Archive for October, 2009

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October 30, 2009

I am a beer bottle. (The tale of a Playback t-shirt)

After reading about Playback recycled bottle and cotton tees, I couldn’t resist ordering one for me and one for the (Ver)monster. Luckily, they came in the mail right before I had to go to an early Halloween party that I was NOT ready to dress up for … so I wore this lovely light brown shirt. When people asked, “why aren’t you in costume?” I replied oh-so-wittily:

I am a beer bottle. My shirt is made of 100% recycled beer bottles.

They laughed and seemed appeased. Turns out my shirt is made of recycled cotton as well as beer bottles, so the 100% wasn’t true, but close enough. The other one I bought is made of recycled soda bottles:

Playback t-shirt

Each PLAYBACK recycled PET bottle t-shirts are made from the equivalent of 8.5 twenty oz plastic bottles. Our process of buying recycled bottles for our t-shirts helps divert waste from landfill and contributes to an overall economy of upcycling.

A tee is only $22, a sweatshirt only $55.

Playback

From the site:

Environmental Concern

Our founder, Adam Siskind, started PLAYBACK after being inspired by Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (We told you we were honest). After watching the film, Adam realized the recycled yarn he had been using for almost a decade in his clothing business was the most sustainable, environmentally-friendly material around (talk about an “A-HA” moment). As a textile engineer, Adam examined other “eco” brands on the market, and realized that many of their claims about sustainability told an incomplete story. As a result, PLAYBACK was born: An apparel brand that makes its practices transparent and strives to tell the truth about “green” clothing manufacture.

Fabric Innovation

We make our recycled fabrics truly unique by introducing color, texture, and pattern to a sustainable apparel market that (in our opinion, anyway) is a little too bland and boring. We want to push the boundaries of eco-apparel in a way that promotes quality, innovation, and sustainability.

Who We Are

We are not a company of ardent environmentalists here to condemn every iota of energy used or plastic fork in existence. It is not a requirement that everyone working for us to wear Birkenstocks, go kayaking, and eat granola. We are regular people trying to make our collective way of life a little better for the environment.

Check it out for yourself: http://shop.playbackclothing.com/

UPDATE:

WHAT:     25% OFF ALL PLAYBACK STYLES AND SIZES
WHEN:     NOV 17TH TO NOV 30TH
WHERE:   PLAYBACKCLOTHING.COM
HOW:       ENTER COUPON CODE: ‘WORD09′

As a way thank our customers, PLAYBACK is offering 25% off all styles and sizes. So visit our store, tell your friends and family about us, and enjoy 25% off our one of a kind recycled bottle T-shirts (made from recycled plastic bottles) and our unique dual contrast colored sweatshirts (70% recycled cotton / 30% recycled polyester) as worn by Katie Holmes and Adrian Grenier.

Posted in fashion, Good people/services | 1 Comment »

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October 29, 2009

My silly baking: paleo pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

I really enjoy baking. I also really enjoy eating Paleo (no processed food, no grains, no dairy, no sugar), and the two are not very compatible. So I constantly quest to bake as Paleo-ish as possible. I have more failures (well, what’s a failure, really? I’ll eat it, but I wouldn’t feed it to friends) than successes, but recently I had a big warm, wintery success in Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies. Of course, I bake in a manner utterly incomprehensible to REAL cooks, because I sometimes guesstimate or don’t level out my flours or whatever. And it still works out okay most of the time. But I digress.

I modified a recipe from one of my absolute favorite blogs in the whole wide web, Cookie Madness. How on earth does Anna stay so slim baking so often? I have no idea. Anyway, behold the original and my mods:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (+ Hazelnut!)

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 large egg
1 scant cup granulated sugar (I used turbinado … debatable whether it’s actually better for you or not, but might as well give it a shot)
6 tablespoons vegetable oil Coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanillaI just didn’t have any, so I didn’t use it
1 teaspoon cinnamon
I also added 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, which gave it some of its winter flavor
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
2 cups all purpose flour or white whole wheat flour (9 oz) I used 1 cup hazelnut flour, approx. 2/3 cup coconut flour, 1/3 garbanzo/chickpea flour (not paleo bc it’s a legume)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (vegan, malt-sweetened choc chips, Central Market bulk section are my fave)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Beat pumpkin, egg, sugar, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder together in a mixing bowl. Make sure all the leavenings are dissolved (no lumps). Add the flour and stir just until it is mixed in, then stir in the chocolate chips.

Using a very generously rounded tablespoon measure, drop onto parchment lined cookie sheets spacing about 2 inches apart (cookies shouldn’t spread much). Bake at 375º for 13 to 15 minutes.

Remove from tray and let cool.

Makes about 18 cookies

Note: I also made these without the chocolate chips, and they were equally as good. Closer to pumpkin loaf then, but still very, very tasty.

Things I have learned about trying to substitute Paleo ingredients:

  • Coconut flour is great, but really, really dry. You can only use it for about 1/2 of the flour in a recipe.
  • Coconut flour and oil both lend recipes a very coconut-y taste. Not in a bad way. Not even if you don’t like coconut (I don’t).
  • Garbanzo flour is the easiest 1:1 sub for white flour. But it’s not really paleo. But it is much better for you than white or wheat flour.
  • Almond meal would definitely work in this recipe in place of or alongside the hazelnut meal. But almond meal has a different flavor than hazelnut, so the whole flavor would definitely change.
  • Sugar is the hardest thing to substitute. The best is dates pureed with applesauce. I haven’t personally tried that yet, but like using barley malt or brown rice syrup (neither paleo), you then have to also deal with liquidity issues. If I could find palm sugar again, I’d use it. But in the end, I usually splurge here.
  • Many people look for Paleo Recipes. I don’t–I look for good recipes that I think I can substitute in. Play around with it … the worst that happens is you get something inedible! The best? You create a whole new recipe!

There seems to be some interest–at least on twitter–in these baking experiments, so I’ll try to keep you posted!

Posted in Eating, Things to Do! | 12 Comments »

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October 28, 2009

Aviary Sip-n-Shop

Aviary Décor Introduces a Hip Wine Bar with Modern Sophistication

South Austin haute home décor shop Aviary is now making its mark as a hip sip-and-shop wine lounge offering a fresh new twist on a “night out” with a chic home-like setting. After three and a half years as one of Austin’s hottest home décor shops, Aviary has shed its shop-only moniker, donned a new name, the Lounge @ Aviary, and beginning this Thursday October 29, will be the place to unwind with friends over a glass of wine and a few tasty nibbles.

Located at 2110 South Lamar, the Lounge @ Aviary is looking forward to building on its offerings. With a variety of wines from around the world on a regularly updated menu, the Lounge @ Aviary will have a perfect complement to its daily assortment of artisanal cheese plates, locally-grown produce, and hand-made charcuteries from A Noble Beast.

Owner Marco Fiorilo, who is originally from Argentina, says “I grew up where wine is a part of life. It’s a natural thing to enjoy with friends and I wanted to have a place where people could have a piece of the way I grew up.”

Patrons of the Lounge @ Aviary can hang out on the chic accent furniture, enjoy the outdoor patio, or shop woven placemats from Chilewich, glassware from Iittala, or pillows in vintage Italian silk from Lotus Designs. Local art includes concrete tables from Eric Billig, repurposed re-bar and steel furniture from Derek Mizner, and reclaimed wood and steel furniture from Ryan Anderson designs.

“Being well traveled, we noticed a need that was not being satisfied in our city.  If you go to New York, Buenos Aires, or Paris you will find standout shops that offer more than amazing wares and atmosphere, they also offer a lounge within which to experience their offerings,” says Fiorilo. “Our idea is to incorporate the modern design from around the world, the wine, tapas, and atmosphere along with exceptional local designs and bring them to one of the fastest growing communities in the U.S.”

www.aviarydecor.com

Posted in Business, design, Eating, Shopping, Things to do ... all the time | Leave a Comment »

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October 28, 2009

Project Parts & Runway Labour: a Chloe Dao/SoCo Institution Mashup

Two Austin original companies – Parts & Labour and stylish bag and travel gear maker Nuo Tech – are bringing Project Runway Season 2 winner and Houston native Chloe Dao (boutique Lot 8 is in Rice Village) to the shop on Thursday from 6 to 9pm. Nuo will debut new products from their collabo with Dao, who will be around for autographs and photos. There will be drinks, light appetizers, music and door prizes.

10% of all sales go to two Austin charities – Save our Springs Alliance, www.sosalliance.org –and the Austin Sunshine Camps, www.sunshinecamps.org

RSVP at www.facebook.com/nuo

Posted in fashion, free, Going Out, Shopping | Leave a Comment »

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October 27, 2009

Paint the Town Pink

Lovin’ this: all-ladies Happy Hour to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Paint the Town pink

Wednesday from 6 – 8 pm at The Belmont

Organized and sponsored by local women-run businesses, the night will feature Sugar Mama’s pink cupcakes (you know they’re my fave), Cornucopia’s pink popcorn, Tito’s pink cocktails, & Milk + Honey Spa manicures (with different shades of pink nail polish to choose from!).

Simply donate $20 to the race page or bring $20 cash to the party.

Posted in Beauty, Going Out, Good people/services, One-time event | Leave a Comment »

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October 27, 2009

Halloween Haunts: Where to Get Your Spook On

I’ve been remiss in not posting Halloween to-dos sooner, but Halloween, like other big holidays, just wears me out sometimes. I LOVE LOVE LOVE costumes, but I like themes. I like to get creative on a theme, not just have the whole wide world as possibilities–it’s just too much. Anyway, here are some Halloween haunts for you fools:

House of Torment: Rise of the Abominations / Illusion Manor: Where reality ends and Nightmares Begin

Permanent Facility in the Northeast corner of Highland Mall
TIX: $14.99, $19.99 for Combo Pass w/Illusion Manor PLUS tickets are sold in 30-minute “Showtimes” so no long lines!

Rise of the Abominations is a multi-layered, psychological thrill most comparable to a trip through a modern horror movie or ultra-vivid video game—complete with detailed two-story sets, towering animatronic monsters, iconic characters, and chilling scenarios. Step into the post-apocalyptic world of nightmarish overlord Mr. Creep as an epic struggle for survival unfolds in a vivid wasteland where civilization has collapsed and fallen prey to biological warfare, social anarchy, and widespread bedlam. With no law or prevalent power to preside, the country has degenerated into ongoing conflict between the fear-mongering Sgt. Graves and a stealth Tactical Ops Unit as well as legions of mutant inhabitants, known as The Infected, The Contagium, and the growing contingent of The Abomination uprising.

Guests who cannot make it through are photographed for the “Wall of Shame.”

“Blood Ritual” Brings the Fiends Back to Richard Garriott’s Estate

Richard Garriott’s legendary estate, Britannia Manor, was known from 1988 to 1994 as the most elaborate haunted house in the country and until this year the venue has remained dormant. Breast Cancer Resource Centers (BCRC) of Texas and SCARE for a CURE will bring this iconic place back to life with a haunted house to benefit breast cancer.

Featured in Garriott’s own scaled replica of an Elizabethan outdoor theater nestled along the banks of Lake Austin, the Curtain Theatre will host a reunion of some of Shakespeare’s most famous characters as Austin Shakespeare presents Spooky Shakespeare. Scenes from the master storyteller’s scariest and most enchanting moments include the Ghost of Hamlet’s father, the Witches of Macbeth, Puck and Oberon from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Prospero and Ariel from The Tempest.

Haunted House: Wednesday, October 28 – Saturday, October 31, 7:30pm

www.bcrc.org and www.scareforacure.org

TIX: General Admission $20; Red Level experience $25, http://www.scareforacure.org/tickets/index.php

All net proceeds benefit the BCRC

Spooky Shakespeare: Thursday, October 29 – Saturday, October 31, 8 pm

http://austinshakespeare.org/drupal/?q=node/285

TIX: $15 seated; $10 groundlings (standing).

Both: Richard Garriott’s estate on the shores of Lake Austin, 7400 Coldwater Canyon Dr.

Friday Pumpkin Carving

La Condesa invite

3-5pm Friday, kids carve free, and the mysteriously creepy invite says Pumpkins, Punch, and Pinatas. What? Worth checking out.

THRILLS, CHILLS, HAUNTS AND JOLTS

Saturday October 31st from 1-6pm

jo's poster

In partnership with Monofonus Press & Boozefox, Jo’s Coffee will host a monstrous Halloween event filled with music, games, concessions, a costume competition, and more. Coloring contest (entry $5 at south congress JO’s), cake walk, raffle, and prizes; entry is free, but you have to pay to play. The Coloring Contest will be done on pillowcase canvasses which kids can use as their own unique Halloween treat bag!

Local musicians: Wax Museum Pandemonium, The Inheritance, The Blue Hit, and Wino Vino.

Proceeds will go directly to Urban Roots- a local nonprofit that combines sustainable agriculture with youth development.

Freak Show

Couch Professor Ent. proudly presents FREAK SHOW with:

*Costume Contest with prizes from local Austin vendors
*King/Queen contest who will lead the freaks into the midnight madness
*Free TITO’S TRASH CAN PUNCH and jello shots!
*Photo booth by Annie Ray
*On site Screen Printing by Under Pressure

Bands inside:

Butcher Bear @ Charlie www.myspace.com/butchrbear
Scorpio Rising www.myspace.com/scorpiorising
Art Versus Industry www.myspace.com/artversusindustry
MAU & Cold Electric www.myspace.com/coldelectricmusic
POSR www.myspace.com/weareposr
Young American www.myspace.com/weareyoungamerican

DJs outside:

DJ Czech One www.myspace.com/djczechone
DJ Scorpio www.myspace.com/djscorpiorocks
Vice Device www.myspace.com/vice_device
DJ Dey One www.myspace.com/munkeebrains
DJ Billy Q www.myspace.com/455765759

Sponsors:

Tito’s Vodka www.titos-vodka.com
Under Pressure www.handsonscreenshop.com
Annie Ray www.annieray.net
Birds Barbershop www.birdsbarbershop.com
Discount Electronics www.discountelectronics.com
Two Groove www.twogroove.com

Party kicks off 9pm sharp.

$5 Entry w/RSVP here: www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=171355612717&ref=ts

Click “I Like It!” for a chance to win one of three pairs of FREE TICKETS!
http://do512.com/event/2009/10/30/all-hallows-eve-homecoming-dance-massacre-free-poison-punch-jaunty-jello-shots-and-more

Zombie Attack Preparedness (ZAP) Workout

Last but certainly not least, go here for a fierce workout should Zombies attack this Halloween: http://theclothesmakethegirl.blogspot.com/2009/10/zombie-attack-preparedness-zap-workout.html

Posted in Going Out | 2 Comments »

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October 25, 2009

Monday Funday: La Vie De Bohème at Alamo Drafthouse

Austin Lyric Opera, the Austin Film Society and Alamo Drafthouse are screening Aki Kaurismaki’s moden retelling of the 19th-cenetury story on which the opera La Bohème–which opens November 7 in Austin–is based. Adapted from the novel Scenes de la vie de Boheme by Henri Murger, this 1992 film is a beautiful comedy about down-and-out artists in modern-day Paris. Kaurismaki, who also wrote the screen play, has created a kind of twilight world, half reverent, half ironic which allows the ideals and ardor of the nineteenth-century artist to persist even in these less idealistic times.

The New York Times said of the film, “Here is a fine, deceptively querulous comedy that mocks the conventions of art and romantic love while, at the same time, exalting them as the only means of salvation. Make no mistake about it: Mr. Kaurismaki is an original, one of the cinema’s most distinctive and idiosyncratic new artists, and possibly one of the most serious. La Vie de Bohème.”

La Vie De Bohème
Monday, October 26 @ 7pm, Alamo Drafthouse, 1120 S Lamar
Tickets: $10, $8 for AFS members

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

October 23, 2009

Fun Fun Fun Scavenger Hunt & Other Fun (Fun) (Fun)

Saturday is hoppin’ …

Fun Fun Fun Fest Scavenger Hunt

Kick off at Red 7 (611 7th Street, next to Beauty Bar), Ending location at Waterloo Park parking lot (12th and Red River). Signup at 6pm and the hunt begins at 7pm sharp. Free to enter, but five cans of food per person to benefit Caritas of Austin is the recommended donation. Items on the hunt will be donated to Caritas of Austin as well.

THE RULES:

•    Teams will be made up of 2 – 5 people.
•    Each team MUST have a name.
•    The Scavenger Hunt list will include 50 items, announced at kick off location.
•    Each item is worth a specific amount of points.
•    The team with the most points wins the grand prize and points will be totaled at end of the game.
•    All teams will be encouraged to dress in costumes.  This is worth 25 extra points (team portraits will be taken inside of Red 7).
•    MUST bring a digital camera of some sort, cellphone camera are OK as well.
•    This is all ages and open to the public.

PRIZES:
•    The winning team will receive FFF Fest weekend passes for the entire team.  IF the teammates already have fun fun fun passes, your tickets will be upgraded to VIPs.
•    Over $500 in prizes and gift certificates to a number of our FFF vendors, such as: free haircuts from Birds Barbershop, gift card to Prototype Vintage, free food at Boomerang’s Pies, free funnel cakes and more from Snowie onsite at fest, free gift certificates for food at Frank, free popcorn from Cornucopia, gift certificates to Woodland restaurant and Jamie’s Spanish Village, free gift cards to Tiff’s Treats cookie shop, Kebabaliscious awesomeness, bags and cell phone covers from Incase, Alamo Draft house passes and much, much more!
•    FREE tickets to these TEN (!!!) upcoming Transmission Entertainment shows:

1) Islands @ Mohawk (10/27)
2) Jello Biafra (dead kennedys) @ Red 7 (10/28)
3) Black Angels @ Mohawk (10/30)
4) Municipal Waste @ Red 7 (11/12)
5) Thao and the Get Down Stay Down @ Mohawk (11/ 12)
6) Revival Tour w/ Chuck Ragan and more @ Red 7 (11/13)
7) Friendly Fires, The XX @ Mohawk (11/19)
8) Eyedea and Abilities w/ Themselves @ The Highball (11/19)
9) J. Tillman (of Fleet Foxes) @ Mohawk (11/27)
10) Cursive @ Mohawk (11/27)

• And FINALLY, the most amazing wizard statue in the universe (as seen @ funfunfunfest.com)

(www.funfunfunfest.com, *The FFF Scavenger Hunt is brought to you by Transmission Entertainment and FYF)

Biggest Beer Weekend of the Year

With a beer festival at Flying Saucer, Oktoberfests at Waterloo Park, Ginger Man, and NXNW, and a birthday party at Independence Brewing, this weekend is a beer-lover’s bonanza.

The first-ever Oktoberfest Austin hasn’t gotten a lot of buzz, but it features music, a microbrew beer garden, tasty foods, a college football watch party, kids and an arts & craft market. Music by Austin favorites: Nakia and his Southern Cousins, Brave Combo, Guy Forsyth, Li’l Cap’n Travis, Dustin Welch, and La Tampiquena … FREE admission with two cans of food. $2 entry fee without food donation. Event benefits the Capital Area Food Bank. Chairs and blankets welcome, no coolers please. E-mail oktoberfestaustin@gmail.com for more info, noon-10pm at Waterloo Park.

Here for all the rest of the deets from Liquid blog.

UT v Missouri

It always has to be listed. UT is away, but catch the game anywhere and you’ll have fun. Aussie’s Volleybar will have the game on and bikini-clad vball players, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary with food & drink specials like $1 margaritas (make mind a double for $2) and $2 Miller Lite pints.

Colonel Mustard’s Birthday!

OK, so not actually Colonel of Clue, but my dear friend Ry Ry Musty el Mustardo has had a big week: not only did he close on his first home (!!!) but he’s turning the big … well … 2-8? Not really sure. Irrelevant. Relevance is that it’s his birthday! Watch out, West Sixth, we’re coming for some jaeger jaeger jaeger bombs … love you Ry!

Posted in Going Out, Music, Sports/Fitness, Things to Do! | 1 Comment »

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October 22, 2009

Get Your Weekend Mall On

simon

Simon Trends & Friends Weekend Kick Off @ Barton Creek Square

Barton Creek Mall is hosting a whole weekend of Trends & Friends that kicks off with a happy hour fashion show with Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy providing  light bites and libations on the house (mall?)!

Check out the latest beauty trends at the style stops and top off your evening with a runway fashion show beginning at 7pm. The new giant, amazing, ridiculous Forever 21 will be in the show along with Lucky Brand Jeans, Banana Republic, Macy’s, & others. And I hear that UT’s Fashion Group will be showing select designs in the closing show …

Friday, October 23rd, 2009, 5:30 – 8:30pm
Barton Creek Square, Macy’s Court
2901 Capital of Texas Highway
Austin, Tx 78746

http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/56vj54nq3izystqqy

Posted in Beauty, Eating, fashion, free, Going Out | Leave a Comment »

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October 21, 2009

Girly post: free makeover! Teddies for Bettys!!

In other words, welcome to the girliest post I may ever have posted. For all my tweeting about football and pullups, I present to you: makeovers and teddies.

The Clinique Fresh Faces Tour with Teen Vogue (supported by Taylor Momsen aka Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl) hits Austin Thursday & Friday. Clinique’s one-of-a-kind “Mobile Beauty Studio” to share the experience of makeup application and hair styling by a team of skilled artists as well as have their photo taken by a fashion photographer – perks typically reserved for supermodels and celebrities.  At the end of the tour, three young women who embody the spirit of Clinique and Teen Vogue will be awarded a once-in-a-lifetime New York experience.

Cyndi Aguillon, Clinique Makeup Artist and Trend Expert and Eva Chen, Beauty Director of Teen Vogue will both be on hand to share in the revelry on UT’s West Campus Quarters on Campus Residences at 2209 Rio Grande St.

I’m not a teen, but I do love me some makeovers and photo shoots …

— Girly Item #2 —

I have gotten some stellar press releases in my day (see “herd of puppies” reference), but none quite so giggle-inducing as this:

Subj: For Immediate Release: Austin’s first European Influenced Lingerie, Lounge Wear and Well-Being Boutique Announces Grand Opening

Body: Teddies for Bettys provides a welcoming environment where women (and men) can find intimate wear and fulfill all other facets of their well-being

That’s right, kids, because lingerie-word-that-just-sounds-dirty plus Clueless/SoCal-surfer-slang obviously equals European-synonymous-for-better-than-American influence.

But for all this ribbing, and the full afternoon of laughter re-opening that email gave me, I still might stop by and check out the grand opening of Teddies for Bettys, Thursday from 4:30 to 9pm. Enjoy refreshments, music, sales, and prize giveaways at the boutique at 1100 South 1st Street.

Teddies for Bettys was founded by Ashley M. Kelsch two years ago while living in Maui. After moving to Austin with her family last year, she wanted to carry the same attention and service that had made her successful in the past – an environment where women, (and men) can come to find their basic intimate wear and fulfill all other facets of their well-being. www.teddiesforbettys.com

I mean, it’s gotta be better than stopping in to a fluorescent pink Victoria’s Secret, right? (hi, I just ordered clothes from their catalog, I’m not a VS-hater, just a hot-pink-carpet and gold-striped-walls hater)

Posted in Beauty, fashion, Gossip!, Things to Do! | 6 Comments »

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