announcements.add(local_addr);
    void processAnnouncements() {        if(announcements.size() > 1) {            Vector coords=new Vector(announcements);  // create a clone            if(coords.size() > 1) {                if(log.isDebugEnabled())                    log.debug("passing up MERGE event, coords=" + coords);                final Event evt=new Event(Event.MERGE, coords);                if(use_separate_thread) {                    Thread merge_notifier=new Thread(Util.getGlobalThreadGroup(), "merge notifier thread") {                        public void run() {                            passUp(evt);                        }                    };                    merge_notifier.setDaemon(true);                    merge_notifier.start();                }                else {                    passUp(evt);                }            }            announcements.clear();        }    }