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Editorial: Proposition 26 does no favor for taxpayers
It's a kindergarten rule for living that's as basic as the ABC's: Clean up your own mess.
That applies to the children using the art-supply cabinet in Mrs. Smith's homeroom, and it applies no less to businesses whose products or manufacturing processes pollute the air we breathe or the water we drink — or would, without state efforts to preserve our environment.
Yet the misguided Proposition 26 on the November ballot would tip the scales in favor of protecting polluters. And it would inevitably push new burdens on the general taxpayers — the very people whom the initiative's proponents claim it would protect. It's a misleading measure that deserves an emphatic "No."
Proposition 26 would reclassify certain state and local "fees" as "taxes," a legal distinction that triggers the need for a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Legislature, instead of a simple majority. The line between the two can be tricky to draw, but the state Supreme Court ruled more than a decade ago that "regulatory fees" on polluters to help clean up their messes are indeed fees and require only a majority vote.
That Supreme Court case is illuminating. Sinclair Paint, a Southern California company, challenged a fee on paint manufacturers that would pay for efforts to fight lead poisoning in children (once commonly caused by lead in paint). Simply put, paint helped cause the problem; a paint fee was imposed to help resolve it.
Other examples identified by the independent state Legislative Anaylyst's Office are oil-recycling fees, hazardous materials fees, and local fees on liquor stores. All help pay for the problems those businesses (and their customers) cause, whether environmental or social. It's a perfectly sound and fair way to finance narrowly targeted programs.
That's not to say that Proposition 26's backers don't have a point when they argue that the state is often too quick to slap burdensome and expensive new rules on businesses. It can be, and lawmakers can be all too casual in their dismissal of the real-world effect on jobs. The rap on "regulatory fees" is that their only limit is the imagination and ingenuity of the decision-makers trying to impose them.
But the answer there is to elect sensible lawmakers, county supervisors and city councilors, not to further shackle government efforts to address concrete problems harming residents' health and safety.
The bottom line is that if it's harder to make polluters pay for cleaning up their messes, the rest of us will be stuck with the bill instead. That's not friendly to the taxpayers, who should reject Proposition 26.
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Kerry praises Egyptian military for 'restoring democracy'
Published August 1, 2013 9:40 pm
Ministry warns Morsi supporters to end sit-in protests.
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
This article cannot be shown due to contract restrictions.

subset: commoncrawl


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Chris Gober represents more than 100 active clients—including U.S. Senators, Representatives, and multibillion-dollar companies—in litigation, federal investigations, and political compliance matters. Chris was honored as the "U.S. Government Lawyer of the Year" by Lawyer Monthly in 2013 and 2014. He was recently named a "Super Lawyer" for Legislative and Governmental Affairs, and he was previously recognized in 2012, 2013, and 2014 as a "Texas Rising Star" in Super Lawyers and Texas Monthly magazines as one of the state's top young attorneys. He has been named to The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 list, was featured in Texas Lawyer's "Legal Leaders on the Rise" edition spotlighting 25 up-and-comers in the Texas legal community, and was one of two attorneys in the country selected by Aristotle Inc. to the 2011 Republican Dream for his work on behalf of Republican political clients.
From 2012-13, Chris successfully represented a Texas-based PAC "Texans for Free Enterprise" in a First Amendment lawsuit against the Texas Ethics Commission that permanently struck down Texas Election Code provisions that prohibited so-called "super PACs" from influencing state and local races in Texas. He represented the PAC before the trial court and also successfully briefed and argued the case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit after the State of Texas appealed the lower court's decision. Chris also represented former Congressman Quico Canseco (TX-23) in Texas redistricting litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and he submitted and argued on behalf of the Congressional map that was largely adopted by the three-judge panel as the interim map for the 2012 and 2014 elections.
Chris has represented dozens of U.S. Senate and House of Representatives candidates and officeholders, as well as state and local candidates for races ranging from City Council to Governor, and has established "super PACs" and 501(c)(4) advocacy organizations across the country. He regularly defends clients before federal, state, and local elections and ethics commissions and successfully represented former U.S. Senator John Ensign in a multiyear investigatory inquiry by the U.S. Department of Justice. Now based in his home state of Texas, Chris maintains a national practice that has represented clients in more than twenty-five states in the previous four years.
Prior to co-founding Gober Hilgers PLLC, Chris worked for a leading international law firm and served as head of the firm's Political Law section. His practice included white collar defense representing both political and non-political clients. Chris previously served as General Counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and provided counsel to Republican U.S. Senators and was responsible for all legal operations of the committee. He also worked as Deputy Counsel to the Republican National Committee (RNC) and as Counsel in the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he focused on national security issues and the confirmations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In addition to his legal experience, Chris served as a political operative for President George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns and as general consultant to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 2012 election cycle. He has been a featured speaker for political and civic organizations, and he has provided commentary for talk radio and various television stations and newspapers across the country. Chris was recently admitted to the Austin chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization, a global business network of leading entrepreneurs in 46 countries.
Chris volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children, helping these children find safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. In 2010, he was elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation, which is limited to the top 1/3 of 1% of Texas attorneys each year. Chris also served on the Board of Directors of A Hand Up, a charitable organization that assists women and children in need as well as the mentally and physically disabled.
Cruz for President, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (TX), Governor Bobby Jindal (LA), U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (MS), U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (NE), U.S. Senator Dean Heller (NV), U.S. Senator John Hoeven (ND), U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (SC), former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), U.S. Congressman Bill Flores (TX-17), U.S. Congressman Randy Neugebauer (TX-19), U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24), U.S. Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Chief Justice Nathan Hecht (TX Supreme Court), Justice Phil Johnson (TX Supreme Court), Mississippi Republican Party, Dallas County Republican Party, Dallas Citizens Council, Dallas Regional Chamber, Madison Project


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House committee approves GOP-backed state budget; Senate Dems introduce theirs
HARRISBURG — House Republicans and Senate Democrats on Monday set the stage for the political struggle over Medicaid expansion that unfolds this month.
A House Republican-controlled committee approved a budget plan without Medicaid expansion and Senate Democrats announced their budget, which counts on it for savings.
Pennsylvania is one of about 14 states that tentatively declined to accept billions more federal dollars to provide health insurance to more than 500,000 low-income people under the Affordable Health Care Act, or Obama-care.
The House Republicans' $28.3 billion budget — at least to this point — supports the position of GOP Gov. Tom Corbett and does not anticipate Pennsylvania expanding Medicaid.
The House Appropriations Committee approved the budget proposal 21-14 along partisan lines.
Asked whether House Republicans would back Corbett on the issue through the budget deadline of June 30, committee Chairman Bill Adolph of Delaware County said the caucus has not met to consider it.
Corbett's position is not final. He's negotiating with federal Health and Human Services for flexibility, a spokeswoman said. But he has said that although Pennsylvanians need access to greater and more affordable health care coverage, it "must be done in a sustainable way," spokeswoman Christine Cronkright said.
She said the state Department of Public Welfare is analyzing the program, which costs state and federal taxpayers $21.9 billion annually.
Democrats, in the minority in the House and Senate, are pushing for Medicaid expansion.
"It's a no-brainer," said House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, an Oakmont Democrat.
A Rand Corp. study released on Monday claimed the costs to states to expand Medicaid "would generally be lower" than expenses states would face paying for medical issues from uninsured residents.
Some Republicans in the Appropriations Committee meeting chided Democrats for not having their own budget plan. Dermody said it would be included in an amendment offered on the budget.
Senate Democrats put forth a $28.4 billion budget plan that includes $154 million in estimated savings from Medicaid participation. Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, said the budget addresses job creation, education and social services.
The House GOP budget would boost basic education spending by $274 million. The budget calls for spending about $110 million more than Corbett proposed for basic education in February. It would increase overall state spending by 2.1 percent.
Dermody acknowledged that Republicans might slap down budget proposals by House Democrats through procedural votes. But he predicted a close vote if there were a clear up-or-down vote on expanding Medicaid.
Unlike most years, Democrats have something that Corbett needs during budget talks: votes for a plan to raise transportation money.
Dermody stopped short of saying Democrats would withhold votes on a transportation bill if Republicans don't consider the Democrats' priorities such as Medicaid, freezing a corporate business tax cut, and pumping money into education and human services. But Democrats made it clear they would not provide most of the votes to raise money for roads, bridges and transit.
Brad Bumsted is Trib Total Media's state Capitol writer. Reach him at 717-787-1405 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
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The New DCR Rules
The Development Control Regulations (DCR) for Greater Mumbai, 1991, apply as a regulatory compulsion on building activities and development work in areas under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay. The Regulation came into force on March 25, 1991 which replaced the DC Rules for Greater Bombay framed under Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966.
The regulations states (in simple terms) that every person who wishes to carry out development or re-development of a building or alter any building or part of a building is to give a notice to the Commissioner, along with plans and statements. Construction is to be carried out in conformity to the regulations.
Under the DCR, the Metropolitan Commissioner has been the final authority for interpretation of its provisions and his decision would be final. The Metropolitan Commissioner could use his discretion to condone provisions of these Regulations except the provisions related to FSI.
In January 2012, the Government of Maharashtra announced further amendments to the Development Control Rules (DCR) for Mumbai with the primary motive of bringing in transparency and reducing arbitrary and discretionary decision-making. The new rules would mean pricing based on maximum available FSI, eliminating the ambiguity that was largely prevalent earlier with respect to disproportionate saleable area.
What changes have been made?
Under the new DCR, areas for balcony, flower-beds, terraces, voids, niches would be counted in the FSI. These were not earlier considered in FSI calculations.
To compensate for this loss in FSI, the government has allowed compensatory fungible FSI of up to 35% for residential developments and 20% for industrial and commercial developments. This can be used for bigger habitat area or flowerbeds, voids etc.
Fungible FSI will be available at 60%, 80% and 100% of the ready reckoner rates for residential, industrial and commercial developments respectively.
Under the new norms developers will have an option of 25% more parking over the DCR limit without premium and without being counted in FSI, which would bring some much needed relief to developers and end-users alike.
These rules would bring in transparency and curb corruption as they limit discretionary powers of authorities and provide a level playing field for all developers. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) expects to earn upto Rs.1,000 crores a year, which would be used in infrastructure developments in Mumbai.
Will this bring down costs for home buyers?
Theoretically, the following results should be achieved as a result of these changes:
The given FSI cap would bring cost rationalisation as developers would need to invest in quality design, maximising revenue by offering maximum value to end-users. However, in reality since no additional concessions are being given to commercial developments, the premium for additional FSI would increase developer costs and reduce profit margins by upto 10-30%, if the incremental costs are not passed on to the buyers. The government has also issued a directive for 20% of apartments in all big projects to be distributed at construction cost to economically weaker sections.
In the immediate term developers may not resort to a price increase but be happy to cut down on the margins, as if they increase prices this would further aggravate the situation of already stagnated sales given interest rates are at peak levels.
Do the new rules apply to all buildings?
The new DCR rules do not apply to cessed, non-cessed old buildings, Mhada layouts, chawls and slums undergoing redevelopment. This would mean waiver of premium for buildings meant for rehabilitation. The compensatory floor space index (FSI) for the saleable component of these structures will, however, be governed by the new rules.
Development Control Rules are designed to ensure proper and efficient development of a city.


text: FMS utilizes the cutting edge FACS collection system from Ontario. The FACS family of products is a suite of user friendly integrated tools that allows efficient gathering, prioritization, and dissemination of information required to make good management decisions and improve overall collection effectiveness. Operating on a Windows-based Dell PowerEdge platform, the FACS system allows for the most complete client reporting possible. FACS updates are complimentary to the user allowing FMS to stay on the leading edge of collection technology in the industry.


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Making the most of the second-hand market
Buying second-hand is a gamble, but it can pay off. James shows how to navigate the rough waters of the secondary market
The fast pace at which the computing industry moves means that there's always a new and desirable piece of technology just around the corner. A bigger monitor, a better graphics card, a more powerful CPU. The fast turnover may be the bane of those who like to stay on the bleeding edge, but if you're content to have a more mid-field system, it has a huge advantage. If you're willing to buy components second-hand, you can potentially get hold of big upgrades and recent components for a fraction of their price as new.
Buying second-hand isn't without risks, of course. You have no idea how well hardware has been treated before you buy it, and getting a refund for components that are dead on arrival could prove tricky if you've bought them in a private sale. Beware, in particular, of those listing components as 'untested' with no returns, for such claims (which mostly legitimate) are also an easy way for the unscrupulous to offload hardware that they know is broken.
To protect yourself, try to use systems that rely on a measure of user moderation and feedback. Be careful of buying used components at computer fairs where the chance of contacting a seller again is slim to non-existent. If you can buy hardware with its warranty intact, it's worth doing, but remember that you might need the original receipt.
The second-hand market can also work for you, of course. There are plenty of ways to sell hardware as well, allowing you to recoup the cost of nearly new purchases should you find that an upgrade you want comes around a little too quickly.
To help you navigate the unfamiliar waters of the second-hand market, we've put together this short guide to the various types of second-hand sale, examining their advantages and disadvantages and hopefully reassuring you that buying and selling in the secondary market isn't quite as risky or as difficult as you might think.
Classified ads are, historically, a good place to buy or sell anything second-hand - although it does depend on the source. Sites like Craigslist and Gumtree are basically unmoderated, meaning that they're not just full of people selling duff items, they're full of people who are looking to actively commit fraud!
Obviously, not everyone using those sites is a crook, but there's almost no way to tell the good from the bad until you're actively engaging with the process. Make sure to follow the rules of common sense: don't pay by cash or bank transfer, keep copies of correspondence, make sure you see proof of postage if you're receiving goods and make sure you send anything you sell by registered post, so that you can be sure of a safe delivery!
Of course, if you want to engage with a more reliable classifieds system, we obviously have to point to Micro Mart's own classifieds listings, which you'll find towards the back of every issue. The good thing about our listings is that you're only ever dealing with computer enthusiasts, so people are broadly knowledgeable about what they're buying and selling, which means prices are fair and buyers are unlikely to be dissatisfied with the goods they receive.
Nearly new goods
Many manufacturers and retailers allow you to buy 'refurbished' or 'open box' items from their online stores. Whatever phrase they choose to use, the terms cover items that have been returned by another customer and put back on sale after being checked by the retailer. Crucially for any buyer, they'll be as much as 20% cheaper than buying the hardware new, representing one of the best ways to get an instant second-hand bargain on nearly new products.
The big question, of course, is why the item was returned or refurbished in the first place. If you're buying from a retailer, rather than the manufacturer, you're most likely to see 'open box' items. This could mean an ex-display model, something that was purchased, used once and returned simply because the buyer didn't like it, or faulty hardware that the retailer hasn't bothered to properly investigate. Mostly, it'll mean some minor aesthetic fault, such as a scratched or dented exterior - even just damage to the packaging. The important thing is to try to determine the item's history before you buy it, particularly whether you can return it or whether there's a valid warranty.
However, the danger of buying faulty goods is substantially reduced if you buy so-called 'factory refurbished' items from the manufacturer. In some cases, you're actually less likely to get a faulty product than if you buy new: when manufacturers sell items as factory refurbished goods, they haven't just put a returned item into the box, taped it up and put it on sale; they've often subjected the hardware to a full testing procedure, which sees portions of its internals and/or exterior replaced entirely to eliminate any damage, faults or signs of use.
Apple famously ensures that a refurbished item has undergone testing far more rigorous than anything a 'new' product goes through before it hits shelves, meaning that its refurbished tablets, laptops and systems are a fantastic bargain. Not every manufacturer and retailer is as painstaking, but the rule does apply generally: if an item is returned, the seller has had to investigate and potentially repair any fault before putting it back on the shelf a second time, so any outlet with a reputation to uphold is likely to have been thorough.
For these reasons, refurbished goods are a smart way to buy 'new' hardware, and particularly in the case of complete systems and consumer electronics where faults are hard for novices to locate but easy for companies to repair. To illustrate, a Nexus 7 tablet costs £199 new, while a refurbished example can be picked up for as little as £160. If anything, the former is more likely to fail, but because someone else has handled the latter, it instantly loses a huge chunk of its value. If you can stand knowing that you're the second owner of the device (or some part of it, at least), then you'll easily save a lot of money.
If someone mentions buying or selling goods second-hand, it's a safe bet that your brain will go straight to thinking about eBay. It's not hard to see why: the website has been around longer than most and has crushed the competition over the years with its wide range of content and reliable system of sales.
However, the site's strength is also a weakness. eBay's enduring popularity means that bargains are hard to find and even harder to hold onto. Hardware sales on eBay, even at auction, tend to match the cheapest retail price very closely, while 'Buy It Now' sellers are usually more expensive. Any desirable second-hand bargains you spot are likely to end close to the limit of whatever's being sold at retail.
It's possible to pick up good deals on cheaper components that don't retain much value - specifically, we're thinking of optical drives, mice/keyboards and speakers - but that's only because there's very little competition and not much money to be saved. Try to find a bargain monitor on eBay and you'll quickly discover that they don't exist.
However, what that does mean is that eBay is a great place to sell components. It helps that the market can decide the price; it's possible to search for completed listings, so if you have hardware to sell, you can quickly find out what the market value is before you get anywhere near clicking the 'sell' button.
eBay's biggest advantage over most second-hand outlets is its feedback system, which allows you to check the credibility of buyers and sellers before engaging with them. Although the payment system is heavily tilted in favour of using PayPal as the payment method, which may be inconvenient if you don't have a PayPal account, there's a lot of protection on both sides and you can be fairly sure that if you take the correct precautions (communicating through eBay's messaging system, checking returns policy in advance, getting postage receipts, etc.) that you won't be ripped off.
Arguably the home of the best bargains of all, Freecycle (aka The Freecycle Network) is an organisation that co-ordinates groups of local people over an email list/forum allowing them to request and offer items of any kind. It's like a classifieds website, only the listings are all entirely free.
The idea is to unite people's unwanted goods with those who actually want them, saving potential junk from a rather more useless fate in a landfill site somewhere. The nature of the organisation means it's quite good for computing components; when old systems and peripherals are replaced, they're often listed as an alternative to being thrown out in case anyone wants to refurbish or strip them for parts. All you have to do, as the interested party, is collect the goods. No money changes hands and that means the potential for fraud is virtually nil.
The system allows you to request goods as well as offer them, so if you're after a specific piece of hardware, there's a chance someone has it lying around unused and will be happy to gift it to you. Obviously, you're unlikely to get anything with significant value when using Freecycle (no amount of requesting an Ultrabook or GeForce GTX 660 is likely to result in you receiving one), but if you're interested in getting your hands on a free system and don't mind a little work fixing it up, an old laptop or desktop isn't out of the question. After all, selling them is often more trouble than it's worth.
A quick scan of the local Freecycle group shows a variety of computing-related offers across the spectrum of prices: a free copy of Office 2003, ten empty printer cartridges for recycling, a VGA cable, a Dell Inspiron 1300 Laptop (without its hard drive), multiple working wireless routers, a 17" monitor, a box of assorted computer parts (including keyboards and mice) and a NAS case (again, sans hard drive) - all within the last 24 hours.
Obviously, the quality of the selection varies wildly (and most users are clearly shrewd enough to remove hard drives before giving them away, so don't think there's an opportunity for any identity-theft fraud either…), but if you check the site for a few days, there's a good chance you'll find hardware you want or need on offer. There are no guarantees of quality, but then the price is so good, it's worth taking a risk on.
What should you buy?
Just because buying second-hand hardware can be a good idea, it doesn't mean it always is. Certain components, such as RAM, processors and hard drives are excessively vulnerable to wear but may show no sign of it until their inevitable catastrophic failure, which could leave your data junked and your PC unusable.
There's no guarantee, for example, that the second-hand CPU you buy hasn't been running overclocked for years and is mere weeks away from dying completely. You can't be certain whether any second-hand hard drive you buy has endured thousands of hours of constant use, or whether it was woken up once a week so that the owner could check their email. In either case, a hardware failure would be disastrous, but unlike second-hand cars, there's no odometer you can simply read before (or indeed, after) you buy them to check how much strain has been placed on these parts.
While this is true for other components, it's only with the most vulnerable, system-critical hardware that you should allow caution to get the better of doubt. Components that don't often fail (or that won't cause huge problems if they do) can be approached more casually on the secondary market.
Motherboards, for instance, are rarely put under any significant strain and have low failure rates under normal use. The vast majority are replaced before they get anywhere near the end of their lifespan. Ditto for optical drives, speakers and monitors. Cases are virtually indestructible. Accessories like cables are always a bargain second-hand, often available completely unused because they were included free with another purchase despite being unnecessary.
There's always some risk when buying second-hand, but as long as you stay away from the most vulnerable components, you should be able to minimise the potential for disaster and save money in the process.


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Copyright © Brandywine Sprouts Roots & Shoots. All rights reserved.
Animals often mistake plastic bags for yummy jellyfish.
More than 20 other countries have done it.
A whole bunch of U.S. counties have done it.
Practically a gazillion U.S. cities have done it.
But, no other state in the U.S. has yet done it.
Delaware can be THE FIRST STATE
to comprehensively address
plastic bag pollution for good.
Senator Tom Carper signs on to the bag ban initiative on Earth Day, April 2012
Reduce comes first.
Celebrate Earth Day with a free reusable bag giveaway at the ShopRite Concord Pike,
Sunday, April 26th, 11:00 a.m. until supplies are gone! Visit us there!


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MINNEAPOLIS - From the Walker Art Center and stretching into downtown Minneapolis, Tom Hoch sees nothing but possibilities along Hennepin Avenue.
"It can be even better than it is right now," says Hoch, the president and CEO of the Hennepin Theatre Trust. "Culture and arts can help make it happen."
The Minneapolis City Council approved a plan Friday to create a more pedestrian-friendly 'cultural coridoor' along Hennepin Avenue. Leaders in the arts community have listened to residents and say the street needs more consistency.
"It's good on one block and the next they didn't feel so good about," says Hoch. "They didn't move freely up and down the street and tended to cluster."
The big picture plan is to include more green space, courtyards, event space, restaurants, and street-level shops. In the short-term, changes can already be seen. Empty storefronts are being converted into pop-up art galleries and utility boxes that scatter the sidewalks are painted by local artists.
"Imagine walking out of the Walker Art Center, through the sculpture garden, down Hennepin and have two miles of seamless and interesting activities," says Hoch.
More improvements will be made in the next three to 10 years. Federal grant money was used to kickoff the planning stage. City and private funds will be used throughout the project.
For more information on the plan click here.


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Upcoming Events
2015 Holiday Party
Saturday December 5, 2015
Saturday December 5, 2015
Quattro de Mayo 2016
Thursday April 28, 2016
Thursday April 28, 2016
Taste of the Track at Atlanta Motorsports ParkDate: Friday October 12, 2012
Want to experience driving on the track, but not ready for a full weekend?
We have the answer for you: our new 1-Day Taste of the Track program.
On friday, October 12, we will be offering a single day driving school for members looking to test the waters with High Performance driving. Your experience will include 3 classroom sessions and 3 20-minute sessions on track in a lead-follow arrangement. The pace will be a bit slower than what our 2-day students experience. None the less, you'll experience driving your Audi in ways that aren't (legally) possible on the street. This program is open to any club member driving any vehicle (no convertibles or SUVs, though), with any experience level. BUT, only 6 spots are available so act fast to secure your spot. The cost for the day is $150, plus helmet rental ($20) and lunch ($10), if desired.


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- Filed Under
Groundbreaking is set for 1 p.m. Friday for next summer's Homearama new home show at Carriage Hill in Liberty Township, Butler County.
Homes in the show July 12-27 will feature a variety of architectural styles and range from $950,000 to $1.8 million.
Builders include Arthur Rutenberg ...