Inspiration for Success

Get started and get going by taking one step at a time ....

Keep moving forward, get up when you fall, and success will be within sight if you don't give up ...

Beautiful Exotic Birds with Relaxing Music and Bird Sounds by Yossi H

Click on the following YouTube clip by Yossi H and be amazed by the wide assortment of exotic birds from around the world as you relax with the accompanying music and chirping.

I think the Blue Magpie is simply stunning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5aAp__XQOQ

A Story of Two Doors

I know of a man who takes the subway to work in the morning. As he descends the escalator he would single out either of the two nearest doors at the waiting platform.

Now, from past experiences of morning peak hour he knows that the door nearest to the escalator has a lot more passengers who would be alighting from the train than those at the second door. 

Also, of late, he has observed that the train schedule has been tightened such that even before the passengers at the first door have fully alighted, the train doors, followed closely by the platform doors, would begin to shut. As a result, the boarding passengers, especially those further along the queue would have to wait for the next train.

On the other hand, the second door has relatively lesser disembarking commuters and there is usually time enough for the commuters on the platform to board the train before the doors are shut.

This morning the man felt confident that this time it would be different. So, he decided to challenge his own knowledge by choosing the first door instead of the second door.

Sure enough, even before the load of passengers has alighted, the doors began to shut and he got sandwiched between the closing double leaf doors. Instinctively, he pulled himself out of the clamping doors to safety with dirt markings on his sleeves as proof of his five-seconds flap. He shrugged off his annoyance and then moved sheepishly to the second door.

Following from this story of two doors, there are quite a number of possible lessons we can learn from the university of life. One lesson would be not to take a gamble when the probability are stacked against us. For example, this would literally mean that it is unwise to get hooked into gambling at casinos. 

Another lesson would be to buy shares of large, well-established and financially sound public-listed companies that have operated for many years (a.k.a. blue-chip stocks) at a steep discount when the markets are down due to temporary economic conditions.

My take is that, when the research and studies have been done thoroughly of a situation as well as the options available, the standout lesson from this story of two doors would be to: 

Stand by Your Conviction and Go for It!  

Afterthought

Speaking of doors, here are just some quotes to tickle your brain:-

"Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea." -- Jim Rohn

"You can choose not to sit on the fence. You can choose not to criticise. You must stand as guard at the door of your own mind and choose to be positive." -- Gail Kelly

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." -- Alexander Graham Bell

"I was smart enough to go through any door that opened." -- Joan Rivers

TISSOT's 'T' is for Tactile

Today I saw an advertisement on Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar -- tactile watch powered by solar energy, offering 20 functions including weather forecast, altimeter and compass. 

That it is powered by light energy and "Swiss Made" at that caught by attention. To this day I still wonder why Swatch did not take the eco-leap to produce solar watches and launched a collection of automatic watches instead.

According to its blurb at http://www.tissot.ch/products/tissot-t-touch-expert-solar/T0914204604100.html :-

"Tissot’s pioneering spirit is what led to the creation of tactile watches in 1999.

Today, it is the first to present a touch-screen watch powered by solar energy, confirming its position as leader in tactile technology in watchmaking.

The rays of light on the dial allow to recharge the watch and to offer essential functions for everyday use.

All this in a modern and dynamic stylish watch."

Also, from their website, Tissot's TOUCH technology covers the following functions:

"Relative and Absolute Air Pressure

The barometer function shows the weather changes via the hands and the adjustable relative air pressure via the digital display [hpa].

Altimeter

Adjustable display of the altitude above sea level, in metres or feet.

Altitude Difference Meter

Functions like a stopwatch and shows the cumulative time, the cumulative gain and loss in altitude in metres or feet, the average ascent and descent speed in metres per minute or feet per minute.

Chrono Lap

Chronograph function dedicated to measuring lap times of one runner/ racer with a precision to within a hundredth of a second.

Chrono Split

Chronograph function dedicated to measuring total racing times for up to 99 racers competing in the same timed event.

Compass

Indication of true north using magnetic north and the adjustable declination to the east or west.

Azimuth

By adjusting the azimuth, the Tissot T-Touch Expert indicates the heading, which is shown at 12 o’clock. The minute hand shows the north.

Alarm 1 and 2

Two 24-hour alarms, easy to use, with audible signal.

Timer

Countdown from the time that can be set in hours, minutes and seconds.

Regatta

The adjustable countdown for the departure procedure, with an audible signal, transforms into a race chronograph when the regatta starts."

Please look up http://www.t-touch.com/en-en/#!/t-touch-expert-solar to find out more.

For your further exploration and contemplation, please click on the following links:

Favourable Review by Ariel Adams of A Blog to Watch

http://www.ablogtowatch.com/tissot-t-touch-expert-solar-watch-review-2/

and

Critical Review by John Biggs of Tech Crunch

http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/14/up-close-with-the-tissot-t-touch-solar-expert-the-perennial-hiking-watch-for-geeks/ 

How To Have More Money (Part 3)

A billionaire once said something to the effect that 'Making money is more enjoyable than having sex.' If you are young and passionate, you would probably think otherwise and might be tempted to give in to pre-marital sex rather than focus on growing your money tree. (Think of the psychological-cum-medical and social costs of an early pregnancy for the unexpected and ill-prepared young parents.) 

According to Jim Rohn, "Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune." Okay, even if not a fortune, then at least make your circumstances less unfortunate or place it in a more fortunate condition.

From my weighing-in, it would be a better deal to build your financial resources for your dream marriage and steer clear of distraction such as pre-marital sex. That said, you may have other cravings, too, depending on your stage in life. For example, you may have been eyeing that cruise to Alaska or overseas holiday to Australia for the longest time and dabbling with the thought of using your credit card.

Supposing the above-mentioned family holiday costs USD 6,000.00 and you intend to pay it off over 6 months, then you need to ensure that you have a monthly disposal income and/or savings of at least USD 1,000.00 to drawdown for your payment to the credit company and that is before factoring the attendant interest expenses on the outstanding balance at an effective rate of 24% per annum or 2% per month.

If you can't afford it (others may and so be it), then you gotta either save up first for that holiday first or choose a cheaper alternative and persuade your family that it's not the destination but the quality of time spent together that really matters, rather than incur credit card debt and the exorbitant interest costs, thereof.

"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor." –Seneca

To digress, one of my brothers taught me that we shouldn't go around lamenting that things are expensive when other people are snapping them up like nobody's business, indeed. We should just say 'That's beyond me', or 'I can't afford that'. No harm and no shame in admitting that.

Thus, one way by which you can have more money is: To Defer Gratification of Your Cravings. In a world of quick-fixes or instant gratification (Think: instant noodle, learning French in 3 minutes per lesson and 45 minutes fat-fryer workout) we live life on the fast lanes and just gotta re-learn that certain things take time.

Back to that holiday. If you have a good payment record, the credit card company may offer you (as with their other similar customers) an interest-free advance of 6 months at a one-off processing fee of, say, 3% on the USD 6,000.00. You would then receive USD 5,820.00, after deducting the processing fee and your effective interest rate over the 6-months period would be just 3% or 0.5% per month. So, if you can afford to pay off the USD 6,000.00 (processing fee included) by the end of the next 6 months, then go for it at the lowered interest costs which is disguised as processing fee.

Notes:

* Money is not the root of all evil. It is the love of money which is the root of all evil.

* Money is great servant but a terrible master.

* You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.

* "Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder." (Proverbs 23:4-5; MSG)

The Window From Which We Look

(Source: Unknown)

"A young couple had just moved into a new neighbourhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbour hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean," she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life.  What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look."

Note:

Let's not presumed on a trivial or light matter without first finding out all the relevant facts. Thus, if we have only superficial or apparent evidence without in-depth study and do not have the capacity to find out more, then it's better to give the benefit of the doubt. 

On the other hand, if it is a serious or weighty matter, then due diligence to find out all the relevant facts would be the order of the day.

How To Have More Money (Part 2)

While not every one is born with a silver spoon, so to speak, you can find yourselves within reach of, say, silver accessories, Wencia wristwatches and, taken to the extreme, silver cutleries, by having more money.

Continuing from "How To Have More Money (Part 1)", one way by which you can have more money is: To Pay Yourself From Your Income.

Besides the usual payees such as household operation manager (spouse or parent), telcos, mortgagors (banks or finance companies), grocers and transport providers, you would need to treat yourself as a payee, too, intentionally. You can do this by opening a separate bank account and transferring a fixed sum into this account via internet banking or interbank GIRO every month.

In some countries such as Singapore, employees who are Singapore citizens or permanent residences are required to contribute 20% (subject to some variation depending on their age and income level) of their earned income towards a Central Provident Fund as a compulsory form of savings for their retirement, primarily. Notwithstanding this or other form of provident fund in your respective country, it is prudent and sound financial self-discipline to pay yourself another 10% to 20% every month, if possible.

The magic of growing your money stack is to keep repeating your payment to yourself each month as a priority on par with your other pressing payees. Keep feeding your own bank account and it will feed your purposes well, in future. Start NOW, if you have not already done so.

Notes:

* Money is not the root of all evil. It is the love of money which is the root of all evil.

* Money is great servant but a terrible master.

* You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.

* "Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder." (Proverbs 23:4-5; MSG)

Mr Cylinder Game

Recently, while watching Running Man's action-packed game show with my sons, the game contestants (adults, albeit) played "Mr. Cylinder Game". In this game they would gather around a plastic Pirate pop-up toy set on a stool and take turn to insert a dagger randomly into one of its many slots on the side a barrel with the poor pirate inside. 

When a contestant sticks in the dagger and the pirate pops, he would be knocked out and the last remaining competitor would emerge as the winner. 

Have a go at it and it might be just a barrel of fun for your young children, nephews and nieces, and their friends!

Click on the following YouTube clip to watch "Tomy Super Pirate - Pop Up Pirate Game" by SurpriseFun TV:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKk658gwWDY

Click on the following to check out it's availability at:-  
http://www.amazon.com/Tomy-TY7028-Pop-Up-Pirate-Game/dp/B0000669DR 

How To Have More Money (Part 1)

Firstly, I take it that a writer like me doesn't neeed to have great wealth to write about 'How To Have More Money' just as a priest doesn't need to be dead to know how to conduct a funeral and a pilot doesn't need to own a Dreamliner to fly it.

Having said that, it is an incorrect perception that only the rich and wealthy can have more money. For example, a rich person who lacks the wisdom and financial acumen could well see his wealth dwindling due to unsavvy investments and/or working with incompatible business partners. 

Whether you have a little or much money, one of the way by which you can have more money is: To Spend Less Than What You Earn. It is a simple truth, but it would only bear fruit when followed diligently and consistently over time. The little surplus cash that is set aside monthly will slowly but surely adds up to a sizeable pile over the times and seasons of your life.

Do a financial health check and see whether you are keeping your total money outflows within what you earn for each month. If your total expenses are more than what you earn, then evaluate and decide on which expenditure to forgo or scale down. 

If you have surplus cash each month after settling all your bills, then you are well on your way to having more cash on hand, thereby advancing towards the goal of financial independence.

Notes:

* Money is not the root of all evil. It is the love of money which is the root of all evil.

* Money is great servant but a terrible master.

* You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.

* "Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder." (Proverbs 23:4-5; MSG)

Re-ORIENTate Your Choice of a Timepiece

For those unacquainted with East Asia or Asia for that matter, you would probably never heard of Orient Watch Company. 

Orient Classic Automatic DH00001B

Who is Orient Watch Co.?

This is must-read blurb by Self-Defence Armory  at http://www.selfdefensearmory.com/orientwatchco.html for your reading pleasure with the following highlights:-

Orient Classic Automatic ET0P003W

"GI's, Marines, Sailors and Airmen brought home a couple of very important items in the late 1960s when returning from a tour of duty in the Far East. First was a stereo, with the obligatory reel-to-reel tape deck. For those too young to know, reel-to-reel was before 8-track tapes, which was before cassettes, which was before CDs, which was before MP3.  The second item they brought home was a watch. More often than not, the watch was either an Orient or Seiko watch.  Good deals were to be had with the American dollar from the Far East.

Orient Sporty Automatic FM00005D

"While Seiko embraced quartz technology a few years later and become a household name worldwide, Orient Watch Company went about their business of refining mechanical and automatic self-winding watches.  They manufacture a few quartz watch movements, but the heart and soul of the Orient Watch Co's management team in Japan was in perfecting mechanical wind up watches, followed by automatic self-winding watches in the early seventies."

Orient Diving Sports Automatic

"Orient Watch Co. today is recognized as one of the best mechanical watchmakers in the world.  They play second fiddle to no one when it comes to quality mechanical movements. They are perfectly poised to again win the hearts of American watch lovers with their extraordinary line of self-winding automatic watches." 

"Orient's self-winding mechanical watches represent fine craftsmanship that somehow has gotten lost in recent years to electronics manufacturers trying to stuff everything from a computer to a cell phone on our wrists.  But we think Americans are ready for a change to the concept of a watch telling us the time and doing nothing more than that, but doing it far more eloquently than a quartz watch.  There is something magical about a second hand sweeping around the dial instead of quartz watch ticking once every second. That sweep of the second hand is what quality watch making is all about. When someone else notices the sweep of the second hand, more often than not, they'll ask about your watch.  A mechanical vs. quartz watch is like the difference in sound between a V-8 and a four cylinder.  It's like the difference between the sound a single action revolver makes while being cocked vs. a slide being pulled back on a semi-auto pistol.  Both types are like fine music to the ears of an aficionado. Some marvel at the electronics stuffed into a wristwatch, while others marvel at the mechanical genius of a self-winding automatic."  

A Bit of History on Orient Watch (Source: Wikipedia)

"The origin of Orient Watch Company dates back to 1901 when Shogoro Yoshida opened a wholesale shop called "Yoshida Watch Shop" in Ueno, Taito, Tokyo, Japan. Yoshida Watch Shop was successful, selling imported pocketwatches. In 1912, Yoshida expand his business and began producing of wristwatch cases (gold cases). In 1920, the Toyo Tokei Manufacturing was established, originally producing table clocks and gauges. It was not until 1934 that Toyo Tokei Manufacturing started the production of wristwatches. in 1936, the Hino Factory was built in Hino, Tokyo, Japan. For several years, Toyo Tokei Manufacturing boomed at the Hino Factory. However, affected by the poor Japanese economy after World War II, the company shut down in 1949.

After the Toyo Tokei Manufacturing was shut down, Yoshida’s wristwatch manufacturing company was reborn in 1950, founded under the name Tama Keiki Company. Tama Keiki Co., Ltd. continued manufacturing watches at the Hino Factory. Just one year later, in 1951, Tama Keiki Co., Ltd. changed its name to Orient Watch Co., Ltd., and in the same year the first Orient Star went on sale. Orient Watch was able to expand their visibility overseas after a memorandum trade agreement with China in 1955. The Royal Orient subsequently went on sale in 1960. Other important watches in the company's history include the "Dynamic" in 1956, "Grand Prix 100" in 1964, "Fineness" (the world's thinnest automatic wristwatch with day and date calendar function for its time) in 1967, and the "Tenbeat" in 1970.

In 2003, the Orient Technical Center (OTC) was established and the assembly of luxury watches began in Ugo, Ogachi, Akita, Japan. In 2004, the high-precision Caliber 88700 movement went on sale via the Royal Orient watch line. In 2005, Orient Star Retro-Future collection was launched. In 2010, Orient Watch Co., Ltd. celebrated its 60th anniversary with a limited edition model."

Orient Sports Quartz TD09009B

Click on the following link to read more on the innovation of the company's products over the past 60 years:-

http://www.orient-watch.com/feature/museum/  

Click on the following link to read Leslie Chang's big break with Orient watches:-

http://www.bigtimesgp.com/brands/orient

Click on the following link to view a YouTube clip on "A walk through the Orient Watch Factories in Japan" by Orient Watch:- 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MH1IZ9rA28

Bags of Inspiration

Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of,
dreams really do come true 

Do you have the capacity for happiness?

For the real McCoy on "Somewhere over the rainbow", please click on "Judy Garland - Somewhere over the rainbow lyrics" posted by Charlotte Spliid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XulvnXo6BJk

McInspiration

McDonald's Restaurant is famous for its QSC (Quality, Service and Cleanliness) from what I could still recall vividly from study materials of long ago.

As a student I was sold on its Big Mac meal with chocolate milk shake. Today, I still love the Big Mac meal with unsalted fries or corn cup without the butter, to go with a cup of their Arabica coffee. Oh, my children were initiated into Happy Meals with the accompanying toy which prove that money can buy happiness, indeed.

Yes, I am sure, it is a restaurant which evokes many happy memories for, oh, so many kindred folks. Over the years McDonald's has continued to innovate and engage its customers with new products (e.g. Samurai burger, McFlurry, McCafe and pineapple pie) and services (e.g., Drive-thru, McDelivery, PlayPlaces & Party, Arch Card and Free Wi-Fi).

There is more ... creative minds @McDonald's are also reaching out to interact with faithful customers through mass media and inspirational taglines such as the following in my recent encounters:-

Wake Up to APP-citing Surprises Everyday

Dive In & Enjoy Filet-O-Fish

Seas The Day (pun intended for 'Seize the Day')

There is still more ...

Click on the following link for an interview with Chef Dan Coudreaut -- "The Most Powerful Chef in America" who affects the taste buds of 27 million plus diners a day:-

http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/trends_innovation/chef_dan_coudreaut.html 

Also, click on the following link to find out more concerning The Gold Standard of McDonald's food quality:-
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/trends_innovation/barbara_booth.html

The Shining Flower

Here are some Livingstone Daisies, which have been described as 'The Shining Flower', to brighten up your day:-

If you are blessed with green fingers, you can go buy some seeds and grow this shiny flower!

Watches In The World of DIESEL

While window shopping recently, I chanced upon some Diesel watches which are superlatively distinctive and offers an alternative to what watches might look like. 

Diesel DZ7314 Mr. Daddy 2.0

A look at Diesel's homepage has offered me with an understanding of its marketing angle "For Successful Living" which began with alternative jeans and has now extended to its unique presentation of timepieces.

Diesel DZ7322

As gleaned from its website http://www.diesel.com, this is the story of Diesel:-

"In 1978 Renzo Rosso started Diesel with the intention of creating the world’s most innovated denim. Amidst a worldwide oil crisis, during which diesel was considered to be an alternative fuel, Renzo liked the idea of his brand to be known as an alternative jeans brand, in contrast to the prevalent casual wear giants that had come before. Renzo intended to reach the entire world since the brand’s very inception, making the word “diesel,” an international term pronounced equally all over the world, the perfect name for his endeavor.

Since its start, Diesel has used “For Successful Living” as a slogan for the brand’s DNA. Through a long and storied history of strong, ironic and playful campaigns, Diesel has become a leader in advertising as well as in fashion. Where the world zigged, Diesel zagged, and in the 35 years since its founding, the brand still embraces the same ethos.

Diesel has over 5,000 points of sale worldwide with over 400 monobrand stores, 37 of those in the US. Between 1978 and 2012, the company has produced more than 2,000 different washes of denim."

As with its jeans, among its range of fashion wear, Diesel could well be on its way to produce more than 2,000 different models of snazzy watches in just a couple of years with its design prowess, high level of creativity and passion to drive successful living (and populate this planet with Diesel, as an alternative).

Are you brave enough to put a Diesel innovative ticker on your wrist? 

Diesel DZ7317 Mini Daddy

Right Attitude Leads to Vitality

Just some quotes and mathematics (source unknown) to remind ourselves that a positive attitude is a vital ingredient for us to cultivate so that we can face and overcome life's challenges to lead a happy and victorious life. Enjoy!

"Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a positive attitude." -- Lou Holtz

"I think the best advice came from Drew Barrymore, about always finding love in everything you do and keeping a positive attitude and being thankful." --Bella Thorne

"The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up." --John C. Maxwell

"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." --Brian Tracy

"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." --Zig Ziglar

"Like success, failure is many things to many people. With Positive Mental Attitude, failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again." --W. Clement Stone

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude." --Colin Powell

"If:

A B C D E F G H I J K LM N O P Q R S  T U V  W X Y Z

is equal to:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then,

H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K ;

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11=98%

K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E ;

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96%

L+O+V+E;

12+15+22+5 = 54%

L+U+C+K ;

12+21+3+11 = 47%

None of them makes 100%. Then what makes 100%?

Is it Money? NO!

M+O+N+E+Y= 13+15+14+5+25=72%

Leadership? NO!

L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P= 12+5+1+4+5+18+19+8+9+16=97%

Every problem has a solution, only if we perhaps change our "ATTITUDE"...

A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E ;

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

It is therefore OUR ATTITUDE towards Life and Work that makes 

OUR Life 100% Successful."

Men's Undercut Hairstyle

For the longest time, I have wandered how different a man's haircut or hairstyle could get after seasons of punk, mohawks and colours. 

Then, came undercut which is simply refreshing and hold a greater mass appeal as it is relatively not so outlandish as its predecessors. 

So, it's a good time for you to step out of your comfort zone and try out undercut to raise your cool factor. And, if your boyfriend or hubby 'looks like he just stepped out from the pages of an antique magazine' (to borrow a phrase from Pastor Joel Osteen), this is a great opportunity to buy him in for an undercut with his birthday as the perfect excuse. 

Oh, yes, there is undercut for the ladies, as well. 

The barbers are having a field day and kept so busy executing undercuts that they have nary a thought to undercut prices any time yet.

Click on the following YouTube by TheGentlemansCove to watch how an undercut is done:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5zJT3BjIxM 

Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Grand Finale

A friend of mine sent me the following YouTube clip on the Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Grand Finale which is simply spectacular and impressive, to put in mildly, even for a non-die hard fan like me:-

"The Phantom Of The Opera Musical was first produced in London in 1986. It celebrated its 25th Anniversary in London's Royal Albert Hall in 2011. This Video is a 12 minute Grand Finale of the Anniversary Celebration, which featured the renowned Sarah Brightman, and 5 different tenors who had played in the Phantom at various times - Enjoy ! 

CLICK on the YouTube link below 

http://youtu.be/qpzz6NvOXqM "

It is a pleasure to see the opera singers articulate Andrew Lloyd Webber's lyrics with such poise and conviction so as to convey that they mean every words they sing. That's mastery of a high order.