Wow. Just wow. In an unprecedented move from Apple, Tim Cook has written an open letter apologising for the royal balls up that has been Apple Maps. You really want to read this.
Apple Maps has not been well received. The service has been rife with bugs since its launch, causing upset and outrage among fans of a company famed for trying to produce products that ?just work?.
The issues have been so bad that the whole thing has prompted an official response from Apple?s CEO Tim Cook. Here it is in full:
?To our customers,
At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.
We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.
There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.
While we?re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.
Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.
Tim Cook Apple?s CEO?
Just take a moment to let that sink in. Apple has conceded that it?s made a huge mistake launching Apple Maps in an unfinished state, and then ? boldly ? suggested that iOS 6 users go and use Bing, MapQuest, Waze Nokia or Google Maps (the mobile site version) while they iron out the bugs.
We really don?t know what to say, other than that we?ve never seen Apple put its hands up to a mistake in quite this fashion before. Cue a barrage of ?This wouldn?t have happened if Steve were still alive? responses?
Editor's note:?Andy Rachleff is President and CEO of Wealthfront, an SEC-registered online financial advisor. He serves as a member of the board of trustees and vice chairman of the endowment investment committee for University of Pennsylvania and as a member of the faculty at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he teaches courses on technology entrepreneurship.?Prior to Wealthfront, Andy co-founded and was general partner of Benchmark Capital. Everywhere I go in Silicon Valley I hear people discussing their angel investments. The conversations remind me of fish stories. People love recounting the one time they caught a big fish, not the many futile hours they spent waiting for a bite.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) ? Al-Shabab rebels pulled out of a key port city in southern Somalia, the group said Saturday, a day after Kenyan troops invaded and marched toward the city center and seaside port that long served as the militants' key source of funding, officials said.
Residents in Kismayo said they woke to find police and government headquarters abandoned by the militants, sparking a looting spree of the government and police headquarters.
"They withdrew from here last night. The town is not under anyone's control now," Mohamed Hassan, a resident, said. "People feel some relief now. We hope no more fighting will take place."
The withdrawal came about 24 hours after Kenyan forces made a beach landing and as inland troops from Somalia and Kenya moved toward the port city from the west.
"Looting and chaos is going on here. Thugs are taking advantage of the vacuum," Maryan Hussein, another resident, said. "The abandoned houses are being ransacked and the streets are occupied by people carrying belongings."
Col. Cyrus Oguna, a spokesman for the Kenyan military, said five al-Shabab fighters were killed in a battle overnight. Two commanders were killed in the fighting, the military said.
He said the Kenyan forces are still verifying the reports that al-Shabab had pulled out of Kismayo. "For now we are treating it as a theory," he said.
The Kenyan troops landed by boats in the northern part of Kismayo on Friday and moved toward the port, he said. He said that al-Shabab lost "many, many militants, including some key commanders" during battles on Friday that involved helicopter gunships.
Al-Shabab used Twitter to announce the news it was leaving Kismayo.
"Last night, after more than 5 years the Islamic administration in Kismayo closed its office," the tweet said. "Kismayo shall be transformed from a peaceful city governed by Islamic Shari'ah into a battle-zone between Muslims" and invaders.
Al-Shabab found little popular support in Kismayo because of the conservative brand of Islam it tried to impose on residents. Al-Shabab carried out public executions, whippings and amputations as punishments, and enforced a conservative dress code.
Al-Shabab was forced out of Mogadishu in August 2011 and lost one of its major sources of funding when it could no longer tax businesses in the city's main market. Since then the taxes al-Shabab charged on goods coming into Kismayo's port were seen as its last major funding source.
As it no longer holds any major cities in Somalia, al-Shabab is expected to operate more as an insurgent force that carries out suicide and roadside bomb attacks.
___
Associated Press reporter Jason Straziuso in Nairobi, Kenya contributed to this report.
Libya's new president, Mohammed Magarief, tells NBC's Ann Curry that the recent trouble in Libya is the unfortunate price of creating a democracy after decades of dictator-rule. Magarief lived in exile for 20 years in Atlanta before returning to Libya and becoming president.
By Becky Bratu, NBC News
He was wanted by Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, he survived seven assassination attempts and he lived in exile in Atlanta for two decades, but now that he is the new president of Libya, Mohamed Magarief says he is ready to sacrifice his life for his homeland.
"I'm determined. I'm determined to even sacrifice my life for that ... to see Libya as free, democratic," Magarief, an economist and former Libyan ambassador to India, told NBC's Ann Curry in an exclusive interview.
Libyan president to NBC: Anti-Islam film had 'nothing to do with' US Consulate attack
"I have always been ready to sacrifice my life for-- for my dream of Libya," he said.
Magarief's dream of a democratic Libya began to take shape in 1980 with the founding of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, a group that pushed for democratic reforms in Libya and opposed Gadhafi's rule.
Magarief, who participated in the group alongside former Libyan diplomats, ambassadors and army generals, said that was his first jump into the fire.
"I started in 1980, when I decide to defect from the regime and call for, openly, for its downfall and toppling and participated with my colleagues for so many years in a very comprehensive program of action to achieve this, to topple Gadhafi and to build a new democratic Libya," he said.
Because of his open opposition of the regime, Magarief was forced into exile, first to Morocco, where Gadhafi went after his family and friends, even killing and disappearing some of those linked to him. When Morocco decided to extradite him to Libya, Magarief sought refuge in Egypt.
In an interview with NBC's Ann Curry, Libya's president Mohammed Magarief said there's 'no doubt' the attack that killed four Americans in Libya was preplanned, and not a result of the controversial anti-Islam movie that sparked violent protests.
He lived in Egypt for seven years, but had to seek refuge yet again when former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak wanted to send him back to Libya, where he was still wanted. In 1991, Magarief and his family moved to Atlanta, where he lived until Gadhafi was toppled in October, 2011.
"I didn't leave home to stay for good in Atlanta. I left my home to return, to hope to return to it after it's liberated from Gadhafi. Having? being liberated now, it's my duty to, it's my dream and my hopes to return to my home, Libya, and to die there, to be buried in Libya," he said.
A transitional leader Libya's national assembly picked Magarief as its president in August. He is the leader of the National Front party, an offshoot of the old opposition movement he helped start. Magarief, who is from Benghazi, won 113 votes against independent Ali Zidan, who got 85 votes.
The path Magarief envisions for Libya includes free and open elections and a new constitution. He said he has no desire to stay in power beyond the transitional period, and hopes his successor will be a democratically elected leader. Magarief disagrees with the idea that fundamentalists will be allowed to fill the power vacuum in Libya following the toppling of Gadhafi, adding that Libyans will stand against extremist views.
"These fundamentalists, these extremists, these trends that are, first of all, it has nothing to do with true Islam, real Islam," he said. "The interpretation that these people introduced is not accepted by majority of Muslims."
Magarief discounted claims that the deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi earlier this month was in response to an anti-Islam movie produced in California and available on YouTube. He noted that the assault happened on Sept. 11 and that the video had been available for months before that.
"Reaction should have been, if it was genuine, .... six months earlier. So it was postponed until the 11th of September," he said. "They chose this date, 11th of September to carry a certain message."
"We consider the United States as a friend, not only a friend, a strong friend, who stood with us in our moment of need," he added.
Magarief admitted it would not be easy for Libya to shake off the legacy that decades of Gadhafi's dictatorship has left behind, but he strongly believes that every country deserves to enjoy democracy.
"This should not continue. If it continues, we'll all pay a heavy price. The solution is freedom, is democracy," he said. "Giving people the chance to -- and I'm sure we'll mature. We'll mature quickly, very quickly. And we'll prove that we are responsible human beings, who deserve freedom and democracy."
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Guinness Pirate, feared the most in the Stadium Bookmakers Sprint ?
The three-year-old black and white dog, Guinness Pirate, has the highest of the chances for taking back to the connections the ?150 prize money in the Stadium Bookmakers Sprint on Friday, 28th September, 2012 at Oxford. Making the trip challenging
for the R. Yeates trained are, Lagganmore Diver, Farloe Trueman, Splashanomic, Shilohs Warrior and Doyouwannalift.
Three out of the five outings gave been wins for Premier Fantasy?s son.
He bagged the Grade D1 on 24th August, 2012 at Oxford over 250 metres. He was quick to draw clear from the rest of the lot, staying prominent throughout, and making it to the other end of the wire in 15.22 seconds.
Having the final two lengths in his favour set Ballymac Kitty as the runner-up.
The third position behind the winner was taken by, Mild Steel.
He struck a back-to-back by winning the Grade D1 250 metres flat race on 1st September, 2012 at Oxford. He once again raced in black, picking up an early pace and leading from the second position, making it to the other end in 15.31 seconds.
Compromising on success by half-length was, Ballymac Kitty.
The first trap, Geneva Robbie, ended third behind the winner.
A fifth and then sixth position down the line had Guinness Pirate timing the track distance in 15.20 seconds after leashing out of the third trap. Winning by the margin of a mark meant a second position for Flying Guard.
Coming at terms with the third position was, Barnagrane Clark.
The three-year-old entry is backed by 2 to 1 odds for the race tonight, and will race in black due to the fourth trap. He has won from the same number twice before, but at a different level, altering the tactic a bit can make the trip smooth and successive.
The joint favourite, Splashanomic, has been drilled rigorously recently, and it is being expected that he will deliver and perform in the open race debut. Shilohs Warrior is feared too due to the strong comeback that he will make after the break.
Some have not raced at Oxford recently, and have the chance to prove themselves tonight.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent bettor.com?s official editorial policy.
?PRINCESS Anne (insert) addresses parliamentarians yesterday.
By CHILA NAMAIKO? ?
PRINCESS Anne of Great Britain has called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to continue showing exemplary commitment in the fight against corruption by drafting adequate and effective laws.
And Government chief whip, Yamfwa Mukanga has hailed Britain?s plans to help Zambia with about 59 million British Pounds annually until 2015 to help hasten her achievement to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).
Speaking in Lusaka yesterday at Parliament buildings when she addressed MPs, Princess Anne said Zambia had made considerable achievements in many sectors of the economy.
Princess Anne was impressed with the continued dedication exhibited by the Government and parliamentarians to fight corruption in areas such as reinstatement of the abuse of authority of office clause.
?May I congratulate you for the commitment to fighting corruption by reviewing the constitutional process which should happen on a regular basis,? Princess Anne said.
The Princess, who is the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (UK), was on a four-day tour of duty in Zambia and was expected to leave the country today.
At Parliament, she was flanked by Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini. Among other dignitaries who attended the parliamentarians? meeting in the auditorium, was leader of Government business and Vice-President Guy Scott.
Princess Anne said Zambia was scoring considerable achievements in various sectors and that the country had potential to grow further because of fertile and abundant land coupled with rich natural resources.
She was happy with Zambia for the peaceful transfer of power from former MMD regime to newly elected Patriotic Front (PF) Government under the leadership of President Michael Sata.
Princess Anne hailed the country for its continued role played in peacekeeping missions and was happy with the solid and cordial bilateral relationship enjoyed between Zambia and the UK.
On the recent Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne thanked President Sata for being among hundreds of heads of State who attended the colourful event.
The Princess?s visit to Zambia was part of the celebrations of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II?s Diamond Jubilee. Her Majesty last visited Zambia in 1979.
Mr Mukanga who is Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister said Zambia was gratified with the British government for its plans of spending an average of 59 million Pounds annually until 2015 in Zambia to attain MDG targets on poverty, maternal and mortality and sanitation.
He said Zambia was thankful to her Majesty for being instrumental in supporting the Government deliver better services to its citizens.
?Her Majesty?s government support through the Department for International Development (DfID) is very welcome as it will help to support our Government improve its systems and use its resources to deliver better services,? he said.
He said Britain?s commitment to help Zambia tackle corruption and increase transparency and accountability to its citizens was in line with the PF Government?s zero tolerance for corruption.
Mr Mukanga hailed Britain for the supported it had rendered to Parliament?s reform programme in conjunction with other cooperating partners to enable Zambian Government become a real Parliament.
He said her Majesty the Queen?s role as head of the Commonwealth was appreciated by all member States like Zambia as she had shown dedicated service and leadership in her 60 years reign.
The minister said the Queen had shown unsurpassed personal and unwavering commitment to all that the Commonwealth represented in areas of shared values of democracy, development and diversity.
?It is for this reason that we wish her Majesty long life so that she can continue to render her invaluable service to the Commonwealth family,? Mr Mukanga said.
The Commonwealth remains a relevant organisation in helping all its 54 independent member States to tackle challenges of the modern world.
He said Zambia and the UK were adapting to challenges such as continued economic growth, climate change, threats from crime and lawlessness, unemployment, human rights, abuses that cemented the cherished relationships.
And Dr Scott is this morning expected to move a motion to adjoun Parliament to enable MPs attend Mama Betty Kaunda?s burial.
PRIZE DETAILS: The first prize includes: A 16 gig Apple iPad (3) with wifi, A $200 Pets Palace Gift Voucher to spend online or in-store, A ?DogStar? Banner ? the winner will be featured on the pets palace website slider at www.petspalace.com.au for a duration of 2 weeks after the competition.
Second Prize includes: A $50 Pets Palace Gift Card, A $50 Westfield voucher,
A ?DogStar? Banner ? the runners up will be featured on the pets palace website slider at www.petspalace.com.au for a duration of 1 week after the competition (after the winners two weeks on the site).
Third Prize includes: A chocolate gift pack, A ?DogStar? Banner ? the third placed entrant will be featured on the pets palace website slider at www.petspalace.com.au for a duration of 1 week after the competition (after the runners up 1 week)
Contestants who place 4th ? 10th will receive a treat pack for their dog from Pets Palace.
All entrants to the competition will also receive a $10 Pets Palace gift voucher within days of entering the competition for redemption at the Pets Palace website.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to Australian residents / 13+ Not eligible to enter? - Find contest where you are.
COPYRIGHT: No Copyright Policy
USAGE RIGHTS: All entries may be used in the marketing campaigns for any campaigns Pets Palace wishes to include the winning dog and any entrant in. By entering the competition, the person submitting the dogs photo is acknowledging they are allowed or have permission to do so and understand the photos will be made public on the internet and within pets palace?s marketing and advertising materials and campaigns for as long as the company wishes to Australia wide or globally.
All entries into the competition understand that their photos will be used by Pets Palace and made visible on the pets palace website and facebook pages and any other marketing collateral that Pets Palace uses for promotional purposes
This article may look different from the traditional, but you?d enjoy it.
Why? Because words are powerful and if you understand the effect of words, your success will be easier than picking up pretty girls. Lol!
When I started blogging, I came across an epic blog post and after going through it, my thoughts about making money changed.
The reason why you?re not making enough money from your website could be the wrong use of words.
Or better yet, you don?t even understand the impact of certain words.
Why words are powerful
Words are powerful because they?re the exact thoughts of the subconscious mind.
What we say from our mouths has its root from our thoughts. The earlier you realize the blogging is not all about waking up every morning to write, the better for you. Successful internet entrepreneurs don?t joke with words.
They can bury their heads meditating on a specific word ? and sooner or later, you?d see the effects: Thousands of subscribers, speaking engagements, six figure earnings and so much more.
At the end of this post, I?d like you to add your favorite word. Make sure it?s one word, and not a phrase. Here are 6 of my favorite words that could help you make more money.
1.????? Email ? ? ? ?
Yes, that wasn?t a typo.
Email is my favorite word because with it, you I can build a strong nexus with potential customers.
Click here to see why email marketing is important.
The right email campaign could generate a staggering income ? I love email marketing.
Most of what you must do as a blogger or entrepreneur is to build an email list. In fact, nothing is as important as collecting leads.
It doesn?t matter whether you?re selling physical products from Amazon & Ebay, or digital products from Clickbank & CJ, the bottom line is to start collecting email leads from Day 1. Yes, from the very first day!
Let me shock you: if you?re a blogger and you?re not building a mailing list, I?m afraid because you may not be in business when next I see you.
Don?t get me wrong, you could make money without selling through emails, but it?s the most difficult thing to do. I make more money from my list, than I do from organic traffic. Is email your favorite word?
2.????? Content
No matter what you?re selling online, content is the bedrock of your business. I like the word ?content? because it paves way for other marketing practices. Without quality content on your blog, don?t even bother guest blogging or marketing through social media.
And Google loves fresh content. If you can challenge yourself to produce quality and valuable content regularly, you?d reach 75% of your target audience, even without social media or forum marketing.
Organic visitors would trail your blog and hand you their hard earned money. If you enjoy reading quality content like this (I suppose), your readers also deserve the best. Make it your vision, pursue it.
3.????? Marketing
Why is ?marketing? one of my favorite words?
It?s obvious; marketing is the fuel that powers your blog engine. If you don?t market your products and services, you?d be broke. Period!
And quality content without the right readers to consume it is a waste of time.
Most likely, you want to gain traction, build a community and make money online. Well, it?s not going to happen overnight. You need to market your blog post, your ?hire me? page, your new e-book and any other income asset. Don?t wait for them to come ? go and meet them wherever they are. But marketing is not for lazy people, here?s why:
4.????? Smart
Being smart is the key to winning the race of life. I know people who work 6 hours per week and make six figure income annually, whereas, a couple of my good friends works about 10 ? 12 hours weekly, but has nothing to show for it. What?s wrong with my friends?
Even though they?re hard working, it?s obvious that they?re working on the wrong tasks. For instance, if you spend 4 hours on Twitter every day and expect to grow your blog, how feasible is that? As a blogger, writing, optimizing, marketing and relationship building are fundamental elements that brings long-term success.
You?ve to work hard in a smart way. Don?t spend time on activities that can drain your energy, instead, work on your core objectives. Every task must be tailored to meeting your goal. I?m yet to find any secret to living the internet lifestyle. Anyways, if there is, taking action in a smart way is the ultimate.
5.????? Monetize ? ??
When should you monetize your blog?
This has been a controversial question and I?ve seen it popping up from every nook and cranny of the web.
But what?s the BIG deal? If you feel comfortable monetizing in the first month of launching your business, go ahead.
If not, wait until you?ve built a community like Copyblogger media (Brian Clark) did.
As for me, I got my first client after 1 month of starting my freelance writing blog. So, it?s relative?
The bottom line is to ?monetize.? You can?t make money without a clear monetization path.
Most people who complain that blogging is full of crap and scam have issues with selling. Some people actually have problems with promotion or trying to convince their readers to buy.
The word ?monetize? is my favorite ? what?s yours?
6.????? Traffic
Who doesn?t want more traffic?
The truth of the matter is, without traffic you can?t go far in your business. No matter what business model you?ve chosen, potential customers must come to your blog or you?d quit anytime soon. One of the blogging nightmares is lack of traffic, but there is more.
Here is the harsh truth: You don?t actually need thousands of traffic, you need targeted traffic. Why? Because 100 targeted traffic to your website is better than 1000 untargeted traffic to the same website.
For instance, if you?re selling web hosting, then, you need people who wants to buy web hosting and nothing else.
Now, if 10 people visits and buys the VPS or Dedicated hosting packages, isn?t it better than 100 people who just admire your animated header, the color merging and awesome design? I guess you don?t need that type of audience. They waste your time and burn your bandwidth.
What is your favorite word?
I?d like to know your favorite word, how the word has aligned your thoughts and actions towards reaching your goals. Do you think words are powerful or just mere combinations of alphabets? The comment box below is yours ? share your opinion and let?s fall in love with words. Your success is sure!
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U Condos is a new two-tower development headed for St. Mary and Bay streets, adjacent to the St. Michael's College campus. Surrounded by a perimeter of townhomes and enveloping an inner courtyard "U is for you," as the Pemberton Group likes to say, if you like tall towers, high density, and lots of private space to enjoy the fresh outdoors. Yes, for four whole months of the year. Now in Phase II with its double-exposure, two-bedroom suites on display, here's a closer look at the soon-to-arrive U Condominiums.
SPECS
Intersection: St. Mary and Bay streets
Number of towers: 2
Number of floors: 55, 45
Unit sizes (in square feet): 325 - 1458 (Available units start at 892)
Ceiling height: 9'0 - 10'0
Prices start at: Original listings started in the mid-$300,000's. Available suites now start in the mid-$600,000's
Parking: Included in purchase price
Locker: Included in purchase price
Maintenance: $0.45/ sf
Maintenance fees include: Heat, water, building insurance
From an investment standpoint, this is probably one of the best places to buy in the city. Say what you will, you boisterous leather-jacket-wearing Queen's U alum you, the University of Toronto is never going out of style. Adjacent to the St. Michael's College campus, condo-dwellers needn't worry about the noise of first-year shenanigans in a way they might, say, next to University College (how's that for stereotyping?!), and finding a tenant to rent out the space will never really be a problem for any condo landlord. Yes, university students will actually live in (and pay good money for) a suite of just 325 square feet. They'll also pay good money for an undergraduate degree in philosophy or art history, so that's enough said about university students.
But its not just proximity to U of T that renders this spot ideal. It's also walking distance to several subway stations, walking distance to Queen's Park, walking distance to the ROM, Church/Wellesley village, several hospitals, and Yorkville shopping. And while the area adjacent east of Yonge is seeing all sorts of tall tower development ? one structure rising just to block the view of the next ? the University of Toronto quells the danger here (somewhat) of an obstructed view one year after occupancy. And with a network of shorter streets and the odd cul-de-sac (as compared to say, east of Yonge or north of Bloor), the immediate U Condos vicinity is treated to a (relative) level of calmness.
Now, Pemberton in currently in its Phase II of sales, which, when translated from marketing developer speak, simply means it is selling 2-bedroom corner units. And I must concede, these units do look mighty fine. (Their price tags so not, but more about that later.) Both the "King" and "St. Michael's" layouts include close to 900 square feet of living space, along with two (!) balconies totaling at least 277 square feet. As much as I enjoy being a jaded skeptic, I can't deny the loveliness of the vast double exposure. Plus room for real patio furniture! And if you can your hands (read: your real estate agent can get his/her hands) on a smaller, and thus, more affordable unit, you'll still get 132-square-feet of balcony with your "Innis" one-bedroom, and 136-square feet of balcony with your "Trinity" one-plus-den. Even the 325-square-foot studio comes with a 54-square-foot balcony. Because art history majors, too, need a little time in the sun. These layouts, too, include bedrooms with windows and (most) kitchens with islands. Thus, I'm satisfied.
THE BAD
Let's talk about pricing. (You knew I was going to go here, didn't you?) Now, going with available suites, you're looking at paying probably $670,000 minimum for a two-bedroom unit on a lower floor. Granted, that $670,000 does include a parking spot and locker, which, when purchased separately, could easily amount to about $40,000 (probably more, but as we all know, these things are constantly changing). So, I suppose you could look at the cost for the condo itself as somewhere around $630,000 (again, probably a lowball estimation), which amounts to a little more than $700 per square foot for a 892-square foot unit. That's definitely above the 2011 assessed average of $529 per square foot for new units in Toronto. And keep in mind, the figures I'm using are definitely on the low end; if you're keen on a suites, say, above the fourth floor, chances are you're going to be paying even more. In which case, I, personally, would start looking for a property with a yard.
U-Condos has also very proudly boasted its 4,500-square foot amenity area ? make that, its 9,000-square foot amenity area, since each tower is topped with its own expansive amenity space. Lovely in the summer and for entertaining, I'm sure, though my concern (as always) is for its effects on building maintenance fees. U-Condos is off to a good start with a lower-than-typical $0.45/square foot fee, though it has left the door open for 4,500 square feet of potential elliptical machine failures, party room mishaps, and steam room maintenance. For each building. All of which, of course, will drive up maintenance fees. I can't understand why a property in such a central location would need so much amenity space with a plethora of options nearby. While I'm sure an in-building yoga room does entice some potential buyers, it wouldn't win over this one.
And for my last, and admittedly, most superficial criticism: Am I the only one who is a little sad to see the classic St. Michael's College architecture somewhat cheapened by its two new giant glass neighbours? I get that the city is growing and glass is in and that there's money on top of money to be made and all... but... shucks. (My most persuasive argument, I know.)
THE VERDICT
A great spot and good layouts. But in U Condos, as in life, you've gotta have some money. And a willingness to part with a whole lot of it.
What do you think? Would you live here? Add your comments to the thread below.
Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board
According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, approximately 1.3 million women worldwide?are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. With a cancer that has no known cause, it is important to highlight the importance of early breast cancer detection.?Philips raises awareness for the cause by?illuminating global landmarks?to symbolize hope and empowerment. In addition to the illuminations, Philips allows employees to publicly support the cause by submitting personal messages of inspiration that will be displayed in the Netherlands headquarters on October 18th.
Here are just a few of the prominent landmarks that will shine pink this October!
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The purchaser must mentioned ?I Love My Friends & Family? upon purchase
Each person is entitled to only 1 box per purchase per day
Only valid at Surai KLCC Cake Sense Mooncake kiosk store (near Maybank) at Lower Ground Floor)
Only valid for one hundred purchase per day or while stock last
Purchased mooncakes are not refundable or exchangeable
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Provides beautiful cakes that are delicious,?with many choices in different sizes, shapes and?captivating designs. Their signature cakes are?Yogurt Cakes, Chocolate Cakes and Cheese Cakes.?Cakes price range from RM25 to RM90 each.
Cake Sense bakery products are tasty, crispy and high in?fibre with a wide range of pastries, cookies, buns?and bread. Currently the European multi grain bread are most sought after. Bakery products price?range from RM5 to RM12.
BOSTON (AP) ? A chemist at the center of a drug lab testing scandal admitted she faked results for two to three years, forged signatures and skipped proper procedures, a police report shows.
Some of Annie Dookhan's colleagues also had concerns for years about the high number of drug samples she tested and inconsistencies in her work, according to other police reports The Associated Press obtained Wednesday.
Lab employees' interviews with investigators show they convinced themselves their concerns were invalid or reported them to supervisors who didn't intervene to stop Dookhan.
Dookhan's mishandling of drug samples at the now-closed state lab in Boston has thrown thousands of criminal cases into question, authorities say. A handful of defendants already are free or have had their criminal sentences suspended.
Concerns from Dookhan's colleagues prompted two supervisors to audit her work in 2010, but they just looked at paperwork and didn't retest drug samples.
It wasn't until the spring of 2011, when police say Dookhan admitted forging a colleague's initials on paperwork after taking 90 drug samples from evidence, that things started to unravel for her. Another colleague told police it was "almost like Dookhan wanted to get caught."
Anne Goldbach, forensic services director for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, which oversees the provision of legal representation for indigent people, said the new documents show the problems at the Hinton State Laboratory are more troubling than originally believed. She said it appears there was unsupervised access to the lab's evidence office and evidence safe.
While Goldbach said she didn't see evidence of intentional wrongdoing by other chemists, she said that because Dookhan was in charge of quality control equipment other chemists could have gotten false test results without knowing it.
"The fact that she failed to conduct quality control steps ... it calls into question all the testing done by the lab," Goldbach said.
Attorney John T. Martin, who represents several defendants whose samples Dookhan handled, said he believes she changed drug weights to meet statutory standards for stricter sentencing.
Martin said in the cases of four of his clients, Dookhan determined that the weight of the drug sample was just 1 gram above the amount needed for a more serious penalty even though police reports made the seizure seem smaller.
Police say Dookhan told them several times in an August interview that she knew she had done wrong.
"I screwed up big time," she said while becoming teary-eyed, according to the report by investigators for Attorney General Martha Coakley's office. "I messed up bad. It's my fault. I don't want the lab to get in trouble."
Authorities haven't filed charges against Dookhan or commented on her possible motives as their probe continues. Dookhan hasn't responded to repeated requests for comment.
In the Aug. 28 interview with two investigators at her dining room table, Dookhan first denied doing anything wrong when she analyzed drug samples. She changed her story after they confronted her with a Boston Police Department retest of a suspected cocaine sample that came back negative after Dookhan identified it as the narcotic. Police also told her the number of samples she reported analyzing was too high and she couldn't have done all the tests.
The report shows Dookhan then admitted identifying drug samples by looking at them instead of testing them, called dry labbing.
She said she tested about five out of 25 samples she got from evidence, after routinely getting a large number of samples from different cases out of the evidence room, police say. She also told police she contaminated samples a few times to get more work finished but no one asked her to do anything improper, they say.
"I intentionally turned a negative sample into a positive a few times," Dookhan said in a signed statement she gave police.
Dookhan also told investigators she routinely skirted proper procedures by looking up data for assistant district attorneys who called her directly rather than going through the evidence department.
State police say Dookhan tested more than 60,000 drug samples submitted in the cases of about 34,000 defendants during her nine years at the lab. She resigned in March amid an internal investigation by the Department of Public Health.
After state police took over the lab in July as part of a state budget directive, they said they discovered her violations were much more extensive than previously believed and went beyond sloppiness into malfeasance and deliberate mishandling of drug samples.
In the August police interview, Dookhan said that in June 2011 she improperly took 90 samples that weren't assigned to her from evidence and forged another person's initials on a log book after a supervisor questioned her about it. While Dookhan's lab duties were suspended after that, she said she disobeyed orders and continued to give law enforcement officials information on their cases.
Two days after her police interview, Gov. Deval Patrick ordered state police to close the lab.
That day, a police lieutenant spoke with Dookhan to tell her she should get an attorney because she could face criminal charges.
Dookhan cried on the phone, saying she didn't know any lawyers, didn't have money and was in a long divorce with her husband and didn't want to involve family.
Study researches genetic messenger rather than genePublic release date: 27-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Michele Sequeira MSequeira@salud.unm.edu 505-925-0485 University of New Mexico Cancer Center
UNM Cancer Center researcher wins prestigious NCI Provocative Questions grant to investigate a possible mechanism for cancer tumor development
Albuquerque, NM
September 17, 2012
Most of us think of DNA mutations as the culprits that cause cancer. Scott Ness, PhD, University of New Mexico Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Associate Director at the UNM Cancer Center, thinks there may be another, more elusive culprit. If Dr. Ness is right his research, funded as part of the National Cancer Institute's Provocative Questions Project, might open a whole new arena in which to target anticancer drugs.
Currently, most genetic cancer research focuses on DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) abnormalities. Dr. Ness' work will instead focus on RNA (ribonucleic acid), the molecule that transports the protein-making instructions to the structures that make the proteins. RNA is not an exact copy of DNA, however, and researchers have long known that the process to make RNA in normal cells differs from that in cancer cells. Whether these differences are important is the subject of Question 11 on the NCI's Provocative Questions list. Now, thanks to recent technological advances in genome sequencing, Dr. Ness will be able to study the impact of these RNA processing differences and whether they cause cancer.
The cell constructs RNA in a poorly-understood two-step process. In the first step, called transcription, the cell chooses the correct parts of DNA to use since only about 2 percent of the DNA encodes proteins. Genes are the sequences in the DNA that carry the protein-making instructions. In humans and all other vertebrates, genes are discontinuous. As a result, the RNA transcript must be refined and edited in the second step, a process called RNA splicing. In RNA splicing, the cell removes the non-protein-making parts of the genecalled intronsleaving only the protein instructionscalled exonsstrung together like boxcars in a train. Sometimes the RNA splicing machinery skips an exon or includes an extra exon that usually is not part of the final RNA. These changes, called alternative RNA splicing, are one of the mechanisms that allow genes to make multiple different RNAs and different types of proteins.
"One of the big surprises of the Human Genome Project was how few genes were discovered," says Dr. Ness. Researchers expected to find over 100,000 genes based on the number of different human RNA transcripts, but instead they found fewer than 25,000 genes. The discontinuity of genes and alternative RNA splicing explains how it's possible to have so many types of RNA from so few genes. "One gene can make different versions of RNA and then the RNAs are used to make the proteins," says Dr. Ness. "And so a gene might produce different kinds of RNA in different tissues, or in a fetus versus an adult, or in a tumor versus a normal cell."
In a normal cell, alternative RNA splicing occurs occasionally; in a cancerous cell, alternative RNA splicing happens much more often. "It's been known for a long time that tumors have much more alternative RNA splicing than normal cells doten times more. But no one knows if that's biologically important," says Dr. Ness. "No one knows if the controls in tumors are relaxed so that something is just not working properly and these RNAs are made by accident or if something more sinister happened in the tumor cells and these different RNAs are part of the cause of cancer."
To find out, Dr. Ness and his team will look in incredible detail at all the RNA produced in tumor cellslots of tumor cells from hundreds of leukemia samples. Using the next-generation Ion Proton Genome Sequencer expected at the UNM Cancer Center later this month, Dr. Ness's team will sequence the RNA in the samples to determine which proteins the leukemia cells made. Then, using complex statistical analyses combined with data on the patients' outcomes, he and his team will be able to determine whether increased levels of alternative RNA splicing contribute to cancer formation.
The implications of Dr. Ness's work are far-reaching. In his previous work, he and his team studied an oncogene named c-myb. This gene controls the proteins that bind to different other genes to turn them on or off; it decides which proteins the cell makes. The c-myb gene itself may not have a mutation, Dr. Ness found, but the RNA transcripts made from it might be very different in a cancer cell compared with a normal cell because of alternative RNA splicing. The mechanisms for controlling RNA splicingand whether alternative exons are encodedis not very well understood. But, if alternative RNA splicing is important, study of this area could give researchers greater insight into cancer mechanisms and a whole new array of cellular machinery against which to target cancer drugs.
###
About the National Cancer Institute Grant
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01CA170250. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
About the National Cancer Institute's Provocative Questions Project
The Provocative Questions project emerged from discussion among a number of veteran cancer researchers that noticed there were many questions some important but not very obvious, some that had been asked but abandoned in the past because we didn't have ways to study or address them, some sparked by new discoveries or novel technologies that could stimulate the NCI's research communities to use laboratory, clinical, and population sciences in especially effective and imaginative ways. Over the course of 18 months, NCI solicited questions from scientists in various fields and at different stages in their careers, ultimately settling on 24 questions that, if answered, could lead to significant research advances. In a departure from its traditional grant-making process, NCI released a special solicitation just for research related to these 24 questions and empaneled a custom set of peer review groups to score the more than 700 applications NCI received. More than 50 grants, attempting to answer 20 of the 24 proposed questions, are being funded this year from that set of applications. These grants are not intended to represent the NCI's full range of priorities in cancer research, but rather represent a new and different way to identify and address research needs in cancer by challenging researchers to delve into key areas that require more in depth study.
About the UNM Cancer Center
The UNM Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in the state. One of just 67 NCI-designated cancer centers nationwide, the UNM Cancer Center is recognized for its scientific excellence, contributions to cancer research and delivery of medical advances to patients and their families. It is home to New Mexico's largest team of board-certified oncology physicians and research scientists, representing every cancer specialty and hailing from prestigious institutions such as MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic. The UNM Cancer Center treats more than 65 percent of the adults and virtually all of the children in New Mexico affected by cancer, from every county in the state. In 2010, it provided care to more than 15,800 cancer patients. The Center's research programs are supported by nearly $60 million annually in federal and private funding. Learn more at http://cancer.unm.edu.
Michele Sequeira, UNM Cancer Center, (505) 925-0486, msequeira@salud.unm.edu
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Study researches genetic messenger rather than genePublic release date: 27-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Michele Sequeira MSequeira@salud.unm.edu 505-925-0485 University of New Mexico Cancer Center
UNM Cancer Center researcher wins prestigious NCI Provocative Questions grant to investigate a possible mechanism for cancer tumor development
Albuquerque, NM
September 17, 2012
Most of us think of DNA mutations as the culprits that cause cancer. Scott Ness, PhD, University of New Mexico Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Associate Director at the UNM Cancer Center, thinks there may be another, more elusive culprit. If Dr. Ness is right his research, funded as part of the National Cancer Institute's Provocative Questions Project, might open a whole new arena in which to target anticancer drugs.
Currently, most genetic cancer research focuses on DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) abnormalities. Dr. Ness' work will instead focus on RNA (ribonucleic acid), the molecule that transports the protein-making instructions to the structures that make the proteins. RNA is not an exact copy of DNA, however, and researchers have long known that the process to make RNA in normal cells differs from that in cancer cells. Whether these differences are important is the subject of Question 11 on the NCI's Provocative Questions list. Now, thanks to recent technological advances in genome sequencing, Dr. Ness will be able to study the impact of these RNA processing differences and whether they cause cancer.
The cell constructs RNA in a poorly-understood two-step process. In the first step, called transcription, the cell chooses the correct parts of DNA to use since only about 2 percent of the DNA encodes proteins. Genes are the sequences in the DNA that carry the protein-making instructions. In humans and all other vertebrates, genes are discontinuous. As a result, the RNA transcript must be refined and edited in the second step, a process called RNA splicing. In RNA splicing, the cell removes the non-protein-making parts of the genecalled intronsleaving only the protein instructionscalled exonsstrung together like boxcars in a train. Sometimes the RNA splicing machinery skips an exon or includes an extra exon that usually is not part of the final RNA. These changes, called alternative RNA splicing, are one of the mechanisms that allow genes to make multiple different RNAs and different types of proteins.
"One of the big surprises of the Human Genome Project was how few genes were discovered," says Dr. Ness. Researchers expected to find over 100,000 genes based on the number of different human RNA transcripts, but instead they found fewer than 25,000 genes. The discontinuity of genes and alternative RNA splicing explains how it's possible to have so many types of RNA from so few genes. "One gene can make different versions of RNA and then the RNAs are used to make the proteins," says Dr. Ness. "And so a gene might produce different kinds of RNA in different tissues, or in a fetus versus an adult, or in a tumor versus a normal cell."
In a normal cell, alternative RNA splicing occurs occasionally; in a cancerous cell, alternative RNA splicing happens much more often. "It's been known for a long time that tumors have much more alternative RNA splicing than normal cells doten times more. But no one knows if that's biologically important," says Dr. Ness. "No one knows if the controls in tumors are relaxed so that something is just not working properly and these RNAs are made by accident or if something more sinister happened in the tumor cells and these different RNAs are part of the cause of cancer."
To find out, Dr. Ness and his team will look in incredible detail at all the RNA produced in tumor cellslots of tumor cells from hundreds of leukemia samples. Using the next-generation Ion Proton Genome Sequencer expected at the UNM Cancer Center later this month, Dr. Ness's team will sequence the RNA in the samples to determine which proteins the leukemia cells made. Then, using complex statistical analyses combined with data on the patients' outcomes, he and his team will be able to determine whether increased levels of alternative RNA splicing contribute to cancer formation.
The implications of Dr. Ness's work are far-reaching. In his previous work, he and his team studied an oncogene named c-myb. This gene controls the proteins that bind to different other genes to turn them on or off; it decides which proteins the cell makes. The c-myb gene itself may not have a mutation, Dr. Ness found, but the RNA transcripts made from it might be very different in a cancer cell compared with a normal cell because of alternative RNA splicing. The mechanisms for controlling RNA splicingand whether alternative exons are encodedis not very well understood. But, if alternative RNA splicing is important, study of this area could give researchers greater insight into cancer mechanisms and a whole new array of cellular machinery against which to target cancer drugs.
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About the National Cancer Institute Grant
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01CA170250. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
About the National Cancer Institute's Provocative Questions Project
The Provocative Questions project emerged from discussion among a number of veteran cancer researchers that noticed there were many questions some important but not very obvious, some that had been asked but abandoned in the past because we didn't have ways to study or address them, some sparked by new discoveries or novel technologies that could stimulate the NCI's research communities to use laboratory, clinical, and population sciences in especially effective and imaginative ways. Over the course of 18 months, NCI solicited questions from scientists in various fields and at different stages in their careers, ultimately settling on 24 questions that, if answered, could lead to significant research advances. In a departure from its traditional grant-making process, NCI released a special solicitation just for research related to these 24 questions and empaneled a custom set of peer review groups to score the more than 700 applications NCI received. More than 50 grants, attempting to answer 20 of the 24 proposed questions, are being funded this year from that set of applications. These grants are not intended to represent the NCI's full range of priorities in cancer research, but rather represent a new and different way to identify and address research needs in cancer by challenging researchers to delve into key areas that require more in depth study.
About the UNM Cancer Center
The UNM Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in the state. One of just 67 NCI-designated cancer centers nationwide, the UNM Cancer Center is recognized for its scientific excellence, contributions to cancer research and delivery of medical advances to patients and their families. It is home to New Mexico's largest team of board-certified oncology physicians and research scientists, representing every cancer specialty and hailing from prestigious institutions such as MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic. The UNM Cancer Center treats more than 65 percent of the adults and virtually all of the children in New Mexico affected by cancer, from every county in the state. In 2010, it provided care to more than 15,800 cancer patients. The Center's research programs are supported by nearly $60 million annually in federal and private funding. Learn more at http://cancer.unm.edu.
Michele Sequeira, UNM Cancer Center, (505) 925-0486, msequeira@salud.unm.edu
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Public release date: 27-Sep-2012
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