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International Journal of Photoenergy
Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 283872, 6 pages
The Compromise Condition for High Performance of the Single Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells
1Department of Energy Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
2College of Science, Faculty of Materials Science, Vietnam National University, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, Hochiminh, Vietnam
3School of Information and Communication Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea
Received 31 August 2011; Revised 14 November 2011; Accepted 14 November 2011
Academic Editor: C. W. Lan
Copyright © 2012 Youngseok Lee et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
For optimum performance of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon (a-Si : H/c-Si) heterojunction solar cells, featuring a doping concentration, localized states, as well as thickness of emitter layer are crucial, since Fermi level, surface passivated quality, and light absorption have to be compromised themselves. For this purpose, the effect of both doping concentration and thickness of emitter layer was investigated. It was found that with gas phase doping concentration and emitter layer thickness of 3% and 7 nm, solar cell efficiency in excess of 14.6% can be achieved. For high gas phase doping concentration, the degradation of open-circuit voltage as well as cell efficiency was obtained due to the higher disorder in the emitter layer. The heavily doped along with thicker in thickness of emitter layer results in light absorption on short wavelength, then diminishing short-circuit current density.
1. Introduction
Heterojunction solar cells consisting of crystalline silicon (c-Si) and hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si : H) offer a low cost and high efficiency energy conversion alternative to conventional crystalline silicon solar cells. Compared to conventional silicon solar cells with diffused n/p junction and back surface field layers (BSF), noteworthy cost reduction can be obtained due to a completely low temperature (~200°C) formation process for both the n/p junction and BSF layer using hydrogenated amorphous silicon technology. Presently, Sanyo's heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) solar cells showed the world record efficiency of 23% for double-junction structure [1]. However, for the single-junction HIT solar cell fabricated on polished wafers has reported approximately 13 ~ 14% efficiency [2–6], in which the open-circuit voltage () did not exceed 580 mV, and the fill factor 74% could be obtained. Beside Sanyo, most research groups have been working on single-junction HIT solar cell using p-type c-Si as a base substrate.
When using a-Si : H and c-Si for junction formation, there are different aspects to be taken into account. Firstly to obtain high open circuit voltage () and thus efficiency, the Fermi level in the emitter layer should be as close as to the nearest band as possible, which means that doping concentration is as high as it could be. The high doping concentration, nevertheless, also results in the high defect density in the films and leads to enhanced surface recombination [4]. The preferred doping concentration of emitter for HIT solar cell performance is still a matter of discussion. Sanyo's group has held world record efficiency of 23%, despite of, the limitation outside of Sanyo because of improper deposition condition such as doping concentration and so on. E. Conrad et al. suggested an optimal doping concentration (B2H6/SiH4) of around 2000–3000 ppm [7]. Using simulation, N. Hernández-Como et al. proposed that the efficiency increases with increasing emitter doping concentration. Above a concentration of (cm−3), the solar cell efficiency reaches its saturation value [8].
Also the emitter thickness variation could determine the short-circuit current as well as built-in potential in case of very thin layer of a-Si : H(p). On raising the emitter thickness, a-Si : H(p) layer incorporated into solar cells acts as a "dead layer" and no electrons generated within the emitter layer are extracted due to intense carrier recombination within the defect emitter layer [9]. Reports on the optimum conditions varied in the literature and they can be classified roughly into two groups. Most research groups argue that 4 ~ 5 nm is thick enough for good device performances [1, 9]. While, emitter thickness of around 15 nm is mentioned to be thin enough by another [10]. In this paper, the compromise conditions for doping concentration, as well as the thickness of emitter layer, were investigated to set up a baseline for single p/n heterojunction solar cells.
2. Experiment
The commercial Czochralski-grown (CZ) c-Si(n) substrate with <100> orientation, resistivity of 1–10 Ω·cm, and 525 μm thickness has been used to fabricate the HIT solar cells. The crystalline Si substrates were treated by a sequence consisting of acetone/methanol/DIW cleaning, RCA cleaning. Native oxide was removed by a 1 min. dip in 1% hydrofluoric acid right before a-Si : H deposition. To change the doping concentration of the a-Si : H emitter, the gas phase doping concentration, B2H6/SiH4, was varied in range of 2 to 10%, while the thickness of the a-Si : H emitter was fixed at nm. For the emitter thickness variation set, the gas phase doping concentration was 3%, the optimization condition in previous set, while emitter thickness varied in range of 3–15 nm. For the transparent conductive oxide (TCO), Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) thin film was deposited by rf magnetron sputtering at a substrate temperature of 200°C with thickness of about nm, followed by the deposition of silver/aluminum finger as the emitter contacts. Aluminum was evaporated on backside to create a good ohmic contact prior to area defining with mesa etching.
As confirmed previously [11], the a-Si : H(p) layer thickness controlled by spectroscopy ellipsometry (SE) shows excellent agreement with one evaluated from transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hence, ellipsometry spectra () were collected using a rotating-compensator instrument (J. A. Woollam, HR-190) in this study. For the analysis, we used an optical model consisting of ambient/surface roughness layer (a-Si : H(p))/bulk layer (a-Si : H(p))/SiO2/substrate (n-type c-Si), as shown in Figure 1. The dielectric function of the surface roughness layer was modeled as a 50/50 vol.% mix bulk layer material and voids [12]. The dielectric function of the a-Si : H(p) layer was modeled by the Tauc-Larentz (TL) model [12], which is expressed by where is the peak transition energy, is the energy gap, and is a broadening parameter, which can be related to the degree of disorder in the material. A is proportional to the height of imaginary part of the dielectric function. The parameters of the dielectric function, the thickness of the films, and their roughness are obtained by analysis of the spectra using TL model. The values of the various parameters are reported in Table 1. To determine hetero-interface quality, the minority carrier lifetime () was measured by the quasi-steady-state photoconductance (QSSPC) method, using a commercial WCT-120 photoconductance setup from Sinton Consulting. The electrical characteristics and activation energy were studied using the coplanar method with a programmable Keithley 617 electrometer using the samples grown on the glasses. The optical transmittance was measured in the wavelength range of 300–1200 nm using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements of heterojunction solar cells were performed by using xenon lamp, a monochromator, and optical filters to filter out the high orders with a light probe beam impinging normal on the sample. The solar cells were characterized by current-voltage measurement under AM1.5 conditions at 25°C.
3. Results and Discussion
From Figure 2, it is observed that the decreases rapidly when ( = [B2H6]/[SiH4]) is increased from 2% to 3% and then it seems to saturate with further increase. As evidence from Figure 2(a), the minimum is obtained for = 10% and thus the best device performance should be obtained using this gas phase doping concentration. However, contrary to our expectations, the highest performance of device is observed for = 3%. The efficiency decreases for both higher and lower gas phase doping concentration. A similar variation is also observed for short-circuit current density (). The increases to a value of around 590 mV with the increasing in of 3% and then seems to linearly shrink for further increase of increases.
Figure 3 summarizes the degree of disorder (C) in a-Si:H(p) and minority carrier lifetime () of a-Si:H(p) deposited on c-Si(n) as a function of gas phase doping concentration of emitter layer. It is note that the value is obtained from a well fit of the dielectric function of a-Si:H(p) using Tauc-Lorentz model, as discussing in the experimental part. It is clear that the trend of and displays a contrary direction and hence this also could be the reason for the reducing of when is increased. As reported by R. A. Street, substitutional doping of a-Si : H(p) leads to the creation of deep defects [13]. This leads to a self-compensation effect in a-Si:H(p). Hence, the disorder in the a-Si : H(p) leads to a higher amount of interface states and thus a decreased minority carrier lifetime of a-Si : H(p)/c-Si(n) heterojunction. By increasing gas phase doping concentration, eventually, on the one hand the band bending increases with increasing gas phase doping concentration, on the other hand the disorder in the a-Si : H layer and interface states (decrease in ) increases. Therefore, we suggest a new factor (Opt = / ) that may be presented as a trade-off between interface states and the position of the Fermi energy as showed in Figure 3. The highest Opt value is achieved at gas doping concentration of 3% and it is also point of merit for achieving highest device performance.
The parameters of an a-Si : H(p)/c-Si(n) solar cell, plotted as a function of the a-Si : H(p) emitter-layer thickness are shown in Figure 4. With increasing emitter-layer thickness up to 7 nm, increases linearly and then saturates beyond this layer thickness. It should be mentioned that for thickness smaller than 7 nm the open circuit voltage drops down to values around 500 mV. According to the usual junction rectification models for HIT solar cell at high forward bias voltage region (), a relation between and is presented simply by [9] where and are the saturation current density and photocurrent density, respectively. q, n, k, and T denote electron charge, diode factor, Boltzmann's constant, and temperature, respectively. Since exp [qV/kT] 1 at V ~ 0.5 V and T = 300 K, and can be determined directly from the intercept and slope of J-V characteristics by applying (2) with using dark-current density versus voltage, as shown in the inset of Figure 5. From Figure 5 we observed that was obtained for a-Si : H(p) thickness of 3 nm and then this values increase with further increasing in layer thickness. The maximum of was observed for layer thickness of 15 nm. Thus conduction mechanisms in our device are shifted from diffusion-recombination to recombination for thicker in emitter layer. The diffusion-recombination dominated for thinner emitter layer could be attributed to a smaller built-in potential in the ITO/a-Si : H(p)/c-Si(n) structure [9], leading to low . A similar variation with is also observed for FF with emitter thickness less than 7 nm; however, after passing through an optimum where the FF was maximized, a further increasing in emitter layer thickness resulted in a significant decrease of F.F. This could be owing to the serial resistance component and also a lesser probability of tunneling of holes through a- Si : H(p) layer as thickness increases.
In contract to , reduces with increasing emitter-layer thickness. As a result, we obtained a solar cell efficiency of 14.6% ( = 590 mV, FF = 0.72, and =34.3 mA/cm2) at the optimum thickness of p = 7 nm without the incorporation of surface texture, intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon. In Figure 6, the external quantum efficiency (QE) spectrum as a function a-Si : H(p) thickness was depicted. For convincing, transmittance of a-Si : H(p) layer with difference thickness was also measured and shown in the inset of Figure 6. It is clear that the thicker in emitter layer leads to lower in transmittance due to Lambert-Beer law. Thus, the QE of the thinner film is enhanced especially in the short wavelength region where the absorption of the a-Si : H films is low. Hence, the reduction in shown in Figure 4 may come from the degradation of the short wavelength response. It is well known that heavily doped a-Si : H layers generally exhibit quite high defect densities of cm−3, which is close to the defect densities of our a-Si:H(p) layer ( cm−3), separately estimated by ellipsometry measurement on a-Si : H(p) films deposited on glass substrate. Due to its structure disorder and high doping, on the one hand, the diffusion length of the carrier in amorphous silicon layer is so small that only drifts current but no diffusion current can occur. On the order hand, the penetration depth of the space charge region in the a-Si : H side is so small that there is no electric field inside the layer. Thus, a heavily doped a-Si : H(p) layer incorporated into the heterojunction solar cells acts as a "dead layer". For that reason it has to be as thin as possible.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, the a-Si : H(p)/c-Si(n) heterojunction solar cell was set up for future development of high efficiency heterojunction with intrinsic thin (HIT) layer solar cells. The correlation between doping concentration, a-Si : H(p) layer thickness, and cell performance was discussed. An optimum value for gas phase doping concentrations of a-Si : H(p) was found to be 3%. For high gas phase doping concentrations, on the one hand the band bending increases with increasing gas phase doping concentration, on the other hand the disorder in the a-Si : H layer and interface states (decreases in ) increases. Hence, solar cell efficiency degrades. The a-Si : H(p) thickness of 7 nm is optimum for a-Si : H(p)/c-Si(n) heterojunction solar cell. Degradation of open-circuit voltage or short-circuit current density and hence efficiency was observed for thinner or thicker layers. Using optimized conditions, we obtained 14.67% efficiency for the a-Si : H(p)/c-Si(n) structure.
This research was supported by WCU (World Class University) program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (R31-2008-000-10029-0).
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text:
All Android applications categories
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text:
AN AUSTRALIAN soccer player has admitted his part in throwing a game in Europe.
The former professional, speaking to the
on condition of anonymity, told of his experience to throw light on the issue of match-fixing.
He told the Sunday Mail that if he exposed the club, his life would be put in danger.
The player said his side was about to play its last match of a horrible season after the proud club had been battered from pillar to post throughout the season.
The side was doomed to relegation before playing the final match of the season.
It was facing a club which needed to win to be promoted to the top-tier league.
What unfolded just before kick-off in the bowels of the stadium stays with him today.
"Just before we were about to go for the warm-up, the president came in the changerooms," he said.
It wasn't right, it was against all of our principles, all of our morals
"There was nothing unusual about that because he was always around the group and we were very familiar with him.
"But this time he was almost apologetic when he talked to us.
"He told us `we must lose, no questions, we must lose'. `If we don't there could be some serious trouble for your careers'."
The player was stunned and so too were his teammates.
The president had supposedly made a pact with the opposition president to fix the game.
The player doubts that the game was pre-planned because of betting.
The opposition team faced a possible loss of millions of dollars in revenue if it lost.
Promotion would guarantee greater sponsors and a lucrative six-figure sum for TV rights.
"I was lost for words when the president said this," he said.
"When we grow up playing football, we played the game to win.
"I always took to the pitch, training session with a winning mentality.
"In a minute's speech we are told to lose.
"It didn't make any sense but I quickly discovered that the game sometimes is a lot bigger than 11 v 11 players.
"It wasn't right, it was against all of our principles, all of our morals.
"It was my darkest days in the sport. I left the club after that, I didn't want to stay there and yes we lost that game."
Originally published as Player admits match-fix role


text:
Winners and losers after the Pure Michigan 400 Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.
Greg Biffle — Biffle established himself as a championship contender early in the season, but had faded in the second half. He's baaack. Biffle's victory Sunday — his second of the season — vaulted him back to the top of the points standings. More importantly, it sent a message that he is not going away and will be a threat on the big tracks.
Brad Keselowski — Keselowski was in contention for the win and continued his late-summer hot streak with a runner-up finish. He now has seven consecutive top-10 finishes, including consecutive second-place runs, and is headed to his favorite track.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. — Considering he wrecked the car he won with in June during practice, a fourth-place finish was impressive. He led 25 laps and was in position at one point to win. He also redeemed himself a bit after wrecking late in last week's race.
Marcos Ambrose — His fifth-place finish was not bad for a driver considered a "road-course specialist." He followed up last week's win at Watkins Glen with his first top-five this season on an oval track.
Sam Hornish Jr. — Despite getting no practice in his Cup car while running the Nationwide race at Montreal — where he finished second — Hornish ran well and finished 12th. He may be giving Roger Penske reason to consider keeping him in the No. 22 car next season.
Jimmie Johnson — Johnson started last after an engine change before the race and had driven all the way to the front. He appeared headed for his fourth win of the season and his first career victory at Michigan when the unthinkable happened. His engine expired while he was leading with just six laps remaining, turning a likely victory into a 27th-place finish. It also cost him the points lead a week after he leaped into the top spot for the first time this year.
Mark Martin — Martin, the pole-sitter, was dominating the race and appeared to have the field covered when he was sent spinning off the track and onto pit road. His car's vicious crash into the pit wall was frightening, but could have been a lot worse. He escaped injury, as did the handful of wide-eyed spectators standing close by as his car spun down pit road and slammed into the pit wall.
Jeff Gordon — First he was ill with his poor-handling car. Then he got mad at teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. for racing him to close and cutting him off. Then his engine soured. Then it eventually blew, sending him to the garage and a 28th-place finish. Just another typical day in a hard-luck season for Gordon.
Tony Stewart — Stewart has to be concerned with what he saw from beneath the hood of his car Sunday. A broken valve spring in his Hendrick engine sent him to the garage early and left him with a 32nd-place finish. Then two more Hendrick engines blew before the race was over. With another big, fast track — Atlanta — coming up in two weeks, Hendrick engine problems have to be disconcerting.
Matt Kenseth — Kenseth was running well until a late flat tire foiled him. He finished 17th and lost big ground in the points standings. He is still second, but fell 20 points behind Biffle. He trailed the leader by just two points entering the race.
Joey Logano — Logano desperately needs another win to make the Chase and possibly to enhance his chances of finding another ride for next season. But he keeps finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Contact with Juan Pablo Montoya sent him into the wall Sunday, leaving him with a 31st-place finish. He keeps falling farther and farther behind in the wild-card race and must win another race to have any shot.
Learn more
— Biffle wins at Michigan, reclaims Sprint Cup points lead
— Mark Martin's frightening crash | Jeff Gordon ticked at Junior


text:
Snow throwers are popular lawn maintenance products across the country. Unfortunately, this also means that when these products are dangerously defective, millions of innocent consumers could potentially be affected.
In 2006, MTD Manufacturing announced a recall of several different lines of snow throwers, also known as snow blowers. This recall came in response to a warning issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding the plastic wheel rims on certain snow throwers. A large number of the defective products were removed from the market, but many still remain in circulation.
The warning issued by the CPSC announced that the wheel rims on certain snow blowers could burst without warning, leading to serious lacerations on consumers' hands, feet, and faces. These are among the most dangerous places on the body to injure, as they bleed quickly and are more prone to infection.
The recalled snow blowers were sold under the brand names Craftsman, Yard Machines, or Troy-Bilt. They were sold between July 2004 and March 2006 for $500 – $800. They were available at a number of independent home improvement stores, as well as major chains like Sears and Kmart.
Many injuries caused by these products have been reported, including broken bones and deep lacerations. Madison personal injury lawyers Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ®, have detailed information about the defective products and victims' legal rights. Contact us at 800-242-2874.
Our Madison defective snow thrower lawyers have the education and insight to help you win the compensation you deserve. We are fully prepared to review your case, inform you of your legal rights, and fight for you in court. Our team includes experienced attorneys and paralegals, as well as investigators, consultants, engineers, and even nurses who can help you build your case.
If you or a family member has been injured by a defective Yard Machines, Craftsman, or Troy-Bilt snow thrower, we will fight for you. Contact Madison defective snow thrower attorneys Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ®, at 800-242-2874.


text: The use of metaphor in cross-linguistic and cross-cultural communication Back to 'Research' Professor Jeannette Littlemore is working with researchers in Spain, Holland, Ireland and Sweden on the use of verbal and gestural metaphor in cross-cultural communication. This work has been funded by the British Council (with Professor Littlemore as Principal Researcher) and the Spanish Ministry of Education. She and her team are exploring the ways in which metaphor is used in academic tutorials involving international students studying at English-speaking universities. They are particularly interested in the ways in which metaphor and gesture are used in different types of exchanges. They are looking at how different interlocutors appropriate each other's use of metaphor and gesture, and the ways in which they use gesture to help them structure and communicate their own ideas. Results so far have revealed a range of metaphors being used successfully and less successfully. They have shown how metaphor is used to develop shared understanding of abstract concepts but that it can present problems' leading at times to misunderstandings and a tendency in students to move onto apparently unrelated topics. In order to avoid the pitfalls of metaphor use, Dr Littlemore and the research team have made a number of recommendations for making the most of the potential that metaphor has to offer in academic tutorials. These recommendations are now available (with accompanying videos) on the British Council website.


text:
Yesterday I went to the village of Madavunu to see the first installation of the power generating whirl.
The 80-kilometer drive from Accra to our destination took about two hours. As the city vanished to the south, we drove through small villages in the coastal plains of Ghana. We were headed for Madavunu, a community of 500 people and about 150 students – and at least 10 kilometers from any semblance of what I consider civilization. Dawa, Tsopoli, and Sege were a few of the small towns we passed, complete with road side shops, and hawkers selling everything from phone cards, locally grown peppers, and "fresh" cow meat.
At the end of an eight-kilometer dirt road, we were met with smiles and waves. The children were tentatively peering out the concrete windows to catch a glimpse of the
"Obrunos" (white people). We quickly made friends through countless handshakes and a shared finger snap, the local greeting. Ben Markham and the Empower team got to work quickly as I toured the school and greeted the students with pencils and rubber balls. They also loved having their pictures taken.
It's not easy to describe the village. Imagine having only life's most basic necessities. Now imagine less. There's no electricity and the government supplied water pump has been broken so long, no one can remember when it last worked. "Drinking" water is fetched from a pond two kilometers from the school. The bathroom is nothing more than a concrete hole in the ground with tin privacy walls. And goats and chickens are the measure of one's worth. Yet the smiles were plenty.
I also toured some of the local homes. Mud huts, with thatched roofs are preferred over tin because they're cooler. When the home eventually crumbles, they simply build a new one next to it. The church has been under construction for the last 15 years, but they hope to finish it this year. The nearest town store is a world away.
From my standpoint there is nothing overwhelming about building the whirl itself. But as it was being constructed it hit me how many obstacles had to be overcome to bring this opportunity to these children. When we finally finished, it didn't take long for the equipment to disappear in a swarm of children. They jockeyed for position for hours, and when they finally found a spot, the thrill of play was obvious by the looks on their faces.
We celebrated the new playground for two hours. Songs, stories and speeches, which had been rehearsed for weeks, were shared with joy. The Headmaster, the Deputy Director from the Ministry of Education, and the Regional School Supervisor were all on hand. Finally, with great pride, the village elders presented to Ben Markham and me a full grown male goat. A genuine sign of gratitude. For the time being, he is eating the grass back at the Empower Playground workshop.
Tomorrow on to Akyremateng…
More pictures on the Playworld Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PlayworldSystemsInc


text:
The Test That Never Was
Who is interested in discrediting the Nautilus anti-rocket system to the point of deception?
"Real embarrassment, indeed," the Channel 2 military correspondent agreed with the presenter of the main news broadcast. "The Defense Ministry's director-general, Pinchas Buchris, went to the United States, among other things, to examine this system [the Nautilus laser system], and to everyone's surprise and chagrin, during the test the system simply did not work."
As our correspondent was reporting on the Nautilus' failure, two subtitles appeared on the screen - "Failed test of the Nautilus" and "A trial demonstration of the firing of the anti-rocket system for Israeli representatives has failed."
Our correspondent also said "a total of 36 Qassams were fired. They expected to hit 27, and very surprisingly hit only eight." The next morning both the mass-circulation daily Maariv and The Jerusalem Post reported on the failure of the test held in New Mexico during Buchris' visit to the test site.
But all this is not correct: There was no test of the Nautilus while Buchris was in the United States. There was a leak here from inside the defense establishment and the journalists - without checking the facts - reported exactly what the source of the leak wanted them to report.
When the Defense Ministry spokesman was asked for the truth and to confirm if there had been a test, he said the test had not taken place recently.
Rather, it took place in 2005.
However, it emerges that this too is not correct. The last time the Nautilus system was tested (successfully) was in November 2004.
Beyond the fact that we have a grave journalistic failure here and a continuation of the tradition of a press committed to the cause, this is a serious disinformation and deception campaign conducted by some people at the Defense Ministry in recent months.
Who is interested in discrediting the laser to the point of deception?
Apparently, there are people in the defense establishment who fear that there will be an investigation of their decision to support the development of the Iron Dome system against Qassams, and that details and figures will be exposed to throw their decision into question. It is possible they are worried about an examination that will touch on their decision to reject an outright acquisition of the Nautilus system.
It appears that in the Iron Dome affair, the defense establishment has crossed quite a number of red lines.
Baseless promises to Sderot's inhabitants that the system will protect them, the concealing of the truth from the policy makers and the use of falsified information have become the modus operandi of some of the partners in the decision-making process.
Experts at the Defense Ministry knew that because of technological limitations Iron Dome will not be able to protect against Qassams at a range of less than 4 kilometers.
Not only did they not inform the inhabitants of Sderot and the Gaza envelope of this, they did not reveal it to the policymakers.
Last week close associates of former defense minister Amir Peretz, at whose bureau the decision to acquire Iron Dome was taken in February 2007, agreed to reveal a glimpse of what happened at that time.
The associates who helped make this decision made it clear that the minister was not at all aware that the system he had chosen is unable to protect his own home in Sderot from most of the Qassams launched from the Gaza Strip (which have a range of between 2 and 4 kilometers).
Because in the tender for the development of a defense system it had been defined that "it had to protect Sderot as well," the associates elucidated that "at the time of the presentation of Iron Dome it was clear to the defense minister that it would also protect Sderot and the Gaza envelope locales. He did not even bother to ask about this and no one revealed the bleak truth to him."
What should be cause for worry now, it would seem, is not only extraneous considerations by some people in the defense establishment affecting decisions, however the damage to the basic norms of democratic activity.
Deceiving the media, cynically and coldly, to protect a problematic decision is a dangerous step toward a further erosion of Israel's fragile democratic fabric.
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The people on both sides ofSubmitted by john francis lee (not verified) on Sat, 21/05/2011 - 18:17.
The people on both sides of the border are the pawns in the games of the military, chiefly the Thai Army. People everywhere want peace. Generals everywhere want war. The Army needs to be removed from power in Thailand. Only then can peace (have a chance to) prevail.


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Manufacturing jobs bring unemployment changes
Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:19:35 GMT —
The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Southwest Georgia region increased to 7.9 percent in January, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 7.8 percent in December. The rate was 9.3 percent in January a year ago.
The rate rose primarily because the labor force increased by 5,277 as new job seekers entered the workforce looking for jobs but were unable to find work immediately.
At the same time, the number of new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, decreased to 2,153, down by 871, or 28.8 percent, from 3,024 in December. Most of the decline in claims came in manufacturing and construction, accommodations and food services, health care and social assistance, and administrative and support services. There were 2,694 claims in January 2013.
In Metro Albany, the unemployment rate decreased to 8.0 percent in January, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 8.2 percent in December. Albany was one of three of the 14 metro areas where the rate declined in January. The rate was 9.7 percent in January a year ago.
The rate declined primarily because the number of new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, decreased in January to 895, down by 610, or 40.5 percent, from 1,505 in December. Most of the decline in claims came in manufacturing, administrative and support services, accommodations and food services, and construction. There were 1,297 claims in January 2013.
Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.8 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 7.3 percent, down from 7.4 percent in December. The rate was 8.6 percent in January a year ago.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.employgeorgia.com
Stay connected to MySouthWestGA.com as stories develop and the FOX 31 Newscast at 10 PM. Visit us on Facebook and Twitter to join in on the conversation and connect with FOX 31!


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July 31st, 2014
It's Christmas in July! Celebrate the holidays with R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca, and a young hair metal icon in 1980's oddball Star Wars spectacular, Christmas in the Stars.
September 6th, 2013
It might be the worst movie, but it's the best record book of the bunch. Rounding out the last of our post-baby special episodes, here's the record book for Return of the Jedi. Look for a new, non-Star Wars episode in two weeks!
September 4th, 2013
Continuing the post-baby Star Wars extravaganza, this week we'll listen to The Empire Strikes Back, produced in 1980 by Buena Vista Records. Next week we'll finish off the series with Return of the Jedi.
May 4th, 2013
In the debut episode of Bubble Pipe Network's new Star Wars podcast Wookiee Tuxedo, Tommy Day and Tim Briscoe talk about the future of Star Wars, Ewoks, Muppets, and why Wookiees don't wear pants.
© 2012 Bubble Pipe Network. All Rights Reserved. Website by Blue Awesome
Powered by WordPress and Hosted by Media Temple. Logo illustration by Alex Deligiannis


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I have the experience of being a male and having other males make unsolicited greetings, which makes me uncomfortable and generally resembles what Nancy reported. Since I doubt the same phenomenon is responsible for the greetings I receive and the "catcalling"many women report, I suggested that Nancy's experiences had a different cause to regular, sexual catcalling. I may have made some sort of error, but if so I would prefer you point it out rather than baldly accuse me of a failure of empathy.
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Comments (1256)
For what it's worth, every stranger who's given me an unwanted "How are you doing?" has been male, and the incidence has dropped off strikingly as I've hit menopause.
I do think there's a sexual element, and for all I know, there was one in the unwanted greetings from men that you've gotten.
However, please note that I raised the question about whether the relatively mild "How are you doing?" should be counted among catcalls. The thing that people usually complain about is more overtly sexual and/or gendered, and frequently hostile to start with or becomes hostile if rejected.
I wasn't trying to make any claims about catcalling, merely supplying evidence that "how are you doing" is a different phenomenon.
... I have to say, the possibility that it's sexual is there - I have long hair, long enough that I've been mistaken for female (more so before I hit puberty, of course.) But my name is used fairly often, so I suspect I'm just more recognizable than skilled at recognizing others.


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wrestling / News
UPDATED: TNA Officially Announces Impact Wrestling Going on the Road
UPDATE: Here is the official press release announcing Impact Wrestling heading on the road:
TNA's IMPACT WRESTLING announced that it will begin filming all "IMPACT WRESTLING" programming on the road as part of their 2013 television programming strategy. "IMPACT WRESTLING" airs every Thursday on Spike TV (8/7 CT), and is regularly one of the network's top-rated shows. The first live televised show will be March 14 from the Sears Centre Arena in Chicago.
For the past 8 years, "IMPACT WRESTLING" has been filmed on the largest soundstage at Universal Studios Orlando. The final two shows to be filmed from the "Impact Zone" at Universal will be February 28 and March 7.
"This is a tremendous step forward for TNA," stated TNA President Dixie Carter. "Fans from around the world have been coming to us at Universal for more than 8 years to be a part of the 'IMPACT WRESTLING' audience. It's now time for us to take the 'IMPACT WRESTLING' television cameras to them. This is a very important next evolution for the company, and I'm excited that the backdrop to the show will feature our great fans in larger arenas around the country and world.
"We are so grateful to Universal for being such fantastic partners and look forward to finding other ways to work together in the future," Carter added.
"Taking 'IMPACT WRESTLING' on the road to the fans is yet another example of Dixie and her incredible team expanding their horizons to deliver the most exciting and action-packed wrestling product on the market," said Spike TV President Kevin Kay.
Kicking off the start to "IMPACT WRESTLING" on the road will be the triumphant return to Chicago and the Sears Centre Arena on March 14. Chicago's Sears Centre Arena was home to "Bound For Glory 2008" setting, at the time, the highest TNA attendance record.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 8 at the Sears Centre Arena box office and at www.SearsCentre.com. (Doors will open on Thursday, March 14 at 6 p.m. and bell time at 7 p.m.). TNA's IMPACT WRESTLING will announce additional Thursday night "IMPACT WRESTLING" television tour dates in the coming weeks.
ORIGINAL This week on TNA Impact, TNA President Dixie Carter announced that TNA Impact will be on the road "permanently" starting on March 14 in Chicago. The episode on March 14 will be the first show after the Lockdown PPV which is also on the road in San Antonio, Texas.
It remains to be seen if this will be a permanent change. If you recall, Impact Wrestling moved to Monday nights, and that was a change that didn't last long.
Must-read news from around the site:
* Vida Guerra gives a view of her toned body and giant booty
* Marlon Wayans says he wipes his butt with his Scary Movie money
* [PODCAST] Thoughts From The Man Cave: UFC 156 Preview
* Tim Burton gives an update on Beetlejuice 2
* New high resolution photo from The Wolverine
* The Top 10 Dario Argento Films
* The Top 10 Money-Themed Movies


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Kia Motors Punks, Rattles And Rolls As Official Vehicle Of Vans Warped Tour® For Sixth Straight Year
Kia-Sponsored Main Stages to Showcase Fan Favorites and Today's Hottest Up-and-Comers
- Festival participants will be encouraged to "Share their Soul" through an interactive digital photo sharing game
- Kia "Rock and Roll" photo booth allows concertgoers to turn their loudest screams and craziest dance moves into animated images that can be shared via Facebook and Twitter
Jun 11, 2013, 06:00 ET from Kia Motors America
IRVINE, Calif., June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth year in a row, Kia Motors America (KMA) is touring the country as the "Official Vehicle of the Vans Warped Tour®" alongside some of today's most entertaining rock and indie bands. Concertgoers in 39 U.S. cities will be able to enjoy live music performances and visit the Kia Soul Lounge to participate in a variety of interactive experiences in the spirit of this year's Kia theme, "Rock and Roll. Punk and Soul." Kia will be the official sponsor of the tour's two main stages – the Kia Soul Stage and Kia Forte Stage – for the second year in a row, and an exclusive Kia VIP riser will allow select concertgoers to stand above the crowd and enjoy their favorite bands from an elevated, shaded platform.
"Music, pop culture and having fun drive today's youth culture, and the 2013 Vans Warped Tour couldn't be a better embodiment of those core, coming-of-age lifestyle elements," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "Our partnership with the tour allows us to showcase the all-new Kia Soul and Forte, which have always relied on youthful spirit as a cornerstone of their appeal. We're excited to continue connecting with the young and passionate fans around the country through yet another summer of great music and fun."
This year, concertgoers will be able to enjoy hours of live music, including exclusive acoustic sets with tour headliners "We Came As Romans" and "Sleeping With Sirens" in select concert locations. Fans also can visit the Kia Soul Lounge, an interactive tent featuring a DJ, daily band autograph sessions, "Show Your Punk" body painting and hair styling stations, and a "Rock and Roll" photo booth where concertgoers can scream and rock out to their heart's desire. An interactive app will register participants via Twitter and Facebook, and each photo will be made into an animated image that can be shared via the participant's Twitter and Facebook accounts.
"It is only with the continued support of people like Kia that the Vans Warped Tour is able to offer such a value to the fans," said Kevin Lyman, founder and producer, Vans Warped Tour®. "Warped is the lowest-priced ticket in town for the amount of show it brings the audience."
Visitors to the lounge also can view and learn more about the all-new 2014 Soul1, which boasts more passenger and cargo room than ever before along with a new, more aggressive appearance. Also on display will be the all-new 2014 Forte 5-door2, which offers more room, fun-to-drive performance and cutting-edge technology.
Festival participants will be encouraged to "Share their Soul" through an interactive photo sharing game in which concert attendees are tasked with capturing their favorite moments of The Vans Warped Tour® in real time based on the tagline "Rock and Roll. Punk and Soul." Concertgoers are turned into roving reporters, snapping pictures of people rocking out, pretending to drive Kia vehicles and anything else they feel captures the Vans Warped Tour® experience. Concertgoers also have the unique opportunity to receive Kia VIP passes, which allow them access to an exclusive private riser near the main stage, or in some cases, on the two main stages themselves, where they can enjoy spectacular views of the day's biggest performances.
The Vans Warped Tour® kicks off on June 15 in Seattle, and will feature more than 125 rock, hip-hop, rap, metal, indie rock and electronic artists, including current chart-toppers and the hottest up-and-comers.
Select tour dates and destinations of the tour include:
- 6/15 – Seattle
- 6/16 – Portland
- 6/19 – San Diego
- 6/20 & 6/21 – Pomona, CA
- 6/27 – Phoenix
- 6/28 – Los Vegas
- 7/10 – Washington DC
- 7/11 – Boston
- 7/13 – New York
- 7/19 – Detroit
- 7/20 – Chicago
- 7/28 – Orlando
- 8/2 – Dallas
For more information on the Vans Warped Tour, including a full list of tour dates3 and any updates to the tour schedule, visit vanswarpedtour.com.
About Forte
The all-new 2014 Forte 5-door boasts eye-catching European design, a longer, wider stance and Kia's long list of premium amenities and features not normally found in the segment. Introduced at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, the Forte 5-door SX features a 1.6 liter gasoline direct-injected (GDI) turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which puts out 201 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, making the all-new Forte 5-door SX the most powerful Forte ever from Kia Motors America. Buyers can also choose the EX trim level, which features a 2.0-liter GDI four-cylinder engine.
About Soul
Unveiled at the 2014 New York Auto Show, the all-new Soul Urban Passenger Vehicle remains instantly recognizable as Kia Motors' most iconic people mover, yet boasts a fresh new design that bears more than a passing resemblance to the hot Track'ster concept that was introduced last year. The 2014 Soul features a new chassis that is stiffer, longer and wider and offers more passenger and cargo room while helping to reduce NVH levels. Increased torque and significant suspension upgrades help make the 2014 Soul a nimble and agile companion in urban environments, and customers can choose from three unique trim levels to reflect their own fierce individualism.
Kia: One of the World's Fastest Moving Global Automotive Brands
Kia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the first time. With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining European-influenced styling – under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer – with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing and the lowest cost of ownership in the industry.
Kia recently joined the exclusive ranks of Interbrand's "Top 100 Best Global Brands," and is poised to continue its momentum with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2013. Over the past decade Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company's first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Georgia – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia – which is responsible for the creation of more than 11,000 plant and supplier jobs. The success of the U.S.-built* Optima and Sorento in two of the industry's largest segments has fueled Kia's rapid growth and is complemented by Kia's comprehensive lineup which includes the Cadenza flagship sedan, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid, the Forte sedan, 5-door and Koup compacts, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan.
About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 765 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2012, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and gained U.S. market share for the 18th consecutive year. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.
Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at http://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.
About the Vans Warped Tour:
The Vans Warped Tour® is well established as America's premier music and lifestyle festival of the summer, breaking up-and-coming indie talent as well as both creating and showcasing major established artists since 1995. The nationally-renowned festival is the most eclectic traveling tour and features a diverse array of artists--with hotly tipped acts in every genre from punk, metal and indie to rock, hip-hop, rap, EDM, reggae and pop; as well as a variety of lifestyle attractions for its traditionally low ticket price.
The tour has cemented its place in history by bringing punk rock/skate/action sports culture from the underground to the forefront of global youth culture, while at the same time helping those in need and being the first tour to consistently use groundbreaking environmental concepts every year on the road. The Warped Eco Initiatives (WEI) focus on making the tour more environmentally friendly whether it is through eco conscious catering for the artists and crew courtesy of Tada Catering or a solar-powered sound system on the Kevin Says Stage. Further, www.vanswarpedtour.com even showcases public transportation options for every tour date and carpool social media apps as well as exotic eco travel contests. For more information on the tour that Alternative Press readers voted the "Best Tour/Festival" of 2009/2010/2011/2012 and Rolling Stone called "America's most successful festival" (2005) go to: www.vanswarpedtour.com. Now in its 19th year, the 40-date tour will commence June 15 in Seattle, WA and finishes August 4 in Houston, TX.
Check out the full list of Vans Warped Tour dates here: http://vanswarpedtour.com/dates.
* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
1Expected to arrive in late third quarter 2013.
2Expected to arrive in late third quarter 2013.
3Dates and locations are subject to change. Please visit www.warpedtour.com for the most up-to-date information.
SOURCE Kia Motors America


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You can try these similar gifts instead.
Wool Zipper Tie
by Josh Jakus
Forget the clip-on or the pre-tied tie hung on the doorknob and get him this funky wool tie with a zipper up the middle that can be instantly adjusted to any neck size to make it comfortable.


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Olympic visitors boost residential cleaning revenues
February 25, 2010
According to the story, Olympic renters and visiting family members have created a high demand for residential cleaning services — and area businesses can barely keep up.
Susan Bewsey, author and cleaning industry expert, said: "It''s super-busy. There is a shortage of people to do the cleaning, with the increased demand from the Olympics."
Meg Roberts, co-owner of a Vancouver-based Molly Maid franchise, said: "We''ve had many, many people phoning in a panic because company they hadn''t expected suddenly shows up and they need their place cleaned and they need it cleaned now."
There is also high demand from customers who rented a room or home for the duration of the Olympics and arrived in
to find less-than-sanitary conditions, like one condo that Roberts was hired to clean, the story stated.
Roberts said of the rental: "I called our team and told them to do what they could. It was just horrible. Obviously, the guy had just picked up a suitcase and walked out the door."
Some cleaning companies are even getting in the spirit by offering customers levels of cleaning service in the style of Olympic medals — bronze, silver and gold, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.


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VAPPA Board of Director MeetingApril 21, 201711 am
Conference Call
Conference Call Meeting Instructions:
Dial-in Number: (701) 801-1211
Access Code: 349-795-718
Join Online Meeting Link: https://join.startmeeting.com/dana92
Instructions: At the scheduled date and time of the meeting, dial into the conference line. When prompted, enter the Access Code followed by the pound key. To join the online meeting, click on the meeting link listed above and follow the prompts to join the meeting. For 24/7 customer service please call (877) 553-1680
VAPPAPO Box 56283Virginia Beach, VA 23454757.491.3114www.VAPPA.biz


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Karnataka Postal Circle, Department of Posts invites applications from meritorious Sportspersons for recruitment of Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant, Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) and Postman. Eligible Sports candidates apply on or before 28th July 2014.
Name of Post
Total Vacancies
Scale of Pay
Postal Assistant
07 (Bangalore East - 01, Bangalore South - 01, Dharwad - 02, Gulbarga - 01, Mangalore - 01, Mysore - 01)
Rs.5,200-20,200 (PB-I) + Grade pay of Rs.2,400 plus admissible allowances
Sorting Assistant
04 (RMS Bangalore Sorting - 02, RMS HB - 02)
Rs.5,200-20,200 (PB-I) + Grade pay of Rs.2,400 plus admissible allowances
Multi Tasking Staff (MTS)
01 (Bangalore South)
Rs.5,200-20,200 (PB-1) + Grade pay of Rs.2,000 plus admissible allowances
02 (Bangalore West - 01, Bangalore Sorting - 01)
Rs.5,200-20,200 (PB-1) + Grade pay of Rs.1800 plus admissible allowances
Age Limit: Between 18-27 years as on 28/07/2014 with permissible relaxation in upper age limit as per rules for SC/ST/OBC.
Educational Qualification: Matriculation / SSLC from a recognised Board or University.
Sports Qualification: The candidates with the following qualifications shall be considered meritorious for the purpose of recruitment under sports quota:-
(a) Sportsmen who have represented a State or the country in the National or International competition in the sports/games shown above.
(b) Sportsmen who have represented their university conducted by the Inter-University Sports Board In the sports/games shown above.
(c) Sportsmen who have represented the state schools team in the National Sports/Games for schools conducted by the All India School Games Federation in the sports/games shown above.
(d) Sportsmen who have been awarded National Awards in Physical Efficiency under the National Physical Efficiency Drive.
Application Fee: Rs.100/- should be deposited/ paid in any Post Office in Karnataka Circle and submit original receipt along with application.
Examination Fee: Only the Applicants who are called for selection/field trials will have to pay an examination fee of Rs 400/-. Women /SC/ST candidates are exempted from payment of exam fee.
Selection Process: Selection of candidates will be made on the educational and sports qualification and marks secured in field trials and subject to fulfilment of other prescribed conditions.
How To Apply: The application in the prescribed form attached to this prospectus, completed in all respect addressed to "The Chief Postmaster General (R & E Section), Karnataka Circle, Palace Road, Bangalore-560001" on or before 28/07/2014.
|Detailed Advertisement Here>>
Department Of Posts, Karnataka Postal Circle, Bangalore holding direct recruitment for the post of Multi Tasking Staff(MTS) in Postal /Railway Mail Service Divisions/Other offices - Eligible candidates apply on or before 13th January 2014.
Post Name
Total Vacancies
Age Limit
Scale of Pay
Multi Tasking Staff (MTS)
18-27 years
Rs. 5200-20200 with Grade pay of Rs. 1800 + admissible allowance.
Age Relaxation: SC/ST up-to 5 years and for Applicants belonging to Other Backward Classes up-to 3 years and for Government servants up-to the age of 40 years in accordance with the instructions or orders issued by Government of India from time to time. Age relaxation for PH persons and Ex-servicemen would be as per extant orders of Government of India issued from time to time.
Educational Qualifications: Matriculation (10th Class) or 1TI from a Recognized Board. Equivalency certificates will not be accepted.
Selection Process: Aptitude Test of the level of 10th Class/Matriculation.
Examination Fee: Rs 200/= in favour of Sr Superintendent/Superintendent of the division/ Head of the Offices. The fee should be deposited/paid in any Post Office in Karnataka Circle through e-Payment specifying the division for which candidate is applying and examination for which applying and submit original receipt along with application.
How To Apply: The Applications duly filled in along with original e-payment receipt issued by Post Office/IPO(in respect of outside Karnataka candidates) towards payment of Examination fee have to be sent to the head of the division through SPEED POST with AD only. The envelope containing the application must be super scribed in bold letter as "APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF MTS". The Last date for booking of applications is 13/01/2014.
|Detailed Notification Here>>


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Mayor Jean Quan on Tuesday renewed her appeal to Occupy Oakland representatives to meet with city officials about negotiating a peaceful resolution to the protest's encampment outside City Hall.
Quan said the month-old encampment in a public plaza, which has grown to about 180 tents, is hurting local businesses and straining an already stretched city budget.
"This situation is costing us real jobs," the mayor said in a statement. "We can't afford to lose a single job."
Last week, Joseph Haraburda, president of Oakland's Chamber of Commerce, publicly blamed the city for three deals falling through.
Two businesses planning to lease a total of 50,000 square feet of office space and another planning to bring 100 jobs into the city pulled out after Quan allowed protesters to re-establish to their camp following the police raid cleared them out, Haraburda said. The chamber said it holds Quan, "responsible for a peaceful and successful resolution" to the encampment.
One protester, Jesse Smith, 32, who spoke with the mayor after Thursday's special City Council meeting, reiterated Tuesday that he and a few others in the movement are willing to meet with Quan despite Occupy Oakland's overall stance.
Last week, demonstrators passed out fliers opposing meeting with city officials that read, "We Will Not Negotiate!" The back of the flier stated that the city's special meeting "is an obvious attempt to capture and redirect our energy - into their chambers, on their terms and within the confines of their bureaucratic process. They are afraid."
Smith said Quan's overtures will likely be discussed during the protesters "General Assembly" on Wednesday. Protesters expect representatives from City Hall may try to address the crowd at the meeting.
As she has done repeatedly, Quan also asked concerned individuals and organizations to reach out directly to protesters.
She expressed a desire for any future demonstrations associated with the anti-Wall Street movement to remain peaceful and said the protesters should help single out violent demonstrators.
"Oakland has demonstrated its support for the 99 percent," Quan said. "Now is the time for the encampment to show its support for Oakland."
Meanwhile, city officials said firefighters responded to two small blazes at the site early Tuesday and reported that some protesters were hostile toward them. Officials have said Occupy Oakland-related events though Oct. 28 have cost the city slightly more than $1 million, mostly for police overtime.
And police released four videos showing scores of protesters harassing officers before authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd several hours after an early morning raid that temporarily broke up the encampment Oct. 25.
The clips show hostile protesters surrounding police and throwing paint at them during a protest march through downtown. Police later fired tear gas and bean bags at the protesters, leading to several skirmishes that lasted into the wee hours.
"The images contained in this release are only a portion of what was captured," Oakland police said in a release. "There are many hours of footage still being reviewed. ... The officers were subjected to numerous assaults by the crowd throughout the incident."


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Willingham's 21-15 and Weis's 22-15 ..So Where is the Beef !August 26, 2009
So where is the improvement?
After three years the comparasing is dead even.
You can add the 2008 7-6 season to coach Weis record at Notre Dame and you still have to ask:
where is the beef !
After the fanfare and the wagging of the dog so the firing of Ty Willingham won't become a public relations nightmare, is there some questions that still needs to be answered?
Was a coaching change that has produced a record of 29-21 a mistake ?
Is that a fair question to ask ?
Was three years a fair shot for coach Willingham to put a program together ?
Did coach Weis benefit from Ty Willingham's recruiting ? Lets look further into that question.
During Coach Weis first two years his records were:
In 2005 9-3
In 2006 10-3
A record of 19-6 with what I presume are coach Willingham's recruits.
Is that a fair assessment ?
Lets look further.
In 2007 3-9
In 2008 7-6
A record of 10-15 with what I presume is coach Weis's recruits.
Again, is that a fair assessment?
Please understand I'm not making judgments, at least not yet, I'm just asking questions.
Lets be honest, a 29-21 record was not what Notre Dame was looking for, agree?
So let me ask, how long will the powers to be at that great school let coach Weis walk the sidelines ?
Would you say Ty's and Charley's road at Notre Dame is fallowing the same path, a mediocre career?
Please understand , I'm not asking about other successes or failures , I'm just talking about their Notre Dame stay.
Opinions are personal but numbers don't lie my dear friends , 2+2 is 4 no matter what continent your in, the first three years of this coaches careers at Notre Dame are exactly the same.
Mediocre at best, at least from what we understand ND football should be.
My question of conclusion.
Why was Ty Willinghan fired ?
Oh I see, maybe it was that 21-15 record that apparently is unacceptable by the Irish fans. But wait! coach Weis was 22-15 his first 3 years, I guess one game improvement is huge in college football. Or not , It's so confusing!
Oh I see, maybe it was that 21-15 record that apparently is unacceptable by the Irish fans.
But wait! coach Weis was 22-15 his first 3 years, I guess one game improvement is huge in college football.
Or not , It's so confusing!
I'll just wait for your answers my dear readers and Notre Dame fans.


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I'll be starting my first customer quilt soon. I have an online friend who's little girl is close in age to my son and she's commissioned me to make a quilt for her daughter's toddler bed. She's sending me a deposit this week and I'll be ordering fabric soon - it's going to be a bright and fun quilt, and I am really looking forward to doing it...it will be so cheery. We spent a bunch of time last night chatting about colours and ideas, and it really helps that what she is looking for is kind of what I had in mind, and appeals to my own tastes...makes it a whole lot easier to do a project when you like what you're working with!
Of all of the quilt patterns I sent her to get ideas of a pattern, she chose one of MY quilts, that I totally flew by the seat of my pants while constructing! So that was pretty exciting! Since I was using what I had on hand for the quilt she liked, I'll have to sit down and figure out my yardage requirements...I wasn't really paying attention and didn't write it down at the time! LOL
Wish me luck! I really want this to go smoothly! I'll post pictures of my progress once I get started. :)


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All quotes tagged Friendship - Love
(2054 quotes found)
"To be capable of steady friendship or lasting love, are the two greatest proofs, not only of goodness of heart, but of strength of mind"
"It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship."
"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."
"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own."
"We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone."
"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes."


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Lawrence Block, in Keller by a Nose," asks what obsession holds more hazards than betting on the ponies. The answer will surprise you...Max Allan Collins's "That Kind of Nag" proves that it's bad to play the wrong horse, but worse to pick the wrong woman..."The Great, the Good and the Not-So-Good" by H.R.F. Keating warns against old English ladies at the racecourse...Joyce Carol Oates shows how a young woman teams to trust a prize stallion more than her violent lover… (more)
Publisher: Mysterious Press (September 26, 2009)
Format: EPUB
File size: 577 KB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


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Freedom of Choice Means Freedom to Choose What We Eat
"…can individual choice survive when the agents of government raise their sights against a minority practicing their beliefs?"
In his book, The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights, author David E. Gumpert doesn't just examine the issue of raw milk. He pulls back and looks at the greater issues of food safety and government interference in personal choice.
From TreeHugger:
Thomas Jefferson said "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." But in the modern age, it is the flow of money, rather than blood, which mainly determines the outcome of questions of freedom versus bureaucracy. David E. Gumpert raises the curtain on the workings of state and federal agencies responding to what seems a simple question: should American citizens be allowed the personal freedom to choose to drink raw milk?
It seems like the founding fathers would make easy work of that one: an individual makes a fully informed decision, choosing to accept certain risks in return for what they believe to be yet greater benefits, which can in no way do harm to any other person. Is that not the very definition of individual liberty? What Gumpert reveals will make you question the very premise upon which the United States of America is founded.
A Compelling Story
Isn't it curious that at this juncture in our culture's evolution, we collectively believe Twinkies, Lucky Charms and Coca-Cola are safe foods, but compost-grown organic tomatoes and raw milk are not?
—from the forward, by Joel Salatin
I entered this book expecting a treatise whose pages would be turned only by a compelling curiosity on the issue of raw milk. Instead, I found 228 pages packed with interesting and personal stories, knit together by an overarching philosophical question: can individual choice survive when the agents of government raise their sights against a minority practicing their beliefs?
David E. Gumpert's journalistic credentials include work for BusinessWeek.com, the Wall Street Journal and the Harvard Business Review. He has followed the evolution of the Raw Milk Revolution up close and personally on his website The Complete Patient. His professionalism and depth of knowledge permit him to bring the facts and explanations regarding raw milk in America to light with no hysteria and little hype.
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FICS Promotes Graham
DALLAS -- FICS has a new president. Susan Graham has been named the new president of Financial Industry Computer Systems, succeeding Dawn Gibbs, who is now CEO/chairman of the board of the provider of in-house origination and servicing technology to the mortgage industry.
Graham had been responsible for the company's call center, customer training, consulting and quality control for its origination and serving solutions. She now will be responsible for overall management of FICS' daily operations, customer relations and product timelines and deployment.
Prior to joining FICS in 1999, Graham had been first vice president of residential and commercial loan servicing and origination at San Antonio Federal Credit Union.
"The leadership of the company has been a shared responsibility among the executive team, who, along with me cumulatively represent more than 105 years of experience with FICS," Gibbs said. "This appointment will establish a foundation for FICS to continue to grow and prosper. Susan is a highly qualified person and I am excited about the level of leadership that she will bring to her new role."
Dallas-based FICS (www.loanware.com) was founded in 1983.


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Introduction: TORNADO PAPERPLANE
WARNING THE FOLLOWING PROJECT HAS A BIT OF A CHANCE OF NOT WORKING but who cares?
Method of creation:
Step 1:You may know the first 3 steps to this but for who don't here you are:Fold & unfold in half tall ways.
Step 2:Fold your top corners in twice to create a arrow look.
Step 3:Refold in half.
Step 4:Cut a diagonal shape out of the back.(Around 4cm from the bottom at the back upwards to about 6-12cm by you juging.)
Step 5:Fold & crease wings down
Step 6:Tape/Glue centre together
Congratulations you have made a spining paper plane to make it fly throw inside upwards at a medium speed


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First, I want to say for March 16 I had attendance wrong, it should have been 69, and I had 61.
Attendance was 90 this Sunday, March 23. Still had some out.
Brother Lance read scripture from James 2:14-16. There were many prayer requests. Bro. Lance prayed over all requests and read announcements. He read a "Thank You" card from Harold and Marie Schuenneman thanking the Church for praying for their great-grandson who is at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Bro. Lance also read a graduation card from Austin Davis who graduates from high school on May 16. Austin is the son of James (Shorty) and Valerie Guerin.
After congregational singing, tithes were taken.
Specials were by Miss Susie Adams and the small children. They sure did a good job.
David Lafferty on piano and Glen Robertson on the banjo did an instrumental. Good job, guys.
Had some good testimonies, then Bro. Lance turned services over to Pastor David. Dave chose his message from I Thessalonians Chapter 5:1-6. The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. We are children of the light. We must not sleep, but let us watch and be sober.
He also chose Matthew 24:36-43. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven but my Father only.
We must be ready at all times to meet the Lord.
When the altar call was given, several were seeking God.
Sunday night service opened with prayer requests. Pastor Dave prayed over requests. After good congregational singing we heard some very good testimonies.
Pastor Dave used scripture from Psalm 24:1-6, Genesis 2:7-15. The Lord owns the earth. We are the property of God. Very good message.
Bro. Matt Jenkins read Romans 5:19, and gave testimony regarding this verse.
We are having some awesome services at Goodhope General Baptist, if you don't have a home church we invite you to visit.
Rod and Kayli came out one day and helped me. Rod went over yard with mower so the new grass that was "peeking thru" could come up. Kayli gathered my eggs which she enjoys doing. Dianne came down and we all had lunch together.
Jerry and Janice Hawkins visited with Larry and Lynn Clayton. Larry and Lynn need all our prayers.
Had a nice crowd Tuesday night for the special prayer meeting for our upcoming revival for the week of April 13. Matt Jenkins played a CD while we meditated prayerfully. Brenda Reed read very inspirational scriptures from Psalm 51:10; Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16; II Corinthians 7:1-2.
We must be spiritually alert. Revival starts with us, each individual. We must be prayed up. Listen to God and the Holy Spirit. To close our prayer meeting, we made a circle around the altar, joined hands and all prayed.
Our revival is the week of April 13 with Nathan Humbyrd, be much in prayer.
Ervin and Lodean Schultz drove to Republic Wednesday to see Lodean's brother, Vincene Nelson and wife Della Ann. Vincene had been in the hospital, had surgery, and was home doing much better.
Some of my Easter lilies are blooming. This cool weather may set them back.
Little Miss Jerica spent the weekend with Dianne, attended church and Jerica, Dianne and Sue had lunch with Ervin and Lodean (Granny & Pappy) Sunday.
We had a good crowd for Bible study Wednesday night. We have started study in Acts.
We who live on the Rome Road were thankful the road crew kinda bladed over the holes last week, and put some chat on part of the holes around the bluff road, and on the hill just off 76 Highway.
Larry Pueppke was telling me about the bridge over Beaver Creek at Rome will be replaced with a new one. They will be starting it later this year. The old one will be torn down. There are lots of people that would like for it to be left up for a walk bridge. He said the county couldn't afford to maintain it.
Hailey Herrell had some friends over after school Friday evening to spend the night- Kailey Thompson, Montana Lavelle and Abbygail Hulsey.
Kelly and Deann Thompson, Kinsey and Kyle drove to St. Louis Friday evening. Deann attended a medical convention Saturday and they returned Sunday evening.
Pauline Richards took Kaily Thompson to Chadwick after church Sunday to practice basketball for a traveling team.
Norma Cross and Kenny visited with Ed Hall Thursday. She took him soup and corn bread. Freeda Holt came to visit with him while they were there. Then Saturday, along with Seth Hunt, drove to Rockbridge. Norma said even though she has lived in the Ava most of her life she had never been down there before.
Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


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Lessons & Classroom Activities
Resources by grade level
Interactive features
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Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
New study confirms drop in TV viewing by younger audience members
Find any other news about online, print or broadcast media.
Many newspapers post original news and feature videos. Tell whether you like that form of storytelling and why. Does it matter whether there's also an article on the same topic?
List benefits of reading newspapers and magazines in digital or print form.
There's fresh confirmation of something that separates older and younger generations: How much TV they watch. Americans aged 12-34 spend less time than in the past in front of TV sets, data shows, while those 35 and above spend more time. "Young people are still watching the same shows, but they are streaming them on computers and phones to a greater degree than their parents or grandparents do," the New York Times says, summarizing research issued last week by Nielsen, a company that tracks media use.
The age divide, also called a generation gap, shows the impact of Internet videos, social networks, mobile phones and video games -- alternatives to a TV set. Television viewing overall is steady, partly because older Americans -- especially those over 65 -- watch more than ever before, including via digital video recorders. But viewing among Americans under 35 has declined steadily since 2010, even when DVR use is counted.
The trend is a big deal for the media industry. If it continues, billions of dollars in ads could move away from traditional cable and network TV. The industry wants Nielsen to measure online and mobile viewing, just as it tracks traditional couch viewing. Ad-buyers are moving partially to the Web to reach consumers in their 20s and 30s.
The Times spoke with a 31-year-old father whose 4-year-old son watches TV via Roku, a small box that streams shows through the Internet. "I don't think he knows what a channel even is," says Jay Rishel of York, Pa. And for the first time this month, the Super Bowl was broadcast online as well as on television. More than 2 million fans watched the live stream at some point, which NBC says made it the "most-watched single-game sports event ever online." A vastly larger global audience of more than 111 million people watched on television.
Parent says: "I'm in my 50s, with teens. We all watch our media on [Internet-access] devices and if we want to do it together, we assemble in front of a BIG device" that gets streamed media. -- David Cook, Rhinebeck, N.Y., at New York Times website
Ad executive says: "Young people are always the first group to be doing other things, trying other things." -- Gary Carr of TargetCast TCM, a New York City agency
Journalist says: "Another 'duh' study about how young people don't watch as much TV as their elders. Nothing new here people, move along." -- Joe Flint, Los Angeles Times media reporter in a tweet (@jbflint)
Front Page Talking Points is written by Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2017
We welcome comments or suggestions for future topics: Click here to Comment
Front Page Talking Points Archive
►A starting whistle blows this week for holiday shopping online and in stores
►Get used to cars without drivers because they're starting to roll out of labs and onto streets
►Congress pushes social media firms to block foreign election mischief on their influential sites
►'Reckless, outrageous and undignified:' 3 Republican senators and an ex-president speak out about Donald Trump
►New evidence of huge stars colliding long ago excites astronomers
►'What Happened:' Hillary Clinton revisits Campaign '16 in her book and national tour
►'Democracy on the line:' Supreme Court considers what's legal when politicians redraw election district maps
►As Puerto Rico struggles after devastating hurricane, Trump feels backlash about pace of help
►Another climate change impact: Solidly frozen Alaskan permafrost is thawing
►Scientists urge changes to ease impact of what flows down the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico


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Sep 24, 2008 Ami Olson Uncategorized
Jordan-Elbridge students got a special visit Friday morning when more than 60 cyclists stopped at Ramsdell Elementary during their Ride for Missing Children on Sept. 19, including Ramsdell Physical Education teacher Paula Tucker.
Tucker was greeted by students waving dozens of signs encouraging her and other riders as they rolled into Jordan around 9:15 a.m.
The Ride for Missing Children began and ended at Emerson Park in Cayuga County, and stopped at schools in Auburn, Jordan, Baldwinsville and Cato throughout the day to raise awareness.
In the weeks preceding the ride, NCMEC representatives had visited the schools to hold parent and teacher workshops and group assemblies to educate about internet safety, abduction dangers and prevention.
"This is a huge visual reinforcement," said Ed Suk, executive director of NCMEC Rochester branch.
Suk said the ride draws $20,000 in sponsorships and each rider raises at least $300 – money that is pumped back into the education program.
Earlier that morning, as riders prepared for the100-mile course at Emerson Park, they were addressed by Scott Berne, a parental abduction survivor.
In 1979, nine-year-old Berne and his brother were abducted by his mother Harriet following their parents' divorce. The boys, Rochester natives, were found two years later in Texas, where his mother was working under an alias as a schoolteacher. The high-profile case made national and international headlines, and in February of 2008 Berne released an autobiography, "Extraordinary Circumstances," to tell his story.
"It's not just a child that is being stolen, their childhood is being stolen," Berne said of his decision to share his experiences with others. He began telling his story publicly several years ago, to help kids, parents, and educators learn how to prevent abduction. In April, he began speaking in conjunction with the NCMEC, and foresees a long relationship with the organization.
"It gives purpose to what we're all doing," he said of the organization. "With the right education, and the right prevention, you can save a childhood."
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Ali Gul Intehaaai Be suraaa aadmi hey
Per Song mein phir bhi rang bhar deta hey
ahhahaha yae toh hian
Thankyou Ali Gul Pir
Deekhoo issay jo deeda-e-ibrat nigah hooooooo
zardari ko dikhaya hay na is song ma
goood vdo . crap song.....
Ye Ali Gul Pir hai ya Shahbaz Sharif ???????????
after 3:00 read his lips if u can
lol brilliant lyrics
VIP is a song/video which is based on the worst leader a nation can have. So please VOTE and think before you VOTE!
The singer needs mental treatment otherwise he might hurt himself or people around him.
noora league k payroll tattoos ...plzzzzz listen .....
did any body notice that Ahsan Iqbal was in the video.wearing safari suit with the files.


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Scrubs retooled itself this past season, with new cast members, but it doesn't look like it's going to work.
ABC has made no official announcement on the future of the new "Scrubs" but Zach Braff posted on Facebook that "Many have asked, so here it is: it appears that 'New Scrubs' , 'Scrubs 2.0' , 'Scrubs with New Kids' , 'Scrubbier' , 'Scrubs without J.D.' is no more."
For the record, "Scrubs" has looked dead before, so we should probably wait for the official word from ABC before writing it off for good. Although it's been a disaster in the ratings this year.
I sort of enjoyed the new version of "Scrubs." It kind of reminded me of a more comedic "Grey's Anatomy" though. Thoughts??? (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)


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Screw 'em!
I mean, really … other people? They're just objects in the road. Something to get around. And if they piss you off, then scare them or put them in danger.
Here's what a road bully pulled on me this morning. He didn't realize, however, that wasn't scared of him.
(Click for larger image)
That's the intersection of National and Grand. I pass through this intersection everyday following the route indicated by the red line. While it might look scary, this intersection is easily traversed even by novices. All it takes is a basic understanding of how traffic works and the bicyclist's role in it.
Since I head west through the intersection, I position myself to command the right-hand through lane. There's a long sight-line to my rear, so car drivers may easily decide if they want to pull in behind a bicyclist or not. If not, they simply take the left-hand through lane. This reasonable, adult behavior works like a charm the vast majority of the time.
Then you have the bullies — their numbers are quite low, but their behavior can be disconcerting.
So this guy pulls in behind me at the light instead of taking the left lane. His behavior tells me that he's comfortable with the fact that I won't be traveling the speed limit through this intersection.
There were five cars to my left, and all of them passed me easily as we passed through the intersection (red line). The guy behind me stayed behind me until we reached the turn-out. Then he gunned the engine and passed me on the right using the turn-out despite the left lane being entirely clear (yellow line).
What an asshole.
Now, I have enough experience on the road that I was merely angered by his behavior, i.e. taking a chance with other people's lives. But such a stunt is exactly the kind of thing that could frighten a novice off the road for good. And that really makes me angry.


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Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
Maxide (triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide) is a combination of a potassium-conserving diuretic and a natriuretic agent and is prescribed as a treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure) and edema. Maxide is also a diuretic given to patients who cannot risk low blood potassium. Maxide may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs, such as beta-blockers but dosages may need to be adjusted; regardless, potassium levels in patients is recommended for all patients taking Maxide. Maxide is available in generic form. Common side effects of Maxide include dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, or upset stomach as your body adjusts to the medication. Other side effects of Maxide include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, headache, insomnia, and dry mouth. Tell your doctor if you experience rare but serious side effects including fainting, muscle cramps/weakness, slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, decrease in vision, eye pain, signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine), or symptoms of a serious allergic reaction (rash, itching/swelling, especially of the face/tongue/throat, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
Maxide has two preparations based on the strengths of the two components; triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide at concentrations of 37.5 and 25 mg or 75 and 50 mg, respectively. The usual dose of Maxide is 25mg based on the hydrochlorothiazide concentration, one or two tablets daily, given as a single dose. Divided daily doses, (rather than a single daily dose, and not recommend by the supplier) may place patients at an increased risk of electrolyte imbalance and kidney dysfunction. The routine use of this and other diuretics in an otherwise healthy pregnant woman to reduce minor dependent edema or in an attempt to prevent toxemia of pregnancy is inappropriate and exposes mother and fetus to unnecessary hazards. The safe use of Maxide in pregnancy has not been established and the effect of Maxide in pregnant women has not been studied. Maxide should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the risk to the fetus. If use of Maxide is deemed essential, breastfeeding mothers should stop nursing because some of the drug is found in breast milk. Maxide has not been studied in children.
Our Maxide (triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Side effects observed in association with the use of MAXZIDE, other combination products containing triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide, and products containing triamterene or hydrochlorothiazide include the following:
Gastrointestinal: jaundice (intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice), pancreatitis, nausea, appetite disturbance, taste alteration, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, anorexia, gastric irritation, cramping.
Central Nervous System: drowsiness and fatigue, insomnia, headache, dizziness, dry mouth, depression, anxiety, vertigo, restlessness, paresthesias.
Cardiovascular: tachycardia, shortness of breath and chest pain, orthostatic hypotension (may be aggravated by alcohol, barbiturates or narcotics).
Renal: acute renal failure, acute interstitial nephritis, renal stones composed of triamterene in association with other calculus materials, urine discoloration.
Hematologic: leukopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia and megaloblastosis.
Ophthalmic: xanthopsia, transient blurred vision.
Hypersensitivity: anaphylaxis, photosensitivity, rash, urticaria, purpura, necrotizing angiitis (vasculitis, cutaneous vasculitis), fever, respiratory distress including pneumonitis.
Other: muscle cramps and weakness, decreased sexual performance and sialadenitis.
Whenever adverse reactions are moderate to severe, therapy should be reduced or withdrawn.
Altered Laboratory Findings
Serum Electrolytes: hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, hypochloremia (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS).
Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen: Reversible elevations in BUN and serum creatinine have been observed in hypertensive patients treated with MAXZIDE.
Glucose: hyperglycemia, glycosuria and diabetes mellitus (see PRECAUTIONS).
Serum Uric Acid, PBI and Calcium: (see PRECAUTIONS).
Other: Elevated liver enzymes have been reported in patients receiving MAXZIDE.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Maxide (Triamterene and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets)
© Maxide Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Maxide Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.


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As I listen to 'The Road Less Travelled', its easy to see why Penance adopted a softer touch to their next record. Although some of the attributes to this record exist on the next record, the debut isn't as strong in terms of musicianship or song writing. In actual fact, a lot of the songs sound laboured, lazy and weary. I understand that this was recorded during the era that we now call 'old school', but instead of being defined as a classic of that era, this enters the school of hard knocks and has its red behind whipped some more by the cruel lack of creativity. Penance began and ended 'Parallel Corners' in a productive manner. The band set about integrating experimentation into their sound, which is less defined at this stage, early on and it proved to be a winner with the fans, myself included. 'The Road Less Travelled' is apt in describing the appeal of this record when compared to the appeal of the second full-length - whilst 'Parallel Corners' is a booming motorway, full of life and vigour, 'The Road Less Travelled' is just that - not often in use because there are better options at hand for the controlled driver who is stuck in their sets ways and knows exactly how they wish to get from point A to point B. There is a directness about this record, but that isn't a positive when compared to the star-studded affair of the second full-length, which mesmerised the listener with creative structures that included a variation in vocals and other delightful sections of the instrumentation, such as the emotive acoustics that set a different path for the listener to take their positive views down. The emotional readout of this record is like an earthquake reaching 2.1 on the Richter scale - usually not felt.
Beginning with the instrumental intro, 'Eulogy', I had high hopes for this record. The intro set about depicting a solemn opening with a simple, yet pleasing introduction to a hard-faced record. The intro didn't serve the content for the rest of the record well and, once again, had me asking questions as to why it was included in the first place since it didn't lay down any familiar emotions that are conjured up throughout the remainder of the record. Instead, it fixated on an entirely new sound, which is distant and cold towards the remaining songs. What follows the introduction is lacklustre. The songs are poorly developed and seem to believe that introducing guitar solos into the soundscapes will enhance the opinion of the relatively simplistic content. The answer to that is clearly no, it does not enhance anything. The instrumentation, whilst well performed, is stale and somewhat boring. The production limit's the emotive productivity of the record. It dampens any sign of significant emotion that might be trying to be portrayed through the individual musicians. Whilst areas like bass and vocals usually act as an emotive source for the rest of the instrumentation to develop around, like flowers and plants growing upwards and outwards towards the sunlight that feeds them, the band seems to believe that 'menacing' guitars will highlight their lyrical themes well and, unfortunately, it doesn't. The second full-length, although nowhere near perfect, at least attempted to signify some intent and add some sort of dynamism to the songs with varied tempos, variation in vocals and even acoustic passages.
This record doesn't want to do the same. It believes lazy doom laden solos will create a devastating enough atmosphere that will portray the despair of the vocals and lyrics, but it doesn't do that either. Though each aspect is audible, Penance struggle to mount any form of creativity that is worth spending the duration of the record trying to find like a needle in a haystack. The lyrics to 'Soul Rot' are comically ironic, "Don't want to be a slave to monotony … No!" Well, I'm afraid you are. The guitar leads lack direction and with the spurts of creativity that the percussion adds, the content seems jumbled and works in a stop-start-stop motion, continuously. Songs like 'If They Would Cut My Throat Out…' are fine examples of this. The instrumentation cuts out the vocals and plays over, again and again, inducing boredom by repetition. Now, its not the fact that Penance approach the content with a repetitious mindset that irks me because I'm used to repetition, in fact, I'm a fan of it, the problem is simply with the lack of innovation and control. The vocals, which are the highlight of this poorly produced piece, aren't enough of a saving grace to drag this record of its knees. The scarred and tortured soul of the listener is eternally damned to hell by the monotonous and grinding down approach that spreads thin soundscapes across the sky like think rain clouds only capable of producing drizzle, as opposed to a full on storm. This record, and its content, is about as useful or as nice as a condom with holes in it. What makes this mediocre piece even worse is the fact that there are two songs over ten minutes in duration. Dear God, no.