We are back from our trip to the panda and moonbear centers in China as well as a wonderful warm side trip in Thailand and I have so much to tell I hardly know where to start.  If you have been following along on my blog at  http://graffitigossip.com you know all about the panda I chose for our next group  adoption via PANDAS INTERNATIONAL….a stunning (formerly) wild panda named Bai Xue

ABOVE: ME HAVING MY PHOTO TAKEN WITH “WU JUN” WHO IS TAI SHANS NEW NEIGHBOR

I chose Bai Xue for her unmistakable black “beauty mark” on her muzzle and her history of being a wild child, as she was the panda who disappeared from the panda center she was at for 5  years, then miraculously returned!!  Just one look at her Bifengxia clay dipped bum and you know this girl marches to the beat of a different drummer.  How endearing can one panda get….and to top it off she is a wonderful mommy at the age or 20 years it is estimated

ABOVE: A photo of our new adoption gal Bai Xue I took on February 8, 2010

SEE THE VIDEO BELOW OF BAI XUE I DID LAST WEEK HIGHLIGHTING THE PHOTOS AND VIDEO I TOOK OF HER  IN FEBRUARY

CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO YOUTUBE TO SEE THE VIDEO LARGER AND IN HIGH DEFINITION

I have so much to tell you about all the pandas, moonbears and elephants we met along the way,  but this update is  for our beautiful Bai Xue, who is asking  for your help in completing this group adoption, as we still need 250.00 of the 500.00 required by Pandas International to finalize the sponsorship of our girl

OUR ADOPTION DEN INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS SO FAR:

Eunice Messer    Wendy Bouzid         David Keen         Bonnie Young       Diana Hillygus

Lori  Love        Lois Dubs                        Patricia Markby                 Stephanie Smith

Above: another  photo taken on our visit in February 2010

I decided to extend the deadline until APRIL 1, 2010 and you may easily pay 25.00 or more for your adoption pledge via Paypal or a check or money order

For Paypal, use the CHIPIN widget in the right hand column on the PANDARAZZI BLOG….CLICK HERE

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OR SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER MADE OUT TO PANDAS INTERNATIONAL TO:

Sandra Miller

818 SW 3rd Ave #226

Portland , OR.   97204

WHERE DOES MY ADOPTION MONEY GO??????  CLICK HERE FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION

ABOVE: Bai Xue and one of her 2008 cubs.  Photo by Pandas International

Regardless of how you choose to pay, each of the contributors will be receiving a downloadable panda artwork I designed just for our group with a value of 45.00.  You may print this artwork as cards or a make a framed print for your own use ,as a thank you from me for your generosity and caring .

This very special panda art design  will not be sold anywhere at any time, so it will be a collectors item.  I will reveal the design  as soon as our adoption is finalized.

ABOVE: PHOTO BY PANDAS INTERNATIONAL OF ONE OF BAI XUES 2008 CUBS

ABOVE: 2008 CUB OF BAI XUE…PANDAS INTERNATIONAL PHOTO

ABOVE: 2008 BAI XUE CUBBIE…PHOTO COURTESY PANDAS INTERNATIONAL

Thank you all so very much for your  support of the group adoptions at PANDARAZZI. My dream is to  continue to be able to provide a way to help others be a part of these unique adoptions  of the China pandas by making then affordable for all who wish to participate.   A 500.00 adoption can be out of reach for many caring panda people who would love to be involved. Being part of the “adoption den” you really see your donation dollars in action!!

By providing a platform at PANDARAZZI where we all can shake down our piggy banks and pool our resources  as a team , we all benefit from one anothers involvement in in turn help each panda we sponsor with plentiful bamboo, medications, round the clock TLC by the nannies and keepers.  Not to mention the AWESOME updates and photos which Carrie and the Bifengxia photographers provide us during the course of the year!!j

BAI XUE SENDS HER PANDA LUV AND THANKS YOU ..XIE XIE !!!!!!

Hugs, Sandra Miller

http://pandarazzi.com

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As if being a part of our amazing journey as an armchair tourist isn’t adventure enough……think what a lasting memory you can give to yourself or a loved one for Valentines Day or Chinese New Year by being a part of our YIN YANG TOUR GROUP PANDA ADOPTION !!

In cooperation with PANDAS INTERNATIONAL and Bifengxia Panda Base in China, and our incredible adoption coordinator Carrie Phillips, I am proud to offer this exciting opportunity to a very special group of individuals (thats you guys…my blog readers!)

We will SHARE in the one year adoption of not only a panda………but a panda you will be meeting on our visit to Bifengxia on February 8, 2010 (7th China time) via this blog. What a perfect way to help this endangered species and be a part of a $500.00 adoption that can be out of reach for many in this economy..AND you are getting a bonus virtual vacation to China and Thailand to boot!!!

Each person donating a minimum of $25.00 USD will receive an adoption certificate from Pandas International and be listed on my website under the adoptions tab at PANDARAZZI MAGAZINE

As she always does, Carrie will be sending us updates as she gets them from the Bifengxia Panda Base

OUR DEADLINE FOR RAISING $500.00 IS MARCH 1, 2010

In the event we go over 500.00 we will apply that towards the same pandas care.

PANDAS INTERNATIONAL PHOTO

DONATE 25.00 OR MORE VIA PAYPAL ANY WHERE YOU SEE THIS CHIPIN WIDGET ON MY BLOG..FUNDS GO DIRECTLY TO PANDAS INTERNATIONAL AND ARE TAX DEDUCTABLE .

NON PAYPAL USERS CAN SEND YOUR CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO ME BY MARCH 1. 2010

Please make your check out to PANDAS INTERNATIONAL

Send to: Sandra Miller

818 SW 3rd Ave #226

Portland, Oregon, 97204

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY SUPPORT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS EXCITING PROJECT.

PARTICIPATION IN THIS GROUP ADOPTION IS NOT AT ALL REQUIRED TO ENJOY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAVELBLOGUE. THIS IS JUST A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE WANTING AN EXTRA SPECIAL “MEMENTO” OF THEIR VIRTUAL CHINA TRIP

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CLICK HERE TO GO TO GRAFFITI GOSSIP TO SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

If you are not sure you are  subscribed, simply enter your email address in the upper right column and click to “subscribe”.  The system will tell you if you are already a subscriber OR will send you an email to verify your subscription if you are a new subscriber

ALSO..TAKE NOTE OF THE NEW QUICK REFERENCE WIDGET HERE  AT PANDARAZZI AT THE TOP OF  THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN .  YOU HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE AUDIO , VIDEO AND TRAVEL BLOG POSTS FROM ONE CONVENIENT LOCATION.

ITS ALWAYS BEST TO SIGN UP AT GRAFFITIGOSSIP.COM IF YOU WOULD LIKE EMAIL UPDATES FROM THE ANIMAL CENTERS BUT THE WIDGET HERE IS HANDY TOO.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS

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ABOVE IS XIAO HUA ..THE WOOD TRIBE CUB (CHINESE GIVEN NAME IS “YOU YOU”)

After a call to renew our Adoption tribe cubs from Carrie at Pandas International, I put out the word and we were able to collect 510.00 from the various adoptees in all 4 tribes to renew one of the cubbies!! In this economy and especially  over the holidays , I was THRILLED to say the least that we were able to collect enough for even ONE!!

Thank you so much for your quick response  my friends!!  The cub I chose to renew was the Wood Tribe cub based on thinking she was still going to stay at Bifengxia while I am visiting China…but lo and behold the entire LOT of Bifengxia cubs…10 of them have been chosen to go to Shanghai for the World Expo.  They recently arrived at their new home and are doing great!! See the video and info below.  ALL 4 of your cubs are in Shanghai

AND STAY TUNED TO GRAFFITIGOSSIP.COM

for tons of info coming up about my upcoming China /Thailand Journey in Early February!!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO CARRIE AND TOBI AT PANDAS INTERNATIONAL for all your work on these group adoptions.

ANOTHER FANTASTIC NEWS REPORT ON THE BABIES IS HERE WITH  XIAO HUA IN HERE SOMEWHERE

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SECOND VIDEO

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ABOVE IS MY FIRST EBAY ITEM DEDICATED TO THE PANDAS…CLICK PHOTO TO SEE MORE

Hello panda friends!! I am pleased to announce my newest venture using Ebay to spread the word about Pandas and the wonderful work PANDAS INTERNATIONAL  is doing to protect and educate the public about this precious endangered species!!

Every time you see this banner at the top of any of my EBAY AUCTIONS OR BUY IT NOW ITEMS  (or see the little gold and blue ribbon in the search listings by the title of the item) I will be donating the specified percentage of that sale or auction to PANDAS INTERNATIONAL via the Ebay Giving Works charitible listing program.

Ebay sends my donations to the charities directly through Mission Fish which certainly helps with the bookeeping!  Yippie! That translates to  a lot more time for artwork!!!

Some auctions and Buy it Now items I will donate 10% ( reminding myself I need to eat too..lol) and other items I will be able to offer up to 100% of the sale to this incredible charity.  Again , the amount I am donating will be listed right on that Pandas International banner on the auction listing.

And dont forget about this beauty on Ebay right now!! She closes in a few short hours!!  I will be putting 10% towards the PI donations as well but it will be paid directly at the end of the year as part of my larger donation to PI

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AUCTION WHICH CLOSES

(Nov 19, 200917:00:25 PST)

CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS BATIK CHOW PUPPY PRINT ON EBAY AS A “BUY IT NOW”

And keep in mind that not all items going towards Endangered Species are Panda items.  This particular  Chow print is also part of my donation program with many more items to come in the weeks ahead!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR DEAR PANDAS

AND PANDAS INTERNATIONAL!!

2008 ADOPTION TRIBE MEMBERS….LOOK FOR AN EMAIL THIS WEEK ABOUT OUR CUBBIES

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MING BOUQUET sling shoulder bag

I spoke with Suzanne  at Pandas International last week and we had a nice talk.  After I got off the phone it occured to me I really need to start putting aside money again for the pandas, and the most urgent need right now is still for bamboo bucks to get those groves replanted for the wild pandas.  Without adequate bamboo supply the few wild pandas left  will have tough go of it!!!

FROM THE PANDAS INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE

Pandas International has been asked by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) to spearhead a drive to replant the bamboo destroyed by the earthquake. The planting and harvesting will be done by local farmers who will benefit economically from the project. A recent study by the Chinese Academy of Science has found through the use of satellite images that in the specific area studied, 354 square kilometers, 23% of the panda’s habitat was “converted to bare land.” Lead author, Weihua Xu, also believes that “about 60% of the Giant Panda population was affected to some extent.”

The CCRCGP scientists, with the aid of transferred, experienced Wolong farmers, will begin growing, transplanting, and caring for thousands of bamboo seedlings throughout areas near Gengda Town.  As the three species of bamboo mature and spread, both wild and captive Pandas will again have plentiful nourishment. The cost to replant on acre of bamboo is approximately $ 4,500.00 USD.

LADY CUB AND LADYBUG long handle bucket bag

Realizing how tight most of our budgets are right now, I know it’s hard to send in cash to charities unless there is truly some extra left over at the end of the month.  With the holidays coming I was trying to figure out the best way to give a little without  breaking the bank myself.

BOO BABY long handle bucket bag

I’m saving for my trip to Chengdu in February and need to put aside every spare bit, but I know I can manage to donate  a bit of my income from panda art sales over this holiday gift buying season.  If you all are looking for some special and unique items  to give your panda loving friends, please consider a gift that does double duty.

MING BOUQUET long handle bucket bag

I am DONATINGg $5.00 from each of my new designer  panda handbags which I am offering on my website,  from now until Chinese New Year  2010…THE YEAR OF THE TIGER (which falls on Valentines day as well)  My friend Gayle and I will be in Chengdu at that time  to visit all our cubbies at Biefengxia as well as the moonbears at AAF!!!  In some cases I may even be able to throw in a few extra bamboo bucks and will add that to the tally

CUBBIE BLISS long handle bucket bag

Many of the above panda designs are selling very fast and some only have one or 2 left in the edition .  I just introduced them last week and want to thank you all for the wonderful feedback and reception to this new designer handbag endeavor of mine.  I hope those of you who purchased your bags get years and years of enjoyment and compliments from them.  I have already put aside my donation from your purchased bags to go to PI at the end of the year.

I’ll be posting a tally up here soon so we can all keep track of the Bamboo Bucks together!!!

MING BOUQUET convertible backpack

BOO BABY womens leather wallet

LADYCUB AND LADYBUG womens leather wallet

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CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO READ MORE ABOUT SUZANNES NOMINATION

We all know who she is…we all adore her passion and committment to the pandas…..now we need to put our love for Suzanne Braden and the incredible work she does via PANDAS INTERNATIONAL on priority level TODAY!!!

ANIMAL PLANET has chosen Suzanne Braden as one of 10 nominess for ANIMAL PLANET HERO OF THE YEAR!!!  This translates to one of the highest honors possible for those working in animal welfare and charity work, as well as a $10,000.00 prize !!!

Please help us win this award for Suzanne by voting today at the Animal Planet site!!

THE VOTE STARTS TODAY!!!

TODAY TODAY… TODAY!!!

CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE VOTING PAGE

“The People’s Choice voting will begin at 12:01 AM ET September 14, 2009 and will end at 11:59 PM ET September 27, 2009. Limit one vote per person/email address per day.” Just wanted to let you know that voting lasts past today and you can vote often, but only once per day.

Thank you all so much for your help and cross your fingers she wins!!!!  Congratulations Suzanne on this incredible honor!!

From all of us at  http://pandarazzi.com

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Hello my friends. Wow has the Panda Club in China and Carrie at Pandas International been busy bringing us updates.  Here they ALL are in one place for your panda “oooooooohing and ahhhhhhhing ” pleasure!!!

The FIRE TRIBE cubbie will be in a separate update

The cubs have all had their official naming ceremonies and now have their names besides our nicknames we chose s you will see above each set of pix

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BELOW…..WATER TRIBE…Jing Shui’s official name is now YUN YUN

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Yun Yun- Ying Ying’s cub: This baby is one of the heaviest weight in 13 same age pandas. She likes climbing the railings, she is good at climb on the railings or playing on wooden stand . Weight is 20kg in March.  She foods milk 900g every day . Her birth weight was 173.5g.

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BELOW…..ETERNITY TRIBE…Yong Xin’s official name is now WU YANG

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update on Yong Xin (Cao Cao’s cub) and information on your cub’s official name (Wu Yang) and naming ceremony. It’s very interesting.  A picture of the 2008 cub family is attached- adorable! Also, I sent a picture of your cub Yong Xin with An An (the second twin of Guo Guo adopted and named by Mr. Huang Xiaoming of China).

Wu Yang- Cao Cao’s cub: The cub doesn’t likes sport but likes sleep on wooden stand. His keeper care for him painstakingly when he was weaned to study drinking milk through bowl. First, it take 12 days to drink milk through feeding bottle; then it take 12 days to drink milk through bowl. Weight is 16kg in March. He  foods milk 900g every day. Weight is 20kg in May.

Wu Yang: Male, born at 7:29 a.m. on 6th August, 2008.His birth weight was 206.7g. He was the first baby of his mother, Cao Cao. Although Wu Yang was Cao Cao’s first cub, Cao Cao did a great job taking care of Wu Yang. “Thanks Ceremony” (Guangzhou station, Guangdong province) named him Wu Yang. In folk tale, the City of Guangzhou was the City of the Five Sheeps, which in Chinese was called “Wu Yang”. It means that the people of Guangzhou wished the baby to grow up healthily and his life to be wonderful.

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BELOW…..METAL AND WOOD TRIBES…INFO ON YOUR CUBBIES GENDER FROM CARRIE

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Hi Sandra,

I emailed the Panda Club because I was confused about the gender of Long Xin’s twins. The initial information I received after the cubs were born said the first born was a female. But I recently received the official names of the 2008 cubs and it says the first born is a male. As you know, it is hard to tell the gender of pandas because the “parts” are very small. In fact, I just went through a similar situation with a panda we thought was a male but “he” turned out to be a girl!

I want to make sure you know about this information. Below is the email I received yesterday on the twin’s gender. I’ll send updates on your babies in another email. (NOTE FROM SANDRA….I didn’t attach email from Panda center as it is a bit confusing but I trust Carrie and the Panda Center on this one..lol)

THE OFFICIAL NAMES OF YOUR TWINS

JIN XIN IS OUR METAL  TRIBE NICKNAME

You You: (the elder brother of the twins given birth by Long Xin in 2008) Male, was born at 2:55 a.m. on 21st July, 2008. His birth weight was 129g. He was named after the “Thanks Ceremony” of Chengdu city of Sichuan. Carrefour Corporation in Chengdu adopted her and named her “YouYou”, which means that the God blesses Sichuan, meanwhile this name showed their wish of Sichuan becoming better and better in the future

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XIAO HUA IS OUR WOOD TRIBE NICKNAME

Han Yuan: (the younger sister of the twins given birth by Long Xin in 2008) Female, was born at 4:17 a.m. on 21st July, 2008. Her birth weight was 111.4g. She was named after the “Thanks Ceremony” in Wuhan city. It implied the Wuhan City’s support of the stricken area of Hanyuan county.

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BELOW…..WOOD  TRIBE…XIAO HUA’s official name is now YOU YOU

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You You- Long Xin’s 1st cub 2008:  The cub very likes sport, he always wish to play with keepers. Weight is 17kg in March. He foods milk 900g every day. Weight is 21kg in May.

BELOW…both the WOOD and METAL tribe twins together!! ToTAL cuteness!!

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BELOW…..METAL  TRIBE…JIN XIN’s official name is now HAN YUAN

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Han Yuan- Long Xin’s 2nd cub 2008:  The cub very likes sport too, she always wish to play with keepers or other panda babies. Weight is 17kg in March, It foods milk 900g every day. Weight is 21kg in May.

Han Yuan: (the younger sister of the twins given birth by Long Xin in 2008) Female, was born at 4:17 a.m. on 21st July, 2008. Her birth weight was 111.4g. She was named after the “Thanks Ceremony” in Wuhan city. It implied the Wuhan City’s support of the stricken area of Hanyuan county.

Thank you so very much Carrie , Pandas International and the Panda Club in Biefengxia for all these wonderful updates and stunning photographs.  I did some adjusting of exposure to bring out details better . Some were a bit dark but turned out great.  OMG this is the biggest cuteness overload we have had so far!!! Thank you one and all for your participation in these 5 adoption projects.

As soon as I return from Egypt this fall I will start another adoption if anyone is interested in hopping on board.  If you commit now (only 10 spots available) , you don’t need to pay the 50.00 until October 2009 OR we can do a few installments to make things easier on the wallet!

I will update each cub’s DIARY this week as well

Hugs……Sandra

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Hello everyone!! Pandarazzi site has been down all day and I have been itching to show you all these pix of the Jing Shui!!   I’ll post them on the blog when my server decides it’s time…but for now, you can see her updated page here …they are the last 3 photos on the slideshow and some new text just below that too.

CLICK HERE TO SEE JING SHUI’S ADOPTION PAGE

Also don’t forget that PANDAS INTERNATIONAL is having their Mothers Day Ebay auction in progress.  You dont’ want to miss all the wonderful panda goodies up for bid, including a “one of a kind” stretched canvas I created which will be the 2010 Pandas International anniversary design for their shirts and panda ware. !!!

The starting bid is only 1/5 of the gallery price of this ready to hang canvas over a stretcher frame and a stunning piece of unique panda art!!!  This is a one of a kind replica of the original.  NO OTHERS WILL BE MADE.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE AUCTIONS

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DONT FORGET THE DRAWING FOR THE CUSTOM JEWELRY IS TONITE AT THE BAMBOO TEAHOUSE

To get your name thrown into the hat you must be a Bamboo Teahouse Member…add your profile photo please

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Now a little teaser…… get those cameras out and start shooting wildlife (with the camera of course..lol).  I am in the midst of organizing an International photo contest which is going to be HOT STUFF!!!!  It is going to take a number of weeks to coordinate with my incredible helpers Elise and Camila…….but the muses are with us and this is going to be so incredible and far reaching! More to come soon!

If anyone here has connections with a corporation (assosicated with wildlife/ecology) or a National camera store chain who might be interested in sponsoring this event please contact me. Yep…it’s THAT BIG of a contest!!!!

And the  PANDA JEWELRY IS BACK!!!  I will have some pieces ready for purchase next week and will announce it here.  A portion of the purchase price on all panda designs goes back in to the PROJECT PANDA fund which goes eventually to our projects with PANDAS INTERNATIONAL.

HAVE A PANTASTIC WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!!

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CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO READ MUCH MORE

Boy did Pandas International come through for the FIRE TRIBE adoptees!!!! Below is from Carrie

SEE YAN YAN’S UPDATED ADOPTION PAGE HERE

I received word from the Panda Club that Fei Fei’s cub was given an official name! His name is Ao Yun. So in my correspondence with you I will now refer to him as Ao Yun.

Attached are very cute pictures of your boy as well as an update that I received on Sunday. I’m not sure what some of the update means, but I just left it as originally received. Enjoy!!

Ao Yun (Fei Fei’s cub): The cub strong personality. He was dependent on the mother before weaning. He always high alert. His voice will be issued when he was disturbed. Weight is 16kg in March. He drinks 900g milk every day.

Please email me with any questions and please thank your Fire Tribe for their support!

Carrie

If you like getting these photos and don’t want to  miss out on the next cub adoption….there is still time to join in as we only have THREE SPOTS LEFT!!!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PREVIOUS POST AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE NEXT ADOPTION!!!

Thank you so much Suzanne and Carrie from

t

…for all you do!!!!

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