billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Apr 22, 2019 18:28:38 GMT -5
Sorry @athena53, I really didn't mean to hijack this thread.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Apr 22, 2019 18:50:00 GMT -5
Eastern Colorado and Western Nebraska are almost as bad as Wyoming. AlmostI drove through all of those on a single cross country trip. Nebraska was the worst. Only caught a corner of Wyoming--empty but pretty. You didn't get to the worst part of Wyoming. The long distance between Laramie and the Tetons is desolate and not pretty. It's also not pretty from Laramie west to right at the border with Utah. Kansas is also bad.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Apr 22, 2019 18:52:57 GMT -5
I think it is an important option for people without transportation. I was exposed a very little bit for the first time in life this year to how people operate without a car. A decade ago, my city made the choice to purchase the land and sell it below market value to a supermarket chain in an underprivileged neighborhood. That choice was controversial at the time, but it has kept a supermarket level of service to all areas of the City. Comparable cities are losing their supermarkets in similar neighborhoods, but our "getto-hy-vee" is doing well.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Apr 22, 2019 19:02:18 GMT -5
Wow
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Apr 22, 2019 19:12:18 GMT -5
We have a convenience store 7 miles away, they have milk, lunch meat, maybe a few canned goods, haven't looked. We have the little restaurant in town here, open about 7 to 2 and on Friday night, 200 people in this town. But need money, I think the lady feeds different people at times. And our little tiny town, had 2 gas stations, a drug store, hardware store, a tractor dealer when we were young. My home town had even more, fabric store, 5 and 10, laundromat, a bank, all kinds of stores, that town is now dead. Out on the highway is a Casey's and maybe they still have a liquor store. There were doctors office, hardware a few grocers, filling stations, a small factory. When I was little a movie theater, 2 or 3 taverns, HVAC, furniture store, barbers.
I can remember when this tiny town had a grocery, down the road where his folks lived had a little grocery and a bigger one before that and the town south of us had one. Our bigger town had several. A family owned one that had a deli and delivered, a Kroger, and other stores. But also a lot of small farmers lived out here, now they are gone and their farms bought up by big ones.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2019 9:14:17 GMT -5
I'll never understand why people will hate on food stamp recipients, but don't seem to care places like WalMart jack their prices up during the first two weeks of the month specifically to gouge those dollars. Just their price increases would more than pay for shipping and pull that cash out of WalMart's coffers.
I avoid ours during those two weeks, both because I figured out everything gets about a 25% increase in price, and because this county has hoards of FS shoppers and the stores get crazy.
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Apr 23, 2019 9:38:34 GMT -5
Have to ask. What do these people actually eat? Maybe we Americans could load up a few pickups, sneak over the border and have a half price sale up there! I would be welling to sell Campbell's soup at $2.50 a pop, as long as we are talking Chicken noodle, etc, even on the Canadian dollar!
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Apr 23, 2019 9:44:53 GMT -5
I'll never understand why people will hate on food stamp recipients, but don't seem to care places like WalMart jack their prices up during the first two weeks of the month specifically to gouge those dollars. Just their price increases would more than pay for shipping and pull that cash out of WalMart's coffers. I avoid ours during those two weeks, both because I figured out everything gets about a 25% increase in price, and because this county has hoards of FS shoppers and the stores get crazy. I have never seen a WMT store jack up prices in their stores the first two weeks of the month, even ones located in economically deprived areas. I have seen independent stores offer fewer sale prices or higher advertised prices on the first of the month, but even they do not raise shelf prices. The same stores sell things cheaper in their sales ad the last two weeks of the month as there are fewer dollars to come through the door. Since most states have changed their distribution to go through out the month, this practice is dying out.
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Apr 23, 2019 9:49:54 GMT -5
We have a convenience store 7 miles away, they have milk, lunch meat, maybe a few canned goods, haven't looked. We have the little restaurant in town here, open about 7 to 2 and on Friday night, 200 people in this town. But need money, I think the lady feeds different people at times. And our little tiny town, had 2 gas stations, a drug store, hardware store, a tractor dealer when we were young. My home town had even more, fabric store, 5 and 10, laundromat, a bank, all kinds of stores, that town is now dead. Out on the highway is a Casey's and maybe they still have a liquor store. There were doctors office, hardware a few grocers, filling stations, a small factory. When I was little a movie theater, 2 or 3 taverns, HVAC, furniture store, barbers. I can remember when this tiny town had a grocery, down the road where his folks lived had a little grocery and a bigger one before that and the town south of us had one. Our bigger town had several. A family owned one that had a deli and delivered, a Kroger, and other stores. But also a lot of small farmers lived out here, now they are gone and their farms bought up by big ones. How close are the WMT super centers to these towns? These stores always close the mom and pop businesses down eventually. You probably have two within 50 miles of you, doing multiple millionof dollars in sales every week. I understand the small towns have lost population to large cities as young people move to them for a better economic opportunity. Small town family incomes used to be low, but the people had a low cost of living standard to begin with. As towns, counties, and states raised their taxes it forces families to move to areas where they can earn more money.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Apr 23, 2019 11:09:38 GMT -5
... Small town family incomes used to be low, but the people had a low cost of living standard to begin with. ... And even still. deminmaine's estimate for a garage is 2/3's the cost of my house, which has a (smaller) two car garage.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Apr 23, 2019 11:24:35 GMT -5
The Walmart is in the small town, yes all the stores closed. But this one does not have tires or fresh meats its a small one. Has lots of processed meats and items in refrigerated cases. I'm betting they would not let them put a full one there. 30 miles away is a big Walmart.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 23, 2019 11:48:30 GMT -5
Have to ask. What do these people actually eat? Maybe we Americans could load up a few pickups, sneak over the border and have a half price sale up there! I would be welling to sell Campbell's soup at $2.50 a pop, as long as we are talking Chicken noodle, etc, even on the Canadian dollar! This area is waaay up in Canada, where roads are not great/don’t exist. My SIL is a traveling nurse and she goes up to these areas to be the only medical care in the area. They have to drop her off by plane, you can’t drive there.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Apr 23, 2019 12:09:19 GMT -5
Have to ask. What do these people actually eat?Maybe we Americans could load up a few pickups, sneak over the border and have a half price sale up there! I would be welling to sell Campbell's soup at $2.50 a pop, as long as we are talking Chicken noodle, etc, even on the Canadian dollar! Seal. Caribou. Whale. They're also starting to build greenhouses there. You can't get there by pickups, unless you're willing to build a road first. When my niece worked for Médecins Sans Frontières, she could only travel by plane. There was a kid with a gunshot wound to the face, but she couldn't get to him, as the ice was too unstable for a plane to land. He died.
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Apr 23, 2019 12:44:27 GMT -5
The Walmart is in the small town, yes all the stores closed. But this one does not have tires or fresh meats its a small one. Has lots of processed meats and items in refrigerated cases. I'm betting they would not let them put a full one there. 30 miles away is a big Walmart. A WMT grocery store and a super center within 30 miles devastates the town businesses around it. Our WMT grocery as well as the super center have gasoline outlets selling cheap gas hurting the local family owned operations also.
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Apr 23, 2019 12:46:38 GMT -5
Have to ask. What do these people actually eat?Maybe we Americans could load up a few pickups, sneak over the border and have a half price sale up there! I would be welling to sell Campbell's soup at $2.50 a pop, as long as we are talking Chicken noodle, etc, even on the Canadian dollar! Seal. Caribou. Whale. They're also starting to build greenhouses there. You can't get there by pickups, unless you're willing to build a road first. When my niece worked for Médecins Sans Frontières, she could only travel by plane. There was a kid with a gunshot would to the face, but she couldn't get to him, as the ice was too unstable for a plane to land. He died. Understood! Last question. The prices you quoted, do they include all taxation or are taxes added on to the price?
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Apr 23, 2019 14:05:24 GMT -5
Seal. Caribou. Whale. They're also starting to build greenhouses there. You can't get there by pickups, unless you're willing to build a road first. When my niece worked for Médecins Sans Frontières, she could only travel by plane. There was a kid with a gunshot would to the face, but she couldn't get to him, as the ice was too unstable for a plane to land. He died. Understood! Last question. The prices you quoted, do they include all taxation or are taxes added on to the price? Food isn't taxed, unless it's pre-prepared, like sandwiches or cooked rotisserie chicken. Orange juice, broccoli, fruit, milk, corn etc., aren't taxed. Not for the Inuit or anyone else.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Apr 23, 2019 22:27:58 GMT -5
I think it's a great idea. It probably won't help everyone as many people don't have access to internet to make an order, but at least a section of the poor, old, disabled population will benefit from it.
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Apr 24, 2019 7:53:37 GMT -5
I think it's a great idea. It probably won't help everyone as many people don't have access to internet to make an order, but at least a section of the poor, old, disabled population will benefit from it. Outside possibly the elderly, the majority all have cellphones with internet. As long as the states do not subsidise the delivery (a tip, etc) I think this is an excellent idea. I have seen the food deserts of Gary Indiana, and people walking with their wire cary baskets for over a mile to do the shopping. if they are not near a bus route, etc. Of course I admit not all the walkers are necessarily EBT recipients.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2019 10:22:54 GMT -5
Outside possibly the elderly, the majority all have cellphones with internet. Yes, it certainly varies with the elderly. My Dad is 88 and very Internet- and smartphone-friendly. My late DH was, but began to lose his grip on technology as his health failed in his late 70s. My mother was an intelligent woman who handled all the bill-paying from the time i was a kid, and did it well, but she never could get used to the Internet. I was with Dad as he tried to walk through a process with her on the phone, patiently and carefully explaining every step, and she just wasn't getting it. Later he told me he'd walked through the same process with her in person and she took notes- but she just wasn't comfortable with the computer. So that could be a limitation in a segment of the population that could really use this service.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Apr 24, 2019 10:59:18 GMT -5
My dad had to learn to use a computer for his job back when they were new. He always hated that computer. Mom wanted a computer. Both my sister and I tried to give her computers when we upgraded because all she wanted to do was email. She also liked that their 90 something next door neighbor played chess every evening with his great grandson in Florida and thought it would be fun to do something like that with her grandkids. Dad did not want a computer in their house, so we never set one up for her. She was also fascinated by cell phones. Again, he said no. Her brother did give her one for 911 only access. Where dad lives, lots of people do have internet and I'm surprised by the number with smart phones they don't use welll.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Apr 30, 2019 16:07:50 GMT -5
My dad had to learn to use a computer for his job back when they were new. He always hated that computer. Mom wanted a computer. Both my sister and I tried to give her computers when we upgraded because all she wanted to do was email. She also liked that their 90 something next door neighbor played chess every evening with his great grandson in Florida and thought it would be fun to do something like that with her grandkids. Dad did not want a computer in their house, so we never set one up for her. She was also fascinated by cell phones. Again, he said no. Her brother did give her one for 911 only access. Where dad lives, lots of people do have internet and I'm surprised by the number with smart phones they don't use welll. I just got back from visiting my dad for a week. He is 72 years old and doesn't have a cell phone. I keep telling him that he needs to get one for emergencies but he argues that he doesn't want or need one. He is an active person who lives in a large city. It would make feel better if he had a cell phone in case he has car trouble on the freeway, etc. but he won't listen...
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Apr 30, 2019 16:13:03 GMT -5
My dad had to learn to use a computer for his job back when they were new. He always hated that computer. Mom wanted a computer. Both my sister and I tried to give her computers when we upgraded because all she wanted to do was email. She also liked that their 90 something next door neighbor played chess every evening with his great grandson in Florida and thought it would be fun to do something like that with her grandkids. Dad did not want a computer in their house, so we never set one up for her. She was also fascinated by cell phones. Again, he said no. Her brother did give her one for 911 only access. Where dad lives, lots of people do have internet and I'm surprised by the number with smart phones they don't use welll. I just got back from visiting my dad for a week. He is 72 years old and doesn't have a cell phone. I keep telling him that he needs to get one for emergencies but he argues that he doesn't want or need one. He is an active person who lives in a large city. It would make feel better if he had a cell phone in case he has car trouble on the freeway, etc. but he won't listen... I jokingly tell folks that I have a cell phone with one contact - AAA!! Not the exact truth but I am not tethered to my cell like so many. But I honestly do not leave home without it. Heck I stick it in my pocket if walking to mailbox, working in yard, etc. Could you shame him by telling him one of the pEEps here is 76 and has one for emergencies
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dannylion
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Post by dannylion on Apr 30, 2019 16:25:43 GMT -5
I just got back from visiting my dad for a week. He is 72 years old and doesn't have a cell phone. I keep telling him that he needs to get one for emergencies but he argues that he doesn't want or need one. He is an active person who lives in a large city. It would make feel better if he had a cell phone in case he has car trouble on the freeway, etc. but he won't listen... I jokingly tell folks that I have a cell phone with one contact - AAA!! Not the exact truth but I am not tethered to my cell like so many. But I honestly do not leave home without it. Heck I stick it in my pocket if walking to mailbox, working in yard, etc. Could you shame him by telling him one of the pEEps here is 76 and has one for emergencies I've started doing that, too. I live alone, so if I go out for the mail and don't come back, no one will notice. Now I put my phone in my pocket before I go anywhere. Of course, if I am lying unconscious in the driveway, the phone won't do me much good and I'll have to wait until the neighbor I share the long driveway with to get home and hope he doesn't run over me.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Apr 30, 2019 16:28:32 GMT -5
My dad would have been 84 this year, and he was an early adapter. He bought us our Apple IIe back in the 80's, and upgraded computers ever since. He got us a VCR when they were still $600-800 (and a dvd player later on). He had a basic cell phone, but only used it for emergencies.
Of course, he was the engineer that got the company he worked for started with using lasers back in the 70/80's, too.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 30, 2019 16:35:24 GMT -5
My dad had to learn to use a computer for his job back when they were new. He always hated that computer. Mom wanted a computer. Both my sister and I tried to give her computers when we upgraded because all she wanted to do was email. She also liked that their 90 something next door neighbor played chess every evening with his great grandson in Florida and thought it would be fun to do something like that with her grandkids. Dad did not want a computer in their house, so we never set one up for her. She was also fascinated by cell phones. Again, he said no. Her brother did give her one for 911 only access. Where dad lives, lots of people do have internet and I'm surprised by the number with smart phones they don't use welll. I just got back from visiting my dad for a week. He is 72 years old and doesn't have a cell phone. I keep telling him that he needs to get one for emergencies but he argues that he doesn't want or need one. He is an active person who lives in a large city. It would make feel better if he had a cell phone in case he has car trouble on the freeway, etc. but he won't listen... Movingforward-your dad might think all cell phones are smart phones with all their apps and stuff. It can look a bit overwhelming. Do you think you could convince him to use a flip phone? About the only thing you can do with those things is call or receive a call. Not hard to learn either.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Apr 30, 2019 16:40:52 GMT -5
I just got back from visiting my dad for a week. He is 72 years old and doesn't have a cell phone. I keep telling him that he needs to get one for emergencies but he argues that he doesn't want or need one. He is an active person who lives in a large city. It would make feel better if he had a cell phone in case he has car trouble on the freeway, etc. but he won't listen... I jokingly tell folks that I have a cell phone with one contact - AAA!! Not the exact truth but I am not tethered to my cell like so many. But I honestly do not leave home without it. Heck I stick it in my pocket if walking to mailbox, working in yard, etc. Could you shame him by telling him one of the pEEps here is 76 and has one for emergencies I got a cellphone only for emergencies, as well. My car was 19 years old, and I never knew when I'd need CAA (AAA to you). I hate, hate, hate that people are surgically tethered to their phones 24/7. You can't even talk to people in line at the grocery stores, in waiting rooms, or on the Metro any more. Everyone is yakking on their phones. "OMG, I'd just DIE if I lost my phone! I'd just DIE!" That's fucked up. You can't even tell who is crazy, anymore. Everyone seems to be talking to themselves.
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chapeau
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Post by chapeau on Apr 30, 2019 16:49:37 GMT -5
The government phone (safelink? lifeline? I can't remember what it's called) is giving smart phones these days, not flip phones, if you sign up for cell service as opposed to a land line. I'm not sure about people who already have the service, but new recipients get a smart phone. I'm not 100% sure if you can still sign up for a free land line or not, all of the people I've helped within the last year have gotten cell phones.
If you qualify for food stamps, you qualify for the phone. And I think you can select if you want free data or free minutes. Not sure if you can do both or just one and either use wifi or pay for some number of minutes monthly. I know they get unlimited texts.
And since I just had to help a guy sign up for an ignition interlock ( ) through my office today (no smart phone/tablet/laptop. We did it over the phone since he has a suspended license until he gets the system installed.), I'm guessing some of these people will try to get a government office to place their order for them. No problem, but I'm charging for my time in Twinkies
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Apr 30, 2019 17:29:13 GMT -5
I jokingly tell folks that I have a cell phone with one contact - AAA!! Not the exact truth but I am not tethered to my cell like so many. But I honestly do not leave home without it. Heck I stick it in my pocket if walking to mailbox, working in yard, etc. Could you shame him by telling him one of the pEEps here is 76 and has one for emergencies I got a cellphone only for emergencies, as well. My car was 19 years old, and I never knew when I'd need CAA (AAA to you). I hate, hate, hate that people are surgically tethered to their phones 24/7. You can't even talk to people in line at the grocery stores, in waiting rooms, or on the Metro any more. Everyone is yakking on their phones. "OMG, I'd just DIE if I lost my phone! I'd just DIE!" That's fucked up. You can't even tell who is crazy, anymore. Everyone seems to be talking to themselves. Had to laugh at last sentence! I remember the days when someone was talking out loud to themselves you would cross to other side of street since they were probably "crazy" Now you can't tell.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Apr 30, 2019 17:37:03 GMT -5
I have people that depend on me, so I get very antsy if I forget my cellphone. It was much worse when the other shoe could drop at any time with my mother, but I can also get emergency calls from time to time for my kids.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Apr 30, 2019 18:27:56 GMT -5
I've locked myself out of the house twice and had to go to neighbors to call somebody with a key. You'd think that would have taught me to always keep a phone on me. No, it took falling on the ice bringing in the trash can a year ago. Thankfully, the car repair shop across the street saw it happen and came to help.
Now I carry the phone with me--even when I go to the basement.
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