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Idaho's golden skiing circuit is brighter and richer than ever with the addition of Tamarack Resort, America's newest ski area. Tamarack's grand opening is December 15.
Tamarack joins Bogus Basin, Soldier Mountain, Sun Valley and Brundage Mountain: a travel circle in the heart of Idaho. A week to ten-day trip is a perfect vacation schedule, allowing one to ski and experience these resorts.
Though Tamarack's opening is imminent, my partner and I had the pleasure of snow cat and Nordic skiing the abundant Tamarack trails and off piste earlier in the year. Our guide was Steve "YT" Nelson, a cowboy who has had a life long dance with skiing when not on horseback. I had met him once in the deep oven of summer at Nevada's fabled Winecup Ranch back in 1992 while tracing by horseback the Southern Route of the Oregon Trail.
YT led us off the 7700-foot Tamarack Summit down Geronimo Trail. The foot of new powder was thrilling as we swooshed whooping and hollering to the confluence of Adrenaline Run, crossing Heaven Run to Purgatory. Purgatory would cross Vista, Flamenco and Tango Trails before we met the snow cat for another ride to the top.
Tamarack is the first ski, golf and lake resort to be fully authorized and permitted in the US in more than 20 years. It is located 100 miles north of Boise, Idaho's capital city, and west of the charming small town of Donnelly. The resort lies on the western shore of Lake Cascade. There are 28 kilometers of groomed Nordic skiing at Tamarack. My partner Amy Hartell spent the day sampling ten miles of the groomed, reporting back with the superlatives "sublime, beautiful, a great workout and plenty of winter critters along the way."
Tamarack has 2800 feet of continuous vertical drop spread over 700 skiable acres, including many open bowls and glades. There are five lifts featuring two high-speed quads and a 500-foot super pipe and terrain park. Impressive since none of this existed since our January Tamarack foray. Eventually Tamarack will have seven high-speed chair lifts and numerous surface lifts. Cat skiing will be available throughout the ski season along with snowshoeing on 10 kilometers of trails.
"This is a grand mountain with tremendous terrain," says YT. "It reminds me of some of the big spreads I use to work for while buckarooing. Plenty of space in big country." His moniker comes from the famous Northern Nevadan YT Ranch.
I found the setting to be quite extraordinary with the backdrop of Cascade Lake, mindful of skiing Heavenly near Lake Tahoe or Sutton in Quebec.
The Golden Circle
Logically for most, Idaho's Golden Ski Circle would begin by flying into Boise, renting a car and driving to Bogus Basin, a dizzying hop and skip drive up a tight and curvy road 16 miles north above the Gem state's capital The day we went, an air inversion had been hanging over Treasure Valley for two weeks. Bogus though was bathing in brilliant sunshine and velvet snow. My guide Gretchen Anderson revealed to me a Bogus Basin I never knew since my last ski there in the early 1970s. The Pioneer Area subsequently was developed along with the Pine Creek chairlift to serve the "backside" and the Bitterroot basin. This "new to me" terrain was exhilarating to explore. It was like skiing above the clouds with the inversion blanket covering the lower valleys and hills as far as the eye could see.
The non-profit Bogus Basin ski corporation took a leap of faith in 1998-when the ski industry was sagging-by discounting their season passes to $199 and $29 for a kids pass (age 7-11). "We became a ski town overnight," says Anderson. "25,000 passes were sold for the 1998-99 season." The sale season pass has risen minimally to $229 if purchased within a window of March to mid April yet is still very affordable at $399 after mid-April, especially since Bogus is open to day and night skiing seven days a week.
Bogus has 52 groomed runs. The longest, Paradise Trail, is 1.5 miles.
Bogus was named after fool's gold found at nearby Deer Point, referred to by some locals as "bogus gold." Don't be fooled though, the skiing is far from bogus!
Taking Interstate 84 south of Boise, exit east on Highway 20 outside Mountain Home to Fairfield. Small, intimate, family oriented Soldier Mountain is 10 miles north abut to the Southern Sawtooth Mountains. Open Thursday through Sunday, Soldier has 36 runs accommodated by two lifts and one handle tow. Cat skiing is offered on 1500 acres of spectacular backcountry terrain.
If there is a heart to Idaho's Golden Ski Circle, it has to be Sun Valley. Indeed, it may be the heart of skiing in America!
There's something magical about skiing Old Baldy or Dollar Mountain. Sun Valley conjures up images of Bing Crosby singing White Christmas, of Ernest Hemingway (who lived and died here), of movie stars from the "golden film era" such as Gary Cooper and Clark Gable who skied and hunted here, of America's most famous winter Olympians: Gretchen Fraser who won America's first ski medal, a gold in alpine skiing at St. Moritz, Switzerland; Andrea Mead Lawrence, winner of two gold medals; and Picabo Street, the 1998 downhill gold medallist in Nagano.
Sun Valley was America's first destination ski resort. Jack Sibbach, Sun Valley Resort's pr/marketing and sales director, tells the story, "Union Pacific Railroad president Averell Harriman purchased 3900 acres at $10.90 an acre here in 1935. Soon after the world's first two chairlifts were installed, revolutionizing the ski industry. Until then, there was not much skiing in the world. Sun Valley led the way to what we are seeing today."
What we are seeing today is one of the world's premiere ski areas. The natural beauty of the Wood River Basin, abundant snowfall, the world's largest automated snowmaking capability, a community (Ketchum and Sun Valley) robust with art, fine food and lodging and a mother lode of winter outdoor activities, including Nordic skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating to compliment downhill skiing. Sun Valley's ski lodges are second to none. The romance and charm of staying at the Sun Valley Lodge or Inn-- complete with circular heated outdoor pools and an ice skating rink-is wondrous.
One evening we took a sleigh ride to the rustic Trail Creek Cabin (a favorite of Hemingway's) for a hosted dinner. As is often said, "we died and went to heaven!" All bundled and blissfully nourished, we boarded the horse drawn sleigh and headed back to the resort under a winter moon and jingling sleigh bells. En route, we sang Jingle Bells, Moon River and White Christmas.
BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN, MCCALL
To complete Idaho's Golden Ski Circuit, skiing McCall's Brundage Mountain is a must. McCall, known as Ski Town USA, is nestled against lovely Payette Lake, approximately a two and a half hour drive north of Boise. Traveling from Sun Valley, we ascended Galena Summit on Highway 75 to Stanley, turned west on Highway 21 and traveled to Banks where we followed the picturesque Payette River to McCall.
Brundage is often blessed with dry, feather light powder snow. It is a skier's mountain with no fancy on slope lodging or dining (those amenities are in McCall). Lift tickets are not out of sight. The views are wonderful and the terrain equal to that. The seasonal Yurt Bar at the top of the Blue Bird High-Speed Quad chair is a must stop sometime during the day for a hot beverage or drink. I amusingly witnessed several skiers-including my mate-ski through the open door to the bar and order a round.
Cat Skiing Brundage is some of the best in the west with 19000 acres of powder glades, steep chutes and tree skiing. Overnight yurt stays are available, too.
McCall's Winter Carnival takes place in late January, early February. Superb ice carvings, competitions and events are held during this lively festival.
Photos by Larry Turner and Amy Hartell


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An Air India Airlines Boeing 787 dreamliner takes part in a flying display during the 50th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Pari - Reuters
SINGAPORE - 11 July 2018: Indian airline Vistara has placed firm orders for 13 Airbus SE (AIR.PA) A320neos and six Boeing Co (BA.N) 787 jets valued at $3.1 billion at list prices, as it looks to add more domestic flights and launch international routes later this year.
The joint venture between India’s Tata Sons Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIAL.SI) said it also had purchase rights over 5 more 787-9s, options over 7 more A320neos and would procure another 37 A320neos from leasing companies.
“India’s position as the world’s fastest growing domestic aviation market and its impressive growth in air passenger traffic that has more than doubled over the last decade makes us confident of our aggressive plans for domestic expansion and international foray,” Vistara CEO Leslie Thng said in a statement on Wednesday.
The order comes a week before the Farnborough Airshow in Britain, where, according to aviation consultancy IBA, global planemakers could reap 900 orders and commitments.
Vistara had been examining the addition of more jets for months amid plans to enter the international market to offset a highly competitive, price-sensitive domestic market.
Reuters last month reported that Vistara had decided to order six Boeing 787s rather than the rival A330neo and that it might expand its fleet of leased A320neos.

domain: economics


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zant has teamed up with Beauteous Me
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domain: psychology


It’s finally here! The LiveWire S2 Del Mar is about to be unleashed upon Europe. RunningWide was lucky enough to be invited to the launch to get a first look at the finished product. Will this new EV tempt riders to switch to an electric motorcycle?
Look us up at WWW.RUNNINGWIDE.COM… Read more


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Your article on a partial pancreas transplant is misleading on two counts (12 February, p 17). Firstly, the transplant procedure carried out in Kyoto, Japan, by Shinichi Matsumoto, Koichi Tanaka and myself was an islet transplant, not a partial pancreas transplant. An islet transplant involves injection of digested pancreas tissue into the liver, whereas a partial pancreas transplant requires major surgery to connect artery, vein and pancreatic duct. David Sutherland and his team from the University of Minnesot a have carried out more than 140 partial pancreas transplants from living donors since the 1970s.
Secondly, unbeknown to us previously, Sutherland carried out two living donor islet transplants in 1977 and 1978. In both cases rapid rejection led to loss of insulin independence. The Kyoto transplant is therefore, to our knowledge, currently the only successful living donor islet transplant.
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.

domain: medical


It's National Library Week.
Sometimes I think we take our libraries for granted. They are one of the pillars of communities, providing all sorts of services beyond the lending of books (which is important in itself) such as Wi-Fi, computer access, movie and music rentals, lectures, classes, book clubs, and much more.
The American Library Association recently published some facts about libraries and here are a few that I thought were interesting:
- 58 percent of American adults have public-library cards.
- Americans visit libraries three times more often than they go to movies (and hey, they don't even sell popcorn in libraries!).
- Public and academic libraries hold more than 176 million e-books in their collections.
- Academic librarians serve more than 44 million patrons each year -- nearly 12 million more folks who attend college basketball games.
- The highest achieving students attend schools with well-funded library media centers.
- U.S. citizens spend 18 times more money on home video games than they do on school library materials for their children (why doesn't this surprise me?).
- There are more public libraries (16,766 including branches) than McDonald's in the U.S. (and libraries serve fat-free brain fare).
- And Americans spend almost three times as much on sweets than they do on public libraries (can't say that really surprises me either).


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For Kevin "Kev Marcus" Sylvester and Wilner "Wil B" Baptiste, music has always been the path to something better. They just had to do it a little differently.
The pair is on the verge of breaking big with their musical duo Black Violin: It played at President Obama's inauguration, won the Showtime at the Apollo Legend title at New York's storied Apollo Theatre, backed Alicia Keys at the Billboard Awards and is preparing to release its first album.
It's on a tour of Levitt Pavilions nationwide that brings it to Bethlehem for a free show at SteelStacks on Saturday July 11.
All that has come about, Baptiste says in a recent phone call from the duo's...

domain: celebrity


Change detection from satellite images provides scientific foundations for natural resource management, disaster mitigation, ecological environmental protection and sustainable development. Change detection based on optical remote sensing image has become an important research area in the field of remote sensing. Over the past 40 years, scholars worldwide have developed many methods on remote sensing image-based change detection. This paper attempts to review and analyze the research progress made in change detection from the perspectives of the key problems, methods, challenges and application areas. The research achievements made in the past 40 years are summarized based on the publications both internationally and in China; the state-of-the-art change detection methods is analyzed; and furthermore new research initiatives for the future research innovation are proposed.


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Detox diets come and go, like any other fad. One popular diet has staying power. It has been around for at least 1,600 years.
Temple food refers to the food eaten daily at Buddhist temples. At Buddhist temples, everything is considered a part of practice. From growing vegetables to preparing the food, monks and nuns are directly involved in the whole process.
Spirit and values contained in Temple Food
Temple Food constitutes a cultural core that gives a concrete form to the essential teachings of Buddhism on its path to healthy living and ultimate enlightenment. It trains human beings on how to live harmoniously with nature and take nature’s offerings in the spirit of interbeing.
“You can’t understand monastic culture without understanding monastic food,” says Gye Ho, the Overt Nun who runs Jinkwansa temple in the mountains outside of Seoul. She has been a practicing nun for more than 50 years.”The food creates the entire human being,” she says. “It shapes our mind and body.”
Korean temple food has also traditionally meant that monks and nuns do not use five pungent vegetables (onions, garlic, chives, green onions and leeks), these are called the “o-shin-chae”, because they hinder spiritual practice.
The prohibition of the five pungent vegetables is a preventive measure to guard Buddhist practitioners from possible distractions during meditation.
These characteristics of temple food show how Buddhist monks and nuns realize the interdependence of all lives and that they must strive to establish a world in which all live together in harmony.
Instead of artificial flavors, Korean temple food uses a variety of mountain herbs and wild greens, which has led to the development of a vegetarian tradition. As most Korean temples are located in the mountains, providing easy access to wild roots, stems, leaves, fruits and flowers, monks and nuns have naturally become leaders in shaping vegetarian culture.
Also, natural seasonings and flavor enhancers have been developed.
Examples of common natural seasonings used in temples are : mushroom powder, kelp powder, jae-pi powder, perilla seed powder, and uncooked bean powder.
These seasonings are used when making soup stock, kimchi and vegetable dishes, correcting nutritional imbalance and enhancing flavors. Having been used in temples since ancient times, these natural seasonings are emerging in modern times as a powerful alternative to artificial flavorings which may be harmful to one’s health.
There are fermented radishes, mushroom fritters, marinated tofu and crispy greens. Thinly sliced eggplant and fried potato slices sit next to clear soup and a bowl of rice.
The monastery makes up to 30 different kinds of sauce from fermented soybeans. The jars sit in a spot that gets full sun all day long — that’s important for the fermentation process. In these urns, some soybeans have been fermenting for 20 years, others for as long as 50 years. The smell is as layered and complex as any aged whiskey or ripe cheese.
People from all over the world come to the monastery to experience this lifestyle. During our visit, 240 visitors were participating in the temple stay program, waking up at 3:30 each morning to meditate and detox.
Gye Ho, the Overt Nun who runs this temple explains that for the nuns, cooking and eating are spiritual as well as physical practices. “We prepare our food with a clear mind,” she says. “We recognize that the best sauce in the world is the heart that we put into our cooking.”
Temple Food reminds us of the circle of life by showing how all humans, like food, are born from nature and ultimately returns to it.
Here’s the temple’s recipe for making Kongguksu, or soybean noodles.

domain: food


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BBC Sport - Six Nations 2016: Jonathan Davies meets Warren Gatland
When icon Davies met coach Gatland
- From the section Wales
Ahead of Wales' Six Nations match against France on Friday, Sport Wales sent BBC rugby union pundit Jonathan Davies to interview Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
Watch Wales v France live on BBC One, Red Button and online from 19:30 GMT

domain: news


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AL-KHALIL, (PIC)– The family of prisoner Mahmoud Shabana, 40 years, said he still suffers from severe speaking and respiratory problems despite the first surgery he had undergone.
The family told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the news reports that claimed that prisoner Shabana lost his ability to talk were not accurate, and that the prisoner has been suffering for a long time from pains in his vocal cords resulting in difficulty in speaking and breathing.
The wife of Shabana said her husband is in difficult health situation and he refused the medication prescribed to him because it worsens his condition and makes him unable to breathe.
She added that her husband had experience the same medical condition about one year ago, and he felt better for a short time after he underwent surgery, but his condition worsened in recent times making it difficult for him to speak or even whisper.
The Palestinian captive movement in Negev prison, in turn, held the Israeli prison authority and its doctors fully responsible for the deteriorating health condition of prisoner Shabana.
The captive movement said it had filed a complaint against the Israeli administration of Negev jail for medically neglecting Shabana and ignoring his need for another surgery.
Shabana’s family, for its part, appealed to international human rights groups to intervene and pressure Israel to release him in order to provide him with proper medical treatment outside the jail.


Gulf1 is a website that publishes news, editorials and letters of local and national interest. Much of the content reflects a strongly conservative political perspective. Gulf1 touts itself as "Northwest Florida's most actively read site on the Internet."
The website is owned and operated by Mike West, who uses the pseudonym "Dr. M. Sidney Wallace" in his editorials and correspondence. (Michael S. West and M. Sidney Wallace share the same initials.) The Wallace character is also described as a college professor:
Dr. Wallace['s] mission here is to educate the masses on the failings of liberal society. He writes in very simple terms what he teaches to his students in higher learning.
Gulf1 frequently posts press releases and other messages from elected officials including U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller, State Senator Don Gaetz and State Representative Dave Murzin. Other columnists whose articles appear on (or are linked from) Gulf1 include:
Gulf1 has been accused of sending unsolicited email and ignoring requests for unsubscription. In one instance, a woman who tried unsuccessfully to remove herself from the Gulf1 mailing list asked West to call her and received the response, "Thank you for your telephone number. I will make sure that it is appropriately posted on the next public restroom I visit."
The site was also the Worst of the Web "winner" for April 29, 2007, garnering a 9.0 rating. Among the comments: "Clunky, slow to load, horrible graphics, bad layout, garrish [sic] colors, this one has it all."


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Experts say more research is needed into the side effects of aspirin before it is officially recommended for treating cancer.
A Dutch study published today in the British Journal of Cancer suggests the drug can help bowel cancer patients.
"This latest study adds to the growing evidence about the benefits of aspirin," said Sarah Lyness of Cancer Research UK.
"But we are not yet at the point where we would recommend people start taking aspirin to reduce their chances of developing cancer.
"There are still questions we need to answer about the side effects. Aspirin can increase the chances of complications before surgery.
"Anyone thinking of taking aspirin to cut their risk of cancer should talk to their GP first."
More top news
The head of GCHQ has announced he is to step down as head of the intelligence agency for personal reasons.
A woman who plotted to let a paedophile rape her seven-year-old daughter has been jailed for nine years.
The main opposition has said it is unhappy at the offer of asylum for Yahya Jammeh who had refused to step down as president.


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Seegene Nimbus complements MLM’s genomic capabilities
Following the successful establishment of a PCR system earlier this year, an automated liquid handling workstation for analytical and clinical use was installed for easy RNA extraction and PCR setup. The Nimbus IVD transfers samples from tubes to a deep-well plate and extracts the RNA with magnetic beads for higher yield. The isolated RNA is then transferred to PCR-plates or PCR-stripes.
The Nimbus IVD also automates sample dilution and reagent dispensing. One single set of reagents can be used for extraction of either bacterial, viral, genomic, parasitic and fungal DNA and/or RNA from various types of specimens.
The Nimbus was installed in our brand-new state-of-the art PCR laboratory with a modern room-in-room system to separate preparation and amplification steps. The PCR lab is currently predominantly used for COVID19 testing within clinical trials.

domain: biology


Sony is among the biggest names in the soundbar and home entertainment speaker segment, but most of the Japanese brand’s mainstream options are in premium price brackets. Buyers with a budget of around Rs. 25,000 or less usually need to look at options from brands such as JBL and Polk Audio, or very affordable products from Blaupunkt, Zebronics, and the like. Sony’s latest soundbar, the HT-S400, gives it a solid presence in the somewhat affordable soundbar space, and promises capable performance at a reasonable price.
Priced at Rs. 21,990, the Sony HT-S400 is a 2.1-channel soundbar that focuses on the important stuff, including design, connectivity, and ease of setup. With a wireless subwoofer, a rated sound output of 330W, and both wired and wireless connectivity options, is this the best reasonably-priced soundbar system you can buy right now? Find out in this review.
Sony HT-S400 design and specifications
Although considerably more affordable than the Sony HT-S40R soundbar, the newer HT-S400 looks and feels better, thanks to a nicer grille at the front, and an interesting texture on the body. That said, it’s still discreet and rather easy to miss entirely, which is exactly what a soundbar should look like. The size of the bar speaker suggests that it’s best used with a 43-inch television, although I tested it with a 55-inch television for this review.
Of course, the lower price of the Sony HT-S400 is because of the considerably different key specifications. Unlike the 5.1-channel HT-S40R, this is a 2.1-channel soundbar, with a single two-channel bar speaker, and a separate wireless subwoofer. The rated sound output is also a fair bit lower at 330W, split between the 130W subwoofer and 200W bar speaker. The subwoofer weighs 7.3kg and only supports wireless connectivity with the 2.4kg bar speaker, with the latter serving as a master device and handling connectivity with external devices.
The sales package of the Sony HT-S400 includes power cables for the bar speaker and subwoofer, an optical (Toslink) audio cable for wired connectivity, and a small remote (along with batteries). The bar speaker has a small monochrome OLED display at the front, which displays basic information, including the audio source and volume levels.
At the top of the bar speaker are the touch-sensitive buttons, which can be used to control power, volume, and audio source even without the remote. The back of the speaker has two ports — HDMI and Optical (Toslink) — for wired connectivity, and there is also Bluetooth 5 for wireless connectivity, with support for the SBC codec.
The remote of the Sony HT-S400 soundbar system is small and rather convenient, is powered by two AAA batteries, and has just a few buttons on it to control the basic features and customisations. This includes core functions such as power, volume, and source selection, along with the ability to adjust the subwoofer volume level to adjust the bass, and a couple of selections to optimise the sound for voice or Sony’s Sound Field mode.
The Sony HT-S400 is quite easy to setup. The bar speaker and subwoofer did, of course, need to connect to separate power sockets, but the wireless connectivity meant that there was no wire between the two components themselves. Sony’s proprietary wireless connectivity protocol worked reliably, with the subwoofer immediately connecting to the bar speaker when the latter was powered on, and maintaining a stable connection. I used HDMI ARC for connectivity with the TV for my review, along with occasional Bluetooth connectivity to listen to music from my smartphone.
Other features on the Sony HT-S400 include HDMI CEC, TV Wireless Connection (which allows for wireless connectivity with Sony Bravia TVs without using Bluetooth), and support for the Dolby Digital audio format. HDMI CEC worked well, and I was able to control the Sony HT-S400 (basic functions such as volume) even with the remote of the Chromecast with Google TV that I had connected to my television, while turning the TV on or off similarly controlled the power of the soundbar system when using HDMI ARC for connectivity.
Sony HT-S400 performance
The Sony HT-S400 is not a particularly complicated or heavily-equipped soundbar system. The 2.1-channel setup means that it has to downmix higher-resolution audio formats to stereo for output, and the actual length of the bar is the only differentiator between the HT-S400 and an ordinary three-piece stereo speaker system. However, despite its technical shortcomings, the Sony HT-S400 delivers surprisingly straightforward performance which is a considerable improvement over most television speakers.
The speaker arrangement also means that the Sony HT-S400 is particularly good with music, and does a fair job of making even movies and television shows sound louder and better. I found the sound to be clean, the soundstage to be reasonably spacious, and the sonic signature to be fairly balanced. The subwoofer wasn’t too powerful for the bar speaker, and the two components worked well together.
Of course, the somewhat basic driver arrangement means that the Sony HT-S400 is unconcerned by advanced audio formats, having to even downmix the basic 5.1-channel encoding that most modern content on streaming services provide. It did a decent job with this nonetheless, regardless of the kind of content I watched. The spaciousness of the soundstage was particularly nice to listen to, especially with movies such as The Gray Man and The Batman where the background score and sounds made a big difference to the viewing experience.
Where the Sony HT-S400 really makes a difference is in how loud it can get. With a rated output of 330W between the bar speaker and subwoofer, the soundbar system is considerably louder than what most televisions — budget or premium — are able to deliver. With the volume turned up, the HT-S400 soundbar system was able to produce a loud, wide, and straightforward sound that worked with all kinds of content. Voices were sharp, background scores were distinct and clean, and there were no significant volume spikes that needed frequent adjustment.
I tended to have the Sony HT-S400 system at a relatively high volume level most of the time, but there was always room to go further if needed. At very high volumes, the sound tended to lose a bit of refinement, but this isn’t a volume level you’ll often, if at all, need to get to. The 60 percent volume level was adequate for most content for me, but I did push it to up to 75 percent for certain dialogue-focused content such as Better Call Saul and Masaba Masaba.
The sound also felt very balanced, with the subwoofer feeling like the optimal size and output for the bar speaker. The bass never felt too aggressive as is often the case with budget and mid-range soundbars, yet it didn’t feel held-back or inadequate either. It is possible to adjust the volume of the just the subwoofer using the remote, but I found the default level to be fine for the most part, and I adjusted it only occasionally when I needed to keep the volume low and couldn’t hear dialogue very clearly .
The Sony HT-S400 has something the brand calls ‘S-Force Pro Front Surround’, which is said to offer a virtual surround sound effect with only the front-facing speakers. This wasn’t really the case in my experience, with no significant effect of sound coming from the rear or even the sides, even from the Sound Field mode. The Voice and Night modes (which can be selected via the remote) made the sound more voice-focused and softer respectively, but not by much.
The 2.1-channel setup meant that the Sony HT-S400 soundbar system performed reasonably well with music, whether from the connected smart TV or over Bluetooth. The loud output, spacious soundstage, and balanced sound were enjoyable for a moderately sized room even at low volume levels, and the ability to tweak the subwoofer volume for a bit of extra attack and punch was quite useful.
The Sony HT-S400 soundbar might be a bit under-equipped and lacking in features, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Where the soundbar shines is in its simplicity of setup and use, loud and balanced sound, and sensible price for what’s on offer. That said, the lack of advanced audio format support and surround sound (real or virtual) are things to keep in mind, as is the fact that this is really a 2.1-channel speaker system built to work like a soundbar.
Get the Sony HT-S400 if you have a budget of around Rs. 25,000 and need something that adds volume, attack, and drive to your home entertainment setup. You can also consider options from brands such as Polk Audio and JBL, but Sony’s straightforward approach and focus on the core functionality makes the HT-S400 worth looking at.


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Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts’ Most Alluring Destinations
Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Experience Old World Charm in Château Stays Across France
France is synonymous with luxury, and nothing embodies refined French elegance quite like an intimate château stay. Scattered across the countryside from Paris to Provence, Fine Hotels + Resorts offers access to some of the country's most enchanting château-hotels for a uniquely magical and romantic getaway.
Château de Bagnols in the heart of the Beaujolais wine region treats guests like royalty within a medieval castle complete with towers, turrets and a moat. Sip the château's own Cru Beaujolais as you dine at the Michelin-starred restaurant, then retreat to your lavishly appointed room filled with ornate antiques and mesmerizing valley views. Wander the tranquil grounds, sample wines in the cellar, or pamper yourself with rejuvenating spa treatments. According to one delighted guest, "Everything about Château de Bagnols transports you to another time and place."
In Burgundy, Château de Courban & Spa showcases 17th century architecture and décor with a modern flair. Relax poolside, surrounded by lush gardens, before indulging in creative gastronomic delights courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Maxime Laurenson. Guests particularly appreciate the "spectacular views," "exceptional service" and an ambiance balancing "tradition and modern comfort." It's a sublime countryside escape just 90 minutes from Paris.
Nestled in a medieval village, Château de la Gaude boasts two Michelin stars and sweeping vistas of the Côte d'Azur. Savor Provençal cuisine made with fresh ingredients from the property's organic farm. Visit the herbal garden, olive groves and beehives with the chef before relaxing in your lavish, antique-filled accommodation. According to recent guests, "Everything was sheer perfection" at this "slice of heaven."
Overlooking the aquamarine waters of the French Riviera, Château de la Chèvre d'Or offers dazzling Mediterranean views. This former fortress dating to the 19th century exudes Riviera glamour with flower-filled terraces, infinity pools, and elegant rooms decorated with contemporary art. Dine on refined regional cuisine at the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant. Guests delight in the "sheer beauty," "personalized service" and "sublime scenery" of this coveted coastal retreat.
For royal treatment fit for a king, Le Château de Versailles, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel lets you live like royalty just footsteps from Louis XIV’s iconic château. This palace hotel on the grounds of Versailles Estate features sumptuous period decor, indulgent spa treatments and grand gardens inspired by the Sun King. Savor gourmet cuisine in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant before capping off the night with a moonlit stroll through Versailles’ manicured grounds. Recent guests say that staying at Le Château de Versailles exceeded all expectations for experiencing “French luxury and history at its finest.”
Paris’s iconic Hotel Plaza Athénée brings timeless Parisian glamour to the city’s most prestigious avenue. This historic hotel pairs turn-of-the-century architecture with lavish Art Deco decor. Five-star amenities include the Dior Institute spa, Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse restaurant and Bar Marie featuring Eiffel Tower views. Guests particularly appreciate the “over-the-top splendor,” “attentive staff” and “beyond perfect location” placing luxury shopping and top attractions right at your doorstep.
For rustic-chic in the French Alps, Hôtel Mont-Blanc balances vintage Alpine charm with contemporary comforts. Snuggle up in your mountain-view suite next to the outdoor hot tub or lounge by the heated indoor pool. Energize with spa treatments, savor après-ski delights, and gather round the outdoor fire pit under starry Alpine skies. This timeless hotel scores rave reviews for its “cozy-romantic ambiance,” “breathtaking views,” and being a “perfect base for exploring Chamonix.”
Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Indulge in Italy's Finest Cuisine and Accommodations
What else is in this post?
- Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Experience Old World Charm in Château Stays Across France
- Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Indulge in Italy's Finest Cuisine and Accommodations
- Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Discover England's Storied Countryside from Luxurious Manor Houses
- Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Immerse Yourself in Alpine Luxury Among Switzerland's Mountains
- Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Relax in Mediterranean Opulence on Spain and Greece's Coasts
Italy stands alone when it comes to cuisine, architecture, art and la dolce vita allure. This alluring boot-shaped country offers some of the world’s finest food and wine, dramatic natural landscapes from the Alps to the sea and an unparalleled wealth of culture—not to mention sun-kissed beaches and dazzling nightlife. With so many temptations, Italy promises indulgence of all the senses.
Luckily Fine Hotels + Resorts grants you VIP access to Italy’s most coveted properties in dream destinations like Rome, Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast. You can live out your Italian fantasies, surrounded by indulgent luxury, exquisite regional cuisine and attentive service. These refined hotels capture the essence of Italy, promising insider experiences tailored to discerning travelers seeking the very best.
Among the eternal splendors of Rome, Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel is an urban oasis steps from the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo yet worlds away. Stroll the terraced Secret Garden before lounging poolside, surrounded by fragrant roses and orange trees. Savor al fresco cocktails overlooking the butterfly sanctuary as St. Peter’s Cupola peeks above the treetops in the distance. Retreat to your airy, dreamlike guestroom with soothing hues evoking the colors of Rome. According to a recent guest, the hotel’s “gorgeous gardens,” “superb service” and “quiet elegance” make it “heaven on earth.”
Hotel de Russie’s world-class dining options let you indulge in refined Roman delicacies and Michelin-starred sophistication. St. George Restaurant serves creative Italian cuisine under a translucent cupola with romantic garden views. For an intimate culinary journey, book Le Jardin de Russie’s Chef’s Table overlooking the hotel’s Secret Garden. Or enjoy la dolce vita al fresco on Le Jardin’s garden terrace amid orange trees and the scent of jasmine.
In captivating Capri, Hotel Caesar Augustus promises pure magic atop seaside cliffs. Bask in dreamy panoramas of the isle’s rugged coastline from your balcony before descending the cliffside botanical garden steps to the infinity pool. Pamper yourself with Mediterranean-inspired spa treatments then savor fresh seafood cuisine and regional Campanian specialties overlooking Capri’s sapphire Bay of Naples. According to recent guests, the views are “unbelievable,” the gardens are “heavenly” and the service is “perfection.”
On Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa beckons with celestial sea views, private terraces and infinity pools hovering above the sea. This 17th century monastery turned luxury boutique hotel pampers you with spa treatments in cliffside cabanas and Mediterranean delicacies in seaview settings. Sip local wines as fishing boats lazily drift across the panoramic vista. From your balcony soak in Santa Rosa’s sensational sunsets and sapphire seascapes. Enchanted guests agree Monastero Santa Rosa is the “epitome of romance” with “breathtaking views,” “exceptional service” and “total relaxation.”
In Florence, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze enchants on a riverside estate steps from the Ponte Vecchio. Unwind poolside surrounded by Italian cypress and blooming rosemary hedges before exploring charming cobblestone streets. After museum hopping indulge in restorative spa treatments drawing on Tuscan wellness traditions. Dine waterside on seasonal Tuscan cuisine at Open Air Veranda or sip cocktails al fresco amid soaring palms in the inner courtyard’s Conventino Lounge. Four Seasons’ delighted guests appreciate their “heritage setting,” “spectacular artwork,” “lovely gardens” and “heavenly beds” in the heart of Florence.
On Lake Como’s glacial waters, Grand Hotel Tremezzo transports you to an elegant bygone era with romantic Art Nouveau architecture and gorgeous lakeside grounds. Relax poolside gazing at Bellagio across the shimmering lake or embark on a private boat tour to indulge in Bellagio’s lakeside cafes and upscale shopping. Back at the hotel, indulge in creative Italian cuisine at T Beach restaurant overlooking the lake. Pamper yourself at T Spa nestled in a private park bursting with magnolias, camellias and azaleas above the lake. Tremezzo enchants guests with its “postcard views,” “gracious service” and “old-world glamour.”
Among Venice's maze of canals and century-old palazzi, Hotel Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel takes you back to the 14th century in an Italian Gothic palace infused with old-world romance. Unwind on your balcony overlooking Venetian rooftops and St. Mark’s Square. Indulge in local flavors and fresh Mediterranean fare on the rooftop Terrazza Danieli with unmatched Venice views. Luxuriate with pampering treatments at the Danieli Spa before strolling the old city’s labyrinthine alleys. Recent guests relish this “iconic hotel” with “gorgeous views,” “luxurious rooms” and “historic charms.” Venice is eternally irresistible—and Hotel Danieli brings it within reach in intimate, indulgent style.
Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Discover England's Storied Countryside from Luxurious Manor Houses
No destination offers luxury nostalgia quite like the English countryside. Here, misty moors meet wildflower-dotted meadows, stately castles crown forested hilltops and sleepy villages cluster around quaint pubs and old stone churches. This is the England of fairytales and noble histories embodied in the archetypal English manor house hotel.
Tucked into this embellished landscape steeped in tradition, Fine Hotels + Resorts curates an intimate collection of England’s finest country manor hotels. With coveted locations from the Lake District to the Yorkshire Dales, Kent to Cornwall, these manor houses open doors to England’s most storied scenery and romantic heritage.
Experience living history at Gravetye Manor in West Sussex amid more than 1,000 acres of gardens and woodlands. This Elizabethan jewel merges 400 years of heritage with laidback luxury, thanks to a meticulous restoration by renowned interior designer Veere Grenney. Today Gravetye Manor romances guests with soaring timber ceilings, crackling fireplaces, four-poster beds and bespoke furnishings paying homage to William Morris.
Savor contemporary seasonal cuisine showcasing fresh local ingredients at the Michelin-starred restaurant situated in the estate’s original manor house. Pass leisurely afternoons in the panelled Library Bar nursing a whiskey sour before meandering Gravetye’s dreamy gardens created in the early 20th century by acclaimed gardener William Robinson. Recent guests say Gravetye Manor “exudes old world charm” and provides “a quintessential English countryside experience.”
Lose yourself in 10,000 acres of landscape steeped in centuries of history at Heckfield Place. This 18th century Georgian manor turned modern country house hotel resides on a sprawling Hampshire estate dotted with wild ponies, roe deer and free-roaming sheep. Heckfield Place strikes an alluring balance between heritage architecture, contemporary interiors and avantgarde culinary offerings courtesy of celebrated chef Skye Gyngell. Surrender your senses to an indulgent massage with natural oils in The Marjorie treatment room before sampling farm-to-table creations in the light-filled restaurant. Then retreat to your elegant hideaway featuring original art, free-standing bathtubs and sumptuous beds with Irish linens. Enchanted guests say Heckfield Place is “luxury personified in a quintessentially English setting.”
Venture to the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon for a stay at Bovey Castle, whose origins stretch back to the 13th century. From your plush accommodation in the main manor house or self-contained lodges across 275 acres, views stretch to the granite peaks of Dartmoor. Unwind by the heated outdoor pool or book rejuvenating ESPA treatments in the spa before dinner in the oak-beamed Great Western restaurant. Guests delight in Bovey Castle’s “stunning manor house ambiance” and array of country pursuits from archery to falconry.
Experience timeless elegance at 26-room Lainston House set amid 63 acres of serene Hampshire countryside. Dating to the 15th century, Lainston House immerses you in English country house splendor through beautifully preserved period architecture: pillared portico, sweeping staircase, gilded mirrors. Sip afternoon tea by the fireside in the Drawing Room or unwind in the aroma-infused vitality pool at Sense Spa. Savor fine dining showcasing fresh regional fare at The Avenue restaurant before retreating to your individually designed guest room where thoughtful touches like homemade cookies and evening port await. Recent guests toast Lainston House’s “old world charm,” “excellent food” and “lovely grounds.”
Step into an Agatha Christie novel at Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club in the East Sussex High Weald. This regal manor house hotel set on 188 acres evokes the elegance of early 20th century England. Stroll through the Victorian walled garden bursting with blooms. Hit the links on the estate’s 18-hole golf course dating to 1888. Then indulge in traditional afternoon tea in the Drawing Room’s original 1660s paneling accompanied by melodies on the grand piano. Cap it off with creative seasonal dishes at the contemporary Anderida restaurant situated in what was once the manor’s cow byre. Guests delight in the hotel’s “beautiful setting,” “period features” and “fantastic food.”
Travel back in time 400 years at Loseley Park, an Elizabethan manor house turned luxury hotel near Guildford. Experience Tudor history surrounded by original oak paneling, carved fireplaces and tapestries within walls little changed since the 16th century. Eight individually designed rooms reflect the period with handcrafted beds and stand-alone bathtubs. Guests particularly appreciate the property’s “fascinating history,” “authenticity” and “personal touches.” Indulge in Britain’s favorite pastime: Afternoon Tea featuring delicate finger sandwiches, buttery scones and luscious cakes. For dinner, creative seasonal cuisine showcases fresh local ingredients in a grand panelled room bedecked with family portraits. Then retire to your luxurious haven with views of Loseley’s undulating gardens and wildlife-rich lake.
Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Immerse Yourself in Alpine Luxury Among Switzerland's Mountains
Of all the sublime places to experience alpine splendor, Switzerland stands alone. This small privileged country nestled among the Alps spoils visitors with staggering Alpine panoramas, pristine glacial lakes and quintessential Swiss charms from fondue to cuckoo clocks. Switzerland pioneered Alpine tourism beginning in the mid-19th century, transforming rustic villages like St. Moritz into glamorous destinations pioneering winter sports.
Today Switzerland continues to set the standard for Alpine luxury, as Fine Hotels + Resorts properties demonstrate. These opulent hotels range from palace properties in storybook Alpine towns to sleek designer lodges in off-the-grid locations offering intimate access to Switzerland’s majestic mountains and unspoiled nature.
In central Switzerland’s mountain-rimmed Lake Lucerne, Bürgenstock Resort promises “poetry for the soul.” From bucolic walking trails to speedboat excursions across glittering Lake Lucerne, guests delight in the resort’s array of amenities nestled atop the Bürgenstock Peninsula. Savor regional specialties on sunset-facing terraces at RitzCoffier’s three restaurants before retreating to your stylishly designed room with floor-to-ceiling windows framing breathtaking Alpine vistas. Pamper yourself with rejuvenating treatments at the 10,000-square-foot Alpine Spa overlooking Lake Lucerne. Just outside the hotel, explore Switzerland’s steepest funicular railway climbing 2,300 feet to the resort’s Summit complex. There, wander skywalk platforms with views extending as far as the Black Forest in Germany. Recent guests appreciate the Bürgenstock Resort’s “stunning setting,” “first class amenities” and “sublime scenery.”
In Switzerland’s sophisticated capital of Zurich, The Dolder Grand crowns an elevated hilltop overlooking the Alps and Zurichsee’s glistening waters. This historic landmark dating to 1899 epitomizes timeless Swiss elegance with plush furnishings, chandeliers and artwork adorning palatial interiors. Pamper body and mind with indulgent treatments at the exquisite 4,000-square-meter spa before sinking into your pillowtop bed with Irish linens. Savor haute cuisine prepared with local ingredients at one of the Dolder’s multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. Guests delight in the property’s “old world charm,” “impeccable service” and “stunning views” minutes from downtown Zurich.
In the Bernese Oberland, Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa promises front-row views of the Eiger’s infamous north face. Dating to 1865, this grande dame hotel in the mountain-ringed village of Interlaken overlooks turquoise lakes Thun and Brienz. Unwind in your elegant, richly upholstered room before dinner at the eclectic La Terrasse restaurant, with calling birds and harp music complementing haute cuisine. Indulge in rejuvenating treatments at the Victoria Spa’s indoor pool and whirlpools framed by majestic Alpine vistas. Guests appreciate this heritage hotel’s “beautiful setting,” “lovely spa” and “spectacular views of the Jungfrau.”
In the Valais Alps, Chetzeron combines modern luxury with off-the-grid immersion in Switzerland’s wild natural beauty. Accessible only by gondola, this 21-room mountaintop retreat at 6,112 feet treats you to endless vistas of snowcapped Alpine giants. Retreat to your minimalist-chic room accented with local materials from hand-hewn timber to Alpine slate. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge and restaurant frame celestial panoramas stretching to Mont Blanc. Indulge in farm-to-table Swiss cuisine paired with fine organic and biodynamic wines. Then join a mountain guide for adventures ranging from glacier hikes to ski tours — or simply relax on Chetzeron’s sunny terraces breathing in the crisp Alpine air. According to recent guests, Chetzeron is a “special place” offering “majestic scenery” and “superb hospitality.”
On Lake Geneva’s shores, La Réserve Genève is an urban resort sanctuary minutes from the Jet d’Eau. Unwind in your bright, contemporary room featuring lake views and a private terrace before sampling creative French-Swiss cuisine overlooking the waterfront. Pamper yourself with beauty and wellness rituals at the exquisite Spa Nescens using pioneering anti-aging science and Swiss cellular therapy. Then watch the sunset color the lake’s rippling surface from the cigar lounge terrace. Guests appreciate La Réserve Genève for its “understated luxury,” “spectacular views” and being an indulgent “oasis in the city.”
Ideally situated in tony St. Moritz, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel awakens your inner nobility. This iconic historic property, opened in 1896, personifies timeless Swiss elegance. Stroll the manicured lakefront gardens admiring Alpine views before indulging in decadent Alpine-inspired treatments at the spa’s subterranean aquatic center. Savor elevated takes on regional specialties like butter poached rabbit with caramelized pear at the Michelin-starred IGNIV restaurant. Then retreat to your traditionally decorated room accentuated with Italian marble and silk. Overwhelmed guests say Badrutt’s Palace offers “luxury beyond imagination” with “mesmerizing Alpine views” and “world-class everything.”
In the Bernese Oberland’s most exclusive resort, Gstaad Palace tantalizes with turreted splendor recalling a castle in the Alps. Since opening in 1913, generations of royalty, celebrities and discerning guests have flocked to the Palace for old-world sophistication in the Swiss Alps. Unwind fireside in the lobby lounge amidst gilded mirrors and Murano chandeliers before dinner at the Michelin-starred Sommet. Retire to your elegant quarters with precious fabrics, antique furnishings and views of the surrounding peaks. Revitalize at the Valmont Spa sampling the latest in Swiss anti-aging skincare. Delighted guests say Gstaad Palace is the “epitome of Swiss luxury” offering “superb hospitality” and a “fairy tale ambiance.”
Perched on Lake Geneva’s shores in Montreux, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is a belle époque jewel among Switzerland’s most storied retreats. Soak up sublime lake views from your sumptuously decorated room featuring Italian marble bathrooms before pampering body and mind at Willow Stream Spa, one of Europe’s most extensive hotel spas. Sip cocktails al fresco during Après-Ski Hour at Le Bar before sampling Mediterranean-inspired cuisine overlooking the lake at L’Atelier Gourmand. Since opening in 1906, the Montreux Palace has perfected Swiss luxury, as guests attest. They appreciate the hotel’s “grand elegance,” “iconic architecture,” “impeccable service” and “magnificent views” of Lake Geneva’s sapphire waters set against the snowcapped peaks beyond.
Dreaming of a Luxury European Getaway? Discover Fine Hotels + Resorts' Most Alluring Destinations - Relax in Mediterranean Opulence on Spain and Greece's Coasts
Along southern Europe’s Mediterranean shores, idyllic sun-soaked coastlines beckon in Spain and Greece. Here, Moorish palaces and whitewashed Greek Island villages cascade down to rocky cliffs and crescent beaches lapped by azure waters. Bask in endless sunshine on a Costas yacht charter or unwind in chic coastal hideaways with endless sea views. From Barcelona and the Balearics to Mykonos and Santorini, these Mediterranean hotspots tantalize with glamorous beach resorts, celebrity-spotting, legendary nightlife and sun-kissed indoor-outdoor living. Luckily, Fine Hotels + Resorts grants insider access to the region’s most luxurious seaside escapes.
On Spain’s Balearic Islands, Belmond La Residencia is an intimate hideaway dramatically situated atop a hillside in Deià, Mallorca. Stroll through lavish gardens past pools glittering in the Mediterranean sun before savoring fresh-from-the-sea fare on the Citrus Tree terrace. Pamper yourself with Turkish steam rituals, aromatic massages and citrus-infused treatments in the spa. Then relax on your balcony overlooking the terraced hillside sweeping down to the sea. Dine under the stars savoring refined Mediterranean cuisine at El Olivo, where produce from the hotel's organic farm takes center stage. Recent guests rave about this intimate hotel’s “exceptional service,” “charming village” and “stunning sea views.”
On the southeast coast of Mallorca, Cap Rocat transforms a 19th-century military fortress into a glamorous adults-only seaside escape. Soak up sweeping Mediterranean panoramas from your private terrace or the clifftop swimming pool. Indulge in fresh seafood and innovative regional cuisine at the Sea Club Restaurant before retiring to your contemporary-chic room just steps from the sea. Pamper yourself with Mediterranean-inspired rituals at the spa or lounge seaside with a cocktail watching the sunset. Guests delight in this unique property’s “coastal setting,” “beautiful views” and “luxurious rooms” with “lovely terraces.”
Overlooking the Bay of Palma, Gran Hotel Son Net combines five-star elegance with a private country estate on Mallorca. Wander the sculpture gardens and 17th-century stone stables before relaxing poolside surrounded by olive and almond groves. Recharge with a soothing massage using extracts from the estate’s orange blossoms and lavender at Son Net Spa. Dine under the stars at Oleum Restaurant savoring Mediterranean haute cuisine created with produce from the hotel's surrounding biodynamic farm. Then retreat to your beautifully appointed room with antique furnishings and Son Net vistas. Recent guests applaud the “luxury in a peaceful setting,” “outstanding food” and “exceptional staff.”
On Ibiza’s breathtaking north coast, 7 Pines Resort dazzles with sleek Balearic-chic flair. Unwind by the cliffside infinity pools overlooking Xarraca Bay’s crystalline waters. Embark on an exclusive yacht cruise at sunset, when Ibiza's coastline glows in pastel hues. Indulge in farm-to-table Mediterranean cuisine at The View Restaurant before retiring to your contemporary-luxe guestroom with sleek indigenous materials and a private terrace. Pamper yourself with aromatic Farrutx treatments at the cliffside Sisley Spa cantilevered above the sea. Guests love this “stunning clifftop resort” with its “contemporary design,” “sublime views” and “peak Ibiza glamour.”
Perched on a clifftop overlooking the Aegean Sea, Grace Santorini immerses you in Cycladic sophistication. Unwind by the infinity pool seemingly merged with sea and sky or pamper yourself with Mediterranean-inspired spa treatments. Savor Greek flavors like grilled octopus and slow-cooked lamb kleftiko complemented by spectacular Caldera views at the rooftop restaurant. Retire to your sea-facing suite accented in white curves and clean lines with plunge pool or hot tub. Recent guests toast this boutique hotel’s “amazing staff,” “Infinity pool with a view” and “picture perfect” sunsets.
On Mykonos, the beachfront boutique resort Kivotos Mykonos enchants with intimate Cycladic luxury. Dip into the sea-water pool channeling the Aegean’s crystalline waters or unwind seaside on your private lounge bed. Savor Mediterranean creative cuisine highlighting Greek flavors at Ornos restaurant before retreating to your whitewashed guestroom accented with hand-painted tiles and Aegean views. Pamper yourself with olive stone massages and anti-aging facials using products harvested from Kivotos’ organic farm. Guests appreciate the resort’s “idyllic setting,” “attentive service” and “very special atmosphere” where “everything is beautiful.”
Overlooking the famed Caldera, Katikies Santorini radiates elegant Cycladic charm. Unwind by the cliffside infinity pool before indulging in fresh Greek cuisine at the Michelin-starred restaurant. Relax with a massage using aromatic local herbs then watch in awe as Santorini's sunsets light up the sea and sky with captivating colors. Retire to your sunlit suite hewn into the volcanic rock, accented with sleek curves and dazzling views of the sea below. Recent guests love this intimate hideaway’s “spectacular views,” “warm hospitality” and cliffside serenity in “paradise.”
Hugging the clifftops of Spain’s Costa Brava, Cap Rocat promises Mediterranean indulgence in a breathtaking setting. Relax seaside admiring the rocky coastline’s rugged beauty before retreating to your contemporary-chic room just steps from the sea. Pamper yourself with rituals harnessing the power of salt, olive and citrus at the spa. Savor innovative Mediterranean cuisine made with fresh local ingredients at the Sea Club Restaurant. Guests delight in this unique property’s “spectacular location,” “beautiful design,” “excellent service” and sunset views overlooking the glittering Mediterranean.

domain: travel


Sometimes there’s just nothing to talk about. Sometimes, you can go days and days with plenty of things happening, thinking all the while that these events and stories would make great anecdotes. And sometimes, like, you know, always, nothing happens and you just have to tell short, pointless Anecdon’ts*.
Here’s a list of things that have happened to me this past week, some true, some not so true. See if you can spot which is which.
- I punched Chris Hemsworth in the buttocks.
- I fed the fish.
- I watched an entire season of The Wire whilst eating nothing but cake.
- I ignored Scarlett Johansson’s text. Again.
- I was abducted by a creature from the Upside Down.
- I water flossed my teeth.
- I ate the fish.
- I had to water floss my teeth again.
- I caught the young Han Solo giving himself a Han Solo.
- I realised some music at the Olympics sounded a lot like the Newsradio theme.
- I realised that the numbers at the Olympics are written in a typeface that looks suspiciously like Comic Sans.
- I took this photo.
- I then tweeted that photo with the caption, ‘this air freshener smells like yoga farts’.
- I made that noise you make to call a cat, but no cat came.
- I caught the young Boba Fett giving himself a Boba Fett.
- I realised that the tune stuck in my head for the past two months is the theme tune from the sitcom The Thin Blue Line.
- My friend found a picture she drew of me eight years ago.
*© Sundays Supplement


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ASHP to Nominate JCAHO PTAC Member
Society is the first pharmacy organization to advise JCAHO on hospital issues.
ASHP, in response to a request by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), nominated a member and an alternate to the JCAHO Professional and Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) related to hospital standards. The member will serve a two-year term that began Jan. 1. PTACs are an integral part of JCAHO's advisory structure. The hospital PTAC is one of six such advisory committees; the others address ambulatory care, behavioral health care, home care, long-term care, and networks. ASHP also has a seat on the home care PTAC. PTAC members, who represent a diverse group of national health care organizations, assist the Joint Commission in developing and refining accreditation standards and scoring guidelines. "The value of the PTACs stems from the diversity of organizational perspectives each of the members brings to the table," said Laura Reeder, director of board and committee activities at the Joint Commission. "The input from these health care organizations is critical to the development of Joint Commission standards," she added. ASHP President Bruce E. Scott, M.S., FASHP, agreed, saying, "We are very pleased that JCAHO recognizes that the pharmacist's perspective is vital to patient care."


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TAYLOR CARLTON IS ON FIRE
Tahoe snowboarder Taylor Carlton arrives to perfect jumps and deep powder landings. Joined by a crew of Tim Humphries, Shayne Pospisil, Bjorn Leinens and Adam Dowell.
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Made with k in NYC.

domain: entertainment


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A root canal treatment is necessary to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. When a tooth becomes infected, the nerve and pulp inside of the tooth is removes, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed in order to prevent future infections. Without root canal treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.
The term “root canal” is used to describe the natural cavity within in the centre of the tooth. The pulp is the soft area within the root canal that consists of nerves. When a tooth's nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. The bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth. A tooth's nerve and pulp can become irritated, inflamed, and infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth, and/or large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face.
Root canal treatments are performed to relieve the severe pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation of infection. With anaesthetics, most patients report that they feel comfortable during the procedure, and that the pain – if any – is no worse than that of a simple extraction.
For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, contact us immediately.


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Vice President, Artist & Promoter Relations | Ticketmaster
A lifelong music fan, Brita Christensen followed her passion and turned it into a position.
“As someone with no musical talent of their own, I had very narrow understanding of the kinds of ‘jobs’ you could have in music,” she said. “All of them seemed to require some basic understanding of music composition, production, or performance – which I had none of.”
In college she immersed herself in as many campus music groups as she could and was hired as an on-campus rep for Universal Music Group, giving her first-hand experience in marketing and promotion and introducing her to industry professionals that would become mentors.
“I’m fortunate to work for two really intentional and thoughtful leaders, David Marcus and Blythe Reyes,” Christensen said. “They’ve completely transformed the culture of the music team at Ticketmaster and have given me a great blueprint for what honest and courageous leadership looks like.”
It’s advice she readily shares with aspiring entertainment professionals, who she says should think creatively and broadly about their careers.
“If I’ve learned anything, it’s that there are so many more jobs and opportunities in this industry than most people even realize,” she said.
As music becomes increasingly accessible and decentralized, Christensen sees new points of convergence between music, tech and consumers, bringing more opportunity. She thinks her generation and the next are uniquely qualified for the challenges ahead.
“One of the prevailing traits that I’ve noticed among my generation – and perhaps even more so with younger generations — is a strong sense of empathy. In my experience, leading with empathy fosters greater trust and collaboration, both essential to any productive team dynamic.”
Fan empathy led to one her personal accomplishments this year creating custom ticketing solutions including four mammoth BTS shows at Allegiant Stadium, which she said “was the manifestation of years of listening to and learning from BTS fans and trying to design a ticketing experience that took their needs into consideration as much as possible.”

domain: artistic


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I read that stars show both absorption and emission lines. While how we see absorption lines is clear to me, I don't understand how (and when) we see the emission lines. Based on what I read in several of your threads such as Why don't absorption and emission lines cancel out in our Sun? we should not be seeing emission lines at all, since all the emissions would come from the hotter interior but those can't reach the outside (unless I misunderstood this point), and the only emission we see is blackbody radiation. But then how do we see the few emission lines such as in the spectrum shown here?
Light emitted in the interior of a star is largely thermalized by the time it works its way out, and will have a black body spectrum.
The interesting parts of the spectrum is due to molecules and atoms in the corona: the "atmosphere" of the star.
Any gas that is ionized or at least excited to something above the ground state will produce an emission spectrum. Practically all the gas in the first several tens of thousand miles above the star's "surface" will be ionized and emitting light at a high rate, producing emission lines. Consistent with the link you provided, a molecule (or atom) will absorb light only if the light frequency matches an available energy transition in the molecule. If the molecule is already excited above the bottom level of that transition, the transition is not available. However, as long as there is cooler gas at high levels in the stellar atmosphere, there will be absorption lines.
In general, emission lines occur in gases that are optically thin, or in atmospheres that have a temperature inversion (i.e. are hotter closer to the observer).
In an optically thin gas, if excited atoms or ions are radiatively deexcited, then the photons produced can escape to an observer. If continuum absorption/emission is unlikely then this leads to an observed emission line. Examples include most nebulae.
The second case arises because if you have a hot layer on top of a cool layer, then the light we receive from the "photosphere" will come from a hotter layer at the wavelength of a strong radiative transition (closer to the observer) compared with the continuum. As the hotter layer is brighter, we see an emission line. The exact opposite case to the formation of an absorption line, which arises when light at the central wavelength of a transition arises from a higher, cooler layer.
A temperature inversion requires a way of non-radiatively depositing heat in the hotter layer, otherwise radiative diffusion would eliminate it. An example is a stellar chromosphere, which is above and hotter than the photosphere, and heated by magnetic fields. This can produce high temperature emission lines. However, the chromosphere is (a) patchy and (b) thin enough to allow light of most wavelengths through it, so we still view the solar photosphere with its absorption lines, but with the addition of emission lines from the hotter chromosphere.

domain: chemistry


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there's nothing greater and stronger than the gravity of falling in love, that's my theory.
i'm young and still learning to write (type) properly so please bear with me. i'm trying to do better every story.
• junior high-school student
• an amateur, aspiring writer
reach me out on my facebook account:
🥢 Sereneology WP
- sa bahay
- JoinedMay 2, 2020

domain: literature


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This month’s article tracks the progress of power source technoscience through the last quarter of the twentieth century and beyond by highlighting how the revolution in materials science helped beget the revolution in power sources technoscience.
|Number of pages||8|
|Journal||Proceedings of the IEEE|
|Early online date||20 Nov 2017|
|Publication status||Published - 1 Dec 2017|
- power source technoscience
- power sources
- lithium-ion battery

domain: library


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Rose Mina Munjee is a Registered Psychotherapist, experienced mindfulness facilitator, and restorative/therapeutic yoga teacher. She teaches at The Center for Mindfulness Studies, for MGC, ME and MWB. Rose facilitates evidence-based mindfulness interventions including MBSR, MBCT, and MSC. She also has a private practice and does clinical work for hospitals in spiritual care and psychotherapy.
Mindful Movement for a Mindful Life
Saturday, May 2, 2020 — 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Enjoy an experiential mindfulness practice incorporating creative movement with music. Experience beginner friendly innovative dance and yoga moves integrating body awareness and mindfulness techniques.
This is a beginner friendly practice with options to modify/adapt the movements. The session will end with a calming and grounding seated and lying down meditation including a reflection moment on steps we can take to move through life with more mindfulness.
- Inspires participants to move through life with more mindfulness, challenge the status quo and further integrate mindfulness and compassion into society
- Motivates participants to actionability
- Inspires participants to take practical steps to bring mindfulness to any type of movement, and mindfully move through life as they create change in their communities/organizations/families
- An integrative approach bringing mindfulness to movement with considerations for accessibility
Mindfulness and Compassion Based Responses to Difficult Emotions
Saturday, May 2, 2020 — 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
This practice will focus on Forgiveness, Letting Go, & Dealing with Difficulties and will follow with a discussion. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion, offering a powerful and effective tool for emotional resilience. Mindfulness is the first step in emotional healing—being able to turn toward and acknowledge difficult thoughts and emotions (such as inadequacy, sadness, anger, or confusion) with increased present moment awareness and a spirit of openness and curiosity.
Self-compassion involves responding to these difficulties with greater kindness and understanding, to soothe and comfort ourselves when we’re in pain. MSC is an evidence-based, mindfulness-informed course that trains groups of individuals, to cultivate greater compassion for themselves and others, while being empowered by a sense of common humanity. Research has shown that self-compassion enhances emotional wellbeing, boosts happiness, improves relationships, and reduces anxiety, depression and shame. Ultimately, the techniques from MSC may be used to improve self-care and also to help clients and patients to ease and transform their relationship with difficulties in their lives.
- How to manage difficult emotions with greater ease and resiliency.
- Mindfulness and self-compassion skills to use at home, in the workplace, and in everyday life.
- How to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism – becoming your own best guide.


The defending premiers ventured out to Parramatta to take on the potential heirs to their throne in what was comfortably billed as the clash of the season so far. The Eels were keen to emphasise their title credentials against the competition's benchmark team. As many others will, they came up short, with the Roosters handing them their first defeat of the season in a highly entertaining 24-10 clash at Bankwest Stadium.
A frenetic start saw the Roosters with an early possession and territorial advantage, but the Eels were able to withstand several attacking raids led by some scintillating play by the Morris twins. Josh Morris made a break down the left-hand side before passing infield to James Tedesco. Tedesco was swamped by a Nathan Brown tackle before he could even start to think about his next move. Brett Morris made a dash down the short side from dummy-half, before returning to the right wing where he was again involved in the play a tackle later. The scrambling Eels defence was able to withstand the Roosters' best efforts.
Eleven minutes in the Eels had their best chance after Clint Gutherson picked up a Roosters kick, made a break and travelled deep into Roosters territory. He was run down by the cover defenders, before the ball was spread to the right for Ryan Matterson who would have scored if not for Josh Morris tearing the ball from his grasp. In the background Daniel Tupou limped from the field as the Eels went on the attack again. The Roosters were able to repel the Eels and Tupou decided he could continue. It was that kind of game - plenty happening.
Five minutes later the Roosters were peppering the Eels line when an offload led to a quick pass out to Josh Morris. He caught and passed without looking to where a wide open Tupou should have been. Tupou, still struggling with his bung leg, was several steps short of where he needed to be and the ball rolled harmlessly into touch.
With their next possession, a bouncing pass found Brett Morris with plenty of work to do to reach the line. He beat Dylan Brown and Gutherson to cross for the first points of the game after 20 minutes. Kyle Flanagan missed the conversion from the sideline, his first miss from his past 17 attempts.
With sixteen minutes remaining in the first half, Dylan Brown tackled a Roosters' player without the ball as they contested a high kick. The resulting penalty was converted to two points by Flanagan taking the Roosters to a 6-0 lead.
The fast-moving Roosters defensive line was all over the Eels, and they struggled to make any impact with the ball in hand. Eleven minutes from halftime, on the back of an offside penalty against Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the Eels had another shot at the Roosters line. A six again call saw them apply even more pressure, but the Roosters resisted, with Tupou and Josh Morris carrying Ferguson over the touch-in-goal line to end the threat.
The next time they had the ball the Eels progressed to the other end of the field where a probing Michael Jennings run finished centimetres short of the line. From the last tackle kick Ferguson came close to scoring in the corner, but the desperate Roosters defence was able to keep the Eels off the scoreboard for the first 40 minutes.
With 30 seconds remaining, Maika Sivo had the ball stripped from his grasp and in the ensuing play Tedesco was hit high. The penalty allowed the Roosters to extend their lead to 8-0 at the break.
The Eels have built a reputation of finishing strongly in the second half of games this year, so eight points was by no means insurmountable. They started the second half with the ball from the kick-off and continued to hold possession for the next three and half minutes before the Roosters finally cracked.
The ball passed from Moses to Dylan Brown and onto Jennings, who dummied and crossed through the attempted tackles of Joseph Manu and Brett Morris. Moses missed the conversion, but the Eels were back within four points and six minutes into the second half the Roosters still hadn't touched the ball.
From the kick-off the Eels continued to play possession football, with another six again call seeing them advance into the Roosters 20 metre zone. Jennings was tackled on the last and the Roosters were handed the ball for the first time in the half, after seven long minutes of desperate defence.
A Reed Mahoney grubber kick, with 25 minutes remaining, was almost grounded by Shaun Lane, before being mopped up by Brett Morris. The drop out saw the blue and gold waves pounding the Roosters line again. This time the ball swept to the right and Waqa Blake was bundled into touch by Tupou and Josh Morris.
With 21 minutes remaining the Eels scored one of the most brutal tries seen in recent memory. Firstly Jennings left two Roosters bodies in his wake, before passing to Sivo who tucked the ball under his arm and charged into Tedesco, who bounced off and hit the ground heavily. Sivo crossed for the try, while Tedesco was helped from the field after laying prone for several alarming minutes. Moses converted from the sideline to give the Eels a 10-8 lead.
The Roosters were far from finished and regained the lead just minutes later. Keary jinked and dummied and cut through the line between Mahony and Moses before drawing Gutherson to send Boyd Cordner over for a four-point reply. Flanagan kicked the conversion to take the score to 14-10 in the Roosters' favour.
A high shot from Eels forward Nathan Brown saw Flanagan add another two points to the Roosters' total. Tedesco was ruled out for the remainder of the game, as the clock crept into the final fourteen minutes.
Josh Morris made a break on halfway, passed inside to Keary who was cut down in a perfect cover tackle from Dylan Brown. From the quick play-the-ball the Roosters caught Jennings deliberately loitering offside. He was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes as Flanagan kicked the score to 18-10.
Into the final five minutes the Roosters put the result beyond doubt, with Josh Morris flicking a pass to an unmarked Tupou. Tupou, still favouring that leg, came around to make Flanagan's kick easier.
The Roosters attacked through to the very last seconds of the game, the siren sounding on their 24-10 victory. The score unfairly making the result look almost comfortable. These two teams will be around at the end of the season and a repeat performance would make for a fitting grand final.


This is a debatable topic. There are a lot of influencing factors (other traffic, temperature, wind, tire inflation, load, etc.) that no two times of driving the same route with or without CC are likely to have the same energy usage and thus achieve greater or lesser mileage.
Some say they get better mileage going by foot rather than CC. This might be due to anticipation of slopes in the road and human action to press the go pedal more or less as needed. A CC will only be reactive to the moment. For example, the CC won't let off the go when cresting a hill until it senses the affect of going downhill. A person might let off slightly sooner.
Adaptive CC may slow down sooner than a person (or annoying slow down unnecessarily when the car in front moves to a turn lane and slows down). This can cause the expenditure of energy to get back up to speed. This energy will be more than the energy it would have taken to just maintain speed.
Regeneration opportunities will influence the outcome too.
Aside: my dad once suggested that since better fuel mileage is attained with a tailwind, I should always drive to him in reverse when the wind is from his location to mine.
I agree with Ayepace here. It's a debatable and debated topic. The upshot is that compared to all sorts of other parameters that matter much more, the effect of CC is negligible.
If you did control for all other parameters you might see a few of miles difference in range ... IMO no more than 5, except perhaps in highly unusual circumstances like a constant up and down course or cars in front of you dramatically changing speed all the time.
I think the only debate is whether it is worth the hassle, but there should be no question that at a given average speed and in similar conditions, proper right foot technique is more efficient than CC. As someone with many years and miles in a Gen 1 Honda Insight with an aftermarket CC installed, I've gamed this out extensively. The main issue is being able to allow speed to bleed off going uphill and recapturing speed going downhill with minimal throttle variation as opposed to CC keeping a constant speed and occasionally "punching" the throttle.
This has been confirmed by many members fo the Gen 1 Insight community who (as one would expect) are somewhat anal about milage.
For the most part, Eco mode is simply allowing a little more variation from the set speed and a less aggressive throttle input to maintain speed. I played with this on the Rostra CC that I installed in the Insight (there were dip switches to control the stickiness of the set point and the aggressiveness of the throttle input). IIRC, the max variation in the set point was +/- 4 MPH, but the system was never going to anticipate hills and I could consistently get several MPG better with my foot.
The OG Insight got such good mileage that it was easy to see a 5 or 10% increase in efficiency (5% of 60 MPG is more noticeable than 5% of 30 MPG). But even with my wife's thirsty Velar, I can get 26 MPG on the highway using my foot as compared to 22 MPH in Eco with CC at the locally prevailing highway speeds of 80ish MPH..
And this does translate to EVs based on several years in a Chevy Volt. I have less testing in the I Pace, but so far I get noticeably better range with my foot as compared to CC in Eco and I would estimate it to be closer to 20 miles of range on a full charge at highway speeds and not 5.
As always, YMMV and 20 miles of range may not be worth the effort unless it cuts out an in-trip charging session. It is tiring to really hypermile like this even though I use CC sporadically to give my leg a rest whenever I'm in light traffic with mostly flat terrain. But it's nice to know that you can squeeze out some extra range if you need to.
Not that it helps with our cars, but Porsches can opt for the Innodrive upgrade so that their adaptive cruise system understands traffic, speed limits, curves, and slopes over the next 2 miles or so ahead and will react to improve both the experience and efficiency of the drive. Of course, as with most things Porsche you have to pay a significant cost to get the ACC capability, then pay even more for the Innodrive part. A nice thing starting this year is that the Innodrive upgrade can be added as a SOTA update IF you already have the ACC part, since all of the hardware is already there and only additional software and data is needed.
I think the I-Pace will get worse miles/Kw with the cruise control on while in traffic. If a gasser is in front of you speeding up and slowing down (as in always) the I-Pace will speed up and slow down maintaining it's set distance. Regen is nice, but anytime electricity is flowing through wires while accelerating or regenning you are loosing some energy to heat. Think power plant. Power plant makes 970KWe/hr going out the wires in the generator. Only half of that ever reaches the customers meter, to collect revenue. The rest is lost in wiring and transformer heat. If you want to be efficient with cruise control, you should not be following another car close enough so that your car is engaging regen to maintain it's distance.


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LAST UPDATED : Dec 05, 2017, 06:04 AM IST
- Madras HC moved for probe into 'embezzlement' of volleyball players' allowance
A senior office-bearer of the Volleyball Federation of India has moved the Madras High Court seeking a CBI probe into what he alleged embezzlement of Centre's allowance to players competing in international tournaments by a top federation official.
- HC orders status quo on government's permission to install cross atop Bonacaud in Western Ghats
The Kerala High Court on Thursday ordered for maintaining status quo in the matter of installing a wooden cross atop Bonacaud, the base station of Agasthyarkoodam peak of the Western Ghats, in Thiruvananthapuram.


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Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar
Most Liked Items From The Menu
The most commonly ordered items and dishes from this store
All come with choice of sauce: ketchup cocktail, tartar or hot sauce, no substitute
Soup / Salad
All come with potato fries, cajun fries or sweet potato fries (no substitute)
Po Boy Sandwiches
All come with potato fries or sweet potato fries or soup, (no substitute)
Sliders / Roll
All sliders/ roll come with potato fries or sweet potato fries. No substitute
Pick Your Single Catch
Make Your Own Seafood Combo
Served in a bag, with your choice of seasoning and spice level. Includes: corn and potatoes (no substitute)
Extra On The Side
Prices on this menu are set directly by the Merchant.
Prices may differ between Delivery and Pickup.


AZS.7 – AUTOMATIC LINE FOR TESTING AND ADJUSTMENT OF PKW LAMELLAE – XTD
Complete automated line for production and 100% mechanical inspection and adjustment of PKW couplings including balancing according to special dynamic adjustment algorithm and special camera control with the possibility of division into IO and NIO + and NIO-pieces. The line is made up of several separate parts. LABORTECH ensures the functionality of the entire line.
Features and description:
- Complete line with these parts: assembly part of the line (assembly of the lid, pressure plate and springs) testing part (mechanical inspection including adjustment, clutch balancing, XTD fixation, preservation), split system on IO, NIO + and NIO parts.
- SIEMENS Simatic S7 1500 control system incl. LCD, integrated PC incl. software BALANCERTest, EDHTest, etc.
- Identification and history of parts through MARKRATOR
- Clutch handling is ensured by the KUKA robot and continuous manipulators including conveyor belts.
- Total Taktzeit Input Line – 28sec


Firms in the apparel industry seek operational information on ways to implement mass customization. The purpose of this research is to investigate the potential for concurrent engineering (CE) to realign the traditional, linear apparel product development process to a more concurrent and consumer‐focused process in order to facilitate the implementation of the new supply chain process (i.e. mass customization) with sensitivity to time‐to‐market demands.
The case study method was used with three non‐competing apparel firms. Survey instruments and focus group feedback were utilized, which allowed the researchers to collect in‐depth information about the apparel product development process, often considered proprietary in many industries.
Product development activities in the lengthy apparel product development process were realigned with many activities being ranked as early or middle activities. This realignment into a compressed and nearly simultaneous process supports activities that must be done early and often simultaneously rather than late to support a mass customization strategy.
The case study approach and apparel‐oriented sample reduces generalizability of findings; however, realignment of activities and provided operational information encourage future research to document the findings for apparel and other industries.
Suggested movement of activities can be used as a guide for designers and manufacturers when trying to improve their product development process.
The paper provides needed detailed or operational information about implementation of mass customization in the apparel industry.
Kincade, D.H., Regan, C. and Gibson, F.Y. (2007), "Concurrent engineering for product development in mass customization for the apparel industry", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 27 No. 6, pp. 627-649. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570710750295Download as .RIS
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