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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Andy Farrell's five key selection posers for first Lions Test
Van der Flier, Curry, Morgan or Pollock? The Lions have barely had a second for reflection lately. Is it Thursday in Canberra or Friday in Adelaide? Either way, there is another game just around the corner. With scant time for proper training, the management have been relying on players sticking their hands up on matchdays but no one, as yet, has nailed down the No 7 jersey. This matters because the Wallabies will be strong at the breakdown and possess an array of jackal threats. If Toulouse's Jack Willis were here the conversation might be different but there is probably one starting spot to be contested between Josh van der Flier, Jac Morgan, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock. Curry had the chance to stake an unanswerable claim against the Brumbies but, in common with many others, had a tricky evening. The other three are all involved against the Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV this weekend and there remains much to play for. The management clearly like the game-breaking ability that Pollock can offer and Morgan, despite not being the biggest of men, can be a real nuisance. Curry's work-rate will be hard to overlook unless Andy Farrell, in his quest for cohesion, simply reverts to his trusted Irish lieutenants and starts Van der Flier. Chessum or Beirne – or both? They appreciate a Big Red in Australia, whether it be kangaroos or a decent shiraz. And the flame-haired Ollie Chessum is already making an impact down under. He has been as consistently good as almost any of the Lions forwards, to the point where it will now be a major surprise if he does not feature in the Test 23. The question is what role he should fill. The back-row balance did not look entirely right against the Brumbies and there is only one tour game left in which to fiddle around with the blend. Tadhg Beirne has played a lot of rugby this season but is he still at his sharpest? Or could the Lions conceivably go for all-out mobility and start both Beirne and Chessum in the same starting XV for the first time on this tour? Beirne, interestingly, is back in the second row this weekend but picking him there for the first Test would mean omitting big Joe McCarthy. If Beirne has a colossal game this weekend, though, it will give the whole debate a vigorous stir. Aki, Tuipulotu or Farrell? Before the tour this was widely seen as Sione Tuipulotu's shirt to lose. But the Scotland captain has been injured and is still shaking off a touch of ring rust. Bundee Aki, on the other hand, offers a powerful simplicity at 12 that gives Finn Russell the option of using him as either a compelling decoy or a straight-up carrier. Teams may think they know what Aki is going to do but stopping him from five metres out remains easier said than done. In theory that simplifies the equation for Tuipulotu against a physical-looking combined Au-NZ Invitational XV: crank things up or accept a Test place may have to be delayed. But what about Owen Farrell? Who would the Lions want coming off the bench in a pressure-laden Test match if, heaven forbid, Russell or even Aki were to go down early on? If Farrell Jr goes well in Adelaide, his ability to operate at both 10 and 12 makes him a genuine option for the matchday 23. Ringrose or Jones? The selection at 12 has wider ramifications. If Aki starts, the temptation to pair him with his Ireland teammate Garry Ringrose clearly increases. Ringrose is a strong defender and may well be seen as the man to defuse the obvious threat of the Wallabies' emerging star Joseph Aukuso Sua'ali'i. The Leinster man is in form, too, having scored tries in Perth, Brisbane and Canberra already on this tour. That may mean Huw Jones will have to be patient unless he rips it up in Adelaide and shows he can offer another dimension to the Lions' attacking effectiveness in the wider channels. Again it also boils down to the collective blend: if the Lions back three is also going to be predominantly Irish it makes Ringrose the safer, more logical pick. Keenan or Hansen? The moment Blair Kinghorn whacked the pitch with his hand in frustration after being injured against the Brumbies it felt ominous for the Lions. Sure enough Ireland's versatile Jamie Osborne has been summoned as cover and Farrell will have to find another full-back for next week's first Test. The situation is complicated by the fact Hugo Keenan has played only once on tour prior to this weekend because of illness. He is also a different kind of player to Kinghorn and a less obvious bench option. So what does Farrell do? Stick with the devil he knows or roll the dice? One option could be to shift his favourite player Mack Hansen to full-back. That would permit him to start both Hansen and Tommy Freeman in Brisbane, with James Lowe's raking left boot also in the back-three mix. Marcus Smith might disagree but, right now, it would be a huge call to select the Harlequin as a starting Lions Test 15. Guardian
Phone Arena
24-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Verizon outshines T-Mobile for once with a freebie you absolutely MUST claim right now
Verizon But you can easily turn your frown upside down by taking a quick look in the benefits section of your My Verizon account right now. You don't need to do any heavy lifting or jump through hoops to score a $20 Amazon gift card, which Verizon Up). But you can easily turn your frown upside down by taking a quick look in the benefits section of your Myaccount right now. You don't need to do any heavy lifting or jump through hoops to score a $20 Amazon gift card, which you'll apparently find waiting for you in the myAccess platform (formerly known asUp). That's basically Big Red's T-Mobile Tuesdays equivalent, and coincidentally or not, today happens to be a Tuesday. A Tuesday when Magenta customers can get $5 tickets to Brad Pitt's new Formula 1 movie and... not a lot of other cool stuff, in case you're wondering. Certainly nothing that can rival the convenience and sheer value of a free $20 gift card to the most popular e-commerce platform out there. Receive the latest mobile news Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy T-Mobile Verizon The promotion seems to be exactly as simple and as straightforward as it sounds, signaling a massive potential change in the way Big Red plans to treat its subscribers and try to steal as many as possible away from(and AT&T ). Of course, you shouldn't expect to get freebies of this magnitude every week from now on, but even ifoffers such amazing loyalty-rewarding perks from time to time, that sounds like a huge step forward for a notoriously stingy (and yet somehow still massively successful) wireless service provider. Grab Surfshark VPN now at more than 50% off and with 3 extra months for free! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer If you've been eagerly awaiting's big Project 624 announcement ever since that codename first appeared on our radar a couple of months ago , the carrier might have disappointed you by unveiling a collection of AI-powered "customer experience innovations" today that doesn't look hugely beneficial in a very concrete way at first glance.
Android Authority
19-06-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Verizon told to clarify ambiguous advertising claims after T-Mobile complaint
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR The National Advertising Division (NAD) has recommended that Verizon change its marketing language about satellite texting based on a complaint from T-Mobile. T-Mobile has also challenged Verizon's claim of being 'America's largest network,' with the watchdog calling Verizon's advertising 'ambiguous.' Verizon has said that it'll comply with NAD's recommendations. Verizon is once again under the lens for its inconspicuous advertising claims. This time, the Big Red has been pulled up over claims about its satellite texting service and network size following a challenge from rival T-Mobile. The National Advertising Division (NAD), an industry watchdog under BBB National Programs, found some of Verizon's claims to be supported but recommended that the carrier make its advertising clearer for the benefit of consumers. NAD said Verizon's slogan 'conquering dead zones with satellite' is not misleading on its own, but warned that Verizon must improve its disclosures. Specifically, the NAD says Verizon failed to clarify that the satellite texting service only works on select new phone models and under certain conditions. Moreover, T-Mobile also took issue with Verizon's 'America's largest network' claim. While Verizon has based that claim on the number of postpaid subscribers, T-Mobile said the phrase could mislead consumers into thinking it refers to coverage area or geographic reach. NAD recommended Verizon clarify what Verizon means by 'largest.' 'NAD found the phrase 'largest network' to be ambiguous, potentially conveying different messages to consumers. NAD also determined that the term 'postpaid phone connections' may not clearly communicate that it refers to Verizon subscribers,' the organization wrote in a press release shared with Android Authority. NAD made similar recommendations to those of Verizon last year and asked the carrier to discontinue or modify its satellite texting claims based on a previous complaint by T-Mobile. Verizon stated it would comply with the NAD's recommendations. While the NAD does not have the power to enforce changes, companies often follow its guidance to avoid legal or regulatory issues. For customers, the ruling means Verizon ads may soon become more transparent, especially regarding satellite texting and what its 'largest network' claims really mean.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
My Favorite Grape Soda Comes From a 109-Year-Old Brand You've Probably Never Heard Of
The South has the best soda brands. And I don't mean Coke or Pepsi, though both are Southern-born and bred. I'm talking about regional brands that haven't gotten too big for their britches. There's Cheerwine in North Carolina or Kentucky's Ale-8-One. And while Dr Pepper reigns supreme, I'm fond of the Texas underdog Big Red soda. But there's another bespoke bottling company in the South that will always have my heart because it makes the absolute best grape soda. And it's been doing just that for nearly 110 years. If you think you don't like grape soda, it's because you haven't had fizz like this. Grape soda is cool again. Major brands are creating new grape flavors and offering low-sugar options, but the Buffalo Rock bottling company in Birmingham, Alabama, isn't shaking up the soda scene. They're sticking to a perfected classic: Grapico. Ever heard of it? If you live in Alabama, Georgia, or the Florida Panhandle, this grape soda is everywhere. While other Southerners put peanuts in Coke, folks around these parts enjoy a PB&J-inspired snack pairing. And if you've got a 2-liter bottle of Grapico, you're just two cans of sweetened condensed milk away from making Grapico ice cream. Yes, really. As the label says, it's "a Southern thing." According to Buffalo Rock, Grapico has been around since 1916, though technically it was dreamed up by the Louisiana company J. Grossman's Sons in 1914, and then sold to Buffalo Rock shortly after. And while the name would suggest otherwise, it's pronounced "GRAY-pea-co." You can find Grapico soda in 12-ounce cans and 12-packs as well as glass 12-ounce bottles and 4-packs. You'll also find Grapico 20-ounce plastic bottles in most Alabama gas stations and vending machines. Diet Grapico is also available in select sizes, and that version was introduced in 2005. This deep purple soda is unlike other grape sodas because it doesn't taste like a spoonful of Karo syrup. Or worse: cough syrup. The sweet Concord grape is there, but there's a signature zing—maybe a subtle spice?—like Dr Pepper or Cheerwine. I love Grapico above all because it has, according to Buffalo Rock, an "unmistakable fizz." It's bubble town and that's how I like it. Flat soda is like drip coffee: Weak. So many fruit sodas—especially orange soda—just end up tasting like half-carbonated, sad juice. Not Grapico. It's perfectly crisp from a can or a bottle. Even better: It's caffeine-free, which is why I'm so nostalgic about Grapico. It tastes like being a kid in the '90s. On the rare occasion I was allowed to have soda growing up, Grapico, like Sprite, was deemed safe by any adults present. (Because if you're a millennial, you know the absolute terror that Big Caffeine had on our parents.) Now, full disclosure: These babies, like so many other sodas, are loaded with Red 40 and Blue 1, so I'm not sipping on a Grapico every day. It's a Southern treat, like Moon Pies or Blue Bell Ice Cream. I'd say it's a Southern rite of passage. Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NewsChannel 9 goes inside the demolition zone as century-old brick warehouse stands for final days
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — It's been long considered the gateway to Downtown Syracuse from the city's west, but now wrecking crews are in the final stages of bringing down what a judge once called a 'danger to life.' Once the home of Central City Provisions, the warehouse that was once cold storage for meat and ice cream, is being brought down by demolition contractors based on a judge's order. NewsChannel 9 was allowed access into the work zone. After the century-old building became vacant, it became more than a decade of problems. Jake Dishaw, the City of Syracuse's deputy commissioner for zoning administration and code enforcement, has been in the department since he joined a high school part-timer. In that time, the building acquired the nickname 'Big Red' among city staff. Ten years ago, the west side of the structure collapsed under the weight of snow. 'Since then, there's been numerous break-ins, a couple of fires, people in and out all the time,' said Dishaw. When the east side of it started coming down, it threw bricks into traffic on West Street down below. After the owner delayed his own demolition, a State Supreme Court justice gave the city the go-ahead. The Common Council allowed the city to borrow $1.8 million, which will be billed to the owner. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
