Improbable Game Show Wins
May 15th, 2017 at 12:07:39 PM
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https://youtu.be/bcLfDM_Frq4
As a kid, this was simply shocking. Who would think super-villains had a soft side?
As a kid, this was simply shocking. Who would think super-villains had a soft side?
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
May 15th, 2017 at 2:03:30 PM
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Quote: ThatDonGuyIn case I didn't mention it already, there was a showcase once - I'm pretty sure it is on YouTube - where both contestants were under $100 (which was the Double Showcase limit at the time), but only the contestant who was closer won.
Yep. Here it is.
https://youtu.be/Efd8ugUbEoo
Casinos are not your friends, they want your money. But so does Disneyland.
And there is no chance in hell that you will go to Disneyland and come back with more money than you went with.
- AxelWolf and Mickeycrimm
May 15th, 2017 at 2:52:17 PM
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Quote: DeucekiesYep. Here it is.
https://youtu.be/Efd8ugUbEoo
Wow. That's not even fair.
First lady was under by $30. As long as the second lady wasn't under by $30 or less (fewer, I think is the proper grammatical word here), she'd win both showcases. Oh what'a'ya know, the other lady was under by $29.
I kinda laughed at the showcases though. The first was all this chick stuff and she was all over it. Kitchen stuff and whatnot. The second started with a unicycle and a trampoline. Lol
May 15th, 2017 at 5:16:05 PM
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Quote: RSWow. That's not even fair.
First lady was under by $30. As long as the second lady wasn't under by $30 or less (fewer, I think is the proper grammatical word here), she'd win both showcases. Oh what'a'ya know, the other lady was under by $29.
I kinda laughed at the showcases though. The first was all this chick stuff and she was all over it. Kitchen stuff and whatnot. The second started with a unicycle and a trampoline. Lol
Serves the loser right, everyone knows you should always pass the first one.wizard would have been in heaven. Moscow and a unicycle.
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
May 15th, 2017 at 6:28:38 PM
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I was surprised they even offered vacations to Moscow in 1975. I'd hate to have been an American tourist wandering around Moscow with a movie camera during the Cold War.
Wasn't that the plot of a Jackie Gleason movie?
Here you go.... Don't Drink the Water, 1969
The Hollander family's European vacation is interrupted when their plane is forced to land in Vulgaria. The Hollanders leave the plane to take pictures which results in accusations of spying. Chased by Vulgarian soldiers, they take refuge in the American Embassy under the protection of the absent ambassador's hapless son.
Wasn't that the plot of a Jackie Gleason movie?
Here you go.... Don't Drink the Water, 1969
The Hollander family's European vacation is interrupted when their plane is forced to land in Vulgaria. The Hollanders leave the plane to take pictures which results in accusations of spying. Chased by Vulgarian soldiers, they take refuge in the American Embassy under the protection of the absent ambassador's hapless son.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
May 25th, 2017 at 11:58:46 AM
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Someone just broke the Plinko all time record win. Not as high as I thought it might be. 31500.00
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May 25th, 2017 at 3:19:48 PM
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Quote: rxwineSomeone just broke the Plinko all time record win. Not as high as I thought it might be. 31500.00
I remember someone winning 40k on plinko. It was one of those prime time special shows where all the prizes are higher.
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
September 22nd, 2017 at 12:33:46 PM
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Price is Right just had 5 $1 spins in row for first time. Gave away $80k just on wheel spins.
I believe the wheel is split into 20 increments.
I believe the wheel is split into 20 increments.
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October 18th, 2017 at 12:42:46 PM
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Quote:'Jeopardy' winner takes home just $1 after everyone blows the final question in historic ending
Don't spend it all in one place, buddy.
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October 18th, 2017 at 5:42:36 PM
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July 11th, 2019 at 10:45:12 AM
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July 14th, 2019 at 10:42:01 PM
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Card Sharks
Swimming with Card Sharks http://gameshowtheory.com/category/card-sharks/
Saw someone win from $10,000 to $200,000 in the bonus round. The person won $5,000, then won $10,000, then won $15,000, then won $20,000, then won $40,000, then won $100,000 (all in) for a total of $200,000.
Swimming with Card Sharks http://gameshowtheory.com/category/card-sharks/
Saw someone win from $10,000 to $200,000 in the bonus round. The person won $5,000, then won $10,000, then won $15,000, then won $20,000, then won $40,000, then won $100,000 (all in) for a total of $200,000.
July 15th, 2019 at 3:55:16 AM
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Quote: gamerfreak
That is funny, So does he only get a $1 or do they have a min?
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
July 15th, 2019 at 8:44:16 AM
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Quote: GWAEQuote: gamerfreak
That is funny, So does he only get a $1 or do they have a min?
I'm pretty sure he only got $1, but he gets to return. Only 2nd and 3rd have guaranteed minimums. I'm guessing those two split the $1000+$2000. But I'm on another board where the J! obsessed people hang, and I will ask.
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
July 15th, 2019 at 10:32:53 AM
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Quote: beachbumbabsQuote: GWAEQuote: gamerfreak
That is funny, So does he only get a $1 or do they have a min?
I'm pretty sure he only got $1, but he gets to return. Only 2nd and 3rd have guaranteed minimums. I'm guessing those two split the $1000+$2000. But I'm on another board where the J! obsessed people hang, and I will ask.
Ok, the experts knew exactly.
On the left is Manny, and he won $1 that day. However, it was his third day, and his first 2 he had won $42k+ previously, so nobody felt too badly for him. He did return the next day, and lost.
In the middle is Carlos, who was awarded 3rd place for $1k. He and Fran (r) were tied for the lead at the end of Double Jeopardy (first tie-breaker), so they went back to the Jeopardy round, and Fran was leading Carlos at that time. So she was awarded 2nd and $2k.
The episode was from October 17, 2017. It can be looked up at
http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=5802
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
July 15th, 2019 at 1:00:05 PM
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Thanks for the answer. I figured that was the case since they told you you are guaranteed 1k. He still gets the guarantee on day 2.
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
August 22nd, 2019 at 5:07:48 PM
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do not try to be naive. You know mother the essence of this activity.
August 22nd, 2019 at 5:56:14 PM
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I find your ideas intriguing. I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.Quote: Spaffinnndo not try to be naive. You know mother the essence of this activity.
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but that is the way to bet.
April 22nd, 2021 at 11:05:52 AM
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Quote: EdCollinsI've always enjoyed this clip. Michael "Rain Man" on The Price is Right.
This just popped up on my YouTube feed. The algorithm finally caught up to my interests!
September 15th, 2023 at 3:29:36 PM
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Old story, but had no idea The Price is Right gave a car away by accident. The model revealed the winning price tag instead of the one she was suppose to take. They didn’t fire her though.
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September 15th, 2023 at 5:51:03 PM
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Quote: rxwineOld story, but had no idea The Price is Right gave a car away by accident. The model revealed the winning price tag instead of the one she was suppose to take. They didn’t fire her though.
link to original post
There are a few other times TPIR had to give prizes away because of mistakes/malfunctions.
Five that come to mind:
* Plinko - the first three (I think) chips landed in the $10,000 slot, and a producer rushed out and stopped the fourth chip as it was falling. It turned out that the board had been rigged so the chip always landed in the $10,000 slot for a TV commercial, and they forgot to remove the rigging. The contestant got the $30,000, but they cut that part out of the tape, and retaped it with those four chips dropped again (the contestant got the money won from these as well).
* Punch-a-Bunch - Bob reached into a hole that was punched, and there was no slip of paper in it; somebody in the audience shouted, "Give 'em the $10,000!" (the top prize at the time), and that's what they did, because that's what they had to do in a situation like that.
* Ten Chances - the three times Bob tried to reveal the numbers for each prize, the price of the prize appeared instead. (This was shown on the Bob Barker tribute show after his death.)
* Temptation - after the contestant selects the first two digits and they bring out the third prize, Bob announces that they had brought out the first two prizes in the wrong order, so they had to give the contestant the four prizes and the car.
* There was another one for a game played for a car - I can't remember which one off the top of my head - where the contestant asked if it was "next year's model," a producer told Bob that it was, and the contestant ended up losing, but later in the show, Bob announced that the producer was wrong about the year of the car, so the contestant got the car anyway.
September 16th, 2023 at 6:34:28 AM
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Alex Trebek in 1975 with the hard hitting questions for control of the dice on High Rollers. I used to love this game show and it was a perfect precursor to his time on Jeopardy. The Magnificent Marble Machine mentioned at the end of this video was a pinball based game show with huge flippers and an outsized pinball playfield. Pinball was still illegal in NYC at the time.
Florence Henderson & Roddy McDowall playing on The Magnificent Marble Machine in mid-1975, first week of the show. Roddy was even the answer on a question on this episode.
Who was Art James? Looks like any creepy villain on nighttime action TV shows at the time. Well no, he was a game show host. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_James
Florence Henderson & Roddy McDowall playing on The Magnificent Marble Machine in mid-1975, first week of the show. Roddy was even the answer on a question on this episode.
Who was Art James? Looks like any creepy villain on nighttime action TV shows at the time. Well no, he was a game show host. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_James
Last edited by: ChumpChange on Sep 16, 2023
May 10th, 2026 at 3:59:07 AM
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Lady just broke the all-time win on Price is Right. 240k. Not a showcase.
She had to risk the prize she won to win more and she maxed out her wins..
She had to risk the prize she won to win more and she maxed out her wins..
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May 10th, 2026 at 10:27:16 AM
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Quote: WizardThere is a video here.
link to original post
What's crazy is after $125000 she keeps going. What's more crazy is after $225000, she risks it all again.
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May 10th, 2026 at 11:33:18 AM
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Well I guess you figure you are only on price is right once and lucky enough to be called and get out on contestant's row. She was lucky but no guts no glory
May 10th, 2026 at 2:03:01 PM
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I don't watch TPR. So the way that works is first she had to be lucky enough to pick the numbers with the high dollar amounts, then what? Uncover them in an order of increasing value or else she loses it all? But the last one was a trip, and its value was below < 100K, below the value of the penultimate pick.
Rules and logic flowchart?
Rules and logic flowchart?
I tell you it’s wonderful to be here, man. I don’t give a damn who wins or loses. It’s just wonderful to be here with you people.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/betting-systems/33908-the-adventures-of-mdawg/
May 10th, 2026 at 2:21:53 PM
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I think there's a Bankrupt sign behind a few of the numbers on the board and she won't know which ones. I've never seen this game, or tuned into the show since the '70's. And I was thinking of Joe Garagiola but that was Sale Of The Century where things were priced absurdly low.
May 10th, 2026 at 3:15:45 PM
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Ah so it’s simpler than I thought just avoid the Bankrupt ones and amass as much as possible.
I tell you it’s wonderful to be here, man. I don’t give a damn who wins or loses. It’s just wonderful to be here with you people.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/betting-systems/33908-the-adventures-of-mdawg/
May 10th, 2026 at 3:33:54 PM
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Quote: ChumpChangeI think there's a Bankrupt sign behind a few of the numbers on the board and she won't know which ones. I've never seen this game, or tuned into the show since the '70's. And I was thinking of Joe Garagiola but that was Sale Of The Century where things were priced absurdly low.
link to original post
That was the game show where Garagiola used a bunch of profanity on air. He said SOB, and used "Jesus Christ" as an exclamation.
That got mixed in to an urban legend where he was announcing a football game and said of the ball carrier "Look at that SOB run!" But that's not so, he didn't say that and the line has been attributed to a lot of broadcasters but there's no record of any of them calling a runner a SOB.
May 10th, 2026 at 3:46:16 PM
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Quote: rxwineLady just broke the all-time win on Price is Right. 240k. Not a showcase.
She had to risk the prize she won to win more and she maxed out her wins..
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Not quite the single-day record; the record she set was for the largest win in a pricing game. She would have set the single-day record had she won her showcase as well.
Quote: MDawgI don't watch TPR. So the way that works is first she had to be lucky enough to pick the numbers with the high dollar amounts, then what? Uncover them in an order of increasing value or else she loses it all? But the last one was a trip, and its value was below < 100K, below the value of the penultimate pick.
Rules and logic flowchart?
link to original post
The game is called "The Lion's Share," and is the only one that is sponsored - in this case, by BetMGM.
There are 40 balls. 35 of them have prizes of various amounts; they are not specified in advance, except that five of them are worth $100,000 each. The remaining five are "Lose it all." You start with one free ball; to win up to four more, there are four prizes with two-digit prices, and you have to determine if the displayed price is correct, or if it should have its digits reversed (e.g. if you are shown "36," is the price $36 or $63).
The selected balls are displayed one at a time; after each one, the player may stop and keep what they have won up to that point, or risk those prizes and continue. Revealing a Lose It All ball loses everything won up to that point, but does not end the game, as the player may then use their remaining balls.
It is impossible to determine a true strategy as the values of the 30 balls other than the $100,000 and Lose It All balls are not known in advance.
May 10th, 2026 at 4:42:26 PM
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I'm gathering information on the prize distribution to properly analyze this game.
It's my understanding that the distribution of prizes is:
Known dollar amounts for the other prizes are $1000, $2500, $5000, $10000, $25000. It is also possible to win other prizes, like the vacation to Morocco (where I recently visited).
Source = https://priceisright.fandom.com/wiki/The_Lion%27s_Share
Here is some data on the other prizes:
YouTube $5000
YouTube $2500, $25000, $12650*
YouTube $99485**, $1000
YouTube $14539***, $10000, $10000, $5000,
YouTube $25399****
* Trip to Morocco
** Porsche
*** Trip to London
**** Motorcycle
The average is $19,143.
I realize this is a biased sample as people are more likely to upload a video that include the larger wins. That Porsche really increases the average. In fact, if we take it out, the average drops to $11,109.
My basic strategy is to quit only after finding $100,000 (or very close to it like the Porsche). In fact, I see I posted this before in this post.
As the win in question, to review, here were her prizes:
If I roughly estimate the average prize left to be an average of $21,739.13 (this based on a $10,000 average not counting the $100,000 prizes). Her choice to go for the fifth prize had an expected loss of $12,877.42, or 5.66% of her $227,500 to that point so far.
It's my understanding that the distribution of prizes is:
- $100,000 = 5
- Bankrupt = 5
- Other = 30
Known dollar amounts for the other prizes are $1000, $2500, $5000, $10000, $25000. It is also possible to win other prizes, like the vacation to Morocco (where I recently visited).
Source = https://priceisright.fandom.com/wiki/The_Lion%27s_Share
Here is some data on the other prizes:
YouTube $5000
YouTube $2500, $25000, $12650*
YouTube $99485**, $1000
YouTube $14539***, $10000, $10000, $5000,
YouTube $25399****
* Trip to Morocco
** Porsche
*** Trip to London
**** Motorcycle
The average is $19,143.
I realize this is a biased sample as people are more likely to upload a video that include the larger wins. That Porsche really increases the average. In fact, if we take it out, the average drops to $11,109.
My basic strategy is to quit only after finding $100,000 (or very close to it like the Porsche). In fact, I see I posted this before in this post.
As the win in question, to review, here were her prizes:
- Prize 1 = $2,500
- Prize 2 = $25,000
- Prize 3 = $100,000
- Prize 4 = $100,000
- Prize 5 = $12,650
If I roughly estimate the average prize left to be an average of $21,739.13 (this based on a $10,000 average not counting the $100,000 prizes). Her choice to go for the fifth prize had an expected loss of $12,877.42, or 5.66% of her $227,500 to that point so far.
Last edited by: Wizard on May 10, 2026
"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplace of existence. These little problems help me to do so." -- Sherlock Holmes
May 10th, 2026 at 4:52:17 PM
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Quote: Wizard
$100,000 = 5
Bankrupt = 5
Other = 30
* Trip to Morocco
** Porsche
*** Trip to London
**** Motorcycle
link to original post
Simply knowing this, there is a point where if you win enough quickly you should quit.
For example once you have gotten two of those 100Ks or certainly three going on would not be wise.
But we would need to know some more on what the "Other" ones are to determine the full strategy.
And it would be more of a "when it's wise to quit" strategy than anything else.
I tell you it’s wonderful to be here, man. I don’t give a damn who wins or loses. It’s just wonderful to be here with you people.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/betting-systems/33908-the-adventures-of-mdawg/
May 10th, 2026 at 9:34:49 PM
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Quote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: ChumpChangeI think there's a Bankrupt sign behind a few of the numbers on the board and she won't know which ones. I've never seen this game, or tuned into the show since the '70's. And I was thinking of Joe Garagiola but that was Sale Of The Century where things were priced absurdly low.
link to original post
That was the game show where Garagiola used a bunch of profanity on air. He said SOB, and used "Jesus Christ" as an exclamation.
That got mixed in to an urban legend where he was announcing a football game and said of the ball carrier "Look at that SOB run!" But that's not so, he didn't say that and the line has been attributed to a lot of broadcasters but there's no record of any of them calling a runner a SOB.
link to original post
You are confusing different events. Howard Cosell remarked, "That little monkey got loose," during a Monday night game in the mid-1980s. Garagiola was a baseball player turned baseball announcer who moved into entertainment. He wasn't a football announcer.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
May 10th, 2026 at 11:39:34 PM
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Quote: billryanQuote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: ChumpChangeI think there's a Bankrupt sign behind a few of the numbers on the board and she won't know which ones. I've never seen this game, or tuned into the show since the '70's. And I was thinking of Joe Garagiola but that was Sale Of The Century where things were priced absurdly low.
link to original post
That was the game show where Garagiola used a bunch of profanity on air. He said SOB, and used "Jesus Christ" as an exclamation.
That got mixed in to an urban legend where he was announcing a football game and said of the ball carrier "Look at that SOB run!" But that's not so, he didn't say that and the line has been attributed to a lot of broadcasters but there's no record of any of them calling a runner a SOB.
link to original post
You are confusing different events. Howard Cosell remarked, "That little monkey got loose," during a Monday night game in the mid-1980s. Garagiola was a baseball player turned baseball announcer who moved into entertainment. He wasn't a football announcer.
link to original post
I'm aware he didn't say it, I'm just recounting the urban legend as I heard it. (Or remember hearing it!)
This was before the 80s. I remember hearing about it around the same time and through the same channels as when I heard about what happened to Rod Stewart after he passed out on stage.
Now there's a blast from the past for you!
May 11th, 2026 at 8:08:25 AM
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Quote: WizardHere is some data on the other prizes:
YouTube $5000
YouTube $2500, $25000, $12650*
YouTube $99485**, $1000
YouTube $14539***, $10000, $10000, $5000,
YouTube $25399****
* Trip to Morocco
** Porsche
*** Trip to London
**** Motorcycle
link to original post
That Porsche gives the player a 57% chance of walking away with a $100,000 prize (cash or car) if they get all picks. And just under 50% for 4 picks. 1 pick is 15% chance of $100,000. This game is insanely payout-y. They really want this casino ad to go viral.
I would still stop at $100,000 regardless of whether or not it is the ideal strategy. The chances of getting on the show and playing this game are simply too low to play "correctly."
May 11th, 2026 at 11:03:31 AM
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Don't let fear take away your path to walk away with nothing.
May 11th, 2026 at 11:17:33 AM
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Much prefer to win the cash than the car. Much easier to pay the taxes.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:44:31 PM
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Quote: GenoDRPhMuch prefer to win the cash than the car. Much easier to pay the taxes.
link to original post
Was curious.
Quote:Immediate Sale: Many winners take delivery and immediately sell the car to a dealership or private party. This generates the cash needed to pay the IRS while leaving the winner with a smaller, but still significant, cash profit.
IRS Payment Plans: If you accept the car but can't pay the full federal tax bill by April 15th, you can apply for an IRS payment plan to spread the cost over time.
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