Effective Communication in Building Relationships Essay Example for Free

Effective Communication in Building Relationships Essay Communicating effectively is the most important aspect of any relationship. In all venues the way we communicate can determine if that relationship will be successful, this is certainly true in an intimate relationship, but just as important in business relationships, friendships, and familial relationships. Relationships are defined by how we communicate, and how effective we are at getting our message out, but just as important is how well we listen. Healthy relationships require us to know a bit about ourselves, and be willing to share some of ourselves with others, building that trust element helps determine the intensity of a relationship. Understanding some of these components will help you on your way to developing and maintaining a good relationship. Having good communication skills can mean the difference between success and failure of a relationship. Most relationships that are successful are in an â€Å"equitable relationship† (Myers, 2010, pg. 429). Being aware of some of the barriers to effective communication can help you avoid the pitfalls of bad or ineffective communication. There are several communicating errors that can signal the end of a relationship, according to Hybels and Weaver (2007) some of those are, â€Å"aggressive talk, regrettable talk, criticism and complaints, avoidance, and defensive communication† (pg. 199). Having disagreements are a normal part of any relationship, it is how we resolve those conflicts that can mean the difference between a healthy relationship or one that is heading towards destruction. We tend to fall back on the destructive methods when we have no other tools in our toolbox. Aggressive talk is using language that demeans another; it is calling names, using disparaging words, wearing down the self esteem of the other person. This is so destructive to a relationship; it can at times lead to physical violence. But the most insidious form of communication is indirect aggression, or passive aggression. This is when we consciously commit an act that we know will hurt or upset another. We manipulate the situation to get our way, or get our â€Å"dig† into the other person. This way we do not have to  confront directly, it is very subtle, and can be the real killer of a relationship. It is a way to continue an argument without actually saying much at all. The Los Angeles Times (1997) reported on passive aggressive tendencies in relationships, and gave some advice on how to handle the situation, â€Å"first, realize that you may not be able to get your mate to change his or her behavior, but you can change yours† and â€Å"take control of the sit uation by setting limits, figure out what you can do† (pg. 3). Regrettable talk is saying something, and then wishing you could take it back. I think we are all guilty of this to some extent. We blurt out a remark without thinking, and immediately we regret it. Using regrettable talk can leave others with hurt feelings, and cause them to want to avoid us. I think in relationships it is easy to fall into this category, you know someone so well, and feel comfortable saying just about anything, so you let your guard down, and many times the things we say we wish we could take back. I have commented to my spouse that we talk nicer to our neighbors than we do to each other, and if we wish to continue in a relationship we must be aware of this, and make every effort to think before we speak. Criticism and complaints creep into a relationship when couples have no real tools for resolving an argument. In an article from Cosmopolitan, reporter Laura Gilbert (2007) interviews professionals about some of the consequences from constant complaints and criticism, After a while, you stop talking with those sweet undertones, says Edythe Denkin, PhD, author of Relationship Magic, and sarcasm or negativity can become more common 243 (5). There are different styles of attachment, â€Å"people with negative views of others exhibit either the dismissive or the fearful attachment style† (Myers, 2010, pg. 428). Dismissive is a relationship marked by distrust, and fearful attachment is a relationship marked by fear of rejection. Either types can lead to the end of a relationship. Avoidance and defensive communication are two types of negative methods used to get our point across. When we are unhappy we avoid any discussion, the silent treatment is what a lot of couples use to avoid any conflict. This is counterproductive, and will destroy the trust in a relationship. Many  couples mistakenly feel that arguing is the end of a relationship, but in truth it is when we begin avoiding each other that can signal a relationship is in trouble. David Code from the Christian Science Monitor (2009) writes, â€Å"Just because you seldom argue doesnt mean your marriage is strong, the real silent killer of marriage is distancing yourself from your partner† (pg. 9). He goes on to discuss some possible solutions, and encourages couples to not worry so much about disagreeing, but focus on â€Å"your flight response†, If we can learn to spot the â€Å"distancing pattern in our relationships† we can help â€Å"prevent family problems and divorce† ( Code, 2009, pg. 9). Defensive communication occurs as we are trying to defend ourselves from a comment made by our partner. â€Å"Defending ourselves is dealing with a past behavior; it gives us no time to resolve the problem† (Hybels and Weaver, 2007, pg. 200). In a relationship each partner must get out of the relationship â€Å"proportional to what you each put into it† (Myers, 2010, pg. 428). The best way to fix a problem is to recognize and admit you have one in the first place. In Cosmopolitan, Jennifer Benjamin (2007) gives us some common communication pitfalls, and says â€Å"to avoid these, you first have to recognize them† (pg. 126). The article goes on to list five communication mistakes that we as couples tend to make. One mistake many couples make is leaving out important information. We give our partners some of the needed information, but assume that he or she knows me so well; they will know what I am talking about. So vital information is left out, this leads to mis communication, and hurt feelings. Another area that we have to be aware of is the time we pick to have a discussion. During Super Bowl, or when one is rushing off to work, is not the time to have a discussion. Mistake number three, prefacing our remark with doom and gloom statements such as, â€Å"do not take this the wrong way† or â€Å"do not get mad but† it begins the conversation with a sense of impending trouble, and gets our level of anger ratcheted up. Another common mistake is one many women are guilty of, talking the problem to death; we tend to not get to the point, and feel we have to give every single detail. The article says, â€Å"Men have about three minutes of attention for any single discussion† (Benjamin, 2007, pg. 126). The last area is in giving out to much detail. Again women can be guilty of this; we feel we need to tell our man everything, all our past exploitations, we want to be close to our guy, but too much information can  be as damaging as not enough. If we are to avoid the destructive methods of communicating, we must increase our strategic flexi bility, according to Hybels and Weaver (2007) this means â€Å"expanding your communication repertoire† (pg. 6). The more communication skills we have, the more we can draw on them for any scenario or situation. We will be better prepared to handle whatever comes up, while still getting our message across, in the most effective manner. People who possess these skills have much more flourishing interactions with the people in their lives. When discussing communication between partners in an intimate relationship gender and language must be taken into consideration. The way the sexes communicate is very different. According to Hybels and Weaver (2007) â€Å"women use the language of rapport-talk, men use report-talk† (pg. 117). This means that women are trying to form bonds with communication, and increase intimacy levels, men are letting us know their knowledge and skills in a particular subject area. It is a completely different style of communicating, women are â€Å"building relationships† and men are trying to â€Å"fix the problem† (Hybels and Weaver, 2007, pg. 117). In the book, Why Mars and Venus Collide, author Vanessa Bush researches the differences in brain chemistry that is produced by women and men when under stress, â€Å"biochemistry can also explain why women multitask and men are more single-minded in their focus. Problems occur when men and women misinterpret the different ways t he opposite sex responds to and copes with stress† (pg. 104). Several tips that were offered by the author to increase our levels of communication, women should let our partners know when we need support, and men should listen fully to the problem without trying to fix it. I have researched communication in intimate relationships, looked at a lot of studies, and felt I should put my own relationships to the test. I wanted to see if my emotional intelligence matched that of my husband and my children. I wanted to see if the gaps I perceive in our communication as a family was due to the differences in each of our emotional intelligence quotients. What exactly is emotional intelligence; according to Hybels and Weaver (2007) emotional intelligence â€Å"is the ability to understand and get along with others† (pg. 156). In order for us to get along with others, and deal with their emotions, we must first be aware of our own emotions and feelings. We must learn how to appropriately express, and manage our feelings, and learn some self-control,  and we must learn to recognize and handle the feelings of others. I had each family member take the emotional intelligence test, which was retrieved from the Institute for Health and Human Potential. This ev aluates your emotional intelligence, and shows you your strengths and weaknesses. I took the survey, and I had my husband and my daughter take the survey. My daughter and my husband scored very similar on the quiz, my results were about ten points higher than there score. The results said I have a very high emotional intelligence. The results of the emotional intelligence test reflects my life, I am a high achiever, can be very task oriented, and want to ensure that my work with families shows great results. The quiz said I needed to remember why I do the work I do, not get bogged down in tasks, but remember the reason you chose this line of work. The results said I should take time each day to reflect on what brings me the greatest joy. That really reflects me, I enjoy the work tremendously, but sometimes the day to day tasks that have to get done can make me a bit cynical. I think it also translates into my personal life, I can read people well, and feel I am in tune with their emotions, but some days I just do not take the time to really sit down and listen to those closest to me. I can see this reflected in my relationship with my husband. I am so busy being busy; I do not really pay attention to him, and what his concerns are. The emotional intelligence test scores for my husband and daughter both said they have slightly above average emotional intelligence, with room to grow. It reflects what I see in both of them, they are very sensitive to the needs of those around them, but do not always take time for themselves. The quiz also says they may not always communicate their feelings or needs to others. This is very true, especially of my husband; he does not communicate his needs well, and then he can become angry and distant. The quiz gives areas for improvement for both my husband and my daughter. They are to look at what causes them stress and tension, and how they handle those situations, and try and rid themselves of the negative thoughts that play in their minds. I have seen the destructive results of this type of negative thinking, feeling you are unworthy and unlovable. We now know the results of the emotional intelligence quiz, now what. We must come together and as a family and decide how best to proceed. Having the results of this quiz has opened the doors to communication for my family. We saw in print, what each of us sees  reflected in the other. The communication between my husband and me was bordering on becoming destructive, we both were passive aggressive when dealing with issues. I did not want to argue, so I would let it go, but not really, it stayed with me, and I would do mean things to get back at my husband. I might not wake him up, even if I saw he forgot to set his alarm, and was going to be late for work. I might not put his work clothes in the dryer, even when I see he is running late. It would be little inconsequential things I would do, but over the years they have added up, and we were at the brink of separating. My husband was no different; he was just as guilty of allowing the barriers to effective communicating to come between us. I also have to admit that I saw some of the same communication barriers creeping into my teenage daughter’s style of communicating. I think being aware of a problem is half the battle, when we are honest, and do some self assessing, we can truly begin to make some changes. I decided that since my emotional intelligence results were so different from my husband’s that taking a personality test might be in order. I found a personality types questionnaire, and we both took the survey. The survey was published by Dawn Billings, (2004) CEO and Founder of The Heart Link Women’s Network. The Primary colors personality tool asks specific questions, and you rate yourself from highest to lowest in each category. Once finished, you add up the scores and the one with the largest number represents your major personality profile. I took the survey as did my husband and my daughter. The results were very interesting, the one area I found fascinating was that my husband and I both scored the highest in the same category. It said we were both gentle and understanding, which is true, that we are more interested in being loved than in being right, so we may stay with partners that do not treat us well. There have been times in this relationship where I felt I was being mistreated, and my husband has admitted that he has felt the same at times. It also says we may put the needs of others above our own needs, this is very true, and was also reflected in our emotional intelligence test. The tests also said this personality type over commits themselves, and not leave room for those closest to them. This has been a real issue in my marriage; I am so driven by work and school that I forget that I have a husband and a daughter who needs me. Since taking these surveys, the gaps in our communication has closed dramatically. My husband  was open to taking the test, which surprised me; I thought he would balk at doing this. He was as surprised as I was with some of the results; it opened the door for us to begin really talking about issues, as a family, and as a couple. There is more work to be done, taking a couple of quizzes cannot erase years of bad, and ineffective communicating. The pain is there from years of misunderstandings, and from the communication barriers we placed in our paths, but what has happened is the willingness for us to come together as a couple, see what needs to be worked on, and begin that process. Communication skills are vital for any relationship, both personal and professional. This journey has made me aware that I spend a great deal of time working on my professional relationships. I am very careful of how I phrase my comments to coworkers, I am cautious of hurting feelings, or of being misunderstood. I think about what I have to say to a coworker before I actually say it; I try and take into consideration their feelings. But I am not always as conscience at home of the impact my words will have. Communicating effectively is a skill, one that takes work and practice. It also requires that at times we must do some self assessing, see where our strengths are at, but also admit where our weaknesses are at, and begin the process of reducing those barriers. This is the only way we can be both effective at work, and at home, and have a happy, healthy relationship. References Jennifer Benjamin. (2007, October). 5 Talking Mistakes Most Couples Make. Cosmopolitan, 243(4), 126. Retrieved March 21, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1394182521). Billings, D. (2004). Primary color personality tool. The Heart Link women’s network. Bush, V.. (2007, December). Why Mars and Venus Collide: Improving Relationships by Understanding How Men and Women Cope Differently with Stress [review of Why Mars and Venus Collide: Improving Relationships by Understanding How Men and Women Cope Differently with Strss]. The Booklist, 104(8), 4. Retrieved March 22, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1402448851). David Code. (2009, February 13). How emotional distance ruins marriage. The Christian Science Monitor,p. 9. Retrieved March 21, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1644399621). Laura Gilbert. (2008, September). Couples. Cosmopolitan, 245(3), 145. Retrieved March 21, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1529579221). Hybels, S., and Weaver, R. (2007). Communicating effectively (8th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. Institute for Health and Human Potential. (March, 2010). Emotional intelligence. Retrieved March, 21st, 2010, from http://www.ihhp.com/quiz COMMITTMENTS Caught Up in a Cycle of Nagging, Ignoring :[Home Edition]. (1994, July 25). Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext),p. 3. Retrieved March 22, 2010, from Los Angeles Times. (Document ID: 59646758).

Pick Your Family Essay Example for Free

Pick Your Family Essay The dictionary definition of family is: all the descendants of a common ancestor. Although this statement is true, some would disagree and say that the meaning to the word â€Å"family† goes far beyond that simple definition. Many people consider friends, schoolmates, animals, friends of a parent, and co-workers to be their family as well. Your whole family can be made up of many people that are not necessarily your real family. The relationship you share with another individual classifies them as a family member. These people may not be your relative at all, but someone you feel a strong connection to for one reason or another. Just because someone is your family member by blood, does not mean you have to have a close relationship with him or her. Your family can be extended from your nuclear family because another person may be very special to you, or makes you feel loved enough that you would consider them a part of your family. Children that lose their mother and father might have someone take care of them that are not blood related. In a situation like this, the child’s real family is not apart of the family that raises them and takes care of them. Family is more of a concept and more about the relationship that the two people share. In a case where parents have died or some other circumstance has arisen where they cannot provide for their child, strangers or friends may assist in raising that child. That would make them the caregivers; they would be the mother and father because they fill that role in the child’s life. Many people may say they have two mothers, this is because they have two people that fill the motherly role in their life and both of those people make them feel loved and appreciated. Another example where your family might not be your real relatives is godmothers or your godfathers. Your godmother or godfather can be anyone that your parents think can and will fill that role best. This may be your blood related uncle or the best man in your parents wedding. Regardless of the blood relation this person is in now classified as your family member. Family can also expand to include more than just humans as well. Most Americans have a pet dog or a pet cat that is considered a part of their family. It is very common in a household environment that animals are added to the mix. Whether it is a family of four wanting to add extra love in their lives, or a lonely college student looking for a companion. Many people add a pet into their homes to love and feel love in return. One might think this classifies that animal as a family member. Animals and humans can share a very special relationship, just like family members share. This special relationship is what makes someone or something a part of your family not just blood. Some people may have very special experiences with another individual. Growing up with a particular friend and experiencing many of life’s challenges and tribulations can make a relationship grow very strong. People that have been there for another person through tragedies, deaths, illness, hardships and times of celebration share special bonds. These people may refer to each other as brothers or sisters or second daughters or sons. It is the many experiences and the compassion and empathy that people share with one another that make them feel that closeness with one another. They will often refer to these special people as â€Å"family members†, although they have no blood relation. Many people that are not your real relatives can be more like your family than your real family. There are many reasons that families break up, or do not speak any longer. Death, distance, past arguments and sickness can all be some reasons why you are not close to your blood family. Most people know of someone who may no longer speak to their mother, father, sister, or brother; this kind of thing happens all the time. This is very common after a parent’s death, and the children have to disperse the parent’s valuables. You can’t pick your family, but you can pick your friends. Sometimes those friends treat you better than your own family. They’re a surplus of people that might fill a particular role better than others, and the relationship you share with them is what defines them as your family member.

Waste minimising and recycle in construction

Waste minimising and recycle in construction INTRODUCTION: The construction industry has a major impact on the environment, both in terms of the resources it consumes and the waste it produces. The construction industry is responsible for producing a whole variety of different wastes, the amount and type of which depends on factors such as the stage of construction, type of construction work and practices on site. The construction industry generates a large amount of waste every year. As construction professionals we should follow a hierarchical approach to waste management by aiming primarily to reduce the amount of waste produced then aim to reuse and recycle any waste that is produced. Whilst the trend is to reject the traditional methods of waste disposal in favour of sustainable waste strategies, the majority of the construction industry has placed waste reduction at the bottom of research agendas because of complexities over reuse and recycling. Construction waste has a significant impact on the environment and more emphasis must be put on reducing waste production and increasing recycling and reuse. WASTE Sustainable waste management means using material resources efficiently; to cut down on the amount of waste we produce, and where waste is produced, dealing with it in a way that actively contributes to the economic, social and environmental goals of sustainable development.[1] SOURCES OF WASTE CLIENT ROLE: The client plays an important role in the reduction of waste. This is for a reason that when the client changes his requirements at a stage when construction has already began, the materials which are already being used would be wasted as they no longer will be used in the new design. IMPORTANCE OF SKILLED LABOUR: The use of skilled labours means that good techniques will be used and hopefully fewer mistakes will occur during the construction phase. A mistake could lead to the need for replacement of materials. Thereby increasing the amount of waste generated. LOGISTICS OF MATERIALS: The logistics of materials to the site can also play a part in reducing the waste; this is for a number of reasons. Packaging of material will create waste. Therefore, if a method is generated to reduce the amount of packaging then the waste will be reduced. AFFECTS OF TRANSPORTATION OF MATERIALS: Waste will also be generated due to the transportation of the product. While transporting, goods can be damaged due to the vehicular movements if proper care is not taken and hence get wasted. Delivering goods in large quantities could generate problems at the site as more storage may be required which may need temporary structures or heating to keep the products in the right conditions, this adding to the amount of waste generated. MANUFACTURING DEFECTS: During manufacturing, the manufacturer produces only a specific size, but the client may require a slightly different size, therefore the material is trimmed down on site. This creates a large amount of wastage. Also a poor manufacturer may produce a number of low quality products that cant be used. SITE MANAGEMENT: Site management could also be a factor that courses waste. Time management and storage of material on site could course waste if the site management is not as good as it should be. If materials are not used within a limited time period or if when they are not stored properly, its properties might change and therefore may not be suitable for the project. An example of this is if concrete arrives on site and is forced to wait for the site to be ready, then the concrete might start to set and therefore cant be used. TYPES OF WASTE There are two main types of waste in the construction industry, this include solid waste (which may be recycled or taken to landfill) or gasses waste which may be a pollutant. Gaseous waste will be generated from a number of different sources. In the construction process a large amount of plant and heavy machinery will be used. Most of this machinery will be driven by diesel engines which will generate exhaust gases, these gases will be a waste product generated in the contraction process. Waste gasses can also indirectly be generated due to the construction industry, gasses may be produced in the fabrication and manufacturing of different products that are used. Solid waste can also be split into sections, waste that can be recycled or re-used and waste which will be put into landfill. There are a large number of different waste products that could be generated from the construction industries such as, timber, metals, concrete and more serious waste, which may be harder to recycle and reuse. These wastes include plastics, plaster boards and asbestos. How much Waste does the Construction Industry Produce? Construction and demolition (CD) waste includes brick, concrete, hardcore, subsoil and topsoil, but it can also contain quantities of timber, metal, plastics and occasionally special (hazardous) waste materials. Wastes occur from the construction, repair, maintenance and demolition of buildings and structures. The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) have reported that an estimated 72.5 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste are produced annually. This is around 17.5 % of the total waste produced in the U.K. Furthermore, 13 million tonnes of construction materials are delivered to sites in the U.K. and thrown away unused every year. This is not sustainable.[3] EFFECTS OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE ON THE ENVIRONMENT The two main types of waste generated by the construction industry are solid wastes and gaseous wastes. Liquid wastes may also be generated during construction processes, such as cleaning, but the effect of such wastes is minimal and generally local to a particular site. Gaseous waste is a sub-product from the use of machinery in the construction process, transportation of materials and from the production of construction materials. This type of waste is emitted to the air and has inherent effects on air quality. Solid waste can be generated from demolition and excavation or may be unused material from the construction process. Some solid waste may be recycled or reused however the majority is put into landfill sites, because of this the overarching target of the UK governments strategy for sustainable construction is to reduce the amount of construction waste to landfill by 50% by 20121. Solid waste therefore adopts the associated effects on the environment that landfill has. Of the solid waste that is put into landfill the majority comes from the demolition of existing structures and the excavation of material to allow construction, however a relatively small proportion consists of unused materials generated from amongst others, design change, lack of skilled workforce, site untidiness, poor quality materials and manufacture and lack of product information and knowledge. Unused materials will not only contribute to the environmental effects of landfill but will have indirect environmental effects due to transportation, production and packaging. The main environmental effects of waste due to demolition and excavation are emissions from transportation and primarily issues with landfill. Landfills are widely considered to have adverse effects on the surrounding environment and public health. The main types of environmental impacts caused by landfill sites are alteration to surrounding landscape, visual intrusion, degradation of air quality, pollution of ground water and degradation of soil quality. The construction industry makes a considerable contribution as it makes up a large proportion of the total waste assigned to landfill in the UK. Landfill sites generally occupy a large area required for waste disposal itself as well as associated facilities and enough area to minimise the effects on surrounding groundwater and soil quality. Additionally in some cases excavation and movement of material is required to create an area which is suitable for the disposal of waste. Thus, the surrounding landscape is adversely affected. The location of a landfill site is often sensibly chosen so to minimise the effects it has on the surrounding environment, however it may be impossible to locate it so that it is entirely invisible to the public and the negative visual impact a landfill site will have on a community cannot be avoided. Gaseous emissions from a landfill site come from the transportation of waste, use of machinery and more importantly the anaerobic digestion of organic matter producing methane. Generation of gas in a landfill site is one of the largest sources of methane emissions to the atmosphere; methane having a muc h greater global warming effect than carbon dioxide as well as being harmful to humans. Landfill sites therefore have a negative effect on air quality and public health. The precipitation that falls on a landfill coupled with the disposal of liquid wastes results in the extraction of water soluble compounds and particulate material, such as cement, dust and asbestos. Although nowadays measures are generally taken to water-proof a landfill site resulting solutions and mixtures will almost certainly end up in surrounding groundwater and soil. Thus, a degradation of groundwater and soil quality occurs. Gaseous wastes are a by-product of any development but have increased severity in large scale developments which require a large amount of material and associated transportation, use of a greater amount and varying machinery and occur over a longer timescale. Transportation of materials will usually be by road, rail or occasionally by sea. In any case the method of transportation will produce gaseous emissions that will have an overall global warming effect and reduce the air quality locally and regionally. An increased local reduction in air quality occurs in areas around large developments with longer construction times due to the prolonged constant use of machinery in the same area. The production of construction materials also has a significant effect on air quality due to emissions of particularly damaging waste products from industrial plants. WASTE MINIMISATION: Definition of waste minimisation: The reduction of waste at source, by understanding and changing processes to reduce and prevent waste. This is also known as process or resource efficiency. Waste minimisation includes the substitution of less environmentally harmful materials in the production process.[4] Designing out waste at the initial stages of the construction process provides the greatest opportunities for waste minimisation. The best way to manage waste, particularly hazardous waste, is to manage the process so that there is no waste to manage. This is definitely not easy, but the whole aim is that when a similar thought occurs, waste can be minimised if not eliminated. Benefits of Waste Minimisation: * Increase resource efficiency * Reduce costs * Improve environmental performance * Demonstrate best practice * Ensure compliance with legal obligations * Reduce disposal to landfill * economic incentives * social advantages * internal business benefits * external business benefits Waste minimisation contributes to the increase efficiency in the utilisation of resources. It also helps in reduction of cost of overall project, when the expenditure over the waste is reduced; thereby the cost of project also reduces. Waste Minimisation understandsenvironmental improvementssuch as ameliorated pollution control, development of environmentally friendly products Waste Minimisation ensureslegal compliancewith European Directives, UK Legislation and Regulations. Waste minimisation will considerably reduce the disposal to landfill, thereby reducing the landfill tax. Waste Minimisation haseconomic incentivessuch as diluted trade waste costs and better efficiency. It is important that any industry regards in implementing the waste minimisation initiatives because the introduction of the landfill tax means that waste disposal costs are set to increase in the future. Waste Minimisation hassocial benefitsas the recycling and reuse methods allow employment and economic opportunities for local charities, voluntary groups, the community sector and businesses that can reuse or recycle materials. Waste Minimisation hasinternal business benefitsby promoting a cultural change within any industry by nurturing environmental awareness. It also provides an opportunity for staff training and qualifications as well as improved employee motivation. Waste Minimisation hasexternal business benefitsby managing a variety of your businesses stakeholder relationships. Industrys investors, customers, the general public, the regulator, companies within your supply chain and contractors may require evidence of good environmental performance or look for a green image. [5] How to achieve the benefits: Waste minimisation demands action on three fronts: 1. People: Many reductions in waste can be accomplished through improved housekeeping. It is crucial that employees are aware of the issues related to waste and are motivated and trained to prevent it. 2. Methodology: A systematic approach to measurement and control foregrounds deficiencies and problems, alters targets to be set and maintains levels of efficiency. 3. Technology: Capital investment in new technology can enhance productivity and decrease waste generation, giving very short paybacks. METHODS OF WASTE MINIMISATION The process of waste minimisation through Designing out Waste is still at the early stage of development. Many barriers and opportunities exist in developing waste minimisation strategies in design. If this process is considered in the early stages of construction activities, there are opportunities for it to exist. The waste hierarchy (see figure 1) establishes waste reduction as one of the highest priorities for addressing the increasing volumes of waste. The target for any waste reduction strategy must be to focus on opportunities from the outset, at the earliest stages of design. Many barriers and opportunities exist in developing a strategy of waste reduction in design. Opportunities for waste minimisation exist in four construction areas: 1. Project Planning 2. Pre-Construction 3. Off-Site Activities 4. On-Site Activities PROJECT PLANNING: During project planning phase, it is essential that waste management strategy is made for better profit margins. Focus on elimination of waste is the prime factor. Communicating strategies with client, developer, designer, builder, project manager, contractors and suppliers is very important. Analysis on waste reduction plan should be done. PRE CONSTRUCTION: This stage involves three areas where waste reduction is possible. * Designing: proper and accurate dimensions, proposing standard material sizes, building for deconstruction (can be easily reused if future modifications occur with ease and minimum wastage) and operational waste reduction. * Estimating: over estimation of required materials leads to wastage. * Purchasing: Buying environmental friendly items, using procurement policy as specifying manufacturers and suppliers your exact requirements reduces the amount of waste. OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES:  · Prefabrication: By prefabricating frames and trusses, timber waste can be decreased to an extent. ON-SITE ACTIVITIES: * Delivery and storage of materials. * Packaging * Separation of materials. * Safe disposal of unavoidable waste. WASTE MINIMISATION STRATEGIES Managing and monitoring the different waste streams on a construction site requires a detailed waste minimisation strategy. This needs careful planning throughout the design, build and occupancy phases, to ensure its success, effectiveness and compliance with building regulations. There are three basic strategies for dealing with waste: reduce, reuse and recycle. Waste prevention is the ideal, and this can be addressed first by identifying possible waste streams early on in the build process, and then designing for their minimisation. Using standard sizes for building components (windows, doors etc.) can prevent future waste, as can design for deconstruction, using recyclable components. It has been estimated that over ordering accounts for 13 million tonnes of new building materials being thrown out every year. Better communication between building professionals to ensure exact calculations of required materials are made can mean that this waste is prevented. Just-in-time delivery strategies can further reduce waste created by improper storage and weather damage. Once waste has been produced, the best method of managing it is through reuse either on the existing site, or a nearby site. Many materials can be usefully reclaimed, and even sold to offset the costs of a building project. Recycling materials is the final option for managing waste. Materials that can be reused or recycled need to be identified early on the build process, and segregated for easy storage, collection and transfer. For the strategy to be effective, links also need to be established with local recycling and reuse facilities and contractors. [6] OCCUPANCY WASTE Sustainable building practice goes one step further than conventional practice, by designing for waste minimisation in the operation of the building, through grey water recycling, composting toilets, on site food composting and off-site recycling facilities, thus helping to reduce residential waste. [7] LEGISLATIVE ASPECTS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT: LANDFILL TAX The landfill tax aims to encourage waste producers to produce less waste, recover more value from waste, through recycling or composting, and to use more environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal. The tax applies to active and inert waste, disposed of at a licensed landfill site. The aims of the landfill tax are: * To promote the polluter pays principle, by increasing the price of landfill to better reflect its environmental costs; * To promote a more sustainable approach to waste management in which less waste is produced and more is recovered or recycled. There are two rates of tax. Inactive waste is subject to the lower rate at  £2 per tonne. Active waste is subject to  £15 per tonne, rising at  £3 per tonne per year from 2005/06 towards a long-term rate of  £35 per tonne. Her Majestys Customs and Excise has updated its General Note on the Landfill Tax. The guidance replaces the previous version (February 2000) to include the changes to the tax liability of materials re-used on landfill sites; permits issued under regulations under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act (1999) that authorise deposits or disposals in, or on the land; the changes to the liability to pay landfill tax and changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. The Landfill Tax Regulations have been clarified following a legal challenge brought by a waste management company last year. [8] SITE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANS (SWMPS) Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) are an important tool for construction companies and their clients, of all sizes, to improve their environmental performance, meet regulatory controls and reduce rising costs of disposing of waste. This document sets out the basic structure of SWMPs and how companies can best use them to improve and manage their operations at all stages of site activity. It includes useful checklists and other guidance to help ensure the Plan is a practical tool. Note that it is not essential for there to be a separate SWMP document for your site the guidance given here can equally well be included in a Waste Management Section of an overall Site Environmental Management Plan.[9] THE PURPOSE OF SWMPS: SWMPs aim to address two key issues: 1. Improving materials resource efficiency, by promoting the economic use of construction materials and methods so that waste is minimised and any waste that is produced can be re-used, recycled or recovered in other ways before disposal options are explored; and 2. Reducing fly-tipping, by restricting the opportunities available for the illegal disposal of waste by ensuring compliance with existing legal controls and providing a full audit trail of any waste that is removed from the construction site. Although it is a legal requirement to write and implement a SWMP, the greatest cost savings are likely to be achieved as a result of the consideration of materials resource efficiency which will be a necessary part of the preparation, before the SWMP is drafted. [10] WASTE AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE Effective waste management can reduce building and operating costs, enhance the reputation of the building industry, and also generate new revenue streams through developing recycling and reclaiming markets. Reducing construction waste also saves landfill space, conserves valuable natural resources, saves energy and creates less pollution by reducing transportation and manufacturing processes, with a mitigating effect on climate change. CONCLUSION: According to the ODPM waste survey (2001), the CD industry in Wales produces around 5.02 million tonnes of waste per year; this is around 30% of all controlled waste arising in Wales. Given the scale of the construction industry in Wales and the quantity of waste produced, it has great potential to lead the way in waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.[11] Waste minimisation is now an instituted business practice for many organisations and a number of industries have enforced waste reduction programmes. Reducing waste is a key to a cleaner world and more competitive industry. It would not be fair to conclude that building services should undergo revolutionary redesign or standardisation just to reduce wastes in construction. However, the reduction of waste, in terms of materials or time is beneficial to all because a reduction in cost will result in better systems within the same budget. [1] CIOB. ().Sustainability and Construction.Available: www.ciob.org.uk/filegrab/sustainability.pdf?ref=74. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [2] CIBSE. ().DESIGNING TO ENCOURAGE WASTE MINIMISATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.Available: http://www.cibse.org/pdfs/Construction%20waste%20minim.pdf. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [3] CIOB. ().Sustainability and Construction.Available: www.ciob.org.uk/filegrab/sustainability.pdf?ref=74. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [4] Welsh Assembly Government. ().Waste prevention and minimisation.Available: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/waste_recycling/Waste_prevention_minimisation?lang=en. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [5] Perth Kinross Council . (2008).Benefits of waste minimisation.Available: http://www.pkc.gov.uk/Planning+and+the+environment/Waste+and+recycling/Commercial+waste/Waste+minimisation+for+business/Benefits+of+waste+minimisation.htm. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [6] Sustainable Build. ().Reducing and Managing Waste.Available: http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ReducingManagingWaste.html. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [7] Sustainable Build. ().Reducing and Managing Waste.Available: http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ReducingManagingWaste.html. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [8] Welsh Assembly Government. ().Landfill tax.Available: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/waste_recycling/landfilltax/?lang=en. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [9] dti. (2004).SITE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANS.Available: http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/site_waste_management_plan.b230bcd7.2323.pdf. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [10] defra. (2008).Non-statutory guidance for site waste management plans.Available: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/construction/pdf/swmp-guidance.pdf. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [11] Welsh Assembly Government. ().Construction and Demolition.Available: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/waste_recycling/construction_demolition/?lang=en. Last accessed 6 December 2009.

e Strife For a Straight Life: The Examination of Mortal and Divine Relations :: Classics

The Strife For a Straight Life: The Examination of Mortal and Divine Relations "A straight and perfect life is not for man." - the Nurse in Hippolytus The idea that fate is rooted from the interconnection of divine beings whose will is played-out by mortals, is a highly enriched belief that is capitalized on by many Greek tragedians. Among those who suggest that there is an endless cycle of good will, revenge, uncertainty, and punishment is the Greek dramatist, Euripides. His work, Hippolytus, is an excellent example of a well-written Greek tragedy that informs readers of the intermingling of divine power and a mortal's free will. Hippolytus, however, would not be able to serve this primary function without the elements which compose Greek tragedy in its entirety. Therefore, a detailed investigation into the characters of Hippolytus, and their divine counterparts, is necessary to better understand how Euripides evokes the need for divine intervention and also, why the divine is inspired to transpire revenge. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sensuality, who delivers a long monologue about the forthcoming events, sets the play. This is quit common in Greek tragedy. This technique builds suspense because the audience wants to see if the plot she reveals is actually going to happen. The plot she presents is that of her own; she seeks revenge of the mortal prince Hippolytus. It is apparent that she has been insulted by him and does not go out of the her way to say: " For this prince of Theseus' seed Hippolytus, child of that dead Amazon, And reared by Saintly Pitheus in his own Straight ways, hath dared, alone of Trozen, to hold me least of spirits and most mean, And spurns my spell and sees no woman's kiss." (Euripides, 3) Hence, Aphrodite builds her case of revenge on this petty act of transgression and states, "That vengeance that shall make all well with me." (Euripides, 5) In other words, she will feel better once Hippolytus' transgression has been "justified" by her. Furthermore, she reveals her character as sort of selfish when she contends, "For there is, even in a great God's mind, that hungered for the praise of human kind." (Euripides, 2) Here, Aphrodite expresses the need to be praised and worshiped. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that she feels neglected, and even jealous of Artemis. This jealousy builds rage in Aphrodite and justifies her need to seek revenge on not only Hippolytus, but also Phaedra and Theseus. Hippolytus, on the other hand, is a man of virtue and chastity. He practices resistance to the temptation life has to offer.

Edgar Allan Poes Life and Work Essay -- Edgar Allan Poe biography, wr

Edgar Allan Poe was an excellent horror, suspense, and mystery writer of the eighteenth century. His use of literary devices and different literary techniques makes this writer important to American literature. This paper will show how Edgar Allan Poe has made an impact on Society and American literature as well as how Edgar Allan Poe developed the short story. I will also discuss and analyze some of his works and techniques he uses in his short stories and poems. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1809. His parents, who were actors, died when Poe was a small child. Poe was then adopted and raised by John Allan, a tobacco exporter, and Frances Allan in Richmond, Virginia (Magill, 1640). Poe was sent to the best schools because of Allan’s job. When Poe was six years old he was sent to private school. Poe kept studying and went to the University of Virginia for one year. After one year in the University Poe quit school because Allan refused to pay his debts, and he did not have money to pay for Poe’s education. Later, Poe left Boston in 1827 where he enlisted in the army. Poe served two years in the military after he quit school. After two years in the military Poe was dismissed for neglect of duty. His foster father then disowned him permanently. He stayed very little time there because Allan, once again, refused to send Poe any money. (Hoffman, Daniel) Edgar Allan Poe went to New York City where he had some of his work published. He submitted his stories to a number of magazines and they were all rejected. Poe had no friends, no job and he was having financial trouble. He wrote a letter to John Allan but he did not help Poe with his financial problems. Four years later in 1835 Poe finally got ... ...story writers all over the world. Although he had an unusual, unique, and peculiar way of writing he still had a great influence and impact on society during his time, up to the present day. Poe’s writing has changed the way present day writers write about love, pride, beauty and death. Works Cited Buranelli, Vincent. "Edgar Allan Poe". 28 October 2009 . Carlsen, G. Robert. Insights Themes in Literature. New York: Webster Division, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1967. Hoffman, Daniel. "Biography of Edgar Allan Poe". 26 October 2009 . "Literary elements used by Poe." 123HelpMe.com. 07 Jan 2010 . Magill, Frank N. Volume 5. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1991. Walker, Tara. The Raven. Canada: Ryan price, 2006 Edgar Allan Poe's Life and Work Essay -- Edgar Allan Poe biography, wr Edgar Allan Poe was an excellent horror, suspense, and mystery writer of the eighteenth century. His use of literary devices and different literary techniques makes this writer important to American literature. This paper will show how Edgar Allan Poe has made an impact on Society and American literature as well as how Edgar Allan Poe developed the short story. I will also discuss and analyze some of his works and techniques he uses in his short stories and poems. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1809. His parents, who were actors, died when Poe was a small child. Poe was then adopted and raised by John Allan, a tobacco exporter, and Frances Allan in Richmond, Virginia (Magill, 1640). Poe was sent to the best schools because of Allan’s job. When Poe was six years old he was sent to private school. Poe kept studying and went to the University of Virginia for one year. After one year in the University Poe quit school because Allan refused to pay his debts, and he did not have money to pay for Poe’s education. Later, Poe left Boston in 1827 where he enlisted in the army. Poe served two years in the military after he quit school. After two years in the military Poe was dismissed for neglect of duty. His foster father then disowned him permanently. He stayed very little time there because Allan, once again, refused to send Poe any money. (Hoffman, Daniel) Edgar Allan Poe went to New York City where he had some of his work published. He submitted his stories to a number of magazines and they were all rejected. Poe had no friends, no job and he was having financial trouble. He wrote a letter to John Allan but he did not help Poe with his financial problems. Four years later in 1835 Poe finally got ... ...story writers all over the world. Although he had an unusual, unique, and peculiar way of writing he still had a great influence and impact on society during his time, up to the present day. Poe’s writing has changed the way present day writers write about love, pride, beauty and death. Works Cited Buranelli, Vincent. "Edgar Allan Poe". 28 October 2009 . Carlsen, G. Robert. Insights Themes in Literature. New York: Webster Division, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1967. Hoffman, Daniel. "Biography of Edgar Allan Poe". 26 October 2009 . "Literary elements used by Poe." 123HelpMe.com. 07 Jan 2010 . Magill, Frank N. Volume 5. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1991. Walker, Tara. The Raven. Canada: Ryan price, 2006

Roy Jones Jr. :: essays research papers

Roy Jones Jr. was born on January 16, 1969 in Pensacola Florida. Unlike other black boxers Roy developed his boxing skills on a hog farm in a hamlet called Barth, outside Pensacola, when many others developed there’s in the city ghettoes. He was the oldest of five. He had three sisters and onr brother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Roy’s father Roy Sr. said that he is the one who sparked Roy Jr. interest in boxing, by play sparring with him when he was only five. Roy Sr. said, “I’d let him pounch me in the head. When I pounched him, he’d get mad and run off and cry. Then he’d come back and want to do more. When we’d finish I let him get the best of me.'; Roy Sr. was also a former middleweight competitor. Roy’s dad made Roy Jr. to fight a 14 yr. old when Roy himself was only 10. The boy out weighed him by 16 lbs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The training facilities weren’t to Roy Sr.’s standard so he constructed his own ring in a pasture and fmade a punching bag with scrap materials. Local kids watched as Roy’s father taught him the fundamentals of boxing. Soon they got interested and a boxing club was formed. Roy Sr. used his own money to buy boxing equipment and at one point sold the family’s tractor to finance the boxing club. This wasn’t enough though because he had to ask others that he knew for money to take the kids to boxing tournaments in neighboring states. The only form of transportation was an old rickety van, which doors were held with metal wire.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By the time Roy was 19 he had a amatuer record of 106-4 and became the yungest member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic boxing team. In public the team teased Roy but when in the private they asked him for advice. They saw how he dominated his opponents with cobonations from many different angles. Everyone thought that he would deffinetly win gold in the 156 lbs weight class. Like everyone thought he reached the final round. His opponent was the South Korean Park Si Hun. When the fight was over Park’s face was beaten while Roy’s face seemed untouched. The crowd and the Journalist at ringside all thought that Roy had unanamously won the fight, because Roy also had two standing eight counts along with everything else.

Night World : Daughters of Darkness Chapter 5

Mark was still muttering as he rounded the backcorner of the house. What was he even doinghere? It wasn't easy to get into the garden area fromoutside. He had to bushwhack through the overgrown rhododendron bushes and blackberry canesthat formedadense hedge all around it. And evenwhen he emerged from a tunnel of leathery greenleaves, the scene in front of him didn't immediatelyregister. His momentum kept him going for a fewsteps before his brain caught up. Hey, wait. There'sa girl here. A pretty girl. Anextremelypretty girl. He could seeher clearly by the back porch light. She had hiplength white-blond hair, the color that normally onlypreschoolers have, and it was as fine as a child's hair,too, whipping around her like pale silk when shemoved. She was smallish. Little bones. Her hands and feet were delicate. She was wearing what looked like an oldfashioned nightshirt and dancing to what sounded like a rent-to-own commercial. There was a battereddock radio on the porch steps. There was also a black kitten that took one look at Mark and darted away into the shadows. â€Å"Baaad cred-it,nooo cred-it, dooon't wor-ry,weee'll take you†¦.† the radio warbled. The girl danced with her arms above her head-light as thistledown,Mark thought, staring in astonishment. Really, actu ally that light, and so what if it was a cliche As the commercial ended and a country western song began, she did a twirl and saw him. Shestopped, frozen, arms still above her head, wristscrossed. Her eyes got big and her mouth sagged open. She's scared, Mark thought. Of me. The girl didn't look graceful now; she was scrambling to seize the dock radio, fumbling with it, shaking it. Trying to find an Off switch, Mark realized. Her desperation was contagious. Before he thought, Mark dropped the pruning shears and swooped in to grab the radio from her. He twisted the top dial, cutting the song short. Then he stared at the girl, who stared backwith wide silvery-green eyes. They were both breath ing quickly, as if they'd just disarmed a bomb. â€Å"Hey, I hate country western, too,† Mark said aftera minute, shrugging. He'd never talked to a girl this way before. But then he'd never had a girl look scared of him before. And so scared-he imagined he could see her heartbeating in the pale blue veins beneath the translucent skin of her throat. Then, suddenly, she stopped looking terrified. Shebit her lip and chortled. Then, still grinning, she blinked and sniffed. â€Å"I forgot,† she said, dabbing at the corner of her eye. â€Å"You don't have the same rules we do.† â€Å"Rules about country western music?† Mark hazarded. He liked her voice. It was ordinary, not celestial. It made her seem more human. â€Å"Rules about any music from outside,† she said. â€Å"And any TV, too.† Outside what? Mark thought. He said, â€Å"Uh, hi. I'm Mark Carter.† â€Å"I'm Jade Redfern.† â€Å"You're one of Mrs. Burdock's nieces.† â€Å"Yes. We just came last night. We're going to livehere.† Mark snorted and muttered, â€Å"You have my condolences.† â€Å"Condolences? Why?† Jade cast a darting glance around the garden. â€Å"Because living in Briar Creek is just slightly moreexciting than living in a cemetery.† She gave him a long, fascinated look. â€Å"You've†¦ lived in a cemetery?† He gaveher along look. â€Å"Uh, actually, I just meant it's boring here.† â€Å"Oh.† She thought, then smiled. â€Å"Well, it's interesting to us,† she said. â€Å"It's different from where we come from.† â€Å"And just wheredo you come from?† â€Å"An island. It's sort of near †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She considered. â€Å"The state of Maine. â€Å"‘The state of Maine.†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"Does this island have a name?† She stared at him with wide green eyes. â€Å"Well, I can't tell youthat.† â€Å"Uh-okay.† Was, she making fun of him? Butthere was nothing like mockery or sly teasing in her face. She looked mysterious †¦ and innocent. Maybe she had some kind of mental problem. The kids at Dewitt High School would have a field day with that. They weren't very tolerant of differences. â€Å"Look,† he said abruptly. â€Å"If there's ever anything I can do for you-you know, if you ever get in trouble or something-then just tell me. Okay?† She tilted her head sideways. Her eyelashes actually cast shadows in the porch light, but her expression wasn't coy. It was straightforward and assessing,and she was looking him over carefully, as if she needed to figure him out. She took her time doingit. Then she smiled, making little dimples in her cheeks, and Mark's heart jumped unexpectedly. â€Å"Okay,† she said softly. â€Å"Mark. You're not silly, even though you're a boy. You're a good guy, aren'tyou?† â€Å"Well. . .†Mark had never been called upon to be a good guy, not in the TV sense. He wasn't surehow he'd measure up if he were. â€Å"I, um, hope I 0am.† Jade was looking at him steadily. â€Å"You know, I just decided. I'm going to like it here.† She smiledagain, and Mark found it hard to breathe-and then her expression changed. Mark heard it, too. A wild crashing in the overgrown tangle of rhododendrons and blackberrybushes at the back of the garden. It was a weird,frenzied sound, but Jade's reaction was out of all proportion. She had frozen, body tense andtrembling, eyes fixed on the underbrush. She looked terrified. â€Å"Hey.† Mark spoke gently, then touched hershoulder. â€Å"Hey. It's all right. It's probably one of the goats that got loose; goats can jump over any kind of fence.† She was shaking her head. â€Å"Or a deer. When they're relaxed they sound just like people walking.† â€Å"It's not a deer,† she hissed. â€Å"They come down and eat people's gardens a. night. You probably don't have deer roaming aroundwhere you come from-â€Å" â€Å"I can'tsmellanything,† she said in a kind of whispered wail. â€Å"It's that stupid pen. Everything smells like goat. â€Å" She couldn't smell †¦ ? Mark did the only thinghe could think of in response to a statement like that. He put his arms around the girl. â€Å"Everything's okay,† he said softly. He couldn'thelp but notice that she was cool and warm at the same time, supple, wonderfully alive underneath the nightshirt. â€Å"Why don't I take you inside now? You'll be safe there.† â€Å"Leggo,† Jade said ungratefully, squirming. â€Å"I mayhave to fight.† She wriggled out of his arms and faced the bushes again. â€Å"Stay behind me.† Okay, so sheis crazy. I don't care. I think I love her. He stood beside her. â€Å"Look, I'll fight, too. What doyou think it is? Bear, coyote †¦ ?†Ã¢â‚¬ My brother.† â€Å"Your . . .† Dismay pooled in Mark. She'd just stepped over the line of acceptable craziness. â€Å"Oh.† Another thrashing sound from the bushes. It was definitely something big, not a goat. Mark was just wondering vaguely if a Roosevelt elk could have wandered down the hundred or so miles from Waldo Lake, when a scream ripped through the air. A human scream-or, worse,almost human. As it died, there was a wail that was definitely inhumanit started out faint, and then suddenly sounded shrilland dose. Mark was stunned. When the drawn-out wail finally stopped, there was a sobbing, moaning sound, then silence. Mark got his breath and swore. â€Å"What in thewhat wasthat?† â€Å"Shh. Keep still.† Jade was in a half-crouch, eyes on the bushes. â€Å"Jade-Jade, listen. We've got to get inside.† Desperate, he looped an arm around her waist, trying to pick her up. She was light, but she flowed like water out of his arms. Like a cat that doesn't want to bepetted. â€Å"Jade, whatever that thing is, we need agun. â€Å"I don't.† She seemed tobe speaking through herteeth-anyway there was something odd about her diction. She had her back to him and he couldn't see her face, but her hands were clawed. â€Å"Jade,†Mark said urgently. He was scared enoughto run, but he couldn't leave her. He couldn't. No good guy would do that. Too late. The blackberry bushes to the south quivered. Parted. Something was coming through. Mark's heart seemed to freeze solid, but then he found himself moving. Pushing Jade roughly aside. Standing in front of her to face whatever the thing in the dark was. Mary-Lynnette kicked her way through the blackberry canes. Her arms and legs were scratched, and she could feel ripe, bright-black berries squishing against her. She'd probably picked a bad place to get through the hedge, but she hadn't been thinking about that. She'd been thinking about Mark, aboutfinding him as fast as possible and getting away from here. 0Just please let him be here, she thought. Let him be here and be okay and I'll never ask for anything else. She struggled through the last of the canes into thebackyard-and then things happened very fast. The first thing she saw was Mark, and she felt a rush of relief. Then a flash of surprise. Mark was standing in front of a girl, his arms lifted like a basketball guard. As if to protect her from Mary-Lynnette. And then, so quickly that Mary-Lynnette could barely follow the motion, the girl was rushing at her. And Mary-Lynnette was throwing her arms up and Mark was shouting, â€Å"No, that's my sister!† The girl stopped a foot away from Mary-Lynnette.It was the little silvery-haired one, of course. This dose Mary-Lynnette couldsee that she had green eyes and skin so translucent it almost looked like quartz crystal. â€Å"Jade, it's my sister,†.Mark said again, as if anxiousto get this established. â€Å"Her name's Mary-Lynnette.She won't hurt you. Mare, tell her you won't hurther.† Hurt her? Mary-Lynnette didn't know what he wastalking about, and didn't want to. This girl was as weirdly beautiful as the others, and something abouther eyes-hey weren't ordinary green, but almost silvery-made Mary-Lynnette's skin rise ingoose pimples. â€Å"Hello,† Jade said. â€Å"Hello. Okay, Mark, c'mon. We've got to go. Like right now.† She expected him to agree immediately. He wasthe one who hadn't wanted to come, and now herehe was with his most dreaded phobia, a girl. But instead he said, â€Å"Did you hear that yelling? Could you tell where it came from?† â€Å"What yelling? I was inside. Come on.† MaryLynnette took Mark's arm, but since he was as strongas she was, it didn't do any good. â€Å"Maybe I heardsomething. I wasn't paying attention.† She'd been looking desperately around the Victorian living room,babbling out lies about how her family knew where she'd gone tonight and expected her back soon. How her father and stepmother were such good friends of Mrs. Burdock's and how they were just waiting at home to hear about Mrs. B.'s nieces. She still wasn't sure if that was why they'd let her go. But for somereason, Rowan had finally stood up, given MaryLynnette a grave, sweet smile, and opened the front door. â€Å"You know, I bet it was a wolverine,† Mark was saying to Jade excitedly. â€Å"A wolverine that came down from Willamette Forest.† Jade was frowning. â€Å"A wolverine?† She considered. â€Å"Yeah, I guess that could have been it. I've never heard one before.† She looked at MaryLynnette. â€Å"Is that what you think it was?† â€Å"Oh, sure,† Mary-Lynnette said at random. â€Å"Definitely a wolverine.† I should ask where her aunt is, she thought suddenly. It's the perfect opportunity to catch her in a lie. I'll ask and then she'llsay something-anything, but not that her aunt'sgone up north for a little vacation on the coast. And then I'll know. She didn't do it. She simply didn't have the courage. She didn't want to catch anyone in a lie anymore; she just wanted to get out. â€Å"Mark, please †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looked at her and for the first time seemed tosee how upset she was. â€Å"Uh-okay,† he said. And to Jade: â€Å"Look, why don't you go back inside now?You'll be safe there. And maybe-maybe I could come over again sometime?† Mary-Lynnette was still tugging at him, and now, to her relief, he began to move. Mary-Lynnette headed for the blackberry bushes that she'd trampled coming in. â€Å"Why don't you go through there? It's like apath,† Jadesaid,pointing. Mark immediately swerved, taking Mary-Lynnette with him, and she saw a comfortable gap between two rhododendron bushes at the back of the garden. She would never have seen it unless she knew what to look for. As they reached the hedge, Mark turned to glance behind him. Mary-Lynnette turned, too. From here, Jade was just a dark silhouette againstthe porch light-but her hair, lit from behind, looked like a silver halo. It shimmered around her. MaryLynnette heard Mark draw in his breath. â€Å"You both come back sometime,† Jade said cordially. â€Å"Help us milk the goats like Aunt Opal said. She gave us very strict orders before she went on vacation.† Mary-Lynnette was dumbfounded. She turned back and reeled through the gap, her head spinning. When they got to the road she said, â€Å"Mark, what happened when you got into the garden?† Mark was looking preoccupied. â€Å"What do you mean what happened? Nothing happened.† â€Å"Did you look at the place that was dug up?† â€Å"No,† Mark said shortly. â€Å"Jade was in the gardenwhen I got there. I didn't get a chance to look at anything.† â€Å"Mark †¦ was she there the whole time? Jade?Did she ever go in the house? Or did either of the other girls ever come out?† Mark grunted. â€Å"I don't even know what the othergirls look like. The only one I saw was Jade, and she was there the whole time.† He looked at her darkly. â€Å"You're not still on this Rear Windowthing, are you?† Mary-Lynnette didn't answer. She was trying to gather her scattered thoughts. I don't believe it. Butshe said it. Orders about the goats. Before her aunt went on vacation. But Rowan didn't know about the goats before I told her. I'd swear she didn't know. And I was so sure she was winging it with the vacation business†¦. Okay, maybe I was wrong. But that doesn't mean Rowan was telling the truth. Maybe they didfigure the story out before tonight, and Rowan's just a lousy actress. Or maybe †¦ 0 â€Å"Mark, this is going to sound crazy †¦ but Jade didn't have, like, a cellular phone or anything, did she?† Mark stopped dead and gave Mary-Lynnette a long, slow look that said more dearly than wordswhat he thought of this. â€Å"Mary-Lynnette, what'swrongwith you?† â€Å"Rowan and Kestrel told me that Mrs. B. is on vacation. That she suddenly decidedto take a vacation just when they arrived in town.† â€Å"So? Jade said the same thing.† â€Å"Mark, Mrs. B. has lived there for ten years, and she's nevertaken a vacation. Never. How could shetake one starting the same day her nieces come to live with her?† â€Å"Maybe because they can house-sit for her,† Mark said with devastating logic. It was exactly what Rowanhad said. MaryLynnette had a sudden feeling of paranoia, like someone who realizes that everyone around her is a pod person, all in on the conspiracy. She had been aboutto tell him about the goats, but now she didn't want to. Oh, geta gripon yourself, girl. Even Mark is beinglogical The least you can do isthink about this rationally before you run to Sheriff Akers. The fact is, Mary-Lynnette told herself, brutally honest, that you panicked. You got afeelingaboutthose girls for some reason, and then you forgot logic completely. You didn't get any kind of hard evidence. You ran away. She could hardly go to the sheriff and. say that shewas suspicious because Rowan had creepy feet. There's no evidence at all. Nothing except †¦ She groaned inwardly. â€Å"It all comes down to what's in the garden,† shesaid out loud. Mark, who had been walking beside her in frowning silence, now stopped. â€Å"What?† â€Å"It all comes back to that again,† Mary-Lynnettesaid, her eyes shut. â€Å"I should have just looked at thatdug-up place when I had the chance, even if Jadesaw me. It's the only real evidence there is †¦so I've got to see what's there.† Mark was shaking his head. â€Å"Now, look-â€Å" â€Å"I haveto go back. Not tonight. I'm dead tired. But tomorrow. Mark, I haveto check it out before I go to Sheriff Akers.† Mark exploded. â€Å"Before youwhat?†he shouted, loud enough to raise echoes. â€Å"What are you talking about, going to the sheriff?† Mary-Lynnette stared. She hadn't realized how different Mark's point of view was from hers. Why, she thought, why he's †¦ -240 â€Å"You wanted to check out where Mrs. B. was-so we checked where Mrs. B. was,† Mark said. â€Å"They told us where. And yousawJade. I know she's a little differentit's like you said about Mrs. B.; she's eccentric. But did she look like the kind of personwho could hurt somebody? Well, didshe?† Why, he's in love with her, Mary-Lynnettethought. Or at least seriously in like. Mark likes a girl. Now she was reallyconfused. This could be so good for him-if only the girl weren't crazy. Well, maybe even if the girl wascrazyif it wasn't a homicidal craziness. Either way, Mary-Lynnette couldn't call the police on Mark's new girlfriend unless she had some evidence. I wonder if she likes him, too? she thought. They certainly seemed to be protecting each other when I walked in. â€Å"No, you're right,† she said aloud, glad that she'd had practice lying tonight. â€Å"She doesn't look like thekind of person who could hurt somebody. I'll just let it drop.† With you. And tomorrow night when you thinkI'm starwatching, I'll sneak over there. This time bringing my own shovel. And maybe a big stick to fend off wolverines. â€Å"Do you really think you heard a wolverine over there?† she asked, to change the subject. â€Å"Um †¦maybe.† Mark was slowly losing his scowl. â€Å"It was somethingweird. Something I've never heard before. So you're going to forget all this crazy stuff about Mrs. B., right?† â€Å"Yeah, I am.† I'll be safe, mary-Lynnette was thinking. This time I won't panic, and I'll make sure they don't see me. Besides, if they were going to kill me, they would have done it tonight, wouldn't they? â€Å"Maybe it was Sasquatch we heard yelling,† Marksaid.