Succubus Blues CHAPTER 12

â€Å"Man, if Jerome had threatened to stash me somewhere, I wouldn't be out snooping around.† â€Å"I'm not snooping. I'm just speculating.† Peter shook his head and took the cap off a beer. I sat with him and Cody in their kitchen, the day after Hugh's attack. A ham and pineapple pizza had just arrived, and Cody and I dug into it while the other vampire merely watched. â€Å"Why can't you just accept this for what it is? Jerome's telling the truth. It's a vampire hunter.† â€Å"No. No way. None of this adds up. Not the goofy way Jerome and Carter are acting. Not Hugh's attack. Not that fucked-up note I got.† â€Å"I figured you get screwy love notes all the time. ‘My heart bleeds for you, Georgina.' Written in actual blood. Stuff like that.† â€Å"Yeah, nothing like self-mutilation to turn a girl on,† I muttered. I gulped some Mountain Dew and returned to my pizza. Really, as far as caffeine and sugar went, Mountain Dew was nearly as good as one of my mochas. â€Å"Hey, why aren't you eating any of this?† Peter held up his beer bottle by way of explanation. â€Å"I'm dieting.† I peered at it. Golden Village Low- Carb Ale. I froze, mid-bite. Low- carb? â€Å"Peter†¦ you're a vampire. Aren't you by definition always on a low- carbdiet?† â€Å"It's no use,† Cody chuckled, speaking up for the first time. â€Å"I've already had this argument with him. He won't listen.† â€Å"You wouldn't understand.† Peter eyed our pizza wistfully. â€Å"You can make your body look like anything you want.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I looked to Cody. â€Å"Can he really even put on weight? Aren't immortal bodies, I don't know, unchangeable? Or timeless? Or something?† â€Å"You'd know more about it than me,† he said. â€Å"We eat other things.† Peter rubbed his stomach selfconsciously. â€Å"Not just blood. It all adds up.† This had to be weirdest thing I'd heard since Duane's death. â€Å"Stop it, Peter. You're being ridiculous. Next thing, you'll be down at Hugh's asking for liposuction.† He brightened. â€Å"Do you think that would help?† â€Å"No! You look fine. You look the same as you always have.† â€Å"I don't know. Cody's been getting all the attention whenever we go out. Maybe I should get more blond put into the spikes.† I refrained from pointing out that Peter had been almost forty when he'd become a vampire, his hair heavily receding. Cody had been very young – barely twenty – and bore tawny, leonine good looks. Immortals who were formerly human stayed fixed at the age and appearance immortality had taken over. If the two vampires still frequented clubs and college bars, I didn't doubt Cody had more luck. â€Å"We're wasting time,† I exclaimed, wanting to derail Peter from this whole image thing. â€Å"I want to figure out who attacked Hugh.† â€Å"Christ, you have a one-track mind,† he snapped. â€Å"Why can't you just wait to find out?† Good question. I didn't know why. Something inside me was tugging to get to the truth of this, to do what I could to protect my friends and myself. I just couldn't stand passively by. â€Å"It couldn't have been a mortal. Not from the way Hugh described the attack.† â€Å"Yeah, but no immortal could have killed Duane. I already told you that.† â€Å"No lesser immortal,† I pointed out. â€Å"But a higher immortal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Peter laughed. â€Å"Oh-ho, you are pushing the envelope now. You think there's some vindictive demon out there?† â€Å"They'd certainly be capable.† â€Å"Yeah, but they have no motivation.† â€Å"Not nece – â€Å" A funny sensation suddenly spread over me, tingly and gentle and silvery. I was put in mind of the fragrance of lilacs, the tinkling of small bells. I looked sharply at the others. â€Å"What the – † began Cody, but Peter was already moving toward the door. The signature we all felt was similar to Carter's in certain ways but lighter and sweeter. Less powerful. A guardian angel. Peter opened the door, and Lucinda stood there primly, her arms clasped tightly around a book. I nearly choked. It would figure. As a general rule, I didn't interact with many angels in the area, Carter being the exception because of his relationship with Jerome. Still, I knew who the locals were, and I knew Lucinda. She wasn't a true angel like Carter. Guardians were more like the heavenly equivalent of Hugh: former mortals who served and ran errands for all eternity. I had no doubt Lucinda performed all sorts of good deeds on a daily basis. She probably worked in soup kitchens and read to orphans in her free time. Whenever she was around us, however, she became a prissy little bitch. Peter shared my sentiment. â€Å"Yes?† he asked coolly. â€Å"Hello, Peter. Your hair is very†¦ interesting today,† she observed diplomatically, not moving from the doorway. â€Å"May I come in?† Peter scowled at the hair comment but had too many good hosting instincts drilled into him to not wave her inside. He might tease me about mortal hobbies, but the vampire had a meticulous sense of propriety and etiquette bordering on obsessive-compulsive disorder. She swept inside, proper in an ankle-length plaid skirt and high-necked sweater. Her short blond hair curled under in a perfect bob. I was a different story. Between my plunging neckline, ultratight jeans, and fuck-me heels, I felt like I might as well lie down on the floor and spread my legs. The demure look she gave me clearly implied she was thinking the same thing. â€Å"Charming to see you all again.† Her tone was crisp, formal. â€Å"I'm here to deliver something from Mr. Carter.† â€Å"Mr. Carter?† asked Cody. â€Å"Is that his last name? I always thought it was his first.† â€Å"I think he just has one name,† I speculated. â€Å"Like Cher or Madonna.† Lucinda said nothing to our bandying. Instead, she handed me a book. Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex. â€Å"What the hell is that?† exclaimed Peter. â€Å"I think I saw it on some talk show.† I suddenly remembered walking out with Carter in the hospital and how he'd claimed to own a book that would help me with Seth. I tossed it on the counter disinterestedly. â€Å"Carter's fucked-up sense of humor in action.† Lucinda flushed deep crimson. â€Å"How can you use such language so carelessly? You sound like you're†¦ like you're in a locker room!† I smoothed down my tank top. â€Å"No way. I'd never wear this in a locker room.† â€Å"Yeah, it isn't even in school colors,† said Peter. I couldn't resist toying with the guardian. â€Å"If I were in a locker room, I'd probably have on a short cheerleader skirt. And no underwear.† Peter continued playing off me. â€Å"And you'd do that one cheer, right? The one with your hands splayed against the shower wall and ass sticking out?† â€Å"That's me,† I agreed. â€Å"Always ready to take one for the team.† Even Cody flushed at our crassness. Lucinda was practically purple. â€Å"You – you two have no sense of decency! None at all.† â€Å"Oh whatever,† I told her. â€Å"Back at the country club, or wherever you and the rest of the choir hang out, you probably wear a shorter version of that skirt all the time. With knee socks. I bet the other angels really go for the schoolgirl look.† If Lucinda were any one of my friends, a comment like that would have only escalated into more sarcasm and snide remarks. The guardian, however, merely stiffened and chose to rely on deadpan self-righteousness. â€Å"We,† she declared, â€Å"do not carry on in such an unseemly manner with each other. We act with decorum. We treat each other with respect. We do not turn on each other.† This last one came with a brief eye-glance toward me. â€Å"What was that for?† She tossed her hair, what little of it there was. â€Å"Oh, I think you know. We've all been hearing about your little vigilante act. First that vampire, then the imp. Nothing about you people surprises me anymore.† Now my face flushed. â€Å"That's bullshit! I was cleared of Duane a long time ago. And Hugh†¦ that's just stupid. He's my friend.† â€Å"What does friendship mean among your kind? He's just as bad. From what I heard, he received a great deal of amusement telling anyone who would listen about your little whip and wings getup. Oh, and by the way, if you don't mind my observation, I think that has to be the most degrading thing I've ever heard. Even for a succubus.† She arched a glance toward the book I had tossed to the counter. â€Å"I'll tell Mr. Carter you, uh, received the book.† With that, she turned neatly and left, closing the door behind her. â€Å"Sanctimonious bitch,† I muttered. â€Å"And how many people know about that demon girl thing anyway?† â€Å"Forget her,† said Peter. â€Å"She's a nobody. And an angel. There's no telling what they'll do.† I scowled. And then, it hit me. I couldn't believe I'd never thought of it before. Maybe Lucinda needed more credit. â€Å"That's it!† â€Å"What's it?† mumbled Cody through a mouthful of nearly cold pizza. â€Å"An angel killed Duane and attacked Hugh! It's perfect. You were right in saying a demon would have no reason to take our side out. But an angel? Why not? I mean a real one, not a guardian like Lucinda.† Peter shook his head. â€Å"An angel could do something like that, but it'd be too petty. The great cosmic good-versus-evil battle is bigger than one-on-one matches. You know that. Taking out one agent of evil at a time would be a waste of resources.† Cody considered. â€Å"What if it was a renegade angel? Someone not following the rules of the game.† Peter and I both turned to the younger vampire in surprise. He'd been more or less avoiding our speculation this evening. â€Å"There's no such thing,† his mentor countered back. â€Å"Is there, Georgina?† I felt both vampires' eyes turn to me, waiting for my opinion. â€Å"Jerome says there are no bad angels. Once they're bad, they become demons, not angels anymore.† â€Å"Well, that kills your theory then. An angel doing something bad would fall and not be an angel anymore. Then Jerome would know about him.† I frowned, still intrigued by Cody's use of the word â€Å"renegade† over â€Å"fallen.† â€Å"Maybe angel sin is like human sin†¦ it's not always ‘bad' if the person thinks they're doing ‘good.' This one hasn't gone over yet.† We all pondered this a moment. Humans continually labor under the delusion that there really is a precise set of rules on what sin is and is not, rules that one might break without even realizing it. In reality, most people know when they do wrong. They feel it. Sin is more of a subjective matter than an objective one. Back in the days of the Puritans, corrupting souls had been no problem for a succubus since almost anything sexual and pleasurable felt wrong to those men. Nowadays, most people don't regard premarital sex as wrong, hence no sin is committed. Succubi have been forced to become more creative over the years if they want to get an energy fix and corrupt a soul. Still, by that logic, it was possible that a renegade angel who believed he or she was doing good might not cross into the realm of sin. If there was no sin, then there could be no fall. Or could there be? The whole concept strained the mind, and Peter apparently thought so too. â€Å"So what's the difference? What makes an angel fall? We're staking a lot here on a technicality.† I could have concurred until I recalled something else. â€Å"The note.† â€Å"Note?† asked Cody. â€Å"The note that was on my door. It said I was beautiful enough to tempt angels into falling.† â€Å"Well, you do look pretty good.† When I raised an eyebrow, Peter said grudgingly, â€Å"Okay, that is kind of suspicious†¦ but it's almost too suspicious. Why would someone overtly leave a calling card?† Cody nearly jumped out of his seat. â€Å"It's some kind of psycho angel who likes playing mind games. Like in those movies where killers carve clues into their victims, so they can watch the police puzzle things out.† I shuddered at that image as I thought over what I knew about angels in general, which really was nothing. Unlike our side, the powers of good did not have the same cryptic hierarchy of supervisors and geographical networks, no matter the stories about cherubim and seraphim. After all, we were the ones who had invented middle management, not them. I always had the impression that most angels and denizens of good operated like private investigators or field agents, completing assorted angelic missions in a very loosely organized way. Such an open venue would provide ample chance for someone to surreptitiously tackle a side agenda. Angelic involvement would also explain the subterfuge, I reflected. Their side was embarrassed. Typical, really. Little embarrassed our side anymore. They, however, would be shamefaced to admit one of theirs had turned rogue, and Carter, being so chummy with Jerome, had conned the demon into keeping quiet about the whole matter. All of his sarcasm and attempts to mock me were only more weak efforts at saving face. The more I considered this far-fetched theory, the more I liked it. Some disgruntled angel, wanting to be heroic, decided to turn vigilante and take on the forces of evil. The renegade angel theory would explain how any of us could be legitimate targets, as well as shed light on why no one could sense this being since we now knew higher immortals could hide their presence. Which made me wonder why exactly Jerome and Carter were also masking their presence. Were they hoping to catch this angel unaware? That, and†¦ â€Å"Why'd this person let Hugh live then?† I looked from vampire to vampire. â€Å"An angel could take out any of us. Hugh said he wasn't winning, and no one interrupted. The attacker just got bored and took off. Why? Why kill Duane but not Hugh? Or me, for that matter, since this person knows what I am.† â€Å"Because Duane was an asshole?† suggested Peter. â€Å"Personality aside, we all weigh in just as heavily on the evil side. Hugh maybe even more so.† Indeed, Hugh was in his prime as far as immortals went. He no longer held a novice's inexperience like Cody, nor had the imp grown world-weary and bored like Peter and I had. Hugh knew enough now to be good at his job, and he actually liked what he did. He should have been a prime target for any angelic vigilante wanting to make the world a better place. Cody agreed with Peter. â€Å"Yeah. Evil or not, some of us are more likable than others. Maybe an angel could respect that.† â€Å"I doubt an angel would find any of us likable – â€Å" I cut myself off. One angel did like us. One angel hung out with us a lot. One angel who seemed to be everywhere Jerome was lately when these attacks happened. One angel who knew us personally, who knew all of our habits and weaknesses. What better way was there to track and study us than to infiltrate our drinking group and pretend to be a friend? The idea was so explosive, so dangerous, I felt ill at ease just giving shape to the thought. I certainly couldn't utter any of it aloud. Not yet. Cody and Peter hardly believed the angel theory at all. I doubted they'd jump on board if I started accusing Carter. â€Å"You okay, Georgina?† Cody queried when I lapsed into silence. â€Å"Yeah†¦ yeah†¦ fine.† I caught a glimpse at the time on the stove and jumped up from my chair, head still reeling. â€Å"Shit. I've got to get back to Queen Anne.† â€Å"What for?† asked Peter. â€Å"I have a date.† â€Å"With who?† Cody grinned slyly at me, and I blushed in response. â€Å"Roman.† Peter turned to his apprentice. â€Å"Which one is that?† â€Å"The hot dancing guy. Georgina was all over him.† â€Å"I was not. I like him too much for that.† They laughed. As I picked up my coat, Peter asked: â€Å"Hey, I don't suppose you could do me a favor sometime?† â€Å"What?† My mind still clung to the mystery winding around us. That, and Roman. He and I had talked on the phone a few times now since the last date, and I was growing more and more amazed at just how well we clicked. â€Å"Well, you know how they've got those computer programs in salons that will show you what you'll look like with different colors and cuts? I was thinking you could be like a living one. You could morph into me and show me what I'd look like with different hairstyles.† Silence hung in the room for a full minute as Cody and I stared at him. â€Å"Peter,† I told him at last, â€Å"that's the stupidest idea I've ever heard.† â€Å"I don't know.† Cody scratched his chin. â€Å"For him, it's not bad.† â€Å"We have too many other issues to deal with right now,† I warned, having no patience to humor Peter with niceties. â€Å"I'm not wasting my energy on your vanity.† â€Å"Come on,† pleaded Peter. â€Å"You're still brimming from that good virgin guy. You can spare it.† I shook my head, slinging my purse over one shoulder. â€Å"Succubus 101. The farther a transformation takes me from my natural form, the more energy it expends. Cross-gender changes are a pain in the ass; cross-species ones are even worse. Playing salon with you would burn through most of my stash, and I've got better things to waste it on.† I eyed him dangerously. â€Å"You need some serious counseling for body image and insecurity, my friend.† Cody regarded me with new interest. â€Å"Cross-species? Could you, like, turn into a Gila monster or†¦ or†¦ a sand dollar or something?† â€Å"Good night, boys. I'm out of here.† As I departed, I could just barely hear Peter and Cody debating if it would take more energy for me to change into a really small mammal or a human-sized reptile. Vampires. Honestly, they're like children sometimes. I drove home in record time. I remembered to shape-shift my heels into sandals and walked up to my building's door just as Roman did. Seeing him banished any lingering thoughts of angels and conspiracies. He had told me to dress casually for this evening, and while he had done the same, he still managed to make jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt look like runway fashion. I apparently had the same effect on him because he caught me up in a giant bear hug and kissed my cheek. â€Å"Hey, gorgeous,† he murmured into my ear, holding on to the embrace a bit longer than necessary. â€Å"Hey, yourself.† I disentangled my body from his and smiled up at him. â€Å"You're so short,† he noted, cupping my cheek in his hand. â€Å"It's cute.† Those eyes threatened to engulf me, and I hastily turned away before I did something stupid. â€Å"Let's go.† I paused. â€Å"Um, where are we going?† He led me to his car, parked just down the street. â€Å"Since you seem to be so good with your feet, I thought I'd take us somewhere to test the rest of your bodily coordination.† â€Å"Like a hotel room?† â€Å"Damn. Am I that obvious?† Several minutes later, he pulled into a dilapidated establishment with a blinking neon sign reading BURT's BOWLING ALLEY. I stared in open distaste, unable to hide my feelings. â€Å"This is your choice of date? A bowling alley? Not even a nice one at that.† Roman seemed unconcerned about my lack of enthusiasm. â€Å"When was the last time you actually went bowling?† I suspected it had been back in the 1970s. â€Å"Not in a very long time.† â€Å"Exactly. You see,† he began conversationally as we went inside and approached the counter, â€Å"I've got you figured out. You claim you don't want to get serious with anyone, but I still get the impression you go out a lot. Size ten, please.† â€Å"Six and a half.† The cashier gave us each a pair of unsavory-looking shoes, and I felt grateful germs posed no threat to me. Roman handed over some cash, and she gestured us down to our designated lane. â€Å"Anyway, like I was saying, regardless of your intentions, you must still end up dating quite a bit. I don't know how you couldn't with the attention you attract.† â€Å"What's that supposed to mean?† I sat down by our lane and took off my Birkenstocks, still eyeing the rental shoes askance. Roman paused in his own shoe-tying and gave me a long, steady look. â€Å"Oh come on, you can't be that oblivious. Men check you out all the time. I always see it when I'm with you. Walking through the bookstore, going to that bar the other night. Even here, in this place. In just walking over from the counter, I saw at least three guys stop and watch you.† â€Å"Is there a point here somewhere?† â€Å"Eventually.† He stood up, and we walked over to a rack of communal bowling balls. â€Å"With all that attention, guys must ask you out all the time, and you must give in sometimes, just like you did with me. Right?† â€Å"I guess.† He paused in his ball selection and gave me another one of those breathtaking, soul-searching looks. â€Å"So tell me about your last date.† â€Å"My last date?† I somehow didn't think Martin Miller counted. â€Å"Your last date. I mean a real date, not like a casual grabbing a drink thing. A date where the guy gave his best shot at planning an itinerary he thought would get you into bed.† I tested the weight of a fluorescent orange and green swirled ball, racking my brain. â€Å"The opera,† I said at last. â€Å"And dinner at Santa Lucia's.† â€Å"Nice spread. And the one before that?† â€Å"Jesus, you're nosy. Um†¦ let's see, I think it was the opening of an art exhibit.† â€Å"Undoubtedly paired with dinner at some restaurant where stiff waiters say ‘thank you' after you make a selection, right?† â€Å"I guess.† â€Å"Just as I thought.† He hoisted a navy blue ball into the crook of his arm. â€Å"This is why you're resistant to dating, why you don't want to get serious with anyone. You're such a hot commodity that plush, five-star dates are par for the course. They're ordinary. Men try to throw out all the stops for you, but after a while, you get bored with them.† His eyes danced mischievously. â€Å"Therefore, I will differentiate myself from those losers by taking you to places your little elitist feet would never dream of touching. The salt of the earth. Back to basics. The way dating was meant to be: two people, more concerned with each other than their posh venue.† I walked with him back to our lane. â€Å"You just took an awfully long time to say you think I want to go slumming.† â€Å"Don't you?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Then why are you with me?† I eyed that gorgeous appearance and thought about the conversation we'd had the other night on classical languages. Looks and intellect. Hard to beat. â€Å"You're hardly slumming it.† He smiled at me and changed the subject. â€Å"That's your choice?† I looked down at the ball's psychedelic color pattern. â€Å"Yeah. This night is already turning surreal enough. Figured I might as well get the full experience. Maybe we'll drop some acid later.† Roman's eyes crinkled with amusement, and he cocked his head toward the lane. â€Å"Let's see what you can do with it.† I stepped up uncertainly, trying to remember how I used to do this. All up and down the alley, I could see other players walking up and throwing with ease. Shrugging, I stood at the line, drew my arm back, and threw. The ball flew out jerkily, sailed about four feet, hit the lane with a loud crack, and then promptly entered the gutter. Roman walked up beside me, and we silently watched the ball complete its journey. â€Å"Are you always that rough with balls?† he asked finally. â€Å"Most men don't complain.† â€Å"I imagine not. Try making contact with the floor before you let it go this time.† I gave him a sharp look. â€Å"You aren't one of those guys that gets off from showing women how much better you are at stuff, are you?† â€Å"Nope. Just offering friendly advice.† My ball returned, and I followed his instructions. The ball's impact proved quieter that way, but I still ended up in the gutter. â€Å"All right. Show me what you can do,† I grumbled, sitting down huffily into a chair. Roman strode up to the lane, movements graceful and flowing like a cat's. The ball poured from his hand like water from a pitcher, sailing smoothly down and hitting nine pins. When his ball returned, he threw it effortlessly once more and took out the obstinate tenth. â€Å"This is going to be a long night.† â€Å"Cheer up.† He chucked my chin. â€Å"We'll get you through this. Try it again, and aim more toward the left. I'm going to get us some beers.† I threw to the left as advised but only succeeded in hitting the left gutter. On my second throw, I tried greater moderation and managed to hit one pin on the far left. I whooped in spite of myself. â€Å"Nicely done,† cheered Roman, setting two mugs of cheap beer down on the table. I hadn't drunk anything not from a microbrewery in over a decade. â€Å"It's all about baby steps.† That certainly turned out to be true as our evening progressed. My pin count increased slowly, though I soon developed the nasty habit of creating splits on my first throw. I showed no aptitude for picking them up, despite Roman's best explanations. To his credit, he gave good, nonthreatening advice, as well as some hands-on instruction. â€Å"Your arm goes like this, and the rest of you leans like this,† he explained, standing behind me with one hand on my hip and the other on my wrist. My flesh warmed at his touch, and I wondered if his actions were truly driven by altruism or were an excuse to get his hands on me. I exercised such techniques regularly in succubus work. It drove men wild, and now I knew why. Ruse or no, I didn't tell him to stop. I hit my peak in the second game, even managing one strike, though my performance declined in the third round as beer and fatigue took over. Sensing this, Roman called our bowling adventures closed, lauding my progress as highly impressive. â€Å"Do we have to go to a dive now for dinner, in order to keep with this dream-date slumming fantasy you've got going?† He put his arm around me as we walked out to the car. â€Å"I guess that depends if you've succumbed to my wily charm or not.† â€Å"If I say yes, will you take me somewhere good? Sometimes the posh places do work, you know.† We ended up at an upscale Japanese restaurant, much to my satisfaction. Taking our time, we savored both food and conversation, and again Roman's knowledge and wit impressed me. This time we discussed current issues, sharing opinions on recent news and culture, things we liked, things that drove us crazy, etc., etc. I discovered Roman had traveled quite a bit and held strong views on world politics and affairs. â€Å"This country is so in love with itself,† he complained, sipping sake. â€Å"It's like one big mirror. It just sits all day and looks at itself. When it can be bothered to look away, it's only to tell others ‘do this' or ‘be just like me.' Our military and economic policies bully people outside our borders, and inside, conservative groups bully other citizens. I hate it.† I listened with interest, intrigued at this side of a normally light and easygoing guy. â€Å"So do something about it. Or leave.† He shook his head. â€Å"Spoken like a comfortable citizen. The old ‘if you don't like it, you can just leave' policy. Unfortunately, it's a lot harder than that to cut yourself off from your roots.† Leaning back, he forced levity with a small grin. â€Å"And I do do things here and there. Small acts. My own battle against the status quo, you know? Attend the occasional protest. Refuse to buy products made with third world labor.† â€Å"Avoid fur? Eat organic food?† â€Å"That too,† he chuckled. â€Å"Funny,† I said after a moment's silence. Something had just struck me. â€Å"What?† â€Å"This whole time, we've talked about current things. No sharing of traumatic childhoods, college days, exes, or whatever.† â€Å"So what's funny about that?† â€Å"Nothing really. It's just that the human mating process usually seems to dictate everyone share their histories.† â€Å"You want to do that?† â€Å"Not really.† I actually hated that part of dating. I always had to edit my past. I hated the lying, having to keep track of my stories. â€Å"I think the past plagues us enough without muddling it into our present. I'd rather look forward, not backward.† I studied him curiously. â€Å"Does your past plague you?† â€Å"Very much so. I fight every day to not let the past overtake me. Sometimes I win, sometimes it does.† God only knew mine did the same. It was odd to talk to someone about this, someone who felt the same way. I wondered how many people in the world walked around with invisible baggage, hiding it from others. Even while packing said baggage, I'd always kept it concealed. I had a driving need to keep up surface appearances – hence the so-called â€Å"happy face.† I'd smiled and nodded through the worst times of my life, and when that superficial reaction had not been enough, I'd finally just run – even though it cost me my soul. I smiled slightly. â€Å"Well then. I'm glad you and I stick to the present.† He tweaked my noise. â€Å"Me too. In fact, my present is looking pretty damned good right now. Maybe my future too, if I keep weakening your resolve.† â€Å"Don't push it.† â€Å"Aw, come on. Admit it. You find my outrage at the powers-that-be endearing. Maybe even erotic.† â€Å"I think ‘entertaining' would be a better word. If you want outrage, you should spend time with Doug, my coworker. You guys have a lot in common. By day he cleans up and plays respectable assistant manager, by night he's the lead singer of this wacky band, registering his discontent against society through music.† Roman's eyes flickered with interest. â€Å"Does he play around here?† â€Å"Yup. He'll be at the Old Greenlake Brewery this Saturday. Me and some of the other staff are going.† â€Å"Oh yeah? What time should I meet you?† â€Å"I don't recall inviting you.† â€Å"Don't you? Because I could have sworn you just named a day and place. Sounded like a passive invitation to me. You know, the kind where it'd be my job to say ‘mind if I come along,' and then you say ‘yeah, no problem,' and so it goes. I just skipped a few steps.† â€Å"Most efficient of you,† I observed. â€Å"So†¦ mind if I come along?† I groaned. â€Å"Roman, we can't keep going out. It was cute at first, but it was only supposed to be one date. We've already gone past that. People at work think you're my boyfriend.† Casey and Beth had informed me recently what a † hottie† I had. â€Å"Do they?† He looked very happy about this. â€Å"I'm not joking here. I mean it when I say I don't want to get serious with anyone right now.† And yet, I didn't really mean it. Not in my heart. I'd spent centuries cutting myself off from any sort of meaningful attachment with another person, and it hurt. Even when I had purposely cultivated relationships with nice guys in my succubus glory days, I had immediately dropped them and disappeared post-sex. In some ways, my life now was even harder. I avoided the guilt of stealing a nice man's life energy, but I never had true companionship either. No one who cared exclusively for me. Sure, I had friends, but they had their own lives, and those who got too close – like Doug – had to be pushed away again for their own good. â€Å"Don't you believe in casual dating? Or even male-female friendships?† â€Å"No,† I answered decisively. â€Å"I do not.† â€Å"What about the other males in your life? That Doug guy? The dance instructor? Even that writer? You're friends with them, aren't you?† â€Å"Well, yeah, but that's different. I'm not attracted – â€Å" I bit off my words, but it was too late. Roman's face bloomed with hope and pleasure. He leaned toward me, touching my cheek with his hand. I swallowed, terrified and thrilled by how close he was. Beer and sake had made me fuzzy in body and mind, and I made a mental promise not to drink the next time we went out. Not that we were going out again†¦ right? Alcohol confused my senses, made it harder to differentiate between the succubus feeding instinct and pure, primal lust. Either one was dangerous around him. And yet†¦ in that moment, lust wasn't even really the issue. He was. Being with him. Talking to him. Having someone in my life again. Someone who cared about me. Someone who understood me. Someone I could go home to. And with. â€Å"What time should I meet you?† he murmured. I looked down, suddenly feeling warm. â€Å"It's a late show†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His hand slid from my cheek to the back of my neck, intertwining with my hair and tipping my face toward his. â€Å"You want to hang out beforehand?† â€Å"We shouldn't.† My words all seemed long and drawn-out, like I was swimming in molasses. Roman leaned over and kissed my ear. â€Å"I'll be at your place at seven.† â€Å"Seven,† I repeated. His lips moved to kiss the part of my cheek closest to my ear, then the cheek's center, then just below my mouth. His lips hovered so close to mine; my whole body concentrated on that proximity. I could feel the heat from his mouth, like it had its own private aura. Everything moved in slow motion. I wanted him to kiss me, wanted him to consume me with his lips and his tongue. I wanted it and feared it, yet felt powerless to act either way. â€Å"Can I get you something else?† The waiter's mildly embarrassed voice shattered my numbing haze, snapping me back to reason, reminding me what would happen to Roman even with a kiss. Not too much, true, but enough. I broke out of his grasp and shook my head. â€Å"Nothing else. Just the check.† Roman and I spoke little after that. He drove me home and made no advances when he walked me to the door, only smiling kindly as he chucked me under the chin again and reminded me he'd be by at seven on Saturday. I went to bed restless and aching for sex. The alcohol helped me fall asleep easily, but when I awoke in the morning, lying in bed in a drowsy state, I could still remember how it had felt to have his lips so close to mine. The lustful yearning returned with a vengeance. â€Å"This is no good,† I complained to Aubrey, rolling out of bed. I had three hours before work and knew I needed to do something other than daydream about Roman. Remembering that I had never followed up with Erik, I decided I should pay him a visit. The vampire hunter theory was more or less obsolete as far as I was concerned, but he might have found something else of use. I could also ask him about fallen angels. Considering the whole â€Å"stashing† threat, I probably should have experienced more concern about going back to Arcana, Ltd. Still, I felt more or less safe. One thing I had learned about the archdemon was that he was not a morning person. He didn't really need rest, of course, but it was a mortal luxury he'd taken to wholeheartedly. I expected him to still be asleep, wherever he was, with no way of knowing what I planned to do. Dressing and eating breakfast, I soon hit the road to Lake City. I found the shop effortlessly now, feeling dismay once more at its barren look and empty parking lot. Yet, when I entered, I saw a dark shape leaning over a corner of books, too tall to be Erik. Pleasure at the thought of Erik getting more business coursed through me until the figure straightened and fixed me with a sardonic, gray-eyed expression. â€Å"Hello, Georgina.† I swallowed. â€Å"Hello, Carter.†

Box Reliquary of the True Cross and Other Byzantium Devotional Art

This exquisite box, currently exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, was made in Constantinople (Byzantium, now Istanbul) in the late 8th or early 9th century. Such relics are said to have housed the pieces of the True Cross, which was allegedly discovered in the 4th century by Saint Helena, mother of the first Christian Roman emperor Constantine (New York Met Museum, 2005). During the time of the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire, Constantinople was to become the largest Christian city in the Christian world.It managed to fend off attacks from the Arabs with its superior navy and Greek methods of warfare (Ellie Crystal, â€Å"Byzantine Empire,† 1995 – 2005). This box survived the Iconoclast Crisis in the 8th century, when Emperor Leo III banned all activity involving â€Å"idol worship†. All sculptures and icons containing images saints and other religious luminaries were ordered to be destroyed, and the only symbols allowed to be used f or religious reverence, were that of plants and birds or the Cross.Prior to the crisis, however, such reliquaries were very common for the safekeeping of pieces of the True Cross or the bones of saints, and were very common at the time. The iconoclasm was a very violent and turbulent time in Byzantium due to the zealotry of Leo III and his differences with the Patriarch of the time and according to various account, Leo III took a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera as a sign of God’s wrath over idolatry in the Church (Wikipedia). It was during the ban of religious icons that the Patriarch of Constantinople, Germanus I, was removed or resigned his post.Meanwhile, in the West of Byzantium, Pope Gregory III condemned Leo III’s decisions and actions and held two synods at Rome, publicly denouncing the iconoclasm. In retaliation, Leo III seized papal lands as well as raided churches and seized altar cloths, reliquaries and plates (History of the Byzantine State and Soc iety, Treadgold, Helen, Stanford University Press, 1997). Following Leo III’s death, his son Constantine V continued the ban and here is where some interesting occurrences come to light: the monasteries began to protest publicly. One monk, John of Damascus, protested iconoclasm through his theological writings.Another monk, Theodore the Studite brought things to a head by writing a letter to Pope Paschal containing strong words against the emperor. This brought dire consequences and was considered a major political step in the wrong direction by Constantine V, who invaded the monasteries, seizing their relics and throwing them into the sea. The next move from Constantine was to ban the monks from invoking the saints. This terrible period came to an end upon the death of Constantine V’s son Leo IV, whose Athenian wife Irene took position as regent for their young son, who would be the future emperor.She brought an end to iconoclasm and restored the ability of the artisa ns of the time to create icons depicting saints, Jesus, and the other figures of Christianity. It is difficult to imagine such violence over images used for the purposes of drawing upon the power of God being so violently opposed when icons and images of political figures were considered to be acceptable works of respect. Already it is easy to see that the survival of this box reliquary is almost a miracle in itself, considering the wanton destruction of such items, even as common as they were.Since this particular box is made of certain substances that are considered rare today, let us now turn our attention to the box itself. It is small, measuring 4 inches long and 2-7/8 inches across. The estimated date of creation of this box is the late 8th to early 9th century, which would be the period of iconoclasm discussed above (NY Met Museum). This box reliquary is constructed of cloisonne enamel, silver, silver-gilt, gold and niello. The fascinating things about the box’s compos ition are the components of cloisonne enamel and niello, neither of which were native to Byzantium.Niello was commonly used in Europe until the Renaissance, but rarely used after that (Hillwood Museum & Gardens, n. d. ). Cloisonne enamel was very popular in China during the Ming dynasty, but appears to have its origins in Cyprus (Dr. Panicos Michaelides, 1989). It was during the Byzantine Empire that cloisonne enamel was perfected and put to wide use from the 6th to 12th centuries, with the methods being transmitted to China in the 15th century where the art of cloisonne was further perfected to such a degree that China set the standard for quality of this substance (ChineseMoods. com, 2005).The substance of cloisonne enamel is glass powder mixed with water until a paste is formed. The paste is then applied to the die-cast of metal such as gold, silver or copper. Each color used in the process is fired separately, making for a very labor-intensive construction of only one part of th e box decoration. There appear to be three colors used in terms of cloisonne enamel; blue, white and green. The metal in this case is gold, to which the cloisonne enamel was adhered. The lid of the box reliquary features Christ still alive on the cross in the crucifixion scene, accompanied by the Virgin and St. John at his feet.Bordering the crucifixion scene are the images of fourteen saints. The underside of the lid features descriptive yet somewhat primitive art depicting four scenes from the life of Jesus: the Annunciation, Nativity, Crucifixion, and Anastasis (or Descent into Limbo). Inside the box are five compartments arranged in the shape of a cross, where relics would be kept. The four sides of the box feature the fourteen saints found on the lid, and are also made of cloisonne enamel and the bottom of the box features a beautiful cross in gold. The other substance of interest is niello, which is a black metal mixture used for decorative purposes.It is truly a lost art, as niello is rarely used today due to technological advancements in goldsmithing replacing the ancient arts of engraving with tools and chisels (Prof. Dr. Erhard Brepohl, 2001). According to Dr. Brepohl, the making of niello involves melting and mixing silver, copper and lead, the use of borax and sulphur (which explains why niello is no longer popular, since its ingredients are highly toxic), After a rather tedious and noxious fume-producing procedure, the metal alloy is then quickly cooled so that it breaks into granules. The granules are then ground with a mortar and pestle and mixed with flux to create a paste.When struck with a hammer. The finished niello should be uniformly black and shatter like glass. The niello paste is applied into the recesses of the object to be decorated (in the case of this box reliquary it would be the etched lid), then fired and cleaned. One can only stand in awe of the meticulous care with which this little box and other reliquaries were made, with suc h precision and detail to last for centuries. In terms of how the Byzantine Empire gained these skills to become virtually unparalleled as extraordinary artisans, friendly exchanges with the West are the source.Through flourishing trade routes and the power of the Roman Empire, Byzantine religious art took on enormous proportions. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, â€Å"From classical and ancient Christian art Byzantine genius derived a correct combination of the ideal with truth to nature, harmonious unity along with precision in details, as well as the fondness for mosaics, frescoes, and pictures on panels, in opposition to the dislike of non-Christian and sectarian Orientals to pictorial representation. † The rich symbolism depicts reverence and devotion completely absent in modern art.The reliquaries were made in anticipation of what would be kept within them and crafted with utmost skill and care. Although many were destroyed during the iconoclastic crisis, enough of them remain today to view in museums such as the Met, hopefully to inspire people that view them and understand the enormous skill and even danger that went into making and keeping them. Other reliquaries are simpler in nature and construction, such as the box reliquary of the Sancta Sanctorum Treasure, which measures 27. 7 X 18. 0 cm (approx. 10. 9 X 7. 1 inches).This box is bigger than the box reliquary described above, but is less ornate. It is constructed of wood and tempura and is red in color. Gold leaf adorns the five scenes depicted on the lid, which are of the Nativity, Baptism, Crucifixion, Women at the Tomb and the Ascension, read from the bottom left to upper right (Gary Vikan, 1982). Housed in the Vatican museum, this particular box contains stones collected in the sixth and seventh centuries in the Holy Land, along with bits of wood and cloth. This particular box is considered to be the rarest among the Sanctus Sanctorum Treasures (Cleveland Museum Of Art, 1998).Whe n contemplating how these relics survived the destruction during the above noted Iconoclasm we must also look to Europe during the 8th and 9th Centuries, where Christianity was taking hold. One interesting fact is that beginning in the year 787, all new Christian churches had to have a relic in order to be consecrated. Since Christianity was spreading at such a rapid rate in Europe, the Church provided relics and reliquaries from her collection (Richard Jones-Nerzic, 2002). Relics were considered to be pilgrims’ souvenirs and reliquaries were specifically crafted for the safekeeping of those relics.As reliquaries and relics began to spread to Europe, owning them became a symbol of status (Jones-Nerzic) because of their origins in Byzantium and the dangerous journey they made to get into the hands of the Europeans. Another form of Byzantine art was the carving of ivory reliefs, such as the Triptych Icon of Hodegetria, (Greek for â€Å"She who shows the way†) made in Con stantinople in the late 10th Century. This exquisite three-paneled piece shows wear due to veneration over time, and features the Virgin with the Christ Child as well as two unknown saints on the folding wings of the triptych.This triptych is 4-3/4 inches high and 9 inches in length (The Walters Art Museum, 2001). An outstanding and elaborate ivory triptych is housed at the Louvre; it is called the Harbaville Triptych after the last known owners and features the elegance and detail of the revival of icon use after the iconoclasm. This triptych is sunning, with the central panel depicting the Deesis (entreaty) of Christ enthroned on behalf of humanity (Louvre Museum, n. d. ). Flanking the Son Of Man is the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist.Beneath the center panel and on the wings are the apostles, martyrs and soldiers. This piece is considered to be one of the finest from the imperial workshop known as â€Å"Romanus† and combines several different techniques from the Orien t as well as classical antiquity and the Christian tradition. The reverse side of the central panel is embellished with a Latin cross featuring rosettes along with scenes from the Garden of Eden. Two cypress trees, one on either side of the cross represent Good and Evil, all under a starry background.The side panels depict saints with books or crosses. Traces of gold leaf can still be found on this triptych, and the Louve literature states that there are two other similar ivory triptychs, one being housed in the Vatican and the other at the Palace in Venice. All three are thought to have been carved around the same time, between the 9th and 11th centuries in Constantinople. One more example of these reliquaries is a cross reliquary featuring St. John Chrysostom, made in Constantinople around 920 – 930 (Dr. Rozmeri Basic, 2000-2005).Made of gilded wood and painted, the scenes of this lovely box depict St. John Chrysostom on the underside of the lid, with the Crucifixion on the top. The scene inside the box is decorated around a cavity for the box’s contents and features saints and angels in detail. Given the turbulent times and the rich history surrounding Byzantium and Europe during the medieval times, it is a wonder that pilgrims dared to cross into the Holy Land. But they did, driven by the desire to see and touch the very places and items associated with Jesus and the saints.Reliquaries were designed for this purpose, enabling pilgrims to bring back earth, bits of bone or cloth, anything that could be deemed something from a sacred place. Pilgrims often traveled in groups and were subject to robberies and even murder from roadside bandits and wild animals, including lions. Still, the faithful made their journeys and the reliquaries that made it back to their homelands were preserved and valued not only as pieces of art but also as items in contact with the Messiah’s surrounding. Some even were professed to have healing properties.Recrea ting these reliquaries in modern times would be considered labor-intensive and toxic; some of the ingredients used in the reliquaries certainly shortened more than one life span of an artist in the ancient days; still, reliquaries are being reproduced and copies are on the open market, still drawing an intrigue after more than a millennium. References Basic, Dr. Rozmeri. 2000 – 2005, â€Å"Early Christian and Byzantine Art. † University Of Oklahoma. |Online|, available at: http://www. ou. edu/class/ahi4263/byzhtml/p05-04. htmlBrepohl, Erhard Prof. Dr. 2001, â€Å"Nillo Work†, Brynmorgen Press. |Online|, available at: http://www. ganoksin. com/borisat/nenam/nillo-work-10-1. htm â€Å"Byzantine Art†, 2003, Online Catholic Encyclopedia, K. Knight. |Online|, available at: http://www. newadvent. org/cathen/03095a. htm â€Å"Cloisonne†, 2005, Chinese Moods. |Online|, available at: http://www. chinesemoods. com/cloisonne. html Crystal, Ellie. 1995  œ 2005, â€Å"The Byzantine Empire: The Roman Byzantine Period†, Crystal Links Encyclopedia. |Online|, available at: http://www. crystalinks.com/byzantine. html â€Å"Decorative Arts: Middle Ages: The Harbaville Triptych. † N. d. , The Louvre Museum. Online|, available at: http://www. louvre. fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice. jsp? CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226172&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226172&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500778&bmUID=1133157145797&bmLocale=en Jones-Nerzic, Richard. June 2002, â€Å"European Medieval Pilgrimage Project – Relics. † Virtual School History Department. |Online|, available at: http://194. 3. 120. 243/humanities/vs/pilgrims/relics. htmâ€Å"Reliquary of the True Cross (Staurotheke), late 8th–early 9th century Byzantine; Made in Constantinople†, 2005, Metropolitan Art Museum of New York. |Online|, available at: http://www. metmuseum. org/toah/ho/06/eusb/hod_17. 190. 715ab. htm â€Å"The first iconoclastic period: 730-787†, 2005, Wikipedia. |Online|, available at: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Iconoclasm#The_first_iconoclastic_period:_730-787 â€Å"The Medieval World: Triptych Icon of Hodegetria with Saints. † 2001, The Walters Art Museum. |Online|, available at: http://www. thewalters.org/html/collec_object_detail. asp? ID=2&object_ID=71. 158 â€Å"Vatican Treasures. † 1998, Cleveland Museum Of Art, Past Exhibits. |Online|, available at: http://www. clevelandart. org/exhibit/vatican/ Vican, Gary. 1982, â€Å"Byzantine Pilgrimage Art. † Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University, Washington, D. C. |Online|, available at: http://www. doaks. org/PilgrimageArt. pdf Secondary Reference Treadgold, Helen. 1997, â€Å"History of the Byzantine State and Society†, Stanford University Press. Secondary resource contained within Wikipedia, cited above.

Current Event Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current Event Summary - Essay Example The crisis in Libya is one major source of this emerging crisis. The IEA has already reached an understanding with the largest oil producer Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), that the major oil producing countries will exploit their surplus production capacity, in case the energy crisis worsens. So far the oil producing nations and IEA seem to be in agreement in their understanding of the overall situation and the possible solutions. IEA is a bit apprehensive about tapping into its oil reserves as even a little disruption of the supplies in an already constrained market could give way to an exceptional price surge. So the member countries cannot decide as to whether to allow the free market forces let decide and dictate the circumstances or should they intervene to check a possibly impending crisis. The IEA least wants to initiate this crisis by its actions. As per the estimates, so far there is ample oil available in the markets. So a wait and watch policy appears to be more appropriate. Till date, IEA has not revised its supply estimates. The primary thrust in on quantifying the disruption constraints posed by the crisis in Libya, so as to decide as to the magnitude of the oil stockpiles that need to be released. Yet, there is a fear that this disruption may get prolonged. In such a situation the IEA will for the time decide to bridge the supply gap by releasing oil from its reserves. However, any further response will be dependent on the willingness of the oil producing countries to cull out the surplus production capacity. One other fear is that a constrained political turmoil in the Middle East will directly hit the investments being made into the oil sector in this region. This withholding of investments will have an effect on the oil markets in the medium and long run. Political tension in the region will have a dampening effect on the companies desirous of making investments into

Saudi arabia running dry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Saudi arabia running dry - Essay Example The depletion of the earth’s natural resources is due to human activities. Identification of the economic natural resources such as oil has led subsequent depletion of other resources for instance, people clear the forest to create room for mining of oil underground yet forest are rain catchment areas (hindering effective production of hydroelectric energy); hence, leading not only to the exhaustion of oil, but also the emergence of the desert, yet some of these resources are non-renewable (Gonzalez, 4). The author of this book was motivated to do the research in order to understand the extreme shifts in oil prices, future durability of oil, the impact it has on the environment and what should be done. The argument of this book is that economically valuable natural resources such as oil has led to Saudi Arabia running dry. In the process of mining, oil there is interference of other fundamental natural resources such as land, water and forest. There is the use of chemicals on the land, leaving it infertile; cutting down the forest to create more space for extracting the oil these have led to less water availability and food insecurity posing threat in the economy. The book also gives factors to put into consideration, to change the situation. It talks about the population growth-over population puts pressure on the limited natural resources, leading to their over exploitation (Gonzalez, 29). Pollution of the environment should be limited as it is the major cause of desertification, for example, water pollution, land pollution, which leads to food insecurity. Policies should be put in place to govern the management of natural resources. The book covers the natural resources as an economic problem. In this book, he talks about the interdependency of Saudi Arabia as the cause of it running dry. Saudi has got limited underground water to support its wheat plantation and agricultural support leading to their reliance on other states for food supply; hence, food

The role of arbitration in settling foreign invetment related Dissertation

The role of arbitration in settling foreign invetment related disputes' - Dissertation Example It will be argued that despite the lack of an international convention or codification of investor-state FDI law, customary law and the doctrine of fair and equitable treatment as interpreted by arbitrators has inspired sufficient confidence in arbitration and as such, FDI. It will therefore be argued that the role of arbitration as a method of resolving ISA in FDI relate disputes is very important to promulgating FDIs. To substantiate this hypothesis, this dissertation will examine and analyse the rapid growth of BITs, the fair and equitable treatment clause and the arbitration clauses typically included in BITs. An analysis of resulting arbitration awards will also be conducted. The provision for institutional and ad hoc ISA in BITs will also be examined. Contents Abstract 2 Contents 3 Introduction 5 I.Research Questions 7 II.Statement of the Problem 8 III.Significance of the Study 10 IV.Aims and Objectives 11 V.Research Methods and Designs 11 A.Research Methods 11 B.Research Desig n 13 Chapter Two 14 The Investor State Relationship 14 Introduction 14 I.Investor/State Relationships 14 A.Definition of Foreign Direct Investment 14 B.FDI and Investor-State Relations 17 II.Issues Arising in FDIs Between the Foreign Investor and the Host State 20 A.The Risk of Expropriation Without Compensation 21 B.The Need For Fair and Equitable Treatment 23 C.The Risk of the Host State Changing the Regulatory Framework Once The Investment is Made. 26 D.The Risk of Contract Breaches and Breaches of Other Promises and Violations of International Law 27 III.International Investment Treaties 28 A.Compensation 30 B.Currency Control 31 C.Non-discriminatory Treatment 32 D.Full Protection and Security 35 E.Umbrella Clauses 36 F.Minimum Treatment Standard 37 G.Fair and Equitable Treatment 39 Conclusion 42 Chapter Three 44 Investor-State Arbitration: Substantive and Procedural Laws 44 I.Investor/State Arbitration: The Washington Convention 44 II. Arbitration Decisions 49 Conclusion 60 Cha pter Summary 61 Chapter Four 62 Findings/Conclusion 62 Findings 62 Conclusion 65 Bibliography 67 Chapter One Introduction Over the past 20 years, the number of FDI treaties have tripled.3 Since the 1970s the rate of growth of FDIs has eclipsed that of the growth of worldwide exports by double. This trend continues today.4 The proliferation of FDI is attributed to the â€Å"widespread liberalization of the FDI regulatory framework† as well as advancement in information technologies and the intensification of business competition. A majority of states have implemented institutional and policy reforms that appeal to FDI and have improved treatment and protection standards. These changes reflect the popular view that FDIs are associated with the introduction of capital, skills, technology, employment and access to markets. The main objective in implementing foreign investment treaties, particularly BITs is to let investors know that their investments will have the benefit of lega l protection and to encourage the inflows from FDIs.5 By year end 2010, the number investor/state arbitration (ISA)

Criminal Justice Policy Processes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Criminal Justice Policy Processes - Essay Example This article aims to highlight various criminal justice policy processes and the significance of implementing justice as its significant part. Important ideas throughout the article revolve around the contribution of the various stakeholders such as special interest groups and individual policy makers within the court jurisdiction. Introduction The criminal justice system is composed of three major stages: first, the creation of laws; second, adjudication implemented by the courts; and third, corrections. Corrections take place in confinement facilities such as jails, probation and parole units as well as in prisons. In a functional system of criminal justice, these distinct organizations work in tandem with regard to the legal provisions guiding the process and under the tradition of keeping the sanctity of law within a population. The implementation of criminal justice begins with policing: the first contact a suspected criminal has with the system is normally the law enforcement a gencies. Police probe a suspected offense and initiate an arrest. The suspect is then taken to court where all incriminating evidence is tabled to enable the judges to make an informed decision on whether or not the suspect is culpable of the criminal accusations leveled against him or her. The court may acquit the individual or rule that he/she is to be taken to correction facility in case he or she is guilty. Participants in the Criminal Justice System The police act as the first department of the criminal justice system, which apprehends and investigates suspects for their suspected criminal actions. If needed, law enforcement agencies are authorized to use any means of legal force to implement order in society. The second department, courts play the role of a place where criminal suspects are proven guilty or otherwise – the venue of administration of justice. In light of the criminal justice, numerous individuals play pivotal roles in any courtroom. These important peopl e are called the courtroom work group. The team is comprised of both specialized staff and non-professional persons. These encompass the jury, prosecutor, and the defense lawyer. The jury is made up of judges or magistrates. For one to qualify for the post, he or she should be proficient in the law. An arbitrator is normally elected or nominated to impartially oversee the trial process and recommend a final verdict to conclude a case (Max, 2010). The Process of Criminal Justice McDonnell (2011) indicates that the criminal justice is a compound process, encompassing an array of stages opening with a criminal inquiry and up to the discharge of an individual who has completed his or her jail term. Throughout the process, regulations and drawing conclusion are the major tenets of this process. In view of this, these structures must come from somewhere. Such areas include the legal statutes containing Bill of Rights, the state code, court verdicts, federal policies of criminal processes, the state regulations of criminal process, jurisdiction and agency traditions. For instance, in the United States, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure dictate the course of all criminal trials in the country’s courts. Stages in the administration of criminal justice First: Probe of an offense by the law enforcers. The need for investigation into a criminal activity involves the gathering of proof to corner a

Art in the Age of Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Art in the Age of Revolution - Essay Example lieving in this idea, the Realists recorded in often resolute aspects of the current day survival of modest people that paralleled with the associated movements in the naturalist literature of Emile Zola, Honore de Balzac, and Gustave Flaubert. The assessment of the working class into the area of high art and literature overlapped with the socialist philosophies of Pierre Proudhon and Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto, which were published in the year 1848 and led to an urge of manual revolution (Nineteenth-Century French Realism, 2012). Gustave Courbet was a great French painter and he developed the term Realism in art to sum up a fashion of painting that emerged in France after the 1848 Revolution. The painters and sculptors who followed Realism wanted to express neither magnificence nor attractiveness. Rather it was all ordinariness that they were focused into. Artists of the time completely surveyed the limits of this artistic concept. Popular artists like Auguste Rodin succ eeded in initiating this heroicism in their works. The mid nineteenth century school of French Realism was an introduction for numerous other movements of the modern art related to Realism that appeared later in the twentieth century. Social Realism was also included in these movements (Artists of the Realism School (c. 1840-1900), n.d.). Socialist Realism in Modern Art: In the field of modern art, the concept of Social Realism is conventionally linked with interwar American art. It provided remarks on social, economic, and political conditions that existed during an era of Depression. There were two movements of modern art that could be associated with a left-wing character. These were the American Social Realism and Soviet-inspired Socialist Realism. There had been significant events that... From the above study, it can be very well concluded that during the mid nineteenth century, French artists had significantly given rise to the revolution involving Realism in their art and avoided Romanticism. The main purpose of this plan was to bring out the lives of the common people of their times in the representations and portrayals of the arts and paintings as well as literature. This can be considered to have an association with the social aspect of lives as well since the depictions would communicate some message or the other in regard to the human lives and their society. This author talks that Realism is a form of presenting the work of art in which different issues are portrayed in as simple a way as feasible, exclusive of romanticizing them and without any rules of formal artistic theory being followed. This paper makes a conclusion that the label of Socialist was not much obtained in the movement and Realism was considered more suitable to the movement and the acts of the artists as represented through their works. Thus, as far as the movement is concerned it can be said that the French Art in the mid nineteenth century had taken significant measures towards their society trying to focus and represent their conditions through their paintings and creations but the label of socialist might not been involved or attached to realism to great extents in this regard, although their works did have socialist message for the world.

Lake Mungo (Australia) Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Lake Mungo (Australia) - Term Paper Example Presently the main attraction of the Mungo National Park, Janesoceania.com described the landscape as being stark, silent, desolate and often eerie sand sparse only resurgent vegetation and the spiny hard pitted crinkled and fluted dunes and ridges can look like a moonscape. (Cited by K.K. Hirst, About.com) The lakes dried up around 14 000 years ago and are considered to be an extraordinarily rich source of fossils. The quality and quantity of evidence pertaining to the landforms, animal life and environmental conditions during the last ice age are of the highest calibre, in part due to the alkaline rather than acidic quality of the soils. Discovered in the 1960s, the site has been excavated by geomorphologists and archaeologists to establish both the chronological and geologic age and status of its deposits. The remains of extinct creatures such as; Tasmanian tigers, giant, short-faced kangaroos and a strange oxen-sized animal called a zygomaturus - have been found. Crucially, carbo n dating has indicated that Aborigines inhabited the area 40 000 years ago, making it the site of the oldest known human occupation in Australia. These inhabitants benefited from the lake significantly. Freshwater shellfish and other aquatic fauna inhabited the lake, and many large trees grew around its margins; outlines of their branching roots have been fossilized and preserved by calcium carbonate. Waves driven by the westerly wind created a crescent-shaped sandy beach (a lunette) on the eastern lee shore. This dune consists of the Zanci, Arumpo, Mungo and ‘golgol’ units, named after local pastoral properties.  Ã‚   Inhabitants gathered mussels, Murray cod and golden perch from the lake compared to wallabies, rat kangaroos and emu eggs that they collected from their surroundings. The diet of the hunter-gatherers at Lake Mungo was varied and rich in protein. They ate the western native cat, the brown-haired wallaby, the hairy-nosed wombat and various other small ani mals and bird. Remains of these creatures have been found in ancient fireplaces, together with numerous broken emu shells. Their presence indicates that people were camping at Lake Mungo in the spring, when emu eggs hatch. In the heat of summer, people would have stayed close to the plentiful fresh water and shellfish of the lakes. In the cooler winter, they probably spread out away from the lakes onto the arid plains and hunted land animals, thus conserving the lake's food supplies for the harsh summers. Such a pattern of exploitation and seasonal movement is characteristic of Aborigines in arid regions, and was observed in the Willandra Lakes region in the nineteenth century. (Janeoceania.com) The number, size and species of fish remains in sites have been identified by comparing their otoliths, or ear bones, with those of modern fish in the same region. Seventy per cent of fish caught in the Pleistocene Willandra Lakes were golden perch (Petroplites ambiguus). The large numbers o f perch at the sites, which dated between 22 000 and 26 000 BP and were each believed to result from a single event, from tightly restricted size ranges, which strongly suggests the use of gill nets at some sites and traps at others. Fishing with fixed gill nets is a highly selective process: it tends to catch fish of the same species and age. Nets were probably set at the time of a spring spawning run, when the fish migrate up the rivers in large numbers. Golden perch are difficult to catch

Political economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Political economy - Essay Example According to the history of economics, political economy is a terminology that was originally used to describe the processes of production and trade in various goods and services, as well as their associations with the law, custom and the government. The government came into the picture because of its key objective to its citizens- that is distribution of national income and wealth to all people in all its regions within its boundaries. The term political economy is said to have found its origin in the 18th century, during this time, it was referred to as the study of states or polities, and hence its present name – political economy. Following this historical development, it is evident that political economy in modern times deals with the way governments makes decisions on distribution of income and wealth to its citizens to spur growth and development. In addition, political economics looks at how various political forces play a role shaping various economic policies of a country, especially with regard to distributional conflicts relating resources and management of political institutions. It examines how governments make their overall expenditure, investing in various sectors with an objective of improving the citizens’ well being. In general, there are multiple components to economic systems that are characteristics of different countries, it is important to have this understanding since the interaction of these different economic systems can be coherent or result in some kinds of instabilities. The process of decision making over various economic factors determines the use of economic inputs, which comprise of factors of production, distribution of the resulting output, the level and extent of centralization in the process of decision-making as well as those who make the particular decisions. Decisions regarding economic factors and their characteristics can be carried out and effected by

Tooley Final Essay Example for Free

Tooley Final Essay Several ethicists, such as Michael Tooley, Mary Anne Warren, James Rachels and Virginia Ramey-Mollenkott have put forth criteria that a being must fulfill in order to be considered fully human. For some these criteria apply to any entity, whether before or after birth. In fact, according to Tooley birth has no bearing on the moral status of the newborn.† Christiananswers.net/q-qum/q-life022.html Michael Tooley’s concepts are rather rude and presumptuous. An atmosphere of cruelty colors his ideal of what makes, not only unborn children but children who are born and functioning as organisms, independent of the life giving and sustaining resources of their mother’s womb. Birthed and fully functional as a bodily organism, Michael Tooley, questionable as an ethicist uncorks a line of reasoning that does not meet the measure of what’s considered ethical. Tooley writes that an infant â€Å"cannot have a right to continued existence unless he possesses the concept of a subject of experiences, the concept of a temporal order, and the concept of identity of things over time. It follows that a none self-conscious being with no desire for its own continued existence has no right to life.† (Christiananswers.net/q-qum/q-life022.html) Tooley’s proposition is of the ghastly Hitlerian type that ruined Germany and Europe in WWII. The most ardent abortionist will affirm life following birth. Tooley manufactures a criterion, without any credible means to give precedence to his idea. On his privately concocted line of reasoning, someone would be fool enough a justification to put a newborn to death. Mr. Tooley’s thinking is the whispiest means to so conclude. History has already taught us the lesson that Tooley apparently thinks he’s come up with something for people to aspire to someday. Michael Tooley is distinct, even from abortionists in extending borders defining when life is viable and under what condition.. Mr. Tooley’s idea has every apperance of being a repudiation of life itself, as only on the extreme end being conceived and born does baby have the slightest chance of being viewed as a human being under Tooley’s idea. Tooley falls woefully short in comprehending self-awareness. Even an infant will turn their head from more food, if full. They have an intuitive level of awareness whose factoring evidences itself in their function and, doubtless, if their survival were being choke off. The idea of self-consciousness that meets someone’s an artificial conceptual frame is entirely baseless. To suggest an infant has no will to live is an affront to the intelligence of anyone who’s had any caring experience with young tykes. An infant is quite capable of protesting to communicate their displeasure. The majority of their emotional outbreaks have to do with issues that could quickly turn into a life threatening situations. Mr. Tooley invested his standing as a man of letters in an idea that can only appeal to the darkest minds who could live with themselves as practitioners of infanticide. Works Cited’ http://christiananswers.net/q-sum/q-life022.html

Happiness And Thought Disorder Philosophy Essay

Happiness And Thought Disorder Philosophy Essay Everyone in life should be happy and the thought of happiness being a disorder should not be a thought someone have in there mind. In A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder, Richard Bental argues that happiness is a major affective disorder. Although Richard Bental includes many arguments, I will focus on his argument that happy people have been shown to exhibit biases judgments that prevent them from being realistic and unrealistic opinions, and that happy people are not psychiatrically disordered. I will explain my opinion on happiness give reason in why happiness should not be called a disorder. I will argue that Richard P. Bental makes an argument that he believe must be true, but doesnt seem to be and the argument seems to be unsound. Realistically, people in life will not think of there state of happiness being a disorder that need attention, Therefore Happiness should not be considered a major disorder with bad side affects. First I argue that happiness is not a cause for therapeutics concern. Statistically not many people have made a doctor visit for being happy all the time. I make more sense for people to go to therapy for stress and miserable about things. Without signs of happiness and smile you can not attract many relationships and friends in life. Good Form Test: The argument seems to be deductive. Without a doubt the author sticks to his thought of happiness being a disorder. I argue that it is not likely for to attend therapy concerning problems with being happy. Although the author seems to have researched the topic, it is not proven that the disorder and side affects of happiness are anyway a bad side affect that affects that person life. In life when people seem to be happy and live a great life, it has almost always given them better chances of living than unhappy people. True premises test: I believe the Author thought of happy people needing therapy if controversial and false. The author goes on and explains research and why people should go to therapy but statistically I do not believe many happy people will seek therapy. Many people seek therapy when there seems to be greater problems that a doctor will have concern about. I believe the author would accept my argument after looking over statistic and talking to a therapist to view that average of how many people visit for problems on happiness. S2: Happiness is known for having low stress and good work performance, therefore it does not seem to be the type of stress the Bental explains. I will argue that a better term called Generalized Happiness Disorder is a better explanation than Bental view on disorder.(Sabah,Karima)GHD is now as a large part of the population and the effects are low stress, productive work, and positive social relationships. I believe more people can relate to this view point of happiness being a disorder versus Bentals. Bental believes that happiness is a disturbance of the nervous system and is very rare in some parts of the world. I believe that everyone finds ways to be happy in there own way, and at some point of time everyone will find ways in life to be happy. Good Form Test: The argument seems to be deductive. There is an article that explain happiness and a disorder with nothing but positive outcome which is opposite as the authors explanation. The author gives examples of what other people thinks of happiness which is more of a positive case. Bental still believes that happiness can cause abnormalities and bad nervous system. I this is invalid. True Premises Test: Again I believe the author is controversial and his premises for the argument seem false. Based on the Generalized Happiness Disorder happiness is a good state on being and the effect are not related to Bentals S3: People being happy in life does not require them having to take medication therefore, happiness should not be considered a disease that disturbs the body. When people smile it is a sign of happiness and smiling takes less muscles in your body than frowning. It is statistically proven the depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2010. After reading over percentages like this it is not likely that a person wants to compare there happiness to a disorder or disease. Good Form Test: This argument seems to be deductive. The author seems to make and invalid point but believe you cannot deny his conclusion. When happiness enters the body it is a healthy change for the body and its not harmful. Unless a person is abnormal he/she does not need medication for a happy condition. True Premises Test: I believe the authors argument is controversial and false. Based on the facts about depression more people are known to take medication and have complication in life fro m sadness and depression. I believe my arguments are also Deductive and pass the true Premises test. Many people in life would disagree in going to therapy for reason of happiness and, many people would agree with the Generalized Happiness Disorders rather that Bentals viewpoint Overall the state of being happy is more acceptable to people as a Generalized Happiness Disorder rather that psychiatric disease that needs therapeutic attention. Happiness may cause changes to you body but will always make better changes that sadness. Happiness is not a disorder that need attention, but its a disorder that people should look at in a good way. The GHD is the best was to explain happiness as a disorder. You should ignore that concept feeling the need for therapy and help in a happy state of being.

The Haberdasher Essay -- Chaucer Essays

The Haberdasher The â€Å"orphan pilgrims† of the Canterbury Tales appear to be quite interesting with their â€Å"geere apiked (365).† A snapshot of the guildsmen determines that the men were wealthy, apart of some type of brotherhood, and had wives that were socially upstanding. Now an argument arises when trying to decide whether or not the craftsmen were actually in a guild or not. Evidence supports my view that, not only were they in a guild, but it was legitimate, exclusive, and included only those with similar occupations. A haberdasher was amongst the fraternity Chaucer mentions. During the medieval times, this hat maker was probably using a cloth called chaperon to make hats. Both men and women wore these types of hats; beaver hats became popular. Women also wore veils on their head to hide their hair (Britannica). At this point in history, there were no legal contracts. This became a problem when the townspeople needed credit to buy items and the craftsmen needed raw materials. The main solution was for the craftsmen to join guilds in an effort to boost their reputation. â€Å"The ‘solempne’ and ‘greet fraternitee’ in whose livery Chaucer dressed the five Burgesses in the General Prologue of the Canterbury Tales was probably a craft fraternity (McCutchan 313).† Guilds were very important forces in the fourteenth century. A haberdasher or any craftsman would join â€Å"for personal establishment† and membership also was â€Å"the most frequently employed means of claiming such status in local society (Rosser 10).† The fraternities served as a form of kinship and inclusion amongst peers. The fictional kinship of a fraternity lent a moral force to the declarations of mutual respect sworn between the ‘... ... However, they are highly revered respected in the community and part of that is because of the product that they make. Clothing is a symbol for status, a political statement, and a first impression. Works Cited Boccaccio, Giovanni. The Decameron. Garden City: Garden City Publishing Company, 1930. Chaucer, Geoffrey. Canterbury Tales. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. Harwood, Britton J. â€Å"The ‘Fraternitee’ of Chaucer’s Guildsmen.† The Review of English Studies 39.155 (1988): 413-417. â€Å"Hat.† Encyclopedia Britannica. 2003. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 13 Nov 2003 http://search.eb.com/eb/article?eu=40311. Kirby, Thomas A. â€Å"The Haberdasher and his Companions.† Modern Language Notes 53.7 (1938): 504-505. Rosser, Gervase. â€Å"Crafts, Guilds and the Negotiations of Work in the Medieval Town.† Past and Present 154 (1997): 3-31.

The Frogs :: Essays Papers

The Frogs The frogs were singing again. I had heard them all night through the thin membrane of my tent. Their songs had died down with the rising sun, but now they picked up again with a fervor that sounded not unlike desperation to my teenage ears. I rested in the tent only a few moments before clearing the sleep from my eyes and springing out of my sleeping bag to greet the mourning. Dew droplets still covered everything, and the mourning seemed as magical as any other morning does to a young person of sixteen, camping in the woods. My brother had already awakened. He was sitting on a rock waiting for other people to wake up and smiling happily to see that it was me first and not one of the other kids from our group. They were all pretty boring, and we had no interest in their stories of adolescent rebellion. I slipped my feet into my hiking boots and looked at my watch. It was just after seven, and I knew that the two counselors who were with us wouldn’t wake up till at least eight. We had time to play before they did. â€Å"The lake or the cliffs?† I asked, gesturing to the singing frogs behind me and the rocky face that we had nestled our tent under the previous night. We had been hiking a long time the night before, at least twelve miles. We still had a long way to go too. The stretch that we were completing started just at the Connecticut border and wound its way down through the mountains of New York and into New Jersey before finally ending at the border in Pennsylvania, the most famous of East Coast trails. â€Å"The cliffs!† he said keeping his voice to a hushed shout as not to wake the others. There were adventures to be had, and it just wouldn’t fit to have anyone wake up and tell us to do something and spoil our excitement. He was just a bit shorter than me, but his frame was already starting to develop into something wider and heavier than mine. I, two years his senior, wouldn’t allow him to beat me in a sprint.

Does watching too much television have an impact on behavior Essay

It is very evident that television plays a tremendous role in the society we live in. It can spark imagination, creativity, even take a person out of reality and put them into an imaginary world. Television keeps you informed with news and current events going on around the world, it can take you to unknown places that a person otherwise would never be able to visit, it provides access to the arts, even music and so much more. Although most people look at television as an entertaining and educational way to spend time, some people think there is too much violence in television and that is influencing young members of society into becoming aggressive in nature and learn tolerate violence. Can extensive watching of television cause a significant negative impact on the behavior of the youth today? TV can play a very important role in shaping a person attitude, and behavior but can all TV programs have a negative impact on behavior? Let’s take a look at some of the statistics of television for us to understand a little more about why TV is blamed for bad behavior in youth and adults. According to Nationmaster. com 98. 5 percent of homes in the United States have at least one TV with ninety percent having at least two televisions and eighty-seven percent of homes have at the least a DVD player or VCR. (Nationmaster) With so many homes having TV’s, television has become a debatable issue as many researchers and psychologist question the influence of programs on the attitudes and behavior of today’s youth. According to psychological researches done on youths, violence on television can have a negative impact on the youth. It is estimated that by the time a child starts high school that child will have viewed 8,000 to 10,000 acts of violence whether it be from watching cartoons or a drama crime show. (Villani) Children, who are allowed to view programs in which the violence is very realistic, are more likely to try to imitate what they see on the show. Children that already have emotional, behavioral or control problems may be even more heavily influenced than a child that does not have the emotional ties. Young children and young adults can even be affected by what they are watching even when they have a stable family atmosphere that shows no tendency towards violence. A Study done in October of 2007 showed that out of 3,205 children between the ages of eight and sixteen who watched more than two hours of television in a twenty-four hour period was associated with problems with aggressive behavior towards family and peers. â€Å"Most of the scientific evidence†¦ reveals a relationship between television and aggressive behavior. While few would say that there is absolute proof that watching television caused aggressive behavior, the overall cumulative weight of all the studies gives credence to the position that they are related. â€Å"Essentially, television violence is one of the things that may lead to aggressive, antisocial, or criminal behavior. † (Signorielli) Television is not the only factor in causing aggression among today’s youth, there are many factors. However, television is one of the greatest factors that can cause aggressive behavior in children. This is especially evident in the U. S.  Many criminals confess that their violent actions or attitudes were encouraged by TV. This is becoming a great problem of our society as the rate of criminal behavior is constantly growing. With so much crime being showed on television, it can negatively affect children’s attitude towards school, lifestyle, career, family, and even their future. Television programs should be monitored by parents and limited to the amount of time spent watching TV that does have crime related scenes. Parents should also explain to the child that the violence they see on television is not real and what the consequences would be if it were real.

Freakonomics

An Incentive is something that Is used to motivate or use as an encouragement to Improve whatever the person Is doing. In studying economics, Incentives are used as form of payments, to encourage businesses to succeed In whatever they are doing. 2. The united States government puts a tax on foreign car companies to help united State citizens encourage to buy the American made cars. This acts as an Incentive for the citizens to buy American made cars to support the united States economy. The government's plan to raise test scores actually worked because In public schools, teachers are awarded or punished based on their kids' performance on standardized tests. 4. When a Japanese sumo wrestler is on the bubble, it means that if one sumo wrestler which is almost out of the competition faces a sumo wrestler that has a lot of wins, the wrestler with a lot of wins will let the one that is almost out of the competition win. 5. The authors from Freakishness are concluding that people are lust dishonest. When Paul Feldman left the basket and bagels, he noticed that all of he money was vanishing.This plays into economics because it shows us that small offices run more honestly and more efficiently. Chapter 3: Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? 1 . Conventional wisdom is something that is generally believed in. It is ideas that are generally accepted by the public. Conventional wisdom is used to encourage people to get more support and pay a closer attention to detail. 2. Although the police departments got rid of at least two thousand police reports in efforts to lower the crime rate, the crime rate still managed to rise because of the media's coverage on rack cocaine. 3.The Black Disciples street gain was set up Just like a common business is set up. The top people in charge of both were called the board of directors. Under them, there will bosses in different cities which controlled another three individuals. There was a treasurer Just like in a business wh o manages the money and the â€Å"foot soldier† who sold the gangs' drugs acted as sales people In large businesses. 4. A street-level drug dealer Is willing to accept low pay and poor working conditions so that he has a drive and something to work up to In order to come a bigger boss to eventually make more money.Like In small business, sales people act as lower earning Individuals who eventually want to work their way up to becoming something bigger and making more In a company. 5. A street level drug salesman Is different from a franchise owner because the drug dealer Is mostly looking out for himself and trying to make enough money to get by from month to month. However, they are both attempting to maximize their profits because they both want to see the company or their personal lives grow better. Chapter 4: Where have all the crimes gone?

Student Study Section

STUDENT STUDY SECTION Review questions Study the timeline above and then read the following quotation. The nation that political problems could more naturally be solved by violence than by debate was firmly entrenched in a country in which for a thousand years civil war has been if not exactly the norm then certainly no rarity. From Paul Preton, The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution and Revenge, 2006 1. Looking at the timeline above showing events in Spain in the 19th and early 20th centuries, what evidence is there for Preston’s argument? 2.What factors were causing tension in Spain during this time? (Economic, military, religious, political? ) 3. What example of foreign intervention was there in Spain in the 29th century? STUDENT STUDY SECTION Review questions 1. Draw a mind map or spider diagram of the key issues dividing Spain by 1931 2. Explain the events that led to the fall of Kind Alfonso in 1931. 3. Looking at the long-term issues in Spain and the political even ts of the 19th century, what problems was the Second Republic likely to face? Do you consider that war was inevitable by mid 1931? STUDENT STUDY SECTIONReview questions How did the actions of the Second republic create more tension? In what way did they, in Paul Preston’s words, ensure that Spain’s underlying conflicts ere transmitted into national politics? STUDENT STUDY SECTION Research activity Research the Asturian miner’ uprising of 1934. In Paris, discuss the extent to which you agree that this was an attempted revolution. STUDENT STUDY SECTION Review questions 1. To what extent did economic issues lead to a civil war? 2. What was the impact of international events to the growing divisions in Spain Class debateDivide the class into three groups. Each group needs to argue one of the following: * The right wing was responsible for the Spanish Civil War * The left wing was responsible for the Spanish Civil War * Both left and right were equally responsible fo r the Spanish Civil War STUDENT STUDY SECTION Review activity Look back at the timeline on pp. 235-36. Identify key points where foreign intervention plays a significant role in the fighting. STUDENT STUDY SECTION Document analysisWhat civisms does Salvodo make of the Non-intervention Committee (p. 238)? Research activity In small group, research the different countries, groups and famous individuals that went to Spain to fight in the international Brigades; for example, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade from USA. STUDENT STUDY SECTION Review activities Summarize the key points made in the text in grid: | Nationalists | Republicans | Political strengths/weaknesses| | | Military strengths/weaknesses| | | Economic advantages/ Disadvantages| | | Foreign assistance| | | Class debate Divide the class into two groups.One side will argue that the Nationalists’ strengths won the Spanish Civil War, the other will argue that it was due to Republican weaknesses. The motion is: The strengths o f the Nationalists won the Civil War. Each side must have a series of thematic and coherent arguments. To gain a point, they have to support arguments with clear evidence. STUDENT STUDY SECTION Read the following sources and answer the questions: Document A The nationalists maintained that Guernical had been blown up by the Basques themselves, in order to discredit the blameless Nationalists.A later version said that Republican planes dropped bomb to detonate charges dynamite placed in the sewers. Twenty years later it was still a crime in Franco’s Spain to say that Guernical had been destroyed by the Nationalists. Document B Our consciences were uneasy about it. After living through the raid we knew only too well that the destruction had come from the air. The Reds had hardly any planes, we knew that too. Amongst our own, we’d admit the truth: our side had bombed the town and it was a bad thing. But what can we do about it now? We’d say. It was simply better to keep quite.From a statement by Juan Sangroniz, a Nationalists, quoted in Ronald Fraser, Blood of Spain Document C The Germans said the wind caused the bombes to drift eastwards [the target had been a bridge on the river]. In fact Guernica was a military target, being a communications centre close to the line. Retreating republican soldiers could only escape with any ease through Guernical because the bridge over the river was the last one before the sea. But if the aim of the Condor Legion was destroy the bridge why did they not use their supremely accurate stuka bombers?At least part to aim must have been to cause maximum panic and confusion among civilians as well as soldier. The use of incendiary bombs proves that some destruction of buildings and people other than it bridge must have been intended From Hugh Thomas, The Spanish Civil War, 1977 Questions 1. In what ways are the views expressed in Document A supported by the views in Document B 2. What reasons are identified in Do cument C for the bombing of Guernica? STUDENT STUDY SECTION Essay work Planning essay in an essential way to revise topics as you approach examinations. In pairs or groups, plan out the essays below.Your plan should include: * An introduction written out in full * The opening sentence for each paragraph setting out your ‘topic’ * Bullet points setting out the evidence to go in each paragraph * A conclusion written out in full Each group should present it essay plan to the rest of the class. How much overlap of content is three between the different essay plans? Some hints are given for your planning in the first 3 essays Essay 1 Analyze the causes of the Spain Civil War. You could structure this essay thematically, and consider the key issues in the long term and the short term.Your analysis should then explain why there was tension that intensified over time. Remember to include the ‘trigger’ of the civil war, as this explains why the war broke out when it did. * Themes: 1898-1931 –Economic/Social/Polical/Empire * Themes:1931-36 –Land reforms/Church reforms/Social unrest /Reaction of right/Popular Front * Trigger:1936 –The attempted coup. Essays 2 What were the key effects of the Spanish Civil War? You might want to include material from this chapter on the ‘nature’ of the war in this essay, as well as focusing on the more general results.It might be helpful for you to structure your essay in two parts: effects of the war internally on Spain, and then effects of the war external on the other countries. Remember to attempt to adopt a thematic approach. Essay 3 What was the impact of foreign intervention in the Spain Civil War? You could discuss this question in terms of how the ‘nature’ of the war was affected by foreign intervention: * Polarizing the complex political divisions in Spain * Increasing the brutality and casualty rate * Protracting the war. You could then discuss this questi on in terms of how the ‘outcome’ of the war was affected by foreign intervention† * Germany/Italy/Portugal: Strengthening the military capabilities of the Nationalists * USSR: Weakening the political unity of the Republic, and then undermining its ability to wage war by withdrawing support * NIC and Neutrals benefited the Nationalists Now attempt to make detailed plans for the following essay questions: * In what ways and to what extent, did social and religious divisions lead to war in Spain in 1936? * To what extent was the Spanish Civil War caused by division in Spain and in Spain society? Assess the impact of political and constitutional developments in Spain between 1930 and 1939 * Why did the Constitutional Monarchy in Spain collapse in 1931? * Carlism is a political movement in Spain that looks to establish a separate line of the Bourbon family on the Spanish throne. This line is descended from Carlos V ( 1788-1855). * The Civil Guard was founded in 1844. I ts purpose was to control the peasantry, maintain the status quo and stamp out any anti-monarchist, revolutionary sentiment. It was particularly active in the Basque Provinces and was hated by the peasantry.It was later to play a role in supporting the conservative downers in resisting the reforms of the Second Republic. * The destabilization of the Spanish electoral system is the worth nothing that the Spain electoral system ensured that only a small swing in the number of votes cast had a huge effect on the parliamentary system. Thus, although there was only a minor shift of votes from the left to the right, there was a big change in parliamentary power. The same was ro happen in 1926 when the Popular front gained control. The instability created by the electoral system was a contributory factor to the breakdown of the Second Republic.