Meerkats Mourn Lady of the Manor

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Meerkats Mourn Lady of the Manor

When Meerkat Manor's matriarch, the feisty Flower Whiskers, died on screen at the end of September even Animal Planet executives were stunned by the outpouring of grief from across the world.

Meerkat lovers first swamped the network with sorrow filled notes after the death of Shakespeare in the first season of Animal Planet's Meerkat Manor. The fans were once again aghast to hear the news that their beloved celebrity 'kat', Flower Whiskers - the queen of South Africa's Kalahari Desert ' had died of a cobra bite. As strong and courageous as she was, Flower was simply not strong enough to live through the attack and succumbed to her injuries. Although the episode only screened in September, in reality Flower died in February this year.

The heart wrenching episode entitled "A Journey's End," featured the events leading up to Flower's untimely death after yet another Meerkat struggle for survival in the African Desert. For four years she was leader of one of the largest, most close-knit families on the Manor. Flower and her partner Zaphod, ran one of the most successful mobs in the Kalahari. Flower was the dominant female of the Meerkat group called 'the Whiskers'. Having come into existence in 1998, the Whiskers mob is at the heart of Animal Planet's Meerkat Manor. They are a family of Meerkats struggling to survive in Africa's Kalahari Desert. Flower led the Whiskers through wars while viewers got to admire an intelligent leader, valiant warrior and generous mother. For two years they watched as she defended and raised her family of heroes.

The daily goings-on at the so-called Manor may read like a page from any prime-time soapy, filled with jealous exes, sibling rivalry, down 'n dirty (meer)kat fights, pregnant daughters getting kicked out of the house and a lot of paring off. But these furry stars of Meerkat Manor don't follow any script, they write it as they go along, assisted by a group of researchers from the Kalahari Meerkat Project, whose specially built fiber-optic cameras capture the true slice of life that just happens to be taking place, at times, in a burrow in the Kalahari Desert under the wide African skies.

These small masked mammals live and thrive in one of the hottest and driest places on earth and beloved Meerkat fans can meet these precious and highly social creatures by visiting the malaria free Kalahari Desert in South Africa. Together with a group of biologists that are investigating the cooperative behaviour of the Meerkat - and who have habituated ten separate groups of Meerkats - these highly engaging creatures can be observed from only few feet away.

The reserve provides fans with the ultimate safari experience as they are introduced to the energetic daily social lifestyle of the Desert Meerkats, right where the ever popular Meerkat Manor is filmed. Meerkat Manor's pioneering methods of filming have allowed the opportunity for the Kalahari Project scientists to uncover aspects of Meerkat life never before seen. While many other documentaries maintain a certain degree of emotional distance from the subjects that are being filmed, the extended soap-opera-like Meerkat Manor and the close-up filming techniques of the show, brings nature lovers so close to the animals they get more emotionally involved in the lives of the Meerkats, sometimes forgetting that they are watching a documentary. Only to be ruthlessly reminded that Meerkats frequently live a very short existence and often have very brutal deaths.

South Africa's Kalahari Desert is planning to air a commemorative spot, a tribute to Flower online and at a press event in New York. The upcoming feature film "Queen of the Kalahari," starring Flower, continues in production and is set to hit the American theatres in December 2007. The production blends the animal documentary with dramatic narration by Bill Nighy who unfolds the story of the Kalahari Desert's infamous Whiskers family.

A trip to the Kalahari commemorates the Desert's favourite rose, Flower, as travelers pay tribute to her memory at the roots of her existence. She may be gone, but she is certainly not forgotten.

Meadowlands Xanadu, Family Entertainment without Stops

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Meadowlands Xanadu, Family Entertainment without Stops

After years in the making, the world's third largest shopping mall, Meadowlands Xanadu will be indulging everybody's fantasies. The five-story retail complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey will also be the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the U.S. The much-awaited opening in the summer of 2009 is set to attract thousands of shoppers, gawkers, entertainers, sports buffs, and fun seekers. Don't you want to be there on opening day?

Xanadu: the Ultimate Experience

Where else can one find an array of engaging entertainment for all ages and have a weekend stay in a hotel just next to the mall? Convincingly enough, Meadowlands Xanadu is this generation's must see destination. Here are some of the things this monstrosity of a shopping mall offers.

Sports

Once completed, the entire building will take up 4.8 million square feet of the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Imagine skiing indoors in America's first Snow Dome, skydiving and going through the vertical wind tunnel of SkyVenture, watching a football game, or fishing for live trout and other local fishes. All of these are offered at Meadowlands Xanadu.

Fashion

A taste of Paris haute couture will be paraded on Paris Runway. Designer appearance fashion shows featuring top models will complement the fashion malls and shops. Top label designs, wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses, shoes, bags, leather craft, jewelry, and everything the trendsetter and the budget conscious want are all here.

Entertainment

There will be no moment for idle moments in the entertainment arena. Giant digital screens featuring movie trailers and music videos will provide an alternative pursuit for those who won't sample a ride on the rooftop giant Ferris wheel.

Concerts from AEG Live! The concert area replicating the feel of Nokia Theater in NY's Times Square will seat 3,400 fans. Movie fanatics can gape at the 18 wall-to-wall movie screens of Muvico Theaters, while bowling enthusiasts can have their fun at Lucky Strike. The bowling area will be decorated in the 1930s - 1940s style.

Youth Culture and Fun

The U.S. largest LEGOLAND, a chocolate waterfall, a city of sweets, and candy museum and rides galore from IT'SUGAR will thrill young children. Wannado City, a new concept in child entertainment and education, will keep children busy pretending to be doctors, firemen, lawyers, TV reporters, actors, and police officers. They can have all the grand accessories, costumes, and replica cars and gadgets to get their make-believe games going.

Food and Home

Who says moms and dads and foodies are left out? Zeytenia, a gourmet market will have tasting stalls, chef prepared meals, unusual imports, and household necessities for homemakers and food connoisseurs.

Matching the gourmet market are live cooking demonstrations featuring top chefs competing for the top prize, the Culinary Arts Center, Mitchell's fish market, the Melting Pot Restaurant, and Sofrito Restaurant that offers Puerto Rican and Caribbean cuisine, are all set to please foodies and chef-wannabes.

Accommodation

Shoppers and guests can check into a 520-room 12-storey luxury hotel, right next to the mall.

Class A Office Buildings

Offices with all the amenities including a gym are among the offerings from Meadlowland Xanadu. The offices are in the perfect location to do business.

Get ready for the grand opening next summer. Don't wait for somebody to boast about his or her Xanadu experience. Be there when the fun and excitement begins and live your fantasies.

Mcspicy Paneer Burger Is One Tasty Joy Ride

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Mcspicy Paneer Burger Is One Tasty Joy Ride

Us everyday folks who enjoy McDonalds will never know the hard work that goes behind finding new and tasty staple food items. The invention of a new McDonalds burger is not so easy as to bake a pie. First you have to consider the demand, resources, customer mentality and other factors before you really jump the gun. Knowing your customers is the first step, but perhaps the most important is to find the right burger which even the customers do not yet know they want. Now apply this process to the Indian market with all its diverse population, cultures, preferences, inclinations and demands; makes your head spin, doesnt it? In 2010, a similar dilemma was faced by high-level representatives of McDonalds who wanted to introduce a new kind of burger using a paneer patty.

McDonalds Spicy Paneer burger is one tasty joy ride one of the most popular McDonalds burgers ever to be introduced exclusively for the Indian market, but it was not an easy task to achieve. Since the Indian market has a large demand for vegetarian items, coming up with a specialty vegetarian burger was of utmost importance. However, paneer or farmers cheese is not like meat, soya or any other meat-substitute: if prepared too soft it crumbles, unable to hold the burger together, if too hard it turns rubbery when fried. So being the pioneers of Indian fast-food, McDonalds did what it does best: it came up with a new way to manufacture the right type of paneer.

Abhijit Upadhye, the head of Menu Management and Supply Chain at McDonalds, was assigned the task of creating this specialty paneer burger. In search for an equipment that would coat the paneer just right, Abhijit sent a team consisting of McDonalds and other representatives from partner companies Vista and Kerry Systems to visit Netherlands-based CFS, a renowned food processing equipment company and alas, found what they wanted.

But that was only the first phase of the plan: Now with the right equipment in their hands, what was required was a supplier who would be able to produce 120 tonne of paneer every month. They found their supplier in a Thane-based dairy-processor owner, Rajan Malik of Good Day Foods. At the location, the team tried several approaches to find the right method of producing desirable paneer, by using different kinds of milk and creating different levels of moisture in the finished cheese. Finally, the right combination was finalized by using buffalo milk from Kolhapur belt. 

When they had the right kind of paneer figured, the team turned their energy to finding the right combination of ingredients which must compliment the paneer patty in the traditional McDonalds way. A sauce technician at Mrs. Bector took the game when he suggested tandoori sauce, and as they say the rest is history.

In March 2011, the production was started at Vistas processing unit at Taloja, Navi Mumbai and
the burger was finally launched on March 28, 2011. Its roaring success was instantaneous and since then McSpicy Paneer burger has found a loving and loyal group of customers.

Whether you go to a McDonalds outlet in the South & West, or North & East McSpicy Paneer stares down from the over-head menu with equitable dignity. In a country full of people who are as diverse in their tastes, preferences and inclinations, what McDonalds has achieved is not a shade less than genius. Being a pioneer of Indian QSR industry, McDonalds has revolutionized the way Indians go out for meals. By introducing a varied menu of vegetarian and non-vegetarian staple items, which are prepared in separate sections of the kitchen, McDonalds has embraced the widely diverse region with open-arms, creating history in the process.

Masaharu Morimoto- a Successful Chef

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Masaharu Morimoto- a Successful Chef

Masaharu Morimoto is birthed May 26, 1955 in Hiroshima, Japan. He is a worlds most recognisable Japanese chef. He is an iron chef on Japanese TV cooking show. His model of exhibiting food is most known. At the age of 25 he opened up his first eating house in Hiroshima. Chef Masaharu Morimoto passed the first 30 years of his living in his native Hiroshima, Japan. But, in 1985, he deals his eating house. Morimoto move to New York City for more aspiration. After came new work city, Morimoto became the executive chef, and just after he was employed as head chef for the acclaimed sushi eating house, Nobu.

After Masaharu determined to leave his place at Nobu and was presented with the chance to compete in the original Japanese Iron Chef show which aired out until late 1999.
He opened up his eating house, Morimoto in Philadelphia, New York, Boca Raton, Napa, Waikiki, and Mexico City, started branching outside the United States with Wasabi by Morimoto in Mumbai and New Delhi, and he continued his global reach opening a new sushi restaurant, Morimoto XEX in Tokyo. In 2010 he opened two additional Morimoto locations in Napa Valley and Waikiki, and in late 2011 opened up the latest and arguably most inspiring addition to the Morimoto franchise in Mexico City. Another restaurant is Live in Los Angele's.
Morimoto define his own originative approach to factors and tones with eating house throughout the globe. He has created a unique line of specialty beers in collaboration. He says about his passion, is the seamless integration of Western and Japanese ingredients..

In 2006 Masaharu Morimoto get prize for Top Newcomer by Zagat and Hot List Restaurant by Conde Nast Traveler - Morimoto, New York. He also got Best New Restaurants by New York Magazine in 2006 and in 2007 He got James Beard Foundation nominated for Outstanding Restaurant Design Morimoto, New York & also James Beard Foundation nominated for Outstanding Restaurant Design Morimoto, New York in 2008.
In 2009 - Sang at the Thousand Hearts Welfare for Japanese quake relief in California.

The new art of Japanese cooking is written by him. His extra productions are-Morimoto knife & block set, Morimoto specialty beers Imperial Pilsner, Soba Ale, and Black Obi Soba Ale.
While Morimoto has become one of the most successful chefs in the world, his future as a chef wasnt always so certain. His prowess as a ballplayer got him drafted into the big league in Japan. A catcher, Morimoto never carry it to the big leagues after enduring a career-ending shoulder joint hurt and instead followed a culinary.

Machining Process and Applications of Sapphire

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Machining Process and Applications of Sapphire

Sapphire is a form of the material Alumina (Aluminium Oxide Al2O3). It is often considered a precious gemstone. Sapphire is the single crystal form of alumina used in engineering ceramics. Its single crystal structure has no porosity or grain boundaries. Saphire products have a measured density which is close to the hypothetical value for pure Alumina material.

Sapphire gemstones are naturally occurring materials, frequently besides another form of pure alumina, ruby. However, they differ in color from each other. Synthetic sapphire has been available since 1902 after its discovery by the French chemist Auguste Verneuil. He heated alumina powder at high-temperature flame which resulted in subsequent deposits, in the form of a lump of the material.

Detail about Machining Sapphire

The need of sapphire has drastically increased  as all other materials have been exhausted. It also has unique properties. As a result, when sapphire is required, the difficulty occurred not in the selection of the material but rather in the ability to create the part in a configuration which is valuable and useful.

During the machining sapphire process, material is grounded to an appropriate size and tolerance and finely polished so that the material will be useful as planned. This process creates lots of difficulties in manufacturing challenge, it is always recommended to machine sapphire under experts supervision in order to succeed.

Properties of Sapphire:

Due to the hardness of 2,200 Hv, sapphire is  wear and scratch resistant. It has various indicative physical and mechanical properties which lead to a wide range of industrial uses.

Industrial Applications of Sapphire

Electronic Substrate Applications: Sapphire is an attractive substance which can be produced in comparatively large dimensions. It is inert and can be machined at high temperatures. It is often used as a material for the epitaxial deposition of Gallium and Silicon Nitride.

It can be used for insulating substrate applications in high-frequency, high-power CMOS integrated circuits. Often denoted as a Silicon on Insulator SOI or silicon on sapphire or "SOS" chip.
As a substrates for the growth and deposition of Zinc Oxide nanowires and carbon nanotubes

In Display Devices: Sapphire can be used as a material for premium transparent watch face, however it has many other display type applications:

FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) optics and sensor devices.
Sapphire windows can be used in both short and long wavelength environments (Ultra Violet and Infra Red).
Used in devices where corrosion resistance and high temperature is required.
POS (point of sale windows) for bar code scanning.

Sapphire in Cutting Tools and Mechanical Components: Stiffness, high hardness and single crystal structure lead to use of sapphire material in many engineering or industrial components. Some examples are:

Analytical equipment applications are common areas where the strength and transparency is vital. In many applications the resistance of sapphire to phosphoric or hydrofluoric acid is also significant.
In aerospace applications, for windows manufacturing as sapphire has a high degree of impact erosion. Sapphire windows are mainly preferred choice due to the higher scratch resistance.
Nozzles in water jet cutting and sandblasting.

Medical Applications of Sapphire

Due to the load bearing capabilities, fine microstructure, and light transmission qualities of sapphire present interesting options to the medical component designer:

Systems using laser transmission and surgical tips.
In endoscopic inspection tools, sapphire is often used as a window material.
The fine microstructure of sapphire combined with polishing and skilled machining techniques produces cutter edges and ultra fine blade.
Sapphire is also non- thrombogenic (does not causes blood clots).
Biomedical implants used in dental applications.
Used in making cosmetic laser surgical devices and powerful pulsed lights
In making surgical mirrors and filters
Sapphire lenses can be used in imaging applications, laser optics, and sapphire medical optics.

Lycium Barbarum

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Lycium Barbarum

Wolfberry, the common name for Lycium barbarum, is grown all over the world and is sought after for its medicinal and health properties. The plant produces red colored berries that are oblong in shape and very tender. Because of this property, the berry needs to be handled very carefully while plucking and is shaken from the vine to prevent it from spoiling. The picked fruit is preserved by a process of slow drying in the shade.

About the plant

Lycium barbarum plant grows to a height of 2.5 to 4 m, and flowers in the months of June to August. It can grow in sandy and clay soils that are nutritionally poor, and can grow in semi shade or no shade at all.

History

Wolfberry has a history of several centuries of use in China, where it is highly regarded for its medicinal, healing, and health enhancement properties. Among other things, wolfberry has been credited with anti-ageing properties and enhancing longevity. As if to bear this out, people living in some parts of China, where the plant is extensively grown and used, do enjoy a very high life expectancy and good general health.

Medicinal Use

The bark of Lycium barbarum tree has been a favorite medicine with the Traditional Chinese system of medicine. It is claimed that Lycium barbarum barks contain several valuable and important properties and are useful in various treatments and health improvement programs. These include improvement of the immune system, improvement of the eyesight, protection of the liver, improved blood circulation and increased sperm production. It has been used in traditional medical systems as a sedative and painkiller and to treat inflammation, skin irritation, anemia, cough and nose bleeds. There are also studies that suggest that it could be useful in the treatment of cancer, although more clinical trials would be needed to establish this claim. Lycium barbarum barks can be eaten raw or taken as a juice or with tea. Wolfberry can be taken on daily basis for general health.

Culinary Use

Wolfberries taste like raisins with a slight suggection of tomatos. They can be eaten raw or could be cooked. The Chinese make soups out of this berry and also brew it into a wine. The leaves are also consumed as a vegetable.

Nutritional Value

Wolfberries are considered as one of the richest natural sources of nutrients. They contain beta-carotone, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1 and B2, in addition to a number of other vitaamins, minerals, anitoxidants and amino acids.

Wolfberry contains most of the carrbohydrates,protein, fat and dietary fibers needed by the body. Hundred grams of the processed berry contains 370 calories.

Non medicinal uses

Lycium barbarum could also be used as a hedge and as a stabilizer for sandy banks since it has a good root system and grows on sandy soil.

Hazards

There are no known major hazards associated with Lycium barbarum. However, it belongs to a family that is known to often contain toxins, and therefore, it is preferable to exercise caution in its consumption. The use of its leaves is quite widespread and well documented, and so may not pose much risk. The unripe fruit might be toxic. However, the ripe fruit seems to be fit for consumption. Although there are no known cases of allergy to wolfberries, it is better that you consult your doctor if you are prone to allergy or have reason to suspect that you might be allergic.

LVN Career Path - Why Should I Become A Licensed Vocational Nurse

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LVN Career Path - Why Should I Become A Licensed Vocational Nurse

If you're reading this article, then it is likely that you have been considering a career in nursing. Great! You are choosing a path that is both rewarding, and will be fulfilling as a lifelong career. One thing still needs to be answered though, where should you begin?

There are actually a couple of ways to go about becoming a nurse. You could choose to go to University or College. This way of going about it, would likely take you out of the workforce for three to four years; while you earn a bachelors degree and work towards RN licensing. However, there is a better alternative that will get you working faster. That alternative is the Licensed Vocational Nurse Career.

Many colleges and vocational schools allow for LVN training, as an alternative to spending years in college. An LVN career can be started in less than one year. There are fast track programs, that will get you educated faster. Once you start your nursing job as a licensed vocational nurse, you can make it your career choice, or continue with your education to become an RN.

The duties of a Licensed Vocational Nurse differ slightly from that of the registered nurse. LVNs are usually supervised by a doctor or an RN, and they may not perform all of the same duties as the registered nurse. However, there are some advantages to choosing this route to start in nursing, and once training is complete, many people choose Licensed Vocational Nursing as a career.

Even if you don't choose LVN as your career, there are two major benefits to starting your nursing job as an LVN instead of spending years becoming an RN. Those benefits include experience, and a shorter route to becoming a registered nurse.

Get Nursing Experience

One major benefit is the experience you gain, both while taking your LVN course, and when you start in a nursing job.

It is a sad fact, but some people just aren't cut out to work as a nurse. The unfortunate thing is, some people never discover this until after they have completed four years of school. When you choose to start as an LVN, the course itself usually includes a work experience component. If you did decide that you aren't cut out for nursing after you have taken the program, then you have really only spent a year in school, and haven't wasted four years getting started in a career that you aren't going to pursue.

Shorter Route to Registered Nursing

Another big benefit in becoming an LVN is that it quickens the path to becoming a registered nurse. When you've begun your nursing job, you can always choose to become an RN. With a years experience working as a licensed vocational nurse, you can take an LVN to RN program. This 8 month fast track program is the quickest way to become a registered nurse. Instead of taking a 4 year bachelor degree program you spend one year in LVN training, one year working, and less than a year taking the RN course. That's 2 years and 8 months instead of 4 years, and you are more qualified for a variety of nursing jobs (since you have already worked in the field).

So, Should I Become an LVN?

The short answer is yes. If you are planning to start a nursing career, becoming a licensed vocational nurse will give you the right start. As a career choice, the LVN career is very rewarding, and as a stepping stone to registered nursing it is the faster way to go.