I have been struggling with my Cleff line and came across an interesting strategy that some researchers have found successful. The strategy is "profiling." Professional genealogist Heather Doherty relates profiling your ancestors to many of the strategies that are seen on popular crime shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, and NCIS. Profiling requires the researcher to build a profile of the "unsub" (or in my case my ancestor) by gathering everything you can find about the unsub, the time period, the location, and everyone in the life of the unsub. I plan to profile my ancestors, beginning with Helena and Herman. I would begin with Otto and Helene Cleff, but I know nothing about Otto and Helene at this time other than their names and the names of their children. I figured if I learn about Helena, I may ultimately learn about her parents.
Once I have Helena's profile created I will post it to share with anyone reading my blog.
I'm going to try to get a little genealogy in today. I've got a lot to do before heading to the Family History Library in Salt Lake in November. To make the most of my time there, I need to be really organized and have an action plan. With so much on the internet these days, I want to make sure I have exhausted as much searching as possible before I go, that way I can spend the time looking at resources that are not available on line.
When I was in Salt Lake last November, I did find my Stange ancestral village in Germany. I found my great-great-grandfather in the church records. One of the things I want to do this time is copy all of the church records for Milow. I only copied the records that had my family. As Milow was a small village, there is the possibility that I may be able to connect some collateral lines. I did copy all of the church records for Epperthausen. Instead of having to print all of those pages, the Family History Library has it set up so you can save the copies to a flash drive. That makes genealogy travel much easier.
I read an article recently and the author talked about "Cluster Research." Cluster research is where you do not search only for you ancestors, but also all of the collateral (brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.), friends and neighbors. The author stated, that many times whole families moved together, or friends and neighbors moved to new areas together. It seemed to make sense, so I am trying to create a cluster for my Cleff ancestors. Right now, Otto Cleff and Helene Ritz are my "brick wall" ancestors. I believe that Otto came to the US, but don't think I have found him yet. I am doubtful that Helene Ritz made the journey.
The cluster theory works, as I've seen other family lines move around the country together. The Root and Stanley families individually and eventually connecting the family lines in Southeast Michigan. My Norwegian lines along with many friends and relatives immigrated from Norway, all settling in Southwest Minnesota.


The course begins by introducing the Snort technology and progresses through the installation and operation of Snort. Learners discover the various output types that Snort provides, automated rule management including how to deploy and configure Pulled Pork, inline operations, and how to create custom Snort rules, including advanced rule-writing techniques and OpenAppID.
This course combines lecture materials and hands-on labs that give learners practice in deploying and managing Snort.
This course is part of a portfolio of security courses designed to help businesses support and maintain their Snort systems.


The broadcast networks won't announce their fall schedules until next month, but there's already one show on Fox that has no hope of coming back.
Last night, word broke that Fox has canceled "Almost Human" after one season. "Almost Human" featured Karl Urban and Michael Ealy as human and android cops, respectively who solved crimes in the futuristic world created by "Fringe" veteran J. H. Wyman.
The primary reasons that "Almost Human" won't be back is that it never caught fire in the ratings or captured the imaginations of fans in the way that "Sleepy Hollow" did on the same night in the fall. Fox also made the odd decision to air several "Almost Human" episodes out of order and the series' ongoing storylines were largely abandoned by the first season finale.
Fox had shown a lot more patience with Wyman's previous series, "Fringe." But Fox has already ordered its Batman prequel, "Gotham" to series and two other new dramas, "The Red Band Society" and "Empire" have a strong chance of being picked up for the new season; which means that the Fox executives probably felt the need to clear some space in the schedule and "Almost Human" was expendable to them.
"Almost Human" does have a small following of fans who are distressed by its cancelation. That's the nature of television. Sometimes, the shows that you love die before their time. But the good news is that your next favorite show is usually just over the horizon.


Portugal Table Tennis News and updates. Find out about Portugal Table Tennis team, Team Portugal Players and their profiles. Matches History and matches schedules. Complete multimedia archive of Videos and Photo Galleries. Live scores and Portugal Matches Live streaming.


In a game that features two of the league's top penalty-kill units, the Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings take the ice at the Staples Center. This Western Conference matchup will get started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 8 and it is being shown live on Fox Sports West.
Each side currently has an identical -110 money line in this one and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-120 for the over, +100 for the under).
Minnesota is 8-6 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 14 regular season matches, seven of its games have gone over the total, while six have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2018-19 Wild team is 3-4 SU on the road.
Minnesota has scored on 19.6 percent of its power play chances thus far. That mark hasn't moved a lot from last year, when it was ranked 16th in the NHL by scoring on 20.6 percent of its extra-man advantages. Its penalty kill has gotten stronger year-over-year, as the team has gone from successfully defending 80.9 percent of opponents' power plays (ranked 12th overall last year) to 85.2 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, Minnesota has been called for penalties 4.7 times per game this season, a number that's regressed some from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team's been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 10.1 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 30.2 saves per game with a .930 save percentage, Devan Dubnyk (6-5-2) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota this season. If Minnesota decides to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Boudreau might go with Alex Stalock (2-1), who has a .895 save percentage and 3.30 goals against average this year.
The visiting Wild have relied heavily on Mikael Granlund and Ryan Suter this season. Granlund (13 points) has tallied six goals and seven assists, and has recorded multiple points in three different games. Suter has three goals and 10 assists to his nameand has registered a point in seven games.
On the other side of the rink, Los Angeles is 5-9 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 14 regular season matches, seven of its games have gone under the total, while six have gone over and just one has pushed. So far this year, the team is 4-4 SU at home.
Los Angeles has converted on 16.7 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that's right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it's successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
Los Angeles players have been whistled for penalties only 3.7 times per game this season, a number that's pretty close to the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.8 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 9.1 minutes per matchup this season.
Jack Campbell (24.5 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Los Angeles. Campbell has five wins and six losses and has maintained a 2.50 goals against average and a .918 save percentage this season.
Ilya Kovalchuk (five goals, nine assists) will pace the attack for the Kings.
The total has gone over in four of Minnesota's last five games.
The Kings are 2-6 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 2-7 in games where they're in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
After posting a 3-3 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Minnesota is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Los Angeles was 2-1 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
In a game that features two of the league's top penalty-kill units, the Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings take the ice at the Staples Center. This Western Conference matchup will get started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 8 and it is being shown live on Fox Sports West.


Are YOU uncomfortable on the bike? You shouldn't be! Discomfort is not normal!
Is YOUR injury just not going away?
Do YOU want pain relief for the long term?
Cycle Physio is based in Brisbane and offers a Physiotherapy consultation that includes a professional bike fit, injury management and injury prevention service for cyclists, runners, swimmers and triathletes. All services are performed by a highly experienced sports Physiotherapist with a double masters degree in sports and musculoskeletal Physiotherapy.
Optimising your movement patterns and biomechanical efficiency when running, swimming or riding. This means going faster with lowered risk of injury!
Providing real answers for your pain, with practical solutions that produce a long term result!
Guiding you in your development of sports specific core strength, flexibility and technique with a sports Physiotherapist whose focus is cycling, running and swimming.
Providing a world class bike fitting service for all types of cyclists (road, track, time trial, trialthlon, XC mountain bike). Having a sports Physiotherapist fit your bike offers the benefit of detailed understanding of sports performance, injuries and their prevention.
David has a double masters degree in sports and musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, developing his clinical expertise over the past 21 years. He has been awarded the top academic excellence prizes in his undergraduate and postgraduate training. In practice he has divided his time between sports Physiotherapy and managing complex and persistent problems that traditional care all too frequently fails to cure.
His passion is cycling, a sport in which he has been involved in for the past 15 to 20 years. He races on the road and track with more recently adding mountain bike racing with his oldest son! He is a level 1 road and track cycling coach and has the privilege of being the assistant coach for the Queensland Junior Track Cycling Team and JETS, the junior development squad for road and track cyclists in Qld. You might see him out at the Anna Meares Velodrome several times a week in his coaching role.
In sports Physiotherapy, David has had a long and extensive involvement in cycling, running and swimming sports. He is the current Sports Physiotherapist for the QAS Road and Track Cycling Squad. He has helped guide the physical development of some of Australia's leading swimmers over the past decade as they developed from teenage prodigies into Olympic stars. He was the head Physiotherapist for the Brisbane Bullets NBL team for 5 seasons. David has been performing bike fits in Brisbane professionally for the past 10 years and has made this a focus of his clinical practice. He is equally comfortable helping runners, swimmers or cyclists perfect their technique and biomechanical efficiency to achieve peak performance, whatever their age, level or goals.
Free Stuff: Who has ever....or maybe has a "friend" who has driven into a carport, garage or takeaway drive thru with a bike on their car roof? Pop into Cycle Physio for your complimentary reminder/preventer!
NEWS Flash 2017 - Cycle Physio has partnered with Cycling Brisbane to offer discounts to members. Click, join and save!
Whilst we would love to tell you more about the clients we work with and what they say about us, we can't. The use of any testimonials is against the code of conduct of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency which Physiotherapists are proud members of.
Is it a good day for riding?


A beautifully light, pure silk sarong at an excellent price.
It features an exclusive dragonfly design in subtle shades of pink and natural, and the micro-crinkle textured fabric gives a low cling, quick drying finish.
A holiday must-pack, the effortlessly summery Dragonfly sarong is perfect for those lazy days spent reclining by the pool or strolling along the beach.
Really earns a place in your suitcase: Tie it around your neck or waist depending on the coverage required, and can be handy as an over-sized silk scarf for travel, or thrown around your shoulders on cooler evenings.


text:
CBS FAKE DOCS SWING ELECTION?
Los Angeles, CA Prominent Internet bloggers traded counter punches on the CBS report recently released on the Dan Rather fake documents scandal on this part two of a Full Disclosure special program. At issue was whether or not the report, written by former U. S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh, should have concluded whether the documents were forgeries and intended to throw the Presidential election.
Hosted by Emmy Award winning Leslie Dutton, this Full Disclosure Special on Internet bloggers, featured retired L. A. Times senior writer Kenneth Reich, who hosts a blog called "Take Back the Times" and Michael Williams, whose popular blog entitled "Master of None" is visited daily by fifteen hundred people world wide.
When asked by Dutton if it is it likely that more heads will roll at CBS over the document scandal, Ken Reich says yes, he feels that CBS President Heyward's future is uncertain and that he probably felt an obligation to allow Dan Rather to stay on so he could leave with some good grace. Reich also noted that Rather was very embarrassed by it all and after 25 years at CBS may have stayed on the job too long.
Blogger Williams wondered if Dan Rather was embarrassed because he was tricked or embarrassed because he was caught and how many other Rather stories were unproven, unfounded or just sloppy and biased.
This part two of the program is set to air world-wide on the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week starting on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 on the website at http://www.fulldisclosure.net
THIS FULL DISCLOSURE PROGRAM CAN BE VIEWED IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS:
1.) For the first 30 days our full streaming video program will be provided to viewers FREE as a public service by clicking this link and having the RealPlayer installed on your desktop computer.
2.)The program will also be featured on 40 cable systems throughout California for the next six months. (Refer to our online Channel Guide for details and broadcast times. )
3.) PURCHASE our programs in the most popular formats of DVD, VHS, Audio and Transcript by clicking on this link to visit our online Media Store.
Full Disclosure host Leslie Dutton has been conducting interviews for the past twelve years with local, state and national officials in order to inform the public on critical issues dealing with immigration, law enforcement, crime, fraud and corruption.
BLOGGERS LEAD THE MEDIA REVOLT
Los Angeles, CA Internet Bloggers are bringing accountability to the regular news media according to Michael Williams, whose popular Blog entitled "Master of None" is visited daily by fifteen hundred or more people worldwide. During a two part Blogging Special Full Disclosure cable and internet television program Williams said bloggers are playing an important role by acting as fact checkers when competing news outlets have refused to criticize one another's mistakes.
Also appearing on the program is prominent L. A. Times senior writer (retired) Kenneth Reich who told Full Disclosure that he started his Blog, which is called "Take Back the Times", because he felt the Chicago based Tribune management, which owns L.A. Times, is doing a great disservice to the newspaper by ordering severe cutbacks and refusing to meet with long time Times staff members for their input.
In this part one of the program, Internet Bloggers were described as watchdogs who come from every walk of life, contributing their particular experience, professional and technical knowledge to shed light on issues of the day and in the media. Part two of the program is a discussion of the CBS Thornburgh Report on the Dan Rather media scandal.
Emmy Award winning Full Disclosure host Leslie Dutton prodded both Reich and Williams to describe the media revolt and circumstances that are challenging the powerful forces who have controlled the traditional news media.
This part one of the program is set to air world-wide on the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week starting on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 on the website at http://www.fulldisclosure.net
1.) For the first 30 days our full streaming video program will be provided to viewers FREE as a public service.
Full Disclosure host Leslie Dutton has been conducting interviews for the past twelve years with local, state and national officials in order to inform the public on critical issues dealing with immigration, law enforcemernt, crime, fraud and corruption.
LAUSD's $238 MILLION BELMONT DEMOLISHED
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO ON INTERNET at www.fulldisclosure.net
Los Angeles, CA In late December 2004 the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) began demolishing approximately one third of the new and never occupied Belmont High School campus which has cost taxpayers $238 million to build with another $110 million for partial demolition and reconstruction.
The demolition of Belmont went virtually unnoticed by the Los Angeles news media and the community because it took place just a few days before Christmas when most people were preoccupied wrapping holiday gifts and attending to activities of the season.
The LAUSD Facilities Division refused the FULL DISCLOSURE NETWORK requests to gain access to the site to videotape the demolition activity. The entire site was blocked off to the public view by chain link fences covered with green tarp and topped with barbed wire—the full perimeter. Some of demolished buildings were built atop an earthquake fault on the 35-acre site in downtown Los Angeles, formerly known as the Los Angeles Oil Field, which is plagued with toxic hazards such as methane gas and hydrogen sulfide.
However, the Full Disclosure Cable Television Network was able to shoot aerial video footage of the demolition and will begin showing an exclusive five-minute video, of the destruction of the controversial Belmont High School buildings starting Wednesday, January 19, 2005. The video can be viewed by accessing the Demolition Video link on our detail page. Experts estimate that with the cost to remediate the toxic hazards, cost overruns and change orders, the final cost of Belmont (renamed Vista Hermosa) could come to half a billion dollars.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Windows 10 version 1803: privacy improvements
Windows, Windows 10
The next feature update for Windows 10, Windows 10 version 1803, will feature new privacy settings and improvements that give users and administrators more control over data on the device.
Windows 10 users and admins may change privacy-related settings in several ways on machines running Windows 10. They may change some privacy options under Settings > Privacy, make modifications using policies, or change Registry keys related to privacy.
The privacy options in Settings controlled application access to data up until now almost exclusively. You could turn a feature, say access to the microphone or notifications, off completely, or allow access on an individual basis only.
Microsoft started to improve the privacy settings in the Fall Creators Update. If you open the Location controls in that version of Windows 10, you will notice that disabling location will make it unavailable to apps, Windows, and services.
The most recent Windows 10 Insider Build, version 17074, features three new entries under privacy in the Settings application.
You find the new entries Videos, Documents and Pictures there. All three allow you to block application access to the system folders but you may also notice that you may deny Windows access to these folders as well.
The description reads:
Allow access to the documents/videos/pictures library on this device.
If you allow access, people using this device will be able to choose if their apps have documents/videos/pictures library access by using the settings on this page. Denying access blocks Windows and apps from accessing the documents/videos/pictures library.
A click on the change button turns access on or off on the device. You may also turn off application access only by flipping the preferences switch under "allow apps" on the page.
This prevents applications from accessing the library but not Windows.
Last but not least, you may allow specific applications access but deny access to all other apps.
What happens if you disable access for Windows? It is unclear at this point in time. I ran a quick test after disabling access to the pictures library but did not notice any issues.
Using File Explorer, I could still browse the folder and apps. I fired up Paint 3D and could load images using drag and drop, and could also save files to the folder. Windows Defender scanned the folder as well.
It is possible that the functionality is not fully implemented yet, or that the access restriction only applies to automated processes.
Now You: What's your take on the changes? (via Deskmodder)
Windows 10 privacy changes announced
Comparison of Windows 10 Privacy tools
DoNotSpy10 – Configure Windows 10 Privacy settings
Microsoft: Privacy improvements in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update
Windows 10 and Privacy
How to get iMessage on Windows 11/10 PC
Windows 11 adds a full screen button to the Widgets board in the stable channel
Windows 11: Optional January update KB5022360 is now available
Microsoft to update Windows 11 21H2 to Windows 11 22H2 automatically
Windows 11 will soon let you fix issues on your PC using Windows Update
How to fix a Windows Terminal startup issue
Previous Post: « Windows 10 KB4057142, KB4057144 and KB4073290 released
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John Fenderson said on January 18, 2018 at 5:48 pm
Do they let us turn off telemetry yet?
dark said on January 18, 2018 at 6:11 pm
Don't think so.
Anonymous said on January 19, 2018 at 1:10 am
If they did, we wouldn't trust that they do anyway. Such a feature would only be so normies can into privacy
It'd be really simple to tell, though.
Recently checked Windows 10 FCU 1709 with PeerBlock loaded with ip blocklist from here: encrypt-the-planet.com/windows-10-anti-spy-host-file/
and i see Windows 10 phoning to various servers every few seconds.
Scammed said on January 19, 2018 at 4:04 am
US tech companies have lost their minds. Apple, Google, MS, Adobe, etc. Not just blatant spying, but their subscription extortion "software as a service" schemes and planned obsolescence schemes. They've been trying to do this for decades, the infrastructure just wasn't there yet. Now it's there and they're trying to bring down the hammer to monopolize everything. They're using unrelated products like graphics software to play the data collection game. Even more ridiculous Nvidia putting it in their drivers. Why does the Nvidia driver need to know what you had for breakfast? They say it's for our benefit. LOL The UN or some other international body needs to start regulating these things because the US government will not voluntarily reform it's tech monopolies.
Sophie said on January 19, 2018 at 11:14 am
So true….so incredibly true. It's a fight….but only for those of us 'in the know'.
Thanks for this IP Peerblock list.
Just looking at it now………the last time I tried to introduce an 'MS' Peerblock list, it messed a few things up. Can't quite remember what, or to what extent.
Wondering if this list might be any better, and thanks for the pointer.
Stefan said on January 18, 2018 at 6:51 pm
Windows 10 and the word PRIVACY can't be used in the same sentence…. Windows 10 were, is and always will be a malware !
Ivan Federov said on January 18, 2018 at 7:10 pm
Ah, they put more buttons to slide and nothing happens. Pumping all your data to Microsoft servers to sell third-parties and show ads. Nothing new here.
dontmakemelaugh said on January 18, 2018 at 7:15 pm
You call this privacy improvement? I call this another gimmick with no real actual changes in real privacy settings.
Windows 10 is still same old same old, bugs go unfixed and these things get center stage occupying dev time, Ive purposefully held back upgrades and will stick to Windows 1607 until 2023, and then with some luck Linux will have caught up and Ill be able to ditch this stupid OS for good.
insanelyapple said on January 18, 2018 at 11:48 pm
I agree; Martin wording in headline here isn't best one – these are just some random sliders which mean nothing actually
The real privacy improvements would address telemetry issues – because these are still there.
Yes, I am also on 1607, and have frozen there since Feb/March 2017. I have no intention of moving to a later version. None.
It works, it 'aint broke, so please don't try to "fix" it. I'll take care of any other threats myself, thank you.
TelV said on January 18, 2018 at 7:32 pm
It sounds promising and I would like to think that Microsoft may well be changing course when it comes to privacy especially after all the flak they've had aimed at them. Only time will tell.
You mentioned running a quick test Martin, but do you still see ads on the lock screen on startup? And what about Cortana. I've read elsewhere that Microsoft removed the toggle to switch it on and off, but that it can still be turned off using a registry hack. But why should users have to resort to such drastic means in order to disable it?
"But why should users have to resort to such drastic means in order to disable it?"
To never disable it, of course. When Microsoft pushes Win10, automatically their clientes became their products. And now we are just big data providers to Satya Nadella & Co.
TelV said on January 19, 2018 at 10:25 am
That's exactly my point Ivan. Microsoft likes to give the impression that they're moving in the right direction at last, but they don't make changes which will affect the amount of data they can collect.
John Fenderson said on January 19, 2018 at 12:22 am
"I would like to think that Microsoft may well be changing course when it comes to privacy"
So would I, but I'm seeing no real evidence of it.
@ TelIV – I have completely stopped Cortana. Its not even resident in Task Manager. Gone….goodbye, not even active. Fully disabled.
Action Center………gone, fully disabled….no prompts or nags from Microsoft.
Lock screen Ads on startup……..on 1607, can't get rid of it, like you could before 1607. On the other hand, no ads, nothing….nice and static, and my own wallpaper on it, just its just a press of the keyboard to advance forwards.
But look…………why do we all have to fight so hard to get things the way we want? yes, no need for answer, I answered my own questions a long time ago.
Johnson Andrews said on January 18, 2018 at 8:24 pm
To me, this looks like the opposite. By telling windows to not look at your files, you are basically telling them that you are hiding something. In theory of course.
dontmakemelaugh said on January 19, 2018 at 7:46 am
What absurdity is this? I keep reading people claiming that because you choose to not let abc look inside y, then you must be hiding something and then this means youre guilty just because.
This sort of thinking is absurd, its almost like telling everyone not to wear clothes anymore to hide their genitals and so on, after all if you decide not to show them you must have something to hide and are guilty of something.
Privacy has nothing to do with blame, but apparently wanting some is wrong these days.
John Fenderson said on January 19, 2018 at 11:26 pm
Not only that, but literally everyone on the planet has something that is best kept hidden. Wanting to keep some things secret does not imply that those things are illegal or even unsavory.
ULBoom said on January 18, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Seems like more access to privacy settings for Win 10 home users, turn the faucet on so it barely drips while continuing to hide the hundreds of background settings. Win 10 Pro has many, many more accessible privacy settings in the gp manager. Win 10 Pro is the only version I'd buy after spending lots of time with both and it only costs a little more. Home acts completely differently than Pro.
The "disable access for windows" is probably just the "computer" administrative template settings in gp manager vs. the same sets for individual users. "computer" turns off a setting for all users, one of which is "system" or windows.
Of course, since Windows is a service, whatever that means, in order to get it to stop biting back, even with Pro, one has to spend hours changing gp settings, uninstalling all those dreadful apps, installing a good firewall, autoruns and tracking blocker to stop it. Windows settings, for the most part, only affect the OS, all your programs may do the same thing and hide it well. Then there are browsers, little OS's that need the same treatment as Windows with different blockers.
The latest NVidia driver update (just the driver) installed five telemetry settings, one was visible in Services, the other four were hidden Tasks. Yeah, there are LOTS of hidden tasks that Task Manager doesn't show, try this and have fun turning off stuff (be sure you know what the task is, first)
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/task_scheduler_view.html
Anonymous said on January 19, 2018 at 12:29 am
Who could be crazy enough to store personal documents on a machine running Windows 10.
jake said on January 19, 2018 at 12:46 am
> Using File Explorer, I could still browse the folder and apps. I fired up Paint 3D and could load images using drag and drop, and could also save files to the folder. Windows Defender scanned the folder as well.
This company has created a caste system. Enterprise are able to lock down their devices from the built-in surveillance and/or "telemetry". Peons? Not so much. They won't even let you buy their non-snooping version. The tech industry is completely out of control.
Yuliya said on January 19, 2018 at 1:09 am
>Enterprise are able to lock down their devices from the built-in surveillance
imgur.com/CTA4W8V
@jake
No, Enterprise is not able to fully lock down everything either.
dark said on January 19, 2018 at 1:06 am
As I thought, Windows 10 belongs inside VirtualBox on Linux with internet connection disconnected to Windows 10 VM.
lehnerus2000 said on January 19, 2018 at 3:07 am
Agreed. :)
However I use VMware Player on Linux Mint 18.3 MATE.
There is also QEMU which offers near native performance and also supports GPU passthrough, you can use it with Virt-Manager.
Another one is Gnome Boxes which also uses QEMU but is for beginners.
Guest tools are called "spice guest tools" and "Windows Virtio Drivers".
lehnerus2000 said on January 23, 2018 at 11:23 am
Thanks dark. :)
My friend uses QEMU on his Arch Linux PC.
My VMs run better in VMware Player on Linux Mint, than they do using VMware Workstation on W7.
@ Sophie,
There's a suggestion here to disable lock screen ads by disabling Windows Spotlight: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/disable-tips-lock-screen-windows-10
Sophie said on January 19, 2018 at 12:27 pm
@ TelIV – thank you. I'll have a look, but I'm sure I tried just that…a while ago, and you are still forced to see that lock screen, regardless. At least on 1607 with no GP.
Of course, MS wanted to make it this way, so they could show what they want on that screen….right into the future.
TelV said on January 19, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Yeah, the problem is that even if you find a workaround, M$ can change the configuration at will via an automatic update which users can't reject.
Let's hope the EU's competition chief, Margrethe Vestager comes up with something: https://www.politico.eu/article/margrethe-vestager-technophobe/
Sophie said on January 19, 2018 at 1:23 pm
@ TeIV – yes, but not quite….in that I have successfully blocked all updates since early 2017, freezing at 1607, and now no longer feeling insecure that MS will ever turn my updates back on again…as its been 9, nearly 10 months of peace.
So they can't change [my] configuration….but I totally get you that this particular area (that of the lock screen) is very likely in their sights as an area to keep targeting. Who knows what might get "showcased" here in the future, which is exactly why they've removed GP and Registry hacks to get rid of it.
On a side note, I have a Lenovo X61s, with Windows 10 on it….the very first +1 release, I think it may be 1510? I'd need to switch it on to check….but either way, its a super-early version of Win10. On there, you absolutely can remove the lock screen….and my login on that PC goes straight to the password. I froze that too, at that version….and have not had a peep out of it. Works like a dream, with no updates, and no messing around from Microsoft. It's so old now, that version, that many of those config screens are missing a ton of stuff that they later introduced. Love it! :: Message to Satya…."get your hands off my stuff"!!!!
Interesting article….TeIV, thanks for that!
Anonymous said on February 11, 2018 at 2:55 am
That same website where you got the Peerblock IP list has a tutorial on how to remove Windows 10 telemetry. The page requires membership, but worth it: https://encrypt-the-planet.com/completely-disable-windows-10-telemetry/


text:
Drug Production in Golden Triangle Flourishes Despite Pandemic
UAE's Emirates and Etihad Airways to Trail IATA Covid-19 Travel Pass
Thai Private Hospitals Reserve COVID-19 Vaccine Ahead of Approval
Thailand's FDA to Approve the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine
Thai Prime Minister Says No Vaccine for Thai People Until Proven Safe
India's Sai Praneeth Withdraws from Thailand Open Due to COVID-19
How Long will Netflix Maintain its Autonomy in this Changing World
Mekong River Being 'Dammed' with Uncertainty by China and Laos
Featured News Video
Featured Northen Thailand
China's Ambassador to Thailand Snubs "Mekong People's Forum"
Why Thailand's is Losing its Battle with Illicit Narcotics from Myanmar
Featured Learning
Thai School Children at the Heart of Thailand's Battle for Reform
Despite Harsher Punishments Thailand Struggles With Rape Culture
Wildlife Crime Trafficking Could be a Source of Future World Pandemics
Thailand and its neighbours in the Golden Triangle have experienced a continuous expansion of drug production, trafficking and use, particularly of synthetic drugs, for the better part of a decade. Last year, seizures of harmful methamphetamine in East and Southeast Asia reached 140 tons with the vast majority produced in Mynmar's Shan State across the border from Chiang Rai Thailand.
With the rise of production there, borders with Northern Thailand and Laos have become one of the most significant drug trafficking points in the world.
It is estimated that drug production and trafficking in the region last year generated profits of at least US$71 billion (2.2 trillion baht), with methamphetamine accounting for US$61 billion (1.9 trillion baht), four times what it was six years ago.
At this point, the production and trafficking of methamphetamine is the financial backbone of transnational organised crime groups and the armed ethnic groups they partner with. They now control control autonomous territories in Myanmar, fuelling conflict and insecurity in the country and along its borders including with Thailand.
In addition, despite record amounts of methamphetamine seizures, the supply has surged and the price of the drug has recently dropped to its lowest point in a decade. One methamphetamine tablet, known as ya ba, currently costs only about 50 baht in the northern area of Thailand, making the drug much more accessible for users or potential users.
Rise in Methamphetamine Use in Thailand
In part as a result of the low street price and affordability, Thailand has seen a significant increase in usage, particularly among youths. Considering 80% of people in the Thai prison population are incarcerated due to methamphetamine-related charges, it is evident that increased trafficking and decreased prices of the drug have accelerated and exacerbated criminal justice system and related human rights challenges in the country.
The government has engaged in a multi-pronged approach to address the drug trade, with different law enforcement agencies engaged in counter-trafficking strategies, and parallel tracks of education and awareness-raising programs for prevention. As well as treatment and health-service delivery. Non-government agencies (NGOs) have been key partners in supporting alternative livelihoods required for sustainable development.
Border Liaison Offices supported by UNODC have been an important component in border management and control in the region, as well as a practical mechanism to enhance cross-border cooperation between authorities. Coordination efforts between police, customs, army, navy and border patrol officials in the region have gathered and exchanged intelligence to take on organised criminal groups.
Employing new technologies including X-ray devices, from hand-held to lorry-sized machines, Thai authorities have new tools to be used against illicit trafficking, including of drugs and precursor chemicals — vital to countering the destructive trade.
Agriculture is Chiang Rai's Main Employer
Covid-19 has exacerbated the already significant development challenges facing the province, northern Thailand as a whole and the Golden Triangle. Tourism has been hit hard by restrictions on movement and a lack of international tourists contributing to the local economy. Some workers in the sector have been able to find temporary work in agriculture. Which accounts for 80% of employment in Chiang Rai.
The number of border checkpoints has been increased in response to Covid-19, reducing the transit of drugs through the province. However, criminal networks have very quickly adapted — traffickers have changed their routes to circumvent Chiang Rai and go through other provinces or via Laos and back into Thailand, with marginal increased costs and inconvenience affecting the trade.
To sustainably change, the reliance of communities on drug production and the corrosive impacts of illicit trafficking require going beyond a law enforcement response and engaging the social and economic dynamics. Hill tribe villages have been engaged through civil society and social entrepreneurs, including the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, to move from opium production to alternative cash crops.
More innovative support of this kind will help affected communities in the Golden Triangle in Thailand, neighbouring countries and beyond to move from drug value chains to sustainable livelihoods. There is a stark need for more alternative livelihoods and crops in agriculture-dependent communities, if they are to be a part of sustainable development.
Source: UNODC
Related Topics:chiang raidrugsgolden trianglethailandUNODC
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How nice it is just to sit on a bench in the backyard on a warm summer evening and read a favorite book or talk to family or guests... And it is even nicer to ride a bike in a light warm breeze!
In this set you will find 2 benches of different sizes and also a small three-wheeled bike. Similar benches in the 19th century could be seen in the squares of European and British cities, but many people will appreciate its vintage style today as well. And the little three-wheeled bike, it seems, still warm from the frantic race through the paths of the park. Despite the fact that each bench is assembled only from three parts, you need to carefully consider the instructions. Before beginning assembly, carefully curve flat seat benches to give them the correct form. Assembly will require care and accuracy.
Benches and a bike are made of durable, thick cardboard, with a thickness of 1.5 millimeters with double-sided full-color printing. It could be easily assembled and perfectly keeps its form. You will not need glue or scissors to build this model. The set can be recommended for adult collectors and children who have some experience in the process of assembling our toys. In the set box you will find step-by-step instructions (they are language independent and full of pictures).
Please note that the photos show a sample; dolls are not included in the set.


The Facebook alumni are doing just fine.
Firstly, who? Aside from the villainous Bond names, the Winklevoss twins actually rose to fame thanks to one Mark Zuckerberg.
During the ascension of the social media platform in the early decade of the 2000s, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss were engaged in a high profile legal battle with Zuckerberg over who had come up with the idea for Facebook.
That bitter conflict eventually led to a US$65 million settlement between Zuckerberg and the Winklevoss twins. The real life drama would also spawn the David Fincher film known as The Social Network which starred Armie Hammer as the Winklevoss twins (he played both).
Fast forward to the present day and the Winklevoss twins aren't just bonafide Olympic rowers, but also internet entrepreneurs who just became the world's first Bitcoin billionaires.
The pair got into the cryptocurrency game rather early back in 2013 before all of the hype seen in the past few weeks.
Their initial investment saw them inject US$11 million into the digital asset to an estimated stake of around 100,000 Bitcoins.
Given that a single Bitcoin was worth around $10,000 just a few days ago, it doesn't take rocket science to do the maths even though the brothers are remaining quiet on their latest earnings.
Whilst the legitimacy of the digital currency continues to be debated, the Winklevoss twins have long been firm believers in backing up the currency. They once told the Telegraph in an interview that it's "like a better version of gold," with the potential to reach the value of trillions.
In other news, here's the reasons why you'll never be rich.


Don't have three hours a day to spend at the gym? Not interested in bulging like a bodybuilder? Unmoved by promises of "fat-blasting, ab-chiseling monster workouts"? This is the column for you, fellow regular human with very little free time.
His Time Commitment (or Lack Thereof): "I work for one of the Big 4 accounting firms," Kevin tells us. "From January through March I work 80 to 100 hours a week, which usually means six days a week. The rest of the year I'm working 50 to 70 hours a week. But from April until late October is when I actually consider myself extremely busy: This is when work, wedding season, intramural sports and vacations become my life. This year alone I played for four softball teams, three co-ed kickball teams, a volleyball team and a flag football team. I also have an indoor volleyball and bowling leagues starting in a couple weeks.
"In addition to sports, my fiancée and I were invited to 16 weddings in 2017. Since many of these weddings were close friends and family, I also attended seven bachelor parties that ranged from Montreal to Amsterdam.
Get Class-y: "It looks like you love structure and filling your schedule with activities that are created for you, like work and organized sports," says personal trainer Lalo Fuentes. "So I have a feeling that I could come up with a full workout for you to do at home, but you won't end up doing it because nobody is there to make you do it. And of course, as you say, you don't like to work out in the first place.
"In that case, the best advice for you will be to get a membership to the best gym in your city (maybe Equinox?). They're known to have pretty decent classes with good instructors teaching them. Once you get your membership, go over their class schedule and start fitting some of them into your morning or afternoon schedule.
Will This Get You Into the Gym Any Time Soon? "Lalo's point about keeping to a schedule and creating structure is extremely helpful," says Kevin. "It seemed so obvious once he said it: All the sports played in the nicer weather months provide me with a rigorous and definite plan each week, so I believe some sort of pre-established workout routine will be my only chance to stick to anything.


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Taebong o Goguryeo posterior (Hugoguryeo) fue un estado establecido por Gung YE (궁예, 弓 裔) en la península de Corea en el año 901, durante el período de los Tres Reinos Tardíos de Corea. Kaesong fue la capital (901-905) hasta que fue trasladada a Cheorwon-gun (905-918).

Nombre
El nombre inicial del estado era Goryeo, después del nombre oficial de Goguryeo, un estado anterior en Manchuria y el norte de la península de Corea, desde el siglo 5. Gung Ye cambió el nombre del estado a Majin en 904, y finalmente a Taebong en 911. Cuando Wang Geon derrocó a Gung Ye y se entronizó como Taejo de Goryeo, restauró su nombre original.

Para distinguir el estado de Gung Ye del estado de Wang Geon, los historiadores posteriores llaman a este estado Later Goguryeo (Hugoguryeo) o Taebong, su nombre final.

Historia
Taebong se estableció con el apoyo del pueblo rebelde de Silla, el pueblo mixto Goguryeo-Lelang.

Según la leyenda, Gung Ye era hijo del rey Heonan o del rey Gyeongmun de Silla. Un adivino profetizó que el bebé recién nacido traería el desastre a Silla, por lo que el rey ordenó a sus sirvientes que lo mataran. Sin embargo, su enfermera escondió a Gung Ye y lo crio en secreto.  Se unió a la fuerza de rebelión de Yang Gil en 892. Silla, después de casi un milenio como un reino centralizado, estaba declinando rápidamente, y Gung Ye instigó su propia rebelión y absorbió las fuerzas de Wang Geon en Songak. En 898, estableció la capital en Songak. Finalmente derrotó a Yang Gil y otros señores locales en el centro de Corea para proclamarse rey en 901.

Gung Ye transfirió la capital de Songak a Cheolwon en 905. Taebong en su apogeo consistía en territorio en las actuales provincias de Hwanghae del Norte y del Sur, Gyeonggi, Gangwon / Kangwon, Pionyang, Chungcheong del Norte y la parte sur de Jeolla del Sur.

En sus últimos días, Gung Ye se proclamó Buda y se convirtió en un tirano que sentenció a muerte a cualquiera que se opusiera a él, incluida su propia esposa. Lady Gang. Como resultado, en 918 cuatro de sus propios generales, Hong Yu, Bae Hyeon-gyeong, Shin Sung-gyeom y Bok Ji-gyeom, derrocaron a Taebong e instalaron a Wang Geon como rey Taejo.

Poco después, se estableció Goryeo. Taebong influyó culturalmente en Goryeo. Gung Ye fue originalmente un monje budista. Alentó el budismo y cambió los modales de las ceremonias nacionales budistas, incluyendo el Palgwanhoe (팔관회, 八關會) y Seokdeungnong (석등롱, 石燈籠, Linterna de piedra). Estos cambios sobrevivieron a la muerte de Gung Ye y la caída de Taebong.

Véase también
Historia de Corea
Cultura de Corea

Corea
Tres Reinos de Corea
Estados y territorios desaparecidos de Corea

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Dwyane Wade Wants to Be an NBA Owner, Bring Back Seattle SuperSonics
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTTwitter LogoFeatured ColumnistJune 23, 2018
Dwyane Wade's next act in the NBA may be on the ownership side of the league.
He spoke to Joel Weber of Bloomberg about one of his future goals:
"I definitely want to be a part of ownership in the NBA. I'm not going to try to buy a team. I don't have that kind of bread, but I definitely want to be a part of a great ownership group. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is all about players being involved in an ownership capacity. You've got players like Grant Hill involved in the Atlanta Hawks. Shaquille O'Neal is involved in the Sacramento Kings. It's definitely something that I've talked about, some of my friends have talked about. But, first of all, I'd have to be retired. When that time comes..."
As for which team Wade would seek to have an ownership stake with after his playing career, he said he'd like to see a former organization return to the NBA.
"Seattle. I want Seattle's team, the Sonics, to come back," he told Weber. "I think Seattle is a great basketball town. I would love to be a part of that."
The 36-year-old Wade—who averaged 11.4 points per game this past season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat—has aspirations outside of basketball, namely in business. He told Weber he is seeking to build a "lifestyle brand," with ventures in wine, compression gear, luggage and socks.
"All these things are part of a lifestyle," Wade noted. "Do I think it can go far? I hope so. It's a lot of learning involved, but it's been pretty cool signing with Stance, the sock company, and then being able to sit down with Stance and say, 'Let's start another sock company. Let's do something that's a little bit more affordable, a little bit more for the masses.'"
He also noted that he sought advice from NBA Hall of Famer and current Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson.
"I got an opportunity to go and meet with him, and I just asked him a lot of questions, took a lot of notes, met with him a few times, and it just kind of helped me get my creative juices flowing," he said.
While Wade's business portfolio expands, his NBA legacy is secure. The 12-time All-Star, three-time champion and two-time first-team All-NBA selection will be a no-brainer selection for the Hall of Fame.
And perhaps part of an NBA ownership group one day, too.


In search of help and support? You have any queries for us? Clickusfirst.Net Canada / United States / UK is here for you, twenty–four–seven. If you've got a question for us or need to submit an issue, do not think twice – contact us right away.
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AIR DEFENSE LIAISON OFFICERS (ADLO'S)
4-5-1. REGION CONFIGURATION CHART
Air Defense regions are depicted in FIG 4-5-1.
FIG 4-5-1
mil0405_floating0
4-5-2. ASSIGNMENTS
ADLO's, under the supervision of the Special Operations Division, ATP-200, may be assigned to NORAD Headquarters and to each CONUS NORAD Region/Sector.
a. The ADLO will operate as a member of the NORAD commander's staff to which assigned.
b. NORAD Headquarters/NORAD Region/ Sector, as appropriate, shall be officially notified prior to initial assignment or reassignment of an ADLO.
NOTE-
Normally, one ADLO will be assigned.
c. An ADLO may also provide assistance to other major military commands/services when so directed by ATP-200.
4-5-3. DUTIES WITH NORAD HEADQUARTERS OR NORAD REGION/ SECTOR COMMANDER'S STAFF
As a member of the Commander's staff, the ADLO shall:
a. Advise the Commander and his staff on the capabilities and limitations of FAA facilities and personnel with respect to NORAD/Air Division facilities, and represent the FAA on matters pertaining to the utilization of FAA services and facilities for peacetime operations and during air defense emergencies.
b. During an air defense emergency, serve as a member of the commander's battle staff as liaison officer between the NORAD Headquarters to which assigned and the FAA.
c. Advise and assist appropriate members of the Commander's staff, as required, in the preparation of NORAD/Air Division plans and programs for SCATANA, Aircraft Movement Information Service (AMIS), all war plans, programs, operations orders, regulations, and operational procedures which involve participation of FAA personnel or use of FAA facilities.
d. Participate in the development of air defense exercises planned at NORAD Headquarters/ Regions or Sectors, including assistance in coordination with FAA facilities for the assignment of airspace to accommodate the exercise.
e. Prepare detailed instructions for the guidance of ARTCC/CERAP's for:
1. Forwarding AMIS data to Air Defense facilities as required.
2. The application of plans for SCATANA, both during peacetime and during an air defense emergency.
f. Facilitate required liaison between NORAD Headquarters/NORAD Regions/Sectors, FAA headquarters, regions, and ATC facilities, as appropriate, to aid in negotiating Memorandums of Understanding, Letters of Agreement and changes thereto, and resolving common problems between FAA and NORAD facilities pertaining to the movement of interceptors and application of the authorization for interceptor operations (AFIO).
g. Review the communications capability of the NORAD Sector to ensure that adequate voice page hot-line interphone circuits are available to permit rapid exchange of information between NORAD and FAA controllers. Coordinate with FAA offices on new communications requirements in accordance with FAA/NORAD/1st AF policies.
4-5-4. ADDITIONAL ADLO DUTIES WITH NORAD SECTORS
In cooperation with the commander's staff, the ADLO shall:
a. Provide indoctrination and periodic follow-on briefings to assigned personnel concerning the interceptor and strike/target aircraft in the FAA ATC system, the related procedures including the FAA AFIO, the impact of air defense activities on the ATC system, and the attendant functions and responsibilities of both Air Defense and ATC facilities.
b. Determine the adequacy of the required equipment and proficiency of personnel authorized to control military aircraft in the ATC system or exercise the AFIO.
c. Assist in the design, development, and administration of training programs to qualify Air Defense Control Facility (ADCF) personnel in selected air traffic control procedures/practices necessary to efficiently interact with the air traffic control system.
d. Assist in correcting noted deficiencies in the application of FAA standards, policies, and procedures and in resolving real-time problems with ARTCC's as they occur.
e. Recommend action to correct equipment deficiencies, unsafe handling of aircraft, or deficiencies related to FAA delegated responsibilities or authority.
f. Assist the Faker Coordinator, the Faker monitor team, and the operations crew weapons teams in resolving problems occurring with ATC facilities during exercises.
g. Be present at, or return to, the ROCC/SOCC during increased air defense readiness conditions or as exercise conditions dictate.
h. Assist in the planning and development of air defense exercises and participate in the critique.
4-5-5. ACCESS TO ADCF
Access to an ADCF by FAA personnel shall be coordinated with the ADLO in advance. Any comments or recommendations of an operational nature that would result in changes to agreements shall be coordinated with ADLO.
4-5-6. CONVENE PERIODIC MEETINGS
Periodic meetings with air defense personnel shall be convened at both regional and field level to ensure recognition of changing military requirements and adequacy of ATC service.


Threadripper boards are expensive and the MSI MEG X399 Creation is no exception and Guru 3D takes a look to see if it is a good value. This eATX board sports four PCIe 16x slots and a pair of PCIe 1x slots, support for up to eight DIMMs of DDR4-3600 and three M.2 ports, not counting the M.2 Xpander-Aero PCIe add-in card looks like a GPU but instead adds an additional four M.2 ports. That barely scratches the surface of what the MEG has to offer; more will be revealed to you if you visit Guru 3D.
"For Ryzen Threadripper 2000 MSI released a new motherboard which we review, their MEG X399 Creation. The board is stylish, loaded with features has subtle LED effects, terrific WIFI and obviously off..."
The MSI B350I Pro AC is not a new motherboard but it is worth remembering for anyone looking to build a small system. However [H]ard|OCP is teasing you a bit; the board was in stock when they started the review but has been discontinued very recently with the B450I Gaming Plus AC replacing it. Why is it worth looking at, you may ask? The board is a solid base to build a SFF system off of and will be selling at a discount if you can find it; so keep your eyes open and you might get it for a song.
"While we might be late to the party with a B350 review, we were running tests with it and were so impressed we thought we would put it through the full review process. MSI's B350I PRO AC might just have been worth the wait. How does this inexpensive powerhouse fair against more expensive offerings?"
The new generation of AMD boards feature some interesting aesthetic choices, such you can see on ASRock's X470 Taichi Ultimate. The black and grey theme is contrasted by the RGBs you already knew were present, but it is worth noting that TechPowerUp considered the implementation of the blinken lighten as exceptional. Sadly the same could not be said of the audio chipset on the board, which they found lacklustre for a flagship model. Their overclocking tests showed no deficiencies, the boards ability was met or exceeded the other X470 boards they have tried.
As it is a flagship motherboard, there are quite a few features to cover in the review, which you can find here.
"In addition to the new features brought to the X470 chipset, the Taichi Ultimate offers additional SATA ports, 10 gigabit Ethernet, and superior control in overclocking using the Hyper BCLK Engine II, just to name a few. ASRock's Taichi line of motherboards have traditionally been top performers. Can the ASRock X470 Taichi Ultimate and X470 chipset match up?"
The X299 Designare EX motherboard is GIGiABYTE's latest flagship product offering support for Intel's HEDT chipset and processor line. With it's late entry into the fray, GIGABYTE was able to tweak its layout and feature set to make the Designare board a more appealing product over previously introduced boards. Built around the Intel X299 chlipset, the board supports the Intel LGA2066 processor line, including the Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X processors, with support for Quad-Channel DDR4 memory running at a 2667MHz speed. The X299 Designare EX can be found in retail with an MRSP of around $500.00.
GIGABYTE integrated the following features into the X299 Designare EX motherboard: eight SATA III 6Gbps ports; three M.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 32Gbps capable ports with Intel Optane support built-in; dual Intel Gigabit RJ-45 ports - Intel I219-V Gigabit and Intel I211 controllers; an Intel 8265 802.11ac WiFi controller; five PCI-Express x16 slots; Realtek® ALC1220 8-Channel audio subsystem; and USB 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1 Type-A and Type-C port support. GIGABYTE also integrated there steel-based armor slots for the board's PCIe and memory slots, giving them added strength and durability.
For added strength, rigidity, and underside protection, GIGABYTE integrated a metal armor under plate onto the board's underside much like that seen on ASUS' TUF board line. The under plate also acts as a secondary heat dissipation path. Further, GIGABYTE integrated a metal rear I/O Shield over the rear panel components, adding out of the box protection for those normal exposed ports.
To power the board, GIGABYTE integrated integrated a 13-phase digital power delivery system into the X299 Designare EX's design. The digital power system was designed with IR digital power controllers and PowIRstage ICs, Server Level Chokes, and Durable Black capacitors.
Continue reading our preview of the GIGABYTE X299 Designare EX motherboard!


text:
Tag: Tony Southern
By Michael Day In Events, Features, General News, Stockport Open Updated: Jan 09, 2020 Comments Off on Stockport Open 2020 | Tournament Preview
World Disability Billiards and Snooker will return to the Hazel Grove Snooker Club this weekend for its opening events of the new calendar year. The Stockport Open 2020 will feature a plethora of current and former champions mixing it with contenders and debut cueists from across several disability classification groups.
Traditional with most WDBS events, the curtain is raised with our 'Friday Open Day' where we welcome individuals and groups to the venue, providing them with a relaxed atmosphere where they can learn about the organisation and receive tips from our dedicated coaches. Competitors for the weekend's tournaments will also arrive and settle in, taking the opportunity to practise on the tables.
Wheelchair and Ambulant Events (Groups 2-5)
Several big-name players will contest the modified Group 2+4 event which features 19 entries.
Multiple-time WDBS main event winner and Scottish international William Thomson is one of the fancied cueists to take the title, as too is wheelchair player Tony Southern, the reigning Belgian Open and UK Disability champion.
Other contenders include former Manchester Classic winner Andy Johnson, last year's runner-up Peter Yelland, two-time professional major ranking event finalist Dean Reynolds and youngster Ben Rawson.
Twelve months ago, in the keenly contested Group 3 event, John Teasdale claimed his maiden WDBS main event title after a memorable comeback against Joe Hardstaff in the final. Both Teasdale and Hardstaff will be back, as too will former Open Disability champion Nigel Coton and tour regular Kal Mattu.
Defending Group 5 champion Mickey Chambers will be seeking career title number five in Stockport but will face stiff opposition in rivals such as Humber Classic champion David Moore and recent main event finalists Dean Simmons and Ivor Halnosky. 2019 Challenge Cup winner Phil Woodwiss and three-time event semi-finalist Gareth Ward are also set to be present.
Intellectual Disabilities (Groups 6A and 6B)
In Group 6A, Faisal Butt will be looking to retain the title and pocket an incredible fifth victory inside a year. Butt has built up a rivalry with the also successful Michael Busst, who managed to overcome him in the Champion of Champions final in Gloucester last autumn. Warren Ealy and Michael Farrell – the other two qualifiers for that Champion of Champions – will be looking to secure their first gold medals.
Leroy Williams is aiming to continue his recent dominance of Group 6B; the Liverpool based potter currently holds four main event accolades. Amongst the contenders to his title includes Christopher Goldsworthy, runner-up at the 2019 Southern Classic.
You can keep up-to-date with all the action from Stockport throughout the weekend by visiting our social media channels on Facebook and Twitter, and all the latest draws and results via snookerscores.net here.
Andy Johnson, Faisal Butt, Joe Hardstaff, John Teasdale, Leroy Williams, Manchester Classic, Mickey Chambers, Mike Busst, Nigel Coton, Tony Southern, WDBS, William Thomson
Success for UK Disability Snooker Championship
By Matt Huart In General News, UK Disability Snooker Championship Updated: Sep 24, 2019 Comments Off on Success for UK Disability Snooker Championship
The latest World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) champions were crowned last weekend at the 360Fizz UK Disability Snooker Championship in Northampton.
View all tournament results via snookerscores.net
View the updated Roll of Honour
Held at Barratts Snooker Club, the fifth staging of the event previously known as the Open Disability Snooker Championship received entries from almost 70 players as the competition was held over three days for the first time. Eight separate tournaments were held across a range of disability classification profiles, as well as a Challenge Cup for players who did not progress to the final day.
The weekend also featured a special open day which features support by the Motor Neurone Disease Association and sessions led by WPBSA World Snooker coach Steve Rutter to introduce newcomers with disabilities to the sport.
Wheelchair (Groups 1-2)
Tony Southern earned his second WDBS title this weekend in the Groups 1-2 wheelchair classification following a 3-0 victory against Shahab Siddiqui in the final.
It was Siddiqui who won the group stage clash with Southern as the pair both progressed to semi-finals against Danny Luton and Aslam Abubaker respectively.
Having come through a tight semi-final with Abubaker decided on the colours however, it was Liverpool's Southern who turned the tables in the title match to claim his first silverware since the Belgian Open back in March.
Ambulant (Groups 3-5)
There was also a second WDBS title earned by Nigel Coton in Group 3 as he resisted a brave fightback by John Teasdale to win 4-3 on Sunday.
Coton, whose previous WDBS title came three years ago at this event, made the stronger start to the final as he took three of the first four frames to lead 3-1, before Teasdale responded by taking the match to a decider.
It would though be Coton who would prevail, to make it three different winners in the classification group since its restructure earlier this year.
In Group 4 there was a record tenth title for Daniel Blunn after the 28-year-old defeated Andy Johnson 3-0 to maintain his dominance in the category.
Having progressed from his group for the loss of just a single frame, Blunn then saw off Nigel Brasier and David Church to reach the final, while Johnson defeated Ben Rawson and former professional star Dean Reynolds to join him there.
Despite a close second frame, it would be Blunn who would run out a comfortable 3-0 winner in what was a repeat of the 2018 Welsh Open final to make it a perfect 10 on tour.
There was an all-new final in Group 5 as David Langridge defeated debutant Dean Simmons 3-1 to win his maiden WDBS title.
Langridge, who himself made his debut at this event 12 months ago, enjoyed a strong weekend overall as he progressed from the group stage without the loss of a frame, before again overcoming Simmons in the final to claim victory.
Learning disabilities (Groups 6A-6B)
Mohammed Faisal Butt made it four victories in a row in Group 6A after he defeated Mike Busst 3-1 in the final.
The pair, who have now met in four of the past five WDBS finals in this category, progressed to the semi-finals and defeated Warren Ealy and Liam Crook respectively to set up another title match.
The opening frame was won convincingly by Busst, before Butt rebounded by taking the next three to claim another title in the category.
There was also a fourth WDBS title in Group 6B for Leroy Williams after he defeated Peter Geronimo 4-1 in the final.
The pair saw off Kieran Richards-Witham and Matthew Haslam in the semi-finals, before Williams came out on top to secure his third title of the calendar year.
Sensory disabilities (Groups 7-8)
There were familiar winners in the two sensory competitions in Northampton after Nick Neale and Shabir Ahmed added further titles to their respective honours lists.
In Group 7 it was Neale who defeated Ronnie Allen 4-1 in a repeat of last month's Welsh Open final to claim his eighth WDBS title for players with visual impairments.
Ahmed meanwhile saw off a familiar final opponent in the shape of Lewis Knowles with a 3-1 win to also claim his eighth Group 8 crown and second in the space of a month following his success at the Disability Tour Championship held at the Crucible Theatre in August.
In the Challenge Cup there was a maiden WDBS victory for Steve Cartwright, who edged out Blake Munton in a single-frame final.
The next event on the 360Fizz WDBS Tour will be the Parris Cues Champion of Champions, to be held at the South West Snooker Academy from 12-13 October 2019.
Daniel Blunn, David Langridge, Faisal Butt, Leroy Williams, Nick Neale, Nigel Coton, Shabir Ahmed, Tony Southern
Disability Snooker Success in Belgium
By Matt Huart In Belgian Open, General News Updated: Mar 14, 2019 Comments Off on Disability Snooker Success in Belgium
World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) returned to Belgium for the second staging of the WDBS Belgian Open last weekend.
Held at the Trickshot club in Bruges, the event attracted entries from the UK, Belgium and India with a variety of physical disabilities to compete for the latest silverware on the WDBS Tour.
Groups 1-2
England's Tony Southern claimed his long-awaited first WDBS title following a 5-2 success against defending champion Kurt Deklerck from Belgium to win the Groups 1-2 wheelchair tournament.
The opening day saw both players claim back-to-back wins in a four-player group stage, Southern notably earning a deciding-frame victory against Shahab Siddiqui on the colours to ensure that he would progress to the title match.
With the final round-robin match between the pair effectively a dead match, the pair were given the opportunity to contest an extended best-of-nine frame final to decide the champion.
It would prove to be a final full of drama with each of the opening two frames being settled on the final black, with the scoreline progressing to 2-2 at the mid-session interval.
From there however it would be all Southern as he edged two close frames to move one away from the title at 4-2 up, before sinking a tournament-high break of 42 in what would prove to be the final frame to take home the gold medal.
While there was a new winner crowned in the wheelchair competition, the Groups 4-5 event for players with ambulant disabilities saw a familiar face emerge victorious as Daniel Blunn claimed a record eighth WDBS title.
Having dropped one frame in the group stages to David Moore, Blunn progressed to the final with knockout victories against Olivier Biernaux and David Church, the latter in a repeat of last year's final in Belgium.
There he would face India's Raja Subramanian, himself a two-time WDBS champion and competing in his first competition since the 2016 Open Disability Snooker Championship. Previously undefeated in WDBS play, Subramanian maintained his flawless record by coming through the round-robin stage without the loss of a frame, before defeating Gunter D'Hondt and Welshman Ben Rawson to set up a clash of the titans in the final.
As with the wheelchair final, the decisive match would initially prove to be a closely contested affair, Blunn taking each of the first two frames on the pink to move two ahead with a possible three to play.
Ultimately however the 27-year-old from Sutton Coldfield would save his best until last, dominating the third and final frame with a top break of 35 to seal his third consecutive WDBS title following previous wins at the Northern Classic and Champion of Champions tournaments.
Blunn also made the high-break in his classification group with an excellent run of 55 during his quarter-final match.
The Challenge Cup competition for players not qualified for the knockout rounds was contested between Danielle Findlay and Phil Woodwiss. Although Woodwiss was competing in his second Challenge Cup final in the space of a month following success at the Northern Classic, as in 2018 it would prove to be Findlay's day as she repeated her success from last March with a 2-0 victory.
Once again WDBS would like to thank club owner Olivier Vandenbohede and his team at The Trickshot for their generous hospitality during the three-day event. We would also like to thank all of the players who made the trip to Bruges as WDBS continues to expand outside of the UK.
View full tournament results from the main competition via MySnookerStats here.
View event photos at our Facebook page here.
View the updated WDBS Roll of Honour here.
Daniel Blunn, Danielle Findlay, Kurt Deklerck, Phil Woodwiss, Raja Subramanian, Tony Southern
Northern Classic 2019: Tournament Preview
By Matt Huart In Events, General News, Northern Classic Updated: Feb 06, 2019 Comments Off on Northern Classic 2019: Tournament Preview
The opening World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) event of the new year takes place this weekend at the renowned Hazel Grove Snooker Club in Stockport, which will be hosting WDBS competition for the first time.
Consisting of five separate tournaments, the 2019 Northern Classic features players with a range of physical and learning disabilities who will contest their respective classification groups and will be sponsored by BB Scaffolding.
DSActive Day
Ahead of the competitive action the weekend will begin with a special open day which will be supported by the Down syndrome initiative DSActive.
People with all disabilities, including Down syndrome are welcomed to the club to try snooker regardless of experience and receive coaching from our team of WPBSA World Snooker coaches at the Go Green Energy Coaching Zone.
The wheelchair category continues to be one of the most exciting and competitive sections on the WDBS scene, although Daniel Lee is currently the player to beat.
Lee enjoyed a terrific 2018 campaign that saw him secure a trio of titles; the multi-classification Welsh Open, the Champion of Champions and he heads to Stockport as the defending Northern Classic champion.
He faces a difficult task holding onto his crown, though. Reigning Open Disability champion Aslam Abubaker broke his WDBS duck in Northampton last September and now he has a taste for more success.
There will also be no lack of motivation for fellow entrants Tony Southern, Glyn Lloyd and Shahab Siddiqui – all previous finalists on the circuit who are hoping to go all the way this time around.
Following feedback received from players Group 3 will consist solely of ambulant players with one or more upper limbs either absent or severely impaired.
This means that a number of previous Group 3 winners with either full use, or moderately impaired upper limbs will be re-classified either as Group 4 or Group 5 players.
Of those who are set to contest the Group 3 tournament however is Nigel Coton, a former winner back in 2016 at the Open Disability Snooker Championship.
He will be joined by the likes of John Teasdale, Joe Hardstaff and Kal Mattu, all experienced competitors on the WDBS circuit.
Groups 4-5*
Several familiar names appear in the line-up for the Group 4/5 tournament that boasts a healthy number of entries, boosted further by those previously classified as Group 3 competitors.
Headline players include reigning champion Mickey Chambers and recent Champion of Champions winner David Church, who will resume their ongoing struggle for supremacy in the division – they have shared the last four titles between themselves.
Within the field of cueists who are seeking to break up this recent dominance are former Manchester Classic champions Andy Johnson and David Weller. They will also be joined by multiple WDBS champions Daniel Blunn and William Thomson, who met in the Group 3 final of this event a year ago.
In form David Moore will also be another player to watch. Moore benefited from being a late replacement for Gloucester a few months ago where he topped the round robin before losing to Church in the final.
A quarter-finalist on debut at Barratts in the Autumn, Marcin Kubalski will once again make the trip across from Poland to pit his wits on the WDBS tour.
Female players Danielle Findlay and Maureen Rowland also form part of a diverse jigsaw.
*Note that subject to entries, there may be individual competitions for Groups 4 and 5.
Groups 6A / 6B
For only the second time players with intellectual disabilities will have the opportunity to compete in Group 6 events across the full weekend.
Twelve months ago, in Preston, it was third time lucky for Leroy Williams in a WDBS final as he recorded his first triumph on the circuit. The defending champion is back aiming to retain his title in the 6B autistic section but faces stiff opposition from several quarters.
This includes fellow Liverpool based star Daniel Harwood, who is looking to continue his impressive streak on tour. Already a record equaling six-time WDBS winner, Harwood claimed the prestigious Champion of Champions and Hull Open titles towards the back end of 2018.
Reigning Humber Classic champion Peter Geronimo will also be making the trip up from London.
In the Group 6A learning disabilities discipline, Mike Busst will try to build on his maiden victory in Hull last November. Among others, he will be joined by Hull finalist Faisal Butt and Alexandra Mendham, who was a semi-finalist in this event last year.
The Northern Classic runs from 8-10 February 2019 at the Hazel Grove Snooker Centre in Stockport and you can follow updates online here and at our social media pages.
Preview by Matt Huart and Michael Day.
Andy Johnson, Aslam Abubaker, Daniel Blunn, Daniel Harwood, Daniel Lee, Danielle Findlay, David Church, David Weller, Joe Hardstaff, John Teasdale, Kal Mattu, Leroy Williams, Marci Kubalski, Maureen Rowland, Mickey Chambers, Mike Busst, Tony Southern, William Thomson
Tony Southern Appointed WDBS Players Representative
By Matt Huart In General News Updated: Nov 28, 2018 Comments Off on Tony Southern Appointed WDBS Players Representative
World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) is today pleased to announce that Tony Southern has been appointed as its first WDBS Players Representative.
Southern, who competes in WDBS events as a Group 2 player, has vast experience in cue sports, both as a player for nearly 35 years and in recent years as an administrator, including his roles as chairman of the British Wheelchair Pool Players Association and President of the British Pool Federation.
This made him an obvious candidate to take on what is an important role in communicating the views of our players to the board. WDBS has always been keen to listen to any views and concerns of all players and would encourage players to contact Tony should they have a concern that they do not wish to communicate directly to us.
Tony Southern said: "I'm looking forward immensely to this new role and hope to help WDBS go from strength to strength."
Tony will be looking to work with people from other classification groups in due course to ensure that players from all groups are given equal opportunity to raise any concerns that they may have.
To contact Tony please contact him via Facebook, email (tonysouthern@msn.com) or by mobile on 07736551771.
Tony Southern
Parris Cues Champion of Champions 2018: Tournament Information
By Matt Huart In Champion of Champions, General News Updated: Oct 17, 2018 Comments Off on Parris Cues Champion of Champions 2018: Tournament Information
The full match schedule for the Parris Cues Champion of Champions 2018 is now available.
View the full match schedule by sessions
View the full match schedule by player
As always, the latest results and group standings will be published throughout the weekend at MySnookerStats via the following links:
As previously announced, the winners of each group competition will also be invited to play at the 2019 WSF Championships in Dubai.
Read more about the event here.
Andrew Galley, Andy Johnson, Blake Munton, Craig Welsh, Dan Harwood, Daniel Blunn, Daniel Lee, David Baker, David Church, David Moore, David Weller, Graham Bonnell, Leroy Williams, Lewis Knowles, Mike Gillespie, Nick Neale, Nigel Coton, Rich Yendle, Richard Gott, Shabir Ahmed, Tony Southern, William Thomson
Field Confirmed for Parris Cues Champion of Champions
By Matt Huart In General News Updated: Oct 13, 2018 Comments Off on Field Confirmed for Parris Cues Champion of Champions
Later this month World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) will host the Parris Cues Champion of Champions for the first time and we can today reveal the 24 players who will be competing in the event.
To be held at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester on the weekend of 20-21 October 2018, the event will comprise six tournaments with the most successful four players from each of the regular WDBS classification groups between November 2015 – May 2018 invited to participate.
Each of the tournaments will begin with a round-robin group stage, with the top two players at the end of the group to contest a title match to decide the Champion of Champions for each classification.
The players who will be competing are:
Graham Bonnell, Craig Welsh, Daniel Lee, Tony Southern
Daniel Blunn, Nigel Coton, William Thomson, Andrew Harper
Raja Subramanian, Andy Johnson, David Church, David Weller
Daniel Harwood, Leroy Williams, Rich Yendle, Andrew Galley
Paul Smith, Nick Neale, Mike Gillespie, David Baker
Shabir Ahmed, Blake Munton, Lewis Knowles, Richard Gott
As previously announced, each of the six winners will receive an invitation to compete at next year's WSF Championships in Dubai, with the costs of their travel and hotel to be sponsored by 360Fizz.
The winners will also receive the first prize and be presented with the Nick Oliver Trophy by John Parris, of the event sponsor Parris Cues. Each group winner will also receive their own trophy to take home and keep.
The Parris Cues Champion of Champions will become an annual event on the calendar, with the top performing players from each group over a two-year period qualifying for the event.
Spectators are encouraged to attend and support the players competing in the event.
Andrew Galley, Andrew Harper, Andy Johnson, Blake Munton, Craig Welsh, Daniel Blunn, Daniel Harwood, Daniel Lee, David Baker, David Church, David Weller, Graham Bonnell, Leroy Williams, Lewis Knowles, Mike Gillespie, Nick Neale, Nigel Coton, Paul Smith, Raja Subramanian, Rich Yendle, Richard Gott, Shabir Ahmed, Tony Southern, William Thomson
WDBS Success at Northern Classic
By Matt Huart In Events, General News Updated: Feb 05, 2018 Comments Off on WDBS Success at Northern Classic
World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) held the J&S Trading Northern Classic, its first event of 2018 in Preston, England last weekend.
Open to players from six disability groups covering a range of physical and learning disabilities, the event ran for three days at the Elite Snooker Club, owned and run by former professional players Chris Norbury and Shokat Ali.
Daniel Lee made it back-to-back titles in the Group 2 wheelchair competition with a 3-1 victory against Tony Southern in Sunday's final. Lee, who was born with spina bifida, previously won the Open Disability Snooker Championship in Wolverhampton and avenged defeat against Southern in the round robin stages to take the gold medal home to Buckinghamshire.
In Group 3 there was also a second title for Scotland's William Thomson, who edged out four-time winner Daniel Blunn 3-2 following a dramatic final. Thomson, who previously won the 2016 Manchester Classic, was in fine form all weekend and sealed the title with a break of 41 (his seventh over 40 during the weekend), in the deciding frame.
Coached by former world champion Graeme Dott, Thomson has also been nominated by his national federation to compete in the EBSA European Championships this week in Bulgaria and will be looking to carry his form over into that event.
There was another new winner in the Group 4-5 tournament as local debutant Michael 'Mickey' Chambers defeated another former WDBS champion Andy Johnson 3-0 to claim the title. Chambers, whose left foot was amputated when he was younger following treatment for meningitis, dropped just one frame throughout the competition and impressed with a break of 51 during his semi-final victory against Gareth Ward.
Friday's Group 6 competition saw Leroy Jay Williams claim his first WDBS title with a 2-0 win against Ryan Riding. Williams, who was previously runner-up at events in Wolverhampton and Hull, ensured that it would be third time lucky by coming through the field to take victory.
Finally, the Challenge Cup event, for players who did not qualify for Sunday's knockout rounds, was won by WDBS stalwart Kal Mattu, who edged out Craig Welsh in a best of three frames final.
Simon Berrisford, WDBS director and owner of event title sponsor J&S Trading said: "As always it has been fantastic to be see a mix of new and returning people coming together to provide an action-packed weekend of snooker in Preston. It is particularly exciting to see how competitive these events are becoming as the standard of play continues to rise, but without losing any of their magic and the special atmosphere that WDBS tournaments have.
"On behalf of WDBS I would also like to extend my thanks to Chris, Shokat and the rest of the team at the Elite Snooker Centre, who could not have been more accommodating to us all weekend. With further plans in place to improve what is already a fine example of a modern, safe snooker club, we are already looking forward to returning in the future."
WDBS will next head to Northampton for the first Groups 6-8 event of 2018, the Parris Cues UK Open to be held at Barratts Snooker Club from 16-18 February. Open to players with learning, hearing and visual disabilities, entries remain open with more information available at www.wdbs.info.
View draws and results at MySnookerStats.
Andy Johnson, Daniel Blunn, Daniel Lee, Leroy Jay Williams, Mickey Chambers, Ryan Ryding, Simon Berrisford, Tony Southern, William Thomson
Tony Southern Q&A
By Matt Huart In Events, Features, General News, Interviews, Player Features Updated: Feb 21, 2018 Comments Off on Tony Southern Q&A
A name who will be familiar to most with an interest in disability cue sports, Tony Southern will be among those in action at next month's J&S Trading Northern Classic, to be held at Preston's Elite Snooker Club for the first time.
We caught up with Tony recently to preview the tournament and look back at his time in the sport…
Hi Tony, we begin 2018 with the J&S Trading Northern Classic in Preston. How much are looking forward to the competition?
Yes, I am really looking forward to the first event of the year. I played a few pro-ams at the Elite Snooker Club back in the early 1990's when I was at university in Preston, so it will be good to see how the club has changed.
Tony reached the final of the 2017 Manchester Classic, narrowly losing out to Craig Welsh
You entered your first WDBS competitions in 2017, notably coming so close to winning in Manchester, losing on a re-spotted black. Can you go one better this year?
Hopefully! After a break from snooker due to injury and other priorities it was good to be back, and Craig Welsh played really well in the event and to beat me in the final.
Of course you are no stranger to snooker having competed in events for nearly 35 years – how do you reflect on your time in the sport?
I've achieved a lot since my first national win in 1985 at age 16! I've won 24 national disabled championships under the old BSAD/DSE framework (four of which were classed as World Opens when World Snooker was previously involved in the 1990's), I still hold the highest event break of 87 and had a decent amateur career against able bodied players. But all of that was as a standing player and since I've comeback I'm playing from a chair, as that what I've done in my other cue sports to good effect.
Tony plays a shot as opponent Glyn Lloyd and referee Vic Hartley look on
What has competing in snooker events done for your life in general, what positive effects has this had physically and mentally?
I have made lots of new friends, and it is always nice to see some old faces, and in some cases very old (Glyn Lloyd and referee Vic Hartley) still involved! I have got to know a lot of the top pros as well and travelled the length and breadth of the country. It will be good to play my first international snooker event in Belgium, after playing American pool around the world the last 10 years.
Tell us about your disability, how does this affect your snooker? Has this changed over your career and what challenges has this given you?
I have cerebral palsy which affects my legs, as mentioned above most of my snooker career was spent playing standing up, but as you get older, muscles get weaker and I started using a chair for my other cue sports in 2006. It made sense to do this for snooker too, as I was getting too fatigued walking around table.
Tony in WDBS action at the 2017 Open Disability Snooker Championship in Wolverhampton
You had spoken of retirement in 2017, but posted recently that your health has improved and you are looking forward to continuing to play for the foreseeable future. What are your goals for 2018 and beyond?
I was diagnosed with two prolapsed discs in my back in 2016, which meant I was having real issues with bending to play any shots, even from a chair. It cost me matches and several titles in my other cue sports, so was getting really down about my future prospects, as I always want to be competitive.
However, a series of treatments on my back in 2017 and a recent knee operation have really helped, and I'm now the president of the British Pool Federation, looking after the interests of the American Pool players in the UK, both at a professional and amateur level. So if I have to be at events in an administrative role, why not play as well!
Tony will be competing at the inaugural Belgian Open in March (pictured with Andy Johnson)
How important is the social aspect of WDBS events, both catching up with old friends and meeting new people?
It is really important, I'm one of the few left from the mid 1980's still competing and it's nice to see the older players and referees still going. It is also good to see younger players grow and improve, I recall seeing Daniel Blunn as a young teenager many years ago and telling his father that he was very good and would win lots of titles, which of course he has done!
What message would you have for anyone out there considering entering a WDBS event for the first time?
Basically, come and give it a go, no matter what your standard of play. It is almost guaranteed that your level will improve just being around the WDBS scene and utilising the coaching days, and competing against players on a level playing field in terms of disability. Three days of fun, coaching and events is a great experience for all involved.
There is still time to join Tony and enter the J&S Trading Northern Classic from 2-4 February 2018. Click HERE to learn more and download the full entry form.
Wolverhampton On Cue For WDBS
By Matt Huart In Events, General News Updated: Sep 26, 2017 0 Comment
The 2017 Open Disability Snooker Championship was successfully hosted last weekend in Wolverhampton by World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS).
View all results from the event
Held at the Golden Cue Snooker Club, the event saw players with a range of physical and learning disabilities battle it out to become champions in their respective categories throughout the three-day competition.
There was a new winner in the Group 1-2 wheelchair competition as Daniel Lee defeated WDBS newcomer Aslam Abubaker 3-1 in the event final. Having come through the group stage with four wins for the loss of just a single frame, Lee then whitewashed Danny Luton 3-0 in their semi-final before coming out on top against Abubaker.
In Group 3 Daniel Blunn defeated Clive Brunton in the final to regain the title that he first won back in 2015. Victory completed a dominant display from Sutton Coldfield's Blunn who won all 14 of his frames during the weekend to extend his unbeaten run on the WDBS circuit which dates back to last year's event in Gloucester.
Taking his first WDBS victory in the Group 4-5 competition was Norwich's David Church who defeated Adam Leighton 3-0 in the title match. Previously runner-up at this year's Manchester Classic, Church came through a nail-biting semi-final with debutant Gareth Ward in a deciding frame, before recording a comfortable win against Leighton to secure the gold medal.
There was also a new winner in Friday's Group 6 competition for players with learning disabilities as Daniel Harwood defeated Leroy Jay Williams in a high-quality final. Finally, the Challenge Cup tournament for players not making it through to the knockout stages during the weekend was won by Andy Johnson, who defeated John Teasdale 2-0 in the final match of the event.
The event was well-supported by sponsors The Snowdrop Cakery, WPBSA World Snooker coach Andrew Highfield and J&S Trading, whose backing ensured that prize money was available to the players across all six groups.
Tony Hough-Allen, representing The Snowdrop Cakery said: "I would like to say a big thank you to the Golden Cue Snooker Club for looking after ourselves and WDBS. The event has been an absolute success and it has been a pleasure to sponsor it. Everybody enjoyed the Six Red Group 6 event held on Friday and there was some excellent talent on show during the main event during the weekend. Congratulations to all of the winners and we look forward to hopefully seeing you again soon!"
The final WDBS event of 2017 will be the 888lcd.co.uk Hull Open across the weekend of 10-12 November at the Tradewell Snooker Centre in Hull for players with learning, visual and hearing disabilities.
Adam Leighton, Andy Johnson, Aslam Abubaker, Clive Brunton, Daniel Blunn, Daniel Lee, David Church, John Teasdale, Tony Southern
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