text:
Bangalore, Nov 26 (Business Wire India):Akamai Technologies, Inc. the leader in powering rich media, dynamic transactions and enterprise applications online, today announced the release of the third edition of its quarterly "State of the Internet" report available for download at www.akamai.com/stateoftheinternet.
Leveraging published reports and information available on its network, Akamai's quarterly report provides insight into key Internet statistics such as origin of attack traffic, network outages and broadband connectivity levels across the globe. As the Company's third published edition, the report also now provides a quarter-over-quarter view into trends.
Insights on India:
-- India ranked No. 20 in terms of number of observed IP addresses with 2.6 million connections. In Q3, the growth in IP addresses was 23 per cent
- In comparison, China had 38 million and Unites States had 109 million unique IPs, while being ranked at No. 2 and No. 1 respectively
-- India ranks a low No. 153 in terms of number of IP addresses per capita, with 2.3 unique IPs per thousand people
- In comparison, China had 30 unique IPs per thousand people and United States had 360 unique IPs per thousand people, while being ranked at No. 94 and No. 6 respectively
-- The percentage of Internet connections from India with speeds above 256 Kbps was at 74per cent, indicating gradual shift from dial-up speeds to high speed connectivity
-- The percentage of Internet connections from India with speeds above 2 Mbps was at 5 per cent, growing 16 per centcompared to Q2
- In comparison, China had 4.3 per cent connections above 2 Mbps and United States had 64 per cent connections above 2 Mbps
-- India ranked 12th in terms of global attack traffic origination in Q3, contributing 1.6 per cent to observed global attack traffic - last quarter India was ranked at 15th
Commenting on the report, Sanjay Singh, Managing Director - India, Akamai Technologies, said, "During the third quarter of 2008, Akamai observed web-traffic originating from 179 unique countries around the world. Our global network of 40,000 servers across 70 countries enables us to offer unique insight into how the Internet is being leveraged around the world. In Q3, we saw 23 per cent growth in terms of new IPs from India. This increase may be attributable to more people turning to the World Wide Web for news and video content related to the Beijing Olympic Games, which took place in August. We also noted a gradual improvement in terms of IP per capita which increased to 2.3 unique IPs per 1,000 people, and believe India is moving in the right direction and is poised for significant growth in Internet adoption in the coming years."
Global connectivity saw big advances in the third quarter, with various undersea cable projects getting underway or nearing completion, the commercial launch of WiMAX services in a number of countries, and the announcement of fiber-to-the-premises services that will bring gigabit-speed connections to subscribers in Japan, the Ukraine, and the Netherlands.
Regarding global connection speeds, South Korea had the highest levels of high broadband connectivity for the third straight quarter. In the United States, Delaware also maintained its top position, with 55 per cent of connections to Akamai occurring at 5 Mbps or greater. Looking at observed "narrowband" connections, Mayotte and Equatorial Guinea were the "slowest" countries, with 97 per cent and 94 per cent of connections to Akamai, respectively, occurring at speeds below 256 Kbps.
Akamai's unique level of visibility into the connection speeds of systems issuing requests to the Akamai network has created a one-of-a-kind view into broadband adoption around the globe. Leveraging that data, Akamai's quarterly "State of the Internet" report identifies both the countries and U.S. states with the fastest and slowest average connection speeds exhibited by IP addresses originating from those respective geographies.


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Lay down the BeatsGet the most immersive sound and touch experience available on a PC. The HP ENVY Recline Beats SE combines the revolutionary adjustability of a full HD touchscreen with the bold look and premium sound of Beats Audio and quad speakers.
About model 23-m120Get the most immersive sound and touch experience available on a PC with the revolutionary adjustable full HD touchscreen and the bold look and premium sound of Beats Audio.
Key features- Windows 8- 4th generation Intel Core i3-4130T processor- 10-point touch-enabled 23" diagonal widescreen IPS Full HD LED backlit display- 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 SDRAM memory 1x4GB (expandable to 16GB)- 1TB 2.5" Solid State Hybrid Drive- 8GB SATA 6G solid-state drive acceleration cache- NVIDIA GeForce GT 730A dedicated graphics with 1GB DDR3 dedicated memory.
Support for Microsoft DirectX 11- Wireless chiclet-style keyboard with volume control, Windows 8 hot keys and optical mouse- 2 USB 3.0 at Right Side- External HP USB SuperMulti DVD Burner- Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac featuring Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 2x2 MIMO technology and integrated Bluetooth 4.0 and WiDi.
Product highlights- Featuring Windows 8- HP ENVY Recline 23 TouchSmart All-in-One: Sit back, relax, and type - or tap, swipe, and pinch. Perform touch gestures naturally with an adjustable stand that allows for below-desk typing and deep recline.- 23-inch Full HD display: Movies and games are big enough to share on this 23-inch diagonal Full HD touchscreen that delivers wide viewing angles, rich colors, and sharp graphics.- Beats Audio: Get the full Beats Audio experience with studio-quality sound, quad speakers and bold Beats design.- 10-point capacitive touch: Get the most out of touch with an ultra-reactive 10-point touchscreen.- Windows 8 enhanced keyboard/mouse: A sleek keyboard/mouse combo with hot keys allows for intuitive navigation of Windows 8.- NVIDIA graphics: Immerse yourself in ultra-realistic games.- ExpressCache: Enjoy fast boot up and application start times with ExpressCache.- Intel WiDi: Connect wirelessly to your TV for an even bigger picture.- 802.11ac WiFi: Gain faster, more reliable wireless than ever - with built-in 5G WiFi support.- HP TrueVision HD Webcam: Always come off looking your best. Even in low light.- CyberLink: We've got your multimedia needs covered. From our webcam app to powerful photo and video editing - even an enhanced video experience.- HP Connected Photo: Sync, edit, and share photos. Picture the fun.- HP Connected Music: Discover music in a whole new way.- Box: Finally, all of your mobile content is in one place. Free 50GB lifetime cloud storage from Box.
Energy efficiency your wayHP is committed to global citizenship and environmental responsibility. Do the environment - and your wallet - a favor when you use the HP ENVY Recline TouchSmart Beats SE All-in-One PC that meets strict energy-efficiency and helps reduce your carbon footprint.- ENERGY STAR Qualified- EPEAT Gold registered- Low Halogen- Mercury-free display backlights- Arsenic-free display glass- All HP computing products are delivered by SmartWay carriers.- Eligible for free recycling or cash back through HP's Planet Partners Recycling and Consumer Buyback programs.
Operating System- Windows 8
Processor- 4th generation Intel Core i3-4130T processor
Processor Speed- 2.90 GHz
Cache- 3MB Cache
Memory- 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 SDRAM memory 1x4GB (expandable to 16GB)
Hard Drive- 1TB 2.5" Solid State Hybrid Drive- 8GB SATA 6G solid-state drive acceleration cache- Life doesn't wait. With ExpressCache, you'll enjoy fast boot-up and application start times. So you can get going in a flash.
Optical Drive(s)- External HP USB SuperMulti DVD Burner- Write: 8x max DVD?R SL, 6x max DVD?R DL, 8x max DVD+RW, 6x max DVD-RW, 5x max DVD-RAM, 24x max CD-R/RW- Read: 8x max DVD-ROM/?R (SL/DL), 8x max DVD?RW, 5x max DVD-RAM, 24x max CD-ROM/R/RW- Data transfer rates up to 3,600 KB/s (CD read/write) and 10,800 KB/s (DVD read/write)
Video Graphics- Accelerate your All-in-One's performance by up to 4x with advanced NVIDIA GeForce GT 730A dedicated graphics with 1GB DDR3 dedicated memory. Support for Microsoft DirectX 11- Up to 1753MB Total Available Graphics Memory as allocated by Windows 8
Network Interface- 10/100/1000 Base-T Network
Wireless Connectivity- Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac featuring Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 2x2 MIMO technology and integrated Bluetooth 4.0 and WiDi.
Sound- Beats Audio- Integrated speakers
Memory Slots- SODIMM socket x2 (204-pin, DDR3) (one available)
Expansion Slots- 1 PCI-E x1 mini socket slot (occupied)
Memory Card Reader- HP 3-in-1 Media Card Reader - Supports SD, SDHC, SDXC
External Ports- Connect your Xbox, Wii, or Playstation through the HDMI input- Headphone/Microphone Combo at left side, HDMI IN at left side- 2x USB 3.0 at Right side; Subwoofer out at right base side- 2x USB 2.0 at Right base side- 1x USB 2.0 Port for KB/MS dongle
Mouse and Keyboard- Wireless chiclet-style keyboard with volume control, Windows 8 hot keys and optical mouse
Web Camera- HP TrueVision HD Webcam 720p HD and built in microphones
Integrated Display- 10-point touch-enabled 23" diagonal widescreen IPS Full HD LED backlit display
Display Resolution- 1920x1080 (Full HD)
Tilt/Stand Design- Tilt Angle: 5 to 145- Stand Type: Immersive Touch
Power Supply- 150W Power Supply (external)
Dimensions- 22.02 in (L) x 10.44 in (W) x 17.87 in (H) approx.
Weight- 26.72 lb approx.
SoftwareCommunication and Chat- Pinger: Free local phone number with unlimited SMS to any US/Canada number, free incoming voice calls, and a free voicemail service.
Games - HP Exclusive! 10 free game rental sessions of Plants vs. Zombies. Your HP TouchSmart also comes preloaded with two FREE games ? Build-a-lot, and Bounce Symphony ($39.99 value) and HP Games.- Microsoft Games: (Solitaire, Mahjong, Taptiles) Start enjoying the Windows 8 experience right out of the box.
HP Help and Support- Getting Started with Windows 8: HP's application makes it fun & easy to get to know Windows 8. Let us help you learn the basics of navigating the new Start Screen, powering off your device, and additional tips and tricks through helpful step by step videos.- HP Support Assistant: Helps you maintain the performance of your PC and resolve problems with automated updates and tune-ups, built-in diagnostics, and guided assistance.
Books, Music, Photos and Videos- Amazon Kindle for Windows 8- CyberLink PhotoDirector: Makes it easy to create spectacular photos. From the moment your images are imported, the software empowers you with the tools you need to create eye-catching images, including photo management, photo adjustment and advanced editing features.- CyberLink PowerDirector: Fast, feature-rich and easy to use, the powerful set of integrated tools lets you create brilliant videos. Whether you're practically an expert or a novice. Packed with intuitive and exciting features and is designed for creating brilliant high definition videos that will amaze your friends and family.- CyberLink PowerDVD: Upgrade your video watching experience with CyberLink's TrueTheater technology including enhanced lighting features and improved audio quality.- CyberLink YouCam: YouCam is the ultimate webcam software.- HP Connected Music powered by Meridian: Get the most out of the tunes you love today and discover more music in a whole new way. Enhance your experience by browsing your CDs, downloads, Internet radio, and streaming services - all together in one place.- HP Connected Photo powered by Snapfish: Sync photos across your PC, smartphone, and tablet. Crop, rotate, add captions, and more. Then share in seconds with friends and family through your social networks. Picture the fun.- Netflix: Watch movies and TV online or via DVDs with subscription.- Beats Audio: With Beats Audio, quad speaker, and a subwoofer, the HP ENVY Recline 23-m120 TouchSmart Beats SE All-in-One PC is designed for the best sounding, richest audio available on a PC.
Productivity and Tools- 7-zip: File Archive Utility- Box: Simple, secure sharing from nearly anywhere.- HP Recovery Manager: Recover, restore, and create recovery media for your PC.- Buy Office: Smarter versions of your favorite applications.
Security and Protection- Norton Internet Security: Free 60-day subscription helps keep your PC, identity and personal information safe online.

subset: commoncrawl


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Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) is reminding folks in southwest Michigan to keep our troops and veterans foremost in their thoughts by participating in the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. have again joined forces for the Holiday Mail for Heroes program to provide Americans with the opportunity to extend holiday greetings and thanks to service members and veterans.
"A holiday greeting is a simple yet powerful reminder to a member of our military or one of our heroic veterans of how much their service means to us," said Upton. "With the holidays right around the corner, I hope that you will join me in sharing the spirit of the season with those who answered the call to serve."
Each year, the American Red Cross provides assistance to over 2 million service members and many of our nation's 24 million veterans. The holiday season is the perfect time to extend a warm greeting and word of gratitude to those who have served and continue to do so.
The Red Cross has requested that folks keep in mind a few guidelines:
* Include your heartfelt sentiments and sign all cards
* Entitle cards with generic salutations such as "Dear Service Member"
* Bundle groups of cards in single, large mailing envelopes or flat rate postal shipping boxes.
* Send letters, care packages, or monetary gifts -- only cards are being accepted
* Include personal information such as home or email addresses
* Use glitter -- excessive amounts can aggravate health issues of ill and injured warriors
* Include inserts of any kind as they must be removed in the screening process
Cards must be received by Holiday Mail for Heroes no later than Friday, December 7th. Cards received after this date cannot be guaranteed delivery.
Holiday cards should be addressed and sent to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
Upton is also collecting cards at both of his district offices in St. Joseph and Kalamazoo -- Upton will forward cards to Holiday Mail for Heroes that are received in either office by Tuesday, December 4th. Those interested may send cards to either office or drop them off in person.
St. Joseph/Benton Harbor District Office
800 Centre
800 Ship Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Kalamazoo District Office
157 South Kalamazoo Mall
Suite 180
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and distributed to participating Red Cross chapters nationwide. Once the cards arrive at the Red Cross chapters, they are sorted and reviewed by volunteers who then distribute them to service members, their families and veterans in communities across the country.
For additional information and card requirements, please visit with www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/holiday-mail-for-heroes.
Source: http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=312587


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The 6-foot-4, 197-pound class of 2007 prospect from Whitefish Bay, Wis., is being recruited as a kicker, punter and as a quarterback, and is receiving kudos as a prospect at all three positions.
Hagerup is waiting for his first scholarship offer, but he is receiving interest from "every Big Ten school", he said in a telephone interview last week, and far-flung Division I programs such as Colorado, Stanford and Arizona.
What is fascinating about Hagerup is that he has effectively only played organized football for two years, and the first was purely as a kicker. He is an impressive athlete; at the Scout.com Combine in Iowa City he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds, completed the 20-yard shuttle in 4.34 seconds and broad jumped 10 feet.
"Last year was just my first year playing quarterback," Hagerup said. "So a lot of schools want to see another year… They are all going to want to see that senior-year highlight tape and see what I do."
Directing a wing-T offense last season, Hagerup completed 61 of 130 passes for 796 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also rushed 53 times for 132 yards and a touchdown.
"Last year I did pretty well considering the fact that we did the run ball about 85 percent of the time with the wing T," Hagerup said.
"When you see him play, you just can't believe he's only played football for two years and that 2005 was his first year at (quarterback)," Whitefish Bay head coach Jim Tietjen said in a press release. "He's an incredible athlete and a very quick study."
Hagerup will have more opportunity to show off his wares this fall, as Whitefish Bay is transitioning to the use of a spread offense.
"We are changing our offense to the spread rather than the wing T (we ran) last year," Hagerup said. "So that's another big factor. So I'll be able to throw the ball a little bit."
"I guess (the wing T) was good for a (first-year) starter and not being really familiar with exactly what the position is," Hagerup said. "Now that I look back on it I wish I could have thrown a lot more. But I'm really excited about the spread offense next year."
New to the gridiron
Hagerup grew up playing soccer, and also played organized basketball and baseball prior to high school.
"I played (soccer) just because our team was really good, and I was pretty good as a player," Hagerup said. "I played because I had been playing.
"But I really actually enjoyed football. I always played pickup games, and I did some flag football leagues. But you couldn't do both with soccer.
"Finally, once I tore my ACL, that was just like the final straw. And then I decided to pursue football. But it happened, ironically, that I tore my other ACL the second week of (football) practice."
Hagerup tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left, non-kicking, knee in April 2003, while playing soccer near the end of his eighth grade year.
He actually went out for football as a freshman that August, but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the "fourth or fifth practice."
"They were saying it was going to be six months to a year" for rehabilitation, Hagerup said, of his first ACL injury. "And I came back within like three months, and I was really excited about football. Then it happened again."
"It was kind of tough to deal with," he said. "The second time I did it I knew within five seconds. It was the same exact feeling. I was, 'Oh, no.' But I fought back."
Hagerup made another rapid recovery and actually returned to play in the last game of the season for Whitefish Bay's freshman squad.
"Actually, the funny thing is I was going to be quarterback freshman year, because the coaches had seen me and they thought I had a really good arm, and I had speed and I was tall," Hagerup said. "But the last play of our freshman year they actually put me in at quarterback and I threw a 60-yard touchdown pass at the end of the game."
That was Hagerup's first play in an organized football game.
"Then sophomore year, I would (have been) playing quarterback, but I threw out my arm in baseball," Hagerup said. "I think I had a minor tear in my shoulder… So I wasn't able to throw sophomore year. So I just kicked sophomore year."
Last fall he was finally able to enjoy a season playing quarterback, in addition to kicking and punting, on Whitefish Bay's varsity. He was an all-conference punter and an honorable mention all-conference kicker.
Hagerup played basketball and baseball his freshman and sophomore years, but chose to focus on football this year.
"I haven't lost love for the game," he said of baseball, "but it's kind of hard to do with the amount of the time it takes up in the summer and all these colleges that I'm trying to get to…
"I've been playing basketball for about six years now. But I was gone pretty much every weekend for different kicking and quarterback events. That doesn't really go too well with the coaches when you are skipping basketball for other sports.
"But if I get a scholarship or I'm deciding what I'm doing for college and I know what I'm going to do, I'll probably end up playing basketball next year."
Building interest
Hagerup's athletic ability, and his potential to play three positions in college, make him an interesting prospect. How well he plays his senior year, and in camps this summer, will go a long way toward determining what his options are in the end.
"I'm getting a lot of interest," Hagerup said. "Lately, I would say, just as much interest now at quarterback" as he has received as a kicker or punter. "It is pretty equivalent. It really depends on what the school needs. But I've been getting, I would say, just as much interest now at quarterback."
Hagerup said he would prefer to play quarterback in college if he is asked to specialize.
"I would definitely have to say quarterbacking by far," he said. "If I wasn't good at kicking I don't think I'd like it to be honest. But quarterbacking, I would love it no matter what."
Hagerup, though, has exhibited considerable potential as a kicker and punter; those could be the positions where he truly separates himself from the pack of college prospects. And once he has a foot in the door—perhaps literally—his athletic ability could allow him to turn heads at all three positions.
Last fall he averaged 39 yards and 3.7 seconds hang time per punt, made 5 of 8 field-goal attempts, including a 43-yarder, 18 of 20 extra-point attempts (both misses were blocked), and had 14 touchbacks out of 29 kickoffs.
In the press release, Andy Kohl, the punting director for Kohl's Professional Kicking Camps, called Hagerup a "(p)rototypical (Division I) punter — big, strong, and athletic. If he chooses to focus on punting, he truly has the full potential and work ethic to develop into a professional punter. Each year, I coach and evaluate literally hundreds of punters from around the country. Right now, even with his interest in other positions, Chris is the equal of any high school punter in the country, even those who solely focus on punting."
"Modern(-)day model for (Division I) kickers," raved Jamie Kohl, the director of Kohl's Professional Kicking Camps. "(A)lready highly coordinated, with enough leg speed and talent to step right into a (Division I) program. I have absolutely no doubt that he will be a tremendous college kicker and, if he wants to pursue it, he has an excellent chance to kick in the pros. I have seen very few athletes of his size, with his amount of athleticism, leg speed, motor skills, and coordination."
Hagerup has been to five combines this spring. In addition to the Iowa City Scout.com Combine, Hagerup has attended Nike camps in Chicago and on Georgia's campus in Athens, Ga., the Elite 11 camp in Atlanta on Georgia Tech's campus, and the adidas camp in Madison, Wis. His best combine numbers include a 4.64-second 40-yard dash, 4.12 20-yard shuttle, 7.12 three-cone, 15 reps at 185 pounds on the bench press, and a 34-inch vertical jump.
He was originally slated to attend a combine in Indianapolis this month, and a Chris Sailer kicking/punting combine in Las Vegas, but his knee was bothering him after he suffered a minor injury in a 7-on-7 game.
"My knee was not up to 100 percent," Hagerup said. "I figured I wouldn't go if I was only going to be kicking and throwing at 80 percent…
"I just twisted it a little. We are doing this passing league that we do on Saturdays. I was running and I just cut on it weird. It's not anything major at all, which is good."
Hagerup said he has not suffered any complications with his knees since the two ACL injuries.
"I couldn't say that I have," he said. "I had that little knee thing the other weekend but that wasn't ACL related. That was just something else."
Since Hagerup could not make it to the camp in Las Vegas for college prospects, Sailer has invited him to an upcoming camp for Division I kickers and punters in Sherman Oaks, Calif., near Los Angeles.
In addition to Iowa, Wisconsin, Georgia and Georgia Tech — campuses he visited in conjunction with trips to combines — Hagerup has been to Iowa State, Purdue and Drake.
What are his summer plans?
"It's kind of going to be week-to-week, what I can fit in my schedule," he said. "I know I'm going to go to Wisconsin, Purdue. I think I'm going to make it to pretty much all the Big Ten schools, plus Stanford and Colorado. It's going to be week-to-week."
Regarding Stanford, Hagerup said, "they just have written I think five or six handwritten letters, and they seem pretty interested. My parents would like it if I went out there."
Hagerup grew up with an affinity for Wisconsin, but that does not necessarily mean that he would choose the Badgers if scholarship offers materialized.
"I would say the most that I would be interested in would probably just be — just because I'm kind of biased towards Wisconsin because both my parents went there, my sister is going there and my grandparents," Hagerup said. "They've kind of grown me up as a Badger."
So should Wisconsin be considered Hagerup's favorite?
"I would say if I had to choose, but I would definitely also have to say that I'm not counting anything out at this point," he said.
"… If offers came, I wouldn't even have to say that I would definitely choose Wisconsin. It is just that that's what I've been around."


text:
Wondrous Oblivion
Read Our Full Review & Parent Discussion Questions Here
Wondrous Oblivion
Rating & Content Info
Why is Wondrous Oblivion rated PG? Wondrous Oblivion is rated PG by the MPAA for thematic material, some violence, sensuality, language including racial remarks, and brief smoking by minors.
Prejudice is often felt more than seen on the quiet London street where the Wiseman family tries hard to fit in. It does, however, become more evident when a lively Jamaican family moves next door. Adults are seen drinking at home and at social events. A shop owner smokes, as does one of David's teachers. After school, a group of his friends invites David to share a cigarette with him. Although Ruth is initially concerned about their new neighbors, she finds herself smitten with Dennis and makes increasing invitations to him. At a party, they are shown sensually dancing. Later she goes to his house and the couple is seen kissing. These actions increase the tension in the neighborhood and as a result, one house is doused with gas and set on fire. Some brief profanities and racial slurs are also used in the script.
Page last updated April 20, 2009
|Rating Descriptor
|British Columbia
|Not Rated
|Not Rated
|Not Rated
|Not Rated
|Not Rated
|Not Rated
|Canadian Home Video
NEW: Listen to our Parent Previews Podcast and take control of media and technology in your family!
News About "Wondrous Oblivion"
Cast and Crew
Wondrous Oblivion is directed by and stars Delroy Londo, Emily Woof, Stanley Townsend. Sam Smith.
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Wondrous Oblivion movie is March 20, 2007. Here are some details…
Wondrous Oblivion bowls onto DVD with a commentary by director Paul Morrison, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and some previews of other films made by Palm Pictures. The audio track is available in English (5.1 Surround Sound).
Related home video titles:
While WWI rages in Europe, an American schoolteacher deals with prejudice when two German orphans arrive in his classroom in the movie The Basket. Cultural traditions are threatened when a young Sikh girl would rather play soccer than follow family mores in Bend It Like Beckham.


text:
As promised, here is the second and last chapter. Merry Christmas everybody. I hope you enjoy a little piece of brotherly fluff for the holidays.
Chapter 2
"So Sammy, tell me. What's the big secret?"
Sam only smiled and shook his head. "I'm not telling. You simply have to trust me on this."
Dean raised his eyebrows, but proceeded to towel his hair dry while he searched for a fresh shirt in his duffle bag with his free hand.
"I swear, if you drag me into a museum, or to some other pansy crap thing, there's going to be hell to pay."
"No museum, Dean. I promise you nothing you'd consider pansy. No museum, no opera, no lectures. Just trust me."
Satisfied that he had found a clean shirt, Dean tossed the towel onto the bed and shrugged into the shirt. Arms spread, he stood next to the bed, still frowning at Sam's cryptic instructions.
"All right, I'm ready. Where are we going?"
"Just get in the car. You'll know soon enough."
Dean grumbled, but he obligingly grabbed his jacket and went out the motel room door. Sam locked up behind them and got into the passenger seat of the car.
"Just drive down main street. I'll tell you when to make a turn."
Again, Dean grumbled, but he wordlessly pulled the Impala onto the road and followed Sam's directions. Sam knew that Dean didn't like not knowing what was going on, and that his compliance for a large part was to humor Sam. And only because they weren't on a hunt and Dean could be absolutely sure that this was not related to the supernatural in any way. But still, Dean didn't like it. That was painfully obvious.
Well, he didn't have to.
And in about ten minutes, he was going to know, anyway. It wasn't as if Sam would be able to keep it a secret for long, but he was going to do so for as long as he could. It had taken him long enough to find the right place for this. Some internet research about the area during their last hunt, and a few inconspicuous attempts to convince Dean to go to exactly this town after they finished their last hunt – attempts that didn't end up as inconspicuous as Sam would have liked. But no matter how much Dean had questioned, Sam hadn't revealed his reasons for coming here. They were more than half a year too late, but better late than never. Besides, it was typical Winchester style. The whole world had already seen it, but they had to wait until it fit into their lives to do something as normal as this.
"Take a left turn here."
Dean grunted something incomprehensible, but made the turn.
"And then pull into the parking lot to the right."
Dean would have to be blind to miss it. They might be in a smaller town and not in a huge city, but the Multiplex with its blinking lights and huge posters would have been hard to miss.
"Dude, a cinema?"
Sam grinned. "Told you it was something you'd like."
Dean parked the car and they got out. Sam noticed that his brother was still watching the building with a mixture between surprise and apprehension as they started walking towards the entrance. He still had no clue what all this was really about, and Sam felt the anticipation about his brother's reaction rise. Dean stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket and turned towards Sam.
"Sure, but why make such a big secret out of it? Why not just say 'Hey, let's go to the movies tonight'? Would have worked just as well, you know?"
Sam only smiled. "You'll see."
Dean rolled his eyes, but he remained silent until they arrived at the theater entrance, right in front of the cases displaying the posters for the movies that were shown tonight. Seeing those, Dean actually stopped short, and Sam saw how his brother's eyes wandered over the four posters. He could nearly see the gears turn in Dean's head as he discarded the movies one after another, until his eyes finally stopped at the last poster in the row. He stared at it for a few seconds, then slowly turned his head towards Sam.
"The new Raiders movie?"
Sam shrugged, but he couldn't stop smiling.
"You haven't seen it yet."
"Yeah, but you have."
"Since when has that stopped us? Dean, we've seen each of the other Raiders movies at least twenty times. Doesn't matter whether I've seen it before or not."
Dean still seemed undecided, but after a few seconds of deliberation, a grin spread on his face.
"Okay. But I'll get the popcorn."
Sam was probably grinning like an idiot by now, but he couldn't care less. This was what he had wanted to do ever since his brother had come back from hell, and the fact that they had finally made it felt like a huge relief. They should have done that a long while ago already.
Sam bought their tickets, then waited patiently while Dean got the biggest bucket of salted popcorn Sam had ever seen in his entire life. But seeing the huge grin on his brother's face, Sam would have gladly eaten nothing but salted popcorn for the rest of his life. Sam hadn't seen Dean grin this widely and carefree since his return from hell. And just for tonight, he wasn't going to think about that at all. Hell had changed a lot of things between them, and their time apart was still weighing heavily on them both, but for tonight Sam wasn't going to allow that to become a matter. Not for the next couple of hours. This was only about him and his brother.
Dean handed Sam a soda that was big enough to supply a small town with liquids for at least a week, and with his own soda and the popcorn clutched in both hands he led the way into the nearly empty cinema. They settled in their seats in the slightly stuffy room, and while Dean tried to peel himself out of his jacket without knocking over any of his supplies and releasing a tidal wave of popcorn and coke, Sam leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath. Popcorn, candy, cold salsa sauce. Just like a theater was supposed to smell like. And a whiff of leather as Dean finally managed to shrug out of his jacket and stuffed it between his right leg and the armrest separating his seat from Sam's.
Dean getting settled in a cinema was always a lengthy process that involved a lot of general grumbling, complaining about their seats and the other moviegoers, and rearranging himself to and fro. But after a few moments of endless shifting around he finally seemed to have found a comfortable position, with his soda within reach and the bucket of popcorn balanced on his lap. Sam reached out to grab a handful, but Dean reached out and grabbed his wrist before he could withdraw his hand again.
"Dude, you start groping me once the lights go out and I'll end you."
Sam gave a strangled laugh, though it came out like a strangled sob.
"Then don't hog the popcorn."
"Dude, right of the older brother to hoard the goods. Live with it or go without them."
Sam smiled and shook his head, putting the large portion of popcorn into his mouth as Dean released his wrist. There had been times when his brother's attitude had driven him mad, but right now he couldn't get enough of the good-natured bantering. However, it was cut short this time when the lights in the theater went out and the movie began. To Sam's left, Dean started munching popcorn – loudly and unashamed of it – and Sam simply leaned back and let the first minutes of the movie wash over him. For now, Dean was content with simply watching and munching his popcorn. But Sam knew his brother well enough to know that it wasn't going to last that long.
He really knew his brother well.
It lasted for all of ten minutes, maybe a slight bit more.
"Dude, Cate Blanchett is hot."
Something in Sam's chest that had been tight for far too long already loosened at those words. He smiled into the darkness of the theater.
"She's the villain, Dean."
"And hot. I'm just saying. Villains can be hot. Seriously Sammy."
Sam bit back a laugh. Dean couldn't see, not with his eyes glued to the screen, but Sam smiled widely for most part of the movie. Just because this time he didn't have to pretend. Because this time it was real, and he still couldn't believe how lucky he was.
A small knot of anticipation started to form in his stomach as Harrison Ford got near that nuclear testing range. The moment Indy got blown halfway across the desert in his lead-covered magical fridge, Dean's hand suddenly snapped into Sam's line of vision, finger outstretched and pointing at Sam's face, nearly touching his nose.
"Not a word!"
"I wasn't going to say anything."
"Of course you were. You were going to give me a lecture about how all this was unrealistic, and I'm telling you, don't."
Sam shrugged, smile still firmly in place.
"I'm just saying, the laws of physics say something different than the movie."
"Shut up, Sam!"
And miss out on all the fun? Sam didn't think so.
"There's just no way he got out of that thing alive after that impact. Not to mention survived a nuclear blast in it, too."
"Last warning, Sammy."
"I mean, he'd probably look like…ouch!"
Sam rubbed his thigh where Dean's fist had made a serious impact.
"What did you just hit me for?"
Dean shoveled another fistful of popcorn into his mouth.
"Arguing physics during an Indiana Jones movie. Seriously dude, what is wrong with you?"
Sam just shook his head and tried to focus on the movie again. Not that a lack of response on his part stopped Dean from his running commentary. Having his mouth taped shut probably wouldn't stop Dean at this point, and hearing the constant reassurance that his brother was there, in his ear, not in his head, made Sam feel like a weight had been lifted from his chest.
That was the upside to it. The downside was that, as glad as Sam was to have his brother back, that didn't necessarily mean his comments weren't grating on his nerves. In a good way, a way Sam had missed horribly for the months his brother had been gone, but still. Grating on his nerves.
"Totally Indy's son. I mean, it's obvious, isn't it? But what kind of name is Mutt, can you tell me that? Who names their kid Mutt? If you don't like your child, give it up for adoption, but don't name it Mutt. Even Sam is better than Mutt."
"Shut up Dean."
"And I'm totally getting a whip."
"For what? Cracking it at ghosts? That's going to be really helpful, Dean."
"But it looks cool!"
"Do I really need to remind you what happened the one and only time you tried to use a whip? Do I need to show you the scar?"
That shut Dean up for a second. "Yeah," he finally agreed. "Took me ages to repaint the Impala's fender after that little slip of the whip."
"I was talking about my arm, you moron!"
"Shut up, Sammy. Some of us haven't seen the movie yet!"
Sam hadn't either. Or at least he didn't really remember those parts during which he had bawled his eyes out the last time he had seen the movie. So in a way, he too was watching the movie for the first time. And it confirmed his opinion from the last time. Entertaining, but definitely lacking the flair of the old Raiders movies.
And then the movie was nearly over, and with some dread Sam realized that the only thing that was left was the wedding scene.
"They didn't."
Obviously, Dean had noticed that, too.
"They didn't seriously let Indy marry. And Marion on top of it. I mean, come on! This is Indy we're talking about. The guy doesn't get married! He falls for one lady in each movie, and for another in the next one. He's not supposed to get married!"
"Calm down, Dean."
"Calm down? How can I calm down when Henry Jones Jr. just got married right in front of my eyes? That's not right, Sam. He's not supposed to get married."
The movie was over, and slowly the lights in the theater were turned on again. Sam looked to his left, where his brother was still staring at the screen with an incredulous expression on his face, another handful of popcorn halfway to his mouth.
"I mean seriously, Sam. Married. He got married."
Sam smiled. "Let them have their happy ending, Dean."
Dean shook his head, and tossed the popcorn back into the bucket with a grimace. "Seriously."
Putting the bucket down on the seat beside him, Dean grabbed his jacket.
"Come on, let's go before they throw in another scene that's going to make me wanna take a shot of insulin just for precaution."
Sam followed his brother out of their row.
"But you liked it?"
Dean stopped and thought about that for a moment, then he shrugged. "It wasn't like the old Raiders movies, but it wasn't that bad. I mean, dude has gotten older, but he still knows how to work the whip. Of course it was fun." He shot Sam a grin and slapped his brother's shoulder. "Thanks for doing this, Sammy."
"You're welcome."
"How about we grab something to eat now? A man can't live on popcorn for an entire evening. Come on, Sammy."
Dean gestured for Sam to follow, then turned and proceeded to walk out of the cinema. For a short moment Sam simply stood and watched his brother.
Let Indy and Marion have their happy ending. Sam knew for a fact that it was going to take a while longer for him to get his. If there ever was going to be a happy ending for him between the demons, the ghosts and the monsters. But for now, he had his brother back. And with Dean around, it all suddenly seemed so much easier to bear.
Dean's head appeared back on top of the stairwell that led out of the cinema.
"Dude, are you coming? I'm starving here!"
With a shake of his head, Sam started after his brother.
In a way, he already had his happy ending. Loud, foul-mouthed, and grating on Sam's nerves like nobody else, but Sam wouldn't exchange him for anything in the world.
The End
Thanks for reading. As always, please let me know what you think. Thanks a lot.


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Asics GEL-Noosa Tri 8 Running Shoe - Women's - $129.95
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- Description
Backpacking and camping tent for 4 with innovative design that lets you choose different configurations to meet changing conditions. Switch pitcher. This versatile tent features an innovative 50/50 design of solid canopy and breathable mesh. How you pitch it—and how you configure the fly—lets you choose privacy or wide-open vistas, more weather protection or superior ventilation, depending on your needs. Rotate the fly one direction for an open, airy entrance with welcoming vestibule. Turn the other way for extra privacy and a large gear storage area with shouldered vestibule for more usable space.
- Split solid canopy/breathable mesh construction for both privacy and ventilation
- Fly configuration offers large front-door vestibule for easy entry/exit and "shouldered" backdoor vestibule for gear storage
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- Additional Information
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Can I use micro gel .04 instead of tretinoin cream .1%, is there any difference.
My Derm Prescribed Me Tretinoin .1% Cream, but I Have Retin a Micro .04% Gel, is There a Difference?
Doctor Answers 1
Differences between two retinoids for acne
Gels are usually stronger and more drying than creams but the concentration and the formulation of the medication is also very important.
Retin A micro has extended release spheres that deliver the medication more slowly and is often less irritating than other formulations.
If you have the 0.04% Retin A micro gel, I don't see a problem using it. With all retinoids you want to start slowly, twice a week at night time and build up to every night gradually, increasing the number of days every week as long as you are not irritated by the medication.
It's also important to use good sun protection as retinoids do make your skin more sun sensitive.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


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Re: [stoics] Stoics and the Just Society
Expand Messages
- ----- Message d'origine -----
De : Timothy Anstiss <Anstiss.Shl@...>
> we may not know a priori whether or not something is under out control. Wenot
> may only learn this by attempting to control it. Further, something may
> be under out control the first or even the seventh time we try it - onlythe
> 23rd - for instance, a sporting skill.My understanding is that the only thing under our control is the correct use
of reason. Outer circumstances and situations are never under our (perfect)
control like reason is. So attempting to control an external situation may
just fail the 24th time...
Hello from
Thomas (Belgium)
Colamus humanitatem
Let us cultivate humanity - Seneca
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