Friday, February 23, 2018

Epigrams & Interludes

My favorite chapter of Nietzche's Beyond Good and Evil is "Epigrams and Interludes". The philosopher chooses to collect a wide array of various thoughts and place them into one chapter.  I have decided to post my observations about the current scene in the same vein instead of writing one big monster column.  Enjoy.


A deputy stood outside Parkland High School while Cruz murdered 17 students. There is a simple word for this: cowardice. Of course, this being America, he retires, escapes punishment, and gets his pension. What a country. Some will say he has to live with the guilt of his cowardice for the rest of his life. The point is he gets to live. In the not too distant past in another culture (We are multi-cultural, aren't we?), he would be expected to atone for his shame by making the ultimate apology. Of course, there is nothing stopping him from doing so right now.

***

Has anyone noticed something in all of the hubub over the different infrastructure plans offered up in the Mississippi legislature? Cities are losing sales tax revenue to the internet. The state is now collecting sales taxes from the online sales but is instead calling them "use" taxes. In the end, the cities are still losers.

What exactly is the MML good for?
***

Notice how much information is being learned about what the police did and didn't do in Parkland? Such information would be almost impossible to obtain in Mississippi. The police didn't like 911 calls being public record so the Legislature bent over for them a few years ago and exempted 911 calls from public records laws. I can hear it now, "we can't comment on an investigation" and any dereliction of duty similar to what took place in Parkland would be swept under the rug.
***

It's amazing how many Republicans tell JJ that the worst thing to ever happen to them in the legislature was the supermajority. The absolute power thing, you know.
***

Will the Madison County Journal ever cover CMU shenanigans that don't involve the name "Warnock"?
***

What will Chris do? What will Chris do? Will he run against Wicker? Will one of the weekly rumors about Thad retiring come true? If so, will Chris run for that seat? What will Chris do?
***

Yes, Bryan Clark is still incarcerated at Kemper. It's not known if the Commissioner brings him lunches packed into a picnic basket by his mama every week.
***

Mayor Lumumba wants to bring traffic cameras back to Jackson. Lost in the discussion was his statement that he wanted to start using surveillance drones on a regular basis as well.
***

Speaking of the Mayor, what was not reported was that he attended Tonarri Moore's Sunday bond hearing in Madison County after he was arrested. Standing by friends no matter what. I can respect that.
***

Will Jerry Mitchell ever write about a crime victim?  You know, the actual victims of his victims.
***

Speaking of the Clark story, covering that story was one of the proudest moments ever at JJ. If the media wants to keep ignoring stories such as this one, JJ will keep scooping them up.
***

Nice to see the Clarion-Ledger cover the Rape of Rolling Fork. JJ has just been writing about Malachi's plundering ways for nearly a decade. Of course, the story was written by a new reporter who didn't know he was supposed to ignore million-dollar ripoffs.
***

It is a shame cops can't be prosecuted for cowardice. Quite a few of them like to dress up and play soldier with their M-4 rifles, ninja outfits, and APC's. If they want to act like soldiers, perhaps it's time to start holding them to the same standards as soldiers and that includes cowardice and desertion. 
***

Kate, why did you take the bait from Y'all? You're a decent reporter. Let your work speak for itself. You played right into its hands.


***

It is harder for Jackson to keep up such cultural attractions as the zoo or planetarium.  It was easier to have nice things when the people - and thus the resources - were concentrated in one city.  Now they are spread out over more than half a dozen towns and cities and surprise, it is now harder to keep such attractions up - attractions that benefit the entire area.  Perhaps it is time to look at regionalizing the cultural attractions.  Place them under the umbrella of a governing board made up of representatives from Jackson metro area governments in exchange for contributions from those same governments.  Work out a deal with the state.  Of course, if they are all chipping in money, that means they get to have a say in how things are run.  Pay to play can be a good thing if applied properly. Monroe, Mobile, and Hattiesburg take care of their cultural attractions, why can't we?
***

The Clarion-Ledger has gone all in on the opioid crisis.  Rarely reported is the fact that opioid prescriptions in Mississippi are down while opioid deaths are up.  Opioid prescriptions only make up 40% of opioid deaths.  Representative Joel Bomgar has tried several times to get the "state newspaper" to talk to him about the statistics but it can't be bothered.  Don't want to make the Governor mad.
***

Then there is Mississippi State.    Um, a coach with a cellphone in a dugout is probably a huge red flag.  It is probably safe to say that getting a job as an assistant baseball coach at Florida is slim to none for Mr. Cannizaro.   One of  the top college baseball jobs, half a million dollars or more in salary,. Note to Andy Cannizaro: Being The man requires you to be a man and not act like a schoolboy who can't get enough.  Hope she was worth it.
***

Arming teachers in and of itself is probably a bad idea.  The problem is training.  However, teachers should be allowed to obtain law enforcement training . There are several reserve deputy or police officer programs in Mississippi.  Allow teachers to enter those programs and carry concealed weapons upon completion of said training.  Require them to go to the range several times a year.  Waive the annual service hours requirements for them since they are on the government time clock.  Arming teachers is probably not a good idea.  Arming trained teachers is a much better idea.
***

In Rankin and Madison counties, the judges, law enforcement officials, and prosecutors all work together.  In Hinds County, they sue each other or try to throw each other in jail.  Want to guess which one has a functioning criminal justice system?
***

Speaking of the Hinds County criminal justice system, is anyone actually going to run against Circuit Judges Tomie Green and Winston Kidd?   Meanwhile, the vigils and anti-crime rallies will continue.  At some point, it's hard to feel sorry for people who keep putting the same judges and prosecutors in office while expecting a different result.
***

DPS Commissioner Marshall Fisher shrieked about the dangers of sudafed and meth ten years ago and got his way.  Some of us stood up and said all he was going to do is push junkies into pills and heroin.  Guess what happened?  The junkies went to pills and heroin just as predicted and now Commissioner Fisher goes into hysterics over the "opioid crisis."  Meanwhile, local meth production was destroyed but the cartels moved in and now provide higher quality meth.  The free market at work.  Supply, demand, someone break out a Laffer Curve sketched out in a layer of coke.

All the good Commissioner did was take a squeegee and push a puddle of water into a dry area  The old area is still wet but he now points at the new puddle of water he created.  Commissioner Squeegee does the same thing over and over again with the same results. All he knows how to do is ban & bust.
***

When will the city of Jackson paint parking stripes on Capitol Street?
***

Has anyone see the Sheriff?
***

The former Two Sisters building is now up for sale.  One of the great tragedies to ever take place in Jackson.
***

The Mississippi Hospital Association threw a tantrum and got the House to force Medicaid to rebid a managed care contract so it could get a piece of the action.  Where are the good government types who normally scream about crony capitalism?  Americans for Prosperity, Jerry Turner, the media, Mississippi Center for Public Policy, and certain um, Conservative Coalition members who are very active on Facebook.  Asking for a friend.
 ***

If Thad retires, someone will be appointed to the spot and will expect to win the next election as the incumbent.  Senator Wicker was appointed to his position as well before winning two elections.  Hmmm..... if this happens, does this mean we are losing our right to elect Senators in Mississippi?

If Senator Cochran ever does retire, allow JJ to throw out a name for appointment: Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher.  General in Afghanistan.  Alderman and Supervisors.  Mayor.  Corporate executive.  The problem is he has a reputation for being smart and hard-nosed.  In other words, he is too good for a political leadership that values mediocrity and that my friends, is the bottom line. 

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you advocating that the deputy commit suicide? Wow.

Anonymous said...

Good post - this should be a recurring feature.

(And yes, that's a great chapter in BG&E.)

Anonymous said...

Kate, why did you take the bait from Y'all?

Not a fan of Lange's but he skewered her and MT on that one. On a per reporter basis, MT is as inefficient as JATRAN.

Anonymous said...

I'm afraid that many of those unloading on this man as a coward would have had the same reaction as he did. No one and I mean no one, knows how they would respond to a situation like this until they're confronted with it. Many that you think would be brave and fearless would run for the hills while some unsuspecting light weight may charge ahead. Who knows. I do know one thing however, 4 out of 5 of his accusers would have done the same thing. I am not excusing his actions and he definitely should not have picked police work to go into, I'm just calling out all the fake super heroes critical of this guy.

Kingfish said...

Did you take an oath?

Anonymous said...

I'm pro 2A, but I have never accepted the notion that we should have teachers carrying guns. You have teachers who falsify standardized test scores. You have teachers who screw their students. You have teachers who encourage their kids to paint obscene graffiti on the walls of the Millsaps Christian Center. Are these people we want packing heat?

Imagine Suzy Wallflower, a chunky 25-year-old high school math teacher getting spurned by the 10th grader she seduced. How long before this already unstable woman shows up at the kid's house with her school-issued Glock, demanding he not break up with her?

But think about your teachers growing up. If they were like mine, most were slight, older ladies who had a hard enough time handling a Delta 88 in the parking lot. I would not want my child to be in a room where 77-year-old Myrtle Mumpower tries to figure out how to get that .38 out of the holster, even if there's no shooter in the building.

Burke said...

Good feature, KF.

The cowardly deputy has the mark of Cain, and it is indelible. I can sympathize as a fellow human, but I also agree with your pointing out that he took an oath.

How old is Jerry Mitchell? He's already essentially retired from the newspaper; his articles are about 80% recycled information from stories he wrote years ago. If you're not going to do some original stuff, Mr. M, then make room for those who want to and will.

Not so humble opinions on my part, I know, but that's why we're here.

Anonymous said...

What’s happening in Mendenhall High today? Lot of complaints about troubled kid and alledged violence towards others. School not doing anything, but SO called.

Anonymous said...

2:09

Somebody's blazing away, working their way down the hall toward you...

You and your classmates are huddled behind your locked door.

Would you want someone... ANYONE to have a firearm when that door bust open? Nah..?

Anonymous said...

Oath? The only thing I’d be thinking is I’m about to die! Did I think about an oath before I screwed the married lady in Las Vegas? Did I think about an oath to Grover Norquist before I raised taxes? Every US soldier takes an oath so I guess they shouldn’t dig foxholes, right? You sign an “oath” when you file your taxes every year. Did you report every penny? Entitled to every deduction? Did you send a separate check to Mississippi for your out of state purchases where taxes weren’t collected? You might want to rethink the oath thing Mr Fish.

Anonymous said...

How many oaths has President Cheeto taken in his life and how much did they matter?

Anonymous said...

@2:24 how do you know that the school isn't doing anything? Did you know that in most cases a school is working through the details so giving parents/community members a minute by minute detail of happenings can delay an investigation and actually cause the investigation to go awry? Do you care?

Anonymous said...

Your distaste for Marshall Fisher is showing through - trying to claim that his push to contain meth production would push the junkies to drugs; and now there is an opioid crisis and that proves you and others were right. Never mind that there is a nationwide opioid crisis that every state is fighting. You trying to tell us that in your informed opinion that Fisher's efforts in Mississippi against Sudafed has created the nationwide crisis? Or that our crisis was created separate and apart from the other 49 states?

Anonymous said...

Mayor Phil Fisher for Thad's seat? No, thank you. To summarize, he has great disrespect for the Capitol City and Mississippi citizens he thinks are beneath him. I've been appalled in several conversations I've had with him.

Anonymous said...

1:31 the difference between Peterson and the vast majority of those commenting about his inaction is he was trained and paid to run to the sound of gunfire and protect students and staff within the school, even if his life was threatened by doing so. There was an expectation for him to act. He failed miserably. I would suspect he has difficulty in living with that fact for the rest of his life.

Anonymous said...

I am advocating that Peterson eat a bullet. His job is to place others lives before his own. Yes he took an oath but besides that he has a duty as a human to try to stop the killing. I am ashamed to say that he works in the same profession that I do. I can not imagine sitting still listening to kids getting killed without acting. He is a failure as a cop and as a man. Yes I'm judging him and yes I know what rounds coming at you sound like.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I’ve heard that steroids will make you wear jackboots and jump in front of bullets.

Anonymous said...

The 64 dollar question. What would each individual do when confronted with a threat? During WWII the troops landing on the beaches during D-Day were not battle hardened soldiers; they were troop that had never been in combat before. (Source: The Longest Day) I wished they would harden schools before the next attack. Having layers of defenses not just one guy to protect a whole school is the best choice. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/02/22/safest-school-america-indiana/362210002/

Anonymous said...

3:56 it’s not steroids but repetitive training and real life experience that drives one to react, not freeze up.

Anonymous said...

Reading some of these comments I want to puke.

Phillip said...

It would be a rare teacher qualified but a great line of work for returning combat veterans.

Ophelia said...

Jerry Mitchell saves me a good bit of time when doing my morning quick-scan of the Glaring Error. When I see his byline, I just skip the piece (usually one in an endless series, whatever moribund equine he is pummeling at the moment). I also make smooth detours around many of the syndicated boilerplate liberals like Eugene Robinson and Leonard Pitts. But I am a bipartisan ignorer of stories: that bloated buffoon Daniel Gardner gets no quarter in my morning brain, either (I know he isn't paid for his stuff, but still, there he is).

Teachers with guns? I don't even know where to begin on what is absurd about this cockamamie notion. All I can say is, I am profoundly grateful that none of my beloved instructors, especially in college, were packing heat. There were times, I am sure, when my sans-souci frivolity in class might have tempted them to at least shoot over my head to get my attention...but of course, back then (in the Pleistocene epoch) the idea of a crazed marauder with an AR-15 was as fantastical as the Jabberwock.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you on all but two things and they both involve the Parkland shooting.

If you get into the details of every school shooting, arming teachers is not practical nor likely to be effective even if they are trained.

It would involved not one training session and a gun and " combat pay", but repeated training to stay sharp and routine drug testing and psychological testing. You wouldn't want a veteran with PTSD teaching much less teaching with a gun. And, most veterans have never seen combat and not all of them get a medal for marksmanship.

It would be cheaper to add secure sheltering to classrooms once, than to make sure teachers can react year after year after year. Hell, you could put up guard posts and guard towers at every school for less money.

The school shooters are those who know the school. They will know which teachers are armed. They are armed with assault rifles. They have planned and have the element of surprise in their favor. These are ambushes. The ambusher has the advantage. Ask anyone who really has been ambushed in a firefight.

When surprised and frightened, humans are at the mercy of their flight/fight response. The shooter isn't. Some people flee and some fight and you won't know what your response will be until you have to face it. In fact, those combat veterans who, to their shock , initially freeze, are at high risk for PSTD as they can't forgive themselves for a brief neurological reaction they can't control. That's the difference between those who go towards danger and those who freeze.

I have an assault rifle, you have a hand gun and body armor, I win most every time. You have to get off a good head shot or take me down in the legs. I just spray you and anybody near you.

I a school shooter with an assault rifle, you have an assault rifle and we both have them up , we both lose if I see you and take others with us. You need a clean shot because you don't want to hurt the kids, I don't care about the kids.

It's not the movies people. You don't get the smell, you don't get that teachers with guns will need to have on the right shoes so they don't slip on blood and guts on their way to the shooter. You don't get that it's not just bullets but pieces of desks and walls, etc. that damage. These teachers won't be John Wick. John Wick is not real.

We need experts in human behavior and child development, education, guns ,combat, law enforcement and security to sit down together and come of with practical ideas to deal with mass shootings.

Frankly, right now our dialogue is controlled by those who earn a very nice living by dividing us or are just plain evil. I don't want anyone whose income is derived from this issue in that group. They have lied and mislead us to justify their existence. They should be ashamed of themselves.

And, there should be a special ring of Hell for the father who encouraged his son who was a student to lie about the town hall and for the neo-Nazis who attacked the Hogg family with lies as well.

Those who make a tragedy more tragic by maligning others for political or personal gain should be forever shunned so we don't have to count on them burning in Hell.






Anonymous said...

As an older Mississippian which both chronic pain and acute pain, I’ve found most doctors are VERY reluctant to prescribe any narcotics nowadays. I have had (and still have) prescription opioids that I use on occasion to deal with he acute pain. I take two milder, long-term pain relievers for the chronic pain. The fear of losing one’s license (or the thought of even having to go through an investigation) keeps many doctors from treating people like me, who actually use opioids in a proper manner, from prescribing what has been a great solution over the past few years. Opioids, if properly taken, interact less or have less side effects than substitute prescription medications and are much more effective at reducing the pain to a tolerable level. Yes, I still have pain when I walk due to an ankle injury that just won’t heal well at my age, but it is manageable with an occasional Percocet. My health care provider always checks my PMP before renewing the prescription and we go through a thorough examination so that the issues I have with pain are properly documented. I’ve been switched over to many substitute (for narcotics) medications in the past with poor pain control. I worry the about toxicity of those substitute medications, too. I would never purchase heroin and don’t imagine many my age would think of such. While I applaud the effort to help end addiction, I lament the effect this “crisis” has had on effective pain management in the elderly.

Anonymous said...

Marshall Fisher is no different than the Donna Ladds of Mississippi. Thinks he knows f'ing everything and dreams of dictating to others what to do, how to think and when.

Anonymous said...

Arming teachers?
What about the janitors and cafeteria workers?
When a shooter knows that teachers are armed, guess who the first target will be. It's one thing to shoot at a paper target at your convenience, try producing a firearm when your heart rate and adrenaline has suddenly tripled.

Anonymous said...

Try looking at the scene in a different. Right now teachers are not armed. Some loose their lives protecting their students. At least if some are armed they can return fire. They do not just have to wait to be killed.

We have too many people who have never used a gun and too many who are against guns in general trying to tell people what will happen if some teachers are armed. Of course they have no idea what they are talking about gut that doesn't slow them down one bit.

Teachers can qualify for a handgun just the same as any other person. They can get a concealed carry permit just like anyone else. They would be as safe as anyone else.
They might actually save a few lives.

Kingfish said...

Uh-huh. Try talking to the real narcs on the street and not the MBN cowboys. All Commissioner Squeegee's sudafed ban did was push production to Mexico. No competition meant a monopoly although the stuff is higher quality as well.

As for arming teachers, what I favor is this. If a teacher goes through a reserve police officer or deputy program, in other words, gets law enforcement training and not the 8 hour enhanced carry permit training, then I have no problem with him or her being allowed to carry a concealed weapon since a cop can do so in that school already. However, I think any annual hourly service requirements should be waived since they are full -time government employees. Most reserve programs have such a requirement.

Been There Done That said...

Any armed cop who would not enter a place where people are being killed has no business being a cop.

Anonymous said...

Judges aren’t supposed to work with police and prosecutors. Judges are supposed to be neutral for a society to be free. You’re right about Rankin and Madison counties.

Anonymous said...

If teachers pack heat, how many shootings will they avert, compared to how many students they'll shoot themselves because the teachers lose their damn minds?



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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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