The Impact of Divorce on Children

The impact of divorce on children Angela Smith PSYC 210 James Varland Liberty University The impact of divorce on children The days of complete families that include mom, dad, the household pet, and several children hardly exist. These families have now been replaced with an increasing number of single parent households due to the increasing divorce rate since the 1970’s. (Price & McKenry, 1988) What kind of impact does divorce play on children under the age of 18 years old today. As we journey into this research, we will see many things that effect children not only emotionally, but spiritually, physically, and mentally.Each of these problems can carry over to adulthood. What we may not realize is that divorce could affect everything up into adulthood of a child. Emotional scars could be left for life. The children are the ones that are left to suffer the most due to divorce. There is so much research on this topic. That alone shows that children are suffering in so many ways due to divorced parents. Divorce is a very stressful experience for any child, regardless of their age. Over half of American children will witness the breakup of a parent’s marriage.Among the millions of children who have seen their parents divorce, did you know that one in ten children will also go through three or more parental marriages? (The Abolition of Marriage, Gallagher) The death of a parent is less devastating on a child than a divorce. There are several areas and stages of pain that is dealt with within a child at the beginning of a divorce. They feel very vulnerable, they feel powerless over the situation, and they have feelings of anger and of course several feeling of guilt. Parents’ sensitivity to their child’s needs has to be a priority in the adjustment of the divorce.Then you need to consider the child’s age also. A preschooler’s reaction and an adolescent’s reaction will be very different from each other. Preschoolerâ₠¬â„¢s tend to be emotionally needy. They have fears related to abandonment, and may display acting-out behaviors. They are likely to become distressed during visit exchanges. (http://cpancf. com/articles_files/efffectsdivorceonchildren. asp) Children from ages 6 to 8 will likely fantasize about their parents but yet are less likely to blame themselves for the divorce.Then children ages 9 to 12 will have a better understanding of their parents divorce and the situation but yet may take the sides with one of the parents. Although adolescents understand and comprehend the divorce of their parents, they are faced with the divorce experience and also their own identities. Adolescents seem to mature more quickly after a divorce. They will take on more responsibilities at home; they learn to appreciate things like an allowance a lot more, and they also learn to gain insight into relationships with others.But on the other hand, they could be drawn into taking on the role of the parent and n ot be able to develop relationships with their own peers. According to research, there are many different approaches that you could take when talking to your children about the divorce. There are definitely ways of saying things at their level and ways to try and make it easier on that individual child. One thing that you have to remember is that there is no best age for a child for divorcing parents. One main thing that you have got to be sure and tell your child is that it isn’t their fault.Children seem to think, especially the younger ones that if I act better or get better grades in school, maybe mommy and daddy won’t be mad at me and leave me. Letting that child know that it isn’t their fault is very crucial for the child. It is very important to let that child know that both parents will still be a part of their lives. When talking to your child about the divorce, you need to keep your emotions under control. If the child sees that you are upset, that wil l also make them upset and the whole situation can be more complicated. Never, never speak negatively about your spouse in front of the child.Your child will need to know a reason but not all of the details. Negativity can cause your child to resent your spouse or you. Children are use to a routine. They will need to know what all will be changing in their life. The children need security. Put your differences aside and get along for the child’s sake. Always listen to your child or children and encourage your child or children to express their feelings. Children have problems finding words to express how they feel. Take the time to help your child understand what they are feeling. And allow the child to be honest.Reassure them that no matter what they have to say or how they are feeling, that neither of these are wrong. That it is okay for them to express themselves. While knowing what to say to a child when talking about divorce there are also things that should not be said when talking to them. Never try to buy your child’s love. Buying the child stuff will only make them feel good temporarily. That feeling will wear off. A child would rather have their parent’s undivided attention in opportunities and joys in life. Nothing can take the place of the love of a parent.The most important thing that I think that a couple should think of first is not to give up on your marriage. There are many alternatives to giving up and letting it end in divorce. (http://www. marriage-success-secrets. com/talking-to-your-child-about-divorce. html ) Statistics are done for very valuable purposes. As I bring some of these statistics to light for you, I think that you will be rather amazed. Children of divorce are at a greater risk to experience injury, asthma, headaches and speech defects than children whose parents have remained married.Children living with both biological parents are 20 to 35 percent more physically healthy than children from broken homes. (Journal of Marriage and Family) Teenagers in single-parent families and in blended families are three times likely to need psychological help within a year. A study of children six years after a parental breakup revealed that even after all that time, these children tended to be lonely, unhappy, anxious and insecure. (Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) These statistics are surely frightful. And people and politics wonder why our American culture is so messed up.Families today doesn’t seem to believe in morals and they especially do not see the importance of what marriage is all about. God gave us a mate to be with forever. The instructions that God has given us in the Bible are very clear about marriage and divorce. In 1 Corinthians 7:10-14 says, â€Å"I command the married-not I, but the Lord- a wife is not to leave her husband. But if she does leave she must remain unmarried or reconciled to her husband- and a husband is not to leave this wife. But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her.Also if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband. Otherwise, your children will be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. (Christian Standard Bible) Another passage that Jesus talks about in the Bible about marriage and divorce and makes Himself very clear about it is in Matthew 19:5 & 9,†(5)For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 9) And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. † (Christian Standard Bible) This passage sums it all up on divorce. If you are considering divorce and do live by the Bible , I think that there are several things that you need to see and think about according to God’s standard before you actually divorce. This should be considered only in light of the most basic principles of scripture. Is the motive for the divorce Godly? Has the spouse sought advice of wise counselors? Is the divorce a last resort action to be taken?If humans today still lived by God’s standards, the divorce rate and all the problems that follow divorce would not be the way they were. There are so many people that divorce affects and to be greedy and only think of ones own self is inhuman. Even is you have failed with your marriage, there are ways that you can succeed with your divorce. Divorce and all the complications that come along with it can have a significant impact on the well being and development of both children and adolescents. The consequences of divorce can and will impact almost all areas of a child’s life.That not only includes the parent and chil d relationship but also the child’s behavior, emotions, coping skills, and psychological development. No wonder that there is a high demand for mental health professionals and other child specialists. As we have looked at statistics and some ways for the parents to deal with the divorce for the children’s sake, let’s put ourselves in the children’s shoes. What do you think is actually going through their mind? What questions do you think that they are thinking about and wanting to ask?According to the University of Missouri, these are some questions and thoughts that are probably going through a child’s mind during their parents divorce. I need both of you to stay involved in my life. I need letters, phone calls, and lots of questions asked to me. Please don’t fight and work hard to get along with each other. Try to agree on matters that relate to me. When you fight about me, I think that I have done something wrong. Please don’t ask me to send messages back and forth between the two of you. Please remember that I depend on both of you to raise me and to be a part of my life.I need both of you to teach me what is important and to help me when I have problems. Take a minute to imagine just what all goes on in a child’s mind when divorce happens. It is truly a sad situation. Now let’s turn the tables and take a look at some of the positive effects of divorce and children. Now that sounds crazy, right. That is what I thought also until I read some research done on this particular topic. Being a child of divorced parents and looking back, I can actually see some of the benefits that have been seen in the research.Of course no child wants to see their parents gets divorced but if you think about it no child wants to see their parent’s constantly fighting either. If there is any kind of abuse in the relationship, you could actually be hurting your children more by staying together. Children who ha ve gone through divorce with their parents could reap the benefits of spending one on one time with each parent. Despite the difficulties of divorce, the one on one time is a great bonding opportunity for parents and children to experience. (http://www. helium. om/items/1355536-what-are-positive-effects-divorce-children) Just think about it for a minute. The quality time that each parent is able to spend with their child or children is actually increased after a divorce.The total focus of the parent on the child is much more valued now. Children can grow healthy in many types of divorce situations if the three key following conditions are met: first, the basic needs for the children must be met, such as love and physical care, understanding, discipline and safety; second, the children need a sense of belonging or being able to say, his is my family where I am important and a special person; and finally, they also need role models of both sexes in their lives to help them determine t heir proper male and female roles. (http://www. jesuschristismygod. com/index2b. html) Some female children come out of divorce growing into exceptionally good young women. It seems that girls and women strive on more responsibilities and challenges. They connect with their mothers and have deep ties with them. Child psychologist agree that keeping the strength of extended family intact is one of the best ways to provide a good structure for children to deal with divorce.In addition, when both parents have the full support of family and friends that were connected to the kids during the marriage that provides resources to turn to when things get difficult as the adults try to figure out how life as a divorced couple should work with kids. (http://www. articlesbase. com/divorce-articles/the-positive-effects-of-divorce-on-children-2745699. html) It is very important that the parents celebrate certain days, such as birthdays, and holidays, together with their children.This can and will show their children that there are values to be taken and at the same time show the role of a true mother and father relationship. As I sit here and think over all the research and statistics that I have read about and then think about my own situation as a child of divorce, I can identify with several of the characteristics that have been studied. First thing that comes to my mind was how my mom and dad handle the situation of divorce, They would talk bad about the other one in front of me and it seemed as if they were trying to win sides with me when actually all I wanted was both of their love.There was always arguing and fighting in front of me and my brothers which also caused me to grow up with a lot of hostility in me. Everything I did for years was prone to fighting and anger. I remember being took from my house to where my dad would stay for certain weekends and holidays and I all wanted was everyone together, As I look back on it now, I truly wonder if my parents had of m ade different and better choices due to their divorce and the sake of the children, would anything in my life been any different with my attitude or my outlook on things and especially family.I can remember blaming myself for several of the things that was wrong between my parents and also being a mediator between them. My grades in school did go down and I acted out to get the action I was lacking from having both of my parents there when I needed them. I guess that one good thing that did come out of my parents’ divorce was that I had a huge sense of survival and determination due to this divorce of my parents. I can also see where girls seem to make a strong tie with their mothers and become very strong women.I truly think that it has helped make me what I am today. I do not believe that I could of survived some of the abuse I have been through with drug addiction and recovery if I had not set my standards of survival at such a young age. There are so many ways that we can be coached and taught about what to do in this situation. It is a very sad case for a couple to have to come to this point in their lives today. Marriage is not seen as it should be. People take it for granted about having a lifelong mate and companion.We should all go back to the basis of the Bible but with the devil and the secular world taking over today, we as Christians have to stand up and play a huge role in our kids live. I have made a promise to myself that I will not repeat the cycle of my parents. Life is too precious and your children will be grown and gone before you know it. We endure enough pain in this world today and I refuse to allow anymore to be put into my children’s life due to me.This study has just made me a little more determined about living my marriage a a Christian example to my children and working through all the problems that marriage my bring in my direction. The statistics are growing but our God is even bigger.References Christian Standard B ible http://cpancf. com/articles_files/efffectsdivorceonchildren. asp) http://www. articlesbase. com/divorce-articles/the-positive-effects-of-divorce-on-children-2745699. html http://www. helium. com/items/1355536-what-are-positive-effects-divorce-children

Angels Demons Chapter 89-92

89 War had broken out in St. Peter's Square. The piazza had exploded into a frenzy of aggression. Media trucks skidded into place like assault vehicles claiming beachheads. Reporters unfurled high-tech electronics like soldiers arming for battle. All around the perimeter of the square, networks jockeyed for position as they raced to erect the newest weapon in media wars – flat-screen displays. Flat-screen displays were enormous video screens that could be assembled on top of trucks or portable scaffolding. The screens served as a kind of billboard advertisement for the network, broadcasting that network's coverage and corporate logo like a drive-in movie. If a screen were well-situated – in front of the action, for example – a competing network could not shoot the story without including an advertisement for their competitor. The square was quickly becoming not only a multimedia extravaganza, but a frenzied public vigil. Onlookers poured in from all directions. Open space in the usually limitless square was fast becoming a valuable commodity. People clustered around the towering flat-screen displays, listening to live reports in stunned excitement. Only a hundred yards away, inside the thick walls of St. Peter's Basilica, the world was serene. Lieutenant Chartrand and three other guards moved through the darkness. Wearing their infrared goggles, they fanned out across the nave, swinging their detectors before them. The search of Vatican City's public access areas so far had yielded nothing. â€Å"Better remove your goggles up here,† the senior guard said. Chartrand was already doing it. They were nearing the Niche of the Palliums – the sunken area in the center of the basilica. It was lit by ninety-nine oil lamps, and the amplified infrared would have seared their eyes. Chartrand enjoyed being out of the heavy goggles, and he stretched his neck as they descended into the sunken niche to scan the area. The room was beautiful†¦ golden and glowing. He had not been down here yet. It seemed every day since Chartrand had arrived in Vatican City he had learned some new Vatican mystery. These oil lamps were one of them. There were exactly ninety-nine lamps burning at all times. It was tradition. The clergy vigilantly refilled the lamps with sacred oils such that no lamp ever burned out. It was said they would burn until the end of time. Or at least until midnight, Chartrand thought, feeling his mouth go dry again. Chartrand swung his detector over the oil lamps. Nothing hidden in here. He was not surprised; the canister, according to the video feed, was hidden in a dark area. As he moved across the niche, he came to a bulkhead grate covering a hole in the floor. The hole led to a steep and narrow stairway that went straight down. He had heard stories about what lay down there. Thankfully, they would not have to descend. Rocher's orders were clear. Search only the public access areas; ignore the white zones. â€Å"What's that smell?† he asked, turning away from the grate. The niche smelled intoxicatingly sweet. â€Å"Fumes from the lamps,† one of them replied. Chartrand was surprised. â€Å"Smells more like cologne than kerosene.† â€Å"It's not kerosene. These lamps are close to the papal altar, so they take a special, ambiental mixture – ethanol, sugar, butane, and perfume.† â€Å"Butane?† Chartrand eyed the lamps uneasily. The guard nodded. â€Å"Don't spill any. Smells like heaven, but burns like hell.† The guards had completed searching the Niche of the Palliums and were moving across the basilica again when their walkie-talkies went off. It was an update. The guards listened in shock. Apparently there were troubling new developments, which could not be shared on-air, but the camerlegno had decided to break tradition and enter conclave to address the cardinals. Never before in history had this been done. Then again, Chartrand realized, never before in history had the Vatican been sitting on what amounted to some sort of neoteric nuclear warhead. Chartrand felt comforted to know the camerlegno was taking control. The camerlegno was the person inside Vatican City for whom Chartrand held the most respect. Some of the guards thought of the camerlegno as a beato – a religious zealot whose love of God bordered on obsession – but even they agreed†¦ when it came to fighting the enemies of God, the camerlegno was the one man who would stand up and play hardball. The Swiss Guards had seen a lot of the camerlegno this week in preparation for conclave, and everyone had commented that the man seemed a bit rough around the edges, his verdant eyes a bit more intense than usual. Not surprisingly, they had all commented; not only was the camerlegno responsible for planning the sacred conclave, but he had to do it immediately on the heels of the loss of his mentor, the Pope. Chartrand had only been at the Vatican a few months when he heard the story of the bomb that blew up the camerlegno's mother before the kid's very eyes. A bomb in church†¦ and now it's happening all over again. Sadly, the authorities never caught the bastards who planted the bomb†¦ probably some anti-Christian hate group they said, and the case faded away. No wonder the camerlegno despised apathy. A couple months back, on a peaceful afternoon inside Vatican City, Chartrand had bumped into the camerlegno coming across the grounds. The camerlegno had apparently recognized Chartrand as a new guard and invited him to accompany him on a stroll. They had talked about nothing in particular, and the camerlegno made Chartrand feel immediately at home. â€Å"Father,† Chartrand said, â€Å"may I ask you a strange question?† The camerlegno smiled. â€Å"Only if I may give you a strange answer.† Chartrand laughed. â€Å"I have asked every priest I know, and I still don't understand.† â€Å"What troubles you?† The camerlegno led the way in short, quick strides, his frock kicking out in front of him as he walked. His black, crepe-sole shoes seemed befitting, Chartrand thought, like reflections of the man's essence†¦ modern but humble, and showing signs of wear. Chartrand took a deep breath. â€Å"I don't understand this omnipotent-benevolent thing.† The camerlegno smiled. â€Å"You've been reading Scripture.† â€Å"I try.† â€Å"You are confused because the Bible describes God as an omnipotent and benevolent deity.† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"Omnipotent-benevolent simply means that God is all-powerful and well-meaning.† â€Å"I understand the concept. It's just†¦ there seems to be a contradiction.† â€Å"Yes. The contradiction is pain. Man's starvation, war, sickness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Exactly!† Chartrand knew the camerlegno would understand. â€Å"Terrible things happen in this world. Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all-powerful and well-meaning. If He loves us and has the power to change our situation, He would prevent our pain, wouldn't He?† The camerlegno frowned. â€Å"Would He?† Chartrand felt uneasy. Had he overstepped his bounds? Was this one of those religious questions you just didn't ask? â€Å"Well†¦ if God loves us, and He can protect us, He would have to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and powerless to help.† â€Å"Do you have children, Lieutenant?† Chartrand flushed. â€Å"No, signore.† â€Å"Imagine you had an eight-year-old son†¦ would you love him?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Would you do everything in your power to prevent pain in his life?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Would you let him skateboard?† Chartrand did a double take. The camerlegno always seemed oddly â€Å"in touch† for a clergyman. â€Å"Yeah, I guess,† Chartrand said. â€Å"Sure, I'd let him skateboard, but I'd tell him to be careful.† â€Å"So as this child's father, you would give him some basic, good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes?† â€Å"I wouldn't run behind him and mollycoddle him if that's what you mean.† â€Å"But what if he fell and skinned his knee?† â€Å"He would learn to be more careful.† The camerlegno smiled. â€Å"So although you have the power to interfere and prevent your child's pain, you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons?† â€Å"Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It's how we learn.† The camerlegno nodded. â€Å"Exactly.† 90 Langdon and Vittoria observed Piazza Barberini from the shadows of a small alleyway on the western corner. The church was opposite them, a hazy cupola emerging from a faint cluster of buildings across the square. The night had brought with it a welcome cool, and Langdon was surprised to find the square deserted. Above them, through open windows, blaring televisions reminded Langdon where everyone had disappeared to. â€Å"†¦ no comment yet from the Vatican†¦ Illuminati murders of two cardinals†¦ satanic presence in Rome†¦ speculation about further infiltration†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The news had spread like Nero's fire. Rome sat riveted, as did the rest of the world. Langdon wondered if they would really be able to stop this runaway train. As he scanned the piazza and waited, Langdon realized that despite the encroachment of modern buildings, the piazza still looked remarkably elliptical. High above, like some sort of modern shrine to a bygone hero, an enormous neon sign blinked on the roof of a luxurious hotel. Vittoria had already pointed it out to Langdon. The sign seemed eerily befitting. HOTEL BERNINI â€Å"Five of ten,† Vittoria said, cat eyes darting around the square. No sooner had she spoken the words than she grabbed Langdon's arm and pulled him back into the shadows. She motioned into the center of the square. Langdon followed her gaze. When he saw it, he stiffened. Crossing in front of them, beneath a street lamp, two dark figures appeared. Both were cloaked, their heads covered with dark mantles, the traditional black covering of Catholic widows. Langdon would have guessed they were women, but he couldn't be sure in the dark. One looked elderly and moved as if in pain, hunched over. The other, larger and stronger, was helping. â€Å"Give me the gun,† Vittoria said. â€Å"You can't just – â€Å" Fluid as a cat, Vittoria was in and out of his pocket once again. The gun glinted in her hand. Then, in absolute silence, as if her feet never touched the cobblestone, she was circling left in the shadows, arching across the square to approach the couple from the rear. Langdon stood transfixed as Vittoria disappeared. Then, swearing to himself, he hurried after her. The couple was moving slowly, and it was only a matter of half a minute before Langdon and Vittoria were positioned behind them, closing in from the rear. Vittoria concealed the gun beneath casually crossed arms in front of her, out of sight but accessible in a flash. She seemed to float faster and faster as the gap lessened, and Langdon battled to keep up. When his shoes scuffed a stone and sent it skittering, Vittoria shot him a sideways glare. But the couple did not seem to hear. They were talking. At thirty feet, Langdon could start to hear voices. No words. Just faint murmurings. Beside him, Vittoria moved faster with every step. Her arms loosened before her, the gun starting to peek out. Twenty feet. The voices were clearer – one much louder than the other. Angry. Ranting. Langdon sensed it was the voice of an old woman. Gruff. Androgynous. He strained to hear what she was saying, but another voice cut the night. â€Å"Mi scusi!† Vittoria's friendly tone lit the square like a torch. Langdon tensed as the cloaked couple stopped short and began to turn. Vittoria kept striding toward them, even faster now, on a collision course. They would have no time to react. Langdon realized his own feet had stopped moving. From behind, he saw Vittoria's arms loosening, her hand coming free, the gun swinging forward. Then, over her shoulder, he saw a face, lit now in the street lamp. The panic surged to his legs, and he lunged forward. â€Å"Vittoria, no!† Vittoria, however, seemed to exist a split second ahead of him. In a motion as swift as it was casual, Vittoria's arms were raised again, the gun disappearing as she clutched herself like a woman on a chilly night. Langdon stumbled to her side, almost colliding with the cloaked couple before them. â€Å"Buona sera,† Vittoria blurted, her voice startled with retreat. Langdon exhaled in relief. Two elderly women stood before them scowling out from beneath their mantles. One was so old she could barely stand. The other was helping her. Both clutched rosaries. They seemed confused by the sudden interruption. Vittoria smiled, although she looked shaken. â€Å"Dov'e la chiesa Santa Maria della Vittoria? Where is the Church of – â€Å" The two women motioned in unison to a bulky silhouette of a building on an inclined street from the direction they had come. â€Å"e la.† â€Å"Grazie,† Langdon said, putting his hands on Vittoria's shoulders and gently pulling her back. He couldn't believe they'd almost attacked a pair of old ladies. â€Å"Non si puo entrare,† one woman warned. â€Å"e chiusa temprano.† â€Å"Closed early?† Vittoria looked surprised. â€Å"Perche?† Both women explained at once. They sounded irate. Langdon understood only parts of the grumbling Italian. Apparently, the women had been inside the church fifteen minutes ago praying for the Vatican in its time of need, when some man had appeared and told them the church was closing early. â€Å"Hanno conosciuto l'uomo?† Vittoria demanded, sounding tense. â€Å"Did you know the man?† The women shook their heads. The man was a straniero crudo, they explained, and he had forcibly made everyone inside leave, even the young priest and janitor, who said they were calling the police. But the intruder had only laughed, telling them to be sure the police brought cameras. Cameras? Langdon wondered. The women clucked angrily and called the man a bar-rabo. Then, grumbling, they continued on their way. â€Å"Bar-rabo?† Langdon asked Vittoria. â€Å"A barbarian?† Vittoria looked suddenly taut. â€Å"Not quite. Bar-rabo is derogatory wordplay. It means rabo†¦ Arab.† Langdon felt a shiver and turned toward the outline of the church. As he did, his eyes glimpsed something in the church's stained-glass windows. The image shot dread through his body. Unaware, Vittoria removed her cell phone and pressed the auto dial. â€Å"I'm warning Olivetti.† Speechless, Langdon reached out and touched her arm. With a tremulous hand, he pointed to the church. Vittoria let out a gasp. Inside the building, glowing like evil eyes through the stained-glass windows†¦ shone the growing flash of flames. 91 Langdon and Vittoria dashed to the main entrance of the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria and found the wooden door locked. Vittoria fired three shots from Olivetti's semi-automatic into the ancient bolt, and it shattered. The church had no anteroom, so the entirety of the sanctuary spread out in one gasping sweep as Langdon and Vittoria threw open the main door. The scene before them was so unexpected, so bizarre, that Langdon had to close his eyes and reopen them before his mind could take it all in. The church was lavish baroque†¦ gilded walls and altars. Dead center of the sanctuary, beneath the main cupola, wooden pews had been stacked high and were now ablaze in some sort of epic funeral pyre. A bonfire shooting high into the dome. As Langdon's eyes followed the inferno upward, the true horror of the scene descended like a bird of prey. High overhead, from the left and right sides of the ceiling, hung two incensor cables – lines used for swinging frankincense vessels above the congregation. These lines, however, carried no incensors now. Nor were they swinging. They had been used for something else†¦ Suspended from the cables was a human being. A naked man. Each wrist had been connected to an opposing cable, and he had been hoisted almost to the point of being torn apart. His arms were outstretched in a spread-eagle as if he were nailed to some sort of invisible crucifix hovering within the house of God. Langdon felt paralyzed as he stared upward. A moment later, he witnessed the final abomination. The old man was alive, and he raised his head. A pair of terrified eyes gazed down in a silent plea for help. On the man's chest was a scorched emblem. He had been branded. Langdon could not see it clearly, but he had little doubt what the marking said. As the flames climbed higher, lapping at the man's feet, the victim let out a cry of pain, his body trembling. As if ignited by some unseen force, Langdon felt his body suddenly in motion, dashing down the main aisle toward the conflagration. His lungs filled with smoke as he closed in. Ten feet from the inferno, at a full sprint, Langdon hit a wall of heat. The skin on his face singed, and he fell back, shielding his eyes and landing hard on the marble floor. Staggering upright, he pressed forward again, hands raised in protection. Instantly he knew. The fire was far too hot. Moving back again, he scanned the chapel walls. A heavy tapestry, he thought. If I can somehow smother the†¦ But he knew a tapestry was not to be found. This is a baroque chapel, Robert, not some damn German castle! Think! He forced his eyes back to the suspended man. High above, smoke and flames swirled in the cupola. The incensor cables stretched outward from the man's wrists, rising to the ceiling where they passed through pulleys, and descended again to metal cleats on either side of the church. Langdon looked over at one of the cleats. It was high on the wall, but he knew if he could get to it and loosen one of the lines, the tension would slacken and the man would swing wide of the fire. A sudden surge of flames crackled higher, and Langdon heard a piercing scream from above. The skin on the man's feet was starting to blister. The cardinal was being roasted alive. Langdon fixed his sights on the cleat and ran for it. In the rear of the church, Vittoria clutched the back of a pew, trying to gather her senses. The image overhead was horrid. She forced her eyes away. Do something! She wondered where Olivetti was. Had he seen the Hassassin? Had he caught him? Where were they now? Vittoria moved forward to help Langdon, but as she did, a sound stopped her. The crackling of the flames was getting louder by the instant, but a second sound also cut the air. A metallic vibration. Nearby. The repetitive pulse seemed to emanate from the end of the pews to her left. It was a stark rattle, like the ringing of a phone, but stony and hard. She clutched the gun firmly and moved down the row of pews. The sound grew louder. On. Off. A recurrent vibration. As she approached the end of the aisle, she sensed the sound was coming from the floor just around the corner at the end of the pews. As she moved forward, gun outstretched in her right hand, she realized she was also holding something in her left hand – her cell phone. In her panic she had forgotten that outside she had used it to dial the commander†¦ setting off his phone's silent vibration feature as a warning. Vittoria raised her phone to her ear. It was still ringing. The commander had never answered. Suddenly, with rising fear, Vittoria sensed she knew what was making the sound. She stepped forward, trembling. The entire church seemed to sink beneath her feet as her eyes met the lifeless form on the floor. No stream of liquid flowed from the body. No signs of violence tattooed the flesh. There was only the fearful geometry of the commander's head†¦ torqued backward, twisted 180 degrees in the wrong direction. Vittoria fought the images of her own father's mangled body. The phone on the commander's belt lay against the floor, vibrating over and over against the cold marble. Vittoria hung up her own phone, and the ringing stopped. In the silence, Vittoria heard a new sound. A breathing in the dark directly behind her. She started to spin, gun raised, but she knew she was too late. A laser beam of heat screamed from the top of her skull to the soles of her feet as the killer's elbow crashed down on the back of her neck. â€Å"Now you are mine,† a voice said. Then, everything went black. Across the sanctuary, on the left lateral wall, Langdon balanced atop a pew and scraped upward on the wall trying to reach the cleat. The cable was still six feet above his head. Cleats like these were common in churches and were placed high to prevent tampering. Langdon knew priests used wooden ladders called piuli to access the cleats. The killer had obviously used the church's ladder to hoist his victim. So where the hell is the ladder now! Langdon looked down, searching the floor around him. He had a faint recollection of seeing a ladder in here somewhere. But where? A moment later his heart sank. He realized where he had seen it. He turned toward the raging fire. Sure enough, the ladder was high atop the blaze, engulfed in flames. Filled now with desperation, Langdon scanned the entire church from his raised platform, looking for anything at all that could help him reach the cleat. As his eyes probed the church, he had a sudden realization. Where the hell is Vittoria? She had disappeared. Did she go for help? Langdon screamed out her name, but there was no response. And where is Olivetti? There was a howl of pain from above, and Langdon sensed he was already too late. As his eyes went skyward again and saw the slowly roasting victim, Langdon had thoughts for only one thing. Water. Lots of it. Put out the fire. At least lower the flames.† I need water, damn it!† he yelled out loud. â€Å"That's next,† a voice growled from the back of the church. Langdon wheeled, almost falling off the pews. Striding up the side aisle directly toward him came a dark monster of a man. Even in the glow of the fire, his eyes burned black. Langdon recognized the gun in his hand as the one from his own jacket pocket†¦ the one Vittoria had been carrying when they came in. The sudden wave of panic that rose in Langdon was a frenzy of disjunct fears. His initial instinct was for Vittoria. What had this animal done to her? Was she hurt? Or worse? In the same instant, Langdon realized the man overhead was screaming louder. The cardinal would die. Helping him now was impossible. Then, as the Hassassin leveled the gun at Langdon's chest, Langdon's panic turned inward, his senses on overload. He reacted on instinct as the shot went off. Launching off the bench, Langdon sailed arms first over the sea of church pews. When he hit the pews, he hit harder than he had imagined, immediately rolling to the floor. The marble cushioned his fall with all the grace of cold steel. Footsteps closed to his right. Langdon turned his body toward the front of the church and began scrambling for his life beneath the pews. High above the chapel floor, Cardinal Guidera endured his last torturous moments of consciousness. As he looked down the length of his naked body, he saw the skin on his legs begin to blister and peel away. I am in hell, he decided. God, why hast thou forsaken me? He knew this must be hell because he was looking at the brand on his chest upside down†¦ and yet, as if by the devil's magic, the word made perfect sense. Angels & Demons 92 Three ballotings. No Pope. Inside the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Mortati had begun praying for a miracle. Send us the candidates! The delay had gone long enough. A single missing candidate, Mortati could understand. But all four? It left no options. Under these conditions, achieving a two-thirds majority would take an act of God Himself. When the bolts on the outer door began to grind open, Mortati and the entire College of Cardinals wheeled in unison toward the entrance. Mortati knew this unsealing could mean only one thing. By law, the chapel door could only be unsealed for two reasons – to remove the very ill, or to admit late cardinals. The preferiti are coming! Mortati's heart soared. Conclave had been saved. But when the door opened, the gasp that echoed through the chapel was not one of joy. Mortati stared in incredulous shock as the man walked in. For the first time in Vatican history, a camerlegno had just crossed the sacred threshold of conclave after sealing the doors. What is he thinking! The camerlegno strode to the altar and turned to address the thunderstruck audience. â€Å"Signori,† he said, â€Å"I have waited as long as I can. There is something you have a right to know.†

Evaluate the appropriateness of the operating systems elements in Essay

Evaluate the appropriateness of the operating systems elements in terms of their contributions to productivity and overall effectiveness - Essay Example The Toyota production system like any other system has its own way of carrying out its operations. It has a strategy of improving depending on the set standards. This aims at involving the participation of its staff to help eradicate unnecessary wastes. The objective of the system is make the delivery more effective by reducing time taken between when an order is issued and when delivery is made to the clients. Just like any organization or system, the Toyota Production System focuses on not only making their products of high quality but of lower cost of production, to maximize on the profits. Secondly, it is aiming at achieving workers satisfaction, fair treatment, and job security among its workers (Chiarini 2012 pg 345). The final objective is to give the company flexibility in relationship with trends in the local and global markets, to achieve maximum profit through reduction of overhead costs and realizing a sustainable prosperity. Complete elimination of all waste, unevenness in all sections of work and overburden, allows members of staff to work smoothly and efficiently. In addition, core values of the system are built on standardization that ensures safe methods of production and sustained quality of production. Toyota community is steel seeking to improve its standard processes and techniques in order to bring in maximum quality, eliminate waste, and maximize efficiency in a process known as kaizen. The process is applied in all the production elements of the company. Kaizen is a core element in the Toyota production system. Like in all large-scale production systems, Toyota requires all tasks both mechanical and human be specified and precisely standardized to ensure highest quality, improve production efficiency, and eliminate waste. In this section of production system, the members of staff follow closely these standardized works and

Life On Mars Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Life On Mars - Essay Example These organisms rely on chemical or geothermal energy instead, and it is likely that organisms living on Mars would have to rely on sources of energy similar to these types of organisms; it is very unlikely that there would be any life present on the surface of Mars because the atmosphere contains chemicals known as superoxides, which break down all organic, or carbon-containing molecules, which are the building blocks of life. It is much more likely that if life ever was present, or still is there today, that it would be found under the surface. The signs that we use to look for life on Mars are all based on knowledge that we have of life on Earth. While any life forms found on Earth may not be remotely similar to those found here, it provides a good starting point for the search. All living things on Earth contain the element carbon in their structures, and so this if we find this element on Mars it could signify areas in which life may have developed. From looking at deposits of fossils which chart the history of life on Earth, it can be seen that there are only certain environments in which fossils can be preserved, so if a appropriate set of conditions is found on Mars then it may be a good place to look for fossilized life forms. How do we search for life There have been several expeditions carried out to Mars, but so far all by machinery rather than actual people. In the 1970s, a team of scientists, including Dr. Gilbert Levin, sent two Viking probes up to the surface of Mars to look for signs of life. They conducted tests on the soil to see if organic materials, and possibly life, were present there at the moment, producing controversial results. Since then we have sent several other probes to conduct testing on the soil, and there are a pair of robots there at the moment - Spirit and Opportunity. As well as conducting tests, these robots have been taking photographs that a panel of scientists are studying, which may give further clues as to whether life is there at the moment, how likely it is that life has ever been there, and where best to look for any life that may be present. Dr. Gilbert Levin is also one of the scientists currently involved with this expedition. As of yet there have been no manned missions to Mars, but this ma y change in the future, since there are many scientists who back this idea. Current conclusions At the moment the question as to whether life is present, or has ever been present, on Mars is largely unanswered. Dr. Gilbert Levin concluded in 1997, from the results of the Viking mission, that there is currently life on Mars, in the form of

Philosophy - Animal rights & liberation article by Peter Singer Essay

Philosophy - Animal rights & liberation article by Peter Singer - Essay Example Singer points out that when humans alter nature, they tend to only take the costs and benefits for humans into consideration; and the effects of such actions on other animals are often given no moral significance. To illustrate, according to Singer, when a ‘reservoir’ is constructed, though it is pointed out that it would drown a valley teeming with wildlife, the reason behind this concern often lies in the fact that the valley has value as a place for recreation like hunting, shooting, and bush walking. In other words, the hardships caused by the reservoir to the lives of the nonhuman beings in the valley are not of any moral concern. Thus, the claim is that while lamenting on the negative impact of such human encroachments, the concern is not about the direct hardship caused by the alteration to the nonhuman beings there, but about the possible losses to humans themselves as a result of the alteration. In other words, the sustainability of a human interference in nature is often decided by weighing its benefits to humans against its negative impacts on humans. The lives of other species are not given any value other than the usefulness of those animals to humans. According to Singer, not giving attention to the sufferings of nonhuman things for the mere reason that they do not belong to human species is not justifiable. In order to justify this claim, Singer provides the example of the history of slavery. The White slave owners never took the sufferings of the Black slaves into consideration because their moral concerns were limited to White people (135). However, later on, the society realized the fact that the ideology was terribly wrong. Very similar is the case of nonhuman things too. The only difference is that in the former, ‘race’ was the boundary of morality, and in the latter case, ‘species’ is the boundary. Thus, the argument culminates in the

Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Business Environment - Essay Example 1 5,6 1.3 Explain the responsibilities of an organisation and strategies employed to meet them. 1 6,7 LO2 Understandthe nature of the national environment in which businesses operate. 2.1 Explain how economic systems attempt to allocate resources effectively. 1 7,8,9,10 2.2 Assess the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on business organisations and their activities. 1 10,11 2.3 Evaluate the impact of competition policy and other regulatory mechanisms on the activities of a selected organisation. 1 11 LO3 Understand the behaviour of organisations in their market environment. 3.1 Explain how market structures determine the pricing and output decisions of businesses. 1 12,13 3.2 Illustrate the way in which market forces shape organisational responses using a range of examples. 1 13 3.3 Judge how the business and cultural environments shape the behaviour of a selected organisation. 1 14 LO4 Be able to assess the significance of the global factors that shape national business activities . 4.1 Discuss the significance of international trade to UK business organisations. 2 15 4.2 Analyse the impact of global factors on UK business organisations 2 15,16, 4.3 Evaluate the impact of policies of the European Union on UK business organisations. ... A business organisation has a boundary, which separates it from its external environment. The main rationale of this assignment is to spot the purposes of business organisation, analyze the criterion used by different types of business organisations to meet the demand of stakeholders, and explain strategies and responsibilities of business organisations, which they use to meet their goals. LO1 Understand the organisational purposes of businesses. Purpose of business organisation      Businesses run to ensure they meet the needs of customers. Therefore, according to many businesses, customers are more essential to a business than stockholders, employees, and managers. Without consumers, entrepreneurs cannot operate businesses (Shorthose & Maycroft 2012, P.33). Therefore, the main principle of business organisation is to ensure that customers experience the best services and are fully satisfied. The organisations vision statement portrays the future state of the organisation. Havin g quality managers and leaders enable a business to create vision and strategy (Fleming 2004, P.4). However, under all business conditions, the purpose of a certain organisation is to ensure that the businesses survive. Business organisation should establish shared values and vision for the businesses (Shorthose & Maycroft 2012, P.35). Business organisation must create mission statement and some commitments to maintain the mission at all the organisational levels. The main purpose of this mission statement is to protect the organisation from being sidetracked and distracted. The mission and values focus on the resources and strategies of the business organisation (Fleming 2004, P.7). The major resources of a business organisation include employees, their experiences, and

Ethical Viewpoints Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethical Viewpoints - Essay Example According to Dr. Tod Mikuriva , a former national administrator of the U.S. governments marijuana research programs, "After dealing with about 10,000 patents in the last 15 years, Id say about 200 different medical conditions respond favorably to cannabis". Of those diseases that responded favorably to marijuana treatment was Alzheimers disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, arthritis, depression among the 200 diseases that it can possibly treat. Just recently, Uruguay legalized not only the distribution and selling of marijuana but also the growing of it. As expected, controversy arose from it but the move made other countries receptive to the debate of legalizing marijuana and away from the usual hardline stance of banning it. The debate may still be long and bitter but the mere fact that it is being debated indicates an openness of accepting marijuana as harmless and medically helpful that could be a good source of revenue for the government. The draconian measures imposed against the distribution and use of marijuana is not only pointless but economically costly as well. The most stringent law nor the broader use of the state’s police power have not deterred people from its used and this only manifests that the escalation of control and police enforcement is a wrong response and therefore pointless. It only pushed the industry into the black market which begets another set of problems. Worst, the medical benefit of the regulated use of marijuana is foregone by banning it as illegal. It only makes cartels rich just like what happened to alcohol when it was banned. It was the mafia who got rich. It is also economically costly because maintaining law enforcers to go after marijuana distributors and users needs funding which will be taken out from tax payers. In addition, there is also an opportunity cost associated in banning marijuana. The taxes that should have been collected in regulating marijuana was lost becau se

History - Museum Objects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

History - Museum Objects - Essay Example al languages have essentially three component parts, one of which is the direct use of signs and symbols in the form of objects and space while the other two, non-verbal communication such as gestures and body language and verbal communication such as speech and writing, can also be preserved somewhat in the objects that are left behind and can help in determining the culture from which the object originated. Because objects share a role in the interrelated social communication modes of a particular society, the interpretation of these objects may differ from one society to the next or even one time period to the next. The way in which it is interpreted can not only provide significant contextual clues to the society from which it was produced, but can also reflect the understanding of the society attempting to place the object within its correct contextual space. In addition, that exact same object, for example a specific vase, may take on different contextual meanings as it passes through time, originally used as a container for liquid, later taking on the ashes of a dearly departed relative and finally symbolizing perhaps a golden age in the progression of a nation. â€Å"[An object] can never convey one single message, uncorrected, unambiguous and unqualified. Different social perceptions, needs and changing attitudes will see to that.†2 In order to better understand how different objects can reveal different stories, this paper will take a look at three specific objects – a decanter made by William Burges and a MacIntosh chair both on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Grande Ludovisi Sarcophagus in the National Museum of Rome – examining the provenance, contexts and different stories or ‘readings’ offered of each. In terms of its socio-historical context, this decanter captures the opulence and elaborate detail of the later Victorian period in which a great deal of the artwork designed represented a return to some of the more

Analyze an interveiew for a communication class Essay

Analyze an interveiew for a communication class - Essay Example The interview occurred in New York with a focus on the basic questions. The question included Billy Gate’s personal wealth as a centre of attraction embedded to disapprove common myths. The big question during the introductory part included Billy Gate’s charitable effect. Jorge Ramos inquired the reasons behind Billy’s Gates will to offer support to the poor. The immediate response from the world’s billionaire triggered a diversion in the interview to personal concern over the accumulated wealth. Billy Gates stated over F billon as a personal wealth. He also elaborated donations accounted in the health, education and other anti-poverty schemes. According to Billy Gates, wealth is a common talk and everyday conversations. He states â€Å"but the money belongs to society, and we will try to invest in breakthroughs and programs that really help the world.† The interview entailed open question at this juncture depicting a far stretched interrogation. Jorge Ramos uses different aspects of an interview to obtain personal views of Billy Gates, who is the interviewee. This approach serves to effectively address other relevant aspects of interviewing for critical discussions. The nature of open questions used shows that Jorge Ramos researched greatly on Billy Gates. The question on Billy Gates personal wealth justifies the extent of acquired information before the interview. A personal experience with such circumstance included a job interview at a prestigious mall. The interviewer asked questions in a manner suggesting the use of background information. The interview with Billy Gates elaborated different myths perceived by people around the world. Jorge Ramos used different techniques to acquire information from Billy Gates. Ramos employed informal approaches during the interview. Ramos says, â€Å"is your plan to give almost everything?† to evoke a clear response from Billy Gates and