1.   But after several conversations with Rider, and a sit-down session between Rider and coach Phil Jackson on Thursday, Kupchak offered measured optimism.

2.   But mostly, Jackson offered unfettered optimism.

3.   Clift offers optimism for voters hungry for gender equality in public office.

4.   Valentine offered endless optimism about the Mets, which is his style.

5.   But history offers little optimism.

6.   But the semiconductor sector offered some optimism with National Semiconductor beating earnings expectations and with the industry forecasting a rebound in business next year.

7.   But the semiconductor industry offered some optimism, forecasting a rebound in business next year.

8.   North America offered some optimism, he said, citing positive indicators in the United States and Canada in recent days.

9.   So far, few companies have offered such optimism.

10.   Stocks rose modestly Friday on employment data that offered cautious optimism that an extremely tight job market was easing slightly.