public synchronized void write(K key, V value)
      throws IOException {

      boolean nullKey = key == null || key instanceof NullWritable;
      boolean nullValue = value == null || value instanceof NullWritable;
      if (nullKey && nullValue) {
        return;
      }
      if (!nullKey) {
        writeObject(key);
      }
      if (!(nullKey || nullValue)) {
        out.write(keyValueSeparator);
      }
      if (!nullValue) {
        writeObject(value);
      }
      out.write(newline);
    }