[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I’m an adventurer granted this is a self
I’m an adventurer granted this is a self
I’m an adventurer granted this is a self proclaimed title as there is no
proclaimed title as there is no
proclaimed title as there is no adventure certificate diploma or even a
adventure certificate diploma or even a
adventure certificate diploma or even a box to mark on your driver’s license
box to mark on your driver’s license
box to mark on your driver’s license application now I seriously doubt that I
application now I seriously doubt that I
application now I seriously doubt that I am your stereotypical image of an
am your stereotypical image of an
am your stereotypical image of an adventurer big strong physically
adventurer big strong physically
adventurer big strong physically intimidating to polar bears quite the
intimidating to polar bears quite the
intimidating to polar bears quite the contrary I’m only physically
contrary I’m only physically
contrary I’m only physically intimidating to a few skittish cats and
intimidating to a few skittish cats and
intimidating to a few skittish cats and maybe some labrador puppies nor do i buy
maybe some labrador puppies nor do i buy
maybe some labrador puppies nor do i buy into the macho bravado of I’m fearless
into the macho bravado of I’m fearless
into the macho bravado of I’m fearless oddly enough my fears of being struck by
oddly enough my fears of being struck by
oddly enough my fears of being struck by lightning while flying or eaten by
lightning while flying or eaten by
lightning while flying or eaten by sharks while swimming are completely
sharks while swimming are completely
sharks while swimming are completely counter to the story that I’ve come to
counter to the story that I’ve come to
counter to the story that I’ve come to share with you today now my adventure
share with you today now my adventure
share with you today now my adventure began on New Year’s Day 2015 as I
began on New Year’s Day 2015 as I
began on New Year’s Day 2015 as I boarded a plane for Japan with a one-way
boarded a plane for Japan with a one-way
boarded a plane for Japan with a one-way airline ticket I intended to come back
airline ticket I intended to come back
airline ticket I intended to come back to the United States but by a less
to the United States but by a less
to the United States but by a less conventional method now typical return
conventional method now typical return
conventional method now typical return from Tokyo to Los Angeles in the comfort
from Tokyo to Los Angeles in the comfort
from Tokyo to Los Angeles in the comfort of a Airbus 380 requires about 12 hours
of a Airbus 380 requires about 12 hours
of a Airbus 380 requires about 12 hours of flight time for my motive aerial
of flight time for my motive aerial
of flight time for my motive aerial transportation it was going to take a
transportation it was going to take a
transportation it was going to take a lot longer be less predictable and added
lot longer be less predictable and added
lot longer be less predictable and added levels of danger one would not
levels of danger one would not
levels of danger one would not experience seated in row 56 d my my
experience seated in row 56 d my my
experience seated in row 56 d my my return across the ocean would be
return across the ocean would be
return across the ocean would be achieved by floating through the sky in
achieved by floating through the sky in
achieved by floating through the sky in a helium-filled balloon think of the
a helium-filled balloon think of the
a helium-filled balloon think of the movie up this is the stuff of children’s
movie up this is the stuff of children’s
movie up this is the stuff of children’s dreams and Jules Verne novels it is a
dreams and Jules Verne novels it is a
dreams and Jules Verne novels it is a very simple aircraft drop ballast
very simple aircraft drop ballast
very simple aircraft drop ballast overboard typically in the form of sand
overboard typically in the form of sand
overboard typically in the form of sand and you go higher open a valve in the
and you go higher open a valve in the
and you go higher open a valve in the top of the balloon to let a little
top of the balloon to let a little
top of the balloon to let a little helium out and you go lower the idea is
helium out and you go lower the idea is
helium out and you go lower the idea is to use these two finite resources helium
to use these two finite resources helium
to use these two finite resources helium and sand in order to navigate to a
and sand in order to navigate to a
and sand in order to navigate to a suitable landing site prior to depleting
suitable landing site prior to depleting
suitable landing site prior to depleting one or either of them completely now
one or either of them completely now
one or either of them completely now because the simplicity of this aircraft
because the simplicity of this aircraft
because the simplicity of this aircraft there’s the complexity of how
there’s the complexity of how
there’s the complexity of how you get it to go where you want it to go
you get it to go where you want it to go
you get it to go where you want it to go well there is no engine on a balloon
well there is no engine on a balloon
well there is no engine on a balloon sorry only means a propulsion is the
sorry only means a propulsion is the
sorry only means a propulsion is the wind and the wind will vary in direction
wind and the wind will vary in direction
wind and the wind will vary in direction and speed at various altitudes through
and speed at various altitudes through
and speed at various altitudes through the atmosphere so our job was being able
the atmosphere so our job was being able
the atmosphere so our job was being able to go up or down is to find a wind that
to go up or down is to find a wind that
to go up or down is to find a wind that meets our needs on track and speed to
meets our needs on track and speed to
meets our needs on track and speed to meet our goal so the large helium filled
meet our goal so the large helium filled
meet our goal so the large helium filled balloon is what gave us our lift the
balloon is what gave us our lift the
balloon is what gave us our lift the wind is what propelled us along and this
wind is what propelled us along and this
wind is what propelled us along and this small lightweight capsule would provide
small lightweight capsule would provide
small lightweight capsule would provide our housing for the entire journey now
our housing for the entire journey now
our housing for the entire journey now the forklift is there to give you an
the forklift is there to give you an
the forklift is there to give you an ideas for the relative size of this
ideas for the relative size of this
ideas for the relative size of this capsule the interior dimensions of this
capsule the interior dimensions of this
capsule the interior dimensions of this capsule were about half the size of this
capsule were about half the size of this
capsule were about half the size of this red carpet that I’m standing on right
red carpet that I’m standing on right
red carpet that I’m standing on right now so imagine living in this space for
now so imagine living in this space for
now so imagine living in this space for an entire week with someone else so it
an entire week with someone else so it
an entire week with someone else so it definitely redefines the term close
definitely redefines the term close
definitely redefines the term close friends but my close friend and co-pilot
friends but my close friend and co-pilot
friends but my close friend and co-pilot for this Odyssey was leonid to Kiev from
for this Odyssey was leonid to Kiev from
for this Odyssey was leonid to Kiev from Russia now inside the capsule you can
Russia now inside the capsule you can
Russia now inside the capsule you can see the interior dimensions don’t give a
see the interior dimensions don’t give a
see the interior dimensions don’t give a lot of privacy however it did protect us
lot of privacy however it did protect us
lot of privacy however it did protect us from the elements and it housed
from the elements and it housed
from the elements and it housed everything that would be required for
everything that would be required for
everything that would be required for our week-long camping trip in the air we
our week-long camping trip in the air we
our week-long camping trip in the air we had food water heater satellite phones
had food water heater satellite phones
had food water heater satellite phones navigation equipment and so you don’t
navigation equipment and so you don’t
navigation equipment and so you don’t lose track on this talk we also had a
lose track on this talk we also had a
lose track on this talk we also had a very nice plastic lined bucket
so this project took years of planning
so this project took years of planning and a lot of patience on waiting for the
and a lot of patience on waiting for the
and a lot of patience on waiting for the right weather but once Mother Nature
right weather but once Mother Nature
right weather but once Mother Nature finally provided the right weather
finally provided the right weather
finally provided the right weather pattern for a trans-pacific attempt
pattern for a trans-pacific attempt
pattern for a trans-pacific attempt leonid and i were ready we inflated our
leonid and i were ready we inflated our
leonid and i were ready we inflated our balloon with helium we loaded our
balloon with helium we loaded our
balloon with helium we loaded our equipment and we launched from the south
equipment and we launched from the south
equipment and we launched from the south of Japan in a town called saga now the
of Japan in a town called saga now the
of Japan in a town called saga now the first 12 hours or so we flew along the
first 12 hours or so we flew along the
first 12 hours or so we flew along the mainland of Japan going from saga up
mainland of Japan going from saga up
mainland of Japan going from saga up towards Tokyo and from the very
towards Tokyo and from the very
towards Tokyo and from the very beginning the bird’s-eye views with this
beginning the bird’s-eye views with this
beginning the bird’s-eye views with this aerial perch were absolutely stunning
aerial perch were absolutely stunning
aerial perch were absolutely stunning and absolutely amazing flight throughout
and absolutely amazing flight throughout
and absolutely amazing flight throughout by sunset we were passing actually by
by sunset we were passing actually by
by sunset we were passing actually by Mount Fuji and a few hours later we were
Mount Fuji and a few hours later we were
Mount Fuji and a few hours later we were 20,000 feet above the ground looking
20,000 feet above the ground looking
20,000 feet above the ground looking down on the lights of Tokyo as we left
down on the lights of Tokyo as we left
down on the lights of Tokyo as we left secured the security of land that night
secured the security of land that night
secured the security of land that night with North America thousands of miles
with North America thousands of miles
with North America thousands of miles downwind there was a sense of the
downwind there was a sense of the
downwind there was a sense of the daunting task that was in front of us
daunting task that was in front of us
daunting task that was in front of us because in a balloon the only way to
because in a balloon the only way to
because in a balloon the only way to travel is downwind so unlike a mountain
travel is downwind so unlike a mountain
travel is downwind so unlike a mountain climbing expedition that runs into bad
climbing expedition that runs into bad
climbing expedition that runs into bad weather there is no returning to base
weather there is no returning to base
weather there is no returning to base camp or waiting for the weather to
camp or waiting for the weather to
camp or waiting for the weather to improve we have one shot with no turning
improve we have one shot with no turning
improve we have one shot with no turning back and failure truly was not an option
back and failure truly was not an option
back and failure truly was not an option now we didn’t set out to conquer the
now we didn’t set out to conquer the
now we didn’t set out to conquer the Pacific by balloon we set out to work in
Pacific by balloon we set out to work in
Pacific by balloon we set out to work in harmony with Mother Nature hoping she
harmony with Mother Nature hoping she
harmony with Mother Nature hoping she would allow us to cross this massive
would allow us to cross this massive
would allow us to cross this massive expanse of beauty but as beautiful as it
expanse of beauty but as beautiful as it
expanse of beauty but as beautiful as it is it is also a hostile and unforgiving
is it is also a hostile and unforgiving
is it is also a hostile and unforgiving environment from our flight altitudes
environment from our flight altitudes
environment from our flight altitudes the required supplemental oxygen to the
the required supplemental oxygen to the
the required supplemental oxygen to the churning ocean below as a matter of fact
churning ocean below as a matter of fact
churning ocean below as a matter of fact our search and rescue specialists said
our search and rescue specialists said
our search and rescue specialists said that if we were to go down in the North
that if we were to go down in the North
that if we were to go down in the North Pacific it could potentially take days
Pacific it could potentially take days
Pacific it could potentially take days to get a ship to our last known position
to get a ship to our last known position
to get a ship to our last known position and even then it wouldn’t be finding a
and even then it wouldn’t be finding a
and even then it wouldn’t be finding a needle in a haystack it would be finding
needle in a haystack it would be finding
needle in a haystack it would be finding a needle in a field full of haystacks so
a needle in a field full of haystacks so
a needle in a field full of haystacks so this definitely put the dangers and
this definitely put the dangers and
this definitely put the dangers and possible consequences of our flight into
possible consequences of our flight into
possible consequences of our flight into perspective but as we continue to move
perspective but as we continue to move
perspective but as we continue to move eastward we weren’t guided by a blind
eastward we weren’t guided by a blind
eastward we weren’t guided by a blind faith we actually had a command center
faith we actually had a command center
faith we actually had a command center set up here in Albuquerque man 20
set up here in Albuquerque man 20
set up here in Albuquerque man 20 hours a day it was like a NASA mission
hours a day it was like a NASA mission
hours a day it was like a NASA mission so these guys are doing everything to
so these guys are doing everything to
so these guys are doing everything to give us all the information that we
give us all the information that we
give us all the information that we could possibly need with flight data and
could possibly need with flight data and
could possibly need with flight data and changes in the weather to help us get
changes in the weather to help us get
changes in the weather to help us get across so as we were propelled on this
across so as we were propelled on this
across so as we were propelled on this invisible conveyor of wind the trick was
invisible conveyor of wind the trick was
invisible conveyor of wind the trick was to move fast enough to not allow bad
to move fast enough to not allow bad
to move fast enough to not allow bad weather to catch us but to move slow
weather to catch us but to move slow
weather to catch us but to move slow enough to not catch bad weather in front
enough to not catch bad weather in front
enough to not catch bad weather in front of us and the window in between these
of us and the window in between these
of us and the window in between these two was very tiny it required a lot of
two was very tiny it required a lot of
two was very tiny it required a lot of precision flying at this point leonid
precision flying at this point leonid
precision flying at this point leonid and I were very far removed from the
and I were very far removed from the
and I were very far removed from the rest of the world but we quickly adapted
rest of the world but we quickly adapted
rest of the world but we quickly adapted to our new surroundings and actually
to our new surroundings and actually
to our new surroundings and actually began to form daily routines and one of
began to form daily routines and one of
began to form daily routines and one of our rituals was for every 10 degrees of
our rituals was for every 10 degrees of
our rituals was for every 10 degrees of longitude that we traveled we’d split a
longitude that we traveled we’d split a
longitude that we traveled we’d split a chocolate bar now to give you an idea on
chocolate bar now to give you an idea on
chocolate bar now to give you an idea on our track the pacific is about one-third
our track the pacific is about one-third
our track the pacific is about one-third the circumference of the earth or ten to
the circumference of the earth or ten to
the circumference of the earth or ten to twelve chocolate bars across so so so as
twelve chocolate bars across so so so as
twelve chocolate bars across so so so as our chocolate bar supply dwindled our
our chocolate bar supply dwindled our
our chocolate bar supply dwindled our success hopes our hopes success rose so
success hopes our hopes success rose so
success hopes our hopes success rose so it is hard to imagine how small you feel
it is hard to imagine how small you feel
it is hard to imagine how small you feel as day after day you know that you’re
as day after day you know that you’re
as day after day you know that you’re moving towards land but the horizon of
moving towards land but the horizon of
moving towards land but the horizon of water is seemingly endless in all
water is seemingly endless in all
water is seemingly endless in all directions the gps lets you know that
directions the gps lets you know that
directions the gps lets you know that you’re moving forward by the numbers but
you’re moving forward by the numbers but
you’re moving forward by the numbers but you don’t feel it because you’re part of
you don’t feel it because you’re part of
you don’t feel it because you’re part of the wind so hour after hour day after
the wind so hour after hour day after
the wind so hour after hour day after day as we were trekking forward across
day as we were trekking forward across
day as we were trekking forward across the pacific in a beautiful flight there
the pacific in a beautiful flight there
the pacific in a beautiful flight there was no engine to disrupt the silence and
was no engine to disrupt the silence and
was no engine to disrupt the silence and the solitude so if Heaven is standing on
the solitude so if Heaven is standing on
the solitude so if Heaven is standing on a cloud we had arrived as we peacefully
a cloud we had arrived as we peacefully
a cloud we had arrived as we peacefully floated along day after day eating a
floated along day after day eating a
floated along day after day eating a chocolate bar or two we are
chocolate bar or two we are
chocolate bar or two we are meteorologist was tasked with looking at
meteorologist was tasked with looking at
meteorologist was tasked with looking at the weather models updating his forecast
the weather models updating his forecast
the weather models updating his forecast and then relaying that information to us
and then relaying that information to us
and then relaying that information to us so his job was to develop a strategy to
so his job was to develop a strategy to
so his job was to develop a strategy to find the best winds to get us towards
find the best winds to get us towards
find the best winds to get us towards our target of getting across the ocean
our target of getting across the ocean
our target of getting across the ocean and a typical text from him might say
and a typical text from him might say
and a typical text from him might say something like for the
something like for the
something like for the next six hours you need to be at 16,000
next six hours you need to be at 16,000
next six hours you need to be at 16,000 feet in order to achieve being at this
feet in order to achieve being at this
feet in order to achieve being at this location later if not we’ll need to
location later if not we’ll need to
location later if not we’ll need to adjust your altitude so it was kind of
adjust your altitude so it was kind of
adjust your altitude so it was kind of like playing a game of three-dimensional
like playing a game of three-dimensional
like playing a game of three-dimensional chess with mother nature and as we went
chess with mother nature and as we went
chess with mother nature and as we went into our seventh day of flying it was
into our seventh day of flying it was
into our seventh day of flying it was her move and she began to stir it up a
her move and she began to stir it up a
her move and she began to stir it up a little bit here about that time
little bit here about that time
little bit here about that time relatively close to our position on the
relatively close to our position on the
relatively close to our position on the Baja Mexico in a small surfing village
Baja Mexico in a small surfing village
Baja Mexico in a small surfing village there was a tourist that blogged on his
there was a tourist that blogged on his
there was a tourist that blogged on his website that said the night before there
website that said the night before there
website that said the night before there had been a heavy rainstorm with a lot of
had been a heavy rainstorm with a lot of
had been a heavy rainstorm with a lot of thunder and lightning and he had
thunder and lightning and he had
thunder and lightning and he had nightmares through the night of the
nightmares through the night of the
nightmares through the night of the ocean rising and his RV actually
ocean rising and his RV actually
ocean rising and his RV actually floating away so now I’m sure it was a
floating away so now I’m sure it was a
floating away so now I’m sure it was a very unsettling night for him however as
very unsettling night for him however as
very unsettling night for him however as he was having a restless night sleeping
he was having a restless night sleeping
he was having a restless night sleeping i was watching the same intense storm
i was watching the same intense storm
i was watching the same intense storm from my vantage point north of the storm
from my vantage point north of the storm
from my vantage point north of the storm 18,000 feet above the Pacific dangling
18,000 feet above the Pacific dangling
18,000 feet above the Pacific dangling from a balloon now one of my worst fears
from a balloon now one of my worst fears
from a balloon now one of my worst fears is thunderstorms and here I was close
is thunderstorms and here I was close
is thunderstorms and here I was close enough to see the contour of every cloud
enough to see the contour of every cloud
enough to see the contour of every cloud when the Lightning illuminated the sky
when the Lightning illuminated the sky
when the Lightning illuminated the sky our target was the mexican baja and the
our target was the mexican baja and the
our target was the mexican baja and the target of the storm that we paralleled
target of the storm that we paralleled
target of the storm that we paralleled was the same it was like coincidentally
was the same it was like coincidentally
was the same it was like coincidentally running into your worst enemy in the
running into your worst enemy in the
running into your worst enemy in the checkout line
it’s a terrible situation and very
it’s a terrible situation and very uncomfortable you know it won’t last
uncomfortable you know it won’t last
uncomfortable you know it won’t last forever but still not not a fun deal to
forever but still not not a fun deal to
forever but still not not a fun deal to go through so fortunately through that
go through so fortunately through that
go through so fortunately through that night we never got close enough to the
night we never got close enough to the
night we never got close enough to the storm to create any wizard of oz flying
storm to create any wizard of oz flying
storm to create any wizard of oz flying house moments but it still was a very
house moments but it still was a very
house moments but it still was a very long stressful sleepless night but in
long stressful sleepless night but in
long stressful sleepless night but in the morning just before the daybreak the
the morning just before the daybreak the
the morning just before the daybreak the Sun the storm began to dissipate off in
Sun the storm began to dissipate off in
Sun the storm began to dissipate off in the distance so we began to valve off
the distance so we began to valve off
the distance so we began to valve off copious amounts of helium in order to
copious amounts of helium in order to
copious amounts of helium in order to decrease our lift and initiate our
decrease our lift and initiate our
decrease our lift and initiate our descent towards the Mexican coast line
descent towards the Mexican coast line
descent towards the Mexican coast line all the wetter weather models were
all the wetter weather models were
all the wetter weather models were indicating that we should be continuing
indicating that we should be continuing
indicating that we should be continuing in an easterly direction as we got lower
in an easterly direction as we got lower
in an easterly direction as we got lower however as we continue to drop lower and
however as we continue to drop lower and
however as we continue to drop lower and lower the winds began to shift 90
lower the winds began to shift 90
lower the winds began to shift 90 degrees to the south and actually
degrees to the south and actually
degrees to the south and actually paralleling us along the coast so we’re
paralleling us along the coast so we’re
paralleling us along the coast so we’re out a ballast we didn’t have the
out a ballast we didn’t have the
out a ballast we didn’t have the opportunity to be able to go to a higher
opportunity to be able to go to a higher
opportunity to be able to go to a higher altitude to correct for this but as we
altitude to correct for this but as we
altitude to correct for this but as we got lower we noticed that the sea was
got lower we noticed that the sea was
got lower we noticed that the sea was relatively calm and our capsule was
relatively calm and our capsule was
relatively calm and our capsule was built to float so we chose to make a
built to float so we chose to make a
built to float so we chose to make a water landing four miles off of the
water landing four miles off of the
water landing four miles off of the coast of Mexico now there is a reason
coast of Mexico now there is a reason
coast of Mexico now there is a reason that I’m a pilot and not a sailor
namely I have a strong propensity for
namely I have a strong propensity for seasickness so as we Bob drowned in the
seasickness so as we Bob drowned in the
seasickness so as we Bob drowned in the sea with our capsule on its side
sea with our capsule on its side
sea with our capsule on its side awaiting rescue I was turning pale paler
awaiting rescue I was turning pale paler
awaiting rescue I was turning pale paler and hand reliving my last few meals on
and hand reliving my last few meals on
and hand reliving my last few meals on board but thankfully not long after we
board but thankfully not long after we
board but thankfully not long after we had landed we were rescued by a group of
had landed we were rescued by a group of
had landed we were rescued by a group of very entertained Mexican fishermen they
very entertained Mexican fishermen they
very entertained Mexican fishermen they were looking for shrimp and instead they
were looking for shrimp and instead they
were looking for shrimp and instead they caught an American a Russian and a
caught an American a Russian and a
caught an American a Russian and a balloon so who’s going to believe their
balloon so who’s going to believe their
balloon so who’s going to believe their fishing story right well I was seasick
fishing story right well I was seasick
fishing story right well I was seasick sleep-deprived and seven days no showers
sleep-deprived and seven days no showers
sleep-deprived and seven days no showers smelly I was also the happiest I had
smelly I was also the happiest I had
smelly I was also the happiest I had ever been in my life our remarkable
ever been in my life our remarkable
ever been in my life our remarkable journey across the world’s largest body
journey across the world’s largest body
journey across the world’s largest body of water had taken us nearly sixty seven
of water had taken us nearly sixty seven
of water had taken us nearly sixty seven hundred miles in a hundred and sixty
hundred miles in a hundred and sixty
hundred miles in a hundred and sixty hours breaking the distance records and
hours breaking the distance records and
hours breaking the distance records and their duration records for gas balloons
now very few people can identify with a
now very few people can identify with a transoceanic balloon flight but we can
transoceanic balloon flight but we can
transoceanic balloon flight but we can all identify with fear and our flight
all identify with fear and our flight
all identify with fear and our flight incorporated some of the most widely
incorporated some of the most widely
incorporated some of the most widely held and obvious fears there are fear of
held and obvious fears there are fear of
held and obvious fears there are fear of death flying Heights lightning falling
death flying Heights lightning falling
death flying Heights lightning falling drowning the dark enclosed spaces the
drowning the dark enclosed spaces the
drowning the dark enclosed spaces the unknown failure and now public speaking
almost everyone can identify with one or
almost everyone can identify with one or many of the fears that we had to address
many of the fears that we had to address
many of the fears that we had to address however once we put aside the perceived
however once we put aside the perceived
however once we put aside the perceived dangers and figured out how to deal with
dangers and figured out how to deal with
dangers and figured out how to deal with the real dangers we knew we were ready
the real dangers we knew we were ready
the real dangers we knew we were ready for our adventure because you see fear
for our adventure because you see fear
for our adventure because you see fear can paralyze or prompt you it doesn’t
can paralyze or prompt you it doesn’t
can paralyze or prompt you it doesn’t decide you do and by a by taking a very
decide you do and by a by taking a very
decide you do and by a by taking a very calculated risk mitigating approach we
calculated risk mitigating approach we
calculated risk mitigating approach we actually had an enjoyable journey and a
actually had an enjoyable journey and a
actually had an enjoyable journey and a successful adventure now we all have
successful adventure now we all have
successful adventure now we all have personal and maybe professional bucket
personal and maybe professional bucket
personal and maybe professional bucket list of things that we hope to achieve
list of things that we hope to achieve
list of things that we hope to achieve and I hope that when you start checking
and I hope that when you start checking
and I hope that when you start checking off those bucket list items that you
off those bucket list items that you
off those bucket list items that you take the self proclaimed title of
take the self proclaimed title of
take the self proclaimed title of adventure use your fears to prompt
adventure use your fears to prompt
adventure use your fears to prompt action and enjoy the journey is not what
action and enjoy the journey is not what
action and enjoy the journey is not what life is all about
life is all about
life is all about [Applause]
”
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