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Drug consumption rooms provide a hygienic and supervised space for users to inject or otherwise consume illicitly-obtained drugs, the overarching aim being to reduce or eliminate public injecting and its adverse effects on the environment, public order, and the health of drug users. Evidence does not support concerns that drug consumption rooms might encourage drug use, delay treatment entry, or aggravate problems arising from local drug markets, suggesting instead that they facilitate safer drug use, increase access to health and social services, and reduce public drug use and associated nuisance. However, cutting across the grain of prohibitionist policies, they remain highly controversial.
There are an estimated 90 facilities across Europe, Canada and Australia, with intermittent calls to see them extended to the UK. In areas blighted by a 'perfect storm' of visible injecting scenes, discarded paraphernalia, and injecting-related overdose and deaths, could drug consumption rooms which provide an alternative to public injecting be part of the solution?
Also known as 'medically supervised injecting centres', 'safe injecting facilities', 'safe injecting sites', 'drug injection rooms', and 'drug fixing rooms', drug consumption rooms are legally sanctioned spaces where people can bring their own pre-obtained drugs, and either inject them or inhale them using sterile equipment under the supervision of nurses or other medical professionals illustration. They are distinct from illegal 'shooting galleries' run for profit by drug dealers, low-threshold hostel or housing services that tolerate drug use among residents but provide no medical supervision, and programmes which prescribe pharmaceutical heroin (diamorphine) for consumption by their patients under medical supervision (1,2).
Though there are no official drug consumption rooms in the UK, until the 1970s there were informal, ad hoc facilities including the 'fixing rooms' of London's Hungerford and Community Drug Projects, and Blenheim in west London which had a toilet where people routinely injected. These stopped running primarily due to the knock-on effects of people using barbiturates, a sedative which can result in 'drunken' behaviour. The increased risk of overdose, and aggressive, chaotic and violent behaviour, meant that staff felt unable to support users safely and felt disillusioned at the facilities becoming 'crash pads' for people turning up already stoned.
The first officially approved supervised consumption room opened in Basle, Switzerland in 1986. Rooms were introduced in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1990s, and in Spain, Australia and Canada in the early 2000s. As of February 2016, there were: 31 facilities in 25 cities in the Netherlands; 24 in 15 cities in Germany; 12 in three cities in Spain; one in Norway and one in Luxembourg (with both countries planning to open second facilities in 2016); five in three cities in Denmark; and 12 in eight cities in Switzerland map. Outside Europe there is one facility in Sydney, Australia and one in Vancouver, Canada.
Today's drug consumption rooms tackle the harms associated with injecting, but some also host clients who smoke crack cocaine, heroin or other drugs. The latter are found across the Netherlands, and in increasing numbers across Germany and Switzerland. Most rooms are integrated into existing, easy-access (or 'low threshold') services, for example for drug users or homeless people. Their 'survival-orientated' services include food, clothing and showers, needle exchange, counselling, and activity programmes. Less common are facilities exclusively for drug consumption room users, which offer a narrower range of services directly related to supervised consumption (1,2). Spain, Germany and Denmark have mobile facilities offering a more flexible service (ie, going where the users are) but with limited capacity.
In 2016 a pilot drug consumption room reportedly opened in Paris near a busy central station where drug crime is common. Annual running costs are estimated at £1.1m, and close to 200 visitors are expected daily. For France's health minister it was "a very important moment in the battle against the blight of addiction", but for a politician from the centre-right opposition, the country was "moving from a policy of risk reduction to a policy of making drugs an everyday, legitimate thing. The state is saying 'You can't take drugs, but we'll help you to do so anyway'" – wildly differing perspectives on the same facility.
Evidence of the need for and impacts of drug consumption rooms tends to be divided into "public harms which affect communities, such as discarded syringes in public parks and toilets", and "private harms which affect individuals, such as overdose death and blood-borne viruses". The extent to which each justifies the introduction of drug consumption rooms differs from country to country. Overdose deaths were a key driving force in Norway, Spain, Canada and Switzerland, while public nuisance and local concerns about drugtaking in public places were important in Canada and pivotal in the Netherlands.
Some open drug scenes have become infamous, notably Sherman Park in New York, mythologised in the 1970s film The Panic in Needle Park starring Al Pacino, and Platzspitz Park in Zurich, which drew worldwide attention in the 1980s after a decision to allow illegal drug use and dealing there resulted in chaotic scenes of mud and used needles, and an influx of 20,000 users from across Europe.
Less extreme examples of public injecting are a reality in many cities and towns, including in the UK, where of the estimated 356,593 problem drug users in 2006, in England alone about 117,000 were injecting. Yet the same year the Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms concluded that while there were "high levels of injecting drug use in particular areas of the UK, these did not appear to be associated with the sort of extensive public injecting that had been instrumental in the setting up of some of the European [drug consumption rooms]".
The lesser salience of public injecting in the UK probably reflects several factors: visibility (eg, proximity to places such as shopping centres, tourist locations), concentration (the accumulation of drugtaking in particular areas or micro-locations), number of people and the scale of the associated problems, and the profile of the affected drug users. The extent to which local residents and businesses support drug consumption rooms largely depends on the extent to which they see public injecting as a problem in their area. It means that just as there is visibility, there is invisibility too: public injecting problems may be obscured, particularly when confined to a pocket of a city already deprived and neglected, or when it primarily affects deeply marginalised ('hidden from sight') groups, such as those who are homeless.
In turn this means that people and places most in need of drug consumption rooms may not be seen as a priority. Homeless drug users are the prime example. Drink and drug problems disproportionately affect people who are homeless; compared to the general population, if you are homeless there is a far greater chance of experiencing these problems, of injecting drugs, and of dying as a consequence of substance use (1,2,3). Homeless people die on average 30 years before the general population, and a third of these deaths are related to drink and drugs. Homeless injectors would likely be a core demographic of drug consumption rooms due to links between homelessness and high-risk behaviours (such as public injecting, sharing injecting equipment, and poor injecting hygiene), and because unstable housing can preclude or hinder treatment and recovery.
Very few studies in the UK have investigated the extent of public injecting despite location having a significant impact on hygiene, safety and public nuisance. One study found that "public injecting is very common among drug users accessing syringe exchange facilities". Of 398 surveyed at needle exchanges in Glasgow, Leeds and London, 42% said they had injected at least once in public areas, including toilets, streets and parks. This proportion increased with housing instability; while 24% living in their own accommodation had injected in public in the past week, among hostel residents the figure was 49%, and among rough sleepers, 98%. In 2005, 84% of attendees surveyed at five needle exchanges in London and Leeds said they would use a drug consumption room if one was available.
Harm reduction advocate Nigel Brundson spent a day walking around Birmingham, photographing evidence of public injecting. He visited three known injecting areas: two were waste-grounds next to car parks, one a main walkway in the centre of town. His images show the ground covered in injecting equipment and general waste, needles alongside garbage and human excrement – in this environment, it would be very difficult to inject in a sterile way images. Aggravated by the risk of being overlooked by the public or police, hasty unsafe injecting seems more than likely. "No one 'chooses' to inject in these spaces, this is where the most desperate people in our society have been driven", comments Mr Brundson. Alluding to the human cost of not having safe injecting facilities, he argues while these are "almost always deemed as 'controversial' ... this isn't the case; the controversial approach would be to not have these spaces."
At least since the turn of the millennium, drug consumption rooms have on several occasions been seriously considered in the UK, primarily in response to heroin injecting.
In 2002, a Home Affairs Select Committee on drugs policy recommended that "an evaluated pilot programme of safe injecting houses for [illicit] heroin users [be] established without delay and that if, as we expect, this is successful, the programme is extended across the country". Alongside this the committee recommended an evaluation of diamorphine prescribing for heroin addiction. To support both, the committee recommended "[reviewing] Section 9A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with a view to repealing it, to allow for the provision of drugs paraphernalia which reduces the harm caused by drugs", and "[amending] Section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 … to ensure that drugs agencies can conduct harm reduction work and provide safe injecting areas for users without fear of being prosecuted".
The 'New Labour' government rejected the recommendation for drug consumption rooms, expressing a number of concerns:
• Potential for public confusion between drug consumption rooms and existing supervised heroin prescribing pilots.
• Potential for drug consumption rooms to be perceived as inconsistent with the government's commitment to being "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime".
• Potential for the government to be accused by the media and others of opening 'drug dens'.
• Being open to legal challenges.
They also said evidence was insufficient to justify implementation – not entirely relevant, as the recommendation was for a pilot to generate evidence in the UK context.
In 2004 the British Medical Journal published a paper arguing that "the case for piloting supervised injecting centres in the United Kingdom is strong", and that its rejection should be overturned. The authors reasoned that the supervised heroin prescribing scheme endorsed by the Home Office and drug consumption rooms would appeal to, and benefit, different groups – the former, long-term heroin addicts who have not responded to traditional treatment, the latter, people who are socially excluded and homeless: "neither is a panacea and … holistic provision should include both".
Why did the British government say 'Yes' to expanding heroin prescription, approving a trial of three heroin prescription maintenance clinics in London, Brighton, and Darlington between 2005 and 2007, yet say 'No' to drug consumption rooms?
John Kingdon's influential Multiple Streams Theory suggests policy tends to get made in brief windows of opportunity, when three separate streams align: problems; policy options; and political circumstances diagram. Analysts have argued that political conditions were "not ripe for drug consumption rooms" during New Labour. The government believed their future electoral success largely depended on being (and appearing to voters as) "tough on crime". Drug consumption rooms risked appearing to condone the use of illegally bought drugs. Supervised heroin prescribing, on the other hand, could be framed as "tough on crime", circumventing the need for patients to commit acquisitive crimes to fund dependent heroin use. At this time, even had there been high quality evidence of the effectiveness of drug consumption rooms, it would still have been unlikely to influence policy – it was politically unviable.
Asked about drug consumption rooms as leader of the Conservative opposition and a member of the 2002 select committee, David Cameron said: "Anything that helps get addicts off the streets is worth looking at". When in government, in 2013 his administration issued a flat-out refusal to consider them: "The Government has no plans to allow drug consumption rooms." The 2010 election of David Cameron's Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition closed the policy window for both drug consumption rooms and diamorphine maintenance. Current Prime Minister Theresa May leads a majority Conservative government, and it is improbable that she will risk alienating supporters with controversial drug policies.
The next time drug consumption rooms came under review in the UK was in 2006 by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms made up of senior police officers, senior academics, GP consultant, and a barrister specialising in drug offences. It noted that the evidence base had grown since the UK government had rejected the idea, and concluded that drug consumption rooms should be piloted:
"The [Independent Working Group] considers [drug consumption rooms] to be a rational and overdue extension to the harm reduction policy that has produced substantial individual and public benefits in the UK. They offer a unique and promising way to work with the most problematic users, in order to reduce the risk of overdose, improve their health and lessen the damage and costs to society."
The response to the Independent Working Group report was warm, but the proposition was rejected. The concerns described above were still perceived to stand.
Cities have often taken the lead in continental Europe, and in Britain too, they have not simply accepted the central government's position. In 2012 an Independent Drugs Commission was set up in Brighton, prompted by a call from a local Green Party MP. The city had an unenviable reputation for generating one of the nation's highest rates of drug-related mortality. The following year the commission agreed that "where it is not possible to stop users from taking risks, it is better that they have access to safe, clean premises, rather than administer drugs on the streets or in residential settings." Brighton's Safe in the City Partnership should, they recommended, consider the feasibility of incorporating "consumption rooms into the existing range of drug treatment services in the city," focusing on 'hard-to-reach' groups and those not engaged in treatment.
The feasibility study was undertaken, but in 2014 the commission's final report concluded "that a consumption room was not a priority for Brighton and Hove at this time – the working group was convinced by the international evidence on the potential benefit from these facilities, but thought that they would have little impact on the types of factors that were contributing to deaths in the city". In addition, "members of the working group were … concerned at the cost implications, in a time of budget pressure, and also advice from the Home Office that opening such facilities would contravene UK law".
A month later, in June 2014 the feasibility working group explained that there was insufficient support at the time to consider drug consumption rooms. Both the Association of Chief Police Officers and Sussex Police were opposed, as were other organisations. This was attributed to a shift "for substance misuse services from a focus on harm reduction to recovery [which] has put a greater emphasis on abstinence from drugs", and to the financial and political climate, in which it was felt unlikely that statutory agencies would consider providing resources unless there was very good evidence of benefits and cost-savings.
These statements reveal multiple reasons for the rejection of drug consumption rooms in Brighton, and some overlap with the issues raised in 2002:
• Perception that they would have little impact on injecting-related mortality.
• Lack of support from key stakeholders.
• Cost implications/budget pressures.
• Advice from the Home Office that drug consumption rooms would be unlawful.
• Lack of evidence about benefits and cost-savings.
• Not in line with current focus on recovery and abstinence (as opposed to harm reduction).
Recently the focus has shifted to Glasgow. In "Taking away the chaos", the local health service and the city's drug service coordinating partnership reviewed the health and service needs of people who inject drugs in public places in the city centre. The review was a response to evidence that the city's injectors were "vulnerable to significant health harms, with those involved in public injecting in the city centre at particular risk", and concerns voiced by local residents and businesses about large amounts of discarded injecting equipment in public places in the city centre and neighbouring areas, compromising community safety and spoiling the environment.
Resulting recommendations were to develop existing services, but also to introduce new services, including a pilot safer injecting facility in the city centre to "address the unacceptable burden of health and social harms caused by public injecting". An HIV outbreak among people who inject (47 new diagnoses in 2015 compared to an annual average of 10) was at the forefront of the discussions: "Given the scale and persistence of public injecting in Glasgow, these problems are likely to persist or worsen unless new approaches to harm reduction are considered. The potential for the HIV outbreak to continue or spread further, including among people without a history of drug use, is particularly concerning."
Addressed in turn in a 2004 briefing, whether drug consumption rooms will supplement the UK's repertoire of substance use interventions depends on the resolution of three broad areas of controversy which may inhibit policymakers:
• Principle: "How do policy makers justify providing a service that enables people to engage legitimately in activities that are both harmful and illegal?"
• Messages: "Do [drug consumption rooms] legitimise drug use, encourage more people to use hard drugs or – at the local level – increase drug-related problems in the areas where they are situated?"
• Effectiveness: "Do [drug consumption rooms] reduce drug related harms and, even if they do, are they the most appropriate and cost effective way of reducing these harms?"
First and foremost, drug consumption rooms are intended to be a form of harm reduction. Along with needle exchange, overdose education and naloxone provision, they operate on the premise that if people are going to take drugs, they should be informed about the risks, enabled to use drugs as safely as possible, and know what to do if something goes wrong. Harm reduction interventions do not exclude the possibility of people choosing to stop taking drugs or engaging with treatment, but as one writer put it, "may enable … users to live long enough to have the opportunity to pursue effective treatment when they are ready". If they do not work on this level, the case for them is fatally undermined.
Drug consumption rooms can help prevent overdose by enforcing rules about safe injecting and supervising the injecting process, and prevent overdoses becoming fatal by aiding users' breathing and administering the opiate-blocking drug naloxone. In 2004 a report knew of only one death in a drug consumption room since the first opened in 1986 – in 2002, a drug user died from anaphylaxis (an acute allergic reaction) in a German facility. Conversely, a conservative estimate of lives saved by just one facility in Sydney (Australia) was four per year. Though studies generally focus on what happens in the facilities, outside drug consumption rooms reductions have been seen in clients' risk-taking behaviour, and it seems likely that 'safer use' messages could be transmitted to a wider population of users via consumption room attendees.
Professor John Strang, a leading figure in British substance use practice and policy, argued in 2004 that "claims" of harm reduction from drug consumption rooms need to be more robustly tested. Although evidence has grown considerably since then, it remains difficult to evaluate the rooms' impacts in ways that meets the scientific 'gold standard' – the 'randomised controlled trial', which randomly assigns participants to an intervention versus an alternative intervention or no intervention at all. Instead, researchers undertake evaluations in real-world settings, in which the effects of drug consumption rooms are obscured by a complex set of factors not under their control. For example, the calculation of lives saved in Sydney (above) was complicated by "dramatic changes in the availability of heroin", colloquially referred to as the 'Australian heroin drought', which affected the amount of heroin being used, probably resulting in a reduction in associated problems such as heroin-related overdose. But even without a randomised trial, it may be possible to at least estimate the likelihood that an intervention (in this case, a drug consumption room) is having a positive or negative impact. For instance, it may not be possible to determine impacts on the transmission of infectious diseases, but it is possible to observe impacts on self-reported needle and syringe sharing, the key cause of transmission among drug users.
As the report of the 2006 Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms put it, "the methodological problems involved here should not detract from [drug consumption rooms'] considerable success". On balance, said the report, these services can have a positive impact on the health of their clients, for example through ensuring (relatively) safe and hygienic injecting in the facility, providing personalised advice and information on safe injecting practices, recognising and responding to emergencies, and providing access to a range of other on-site and off-site interventions and support. Overall the evidence from rooms across Europe demonstrates their potential to alleviate injecting-related harms.
However, realisation of this potential may be quite limited. Having a drug consumption room doesn't necessarily mean every injection will occur within its walls, or that every local user will attend it. In 2014 a survey by the International Network of Drug Consumption Rooms found that (among participating organisations) drug consumption rooms across Europe were open for on average eight hours a day, and 20 of the 34 opened on weekends, leaving large periods of time when clients who would otherwise use the facilities must inject elsewhere. Though they also used drug consumption rooms, in Hamburg over a third of survey respondents had used drugs in public during the past 24 hours, citing among their main reasons waiting times at injecting rooms, distance from place of drug purchase, and limited opening hours.
To encourage regular use and achieve adequate coverage of the injecting population, it is necessary to understand the needs and drugtaking of local drug users, providing sufficient capacity to meet demand and making sure rooms are easily accessible in terms of location and opening hours. Facilities focusing on sex workers, for example, may need to remain open in the evening and at night. The location of consumption rooms should be compatible with the needs of drug users, but also take account of the needs and expectations of local residents.
Safeguarding the health of a stigmatised and relatively voiceless population is unlikely to be seen to be enough to justify resourcing drug consumption rooms. There must also be no sufficiently strong countervailing harms, especially to the more 'voiced' in the population. Even within the ambit of harm reduction, it is conceivable that drug users will experience reduced harm while the locality and sections of the wider public – if only due to the diversion of resources from other social programmes – experience increased harm. Ambiguity of objectives within harm reduction is nested within a policy frame which may see any form of harm reduction as acceptable (if at all) only as a gateway to the overarching goal of stopping illegal drug use.
According to a 2004 review by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, there is no evidence that drug consumption rooms increase drug use, encourage riskier use, or increase morbidity and mortality. Even if all that were accepted, for some they would still undoubtedly cross an ideological red line, being seen to facilitate illegal and harmful behaviours.
Drug consumption rooms create a bubble of acceptance of drugtaking within a broader context of criminalisation, an essential feature which lies at the root of their support and of their condemnation. Acceptance is unpalatable to detractors, but also helps create an environment in which clients can engage in less risky and more hygienic drug use, and gain access to further support and treatment.
Ethical concerns include condoning drug use, in particular injecting, and undermining prescribing treatments – doing rather than mitigating harm. Speaking out against the proposed pilots in Brighton, Kathy Gyngell from the right-wing Centre for Policy Studies questioned the premise of a 'safe space' for injecting altogether, saying that drug consumption rooms are "described as safe despite the very unsafe street drugs used in them, and despite the intrinsic risk of addicts continuing to inject drugs at all". It is true that while drug consumption rooms do provide safer spaces for injecting, "dangerous situations that require intervention arise frequently ... (as they do in any drug-injecting context)". The difference is the capacity to respond to these emergencies and prevent them progressing to serious harm or death.
Acceptance of drugtaking can clear the path for prevention, treatment and support
Such concerns are mitigated by the fact that few clients use the facilities only for drug consumption; most at some point use other services. For highly marginalised drug users in particular, consumption rooms can be the first step into the health and social care system, or even drug treatment. Given the nature of the target population – socially excluded drug users, such as street users and older, long-term users who have never been in treatment – it is vital that the house style encourages rather than deters potential clients. The temperament and attitude of staff is important – they should be sympathetic and non-judgemental towards people with multiple problems, yet at same time be clear and consistent about admission criteria and house rules. Just such an environment was found in Danish drug consumption rooms, where staff conveyed a welcoming, non-judgemental attitude and prioritised forging relations with drug users. Both clients and staff saw the rooms as providing a safe haven, one in which acceptance could clear the path for prevention, treatment and support.
The primary political justification for drug consumption rooms is to mitigate the public nuisance, disorder and crime associated with public injecting. They are usually sited where concentrated public drug use and discarded paraphernalia spoils the environment, and hampers or undermines regeneration. Failure to address these problems will mean that services which could preserve drug users' lives never open. Being seen to actually aggravate these problems would drain support from an existing service.
Research suggests consumption rooms can significantly reduce public drug use, but how much depends on their accessibility, opening hours and capacity. Compelling evidence comes from Vancouver (Canada), where acceptance of the facility among residents and workers had been generated by the distressing sight of public injecting and injecting-related litter. Despite a large local needle exchange, risky injecting, disease and overdose deaths remained high. After the facility opened there was a significant reduction in users seen injecting in public places, from a daily average of 4.3 to 2.4. Also roughly halved were discarded syringes and injecting-related litter in the surrounding area.
One of the concerns about drug consumption rooms is that they will aggravate public disorder and crime in their vicinity by attracting users and dealers from elsewhere – the 'honeypot effect'. In passing, we should note that if this did happen, it would also extend the benefits to non-local drug users. In fact, neither the adverse nor the beneficial results of the honeypot effect materialise in practice. Most consumption room users live locally, and typically they reflect the profiles of people buying drugs in local markets. Facilities located any distance from drug markets tend to attract very few users.
Explaining why, drug users who gave evidence to the 2006 Independent Working Group pointed out that "an addicted injecting heroin user is likely to be primarily driven by the need to obtain their drugs. If they have the money, their first port of call will be a dealer. If there is somewhere nearby where they can safely use their drug (and obtain a clean syringe), then this is likely to be their next step. If they need to go any distance to reach such a place, their need to inject their drug is likely to lead to them using somewhere else (often a public area nearby)".
Though in themselves drug consumption rooms seem not to draw in users from other areas, they may well be drawn if a new drug market grew around a facility. Cooperation with the police should ensure that action against those or other drug markets do not deter drug users from attending approved consumption facilities.
A repeatedly cited barrier to drug consumption rooms has been their supposed contravention of UK drugs laws. In 2013 the Home Office stated, "The Government has no plans to allow drug consumption rooms, which [would break] laws whereby possession of controlled drugs is illegal." But this view seems mistaken; depending on how the facility is run, consumption room staff and managers might be liable, but this need not be the case, and even under existing provisions a carefully managed facility could operate within the law despite its customers breaking laws prohibiting possession of controlled drugs. Possible legal challenges might be seen as a big barrier, but given the introduction of drug consumption rooms in eight other countries in Europe, and two outside Europe, clearly it is not insurmountable.
Release, the national centre of expertise on drugs law, has clarified that the UK Misuse of Drugs Act does not make it illegal to allow someone to possess or inject controlled drugs on your premises, but does make it illegal to allow their production or supply or the smoking of cannabis and opium. To inform its work, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms commissioned an analysis by a leading expert on UK drugs law. Based on Rudi Fortson's opinion, while some adjustments of the law might further shield rooms from legal challenge, the group was "not persuaded that this would be a necessary and unavoidable first step. Pilot [drug consumption rooms] could be set up with clear and stringent rules and procedures that were shared with – and agreed by – the local police (and crime and disorder partnerships), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Strategic Health Authority and the local authority."
However, ambiguity over the rooms' domestic and international legal footing has prevailed. To help clarify the issues, Rudi Fortson looked at how Canada's Insite project in Vancouver and Australia's injecting centre in Sydney managed to run within the law in countries with legal systems similar to that of the UK. For more click here .
Signatories to the United Nations' international drug control conventions (including the UK, Australia and Canada) have another issue to consider: whether drug consumption rooms violate their obligations under those conventions. Charged with policing adherence to the conventions is the International Narcotics Control Board or INCB. From in 1999 an extreme condemnation claiming the rooms breach the conventions because they "facilitate illicit drug trafficking", by 2015 the board seemed to admit that if a facility "provides for the active referral of [persons suffering from drug dependence] to treatment services", they might be admitted within the spirit and letter of the conventions. For more click here .
For Rudi Fortson the thousands of words on whether drug consumption rooms contravene UN conventions had missed the wood for the trees. There has, he observed, been a tendency to focus on the parts that impose restrictions and prohibitions, yet "conventions often embody statements of political will, intent, or hope", and in this case prohibition was intended to be at the service of promoting public health and wellbeing, not its opposite. Secondly, none of the three main UN conventions have direct application in the UK; they are interpreted into UK law by parliament, and it is those interpretations on which the courts rely in their judgements.
It seems likely that drug consumption rooms will be piloted in Dublin in the next year. The Irish Times has reported that the Minister of State with responsibility for drugs wants to see drug consumption rooms in Ireland, and has the backing of the Taoiseach (head of government or prime minister of Ireland) and the Minister for Health. Legislation has been proposed by Dublin's Ana Liffey Drug Project in collaboration with the Bar Council that would allow people to take drugs in a safe, medically supervised injection centre. The current focus is on Dublin, "where public injecting is a well-established phenomenon, as is overdose", but the legislation could allow them to open anywhere in Ireland.
This development, and ongoing discussions in Glasgow, have the potential to reinvigorate discussions about drug consumption rooms in the UK, but for now, the closest contemporary Britain comes to having safer injecting centres are the few clinics where patients inject legally prescribed pharmaceutical heroin (diamorphine) under clinical supervision. These clinics are unlikely to engage the target group of drug consumption rooms, but nonetheless provide a service to people with addiction who have not benefitted from typical treatment. Furthermore, it could be argued that they provide an experience- and skills-base for drug consumption rooms in the UK, as they have to exercise the same monitoring of patients, and have the same capacity to respond to overdose incidents, as drug consumption rooms.
Moreover, Britain already has a good-practice blueprint to guide implementation. In 2008, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published guidance for local multi-agency partnerships looking into opening a drug consumption room. It addressed minimum operational standards identified in the 2006 report of the Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms, domestic and international legal issues, as well as the commissioning process, operational policies and procedures, monitoring and evaluation – but also stressed that local agreement is absolutely essential, something not generated in Brighton despite the serious nature of the city's problems and overdose fatalities in the area, but which may be seen in Glasgow.
Evidence is stacked in favour of drug consumption rooms being an effective strategy for tackling public injecting and the harms associated with it, particularly among the most vulnerable and marginalised drug users, and as long as the context is conducive – when part of a "wider framework of … services that aim to reduce individual and social harms arising from problem drug use; based on consensus and active cooperation between key local actors, especially health workers, police, local authorities and local communities". There is no evidence of the feared adverse consequences on communities or drug use and users. Yet since 2002, proposals to pilot drug consumption rooms in UK cities have fallen flat.
There seem two scenarios in which support for drug consumption rooms could be generated in the future: firstly, if there were to be a policy shift towards harm reduction, not just as a mechanism to engage drug users with treatment, but as a legitimate goal in itself; and secondly, if the UK were to reach a 'tipping point' in the degree of distress and nuisance perceived to be caused by public injecting, or the degree of concern over the concentration of overdose fatalities and infectious diseases in certain locations. In the meantime, the needs of the target group of drug consumption rooms continue not to be met by existing services, and the human cost of public injecting – the lack of dignity, and the disproportionate burden on health, wellbeing and safety – keeps adding up.
Last revised 14 November 2016. First uploaded 27 October 2016
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- – or both caning and a fine
- A shoots at Z with intention to kill him, under such circumstances that, if death ensued, A would be guilty of murder. A is liable to punishment under this section.
- A, with intention of causing the death of a child of tender years, throws the child into a river. Ahas committed the offence defined by this section, although the death of the child does not ensue.
- A, intending to murder Z, buys a gun and loads it. Ahas not yet committed the offence. A fires the gun at Z. He has committed the offence defined in this section; and if by such firing he wounds Z, he is liable to the punishment provided by the latter part of this section.
- A, intending to murder Z by poison, purchases poison and mixes the same with food which remains in A's keeping; A has not yet committed the offence defined in this section. A places the food on Z's table or delivers it to Z's servants to place it on Z's table. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
Should you have any questions or need legal representation, kindly contact Gloria James-Civetta & Co on 6337 0469 for a free consultation, or email to email@example.com


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It started a few years ago… one crawfish boil invitation turned into another and another … I just keep getting to design invitations for these awesome gatherings of crawfish eaters! I have so much fun with this theme and find it's a fun challenge to work with the same theme for different clients.
Well, it got a little more challenging this time, since I was designing for the same theme, same client, same celebration - just one year later! Remember Ben's Crawfish Birthday last year? Well, his mom, Mary, thought the party was such a hit, she wanted to do it again for his second birthday. She came up with the 'Crawfish & Cake' theme (so cute right!) and I created these playful invitations, tags and coordinating stationery.
Did I mention that these were featured on Oh So Beautiful Paper today?! Thank you, Nole!


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With the skyrocketing cost of living, it is increasingly becoming hard to put the roof over your head and fend for your family. As such, the drive to secure a job and earn an income is exceptionally high. A regular paycheck keeps your family happy and content with life, a fact that fills many people with pride.
Hence, it is not surprising that many individuals are willing to go the extra mile to retain their jobs. However, despite the driving desire to hold onto your job, you should not disregard your health and safety while at work.
Always deck out in safety gear
From safety boots, overalls, hard hats and gloves, you should wear protective clothing at all times. This is of particular interest when working around heavy machinery with moving parts. Suffering an injury can deal a severe blow to the ability to discharge your duties.
While you can recover from minor injuries quickly, serious injuries can have a far-reaching effect in your life. For instance, loss of fingers can interfere with your ability to handle and operate heavy machinery. It might also impair your ability to tend to other activities of daily living, leaving you disabled.
In such unfortunate instances, be sure to retain the service of prominent personal injury lawyers based in Springfield, IL to pursue compensation.
Always abide by safety precautions and procedures
Many employers make every effort to keep workers safe and secure while discharging their duties. To this end, they establish comprehensive security policies and procedures to create a safe workplace environment. Abiding with such directives lowers your chances of suffering a workplace injury.
Hence, you should resist any attempt to overlook such measures. This entails piling just the number of crates and keeping within the recommended load capacities of load bearing machines. You should also never attempt to operate heavy machinery without proper skills and knowledge.
Keeping safe in a work environment is of primary importance to any worker. These crucial pointers can help you to keep safe in any work environment.


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SkinPen - the Only FDA Approved Microneedling Device
SkinPen® Precision is the ONLY approved Class II Microneedling Device that has been granted marketing authorization by the FDA. U.S. designed and engineered for excellence and safety in every step:
- Validated sterile cartridge with precise depth, straight needles support the skin's natural healing process, where others may damage the skin.
- The only advanced, medical grade microneedling product on U.S. market with precise and safe needle depth adjustment.
- Laboratory tested, proprietary technology to prevent cross-contamination.
A recent study* found that the SkinPen Precision cartridge was ranked highest in quality when compared with other microneedling cartridges. Making the Precision Cartridge superior was its potential for contamination free operation, and smooth, polished needles. *Independent research technology company evaluated major brands in the derma microneedling market. Supporting Macro and Micro photographs of each needle and cartridge were generated and each derma microneedle brand examined. Data on File. **Evaluated by independent laboratory. Data on file.


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Silent Auction and International Pechakucha
Friday, September 7th 2018, 16:00-21:00
Location: Tolne Skov Pavillon
16:00 Exhibition Openings and Social Hour
We will officially open the ScanCeram 2018 Conference with a welcome drink and a short address. Exhibition openings include:
ScanCeram 2018 Presenter Exhibition
ScanCeram 2018 Demonstrator Exhibition
17:00 Silent Auction Begins
View all the works you can bid on at the silent auction! Be the first to bid, and the last, and the work is yours! Proceeds go toward bringing outstanding presenters to ScanCeram year after year!
18:00 Luxus Danish Smørrebrød Buffet Dinner w/drinks
Would you like to have the chance to talk with one of the most famous ceramic artists in Finland? A Potter from Alaska? How about a local art enthusiast? At dinner, you'll be guaranteed to be surrounded by interesting people from Denmark, and the rest of the world as well!
19:00 ScanCeram Pechakucha
Pechakucha is a series of presentations, 20 images x 20 seconds. We've got 12 slots available. Contact Janice Hunter if you'd like one of them!
21:15 Final Silent Auction Bidding
21:30 Silent Auction Ends
Mobile pay or bank Transfer Registration for Social Evenings
ScanCeram2018 Evening Registration
Now it's easy to register for ScanCeram2018! You can pay by bank transfer or MobilePay to reserve and pay for your spots. Go through the steps below, and you're all set!
- Choose your what you're participating in (Thursday 195kr/Friday 275kr)
- Total it all up, fill in the form below, and send your payment to 40475320
- If you'd like to pay by bank transfer, same amount to: 90674564902972 Sparnord
- You're all set! See you at ScanCeram2018!
Keynote Lecture and Live Ceramic Auction
Saturday, September 8th, 2018 17:30 - 21:30
Live Auction Saturday Night @ Tolne Skov Pavillon
Price: 275dkr including Dinner, Lecture, and Auction
17:30 - 18:15 Gala Social Evening and Hirtshals Fish Dinner
18:30 Pia Wirnfeldt, Director CLAY, Middelfart
19:30 - 21:00 ScanCeram2018 Benefit Auction
Come and bid on a ceramic artwork up for grabs, or one of the many other items for sale at the ScanCeram 2018 Benefit Auction. We look forward to a fun filled entertaining evening!


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St. Thomas, the little farming community that was swallowed up when the water behind the dam began filling up Lake Mead in the mid-1930s and then came back into view seventy years later due to the drought crippling the Southwest and bringing Lake Mead to historic low water levels, is going to be closed during the week for the next month.
The National Park Service needs to remove tamarisk whose roots are endangering the fragile foundations of various buildings around the town site. Tamarisk is not native to the region and is also known as salt cedar.
An archaeologist will oversee the project.
The town site and access road will be open on weekends.
Happy Trails!


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SIMPLE tax savings using salary deferrals - Set them up before October 1st.
SIMPLE IRAs and SIMPLE 401(k)s are an easy way to establish a tax deferring retirement plan for your small business within a few hours. The idea of a salary deferral is to defer paying tax until you are in a lower tax bracket (e.g. retirement at 59.5 yrs old) or until you find something that you actually want to invest in (you can always rollover into another type or IRA). The basics are that you set the account with a financial institution and then employer transfers your salary to that account (funds it).
These SIMPLE plans are an especially good fit for people who are already comfortable investing with brokers like TDAmeritrade or Vangaurd.
Here are some reasons why you might want to set up one of the two SIMPLE options.
1. You are probably already investing or banking with an institution that offers SIMPLE plans and you would be deferring up to 13,000 in salary for 2013 so your business will show more salary/compensation paid for 2013 and significantly less tax.
2. A SIMPLE IRA account literally takes less than 10 minutes to set up online with large institutions.
3. For SIMPLE IRAs your corp does not have to report anything or do any other filing with government. SIMPLE 401(k)s are a little bit more tricky to set up and comply with but they have the benefit of allowing plan loans.
4. As long as you set up the plan before October 1, 2013 You can wait to fund the account until your last pay period.
5. You can take the money out before you are 59.5 without the 10% penalty for your family's college expenses or to buy your first home.
7. You can get a tax credit for the cost of setting it up if we decide to use it.
8. If we do not decide to fund it before the end of the year we don't have to use it, but by setting it up at least you have the option.


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Request Your Business Addition
1 BETTER LLChttp://1Better.net
Have a question, or need more info?
For more information on advertising in movie theatres call 1-877-723-8837. Our Creative Team, Sales, Accounting and Theatre Relations Departments are all available to answer any questions as they come up. Please leave a voice mail for after hours situations.
Hours: Mon – Fri 9 am – 5 pm
Aitkin Independent Agehttp://www.aitkinage.com
Serving the Aitkin County area with news, sports, classifieds, real estate, entertainment, resort, and business information.
Better Living Concepts
In business for over 20 years, Better Living Concepts believes in offering exceptional and personalized service to ensure all your home improvement needs are met exactly. Customer satisfaction has always been our priority so you can trust that we are 100% committed to every job, ready at every step to cater to your needs.
Our team of expert home improvement contractors takes quality seriously, working only with top brands in the industry, like Renewal by Anderson, Craft-Bilt Manufacturing, ProVia, and Therma-Tru, to ensure every product we use meets your requirements and exceeds your expectations.
DataComm Computers & Networkshttp://datacommus.com
DataComm is your locally owned and operated IT consulting firm specializing in small to medium business networking and phone systems. From our state of the art custom build business desktops to a wide range of voice integration, DataComm truly is your one stop shop. Contact us today to find out how we can help get to IT unity.
Deerwood Technologies, Inc.http://www.deertech.com
Deerwood Technologies is a nationally recognized local business that provides businesses with technology support. Managed Services, Technology Deployment, Consulting/Planning, and Computer/Network Sales-Setup-Support-Maintenance. Contact for more information.
Hubbard Broadcastinghttp://www.1067wjjy.com
Brainerd Radio Stations: KBLB-FM, KUAL-FM, WJJY-FMJ, KLIZ-FM, KVBR-AM AND KLIZ-AM.
KDS Systems, Inchttp://http:..www.kdssys.com
KDS Systems provide cloud computing and technology solutions for businesses in many industries. We believe businesses of all sizes should have access to secure, reliable and affordable enterprise class technology. Cloud computing is like gravity, it just works.
Tidholm Productionshttp://www.TidholmProductions.com
We are different than your average stand-alone printer because if your schedule doesn't allow you to come see us, we will come see you! We may be a smaller local printer, but we offer commercial printing from business cards to billboards with print quantities available to suite your home based personal business or corporation. We have customer graphic designers on staff each with their own unique eye on style. Our product offerings are always competitively priced to what can be found online and in most cases with free local delivery or pickup is available at our downtown office. Tidholm Productions is a step above the mistaprints.com's of the world because we strive to meet all of your printing hopes, needs, and desires while offering a friendly face to face experience in our convenient downtown location. In most cases you have your first design proof within 2 business days. You're welcomed to make free changes, or approve your proof as is, with most products you can expect it to be ready 5 business days from approval of your proof. If we are unable to provide you with exactly what your printing needs are, we will connect you to one of our large family of printing partners to help your with your printing needs.


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Since finding out we were pregnant, I've felt a little more pressure to get my house in order. I've been ferociously tackling those house projects that have been swirling around in my mind. I figure once we find out the gender, all of my attention will shift to the nursery, so I better get the ball rolling on my other projects if I ever want to accomplish them.
I also decided I would relieve myself of some responsibilities and hire a housekeeper. This has truly changed my life. My baseboards now get cleaned! That's a first.
I posted a few days ago about the updates we're making in our living room and our bedroom, but the dining room has seen the most dramatic changes recently. To think, it once looked like this.
Dark green walls with dark green ceilings and absolutely no personality. I take that back. It had personality, just not a very good one. We stripped the wallpaper and hired a painter who did some fantastic work. He had doubts about painting my ceiling orange, but became a believer in the end. Then came the new table, followed by slipcovered dining table chairs.
I wanted six chairs around the table, but since the table can comfortably seat 8, I wanted two additional chairs in the room that people could pull up to the table. I didn't have anything in mind until last fall when I saw our neighbors had thrown out three chairs and two of them were still in good condition.
I have no problem salvaging furniture from the curb, but from your neighbor's house? Is that too close for comfort? If they ever visit, will they be bothered to see their chairs in our house? We sat out in our front yard, keeping an eye on the goods, and when the coast was clear, we hauled them back to our house.
The fabric was less than desirable. A red and gold damask pattern that didn't go with the dining room. But fabric is easy to swap out and worth doing when the chairs are free!
Upholstery Guy Mitch did a fantastic job on these in just four days! He replaced the fabric and made some minor repairs, and they were good as new!
The next week, Mrs. Connie called to tell me my dining room curtain panels were ready. Ty and I finished hanging them last night, and they turned out beautifully. I don't know why, but it always surprises me how much curtains can warm up a space.
The room is completely different than when we began. It's elegant but still comfortable. With an orange ceiling, my biggest challenge was to make the room interesting without competing with the statement the ceiling makes.
I decided to go with a neutral, gold fabric on the panels in a fun pattern. And a different texture and pattern on the fabric for the extra two chairs. The ceiling, chairs and panels are all pulled together by the fabric on the dining table chairs.
At some point, I would like to add a rug. But right now I don't feel the room lacks because there isn't a rug. Our next step will be to hang artwork. Just this past weekend, Ty's mom gave us two pictures that Ty's grandmother painted. Mrs. Johnnie was an art teacher for years and both of the pictures are of places Ty used to go as a child. I love that they're so rich with meaning and will be in our family for years to come.
Next step ... the nursery. Just wait until you see this room!


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My Home In HGTV Magazine
I am beyond excited to announce that my home is published in the December issue of HGTV Magazine, now on newsstands nationwide! This is a secret I have been keeping from you since June and it has been very difficult for me not to say anything. I am so grateful for the incredible team who flew out from NYC to make this dream a reality - the fabulous Jennifer Berno, Matthew Gleason, David Land, Jacob Mulikin and Frank Langhitano. I also owe a special 'thank you' to Mary Ann from Classic Casual Home for putting me in touch with Jennifer. This truly is a dream come true!
I'll share more about the shoot as well as answer any questions you have in my next post.


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Who Knew?
I checked my twitter (#chefgeary) feed this morning and Cookstr.com had my Pumpkin Maple Cheesecake on their site for the National Day!
Here it is: Cookstr
2 spots left for May 2015 France.. Info here: FRANCE 2015. We added a professional Photographer to help us in everything pictures!
I will be doing my show LIVE on Monday October 27th, 2014 on San Diego Living.. CW6.. I will post the recipes and the show after broadcast! Its all abotu Pumpkin's!


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Guide to... Hairdressers on South Molton Street
Popular Nearby Streets & Areas: Mayfair (0.14km) Albemarle Street (0.14km) Arlington Street (0.14km) Audley Street (0.14km) Avery Row (0.14km) Balderton Street (0.14km) Berkeley Square (0.14km) Berkeley Street (0.14km) Blenheim Street (0.14km) Brook Street (0.14km) Brook's Mews (0.14km) Brook Street (0.07km) Brown Hart Gardens (0.16km) Hanover Square (0.2km) Harrowby Street (0.08km) New Bond Street (0.15km) Oxford Street (0.07km) Balderton Street (0.19km) Blenheim Street (0.04km) Brook's Mews (0.1km)
Sassoon Salon
At Sassoon Salon, we offer you a truly exceptional cut and colour that will effortlessly complement your very own...Read more
Living Life Beauty Salons Hairdressers South Molton Street Explore Mayfair
Page 1 of 1 (showing 1 listings from a total of 1)
Sanrizz Grosvenor House
A renowned and respected driving force behind the British and Worldwide hairdressing industry. Inspirational and...Read more
Jermyn Street Barbers
Jermyn Street Barbers are famous for traditional wet shaving services in St James'. We are conveniently located in...Read more
Taylor of Old Bond Street
Living Life Men's Fashion Hairdressers St James's Jermyn Street Shopping
The House Of Rush
Geo F Trumper
he Trumper shops in Curzon Street, Mayfair and Duke of York Street, St James's are unrivalled in the services they...Read more
Shopping St James's Duke of York Street Hairdressers Explore Mayfair
Andrew Jose
A friendly hair salon specialising in cutting, colouring, Afro Caribbean hair,safe natural hair extensions and blow...Read more
Ted's Grooming Room
Head here for sharp haircuts, hot towel shaves and other treatments.Read more
Living Life Health & Wellness Hairdressers Charlotte Street Fitzrovia
Truefitt & Hill
For over 213 years Truefitt has served some of the greatest men in history. Today we offer the finest grooming...Read more
Living Life Health & Wellness Hairdressers St James's St James's Street Royal Warrant Holders
The One
Living Life Beauty Salons Hairdressers St James's Charles II Street
Walkers Hairdressers
Unisex hairdresser.Read more
Transition Salons
Cutting edge Hairdressers.Read more
Windle & Moodie
Windle and Moodie are world famous London hairdressers based in Covent Garden. At Windle and Moodie you'll find all...Read more
Errol Douglas Limited
Errol Douglas was awarded his MBE for education and services to the hairdressing industry. Widely considered to be...Read more
Paul Edmonds
Welcome to Paul Edmonds, where we create hair and beauty experiences which accentuate our clients' intrinsic beauty...Read more
Map of Hairdressers in South Molton Street
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Blue Plaques in London
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South Molton Street in the News
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Orange County
Mike Benson is challenging Mayor Lydia Lavelle for chance to meet Carrboro's issues
Former Southern Rail owner Mike Benson pledges more support for local businesses and proactive steps to meet the town's hurdles if voters choose him over incumbent Mayor Lydia Lavelle.
Carrboro already is working toward those goals, counters Lavelle, a two-term mayor and former member of the town's Board of Aldermen.
While she and Benson agreed that one of the town's biggest challenges is staying affordable for residents, Lavelle argued her experience and past responsiveness is critical in the face of what's happening at the state and federal level.
Voters will elect a mayor and choose from among six candidates looking to fill four Board of Aldermen seats in the Nov. 7 general election. Early voting in Orange County's municipal and city school board races starts Thursday, Oct. 19.
Here's how Benson and Lavelle answered our questions:
Q. What leadership skills or experience will be most helpful to you if elected?
Mike Benson: I have been a small business owner and operator for over 25 years. Twelve years have been as the owner of three successful restaurants (Café Saint-Ex and Bar Pilar in Washington, D.C., and Southern Rail for 10 years in the heart of downtown Carrboro). I have watched gentrification roll into neighborhoods and take away the character of those unique territories, replacing them with big-box chains. We must support our local businesses if we want to see them stay around.
Lydia Lavelle: I had years of municipal government experience working in Durham and serving on advisory boards in Durham and Carrboro before being elected in Carrboro, twice as alderman and twice as mayor. I serve on the following groups, which enhance my knowledge and opportunity to collaborate: Metropolitan Mayors Coalition (also on Executive Committee), Orange County Solid Waste Advisory Group, and Orange County Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. I am also a past chair/current alternate to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO, a transportation planning group.
My time management and organizational skills are well-developed. I know how to run a meeting, and I am an open-minded, patient listener.
This is a critical time to have a seasoned mayor, given the recent challenges posed by federal and state governments. I am an experienced, responsive leader who is "always on," ready to act on behalf of the town of Carrboro.
Q. What was a mistake that you learned from and how do you think that lesson will help you if elected?
Mike Benson: Delegating too much authority and kicking the can down the road. We need to be proactive and act before problems become a crisis. In the restaurant business, you have to foresee problems or you will wind up getting behind (like making decisions on balancing payroll versus cutting back on services and making sure all taxes are up to date). I will act quickly to to address problems like affordable housing, parking, the state of the arts in Carrboro and the environment. Not hold meeting after meeting … committees formed and disbanded … action is needed. I will work with the Board of Aldermen to achieve results to support our business district, re-establish Carrboro as a hub for the arts, and think outside of the box for parking/light rail/bikeways.
Lydia Lavelle: I have had a few situations which have taught me to prepare beyond a first step. One example is that we have had several meetings that have unexpectedly gone late into the night. I have learned to anticipate when it looks like this might happen in an upcoming meeting, and I employ strategies and make adjustments to keep our meetings somewhat on schedule. However, this is often still a challenge.
Q. What is the town's biggest challenge and how would you address it?
Mike Benson: Gentrification is the greatest threat to Carrboro. Our town is uncommon, appealing and a great place to live … no matter what age you are. We must lead the state in pushing for alternative energy, securing a safe and free environment for all of our residents and preserving our amazing schools.
Lydia Lavelle: Maintaining affordability. Our town budget is based on commercial and residential property taxes, as well as sales tax. Property taxes fund the large majority. Carrboro is too small to attract a "big-box" store or a large plant; it is essential we support our local businesses to ensure their success. Carrboro leaders work to drive visitors and residents to local businesses by having downtown festivals and supporting downtown destinations. We approved construction of a second hotel downtown; it will result in more visitors to downtown and generate hotel tax that goes toward marketing and tourism efforts. We constantly assess access to downtown, including parking. Our Board has not increased our property tax rate in nine years. While we have no control over the real estate market, which drives housing and other costs, we can continue to work to increase our sales tax revenue while holding our tax rate steady.
Tammy Grubb: 919-829-8926, @TammyGrubb
Quick answers
Do you support giving development in the rural buffer another look?
Mike Benson: Yes. The rural buffer was created over 30 years ago when Carrboro was still a small community with affordable houses to rent or own.
Lydia Lavelle: No. It would be many years out, and we would be much more developed, before I would support adjusting the rural buffer.
Do you support economic incentives to attract businesses?
Mike Benson: Yes. Economic incentives like access to high-speed internet (fiber), parking that has convenience to the downtown, stronger infrastructure like bicycle paths along the highway and rail tracks, partnering with the University of North Carolina to expand health care centers (like in existing shopping centers), and affordable housing.
Lydia Lavelle: No. I do not support spending Carrboro money to provide an economic incentive to attract a business to Carrboro; under certain conditions, my answer might be different if I was a state leader.
Do you consider Carrboro taxes and cost of living affordable?
Mike Benson: No. The county tax structure leads to residents of incorporated municipalities subsidizing residents of unincorporated areas; the solution would be to have a separate tax district for the unincorporated areas to fund services they require. We need to address affordable housing immediately.
Lydia Lavelle: Yes. However, while our community is affordable for many who live here, it is not for many who do live here or who would like to live here.


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Cheers to listening
[ 1 ] Today I had a conversation with a friend. Things are constantly coming at us. More and more is being asked of us everyday. From schools, PTA, work, friends, book club, girl scouts; more money, more time, more work. And we have to ask things of other people too. Everyone is so busy and we get easily overwhelmed with simple things because we are so busy. So when we are asking something of people, let's make it so simple, let's not overwhelm. "Here is the question I have for you, here is what I would like you to do, here are two easy steps you can take to accomplish it." Make it so simple they can memorize it.
[ 2 ] This evening I found this quote.
Don't judge a designer on what she adds, but on what she takes away. Johan Jessen
I hear things when they are told to me, but do I listen?


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Use one of these free wedding itinerary templates to plan out your wedding day or even your wedding weekend. There are wedding itineraries for planning the day and printable itineraries that can be handed out to the wedding party and even the guests.
A wedding itinerary is a wedding planning template that is used to make a list of everything that needs to be done on the wedding day and at what time. It's similar to a wedding countdown schedule but it focuses just on the day of the wedding or the wedding weekend. They also include important information such as names, phone numbers, and addresses.
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Wedding Itinerary Template From Confetti
You'll love how flexible this wedding itinerary template from Confetti is. It's pretty enough to display or hand out to the entire wedding party and anyone who is helping with the big day.
Simply print out the timeline, cross off any items you don't need, and then fill in the times of the events. It may also be a good idea to add the names of the people involved in each task.
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Custom Wedding Itinerary and Timeline from WeddingWire
The wedding itinerary template at WeddingWire has you enter your name, fiance's name, wedding date, time of the ceremony, the length of the ceremony, and a few other questions to help you make your timeline.
After you've entered all your info, a wedding day timeline will be created for you. You can edit the time and events as well as delete or add your own tasks to the list.
After you've customized your wedding itinerary you'll be able to print it and email it.
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Wedding Chicks' Free Wedding Itinerary Template
This wedding itinerary template from Wedding Chicks is printed out and then you can add the times of each event. There's room at the top for names and telephone numbers of the coordinator, bride, and groom. There's also space for the ceremony and reception addresses, contact names, and telephone numbers.
There are two versions of this wedding schedule you can use, one that includes first look photos and one that doesn't.
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Wedding Weekend Itinerary From Tidy Templates
If you're planning a destination wedding or a full weekend of wedding plans, this is the itinerary for you. It's got room for rehearsal and rehearsal dinner details, the events on the big day, and any other plans for the weekend.
This is more of an itinerary you would hand out to the wedding party and other important people in the wedding so they know when and where they're supposed to be.
This wedding itinerary is available in DOCX file format which you can open with a word processor or a PDF file you can open with a PDF reader or view in your browser.
You can edit the itinerary and change all the text as well as the colors.Continue to 5 of 6 below.
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Wedding Weekend Schedule From Tidy Templates
Here's another weekend wedding itinerary template from Tidy Templates that you can open and edit in a word processing program or PDF reader.
This wedding schedule template features blue and green text and a starfish, making it the perfect choice for a tropical destination wedding.
You can edit this as much as you want to make it a more detailed schedule or leave it as is so everyone knows what they need to do for the wedding.
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8 Free Wedding Itinerary Templates and Schedules From Word Layouts
Word Layouts has created 8 free wedding itinerary templates that either open in a word processor or a spreadsheet program.
There are wedding itinerary templates to help the bride or coordinator plan out the timing, visual timelines, a schedule meant to be handed out to the wedding party, and a wedding timeline is pretty enough it can even be handed out to the guests.


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Angus Finlayson Formal Gardens is known in Sydney's finest suburbs for its award winning landscapes of matchless beauty and elegant design.
Angus Finlayson is a second-generation landscape designer with more than 25 years experience designing, constructing and maintaining prestigious formal gardens that are meticulously considered and brilliantly executed. His devoted and discerning client base appreciates the attention and expertise he brings to every garden, seamlessly balancing elegance, innovation and sustainability.
"I believe our outdoor environment is fundamental to the way we live. Our gardens reflect who we are. That's why I take the time to listen to my clients to create a garden that works in harmony with their homes." – Angus Finlayson
Angus Finlayson's precise design aesthetic is inspired by the distinguished 'parterre' style, which originated in 15th Century France, as well as contemporary trends in formal gardens in Europe and Australia. Drawing on his extensive experience working alongside leading architects on some of Sydney's grandest homes, he creates designs that are both sophisticated and timeless.
"The compartments, pathways and repeating geometric patterns of the classic parterre elements bring such a joy to the eye and calmness to the spirit". -Angus Finlayson
While many of his gardens have won awards and been featured in premiere lifestyle magazines, Angus Finlayson always designs to serve his clients' vision and to compliment his clients' homes.
In order to ensure his clients' gardens continue to look their best as they grow, Angus Finlayson also offers a premium maintenance program. This ensures the high standard of his design and workmanship is maintained, with a single, reliable and friendly point of contact.
To learn more about Angus Finlayson Formal Gardens, or to arrange a free on-site visit, please contact us here.


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The thing about grief that I can see, is there really isn't much to look forward to in the process. If you're pregnant and sick, you know that it will all be over in nine months. If you have a cold or a headache, you might take something for it and hope that it goes … Continue reading Grief is love with no place to go.
Bad mums have a night off to watch Bad Moms
We've had a lot of rain in a short amount of time - around three inches in the last week. That's about 75mm for those of you who went metric 40-odd years ago. So our Facebook feeds started with photos of kids splashing in muddy puddles but have now become filled with warnings of severe … Continue reading Bad mums have a night off to watch Bad Moms
And that's a wrap. Thanks Daisy.
Today I'm googling 'how to talk to kids about the death of a pet'. I have til school finishes today to prepare. With a bit of luck, my tears may have slowed down enough that I can actually speak. Get the words out. Tell them that Daisy died today. I wrote recently about losing our … Continue reading And that's a wrap. Thanks Daisy.
A leopard has spots on the outside
'Of course!' I said, 'I can make that cake.' We'd googled animal-themed birthday cakes. We'd used almost our entire monthly data allowance looking at animal cakes on Pinterest. Elsie chose one that had a bit of brown icing and a tiger figurine stuck on it. You beauty, I thought. But then. Just one more inch … Continue reading A leopard has spots on the outside
And by morning we had a new playground
Here's why we celebrated today: Thirty delicious (mostly unpredicted) millimetres of rain. We're guessing 30mm. Normally we can guess the amount before we even go out to the rain gauge. One or two mills wets the deck. Five will put a puddle in the driveway. And if there's a puddle over near the gate, we … Continue reading And by morning we had a new playground
Bring back the spiral perm
In Year 8, no amount of mousse (or gel for that matter) was giving me the tightness of the Nicole Kidman curl. So I had my hair permed. Source for photo 1: Sticky-paged photo album full of really dorky shots of my friends and I patting kangaroos on a school camp. All with the same … Continue reading Bring back the spiral perm
Mother duck said 'Quack, quack, quack, quack.' But none of the five little ducks came back
Maeve has waited her whole life for this day. Today she started school. Last night she set out her things. A new bag, new knickers, new socks, new shoes, a new hair clip and a hand-me-down dress (that has seen a few years of school already, and quite a few kinder sessions last year too … Continue reading Mother duck said 'Quack, quack, quack, quack.' But none of the five little ducks came back
So quiet at this time of year. Not much on at all. Said no-one ever.
In one of the writing courses I did last month, I learned that there are two types of writers: plotters and pantsers. Plotters plot out their story before they start. They probably have an outline for the book, detailing the twists and turns so that they know what happens before they even write the first sentence. … Continue reading So quiet at this time of year. Not much on at all. Said no-one ever.
What could you do to make the world a better place?
Today I'm thinking about what I could do to make the world a better place. This isn't the sort of thing I usually think about when I'm making kids' lunches (usually then I'm thinking about why I didn't go to bed earlier). Or when I'm driving the girls to town (contemplating then why I didn't … Continue reading What could you do to make the world a better place?


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Bill Kelliher (born March 23, 1971) is a guitarist in the Atlanta, Georgia heavy metal band Mastodon. He is a native of Victor, New York. He shares guitar duties with Brent Hinds, playing mainly complex rhythm parts. Kelliher is married, with two young sons—the eldest one named Harrison, after Harrison Ford of Star Warsfame. He is also a Star Wars enthusiast, with a large collection of action figures and other merchandise from the franchise.
On June 12, 2007, Hinds and Kelliher won the Metal Hammer Golden Gods award for best shredders,[1] Mastodon's first ever award.
Artist Website


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This year's POW! WOW! Hawaii 2014 brought over 100 artists to Honolulu for a week of painting, art openings, talks, parties, and more. While our daily recaps showed the processes and progress of the artists as the days went on, the final results are more impressive than we could have ever imagined. Our friends at 1xRUN, who hosted special print releases for this year's POW! WOW!, hooked up these dope photographs from the final days.
RELATED: Photos From Days 1, 2 (I and II), 3, and 4 of Painting at POW! WOW! Hawaii 2014
RELATED: Photos From the 1xRUN x Pangea Seed x POW! WOW! Hawaii 2014 Print Exhibition at Loft in Space
Photos of the Final Murals at POW! WOW! Hawaii 2014 by 1xRun


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As I told you I am in a Dr. Jart marathon beauty-wise at the moment: I said I'd test the products they sent me and would tell you about my favorites, so here I am writing about a unique type of clay mask: the dermaclear trans-foam clay by Dr. Jart. I always found clay masks to be a bit drying for my skin (even different types of clay) but I found these to be different than the typical clay mask. They are both clay masks that you leave on for 3-5 minutes and foam cleansers when you rinse it off. They come in 3 colors that correspond to different types of skins and effects.
The difference with classic clay masks
One of the main difference for me is that they are super easy to clean as they transform into foaming cleanser with warm water. Another difference as I said above is that they are less drying for the skin in my opinion and they dry faster (3-5mn against 10mn). You still need to moisturize after of course but I feel like they are more comfortable. In the end, they save some time and it allows you to add a mask to your morning routine without being afraid to be late.
Moisturizing Pink
This one is my favorite because I have a normal to dry skin, not oily at all and this is the one that is the most hydrating of the 3 masks thanks to the lotus flower extract. Even if it says moisturizing you need to hydrate your skin after, but the skin is more soft and plumped than with the others.
Calming White
This one is for sensitive skin. It contains chamomile flower extract which is meant to calm irritation. It does feel very gentle on the skin and soothing and it's nice to know there are solutions to purify a sensitive skin, as sometimes you feel like you can't even touch it. Adjust the time to how much your skin needs: I would say to use it for a shorter amount of time (maybe not wait until it completely dries) if your skin is very irritated/sensitive because even gentle products can make you feel like it's drying/irritated in that case.
Refreshing Green
If you have oily skin, this is the one that will work best for you. It purifies deeply thanks to the lemongrass extract that controls sebum. I won't lie, I don't use this one often because I don't need to reduce oil on my skin, but I'd say it's the one that makes you feel the cleanest with a refreshing feeling. Of course, use a good moisturizer afterward: I used a bit more than usual because it is logically the most drying one.
Overall, they all help to remove excess oil, clean pores and gently exfoliate. If you have a combination skin, you can use the green clay mask on the oily areas of your face and the pink or white one on the rest. I also found that the price is pretty good for the quality and amount you get. I tend to switch between different types of masks during the week so they will last me for a while!
Shop the products


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Thursday, October 25, 2012
You know, I get HOBONICHI TECHO notebook every year.
Such a cute cover♪
I chose Estonian knit of the cousin size for 2013.
The knit which the knitter Mariko Mikuni knitted was just printed on the cloth.
It's the cousin size limited cover.
It's very important for everyone, especially after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
WEB SHOP benefit(HOBONICHI STORE benefit) .
This is the Mariko Mikuni's hand-knit pattern walk bag.
Kotobuki Shiriagari.
The 3-color ball-point from JETSTREAM series of uni(Mitsubishi Pencil).
"The zippers Harris blue pattern" .
Harris of limited sale in last December was the special cover which was collaborated with with the British trad "Harris tweed."
It was a porch type cover opened and closed by a zipper.
The feature of the zippers series was the capacious!
my HOBONICHI TECHO 2011 & 2010
Posted by sakurako at 12:05 AM
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Check out the Exclusive first Look Posters and Wallpapers of Ram, Rakul Preet Singh starrer upcoming film Pandaga Chesko which is directed by Gopichand Mallineni, Music Composed by SS Thaman,And Produced by Parachuri Kireeti Under the United Movies Banner. These are the Exclusive Posters from this film which are released as Sankranthi Special.
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How to work with children under foot {with The Land of Nod}
It's no secret that I spend my entire day with the children. And now that preschool has let out, I am really spending the ENTIRE DAY with ALL of the children. Most people assume that I have help. I don't. My help is Mr. Hedin and my parents who pitch in to make sure we can get stuff done but the biggest help is just keeping my children entertained.
That's where The Land of Nod comes in. When we were commiserating one afternoon about how challenging it is to get an email sent and sound intelligent while also keeping children entertained they suggested they come out and trick out our office so the children can play while we work.
I haven't actually told you yet, but Mr. Hedin and I work out of a decommissioned fire station. I'll let you think about that for a minute.
Yes, it's super cool. It wasn't when we bought it. It was only a super cool outside at that point and then Mr. Hedin made it super cool on the inside too. But there was still nothing to entertain the children except for a few crayons.
Our biggest problem now is getting our children to leave at the end of the day. They have so much fun playing at the station that they can't be pulled away for dinner. It's a great problem to have.
Do you have children around your office? How do you keep them entertained? Here are my top picks for occupying tiny fingers without resorting to movies on an iPad.
Compartment table from Land of Nod :: Red Herringbone Pouf :: Goldilocks Hand Puppet Set :: Artist's Surplus Jar :: Grey General Store Blanket
Oh, and I promise I'll go into the awesome fire station renovation next week. Promise.
Disclosure :: The Land of Nod provided toys for the children in return for a few blog posts and some general love. But since we love the store, the people, and the products, we would have done it anyway. Don't tell.


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I spent four days last week, as I do once or twice every year, attending a 'Bishops' Advisory Panel', as they are called. They are pretty gruelling experiences, no doubt for the candidates, but certainly also for those of us who are there as Advisers. You are shut up at close quarters with eight Christian men and women, all of whom have offered themselves for ordination, and your task is to advise the Bishops from their home dioceses whether they should go on to be trained. The days of the Panel are emotionally charged, to say the least. It feels almost as if you were closeted with eight people who had all proposed marriage, and you had to advise the other party whether to accept them or turn them down. Because when you offer yourself for ordination, it is your whole self that you offer, much as you do in marriage.
Some of the candidates this month were among the strongest I have come across in the sixteen or seventeen years that I have been involved in the process, and I came away very much encouraged by them. As you would expect, conversations are entirely confidential, but I want to share with you one thing that was said to me in the course of the Panel. All of the candidates, of course, were as well aware as every English Christian is bound to be that these are not easy days in which to make the Christian Gospel known. Trying to work out a proper response to that fact is meat and drink, or should be, to the whole Church of God. And I was struck by this remark from one of the candidates:
I have come to understand that God as he has shown himself to us in Jesus is so beautiful that he takes your breath away, but somehow to talk about him has become about as un-cool a thing as it is possible to do.
To read the rest of the Rectors Letter, please visit the webpage here


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Movie Review : Hellraiser (1987)
I've been obsessed with horror movies since early childhood. They were the forbidden fruit. The dangerous things my parents wanted to keep away from their son. Because of that, I've seen a lot of disturbing shit before turning 10, yet I've refused to watch the movie Hellraiser for several years. My reasons were simple and shallow: I thought Pinhead, the poster boy of the franchise, was trying too hard to scare me. I get it, you're the bad guy. The nails sticking out of your face gave you up. What other overt shit do you have in store for me? Turned out I was deliberately ignoring a genuine horror classic all these years. I've given Hellraiser my first viewing a couple weeks ago and it is complex, daring, original and hilariously dated. Technical limitations might've shaved some of the edge of it, but Hellraiser is still a very enjoyable cosmic horror movie.
Let's examine what makes it still so efficient and terrifying despite the uproarious use of claymation and animatronics.
Hellraiser is the story of obsessive hedonist Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) who stumbled upon an ancient relic called the Lament Configuration * on a pleasure-seeking trip to Morocco. Frank tries the puzzle box in the attic of his childhood home and summons nightmare creatures from another dimension when he solves it **. Chains start coming out of the walls and the Cenobites almost immediately pulverize his body trying to make him experience the pleasures of absolute pain. When Frank's dorky older brother Larry (Andrew Robinson) and his two-timing wife Julia (Clare Higgins) move into the house, Larry unwittingly resuscitates his sex-obsessed sibling by bleeding on the attic's floor and Frank wastes no time getting into Julia's head again. He needs to be fed horny middle-aged men in order to regenerate his body, leave the attic and forever escape the Cenobites. Because they are COMING FOR HIM!
So, what makes Hellraiser interesting and terrifying isn't just what happens on screen. An important part of the movie focuses on the abusive relationship between a strungout woman and a giant tendonitis who manipulates her into killing people. The underlying mythos is the terrifying part of Hellraiser. It is the terrifying part of any well-written cosmic horror story, really. An original mythos rewrites the history of the world and exposes the founding myths of society as simplistic and childlike. God and the Devil. Good and Evil. Pain and Pleasure. The Cenobites have been called angels and demons by men and yet are neither ***. Their existence confronts us to the unknowable depths of our origins and that, my friends, is some of the scariest fucking shit I can fathom.
I wouldn't dare reviewing Hellraiser without slipping a word about pain and pleasure, beautiful people. They ARE an important part of the story after all. They are the polar opposites of experience. What you seek and what you try to avoid at all cost and the philosophy governing the Cenobites' existence is that they are one and the same. They got a hold of Frank Cotton because of his reckless pursuit of the former, which was wonderfully predestined ****. Frank was not meant for a world that shies away from the extremes. The only moment where he is human in Hellraiser is when he actually opens the Lament Configuration and reaches torture/ecstasy/dismemberment. Otherwise he's depicted as a horny memory, a demon, a simile of his brother, he's never fully human. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if posthumous Frank exists at all. But c'mon. It's Clive Barker we're talking about here. Of course he does. If anything, he's a Cenobites ploy to unleash hell on earth. OK, I shut up now.
I loved Hellraiser for all the rights and the wrong reasons. It was somehow perfect for me to watch with two decades of perspective. Not only the technology used for special effects was dated, but some of its ideas would make social studies major scoffs out loud on Salon. I mean, Julia is hilariously strungout and out of control. She has sex with Frank ON HER GODDAMN WEDDING DRESS. What kind of evil wife-to-be does this? Hellraiser can get away with it though because it's from another era. The cosmic horror aspect of the movie still checks out 19 years later, though. Clive Barker's mythos is a tiny bit cartoonish with its BDSM obsession, but the question is raises about the sanctity of our origins is terrifying. The idea that depraved creatures like Cenobites are much closer to the secrets of the universes than us makes us feel silly and insignificant. Whether you've pouted Hellraiser for no good reason like me or you're planning a viewing for Halloween, it is twenty years strong and going. Good cosmic horror doesn't age!
* Also known as Lemarchand's box.
** Which, by the way, looks really easy. It was solved twice in the same freakin' film.
*** The Cenobites are rebranded as "creatures of hell" further along in the series, which complicates my argument but doesn't quite invalidate it. More on that next week.
**** The Moroccan merchant who sold Frank Lemarchand's box muttered under his breath that the box has always been his shortly after he leaves.