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The lead user interface designer for Office 2011 for the Mac touted the software's new Ribbon interface today in a video MIcrosoft released to pump up enthusiasm the upcoming suite.
"The Office for Mac Ribbon is a new user interface built from the ground up that places the most commonly-used controls right at your fingertips," said Han-Yi Shaw, the user experience manager at Microsoft's Mac Business Unit. MBU is the Redmond, Wash. company's internal Mac development team, which spends the bulk of its time building Office for Mac.
Shaw's comments were among those voiced by several MBU developers and program managers in a two-and-a-half-minute video that gave users the first official glimpse of the new interface, and a small number of other additions and enhancements, slated to appear in Office 2011.
"The Ribbon will make it easier to find [tools and features] without digging into the UI," said Shaw.
Office for Mac 2011 will feature a ribbon similar to what Microsoft debuted with Office 2007 for Windows, and also applied to Office 2010, the Windows suite launched two months ago.
The ribbon will appear below the standard Mac menu bar and above the content display area in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Familiar interface features, including the classic Mac menu and the standard toolbar, will remain, and the ribbon and toolbar will be collapsible to save screen space.
Some users expressed their displeasure earlier this year when Microsoft announced that Office 2011 would sport a ribbon-esque interface.
Those complaints kept rolling in today after Microsoft posted its video of Shaw and others discussing Office 2011.
"Oh, no!! That horrible ribbon is coming to Mac!! Save the women and children first!" wrote "Jaime R" in a comment to a similar story on the Cult of Mac blog.
Microsoft has not set a shipping timetable for Office 2011 for Mac, although it has promised to release the suite in time for this year's holiday sales season.
Other than the Ribbon, Microsoft's video also featured the suite's new template gallery and the revised e-mail client -- to be dubbed Outlook to match the name in the Windows versions of Office -- that will include a new view to collect all messages in a thread for easier reading and handling.
"We think that Office 2011 for Mac is the definitive version of Office for the Mac," said Shaw.
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is [email protected] .
Read more about applications in Computerworld's Applications Topic Center.


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When Minister of Heritage Mélanie Joly recently launched “Creative Canada,” it was a crucial reorientation toward the digital realm. While it has been denounced for lack of support for the news industry, satellite and cable, and for traditional Canadian media, the critics are missing the point.
The purpose of culture funding is to enable Canadians to tell their stories, and for Canadians to see themselves in music, film, TV and written products however they are distributed. The purpose isn’t to support industries challenged by changes arising from new forms of distribution.
Not surprisingly, the incumbents are complaining.
Most of the policies contained within the strategy are aimed at bringing Canadian cultural products into the modern age. For example, the Canada Periodical Fund, the main funding body for the news industry, is being revamped to focus on media innovation and startups. Much was made about Joly’s comments about not bailing out “non-viable” industries, referring to failing news companies. This shouldn’t be viewed as an abandonment of news companies. There’s no doubt that journalists in newsrooms across the country continue to do essential work in increasingly challenging circumstances. Joly said the government would no longer support industry models that are no longer viable. Why would anyone think supporting non-viable business models is a good idea? Think of the federal government supporting the production of tapes or CDs over online streaming, and using taxpayer money to do it. Canadians would be livid, and rightly so.
But the most contentious part of the Creative Canada strategy is what is being called the Netflix deal. It’s a promise that Netflix made to spend a minimum of $500 million on production and distribution of Canadian content, as well as opening a production centre in Canada. Before this deal was announced, there were calls for Netflix to be taxed by the federal government, which supporters claimed would help lessen the disadvantage that Canadian digital suppliers face. In the choice that the government faced — taxation or investment deal — both result in Canadians paying for it (recently, Netflix increased subscription fees in Canada $1, which will generate more than $70 million in revenue more for Netflix each year). But with an investment, we get more content, whereas a tax just goes right back into the government’s pocket, and likely back into the Canada Media Fund. One way to look at the Netflix deal is it gives Canadians more options to choose where they get their Canadian media; they can stick with the traditional realm, or they can turn to new, digital options.
Both the Netflix deal and the lack of focus on traditional media companies indicates that the culture strategy of the federal government is finally geared toward the digital age, increasing the accessibility of these culture products for all Canadians. According to a comScore study conducted in January, 30 million Canadians are active internet users; in contrast, last year, according to Boon Dog Professional Services, more than 200,000 Canadians cut their cable or satellite subscription, representing two per cent of the total market.
Of course, Creative Canada needs to be further developed. One area for this is the lack of detail provided in some of the major policy changes. For the Netflix deal, it hasn’t been specified what will constitute Canadian content. Will it be the traditional level of Canadian content — featuring most of the key roles of the creation and production being filled by Canadians — or will it simply be so-called “service productions” that only use Canadian crews, and have no real “Canadian” content? This is critical, and needs to be addressed. Similarly, few details have been provided on how major culture-related policies are going to be revamped, only the promise that they will be. This includes major policies like the Copyright Act, the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act.
Overall, the Creative Canada strategy has potential to improve the amount, quality and accessibility of Canadian cultural products. The policy is aimed more at helping artists and creators, and is less-focused on corporations. If the goal is to help Canadian cultural products become more original and diverse, then the focus on innovation and the digital sphere means that the Canadian government is trying to move with the times.
Sarah Pittman is a policy analyst at the Canada West Foundation.
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Owners will be notified by mail and dealers will make the necessary repairs for free.
Meanwhile, Nissan is recalling 908,000 vehicles worldwide for defective accelerator sensors that could cause the engine to stall. Most of those vehicles are in Japan, but 100,000 Infiniti M luxury models in the U.S. are included. No accidents have been reported, according to reports. Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to West Cobb Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


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LOCAL Enterprise Office (LEO) Wexford is hosting a workshop on the topic of Google Analytics this February.
The workshop, which will run online on Tuesday, February 8 and Wednesday, February 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on both mornings, is aimed at both business owners and marketing professionals who need to get a better grasp of how to use Google Analytics.
Jennie Frizelle from ADKC Training will deliver the course, covering topics such as understanding how to use the Google Analytics dashboards, the difference between organic and paid traffic to a website, the variation between traffic sources to a website and ways to analyse visitor behaviour.
By the end of the workshop, people should have a better understanding of their audience, website traffic and the type of content that engages people online, according to LEO Wexford.
The course costs €20 for participants. For more details, see https://www.localenterprise.ie/Wexford.


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Tomorrow, July 15, Vivo will present the new S10 and S10 Pro smartphones. On the eve of the announcement a video appeared in the network, which allegedly shows one of the features of the advanced model Vivo S10 Pro.
Looks like Vivo has found a way to make the design of its gadget stand out, and not at the expense of any inscriptions or colors. As shown in the video, the back panel is UV sensitive so you can draw on it.
All you need is an ultraviolet flashlight and maybe a stencil to make a beautiful drawing, not just a doodle. But in two to five minutes, it will disappear and you can create again!
Whether this feature will be confirmed - we will find out on July 15 at the official presentation.
We remind you that Vivo S10 Pro should also get a Dimensity 1100 processor, a dual front camera, a 108-megapixel main camera, 12 GB of RAM and support for proprietary 44W fast charging.


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There are not many more Broadway tickets for Ticketmaster.
After more than two decades, the Nederlander Organization has decided to part ways with Ticketmaster and use its own ticketing service. Rivaling the Shubert Organization’s Telecharge ticketing service, all tickets to shows presented in the Broadway landlord’s nine theaters can now be purchased through BroadwayDirect.
The move comes a couple of years after the Broadway theater owner Jujamcyn Theaters sent shockwaves through the theatre industry, splitting with Ticketmaster and selecting SeatGeek as the exclusive ticketing service for its five theaters. Adding a third major player to the primary marketplace for Broadway tickets, “this is one of the most disruptive moves on Broadway in decades,” commented one producer.
But, it was only a matter of time until Ticketmaster, which once served 15 Broadway theaters, would see its Broadway market share shrink.
In 2011, the Nederlander Organization set up BroadwayDirect as a platform to promote Broadway shows with news articles and interviews. But, the company has been inching more and more into the ticketing world, expanding the website to offer online ticket lotteries in 2016, and buying the ticketing technology company TixTrack last year. “The acquisition of the company is a natural next step,” stated its executive vice president Nick Scandalios at the time.
Now since Ticketmaster has been booted from Nederlander theaters, the company only serves the New Amsterdam Theatre, which Disney leases from the New York State Urban Development Corporation in exchange for two percent of the revenues generated from the shows presented in the theater escalating to three percent of the revenues once $30 million is received.
While executives at the Nederlander Organization declined to discuss their reason for breaking up with Ticketmaster on Broadway, using their own ticketing platform allows the company to collect service fees and customer data. Gaining invaluable insights into the demographics and ticket purchasing patterns of Broadway audiences, the company will be able to make more informed decisions about which shows to book in its theaters and which shows to develop and produce on Broadway.
In addition, Ticketmaster became a target for criticism recently over the issues customers encountered while attempting to purchase tickets to Taylor Swift’s “The Eras” concert tour. About forty percent of American voters reported an unfavorable view of the company, and the incident even prompted the U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing into Ticketmaster’s dominance in the ticketing industry.
But, at least on Broadway, Ticketmaster’s dominance over the ticketing industry is a thing of the past.


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Talk about being a pro at multi-tasking!
Kim Kardashian is the best auntie ever. …
Kourtney Kardashian showed off her assets in a bikini during her family vacation in St. Bart’s, and she looks absolutely phenomenal.
Make way for the busiest family in television.
While sis Kourtney Kardashian was giving birth to her and partner Scott Disick’s third child – a baby boy! – Kim Kardashian took all the children to Disney on Ice in celebration of Mason Disick’s 5th birthday (yep, Kourtney’s new baby and Mason share the same birthday).
And while Kim posted what ha…
It’s almost awards season, folks.
To kick things off, the fine people at the Screen Actors Guild have just announced nominees for the 21st annual fete.
The Kardashian-Jenner family just got together to celebrate Bruce Jenner’s birthday in Malibu, Calif.
Kim Kardashian and sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian were spotted at Geoffrey’s restaurant today, one day after Bruce turned 65. Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner were also spotted at the party. Check out the gallery to see photo…
Two babies later and Kourtney Kardashian has become a pro at being pregnant, making sure to remind the world how beautiful an expecting mother really is.
It’s a fact: Kim Kardashian’s booty gets a lot of attention, and the Keeping Up With the Kardashian star is typically photographed revealing her impressive décolletage.
Rarely are Kim’s legs the highlight of her outfit.
However, the 33-year-old mom joined her family at an amusement park last night in the Hamptons i…
As part of their ever-expanding fashion reign, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian will soon be debuting a line of clothing for baby girls, available exclusively at Babies ‘R’ Us. The designs, for tots up to two years old include onesies, jackets, dresses, and blankets.


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- Gadget Finder
- How To
- Digit Top10
Featured Hot DealsRs. 7027Rs. 23999Rs. 14490Rs. 12499Rs. 48851Rs. 17190Rs. 34700Rs. 26999Rs. 22221Rs. 26999
DataWind-Quad Electronics rift delays delivery of Aakash tablet
Controversies have continued to chase DataWind. The Canadian company, which was spearheading the original Aakash tablet project, has been accused by its erstwhile assembly partner Quad Electronics Solutions Pvt. Ltd of not clearing dues. DataWind, on the other hand, has accused Quad Electronics of infringing intellectual property rights and trying to sell the Aakash tablet directly to IIT-Rajasthan.
DataWind further claims that Quad Electronics signed an MoU with IIT-Rajasthan and unsuccessfully tried to develop a UbiSlate 7+ competitor. The two partners have already parted their ways and claim to have served legal notices to each other. However, thousands of people who booked the device are suffering because of the rift between the two companies. It may be recalled that DataWind had opened booking for the UbiSlate 7+, upgraded version of the original Aakash or UbiSlate 7 last year, but has not yet started shipping. A lot of people had paid in advance for the device.
“We will provide an update on the number of pre-bookings, units delivered and schedule to clear the backlog at our launch event, planned for the third week of this month,” DataWind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli told Live Mint via e-mail. Tuli had previously revealed that DataWind had received three million bookings for Ubislate 7+ and was likely to launch the device in a few weeks.
Back to back delays have already dented the popularity of the Aakash tablet, which is also touted as the world's cheapest tablet. The Indian government wants to use the Aakash tablet for bridging the digital divide in the country; however the device is yet to see the light of day. Union minister Kapil Sibal recently said the Aakash 2 tablet will launch in May with improved specifications. Read our previous coverage on the Aakash tablet here.
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A FOOD trader from Kirklees has been convicted after out-of-date drinks he sold to shops made children ill.
Irfan Hanif Patel then failed to give West Yorkshire trading standards officials the information they needed to make sure that stuff he sold was cleared from shop shelves across the county.
Patel, of Dewsbury, sold wholesale food to retailers door-to-door.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of being unable to provide West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service with the details of a supplier who had sold him re-dated food.
Nor could he provide details of the retailers he subsequently supplied.
At Leeds Magistrates’ Court he was given 200 hours’ community service and ordered to pay £500 costs for not keeping proper records while operating his food business.
The trading standards service received complaints from members of the public who were worried that Milky Way Magic Stars Milk Drinks, Ribena fruit juice drinks and Panda Low Calorie fruit juice drinks bought from shops in West Yorkshire that Patel had supplied had made children ill.
Investigations revealed that these drinks had their original ‘best before’ dates removed and re-applied – and the dates had been considerably extended.
For food safety reasons it is an offence to change the date on food without permission from the manufacturer.
Patel said he had bought these drinks from a car boot sale in Cross Gates, east Leeds, as clearance lines and was not able to help Trading Standards identify the culprits.
All his transactions had been in cash and he had neither obtained any invoices for the products he had bought or given out receipts to those retailers who he had supplied.
This prosecution by the trading standards service was brought under the 2004 General Food Regulations.
These make it illegal for a food business operator not to give details of his suppliers to the relevant authorities such as trading standards.
Magistrates took the opinion that Patel’s lack of a traceability system had severely hampered trading standards’ efforts to rid the shelves of all the offending products he supplied.
West Yorkshire’s Chief Trading Standards Officer, Graham Hebblethwaite (pictured), said: “This case shows the vital importance of traceability within the food supply chain.
“If a food is found to be a danger to the public it must be tracked back to its source and then on to every shop that has the product on its shelves so it can be safely removed from sale.”
Clr Derrick Yates, deputy chairman of the Trading Standards Committee, said: “This prosecution sends a clear message to those in the food business that they must take responsibility for the food they sell.
“They must buy food only from reputable sources and keep records of who they are buying from. Shopkeepers who buy anything from anonymous traders in white vans are potentially putting public health at risk.’’
Anyone with concerns about food products should contact Consumer Direct Yorkshire and the Humber on 08454 040506.


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Boston — Shopguard has named of Tanya Anderson Perry as U.S. sales, marketing and operations VP.
Shopguard Systems Limited provides security, display
Edmond, Okla. — Petra Industries has appointed Niraj Trivedi as Texas district sales manager of car audio.
Trivedi will be responsible for generating
Paul Starkey, the former president of ELAN Home Systems and multiple time entrepreneur, and Steve Firszt, Fast Forward Business Coach, have joined forces to create
Branchburg, N.J. – Falcon Safety Products has named Steve Smith sales senior VP.
The company, best known for its Dust-Off brand of CE cleaning products
Santa Monica, Calif. — Beats Electronics has named Matthew Costello as COO.
Costello takes the COO title from Beats president Luke Wood, who was named
Philadelphia – Veteran appliance distributor Larry Feldman died suddenly on Sunday.
Feldman’s family founded Empire State
Petaluma, Calif. – Core Brands tapped Matt Dever, formerly with THX and Pioneer, as audio segment marketing manager
Mahwah, N.J. — Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America (SEMCA) announced three executive promotions on Monday.
Amherst, N.Y. – John Marcolini has been named product management VP of Stampede Presentation Products.
Marcolini has 18 years of telecommunications and
Buena Park, Calif. — Yamaha promoted Mark Fisch to the position of national sales manager for its A/V division.
He will oversee A/V sales in the U.S.
BrandSource’s Summit show at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Fla., illustrated the va
By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
If you are having trouble accessing TWICE content or wish to subscribe to TWICE Online please email firstname.lastname@example.org or call 866-71-PRESS (866-717-7377).


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The first six Final Fantasy titles will be remastered and released on Steam and Mobile
The super ninja returns to decapitate foes and save the world!
Saturday, September 26th, 2020
Umihara Kawase BaZooKa! will be coming soon
Monday, May 4th, 2020
The latest Umihara Kawase is officially coming to the West


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Young entrepreneurs expand business at Witney Business & Innovation Centre
A pair of young entrepreneurs are confident their move to the Witney Business & Innovation Centre will be the “spring-board” they need to help their business to flourish.
School friends Aadam Akram and Joe Spicer launched Social Out-Cast, an online retail business, while studying A-Levels at Henry Box School in the town.
Just 12-months since launching, the young businessmen are celebrating a six-figure profit.
Since completing their studies, the duo have set up base at the Witney Business & Innovation Centre, becoming the newest firm to join the hotbed of pioneering businesses at the Windrush Park Road centre.
He said: “We were looking for a base, somewhere we could separate work from home. I knew the Witney Business & Innovation Centre was a fantastic place to network and we have already met people we can work with in the future.
"We’re confident it’s the perfect facility to spring-board Social Out-Cast into the future. The building is well-maintained and we love the interior décor and professional design. It’s great to know that as we grow we can remain at the centre, this stability is just what we want, as a start-up business, for our long-term career prospects.”
Social Out-Cast is an online business, known as drop shipping, promoting goods and taking orders on behalf of manufacturers while not holding stock.
Joe added: “We look at what’s trending, what’s gone viral and the season’s trends then promote whatever the item may be on social media platforms before linking back to our website, where customers can place their orders. We are, in effect, the middle man – we promote the goods and take the orders before passing them on for the manufacturer to ship out.
“Many young people and students are doing this to little success. We put our achievements down to our determination and drive to succeed. We deal with our set backs, evaluate and move-on and we’re confident our move to the centre will help us on our journey of growth.”
"18-year-old, Joe, praised the support he and his colleague had received since making the move from home at the beginning of the month.“Witney BIC gives us the flexibility we need as a dynamic, growing consultancy.”
Witney BIC provides a selection of office space solutions for 1 to 30 people and is owned by Blenheim Palace.
Alli Anderson, Centre Manager, said: “The enthusiasm of Aadam and Joe is infectious and we are delighted that they have decided to make the move to develop their business with us.
“All of us at the centre are dedicated to supporting the growth plans of all of our customers, and are on hand to answer questions and help steer the way, if required.”
Entrepreneur offers life-changing jobs to school leavers
Young people across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties are being given the chance to transfer their knowledge of multi-media platforms and devices into a high-earning career where they can even take a nap in the office, thanks to a rapidly expanding digital PR and SEO agency based at Witney Business & Innovation Centre (Witney BIC).
Oxfordshire healthtech company will help NHS cope with increased pressure
Healthtech company, Visiba, has set-up its UK headquarters at Witney Business & Innovation Centre (Witney BIC) and is poised to play a pivotal role in helping the NHS free-up clinician time in addition to offering a streamlined approach to rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine.
Witney BIC Newsletter – Autumn 2020
Welcome to the Winter issue of the Witney BIC Newsletter. […]


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SECOND SIGHT, THE BIONIC EYE MAKER, GOES OUT OF BUSINESS, LEAVING THEIR CUSTOMERS BLIND
So I actually had no idea that anyone out there was already making bionic eyes. As in, technology allowing you to see. And the company Second Sight is going under, meaning no more bionic eyes, no more retinal implants, allowing people to see. But even more, it means that no more maintenance or repairs. And we’re not talking about casual hardware, where a re-power and reboot, check the cables are attached will accomplish a fix. And the situation will literally leave some people blind. Again. This situation has suddenly become apparent after Second Sight did a round of layoffs.
A BIONIC EYE OR IMPLANT ISN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST REPLACE CASUALLY, NEVER MIND FIX
So I’ve certainly been there myself when it comes to tech immediately becoming outdated from a company that made it going out of business (or selling out to another who halts production). While that’s certainly been my experience with certain computers and laptops over the years, I’m talking about the Pebble Watch. I was one of the first to ever buy one on Kickstarter. Now, they no longer exist and I had to find a replacement. But what about an eye from Second Sight? Or a device in your eye that allows you to see? We’re not talking about something you can just… swap out. We’re talking about medical intervention.
SECOND SIGHT WILL NO LONGER REPAIR, MAINTAIN, OR EVEN SAFELY REMOVE DEAD HARDWARE
But for over 350 otherwise blind people around the world, that’s the situation they are about to be in. I’m sure they thought they were amazingly lucky to find a product that would allow them to see. But unfortunately, finding Second Sight was a short-lived miracle for these people. Now, a simple problem with their devices means it’s over. The lights are off, again. So far, there’s no word what options these people will have when their bionic eyes or other implants crap out. I can only imagine the anxiety they now feel.


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A celebration of beer and live music will be coming to Lichfield this October. Oktoberfest will be taking place at Lichfield Sports Club in Eastern Avenue from Thursday, October 27, to Saturday, October 29.
The event, based on the traditional German celebration, is set to feature live oompah bands as well as stand-up comedy, discos, street food and a specially brewed pilsner beer. People are encouraged to come along to the Lichfield event wearing traditional German lederhosen.
Oktoberfest is based on the traveling 'Volksfest' which is commonly found in the Bavarian region of Germany. The event usually features beer halls as well as a traveling funfair and live traditional German music.
On Thursday night, the event will be raising money for St Giles Hospice. There are still standard tickets available for all the nights. Standard tickets cost £20 with VIP tickets, which include guaranteed seating, costing £30 and can be purchased via Skiddle.


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BANGKOK -- The Thai government is facing an energy dilemma ahead of general elections in February. On one hand, it is throwing its weight behind building an electric vehicle industry, but moving away from biofuels could lose millions of votes from farmers.
The military government has been pushing hard to attract new investment in electric vehicles in a drive to make Thailand a regional high-tech auto hub.
The Board of Investment has already approved many EV projects, particularly in its newly developed special economic zone, the Eastern Economic Corridor. It has given investment incentives to foreign car assemblers since March 2017 to draw them to the area.
Nissan became the first major manufacturer in Thailand to launch an electric vehicle, the Leaf. It started taking orders for the car a year after announcing it would add the model to its lineup. Nissan said Thailand's EV-charging infrastructure is still in its early stages, but it believes consumers would be interested in the Leaf.
With strong support and investment by several car producers, the government wants to have 1.2 million EVs on the road by 2030, in line with Thailand's 20-year national strategy.
But as the country moves to embrace cleaner energy, there are worries that it will decrease demand for fossil fuels and biofuels. In particular, Thailand has been developing its biofuel industry for more than three decades.
Thailand is the world's second-biggest sugar exporter, with sugar cane production of more than 110 million tons a year. It is also the third-largest palm oil producer, growing more than 14 million tons of palm annually. This has resulted in a glut in the market.
"Thailand has a strong potential to produce biofuels. We should continue to develop them instead of ignoring the competitiveness we have," said Jetsada Wongwattanasin, vice president of the Thai Ethanol Manufacturing Association.
The junta, which has consistently said it would not offer any price supports, recently reversed course for palm growers as the election looms. The cabinet approved the plan to shore up the price of palm at a cost of more than one billion baht ($30 million) by adjusting the country's power generation to make it compatible with palm oil instead of bunker oil.
"The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand will buy up 160,000 tons of palm oil from farmers to be burned as power generating resources," said Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan.
Another measure to prop up palm oil prices is to increase the proportion of palm-based biofuels in gasoline. The government requires that all benzine must be blended with at least 10% ethanol. This policy has been in effect for more than 20 years to support demand for ethanol and biofuel and help farmers.
"The two measures will help increase palm oil demand by 240,000 tons and bring down the palm surplus to a normal level of 200,000 tons," said Siri.
Critics said these are just short-term measures and that the government still needs to implement a clear plan of action.
"There was no official forecast on the drop of biofuel demand due to the rise of EVs," Jetsada said. "However, industry officials predict that demand could drop by half."
Sanin Triyanond, chairman of Thai Biodiesel Producer Association, said that the government needs to be more proactive in drawing up a strategy for the industry. "The government should give us a clear picture on what we are going through," said Sanin.
He added that biofuel producers will need to diversify into other biochemical products in order to help offset the surplus of sugar cane and palm in the future. "But to go down that path, we need a soft landing, with which the government should assist us," said Sanin.


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Centara Hotels & Resorts announces Metta Boonyaritipong as opening General Manager for Centra by Centara Hotel Bangkok Phra Nakhon.
Since the implementation of the trans fat free initiative three months ago, Centara has served approximately 3-4 million meals of trans-fat free food to over 1.5 million guests. @ExploreCentara
Thailand’s leading hotel operator has announced the appointment of Andrew Langston to help execute its ambitious five-year expansion plan. @ExploreCentara


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You might think vitamin D deficiency wouldn’t be a problem in Australia, but new research has shown it’s an issue even in sunny countries, and indoor workers are one of the most at risk groups.
The research, published in Nature, found that 77 per cent of indoor workers were deficient in vitamin D. Including those who had insufficient levels of vitamin D (not classified as deficient but lower than recommended for health) sees the figure shoot up to nine out of 10.
Other at-risk groups included shift workers and medical professionals.
“Our results suggest that occupation is a major factor that may contribute to suboptimal vitamin D levels,” study author Dr Sebastian Straube said.
“Regular screening of vitamin D levels in at-risk groups should be considered for future clinical practice guidelines and public health initiatives.”
Workplace wellness programs should include education on the importance of sun
He said workplace wellness programs could also include education on the importance of getting enough sun and vitamin D.
“This could help prevent adverse health outcomes linked to vitamin D deficiency, such as metabolic disorders, psychiatric and cardiovascular disorders, and cancer,” Dr Straube said.
While the research was of a global nature and included countries with much less sun exposure than Australia, workers here aren’t off the hook.
“Despite the relationship between sunlight exposure and vitamin D levels, vitamin D deficiency is reportedly also prevalent among populations living in sunny climates including the Middle East, Africa, Australia, India and South America,” the research said.
Indeed, in Australia it is estimated that more than 30 per cent of individuals are deficient in vitamin D.
Dr Straube said a lack of sun exposure during work was to blame.
“Vitamin D production by the body is reliant on sunshine and UV exposure so any activity that reduces exposure tends to reduce vitamin D levels.”
Another reason to make sure offices have good natural light.


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Google’s “Latitude”: A major security flaw in Google’s global phone tracking system
One day after the global launch of Google’s “Latitude” phone tracking system, Privacy International has identified what appears to be a fundamental design problem that could substantially endanger user privacy.
Google Latitude, a new service from Google that allows you to send your location to Google Maps and share it with friends via many mobile phones.
With Google Latitude, you can:
- See where your friends are and what they are up to
- Quickly contact them with SMS, IM, or a phone call
- Maintain complete control over your privacy
Latitude is not a separate service that people need to separately adopt and configure but an extension of existing Maps for Mobile functionality. People simply need to download the latest version of Maps for their phone and opt-in to location sharing.
Latitude’s location-awareness capabilities are built on Google’s Wifi and cell tower triangulation that form the basis for its My Location tool.
After studying the system documentation, PI has determined that the Google system lacks adequate safeguards to protect users from covert opt-in to Latitude’s tracking technology. While it is clear that Google has made at least some effort to embed privacy protections, Latitude appears to present an immediate privacy threat.
Latitude is based on a reciprocal opt-in system. That is, before a person can be tracked, a sharing arrangement must be agreed with a requesting party. After this process has been executed, location data is made available on a time-to-time or continuous basis. On the face of it, this arrangement might seem an adequate protection. However this safeguard is largely useless if Latitude could be enabled by a second party without a user’s knowledge or consent. Privacy International believes this risk is substantial and could in the future adversely affect millions of phone users.
The following scenarios has been considered as some of the ways that the service can be abused:
- An employer provides staff with Latitude-enabled phones on which a reciprocal sharing agreement has been enabled, but does not inform staff of this action or that their movements will be tracked.
- A parent gifts a mobile phone to a child without disclosing that the phone has been Latitude-enabled.
- A partner, friend or other person gains access to an unattended phone (left on a bar on in the house) and enables Latitude without the other person’s knowledge.
- A Latitude-enabled phone is given as a gift.
- A phone left unattended, for example with security personnel or a repair shop, is covertly enabled.
Privacy International believes Google has created an unnecessary danger to the privacy and security of users. It is clear the company is aware of the need to create a message alert on Latitude-enabled phones but has chosen to launch the service without universal access to this safeguard. The Director of Privacy International, Simon Davies, said:
Many people will see Latitude as a cool product, but the reality is that Google has yet again failed to deliver strong privacy and security. The company has a long way to go before it can capture the trust of phone users.
As it stands right now, Latitude could be a gift to stalkers, prying employers, jealous partners and obsessive friends. The dangers to a user’s privacy and security are as limitless as the imagination of those who would abuse this technology."


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Xavier students participate in OTR celebration
CINCINNATI — OTRAGLOW, an annual community celebration of lighted window displays in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, got an extra boost this week from Xavier students. This friendly holiday competition hosts over 30 entries in three categories: business, residential and nonprofit, that each creates a holiday and Over-the-Rhine themed window display in their office storefront or home. The event is designed to celebrate the holiday season and Over-the-Rhine’s rich and diverse history. Official judging began Dec. 1 and ended Dec. 6 with an awards ceremony honoring the top picks in each category and one grand prize winner. Eigel Center Director Sean Rhiney … Continue reading Xavier students participate in OTR celebration
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California Inches Closer To Banning Sale And Manufacture Of Single-Use Plastics
Efforts to reduce plastic waste across the United States have been piecemeal. Some cities and counties have banned things like plastic bags, and states like California have prohibited the use of plastic straws at sit-down restaurants.
Now, state lawmakers want to go a step further: phasing-out the sale and distribution of the most widely used, single-use plastic items.
And the lawmakers behind the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (SB 54 and AB 1080) plan to put the onus on manufacturers by having them greatly reduce production of these plastics by 2030.
“We don’t think we can just go straw-by-straw,” said bill co-author Sen. Henry Stern. “We think if we’re actually going to tackle this crisis, it's more trying to go to the people making consumer products … to give them the opportunity to innovate.”
The bill calls for manufacturers to stop making as many single-use type plastic items as possible. And whatever single-use plastic still is manufactured would need to be recyclable or compostable.
CalRecycle will then have to figure out how to enforce the proposed law, and all these actions together should reduce single-use packaging and products sold in California by 75 percent by 2030.
Proponents say California recycles less than 15 percent of single-use plastics.
“This legislation provides a comprehensive plan to transition manufacturers and consumers toward more sustainable packaging and products,” co-author Sen. Ben Allen said in a statement. “It is time for California to take this crisis seriously and set a course to address it that will be a model for other states and countries.”
Nationally, around 9 percent of plastics are recycled — and that number could decrease even more as countries like China stop taking plastic waste from the United States.
Stern says situations like this are forcing places like California to consider other options, because “no one wants to buy our junk anymore” and recycle it.
Making sure the top 10 single-use plastics products commonly picked up during beach cleanups — cigarette butts, bottle caps, straws, plastic bags, etc. — are made with only reusable, recyclable or compostable material will have a huge impact on the state’s waterways and human health, according to Ashley Blacow-Draeger with the environmental group Oceana.
“The alarming news is that [a new study] estimates an average person could be ingesting five grams of plastic every week, which is the equivalent of one credit card,” Blacow said. “That’s pretty disturbing that single-use plastics have been detected in our salt, in honey, in beer.”
But not everyone agrees that banning these items is the right move. An article in the trade magazine Plastics Today notes that the Plastics Industry Association has tried to work with the authors “to try and redirect the bills toward policies that are proven to reduce litter and increase diversion rates. Unfortunately, we've been unable to have the bills amended to a point where we can support them.”
Also, in late March, the California Chamber of Commerce noted its opposition unless the bills were amended. The group says the bills “raise serious questions,” give CalRecycle unfettered authority and sketch out unrealistic timelines.
Copyright 2019 Capital Public Radio


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Now replace me, says Co-op chief Ursula Lidbetter after members back reforms to modernise the troubled mutual
Ursula Lidbetter, chair of the Co-operative Group, is to make finding her own replacement her top priority after delegates to a special meeting voted for sweeping reforms to the organisation’s board.
Hailing yesterday’s vote as a ‘momentous and defining moment’ for the Co-op, Lidbetter said the new chairman was crucial as they would implement the reforms.
The meeting in Manchester voted 83 per cent in favour of the reform package to see the group’s board shrunk from 20 to 11 members.
Reforms: The group's business focus will now be on its core supermarkets
Alongside two executive officers the board will be dominated by five independent non-executives including the new chairman, plus three directors nominated by members.
The system replaces a board almost entirely elected from members, a system discredited after the Co-op plunged into financial crisis last year. It will also create a 100-strong council elected by all members.
Lidbetter supported the reforms but under the changes would not be eligible to chair the new board.
Richard Pennycook, acting chief executive, would not be drawn on whether he would be a candidate for the permanent role, saying he would be ‘happy to go back’ to his previous position as chief operating officer.
Pennycook has been acting chief executive since Euan Sutherland dramatically quit the group last year amid bitter infighting over the reforms.
The group will now hope to draw a close on more than a year of turmoil, sparked by the £1.5billion crisis at the Co-operative Bank, later fuelled by revelations of drug use by Paul Flowers, chairman of the bank and deputy chairman of the group.
The Co-op has been forced to hand control of its bank to creditors including US hedge funds, though it retains a minority stake. It has also sold its farming and pharmacies businesses to plug funding gaps.
The group’s business focus will now be on its core supermarkets. Half year figures, due next week, are expected to show the retail business, is suffering from the fierce competition in the grocery market.
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TORRANCE, California — Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. is expanding its recall of vehicles with faulty Takata front passenger airbags to include approximately 198,000 2008 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix and 2008-'10 Lexus SC 430 cars, the automaker said on Wednesday.
"This will add model years of certain vehicles previously recalled and will cover all remaining dual-stage front-passenger inflators of a particular type, as a precautionary measure," Toyota said in a statement.
The Takata inflators can deploy with too much force, spewing metal shrapnel into the cabin.
"As of March 2, 2016, based on a diligent but not exhaustive review of available data, we are not aware of any injuries or fatalities associated with Takata inflator ruptures among the population of vehicles involved in this recall expansion," wrote Toyota spokeswoman Cindy Knight in response to a query from Edmunds.
She added: "Among the total population of vehicles subject to Toyota's recall for Takata-produced inflators, Toyota is aware of allegations of injuries associated with Takata inflator ruptures in Toyota- produced vehicles while we are not aware of any fatalities. We note that injuries and fatalities can result from the recall condition."
Approximately 29 million Takata airbag inflators have been recalled in the U.S. in more than 19 million vehicles. The defective inflators have been linked to 10 deaths worldwide and hundreds of injuries.
Interim notifications begin in mid-March. A second notification will go out to owners in early June, advising them when to contact their dealer for a service appointment.
"We urge customers in both the original and expanded populations to have this recall completed at the earliest opportunity," Knight wrote.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not posted any information about this expanded Toyota recall.
Edmunds says: Consumers should make it a habit to check NHTSA's VIN Lookup tool regularly to see if their vehicle is included in the ongoing Takata airbag recall.


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Despite the criticisms of The Golden Globes, they can make careers and brands; in addition there are several PR lessons we can learn from them.
Throughout, VW has been consistent in its crisis communications: The company has said little. Public apologies and customer correspondence have been repeated on online platforms.
Chipotle and Edelman end their relationship as the burrito maker is in legal trouble and December sales plummet 30%.
Do Herbert Diess’ remarks set the right tone for renewing trust in Volkswagen?
On Jan. 5 at CES 2016, two electronics giants held press conferences that played right into the interests of PR pros.
As a communications pro in an organization you need to ask yourself what would you and your brand have done if a bombing or an attack occurred near your headquarters or other offices?
If you created a campaign that was this widely viewed but also this widely derided, would you be promoted or censured?
Mistakes were made. More mistakes were made.
If there’s one lesson from recent crises it may be that the very moment you are considered a “Wall Street darling” is when you should be preparing and rehearsing your crisis communications plan. For very


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In another aggressive bid for subscribers, T-Mobile unveiled a new family plan that undercuts rivals AT&T and Verizon on price.
Chief Executive John Legere used the company’s blog — sprinkled liberally with his trademark pokes at rivals — to announce a limited-time offer in which a family of four can receive unlimited talk, text and up to 10 gigabytes of data for $100 a month.
Comparable plans, such as AT&T’s Share Value, Verizon’s More Everything and Sprint’s Family plan, cost $60 more every month.
“It doesn’t take a genius, right?” Legere wrote. “That’s $60 in your wallet every month for a family of four — or $1,440 over two years.”
Legere singled out AT&T for special ridicule, calling the rival’s “Best Ever” pricing promotion “a joke.”
There are, of course, caveats in T-Mobile’s own special offer, which is available from June 30 through September. While the deal is cheaper on its face, the data usage isn’t shared among family members — it’s set at 2.5 gigabytes per line. And the Simple Choice pricing for a family of four, with the data option, ends on Jan. 2, 2016.
T-Mobile’s promotion also doesn’t include an early upgrade option, as AT&T’s Next or Verizon’s More Everything plans do. T-Mobile subscribers will pay an additional $10 per line, per month — or $40 more a month, for a family of four — to take advantage of T-Mobile’s Jump upgrade program.
BMO Capital Markets analyst Kevin Manning wrote that he doubts Legere’s new deal will attract many new subscribers — in part, because the offer has a time limit. But it may help to reduce churn, the loss of subscribers to other carriers, ahead of an anticipated introduction in September of the new iPhone, he wrote.
T-Mobile’s offer comes after AT&T posted significant subscriber gains in its second quarter, and Verizon saw gains, thanks to a jump in tablet use.
The carrier reports earnings on July 31.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.


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Online table reservation startup EazyDiner has raised `30 crore in a fresh round of funding led by its existing backers Deepak Shahdadpuri-led DSG Consumer Partners and Saama Capital, with two new investors also coming on board.
Joining the startup's investor cap table are Singapore-based earlystage venture capital firm Beenext and a Middle-East-based family office. According to company executives, the Series-B round values EazyDiner at a pre-money valuation of `250 crore. “We will be focusing on improving our technology stack, and expanding our footprints within and outside the country's borders,“ said Rohit Dasgupta, CEO of EazyDiner.
Till date, the company has raised `51 crore across rounds. EazyDi
`51 crore across rounds. EazyDiner operates in nine cities, including Dubai, and expects to be in six more locations by the end of the current fiscal. As part of its international expansion, the startup is targeting to set up operations in Abu Dhabi by the second or third quarter of next year. Besides Dasgupta, the company also counts media personality Vir Sanghvi as a founder, along with six professionals with a background in food, beverages and hospitality sectors.


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Equity markets haven’t been high on Expeditors International for the last several weeks — the stock is down more than 19% in the last three months — but the fourth-quarter financial report for the company was solid.
Expeditors’ earnings release came as it is in the midst of a significant cyberattack. In the earnings release, the company repeated what it had said already about the attack, that the situation is “evolving.”
The company (NASDAQ: EXPD), which moves freight both through the air and over the ocean, faced significant pressures during the quarter from the cost of moving its shipments. During those three months, the cost of transportation and other expenses related to that rose 87% from the prior year’s fourth quarter, climbing to just over $4 billion.
That cost increase grew faster than the growth in Expeditors’ revenues, which were up 81%. But the company kept salaries and other expenses in check, rising just 36%.
The end result was that operating income for Expeditors was up 121% from the fourth quarter of 2020. Diluted earnings per share rose 129% to $2.66 per share from $1.16 per share.
Expeditors’ performance outpaced consensus forecasts, which projected the company was going to earn 57 cents per share less than where it came in. Revenue of $5.39 billion was better than forecasts by $920 million, according to Seeking Alpha.
Despite what on the surface appears to have been a better quarter, equity markets continued their recent negative reaction to Expeditors’ performance. At approximately 10:30 a.m. EST Tuesday, Expeditors’ stock was down $4.76, or 4.48% on the day, to $101.74. The company’s 52-week high was just over two months ago, at $137.80.
Expeditors is the only transportation company that is considered a “dividend aristocrat,” defined as a company that has increased its dividend for 25 consecutive years. The company’s annual dividend of $1.16 per share yields just slightly more than 1%. Its most recent increase was last May.
The company does not hold an earnings call with analysts. Jeffrey Musser, its president and CEO, said in the company’s earnings statement that the performance of Expeditors faced some significant headwinds in the supply chain.
“There is still too little international air capacity, as travelers have been kept from flying abroad; the ocean ports are too congested to accommodate many of the ships that need to load and unload their containers; and worker shortages are severely limiting overland capacity to support the freight that is able to arrive in port,” he said in the statement.
The problems on the ocean were clear in statistics released by Expeditors. Comparing tonnage carried in the fourth quarter of 2020, October volume measured in forty-ton equivalents (FEU) was up 2% in October compared to the prior year but down 7% in November and December. For the quarter, shipments measured in FEUs were down 4%.
Airfreight performance headed in a different direction. Increases for each of the three months compared to the prior year were 13%, 13% and 12%, respectively.
“Despite the lack of space, we experienced record-high air tonnage in the fourth quarter, as we used more air charters than at any other time in our company’s history, even with extremely elevated rates,” Musser said in the statement. “Ocean container volumes, by contrast, declined during the quarter, as we were somewhat limited in our ability to secure necessary capacity from ocean carriers, and hampered by the time and resources required to process shipments and meet sharply growing customer demand.
Musser summed up the market Expeditors is facing: “There is simply not enough carrier capacity in the air or on the oceans to accommodate the heavy demand for cargo space, particularly from China to the U.S., where historically high average buy and sell rates have been the most elevated.”
The growth of Expeditors’ business year-over-year can also be seen in the accounts receivable it declared for the end of the quarter. A year ago, it was just under $2 billion at the end of the year. At the close of December 2021, it had ballooned to $3.8 billion.


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Apple is a fan of augmented reality, and hasn’t necessarily been all that forthcoming on any love for virtual reality, but a new report suggests the company is going all-in in a big way with both technologies.
CNET is reporting on Friday that Apple is currently working on a single headset that supports not only AR, but also VR. The goal is to offer a single, immersive experience, unlike the variety of different AR and VR headsets out there that offer a single experience. The device is reportedly codenamed T288, and if the report is accurate, than Apple is including an 8K display for each eye.
That would make it a 16K display.
Going further, the report indicates that Apple wants this experience to happen even if you aren’t connected to a computer or your iPhone. That means the device will be a standalone unit, and Apple is said to be working towards a 2020 launch timeframe.
As it stands right now, Apple’s current situation with AR and/or VR headsets seems to be covering quite a bit of ground. The last we heard, which does corroborate this report based on a launch date, Apple is working on a custom chip and operating system, which could be called “rOS” for its augmented reality headset. And there have been plenty of rumors that Apple is building a pair of AR glasses as well.
Apple’s, and especially Tim Cook’s, love for augmented reality was always going to come into fruition beyond just turning iPhones and iOS devices into AR devices through ARKit. A headset has felt inevitable for quite some time. But this new report, of an AR/VR device with a 16K display, is pretty intense. Do you think Apple will meet the rumored 2020 launch date?[via CNET]


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Posted by Barry Silverstein on September 21, 2010 04:00 PM
Kodak, a brand name that may find it a major challenge to shake its association with conventional photography, is doing everything it can to become a hip, socially aware digital photography provider.
As BC reported, Kodak's next multimedia campaign (tagline: "So Kodak") will hype the company's photo-sharing capability with a "share" button coming to all of its cameras. Kodak marketer Steve Hallowell says it's part of an effort to make sure that "Kodak is synonymous with cool, hot and worthy of sharing with others."
Kodak's latest entry into the "cool, hot and worthy" category was unveiled this week for Photokina, the major photo industry trade show being held in Germany (take a sneak peek above). The brand's new Pynk "smart printing system" includes a retail photo kiosk "automatically enlarges, shrinks, crops, aligns and arranges as many as 13 images on one print."Continue reading...


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Barbour Books to hold 2019 book sale benefit
Barbour Books, 1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, will hold its 2019 book sale benefit from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2 in the front parking lot.
Hot dogs, chips, water and soda will be available. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Community Hospice.
For information: barbourbooks.com.
SUBMITTED BY TWIN CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


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While the overwhelming majority of identity theft schemes take advantage of personal identification, businesses and organizations are also increasingly vulnerable, according to a report in BusinessWeek.
Small and midsize companies can be tempting targets for criminals looking to exploit extensive credit lines, cash reserves, and business relationships.
Given this exposure, California has led the way in offering identity rights to organizations. In 2006 the state legislature expanded the definition of "person" in identity theft cases to include associations, organizations, partnerships, businesses, trusts, companies, and corporations. The bill, authored by former Assemblyman Ron Calderon, also includes logos and "photographic representation" as legitimate personal identifying information.
The bill was supported by the state attorney general, the California Small Business Association, California State Sheriffs' Association, California Manufacturers & Technology Association and California Medical Association, among others. Both the House and Senate voted unanimously to pass Calderon's amendment. Calderon, now a senator, told BusinessWeek the issue came to a head after the California District Attorney Association and the state's attorney general complained that it was difficult to prosecute business identity theft cases. Since amending the law, Calderon said the frequency of such theft has dropped. "As a deterrent, I'm sure it's working," he says.
In addition, California's Anti-Phishing Act of 2005 made it illegal to use the Internet to "solicit, request, or take any action to induce another person to provide identifying information by representing itself to be a business without the authority or approval of the business," a defense against the uptick in identity theft schemes.
From 2004 to 2008, the percentage of Americans who said they received what appeared to be a phishing attempt jumped from 40 percent to 80 percent, according to Gartner Inc. (IT), a Stamford, CT-based information technology research firm. While almost 120 million Internet users reported being solicited, only 300,000 lodged complaints in 2008 with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency charged with keeping track. Since 1999, the FTC has logged 2 million complaints—less than a quarter of the total number of victims estimated by Betsy Broder, assistant director of the FTC's division of privacy and identity protection. This "crime of substantial proportions," Broder told BusinessWeek, spurred the creation of a federal task force in 2006, consumer hot lines, and a new database to track identity theft.
Without the type of IT security measures larger companies employ, smaller businesses and organizations needed the additional legal protection, California advocates say. As individuals, small-business owners are 25 percent more likely to be victims of identity theft, according to recent studies by Javelin Strategy & Research, a Pleasanton, CA, firm that focuses on financial services. With typically larger lines of credit, business owners are often hit for larger amounts than the average fraud victim and spend more time resolving the issue.


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The Adventure Zone sequel Murder on the Rockport Limited first look
Earlier this year, a graphic novel adaptation of the hugely popular Dungeons and Dragons-inspired podcast The Adventure Zone hit the shelves, and quickly emerged as a surprise breakout in publishing, becoming a No. 1 New York Times best seller right out of the gate. It should come as good news to fans that a sequel is already on the way: The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited!
Where the first Adventure Zone book — written by podcast cocreators (and brothers) Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy along with their father Clint McElroy, and published by First Second — covered the beginnings of the “Balance Arc” of its source material, the sequel will continue to adapt the beloved adventures for the page. The authors return alongside illustrator and co-adaptor Carey Pietsch for Murder on the Rockport Limited, which follows hero-adjacent sort-of-comrades-in-arms Taako, Magnus, and Merle on a wild careen through a D&D railroad murder mystery. We can tease that the sequel will also feature a genius child detective, an ax-wielding professional wrestler, a surly wizard, cursed magical artifacts, and a pair of meat monsters.
The Adventure Zone podcast has been downloaded more than 10 million times and has been running since 2014. With the books finding a big audience of their own, EW is excited to offer an exclusive preview of Murder on the Rockport Limited, with eight interiors to debut. Read on below, and see the cover at the top of this post. The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited! publishes July 16, 2019, and is available for pre-order.
- ‘RWBY’ and ‘gen:LOCK’ comics coming next year
- Chuck Palahniuk announces ‘Fight Club 3’ comic series
- New ‘Legend of Korra’ comic puts Kuvira on trial
Source: Read Full Article


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THE estate life is not quite Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's cup of tea. He admires the planters' I>esprit de corps/Iand marvels at how well they have settled in at the estates, but he admits that he is not suited for such a lifestyle. The Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd's group chief executive officer recalls a typical visit: #8220;After two nights, the I>burung hantu/I(owl) was already getting on my nerves.#8221;
PENANG Port Sdn Bhd, scheduled for listing later this year, will spend RM175mil in 2003 to rebuild the Swettenham Pier, expand the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT), and construct a marina.
MALAYSIA recorded a lower trade surplus of RM4.9bil in February 2003 compared with RM6.3bil in the previous month, the country's sixty-fourth consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.
THE war in Iraq is certainly taking a toll on the rubber glove industry. Whereas rising latex prices were pretty much the main concern over the last five quarters, the recent standoff followed by the outbreak of war in the Middle East has led to further increases in production costs.
THE Italian trade commission, together with the Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and Moulds Manufacturers' Association (Assocomaplast), will take part in the upcoming M-Plas 2003 Exhibition on April 10- 13.


text: Mumbai: Walmart India CEO Krish Iyer has said that series of measures like demonetization, Goods and Services Tax (GST) announced by the Indian Government will be beneficial for the retail sector of the country. These initiatives will be helpful in getting good amount of foreign investment into Indian market. Walmart however felt the adverse impact of demonetization in initial days, but subsequently benefited as well. The non-cash transaction has gone up by more than 100 per cent. Before demonetization the non-cash transactions account for 70 per cent of business now compared to 30 per cent pre-demonetisation, Iyer underlined. Walmart India currently operates 21 stores across the country in ‘cash and carry’ format and plans to open 50 more stores in next five years.


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Renovotec Extends Industry Scheme To Cut Warehouse Costs & Increase Productivity
Supply chain technology company Renovotec is now extending its free ‘Warehouse Walkthrough’ consulting scheme indefinitely following positive industry feedback in year one, with scheme user reports of successful reductions in warehouse staffing levels as well as measurable increases in productivity, Renovotec says. Year one learnings are now being fed into the scheme to increase its effectiveness; Renovotec is increasing scheme resources, including consulting time.
- Free ‘Warehouse Walkthrough’ consulting scheme identifies key areas for staff reduction and high-impact technology intervention
- Indefinite scheme extension follows a strong, measurable response in year one: users report successful staff reductions and increased productivity
- Renovotec to increase scheme resources including consulting time
Warehouse walkthrough recommendations have been shown to reduce staffing levels by 30%, with no reduction in service; cut warehouse operatives’ walking time by 50%; and increase their picking speed and accuracy by 35%. High-impact technologies deployed following a warehouse walkthrough can include voice picking, robotics and other forms of warehouse automation.
“Our in-depth knowledge of warehouse workflows means that our chosen technologies are always closely aligned with the warehouse processes they drive – hence their high impact” says Renovotec CEO Richard Gilliard. “Our commitment to this scheme reflects our commitment to the industry we serve.”
Related Press Releases
Renovotec Expands Global Footprint with Two New Offices
Fast growing AIDC provider responds to customer demand Warrington, UK – 9am BST, 24th October: Renovotec, the UK’s fastest growing provider of end-to-end automatic identification and data collection (AIDC) technology solutions and services for organisations operating throughout the supply chain, today announced the strategically significant opening of two new offices, one serving the Nordic region […]
Renovotec Launches Printer Audit Scheme
Supply chain solutions and services company Renovotec is launching a free three-month trial for its printer audit service, the company announced today.
The audit helps a supply chain company to understand its printer estate: how many printers it has, where they are located and what condition they are in.
Three Considerations for Warehouse Expansion and How They Impact Productivity
Omnichannel is Driving Warehouse Expansion With an expansion of retail omnichannel experiences, some of the world’s largest retailers are spotting further opportunities for growth by acquisition.
The recent announcement of Next acquiring Joules to help save it from administration was largely driven by the Total Platform Infrastructure that Next has accumulated and invested in.


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Ergatta has closed $30 million in Series A funding led by Advance Venture Partners, with participation from Greycroft, Fifth Wall, Gaingels, and Hans Tung (GGV).
The new funding builds upon a $5 million seed round announced in July 2020, bringing Ergatta’s total capital raised to $35 million.
The Brooklyn-based company, founded in 2019, offers a workout based on a user’s profile and fitness objectives. The brand’s flagship product, the Ergatta Rower, pairs its tech-driven content with a handcrafted rowing machine built from cherry wood in Rhode Island and designed to fit into a customer’s living space.
“We believe the future of fitness is at home, brought to life by engaging and personalized digital content,” said AVP Founding Partner Courtney Robinson. “Ergatta’s unique workout experience resonates with a large, unaddressed portion of the market that thrives off of competition, sport and continuous improvement. Their year one growth is a testament to both the demand for gamified fitness and their intimate understanding of the consumer demographic driving that demand.”
“We are creating a new paradigm for digital fitness content that leverages games and competition, rather than instructors,” said Ergatta Co-founder and CEO, Tom Aulet. “Our mission is to bring daily fitness within reach for our members by putting the individual in control and creating compelling, personalized programming that adapts to their fitness level, driving consistent fitness behavior over time.”
Photo courtesy Ergatta


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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a new lawsuit against national retailer Family Dollar on Thursday, claiming the company engaged in deceptive practices and activities that put customers at risk.
In the suit, Rutledge claims the value retail chain operator used “reckless, willful, intentional, deceptive, and unconscionable practices of marketing, distributing, and selling to Arkansas consumers products which were potentially hazardous, adulterated, or contaminated.”
The majority of the allegations in the suit are centered on complaints at the company’s distribution center in West Memphis, which was temporally shut down earlier this year after repeated violations found during inspections by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Those inspections led to an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which then issued a safety alert warning that conditions in the West Memphis center — where there was evidence of live and dead rodents, rodent waste, rodent nesting and dead birds and bird droppings — could lead to contamination in products.
That FDA safety alert was followed by an advisory from the agency for consumers in six states, including Arkansas, to throw away products purchased at Family Dollar stores. The company had already issued a voluntary recall and temporarily closed more than 400 stores to clear out potentially contaminated products.
The attorney general is suing the company under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practice Act (ADTPA), claiming that as the West Memphis facility was seeing these failing inspections, Family Dollar was still making great profits while “knowingly exposing Arkansas consumers to potentially hazardous or contaminated products.”
“In many rural communities in Arkansas, families rely on discount stores like Family Dollar for essential products such as food, medicine or pet food,” the attorney general said in a release. “Family Dollar has had knowledge of this dangerous and massive rodent infestation for over two years, yet they continued to sell and profit from potentially contaminated goods. Consumers lost money and could have lost their lives.”
Rutledge is asking that Family Dollar face a number of penalties, including restitution to shoppers, $10,000 fines for each violation of the ADTPA and a possible suspension of the company’s business license to operate in Arkansas.


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If You Guessed It Was For AI Purposes Give Your self Additional Dessert
Raspberry Pi Ltd have secured an unknown sum of money from Sony Semiconductor Options to broaden the tiny pc’s skills to deal with AI purposes. This isn’t the primary funding Sony put into Raspberry Pi, they’ve been backing the not for revenue for just a few years now with each money and manufacturing know-how. This has actually helped with the availability of those boards, although demand continues to outstrip manufacturing, particularly now that companies are scooping them up for use in manufacturing and controllers.
Fanatics have already been utilizing their Raspberry Pi construct for AI purposes, particularly in visible system. OpenCV, aka Open Laptop Imaginative and prescient is a well-liked, albeit considerably irritating, utility which may allow your Pi to carry out picture recognition. This new spherical of funding contains entry to Sony’s Aitrios platform, which is able to give Raspberry Pi gadgets the power to speak to IMX500 imaging sensors. That can tremendously enhance the power of the system to carry out visible studying duties.


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Alibaba founder Jack Ma resigns from SoftBank board before its record losses are revealed.
E-commerce sales went up by 49% in the US last month thanks to online grocery growth
Lantern, an online store for delivering Marijuana, launched by makers of Drizzly.
Adidas reveals that they have a 97% decline in net profits.
China will organize a shopping festival online between April 28 and May 10 to boost the economy.
Unilever boss says Coronavirus will leave a 'lasting change' in people's shopping behaviour.
Ad prices are dropping currently due to COVID-19 but this is a good chance for start-ups to buy cheap ads and promote e-commerce.
Tesla begins selling its cars online in China on the Alibaba platform


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GamesIndustry.biz reports that despite rumours to the contrary there are no immediate plans to redesign the Nintendo DS. From the article: "Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed late last year that a redesign was in the pipeline, and it's thought that there are low levels of DS stock remaining - the handheld has proved a huge hit in Japan, the US and Europe and more than 13 million units have been sold worldwide." IE: There will be a redesign for the handheld console, but not any time real soon.
#NetNeutrality is STILL in danger - Click here to help. DEAL: For $25 - Add A Second Phone Number To Your Smartphone for life! Use promo code SLASHDOT25. Check out the new SourceForge HTML5 Internet speed test. ×


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The cashier at WHSmith clears his throat to make sure Diane von Kesmark, 72, can hear him. ‘It’s hygiene, madam,’ he tells her, emphatically.
But he is not referring to the transparent plastic shield separating customers from the till, nor the latex gloves he is wearing to handle goods.
He is explaining why he can’t accept her request to pay for her Daily Mail — available for 70p in all good newsagents — in cash.
The government suggests shops should encourage contactless payments instead of cash. But studies indicate cash and coins pose no greater risk than handling other everyday items
‘Oh goodness, really?’ Diane replies, as she rummages through her handbag to find her bank card, instead.
‘I’m afraid so,’ the cashier says. ‘Money, it’s dirty.’
But is it really?
Many shop owners in Twickenham, West London, seem to think so.
As I stroll down the High Street on Monday morning, the day all retailers were allowed to reopen, several have put up signs along the lines of ‘please use card wherever possible’.
It follows government guidance on safe reopening that suggests shops should encourage contactless payments instead of cash.
But studies indicate cash and coins pose no greater risk than handling other everyday items, and the anti-cash stance makes life difficult for people such as Diane.
‘I’m finding it impossible to pay for things [with cash],’ she tells me. ‘It’s the same everywhere.
‘Normally, I get a set amount out of the bank once a week and that’s it. Now, I’ve got absolutely no idea of what I’ve spent.’
Consumer group Which? has found that more than half of volunteers helping to deliver groceries during lockdown said the vulnerable had given them cash to do their shopping. Yet, one in ten said they had that payment method refused in stores.
Cash machine withdrawals fell by 55 per cent in lockdown, according to ATM network Link.
While research conducted for Money Mail, by digital business bank Amaiz, suggests half of all retailers plan to go cashless or have already done so due to the virus.
Such figures have fuelled fears that the cash system, heavily relied on by the elderly and vulnerable, is ‘hanging by a thread’.
Only 7 per cent of those aged 65 and over use cash less than once a month, according to the banking trade body UK Finance, and digital payments are impossible for the 2.3 million over-70s who don’t have internet access.
Former pensions minister and campaigner for the elderly Baroness Altmann says it is ‘vital’ shops continue to take cash.
‘There are elements of the reaction to the virus that have already discriminated against the elderly,’ she adds. ‘If we continue to do so when reopening, this crisis will do long-term damage to the fabric of our society.’
‘I don’t want to queue for change’
But shop owners face a tricky choice. Reopening responsibly means being squeaky clean.
Paras Patel, 35, and his party shop Memories, were back in business on Monday. As I enter, he is printing off ‘card only’ signs for his window. ‘It’s to stop the spread,’ he says. But there are practical considerations, too.
‘He points to the long queue outside Lloyds Bank across the road. ‘I don’t want to wait in that to get change and petty cash,’ he says.
Banks also charge businesses to deposit their cash, making it cheaper for some to refuse it.
Health fears: Cash machine withdrawals fell by 55% in lockdown, according to ATM network Link
Florist Sophie King, 34, is reopening The Bloomery today and also plans to be ‘card only’. She feels that, with only about 15 per cent of her sales made by cash, her business can survive without it.
But she adds: ‘If someone says to me they want a £50 bouquet and they’ve only got a £50 note, I’m not going to say no.
If someone says to me they want a £50 bouquet and they’ve only got a £50 note, I’m not going to say no
I’m still a small business, after all.’ It seems most traders are prepared to be flexible.
Jo Senior, 45, says that while her gift shop, Mojo, won’t advertise that it takes cash, it will accept it so long as customers and staff feel safe.
She adds: ‘Some elderly customers don’t like using cards and we want to look after them.’
As for my own shopping trip, I find it surprisingly straightforward to buy my assortment of goods, all paid for in cash.
It’s a varied haul: A pork pie from the butcher; two punnets of strawberries from the grocer; chocolate raisins from Tesco; orange juice from Iceland; a paperback from Waterstones; an espresso from Esquires Coffee; paracetamol from Boots; a pen from WHSmith. Only at Boots am I told cash should be used only as a last resort.
And, while WHSmith says it is encouraging customers to pay using contactless wherever possible, you can use cash at the self-service checkout (though this is something elderly and vulnerable shoppers are not always comfortable doing).
But, sometimes, technology fails us. Earlier this month, in Twickenham, a local outage meant some essential small businesses couldn’t use their card machines for up to two weeks and cash became king once again.
Paul Cooper, of Cooper & Sons, who sold me the strawberries, says most of his customers were happy to pay by cash and he took I.O.Us for those that weren’t.
If they still want to pay by cash, we’ll still take it
Paul Cooper, of Cooper & Sons
‘We know a lot of our customers and we operate on trust,’ says Paul, 54. ‘If they still want to pay by cash, we’ll still take it.’
Stephen Jones, the former chief executive of UK Finance who resigned yesterday, says: ‘The banking and finance industry is committed to ensuring that access to cash remains free and widely accessible to those who need it.’
Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.


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The hardware on the new iPad Pro is absolutely stellar, far beyond any competition in the tablet space. But, Apple's newly announced iPadOS 15 is so decidedly not-pro that it's fair to question whether the company will ever fully take the training wheels off of its restrictive software.
Following the launch of new iPad Pro models in May, which feature the same blazing fast M1 CPU as Apple's latest Mac systems, many predicted and hoped that the device maker would unveil an overhauled iPadOS at its Worldwide Developers Conference.
There remains a lot of low-hanging fruit that the company could have tackled — features already widely available on both Intel and M1 Macs, including a more robust multitasking system, proper support for external monitors, and greater compatibility with external peripherals.
None of the above improvements are bad, per se, but they just don't go far enough for a device that runs the same processor as the latest Macs — systems that are blowing away the competition, earning rave reviews from critics, and driving sales of Mac hardware to heights the company has never seen.


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Turnover at Hermes for FY 2019/20 increased 9%, making it one of the best years in the company’s financial history.
For the year ending February 29, turnover was €3.5bn (US$3.8bn) as Hermes companies expand their customer base and acquire new clients.
Among clients with smaller shipment volumes, Hermes’ business in Germany grew 20% bringing the total number of shipments across the Hermes Group to 928 million in 2019/20.
Kay Schiebur, chair of the supervisory board of Hermes Europe, said, “Continued investments in a dense network of modern locations and in new technologies were significant factors in this success. In addition, innovative and customer-centered solutions for final-mile delivery have helped us to unlock further opportunities for growth.”
He added, “However, this positive business development cannot disguise the fact that the sector is subject to significant structural pressures in terms of pricing and costs. Consequently, offering sustainable pricing arrangements to our commercial customers and continuing to drive forward innovation in last-mile delivery remain key challenges.”
Hermes Group invested over €100m (US$108m) including opening a distribution center at Munster Osnabruck International Airport in Germany.
Another premises near Bremen is set to start operations in October 2020, and a logistics center for furniture and bulky items opened in Ansbach on March 24.
In France, Mondial Relay opened a logistics hub in Lyon capable of processing 200,000 shipments per day in time for Black Friday.
In the UK, the largest distribution center in Europe is set to be completed in 2022 with a €69m (US$74m) investment in the construction of a new site in Barnsley.


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The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C class due next year will be larger and have more a spacious interior as well as a more dynamic exterior, sources told Automobilwoche. Mercedes will unveil the fourth-generation C-class sedan at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show and will start selling it in the United States in August 2014. Spy images indicate that the 2014 C-class sedan will look similar to the redesigned Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship due this September.
The 2014 C-class sedan will be underpinned by a new rear-wheel-drive architecture, with length to be increased by around 5 inches to 185 inches. This added length will result to a more spacious rear seat. By increasing the length of the C class, Mercedes-Benz could avoid cannibalizing sales of the new front-wheel-drive CLA sedan due this fall, which is similar in size to the current C class.
The 2014 C class will feature three body styles in addition to the sedan – a coupe, a convertible and a station wagon. The carmaker will unveil the coupe version – which may dubbed as CLK – at the 2015 Geneva auto show and launch it the same year.
Mercedes-Benz will unveil the convertible version – featuring a classic fabric top -- at the 2015 Frankfurt auto show and will sell it early 2016. The carmaker will unveil the station wagon at 2014 Paris auto show and will launch it in Europe in late 2014. The carmaker will not sell the wagon version in the United States. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C class will be built in Vance, Alabama starting in early 2014.
In terms of looks, the new C-Class sports an appearance completely different from the previous model. It now comes with a stunning yet dynamic design that doesn’t only convey sensual purity but also appeals to emotions. The new C-Class is filled with harmonious yet sensuous lines and surfaces that allow the luxury sedan to exude a new level of dynamism.
The new C-Class is laden with minimalist, purist forms, helping highlight its intelligent technology and smart engineering. Its surfaces shown off a modern yet emotional character, thanks to the degree of tension they display. Moreover, the interaction between precise lines and sculptural surfaces allows for a harmonious interplay between light and shade.
Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design Daimler AG, remarked that the new C-Class exudes automotive passion through its modern design language, allowing it to define modern luxury on a new exciting level. Wagener added that emotional as well as progressive help emphasizes the innovative design of the new C-Class.
When viewed from the sides, the saloon proportions of the new C-Class are defined by its long bonnet, a set-back cabin and short overhangs. Meanwhile, its large wheels highlight the car’s rear while conveying its stylish sporty nature.


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Singaporeans aged 18 and above to receive S$100 worth of local tourism vouchers
The SingapoRediscovers vouchers for tourist attractions, tours and hotel bookings will be given out via SingPass.
SINGAPORE: Every Singaporean aged 18 and above in 2020 is set to receive S$100 worth of SingapoRediscovers vouchers, which can be used on staycations, attraction tickets and tours.
The vouchers can be used between December this year and the end of June next year.
A S$10 subsidy will also be provided for children and youth tickets for attractions and tours, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in a fact sheet on Wednesday (Sep 16). Each adult may purchase up to six children or youth tickets at subsidised prices during the duration of the scheme.
Announcing the details on Wednesday, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said the move will help the local tourism industry, which has been battered by COVID-19.
READ: Looking forward to your S$100 tourism voucher? Here are some experiences you may want to explore
“This is not a social assistance scheme. This is an economic scheme to help our tourist attractions to preserve their capabilities that have been built up over the years, while they consolidate capacity in the interim,” Mr Chan told reporters at the Jurong Bird Park.
The vouchers will be provided in denominations of S$10 via SingPass, and may be used to purchase tickets for attractions and tours, and accommodation bookings at licensed hotels, said the STB.
More details on the redemption mechanism will be announced in November.
STB will be calling a tender to appoint the platform providers for the redemption of the vouchers, said chief executive Keith Tan.
"We envisage it to be fairly simple and straightforward. We don't want it to be too complicated for our locals using it, as well as for the merchants who benefit from it."
With SingPass as the "primary mode" of issuing the vouchers, it is a "distinct identifier" that will "present significant hurdles" to fraud and the unauthorised transfer of the vouchers to other people, he added.
"We will design other anti-fraud mechanisms into the system as we work with the eventual appointed platform operators."
READ: Extra stimulus for aerospace, aviation and tourism sectors; Singaporeans to get S$320m worth of local tourism credits
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced in August that the Government would give out S$320 million worth of vouchers to encourage Singaporeans to support local tourism businesses.
The scheme will complement the ongoing SingapoRediscovers campaign launched in July, said the STB.
More than 200 deals and bundled packages have been launched “to encourage locals to explore different precincts and aspects of life of Singapore”, the STB said. The vouchers will provide more encouragement for Singaporeans to do so, it added.
All licensed hotels, tourist attractions and tours that have been approved by the STB to operate or reopen can benefit from this scheme.
"We're working out the economic impact now, but certainly we do expect a return, not necessarily to the Government but obviously to the merchants. From the response we've seen so far, even from the initial SingapoRediscovers campaign, the merchants have responded very positively," said Mr Tan.
"There is clearly a sense that they are responding, and the reason why they're responding is that they must see there is commercial return of interest and return of benefits to them," Mr Tan added.
Mr Chan said he expects merchants to benefit from a "multiplier effect".
“We’ll expect a certain multiplier effect because when people come here, they will also spend on other things ... So for example, they can use this to pay off the tickets or defer the cost of the tickets for coming in. But when they come in, they will spend on some of the F&B and other services that the attractions, hotels or the tours provide," said Mr Chan.
“We think that there will be a catalytic effect. As to the exact extent of the catalytic effect, it will be hard to predict at this point in time, but we hope that is at least a few times what we have provided for in the Budget,” he added.
Responding to questions on why the vouchers may not be used for F&B and retail purchases, Mr Chan said: "It's a balance between which sector we want to target, and also the simplicity in the administration so that people who (have) the vouchers can actually use it in a most convenient way. That's how we have designed the system."
Thanking tourist attractions for “putting in an effort” to put safe management measures in place amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Chan said: “The other thing that they have done very well over the last few months or so was to help us work out the arrangement to have safe cohorting for the live performances.”
From Sep 18, attractions that have received approval to resume operations can apply to the STB to increase their operating capacity from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, subject to approval from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Attractions can also apply to increase the capacity of their number of outdoor shows to five zones, with 50 people in one zone, subject to safe management measures.
Outdoor shows were previously limited to a maximum of 50 people.


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BRISTOL, Va. - Downtown Bristol businesses booming after large events hit area.
Border Bash and Mumford and Sons, Food City Race Night and now Rhythm and Roots. Downtown Bristol has had a busy summer.
However, it is not just about the entertainment. The events are doing a lot good for our local economy.
We learned local businesses in Downtown Bristol are booming from the recent events and the storeowners are happy about it.
"It's boosted our business tremendously. We have all different kinds of people come into the store, it's been a great opportunity with all of the people coming downtown," said Melissa Jones, owner of Sidetrack Tobacco.
This is the last big event of the season, but Jones said that with the recent sales, she is not worried a bit.


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FANS of Ginger Zee have rushed to defend the Good Morning America star after she was criticized on social media.
The backlash came from some GMA viewers after disapproval of Ginger's recent change in her appearance during a segment.
The popular meteorologist took to Instagram on Saturday to share her pledge to recycle fashion for the benefit of the environment.
"85% of our fashion goes to landfill or is burned every year," Ginger wrote in the caption of her post.
"A big reason I’ve kept up with the #NoNewClothes challenge since last June. One great way - upcycle what you already have 🙌."
Ginger continued to detail all of the people who helped her in the environmentally conscious endeavor and explained that she hopes viewers can remember it will save them money too.
"These aren’t brand new ideas but it’s a shift I hope we can all start to remember… saving money too!" she noted.
Despite the first comment on Ginger's post supporting and echoing the sentiment of upcycling clothes, the tone quickly changed.
One user trolled Ginger for her choice of hairstyle.
"1950 called and they want their haircut back," they wrote.
Most read in Celebrity
However, another fan quickly jumped to Ginger's defense — furiously calling out the user out.
"Why are you so bitter and mean?!" they asked.
"She is beautiful!"
Despite this, another hater also criticized Ginger's hair.
"What did you do to your hair???? Looks like an off the shelf box dye job," they wrote.
More fans then took to the comments section to share what they do to recycle fashion and defend Ginger's new look.
"I’m a seamstress, I try to buy clothes at thrift stores and just do alterations. Cheaper the patterns and fabric," a viewer commented.
"PS you look great in bang!"
Ginger even responded to this fan.
"That’s awesome and thank you!" the meteorologist said.
Other fans continued to praise Ginger's hairstyle in response to critical viewers.
"[Your] hair is amazing," one person wrote.
"The bangs are so🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.You look gorgeous!" another exclaimed.
Ginger made the change to her hair earlier this week, as The U.S. Sun previously reported.
She posted about it on Instagram on Friday morning to show off the makeover.
Ginger had just returned to the GMA studios on Monday following a recent battle with the flu.
She wore a cheery yellow sweater over a black top, pairing it with a black and white skirt.
Many viewers celebrated her return to the show, with one saying: “Good to see you back on TV. Hope you feel better. Looking great as always!”
For more on Ginger, check out The U.S. Sun's recent coverage of how the GMA meteorologist slammed multiple fake accounts that claimed to be her.
The U.S. Sun also has the story on how Ginger claimed she was a "cool mom" in a recent T-shirt that she flaunted on social media.


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Previewed at Toy Fair earlier this year, NECA has made action figures of both Tim Curry’s Pennywise and Bill Skarsgård’s, both of which are seeing release this year.
The 7″ scale figure of 2017’s Pennywise is shipping at the end of this month, and NECA has celebrated its impending arrival today with our first in-packaging photos.
“Based on Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal, this 7” scale figure has been painstakingly detailed to be as accurate to Pennywise’s ornate costume as possible. To recreate the most terrifying scenes from the movie, the fully articulated figure features three interchangeable heads, interchangeable hands, red balloon and paper boat.”
The figure comes in collector-friendly deluxe window box packaging with opening flap.


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Wirral Chamber of Commerce launches The Brexit Hub
Wirral Chamber of Commerce, alongside partners including Wirral Council, has launched a Brexit Hub, a forum aimed at providing businesses with a one-stop-shop for advice and guidance.
With only a short time until the exit date of March 29, the chamber said there still remains confusion and concerns about the impact for businesses post-Brexit and little direction from the UK’s political leadership across Westminster and within Central Government.
Wirral Chamber of Commerce said it believes there is a need to focus on the practicalities of Brexit for business communities, not only for Wirral, but throughout the UK.
The Wirral Brexit Hub will comprise a dedicated team in both policy and international trade, and will provide businesses with key advice and guidance on all matters concerning Brexit through independent resources provided by the British Chambers of Commerce.
The Hub will be hosting monthly briefings with key businesses and local authorities in developing a Wirral-wide Brexit strategy to help sustain the region’s healthy economy, secure opportunities for Wirral post-Brexit, and protect and prepare businesses for potential implications that may arise.
Over recent months a number of business sectors, including manufacturing, construction, and the automotive industry have reported serious concerns, with several investment plans already put on hold, and issues raised about the future of supply chain and cash flows.
In a conversation with a local construction firm recently, the chamber said it was told: “Generally, across the construction sector there is significant stock-piling around the Mersey ports, one issue for us would be cash flow.
“Although we have contracts throughout 2019, we had to bring in as much materials as possible before the Brexit date.
“This presents a problem with little or no room at the ports and increased costs for storage, along with a requirement to increase finance which has an impact on our margins.”
The Wirral Brexit Hub will be led through chamber chief executive, Paula Basnett and its head of public affairs, Warren Ward.
Paula Basnett said: “As the exit draws close from the EU there is still great concerns from the business community about the lack of information and the impact that follows, such as trading arrangements and the effect on the country’s GDP and its economic growth.”
Warren Ward, added: “Over the past two years there has been no clear leadership on Brexit, which has not been helped by the ever-changing political climate.
“The Brexit Hub will create a clear and active forum to engage with members, businesses and key stakeholders in providing all the latest updates on exactly what is happening, and look to identify those concerns and call for government to provide answers to the questions asked.”
The chamber is inviting all businesses with any questions or concerns to contact the Wirral Brexit Hub Team on: WirralBrexitHub@WirralChamber.Co.Uk