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Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
versão On-line ISSN 2411-9717
versão impressa ISSN 0038-223X
J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. vol.112 no.2 Johannesburg Jan. 2012
Managing the geotechnical and mining issues surrounding the extraction of small pillars at shallow depths at Xstrata Coal South Africa
S.Z. Pethö; C. Selai; D. Mashiyi; J.N. van der Merwe
Xstrata Coal South Africa
Pillar extraction at shallow depths with small pillars that were not originally intended for secondary extraction can provide a huge benefit to the coal mining industry in those areas where a significant percentage of the remaining coal reserves are locked up in small pillars at shallow depths and where opencast mining methods are simply not as cost-effective and practical to implement. A system considering all of the pertinent geotechnical and mining aspects for the safe and efficient pillar extraction of small pillars at shallow depths at Xstrata Coal South Africa (XCSA) has been further developed and implemented as part of an ongoing improvement process addressing all of the relevant legal and associated risk aspects. This work follows on from the previous pillar extraction work carried out at the ATC, Boschmans, and Spitzkop Collieries.
The process involved a number of in-house workshops and sessions arranged with all key personnel from Tavistock Colliery, and also included Professor Nielen van der Merwe of the University of the Witwatersrand, a world renowned authority on pillar extraction, towards reviewing and developing the Modified NEVID pillar extraction system employed previously at Boschmans Colliery.
The system is currently being employed at Tavistock Colliery with success and no major accidents, with around 655 000 t of coal having been successfully extracted from the pillar extraction panels.
Keywords: pillar extraction, small pillars at shallow depths, goafing, numerical modelling, instrumentation, mining and geotechnical considerations.
Tavistock Colliery was first registered in 1936, and in 1960 Tavistock Colliery also acquired the South Witbank Coal Mine (SWCM), which was originally registered in 1945. It was during 1975 that JCI acquired an interest in Tavistock Colliery and SWCM, and subsequently in 1998 Duiker Mining acquired Tavistock Colliery from JCI. In 2000 Glencore bought Duiker Mining from Lonmin, and finally in 2002 Xstrata Coal South Africa (XCSA) acquired the mining interests of Duiker Mining.
The first coal was produced at Tavistock Colliery in 1948. Tavistock Colliery has the mining rights for the No. 2, 4, and 5 Seams in the mine lease area. Both the No. 2 and 5 Seam have previously been mined, and there is still a small portion of No. 2 Seam reserves of approximately 3.2 Mt of run-of-mine (ROM) coal that has been excluded from any future plans, owing to the low yields and adverse geological conditions. All mining is currently concentrated on the No. 4 Seam, comprising one pillar extraction and three development sections with a total output of around 280 000 t/month.
The available coal reserves have dwindled over time, and the majority of the coal is now locked up in the remaining safety pillars. The pillar extraction project was initiated by this reality and the necessity to extend the life of mine in line with the entire Southstock complex which comprises, the South Witbank, No. 5 Seam, and Tavistock Collieries. To date around 655 000 t of coal has been safely extracted from the pillar extraction panels, as indicated on the Tavistock Colliery underground plan in Figure 1. The in-house process developed and implemented towards achieving this in a safe and efficient manner will be discussed.
Mining methods at Tavistock Colliery
Historically, the mining of the available coal reserves was never carried out with the intention to conduct pillar extraction on retreat, and hence the original pillar design was usually based on the maximum percentage extraction to be achieved during the primary development mining phase6. Bord and pillar mining has been the prime method employed for coal extraction since production commenced at Tavistock Colliery. At first, mining was carried out entirely by conventional methods (drill and blast) until the introduction of mechanized mining using a continuous miner (CM) during 2004.
Pillar extraction experience at XCSA
Pillar extraction was initially carried out making use of a total pillar extraction mining method at the Arthur Taylor Colliery (ATC), with goafing occurring concurrent with the mining. Although no fatal accidents were recorded, there were at least two recorded cases of a CM burial and one major windblast accident during this period. This was formally addressed through the re-design of the pillar extraction method to mitigate any CM burials and windblast accidents. The group rock engineer at the time, Mr B. Vorster, employed a Modified NEVID method based on the pillar extraction mining method developed by Sasol Mining.10 This method of pillar extraction was then carried out at Spitzkop Colliery, ATC, and also later at Boschmans Colliery, with no recorded cases of a CM burial or any windblast accidents.
It must, however, also be pointed out that the method was not effectively designed for goafing to occur concurrent with the mining operation. There are at least three recorded cases of surface subsidences having occurred at Boschmans Colliery after the pillar extraction operations had formally ceased. There is no recorded case of any surface subsidence at Spitzkop Colliery where pillar extraction operations were carried out.
Pillar extraction at ATC was carried out on only the No. 4 Seam with no pillar extraction carried out on the No. 2 Seam. Interestingly enough, pillar extraction was also carried out on the No. 4 Seam in areas where the No. 2 Seam had previously been mined out below, in addition to those areas where the No. 2 Seam was not mined out previously. The modified NEVID method employed at ATC and Boschmans consisted of taking only three cuts per pillar where possible, which will be discussed later.
Mining process adopted for the safe and effective pillar extraction at Tavistock Colliery
A formal process for evaluating the viability of pillar extraction mining, including all of the key stakeholders, was initiated towards gaining a better understanding of the process. In this regard a number of workshops, sessions, and also mine visits were carried out, in which the following factors were identified for consideration. For simplicity, these factors can be effectively grouped into the Mining and Geotechnical aspects, which will be discussed in the following sections:
Mining considerations
These were addressed by identifying the key activities and allocating resources and personnel to ensure that these were effectively managed.
Mining restrictions (pillar extraction panels available)
Surface and underground
The first challenge confronting Tavistock Colliery was the availability of panels originally earmarked for pillar extraction, owing to the restrictions imposed by various surface structures including public and private roads, buildings, and dams (Figure 2).
Based on the analysis carried out, approximately 30% of the original panels earmarked for pillar extraction had to be scrapped due to further expansion plans for water storage facilities on surface, which were to be extended and in the process would encroach into the mineable and targeted pillar extraction areas. In addition to this, there were also the adverse effects associated with combined floor rolls, paleohighs, hydraulic pressure conditions, and panel orientations, resulting in further panels having to be removed from the pillar extraction schedule.
External and internal stakeholders
Farmers likely to be affected during this process were consulted well in advance. Fences were erected around the planned pillar extraction panels in order to prevent inadvertent access to the surface areas where subsidence could occur. Prior to the commencement of the pillar extraction mining there was already a project underway to relocate affected communities in informal settlements. The trade unions representing the workforce were also duly informed about the pending pillar extraction operations and involved throughout the process. No major complaints were received from any of the abovementioned stakeholders during the pillar extraction operations.
Mine planning
A detailed mine design utilizing the available coal resources and pillar extraction panels indicated that the Tavistock underground operation will be able to continue until December 2011. The development is expected to continue with two sections and the pillar extraction with the other two sections until the end of the year. At the time of publication Tavistock Colliery has just been closed with the last mining taking place on the day shift of the 30th of January 2012.
Cost and production
Based on the comprehensive mining exercise carried out on the available pillar extraction panels, the pillar extraction method was deemed a viable option due to its positive NPV contribution and minimal capital input required. The ROM production was originally forecast at 55 000 t/month for a three month period with the intention to ramp up to 80 000 t/month. Production commenced in March 2010, and was stopped for two weeks due to a fall of ground that necessitated the panel to be relocated following an extensive analysis on the failure mechanism carried out by various rock engineering experts, as discussed later. It was in November 2010 that Tavistock finally achieved 86 000 t/month from the pillar extraction section for the first time.
Availability of equipment
A strategic decision was taken to gradually phase out all single-pass continuous miners in preparation for mining remnants and pillar extraction. Two ABM30 and one ABM12 continuous miners were decommissioned and replaced with three HM31 continuous miners. Provision was also made in the budget to replace the existing RHAM single boom with RHAM twin-boom roof bolters in order to match the roof support requirements. A machine extractor 'tande-trekker' was also purchased to be on standby in the event that the CM becomes stuck or buried by the goaf.
The scrubber fan on the CM was initially removed as part of modifications carried out, but at a later stage it was realized that it was not necessary provided that the fan could be switched off. The scrubber fan is required for use in all planned holings or developing prior to the pillar extraction that is carried out on retreat.
Support and rehabilitation of the pillar extraction panels
It was decided to outsource the re-support of those panels identified for pillar extraction services to a secondary support contractor using hand-held machines, due to the versatility of the equipment and easy access to these old workings. A detailed pillar extraction panel support assessment was also carried out15, documented, and signed off by the rock engineering department together with the mining department and project-managed through an independent company towards ensuring that this aspect did not become an issue on the project critical path. In order to keep up with frequent panel relocations, there would need to be at least two pillar extraction panels prepared in advance at all times. Preparation in this regards also involved the pumping of any water, rehabilitating the ventilation infrastructure, sweeping/cleaning, construction of travelling ways and conveyor belts, as well as the power and water supply to the working place. All belt roads and travelling ways would be supported from the beginning of the panel right up to the faces, and this also included the installation of systematic roofbolt breaker lines5. Breaker line support (Figure 3) consisted of two rows of 1.8 m long x 20 mm diameter full column resin-grouted roofbolts installed 1 m apart with five bolts installed per support row, across the width of a bord specifically to:
Arrest the planned displacement of the roof strata at that point
Prevent any roof failures from spreading
Delineate and maintain a clear demarcation between the goaf and the working area.
This system has been proven to be very successful in past pillar extraction projects at XCSA. Mining in a panel could commence and continue after four rows of splits from the face had been re-supported to the required standard.
Labour issues and challenges
Some challenges with regard to the compensation for machine operators demanded by the labour unions were overcome through a process of constant engagement. It is understandable that pillar extraction involves hazards that are different to those of development, but these are effectively managed and mitigated through the risk assessment process adopted.
Availability of competent skills and training
Following the closure of the ATC and Phoenix underground operations, key employees were identified and transferred to other operations, and during this process a number were also transferred to Tavistock Colliery. All mining personnel such as shift bosses and miners and CM operators who had prior working knowledge of pillar extraction from ATC were identified and included in the labour planning. A formal training programme was also initiated and carried out by the rock engineering department with the mining crews towards ensuring that the relevant strata control issues and training on the critical controls were provided to the mining personnel, on issues such at the trigger action response plan (TARP), daily inspection checklist, and the marking and cutting of the pillars.
Risk management process (risk assessment)
An issue-based risk assessment16 for producing coal in a pillar extraction section was developed on the mine with the objective of assessing the availability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the hard barriers (these are physical barriers, such as lockouts and no-entry barricades, as opposed to soft barriers such as procedures and discussions), and to identify required procedures and standards in order to address the high risk/critical tasks. During this process the following key issues were identified, and a schedule with accountabilities established and tracked:
Ensure fit-for-purpose equipment-modifications needed to be carried out to existing equipment
Compile a procedure for extracting the CM in the event that the machine is stuck and/or becomes inoperable18
Draw up a pillar extraction code of practice,7 dealing with issues such as the required support pattern, 'no go' zones and the demarcation thereof, and the designated operator positions with each cut
To train all relevant personnel on the procedures and standards and issue licenses where applicable.
Panel pre-emptive document
Prior to pillar extraction taking place in a specified panel, the various affected stakeholders (departments) come together in a formal manner to identity all the possible hazards and the likely related risks anticipated during the pillar extraction process, and through this consultative process define the controls required in order to reduce the risks to the underground personnel (Figure 4). The process is carried out by critically considering and assessing the following key issues:
The geological features and structures, as well as the influence on the roof and pillar conditions
Geometry of the panel (panel length, mining heights, bord width, and the panel width)
Primary method of mining and age of workings
Type of support installed during the mining process
The prevailing roof, pillar, floor, and support conditions
The existing surface restrictions
Technical data relating to the panel (the actual safety factor, width-to-height ratio of the pillars, minimum span of the panel, regional and local stress effects, percentage of sandstone constituting the overburden)
Previous mining in the area either as overlying or underlying mining panels
The recommended method of goaf and subsidence monitoring, as well as the ventilation structures and layout required.
At the conclusion of the meeting the completed pillar extraction panel pre-emptive document is duly signed off by all parties and a permit to mine signed and issued by the operations manager.
Daily inspections
In order to ensure full compliance to the standards set for safe pillar extraction, inspections are carried out on a daily basis by the miners and shift bosses as well as the mine overseer. These are carried out by means of a pre-shift checklist that encompasses, amongst others, the following key aspects (Figure 5):
Pillar cutting discipline
Demarcation of the geological discontinuities and resupporting where necessary
Roof and pillar conditions at the critical positions (CM operator's position and the travelling road)
Access control into the section (the miner needs to have an updated register for all the personnel working in the section)
Installation of the required monitoring devices in the section
Availability of the CM extractor and also that it is in a good working condition.
Trigger action response plan (TARP)
A TARP was also developed for the pillar extraction towards managing the various critical aspects that would affect the extraction operations and was included as part of the training process provided to the mining personnel, (Figure 6).
Recovery of an inoperable continuous miner in a pillar extraction section
A procedure was developed with the main objective to ensure that the continuous miner could be extracted and/or recovered from a position where it has become inoperable. This position can be expected to occur beyond the roofbolt breaker line support, and in essence means that the machine has become inoperable in a deemed no-go zone.18
Pillar cutting sequence in a pillar extraction section
A procedure was developed with the main objective to ensure that a standard cutting sequence is adhered to in a pillar extraction section that will define the sequence in which each identified pillar in a row must be cut, the amount and sequence in which individual lifts/cuts from a single pillar must be taken, and importantly indicate the position that the CM operator and his assistant must take in order to ensure that they do not enter into a 'no-go' zone while cutting17 (Figure 7).
Geotechnical considerations
The pillar extraction operation at Boschmans Colliery was carried out by means of taking only three cuts per pillar (Figure 8) where practicable, and mining four to seven rows of pillars in this manner, after which two rows of intact pillars were left as stopper pillars. The intention of the stopper pillars was to mitigate the effects of a windblast. Although this method was found to be a much safer way to carry out pillar extraction, with a very low risk of CM burial and windblast accidents as compared with the earlier total pillar extraction carried out,11,12 there was no recorded goaf that occurred concurrent with the pillar extraction mining.
Due to the risks inherent in the non-goafed panels, a meeting was arranged with all stakeholders and experts towards reviewing, and where possible amending, the pillar extraction cutting sequence employed at Boschmans Colliery for implementation at Tavistock Colliery.
The various geotechnical aspects considered are discussed below.
Geotechnical borehole logs
Due to the poor quality of the information available on some of the older geological borehole logs and the lack of adequate geological coverage in the pillar extraction area of interest, it was decided that initially at least two new geotechnical boreholes would be drilled per pillar extraction panel and logged. The geotechnical boreholes would be drilled from surface to a position just above the immediate roof and located in the centre of the pillar extraction panel. The main purposes of these boreholes were firstly to enable the calculation of the minimum spans for the various panels to be carried out, and also to ascertain the general roof composition of the panel in question. A subsequent use identified for these boreholes was for instrumentation, which will be discussed later. A plan, together with a drilling schedule covering all of the pillar extraction panels, was discussed and drawn up in consultation with the Complex geologist, and this was then also effectively project-managed towards ensuring that the required information was always available prior to the pillar extraction taking place in the panel.
Using the available geotechnical information, the minimum spans required for overburden failure to occur were calculated for each panel considering only the strongest sandstone layer and assuming a tensile mode of failure, using the following equation1:
where, σtm is the sum of the tensile strength of the beam and the resident horizontal stress, γ is the distributed load on the beam, assuming a unit weight of the overburden strata of 25 kN/m3, t is the thickness of the beam, and L is the minimum span. The results of this analysis are shown in Table I.
Numerical modelling - LAMODEL4
For the modelling exercise the LAMODEL numerical modelling software package was used, which is a boundary element program for calculating the stresses and displacements in coal mines or other thin, tabular seams or veins. It can be used fairly easily to investigate and optimize the required pillar sizes and layouts in relation to pillar and multi-seam stresses. LAMODEL simulates the overburden as a stack of homogeneous isotropic layers with frictionless interfaces, and with each layer having the identical elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and thickness. LAMODEL was used towards establishing and quantifying the extraction safety factors [ESF] for a representative range of panel spans and depths, together with the number of pillar cuts. The decision was taken to modify the existing NEVID mining method for the prevailing ground conditions in order to increase the likelihood of goafing in the pillar extraction panels as follows, without increasing the overall risk profile, refer to van der Merwe1:
Taking five cuts per pillar instead of only three cuts (Figure 8), where practicably possible (Figure 10)
Mining of five rows of pillars and leaving only one solid pillar in the centre of the panel of the fifth row, acting as a cushion pillar (compartmentalizes the goaf), instead of mining only four rows of pillars and leaving two complete rows as the stopper rows, in order to reduce the impacts of a windblast.
All geological discontinuities identified during the pillar mapping exercise were incorporated into the designing and positioning of the required cushion pillars as far as practicably possible. Once the goaf in a panel has been initiated and progresses with the subsequent mining, the cushion pillar requirement falls away and the pillar can be mined depending on the outcome of the pillar mapping exercise.
During this exercise a simple and effective process flow was developed for the pillar extraction operation mining at Tavistock Colliery8 (Figure 9).
Panel mapping exercise
This entails an assessment of the various geotechnical parameters that can directly affect the behaviour of the pillars and immediate rock mass during the pillar extraction process. During this process, all the underground panels that were planned for pillar extraction were visited, and the following parameters were assessed and the information captured on the survey plans to ensure that the pillar extraction of each panel is carried out in a safe and efficient manner:
Geological features such as joints, faults, dykes, and paleo-floor or floor rolls
Indication of the weak and strong side of any geological features observed
Integrity of the pillars in the panel
The prevailing ground conditions of the roof and floor
Conditions of the installed roof support units
Signs of increasing stresses on the pillars, roof, floor and the installed support units
Indications of any water in the roof, particularly at the intersections, and water in the roadways.
Once the information had been captured, a detailed pillar and risk assessment layout plan was generated which forms part of the pillar extraction pre-emptive risk assessment process. A signed-off copy of the pillar layout plan was then provided to the miners (Figure 10).
It was decided to carry out a simple instrumentation programme in order to gain a better understanding of the overburden behaviour during the pillar extraction process. In this regards a decision was made to implement the time domain reflectometry (TDR) technology, which is a fairly simple and cost-effective geotechnical monitoring system that is generally used in massive mines to determine the height and profile of the cave above the draw point. TDR works through propagating a radar frequency electromagnetic pulse down a transmission line while monitoring the reflected signal. As the electromagnetic pulse propagates along the transmission line, it is subject to impedance by the dielectric properties of the media along the transmission line. For a customized mining application solution, the system consists of grouting a specific type of conductive cable with known electrical properties into a surface borehole. A total of five of the geotechnical boreholes were instrumented with the TDR cabling (Table I), consisting of three cables of different thickness in each borehole, with the intention of understanding the overburden behaviour during the pillar extraction. A limited degree of success was achieved with the TDR instrumentation; however, this technique does not lend itself to providing early warning (precursor) information of overburden instability and should rather be used to provide information related to the location, rate, and extent of roof failure that occurs during and after pillar extraction.
Previous work carried out by Brink et al.2, and Edwards3 indicated the need for a reliable early warning seismic system indicating major roof instability in a coal mine, considering the significant percentage of reserves tied up in coal pillars. Following this the GoafWarn instrument was developed, which is installed approximately 50 m to 100 m from the region where any such roof instability may occur. The device monitors the micro-seismicity associated with the formation and extension of fractures which are the precursors to the larger instability process that follows. The instrument comprises a seismic velocity sensor, analogue-to-digital conversion, and a microprocessor for data processing.
Two of the older generation GoafWarn instruments were obtained to trial from CSIR Miningtek, with the purpose of using them in the pillar extraction section to build up an understanding of how the roof behaves prior to, during, and after the goaf. Unfortunately, no success was achieved with these instruments because of issues with the software and timing, and thus valuable information regarding the actual goafs recorded was lost in the process.
Going forwards, new-generation GoafWarn instruments will be purchased to allow for remote reading and accessing of the data, thereby providing a real-time solution to the challenge at hand of understanding the roof behaviour.
Pillar extraction section performance rating form
As part of the compliance process, a pillar extraction rating form was designed to rate the section performance of the underground mining personnel against the set standards and procedures. The form addresses and assesses, amongst others, the following key factors:
Marking of the direction lines on the identified pillars to ensure that the operator can take the intended cuts in the required direction
The presence of a signed copy of the pillar extraction panel pre-emptive risk assessment document and layout plan for that specific panel at the waiting place, and understanding of the contents
Understanding of the escape route to be followed during the event of a goaf occurring
Correct positioning of the CM operator and his assistant during the pillar extraction mining process
Adherence to the cutting sequence and physical cutting direction of the pillars as depicted on the layout plan, to prevent an uncontrolled goaf
Drilling of the required bleeder holes in order to reduce the buildup of any hydraulic pressure in the roof
Breaker line and support installation as per requirements.
The performance rating form is compiled during the startup phase of the new pillar extraction panel and during the month, with the results discussed and communicated to the mine overseer.
Implementation phase
Pillar extraction success
The pillar extraction operation at Tavistock Colliery started during April 2010 with the panels situated on the eastern side of the mine, viz. 1W4SB1E and 1W4SB3E (Figure 1). To date the pillar extraction has been effectively carried out on a total of thirteen panels, and there has been goafing in eight of the panels (Table II). A summary of the goafing information for the pillar extraction panels as well as their orientation is provided in Table III.
As stipulated in Table II, only 62% of the pillar extraction panels have goafed while the mining was being carried out. It is pertinent to note that the pillar extraction in three of the non-goafed panels was undertaken by using five cuts on each pillar, whereas the remaining two were extracted using four cuts per pillar. In all of the panels where goafing occurred during mining, the pillar extraction was undertaken by using five cuts on each pillar where practicably possible. It is important to take note of the central remnant portion of a pillar left during pillar extraction (kickout fender) that is created with the three different mining options used on XCSA. In this regard the area of the kickout fender increases from 12 m2 (1.4 m thick) to 17.5 m2 (2.1 m thick) and to 23 m2 (2.8 m thick) for a 5 cuts, 4, to 3 cuts per pillar respectively, (Figure 8). From the pillar extraction information gathered to date at XCSA, the relationship of the size and performance of the kickout fender and the roof behaviour is a crucial aspect that needs to be studied in more detail towards garnering a better understanding of the roof failure mechanism for pillar extraction of small pillars at shallow depths. In this regard, the UDEC and FLAC3D numerical modelling packages will be able to provide further clarity and insight.
Challenges experienced and further enhancements
Goaf overrun and fall of ground
There has been one recorded incident of a fall of ground (FOG) and a goaf overrun since the inception of pillar extraction operations at Tavistock Colliery. The FOG occurred in panel 1W4SB1E where the pillar extraction operation commenced (Figure 1). The FOG occurred on the off-shift during cutting of the third row of pillars, and was noticed along the roadway R3 from split 14 to split 19 (Figure 11). The fall progressed up to split 12 located adjacent to the waiting place. All the operations were ceased in this panel for the safety of the underground personnel. An extensive investigation was conducted by the rock engineering department towards understanding the mechanism of this FOG, and Mr Jaco van Vuuren of Saxum Mining, Professor Nielen van der Merwe, and Mr David Postma the group rock engineer at Sasol Mining were also consulted. The FOG was attributed to the combination of the floor roll, water in the roof, and the stress changes associated with the east-west orientation of the pillar extraction panel.9,13,14
Following this incident it was decided that in addition all floor rolls will be mapped and captured on the survey plan to ensure that this is taken into consideration during the design of the pillar cutting sequence. In addition, deeper bleeder holes (3.9 m in length) will be drilled at the roadway R3, roadway L3, and the belt road for every third split for the draining of any water from the immediate roof, in order to prevent the build up of any hydraulic pressure, which tends to cause strata problems. Intensive monitoring of the ground conditions will also be carried out while mining the panels in the east-west or west-east direction.
Pillar cracking
The mining of panel F11W1 was successfully carried out with a goaf occurring as planned, though not up to surface, and with no abnormal pillar and roof conditions observed prior to the commencement of the pillar extraction operation. It was, however, noted during the process of extracting pillars in this panel that the southern barrier pillar started to develop guttering on the right hand side of panel F11W2 (northern side). After completion of the pillar extraction in panel F11W1, preparations were made to commence with the pillar extraction in panel F11W2. The first goaf happened after nine rows of pillars had been extracted, and this also did not progress up to the surface (Figure 12). After mining a further two rows of pillars the next goaf occurred, which triggered all of the uncompleted goafs (the goaf in panel F11W1 and the first goaf in panel F11W2) to progress. The goafing then proceeded to alternate between the two panels for about an hour. Following this it was noted that the pillars extending from the goaf line backwards had developed an interesting tensile crack extending from the top to the bottom of the pillar corner (Figure 12). This was observed in panel F11W2 and also F11W3, the next panel planned for pillar extraction. These tensile cracks were observed on both the eastern and western sides of the pillars, with minor guttering noted on the southern side of the pillars.
It was concluded that the damage to the pillars observed was as a result of lateral displacement, due to the sudden release of horizontal compression accompanying the progression of the goaf in the adjacent panel. The layout plan was altered to leave four rows of pillars to stiffen up the system, and pillar extraction resumed. A special modified cutting sequence was developed for panel F11W3, taking cognisance of the cracks and guttering. In this sequence the planned cuts on the sides of the pillars where the cracks had developed were removed, in order to prevent the already fractured dislodged corners from falling and thereby causing injuries to personnel or damage to the equipment.
In conclusion, pillar extraction of the panels orientated in the east-west or west-east direction, probably coinciding with the direction of maximum horizontal stress, can present challenges that need to be managed.
Scaling of pillar corners in areas where the previous mining was carried out using a Voest CM
Scaling occurred during the extraction of pillars that were originally mined using a Voest CM, which tends to create a rounded pillar corner in the roof (Figure 13). This corner tends to scale off with the stress changes associated with the pillar extraction operation. Two incidences were also reported of the Hilti gun causing this fractured piece of rock to become dislodged, resulting in an injury to an employee during the normal installation of brattices required for ventilation control.
The pillar extraction process designed and carried out at Tavistock Colliery has proved to be a success in terms of safety and efficiency, and has enabled a better understanding to be gained of the behaviour of small pillars at shallow depths during pillar extraction. The work has shown that it is possible to extract old, small, shallow pillars that were not originally intended for secondary extraction, provided that detailed prior investigation is done and that the mining is planned in great detail and executed according to plan.
Based on the experience to date, there is still, however, further numerical modelling work that needs to be carried out towards understanding the behaviour and interaction of the kickout fender and the immediate roof response during pillar extraction operations for various panel geometries, stress orientations, and depths towards formulating guidelines.
It is also necessary to improve the understanding of failure mechanisms preceding goafing, which will hopefully be achieved with the implementation of the improved GoafWarn instrument.
The authors would like to thank XCSA management for permission to publish this paper, and also acknowledge Mr B. Vorster for all of the earlier pillar extraction work carried out at Boschmans, ATC, and Spitzkop Collieries.
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17. Tavistock Colliery. SSCC UM S001-Pillar cutting sequence in a pillar extraction section. Internal report, April 2010. [ Links ]
18. Tavistock Colliery. ESP 47 Recovering of an inoperable Continuous Miner in a pillar extraction section. Internal report, March 2010. [ Links ]
This paper was first presented at the, MineSafe Conference, 15-18 August 2011, Emperors Palace, Hotel Casino Convention Resort, Johannesburg.
© The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2012. SA ISSN 0038-223X/3.00 + 0.00.


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The story is HERE:
Who are people turning to nowadays for business advice?
Celebrity economists.
Big-name experts on the economy like Paul Krugman [above], Joseph Stiglitz, Michael Porter, Robert Reich and Muhammad Yunus feature prominently in a new ranking of influential business thinkers compiled for The Wall Street Journal.
The findings � based on Google hits, media mentions and academic citations � show just how much the business-guru landscape has changed since 2008, when a previous ranking was conducted using similar methodology. Author and consultant Gary Hamel ranked No. 1 at the time, a spot now occupied by Krugman....
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subset: commoncrawl


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New Ulm Steel's shredder found to violate noise ordinance
NEW ULM – New Ulm Steel and Recycling is in violation of the City of New Ulm noise ordinance due to its industrial metal shredder, according to the recently released analysis of the site.
The New Ulm City Council ordered tests of the shredder to determine if it is in compliance with the City's noise and vibration standards after receiving numerous complaints from surrounding property owners. The main issues brought up were that the noise overwhelmed people's ability to talk during the shredder's operations, loose pieces of metal were flying out of the machine into the surrounding areas and several large explosions insider the shredder caused disruption and noise in the area. The explosions within the machine are part of its normal process and do not damage the machine, though the explosions listed in the complaints were of exceptionally large size.
New Ulm Steel installed several measures to address the initial complaints, such as installing a guard on the top of the shredder that ended the problem of metal spraying out of the top. But, since the complaints continued after the changes, the City ordered New Ulm Steel to have the firm IEA, Inc. test the area for code compliance during operation of the shredder. The test only targeted the noise from the shredder and the vibrations caused by its operation. The explosions that occur during operation of the shredder are presumed by City to be break city codes when they occur, but are difficult to test since they are unplanned. The issues of the explosions will be addressed separately by the City and the Council following the determinations on these initials test.
The results from IEA, Inc. found that the noise from the shredder exceeds city limits in all property line areas. The firm recommended working with New Ulm Steel to engineer control measures for the machine that would bring its noise frequency down to around 225 Hz.
Separately, the testing found that the shredder did not violate any city codes on vibrations.
The results will be reviewed by the Council during its meeting next Tuesday, Sept. 3. The Council will make determinations on whether to order New Ulm Steel to modify its machine to bring it in line with city codes. New Ulm Steel owner Josh Luneberg declined to comment Thursday, but said he would be willing to talk about the shredder during the Council meeting.
The City Code has no penalties for violating the noise ordinances, so no immediate action will be taken against New Ulm Steel. However, the City has the ability to take action in court if changes it orders for compliance with city codes are not followed.
New Ulm Steel's shredder was installed early this year. It is capable of shredding everything from toasters to several school buses, with a maximum ability of 100 tons per hour. The machine also sorts out ferrous and non-ferrous metals from the shredded material, which is sold in bulk.
Josh Moniz can be e-mailed at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Photograph by Cristina Mittermeier
One of the tribes featured in our exhibit on Amazonian rainforest people is that of the Kayapó people. We also have on display a series of large photographs taken very recently by Cristina Mittermeier. These photographs show daily life among the Kayapó. The title panel of this section of the exhibit carries the title of "Guardians of the Forest," and displays a portrait of the tribe's leader, Raoni, a man famous enough to have an institute named after him.
Recently, Raoni's image also appeared on the BBC world news website. He was shown together with Sting, who was there to lend his support to the tribe's long-standing opposition to the construction of a dam on their lands. Initial reports of the Kayapó's success in opposing the construction of the dam appear to have been premature, with recent reports surfacing in Western media that the project was slated to go ahead anyway. Even though intense media scrutiny has caused this mega-project to have been put on hold, it remains to be seen if it will be permanently shelved. If implemented, it would impact huge swaths of Kayapó lands, including their burial lands and their traditional hunting and fishing grounds. In other words, their world would literally vanish in a matter of years as the waters rose and covered their land.
As always, there is another side to the story. Brazil, a huge country with a growing population, faces ever increasing demands for energy. Its efforts to become energy independent, by developing its own sources of energy, have received attention from many a country abroad. The potential for hydro-electric power is immense in Brazil, as shown in the case of the Itaipu dam. However, it is also subject to interference by Mother Nature, as a recent power outage in Brazil, leaving 60 million people in the dark, clearly showed.
|Shrunken Head on display at HMNS
Much further to the West, the story of the Shuar people (formerly known as the Jivaro), continues to generate headlines as well. Living in Ecuador, the Shuar are one of a very small number of Amazon tribes who once practiced the custom of shrinking human heads. The Shuar are also part of our current Amazon exhibit, as are two shrunken heads, possibly their handiwork. A recent National Geographic broadcast, part of what is dubbed Expedition week, focused on what could be the only known documentary film ever made on this process. The procedure is shown as taking place in a village, rather than in the field, which has made some surmise that perhaps we might be dealing with a "re-enactment" of this event. I found it amazing to realize that the footage was considered rare, and unique, given that it was only made in the 1960s.
These two recent episodes of Amazon cultures making the headlines remind us that their world, just like ours, is always in transition. While we can deplore the disappearance of civilization and our lack of understanding of their past, those of us who work in museums can help document and thus preserve customs which are vanishing in front of our eyes. It may very well be that our treatment of the Kayapó in the exhibit will be overtaken by events and that our next write up or exhibit on these people will have to use the past tense when referring to them. Similarly, when we realize that the label "1960's – era" may imply rare and gone, it emphasizes the need to document what we see today. Museums need not only collect "really ancient stuff"; they should also do so with much more recent materials, indeed materials that may still be abundant today. Collecting such recent items has the additional benefit of being able to collect data on who made the items, when and where they were used, etc. One can only hope that later generations will appreciate our efforts in preserving a trace of cultures now long gone.
It appears that vanishing worlds continue to vanish in front of our own eyes.
Don't miss the chance to see our exhibit Spirits and Headhunters: Vanishing Worlds of the Amazon while it is on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. With over 100 objects of rare artwork and body costumes used in daily life and rituals and ceremonies, these beautiful pieces show the unique lifestyles of disappearing Amazonian tribes.


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Distribution of Alumni by Residence*
(as of 2004)
to Additional Facts and Figures links
Download a PDF
of this page (Adobe
Acrobat Reader Required).
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Flute World
America's #1 flute specialty house since 1983.
Kol Nidre By Max BruchArranged by Toby Caplan For Flute and Bassoon or CelloScore only - no parts includedAt the beginning of the 16th century, a hazzan or cantor in Germany composed this stirring tune which expresses fear, impassioned pleading and hope for ultimate deliverance. This plaintive and touching melody, adopted by the Ashkenazim throughout the world, is not used by Sehpardic and Asian Jews who recite Kol Nidre in the manner of a simple prayer. This version that has been adapted for flute duet is taken from the Max Bruch work, which was arranged in 1880 for cello and orchestra.


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Now that we're facing up close the reality of not having a 2nd round pick this year, how do you feel about the Gordon supplemental pick last year? With all our needs, it certainly will suck not having a 2nd round pick.
I believe most of us Browns fans liked the pick at the time. However, we have all been so starved for a WR and so frustrated that the Browns seemed to never address the need in the draft, that maybe our perception might have been skewed. I also believe that most non-Browns folks at the time didn't seem as positive about the value of that supplemental pick as we might have been.
I still am very good with the pick. I feel Gordon was a great grab for us and showed the potential to be a #1 receiver. He actually exceeded my expectations (of course, I am used to being let down by our draft picks, so my expectations aren't very high). The "bird in the hand" skills and game of Gordon seem to outweigh the unknown risk and value of any 2nd rounder that might be available.
1) You guys still good with having Gordon in hand and not having a 2nd round pick?
2) Where do you think Gordon would go in this years' draft?
3) Is there a QB that might be available in the 2nd round that you think is more valuable than Gordon to us?
4) Speaking of WRs, I think the Browns should look at more WRs somewhere in this draft. You?
It will be very interesting to see who will be available in the 2nd round when the Browns would have drafted.


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Gather round the campfire...
Games are meant to be played, but ever since Space Invaders introduced the idea of narrative scenarios, the digital medium has recognized its potential for storytelling. Over time the writing has improved, better graphics have allowed for more interesting techniques, and every now and then a game pushed the boundaries of just how mature a story could be. By this point gaming is undeniably a storytelling medium, and weve experienced some incredible stories in our history of gaming.
We went over the last 30-plus years of releases to find the best written stories of all time. These narratives made us feel, made us think, and kept us glued to the screen until we reached the resolution. These games all told stories that only could be possible in a video game, and if we want this medium to keep evolving, then this is the perfect time to celebrate them.
Prefer to watch the video? It's just below here!
25. Final Fantasy VI
JRPGs were ahead of the pack when it came to quality game writing, and while later Final Fantasy titles improved the graphics, the plot never got better than in the sixth entry. FFVI tells a sprawling tale about the death of magic at the hands of unethical progress, and it has one of the biggest ensemble casts this side of War & Peace. It allows players to see any of a dozen characters as a fulfilling lead, and all would work in that context.
Moments like an impromptu opera performance, the discovery of hidden lineage, or a heroic sacrifice are sprinkled throughout the game, but its the bad guy that really steals the show. Kefka is one of the most detestable villains weve ever met, and the script does an amazing job of building up the heartless bastard. If FFVI is actually Kefkas tale, then its a well told one indeed.
24. Fallout 2
Many fantastic RPGs spawned from the 1990s, but few of them dared tackle the mature themes presented in Fallout 2. Sure, by now you've seen the whole post-apocalyptic survival scenario a dozen times by now, but in 1998, that was still pretty new territory. As The Chosen One, a descendant of the Vault Dweller from Fallout 1, it was your duty to travel the Wasteland in hopes of saving your dying home village.
Along the way, you'd meet dozens of characters, and how you handled those interactions had rippling effects into each new town you'd visit. There were slavers to deal with, a rise in prostitution to quell (or to help grow, if that was your thing), and an out-of-control drug problem crippled some economies entirely. And then you had to worry about the survival of mankind and overthrowing the corrupt remnants of a shadowy government to boot. It's heavy stuff, and Fallout 2 remains one of the most grim virtual experiences out there--even if its pop culture references got a touch out of hand.
23. L.A. Noire
The noir genre is about tough men, dangerous women, and the grit of reality, and the same goes for L.A. Noire. Youre dropped into the gumshoes of Cole Phelps, a beat cop with career advancement on his mind. After solving a series of surprisingly brutal street crimes, Phelps moves up the ranks of the 1950s L.A.P.D., taking on cases that are solved more often with conversation than a shootout.
L.A. Noires writing shines brightest in the interrogation room, a place where Cole does his best to get the truth out of suspects. The acting and advanced facial animations do a lot of the work, but the characterization and the resonant dialogue keep up their end of the bargain as players try to decide guilt. Fighting crime isnt glamorous, but thanks to smart scripting, L.A. Noire found some beauty in that ordinary world.
22. Planescape Torment
How would being immortal alter one's perception of the world, of life, or, indeed, one's very nature? That's the question posed by Planescape: Torment, an oldschool RPG set in D&D's Planescape multiverse renowned for its storytelling. The Nameless One--your character--has suffered many lifetimes' worth of anguish, unable to piece together his past. Who is he? Where did he come from? Why can he not die? You'll encounter many interesting characters during your quest to answer these questions, some of whom you'll grow to love, while the viewpoints of others may very well conflict with your own philosophies.
Planescape isn't so much an RPG about dungeon crawling and looting as it is interacting with the world and its characters. Every discussion, no matter how small, can turn into a branching series of dialogue, and every choice--no matter how insignificant it may seem--can lead to gut-wrenching consequences. Planescape may be dated by today's standards, but to pass it up would be a huge disservice to one of the greatest interactive tales ever conceived.
21. Alan Wake
You would expect great storytelling from a game that stars a novelist, and Alan Wakes tale delivers on that front. Taking inspiration from the best of Stephen King and David Lynch, Alan Wake sends a troubled writer and his wife to the Pacific Northwest, searching for peace, but only finding horror. The game does a great job of make the naturalistic world feel alien while Alan searches for his lost wife, running into any number of damaged people looking to do him harm.
Like any good novelist, Alan takes symbolism seriously, as he uses light to battle the shadows that want to consume himboth literally and figuratively. It gets even more interesting when floating words become his enemies. The actual prose you find in the game is proof enough of the quality writing, as is the excellent episodic pacing of how the plot unfolds. Alans never sure whats real or not, but he knows he loves his wife, and that might be enough to see him through.
20. Braid
Memory is a sticky bastard. Devious and deceiving, it warps reality in ways that have the appearance of truth, but are anything but. In no context is memory less reliable than that of love--especially when that love's gone very, very wrong. So how can you relive the past in a way that reveals reality as it actually was? Well, it helps if an undeniable truth is staring you in the face. Enter Braid, a devious and deceiving puzzle platformer from game auteur Jonathan Blow.
Through its clever and innovative fast-forward and rewind play mechanics, Braid unwinds a tale of forlorn love, yearning, frustration, unfulfilled passion--a broken heart. But does it? In the end, the game executes a twist for the ages, revealing that in actually you--the protagonist, the hero, the beset man--you are actually a lousy asshole. The princess, your lady love, needs a white knight for protection from you. Rare is the game that creates a situation where you must correctly interpret a situation you actively want to deny. Only through acceptance can you take in Braid's message. It's a good lesson to learn, really.
19. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The intriguing world of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings takes you into a medieval fantasy that might not be what you'd expect from a land filled with elves, dwarves, and wizards. Non-humans are looked down upon, segregated, and abused by the human majority. Magic users are far from the Gandalf the Grey-type, instead acting as calculating, political schemers. Every decision you make in the game is morally grey, making your choices feel all the more realistic.
When the witcher gets framed for regicide, you must seek out the true killer to clear Geralt's name. Along the way, you'll hunt humongous monsters to earn extra cash, make deals with high-profile political figures, and even determine the course of an impending war. Branching story plots, character alliances, and the welfare of the local populations are greatly influenced by the choices you make, and will lead to completely different conclusions. Political intrigue, betrayals, and unexpected twists fill the plot, making the Witcher 2 a story that every gamer should experience.
18. Chrono Trigger
Its gutsy for a games story to spans millennium, let alone include a device as narratively troublesome as time travel, but Chrono Trigger makes it look easy. It starts simply at a town festival, but soon the unassuming Crono and his friends are thrown into a massive adventure where he makes friends with cavemen, cursed knights, and robots searching for humanity. And you find a way to connect to all of them.
The ever-shifting world Crono travels has much to teach about the human condition, showing that technology may change, but humans always have the same capacity for love, greed, devotion, hate, and honor no matter the era. And the storytellers knew when to create quiet moments to let the players get close enough to see some characters in a whole new light. Keeping tracks of timelines might be complicated, but the characters motivations never were.
17. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
GTA's rags-to-riches stories are always compelling, and San Andreas did it better than any of them. Over the course of the epic story, lead goes from a penniless thug to one of San Andreas' most respected citizens, ultimately becoming a wealthy mogul with a house in the game's equivalent of the Hollywood Hills. You might start out beating up thugs in a neglected Los Santos neighborhood, but by game's end you'll be hijacking VTOL jets off of aircraft carriers.
But what really drives the game's story is its characters. Carl, for all his gang-banging thuggery, is the most moral character the series has produced. Carl's buddies, gang leaders Wu Zi Mu and Cesar, are genuinely likable, and James Woods' acerbic Mike Toreno steals every scene he's in. Meanwhile, Tenpenny--voiced by Samuel L. Jackson--is so cartoonishly and irredeemably evil, it's impossible not to want to see him get his comeuppance in a wildly satisfying high-speed firefight at the very end.
16. Grim Fandango
Few video game plots confront the wild life changes that can occur in the span of four years. Fewer still can tie it all together with the same grace as Grim Fandango. It imagines the afterlife, called the Land of the Dead, as a purgatory not unlike our own world. It's got all the amenities of a 1940s, Noir-style metropolis, and has living skeletons working day jobs in place of people. Take our debonair protagonist Manny Calavera, for instance: He's a Grim Reaper that doubles as a travel agent, arranging the journey that fresh souls will take on their way to the peaceful Ninth Underworld.
Throughout your own four-year journey, you'll encounter a memorable cast of heroes and villains alike, all of whom will irrevocably impact Manny's passage through the Land of the Dead. Classic Noir tropes are everywhere--the femme fatale, the gaudy crime lord, the fact that smoking is the national pastime. But Grim Fandango also offers an originality all its own, blending Aztec mythology and Mexican culture into its gritty, art deco cityscape.
15. Hotline Miami
Who says ultra-violent video games can't have captivating stories? Hotline Miami gives purpose to all its gory mobster killing by taking us down an acid-soaked rabbit hole, all seen through the hazy eyes of our silent, unnamed protagonist (who fans have named Jacket, thanks to his trademark varsity duds). Jacket's day-to-day in 1989 Miami involves waking up, checking his answering machine to hear cryptic messages, then driving to shady mob hangouts to murder everyone in sight. And oh yeah--he always dons an animal mask before the killing starts.
Hotline Miami's plot thickens as you start to lose your grip on reality, eventually reaching a psychedelic viscosity akin to a cocaine-and-blood-based batter. Jacket's plagued by visions and nightmares, unsure if the instructions he's receiving are even real or who might be manipulating him. And even after the credits roll, the story's not over--not by a long shot.
14. Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic
With power hungry Sith Lords, rag-tag group of heros, and a bucket-of-bolts spacecraft, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has all of the elements to build an immersive Star Wars experience. But what bumps the game's story to one of the best in video games is its ability to suck you into the new environment, allow you to explore rewarding backstories of the fascinating side characters, and surprise you with twists that rival the "I am your father" moments of the movie trilogy.
As an average crewman in the Republic Fleet, you're tasked with finding the captured Jedi VIP, Bastila Shan, on the city-planet of Taris, which launches you on a quest that spans the galaxy. You'll visit Luke Skywalker's home planet Tatooine, the Wookie planet Kashyyyk, the Sith planet Korriban, and other locales that take you deeper into the Star Wars lore than any movie or game has ever done before. Bioware's classic definitely deserves a spot as one of the best video game stories of all time.
13. Spec Ops: The Line
Military shooters don't often rank high on the narrative front, usually favoring gung-ho G.I. Joe antics and flag waving over character development. And, at first, Spec Ops: The Line falls right in line with that stereotype--you take control of Walker, a soldier sent into a sandstorm-ruined Dubai to find a missing general. But as time goes on it becomes more and more obvious that there's something more devious afoot, and the shooter's story transforms from run-of-the-mill to one-of-a-kind.
What unfolds is a damning criticism of shooters themselves, questioning everything that gamers have grown accustom to. Walker's journey sends him marching into the nucleus of the genre, playing with the storytelling in ways no other game has. By the end you might feel anger or sadness, but the important thing is that you'll feel something, and that's pretty rare in military shooters.
12. Assassin's Creed 2
How often does a games story its actual, core narrative hold your attention for 25 hours? Assassins Creed 2, which tells the life-story of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, is one of those rare games. It confidently introduces you to the cheeky Italian when hes a young man, scrapping in the street and climbing into his girlfriends bed via the balcony. Then it shatters his world, leaving you to rebuild and revenge over the course of a life, all within the beautiful surroundings of Renaissance Italy.
The fact that it takes place in a computer simulation (based on historical memory) adds a delicious extra layer to the plot, and provides handy background information on pretty much everything in the game. The sci-fi ending and hidden video leaves you with a simultaneous feeling of insignificance (the purpose of Ezios entire life was to deliver a single message) and awe at the potential for the series overarching plot. Which Ubisoft then over-complicate in subsequent games. Ho hum.
11. BioShock Infinite
After taking gaming subject matter to new heights, game creator Ken Levines next title after BioShock had huge expectations, all of which BioShock Infinite was prepared to meet. The impossibly floating world of Columbia is a cutting critique on the perils of American exceptionalism, but Booker DeWitt is only after Elizabeth, the special girl he must abduct if he wants to be free of his debt. However, just as the Infinite in the title implies, the plot is far bigger than that.
Infinite approaches so many important subjects--racism, socialism, colonialismbut in the end it all comes back the demons in Bookers past. Like monstrous Songbird and the comical Lutece twins, Bookers choices come back to haunt him again and again, but Elizabeths reality warping powers might finally give him the chance to make things right. BioShock was about choice, Infinite was about fate, and both gave us a lot to think about when they were over.
10. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Metal Gear games have often been trailblazers when it comes to writing in games, but many of the franchises best scripts are complicated by copious twists and conspiracies. Metal Gear Solid 3 sidesteps all that by going to the sagas start, which makes Snakes story far more personal this time around. MGS3 still had the type of betrayals and shocking reveals youd expect from a James Bond-infused, Cold War setting, but those moments worked on a human level.
Not to say MGS3 didnt take on heady subjects like the nature of war, loyalty, and duty. The plot addressed all those things without getting bogged down in sci-fi B.S. like nanomachines. And the emotionally resonant script made room for some of the best boss characters and action setpieces MGS ever had. Its all built around the complex relationship of Naked Snake and Boss, one of the strongest weve seen in gaming, which we salute as proudly as Snake does at the games close.
9. Mass Effect 2
Assemble a rag-tag crew, achieve the impossible, save the galaxy. Its hardly original sci-fi, nor is it particularly smart, but Mass Effect 2 taps into one of the all time classic adventure stories: uneasy allies versus overwhelming odds. Its Kurosawas Seven Samurai played out in space, replacing the bandits with ancient, titanic machines. Its every bit as punch-the-air satisfying when Shepard and friends smash through the games suicide mission climax.
Few other games make you feel so close to the supporting cast, either. Each crew member has a deep back-story, and most ask you to make complex decisions to help them out, potentially souring your friendship with another character. When/if you lose one of them during the suicide mission you feel genuine remorse--a great indicator that Mass Effect 2s story has left a lasting impression on you.
8. To The Moon
To the Moon proves that a game doesn't need convincing voice acting, fancy polygons, and an orchestral score to make grown men cry. The score did help though, but the sad notes are a heartbreaking reminder of the tale about a dying man with one last wish: to go to the moon. The story follows two doctors who are trying to fulfill the Johnny's wish using technology that creates artificial permanent memories. In order to do so, they need to hop through his memories and implant the desire to go to the moon in his childhood so that he creates a new life in his mind.
Along the way we learn about River, his now deceased wife, and it's hard not to get teary-eyed when the doctors go through their happy memories together. Or, if you want to be sadder sooner, just listen to this.
7. Portal 2
After Portal's brilliant, minimalist narrative introduced gamers to the silent Chell and the decidedly less silent GLaDOS, Valve had its work cut out for it. How could a stunning short story be followed up with a full, retail release? Could new characters really stand toe-to-toe with GLaDOS? The answer, astoundingly, was yes. All of the new characters added character to the world, from the curious Wheatley to the amazingly charismatic Cave Johnson.
We were worried at first that we'd seen all there was to see from Aperture, but that simply wasn't true. Exploring the depths of the facility introduced us to new bits of lore, fleshing out the most important character in the series: the facility itself. Learning Aperture's backstory and finding out about GLaDOS's history was surprisingly touching. Chell's story, too, ended up concluding well, turning the relatively quaint story of the original into a saga as epic as nearly any other.
6. Red Dead Redemption
Some of the greatest film Westerns deal with the death of the Old West, and Red Dead Redemption strikes gold exploring that subject. Protagonist John Marston is a man out of time. He wants a steady home life, but is pushed back into the saddle by government agents that hate his outlaw past. Marston has to hunt down his old posse of bandits, effectively killing off the last remnants of the era that defined him.
And its not just Marston and his former friends that have trouble transitioning into the 20th century. Over and over John meets individuals coming to terms with the end of the West, whether happily or through gritted teeth. Marston himself wants to leave his past behind despite being so good with his revolver, which makes him easier to connect with than every previous Rockstar hero. The ultimate question is: will the world allow him the happy ending he deserves?
5. Persona 4
Persona 4s greatest strength comes from pacing. The life of the protagonist plays out one day at a time for an entire year in the quiet town of Inaba. You dig deep into a murder mystery while also attending high school, working part time jobs, and (most importantly) bonding with your new friends. You may enter a shadowy world of dungeons and monsters, but you become so attached to your new friends that a small moment in the park with one of them has more impact than most boss battle.
Persona 4s tale takes more than 80 hours to experience, but it never feels drawn out as every day is a new chance to get closer to your friends. Characters like Teddy, Kanji, and Chie are well-defined by scenes that shift between comedy and drama fluidly, and you express your unique feelings for them through the expansive dialogue choices. When the story reaches its satisfying climax, you feel like youve gone through a life-changing ordeal with your best friends. When the game ultimately ends, its hard not to shed tears for all youre saying goodbye to.
4. The Last of Us
Where most tales of this type are made of good guys, bad guys, heroic challenges and redemptive resolutions, The Last of Us has none of these things. Instead, it has reality. Protagonist Joel is no hero. Neither are his friends. No one at the start of the game is even particularly likeable. Theyre just broken people trying to survive a broken world by any means necessary. The eventual change in Joel is a gradual one, forged by the immaculately subtle evolution of his relationship with Ellie, as well as the various pockets of humanity and brutality (both of which are experienced in uncompromising extremes) discovered along their journey.
Through delicate, fragile interactions with each other, most often subtly supported by gameplay, both characters change and evolve almost imperceptibly, they and their relationship becoming completely unrecognisable by the end of the game. Their story comes with no clean morality or neat solutions. But that is exactly why youll care, and ultimate be more affected by The Last of Us than any other action game. Epic, apocalyptic scenario, small, intimate human story. Thats why it works, and thats why it will stay with you.
3. The Walking Dead
An intense, emotional ride until the very end, The Walking Dead was our game of the year in 2012 because of its gut-wrenching story. Lee Everett, a man on his way to prison, plays the unlikely hero who stumbles upon Clementine, a young girl whose parents were vacationing in another city when the zombie apocalypse happened. Their unexpected journey takes them to Savannah, where her parents should be, and along the way you meet a cast of characters that you grow to love (or hate with a burning passion). It's okay though, because there are instances when your choices affect their chances of staying in your group.
The game's strengths are its dialogue and character development, and it's impossible not to feel sad, guilty, or angry whenever Clementine witnesses or experiences anything horrible. It's a given that when the dead start walking that there will be gruesome scenes, but the pacing, the execution of each scenario made The Walking Dead stand out.
2. BioShock
Would you kindly... recognize Irrational Games' BioShock as the second best story to be found in games? Ha, that's a trick. You've actually had your free will stripped by Andrew Ryan, mastermind of the utopian-cum-dystopian underwater city Rapture, so yes, you certainly will recognize the greatness of BioShock. This is a very exciting day, for you. Released in 2007, BioShock reoriented the conversation of whether games could achieve a higher purpose beyond headshots, warlocks, and Italian plumbers-- yes, games have artistic merit.
The game did so through its repurposing of Ayn Rand's objectivist allegory, Atlas Shrugged. However, whereas Rand's diatribe against socialism leads to a perfect world built by the perfect man, John Galt, game director Ken Levine unspooled a tale that lays bear the hubris of Man. Andrew Ryan, in believing that he had found The Way, in actuality created a society fueled by hedonistic vanity, unchecked ambition, and extreme moral ambiguity. It was delicious in its depravity, and the utter corruption of the city was revealed beautifully through innovative narrative devices, such as the audio-logs strewn about levels. Yes, BioShock's ending felt too predictable, but the game's ultimate contribution to game stories can not be denied.
1. Silent Hill 2
Theres a sinister genius to the story-telling in Silent Hill 2. It starts off as a mysterious love story--James Sunderland is searching for his wife after receiving a letter from her one year after her death--and ends up as something far darker and more complex.
Silent Hill 2 tells its intricate story on multiple levels. While its spoken narrative leaves you in little doubt about what kind of man James Sunderland is, the way you play and interact with the world also has a bearing. Spend the game at half health (or lower) for example, and youll get a different ending because your lack of regard for his health tells the game that you think James is suicidal. Symbolism also plays a big role--every disgusting creature in the game is a manifestation of James twisted psyche; physical representations of his sexual hang-ups and guilt. By the end, youll have lost every shred of empathy you had with the games protagonist--how many modern games are ballsy enough to let you play as the real monster?
Think you can write something better?
Those are our picks for the best stories in gaming history, and we're sure you couldn't possibly disagree with them. So if you'd like to tell us how right all our choices were, let us know in the comments below!
And if you're looking for more gaming greatness, check out our list of the 100 best games ever and the 100 best game quotes of all time.


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As a kindergarten teacher, I feel it is my job to get parents involved with their child's education and school community. My thinking behind this is that if I can get them to be involved with their child's first years of school, they will continue involved throughout their child's educational career. The big question is, how do we get them involved?
When I first started teaching, most of my students had stay-at-home moms. These moms would volunteer each week in the classroom, helping at centers or doing prep work. Times, however, have changed, and most families don't have stay-at-home moms. In fact, many parents are working more than one job, and so finding time to help isn't as easy as it used to be. I have found that most parents genuinely want to help, but either they don't feel they have the time or they feel that they lack the skills needed to assist and work in the classroom.
So, I use back-to-school night to pitch the many ways to contribute to those parents who are able. First, I send home a helper calendar and parent helper information sheet. I use the information sheet to find out when they are available and how they would like to help. Some parents want to work with children in center groups; others are more comfortable with the tedious prep work that consumes the life of a kindergarten teacher.
Below are examples of ways parents help on a daily basis in my room.
Take Home Helper — Students take the helper envelope home and return it by a specified date. These envelopes contain prep work such as papers to collate and staple, laminates to be cut apart, workbooks to tear apart, or books to make. Tape or glue a sheet on the outside where you can specify the return date. HINT: Laminate the envelopes for durability.
Homework Helper — As students arrive, parents take the homework out of the folder, put the new homework in, and make a record on the homework chart. (Estimated time: 10-15 minutes)
Book Bags — On Fridays, collect the book bags, check them in and then check them out to the students for the following Monday. (Estimated time: 20 minutes)
Morning Reading Time — Parents stay the first 10–15 minutes of the day and read books to children. You could also have them review students with flash cards for numbers, letters, and sight words. (Estimated time: 10–15 minutes)
File Papers — Parents file student work Into student folders.
Make Copies — Take the "To Be Copied" folder to the copy room and run as specified. (Estimated time: 10 minutes)
Centers — Work with small groups of students during language arts or math center time.
Snack/Lunchtime Recess — We have several parents who find time to come during their child's snack or lunchtime and help to get kids through the lunch lines, open milks, and clean up spills.
End of the Day Reading Time — Same idea as with morning time, but during the last 15 minutes of the day.
Pack and Stack Time — Parents come in and help kids get ready to go, pack backpacks, stack chairs, clean up supplies, and sharpen pencils. (Estimated time: 10 minutes)
Although times have changed and the room-moms of yesteryear are scarcer than before there are parents who still want to help. It is our job to find a way for them to make a valuable contribution to the education of their child, the classroom, and the school.
TM ® & © 2017 Scholastic Inc.
All Rights Reserved


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Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes
- 1/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
- 16 fluid ounces Hershey's chocolate syrup
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
- For the ganache:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces good semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
DirectionsWatch how to make this recipe.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time. Mix in the chocolate syrup and vanilla. Add the flour and coffee granules and mix until just combined. Don't overbeat, or the cupcakes will be tough.
Scoop the batter into the muffin cups and bake for 30 minutes, or until just set in the middle. Don't overbake! Let cool thoroughly in the muffin pan.
For the ganache, cook the heavy cream, chocolate chips, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.
Dip the tops of the cupcakes into the ganache. Do not refrigerate.
2008, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved
Cooking Tips
More Recipes and Ideas
Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes
Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes
Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten


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Dark Cherry Bundt CakeCherries and almond extract pair beautifully in this delectable cake. Yogurt adds subtle flavor and helps keep cake moist. Serves: 12Preparation time: 45 minutesCook time: 3 hours (including 1-1/2 hours cooling time)IngredientsFor cherry filling:1/4 cup sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 3 cups fresh or frozen dark sweet cherries, pitted and coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons kirsch, or orange juice 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest 1/4 teaspoon almond extract For cake:1-2/3 cups cake flour 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar 3 tablespoons butter, slightly softened 3 tablespoons canola oil 1-1/4 cups nonfat vanilla or lemon yogurt 2 large eggs 2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon almond extract 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar, for garnish Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Very generously coat a 10-inch Bundt or tube pan with cooking spray. Dust pan with flour, tapping out excess. To prepare cherry filling: 1. Combine sugar and cornstarch in medium nonreactive saucepan. Stir in cherries, kirsch (or orange juice), lemon zest and almond extract. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture looks like very thick jam and has reduced to about 1 cup, 5-7 minutes. To prepare cake:1. Sift cake flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Beat sugar, butter and oil in large bowl with electric mixer on low, then medium speed, until very light and fluffy, about 1-1/2 minutes, scraping sides as needed. Add half of yogurt and beat until very smooth. With mixer on low speed, beat in half of dry ingredients until incorporated. Beat in remaining yogurt, eggs, vanilla and almond extract until combined, scraping sides as needed. Stir in remaining dry ingredients just until incorporated. 2. Spoon a generous half of batter into prepared pan, spreading to edges. Spoon cherry mixture over batter. Top with remaining batter. Grease a butter knife and swirl it vertically through batter and cherries. 3. Bake cake until toothpick inserted in thickest part comes out with no crumbs clinging to it and top springs back when lightly pressed, 50-65 minutes. (Dark-colored metal pans usually bake cakes faster than light-colored or shiny metal pans.) Transfer pan to wire rack and let stand until cake is completely cooled, about 1-1/2 hours. Very carefully run a knife around edges and center tube to loosen cake from sides and bottom. Rap pan sharply against the counter several times to loosen completely. Invert pan onto serving plate and slide cake out. Dust top with confectioners' sugar before serving.Enjoy!Nutrition FactsPer serving: 312 calories 8 g fat (3 g sat, 3 g mono) 43 mg cholesterol 56 g carbohydrates 5 g protein 2 g fiber 294 mg sodium 182 mg potassiumNutrition Bonus: folate (15% Daily Value)
Savory Carrot & Tarragon TartThe bright orange carrots in this savory tart are a feast for the eyes and palate. Tarragon lends bold flavor. Other herbs, such as thyme or rosemary, would be delicious too.Serves: 8Preparation time: 45 minutesCook time: 1-3/4 hoursIngredientsFor crust:1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour 1-1/2 teaspoons fresh tarragon leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive or canola oil 1/4 cup low-fat plain yogurtFor filling:2 tablespoons extra virgin olive or canola oil 1 cup thinly sliced red onion 1-1/2 cups grated carrots 2 tablespoons dry sherry or rice vinegar, divided 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt 1/2 cup low-fat milk 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh tarragon, or 3/4 teaspoon dried 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. To prepare crust: 1. Coat a 9- to 10-inch tart pan with cooking spray. Place all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, tarragon and 1/2 teaspoon salt in food processor; pulse to combine. Add butter one piece at a time, pulsing once or twice after each addition, until incorporated. Add 1/4 cup oil and 1/4 cup yogurt and pulse just until dough starts to come together. Transfer dough to prepared pan (it will be crumbly), spread evenly and press firmly into bottom and all the way up sides to form a crust. 2. Bake crust until set but not browned, about 15 minutes. Let cool on wire rack. To prepare filling: 1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in carrots and 1 tablespoon sherry (or rice vinegar) and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. 2. Spread mustard over crust. Sprinkle with Cheddar, then evenly spread carrot mixture in tart shell. 3. Whisk 1/2 cup yogurt, milk, eggs, tarragon, remaining 1 tablespoon sherry (or rice vinegar), 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in medium bowl. Place tart pan on baking sheet and pour in filling. 4. Bake tart until filling is firm and edges are golden brown, 40-45 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or chilled.Enjoy!Nutrition FactsPer serving: 304 calories 20 g fat (7 g sat, 9 g mono) 75 mg cholesterol 24 g carbohydrates 8 g protein 2 g fiber 403 mg sodium 211 mg potassiumNutrition Bonus: vitamin A (80% Daily Value), calcium (16% DV)What's Your Yogurt IQ?Yogurt is popular around the world. Indians eat raita, Greeks love tzatziki, Arabic countries nosh on labneh. And whether plain, topped with granola or fruit-laden, Americans enjoy their yogurt for breakfast, an afternoon snack, even dessert. But how much do you know about this versatile food? Take our yogurt quiz to find out.Check out Health Bistro for more healthy food for thought. See what Lifescript editors are talking about and get the skinny on latest news. Share it with your friends (it's free to sign up!), and bookmark it so you don't miss a single juicy post!Talk to us on Facebook and Twitter!


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About the Author: Jennifer McCabe serves as Canadian Public Affairs Assistant at U.S. Embassy Ottawa.
Today we're celebrating Thanksgiving in Canada -- a holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season. Across most of Canada, the fall foliage is now at its magnificent peak; and as we look around at the beauty of this nation, we see much to be thankful for. The second Monday in October is when Thanksgiving is officially observed; however, people generally get together for their Thanksgiving meal on any one of the three days of this three-day holiday weekend. Most families in Canada celebrate Thanksgiving with a special dinner with family and friends. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner usually includes a roasted turkey and pumpkin pie. In this nation, where many Canadians are "New Canadians" or immigrants, we're seeing traditional turkey dinner side dishes spiced up with ginger, cumin, plantains and a mosaic of other new foods. Happy Harvest, and Happy Thanksgiving to all in Canada!
Erik C. in Canada writes:
Certainly a majority of families celebrate thanks giving, however, "most" is an exaggeration.
You see, French Canadians, especially in Quebec, generally don't celebrate Thanksgiving (or l'Action de Grâce) with a special supper . I'm not sure why, but they just don't.
Worse, here in New Brunswick, it isn't even a paid day off (although stores are closed)!
Yes, I have to work today. Regular pay and not happy.
M.C. in Maryland writes:
Happy Thanksgiving!
Soon enough it will be that time here in the states. I cant get enough of the fall weather and the changing of the leaves.
Great post!!
Palgye in South Korea writes:
Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!
Me too,
"www.brinks.co.kr" Chicago ointment around the world to provide transportation services to the valuable U.S. companies. However, once you obtain the truck driver tried to take that has been eliminated. I have to admit I forgot my situation. Nothing to do with the U.S. company to hear the story of a company official ...
BUT, G20 meeting in Seoul, while supporting a volunteer to help, but not even need the money, or intervention, and saw the news today, is already starting to broadcast the training and said he proudly said, hung up, asked the degree of ability to quench Have not you're on the go?
came here to bother whether the story was going to be. And, as here, to visit South Korea as a sinner in a rambling country is living the life of a fugitive, I do not know why. If you run treason would not live this life. Not able to attend the conference to protest outside the ouster movement and I'll have to join.
Personal hope is that this is the second, first and give my eyes to avoid, but the response to this request, my desire to get rid of all the knock.
South Korea, disagreements you do business or government?
If you have a complaint with the U.S. government came to me why I do express their anger to me? I was looking all around the world, I'm what?
I do not settle in one place, it keeps watching me and I think that the forces of torturing. It's murder on the level of harassment and surveillance from the description what should I do? "Boule de Suif" This reminds me of the novel. Then their own greed and disdain for the purpose of sacrificing ... want to exile, anywhere.


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Minnesota Swarm Re-Sign Eight Returners
from Press Release
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm today re-signed eight players for the upcoming 2014 season. Signing two-year contracts included reigning NLL Transition Player of the Year Jordan MacIntosh, F Shayne Jackson, T David Earl, D Alex Crepinsek and F Josh Gillam. Transition players Tyler Hass, Brock Sorensen,and Greg Downing all inked one-year deals.
MacIntosh, 24, is set to return to The Hive after a dominant sophomore campaign in 2013, where he took home both First-Team All-Pro and Transition Player of the Year honors. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder from Oakville, Ontario netted 55 points (27g, 28a) in 16 games last season, which slotted him fifth best on the Swarm roster and second most among all NLL transition players. MacIntosh also set single-season franchise records for loose balls (197) and faceoffs won (241). A graduate of RIT, MacIntosh was drafted fourth overall in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft, and has scored 106 total points (50g, 56a) in 32 career games.
"Jordan brings so much to the table offensively, as a transition player, on the power play, and with his ability to win faceoffs," Swarm associate general manager and head coach Joe Sullivan said. "He's getting better and better every year. The challenge that I'd put to Jordan is consistency. We need him to do those things in the big games to win more of those one-goal games. He's got the ability to do it or I wouldn't challenge him to do so."
Jackson, 23, is coming off an illustrious rookie season with the Swarm, which saw him set a franchise record for points scored by a rookie with 63 (24g, 39a), as well as earn a spot on the 2013 NLL All-Rookie Team. His 39 helpers led all NLL rookies and his 24 goals put him at a tie for third among rookies. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound forward notched a career-high seven points, and set a franchise record with four goals in his playoff debut against Toronto on April 28.
"Shayne is a guy who proved himself in his first year," Sullivan said. "He did it quietly, through hard work and studying game film. I would expect nothing less from Shayne being the type of competitor that he is to want to do more and achieve more, and set some goals like reaching the Champion's Cup in 2014."
Earl, 26, is coming off a breakout season with the Swarm in 2013, which saw him post career-highs across the board in points (15), goals (8), assists (7) and loose balls (102). The speedy transition player ranked 10th in the NLL in loose balls during his sophomore campaign and was among the Swarm's leaders in forced turnovers with 14.
"It's great to have consistency, and David brings that every game," Sullivan said. "If David continues to get better, he's going to be a great player in this league for a long time. He's excited to be here for the next two years, and we expect to see him put up solid numbers defensively again this season."
Crepinsek, 24, is entering his second season with the Swarm after a successful rookie campaign. Measuring in at 5-foot-11 and 185-pounds, the right-hander played in all 16 regular season contests last season, putting up eight points (3g, 5a) and corralling 51 loose balls. The Oakville, Ontario native out of the Rochester Institute of Technology was selected in the first round (10thoverall) in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft.
"We had the luxury last year of allowing a player like Alex to get his feet underneath him, and he got better and better as the year went on," Sullivan said. "The expectation for him is no different than any other guy in their second year, and that's to be better and more consistent. We need his A-game each and every night, which he has committed to me that he will do."
Gillam, 25, will enter his first full season with the Swarm in 2014; Gillam joined the team during the midseason point for the past two years due to his commitments as a professional hockey player. In six games last year, the Peterborough, Ontario native posted 19 points (4g, 15a) and appeared in both of the Swarm's postseason contests. This past summer, Gillam played a full season with the MSL's Peterborough Lakers and finished Top 10 in the league in scoring with 65 points (28g, 37a).
"We asked Josh to put on some size in the offseason, and he did that," Sullivan said. "He's now 100-percent committed to Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse. He brings a ton of energy and has a great enthusiasm for the game. He had a tremendous summer with Lakers and I would say that Josh has the biggest immediate upside on our roster heading into this season."
Hass, 28, is entering his fourth season with the Swarm after registering 12 points (8g, 4a) in 2013, playing in 15 games. The gritty right-hander from Victoria, British Columbia also racked up 71 loose balls and notched an overtime game-winning goal at The Hive against Toronto last February. Measuring in at a towering at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, the University of Victoria product was drafted by Minnesota in 2006.
"Tyler is a great leader on and off the floor, and is second to none in transition." Sullivan said. "He's a shut-down type guy that frustrates a lot of opponents. We're striving for a Champion's Cup this year and Tyler is one of the guys that would tell you that he will accept nothing less than exactly that."
Sorenson, 24, returns after playing in all 16 regular season games as a rookie last year. The massive 6-foot-6, 220-pound left-hander notched 11 points (6g, 5a), while picking up an additional two assists in the Swarm's two playoff games. The Peterborough, Ontario native played his college career at Ohio State, alongside 2013 Swarm draftees F Logan Schuss (first overall), and D Dominique Alexander (39th overall). Sorenson was selected second-overall in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft.
"Brock was coming off a knee injury going into the start of the 2013 season, and I think it slowed his ability to get better," Sullivan said. "I know him very well, and his makeup is to get better. He admittedly said that last year was a bit of disappointment for him, so look for Brock to be an outstanding player right from the get-go. I know Brock has it in him to be a great player, and he knows that, so I'm really excited about him this year."
Downing, 28, returns to The Hive as one of the more experienced players on the roster, embarking on his sixth season in the NLL. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-hander scored seven points (1g, 8a) and 72 loose balls in 16 regular season games in 2013. In his career, Downing has notched 377 loose balls and 43 points over 69 total games with Minnesota and Boston.
"Greg has a calming effect out on the floor," Sullivan said. "He only really speaks when he feels the need to get his point across and that is well respected throughout our room. He's a great defender, a good person and a guy that we want to rally around. With guys like that in our room, it will help our coaching staff create a better atmosphere for this young team to grow."
All contracts are currently pending league approval.
The Swarm will open their first weekend of main camp on Friday, Nov. 29 and will practice until Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario. The team is set to return to Oakville for two additional main camp sessions from Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15.
In 2014, the Swarm will be celebrating their 10th season of professional box lacrosse in the NLL and will kickoff the regular season on the road against the defending NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 28.
Minnesota will make its home debut at The Hive celebrating Native American Heritage Night Sunday, Jan. 19 during a 2 p.m. matchup against the Philadelphia Wings at Xcel Energy Center.
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I've just heard Twin Freaks for the first time......and i find it interesting.
The stand out track for me is Coming Up...I think its absolutley fantasic.
I did notice that it's not the same bassline as in the original... which i thought was brave cause the original is such a classic bassline.
Anybody have an idea where this great new bassline came from?
Did it come from another Macca tune?
Did Macca come up with it just for this album?