Australia's apparel and clothing imports rose 3.43 per cent YoY to $3.368 billion in July-September 2024, despite a slight drop in September. Imports of textile yarn and related articles also increased by 4.11 per cent, while fibre imports fell 6.06 per cent. Exports of textile fibres saw a 7.69 per cent decline, continuing a downward trend from the previous fiscal year.

US textile and apparel imports fell by 0.80 per cent to $80.449 billion from January to September 2024, compared to $81.094 billion in 2023. Apparel imports dropped by 2.57 per cent, while non-apparel imports rose by 4.55 per cent. China remained the top supplier, despite a 2.28 per cent decrease. Growth was seen in imports from Cambodia, Pakistan, India, and Vietnam.

US saw an 8.79 per cent increase in textile and apparel imports from January to September 2024, totalling 76,860.803 million SME compared to 70,652.999 million SME in 2023, according to OTEXA. Apparel imports rose by 2.57 per cent, while non-apparel imports increased by 11.05 per cent. Cotton product imports grew by 6.03 per cent and MMF products by 9.17 per cent.

Build an LLM application by easily picking and dropping components and connecting them, such as a vector store, web search, memory, and custom prompt.

Katherine Gehl, a former CEO and the founder of the Institute for Political Innovation, and Michael Porter, a professor at Harvard Business School, apply his Five Forces framework to explain why U.S. politics are dysfunctional. They argue that the Republican and Democratic parties make up an industry duopoly with high barriers to entry and low consumer power, and that the resulting lack of competition incentivizes these two dominant players to avoid compromises with majority support. Gehl and Porter provide specific innovations on how to enhance competition and better serve the public, including nonpartisan primary elections and ranked-choice voting. Gehl and Porter are coauthors of the new book “The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy” and the HBR article “Fixing U.S. Politics."

Christina Maslach, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, has been studying the causes of burnout, and its impact, for decades. She says that, in a year when everyone feels overwhelmed and exhausted, it's more important than ever for managers to recognize when and why employees are suffering and take steps to solve those problems. In her framework, burnout stems from not only large workloads but also lack of control, community, and/or reward and values mismatches. She notes that leaders have the ability to pull many of those levers to help their workers. Maslach is the author of "The Truth About Burnout" and a forthcoming book on the topic.

There’s been much talk about the Great Resignation and what’s driving it. The pandemic has exacerbated a long-term problem: many of us struggle to find any pleasure in our work. But quitting isn’t the only the solution. Often, it’s not feasible. In this special series from HBR, we look at a different path: figuring out what you really love and crafting your current role around that. In this episode, we dig into the data showing why people feel so disengaged and what they feel is missing from their work. IdeaCast co-host Alison Beard speaks with Marcus Buckingham, head of research on people and performance at the ADP Research Institute and author of the new book Love + Work.

It's the start of a fresh year, and optimism is in the air. But if you want happiness to extend far beyond your New Year's resolution, Robert Waldinger says you can take some inspiration from the longest-running study of happiness out there. He’s a psychiatrist who runs the Harvard Study of Adult Development. The longitudinal research has followed individuals and their families for nine decades. He shares what makes people happiest in the long run and how their work factors into that. Waldinger is the author of the new book "The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness."

It is now accepted wisdom that increasing the diversity of your workforce in any dimension can improve both organizational culture and performance. But one group — people living with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities — continues to be overlooked by many companies. Luisa Alemany, associate professor at London Business School, has studied workplaces that do recruit and hire employees with disabilities and found that it can be a true source of competitive advantage. She explains four main ways this talent strategy benefits the firm. She’s the coauthor, along with Freek Vermeulen, of the HBR article “Disability as a Source of Competitive Advantage.”

Many leaders confidently go about tackling challenges. After all, relying on their experience got them to where they are. But taking the same approach over and over again can actually hold you back. Sometimes you need to switch up your tactics to break through to the next level. Decision-making expert Cheryl Strauss Einhorn says the first step is to understand your personal problem-solving style. Then she explains a framework to assess the situation and select the best approach. Einhorn is founder and CEO of Decisive. She also wrote the book Problem Solver: Maximizing Your Strengths to Make Better Decisions and the HBR article “When Your Go-To Problem-Solving Approach Fails.”

Thank you for an amazing year!  I thought I’d make these little gift tags for you to use, if you need them. Click on image to download. Enjoy!

India's Textile Minister approved 12 new research projects worth ₹13.3 crore ($0.16 million) under the National Technical Textiles Mission. The projects focus on areas like geotextiles, smart textiles, and composites, led by institutions like IITs and CRRI. Total funding under the Mission now stands at ₹509 crore ($6.11 million). IPR guidelines aim to boost innovation.

Turkiye’s apparel exports to Germany fell by 8.73 per cent to $1.92 billion in January–August compared to the same period in 2023. Despite this decline, Germany remained Turkiye's top apparel export market, accounting for 17.43 per cent of total exports. Trousers and shorts were leading export items, valued at $415.2 million. Turkiye’s overall apparel exports for Jan-Aug totalled $10.99 billion.

In October, the US consumer price index for garments rose by 1.1 per cent month-over-month, reversing prior declines in 2023. Current clothing prices are 7.6 per cent higher than 2019 averages. Import prices for cotton-heavy apparel stabilised at $3.70/SME, still above pre-pandemic levels. Consumer confidence rose to its highest since January 2024, with spending on apparel up 1.7 per cent YoY.

To me, the gaming market is a lot like the EDC market: It's fascinating to see what developmental lengths people will go to, to push the UX of some object with highly specific functions. A case in point is this Elitech Protean Space Quick Control Swap Gaming System.

The idea behind it, is that gamers have multiple task-dependent UI's on their desks: A keyboard for typing, a joystick and throttle for playing flight simulators, a steering wheel and a shifter for driving games. For gaming accuracy these need to be mounted, and juggling the mounts is apparently a hassle. So what this design does is, provide a modular platform on which to securely attach different controllers.

The heart of the system is this keyboard base, with two wings.

The keyboard base slides rearwards, revealing aluminum channels.

The wing pieces can be slid towards each other along these channels, adjusted to your preferred width.

The "X" in the top of the wings is stainless steel. This allows you to attach magnetic controllers.

Furthermore, there are clamping attachments that allow you to attach a steering wheel and shifter.

Thus the gamer can quickly achieve the set-up that they want:

This isn't yet in production; the developer is planning a crowdfunding campaign.

US stocks have been on a roll since Donald Trump's victory. A bullish investment chief shared three concerns that investors should keep their eyes on.

What if you could work on your computer, but your computer was on your face? I'm not convinced this is Apple Vision Pro's killer app.

Caldic will work with Syniti to help future-proof its data landscape and optimize data quality

The goal of the collaboration is to develop advanced algorithms that yield more efficient and user-friendly visual representations of application structures

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(Orange County, FL) - Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs has appointed new managers to key positions that will continue the successful trends at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). Kathleen Canning, Jan Addison, Yulita Osuba, Kris Shoemaker, David Ingram and Terry Devitt have all been appointed in new positions at the OCCC.

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Beginning January 2023 or August 2023   Game Art Department   Environment Artist/Modeler   Full-Time Faculty Appointment with Benefits    The Game Art (GA) Department is a nationally respected program with a highly collaborative teaching environment that merges the aesthetic of feature film with today’s most current interactive gaming hardware and software. Game students design, create and analyze the visual components of games.   Facilities: Ringling College’s GA Department has facilities designed to replicate a professional studio environment, and boasts the highest-end, state-of-the-art computers, graphics cards, and is complete with ergonomic furniture. Full-time Institutional Technology staff support the Department.   The Position: The Game Art Department is seeking an environment artist with Maya and Unreal Engine 4/5 (UE5) experience to join a dedicated faculty teaching Game Art. The primary responsibility of this position will focus on providing quality instruction, and teaching students to create the visual assets that make computer games.   Included among the duties and responsibilities, this position requires experience in world-building, modeling, texturing, and lighting in a 3D application as well as in Unreal Engine 4/5 (UE4/5). The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching three courses or nine credits per semester using high-end resources. Assignments include teaching introductory through advanced courses in creating level and environment art assets, and game engine integration of those assets. Ongoing commitment to creative work/scholarship in the profession is expected. Active participation with faculty, department, and college service is required.   This is a full-time appointment with benefits. The salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience. The anticipated start date is January 2023 or August 2023. The College has a supportive, collegial faculty, a curriculum that strongly values excellence, and a robust support system dedicated to using the most current technology.   (Minimum Qualifications) Include evidence of: A Master’s degree in Animation, Illustration, or a related field, OR a 4-year professional degree in art or design and equivalent professional experience, training and expertise with an appropriate record of achievement in the field. Ability to teach introductory through advanced classes in creating levels, environment art assets, 3D modeling, lighting, and texturing. Experience with Autodesk Maya. Experience with Unreal Engine 4/5 (UE4/5). Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.   (Preferred Qualifications) Include evidence of: A terminal degree in an appropriate discipline. Advanced experience with level design. Experience with Zbrush. Experience with Substance Designer and Substance Painter. Expertise with Unreal Engine 4/5 (UE4/5) or a comparable game engine. Ability to create visually-sophisticated environments in UE4/5 Experience with game design.   (Special Instructions to Applicants) Required materials include cover letter incorporating experiences that address the position requirements, resume or CV, employment history, contact information of three references (names, titles, email and telephone numbers), examples of personal work and an unofficial transcript copy of the most relevant degree. Official transcripts will be required upon hire. Student work examples may also be submitted, if available.  Candidates may be asked to submit additional materials if needed. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.   For portfolio, you have the option to upload electronic documents/images, up to 5 MB, or a URL.   General questions regarding the job application process may be emailed to aamail@ringling.edu.   Apply on-line https://ringling.simplehire.com Ringling College of Art and Design is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Campos quotes a comment from a thread on RFK Jr. and his running mate: It’s a very short jump from believing kale smoothies are a cure for cancer to denying the Holocaust happened. He points to this link: The physiologist … Continue reading →

Shira writes: As an Appalachian Trail hiker, I always treat my clothes with permethrin. I’m a big fan of Sawyer products, but this claim caught my eye: Reduce likelihood of a tick bite by 73.6 times by treating shoes and … Continue reading →

There’s some confusion regarding jumps in election forecasts. New information is coming in every day, so it makes sense that forecasts change too. But they don’t change very much. Each new piece of information tells you only a little bit. … Continue reading →

A New York appellate court upheld a finding that a worker was entitled to benefits for his injuries from being struck by two motorized bicycles after he left a happy…

The New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration is accepting applications from attorneys who want to serve as judges. Judge Leonard Padilla Judge Leonard Padilla is retiring on Aug. 30 after more than…

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham reappointed Sonya Carrasco-Trujillo to a five-year term as a judge for the Workers’ Compensation Administration. Carrasco-Trujillo was initially appointed to a one-year term in June…

The New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration extended the deadline to apply for a soon-to-be vacant judicial seat until Aug. 5. The WCA in May announced that it would accept applications through…

The New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration announced that an advisory committee seeks comments on two independent medical examiner applicants. The IME Provider Selection Committee is considering authorizing Drs. Alan Altman and…

The New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration announced that Doug Christopherson was appointed as the agency's newest judge. Doug Christopherson Christopherson will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Leonard Padilla in…

The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court activated its web-based data entry application for diagnostic related group reports. The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act requires covered hospitals, workers’ compensation insurers, self-insured employers and risk…

Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals overturned the denial of a worker’s claim for permanent partial disability benefits, finding that the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board imposed the wrong standard…

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations cannot reject an appeal as untimely based on its “sent” date for a decision without direct evidence that…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday announced several arbitrator reappointments to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. The reappointed arbitrators are: Joseph Amarilio. Crystal Caison. Paul Cellini. Ana Vazquez Diaz. Gerald Granada. Jessica Hegarty. Adam Hinrichs. Jeffrey Huebsch. Nina Mariano. Maureen Pulia. Pritzker has also appointed…

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday appointed Magda Derisma-Oyewole as an arbitrator for the state Workers’ Compensation Commission. Magda Derisma-Oyewole Derisma-Oyewole has been a practicing attorney since 2015 and focused on…

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the dismissal of a worker’s untimely appeal of the denial of his workers’ compensation claim. Case: Oldfield v. Popcorn Alley Inc., No. 233 C.D. 2023,…

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Tuesday announced two appointments to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau Governing Committee and the California Insurance Guarantee Association board of governors. C. Bryan Little (www.fels.net) …

The California Assembly Appropriations Committee passed bills that would create a presumption that heat injuries are compensable for agricultural workers and would expose employers to penalties for denying injured workers’…

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed bills creating a new venue for legacy claims and covering public safety workers with mental health claims that aren’t accompanied by a physical injury. Stitt on…

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission announced that state lawmakers have approved the updated 2024 Medical Fee Schedule. The state House of Representatives voted 94-1 to pass House Joint Resolution 1035 in…

AppliedVR appointed Michael Marsau as its executive director of workers’ compensation. Michael Marsau Marsau is overseeing the launch of the company’s flagship RelieVRx prescription therapeutic into the workers’ compensation market, the…

The Iowa Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal from an order staying enforcement of a workers’ compensation award pending judicial review because the review process was completed. Case: H.D. Supply Management Inc. v.

The West Virginia Supreme Court clarified the proper method for apportioning preexisting impairments that have been definitely ascertained and impact multiple body parts. Case: Logan-Mingo Area Mental Health Inc. v. Lester,…

The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled that the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review erred in applying the standard of compensability for occupational pneumoconiosis to a widow’s claim for…