Looking At The Late Antique World - 963 Words

â€Å"Looking at the Late Antique world,† writes Peter Brown in his seminal work The World of Late Antiquity, â€Å"we are caught between the regretful contemplation of ancient ruins and the excited acclamation of new growth.† Brown’s work covers the years 150-750 AD a period of time too often – and mistakenly – labeled as the â€Å"dark ages.† Brown does not make this mistake. Instead, he challenges what seemed to be a grounded notion that the study of Late Antiquity was one of â€Å"decline and fall.† This was a time of transformation and continuity. Moreover, he moves beyond the narratives of the â€Å"barbarian invasions† that brought about the end of the Roman Empire. There were no barbarian invasions, as they were already gradually becoming Roman. That is, the barbarians had already started to assimilate to Roman culture and, crucially, the Roman Empire did not end with the â€Å"fall of Rome† as its capitol moved East. This is a constant theme running through the works of Brown. Where some historians see decay, he sees growth. Brown was arguing against the works of Mikhail Rostovtzeff and Edward Gibbon. Rostovtzeff evoked a Roman world full of modern economic theory. He used terms such as capitalism and bourgeoisie in his description of the ancient economy (ignoring the fact that they had no conception of these terms, nor did they have a conception of an economy). This led to – and seems to continue today – a debate between â€Å"modernist† and â€Å"primitivist.† While Brown does not deal with thisShow MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1268 Words   |  6 Pages1630’s many Puritans settled in Boston, Massachusetts, from England. The villages where they settled often included houses, a community garden and a meetinghouse where church services were held. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter utilizes the late 1600’s to reflect on how the church would deal with serious issues including adultery. This raises the question: how does Hawthor ne develop characters to express the corruption of the 1600s and the relationship between church and government? ThroughRead MoreSummary Of The Things : A Story Of The Sixties 1524 Words   |  7 PagesCivilizations 1312 Professor Miller 20 April 2015 Freedom in a Consumer Society â€Å"In a world that was theirs it was almost a regulation always to wish for more than you could have.† Such a world had only just arrived during the early nineteen sixties—with a surge in economic output, an increase in the average income, and the commercialization of mass-produced consumer goods—following the Second World War. This was a time during which France, in particular, transitioned from a class-based, limited-consumptionRead MoreThe Byzantine Empire2040 Words   |  9 Pagesa result of the divide of the Roman Empire into two parts; Eastern and Western. The establishment of the new Rome, the great city of Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) even to this day serves as the invisible border between two parts of the old world. A place were Orthodox Christianity and Islam flourished and a place where Western Culture meet the East. However, was the Byzantine Empire truly a match for the greatness of Rome? The majority of the greatest states had a long heritage and builtRead MoreThe Eastern Slope Of The Mingus Mountain1302 Words   |  6 PagesOn the eastern slope of the Mingus Mountain in central Arizona sits the town of Jerome. Starting its life as a mining town in the late 1800’s, Jerome, at one time, was known as the Wickedest Town in the West. Between its bars, brothels, and gambling establishments, Jerome became one of the one of the most accomplished locales in separating miners from their money. With the dawn of the 1900’s, Jerome became more dignified with the establishment of churches, schools, and businesses catering to itsRead MoreSummary Of Hills Like White Elephants 909 Words   |  4 Pagessurrounding hills resemble white elephants. You may think the comment wasn’t unusual, but it really leads towards her talking about her baby and the abortion with the American. Later the girl remembers that comment she once said about the surrounding hills looking like white elephants. This all symbolizes she may want to keep the baby. The girl even said that the hills only seemed to look like white elephants at first glace, and that they’re actually quite lovely. The girl was comparing the hills to her futureRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Lottery By Shirley Jackson1012 Words   |  5 PagesBreak Nyasia Midgette ENGL 102 October 9, 2017 Thesis Statement: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthrone stories, Shirley Jackson encourages her readers to question their beliefs, actions, and the world by creating struggle. Page Break Compare and Contrast – Fiction Essay â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† and â€Å"The Lottery† The authors Shirley Jackson, and Nathaniel Hawthrone in The Lottery and The Young Goodman BrownRead More Henry James’ Portrait of a Lady Essay1273 Words   |  6 Pagesthe future. She performed this journey with sightless eyes and took little pleasure in the countries she traversed, decked out though they were in the richest freshness of spring. Her thoughts followed their course through other countries†¹strange-looking, dimly-lighted, pathless lands, in which there was no change of seasons, but only as it seemed, a perpetual dreariness of winter. She had plenty to think about; but it was neither reflexion nor conscious purpose that filled her mind. DisconnectedRead MoreJap An Electronic Wonderland1240 Words   |  5 Pagesnow stands, to prevent future fires from harming the inner city. This temple was named Chinka Jinja and was built on 30,000 square meters of land (â€Å"Akihabara†). Throughout the eighteenth century, and into the nineteenth, Akihabara was know n for its antique and linen shops before electricity came to Tokyo. Although, once electricity was available in Tokyo, Akihabara began to grow as a commercial district with the help of its location between many shopping and business districts (â€Å"Akihabara†). Its commercialRead MoreHow to Say I Am Sorry in English and Vietnamese1487 Words   |  6 Pages | |American |-Combining an expression of apology with an|- A headmaster of a public school is in hurry and| | |ackowledgment of responsibility and an |not looking where he is going. He runs into the | | |offer of repair is the most frequent |janitor, who is carrying a pile of papers. The | | |strategy employed byRead MoreEssay about Enrico Fermi and the Development of the Atomic Bomb1013 Words   |  5 Pageshave offered more consolatory certitude than religion (Poindexter 50). His early aptitude for physics and mathematics was recognized. After his brothers death, the grieving boy browsed through bookstalls at Campo dei Fion in Rome. He found two antique volumes of elementary physics and carried them home#8230; (154). Fermi read them and corrected some of the mathematics. When finished, he discovered something he had not noticed before. They were written in Latin. Due to Fermis excellent achievement

Digital Fortress Chapter 85-87 Free Essays

string(79) " an NSA back door again would make Greg Hale famous beyond his wildest dreams\." Chapter 85 Greg Hale lay curled on the Node 3 floor. Strathmore and Susan had just dragged him across Crypto and bound his hands and feet with twelve-gauge printer cable from the Node 3 laser-printers. Susan couldn’t get over the artful maneuver the commander had just executed. We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Fortress Chapter 85-87 or any similar topic only for you Order Now He faked the call! Somehow Strathmore had captured Hale, saved Susan, and bought himself the time needed to rewrite Digital Fortress. Susan eyed the bound cryptographer uneasily. Hale was breathing heavily. Strathmore sat on the couch with the Berretta propped awkwardly in his lap. Susan returned her attention to Hale’s terminal and continued her random-string search. Her fourth string search ran its course and came up empty. â€Å"Still no luck.† She sighed. â€Å"We may need to wait for David to find Tankado’s copy.† Strathmore gave her a disapproving look. â€Å"If David fails, and Tankado’s key falls into the wrong hands†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Strathmore didn’t need to finish. Susan understood. Until the Digital Fortress file on the Internet had been replaced with Strathmore’s modified version, Tankado’s pass-key was dangerous. â€Å"After we make the switch,† Strathmore added, â€Å"I don’t care how many pass-keys are floating around; the more the merrier.† He motioned for her to continue searching. â€Å"But until then, we’re playing beat-the-clock.† Susan opened her mouth to acknowledge, but her words were drowned out by a sudden deafening blare. The silence of Crypto was shattered by a warning horn from the sublevels. Susan and Strathmore exchanged startled looks. â€Å"What’s that?† Susan yelled, timing her question between the intermittent bursts. â€Å"TRANSLTR!† Strathmore called back, looking troubled. â€Å"It’s too hot! Maybe Hale was right about the aux power not pulling enough freon.† â€Å"What about the auto-abort?† Strathmore thought a moment, then yelled, â€Å"Something must have shorted.† A yellow siren light spun above the Crypto floor and swept a pulsating glare across his face. â€Å"You better abort!† Susan called. Strathmore nodded. There was no telling what would happen if three million silicon processors overheated and decided to ignite. Strathmore needed to get upstairs to his terminal and abort the Digital Fortress run-particularly before anyone outside of Crypto noticed the trouble and decided to send in the cavalry. Strathmore shot a glance at the still-unconscious Hale. He laid the Berretta on a table near Susan and yelled over the sirens, â€Å"Be right back!† As he disappeared through the hole in the Node 3 wall, Strathmore called over his shoulder, â€Å"And find me that pass-key!† Susan eyed the results of her unproductive pass-key search and hoped Strathmore would hurry up and abort. The noise and lights in Crypto felt like a missile launch. On the floor, Hale began to stir. With each blast of the horn, he winced. Susan surprised herself by grabbing the Berretta. Hale opened his eyes to Susan Fletcher standing over him with the gun leveled at his crotch. â€Å"Where’s the pass-key?† Susan demanded. Hale was having trouble getting his bearings. â€Å"Wh-what happened?† â€Å"You blew it, that’s what happened. Now, where’s the passkey?† Hale tried to move his arms but realized he was tied. His face became taut with panic. â€Å"Let me go!† â€Å"I need the pass-key,† Susan repeated. â€Å"I don’t have it! Let me go!† Hale tried to getup. He could barely roll over. Susan yelled between blasts of the horn. â€Å"You’re North Dakota, and Ensei Tankado gave you a copy of his key. I need it now!† â€Å"You’re crazy!† Hale gasped. â€Å"I’m not North Dakota!† He struggled unsuccessfully to free himself. Susan charged angrily. â€Å"Don’t lie to me. Why the hell is all of North Dakota’s mail in your account?† â€Å"I told you before!† Hale pleaded as the horns blared on. â€Å"I snooped Strathmore! That E-mail in my account was mail I copied out of Strathmore’s account-E-mail COMINT stole from Tankado!† â€Å"Bull! You could never snoop the commander’s account!† â€Å"You don’t understand!† Hale yelled. â€Å"There was already a tap on Strathmore’s account!† Hale delivered his words in short bursts between the sirens. â€Å"Someone else put the tap there. I think it was Director Fontaine! I just piggybacked! You’ve got to believe me! That’s how I found out about his plan to rewrite Digital Fortress! I’ve been reading Strathmore’s brainstorms!† Brain Storms? Susan paused. Strathmore had undoubtedly outlined his plans for Digital Fortress using his BrainStorm software. If anyone had snooped the commander’s account, all the information would have been available†¦ â€Å"Rewriting Digital Fortress is sick!† Hale cried. â€Å"You know damn well what it implies-total NSA access!† The sirens blasted, drowning him out, but Hale was possessed. â€Å"You think we’re ready for that responsibility? You think anyone is? It’s fucking shortsighted! You say our government has the people’s best interests at heart? Great! But what happens when some future government doesn’t have our best interests at heart! This technology is forever!† Susan could barely hear him; the noise in Crypto was deafening. Hale struggled to get free. He looked Susan in the eye and kept yelling. â€Å"How the hell do civilians defend themselves against a police state when the guy at the top has access to all their lines of communication? How do they plan a revolt?† Susan had heard this argument many times. The future-governments argument was a stock EFF complaint. â€Å"Strathmore had to be stopped!† Hale screamed as the sirens blasted. â€Å"I swore I’d do it. That’s what I’ve been doing here all day-watching his account, waiting for him to make his move so I could record the switch in progress. I needed proof-evidence that he’d written in a back door. That’s why I copied all his E-mail into my account. It was evidence that he’d been watching Digital Fortress. I planned to go to the press with the information.† Susan’s heart skipped. Had she heard correctly? Suddenly this did sound like Greg Hale. Was it possible? If Hale had known about Strathmore’s plan to release a tainted version of Digital Fortress, he could wait until the whole world was using it and then drop his bombshell-complete with proof! Susan imagined the headlines: Cryptographer Greg Hale unveils secret U.S. plan to control global information! Was it Skipjack all over? Uncovering an NSA back door again would make Greg Hale famous beyond his wildest dreams. You read "Digital Fortress Chapter 85-87" in category "Essay examples" It would also sink the NSA. She suddenly found herself wondering if maybe Hale was telling the truth. No! she decided. Of course not! Hale continued to plead. â€Å"I aborted your tracer because I thought you were looking for me! I thought you suspected Strathmore was being snooped! I didn’t want you to find the leak and trace it back to me!† It was plausible but unlikely. â€Å"Then why’d you kill Chartrukian?† Susan snapped. â€Å"I didn’t!† Hale screamed over the noise. â€Å"Strathmore was the one who pushed him! I saw the whole thing from downstairs! Chartrukian was about to call the Sys-Secs and ruin Strathmore’s plans for the back door!† Hale’s good, Susan thought. He’s got an angle for everything. â€Å"Let me go!† Hale begged. â€Å"I didn’t do anything!† â€Å"Didn’t do anything?† Susan shouted, wondering what was taking Strathmore so long. â€Å"You and Tankado were holding the NSA hostage. At least until you double-crossed him. Tell me,† she pressed, â€Å"did Tankado really die of a heart attack, or did you have one of your buddies take him out?† â€Å"You’re so blind!† Hale yelled. â€Å"Can’t you see I’m not involved? Untie me! Before Security gets here!† â€Å"Security’s not coming,† she snapped flatly. Hale turned white. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Strathmore faked the phone call.† Hale’s eyes went wide. He seemed momentarily paralyzed. Then he began writhing fiercely. â€Å"Strathmore’ll kill me! I know he will! I know too much!† â€Å"Easy, Greg.† The sirens blared as Hale yelled out, â€Å"But I’m innocent!† â€Å"You’re lying! And I have proof!† Susan strode around the ring of terminals. â€Å"Remember that tracer you aborted?† she asked, arriving at her own terminal. â€Å"I sent it again! Shall we see if it’s back yet?† Sure enough, on Susan’s screen, a blinking icon alerted her that her tracer had returned. She palmed her mouse and opened the message. This data will seal Hale’s fate, she thought. Hale is North Dakota. The databox opened. Hale is – Susan stopped. The tracer materialized, and Susan stood in stunned silence. There had to be some mistake; the tracer had fingered someone else-a most unlikely person. Susan steadied herself on the terminal and reread the databox before her. It was the same information Strathmore said he’d received when he ran the tracer! Susan had figured Strathmore had made a mistake, but she knew she’d configured the tracer perfectly. And yet the information on the screen was unthinkable: NDAKOTA = [email protected] â€Å"ET?† Susan demanded, her head swimming. â€Å"Ensei Tankado is North Dakota?† It was inconceivable. If the data was correct, Tankado and his partner were the same person. Susan’s thoughts were suddenly disconnected. She wished the blaring horn would stop. Why doesn’t Strathmore turn that damn thing off? Hale twisted on the floor, straining to see Susan. â€Å"What does it say? Tell me!† Susan blocked out Hale and the chaos around her. Ensei Tankado is North Dakota†¦. She reshuffled the pieces trying to make them fit. If Tankado was North Dakota, then he was sending E-mail to himself†¦ which meant North Dakota didn’t exist. Tankado’s partner was a hoax. North Dakota is a ghost, she said to herself. Smoke and mirrors. The ploy was a brilliant one. Apparently Strathmore had been watching only one side of a tennis match. Since the ball kept coming back, he assumed there was someone on the other side of the net. But Tankado had been playing against a wall. He had been proclaiming the virtues of Digital Fortress in E-mail he’d sent to himself. He had written letters, sent them to an anonymous remailer, and a few hours later, the remailer had sent them right back to him. Now, Susan realized, it was all so obvious. Tankado had wanted the commander to snoop him†¦ he’d wanted him to read the E-mail. Ensei Tankado had created an imaginary insurance policy without ever having to trust another soul with his pass-key. Of course, to make the whole farce seem authentic, Tankado had used a secret account†¦ just secret enough to allay any suspicions that the whole thing was a setup. Tankado was his own partner. North Dakota did not exist. Ensei Tankado was a one-man show. A one-man show. A terrifying thought gripped Susan. Tankado could have used his fake correspondence to convince Strathmore of just about anything. She remembered her first reaction when Strathmore told her about the unbreakable algorithm. She’d sworn it was impossible. The unsettling potential of the situation settled hard in Susan’s stomach. What proof did they actually have that Tankado had really created Digital Fortress? Only a lot of hype in his E-mail. And of course†¦ TRANSLTR. The computer had been locked in an endless loop for almost twenty hours. Susan knew, however, that there were other programs that could keep TRANSLTR busy that long, programs far easier to create than an unbreakable algorithm. Viruses. The chill swept across her body. But how could a virus get into TRANSLTR? Like a voice from the grave, Phil Chartrukian gave the answer. Strathmore bypassed Gauntlet! In a sickening revelation, Susan grasped the truth. Strathmore had downloaded Tankado’s Digital Fortress file and tried to send it into TRANSLTR to break it. But Gauntlet had rejected the file because it contained dangerous mutation strings. Normally Strathmore would have been concerned, but he had seen Tankado’s E-mail-Mutation strings are the trick! Convinced Digital Fortress was safe to load, Strathmore bypassed Gauntlet’s filters and sent the file into TRANSLTR. Susan could barely speak. â€Å"There is no Digital Fortress,† she choked as the sirens blared on. Slowly, weakly, she leaned against her terminal. Tankado had gone fishing for fools†¦ and the NSA had taken the bait. Then, from upstairs, came a long cry of anguish. It was Strathmore. Chapter 86 Trevor Strathmore was hunched at his desk when Susan arrived breathless at his door. His head was down, his sweaty head glistening in the light of his monitor. The horns on the sublevels blared. Susan raced over to his desk. â€Å"Commander?† Strathmore didn’t move. â€Å"Commander! We’ve got to shut down TRANSLTR! We’ve got a-â€Å" â€Å"He got us,† Strathmore said without looking up. â€Å"Tankado fooled us all†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She could tell by the tone of his voice he understood. All of Tankado’s hype about the unbreakable algorithm†¦ auctioning off the pass-key-it was all an act, a charade. Tankado had tricked the NSA into snooping his mail, tricked them into believing he had a partner, and tricked them into downloading a very dangerous file. â€Å"The mutation strings-† Strathmore faltered. â€Å"I know.† The commander looked up slowly. â€Å"The file I downloaded off the Internet†¦ it was a†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Susan tried to stay calm. All the pieces in the game had shifted. There had never been any unbreakable algorithm-never any Digital Fortress. The file Tankado had posted on the Internet was an encrypted virus, probably sealed with some generic, mass-market encryption algorithm, strong enough to keep everyone out of harm’s way-everyone except the NSA. TRANSLTR had cracked the protective seal and released the virus. â€Å"The mutation strings,† the commander croaked. â€Å"Tankado said they were just part of the algorithm.† Strathmore collapsed back onto his desk. Susan understood the commander’s pain. He had been completely taken in. Tankado had never intended to let any computer company buy his algorithm. There was no algorithm. The whole thing was a charade. Digital Fortress was a ghost, a farce, a piece of bait created to tempt the NSA. Every move Strathmore had made, Tankado had been behind the scenes, pulling the strings. â€Å"I bypassed Gauntlet.† The commander groaned. â€Å"You didn’t know.† Strathmore pounded his fist on his desk. â€Å"I should have known! His screen name, for Christ’s sake! NDAKOTA! Look at it!† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"He’s laughing at us! It’s a goddamn anagram!† Susan puzzled a moment. NDAKOTA is an anagram? She pictured the letters and began reshuffling them in her mind. Ndakota†¦ Kadotan†¦ Oktadan†¦ Tandoka†¦ Her knees went weak. Strathmore was right. It was as plain as day. How could they have missed it? North Dakota wasn’t a reference to the U.S. state at all-it was Tankado rubbing salt in the wound! He’d even sent the NSA a warning, a blatant clue that he himself was NDAKOTA. The letters spelled TANKADO. But the best code-breakers in the world had missed it, just as he had planned. â€Å"Tankado was mocking us,† Strathmore said. â€Å"You’ve got to abort TRANSLTR,† Susan declared. Strathmore stared blankly at the wall. â€Å"Commander. Shut it down! God only knows what’s going on in there!† â€Å"I tried,† Strathmore whispered, sounding as faint as she’d ever heard him. â€Å"What do you mean you tried?† Strathmore rotated his screen toward her. His monitor had dimmed to a strange shade of maroon. At the bottom, the dialogue box showed numerous attempts to shut down TRANSLTR. They were all followed by the same response: SORRY. UNABLE TO ABORT. SORRY. UNABLE TO ABORT. SORRY. UNABLE TO ABORT. Susan felt a chill. Unable to abort? But why? She feared she already knew the answer. So this is Tankado’s revenge? Destroying TRANSLTR! For years Ensei Tankado had wanted the world to know about TRANSLTR, but no one had believed him. So he’d decided to destroy the great beast himself. He’d fought to the death for what he believed-the individual’s right to privacy. Downstairs the sirens blared. â€Å"We’ve got to kill all power,† Susan demanded. â€Å"Now!† Susan knew that if they hurried, they could save the great parallel processing machine. Every computer in the world-from Radio Shack PCs to NASA’s satellite control systems-had a built-in fail-safe for situations like this. It wasn’t a glamorous fix, but it always worked. It was known as â€Å"pulling the plug.† By shutting off the remaining power in Crypto, they could force TRANSLTR to shut down. They could remove the virus later. It would be a simple matter of reformatting TRANSLTR’s hard drives. Reformatting would completely erase the computer’s memory-data, programming, virus, everything. In most cases, reformatting resulted in the loss of thousands of files, sometimes years of work. But TRANSLTR was different-it could be reformatted with virtually no loss at all. Parallel processing machines were designed to think, not to remember. Nothing was actually stored inside TRANSLTR. Once it broke a code, it sent the results to the NSA’s main databank in order to – Susan froze. In a stark instant of realization, she brought her hand to her mouth and muffled a scream. â€Å"The main databank!† Strathmore stared into the darkness, his voice disembodied. He’d apparently already made this realization. â€Å"Yes, Susan. The main databank†¦.† Susan nodded blankly. Tankado used TRANSLTR to put a virus in our main databank. Strathmore motioned sickly to his monitor. Susan returned her gaze to the screen in front of her and looked beneath the dialogue box. Across the bottom of the screen were the words: TELL THE WORLD ABOUT TRANSLTR ONLY THE TRUTH WILL SAVE YOU NOW†¦ Susan felt cold. The nation’s most classified information was stored at the NSA: military communication protocols, SIGINT confirmation codes, identities of foreign spies, blueprints for advanced weaponry, digitized documents, trade agreements-the list was unending. â€Å"Tankado wouldn’t dare!† she declared. â€Å"Corrupting a country’s classified records?† Susan couldn’t believe even Ensei Tankado would dare attack the NSA databank. She stared at his message. ONLY THE TRUTH WILL SAVE YOU NOW â€Å"The truth?† she asked. â€Å"The truth about what?† Strathmore was breathing heavily. â€Å"TRANSLTR,† he croaked. â€Å"The truth about TRANSLTR.† Susan nodded. It made perfect sense. Tankado was forcing the NSA to tell the world about TRANSLTR. It was blackmail after all. He was giving the NSA a choice-either tell the world about TRANSLTR or lose your databank. She stared in awe at the text before her. At the bottom of the screen, a single line was blinked menacingly. ENTER PASS-KEY Staring at the pulsating words, Susan understood-the virus, the pass-key, Tankado’s ring, the ingenious blackmail plot. The pass-key had nothing to do with unlocking an algorithm; it was an antidote. The pass-key stopped the virus. Susan had read a lot about viruses like this-deadly programs that included a built-in cure, a secret key that could be used to deactivate them. Tankado never planned to destroy the NSA databank-he just wanted us go public with TRANSLTR! Then he would give us the pass-key, so we could stop the virus! It was now clear to Susan that Tankado’s plan had gone terribly wrong. He had not planned on dying. He’d planned on sitting in a Spanish bar and listening to the CNN press conference about America’s top-secret code-breaking computer. Then he’d planned on calling Strathmore, reading the pass-key off the ring, and saving the databank in the nick of time. After a good laugh, he’d disappear into oblivion, an EFF hero. Susan pounded her fist on the desk. â€Å"We need that ring! It’s the only pass-key!† She now understood-there was no North Dakota, no second pass-key. Even if the NSA went public with TRANSLTR, Tankado was no longer around to save the day. Strathmore was silent. The situation was more serious than Susan had ever imagined. The most shocking thing of all was that Tankado had allowed it to go this far. He had obviously known what would happen if the NSA didn’t get the ring-and yet, in his final seconds of life, he’d given the ring away. He had deliberately tried to keep it from them. Then again, Susan realized, what could she expect Tankado to do-save the ring for them, when he thought the NSA had killed him? Still, Susan couldn’t believe that Tankado would have allowed this to happen. He was a pacifist. He didn’t want to wreak destruction; all he wanted was to set the record straight. This was about TRANSLTR. This was about everyone’s right to keep a secret. This was about letting the world know that the NSA was listening. Deleting the NSA’s databank was an act of aggression Susan could not imagine Ensei Tankado committing. The sirens pulled her back to reality. Susan eyed the debilitated commander and knew what he was thinking. Not only were his plans for a back door in Digital Fortress shot, but his carelessness had put the NSA on the brink of what could turn out to be the worst security disaster in U.S. history. â€Å"Commander, this is not your fault!† she insisted over the blare of the horns. â€Å"If Tankado hadn’t died, we’d have bargaining power-we’d have options!† But Commander Strathmore heard nothing. His life was over. He’d spent thirty years serving his country. This was supposed to be his moment of glory, his piece de resistance-aback door in the world encryption standard. But instead, he had sent a virus into the main databank of the National Security Agency. There was no way to stop it-not without killing power and erasing every last one of the billions of bytes of irretrievable data. Only the ring could save them, and if David hadn’t found the ring by now†¦ â€Å"I need to shut down TRANSLTR!† Susan took control. â€Å"I’m going down to the sublevels to throw the circuit breaker.† Strathmore turned slowly to face her. He was a broken man. â€Å"I’ll do it,† he croaked. He stood up, stumbling as he tried to slide out from behind his desk. Susan sat him back down. â€Å"No,† she barked. â€Å"I’m going.† Her tone left no room for debate. Strathmore put his face in his hands. â€Å"Okay. Bottom floor. Beside the freon pumps.† Susan spun and headed for the door. Halfway there, she turned and looked back. â€Å"Commander,† she yelled. â€Å"This is not over. We’re not beaten yet. If David finds the ring in time, we can save the databank!† Strathmore said nothing. â€Å"Call the databank!† Susan ordered. â€Å"Warn them about the virus! You’re the deputy director of the NSA. You’re a survivor!† In slow motion, Strathmore looked up. Like a man making the decision of a lifetime, he gave her a tragic nod. Determined, Susan tore into the darkness. Chapter 87 The Vespa lurched into the slow lane of the Carretera de Huelva. It was almost dawn, but there was plenty of traffic-young Sevillians returning from their all-night beach verbenas. A van of teenagers laid on its horn and flew by. Becker’s motorcycle felt like a toy out there on the freeway. A quarter of a mile back, a demolished taxi swerved out onto the freeway in a shower of sparks. As it accelerated, it sideswiped a Peugeot 504 and sent it careening onto the grassy median. Becker passed a freeway marker: SEVILLA CENTRO-2 KM. If he could just reach the cover of downtown, he knew he might have a chance. His speedometer read 60 kilometers per hour. Two minutes to the exit. He knew he didn’t have that long. Somewhere behind him, the taxi was gaining. Becker gazed out at the nearing lights of downtown Seville and prayed he would reach them alive. He was only halfway to the exit when the sound of scraping metal loomed up behind him. He hunched on his bike, wrenching the throttle as far as it would go. There was a muffled gunshot, and a bullet sailed by. Becker cut left, weaving back and forth across the lanes in hopes of buying more time. It was no use. The exit ramp was still three hundred yards when the taxi roared to within a few car lengths behind him. Becker knew that in a matter of seconds he would be either shot or run down. He scanned ahead for any possible escape, but the highway was bounded on both sides by steep gravel slopes. Another shot rang out. Becker made his decision. In a scream of rubber and sparks, he leaned violently to his right and swerved off the road. The bike’s tires hit the bottom of the embankment. Becker strained to keep his balance as the Vespa threw up a cloud of gravel and began fish-tailing its way up the slope. The wheels spun wildly, clawing at the loose earth. The little engine whimpered pathetically as it tried to dig in. Becker urged it on, hoping it wouldn’t stall. He didn’t dare look behind him, certain at any moment the taxi would be skidding to a stop, bullets flying. The bullets never came. Becker’s bike broke over the crest of the hill, and he saw it-the centro. The downtown lights spread out before him like a star-filled sky. He gunned his way through some underbrush and out over the curb. His Vespa suddenly felt faster. The Avenue Luis Montoto seemed to race beneath his tires. The soccer stadium zipped past on the left. He was in the clear. It was then that Becker heard the familiar screech of metal on concrete. He looked up. A hundred yards ahead of him, the taxi came roaring up the exit ramp. It skidded out onto Luis Montoto and accelerated directly toward him. Becker knew he should have felt a surge of panic. But he did not. He knew exactly where he was going. He swerved left on Menendez Pelayo and opened the throttle. The bike lurched across a small park and into the cobblestoned corridor of Mateus Gago-the narrow one-way street that led to the portal of Barrio Santa Cruz. Just a little farther, he thought. The taxi followed, thundering closer. It trailed Becker through the gateway of Santa Cruz, ripping off its side mirror on the narrow archway. Becker knew he had won. Santa Cruz was the oldest section of Seville. It had no roads between the buildings, only mazes of narrow walkways built in Roman times. They were only wide enough for pedestrians and the occasional Moped. Becker had once been lost for hours in the narrow caverns. As Becker accelerated down the final stretch of Mateus Gago, Seville’s eleventh-century Gothic cathedral rose like a mountain before him. Directly beside it, the Giralda tower shot 419 feet skyward into the breaking dawn. This was Santa Cruz, home to the second largest cathedral in the world as well as Seville’s oldest, most pious Catholic families. Becker sped across the stone square. There was a single shot, but it was too late. Becker and his motorcycle disappeared down a tiny passageway-Callita de la Virgen. How to cite Digital Fortress Chapter 85-87, Essay examples

Strategic Role Of HR In Mergers & Acquisitions - Myassignmenthelp

Executive Summary In a merger acquisition, role of an HR has emerged as a very critical function. At each stage of merger and acquisition process, HR plays a strategic role. The importance of role of HR part in integration of the merged companies should not be taken lightly and should be handled very carefully and with due planning. At pre acquisition stage, due diligence should be taken before the start of the process and HR must carve out its role in this due diligence stage. Cultural compatibility should also be considered before taking any decision regarding integration of the two companies. HR should analyze the cultural similarities and differences between the two companies. Communication also plays an important role in the integration process. If HR does not give due diligence while deciding the strategy for integration of the merged companies then it might sabotage the entire merger and might result in failure of the merger. Getting Tired of Never-Ending Assignments? Hire an Expert from MyAssignmenthelp and Get the Necessary Assignment Help at a Reasonable Rate. Title Page The report focuses on the strategic role played by HR in a merger and acquisition. In past it has been seen that role of HR has not been given due importance while taking decisions regarding integration of merged companies. This report highlights the strategic role that HR should play in framing strategy for integration of the merged companies. Introduction In the new global economy, as the rules of business are changing, the rate of growth of Merger and Acquisition has acquired a new pace. According to Mergerstat.com for year-to-date of 2002, there have been 4,363 mergers and acquisitions worth over $291.7 billion. The industry breakdown of the top five is as follows (Mergerstat, 2002) Internet 659 deals worth $ 26.06 billion; Healthcare 319 deals worth $75.25 billion; Telecommunications 187 deals worth $11.53 billion; Banking 146 deals worth $11.04 billion; and Semiconductors 47 deals worth $2.4 billion. However the growth in mergers and acquisitions and activity around the world, the volume of capital at stake, and the frequency of merger and acquisitions stand in stand in sharp contrast to the failure rate which is being observed. Literature Review According to study done by KPMG international on mergers and acquisition found that around 75 percent to 83 percent of the mergers fail (PR Newswire, 1999). Here we mean failure as lowered productivity, labour unrest, higher absenteeism, and the l oss of shareholder value. And in some of the cases, it could also be inferred as the well publicized dissolution of combination of the above mentioned factors. As evident from above, human resources could be easily identified as one of the potential factor in MA failure (A Shin, 2004) (Sthal Mendenhall, 2004) (Weber, Shenkar, Raveh, 1996).With the focus towards integration of human capital during merger and acquisitions, human resource (HR) managers are coming more into the picture, and organisations expect them to play a more strategic role, especially so in the case of extensive organisational changes (Bjorkman Soderberg, 2003). Today this requirement becomes more important in the terms that the past decade has been characterized by t he enormous growth in MA. The role of HR becomes more and more complex, as HR needs to integrate its own practices and also provide for two more roles i.e. a strategic role for companywide integration and a support role for business unit transaction (Galpin Herndon, 2000) Every merger and acquisition can be classified into different categories and the issues which become relevant to it are quite dependent on the organisations which are going through the process, and their synergic dependence. According to one of the studies conducted by Mercer Consulting group, some of the key issues which came out to relevance have been explained in the Figure 1 (Harrison). This study analyzed the process of integration on the basis of degree of difficulty and level of importance. Based on this study, the key point which emerges is that addressing the key employee issues become very important, especially so when the mergers are quite large and are strategically very important for maintaining the competitive advantage. A look at the above figure would definitely show the importance and the onus which lies on the HR Department to take the merger and acquisition to a next level of completion. Discussion Every merger and acquisition leads to the integration of the acquired firm to the culture of the new firm, which basically could be divided in the following four stages: Pre Acquisition Foundation Building Rapid Integration Assimilation Every stage of the integration process is the new way forward for HR department to make the acquisition successful. We would take each stage individually and relate it with the strategy to be followed by the HR department. Pre Acquisition In this stage, HR needs to take due diligence before starting of the activity. Beginning at the start of the process, HR must carve out its role in the due diligence process. The concept to be understood is that due diligence is much more than a financial tool. Its a tool for assessing the value of human assets, which are not shown on balance sheet, so as to determine the true value of the deal and its likelihood of the success. First step which needs to be taken is to identify the key peoples and to take immediate steps to keep them engaged with the organisation, even after the deal has been finalized. This means that each business unit needs to be understood, be it the field organisation of stores or be it the process for sales people. Its very important to keep in mind the importance of the field, which is often overlooked during the integration process. Each key individual should be assessed against a set of clearly defined competencies, which would be based on the needs of the new group. The key areas which emerge for due diligence by HR could be as follows: Culture Employee demographics and Competency Analysis (Based on requirements of new group) Key Talent Analysis Compensation and Benefit structure to be adopted, its measure with the existing company and how does it aligns with the parent company Any legal issues such union contracts, pending employee litigation or workers compensation etc. Methodology Apart from the above mentioned areas, its also important to identify and determine the roles needed and identifying the best people who are most suited for them. Most of the times, pivotal people in the organisation, get lost because staffing decisions are made without any plan, without giving thought to equitable process of assessment, and without taking the future needs of business into consideration. Culture Compatibility An important aspect of the pre acquisition strategy is to understand the similarities and differences between the two companies at the outset, so as to compatibility could be determined at the initial stage itself, and relevant decision regarding merger and acquisition could be taken.A 2006 white paper from the Economist Intelligence Unit revealed that 67 percent of survey respondents pointed to cultural integration as both the most important people issue and the most critical success factor in an MA deal (Bundy Hukins, 2009). More recently, a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit titled MA Beyond Borders: Opportunities and Risk, in conjunction with Mercer, found that organisational culture differences and human capital integration issues ranked as the two most significant challenges faced by respondents in recent transactions. HR could play vital role in this aspect, as its the only function which is equipped enough for determining the compatibility. Some of the key areas whi ch need to be focused during this stage could be as follows: History of the company, its reputation in industry, and its product and services Where does the authority lies within the company, is it bureaucratic or freewheeling etc Emotional element involved i.e. what does the employees think about company, management and future? What employee behaviors are the norm and what values and beliefs are behind those norms? Its imperative to identify the cultural areas of dissonance, so that people can dispel misconceptions and begin creating a culture thats right for the new organisation. If this step is not taken at the onset of the process itself, then its quite possible that it could become major point of conflict at the later stage. Integration Planning Any merger and acquisition would not be able to reach to its goal, unless and until a clear plan and timetable is not assigned to it. The plan needs to be broken down by the different functions: What needs to be done? Whos going to do it? When it will be complete? This means that integration efforts need to be undertaken by a full time dedicated team. There should be fixation of responsibility on an integration project manager, who would be free from all the routine responsibilities. The integration project manager would be requiring a special set of competencies such as program management, broad experience in parent company business, and specific functional expertise relevant to the new business. Hence the primary responsibilities which need to be taken care by HR during this phase would be to: Developing the strategies for retaining people Examining compensation and benefit programs Identifying the barriers to a merged culture Creating and implementing a plan for establishing the communication with the newly merged organisation Findings Based on the above responsibilities, following strategy needs to be adopted by the HR Team during the whole process: The HR team that is in charge of the culture integration must start by building a clear view of the context of change and the rationale behind the MA. It must ensure that all parties have a full and comprehensive understanding of the context of the deal and the outcomes that need to be achieved. Next they need to determine the degree of integration in two parts. First, translate the understanding of the deal in terms of the target operational integration. Second, determine the extent of cultural integration required to achieve that operational integration. Then clarify the specific behaviors required to run the combined business and include a behavioral assessment of each organization and an assessment of their combined future state. Follow this by proposing the culture change hypothesis specifically, what changes in behaviors must take place to successfully run the post-deal business. Next identify the drivers needed to influence those behaviors, design the drivers (initiatives) and then implement those drivers through an effective change management process. Finally set up an appropriate measurement system and reinforce the cultural changes. Communication According to a recent Mercer Transatlantic Study, 75 percent of executives surveyed said that communicating with employees and harmonizing corporate culture were the most important factors for post merger integration. Business leaders recognize that they often fall short in this area (Peterson Voules, 2007). The need to communicate is not only required in the later stages, but must be integrated in the whole process from the outset itself. Most of the times, communication efforts from the companies are fragmented with different information and messages going out to investors, employees, managers and customers. Hence, it becomes must that message to all stakeholders must be well planned and consistent in its approach. One of the communication strategies which could be used during the whole process has been provided by the Mercer Consulting Group, which has been given below: During the whole process of communication, the objective of communication should be not only to inform, but also should be to engage the employees hearts and minds. By envisaging the clear vision of the future and gaining commitment to it, the new company would be able to build the loyalty which is critical for the company. Synergies Usually with the help of mergers and acquisitions, companies try to find two synergies: Growth In this phase, role of HR is to identify the key human resources in the acquired company, setting up retention strategies to retain the critical talent, and to create the development plans for the people to prepare them to achieve the required corporate growth. Other issues which would need consideration would be reward and recognition programs, team development, and integration of compensation and benefit programs, so as to ensure the competitiveness to attract and retain the desirable employee. Economies of Scale Most of the times, it has been linked to firing of people. However, for us, achieving synergy, analyses must be done to understand that what the end-game organisation would look like and which positions are truly needed. Once this stage is completed, assessments must be done to decide who would remain and who would leave the organisation. Conclusion Recommendations With the increase in the mergers and acquisitions with improving of world economy, a whole plethora of opportunity lies before HR function to get properly involved in the activity and earn its long terms dues back from the companies. And to attain it, HR function always need to be proactive, and should take initiative on its own to attain this result.

The Blind Man Essay Example For Students

The Blind Man Essay It will always be there as a pleasure and a burden. Society puts labels on everything as good or bad, rich or poor, normal or aberrant. Although some of these stamps are accurate, most of them are misconceptions. Shelley simply makes this known to the reader, so that they can see the error of their ways. Society is also very ignorant, as can be seen later on in the book, when they kill Justine because she is the only person that could have possibly have done such an evil act. They again wrongly label Justine as the killer. They do not look into the facts but instead find a quick and easy answer to the problem. This again shows the ignorance of society in this novel. The faults with Mary Shelleys society are again shown up by the one person who is not repulsed by the vile appearance of the monster a blind man. If society is so ignorant that not even a single person could look at the monster without taking violent action or running away in fright, Shelley is surely trying to tell us something that society is ignorant and there is nothing that can be done about it. We will write a custom essay on The Blind Man specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The old man is in the house the monster tries to find shelter in, and when at last he thinks he has found it, he has barely had time to make a conversation with the man before his children enter the cottage and start driving the monster away with a stick. The daughter is scared and flees the cottage, and it is the son who attacks the monster. At this point in the book, the monster has done nothing to deserve the title monster, yet he was given no name for him to be called otherwise. This is very inhumane, as people resorted to simply calling the monster, it. There is another form of nature, though, which also plays a large part in this novel, and that is the power of the natural world. Nature is presented as possessing an immense curative power; the beauty of the natural world heals Victor when he is too miserable to find solace anywhere else. Nature is very significant in this book, as large parts of it are devoted to describing the surrounding scenery and natural events, even when they are not beautiful the thunder burst at once with frightful loudness from various quarters of the heavens. Frankenstein takes pleasure in being close to nature, as you can see from the quote, as he finds even the most destructive of natures powers amazing, and thinks they are from heaven. The whole book obviously revolves around the monster, and he himself is a product of nature. Not only is any living thing automatically part of nature (and it is true to say that Frankensteins monster has been given a life), but also if it werent for nature he would never have been created in the first place. It is things like these which make us realise that even without mentioning nature, it still plays an essential part in the book. The flash of lightning from Victors childhood sparked off an immense compulsion to explore nature and science. From that point in his life he had a great yearning for knowledge and started reading books such as Paradise Lost, as well as books about the works of great scientists like Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus and Paracelsus. Here were men who had penetrated deeper and knew more. I took their word for all that they averred, and I became their disciple.

Blassingame WPA Sample Essay

Blassingame WPA Sample EssayOne of the requirements to get into Stanford is to write a Blassingame WPA sample essay. This course, which focuses on wireless local area networks, covers a wide range of topics and understanding of topics is an important element of the course.Most students have to write at least one WPA sample essay. WPA stands for wireless local area network.It is a wireless network that is created using the Internet. Some of the other networks can be used for business purposes or for personal purposes. For instance, in a business situation, your work computer might be connected to a network created by another business.There are many differences between the WPA network and a network created in a personal situation. However, if you have ever connected to the Internet in a personal situation, such as connecting to a friend's computer, then you have a basic understanding of WPA. You probably also have used the Internet on your own computer and looked for online locations t hat you can use for you to connect to.A good example of WPA in action would be when you find yourself using a wireless card to connect to a wireless hotspot. The hotspot would be made by a wireless company that has created the wireless hotspot and put it in an area where you can connect to the Internet. Most people are familiar with the concept of this scenario; it is just not the same as what you are trying to do if you are studying for a WPA exam.A study guide will need to include information about how to properly complete a WPA exam. You should understand how to setup a wired connection and to connect to an access point. Without having a working knowledge of these concepts, you will not be able to properly sit for theWPA exam.Another important component of the Blassingame WPA course is how to create a secure connection. You should understand how to set up a personal or network password and be able to set up a firewall to protect your personal computer. In addition, you will also need to know how to access a database that has the necessary information for the test.By understanding the security aspects of WPA, you will be able to take the WPA course successfully. You must also understand that the information that is provided in the written sample essays has been reviewed by someone who knows a lot about wireless networks. The actual questions and writing samples that you are asked to read have been tested and examined by students who know what they are doing when it comes to WPA.

The Auditor Must Have Adequate Technical Training And Proficiency To Perform Accounting Essay Essays

The Auditor Must Have Adequate Technical Training And Proficiency To Perform Accounting Essay Essays The Auditor Must Have Adequate Technical Training And Proficiency To Perform Accounting Essay Essay The Auditor Must Have Adequate Technical Training And Proficiency To Perform Accounting Essay Essay I chose Section 200 General Standards Accounting Principles, better known as Generally Accepted Auditing Standards ( GAAS ) . They were developed by the AICPA in 1947 and have undergone minor alterations since so. ( 4 ) These are sets of regulations and guidelines promulgated by the AICPA s Auditing Standards Board. ( 1 ) Its auditing criterions place necessary making and features of hearers and steer the behavior of the audit scrutiny. [ ( 2 ) p.39 ] Besides, they are used by hearers when carry oning audits on companies fundss, guaranting the truth, consistence and verifiability of hearers actions and studies. ( 3 ) The intent is to run into the aims of an audit scrutiny, which have been identified as: to obtain sensible confidence about whether the fiscal statements as a whole are free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or mistake, thereby enabling hearers to show an sentiment on whether the fiscal statement are prepared, in all stuff respects, in conformity with an applicable fiscal coverage model ; and to describe on the fiscal statements, and communicate as required by GAAS, in conformity with the hearer s findings. [ ( 2 ) . p.39 ] II. Significance of GAAS for comptrollers Its significance for comptrollers consists of the follows: The hearer must hold equal proficient preparation and proficiency to execute the audit. The hearer must keep independency in mental attitude in all affairs related to the audit. The hearer must exert due professional attention during the public presentation of the audit and the readying of the study. ( 2 ) pag. 40 The hearer must adequately be after the work and must decently oversee any helpers. The hearer must obtain a sufficient apprehension of the entity and its environment, including its internal control, to measure the hazard of material misstatement of the fiscal statements whether due to error or fraud, and to plan the nature, timing, and extent of farther audit processs. The hearer must obtain sufficient appropriate audit grounds by executing audit processs to afford a sensible footing for an sentiment sing the fiscal statements under audit. ( 6 ) The hearers must carry on a GAAS audit to find whether the company s fiscal statement are prepared harmonizing to GAAP. ( 2 ) P 39 III. Situations in an accounting pattern that would do the contents of GAAS peculiarly relevant The CPAs employ GAAS in fixing for and executing audits of a client s fiscal statements. The guidelines include mentions to the hearer s makings ( general criterions ) , audit field work ( statements of field work ) , and describing the audit consequences ( criterions of coverage ) . The wide criterions are backed by elaborate interpretive literature. An hearer unable to show an sentiment on the fiscal statements must give grounds. A CPA who does non carry on an scrutiny in conformity with GAAS can be held in misdemeanor of the AICPA s Code of Professional Ethics and face legal action by affected parties. ( 7 ) The GAAS serves as a fiscal tool whereby the person, company or authorities bureaus gather and make accurate studies for fixing revenue enhancement signifiers, using for concern loans, adhering insurance, describing to the board of managers or the general populace. On the single degree, this procedure is simplified unless the individual has a considerable sum of varied assets. For concern proprietors holding semi-annual digest or reviewed statements enables them to turn out to Bankss and insurance companies that they are financially feasible. Government bureaus are required by jurisprudence to utilize this criterion scrutinizing pattern to demo the public how revenue enhancement dollars are being utilized. ( 7 ) When holding fiscal statements compiled for a reviewed statement for the intents of using for a loan, adhering insurance or other insurance, it is recommended that a company usage an outside CPA because an internal comptroller may miss the objectiveness and independency required to follow with GAAS. GAAS serves as a agency by which we can be protected from fraud by advancing truth in fiscal statements. These guidelines when adhered to give concerns, Bankss, authorities bureaus and persons the ability to do sound determinations. IV. List of five beginnings that I intend to consul in researching 1. AICPA web site 2. Duska, Ronald F. , A ; Duska, Brenda Shay ( 2003 ) . Accounting Ethical motives. Wiley-Blackwell 3. Timothy J. Louwers. 4 erectile dysfunction. Auditing A ; Assurance Services 4. NEC library, 5. Accounting text editions 6. Online beginnings such as ( 1 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //www.answers.com/topic/generally-accepted-auditing-standards ( 2 ) Timothy J. Louwers. 4 erectile dysfunction. Auditing A ; Assurance Services ( 3 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //www.answers.com/topic/generally-accepted-auditing-standards # ixzz1DCl4Ps00 ( 4 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generally_Accepted_Auditing_Standards gt ; Library gt ; Business A ; Finance gt ; Accounting Dictionary ( 5 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ehow.com/about_4759920_what-generally-accepted-auditing-standards.html # ixzz1DDS4WlLw ( 6 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generally_Accepted_Auditing_Standards ( 7 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //www.answers.com/topic/generally-accepted-auditing-standards ( 8 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ehow.com/about_4759920_what-generally-accepted-auditing-standards.html

How to Get Learning Accommodations at School

How to Get Learning Accommodations at School Some students struggle in school and need more support than is typically found in the traditional classroom, but that extra support isnt always easy to come by. For college students, typically the institution will require that the student provide documentation and request accommodations in a timely manner, and most will have the resources available to meet the students needs. However, the same isnt always true at secondary schools or middle/elementary schools. For schools who dont have robust academic support programs, students may be  forced into special education classrooms or they may be required to stumble along without accommodations in the traditional classroom.   However, there are options for students struggling in school, and one of those options is a private school. Unlike public schools, parochial and private schools do not have to grant students with learning disabilities accommodations. This ruling falls under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act  and is a direct result of the fact that private schools dont receive public funding. These private schools also have a pass when it comes to the need to follow the regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), which states that public schools must grant students with disabilities a free appropriate public education. In addition, unlike public schools, private schools do not offer students with disabilities IEPs, or Individual Educational Plans. Private Schools: Varying Resources and Accommodations Because they do not have to adhere to these federal laws governing the education of students with disabilities, private schools vary in the support they grant to students with learning and other disabilities. While years ago, private schools often said that they did not accept students with learning issues, today, most schools accept students who have diagnosed learning issues, such as dyslexia and ADHD, and other issues such as autistic spectrum disorder,  recognizing that these issues are actually common, even among very bright students. There are even a number of private schools who cater to the needs of students with learning differences. Some private schools for learning differences were founded specifically for students whose learning challenges  dont allow them to enter the mainstream classroom. The goal is often to support students and teach them to understand their issues and develop coping mechanisms that allow them to enter the mainstream classroom, but some students remain in these specialized schools for their entire high school careers.   Dedicated Learning Specialists In addition, many private schools have psychologists and learning specialists on staff who can help students with learning issues organize their work and refine their study skills.  As such, a number of mainstream private schools even offer academic support program, ranging from basic tutoring to more comprehensive academic support curriculums that provide students with a personal educational expert to help them better learn how they learn and understand the challenges they have. While tutoring is common, some schools go beyond that and offer organizational structure, time management skill development, study tips, and even provide advice on working with teachers, classmates and handling workloads.   Private schools also may be able to grant accommodations to help students in school, including the following: extra time on testsuse of a computer or tablet for writing in-class essays and assignmentshelp from a learning specialist to learn how to prepare for tests, study, organize study materialsuse of a private room for testing or work If youre thinking of private school and either know or suspect that your child may need extra assistances, consider these steps you might pursue to determine if the school can meet your childs needs: Get Started with Professional Evaluations If you havent already, make sure to have your child evaluated by a licensed professional. You may be able to have the evaluation conducted by the local school board, or you may ask your private school for the names of private evaluators. The evaluation should document the nature of your childs disabilities and the required or suggested accommodations. Remember, that while private schools arent required to grant accommodations, many offer basic, reasonable accommodations, such as extended time on tests, for students with documented learning issues. Meet with Professionals at the School before you apply Yes, even if youre just applying to the school, you can request meetings with the academic specialists at the school. Assuming you have the testing results available, you may set up appointments. You would likely coordinate these meetings through the admission office, and they can often be combined with a school visit or sometimes even an Open House, if you provide advance notice. This allows both you and the school to assess whether or not your childs needs can be properly met by the school. Meet with Professionals at the School after youre accepted Once youre accepted, you should schedule a time to meet with your childs teachers and learning specialist or psychologist to begin developing a plan for success. You can discuss the results of the evaluation, the proper accommodations for your child and what this means in terms of your childs schedule. Here are more strategies about how to advocate for your child with learning issues. Article edited by Stacy Jagodowski.