Kgb History free essay sample

Several of the greatest and most terrible leaders of the Soviet Union were brought up through the ranks of the KGB and its predecessors: Beria, Andropov, and Yeltsin were all proteges of the KGB. The KGB infiltrated straight into the heart of the American and British establishments; the KGB ran the most infamous spy ring in the history of espionage . The KGB supervised many invasions of the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The KGB crest – the sword and the shield – is to show what the KGB stands for; defense, espionage, and attack. The KGB has affected both the culture and the government of Russia in several ways. Soviet Security Services 1907-1991 The Soviet Security services varied much through out the years and were both the most feared and most powerful government agencies that the Union ever saw. The responsibilities of the Services varied from being responsible for propaganda to controlling Siberian labor camps. We will write a custom essay sample on Kgb History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Contrary to popular belief there were seven different services, not just the one KGB that is commonly referred to as the single Soviet security service. The VeCheka was Vladimir Lenin’s device for keeping his newly founded country together. It was founded on the 20th of December in 1917, right at the beginning of the Soviet Union. The USSR was in a tenuous place after the revolution of 1917 and Lenin, with the help of Dzerzhinsky, founded the All-Russian Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage or the VeCheka in Russian. The Cheka was used to capture former Czar officials who were on the run and could possibly spring a new revolution to bring back the exiled czar1 and try to control the country. The Cheka began the organization of a spy program that would last for almost a century and recruit more spies than any other agency in the history of the world. The legacy of the VeCheka still remains, as the secret policemen during Soviet times were referred to as â€Å"Chekists† and the secret policemen in Russia today are still referred to as â€Å"Chekists†, as they were called while the VeCheka still existed. The VeCheka was replaced by the GPU in 1922 to present a fresh face for the Secret Police and a new look for the Politburo. The GPU was created as that the current security service would not a bad image, the Cheka had been rather hated and feared by the people of the USSR, and it had slightly different duties than the VeCheka. The GPU, â€Å"State Political Directorate† in English, was used also for the security of the borders of the Soviet Union as well as controlling new unions that â€Å"joined†. The GPU lasted only one year before it gained such a bad reputation about the purges and labor camps that it was disbanded in 1923 and replaced by the OGPU. The OGPU was the first security service that prosecuted religion and freedom of speech. It was founded in 1923 to enhance the power of the service as well as give it a fresh face. The OGPU worked to abolish the Russian Orthodox Church, one of the most extreme branches of Catholicism. It nearly succeeded however secret meetings were still held underground and in far off regions where the government was not strong. The largest and quite possibly most successful operation by the OGPU was called the â€Å"Trust Operation†. The Trust Operation was used to make money for the USSR, lure exiled Russians to Moscow, and worked as propaganda machine after being disbanded in 1924. The idea of the operation was to have a group, â€Å"The Trust†, working in western countries pretending to be an anti-communist group ready to stage a rebellion; from there they would both recruit members and get money from western intelligence agencies and anti-Soviet persons. Once members were â€Å"recruited† they would be told to go to Moscow and from there they would be placed under arrest in Lubyanka and often murdered to make sure that they kept quiet. This operation was ruined when Sidney Reilly, a Russian-born British intelligence officer who was one of the leading anti-Soviet forces in the west, was lured to and murdered in Moscow. After this, the venture became a purely propaganda based job because British and American governments were becoming aware of the fact. The time of the OGPU and GPU was when the most public purges were done and the most hated leaders were seen. The government realized that all these murders were hurting their idealist image, so in late 1934, the secret police became part of the NKVD . The NKVD presented a more polite scaled back view to the secret service with less public purges and more just spying upon the Soviet people. While this may have looked like a nicer more people oriented service, in actuality it was merely more propaganda. The service was actually murdering only a small fraction less of people and it was spying on the people more. The West was not aware of these facts and looked upon it as an improvement to the USSR. It was during these times that the NKVD recruited the most western spies such as the â€Å"Cambridge Five spy ring†, Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen in the CIA, and Klaus Fuchs, the spy in the Manhattan Project. In 1945, the NKVD split its secret service portion in two, forming the NKGB and the NKVD. The NKVD was responsible for border guarding and propaganda, and the NKGB worked against western countries, fought sabotage, terrorism and counterespionage, and provided bodyguards for the Bolshevik officials. Again, this was more of a housekeeping issue, to make the world think better of the Soviet Secret Service and Moscow as a whole, not so much an actual change of duties, the government agencies at that time, world war two just ending and the cold war beginning. In 1946, Lavrenty Beria made the NKVD and the NKGB into ministries, making them the MGB and MVD. Although the agencies bore different names than before, they still had the same jobs but were represented in the Politburo with a minister apiece. In 1953, at the end of his term, Beria merged the two into the MGB. This was his last major act before being thrown out. In the same year the agency lost its government representation and became the Committee for State Security, or the infamous KGB. The KGB was the most famous Soviet secret service and many people still believe that it exists. The KGB was responsible for some of the worst attacks, from the 1950’s onward, against the United States, the United Kingdom, and eastern European/Middle East countries such as Afghanistan, Macedonia, and Pakistan. It was during the time of the KGB that the most agents attempted to defect to the West and only two survived for more than two years after defecting. The KGB effectively controlled the entirety of the USSR, the largest country ever in modern times. The Leaders The leaders of the KGB have been some of the most influential men in Soviet history. Some ascended to the ranks of leader of the Bolsheviks, others have been killed beneath the KGB headquarters at â€Å"Lubyanka†. Either way, they have all gone on to great and/or terrible deeds, some have been put down as almost saints by the Soviets and others have been instrumental in the downfall of the Soviets. Leaders such as Felix Dzerzhinsky were incredibly helpful to the USSR in the Russian Revolution and then created the VeCheka , others such as Lavrenty Beria were seen as potential rivals to leaders of the USSR and were murdered beneath where their own feet had tread in the haunted prison of Lubyanka. Felix Dzerzhinsky was the first of the leaders of the KGB, or, as it was called at that point, the Vecheka. Dzerzhinsky was both a powerful leader of the Vecheka and an important Bolshevik politician. He was instrumental in the creation of the USSR and in helping the new country survive during German attacks. Born into a noble polish family in the late 1800’s, as soon as he was schooled he was against all class differences and became an avid reader of Karl Marx . During the Russian Revolution he was forced to fight on the side of the Polish, but when given the opportunity he quickly defected to Leningrad (St. Petersburg or Petrograd) where he met Vladimir Lenin and quickly established himself as his right-hand man. When Lenin returned from his second exile and took over Russia, Dzerzhinsky quickly created the â€Å"All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage†. He worked this into Soviet politics and became known and feared through out the Soviet Union. During his time in the Secret Service, he went throughout the USSR and worked against all anti-communists and religious eople. That said, he was still probably one of the most peaceful of the secret service leaders. After Lenin died and Stalin took over, Dzerzhinsky was appointed as Head of Soviet Economics on the 24th of February, 1924, even though Dzerzhinsky was against Stalin’s appointment as president of the USSR. However, Stalin merely used this as an opportunity to remove Dzerzhinsky from the secret service. Dzerzhinsky spent the rest of his life devoted to making the economics of the USSR better. Sadly, his life only lasted three more years, and he died in 1926. While he may no longer be around, the FSB has a constant reminder that he started their organization as they are housed in Dzerzhinsky Square, Moscow, the leaders are reminded each day of where there organization spawned. After Dzerzhinsky was forced off the force, a new face was brought in. Vyacheslav Menzhinsky was appointed to lead the force. Menzhinsky was another Pole who had taken it upon himself to make the Czarist regime fall. He went so far as to get himself arrested by the Czars in 1906 on â€Å"Civil Disobedience† charges. He was appointed as head of the OGPU in 1926. However, he only lasted eight years before falling out of favor with Stalin and having to flee. He fled to Switzerland, France and the United States before he was finally caught by his own former agency and found, in what appeared to be a â€Å"suicide†, in his hotel room. Replacing Menzhinsky was his own deputy, Genrikh Grigoryevich Yagoda, yet another Pole leading the Soviet Secret Service. Yagoda was born in Lodz, Poland at the height of the Russian Empire in 1891. Yagoda joined the Bolshevik party right at the beginning in 1907 as a member of the Leningrad chapter. Yagoda quickly rose through the ranks in the Bolsheviks and was appointed to the VeCheka in 1920 by Dzerzhinsky. He became the deputy head of the OGPU in 1924 and was stationed there for 10 years. During that time, he was appointed as the head of the Siberian labor camps. In 1934, Yagoda finally was raised to the position he had been striving for since he entered the VeCheka, the elusive Headship. During his time at the top, he started the first widespread and public purge trials, these trials were used to â€Å"purge† political enemies from the Soviet Union. Yagoda did not last long as the leader of the OGPU. He fell out of favor with Stalin in 1936 and was replaced. However, Stalin was not content with merely removing him from his post in the OGPU, and in 1937 he was arrested by his own former organization. During the third of the â€Å"Great Purges†, Yagoda was tried and convicted of being part of the â€Å"Trotskyite† conspiracy and was executed on the 15th of March, 1938 underneath the headquarters of the NKVD at Lubyanka , Moscow. Immediately following Yagoda was Nikolay Yezhov an underling in the NKVD and the man responsible for purging Yagoda. Yezhov was born in Petrograd in 1895. He joined the Red Army in 1905 and fought in the 1907 revolution. He joined the Bolshevik party in Leningrad in 1917 and quickly rose through the ranks. He was appointed to the post of â€Å"Head of Soviet Security† on the 26th September, 1936, and became feared through out the Soviet Union as the most ruthless leader of the secret police yet. He was responsible for the â€Å"Great Purge† and began to purge all of the staff that could potentially be harmful, to him including his predecessor and the war minister of the USSR. He was known throughout the USSR as â€Å"The Bloody Dwarf†; Yezhov was less than five feet tall, as well as being diagnosed with Napoleon Complex at age five. Stalin was not happy with his work after one year and he [Stalin] was encouraged by Molotov to purge Yezhov. During 1937, Stalin gave Yezhov chances to regain favor but Stalin was not impressed by the way Yezhov handled himself without support and he was worried about potential threats to his power. In August of 1938, Lavrenty Beria, Yezhov’s deputy whom he though was his closest ally, took over control of the NKVD in what would become a long and owerful reign. On the 25th of November, 1938, Yezhov was officially removed from his post and exiled to Stalingrad. After two years of exile, Yezhov was still viewed as a possible threat to Stalin and he was arrested in 1940 and purged in the cell adjoining to his predecessor’s cell. Born in 1899 in Georgia, Lavrenty Pavlovich Beria joined the Communist Party at t he very beginning of the Russian Revolution. Between 1917 and 1925, Beria led the Georgian chapter of the VeCheka in a very similar way to Dzerzhinsky. In 1926, he was transferred to Moscow to work as a deputy in OGPU.

Profile of NASA Inventor Robert G Bryant

Profile of NASA Inventor Robert G Bryant Chemical engineer, Doctor Robert G Bryant works for NASAs Langley Research Center and has patented numerous inventions. Highlighted below are just two of the award winning products that Bryant has helped invent while at Langley. LaRC-SI Robert Bryant headed the team that invented Soluble Imide (LaRC-SI) the self-bonding thermoplastic that received an RD 100 award for being one of the most significant new technical products of 1994. While researching resins and adhesives for advanced composites for high-speed aircraft, Robert Bryant, noticed that one of the polymers he was working with did not behave as predicted. After putting the compound through a two-stage controlled chemical reaction, expecting it to precipitate as a powder after the second stage, he was surprised to see that the compound remained soluble. According to a NasaTech report LaRC-SI proved to be a moldable, soluble, strong, crack-resistant polymer that could withstand high temperatures and pressures, unlikely to burn, and was resistant to hydrocarbons, lubricants, antifreeze, hydraulic fluid, and detergents. Applications for LaRC-SI have included use with mechanical parts, magnetic components, ceramics, adhesives, composites, flexible circuits, multilayer printed circuits, and coatings on fiber optics, wires, and metals. 2006 NASA Government Invention of the Year Robert Bryant was part of the team at NASAs Langley Research Center that created Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) the flexible and durable material that uses ceramic fibers. By applying voltage to the MFC, the ceramic fibers change shape to expand or contract and turn the resulting force into a bending or twisting action on the material. MFC is used in industrial and research applications for vibration monitoring and dampening, for example, improved helicopter rotor blades research, and vibration monitoring of support structures near the space shuttle pads during launches. The composite material can be used for pipeline crack detection and is being tested in wind turbine blades. Some non-aerospace applications being evaluated include suppressing vibration in performance sporting equipment such as skis, force and pressure sensing for industrial equipment and sound generation and noise cancellation in commercial grade appliances. The MFC is the first of its type composite that is specifically engineered for performance, manufacturability and reliability, said Robert Bryant, Its this combination that creates a ready-to-use system capable of morphing into a variety of uses on Earth and in space. 1996 RD 100 Award Robert G Bryant received the 1996 RD 100 Award presented by RD magazine for his role in developing THUNDER technology along with fellow Langley researchers, Richard Hellbaum, Joycelyn Harrison, Robert Fox, Antony Jalink, and Wayne Rohrbach. Patents Granted #7197798, April 3, 2007, Method of fabricating a composite apparatusA method for fabricating a piezoelectric macro-fiber composite actuator comprises making a piezoelectric fiber sheet by providing a plurality of wafers of piezoelectric material, bonding the wafers together with an adhesive material to form a stack of alternating layers of piezoelectric...#7086593, August 8, 2006, Magnetic field response measurement acquisition systemMagnetic field response sensors designed as passive inductor-capacitor circuits produce magnetic field responses whose harmonic frequencies correspond to states of physical properties for which the sensors measure. Power to the sensing element is acquired using Faraday induction.#7038358, May 2, 2006, Electro-active transducer using radial electric field to produce/sense out-of-plane transducerAn electro-active transducer includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched by first and second electrode patterns. When the device is used as an actuator, the first and second electrode patterns are configured to introduce an electric field into the ferroelectric material when voltage #7019621, March 28, 2006, Methods and apparatus to increase sound quality of piezoelectric devicesA piezoelectric transducer comprises a piezoelectric component, an acoustic member attached to one of the surfaces of the piezoelectric component and a dampening material of low elastic modulus attached to one or both surfaces of the piezoelectric transducer...#6919669, July 19, 2005, Electro-active device using radial electric field piezo-diaphragm for sonic applicationsAn electro-active transducer for sonic applications includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched by first and second electrode patterns to form a piezo-diaphragm coupled to a mounting frame...#6856073, February 15, 2005, Electro-active device using radial electric field piezo-diaphragm for control of fluid movementA fluid-control electro-active device includes a piezo-diaphragm made from a ferroelectric material sandwiched by first and second electrode patterns configured to introduce an electric field into the ferroelec tric material when voltage is applied thereto... #6686437, February 3, 2004, Medical implants made of wear-resistant, high-performance polyimides, process of making same andA medical implant having at least a portion thereof made of a formable, pyromellitic, dianhydride (PMDA)-free, non-halogenated, aromatic polyimide is disclosed. Further disclosed are a process of manufacturing the implant and a method of implanting the implant in a subject in need thereo...#6734603, May 11, 2004, Thin layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensorA method for forming ferroelectric wafers is provided. A prestress layer is placed on the desired mold. A ferroelectric wafer is placed on top of the prestress layer. The layers are heated and then cooled, causing the ferroelectric wafer to become prestressed...#6629341, October 7, 2003, Method of fabricating a piezoelectric composite apparatusA method for fabricating a piezoelectric macro-fiber composite actuator comprises providing a piezoelectric material that has two sides and attaching on e side upon an adhesive backing sheet... #6190589, February 20, 2001, Fabrication of molded magnetic articleA molded magnetic article and fabrication method are provided. Particles of ferromagnetic material embedded in a polymer binder are molded under heat and pressure into a geometric shape...#6060811, May 9, 2000, Advanced layered composite polylaminate electroactive actuator and sensorThe present invention relates to the mounting of pre-stressed electroactive material in such a manner that large displacement actuators or sensors result. The invention comprises mounting the pre-stressed electroactive material to a support layer...#6054210, April 25, 2000, Molded magnetic articleA molded magnetic article and fabrication method are provided. Particles of ferromagnetic material embedded in a polymer binder are molded under heat and pressure into a geometric shape...#6048959, April 11, 2000, Tough soluble aromatic thermoplastic copolyimides#5741883, April 21, 1998, Tough, soluble, aromatic, thermoplastic copolyimides#5639850 , June 17, 1997, Process for preparing a tough, soluble, aromatic, thermoplastic copolyimide #5632841, May 27, 1997, Thin layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensorA method for forming ferroelectric wafers is provided. A prestress layer is placed on the desired mold. A ferroelectric wafer is placed on top of the prestress layer. The layers are heated and then cooled, causing the ferroelectric wafer to become prestressed.#5599993, February 4, 1997, Phenylethynyl amine#5545711, August 13, 1996, Polyazomethines containing trifluoromethylbenzene units#5446204, August 29, 1995, Phenylethynyl reactive diluents#5426234, June 20, 1995, Phenylethynyl terminated reactive oligomer#5412066, May 2, 1995, Phenylethynyl terminated imide oligomers#5378795, January 3, 1995, Polyazomethines containing trifluoromethylbenzene units#5312994, May 17, 1994, Phenylethynyl endcapping reagents and reactive diluents#5268444, December 7, 1993, Phenylethynyl-terminated poly(arylene ethers)

Eotyrannus - Facts and Figures

Eotyrannus - Facts and Figures Name: Eotyrannus (Greek for dawn tyrant); pronounced EE-oh-tih-RAN-us Habitat: Woodlands of Western Europe Historical Period: Early Cretaceous (125-120 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 15 feet long and 300-500 pounds Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Small size; relatively long arms with grasping hands About Eotyrannus The tiny tyrannosaur Eotyrannus lived during the early Cretaceous period, about 50 million years before more famous relatives like Tyrannosaurus Rexand, following a common theme in evolution, this dinosaur was much smaller than its giant descendant (the same way the first, mouse-sized mammals of the Mesozoic Era were much smaller than the whales and elephants that evolved from them). In fact, the 300- to 500-pound Eotyrannus was so slender and wiry, with relatively long arms and legs and grasping hands, that to the untrained eye it might look more like a raptor; the giveaway is the lack of single, giant claws on each of its hind feet, as sported by the likes of Velociraptor and Deinonychus. (One paleontologist speculates that Eoraptor was actually a non-tyrannosaur theropod closely related to Megaraptor, but this idea is still being digested by the scientific community.) One of the most remarkable things about Eotyrannus is that its remains were discovered on Englands Isle of Wightwestern Europe isnt exactly famous for its tyrannosaurs! From an evolutionary point of view, however, this makes sense: we know that the earliest tyrannosaurs (like the 25-pound, feathered Dilong) lived a few million years before Eotyrannus in eastern Asia, while the largest tyrannosaurs (like the multi-ton T. Rex and Albertosaurus) were indigenous to late Cretaceous North America. One possible scenario is that the very first tyrannosaurs migrated west from Asia, quickly evolving to Eotyrannus-like sizes, and then reached the culmination of their development in North America. (A similar pattern held with horned, frilled dinosaurs, the tiny progenitors of which originated in Asia and then made their way westwards to North America, spawning multi-ton genera like Triceratops.)

Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths Coursework

Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths - Coursework Example The situation has changed today and the Americans experience less economic mobility than before. Today, a farmer son is more likely to become a farmer than go into a more advanced professional career. This situation has been caused by escalating college costs limiting the number of people who get a chance to go to college. College today has become a major investment (Slemrod, 252). With the rising costs of living more people who are willing to enter college are unable to do so or drop out before finishing their course. The middle earners have been mostly affected compared to other classes. True. Markets can fail due to a number of reasons which results in the value of goods produced is lower than the value of goods unproduced. There are four types of market failures which include public goods, externalities, imperfect information and market control. Public good market failure occurs because the nonpaying consumers cannot be excluded from consumption. Because of the large number of non-payers, the value of the goods produced reduces (Mazzucato, 65). Market failure from market control arises due to limited completion of the suppliers and this affects the demand and supply price. Externalities can also cause market failure by making the demand and supply price not to reflect the cost of production. Imperfect information also causes the supply price and demand price to be in disparity. This implies that the market price does not reflect the actual value of the product. It is that it is the key role of the government to address market failures. This is because there are no other interventions that can work to reverse market failures. The government can intervene by either direct government involvement in terms of production or provision in case of public goods (Slemrod, 321).

Science Fiction Film Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Science Fiction Film - Research Paper Example Science fiction is the source of entertainment as well as effective way of conveying message to the society. According to Sobchack "science fiction cinema is an important source to understand the history of spatial and temporal transformation of the city as it has been experienced by the spectators in USA, from the 1950’s to the present, from modernism to postmodernism." (Vivian Sobchack 1999) Animal Ethics: Man is supposed to be the most powerful animal in the world. Of course his power lies in his intellectuality and most advanced brain. Being most powerful animal of the planet, he started assuming that he has a right to exploit flora and fauna of the earth. He has forgotten the ethics of behaving with animals and plants, which are the inseparable elements of our eco system and our planet. Animals and other living things on the earth are being used by man for his selfish deeds. While using them, he even does not think about their emotions. The animals are being used in film productions, circuses, for food testing, for experiments etc. They are harassed by the man. Prior to technological advancement, the hobby of the medieval people was hunting. In India innumerable wild animals were hunted just for the hobbies of princes, kings, and people from rich and royal families which culminated into the extinction of animals like Chitah. After scientific revolution the entertainment habits changed but animal harassment still continued. Movies became the major and influential source of entertainment. The animals are frequently used in films. The film producer tries to be close to authenticity. Hence in many films the animals are used. To represent the animal character on screen, the animals are exploited. During the shot, the director cannot tell the animals to act in a certain way. The animals on the other hand are provoked so that they would behave in a certain way. Sometimes they are terrified. At that time it is not their acting but the real terror they feel during the shot. If there is a shot of falling of animals, it is not manipulated fall but real fall in which they are injured and their pains are real. These animals are treated like slaves. Sometimes if it is a demand of the script, they are too often killed on screen for effective cinematography. Number of films has killed animals for the sake of the authentic cinematography. The animals such as horses, apes, pigs, cows, birds and many more animals are killed. Some films who used the animals are Godard’s Weekend, Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, Inarritu’s Babel, Haneke’s Cache etc. When the use of animals is on rampant the film Planet of Apes really shows a very sensible approach of not using animals even in the roles of animals. Almost all the non human roles are played by the human beings. Our research paper discusses the protocols related to the treatment given to the animals by human beings. These protocols are discussed by comparing two films which are b ased on animal world. First movie is â€Å"The Planet of Apes† (Franklin J. Schaffner 1968) and 12 Monkeys (Terry Gilliam 1995). The Planet of Apes is reviewed by some

Explore Shakespeares presentation of love in As You Like It Essay Example for Free

Explore Shakespeares presentation of love in As You Like It Essay Love has always been a foremost feature of the plays written by William Shakespeare and As You Like It is no exception with love regularly being represented throughout the play in a variety of ways. Just like in Shakespeares other works As You Like It is also broken down in to a main plot, which is then accompanied by smaller sub-plots that are scattered thorughout the play. Shakerspeare along with the play As You Like It skillfully uses these plots well to demonstrate various types of love. One variety of love that Shakespeare anylyses deeply is that of courtly love, whose ideas featured heavily around the fact that love brings suffering and agony to the lover and the theory that the male lover is controlled by his mistress to whom he must adhere to. Courtly Love had become a popular subject to write about during Shakespeares Elizabethan period and was also strongly evident in english literature for centuries previously. The concept of pastoral romance is also expressed in As You Like It , in which characters in rural countryside areas appear to act freely and joyfully , and this causes relationships to revel successfully and contently. In other words Pastoral romance seems to betray the countryside in stories as some sort of catalyst speeding up the progress and success of overall relationships. On the other hand life in the court seems to lack this optimism and instead living in developed areas (towns, villages, cities etc) seems to damage love between characters due to the stress and demand of court life. This type of romance is also strongly associated with disguise and the thought of characters falling in love with the opposite sex even when in disguise. The love in Shakespeares plays was recognised by the public of the Elizabethan period who had a good understanding about how genuine and pure love was between characters along with a good perception of the characters personalities (such as social status) just through the language they spoke during the play. The relationships in As You Like It are tested in one way or another, as most have to overcome obstacles and problems in order to succeed The particular relationships we see in the play symbolize and highlight the variant types of love that William Shakespeare wishes to explore. For example the familial love between the brothers of Orlando and Oliver, Duke Frederick and Duke Senior are emphasized due to the fact that both relationships are struggling and are under much tension when in normal circumstances you would presume this type of Familial relationship to prosper solidily, but alternatively have crumbled consistently. The relationship amid Orlando and his eldest borther, Oliver has reached an even more dire state, due to the recent event of their father Sir Rowland de Boys tragically dying for reasons unknown to us. Since this death of Sir Rowland de Boys Oliver and Orlando have been at conflict over the acts of Oliver who is restricting Orlando from receiving a gentlemans education even though their father had wished him to have one. Both characters deal with this issue by becoming heated and ill-tempered towards each other. This is shown in Act 1 Scene 1 where Oliver says: Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain? Oliver and Orlandos relationship changes significantly during the course of the play and it is seen that the countryside and its links to pastoral romance are responsible for the reformation of their relationship. This is true because the turning point of their complex relationship takes place in the countryside to where Orlandos act of decency, (when he saves Olivers life from a viscous Lioness) provokes Oliver to want to become a more amiable person. Also the romantic relationships of the brothers between Rosalind and Celia respectfully seems to show that the concept of pastoral romance is functioning between them and therefore causing them to be more loving people. Understandably this friendly environment causes their own familial relationship to blossom. This transformation in their relationship is represented well when Oliver is delivering Orlandos bloody handkerchief to Ganymede in Act 4 Scene 2. In this scene he confesses about his shameful past by saying: Twas I, but tis not I. I do not shame To tell you what I was, since my conversion So sweetly tastes, being the thing I am. This indicates that he is aware that he was in the wrong before, but now values and loves his younger brother, even more so that he obeyed Orlandos order to deliver his handkerchief. Another familial relationship present in the play is that of Duke Senior and his younger brother Duke Frederick. This particular relationship is struggling due to the fact that Duke Senior has been exiled from the court by his usurping brother Duke Frederick. This unjustified act by Duke Frederick has left the two distant and bitter towards each other. This is shown in Act 2 Scene 3 when Duke Frederick is in the process of exiling Rosalind, the daughter of the banished Duke Senior. Duke Fredericks tells Rosalind the reason for her being exiled is because: Thou art thy fathers daughter. Theres enough. This shows that there is obviously some hatred between the two brothers, especially on Duke Fredericks part. Duke Senior and Duke Frederick react to this conflict in contrasting ways. Duke Senior seems to make the most out of the situation he has found himself in to positive effect. He does this to an extent that hes actually enjoying life away from the court. On the other hand Duke Frederick deals with their dispute by becoming heated and showing irrational behavior (This is shown when out of blue he aggressively orders Rosalind to leave the court and even goes as far as saying he will kill her if she was not to obey) in play. The hatred of Duke Frederick towards Duke Senior is incredibly similar to that of Oliver towards to Orlando, in that there seems to be no obvious reason for why they should detest their brothers so much. But just like Oliver and Orlando, Duke Frederick and Duke Seniors relationships turns around positively in the latter stages of the play. This turn of events is due to the remarkable change of mind from Duke Frederick who persuaded by an old religious man on the outskirts of the forest to not invade the Forest of Ardenne decides to conclude his search for his brother. Instead, as were told by Jacques de Boys in Act 5 Scene 4 that he: After some question with him, was converted Both from his enterprise and from the world, His crown bequeathing to his banished brother, And all their lands restored to them again That were with him exiled This act of love shown by Duke Frederick towards Duke Senior and his company could also be due to the powers the countryside possesses through pastoral romance. This could be explained by the way that Duke Frederick has a dramatic change of heart when entering the forest and he also wants to be freed from court life by deciding to join a monastery. A prominent relationship on display in As You Like is between the inseparable cousins that are Rosalind and Celia. This relationship is under strain mainly just because of the complications surrounding their fathers relationship. They have been brought in to the thick of their fathers own personal conflict due to Duke Fredericks antics, referring to him wanting to exile Rosalind and consequently separate Rosalind and Celia. Rosalind and Celia respond to the antics of their fathers positively, by promising to each other that theyll stand by each other religiously through the hard times that are facing them, causing them both to flee from the court together. This united type behavior form the cousins shows the audience that this love is extremely solid and their love for each other is cannot be doubted. This is shown when Celia responds to her fathers actions by saying to Rosalind in Act 1 Scene 3: Prithee, be cheerful. Knowst thou not the duke Hath banished me, his daughter? Furthermore Rosalind and Celia decide to overcome their complications by fleeing to the Forest of Ardenne to find refuge. This seems to work dividends, as when they are in the forest the pair seems more relaxed and joyful than they were when they were generating tentative feelings back at the court. This is shown through the way they act more freely and seem more comfortable expressing their views on topics than they were in the court. They also becoming more suspect to falling in love, and this shows in the way they fall in love with Orlando and Oliver. All this makes one presume that pastoral romance is in progress with this pair. A different type of alliance is show using Adam the servant and Orlando in the play As You Like It. Between these two characters is dutiful love shown from both sides. The obstacle that this exact relationships faces is down to the misbehavior shown from Orlandos brother Oliver, who Adam says is plotting to kill Orlando. The pair then address this situation in the same way as Celia and Rosalind did, by escaping in to the forest. This is where Adams dutiful love is evident when he swears allegiance to Orlando in Act 2 Scene 3 by saying: Here is the gold. All this I give you. Let me be your servant. Theses words are very strong, as Adam shows he will give Orlando everything he has even his fortunes just so that Orlando is able to be content and safe. Further on in the play Orlando also shows loyalty pointing to Adam. This dutiful love is expressed in the way Orlando carries Adam in to shelter and vows to find his poorly servant food; he even makes a fool of himself in front of Duke Senior and his Lords purely in attempting to find his loyal servant some much-needed food. This dutiful love shown on Orlandos part can be seen in the way he tells Adam in Act 2 Scene 6: Come, I will bear thee to some shelter, and thou shalt not die for lack of a dinner if there live anything in this desert Once again you can say that the concept of pastoral romance has left this pair living happily ever after as it looks to have solved all their problems, which they have now left at the court. A different relationship represented in As You Like It is that of Silvius and Phoebe. In this relationship the love is not shared from Phoebe in contrast to Silvius who seems to be suffering much grief and pain due to his immense and obsessive love for Phoebe. Both characters face their dispute concerning their conflicting views by becoming frustrated, Silvius because he cannot obtain Phoebes love and Phoebe because of Silvius constant pleas for her to welcome his fondness for her. The evidence to show that Phoebe does not show the same affection for Silvius can be seen when she comments on how much shed rather not be in a romantic relationship with Silvius in Act 3 Scene 5 by saying to Celia (dressed as Ganymede): Sweet youth, I pray you chide a year together. I had rather hear you chide than this man woo. This idea that Silvius is suffering thanks to the elements of love is very similar to the objectives of courtly love. Obviously this situation proves problematic for it to be possible for Silviuss and Pheobes relationship to advance, but a few twists occurring at the end of the play enable this couple to surprisingly tie the knot. The events which engineer Silvius and Phoebe to come together can be argued to be thanks to the pastoral romance theme, which is seen on a frequent basis in this play. This is true as pastoral romance is well known for its characters in disguise and its the disguise of Rosalind (Ganymede) that actually plays the vital role in bringing Silvius and Phoebe together. Thanks to Rosalinds slyness Silvius finally is able to be with Phoebe and it seems that she shows some genuine affection towards Silvius. This is noticeable when she says in Act 5 Scene 4 to Silvius: I will not eat my word. Now thou art mine, Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine. A relationship that does not develop until the tail end of the play As You Like It is between that of Oliver and Celia. Celia who is dressed up as Aliena looks to fall in love with Oliver at first sight and these provides an ironic end for the character Celia in the play. This is an accurate observation, because during the play Celia is seen teasing her dear friend Rosalind about the hastiness about her love for Orlando. This is another classic example of how pastoral romance is a striking feature of the play, because even though Celia has been ridiculing Rosalind love for Orlando it seems that even she is eventually bewitched by the powers of the countryside air and decides to marry a man whom she has just met. A unique relationship in the play is that of Pheobe and Ganymede. This is correct, as Phoebe is falling for Rosalind in disguise, without being informed. The relationship between these two characters is a clear example of the courtly love evident in As You Like It, because of the agony and frustration, which Pheobe endures due to her love Ganymede. Ganymede reacts to Phoebe;s attempts to win her heart by saying in Act 3 Scene 5: I pray you, do not fall in love with me, For I am falser than vows made in wine. This dismissal of Phoebes love on Ganymedes part shows that Ganymede has no interest in Phoebe at all, but despite this in true courtly love fashion Phoebes decides to persist with her quest to win Ganymedes heart. In the end their relationship disintergrates when Phoebe says in Act 5 Scene 4: If sight and shape be true, Why then, my love adieu. The most influential relationship in the whole of the play is beyond doubt that of between Rosalind and Orlando. This is true, as this relationship seems to dictate the course of the storyline. This relationship falls down heavily in to the elements of stereotypical pastoral romantic stories. This is correct, as Orlando seems to endure a lot of agony and pain over the course of the play..I will finish this later In conclusion I believe Shakespeare has shown us that men actually behave in the same way as women when in love. The evidence ot prove this is the behaviour of most characters in the play. Most of these characters endure large amounts of suffering

Wrestling Ring :: essays research papers

Around the Ring   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the beginning of time man has competed for supremacy, and in today’s time nothing has changed, just how the game is played. Professional Wrestling dates back to the early 1900’s and late 1800’s. The biggest wrestling corporation that many fans can relate to is the World Wrestling Federation. The WWF is a huge corporation but is only one of many and independent circuits across the nation are much smaller than the WWF. Explain and show just how wrestling as a sport from the early to mid 1900’s until present time has gone from wrestling to â€Å"wrasslin†, and from classic takedowns to phenomenal finishers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wrestling began to get big in the United states in early 1920’s, wrestling didn’t have that gigantic following, it was more of a regional market. Wrestling promoters kept their shows in the region mainly of where their wrestlers were located. Vince McMahon Sr. founded the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and began to put shows together in the New York area around. This established wrestlers like â€Å"Classy† Freddie Blassie, â€Å"Gorgeous† George, Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sam Martini . These where the guys when wrestling was the real deal, when they could battle it out for the right to be called the best in the world, or in the northern region under the WWWF.. Madison Square garden was a common location for the WWWF to put on a show and because of this wrestling began to grow in popularity in the late 40’s early 50’s. Madison Square Garden at the time was one of the most played in venue’s, pro basketball, boxing, and yes, now wrestling. Wrestling was increasingly popular in New York during the time of Vince Sr. operating the company (Metzler 13). Wrestling gates (ticket prices) where increasingly higher than they had been five years before, and the fan base was continuing to grow, until the American public got a new hero. The cowboy hit the wrestling world very hard, taking its fans and turning them away from the wrestling world. Cowboy shows destroyed american wrestling in the eyes of the public on TV. Wrestling would continue to suffer until â€Å"Vince McMahon Jr. would buy the company from his father and turn it into a international phenomenon overnight† (BTM).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wrestling became a industry when Vince Jr. took over as the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) became the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the late 1970’s with Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Andre the Giant, Iron Sheik, â€Å"The Million Dollar Man† Ted Dibiase, Ricky â€Å"The Dragonâ€Å" Steamboat, and â€Å"Nature Boy† Ric Flair .

Rider to the Sea as a Tragedy

Riders to the sea as a Tragedy Drama must excite, startle, thrill and shake us. Such effects cannot be produced by a play which is lacking in conflict. The conflict in a tragic play may be between human beings pulling in different directions, between a character and the environment in which he finds himself or the society of which he is a member. Riders to the Sea succeeds in representing human sufferings which raises pity and fear among us and makes us to decide that the play is a great one in its tragic appeal. The tragic theme of Riders to the Sea moves round with the deep pathos of a mother Maurya.The tragedy of the play is simple and straight- forward, but sublime and universal in its penetrative appeal. The play brings out the utter tragedy of humanity, pitted against the violent force of a cold, unrelenting, natural element- the sea. The sea assumes here almost the role of fate and becomes instrumental to human suffering and death. Riders to the sea is indeed a great tragedy i n its representation of human suffering and cathartic appeal. There are two views on the tragic vision of life. One is that man is the play- thing of inscrutable power called fate and another is that character is responsible for the tragic end.In Greek tragedies, tragic fate for the heroes is predetermined. Oedipus and Antigone become obstinate and tyrannical. Their tragedy is due to their over confidence in their respective attitudes. In this light, we see Riders to the Sea as a suitable combination of Greek and Shakespearean tragedies. The sea is a force of Nature over which nobody has any control. Opposing the sea, and opposed by the sea, are the members of the community living on the island which serves as the setting for this play. The human opponents of the sea in this play are Bartley, his sisters Cathleen and Nora, and his mother Maurya.These human opponents operate on three levels. Bartley must sell his horses at the Galway fair. His sisters seem to have a sacrificial proph etic function. Maurya speaks two great elegies for the dead, and the dead are not only members of her own family, not only members of the island community of Aran, but of the whole world. Man’s conflict with the sea, and woman’s loss, is archetypal; it is everywhere in myth, legend, history, from the Greek Anthology to Lycidas. The people living on the Aran Islands must remain constantly aware of the sea, its menace, its moods, and also its help because it is both the giver and the taker of life.It is the giver of life because the people of the island earn their livelihood partly by catching fish from the sea and collecting wea-weed from the sea-shore; and it is the taker of life because people perish in it. The conflict between the sea and the human characters is indicated at the very outset when we are told about the drowning of a man in the far north and about the shirt and the stocking which were got off that man’s body. If these items of clothing belonged t o Maurya’s son. Michael, then she is to be told that he had got a clean burial.Thus, when the play opens, the sea has already robbed Maurya of one of her sons. The next step is Bartley’s decision to cross over to the mainland in order to sell a couple of horses. Cathleen feels concerned about the weather on the sea, especially when Nora informs her that there is a great roaring in the west, and that it will get worse when the tide has turned to the wind. Maurya feels even more concerned about the weather, and she wants that Bartley should not go this day when the wind is raising the sea and there was a star up against the moon during the night.As Bartley is firm about going, Maurya makes the gloomy forecast that he would be drowned like the rest. When he is actually gone, she wails: â€Å"He’s gone now, and when the black night is falling I’ll have no son left me in the world. † The climax comes when dead body of Bartley is brought to the house and when Cathleen is told by one of the visiting woman that Bartley had been knocked down into the sea by the grey pony and that he had been swept away by a huge wave towards the white rocks. On learning of Bartley’s drowning, Maurya appropriately says: They’re all gone now, and there isn’t anything more the sea can do to me. † There will be no need for Maurya to feel any anxiety about anybody in future because the sea has already taken away from her all her men-folk Thus the sea proves to be a victor in this everlasting struggle between man and the sea. Maurya is, of course, the great loser in the battle, but she is not to be regarded as a single woman who has to bear the brunt of the sea. Maurya represents the whole community living on this island.

Examine the argument that neighbourly relations are always characterised Essay

The requirement to be friendly but without undermining the privacy of others, different spaces where neighbouring takes place. For example if a neighbour is busy at the front garden might do a quick chat, but never thinking of knocking on their front door. People don’t normally sit in the front of their home because they see it to public, more like in the back garden. Like Kate Fox says refer it as the grey area In her book called Watching the English: The hidden rules of English Behaviour Fox wrote that in 2004, who is a social anthropologist. Some neighbours may pass one another and a have a quick hi, chat, and some don’t bother with each other. Most properties in the UK have distinct physical boundaries, for example, borders, hedges, fences or walls, most people respect these boundaries. We have them as a protection from others around us, so we can sit or sunbathe without onlookers, if someone were to pop their head over our fence this would, to most, be seen as intrusion. Many people have a relationship with their neighbours, most of them keeping a distance, not becoming too friendly, maybe borrowing a power tool or signing for a parcel and dropping it round when they finish work. Willmott, 1986, said neighbours are expected to have a ‘general disposition towards friendliness’ while, at the same time, respecting others ‘need for privacy and reserve’. This suggest the general feeling towards how a neighbour should be is friendly when seen but to respect the privacy and need for space. Identify the argument that neighbourly relations are characterised by friendly distance. Before I identify the argument that neighbourly relations are characterised by friendly distance, I want to explore what neighbourly relations are, their responsibilities, how and why they act in a particular but also whether it’s the same throughout the world. During the 1800s there was a rapid change in where people lived. In the first half of the century,  the population of England and Wales doubled from nearly 9 million to almost 18 million. Meanwhile the population living in large towns increased from1.5 million to 15million. England experienced the full force and development of urbanisation. These changes of where people live also influenced how people lived. The historian Briggs (1990) described heaving, industrial Manchester as the ‘shock city’ in the 1830s. Among all the changes experienced with urbanisation some of these changes included the intensity of people liv ing together ay greater densities than ever experienced in the countryside, people had new associations with boundaries and a different grasp of ‘public’ and ‘private’ space. But more importantly they had to learn how to be a neighbour in a city. The boundaries between ‘public’ and ‘private’ are still evident in cities today. Kate Fox describes it as the ‘geography of neighbouring’. In every community there is an informal negotiation of space which establishes the daily functioning of the neighbourhood. Boundaries and communal junctions are places of interaction and for exchanges of pleasantries. Jovan Byford explains that most interactions occur over a boundary, a fence or in a public space like a street instead of in a personal private domain. Harris and Gale (2004) conducted a study to examine neighbourly relations and they found the trend that most interviewees explained that if they go out of the house and see other neighbours they will chat but do not necessarily go to each other’s houses.

The Story and Lyrics Behind The First Noel in French

The Story and Lyrics Behind The First Noel in French Aujourdhui le Roi des Cieux is the French version of The First Noel. The two are sung to the same tune, but the words are different. The translation given here is the literal translation of the Christmas carol Aujourdhui le Roi des Cieux. The song has been covered by a variety of popular French artists, including Michaà «l, but the French version of The First Noel is most commonly sung today by a church and lay choirs.   The History of The First Noel   The First Noel very likely began as a song that was passed along orally and sung in the streets outside of churches, since early Christian congregants participated little in the Catholic mass. The term Noà «l  in the French version (Noel in English) apparently  derives from a Latin word for news. Thus, the song is about a crier, in this case, an angel, spreading the good news that Jesus Christ (le Roi des Cieux) is born.   Although thought to be a 18th-century English carol, the  structure of The First Noel resembles that of medieval French epic poems, chansons de geste  like La Chanson de Roland memorializing the Charlemagne legends; these poems were likewise not written down. The song was not transcribed until 1823 when it was published in London as part of an early anthology called  Some Ancient Christmas Carols. The English title appears in The Cornish Songbook (1929), which could mean The First Noel originated in Cornwall, situated across the Channel from France.   Christmas hymns, on the other hand, were written down as early as the 4th century A.D. in the form of  Latin songs glorifying the concept of Jesus Christ as the son of God, an important element of orthodox Christian theology at the time.  Many hymns were drawn, for instance, from the 12  long poems of the fourth-century Roman poet and jurist Aurelius Clemens  Prudentius. French Lyrics and English Translation Here is the French version of The First Noel and the English translation:Aujourdhui le Roi des Cieux au milieu de la nuitVoulut naà ®tre chez nous de la Vierge MariePour sauver le genre humain, larracher au pà ©chà ©Ramener au Seigneur ses enfants à ©garà ©s.Today the King of Heaven in the middle of the nightWas born on Earth of the Virgin MaryTo save the human race, pull it from sinReturn the Lords lost children to him.Noà «l, Noà «l, Noà «l, Noà «l Jà ©sus est nà ©, chantons Noà «l  !Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelJesus is born, let us sing Noel!En ces lieux durant la nuit demeuraient les bergersQui gardaient leurs troupeaux dans les champs de Judà ©eOr, un ange du Seigneur apparut dans les cieuxEt la gloire de Dieu resplendit autour deux.In these parts during the night stayed the shepherdsWho kept their flocks in Judeas fieldsNow, an angel of the Lord appeared in the skiesAnd the glory of God glowed around them.RefrainRefrainLange dit :  « Ne craignez pas ; soyez tous dans la joieUn Sauveur vous est nà ©, cest le Christ, votre RoiPrà ¨s dici, vous trouverez dans là ©table, couchà ©Dun lange emmaillotà ©, un enfant nouveau-nà ©Ã‚  Ã‚ ».The angel said, Do not fear; everyone be joyfulA Savior is born to you, its Christ, your KingNearby, you will find in the stable, put to bedWrapped up in a flannel blanket, a newborn child.RefrainRefrain

Article Review Essay Example for Free

Article Review Essay The article, School Counseling Outcome: A Meta-Analytic Explanation of Interventions, written by Whiston, S., Tai, W., Rahardja, D., and Eder, K. is research done to show if certain interventions and techniques used by school counselors are effective. The article discussed two types of studies, one with controlled comparisons and another involving pre and posttest differences. The article began with the history of counseling and the model counselors are using. Campbell and Dahir’s (as cited in Whiston, Tai, Rahardja, & Eder, 2011), â€Å"specified that school counselors should coordinate a program that facilitates academic, career, and personal social development†. Many schools and counselors have been following Gysber’s and Henderson’s model which has four program components supported by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). They include guidance curriculum, individual planning, responsive services, and system support. There has been limited research done on these components to conclude if the interventions are effective. â€Å"A major problem with the reviews of school counseling is that they are not able to indicate the degree to which school counseling interventions influence student outcome† (Whiston, Tai, Rahardja, & Eder (2011). In the article there were some major strengths and gains. There was evidence that specific interventions work with certain groups. The research also supports the need for school counselor to be more involved with all students, since there is a positive effect when students have been working with a guidance counselor. Yet, we still need more  research in the elementary level to see how we can support the younger students more effectively. There were also some major limitations noted about the study. This included not having enough supported information on how the interventions or treatments were conducted, missing valuable information, not having reliable standardized assessments, not following up to see how the interventions helped, and the study was done with only specific interventions. They also concluded that there were specific gains in certain areas, but could not identify how they got those results. The conclusions of the studies indicate that students who receive services from a counselor scored higher on standardized test. Counseling also helped with discipline, problem solving, and career knowledge compared to students not receiving any interventions. This shows the importance of having a school counselor and the role they play in making a difference in the lives they touch. Both studies indicated the â€Å"effectiveness of a balance approach to school counseling that provides a guidance curriculum to all students and responsive services that respond to students’ issues† (Whiston, Tai, Rahardja, & Eder, 2011). In this study we can see how important a school counselor is to students facing difficult issues. It is noted how some interventions can help a student be successful with academics, social interactions, and behavior. After reading this article I can see how effective counseling can be for all students. As an elementary teacher I will try to use a strategic comprehensive guidance program and data to guide my instruction. Using information from teachers, parents and administration I can plan my lessons to better meet the needs of students. Following up with students and keeping data on interventions will be a priority. References: Whiston, S. C., Tai, W., Rahardja, D., & Eder, K. (2011). School counseling outcome: A meta†analytic examination of interventions. Journal Of Counseling & Development, 89(1), 37-55. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2011.tb00059.x Article Review. (2016, Apr 23). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

Spending a Single Day at the Beach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Spending a Single Day at the Beach - Essay Example Located on Padre Island, Texas, the longest barrier island in the world, the beach area near Bob Hall Pier is unique in its ability to both relax and excite at the same time. This is because of its soft white sands, its range of surprising wildlife and an element of danger. The beach near Bob Hall Pier is first characterized by very fine white sand. This sand is generally very soft and very fine, almost like dust, thanks to the high winds the area often gets. This fine sand drifts across the roadways in beautiful, wave-like sheets that give the invisible breeze a face. Anything standing within this blowing dust receives a fine ash-toned coating. It brings with it the faint taste of salt from the nearby ocean and leaves a gritty feeling between the teeth. Because the sand is so fine, it causes no pain when it strikes, feeling instead like a soft brush of feathers against the skin. Only when the wind is particularly brisk does it feel any different. Taking a closer look at the scenery reveals all kinds of surprising wildlife in spite of the barren appearance. Seagulls are present everywhere, but the gulls here are called ‘laughing gulls’ because of the unreserved laughing sound that is their call. There are also sandpipers and other shorebirds stomping their orange stick-like legs like jackhammers against the wet sand trying to find the eerie white ghost shrimp hiding just below the surface. Sand crabs can be sung out of the ground and sit patiently listening like a human audience in an amphitheatre until someone makes a sudden move. Then these small, light-brown colored crabs scuttle quickly into their dark holes. The thick, green railroad vines make the reason for their name clear in the criss-crossing tracks they make on the sand and can add a splash of vibrant purple color to the beach atmosphere.