DOUCHE OF THE DAY: Two Labs in New Zealand 

4 Women Had Breasts Removed Unnecessarily After Lab Mix-up

Two labs are under investigation after mix-ups resulted in mastectomies for 4 women who never had cancer. Biopsy results on the 4 women showed breast cancer, according to a report by the New Zealand Health Ministry. As a result, the women underwent what they believed would be life-saving mastectomies. But as It turns out, none of the women ever had cancer. The mix-up was highlighted in the Health Ministry's Report of the National Panel to Review Breast Biopsy Errors. The errors occurred in both hospital and community laboratories when specimen samples - one from a patient with cancer and one from a patient without - were placed side by side and the identity of the samples were mixed up. In addition, 4 other women who did actually have cancer went months without treatment believing they were healthy. So dumb. [KTLA]

YouTube releases own iPhone app as Apple prepares to drop video service as built-in program

YouTube is being reprogrammed for the iPhone and iPad amid the growing hostility between Apple and the video service's owner, Google. The new format debuted Tuesday with the release of a new YouTube application that will introduce more advertising and more videos on Apple's devices. The changes are being made because Google Inc. and Apple Inc. didn't renew a five-year licensing agreement that established YouTube as one of the built-in applications in the operating system that runs the iPhone and iPad. The updated iOS also is dumping Google's digital maps as its go-to source for directions. Man, I am so bummed. Well the big unveil is today – so I guess more to come on this story… [The Guardian]

Buzz Builds on New iPhone Release

Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil the newest iPhone iteration on Wednesday in what some analysts predict will be among the biggest technology releases in history. According to J.P. Morgan’s calculations, Apple is expected to sell about 8 million iPhone 5s in the 4th quarter, for $600 a piece—enough to jolt the country's 4th quarter GDP. While Apple has not confirmed details about the new model, and has only suggested that the iPhone will be released at Wednesday’s event through an invitation that displayed a shadowy “5”, reports of a larger screen, thinner body, and compatibility with faster networks have abounded, boosting buzz ahead of the event. “In our view, the iPhone 5 represents the biggest upgrade in the history of consumer electronics,” Brian White, an analyst at Topkea Capital Markets told the Wall Street Journal. “Given that many consumers expected the iPhone 5 to be unveiled last year, the market has been waiting for twenty-seven months now for this new iPhone.” [NBCLA]

Destination Discounts Offered for 'Carmageddon II'

(Arkasha Stevenson / LA Times / July 20, 2012)

The countdown to "Carmageddon II" is on, and city and county officials have announced "destination discounts" for dining, shopping and entertainment venues. On the weekend of September 29-30, a 10-mile stretch of the 405 between the 101 and 10 freeways will be shut down for 53 hours while crews demolish the north side of the Mulholland Drive bridge that crosses the freeway. The closure will begin as early as 7 p.m. Friday, September 28 -- with full closure by midnight -- and will continue until 5 a.m. on Monday, October 1. Mayor Villaraigosa and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky were joined by entertainment, cultural and business leaders Tuesday to announce hundreds of discounts to restaurants, stores and cultural and entertainment venues throughout the county for Carmageddon II weekend. The joint effort hopes to keep drivers off the freeways and encourage people to shop, eat, attend movies, etc. in their local communities. This is cool! We like this. [KTLA]