Warning, this post really isn't that interesting. It is more an example of how I try to "stick it to people" who piss me off.
Last week someone at work put this article by George Will in all the staff boxes (you know those things that hold paper, you know like those things that teachers get their papers from in the morning in the school office). Anywho, to get the full extent of this post, you are going to have to read that said article, or at least give it a good glance.
I felt that article was brought to everyone's attention in order for the distributor to justify his non-Earth friendly life to us environmentalists. Not to mention, he (or she, but it was a he) didn't double side his copies, nice touch.
I was ticked, yes.
I couldn't let it slide, you know that. He put it in EVERYONE'S box.
So....I looked online to try and find someone's rebuttal to this article. I found a couple but they weren't very strong arguments. It was mostly stuff like "George Will is an idiot" "Duh, the Earth doesn't care, it doesn't have feelings" and so on and so forth. Not the most educated arguments. Therefore, I was forced to create my own. Brought me back to my college days where I had to remember grammar. Well, I do have more of a flair now than in college (probably due to the graduation to wine instead of vodka) and I think my response turned out well.
The distributor even came up to me giving me a fist bump and said, "Out of 1 to 100, that was 1,000". I think that meant I won. Booyah!
I shall post my response for you now and if you need to stick it to someone by using my article go ahead and type a last name and "Ph.D" after By Emily.
If this article is too small for your weak eyes to read and you get the large-print books from the library, you can hit "fullscreen" or "download" in the article box and it will open bigger for ya.
Rebuttal
Thank you and Good Night.
p.s. you can now subscribe to FVW by entering your email on the sidebar. You will get email notifications when I post something thrilling and/or educational and/or snotty.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Easy Peasy Tomato and Japanesey Eggplant Sauce
I don't know about you but I am still trying to use up my summer harvest. This recipe suited our garden bounty perfectly!
This sauce I originally put on top of pasta but recently I also used it as pizza sauce and it was awesome.
Tomato Eggplant Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 medium to large tomatoes
- 3 small japanese eggplants or 1/2 regular size italian eggplant
- 3 cloves garlic
- salt
- pepper
- dried basil
- oil
Method
Preheat oven to 400
1) Cut the tomatoes into quarters, put into a medium sized bowl
2) Cut eggplant into 1 inch thick slices, put in same bowl
3) Peel cloves and add them whole into your bowl
4) Season tomatoes and eggplant with salt, pepper, and dried basil
5) Add 1 - 2T oil to your bowl and toss
6) Put your veggies on a baking sheet and put in the oven and let roast for 30min
7) After 30min and the veggies have "wilted" a little but not burned, take them out and set them somewhere to cool for about 10 min.
8) Put your veggies in the food processor (this took two batches for me).
9) Puree the veggies until you get the consistency you want.
That's it. Enjoy this end-o-summer special on pasta, pizza, or maybe even a sandwich. You could add water or veggie broth to it if you want it a bit thinner.
Just a little summer reminder
This sauce I originally put on top of pasta but recently I also used it as pizza sauce and it was awesome.
Tomato Eggplant Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 medium to large tomatoes
- 3 small japanese eggplants or 1/2 regular size italian eggplant
- 3 cloves garlic
- salt
- pepper
- dried basil
- oil
Method
Preheat oven to 400
1) Cut the tomatoes into quarters, put into a medium sized bowl
2) Cut eggplant into 1 inch thick slices, put in same bowl
3) Peel cloves and add them whole into your bowl
4) Season tomatoes and eggplant with salt, pepper, and dried basil
5) Add 1 - 2T oil to your bowl and toss
6) Put your veggies on a baking sheet and put in the oven and let roast for 30min
7) After 30min and the veggies have "wilted" a little but not burned, take them out and set them somewhere to cool for about 10 min.
8) Put your veggies in the food processor (this took two batches for me).
9) Puree the veggies until you get the consistency you want.
That's it. Enjoy this end-o-summer special on pasta, pizza, or maybe even a sandwich. You could add water or veggie broth to it if you want it a bit thinner.
Just a little summer reminderThursday, September 23, 2010
Fresh Tomato Sauce
I haven't posted any recipes lately and just in case anyone uses them, I want to give two of my favorites this summer. We will start with Fresh Tomato Sauce. This was originally from Smitten Kitchen but I tweaked it a little.
Fresh Tomato Sauce
Serves 3
Notes
This took me awhile to perfect but I finally did it. The trick is in the skin of the tomato. Tomatoes have wonderful flavor in the skin and this is lost when you straight up puree tomatoes as you are supposed to only get the middle but, I figured out how to use both....
First things first, you still will need the tomato puree which means you have to get the good stuff out of the tomatoes. The first thing I tried in order to puree was my sauce maker. It worked great. Just cut the tomatoes and turn. But...then it started not turning correctly and I got frustrated so I had to think of something else. I ended up taking my tomatoes, cutting them in half and squeezing them as hard as I could. Seriously. I got the stuff I wanted. You do get some seeds but that really is no big deal, you don't notice it in the final product. Make sure you save the skins somewhere, you are going to use those in this recipe too.
Ingredients
- about 6 to 10 medium to large sized tomatoes
- 3T olive oil
- small onion chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic halved
- 1/2 carrot chopped
- 1/2 stalk of celery chopped
- salt
-pepper
- italian seasoning or dried basil
Method
1) Preheat oven to 400.
2) Prepare that tomato puree by squeezing the shit (literally) out of your tomatoes. Seeds are fine but you want to keep the skin. If some of the thick innards get in your puree, that is good, you just don't want all of them.
3) Put the skin of the tomatoes on a baking pan with some salt and pepper and when the oven is ready, let those roast for 20 - 30min (we will add them later)
4) Put your olive oil in a sauce pan and add the onion, celery, and carrots. Cook until soft, about 10 min.
5) Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and italian/basil seasoning. Cook for 3 more min.
6) Put your pan fried veggie mix in a food processor and chop until you get the consistency you want. (I like mine a bit chunky.)
7) Put your squeezed tomato puree and processed veggies in the saucepan and simmer for a good 30 - 45 min.
8) While your sauce is cooking, get out those roasted tomatoes and puree in the food processor, add it to the sauce mixture on the stove.
9) If 30 - 45 min rolls by and the sauce mix is too thin for you, put 2t of cornstarch and about 3 - 4t of water in a little bowl and mix well. Pour the cornstarch mix in the sauce and stir until thicker. You can do this again if you want it thicker.
This recipe has the basics but is a personal experimental thing taste-wise and ingredient-wise. Good luck. It tastes GREAT on top of pasta!
Fresh Tomato Sauce
Serves 3
Notes
This took me awhile to perfect but I finally did it. The trick is in the skin of the tomato. Tomatoes have wonderful flavor in the skin and this is lost when you straight up puree tomatoes as you are supposed to only get the middle but, I figured out how to use both....
First things first, you still will need the tomato puree which means you have to get the good stuff out of the tomatoes. The first thing I tried in order to puree was my sauce maker. It worked great. Just cut the tomatoes and turn. But...then it started not turning correctly and I got frustrated so I had to think of something else. I ended up taking my tomatoes, cutting them in half and squeezing them as hard as I could. Seriously. I got the stuff I wanted. You do get some seeds but that really is no big deal, you don't notice it in the final product. Make sure you save the skins somewhere, you are going to use those in this recipe too.
Ingredients
- about 6 to 10 medium to large sized tomatoes
- 3T olive oil
- small onion chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic halved
- 1/2 carrot chopped
- 1/2 stalk of celery chopped
- salt
-pepper
- italian seasoning or dried basil
Method
1) Preheat oven to 400.
2) Prepare that tomato puree by squeezing the shit (literally) out of your tomatoes. Seeds are fine but you want to keep the skin. If some of the thick innards get in your puree, that is good, you just don't want all of them.
3) Put the skin of the tomatoes on a baking pan with some salt and pepper and when the oven is ready, let those roast for 20 - 30min (we will add them later)
4) Put your olive oil in a sauce pan and add the onion, celery, and carrots. Cook until soft, about 10 min.
5) Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and italian/basil seasoning. Cook for 3 more min.
6) Put your pan fried veggie mix in a food processor and chop until you get the consistency you want. (I like mine a bit chunky.)
7) Put your squeezed tomato puree and processed veggies in the saucepan and simmer for a good 30 - 45 min.
8) While your sauce is cooking, get out those roasted tomatoes and puree in the food processor, add it to the sauce mixture on the stove.
9) If 30 - 45 min rolls by and the sauce mix is too thin for you, put 2t of cornstarch and about 3 - 4t of water in a little bowl and mix well. Pour the cornstarch mix in the sauce and stir until thicker. You can do this again if you want it thicker.
This recipe has the basics but is a personal experimental thing taste-wise and ingredient-wise. Good luck. It tastes GREAT on top of pasta!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Don't Leave Me This Way
I had so much other stuff going on that I forgot to discuss a very important event in our family life. In fact, we have had so many family changes (wedding, vacations, goodbyes, announcements), that I figured it was a new chapter in life and time for a change. I hope you like the new look.
First big event: My Sissy has moved. Sissy moved in with T and I in 2008 when she graduated college. We were the Three Amigos and had good times together. Sissy also brought Gus into the family when she decided to get a dog while living with us. Gus and Sissy were part of this family, no question. Gus was our baby as much as he was Sissy's boy. Gus was a good brother, although we would always call them cousins, to Buk, Sam, Stan, and Simon. Everyone loved everyone.
Time to get sad:
Sissy has gone and started a new chapter in her life. She is off to grad school in Cali. Sissy has always been the smarter (as in book-smarter) Herold Angel. She got a car in high school for getting a 4.0 and playing 3 sports. I got a car in college when I got into the education program, which I promptly quit. I got what I needed. I have always known she would achieve more educational accomplishments than me and I want her to. She has got to use that brain of hers. And she is. I couldn't be prouder. Although she is no longer near me, I know we keep a great relationship. It is just like when I went off to college and left her home. Now she is gone and left me. I know how she feels now! I.miss.her.
However, not only do I miss my Sissy, I miss Gus. We all do. Although Gus shat his bed occasionally, barked at some people, and didn't listen about 78.7% of the time, we love him SO much. He may have had his bad moments but when he snuggled with Buk, played sweetly with Simon, tried to roll over for a treat but didn't make it all the way because he was so excited, or just plain looked f-ing adorable with his large beagle ears sticking out, he was the sweetest puppy dog one could have. Needless to say everyone misses Gus. I miss his warm body curling up in my lap and playing superman with him. T misses snuggling with the bug. Simon and Buk both really miss playing with Gus. Sam and Stanley could go either way really but I know they miss walking around with him outside. He was a familiar brother.
We are all dealing with it though. Occasionally we just go to our own corners and cry but we live.
Life altering event number two: This isn't really my news but my Sissy has got engaged. She got engaged to one of my friends and co-workers (we are going to name him BT for the purpose of this blog. Someday he will be included in posts) and I am so happy for them. Sissy has had some major changes, along with me too I suppose, and I am glad she has a-love-of-her-life to share it all with. However, hopefully she knows that BT is not invited to Disneyland with us. That is a sister thing.
BT likes sports. Sissy will be attending many more games in her future.
And no, I don't have permission to post this picture.
So the Herold-Marrs family is going through some changes (which is why I am changing my "mi familia" section of this blog. It reflects who is living on the farm and it is a step toward moving on and getting out of my crying corner). We are evolving and becoming a bigger family it looks like. Who knows what the future will bring but I know we will be smarter (well mostly Sissy and T who only reads text books...for fun) and one big happy family when we get there.
First big event: My Sissy has moved. Sissy moved in with T and I in 2008 when she graduated college. We were the Three Amigos and had good times together. Sissy also brought Gus into the family when she decided to get a dog while living with us. Gus and Sissy were part of this family, no question. Gus was our baby as much as he was Sissy's boy. Gus was a good brother, although we would always call them cousins, to Buk, Sam, Stan, and Simon. Everyone loved everyone.
Time to get sad:
Sissy has gone and started a new chapter in her life. She is off to grad school in Cali. Sissy has always been the smarter (as in book-smarter) Herold Angel. She got a car in high school for getting a 4.0 and playing 3 sports. I got a car in college when I got into the education program, which I promptly quit. I got what I needed. I have always known she would achieve more educational accomplishments than me and I want her to. She has got to use that brain of hers. And she is. I couldn't be prouder. Although she is no longer near me, I know we keep a great relationship. It is just like when I went off to college and left her home. Now she is gone and left me. I know how she feels now! I.miss.her.
However, not only do I miss my Sissy, I miss Gus. We all do. Although Gus shat his bed occasionally, barked at some people, and didn't listen about 78.7% of the time, we love him SO much. He may have had his bad moments but when he snuggled with Buk, played sweetly with Simon, tried to roll over for a treat but didn't make it all the way because he was so excited, or just plain looked f-ing adorable with his large beagle ears sticking out, he was the sweetest puppy dog one could have. Needless to say everyone misses Gus. I miss his warm body curling up in my lap and playing superman with him. T misses snuggling with the bug. Simon and Buk both really miss playing with Gus. Sam and Stanley could go either way really but I know they miss walking around with him outside. He was a familiar brother.
We are all dealing with it though. Occasionally we just go to our own corners and cry but we live.
Life altering event number two: This isn't really my news but my Sissy has got engaged. She got engaged to one of my friends and co-workers (we are going to name him BT for the purpose of this blog. Someday he will be included in posts) and I am so happy for them. Sissy has had some major changes, along with me too I suppose, and I am glad she has a-love-of-her-life to share it all with. However, hopefully she knows that BT is not invited to Disneyland with us. That is a sister thing.
BT likes sports. Sissy will be attending many more games in her future.And no, I don't have permission to post this picture.
So the Herold-Marrs family is going through some changes (which is why I am changing my "mi familia" section of this blog. It reflects who is living on the farm and it is a step toward moving on and getting out of my crying corner). We are evolving and becoming a bigger family it looks like. Who knows what the future will bring but I know we will be smarter (well mostly Sissy and T who only reads text books...for fun) and one big happy family when we get there.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Cantaloupe Kitty
I am home. Not sure how I feel about it. I guess I am ready to be a Farmer's Wife again.
I am happy to see my babies though. Simon met us at the airport with Nana and Papa. He purred and meowed at us most of the way home. He was saying he loved us.
Sam and Stanley came to greet us when we walked in the door and got love from both parents. They missed us too.
Buk, he is still getting spoiled at Auntie K's house. We will see him later tonight and he probably doesn't miss us.
Anywho, T picked some of our garden today...seeing as a shit ton is ready now that we are back. Some of his harvest this morning included some nice and delicious cantaloupe! Seriously, it is the best I have had, ever!
Cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew. Nope, we live in Washington, not Georgia. My Farmer is just amazing!
I was eating some delicious cantaloupe for breakfast (or more like lunch really, I am still on island time braddah) when Sam wanted back inside. We let him in and he asked for some love in which he jumped up on my lap. Sweet, I know. After some adequate petting, he began to smell what I was eating. It was at that moment that I remembered...Sam loves cantaloupe.
A couple summers ago we realized this when he would jump on the counter and eat cantaloupe rinds I had left out after cutting my own. It is a bit odd, I know. I even googled it but didn't really find anything. My theory is that Sam just liked to get his daily serving of fruit. I mean the cat is skinny as hell, he obviously likes to watch his weight which also means he likes to make sure he is getting his nutrition needs met (I guess eating shrews and mice in 2 min flat doesn't give you everything you need).
So, I gave Sammy some cantaloupe for breakfast. We ate together, it was a good mother/son moment.
I am happy to see my babies though. Simon met us at the airport with Nana and Papa. He purred and meowed at us most of the way home. He was saying he loved us.
Sam and Stanley came to greet us when we walked in the door and got love from both parents. They missed us too.
Buk, he is still getting spoiled at Auntie K's house. We will see him later tonight and he probably doesn't miss us.
Anywho, T picked some of our garden today...seeing as a shit ton is ready now that we are back. Some of his harvest this morning included some nice and delicious cantaloupe! Seriously, it is the best I have had, ever!
Cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew. Nope, we live in Washington, not Georgia. My Farmer is just amazing!I was eating some delicious cantaloupe for breakfast (or more like lunch really, I am still on island time braddah) when Sam wanted back inside. We let him in and he asked for some love in which he jumped up on my lap. Sweet, I know. After some adequate petting, he began to smell what I was eating. It was at that moment that I remembered...Sam loves cantaloupe.
A couple summers ago we realized this when he would jump on the counter and eat cantaloupe rinds I had left out after cutting my own. It is a bit odd, I know. I even googled it but didn't really find anything. My theory is that Sam just liked to get his daily serving of fruit. I mean the cat is skinny as hell, he obviously likes to watch his weight which also means he likes to make sure he is getting his nutrition needs met (I guess eating shrews and mice in 2 min flat doesn't give you everything you need).
So, I gave Sammy some cantaloupe for breakfast. We ate together, it was a good mother/son moment.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Balls
I am a sister, wife, daughter, animal momma, co-worker, coach, chef, caretaker, healthy eater (let's add good eater while we are at it), rule enforcer, weeder, sleeper, candlestickmaker, vegetarian, reader, relaxer, runner, and hippy (the love-the-Earth kind).
Notice, a lot of those things don't require exercise. I only run because I eat too much.
I have always been a little lazy. I played fastpitch in high school because it didn't require much running. Volleyball, you had to run a mile. No thanks. Basketball, you had to run an ungodly amount of lines. Call me when you just have to practice dribbling. Soccer, hah, do I really need to go on?
In my adult days, I figured I better knock that shit off if I wanted to feel different. So I did. I forced myself and I am glad every year that I do what I do. However, other people may not be.
I may do a lot of things that seem extreme: marathons (half extreme), triathlons, Ragnar, etc. But let me point out that I do those things and train just to finish. I have neverlearned desired to push myself to the extreme level. That all started with gymnastics when I was little. I didn't want to compete. I don't know why, I just don't have the balls. I know, naturally, huh? But seriously.
Something that comes along with having no balls is that I am a complainer...go ahead and add that to the list.
Here is my situation:
I am on my honeymoon in Kauai. Having a great time but get sick (food poisoning) and didn't get to enjoy the outdoors like I wanted to. Haven't eaten for two days. Actually, not true, I did eat a can of veggie soup, two bites of rice, and some saltines.
We have this 11 mile hike planned that is a 5,000ft elevation gain. If you don't know how hard that is, go ahead and look it up, it's a fucking shit ton of elevation gain! The clencher is that we have this planned the morning I still haven't eaten anything AND we were planning on hiking in, staying on the gorgeous Hawaiian beach for one night, and then hiking out first thing in the morning.
But, I am sick so we say we will go 6.5 miles to the first campground. It will be fine.
So, I go, I am chugging along fine. The hills are killer but I've played in ultimate tournaments that feel the same on the muscles. We get to 6.5 miles and we are in the tropical trees at a river. Frankly, it looks a little like Mt Rainier in WA. god damnit! I am disappointed. We sit and I say these words, "Let's just go to the end, it's only 5 miles more."
That is when T should have slapped me but he really wanted to go to the end too....and...although he has known me for 12 years, he doesn't know the extent of my complaining. Never had the chance before, I guess.
Onward we go.
Not so bad.
Mile 8 and 9 are kinda fun, the trail is barely there and on cliff sides so if you trip, you are pretty much rolling down the hill.
Mile 10. I am hurting. My leg is sore and I lose it a little. I don't know how I am going to hike out of here the next day. I am really worried. Also, mile 10 is all downhill. Like not nice down hill, like roots and clay and knee killing pain.
But we get to the beach after a mile of shitay. It is beautiful and the sunset is amazing over the water. Boats drive by with people who paid money to ride the water. Helicopters fly over with people who made hella money ($300/person) to see the sights from above. You feel proud that you hiked all that way and have the best view of them all. You get to actually enjoy the scenery. Not fly/drive passed in a flash.
Day 2 rolls around. I AM THE SOREST I HAVE BEEN IN MY LIFE. My back hurts, my legs hurt, my butt hurts, my arms hurts, and (sorry) I haven't pooped in like 2 days because I haven't eaten anything. At least my calves are in good shape and I don't have a headache.
Onward, back, we go.
Here is something else you can add to my list....I am a horse back to the barn kind of girl.
The hike back of so fucking hard but I know there is a car, beach, milkshake, and fries all waiting for me when I finish. It is a LONG 7 hours hike and I bitch and moan up every hill and try to keep a good pace. Who the fuck cares that T may have pushed me a little during those last 4 miles? I don't! He even pushed after I told him I hated him. But maybe he was trying to push me off the cliff not up the hills...hm.
Anywho, I made it. 2 days later and I am still sore. But I am so glad I did it and have the pictures to prove it. I told T I would never do it again but chances are he will want to go again and I will have to do it with him. Wifely duties. In the end though, I am so glad I did it, it was truly amazing!! Now, if only I had a T-shirt to prove it too. I always get those for my accomplishments.
Notice, a lot of those things don't require exercise. I only run because I eat too much.
I have always been a little lazy. I played fastpitch in high school because it didn't require much running. Volleyball, you had to run a mile. No thanks. Basketball, you had to run an ungodly amount of lines. Call me when you just have to practice dribbling. Soccer, hah, do I really need to go on?
In my adult days, I figured I better knock that shit off if I wanted to feel different. So I did. I forced myself and I am glad every year that I do what I do. However, other people may not be.
I may do a lot of things that seem extreme: marathons (half extreme), triathlons, Ragnar, etc. But let me point out that I do those things and train just to finish. I have never
Something that comes along with having no balls is that I am a complainer...go ahead and add that to the list.
Here is my situation:
I am on my honeymoon in Kauai. Having a great time but get sick (food poisoning) and didn't get to enjoy the outdoors like I wanted to. Haven't eaten for two days. Actually, not true, I did eat a can of veggie soup, two bites of rice, and some saltines.
We have this 11 mile hike planned that is a 5,000ft elevation gain. If you don't know how hard that is, go ahead and look it up, it's a fucking shit ton of elevation gain! The clencher is that we have this planned the morning I still haven't eaten anything AND we were planning on hiking in, staying on the gorgeous Hawaiian beach for one night, and then hiking out first thing in the morning.But, I am sick so we say we will go 6.5 miles to the first campground. It will be fine.
So, I go, I am chugging along fine. The hills are killer but I've played in ultimate tournaments that feel the same on the muscles. We get to 6.5 miles and we are in the tropical trees at a river. Frankly, it looks a little like Mt Rainier in WA. god damnit! I am disappointed. We sit and I say these words, "Let's just go to the end, it's only 5 miles more."
That is when T should have slapped me but he really wanted to go to the end too....and...although he has known me for 12 years, he doesn't know the extent of my complaining. Never had the chance before, I guess.
Onward we go.
Not so bad.
Mile 8 and 9 are kinda fun, the trail is barely there and on cliff sides so if you trip, you are pretty much rolling down the hill.
Mile 10. I am hurting. My leg is sore and I lose it a little. I don't know how I am going to hike out of here the next day. I am really worried. Also, mile 10 is all downhill. Like not nice down hill, like roots and clay and knee killing pain.
But we get to the beach after a mile of shitay. It is beautiful and the sunset is amazing over the water. Boats drive by with people who paid money to ride the water. Helicopters fly over with people who made hella money ($300/person) to see the sights from above. You feel proud that you hiked all that way and have the best view of them all. You get to actually enjoy the scenery. Not fly/drive passed in a flash.
Day 2 rolls around. I AM THE SOREST I HAVE BEEN IN MY LIFE. My back hurts, my legs hurt, my butt hurts, my arms hurts, and (sorry) I haven't pooped in like 2 days because I haven't eaten anything. At least my calves are in good shape and I don't have a headache.
Onward, back, we go.
Here is something else you can add to my list....I am a horse back to the barn kind of girl.
The hike back of so fucking hard but I know there is a car, beach, milkshake, and fries all waiting for me when I finish. It is a LONG 7 hours hike and I bitch and moan up every hill and try to keep a good pace. Who the fuck cares that T may have pushed me a little during those last 4 miles? I don't! He even pushed after I told him I hated him. But maybe he was trying to push me off the cliff not up the hills...hm.
Anywho, I made it. 2 days later and I am still sore. But I am so glad I did it and have the pictures to prove it. I told T I would never do it again but chances are he will want to go again and I will have to do it with him. Wifely duties. In the end though, I am so glad I did it, it was truly amazing!! Now, if only I had a T-shirt to prove it too. I always get those for my accomplishments.
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