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Atheism increase due to Al Franken; doc for choir only; time-shifting?
Today's exciting Al Franken round-up features the news that Stuart is indirectly responsible for the increase in atheism in "Walnut Creek, Berkeley, San Francisco and Silicon Valley" (but not the North Bay, where Midwestern values prevail):
Meetings and rallies, once the province of older folk, now include younger people with tattoos and dreadlocks. The Internet, radio spots during Al Frankens Air America radio show and campus groups are responsible, [Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists] said.
In other news, in so many words, Robert Philpot says that the documentary 'Al Franken: God Spoke' is boring and just for true believers. And, to prove that I read the whole thing, consider this curious bit:
"'Preaching to the choir' is also what I get about Air America," Franken says. "But I get a lot of Republicans when I do...book signings [and things] like that. Even on the floor of the Republican Convention in 2004, when we had been on the radio less than a year, I had a lot of delegates come up to me and say, 'I think your show is fair.'"
Was he high, or are my archives wrong? While I still have trouble believing that they've been around for over two years, let's do the math. They started at the end of March, 2004. The GOP convention was at the end of August, 2004 (that was the one where he flew into a rage).
So, 8 (August) minus 3 (March) equals 5. Maybe it's a Minnesota thing to refer to "5 months" as "less than a year" rather than "less than half a year", or "a few months", or similar locutions. Those Canadians!
UPDATE: In fact, I visited the Bay Area earlier this year. On March 3, I visited Cupertino. April 18, Fremont. Union City on June 2. My sources tell me that the weather is a bit chilly and the leaves have already begun to turn, with squirrels running for their burrows. Sadly, there are no maples in the area, only oaks.
Posted in StuartSmalley at 02:40 PM | Comments (2)
Gloria Wise scandal over! (except for criminal investigation)
Air America Radio was started with a "loan" of $875,000 from a city-financed Bronx charity, the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club. Since that money was supposed to be spent on, you know, Boys and Girls in the Bronx and not to keep Al Franken in hair gel, an investigation by New York City soon followed, and AAR's current owners and management (more or less) quickly put the "loan" proceeds into an attorney's escrow account.
Now, finally, the money has been disbursed, with $625,000 going back to the state, and $250,000 going to the successor of the B&G club, now known as the Gloria Wise Community Center. As for the interest, what interest! The interest earned on the money while it was in the escrow account - like all other such interest - has probably been collected by the state and put into a general account to be disbursed to far-left non-profits throughout the state. As for the interest that could have been earned before it was put in the escrow account, well, hasn't Air America suffered enough?
So, it's all over! Except, of course, that the case is currently being investigated by the New York Attorney General, and may result in criminal prosecutions. But, as Air America spokeswoman Jaime Horn says:
"Piquant L.L.C. and the current management of the network had no involvement in the transaction, but we're pleased to have this issue resolved in a responsible manner."
Some additional details from: NYPost, AP, NYT, NYSun.
Posted in Meta at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)
Janeane Garofalo: Bill O'Reilly put me in estrus
In the latest issue of GQ, former Air America hostess and something or other Janeane Garofalo admits that when she first met Bill O'Reilly she was enraptured with sexual feelings and plunged into a deep state of extreme sexual excitement:Janeane Garofalo shares this recollection: "Literally one moment before you go on, he comes and says hello, and it's like 'Oh, my God,' because he's six feet five, and I find that to be a turn-on -- my boyfriend at the time was six four.It is not known to this blogger whether she was subsequently loofah'ed or falafel'ed by the television host.
So unfortunately, the first time I met Bill O'Reilly, it was an attractive thing. I guess I assumed he was a short guy, because he's so pugnacious. He still has the Napoleon complex while being six five -- that's what kind of an a--hole he is."
UPDATE: Via email, Judd Legum of Think Progress informs me that the J-Go interview appears in GQ (Gentleman's Quarterly), not "CQ [Congressional Quarterly]'s Teenie18 Special Section" as I originally stated. I apologize for the error.
Posted in Janeane at 09:02 PM | Comments (1)
Air America loses Dallas-Fort Worth station (KXEB)
If you're a progressive researcher, red flashing lights will go on in your brain and a siren will go off as you read one key word in the following and not just for the usual reasons:It appears that Air America, the liberal talk-radio network, won't be on the air much longer in Dallas-Fort Worth.Midland? Midland??? You mean Bush's "real hometown"? You mean the hometown of Laura Bush? Why, it surely must be a coincidence! Yes, yes, I'm sure it is... Yes, I'm really, really sure.
Guadalupe Radio Network, a Midland-based Catholic broadcasting company, has announced on its Web site that it will take over two Dallas-Fort Worth stations as of Oct. 1: KXEB/910 AM, which is Air America's Dallas-Fort Worth station, and KJON/850 AM. Guadalupe Radio will broadcast in English on KXEB and in Spanish on KJON.
The change will take place on October 1; this site directs us to the homepage of the NeoCon Catholic group that's buying the stations.
From the first report:
It didn't debut in Dallas-Fort Worth until March 2005, and it never really registered in the local Arbitron ratings. Coincidentally, Al Franken: God Spoke, a documentary featuring Air America's best-known host, is scheduled to open Sept. 29 at Dallas' Angelika Film Center -- two days before Guadalupe Radio takes over KXEB.Perhaps Al Franken could lead a crusade or something to keep the FCC from approving the buyout.
OPCEN AUTH 24: C&C 2A; GW, GW
Posted in Meta at 02:44 AM | Comments (6)
Marconi radio awards: biased against Air America?
Every year, the National Association of Broadcasters gives out the Marconi Radio Awards to "recognize excellence in radio". If that's so, then why are none of the 21 winners in any way associated with Air America? Have George Bush or his minions gotten to the NAB, forcing them to ignore America's only real progressive alternative to right-wing hate-radio?
On the positive side, I note that Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo has been selected as "Spanish Format Personality of the Year". Piolin was one of those responsible for the recent Democratic Party attempt at a novel GOTV effort, in which tens of thousands of illegal aliens and their supporters made a show of force in our streets, demanding rights to which they aren't entitled.
Posted in Meta at 10:28 AM | Comments (3)
Stephanie Miller, Mr. Valerie Plame party
Subject: Hollywood party
Topic: "Joseph and Valerie Wilson Legal Support Trust"
Date: 09/14/06
Organizer: Dean Hargrove (created "Matlock" television program), Brenda Hargrove
Attendees (partial list): Mike Farrell, Shelley Fabares, Alan Ladd Jr., Stephanie Miller (Air America hostess), Robert Scheer (author/columnist), Tom Girardi (attorney).
Link: this
OPCEN AUTH 18: OP HUACAMOLE 19-XW-7 GO
Posted in AlsoRans at 10:50 AM | Comments (1)
Will Fairness Doctrine save Air America?
From Jay Ambrose:...The Fairness Doctrine went into effect in 1949 as a regulation of the Federal Communications Commission. It essentially said that stations had to provide opportunities for other sides to be heard if someone said something politically controversial on air. The consequence was a quietude strikingly at variance with this democracy of ours...Note that Randi Rhodes and others promoted the scheme at the 2005 congressional media bias panel
...Democratic members of the House have already introduced legislation that would restore the Fairness Doctrine in such a way that radio stations carrying Limbaugh at great financial advantage would have to carry someone like Franken for an equal length of time at what would almost certainly be a great financial disadvantage. Hey, the stations might decide, let’s go with rock music - or whatever - because it’s easier and more profitable. If Democrats take back Congress, this anti-speech legislation could have a good chance of enactment, something to keep in mind when you enter a voting booth.
See also Harkin trying to legislate "progressive" radio onto air.
Posted in Meta at 08:49 PM | Comments (1)
Rev. James A. Forbes Jr. quits church
Who? What? Rev. James A. Forbes Jr. is the host of Air America Radio's "The Time is Now" program and the senior minister at Riverside Church in Manhattan. He's just retired, but apparently will continue with the program.
The church is liberal and John D. Rockefeller Jr. donated money to build it. But, according to one of Forbes' opponents "He has preferred to get in with the left wing of the Democratic Party and do their bidding". Sound familiar?
Well, keep listening:
Earlier in the year, a group of church members went to court, charging that its finances were in disarray. They demanded that a judge appoint a receiver to go through its accounts. Among other things, they alleged that $10 million had "simply disappeared."
Maybe it didn't disappear at all. Or, maybe it's in some lawyer's escrow account, just waiting to be disbursed after all the paperwork is filled out or something. Or, maybe it was "loaned" to some Boys & Girls Clubs or something. We know where it isn't: Al Franken's pay packet.
Posted in AlsoRans at 05:01 AM | Comments (0)
TP: Capt. Kirk foils Zantar scheme with AAR question
ThinkProgress is currently reporting that Captain Kirk of the Federation has foiled Zantar's latest scheme for world domination by asking the Klingon's megacomputer this question:
What is the current Air America schedule and how many different permutations are there of that schedule now and in the near future?
Needless to say, after working for a few minutes, smoke and steam soon began billowing from the computer, and the evil scheme was indeed foiled.
Judd Legum of Think Progress is also directing our attention to this DailyKos thread entitled "Shake-up at Air America Radio Formally Announced Today" from an AAR premium member (legal note: premium members and Associates may shoulder debt liability in case AAR declares BK; read the fine print on your tote bag). That refers to Friday's shakeup; by the time you read this there may have been several more. A comment there contains AAR's new tagline:
Air America has saved my sanity during the Bush administration.
Most other "liberals" were not so lucky. Note that this is not their new tagline:
As black women, there is nothing on there for us.
In true ThinkProgress style, I'm just going to repeat what the thread says without bothering to do even basic checking. Apparently this is/was/will be the new lineup:
5am-6: Mark Riley
6am-9: Young Turks
9am-12: Sam Seder
12pm-3: Al Franken
3pm-6: Randi Rhodes
6pm-8: Rachel Maddow
In other TP-style news, Thom Hartmann is starting to nose out Al Franken:
Portland's KPOJ is starting next week to carry Thom's syndicated show in place of Franken, in addition to his local morning show.
Denver won't be carrying Sam Seder:
Rachel will come on time-delayed after Randi (also time-delayed because Big Ed's on live...). Peter Werbe is following Rachel's show, along with some of the other AAR shows (EcoTalk, etc.). No Sam in that lineup :(
And:
Rumor has it Mike Malloy may be going to Sirius now.
And:
Kos won't hear Sam Seder in the a.m. since the S.F. outlet isn't putting his show on... We're getting Miller, Franken, Schultz, Rhodes, Ecotalk, Tom Hartmann, Bill Press, and a guy named Lionel on the San Francisco outlet.
And:
QUAKE in S.F. replaces Rhandi with basketball during the basketball season. I think these are local games (I turn off the radio when it comes on). Quake Radio really blew it chances to have a larger audience by filling the weekend with quack supplement and real estate programs.
Someone else says they're also "obscure" things such as "Stanford basketball, SF State basketball."
Posted in Meta at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)
Air America: no bankruptcy (today)
Air America will not declare bankruptcy today:
A representative for Air America Radio confirmed this afternoon to Radio Ink that Air America Radio will not be declaring bankruptcy and explained that the layoffs at the network had to do with the move of Air America from former flagship WLIB to WWRL in New York.
A representative from the Clinton-affiliated Center for American Progress' ThinkProgress.org could not be reached because I didn't bother.
I apologize for my error. It seems that TP has issued a full and complete confession, and may only need a few years of reeducation in Morozyob, Siberia:
On Wednesday, ThinkProgress reported "Air America Radio will announce a major restructuring on Friday, which is expected to include a bankruptcy filing." We made a judgment that our sources were knowledgeable and reliable. We regret the error. We wish Air America a long and successful future.
Democratologists speculate that this means that the Bukharin faction within CAP has taken the upperhand.
Bankruptcy can't be filed on the weekends (AFAIK), but that doesn't mean that AAR lawyers won't be working then filling out the forms.
A legal question: could Air America "Associates" share some liability in case AAR's liabilities are greater than its assets? Read the label on your tote bag closely: by using it you might have shouldered part ownership responsibilities.
In any case, don't forget to sign the petition just in case.
Posted in Meta at 08:35 PM | Comments (0)
Will Air America file for bankruptcy or not?
It looks like the cat has left the barn, with RE offering nothing more than an "educated guess" that an internal faction that is attempting to gain (or regain) control of the network "leaked" this "news" to a major liberal blog site (knowing it would be taken seriously there) so as to immediately depress Air America's value.
That would indeed frost the chips, especially considering that it's now Autumn on the East Coast and foliage season is coming along nicely. Not to worry: steady course now.
Note as contrary info that Christie Harvey of the Center for American Progress - the Clintonian think tank that runs ThinkProgress - is a frequent guest on Al Franken's show. Of course, that might not be contrary information at all, if Franken is among those who wanted to, for instance, stage a palace coup.
Over on his site, Mike Malloy provides this update on his front page:
We have been overwhelmed by email with rumors that link the termination of the Malloy Show with the possible bankruptcy filing by Air America Radio this Friday. We have no "official" information about this, but if true, it affirms the assertion by management that we were fired for financial reasons.
And, he promise to be back on the air soon, and he also promise to tell all about his experiences at AAR.
Also, please sign the petition to rich liberals demanding that they bail out AAR!
UPDATE: Via this, we learn that Neocon shrub fancier Bill O'Reilly, together with running dog Mike Gallagher and lap dog Alan Colmes, discuss the issue in this video.
Posted in Meta at 11:26 AM | Comments (0)
What might the post Air America landscape look like?
After the apocalypse, aka the selling of Air America's Aeron chairs on eBay, what might the "liberal" radio landscape look like?
Perhaps something like the current (as of a few hours ago) lineup at Seattle's KPTK. All times Pacific:
3-6 AM: The Young Turks
6-9 AM: Stephanie Miller
9-12 PM: Thom Hartmann
12-3 PM: Ed Schultz
3-5 PM: Rachel Maddow
5-8 PM: Al Franken
8-11 PM: Randi Rhodes
Only the last three are closely identified with Air America and, to be frank, out of those three all but Rhodes are expendable. 17Z AAR or liberal stations could almost assuredly do better and with less expense with someone other than Al Franken, and very few people even know who Rachel Maddow is. REX
That assumes, of course, that the whole fandango-style scheme behind AAR wasn't simply as an elephantine and crepuscular way of buying a Senate seat in America's Dairyland to the North. But, if that's true, then why hasn't George Soros pumped money, lucre, time, and effort into the venture?
And, on that note, I find it both disgusting and ludicrous that some "liberals" are trying to claim that AAR having financial difficulties is some sort of obscurationist VRWC plot and conspiracy. Believe me, AAR assists the GOP agenda the more it vilipends same. 17U
Posted in Meta at 04:10 AM | Comments (0)
Air America Radio goes bankrupt
[10/13/06 UPDATE: Air America is now officially bankrupt.]
Air America Radio will file for bankruptcy on Friday, sources say:
...Sources say five Air America employees were laid off yesterday and were told there would be no severance without capital infusion or bankruptcy. Also, Air America has ended its relationship with host Jerry Springer... Radio giant Clear Channel is so committed to progressive talk radio that, this week, it will announce a partnership with the Center for American Progress, Jones Radio, and MSS Inc., to conduct a nationwide search for the next Progressive Talk Radio Star.
Expect Air America to launch a nationwide search for the next Boys & Girls Club that can provide them with a cash infusion.
After liberals compose themselves, this site will offer a round-up of their excuses for the failure.
UPDATE: Please sign the petition to rich liberals demanding that they bail out AAR!
UPDATE 2: Did Rush Limbaugh buy AAR through an untraceable third-party?
UPDATE 3:: Best-excuse-so-far goes to "Smallbottle" on the DK thread: "don't forget AAR was founded by right-wing Republicans to prove the concept didn't work. They lied about the companies capitalization, switched stations, and pulled lots of nonsense before they were booted out."
UPDATE 4: The flying monkey right weighs in.
UPDATE 5: Even AAR joins in the anti-AAR spin. Bearing in mind that ThinkProgress is from the Clinton-affiliated Center for American Progress, I guess we know who they take their marching orders from:
If air america does enter into chap. 11, I expect things will continue more or less in the present fashion during re-organization. In the final analysis, air america is not the last word in progressive talk but only the beginning of a new genre of talk radio. AAR has been plagued by poor upper management and an ill defined business strategy. However, what is clear from our ratings is that there is a market out there for left talk and undoubtedly someone will capitalize on it.
Just not them.
UPDATE 6: 15 (auth:7) sends Congrats and Candies to all, reminding us that not just Doubles took part but Triples and Quads as well. But, he cautions us, it's not over, so remain sharp.
UPDATE 7: A few quotes from DUmmies are here.
UPDATE 8: AAR has fully and completely denied all allegations:
But just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Air America spokesperson Jamie Horn told Eric Deggans, media critic for the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, in an e-mail: "If Air America had filed for bankruptcy every time someone rumored it to be doing so, we would have ceased to exist long ago. It may be frustrating to some that this hasn't happened. No decision has been taken to make any filing of any kind. We are not sure of the source of these rumors."
Liberals knew how to deal with rumor mongers back during the time of the Fairness Doctrine.
Also:
[Al] Franken, however, confirmed that the network... is suffering from cash-flow problems. He told Radar Online about the bankruptcy claim: "I don't know if that's true or not. We do know that there have been cash-flow problems. I haven't been paid in a while. Like, there's no cash flowing to me."
UPDATE 9: Was this all a hoax designed to depress AAR's value so it could be bought more cheaply?
Posted in Meta at 10:44 AM | Comments (5)
Young Turks: new Air America Radio morning show
A group calling itself the "Young Turks" are supposedly Air America Radio's new morning show. So, why you ask, am I putting this announcement in the "Also Rans" category and not creating a new category for them? Well, let's just say things at AAR are a little "fluid". Or, solid as the case may be:
Posted in AlsoRans at 10:47 PM | Comments (2)
"Changing the Media Changing America Forum"
Is there anything more life-affirming, awe-inspiring, educational, informative, and just downright good than watching a group of "progressives" sitting around opining on affairs of the day, specifically voter enfranchisement? Yes, there is: if they're doing it in Seattle and if the video is awash in warm, earthy tones. Via "Kian", we proudly offer this video from the "Changing the Media Changing America Forum" that KPTK 1090 AM held in June. It's almost enough to make you forget all about how theirs is a failed ideology.
Featured on the video are Air America hosts Rachel Maddow, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Mike Malloy, and Laura Flanders.
But, it gets even better. There's part two here.
Posted in Meta at 09:09 PM | Comments (1)
ABC Disney anti-Democratic scheme discovered!
The reports on the Path to 9/11 ABC miniseries are coming in and I'm disgusted, sickened, and I feel physically ill. What would drive people to do something like this?
As I was sitting in the dark wondering what to do and slowly chanting "Haters! Haters! Haters!" to myself, I suddenly - like a key falling into a lock - discovered the whole scheme that ABC Disney is up to.
Frantically running to my iMac, I soon located ABC's schedule and I realized I had all the evidence I needed to bring back the Fairness Doctrine and even pull their broadcast license.
But, first, let's look at the programs featured on that network to get an idea where "they're coming from":
- Desperate Housewifes
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
- Supernanny
- Ugly Betty
- Wife Swap
All shows that objectify, downgrade, and belittle women. Now, who else has that same philosophy? Yes, that's right, George W. Bush. But, that is not the clearest evidence yet of their evil conspiracy.
No, the evidence of ABC's true agenda is obtained from looking at their schedule:
- Sunday 9/10: Path to 9/11
- Monday 9/11: Path to 9/11
- Tuesday 9/12: Dancing with the Stars featuring Air America host Jerry Springer.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have uncovered the ABC/Disney/Bush conspiracy designed to make we Democrats, liberals, progressives, and socialists look bad. Stay tuned to DailyKos for Part 2 of my investigative report.
Posted in Satire at 07:26 PM | Comments (0)
Some of Al Franken's best employees have been People Of Color
What percentage of Al Franken's staff has been Of Color? A new highly-confusing and ultimately uninteresting kerfluffle indicates that - contrary to prior indications - that percentage may be slightly higher than statistically insignificant.In November, we offered "Al Franken vs. Affirmative Action", reporting on the book "Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy" from Hoover Fellow Peter Schweizer.
Now, we offer a full and complete apology for our reactionary actions and we repudiate all such running dogs of the capitalist bourgeoisie.
As Comrade Al informs us, he has indeed hired more than 1% non-People of Pallor:
There was a "non-white" student (1) who helped research Lies and the Lying Liars. I was never executive producer of SNL, but when I served as producer for the 1985-6 season, we hired Danitra Vance, who was both a writer and a cast member and was African American (2)...Running dog Schweitzer offers this incredibly weak and not-to-be-believed response: ...When you look at these credited people does a pattern emerge? You bet. Franken tends to work with the same group of people over and over again. And it amounts to what liberals like to call "a white man's club." Because he hires the same writers, works with the same producers, over and over again, and they happen to be white, I'm supposed to be blamed for that? Funny, he doesn't cut conservatives slack for the same thing.
One of my researcher/producers on my Air America show is black (3). When we first started, the second researcher I hired was black (4)... Our archivist is black (5).
...For some reason, Schweizer doesn't include Sanaa Lathan (6), a cast member of my sit com Lateline, nor Lenny Garner who directed an episode of that show (7). Sanaa is now a movie star, but not because of Lateline. Schweizer doesn't include any of the skilled crew of that show or any of the other projects that I've been involved in.
I got the biggest laugh out of Franken's claim that he doesn't bring up race or castigate people because they fail to be inclusive enough. I about dropped my laptop laughing over that one. I cite numerous examples in the book of him taking aim at Republicans for lacking diversity. In his book Lies and the Lying Liars, he has an entire chapter on Bob Jones University and how racist it is because... numerically it doesn't have enough minorities. Sound familiar, Al?
Posted in StuartSmalley at 11:50 AM | Comments (1)
Mike Malloy: weird guy in the woods
Via this comes this video of fired Air America Radio host Mike Malloy propounding on 9/11 conspiracy theories out in the woods:
Enjoy, truthseekers.
Posted in MikeWho at 12:03 PM | Comments (2)
Mike Malloy satirically suggested killing Muslims
Perhaps this was the real reason Mike Malloy was fired from Air America Radio. From the Monday, August 28 show where he was filling in for Randi Rhodes comes this purported transcript (via this):Ray: You were asking for a conservative or a bush supporter to call so I just thought I'd call.This isn't the first time Malloy has "joked" like this; see "Mike Malloy advocates violence against blogger".
Mike [Malloy]: Well, thanks. Have a great day. What are you calling about?
Ray: Well, I support the president and I'm thankful there's a conservative in the white house during these times when terrorists want to kill us because we're not Muslim.
Mike: Wow. Is that why they hate us? Because we're not Muslims?
...Ray: Don't you think we should get them before they get us?
Mike: Oh yeah, that makes sense. Let's go kill... I'll tell you what. Where do you live? You live in New Jersey, Ray?
Ray: Yeah, I live in..
Mike: Are there any Muslims in New Jersey?
Ray: I'm sure that there are.
Mike: Okay, why don't you find some and kill them?
Ray: I'm in the northeast area in New Jersey.
Mike: Frankly I don't care where you live in New Jersey. I'm just saying, next time you see a Muslim why not blow, why not kill him?
Posted in MikeWho at 10:52 AM | Comments (3)
Air America-oriented "liberal" "humor"
Is there anything funnier than "liberal" "humor"? Wait, let me rephrase that: Is there any higher form of comedy than "liberal" "humor"?
The answer, of course, is no. While "liberal" "humor" may not generate the guffaws of, say, Jerry Lewis pratfalls, what helps it rise above all other forms of comedy is that it educates as it entertains (some call that "edutainment"). Now, certainly, you might not understand all the references, or you might be taken in by their witty, cutting-edge sarcasm, but give it time, do some research, reeducate yourself, read Chomsky and Zinn, and eventually even you might understand.
And, there's even "liberal" "humor" pertaining to or featured on Air America Radio!
First off, "Jesus' General" (patriotboy.blogspot.com) offers a video montage featuring his appearance on the Sam Seder show here. (For those of you who don't understand, that site is a takeoff on GOP-style patriotism; Democrats are patriotic too, it's just a "different kind" of patriotic.)
And, "Shelley the Republican" claims that their site's efforts lead to the Mike Malloy being fired. (For those of you in red states, that site is a takeoff on what you idiots believe.)
Posted in Meta at 09:56 AM | Comments (2)
