United States v. Gonzalez-Flores, __ F.3d __ (9th Cir. Aug., 12, 2005) (the burden to that an error was harmless is on the government; reversal is required where harmlessness is not shown by a preponderance of the evidence). See United States v. Seschillie, 310 F.3d 1208, 1214-16 (9th Cir. 2002). Here government advanced no argument that the evidentiary error was harmless. "Usually when the government fails to argue harmlessness, we deem the issue waived and do not consider the harmlessness of any errors we find. See, e.g., United States v. Varela-Rivera, 279 F.3d 1174, 1180 (9th Cir. 2002); United States v. Vallejo, 237 F.3d 1008, 1026 (9th Cir. 2001), amended by 246 F.3d 1150. This approach makes perfect sense in light of the nature of the harmless-error inquiry: it is the government's burden to establish harmlessness, and it cannot expect us to shoulder that burden for it. However, we recognize that no interest is served -- and substantial time and resources are wasted -- by reversal in those unusual cases in which the harmlessness of any error is clear beyond serious debate and further proceedings are certain to replicate the original result."