including Nancy Lanza, by name, but not any of the 20 children Lanza killed. It does not contain graphic descriptions of any of the victims' deaths.
The release of the state's attorney's summary had been delayed several times, frustrating victims' families, Newtown residents and politicians, including Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who said at a news conference earlier this month that the report was long overdue.
The state Freedom of Information Commission has ordered Sedensky's office to release the 911 tapes from the morning of the shootings, but Sedensky has appealed the ruling to a Superior Court judge in New Britain.
The judge, Eliot Prescott, said at a hearing Monday that he would listen to the tapes before ruling on the appeal.
Rob Cox, a Newtown resident and parent of school-aged children, serves as development manager for the non-profit organization Sandy Hook Promise.
Commenting for himself only and not on behalf of the organization, Cox said the report showed "a kid here who was extremely troubled."
"Many warning signs were missed or ignored," Cox said. "Ultimately, all of the institutions at some point failed to recognize them or connect the dots."
"There were so many opportunities to change the trajectory of this kid's life," Cox added. "Why didn't that happen? This makes you step back and question: How can we parent children better, offer better services to mothers who may be overwhelmed, and ensure those who shouldn't have access to firearms don't have access to them?"
In a statement released Monday, Malloy said his thoughts were with the victims' families.
"The release of this report will no doubt be difficult on them.," he said. "But if there is one thing that I believe we must do, it's that we must honor the lives that were lost by taking steps to protect ourselves from another horror like this."
A spokesman for Newtown First Selectman Patricia Llodra said Llodra would not comment on the report until after she had read it, and that she did not expect to finish reading the report Monday.
But in a blog post Monday morning, Llodra reflected on the pending state's attorney's report, the ruling on the 911 tapes and the one-year anniversary of the shootings.
"Each of these happenings has the potential to feel like a body blow – it takes our breath away and we struggle to regain our balance," Llodra wrote. "No one experiences these events more deeply and more painfully than the families of the victims. Consider too the cumulative emotional impact of this past year as felt by every parent of every Sandy Hook student, by their teachers and staff, and by those who love and care for them."
Staff writers Michelle Tuccito Sullo and Mark Zaretsky contributed to this report.
Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.


text:
Factory Data Points At Second-Quarter Growth Pick Up
U.S. manufacturing activity accelerated in May and construction spending rose for a third straight month in April, suggesting economic growth was regaining steam in the second quarter.
The economy sank in the first quarter under the weight of a brutally cold winter and a slow pace of restocking by businesses. But businesses appear to rebuilding inventories, with new orders at factories hitting a five-month high in May.
'It points to an acceleration in economic activity. We expect GDP growth to pick up meaningfully this quarter, with the pace of growth rising to around 4.0 percent,' said Millan Mulraine, deputy chief economist at TD Securities in New York.
The Institute for Supply Management said on Monday its index of national factory activity increased to 55.4 in May from 54.9 in April. The ISM had earlier mistakenly reported the index fell to 53.2 in May. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.
There were gains in new orders, production and customer inventories, but factory job growth slowed. That suggests Friday's closely watched employment report could show a moderation in hiring in May from April's brisk 288,000 jobs.
The ISM survey also hinted at a pick-up in inflation pressures, with manufacturers reporting an increase in raw material prices.
The firmer manufacturing tone was corroborated by a separate report from financial data firm Markit. Markit said its final U.S. manufacturing Purchasing Mangers Index rose to 56.4 last month from 55.4 in April.
In a separate report, the Commerce Department said construction spending increased 0.2 percent in April to an annual rate of $953.5 billion, the highest level since March 2009.
While the increase was smaller than economists had expected, the spending figure for March was revised to show a 0.6 percent rise instead of the previously reported 0.2 percent advance.
'We anticipate that construction spending will continue to strengthen in the second quarter, more than making up for first-quarter softness,' said Stephanie Karol, an economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Investment in home building and nonresidential structures, such as factories and gas pipelines, contracted in the first three months of this year for a second straight quarter, helping to depress the economy, which shrank at a 1.0 percent annual rate.
Construction spending in April was led by public outlays, which rose 0.8 percent. Spending on both federal and state and local projects increased solidly, suggesting a long-running decline in public construction spending had bottomed.
Spending on private construction projects was flat. Still, private residential construction spending hit its highest level since March 2008.


text:
* Mandatory fields
no items in your shopping cart.
Main fabric: 55% polyester, 45% virgin wool Belt: 100% polyester Belt lining: 100% cotton Pocket lining: 100% cotton
For Outlet orders:
Standard delivery - Free : Within 10 working days.
For non-Outlet orders:
Standard delivery - Free : Within 5-6 working days.
Returns are free (see return procedure on the delivery note found in your order or in our FAQ).
For Outlet orders, you have 28 days from receipt of your order to return an item by post (these orders cannot be returned to stores).


text:
Nikko Jenkins' uncle denied bond
A man accused of being involved in the death of a 33-year-old mother of three appeared in court Friday.
Warren J. Levering, 51, was taken into custody earlier this week after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He faces a charge of being an accessory to a felony in the Aug. 21 killing of Andrea Kruger.
Prosecutors said Levering was with his nephew, Nikko Jenkins, the night Kruger died -- even going as far as eating food she had with her after allegedly killing her.
After the killing, prosecutors said in court, Levering went to his sister's house to get a gas can, which was eventually used in an attempt to set Kruger's car on fire.
"Everything about this case is extremely cold and callous and unimaginable," said Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine.
Jenkins, 26, faces a charge of first-degree murder in that case, as well as three others -- the killings of Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Juan Uribe-Pena and Curtis Bradford.
Jenkins' sister, Erica Jenkins, 23, now faces a charge of first-degree murder in Bradford's death as well. Her half-sister, Lori Sayles, 18, is accused of being an accessory to a felony in that case.
"We've seen cases where there's been inter-relationships between family members, but the extent of it is pretty great here," Kleine said.
Erica Jenkins and Sayles are expected in court at 1 p.m. Friday.
Levering is being held without bond. His preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 27.


text:
Free Vintage Halloween Witches Cards
These vintage Halloween cards featuring witches range from scary to sweet to beautiful, so there's a little something for everyone. To make the images even more festive, the witches are accompanied by bats, birds, pumpkins, black cats, goblins and all the other iconic symbols of the holiday. Some of these vintage witches were painted by Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle, the most prolific greeting card artist of the vintage (and maybe any) era. I hope you enjoy them!
Read our TERMS OF USE, then click the vintage Halloween witches cards below to view and download the larger versions:
NOTE: Please read our terms of use before using these vintage witches cards in products or posting them to any blog, Web site, forum or social media site, either commercial or non-commercial. Thanks!