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itsfinancethings · 5 years ago

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Between the protests and the pandemic, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that the Affordable Care Act is still in limbo. But the events of the last week have set the stage for Democrats and Republicans to fight a 2020 rematch of the battle over health care coverage: between the party that giveth, and the party that taketh away.

The Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court on June 25 to overturn the law known as Obamacare, joining a group of Republican attorneys general in arguing that Congress effectively made the ACA unconstitutional in 2017 when it zeroed out the individual mandate. The ACA has survived two previous Supreme Court challenges, including a 5-4 ruling upholding the law in 2012, when Chief Justice John Roberts ruled the individual mandate was constitutional under Congress’s power to levy taxes. Now the law faces an existential legal threat for the third time in its 10-year history. “The entire ACA thus must fall with the individual mandate,” Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote in the Administration’s brief.

The Trump Administration’s challenge to the law comes as the coronavirus pandemic has left more than 120,000 Americans dead and thrown millions off the health care rolls due to lost jobs. If the court decides to overturn the law, the impact would ripple through nearly every part of the U.S. health system. Dismantling the law would worsen racial disparities and make it harder for sick people to get new coverage at a time when COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting Black and Latino Americans and leaving hundreds of thousands with potentially lasting health problems. It would also leave 23 million Americans without health coverage, according to an analysis by the liberal Center for American Progress think tank.

The Supreme Court has not said when it will hear the ACA case, but oral arguments will likely take place this fall, as President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden make their case to voters. Democrats believe Trump’s decision to elevate the fight over health care coverage will play to their advantage, just as it did in the 2018 midterms, when the party recaptured the House of Representatives with the help of Republicans’ attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.

“Everybody knows that Trump and the GOP’s attacks on health care were a driving force behind the energy that built the blue wave in 2018. Now Trump is fighting yet again to trash the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a shrug,” says Ezra Levin, co-founder of the liberal grassroots network Indivisible. “We welcome this political malpractice, and it makes it easy for Biden to simply stand against death and destruction—which is, you know, a winning campaign message.”

Biden previewed this message in a speech last week in Lancaster, Penn. “Perhaps most cruelly of all, if Donald Trump has his way, complications from COVID-19 could become a new pre-existing condition,” Biden said after a roundtable with Pennsylvania voters who said they had benefitted from the Affordable Care Act. He added that that without the ACA, lung scarring and heart damage from COVID-19 could make it difficult for survivors to get future coverage. “They would live their lives caught in a vise between Donald Trump’s twin legacies: his failure to protect the American people from the coronavirus, and his heartless crusade to take health care protections away from American families.”

The simplicity of the contrast is a gift to Biden. During the primary, Biden struggled at times articulate a winning message on health care, amid a massive intra-party squabble over whether or not to push for Medicare for All. Now he seems poised to run on the same playbook that helped Democrats win swing states in the midterms: arguing Republicans are trying to take away American’s health care, while he would protect it.

Pushing to overturn the ACA has been a Republican goal ever since the law first passed in 2010, and opposition to the health care law fueled the rise of the Tea Party during the Obama presidency. But in recent years, attempts to gut Obamacare have benefited Democrats more than Republicans, as more and more Americans have gotten used to the law’s protections. A June poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 53% of Americans trusted Biden to handle health care policy, compared to just 38% who trusted Donald Trump.

One of the reasons that Republicans have historically fought so hard to avoid implementing new social programs is that once a benefit is given to the American people, it becomes very difficult to take it away. While it was initially unpopular, Americans have warmed up to to the Affordable Care Act: by its 10-year anniversary, 55% of Americans viewed Obamacare favorably, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, an all-time high.

The pandemic has only underscored its importance. Of the nearly 27 million people who relinquished health insurance when they lost their jobs through early May, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that 48% were eligible for coverage through Medicaid, which was expanded under the ACA, and another 31% were eligible for subsidies to help them afford new plans on the marketplace.

People have been taking advantage of these options. The Trump Administration’s brief came the same day as a report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that showed 487,000 Americans bought insurance by using the special enrollment period that opens when individuals lose their health coverage, and most states that run their own marketplaces have also created new COVID-19 special enrollment periods to allow more people to get covered.

Without the ACA, fewer people would be eligible for coverage through Medicaid and many more low- and middle-income families would struggle to buy insurance. Protections for those with pre-existing conditions would disappear, as would requirements that insurance companies sell to anyone who wants it and charge the same price to anyone who buys similar insurance.

All of this would be worse for people of color. The ACA significantly narrowed racial and ethnic coverage gaps in the years after it was passed, though gains slowed when Trump was elected in 2016. But now that Black, Hispanic and Native Americans are dying and being hospitalized from COVID-19 at higher rates than white Americans, doctors have emphasized that health coverage is more important than ever.

“Trump’s deadly move comes at a time when there is still so much work left to do. The Trump Administration’s own data this week showed that Black Americans are four times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19. That confirms long standing disparities we all were aware of,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is leading the group of Democratic states fighting to preserve the ACA, told reporters on June 24. “Now is not the time to rip away our best tool to address very real and very deadly health disparities in our communities.”

Republicans have not put forward their own alternative health care plan to replace the ACA. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar recently told CNN’s Jake Tapper that the Administration would protect those with preexisting conditions but that specifics were still up in the air. “The exact details will be dependent on the—frankly, the composition of Congress if and when the Supreme Court does strike down all or a large part of Obamacare,” Azar said.

But voters don’t respond well to plans to take away Americans’ health care without a concrete plan to replace it. They may balk even more during a global pandemic. And Biden will make sure voters don’t forget which party is fighting to gut health care coverage, and which side is fighting to protect it.

#IFTTT #Blogger

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armyhealth9-blog · 6 years ago

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This diet hack can cut around 100 calories a day - MarketWatch

Turn on your tap to help stop pouring on the pounds.

Kids, teens and young adults who don’t drink water end up guzzling almost 100 extra calories a day from sugary beverages, on average, according to a new study in JAMA Pediatrics.

About one-fifth of the 8,400 subjects ages 2 to 19 in the nationally representative survey reported no water intake on a given day. And after accounting for sociodemographic factors, the researchers found that skipping water (defined as being water that was unsweetened and noncarbonated) was associated with consuming an extra 93 calories and 4.5% more calories from sweetened drinks (such as sodas, juices and sports drinks) than those who had at least one serving of water (defined as anything more than zero milliliters).

“What was kind of surprising was that one in five kids and teens didn’t consume any water at all, and those kids were consuming twice as many calories from sugar-sweetened beverages than those kids who did drink water on any given day,” study author Dr. Asher Y. Rosinger, director of the water health and nutrition lab at Penn State University, told MarketWatch.

While the study reported that metrics such as sex or federal income-to-poverty ratio did not have a statistically significant impact on how many calories these youths consumed when they didn’t drink H2O, their race/ethnic group did appear to have an affect. For example, white, non-Hispanic children who didn’t sip any water consumed an extra 122 calories from sugary beverages �� twice as many as the Hispanic children in this study who took in an extra 61 calories. And black, non-Hispanic youths who didn’t drink water fell in the middle, consuming an extra 93 calories in sugar sweetened beverages.

The study admits that its data doesn’t prove causality, as the kids and young adults were not asked their reasons for consuming more sugary drinks, or why they didn’t drink water. But it still recommends that children, adolescents and young adults drink water daily to help avoid consuming extra calories from sugar. In fact, a 2016 American Heart Association report even recommended that parents limit their children ages 2 to 18 to just eight ounces of sugar-sweetened drinks over seven days, or less than 25 grams or six teaspoons of added sugars daily — in other words, less than one can of soda a week. The AHA warned that children who drink sugary drinks are at greater risk of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Indeed, it wouldn’t hurt grown-ups to follow this advice, as the average American adult is eating 20 teaspoons of hidden added sugar every day, or an extra 320 calories, according to the USDA’s nationwide food consumption survey. And many of these are hidden in the form of sweeteners and syrups to flavor processed foods and drinks. A recent AHA report for adults warned that drinking two or more sugary sodas or sports drinks a day appears linked with early mortality, especially among women. Previous studies have also found a correlation between sweetened soft drinks and weight gain, as well as between sugary beverages and health problems related to weight gain, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“These are dietary benefits that are probably going to be very translatable between kids and young adults, and older adults, in which if you’re not drinking water, then you’re going to have to get your hydration from somewhere,” added Rosinger, who is also a professor of biobehavioral health and anthropology. And that can include sweetened beverages, coffee laced with sugar, or alcohol.

See: Drinking two or more sugary sodas or sports drinks a day linked with early death — especially in women

So this new research suggests that if dumping your favorite sweetened soda or sports drink is challenging, then quenching your thirst more frequently with water may be easier to swallow.

Plus, a 2010 study found that people who drank two glasses of water before each meal ate between 75 and 90 fewer calories per meal, and they lost an average of five pounds more weight over three months than those who didn’t drink any water. Drinking water before meals also decreases feelings of hunger and increases your feeling of fullness afterward.

Get a daily roundup of the top reads in personal finance delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to MarketWatch's free Personal Finance Daily newsletter. Sign up here.

Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-diet-hack-can-cut-around-100-calories-a-day-2019-04-22

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ngplays-blog · 8 years ago

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Ryan Bader realized the energy of Linton Vassell’s kicks. That may have been enough for him to resolve his finest plan of assault was on the canvas.

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Bader (24-5 MMA, 2-zero BMMA) took Vassell (18-6 MMA, 7-three BMMA) out with a second-spherical TKO alongside the fence. The end got here on the three:58 mark of the second body and gave Bader a win in the first protection of his light heavyweight title.

The light heavyweight title bout was the primary event of in the present day’s Bellator 186 event at Bryce Jordan Middle on Penn State’s campus in University Park, Pa. It aired on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Vassell kicked early, however shortly found himself needing to fend off a Bader takedown try. He managed to stay upright alongside the fence and even turned Bader around for a takedown of his own. But Bader landed on top and tried to go to work. Linton served his method back to his ft 90 seconds in and they went backside to the center of the cage. There, Bader landed a left hand, then another. Vassell faked an excessive kick, then attacked the lead leg. He cracked Bader with a kick to the ribs halfway by means of, but Bader went back to his wrestling and drove Vassell to the canvas proper after that.

Bader dragged Vassell away from the cage and tried to work ground and pound. However, when he tried to jump to aspect management, Vassell obtained back to his toes. He tried to journey Bader to the canvas, but again Bader landed on high with a minute to work. Bader landed a knee-high to the chest and near unlawful because the round got here to a detailed.

Bader threw a heavy left to open the second, then simply missed a high kick. But after that, he went properly back to his strength and landed a takedown 20 seconds into the spherical. Bader punched just sufficient to stay active and keep referee Keith Peterson from standing them up. Eventually, Vassell acquired to his feet simply past the halfway level of the round, but Bader dragged him proper again down. Vassell landed just a few left hands from him again, and Bader didn’t like them. So he fired back and shortly put Vassell in bother.

The champ kept on firing and stored on touchdown. And it didn’t take long for Peterson to jump in to rescue the challenger.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 186 outcomes embrace:

Champ Ryan Bader def. Linton Vassell through TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3: fifty-eight

Ilima Macfarlane def. Emily Ducote via verbal submission (armbar) – Spherical 5, three:42 – to win inaugural female’s flyweight title

Phil Davis def. Leo Leite via unanimous determination (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Ed Ruth def. Chris Dempsey through knockout (punch) – Spherical 2, 0:27

Saad Awad def. Zach Freeman through TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:07

Scott Clymer def. Michael Benjamin Putnam through TKO (punches) – Spherical 1, 3:07

Mike Wilkins def. Brett Martinez by way of submission (rear-bare choke) – Spherical 2, 1:09

Michael Trizano def. Mike Otwell through submission (D’Arce choke) – Spherical 2, 2:07

Dominic Mazzotta def. Matthew Lozano via TKO (physician’s stoppage) – Spherical 1, 2:37

Logan Storley def. Matt Secor by way of unanimous determination (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Tywan Claxton def. Jonathan Bonilla-Bowman through knockout (flying knee) – Spherical 1, 1:29

Frankie Buenafuente def. Francis Healy by way of unanimous choice (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Andrew Salas def. Ethan Goss via cut-up choice (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Josh Fremd def. Ryan Parker through submission (rear-naked choke) – Spherical 2, 1:25

Bellator 186 results: Ryan Bader pounds out Linton Vassell to keep light heavyweight title UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Ryan Bader realized the energy of Linton Vassell’s kicks. That may have been enough for him to resolve his finest plan of assault was on the canvas.

#Bellator 186 results #UFC

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flauntpage · 8 years ago

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Blanks A Lot: Ten Takeaways from Kings 2, Flyers 0

If Wednesday night was the equivalent of an unexpected fun night at the bar when you have an impromptu meet-up with your friends and it turns out to be a great time with lots of laughs and lots of craft beers, then Thursday night was the equivalent of the next morning’s hangover.

On a work day.

With a meeting in the boss’ office first thing.

A quick reality check reminded the Flyers they weren’t going to win every game as they fell to the bigger, nastier, Los Angeles Kings, 2-0.

While all the good from Wednesday didn’t completely dissipate and all the bad from Wednesday didn’t suddenly magnify itself ten times over, there was enough of a shift in the hockey universe to turn the mood 180 degrees.

The silver lining is at least the Flyers aren’t the Pittsburgh Penguins (last night) – who lost to Chicago 10-1, giving up 10 goals in a game for the first time in 21 years. They’ve allowed 15 goals in 24 hours en route to an 0-2 start.

Imagine that start here. It would be apocalyptic.

Thankfully, for those of us documenting this team’s path, that isn’t the case. Instead, these are the 10 things everyone should be talking about at the water cooler this morning.

(Wait… does anyone really stop and talk at a water cooler anymore? Seriously. I haven’t worked in an office environment for almost two years now – and even then it was for only 18 months, so maybe my frame of reference is completely skewed, but we didn’t even have a water cooler. Coffee? Yes. Waiting for crap to print at the overworked printer? Yes. On the secret group chat that you think Big Brother doesn’t know about, but they actually are tapped into, getting all the dirt from the cube farm? Definitely! But water coolers? And chatting with co-workers at them? That might soon be too anachronistic for use in writing.)

Anyway, takeaways:

1. Travis Sanheim

As I suggested yesterday, I wasn’t surprised to see one of the rookies who were scratched in the opener get inserted into the lineup against Los Angeles.

I will admit that I certainly thought it would be Sam Morin, not Sanheim.

We’ll dive into Morin and this lineup decision by Hakstol all the way down at No. 9, but the drumbeat from the masses for Sanheim to not only make the team but also be in the lineup was both steady and loud.

And as far as debuts go, for Sanheim, it was quite inauspicious:

Scott Laughton tried to clear the puck, but it resulted in the Kings' first goal. Welcome to the NHL, Travis Sanheim. http://pic.twitter.com/M0OHzyzctA

— Chris Jastrzembski (@CFJastrzembski) October 6, 2017

Yes, the turnover at the blue line was Scott Laughton’s (a red X on an otherwise excellent performance by the Flyers’ fourth line center) and is the kind of mistake that has reared its ugly head repeatedly in these first two games.

But Sanheim broke Shooter’s cardinal rule:

Yep, Sanheim was watching the paint dry. He sees Travis Lewis coming, but he doesn’t get to the right spot to impede him, and then is only a witness to Nick Shore’s pass right on Lewis’ tape for a goal that would prove to be the game-winner.

If we want to look at this from a technical standpoint, Sanheim’s gap was off. He drifted too close to his own net. If he’s a stride further forward, Shore doesn’t have that passing lane to Lewis and has to make another decision with the puck.

Odds are, if he’s a step forward, this is just another play in a hockey game that no one is talking about this morning.

But he wasn’t. And we’re talking.

Sanheim’s night only got worse when he took a double-minor for high-sticking Lewis, opening a four-stitch gash on the bridge of Lewis’ nose at the end of the second period.

To his credit, Sanheim seemed to get better after that and had a mostly solid third period. That is until he got a little over-aggressive in the offensive end trying to keep a play alive as the Flyers were pressing for the tying goal and… well:

He’s not wrong trying to push the envelope offensively with his team down a goal, but there was still 2:30 to play. That’s a lot of time in a one-goal game. So much can happen. Hold your position rather than gamble on a 50/50 play (that’s probably less than 50/50 to be honest) and keep the team within striking distance.

Instead, the odd-man rush happens, Andrew MacDonald can’t stop the pass, and well, the game’s over before Dave Hakstol even had a chance to pull Michal Neuvirth for an extra attacker.

All told, Sanheim looked a little like a fish out of water. Still, it’s his first game, what do you expect:

BREAKING: rookie player makes rookie mistake in first NHL game filled with nerves, is human

— lex (@ronlextall) October 6, 2017

And, it should be worth pointing out, that last year in one of his first games (third? fourth?) Ivan Provorov was flat-out terrible against Chicago, but was the Flyers’ best defenseman by a mile over the course of the entire season.

It’s just that Hakstol doesn’t have as much patience with rookies once they are in his lineup. Mistakes have cost guys playing time before – including extended trips to the press box.

And after a game like last night:

travis sanheim is going to be scratched until 2020.

— collin mehalick (@collin) October 6, 2017

2. Groovy Neuvy

For the second straight game, the Flyers got a fine performance from their goalie. Neuvirth was a bit more flashy than Brian Elliott in the opener and really kept the Flyers in the game.

He had fewer saves than Elliott (25 as opposed to 32), but he was challenged a lot more by the Kings than Elliot was by the Sharks.

And he had one of those OhMyFreakinGod saves that are reserved for end of season highlight reels:

Hey yo. http://pic.twitter.com/INy52rbZsj

— Chris Jastrzembski (@CFJastrzembski) October 6, 2017

Neuvirth with a save of the year candidate, in game #2. http://pic.twitter.com/w2dvTkhNLH

— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) October 6, 2017

There were people who called the save “lucky” because, from the reverse angle, you can see that Neuvirth doesn’t get his eyes toward the puck until it’s already in his glove:

Goalies create their own luck with great technique and positioning. Neuvirth was able to stone Anze Kopitar because he was in a good position, had solid reflexes and played the pass with precision. That’s textbook goaltending, and it’s why the save was made.

The thing with Neuvirth that drives people crazy is he is so hot and cold. When he’s on – you get performances like last night. When he’s not, it’s pretty ugly.

If the Flyers can get good Neuvy more often than bad Neuvy, and Elliott can be steady-as-she-goes as he’s been for a long time now, their goaltending can actually be (I’m going to whisper this) a strength for this team. But there’s a sizable IF there. So, you know…

3. Only one O in PECO

That would be a zero. As in 0-for-5. Look, no one expects the Flyers to score three times on the power play in every game as they did in the opener, and there are going to be games when the power play doesn’t come through – this being one of them – but it’s funny how much difference a day makes.

Not 24 hours earlier, we were all singing the praises of the power play. They were striking quick, with great movement, good shots, a powerful net-front presence. That’s when they were 3-for-3 for the season.

Since then, the Flyers have failed on eight straight man advantage opportunities.

Now, just like the three goals in vs. San Joe was too small a sample size, so, too, is the 0-fer against L.A. So, no need to panic.

BUT…

There has definitely been a difference since Wayne Simmonds’ last power play goal Wednesday. Suddenly, the Flyers are falling back into some old habits. Holding on to the puck too long looking for scoring lanes instead of creating them. Giving up a shot to make a pass. Not getting the puck to the net to create chaos around the goaltender.

When you have the power play skill that the Flyers do, sometimes those things can be masked because the skill compensates for the routine, but falling into those patterns makes it easier to defend their power play and forces them to work harder, which can be taxing on the players.

This isn’t a five alarm fire yet, but let’s be willing to identify the smoke when we see it.

4. Magnifying 5-on-5

Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m concerned this is going to be a thing yet again this season.

The Flyers simply don’t get enough production in 5-on-5 play. Look at the advanced stats and you’ll see that they, for the most part, had strong puck possession numbers. Their Corsi For was 51.25% (percentage of shots attempted at even strength). Not a lot of teams come out on the positive side of Corsi against the Kings, who are the founding fathers of advanced stats in the NHL.

Now, advanced stats don’t always tell the whole story. There are factors in hockey that math just can’t measure. But, when you win the puck possession battle and you are getting a lot of shots to the net, you are going to win more often than not.

The Flyers, however, couldn’t score against the Kings. Take away Wayne Simmonds empty netter against San Jose and they only have one even strength goal in the first two games, and it was a gift on a turnover by Sharks goalie Martin Jones.

That’s not a good pace to be on.

Getting shots is one thing, finishing is another – and the Flyers aren’t finishing right now.

Couturier couldn't quite get a shot on net after receiving a feed from Voracek through the slot. http://pic.twitter.com/wkuM3NV1Ur

— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 6, 2017

Weal had an opportunity to shoot the puck, but decided to pass it to Voracek and didn't get a shot on net. http://pic.twitter.com/kJyNWiN4nm

— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 6, 2017

#Cantscurier#couturier http://pic.twitter.com/S4BEXCLfjr

— Philly Chimp (@realPhillyChimp) October 6, 2017

Couturier, Voracek trying new strategy of skating puck into the net instead of shooting it. It's not working.

— Ryan Bright (@philabright) October 6, 2017

Things aren’t going to get any easier here either. Anaheim will pound you physically the same as L.A. Nashville is a team that grinds you down.

The Flyers can’t be over-reliant on their power play to make a difference. They need to start finding ways to out-perform the opposition when there are the same number of skaters on the ice.

5. The G Effect

This can really be a continuation of No. 4 because I’m concerned that this experiment with Claude Giroux on left wing is having an adverse effect on the rest of the lineup at 5-on-5.

Last night, the second line was abused. Jordan Weal, Nolan Patrick and Wayne Simmonds spent most of their night chasing Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson around the ice.

The third line didn’t fare much better.

The fourth line had some bite – so kudos to Taylor Leier, Laughton and Michael Raffl. But to me, that’s the only line that should be sticking together.

But the fact is, the Flyers are struggling to generate much in even strength offense with the way their lines are currently situated.

I know they need to give Patrick time – and they want him out there in key situations so he can learn to use his talents at this level, but if it’s going to stay this way, then we better be prepared for a lot of growing pains.

The other issue is, the Flyers aren’t as strong on the left side as they need to be.

I know this will bring out the full-throat calls for Oskar Lindblom, and he might be right on the precipice of being called up, but for now, he’s not here.

What’s the solution? I’m not sure there is one with the roster as currently constructed. Maybe you give this another game or two and see how it pans out, but there’s reason for concern that this isn’t going to work.

And no, subbing Jori Lehtera for say, Dale Weise isn’t going to make that kind of impact. Frankly, Lindblom may not make the necessary impact right away either.

But, getting Giroux back to center and Sean Couturier onto another line can at least help stabilize the middle of six forwards at even strength.

We’ll see what Hakstol has up his sleeve.

6. A-Mac

Does Andrew MacDonald deserve fan criticism sometimes? Absolutely. Is the griping fueled oftentimes by the fact that he has one of the worst contracts in the league? Yep. You bet.

But, does it go too far?

It does.

Look, MacDonald is what he is. He’s an NHL defenseman. If he were being paid more reasonably, he’d be compared to a bottom pair defenseman on every roster in the NHL.

But he’s not, and he’s unfairly gets the ire of social media.

Last night, MacDonald was really good. He logged 18:27 and made several smart plays in his own end. He showed patience with the puck. He broke up a couple of L.A. chances. He and Provorov logged the most minutes while shorthanded – and the Flyers stopped all five Kings power plays.

Following along on Twitter, I was amused at how some fans grumbled as they reluctantly admitted he was playing well.

Then, the final goal happens, on a 2-on-1, where he slides to try to block the pass and misses, and he gets killed on social media again – albeit unjustly this time.

I understand the frustration. I get the ire. Especially when a young defensive prospect like Morin is sitting in the press box.

But recognize the guy isn’t a total disaster out there. He may never win your heart, and I don’t expect him to, but he’s certainly an NHL-caliber guy, even if there are more intriguing players who could be playing instead of him right now.

7. Kings Trump Sharks

The difference between the Kings and the Sharks is night and day. This team is heavy. They outweigh the Flyers by an average of nine pounds per guy. They pound you physically. They are strong on the puck. They make you work for every inch of ice out there – and that becomes even harder when they are rested and waiting for you and you come in to play them on the second night of a back-to-back.

The performance in goal is disparate too. Jonathan Quick, who missed almost all of last season with an injury, was incredibly sharp – a lot like the guy who led the Kings to two Stanley Cups in the last six seasons.

Their defense is sound – they don’t give you a lot of room. And they are very opportunistic and take advantage of your mistakes – look at their two goals as examples.

Teams like this are going to be a challenge for the Flyers. This style of play is a bit of kryptonite to the Flyers. They’ll see it again tomorrow in Anaheim. They’re going to have to get better against it, or find teams will try to emulate it when playing them, which can bring more frustration.

8. We got Legs

If you want a real positive that might get overlooked, consider the Flyers were very good in the third period. They didn’t score, but they out shot the Kings 17-5 in what was a one-goal game for almost the whole period.

And again, this is coming on the second night of a back-to-back against a fresh team.

Part of that is youth, but part of that can be credited to the more intense training camp employed by Hakstol this year. The Flyers skated more and harder than other camps that I can remember – and I go back a bit with this team.

If the end result of that is a team that is in great playing shape and has the stamina to finish games strong, that will eventually bode well for this team. They will steal some wins by being able to keep the pedal on the gas at times when most teams are trying to get away with a brake pump.

And if that’s the case, then Hakstol should get a lot of credit for his ramping up of camp.

9. Decisions, Decisions

I guess Sanheim won the camp battle ahead of Morin for the final defensive spot. Although, after last night, I’m thinking his grasp on it might be a bit tenuous.

But, I question why L.A. was the right choice for a test for Sanheim considering their playing style. Wouldn’t it have made more sense for Morin to play against a bigger, stronger team?

We just may see that tomorrow against Anaheim, but if so, what was the matchup that made you think Sanheim was a better option against L.A?

It’s not like Sanheim is small. He’s big and takes up space, but he’s not a physical player like Morin.

Morin has some holes he needs to work on as well. They’re both intriguing rookies who are going to impress at times and make mistakes at other times, but if we’re playing the matchup game, as Hakstol suggested he will, I don’t see a big enough difference between L.A. and Anaheim. Maybe the end result will be Sanheim stays in the lineup against Anaheim and Morin stays out. I still don’t think it’s the right move, but at least it will be consistent.

Additionally, touching on a point from earlier, how long can Hakstol stick with the lines as situated if 5-on-5 play continues to struggle?

Without a roster move to improve left wing, I’m not sure the answer is available in the current forward mix. But that should fall back on the G.M., and Ron Hextall might have to answer the question as to whether finances are dictating his roster decisions right now.

As for who should start in goal, I’d go back to Elliott even though Neuvirth had a strong game. He was the one player Hextall brought in this year, so give him every opportunity to be the man. Neuvirth will get plenty of starts, I’d just go back to Elliott against Anaheim on principle.

10. Loose Pucks

The Staples Center PA Announcer was far too glib and got into too much detail when setting up the moment of silence to honor the shooting in Las Vegas. It should have had a more solemn tone with less description. It was awkward and uncomfortable to hear.

Radko Gudas is walking a fine line again with his physicality. He had a big hit in the first period that if timed differently could have been a bad, lengthy penalty and potential suspension. He reined it in last year and has to keep it that way again this year. If he starts crossing the line again, the Flyers have the depth to make a change.

NBC Sports Philadelphia had Claude Giroux do one of the worst takes promoting Flyers games on their channel. If that was the best take, I’d hate to see what ended up on the cutting room floor. Find another option – that’s dreadful.

Bill Clement was a gem with some of his analysis last night. The funniest coming in the first period talking about Laughton: “Scott Laughton is so sneaky from behind – in a good way – he doesn’t let you know he’s coming.” Stay hot, Bill.

Blanks A Lot: Ten Takeaways from Kings 2, Flyers 0 published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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karenpines · 7 years ago

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Penn Zero 25 Days Challenge (Season 2) - Day 1: The episode you were most looking forward to Rockullan, Papyron, Scissorian - The Pirates, the Parrot, the Puzzles and the Talking Boats

I’m baaaaack, wooooh. I know it have been, like, five months, but I don’t care. I so doing this challenge B) and this time I will finish it.

I chose Rockullan, Papyron, Scissorian because it’s something that hooked me when I read it was going to be an episode about a battle of Rocks, Paper, Scissors and I just found it very interesting. On the other hand, The Pirates, the Parrot, the Puzzles and the Talking Boats [I have a question, who chose these names? They’re cool, tho] because it was the first episode we had the designs of the characters and the world and it’s also the introduction to the second season, it was almost impossible not looking forward this one.

The gifs belong to @myronsilvernext ! (Myron, I miss talking to you!)

#pzpth #penn zero part time hero #penn zero 25 days challenge #penn zero

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rinnysega · 8 years ago

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Penn Zero 25-Day Challenge Day 4

Penn Zero Season 2 25-Day Challenge

Day 4: Favorite New Character

Mayor Dreginald Hindenburg

This character is so much fun??? Holy shit??? His design is top notch and one of the most creative I’ve seen on the show (I love that he can fly with the blimp attached to his body) and Professor Elemental who lends his voice to him really lets his talent and charisma/charm show. I was really glad to see him back in the finale, if only for a few moments.

#penn zero #pzpth #25-day challenge

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bagels44 · 8 years ago

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25-Day Penn Zero Season 2 Challenge day 9- Favorite season 2 Penn design

Automaton Penn. He's steampunk robot. Need I say more?

#25 day penn zero season 2 challenge #penn zero #the bewildering bout of the astounding automatons #pzpth season 2 #pzpth #penn zero part time hero

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junker-town · 8 years ago

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What Ole Miss’ updated list of self-imposed sanctions means for recruiting

Welcome to The Crootletter (sign up to get this in your inbox every morning!), SB Nation's daily college football recruiting newsletter.

Around 2013, Ole Miss transitioned from a middling recruiter to one of the best teams in the country at adding top talent, and that stoked suspicion that the Rebels' rise might be too good to be true. Current head coach Hugh Freeze has challenged that narrative in the past.

Wednesday, Ole Miss announced receipt of an amended Notice of Allegations from the NCAA concerning its recruiting and illegal benefits scandal. With it, the Rebels announced a self-imposed bowl ban of a year.

This is in addition to the self-imposed scholarship sanctions the Rebels announced in May of 2016.

The program will dock itself 10 football scholarships over the next three seasons (two in 2016, and four each in 2017 and 2018), plus one it's counting from the 2015 season. It also self-imposes a $159,352 fine, and "involved staff" will undergo "additional rules education" on NCAA policy.

Ole Miss also took some lighter self-imposed penalties in the form of slight reductions in official visits, recruiting visits, and evaluation days in 2016.

Uncertainty hurt Ole Miss as much as the sanctions.

Ole Miss’ 2017 class was terrible by SEC standards, consisting of 23 signees, just three of whom were rated four-stars. Opposing schools seized on the opportunity to negatively recruit against Ole Miss, citing the NCAA’s still-to-come ruling. It worked.

Without the NCAA cloud of doubt hanging over its head, the Rebels would have been much stronger contenders for in-state players like running back Cam Akers (signed with Florida State) and linebacker Willie Gay (Mississippi State), as well as out-of-state players with connections to the school like tackle Walker Little (Stanford) and linebacker Jacob Phillips (LSU).

Now, at least the Rebels have some level of certainty. Schools can use the case to negatively recruit against Ole Miss, but Ole Miss now has the ammo to refute specious claims.

It’s not over yet, though.

The NCAA could still impose more penalties against Ole Miss.

As SB Nation’s Steven Godfrey reported Thursday morning, the worst possibility for Ole Miss is still in play.

If the [NCAA’s Committee on Infractions] agrees with the case against Ole Miss, a two-year bowl ban is a real possibility. The Rebels self-imposed a one-year ban on Wednesday, but the difference of a season is massive; a two-year ban would allow for current scholarship players to transfer without penalty.

Ole Miss would then have to survive being eaten alive by defections in addition to any potential scholarship restrictions the COI hands out.

Rival schools are not wasting time. When contacted by SB Nation Wednesday evening, coaches on two different SEC staffs confirmed their schools will evaluate the Rebels’ roster for potential talent, in case a two-year ban allowed transfers to play immediately.

This is a nightmare scenario for elite programs with deep rosters (USC and Penn State in the last decade), but for Ole Miss it would be something worse. Despite multiple New Year’s bowl appearances, the Rebels never established depth comparable to SEC rivals like LSU or Alabama.

Simply put, they’re more fiscally fragile, operating in one of the nation’s poorest states. And unlike the Trojans or Nittany Lions, the Rebels would have to attempt a rebuild inside college football’s toughest division.

Some of the elite prospects in whom schools would be interested include QB Shea Patterson, OT Greg Little, DT Benito Jones, and a host of talented receivers.

If talented upperclassmen transfer, that would increase Ole Miss’ reliance on its lackluster 2017 signing class and whoever it is able to sign in 2018.

The NCAA Committee could also choose to self-impose more scholarship sanctions.

2018 recruiting could be tough.

While a one-year bowl ban will hurt current players, it won’t directly impact recruiting, as the penalty will already be served before the class of 2018 ever steps on campus.

But Ole Miss currently has zero recruits committed. And as of this writing, it does not seem to be in a strong place with many top recruits. While the NCAA’s ruling could come before National Signing Day, it’s not necessarily guaranteed to.

Given the possibility of attrition and the existing sanctions, Ole Miss is going to have to do a great job of scouting. It needs a high hit rate and cannot afford to have a large number of busts, especially if it is not in play for many elite prospects.

One bad recruiting class like 2017 does not doom a program. But stacking multiple bad classes, while trying to compete in the toughest division in the country, is not a recipe for success.

The best case for Ole Miss would involve exceeding expectations on the field in 2017, getting a favorable ruling in a timely fashion, and getting back on track in recruiting.

What happens to other SEC programs?

While “other programs were cheating too” is not a defense to the NCAA’s charges, that a player allegedly took money from Ole Miss and then signed elsewhere raises investigatory questions.

How much did those other programs offer to secure his signature? Will the NCAA look at them? Or is Ole Miss, not a true blue blood, the perfect target for the NCAA’s hammer?

The increasing use of immunity interviews by the NCAA to encourage prospects to spill the beans on programs other than the ones with whom they signed could be a game changer.

Elsewhere

Tennessee lost one of its best recruiters Tuesday, as receivers coach Zac Azzani left for the same position with the Chicago Bears. NFL jobs are almost universally regarded as better than college, since coaches in the league do not have to spend so much time away from their families on the road recruiting.

So while this is an upgrade for Azzani, it’s a blow to Tennessee. And Tennessee has had some trouble of late in recruiting, as SB Nation’s Richard Johnson notes.

Tennessee has gone from signing 16 four- or five-star prospects in 2014, to doing so again in 2015, to just 10 in 2016, to five in the 2017 class. Tennessee needs to fill this coaching position with another good recruiter, exceed expectations on the field in 2017, and find something to sell to prospects in order to have a good 2018.

D’Shawn Jamison can overcome his size

Star Houston (Texas) Lamar cornerback D’Shawn Jamison named his top ten Wednesday night, which included Texas, Michigan, TCU, USC, Tennessee, Penn State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Florida and Duke.

In anticipation of that, SB Nation dropped his video scouting report. I love Jamison’s fearlessness.

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Blue-chip CB D'shawn Jamison plays bigger than his size

The Texas Longhorns recently had four-star CB D'shawn Jamison down for a visit. Tom Herman's staff is trying to stave off TCU Football and others to land him. He's only 5'10, but he's fearless.

Posted by SB Nation College Football on Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Here is the updated version of the NCAA’s recruiting calendar. The current period is known as the “quiet period.”

The quiet period tightens things a bit more, preventing any off-campus contact or viewing. Visits to the college's campus and written or electronic communications are still permitted.

Coaches often try to have prospects visit campus unofficially during this time in the spring and early summer, so that they can become familiar with campus.

Quickly

Florida’s new hires show a clear intent to get better on the recruiting trail.

Steel yourself against the long, warm winter with this list of 25 games to look forward to in 2017.

Do you want a Bama-Clemson Round 3 rubber match, or nah?

Transfer season's most highly sought non-QB has narrowed his candidates to five.

New Heisman odds, with USC QB Sam Darnold now the favorite.

Folks, here is Nick Saban hanging out with Mark Zuckerberg. Recruiting is discussed!

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