The Pursuit Of Happiness

The Pursuit Of Happiness In today's society, people spend their whole life searching for happiness. It can be argued that people will never find true happiness, because as humans, we don't know what it means to be truly happy. Many believe that achieving true happiness can only be done by achieving the American Dream first. However, once an individual achieves the American Dream, will he or she truly be happy? Is money happiness? Through characters Jay Gatsby from the novel "The Great Gatsby", and Christopher Gardner from the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness", true happiness will be compared and contrasted as it pertains to the American Dream and the two characters.James Gatsby was man who had completed the first step in achieving the American Dream. He had money, lots of it. He also had an enormous house with a huge property. Unfortunately, he didn't achieve his money the good old "American way".Leonardo DiCaprio at the Body of Lies film premier...He didn't work honestly for his money. He was a bootlegger wh o used Drug Stores as a front to sell liquor. His motivation in making all this money was his only love Daisy. On the outside, Gatsby was living the life and there was nothing more a man could want in life. On the inside he was lonely, and the only thing he wanted, money couldn't buy. Although Gatsby's big mansion was flashy and impressed Daisy, she could never leave her husband. This goes to show that money can't buy you happiness.Christopher Gardner is the complete opposite of Jay Gatsby. Here is a man who never had lady luck by his side in his life. He had to work hard and honestly for his money. There was no easy street for this man. He had a wife and son who he had to support. I believe Christopher...

Enter to win a pass to the Nonfiction Writers Online Conference or membership in the Nonfiction Authors Association

Enter to win a pass to the Nonfiction Writers Online Conference or membership in the Nonfiction Authors Association Contest Alert! Enter to win a pass to the Nonfiction Writers Online Conference or membership in the Nonfiction Authors Association NOTE: As of April 4, the winners have been chosen! BIG CONGRATS to Lula Lucy at Lulalucy.com for winning a Gold access pass to the Nonfiction Writers Conference, and KUDOS to Carolyn Howard Johnson for winning the Authority Membership in the NF Authors Association for a full year!!!! And thanks for all who entered. Wow well over   200 entries!   DOUBLE NOTE: The conference is May 2-4, and I assume some of you are still interested in attending. If so, use this link to sign up and mention FUNDSFORWRITERS35. Youll get 35% off the sign up fee.   FundsforWriters has teamed up with the Nonfiction Writers Conference and Nonfiction Authors Association to host an EASY contest. Two winners will be selected at random to receive one of two great prizes: A Gold access pass to the Nonfiction Writers Conference, happening May 2-4, 2018 (this event is virtual- no travel required!). Value: $225 Authority membership in the Nonfiction Authors Association for a full year! Value: $190 How to Enter: This is a blog comment contest so all you need to do to enter is post a comment below that answers this question: What are your top three writing goals this year? That’s right, simply answer the above question in the comment area below. Feel free to include your book title if applicable and a link to your website. Remember to include your email address when you register your comment so that we can contact you if you win! This contest will run from March 16 to April 1, 2018. (Winners announced April 3, 2018.) About the Prizes One winner will receive a Gold Access pass to the 8th annual Nonfiction Writers Conference, happening May 2-4, 2018 and featuring opening keynote speaker Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, and The Four Tendencies. Event speakers will cover how to write, publish, promote and profit with a book! NFWC is completely virtual- all sessions are delivered via phone or Skype. Your Gold pass includes all event recordings, an invitation to our attendees-only Facebook group, and access to our Ask-a-Pro sessions- complimentary 15-minute consulting sessions with industry experts, delivered via phone or Skype. Learn more about NFWC: http://NonfictionWritersConference.com/register-nfwc-2018/ One winner will also receive a full year of Authority membership in the Nonfiction Authors Association, a vibrant community for writers. Membership includes access to recordings from weekly teleseminars with industry experts, marketing â€Å"homework† sent via email each week, exclusive templates, checklists and other content, discounts off our year-round Nonfiction Book Awards and Nonfiction Writers Conference, and discounts with our partners including IngramSpark, Office Depot and more. Learn more about NFAA:  https://NonfictionAuthorsAssociation.com Additional Contest Guidelines Open to legal residents of the United States, age 18 or older. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited. The Sweepstakes is governed Two winners will be chosen at random to receive the prizes listed above. The specifics of the prize shall be solely determined Enter Below to Win! Post your comment What are your top three writing goals this year? Thanks for joining us- and feel free to share this contest with your writer friends!  Ã‚   C. Hope Clark, Editor, FundsforWriters.com

The Impact of Using Multimedia for College Students Research Paper

The Impact of Using Multimedia for College Students - Research Paper Example Nowadays, technology has been the number one accessible source of information around the world and its remarkable continuity gets to blow up as the years go by. In fact, it has become a feasible and possible preference to people especially to those who are into learning. It has given an opportunity for a new learning net to be born. Certainly, multimedia and online learning nurture information that is merely pertinent, applicable, and significant for the college students. Furthermore, it would be best inculcated to them if multimedia is interactive and the control of it solely relies on the learner. So as for example, in a live chat with a student who is shy, inspirational videos such as believing in one’s self; can encourage the student, even more, to believe in herself. As the college students continue to explore what life has to offer, engaging in the learning process results in a better exploration as they see it through an enhanced multimedia instruction. Online learning, or sometimes being referred to as distance learning, is an educational medium of instruction through the use of Internet. Its objectives are aligned with the same with the goals one would find in a traditional classroom setup. However, the instruction can take place anytime and anywhere. Through this, the essence of learning is occurring, thus, provides a convenient avenue of educating students. Nonetheless, multimedia is a mode of communication that includes text, graphics, sounds, and the like.

The Marketing Mix applied to a fast mocing consumer product Essay

The Marketing Mix applied to a fast mocing consumer product - Essay Example Customers tend to have built up brand loyalty due to the sentimental value that the branding has created over the years. For older customers, it may remind them of their own childhood days when their kids eat them and as for kids they will carry the memories on to their net generation. The Target customer of Cadbury associates sentimental value to it and thus Cadbury has become habitual for them. The packaging has been consistent during the last decades. The only changes have been in sies .The packaging is localized (in local language) to communicate the message of Cadbury to the customers. The packaging emphasizes on the brand color association i.e. Purple and all Cadbury dairy milk chocolates have the same solid purple color in their packaging. The packaging of Cadbury for the customers is convenient. It serves the function of keeping the chocolate fresh and crisp until consumption. It provides the health facts on its packaging for the health conscious people in their local language. The packaging of Cadbury, and the variants that are being offered, are made to suit the requirements of the customers. Thus the target customer of Cadbury dairy Milk seek: - The graphics on the Cadbury Dairy milk chocolate include the net weight, graphics showing the components i.e. milk pouring into chocolate bars, the positioning statement "more to share", barcode indicating shelf life, instructions to discard wrapper in the bin and diagrams showing it is best for consumption of vegetarians The target customer of Cadbury is: - 1. Health Conscious 2. Has positive response to the Cadbury Dairy Milk brand name 3. Likes to share the special moments in life with other people as demonstrated by the positioning statement. 4. Is conscious of the freshness of the product he is consuming 5. Best suited as an in between meals snack for vegetarians. Product support services Unsold bars that have exceeded their shelf life can be returned to the manufacturers The target customer: - 1 wants value for money and is quality conscious and can easily shift to other brands if their favorite brand does not deliver the quality it promises. Price Product mi pricing Cadbury Schweppes, the Australian Cadbury manufacturing company, has a diversified product mi and follows a market segmentation strategy focusing on different market segments some brands include Cherry Ripe, Crunchie, Freddo The target customer of Cadbury is: - Varying tastes The target customers are from different age groups Freddo is strictly for kids, Cadbury is for teenagers The target customers have different, localize tastes in different markets for example the target customers of Australia prefer the cherry flavor so for them the unique

Tiny Little Hands Essay Example for Free

Tiny Little Hands Essay It was like any other night for Shelly Mason as she drove home from the office. Her journey took her through Black Cross Woods, the area where the infamous Black Cross murders took place. Legend had it that a man named Travis Burkton lured children into the woods and murdered them brutally. However the police investigation was discontinued some twenty years ago and nobody was ever arrested. Shelly saw a road sign ahead, illuminated by the glare of her cars headlights, it read, You are now entering Black Cross Please drive safely. Shelly hated these roads and always feared crashing on them, due to the fact there was nothingness for a good two miles in any direction. The roads were thin and wound through the dark, thick woodland of Black Cross. The road was lined with tall fir trees on either side, which meant none of the light from the moon reached the dark, dark road. Despite the fact Shelly was logical and strong-minded, she always felt a little unnerved when driving on this road. Perhaps it was the legend that scared her even thought she told herself it couldnt be true. She reached for a tape to listen to as she drove, that always relaxed her. The tape slipped out of her fingers and Shelly bent down to pick it up, keeping one hand on the wheel. When her head emerged she saw someone on the road in front of her car. Shelly instinctively swerved to avoid hitting the figure on the road and her car jack-knifed across the road and smashed into a tree. Smoke rose from the buckled bonnet of the car and the passenger window bore a large crack. Shelly instantly thought about the person in the road and knew she should check if they were all right. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to get out of the car but screamed at what she saw. In the side window she saw the face of a young girl who looked no older that six, staring in at her. The girl eyes were wide and frightened and where her jawbone should be was a bloody void. Shelly panicked and backed away onto the passenger seat. The girl raised her bloodstained hands to the window of the car and rubbed them against the glass leaving tiny bloody fingerprints on the window. The thick stench of blood filled the cold car and Shelly knew she had to escape from this unnatural incident. Things she had heard about the Black Cross murders filled her head. People disappeared in these woods all the time, so people said, but Shelly hadnt believed them until now. She turned the key in the ignition to try and start the car again. The engine spluttered and groaned but refused to start; she was trapped. Shelly looked at the road again, looking for the lights of the nearest down. They were far in the distance, at least a mile to walk to. As her eyes darted around she saw figures emerging from the tree line on the other side of the road. They were walking slowly and as they grew closer Shelly realised they were all children. Each child had the same sickening features; a bloody hole instead of a jawbone, wide frightened eyes and bloodstained little hands. Shelly was petrified, she put her head down and prayed. God answered her as she noticed her cell phone was on the floor of the car. She quickly grabbed it and keyed in 911 and cried to the operator to send a police car to Black Cross woods. The operator said that the car was on its way and Shelly felt a degree of safety. She kept her head in her hands and her eyes screwed up tightly until a knock on her window caused her to jump back. Her comfort came when she heard, Its alright maam, Im a police officer. Shelly slowly opened her car door and stepped out into the cold, pitch-black night. What seems to be the problem? questioned the officer. T-They was here, all around the car. Shelly replied shakily. Who was here, miss? Asked the officer Theres nobody on these roads except you. Shelly looked confused but was relieved they had left her alone. She was even more relieved when the police officer offered her a lift back to town. In the drive in the police car nothing unusual happened. Shelly told the officer what had happened to her that night but he seemed unwilling to believe her. When the car pulled up outside the station in the town, the officer asked Shelly to come inside. Shelly obliged of course and was horrified to find that the officer wanted her to spend the night in a cell. Im not crazy! she yelled, I am not making all this up! Why wont you believe me? The officer stared at her for a moment then lead her to an empty cell. The cell was nothing more than a small room with a windowless steel door. Try and have some sleep miss, it is late. We can talk things over in the morning. Shelly sat in the corner of her dimly lit cell and tried to forget the events of this night, but knew they would haunt her for a lifetime. As the thoughts ran through Shellys mind, the bulb in the room flickered and went out and in the darkness she felt tiny little hands grasping at her throat. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

Dinosaurs And Birds Essay example -- Archeology Dinosaurs Birds Essays

Dinosaurs and Birds   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Are birds really dinosaurs or are they simply related? That is a question that has gained new life in recent years due to the overwhelming facts the are pouring in from newly found fossils and studies from fossils that have been found in the past. Two groups have formed in the study of this question: those who believe birds are a direct result of dinosaurs and those who feel dinosaurs and birds must have had a common ancestor. Determining which view is correct is a matter of opinion based on fact. The main problem involves the use of cladistics or phylogenetic systematics to group organisms according to characteristics they share. When one looks at dinosaur fossils, he or she may feel that certain characteristics are used for something entirely different than someone else who has looked at the same fossil.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One cannot talk about dinosaur and bird lineage without mentioning Archaeopteryx. Most paleontologists agree that Archaeopteryx was the first bird. Archaeopteryx thus represents what paleontologists would call a â€Å"transitional form† between two major groups of animals, the reptiles (dinosaurs) and birds. The main difference between the theropods and Archaeopteryx were the long arms of the Archaeopteryx, adapted as wings, the feathers, and the presence of a wishbone that the theropods did not have. All of these features tie it to birds and its other characteristics tie it to theropods. One might say it was the â€Å"missing link† between the ...

STATE OF THE ART OF ICT IN CONSTRUCTION

IntroductionSustainable development is an basically ( socially and scientifically ) contested impression, because it is inherently complex, normative, subjective and equivocal ( Kasemir et al. , 2003 ) . Anthropogenic CO2 emanations have been turning approximately four times faster since 2000 than during the old decennary, and despite attempts to control emanations in a figure of states which are signers of the Kyoto Protocol [ 1 ] ( Global Carbon Project, 2008 ) . The ratio of 1:5:200 is a cardinal index of edifice lifecycle costs where ; 1 represents building cost, 5 nowadayss care and edifice operation cost and 200 is the concern cost. In other words, the edifice whole life cost is five times the building cost ( Loh et al. , 200x ) .LITERATURE REVIEWBuilding DESIGN PROCESSAs a procedure, constructing design procedure happens anterior to building procedure. The building procedure purposes to present the design into a physical world ( Kagioglou, et al. , 2000 ) . Design procedure is considered to be one of the chief barriers or enablers to the presenting undertakings on clip, to budget and specified quality ( Bibby et al. , 2003 ) . Harmonizing to Bibby ( 2003 ) the design accounts for 3-10 % of the entire undertaking cost whilst the design procedure influences up to 70 % of the concluding cost ( Bibby et al. , 2003 ) – one time the entire information for the undertaking is generated and issued for the building stage ( Gray and Hughes, 2006 ) . A hapless design public presentation is a major cause for the building holds and defects which is more important than those ensuing from hapless craft and site direction ( Bibby et al. , 2003 ) . A good design procedure is synonymous with the building procedure ( BIS, 2008 ) , and a good building procedure is the 1 that benefits from the effectual co-ordination and cooperation that is implemented earlier in the design procedure ( Kagioglou, et al. , 2000 ) . However, findings from related litera ture shows that constructing design procedure has been earnestly neglected ( Bibby, 2003 ) , inconsistently managed ( Tzortzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 ) , seldom explored and exemplified in the yesteryear ( Freire and Alarcon, 2002 ) . Austin et al. , ( 2002 ) and Magent et al. , ( 2009 ) states that a hapless design procedure is the consequence of hapless communicating between stakeholders ; hapless timing of determinations ; uncertainness in the design brief ; deficiency of relevant competences within design directors ; uneffective coaction ; small apprehension of the interdisciplinary nature of design ; and weak and inconsiderate determination devising. The design procedure is a complex activity which requires co-ordination between client, designers, undertaking directors, structural applied scientists, edifice services applied scientists and selling advisers ( Tzortzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 and ; Magent et al. , 2009 ) .Definition of Design ProcessDesign as a generic term is defined otherwise by different spheres and persons ( Cooper and Press, 1995 ) . The design procedure itself is considered to be a extremely complex mental procedure where there is no universally accepted theoretical account to map the proce dure of design ( Gray and Hughes, 2006 ; Lawson, 2006 ; Tzortzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 and Magent et al. , 2009 ) . However, harmonizing to Cooper and Press ( 1995 ) the definition of design procedure in literature is approached from two positions ; foremost, as besides put frontward by Lawson ( 2006 ) , it is a personal activity, i.e. , undertaking of job resolution activity and ; secondly, it is a strategic planning procedure of merchandise development. The former seeks to understand how a interior decorator tackles a specific job ( internal originative procedure ) and latter is described as the external productive procedure of design as portion of a ‘total procedure ‘ of merchandise development which is in our instance is edifices ( Cooper and Press 1995 ; Gray and Hughes, 2006 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . For the intents of this survey, the design ‘s function is considered to be a cardinal facet in apprehension of the edifice design procedure or the entire p rocedure ; therefore it is of import to analyse the current literature to happen out how the design issues are tackled by interior decorators. Whilst there are different methods of job resolution, affecting different accomplishments and manners of idea ( Cooper and Press, 1995 ; Gray and Hughes, 2006 ; Lawson, 2006 and ; Zunde and Bougdah, 2006 ) , the signifier of the design procedure is thought to follow a non-linear and non-logical order ( Gray and Hughes, 2006 ; Tunstall, 2006 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . Lawson ( 2006 ) defines the design procedure as a method of analyzing a job. He states that design procedure involves a sequence of activities where the design is initiated with analysis ; reading of the brief by analyzing and apprehension of the client ‘s demands, synthesis ; bring forthing one or more solutions, assessment ; testing of those solutions against some explicit or inexplicit standards and feedback ; pass oning the solution to the parties involved with the undertaking. Some interior decorators besides work in the way of ‘feedback, assessment, synthesis and analysis ‘ which is an Ã¢â‚¬Ë œintuitive ‘ manner of proving possible solutions or thoughts to see if the reply satisfies the brief ( Tunstall, 2006 ) . Gray and Hughes ( 2006 ) besides propose a similar position where the procedure is in consecutive phases, nevertheless a more realistic attack has been put frontward and the phases in the procedure is considered to be iterative and cyclical alternatively of a additive and systematic procedure. Furthermore, Magent et al. , ( 2009 ) high spots that most of the proficient, i.e. technology based signifiers of design, follow a chiseled sequences of phases whereas architectural procedure theoretical accounts tend to be more iterative, cyclical and descriptive which is influenced by many parametric quantities within the context, such as alterations in client ‘s demands, complexness and engineering, et cetera. The above illustration of the design procedure by Lawson ( 2006 ) provides a good penetration into interior decorators ‘ input to the undertaking and the ground behind their judgements for some of the important determinations they undertake, nevertheless, as opposed by Hughes ( 2003 ) , it does non supply a good systematic footing for pull offing the procedure. Findingss from the literature reviewed draws our attending to the sheer complexness of the design processes which makes it highly hard or impossible to come up with a generic definition of design procedure. An apprehension of the design procedure is critical to a undertaking ‘s success, as the design procedure determines many facets of the concluding merchandise, finally the lives of the end-users of the merchandise ( Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . However, from the literature reviewed it seems common that most interior decorators in building industry usage multiple methods for design procedure which is finally influenced by the undertaking, complexness, client and procurement path adopted ( Tunstall, 2006 and ; Magent et al. , 2009 ) .The Design ProcessWhile there is a much research on betterment of the design procedure through undertaking direction, concurrent technology, design procedure rating methods, procedure theoretical accounts, thin design procedure, value direction, IT su pport, and new organisational signifiers, most of these are considered to miss a solid conceptual foundation and supply a satisfactory solution to the above mentioned jobs ( Ballard and Koskela, 1998 ; Tzortzopoulos and Formosso, 1999 ; Austin et al. , 2002 ; Freire and Alarcon, 2002 ; Bibby, 2003 ; Magent et al. , 2009 and ; Austin et al. , 2007 ) . This survey will specifically try to specify two procedures ; the RIBA Plan of Work and Analytical Design Process Technique ( ADePT ) , to place the assorted activities related to the function and duties of design directors.The RIBA Plan of WorkLiterature reappraisal findings show that there is no universally accepted theoretical account of the design procedure ( Cooper and Press 1995 ; Austin et al. , 2002 ; Gray and Hughes, 2006 ; Tunstall, 2006 ; Magent et al. , 2009 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . In UK the current edifice design procedure is managed by the RIBA Outline Plan of Work which was foremost published in 1964. Historically , it was used as a tool to steer disposal of undertakings. In add-on to this, the RIBA Plan of Work was used to find what the client will acquire and what the designers and other members of the design squad must make in order to have the staged payments ( Lawson, 2006 ) . Although the program of work has remained mostly unchanged until 2007, the updated RIBA Plan of Work program has responded to some of the jobs that accumulated over the clip to reflect the current nomenclatures and procurement methods ( RIBA, 2007 ) , i.e. those stated in Egan ( 1998, 2004 ) studies. Comparison of the reviewed literature on design procedure and RIBA Plan of Work shows that the format and sequence of phases defined in RIBA Plan of Work follows those four stages explored in subdivision 3.1.1. It was pointed out that the sequence of these stages were non needfully consecutive but more iterative and cyclic. This is besides acknowledged by RIBA which accepts that work phases may change or they may overlap each other ( RIBA, 2007 ) . There are five cardinal work phases in RIBA Plan of Work which are: Preparation, Design, Pre-Construction, Construction and Use, which each is farther subdivided into more elaborate set of activities. Stages A to F1 of the Plan of Work covers the edifice design procedure and comprises of assorted activities include general undertakings and deliverables for the cardinal work phases ( Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . These are: Appraisal, Design Brief, Concept, Design Development, Technical Design and Production Information ( RIBA, 2007 ) . Gathering of information on client ‘s demands and aims and concern instance is captured during Appraisal phase to originate the procedure. During Phase B, survey of the job is produced in Design Brief which includes a comprehensive study information, audiences with appropriate people/authorities before coming up with possible design solutions. In Stage C an outline proposals or construct designs are prepared based on the findings from old survey and any restraints and restrictions that influence the undertaking are presented to the client. Upon blessing from the client, the construct thought is prepared into a coherent working proposition in Stage D, Design Development. During Stage E most of the design characteristics are froze and proficient design and specifications is carried out to fix a elaborate information bundle for the following phase, Production Information- F1 ( RIBA, 2008 ) .What are the virtues and demerits of utilizing RIBA Plan of Work?The RIBA Plan of Work is t he most adoptive and used theoretical account of the edifice design procedure in the UK ( Austin et al. , 1999 ; Hughes, 2003 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . Its wide-use within the building industry and endurance over 47 old ages shows how powerful it is for the design and building procedures. Another advantage of it being its application to the different types of procurance methods selected. Based on the type of procurance method, there is a assorted different combination of possible convergence between the work phases to keep the consistence ( RIBA, 2007 ) . The RIBA Plan of Work is a normative theoretical account which provides really elaborate description of the operational work that has to be done for the bringing of the full undertaking ( Hughes, 2003 and ; Lawson, 2006 ) , nevertheless it does non specifically state what to make for the design procedure or how it should be carried out ( Lawson, 2006 ) . The stages A-F1 of the RIBA Plan of Work require inputs and determinations from a big figure of stakeholders who influences the design in different ways. Engagement and duties of different spheres or persons in each phase varies, nevertheless, the undertakings or activities are neither clearly defined nor distinguished within each phase ( Austin et al. , 2002 and ; Hughes, 2003 ) . Another failing of RIBA Plan of Work is its original purpose of map which is designed from an architectural position, with the designers clearly portrayed as the director and leader of the design squad ( Lawson, 2006 ) . In this regard, the RIBA Plan of Wo rk seems to be over reliant on designers to pattern, program and pull off the design procedure, which is now going a more specialised division of duty ( Gray and Hughes, 2006 ) . In response to the sustainable edifice design procedure which is recognized as one of the of import elements of sustainable edifices ( Edwards, 2007 ) , the RIBA has published Green Guide to the Architect ‘s Job Book- 2nd Edition ( Halliday, 2007 ) , to use the sustainability considerations to the each work phase of the Plan of Works. In add-on to this, the SUE-MoT Consortium ( 2009 ) has identified a definition of cardinal sustainability undertakings and deliverables in relation to the phases A-F1 of RIBA Plan of Work 2007, which is attached in Appendix A. However, from the literature covered at that place seems to be limited survey concentrating on their execution to the sustainable undertakings as the procedures are re-defined and reinvented on a project-by-project footing ( Magent et al. , 2009 ) .AceThere are assorted research groups and 10s of be aftering techniques and ICT tools available to map the design procedure for edifices ( Kagioglou et al. , 2000 ) , nevertheless bulk of these are still at experimental phase and ne'er been applied in pattern ( Emmitt et al. , 2009 ) . Among these tools is the Analytic Design Planning Technique ( ADePT ) , which seeks to map the design activities by different people to efficaciously be after and pull off the design stage of building undertakings ( Austin et al. , 2000 ) . Since its debut in 2000, the ADePT technique has been farther developed and improved and now it is going progressively popular in building undertakings worldwide ( Newton et al. , 2007 ) . In simple footings the ADePT methodological analysis consists of four phases: ( I ) foremost, a theoretical account of the edifice design procedure is produced demoing the dependences and relationships between the design activities ; ( two ) in the 2nd phase, a construction matrix is produced to place the sequence of the procedures based on the dependences between activities and the loop within the procedure ; ( three ) in the 3rd phase, the matrix analysis is linked to a 3rd party planning and scheduling bundle to stand for the design procedure and ; ( four ) eventually, the design procedure is monitored and work flow is controlled ( Newton et al. , 2007 ) . Benefits of utilizing ADePT technique has been highlighted in an article by Newton et Al, ( 2007 ) which identifies important advantages gained from implementing it on varied undertakings. Particularly its impact on design co-ordination, alteration direction and design end product has been identified as to be significantly good to the undertakings it has been applied to ( Newton et al. , 2007 ) . From the instance surveies covered, benefits of ADePT technique can be summarized as ( Austin et al. , 2000 and ; Newton et al. , 2007 ) :Greater certainty in design co-ordination and direction,Improved efficiency on design procedure saves money on design fee outgo, and benefits the building procedure by bettering the plan public presentation,Savingss on clip and labor costs due to effectual direction of hazards in complex undertakings,Low investing cost and high rate of return ( around 80 % over a 9 month detailed design procedure ) ,Improved coaction through web enabled interface and handi ness to practising contrivers, undertaking directors and interior decorators.DESIGN MANAGEMENTDefinitionLiterature reviewed shows that, plan direction function is by and large undertaken by the designers who usually act as design leader or, lead advisers who are responsible for organizing and incorporating the work of other design advisers and specializers ( RIBA, 2008 ) . However, the profession as a separate subject in building has emerged in response to legion issues and studies which highlighted its demand in building undertakings ( Latham, 1994 ; Egan, 1999 ; Kagioglou et al. , 2000 ; Bibby, 2003 ; Bibby et al. , 2003a ; Gray and Hughes 2006 ; Tunstall, 2006 ; Tzorzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 ; Emmitt et al. , 2009 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . These can be loosely categorized as the increased figure of specialised subjects, complexness of the building undertakings, development of new types of procurance methods and turning outgrowth of collaborative working ( Gray and Hughes 20 06 ) . Harmonizing to Gray and Hughes ( 2006 ) design direction function is co-ordination of the design undertaking to guarantee the set aims are delivered within the in agreement parametric quantities. Bibby ( 2003 ) defines design direction as a professional subject which separates the direction map of a undertaking ‘s design stage from the design map. While Emmitt ( 2007 ) describes the function from an designer ‘s position as an information direction and coordination map. Consequently, the design direction function operates at two degrees ; ( I ) at corporate degree ; design direction is formalized as a map in the undertaking squad and ; ( two ) at operational degree, as a participative function in the design procedure ( Emmitt et al. , 2009 ) . Although the function is thought to divide up into two classs, they are interconnected and interact with each other ( Emmitt et al. , 2009 ) . Gray and Hughes ( 2006 ) link the function straight to the Latham and Egan studies which laid the foundations for the ‘Design Management ‘ profession. Indeed, both the Latham and Egan studies challenged the building industry for the integrating of the design, procurance and building procedures ( Mills and Glass, 2009 ) to better its efficiency, quality of service and merchandises ( Tunstall, 2006 ) . As a consequence of new procurance paths, such as design and physique ( D & A ; B ) , design-bid-build ( DBB ) , Public Private Partnership ( PPP ) and Private Finance Imitative ( PFI ) ( Tzorzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 ) , contractors were expected to hold an increased duty for the control and direction of the edifice design procedure ( Bibby et al. , 2006 ) . Originally contractors used to use external adviser designers and applied scientists to develop the design, but to cut down wastage in the design and building procedure and to keep their fight, design direction has evolv ed as a ‘must have ‘ profession for the most contractors ( Tzorzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 ) . Today D & A ; B histories for the 30 % of the undertakings, whilst the UK authorities, which is the major client of the industry, is set to increase the usage of these types of procurance paths in public sector building undertakings ( Office of Government Commerce, 2006 ) . Harmonizing to the Strategic Forum for Construction ( 2008 ) , the recent marks set by authorities purposes to increase incorporate project squads 40 % of undertakings and supply ironss to 30 % of undertakings which shows that the tendency will be improbable to waver. Harmonizing to Mills and Glass ( 2009 ) , the stray development of the profession, i.e. without a professional organic structure entirely for building design directors, and varied position of the different professionals involved in design has resulted in disconnected development of the profession ( Tzorzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 ) . In fact, from the literature reviewed, the Design Management profession seems to be a ‘developing ‘ one instead than a ‘developed ‘ one ( Mills and Glass, 2009 ) , therefore several definitions appear to be in circulation. For the intents of this survey design direction is defined as the co-ordination, control and communicating of the edifice design procedure whilst incorporating with the undertaking squad to present a high quality edifice. Findingss from literature reappraisal conclude that there are legion drivers and barriers to plan direction pattern. Harmonizing to Bibby et al. , ( 2003 ) there are eight concerns in design procedure which needs a great trade of attending to pull off the procedure of design more efficaciously. These are either straight or indirectly stated in the old subdivision, but to repeat, these are ( Austin et al. , 2000 ; Kagioglou et al. , 2000 ; Bibby et al. , 2003 ; Bibby, 2003a ; Austin et al. , 2007 ; Tzorzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 ; Magent et al. , 2009 ) :the complexness of the design procedure due to its cyclic and iterative nature,high volume of information exchange, analysis and coordination,increasing complexness of the edifice and its contents every bit good as increasing figure of stakeholders involved in the undertakings ;design alterations,unstructured and ill defined/detailed design procedure and,hapless information coordination.To sum up, the literature reviewed identified leg ion issues related to plan procedure and design direction function. Although there is a considerable sum of literature trying to specify, describe and analyse the profession, it seems from the literature covered that the profession is still germinating and efforts to suggest solutions to above jobs rely on the unstable foundation of a ailing defined and fragmented profession.Duties and FunctionsAs already stated above, findings from the literature show that at that place seems to be a deficiency of consensus on definition of design direction ( Cooper and Press, 1995 ; Mills and Glass ; 2009 ) . Consequently, there is a ‘role ambiguity ‘ within the design directors in the industry ( Tzorzopoulos and Cooper, 2007 ) . Research by Tzortzopoulos and Cooper, ( 2007 ) have identified that both the industry and building design directors themselves lack the cognition and apprehension of design procedures and design directors ‘ intent. Tunstall, ( 2006 ) suggests that this i s possibly because of the assortment of procurement types as interior decorators ‘ functions and duties will change with the type of procurance adopted for each undertaking. However, as pointed out by Tzortzopoulos and Cooper ( 2007 ) , it is besides related to the current design directors who are from varied non-design backgrounds and miss effectual direction of the design procedure. Although a generic definition of design management-which is accepted by all stakeholders, is yet to be defined, their core duty can be summarized to include following ( Press and Cooper, 1995 ; Gray and Hughes, 2006 ; Lawson, 2006 ; Tzortzopoulos and Cooper 2007 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) :Planning and disposal of the design procedure right from briefing/appraisal of the undertaking,Organizing and supervising the design activities,Forming undertaking design paperss and control of systems,Communicating with the relevant stakeholders during different phases,Measuring the quality of the design pr ocedure.A more elaborate survey on design directors ‘ functions and duties, in relation to the RIBA Plan of Work, is explored and attached in Appendix B. In add-on to this, a elaborate analysis of design directors ‘ functions and duties is besides explored in Appendix C. Findings from the literature reappraisal identified that the above mentioned points are covered in assorted phases of the RIBA Plan of Work. As already mentioned before, the pre-construction phases of RIBA Plan of Work ( A to F1 ) are by and large unfastened ended, and phases usually overlap. So in the assessment phase, depending on the experience of the client, cognition and attack, design directors either affect actively or passively in the assessment procedure ( Tunstall, 2006 ) . These phases involve tonss of information assemblage and determination devising to enable the design squad to come up with solutions to jobs identified earlier in the briefing procedure ( Austin et al. , 2002 ) . In the unde rmentioned phases, nevertheless, design directors are actively involved in put to deathing, organizing, monitoring, planning, resourcing, and measuring broad scope of undertakings ( Austin et al. , 2002 ; Gray and Hughes, 2006 ; Lawson, 2006 ; Tunstall, 2006 ; Tzortzopoulos and Cooper 2007 ; Magent et al. , 2009 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . Design directors at assorted phases will necessitate to do single determinations as some parametric quantities in the design or in the brief will still be unsure, so, coordination of gradual development of procedure elements will be one of their nucleus duty ( Austin et al. , 2002 and ; Gray and Hughes, 2006 ) . Changes can be ineluctable after design reappraisals ( Emmitt, 2007 ) , therefore planning, coordination, execution, monitoring and rating is besides found to be their chief functions in the design procedure. Design directors are besides considered to be cardinal in the web of design processing, through procurance into building, commis sioning and handover ( Tzortzopoulos and Cooper 2007 ) . This implies that they are expected to play an active portion within the larger web of activities ; interceding and organizing design squad, the client, subcontractors, and assorted other stakeholders ( Tzortzopoulos and Cooper 2007 ) . For illustration they are expected to resource and lend to the building procedure certification such as Health and Safety issues, hazard appraisals and the demands of Construction Design Management Regulations ( CDM ) statute laws etc. ( Tunstall, 2006 ) . In add-on to general functions and duties of design directors, their duty in relation to the sustainable building is besides an every bit of import country to cover. In a wide context, design directors are considered to hold an of import duty and play a cardinal function in accomplishing the sustainability aims of a undertaking as their engagement in early phases of the undertaking determines many facets of the concluding merchandise ( Bibby, 2003, Magent et al. , 2009 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . They are one of the key participants in coaction ( Gray and Hughes, 2006 ) . Collaboration between design directors and people involved in the design and building procedure is portion of a wider web which portions the same undertaking objectives- particularly sustainability aims. In decision, it appears from the literature covered that there is a general consensus among bookmans and practicians that elucidation is needed as to what plan direction encompasses every bit good as what their boundaries are, as they are required to execute a diverse scope of undertakings ( Cooper and Press, 1995 ; Tzortzopoulos and Cooper 2007 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . Mills and Glass ( 2009 ) elucidates that the troubles in specifying design directors ‘ functions is due to lacks in current definitions of design directors ‘ accomplishments. Along with accomplishments shortage, deficiency of authorization which limits their possible influence on the procedures, deficiency of consideration by stakeholders ( peculiarly clients ) and involuntariness of the building industry to alter, organize a barrier to picture consensus on many facets of design direction ( Bibby at al. , 2003, Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . Besides, findings from the literature reviewed reveal that the current day-to-day activities of design directors ‘ are excessively obscure to place. In add-on to this, it seems that the undertakings they undertake for any sustainability related issues are non well researched. This is an country where a farther survey is needed to place their precise function, engagement, and determinations which impacts the sustainable development or sustainability appraisal of their undertakingsSkills for Design ManagementTo carry through their functions and duties design directors need appropriate accomplishments in order to transport out the assortment of undertakings related to their work. There are assorted ideas and suggestions into what design directors should be equipped with ( Press and Cooper, 1995 ; Bibby et al. , 2003 ; Gray and Hughes, 2006 ; Tzortzopoulos and Cooper 2007 ; CIOB, 2007 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . From the literature reviewed generic accomplishments of the design directors can be categorized into ; ( a ) Technical accomplishments, ( B ) Managerial accomplishments and ; ( degree Celsius ) Communication accomplishments. The above mentioned accomplishments are really wide and obscure descriptions of the accomplishments that a design director should posses. However, from the literature reviewed specifying the accomplishments of design directors is non every bit straightforward as placing the functions and duties of design directors ( Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . The Chartered Institute of Building ( CIOB ) gives an thought of their outlook from alumnuss of design direction programmes and what skills they should be equipped with to go a hired member, which include ( CIOB, 2007 ) :ability to get, develop and utilize communicating accomplishments,ability to procedure, usage and present analytical information,ability to utilize basic ICT accomplishments,ability to work with others,ability to self-organize, program and pull off a personal acquisition programme,an apprehension and application of wellness and safety to working environment.Similarly, Tzortzopoulos and Cooper propose seven indispensable accomplis hments for design directors: â€Å" ( I ) design procurance, ( two ) commercial interface, ( three ) undertaking criterions, ( four ) design coordination, ( V ) design confirmation, ( six ) programme and public presentation measuring and, ( seven ) undertaking systems ( IT focused ) † ( 2007 ) . One extra point to be noted in here is that, from the bulk the literature reviewed, three subjects are strongly emphasized as the nucleus accomplishment required from design directors, ( a ) communicating, ( B ) team-working and, ( degree Celsius ) managerial accomplishments ( Press and Cooper, 1995 ; Bibby et al. , 2003 ; Gray and Hughes, 2006 ; Tunstall, 2006 ; Emmitt, 2007 ; Tzortzopoulos and Cooper 2007 ; CIOB, 2007 ; 2009 ; Emmit et al. , 2009 ; Magent et al. , 2009 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . Although there are limited surveies which looks into design directors ‘ accomplishments, the 1s available ( Bibby, et al. , 2003 ; Tzortzopoulos and Cooper 2007 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) describe the similar jobs presently faced in the industry. While Bibby et al. , ( 2003 ) and Tzortzopoulos and Cooper ( 2007 ) place the accomplishments demand from a contractor ‘s position, Mills and Glass ( 2009 ) looks into drivers and barriers to accomplishments shortage within the design direction function today. All studies identify that there is a demand for accomplishments acquisition and accomplishments betterment to present undertakings which is on programme, to budget and hazard free ( Bibby, et al. , 2003 ) . Mills and Glass ( 2009 ) travel further to stipulate what skills/attributes would be most good to skills acquisition, i.e. proficient cognition, understanding and consciousness of the design procedure, passion leading, experience and communicating, and what would be n eeded to better the current accomplishments of design directors, for illustration, traveling through continual professional development ( CPD ) and representation of design directors at an institutional degree ( Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . In relation to sustainable edifice design direction accomplishments, Mills and Glass ( 2009 ) suggest farther 15 sets of accomplishments relevant to building design directors ‘ function in presenting sustainable edifices. Furthermore, four indispensable points are recommended for design directors which are ( Mills and Glass, 2009 ) :Identifying and integrating sustainability into the undertaking brief right from assessment,Adopting and implementing sustainable design and building processs as standard pattern,Researching and originating the cross-generational accomplishments coaction among design directors,Leading sustainable edifice design.The above points are besides outlined in CIOB ‘s Educational Framework study which cites the set of accomplishments required in relation to sustainability ( CIOB, 2007 ) . The model briefly outlines the sustainability countries and what competence they require from appliers who are from different academic ( design direction ) programmes. There are two countries where alumnuss are required to demo their competence in relation to sustainability: ( a ) building environment and, ( B ) building engineering. It seems that both CIOB ( 2007 ) and Mills and Glass ( 2007 ) agree on the accomplishments what design directors should be equipped with, nevertheless effectivity and application of those accomplishments by design directors is besides another country where a farther survey is needed.Design Management ToolsAny process, standard papers or agenda that aids the direction of constructing design procedure is considered to be a tool for design directors ( Bibby et al. , 2003 ) . There are assortment of tools to help design directors to transport out their activities ( Press and Cooper, 19 95 ) but the harmonizing to the literature reviewed, the 1s developed for building design directors are fragmented, insufficiently developed, ill deployed and couched in abstract footings ( Bibby et al. , 2003 ) . Although there are legion surveies concentrating on the tools that design directors use in their day-to-day activities ( Bibby et al. , 2003 and ; Mills and Glass, 2009 ) , they merely prescribe the tools in general, wide classs. The tools required to help design directors in run intoing those duties stated earlier, are assigned to each phase of RIBA Outline Plan of Work, which is attached in Appendix D. An of import point to foreground here is that some of these tools are intermittently used but bulk of them are used throughout the undertaking, for illustration, one time a medium is agreed and established to pass on informations between stakeholders. As no particular survey into design directors ‘ tools seems to look in literature reviewed, the information gathered is an premise of what design directors could utilize to execute those activities stated in the RIBA Plan of Work ( See Appendix C ) . However, it should non be disregarded merely because it ‘s an premise, as it can at least give an penetration into what type of tools are required to execute the activities.STATE-OF-THE-ART OF ICT IN CONSTRUCTIONICT ToolsHarmonizing to the literature reviewed the acceptance of new tools can be disadvanta ge. One of the cardinal demands for coaction and integrating is shared tools scheme ( Emmitt, 2007 ) . Competition between tools will do in inefficient communicating and disjointed working methods†¦ L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz ( 2006 ) suggest that if design procedure is to be benefited from sustainability appraisal, it requires tools which are:readily available,adequately documented and explained,user friend and present explainable consequences,provides instruction and preparation for end-users,able to mention the user to instance surveies for design optimisation,capable of bring forthing paperss and studies,adjustable to end-users ( interior decorators ‘ or contrivers ‘ ) working methods and,capable of treating design information input during different design phases.There are tools, many already used in the building industry, that can be adopted by the company. However, employees must be motivated to utilize any new technique otherwise its deployment is likely to fail.bibby3D Modelling Tools and Visualasation ToolsConstructing Information Modelling ( BIM )Most attacks to sustainability appraisal have so far been sectoral ( e.g. Kapelan et al. , 2005 ) with a few efforts to incorporate sustainability appraisal tools with Building Information Modeling ( BIM ) . Decision support tools available for sustainability appraisal besides tend to miss systematic hazard and uncertainness theoretical accounts and good usage of visual image techniques to back up deliberative, treatment led duologue between stakeholders. The former is important in visible radiation of socio-economic and climate alteration and the latter for communicating, group determination devising and explicitness in value judgements ( Hurley et al. , 2009 ) .SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTDefinitionAt least 300 definitions of sustainable development have been put frontward to hold on the kernel of sustainable development, but through its inherently normative, subjective and equivocal nature it is impossible to come up with a definition that is to the full accepted by all stakeholders in every context ( Kapelan et al. , 2005 ; Weaver and Rotmans, 2006 ) . In his book of Sustainability Pr inciples, Dresner ( 2008 ) high spots an of import point on definition of sustainability. He gives an illustration from Donella Meadows who compares the lingual confusion of sustainable development to the Eskimo words for snow ( Dresner, 2008 ; pg.72 ) : â€Å" Esquimaus with all their supposed words for snow needed them and pointed to this sort of snow- you used this word, and that sort of snow, you used that word. Often adequate that everyone had a shared experience of snow X and snow Y and snow Z. And so they did n't hold to travel through all the rigamarole, but for a piece they had to†¦ † At the minute, impression of sustainable development is non to the full settled ; hence, what we are traveling through is a transmutation from rigamarole to a shared experience of the job, which is thought to be a long-run procedure ( several decennaries ) of sustainability planning ( Dresner, 2008 ) . Rotmans ( 2006 ) believes that ‘logical ‘ and ‘perspective ‘ acknowledgment of the phenomena requires co-evolution, outgrowth and self-organization in order to form a cyclical procedure of visualizing, agenda-building, coalition-forming, experimenting and acquisition. The most widely quoted definition of sustainable development and efficaciously the official 1 is that of Brundtland Commission: ‘Sustainable development is development that meets the demands of the present coevals without compromising the ability of future coevalss to run into their ain demands. ‘ ( WCED, 1987 ) Harmonizing to WCED this definition contains the two cardinal constructs of sustainable development. The definition recognizes:â€Å" The construct of ‘needs ‘ , in peculiar the indispensable demands of the universe ‘s hapless, to which overruling precedence should be given ;The environmental bounds ; the thought of restrictions imposed by the province of the engineering and societal organisations on the environment ‘s ability to run into present ( intergenerational ) and future ( intragenerational ) demands † ( Dresner, 2008 ) .However, Weaver and Rotmans ( 2006 ) argues that, this anthropocentric definition in Brundtland study is indistinct in three ways ; foremost, it is normative because future coevalss are implicitly supposed to hold at least the same resources as the current coevals, so the norm that is set is the intergenerational equity. Second, the definition is subjective or value-laden, because it requires an appraisal of what the demand of f uture coevals will be and how these demands can be fulfilled. And in conclusion, it is besides equivocal due to the tradeoffs it requires between social-cultural, economic and ecological developments that can be valued and weighed otherwise ( Weaver and Rotmans, 2006 ) . Some bookmans such as Sachs, ( 1999 ) see it as an oxymoron definition: contradicting ends of fulfilling the demands of current and future coevalss. The construct of specifying sustainable development is really complex and frequently contestable. Complex as it can non be adequately addressed from a holistic position and contestable because there is assortment of viing readings or constructs ( Dresner, 2008 ) . Though the construct of how to accomplish sustainable development is varied- i.e. : through economic growing, equity, bounds to growing, environmental infinite, green-taxation, emanations trading and ‘business-as-usual ‘ et cetera ( Turner et al. , 1994 ; Kirkby et al. , 1995: Brown 1995 ; Daly, 1995 ; Pearce, 1995 ; Gibson et al. , 2005 and ; Dresner 2008 ) , there is a wide consensus among many stakeholders that sustainable development construct draws together three wide subjects: economic, environmental and societal. These three subjects can be regarded as the three pillars of sustainable development, each interconnected and interrelated. Concentrating on this paradigm is convenient because these factors are traditional Fieldss of policy devising, scholarly question and specialised research. However, it is besides a mere simplification of the bigger image. The issue of sustainability should be depicted in much richer, more diverse and holistic context. Gibson et al. , ( 2005 ) summarizes nine necessities of sustainability in order to understand the features of it. Consequently, â€Å" the construct of sustainability is:A challenge to conventional thought and pattern ;Approximately long- every bit good as -short term wellbeing ;Comprehensive, covering all the nucleus issues of determination devising ;A acknowledgment of nexus and mutualities, particularly between worlds and the biophysical foundations for lifeEmbedded in a universe of complexness and surprise, in which precautional attacks are ne cessary ;A acknowledgment of both inviolable bounds and eternal chances for originative invention ;About an open-ended procedure, non a province ;Approximately intertwined agencies and ends-culture and administration every bit good as ecology, society, and economic system ;Both cosmopolitan and context dependant † ( Gibson et al. , 2005 ; pg. 62 ) .Sustainability in the Construction IndustryConstruction industry is considered to be one of the chief histrions for accomplishing sustainable development. In the UK, the building industry employs around 3 million people comparing to about 7 per cent of the working population and contributes some & A ; lb ; 100 billion ( about 10 % ) to the UK ‘s Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) ( Atkinson et al. , 2009 and ; Office of National Statistics, 2009 ) . The industry has an end product of over & As ; lb ; 91 billion from UK undertakings ( Office of National Statistics, 2009 ) ; in add-on to this, & A ; lb ; 10 billion per annum is cont ributed from export net incomes peculiarly from the activities of builders, applied scientists and designers and & A ; lb ; 3.8 billion per annum from the design sector which generates export income through its high-profile undertakings worldwide such as Madrid ‘s Barajas Airport, Clarke Quay in Sinagpore, the Marbach Deutsches Literaturarchiv in Germany, Beijing National Stadium, China and many others ( Atkinson et al. , 2009 ) . Although the industry looks of all time so large and healthy, it is plagued with a figure of jobs which are illustrated by several authorities studies including the Latham ( 1994 ) and Egan ( 1998 ) and more late ‘Skills for Construction ‘ ( Egan, 2004 ) study. Latham ( 1994 ) focused on the inefficiency of the building industry and called for greater partnering and coaction and Egan ( 1998 ) identified the undermentioned five cardinal drivers of alteration which need to put the docket for the building industry at big ( Kagioglou et al. , 2000 ) :Committed leading ;Focus on the client ;Integrated procedures and squads ;Quality driven docket ;Committedness to people.Unfortunately, the issues raised are still a large concern for the industry and most of them have non disappeared or solved in the last few decennaries ( Egan, 2004 ) . Datas from assorted resources show that edifices are responsible for 45 per cent to the UK ‘s C emanations ( Atkinson et al. , 2008 ) whi le building stuffs contribute for another 10 per cent ( Office of National Statistics, 2009 ) . Sustainable design must be forced across the barriers of building cost, programme clip and hazard by person with a passion for sustainability. Peers must give full value to the sustainability part of design directors. ( Mills and Glass, 2009 ) . â€Å" No edifice, substructure, public infinite or topographic point can be considered truly good designed, or sustainable, if it does non lend to the ternary bottom line of environmental, societal and economic sustainability. † BIS ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/construction/sustainability/sustainablestrategy/design/page49571.html ) UK building activity besides has a major portion to play in the accomplishment of the Government ‘s Sustainable Development Strategy. Increasingly sections will necessitate to show how their building activity is turn toing societal and environmental concerns and promote their providers to assist the Government achieve its purposes and marks for sustainable development, for illustration, in cut downing C dioxide emanations. OGC IMPROVING PUBLIC SERVICES THROUGH BETTER CONSTRUCTION These model constituents, wide contextual influences and instance specific factors set up the effectual determination standards. They determine what objectives to be favoured, which options are considered and preferred, what effects are judged desirable, acceptable or unbearable. The standards may be unexpressed and ill-defined ; they may be hopelessly muddled and contradictory. But there will ever be determination standards of some kind. For sustainability appraisal intents, the inquiry is non whether there should be determination standards, but which 1s should be used, how they should be selected, whether and when they should be set out explicitly. pg89 Gibson For sustainability appraisal, which needs a basic set of loosely applicable standards for a host of picks and ratings, there is a better option to criteria organized under the pillars ( societal, economical, environmental ) . This attack rejects the constituted classs of authorization and expertness and alternatively focuses straight on the cardinal alterations needed in human agreements and activities if we are to travel towards long-run viability and wellbeing. ( Gibson et al. , 2005, pg: 95 )Indexs to Sustainabilityâ€Å" Indexs to sustainability aid to breakdown the sustainable development constructs to give it a clearer definition and therefore do it more comprehendible. Simply put sustainability indexs is something that helps us to understand where we are, which manner we are traveling, and how far we are from where we want to be ( Gilmour, 2009 adNT ) † The UK Strategy for Sustainable Development ( DEFRA, 2005 ) identified four shared precedences across the UK. They are Sustainable Consumption and Production ; Climate Change and Energy ; Natural Resource Protection and Environmental Enhancement, and Sustainable Communities.19 Keys to sustainability.Indeed, it has been argued that â€Å" growing in the usage of sustainability indexs is nil short of phenomenal † ( Morel-Journel et al. , 2003: 617 ; Rydin et al. , 2003: 582 ) . A â€Å" sustainability indexs detonation † has been extended across the planet-and on the dorsum of procedures of globalization-from vicinities to international policy-making and development enterprises, and from local ‘social ‘ entrepreneurialism to transnational corporate ‘social duty ‘ enterprises. Indeed, one of the most widely-used indexs models, the Global Reporting Initiative ( GRI ) , sees â€Å" cut downing study proliferation † as a major issue ( 2006 ) .SU E MOT CONFERENCE Pg.850Levett-therivel Sustainability Consultants ( 2004 ) â€Å" Sustainable Urban Environments – Prosodies, Models and Toolkits: Analysis of sustainability/social tools † . 9 June 2004, Oxford, UK. Report to the SUE-MoT Consortium.SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTDefinitionSustainability appraisal has emerged after the publication of Brundtland Report ( Jacobs and Sadler, 1988 ) in response to the demand for ways of measuring sustainable development ( Devuyst et al. , 2001 ) . Assessment, as a generic procedure, is concerned with measurement and measuring the qualities of an object or involvement ( Weaver and Rotmans, 2006 ) . Cole ( 2005 ) describes sustainability appraisal as the undertaking of mensurating how good or ill a edifice is executing, or probably to execute, against a declared set of standards. Harmonizing to Adinyira et al. , ( 2007, pg.2 ) â€Å" the term ‘Sustainability Assessment ‘ is used in both literature and pattern in two really different contexts. First, it is used in the context of look intoing if a community or organisation is come oning towards sustainability. Here, it serves as an auditing or public presentation testing system. In the 2nd context, it serves more as impact appraisal processes in that it attempts to measure the sustainability of proposed undertakings, programs, policies or statute law before they are implemented † . Put in an other words, the timing of the appraisal procedure depends on the intent of the appraisal, for illustration: ex-post appraisal ; retrospective rating of already built environment ; ex-ante appraisal, prospective rating of proposed undertaking ; and accompaniment ( in procedure ) appraisal, supplying information on impacts as they arise ( Weaver and Rotmans, 2006 ) . For the intents of this survey ex-ante and attendant appraisal methods will be attempted. The significance of sustainability appraisal in helping the bringing of sustainable edifice undertakings has been reported in huge figure of research documents and instance surveies from the industry ( Devuyst et al. , 2001 ; Cole, 2005 ; Kaatz et al. , 2006 ; L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 ; Shelbourn et al. , 2006 ; Lord et al. , 2009 and ; Thomson et al. , 2009 ) . In sustainable design and building procedure, the function of sustainability appraisal is chiefly concerned with four aims, which include the followers:To measure the undertaking ‘s environmental, societal and economical impact ;To help determination doing procedure ;To pass on the sustainability of the undertaking with varied participants and stakeholders involved in the undertaking ;To supply information for optimisation and betterment of assorted elements of the undertaking or the edifice.Cole ( 2005 ) sees the sustainability appraisal as being progressively used in building undertakings to supply to uchable information, construction and focal point for design squads. In fact, sustainability appraisal methods do non merely mensurate the public presentation of edifices, they besides influence the physical design and maps of the edifices ( Cole, 2005 ) . They are used to compare different solutions, place cardinal issues related to plan and therefore optimise the design during early stages of the undertaking ( L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 ) . Furthermore, they can be used to place the possible drawbacks and benefits of certain design maps ( L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 ) , therefore it can be used as a determination support tool to be after, procedure and O.K. design elements of a edifice. In contrast with the above findings, the literature reviewed has besides identified legion issues related to restrictions of sustainable assessment methods. As the scope of environmental considerations are covered within duties of broad scope of professionals, the edifice sustainability appraisal needs to suit for engagement of assorted stakeholders ( including design directors in the design squad ) in order for them to be actively involved in the production of appropriate, sustainable solutions ( Cole and Pearl, 2007 and ; Thomson et al. , 2009 ) . For example- as already mentioned above, for the edifice sustainability appraisal to be effectual, it needs to be integrated to the edifice procedure from the early phases of the undertaking ( Cole, 2005 ; Kaatz et al. , 2006 ; L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 and ; Shelbourn et al. , 2006 ) . However, literature reappraisal findings show that they are by and large implemented after design/planning and/or building phase ( L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 ) . An incorporate attack to sustainability appraisal is required right from the assessment to building phases of the undertaking ( Kaatz et al. , 2006 and ; Shelbourn et al. , 2006 ) . In other words, separation of sustainability appraisal from design, planning, building and determination devising procedure will non be effectual unless it is dynamically integrated with the edifice undertaking life rhythm ( Kaatz et al. , 2006 ) . Several surveies from the literature reviewed point to miss of apprehension of the sustainability appraisal among practicians ( Thomson et al. , 2009 ) , and stakeholders, due to its unclear nature. Kaatz et al. , ( 2006 ) high spots that there is a demand for a better apprehension of the function that constructing sustainability appraisal dramas in life rhythm phases of the undertaking. It appears in the literature reviewed that there is a demand to utilize the edifice sustainability tools to function the demands of different outlooks and point of views of a larger and broader group of stakeholders ( Kaatz et al. , 2006 and ; Cole and Pearl, 2007 ) . In fact, there is a general consensus among research workers that appraisal tools which entirely focus on environmental considerations will non run into the demands of sustainable development ( L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 ) . However, Kaatz et al. , ( 2006 ) argue that appraisal of all the varied considerations, which includes just, societal costs and benefits attributable to a edifice, appears to be impossible with the current province of proficient cognition and pattern. Nevertheless, an incorporate method/approach/tool, which brings together many methods, tools, processs, codifications, ordinances, criterions and stakeholders, is suggested to better their range of coverage ( Gibson et al. , 2005 ; L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 and ; Thomson et al. , 2009 ) . Harmonizing to Cole, ( 2005 ) many of the bing appraisal methods are besides used as design tools to help the coevals of an optimized design. This is considered to raise a figure of possible jobs including ; restricting the creativeness in the design procedure and geographic expedition and invention of new edifice patterns ; client ‘s telling interior decorators to accomplish a high public presentation mark edifices utilizing specific assessment methods and ; different readings of design demands by design squads, for illustration cost vs. effectivity ( Cole, 2005 ) .Sustainability Assessment MethodologiesLiterature reappraisal findings show that the sustainability appraisal methodological analysiss are as every bit perplexing as the sustainable development definitions. Therefore, it is one time once more of import to clear up the nomenclature used in this subdivision. It appears from the literature reviewed that, the footings ‘green constructing appraisal ‘ and â₠¬Ëœsustainable edifice appraisal ‘ are used interchangeably within the context. However, there are cardinal differences between the two appraisal methods ( Kaatz et al. , 2006 ) . Harmonizing to Kaatz et al. , ( 2006 ) , the green edifice appraisal methods are chiefly concerned with mensurating a edifice ‘s environmental public presentation in relation to typical pattern or demands, whereas the sustainable edifice appraisal seeks to turn to a wide scope of environmental, societal and economic building-related issues every bit good as sing the procedures within the edifice undertakings ( Kaatz et al. , 2006 ; L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 ) . In add-on to this, the footings ‘sustainability appraisal tool ‘ and ‘sustainability assessment methodological analysis ‘ are besides used interchangeably within the edifice sustainability appraisal techniques. Harmonizing to Cole ( 2005 ) , a ‘sustainability appraisal tool ‘ is a technique or a tool that predicts, calculates or estimates one or more environmental features of a edifice, and a ‘sustainability appraisal method ‘ is a technique that uses a model of environmental public presentation standards to measure and publish a public presentation evaluation or label. Sustainable edifice appraisal tools are by and large stand-alone plans which are developed by third-party sellers, whereas edifice sustainability appraisal methods are managed by and run within known organizational contexts ( Cole, 2005 ) . Methodologies for sustainable assessment scope from the appraisal of a individual index within a given context to incorporate appraisal of a broad scope of indexs covering many aspects of sustainable development. An extended literature reappraisal, workshops and questionnaire study on sustainability by SuE-MoT ( 2009 ) pool has identified 900 urban sustainable development appraisal tools, while Walton et al. , ( 2005 ) and El-Haram et al. , ( 2006 ) has identified 650 environmental, societal and economical sustainability issues associated with life-cycle of edifices. The background information on three typical appraisal methodological analysiss which presently dominate the literature, are outlined below:Environmental Impact Assessment:Harmonizing to Lawrence ( 1997 ) Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) is chiefly concerned with the impacts of human activities on homo and natural environment. It is a method which is used to measure ‘green ‘ public presentation of edifi ces by measuring its public presentation utilizing benchmarks, checklists, matrices or set of pre-determined standards ( Cole, 2005 ) . Environmental impact appraisal is the dominant method which presently surrounds the edifice sustainability appraisal methods nevertheless it is non holistic in footings of coverage of the three dimensions of sustainability ( BRE, 2004 ) .Life-Cycle Impact Assessment:Constructing Life-Cycle Impact Assessment ( LCA ) is used to place environmental impact of edifices in different life-cycle phases ( from cradle-to-grave ) of the edifice. In comparing with the EIA, LCA methods are more comprehensive ( Adinyira et al. , 2009 ) , nevertheless, it is non holistic in its attack, i.e. limited in their coverage of all the three sustainability dimensions: societal and economic and environmental ( BRE, 2004 ) . LCA is purportedly used throughout life-time of a edifice ; nevertheless, BRE ( 2004 ) states that they are by and large used during the design phase by advisers, developers and designers to help them in design determinations such as environmental picks of stuffs, designs or build systems.Integrated Appraisal:During the last decennary Integrated Assessment ( IA ) has emerged as a new field because traditional reductionist attacks to complex jobs was non comprehensive plenty to supply entire solutions ( Rotmans, 1996 ) . IA attack is an effort to convey together assorted cognition spheres in order to make a participatory procedure to unite, construe and pass on cognition from a diverseness of backgrounds ( Rotmans, 1996 ) . Harmonizing to Rotmans ( 1998 ) there are two methods in IA, the computing machine simulation theoretical accounts, which focus on quantitative analysis and ; participatory methods, which is the engagement of participants who are from varied backgrounds, such as focal point groups. There are many diverse activities still ongoing within this wide field ( Methods and Tools for Integrated Sustainability Assessment- MATISSE Project ; Sustainable Urban Environment, Metrics, Models and Toolkits- SUE-MoT Work Package 1 and ; European Forum on Integrated Environmental Assessment, are a few to call ) so it is still non to the full developed which limits its consumption in the building industry. However, as reported by Rotmans ( 2006 ) more than 90 per cent of these tools have ne'er been used by clients or users. Majority of the bing tools and methods are developed by faculty members and research constitutions which do non, to some consequence, reflect the decision-maker ‘s information demand. The limited consumption at undertaking degree has been studied by Khandokar et al. , ( 2009 ) who reasoned several interconnected barriers to acceptance at strategic degree including barriers associated with engineering, people and resources. However, this is now altering due to legislative, criterions, concern instances etc etc etc†¦ Complexity in relation to building and design direction†¦ read the diary on AEDM diary†¦ Typical appraisal tools are non good integrated into the design and determination devising procedure because they can non be easy applied during design stage. Normally it is carried out by external specializers at the terminal of design, which is clip devouring ( L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, 2006 ) L & A ; uuml ; tzkendorf and Lorenz, ( 2006 ) predict that there will be a distinction among tools in the medium-term. The tools used design phase after completed designs or edifice and tools that aid the coevals of design during design procedure will be staged with the influence of competition among different professional clubs such as appraisal and evaluation experts vs. designers etc. Decision support toolsBREAM- BRE Environmental Assessment MethodBREEAM ( Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method ) is the first and most used environmental appraisal method in the UK ( BRE, 2010 ) . Working closely with the UK Government, the BREEAM has been on a regular basis updated since it was foremost launched in 1990 to guarantee that it reflects current ordinances, criterions and industry patterns ( Atkinson et al. , 2006 ) . The BREEAM appraisal method measures a edifices environmental public presentation in 10 classs: direction ; wellness and well-being ; energy ; conveyance ; H2O ; stuffs and waste ; land utilize and ecology and ; pollution ( Atkinson et al. , 2006 ) . In brief, edifices are rewarded points in relation to its public presentation in those classs and points are added together to present either Pass, Good, Very Good, Outstanding or Excellent evaluation.Design squadGreen usher and green printBREEAM is aimed for four stakeholder groups to run into their demands in green edifice appraisal ( 1 ) Clients, contrivers development bureaus, funders and developers, 2 ) Property agents ; 3 ) Design Teams and ; 4 ) Managers ) ( BRE, 2010 ) . Particularly, it can be used by design squads to better design public presentation of the edifices. There are several versions of BREEAM to mensurate the public presentation of different types of edifice including BREAM appraisal for: Courts ; Higher Education ; Industrial ; International ; Healthcare ; Multi-residential ; Offices ; Prisons ; Retail and ; School edifices. There are a figure of criterions and tools integrated with the procedure to cover all phases of the procedure environmental ‘ sustainability, the model is de ® cient since it merely assesses public presentation against comparative, instead than absolute, standards. As a consequence, there is no warrant that edifices which score extremely against the model are doing a substantial part to increased `environmental ‘ sustainability at a planetary graduated table. To make so, both Rees and Kohler maintained, the environmental impact of such edifices must be reduced signi ® cantly, possibly by a factor of 10, in order to antagonize population growing and increased industrialization expected during their life-time. Which focal point for constructing appraisal methods – environmental public presentation or sustainability? Harmonizing to methods be to buttockss constructing sustainability The BREEAM environmental assessment tool provides a qualitative position based on the subjective sentiments of experient assessors. A readily accessible simulation tool that offers a assortment of appraisal option

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Eleven

Elena stumbled down the dim corridor, trying to visualize what was around her. Then the world suddenly flickered to brightness and she found herself surrounded by familiar rows of lockers. Her relief was so great that she almost cried out. She'd never have thought she would be so glad just to see. She stood for a minute looking around gratefully. â€Å"Elena! What are you doing out here?† It was Meredith and Bonnie, hurrying down the hall toward her. â€Å"Where have you been?† she said fiercely. Meredith grimaced. â€Å"We couldn't find Shelby. And when we finally did find him, he was asleep. I'm serious,† she added at Elena's incredulous look. â€Å"Asleep. And then we couldn't get him to wake up. It wasn't until the lights went back on that he opened his eyes. Then we started back to you. But what are you doinghere ?† Elena hesitated. â€Å"I got tired of waiting,† she said as lightly as she could. â€Å"I think we've done enough work for one day, anyway.† â€Å"Now you tell us,† said Bonnie. Meredith said nothing, but she gave Elena a keen, searching look. Elena had the uncomfortable feeling that those dark eyes saw beneath the surface. All that weekend and throughout the following week, Elena worked on plans for the Haunted House. There was never enough time to be with Stefan, and that was frustrating, but even more frustrating was Stefan himself. She could sense his passion for her, but she could also sense that he was fighting it, still refusing to be completely alone with her. And in many ways he was just as much a mystery to her as he had been when she first saw him. He never spoke about his family or his life before coming to Fell's Church, and if she asked any questions he turned them aside. Once she had asked him if he missed Italy, if he was sorry he'd come here. And for an instant his eyes had lightened, the green sparkling like oak leaves reflected in a running stream. â€Å"How could I be sorry, whenyou are here?† he said, and kissed her in a way that put all inquiries out of her mind. In that moment, Elena had known what it was like to be completely happy. She'd felt his joy, too, and when he pulled back she had seen that his face was alight, as if the sun shone through it. â€Å"Oh, Elena,† he'd whispered. The good times were like that. But he had kissed her less and less frequently of late, and she felt the distance between them widening. That Friday, she and Bonnie and Meredith decided to sleep over at the McCulloughs'. The sky was gray and threatening to drizzle as she and Meredith walked to Bonnie's house. It was unusually chilly for mid-October, and the trees lining the quiet street had already felt the nip of cold winds. The maples were a blaze of scarlet, while the ginkgoes were radiant yellow. Bonnie greeted them at the door with: â€Å"Everybody's gone! We'll have the whole house to ourselves until tomorrow afternoon, when my family gets back from Leesburg.† She beckoned them inside, grabbing for the overfed Pekingese that was trying to get out. â€Å"No, Yangtze, stay in. Yangtze, no, don't! No!† But it was too late. Yangtze had escaped and was dashing through the front yard up to the single birch tree, where he yapped shrilly up into the branches, rolls of fat on his back jiggling. â€Å"Oh, what's he afternow ?† said Bonnie, putting her hands over her ears. â€Å"It looks like a crow,† said Meredith. Elena stiffened. She took a few steps toward the tree, looking up into the golden leaves. And there it was. The same crow she had seen twice before. Perhaps three times before, she thought, remembering the dark shape winging up from the oak trees in the cemetery. As she looked at it she felt her stomach clench in fear and her hands grow cold. It was staring at her again with its bright black eye, an almost human stare. That eye†¦ where had she seen an eye like that before? Suddenly all three girls jumped back as the crow gave a harsh croak and thrashed its wings, bursting out of the tree toward them. At the last moment it swooped down instead on the little dog, which was now barking hysterically. It came within inches of canine teeth and then soared back up again, flying over the house to disappear into the black walnut trees beyond. The three girls stood frozen in astonishment. Then Bonnie and Meredith looked at each other, and the tension shattered in nervous laughter. â€Å"For a moment I thought he was coming for us,† said Bonnie, going over to the outraged Pekingese and dragging him, still barking, back into the house. â€Å"So did I,† said Elena quietly. And as she followed her friends inside, she did not join in the laughter. Once she and Meredith had put their things away, however, the evening fell into a familiar pattern. It was hard to keep hold of her uneasiness sitting in Bonnie's cluttered living room beside a roaring fire, with a cup of hot chocolate in her hand. Soon the three of them were discussing the final plans for the Haunted House, and she relaxed. â€Å"We're in pretty good shape,† said Meredith at last. â€Å"Of course, we've spent so much time figuring out everyone else's costumes that we haven't even thought about our own.† â€Å"Mine's easy,† said Bonnie. â€Å"I'm going to be a druid priestess, and I only need a garland of oak leaves in my hair and some white robes. Mary and I can sew it in one night.† â€Å"I think I'll be a witch,† said Meredith thoughtfully. â€Å"All that takes is a long black dress. What about you, Elena?† Elena smiled. â€Å"Well, it was supposed to be a secret, but†¦ Aunt Judith let me go to a dressmaker. I found a picture of a Renaissance gown in one of the books I used for my oral report, and we're having it copied. It's Venetian silk, ice blue, and it's absolutely beautiful.† â€Å"It sounds beautiful,† Bonnie said. â€Å"And expensive.† â€Å"I'm using my own money from my parents' trust. I just hope Stefan likes it. It's a surprise for him, and†¦ well, I just hope he likes it.† â€Å"What's Stefan going to be? Is he helping with the Haunted House?† said Bonnie curiously. â€Å"I don't know,† Elena said after a moment. â€Å"He doesn't seem too thrilled with the whole Halloween thing.† â€Å"It's hard to see him all wrapped up in torn sheets and covered with fake blood like the other guys,† agreed Meredith. â€Å"He seems†¦ well, too dignified for that.† â€Å"I know!† said Bonnie. â€Å"I know exactly what he can be, and he'll hardly have to dress up at all. Look, he's foreign, he's sort of pale, he has that wonderful brooding look†¦ Put him in tails and you've got a perfect Count Dracula!† Elena smiled in spite of herself. â€Å"Well, I'll ask him,† she said. â€Å"Speaking of Stefan,† said Meredith, her dark eyes on Elena's, â€Å"how are things going?† Elena sighed, looking away into the fire. â€Å"I'm†¦ not sure,† she said at last, slowly. â€Å"There are times when everything is wonderful, and then there are other times when†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Meredith and Bonnie exchanged a glance, and then Meredith spoke gently. â€Å"Other times when what?† Elena hesitated, debating. Then she came to a decision. â€Å"Just a sec,† she said, and got up and hurried up the stairs. She came back down with a small blue velvet book in her hands. â€Å"I wrote some of it down last night when I couldn't sleep,† she said. â€Å"This says it better than I could now.† She found the page, took a deep breath, and began: â€Å"October 17 â€Å"Dear Diary, â€Å"I feel awful tonight. AndIhave to share it with someone . â€Å"Something is going wrong with Stefan and me. There is this terrible sadness inside him that I can't reach, and it's driving us apart. I don't know what to do. â€Å"I can't bear the thought of losing him. But he's so very unhappy about something, and if he won't tell me what it is, if he won't trust me that much, I don't see any hope for us. â€Å"Yesterday when he was holding me I felt something smooth and round underneath his shirt, something on a chain. I asked him, teasingly, if it was a gift from Caroline. And he just froze and wouldn't talk anymore. It was as if he were suddenly a thousand miles away, and his eyes†¦ there was so much pain in his eyes that I could hardly stand it.† Elena stopped reading and traced the last lines written in the journal silently with her eyes. I feel as if someone has hurt him terribly in the past and he's never got over it. But I also think there's something he's afraid of, some secret he's afraid I'll find out. If I only knew what that was, I could prove to him that he can trust me. That he can trust me no matter what happens, to the end . â€Å"If only I knew,† she whispered. â€Å"If only you knew what?† said Meredith, and Elena looked up, startled. â€Å"Oh-if only I knew what was going to happen,† she said quickly, closing the diary. â€Å"I mean, if I knew we were going to break up eventually, I suppose I'd just want to get it over with. And if I knew it was going to turn out all right in the end, I wouldn't mind anything that happens now. But just going day after day without being sure is awful.† Bonnie bit her lip, then sat up, eyes sparkling. â€Å"I can show you a way to find out, Elena,† she said. â€Å"My grandmother told me the way to find out who you're going to marry. It's called a dumb supper.† â€Å"Let me guess, an old druid trick,† said Meredith. â€Å"I don't know how old it is,† said Bonnie. â€Å"My grandmother says there have always been dumb suppers. Anyway, it works. My mother saw my father's image when she tried it, and a month later they were married. It's easy, Elena; and what have you got to lose?† Elena looked from Bonnie to Meredith. â€Å"I don't know,† she said. â€Å"But, look, you don't really believe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bonnie drew herself up with affronted dignity. â€Å"Are you calling my mother a liar? Oh, come on, Elena, there's no harm in trying. Why not?† â€Å"What would I have to do?† said Elena doubtfully. She felt strangely intrigued, but at the same time rather frightened. â€Å"It's simple. We have to get everything ready before the stroke of midnight†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Five minutes before midnight, Elena stood in the McCulloughs' dining room, feeling more foolish than anything else. From the backyard, she could hear Yangtze's frantic barking, but inside the house there was no sound except the unhurried tick of the grandfather clock. Following Bonnie's instructions, she had set the big black walnut table with one plate, one glass, and one set of silverware, all the time not saying a word. Then she had lit a single candle in a candleholder in the center of the table, and positioned herself behind the chair with the place setting. According to Bonnie, on the stroke of midnight she was supposed to pull the chair back and invite her future husband in. At that point, the candle would blow out and she would see a ghostly figure in the chair. Earlier, she'd been a little uneasy about this, uncertain that she wanted to see any ghostly figures, even of her husband-to-be. But just now the whole thing seemed silly and harmless. As the clock began to chime, she straightened up and got a better grip on the chair back. Bonnie had told her not to let go until the ceremony was over. Oh, thiswas silly. Maybe she wouldn't say the words†¦ but when the clock started to toll out the hour, she heard herself speaking. â€Å"Come in,† she said self-consciously to the empty room, drawing out the chair. â€Å"Come in, come in†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The candle went out. Elena started in the sudden darkness. She'd felt the wind, a cold gust that had blown out the candle. It came from the French doors behind her, and she turned quickly, one hand still on the chair. She would have sworn those doors were shut. Something moved in the darkness. Terror washed through Elena, sweeping away her self-consciousness and any trace of amusement. Oh, God, what had she done, what had she brought on herself? Her heart contracted and she felt as if she had been plunged, without warning, into her most dreadful nightmare. It was not only dark but utterly silent; there was nothing to see and nothing to hear, and she was falling†¦ â€Å"Allow me,† said a voice, and a bright flame sputtered in the darkness. For a terrible, sickening instant she thought it was Tyler, remembering his lighter in the ruined church on the hill. But as the candle on the table sprang to life, she saw the pale, long-fingered hand that held it. Not Tyler's beefy red fist. She thought for an instant it was Stefan's, and then her eyes lifted to the face. â€Å"You!† she said, astounded. â€Å"What do you think you're doing here?† She looked from him to the French doors, which were indeed open, showing the side lawn. â€Å"Do you always just walk into other people's houses uninvited?† â€Å"But you asked me to come in.† His voice was as she remembered it, quiet, ironical and amused. She remembered the smile, too. â€Å"Thank you,† he added, and gracefully sat down in the chair she had drawn out. She snatched her hand off the back. â€Å"I wasn't invitingyou ,† she said helplessly, caught between indignation and embarrassment. â€Å"What were you doing hanging around outside Bonnie's house?† He smiled. In the candlelight, his black hair shone almost like liquid, too soft and fine for human hair. His face was very pale, but at the same time utterly compelling. And his eyes caught her own and held them. † ‘Helen, thy beauty is to me/Like those Nicean barks of yore/That gently, over a perfumed sea†¦' † â€Å"I think you'd better leave now.† She didn't want him to talk anymore. His voice did strange things to her, made her feel oddly weak, started a melting in her stomach. â€Å"You shouldn't be here. Please.† She reached for the candle, meaning to take it and leave him, fighting off the dizziness that threatened to overcome her. But before she could grasp it, he did something extraordinary. He caught her reaching hand, not roughly but gently, and held it in his cool slender fingers. Then he turned her hand over, bent his dark head, and kissed her palm. â€Å"Don't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  whispered Elena, stunned. â€Å"Come with me,† he said, and looked up into her eyes. â€Å"Please don't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she whispered again, the world swimming around her. He was mad; what was he talking about? Come with him where? But she felt so dizzy, so faint. He was standing, supporting her. She leaned against him, felt those cool fingers on the first button of the shirt at her throat, â€Å"Please, no†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's all right. You'll see.† He pulled the shirt away from her neck, his other hand behind her head. â€Å"No.† Suddenly, strength returned to her, and she jerked away from him, stumbling against the chair. â€Å"I told you to leave, and I meant it. Get out-now!† For an instant, pure fury surged in his eyes, a dark wave of menace. Then they went calm and cold and he smiled, a swift, brilliant smile that he turned off again instantly. â€Å"I'll leave,† he said. â€Å"For the moment.† She shook her head and watched him go out the French doors without speaking. When they had shut behind him, she stood in the silence, trying to get her breath. The silence†¦ but it shouldn't be silent. She turned toward the grandfather clock in bewilderment and saw that it had stopped. But before she could examine it closely, she heard Meredith's and Bonnie's raised voices. She hurried out into the hall, feeling the unaccustomed weakness in her legs, pulling her shirt back up and buttoning it. The back door was open, and she could see two figures outside, stooping over something on the lawn. â€Å"Bonnie? Meredith? What's wrong?† Bonnie looked up as Elena reached them. Her eyes were filled with tears. â€Å"Oh, Elena, he's dead.† With a chill of horror, Elena stared down at the little bundle at Bonnie's feet. It was the Pekingese, lying very stiffly on his side, eyes open. â€Å"Oh, Bonnie,† she said. â€Å"He was old,† said Bonnie, â€Å"but I never expected him to go this quickly. Just a little while ago, he was barking.† â€Å"I think we'd better go inside,† said Meredith, and Elena looked up at her and nodded. Tonight was not a night to be out in the dark. It was not a night to invite things inside, either. She knew that now, although she still didn't understand what had happened. It was when they got back in the living room that she found her diary was missing. Stefan lifted his head from the velvet-soft neck of the doe. The woods were filled with night noises, and he couldn't be sure which had disturbed him. With the Power of his mind distracted, the deer roused from its trance. He felt muscles quiver as she tried to get her feet under her. Go, then, he thought, sitting back and releasing her entirely. With a twist and a heave, she was up and running. He'd had enough. Fastidious, he licked at the corners of his mouth, feeling his canine teeth retract and blunt, oversensitive as always after a prolonged feed. It was hard to know what enough was anymore. There had been no spells of dizziness since the one beside the church, but he lived in fear of their return. He lived in one specific fear: that he would come to his senses one day, his mind reeling with confusion, to find Elena's graceful body limp in his arms, her slim throat marked with two red wounds, her heart stilled forever. That was what he had to look forward to. The blood lust, with all its myriad terrors and pleasures, was a mystery to him even now. Although he had lived with it every day for centuries, he still did not understand it. As a living human, he would no doubt have been disgusted, sickened, by the thought of drinking the rich warm stuff directly from a breathing body. That is, if someone had proposed such a thing to him in so many words. But no words had been used that night, the night Katherine had changed him. Even after all these years, the memory was clear. He had been asleep when she appeared in his chamber, moving as softly as a vision or a ghost. He had been asleep, alone†¦ She was wearing a fine linen shift when she came to him. It was the night before the day she had named, the day when she would announce her choice. And she came to him. A white hand parted the curtains around his bed, and Stefan woke from sleep, sitting up in alarm. When he saw her, pale golden hair gleaming about her shoulders, blue eyes lost in shadow, he was struck silent with amazement. And with love. He had never seen anything more beautiful in his life. He trembled and tried to speak, but she put two cool fingers over his lips. â€Å"Hush,† she whispered, and the bed sank under new weight as she got in. His face flamed, his heart was thundering with embarrassment and with excitement. There had never been a woman in his bed before. And this was Katherine, Katherine whose beauty seemed to come from heaven, Katherine whom he loved more than his own soul. And because he loved her, he made a great effort. As she slipped under the sheets, drawing so near to him that he could feel the cool freshness of night air in her thin shift, he managed to speak. â€Å"Katherine,† he whispered. â€Å"We-I can wait. Until we are married in the church. I will have my father arrange it next week. It-it will not be long†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Hush,† she whispered again, and he felt that coolness on his skin. He couldn't help himself; he put his arms around her, holding her to him. â€Å"What we do now has nothing to do with that,† she said, and reached out her slim fingers to stroke his throat. He understood. And felt a flash of fear, which disappeared as her fingers went on stroking. He wanted this, wanted anything that would let him be with Katherine. â€Å"Lie back, my love,† she whispered. My love. The words sang through him as he lay back on the pillow, tilting his chin back so that his throat was exposed. His fear was gone, replaced by a happiness so great that he thought it would shatter him. He felt the soft brush of her hair on his chest, and tried to calm his breathing. He felt her breath on his throat, and then her lips. And then her teeth. There was a stinging pain, but he held himself still and made no sound, thinking only of Katherine, of how he wished to give to her. And almost at once the pain eased, and he felt the blood being drawn from his body. It was not terrible, as he had feared. It was a feeling of giving, of nurturing. Then it was as if their minds were merging, becoming one. He could feel Katherine's joy in drinking from him, her delight in taking the warm blood that gave her life. And he knew she could feel his delight in giving. But reality was receding, the boundaries between dreams and waking becoming blurred. He could not think clearly; he could not think at all. He could onlyfeel , and his feelings were spiraling up and up, carrying him higher and higher, breaking his last ties with earth. Sometime later, without knowing how he had gotten there, he found himself in her arms. She was cradling him like a mother holding an infant child, guiding his mouth to rest on the bare flesh just above the low neck of her night shift. There was a tiny wound there, a cut showing dark against the pale skin. He felt no fear or hesitation, and when she stroked his hair encouragingly, he began to suck. Cold and precise, Stefan brushed dirt off his knees. The human world was asleep, lost in stupor, but his own senses were knife-keen. He should have been sated, but he was hungry again; the memory had wakened his appetite. Nostrils flaring wide to catch the musky scent of fox, he began to hunt.