June

11

NFL: Packers defeat Lions 31–21, Lions become first team to finish season with 0-16 record

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NFL: Packers defeat Lions 31–21, Lions become first team to finish season with 0-16 record
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Monday, December 29, 2008

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions on Sunday evening by a final score of 31–21, effectively ending the Lions’ season with an 0-16 record. The game was played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin and was televised by Fox in the United States. Kickoff was at 1:00 p.m. EDT. The Lions became the first National Football League franchise to complete an “imperfect season” (without a victory) since the introduction of the 16-game schedule in the 1978 NFL season. The winless season comes just a year after the New England Patriots did the reverse, accomplishing the NFL’s first “perfect” 16-0 regular season.

After trailing the game 14–0 entering the second quarter, Detroit rallied back to tie the game at 14 by the end of the third quarter. The Packers took a 10-point lead halfway through the fourth quarter with a field goal by kicker Mason Crosby (Green Bay 17 – Detroit 14) and then a touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to fullback John Kuhn (Green Bay 24 – Detroit 14). The Lions fought back with a rushing touchdown by Kevin Smith which left Detroit within three points of tying the game. However, just 11 seconds later, the Packers took possession and Aaron Rodgers completed a 71-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Donald Driver (Green Bay 31 – Detroit 21). The Packers held on to the lead for the remainder of the game to seal their sixth victory on the season.

Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky was 22-of-42 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Calvin Johnson led the Lions in receiving with 102 yards and touchdowns. Kevin Smith led the Lions in rushing with 92 yards and one touchdown.

For the Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was 21-of-31 for 308 yards and three touchdowns, and running backs Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn rushed for 106 yards each. Wide receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings led the Packers in receiving, both tallying over 100 yards.

Prior to the Lions’ loss on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the only franchise since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger to finish a season without a victory or a tie. The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished their season with a 0-14 record. It was the Buccaneers franchise’s first season in the NFL. Tampa Bay also lost the first 12 games of the 1977 season, and the team’s 26-game losing streak is still the longest in NFL history. The 1982 Baltimore Colts were the most recent NFL team to not win a game in their respective season, failing to win in the strike-shortened 1982 season, posting an 0-8-1 record.

Scoring summary
Qtr Team Time Scoring play Extra point Score
1 GB 09:02 Wynn 73 yard TD run Crosby kick GB 7–0
1 GB 01:33 Finley 3 yard TD pass from Rodgers Crosby kick GB 14–0
2 DET 11:22 Johnson 9 yard TD pass from Orlovsky Hanson kick GB 14–7
3 DET 10:28 Johnson 14 yard TD pass from Orlovsky Hanson kick Tied 14–14
4 GB 13:38 Crosby 36 yard field goal GB 17–14
4 GB 08:40 Kuhn 5 yard TD pass from Rodgers Crosby kick GB 24–17
4 DET 07:38 Smith 9 yard TD run Hanson kick GB 24–21
4 GB 07:27 Driver 71 yard TD pass from Rodgers Crosby kick GB 31–21

The Lions’ loss was closely watched by some members of the 1976 Buccaneers team, including defensive end Pat Toomay. Toomay told reporters, “I would like the torch to be passed…At the same time, you don’t want to wish that on anybody.” Toomay also pointed out that although the Buccaneers lost every game in their inaugural season, the team reached the NFC Championship Game in their fourth season (1979).

Steve Spurrier, the quarterback for the Buccaneers in the 1976 season, voiced his support for the Lions in their quest to win their first game of the season, hoping that only the Buccaneers would hold the distinction of finishing an “imperfect season.”

“I want that record,” Spurrier said. “I’m pulling for them, sure,” Spurrier added. “That’s the American thing to do, isn’t it?”

Entering the game, the Lions were 10½-point underdogs against the Packers in spread betting. Lions tackle Gosder Cherilus likened the team’s chance to avoid the 0-16 finish as a championship game. “It’s our Super Bowl,” Cherilus told reporters on Friday, December 27.

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The Lions surpassed the 1980 New Orleans Saints with their 15th consecutive loss on December 21 to become the first team in NFL history to lose the first 15 games of the season. The 1980 Saints lost their first 14 games, but won their 15th game against the New York Jets.

The closest margin that the Lions came to within victory was two points, which came against the Minnesota Vikings on October 12. Minnesota won the game by a score of 12–10. The 1976 Buccaneers suffered five shutout losses (in which they did not score a single point) in their winless season. The closest that the Buccaneers came within victory was a 23–20 loss to the Miami Dolphins on October 24, 1976.

Prior to the regular season, the Lions won all four of their games in the exhibition season, which do not count in regular season standings or totals.

While the loss didn’t come without a fight from the Lions, players from the team knew that they would be forever remembered as possibly the worst team in NFL history. “I’ve got to live with this,” Lions center Dominic Raiola said. “I’ve been here eight years. This is on my résumé.”

“I don’t ever want to be a part of this again,” Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky said. “We haven’t won since, November of ’07, maybe? I don’t even know the last time we won a game.” The franchise’s last victory in the regular season was on December 23, 2007 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Packers players were just as eager for a victory. Green Bay’s quarterback Aaron Rodgers said while their own season was disappointing, they didn’t want to be forever remembered as the team that lost to the 0-15 Lions in the final game of the season. “We didn’t want to lose, no, we didn’t,” Rodgers said. “But really it’s not on your mind once the game starts. I didn’t even think about it until the fans started chanting in the fourth quarter. They played hard, they really did.” Packers fans in attendance at Lambeau Field began to chant “0-16” late in the game.

With their victory, the Packers finished their 2008 season with a 6-10 record. With the loss, the Lions finished their 79th season since their inception as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1929. It was the Lions’ 75th season in Detroit, Michigan. The franchise also secured the first-overall selection in the upcoming 2009 NFL Draft, a spot reserved for the NFL team with the worst record from the previous season entering the upcoming season.

After the game, Lions head coach Rod Marinelli declined to comment on his future with the team. Since being hired in 2006, the Lions have had a 10-38 record under Marinelli. The Lions have averaged 11 losses per season since 2001 and now have lost 23 of their last 24 games. The 0-16 record could be a lasting testimony to the Matt Millen era. With Millen as president of the team from 2001 until he was fired on September 24, Detroit won only 31 games. Millen was widely criticized for his handling of the Lions organization, and Lions fans rallied to have him relieved of duties for years.

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June

11

The Silence Of Pure Thoughts Speaking For Achievers!

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The silence of pure thoughts speaking for Achievers!

by

Matary Conde

Jim DaBramo, Executive Vice President of sales and operations at Airband. AirBand Communications, Inc. is a wireless broadband service provider that delivers a new generation of secure, scalable, high-speed Internet and data services to companies of all sizes. With broadband services scalable to OC-12 and a suite of additional services such as firewall, Virtual Private Network (VPN), and web hosting, and hard work demonstrated by Jim DaBramo and team airBand offers comprehensive solutions, unprecedented network reliability and an unrelenting focus on its customers. Utilizing cutting-edge wireless technology and a success-based deployment strategy, airBand supports a capital efficient business plan allowing superior cost savings for its customers. Jim DaBramo strongly believes, Service is to sales like ink is to pen. If the ink leaks in the best pen, the pen becomes useless .

Peter Daboul is Skanska AB Project Superintendent. Skanska USA Building Inc. is a leading national and local provider of construction, pre-construction consulting, general contracting and design-build services to a broad range of U.S. industries including life sciences, healthcare, education, high-tech, aviation, transportation and sports and entertainment. Skanska USA Building also provides pharmaceutical validation services to clients. The company, part of the Skanska AB global group of companies, is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, and has approximately 4,100 employees. With dedicated hard work bestowed by Peter Daboul and team Skanska is one of the worlds leading construction groups with expertise in construction, development of commercial and residential projects and public-private partnerships. The Group currently has 54,000 employees in selected home markets in Europe, in the U.S. and Latin America. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Skanska’s sales in 2005 totaled $17 billion.Peter Daboul strongly believes, Excellence in action in an organization is, when employees :pay attention to the details do things right the first time, and practice good human relations

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtL8gTEuwvU[/youtube]

Antonio Dabraio is Riskonnect Co-Founder/VP R/D. With the hard work reveled by Antonio Dabraio and team Riskonnect, Inc. is the only provider of enterprise-class risk management software solutions. As an innovator in risk management technology, Riskonnnect’s solutions empower executives to make forward-looking decisions based on real-time, enterprise-wide, comprehensive risk information. Riskonnect’s growing suite of risk management applications including Riskonnect ERM, Riskonnect RMIS and Riskonnect Incident Management are built on a platform you can trust. A platform that is secure, reliable and fast. It powers nearly 60,000 businesses running more than 100,000 applications that 1.5+ million users count on every day. The Riskonnect platform, team of technology and business executives, and its data services group, set Riskonnect apart from all others.

I love to research about great personalities and learn about. I appreciate

Peter Daboul

,

Antonio Dabraio

and

Jim DaBramo

for their amazing contribution in their field.

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June

11

MLB: Yankees’ Phil Hughes earns first win

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MLB: Yankees’ Phil Hughes earns first win
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May 2, 2007

20-year-old pitching phenom Phil Hughes cruised through hitters in just his second start for the New York Yankees, but the end result created even more frustration for the organization and fans everywhere.

Hughes retired 19 Texas Rangers without allowing a hit on Tuesday at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Established big league stars such as Kenny Lofton, Mark Teixeira and Michael Young could not solve the youngster’s blazing fastball or sharply biting curve. Hughes was on the verge of history. Even as his pitch count rose, the Yankees allowed him to keep firing. “He was fine,” manager Joe Torre said of the 2004 first round draft pick. “We were going to allow him to go 100 pitches last time, so I didn’t think that would be a problem.”

Just when the Yankees thought they found an answer to their early struggles, the organization was treated to an agonizing sight. After Teixeira fouled off an 0-2 pitch with one out in the sixth inning, Hughes grabbed his leg, having suffered a hamstring injury. His no-hit bid ended there (Texas would break up the no-hitter in the eighth inning off reliever Mike Myers), though he did earn his first big league win in a 10-1 Yankee romp over Texas. He walked off the mound under his own power, but will reportedly miss 4-6 weeks.

Hughes voiced his frustration afterwards: “It’s tough. It puts a damper on the whole thing.” He added, “I’m at a point now where our rotation really needs it,” referring to his presence on the New York pitching staff. Several Yankees have already voiced their excitement for the righthander’s chances in the big leagues. For his part, Yankees star Jason Giambi compared him to Roger Clemens during Spring Training: “He looks like a young Rocket.”

The Yankees are currently just 10-14, thanks in large part to injuries that have befallen pitchers Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano and Jeff Karstens. In a related story from today, the Yankees fired strength and conditioning coach Marty Miller. Reportedly, this was out of general manager Brian Cashman’s concern for the alarming number of hamstring injuries so far this season.

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June

11

FEMA accused of misusing trained disaster workers as public-relations workers

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FEMA accused of misusing trained disaster workers as public-relations workers
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Monday, September 12, 2005

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is being criticized for misallocation of personnel in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. FEMA representatives said they requested volunteers from fire departments around the U.S., to handle its community relations campaign. However, a document FEMA sent to local fire departments asked for firefighters with very specific skills and who were capable of working in “austere conditions”. Fire departments around the nation responded by sending crews to the FEMA staging ground in Atlanta. Some of these crews were unaware that they were only going to be used for public relations work. Others, however, merely hoped that FEMA would allocate them to rescue and damage control operations once it saw their qualifications.

The firefighter’s objections are particularly poignant as one of FEMA public relations training seminars coincided with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin plea for firefighters on national television, to relieve his own exhausted crews. It is unclear if FEMA’s request for firefighters prevented any municipalities from responding to Mayor Nagin’s request.

Some firefighters have objected to their use as FEMA public relations officers because their municipalities must bear the cost of their salaries, as well as endure reduced firefighting capacity. FEMA has stated that it sought to use firefighters to avoid background checks required of federal employees.

Firefighters began receiving their assignments Monday, September 5th. Among these was a crew of 50 assigned to tour the devastated areas with President Bush and the press.

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June

11

NZ Finance Minister introduces 2006 budget

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NZ Finance Minister introduces 2006 budget
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Thursday, May 18, 2006

Today the New Zealand Finance Minister, Hon. Dr Michael Cullen, presented the 2006 New Zealand Budget to the House of Representatives. There is a NZ$8.5 billion OBERAC surplus and a NZ$1.5 billion cash surplus.

It has been labelled as the “Bondi Budget” by National leader Don Brash, “Helen Clark and Michael Cullen believe there is a place for tax cuts – it’s called Australia” he said.

The budget allocates new operating spending of $9.6 billion and capital of $2.7 billion over the next four years.

Key issues in the budget includes:

  • The Telecom New Zealand local loop unbundling (released earlier due to leak).
  • $1.3 billion extra for transport.
  • $3 billion extra for health care, over the next four years.
  • $361 million extra for schooling
  • $166 million extra for tertiary education and skill training
  • $162 million extra for early childhood education
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June

11

Folic Acid: Good For You

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By Vincent Platania

Folic acid can benefit you in a wide array of areas. It is primarily suggested by doctors and nutritionists for those who are pregnant or could become pregnant. Folic acid has been found to greatly reduce the risks of having children born with certain birth defects, including neural tube defects, cleft palate and cleft lip and spina bifida.

This is a B vitamin and if often found in a ‘B vitamin’ complex. Folic acid by itsel is responsible for the replication and maintenance of DNA and RNA, which you can see is essential for a healthy growing fetus. It’s been found that if a woman is taking folic acid regularly when she becomes pregnant and during the pregnancy she can reduce the risks of her baby being born with a serious birth defect by up to fifty percent.

There have also been studies that show people suffering from depression are often deficient in folic acid. It’s thought that folic acid being able to reduce levels of homecysteine in your blood can help prevent depression. Homocysteine is associated with some forms of depression. And studies of patients with depression while on a supplemental form of folic acid found that their antidepressants were more effective.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7alGqlHNRh8[/youtube]

Because folic acid is helpful in maintaining your DNA and RNA and replicating it, researchers believe folic acid may be helpful in reducing your risks of cancer. It appears that folic acid is able to prevent cells from mutating, which is what causes cancer. Studies indicate that risks of developing cervical, lung, rectum, and colon cancer are reduced.

Also in recent studies it’s been shown that patients with advanced Alzheimer’s have low blood levels of folic, while patients with high levels of folic acid also had the highest levels of cognitive capabilities. While there is lots more research needed on the subject before a conclusion can be drawn you may find it helpful to take more folic acid as you age.

Folic acid can help to fight anemia in patients, both for those who have a B vitamin deficiency and those who have developed anemia for other reasons. It’s considered most effective when taken in combination with vitamin B12 to help your body boost its red blood cell production. Do be careful in taking folic acid for this condition because it is known for masking other vitamin B deficiencies that may present themselves with anemia.

Last but certainly not least folic acid is thought to slow the progress of multiple sclerosis. Studies have shown that MS patients don’t process vitamin B12 as well as they normally would. And that taking a B12 supplement with folic acid can help to maintain the nervous system in those patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

The recommended daily allowance for folic acid is four hundred micrograms. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant you should take up to six hundred micrograms daily. It is recommended that you do not take more than one thousand micrograms of folic acid a day.

About the Author: Author Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products. Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean. Visit

stanleybeautycare.com

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June

11

Man eats dog to protest animal cruelty

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Man eats dog to protest animal cruelty
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Thursday, May 31, 2007

In an unusual protest, British performance artist, Mark McGowan ate meatballs which were made from a Corgi, a breed of dog often kept by the Royal Family.

McGowan is protesting alleged cruelty exhibited by Prince Philip. The husband of Queen Elizabeth II is reported to have beaten to death a fox, during a fox hunt.

The event was broadcast live on a radio program hosted by Bob and Roberta Smith. Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, was also there and tasted some of the Corgi meatballs.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) seemed to approve of the protest: “The idea of eating a corgi will make many people lose their lunch,” said Poorva Joshipura, European director. “But foxes, who are hunted for so-called entertainment, are no less capable of feeling fear and pain.” McGowan said the corgi he consumed had died recently at a breeding farm and had not been killed for the purposes of the protest. It was minced with apple, onion and seasoning, turned into meatballs and served with salad, but McGowan said: “It’s disgusting. It’s really, really, really disgusting.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) claimed however that there was no evidence that Prince Philip had mistreated the fox or that it had suffered.

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June

10

Miles-long queue to view Pope John Paul one last time

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Miles-long queue to view Pope John Paul one last time
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Tuesday, April 5, 2005

Tens of thousands of regular people walked through the domed St. Peter’s Basilica today, but the queue behind them never seemed to ebb, according to reporters in The Vatican.

Winding over two miles from the bier holding the Pontiff’s body all the way to the Tiber River, backpackers from all over the world, young and old, students and the disabled, waited and slowly shuffled toward their goal: one last look at the pope they had come to feel was like a father to them.

A French park ranger spoke of the physical pain the pope must have suffered while remaining so peaceful in spirit. Another visitor was hoping to kiss his hand or touch his robe. They were satisfied with merely a chance to view his crimson-robed body, as visible in death as he had been only weeks earlier, in life.

Nearly 2 million people will visit The Vatican for the funeral service on Friday, an unprecedented salute for a public figure who may have helped bring down the Iron Curtain.

Other voices were heard as well, but they were in dissent. Amidst Pope Paul’s uncompromising orthodoxy, they said, he had destroyed democracy in the Church and alienated many. And although most of the mourners were contrite and moved slowly through the long queue, there were the usual “line jumpers,” greeted by catcalls and impatient reactions from others.

“Filthy pigs! We’ll all be dead by the time we get in,” an elderly woman spat in Italian.

The city of Rome, which surrounds Vatican City, has set up campgrounds in stadiums and public places for open use during the events. One lady said she didn’t care where she slept or even if she would.

Sabina La Versa had taken the all-night train from Sicily to view the pontiff. She said “The pope’s love for us flowed like water from a jug. I’d wait here forever to say arrivederci,” Italian for “see you again.”

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June

10

Optical Time Division Multiplexing Technology

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By Frbiz Tian

Optical time division multiplexing (TDM) technology is a high-speed transmission technology (up to 100Gb / s), it uses very narrow pulses have a greater bandwidth, more efficient use of optical fiber spectrum. TDM will slip stream of light directly into the optical domain multiplexing, resulting in the synthesis of very high bit rate data stream. TDM allows multiple signals simultaneously access to the same fibers, but the realization method of TDM and WDM is entirely different.

TDM can be used to achieve a single light 40Gb / s over rate.

The light source (such as mode-locked laser) produces a series of very narrow optical pulses into N-zero data stream, N a data stream for each channel signal by XGb / s (such as STM-n) respectively, the slip signal modulation, delay one clock cycle, and then by multiplexing the data resulting from the total rate of (N X) Gb / s.

Present study shows that, TDM overall rate of up to 200Gb / s or higher. Are running at such high speed optical transmission system, the fiber dispersion is a very important issue, generally use two methods to resolve, one is to use dispersion management (through the use of dispersion compensation fiber), bringing the total of the dispersion Jie Jin to zero; Another way is to use soliton transmission. Soliton transmission technology must be carefully considered signal power and pulse shape, and compression using self-phase modulation of the dispersion effect to solve the problem. Therefore, TDM is to support long-distance, high-capacity transmission better technical solutions.

Since the 90s since the 20th century, the United States, Britain, Japan and other countries some of the research carried out on the TDM system, extensive research and have made great progress.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gWEKSuCApg[/youtube]

Used in optical transmission network TDM, must consider the synchronization problem, not only have to consider synchronization in time domain, frequency domain synchronization.

That is, for TDM networks, through various channels to reach any node to synchronize the pulse sequences needed to ensure the accurate demultiplexing, while they have the same spectral characteristics needed to ensure that when the data is handed to the network of another node, with zero offset between them. TDM networks for large-scale major difficulty has been inserted into the data path and data path of the optical-line properties match, a possible solution is to use a single distribution in the network to send laser signals.

TDM high-speed optical communication system is composed of ultra-short pulse light source, optical time division multiplexing / de-multiplexing equipment, optical clock recovery and synchronization, optical receivers, and optical fiber components.

TDM system requirements to produce high repetition rate light source, small super narrow pulse duty ratio. The more narrow width of the large ones can be reused more bandwidth, the more wide. Sources to meet these requirements mainly locked ring laser, mode-locked semiconductor lasers.

TDM time-division multiplexing optical transmission system technology easier to achieve, and optical demultiplexing up difficult to achieve. Optical demultiplexing TDM requirements are: fast and stable work without error, control, low power, polarization independent, timing jitter is small. Currently the main use of optical fiber nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM – based on semiconductor laser amplifier loop mirrors) and FWM (four wave mixing) two demultiplexer demultiplexing.

Extracted from the TDM clock signal system is very important. At present, the main optical clock extraction circuit resonance, injection mode-locked semiconductor laser and phase-locked loop (PLL), etc. The more mature the PLL.

In order to achieve a drop multiplexing function of optical networks, in addition to the clock extraction, but also need to frame and channel calibration. In the optical transmission network, the environmental impact, will produce jitter and drift, so these systems will require precise alignment and channel phase control.

TDM is a realization of a powerful high-capacity high-speed transmission technology, it can effective use of optical wavelength, and can run at different distances and capacity of the network. TDM can also use non-linear soliton transmission, and a host of other technologies, high-speed transmission systems to eliminate the dispersion effects. With the large-scale integration technology, such as InP and silicon planar waveguide technology and semiconductor optical amplification technology, TDM technology will make significant progress and into the practical.

About the Author: http://www.fiber-optic-multiplexer.com contains a great deal of information about

TDM_over_IP

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Fiber_Optic_Modem

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SDH_Multiplexer

, welcome to visit!

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June

9

Science curriculum director resigns from Texas Education Agency

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Science curriculum director resigns from Texas Education Agency
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Friday, November 30, 2007

Christine Comer resigned this month as the director of the science curriculum for the Texas Education Agency‘s (TEA) director after more than nine years. Comer said her resignation was due to pressure from officials who claimed she had given the appearance of criticizing the teaching of intelligent design.

According to documents obtained by the Austin American-Statesman, “Comer was put on 30 days paid administrative leave shortly after she forwarded an e-mail in late October announcing a presentation by Barbara Forrest, a critic of the intelligent design/creationist movement. Forrest served as an expert witness at the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial. At Dover, intelligent design was ruled “a religious view, a mere re-labeling of creationism, and not a scientific theory.” There is widespread scientific support for evolution, while creationism has been described as pseudoscience by the scientific community.

Comer’s resignation comes shortly ahead of the TEA’s State Board of Education (SBOE) reviews of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which determine what should be taught in the classrooms and what textbooks are bought.

The advocacy group Texas Citizens for Science have released a statement saying, in part, “The real reason [Comer] was forced to resign is because the top TEA administrators and some SBOE members wanted her out of the picture before the state science standards—the science TEKS—were reviewed, revised, and rewritten next year. Plans are underway by some SBOE members and TEA administrators to diminish the requirement to teach about evolutionary biology in the Biology TEKS and to require instead that biology instructors ‘Teach the Controversy’ about the ‘weaknesses’ of evolution, that is, teach the Creationist-inspired and -created bogus controversy about evolution that doesn’t exist within legitimate science.”

Professor PZ Myers, biology professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris, wrote that Forrest is “exactly the kind of person boards of education ought to consult before going down the road of attempting to legislate religion into the public schools.”

In reaction to the news Forrest told National Center for Science Education, “In my talk, I simply told the truth — about the history of the ‘intelligent design’ movement, about the complete rejection of its claims by the scientific community, and about the Kitzmiller trial and my involvement in it. Maybe the TEA can’t afford to take a position on what constitutes good science education — maybe it must remain neutral on whether or not to lie to students about evolution — but if so, that’s just sad.”

Agency officials declined to comment, saying it was a personnel issue.

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