Who really protects families
Baby boomers grew up in an era when marriage and sexual preference needed no explanation.
With homosexuality no longer something hidden (for whatever reason), the masses seem to need to define and redefine what marriage is.
With the marriage amendment on our May ballots, our state will be voting to put the vote to our citizens.
This vote is important to both sides of the issue, and rightly so. However, with this issue comes much confusion with who really is for "protecting families." Voting yes to the marriage amendment allows marriage to be defined as between one man and one woman. Nothing discriminatory there. Nothing harming family values.
This is the first time in my 56 years of life that I have seen so much confusion over the true meaning and nature of the amendment. When you go to vote, please read what it actually says on the ballot, and not what someone else's interpretation says it means.
I will be voting for it. And when it's all said and done, I guess the final outcome will tell us where North Carolina stands.
FREDERICKA PFAFF
Winston-Salem
'Bobbleheads'
Dana Milbank's April 16 column "Obama's 'Buffet Rule' gimmick" provided me with a chuckle. He referred to the octet of four millionaires and their assistants who supported the president as "props" as he announced his proposal and added that "the octet smiled and nodded so much as Obama made his case that it appeared that the president was sharing the stage with eight bobbleheads." He reinforced his imagery by repeating it.
The amusing part was not his reference to supporters of the proposal as "bobbleheads" but that one of the "bobbleheads," Whitney Tilson, spoke out, with decidedly non-"bobblehead" candor, in a column just below his ("Please, raise my taxes").
While Milbank's implication that anyone who might agree with the president might be a "bobblehead" and not be able to think for himself, he might be surprised to find that "bobbleheads" are in the majority (65 percent) according to CNN polls. Why can't millionaires pay their fair share?
LINDA COLLINS
Kernersville
Taking us back
I am truly concerned about the proliferation of "stand your ground"-type laws. These laws are basically taking us back to the days of the Wild West where everyone walked the streets with a sidearm or two.
The next time someone backs into your car at the grocery store, I would suggest not complaining too loudly unless you are willing to back it up with firepower. Is this what we call civil society? Is this the type of culture we want for our children, where no one trusts anyone?
I hope these types of laws and those who sponsor them are put back in the past where they belong.
CARL SIMMONS
Lexington
The same rights under the law
The debate over the marriage amendment should focus on civil rights. The amendment will not stop same-sex couples from living together in committed relationships, but it will prevent these citizens from enjoying the same rights under the law as heterosexual couples.
Writing any discrimination such as this into our state constitution should frighten everyone who believes in freedom. Regardless of anyone's beliefs regarding homosexuality, this is about the rights of citizens who live in North Carolina. This amendment would restrict the rights of a targeted group of individuals — this is simply wrong .
There are many making the argument that same-sex marriage goes against their religious beliefs. This is a position we must all respect. However, in a free society, while people should be able to follow their individual religious beliefs, the state may not impose them upon others. This amendment would embed the religious beliefs of some into the very document that defines the powers of the state. Preventing this scenario is precisely why the separation of church and state was written into the Bill of Rights.
As Richard Vinroot, former Republican mayor of Charlotte, says, "It's unnecessary and may have serious unintended consequences. … If you vote against it, it won't harm anybody."
Passage of this amendment will mark a step backward in our quest for fairness and equal opportunity for all.
As a matter of conscience, all North Carolinians who are able to vote should vote against this amendment.
DAVID R. CRAWFORD
Mount Airy
The true word of Jesus
I have remained silent on the issue of the "marriage amendment" for too long, and I sit back and shake my head in disbelief that our great state is going through this ridiculous fight, not only to write discrimination into our constitution but also divide us all as citizens during extremely difficult times.
Why didn't the Republicans focus more on the state's economy instead of implementing an ill-advised and mean-spirited amendment for the ballot? Why were they too busy cutting public education instead of working together to keep our children in high-quality public schools, which would benefit our economy in the future? As a 28-year-old single Christian, I am going to follow the true word of Jesus and "love thy neighbor as thyself," and will be voting against Amendment One on May 8.
DUSTIN BLACKBURN
Winston-Salem
For Ed Hanes
I am pleased to write a letter endorsing Ed Hanes for the 72nd District for N.C. House for the May 8 primary.
I have known Ed Hanes and his family for a number of years. Ed is a tough-minded, but sensitive and compassionate human individual. He works extremely effectively with people of all walks of life — young and old, rich and poor, black and white — because he works very hard and skillfully.
He is a good listener, but he can take information and translate it into decisions. I believe he will be a skilled House member because he works very closely and carefully with people and agencies in the community. He has a superb sense of Forsyth County and the state of North Carolina, including its problems and possibilities. I can recommend Ed without reservation. He is intelligent, hard-working, conscientious and dedicated to excellence in education.
Ed relates well with diverse groups and is able to mold consensus among many political and educational points of view. He has also been involved with college teaching for a number of years.
BEAUFORT BAILEY
FORMER FORSYTH COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Winston-Salem
Unfortunate
Upon looking in the April 12 Journal, I see that Janet Joyner in her letter "Required for votes" left out one important fact. The Golden Rule: The one with the gold makes the rules. Unfortunate, but true.
WILLIAM SAMS
King
LTE #!....no longer hidden (for whatever reason)? Well, because homosexuals are citizens too and you can't burn us anymore. You don't need a definition for marriage, you need a definition for discrimination. Thanks Fredericka, it's thoughts like yours that make the argument against Amendment One even stronger.
ReplyDeleteAffirmative Action is discrimination. Why aren't liberals outraged over that form of discrimination if they are calling the prohibition of gay marriage discrimination?
DeleteOh! I know. Because they want to make up the rules and what is in the Constition as they go along.
Liberals.....what hair-brained interpretations will they come up with next?
Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said at a hearing Friday that Zimmerman cannot have any guns and must observe a 7 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew.
ReplyDelete____________
Does this make any sense? Zimmerman has NOT been convicted of a crime. His life is clearly in danger. Why can't he have a gun to protect himself?
If the government is going to take away his rights BEFORE he is convicted, it should have to provide 24/7 protection.
As far as I know, the New Black Panther has not removed its contract on Zimmerman's life. What is AG Holder doing about it? Nothing......
Deletehttp://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/23/tonight-on-ac360-zimmermans-lawyer-on-bail-release/?hpt=hp_t2
See, I told you...I gave Buck boy one of the cells from my two celled brain and just look at how brilliant it has made him already.
ReplyDeleteLike "Chatty Cathy"...you pull the string and out comes a steady stream of non sequiturs and nonsense.
"Why can't he have a gun to protect himself?"
DeleteLook what happened when he did have a gun!
Well, as usual, you-know-who blathers on about things he knows nothing about.
DeleteZimmerman has not been released yet because authorities have to figure out what to do with him...he may be moved out of state. And, of course, he will be protected, which is routine in such cases.
Should have denied bond, because now the taxpayers will have to pay way more than what it would cost to keep him in jail where he would be safe.
All because the sissy was afraid to leave his house without his gun. As my detective friend says, the bigger the gun, the smaller the Dick Cheney.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/23/justice/florida-teen-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
DeleteZimmerman HAS been released. The 'know-it-all' proves again, HE doesn't know what he's talking about.
once a person is under arrest, their right to liberty has already been taken away, bail hearings are a part of the due process and the judge could have denied bail and can set the terms of the bail. So simple, think of those denied bail yet haven't been convicted. Their right to liberty has been taken away and they sit in jail until convicted or exonerated.
DeleteYep..go take a look at our local jail, which holds over 500 people. Almost all of them are there because they couldn't make bail on minor drug charges.
DeleteAnd Zimmerman is not free. He was escorted from the jail by four law enforcement vehicles. He will be holed up somewhere under constant watch and will be unable to go anywhere on his own.
The cost to taxpayers will be astronomical, probably 2 cops per 8 hour shift, round the clock until trial.
Setting the conditions for release
DeleteAgain all a bunch of suppositions by the know-it-all liberals in here. It's extremely RARE that anyone gets 24 hour supervision/protection after they are released. The fact that the judge required a ankle monitor tells me, but then again I'm a thinking human being, that Zimmerman will be on his own.
DeleteI realize many of the lunatic, left leaning, liberals in here like to rant and rave about different, various topics that they don't have a clue about. However, it would do all of you some good if you would actually read Florida's Stand your Ground law(s).
Deletehttp://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0776/0776.html
Bucky, just what supposition did I make?
DeletePerhaps because of the Martin-Zimmerman tragedy, Stand Your Ground laws in FL and other states are being re-evaluated.
DeleteEven ALEC, the group that has been pushing the law all along, has re-evaluated and dropped it. Several companies -- including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald's, Kraft and Intuit -- had already distanced themselves from ALEC before Tuesday's surprise announcement.
DeleteNow I can have a Coke and a Smile.
LaSombra, that is the point. Zimmerman was not standing his ground. Using Martin's death as a basis for review is deceitful, has nothing to do with SYG.
DeleteI agree re Zimmerman not standing his ground, Stab.
DeleteNo one is "using" Martin's death as a "basis" for reviewing SYG; the incident was the "launch pad", so to speak, and I don't think the intent is to "deceive" anyone. I know I'm playing semantics here, but think about it: law makers and law enforcement see a need to re-evaluate SYG in order to prevent someone from abusing the SYG defense.
The problem I have with SYG is not about a duty to retreat -- it's because it requires a subjective rather than objective test. It makes it far, far too easy for a wrongdoer to claim the defense.
Delete" . . . SYG . . . it requires a subjective rather than objective test. It makes it far, far too easy for a wrongdoer to claim the defense.
DeleteBINGO!
Zimmerman was a community watch leader. He was trying to protect his community from criminals. He wasn't some gang banger, with a hoodie on, selling drugs on the corner.
DeleteWhat a twisted sense of logic you people have.
In order to accurately report an incident to police, you might have to actual follow someone. That doesn't make a person the 'aggressor'. If you poke someone in the nose, that makes you an 'aggressor'.
DeleteTry to let the facts come out before you all let your liberal minds go rampant, if that's possible.
"In order to accurately report an incident to police, you might have to actual follow someone."
DeleteWhere in WannaBe Law Enforcement Training does it say that?
. . . or in Neighborhood Watch covenants?
DeleteProbably in the same place where it says that when a 911 operator tells you "we don't need you to follow that person", it really means "follow him."
Delete;-D)
DeleteA 911 operator has no legal police authority. Besides, he's not at the scene of the incident, it's the caller's decision what to do-good or bad.
DeleteNot only that, reports are that Zimmerman was returning to his car when the gang banger- wanna-be jumped him and started banging his head on the concrete.
Just because some 'white' guy shot a black man without a gun, doesn't mean he wasn't justified. Turn off CSI and stop watching Nancy Pelosi rant, and start using your own rational mind to think with. That is, if you've got one.
I see the gun control crowd has something about which to misrepresent and wave a bloody shirt: Stand Your Ground. News flash: Zimmerman was not standing his ground. He had pursued Martin after the dispatcher tried to dissuade him. Using this as an reason to repeal SYG is deceitful, but that is nothing new for gun grabbers. One wonders why they wish to deprive law-abiding people of the right to self-defense.
ReplyDeleteBased on his pursuit of Martin, it appears Zimmerman is guilty of manslaughter. I hope he cops to that. If this goes to trial, he might get a misguided jury that acquits. Remember what happened after the Rodney King trial. And remember what happened after OJ beat the rap. Oh wait, nothing happened. Strange.
I don't think anyone wishes "to deprive law-abiding people of the right to self-defense." What I wish for is that the use of an instrument whose only purpose is to kill not be used as a general "go to" for self defense.
Delete(I hope this makes sense. It took me awhile to word it this way cz I didn't know how else to word it.)
You could fool me. The anti-gun crowd believes in the confiscation of firearms, along with the right of criminals to commit crimes unimpeded by the rights of the law-abiding. I agree re guns not being go-to weapons in all cases, but there is an easy way for criminals to avoid overreactions: don't commit crimes.
DeleteDon't get me wrong - - - I'm not part of the anti-gun crowd. Current laws allow us to own them, I personally don't have the need to own/carry one. Yet. Who knows, maybe never. But when incidences such as this open up discussions about guns pro and con what I hear most is "self defense". Truth is, self defense comes in many forms.
DeleteFox is showing a video of Obama talking about George Bush not following the Constitution by signing executive orders during the last campaign. He's already signed a ton of executive orders, and he plans to sign more between now and the election in order to curry favor with some, special interest, voters.
ReplyDeleteBucky, just what suppositions did I make?
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon folks! It was great to finally meet you, Bob.
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: "...in an era when marriage and sexual preference needed no explanation." - Since when has marriage or sexual preference ever needed an explanation to anyone old enough to understand the concepts? Why should homosexuals have to hide or live a lie? Why can't they live out in the open and enjoy all of the rights and priviledges afforded any citizen of this country? This amendment may be important to both sides, but it will only affect those couples who are co-habiting outside of marriage. I'm not sure how this amendment is not discriminatory when it allows heterosexuals to marry whom they love but not homosexuals.
LTE 2: Dana Milbank has done his job as a columnist and prompted an LTE. I wonder if Ms. Collins is aware that Milbank is actually considered to be "left"? The debate over what is a "fair" share of the taxes has continued since the 13th Amendment was enacted. Yes, the top ~50% pay the taxes, but they also make all of the money (actually, everyone who earns a paycheck helps pay the bills since fed taxes are withheld from every paycheck).
LTE 3: To me, this is what the Zimmerman debacle should be about: a wannabe cop with a gun, a dead teenager, and a law that forces the prosecuters to prove Zimmerman had no reason to shoot as opposed to Zimmerman having to prove he did fire in self-defense. I personally have no desire to live in a community where I need to carry a gun to defend myself because everyone is also carrying regardless of sanity, IQ, or maturity level.
LTE 4: Whether or not same-sex marriage is in violation of someone's religious beliefs is beside the point because same-sex marriage has no affect on a person's ability to worship. No one will be forced to marry a person of the same sex.
LTE 5: I'd really like the answers to Mr. Blackburn's questions myself. Just how do those actions benefit NC or create an atmosphere conducive to job growth?
LTE 6: Endorsement
LTE 7: Yes, Mr. Sams, those who pay the bills get their bills passed. One only needs to look across the country to see the same bills proposed and passed by politicians who have the same backers. Ain't no coincidence.
Thank you and likewise.
DeleteThe Dem state house in CT has voted to require home health care providers to join the SEIU. Nice: vote in your trained seals, and they hand over dues payers without the providers' consent. Interesting how unions want to be handed members rather than earning willing ones. I keep hearing about a war on unions. It isn't being waged very well.
ReplyDeleteThe country is going down the tubes, Stab. Sadly, we have to wait until it actually crashes before anything will be done to correct our many problems.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong, bucky, not willing to stand your ground are you?
DeleteNo, I following dotnet's law-I'm running like a scared chicken.
DeleteSquaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaK!
DeleteUnlike some people in here, I protect my back end.
Deletethere's one for the trash heaps.
DeleteNews just coming in: Democrats want to tax 401k plans.
ReplyDeleteThey are going to keep stealing money through taxes until the country collapses.
It seems liberal absurdity will never end.
I know they are already taxed, the Democrats want to tax them even MORE!
DeleteThat was simple. right click on bucky's image and the click block, it goes away.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteYou're going to miss my photos. I've got some good ones lined up for the future, Bobby.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteEveryone, that may not work for you. I have google chrome and Adblock plus is an add-on app from the chrome web store.
DeleteThanks goodness, I wouldn't want people to miss out on my shining mentor's face.
DeleteGoogle Chrome is like America on Line was. It'll take over your computer.
DeleteGoogle Chrome takes over your computer because it was created by gay people. It will also cause you to have an overwhelming urge to go to the Y and bend over naked.
DeleteBut don't worry...it only does that to paranoid schizoid gay cop wannabes.
Thanks, Bob, for the tip. I had forgotten about Ad Block. There are versions for FireFox and Safari as well. You can probably even find a way to block the dork on Internet Explorer, but I have not used that dinosaur in over 10 years, so have no idea how.
It is nice not having to look at that stupid picture.
Hey, Barney Frank is your type of guy, NW. I don't know why you wouldn't want to look at him.
DeleteI've got some more 'outstanding' Democrats' pictures that I want to put up in the future. Check back soon. You don't to be the only ones in the dark not having fun.
DeleteBuck boy, anything that becomes associated with you begins to look and smell like sewage.
DeleteIt's Mr. Bucky to you, NW.
DeleteThis is just too good to be true:
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON - Mitt Romney's decision to appoint an openly gay man as his foreign policy spokesman has angered social conservatives, not surprisingly — but the Republican front-runner's new employee has also caused him trouble with another demographic he's trying to woo: women.
Richard Grenell's Twitter feed was recently rife with snide remarks about various female political figures, from Michelle Obama to Hillary Clinton and Callista Gingrich.
He's reportedly scrubbed more than 800 tweets in recent days, but they live on after being unearthed and archived by news outlets shortly after Romney announced his appointment.
The etch-a-sketch has been shaken.
Deletewoo the social conservatives and then, wham, take that.
DeleteThe gay guy will get dumped, and Romney will move on.
DeleteBryan Fischer Launches Full-Scale Attack on Romney Campaign's Gay Spokesman
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/bryan-fischer-launches-attack-romney-campaigns-gay-spokesman
Fischer said that most gay men have hundreds, if not thousands, of random, frequent, and anonymous sexual encounters.
ReplyDeleteOne wonders how they manage that when our own resident expert, who, thanks to my generosity as an organ donor, now wields a one cellpower brain, has repeatedly said that there are only 3 gay people in the whole world, Bob and two women in Asheville.
Or did he say 81...no that was that war criminal down in Florida talking about the number of commoners in Congress or something. He's being considered as a running mate for Romney.
Better shake that Etch-A-Sketch again, Mitty boy.
Right Wing Watch? No wonder some people's minds are warped. I always thought 'Wordly' was the most reasonable of the left wingers in here. Guess I thought wrong.
DeleteThank you, Bucky.
DeleteCheck out the Christian left too.
Deletehttp://www.thechristianleft.org/
I try to just stay with the main stream liberal media, Wordly. It's liberal enough for me.
DeleteThere's all kinds of things starting to come out about Obama and his problematic conduct during his presidency. It's going to get worse too as we get nearer to the election.
50% of recent college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed, I'll bet they're REAL glad that they voted for Obama now.
DeleteI just returned form a meeting of the City Council at which I spoke. I am happy to report that the Committee of the Whole has referred the resolution by Councilwoman Molly Leight stating the city of Winston-Salem's Opposition to Amendment One to a vote in the Full Council. The vote was 6 for and 1 abstention.
ReplyDeleteWow! So you've got a bunch people that can't efficiently run a city supporting something that that will probably pass anyway?
DeleteI'm glad you spoke though Bobby. It's always good to stand up for something you believe in.
In an attempt to divorce the Marriage Amendment from marriage, opponents deceptively call it "Amendment One." Do not be mistaken on Election Day. The only initiative that will appear on the ballot this May 8th is the Marriage Amendment, NOT "Amendment One."
DeleteWant to learn more?
http://www.voteformarriagenc.com/
Thank you Mitt Romney for following President Obama's lead today and endorsing his push to keep interest on student loans from doubling in July. Now get your party in line.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteObama eating dog-meat should help him with pet owners too. Oh Jeeeeez.....!
DeleteWhat happens in Indonesia, should stay in Indonesia!
Medicare is projected to go bankrupted in 2014. What did Obama do about it? He added another healthcare program that we can't pay for.
DeletePlease SCOTUS throw it out, then we'll throw Obama out in November.
There is that pesky little Ryan Budget, though, that you called "mahvelous" which also doubles interest and eliminates 170 billion in Pell grants. So tell us Mitt, what will the etch-a-sketch say tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteThat's better that Obama's expanded wish list-to 'forgive' student loans entirely. That would throw the economy another trillion into debt.
DeleteBut it would get him the youth vote again. Who says you can't 'buy' votes?
I see that Chatty Cathy has been getting her string jerked all day. Who could have known when she was introduced 50 years ago that she would become a trashmouth and a raving paranoid fount of misinformation and outright lies?
ReplyDeleteZimmerman will be on his own.
He was trying to protect his community from criminals
In order to accurately report an incident to police, you might have to actual (sic) follow someone.
reports are that Zimmerman was returning to his car
Again all a bunch of suppositions
Bucky, just what suppositions did I make?
(at this point, Chatty Cathy went dumb, as always)
The country is going down the tubes
Unlike some people in here, I protect my back end.
You're going to miss my photos.
It'll take over your computer.
It's Mr. Bucky to you, NW.
I always thought 'Wordly' was the most reasonable of the left wingers in here. Guess I thought wrong.
Medicare is projected to go bankrupted in 2014.
Mattell toys were not all that well made. You'd think the string would break at some point. Tune in to Chatty Cathy tomorrow…all copy and paste all the time...all bullshit all the time!
"The anti-gun crowd believes in the confiscation of firearms, along with the right of criminals to commit crimes unimpeded by the rights of the law-abiding."
ReplyDeleteMy, my, got a little hyperbolic, did we? Please name any individuals or groups that you know of who believe in the "right of criminals to commit crimes unimpeded by the rights of the law abiding." Even most criminals wouldn't go along with that, because most criminals are just as frightened of guns as any sensible person is.
1. According to the latest Department of Justice statistics, about 7% of all violent crimes (rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated and simple assault) are committed using a firearm. The percentage chance of any individual in the US facing such an assault is .0009%, but that does not give the true picture, because all of the above stated crimes occur primarily among people who are acquainted with each other. If you choose your friends and acquaintances, including family, wisely, your chance of being involved in a gun crime falls to near zero.
2. Despite all this, how might you get involved in a gun crime? Let's take a look at TV's favorite scenario, the convenience store holdup. So you're standing in line waiting to pay for your Skittles and iced tea and suddenly a desperado barges in, waving a hand cannon and demands all the money. Oh boy, now you're in for it.
Ridiculous! Criminals are not generally very smart, but even the dumbest rarely try to hold anybody up when there are other people around. This is pure fantasy, fueled by the many, many stupid shows on TV.
3. OK, just for kicks, let's go for the fantasy. So you are standing in line waiting to pay for your Skittles and iced tea and the desperado arrives. Almost all convenience store chains have the same policy. The clerk hands over the money and the desperado leaves. You may wet your pants at your first encounter with the business end of a hand cannon…many do…but you will live to tell the tale, over and over and over until everybody is sick of hearing it.
4. But here's the really scary story. Assume the same situation as above. But this time, standing just behind you in line, is one of those sissy boys who is too frightened to leave the house without a gun…you know, the holder of a concealed carry permit. So instead of letting the desperado collect the money and go, he decides to be John Wayne for three seconds and goes for his gun. Unfortunately, to his astonishment, he is not Billy the Kid. Bullets start flying and people start dying. All over $271.56.
----------------
Over the years, I have gone many places that I shouldn't have. And sometimes I still do. But that is my business. On all those excursions, in Harlem, in East Los Angeles, in Mexican border towns, in Hong Kong, even in Olongapo City in the Philippines, I have never had anyone point a gun at me, or even show a gun.
I know how and where to look out for trouble, and I know how to handle a wide variety of situations. The one situation that I fear most is the one in which some fool who has had the required four hours or whatever of "training" to get a concealed carry permit is standing next to me in some public place, just panting to use his big rod.
He should stay at home and pay attention to his little one.
Again, the liberal know-it-all makes a fool of himself. What else is new, right?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, you don't have to be a victim of a gun crime in order for your life to be put in jeopardy during the commission of a crime. Some gang banger wanna-be might come along and start banging your head into concrete because he doesn't like your looks. There are literally thousands of things that people could use against another person that would or could represent a deadly threat to another human being. And one of them includes a person's hands.
Men have an approximately 19% chance of being a victim of a violent crime during his lifetime, and women, approximately 16% chance.
http://crimeinamerica.net/crime-rates-united-states/
You can walk around with your head up your liberal heinie if you want, I don't care. However, let's not confuse your fiction from the real facts.