woodsman cosmonaut: August 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

Sour Science: Do Sour Taste Preferences Change with Age?

BEST BUDS: Taste buds detect five different elements. In this activity, you'll test tolerance for sour taste, and see whether it relates to a taster's age. Image: George Retseck

Key concepts
Biology
Taste
Food preferences
Age

Introduction
Have you ever wondered if people of all ages love sour foods, or if age correlates with this preference? There are a lot of different kinds of sour candies and drinks you may have seen advertised before, some having only a mild sour flavor and others that are truly mouth-puckering! In this activity you will investigate if there is a difference between the sour preferences of kids and adults. If you developed a super-sour food, to whom would you try to sell it?

Background
Do you know anyone who likes to eat lemons? Or loves really sour candies? Maybe you are one of those people? People have different definitions of what they find palatable, or tasty to eat. There are many different factors that go into deciding whether or not something is palatable. One of the biggest parts of that decision is how something tastes. Humans can sense five tastes: sour, salty, bitter, sweet and umami (oo-MAH-mee), which is the non-salty part of how soy sauce tastes.

Taste is detected by the taste buds that line the tongue and other parts of the mouth. Although there is some variation from person to person, the human tongue has an average of about 10,000 taste buds. Inside each taste bud are several receptor cells. These cells can sense the five different tastes and send that information to the brain.?

In addition to taste, people think about several other factors when deciding if something is acceptable to eat. These include other components of flavor, such as how spicy a food is or how it smells, the texture and temperature of a food, and whether the food is something they like eating for cultural or personal reasons.

Materials
? ?? Five containers (must be able to hold one liter each)
? ?? Citric acid, which is used for sprouting or canning foods. It can be found as a powder or granules in some grocery stores in the spices, baking supplies, or health supplements aisles. It can also be ordered online from some vitamin companies, such as LuckyVitamin.com and TheCatalog.com. Caution: Only use food-grade citric acid.
? ?? Water
? ?? Measuring spoons
? ?? Measuring cups
? ?? Masking tape
? ?? Permanent marker
? ?? Citrus-flavored powdered drink mix, such as lemonade flavor (enough to make four liters or four quarts)
? ?? 50 small paper cups
? ?? Large work surface
? ?? Adult volunteers (at least five)
? ?? Kid volunteers between the ages of five and 11 years old (at least five)

Preparation
? ?? Make sure the citric acid you have is food-grade citric acid.
? ?? Into one of your containers, put six tablespoons (Tbsp) of citric acid and three cups of water. Mix the citric acid mixture until all of the citric acid is dissolved.?
? ?? Each of the remaining four containers will hold a different lemonade batch.? Using masking tape and a permanent marker, label each of the four containers as "1," "2," "3" or "4."?
? ?? Following the directions on the package of the lemonade drink mix, add enough of the drink mix powder to each labeled container to make one liter of the drink (per container).?
? ?? In the container labeled "1," add four cups of water.
? ?? In the container labeled "2," add four cups of water and three Tbsp of the citric acid mixture.? This is similar to 10% lemon juice in sourness.
? ?? In the container labeled "3," add three and 1/3 cups of water and 2/3 cup of the citric acid mixture. This is similar to 50% lemon juice in sourness.
? ?? In the container labeled "4," add two cups of water and two cups and two Tbsp of the citric acid mixture.
? ?? Mix each lemonade batch until the drink mix is completely dissolved.? Refrigerate the containers until you are ready to have your volunteers taste-test them.
? ?? Right before taste-testing, label 10 paper cups as "#1," 10 as "#2," 10 as "#3" and 10 as "#4."? If you have more than 10 volunteers total, you will need to label and use more cups.

Procedure
? ?? On a large work surface, set out all of the labeled paper cups. Pour the lemonade batches into the appropriately labeled cups. For example, batch 1 (the lemonade without any citric acid added to it) will go in the cups labeled "#1." Try to keep each batch grouped closely together.
? ?? Pour plain water into 10 more cups (or more if you have more than 10 volunteers total). These cups don't have to be labeled.
? ?? Give each volunteer one cup with lemonade batch 1 and ask them to try it. Then give each volunteer a cup of water and have them take a sip to clear their palettes. How do the volunteers react to drinking the lemonade?
? ?? Continue passing out the lemonade, one cup and batch at a time, asking the volunteers to taste it, and always having the volunteers take a sip of water in between tastings. How do the volunteers react to drinking the different lemonade batches?
? ?? Once the volunteers have tasted all four batches of lemonade, ask them which was their favorite and which was their least favorite.?
? ?? Do adults and kids choose different lemonades as their favorite? Did more volunteers in one age group choose the sourest lemonade as their favorite? What about as their least favorite?
? ?? Extra: Try this activity again but use more volunteers, such as 15 adults and 15 kids. When using more volunteers, do you see a stronger taste preference trend?
? ?? Extra: In this activity you investigated preferences for the taste sour. But what kinds of preferences do people have for the other tastes (sweet, salty, bitter and umami)? Think of a way to test these other tastes and then try it out. Do kids and adults have different preferences for other tastes?
? ?? Extra: Does being a "picky" eater change how likely a person is to enjoy really sour foods? Find volunteers and ask if they're picky, normal or adventurous eaters. Try to get at least 10 people in each category. Then repeat this activity with them. Do you see any correlations between the kind of eater a person is and whether they enjoy very sour tastes?

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=9ae9cdad5cb181b40589d1a8fc2b568d

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On-line Advice On The Actual Advantages of Massage Therapy For ...

Massage has numerous advantages. For those who have the program of having the massage regularly, they have come to appreciate it?s importance to their health, wellness and productivity. This activity can benefit the youthful, the old, the actual ill, the weary and those who are recovering from accidents as well as sicknesses. For those who have a busy routine, going for a couple of minutes or even hours for an a naturist massage session will help you be able to achieve tasks faster and effectively. Here are some benefits of massage.

To begin with, massage can help you unwind. Following a difficult work day, having a massage can help you unwind and obtain in to the mood for a more mellow night with the family as well as friends. Sometimes, you might have a great deal in your thoughts and could not really understand how to sort things or even what to do or even where to start. Using a massage provides you with time to concentrate and put things into viewpoint. You are able to decide to have the massage made by an expert hostess or even because of your companion. Professionals offer various kinds of the service. This can remove all of the strain from the issues you suffer from every day. It will help you go to sleep faster and also have a quality night?s sleep. You will awaken active to face the day?s problems.

Massage will help you get closer to your own spouse. This is a time of sharing, providing as well as making up ground around the stuff that happen to be happening for you. If you are suffering through a personal injury, obtaining a massage will let you recuperate quicker. It helps reinforce the weak muscle tissue as well as increases blood flow towards the affected area. This should be done with an expert to prevent additional injury or harm to the healing tissues. Because massage helps with blood circulation, which means that the biggest body organ, the skin, is rejuvenated reducing scar tissue and stretch marks. As there is elevated blood flow, this ensures that all of the parts of the body obtain sufficient way to obtain nutrients.

For people struggling with depressive disorders as well as anxiety, massage helps them relax and get over the situation. With regard to women that are pregnant, it helps cope with daily milestones, lessens labor time and helps one restore their former body shape faster after giving birth. For toddlers, massage might help strengthen the muscle tissue to enable them to be able to remain or even walk by themselves faster. Massage decreases likelihood of cramping, muscle soreness and swellings. It is advisable with regard to athletes and those that take part in physically demanding actions to possess regular periods associated with massage to lessen muscle pains, lower back pain as well as soreness. Along with massage, you are able to be versatile. You can reduce or completely alleviate migraine headaches pain and stop depending on medicines for some of your body aches. For massage to be effective, you have to make this part of your lifetime. The session every now and then might not do you as much great because when you stay with a program.

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Source: http://articlepdq.com/health-fitness/on-line-advice-on-the-actual-advantages-of-massage-therapy-for-well-being/

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Cricket-Australia captain Clarke leads praise for retired Strauss

LONDON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - England captain Andrew Strauss

announced his retirement from professional cricket with

immediate effect on Wednesday. Following is a selection of

tributes from his fellow players:

Australia captain Michael Clarke on Twitter: "Big

congratulations to Andrew Strauss on a great career. Still is a

very good player and a lovely man. Can only wish him the best

for the future."

South Africa test captain Graeme Smith on Twitter: "Just

want to congratulate Andrew Strauss on a great career as captain

and player for England.

"Fully appreciate the demands of captaining your country. It

was always a great contest playing against Andrew and his team

and I wish him well in his future."

England fast bowler Stuart Broad on Twitter: "Awesome guy,

great leader, dependable batsman and a solid first slip catcher.

"Cheers Straussy, you'll be playing scratch golf within a

year," added Broad, referring to his former captain's news

conference comment about spending more time on the golf course.

England spinner Graeme Swann on Twitter: "An emotional day

with Straussy hanging up his boots. What a great captain,

brilliant player and most importantly fantastic bloke."

England all-rounder Tim Bresnan on Twitter: "Andrew Strauss

is the epitome of professionalism. A great leader, wonderful

team mate and all-round nice bloke. I wish him well for the

future."

(Reporting by Mark Pangallo; editing by Tony Jimenez)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cricket-australia-captain-clarke-leads-praise-retired-strauss-151641315--spt.html

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Celebuzz 101 Hot Bodies: Gretchen Rossi Talks Overcoming Bulimia

With such a fast-paced schedule, how does Real Housewives of Orange County star Gretchen Rossi ever find time to work out?

?Because I travel so much, I end up doing a lot of my workouts on the road,? Rossi told Celebuzz in an exclusive interview. ?I know it sounds silly, but I?ll literally get into a hotel room, pick up the bedside lamp and start doing bicep curls. Sometimes you just have to improvise when you don?t have the time.?

Revealing her ?get fit? tips, Rossi ? who ranked No. 25 on the Celebuzz 101 Hot Bodies countdown ? gave Celebuzz the scoop on her guilty pleasures, her new secret health habit and which housewives she thinks are the hottest. (Hint: She doesn?t share an area code with any of them.)

Read on for the full Q&A.

Celebuzz: What was the ?a-ha moment? in your life that made you want to take health and fitness to the next level?
Gretchen Rossi: I grew up playing soccer and softball, and was a cheerleader. So, I?ve always been extremely athletic. As far as taking my health to the next level, though, it was actually in high school, because I suffered from an eating disorder. When I finally decided I wanted to get healthy and educated about how to stay in shape, I went and got my personal training certificate. I started training other people in college, which really helped me get past my own issues, because I was able to help people in that way. Now, I?m totally capable of knowing how to take care of myself on my own.

Celebuzz: What exercises do you do to stay in shape?
GR: I work so much that I don?t get the consistent time to be in the gym any longer. I do have a trainer that I work with, Ken Rawlins, and he?s amazing. I have him meet me at the house because my schedule is that crazy! He brings a bunch of equipment with him and we do everything from free weights and exercises on the bench to work with rubber bands and these things called gliders that I found. We?ve been using those a lot lately, which has been really fun. Basically, we do a lot of lunges and squats and pushups on a ball.

Celebuzz:?What?s on your workout playlist?
GR:?I definitely work out to music; it?s more motivating. But there are times that you don?t need it. I go on walks on the mornings that I?m up early. The dawn is so beautiful that you really don?t need music. Normally, though, I listen to a playlist of ?ampy,? get-you-going songs. Lately, it?s been my own song ?Unbreakable?; it?s really a great workout song! I didn?t even realize what a great workout song it was until I put it on my iPod; it really gets me going. Also, I absolutely love anything by?Britney Spears,?Lady Gaga?and?Katy Perry.

Celebuzz: What?s your secret for staying fit even when you?re pressed for time?
GR: What I?ve learned with my schedule is that it?s about trying to kill two birds with one stone. I try to improvise and think of new exercises and ways to stay in shape because if I don?t, I would never have the time to stay in shape. I love finding the time to go and do yoga and core Pilates; I love changing it up. I?ve always been really dedicated to making the time to take care of myself.

I love exercising, I?m active everyday whether I?m going for a walk, run, hike or bicycle ride. I?m always at the park running and playing with the dogs. I always try to stay active and moving. I?m not the kind of girl you?re going to find sitting and watching TV. Even if I am watching TV, I?m probably doing my sit-ups at the same time. I?m not very good at staying still unless I have to sleep.

Celebuzz:?Do you diet?
GR:?I think that working out is so important for your heart health and endurance and it feels good to sweat out toxins too. But I truly think that 70 percent of keeping shape is all about what you put in your body to begin with.

Anytime I?ve ever tried to diet in my life, it?s been a disaster, so it?s really about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Now, I do everything in moderation. If I feel like I really want a pasta dinner, I?ll have my pasta dinner, but I won?t eat the entire thing. Or, if I want an ice cream sandwich one night, I?ll make to be more strict with my diet the next couple days. I?ve realized that when I deprive myself of something that I?m craving, I?ll just want it more and more. Then, I?ll end up binging on something that I didn?t need to if I would?ve allowed myself to have little bits and pieces in the first place.

Celebuzz: What?s your guilty pleasure?
GR: Alcohol will always be on my list. I?m really more of a social drinker and have a cocktail when I?m out on the town on a Friday or Saturday night with friends. And, if I feel like having a bite of dessert when I?m out, I will. I won?t do much more than that, because that?s when you end up eating the entire dessert. I don?t do well with that.

Celebuzz: Do you have any secrets for total body confidence when putting on a bikini?
GR: First and foremost, get a spray tan; that?s the number-one top secret. It really helps to disguise cellulite. Also, little things like a really good moisturizer that makes you look shiny and pretty really helps, too.

Celebuzz: Do you have a secret habit that is part of your healthy lifestyle?
GR: In the last three months, I?ve really been been upping my vitamin intake ? MSM, Grapeseed Extract, things like that. I?m also trying this new product called Play Again, for healthy joints, because when I workout a lot they sometimes ache and hurt. I hate to swallow pills, let alone having to take them; but you really start to see your body change, so it?s worth it.

Celebuzz: Besides yourself, which Bravo housewife do you think is the hottest?
GR: I would say that Brandi Glanville is pretty hot. She?s got a really fit body and really tall, skinny legs. But so does Taylor Armstrong. They both kind of have the same type of structure. Even Melissa Gorga! Shoot, I don?t know. Then there?s Joanna Krupa who has a pretty hot, smoking bod. She?s coming out on the new season in Miami. She?s a supermodel, so she would probably win.

Celebuzz: What is your greatest health achievement or milestone thus far?
GR: I would definitely say getting over my eating disorder is one of them. I was bulimic, and it took me a really long time to get over that. To be honest, I don?t think you ever really get over something like that. I think it?s always kind of back there haunting you, but I finally learned to be healthy and confident and secure in my own skin. It wasn?t until five years ago that I finally got to that place and stopped comparing myself to tall, skinny models. I?m 5?5?, and I?m never going to have long, skinny legs. I?m more of an athletic build, and I really learned to appreciate my own body and to be thankful that God blessed me with my proportions. My biggest accomplishment was just becoming secure in my own skin.

Celebuzz: What inspirational advice do you have for readers in order to jump-start a healthy routine?
GR: I think it?s just about maintaining that healthy lifestyle and eating right. I?m lucky to have a great trainer who pushes me. So, I?d say if someone needed extra motivation to get yourself a trainer. Spend the extra money ? you?re worth it.

Source: http://www.celebuzz.com/Gretchen-Rossi-Talks-Eating-Disorder-and-Her-Newest-Health-Secret

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

China's Wen calls for action on Europe debt

BEIJING (AP) ? Expressing alarm at Europe's debt problems, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called on Greece, Spain and Italy to embrace budget cuts and get their finances in order after meeting Thursday with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Wen said Beijing is willing to keep buying European bonds but gave no sign Beijing will bail out the eurozone.

Merkel was in Beijing for talks aimed at boosting trade and allaying Chinese fears about Europe's heavy government debts. China has a stake in a resolution because Europe is its biggest export market and Beijing holds billions of dollars in European bonds.

"The European debt crisis has continued to worsen, giving rise to serious concerns in the international community. Frankly speaking, I am also worried," Wen told reporters. He cited uncertainty over whether Greece leaves the eurozone and whether Italy and Spain will take "comprehensive rescue measures," a reference to spending cuts and tax increases to balance their budgets.

"Resolving these two problems rests with whether Greece, Spain, Italy and other countries have the determination for reform," the premier said. "Resolving the European debt problem requires fiscal tightening and finding balance within individual economies."

Wen's comments were unusually pointed for China, which says governments should not interfere in each other's affairs. But the country's leaders are increasingly worried about the safety of their European debt holdings and European economies where Chinese companies are expanding.

Wen said Beijing was willing to buy European bonds so long as it could evaluate the risks and to help the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank ? the so-called troika ? support indebted eurozone countries "in overcoming hardships."

Wen made a similar pledge of possible Chinese aid to European bailout funds during Merkel's last visit to Beijing in February but it is unclear what the communist government has done.

The European Financial Stability Fund, set up to lend to troubled governments, says China and other Asian investors have bought 40 percent of its bonds but has released no other details.

Merkel told reporters that while the crisis is not over, countries such as Italy and Greece were "on an intensive road of reforms. I am convinced that this will bear fruit."

Greek politicians agreed this week on an austerity package demanded by creditors but were negotiating details. Inspectors from the troika are due in Athens next month for a review, on which hinges a rescue loan installment of ?31 billion.

"I want Greece to remain part of the eurozone," Merkel said. "I have at the same time indicated that credibility is very important in the eurozone. Therefore we expect the program to be implemented."

Ahead of Merkel's visit, German officials told reporters Berlin wanted to reassure Beijing that European debt is a "safe and good investment."

Later, Wen and Merkel presided at a signing ceremony for billions of dollars in business deals ? a regular event during visits by European leaders.

Airbus Industrie, a unit of the French-German consortium EADS, committed to invest $1.6 billion in the second phase of an aircraft final assembly plant opened in 2008 in Tianjin, Wen's hometown. A Chinese state company signed an agreement to purchase 50 Airbus jetliners valued at $3.5 billion.

Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest automaker, signed a deal to invest $219 million in an "environmentally friendly production facility" and vocational training initiative, also in Tianjin. Eurocopter, another EADS unit, signed an agreement to build a $12.5 million production facility in China.

Officials of the two governments also signed agreements to collaborate in biotechnology, electric vehicles, agriculture, education, labor and the environment.

The next round in a regular series of Chinese-German meetings was scheduled for next year, but German officials say Wen asked Merkel to come early before the Communist Party begins a once-a-decade handover of power to younger leaders in October.

Merkel met later Thursday with Xi Jinping, who is due to become party leader and president.

The two-day visit comes as Beijing is struggling to pull China out of its deepest economic slump since the 2008 global crisis. The government has cut interest rates twice and is pumping money into the economy with a wave of investments by state companies.

A Cabinet official said Wednesday that official measures are starting to take effect and growth was "stabilizing at a slow pace." But corporate profits are down and a survey of manufacturers released last week showed future export orders have fallen.

Germany is China's biggest European trading partner and one of the few developed economies with which it runs a trade deficit, due to large imports of German factory equipment and industrial components. Beijing reported a $16.3 billion trade deficit with Germany last year and $13 billion for the first seven months of this year.

Europe's downturn has battered China's exporters, wiping out thousands of manufacturing jobs.

Exports to Italy in July plunged 26 percent from a year earlier, while those to even relatively strong Germany were down 6.5 percent. Exports to France fell 8 percent.

The trade slump, coupled with weak consumer demand in China, has raised the threat of unrest as the party tries to enforce calm ahead of its leadership transition.

Merkel was accompanied by a 20-member delegation of executives from German companies in the auto, chemicals, energy, commodities and other industries.

The visit also comes amid tension over a request by European manufacturers of solar power equipment for anti-dumping duties on Chinese products they say are improperly subsidized. Chinese manufacturers that depend on the European market have warned Beijing might retaliate.

The visit focuses mostly on economic issues, but officials also discussed Syria, which is in the throes of a civil war that has left an estimated 20,000 people dead.

Russia and China have repeatedly used their veto power in the U.N. Security Council to block strong Western- and Arab-backed action against President Bashar Assad's regime that could have led to sanctions.

Germany's foreign minister conceded that Berlin and Beijing remained at odds on Syria. "We Germans are still convinced that it is necessary for peaceful change and a new beginning to be made possible in Syria," Guido Westerwelle said, according to German news agency dapd.

On the Chinese side, there are "certainly still different opinions," Westerwelle added, but both countries "will nevertheless work together in New York, above all when it comes to humanitarian aid being improved."

On Friday, Merkel and Wen planned to travel to Tianjin, east of Beijing, to visit the Airbus plant.

___

AP writer Geir Moulson in Berlin and APTN producer Aritz Parra in Beijing contributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinas-wen-calls-action-europe-debt-070810402.html

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1590 West Nile Virus Infections And 66 Deaths, Says CDC - Kiefit.com

1,590 people have become ill with West Nile virus and 66 have died so far this year, according to a report issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) yesterday - 56% (889) of them were classified as neuroinvasive disease. Forty-eight states have reported cases of West Nile virus infections in mosquitoes, birds or people. Neuroinvasive disease means the patient developed encephalitis, meningitis, or acute paralysis, which is mainly due to an infection of the virus of the spinal cord...

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Source: http://www.kiefit.com/Health_Fitness/1590-west-nile-virus-infections-and-66-deaths-says-cdc/

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Win 2,000 Tickets to the Stone Age of Computers [Past Perfect]

Click here to read Win 2,000 Tickets to the Stone Age of Computers

You saved your vacuum tubes and you still speak fluent FORTRAN. All you need now is this collection of two thousand 1960s-era punchcards from the computer sciences whizzes over at International Business Machines. There's gotta be enough data here to start up a game of PONG. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/bwM7fifYZtY/win-2000-tickets-to-the-stone-age-of-computers

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Live video: Day 2 at the RNC

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/live-video-day-2-rnc-001046154.html

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4 Kenyan police wounded in grenade attack

Kenyan riot police officers stand guard Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 after religious leaders and area member of parliament Ali Hassan Joho visited a church in Kisauni north Mombasa, which was destroyed my Muslim youth followed the death of a controversial Muslim preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed. Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed who was sanctioned by the U.S. and U.N. for his alleged support for an al-Qiada-linked militant group, was shot to death by unknown gunmen Monday morning in his car as he drove family members including his five-year-old daughter who was unharmed. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

Religious leaders and area member of parliament Ali Hassan Joho, right, visit a church Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 in Kisauni north Mombasa, which was destroyed my Muslim youth followed the death of a controversial Muslim preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed. Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed who was sanctioned by the U.S. and U.N. for his alleged support for an al-Qiada-linked militant group, was shot to death by unknown gunmen Monday morning in his car as he drove family members including his five-year-old daughter who was unharmed. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

Kisauni area member of parliament Ali Hassan Joho, second left, speak to the residents of Kisauni, north Mombasa, Kenya Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 calling for calm after two days of rioting followed the death of a controversial Muslim preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed. Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed who was sanctioned by the U.S. and U.N. for his alleged support for an al-Qiada-linked militant group, was shot to death by unknown gunmen Monday morning in his car as he drove family members including his five-year-old daughter who was unharmed. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

A Kenyan para military officer patrols outside the Masjid Musa Mosque in Majengo, Mombasa, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. Police kept a tight security after riots following the killing of a radical Islamic preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed, continued Tuesday in Kenya's second-largest city of Mombasa. A prison official says two guards who were wounded in a grenade attack during riots in Kenya's second largest city of Mombasa have died. James Kodiany, the Coast regional prisons boss, confirmed that two of his officers died Wednesday. Another prison officer died on Tuesday after a grenade was thrown into a truck carrying security officers on their way to quell rioters that had set fire to a church. The death of the prison officers raised the death toll from two days of rioting following the killing of Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed to four. A civilian was killed on Monday. (AP Photo/ Sayyid Azim)

Kenyan para military officers patrol outside the Masjid Musa Mosque in Majengo, Mombasa, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. Police kept a tight security after riots following the killing of a radical Islamic preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed, continued Tuesday in Kenya's second-largest city of Mombasa. A prison official says two guards who were wounded in a grenade attack during riots in Kenya's second largest city of Mombasa have died. James Kodiany, the Coast regional prisons boss, confirmed that two of his officers died Wednesday. Another prison officer died on Tuesday after a grenade was thrown into a truck carrying security officers on their way to quell rioters that had set fire to a church. The death of the prison officers raised the death toll from two days of rioting following the killing of Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed to four. A civilian was killed on Monday. (AP Photo/ Sayyid Azim)

MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) ? A grenade attack wounded four policemen in the latest outbreak of violence in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, ending what had seemed to be a lull in violence stemming from the killing on Monday of a radical Islamist preacher, a police officer said late Wednesday.

A hand grenade was hurled into a police van carrying several security officials who were patrolling the precincts of Mombasa Pentecostal Church, critically wounding three of them, police officer Kipkemboi Rop said.

The grenade attack shattered the relative calm that had started to spread over the city on the third day after the killing of Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed, who had been sanctioned by the U.S. and U.N. for his alleged support for al-Shabab, an al-Qiada-linked militant group in Somalia. He was shot to death by unidentified gunmen Monday morning as he drove in his car with his family. His wife was wounded in a leg.

Businesses reopened Wednesday morning in most parts of Mombasa after youths rioted for two days, angered over the killing of a hardline Muslim cleric.

The rioting on Monday and Tuesday had brought this vibrant city, Kenya's second-biggest, to a near standstill, left four people dead and several churches and businesses damaged, but some businesses had reopened Wednesday.

Police reinforcements helped contain attempts by youths from the populous Majengo area to continue with the protests for a third day.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, addressing an interfaith meeting at Nyali Beach in Mombasa, said leaflets were circulating in Mombasa and Nairobi, claiming he was behind the killing. Odinga said the leaflets allege that he went to Israel and hired mercenaries who came to eliminate Mohammed, who was facing several terror-related charges.

Odinga denied the claims. The premier also confirmed that the government will compensate churches and businesses that were looted or burned during the protests.

Youths started to erect roadblocks of burning tires Wednesday but were chased away by police using tear gas and batons. Paramilitary and regular police patrolled Majengo on trucks while others carried out door-to-door searches for suspected looters and rioters.

Two dozen people arrested on Tuesday in the riots were arraigned in a Mombasa court Wednesday. They were charged with two counts of taking part in an unlawful assembly and taking part in a riot and were to be taken to Shimo la Tewa prison pending a ruling on their bond terms.

Hassan Joho, a member of parliament for the Kisauni area, where a grenade was thrown Tuesday into a truck full of security officers going to stop protesters from burning a church, urged his constituents to maintain peace. He said that if paramilitary police known as the General Service Unit, who have a reputation for brutality, are deployed to their area, they won't discriminate between rioters and those who are not involved in chaos.

Two prison guards who were wounded in the grenade attack died Wednesday, said James Kodiany, the Coast regional prisons boss. Another guard died on Tuesday in the grenade attack. A civilian was killed on Monday in the rioting.

At the scene of Mohammed's killing, his wife had angrily accused police of the murder.

"It is you policemen who have killed him, we don't want a post-mortem or any help from you," Khaniya Said Sagar told police who came to assist her.

Khaniya said that her husband had been driving her to the hospital for a checkup after she had a miscarriage two weeks ago.

The Muslim Human Rights Forum has called the shooting of Mohammed an "extrajudicial killing" and demanded an "an end to targeted killings and enforced disappearances of terrorism suspects."

But police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said that no police were involved in Mohammed's death.

Keriako Tobiko, Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions, has formed a team to investigate the homicide made up of members of the police, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, the Lawyers Society of Kenya and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.

Police had said Mohammed was part of terror cell affiliated to al-Shabab that was planning to bomb Kenyan targets over Christmas. Al-Shabab has vowed to carry out a large-scale attack in Nairobi in retaliation for Kenya sending troops into Somalia to fight the Islamist insurgents.

Mohammed was acquitted in 2005 of murder charges for the 2002 bombing of a tourist hotel near Mombasa which killed more than 12 people.

He is the fifth alleged Muslim extremist who has been killed or who disappeared in the last four months, according to human rights campaigners. One corpse was found mutilated and the other four men vanished.

The killing brought to the surface tensions in Mombasa, a city established centuries ago by Muslim traders from the Arabian peninsula and the Indian subcontinent, now home to hundreds of thousands of people of Arab descent and a large Somali population.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-29-Kenya%20Slain%20Muslim%20Cleric/id-3acabc2f96a0462aa69fd903a8906d21

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Tymoshenko loses appeal, stays in Ukraine jail

A Ukrainian high court rejected an appeal on Wednesday by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko against her conviction for abuse of office, leaving her in jail and Ukraine's relations with the West severely strained.

Tymoshenko's defense lawyer said the ruling by a three-judge panel had been steered by President Viktor Yanukovich for political reasons.

"These findings have no relation to justice," Serhiy Vlasenko told journalists after judge Olexander Yelfimov ruled that lower courts had delivered "correct decisions on the crimes of Tymoshenko."

"This is a decision of Yanukovich to keep Tymoshenko in prison," Vlasenko said.

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Western leaders condemned the seven-year prison term meted out to the 51-year-old opposition leader in October as political persecution, and blocked strategic agreements on political association and a free-trade zone with the European Union.

But despite months of chiding by the European Union and the United States, Yanukovich has refused to act to secure her release. No one had expected her to be released on Wednesday.

Yanukovich did not immediately react to Vlasenko's comments, though in tough remarks last Friday he said he would not negotiate integration with the European Union at the price of allowing it to interfere in her case.

Story: Ukraine prosecutor urges court to uphold Tymoshenko guilt

In Brussels, the European Union urged Ukraine to reform its judicial system "to redress the effects of selective justice" like that seen in Tymoshenko's case.

"We stress the importance for the Ukrainian authorities to take concrete steps to address the systemic problems of the judiciary," Michael Mann, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said.

Tymoshenko, recognizable for her peasant-style hair braid and known for fiery rhetoric, was not in court because of persistent back trouble which has kept her confined to a state-run hospital in eastern Ukraine.

About 300 of her supporters gathered outside the courtroom, chanting slogans such as "Yulia - Freedom!" and "Keep convicts inside and get Yulia out!" They lowered a mock coffin into the ground outside the courtroom to symbolize the death of justice.

The continued incarceration of Tymoshenko - by far the most vibrant opposition figure on Ukraine's political landscape - is certain to figure as a major issue in an October 28 legislative election.

Yanukovich's Party of the Regions goes into that election with the government highly unpopular over reforms that have increased taxes on small businesses and raised retirement ages, and it will have to work hard to retain its majority.

The abuse of office conviction relates to a gas deal that Tymoshenko brokered with Russia in 2009 when she was prime minister. The Yanukovich government says the agreement was reckless and saddled Ukraine with an enormous price for strategic supplies of gas which is taking a toll on the stressed economy.

'Shameful'
Tymoshenko has denied betraying the national interest, with her lawyers arguing that the gas negotiation with Russia was a political act which did not amount to a criminal action.

Ukrainian state prosecutors said Tymoshenko's guilt was clearly established at her trial last year.

In Wednesday's judgment, the three-member panel said: "The judges of the court have reached the conclusion that the appeal cannot be satisfied ... The judges believe that the previous courts reached correct decisions on the crimes of Tymoshenko."

Tymoshenko's daughter Yevgenia, who has sought international support for her mother's cause, told journalists: "Today we again received a shameful decision which proves that a dictatorship is establishing itself in Ukraine."

She said the ruling would be the basis for a fresh appeal to the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The authorities have ignored Western criticism and piled up fresh charges against Tymoshenko for alleged past misdeeds.

In a separate trial, which has been adjourned several times because of Tymoshenko's ill health, she is accused of embezzlement and tax evasion going back to alleged offences when she was in business in the 1990s.

Lawyers for Tymoshenko pressed her case at the ECHR on Tuesday, arguing that her pre-trial detention had been unlawful and that she had been subjected to degrading treatment in prison.

The former prime minister was a leader of the 2004 Orange Revolution protests against sleaze and cronyism in Ukraine that derailed Yanukovich's first bid for the presidency.

She served two terms as prime minister under President Viktor Yushchenko, but the two fell out and their partnership dissolved into bickering and infighting.

She narrowly lost to Yanukovich in a run-off for the presidency in February 2010 after a bitter campaign.

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48827939/ns/world_news-europe/

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Generations at War - When Will The Healing Begin?

Greenwhich-in-the-blitz Greenwhich, London, in the blitz. My dad's childhood was spent in Blackheath, Greenwhich. Photo: The Greenwhich Phantom

I just watched a powerful and informative video trailer to a film: 'What's in the Heart'.

The video talks about the poor health status of Native Americans, the concept of 'inherited trauma', and explains how today's poverty and dispair on the reservations needs to be looked at in a deeper historical context.

The film traces the life of a 14-year old Lakota boy who survived the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, often described as one of the worst massacres ever. The boy went on to forge a life based on forgiving ?those who had done that to him.? Including interviews with the boy's great-grandson, this powerful film explores one community's attempts to heal from its past and deal with the onset of reservation life.

It made me think of the war stories of my parents and grand-parents, and wonder how this affected me as a child, and how it affects me now.

Greenwhich-station Greenwhich Station & Railway Embankment. Photo: The Greenwhich PhantomAt the time of the second world war, my dad was living in south-east London, where bombs were part of life.

He told me of what sounded like enchanting memories - playing in bomb craters, making paper war-planes and using shards of plasterboard from bombed-out houses for something creative - I thnk it was making little knives.

He thought it amusing that his local cinema was obliterated by a bomb, and all was left was a sign, 'Gone With the Wind'. I guess children will find ways to play and laugh, whatever their environment.

I remember our own happy family occasions - sitting watching a war film on television, or even a musical about the second world war.? On other family occasions we watched comedy shows about the war. And family board games relating to the war.

I remember being bought little models of war-planes which I spent ages putting together and painting, to my dad's delight. Other times it was a lunar module or a toy car. To me there seemed no difference.

This was when my Dad was at his happiest. Whereas much of the time he suffered from severe depression.

My grandmother, 'Nana' had less enchanting memories.?

She was a very emotional, exciteable strong-willed woman from a close-knit London Cockney family. The family lived together in a terraced house - grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Nana would recount heartrending stories to me, of neighbours whose houses were blown to pieces, of a man whose wife died in a bomb blast, who day by day grew more bent and more miserable when she saw him walking past.

And of hours spent in the bomb shelter. Family and neighbours would sit together, gas masks at the ready. Nana clinging tightly to my dad, her only child.

Nana couldn't bear the thought of her son being evacuated without her, so she went with him to relations in Manchester.

My dad thought of his mum as being clingy and neurotic and denying him happiness as a child. And he seemed envious of the children who were evacuated without their parents. For the rest of my Nana's life, her son's relationship with her was - at best - tense.

Grandad-C Grandad in army uniformOn my mother's side of the family there was a different experience of war. My maternal grandfather had been in the trenches on the front line, in the first world war. He wrote about it afterwards. He was essentially a pacifist, and said he used to aim above people's heads. The whole family were pacifists and hadn't entirely approved of him going to war at all.

In the second world war, Granddad was an air-raid warden in north London. He had developed a very fatalistic attitude. Though flying bombs were dropping around their north London home, they had no air-raid shelter and the children slept in their beds every night. My mum says she was never scared, and attributes that to her parents' relaxed attitude.

I remember Granddad as a sweet, mild-mannered, religious man - a vegetarian, who seemed accepting of whatever life presented him with.

My mum's uncle was shot down flying over France in a Lancaster Bomber, when she was young child. She had been very fond of him. He was living in her parents' home and she remembers him saying goodbye when he went off to war. He was reported missing shortly afterwards. A few months later, they received news from someone in France saying that they had found his body and given him a Christian burial in a village graveyard a few miles outside Paris. They sent a photograph of the memorial cross they erected.

However, his mother and my mum's mother expressed no interest in where his body was. His mother was a pacifist and had been deeply upset that he had gone to war.

He was rarely mentioned by the family.

When his mother died of a heart attack, many years later, she was found to be huddled over the letters he had sent.

Inherited Traumas

I just share all this by way of illustration. I don't know the effect all this had on me. But it's bound to have some effect.

I was born twenty years after the second world war.?I spent my first two and a half years in that same terraced house in Blackheath, where my dad's family - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, had lived.

I did grow up with a sort of acceptance about war. A feeling that every few years there's a war, so there wasn't much point me working hard at my studies or planning for the future.

I also had a fatalistic and despondent attitude to relationships, which led me to two disastrous marriages.

It wasn't until after the therapy and healing that I was able to find a fulfilling relationship.

My memories and my families' memories are of wars fought seventy years ago.

The brutal massacre of the natives at Wounded Knee happened 122 years ago.

But wars, and the culture of violence, continue.

I tried to protect my son from the influence of conflict. We lived in a peaceful environment in rural Ireland, with no television, internet or computer. He caught snippets of news but believed that wars happened in other places. Until that was, at the age of five, by now living in England, he saw big army helicopters flying low over our valley. At that moment he realised that we too have an army which looked like it was ready for war, and therefore we have enemies.

He developed a severe phobia which lasted several months. I had to take him out of school and teach him at home. He wouldn't go outside or even have any windows open.

After a few outings to more peaceful environments, he grew out of his phobia and developed his own ways of dealing with it. He wanted to learn as much as possible about war and the history of war. He devoured Horrible History magazines, history publications for chilren which were popular at the time. And, as with many boys, he later turned war into a form of play, with computer games.

For my grandparents generation the First World War was said to be the 'War to end all wars'. Of course this was far from the truth. Wars in one form or another continue to haunt people all over the world.

And often the cycle of violence passes down from generation to generation. Inherited wounds continuing across time.

Kitty Farmer's excellent film speaks of how these wounds, stretching back 122 years, live on.

Wounds manifesting in child suicide, alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence.

Every family has its own stories and inherited memories and traumas.

Healing is possible, just as stopping wars is possible.

We need to look deeply at the roots.

And there needs to be an acknowledgement that wounds carried across generations need addressing and healing.

?'What's in the Heart' is produced by?Kitty Farmer and Watersong Productions in collaboration with the Medicine Wheel Foundation.

Motorola RAZR M 4G LTE details slip out before official announcement

6 hrs.

Rosa Golijan

On Sept. 5,?Motorola and Verizon are holding an event at which?they're expected to announce the latest RAZR device. Thanks to an anonymous source, the cat's out of the bag about the new smartphone's?details.?

It will apparently be called the Motorola RAZR M 4G LTE.

Engadget's Brad Molen reports that the tech blog's staff has gotten its hands onto some photos of the awkwardly named device, along with its spec sheet.

The RAZR M will have a 4.3-inch qHD (960 x 540) Super AMOLED Advanced display, a dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal sturage (which can be expanded, thanks to microSD support), an 8MP camera in the rear, a 3MP camera in the front, and NFC?capabilities.

No details about the device's expected price or release date are known at this point, so at least there'll be something new?that we can learn from the Sept. 5 event.

Want more tech news?or interesting?links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts,?or circling her?on?Google+.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/motorola-razr-m-4g-lte-details-slip-out-official-announcement-967219

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Graphic D-Signs, Inc. - Small Business Advertising Agency? - NJ ...

By Danielle Avenoso / Senior Brand Strategist & Account Manager,?NJ Marketing Agency?Graphic D-Signs, Inc.

Are you a small business owner trying to accelerate company growth? If so, here are nine principles you should know about marketing to ensure greater success and drive ROI.? ?

1.???? Empower yourself with knowledge. While it takes time out of your schedule, it?s important to conduct research on your industry, market, direct competitors and consumers. You can never know too much?and you can certainly know too little. Just as athletes prepare for the big game, marketing success requires countless hours of practice. ?

2.???? Know your budget. Identify the investment you want to allocate to your marketing. A good estimate is roughly five percent of your sales. It is critical to establish a budget, because this will allow you to properly and effectively plan your marketing.

3.???? Create an identity. As a company, your brand is one of your greatest assets. It communicates and connects with audiences, and creates passion for your business. Think of your brand as a spokesperson for your company: highlighting your promises and propositions to the consumer. 4.???? Formulate a plan of attack. Too many times, small business owners react instead of thinking about business implications, competitors and consumers. It is more fruitful to formulate a plan of attack, first. What media channels will you leverage to connect with your consumer? If you plan, your strategy will be more effective and your budget will remain efficiently intact. 5.???? Strategy is king. What is the message you want to convey in all marketing components? What service or value do you provide that sets you apart from the competition? This single-minded idea should live throughout all advertising deliverables for an in-sync marketing message. 6.??? Execute your strategy. How will you put your strategy to work? Print? Website? Online banners? Coupons and promotions? Radio? TV? Identify your deliverables and tools of attack.? 8.???? Track. Measure. Record. Accountability is key, so remember to monitor and gauge the effectiveness of your budget and advertising campaign. By tracking leads via different media channels, you can identify those channels that give you the best ROI versus channels that need to be further optimized.

9.???? Improvise! By utilizing what you?ve learned from data tracking, you can change-as-you-go. Proper measurement helps you discover how to better spend your budget, which channels to remove from the media plan, and which channels to try in the future.

Source: http://graphicd-signs.blogspot.com/2012/08/9-things-every-small-business-owner.html

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Charlotte Daily Deals 8/27/12: teeth whitening, Myrtle Beach ...

$29 for a 20-Minute Teeth-Whitening Treatment at Whiten My Smile Now ($139 Value)

For centuries, the only ways to whiten teeth was to drink paint primer or leave teeth out in the desert for a few weeks and hope a roadrunner wouldn't steal them. Avoid sand-dune speedsters with this Groupon.

$29 for 20-Minute Teeth-Whitening Session ($139 Value)

A qualified technician applies an efficient brush-on solution under an LED lamp that emits blue light to quickly lift stains and whiten teeth. The procedure can leave smiles two to eight shades brighter in a mere 20 minutes.

Whiten My Smile Now

Whiten My Smile Now helps one brighten their teeth while also saving them a trip to the dentist. It?s a convenience that has rapidly ascended in popularity: over 30,000 clients have sought out the service since 2008. But the specially trained technicians haven?t let the number intimidate them. They still take the time to prepare every person with a consultation before assessing current teeth shades with a chart that ranges from ?yellow? to ?cartoon ding.? Patients then recline beneath an LED light for approximately 20 minutes, which activates a whitening gel applied by the technician. Following, the procedure, clients examine the color chart to see how their teeth have changed in color.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Status Symbols

$49 for $150 Toward Furniture at Savvy Spaces

Kitchen tables bring families together, much like a 50th wedding anniversary or one of those big cookies. Gather 'round with this Groupon.

$49 for $150 Worth of Furniture

Furniture includes a Quincy sofa ($899.99), a Sawan Chest made with reclaimed wood ($399.99), an Merlot table ($299.99), and a West Loft bed ($399.99).

Savvy Spaces is currently celebrating its grand opening of a brand new location on Smith Corners Blvd.

Savvy Spaces

Savvy Spaces? interior designers seek out singular pieces from top-tier artisans to populate their sunny 36,000-square-foot showroom. Though the curators champion mainly modern, elegant designs, they also handpick reclaimed wood furniture and rustic home accents such as southwestern-patterned throw pillows. Savvy Spaces constantly replenishes its stock, allowing patrons the chance to scout new hide-and-seek hot spots in the show room each week.

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Signature Facial and Peel or Three Microcurrent or Microdermabrasion Facials at A Little Skin Studio (Up to 55% Off)

Facials get rid of excess oil so that you can press your face against puppy-store windows without leaving a print. Look good up close with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options

$67 for one signature facial package (a $135 total value)

One customized signature facial, which combats aging with tools including microcurrent face lifting, medical-grade peptides, and collagen-boosting gels (a $120 value)
One chemical peel (a $15 value)

$109 for three nonsurgical microcurrent face-lifts, which tone, lift, and moisturize skin (a $240 value)

$109 for three microdermabrasion sessions (a $240 value)

A Little Skin Studio

Technology gives an extra kick to the spa services aestheticians perform at A Little Skin Studio. In addition to the Clayton Shagal products they use during 12 kinds of facials, they rely on LED light therapy and microcurrent tightening to fight acne and signs of aging. Unlike people who have been beaten senseless with scepters, the studio?s not afraid of a little flair; treatment rooms bear funky zebra-print rugs.

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Internal-Cleansing Body Wrap with Option for Deep-Cleansing Facial at All 4 Your Body Wellness Day Spa (Half Off)

The aging process slows down when you get a body wrap, just as the legal process slows down when you shout, "No, Your Honor, you're out of order!" instead of just reading the verdict. Hold wrinkles in contempt with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$35 for an internal-cleansing body wrap (a $70 value)
$62 for an internal-cleansing body wrap and deep-cleansing facial (a $125 total value)

The internal-cleansing body wrap works to increase blood circulation and reduce the appearance of cellulite. A deep-cleansing facial works on the surface, unclogging pores to revitalize complexions along with a facial massage.

All 4 Your Body Wellness Day Spa

The technicians of All 4 Your Body Wellness Day Spa aim to help clients reach their beauty goals with the aid of holistic treatments and organic herbal supplements. A complimentary consultation starts every treatment, and technicians let patients lead the discussion, which could touch on topics such as skin issues, weight problems, and concern with this upcoming primetime TV lineup. From there, technicians begin to craft a personalized total-body-wellness plan??which could incorporate a cellulite-reducing body wrap, hot-stone massage, colon cleansing, or weight-management program.

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Massage or Facial at Infinite Rejuvenation Med Spa in Fort Mill (Up to 52% Off)

Like a time-traveling bull in a butterfly shop, facial muscles often create wrinkles that only science can undo. Transcend the time-face continuum with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$29 for a one-hour massage (a $60 value)
$39 for a one-hour custom facial (a $75 value)

Facials begin with a thorough evaluation by a skincare professional who customizes each one-hour service to the client?s specific needs. The one-hour massage?valid for Swedish or deep-tissue modalities?can be upgraded to a hot-stone massage for an additional $10.

Infinite Rejuvenation Med Spa

Infinite Rejuvenation Med Spa is owned and operated by Dr. Dana Giarrizzi, who administers and oversees treatments powered by products from Botox, Latisse, and Clear & Brilliant Laser Facial Resurfacing. The spa brightens complexions with peels, dermal fillers, and laser treatments that also help clients reduce hair growth and the appearance of spider veins. The center also houses massage therapists, who leverage deep-tissue, Swedish, and hot-stone techniques to leave guests feeling as loose and free as a penny in a wishing fountain.

[Clarissa Mason, 10959]

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Interior Painting for One, Two, or Three Rooms or Exterior House Repainting from Helbing Group (Up to 75% Off)

Repainting a room makes it feel new again, much like blowing it up or pumping it full of bees. Surprise yourself with this Groupon.

Choose from Four Options

$79 for interior painting of one room (a $158 value)
$142 for interior painting of two rooms (a $316 value)
$189 for interior painting of three rooms (a $474 value)
$75 for $300 toward repainting of a house exterior, which usually costs about $1,800 for a single-level, 2,000-square-foot house, and more for a two-story home or a home with a basement

Helbing Group

For the past 15 years, Helbing Group has rescued weathered houses and buildings from the brink of disrepair through painting and refinishing services. Its employees hasten to homes, where they add a fresh coat of paint both inside and out, or refresh aluminum siding and power-wash away exterior grime. They also line parking lots to keep hopscotch courts from spontaneously appearing, all while maintaining a high caliber of professionalism and efficiency.

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Mexican Cuisine at Tres Pesos Bar & Grill (Half Off). Two Options Available.

Corn is one of the staples of Mexican cuisine, used to make both tortillas and Cornyo, a carbonated beverage made of carbonation and mashed corn kernels. Eat a culinary cornerstone with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$20 for $40 worth of Mexican food
$40 for $80 worth of Mexican food

The menu includes chilaquiles with carne asada ($12.99), shrimp ranchero ($12.99), veggie burritos ($7.99), and eight varieties of ceviche ($14.99?$21.99).

Tres Pesos Bar & Grill

The chefs at Tres Pesos Bar & Grill import both their recipes and their ingredients straight from Mexico. They meld seafood into eight varieties of ceviche and douse shrimp cocktails in hot ?Nayarit-style? sauce, modeled after the version made popular in the Mexican state of Nayarit. Behind the bar, shakers and blenders thrum with the sound of mixing margaritas, mojitos, martinis, and sangria.

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$120 for a Personalized 30-Day Weight-Loss Plan with Eight B12 Injections at Physician's Plan ($259 Value)

Losing weight can make you feel like yourself at last, unlike entering witness protection, which always makes you "Darby Hatbox." Show off the new you with this Groupon.

$120 for a Personalized 30-Day Weight-Loss Plan ($259 Value)

One-hour initial visit with physician consultation
Computerized body analysis
Eight 15-minute visits (two or three times per week) for B12 Lipo-Plex injections
Variety pack of nutritional bars
Exercise and diet plan with guidance from a counselor

Physician's Plan

Chris DiOrio, DO and his wife Armella lead the management team at Physician's Plan. As the company's medical director and lead physician, Dr. DiOrio uses his expertise and board certification in emergency and critical-care medicine, along with extensive training through the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, to treat weight-related conditions. And though Armella was once headed toward a career testing other people's hearing as an audiologist, she now spends her days relying on her own ears, listening carefully to clients' needs and sharing their exuberance as they drop excess pounds.

The philosophy of the medical and clinical staff maintains that obesity?like diabetes, high blood pressure, or disco fever?is a disease rather than a failure of willpower. They take a multifaceted approach to weight loss, assigning each patient a personal counselor to provide support in the areas of behavior modification and nutrition, and custom plans might also incorporate tools such as lipotropic injections or medications. As a reward for their successes, patients can also schedule spa services including exfoliating HydraFacials, chemical peels, and massages, or ensure faces match their trim, youthful bodies with Botox, Juvederm, or Radiesse.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Using Your Printer

Two- or Three-Night Stay for Up to Four at Marina Inn Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach

Tranquil Four-Star Resort with Two Championship Golf Courses

Situated along the Intracoastal Waterway, Marina Inn at Grande Dunes initially presents a fountain-and-palm-tree fa?ade fairly typical of Myrtle Beach's many resorts. But the unassuming exterior belies a homey, highly personal experience that begins in the lobby, where check in occurs not across a chest-high counter but at one of two old-fashioned wooden desks. A concierge is on hand to book tee times at the onsite championship golf courses or dispense tips on the multitude of family-friendly attractions within reach of the inn.

In each of the 450-square-foot Grande guest rooms, a sliding door reveals a terrace where padded wicker chairs offer a cozy spot to take in views of the waterway or marina. The room's lavish bathrooms are stocked with Vive bath products and diamond-encrusted rubber duckies.

At Waterscapes Restaurant, Chef Robbie Nicolaisen personally selects fresh-caught seafood for entrees ranging from crispy oysters to black bass. The upscale eatery supports local farmers and surprises dinner guests with an unexpected post-meal treat?a freshly spun tuft of pink cotton candy.

One of the resort's two golf courses?the Grande Dunes Resort Club?was named National Course of the Year in 2009 by the National Golf Course Owners Association. In warmer weather, you can take a dip in the infinity-edge pool, open year-round, or relax on the resort's private-access beachfront, which is open on weekends through September 30.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Coastal Adventure and Exotic Wildlife

Myrtle Beach is the crown jewel of South Carolina's Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of beaches along the Atlantic seaboard. On the city's newly built boardwalk, you can browse eclectic boutiques and go for a spin on the 200-foot SkyWheel Ferris wheel. From the hotel, a 10-minute drive north leads to Barefoot Landing, home to shops, restaurants, and TIGERS Preservation Station. The free exhibit provides an up-close look at rare and endangered tigers, including siberians, royal white bengals, and the ferocious golden tabby.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Groupon Says

$10 for $20 Worth of Meatballs and Comfort Cuisine for Two at Meatballs on Main

Eating is necessary for survival, just like sleeping or carving yourself companions out of large pieces of wood. Don't just survive--thrive with this Groupon.

$10 for $20 Worth of Meatballs and Comfort Cuisine for Two

The menu includes hearty items such as the Hog Wild bacon-and-ground-pork meatball ($7-$9), the MoMwich with two meatballs and mozzarella ($6), and veggie balls ($8-$10). Meatballs come to tables drenched with the customer?s choice of sauce, and sit atop fries, spaghetti, smashed potatoes, or white beans.

Meatballs on Main

Meatballs on Main gives zesty balls of protein their time in the spotlight by enlivening recipes with new flavor combinations. Ground beef partners with short ribs, parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs to sate cravings in the Here?s the Beef dish, and applewood-smoked bacon teams up with ground pork and hot cherry peppers in the Hog Wild ball. Chefs further flavor each plate with housemade sauces and a spaghetti, hand-cut fry, smashed-potatoes, or white-bean base. Their sole dessert, MOM?s Old Fashioned apple crisp, rounds out meals with baked apples, crunchy oats, vanilla ice cream, and stories of having to walk uphill in the snow to get eaten.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Made-for-TV Movies

One-Way Airport Shuttle Service Within 10 or 30 Miles of Zip Code 28204 from EcoSeat (Up to 60% Off)

Having a driver chauffeur you to the airport takes the edge off of standing in security lines and watching the TSA officers try on your slacks. Travel in style with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$18 for one-way shuttle service to or from Charlotte Douglas International Airport within 10 miles of zip code 28204 for one (up to a $45 value)
$35 for one-way shuttle service to or from Charlotte Douglas International Airport within 30 miles of zip code 28204 for one (up to an $80 value)

Customers can request a shuttle schedule here. Pets are allowed on board, as long as they are in a carrying case and nobody booked for the trip has allergies. Shuttles are not handicapped accessible.

EcoSeat

Ride-sharing company EcoSeat takes carpooling to a professional level, minimizing the environmental impact of trips longer than a commute but too short for air travel. Its fleet of leather-seated vans accommodates working on the go; technology options range from mobile wireless connectivity to power outlets and USB ports for charging laptops and cell phones. As their charges work, drivers follow highways to Charlotte?s neighboring cities or chauffeur airport trips to ensure no one has to wait on their roof to grab the tail of a passing zephyr.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Made-for-TV Movies

Up to 5 or 10 Video Tape-to-DVD Conversions at Memories On Media (Up to 60% Off)

Transferring footage to DVD generally usually requires careful patience, proper equipment, and a solemn farewell nod towards the lonely, dusty VHS deck.

Choose Between Two Options

$37 for DVD conversion of up to 5 video tapes (up to a $75 value)
$60 for DVD conversion of up to 10 video tapes (up to a $150 value)

This Groupon can be used to convert video formats such as VHS, Hi8, Digital 8, Video 8, VHS-C, Mini DV, and DVC.

Memories On Media

An offshoot of The Wax Museum, Memories On Media began as a similarly sonically focused enterprise, editing audio clips and transferring the contents of vinyl records, reel-to-reels, and 8-tracks to CD. Since the business? inception, its technicians have expanded their repertoire to include similar services for video-footage formats including VHS, mini DV, and 8mm. Staffers encourage patrons to sit in the studio with them as they edit, ensuring each final cut adheres to the client?s vision and omits any evidence that they once owned hammer pants.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Disposing of Batteries

How far can you hit a battery with a baseball bat?

60- or 90-Minute Custom Massage at LKN Massage (Up to 54% Off)

Massage therapists are known for their strong hands, which means that the best way to find one is to follow a trail of open pickle jars. Find a helping hand with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$30 for a 60-minute custom massage (a $65 value)
$50 for a 90-minute custom massage (a $100 value)

LKN Massage

Owner and licensed massage therapist Bob Weir treats a variety of ailments for clients at LKN Massage. Bob, a graduate of and faculty member at the Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Therapy, guides a staff of five therapists. Myriad massage modalities are available, including Swedish, deep-tissue, hot-stone, sports, couples, and prenatal massage. Neuromuscular therapy helps to balance the nervous system, and light work on the lymph nodes stimulates lymphatic drainage to help flush the body of toxins. Nutritional assessments are provided free of change, just like the president doesn't charge anything for his making-money-online advice.

[Robert Dean Weir, 03040]

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Disposing of Batteries

How far can you hit a battery with a baseball bat?

Heartworm Check or Pet Microchip at Baxter Veterinary Clinic (Up to 63% Off)

Like a stubborn grandfather, pets hate being taken to the doctor and like to have the radio on all day so that they don't feel alone. Take care of your extended family with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$15 for a heartworm check (a $40 value)
$19 for a pet microchip (a $50 value)

Unlike a collar, which can slip off, microchips stick with pets forever, ensuring that they may be returned to their owners if lost.

Baxter Veterinary Clinic

Dr. James Doyle and Dr. Kelly Baete met when they were both studying at Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine. Later, they showed up at the same wedding venue to tie the knot, and then the same Fort Mill veterinary clinic to start a practice. Dr. Doyle specializes in surgical and orthopedic procedures, utilizing everything from scalpels to radio waves in his quest to treat ailments. Meanwhile, Dr. Baete focuses on preventative medicine, educating her clients on how best to care for their pets and minimize future trips to her office.

Together, the two relentlessly strive to improve the welfare of their community's creatures?even offering free spay and neuter services for pets rescued from the Humane Society of York County. In order to make visits as easy as possible, their clinic boasts a playroom to entertain children while their parents discuss the serious business of pet care or the less serious business of canine poker games. .

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Superhero Catch Phrases

Which superhero is sleeping on your couch?

One or Three 60-Minute Private Dog-Training Sessions from Dogtastic Dog Training (Up to 59% Off)

Dog trainers help eliminate bad habits, such as barking at squirrels, and develop good ones, such as barking at squirrels that are about to kill themselves. Get a helping hand with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

Trainers consider the personality and behavioral issues of each dog, and then tailor sessions to develop both obedience and healthy social skills. Owners must show proof that dogs' vaccinations are current. Sessions may be scheduled Monday?Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Dogtastic Dog Training

Cooper got a rough start in life. At just three months old, the doberman-hound mix was found on the side of the road, a plastic bag over his head. Thankfully, Cooper's owners rescued him soon after, but his experiences left him with separation anxiety, aggression, and resistance to basic commands. Enter Glenn Shue, owner and lead trainer of Dogtastic Dog Training. Glenn's approach begins by first considering each canine's unique personality, which helps him tailor a training program that combines obedience training with proper socialization. Through one-on-one work with Cooper and his family, Glenn saw the pup through many of his behavioral problems, and he continues rehabilitating Cooper with occasional attention at daycare.

A graduate of Highland Canine Training?s school for dog trainers, Glenn and his team apply his teaching principles in each of their training programs. With an indoor training space at All Wags North, they organize group obedience classes and in-kennel training, as well as puppy training that focuses on building healthy social skills. Services further extend to private in-home training, where instructors teach dogs how to sit, stay, and mix martinis. Glenn's team also specializes in behavior modification for pets with aggression problems.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Superhero Catch Phrases

Which superhero is sleeping on your couch?

Three Days and Two Nights of Boarding, or Five Days of Daycare at All Wags Doggie Daycare and Boarding North (56% Off)

Pets are members of the family, specifically smaller members who can't voice their complaints about being photographed in a basket. Earn back their respect with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$50 for three days and two nights of dog boarding (a $114 value)
$55 for five days of doggy daycare (a $125 value)

Both options include a free full-day evaluation to ensure dogs are a good fit at All Wags Doggie Daycare and Boarding North. The evaluation should be scheduled at least three days before boarding or daycare services.

All Wags Doggie Daycare and Boarding North

In 2005, Karen McCombs left the corporate world. It was a big decision, but she had a simple reason: "I just decided I wanted to play with dogs," she says. Today, two of her sons work at the original All Wags location in Charlotte, and she and Josh Hartsell?another son?have headed out to open All Wags Doggie Daycare and Boarding North in Harrisburg. They've painted the 9,000 square feet of indoor play space with colorful canine murals, but there's also plenty of room outdoors for a dog to play ball, leap into kiddie pools, or plant its owner's flag on the peaks of plastic playground equipment.

The staff takes the time to get to know each dog, from their names to what they like and what they're scared of?and Karen says the dogs are excited to come in and play. She makes sure the staff ratio stays at about 10 dogs to 1 staff member during doggy daycare so that pooches get plenty of attention and exercise. Except for a two-hour rest period, the dogs are out and about the entire time, rather than being cooped up alone at home or made to sit in a cage and nibble listlessly on homework. "It's just a fun, exhausting day for [the dogs]," she says. "They go home and they're very tired." Dogs who are staying the night play with daycare dogs during the day, then retire to 4'x8' kennels with heating and cooling. To make sure everyone's safe, all supervisors are certified in pet first aid by the American Red Cross and have been endorsed by multiple doggy-sniff committees.

For Karen, working with her canine customers has been rewarding, and she knows their human owners appreciate the time she and her staff take to get to know their dogs and individuals. "Everybody's just so happy and ready to see you. It's not like that in the corporate world anymore," she says.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Superhero Catch Phrases

Which superhero is sleeping on your couch?

Morning and Evening Pet Visit or 30-Minute Pet Visit to Your Home from Wags In the City (Up to 53% Off)

Owning a pet can be expensive due to the costs of food, trips to the vet, and bills for phone calls above the range of human hearing. Save a bone with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$10 for a morning and evening pet visit to your home (a $20 value)
$7 for a 30-minute visit to your home (a $15 value)

Within Charlotte and 10 miles of zip code 28202, pet-care specialists visit abodes for 15 minutes in the morning and evening of the same day or for one 30-minute session to walk and feed four-legged friends or other pets, including snakes, birds, and fish. After providing some companionship, staff members can provide optional services such as bringing in the newspaper and mail, cleaning litter boxes, watering plants, or taking out the trash. Each visit includes a personal note detailing services completed.

The value of the morning and evening visit may instead be applied toward any of Wags In the City?s services (except for pet taxi or pooper scooper).

Wags In the City

Born into an animal-loving family that housed pets ranging from birds to ferrets and dogs to pigs, Beth Hahn naturally developed a passion for caring for domestic animals. At only 26, she boasts a seven-year history in the pet industry; her resume lists off her experience in boarding, doggy daycare, overnight pet sitting, grooming, and more. In April of 2009, she funneled her childhood passion and professional experiences into Wags In the City?a pet-service provider she hopes will exceed customer expectations. To do this, she rounded up a team of passionate caretakers committed to offering pet owners comprehensive pet-care services, such as overnight sitting, transportation, and translating barks during negotiations over couch-sitting privileges. Hahn aspires to go above and beyond traditional businesses, and during at-home pet visits the team throws in additional complimentary services, including watering plants and taking out the trash. Because she wants to ensure both pets and owners live in a great community, her business also gives back to the Charlotte area, donating time, services, and money.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Superhero Catch Phrases

Which superhero is sleeping on your couch?

$20 for a Comprehensive Veterinary Exam for Dog or Cat at Wilkinson Animal Hospital ($45 Value)

Having animals in your house is a mixed blessing?sure, plenty of free eggs, but who wants to eat dog eggs? Baby your beasts with this Groupon.

$20 for a Comprehensive Veterinary Exam for Dog or Cat ($45 Value)

During the comprehensive 10- to 30-minute exam, Dr. Jim examines the fur, coat, skin, legs, paws, ears, eyes, nose, throat, teeth, gums, heart, lungs, abdomen, and gastrointestinal and urogenital systems of felines or canines.

Wilkinson Animal Hospital

Dr. Jim Gill and the team of veterinary doctors and staff at Wilkinson Animal Hospital understand the bond between pets and their owners, working six days a week to prolong the life and health of these furry family members. The capable team performs a range of services, from dentistry and internal medicine to radiology, surgery, and microchipping. They extend their care past cats and dogs to more exotic creatures, including birds, rabbits, reptiles, small mammals, and sentient pet rocks. Cozy crates and an expansive yard coddle pets during boarding, daycare, and grooming services, and an in-house pharmacy doles out any necessary meds.

Groupon Says

The Groupon Guide to: Superhero Catch Phrases

Which superhero is sleeping on your couch?

Charlotte/South Park/Dilworth: $10 For $20 Worth Of Cafe Delicacies at Cluck-n-Cup

When Thomas Edison invented chickens, though he neglected to give them the ability to fly, he did remember to program some extra deliciousness under their feathers. Celebrate the genius of poultry with this DoubleTake Deal, good for $20 worth of cafe delicacies at Cluck-N-Cup. Start your day with an eye-opening croissant with scrambled eggs, fluffy frittata, or muffin, or come in to roost at lunchtime for an over-stuffed sandwich or wrap. Chicken Pot Pie, Spinach & Black Bean Quesadilla and big crisp salads will fill you up and have you feeling a lot less peckish.

Charlotte/South Park/Dilworth: $99 For A Three-Hour Afternoon Fishing Trip For 1 ($200 Value) at Fishing With Gus

Gus Gustafson is a full-time professional fishing guide, specializing in fishing on Lake Norman. Gus has over 50 years of fishing experience, and has been fishing Lake Norman since the mid-1960s. Get ready to fish in a 23-foot center console or a luxurious 25-foot pontoon boat that is loaded with state-of-the-art electronics, and has a semi-enclosed heated cockpit for winter fishing. The pontoon is designed for family fishing fun or corporate charters. It is also equipped with a VHF radio, GPS, depth finders and a privacy area. Fishing trips are available for a single angler or up to six anglers. Arrangements can be made for up to 5 additional at $50 each when you schedule your trip. With this DoubleTake Deal, receive a 3-hour afternoon fishing trip for one with Capt. Gus ($200 value)!

Charlotte/South Park/Dilworth: $10 For $20 Worth Of Delicious Pizza & Italian Cuisine at Main Street Pizza

Few foods exist that are as universally favored and savored as pizza. Pepperoni and mushroom, pineapple and ham, or perhaps sausage and anchovies? With the ability to be topped with almost any foodstuff, in whatever combination you can dream up, everyone can enjoy their own little slice of cheesy heaven. Find your favorite pie at Main Street Pizza where the offerings are limitless. Take advantage of this DoubleTake Deal and you?ll receive $20 toward delicious pizza and Italian cuisine. Main Street Pizza?s also offers a variety of sandwiches, like the meatball parmigiana sub or an Italian sub, as well as salads. Try Main Street Pizza?s own baked ziti. And if you prefer your pizza in pocket form, wrap your mitts around one of their delicious stromboli.

Charlotte/South Park/Dilworth: $10 For $20 Worth Of Gourmet Italian Cuisine at Italy Cafe

Nutritionists say you should drink eight glasses of water a day. What they fail to mention is that you should also eat eight slices of pizza a day, with plenty of pasta thrown in as well. For your good health, come to Italy Cafe and bring this DoubleTake Deal with you: get $20 toward gourmet Italian dining. Italy Cafe?s open kitchen gives you a great view of your pie as it embarks on its journey, only to emerge bubbly, soft, melty, and simply fantastic. Join them for date night and feast on Italy Cafe?s own homemade lasagna, eggplant parmesan or chicken cacciatore. Bring the whole gang and enjoy pizza, wings, salads and much more in a family-friendly atmosphere. Picky eaters are no problem! There?s something for everyone at Italy Cafe.

Charlotte/South Park/Dilworth: $10 For $20 Worth Of Real New York Pizza & Italian Food at Sebastiano's Pizzeria

Sebastiano?s means serious New York pizza and Italian food. No ?New York-style? mumbo jumbo here! It?s the real deal made by real New Yorkers. Not a thing has changed from their days on Long Island. All of Sebastiano?s food is made fresh with only the best ingredients. Their large portions are almost too much! Almost. With this DoubleTake Deal, enjoy $20 worth of real New York pizza and Italian food! Come on in to Sebastiano?s for all your favorites like calamari, broccoli rabe and milk-fed veal. All their veal and chicken is hand pounded! Enjoy a casual dining atmosphere complete with TVs. Patio seating is a cozy way to enjoy the aroma of fresh herbs in the air. Sebastiano?s game corner will occupy the kids while you enjoy your meal. They offer a full bar with 25 beers, 14 wines and over 85 mixed beverages. Both locations have carry-out and delivery. They service the entire eastern Lake Norman area, from exit 23 to exit 36.

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $10 For $20 Worth Of Great American Pub Fare & Drinks at Fifty 1 Neighborhood Bar & Grille

Put on your eatin? pants! Fifty 1 is famous for their jumbo wings. Traditional, boneless or smoked, they can be sauced to your liking and will leave you wanting more! Their menu also features burgers, bbq, sandwiches and even personal pizzas. With this DoubleTake Deal, you?ll get $20 worth of great American pub fare and drinks. Fifty 1 is not only big on food, they?re big on entertainment too! Bring your friends to check out your favorite team on one of their 35 HDTVs. Listen to live music, sing karaoke or test your smarts at trivia. Fifty 1 has drink specials every day of the week. Join them every Friday for drink specials and live music with no cover charge. Follow them on Facebook? at www.Facebook.com/Fifty1BarGrille and follow them on Twitter? @Fifty1BarGrille.

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $10 For $20 Worth Of Authentic Southern BBQ, Burgers & Ribs at Elwood's BBQ-Burgers-Ribs

What makes you happy? If the answer is BBQ, Southern-fried chicken and homemade sides, then Elwood?s is the place to be! With this DoubleTake Deal, get $20 worth of authentic Southern BBQ, burgers & Ribs! Big Don Elwood was a man who did things that made him happy. At Elwood?s, they follow his example. They quickly provide authentic Southern BBQ, burgers, ribs and more at great prices. Elwood?s friendly atmosphere makes it a family favorite. They offer express counter lunch service Monday through Friday from 11 until 4pm transitioning to good old-fashioned table service during the evenings and on weekends. Elwood?s also provides catering for corporate luncheons, banquets, tailgating and more. Elwood?s is a casual, family-friendly establishment dedicated to fast, friendly service and good Southern cooking! Follow them on Facebook? at www.facebook.com/ElwoodsBBQ and follow them on Twitter? @ElwoodsNC.

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $10 For $20 Worth Of Gourmet Italian Food at Dinner at De Marco's Italian Grill

While pasta sauce makes for a great moisturizer and a handy substitute for vibrant lipstick, it?s still best enjoyed as part of a traditional Italian meal. Get your rigatoni right when you visit De Marco's Italian Grill in Fort Mill. Bring along this DoubleTake Deal to receive $20 worth of gourmet Italian fare at dinner. De Marco has a menu as long as the Alps, featuring soups, salads, appetizers, pasta dishes, chicken, veal, seafood and beyond.

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $15 For $30 Worth Of Authentic Italian Cuisine (Purchaser Will Receive 2-$15 Certificates) at Tony's Pizza York

In mathematics, pi is roughly equal to 3.14, which is incidentally the average number of slices a Tony?s Pizza patron has of one of their pies before he/she admits its superiority. Bask in the mathematical deliciousness of Tony?s. When you use this DoubleTake Deal, good for $15 worth of Italian cuisine. Whether you?re popping in for a lunchtime pizza special, thick subs or a hearty boli, or bringing the family out for dinner to enjoy manicotti, lasagna and other authentic Italian plates, Tony?s Pizza will leave you satisfied.

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $10 For $20 Worth Of Pottery Painting at Clay Escape

When your grandmother was a little girl, all pottery was white, all glass was clear. She ate oatmeal from a stark white bowl and slurped stew from an pallid tureen. Visit Clay Escape and live in color like Grandma couldn?t. Check out this DoubleTake Deal: get $20 worth of pottery painting! At Clay Escape, paint your own pottery or warm glass any way you?d like. No experience is needed. Instructors can help you achieve your artistic vision. There are no studio fees and no appointments required. Classes are also available. Try Clay Escape for birthday parties, baby showers, field trips and more. No appointments for painting, however glass classes are by appointment only.

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $15 For A Glass Fusing Class ($30 Value) at Clay Escape

When your grandmother was a little girl, all pottery was white, all glass was clear. She ate oatmeal from a stark white bowl and slurped stew from an pallid tureen. Visit Clay Escape and live in color like Grandma couldn?t. Check out this DoubleTake Deal: try a glass fusing class, a $30 value! At Clay Escape, paint your own pottery or warm glass any way you?d like. No experience is needed. Instructors can help you achieve your artistic vision. There are no studio fees and no appointments required. Classes are also available. Try Clay Escape for birthday parties, baby showers, field trips and more. No appointments for painting, however glass classes are by appointment only.

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $15 For $30 Worth Of Quality Upscale Consignment Clothes at Elite Repeats Consigment Boutique

Elite Repeats is an upscale consignment boutique conveniently located in Tega Cay just minutes off I-77. They represent all of the stores found in South Park Mall. Shop often as they add daily to their great selection of top quality designer clothing and accessories. Elite Repeats has a large selection of both new and resale items in sizes 0-14, including exclusive designer jeans like Miss Me, True Religion, Seven for All Mankind, etc. Their featured clothing & shoes designers include White House Black Market, Cache, Bebe, Guess?, Buckle, Chico?s?, Ann Taylor?, Talbots?, Ann Klein?, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Kay Unger, Teri Jon, Tadashi, Lilly Pulitzer?, Jack Rogers, Moschino, Christian Louboutin, Lucchese? and many others. With this DoubleTake Deal, enjoy $30 worth of upscale consignment clothes. Elite Repeats has a large inventory of authentic designer handbags & wallets from well-known designers such as Chanel?, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Gucci?, Prada, Cynthia Rowley, Coach, Juicy, Dooney & Bourke and more.

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $10 For $20 Worth Of NY-Style Brick Oven Pizza And Gourmet Italian Food at La Strada

Family is a tradition with the Italian people and so is good food. La Strada take both seriously while preparing vintage Italian recipes. Let their family be yours for a day. With this DoubleTake Deal, get $20 worth of gourmet pizza and Italian food. Using the freshest ingredients, La Strada creates authentic Italian dishes for every taste. They offer several pasta dishes, pizza, stromboli, calzones as well as subs and salads. Settle down in their cozy dining room for a romantic candlelit dinner, or bring the family for fresh Italian cuisine. Private parties are also welcome on Mondays from 11am-9pm. Please call for details. Buon Appetito!

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $10 For $20 Worth Of Water Ice & Ice Cream Deliciousness (Purchaser Will Receive 2-$10 Certificates) at Mally's Water Ice

With temperatures reaching triple digits and blood sugar levels dropping, Mally?s has come to the rescue with its wide array of delicious confections. Staying cool has never been so cool? use this DoubleTake Deal to receive $10 worth of ice cream, water ice and more. Mally?s Water Ice beats the heat with an impressive selection of ice cream, ices, funnel cakes, pretzels, floats, shakes and more. They?ll even cater your next event, assuring you of a sweeter social occasion. Check out their website for pushcart opportunities to raise funds for your organization. They always welcome potential franchise owners!

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $10 For $20 Worth Of Gourmet Thai Cuisine For Dinner at Siam Garden Thai Restaurant

Your taste buds have been craving something beyond the ordinary lately, so treat them to something exotic, aromatic and evocative. Get tongue-Thai?d at Siam Garden Thai Restaurant and experience a world of fresh and new flavors. Tote along this DoubleTake Deal to receive $20 worth of gourmet Thai cuisine. The Tom-Kha soup is a great way to start any meal. Try out the green and red curry dishes for a true taste of Thailand. The ambiance will impress you, but not quite as much as the attentive and helpful staff. For a break from the same-old, same-old, drop in to Siam Garden for dinner today!

Charlotte-S/Ballantyne/Waxhaw: $13 For 4 Rounds Of Mini Golf ($26 Value) (Purchaser Will Receive 2 Certificates, Each Valid For 2 Rounds Of Mini Golf) at Leatherman Golf

Leatherman Golf Learning Center offers affordable family entertainment. Enjoy their 18-hole miniature golf course with waterfalls, streams and fountains. Their outdoor patio is perfect for parties, or for just keeping an eye on your little golfers. For the serious golf enthusiast, their teaching staff is available 7 days a week year-round. Their experienced teaching staff is PGA and LPGA certified. Loaner clubs are available at no additional cost. Leatherman also boasts a driving range with daily beer/ball combo specials! - 5845 S. Tryon Street Charlotte ? 704-527-1123

Charlotte-Matthews/Stallings: $15 For $30 Worth Of Indian Cuisine (Purchaser Will Receive 2-$15 Certificates) at Maharani Indian Cuisine

Your heart is racing, adrenaline pumping. You?re starting to sweat. You need a glass of water STAT! You?re running a marathon. Oh, wait, no, you?re not. You?re merely enjoying the Indian fare at Maharani Indian Cuisine. With this DoubleTake Deal, get $15 worth of Indian cuisine! Serving a wide array of authentic Indian dishes, owner Amandeep Singh and wife, Manjeet, offer you humble hospitality and delectable dining. Maharani is adorned in ceremonial Indian art, assuring you a true Indian experience. Their menu is seemingly endless, including Indian classics and specialties such as appetizers, shorba, chicken dishes, seafood, Indo-Chinese recipes, lamb and Biryani rice specialties. A special luncheon menu offers vegetarian selections, salads, tandoori, roti, desserts and more. Maharani Indian Cuisine offers full-service catering for large events like weddings or small affairs such as office parties.

Charlotte-Matthews/Stallings: $10 For $20 Worth Of Irish-Infused Pub Fare at Belfast Mill

Got any Irish in you? Want some? At The Belfast Mill, they?re waiting to welcome you with a pint o? Irish hospitality, and to fill you with traditional Gaelic gastronomic delights. This DoubleTake Deal is sure to tickle your fancy with $20 of Irish-infused pub fare from their fantastic menu. And that?s no malarkey! Start your stomach?s visit to the Emerald Isle with Belfast Mill?s famous Guinness? BBQ wings, or dive into a plate of beer-battered Fish & Chips, the Dublin Dip sandwich or Celtic Smoke with smoked turkey, caramelized onions and Dijon on grilled sourdough. Sl?inte!

Charlotte-Matthews/Stallings: $10 For $20 Worth Of Baked Delicacies at The Bread Basket

Maybe you shouldn?t play ball in the house or wear muddy shoes on the carpet, but mom was probably wrong about filling up on bread! Use this DoubleTake Deal and get $20 worth of baked delicacies from The Bread Basket. With their roots in hearth, home and friends, The Bread Basket offers a variety of delicious baked goods including specialty breads, muffins, cakes and other sweet treats. They deliver locally and ship nationwide. So go ahead and indulge!

Charlotte-Matthews/Stallings: $20 For $40 Worth Of Scrumptious Custom Cakes And Other Treats at Bake Me A Cake

The world is full of unexplained phenomena such as peculiar flying objects, apparitional experiences, and impetuous sweet tooth attacks. Solve sugary mysteries at Bake Me A Cake: with this DoubleTake Deal, you?ll get $40 worth of scrumptious custom cakes and other treats. A locally operated establishment, Bake Me A Cake takes creativity to a lip-smacking new level. Their artists custom-craft cakes, cupcakes and cake pops, and will work with you to bring your ideas to fruition, resulting in beautiful one-of-a-kind masterpieces worthy of a photo op. In house, you?ll find a curious selection of cupcake flavors and combinations which change daily. And Bake Me A Cake?s old-fashioned pound cakes are particularly noteworthy and deserving of a taste that won?t disappoint.

$17 for 9 Piece Makeup Brush Set with Leather Portfolio ($34 Value)

If you re spending an arm and a leg on high end makeup, shouldn t your tools provide the best application? Skip the uneven coverage and results of ordinary brushes and keep yourself looking fresh and fly with this 9 piece makeup brush kit, featuring professional grade brushes and a luxurious leather case. Only $17 (a $34 value), this deal makes it easy to look your best at home or on the go. Pack it away for travel, or enjoy the ease and perfect results of high quality makeup application each and every time at home. 9 pieces for every powder, shadow, and makeup need Washable and durable; makes a great gift! Gorgeous wood finish adds style and a professional touch Folds up for easy portability and convenience when traveling A must have for professionals and makeup lovers alike

Black Bottle Opener Case for the iPhone 4 or 4S

Life is full of tough choices like how many beef sticks to eat before bed, which reality TV shows to record on your DVR, and which of your friends gets your favorite ring tone. Most difficult of all though is when you find yourself with unopened bottle of beer in one hand and iPhone in the other. This is no twist off cap, and you certainly cannot set down your cell for the 30 seconds it takes to locate and utilize a bottle opener, you might miss a text or push notification of momentary import! The problem is elegantly solved with our deal for this iPhone 4 case with integrated bottle opener. A mere $16.50 ensures you will never be without means to open beers again as long as you re clinging to your iPhone which is always. Made of protective polycarbonate, the case shrouds your precious in quality safety against unforeseen drops and dings, while the slide out bottle opener beckons any bottle to test its tempered power. Perfectly practical at parties and at home, the bottle opener case fits both iPhone 4 and 4S.

White Bottle Opener Case for the iPhone 4 or 4S

Bottle Opener Case for the iPhone 4 or 4S

Source: http://www.charlotteonthecheap.com/2012/08/charlotte-daily-deals-82712-teeth-whitening-myrtle-beach-vacation-house-painting-airport-shuttle-more/

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Are you a small business owner trying to accelerate company growth? If so, here are nine principles you should know about marketing to ensure greater success and drive ROI.? ?

$29 for 20-Minute Teeth-Whitening Session ($139 Value)

Whiten My Smile Now

Groupon Says

$49 for $150 Worth of Furniture

Savvy Spaces

Groupon Says

Choose from Three Options

A Little Skin Studio

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All 4 Your Body Wellness Day Spa

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Infinite Rejuvenation Med Spa

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Helbing Group

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Tres Pesos Bar & Grill

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$120 for a Personalized 30-Day Weight-Loss Plan ($259 Value)

Physician's Plan

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Tranquil Four-Star Resort with Two Championship Golf Courses

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Coastal Adventure and Exotic Wildlife

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$10 for $20 Worth of Meatballs and Comfort Cuisine for Two

Meatballs on Main

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EcoSeat

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Memories On Media

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LKN Massage

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Baxter Veterinary Clinic

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Dogtastic Dog Training

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All Wags Doggie Daycare and Boarding North

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Wags In the City

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$20 for a Comprehensive Veterinary Exam for Dog or Cat ($45 Value)

Wilkinson Animal Hospital

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