RUMCars Forum
General Category => RUMCar News => Topic started by: Peelpower on June 30, 2009, 10:11:06 AM
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Just subscribed for 2009. Well a bit late, i know, but do i still get 4 issues?
Ferdi
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Yes have no fear Ferdi the first two issues !00 and 101 will be in the post to you within the next few days. Jean
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Yes have no fear Ferdi the first two issues !00 and 101 will be in the post to you within the next few days. Jean
Great Jean! Im happy being back on this gorgeous magazine. Thank you.
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Just received issue 100 and 101 and i am absolutely zealous. How has this magazine changed in the last 25 years! Or is it only me whos gettnig rapidely older now? I compared my first issue No. 2 autumn 1984 ( hmm, where is no.1? ) to the last one 101 and i am really satisfied Thank you for this fantastic magazine. I will subscribe every year now again. For sure!
Ferdi
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Got the autuumn issue today. Great, and a fantastic story of the Trident anyway! Thanks
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Wait a minute, how did you get mail in Germany when we have no mail in UK?
A satisfied customer sent me a bag of North Staffordshire Oatcakes over 10 days ago, but due to postal strikes and backlog they are either lost or rotting in a pile of undelivered mail.
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Dear All
Now that says something for the Royal Mail delivory service. It takes less time for post to reach a house in Germany than a house a few miles away from where it was posted. Anybody would think that there was a postal workers dispute on with this kind of service.
If my postman does not have my copy today I will be having a few words with him/her.
I wonder who will get their copy last.
Chris Thomas
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Dear Friends
I am pleased to say that at 10.30 my copy of Rumcar News arrived. And what a splendid edition it is.
Chris Thomas
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Here in the remotest corner of England* we only get 2 deliveries a week, usually at 6.30 on Tuesday and Thursday. The strike has now definitely made things even worse!
It is all being stirred up by the government, banks and directors who want to grind the Mail into the ground until people are so fed up that they want the mail fully privatised, then ministers directors and banks can all get healthy bonuses, share options etc..
*Central London!
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Dear Friends
I am pleased to say that at 10.30 my copy of Rumcar News arrived. And what a splendid edition it is.
Chris Thomas
I'm still sat on a stool at the front door waiting for mine! :(
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Dear Stuart
Try moving your bed next to the front door. More comfortable!
Chris Thomas
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Dear Friends
I am pleased to say that at 10.30 my copy of Rumcar News arrived. And what a splendid edition it is.
Chris Thomas
I'm still sat on a stool at the front door waiting for mine! :(
Im still sitting outside and reading it ;)
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Mine arrived this morning and as usual its a good 'un. I am particularly interested in one of the cars pictured at the Lane museum, the ligier kitten based kit car, I'm not usually a lover of kit cars but am struck with this one, looks like a little Dellow, even the wheels are Dellow[ford pop] like! Has anybody any information on these cars please? Chris, what do you know?
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AGGGH!!!! It didn't come today!!! Another 24 hours to wait! >:( Tell you what Ferdi, I'll pop over & read your copy over your shoulder. That's got to be a quicker way of seeing it than waiting on the UK Post Office. Wheres Postman Bob & his red P50 when you need him?!!!
Funnily enough Chris, my bedroom is over our front door & my bed is one of those cabin types 4ft up in the air, so I can actully lie in bed & keep an eye on the front door out the window.... :) I think I'll do that tommorow.
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Mine has not made it to the outer reaches of far-flung deepest rural CENTRAL LONDON.
Mind you, 2 parcels of North Staffordshire Oatcakes sent by a grateful customer DID arrive today.......8 days after they were sent 1st Class Mail. They are green and furry, and my level of p*ssed-offness has rarely been as high. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRetc.
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Should have asked for tunnocks tea cakes then!
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I will order some Tunnocks now, and they might arrive in time to be past their sell by date at next Summer's RUM meeting!
I think the Royal Mail has been thoroughly vandalised, but still gets overseas mail delivered to make it appear to the rest of the world as if they are still a functioning postal service.
Perhaps we should now send all mail to an overseas contact who sends it on to the addressee, then we would all get our mail quicker!
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AGGGH!!!! It didn't come today!!! Another 24 hours to wait! >:( Tell you what Ferdi, I'll pop over & read your copy over your shoulder. That's got to be a quicker way of seeing it than waiting on the UK Post Office. Wheres Postman Bob & his red P50 when you need him?!!!
Funnily enough Chris, my bedroom is over our front door & my bed is one of those cabin types 4ft up in the air, so I can actully lie in bed & keep an eye on the front door out the window.... :) I think I'll do that tommorow.
Stuart, you wanna pop over? No problem at all. You'll always welcome mate. Honestly !
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Right, I am booking the ferry for 50 Brits to go over to Germany to read RUMCAR news, seeing as we cannot read it here!
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Hi Marcus
Are you organising a coach trip!!?? - we in London are the worst served for mail deliveries - my copy has not arrived yet.
Mike
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I was just joking, but the way things are going with the Mail.....!
Even without strikes we are now lucky to get more than 2 deliveries per week, loads never arrives or takes up to 6 months to be delivered. The staff at the Sorting Office Counter are extremely vocal about their "managers", using language I should not repeat here. Our few deliveries are usually at 6.30 pm. Our regular postman is a very nice and friendly chap, and does his best to give us a good service, but he can only deliver stuff that actually gets to the sorting office.
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Rumcar News issue 102 popped through the letterbox here in Ireland this Thursday lunchtime :)
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IT'S ARRIVED IN OXFORDSHIRE AT LAST!!!! ;D :D :o Hey Bob, is that another Inter Torpedo we see on page 13 or has someone just sawn the roof off their Beline? ??? :-*
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London is a post free zone.
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I am interested to hear when RCN 102 arrived at the various destinations. They were all despatched at the same time, my local postman picked them up from School House Farm all stamped up and ready to go at 9 am on Monday 28th September. The only exception was the one I send to Jim Janecek which went Friday 25th September, that was handed in at Headcorn Post Office when I bought the stamps for all the others. Have you received yours yet Jim? Jean
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Wow! Mine finally struggled in at 5.30 pm today. So from 9am on 28/9 at Headcorn to 5.30pm on 1/10. About 50 miles in 80 hours = just over 1/2 a mile per hour, slower than walking speed. Pretty poor for the modern age.
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May be we should explore a 'Microcar Delivery Service' even by Peel P50 it would be Quicker than Wallking. Jean
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I think in a P50 the Mail would be "intoxicated at the exuberance of its own velocity" (c. "Genevieve").
Could Stuart furnish us with an even slower vehicle, which would make the Mail feel more at home?
Which micro would be best delivering Mail:
Comtesse
Rytecraft Scootercar
Bath Chair
?
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Got mine this afternoon and I'm a little puzzled by the additions to the register, a 'Shanghai wind-up' are you serious?!
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Perhaps the Shanghai wind up is a clockwork delivery vehicle for Royal Snail.
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Hi All
I still not received mine - the last one arrived open, so I think someone is having a read first - maybe tomorrow or next week!!!!
Mike
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I am interested to hear when RCN 102 arrived at the various destinations. They were all despatched at the same time, my local postman picked them up from School House Farm all stamped up and ready to go at 9 am on Monday 28th September. The only exception was the one I send to Jim Janecek which went Friday 25th September, that was handed in at Headcorn Post Office when I bought the stamps for all the others. Have you received yours yet Jim? Jean
actually I got mine on TUESDAY!
but I did not want to say anything when I saw everyone else having a problem with the local post.
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Thanks Jim, interesting that it takes less time to get to USA (over a week-end) than the 50 miles to Goggo or myself in London!
I believe there is an international postal convention which has obligatory standards, so my hunch that international post is being prioritised seems to have validity.
Rowland Hill invented the postage stamp in UK and the Post Office was soon set up to distribute mail across UK and to the world. It was faster in the Victorian time of horse and dog carts and steam coaches and trains.
Rowland Hill must be turning in his grave.
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Apparently this is what the royal mail will be using soon in London if not already. Could explain lack of RCN deliveries.
(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm224/gyrostarter/microcab.jpg)
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I have not seen one yet, but it looks great.
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Having read of the moaning concerning the wait for Rumcar News after Jean had posted them I logged in to the Post Office Website.
Jean sends the UK editions by 2nd class and overseas editions by Airmail I believe.
The P.O. site shows that UK 2nd class post should take 3+ days for delivery and Airmail 3-5 days. So with Jim receiving his copy in 4 days and Marcus receiving his copy in 3 days the delivery is within the time scale stated.
Pity about your afternoon/evening delivery Marcus. I'm lucky, mine is never later than 11.30am, sometimes arriving at 8.30am. ;D ;D ;D
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I made my delivery 4 days, but the ruined oatcakes from 8 days in FIRST class post is really bad. I notified the company and they said they have had worse results; Stoke to Derby first class.....29 days, I'll bet that lot was developing eyes, limbs and intelligence by then!
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Hi All
I've not received mine yet - maybe next week - the postmen round here don't work on Saturdays - I noticed one of the papers saying ( Headline ) post this week for Christmas!!!
Still Waiting Mike
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The staff at the Sorting Office said that we could expect big strikes at Christmas.
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Mine arrived in Washington today (Saturday). Plenty of good stuff in it, too.
Mike Harrell
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Hi All
I'm still waiting --- waiting --- waiting --- is anyboby out there still waiting for their copy ?
Mike
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My Rum Car News has arrived today - Monday , I am busily reading it now.
Mike
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This mail problem is getting worse: when I notified the shop who sent me the Oatcakes which had gone mouldy after 8 days in the post, they kindly sent me a free pack on Monday.
It has not arrived, and by now they also will be rotten.
Another letter/small parcel was also sent to me on Monday and has not yet arrived, it is only urgent work so not as important as Oatcakes, but still annoying. I have had many letters and bills go astray so there is no doubt in my mind that the British postal service, once the envy of the world, is now the
ROYAL FAIL.
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I have just received with email from Fred Diwell from Australia. It is nice to know that someone reads 'From the Register' even if they are the other side of the world!
G'Day Jean,
Just to let you know some people do read RUM from cover to cover and noted your comment on page 3.
I personally have no hang-ups or objections to changes, that's a sign of the times, nothing stands still, particularly in this modern? society.
Changing the magazine name maybe only the start, have you seen Scootering magazine (a UK publication) look at it now compared to its early editions.
If I could, when I can, taking into account there are not enough hours in the day, or days in the week, I would like to add some comments / articles for inclusion.
At the moment, my number one priority is to get a WEB site up for our club, now having access to Web space with my new email server.
Will keep in touch, Fred.
Has anyone else got any comments to make the name of the magazine, its content and any other subject I raised, Tony and I would love to hear from you.
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Dear Jean
May I put my head, yet again above the parapet and say that I, like many readers, always read your article from top to bottom in each edition. But never more than once.
Now that Alaster is "...firmly in charge of the Register of cars...." are we to assume that the title of your article will from now on be changed to something like "From the Bubble Shed" or "Down on the Farm"
Regarding the title of the magazine I am all in favour of changing the name to something like "Microcar World", before the Americans get there first. While the magazine started out to just inform the register members of what was going on, it is now more than that and is an informative publication in it's own right. With the web site forum, keeping the majority of register members up to date with news, which can be done so much quicker than by waiting to the next eition of the magazine, some might say why should we have a magazine. If we look at magazine content it should contain those elements that are not easily achieved on a web site, like longer informative articles with lots of images. Adverts for Micro related products and services, all things that have happened in the past or will not change in the future, authorative comment and new product launches.
The introduction of the internet has made the world of Microcars much more International ,and our interest in International vehicles and events, so having a magazine that is relevent to Microcar readers all over the world should generate a far larger readership. Whilst some may see the magazine being published in English as being restricted to only English Speaking countries, as a language it is far more easily understood than perhaps in some other languages.
I do not expect to ever see Microcar World magazine ever being sold in WH Smiths, but I do expect to see the readership rise if the name was updated.
Expecting a lot of flack
Chris Thomas
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I have not yet read my copy because of a huge backlog of work, but it is high on my to do pile!
Chris, you may have put your head above the parapet, but I see no need to shoot at it! It sounds fair comment to me.
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The way I see it is like this. Rum cars was originally set up to cater for all the enthusiasts that own unusual and rare makes of microcar that do not have a one make club or organisation, this group of enthusiasts is relatively small and hence the readership will also be comparatively small. If the powers that be wants to rename the mag "MIcrocar World" Would not this title suggest its about microcars in general and not about just unusual microcars? Is this a suggestion that we shift the magazines focus to all microcars to boost its popularity? This is an idea I'm not entirly opposed to! What I have always felt was lacking in RCN was in depth articles about technical issues and restoration accounts, the kind of thing you get in all the mainstream club mags. Thank goodness for Rob Dobies Gordon articles because that's all we have had in this vain for a long time. Themes like "is this forklift truck a microcar" are wearing a little thin. If the mag was opened up to mainstream makes it may be the breathe of fresh air that RCN needs and in turn open up readership to people with more common bubblecars. I hasten to add that unusual microcars should still be the main theme. Chris and myself are relative Newbies so I'm wondering how the founder members would react to such a suggestion. Of course this may not have been what Chris was suggesting at all but never the less its a thought that could be discussed. What do you all think?
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Dear Bob
I agree with what you suggest, especially as some of the other one make club magazines have either disappeared, or are struggling. The refreshing thing about Rumcar news is the breadth of the subject which no one make club magazine can hope to achieve.
Technical articles on the restoration aspects of each vehicle would be very interesting but much more difficult to produce, as each owner would need to keep a full digital photo history of the work they are undertaking and to record the work for a writer to turn into an article. Rob Dobie has been an exception in this instance, which has made the story of the Gordon an interesting set of articles.
Can anybody come up with alternative suggestions for the name for the publication, or indeed other areas that they would like to see?.
I can think of a long list of wishes like Glossy paper, Edge to edge printing, Double page colour spreads, but I know that will have to wait until the readership increases dramaticlly.
Chris Thomas
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Hi Chris. I have to disagree,Rob Dobie is by no means the exception, most people undertaking a serious restoration keep a photograghic record, thats how Kabin news, isetta gazette and the others get their restoration articles. Its also the norm for the owners themselves to write up the article. My point is that good restoration projects are going on all the time with mainstream bubblecars and some of these articles could be in RCN. I often ask myself how many RCN readers restore cars these days , I know there is a current trend to encourage the "shabby chic" look but is this because there wont or cant? For me its not even about glossy paper, those mags are everywhere, I would love to read about how people get over rebuild problems or source impossible parts, all that type of thing. I hope no one is going to say "well why dont you do it yoursef then" because I have written up all my projects and both inters have been featured, the schmitt rebuild would have been turned down because its not an unusual microcar. I know that some cars have undergone restoration recently, a frisky, more than one scootacar, these owners could be encouraged to write up the experience. When he spots a newly restored car the editor of the Kabinews regularly tracks down the owner and invites them to submit an article, maybe this is something that could be tried. Having said all this I still think our mag is a unique and very special one and I always find something in there that I enjoy reading. Tony does a good job, some great changes have already been made but I think Chris is right, some more may be necessary for it to proceed and survive. If the powers that be are hell bent on increasing circlation then the content must change too. "Microcar world" is a great name for a mag but its content would have to reflect its title. I vote for MICROCAR WORLD plus open it up to more mainstrean microcar content.
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I have found that people that may have interesting stories about their cars or stories about the restorations are not so keen about putting pen to paper or they don't type so what someone needs to do is actually interview them.
I just had someone call me and interview ME for something and they recorded the whole thing over the phone for editing later.
I also have done this in the past with people/stories that I wanted to get out there but knew the owners would never submit anything.
Don't forget, for most people the cars are their hobby, not writing about them.
If a few people would seek out an interesting tale that has not been shared lately, go do an interview!
I have an old mini-cassette recorder which I have used to record interviews (you could use a video camera too, but not worry about what the visual part is, just use it to record the audio).
It is not really that different than chatting with someone over a beer or over the phone.
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Good idea Jim. Anyone who wants to interview me about my Trojan restoration just remember to bring a tape or two thousand!
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Well there we go Marcus, I'm sure you have an interesting story to tell but because a Trojan is not an unusual microcar we cant have it. I rest my case.
Jim. Your suggestion is fine so long as someone is prepared to do it. Its how the glossy mags work over here but of course money is involved with them. I would like to put forward Chris as the new MICROCAR WORLD tape recorder touting journalist! What do you say? ;D
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Dear Bob, Jim and Marcus
You may have noticed that I have started doing interview type articles already with Microcar Memories, so I know the form and I agree with Jim that many Microcar owners would not even think of writing an article about themselves or what they have done , because they see it as what you do and nothing special.
I think Tony would love to recieve text and images from all members about their projects, but that just does not happen.
I remember once having a site meeting for a small building contract and I was chairman and secretary so I set up a tape on the table and as soon as I turned it on everbody shut up and would not speak as they were all very self concious. So I turned it off and carried on as normal and had to scribble notes as I went.
Everybody is different, you just have to go with the flow and get the best from whoever you are interviewing.
Perhaps we should wait for some comments from the 1001 other members on the forum.
Chris Thomas
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The trick with recording conversations is to hide the recorder (e.g. in a bag under the table) but take a few random notes. They will be at their ease, but do tell them afterwards and ensure they are happy for what they said to be transcribed.
Not that far away is electronic transcription of recorded interviews for non-professionals - I hope!
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Next time we see Chris we will all have to be careful of what we say in case he is 'wired for sound' ! :D :D
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Wot, is he Cliff Richard in disguise?
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Here are some more comments from Australia
Hi Jean,
No problem putting my comment on your forum.
Another comment, for use or not, RUM magazine and the Veteran Vespa mag (which is professionally printed on quality paper, no expense spared) are the two best productions and reading I get from England.
Just came across the photo I took of my house during the red dust storm last month, thought you might like to see it!
Cheers Fred.
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Freds right, lets leave it as it is!
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Re:Name Change - I have had the following suggestions from Norbert Mylius of Austria and owner of the beautiful Libelle.
Mystery (or mystical, mystic) Microcar World. or
Microcar World Research
Can we have some more thoughts from the other members of the Forum, particularly from those who rarely post comments? Jean
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...and now for my fourpence-happnay on the subject;
Bond Info is Bond Info. Kabinews is Kabinews. Isetta Gazette is Isetta Gazette. Take Off is Take Off. RUMCar News is RUMCar News All have been what they are for decades, all indeed for years before I was even born. They are the micro world, past, present & future;
Leave It Be. Leave It Be... :'(
There is nothing wrong to mend. Why change for change's sake?
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I agree with Stuart. Unless the RUMcars name has been sullied or something, why change it?
Do you think more people will subscribe if you simply change the name?
If a name change is in order, then you should be changing other things as well.
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:D I agree with all of those that say No Change. If it works, why alter it, and besides that, I personally think that the name RUMCar has a special pizazz. It opens up a whole avenue of thought, just in the name, and we instantly know it deals with Cars. What kind of cars? Read it and find out. My vote is no change...... Ian.