The Drought Of Ancient Israel - 1538 Words

To have a drought in ancient Israel would spell suffering for all of the people; droughts were not uncommon in the region, and the situation could quickly lead to a dire famine. Scholars are uncertain of the length of the drought but there is some indication that the drought lasted three years, and it was an absolute dry spell of abnormal length. It does not rain in the region during the summer, it only rains October through March. However, with it being a hilly region closed to the Mediterranean Sea, heavy dew fall for most of the year is an important source of moisture. THUS, DEW NOT FALL EXCEPT AT MY COMMAND. The water drying up every summer was a consistent worry and a â€Å"natural terror.† God brought his people out of slavery in Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey as his convent gift, but their ability to enjoy this blessing of their Lord depended on how loyal the people of Israel were to the covenant. A drought effectively takes away the promised milk and honey, it’s the Lord’s way of disciplining Israel’s rebellion. A drought initiated by the Lord was not simply a physical and financial punishment, it was a clear â€Å"sign of God’s displeasure and a call to repentance.† While Elijah first claims the power of the Israelite’s God, he then demonstrates in verses two through seven that he is a true servant following his master’s word. Readers are shown Elijah’s faithfulness. In the second verse, â€Å"the word of the Lord came to Elijah† and he moves into the desertShow MoreRelatedElijah The Prophet By Elijah1099 Words   |  5 PagesProphet I have decided to write my Old Testament essay on the mysterious prophet Elijah. According to the bible, in the book of Kings, Elijah was not only a devoted prophet of God, but he also served as a worker who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel, under King Ahab’s reign. Elijah is remembered for his remarkable faith and devotion to God. In writing this essay, I will tell the story of one the many adventures that occurred in Elijah s lifetime. Of course, there are so many alterations andRead MoreSolomon s Strengths And Weaknesses1150 Words   |  5 Pageswisdom that God bestowed upon him due to his obedience. My beliefs of this type of commitment are that God granted him specific skills to allow him to be knowledgeable to build and oversee this mission. King Solomon desired for the people of the Israel descendants to pray or repent for God to accept their apology for their shortcoming or sins and those they would try to serve him in a more honest manner. Their belief of th ese modifications within their lifestyle would have permitted them to hearRead MoreDeath and Afterlife in Ancient Egyptian Society and the Mesopotamian Society746 Words   |  3 PagesDeath and Afterlife in Ancient Egyptian Society and the Mesopotamian Society There were many ways that the Ancient Egyptian society and the Mesopotamian society were similar yet at the same time they were very different. Egyptians and Sumerians agreed on religion in a sense that both cultures were polytheistic. However, the relationships between the gods and goddesses were different between the Sumerians and Egyptians. This essay will discuss those differences in culture, religion and theRead MoreThe Birthplace Of Christianity : Israel1367 Words   |  6 PagesI chose to do my project on Israel to learn more about the birthplace of Christianity. Israel is approximately 8,550 square miles. Israel has very fertile and mountainous land around the Middle East and their population is 7,821,850. Israel can be ran North to South in 2 days and East to West in 2 hours. Some of Israel’s important rivers are the Jordan, Qishon, Yarqon, and the Yarmuk River. The Jordan River forms part of the country’s eastern border, separating Israel and the West Ban k from the JordanRead MoreThe Book Of Joel Is A Negative Impact On Christians And Their Theology From The Old Testament999 Words   |  4 Pageswritten after the conclusion of the Babylonian exile , although some scholars still argue a pre-exilic dating on Joel’s work and lifetime. Nevertheless, according to the majority, Joel’s writing falls in a time of devastation amidst a locust plague, drought and a period of diaspora caused by the exile wherein many of the Jews were dispersed from their homeland. The book of Joel takes the form of apocalyptic literature: writing that is full of symbolism and code. This form of writing is also appliedRead MoreWhat Is River Linking?1508 Words   |  7 PagesThis reduces the flow of fresh river water into the sea. According to (Patkar, 2004) he says, â€Å"It is regarded to be the mother of all projects, interlinking of waterways is estimated as the one and the only remedy to all standard water issues – droughts and flooding. With this there are also expected socio-economic and environmental effects as well as the powerful issues of the careful people†. What are the advantages and disadvantages of river linking? ADVANTAGES: †¢ Irrigation With success ofRead MoreSolomon s Strengths And Weaknesses2198 Words   |  9 Pageswisdom that God bestowed upon him due to his obedience. My beliefs of this type of commitment are that God granted him specific skills to allow him to be knowledgeable to build and oversee this mission. King Solomon desired for the people of the Israel descendants to pray or repent for God to accept their apology for their shortcoming or sins and those they would try to serve him in a more heartfelt manner. Their belief of these modifications within their lifestyle would have permitted them to hearRead MoreEssay on Code of Hammurabi and the Book of Exodus3201 Words   |  13 Pagespicture of the differences between the two cultures. The Code of Hammurabi is presented as a body of laws produced as the result of single event in which Hammurabi was given divine right to create and enforce the laws of the land. The laws of ancient Israel seem to have been created over the period of the Israelitesâ⠂¬â„¢ wandering through the desert after the Exodus. (Avalos 616) This is not to say that the Code of Hammurabi is an original work by Hammurabi; many of the laws in the Code of HammurabiRead MoreInterpreting Archaeology And Historical Texts Essay1951 Words   |  8 Pages Another difficulty is the tactic of interpreting ancient artifacts and documents with modern concepts, contemporary understandings of the past; this can elude to the composition of a narrative by the means of interpreting insufficient data. The approach of these shreds of evidence (artifacts or texts) pose difficulty when studying the Hebrew Scriptures but another concern is the methodology of interpreting language and archeology. The ancient Hebrew these texts were written in had no vowels, thusRead MoreBiblical Allusions In The Grapes Of Wrath1717 Words   |  7 Pagescreate the image of a family’s journey to California during the Dust Bowl of the early 1900s. Initially, we see the use of biblical allegories through the metaphor of California as the â€Å"promised land† for the Joad family. After the Dust Bowl and drought in Oklahoma that destroyed farming land, the Joad family leave and head towards California, because of the promised job opportunities they would have when they arrived there. During the travels to California and the promised land, both Grandpa and

The Secret River By Kate Grenville And William Shakespeare

How has the Kate Grenville and William Shakespeare used compositional features to express both similar and different ideas of difference and power? The Secret River, set in England and Australia, was written by Kate Grenville in 2006. William Shakespeare’s play Othello was written in 1603 and set in Venice. Kate Grenville and William Shakespeare used compositional features to express both similar and different ideas of difference and power. They have cohesive ideas of power such as the use of structure and symbolism to convey power however, differ in their structure. They both expressed race through the context of the novel, setting, narrative perspective and imagery. However, 17th century english conveyed the idea of difference with greater subtlety than Kate Grenville’s use of modern english . Similarly both texts contain powerful characters, however, these characters are differently placed and different compositional features were used to portray these ideas. Kate Grenville and William Shakespeare expressed ideas of power through representation of objects as well as the structure and society within the text. Both texts express power through gender, race and class through the main characters. Othello, and William Thornhill play the main roles in these two stories however, the decision that lead to the gain or loss of power were sub-characters; Iago and Smasher. As Smasher’s comment â€Å"sterminate them†¦. only thing is we got to have the Hope to get use their† is howShow MoreRelatedBelonging Essay4112 Words   |  17 PagesPrawer, Heat and Dust Winch, Tara June, Swallow the Air Gaita, Raimond, Romulus, My Father Miller, Arthur, The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts Harrison, Jane, Rainbow’s End Luhrmann, Baz, Strictly Ballroom - film De Heer, Rolf, Ten Canoes - film Shakespeare, William, As You Like It Skrzynecki, Peter, Immigrant Chronicle Dickinson, Emily, Selected Poems of Emily Dicksinson Herrick, Steven, The Si mple Gift Baillie, Alan, The China Coin Russell, Willy, Educating Rita Cleven,Vivienne et al (eds), Contemporary

Information and Communication Technologies Free Essays

string(75) " from the industrial type to the so-called â€Å"information wars†\." Chapter 1 Introduction In modern society, most people are familiar with information and communication technologies: ICT is used at home and at work, for personal needs and for study; with their help bills are paid, things are bought and sold, interaction with state structures is carried out – all this and much more is done in the cyberspace. But are many really aware of the importance and danger of cyberthreats? The European Union, for example, is aware of and is doing its utmost to ensure cybersecurity, at least within the EU member states. Commercial enterprises, society, state structures and national security depend on the functioning of information technology and the competent exploitation of a critical information infrastructure; transport, communications, financial services, emergency and utilities rely on reliable, complete and secure information transmitted through this infrastructure. We will write a custom essay sample on Information and Communication Technologies or any similar topic only for you Order Now That is why the problem of cyberspace protection is critically important for the European Union. An incident that causes a violation of such infrastructure or IT systems can lead to serious negative consequences for the functioning of society and the economy. To assist in the organization of the protection of each individual EU member state and the European Union as a whole, the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) was established to deal with the rapid detection, analysis and prevention of cyber incidents, as well as monitoring of the existing situation cases with cyberthreats. ENISA deals with a very wide range of issues: it creates reports on cyberthreats and cyber incidents, produces useful materials for experts in the field of information technology, conducts cyber exercises with the countries of the European Union, organizations and citizens of the EU, interacts with agencies and agencies of the European Union itself, holds meetings and conferences, and much more, but ENISA has not yet fully revealed its potential. Based on this statement, this study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness and construct a scenario for the future development of the agency. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were identified: Identify key terms on cyberspace; Identify the reasons for the establishment, the main goals and objectives of the agency on network and information security; To consider and evaluate the effectiveness of the internal organization of the work of ENISA; Identify the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the practical and scientific activities of the Agency for Network and Information Security; Identify the key factors for building the forecast. Thus, the research question: How an entity such as agency or organization can be effective in providing security in cyberspace? For this study, we can distinguish two chronological frames – the first includes the time from 2004 to 2016 in that part of the work that is devoted to the history of the creation of the agency and the evolution of its goals, tasks and internal structure; second include the period from 2014 to 2016 in that part of the work that is devoted to the direct activities of ENISA. Since the full package of documents on the results of the year from the approximate time to us is only for 2014, for 2015 there are only partial data in free access and for 2016 there is only a work program available – a full package of documents will allow us to view the agency’s performance in 2014 by comparing the planned tasks and their immediate execution, and the analysis of documents for 2015 and 2016 permits third degree of confidence in the agency, its development and predict the possible prospects of its development. The object of this study is the cybersecurity of the European Union, and the subject is the European Network and Information Security Agency.Scientific novelty lies in the fact that for this study was derived its definition of â€Å"cyberspace†, which, in the author’s opinion, is the most complete reflection of all levels in it. Moreover, this study builds an independent scenario for the future development of ENISA.This work is based primarily on sources of internal organization of the work of the agency and its activities. The most important source is the charter of the agency for network and information security. In addition, an important European document is the convention on cybersecurity signed in 2001. The second most important for this study was the European cybersecurity strategy â€Å"Open, secure and reliable cyberspace†, as it provides the vector for the movement in the field of providing secure cyberspace. ? Chapter 2 Literature Review 2.1. Formation of the concepts â€Å"cyberspace† and â€Å"cyberthreat†. In the early 1990s, English sociologist E. Giddens proposed the theory of â€Å"reflexive modernization† of society, the main position of which is the idea of an increasing organization of society (Beck, Giddens Lash, 1994). Modernization of society implies, firstly, an increase in the chances of choice for all members of a given society, which they implement under certain conditions, and secondly, the growth of reflexivity, which, according to Giddens, collects and processes information necessary for the adoption of various kinds â€Å"If today we choose our religion according to our personal beliefs, then we need information about other religions to make a choice,† Webster writes. There is a certain program: gathering information, conducting its analysis, making decisions based on possible risks. In a society where such a scheme exists, there will always be a high demand for information, caused by the desire to control the situation at all levels – from the political to the personal. First, at the state level, the collection and processing of information become important factors, since the main goals that cannot be overcome. To this end, the most complex systems, which by means of special computer technologies are engaged in continuous verification of the environment in all spheres of society. An example is the American system Echelon, which deals with â€Å"e-mail and facsimile mail forwarding †¦ and stores in its memory 5 trillion pages of text† (Webster, 2002). Secondly, computer technologies are widely used in the military sphere. In the new information society, the type of warfare has changed: from the industrial type to the so-called â€Å"information wars†. You read "Information and Communication Technologies" in category "Papers" The main differences between the new type of war are the automation of control systems over the dispersed armed forces of the state (in cases where it is important for the state to present information in a favorable light for itself). According to Webster, to carry out a new type of war, the most modern technologies and means of protecting them are needed, careful planning of counterstrikes which, for example, is assisted by programmable weapon systems, simulation of the situation by means of computer visualization programs and system analysis (2002). Proceeding from this, the information war is, in fact, pre-programmed, because the most rapid response to a military act that contributes only to the computer, which is used in the conduct of this war. In addition, the use of information and communication technologies in the strategic sector of the economy, for example, the use of an automated milling machine in production. All of the above findings lead to the conclusion that cyberspace is becoming a kind of new â€Å"battlefield† for modern nation states. The core concepts and our understanding of international relations have its roots a decade or two back in history, which is why there created on the presumption that countries are suitable bodies in global politics, and that agreements between countries will decrease the possibility of attack and conflict. Alike historic view appreciates, takes into account the national borders and considers the cross border violation as a special case (Choucri Goldsmith, 2012). However, few critical characteristics of the cyberspace do not go along with the historic view, it has formed a new way to complicate the tension in the world and modern options to prevent conflict. Nowadays, the modern conflicts that are based on cyberspace are happening, everything from â€Å"transnational crime and espionage to cyberwar that could disrupt military systems, shut down government servers, or damage critical infrastructure† (Choucri Goldsmith, 2012).In addition, citizens of countries unite increasingly use the Internet for individual needs. According to the report of European Commission on 2015 on cybersecurity, 60% of EU citizens use the Internet daily for personal use (compared to 2013, the increase was 6%) and about 14% use the Internet about 5 times a week, and only 9% do not have a home Internet at all (Table 1). In general, the number of Internet users (both for personal and work needs) the growth has increased, and the percentage of people without access to the Internet has decreased, and the percentage of people who do not use the Internet has also decreased (Table 1). In addition, the percentage of people using social networks, making purchases via the Internet and using Internet banking services, has increased (Table 2). This growing trend has also led to increased public anxiety about security in cyberspace. According to the report, most EU citizens are concerned about the abuse of their personal data of third parties and the safety of online transactions with funds. In order to protect themselves from cyberthreats, the most popular of them are installing anti-virus and ignoring strange content sent to the mail or in social networks. However, it seems strange that only 38% of people try not to spread personal information about themselves to the network for their safety. Although this can be explained by the fact that the percentage of people who believe that websites and the state protect any personal information has increased (For example, there is a â€Å"shift† of responsibility for the safety of data from their shoulders to others) (Table 3). But it is worth noting that in this case there arises a certain â€Å"security dilemma†: if a state or organization takes up careful protection of personal data of users, first of all they will require full access to any personal information for themselves (they will need to know what exactly protect). Will not this lead to a loss of freedom? That is the dilemma: to ensure a high level of security, one must sacrifice personal freedom and vice versa. It is possible that a certain percentage of the citizens of the European Union are ready to sacrifice this freedom, since the percentage of people who understand the danger of cyberthreats has nevertheless grown by an average of 1.5% over the previous year, hence people are increasingly aware of the importance of this sphere (Table 4). Thus, we observe that cyberspace has become an integral part of our society – the economy, public administration, people’s daily lives and social interaction depend on the proper operation of information and communication technologies. That is why special attention should be paid to the protection of cyberspace from cybercrime of various kinds: abuse of frequent information, malicious activity, cyberterrorism, etc. At the same time, cybersecurity cannot be fully implemented by only one country and requires international cooperation, since the cybersphere has neither state, nor any other borders. â€Å"Cybersecurity is a global problem that requires a global response,† said N. Kroes, EU Commissioner for Digital Policy, in her speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos (2013). Cybersecurity has become the object of growing concern and attention right after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in New York, when it was determined that terrorists used the Internet for negotiations, intelligence, research purposes and dissemination of their propaganda. But the state immediately encountered a problem that hampered and hampered so far fruitful cooperation – no one can form a single definition of the term â€Å"cyberspace†, at least on the level of whether cyberspace is considered only the environment of the World Wide Web, or in cyberspace, various computer technologies and networks that connect them. This research could form its notion of cyberspace as difficult to understand an environment that does not have a physical form, created through the interaction of people, software and the Internet with the help of electricity, special equipment and networks associated with them. The above definitions formed the basis for understanding cyberspace for this study, and cybersecurity will be considered as the absence of threats in cyberspace.Based on the definition of cyberspace given above, you can see that the cybersphere is not homogeneous and has several levels on which it exists. David Clark, an American scientist in the field of informatics, applied a systemic approach and derived the very â€Å"levels of cyberspace† (2010): Physical level – that is, physical devices that are the â€Å"foundation† of cyberspace: it’s PCs and servers, â€Å"supercomputers† and power systems, satellites, sensors, as well as other technical connectors (wired and wireless). Thus, at this level, cyberspace has some geographical location and is subject to the national jurisdiction of any state; The logical level is the code, the platform that provides the â€Å"nature† of cyberspace; Information level – it is about information that is stored, transmitted and transformed in cyberspace; Social level – people who directly transform the nature of cyberspace as a result of its use. How to cite Information and Communication Technologies, Papers

An Insight into the Bureau of Alcohol free essay sample

Following Its formation, the TAFT changed Its name to encompass its responsibilities, ending anally as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after President George W. Bush signed the Homeland Security Act of 2002 in regards to the 9/1 1 attacks. This act also shifted the TAFT from the Treasury department to the Justice department and gave the organization Jurisdiction over all explosive related occurrences. The name of the organization makes it obvious that it is comprised of three divisions: alcohol and tobacco, firearms, and explosives. The TAFT oversees almost all of the actions that coincide with their dullness. Its responsibilities Include: he Investigation and prevention of federal offenses Involving the unlawful use, manufacture, and possession of firearms and explosives, acts of arson and bombings, and illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco products. Additionally, with licensing, the TAFT regulates: the sales, possession, and transportation of firearms, ammunition, and explosives in interstate commerce (TAFT, 1). We will write a custom essay sample on An Insight into the Bureau of Alcohol or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page From all of its duties we can see that the organization has a significant impact on the united States economy.Whether It Is the regulation of the sales and distribution of tobacco, alcohol and firearms, or the retention from harm we can see the economy alter In response to the actions of this organization. Critics argue both ways concerning the Tufts actions. The TAFT has made some decisions that have benefited the economy, while at the same time they have made some that have stirred controversy. All three of the Tufts divisions are influential in united States economic affairs. The first of which is the alcohol and tobacco division.This divisions main focus Is to prevent illicit activity dealing with alcohol and tobacco. This Dillon Is seen to have the most noticeable Impact on the economy due to the magnitude of the distribution of tobacco and alcohol within the united States. The second division focuses entirely on firearms in hopes of reducing the amount of crime that involve the use of a firearm. The firearm division is very busy, with the rising number of gun-related deaths in the United States, the division must solve a number a complex problems.The third and final division deals with arson and explosives. This Dillon enforces the Federal laws and regulations regarding explosives and arson. Together these dullness work to prevent terrorism, educe violent crime, and protect our Nation. Just as with the firearm division, this division is seeing an increased level of activity due to the rising issue of terrorism occurring within the United States. Following the attacks of 9/1 1 the masses became more aware of the dangers that a terrorist can inflict upon a nation.The TAFT now has the responsibility of helping to provide a safer future for many (TAFT, 1). And eliminate criminal and terrorist organizations by identifying, investigating and arresting offenders who traffic in contraband cigarettes and illegal liquor. In order to o this they conduct financial investigations to seize and deny access to assets and funds utilized by criminal enterprises and terrorist organizations. By stopping the flow of illegal alcohol and tobacco the TAFT significantly reduces tax revenue losses to the United States.The alcohol and tobacco division also influences the economy by preventing criminal encroachment of the legitimate alcohol and tobacco industries by organizations trafficking in counterfeit or contraband cigarettes and illegal liquor. This creates more business for the alcohol and tobacco industries of the United States. The bureau also assists local, state, and other Federal law enforcement and tax agencies to make sure that the trafficking of illegal alcohol and tobacco is thoroughly monitored on all levels of government (TAFT, 1).The bureau has also decreased tax revenue loss to the United States by regulating online cigarette sales. The passing of the Jenkins Act has played a crucial part in the monitoring of online cigarette sales. The Jenkins Act requires any person who sells and ships cigarettes across a state line to a buyer, other than a licensed distri butor, o report the sale to the buyers state tobacco tax administrator. The act establishes misdemeanors penalties for violation. Compliance with this federal law by cigarette sellers enables states to collect cigarette excise taxes from consumers.However, some state and federal officials are concerned that as internet cigarette sales continue to grow, particularly as states cigarette taxes increase, so will the amount of lost state tax revenue due to noncompliance with the Jenkins Act (Wisped, 6). The second division of the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives eels with firearms. The Bureau is responsible for regulating firearm commerce in the United States. The TAFT also recognizes the role that firearms play in violent crimes and pursues an integrated regulatory and enforcement strategy.Enforcement strategies focus on armed violent offenders and career criminals, narcotics traffickers, Marco-terrorists, violent gangs, and domestic and international arms traffickers (TAFT, 1). One of the main actions of the TAFT right now is concentrating its energies on prosecuting previously convicted felons who have been discovered with weapons (Tract, 4). By cutting down on the international flow of illegal weapons into the United States, the TAFT creates legal business for people who cannot illegally obtain a firearm, but have premises for conducting business or collecting firearms, by issuing Federal Firearms Licenses.The Bureau issues these Federal Firearms Licenses (FL) to sellers, and conducts firearms licensee inspections. A Federal Firearms License is a license that enables an individual or a company to engage in a business pertaining to the manufacture of firearms and ammunition or the interstate and intrastate sale of firearms. The business to be conducted under the license can not be prohibited by State or local law in the place where the licensed premise is located (Wisped, 6). Application fees also apply for a Federal Firearms License. Basic fees range fro m $30 for a collectors license to $250 for a manufacturers license of firearms. Application fees for destructive devices can be up to $3,000, which is surely beneficial to the economy (Wisped, 6). Additional fees also apply for renewal of any Federal Firearms License. The third division of the TAFT focuses on arson and Federal laws and regulations regarding arson and explosives. They use many methods to regulate arson and explosives in the United States. One such method the TAFT uses is a canine unit. The bureaus explosives detection canine unit has been conditioned to detect explosives, explosives residue, and post blast evidence.They can also detect firearms and ammunition hidden in containers and vehicles, on persons and buried underground (TAFT, 1). With the assistance of support systems such as the National Response Team, Explosives Technology Branch, TAFT Laboratories, Certified Explosives Specialists, and the TAFT Firearms Branch and Tracing Center, the TAFT canine program is producing a viable tool to assist law enforcement with their war on violent crime. Another method used by the explosives division of the TAFT is the Bomb Arson Tracking System, or BATS. The purpose of BATS is to develop a comprehensive incident based information sharing system.For the first time, law enforcement agencies and investigators of national arson and explosives related incidents were able to share real-time information in a nationally secure system. BATS is solely dedicated to fire and post-blast incidents and also offers members of the Bomb Squad community the ability to see real-time data about improvised explosive and incendiary devices that are used throughout the country (TAFT, 1). These methods not only protect the public and reduce viol ent crime, but they contribute to a stable economy. A threat to the public can also be a threat to the economy, as we have seen in the past. The World Trade Center disaster in 2001, not only claimed many American lives, but also devastated the American economy. The destruction of the World Trade Centers made some companies cease to exist. This occurrence created a large number of problems concerning the trade flow. By preventing other similar acts the TAFT looks over the welfare of the American public and the American economy. One TAFT attribute that deserves special recognition is its system of laboratories. This idea of TAFT laboratories dates back to the development of the TAFT itself in 1886.The labs provide an extensive amount of support for the divisions. It is made up of 100 professionals working in four laboratories in three cities. Each lab provides an extensive amount of services. Theses services include: alcohol and tobacco, arson, explosives, trace evidence comparisons, questioned document examination, fingerprint examination, firearm and toolmaker examination, fire research laboratory, automated ballistic identification, national response team, training, research and customer service. Many groundbreaking events have occurred in these labs.Two of them include when: in 1975 an ink dating technique was developed to detect fraudulent written documents, and in 1998 when the TAFT deployed their first mobile laboratory, which was designed to allow examination of evidence at the scene of a fire or explosion. In the fiscal year of 2006 the laboratories have: analyzed 64 samples related to alcohol and tobacco diversion, processed 3086 forensic cases, spent 171 days providing expert testimony in the courts, spent 242 days at crime scenes , and spent 371 days providing training to Federal, State and local investigators and examiners (TAFT, 1).Without the support of these laboratories, the TAFT would not be able to provide the level of service that it does today. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has done an exemplary Job with supporting the economy by minimizing crime. Throughout their existence they have shut down a very large firearm distributor, Elitists Gun Shop, after linking many of the sales to acts of violence. The TAFT traced about 2,300 firearms to Elitists between March 1, 2002, and March 7, 2007. Of those guns, 127 were linked to murder investigations, and 517 were part of inquiries into drug-related crimes.More than 90 percent of the guns were recovered in Louisiana (Hunter, 2). This seizure effected many aspects of the economy. A large amount of money was taken out of circulation, and criminal activity was decreased in many ways. Another example of the Tufts efforts in minimizing crime can be seen when they seized thousands of warheads for shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles and numerous high explosives in Roswell, NM, at David Haddam defense contracting company (New York Times, 3). This is a huge minimization of weapons off the streets. These warheads may have been the tools in some plot involving terrorism. They may have been used to blow up major buildings that keep the United States government running efficiently. There are many ways that these warheads could have damaged the United States economy, but with hem in government control due to the actions of the TAFT, no one has to worry. There are however, ways people see the TAFT as abusing the general welfare of the public by using ruthless action. Many people state that TAFT officials lie in court in order to either seize property, or put gun owners/distributors in Jail (WEEPING, 5). The most famous incident that spurred controversy regarding the TAFT is what is known as the Waco Siege. On February 28, 1993, the TAFT attempted to execute a search warrant at the Branch Deviant ranch at Mount Carmela, a property located nine miles east- reheats of Waco, Texas. An exchange of gunfire resulted in the deaths of four agents and six Davidson. After the initial raid, the TAFT came under heavy criticism for proceeding with their actions, despite being aware that the Davidson knew of the offensive and of the months-long surveillance of Mount Carmela.Some critics ask why the TAFT agents disregarded a direct invitation given months before the initial assault, in which a leader of the facility, David Shores spoke with the agents by phone and asked that they come talk with him about their concerns. Additionally, there is introverts over what the exact content of the original search warrants were (Wisped, 6). The researchers believe that the TAFT is a vital component in the pro tection and function ability of the United States economy. They see criticism pointed at the TAFT as minute in comparison to the good that the organization does. Alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives must all be monitored and dealt with because they are items that the masses deal with each day. If strict regulations and investigations were not carried out in regards to these issues much violence and economic instability would be present. The TAFT continues to grow in a direct relationship with technology. The better the technology that the TAFT has at its disposable, the more efficient their research and investigations will become.

Something To Remember Essays - Frown, Psychological Manipulation

Something To Remember No man is worth your tears and the only one who is, will never make you cry. If you love someone, put their name in a circle, instead of a heart, because hearts can break, but circles go on forever! Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say! If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd be at the bottom to catch them! Don't frown, because you never know who's falling in love with your smile ! If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone. But, it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Enthusiasm is contagious. You could start an epidemic! Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future. Today is a gift, that is why we call it the present. Poetry Essays

#8220;Compare and Contrast Essay Sample on Canada Vs the USA #8220;

#8220;Compare and Contrast Essay Sample on Canada Vs the USA #8220; Both Canada and the USA have governments that seem to work quite well, amidst their differences. While the USA is a republic, Canada is a constitutional monarchy, and both are based on the ideas of democracy. However, they are different in many ways, and each government has it’s share of better methods than the other. For example, the USA has a definite term of office set for the president, 4 years, so that the president will know when he is done, and elections do not come as a surprise to the citizens. In Canada, the Prime Minister may sit for up to 5 years, calling an election any time he/she wants, from his/her first day in office, until the day before their last day in office. This can come as a surprise to the public, leaving them unprepared for an election. This is one of the ways that makes the USA system seem better than the Canadian. However, with the exact date known well in advance, campaigns in the USA start over a year ahead of the election, which can be quite ann oying to many people. Canadian campaigns last for only 50 days. The Canadian system does have it’s strong points, as well. In the USA, presidents may only be in office for a maximum of 10 years with the rare possibility that their predecessor is no longer able to run the country, during a term. In most cases, the maximum is 8 years per president, in 2 terms. This is not a very good system, if a president that is liked by all and makes decisions well is kept in office for 8 years, he is no longer allowed to be the president, no matter how much he’s liked. In Canada, there is no limit on how much a leader may be Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister proves himself to be a very good leader, he will be kept in office for as long as needed. If the Prime minister proves to be a bad leader, they will not be re-elected. The parties keep or replace leaders as they see fit, and the voters have the final word. The Americans have the better model for choosing government representatives, however. In an American election, the voters will vote on both the president and vice president, to ensure that they are who the people want. In Canada, we only indirectly vote for our prime minister, who then chooses his own staff all by himself, most likely all will be members of his own party. Canadians also have a better separation system between the highest levels of government, as well. When the voters in America elect a head of government, they are also electing the head of state. This one person is the president, who occupies both titles. In Canada, the head of state is the Queen and the Governor General, who are above the differences between the parties. They are there just to be the monarch, not to get involved with all the different ideologies of the political parties. In the USA, the president will be either republican or democratic, which does not bode well for the patriotic symbol of head of state. If there’s blame to be had, the American’s don’t know who did what, there are different parties in the different branches, and each branch blames the other. In Canada, it will always be the government party, so that the voters know for certain who did it. I can’t say for certain which government system I believe is better. Each country has different strengths and weaknesses, which balance each other out quite nicely. Canadian voters are more involved in government decisions, but lack the involvement in who is running the government, the Prime Minister appoints his staff. America lets their voters get more involved in choosing their leaders, but they cannot determine who to blame when something goes wrong. If I had to choose between them for sure, I believe I would choose Canada as the better government. Canada has a few poor qualities, such as the prime minister having immense power, but they can be made up for simply, such as choosing a prime minister that everyone can trust. You can order custom essays, term papers, research papers, dissertations and thesis papers on Canada and the USA from our professional custom writing service. Here is a list of the most popular essay writing topics on Canada: French Immigration in Canada with special view to the 17th century Canada should allow more foreigners to become Canadians The Gap Between the Rich and Poor in Canada The Four Most Significant individuals in Canadian History The place of Quebec in Canada is at the heart of the debate on constitutional reform but is not the only source of discontent within the Canadian federal system Should Canada strengthen its ties with America Multiculturalism in Canada Canadas political system Legislatures in Canada and the United States Refugee children in Canada: Searching for Identity SHOULD CANADA HAVE DEATH PENALTY Gun control in Canada Japanese Canadians in Canada Copyright Laws In Canada Renewable Resource Research in Canada Canadas great depression Terrorism in canada Marijuana: Should it be legalized in Canada? Social Issues in Canada

Fortune-Telling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fortune-Telling - Essay Example Some of the people at the carnival were suspicious of fortune-tellers and as they walked past the booths they made fun of the gypsies. 9. One gypsy explained that telling fortunes was less about helping others' lives than to make his own living. One gypsy explained that telling fortunes had more to do with making a living than it had to do with helping others. 10. Fortune-telling is difficult to categorize because it is neither a science, art, or religion. Fortunte-telling is difficult to categorize because it is not a science, an art, or a religion. Combine sentences and expand the sentences with details to add interest and variety. 1. Washington is the only state named after a president. Many cities and counties are named after presidents. Many cities and counties are named after president, but only one state is named after a president: Washington. 2. California is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. There are many islands, waterways, and rivers not to mention the evergreen forests near the coast. California may be bordered by the Pacific Ocean, but many islands, rivers, and forests can be still found near the coast. 3. The car battery would not start. The battery was dead. I called a tow truck. I called a tow truck since the battery was dead and the car would not start. 4. She was not like her sister in fact they were total opposites. She was nothing like her sister; they were total opposites, in fact. 5. Ricky Martin will remain my favorite singer although he has fallen out of fashion and I think he is terrific. He has done some free concerts for good causes too. Although he has fallen out of fashion, Ricky Martin is still my favorite singer both because he is a terrific vocalist and because he... 8. Holly was told she was going to be a beauty someday. At sixteen she was thin. She was severe. She wore thick glasses down on her nose. Her shoulder bones showed through her shirt. They seemed to puncture her skin. Holly had a severe appearance characterized by being so thin that her shoulder bones seemed to puncture right through her skin. Despite the fact that her shoulder bones actually showed through her shirt and the fact that she wore thick glasses that continually slipped down her nose, she was told she would one day be beautiful.

McDonald and the Stella Liebeck Scalding Case Study

McDonald and the Stella Liebeck Scalding - Case Study Example McDonalds further maintained that this temperature was essential in maintaining optimum taste in the coffee, a feature most customers â€Å"prefer† to their safety. The court, while holding that McDonalds was largely responsible for the burns Stella Liebeck received from the scalding coffee moved to acknowledge that the plaintiff was partly responsible for her injuries. They based this decision on comparative negligence and the fact that the warning on the coffee was not sufficient. A company should be responsible for most but not all of the consequences of consumers using its products. The first reason why any company should be ware of consumers’ affairs is the fact that consumers are also stakeholders. In the realm of business, in most cases, consumers are secondary stakeholders. However, consumer’s intermittent ability to affect the running of a company (Gibson 245) should not be underestimated, case in point, the Stella Liebeck law suit. As such, accepting th e consequences of its goods and services, a company builds a foundation on which it can make profits while satisfying its customers. Secondly, accepting liability in regard to consumers ensures that the company gains the trust of its consumers. Gaining trust is instrumental when a business seeks a market niche and also to apply strategies such as cost leadership. From the actions of McDonald’s one can see that there is a clear need to fulfill customer needs for profit maximization. An excellent example is keeping the coffee extremely hot to maintain its taste. However, an intriguing concept is the aspect of duty and fiduciary relationship. Scholars hold that the interactions between a consumer and company should not reflect â€Å"a means to an end† character. Therefore, a company should pursue a fiduciary relationship rather than a duty oriented strategy. Fear of lawsuits and a dwindling market position should not be the only reason why a company strives to accept liab ility for its actions. Scholars such as Goodpaster argue that strategic thinking favors prudence rather than moral obligation. Society today is ablaze with ethical debates ranging from euthanasia to the rights of terrorists. The business world is not dormant on issues of ethics. A company by law and social stratification should consider the welfare of all its consumers regardless of the monetary ramifications. Philosophical ethics will argue against the actions of businesses with the claim that the self interest that causes them to pursue moral acts renders the act immoral. Gibson postulates that a company should treat its consumers as more than profit maximization tools thus the deontological approach. At this point, it is imperative to examine a moral act by the company Johnson & Johnson. In 1982, cyanide contaminated batch of its capsules killing more than half a dozen individuals. This led them to acknowledge fault, pull out 32 million bottles of the presumed contaminated produc t from the market and face crippling loses. However, after a while the company built its name again and regained its market position. This is what Gibson christens the bottom line. Despite the motive behind an action, the result is that both stakeholders were happy. McDonald fails in that it fails to accept rightful responsibility especially when the plaintiff requested medical

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 26

Research Paper Example However, marked differences can be observed between the film adaptation and the original short story despite both of them being based on similar subjects. This paper will attempt to highlight the differences between the two - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Sleepy Hollow – and will try to compare the two based on elements including plot, characterization, and theme. It is quite common that books being adapted into films lack consistency. While the author may have chosen to present the story line in a different manner, there are many aspects of the story that are not retained during film making. Similar is the case with the film, Sleepy Hollow, which although follows largely the same story line, but differs on the basis of several aspects. The plot for a large part follows the similar super natural scheme as the original short story. The para-normality is one aspect of the original plot that is particularly retained including the use of the same time period. This adds a tinge of horror in the film. For the most part, the plot is changed where Ichabod works in forensics as part of the police while the original story depicted Ichabod as a teacher. This change significantly affects the story line where Ichabod instead of being stupefied becomes determined to find the truth behind the horse rider. The story is extended to include the depiction that the headless horse rider is actually a ghost of a mercenary who died during the revolutionary war. Then follows a story where Ichabod attempts to uncover the truth behind the apparition of the headless horse rider. The change in the story line produced several changes into the characterization of Ichabod, Brom, Katrina, and the inclusion of other characters. In the short story, Ichabod’s character is displayed as having many flaws despite being a strong character. Ichabod while

Importance of Petroleum to the Economy

Importance of Petroleum to the Economy Petroleum became important during the mid -1800s with the increased use of petroleum products such as kerosene for light. The industry soon started growing and the market was introduced with automobile and the internal combustion engine. Petroleum Exporting Countries Organisation (OPEC), a multinational organization has been established to co-ordinate the petroleum policies of its member and to provide the member states with technical and economic aid. [2] The price of petroleum as quoted in news generally refers to the spot price per barrel (159 liters) of either WTI/light crude as traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) for delivery at Cushing, Oklahoma, or of Brent as traded on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE, into which the International Petroleum Exchange has been incorporated) for delivery at SullomVoe. [3] The price of a barrel of oil is highly dependent on both its grade, determined by factors such as its specific gravity or API and its sulphur content, and its location. Other important benchmarks include Dubai, Tapis, and the OPEC basket. The Energy Information Administration(EIA) uses the imported refiner acquisition cost, the weighted average cost of all oil imported into the US, as its world oil price. Petroleum products demand has changed drastically in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Each and every second, prices for oil change as they are very volatile. Consumption of petroleum products depends a lot on global macroeconomic conditions and has a positive relationship with economic growth. Higher economic growth implies higher demand for petroleum products. High oil prices generally have a large negative impact on the global economic growth, according to the International Energy Agency. [4] In Mauritius, it is the State Trading Corporation (STC) that imports all of our requirements and hands them over to Oil companies, namely, Shell, Total, Chevron and Indian Oil, for storage and distribution. STC pays for the imports and gets paid when it sells the products to the Oil companies. [5] STC shall operate a Price Stabilization Account for each product in order to shield the market from price fluctuations.Monthly price shocks on commodities crucial to the conduct of economic and social activities ought to be avoided if at all possible. They come in the way of longer-term planning of all economic activities as well as the family budget and therefore affect the country and all its citizens directly. [5] Since 2004, it was the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) which decided the prices in Mauritius. However, numerous weaknesses of this mechanism were seen, creating conflicts between the public and the APM committee. Prices were increasing when it was not necessary, especially when the world market prices were going down and the trend was always price increase after price decrease and so on. Price decreases were falling by a very small percentage and were very rare. [5] To correct this imperfection and the doubts of the public about an unfair pricing mechanism, the APM was replaced by the Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC) whereby the committee will meet once every 4 months to monitor oil purchase and sale, to examine price trends around the world and then decide if prices need to be reviewed or not. [5] Market forces determine the price of petroleum products on the world market. The price at the pump is calculated by STC based on the purchase price, taxes and levies and the profit margins for distributors and retailers. The Petroleum Pricing Committee verifies and approves the processes in a very transparent manner and finally recommends to the Minister for the fixing of the new retail price. Gasoline and Gasoil are expensive even in oil producing countries because of the growing demand in emerging economies such as India and China. When compared to most countries in the world, Mauritius is said not to be that expensive despite the geographical remoteness and the small size of the market. Problem Statement The concept of pricing mechanism of oil and petroleum has often been surrounded with confusion. It is important to understand what different prices really mean. It is necessary to analyse the process of convergence and understand what the spot price really means in the context of oil market, although the futures price often converges to the spot price. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Showkutally Soodhun specifies that the committee will have full opportunity to check all the documents and the truthfulness of the figures and thus ensure that all parameters were taken into account by the previous committee of the APM, that the PPC will work in full transparency while publishing everything on the website of the State Trading Corporation. There will be full details of all elements that come into play in accounting for the fuel prices. However, most people in the country either do not have the required knowledge to use a computer, some do not have a computer at all, and others do not have access to the internet. Many people do not know how the pricing mechanism works. Even if the PPC is said to work in transparency no detailed is made public about the formulae considered in pricing the petroleum products, no cashflows or financial statements are known, the public is not reassured about whether their money are rightly used. The middle class people cannot afford to pay high prices especially when their income is low with most of it going into the basic food necessities. This may create social problems like disputes in the family, domestic violence, increases in social vices like thefts. One important aspect is that other countries may have high taxes on their oil, but this is compensated by their high income and the high value of their currency. Our currency has a really low value, which is why we pay higher prices for petrol, during financial crisis and in periods of inflation. This may lead to economic problems in the near future with lower investments and hence slowing economic growth. Aims and Objectives The aim of this research paper is to decrease the difficulties faced by the population because of the rising prices of petrol and to understand the mismatch of supply and demand situation. A clearer pricing system is required and this study can also help in enhancing the performance of petroleum market in the country. Objective: To make the whole population aware of the petroleum and oil pricing mechanism To change the working principle of the petroleum pricing mechanism To provide alternatives to help decrease the effect of the high petrol price Methodology The target population for the study is the population at large, though higher emphasis is laid on the population owning a vehicle. Every Research Report requires information as the basis for analysis. Information sources can be categorised as either primary or secondary data. Primary data is original data that has been collected by a researcher by whatever means appropriate in the answer of a specific research question. Secondary data is data that has been collected by others for their own purposes, but which may be used by a researcher for his or her different purposes. There are two different types of data that are likely to be collected: qualitative data, such as opinions, and quantitative data such as measurements. Qualitative data include verbal narrative pieces of data; quantitative data are anything that can be measured and expressed in numbers. Quantitative data analysis often contains descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics include measures of central tendency (averages mean, median and mode) and measures of variability about the average (range and standard deviation). These give the reader a picture of the data collected and used in the research project. Inferential statistics are the outcomes of statistical tests, helping deductions to be made from the data collected, to test hypotheses set and relating findings to the sample or population. [6] Questionnaire is usually designed specifically for the study in question. Unlike a test, which yields only a total score, or an inventory, in which each item is interpreted as a part of a scale or group of items, a questionnaire yields many separate pieces of information. Analysis usually consists of tabulation or cross-tabulation of responses to individual itemsrarely are more elaborate procedures used. Questionnaires are most often used direct (person-to-person) contact with respondents is not possible or necessary. It is probably the single most widely-used data source. Some experts have estimated that as many as half the research studies conducted use a questionnaire as a part of the data collection process. Voluntary and informed participation of individuals or communities is necessary for research. Their participation should be based on informed consent; the greater the risk to participants, the greater is the need for it. Informed consent is essential to protect the participants, not the researchers and institutions. The sample size will consist of 50 of working and non-working people and the aim is to pick a representative sample free from bias. A Nonprobability (Convenience) sampling will be chosen. It involves the selection of elements based on assumptions regarding the population of interest, which forms the criteria for selection. Hence, because the selection of elements is nonrandom, nonprobability sampling does not allow the estimation of sampling errors. [7] Convenience sampling is often used for a case study. Convenience sampling (sometimes known as grab or opportunity sampling) is a type of nonprobability sampling which involves the sample being drawn from that part of the population which is close to hand. That is, a sample population selected because it is readily available and convenient. Also, snowballing method would be used to carry out the survey. Scientifically, it is impossible to have ideal samples; the best compromise is to include a sample with widest possible range of variation in the phenomena, settings, or people under study. [8] Data Collection A particular observation technique will be designed for the research topic, describing and discussing the aims of the survey, the nature of the survey (what/who/how/when will be questioned?) and the method of recording (e.g. field notes or using a structured observation schedule). A draft ethics protocol will also be provided (getting informed consent, being honest, not forcing anyone to take part, giving participants the right to withdraw, protecting them from harm, feeding back the results, maintaining confidentiality). The ethics protocol approval should take the form of the document that will be issued to potential participants in order to obtain informed consent, which would cover issues such as confidentiality, right to withdraw, feedback, etc as appropriate. For a QUESTIONNAIRE survey it is often preferable to incorporate the ethical provisions in the introduction to the questionnaire form itself, i.e. telling informants what the project is about (informed consent), giving them the choice not to respond to individual items or the form as a whole (right to withdraw), setting out how feedback may be obtained (debriefing), describing the provisions for confidentiality (particularly if the form is not anonymous), etc. This section of the questionnaire is in effect the ethics protocol and can be submitted for approval. Questionnaire Analysis Each completed form will be numbered after having them back. Then the easy stuff will be sorted out first, i.e. the answers to closed-ended questions which you can simply count in order to give you frequencies According to the design of the questionnaire, the respondents will have to the code by ticking the appropriate number which can then be entered into the spreadsheet. Its not difficult to find out how many respondents gave each sort of answer. These numbers can easily be turned into percentages (showing what percentage of the respondents gave each sort of response). These figures are already very useful as analytical tools. It helps to make sure when designing questionnaire that it is amenable to computer analysis. For quantifiable data, MS Works and Excel spreadsheets will all produce a wide range of computations and forms of presentation such as graphs and charts as well as carrying out some statistical operations. Benefits of Research This research will be useful and helpful to many stakeholders in the country. First of all, the society at large would get to know and understand the procedure behind pricing petroleum and oil. The society benefits in the way that they will get value for money and would not be exploited into paying higher prices for the oil and petrol, in the end, they would have fairness and would know where, why and how their money are being spent. The government as well would benefit from this research since it would help the government officials to have a better idea about how to price the petroleum and oil so as to maximize the benefit of the public. Another benefit would be is that both parties (the government and the public) would know about the expectations of each other and hence would know how to better satisfy those expectations. Also, transport cost forms part of a large percentage in the budget for companies. Investors (both local and foreigners) would be more attracted to invest in the country when the pricing mechanism is clear with lower prices. As a result, there would be more economic growth in the country, standard of living of the population would increase, and unemployment level may fall. The indirect benefits of this research would be decrease in prices of the commodities that the people consume since the reduced transportation cost would lead to lower cost of production. The society would benefit as they would have more income left, their savings in bank may increase, hence the bank would have more loans to give to investors. As a whole investment would increase leading to economic booms. Time plan A Gantt chart is a representation through graphs of the duration of tasks against the progression of time. It is a useful tool when planning and scheduling projects and helpful when monitoring a projects progress. There is a variety of Gantt charts namely the Basic Gantt, Multiple milestones, daily Gantt, Baseline Gantt, Timeline Gantt, Summary Gantt, Stoplight Gantt among others. [9] Summary Introduction Problem statement Aims and objective Methodology Benefits of research Budget analysis 25/03/11 27/03/11 28/03/11 30/03/11 31/03/11 01/04/11 Budget Analysis List of items Estimated cost (Rs) Printing 200 Travelling 325 Internet 600 Telephone bill 150 TOTAL 1275

Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues - Same-sex Marriage, Two Moms or Two Dads :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Two Moms or Two Dads    Over the pas couple of decades American society has undergone some vast changes. The concept of the family has been greatly altered. No longer is such emphasis put on the "traditional" family. A majority of children are being raised in single parent households. Single parent adoption rights have been granted. Now an entirely new sort of family is being disputed. Should gays and lesbians be granted the right to adopt a child? Today's view of gays and lesbians is drastically differen t than it was in the past. As more people "come out of the closet" gays and lesbians are becoming more socially accepted. They currently are battling for equality in a variety of areas. In Hawaii gays and lesbians can be granted marriage righ ts, which was a huge victory until DOMA was passed. The Defense of Marriage Act, otherwise known as DOMA, was a bill proposed by conservative Congressmen and Senator Bob Dole. Dole says, "DOMA defines marriage as between one man and one woman for a ll fede ral purposes (taxes, Social Security, veterans' benefits, etc.) and says that states don't have to pay attention to the Constitution if they don't want to recognize same-sex marriages that are legal in any other state" (Winters 1). President Bill Clinton, who openly expresses his opposition to same-sex marriages, signed the bill making it a law. Gays and lesbians continue to fight. Recently the fights have been centered on adoption. This new dilemma has created quite a stir in society.    It is estimated that the number of children being raised by gay or lesbian parents is between 2 and 6 million. It is extremely hard to get an accurate estimation due to the fact that many gays and lesbias are not open about their family structure. These people do not want to be surveyed for fear of losing their children. In a population where roughly 10% or 25 million people are reported to be homosexual the numbers of those raising children are outstanding (Collum 1).    There are three main ways that gays and lesbians are raising children and acquiring families without the courts becoming involved. The first way, which is also the most common way, is when heterosexual marriages dissolve after one parent apparentl y "comes out. Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues - Same-sex Marriage, Two Moms or Two Dads :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays Two Moms or Two Dads    Over the pas couple of decades American society has undergone some vast changes. The concept of the family has been greatly altered. No longer is such emphasis put on the "traditional" family. A majority of children are being raised in single parent households. Single parent adoption rights have been granted. Now an entirely new sort of family is being disputed. Should gays and lesbians be granted the right to adopt a child? Today's view of gays and lesbians is drastically differen t than it was in the past. As more people "come out of the closet" gays and lesbians are becoming more socially accepted. They currently are battling for equality in a variety of areas. In Hawaii gays and lesbians can be granted marriage righ ts, which was a huge victory until DOMA was passed. The Defense of Marriage Act, otherwise known as DOMA, was a bill proposed by conservative Congressmen and Senator Bob Dole. Dole says, "DOMA defines marriage as between one man and one woman for a ll fede ral purposes (taxes, Social Security, veterans' benefits, etc.) and says that states don't have to pay attention to the Constitution if they don't want to recognize same-sex marriages that are legal in any other state" (Winters 1). President Bill Clinton, who openly expresses his opposition to same-sex marriages, signed the bill making it a law. Gays and lesbians continue to fight. Recently the fights have been centered on adoption. This new dilemma has created quite a stir in society.    It is estimated that the number of children being raised by gay or lesbian parents is between 2 and 6 million. It is extremely hard to get an accurate estimation due to the fact that many gays and lesbias are not open about their family structure. These people do not want to be surveyed for fear of losing their children. In a population where roughly 10% or 25 million people are reported to be homosexual the numbers of those raising children are outstanding (Collum 1).    There are three main ways that gays and lesbians are raising children and acquiring families without the courts becoming involved. The first way, which is also the most common way, is when heterosexual marriages dissolve after one parent apparentl y "comes out.