hotel equipment

Paris's legendary label as the "City of Light" may soon lose some of its luster. The French minister for energy and environment unveiled last week a proposal for lights in and outside shops, offices, and public buildings — including the flagship Louis Vuitton store and the Lido cabaret house on Paris' Avenue des Champs Elysees — to be turned off between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. starting in July. The plan, to be applied across French cities, towns and villages, is aimed at saving energy and money and showing "sobriety," Minister Delphine Batho said. The move has provoked an outcry from merchants, who say the government is being insensitive to France's image as the world's No. 1 tourist destination. They say the rule, on top of existing bans wrist on Sunday store openings and night shopping, will hurt business at a time when the French economy has barely grown for a year and unemployment is at a 14-year high. "Great! Another positive message sent to ci

Y ou only need try an electric toothbrush (preferably your own) to appreciate how battery power can take the effort out of an everyday chore. The latest versions are so advanced that they come with a three-figure price and enough brush heads, speeds and sensitivity settings to cater for all dental needs, whether it's massaging gums or excavating those gapsat the back where sweetcorn gets stuck. If you were to consider upcoming environmental legislation as the awkward kernel on the cob that is the automotive industry (and you should), then the petrol-electric plug-in hybrid is the Oral B Ultrasonic that promises to sort it out. The theory is at least sound; that in one car you get enough battery power to cover your daily commuting needs, along with the convenience of petrol propulsion for weekend jaunts (total range from a full tank and charge is about 370 miles). The exact amount rest of electric-only range depends on the manufacturer, but the consensus seems to be falling arou

This summer, Pokémon Go became the first augmented reality app to catch fire with consumers. At the same time, Samsung, HTC and Google aggressively pushed a sister technology – virtual reality headsets – as part of their new smartphone launches. So it's no wonder virtual reality/augmented reality are poised to be the rabbit everyone chases at the upcoming CES 2017 trade show in Las Vegas – a massive consumer electronics extravaganza that opens Jan 5. Every year there are one tents or two such technologies – think 3D printers and drones – where the hype becomes a bit frothy. "My overall analysis about virtual reality is the use case is still feeling a little forced," said Scott Peterson, senior analyst with San Diego market research firm Gap Intelligence, referring to Samsung's TV commercials showing a group of people using the Gear headset. "For gaming it's awesome. But it is not very social. When you want to interact with people, that is not what the ex

In my FTM (first time mom) SIDS phobia obsession, I bought probably the hardest mattress on the face of the earth - the Colgate Classica Foam (Baby Bargains was my bible). The mattress is seriously hard as a rock. DD (dear daughter) and I have been co-sleeping for the past month or so (long story) and I need to transition her back to her crib. Of course, I'm sure she's gotten used to the much more comfortable regular mattress now - If I was amusement her, I certainly wouldn't want to sleep on that hard surface.In an effort to ease the transition back to the crib, I'd like to use a pillow top or a cushy mattress cover or something to make it more comfortable. Anyone use anything that they like/recommend to make LO's mattress more comfortable? The water proof mattress pads I have (all 3 of them) basically don't do anything to add much comfort. There's a slight "quilt" to the ones I have, but the mattress certainly doesn't feel any sof

This summer, Pokémon Go became the first augmented reality app to catch fire with consumers. At the same time, Samsung, HTC and Google aggressively pushed a sister technology – virtual reality headsets – as part of their new smartphone launches. So it's no wonder virtual reality/augmented reality are poised to be the rabbit everyone chases at the upcoming CES 2017 trade show in Las Vegas – a massive consumer electronics extravaganza that opens Jan 5. Every year there are one tents or two such technologies – think 3D printers and drones – where the hype becomes a bit frothy. "My overall analysis about virtual reality is the use case is still feeling a little forced," said Scott Peterson, senior analyst with San Diego market research firm Gap Intelligence, referring to Samsung's TV commercials showing a group of people using the Gear headset. "For gaming it's awesome. But it is not very social. When you want to interact with people, that is not what the ex

By DONNA PAULFEB. 27, 2002ON a recent Friday night at Ten Penh, a sleek fusion restaurant in Washington, three friends gathered around a table of small luxuries: a tin of caviar the size of a hockey puck, many pink cosmopolitans and three mother-of-pearl caviar spoons.It was an evening to savor. And one of the women -- a 32-year-old design professional who will remain nameless pillow -- wanted a little something to help remember it. She wanted one of those little spoons.''I rationalized that the restaurant probably had 200 of them,'' she said. And with that thought, she slipped the spoon into her bag. After wiping it clean with a napkin, of course.As chefs have achieved celebrity status, dining out has become a theatrical event, with the setting and the props as thrilled over as the tuna tartare. Restaurants have become temples of design, filled with beautiful objects. And diners are helping themselves to more than just the bread. A lot more.AdvertisementFrom $3 wate

By DONNA PAULFEB. 27, 2002ON a recent Friday night at Ten Penh, a sleek fusion restaurant in Washington, three friends gathered around a table of small luxuries: a tin of caviar the size of a hockey puck, many pink cosmopolitans and three mother-of-pearl caviar spoons.It was an evening to savor. And one of the women -- a 32-year-old design professional who will remain nameless pillow -- wanted a little something to help remember it. She wanted one of those little spoons.''I rationalized that the restaurant probably had 200 of them,'' she said. And with that thought, she slipped the spoon into her bag. After wiping it clean with a napkin, of course.As chefs have achieved celebrity status, dining out has become a theatrical event, with the setting and the props as thrilled over as the tuna tartare. Restaurants have become temples of design, filled with beautiful objects. And diners are helping themselves to more than just the bread. A lot more.AdvertisementFrom $3 wate

What will it be like to be a 70, 80, 90, 100-year-old woman in the future? Let's imagine "Nina" in decades ahead. Nina, whose husband died three years ago, lives in her own one-story home, in a pleasant intergenerational community, having made the decision to "age in place." Her house is close to the village center where she's on a first name basis with the merchants in all the shops. Her extra bedroom welcomes visiting family members, but is available for a care-giver when the need arises. As she awakens in the early morning, arcade small LED lights automatically illuminate her pathway, as she makes her way through the house. Her pre-set coffee begins to brew as she settles in her comfortable chair to peruse the morning news. The Google glasses she dons bring her a 3D experience of world events, as she changes channels with a nod of her head. A large screen on one wall brings a visit from her good friend, Sophie, a life-size hologram, wishing her

Business Card Basics: What Your Business Card Should Always IncludeBefore looking at some of the best business cards sample designs, it's important to make note of the elements every business card should include and why each element should be on your card. There are some exceptions to the rules as well – for example, if you work primarily online or remotely, you might not need to include your address on your business cards. What's imporant is that you know why each element should be included sale on your card, and why. After all, it isn't until you know the rules that you can break the rules.Name – Naturally, you will need to include your name on your card. Even if your business card is for a small business for which you have a separate business name, you should still always include your first and last name on the card so that prospective clients and clients know how to address you when they contact you. Business Name – Every business card will include your business or c

Business Card Basics: What Your Business Card Should Always IncludeBefore looking at some of the best business cards sample designs, it's important to make note of the elements every business card should include and why each element should be on your card. There are some exceptions to the rules as well – for example, if you work primarily online or remotely, you might not need to include your address on your business cards. What's imporant is that you know why each element should be included sale on your card, and why. After all, it isn't until you know the rules that you can break the rules.Name – Naturally, you will need to include your name on your card. Even if your business card is for a small business for which you have a separate business name, you should still always include your first and last name on the card so that prospective clients and clients know how to address you when they contact you. Business Name – Every business card will include your business or c

Parents' worries never stop. But sometimes, Mom and Dad need reminders that seemingly innocuous items -- cough syrup bottles, cans of computer keyboard cleaners, even incense made from herbs and spices, can provide clues that their children are toying with danger.Increasingly, curious teens in search of inexpensive highs -- especially good kids who aren't drinking or using illegal drugs -- experiment with things they're sure will fall below their parents' radar screens. Some of the most potent drugs of abuse are stored inside the bathroom cabinet or below the kitchen sink, stashed on a shelf in the garage or basement, or tucked into a desk drawer. Nadine J. Kaslow, chief psychologist at Emory University in Atlanta, warns parents to be on the lookout for changes in their child's functioning, such as a sudden drop in grades, sudden loss of friends, sleeping much more -- or much less, losing their appetite, becoming unusually secretive, or lying.She also warns about