John Leonard, the top US swim official who said he suspected 16-year-old Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen of doping earlier this week, has already seen a big backlash from China (there's even resulted in accusations that Michael Phelps had been doping).

The backlash has turned personal. According to TechInAsia, a message was posted to Weibo earlier this week that contained Leonard's personal details, and it quickly went viral.

Here's a screen-grab of the message:

A translation of the text, via CNET:

All the official organizations have now confirmed Ye Shiwen was clean. John Leonard should apologize. Below are his background and contact details. If you want to contact him, I suggest using civilized and factual approach.

The incident is especially damaging as the person who first posted the image is Li Kaifu (aka Kaifu Lee), who formerly ran Microsoft and Google in China and is one of the most important people in China's booming tech industry.

Li deleted the post soon after it went up but given that he has 15 million followers, it's impact was widespread. Li also posted ominously about Leonard's criminal past, saying he has four crimes on public records, and two of which are not for speeding.

In a statement sent to PandoDaily Li has apologized:

This morning, I read John Leonards unfair accusations about Ye Shiwen and felt outraged. So I found his public contact information, and sent him an email message asking him to apologize. Then, I wrote a Weibo post, asking other netizens to send fact-based and civilized emails to him as well. I also attached his other contact information in this post.

Read this article:
US Swim Coach Who Cast Doubts On Chinese Swimmer's Success Has Personal Details Posted On Weibo

2 August 2012 Last updated at 14:31 ET

Scottish athletes are celebrating after further Olympic success at the London games.

Cyclist Sir Chris Hoy won gold in the team sprint - his sixth Olympic medal in total, and fifth gold.

Fellow Scots Tim Baillie won gold, and David Florence silver, in the canoe slalom C2 event. Both are from the Aberdeen area.

Scottish hopes for more success on Friday rest largely with rower Katherine Grainger.

Thursday's success for Scottish Olympians followed Lossiemouth rower Heather Stanning winning gold alongside Helen Glover in the women's pairs on Wednesday, the same day as Glasgow-born Michael Jamieson won silver in swimming's 200m breaststroke final.

Sir Chris, from Edinburgh, and teammates Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes powered to gold by beating France in a world record time of 42.600 seconds.

The medal represents Sir Chris's fifth gold, matching rower Sir Steve Redgrave's British record of Olympic titles.

Sir Chris also won a silver medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Minister for Sport Shona Robison said Sir Chris had confirmed his status at Scotland's greatest-ever Olympian.

Continue reading here:
Golden success for Olympic Scots

LONDON (AP) -- Seven years after longtime favorite Paris lost the bid to host the 2012 Summer Games to England's capital city, France is edging its old cross-Channel rival in the medals table.

Unprecedented swimming success and a powerful women's judo team have propelled France to six golds and 16 medals overall.

France was fourth in the medals table after Thursday's events, with the host nation on five gold and 15 overall.

The French success story starts in swimming.

Three golds in London have doubled France's all-time total in the Olympics pool, with team sensation Yannick Agnel helping create a halo effect. French judo and canoeing teams are also radiating success.

"We're very proud because these athletes have also sent the message that French sport is high-performing and that France knows how to win," Christian Donze, technical director of France's swimming federation, told The Associated Press.

Agnel left United States star Ryan Lochte in his wake twice to anchor the 4x100 relay team to victory, and take the 200 free individual title. French President Francois Hollande was poolside at the Aquatics Centre to hear "La Marseillaise" anthem played for the 20-year-old from Nimes.

"He could be the star of the games," Australian three-time Olympic champion Grant Hackett said of Agnel, who will anchor the 4x100 medley relay team on Saturday.

Camille Muffat has a medal of each color, getting her gold in the 400 free to dethrone home favorite Rebecca Adlington.

Like Agnel, Muffat is coached in Nice by Fabrice Pellerin who persuaded the 22-year-old local girl to switch from the medley event she raced in Beijing.

Read this article:
France surfs wave of Olympics swimming success

August 3, 2012 - ASTM WK38096, Test Method for Measuring Transmitted Impact Force Through Materials Used in Protective Clothing, is proposed standard being developed by Subcommittee F23.20. It will measure amount of energy absorbed by protective item compared to no protection at all. Also, standard will verify quality and performance of protective clothing in regard to transmitted force. Subcommittee is seeking perspectives on transmitted impact force of items like goalkeeper and motorcycle gloves. ASTM International 100 Barr Harbor Dr., Box C700 West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2959 USA Press release date: August 1, 2012

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. - Personal protective equipment manufacturers, material manufacturers and end users with an interest in impact resistance are encouraged to contribute to the development of a proposed new standard on measuring transmitted impact force on protective clothing.

The proposed standard, ASTM WK38096, Test Method for Measuring Transmitted Impact Force Through Materials Used in Protective Clothing, is currently being developed by Subcommittee F23.20 on Physical, part of ASTM International Committee F23 on Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment.

"Workers in the oil and mining industries often have a work process that exposes their hands to multiple hazards throughout their shift," says Angela Fisher, manager, product development, Wells Lamont Industrial, and an F23 member. "The increase in hand injuries within these industries has led to the development of gloves designed to protect against multiple hazards including transmitted impact force."

The proposed standard will measure the amount of energy being absorbed by a protective accessory or garment when compared to no protection at all. In addition, once approved, ASTM WK38096 will verify the quality and performance of protective clothing in regard to transmitted impact force.

Fisher invites all interested parties to participate in the ongoing development of ASTM WK38096. She also notes that the subcommittee is interested in perspectives on transmitted impact force from manufacturers of items outside the realm of protective clothing, such as sports goalkeeper gloves or motorcycle gloves.

ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit http://www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions.

For more news in this sector, visit http://www.astm.org/sn-safety or follow us on Twitter @ASTMSafety.

ASTM Committee F23 Next Meeting: Jan 29-31, 2013, January Committee Week, Jacksonville, Fla.

Go here to see the original:
Transmitted Impact Force on Protective Clothing Is Subject of Proposed ASTM Standard

The BBC was kind enough to point out that one of the most significant early personal computers,the Commodore 64, went on sale in August 30 years ago. For many people, this machine was their introduction to personal computing, and for two members of the Ars staff, thinking about the machine brings up strong memories.

For me, stepping up tp the Commodore 64 from my TI-99/4A was a quantum leap forward in computing. The multimedia experience alone was worth the price of admissionincredible graphics and sound that seemed light years ahead of the market. Then there were the games. From arcade knock-offs to innovative 2-player experiences, you never got bored with the c64. Every visit to Zayer (yesteryear's Walmart) meant spending any allowance or yardwork money I'd saved up. But nothing was more exciting than sliding in a brand new 5.25" floppy diskif you were lucky, it was an epic adventure game with multiple disks!

Watch and listen to the majesty that was Giana Sisters (a thinly veiled rip-off of another game with siblings of Italian heritage).

Racing Destruction Set featured an addictively competitive 2-player mode.

Look at this madness! A full GUI environment for the Commodore called GEOS.

As great as the gaming was, it was my introduction to the magical world of modems and BBSs that changed everything. Owners of the "Hayes compatible" Commodore 1670 1200 baud modem will surely recognize the letters ATDT as the gateway to another dimension of human interaction, predating most people's awareness of the Internet. For a time, I even ran a nighttime BBS (since I couldn't tie up the family phone line during the day) using the venerable Color 64 BBS softwarean expensive outlay at $50 but with real, live colors!

How good was the Commodore 64? So good that, even when the new c128 model came out, most owners never moved beyond c64 mode (though this probably speaks more to Commodore's failure to achieve any traction with software developers on the new platform). While I eventually transitioned to Commodore Amigas, and thenwith the rest of the worldto Windows, Mac, and Linux, I'll never forget the pioneering days of Commodore when the world of personal computing and interconnectedness lay before me, intriguing, foreign, and impossibly engaging.

- Jason Marlin, Technical Director

When I was growing up, computers were something the other kids got. My parents made it clear that, if i wanted one, I was paying for it myself, and a morning paper route just wasn't cutting it for most of the models on the market. Then the Commodore 64 came out, substantially cheaper than any of the competition, and just barely within reach (though my parents helped out with a disk drive).

That machine introduced me to lots of cultural aspects of personal computing that are still around to this day. Like the platform wars with Apple ][ and Atari users, who were each convinced that their choices were superior. Or user communities, both at high school and college, of people who shared tips and software. And a lot of that software was piratedI simply didn't understand how the software economy worked, or how much hard work went in to getting that software put together.

Read more here:
Three decades of the Commodore 64

Winning government approval would be the first step in increasing public confidence in personalized genetic testing

Maciej Frolow / Photodisc / Getty Images

Earlier this week, the personal gene-testing company 23andMe announcedthat its seeking the blessing of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its DNA tests that allow people to peer into their genetic makeup.

If the FDA grants approval, it would be a major step forward for the growing industry springing up around genetic testing. Every day, it seems, scientists are reporting new gene-based discoveries that allow them to better pinpoint the causes of disease. As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, single-gene tests are being joined by the sort of genotyping technology used by 23andMe, which scans about 1 million points on the genome that are known to vary among humans. An even more complex technique, genomic sequencing, looks at about 3 billion points that cover a persons entire genetic code. 23andMe the name is a reference to the 23 pairs of chromosomes that comprise a persons genome intends to eventually offer sequencing, but the cost starts at around $4,000, which is considerably more expensive than the $299 the company charges for its testing.

Not only is sequencing more costly, but it also uncovers a trove of data that researchers have yet to fully understand. Even among the more targeted areas of the genome that 23andMe examines, there is much information that remains murky if not elusive. Of the 1 million points we look at, theres only a fraction of those that science can tell us anything about, says Ashley Gould, 23andMes vice president for corporate development and its chief legal officer.

Since 23andMe began offering testing in late 2007, more than 150,000 people have become clients. The vast majority have been adults, although parents can give consent for their children to participate. Our goal is to get 1 million in our database, says Gould. Having more people will increase our power to conduct research. There is immense power in coming together to progress research.

(MORE: 23andMe Seeks FDA Approval for Personal DNA Test)

The company was co-founded by Anne Wojcicki, who is married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Her bio on the company website explains why shes interested in personal genetics, expressing her hope that the company will create a common, standardized resource that has the potential to accelerate drug discovery and bring personalized medicine to the public. (Plus, getting access to her own genetic information and understanding it has always been one of Annes ambitions.)

The $299 fee includes processing of a saliva sample via a collection kit the company sends out. The data gleaned from the sample is shared with users via a secure website. Customers also have access to the companys ancestry features, which have helped people track down relatives. There are 242 health reports available for different conditions, enabling users to learn more about traits like freckling or eye color as well as carrier status for cystic fibrosis, for example, and risk for diseases such as Alzheimers. As new literature is published, we add new reports, says Gould.

When data reveals increased risk for certain diseases, 23andMe offers up videos that share more detailed information about that specific condition. The company also has a relationship with a nationwide genetic counseling service that users can call for an appointment.

Read more:
Personal Genetic Testing: Can DNA Discovery Go Mainstream?

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 03, 2012

The self help and personal development industry is huge. With people looking for different ways to improve and change in a down economy it's no wonder sales of self help books, Cd and seminars are better than ever.

You have probably read a book, listened to a CD or been to one of these very conferences. But is it all smiles behind closed doors?

That's what Point Loma resident and author Matt Belcher wanted to discover.

I have always had a healthy fascination with the personal development industry that started in the UK. I have read a lot of books from the likes of Tony Robbins, Dale Carnegie and Brian Tracy to name a few. But what I always wanted to know is what goes on behind the scenes. Are these people really living what they preach? That's the basis of my fiction/thriller 'Mr Personal Development'.

Belcher created a fast paced story that features a UK based 'guru', James Skye who is on the up and from the outside is very successful. Behind the scenes he is a womanizer, alcoholic, liar and almost bankrupt.

The book is currently on sale at Amazon for only 99 cents. It's a quick read and should be a lot of fun for anyone interested in this industry.

To get your copy search on Amazon or visit Matt's blog. ----

Matt Belcher is a San Diego based self published author originally form the UK. He's a marketing consultant that successfully turned his hand to writing because he wanted to tell stories. Matt is a proud Englishman, animal lover and Rugby supporter. He can be contacted on his blog at http://www.mattbelcherwrites.blogspot.com or 619 259 0387.

Originally posted here:
Is the Self Help Industry All it's Cracked Up to Be?

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Manduka, purveyor of high performance yoga gear and the #1 choice of yoga teachers worldwide, announced today the debut of Journey On, its first complete line of innovative, naturally crafted, versatile bags designed to tote all of yoga's essentials. Taking its inspiration from the adventure yogis experience both on and off the mat, the Journey On collection includes six unique bags providing ample support whether heading to the studio or trekking across the globe.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120802/LA50989)

"For most practitioners, yoga is a personal journey and their gear a foundation for support," said Manduka CEO, Sky Meltzer. "Our goal with Journey On was to provide a family of high quality bags that were consciously and stylishly designed to carry mats, towels and props with ease. The collection is a great addition to our purpose driven, revolutionary, eco-friendly line of yoga gear."

The Journey On Collection includes: the Roadtrippera durable duffle with special mat compartment, the Seekera handbag/satchel/versatile mat carrier, the Wanderera finely crafted, roomy tote for all the essentials, the Daytrippertop loading, adjustable shoulder mat bag, the Commuterhands free, durable carrier with gravity cinch closure, and the Go-Gettergrab and go sling that secures any sized mat.

Original, practical, comfortable and made of natural cotton and linens, the line features antique brass hardware detailing. From the studio to the road, the Journey On collection showcases a love of yoga and a commitment to the planet, without sacrificing style or performance.

To help support the launch of the new collection, Manduka will celebrate the journeys of its fans by giving away pieces from the line on its Facebook page.

To view the entire collection: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/167ba369

For more information, please visit: http://www.manduka.com/Europe join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mandukayoga or follow us @MandukaYoga

About Manduka

Founded in 1997, Manduka was built on the simple idea that a better yoga mat can make a world of difference. Manduka strives to support and enrich the yoga community by providing premium quality mats and products while respecting employees, customers, materials, and the environment. Created for and by yoga enthusiasts, Manduka's technical and purpose-driven product designs meet and often exceed the distinct needs of all practitioners. Today Manduka's products, which include yoga mats, towels, yoga straps, water bottles, and bags, are sold in more than 35 countries around the world. Not only focusing on superior design, Manduka also promotes their ethos of quality, thoughtfulness and sustainability in all realms of their business.

Originally posted here:
Journey On: Manduka® Launches New Yoga Bag Line For The Studio, The Retreat And Any Road In Between

A WHOPPING 2,220 participants joined a yoga session at the Great Eastern Yoga for Life event, which set a record for the largest participation in a yoga session under the Malaysia Book of Records recently.

About 20 yoga instructors guided the participants to perform the 45-minute session near The Strand in Kota Damansara.

Members of the public, schools, universities, societies, organisations, yogis, and including Mix FMs deejays JD and Dilly and My FMs deejay Wan Wai Fun were amongst the crowd of participants for the event.

Great Eastern Life Assurance (M) Bhd director and chief executive officer Datuk Koh Yaw Hui said, Yoga for Life is one of the major events under our Great Programme, which aims to promote healthy lifestyles and meaningful relationships.

Yoga is about having a healthy lifestyle and bringing in your family, children, friends, and parents to build a meaningful relationship.

Our existence is not only important to us but also to the people surrounding us, as Koh elaborated from what he meant by meaningful relationship.

Turning intentions into actions was the inspiration behind the Yoga for Life event. We wanted to host a public activity that is unconventional, yet interesting and fun enough to entice people to use it as their first step towards healthier and better living, he added.

A total of RM44,400 was collected from the registration fees and donated to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA).

BCWA chief executive officer Ranjit Kaur said the event was a good opening for the public to know that yoga has versatility in its facility.

To most people who hear the word yoga, they think that it will be a very complicated activity.

See original here:
Yoga session enters records

The BYU basketball team pose with Coach Rose and a family participating in the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation's annual Christmas party, December 14, 2011

Jonathan Hardy, BYU

PROVO, Utah The BYU mens basketball coaching staff will participate in the American Cancer Societys Relay for Life on Aug. 10 and 11 at Provo High School.

Head coach Dave Rose will kick off the event with a speech and the Survivors Lap, where cancer survivors lead the way around the track while being honored and applauded by all participants.

The coaching staff has entered a team in this years Relay for Life to assist in the fundraising efforts of the American Cancer Society and to honor Emily Austin, a teenager from Orem who has battled Leukemia since she was 5 years old.

The Roses met Emily and her family through the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation, an organization that provides Christmas gifts to families with children fighting cancer. Dave and Cheryl and the BYU basketball team have supported the foundation for more than a decade.

Dave Rose battled a rare form of pancreatic cancer during the summer of 2009 and every member of the coaching staff has a close relative who has battled cancer or lost their life to the disease. Cheryl Rose lost her sister Janet to breast cancer just last year. Dave Rose was scheduled to speak at the opening of the Relay for Life in Provo last year but had to cancel to attend Janets funeral.

How to Donate Donations can be made to any member of the BYU Basketball Relay for Life team or online atwww.relayforlife.org. One hundred percent of all donations will be used to support cancer patients and cancer research.

About Relay for Life - The goal of Relay for Life is to "create a world where more people survive cancer so they can celebrate another birthday. This year more than 11 million people will be able to do that thanks to the support of millions of dedicated Relay participants."

Relay for Life is an overnight relay-style event held in communities throughout the world and is the primary fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Members of each team take turns walking around a track for the duration of the event. Food, games and activities provide entertainment and fundraising opportunities in a family-friendly environment for the entire community.

View original post here:
BYU basketball coaches to participate in Relay for Life