text: ACTIVE EMPLOYEES ERF Member Guide Divorce & Your Pension Benefit Social Security & Your Pension Benefit What to Know if You're Leaving the City Retirement Checklist RETIREES Cost of Living Adjustment Understanding Your 1099 Change of Address Form W4-P Retirement Connection Newsletter Retirement Check Schedule Retirement Application Refund Check Schedule Dallas City Retired Employees Association City Health Benefits Guide Helpful Community Links FORMER EMPLOYEES Returning to the City? Buy Back Application Benefit Payment Options Death Benefits Disability Benefits BENEFICIARIES Application for Survivor Benefits Are you a Beneficiary or a Designee? Health Benefit Supplement


text:
A method for producing uniformly thinned (etched) optical fibers is described, which can also be employed to etch optical fibers containing a Bragg grating (FBG) uniformly for evanescent-field-based sensing and other applications. Through a simple modification of this method, the fabrication of phase-shifted FBGs based on uneven etching is also shown. The critical role of how a fiber is secured is shown, and the success of the method is illustrated, by differential interference contrast microscopy images of uniformly etched FBGs. An etched FBG sensor for the monitoring of the refractive index of different glycerin solutions is demonstrated.
© 2012 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
Related Articles
Nicoleta M. Dragomir, Claire Rollinson, Scott A. Wade, Andrew J. Stevenson, Stephen F. Collins, Gregory W. Baxter, Peter M. Farrell, and Ann Roberts
Opt. Lett. 28(10) 789-791 (2003)
Kevin H. Smith, Benjamin L. Ipson, Tyson L. Lowder, Aaron R. Hawkins, Richard H. Selfridge, and Stephen M. Schultz
Appl. Opt. 45(8) 1669-1675 (2006)
Betty P. Kouskousis, Claire M. Rollinson, Daniel J. Kitcher, Stephen F. Collins, Greg W. Baxter, Scott A. Wade, Nicoleta M. Dragomir, and Ann Roberts
Opt. Express 14(22) 10332-10338 (2006)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dairy Channel: Ask yourself: What is holding you back?
Not your seat belt, but what is stopping you from being a better dairy manager? OSU Extension dairy specialist Dianne Shoemaker asks pointed questions in this week's column.
Dairy Excel: Working together makes employee motivation a beneficial partnership
Bernie Erven says employees wanted to be motivated.
Dairy Channel: Dairy's use of hormones increases
The use of recombiant bovine Somatotropin has increased, especially on large farms.
Dairy Channel: Step right up for pricing jeopardy
Dianne Shoemaker tries to make things easier to understand with a game of jeopardy.
Dairy Excel: How motivated are your employees?
Farm employees are no different than workers in other industries: Different things motivate different peole at different times, reminds Tuscarawas County Ag Agent Chris Zollers.
Dairy Channel: Manure research results will be presented at field day Aug. 20
Ernie Oelker writes about the manure research field day at Myron Wehr's farm in New Waterford, Ohio.
Dairy Channel: Saying so long to a dairy master
Diane Shoemaker honors retiring expert in field of bovine mammary.
Dairy Excel: Problems and solutions: Keep records
With elusive broad answers to low milk prices, Tim Demland shares specific efforts individual dairymen can take, including good recordkeeping.
Dairy Channel: An update on bovine viral diarrhea
According to the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, two distinct biotypes of bovine viral diarrhea virus have been identified.
Dairy Channel: What's hot in Phoenix? Dairy issues
Shoemaker writes about how dairy issues are hot just about everywhere.


text:
"It turned out to be surprisingly great within a short notice. My parents stayed there ...." - Tej Bahadur SinghRead more reviews >>
Blue Sea Hotel
M G Road, Port Blair, Andaman Nicobar - 744 101
Blue Sea Hotel, Port Blair - Overview
Located at M.G Road, Blue Sea Hotels is a popular property that offers spacious accommodation in Port Blair. Featuring an on-site restaurant, this hotel is 4km from the Port Blair Airport. This hotel with 25 rooms offers modern comforts to its guest. Each room is equipped with a satellite TV, safe, telephone and an air conditioner.
The essential facilities offered are laundry services, parking, travel desk, safe deposit boxes and doctor-on-call. It also provides money transfer and ticketing. To enjoy vegetarian Indian and Chinese delicacies, guests can enter the on-site restaurant called Vegan Creek. There is a well-stocked bar in the hotel where guests can enjoy wines, cocktails and other spirits. Places of interest are Andaman Cellular Jail (3km), Mini Zoo (3km), Corbyn?s Cove Beach (6km). Each room gives a beautiful view of the surrounding.
Check-in time : From 00:00 am
Check-out time : Until 08:00 am
Blue Sea HotelGuest Reviews based on 9 reviews
of our customers recommend this hotel
Check availability for Blue Sea Hotel, Port Blair
Why book with Travelguru?
- 36,000+ Hotels covering 790+ cities in India
- 4,30,000+ Hotels across the world
- No cancellation fee!!
- Guaranteed refund in 5 days
- Lowest Prices Guaranteed
Blue Sea Hotel, Port Blair - Amenities
- 24-Hour Security
- Internet Access
- Laundry facilities
- Parking
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Transportation Service
- Travel counter


text:
CrediHealth, Perfiniti, FolksVagn & Shaadi-e-Khaas: Four start-ups with innovative ideas
- UK India Business Council to offer start-up zone in Bangalore
- Indian Angel Network, YourNest Angel Fund and investor Ray Stata invest in Uniphore Software Systems
- How Citrus is solving your digital payment angst
- NanoJobs: How the Rs 40 lakh co helps blue-collar workers find employment
- Women entrepreneurs flourish: Meet 4 young start-up divas determined to succeed
Many of the new ideas are me-too, trying to sell everything from clothes and books to tickets and diapers online, copying the likes of Amazon, Flipkart, Jabong, Myntra, Yatra. Few venture to look at disrupting existing businesses, and creating new ones like WhatsApp or You-Tube. Business consultancy firm Grant Thornton reckons 80% of the ideas are me-toos.
The remaining 20% are made up by a few brave guys who are trying to change the way business is done. Says Vinamra Shastri, partner and practice leader, business advisory services, Grant Thornton: "You need a differentiator to win and that's where new ideas score. By nature successful start-up ideas are fated to be unusual."
Fad or a Trendsetter
What might look off the beaten track today enters the main stream if it's able to scale, in the process changing behaviours; else it fades. Says Sanjeev Aggarwal, managing director, Helion Venture Partners, a venture fund: "Any idea is either 'good to have' or 'must have'. The former will fade away, the latter will stay. Someone who can make the transition to a 'must have' business will succeed."
Adds Alok Mittal, managing director, Canaan Partners India, another venture fund: "By nature start-ups are unique, else they fall in the bucket of me-toos. Justdial.com, Zomato.com, matrimonial sites were unique when they started. They were ideas that created a new behaviour." Behind that unique idea is an entrepreneurial DNA that seeks to create scalable, financially sound businesses. As Rachna Nath, leader, retail, Pricewaterhouse-Coopers (PwC) India, puts it: "India is not about big companies but small entrepreneurs.
They are the ones who will solve the daily problems for people. Out of say 10, just two might work, but that's fine, as these two will disrupt existing models." For instance CrediHealth.com, started in January 2014 by Ravi Virmani, a former MD of Hewitt Associates India and COO of Max, is solving an existing pain point — how to look for a good healthcare provider — by seeking the opinion of crowds.
Says Virmani: "We looked at the shortfalls in the existing referral system and created CrediHealth. com. We give information based on patient feedback." When ploughing lonely furrows, Sameer Khanna, founder FolksVagn, a car-pooling business, says: "The idea should fundamentally appeal consumers. You need the ability to change mindsets."
Gaurav Sareen, 42, a hotel industry professional and a police officer in Australia, now in his third innings, is trying his hand at relationships. More specifically checking the compatibility quotient of couples. Sareen came back to India in May 2010, after quitting as a behavioural specialist and a commander in Sydney Police and co-founded Perfiniti, a fivepeople bricks-and-mortar start-up in June 2013. "The whole process of partner selection in India threw me off. The most crucial decision of a couple's life depends on an astrologer," shrugs Sareen. "There has to be a better way, a scientific way to understand compatibility between couples."
The result is Perfiniti, a play on perfect infinity. Perfiniti puts couples through a psychometric test (sourced from Extended Disc, Finland) — each taking it individually — that comprises a set of 24 questions. The answers form 100 to 800 behaviour traits — like I am a good listener, I don't like watching TV late in the night or am I obsessed about which toothpaste to use and so on. For each answer a person gets points from +5 to -5. An algorithm checks the consistency of response and establishes the level of compatibility and understanding between couples.
"It starts with what kind of person I am. If the person says I'm a good listener, maybe the partner wants to be a good listener as well or maybe not. Each person gets a very good picture of the partner, revealing natural behaviour of the person," says Sareen. About a dozen-odd couples inquire about the service daily and one or two drop by at Sareen's Gurgaon office. The Rs 4,000 test can be taken online and at the end of it each partner gets a report. That's the basic package.
Further, if the partners needs to correct their behaviour traits or get deeper insights into their relationships they can sign up for coaching classes that start at Rs 5,000 per session. "We don't suggest whether you get married or not. Neither are we marriage counsellors. That's for the couple to decide whether to stay together or not. But we put a mirror in front of them which conveys their compatibility. We are in the business of helping people arrive at 'relationship decisions'— both pre- and post-marriage," says Sareen.
However, most of Sareen's clients are already married, over 35 years, often divorced and typically those who have already had compatibility issues in their relationships. Not the ones madly in love with each other or those in live-in relationships.
"It's a misnomer that all those in live-in relationships are compatible. Post-marriage, things may not turn out as planned, and compatibility (or lack of it) is the cause. We reveal the fault lines to them. There can be course correction, but it will be great if couples come to us before marriage," says Sareen.
Show Me The Scale
While there is no dearth of new ideas, it takes a lot to achieve scale. And some of the new ideas challenge the not-so-old ideas. Example: professional networking site LinkedIn makes job sites look obsolete. Aggarwal of Helion says new ideas should pass through a few checks to ensure their viability.
To begin with any new idea should ideally tap into a $1-billion market; that will help create at least a $100-million business. Besides, a business-to-consumer idea can scale better than a business-to-business one. Khanna of Folks-Vagn has taken the B2C equation one step further by creating a C2C model.
His car pooling venture has consumers on both sides — the passengers and the car owner. The ability to extend the business to international consumers is one way to achieve scale. Says Aggarwal: "Mobile ads are not big in India, yet InMobi, a mobile ad network, is a successful start-up from India as it appeals to global customers and not just those in India."
WhatsApp, started in California, took hardly any time to scale — 450 million users globally in 18 months with just 55 people. Says Mittal: "The big upside with a unique idea is that you end up owning the space, rather than being a me-too or an also-ran."
For a patient, a search for a good doctor is one of the pain areas he can happily live without. Often the sole solution to finding a good healthcare practitioner or a diagnostic centre is asking someone else who has had a pleasant experience or doing a random search asking random people. Ravi Virmani, founder and managing director of CrediHealth.com, dissected the issue and believes information based on patient feedback is a panacea for the problem.
An 18-month stint at Max Healthcare helped him understand the issues that patients have to deal with, like finding an empathetic and the right doctor, and the costs involved. The result is the self-funded CrediHealth. com, which went live in January. An industry veteran and founding managing director of Hewitt Associates India and former COO of Max Healthcare, Virmani sees CrediHealth solving the people's problem of looking for the right doctor or a diagnostic centre, besides being an additional sales channel for the hospitals.
Says Virmani: "Cost of sale for a hospital is 12-15% [that is, commissions given to doctors to send patients for check-ups]. In our model patients choose a hospital based on actual patient feedback that we collect, allowing for a more informed decision." Started in Delhi NCR region CrediHealth has tie-ups with 55 hospitals and diagnostic centres, including Max, Apollo, Fortis, Ganga Ram and, boasts of a roster of 500 doctors on the portal, besides 50,000 unique visitors so far.
While the model helps a patient crowdsource a doctor, be it a cardiologist or a dentist, users can also seek second opinions from doctors at any of the registered hospitals. Explains Virmani: "A patient may have consulted a doctor but wants a second opinion. For a fee, equivalent to the out-patient department charges of a hospital, a patient can seek a review from another doctor." The doctor will evaluate any X-Ray, blood test, ultrasound reports etc to offer the second opinion.
"We give people informed decisions. Our goal is to build a Google of healthcare," adds Virmani. By May Credi-Health plans to expand to Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Chandigarh. Virmani says CrediHealth is a one of its kind in the country. Overseas there are start-ups like Healthgrade.com in the US, but even they differ from CrediHealth's model.
"They don't offer discounts to patients. Patients registering on our site for hospital visits can get 10-15% off their OPD charges," says Virmani. Apart from providing information, second opinions and patient registration, CrediHealth. com's team of 25 includes content writers who bring out reports on 45 common procedures—cardiac, cancer, knee operation, hip replacement and so on. Virmani is also targeting medical tourists.
"International patients are fleeced. In Delhi NCR region alone medical tourism is a Rs 180-crore business annually. Touts at airports misguide patients. Now they can register with us before flying to India. They will be fully aware where to go and whom to contact once they register with Credi-Health," says Virmani.
CrediHealth claims a robust business model — like taking a cut from hospitals for business generated through the site, in what it calls performance incentive. Another is a subscription fee from standalone centres like a hair transplant centre or a dental clinic that registers with CrediHealth. But the site is yet to make money. "That's a conscious decision. For first six months we will create awareness. The challenge is to change the habits of people," Virmani adds.
It first shot to prominence during World War II in the US as a rationing tactic, and subsequently during the energy crises in the '70s. Today, the benefits of carpooling are evident, savings in fuel and a cleaner environment being the two main ones. Yet, getting people — at least in India — to either pool their cars or to participate in the concept hasn't quite been easy.
One way to do it, reckons Sameer Khanna, is to commercialize it. The former multimedia manager with Ericsson believes carpooling is the best way to solve the congestion problem and meet urban transport needs. "It's not our default behaviour to carpool. Reasons vary from egos and attitude to flexibility issues and payments getting messy. People take for granted who pays."
Khanna launched a survey on social media on whether carpooling managed by a third party will work and to understand the challenges of sharing rides. About 2,500 people gave a thumbs up to the need for a third party to manage carpooling. The result is FolksVagn, an app and a website, with a catch line: 'Getting there, together'.
In the UK and Europe, Lyft.com offers carpools as a service and in the US ZimRide sets up carpools within large corporations. FolksVagn provides the system and manages the backend that involves registering car owners and passengers. It's a C2C service, where people using the app can register their cars for pooling.
For those looking for rides, the system works much like a pre-paid mobile services. They load, say, Rs 1,000 a month and can use it to pay for the rides. The passenger could be on a different car each day. She gets an alert on people offering a carpool on her route and if she 'accepts' the 'invite' on the app, the car owner picks her up. The passenger pays Rs 3.50 per km. FolksVagn takes 50 paise per km and the rest goes to the car owner.
Says Khanna: "We have 10,000 members in the Delhi NCR region and enable 100 rides a day." It's a self-funded venture with a 12-people team. FolksVagn started in Delhi NCR about 18 months back and is now planning to expand to Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Kolkata.
FolksVagn is targeting areas with a large number of offices and a sizeable population going to a single area to work. For instance at Cyber City in Gurgaon there are 500 companies, 17 office buildings, over 2 lakh employees and 50,000 personal cars driving in every day. Besides, employees come in Metro, buses and taxis. Says Khanna: "We will launch a campaign — Saath Chalo — in April to encourage carpooling in the area."
Rachna Nath, leader, retail, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) India, says the model opens up opportunities in allied areas as well. "For instance, FolksVagn can look at becoming an aggregator for vacant inventory of taxi services like Meru Cabs. That way you expand the market with incremental investment and tap into a new business." As of now Khanna, who is yet to make money on the venture, is focused on expanding the user base. "It's about changing mindsets. We are targeting the young office goers as they are more open to try out new things."
The big fat Indian wedding brings under its umbrella a variety of players — wedding planners, chefs, artists, decorators, florists and more. Most of this is brought together in the $30-billion business informally — via word of mouth or on a scrap book. That's where Shaadi-e-Khaas, a business software for wedding planning, believes is hidden its slice of the wedding action.
Shaadi-e-Khaas breaks the herculean wedding planning exercise into tasks such as managing the guest list with the help of the guest manager, a task manager for assigning tasks amongst the vendors, e-mail invites and automatic e-mail reminders at specific intervals. It connects with a predefined list of wedding services providers and maintains a guest list with information on accommodation/travel details and an RSVP tracker.
The bookkeeping section helps maintain accounts of the wedding spends. The tool also offers space for uploading videos and photographs. Bharat Kanodia, who launched the software roughly two years ago, says he was inspired by his brother's wedding to create a system to ease the wedding management process.
"It was an elaborate affair with multiple tasks in hand for every kind of event in the wedding. I thought technology could do wonders in planning out the wedding. The online software also provides a list of 800 pre-screened vendors, including florists, artists and videographers."
The Shaadi-e-Khaas software comes in three packages — silver is for free and includes the guest manager, online wedding invitations, with a 'wedsite' manager (a compilation for all the wedding website features).
Next, the gold package enables multiple events such as mehendi, wedding day, reception and others to be handled with event manager, vendor manager and costs Rs 2,100. The platinum package consists of the budget-keeping section, notepad manager and other online managerial features and comes for Rs 3,100.
The Shaadi-e-Khaas website launched about two years back is currently undergoing a revamp, with a focus on improving the user interface. And Kanodia is busy working on a mobile app for the software. The upgrades should be ready by the next wedding season — by which time you could get all you need for a wedding on your smartphone. Except a bride!


text:
Grandma's Home Brewed Soap Wholesale
Soap Bars
Specialty Soap Bars
Nebraska Soaps
Hand & Body Lotion
Shower Jel
Therapeutic Bath Salts
Gift Sets
Sale Items
Soap Benefits
Contact Us
Facebook Page
Welcome to
Grandma's Home Brewed Soap Wholesale
Home of All Natural Homemade Soap, Lotions &
Bath Salts!
Minimum Order $75.00
If you wish to order Wholesale go to the contact us page and send us your State Sales Tax Number or your Federal Tax ID Number and we will send you the password to be able to purchase Wholesale!
Our NEW Soaps are now ready for sale and they are wonderful!!
We have combined the benefits of both Shea & Mango Butter to give you the best possible skin care soap you can buy!! Both these butters along with the castor oil used in each bar makes this soap one of the mildest moisturizing soaps on the market!!
Welcome to Grandma's Home Brewed Soap
We are so glad you stopped by to take a look at our
Quality Homemade Bar Soaps!
our soaps are made with tender loving care in small batches for a superior product using the cold process method of soap making! We use the finest oils, butters and additives to ensure you get the best product for your delicate and fragile skin.
Each Large 5oz. bar will amaze your skin with all these nourishing ingredients. For a list of oils and butters and what each one will do for your skin visit our benefits page.
Come on in and take a look around, we are so glad You stopped by!
Grandma's Home Brewed Soap Facebook Page!
Like this page to keep you updated on our Company News, New Products and FREE Products given away on a regular basis. Don't miss out, check out our Facebook Page NOW!!
Member of Grow Nebraska,


text:
Provided through IDX through Realcomp II Ltd, via CENTURY 21 Affiliated. Courtesy of Red Carpet Keim Action Group 1 and East Central Association of Realtors®. Copyright 2016 Realcomp II Ltd. Shareholders
Listing information
- Beds: 4
- Stories: 0
- Total Square Footage: 2,331 ($203.78 per sq. foot)
- County: Lapeer
- Style: Ranch/1-Story
- Baths: 4 (Full: 3 3/4: 0 1/2: 1 Other: 0)
- New Construction: No
- Lot Area: 0.42
- School District: Lapeer
- Year Built: 1987
- Status: Active
- Foreclosure: No
- Lot Size: 87x166x180x169
- Body of Water: Lake Lapeer
Architecture Level 1 Story
Architecture Style Ranch
Basement Type Daylight, Partially Finished, Walkout Access
Construction Materials Brick, Vinyl, Wood
Cooling Ceiling Fans 2+, Central Air
Exterior Features Outside Lighting, Sprinkler(s)
Fireplace Fuel Gas
Fireplace Locations Living Room
Foundation Details Basement
Foundation Materials Block
Garage Features Attached, Direct Access, Door Opener, Electricity
Garage Size 3 Car
Heating Forced Air
Heating Fuel Gas
Interior Features Cable Available, High Spd Internet Avail, Jetted Tub, Security Alarm (owned)
Kitchen Appliances Dishwasher, Dryer, Freezer, Microwave, Refrigerator, Stove, Trash Compactor, Washing Machine
Lot Features Lake View
Other Basement YN - 1, Percent Tiled - 0, Percent Tillable - 0, Percent Wooded - 0, Sqft Lower Floor - 350, Sqft Total Bsmt - 1860, Tax Amount Summer - 1795.5200, Tax Amount Winter - 2280.8700
Road Frontage Type Paved
Sewer Septic-Existing
Water Heater Fuel Gas
Water Source Well-Existing
Waterfront Description Lake Front
Waterfront Features All Sports Lake
Bathroom - Bath - Full Lower 8x8
Bedroom Lower 11x11
Bedroom Lower 11x11
Bathroom - Bath - Lav Entry 5x5
Bathroom - Bath - Full Entry 9x7
Bedroom Entry 14x12
Dining Room Entry 15x12
Florida Room Entry 18x10
Kitchen Entry 15x10
Laundry Room Entry 12x10
Library - Library/Study Entry 12x12
Living Room Entry 17x15
Master Bathroom - Bath - Master Entry 11x9
Master Bedroom - Bedroom - Mstr Entry 14x14
Other Entry 15x12
Provided through IDX through Realcomp II Ltd, via CENTURY 21 Affiliated. Courtesy of Red Carpet Keim Action Group 1 and East Central Association of Realtors®. Copyright 2016 Realcomp II Ltd. Shareholders


text:
Is this restaurant good for dining on a budget?
Is this restaurant good for dinner?
Is this a pub?
Is this restaurant good for business meetings?
Does this restaurant have a TV?
Does this restaurant accept reservations?
Is this restaurant good for lunch?
Are the prices at this restaurant mid-range / moderate?
Is this restaurant family-friendly?
Is this restaurant good for brunch?
Thanks for helping!
After waiting 20 minutes they told us still another 15! We had already been told 20 minutes when we got there! But the food is always fresh and amazing! And the servers are nice!
Absolutely terrible service! The waitress took our drink order after we were seated (after waiting 15 minutes for a table, even though the restaurant wasn't that busy. Only about half of the tables were filled ) and then came back 2 minutes later and said she forgot what we ordered! Then it took 5 minutes for her to return with...
Visited on a Monday night and got to play bingo! Lol
food was good and service was fast and friendly. We had a 6 top table and got our order fast and waitress was very attentive. Had a salad with mild hot sauce that was a little too hot for what I like, but salad was still good. Everything the...
This has been one of my favorite wing places in Anderson but the last two visits have left me wondering why. Service... Ok but she didn't understand I just wanted a bacon and cheeseburger. Tried telling me they only came with fried egg on them or some fried onion and BBq sauce deal. Ummmm then why does it say build...
We went for dinner and to say the food we awful is being generous. Loud and not the cleanest place. The waitresses walk around like in a fog. We won't be back.
This was the worst meal ever.
Hostess takes phone orders while customers wait to be seated.
Food served cold after very long wait.
Fiesta salad was served without any toppings. Chips were stale.
Honey mustard was salad dressing.
Missing items.
Manager stayed hidden.
We have been here a few times & the atmosphere is always great!
The wings, sandwiches, beer & service are super!
I have been there a couple of times and while the food is ok,it is not the best. The service has been great every time. The waitresses are nice,friendly and they get your food to you as quick as they can.
Pulled in at 1:30 with the family. It's advertised the buffet was is open till 2. The waitress said it ended at 1:30. She said manager decision. Ok no biggie start off with false advertising. I ordered chicken sliders and they literally took 1 chicken finger and cut it into three pieces for three sliders. I wish I took a...
We love wings, so when it took over an hour and they came out cold needless to say i was very disappointed. There were tables open but food took way too long.
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Is smoking allow?
See all questions


text:
New-look police force clings to rough old ways
They may have a new name and a liberal new charter to defend but the Royal Thai Police are clinging to their rough old ways.
Academics, activists and even senior officers themselves fear suspects' rights are routinely trampled on despite efforts to uphold Thailand's much-vaunted new constitution.
The sweeping document passed nearly 18 months ago formally outlawed torture and demanded police respect due process as well as the rights and dignity of suspects - clauses that meant big changes to traditionally rough-hewn police practices.
One of the first to go was the controversial but popular technique of forcing a suspect to partake in a highly incriminating crime scene 're-enactment', often in front of photographers.
Re-enactments were widely stopped for a while, but now Thai newspapers are once again peppered with police photos of nervous suspects posing with guns or pointing to blood stains at crime scenes.
Few are ever told their rights, observers warn, adding they believe that beatings to force confessions have yet to be fully stamped out in some provinces.
'In practical terms there has been very little change in the way things work,' said Sarawut Pratoomraj, campaign co-ordinator for the Committee of Human Rights Organisations.
'The poor still effectively have no rights but the constitution was supposed to make all Thai people equal under the law. Our society and government must be stronger. The police issue shows we have a long way to go.' Without a meaningful charter, other activists fear there will be no change to the 'round up the usual suspects' approach in rural Thailand, where crimes involving the rich and powerful are often swept under the carpet or blamed on someone far less influential.
Even the most high-profile crimes remain showcases of many of the hard-boiled procedures the police hold dear.
As the political and international pressure mounts to solve the killing of Australian investigative accountant Michael Wansley three weeks ago, Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart has said the suspected gunman would be taken dead if he did not surrender.
'Wanted Dead or Alive' reward posters for Pachit Kasensanduang have started appearing across southern Thailand.
'We do mean wanted dead or alive in terms of the new constitution, of course,' said investigation head Police General Prasarn Wongyai. 'Police are allowed to shoot to defend themselves. The constitution is important to us in our work.' As investigations centre on the wealthy businessman believed to have ordered the killing, police have already paraded the man they claim organised the hit.
Boonphan Sutthiwiriwan denied any role yet provocatively said Thais had to stand up for their 'economic sovereignty' as foreigners exploited the economic crisis.
Another man, who rode the motorcycle that carried the gunman, has already pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Senior police sources conceded that much work was still needed to fully implement the charter but urged patience.
A powerful Human Rights Commission - still on the drawing board - would help 'concentrate' the minds of officers in the field.
'We are actively studying how to change,' one senior officer involved with the charter said. 'The problem is that there are pockets of our force that are laws unto themselves, through years of corruption and political connections. This cannot be changed overnight. It means changing a whole culture.'
Most Popular
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5


text:
The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian is a teen romance with a twist. Their school is being dismantled during the last months before summer vacation and the entire town is steadily evacuating in anticipation of the purposeful flooding and destruction of Aberdeen to make way for new construction (all for the "good" of the folk). 442 more words
Tags » Resevoir
MacRitchie Reservoir
Entranced by the beauty of the reservoir that day. This is kind of like a throwback here, visiting the reservoir made me feel as if I was one with nature. 564 more words
Day 08: Datong Monuments
After an (extremely uncomfortable) sleeper train from Beijing to Datong, we arrived at a city which is currently under the process of re-constructing it's ancient town within the newly built city walls. 126 more words
New on 500px : Sunset over ladybower by TimMcAndrew by TimMcAndrew
Another from the other weekend, when I arrived the sky was on fire!
via 500px http://ift.tt/1X2Aw4K
New on 500px : Ladybower sunset by TimMcAndrew by TimMcAndrew
I had a good feeling about the sunset last night, after archangel of location I got there just in time
via 500px http://ift.tt/1rOaFjs
Quick Rock Chucking Hike
This past Wednesday (4/13) we hiked at Giuffrida with friends. We went out to the end of the reservoir and back and checked out the two bridges for a roughly 1 mile hike. 137 more words


text:
Home /
Our Sources / About Us
/ FAQs /
Advanced Search
Not what you're
looking for? Try an advanced search.
Official citation and/or docket number and footnotes (if any) for this case available with purchase.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
United States District Court, Third Circuit
August 5, 2013
J. SARBOUKH, Plaintiff,v.STATE OF NEW JERSEY, Defendant.
DENNIS M. CAVANAUGH, District Judge.
Plaintiff is currently confined at the Special Treatment Unit - Annex, in Avenel, New Jersey. He has submitted a pro se civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and an application to proceed in forma pauperis. Based on the in forma pauperis application, the Court will grant plaintiffs application to proceed in forma pauperis and will order the Clerk to file the complaint.
At this time, the Court must review the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) to determine whether it should be dismissed as frivolous or malicious, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or because it seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from suit. For the reasons set forth below, the complaint will be dismissed with leave to amend.
In June, 2013, plaintiff submitted the instant complaint to the Court. (See Dkt. No. 1.) For purposes of screening the complaint, the allegations of the complaint are taken as true. The complaint is one page and names the State of New Jersey as the only Defendant. As to Plaintiffs cause of action, he alleges as follows:
Civil Statute 1983 civil rights violated by actions of the State antisematic hate crimes of violence/attempts on my life, civil and constitutional rights and ADA rights violated, traumatic [bodily] injury, teeth knocked out, stabbed. jaw broken, ribs fractured, etc.
(Dkt. No. 1 at p. 1.)
Plaintiff seeks money damages in an amount to be determined. (See id.)
A. Standard for Sua Spume Dismissal
The Court is required to identify cognizable claims and to sua sponte dismiss any claim that is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B). According to the Supreme Court's decision in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, "a pleading that offers labels or conclusions' or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.' 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). To survive sua sponte screening for failure to state a claim[1], the complaint must allege "sufficient factual matter" to show that the claim is facially plausible. Fowler v. UPMS Shadyside, 578 F.3d 203, 210 (3d Cir. 2009) (citation omitted). "A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Belmont v. MB Inv. Partners, Inc., 708 F.3d 470, 483 n.17 (3d Cir. 2012) (quoting lqbal, 556 U.S. at 678). Moreover, while pro se pleadings are liberally construed, -pro se litigants still must allege sufficient facts in their complaints to support a claim." Mala v. Crown Bay Marina, Inc., 704 F.3d 239, 245 (3d Cir. 2013) (citation omitted) (emphasis added).
B. Section 1983 Actions
A plaintiff may have a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for certain violations of his Constitutional rights. Section 1983 provides in relevant part:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer's judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable.
Thus, to state a claim for relief under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege, first, the violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States, and second, that the alleged deprivation was committed or caused by a person acting under color of state law. See Harvey v. Plains Tp, Police Dep't, 635 F.3d 606, 609 (3d Cir. 2011) (citations omitted); see also West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988)).
The State of New Jersey is the only Defendant in this action. However, the State of New Jersey is not a "person" under § 1983 for purposes of liability. See Mierzwa v. United States, 282 F.Appx. 973, 976 (3d Cir. 2008) (per curiam). Furthermore, the State of New Jersey has not waived sovereign immunity with respect to § 1983 claims in federal court. See id, ; see also Will v. Mich. Dep't of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 66 (1989) ("Section 1983 provides a federal forum to remedy many deprivations of civil liberties, but it does not provide a federal forum for litigants who seek a remedy against a State for alleged deprivations of civil liberties. The Eleventh Amendment bars such suits unless the State has waived its immunity."). Accordingly, the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted and seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.
For the reasons set forth above, the complaint will be dismissed without prejudice for failing to state a claim and for seeking monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Nevertheless, as it is possible that Plaintiff may be able to supplement his complaint with facts and defendants sufficient to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, Plaintiff will be granted leave to move to re-open this action and to file an amended complaint. If Plaintiff choses to file an amended complaint, it should be complete on its face because an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint.
Our website includes the main text of the court's opinion but does not include the
docket number, case citation or footnotes. Upon purchase, docket numbers and/or
citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a legal proceeding.
Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision.
Official citation and/or docket number and footnotes (if any) for this case available with purchase.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
LRC, Inc. About Us


text:
CHAMPS the key to Jamaica's success in track and field
Very few organizations or events last 100 years and retain their relevancy as Jamaica's interscholastic track and field championships, commonly known as CHAMPS, which celebrates its centenary this weekend.
Launched in 1910 with the boys' high school competition, the girls' championship became part of the series in 1957 before the meets merged 11 years ago.
Beginning with former Premier Norman Manley's record run in 1911 when he sprinted the 100- and 220-yards races in an impressive 10 and 23 seconds respectively and the Jamaica College athlete's six victories on one day a year later in the 100-, 220- and 440-yards, the long jump, high jump and the hurdles, CHAMPS has produced a remarkably high quality of athletic brilliance in Jamaica's schools that has translated into the country's dominance globally.
The statistics are startling.
Jamaica has won 13 gold, 27 silver and 21 bronze medals since making its summer Olympic debut in 1948, and 14 gold (seven in Berlin last year), 33 silver and 32 bronze medals at the World Track and Field championships that began in 1983. In addition, Jamaica swept the sprint gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning 11 medals overall and finishing third out of 204 countries in track and field.
"CHAMPS is at the centre of athletic excellence in the school system which is itself really at the heart of Jamaica's athletics," International Criminal Tribunal president Patrick Robinson, the author of Jamaican Athletics: A Model for 2012 and the World, told Share while in Toronto recently. "If you want to understand why Jamaica has done so well in global athletics, you really have to begin with CHAMPS.
"There is no athlete who has done well for Jamaica at the global level who has not taken part in this meet. They might not have done well at CHAMPS because the standards are so high. In fact, many of the athletes who have gone on to do well at the international level were only moderately good at CHAMPS where the level is very high. Also, some athletes grow into stardom at a late stage."
Robinson was a member of the Jamaica College team that clinched the CHAMPS title in 1959. He won the discus event.
"CHAMPS is the most important event of its kind in its age group in the world," he said. "It generates a great atmosphere and the athletes' competitive spirit and preparation are unrivalled. When I attended high school, we started training in September of the previous year. Now, the athletes start almost a year in advance and they seldom take part in any other sport. Another main feature is that from around December until just before CHAMPS starts, there are developmental meets every Saturday across Jamaica where the athletes test their mettle."
Robinson said CHAMPS provided him with some lasting memories, including the often-discussed keen rivalry between Anthony Matthews of Wolmer's and Mabricio Ventura of Kingston College (KC) in the sprint events, and Calabar's Dennis Johnson's 220-yard victory over Ventura in 1959.
"As Dennis came around the curve in the lead at Sabina Park, he put up his arms to signal victory and waved to the KC supporters to let them know he had their man," recounted Robinson. "I remember that well. It was a great moment.
"We need to find out why we excel in CHAMPS and translate some of those practices that have made CHAMPS so successful into other areas of Jamaica's national life. Some of those practices, such as discipline and volunteerism, are not difficult to identify."
Share columnist Errol Townshend also ranks the Matthews-Ventura rivalry as his favourite CHAMPS highlight.
"That was a classic," said Townshend, who is in Jamaica for the centenary meet and celebrations. "That was like the Ali-Frazier super boxing matches. Everything else is blurred in comparison to that."
The co-author of Herb McKenley: Olympic Star, Townshend also vividly remembers Donald Quarrie's first appearance at CHAMPS as a 14-year-old in 1965. The Camperdown High School student won the Class Three 100-yards dash despite suffering cramps after becoming the first boy in his age category to run under 11 secs. (his time was 10.9) in the heats.
"Don was like poetry in motion and you knew that he was going to be a superstar," added Townshend.
Ajax resident Clive Bariffe, who attended Kingston College, will be among the thousands of spectators attending the five-day meet that ends on Saturday at the National Stadium.
He represented KC in the 110-metre hurdles, the high and long jump events and the 4 x 400-metre relay.
"There is nothing else like CHAMPS," said Bariffe, who attended the University of Florida and won a gold medal in the 400-metre hurdles at the 1978 Central American & Caribbean Games in Medellin, Colombia and a silver medal in the 4 x 400-metre relay (the team also comprised Bertland Cameron, Colin Bradford and Floyd Brown) at the Commonwealth Games that same year in Edmonton. "The preparation was not close to what I was exposed to when I attended college in the U.S. CHAMPS is like our high school Olympics."
Former Jamaica College deputy headmaster K.V. Donaldson, who resides in Whitby, left here last Tuesday to attend the meet. He won the 800-yards and one-mile events back-to-back in 1951 and 1952, setting a new mark for the mile in his final year in high school at Cornwall College.
"I developed a love for sport when I entered Calabar in 1946 before transferring to Cornwall," Donaldson said. "In addition to breaking the mile record, one of my fondest CHAMPS memories occurred in my last year also when Frank Hall (Jamaica College) broke Manley's 41-year-old 100-yard record with a 9.9 secs. run."
Kingston College has won seven of the last nine boys' titles while Holmwood Technical High is aiming for its eighth straight girls' crown.


text:
Halloween gives me Candy Corn cravings
My son, the budding YouTube gaming star!
Today I am Procrastinating
Greenhouse gases or man's blood-thirst
The Reluctant Parent Teacher Club Assistant
Wake-y, wake-y. It's time for school!
Do you prefer the Xbox One, or the Playstation 4
I was supposed to go to church today, but I'm playing hookie instead


text:
Eyes shape changes after fat transfer to upper face. Is this normal? (photos)
I have fat transfer to my brow, temple, forehead and cheek(malar and buccal), tear trough to correct my thin face due to weight loss. My eyes shape change undesirably. Both look droopy, deep set and couldn't open up fully. 1) Is it normal? 2) Is it due to swelling or too much fat injected on my brow and forehead that press down my eyes? 3) Will fat transfer to upper face change the shape of the eyes?
Doctor Answers 2
Eyes shape changes after fat transfer to upper face. Is this normal?
No real conclusions can be drawn with bruising and swelling still present.
Kenneth Hughes, MD
Los Angeles, CA
Kenneth Hughes, MD
Los Angeles, CA
Web reference: http://www.hughesplasticsurgery.com/Facial-Fat-Grafting-and-Stem-Cell-Rejuvenation.php
Fat transfers
Seven days after facial fat transfers you are swollen and visibly bruised. Your features will most likely return to normal as swelling subsides.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


text:
Rexel No. 23 Heavy Duty and Tacker Staples
Buy from our online partners:
Product Description
Pack of 1000 staples designed specifically for the Rexel range of heavy duty staplers.
Features and Benefits
- Rexel high quality staples
- Manufactured from Steel to precise standards
- Developed for accurate trouble-free stapling
- Product Size -70x80x22
- Weight -0.173 (kg)


text:
Date Added
More Filters
Housekeepers and Room Attendants
Hampton Inn Peoria - Peoria, AZ
Full and Part time housekeepers needed. Health and Dental Insurance Available.Uniforms provided. Paid time off available after 60 days. Please send your
Caregiver / Personal Care Attendant / Home Health Aide (HHA) - Homecare
ResCare - Scottsdale, AZ
Performing home management functions such as light housekeeping, laundry, bed making, and cleaning. Caregiver Job Description*....
Caregiver/Companion/Personal Care Attendant - HomeCare
ResCare - Phoenix, AZ
Performing home management functions such as light housekeeping, laundry, bed making, and cleaning. Caregiver Job Description*....
Housekeeping/ Room Attendant
La Quinta Inns & Suites - Phoenix, AZ
Previous housekeeping or cleaning experience preferred. Candidates with previous housekeeping or cleaning experience are preferred....
Caregiver/Personal Care Attendant
Cypress HomeCare Solutions - Phoenix, AZ
Caregiver/Personal Care Attendant Benefits:. Caregiver/Personal Care Attendant Job Summary & Responsibilities:....
Room Attendant/Housekeeping
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Chandler Fashion - Chandler, AZ
Pillar Hotels and Resorts is seeking detail oriented, highly motivated Room Attendant candidates preferably with hotel experience....
Caregiver for Elderly
Cerna Healthcare - Phoenix, AZ
The Personal Attendant provides supervision, feeding and dressing for clients who by reason of their advanced age, physical disability, or mental deficiency...
Maintenance Technician/Porter
Downtown Tempe Authority - Tempe, AZ
Equipment service and general housekeeping tasks. Be familiar with all aspects of the operation and cover other duties including cashier, attendant, etc. on an...
Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
MD Home Health - Phoenix, AZ
Personal Homecare Attendant, Caregiver, Care Giver, Home Health Caregiver, Attendant, Attendent, Healthcare, health care, entry level, PCA, caregiver,...
Housekeeping Attendant
Allstaff Services - Phoenix, AZ
| Turndown Attendants | FULL-TIME | TEMP to HIRE |*. Perform any other tasks as assigned by the Assistant Spa Director or Housekeeping Director....


text:
The Blotter
Welcome to The Island's newest feature, The Blotter, which features highlights from the week's crime blotter from the Alameda Police Department. Here ya go …
Wednesday, September 2
RAPE: Alameda Police logs show a rape reported at 10:16 a.m. No further information was listed.
Thursday, September 3
FRAUD: Police arrested an Alameda man on a petty theft charge after the man allegedly stole customer personal identification numbers from the bank where he worked. Police said Omach Javier Torio, 23, of Alameda accessed and used the information while employed at a Wells Fargo bank. The branch was not named. They said Torio surrendered to police at 6 a.m. Thursday. It was not clear if he was being held or on what bail.
Friday, September 4
BURGLARY: Police say a burglar took jewelry and clothing from a townhome in the 200 block of Brush Street, in the Esperanza Housing Complex. They said that sometime between 10 a.m. Thursday and midnight Friday, someone entered the locked home and took the items. No estimate of the value of the items was given, and no suspects were named.
Saturday, September 5
BATTERY: A 54-year-old man was injured in an apparent attack on Lincoln Avenue late Friday night. Police said the victim had been attacked and kicked several times and that he had dried blood on both sides of his face. They said he was unable to clearly articulate what had happened to him. It was not clear if the man was transported to the hospital or what his condition was. A suspect or suspects in the attack were not named.
GRAND THEFT: Scuba equipment valued at more than $1,200 was reported stolen from a cargo van parked in the northern end of Fortmann Marina. The owner told police they believe the equipment was stolen between August 15 and August 29, while they were out of town. Police did not name any suspects.
IDENTITY THEFT: Police said a Haight Street woman was a victim of identity theft. They said an unknown suspect or suspects made two fraudulent charges totaling $79.71 on the victim's credit card account. The victim contacted her card issuer and had the charges removed.
GRAND THEFT: Police received a report of a vehicle break-in on an unnamed block of Versailles Avenue. They said a cell phone, wallet and sunglasses worth $470 were missing from the victim's locked vehicle. No suspects were named.
Sunday, September 6
GRAND THEFT: Police received a report of a stolen laptop at 8:42 a.m. Police said an unknown suspect or suspects smashed the passenger side window of the victim's car, which was parked in the 1500 block of Pacific Avenue, and stole the computer off the front seat.
Monday, September 7
GRAND THEFT: Police received a report of a stolen portable DVD player and wallet from a vehicle parked in the 2900 block of Madison Street. They reported that the vehicle was left unlocked. The stolen items were valued at $910. The suspect or suspects in the theft are unknown.
BURGLARY: Police arrested two women on burglary charges following an alleged theft of merchandise from a store at Alameda Towne Centre. Police said Toni Winters Rogers, 27, of Union City was arrested at 2:43 p.m. on a burglary charge after she allegedly entered a store at the shopping plaza with suspected burglary tools and, police said, left the store without paying for her merchandise. Rogers also had a list of outstanding warrants, according to a police report. A second woman, Jaclyn Elise Mohrbacher, 21, also of Union City, was also charged with burglary in connection with the incident. Police said Mohrbacher was the getaway vehicle driver.
STOLEN VEHICLE: Police received a report of a stolen vehicle in the 2800 block of Clay Street. They said an unknown suspect or suspects stole a black 1999 Jeep Cherokee sometime Sunday or Monday.
BURGLARY: Police received a report of a burglary at a home on Hoover Court. They said someone accessed the victim's locked bedroom and took a computer, a crossbow and a longbow. The suspect or suspects are unknown. Police said the burglary took place between August 31 and September 4. They did not list a value for the missing items.
VANDALISM: Police responded to a call outside Chipman Middle School on Monday that a suspect or suspects vandalized a 2010 white Toyota Siena van. Police said someone scrawled "Burgur Gang B—-" in blue marker on the driver's side passenger door. Police had no suspects in the crime, though the victim said they witnessed several youths standing nearby laughing and telling the victim she needed to get her car washed.
GRAND THEFT: A laptop was reported stolen from a business in the 2500 block of Blanding Avenue. Police said the laptop was stolen from the unlocked photography and art studio while the victim was cooking and performing other tasks. The laptop was valued at $1,800. The police do not yet have suspects in the case.


text:
Country Matters 'I Spy' Spaniel Trinket Tray
- $4.20
This trinket tray from Country Matters has a striking design featuring a heartwarming Spaniel nose poking out from under a fence in a game of 'I Spy'. More »
- Item Is In Stock
- delivery info
- share
This trinket 'I Spy' Spaniel tray is a great item for serving drinks or nibbles. It is very lightweight and easy to care for - simply wipe clean after each use.
These trays make the perfect gift for friends and family - especially for dog lovers - and add the perfect country touch to any home!
|21.cm x 14cm


text: The hotel transport facilities, supporting facilities, warm and comfortable. It is a unique taste, elegant fashion boutique - type economic hotel chain. Our staff will provide a good grade service of reception. Clean and friendly is always being the target of our service.Super 8 Hotel Nanjing Gaochun Qi Pei Cheng is located at No. 46 of Middle Huai De Road, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.80 kms to city centre74 kms to the nearest airport (nanjing lukou international airport)


text:
Occurred on 10/01/12, 12:53 a.m. Driving While Intoxicated 3600 Mendenhall
Police pulled over a black Chevrolet Corvette who failed to stop for a red light and almost struck another vehicle head on. The driver Gilbert Ray Paree, 46, was contacted and appeared to be intoxicated. He was administered Standard Field Sobriety Tests along with a Mandatory Blood Draw when it was discovered he had three prior convictions for DWI.
Paree was arrested and booked at the City Detention Center. He was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More, a 3rd degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Man Charged with Fourth D.W.I.
kiii , KIII 9:37 AM. CDT October 01, 2012
Occurred on 10/01/12, 12:53 a.m. Driving While Intoxicated 3600 Mendenhall
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the
Conversation Guidelines and FAQs
More Stories
Humbling ceremony for Coles, other Pearl Harbor survivorsDec. 8, 2016, 8:12 a.m.
Keeping your home safe from holiday thievesDec. 8, 2016, 4:35 a.m.
Adopt Beth on Paws for PetsDec. 8, 2016, 7:52 a.m.


text:
Home /
Our Sources / About Us
/ FAQs /
Advanced Search
Not what you're
looking for? Try an advanced search.
Official citation and/or docket number and footnotes (if any) for this case available with purchase.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
June 29, 2009
DONALD L. SMITH, PLAINTIFF,v.DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
Plaintiff Donald Smith brings this action against the District of Columbia, Officer Travis Eagan, and three other unknown but named officers ("John Does 1-3") alleging a violation of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Now before the Court is defendant District of Columbia's (the "District") motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). As grounds for its motion, the District argues that Smith's claim is barred by the doctrine of res judicata. In response, Smith asserts that because he did not receive a full and fair opportunity to litigate his constitutional claim in state court, res judicata does not apply. The Court concludes that Smith's federal claim would be precluded under the relevant state law and the prior state court proceedings were not constitutionally inadequate, and hence res judicata applies. The District's motion to dismiss will therefore be granted.
On February 16, 2006, Smith, a regular customer of PNC Bank on 14th Street, N.W. in the District of Columbia, walked towards the bank to speak with a manager. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 10-12. As he was walking, Smith saw police cruisers speeding toward the bank and witnessed Eagan and John Does 1-3, officers of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department ("MPD"), approach and search the area. Id. ¶ 13. A bank robbery had occurred, and a suspect whose description did not match Smith's had fled the scene. Id. ¶¶ 14-15. Smith walked around the police cruisers and waited at a pharmacy nearby, watching the MPD investigate. Id. ¶¶ 16-18. Fifteen to twenty minutes later, Smith walked back toward the bank, again passing by the police cruisers. Id. ¶¶ 18-19. Then, according to Smith, Eagan and John Doe 1 tackled him from behind, choked him, and searched him without provocation or probable cause. Id. ¶¶ 20-23. Smith further alleges that John Does 2 and 3 witnessed the choking and the search, but did not object or attempt to prevent these actions. Id. ¶ 24. Smith asserts that Eagan and John Doe 1 then forcefully marched him to the bank, where employees identified him as a long time customer. Id. ¶¶ 25-26. Despite the employees' identification, however, Eagan and John Doe 1 continued to hold Smith for an additional forty-five minutes. Id. ¶ 27.
On March 6, 2006, Smith filed a complaint with the Office of Police Complaints ("OPC") detailing these events. Id. ¶ 30. Smith's OPC complaint was dismissed on October 26, 2007. Id. While his OPC complaint was still pending, on July 23, 2007, Smith filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia relating to these events and named the MPD as a defendant. District Mem. at 3. Following a motion to dismiss the complaint as non sui juris, Smith amended his complaint on January 28, 2008, naming the District as the defendant. Id. Smith's pro secomplaint, in its entirety, states [t]he District of Columbia Government (via its Metropolitan Police Department) wrongfully detained me and choked me without any probable case [sic]*fn1 on 2/16/2006. As a direct and proximate result of defendant's wrongful act(s), I suffered physical and mental injury, emotional distress and anxiety in the amt of $20,000.00. Under section 12-309 of the D.C. Code, I filed a complaint with the D.C. Office of Risk Management on 8/11/2006 and they never responded. This gave Defendant notice within the statutorily required six months.
District Ex. 1.
On March 11, 2008, the District filed another motion to dismiss, this time arguing that Smith's claims were barred by the one-year statue of limitations for assault and battery. District Mem. at 3. The Superior Court granted the District's motion to dismiss on April 22, 2008, determining that Smith's claims sounded "in assault and battery and false arrest or false imprisonment" and finding that Smith filed his complaint five months beyond the statute of limitations for these common law torts. District Ex. 2. Smith did not appeal this decision. District Reply at 4. Instead, on September 19, 2008, Smith, now represented by counsel, filed a complaint in this Court against the District and four MPD officers pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ("section 1983"), alleging violations of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
Now before the Court is the District's motion to dismiss. The District argues that the dismissal of Smith's Superior Court complaint was a final judgment on the merits. District Mem. at 5-6. Therefore, under the doctrine of res judicata, Smith is precluded from bringing the same cause of action in federal court. Id. at 6-7. Smith responds that res judicata does not apply here because the Superior Court, by failing to address his constitutional claim, deprived him of a full and fair opportunity to litigate his section 1983 claim. Smith Opp'n at 3.
All that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require of a complaint is that it contain "'a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,' in order to 'give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.'" Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)); accord Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 2200 (2007) (per curiam). Although "detailed factual allegations" are not necessary to withstand a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, to provide the "grounds" of "entitle[ment] to relief," a plaintiff must furnish "more than labels and conclusions" or "a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555-56; see also Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986). "To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. ___, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570); Atherton v. District of Columbia Office of the Mayor, --- F.3d ---, 2009 WL 1515373, at *6 (D.C. Cir. 2009). A complaint is plausible on its face "when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949. This amounts to a "two-pronged approach" under which a court first identifies the factual allegations entitled to an assumption of truth and then determines "whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief." Id. at 1950-51.
The notice pleading rules are not meant to impose a great burden on a plaintiff. Dura Pharm., Inc. v. Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 347 (2005); see also Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512-13 (2002). When the sufficiency of a complaint is challenged by a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the plaintiff's factual allegations must be presumed true and should be liberally construed in his or her favor. Leatherman v. Tarrant County Narcotics & Coordination Unit, 507 U.S. 163, 164 (1993); Phillips v. Bureau of Prisons, 591 F.2d 966, 968 (D.C. Cir. 1979); see also Erickson, 127 S.Ct. at 2200 (citing Twombly, 127 S.Ct. at 1965)). The plaintiff must be given every favorable inference that may be drawn from the allegations of fact. Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974); Sparrow v. United Air Lines, Inc., 216 F.3d 1111, 1113 (D.C. Cir. 2000). However, "the court need not accept inferences drawn by plaintiffs if such inferences are unsupported by the facts set out in the complaint." Kowal v. MCI Commc'ns Corp., 16 F.3d 1271, 1276 (D.C. Cir. 1994). Nor does the court accept "a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation," or "naked assertions [of unlawful misconduct] devoid of further factual enhancement." Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949-50 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Aktieselskabet AF 21. November 21 v. Fame Jeans Inc., 525 F.3d 8, 17 n.4 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (explaining that the court has "never accepted legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations").
The doctrine of res judicata precludes the relitigation of any claim that was or could have been brought in a prior action resolved on the merits. Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 94 (1980). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1738, federal courts must give state court judgments the same preclusive effect as would be given by the courts of the state where the judgments emerged, including judgments arising out of section 1983 claims. Migra v. Warren City Sch. Dist., 465 U.S. 75, 81 (1984). "A fundamental precept of common law adjudication," the doctrine of res judicata protects against "expense and vexation attending multiple lawsuits, conserves judicial resources, and fosters reliance on judicial action by minimizing the possibility of inconsistent decisions." Montana v. United States, 440 U.S. 147, 153-54 (1979).
However, a federal court can refuse to grant preclusive effect to a state court judgment if the plaintiff was denied a full and fair opportunity to litigate in state court. Allen, 449 U.S. at 101; Kremer v. Chem. Constr. Corp., 456 U.S. 461, 481 n.22 (1982). To provide a full and fair opportunity to litigate, a state court need only meet the "procedural requirements of due process." Kremer, 456 U.S. at 482 n.24. Therefore, the applicability of res judicata in this case involves a two-pronged analysis: (1) whether D.C. law would give the judgment of the Superior Court preclusive effect, and (2) whether the Superior Court proceedings satisfy minimum due process requirements. See id. at 481-82; Welch v. Johnson, 907 F.2d 714, 719 (7th Cir. 1990).
Under D.C. preclusion law, "a final judgment on the merits of a claim bars relitigation in a subsequent proceeding of the same claim between the same parties or their privies." Patton v. Klein, 746 A.2d 866, 869 (D.C. 1999). "The doctrine [of res judicata] operates to bar in the second action not only claims which were actually raised in the first, but also those arising out of the same transaction which could have been raised." Id. at 870. A "common nucleus of facts," not the legal theory on which the plaintiff relies, defines the scope of a claim for res judicata purposes. Id. In determining the applicability of res judicata, D.C. courts consider "(1) whether the claim was adjudicated finally in the first action; (2) whether the present claim is the same as the claim which was raised or which might have been raised in the prior proceeding; and (3) whether the party against whom the plea is asserted was a party or in privity with a party in the prior case." Id. A dismissal based on statute of limitations satisfies the first of this three-part test. D.C. Super. Ct. R. 41(b) ("Unless the Court in its order for dismissal otherwise specifies, a dismissal under this subdivision and any dismissal not provided for in this Rule, other than a dismissal for lack of jurisdiction, or for failure to join a party under Rule 19, operates as an adjudication upon the merits.").
Under the three-factor test used by D.C. courts, Smith's constitutional cause of action would be precluded by the prior Superior Court judgment. First, the Superior Court's dismissal of Smith's claims on statute of limitations grounds serves as a final judgment on the merits. See D.C. Super. Ct. R. 41(b); District Mem. at 6. Second, Smith's section 1983 claim arises out of the same "common nucleus of facts" -- his interaction with the MPD -- as his state common law claims. District Mem. at 5. Although the parties disagree whether Smith's Superior Court complaint raised a constitutional claim,*fn2 that claim certainly could have been raised in the state court proceeding, satisfying the second part of the test. See Patton, 746 A.2d at 869. Finally, the District is "the party against whom" Smith asserted his claims both in Superior Court and in this case. Am. Compl. ¶ 7; District Ex. 1. Therefore, D.C. law would give the Superior Court's judgment preclusive effect.
Nevertheless, Smith contends that he was denied a full and fair opportunity to litigate his constitutional claim in Superior Court, and that this denial shields him from a dismissal of his federal claim under the doctrine of res judicata. Smith Opp'n at 7. In particular, Smith argues that the Superior Court failed to acknowledge his federal constitutional claim because it based its dismissal on the statute of limitations for common law torts. Id. at 8. According to Smith, the phrase "wrongfully detained me and choked me without probable [cause]" raises a constitutional claim. Id. at 5. However, the Supreme Court in Kremer v. Chemical Construction Corp. made clear that to provide a full and fair opportunity to litigate, "state proceedings need do no more than satisfy the minimum procedural requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause." 456 U.S. at 481. In this case, there is no indication that the Superior Court procedures were constitutionally deficient. While the Superior Court's decision did not allude to Smith's constitutional claim, "[c]courts' opinions typically address explicitly only those contentions they believe are substantial enough to warrant such treatment [and] state courts' opinions' failure to mention plaintiff's federal constitutional arguments means only that those courts did not consider the arguments substantial." Clark v. Clark, 984 F.2d 272, 273 (8th Cir. 1993); see also Winters v. Lavine, 574 F.2d 46, 61 (2d Cir. 1978) ("[I]t is entirely possible for a court to consider and reject a particular claim presented to it without any express discussion of or allusion to that claim."); Sparks v. Kim, No. 4:98-0134, 1998 WL 911832, at *4 (N.D. Miss. Nov. 30, 1998) (citing Clark and noting that despite no explicit acknowledgment of plaintiff's federal constitutional claims in state court, res judicata applies). Hence, even assuming that Smith raised a constitutional claim by referencing probable cause, the Superior Court's failure to mention that claim does not establish the requisite lack of due process needed to defeat a res judicata defense.*fn3
Finally, Smith failed to appeal the Superior Court's dismissal of his claims within the D.C. court system. District Reply at 4. A plaintiff's failure "to avail himself of the full procedures provided by state law does not constitute a sign of their inadequacy." Kremer, 456 U.S. at 485, see also Lolling v. Patterson, 966 F.2d 230, 236 (7th Cir. 1992) (A plaintiff "cannot argue that he was not provided a full and fair opportunity to litigate the claim where he failed to properly seek appellate review."); Sparks, 1998 WL 911832, at *5 ("If plaintiff's counsel was concerned that the state court had not addressed the federal claims, counsel had available the mechanisms of" additional state court procedures.). Here, Smith could have appealed the Superior Court's dismissal of his complaint and argued that his constitutional claim had been improperly ignored. His failure to do so, however, does not signal the constitutional inadequacy of the Superior Court proceedings nor does it provide a shield from the preclusive effect of the Superior Court's judgment. Therefore, the Court will grant the District's motion to dismiss and the District will be dismissed from this case as a party defendant.
The doctrine of res judicata precludes Smith's section 1983 claim against the District in this case and, accordingly, the Court will grant the District's motion to dismiss. A separate Order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
Our website includes the main text of the court's opinion but does not include the
docket number, case citation or footnotes. Upon purchase, docket numbers and/or
citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a legal proceeding.
Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision.
Official citation and/or docket number and footnotes (if any) for this case available with purchase.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
LRC, Inc. About Us


text:
Home /
Our Sources / About Us
/ FAQs /
Advanced Search
Not what you're
looking for? Try an advanced search.
Official citation and/or docket number and footnotes (if any) for this case available with purchase.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
decided: April 17, 1979.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIAv.GLEN D. BERRY, APPELLANT
No. 142 March Term, 1977, Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County, Criminal Division, No. 2032 of 1975.
Marilyn C. Zilli, Assistant Public Defender, Harrisburg, for appellant.
Marion E. MacIntyre, Second Assistant District Attorney, Harrisburg, for Commonwealth, appellee.
Jacobs, President Judge, and Hoffman, Cercone, Price, Van der Voort, Spaeth and Hester, JJ. Van der Voort, J., dissents. Hester, J., files a dissenting statement. Jacobs, former President Judge, and Hoffman, J., did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case.
[ 265 Pa. Super. Page 321]
On February 3, 1976, appellant was found guilty of theft by unlawful taking*fn1 following a non-jury trial. Post-trial motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment were denied. Appellant's sole assertion on appeal is that the court below erred in refusing to suppress physical evidence uncovered by a parole officer and admitted at trial. We are constrained to agree with appellant, and therefore reverse the court below and order a new trial.
The pertinent facts are the following. On August 18, 1975, Parole Officer Connie Briggs of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole received a telephone call at approximately 10:00 p. m., from one Frank Bagshaw, Jr., an employee of Automotive Warehouse, Inc. Mr. Bagshaw revealed that he knew the location of a garage containing items stolen by appellant from Automotive Warehouse. At that time, appellant was under supervision by the Board of Probation and Parole, specifically under Agent Ray Dadigan's supervision, not that of Agent Briggs. Nevertheless, because Agent Briggs was unable to locate Dadigan, he arranged to meet Mr. Bagshaw and, with backup support from two Harrisburg policemen, proceeded to investigate Bagshaw's story.
Appellant leased two of five adjoining garages owned by Michael Johnson, who unlocked the garage door and admitted Briggs and party. Inside, a two and one-half hour inspection ensued, during which $7,600 worth of stolen automotive parts was uncovered. Detective Martin Lesko of the Harrisburg Police Department was called to the scene. On the basis of information received from Messrs. Briggs and Bagshaw, a nighttime search warrant was secured. The goods were subsequently identified as those stolen from Automotive Warehouse, and provided the basis for appellant's arrest and ultimate conviction.
[ 265 Pa. Super. Page 322]
The issue before us is the legality of the initial search. Unless that intrusion is found to pass constitutional muster, the seizure based on the subsequently obtained warrant must also fail. Based exclusively on information derived from the initial search, the warrant would have produced only poisonous fruit. Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 83 S.Ct. 407, 9 L.Ed.2d 441 (1963).
In Commonwealth v. Brown, 240 Pa. Super. 190, 361 A.2d 846 (1976), this court was faced with an issue of first impression in this Commonwealth, i. e., the province of a parole officer, in performing his normal duties, to search a parolee's premises sans warrant. In that case, a manufacturing company reported the theft of a television set, stereo receiver, speakers and tapes. Later, a counselor at a community treatment center told the appellant's parole officer that the appellant had the stolen goods in his home. During his next visit to the parolee's home, the agent saw a television set and stereo system. After receiving a detailed description of the goods from the company, the agent informed the company that he believed the appellant had committed the burglary, and the company decided to press charges. The parole agent requested that two police officers accompany him to the appellant's home. The group was admitted to the apartment by a woman; the stolen goods were immediately identified by the manufacturing company; and the appellant was arrested.
The Brown majority reversed the lower court and ordered suppression because, even though it determined that a person's fourth amendment rights are diminished when one is on parole, it found that the agent had gone beyond his role as a parole agent. The court declared that:
"The basis for holding that a parolee has diminished Fourth Amendment rights is the necessity for an agent to have free access to supervise the parolee. . . . We, therefore, agree that when performing his normal duties, a parole agent is not required to obtain a search warrant. . . . [However] once the rationale that justifies informal
[ 265 Pa. Super. Page 323]
treatment of parolees [ i. e., free access to facilitate supervision of the parolee] ceases, the parolee's Fourth Amendment rights must be given full consideration." Id., 240 Pa. Super. at 197-98, 361 A.2d at 849-50.
The majority indicated that the parole officer had adequate information after his initial visit and that he should have acquired a warrant. However, by calling in police and involving a witness who wanted to press charges, the agent had "switched hats" and "the administrative justification that generally permitted him to avoid acquisition of a warrant was no longer applicable." Id., 240 Pa. Super. at 198, 361 A.2d at 850.*fn2
The facts instantly differ dramatically from those in Brown, and we find that the fruits of the search here should have been suppressed.
There was no "routine" element to Agent Briggs's investigation. First and foremost, he was not even the agent assigned to appellant's supervision, but had, apparently, merely spoken to Agent Dadigan once in regard to appellant. This visit was not undertaken by Agent Briggs at appellant's residence in an effort to visit with the parolee or monitor his activities. Rather, this agent, having made no attempt to locate appellant, went to the lessor of the secured garage to gain admittance. Although the Commonwealth urges us to view the police in this case as "passive actors," there was testimony that the group "combed" through the garage contents for two to two and one-half hours, until the
[ 265 Pa. Super. Page 324]
early hours of the following morning, prior to obtaining a search warrant.
Society's interest in protection and rehabilitation, which is sufficient to permit a diminishment of a parolee's fourth amendment protection, is not so broad in scope as to permit total disregard for the panoply of a parolee's fourth amendment rights. Exceptions to the requirement that searches are to be conducted with a warrant are to be drawn narrowly. Commonwealth v. Cooper, 240 Pa. Super. 477, 362 A.2d 1041 (1976). Certainly, the exception which this court countenanced in Commonwealth v. Brown, supra, must be circumscribed by the rationale which wrought it. The search in the instant case was conducted in blatant disregard for appellant's privacy rights and cannot be justified under our decision in Brown.*fn3
Judgment of sentence is vacated and a new trial ordered.
Statement by HESTER, Judge, dissenting:
I dissent. I would affirm the judgment of sentence of the court below.
Our website includes the main text of the court's opinion but does not include the
docket number, case citation or footnotes. Upon purchase, docket numbers and/or
citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a legal proceeding.
Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision.
Official citation and/or docket number and footnotes (if any) for this case available with purchase.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
LRC, Inc. About Us


text: From † $4,285 $2,095 Departing 03 Dec 2016 Call to book 1866 689 8611 OR Request a call Mail me this brochure Home> River Cruises > Europe (multi-country) > Gems of the Seine & Beautiful Bordeaux Currently viewing to Itinerary Pricing & Availability Extensions & Options Our Ships All Inclusive Before You Go Itinerary Pricing & Availability Extensions & Options Our Ships All Inclusive Before You Go River Cruise Start / Finish Enrich Freechoice Overnight stay Land content Land / Rail Tour code Duration days Departure city Return city Day 1 | Highlights: Welcome reception Enjoy a welcome dinner before cruising out with the beautiful city of Paris as a backdrop. Day 2 | Les Andelys Highlights: Cider and beauty Enjoy the opulent amenities of your floating hotel as she glides her way peacefully through the Île-de-France region to Les Andelys. Day 3 | Les Andelys > Rouen Highlights: Joan of Arc sites This morning we wake in Rouen. Day 4 | Rouen Highlights: Somme battlefields Experience what the Somme battlefields might have been like for those caught up in this terrible World War I battle, which claimed the lives of more than 150,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers. This full-day excursion commemorates the 101 years since, and includes a visit to the Australian National Memorial and Victoria School in Villers-Bretonneux. Alternatively, explore the collection of Impressionistic paintings, including masterpieces by Renoir and Monet, at the Museum of Fine Arts, which was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte. Day 5 | Rouen > Honfleur Highlights: Sundowners at Manoir d'Appreval You'll love cruising toward the open waters of the English Channel, so simply sit back and enjoy the trip. Day 6 | Honfleur Highlights: Normandy D-Day beaches Walk the historic Normandy beaches, the site of the D-Day landings, before visiting the Landing Museum at Arromanches. You'll be struck by the sombre ambience surrounding the 9,387 graves of the Normandy Cemetery and whilst there, take a moment to reflect on the momentous impact of that day, as you look out from your hilltop position above Omaha Beach. Alternatively, explore Normandy's famous Calvados Route, and delight in the many charming villages that dot the landscape. It's also a great opportunity to sample the region's famous varietals. Day 7 | Honfleur > Caudebec-en-Caux Highlights: Enrich dinner at Benedictine Palace, Fécamp With steep limestone cliffs that plunge dramatically towards the emerald waters of the English Channel below, the beauty of the Alabaster Coast will leave you breathless. Sitting proudly atop this dramatic seascape is the town of Etretat, where you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour and time at leisure. Alternatively, travel to the hilltop village of Bolbec and view fabrics at the fascinating Textile Museum before visiting the Normand Traditions Museum nearby. Or visit the new Seine Museum for an insight into this fascinating river system. For the more adventurous, join a guided cycling tour to the charming village of Villequier and visit the Victor Hugo Museum. Day 8 | Caudebec-en-Caux > Vernon Highlights: Monet's house & gardens, Giverny In a region rich in visual treasures, enjoy a full morning of relaxation and take in the incredible scenery as you cruise into Vernon. It's easy to understand why this region of France inspired beautiful paintings by many of history's most famous artists. Day 9 | Vernon > Conflans > Paris Highlights: Chantilly Castle This morning we cruise to the charming medieval town of Conflans, with its distinctive barge houses docked within easy reach of the quaint main square. Day 10 | Paris Highlights: Palace of Vicomte Today you have the thrilling choice of either spending time exploring France's most celebrated city, or a discovery beyond the city limits. Day 11 | Paris > Bordeaux Highlights: Welcome Reception Traverse the World Heritage-listed landscapes of the Loire Valley in style aboard the TGV to Bordeaux. Your friendly crew will welcome you on board the luxurious Scenic Diamond for your cruise through France's celebrated southwestern pocket. Day 12 | Bordeaux > Saint-Émilion Highlights: Sundowners at Château Siaurac Enjoy a relaxing morning on board as you cruise in style into the beautiful 13th century port of Libourne. Whilst cruising, perhaps drop into Scenic Culinaire for a French cooking class. You'll spend the afternoon in the nearby town of Saint-Émilion, an absolute visual feast and the jewel of this ancient wine growing region. You'll also get to explore the underground catacombs of the Monolithic Church – a true trip highlight.SundownersCelebrate the two thousand-year history of wine by enjoying a glass at the exclusive estate of Château Siaurac. Boasting a glorious château and garden that has been recognised as a national heritage site in France due to the significance of the estate's architectural and cultural heritage, the sheer tranquillity of this picturesque property is captivating. The vines glow red and gold at sunset, and with a glass of the estate's vintage in hand whilst a local guitarist provides an acoustic soundtrack, it really is hard to imagine a more elegant way to enjoy this beautiful region. Day 13 | Libourne > Pauillac Highlights: Foie Gras in Bergerac Awake in charming Libourne.Freechoice: Enjoy a guided tour of Libourne and view its quaint 16th century town-house and Gothic church. Alternatively, explore the exclusive estate of Château Franc Mayne and taste its Grand Cru Class wine, or view the eclectic city of Bergerac and enjoy foie gras tasting at a charming local farm.After your afternoon at leisure, opt to enhance your culinary prowess in Scenic Culinaire or simply soak in the riverside panoramas while cruising to Pauillac. Enjoy an evening of fabulous local entertainment on board tonight. Day 14 | Médoc Highlights: Enrich dinner and concert at Château Giscours Travel the scenic Médoc wine route today and discover why this region is viewed as the world's leading red wine producer. Afterwards, sample the region's finest at the Château Gruaud-Larose estate, or cycle to Château Lagrange, featured on Napoleon III's 1855 Classification, for a wine tasting.EnrichThe spectacular Médoc countryside boasts many fine aristocratic châteaux but none more opulent than Château Giscours. You'll be escorted to the charming 18th century Farm Suzanne on the Giscours estate to enjoy unforgettable four-course dining with Grand Cru Class wines and live musicians performing classical masterpieces for your enjoyment. A truly wondrous evening. Day 15 | Pauillac > Cadillac Highlights: Full day cruising Soak in the Garonne River vistas as you spend a luxurious full day aboard the Scenic Diamond. Cruising the picturesque landscapes of the Garonne River into Cadillac provides some of the most beautiful scenic cruising in all of the Bordeaux region. Whilst cruising you may choose to implement your cooking skills with a lesson in Scenic Culinaire. This remarkable space comes to life when fabulous local entertainers perform live in the Panorama Lounge for your exclusive enjoyment this evening. Day 16 | Cadillac Highlights: Roquetaillade Castle Venture into the Sauternes region for a tasting of the prestigious Château Guiraud dessert wines. Alternatively, cycle through the rolling vineyards of Sauternes to the Grand Cru Class estate of Château Myrat for a tasting.Freechoice: Remain on board and join a master class in French cuisine in Scenic Culinaire. Or visit Roquetaillade Castle, founded by Charlemagne it's one of the region's most impressive historic sites and you'll tour it with the family that now lives within its walls. Alternatively, discover the medieval village of Saint Macaire, or perhaps enjoy a 12 kilometre roundtrip hike from Cadillac to the neighbouring village of Loupiac. Day 17 | Bordeaux Highlights: Shop with a Chef Freechoice: Shop with a Chef at a local food market and cook up a storm in Scenic Culinaire afterwards. Or enjoy a guided tour of Bordeaux and her many attractions. For the more energetic, cycle the historic regions of Bordeaux. Cross beautiful bridges to witness sites such as the Royal Gate and the Palais Rohan, before cycling through public gardens back to the luxury of your floating hotel.A city that exudes atmospheric charm, you'll enjoy a full afternoon at leisure to immerse yourself in the culture of the Bordelais. Enjoy a special dinner on board showcasing regional delicacies before an illuminations cruise on the Garonne River. A fabulous local soloist will perform live in the Panorama Lounge tonight. What a magical evening. Day 18 | Arcachon > Bourg Highlights: Arcachon Bay and surrounds Situated on the northern tip of Europe's longest coastal beach, Arcachon is the jewel of France's western coastline.Freechoice: For those fancying something sweet, why not stay on board and enjoy a fabulous Mademoiselle de Margaux chocolate and wine pairing event in Scenic Culinaire. Alternatively, explore Le Teich Bird Reserve, home to over 250 bird species. Or climb Europe's largest sand dune and drink in the expansive panoramas. You may choose instead to join a walking tour of Arcachon including the local Baltard market.In the afternoon, cruise leisurely into Bourg and, in the evening, enjoy a lively jazz performance on board. Day 19 | Cognac Highlights: Tasting at Rémy-Martin property Today explore the unique northern shores of the Gironde Estuary.Freechoice: Discover the Carriages Museum in the enchanting Bourg Castle including a visit to the 16th century passageway to the guards rooms and immense WWII oil tanks. Alternatively, spend a full day exploring the fortified town of Cognac, renowned for its production of fine brandy. Afterwards, enjoy a tasting at the acclaimed property of Rémy Martin.This afternoon, unwind on the Sun Deck cruising on the Gironde River into the historic port of Blaye. Day 20 | Blaye > Bordeaux Highlights: Cycle the Captain's Road Discover the remarkable Blaye region, established to protect the Bordeaux region from invasion.Freechoice: Stroll through the charming Citadel of Blaye, or join a 30 kilometre roundtrip cycle along the Captain's Road which is so named in honour of the WWI Captain's who chose to purchase their homes along this beautiful stretch of waterway in the early 20th century.You'll have the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive cooking class in Scenic Culinaire or simply relax on board as we cruise past beautiful uninhabited islands bound for Bordeaux. Dine in style at the Captain's farewell dinner on board this evening. Day 21 | Bordeaux Highlights: Farewell Disembark after breakfast, with memories of a truly unforgettable journey. Then transfer to Bordeaux Airport or Bordeaux Train Station. Select a month below to see all departures. If you have a potential group of ten or more passengers: Please contact our Groups Department at 1866 689 8611 or by email firstname.lastname@example.com Request a call To book, call your professional travel agent or Scenic at 1866 689 8611. Email yourself a copy of your selected cabin and quote. Your email Please enter a valid email address Submit If you would like Scenic to call you about making a booking, please fill out the below: Prefix Mr Mrs Ms Miss Dr Professor Other Plesae select Your first name Please enter your first name Your last name Please enter your last name Your Email address (optional) Please enter a valid email address Your phone number Please enter your phone number Submit Extensions Our 5-Star ships Scenic Diamond Scenic Diamond Sail the waterways of France on board Scenic Diamond and enjoy lavish interiors and new features in 2017 including a vitality pool, Scenic Cullinaire and the Royal Owner's Suite. Features Sun Deck Diamond Deck Sapphire Deck Take a virtual tour Explore the suites View the image gallery Scenic Gem Scenic Gem Scenic Gem sails the beautiful rivers of France and delivers the same all-inclusive luxury experience synonymous with the new fleet of Scenic 'Space-Ships'. Enjoy a private butler service, a wealth of dining venue options including L'Amour fine dining restaurant and spacious suites. Features Sun Deck Diamond Deck Sapphire Deck Take a virtual tour Explore the suites View the image gallery All-inclusive luxuryyou won't find anywhere else. The full list of inclusions † This price is based on the lowest priced room available across all dates and ships for this tour. All prices are per person, based on twin-share. Quote for: Your quote has been emailed to you! If you would like to be contacted by one of our dedicated and friendly reservations consultants, please complete the booking form. Your selected brochures: Where would you like your brochures mailed to? First name * Please enter your first name Last name * Please enter your last name Email address * Please enter a valid email address Street address 1 * Please enter your address Street address 2 City * Please enter your city Province * Please select Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland Nova Scotia Northwest Territories Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territory Please enter your province Postal code * Please enter your postcode Country * Canada Other... We need to redirect you to the Scenic Tours website for your country. Please select your country of residence: Australia & New Zealand United Kingdom USA and rest of the world Where did you hear about Scenic? * Where did you hear about Scenic? Are you a travel agent? No Yes Are you a travel agent? Agency name Please enter your agency name IATA number Please enter your IATA number Quantity Please enter a quantity I would like to receive information, offers, and up-to-date product news by: Email Mail Phone Phone number * Please enter your phone number 10/12/2016 14:42:08.775


text:
The new home of
21 reviews
Easy access to Border towns
With views over the Moorfoot hills, this spacious, detached holiday cottage has been crafted from original farm buildings. Edinburgh is just 16 miles away with particularly easy access using the park & ride. Explore Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the cobbles of the Royal Mile and the thoroughfares of the New Town. Enjoy theatres, clubs, restaurants, art galleries and shops. Fishing and hill walking locally, with golf at Torwoodlee, 14 miles, and mountain bike trails for every level in Glentress Forest, 20 miles. Good access to the Border towns of Melrose and Kelso with their ancient abbeys, historic houses and gardens. Local shopping in Stow, 7 miles, with main shopping in Galashiels, 15 miles. Braehill House has a timber deck running along the front which can be accessed from each of the main living areas opening with a sliding wall from the dining area, and a sheltered, private, enclosed courtyard garden as well as a swimming pool and games room give endless entertainment, and the very spacious living areas with air conditioning provide both quiet and social spaces. Shop, pub and restaurant 7 miles.
Ground floor: Living room/dining area with 3 steps and wooden floor/kitchen. Second living room. Snug. Utility room. Games room. 1 double (5ft) bedroom with en-suite shower room. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet. Open-tread stairs to galleried seating area. First floor: 2 double bedrooms. Second staircase to first floor: 3 bedrooms: 2 double, one with en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath, double shower cubicle and toilet, one with sloping ceiling, 1 twin. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
Woodburner in living room and second living room (initial fuel included). Oil central heating, electric underfloor central heating (in living/dining room/kitchen, November-March), gas, electricity, bed linen and towels included. Travel cot. High chair. Six satellite TVs. CD. Electric and gas hobs. Electric ovens. Microwave. Washing machine. Two dishwashers. Fridge/freezer. Wi-fi. Enclosed garden with patio, terrace and furniture. Large shared garden and children's play area. Barbecue. Ample parking. Cycle store. Indoor heated, private swimming pool (7m x 4m). Games room with pool table, table football and air hockey. No smoking. NB: Pond and 6 steps in shared garden.
Looking for something with a little more?
cottages.com is a trading name of Wyndham Vacation Rentals (UK) Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Spring Mill, Stoney Bank Road, Earby, Lancashire,BB94 0AA, UK
Company Registration Number 00965389. VAT Registration Number: GB 598 22 99 77
Subscribe to our latest Deals & offers
cottages.com is the new home of cottages4you (Cottages for You).
cottages.com is a trading name of Wyndham Vacation Rentals (UK) Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Spring Mill, Stoney Bank Road, Earby, Lancashire,BB94 0AA, UK
Company Registration Number 00965389. VAT Registration Number: GB 598 22 99 77


text:
- Worldwide Rank #43,738,313
- Follower/Following Ratio 0.26
- Daily New Followers 0
Breeannajane Twitter Stats
@00Breeanna - Tracking Breeannajane Twitter profile since October 1, 2012
'Im half a heart without you.'
Breeannajane Tweets
@00Breeanna has posted 174 tweets in the last 10 days, which translates to an average of 17.4 tweets per day.
Breeannajane Twitter Followers
@00Breeanna has 130 followers on Twitter.
This account is #43,738,313 in the worldwide rank of the most popular Twitter users.
Breeannajane Following on Twitter
@00Breeanna is following 500 Twitter accounts.
Last month this account followed 66 users.
Breeannajane Predictions & Milestones
@00Breeanna will hit 123 followers in the next 3 months, and 102 in one year.
You are on Breeannajane's Twitter stats page
We track these Twitter stats since October 1, 2012 . You can see how many followers Breeannajane lost or gained and what the prediction is for tomorrow or the next 15 days, together with all kinds of other stats like rank compared to all Twitter users, tweets etc.
Why don't you give it a try and compare Breeannajane to yourself ? Or if you are Breeannajane get even more feature rich & up-to-date stats with our premium Twitter Stats.
Twitter Counter is the #1 Twitter stats site powered by Twitter. It all started in June 12, 2008 and we grew rather rapidly because of our Twitter Counter badge. The button is a nice small image that shows your visitors how many followers you have on Twitter. Within a year the button was on many many blogs around the world and we displayed more than 100 million buttons in one month. We track follower stats for over 180 million users now.