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the leaves will fall
Sophomore Cadet
Joined: 25 Aug 2005
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 Thu Aug 25, 2005 3:47 pm Gas Prices. :o |
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An interesting article I found today:
| Quote: | Updated: 11:48 AM EDT
Is President Bush America's Biggest Gas Guzzler?
By JENNIFER LOVEN, AP
WASHINGTON (Aug. 24) - Getting President Bush from here to there consumes an enormous amount of fuel, whether he's aboard Air Force One, riding in a helicopter or on the ground in a heavily armored limousine. The bill gets steeper every day as the White House is rocked by the same energy prices as regular drivers. Taxpayers still foot the bill.
Almost every vehicle Bush uses is custom-made to add security and communications capabilities, and the heavier weight of these guzzlers further drives up gas and jet fuel costs.
The White House declines to discuss travel costs related to the presidential entourage, and did not respond to a request for the overall effect of higher fuel prices on its budget.
It is not Bush's choice to be ferried around in a less than fuel-efficient manner. Those arrangements are dictated by tradition and the Secret Service, whose mission is to protect him.
But Bush is one of the nation's most-traveled presidents.
He has visited 46 countries, some of them several times, during his presidency. He has been to all states except Vermont and Rhode Island.
So far this year, he has made 73 domestic and foreign trips, including crisscrossing the country on a 60-day, 60-city tour to promote his Social Security plan. He was on the road Wednesday, speaking to a military audience in Idaho, before returning to his Texas ranch to resume his summer vacation.
About the only vehicle Bush has much say in is the 2001 white Ford F250 pickup he keeps on his ranch. At the nationwide gasoline average of $2.61 a gallon, it would cost at least $75 to fill the Ford's tank. The 1999 four-wheel-drive model gets 13 miles per gallon in the city, 17 on the highway, according to an Energy Department Web site, http://www.fueleconomy.gov.
But much as he seems to relish any chance to get behind the wheel, Bush actually drives the pickup very little, confined as he is to only occasional visits to his ranch and to remaining on its 1,600 acres when he's driving himself.
Elsewhere, whether in Washington, Des Moines or Tbilisi, Bush is driven in a large motorcade. The typical presidential caravan has well over a dozen vehicles, including Bush's limousine and an identical limo put in as a decoy.
The motorcade generally doesn't cruise placidly at fuel-efficient speeds, but rather hurries along its route as fast as possible. It also often idles outside while Bush is at an event, burning up fuel but ready to depart at a moment's notice.
The president's limos alone consume lots of gas.
Starting with his inaugural in January, Bush began tooling around in new 2006 Cadillac DTS limos.
The full-sized luxury sedan version, available to the general public, has an 18-gallon tank that would cost about $47 to fill at that $2.61-a-gallon rate. (White House vehicles are fueled at a special, dedicated facility and the price paid per gallon there is not released.) Cadillac spokesman Kevin Smith said the Cadillac DTS sedan gets 18 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway.
The vehicle Bush uses is a much different animal - with different gas mileage. An outside company customizes the DTS for presidential use by "stretching'' it to limo length, adding bulletproof glass, heavy armor and other bells and whistles - all making it significantly heavier and less fuel-efficient, Smith said.
The same thing for the Chevrolet Suburbans that are sometimes used as limo substitutes. The mass-marketed 2005 K1500 Suburban would cost nearly $81 to fill up with its large 31-gallon tank. It gets 15 mpg in the city, 19 on the highway, according to http://www.fueleconomy.gov. But it's not clear exactly which trim model of Suburban Bush uses, and his are custom-fitted with extra gear that would reduce the gas mileage.
In the air, Bush most often flies on a Boeing 747-200B laden with, among other things, an anti-missile system. Like gas for cars, fuel costs for the largest plane in the Air Force One fleet have gone up dramatically - from $3,974 an hour in fiscal 2004 to $6,029 per hour now, according to the Air Force.
John Armbrust, publisher of Jet Fuel Report, said Air Force One is no different from its commercial counterparts in that respect.
"It's an expensive proposition to fly these planes, whether its Air Force One or a regular 747,'' he said.
Reducing his appearances outside the White House and making other gestures toward fuel conservation could help cut down on costs.
But some suggest that could do more harm for national morale and Bush's image than good for the financial bottom line.
Remember Jimmy Carter donning a sweater and asking Americans facing an energy crisis to turn down their thermostats? Or giving the speech about the nation's "crisis of confidence'' that led to his permanent association with "malaise?'' Carter's critics turned both utterances into emblems that contributed to his political undoing.
08/24/05 21:24 EDT
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. |
I say good for the Pesident! It's quite an accomplishment for one not to have to worry about waste. I'm so happy that his jet burns only 6K per hour.. 10 would be much worse. He could probably get it down to about $5,000 if they would hurry up already and destroy the alaskan tundra. I just have to say; President Bush, you are my idol! 
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Thu Aug 25, 2005 3:57 pm |
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Moved to: World News. Also, please tell us the source and I added quotes (both part of World News rules).
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:08 pm |
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Yeah, I read this and saw it for the *beep* it was. How quickly we forget Clinton sitting on the tarmac, with the plane running, getting a hair cut. Stopping all air traffic out of LAX. Bush has done nothing like this. And if you bothered to learn, visiting states a lot is a normal thing for presidents to do. People complain about how long Bush has been in Texas. Normally a president goes on vacation 6-7 times a year, making multiple trips. He's extending his time, and making fewer trips, therefore using less fuel. Wow. It's amazing what happens when you think.
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Jeff Miller
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Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:42 pm |
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I find it funny that the only president that everyone can pick before bush is clinton there are other presidents out there. I find it funny that Clinton went through my town and I'm still waiting for Bush.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:04 pm |
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You find it funny that people only go back to Clinton, yet that's what you yourself did, 
And they go back to Clinton, because, well, note the age range of the people on this board...
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:40 pm |
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I think that the "powers that be" have come up with a solution for the Social Security problem - higher gas prices.
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Cathexis
The Angel of Avalon
Joined: 26 Dec 2001
Posts: 5901
Location: ~~ Where Dreams Have No End�
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| Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:57 am |
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This is such bull...and I hate how Bush said "The American people are just going to have to wait..." Wait for what...him to pull his head out of his rear end??? It's not right that we should have to wait on his stupidness..I'm sorry, but this gas thing is ridiculous...$4 all of 2006??? Come ON! The American people can't AFFORD to freakin' WAIT! If he was a normal, everyday man, he'd be just as pissed as I am.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:23 am |
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Instead of bitching, why don't you do something about it? It's been done before.
There has been an email going around for awhile now to only purchase gas on Monday's, because the gas companies will feel the effect of lost sales.
I work for Exxon. Do you know what their profit was last quarter? 40 billion dollars. That is clear profit.
So, stop sitting around, complaining, and do something. Or shut up.
But most of all, and I find this humorous that he can be blamed for when things go wrong, but it's a fluke and he gets no credit if things go right, stop blaming the president. He's a president, not all powerful.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
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Location: Classified
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| Fri Aug 26, 2005 4:28 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | Instead of *beep*, why don't you do something about it? It's been done before.
There has been an email going around for awhile now to only purchase gas on Monday's, because the gas companies will feel the effect of lost sales.
I work for Exxon. Do you know what their profit was last quarter? 40 billion dollars. That is clear profit.
So, stop sitting around, complaining, and do something. Or shut up.
But most of all, and I find this humorous that he can be blamed for when things go wrong, but it's a fluke and he gets no credit if things go right, stop blaming the president. He's a president, not all powerful. |
Very well, put, and so true (for once in a long while  )
So essentially what you're saying, Cathexis, is that Bush has the power to snap his fingers and make businesses change? Sure, whatever. If the belief that the President has so much power can help you sleep at night, then think that 
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LightningBoy
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Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
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| Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:27 pm |
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| Cathexis wrote: | | This is such bull...and I hate how Bush said "The American people are just going to have to wait..." Wait for what...him to pull his head out of his rear end??? It's not right that we should have to wait on his stupidness..I'm sorry, but this gas thing is ridiculous...$4 all of 2006??? Come ON! The American people can't AFFORD to freakin' WAIT! If he was a normal, everyday man, he'd be just as pissed as I am. |
So, you're president, what do you do? (and no, the president doesn't get a magic "lower gas prices" wand)
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Link, the Hero of Time
Vice Admiral
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Location: Kokori Forest, Hyrule
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| Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:14 pm |
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Quick thing on Gas prices. The entire US uses AT LEAST 22 Million barrels of oil A DAY. If each Barrel of oil costs $65, then we spend at least $1.3 BILLION in oil to be refined every single day.
$1.3 billion a day, and that's before mark-up by gas companies. Kind of puts things in perspective when you think about it.
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Lord Borg
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Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:54 pm |
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^ IT does, but its greed that makes the prices so high
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Cathexis
The Angel of Avalon
Joined: 26 Dec 2001
Posts: 5901
Location: ~~ Where Dreams Have No End�
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| Sat Aug 27, 2005 1:30 am |
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Thanks T for your input on my comment. As a matter of fact, I have done something about it.
I appreciate your response! And, believe me, I have said some very nice things about the President in the past. I respect what he's trying to do in Iraq, and you are all right about greed being to blame. I'm not blaming him for the gas itself being so highly priced...I am upset that he said what he did on the news a week or more ago. I think it was quite apathetic of him. I apologize if I offended anyone here. I am happy about the developments overseas...I am. Bush has done a great job...but I just went back to read about his No Child Left Behind Act....and everytime I get all happy about him, I find out something else that just takes me two steps back about his presidency.
And no I don't expect that he has a magic wand or anything..but he has more power to inaugurate change then some people realize. There's no reason to beat me up over it. I feel I have a right to be upset about this. Some people DON'T work for Exxon...or reel in $4000 or more dollars a month....some people live on a budget and I feel like we're being left behind to get out and push our cars to work. And I have an awesome little gas saver...she's great..but it's still costly. I remember when we were all complaining that $2 was too expensive lol.
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PrankishSmart
Rear Admiral
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
Posts: 4779
Location: Hobart, Australia.
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| Sat Aug 27, 2005 9:10 am |
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I did a little conversion. In Australia right now were paying equivalent to US $3.65 per gallon.
I don't know what you guys are complaining about.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:20 am |
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I wish I was one of those who didn't live on a budget. Really, I am.
And it's an issue, Ben, because less than two years ago, it was more than half the price it is now, and because we have a lot of oil right here, and we have the means to build the refineries, even still have some all ready to go, just not allowed to be opened. So mainly, we're upset because there is no reason for it. The media keeps blaming OPEC... That really has nothing to do with us.
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LightningBoy
Commodore
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
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| Sat Aug 27, 2005 1:13 pm |
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| PrankishSmart wrote: | I did a little conversion. In Australia right now were paying equivalent to US $3.65 per gallon.
I don't know what you guys are complaining about. |
We should all be complaining.
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:59 pm |
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There is a really high petrol price here, but I think it's about 80p of every poun that is made from the sales of petrol is tax. That is a HUGE amount. If it was reduced then it would be a huge lose to the government, so it's a tricky situation.
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Cathexis
The Angel of Avalon
Joined: 26 Dec 2001
Posts: 5901
Location: ~~ Where Dreams Have No End�
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| Sun Aug 28, 2005 2:07 am |
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I just hope it doesn't get much higher than it is right now...it's scary!
And again, I apologize if I offended anyone earlier . It's mostly just outrage that I haven't been able to express until now...and I feel a lot better after joining a petition to lower these prices...and if Bush doesn't have a lot of power, than how am I expected to be able to anything about it? He's the President...I'm just the civilian lol.
Well, back to the main point...$3.65 is just as ridiculous..it's a REAL problem. That's why a lot of dealerships are trying having issues selling their gas-guzzling trucks...no one wants to pay US$80 to fill up 3/4 of their tank only to have it make them through about four days, esp. when they have to commute to work. Although...that's why we just got this nice car that gets about...30miles to a gallon. $$$ saver!
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Sun Aug 28, 2005 2:19 am |
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I honestly don't see how the US government could lower oil prices, unless by paying a certain percentage of the price for every gallon of US oil. Which would of course be a huge expence that isn't all that rational.
-------signature-------
"Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."
-Wuthering Heights
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PrankishSmart
Rear Admiral
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
Posts: 4779
Location: Hobart, Australia.
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| Sun Aug 28, 2005 9:33 am |
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I'm going to convert my car to LPG. I will be laughing while driving along past all the servos with their rip off petrol.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Sun Aug 28, 2005 3:52 pm |
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It isn't even the government charging you so much, it's the companies themselves. I know that CN Brown, (Exxon/Mobil) will raise their prices five or six times on the same delivery.
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tycoon64
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Posts: 1128
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| Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:30 am |
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This is were an alternative fuel needs to be brought in. Gas is costing us alot and there will be no end to the rise. Not after the threats that came out of Iran- If we try to do anything about there Nuclear Program we will pay a higher price on gas. See we depend on the middle east way too much. Now it has come back to haunt us. The only people that really seem to be trying to help this country with the gas problem is car companies. Honda has given a fleet of there new expermental Hydrogen powered cars. It does cost a pretty penny, roughly the same we pay right now but if this works and these hydrogen cars and stations to fill them up are spread out and more available then the price will go down. Then that does not give any country a way to blackmail us. We have become way too dependent on other countries to survive. That will our own undoing. There was a show on Television called Oil Storm- It refered to the gas problems that this country had and what would happen if the middle east cut of our supply of crude oil. Very good Hollywood.
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Starbuck
faster...
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 8715
Location: between chaos and melody
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| Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:49 am |
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Gas prices are outrageous. It was $2.93 yesterday for unleaded when I filled the tank yesterday. The only problem is... what I am currently driving doesn't use unleaded gas. So from the other side of the argument, I really don't see what ya'll are complaining about paying $2.93 for gas. I would rejoice to pay $2.93 to fill my tank.
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Lord Borg
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Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:33 pm |
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^ Hurrican Katrina is causing some of the price raises in the last couple of days. Some areas in the mid west are running out/are out
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Wed Aug 31, 2005 3:52 pm |
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| Starbuck wrote: | | Gas prices are outrageous. It was $2.93 yesterday for unleaded when I filled the tank yesterday. The only problem is... what I am currently driving doesn't use unleaded gas. So from the other side of the argument, I really don't see what ya'll are complaining about paying $2.93 for gas. I would rejoice to pay $2.93 to fill my tank. |
The only vehicles that are unable to use unleaded gas are diesel... Besides, thought you were only in drivers ed? Or a permit, whatever.
This is another case where it's clear you're talking out your ass, so, w/e.
CN Brown has jumped their prices .37 in the past two days. They are blaming the hurricane... We get our gas from NJ...
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