Defiance
93 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 188 ratingsDefiance is a podcast which looks at some of the most critical issues of our time, from corruption and greed to human rights and freedom. Brought to you by Peter McCormack, Defiance is a combination of in-depth interviews and multi-part deep dives into the issues which affect all of us.
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Episodes
The Killing of Marie Colvin
March 30, 2021 09:56 - 1 hourIn February 2012 - a year after the war in Syria had started - photographer Paul Conroy and Sunday Times correspondent Marie Colvin smuggled themselves into the war-ravaged Syrian city of Homs. As the first journalists on the scene, they witnessed the targeted attacks perpetrated by the Syrian government on women, children and civilian hospitals. As they were broadcasting the siege of Homs live to the world, the Syrian regime was using their satellites to locate and target them. The missil...
The Digital Afterlife - DEF:Tech #002
March 25, 2021 10:26 - 36 minutesIf you could cheat death, would you? Technology has progressed at a phenomenal rate, allowing us to do things deemed impossible. In this episode, Edwina Stott takes a look at the tech, which could enable us to live forever and asks whether an eternal digital afterlife is something we really want. She speaks with Eugenia Kuyda, founder of Replika, who built a chatbot from her dead friend’s text messages; Professor Michael Graziano, who firmly believes that one day we’ll all upload our brain...
Everyone Loves Britney - IV. Blackout
March 16, 2021 11:38 - 51 minutesIn Everyone Loves Britney, we investigate the complex conservatorship case of Britney Spears. The series looks at her troubled past and what led to her being put under a conservatorship. We question the legality of the processes that took place, and analyse the problems within the probate court system. We speak to people who have been through conservatorships and the attorneys who want to see change. And we ask who stands to benefit from Britney's ongoing conservatorship that has cost her m...
Everyone Loves Britney - III. Toxic
March 11, 2021 12:58 - 53 minutesIn Everyone Loves Britney, we investigate the complex conservatorship case of Britney Spears. The series looks at her troubled past and what led to her being put under a conservatorship. We question the legality of the processes that took place, and analyse the problems within the probate court system. We speak to people who have been through conservatorships and the attorneys who want to see change. And we ask who stands to benefit from Britney's ongoing conservatorship that has cost her m...
Everyone Loves Britney - II. Circus
March 11, 2021 12:56 - 23 minutesIn Everyone Loves Britney, we investigate the complex conservatorship case of Britney Spears. The series looks at her troubled past and what led to her being put under a conservatorship. We question the legality of the processes that took place, and analyse the problems within the probate court system. We speak to people who have been through conservatorships and the attorneys who want to see change. And we ask who stands to benefit from Britney's ongoing conservatorship that has cost her m...
Everyone Loves Britney - I. Glory
March 11, 2021 12:54 - 20 minutesIn Everyone Loves Britney, we investigate the complex conservatorship case of Britney Spears. The series looks at her troubled past and what led to her being put under a conservatorship. We question the legality of the processes that took place, and analyse the problems within the probate court system. We speak to people who have been through conservatorships and the attorneys who want to see change. And we ask who stands to benefit from Britney's ongoing conservatorship that has cost her m...
Ross Ulbricht & The Silk Road
March 04, 2021 10:32 - 1 hourThe Silk Road was an anonymous marketplace created by Ross Ulbricht on the dark web. Designed with libertarian principles, Ross hinted on his LinkedIn profile what he was working on: “I want to use economic theory as a means to abolish the use of coercion and aggression amongst mankind. Just as slavery has been abolished most everywhere, I believe violence, coercion and all forms of force by one person over another can come to an end. The most widespread and systemic use of force is amongst...
Coming 11th March - Everyone Loves Britney
February 25, 2021 09:35 - 2 minutes - 6 BytesBritney Spears' father has controlled her career and finances since 2008, in a hugely controversial, court-ordered conservatorship. In Everyone Loves Britney, we speak to the people fighting for her freedom as part of the #FreeBritney campaign and take a look at those who have benefited most from her fame and fortune. - - - - - The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help: - Subscribe to the show on your favourit...
Hacking the Brain - DEF:Tech #001
February 22, 2021 12:09 - 23 minutesIf you could modify your brain, would you? What if an implant or device could make you more efficient, store your memories, or even help you move in ways you are currently unable to? It might seem like a throwaway, theoretical question, but it's one we all may have to consider and potentially, sooner than you'd think. Brain-Computer Interfaces are being developed by gaming companies, social media giants and even the world's richest man, Elon Musk. It's big business, and the possibilities a...
North Korea’s Cyber Army
February 18, 2021 07:35 - 46 minutesIn September 2020, KuCoin, a Singapore based cryptocurrency exchange was hacked for around $285 million of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Exchanges which hold large amounts of cryptocurrency are a constant target for hackers. Lazarus Group, are a cybercrime group with strong links to North Korea. Over the past decade they have been accused of a number of high profile attacks including the 2014 Sony data breach, the 2016 Bangladesh Bank robbery, the ‘WannaCry’ attack and most recently ...
The Bitcoin Dealers of Beirut
February 11, 2021 11:36 - 46 minutesFor 28 years, Lebanon's Lira has been pegged to the US Dollar. But 18 months ago, following widespread protests, the government collapsed. Loan defaults and central bank mismanagement saw the Lira devalue and the people of Lebanon could only watch as the value of their savings dropped by the day. Currency controls have meant that getting access to US dollar savings is heavily restricted in Lebanon and converting them into local currency at the bank rate is almost worthless. But a small gro...
The Wolves of r/WallStreetBets
February 04, 2021 11:19 - 48 minutesLast week a group of Redditors from the subreddit r/WallStreetBets took on Wall Street when they collectively bought shares of the struggling video game retailer GameStop. This movement started when it was discovered that approximately 140% of GameStop shares were sold short. With the collective buying power of the millions of subscribers to the WallStreetBets subreddit, they initiated a short squeeze. By driving the price higher, those who had short positions had to buy back the stock to c...
The End of the Drug War
January 28, 2021 11:25 - 40 minutesFifty years ago, a war on drugs was launched. Its aim was to irradicate drugs by stopping the supply and punishing use. That war has failed as drug use is more prevalent than ever before. Hundreds of thousands die from overdoses, prisons are clogged with users, and the cost to the economy and society is devastating. But attitudes are changing. Twenty years after Portugal set the global standard by decriminalising the possession of all drugs, Oregan has become the first state in the US to fo...
A Borderless World
January 21, 2021 11:04 - 24 minutesWith the COVID-19 lockdowns forcing people to stay in their homes and, if possible, not go into the office, businesses have adapted, and remote work has boomed. Remote work tools have been available for years, but companies and individuals have realised that the office is less critical while on lockdown. With workers no longer having to go into the office and restaurants, bars and entertainment either closed or heavily restricted, what is the benefit to living in the city? There has been a...
Election Fraud & Media Bias
January 14, 2021 07:59 - 1 hourFollowing Joe Biden's victory in the Presidential election, Donald Trump and his allies have continually called the election's validity into question and stated that it was fraudulent, with Trump demanding the result be overthrown. Following the election, surveys have found between 70-80% of Republicans thinking that the result was fraudulent, whilst Democrats have faith in its integrity. Last week, the tensions reached boiling point when a Trump-supporting mob stormed the Capitol buildin...
Locked Out
January 07, 2021 10:30 - 44 minutesAmerica has the highest prison population of anywhere in the world, and young black men have a 50% chance of ending up in jail by the age of 23. Seventy million Americans currently have a criminal record, leading to challenges accessing legal aid, housing, healthcare, voting rights and most importantly, the ability to get a job. Without an income, many fall back into crime and return to jail. The economic and social costs to both society and the individuals is devastating, but with high ur...
Nigeria’s #EndSARS Movement
December 30, 2020 11:20 - 59 minutesIn October, Nigerians took to the streets to protest against police brutality in the #EndSARS campaign. SARS is the Special Anti Robbery Squad is a Nigerian police unit specialising in combating violent crimes ranging from robbery to kidnapping. However, they have been accused of corruption and committing human rights violations including executions, torture, rape and extortion. The movement began in 2017, but October 2020 saw a spike in interest and the protest that began in Nigeria spre...
Chaos 06 - This is America
December 17, 2020 11:10 - 36 minutesWhile division in politics is certainly not new, the Trump era in America has arguably pushed it to an all-time high. News outlets and social media platforms provide a 24/7 source of highly partisan content and elected officials leverage division to grow their support. However, what I've found in making this series is that there isn't any one thing to blame for the growing divide, it's everything. In the final episode of Chaos, I have asked Chart and Julie to return for a recap on the ser...
Chaos 05 - Echo Chambers
December 10, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutesSocial media has infiltrated every part of our lives, especially politics. Social media can quickly push people into echo chambers where highly partisan ideals are championed rather than challenged. We have seen the role that social media has played in elections with companies like Cambridge Analytica exploiting peoples data to profile and target potential voters, but what role does it play in pushing political agenda, spreading misinformation and creating division? - - - - - Show notes a...
Chaos 04 - Alternate Realities
December 03, 2020 13:41 - 46 minutesWe’re in a strange political limbo: Joe Biden is systematically dealing with the transitional process in a composed manner and with full confidence he will be inaugurated on January 20th. However, in the foreground Donald Trump and his allies continue to protest that the election was stolen and Trump has been demanding the result be overturned. Following the election, surveys have found between 70-80% of Republicans think the election results were effected by fraudulent means, whilst Democra...
The Bullish Case for Bitcoin | Vijay Boyapati
November 26, 2020 13:16 - 1 hourAfter dropping to lows of around $4000 when markets went into freefall following the coronavirus outbreak, Bitcoin bounced back to a near to all-time high of around $19,500. So, with the price rallying, what is the bullish case for Bitcoin? Vijay Boyapati highlighted the potential with his article The Bullish Case for Bitcoin, making a case for why it is the hardest form of money and the best store of value. In this interview, we discuss the originals of the article, why Bitcoin is so im...
Chaos 03 - In God We Trust
November 19, 2020 11:41 - 44 minutesIt’s been over two weeks now since the 2020 Presidential Election, and we are no closer to knowing what the outcome will be. Joe Biden continues to lead his transition team and develop his prospective cabinet, whilst the Trump campaign continues to raise numerous allegations of widespread fraud. Fractures are opening up between Washington politicians and state officials who manage the election processes. News networks are dominated by [artisan viewpoints, with the issue leading to signific...
Chaos 02 - Follow the Leader
November 12, 2020 12:22 - 33 minutesOver a week after the 2020 Presidential Election and we are still waiting for agreement on the winner. Following an extended period of uncertainty, when the counting of votes in numerous swing States was still ongoing, on Saturday 7th November, the media declared Joe Biden the winner of the electoral college and the designated President-Elect. World leaders quickly sent congratulatory messages. However, Donald Trump, his campaign, the Republican National Committee, and various prominent Rep...
Chaos 01 - A House Divided
November 02, 2020 22:25 - 40 minutesWith the 2020 election upon us, America is deeply divided. While Donald Trump seemed to be heading for a certain second term, the Coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement have changed everything. The Republican and Democratic parties are at war, fighting this election dirty. With such deep divisions, what role has news, social media and technology played in creating these divisions and why has Trump’s first term been so chaotic? In a world of lies, foreign disinformation, parti...
Ghislaine: Part 7 - Truth, Lies & Plea Deals
October 31, 2020 22:42 - 36 minutesGhislaine Maxwell is a British socialite, best known as the lover and partner of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for the best part of two decades. After being accused of procuring and trafficking underage girls after Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in jail last year - she went missing. Earlier this year she was charged with the crimes of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls. In this series we will look into the life of Ghislaine Maxwell and the men who hel...
Coming Soon - Chaos
October 27, 2020 15:14 - 3 minutes - 3 Bytes- - - - - Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/coming-soon-chaos - - - - - Timestamps: Coming soon… - - - - - The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help: - Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode: iTunes Spotify Deezer Stitcher SoundCloud YouTube TuneIn - Leave a review of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it). - Sh...
Ghislaine: Part 6 - All Eyes on Ghislaine
October 26, 2020 10:42 - 47 minutesGhislaine Maxwell is a British socialite, best known as the lover and partner of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for the best part of two decades. After being accused of procuring and trafficking underage girls after Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in jail last year - she went missing. Earlier this year she was charged with the crimes of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls. In this series we will look into the life of Ghislaine Maxwell and the men who hel...
Ghislaine: Part 5 - Prince Andrew
October 19, 2020 08:45 - 38 minutesGhislaine Maxwell is a British socialite, best known as the lover and partner of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for the best part of two decades. After being accused of procuring and trafficking underage girls after Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in jail last year - she went missing. Earlier this year she was charged with the crimes of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls. In this series we will look into the life of Ghislaine Maxwell and the men who hel...
Ghislaine: Part 4 - Epstein's Mentor
October 12, 2020 11:14 - 45 minutesGhislaine Maxwell is a British socialite, best known as the lover and partner of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for the best part of two decades. After being accused of procuring and trafficking underage girls after Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in jail last year - she went missing. Earlier this year she was charged with the crimes of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls. In this series we will look into the life of Ghislaine Maxwell and the men who hel...
Ghislaine: Part 3 - The Israel Connection
October 05, 2020 11:11 - 45 minutesGhislaine Maxwell is a British socialite, best known as the lover and partner of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for the best part of two decades. After being accused of procuring and trafficking underage girls after Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in jail last year - she went missing. Earlier this year she was charged with the crimes of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls. In this series we will look into the life of Ghislaine Maxwell and the men who hel...
Ghislaine: Part 2 - Epstein
September 28, 2020 11:21 - 37 minutes - 36 BytesGhislaine Maxwell is a British socialite, best known as the lover and partner of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for the best part of two decades. After being accused of procuring and trafficking underage girls after Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in jail last year - she went missing. Earlier this year she was charged with the crimes of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls. In this series we will look into the life of Ghislaine Maxwell and the men who hel...
Ghislaine: Part 1 - Daddy
September 21, 2020 13:38 - 39 minutes - 38 BytesGhislaine Maxwell is a British socialite, best known as the lover and partner of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for the best part of two decades. After being accused of procuring and trafficking underage girls after Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in jail last year - she went missing. Earlier this year she was charged with the crimes of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls. In this series we will look into the life of Ghislaine Maxwell and the men who hel...
DEF058 - The Ghost Inside: Aftermath
September 16, 2020 13:13 - 1 hour - 82 Bytes“To hear, in a linear fashion, what each of us was going through in the moment, on that day. It was overwhelming.” — Jim Riley Peter got together with Vigil, Zach, Andrew, Chris, and Jim to follow up on 1,333 Days. In this episode they chat about making the podcast, some of the stories that were left out, and what’s up next. - - - - - Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/the-ghost-inside-aftermath - - - - - Timestamps: Coming soon… - - - - - The success of D...
2020 Oslo Freedom Forum: 24th & 25th September
September 13, 2020 11:29 - 10 minutes - 10 BytesOn 24th & 25th September The Human Rights Foundation hold their annual Oslo Freedom Forum. With COVID this event will be virtual for the first time ever. To register for the event and find out more go to https://oslofreedomforum.com/. - - - - - Timestamps: Coming soon… - - - - - The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help: - Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode: iTunes Spotif...
1,333 Days - Part 4: The Comeback
September 03, 2020 13:05 - 56 minutes - 54 Bytes“Whether it’s everything I do every waking moment, or if it’s something I get to do once every couple of months; we get to be a band again. That’s incredible.” — Jonathan Vigil The Ghost Inside are an American metalcore band from Los Angeles, California who, on 19 November 2015, were involved in a fatal crash when their tour bus collided with an 18 wheeler truck outside El Paso. 1,333 days later the band played their comeback show at a sold-out, The Shrine in Los Angeles. This is their st...
1,333 Days - Part 3: The Recovery
August 27, 2020 08:11 - 47 minutes - 69 Bytes“There’s definitely been times where I felt like, what was the point of surviving to only be left with this.” — Jim Riley The Ghost Inside are an American metalcore band from Los Angeles, California who, on 19 November 2015, were involved in a fatal crash when their tour bus collided with an 18 wheeler truck outside El Paso. 1,333 days later the band played their comeback show at a sold-out, The Shrine in Los Angeles. This is their story. Part 3: In the third episode of the series, we l...
1,333 Days - Part 2: The Crash
August 20, 2020 09:23 - 45 minutes - 65 Bytes“I knew something bad had happened. It’s like, okay, life is going to change from this fucking moment.” — John Youngman The Ghost Inside are an American metalcore band from Los Angeles, California who, on 19 November 2015, were involved in a fatal crash when their tour bus collided with an 18 wheeler truck outside El Paso. 1,333 days later the band played their comeback show at a sold-out, The Shrine in Los Angeles. This is their story. Part 2: In the second episode of the series, we lo...
1,333 Days - Part 1: The Grind
August 13, 2020 10:50 - 42 minutes - 61 Bytes“It was just like any other night, we finished the show, hung out a little bit… went to bed, and the next conscious moment I had was, in the hospital a month later.” — Jonathan Vigil The Ghost Inside are an American metalcore band from Los Angeles, California who, on 19 November 2015, were involved in a fatal crash when their tour bus collided with a tractor-trailer outside El Paso. 1,333 days later the band played their comeback show at a sold-out, The Shrine in Los Angeles. This is thei...
Coming Soon - 1,333 Days: The Incredible Story of The Ghost Inside
August 07, 2020 16:24 - 2 minutes - 5 BytesThe Ghost Inside are an American metalcore band from Los Angeles, California who, on 19 November 2015, were involved in a fatal crash when their tour bus collided with a tractor-trailer outside El Paso. 1,333 days later the band played their comeback show at a sold-out, The Shrine in Los Angeles. This is their story. - - - - - Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/coming-soon-1333-days-the-incredible-story-of-the-ghost-inside - - - - - Timestamps: Coming soon…...
The Hijacking of BLM
July 30, 2020 12:15 - 1 hour - 113 Bytes“It’s people trying to slay invisible dragons; the demand for racism is far higher than the supply.” — Zuby Location: Zoom Date: Thursday 16th July Company/project: zubymusic.com Role: Rapper, Podcaster and Author Following George Floyd’s death, protestors took to the streets globally, to make a stand against police brutality and discrimination. In some areas of the US, these protests turned violent and gave rise to widespread looting, destruction of buildings and clashes with police. N...
Porn on Lockdown
July 23, 2020 07:17 - 1 hour - 64 Bytes“I definitely think that this shift in power to the hands of the performers has been a long time coming, it’s been sorely needed. ” — Holly Randall Location: Zoom Date: Monday 20th July Company/project: hollyrandall.com Role: Pornographer With the spread of the coronavirus, countries around the world have gone into lockdown, and businesses everywhere have had to change their working environments. Most have utilised remote working and implemented social distancing to adapt to the pandemic,...
Inside the World of Porn
July 16, 2020 11:07 - 1 hour - 91 Bytes“The systems of patriarchy are really threatened by sexual liberation, especially female sexual liberation.” - Stoya Location: Brooklyn, New York Date: Friday 15th November Company/project: hellostoya.com Role: Pornographic Actress, Model and Writer The porn industry is estimated to be worth around $97 billion, 25% of all internet searches are porn related, and 98% of men and 78% of women watch porn. So why is such a huge industry consumed by such a large percentage of the population viewe...
How to Save Humanity with Synthetic Biology
July 09, 2020 10:41 - 56 minutes - 68 Bytes“I see synthetic biology as a positive in light of this status quo of just the absolute horror of biology.” — Bryan Bishop Location: Zoom Date: Saturday 16th May Company/project: Avanti & Bio, Tech and Beyond Role: CTO & Co-Founder In the previous episode of Defiance, I spoke to Rob Reid, and we looked at how synthetic biology, with tools like CRISPR, pose a threat to humanity as they could be used to create a highly contagious and deadly virus. While this risk to human life is scary, the...
How to End Humanity with Synthetic Biology
July 02, 2020 10:36 - 1 hour - 68 Bytes“I would say that many people, in academic and commercial labs, if they were twisted in exactly the right way, could probably at this point destroy humanity. I mean that literally.” - Rob Reid Location: Zoom Date: Saturday 16th May Role: Author & Entrepreneur The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically impacted society, shutting down countries and stalling economies. There have now been over 10 million reported cases worldwide and over 500,000 deaths. While it has been an unprecedented event...
Robbing Hood - Part 4: Trump's Footstool
June 25, 2020 11:46 - 55 minutes - 53 Bytes“Steve Mnuchin is the embodiment of kleptocracy, is the most obvious caricature of a crook, given the keys to the Treasury.” — Andreas M. Antonopoulos Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is one of the most powerful financiers in the world. As Treasury Secretary of the US, he is the principal advisor to the President and the Cabinet on economic issues and is responsible for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policies. So how did he get there? ...
Robbing Hood - Part 3: All The Other Shit
June 18, 2020 12:43 - 48 minutes - 46 Bytes“Two things have become abundantly clear; Obtaining a clear and transparent explanation of all of his roles, positions and dealings, is close to impossible and he is a massive dick.” — Peter McCormack SHOW DESCRIPTION Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is one of the most powerful financiers in the world. As Treasury Secretary of the US, he is the principal advisor to the President and the Cabinet on economic issues and is responsible for formulating and recommending domestic and internation...
Robbing Hood - Part 2: The Foreclosure King
June 11, 2020 08:33 - 41 minutes - 40 Bytes“They did it using tactics that were on the edge of, or completely skirting the law in order to make these foreclosures happen.” — David Dayen Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is one of the most powerful financiers in the world. As Treasury Secretary of the US, he is the principal advisor to the President and the Cabinet on economic issues and is responsible for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policies. So how did he get there? Mnuchin...
Robbing Hood - Part 1: Friends with benefits
June 04, 2020 10:51 - 24 minutes - 23 Bytes“Sometimes you have commentators talking of America as a meritocracy, and I think the case of Steve Mnuchin lays that to rest.” — David Dayen Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is one of the most powerful financiers in the world. As Treasury Secretary of the US, he is the principal advisor to the President and the Cabinet on economic issues and is responsible for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policies. So how did he get there? Mnuchin ...
Robbing Hood - The Steve Mnuchin Story
June 04, 2020 10:51 - 24 minutes - 23 Bytes“Sometimes you have commentators talking of America as a meritocracy, and I think the case of Steve Mnuchin lays that to rest.” — David Dayen Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is one of the most powerful financiers in the world. As Treasury Secretary of the US, he is the principal advisor to the President and the Cabinet on economic issues and is responsible for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policies. So how did he get there? Mnuchin ...
The Future of Technology: The Good, The Bad & The Orwellian
May 27, 2020 13:19 - 44 minutes - 42 Bytes“The reality of technology is, it’s not good or bad, it’s both the answer and the problem.” — Jonathon Brill The coronavirus pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the lives of everyone. The reaction by governments to the crisis has varied widely, but most countries have implemented some form of lockdown to reduce the spread of the virus. With schools and businesses forced to close, and people restricted to limited movement outside of their homes, lockdowns have forced people to adapt to a ...