If I Die

 death the leveller...

What will i be remembered for after i am gone? Nothing...

Except for fond memories and recalls, every passing dims over time

There is no historical values for most except the 'extremists' who have done something to etch themselves into history

Climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest ocean, earned the highest public salary, being the richest, being the poorest but humble president, being the first (of everything good or bad)... these are but a passing mention

Every pains and gains fade with time

人生没有天长地久 只有曾经拥有

When you detach yourself from materialism & emotion, you lived "heaven on earth" as everything is balanced

Eat whatever you want, go wherever you like, drink to your soul's satisfaction but do everything in moderation

You need not go out of your ways to help others but sprinkles of compassion and care do help

Doing everything within your means and abilities ease the mind & eliminate stress

Peace is when one is in agreement with oneself; where the body & mind is balanced

Give yourself time to be alone whereupon your Soul rejuvenates; alone is not loneliness 

Do not wait till you are near incapacity or death then decide what you wanna do; it's a little late

Death is not scary; death is final

How many people can stake a claim to success at 65yo? Few but possible...

Dr Mahathir became PM of Malaysia at 93yo

Shigeo Tokuda, 82, is the oldest porn star in Japan

Deng Xiao Ping, another late starter, opened up China in the 1980s

The 'doers' never wait for things to happen; they make it happen

They didn't let death bother them & use everyday like it was infinite

Go forth and multiply

Death will come sooner or later; you need not wait

If I die and you know me, you may or may not come for a final visit as I wouldn't take attendances

But, by coincidence, I organize a party for all who knows me to gather & reflect, including gossips

If you hate me, no worries, I am gone

If you owe me something of values, give them to charities to help the less fortunate as they are of no use to me

If you miss me, don't feel sad... when your days are up, we may meet again

Like different levels of a game, I have moved ahead to the next level...I live on

Spend today like it is infinite as time marches on

More importantly, live life to the fullest

We are unique and have very different roles 做好本分

Money cannot buy health nor life

Steve Jobs watch his life-supporting machines ticked on as he inched towards death

Marilyn Monroe was hugely famous, rubbed shoulders with the "who's who", lived a luxurious life but died unceremoniously, probably self-afflicted

If I die... I am happy to move on to my next appointment somewhere that I need not know

I am "trying to live as heavenly as possible" on Earth - living my best everyday

I wouldn't wait for Heaven to arrive as heaven & hell may not exists

Don't stress up, let go & live to the fullest 

I am ... GOD willing, I will succeed

 

Smiles - The Ways To Unbuckle Obstacles

always be positive & smile to ease obstacles ...

Smile - the language that everyone understands & eases most situations

You can't be very angry with anyone who's smiling, submissive and accommodating

Even a fallen hero who smiles away his agony, misfortune and sufferings returns level-minded & calm

Sufferings, misfortunes and failures fade away like nights into days

Difficult nights may be lengthy but it is still 24hours a day, not a second more

There is no one best time but where preparations meet opportunity, the results is almost always optimal

It is important not to blame nor envy others for whatever you achieve or not is yours to keep

Do everything within your means

When the heart is contented, your life flows smoothly; come rain or sunshine

No two men are alike

Fortune favors the brave and fleet footed

Nothing happen by coincidence than choice

Chase your dreams while you can for we fade physically & mentally over time

The decay of time is irreversible

Whether you are sad or happy, time flies... the slowness in time is a function of  emotion

When you are happy, in victory and celebratory moods, time flies faster because you are deep in enjoyment & have forgotten about time

Whereas in sadness, you immersed yourself in misery, looking back & basking in regrets - staring at time often enough to notice that time is 'frozen' - pains are more acute than joys

Extreme emotions are least controllable  

Whatever comes, stay calm & calculated - no one can swim against the tides

Enjoy the/your successes, manage the defeats & pace the lull periods

Smile at your defeats is like laughing at our own weaknesses 

We make mistakes & wrong judgement but learn from them - laugh away your worries

Water seep through hard rocks & find its way downstream into the ocean

Smiles, like water, soften the impact of defeats, difficulties & adversary yet lighten the heart

Smile is the universal language that opens all doors 

If it's sunshine everyday, it makes a desert

Some lull days & defeats make victory ever sweeter

I have my fair share of winnings, victories and defeats but an enlightened mind works wonder

Smile through difficulties and feel the infinite strengths of positive forces

Slow down, rest & pause if necessary but never quit

We are walking towards the end of time & quitting is never a solution

Sense the smell of the distant victory

For it is there for ALL to keep

Paradigm Shifts

 

 change is the only constant...

60 years of changes and more to come

Every 10 years cycle is a refresh challenge

The years of changes manifest into super-cycles & changes became more acute, demanding & faster

When young, it was pure dreams and brute force that we cast the iron while hot o

When mid-age comes, schemes & strategies rule while protecting whatever have been built... some are still listlessly searching

Comes old age, that's 70s!!! Lay back, reflect, enjoy the journey, reminisces & tell your stories... too weak to fight physically, too slow to react if time is the essence, too lazy to think

It's best to let it be by the 70s; not about giving up but about crystalizing your bucket of wishes

Time and tides wait for no Man 

If  I can turn the clock back, will I be doing the same? Yes but with lesser mistakes, vanity & silliness

Stock markets and the smart monies are challenged by groupies funds - 蚂蚁搬大象

The aggregator of a leading big player, with the critical mass, can move mountains against logic, GameStop & AMC were examples

But, when logic and sanity are thrown out of the windows, financial melt down is not far

I am not a doomsayer but a pragmatist 

Money is made on the way up as well as down (the bulls & bears make money) but when the broad mass jump in (the sheep go to the abattoir) & the music stops ... somebody's gonna be hurt

It takes a while for prices to climb but the impact of a sudden drop can wipe out many, especially those who are geared

You have been reminded & warned

To the young and young at heart, the shakers and movers; the world has leveled down 

COVID has made many impossibles, possible

The lockdown, slowdown, including complete stop... have brewed as much miseries as there are opportunities

It's a complete paradigm shift

Are you in the new era or caught up and stuck in the old? It is never too late to move, innovate, initiate and go with the flows

GOD willing, I/You will succeed

Over time, you either gain materially or experiences; GO For It

No Problems & All's Blessings

problems do go away ...

Worries, scare, fears, cover ups, tears ...don't solve problems

Get up and get going and take the "bull by the horns"

Problems are like viruses; if left alone, it will mutate and multiply

Clear all problems asap if it/they affects you

Do not let family issues lay bare to manifest - it is worse that lead poisoning - slowly but surely the impact will be felt

笑了就算

Don't bother with others' opinions as the rich will not lend you a dollar nor let you have an advantage

When you are in trouble, many leave at an instant & most of your phone calls will go unanswered

Lending money is easy but you may need to beg to get back what's rightfully yours - chances are, you loss your money and friend in this instance

LiuDeHua 刘德华 was a food deliverer long before grabfood & pandafood came into the picture. He was deemed only a KTV-standard singer by moustache LinZiXiang. 40 years later, he is the top of the charts, actor & singer, & graded as an influential person ahead of ChenLong & LiKaShing in HK

He was a nobody ...to begin with

Believe in yourself and give yourself the chance that nobody will 

Push the envelope and conquer new frontiers

Some people just love to talk you down

There are more selfish & self-entitled persons as eMedia exposed them that the MSM wouldn't dare to

Ministers asking you not to pursue tertiary education & recommends you to take up hawkering, even with tertiary education - did they lead by example to ask their loved ones & family members to do likewise? NO

Not that hawkering is demeaning but many worked hard to get papers and moved up the social ladder

Leaders propagating regression are enemies of the commoners as they suspiciously protect their own turf

Your friends are there to encourage, motivate and give a hand when in need

In this turbulent times, C19 included, seek solace in your GOD, your Faith

People undermine you to keep ahead of the crowd & cohorts fight the invincible competition that he wishes to win against you

Guard against the ill-willed acquaintances 拉黑  You loss nothing by discarding them for their pretenses 

Problems exist and manifest because everyone is studying the problem instead of looking for solutions

Solutions lie with(in) the problems

You may be concern but need not worry; worries don't solve problems

Move with the times and adopt, adapt and localize

The terrains are smoother as you cross & gotten used to

When the mind wonders, let it wonders; for the calm, peaceful and settled mind works wonder

We are Kings upon ourselves 

If fate is predestined, nobody need to work neither does anyone needs to suffer

做好本分  Do your best within your abilities

Tomorrow will be better but today is the best

Make good use of this lull period during C19 & build your dream tomorrow, today

 

  

Water - Adopt, Adapt & Sustain

go with the flow...

Water flow towards the sea

Like time, it never backslides ...all's gone, that's gone

No two days are the same, no two leaves are created equal, no paternal twins' journeys are similar

If it should happens, it will 该来的已经在路上了 。。。。天意

Man proposes, GOD disposes - COVID has made the world cleaner, slow the madness, restore some semblances of equilibrium where Nature returns

Man walks towards the end after birth; routes are different though

Follow the trend, create the routes & set your ideals

Be nimble; adopt, adapt & fill the needs of Society and flood their wants with answers

Wants are fleeting and needs are necessities

Wants offer premium returns and needs must be met at whatever costs; minimal if unaffordable

Success goes to those who fill the needs & milk their wants 

The young & young-at-heart see opportunities 

Chinese New Year is the time to reflect 

The change of duty-zodiac invites monumental changes to the year & give every opportunity to change - YOU are in luck

It's not about NY Resolutions but a total change, assisted by manifesting cosmic forces

When you change, the world changes with you - change is the only constant

Determination, perseverance and grit bring forth successes whereas obstinacy & stubbornness are negative forces that lead you toward an unrewarding ends     

We cannot live on "HOPEs" alone; you need to action your mind & crystalize your dreams - work on it

Your best will manifest when you challenge your current norms

There is order in chaos

The world around you changes; the war zones, the political theatres, religious houses, the schools

Our globe is at an almost standstill; grinding to a near halt but nothing stops

Before - it changes in form

Now - it changes in substance   

C19 levels down & allow many to innovate, adopt, adapt & move ahead of the curves

Those who are trapped complaining, disrupted, unable to move or simply waiting will loss precious time & will backslide

Time and tides wait for no Man

These were the ugly pods that first appeared 

But, with patience, time and care, they sprouted into lovely flowers in due course

There is a time for everything 天时地利人和
 
Although we may be gifted with a bright future but we need to work towards it 

When the time is due, the results are shown

Many are frustrated by the lockdown & the inability to travel abroad 

Some have develop eSolutions to overcome the challenges of the lockdown

AI & big data come in handy to bridge the demands of eSolutions

Be like water; water takes the shape of the surroundings

Water seeps through hard surfaces & finds it's way downstream & occupies all available areas, however fine

The future is here

Change with the time & adapt... the conquerers of tomorrow are the innovators and adaptors of today

It's not how to get rich now but to create alternative income sources that flow continuously where when one stops, a new one surfaces

Be contented, be compassion, be faithful with the good Lord

Man proposes, GOD disposes but you will receive only when you are still within the good Lord's circle

Everyone has a Guardian Angel & he is the bridge between YOU and the good Lord

Nobody fails except by himself - be fluid

Crystal Ball Gazing

let it flow as most cannot be forcefully controlled...

Stock prices are up, commodities prices are inching up, Bitcoin is up, property prices are up...

Global employment is down, jobs are scarce, incomes dropped, C19 cases are up

Quite an anomaly

Many soothsayers are predicting calamities when the 6 planets line linearly ; from earthquakes to wars to famines, including virus mutation & extermination of 50% of humans

Logically, there will be food shortages as the last few harvests were not delivered to the marketplaces and to those in need due to Covid and the disruption in logistics & that discourages farmers from planting more

Natural calamities are unavoidable, if happened

But, wars are avoidable, save for greed & vanity of Man; Thucydides Trap is just another excuse to pitch Man versus Man

Massive printing of (paper) monies will only undermine the trust in, henceforth values of, money

The aberration in upward climb of newly listed IPOs, especially those in eCommerce & eSolutions, tell a story; smart money is looking for save heaven

The multiples defy logic and any level-minded investors but, in a bull market, even the fool makes money

Stock market's major correction is near It's not how sharp it may drop but the speed & impact of the drop that breaks any rational minds

Be aware &  be forewarned: caution is thrown to the winds

As the world gets accustomed to Covid, it mutates & become more fatal & contagious

Stay safe, keep away from the crowds, exercise to remain healthy & drink lots of water

Nothing is safe-proof, not vaccination, not bravery nor YOLO...the struggle to breathe is not unlike those dying and catching their last breath

Be safe, not sorry

Every citizen is entitled to their birthrights of priorities within their country & are protected by the Constitution

As much as everyone takes pride to defend his country & stand tall, his country must reciprocate & "care & share" and prioritize employment, housing, healthcare, food & water affordability to the citizens & maintain a reasonable (reasonably lower) costs of living

Why would anyone (employer) wants to employ someone (servant) & pays him (servant) handsomely to lord over him (employer)? There are no fools but level minded, fairly satisfied people who do not mind being a little short-changed at times

Let there be real equality...revive The Pledge for a better Singapore & make Singapore Great Again

These men ask for just the same thing: fairness, and fairness only. This is, so far as in my power, they, and all others, shall have -Abraham Lincoln

In uncertain times, lie low, learn more, upskill, stay safe & be prepared. When opportunity presents, pounce

 

 

 

 

The Better Future

 be calm, calculated and averse to taking risks...

Going forward into the NY2021 is as uncertain as the years past

C19 mutates; SARS disappeared as fast as it appeared but C19 looked set to manifest

Newly created vaccines may help defend the human body against C19 but, with mutation, its effectiveness is as doubtful as their discovery

C19 is here to stay; it is not unlike flu & common cold but a tad deadlier

There is an urgent need to avoid unnecessary gatherings, embrace a Faith, spend more time with your loved ones... slow down a little as we are all walking towards the end

Death is a final parting without recourse 

The world of finance is bloated with paper warranties aka currencies, cryptos, derivatives, Govt promises/IOUs and ...confidence based on trust & hopes

The onslaught of papers will kill confidence sooner than a flip

Gold; the trusted base metal shall return together with soft commodities whose shortages will be sorely reflected in the punctured values of currencies

The inflated values of capital markets will be wiped out by an/any accidental military conflicts - the smoking gun turned fatal as trust & confidence dissipate between Nations

When bullets fly, the final death nail is knocked in

Man's existence is guaranteed but the quality of life isn't especially when Nukes fly

After destruction, it is reconstruction

Contrary to what had been reported, Singapore is a tiny island blessed with an 'on-balance' time-zone and a natural deep harbor port

Trading & entrepot is our natural skills (sets) - the bridge between timezones and buyers/sellers

Our people have proven to be able to harness brain & brawn to build a First World Nation but it was watered down by the massive import of lower quality, less desired, unskilled & uncommitted emigrants

You cannot buy loyalty, commitment & citizens

Our social fibres were built & harnessed in school days, army comradeship, UNIs, workplaces - like the furnace where swords are made - not unlike during the Japanese Occupation

Economics 101 is against adding labor, especially cheap, unskilled & fake-quality labors  

The day Singapore positioned Singaporeans First again, will be the resurrection of the able & capable, true-blue Singaporeans & heads will be held high by ALL again, not the selected few

There are no fools but willing & 'saleable' souls; a drumstick for a chicken    

Like sunrise and sunset, Nations rise and fall

The earlier that "We, the citizens of Singapore...." restore the acts in the Pledge, the earlier Singapore & Singaporeans shall rise & shine again   

COVID aside, there is No SOPs that provide solutions to all problems but TRUST cannot be missing in the journey into the future

Do you know that squirrels will collect and take their food to their burrows & not appear until after they have finished eating or food runs out? This is the temporary citizens mindset

They will not fight nor die with you but keeps all that they can harvest, collect & use

When in need, you are there for them; worse if they are graded one rung above true-blue Singaporeans

I am not against foreigners nor xenophobic but numbers alone are not solutions to TFR-problems

History have shown that, unless & until, you care for your own (people), no Nation progresses

We CAN & we will... rise again

 

 

 

The Quality Of Today & Everyday

 more days ahead for discovery...

Never mind the colds & wintry winds

Survivors come in all cuts and sizes

The blade of grass is more sturdy than the great oak tree in the wintry breeze

All living things seek retreat when weakest or when the ecosystem is most threatened

Winter is the time to slow down, recharge, review the year & prepare forward

Nothing is impossible when 2021 arrives where the whole new normal landscape begins

Whatever were thought of as impossibles are changed, reformed and evolved

Work from home, put on masks to enter secure(ity) areas, social distancing, Q-to-shop, eSolutions domination, eBanking & video conferencing are new normals

6 more days to go before 2020 is out

But, that's a long >600,000 seconds to go

If you stop breathing, you loss them all

From planting the seeds to the early signs of a sapling growing takes time

The sampling grew into full bloom with flowers before any fruits will ever surface

Mother Nature craftily creates & time is the essence

Like everything else, we are always in a hurry; racing towards the ending line

The metamorphosis of the butterfly, from egg, larva, pupa into butterfly, takes about 6-8weeks before the grandeur color finally appear

In a crisis, stay cool, calm & moves less

Cut to the minimal... drink & eat enough, rest more, maneuver lesser

When light returns, surface

Blessed are those who survive the crisis; few survive swimming against the tides  

不用 天长地久 只求 要用就有

The people rejoice over the death of the oppressor just as you rejoice at the chance to recover

There is no need to win the battle but losses the war

 

However difficult 2020 was, many will make it through with minimal disruption

Discomforts require adaption while extended issues require a little more patience and time  

7 more days "is a long time" as the arrival of 2021 will add & refresh a further 365

Live the qualities, not the quantity

Today is 平安夜 peaceful day as everyday should be too

Many celebrate Good Friday but my every Fridays are good

The undertone is "Be Greatful & Forever Hopeful"

Comes whatever may, stay cheerful, healthy and safe

There are many days ahead...& you must be there to savor it

Dreams Need No Responsibility

fairy tales are dream-made ...

Winter solstice - as the weather walks into the cold

It's time to rest, reflect, rejuvenate and take life easy

One year ago & one year later 

Life changes most in year 2020

Every & many impossibles were made possible

COVID has changed how lives are conducted & the economic landscape have changed dramatically

The cold weather is ideal breeding grounds for the virus, including mutation

Man must refrain from polluting & destroying the environment but ...alas!

Man has enough nuke weapons to self-destruct 

Their follies, selfishness, arrogance & greed are perfect igniting factors 

 

Dreams are best as they are void of responsibilities; to fly in the dream, to reach the stars, the maim your opponents, to force the King to kneel before you, to eat to your heart's delight... to get wet & dirty

 When life is challenged & there seemed no solutions, worry not

Fulfill your basic needs; air, water, food & shelter

Breath well & stay healthy, drink from the tap, one meal a day & shelter from the elements

Like day & night, all shalt pass & recovering from the pit is a "done deal"

However, difficult it may seem, there is lights soon

Dreams are powered-up motivators

Who dares win

Many have awaken & resume their climbs and conquests

You CAN

Why do you think we have dreams & fairy tales? These are powered motivators

If you don't die, you live to conquer new frontiers

All fairy tales have happy endings & so do comics & dreams

I love to extend my dreams... get back to sleep asap, even trying to change the course in my dreams

Silly? Mad? Unreal? Why do I need to be real in dreams? Just enjoy the impossibles

Getting up again is so refreshing not unlike slaying the evil dragons

I love my make-believe self; sneaking into my cocoon to recharge & defeat all the bads

I live to fight another day; GOD willing

In this trying times, be ready & willing to let go 

What is not yours shalt never be

Whatever is yours该来的总是会来  , you cannot avoid 兵来将挡水来土掩

Nothing kills you if your time is not up

The future is yours to build and conquer & dreams need no responsibility & is the best decoy

Dreams move the spirit away from defeats & craft defenses not usually available to a vivid mind

If tomorrow comes...

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Brutal Truths

 realities hurt...

What you want may not be what you get; at least, it may not be fully satisfied

Many try their best within their abilities but some say "your best is not good enough"! Alas, even the elastic rubber bands snap

Dreams are leads to goals but you gonna get up and work on it

Achievements will come, maybe not today but some days soon

 Be aware & ready to accept that we are all made different

You are made for better things & more beautiful, rewarding returns

The calm, calculated & inexhaustive mind moves mountains

Nobody can force you to do things that you don't want to ...greed & foolishness aside 

There is no time for regrets as energies are best utilize at upending for better results

Don't cry over spilled milk

 

When the chips are down, lie low

Some days, I am totally drenched

At others, I was hung up & dry/dried

No mercy nor retreat were in sight but with grit, calmness & indifference, much can be overcame

What can be worse than dead? Nothing

Like stupidity, the dead don't feel any more as the stupids never think they are wrong & suffer no fallout nor side effects

 

How do you tell your loved ones that your days are dated? Be cool & calculated; speak calmly & with authority that "being born & dying" is never a choice

Trust GOD for He is the Decider but remember to stay healthy, fit and safe; He cannot deliver you if you are dead as dodo

Make comfort & convenience for others as it/they make yours easier & your life lighter

We can't fight Nature's wrathes as Mother nature punished Man for destroying the entire ecosystem

Typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods...cleanse the environment

Earthquakes, fires redistribute & recreate arable land 

With vanity, greed & selfishness, Man has overbuilt & the few (5%) controls the mass (95%) 

 

The trust in GOD has slowly but surely dissipated & thinned out

Is this picturesque, serene & calm or is it deserted, lifeless & void? Water is the source of life & there is life & serenity
 

If you don't push the boundaries, you will always be stucked 

If you fear, your world is decidedly restricted

If you don't fight for your rights & dreams, you will be living another person's goal

Do not be deceived by what you see or think

What the mind thinks, it achieves

心有多大 舞台就多大 

没有做不到的 只有还没想到

The chinese character "人" is a simple two strokes 

These two legs help you walk, see & conquer the world

Life is meant to be easy but made complicated by philosophers & historians

The philosophers write ideals which are near perfection & non-existent while history is written by winners & winning at all costs is what matters

I would put these two subjects under Fiction Ad Infinitum 

The truths is Man must live harmoniously with each other

Anything beyond this, Mankind self-destructs

Truths and realities are always more painful but not necessarily cruel

 

 

 

Crucial Decisions

the mind is ticking away ...

 

This year 2020 is exceptional - it started normal but shall ends in a new normal

Many "impossibles" became "possibles" - there are abstract warnings to Mankind to repent & restore

Repent and stop destroying Mother Nature for the wrathes of Nature is merciless & decisive

Nation against nation, man versus man, family versus family ...the selfish mind knows no conscience

Winning is everything & winning at any costs destroys

When sanity gives way to greed, violence and anarchy ensue

The winds of destruction will wipe out Man; only few will be spared to perpetuate a new Generation

The New Age will be peaceful, compassionate, cooperative and caring - selflessly fending for one another

The world will be less crowded and non-intimidating as the vicious & cruel are eliminated by their own self-destructive acts

Man proposes, GOD disposes

Food & resources are abundance but hoarding by the wealthy few create famine & shortages, made worse by the disruptive & inefficient distribution channels

The average commoners are pliant, obedient, happy-go-lucky and indifferent to the overarching Laws, costs of living and enjoy simple living

They enjoy their no-frills lives

Live and let live

Revolutions are the result of suppression, oppression and deprivation & a nonchalant catalyst sparks all

Nobody wants anarchy

There is no perfect ideology; capitalism, socialism, communism - at extremes, it's all for themselves, by themselves, with themselves

 

At every turn of history & calamities, a new leader is born 

The natural leader leads by example, is selfless, farsighted and cares for the lots' fortunes

No inherited leadership can gain everlasting, unquestioned support 

Power, fame, money are finite - when the season's over, the pains double

胜者为王  人死留名 虎死留皮

History is written by winners

2020 is a leveller ; everything, almost anything, level down

A new normal will emerge in 2021 & life will never be the same again

The world will be smaller & the globe spins faster as more are done via eLink(internet)

Survival of the fittest will be the motto, going forward

Fittest refer to positive minds, adaptability, nimbleness, decisiveness ... & winning is temporary

Challenges, conquers and conquests interwine - keep your winnings & live another day

Man will move away from being a social animal to become more guarded - days of "living in the cave" returns  

The squirrel syndrome - hunt for food, collect, bring home, enjoy the harvest & home warmth, relax & relief... feed on the collections until finished, hunt again

Man will work to survive and not survive to work

As the trust in currency (paper money) evaporates, eCurrency & barter trades become the norm

Arable land, food basins & farmable oceans will be reduced & the solutions are vertical farmable apparatuses - the storied food factories

Not GMO food, though

 

The change has arrived & shalt be a permanent constant

Adopt, adapt, be fluid & swift - tomorrow is never promised

But, tomorrow shalt be better

 

 

 

 

 

nothing can bend the mind..