print $s . $s . $s;       # still produces the "error",
print '' . $s . $s . $s;  # makes it go away,

# But!

print join '', $s, $s, $s;   # is fine,

##</code><code>##

print join $s, ('') x 4;

##</code><code>##

FETCH called!
FETCH called!
FETCH called!
FETCH called!
123