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(HockeySTL)-- One of the brightest shining aspects of this year's Blues team has been the line of Alexander Steen, David Backes, and T.J. Oshie. That line has rivaled the National Hockey League's best and has, in many situations, come out on top. But now that bright spot is fading as the Blues look for consistency throughout their lineup.
When the Blues' top line was rolling, the team was well off. The three players that make up the line have combined for 83 points, and have netted 37 of the Blues' 95 goals this season. But through a recent rough stretch, or, as head coach Ken Hitchcock calls it, rough water, the line has lost much of its dominance.
"This is the rough water," said Hitchcock. "I am going to go through it with them. We'll see what goes at the end. The rough water is sometimes you're trying to do too much yourself, or sometimes somebody's trying to play a different style, but let them figure it out."
Steen had 20 goals through the first 24 games of the season, Backes had six goals in his first ten games, and Oshie quickly took over as the Blues' leading setup man. However, in the last four games, the Blues' top players have been held to just seven points collectively. It appears as though they, along with the entire team, have hit a slump.
"I don't think we have been playing at all good enough," said Steen. It feels like we have been playing mediocre and we don't like playing that way."
The line, at times, has been dubbed as the NHL's best. The chemistry between the players to start the season was impeccable. It drew praise from coaching staffs around the league. But it's not just the skill of that line that made it so valuable; it is also the leadership of the players encompassing that line.
Backes, who is the captain of the team, is the leader of the top line, but Oshie and Steen are also highly regarded as leaders in the locker room and on the ice by teammates. The first line sets the standards for the other three, and when they hit a rough patch, the team will battle turmoil as well.
"I think it's the same for everybody. Your best players have to be your best players," said Hitchcock. "When they are, there is someone who follows. The onus for them is to be our best players and our hardest workers. Not just our top-skilled, but our hardest workers."
Putting skill ahead of work has been an issue with the Blues in each of the last two seasons. The team, as whole, has had to look at itself in the mirror and re-examine its priorities several times. With the youth of the team being prominent, the team expects there to be downs. It's during these down times that they rely on the leaders, three of which are found on the Blues' number one line.
"The trust that I have in that line is immense," said Hitchcock. "I trust those guys individually and I trust them collectively. Let them figure it out. They know how to play the right way. They know what it feels and looks like. We'll ride it out with them."
However, while the focus may be on the top players, Hitchcock is looking for others to step to the forefront while the club looks to better itself.
"It isn't always going to be peaches and cream," Hitchcock said. "What I would like to see a bit more is other people picking them up. More people coming from underneath and give us a real boost. It can't be just one line. I'd like to see an internal push from underneath."
"When (the top players) are playing the right way, I think you have no choice but to follow. But I also think it's how close can you follow, too. Sometimes there's an interchange and somebody else has to step up. I think that's what builds a team."
Some of the players that the Blues are looking towards to step up are found in large roles, but have failed to meet expectations so far. Ken Hitchcock calls the place the Blues are at "the tunnel" and to get out of the darkness that exists in that tunnel, leadership throughout the lineup must be found. It starts with the top line, but must trickle throughout the lineup. It's not just the bad teams that struggle, but the good teams find the leadership to head the way out of the darkness and into the light.
"It's a process," Hitchcock called it. "This period of time is the dark time. There is no light at the start and there is no light at the end. You don't want to give up points or play poor hockey when you are in the tunnel. We are in the tunnel now and how soon (we) come out of it is going to determine how much light (we've) got at the end."


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Football: Santa Margarita leads 7-0 at halftime
Ryan Wolpin dove over the goal line from a yard out late in the second quarter and Santa Margarita leads Anaheim Servite 7-0 at halftime of tonight's Trinity League opener at Saddleback College.
Santa Margarita's Gian Carlo Spinosi blocked a 25-yard field goal try on the last play of the first half to keep the Friars off the scoreboard.
The Eagles are ahead despite committing three turnovers--the first a muffed punt and the other two interceptions by junior quarterback Josh Canty, who has connected on 5 of 8 passes for 30 yards. Wolpin has 33 yards in eight carries.
Servite controlled the ball for 15 minutes and 33 seconds but was stopped on fourth down two times. Quarterback Travis Waller is 9 of 11 for 51 yards for the Friars.
-- Steve Galluzzo

subset: commoncrawl


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Granny bras and 'Bridget' knickers are back in style
FASHIONABLE young women are now reaching for the same styles of bras that their mothers and grannies once wore.
"We are seeing a far younger customer profile coming in to purchase Triumph bras like the Amourette which, in the past, would have been considered a more classic style," explained Emily O'Byrnes, lingerie buyer at Arnotts.
However, the move to classic lingerie isn't just restricted to bras. There is also a 'Bridget Jones' big knickers vibe going on too.
"Vintage-feel lingerie is very much on trend, and we've seen an interest from younger customers in the maxi briefs which are high- waisted.
"The young customers have moved on to more coverage and it's definitely a change from the skinny Brazilian thong, that's for sure," she said.
The Arnotts lingerie and swimwear press show couldn't have been better timed to spark interest in what lies beneath.
Apart from the bras with fuller cups, push-ups and increased contouring, there was a mesmerizing array of swimwear.
The semi open-air shoot featured looks from Seafolly, Gottex, Mimi Holliday, Huit and La Perla Studio who are on the Arnott's rails.
DJ Hilary Rose from RTE's 'Republic of Telly' provided a set list at the show and the models were adorned in floral head bands designed for the show by Appassionata Flowers, with hair styling by Michael Leong.
The models wore fine jewellery from Appleby which has a shop within the Arnotts store.
Irish Independent


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clutch for 650rwhp
My stock clutch was slipping a little on this last dyno run. I know everyone is going to say street slayer but i was hoping not to have to spend $1300. The zr1 seems to b a popular choice but is also in that price range. What about all the others ram, centerforce, spec, monster? I would like one that will work with the stock flywheel if thats possible
Spend the extra cash...ZR1 all the way! You wont regret it!
Mcleod RST clutch. Or even the RXT to leave room to grow. Not only did the clutch take a HUGE beating. But the customer service when calling them is great too.
you gotta pay to play.
Spec stage 3+ is a nice clutch, I was going to use it before I went twin disc.
RXT. Zr1 clutch won't last long, especially if you race it.
i went to Mantic ER2. check my thread below
I just installed a hendrix SS without the carbon pads. It was $1600 to my door and included new ARP bolts and a larger all metal throw out bearing. It had excellent instructions, and never chattered once. It's not the cheapest option, but it's a fantastic clutch.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 4
What do are you looking for the clutch to do? Do you want stock feel or does it matter?
If you don't mind a more firm pedal feel, ACT twin is good for 800hp, but it is firm and can be a PITA to setup so it doesn't chatter and get a a consistent engagement.
If you want lighter than stock pedal pressure, McCloud RXT is bitch'n. You can reuse the factory flywheel, but I'd upgrade to the steel flywheel so it will perform the best. The factory flywheel has a larger center indention that the steel flywheel from McCloud doesn't have so it gets a better mount.
The ACT runs about $850 and the RXT can run up to $1200. I'm at 620rwhp with the ACT and a buddy with the same setup has the RXT. Both hold the power, but I like the RXT much better than my ACT.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Do not get the ZR1/LS9 clucth. It will easily become the worst mod you ever purchased if you do.
Think the mantic sounds like the best deal
Mantic 9000. We have put more than 1000hp to it. Spend a little more and get a clutch that will take abuse if you choose to do so
DO NOT do a ZR1 mine lasted 3 passes down the strip, it is not designed for the weight of our car at that power. I then went with a Hendrix Street Slayer Twin Carbon and haven't looked back. Great clutch and many other are running the triple at 800+rwhp and its rebuildable.
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MSC Free Movie Program
For the past few years, Milwaukee Social Club has been able to offer FREE advance screenings of major Hollywood movies. These events happen 4-6 times per year on average and are generally announced 2-4 weeks prior to the screening.
Passes are sometimes distributed through our leagues, or office - all depending on how many we obtain (can be 30-200 per movie). Movies that are more limited are offered exclusively to MSC Members only.
Recent free screenings included:
- Trouble With The Curve
- The Words
- The Campaign
- The Dark Knight Rises
- The Dictator
- Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
- Hannah
- No Strings Attached
- True Grit
Watch for information on our next screening and details as to how to obtain your FREE pass!


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It is so difficult to find a parking spot these days, and its bad enough that most meters take quarters only in exchange for 15 minutes (at least in Chicago).
In Miami, the city has implemented a policy of applying these stickers on broken meters (instead of actually fixing them). Now, even if you find a legal meter, you still get a ticket.
I say "kudos" to the city. It seems to me like they're putting the stickers on the broken meters until they can be fixed. So they're saving drivers from getting a ticket by letting them know that the meter is dead and not to part in front of it.
I just don't get why Frankenstein was hired to make the stickers. "Bread good, park at broken meter bad."
That would be nice it there were plenty of spaces to spare. I find it hard to swallow that the city is "trying to be nice" and helping me not get a ticket. PLEEEZZ.
Additionally, why make the public "pay" for them not having their shit together enough to repair the meters. If it's busted, it should be "on the house" (or the city in this case).
One the the reasons for meters is to supply safe and reasonable parking for the public and the fact that we can't legally pay for it because of a meter error does not negate a legal spot. Are they (and you) suggesting it remain empty?
I agree people should be able to park there, but until the law is changed, the stickers are a better option than letting people think they're getting a free spot and then hitting them with fine.
My further point on this is that if they don't even have the sufficient resources to get the things fixed in a timely manner, perhaps they should use the money for the stickers, the people to put on the stickers, and the ones keeping track of the meters with the stickers and JUST FIX THEM!
If they didn't ticket people in legal (broken) meters, then they wouldn't find themselves with an unexpected fine.
It should just be a given that if they are not working, they are free. That might get them off their ass and fix them faster. People try to do the right thing and this seems like an underhanded way to get more cash.
Lastly, it's a $50 to $75 ticket, depending where you are. come on man!
I'm sure people fight tickets from broken meters all the time. This is a nice way for the city of Miami to ensure that their citizens don't get out of the ticket. "Ma'am, the sign was posted."
The city is just looking to secure revenue, imho.
"I agree people should be able to park there, but until the law is changed, the stickers are a better option than letting people think they're getting a free spot and then hitting them with fine."
I agree with this completely. The law should be changed, but until it is, I'd prefer a warning like this rather than a surprise ticket.
The real point being, If it were legal to park at broken meters... Just break it and "Ta Da" you have instant free parking. Come on folks, Nothing else works well in this town, why expect this to be an exception ?
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Russia pulls battalion back from Ukraine border
Published 6:04 pm, Monday, March 31, 2014
Simferopol, Crimea --
Russia said Monday that it was pulling a battalion of several hundred troops away from the Ukrainian border but kept tens of thousands in place, prompting a worried response from the Kiev government about what the U.S. warned was still a "tremendous buildup."
Russia moved quickly to strengthen its economic hold on Crimea, with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev arriving in the newly annexed peninsula with promises of funds for improved power supplies, water lines, education and pensions for the elderly.
Russia's takeover of the strategic Black Sea region, its troop buildup near Ukraine's border and its attempts to compel constitutional changes in Ukraine have markedly raised tensions with the West and prompted fears that Moscow intends to invade other areas of its neighbor.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a phone call Monday that some troops were being withdrawn from the Ukraine border, Merkel's office said. The withdrawal involved a battalion of about 500 troops, Russian news reports said.
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The U.S. reacted cautiously to the Russian troop movement, with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel saying that "tens of thousands" of Russian forces still remained along the Ukrainian border, a situation he called "a tremendous buildup."
The new government in Ukraine said the action only increased its uneasiness about Russia's intentions.
"We have information that Russia is carrying out incomprehensible maneuvers on the border with Ukraine," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevgen Perebyinis said. "Troops in some places are moving backward, some of them are moving forward. Which is why, obviously, we are worried by these movements of armed forces. We have no clear explanation from the Russian side about the aim of these movements."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also discussed Ukraine by phone Monday, a day after holding talks in Paris, the ministry said.
A senior U.S. official said Lavrov had promised Kerry that a division of Russian troops would be pulled back; a division generally consists of thousands of troops.
"Now there have been reports of possible drawdowns of Russian military forces from the border. We haven't seen that yet, but if they turn out to be accurate, that would be a good thing," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
Concerns of a possible invasion of eastern Ukraine - home to many ethnic Russians - were stoked by the large numbers of troops Russia had along the Ukrainian border for what Moscow said were military exercises.
One Russian battalion - about 500 troops - that had been sent to the Rostov region next to Ukraine was being withdrawn to its permanent base in the central Samara region, Russian news agencies quoted the Defense Ministry as saying Monday.
Alexander Rozmaznin, deputy chief of the Ukrainian armed forces command center, confirmed a drop in Russian troop numbers along the border.


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Discussion in 'Photography Beginners' Forum' started by JasonLambert, Jul 28, 2010.
Here is my try at a B&W with plenty of contrast. Ya, that's my Steelers hat again :mrgreen:
I love the contrast, think it is great. I would like to see either your daughters face or less of your wifes hands. Maybe both. Its a great shot either way. Amazing that she fits into your hat.
Love it!!
Very clever.. I like the hat idea.
Crop just a little bit off of the left hand side. Perfect contrast. Looks great. Buy new hat before first pre-season game. Send letter to Big Ben, to tell him to straighten up. Enjoy pre-season. Wait for Big Ben to get off suspension. Enjoy watching Dixon run the offense.
Enjoy football season.
nice shot
Very cool idea and shot...love the contrast. Except for that whole Steelers thing, at least you don't have the logo showing to ruin your composition.
Separate names with a comma.


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Ricoh GR Digital Camera review | Conclusion
Ricoh GR Digital extraordinary camera
Ricoh has placed a nice and extraordinary camera on the market with the Ricoh GR Digital. And it is not so strange that it is Ricoh doing this, since the brand has introduced exceptional cameras before. The Japanese certainly haven't moved in too hurried a manner especially not as far as the lens is concerned. We can definitely say that the Ricoh GR Digital offers one of the best lenses available for digital compact cameras at this moment. I am certainly positive about that and very enthusiastic!
Ricoh GR Digital - Wide Angle lens
It makes the lens the main sales argument for the Ricoh GR-D. It is almost distortion free and at maximum aperture astonishingly good. If you zoom with one step, you'll find that you get superior quality, with superb sharpness from centre to edges and hardly any colour fringing. Backlighting is no problem for this lens. There is hardly any flare and aperture spots are nicely diminished. This is an excellent performance since a small lens is many times harder to develop than a large telephoto lens. You might be somewhat disappointed at first that the Ricoh does not feature a special zoom lens, but in order to get a quality as high as possible the choice for wide angle was made. And experiencing the quality you can only be glad about it.
Ricoh GR Digital - Optional wide converter
If the angle of view of the 28mm lens is too small, you can create an angle of view of 21mm with the optional wide converter. It makes photographing a true joy! Ricoh got the most of it as far as image quality is concerned. You hardly lose any quality. The optional convertor and the Ricoh GR Digital are by far the favourite combination for the street and landscape photographer.
GR Digital camera - Separate viewfinder
Also exceptional is the availability of the separate viewfinder. It makes secretly shooting pictures a lot easier for the street photographer. One who likes to shoot in dark pubs or in dark streets with not enough environmental light, will still have a perfect clear view at all times. You will get used to the parallax all too easy and because of working with an enormous wide angle in combination with a small sensor; the sharpness will be fine, from top to bottom. The combination might look a bit weird and it might raise questions from casual bystanders. Don't worry, you are getting talked to which might be appreciated by you!
Ricoh GR Digital - Image quality
The passer-by will not see that the Ricoh GR Digital produces a fine image quality. Ok, noise is clearly visible from ISO 800, but what do you expect from an image sensor this small? The colour rendition, the white balance and the contrast are beautiful. Also the JPEG images are of high quality. Although the real enthusiast prefers working with RAW format.
Ricoh GR Digital - Too slow camera
Unfortunately this brings us to a weak point of the Ricoh GR Digital; the camera is too slow to serve as an active camera for the seasoned street photographer. You just have to wait too long after shooting a RAW image to be ready for the next shot. In JPEG it improves but processing ought to be faster. You have to bear this slow factor in mind, but if you're prepared for that you will truly enjoy and get the most of the Ricoh GR Digital.
GR Digital - Great camera for the enthusiast
The Ricoh GR-D will not become a mass product nor is it meant to be that by Ricoh. The Ricoh GR Digital will get its very own status, a camera designed for the enthusiast, the photographer that highly appreciates a quality lens like the GR wide angle and who is prepared to adjust him/herself to the camera. Who ever starts working with the GR Digital will sooner or later start loving the camera. It is a fantastically nice digital camera to work with and to carry with you wherever you go. You will get addicted to the outstanding lens, the wide angle possibilities and you will wonder why no other camera has such an excellent lens. The GR Digital is a superb and exceptional camera. Absolutely a must for the enthusiast!
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Release Notes: A few minor bugfixes and improvements.
Release Notes: Many improvements were made in the handling of Japanese. IMAP support was improved, including support for Google Mail. Support for Windows Vista was added.
Release Notes: POPFile now defaults to using SQLite2 (and the Windows installer will convert existing installations to use SQLite2). Various improvements were made to the handling of Japanese messages and for the "Nihongo" environment. Single Message View now has a link to "download" the message from the message history folder. The log file now indicates when an SSL connection is being made to the mail server. A number of small bugfixes were made to the POPFile IMAP interface. Installer improvements were made for Perl, SSL, and Vista.
Release Notes: A security bug related to the handling of the charset field in an email header was fixed. Translation updates were done. A 404 page was added. insert.pl was made to work on Japanese systems.
Release Notes: Lots of changes were made to the installer, including the incorporation of the SSL download. A problem with upgrading the database was fixed. When a user asks for an SSL connection from POPFile to a POP3 server, the port defaults to 995. Japanese users get support for Japanese base64 messages. Performance enhancements were made for Kakasi and the mutex code. A small bugfix was made for the euc-jp encoding on the history page. Minor UI bugs were fixed. The Buckets tab was changed to work more clearly. A new utility is included with the Windows version that can be used to check the integrity of the POPFile database.
Release Notes: This version consisted of minor bugfixes.
Release Notes: The database cache size has been tweaked for performance. A rare POP3 communcation deadlock bug has been fixed. Pseudowords can now be added as ignored words. A character-matching magnet bug in magnets is fixed. A bug in X-POPFile-Link password use has been fixed.
Release Notes: The corpus is now stored in a fast database, greatly increasing performance. History is now cached between sessions. Several new UI language packs were added and several bugs were fixed.
Release Notes: A fix for a bug causing long message download to fail, a workaround for incompatibilities caused by odd HTTP headers from Norton Internet Security, and a fix for a case that could prevent delivery of email.
Release Notes: A fix for a bug causing long message download to fail, a workaround for incompatibilties caused by odd HTTP headers from Norton Internet Security, and a fix for a case that could prevent delivery of email.