The General Prologue - The Canterbury Tales Essay -- English Literatur

The General Prologue - The Canterbury Tales The General Prologue The most popular part of the Canterbury Tales is the General Prologue, which has long been admired for the lively, individualized portraits it offers. More recent criticism has reacted against this approach, claiming that the portraits are indicative of social types, part of a tradition of social satire, "estates satire", and insisting that they should not be read as individualized character portraits like those in a novel. Yet it is sure that Chaucer's capacity of human sympathy, like Shakespeare's, enabled him to go beyond the conventions of his time and create images of individualized human subjects that have been found not merely credible but endearing in every period from his own until now. It is the General Prologue that serves to establish firmly the framework for the entire story-collection: the pilgrimage that risks being turned into a tale-telling competition. The title "General Prologue" is a modern invention, although a few manuscripts call it prologus. There are very few major textual differences between the various manuscripts. The structure of the General Prologue is a simple one. After an elaborate introduction in lines 1 - 34, the narrator begins the series of portraits (lines 35 - 719). These are followed by a report of the Host's suggestion of a tale-telling contest and its acceptance (lines 720 - 821). On the following morning the pilgrims assemble and it is decided that the Knight shall tell the first tale (lines 822 - 858). Nothing indicates when Chaucer began to compose the General Prologue and there are no variations between manuscripts that might suggest that he revised it after making an initial version. It... ...ed if he does not put people in the order of their social rank, "My wit is short, ye may well understand." This persona continues to profess the utter naivety that we have already noted in his uncritical descriptions of the pilgrims. It is in this way, too, that we should approach the conclusion of the Prologue. Here the Host of the Tabard Inn (Harry Bailey, a historical figure) decides to go with them and ironically it is he, not Chaucer, who proposes the story-telling contest that gives the framework of the Tales. He will also be the ultimate judge of which is the best: "of best sentence and most solas." He is, after all, well prepared by his job to know about the tales people tell! One model for the literary competition would seem to be the meetings of people interested in poetry, known in French as puys, with which Chaucer would have been familiar.

In order for the customers to purchase the Nokia 6600 from the retailer, :: Business Management Studies

In order for the customers to purchase the Nokia 6600 from the retailer, Sales and customer service Task 1 Introduction A sales promotion may be defined as on attempt to create interest in and stimulate sales of a product or service by a non-standard activity in a limited period of time, or with a controlled amount of product (while stocks last) In many ways, a sales promotion is a link between advertising and direct selling. It gives the advertiser an extra benefit to draw to the consumers attention, persuading them to go to the shops, and it allows the manufacturer’s sales person to revitalize the interest of the retailer by having something new to discuss or offer. There are two types of promotion: * Trade promotions- manufacturers promoting to retailers and wholesalers. * Consumer promotions- manufacturers or retailers promoting to the final consumer. I will promote mobile phone Nokia 6600. It is important to understand that sales promotion includes more than just money off voucher on the pocket of a fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) In order for the customers to purchase the Nokia 6600 from the retailer, the latter has had to be persuaded to stock the product in the first place. For this to be achieved, I will have to educate its sales- force on the distinctive selling features of the product, which is Nokia 6600 in order to help it persuade the retailer to stock it. This is picture of Nokia 6600 Components of a sales promotion Firms often refer to promotion above the line and below the line. Above the line promotion is through independent media, such as television or newspapers. These allow firms to reach a wide audience easily. Most advertising is carried out above the line. Some advertising, however, is carried out by methods over which a firm has direct control, such as direct mailing. These and other direct methods of promotion (known as below the line promotion) Below the line promotion allows a firm to aim its marketing at consumers it knows are interested in the product. Above the line advertising in newspaper means that the promotion is seen by most of the readers, even though some will not be interested. With below the line promotions, firms are usually aiming their message at consumers who are either known to them or who have been chosen in advance. For example, direct mail advertisers will pick exactly which consumers they wish to send their mail to, rather than going for blanket coverage. Nokia 6600 sales promotion objectives are: * Increase awareness and interest * Achieve a switch in buying behavior from competitor brands * Incentive consumers of make a purchase of my brand Nokia 6600

Continue to Fund NASA

The wreckage of the ship and the remains of her seven crew members were strewn all across Texas and parts of Louisiana. Even the most staunch NASA believers contemplated their support for the agency as fire rained from the sky. It had been nearly 17 years since the last fatal disaster of the Challenger explosion, and this served as another frightening reminder that space travel till is not safe.The incident caused the question that everyone asked themselves that day: Is the journey Of space travel and exploration worth the sacrifice of human lives? This line of thinking has ultimately lead to the debate over whether we, as American tax payers, should continue to fund NASA in its mission to explore and understand the universe. I propose that NASA is not only an important part of our government, but an absolute critical piece of our development as a human species. We are a race destined for the stars, and the formation of agencies like NASA were the first steps to that end.To better un derstand NASA, we have to look at the agency from its inception. NASA was essentially born out of fear of Soviet space superiority. On October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union launch the worlds first artificial satellite into space by the name of Sputnik (Gerber, Lanais). As a direct result, almost exactly one year later NASA was formed with 8,000 employees and a 1 00 million dollar budget. The initial goal of NASA was to make up lost ground on the Soviets in the space race, but on May 25, 1961 President John F Kennedy gave NASA its prime directive: put a man on the moon and bring him back feely before the end of the decade.With an astonishing pace and efficiency, that goal was achieve on July 20, 1969 when Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon and gave his famous â€Å"One Small Step for Man† speech. At that time, the whole country was behind NASA and its mission. The very act of putting a man on the moon changed our society in many ways. Man was no longer bound to the Ear th, and it changed our perception of the universe. Exploration of space and the stars seemed within our grasp. It looked like only a matter of time before the common man would be colonizing the moon. Fast forward almost forty years later and we find that Man has not been back since.The notion that we were able to send a man to the moon in eight years, but spend the next forty idly by on Earth and our low orbit space stations does not sit well with some. And, if you are just looking at the small picture of manned space travel, it would seem that NASA is moving at a snails pace. Since the last moon landing, Man has not moved an inch past our low orbit space stations. When looking at faults, there are many to be found as to why this has occurred. The first thing we can look at is the faltered support NASA received from our entry in the past few decades.When Americans started dying for the cause, we all slowly started losing our taste for space travel. This also occurred when we realize d the high cost of sending man into space. The public does not see the benefits of sending a man to the moon again, as the â€Å"been there, done that† mentality has prevailed. This is especially apparent as of late when Obama just recently canceled the Constellation Program, which aimed at getting a man back on the moon by 2020 (Atkinson). The ultimate goal was to start towards building a lunar base from which we could launch other space sessions from.Yet, even though we had already spent 9 billion dollars on the project, it was axed. NASA was cited as â€Å"over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation due to a failure to invest in critical new technologies. † Instead, NASA was urged to invest and inspire the centralization of space flight (Belton). This comes about because the space shuttle fleet will be retiring this year, and the US will be entirely reliant on the Russian space agency to ferry our astronauts to the International Space Station for the nex t few years. It is suggested that spurring growth in this sector will achieveBeam's angle of creating jobs and will be better economically than sending our money to Russia. While I find the centralization of space flight a step in a good direction, I believe the cancellation of the Constellation program shows an enormous lack of foresight on the Obama administration's part. While this move harkens back to when the government spurred growth in commercial aviation sector by use of the Airmail initiative (Simmers 2), one must realize that the money is just not there yet for commercial study and exploration.The projects NASA have undertaken have required massive budgets with usually very little monetary return. This is not necessarily the arena for private industry, who have a bottom line to worry about. There has been much outcry as to the cost of supporting NASA through public funding. This year Anna's budget actually increased 6% to just under 18 billion dollars, which to some, are n ot being spent wisely. It is unfortunately true that NASA has become the government agency that nobody wanted it to be: big, bloated, inefficient and expensive.It seems it has fallen into the pit that most other government agencies have. For proof of this e can look at Anna's latest Mars rover project, the Mars Science Laboratory (MS). The rover was supposed to launch near the end of 2009 and now has been delayed (twice) to 201 1 (Chance). The budget for this project was approved at 1. 6 billion but now is projected to surpass 2. 2 billion by launch. Even if you look at Anna's more recent success stories the public has been asking â€Å"is it worth it? ‘ The Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity launched in 2003 and were expected to last only 6 months.Six years later and we find they are still operating on Mars and sending back data. At a total cost of -? 944 million for a six year mission, you could say that's a bargain (Chivies). Yet, there are many who wonder how soil samples and weather patterns on Mars help us when there many more issues down on Earth that need attention. Some have urged for the slashing and outright abolishment of NASA in favor of shifting its budget to other social programs like well fare, national health care or education.While I am not debating the whether or not these programs need more funding, I am stating that diminishing Anna's budget and overall presence would be a huge blow to the development of the IIS and he human race as a whole. When looking at the overall governmental spending budget, NASA is only a drop in the bucket, totaling only less than 1% (Change). Compare that to the height of the Apollo missions that took 5% of the budget, it shows that today's program is affordable. The national defense budget is nearly 40 times that of Anna's.While NASA does not directly work towards the hyphenation of space (that is the Air Force's domain), maintaining space superiority does lend to our country's defense. One can only imagi ne if Russia or China gains the upper hand. Regardless, the minute anis we might see by diverting Anna's funding elsewhere would be greatly outweighed by the detrimental effects this would have on our country and perhaps the world. So far you might say there haven't been many pro's for NASA that have been presented. The fruits of Anna's labors really fall into two categories: tangible and intangible.The intangible gifts that NASA has given us are really the hardest to defend as they may not directly benefit us. For instance, NASA has discovered more than 300 explants (planets orbiting stars outside our solar system) and are still finding new and better ways to detect them Cowmen). They recent launched the Keeper space telescope that will aid us in finding even more explants. The knowledge that there are definitively more planets outside our solar system, while not surprising, does nothing for us now and helps no one at the moment.Yet, the information we might glean from these explan ts may perhaps unlock how planets are formed in our universe; and may even give a glimpse into how life is formed. One cannot put a price tag on expanding the human understanding of the universe. But, knowing how life or planets are formed do not help the starving or the dying. For those who do not care that Uranus has 1000 MPH wind speeds or that at the center of every galaxy there may be a super massive black hole; we must look at the direct and tangible presents that NASA has bestowed on our society.Many, many innovative technologies have been directly and indirectly created by NASA is pursuit of its goals. If you get lost in the woods and your GAPS leads you back to safety; you can thank NASA for that. If MR. scan catches the early stages of cancer and you get to live a full life because of it, you can thank NASA (Change 2). If your fire alarm goes off and you can get out of your souse before it is engulfed in flames; again, you can thank NASA. If you have an ear thermometer, ce ll phone, satellite TV or cordless drill; you can thank in whole or in part, NASA.The technologies NASA has given the world has not only made life easier, but has saved countless lives as well. Let's not forgot Anna's enormous contributions to meteorology either, which have not only saved lives but have help the agricultural sector as well. All these things we may not have come about if NASA hadn't help create them as a means to their end. If all of Anna's contributions to humanity have not swayed you than reaps nothing will. You must take into account this though; that the fate of the entire world and the human race may be on Nanas shoulders.I'm sure you have all seen movies like Armageddon and Deep Impact, and believable or not these Earth striking comets are a very real possibility. The only way we will have fair warning if this comes to pass will be through the efforts of agencies like NASA. The only organizations even considering the possibilities and contingency plans are thos e like NASA This is not fear mongering either; the widely accepted notion that Earth has been hit by a comet before exulting in the extinction of species like the dinosaurs is proof enough that it is possible.It may very well be that one day NASA saves the Earth from destruction, and We will breath sigh of relief that we kept them around. When its all said and done, we need NASA. They have given us so much in the way of knowledge and tech analogical advancements that we shouldn't turn our backs on them now. Granted, they are not perfect and do have many glaring flaws. Perhaps they need a restructuring or new leadership to get them back on the path. The fact remains that we are indebted to NASA for eloping us grow technologically and as humans looking up wide eyed at the sky.

Graffiti & art Essay

The word graffiti is basically used to refer to a form of art that involves making of images, scrawls, scratches or painting letters on surfaces in various ways. It has been in existence for years. The use of graffiti has sparked debate from two camps. It is regarded both as unsightly and unwanted by critics who claim that defacing anything under the pretext of graffiti is simply a form of vandalism while its supporters claim that it is a worthy way of displaying their messages. Introduction Graffiti traces its history to the ancient Greece and the Roman Emperor. It has since evolved from a simple scratch to the modern spray paints and markers. Graffiti has been used to pass social and political messages for quite along time. But though used as such, it still remains an illegal practice in most countries in the world. This has led to a lot of protests and debates from simple artists and scholars alike on whether to legalize it or not. Questions on the safety of the society with legalized graffiti form headlines in such debates. This essay will therefore try to state reasons why graffiti should be left to be in our societies due to its numerous positive impacts that surpass the negatives. Reasons to Support Graffiti †¢ To Preserve Memories The graffiti that are put on stone carvings can stay for years and years to help pass a message to the future generation on how the history of some ancestral practices. A massage that could have required several words to explain can just be put in a single drawing using graffiti. These practices helped revolutionary soldiers to curve their names as well as those of them who died during the war on monuments for remembrance. Cultures have developed and traditions have been preserved, thanks to the graffiti practice. To add onto this it is also reported in (Reda Joseph, 2006) that those countries that are actively involved in the promotion of graffiti have even earned themselves international recognition for example Brazil, which boasts of unique and rich graffiti scenes This has made the country to be considered a centre of inspiration for modern graffiti artists (Lost Art & Caleb Neelon, 2007, 7). †¢ Source of Income The art has been used for decades and decades for the economic advantage of its players. Those individuals that need to have some information sent to the public, or want to uplift the facial look of their premises, cars or any other asset of theirs have to part with some money in return for the services done to them. The artists in this case have therefore benefited a great deal from such payments. There have been reported cases of schools being established to teach those who aspire to have graffiti as a professional course. This has in turn made the instructors to change the societal perception of graffiti apart from gaining from the payments of the courses. The spread escalated in the years 1960s when it was incorporated in the hip hop, rap and rock culture by the then artist (Peter Shapiro) . With this positive reception of the graffiti culture, a lot of exhibitions have been organized leading to staggering sums of money for the artists as well as organizers. Graffiti culture has been picked up by almost everyone in the society. Reported of late in most if not all countries is the graffiti sported on buildings, trains and cars. This shows that the business is not just about to fade away, but needs to be embraced in the modern society then defined well enough to fit perfectly in any given modern setting. This spread has also led to a newly founded wave of creativity and a more professional approach to graffiti. Graffiti also sparks innovation. With the emerging nature of competition in the practice, only technology can help one artist to ride over the others. Modern experimentation has seen the incorporation of some additional arts and technologies as those seen in the graffiti writers in the latest media, where they use projected images and magnetic light emitting diodes (K. Varnedoe and A. Gopnik, 1991). †¢ Radical and Political Use For the voiceless, the oppressed, the socially challenged and all these people who feel disadvantaged in one way or another, graffiti offers a way out to help them address their views. Graffiti is just one tool of expressing resistance to a system of for example governance. In 1990s, graffiti resurfaced with a new look and a refreshed objective, it became more focused on political matters more than social oppression. †¢ Academic and other Uses of Graffiti Contemporary analysts as well as art critics both agree on the artistic value of graffiti and are acquainted with it as a public art which making it a basic necessity for social emancipation or for achievement of a political goals. In case of a conflict in the society, graffiti can be used to bring dialogue and address cleavage between the warring groups. The Belfast and Los Angeles murals have been used to this effect to offer a mode of â€Å"communication and self expression† for those who feel ethnically, socially and racially alienated. Campaigns against moral degradation or any other unaccepted social practice can easily be done using graffiti. When coupled with a bit of stenciling of one or more colors the, the message appears more concrete. This form of advance graffiti was used by artists like Mathangi Arulpragasam, John Fekner and Lucy Lippard, to address decaying environmental concern, political and social issues in their times. Conclusion The life of all human beings is influenced by three main factors: that is, the need to act in a socially accepted manner, to do what one feels good about at that particular time and to maximize ones resources. Without motivating people to act responsibly in any social setting, the first two factors become top priorities. These are the reasons why graffiti has taken a strong root in the current society and has made a stable foundation; instead of just fading away it is seen to be spreading with time. Graffiti has helped people who seek anonymity, but want to give out an opinion to the public on a sensitive matter. Since permanent graffiti is considered a criminal offense, one can resort to the use of non-permanent paints to make it hard for the police to apprehend. Because after all there is a possibility that such temporary graffiti can as well last for a long time than even the permanent works depending on how the community view the artist’s work. Graffiti has evolved to an elaborate painting of letters which is taken as a complete art form with its own aesthetics, particularly the graffiti murals. But it still faces a major opposition from several quarters, from those who treat it as public nuisance†¦to them; it means to deface the good landscape and degrades the community. And the fact that it is illegal makes it unpopular in the eyes of the public. The commercial billboards and numerous advertisements that are spotted in the public space have to be considered if graffiti should be banned. And if the relevant authorities claim that such companies who own them pay tax, then they need to allow graffiti on walls if graffiti artists can find some sponsors like stores, restaurants and other businesses. Or alternatively, such authorities should just let the so called â€Å"public spaces† be made use of by graffiti without charging them. As a final remark, it can be said that, yes! Graffiti is a revolution, and just like any other revolution it might be taken to be a criminal offense. But it also has to be in everyone’s mind that people who are oppressed, depressed or suppressed require an outlet, and graffiti offers them this. So let these people write on walls. Just like clearing the homeless off the streets is not sustainable solution homelessness, erasing graffiti in itself is an act in futility. (Sara Rudin) Work Cited â€Å"Art Crimes† by Sara Rudin: http://www. wm. edu/so/jump/spring96/graffiti. html. â€Å"Is the Writing on the Wall for Graffiti†, PR News Wire (2004-07-28). And â€Å"Jail for leader of graffiti gang†. BBC News (2008-07-11). Retrieved on 21st November, 2008. En Cams â€Å"A History of Graffiti in Its Own Words†, New York Magazine: Press release. K. Varnedoe and A. Gopnik. â€Å"High and Low: Modern Art and Popular Culture. New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1991. Lost Art & Caleb Neelon: â€Å"Graffiti Brazil†. London: Thames and Hudson, 2005, 7. Peter Shapiro: â€Å"Rough Guide to Hip Hop†, 2nd. ed. , London: Rough Guides, 2007. Reda, Joseph (April 25, 2006). â€Å"Bill/Resolution: O06037†. County Council: Passed Legislation. Council of New Castle County, Delaware: Retrieved on 21st November 2008. Thematic strategy on the urban environment — European Parliament resolution on the thematic strategy on the urban environment (2006/2061(INI))

Global Warming. Western States Increasing Temperatures Research Proposal

Global Warming. Western States Increasing Temperatures - Research Proposal Example With the increasing nature of industrialization in the world, there has been increasing amount of carbon compounds and gases that have been released to the atmosphere (Montzaka, Dlogukencky, & Butler, 2011). These carbon gases constitute most of the green house gases, which have caused lots of havoc in changes of weather conditions and caused extensive changes in the climatic conditions of the world. Global warming has been found to cause the increase of world temperatures, thereby affecting the vegetation and the human activities, which the world population is indulged into. Global warming is also associated with natural disasters such as extended torrential rains, melting of ice in the arctic and Antarctic regions, which have increased levels of the oceanic waters. These climatic changes have caused extensive changes in the vegetation of the world leading to drought and conditions being experienced in most regions of the United States and the World in general (Johanes, 2004). The s tudy will narrow down its research to the natural disasters that global warming has been causing in the West states of the country. This is due to the observed and recorded rise of the natural disasters that have been befitting this region of the country in the recent past. This is extremely related and associated with global warming by scientists who have carried out extensive studies on this topic (Mooney, 2007). The most productive regions in the Western part of the United States, including California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana have been adversely affected by the outcome of global warming. Due to the natural disasters, the economic and social aspects of human beings are affected. The research tries to get the relationship between the increasing temperatures of the atmosphere due to greenhouse gases and the climatic menace of global warming (Weart, 2003). It will also be aiming at establishing the relationship between the global warming and the natural disasters, whic h have befitted these regions of the United States. Global warming has been found to be the major cause of natural disasters including the rising levels of the sea and ocean waters resulting into tsunamis, extensive melting of ice fields in the Greenland nations, extensive climatic changes in the increase of temperatures and reduction of rainfall in the African region. Moreover, global warming is the main cause of the many extensive wildfires, which have destroyed lots of vegetation and forests in the United States especially in the western States of Colorado and California (Mooney, 2007). Purpose Statement The purpose of this survey study will be to test the problem of the western United States increasing temperatures, which relates to past and future climate in the surrounding areas current climate. The independent variables will be defined as (i) increasing temperatures in the mountains are affecting snow melt, (ii) pronounced droughts are the effects of warmer temperatures in th e southwestern United States, and (iii) simulations of present and future climates performed with four regional climate models. The dependent variable will be defined as current climate. Statement of the Problem This study aims to prove the relations of global warming to the rising natural disasters in the western United States. It addresses the following questions in the study: 1. What is the relationship of global warming to changes in the climactic condition of the Western States? 2. What is the current temperature in the mountainous area of the western States? 3. How is the temperature in the mountains affect the melting of glaciers in Glacier National Park? 4. What is the

Merger, Acquisition, and International Strategies Essay - 9

Merger, Acquisition, and International Strategies - Essay Example The company under consideration is the Burger King. It also identifies a possible business level and corporate level strategies for the organization. The American Airline Group is a company that is publicly traded and has its headquarters in Texas. This company was formed on the 9th of December 2013, with a merger between the United States Airways Group, and the AMR Corporation. These two airline companies merged to form the largest airline company all over the world. The American Airline Group operates not less than 6,700 daily flights to different locations in the world. This covers about 56 countries, and more than 336 locations found in these 56 countries (Agyenim, 2014). The American airline group has operating revenue of about 40 billion American dollars, and boasts of a workforce of over 100,000 employees. The company plans to introduce an additional 607 aircrafts, and this includes 90 wide body airplanes, and 517 narrow body airplanes. The full merger of this company, resulting to the use of a single operating certificate is expected to be complete in the later periods of 2015 (Agyenim, 2014). The merger of the two airline companies was necessitated by the bankruptcy of AMR group. The strategy used in creating this merger is referred to as the stock-swap strategy/merger. Under this strategy, the shareholders of the US Airways received 28% of the shares of the new company. The creditors of AMR, and other equity holders were to receive the remaining 72% of the shares of the new company. This process was to take two years, upon which the company will pay the creditors of AMR their interests, and other stakeholders of the company a share of the company equity (Agyenim, 2014). This is a rare occurrence in bankruptcy cases where creditors usually receive cents, on a dollar they claim. On the other hand common stakeholders of the company are always wiped out, without receiving any benefits from the

Systems and Operations Management Recommendations Essay

Systems and Operations Management Recommendations - Essay Example 4-7). Operations management involves various manufacturing processes such as supervising, designing, and managing so that the business functions can come under redesign for the production of goods and services. Operations management also makes sure that minimum resources come under utilization in the process of production so that it can become efficient and the business strategies come under effective implementation. Besides, the operations management administers the inputs (particularly in the form of materials, labor, and energy) that come under conversion to output (in the shape of outcome that is goods and services) in an effective and efficient manner (Kumar and Suresh, 2009, pp. 9-11). On the other hand, Systems management is the overall administration and management of the organizations information technology distributed systems. ... This company established its business operations in the early decade of 1960 in Sydney, Australia with the core service provider of photocopying. With the success in the photocopying business, Lachlan (the founder) expanded its business operations and started out as Atokowaâ„ ¢ printing and they reproduced copies for different organizations (Lord Ashcroft International Business School, 2012). Today, Atokowaâ„ ¢ Advantage deals and trade a wide range of stationery and office supplies to individuals and businesses (which are the two distinct types of customers they cater). From their widespread businesses, they now own several retail outlets from where they deliver stationery and office supplies directly to organizations. Additionally they also carry out customized printing upon request for different enterprises. Atokowa also prints brochures, flyers, letterheads, business cards, memo slips, and various other products (Lord Ashcroft International Business School, 2012). With the success and growth of the business, the vision came to cognizance to become the one-stop shop for stationery and office supplies. However, with the passage of time, the vision broadened and the focus towards technology was driven. Atokowa widened their focus and initiated the trading of Commodore 64 and the IBM PC 5100 (one of the technological advancements at that time). Moreover, the company continued their interest in technology and provided a range of information technology products in their retail outlets for their customers (Lord Ashcroft International Business School, 2012). Systems and Operations Management Analysis and Evaluation The systems and operations management analysis and evaluation comes under practice that