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Ramona Coman writes about the constitutionalisation of European values and recent debates about how to safeguard them at the EU level. Does the EU have the authority to protect these values? Is Article 7 an appropriate mechanism, given that it provides for the insulation of one Member State from the rest of the Union, rather than for a solution to prevent a breach of common values? What are the new mechanisms and tools established in order to safeguard the EU's values at the supranational level?
Over the past few decades, EU institutional actors have had to deal with a series of situations which made headlines for their potential to undermine both the quality of democracy within the European Union (EU) and European values. In 2011, the European Commission conducted an inquiry into the reforms adopted by the Hungarian government led by Viktor Orbán. A similar process was initiated in 2015 in relation to the judicial reforms launched by the Law and Justice government in Poland.
On European Values at the Supranational Level
In Europe, the debate about values, standards, norms and principles attracted a lot of political attention at the end of the Cold War. The political changes in the international order in the 1990s led several international organizations including the EU to rethink their raison d'être and develop a new rhetoric with regard to their scope and aims. Hence, on the European continent, the Council of Europe and the EU have been particularly keen to articulate their support for democratic values. The prospect of enlarging the EU to include the former communist countries in the 1990s strengthened the idea that the EU has an obligation to promote democracy through its policies, both internally and externally. On the eve of enlargement and after the rejection of the Maastricht Treaty, the quest for legitimacy became a matter of political concern and a topic of vivid academic debate, in particular since the attitudes towards the integration process moved away from a significant "permissive consensus" towards a "constraining dissent". As Nicolaidis argued (2012: 271), the "people-as-citizens" entered the scene of European politics with a more public and explicit engagement with the democratic question. Member States responded to these preoccupations by making significant revisions to the treaties on which European integration was based. This in turn altered the basis of both internal and external policies.
Both the Maastricht Treaty and the debates about the elaboration of a Constitution for Europe aspired to enhance the emerging political identity of a unified Europe (Magnette and Nicolaidis 2004). The evolution of the integration process towards a more political entity placed the question of values at the centre. As such, the Maastricht Treaty was intended to democratise the EU and take a step towards "an ever closer Union". Later, the Treaty of Amsterdam represented a step forward on several substantive issues. Instead of confirming "the democratic character of the system of government of the Member States" as in the Maastricht Treaty, the Treaty of Amsterdam states that the EU is vested with its own principles and values. For the first time, reference to common principles was made in the body of the treaties rather than in their preambles. Hence, Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) stipulates that the EU is founded on the principlesof liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States. By incorporating these principles in the treaties, the EU was firmly committed to their preservation inside its own legal order as well as inside the national legal orders of its Member States. Adherence to these principles was a condition of EU membership. In addition, Article 7 allowed for sanctions against Member States in the case of a serious and persistent breach of the principles mentioned in Article 2. The process of drafting a Constitution for Europe prolonged the debates on the common principles, but referred to them in terms of "values", an expression which was maintained in the Lisbon Treaty. Article 7 reiterates that the EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
How to Safeguard Values at the European Level?
In recent years, a growing consensus has arisen at the EU level that current institutional arrangements established to safeguard European values are dysfunctional. In 2011, the revision of the Hungarian Constitution and the media laws adopted by the government led by Viktor Orbán gave rise to a series of debates about the weakness of the applicable European legal framework when one Member State put the EU's values at risk. Fidesz's attempts to adopt a new Constitution and implement cardinal laws along with controversial institutional, cultural, religious, moral and socio-economic policies made headlines at the international level. Critics saw the measures promoted by Fidesz as dangerous deviations from democratic norms and EU treaties. In addition, the attempts by the Hungarian government to impose governmental control over institutions whose independence is protected by EU treaties and to empower political institutions at the expense of the judiciary were considered to be threats to EU's values.
These domestic reforms attracted intense media coverage and contributed to a perception that EU institutions in general and the European Commission in particular were not expressly given clear competencies to deal with changes in the constitutional order of its member states. In 2012, the Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, and Viviane Reding, the Commissioner in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, deplored the "rule of law crisis". Addressing the European Parliament (EP) in September 2012, Viviane Reding declared: "we face a Copenhagen dilemma. We are very strict on the Copenhagen criteria, notably on the rule of law in the accession process of a new Member State but, once this Member State has joined the EU, we appear not to have any instrument to see whether the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary still command respect".
Acknowledging the limitations of the applicable legal framework to ensure an effective response to threats to the common values enshrined in the treaties, in 2013 Member States and representatives of the EP asked the College of Commissioners to shed more light on this matter. In a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, the Foreign Ministers of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland declared that "the EU must be extremely watchful" whenever these values "are put at risk anywhere within its borders", and called for a "new and more effective mechanism to safeguard [those] values in Member States". Several Member States called on the Commission to present a communication on how to improve the monitoring of Member States' respect for the rule of law at the EU level. Accordingly, in 2013, the European Council invited the Commission to initiate a broad public consultation with governments, public institutions, civil society and experts to tackle this issue. Academics, think tanks, international NGOs and professional associations asked the Commission to take action and identify possible new institutional arrangements. In search of increased legitimacy and adequate resources to deal with any future rule of law crisis, the European Commission organized a series of conferences and forums, such as Les assises de la justice, in November 2013. This event attracted 700 participants. About 100 organizations representing Member States, NGOs, professional associations, think tanks and academics contributed to the normative discussion on the rule of law in the EU, and proposed concrete solutions to safeguard this value at the supranational level.
The debates offered a mix of recommendations, alternating between politically ambitious proposals and legally feasible solutions.
- There were ambitious solutions requiring the revision of the treaties and the creation of new legislation at the EU level in order to strengthen both the input and output legitimacy of the EU as a whole;
- Another set of proposals – pretending to be less ambitious and more realistic – put forward the need to strengthen the EU's throughput legitimacy, that is, the cooperation between the European Commission, the European agencies and a series of European networks with experience in promoting European values abroad.
- Finally, it was suggested that the European Commission's cooperation with other international organisations and bodies should be strengthened. This solution presented a significant advantage in that no additional measures would need to be taken at the EU level.
Faced with these solutions, the choice appeared to be self-evident. As the Council's Legal Service acknowledged, there was "no legal basis in the Treaties empowering the institutions to create a new supervision mechanism of the respect of the rule of law by the Member States, additional to what is laid down in Article 7 TEU" (Council 15206/14). The Legal Service of the Council therefore recommended that the Member States set up a mechanism based on an inter-governmental agreement, potentially involving the institutions for some tasks. In the end, the context did not favour the empowerment of EU institutions. In the capitals of EU Member States, the cooperation of the Commission with other international organisations and bodies was by far the most popular solution suggested in order to monitor and evaluate the commitment of individual Member States with the rule of law. For example, Estonia's representatives emphasized that they would not support the creation of a rule of law mechanism which would require the amendment of the treaties in order to expand EU institutions' competences (Estonia's contribution to the Assises de la Justice). In the same vein, Poland's representatives argued that 'the EU should make the most of its existing powers'. Similarly, Austria, Ireland and Slovenia's representatives emphasized that the European Commission should avoid duplicating the work of other international organizations, like the Council of Europe. Several Member States declared that 'it is not appropriate to take much effort simply in order to reinvent the wheel'. Hence, a strong consensus has emerged within the Council of the EU in favour of 'a collaborative and systemic method' of the rule of law, as well as increased cooperation with other international organizations (European Council, May 2013; June 2013; the JHA Council in June 2013). Ultimately this idea received widespread support not only within the Council but also among civil society associations, think tanks and academics, many of which formulated similar proposals.
In the EP, the report produced by Rui Tavares is one of very few and extensive documents (39 pages) which exposes the significance of "European common values" for the integration project and the EU as a whole. The Tavares Report proposed the creation of a "Copenhagen Commission' or a high-level group, a 'group of wise men' or "an Article 70 TFEU evaluation". It also proposed to build upon the reform and strengthening of the mandate of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. The EP highlighted the role of the Commission and invited the institution to adopt a more comprehensive approach to addressing any potential serious breaches of fundamental values
Each institution supported the idea of strengthening the legitimacy of the procedure enshrined in Article 7.However, their visions are highly divergent and instead of leading to a unified and coherent approach, they reflect heightened tensions, dividing those who are in favour of empowering the EU and those within the Council who are keen to maintain national control and keep sovereignty intact.
Towards a new Rule of Law Framework
In 2013 the Council established an "annual dialogue on the rule of law", to take place during the Council's General Affairs configuration. The Council did not refer to new "European mechanisms" like the Commission and the EP, but to its commitment to the "promotion of a culture of respect for the rule of law within the European Union" (Council, 17014/14, 2014). The Council played considerable attention to the qualities of the procedure to be applied in the case of non-compliance with European values: "objectivity", "non-discrimination" and "equal treatment". Despite the proposals of some Member States to go further and to strengthen the European dimension to safeguard EU's values, the Council's rhetoric reflect the willingness of Member States to keep their control and sovereignty intact.
The new rule of law framework adopted in 2014 is complementary to both infringement procedures and Article 7 (COM 2014 158 final). It aims to address "threats to the rule of law which are of a systemic nature" (COM 2014). It is supposed to be activated when "national rule of law safeguards" do not seem capable of effectively addressing those threats". The process is composed of three stages. Each stage places the Commission at the centre of the procedure. The three stages – the Commission assessment, the Commission recommendation and the follow-up to the recommendation – bring together a wide range of actors, increasing the transparency and inclusiveness of the process. In addition, EU institutional actors have agreed on a set of principles which ought to underpin their respective initiatives: dialogue, equal treatment of all States, an objective evidence-based approach, and complementarity with other EU institutions.
The new rule of law framework allows the Commission to enter into a dialogue with the Member State concerned and to try to prevent systemic threats to European values. Under the current Commission, Vice-President Timmermans has been entrusted with upholding respect for the rule of law in EU Member States. Since 2015, this framework has been applied to shed more light on recent reforms undertaken by the Law and Justice government in Poland. Under the new framework, First Vice-President Timmermans asked the Polish government for further information about the reform of the Constitutional Tribunal and the governance of Poland's Public State Broadcasters.
The European Commission works in close cooperation with the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission), the Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters. It brings together experts in law, with different institutional experiences at the domestic level. Constitutional judges and academics constitute the majority of this body, followed by members of parliament, ombudsmen and members of national ministries. They provide legal advice on constitutional matters. The cooperation between the EU and the Council of Europe on these matters has improved significantly in recent years. In March 2016, the Venice Commission adopted the Rule of Law Checklist, intended for the European Union when there is a risk of a serious breach of European values (CDL-AD(2016)-007-e).
The European Commission also strengthened its cooperation with the CEPEJ – the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice – which was created in 2002 with the aim of monitoring the functioning of the judicial systems in order to identify their difficulties and to define concrete ways for improvement. It brings together representatives of 49 Member States of the Council of Europe (two-thirds of them representatives of the national ministries of justice) and one representative from the Commission, the EP and the Council of the EU.
While in the past, the relationship between the European Commission and the Council of Europe was rather informal and irregular, since 2013, the role of the latter has become institutionalized in some internal and external policies of the EU. A kind of 'division of labour' between the Commission and the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission and the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) is perceptible in relation to both the EU's external policies and Member States' respect for European values. By strengthening the cooperation with the Council of Europe and its bodies, the EU seeks to strengthen its capacity to take action in order to deal with cases of serious and persistent breaches of EU values.
Note: this article gives the view of the author, not the position of the Institute for European Studies (IEE-ULB)
Nicolaidis, K. (2012) "The Idea of European Democracy", in Dickson, J. And Eleftheriadis, P. (eds), Philosophical Foundations of European Union Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 247-274
Magnette, P. and Nicolaidis, K. (2004), "The European Convention: Bargaining in the Shadow of Rhetoric", West European Politics, 27: 3, 381-404.
Coman, R. (2015), "Strengthening the Rule of Law at the Supranational Level: the Rise and Consolidation of a European Network", Journal of Contemporary European Studies,


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Bollywood female celebrities are stirring and striking with incredible worldwide fans, these alluring and stunning beauties are equivalent and very promising and talented as well contrary to Indian films actors. Many of these actresses are leading and dominant not in India but also famous and popular across world with massive fans who are crazy about even a glance of their loved ones.
In the era of internet where everything went global and internet users increased from millions to billions, many of websites have been emerged and wiped out from global network rapidly. Although, there are few websites which have became the essential part of user's daily life following their unique, reliable and friendly attributes including Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Youtube.
World is full of striking, dazzling, alluring and attractive girls especially in showbiz industry either acting or modeling field. There are thousands of girls ranked on different sites for their astonishing look, sex appeal, sizzling style and attractive exterior in the world.
Hollywood is world of glamour, beauty, fashion and wealth, there are numerous celebrities who are beautiful, glamorous, fashionable and wealthy. The American film industry is full of richest one's who have very successful life, most popular and famous celebrities all over world.
Relationship is a serious business and when the time comes to get engaged every woman takes it very seriously no matter if you are a simple school teacher or a working woman or some famous celebrity. For every woman the occasion like engagement is very important and more than the occasion it's the engagement ring which is most important.
Coffee is thought to be a standout amongst the refreshments. It is exceptionally famous with individuals of all ages, particularly to the individuals who require too much energy. Coffee is additionally a standout amongst the most well-known produces of a wide range of nations all around the globe.
Appearances could be deceiving. The animals which often appear cute to you in reality may turn out to be one of the most dangerous animals on the planet. Many animals out there that looks cute from appearances or playful in reality carries most dangerous poison within themselves which can kill anyone within seconds.
Soccer is the game which has been broadly played in the world, have various event worldwide in the whole year including the mega event FIFA World Cup with massive crowd also most watched sports eve in the world. Spanish Liga BBVA, UEFA Championship, English Premier League, Italian Serie A and German Bundesliga are the other big events today.
Beauty is a highly objective thing to quantify, every individual have different views of beauty taken from families, society, and culture. Beauty simply refers to perceptual experience of pleasure or satisfaction is an entity which is admired, or possesses features credited to beauty in a fastidious culture.
Hollywood has its own attraction and charm all over world for being the most entertaining industry became the most leading and familiar in the world. Same as the Hollywood celebrities have massive fan club and popularity worldwide following their appearance and leading characters in movies.

subset: commoncrawl


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5 Ridiculous Reasons Why We Were Punished In High School
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This week we look at the prophet Hosea, and his message to Israel at a time of great political upheaval. Israel had developed a pattern of making decisions without consulting God, and this led to everything falling apart. This raises the important spiritual question: How do we invite God into the decision-making processes of our lives? In this sermon, Father John offers three suggestions for seeking God's leadership in our lives when it comes to the important decisions we face – things all of us can do to avoid living with regret in our lives, and to live more faithfully into our calling to follow Jesus.
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Chapter 236 - Glazed Magma Metal
"The Glazed Magma Metal can be put aside since it only is useful for Body Cultivators. However, one drop of First Yuan Heavy Water is a remarkable water attribute treasure that only Crystal Level Experts adept in the water element can refine. Whether it is made into a totem or used as a material in refining another totem, it still has countless uses. Moreover, if the First Yuan Heavy Water is able to become Second Yuan Heavy Water or Third Yuan Heavy Water, the price would definitely increase by hundreds or thousands of times. Hehe, at that time…" Master Chu laughed.
"I do understand your meaning Master Chu. These treasures are what a Spirit Apostle should not possess. I have sent the Guo brothers, there should be a reply soon." Shopkeeper Meng pondered a moment before replying.
"Good. You are not a pedantic man indeed. If we were to hand over this drop of First Yuan Heavy Water to headquarters, we would definitely be rewarded heavily. It seems that it was the right thing to not get to those who asked for appraisals before. If not, it would have drawn the big fish here." Master Chu said in delight.
"In the past, the ones who came for appraisals would at most bring items that ordinary Spirit Masters could use. Even though they might be rare, how could they compare to these two items? However, I have already instructed the Guo brothers to strike when there is no one around. In this case, even if he goes missing, it would not raise suspicion. The only thing I am worried about is that since this person dares to take out this treasure to appraise, I'm afraid that he would have some measures on his own. If the Guo brothers fail…" Shopkeeper Meng said hesitantly.
"You don't have to worry about this. You might not know this, but a few days ago the Guo brothers took both the Bloodsucking Crossbow and Exploding Needles from me. These two treasures are sneak attack gems that are impossible to defend against. As long as the Guo brothers are not that stupid, they should not fail." Master Chu laughed a little.
"What, there is such a thing. Now that you have said this, I feel more at ease." Master Chu was stumped for words at first, but very quickly he gave a relaxed sigh.
However, at this moment, some footsteps were heard on the outside, followed by two men in a black tight suit, one taller and one shorter.
"Both of you have returned! Is it that you have succeeded so quickly!" Shopkeeper Meng asked in surprise as soon as he saw the two men.
These two men were the Guo brothers that he mentioned earlier on.
Master Chu also saw them and gave a surprised look.
"I'm afraid we will have to disappoint both Master Chu and Brother Meng. The boy was very sneaky, after turning at the end of the street, both of us could not find any trace of him." The taller one spoke, his face giving an unsightly expression.
"What, you both lost him. How do the both of you work, do you know that that person is carrying a precious treasure on hand?" Shopkeeper Meng asked angrily.
Master Chu face turned gloomy.
"Meng, although you are of a slightly higher level than us, you still do not have the rights to point directly at our faces. Although we have failed our mission this time, we will report it but that would only cost us the punishment of deducting our Spirit Stone income by half a year." The shorter one said.
The two then bowed to Master Chu and quickly left.
"Master, the Guo brothers have failed their mission but look at how arrogant they are. How about we report their name directly to the headquarter about this. Listing them guilty for losing the First Yuan Heavy water and the Glazed Magma Metal, that would make them unable to ever recover." Shopkeeper Meng responded in anger upon seeing this scene, his face red with fury.
"I'm afraid this is not going to be easy. Fellow Meng, do not forget that in that boy's hand lies the two valuable materials that only the two of us know about. Without evidence, headquarters would not listen to only our side of the story. Don't forget that those two are only arrogant because they have someone backing them up. If I were you, I would leave this matter aside for now, there would always be a next time." Master Chu replied with a wry smile.
Knowing that the Guo brothers have lost the person, Master Chu was quite disappointed. He naturally did not want to get in any conflict between Shopkeeper Meng and the Guo brothers.
"Thank you, Master, for pointing it out to me. I have lost control of myself, but when I think of such treasure like the First Yuan Heavy Water that I missed right before my very eyes, I just could not accept it." Shopkeeper Meng barely let out a laugh.
"This is something we can't do anything to help. Since that person could easily get rid of the Guo brothers, it shows that he is already cautious against the Thousand Refinement House. Knowing that he was carrying a huge treasure, I'm afraid that he would leave Xuanjing immediately, and the both of us have no choice." Master Chu sighed.
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Meng was dejected.
As the both of them were speaking in Thousand Refinement House, the person they were talking about did not leave Xuanjing. In fact, with the change of face, he easily got rid of the suspicious person behind him and left the market right away. He then headed to the cave on Immortal Dawn Mountain.
Liu Ming did not find anything weird about the Thousand Refinement House sending someone to follow their own people.
If it were up to him, knowing that someone was carrying such treasure that would move the hearts of Crystal level experts, he would have done the same. After all, in the underground market of Xuanjing the so called public praise was relative. It was just that they didn't find an item that moved them.
When Liu Ming returned to the cave, he entered the secret room. He cast spells again before letting the cauldron out with a ringing sound. With his vision shining, he then started to size up the cauldron's drop of black liquid, while an excited look was plastered on his face.
Although the item is not an ordinary material, he never thought that it would be the rumored "First Yuan Heavy Water"
If not for "Master Chu" doing tests to confirm various characteristics of the water, he probably still would not believe the results.
The "First Yuan Heavy Water" was rumored to take a master in the water element tens to hundreds of years before a lake or river could be compressed into a single drop.
For a Crystal Level expert to take nearly a hundred years to practice in order to create a single material, naturally, it was something that wouldn't be worth it for the expert.
With that, the First Yuan Heavy Water rarely ever existed.
Even though there was only one drop, perhaps it was originally a small lake that was compressed. If it was a Second Yuan Heavy Water or Third Yuan Heavy Water, it might be from an entire river or even the entire sea in order to form this treasure. The First Yuan Heavy Water could not compare to them.
Of course, aside from the weight of the First Yuan Heavy Water, it was an extreme grade water attribute material. If it was the right blacksmith, they would be able to use it to create a high-grade totem instantly. For itself, it could be refined into an extremely strong "Heavy Water Pearl" that was in the rumors.
Liu Ming circled the huge cauldron and sized up the black liquid once again for a while. The more he saw it, the more he grew to like it.
It was a pity that a treasure this grade was much too precious and expensive to the point that he was not able to use it right now. He would have to wait until he became a Spirit Master before being able to consider the actual use of it.
Liu Ming thought for a little while, before moving his sleeve a little, letting out a bright ray of multicolored light to roll by and the huge cauldron was put away into the Sumeru Conch.
Following that, he took a dazzling golden ball from his sleeves and after examining it with a look, he let out a pensive look.
The Glazed Magma Metal did not have such a huge reputation as compared to the First Yuan Heavy Water. However, in the eyes of body cultivators, it would make them much more frantic compared to the First Yuan Heavy Water.
According to what Master Chu said, the Glazed Magma Metal was a type of precious material. Born from something called a 'Glazed Wom'. In ancient times, after these unusual worms engulfed countless ores, they would produce this rare metal from their body.
Despite these rare metals being unable to mix with any totem to become a refinement material as well as being unable to be refined into any weapon in the form of swords or blades. However, it could be refined through specific methods.
As long as the refining was a success, it could be made into any shape, be it soft or hard. It could even attach itself directly to a totem weapon, allowing it to increase its strength by a lot. However, to some Body Cultivators, attaching this precious metal onto one's body could bring about a great wide array of uses.
Master Chu seemed like he had more to say but didn't do so. Obviously, there were probably some other great uses.
Liu Ming thought about it in his heart. Naturally, he would not refine it without careful consideration.
For the next two days, Liu Ming had disguised himself and went around the underground market a few rounds. He then started to seek ancient books on the First Yuan Heavy Water as well as the Glazed Magma Metal. From this, he would then be able to ensure that "Master Chu" was right about the items and they were not fake.
If he were to examine the materials right away, it would definitely be a difficult task. However, because he knew the names of it and being able to search the record for it, even if it was a rare item, it would be a relaxing task for him.
This was why there were appraisal masters in the cultivation world and ordinary appraisal masters would definitely not make up appraisals.
By the time Liu Ming could confirm the materials, he purchased supplementary materials once again and headed right back to the cave to start cultivating.
Half a month later, Liu Ming was still seated cross legged on a praying mat with a pale face. In the heart of it was a light gray formation that was imprinted on the ground. Surrounding it was over ten middle tier Spirit Stones that varied in sizes sticking out.
Liu Ming shut his eyes tightly and a bright ray of golden light floated before him.
At the middle of the golden light was a golden pearl that was the size of a fist. On the surface, it seemed like there were streaks of blood stains on it. Following Liu Ming's breathing, the pearl expanded and contracted.
Following the passing of time, Liu Ming then recovered some redness in his face before opening his eyes. As soon as he opened his mouth, he spit out a ball of blood essence.
"Peng", the blood essence exploded in a split second, transforming into a fog of blood that trapped the golden pearl.
In a short moment, the entire room reeked with the smell of blood!


text: A woman in her 60's has died from lung disease associated with vaping, but the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is with holding information about cause of death. Rudy Giuliani who is a member of the Presidents' legal team, watched two of his associates from the Ukraine get arrested for allegedly donating money to influence US elections, and they are also involved in a pay for cannabis license ploy in Nevada. After the death of Angels Pitcher Tyler Skaggs, Major League Baseball is looking to change its policy for pain management and might use cannabis, all on News Dabs with Jimmy Young.


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Credit scores are an objectionable topic. They'll be important when you are looking for credit cards, mortgages, or other types of loans. Pay your credit card bill off quickly? You are likely to be responsible with credit, therefore have a higher credit score. With multiple scores taking place through various agencies like Equifax or FICO, you never know what exactly your credit score will be at a given time.
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Credit scores range from 300 to 850. Many sources agree that the average is around 650 to 739. A score of more than 800 is deemed to be excellent. According to MyConsumers, just 8% of borrowers within this range will become seriously delinquent on loans. If you have a good score, you are less likely to become delinquent, and you will be more likely to be approved for credit and with better rates than someone with poor credit.
While this may seem straightforward, there are many different credit scores, including FICO and VantageScore credit scores and industry-specific scores such as those used by insurance companies.
Factors Affecting Your Credit Score
Information in your credit file is used to generate your credit score. Your credit score never considers where you live, your age, your salary or employment information, or information about your race, religion, sex, marital status, color, or national origin. While precise credit score models can vary, these five categories make up your credit score:
- Payment history (35% of your score)
- Credit utilization (30%)
- Length of credit history (15%)
- A mix of accounts (10%)
- New credit inquiries (10%)
Your payment history is the most critical factor. To get or maintain a good score, it's important to make on-time payments on your credit cards and loans. The total debt and amounts you owe are also significant factors. Make it a goal to keep your overall credit utilization below 20% and never exceed 20% of your credit limits.


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With summer fast approaching, it is important to make sure that your elderly loved ones are ready for the climate change.
Understanding how weather changes affect the elderly, especially those with dementia, is important to ensure that your parents are comfortable all season long.
Here are some ways in which hot weather can affect seniors:
Homeostatic Imbalance – With rapidly changing temperatures, it is hard for elderly people to adjust to weather changes. Homeostatic imbalance occurs when an internal imbalance within the body which can causes internal organ issues if gone untreated. It is important to watch out for homeostatic imbalance because it can cause diabetes and cardiac arrest. While this is a rare and extreme reaction to temperature change, it is important to be aware of such reactions to climate change.
Dehydration – Especially amongst Alzheimer's patients, being able to detect thirst can be difficult, resulting in dehydration. During the summer months, this especially worrisome due to the high chance of fatigue and physical strain dehydration can place on the body. In addition to overall discomfort, dehydration strains the liver and kidney, increasing risk of infection or complications in the urinary tract. Dehydration can also cause nose bleeds, dry or itchy skin, and constipation.
So how should you help your aging parents battle the heat wave? Here are some tips to keep cool.
1. Increase fluid intake. This is the best and easiest way to avoid serious problems like dehydration. Not only will it ensure that your elderly parents remain properly hydrated, but drinking eight cups of water daily can help to improve digestion. Especially for seniors who are taking lots of medication, increased water consumption is important to avoid side effects, such as constipation and dehydration. While consuming any kind of fluid is beneficial, avoid caffeinated and sugary drinks as these can actually increase dehydration through increased secretion. The best way to keep hydrated is to drink water.
2. Use Proper Ventilation. Make sure that the house thermostat is accurate in measuring temperature. If repairs are needed, get your air conditioner fixed in order to ensure that temperatures within the home remain comfortable. Purchase fans in rooms that tend to receive a lot of sunlight during the day, as this will help to circulate hot and humid air.
3. Keep an eye on your senior. Monitoring your elderly one's comfort level is a good way to know if they are beginning to feel dehydrated or fatigued by the warm weather. If they are exhibiting symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headache, or disorientation your senior may be suffering from heat exhaustion. Especially when dealing with dementia patients, they may forget how to dress according to the season, so make sure that your elderly parent is appropriately dressed for the weather and is consuming lots of liquids.
4. Keep cool. If the heat is especially hot, try placing a cold wet cloth around the back of the neck. This can help to control body temperature and help cool down the body.
5. Baths. If your elderly loved one is capable, help them take a lukewarm bath. This can help to cool down their whole body can control internal body temperatures as well. Like swimming, this is just a way to cool off during the summer but in a contained bathtub.
Especially with dementia and Alzheimer's patients, they may not be aware that they are dehydrated or extremely hot. Thus it is important to keep an eye on them. With proper watch and hydration, you and your loved one can beat the summer heat!
Click here to start the Alvita Care Needs Assessment Quiz
- COVID-19 Safety Precautions – Safe at Home with Alvita Care - October 15, 2020
- Preventing Falls in the Elderly Living in the NYC Metro Area - March 31, 2017
- Aging and Depression in the Elderly in NYC - March 30, 2017
- Aging in Place – Seniors Who Choose to Live at Home - March 29, 2017
- Mindfulness & Seniors Living in NYC - March 28, 2017
- Type 2 Diabetes Prevention in NY/NJ Seniors - March 27, 2017
- Elder Bruising and Prevention - February 22, 2017
- Hiring a Home Care Agency in New York City - February 21, 2017
- Hip Fracture Prevention in the Elderly - February 20, 2017
- Muscular Dystrophy in Elderly Individuals Living in NYC - February 19, 2017


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American actor Val Kilmer, 57, has signed on to star in '1st Born', a comedy by Iranian filmmaker Ali Atshani.
The project centers on a newly married couple living in California, Iranian-born Ben and his American wife Kate.
When her first pregnancy has complications, it brings the whole family together. Ben's father is an anti-American Iranian politician while Kate's father, played by Kilmer, is an equally anti-Iranian US politician.
According to Hollywood Reporter, '1st Born' is notable for being the first joint feature film co-production between Iran and Hollywood, using a cast and crew from both countries.
Kilmer is known for roles in 'Top Gun', 'Batman Forever', 'Heat', 'Tombstone' and other hits.
Atshani has directed several films such as 'The President's Cellphone', 'Wish Bone', 'Mr. Alef' and Negar's Role'. His 2016 film Paradise was a co-production between Iran and Germany.
LA Independent Film and Entertainment, based in Hollywood, will produce the joint work. Filming will begin in Los Angeles next month. The rest of the cast members are set to join soon.


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The mauve alert was a common distress signal. Humans used red alerts instead, which led to some confusion. (TV: The Empty Child)
The xXltttxtolxtol pods that were sent through the Cardiff Space-Time Rift were marked with mauve, implying they were toxic. In truth, the xXltttxtolxtol just didn't want Torchwood Three to open them. (PROSE: Risk Assessment)
When Charlotte Pollard described Chief Stewart Weeks' nose as being "redder than Mr Lenin's pyjamas", the Eighth Doctor disputed they were red; he claimed that they were a "sort of mauve" when the Doctor took a train with Lenin from Switzerland to Petrograd. (AUDIO: Storm Warning)


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Plan Nine Skatepark in St. Louis Outlet Mall is located in Hazelwood, Missouri - MO. Store location: 5555 St. Louis Mills Blvd.
Get Directions to Plan Nine Skatepark
Check all Plan Nine Skatepark stores!
Bookmark our website and stay in touch. Share and like Malls and Stores Info on Facebook and get News, Information about Sales and Events.


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Customer Journey Mapping is increasingly used as a critical tool that organisations use to deliver on a customer-centric strategy.
In our experience at Churchill Consulting, this is primarily due to a hasty focus on developing the end-product of a journey map, aka a pretty diagram that can be pinned to cubicle walls.
Real results from Customer Journey Mapping can only be realised by investing the time and appropriate resources into a collaborative process aimed at shifting the internal culture; breaking down silos in the pursuit of solutions to real customer issues and emotions.
In many senses, there is no 'end-product' of the journey map process which can instigate an "are we there yet?.." mindset across the organisation. The customer journey should be ever-evolving, supported by a continuous process of scrutiny that involves cross-functional inputs and co-creation with real customers. It is more about the journey than the map.
Setting the objectives for customer journey mapping is a critical first step. This makes sure that everyone across the organisation is aware of the far-reaching benefits that customer journey mapping can achieve. Every program will have a set of very specific objectives; however, we suggest highlighting the six broader objectives of any customer journey mapping project.
1. Creating a customer-centric culture: Done correctly, the journey mapping process sends a clear message to staff that the organisation is taking customer centricity to the next level. Journey mapping engages staff across functions to empathise with customers at every touchpoint and co-design the optimal future state. This close proximity with customers provides staff with a greater sense of purpose and empowerment to solve real-world problems. For a great articulation of the benefits of customer-centricity read an excerpt from Elaine Fogel's book Beyond Your Logo.
2. Customer Awareness: Journey maps are about more than just documenting a process flow or a sales and retention funnel. They generate a deeper understanding of customer expectations, experience and the resulting emotions that emanate from an interaction with your business. Giving your staff a deeper customer awareness and empathy will assist them in solving the customer's emotional need, which creates genuine long-lasting customer advocacy.
3. Commercial Outcomes: Striving for a commercial outcome is not in conflict with a customer-centric strategy. However, developing a link between customer behaviour and commercial outcomes is so often overlooked. Every customer interaction will have a financial cost and benefit associated with it. A successful customer journey program is rigorously measured and tracked to ensure that maximum commercial value is realised through the implementation of initiatives that address the prioritised customer "moments of truth". It is essential to set clear commercial objectives for the journey mapping project and continuously update those as the work evolves. As a broad example, customer journey mapping has been seen to boost revenues by 10-15%2 and lower operational costs by 10-20 %.
4. Decision Making: Journey mapping should give teams across functions a shared framework for making key decisions that impact the customer. As initiatives compete for time, resources and funding across functions the journey map should be able to demonstrate which initiatives have priority and why regardless of any internal political agendas.
5. Customer Experience Strategy: The customer journey map should instigate a re-think or review of any current customer experience strategy. In the case where a customer experience strategy does not exist then it should form the spine of that strategy.
6. Customer Transformation: The journey map should be a starting point for developing transformation customer initiatives, developing business cases, briefing vendors, managing implementation and measuring benefits. Good examples of where the journey map should be used are Voice of Customer, Marketing Automation and CRM transformation initiatives.
As mentioned in the Gartner study, many customer journey mapping projects fail to deliver on the objectives above due to a multitude of reasons. Here are a five- tips to avoid the common pitfalls experienced by many organisations.
Changing culture from the bottom-up can be a fruitless and demoralising task. As one of the core objectives of customer journey mapping is to create a customer centred culture, it is essential that the leadership group fully understands and is a hundred percent behind the program. Using the six objectives above is a good start to communicating the reason for pursuing this and if it is found that the leadership group is still not 'on-board', then the project should not leave the station.
From the beginning of the project you need to reach out, across the organisational chart, to engage people in Marketing, Technology, Distribution, Finance, Customer Service etc. The initiatives that result from Customer Journey Mapping often affect all of these areas and it is important that they feel included from the beginning. Also, ideas can come from anywhere, so getting input from people with different vantage points to the customer and different priorities help cast a wide net.
Do not attempt to rush the journey map by conducting an internal view of the journey only. This is not customer journey mapping and will not deliver on the objectives above. It can be a really useful exercise to attempt the customer journey map internally first and then build on that with real customer input. The differences that you will see can be an eye-opening experience for staff and generates greater belief in the end product.
Whilst you can probably lay out a high-level view of the overarching journey reasonably quickly, it can be very overwhelming and unwieldy to attempt detailed journey mapping across the entire journey for all products and channels in one go. We recommend prioritising sections of the journey based on commercially relevant insights and performing deep-dives until the full journey takes shape
Finalising the as-is and to-be customer journey is not the time to high five and take five. Continually optimising the journey requires an ongoing focus from individuals and teams. You should set out a governance framework that identifies who, how and when you will progress toward the target state, knowing that the target state will also require regular reviews, updates and inputs from customers and cross-functional teams.
The benefits of implementing a customer journey mapping project are unquestionably desirable. But often organisations miss the benefits that the process delivers because they are keen to rush to the finish line. A customer journey map is about more than a pretty picture that sits on cubicle walls. It is about shifting the culture of an organisation toward a customer-centric ideal that compliments commercial objectives of the business.
At Churchill, our consultants have lived this journey many times. We have assisted clients, across a range of industries, to successfully develop, implement and monitor the progress of their journey maps, and have learnt from every experience. We bring deep customer experience to projects and work side by side with your teams to ensure your people develop along with the deliverables.
[1] Ray, A (2016, August 29). "Six Reasons Customer Journey Mapping Fails (And What To Do About It)." Sourced from Gartner for Marketers online https://blogs.gartner.com/augie-ray/2016/08/29/six-reasons-customer-journey-mapping-fails-and-what-to-do-about-it/
[2] Edelman, D; Stone, D; and Fanderl, H (2015, January 28) "A Step by Step Plan to Improve CMO-COO Collaboration". Sourced from Harvard Business Review online https://hbr.org/2015/01/a-step-by-step-plan-to-improve-cmo-coo-collaboration


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De la Renta gained fame when he dressed First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the early '60s and launched his own label in 1965.
Other actresses who appreciated his red carpet gowns included Cameron Diaz, Oprah Winfrey, Kristen Stewart, Penelope Cruz and Jessica Chastain.
Vogue editor Anna Wintour wrote a special tribute to her friend on Vogue.com... read it here.
And watch this video of de la Renta being honored Bill Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.
His first wife was Francois Langlade, editor of French Vogue, who died in 1983. He is survived by his second wife, philanthropist Annette Reed.


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Store Landevej 92
5592 Ejby
Phone:+45 6488 1660
Our busy café is at the centre of the inn. Here you can meet locals, other tourists and guests over coffee, cake, lunch or meal of the day. We bake our own bread, smoke our own fish and pickle our own beetroot. In short, most of what we serve is home made.
We offer daily specials in addition to the menu. These are traditional Danish dishes such as veal, roast pork or chops with all the traditional trimmings.
Closed 23/12 - 1/1
Store Landevej 92
5592 Ejby


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Course Language : English
Ready To Make Money With Google Adsense? Wish to make your own premium blog and start earning from your free time by just writing about your interest and skills you have? So this course (in urdu) will be best for you and you will get $Dollars from your own blog without any investment. In this Course I'll Reveal My Strategy That can Makes money from your free blog.


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The Golden Globes have time and time over proven to be a chaotic binch of an event, filled with boozed-up celebs, drunken acceptance speeches and at times questionable winners. With nominations for the lauded awards ceremony being released this morning, we waited with baited breath to see who would be celebrated, and ultimately who would be snubbed.
And all I can say for this is, I am disappointed, but not surprised.
The Golden Globes are a long-standing staple of the entertainment industry, presented to commemorate the best of film and television from the year gone by as determined by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. In previous years, the show has been criticised for its white-male centric boys club of nominations and winners, rarely touting any diversity in its major awards categories. The show was even called out by none other than presenter Natalie Portman herself back in 2018 for its lack of female nominees in the Best Director category, as she was reading out the ballot!
HFPA, Natalie wants to meet you in the parking lot
The Best Director category is a whole heaping mess
Despite our girl Natalie's iconic slay back in 2018, this year's Best Director category was about as diverse as an early 2000's college movie frat house. Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Lulu Wong (The Farewell) and Olivia Wilde (Booksmart) were all shockingly shut out of this year's nominations, despite all being critically acclaimed and poised for awards recognition. This also marks the second time that the phenomenal Greta Gerwig has been left out of the category, as she was also famously snubbed back in 2018 with Lady Bird, for which she went on to receive an Oscar nomination. Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story also received a wealth of nominations this year, however he too was left out of the Best Director race, leaving critics and film fans scratching their heads. These directors shouldn't take this snub too much to heart however, as there was little room for recognition after the director of The Hangover slid most comfortably into a nomination in this category …
No bid for good ol' Bobby De Niro
Another shocking twist this morning came in the form of the Best Actor (Drama) category, with Robert De Niro falling short in one of the only categories that The Irishman didn't seem to dominate in. De Niro was believed to be a shoe-in for a Golden Globe and eventual Oscar nomination for his portrayal of famed truck driver turned mobster Frank Sheeran, however with such a stacked category this year there was always going to be one contender left out in the cold. With costars Al Pacino and Joe Pesci both scoring nominations in the Supporting Actor category, its a wonder as to what we can attribute Bobby's snub to, as his performance clearly was not the problem – perhaps that god-awful deageing CGI?
Zendaya, Watchmen and When They See Us all left empty handed
Twitter users and critics were equally as outraged about the Television nominations as they were the Best Director bid, with Euphoria, Watchmen and When They See Us all failing to place in any of the categories. Not ones to miss a beat, the Twitterverse exploded with condemnation of the Globes when it was revealed that none of these groundbreaking productions were being recognised.
Dumpster fire Game of Thrones spectacularly receives one nomination … for the wrong category
The once critically acclaimed award season juggernaut Game of Thrones has left tail between its legs this morning after only scoring one nomination in any of the Television categories for its condemned final season. What's more, the only nomination it received was in the Best Actor category for Kit Harrington's portrayal of Jon Snow, arguably one the show's weaker performances as the series came to a close. While this feels like comic retribution after a disappointing end to the once celebrated show, fans were astounded that Kit's performance was nominated, whilst Emilia Clarke and Gwendoline Christie were seemingly ignored.
While the nominations have divided film and television fans due to these obvious snubs, there is room for celebration as some of this year's spectacular performances were recognised, most notably:
Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama): Adam Driver for Marriage Story & Antonio Banderas for Pain & Glory
Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical): Eddie Murphy for Dolemite Is My Name & Taron Egerton for Rocketman
Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama): Cynthia Erivo for Harriet
Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical): Awkwafina for The Farewell & Beanie Feldstein for Booksmart
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Jennifer Lopez for Hustlers
Best Director: Bong Joon-ho for Parasite
Best Actor in a Television Series: Billy Porter for Pose


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How to boost your living room setup to take in TIFF at home
Published Friday, September 11, 2020 3:49PM EDT
Like so many activities this year, much of the Toronto International Film Festival is going virtual.
With in-person screenings greatly reduced due to COVID-19, the festival is encouraging people to purchase tickets to digital screenings that can be viewed at home using an app or a streaming device.
Microwave popcorn is cheap and you can always reposition your favourite chair right in front of the flatscreen.
But if you're a movie-lover looking to get a better film-viewing experience than you normally would in your living room, there are ways to boost your home viewing setup without breaking the bank.
To get some tips on how to do that, CP24.com spoke with tech expert Marc Saltzman.
(Interview has been edited for clarity and length)
CP24: So Marc, if you love movies but can't to be in an actual theatre this year, what can you do to bring a more theatre-like experience to your living room?
It doesn't hurt that you can now pick up a 65 inch TV for a few hundred dollars like $5-600 for a brand name, no less. If you haven't pulled the trigger yet on a new TV, there are some great deals out there.
If you've got a year-old model, it's going to look amazing. Otherwise look for a 4k TV, which is four times the resolution of HD. Look for technologies like HDR or high dynamic range. More advanced versions may be called Dolby Vision or HDR 10.
Let's say you're happy with your TV, but you want to optimize it to get the most out of watching movies at home, a couple things to keep in mind: One is that you might want to calibrate the picture settings for your TV. You can pick up an app, there's one called THX tune-up, that will walk you through calibrating the color, saturation, brightness, contrast, all that kind of stuff. Or if you still have a DVD player or Blu Ray player, a Disney disc or a Pixar disc often has a section called a THX optimizer and it'll actually walk you through with your remote in hand how to get the most out of it.
We all have different ambient lighting around us and (other) stuff. So number one is calibrate your TV. A little trick that not everybody agrees with is to turn down the brightness a bit and turn up the contrast. And you'll find that will give you richer darks, richer blacks that give you more of a 3D-like effect. So that's one tip but definitely grab a disc if you still have them and look for a THX optimizer or download an app to your smartphone or tablet and follow along with the prompts.
CP24: Let's talk about audio. I just dropped some money on a sound bar. I should have done some googling first because there are those who say that for the price of a $13 adapter, I could have used some old computer speakers…. Who's right?
There's no right or wrong. But the one truth though is that the thinner these TVs get, the worse the audio gets. So we're talking pancake-shaped speakers. Don't expect deep sound out of that. If you can't afford a full multi-speaker setup, you know 5.1 surround sound or more, a sound bar is a more economical way to go. Or as you said you could also put a $20 dongle in the back of your TV and have it send audio to existing speakers.
A sound bar is not going to break the bank and it will somewhat replicate that surround sound setup. So a sound bar is typically below or above your TV. And some have true surround sound, others simulate surround sound. So like if you see a helicopter in the movie that you're watching, it would sound as if it was coming from the front left and then exiting the scene on the rear right.
I love this quote from George Lucas who once famously said that audio is half of the movie viewing experience. So you take out the audio or if it's crummy audio, it's gonna impact what you see psychologically. But if you have really good audio, it makes the picture look better. So don't underestimate the importance of good audio because it is important. We focus so much on the visuals with a TV. I'm glad you brought up sound, but a sound bar is a great way to go.
CP24: To watch TIFF films, you need an Apple TV or Google Chromecast, or you can even hook up an HDMI wire to your computer. What's works best?
Especially this year we might not have the disposable income perhaps that we've had in previous years. So the least expensive way to stream content to your TV is to connect a computer through an HDMI cable which you can pick up at your local dollar store and just load the website or the app on your Windows or Mac or Chromebook and just plug it in. So what you have is a cable connected to the TV. It's not the prettiest and you do have to manually go and press play, but there are worse things. So that's the least expensive solution.
The next best thing I would say in terms of affordability is to pick up a streaming stick. So if your TV is older and doesn't have Smart functions or its Smart functions aren't so fast, there might be buffering issues. So Chromecast, a Roku stick or any of these things like a Kindle Fire Stick from Amazon, all of those support several apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV plus and Disney Plus and Crave in some cases. Apple TV would be the most expensive streaming box (at around $200) but certainly there's a huge value proposition there because it's well made and works with other Apple devices.
You don't have to break the bank though – (streaming sticks) are as low as $30 or $40. They typically plug into an available HDMI port on the back or side of your TV. And then you can use an app or sometimes you get a remote with it, like you do with Apple TV or some Roku boxes, or just use your voice which is even more convenient.
[NOTE: The TIFF Bell Digital Cinema app for viewing festival films currently works with Chromecast and Apple TV. See Tiff.net for details.]
CP24: And of course, popcorn is cheap.
Yeah, that is true. Cheaper than the movie theaters. Let's face it. Haha.


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Bordeaux to Biarritz Cycling Holiday
CategoryCycle Touring
Self Guided
Duration/s7 or 8 nights
Start / FinishBordeaux / Biarritz
Distance217 miles/350 kms
Tour code046-103CFR
Cycle the Atlantic Coast of France from the historic port town of Bordeaux to the surfing town of Biarritz. Leisurely cycling on scenic, cycle paths through shady pine forests and past glorious beaches. Explore the charming villages around Arcachon Bay, swim in warm, freshwater lakes and stop to watch the surfers riding the Atlantic rollers.
This really is a beach-lovers cycling holiday and each day you'll want to ensure your swimwear is in your pannier. The cycle path rarely strays far from the coast and when it does it is to lead you to picturesque freshwater lakes that are perfect for a refreshing dip.
You'll love exploring the charming fishing villages of Arcachon Bay, perhaps stopping at a shabby-chic Oyster Shack for a maritime delicacy, and a little further south you'll also have the opportunity to climb Europe's largest sand dune and enjoy incredible views from its summit.
The scent of pine forests and salty sea air accompanies you throughout this trip as do fabulous sea-views and mile after mile of gorgeous beach. Biarritz, one of the country's most famous seaside resorts with its surf beaches and historic buildings makes a fitting finale to your cycling holiday.
The route is mostly level and any hills are rare and not that steep. It's nearly all cycle paths with the odd section on quiet lanes or tracks.
Itinerary & Map
We offer 7 and 8 night versions of this tour. The itinerary below describes the 8 night version. If you opt for the 7 night version then day 4 is omitted.
The route is mostly level and any hills are rare and not that steep. It's nearly all cycle paths with the odd section on quiet lanes or tracks.
Day 1: Arrive Bordeaux
Make your way from Bordeaux airport to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore this interesting port city with Roman origins. Take a stroll through the atmospheric old town and don't miss the charming public gardens on the banks of the Garonne River. Our tip is to invest in the 229 step climb to the Pey Berland bell tower adjacent to Saint-Andre's cathedral – the view is definitely worth the effort.
Day 2: Bordeaux – Lacanau Ocean, 40 miles/64 kms
Your cycling holiday starts in earnest today with a beautiful, easy ride along a dedicated cycle path that leads you through pine forests out towards the Atlantic Coast. Your destination today is Lacanau, a seaside town surrounded by a gorgeous beach pine forests and sand dunes. Cycling is hugely popular here and there are many kilometers of cycle paths, both north and south of the town, that will deliver you to idyllic, deserted beaches or inland to the pretty Lacanau Lake.
Day 3: Lacanau Ocean – Arcachon, 29 Miles/47 kms
Today you start heading south along the Atlantic Coast. You'll be following cycle paths and forest trails through pine forests with the Ocean your constant companion to your right. This is a sparsely populated stretch of coast where nature still holds sway. Stop for a dip in the surf at the seemingly endless sandy beach and take a breather in the shade of pine trees. Towards the end of the ride you reach the charming fishing villages of Le Canon and L'Herbe at Cap Ferret on Arcachon Bay. We recommend stopping to sample the fresh seafood at one of the shabby-but-chic fisher-men's huts. A short ferry ride takes you across the bay to the bustling town of Arcachon where you stay for the night.
Day 4: Around the Bay of Arcachon, 28 miles/45 kms
This day is omitted if you opt for the shorter 7 night trip.
You spend another night in Arcachon tonight so the day is yours to do as you please. You can have a day off from cycling and just head for the beach if you like or, if you do want to cycle, there is a very pleasant route around the bay. A disused railway line, now converted to a cycle path leads you to small towns and ports, through wetlands, pine forests and sand dunes. All the while you enjoy fabulous views across Arcachon Bay.
Day 5: Arcachon – Biscarosse, 19 miles/30 kms
A relatively short section today but this means there is time to climb the Dune de Pyla which will come into view shortly after leaving Arcachon. Europe's largest sand dune measures 2.7 km in length and is currently 110 meters high – the views from the top across to Cap Ferret are quite stunning. Afterwards continue south on a lovely cycle path through the Landes forest. Once again, you are never far from a beautiful deserted beach so be sure to pack your swim-wear in your pannier. Your destination today is Biscarosse Plage, a surf town with glorious sandy beaches. It's a bustling little place with many outdoor cafes and restaurants as well as a night market.
Day 6: Biscarosse – Mimizan Plage, 32 miles/52 kms
Today the route leaves the coast for a detour inland. A pleasant cycle path leads you to the shores of Lake Cazaux, a large freshwater lake perfect for a refreshing dip. Follow the cycle path along the shoreline and then south to the neighbouring and equally pretty Lake Biscarosse. From here the cycle path leads you gently back towards the coast through the ever-present pine forests. You will spend the night in Mimizan, a small ocean-side town that was created during the Belle Epoque when sea bathing first became fashionable amongst the rich.
Day 7: Mimizan Plage – Moliets et Maa, 34 miles/55 kms
Leave Mimizan Plage and continue your journey south. It's a very pleasant stage today on a quiet cycle path through the pine forest. Of course, as you have come to expect on this tour, you are never far from a glorious beach so stop for a dip as and when the mood grabs you. The route takes a slight detour inland to Leon Lake before finishing in the town of Moliets et Maa back on the Landes coast.
Day 8: Moliets-et-Maa – Biarritz, 40 miles/65 kms
Your final day in the saddle leads you through the Landes forest to the famous surfing town of Hossegor. To surfers this town has a reputation for being one of the best beach breaks in the world and if the waves are pumping it's exhilarating to sit and watch from the safety of the beach. From here it's a pleasant ride on cycle paths into Basque Country and the pretty town of Bayonne. Take time to expore the old town before following the Adour River out to the coast. Finally you arrive in Biarritz, one of the most famous resort towns in France. Magnificent beaches, grand old buildings, narrow streets and a dizzying choice of bars and restaurants make this a fitting finale to your cycling adventure
Day 9: Departure
After breakfast it's time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure.
Dates & Prices
|2021 Arrival Dates
|Arrivals daily from 17 April to 14 October
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|2021 Prices
Per person
17 Apr
30 Jun
01 Jul
31 Aug
01 Sep
14 Oct
|7 Nights
|Comfort category
|Solo cyclist
|8 Nights
|Comfort category
|Solo cyclist
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|Deposit per person
Price Includes
7 or 8 x Breakfast
Luggage transfer (1 x 20kg piece pp + 1 x 10kg piece pp)
Maps & route information
GPS route data
Local Assistance
Price Excludes
Bike hire (see supplements below)
Entrance fees, wine tasting
Extra night in Bordeaux, single, comfort (£137)
Extra night in Biarritz, twin/double, comfort (£79)
Extra night in Biarritz, single, comfort (£137)
Extra night in Biarritz, twin/double, July & August, comfort (£105)
Extra night in Biarritz, single, July & August, comfort (£179)
Regular bike with pannier & lock 7 nights. See practical information (£137)
Regular bike with pannier & lock 8 nights. See practical information (£152)
Electric bike with pannier & lock 7 nights (£250)
Electric bike with pannier & lock 8 nights (£284)
Practical Information
Regular bikes provided are modern alloy framed models with 21 speeds. The bikes come equipped with pannier, lock and a repair kit with pump.
Electric bikes are also available.
Children's bikes and trailers are also available.
We suggest you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons. Alternatively, helmets are supplied on arrival.
Children under the age of 12 are required to wear a helmet in France and we always advocate their use for riders of all ages.
Below you will find examples of the accommodations typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.
Comfort: Comfortable hotels or guesthouses.
Bordeaux: Hotel de Normandie
Lacanau: Hotel du Golf
Arcachon: Hotel de la Plage
Biscarrosse: Hotel La Forestiere
Mimizan: Hotel Emeraude des Bois
Moliets et Maa: Hotel Grill Ocean
Biarritz: Hotel Georges VI
Getting There
Fly in and out of Bordeaux Airport, returning to Bordeaux by train from Biarritz, or alternatively fly home from Biarritz Airport.
- Date - 11/09/2019
- Name - Anonymous
- Service rating - 5.0
- Service comment - Great pre-booking advice, efficient and friendly.
- Product rating - 5.0
- Product comment - Perfect for youngish kids and oldish parents
- Flexitreks response - Service rating : This is really appreciated - thank you!
Product : I'm sure many families will find this feedback useful - thank you.
- Date - 10/06/2019
- Name - Kirstine Mayall
- Service rating - 5.0
- Service comment - Yes very good
- Product rating - 4.0
- Product comment - Overall very good with good hotels which were central or convenient. For the day in Arcachon, the route notes were poor and we had to work out our route which wasn't easy.
- Flexitreks response - Service rating : Thanks Kirstine, we do appreciate the review.
Product : Thanks for the head's up Kirstine, we've asked our local guy to review the route notes around Arcachon.
- Date - 12/07/2018
- Name - Ian Sharp
- Service rating - 3.0
- Service comment - The Road Book could (and should) have been provided earlier
- Product rating - 4.0
- Product comment - The bikes we got for the second week were much better - with a proper map box attached to the handle bars. On the whole Evazio (Flexitreks sub-contractor who actually provided the guts of the touring holiday) provided an excellent service which is hard to fault. However, it would have been much better had we each been provided with a copy of the Road Book
- Flexitreks response - Service rating : Thanks for the feedback Ian. By dispensing the tour books at the first hotel we are able to keep the costs of these holidays down. We believe that most customers are content to receive the information at the first hotel but your opinion that they should be distributed in advance has been noted.
Product : Glad to hear you were happy with the local service Ian.
- Date - 19/06/2018
- Name - Anonymous
- Service rating - 5.0
- Service comment - Ally was very helpful at each step of the process. She returned calls quickly and answered all my queries.
- Product rating - 4.0
- Product comment - The hotels were a fairly good, probably more 2 star plus than 3 star. However the fact that they were not top notch was more than compensated for by the friendly and helpful staff in each place. All the establishments were clean and breakfasts were good except in the Hotel du Grill.
Luggage collection went smoothly.
It would have been better if we had had a 'meet and greet' session on day 1. The bikes were delivered by a guy in a Hertz rental vehicle who explained that he had nothing to do with the company! That was not very reassuring. Requests to help with adjusting the saddle heights were met with 'this is not my job'! He explained about the Allen Key located in one of the front panniers and in the end he did adjust our saddles. As I live in France part time I understand the French mentality but it's somewhat baffling for people who are used to a more service orientated economy! First impressions are important. We are all experienced cyclists but a 15 minute orientation session would have been helpful on the first day.
The bike tracks were excellent and well signposted most of the way.
However this was more challenging on the final day as we headed to Biarritz. We did quite a few extra Kms as directions were unclear.
If we had experienced problems along the way I did not get the feeling that there was much back up. Fortunately we didn't so I can't speak from experience.
- Flexitreks response - Service rating : We aim to please.
Product : Thanks for this constructive feedback which has been fed back to our local supplier.
- Date - 22/08/2017
- Name - Mark Chellew
- Service rating - 5.0
- Service comment - Well organised,great tracks.Maybe directions in one or two places could of been slightly clearer.Hotels were good
- Product rating - 5.0
- Product comment - A very enjoyable trip - very pleasant cycling
- Flexitreks response - Thanks for the review Mark. We'll ask our local guy to check the route before next season to iron out those slightly unclear sections.
- Date - 19/07/2017
- Name - Mike Daly
- Service rating - 5.0
- Service comment - Excellent follow up on all queries from Ally
- Product rating - 4.0
- Product comment - Well organised trip really enjoyed it
- Flexitreks response - Short and to the point - many thanks Mike!
- Date - 27/09/2016
- Name - Anonymous
- Service rating - 5.0
- Service comment - Thorough and helpful. We were a family of 5, with older children, and Flexitreks discussed carefully with us the various options available and helped us select a tour that was just right for our family. l
- Product rating - 4.0
- Product comment - A good dedicated cycle path, with peaceful largely traffic-free cycling. The bikes were good quality and served us very well. Accommodation in Bordeaux, Arcanchon and Biarritz was excellent.
- Flexitreks response - We're so glad you enjoyed your family cycling holiday and many thanks for the lovely review.


text:
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Field Arithmetic
Part of the A Series of Modern Surveys in Mathematics book series (MATHE3, volume 11)
Part of the A Series of Modern Surveys in Mathematics book series (MATHE3, volume 11)
Field Arithmetic explores Diophantine fields through their absolute Galois groups. This largely self-contained treatment starts with techniques from algebraic geometry, number theory, and profinite groups. Graduate students can effectively learn generalizations of finite field ideas. We use Haar measure on the absolute Galois group to replace counting arguments. New Chebotarev density variants interpret diophantine properties. Here we have the only complete treatment of Galois stratifications, used by Denef and Loeser, et al, to study Chow motives of Diophantine statements.
Progress from the first edition starts by characterizing the finite-field like P(seudo)A(lgebraically)C(losed) fields. We once believed PAC fields were rare. Now we know they include valuable Galois extensions of the rationals that present its absolute Galois group through known groups. PAC fields have projective absolute Galois group. Those that are Hilbertian are characterized by this group being pro-free. These last decade results are tools for studying fields by their relation to those with projective absolute group. There are still mysterious problems to guide a new generation: Is the solvable closure of the rationals PAC; and do projective Hilbertian fields have pro-free absolute Galois group (includes Shafarevich's conjecture)?