Ghost in the Machine - 1st video

Have you read Skeleton Creek? If you have, you are probably anxiously awaiting the next book, Ghost in the Machine. I know I am. Well, here is some info and places to visit while you wait. 

Be sure to check out the first video!

Skeleton Creek II (Ghost in the Machine) doesn't release until October, but we've posted the first video so you can find out what happened to Ryan and Sarah in the haunted dredge right now! 

Watch the video here:http://enterpcstudio.com/blog/2009/07/21/gitm-premiere/

"I want bloggers, readers, booksellers, and librarians to have unprecidented access to the project as it's being made, so I've pulled back the curtain on the creative process. "-Patrick Carman

Main site - www.enterpcstudio.com

The Back Lot - http://enterpcstudio.com/back-lot/

Follow writers, directors, and actors through Twitter, vlogs from the set, production photos, and live chats. 

The back lot gives young readers an unparalleled look behind the scenes as we create, shoot, and edit the next project. 

Daily studio blog - http://enterpcstudio.com/staff-blog/

This is where readers can find out quickly what's happening from day to day.

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Book Review- Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong

Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong

Hope Adams was introduced in the previous book of the Women of the Otherworld series. She is a half-demon and a tabloid reporter, involved with a werewolf and kind of working for the Cortez cabal. Personal Demon is Hope's story of learning to control her need for chaos while on a mission for the cabal.

Lots of action in this one and steamy scenes. I have always liked the balance between the two that Kelley Armstrong puts into these books. The story is never put on hold for sex scenes, they are worked into the story perfectly. I really liked Hope as a lead. She shows her weaknesses but also her strengths. Plus, my favorite of the "Women", Paige, makes an appearance in this one.

Another great book in the series. I am still loving the Women of the Otherworld.

4/5



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Second Year Book Blogger

Congrats to me! I made it through one year of book blogging. I started MariReads on the 28th of July last year. It has gone by so fast but has been really fun. I have really enjoyed meeting all you like minded book lovers. :) Thank you all to those who Follow, subscribe, visit, comment, etc. in some way or another. Here's to a great second year of book blogging. _________________________________________

Scotland

If you visit both my blogs this is going to be a repeat. Just skip right over one of these posts. I was going to to a completely different post, but am in need of food then nap. Still a bit jet lagged. I purchased some yarn in Edinburgh and started a sock while traveling. Will be back with pics of both soon. :)


I am home!
Such a wonderful trip but I am glad to be back in my own bed. And my own shower! I was getting a bit tired of the cramped showers in the Guesthouses we stayed in. It took some creative maneuvering to shave my legs. :0
We had a lot of fun touring Scotland. We rented a car and drove around for five days before settling in Edinburgh for four. We visited Oban, the Isle of Skye and Inverness and had some stops along the way to see castles and distilleries.

There were a lot of rainy days like here in Oban but it didn't ruin our fun. In fact, I really liked it. We haven't had much rain in Texas. Oban was a very nice seaside town. I really would have liked more than one night here. Will have to go back, I guess. We saw some traditional music and dancing here. Our first ceilidh. So much fun.




On leaving the Isle of Skye we made sure to stop by the Eilean Donan Castle. This was not our first castle and it wasn't our last, but it was definitely a favorite. It was used as a location in Highlander and one of the James Bond films (can't remember which). This picture is now my wallpaper on my computer.



Besides enjoying all that Scotland has to see I also went on search of some Harry Potter sights because, well, I am a bit of a Potterhead. Love anything and everything HP. So, we took some specific routes so I could see some sights used for locations on the HP films. Such as the bridge that the Hogwart's Express goes over in Chamber of Secrets. Do you remember this? When Harry and Ron are flying over the train in the Ford Anglia? :)

The train back to London from Edinburgh conveniently took us to King's Cross Station. Despite construction going on, Platform 9 3/4 was still there just moved to a different location while they work on improving the station. :)
(Saw The Half Blood Prince in Edinburgh. So good! Favorite of the bunch so far.)
Lots of fun.
Before Scotland we went to Bath, but I am going to hold off on those photos for an Everything Austen post later this week. I visited sights mentioned in Jane Austen's books and also the Jane Austen Center while there. Lots to share, including a small gift for one lucky person. Be sure to come back and see what I brought back to giveaway.
I will leave you with one last photo. Stonehenge. It has been on my must see list of places forever. It didn't disappoint. Very cool to finally see.

Scotland

I am home! 
Such a wonderful trip but I am glad to be back in my own bed. And my own shower! I was getting a bit tired of the cramped showers in the Guesthouses we stayed in. It took some creative maneuvering to shave my legs. :0
We had a lot of fun touring Scotland. We rented a car and drove around for five days before settling in Edinburgh for four. We visited Oban, the Isle of Skye and Inverness and had some stops along the way to see castles and distilleries. 
There were a lot of rainy days like here in Oban but it didn't ruin our fun. In fact, I really liked it. We haven't had much rain in Texas. Oban was a very nice seaside town. I really would have liked more than one night here. Will have to go back, I guess. We saw some traditional music and dancing here. Our first ceilidh. So much fun.


On leaving the Isle of Skye we made sure to stop by the Eilean Donan Castle. This was not our first castle and it wasn't our last, but it was definitely a favorite. It was used as a location in Highlander and one of the James Bond films (can't remember which). This picture is now my wallpaper on my computer.

Besides enjoying all that Scotland has to see I also went on search of some Harry Potter sights because, well, I am a bit of a Potterhead. Love anything and everything HP. So, we took some specific routes so I could see some sights used for locations on the HP films. Such as the bridge that the Hogwart's Express goes over in Chamber of Secrets. Do you remember this? When Harry and Ron are flying over the train in the Ford Anglia? :)
       
The train back to London from Edinburgh conveniently took us to King's Cross Station. Despite construction going on, Platform 9 3/4 was still there just moved to a different location while they work on improving the station. :)
(Saw The Half Blood Prince in Edinburgh. So good! Favorite of the bunch so far.)
Lots of fun.
Before Scotland we went to Bath, but I am going to hold off on those photos for an Everything Austen post later this week. I visited sights mentioned in Jane Austen's books and also the Jane Austen Center while there. Lots to share, including a small gift for one lucky person. Be sure to come back and see what I brought back to giveaway.
I will leave you with one last photo. Stonehenge. It has been on my must see list of places forever. It didn't disappoint. Very cool to finally see.




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Book Review- The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

The Baudelaire orphans are placed with another distant relative but this time they are happy and excited about their new caregiver. At least for a little while. The arrival of Dr. Montgomery's new assistant changes all that.

Another fun, smart and quick read. Love Lemony Snicket's narration. I keep hearing Rupert Everett's voice in my head. Best part of the movie version of these first three books.

3/5

Really short review, I know. I usually try to put a couple of these short ones together but I don't have another right now.



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Teaser Tuesday- 7/21/09

I am still on holiday but did get a few posts scheduled while I am away. This is the book I was reading before leaving which I had hoped to finish and review but did not. It will be at the top of my pile when I get home. The line I am sharing today, is exactly as I felt in high school.

"High school wasn't of great interest to me: I was far more absorbed by the fiction I read than the fiction I lived."
page 11, Back Creek by Leslie Goetsch

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

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One more book

I forgot to mention a book that came in the mail in last weeks post. Oops. A lovely BookMoocher sent me Tithe by Holly Black. I have been wanting to read this one for a very long time. I have read Valiant ( I know I read it out of order) and have been wantong to get the other two books. Finally, I have it in my hands. Or, I should say it is on my nightstand awaiting my return. :)

I wonder if anymore have been sent since I have been away?

Anyway, what books did you get this week?

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page

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Book Review- Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Lula is a witness to a top chef getting his head cut off in the street. Ranger's customers are being robbed and Stephanie and Morelli's relationship is off...again.

For some reason I keep reading these books every summer. Well, I know the reason. a good friend loves them and always gets a copy and then loans it to me. If I had to by it myself I wouldn't. I would have been done many numbers ago.

The books have lost their appeal for me. No longer as funny, or smart. Same characters, same trouble, very similar storyline.

I think I am done.

2/5

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On holiday as of now

Today is the day! We are leaving for the airport pretty soon to catch our flight to Heathrow. Well, flight to DFW then Heathrow. I am very excited about this trip. We are going to Bath, Stonehenge, Scotland! Very fun and we are not going alone. We are meeting up with friends who are already there enjoying London. They will be traveling with us from Bath to Scotland. We have a wedding that we will be going to in Scotland which should be a great time as well. Our last four days will be spent in Edinburgh for sightseeing, hen and stag parties, wedding and hopefully watching the new Harry Potter movie.
So, to the important question. What books will I be taking? :)
I have two paperbacks ready to go. Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong and How to Deal, which has Someone Like You and That Summer by Sarah Dessen. I know these aren't going to last me very long but I don't have much room to pack any more. I have a few ebooks in my iPhone to read when I run out, but most likely I will be hitting a bookstore at some point in our trip. Usually I trade one of my finished ones with other traveler's books left in the B&B's. But only when there is a good one that I want to read. :)
I am not going to be online much while away, besides checking personal email and sending updates to family, so I will be absent here until the 27th. I promise to bring lots of pictures! I do have a couple of reviews scheduled to post while I am away so it won't be completely quiet here.
See you in a couple weeks!_________________________________________

Movie Review-Sense and Sensibility

Movie Info: Released on 13 December 1995. Directed by Ang Lee. Screenplay by Emma Thompson. The movie went on to win 7 Acadamy Awards including Best Picture and Best Screenplay.

From the Back Cover: Based on Jane Austen's classic novel, Sense and Sensibility tells of the Dashwood sisters, sensible Elinor (Emma Thompson) and passionate Marianne (Kate Winslet), whose chances of marriage seem doomed by their family's sudden loss of fortune. Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant and Greg Wise co-star as the well-intentioned suitors who are trapped by the strict rules of society and the conflicting laws of desire.

My Review: I had completely forgotten that I had a copy of this movie. I decided to pull it out and watch while eating my lunch. I still absolutely love this movie. Such a great adaptation that I feel is even better than the novel. I know! Sacrilege. Sense and Sensibility is my least favorite of Jane Austen's novels. But this movie adaptation is one of my favorites.

The screenplay improves a lot on the book. Adding actual dialogue between Elinor and Edward that isn't in the book. You get to see why they fall in love and understand how it happens. The youngest Miss Dashwood, Margaret is actually present and heard. She seems much more real than she does in the book. The relationship between the sisters and their mother is lovely and portrayed beautifully. And Mrs. Jennings is perfectly frightful!

The dialogue, the setting, the music and acting is all superb. So many great actors in this movie. All the actors listed above and also Gemma Jones, Harriet Walter, Imelda Staunton and James Fleece. And of course- Hugh Laurie. He is so great as the grumpy yet lovable Mr Palmer.

My favorite line to repeat at random: Marianne-"There...there I fell and there I first saw Willoughby."

I said it was random. :)

5/5


Everything Austen Challenge

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Because I need more books on my floor

Since you all said that I didn't have all that many books in my TBR pile compared to your piles I stopped at Half Price Books on my way home from getting my hair cut on Friday. :)

Here's what I got:

Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty
Knocked Out by my Nunga-Nungas by Louise Rennison
Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong

Personal Demon will be going with me on the plane tomorrow when we leave for the UK. I will most likely have it finished by the time we reach Heathrow.

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page


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Sunday Salon (7/12/09)

Thanks to Natalie of The Book Inn for bestowing upon me the Kreativ Blogger Award. In order to accept it I am supposed to list my seven favorite things and send it on to my seven favorite bloggers.

7 Favorite Things

The hubby

My kitty, Joey

My iPhone

The hubby's airline miles :)

My yarn!

My MacBook, despite how beat up it is already

-and of course-

All my shelves filled with books.

7 of My Favorite Bloggers

Liv's Book Reviews

Peeking Between the Page's

The Book Vault

Tracy's Book Bag

LiyanaLand!

What Was I Reading?

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Tuesday I am getting on a plane headed to the UK. I have books picked out to take with me but will probably have to purchase another for the flight home. I can't wait. We are meeting friends in Bath for a couple days then taking the train north to Scotland. We are going to rent a car to drive around for a few days then spend four days in Edinburgh. So Excited. I will take lots of pictures to share! Anybody have any must-sees?

In Bath I plan on going to the Jane Austen Center which will be one of the things I am doing for the Everything Austen Challenge. While there I plan on picking up a copy of Northanger Abbey. Perfect read for Bath, right?

Happy Sunday!

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Book Review- The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

The Castaways: A Novel by Elin Hilderbrand

The Castaways are a group of eight friends who live on Nantucket. They take trips together, they drink and play Scrabble on Sunday nights, they are a very tight knit group of four married couples. The novel begins with the deaths of Tess and Greg the youngest of the four couples. The others recollections of the couple, secrets and guilt are intertwined with discovering why Tess and Greg died so tragically.

For starting off with a death it was a bit slow going at the beginning. I had a lot of trouble getting into the story since the narrative kept shifting from one character to another. This continues throughout, but got less confusing as I became more familiar with each character and who they were married to.

Many have described this as a soap opera of a story and I have to agree. This group of friends, all married and some with kids, was very incestuous. We have some having affairs, others lusting after their friends' spouses, one woman is an ex of one of the other husbands. Oh, and that isn't all the secrets they are keeping or all the drama they deal with.

I really don't know how or why they considered themselves "the best of friends", because with the amount of cheating, lusting, keeping secrets and just being vindictive against the others, they do not resemble friends at all. Despite this, or probably because of it, I couldn't put the novel down once I figured it all out.

Very addictive, just like a soap opera.

3.5/5

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Stage 6: In the Mountains

I haven't knit since the Team Time Trial. I guess it was just too much for me. :)
For the KAL we were to count our stitches knit in an hour. You must remember that I am knitting lace, but I was able to contribute 1074sph to Team Quickstep's average. Not too bad.

So, today I plan to get back on the bike and knit at least 1 repeat of the lace pattern.



The yarn I am knitting is Classic Elite Yarns Silky Alpaca. This is the first time I have used it. I love it. Very soft, easy to work with. I can feel the warmth on my fingers as I knit. It is working out perfectly. Plus, the color is perfectly matched to the swatch that my friend lent me to find yarn. The colorway is French Vanilla. Love that.

No more procrastinating. Time to knit!

Book Review- Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Quincie and her uncle are getting ready to reopen their family restaurant as Sanguini's with a vampire themed ambiance and menu. The murder of their chef requires them to hire someone new who seems absolutely perfect in the role of the vampire chef.

This book has food descriptions, vampires, werewolves and is set in Austin. These were the reasons for picking up the book and the reasons it kept me reading. Interesting plot and characters and this paranormal Austin with its "acceptance" that there are werepeople and vampires was intriguing.

A good summer read. If only it weren't so hot here in Austin, I would have gone and sat at Jo's on South Congress with an iced coffee in hand to read.

3.5/5

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Booking Through Thursday-07/09/09

An idea I got from The Toddled Dredge (via K for Kat). Here’s what she said: “So here today I present to you an Unread Books Challenge. Give me the list or take a picture of all the books you have stacked on your bedside table, hidden under the bed or standing in your shelf – the books you have not read, but keep meaning to. The books that begin to weigh on your mind. The books that make you cover your ears in conversation and say, ‘No! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!’ “

I have a ridiculous number of books to read. This is the reason the hubby keeps putting me on a book ban. So many books to read! They have overflowed from my night stand onto the floor.



This is why my desk isn't that bad. My books are here instead and the books I have already read are on bookshelves hidden away in the guest bedroom. Plus, my desk is in the living room...can't be too messy in case of visitors. :) Seriously, all I moved was the mail, so I could put the Macbook down.

Happy Thursday! You are one day closer to the weekend.


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What's on your desk Wednesday

I am such a slacker. 

Yvonne tagged me for What's on your desk Wednesday a month ago and I am barely getting around to doing it. This is a weekly meme hosted by Sassy Brit of Alternative-Read.com (in case you haven't seen it going around the blogs yet).

So here is the deal:

Grab a camera and take a photo of your desk! Or anywhere you stack your books/TBR pile. And no tidying!

Tag at least 5 people!

That's it.

However, for those without digital cameras or blogs of your own, you can do this instead: (or both if you are keen!)

List at least 5 BOOKISH things on your desk (I'm thinking your TBR pile or books you haven't shelved...)

List at least 5 NON BOOK things. (I'm thinking some of some of the more unusual items on your desk/table?)

Tag at least 5 people to do the same.

Come back and leave your link, so we can come and visit your blog. Or add your answers in the comments.

Please don't feel pressured in any way at all. I just want everyone to have fun!

My desk:




5 Bookish things:

2 recently Mooched books, The Reptile Room and Eragon
Rick Steve's Great Britain guidebook
Dictionary
Bookmarks (3)
The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary

5 Non-Bookish Things:

sunglasses
blank cd's
playing cards
coasters
framed pictures

I tag:

Bermudaonion's Weblog
BiblioAddict
Beth Fish Reads
BookBath
Blacklin's Reading Room & Reviews

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Book Review- The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

I really enjoyed this. I liked that this story is from an eighth grade boys perspective. I have not read many books where the main character is a boy besides Harry Potter, of course. Vladimir Tod is a vampire. His mom was human, father a vampire. Both died mysteriously leaving Vladimir to deal with eighth grade, being a vampire and fearing for his life all on his own except for his guardian and best friend who share in his secret.

Lots of fun, well written and great characters. Read this in a span of three hours. Must find the next book in the series.

4/5


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Stage 3 2009 TDF

Interesting stage today. The cross winds took many riders by surprise and caused a gap to form when Team Columbia-HighRoad punched it up. Hincapie said it was because they got angry that no other sprinter teams were coming up to help. Worked out well for them, Cavendish went on to win his second stage. Many of the main contenders for the overall win were caught in the chase group except for Miller and Armstrong. Cancellara made the gap and got to keep the Yellow Jersey one more day. Lance Armstrong with the .38 min gap moved up from 10th to 3rd overall. Good day for him.

So, the project I am working on is coming along nicely. One of my very best friends is getting married in September and I am knitting her a shawl to wear. I think it is looking quite nice so far, but still a little small. :) 

The pattern is the Luna Moth Shawl by Shui Kuen Kozinski and I am using Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace in French Vanilla. I absolutely love this yarn. So soft and easy to work with. It is going to keep my friends shoulders nice and warm. The wedding will be in Sonoma and reception/dinner in San Francisco, so it will actually get to be used unlike here in Texas.

It is going pretty well so far. I just finished the third repeat of the lace pattern. Only four more to go. I ned to buy myself some blocking wires!

Do you Tweet?

I broke down and joined Twitter! I put it off for so long.

So many books, so little time!

Lots of new books have found their way into my house in the past couple weeks. Some came while I was away having fun in California and others more recently.

Another trip to Half Price Books before leaving for CA (for the hubby) saw me coming home with a couple for myself.

Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod) by Heather Brower
Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1) by Angie Sage
Tris's Book (Circle of Magic #2) by Tamora Pierce


Books that came in the mail:

The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) by Lemony Snicket (BookMooch)
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (BookMooch)
Airhead by Meg Cabot (giveaway win)

Loaners from friends:

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

I have a lot of reading to do. Along with a few books for review that came earlier this summer!

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page




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Everything Austen Challenge

I am joining a new challenge. I had been planning on limiting myself but this one is just too good to pass up. It is hard to say no to Jane Austen. :)I have decided to participate in The Everything Austen Challenge hosted by Stephanie of The Written Word.
My plan for the challenge is to do the following:
1. Read Northanger Abbey2. Visit the Jane Austen Center in Bath! (lots of pics)3. Watch Lost in Austen4. Read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies5. Watch Sense and Sensibility6. Knit the Mrs. Darcy Cardigan
The Challenge began on the 1st of July and ends the 1st of January. Lots of time to get through it all. Click on the button if you would like to join in on the fun!_________________________________________

Sunday Salon (7/5/09)

I hope you all had a great 4th of July. Ours was a nice and relaxing one. Tour de France watching in the morning, knitting in the afternoon, and relaxing by the pool with friends, ending with some fireworks. Very nice.

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Thanks to all that answered my question yesterday. I appreciate everyone's thoughts and advice. All very helpful and makes me more comfortable with my choice.

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I need to thank Grace of Grace's Book Blog for awarding me the Proximadade Award. I am very late in my thank you.

This blog invests and believes in the Proximity – nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award.

Here are some great blogs that I have recently found and enjoy visiting. Be sure to stop by and check them out.

Lost in Books

Just Jennifer Reading

Book Bird Dog

Books Love Jessica Marie

Burton Review

Karissa's Reading Review
Beth's Book Review Blog

Bibliophile By The Sea

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It is hard to believe that it is already July but since it is, here is what I read in June:

51. Here Kitty Kitty by Jardine Libaire
50. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
49. The Forest of Hands and Feet by Carrie Ryan
48. Persuasion by Jane Austen
47. Royal Blood by Rona Sharon
46. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
45. Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
44. Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty
43. Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine
42. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

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I joined Twitter!

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