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Obama Reveals Plan to Get U.S. Cars Off Oil…Using Tax-Payer Subsidized Firm That Has Yet To Produce a Battery

Mar. 19, 2013 11:24am Becket Adams

Obamas Plan To Get U.S. Cars Off Oil Revealed In Front of Tax Payer Subsidized Firm Mired In Controversy

President Obama listens to a research engineer explain electric-car technology during a tour of the Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Ill., Friday. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP).

President Obama last week at the Department Of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory at the University of Chicago outlined his $2 billion plan to get U.S. vehicles off of oil.

Argonne, you may recall, has been awarded more than $200 million by the U.S. government since 2009.

But here’s something interesting: Argonne National Laboratory actually partnered with LG Chem Michigan Inc. in 2011 to design electric vehicle batteries, the Washington Free Beacon notes.

Remember LG Chem Michigan?

That’s the tax-payer subsidized battery maker that has not produced or sold a single battery since being awarded a $150 million federal grant in 2009, according to a recent report from the Energy Department’s Inspector General.

“LG Chem was supposed to use Argonne’s design to produce the Volt batteries in its Holland plant once construction was finished,” the Washington Examiners’ Michal Conger notes. “But according to a recent Inspector General report, the company’s employees have been too busy playing video games to produce any batteries, despite spending $142 million”.

In fact, as noted elsewhere on TheBlaze, LG Chem Michigan employees were dying for work and would go out to volunteer around Holland, Mich., in order to have something to do.

“Through interviews with LG Chem Michigan management and other staff, we confirmed that employees spent time volunteering at local non-profit organizations, playing games and watching movies during regular working hours,” the IG report said.

“Even though the facility had produced a large number of test cells, the plant had yet to manufacture battery cells that could be used in electric vehicles sold to the public,” the report added.

So, yes, the president’s $2 billion plan to get U.S. vehicles off oil was delivered at a tax-payer subsidized “green” energy firm that in 2011 designed batteries for another tax-payer subsidized “green” energy firm that has yet to produce a single electric car battery.

–

RELATED:

Fed Audit Reveals Tax-Payer Backed Battery Factory Hasn’t Produced or Sold a Single Battery Since Awarded Fed Grant in 2009

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Comments (124)

Truth and Justice
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:47am
How many more Billions are Americans going to let this fool throw away at failed companies before we stop the madness? Wake up Sheeple!!!

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- Evileye
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:57am
  Cheer Up only four more years Of Obumbler.
  Then we will Have The old sniper dodger Hilary Take over the final destruction
  Of America.
  
  Report this comment
- Triple7
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:06pm
  Apparently as many billions as Dear Leader wants.
  
  Report this comment
- Chromo200
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:06pm
  Yeah but there will another moron right behind him. People want that Ho Clinton.
  
  Report this comment
- TheEDGE
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:13pm
  The fail-factory that is the current administration is now cranked up to full capacity. Pray for our country. Pray for our poor kids.
  
  Report this comment
- SendTheMeteors
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:25pm
  We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy — sun, wind and tide. … I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. -Thomas Edison, inventor (1847-1931)
  
  Report this comment
- michael48
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:34pm
  delusional, 10 year old, Marxist , spoiled little brat…..at best…
  
  Report this comment
- RemoteCoderz
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:53pm
  Let’s look at the bright side here fellas…
  
  If Obama (Our Messiah and saviour) bans/outlaws gas guzzling cars BEFORE the battery powered company produces one viable battery, he’ll (The One) have the ability to tell the world we are oil free.
  
  Now, keep in mind, not a single person any where that doesn’t own a bicycle, will be able to go any where, but what the hell, he can, at the same time, tell the world he’s put our country on a new fitness program, thus ending diabetes, preventing heart disease, all at the same time as reducing social security and medicare spending (because the out of shape will die from exertion).
  
  Now doesn’t this sound like the perfect Utopia?
  
  I knew you’d be happy.
  
  Report this comment
- desertspeaks
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:56pm
  um correct me if I’m wrong but if a company takes a federal grant to produce batteries and they play video games and do volunteer work, ISN’T THAT FRAUD???
  
  Report this comment
- CobraBill
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:57pm
  I’m shocked. Well not really. Pie in the sky BS from Obama as usual
  Remember way back when,
  When GW Bush was in office and gas was near 4$ how loud the democrats were screaming,
  screaming how GW was in the tank for big oil.
  Where is their outrage now?
  Did you know the government makes more money on a gallon of gas than Exon does.
  
  Report this comment
- MDECKER
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 1:15pm
  I want to know how much money he personally, has squirreled away for himself! I’ll bet, the president has an account, somewhere in the world, that has a very generous taxpayer funded balance. Do I have any bets?
  
  Report this comment
- Will Snow
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 1:49pm
  as long as he gives out food stamps and obama phones to everyone that ask, they will remain sheep
  
  Report this comment
- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 2:00pm
  Ah Thomas Edison – he who had no vested interest any any thing coal or oil. He who also tried to destroy Tesla and the AC current we still use today because again – he had no vested interest.
  
  I know that Berry and his merry men pay you to sit on your **** Meteors like the employees at the battery factory, but where I work – you work.
  
  Report this comment
- love the kids
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 2:24pm
  He must laugh at how ignorant the Dumbacrats are to not check on this or call him out even if they find out. I really don’t think that even Obummer thought it would be this easy to snow half of the American people.
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 3:12pm
  @SENDTHEMETEORS
  
  I’m all for protecting the environment…I like fresh air and clean water, too.
  
  The question is not that I am against solar and alternative energy sources, it’s a question of who finances it?
  
  I suggest starting your own company – come up with a product, create a business plan and seek investors.
  
  I will be more than happy to invest in a viable idea.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 3:45pm
  SendTheMeteors
  
  Many people have been for solar, wind & other powers sources for a long time. As far as I am concerned the left only become concerned with this after the fall of communism. It is hard to march with Senator Kerry for Nuclear Freeze and do other exciting things when Mother Russia, the Soviet Union, is no more.
  
  People like your hero Al Gore were pro-life & on a music lyric crusade before he ran for president and became a Green. He is like Schumer (crusaded against breakfast cereal makers no less) or Bloomberg in that he always had some glorious, nobler crusade.
  
  Like I said before some of us have been for alternative energy before you ever showed up. For example when you hear see the word ITER are you excited? Hopeful? Or are you waiting for your messiah to come out with an opinion on it?
  
  Where were you 30 or 40 years ago? Were you for solar then?
  
  http://www.nss.org/settlement/L5news/L5history.htm
  
  Did you have anything powered by wind power 50 years ago? Probably not.
  
  Your support for wind & solar is as well thought out as a Communists Chinese 5 year plan to boost iron ore production.
  
  The people melt their tools down to meet communist industrial targets & then turn around & promptly starve to death.
  
  You stick with your messiah, who is challenged when it comes to accounting or anything having to do with math.
  
  Report this comment
- PilgrimStuckInBizarroWorld
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 4:28pm
  If this wasn’t so sad I would be laughing my your know what off?
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 4:33pm
  Recommend reading for the misanthrope Send the Meteors
  
  “The Conquest of the Future
  The lost tomorrows of Gerald O’Neill and Eric Drexler’s visions of infinite space and abundance.”
  
  http://reason.com/archives/2013/03/19/the-conquest-of-the-future
  
  Think about it … cross your fingers … no more war.
  
  But you have to be numerate, ______!
  
  Report this comment
- Maji
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 6:13pm
  Call your senator tell him “to vote against” the UN resolution against the 2nd
  Amendment!
  Tell him/her that you expect them to introduce an “article of impeachment”
  if the president does!!
  HCON23 & SCON7
  
  Report this comment
- Obama_In_PeePee_By_Zee_Arteeeest_Beck
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 7:25pm
  “Obama Reveals Plan to Get U.S. Cars Off Oil…Using Tax-Payer Subsidized Firm That Has Yet To Produce a Battery”
  
  Marxist Barack Hussein Obama and his communist White House and the Socialists & Progressives (communists) in Washington DC (almost everyone) are not inept … IT IS THEIR PLAN to economically collapse OUR COUNTRY into their version of communist China, with them as the ruling class (of course):
  
  “Washington’s DELIBERATE ECONOMIC EARTHQUAKE Exposed By Glenn Beck :: Then ReBOOT USA To Communism!”
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y03b4kHais
  
  “DICTATORSHIP For America IMPLEMENTED!! :: Glenn Beck Named THE TRAITORS & Exposed THEIR CONSPIRACY!!”
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAu_-UmERuo
  
  WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?
  
  Report this comment
- Anamah
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 7:33pm
  Wait he can use his own money! He and Michelle have the magic touch to make a fast fortune, both and each one of them have earned so much … This man is a business genius, despise has no idea and is unable to understand finances, he must try to play his own resources… put your money where your mouth is sir, why do you like to risk ours?
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:34pm
  I for one am very glad the United States government funded the research into atomic physics before there was one single atomic bomb.
  
  Report this comment
dublinthewagons
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:47am
Stop pollution and fowl smelling air.
Barry have your wife wear leaves and deodorant.

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dublinthewagons
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:45am
If Obama really cared about the environment he would be in a volt and ground air force 1

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- Walkabout
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:10pm
  Liberals complain about Bush’s vacation time.
  
  - But he went to Texas not the Hamptons, Hawaii or Spain like the Obamas taking an aristocratic entourage with them.
  
  - They also did not take 2 planes like the Obamas do.
  
  - Nor did they take planes for a dinner date.
  
  - Bush had many vacation days. But when you line them up with congressional recess, voila a match! No if Bush appointed good adminsitrator for the various departments, does he need to be in Washington when the congress is out if session? Also, if Bush gets the intel brief in Crawford, Texas or D.C. does it matter. Progressives must think worse to listen to the in tel brief in Crawford than to not to listen to it at all.
  
  Report this comment
ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:44am
I wonder how many of these Firms that produce nothing are simply fronts to filter money through for the Dictator to have later on. Regardless, the Fuhrer will continue to Siphon money from our Pockets into places we will never see any kind of return. His Communist Plans are working well.

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- CatB
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:48am
  Money laundering .. pure and simple .. give them billions and they return millions to the Dems … if this were anyone but the government they would all be in JAIL by now.
  
  Report this comment
- ArmedAndReallyPissed
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:59am
  I have no doubt about it being very possible, if not probable. Dictator of AmeriKa is only a first step for the Fuhrer. World Dictator is his true Agenda and dream.
  
  Report this comment
- truthnstuff
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:15pm
  This puke communist wants to steal even more than Chavez, his buddy, did. A 40Million compound in Hawaii for a slime ball that never worked a day in his life.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:23pm
  ARMEDANDREALLYPISSED, to answer your question, ALL OF THEM and CATB exactly! Nothing but $$ laundering/theft to his fellow dem communists. More SOLYNDRA bullsh*t!
  
  this dumbfk fraud & thief has to be stopped, we won’t make it til 2016.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:26pm
  TRUTHNSTUFF, i hope he never gets to spend day one in is $40 mill castle, that he is put in prison or….?
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:40pm
  You’re thinking of Dick Chaney I believe, he’s the master of that trick.
  
  Report this comment
- MIBUGNU2
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:00pm
  You can bet He is getting His “Fair Share”
  
  Report this comment
Chromo200
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:44am
If we all are off oil, I wonder how his Saudi masters will like it.

This guy s is nuts .. he is living the BS sessions that he had in college of how they are going to change the world and make it better.

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- LetThereBeLight
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:17pm
  There isn’t a doubt in my mind that he has NO intention of making anything “better”! Evil always has destruction in its plans. His actions and even his looks, demonstrate exactly who he prays to!
  
  Report this comment
willingtoupe
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:44am
Things would speed up and mission accomplished if the rich would pay more of their fair equal share.

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- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:33pm
  …idiot…
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 4:30pm
  I am sure the Obama campaign bundlers whoa re getting the government grants are paying their fair share.
  
  After Willing _idiot gets his way and the Obama campaign bundlers see their taxes increase, the Gini coefficient will be higher than ever.
  
  Willing_idiot will say increase their taxes on Obama campaign bundlers more. It will work this time. yet the gini coefficient will increase again.
  
  However much taxes are raised, politically connected connected campaign bundlers will rake it back in government contracts, grants, loopholes etc.
  
  Silly toupe
  
  Report this comment
carhouse
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:43am
Im kinda new around here, I was born yesterday, but what I have determined in a short amount of time is that
we have more gas coal and oil in this country than any where else in the world, so I was thinking, being the simpleton that I am that IF we mine our own coal gas and oil we can be fossil fuel independant, put thousands back to work, reduce energy costs put more people back to work, everybody grows financially and and buys things that create more jobs,
This clearly will not work because the king has other thoughts, he must be smarter than me??

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- LakeHartwellSailor
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:57am
  Man, you were born yesterday. Your common sense observations have no place in this Nation. You really need to start thinking less with your brain and more with your heart. After all….its for the ccchhhhiiiiiiillllllllldddrreeennn.
  
  Report this comment
- NavET-SS
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:36pm
  He is smarter, he knows the lies to tell that will get him elected. I don’t want that kind of smarts.
  
  Report this comment
bdandsl
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:42am
Obama does not want to govern, he wants to dictate. I hope America is still standing after this sinister man is gone.

God Bless America.

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00100111
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:41am
I’ll keep my 5.7L HEMI, thanks Mr O. You can keep your little Priuses while I pick them out of my grill.

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- tightline
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:18pm
  @001, so will I. I will not get rid of my hemi, the eletric crap could not pull my boat or get me to deep in the woods.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:34pm
  00100111 & TIGHTLINE, as will I! I will drive my (paid for) Ford diesel no matter what. This electric car fail BS is as gay as a herd of unicorns.
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:38pm
  ouu, what a tough guy you must be, such strong typing words. You the kind of guy at the bar I like to pick out and have fun with.
  
  Report this comment
IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:40am
We don’t have $2 billion to spare. He will do anything to let America fall by the way side with a lot of huge debts and investment. He better stay with keeping us safe by supporting our troops and keeping borders secure. The private sector can take care of progress for the future better then him by just look at his record (not the LIV record).

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Sargeking
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:40am
Can you believe this guy? Aren’t you Libs even a little bit embarrassed? When Mr. Obama enters any room, he is the most unqualified person there. This is one more daily outrage that nearly renders me nonplussed (but not quite). For those of you living in Rio Lindo, you can look up “nonplussed”. Thanks!

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- Triple7
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:08pm
  To your secound question.
  Libs aren’t embarrassed for they have no shame.
  
  Report this comment
- dogdr
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 7:45pm
  As a liberal, I do have a lot of problems with what Obama is doing, but not this, but not about this.
  The reason– I know firsthand what the REAL story is.
  Nothing to be ashamed of.
  
  Get outside of your little bubble and read the real story. The Blaze isn’t exactly an unbiased news source and this entire story is a lot of something I’m pretty sure I couldn’t write here without being banned
  
  Report this comment
Dushman Kush
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:39am
It is unfortunate that Glenn Beck led the charge to remove Comrade Van Jones from our Leader’s administration. He was the one Comrade who could have prevented the fraud and waste in our Leader’s Green Energy programs. As Glenn Beck has always been truthful in his assessments of the Communist International, his one lapse can be overlooked. Long Live the Communist International !!!

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- Sargeking
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:44am
  “The Long March begins with the first step Forward”! Mao (or is it Mr. Obama?)
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:05pm
  Is there a Dr in the house? ;)
  
  Report this comment
- Triple7
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:09pm
  Parody.
  
  Report this comment
moreteaplease
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:38am
Hey, it’s not his money so why not throw it at every boondoggle that comes around the corner. The policies and agendas of the left have ruined this country. They only know how to dismantle and destroy.

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dublinthewagons
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:37am
Another democrat doner payback. With someone else’s money.
Kinda like vacations & golf.

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NDPINDNT
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:36am
It sure reminds me of the movie “Brewster’s Millions” with Richard Pryor. Obama is trying to completly waste taxpayer’s money until there is nothing left. Why? Then he’ll get the big return that is is really after.

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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:35am
Video games. That’s all life is anymore. Those libz & bums ruining our country on our money!

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dnewton
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:34am
I assume that by getting cars off of oil, he means putting them on Lithium. The biggest problem with that is that it trades one foreign source of energy for another foreign source of energy. We will be getting our Lithium mostly from South America. We have some Lithium on US Government land but it is in evironmentally sensitive areas that I doubt that the ecofreaks will want to disturb. You might have to strip mine it and you will need to build roads over difficult terrain.

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Stoic one
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:32am
Cronyism is now transparent…..bathhouse barry does not care what the people think.

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:31am
.
Well if he could get Michelle to suck on the tail pipe of Limo 1 and get it up to 65 or 70 mph I might buy inot the idea of an oilless automobile…..

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SteelJewel
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:31am
This is not a plan its destructive to an already frail economy (his creation) the only think he has done is create a demand for guns and ammo, in fact I just bought more yesterday.

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JacquesChirac
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:30am
Seriously, why do some people think this POTUS is NOT the smartest man on the planet? In the universe? In all of history???

We all need to be more like Chris Mathews…

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thetruthlives
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:29am
who elected this idiot?

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- SteelJewel
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:32am
  idiot’s
  
  Report this comment
- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:38am
  George Soros did
  
  Report this comment
Gonzo
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:29am
If we wanted battery operated cars, we would have bought them by now Barry, get over it. Batteries are not the answer.

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- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:37am
  Golf carts…he loves ‘em!
  
  Report this comment
- Triple7
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:12pm
  Of course we would have. But since Dear Leader knows better we will be “nudged” to buy them.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 2:17pm
  If $4.00 a gallon gas won’t nudge us, I don’t know what will.
  
  Report this comment
- Oilfield_Trash
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 4:30pm
  Yeah, My truck ate a couple of Volts and a Prius or two last week…. I’d rather push my gas guzzling, non-green pickup that be caught riding in a Hybrid or (God forbid) and electric. I used to not have an opinion on the subject when it was market driven, but now they are coming closer to mandating we drive that sort of crap I refuse to buy any “green” vehicles, much to the detriment of my wallet. And, since GM wanted the Obama admin. to levy even higher taxes on gasoline (to push folks to buy electrics) I’ll never buy another GM product (which by proxy, all US tax payers are buying the Volt anyway, they lose money on every sale and we foot the bill).
  
  Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:29am
Another Obama project where all your monies Ar-gonne. : (

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- TheWhiteFalcon
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:44am
  Life’s Good at LG Chem…
  
  Report this comment
Sargeking
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 11:27am
Each passing day another new outrage from the Obama Regime. By the way, you can totally forget the Keystone Pipeline and Fracking. While you’re at it, also forget new jobs. Thanks Libs. We owe it all to you!

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