first

From now on, every post needs a Latham mention. Add one if you see that a blog is Lathamless.

March on May 1st

How many Ethiopians can you fit into a taxi?

All of them!

HA HA HA HA HA HA!

1,

LOL.

Dude, I wonder if I can pay a cabbie to put up a similar advertisement about Latham. Maybe convince them that Latham is trying to take over the holy land of Dubai and insteal their homosexual agenda on the people.

I would criticize, but I'm to busy working on this sovereign issue for a repressive islamic regime.

"In conjunction with the Northwestern University Law School, DLA Piper lawyers are teaching classes for the next generation of aspiring legal professionals at the law school in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa."
__________________________________________

Perhaps the law school in Addis Ababa can also supply Partner Emeritus with the cheap legal help he needs in his quest to change the traditional law firm model.

The laid off first years are getting restless

9:
Unless you are the midget or me, you are not safe. Start backing up your files. Middle of May may be your last day.

DLA apparently got tired of its clients trying to settle their fees with Khat.

This is all an overblown reaction to the opening of an Etheopian restaurant in DLA's building, which is excellent BTW.
--Dining on Dinich in D.C.

Why is the midget safe?

Latham shares severance money with T14 grads.

Who is bringing the giant inflated rat?

As bad as DC is, it is made insufferably worse by this immigrant community. Is it really THAT hard to get a coffee order right? Know where your cab is going, or, something crazy like, I don't know - speak English?

Addis Ababa to 160!!

Adis Ababa to three goats and a sack of rice!!

The midget is safe because Latham does not fire based on performance, only based on politics (known in Latham as random). The midget is connected, don't you agree?

It's an interview requirement at Piper that you play the meat flute. Even the "female" interviews have em.

This would never happen in Fort Worth.

Nobody would know the giant rat is protesting Latham because Madoff was in the same building.

A: Have you ever had Ethiopian food?

B: No.

A: Neither has an Ethiopian

Somebody needs to prepare pamphlets to hand out.

22, Isn't the rat typically associated with labor though?

If DLA breached, would Ethiopia have a reliance claim?

The rat pretty short, with a sly smile and on a surfboard.

DLA is awesome!

DLA = the new Mcfirm

27, lol

15: All hail King Rat!

The rat can have a slogan on it - the Rats of New York.

21 - that's cause Texans probly aint never hearda Eeetheyopia.

7 made me LOL. Good thing we all checked our consciences at the Biglaw door so we can at least do this unsavory work while there's work to be done.

Rest assured DLA's public face is quite different from its private one. They have handled lay-offs more poorly than most firms and the ones who got to keep their jobs may be the biggest losers. Most offices are not happy places to work. Keep in mind this firm is a hodge podge of other firms - folks that had difficulities getting along where they were floated over to DLA.

So working for BigLaw does = killing babies, after all? Or at least, can?

35 - were you very disappointed when you were let go by DLA. Was it performance based? Perhaps you were difficult to get along with...

I would wear a t-shirt with the cabbie's blood money saying (replacing DLA Piper with my firm's name) every day if it meant they would eventually can me with six months severance plus health benefits.

35 got no-offered there. Anyone who says "most offices are not happy places to work" either worked there and got canned/no-offered or the person is just trying to sh*& talk a firm. I couldn't possibly say whether other offices of my firm were or were not pleasant places to work, because I haven't worked in all of them.

Sorry you got rejected by DLA 35.

This post is racist.

"DLA Piper provided advice and counsel to the democratically elected government of Ethiopia "
A dictatorial government who murdered over 200 peaceful protesters, after loosing an ellection?
What type of law DLA Piper's lawyers teach?

yes, "..blood money is the currency of Biglaw?"

"DLA Piper provided advice and counsel to the democratically elected government of Ethiopia "
A dictatorial government who murdered over 200 peaceful protesters, after loosing an ellection?
What type of law DLA Piper's lawyers teach?

yes, "..blood money is the currency of Biglaw?"

Dear writer,

A few years ago, the US government spokesperson said many Ethiopians who supported the previous government of Mengistu have immigrated to the United States. The Mengistu government is said to be responsible for death of 1 million Ethiopians during famines and many thousands during state violence. Anyway, these Ethiopians in America are revenging on the new current government. Revenge is natural but DLA Piper is stuck in the middle of this game.

Dave

The Ethiopian Washington DC diaspora are making Ethiopia a laughing stock...what a useless community !!! a thorn in the flesh.

DLA Pipe,
please never mind ! Guys in DC are kids of former monarchy and feudal lords. They are antagonizing democracy and principles of libralism.

Let them shout. They don't represent the majority Ethiopians!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello DLA Pipe,

Please, keep on advising and helping our newly florishing democracy. Never give up your intellectual support for the sake of disappointed kids of the previous out dated racist Ethiopian regime( neftegna).

Here in Seattle are organizing our community to lobby and support you. We even have net works in DC, MP, Minnesota and Chicago.

By the way you can take them to the court for blackening and defaming your company on groundless facts. We already have the list of those taxi drivers one by one and we will treat them soon.

Ethiopia always need the help of DLA Pipe.

Thank you for exposing these blood suckers. They have no shame to write that Melese zenawi is democratically elected. If this is the rational thinking they were taught at law school, I bet I prefer to be damn ignorant. They should know that this is blood money. Money that is snatched from that god forsaken land. Shame on you DLA piper

A good number of Ethiopians in America are members or supporters of the overthrown communist government of Ethiopia, some of them were active members of the Red Terror purge that took hundreds of thousends of Ethiopian life, actually they are wanted in Ethiopia for their crime. They were also able to migrate to the United States after they lost power in Ethiopia, because they were the advantaged class. Now they are in propoganda war with the current government and demonize and defame any one they think supports this government.

Barking dog seldom bite !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have been barking for the last 18 years and their kids will bark even if these old schools pass away. We the disadvantaged groups of the former regime hate guys in DC from our heart. They are enemies of millions of Ethiopian who lost their family members by the parents of the guys in DC. Don't worry we gonna revange and wipe their reminants from our land in Ethiopia. We will never froget mothers, kids and seniors massacred by Menelik, H/selasie, mengistu and etc.

I urge DLA pipe to keep on working with our government. Don't take these nasty, ignorants and wanted criminals serously.

43 - go study your facts. You probably read something somewhere and are imposing the "if one communist arrives here they must all be communist" approach to making conclusions. Have you thought that many people came to the US b/c they were escaping Mengistu? That is a million times more common don't you think?

I don't blame you for being clueless, just for speaking out while clueless.

48 - read my comment at 50. Why are you spreading falsehoods about the majority of Ethiopians in the US? Yes, some are in the group that you profess, but you are nothing more than disingenuous if you profess that most or even anywhere near a majority are in that group.

Everyone else - think about it....the only ones who really supported and encouraged the Mengistu regime are advocates of communism who if they were landed and somewhat privileged, supported a government that destroyed their (and even worse, their family's) wealth. If these idealist should actually love the current government b/c they have kept many of communism's ideals -- foremost of which is that government owns ALL property except for property they give to their "friends". This is destroying the economy. Anyone with a love for Ethiopia and its future has to see the harm in that.

On a more basic level, killing peaceful protesters and stopping an election you are clearly winning might influence people's feelings regardless of their political history or leanings. If not, what exactly do you love about this government that is more important?

#51 correction "clearly winning" should be "clearly losing"

Once again the DLA Piper has proved that it is an instrument to serve the blood soacked regime of Ethiopia. It argues that Ethiopia is an emerging democracy, but any healthy mind who knows the regime in Ethiopia can't have that kind of impression. Ethiopia has an absolute dictator who has killed over 200 people, and wounded over thousand in the 2005 election. This is the regime dubbed as an emerging democracy by the lobbying group. This remind me the saying that when money speaks, truth remains silent. The lobbying group reminds me of big corporations who are looting Africa and sucking the blood of poor people. This company has to be disgraced any where and any time. Students from the Addis Ababa University should oppose teachers sent by this Company because the students don't learn any thing good from this company. We don't want our dear Ethiopian students to learn corruption and bad behavior from this company. We Ethiopians value morality and responsibilty over money. We don't want our students to be infested with bad behavior. Students should demand the expulsion of these teachers from the respected university.
F

46 - First of all, many of these pro-Meles posts relate to a hatred for the older regime and the assumption that the dissenters of the current regime are necessarily advocates of the previous one. This is just not true -- factually, not on an opinion basis. One can despise both and many Ethiopians in this country do. Saying detractors of Meles are pro-communist sounds shockingly like Palin calling Obama a socialist. Deal with Meles people, not the hatred of the past. Calling Meles-detractors communists (or Mengistu supporters) is a smoke-screen and lazy point of view at best and a misleading generalization at worst.

Moving away from this concept, what are some FACTS that indicate he is democratic. I am open to listen. Much of the news I am following is from the US and my understanding of democracy does not involve killing protesters, owning all land and stopping an election. Post up facts that support he is a democratic leader.

In fact I will start -
- his record of building the infrastructure of Ethiopia is unparalleled

on balance this doesn't do it for me. Can i get more help?

46 - "We already have the list of those taxi drivers one by one and we will treat them soon."

ok. you clearly stand for the mafia (dooriyae) style of democracy. What is that about? Whatever your opinions about democracy in Ethiopia, clearly you should understand that American democracy is not a rouse.

Perhaps we need to explain the definition of democracy here...maybe that's the problem.

49 - "We will never froget mothers, kids and seniors massacred by Menelik, H/selasie, mengistu and etc."

Are you Ethiopian? I don't think so.

51- You can't deceive the United States government as they rely on information based on facts through diplomatic offices in the country.

There are evidences that some of the protesters were armed and eventually killed some anti riot police man if you are talking about the protest that took place in 2005 post election crisis. Can you deny that ?

57 - ah see, just read carefully at what they said and try not to impose your own ideals.

Saying that most of them are in the US and saying that most Ethiopians are them are two different things. Most of them could be only 20 people, and is as small. That does not deceive anyone but those who seek to read what they want in what others say.

57 - regarding the violent protectors. Coverage must be varied. Regardless, I find it hard to believe that those people killed were all armed.

56 - I am an Ethiopian commenting from Africa and yes we will never forget what you have done in the name of revolution. We will never.

Keep your cab driving there and eat your junk food and please never come back to Ethiopia. We are fine without you. Slowely but surely we are building democratic institutions and also the dead economy you left behind.

Useless diaspora, it is better you get involoved in development struggle than your endless protestes in the USA.

Don't also forget that Ethiopia is a sovereign state, no matter how poor we are, equally sovereign as the USA is. History will never forgive you how you sold out Ethiopian dignity and sovereignty on your meangless protests to the powerful States on every western streets.

Keep your shame, big belly and drive your cab until you die while dreaming of power in Ethiopia again.

Please read comments of Ethiopians from around the world at the following links:

http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2009/04/ethiopians-in-washington-dc-take-on-on-dla-piper/#comments

http://ethioforum.org/wp/archives/961#comments

Please read comments of Ethiopians from around the world at the following links:

http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2009/04/ethiopians-in-washington-dc-take-on-on-dla-piper/#comments

http://ethioforum.org/wp/archives/961#comments

60 - you know nothing about the people who disagree with you except what you make up.
- Big belly? - mine is somewhat flat - not a big junk
food fan - and it was just tsome
- shame - yes, I must be ashamed to care this much
- dreaming of power in Ethiopia again -- uh, I'd rather find a job driving a cab and grow a big belly!
- on a more serious point, i actually agree with you that the revolution was one of the worst thing that happened to Ethiopia. I was lucky enough to have never lived through it, but I know enough to know that.

Still, by blindly looking to the past and blaming those who are on your side, you are destroying Ethiopia. Why don't you try and work on justice for past and building constructively, pragmatically in a smart way for the future? Figure out how to get what you want instead of insulting people who actually want to make Ethiopia grow.

What many people advocate is not necessarily the overthrow of Meles. It comes from an ardent belief that Ethiopia can do better - it can be better. A new regime can be worse, or better, who knows. The past has ugliness, but how is maintaining the same ugliness a solution? Regardless of what you believe, you must want better - if not for Ethiopia for yourself.

46 - are you giving legal advise to a law firm?

Come on guys! Open your eyes please. Which democracy are you talking about? The democracy that sustained Meles's power for decades? Or the democracy that jails one of the best woman politicians of Ethiopia? Or are you telling us the democarcy that threw tens of thousands to prison, and exile? Which democratic philosophy says that people should be maimed, jailed or beaten? If you don't know what democarcy and and human rights means, please go and refer; books are there looking for you to read them. Start thinking with your brain than with your belly.
Don't even forget that it is the money that is coming from the cabs' drivers that the dictator of Ethiopia is running his regime; that you get your salary every month. Had it not been for the remittance, you and the likes of you would have perished long ago.

Come on guys! Open your eyes please. Which democracy are you talking about? The democracy that sustained Meles's power for decades? Or the democracy that jails one of the best woman politicians of Ethiopia? Or are you telling us the democarcy that threw tens of thousands to prison, and exile? Which democratic philosophy says that people should be maimed, jailed or beaten? If you don't know what democarcy and and human rights means, please go and refer; books are there looking for you to read them. Start thinking with your brain than with your belly.
Don't even forget that it is the money that is coming from the cabs' drivers that the dictator of Ethiopia is running his regime; that you get your salary every month. Had it not been for the remittance, you and the likes of you would have perished long ago.
F

Come on guys! Open your eyes please. Which democracy are you talking about? The democracy that sustained Meles's power for decades? Or the democracy that jails one of the best woman politicians of Ethiopia? Or are you telling us the democarcy that threw tens of thousands to prison, and exile? Which democratic philosophy says that people should be maimed, jailed or beaten? If you don't know what democarcy and and human rights means, please go and refer; books are there looking for you to read them. Start thinking with your brain than with your belly.
Don't even forget that it is the money that is coming from the cabs' drivers that the dictator of Ethiopia is running his regime with; that you get your salary every month. Had it not been for the remittance, you and the likes of you would have perished long ago.
F

We Ethiopian American in Washington DC we do represent the majority of Ethiopian in the diaspora. We are about 200 thousands Ethuiopian live in the great Washington Metropolitan area, so DLA piper still want to be a puppet of the current regime in Ethiopia because they are making over 50 thousands dollar a month shame on you DLA losser shame shame shame.

For DLA Piper, it is just more than representing a rich cliant, at the same time DLA Piper seams to be suffering from lack of common sense , while working for and promoting another dictator who is paying them from what it gets from EU and USAID aid to feed its 14 million starving people!!
DLA Piper, shame on you, you know where this money come from, you watch it on a TV every day, churchs and NGOS begging to feed starving Ethiopians, their crimnal government steals the money from starving children shamelesly and you take that money though you will never win this case since it is making its way to the American public.
some comments above make no sense at all I am 26 years old nver partsipated in any political party in Ethiopia, but hate to see these idiots killing innocent people, please refrain from generalizing...

For DLA Piper, it is just more than representing a rich cliant, at the same time DLA Piper seams to be suffering from lack of common sense , while working for and promoting another dictator who is paying them from what it gets from EU and USAID aid to feed its 14 million starving people!!
DLA Piper, shame on you, you know where this money come from, you watch it on a TV every day, churchs and NGOS begging to feed starving Ethiopians, their crimnal government steals the money from starving children shamelesly and you take that money though you will never win this case since it is making its way to the American public.
some comments above make no sense at all I am 26 years old nver partsipated in any political party in Ethiopia, but hate to see these idiots killing innocent people, please refrain from generalizing...

For DLA Piper, it is just more than representing a rich cliant, at the same time DLA Piper seams to be suffering from lack of common sense , while working for and promoting another dictator who is paying them from what it gets from EU and USAID aid to feed its 14 million starving people!!
DLA Piper, shame on you, you know where this money come from, you watch it on a TV every day, churchs and NGOS begging to feed starving Ethiopians, their crimnal government steals the money from starving children shamelesly and you take that money though you will never win this case since it is making its way to the American public.
some comments above make no sense at all I am 26 years old nver partsipated in any political party in Ethiopia, but hate to see these idiots killing innocent people, please refrain from generalizing...

For DLA Piper, it is just more than representing a rich cliant, at the same time DLA Piper seams to be suffering from lack of common sense , while working for and promoting another dictator who is paying them from what it gets from EU and USAID aid to feed its 14 million starving people!!
DLA Piper, shame on you, you know where this money come from, you watch it on a TV every day, churchs and NGOS begging to feed starving Ethiopians, their crimnal government steals the money from starving children shamelesly and you take that money though you will never win this case since it is making its way to the American public.
some comments above make no sense at all I am 26 years old nver partsipated in any political party in Ethiopia, but hate to see these idiots killing innocent people, please refrain from generalizing...

For DLA Piper, it is just more than representing a rich cliant, at the same time DLA Piper seams to be suffering from lack of common sense , while working for and promoting another dictator who is paying them from what it gets from EU and USAID aid to feed its 14 million starving people!!
DLA Piper, shame on you, you know where this money come from, you watch it on a TV every day, churchs and NGOS begging to feed starving Ethiopians, their crimnal government steals the money from starving children shamelesly and you take that money though you will never win this case since it is making its way to the American public.
some comments above make no sense at all I am 26 years old nver partsipated in any political party in Ethiopia, but hate to see these idiots killing innocent people, please refrain from generalizing...

Diaspora Ethiopians you know nothing about Ethiopia, we are ok with the Government and any governemnt is likely to make mistakes, there is no perfection on planet earth.

The 2005 post election crisis is directly connected to you in the diaspora who have encouraged opposiation parties to go for a violent protest in the middle of the capital city.

Ethiopians in America are a very serious threat to the stability of the country. Please shut up, in the first place i don't understand the big number of cab driver Ethiopians in the land of opportunity, it must be because of your low lever IQ.

We are fine in Ethiopia and we will make it...without the confused diaspora.

60 - "What many people advocate is not necessarily the overthrow of Meles. It comes from an ardent belief that Ethiopia can do better - it can be better. A new regime can be worse, or better, who knows. "

The question is to overthrough Meles at all costs so that once more to instoll the arrogant Amhara tribes hegmonic supermacy over small and discriminated tribes of Ethiopia.

The diasporas question have nothing to do with democracy or development or equality or justice...it is all about power by the raceist Amhara tribe. Wake up Diaspora the time has changed. Today the most powerful office in the world is run by a black man why not in Ethiopia the down looked and neglacted people for centuries can't rule Ethiopia, can't have a say in the way they want to live, speak their language and promote their culture rather than yours (the Amhara).

Wake up Diaspora...we will never kneel down for your subotage and conspiracy...we have seen the light and we will never give up the fight.

75 - I get it now. This is a tribal issue for you. Many people actually see this as an issue for Ethiopia, not for Amhara or Oromo or whichever from the dozens of tribe you might represent.

Wake up! Seriously.

By advocating for one you are hurting yourself. The irony of your Obama example is that he won not because he focused on being black, but he focused on what is good for his country. I challenge you to do exactly what Obama did - think of your country and not yourself. You can change your country for the better but not by allowing the same ugliness that you hated then to exist now. How are you any better? Obama is all about being better, not getting retribution. Your attitude (note I am not saying you) is just backwards. Again, insult all you want. This truth is the same.

to response #74: Please understand that just b/c the Diaspora left Ethiopia doesn't mean they are less Ethiopian. You will have to deal with that and all the money they bring in to help their cause by working as cab drivers..whatever their tribe.

Is using insults how you have learned how to respond to arguments? Perhaps we need to seriously worry about the education system in Ethiopia as well.

opinions as of#60 about the Diaspora being all Amharas and only caring about power are a small minority in Ethiopia. That opinion just happens to be present on this thread. I hope that helps.

Something is obvious with all the comments, those who claim things are well in Ethiopia are not bright enough or got something they would have not in a democracy.

Those who cheer the law firm getting paid 50k/month to lobby on behalf TPLF made it clear it is not their money but blood money they stole from Ethiopians, as the taxi ad claimed

Those who claim democracy is going on in Ethiopia including the law firm would say any thing if they get paid 50k a month by any one confirming what the taxi ad claims/

Those who claim the protesters are the former Derg supporters meant they are still fighting the derg (colonialist Ethiopia) to liberate themselves at all cost, including wasting Ethiopian's money to do so, further confirming the blood money ad is on the point.

Those who claim the opposition of tplf are communist of the former derg are denying tplf is worst communist than the derg by admitting their ax is not the communist or the derg but their survival by spilling blood confirming the taxi ad is on right on target.

The protestors against the taxi ad are not denying the ad is true; they want to cover it up with 50k, communism, democracy, and extremist. What they are saying is they are useless unless they spent blood money to cover it. Everybody agree with them.

Big problem when a Taxi driver muddle in politics or try to become a politician.

75 - It is not a tribal issue to me but it is just a tribal issue. Is it because you live in the west and forgot your origine that you think differently...for your information in Africa there can be no political mobilization without ethnic grounds. I will laugh if you told me there is ideological movements either in Ethiopia or else where in Africa.

In the African continent ethnicity defines everything. Vote and party politics is divided along tribal lines so is the the diaspora taxi drivers, their burning question is the humilating feeling they have being ruled by the tribe they have been down looking for centuries, if you don't know this or deny this THINK AGAIN may be you are unconsciously thinking about Ethiopia from an American point of view.

In Africa ethnicity matters and that is exactly the motive behind the lazy taxi drivers in DC, i don't need to come to America to know this.

what you did on ethiopian people by serving dictator is shame . Dla piper shame on you and history will judge you.

The diaspora holds a remote control for a coup in Ethiopia. The diaspra lives in a democratic country but learned noting about democracy. Shame on you diaspora.

81 - you are regressive and the reason why the future of Ethiopia should worry us all. Is our goal to be like Africa or lead it as an example? Us not being colonized is such a leadership point, why stop there? Why can't we be better? Why can't we be an example for the rest of Africa? Why do you want to hold the country back?

Mengistu did not care much what ethnicity his opposition was, and his opposition was made up of a mosaic of ethnicities, as were the people who died. Ascribing his leadership as that of Amhara dominance is revising what his rule aimed to do to suit your purposes.

I agree that tribal identifications are real and play a role in politics, but why are they the ONLY item in politics to you? Whatever perspective any leader comes from, perhaps progress can only be made by a leader who can use the traditional "tribal" identifications to forge something else besides disunity (like your "all is tribal in Africa" stance) and/or destruction (like Mengistu).

Thinking this type of non-tribal-only thinking is impossible and calling me idealistic is one thing, but fighting to make sure this is not possible is another. Voice your opinions, but step aside so that perhaps those of your ethnicity and others who seek to build Ethiopia (without killing students) can actually create progress in the country. The fact that Mengistu's politics to you is about the politics of Amhara as opposed to social revolution is frightening and borders on brainwashing.

In history, the European colonialists (perhaps with the exception of France) emphasized this same tribal thinking as the only way to view politics so that they can divide the tribes and easily conquer them. We escaped colonialism - please don't reiterate one of its most deadly tenets to the country from within. Make ethnicity A factor in politics...not THE factor.

Even if I just came across this topic this much late, I do not want pass without saying what is true.

DLA Piper is a typical example of the scavenger face of capitalism. They simply look at the money at all costs. It is very sad that they receive that much expensive fees which were supposed to be used for millions in critical socio-economic conditions, not to speak all the gross human right violations.

DLA Piper receive that much money and advised Meles Zenawi with full knowledge that Ethiopian politics and economic sectors are controlled by a single ethnic group which accounts at most 5% of the entire population of more than 70 million. DLA Piper does this partnership with full knowledge that the 2005 election didn't give a winer ticket for Meles Zenawi. Instead he has been sticking to power through cruelty (killing and imprisoning innocent Ethiopians and political groups whose crime was only to have a different opinion than his ethic federalism and endless cycle of poverty and violence.

DLA Piper, history will judge you differently. Your action is not better than the cruel action of Meles Zenawi.

Your partnership with the Zenawi regime reminds me the partnership of the German BASF chemical company and the Hitler Nazi.

You could earn much money in the short and long term if you had worked for justice,. I have never expected a spatement of this kind from a "big" company, especially your desire to establish a law school in Addis Ababa WHILE you are working to extend injustice throughout Ethiopia.

Again, your are wildly mistaken to label the cab driver as someone from a minority vocal diaspora. Without being biased, I can cerainly tell you that 90% (even more) diapora community do not approve your engagement with an authoritarian regime who has countless bloods in his hands.

To those supporters of Meles Zenawi who try to claim about Ethiopian sovereignty, I would like to tell you that your are the most shameful and incompetent people who went that much further to represent Ethiopia with a foreigner company at the EU parliament and institutions. I am sure, even if they like the money they receive, even the DLA Piper may find your request bizarre to represent them at international platform as truth has never been on your side and your were ashamed to confront real Ethiopians on the same platform.