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I've been a huge KISS fan for quite a few years now, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that I've been eagerly waiting for the release of Monster. After the release of Sonic Boom (which I waited over a decade for) and the highly successful world tour in support of it, KISS announced that they would be releasing their next album some time in late 2011 (November if memory serves me correctly). When I heard this news, I became ecstatic.
KISS would leak tidbits of information about the writing and recording process (which baited fans even more) but as November drew near, the band became somewhat quiet. Soon enough, they announced that there new album wouldn't hit shelves until February of 2012. "Okay," I thought, "it's just a few more months." As February drew closer, however, KISS announced the date would be "sometime in the spring." I became discouraged and even a tad angry. I wanted something new from the band.
Finally, KISS announced the release date of October 9 here in the good ol' U.S. of A. They released the first single, Hell Or Hallelujah in July and the media onslaught began. Just a few months before the release of the single, KISS released info on their Monster book and also leaked out pictures for what would eventually be known as the album's photoshoot. They also toured with Motley Crue (which I took in at The Woodlands, TX).
Finally, October 9 arrived and I picked up my copy of the album. I can honestly say that it is the first album from KISS that immediately grabbed me. Despite being a loyal soldier in the KISS Army, it has always taken me at least a few months (or in the case of Music From The Elder, years) to warm up to each KISS album. Monster chewed me up and spit me out from the first time I heard Hell Or Hallelujah.
The lead single opens the album with an assault on the ears. It beats the listener down and sets them up for the pounding Wall Of Sound. The track (as well as the entire album) is string heavy, and Gene Simmons' thudding and plodding bass hits you hard. Following Wall Of Sound is the Paul Stanley fronted Freak. It's one of my favorite tunes on the album, an anthemic track for weirdos and outsiders like myself.
Back To The Stone Age finds Gene on the mic once again and Eric Singers pounding drums really drive this tune. It's quickly followed up by Long Way Down and Shout Mercy, two steady rockers that kept my fists in the air.
It's after these three rockers that KISS does something that threw me for a loop at first. Eat Your Heart Out opens with the band singing acapella. The complete lack of instruments after six loud, screaming, and electrified tracks is a bit of a shock, but somehow it works extremely well, as Eat Your Heart Out uses its humble opening to set you up for a slap in the face from the Demon! It's one of the best tracks on the album, and its unique opening sets it apart from the rest of the tracks on the album.
Next up is another Gene tune, The Devil Is Me. Much like Wall Of Sound, it consistently dashes listeners on the rocks. It's followed by the Tommy Thayer fronted Outta This World. Despite the title referencing the old Space Ace moniker originally worn by Ace Frehley, Thayer makes this track all about him. It does remind me a bit of Lightning Strikes from Sonic Boom, but I think that is primarily due to Thayer's voice.
Following the Space Man's tune is the track that I personally believe is the best on the entire album. Gene and Paul might not like me saying this, but Eric Singer's All For The Love Rock & Roll is brilliant. It manages to harness the soul of classic KISS tracks that were inspired by bands from the 50's and 60's. It's a metallized version of boogie soul, if that makes any sense. It's not the hardest track on the album, but it is definitely my favorite.
Take Me Down Below is next, and it finds Gene and Paul swapping lead vocals. It's a token dirty track from the band, but it sounds new and fresh.
Last Chance tops it all off with a fast and steady rock beat, and draws KISS' best album (in my opinion) since Revenge to a close.
Overall, the main points I feel should be highlighted about this album is the fact that it's a rock n' roll record and nothing else. KISS didn't try to make it the next Destroyer or go off an an experimental tangent as they did with Music From The Elder. There are no slow songs, power ballads, or overly complicated tracks as the band did on many of their albums (particularly during the 80's). Nope, there's nothing but a beatdown waiting for the listener here.
Also, Gene's vocals are amazing on this album! I've always believed that he had the best voice in the band over the years, despite not having the range of Paul Stanley. He melds his voice to the "wall of sound" created by the instruments and doesn't sound like he's forcing anything. Stanley does an excellent job as well, but I believe his best work came from putting this album together and producing it with Greg Collins. While Gene might be the branding god of the group, Paul is the heart of the band, and his use of old fashioned analog recording equipment made the album sound ten times better than any polished digital music cranked out by today's bands. Eric Singer established himself as KISS' drummer many moons ago, so it's no surprise that he handles his duties perfectly on Monster. I really do wish he would get more lead vocal opportunities, though, as I believe he has a great voice.
I'm going to single out Tommy Thayer in his own paragraph here. Why? Because with Monster, Thayer is finally given breathing room to play in his own style. He was made to mimic Ace Frehley's style of playing on Sonic Boom to a degree and has often been criticized for being nothing more than a Frehley clone. Those arguments should be null and void with the release of this album. Thayer's chops are awesome on this album, and I found no "cloning" of the Space Ace in Thayer's work on this album. He contributed writing to nine of the albums tracks, and it's very noticeable.
Monster is a grinding, fierce album that lets everybody know that despite knocking hard on the door of their fourth decade of rock and roll, KISS has no plans to stop any time soon.
This Monster is a beast!
What did you think of this review?


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Reviewed Maple and Cayenne Glazed Chicken
Aug 24, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"Sensational! I painted the syrup on about 15/20 minutes before removing from the oven and the chicken did not burn at all but was golden and crispy.Perhaps turn the oven temp down once you have put on the maple syrup and just keep an eye on it. Due to the fact that I did not have enough maple syrup I mixed what I did have with honey. Everyone ..."
Reviewed "Cheater's" Duck Confit
Aug 15, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"Sensational recipe it was one of the nicest things I have made and eaten. Congratulations to Anne Burrell not only is she a fantastic chef she is really lovely to watch and with a sense of humour to match - thanks Anne."""

subset: commoncrawl


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iPhone 5 Charging Cases Land @ CES 2013
AppleFanSite | On 09, Jan 2013
So many of you have been getting in touch asking were you can find a charging / battery case for your iPhone 5 and now we have the answer.
uNu has been showing off some of the first iPhone 5 charging cases today at CES and it is the uNu DX Protective Battery Case which comes in both black and white and is a very simple two piece case. The uNu case will give you one and a half full charges on the iPhone and is available now for $79.99 from the uNu website. The case includes a charge indicator on the back and offers full protection to the phone.
For more CES 2013 coverage be sure to check out our CES Hub and if you see anything you want to us to cover please let us know via Twitter @AppleFanSite


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March 4, 2010 | Add a Comment
Forget frost-burned Salisbury steaks and chilly pot pies. Things are heating up in the frozen food aisle.
According to the American Frozen Food Institute, the average American consumes 72 frozen meals a year, making this a $22 billion industry.
The return of moms to the workplace in the late 1960s is given credit for the popularity of the industry, but frozen foods actually got their start much earlier. In the early 1920s, former field-naturalist Clarence Birdseye patented a method of freezing fish, which he later adapted for meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables. In 1929, Birdseye sold the company to General Foods for big money.
Boil-in-bags emerged in the 1950s, along with those floppy-metal dishes from Swanson's and Stouffer. Thanks to a combination of scientific breakthroughs, changes in how American's live and intense advertising by manufacturers, frozen foods now include such interesting combinations as tandoori chicken and black bean mango entrées. These new options break down into three basic categories: Organic food, ethnic foods and meals endorsed by chefs or restaurants.
Not all frozen foods are created equal, however. Coupon Sherpa looked at products advertised as healthy and came up with the following 10 recommendations, listed in alphabetical order.
1. Amy's Kitchen - $2.70 to $3
Recommended: Light in Sodium Black Bean Enchilada or Vegetable Lasagna
High sodium content combined with a poor presentation gave the original TV dinners a bad rap. Even today, some contain about half the recommended daily amount of salt, or 2,300 milligrams. Happily, the four meals from Amy's Kitchen contain only 190 to 380 milligrams per dish and still have a lot of flavor.
2. Archer Farms - $2.49
Recommended: Chicken Fiesta Quesadillas
Archer Farms, the in-house food brand of Target, are both tasty and inexpensive. They quesadillas taste and look exactly like they should, with a traditional southwestern flavor and spicing. The nutritional value, however, doesn't compare well with others on the list, thanks to the cheese and lack of vegetables.
3. Bertolli - $8.99
Recommended: Chicken Florentine & Farfelli Skillet Meal for Two
Bertolli's one-skillet meals are equally tasty when popped in the microwave as when fried in a skillet. Although on the pricey end, the bag meals include plenty of meat and vegetables and are plenty tasty. Top it off with freshly shredded Parmesan for added zip.
4. Cedarlane Zone Pizzas - $3 to $4
Recommended: Basic Cheese or Spinach
Have a craving for something greasy but not keen on bacon double cheeseburgers? Microwave pizzas never tasted so good as these nutrition-friendly 'zas. With 380 calories and 27 grams of protein each, Cedarlane Zone Pizzas will satisfy your junk-food craving without extra fat.
5. Kashi All-Natural Entrees - $4
Recommended: Black Bean Mango or Lime Cilantro Shrimp
Kashi spent tons of research money and time to create six high-fiber, seven-grain frozen meals. Unlike many grain dinners, however, Kashi's meals won't turn mushy in the microwave.
6. Lean Cuisine Dinnertime Selects - $3.50
Recommended: Balsamic Glazed Chicken or Roasted Turkey Breast
The portions of Lean Cuisine may leave you with a hungry feeling, but the serving sizes actually weigh more than standard meals. Most frozen meals weight in at around 9 ounces, whereas Lean Cuisine's 10 12-ounce meals keep the calorie count under 400 and make an excellent take-to-work lunch.
7. Linda McCartney - $3.69
Recommended: Butternut Squash Ravioli
Linda McCartney's line of vegetarian foods was launched in 1994, changing the face of the frozen-food industry and pleasing nutritionists. The meals and side-dishes contain good yellow vitamins with a flavor and appearance that could easily be passed off as homemade.
8. Organic Bistro - $6
Recommended: Whole Life Meals Ginger Chicken or Grilled Salmon
The meals in the Organic Bistro line are crammed with 31 to 32 grams of lean protein each, to fill you up and help build muscle. They're flavored with thyme, parsley and walnuts, instead of the traditional chemical stew.
9. Seeds of Change - $4.30
Recommended: Portabello Mushroom, Eggplant Lasagna, Spicy Yucatan Frijoles or Vegetables with Brown Rice and Tofu
The Seeds of Change entrées are a health-nut's dream. Each contains 20 to 30 percent of your RDA of vitamins A and C. They may look funny but taste good with lots of vegetables and whole grains.
10. Whole Foods Market - $3.99
Recommended: Whole Kitchen Thai Red Curry with Shrimp
Whole Foods Market knows how to make frozen attractive, with abundant green beans and a note of authenticity. While most frozen dinners have soggy rice, Whole Kitchen rice is fluffy and fragrant. The shrimp was far tastier than the usual, watered-down, tiny shrimp found in many other frozen foods.
Sign up to receive more money-saving deals with the weekly Coupon Sherpa email newsletter.
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Most Popular in:
Medical Esthetics
Daniel Cassuto, MD: World View, Intimate Approach
By: Abby Penning
Posted: September 1, 2010, from the September 2010 issue of
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Inspired to help patients who receive botched aesthetic surgeries, Cassuto also is interested in creating a more natural look for patients overall. "If we treat the cause of the problem and do it right, nobody should ever be able to notice work has been done. This is what I would like to see happen and what I'm trying to achieve," he says. "As a profession, we should all try to learn what, and how many wrinkles, should be left on a patient's face so it looks better."
Consequently, Cassuto sees the aesthetic industry moving in a more prevention-inspired direction. "We will be able to treat more people at a young age to maintain their youth," he theorizes. "With the right lifestyles and the right maintenance, people should be able to avoid having any kind of major rejuvenating procedures because they won't need them. Within 20 years, I don't think we should be seeing any more people who have obviously been treated by a plastic or aesthetic physician."
Business satisfaction
Results with a natural look and satisfied patients are things Cassuto is eternally interested in. "What keeps challenging me and keeps me happy about plastic surgery is that it is really a field that is evolving all the time, as far as our understanding of how aging and the body works," he explains. "Now that the lifespan is constantly expanding, we have the challenge of people who want to age more gracefully, healthier, both mentally and physically, and I always want to reflect that in my work."
To that end, he stays updated on industry developments and happenings through events and seminars. "It's the best way we as doctors can stay up-to-date on the latest knowledge," Cassuto states. "Some things take as long as a year to come out in journals, so you need to go to conferences in order to learn about these new things." He also is often invited as a presenter and lecturer, as he speaks five languages and travels extensively. He is involved in clinical research—mainly with lasers, injectables and the treatment of complications of aesthetic procedures—and writes articles and submits book chapters for professionals texts, as well.
"I always try to do the best I can for my patients at all levels," he says. "I don't know if I always succeed, but I will always try, and this is a reward itself." Also among his proudest achievements, Cassuto counts the fact that, despite that he doesn't advertise or have a website, he has a steadily busy and growing practice with an expansive number of patients, and that a large portion of those patients are referred to him by colleagues, displaying a recognition of his skill by his peers in the industry.


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The Spanish Language Version of the SOTU is Unbelievably Bad
by Aura Bogado on January 21 2015, 2:21PM
¿Sí se puede? More like ¡No Se Puede!
The Spanish Language Version of the SOTU is Unbelievably Bad
by Aura Bogado on January 21 2015, 2:21PM
¿Sí se puede? More like ¡No Se Puede!
ICYMI: Alex Rivera Talks People of Color and Sci-Fi Futures
by Aura Bogado on January 20 2015, 5:17PM
"If the country you live in calls you and your family aliens, you better come with some science fiction."
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW
Three Takeaways from Remezcla's Best of 2014 Lists
by Aura Bogado on December 12 2014, 2:22PM
From hilarious music trends to gorgeous Instagram accounts, Remezcla's got Latino 2014 covered.
So How Much Did Obama's Immigration Delay Hurt Latino Turnout?
by Julianne Hing on November 5 2014, 6:03PM
It didn't help Latino voter turnout.
Topics: Immigration, /NOW, Politics
Latino, Immigration Groups Demand Reform After GOP's Sweeping Wins
by Julianne Hing on November 5 2014, 12:09PM
Immigration reform groups and lawmakers warn Democrats not to take Latinos for granted.
Topics: Immigration, /NOW
Federal Inaction on Immigration May Affect Latino Voter Turnout
by Julianne Hing on November 4 2014, 11:50AM
Organizers say federal inaction on immigration may mean that many Latinos stay home today.
Topics: Politics
Debunking the Myth That Latinos Are Anti-Choice
by Miriam Zoila Pérez on November 3 2014, 7:00AM
New survey suggests that most Latino voters in Texas think women should have access to abortion without political interference.
Topics: Gender & Sexuality
Goya Foods Ready to Bring Latino Food to the Rest of America
by Julianne Hing on October 24 2014, 4:53PM
Tracking the growth of Goya Foods, and the Latino population alongside it.
Topics: How We Eat, /NOW, Society
Google's Latino-Targeted Domain, .SOY, Inspires Frustration, Confusion
by Aura Bogado on October 22 2014, 3:40PM
Can the corporation do right by marketing a new top-level domain?
Queer and Trans Latinos Reclaim Their History for Hispanic Heritage Month
by Jamilah King on September 18 2014, 12:33PM
Honor 41's video series wants to right the wrongs of the past.
Topics: Culture
Beyond Frida Kahlo: Latin American Art in the U.S. (Listen)
by Jamilah King on August 29 2014, 12:37PM
Daniel Alarcón talked with art critic Carolina Miranda for Radio Ambulante about the dilemma's facing Latino artists in the United States
Topics: Culture
Pew Survey Explores Racial Attitudes Toward Ferguson Crisis*
by Aura Bogado on August 19 2014, 1:22PM
Some of the results may surprise you.
Trial Underway for North Carolina Sheriff Accused of Targeting Hispanic Drivers
by Carla Murphy on August 13 2014, 10:58AM
Jailed drivers in Alamance County were automatically transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW
Venus X, Álvaro Díaz Talk Music, 'Latino Double Consciousness'
by Jamilah King on August 6 2014, 10:18AM
Countless DJs and emcees have sampled sounds from across the globe thanks to the accessibility of online beats.
Topics: Culture
'Sleep Dealer' Has Been Re-released Digitally
by Aura Bogado on July 7 2014, 2:43PM
Alex Rivera's sci-fi film about drones and migrant labor is now available online.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW
Watch Rosa Clemente Talk Afro-Latina Identity at Cal State LA
by Jamilah King on June 20 2014, 10:53AM
The hip-hop scholar and activist explores the black radical tradition.
Topics: Culture
Latinos Respond to Claims That They're 'Declaring Themselves White'
by Jamilah King on June 18 2014, 2:11PM
The hashtag #WhatLatinosLookLike popped up on Twitter this week.
Topics: Culture
White GOP Candidate Changes Name to Cesar Chavez in Arizona Race
by Aura Bogado on June 2 2014, 4:24PM
He switched parties, too.
Chipotle Tries to Explain Why Its 'Curated Thought' Series Doesn't Include Latino Authors
by Jamilah King on May 22 2014, 12:41PM
The company claims to have reached out to multiple Latino authors who declined their invitation to sign on.
Topics: Culture
Fears About Immigration Consequences Affected Latinos' Healthcare Enrollment
by Julianne Hing on May 2 2014, 5:17PM
Latinos posted lower than projected signup rates in President Obama's healthcare enrollment, according to new numbers released Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services. Part of that may have been due to families' fears about how handing over…


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It's a hard subject for men to face. Does size really matter?
Roger Fan thinks his penis is too small. After taking a mold of his manliness, he conducts an impromptu man-on-the-street poll asking people if he has been endowed with a "below" average, "average" or "above" average penis. The verdict is that Roger might be a little shortchanged. He now begins a quest to increase the size of his schlong and he will go to great lengths (pun intended) to achieve his goal.
Roger visits a porn shop, a psychiatrist, African witch doctor, an herb specialist and a plastic surgeon in pursuit of a solution. In the final scene, he actually witnesses a penis enlargement operation that would make any man or woman queasy – it's the most grotesque 60 seconds I have ever witnessed in a short film.
The doc seems a little staged with Roger mugging for the camera, but his self-deprecating sense of humor carries the full 17-minute length. This up close and personal documentary by Gene Rhee is gross, bold and damn funny.
Posted on January 15, 2002 in Reviews by Chris Gore
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Vital Statistics:
Every day 2000 children are reported missing. Every year 200,000 children are taken by family members. 58,000 children are victims of non-family abductions. The key to recovering these children is quick action by parents and law enforcement. A statistic by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children states that "the first 2 hours after a child is abducted are the most critical."
Why the EZ Child ID Card System?
That is why we are pleased to offer you the nations most comprehensive digital fingerprinting child identification system. EZ Child ID has worked directly with the National MasoniCHIP foundation in developing our software. We have worked with law enforcement officials to ensure that our digital fingerprinting system is up to their standards. We have taken it one step further and included a digital fingerprint analysis software package to make sure all the necessary"points" on a fingerprint are obtained. We ensure that we capture all the vital
information required by the Amber Alert system. Unlike our competition, our system even records a digital video with voice which is saved in digital avi format. Our EZ Child ID card form includes all 10 fingerprints and is saved in the universal PDF format. The parent not only receives printed an EZ Child ID card, they also get a CD with all the information on it. This allows the parent the opportunity to reprint the EZ Child ID card and form at home if they desire. To help protect from identity theft, our software was written so that no information from the child is saved on the computer. Once you start over, all of the data is permanently erased. The parent is the only person who retains their child's information.


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PORTLAND, Ore. – Once again, PIAA lamps lit the way to victory at a demanding ATV endurance race – this time the prestigious 43rd running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 held in early June. Mike Penland Racing, with Penland and Carl Vela at the controls, won SCORE Class 26 for utility ATVs, completing the course in 15 hours and 31 minutes.
Mike Penland Racing is based in Rabun Gap, Ga.; co-driver Vella is from Ardsley, N.Y. Their Can-Am Outlander 800 utility ATV was equipped with two 6-inch PIAA HID Shock Lamps and two smaller HID Cross Country lamps. Together, the PIAA HID foursome tuned night into day over the final hours of the race. Read More→


text: Onsite, weatherproof storage enclosures keep your tools, equipment and materials close at hand and protect your investment. C&H offers a variety of impact-resistant, all-weather sheds, with features to fit every application. Order yours with or without floors, or with strong, sturdy entry ramps to help store large items. Storage sheds range in sizes and price points, in both plastic and steel construction. A variety of starter systems and kits are available. Estimated assembly time, one day or less. Enclosures and chests are also available to hide, shield, or store smaller materials. C&H features outdoor storage sheds from names you know-Rubbermaid, Suncast, Unifuse, Techstar, Duramax, Vestil, and our own brand, Relius Solutions. If you don't see the specific configuration you're looking for, just give us a call and we'll be glad to get it for you. Quickly. And, like all our products, it'll be covered by our 3-Year Warranty.


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WoW Insider's Cataclysm launch giveaway: BlizzCon 2010 Deathling maquette {WoW}
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This is also how we define a sociopath.
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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Moe!
Facts about Moe
- Breed: Domestic Shorthair
- Color: Black & White Or Tuxedo
- Age: Kitten
- Sex: Male
- Hair: Short
Moe's Info...
I am already neutered, up to date with shots, good with kids, and good with cats.
**UPDATE** MOE HAS BEEN ADOPTED ON FEBRUARY 1, 2013. HE IS NOW RESIDING IN MISSISSAUGA. **UPDATE** MOE IS CURRENTLY RESIDING AT THE PETVALU ON GLEN ERIN DRIVE & BRITANNIA ROAD IN MISSISSAUGA IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PAY HIM A VISIT!! Hello there my name is Moe and I am also ready for my new home, I was rescued with my mom Peradot (AVAILABLE) and brother Joe (ADOPTED) from Animal Control. I have had my vaccines to date, neutered and been microchipped. Please come visit me, my photo is not the best. I am very friendly and love to play with toy mice. they are the best toys.
Other Pets at Neveah's Charity of West Lincoln
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Moe, a Caistor Centre Domestic Shorthair kitten was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Domestic Shorthair for sale in Caistor Centre, or seeking a Domestic Shorthair kitten from a breeder in Caistor Centre.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Caistor Centre already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Caistor Centre breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Domestic Shorthair breeders who help with Domestic Shorthair rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Caistor Centre paves the way for another one to be saved.


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2014 OutlookSophomore Robby Painter will look to earn playing time on the offensive line in the 2014 season after adding depth last fall. The 6-4, 280-pound Painter spent the majority of the spring working at offensive tackle, a position where Nebraska lost three veteran seniors from the 2013 team. A walk-on from Colorado, Painter has packed on more than 30 pounds of muscle since his arrival at Nebraska.
In 2010, Painter helped Grandview to a 9-5 record and a trip to the semifinals. Painter was committed to a scholarship at Eastern Washington, and also had offers from UNLV, Northern Colorado and Colorado School of Mines.


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SEOUL SOUTH KOREA - November 10, 2012 - For four days, I've been trekking across South Korea exploring the country's delightfully diverse array of culinary expression. And while bibimbop (veggies, rice, thinly sliced meats and chili paste) and Korean barbeque (thin slices of beef cooked table top) are the nation's flagship dishes, it is in the hyper-stimulating markets of Korea that the country's cuisine truly begins to reveal itself.
From the exotic street food of the Kwangjang Market located in the heart of Seoul to the implausibly fresh seafood of the Jukdo Fish Market in Pohang, even those with the most educated palates will find their imaginations running wild with the varying textures, flavors and temperatures of the fare of this frenetic Asian gem.
Even with a small cushion, at 6'2", sitting shoeless on the floor in front of a long table in a tightly packed seafood restaurant located at the Jukdo Market in Pohang is a claustrophobic exercise. But despite my constant readjustment in effort alleviate pressure on my aching legs, I find myself squirming not from discomfort but in guileless anticipation of the fresh multi-course seafood extravaganza that is about to turn me from mild-mannered travel writer to ravenous leviathan.
When I ask the restaurant's name, the look from the waitress suggests it is without. The menu is written in colorfully smeared Korean characters on a dry erase board on one of the peeling pea colored walls. Next to it, a television plays Korean baseball, capturing the attention of the majority of the clientele, most of whom are male, nursing a bottle of soju deep into the evening.
Three generations of women bustle over boiling pots of seafood soup and rice in an open kitchen in one corner of the one room restaurant.
Just outside of this mom-and-pop shop, which I later learn is called Seong Jin Heotjib, are more than 200 other raw fish stores and restaurants that make up this open air market. The inescapable pulse of the Korean musical sensation "Gangnam-Style" wheezes through various blown speakers. Scale-covered purveyors clean their catch amid giant blue, halogen-lit tanks abounding with live mollusk, mussels, oysters, squid, octopus, crustaceans and fish otherworldly enough to make even George Lucas recoil.
The meal begins with a giant tray covered in conch, mussels, oysters, soft shell crab, crab legs, sea snails, sea food salad filled with crustaceans unknown, roe, abalone, octopus, freshly sliced persimmon, and a rose for color. Served with a side of freshly made soy sauce and wasabi, the meal is a joyful exercise in extraction and exaltation and is only just beginning.
Next, the waitress brings a selection of large raw prawn. We each select the ones we would like barbequed. She takes them to the fire outside, where they will be cooked on a bed of sea salt in foil over an open flame. As soon as she is gone, an assortment of sashimi arrives. I ask what kind of fish it is and the waitress shrugs her shoulders. "Fresh. Caught today," she says.
Having earned my trust with the shellfish course and fortifying myself with a generous serving of soju, I dive in. She tells me to save room. The soup, rice and the prawn are still to come.
The fish soup is a fiery, fishy red broth with chunks of seafood, vegetables and a fish head floating on top. We cleanse our palate with a bowl of sticky rice and then it is time for prawn, served in their respective beds of salt. They are the size of lobsters and better than any lobster I've ever eaten.
By the time we are finished, the table looks like a battlefield covered with shells, scales, tails and bones. My muscles no longer ache and the soju has been as warming as the food was filling. As I wander back through the market, I note again the men covered in blood and scales, the jettisoning squid, the languid octopus, the menacing eel, the sea slugs, the crabs, the conch, and all the other indescribable but delectable creatures, and think… despite their off-putting exterior… they look delicious.
And with a last fleeting glance, I'm off to the next stop.
No matter where my over-stimulated eyes try to wander, whether to the amorous Korean couple feasting on mung bean and shrimp pancakes, or to the cook, a short, terse woman, as she hovers over a pan of tiny whole fish as the snap in boiling oil, I can't help but stare at the pig snout that sits in front of me as I wait for my next dish. While there are many culinary conquests in this market, something about pig nose makes me shudder…. I try to focus on my first dish: soft rice, mashed up into balls and covered in chili sauce almost hot enough to serve as a distraction.
Moments later, the terse woman sets in front of me a firm, but chewy rice cake covered in hot chili sauce and a Mayak Gimbap which is loosely translated to mean "Addictive" or "Drug." It is warm rice, carrots, radish, and crabmeat wrapped in seaweed. While this sounds similar to the standard roll found at any corner sushi joint in any city, when prepared in fresh at this bustling nighttime market, this roll is anything but…
I bite through the brittle seaweed into the rice, soft and warm, and then into crunch of the carrot before finally getting to the fresh crabmeat. The flavors dance with the chili paste from the rice cake I had just finished, and as the flavors continue to blend, I barely even notice the pig snout staring at me through its nostrils. I savor the roll a moment more, thank the cook, and move through the cavernous, chaotic, night market.
Small trucks and scooters share the narrow, indoor thoroughfare with pedestrians browsing the cases of each of the local vendors. Someone mentions Sundae. And while a sundae sounds delicious, I've been in Korea long enough to know that they are not talking about ice cream and fudge.
Sundae is steamed pig intestine stuffed with glass noodles, the market favorite. Though daunting in its appearance and earthy in fragrance, the meat is chewy and its strong flavor yields to the soft noodles (sometimes rice) and a spicy, chili-based tteobokki sauce. It is often served with pig liver and/or heart.
While it could be a meal in itself, I take only a few bites and press on.
There are stands everywhere, each with its own specialty. There is yukhoe, a beef tartare mixed with pear slices and egg yolk, and there is Kalmandu, a brothy hot noodle soup with dumplings cooked in anchovy stock. Maeuntang is a spicy fish stew boiled with an ambiguous recipe but usually is made up of assorted veggies and fish cooked with spices hot enough to make you sweat.
There are the surprisingly tender chicken feet, of course covered in hot sauce, and everywhere you go there is Makgeolli rice wine, served chilled and usually in tin cups. Traditionally this milky elixir, similar in taste to sake, is taken in shots, and as my experience has proven, can disappear very quickly.
After a broad sampling of some of Kwangjang Market's most delicious and curious items, it is time to settle down in one of the restaurants on the market's perimeter. The restaurant, like most places, is packed. Predictably, within minutes, Gangnam style plays and diners do bashful, diminished versions of the dance.
Men crowd around televisions playing Korean baseball, and unlike in the Korean countryside coast, here, I get a chair. After roaming the market, to sit is a relief, and while I'm getting full, this place claims to be among the best. So good, in fact, that I don't even order. Food just begins to appear.
The waitress first arrives with the most popular item in the entire market, and besides kimchi, as far as I can tell, in the entire country. Bindaetteok is mung beans (similar to garbanzo beans) that are mashed, mixed with various combinations of vegetables, pork, or seafood, then fried. The texture is more hash brown than pancake, but either way, they are delicious and the variations are endless.
Next is a plate full of jeon, which is similar to Japanese tempura. Shrimp, crab, carrots, mushrooms, onions, and meatballs are dipped into a sweet flour-based batter then fried. You can order specific dishes, but in the spirit of all things food, I try every last one and go so far as to get seconds of the crab. Each greasy, unhealthy piece is an expression of fried goodness.
By meal's end, I am exhausted. I exit the restaurant once again into the chaos of the market, narrowly missing a scooter rushing down the corridor. I notice that the pig snout from my first booth is missing. Someone has clearly taken it home for dinner. I am thankful that no part of the pig was wasted and more grateful still that it wasn't me who had to eat it. Something about a snout I just couldn't stomach… even if it is just pork.
But beyond that, Korean markets are among the finest.
To read more from the author go to mattpaynewriter.com.
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Alex Mercer 123
Junior Member
Tag Rules Draft Pick 1. Both teams will have 5 players. 2. Each team will choose 2 player to go and chase.The team which goes first will be decided in game.The other team will run 3. Spells Allowed are ghost walk.exaust.flash 4. Only 1 cv per team. 5. Guardian Angel not allowed. 6. No slow items passive or active. 7. If a runner is hit once he will have to stop and die.he can press s. 8. The running team only has 1 life each. 9. The chasing team has 7 mins to kill all the runners.No chasers can be killed at all cost they may back below 300 hp.But if not Runners can kill em. 10. U cannot run in the outside ring.Runners can stop running but for 20 secs.But they can hide inside a bush for 40 secs. 11. There will be 5 rounds. 12. The team with most points wins. 13. No offensive items for the running team.Runners can only cc their opponets no basic attack,no auto attack allowed.No offensive spells allowed. 14. Oracles allowed from the beginning. 15. The chasing team will go out of base after 2 mins.The running team can go out from beginning. 16. Recommended bans are: Ashe Kassadin Warwick.Rengar. Le blanc.Teemo.Shaco.Zyra.Master Yi.Wukong etc 17. Killing a chaser for fun will result in the player being disqualifed for that round.If a player kills a seeker by accident he will be forgiven once every game. ENJOY
Nice game, can't wait to play one game of this.


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University of North Texas
You are about to begin
a journey into your future.
The first step — where you decide to go to college — is an important one.
At the University of North Texas, we understand there are a lot of unknowns ahead. We're here to guide you and to help you find your place at UNT, among our community of creative thinkers and innovators.
"UNT feels like home."
With 400 student organizations, NCAA Division I athletics and an array of concerts presented by our world-renowned College of Music, there's something for everyone at UNT. Find your home away from home at one of our 15 residence halls and connect with others who share your interests with our special Facebook app.
"UNT is transformational."
The personal and intellectual growth of our students — through an innovative, collaborative learning environment — is at the center of our mission. UNT's 218 high-quality degree programs in 12 colleges and schools attract some of the best and brightest students.
"I chose UNT for its excellence."
You can expand your horizons by living in another country in our Study Abroad program, joining one of our 98 honor societies or participating in research with our distinguished faculty.
"I toured the campus and fell in love."
The best way to experience UNT is to take a campus tour. Our tours include a visit to a residence hall and the opportunity to ask questions of a current student and our admissions staff. Tours are scheduled several times daily.
"UNT gives me more for my money."
Combining quality with value is important when choosing a university. UNT gives you both. Named by Forbes a Best University every year since it started its Top Colleges list, we're also the state's most affordable research university.
"UNT is the right choice for me."
Applying to UNT is easy. Our admissions counselors are available to help guide you through the application process and answer your questions. We know every student is unique. UNT's admissions staff can handle any situation and help make the application process a smooth one.
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Want to learn more about UNT? We offer special events on campus for prospective freshmen throughout the year.


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More Recipe Collections
homemade helpers
(6 Recipes) Created by LADYHAWKMN1
Recipes in this Collection
Incredible! 5.0/5
(1 rating)
Easy to make and super yummy! Submitted by BIGOLEDIVA Carbs: 8.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Fiber: 1.3g | Protein: 1.3g | Calories: 35.7
(no ratings)
Great base for chicken/broccoli casserole or as a low-fat alfredo sauce (add a tbsp of flour and cook to thicken). Submitted by MAMA2JAMES Carbs: 8.8g | Fat: 11.1g | Fiber: 0.3g | Protein: 15.1g | Calories: 209.3
Very Good 4.9/5
(14 ratings)
To use in place of canned cream soups in casseroles or as a base for Submitted by SKEYDOO Carbs: 38.9g | Fat: 0g | Fiber: 0.3g | Protein: 6.8g | Calories: 114.4
This veggie stock has a stronger, richer flavor than most. Submitted by CHEF_MEG Carbs: 4.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Fiber: 1.4g | Protein: 0.7g | Calories: 18.8
Incredible! 5.0/5
(3 ratings)
After looking at the sodium levels of even reduced salt broth, I knew that I had to make my own. Submitted by MARYOHIO Carbs: 3.4g | Fat: 0.7g | Fiber: 0.9g | Protein: 3.6g | Calories: 33.6
(no ratings)
About This Recipe Submitted by FIRSTGRADEFARR |


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Douay-Rheims (RHE) | New International Version (NIV) |
23 In the one and thirtieth year of Asa, king of Juda, Amri reigned over Israel twelve years: in Thersa he reigned six years. | 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. |
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain. (Douay Rheims Catholic Bible Translation Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Sun, Jan 23, 11 at 19:27
Here is my latest lady in yellow |
Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57770544@N04/?saved=1
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by nanatricia (My Page) on Sun, Jan 23, 11 at 20:46
Cute!!! |
She looks like she is going visiting with that flower in her Hands! Very cute, how did you do her hair, just glued or backed with wires? Jan |
- Posted by chevy57red 3/4 MN (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 11 at 6:58
Love the yellow!! She is so cute.. Now you have me thinking I might have to put some more items on my shopping list... |
She has no hair that is her earrings I used fishing line to string the beads on it Thanks to all of you for checking her out |
A lady going out on the town.....and what a lovely lady she is!! |
- Posted by marlene_2008 7 (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 11 at 17:14
She looks quite happy! Cute lady! |
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Home > Genesis At Work
Bringing Quality Compassionate Health Services into Your Workplace!
Genesis At Work is composed of three service lines: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Occupational Health, and Wellness. Genesis has years of experience providing comprehensive worksite health services to Quad City Employers and the surrounding area.
Experience Genesis At Work Today!
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Wed, Jul 9, 08 at 17:10
Hi, can I use Apple cider vinegar to attempt to control what looks like to be fungus here. The cause is being addressed (too much water and not enough sun to dry out in this part of the lawn). I heard apple cider vinegar has a fungicide effect, at what dilution rate is good to spray this area?
Follow-Up Postings:
Im not sure why apple cider vinegar would control a fungus. In fact straight vinegar has herbicidal qualities. In your case I'd stick with compost tea or cornmeal. |
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Durango Resources |
Durango Locals |
Durango Visitors |
Other Links |
The Animas River is large by southwest Colorado standards (100 feetwide in some places) and there is no dam interrupting its flow from Silverton to Farmington, New Mexico. The narrow gauge runs through the scenic canyons and along the upper river June-August. (Make reservations six weeks in advance.) The water here is fast with riffles and pools.
Mining operations have contaminated some of the upper river with heavy metals. Fortunately, by the time the river flows through the city of Durango it's been diluted by feeder streams and is a fine fishery.
Starting about nine miles north of Durango the river meanders and in places is deep, slow, large, open and generally windy. There's public access to the river through the city and three miles downstream to the "Purple Cliffs" below town.
Water for the Animas comes from a huge drainage area and is affected by snowmelt and summer storms. During heavy snow years the Animas may not clear until July and can be high and roily throughout the caddis hatches.
To get to the Animas, head to southern Colorado and make your way to either Highway 160, which runs east to west, or take scenic Highway 550 which runs north to south. Both get you to Durango, but the latter runs along the upper section of the river.
Excerpt from "Fly Fishing Southwest Colorado" available at Duranglers [2] in Downtown Durango.
[1] http://www.durangodowntown.com/recreat/animas.htm
[2] http://duranglers.com/


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Work continues on massive Texas City drainage project
Work continues on one of the largest drainage projects in Texas City history with crews installing drainage boxes along 6th Street north of 9th Avenue.
Work continues on one of the largest drainage projects in Texas City history with crews installing drainage boxes along 6th Street north of 9th Avenue.
In keeping with tradition, the city council has voted to make overnight parking on Seawall Boulevard legal during the first weekend of Mardi Gras.
LA MARQUE — For the Premier Learning Academy Knights, the size of their school belies the depth of talent they put forth on the basketball court.
AUSTIN — The Santa Fe Lady Indians received a spot in the top 10 in the Class 5A state rankings, as the Texas Girls Coaches Association released its preseason softball rankings Wednesday.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers landed in Galveston with the news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were free.
The fine arts are alive and well in Texas and they do some great things for our students.
GALVESTON — The Galveston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will present its annual afternoon of love and romance event "Red and White Luncheon 2015: Hearts Afire," which celebrates African-American couples married 50 years or more, at noon Feb. 21 at the Island Hilton Resort, 5400 Seawall Blvd.
GALVESTON — When Michael Berberich's home was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008, 10 bookcases and a lifetime of literature were swept away with it.
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — With his old team about to play in the Super Bowl, former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez went on trial on murder charges Thursday, watching from the defense table as prosecutors showed the jury security-camera footage from his own home to tie him to the crime.
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City's pledge to stop making many marijuana arrests is playing out on the streets. New statistics show arrests and summonses for small-time pot possession have plummeted since the policy change this fall.
8522 Teichman Road, Galveston, Texas 77553
7800 Emmett F. Lowry Expy., Texas City, Texas 77591
Phone: 409-683-5200 | News: 409-683-5239
Circulation: 409-683-5260 | Classifieds: 409-683-5301
© Copyright 2015 Galveston Newspapers Inc. Terms


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This rectangle-shaped swing arm wall lamp from House of Troy features a durable, antique brass finish.
From the House of Troy comes this distinctive, rectangle-shaped swing arm wall lamp. Features a handsome, antique brass finish that is also durable. Plug-in design reduces installation to simply attaching lamp base to a wall and plugging into any standard wall outlet (10 feet of ivory cord, a 30" cord cover and matching backplate are included).
Our associates are standing by to assist you.


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Emma Watson's third and final collaboration with People Tree is due to launch online on February 28 to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight*
Emma was heavily involved in the design of this spring colection, working closely with People Tree's designer Misato.
"Together we decided on all the colours, fabrics, shapes and craft skills. Most of all, we took care to design a really wearable collection that truly celebrates the traditional skills of People Tree's Fair Trade groups around the world." Emma Watson
The preview collection is available to shop now at People Tree.
*Fairtrade Fortnight is an initiative which encourages people to be loud and proud about buying Fairtrade which supports farmers and workers in developing countries.


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Sprinter service could be suspended up to 4 months
Brake problems cited as reason for stoppage
SAN DIEGO - Brake problems prompted the North County Transit District to announce Friday that it will stop running its Sprinter trains between Escondido and Oceanside at midnight.
The service disruption could last between two and four months, according to the agency.
In its place, bus service will run every half-hour this weekend. Alternative bus service for the weekdays is still being arranged, according to the NCTD.
This weekend, the agency will operate a special express bus service that will operate between Oceanside Transit Center and Escondido Transit Center and make stops at Vista Transit Center, Palomar College and Cal State San Marcos. The buses will run every 30 minutes. The total length of a one-way trip on this express bus will be 45 minutes.
The move comes one day before transit officials had planned to celebrate the five-year anniversary of Sprinter service. A celebration scheduled for Saturday was canceled.
The agency said accelerated wear patterns were discovered on rotors in the central disc braking system for its train cars. The shutdown will allow the NCTD and their contractors, Bombardier and Veolia, to perform repairs. Rotors inside these central brakes were exhibiting accelerated wear patterns.
The weekend buses will run between the Escondido and Oceanside transit centers, and stop at the Vista Transit Center, Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College, according to the NCTD.
NCTD is finalizing bus replacement service beginning Monday and encourages the public to monitor the website at www.GoNCTD.com, Facebook at Facebook.com/goNCTD and Twitter @goNCTD for the latest service announcements.


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Understanding the power of a hoodie
April 7, 2014
Flanked by an image of Trayvon Martin's now-infamous hoodie, Duke professor Dr. Maurice Wallace deconstructed cultural meanings associated with the popular clothing choice. -
Bradley's Body Project in the Spotlight
March 6, 2014
Find out how you can promote healthy body image and combat eating disorders -
Update: Kirsten Haglund here for National Eating Disorders Awareness events -- March 3, 6:30 pm and March 4, at noon
February 13, 2014
Learn more about eating disorders and how we can stop this epidemic -
Kirsten Haglund to speak on disordered eating.
January 28, 2014
World famous eating disorder activist on campus! -
Dr. Maurice Wallace will visit Bradley University
January 17, 2014
Dr. Maurice Wallace to visit Bradley this spring! -
2013 Love Your Body Poster Contest (BU edition) Winners Announced!
December 13, 2013
The Body Project is proud to announce the winners of the 2013 Bradley edition of the Love Your Body Poster Contest.
Kirsten Haglund speaks in honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness week
Kirsten Haglund, Ambassador for NEDA (and Miss America 2008) spoke to Bradley students on March 3, 2014. She was our guest on campus to honor National Eating Disorders Awareness Week -- it was a fantastic talk and an honor to get to meet her.
Her talk shared her personal battle with anorexia,shed light on statistics about the prevalence of eating disorders in America, and offered suggestions about what to do when a friend or loved one seems to be experiencing an eating disorder.


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Active in the Pyrenees
I travelled to Andorra earlier this year with my husband on the Active in the Pyrenees trip. I work in the Marketing department for The Adventure Company and this trip stood out as an ideal week away in the mountains enjoying some new and exciting activities – I couldn't wait!
We arrived in Andorra late Sunday evening and joined the group for a nice roast dinner, the food all week was full and hearty, we certainly never went hungry! After getting to know the rest of the group over a few drinks we all decided to head to bed to get some rest ready for our first day.
Our first adventure saw us heading into the Incles Valley for a day of walking. Andy our group leader had to change around the itinerary due to unseasonably bad weather, so we started with the walk planned for the last day. We began with brilliant sunshine but before long the heavens opened. The walk is mainly along a single track, and you pass lots of wild flowers and even wild horses in places. It's not a demanding walk, you can go at your own pace, and Andy provided us all with walking poles which really helped the knees. At lunch we stopped in a remote mountain refuge next to Cabana Sorda Lake –it's a really beautiful spot and had the weather been nicer it would have been lovely relaxing by the lake and perhaps even braving a quick dip. For the rest of the day we were heading back down the valley, and luckily the rain held off until we were nearly home.
After a leisurely start to the day we were kitted out for our first day mountain biking. You get given a helmet and bike for the week, and it's worth taking some cycling gloves – I didn't take any and my hands were often cold, especially in places where we started high in the mountains. We jumped in the jeeps and headed off into the Ordino Valley, you head high into the mountains following the route that the Tour de France did when Andorra hosted part of the race a few years ago. After unloading the bikes and a quick briefing we were off, the route today is mostly downhill so you have plenty of time to get used to your bike and build up your cycling. At lunch we stopped by a river and enjoyed a brief bit of sunshine before enjoying an afternoon of biking. It's a full day out on the bikes but the jeeps are with you all day so if you wanted to opt out at any point you can.
Wednesday was our free day and most of us opted to try zip-wiring. We'd all heard good reviews about it and it certainly lived up to expectations. It's a fairly cheap activity, you only pay for the parts of the course that you use – so for wimps like me it was a bargain! The rest of the group were all much more adventurous and a few enjoyed the parallel wire challenge across the dam.
In the afternoon a few of us headed to the 5* spa in town – a real must if you're looking for a bit of relaxation on holiday, and a few others went to try the Via Ferratta, which sounds like great fun.
The next day was probably our biggest adventure – biking in the morning and rafting in the afternoon. This was probably the day I was most apprehensive about, I'd never rafted before and was really unsure what to expect. The morning's riding was great fun, long downhill stretches combined with exploring small remote villages and a few challenging uphill ascents (all optional). After a quick bite to eat for lunch we headed off for the rafting. After being kitted out with wetsuits, helmets and life jackets we were given a full safety briefing and instructions on how to raft – my heart was really thumping now! Once on the water the adrenaline really kicked in, the water was freezing and the rapids were pretty tough in places. The whole group all enjoyed the experience, and even though I'm not sure I'd do it again I was really pleased I'm managed to get through it – it's why I booked the trip in the first place.
On Friday we enjoyed a gentle bike ride in the Cortals Valley and around the Engolasters Lake. It was a nice easy ride so we could really take in the beautiful scenery, particularly the views down to Andorra le Vella. Because the weather was looking decidedly dodgy again today Andy decided to have the BBQ lunch back at the hotel – this turned out to be a very wise decision as it started to rain as soon as we'd sat down to eat.
For our last day we headed up to Pic Mia and the Siscaro Lake area for a day of walking. This was probably by favourite day. It was absolutely freezing and the weather was really bad but the walk is nicely challenging, so you finish with a real sense of achievement. You start the walk from the highest road pass in Europe and make a short 100m climb to the summit of Pic Mia. From here you enjoy a ridge walk before descending down to the Siscaro Lakes where you stop for lunch. Luckily the sun made a rare appearance at this point so we were able to enjoy the stunning setting before finishing our descent into Soldeu.
All in all a great trip, we enjoyed some fun activities and it was an experience to be in the Pyrenees. The weather wasn't the best but it didn't really stop us enjoying all that we were doing – and at the end of the week we really felt like we'd done a lot! The hotel we use is warm, friendly and the food is great – it's an ideal trip for anyone looking for a short active week away.
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Here we go again, we're (not) on the road again
The SSE Airtricity League – yes, that SSE, although at least it's not G4S – returns to the RSC tonight.
It's probably recency bias at work, but I feel a lot better about the prospects for the First Division this year than the last couple of seasons. The creation of Galway FC plays up to one of my prejudices, i.e. that the League of Ireland would benefit from tapping into the GAA zeal for the county. It's more exciting to be facing up to the entirety of Galway city and county than the representatives from Mervue, Salthill or Devon. Shelbourne may be a shadow of the club that won multiple trophies in the 1990's, but I'd like to think that the endeavours of the Blues in the 1960's and 1970's still count for something. There are several teams in the Premier Division who are less likely to set the pulses racing than Shels, so it's nice to have them around. And speaking of heavyweight clubs, who should we have but Shamrock Rovers! Okay, not the real Rovers, and objectively it's a horror show that the League is reduced to this. Fully 10% of the senior clubs are now Shamrock Rovers. But subjectively, there's something pleasing about the prospect of taking them on, even in shadow form. There's certainly going to be some novelty value, so bring them on!
Not that you would be confident that Waterford United are going to be in any position to knock them down. The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome and, alas, that looks to be the way the Blues are going. When Stephen Henderson left by mutual consent/was sacked midway through the 2011 season, the response was to replace him internally with Paul O'Brien. Two years, Paul O'Brien left by mutual consent/was sacked and was replaced internally by Tommy Griffin. In a league where it's nigh on impossible to buy yourself a winning team – because no one has any money – managers can make a huge difference and there was little in the second half of last season to suggest that Griffin had discovered the magic formula that likes of, say, Roddy Collins seems to have. Athlone got him, we didn't, and look where we all are now.
I'm being unfair here. No doubt Roddy Collins or, say, Mick Cooke, doesn't come cheap in themselves, and maybe Tommy Griffin has welded together a winning combination. Time to find out.
Categories: Soccer, Waterford United Tags: Galway, League of Ireland
Derek McGrath don't mind and I don't matter
I never pretend to have an inside track into what is going on in Waterford hurling. The limit of my contribution to the grassroots of the game is buying a couple of tickets every fortnight for the club lotto, and even then it's the nice man who comes to my door who does all the hard work. Incidentally, he's a member of a genuinely famous Tramore soccer family. His heavy involvement in the GAA strikes me as being akin to apostasy and I'm dying to ask him what his story is. But I digress . . .
Knowing nothing about what goes on behind the scenes doesn't make me incapable of interpreting what is out there in the open, but I'm questioning my ability to even do that now though after Derek McGrath made no fewer than six 'last-minute' (as if they were decided upon just before throw-in) changes to the team that had been published to play Galway. I had thought after the swift announcement of the team that he was eschewing the daft (in my opinion) habit of releasing what was effectively a dummy in the mistaken (in my opinion) belief that this might throw the opposition off the scent. I understand there were a few post-Fitzgibbon injury concerns, but six enforced changes seems improbable.
The upshot of the weekend just past is that, far from being a straight-as-an-arrow type that I thought he might be, Derek McGrath is just as sneaky as the rest of them. In addition, maybe these mind games are not as ineffective as I thought as Waterford swept to a wonderfully impressive win over a team who had gone nap in the previous round. It's sobering to find out you know even less than the little you thought you knew. Thank goodness for the wonderfully impressive win to ease the pain, eh?
Categories: Hurling, Waterford Tags: Derek McGrath, Galway
Waterford 0-22 (22) Galway 1-13 (16) – Giveitfong's view
(originally posted on boards.ie)
Derek McGrath made six changes from the team he announced last week, with Iggy O'Regan coming in for Stephen O'Keeffe in goals, Tadhg Bourke for Barry Coughlan at corner back, Ray Barry for Jamie Barron on the right wing, Stephen Molumphy for Jake Dillon on the left, Ryan Donnelly for Maurice Shanahan at corner forward and Seamus Prendergast for Shane Walsh at the edge of the square.
On today's performance, you would wonder if that forward line started last week would be now top of the league. However, the big difference was that Pauric Mahony's radar from open play was in much better working order, as he finished up with five points from play as well as six pointed frees. In the process he gave Iarla Tannion a torrid time and was my man of the match.
Overall, this was a great team performance, with the players hunting in packs and working hard for each other. Playing against the wind in the first half, they worked their way out of defence very well with some good hand and stick passing and support play. However, at times they overdid the short passing and in the second half in particular, with the wind behind them, they might have used route one more often as Seamus Prendergast clearly had the Galway full back in trouble.
In the first half, despite having the wind at their backs, Galway were unable to take control of the game as Waterford defended really well and played some excellent ball into the forwards which on another day might have produced a couple of goals. Galway did have eight wides (to Waterford's four) but, unlike last week when they were scoring for fun, today they were nearly always shooting under pressure. As it happened, Waterford had their own share of wides (five) in the second half and both sides ended up with nine wides apiece.
The key features of the first half, apart from Pauric Mahony's roasting of Iarla Tannion, were Jamie Nagle's marvellously skillful performance at right half back, a couple of great layoffs by Ryan Donnelly to create scoring chances for Mahony, and some great catches by Seamus Prendergast. The one time he got clean away he was taken down cynically just outside the large square. Overall, the exchanges were even enough, with Waterford going in at half time one point ahead, 0-9 to 0-8.
It took Waterford a while to impose themselves on the game in the second half but they gradually opened up a three-point lead which was cancelled out by Galway's goal. Iggy O'Regan must take a lot of the fault as his attempt at a directed puckout went astray but even then Tadhg Bourke unluckily slipped as he went to cut out the through ball leaving Jason Flynn in the clear to fire home from close range.
However, this only served to spur Waterford to renewed efforts and, with Kevin Moran storming into the game at midfield and Ray Barry doing the needful on the scoreboard, Waterford controlled the game from there on in to finish comfortably ahead, despite missing some late chances. Waterford also appeared to lose their shape for a while as McGrath sent in several substitutes, including Eddie Barrett for Shane O'Sullivan, Jamie Barron for Brian O'Sullivan, Jake Dillon for Stephen Molumphy, Stephen Roche for Seamus Prendergast and Gavin O'Brien for Ray Barry. It has to be said that all the substitutes settled in right away and none of them looked out of place.
The Waterford defence was again massive today. Tadhg Bourke deserves great credit for an excellent performance in his first senior start for the county. He played with great poise and maturity, allied to a good brain and super skills, and didn't allow the slip-up for Galway's goal upset him. Of course, it was a big help that the other full backs, Shane Fives and Noel Connors, were both in top form, with the latter giving a master class of corner back play in the second half.
Apart from Jamie Nagle, Brick Walsh owned the centre back position and destroyed his opposite number (who was substituted) while on the other wing Philip Mahony also did the business. Shane O'Sullivan worked hard all through at midfield, while Kevin Moran really led the charge when Waterford took over in the final quarter.
Ray Barry had a quiet enough first half but really impacted on the game after the change of ends to finish with four points while Stephen Molumphy, as ever, was extremely effective on the other wing. Ryan Donnelly really impressed here, once he got up to the pace of the game in what was also his first start. He has great pace and body strength, and the ability to look around for players in better positions. Seamus Prendergast also had a really good game, but Brian O'Sullivan again had little impact.
When one thinks of the following list of players who didn't play today, with most of them hopefully becoming available as the year progresses, one can see that these really are potentially exciting times for Waterford hurling.
Stephen O'Keeffe, Barry Coughlan, Liam Lawlor, Paudie Prendergast, Stephen Daniels, Darragh Fives, Richie Foley, Maurice Shanahan, Shane Walsh, Brian O'Halloran, Donie Breathnach and perhaps Stephen Bennett, Austin Gleeson and (hopefully) DJ Foran.
Waterford scorers: Pauric Mahony (0-11, 0-6 frees), Ray Barry (0-4), Seamus Prendergast (0-2), Kevin Moran, Stephen Molumphy, Ryan Donnelly, Stephen Roche and Jake Dillon (0-1 each)
Galway scorers: Conor Cooney (0-6, two frees), Cathal Mannion (0-3), Jason Flynn (1-0), Padraigh Brehony (0-2), David Burke and Niall Healy (0-1 each).
Categories: Hurling, Match Reports, National League, Waterford Tags: Galway
National Hurling League fixtures 2014
After much to-ing and fro-ing, the League format is settled for 2014. The provisional fixtures are out and using the magic of the intrawebs we'll be able to update them as more information emerges (translation: at the time of writing, apart from the opening game under lights in Thurles, I'm guessing about the venues).
15/02/2014 | Division 1A | Semple Stadium | Waterford | 0 | 16 | 16 | Tipperary | 2 | 13 | 19 |
23/02/2014 | Division 1A | Walsh Park | Waterford | 0 | 22 | 22 | Galway | 1 | 13 | 16 |
09/03/2014 | Division 1A | Walsh Park | Waterford | 1 | 13 | 16 | Dublin | 1 | 10 | 13 |
16/03/2014 | Division 1A | Cusack Park | Waterford | 0 | 20 | 20 | Clare | 5 | 18 | 33 |
23/03/2014 | Division 1A | Nowlan Park | Waterford | 0 | 14 | 14 | Kilkenny | 4 | 22 | 34 |
30/03/2014 | Division 1A | Walsh Park | Waterford | 1 | 17 | 20 | Dublin | 4 | 13 | 25 |
It was all White on the night
All-Ireland Minor hurling champions. How sweet it is. It's a strange phenomenon, the way we can get so het up over what my mother-in-law described, innocently but perfectly accurately, as 'the kids'. We've won an All-Ireland in my lifetime, gloriously so. And it's probably fair to say that the All-Ireland for Under 18's would not have the same resonance were it not coupled with the Senior final. However, there it is, and it's telling about its stature that TV3 were quite happy to give it such lavish treatment. In short, it matters. And for 2013, it's ours.
I was sceptical about our chances, feeling that the old hands like Mattie Murphy who have guided Galway to a further seven Minor titles since they beat us in 1992, would come up with a strategy to cope with what seemed like our lack of strategy based on the games I had seen.
Thinking of the final in 1992, it brings back memories of the summer drivetime show on RTÉ which was in the hands of a chap called Jerry (I don't think it was Gerry) Foley. He was proudly Waterfordian and bigged up the city and county whenever he could, which was nice. On the Friday before the game, he asked the sports presenter who he would rather see win. 'Galway' was the answer, because wouldn't it be great to see them win since it was a whole nine years since they had won the Minor All-Ireland. It was probably a generational thing, to see Waterford as the traditional power and Galway, who hadn't won a Senior All-Ireland in all of four years, as the innocents abroad. Either way, Jerry got right huffy, justifiably so, pointing out that Waterford hadn't won the Minor title since 1948. Jerry, wherever you are, you can be sure the sports presenter in question, wherever he might be, would have been cheering for the Déise this time around.
Dermot Keyes was having none of this defeatism:
@deiseach I've seen the lads five times this year. They've won games in different ways. Lots of talent. I'm hopeful but it will be tight.
— Dermot Keyes (@DermotKeyes) September 7, 2013
A fair point, and we both agreed that Waterford had plenty of match winners. If they brought their A game, Waterford would win. My concern was that there wasn't a coherent strategy to get the best of those match winners. Which team would turn up? The one that bulldozed Clare, or the one that flattered to deceive against Tipperary? The one that went toe-to-toe with Cork for 80 minutes in their own back yard and came away with a genuinely famous win, or the one that let slip an eight-point lead in the Munster final?
I needn't have worried. Two years ago I expressed angst about the powder-puff nature of our underage teams. It was clear against Kilkenny that there was nothing fragile about this Waterford team as they repeatedly burst onto to loose balls and drove the play up the field. On two occasions during yesterday's game TV3 showed a statistic about the amount of puckouts won. On both occasions they showed Galway were ahead. On both occasions I thought 'so what?' The team had picked up where they left off against Kilkenny, brushing off Galway markers with ease and powering forward. But for some tremendous goalkeeping by Cathal Tuohy we could have had two goals from such teak-tough play which might have broken Galway there and then in the first half. As it was it took a spectacular point from DJ Foran with the last puck of the half to give us the three-point lead we deserved. Having cut out the alarming propensity for giving away frees in the Kilkenny game, it was looking very good indeed.
I'm the world's biggest worrier, especially when watching games on the telly. I'm always convinced the viewer is being deceived, that something is happening stage left that is about to ruin your day – the decisive moment in the game would typify this idea, although in this case it wasn't our day that was about to be ruined. So when someone like me was watching and not having a complete nervous breakdown, it was a sign that Waterford were on top. Even when Galway put together four unanswered points to draw matters level, I didn't feel . . . okay, I was very nervous, a couple of tough free chances being missed not helping. But no decent team, and Galway Minor teams are always decent, is going to be completely bereft of periods of dominance. A lot of energy would have been expelled in that period and it was so obvious enough that even I could see Waterford still had the winning of this. We were soon back in the groove, stretching the lead back to four points and keeping Galway on the back foot.
Then came the moment. It happened off-screen as the director showed the replay of a Waterford point, although kudos must be given to Mike Finnerty for keeping up with the action on the field rather than concentrating on his monitors, so we missed Patrick Curran brilliantly dispossessing the Galway back from a short puckout. We didn't miss him bearing down on goal and finally ramming one past Tuohy. Jesus. It was about to happen. Waterford were going to win the Minor All-Ireland. Sure, you couldn't help but recall the implosion in the Munster final, but there was less time for Galway to come back, momentum was now decisively with us, and there weren't 20,000 Tribesmen in the stands giving them a gee-up. It would have been the comeback to beat all comebacks for Galway to save this and the team gratifyingly kept the boot down on maroon necks to ensure that there was a not-particularly flattering eight-point margin of victory when Cathal McAllister blew the final whistle.
All-Ireland winners in Croke Park. There were times when I thought I wouldn't see the day, which is a terrible thing for a 36-year-old to say. And in case anyone in Waterford was worried that too much weight is being put on the success of a team of chisellers, the post-match interview with Seán Power would have soon put them right. He was in no doubt that this was a Big Deal, emotionally spelling out just what this means to a county like Waterford. Even during this period of sustained competitiveness for the county, the season has always ended on a downer. You win things during the season but come September you always look back at what might have been. Not this year. For only the fourth time ever (the 1929 Minor final was not played until February in 1930) we can look back on the last Championship game and say "we did it". The future is bright too, with so many players looking the real deal. But as chief Vitalstatistix said, tomorrow never comes. Today, we're All-Ireland winners and my own little chiseller, barely two months on this planet, gets to see an open-top bus down the Mall this evening. Not that he'll appreciate it; I'll have more than enough enthusiasm for two of us. Final word today to the ever-dependable Dermot Keyes:
I've been at a Ryder Cup, I saw fat Ronaldo score a hat-trick at Old Trafford, I've seen Munster win two ERCs. Nothing tops this. #Deise
— Dermot Keyes (@DermotKeyes) September 8, 2013
Categories: All-Ireland, Hurling, Waterford Tags: Galway, Minor
Categories: All-Ireland, Hurling, Waterford Tags: Galway, Minor
Let's do it to them before they do it to us
I managed a small essay about the Senior final. This is going to barely amount to a big paragraph about the Minors. This isn't an indication of what I care about the most. All my energies for tomorrow are focussed on throw-in at 1.15pm. But it's hard to say anything original about them. Never stopped you before, sez you. Shut up, sez I, I'm not in a playful humour. Of two games I have seen, Waterford were soundly beaten by Tipperary and came out on top after a white-knuckle ride against Kilkenny. I think the talent is there to take home the Irish Press Cup – it's curious how that name has stuck with me since the days when the Press was the paper of choice in our house; the in-house-style guide meant all references to the paper, even in the context of the Minor trophy, were in upper case. Pompous enough for any blogger. Anyway, I fear that while the talent might be there, the game plan is not. 'Go out and play, lads' might have worked fine back in the day when teams were thrown together between sessions for study for exams and sessions with a bag a cans, but to see a team play in such a freeform manner against Kilkenny, their seventh outing together this year, was mildly scary. Galway, on the other hand, are old hands at this. They are likely to have too much for us. We're going to have to hit them so hard that by the time they know what's happened, it'll all be over. Say a little prayer…
Categories: All-Ireland, Hurling, Waterford Tags: Galway, Minor
The Come on the Déise All-Ireland Minor Final Hawk Eye Appeal Results Matrix™!
As the clock counts down to the second Sunday in September, you may have been under the illusion that the winner of the Irish Press Cup will be determined by which team is better / plays better on the day. Well more fool you! The Hawk Eye fiasco in the Limerick-Galway semi-final on Sunday has completely changed the dynamic. The result now will be entirely dependent on the outcome of Limerick's appeal. That doesn't mean we know who is going to win, but all the discussion post-match will focus on the impact the appeal and subsequent replay, or lack thereof, had on the result. For your convenience, I have prepared The Come on the Déise All-Ireland Minor Final Hawk Eye Appeal Results Matrix™ so you can better appreciate where the talking points will be coming from:
What was that? Maybe they'll award the match to Limerick because had the point been awarded then, all other things being equal, they would have won the match in normal time? Nah, that would be stupid!
The Big Three – in a League of their own
Played | Won | Drew | Lost | GF | PF | Total | GA | PA | Total | +/- | Pts | |
Tipperary | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 85 | 115 | 4 | 93 | 105 | 10 | 6 |
Kilkenny | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 81 | 99 | 8 | 71 | 95 | 4 | 6 |
Galway | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 71 | 92 | 6 | 81 | 99 | -7 | 5 |
Waterford | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 72 | 81 | 4 | 75 | 87 | -6 | 5 |
Clare | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 86 | 98 | 10 | 83 | 113 | -15 | 4 |
Cork | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 78 | 96 | 4 | 80 | 92 | 4 | 4 |
Miracles never cease. For once, the National Hurling League finds itself not having to defend itself against charges of unfairness/irrelevance/pointlessness/boredom/all of the above as the fate of nearly every team went down, quite literally, to the last puck of the final round of matches. Had Waterford or Cork conjured up late goals in their respective games then the table would have spun like a top. As it was, there is some slight irritation to see the All-Ireland, Munster and Leinster champions in the top three places, giving an unfair impression of as-you-were. But overall it has been a rollercoaster contest, and given the usual denunciations of the League format for being all of the above, the authorities have much to be pleased about.
Sadly for them, and happily for those of us who like to be disagreeable for the sake of it, it's never that simple. Each team's performance will only be properly assessed in September. No doubt there was some pundit somewhere who wrote a preview of last year's All-Ireland final and opined that Galway's playoff torment last year when they only got past Dublin after a replay was really a blessing in disguise as it toughened them up for what was to come. Clare and Cork will be hard pressed to see those advantages from their current perspective. Then there's Waterford, the only team without a game between now and the Championship. Will we be better off for coming into the Clare game fresh, or worse off for not having another game in which to iron out the kinks? No sod knows, but that won't stop experts rushing in to fill the vacuum of knowledge with their considered opinions.
While I may scoff at the meanderings of pundits, all the while hopefully giving off a sense of awareness of the irony of a blogger scoffing at the meandering of pundits, there is ultimately no damage done by their retrospective know-it-all attitude to the League. More serious is what happens next. Not at the top of the League where Tipperary, Kilkenny and Galway will trip over themselves to downplay its significance, all the while skirting around the challenge provided by whoever emerges from the Limerick-Dublin promotion playoff, a team that will be as high as a kite from the relief of escaping the abyss that is Division 1B. No, the serious business is the result of the Clare-Cork relegation playoff.
I'm not one for conspiracy theories. It's always amusing how people rub their chins in a told-you-so fashion about how they predicted the draw for the Championship, particularly the qualifiers, before it happened. Note that these predictions are never revealed until after the draw was made. It's not as if you would need to put your prediction in a sealed envelope with a postmark on it or take a photo with the newspaper from the day the prediction was made for it to be a verifiable vision of the future. All that's needed is to put it on a message board and viola! the corruption of those in positions of power is laid bare. Maybe those making these self-evidently foolish accusations of corruption are plants designed to distract from the true seers and their plaintive cries, lost in the wilderness of obfuscation. It's genius, I tell you, evil genius!
Okay, that paragraph went off on a tangent too far. The concern from the Clare-Cork game is simple. If Cork get relegated and they change the format of the League then all suggestions that the GAA is hard-wired to bow to the needs of the Big Three will have found a solid example from which even the loopiest of conspiracies can claim validity. Despite the thrilling 2013 season, the current League format is not without problems. Tom Dempsey got a lot of stick from Waterford supporters for blithely talking around us on RTÉ's Sunday Sport programme as if we don't exist, but anyone who listened to him a lot through the spring will have heard his repeated objections to the one-up-one-down format of Divisions 1A/B, and he's right. It's simply not fair that Limerick should have to enter a playoff against Dublin to see who gets promoted, just as it was unfair last year that Galway had to playoff against Dublin last year despite winning two games to Dublin's none, and finishing ahead of Waterford on points difference but losing on the head-to-head – they might feel some small sense of satisfaction that it was us who lost out to them on the head-to-head this year.
It's unfair, but no one in authority cares as long as it's only the grunts who count their All-Ireland successes in single figures that fall into its clutches. So you can well imagine the hysterics that will erupt in Croke Park should Cork find themselves in Division 1B next year. When Cork failed to fulfil fixtures in the 2008 NHL, their only penalty was to have the games awarded to the opposition, one of which happened to be against Waterford. There was understandable fury in Wexford as Waterford were effectively gifted two points while Wexford played and lost to a full-strength Cork. Had it been the other way around, and Waterford ended up losing to Cork in a playoff to see who got into the knockout stages, it would have been Waterford who ended up in Division 2 for 2009. Every action that was taken was designed to accommodate Cork – God forbid that they might be penalised for distorting the competition in the manner they did – and we were the lucky beneficiaries of those actions. With all that in mind, can you see the GAA accepting the status quo should Clare beat Cork and the Rebels find themselves slumming it with Antrim and Laois/Westmeath next year? Yerra, the League will seem ripe for another restructuring and the success of Division 1A in providing so many thrills and spills in 2013 be damned.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Headquarters will be pleased to see that no one is safe. Maybe they'll respect the integrity of the process. I'm happy to be proven wrong, and it's why I'm hoping Clare beat Cork. If this happens and Cork are banished to the quicksands of Division 1B, I'll be delighted to hold my hands up and say I misjudged those who run the association and their motivations. Should Cork lose though and the League is rejigged to keep them in the standards to which they are accustomed, I may find myself donning a tinfoil hat with all the other kooks claiming that those making the Championship draws don't rattle those balls/hurleys in the pot with sufficient vigour.
Categories: GAA, Hurling, National League, Waterford Tags: Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Wexford
Waterford 0-12 Galway 0-15 – Giveitfong's view
(originally posted by Giveitfong on boards.ie)
In the first half yesterday I thought Waterford showed all the symptoms of a team which was unable to handle the new level of expectation which had been placed on them after the win over Tipperary. For the first time they were being widely expected to win this game, and the weekend papers devoted acres of space to the new pretenders.
You could even see in the prematch warm-up that Galway meant business, and they got stuck in right from the throw-in, playing with confidence and drive. Waterford, by contrast, had the jitters. Their first touch was desperate, their decision-making was poor and they made loads of mistakes. Watching the replay, I counted nine Galway scores (and four missed chances) which came directly from Waterford errors.
Fair dues to the management who got the team's heads right at half time, and they played much better hurling in the second half. Unfortunately, playing against the wind made it difficult to land scores from distance, while Galway crowded the goal area to snuff out goal chances, as Waterford persisted with long balls into that area.
While it is true that Galway probably would have won the game more comfortably if Joe Canning had been even half his normal self, the fact is that Waterford also missed a lot of good chances. The referee's eccentric refereeing didn't help their cause either. I counted eleven incorrect decisions that he made which went against Waterford. Most of these came in the first half when Waterford could have made better use of the frees they should have got. I was amazed to read in today's paper that Stapleton gave Waterford thirteen frees in the second half and Galway just one. I presume someone let him know at half time that he hadn't been exactly fair to the home team in the first half.
While Waterford's skill level is high and their attitude has been top-class, they need to go beyond this if they are to be serious contenders. The supply of ball going into the forwards throughout the league has generally been poor. This is particularly important when you have a lot of small forwards who find it hard to gain possession in one-on-one situations. They need early, low, ball played into space and not to players.
If they are going to play a ball-winner at full forward then the ball needs to be played into him and he needs support players to feed off breaking balls or hand passes. When Waterford had the gale force wind against Cork they were playing only one or two players in the full forward line. Last week against Tipperary when playing with the wind they put Seamus Pender in full forward but wouldn't send the ball into him. I remember at one point yesterday when a long ball was played in and Pender had four Galway defenders in attendance while there was no other Waterford player within 30 yards.
One of Waterford's potentially greatest attacking assets is the way Kevin Moran is able to break forward from midfield. However, very little ever seems to come from these sorties, with Moran either running into trouble or out of ideas. The management need to work on making the most of these situations, with support players running alongside Moran, or moving into designated places to receive through balls. Alternatively, once Moran breaks the line in midfield, he should find the spare man when the next defender comes up to face him, rather than taking him on too.
The management surely must also realise that placing Maurice Shanahan at full forward is a waste of time, and you can see that he is just not comfortable in that position. I thought he did much better in the half forward line in the second half. There were also signs of improvement in Pauric Mahony's play when he came on as a sub. I think that our championship team should have Shanahan, Prendergast and Mahony in the half forward line – three tall men who will cause opposing half back lines a lot of problems.
Although things didn't go well for Ray Barry, he still showed signs of having something to offer. He took up a lot of good positions and showed on occasion that he could win his own ball. Anyone who has seen him play for Waterford under-age teams and for Lismore will know that he is a very talented and versatile hurler.
I was amazed after the match when someone remarked to me that he didn't think Darragh Fives had much of a game. I thought watching the game "live" that he did very well, and after seeing the replay on TV I would say he was possibly Waterford's best player on the day. His constructive use of the ball is a key feature of his game.
Despite being a super wing back and then centre back for the county minors, and being a star centre back on two winning UCC Fitzibbon Cup teams, I suspect that yesterday was the first time that Fives started a competitive game for Waterford in the half back line. He had the misfortune of starting off with Waterford two years ago as a corner back when they were stuck and then, when he did well there, was left there. He is the kind of player who would play well anywhere, but playing him at corner back was a waste of his talent.
The same fate befell Jamie Barron who started off with the county minors at corner back when he was 16 and was then kept there for two more years. Last year he was still there with the under 21s, despite being the top scorer in the county at senior level with his club.
I also think Stephen Daniels has more to offer Waterford in the half back line than at corner back. His strength, drive and ball-winning ability are perfectly suited to wing back. With Shane Fives doing an excellent job in one corner and Noel Connors now available for the other, I think a half back line of Darragh Fives, Brick and Daniels and a midfield of Shane O'Sullivan and Kevin Moran would give us a unit in this sector of the field better than most other counties.
Categories: Hurling, Match Reports, National League, Waterford Tags: Galway, Walsh Park


text:
Megan Has Been Chatty
Megan Gale has been a busy bee speaking about all manner of topics over the last few days.
She recently gave insights into her healthy habits. The trick is to avoid wine.
"I haven't had a drink since New Year – it feels fantastic," she recently said at the David Jones autumn racing carnival fashion launch.
It would be nice to be that simple, but the model revealed a few other important tips.
"I cook a lot. And I just bought a road bike so I've been cycling all around the place."
Talking wine, food and bicycles is not all she has been chatting about. Sarah Murdoch also emerged.
Megan, who is set to continue hosting Project Runway, recently talked about the difficulty of replacing Sarah as the former host of Australia's Next Top Model. A pretty and famous face will not be enough, she suggested.
"I don't think it is a case of who's a famous face, let's get another model in there," she told the Herald Sun.
"Sarah Murdoch did an extraordinary job, not just as a host but as a producer. There are long days, and there's a lot of dialogue to memorise." She added that the dynamic between judges can be difficult to handle.
If you thought Megan was done, you're wrong. She also had a few things to say about the fashion industry.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Megan feels the big European fashion shows could learn from their Australian equivalents, notably the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival as well as recent Sydney shows.
"The shows in Paris and Milan are held in high esteem," she said.
"It's a shame that people don't have that much focus on Melbourne or Sydney fashion weeks. Festivals such as the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival are far more accessible, wearable and affordable."
"In the current climate it makes much more sense to hold a festival for the consumers. People come away with a realistic expectation of being able to purchase real pieces."
Image courtesy of Robert Wallace/ WENN
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