The Kardashians as a Reflection of Society free essay sample

It is clear from watching people emulate the styles of dress and talk that appear in media, that media has a socializing influence. What is not clear, despite nearly 50 years of empirical research, is how much socializing influence the media has when compared to other agents of socialization, which include any social institution that passes along norms, values, and beliefs (such as peers, family, religious institutions, and the like). Even while the media is selling us commodity and pleasing us, it also aid to socialize us, helping us pass along standard, values, and beliefs to the next generation. In truth, we are socialized and reserialized by media throughout our life succession. Reality television has affected many areas of society negatively. With all the exposure on the negative aspects, are there positive points if one goes searching, but does it outweigh the bad enough to turn the cheek to the major shifts in societys tone. We will write a custom essay sample on The Kardashians as a Reflection of Society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Reality TV shows are the ultimate illusion makers. Media has a sense of reality that subconsciously distorts our perception of it. These reality shows have a great influence on society for they promote negativity and vanity over humility, resulting in a influenced society thats concerned about what people think. Material wealth evokes the worst of our culture—materialism, vanity, narcissism, and greed—qualities the Kardashians symbolize. Almost every episode is a clear example of these woman lacking humility and have a tone of entitlement when it comes to getting what they want. Being happy with the basics which is what most learn through life and the lessons growing up, is completely out of understanding with this family. They want more and the price of getting it isnt an issue. Some viewers watching these behaviors could transfer over these values to live by their own since the show models it works so nicely and effortlessly for them.Some refuse to believe that the entertainment and media they are exposed to effects them, but this is simply untrue. Everything that one encounters, affects them. Without realizing it, reality shows have and still are distorting the views of body image with what is accepted and what needs to be changed, to be accepted. Most have been augmented, viewers are supposed to believe that these shows are indicative of real life and the people in them are perfection. With the Kardashian throwing money to get what looks they want as an everyday assurance, including plastic surgeries, it isnt a lapse of understanding why the rates have grown with young women and going under the knife. The social comparison of ones body image is being greatly affected and show like keeping up with Kardashian has played a part in this. When watching these shows the resounding message is that ordinary may as well be synonymous with worthless. Women are becoming desensitized to their emotional needs and instead use beauty as a temporary band-aid.Reality television shows has affected many areas of society negatively because the world has allowed what is being seen on televi sion, not only dictate but copy and define, what society seems to think is real life situations. Even though the Kardashian play a huge part in the influence they do represent success and achievement of the American dream to some. So, this family of wealth has maintained to stay on television for quite sometime which is more than most reality shows. Outside of being materialistic the Kardashian show a tight weaved family bond with each other and how important that really is. Perspectival speaking what is positive isnt compared to what the damage is and could be with reality shows. Its sad truth that so many Americans want to emulate a family whose chief interests seem to be materialism and wealth accumulation – ambitions. kkk show inhibits social interaction. Kardashian family reflects all that is commercialism and overconsumption. Think about how much has changed in society (whether we realize it or not) because of social media. Social media allows individuals to gather and express themselves in a much more simple and immediate fashion. By giving people this capability, they not only can share ideas, opinions and other contents, but also (if they wish) gain notoriety, and expand their influence. It is evident that media has a socializing control. Social media has forever changed the way society works. Society today is on the approach of a new way of prevailing that its never experienced before. Society will continue to break down if these trends continue to be more casual or acceptable.

Free Essays on Gladitorial Combat

Evaluate the importance of Gladiatorial combat to public entertainment to Roman culture: Kathleen M. Coleman, a professor of Latin at Harvard University, has written extensively on the Roman arena and teaches a course called Roman Games. Gladiatorial combat at Rome first appeared in the third century B.C. as part of funerary celebrations. Slaves, or sometimes prisoners of war, fought in combat in honor of the deceased. During the Late Republic gladiatorial combat began to gradually move out of the funerary scene. It becomes an index of the popularity of civic leaders outside Rome or the emperor in Rome. One key point is the deployment of violence as an ingredient in public entertainment. The Romans believed in physical bravery and its manifestation in combat as a cardinal virtue. And simultaneously they believed that persons of no status, particularly persons who had done something wrong, deserved physical punishment. The Roman arena was used to punish miscreants. Criminals were exposed to the beasts. It catered to an instinct in human nature that is attracted by the suffering and bloodletting of others. And this is certainly an element that is deployed in the modern entertainment media. Also, the extent to which we are distracted from the serious concerns of society by the glamour of public entertainment figures and the extravaganzas of the cinema and sports field represents a deep-seated human desire, familiar to the Romans, to be distracted from serious and troubling matters. And it was an effective tool to keep power in a few hands. We know that beast displays continued well into the sixth century. But early in the fifth century, gladiatorial displays finally seem to have ended throughout the Roman Empire. Probably due to a combination of factors: they became extremely expensive, and possibly the church may have had something to do with this, since the church fathers objected to pagan attractions and exhorted their flocks to at... Free Essays on Gladitorial Combat Free Essays on Gladitorial Combat Evaluate the importance of Gladiatorial combat to public entertainment to Roman culture: Kathleen M. Coleman, a professor of Latin at Harvard University, has written extensively on the Roman arena and teaches a course called Roman Games. Gladiatorial combat at Rome first appeared in the third century B.C. as part of funerary celebrations. Slaves, or sometimes prisoners of war, fought in combat in honor of the deceased. During the Late Republic gladiatorial combat began to gradually move out of the funerary scene. It becomes an index of the popularity of civic leaders outside Rome or the emperor in Rome. One key point is the deployment of violence as an ingredient in public entertainment. The Romans believed in physical bravery and its manifestation in combat as a cardinal virtue. And simultaneously they believed that persons of no status, particularly persons who had done something wrong, deserved physical punishment. The Roman arena was used to punish miscreants. Criminals were exposed to the beasts. It catered to an instinct in human nature that is attracted by the suffering and bloodletting of others. And this is certainly an element that is deployed in the modern entertainment media. Also, the extent to which we are distracted from the serious concerns of society by the glamour of public entertainment figures and the extravaganzas of the cinema and sports field represents a deep-seated human desire, familiar to the Romans, to be distracted from serious and troubling matters. And it was an effective tool to keep power in a few hands. We know that beast displays continued well into the sixth century. But early in the fifth century, gladiatorial displays finally seem to have ended throughout the Roman Empire. Probably due to a combination of factors: they became extremely expensive, and possibly the church may have had something to do with this, since the church fathers objected to pagan attractions and exhorted their flocks to at...

Games to Support Skills for Children with Disabilities

Games to Support Skills for Children with Disabilities Games are an effective tool to support instruction in special education. When your students know how to play a game, they can play it independently. Some board games and many electronic games are available commercially or online, but they dont always support the skills that your students need to build. At the same time, many online computer games fail to support social interaction, which is an important benefit of supporting instruction with board games. Reasons for Games Drill and Repetition: Students with disabilities often need lots and lots of practice on skills, beyond what they would receive in a general education class, in a more naturalistic approach to instruction. We also know that students have difficulty generalizing skills, so games that use math or reading skills in a game will motivate children to use those skills across more social settings.Social Skill Training and Practice: Many children with disabilities, especially developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders, have difficulty with social interactions. Board games support waiting, turn taking, and even losing gracefully, which both typical, and children with special needs struggle with. Games can even be designed to support social skills, such as a social skill game that requires students to complete a social task successfully (Say hello to a friend, etc.), to stay on a square on the board, or you can make some social skills cards for existing games (Chance cards on Monopoly?). Peer-Mediated Instruction:  Children with disabilities benefit from having skills modeled by typically developing, non-disabled peers. Those skills will include both academic and social skills. The typical peers will be sure to check the work of their challenged peers and can supervise play. Games as part of inclusion give both groups opportunities to practice skills, exercise some socially appropriate behavior, and build positive peer relationships. Bingo Kids love bingo. Kids with disabilities love bingo because it doesnt require knowing lots of rules, and since everyone plays through every game, it scores well on the engagement scale. It requires that they listen; identify the numbers, words, or pictures on the card; place a cover on the squares (fine motor skills), and recognize the pattern of covered squares. Many bingo games are commercial and available through online or brick and mortar stores. Teaching Made Easier, an online subscription tool for making games is an excellent way to make sight word, number, or other sorts of bingos, including picture bingos. Kinds of Bingo Games Vocabulary Building Bingos: These bingos have children cover pictures of animals or items in other categories to build receptive language.  Number Recognition Bingos: Teaching Made Easier makes it possible to customize the range of numbers used for Bingo. You can make one set of cards that uses numbers from twenty to forty to give students practice in recognizing numbers larger than twenty, but not the whole shooting match up to 100. You can also ask students with strong number recognition to read the cards, as it helps them build their skills in reading numbers aloud. Educators often recommend that some recitation in math instruction is included to be sure the numbers also get into students mouths.  Math Fact Bingo: Call numbers and have students cover matching math facts (i.e., call 12 and students can cover 2 x 6 or 3 x 4) Board Games You can build a board game based on any number of different games: Parchesi, Sorry, Monopoly. The simplest games are simple games that start at one place and end at the finish line. They can be used to support counting, or they can be used to support specific skills. You can use dice, or you can create spinners. Many Math series provide spinners that you can adapt: Once again, Teaching Made Easier provides a template for spinners. Kinds of Board Games Counting Games: An example is Halloween Rumble. Start with a serpentine path divided into squares, use dice (to building counting and adding skills) or a spinner. You can use a spinner for skip counting games (by 2s and 5s).Social Skills Games: Design this after games like Life or Monopoly, where students take cards to complete a social skill. Perhaps you might have a stack of requests such as, Ask a friend for help on your math, or a greeting: Greet a teacher in school. Quiz Show Games A great way to help students prepare for a test is a Quiz Show format. Build your game like Jeopardy and make you categories support whatever topic your students are preparing for. This is an especially good tactic for a secondary teacher who can pull a group from a content area class to prepare for a test. Games Create Winners! Games are a great way to engage your students, as well as give them lots of opportunities to practice skills and content knowledge. They seldom realize that the whole time they are competing with their classmates, they are supporting learning with their peers. It can provide some formative assessment information, letting you see whether a student understands a skill, a content area or a set of concepts.

Instructional Technology Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Instructional Technology - Research Paper Example its of technology in classrooms and schools have opened up an interactive learning environment for the students where they can learn more quickly and effectively. One cannot deny the impact of technological advancements on the educational sector of any specific country. In this paper, we will explore the use of technology in instructional delivery at a nursing school. The nursing school, where I made a call in order to gather information regarding use of technology, is Catholic University of America’s school of nursing. I had a telephonic conversation with the registrar of CUA, who helped me collect useful information about use of technology in instructional delivery. The list of technological equipment used by the instructors of the school includes televisions, internet, microphones, and projectors. Let us discuss how instructors make use of these technological equipments in nursing classrooms. Instructors of CUA’s school of nursing use televisions to show how healthcare practitioners provide treatments to their patients. The professors show documentaries on different aspects of nursing and treatments. During the conversation, the registrar told me that televisions really help teachers in providing relevant and up to date information to the students. The documentaries help the students gather information about elderly nursing care programs, old and latest nursing equipment, and different treatments. The hardware requirement for this mode of instructional delivery is television, DVD player, and documentaries. The instructors need to be proficient in use of all of these equipments in order to make the students learn effectively. The instructors also make use of web-based method of instructional delivery. For this purpose, the instructors take students to the internet labs where they can search information related to various nursing techniques and treatments. The web-based instructional mechanism is very effective as it provides high level of interactivity

Economics for the global manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Economics for the global manager - Essay Example All benefits have a corresponding cost. The air we breathe, kept clean through laws costing millions of dollars to enforce, is not free. If your friend treats you for lunch, it is not free for you either, because the time you spent with your friend has an opportunity cost that may probably be more than the price of the lunch. 3. Why might the government want to influence transactions The government wants to influence transactions for many reasons. First, as in nations with free market economies, the government wants to make sure the market's rules are fair as part of its mandate to keep the people happy. One danger of a free market economy is explained by what is called asymmetric information: sellers may hide vital information from buyers that does not allow a fair price to be paid for a good (think second-hand car dealers). Otherwise, people cheated all the time will be aggravated and may move to change the government. Second, the government wants to control the supply and flow of money in the economy, because if they do not, there will be trouble in the form of inflation that can lead to social unrest (Solomon 1972 cited in Samuelson 1992, p. 712). Third, the government wants to influence transactions, like the Fed setting interest rates, Congress cutting budget deficits, or the Commerce Department ne gotiating trade agreements, because of the add-on effects that these actions (all are forms of market intervention) have on the nation's macroeconomic conditions. And fourth, government wants to ensure the country's patrimony is safe, for example to prevent some scam artist from selling the Statue of Liberty to foreigners. 4. What does the spillover or externality principle measure Use examples. This principle measures the costs or benefits of externalities, activities that affect others, without meaning to, either positively in the form of benefits not paid for or negatively in the form of inconvenience or costs for which they are not compensated. An example of the first (called external economies) is having a wife who is a doctor (you can consult her for "free" or, at least, you don't have to pay someone else to prescribe the right medicine). An example of the second (called external diseconomies) is driving recklessly on the freeway, which makes many other drivers nervous and increases their consumption of tranquilizers. 5. Currently our demand for gasoline is rising as our economy is expanding. However, we expect OPEC to keep the supply stable. Use a graph to show what your prediction is for the price of gasoline. USE A GRAPH INDICATING WHEN THE DEMAND INCREASES. I predict the price will increase, because as shown in the graph on Figure 1, with the supply constant and the demand increasing, the demand curve shifts to the right, moving the equilibrium point to the right, with the effect of increasing the equilibrium price, or the point at which the current supply curve intersects the increased demand curve, from p to p'. At price p, the gasoline market is in equilibrium, that is, supply equals demand. OPEC's move holds the supply curve steady, but an expanding/growing economy needs more fuel,

Kant And Mill Ethical Theories Philosophy Essay

Kant And Mill Ethical Theories Philosophy Essay John Mills Utilitarianism and Immanuel Kants Fundamental Principle of the Metaphysic of Morality present the two philosophers divergent views on the field of moral philosophy. Mills Utilitarianism is a more refined ethical theory compared to Kants breakdown of the metaphysics and its use in proving what is right and what is wrong. Kant employs his corroboration of the subsistence of metaphysics as a discipline in his ethical philosophy. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦if a law is to have moral force, i.e., to be the basis of an obligation, it must carry with it absolute necessity. (Kant preface). This dictum forms the base for Kants ethical theory. Mill disputes Kants assertion that our moral force must be driven by an obligation. Instead, Mill argues that humans are driven by a desire to be happy. Immanuel Kant utilized practical reasoning in his moral theory and suggests that there exists only one moral obligation; categorical imperative. He states, Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should become a universal law (Kant second section). This obligation is derived from the notion of duty, and describes the categorical imperatives as the demands of moral decree, and further emphasizes that an individuals behavior ought to live up to the moral laws. These categorical imperatives should be the constitution governing all men; they should be the principles of human life. Kant argues that all ethical duties inherently expected of humans stem from these categorical imperatives, and it systematically follows that human obligations are put to the test. He goes on to state that employing these imperatives, an individual regarded as rational could be able to achieve specific ends using certain means. Kants categorical imperative forms the basis of the deontological ethics. The fundamental principle of the metaphysics of morals postulates that moral law is a base or foundation of reason in itself and it does not have to be influenced by other contingent factors. The biggest flaw of Kants moral theory is that it fails to mention the role of human desire in the choices individuals make. Kant theory succeeds only in highlighting moral versus immoral human actions, and specifically makes it easier in making choices that exclusively involves evil versus good. It does not provide insight into what an individual should do in case he or she is faced by two evils, a nd he or she has to make a choice between the two. For instance, what does one do when faced with the exclusive choices of either lying or killing? Mills ethical theory offers an insight. Mills utilitarian ethical theory provides a rule that illuminates this quandary. Utilitarian theory supports Machiavellis the end justifies the means; according to the utilitarian opinion, the end of human action, is necessarily also the standard of morality (Mill ch II). The greatest happiness principle proposes that humans should inherently choose the option that gives them the most happiness. Mill constructs a world where the happiness of humans is judged. Mill believes that the best happiness is achieved when everyone is happy; the absence of suffering and pain. He believes that true happiness must be moral or intellectual in nature. Physical happiness does not qualify as true happiness. Happiness is greater than feeling of contentment. Mill talks of different forms of happiness, high and low happiness. When an individual experiences both forms of happiness, he or she develops a preference of one over the other. Mill opines that simple pleasures are preferred by individuals who have not experienced greater ones. Nevertheless, he still holds that higher pleasures are really valued. Because happiness predetermines human desires, it is only logical that our actions are determined by will; will to be happy. Mill however posits that the realization of human desire can at times be subjective to the will of an individual or an individuals habit. Mills utilitarian therefore covers more on human motives as compared to mere indulgence. Every intrinsic human desire is a derivative of elementary human desires to be happy or achieve gratification. Sometimes the pursuit of basic human pleasures may result in pain as a result of sacrifices humans consciously or subliminally make. Such sacrifices for the sake of happiness in the en d are fully justified. A significant difference between Mill and Kant, based on the two writings, is the gradation of ethics. Under Kants metaphysics of science, an individual can be regarded as morally upright while still being selfish. Under Mills utilitarian, an individual cannot be morally right if he or she is selfish since Mills ethical theory requires humans to extend happiness to others. All honour to those who can abnegate for themselves the personal enjoyment of life, when by such renunciation they contribute worthily to increase the amount of happiness in the world (Mill ch II). Kant negates the utilitarian idea by stating that there exists a divergence between desires and ethics and that contemplations of human rights temper estimations of cumulative utility. Kant holds that everything in existence possesses a price or a dignity. He adds that whatever possesses a price can be easily replaced by something else of the similar value as it, but whatever has a dignity can never be replaced. Both philosophers have deep thought on the issue of morality. Mill has his thoughts based on utilitarian grounds, which is an elaborate system that revolves around happiness of people. It hypothesizes that an individual ought to act in a way that ensures the happiness of those around them. Kant has his philosophy of giving morality a good versus bad angle. He, on the other hand, hypothesizes that reasoning and human nature should be the determinants of morality and not human desires. Morality is the root of human interaction and without it, humans would not discern right from wrong. Morality is very important but between the two philosophers John Mill offers an upgraded version of ethical philosophy that is more elaborate and practical.

Foundation and Empire 2. The Magicians

FOUNDATION†¦ With forty years of expansion behind them, the Foundation faced the menace of Riose. The epic days of Hardin and Mallow had gone and with them were gone a certain hard daring and resolution†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica There were four men in the room, and the room was set apart where none could approach. The four men looked at each other quickly, then lengthily at the table that separated them. There were four bottles on the table and as many full glasses, but no one had touched them. And then the man nearest the door stretched out an arm and drummed a slow, padding rhythm on the table. He said, â€Å"Are you going to sit and wonder forever? Does it matter who speaks first?† â€Å"Speak you first, then,† said the big man directly opposite. â€Å"You're the one who should be the most worried.† Sennett Forell chuckled with noiseless nonhumor. â€Å"Because you think I'm the richest. Well – Or is it that you expect me to continue as I have started. I don't suppose you forget that it was my own Trade Fleet that captured this scout ship of theirs.† â€Å"You had the largest fleet,† said a third, â€Å"and the best pilots; which is another way of saying you are the richest. It was a fearful risk; and would have been greater for one of us.† Sennett Forell chuckled again. â€Å"There is a certain facility in risk-taking that I inherit from my father. After all, the essential point in running a risk is that the returns justify it. As to which, witness the fact that the enemy ship was isolated and captured without loss to ourselves or warning to the others.† That Forell was a distant collateral relative of the late great Hober Mallow was recognized openly throughout the Foundation. That he was Mallow's illegitimate son was accepted quietly to just as wide an extent. The fourth man blinked his little eyes stealthily. Words crept out from between thin lips. â€Å"It is nothing to sleep over in fat triumph, this grasping of little ships. Most likely, it will but anger that young man further.† â€Å"You think he needs motives?† questioned Forell, scornfully. â€Å"I do, and this might, or will, save him the vexation of having to manufacture one.† The fourth man spoke slowly, â€Å"Hober Mallow worked otherwise. And Salvor Hardin. They let others take the uncertain paths of force, while they maneuvered surely and quietly.† Forell shrugged. â€Å"This ship has proved its value. Motives are cheap and we have sold this one at a profit.† There was the satisfaction of the born Trader in that. He continued, â€Å"The young man is of the old Empire.† â€Å"We knew that,† said the second man, the big one, with rumbling discontent. â€Å"We suspected that,† corrected Forell, softly. â€Å"If a man comes with ships and wealth, with overtures of friendliness, and with offers of trade, it is only sensible to refrain from antagonizing him, until we are certain that the profitable mask is not a face after all. But now-â€Å" There was a faint whining edge to the third man's voice as he spoke. â€Å"We might have been even more careful. We might have found out first. We might have found out before allowing him to leave. It would have been the truest wisdom.† â€Å"That has been discussed and disposed of,† said Forell. He waved the subject aside with a flatly final gesture. â€Å"The government is soft,† complained the third man. â€Å"The mayor is an idiot.† The fourth man looked at the other three in turn and removed the stub of a cigar from his mouth. He dropped it casually into the slot at his right where it disappeared with a silent flash of disruption. He said sarcastically, â€Å"I trust the gentleman who last spoke is speaking through habit only. We can afford to remember here that we are the government.† There was a murmur of agreement. The fourth man's little eyes were on the table. â€Å"Then let us leave government policy alone. This young man†¦ this stranger might have been a possible customer. There have been cases. All three of you tried to butter him into an advance contract. We have an agreement – a gentleman's agreement – against it, but you tried.† â€Å"So did you,† growled the second man. I know it,† said the fourth, calmly. â€Å"Then let's forget what we should have done earlier,† interrupted Forell impatiently, â€Å"and continue with what we should do now. In any case, what if we had imprisoned him, or killed him, what then? We are not certain of his intentions even yet, and at the worst, we could not destroy an Empire by snipping short one man's life. There might be navies upon navies waiting just the other side of his nonreturn.† â€Å"Exactly,† approved the fourth man. â€Å"Now what did you get out of your captured ship? I'm too old for all this talking.† â€Å"It can be told in a few enough words,† said Forell, grimly. â€Å"He's an Imperial general or whatever rank corresponds to that over there. He's a young man who has proved his military brilliance – so I am told – and who is the idol of his men. Quite a romantic career. The stories they tell of him are no doubt half lies, but even so it makes him out to be a type of wonder man.† â€Å"Who are the ‘they'?† demanded the second man. â€Å"The crew of the captured ship. Look, I have all their statements recorded on micro-film, which I have in a secure place. Later on, if you wish, you can see them. You can talk to the men yourselves, if you think it necessary. I've told you the essentials.† â€Å"How did you get it out of them? How do you know they're telling the truth?† Forell frowned. â€Å"I wasn't gentle, good sir. I knocked them about, drugged them crazy, and used the Probe unmercifully. They talked. You can believe them.† â€Å"In the old days,† said the third man, with sudden irrelevance, â€Å"they would have used pure psychology. Painless, you know, but very sure. No chance of deceit.† â€Å"Well, there is a good deal they had in the old days,† said Forell, dryly. â€Å"These are the new days.† â€Å"But,† said the fourth man, â€Å"what did he want here, this general, this romantic wonder-man?† There was a dogged, weary persistence about him. Forell glanced at him sharply. â€Å"You think he confides the details of state policy to his crew? They didn't know. There was nothing to get out of them in that respect, and I tried, Galaxy knows.† â€Å"Which leaves us-â€Å" â€Å"To draw our own conclusions, obviously.† Forell's fingers were tapping quietly again. â€Å"The young man is a military leader of the Empire, yet he played the pretense of being a minor princeling of some scattered stars in an odd comer of the Periphery. That alone would assure us that his real motives are such as it would not benefit him to have us know. Combine the nature of his profession with the fact that the Empire has already subsidized one attack upon us in my father's time, and the possibilities become ominous. That first attack failed. I doubt that the Empire owes us love for that.† â€Å"There is nothing in your findings,† questioned the fourth man guardedly, â€Å"that makes for certainty? You are withholding nothing?† Forell answered levelly, â€Å"I can't withhold anything. From here on there can be no question of business rivalry. Unity is forced upon us.† â€Å"Patriotism?† There was a sneer in the third man's thin voice. â€Å"Patriotism be damned,† said Forell quietly. â€Å"Do you think I give two puffs of nuclear emanation for the future Second Empire? Do you think I'd risk a single Trade mission to smooth its path? But – do you suppose Imperial conquest will help my business or yours? If the Empire wins, there will be a sufficient number of yearning carrion crows to crave the rewards of battle.† â€Å"And we're the rewards,† added the fourth man, dryly. The second man broke his silence suddenly, and shifted his bulk angrily, so that the chair creaked under him. â€Å"But why talk of that. The Empire can't win, can it? There is Seldon's assurance that we will form the Second Empire in the end. This is only another crisis. There have been three before this.† â€Å"Only another crisis, yes!† Forell brooded. â€Å"But – in the case of the first two, we had Salvor Hardin to guide us; in the third, there was Hober Mallow. Whom have we now?† He looked at the others somberly and continued, â€Å"Seldon's rules of psychohistory on which it is so comforting to rely probably have as one of the contributing variables, a certain normal initiative on the part of the people of the Foundation themselves. Seldon's laws help those who help themselves.† â€Å"The times make the man,† said the third man. â€Å"There's another proverb for you.† â€Å"You can't count on that, not with absolute assurance,† grunted Forell. â€Å"Now the way it seems to me is this. If this is the fourth crisis, then Seldon has foreseen it. If he has, then it can be beaten, and there should be a way of doing it. â€Å"Now The Empire is stronger than we; it always has been. But this is the first time we are in danger of its direct attack, so that strength becomes terribly menacing. If it can be beaten, it must be once again as in all past crises by a method other than pure force. We must find the weak side of our enemy and attack it there.† â€Å"And what is that weak side?† asked the fourth man. â€Å"Do you intend advancing a theory?† â€Å"No. That is the point I'm leading up to. Our great leaders of the past always saw the weak points of their enemies and aimed at that. But now-â€Å" There was a helplessness in his voice, and for a moment none volunteered a comment. Then the fourth man said, â€Å"We need spies.† Forell turned to him eagerly. â€Å"Right! I don't know when the Empire will attack. There may be time.† â€Å"Hober Mallow himself entered the Imperial dominions,† suggested the second man. But Forell shook his head. â€Å"Nothing so direct. None of us are precisely youthful; and all of us are rusty with red-tape and administrative detail. We need young men that are in the field now-â€Å" â€Å"The independent traders?† asked the fourth man. And Forell nodded his, head and whispered, â€Å"If there is yet time-â€Å"