Prequel (Chapters 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
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When Kayla awoke, she found herself curled up on a couch in the Banshee’s infirmary. In the nearest bed, Thandi appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Across from her, Yak was hooked up to several scary looking tubes, but her vitals looked stable. Most of the rest of the beds were also filled. Another successful Valkyrie operation, Kayla thought, bitterly.
She didn’t remember the trip back from the planet. She did remember being told that nobody had found any sign of Rayker, and that memory kindled a little of the rage that never burned out. They had been through a nightmare for nothing.
“I wondered how long you would be asleep,” a voice said.
Kayla turned to see Christie sat on the end of her couch. Her friend seemed to be weighed down by sadness as she put aside the tablet she was typing on and smiled back at her.
“Wha— uh…” Kayla managed, as her stiff tongue flapped helplessly. She yawned and stretched.
“Twenty-three wounded in total,” Christie said. “Thandi will walk again in a week. Yak’s going to be in a coma for the next month. Fortunately, nothing struck her vital organs. And, by the way, one of the Raider squads was also involved in a friendly fire incident.”
Kayla focused on her, then looked away. “Jesus,” she said to herself. “God dammit.”
“Thandi wouldn’t like that,” Christie scolded. “Heathen.”
Kayla stood up and began to pace slowly as she wrapped her arms around herself. “I can’t believe I—”
“I’m going to stop you right there,” Christie said, “because you’ve been asleep for about ten hours. In the interim, I was able to speak with several Rangers about what happened. It was not your fault. Not entirely.”
Kayla shook her head. “Yes, it was. Oh, God, yes it was. I should have seen them, I should have had a stronger optic, I should have—”
“Corporal Rudaski misread her map. So did the leader of second squad. You were both actually in hall hotel-four. The base was constructed in a circular pattern of radially linked zones, orbiting a central facility. It’s a highly abstract layout that we have never seen before. Most Ranger battalions have spent the last several centuries clearing logical, grid-like layouts in ships and bunkers. Under fire, it is easy to see how confusion caused units to lose track of their positions as they advanced. Most of the platoons did, actually, at one point or another. And, in my opinion, we did not have anything like the troop numbers needed to comfortably secure that site. A consequence, no doubt, of Valkyrie’s failure to prepare and train for large scale deployments, for which there has been no requirement in at least a millennia, so they tell me.”
Kayla turned to her with a puzzled expression. “You figured all that out already?”
“I’m drafting a report on the matter. I can’t sleep, you see, because the flaws of this operation stem entirely from the task force’s desire to follow Rayker until she discovered the tracker. We found it in the central command chamber. It was sealed in a wrapping of fat and muscle tissue, which she obviously cut out of herself hours before the tamper alarm sensed the toxins of cell decay. She left it there for us to find. To taunt us, no doubt.”
Christie yawned deeply, stood up and brushed her sweater off. “Do you see, Kayla, that the intelligence team were making decisions based off of my actions on Ambrosia, when I planted that device?” She smiled bitterly. “And I had the arrogance to think I was outwitting the woman. So, in a way, it’s my fault.”
Kayla swallowed and slowly shook her head. Then she grabbed her friend and held her in a tight hug. “War sucks,” she said. “Everything about it is awful.”
“I agree. Nevertheless, we are drawn to it, like moths to a flame perhaps?”
Kayla released her and collapsed into the couch. “When I slept, I had a dream. I was in Plato’s cave, but I got free. Outside there was a dragon, burning everything in sight. The world was covered in ash, and the puppets casting shadows were dead bodies,” She wiped moisture out of her eye. “He said, ‘come out and play, little girl’.”
Christie nodded. “We were lucky nobody was killed today. Rayker will certainly cost us more blood before we manage to catch her. She could have set up a much stronger defense than a battalion of light combat drones, but she didn’t.”
Kayla reached into her pocket and found her necklace. She placed it over her head and ran a thumb over the engraved name.
She looked back at Christie. “Why not?”
“The freighter the Sirène caught was carrying several large combat walkers, produced by that plant. A deep space survey revealed that a second freighter had jumped away earlier. No doubt Rayker’s escape—she seems to have plotted a course opposite the star from where we stopped at the minefield. There seems to be no question that she had the main force of those machines with her.”
“Any idea where they went?”
Christie turned away to retrieve her tablet. “Not yet, unfortunately.”
“May the saints have mercy,” said a voice, “if a shot up woman cannot get a wink of sleep with all the talking in here.”
Kayla whirled around to see Thandi, sitting up in her bed. She darted over and grabbed her into a bearhug.
“I’m really sorry I got you shot,” she said.
“Yeah,” Thandi said looking pleased with herself. “And to apologize, you’ll be fetching me chocolate cake from the mess until I get out of here.” She lowered her voice. “Seriously though, Kayla, I need you. The food is terrible.”
Kayla chuckled. “You can count on me.”
“How are you feeling, wonder woman?”
“Oh, uh… not that wonderful to be honest.”
“Leaping tall structures in a single bound?” Thandi grinned admiringly at her. “You had a bit of a superhero moment.”
Kayla raised her eyebrows. “I tore half the muscles in my body. It was definitely not awesome.”
“Sure looked like it. I don’t even know how you do stuff like that. The Lord moved you.”
Christie cleared her throat and gave Thandi a significant look.
Thandi rolled her eyes. “It’s a compliment—I’m not diminishing what you did.”
Kayla returned her cheerful gaze with a flat expression. She had felt like everyone she cared about was about to die. Like her soul had been lit on fire, and the only way to put it out had been to move like a lightning bolt. It was not something she ever wanted to experience again.
“I was on probation for the incident on Ambrosia,” she reminded Thandi. “I will definitely be dropped back to private from now on.”
“Oh,” Thandi’s sparkling eyes darkened. “Well, that sucks. I hope they don’t. You straight up saved us all from an ambush at the start of that firefight. And the illume drone—you made lots of good calls down there.”
Kayla shook her head. “I shouldn’t be a team leader. I keep losing control. I can’t let… I don’t respond well when any of you are in danger.”
Thandi grabbed her hand, and squeezed it. “What happens to us is not up to you, my dear. It’s in God’s hands alone.”
Kayla didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure if she could accept that.
“How’s the pain?” Christie asked.
“Oh,” Thandi said and waved her hand. “Nothing too severe. I think of how Rose would be responding, and I know I can handle anything.”
Christie nodded silently.
“She speaks to me, in my dreams. She tells me how proud she is of us.” Thandi glanced at Kayla. “She says you are a true leader.”
Kayla turned away, unable to keep her eyes from tearing up.
“Will you be up in time for the merger?” Christie asked.
“On crutches maybe,” Thandi said. “But I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I can’t imagine anything more glorious.”
“What’s that?” Kayla asked before slowly turning back.
“The Banshee is returning to Tyr,” Christie explained. “On the way back, we have been tasked with collecting a probe that was observing a binary star merger. We will have the opportunity to observe the event live.”
“Whatever,” Kayla said with an eye roll. She was a little offended that their task force had been assigned a science project after what had happened. “Nerd stuff, right?”
Christie laughed, and met Thandi’s eyes with a smirk. “If you say so.”
Thandi shifted against her pillows. “How is the mood of the ship?” she said to Christie. “Are people still angry?”
“What do you mean?” Kayla cut in.
Thandi glanced back and forth between them. “You didn’t tell her?”
Christie waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, but with all that’s happening I didn’t think it pertinent. Why add to our already substantial burdens?”
“What’s going on?” Kayla demanded, and felt her hair stand on end.
Christie smiled tightly. “ODT Four seized the freighter and searched it thoroughly. No evidence of Rayker, as I said.”
“Yeah? And?”
“Well, they found a false compartment in one of the holds. And there were a pair of young teenagers inside. A boy and a girl.”
“In rags, and chained up,” Thandi added.
Kayla realized her jaw had clenched. She felt her skin crawl with a new kind of horror. “Oh my God,” she said, then glanced at Thandi. “Sorry.”
“In this case you get a dispensation.”
“Obviously,” Christie continued, “the pour souls will be returned to their families. A terrible situation.”
Kayla’s mind buzzed with questions. “What is—uh… where was it from? The ship?”
“Intaba,” Thandi said sullenly. “A VennZech registered vessel. Justice cannot come swiftly enough for the demon scum who perpetrated this evil on my homeworld…” she frowned as she lost her words, and clenched her fists together.
“Do you think Valkyrie will start interdicting their ships?” Kayla asked.
“No,” Christie said. “Hence the angry mood. It is a problem the organization has faced since humanity took to the stars. The chieftains have resolutely refused to address it. Our mission statement is to protect humanity, not interfere with their conduct. Frankly I have to agree with them, though I appear to be in the minority.”
Kayla stared at her incredulously. “But that’s bullshit,” she said. “How can you be okay with letting something like that go?”
Christie arched an eyebrow. “A secret army of super soldiers, with access to civilization destroying technology, and who answer—as far as we know—to nobody but themselves? The very thought of interfering gives me an existential crisis. However tragic the situation, it seems obvious that we must maintain our distance.”
Kayla shook her head. She already felt hot anger driving her to act. How could such monsters be allowed to walk freely in a just galaxy?
“All that it takes for evil to succeed—” Thandi began.
“Please can we not continue this conversation?” Christie snapped. “I’ve had enough of being insulted by some of my colleagues. I don’t want it from my friends too.”
Kayla exchanged looks with Thandi, but she owed her best friend the space she wanted.
“I promise, I won’t bring it up again, Chris,” she said.
***
Kayla ate in the ship’s mess then returned to her bunk, where the rest of the squad were waiting. They were talking in somber tones, but fell silent when she approached.
Kes stood up and beckoned to her. “Platoon ready room, this way.”
Once shut away in privacy, Kes sat her down and they retraced every event that had occurred inside the base. Every decision was picked apart minutely, with no judgement or grievance allowed.
“I needed us to go through this as soon as possible,” she explained. “This will sit with you for the rest of your life. We all made mistakes, but nobody should feel incriminated. I have been through five blue on blue incidents. This shit just happens, and I guarantee it will happen to you again in the future.”
Kayla felt a little relief as she spoke with her squad leader and found that she was neither alone, nor justified in hating herself. They had been moving quickly through a confusing environment, making a deadly situation much more likely.
“One last thing, though,” Kes added somberly. “Private Voigt from second squad fired the burst that hit Yak and Thandi. She is being removed from the battalion. By her own account, she returned Yak’s fire without any kind of communication with her team leader, or any attempt to check the position of friendlies. That was a major SOP violation when she knew they were expecting to move in our direction.”
Kayla absorbed this with shock. She couldn’t argue with it; after all, what good was a Ranger who couldn’t do her job? And didn’t that mean that the same punishment should apply to her?
She cleared her throat. Terror gnawed at her insides as Kes stared at her expectantly.
“I lost control again,” Kayla said.
“Yup,” Kes said, and rubbed her eyes with obvious frustration. “And this time, your actions swiftly ended a dangerous firefight following a terrible accident. Yak got immediate medical attention because of that. On the other hand, you put yourself in a position to be killed or wounded where no-one could help you.”
There was a long pause while the corporal appeared to search a distant horizon. “You don’t need a lecture, and Akane can’t make a decision on you. Yak was my next choice for Lance Corporal, but she’s out of action, along with a bunch of others. Together with this Rayker shitshow, it is not the time to be shuffling people around.”
Kayla’s brow furrowed “What about Ray?”
“Oh,” Kes ran a hand through her hair. “Every time I’ve offered it, she’s refused. Anyway, we’ve already been told by Captain Aguilar to expect a new private out of Ranger school once we return to Tyr.”
“Yes, Corporal,” Kayla said, unsure what to think about the decision.
“I’ve seen you make good decisions in the field. But I will push to replace you when the opportunity comes up again.” Kes narrowed her eyes. “Unless you can show me I’m wrong before that happens.”
Kayla left the room with her head spinning. She was keeping her job, even though she obviously didn’t have what it took to lead Rangers in combat.
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Prequel (Chapters 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie

Prequel (Parts 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
First ¦ Previous ¦ Royal Road ¦ Patreon
When Kayla awoke, she found herself curled up on a couch in the Banshee’s infirmary. In the nearest bed, Thandi appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Across from her, Yak was hooked up to several scary looking tubes, but her vitals looked stable. Most of the rest of the beds were also filled. Another successful Valkyrie operation, Kayla thought, bitterly.
She didn’t remember the trip back from the planet. She did remember being told that nobody had found any sign of Rayker, and that memory kindled a little of the rage that never burned out. They had been through a nightmare for nothing.
“I wondered how long you would be asleep,” a voice said.
Kayla turned to see Christie sat on the end of her couch. Her friend seemed to be weighed down by sadness as she put aside the tablet she was typing on and smiled back at her.
“Wha— uh…” Kayla managed, as her stiff tongue flapped helplessly. She yawned and stretched.
“Twenty-three wounded in total,” Christie said. “Thandi will walk again in a week. Yak’s going to be in a coma for the next month. Fortunately, nothing struck her vital organs. And, by the way, one of the Raider squads was also involved in a friendly fire incident.”
Kayla focused on her, then looked away. “Jesus,” she said to herself. “God dammit.”
“Thandi wouldn’t like that,” Christie scolded. “Heathen.”
Kayla stood up and began to pace slowly as she wrapped her arms around herself. “I can’t believe I—”
“I’m going to stop you right there,” Christie said, “because you’ve been asleep for about ten hours. In the interim, I was able to speak with several Rangers about what happened. It was not your fault. Not entirely.”
Kayla shook her head. “Yes, it was. Oh, God, yes it was. I should have seen them, I should have had a stronger optic, I should have—”
“Corporal Rudaski misread her map. So did the leader of second squad. You were both actually in hall hotel-four. The base was constructed in a circular pattern of radially linked zones, orbiting a central facility. It’s a highly abstract layout that we have never seen before. Most Ranger battalions have spent the last several centuries clearing logical, grid-like layouts in ships and bunkers. Under fire, it is easy to see how confusion caused units to lose track of their positions as they advanced. Most of the platoons did, actually, at one point or another. And, in my opinion, we did not have anything like the troop numbers needed to comfortably secure that site. A consequence, no doubt, of Valkyrie’s failure to prepare and train for large scale deployments, for which there has been no requirement in at least a millennia, so they tell me.”
Kayla turned to her with a puzzled expression. “You figured all that out already?”
“I’m drafting a report on the matter. I can’t sleep, you see, because the flaws of this operation stem entirely from the task force’s desire to follow Rayker until she discovered the tracker. We found it in the central command chamber. It was sealed in a wrapping of fat and muscle tissue, which she obviously cut out of herself hours before the tamper alarm sensed the toxins of cell decay. She left it there for us to find. To taunt us, no doubt.”
Christie yawned deeply, stood up and brushed her sweater off. “Do you see, Kayla, that the intelligence team were making decisions based off of my actions on Ambrosia, when I planted that device?” She smiled bitterly. “And I had the arrogance to think I was outwitting the woman. So, in a way, it’s my fault.”
Kayla swallowed and slowly shook her head. Then she grabbed her friend and held her in a tight hug. “War sucks,” she said. “Everything about it is awful.”
“I agree. Nevertheless, we are drawn to it, like moths to a flame perhaps?”
Kayla released her and collapsed into the couch. “When I slept, I had a dream. I was in Plato’s cave, but I got free. Outside there was a dragon, burning everything in sight. The world was covered in ash, and the puppets casting shadows were dead bodies,” She wiped moisture out of her eye. “He said, ‘come out and play, little girl’.”
Christie nodded. “We were lucky nobody was killed today. Rayker will certainly cost us more blood before we manage to catch her. She could have set up a much stronger defense than a battalion of light combat drones, but she didn’t.”
Kayla reached into her pocket and found her necklace. She placed it over her head and ran a thumb over the engraved name.
She looked back at Christie. “Why not?”
“The freighter the Sirène caught was carrying several large combat walkers, produced by that plant. A deep space survey revealed that a second freighter had jumped away earlier. No doubt Rayker’s escape—she seems to have plotted a course opposite the star from where we stopped at the minefield. There seems to be no question that she had the main force of those machines with her.”
“Any idea where they went?”
Christie turned away to retrieve her tablet. “Not yet, unfortunately.”
“May the saints have mercy,” said a voice, “if a shot up woman cannot get a wink of sleep with all the talking in here.”
Kayla whirled around to see Thandi, sitting up in her bed. She darted over and grabbed her into a bearhug.
“I’m really sorry I got you shot,” she said.
“Yeah,” Thandi said looking pleased with herself. “And to apologize, you’ll be fetching me chocolate cake from the mess until I get out of here.” She lowered her voice. “Seriously though, Kayla, I need you. The food is terrible.”
Kayla chuckled. “You can count on me.”
“How are you feeling, wonder woman?”
“Oh, uh… not that wonderful to be honest.”
“Leaping tall structures in a single bound?” Thandi grinned admiringly at her. “You had a bit of a superhero moment.”
Kayla raised her eyebrows. “I tore half the muscles in my body. It was definitely not awesome.”
“Sure looked like it. I don’t even know how you do stuff like that. The Lord moved you.”
Christie cleared her throat and gave Thandi a significant look.
Thandi rolled her eyes. “It’s a compliment—I’m not diminishing what you did.”
Kayla returned her cheerful gaze with a flat expression. She had felt like everyone she cared about was about to die. Like her soul had been lit on fire, and the only way to put it out had been to move like a lightning bolt. It was not something she ever wanted to experience again.
“I was on probation for the incident on Ambrosia,” she reminded Thandi. “I will definitely be dropped back to private from now on.”
“Oh,” Thandi’s sparkling eyes darkened. “Well, that sucks. I hope they don’t. You straight up saved us all from an ambush at the start of that firefight. And the illume drone—you made lots of good calls down there.”
Kayla shook her head. “I shouldn’t be a team leader. I keep losing control. I can’t let… I don’t respond well when any of you are in danger.”
Thandi grabbed her hand, and squeezed it. “What happens to us is not up to you, my dear. It’s in God’s hands alone.”
Kayla didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure if she could accept that.
“How’s the pain?” Christie asked.
“Oh,” Thandi said and waved her hand. “Nothing too severe. I think of how Rose would be responding, and I know I can handle anything.”
Christie nodded silently.
“She speaks to me, in my dreams. She tells me how proud she is of us.” Thandi glanced at Kayla. “She says you are a true leader.”
Kayla turned away, unable to keep her eyes from tearing up.
“Will you be up in time for the merger?” Christie asked.
“On crutches maybe,” Thandi said. “But I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I can’t imagine anything more glorious.”
“What’s that?” Kayla asked before slowly turning back.
“The Banshee is returning to Tyr,” Christie explained. “On the way back, we have been tasked with collecting a probe that was observing a binary star merger. We will have the opportunity to observe the event live.”
“Whatever,” Kayla said with an eye roll. She was a little offended that their task force had been assigned a science project after what had happened. “Nerd stuff, right?”
Christie laughed, and met Thandi’s eyes with a smirk. “If you say so.”
Thandi shifted against her pillows. “How is the mood of the ship?” she said to Christie. “Are people still angry?”
“What do you mean?” Kayla cut in.
Thandi glanced back and forth between them. “You didn’t tell her?”
Christie waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, but with all that’s happening I didn’t think it pertinent. Why add to our already substantial burdens?”
“What’s going on?” Kayla demanded, and felt her hair stand on end.
Christie smiled tightly. “ODT Four seized the freighter and searched it thoroughly. No evidence of Rayker, as I said.”
“Yeah? And?”
“Well, they found a false compartment in one of the holds. And there were a pair of young teenagers inside. A boy and a girl.”
“In rags, and chained up,” Thandi added.
Kayla realized her jaw had clenched. She felt her skin crawl with a new kind of horror. “Oh my God,” she said, then glanced at Thandi. “Sorry.”
“In this case you get a dispensation.”
“Obviously,” Christie continued, “the pour souls will be returned to their families. A terrible situation.”
Kayla’s mind buzzed with questions. “What is—uh… where was it from? The ship?”
“Intaba,” Thandi said sullenly. “A VennZech registered vessel. Justice cannot come swiftly enough for the demon scum who perpetrated this evil on my homeworld…” she frowned as she lost her words, and clenched her fists together.
“Do you think Valkyrie will start interdicting their ships?” Kayla asked.
“No,” Christie said. “Hence the angry mood. It is a problem the organization has faced since humanity took to the stars. The chieftains have resolutely refused to address it. Our mission statement is to protect humanity, not interfere with their conduct. Frankly I have to agree with them, though I appear to be in the minority.”
Kayla stared at her incredulously. “But that’s bullshit,” she said. “How can you be okay with letting something like that go?”
Christie arched an eyebrow. “A secret army of super soldiers, with access to civilization destroying technology, and who answer—as far as we know—to nobody but themselves? The very thought of interfering gives me an existential crisis. However tragic the situation, it seems obvious that we must maintain our distance.”
Kayla shook her head. She already felt hot anger driving her to act. How could such monsters be allowed to walk freely in a just galaxy?
“All that it takes for evil to succeed—” Thandi began.
“Please can we not continue this conversation?” Christie snapped. “I’ve had enough of being insulted by some of my colleagues. I don’t want it from my friends too.”
Kayla exchanged looks with Thandi, but she owed her best friend the space she wanted.
“I promise, I won’t bring it up again, Chris,” she said.
***
Kayla ate in the ship’s mess then returned to her bunk, where the rest of the squad were waiting. They were talking in somber tones, but fell silent when she approached.
Kes stood up and beckoned to her. “Platoon ready room, this way.”
Once shut away in privacy, Kes sat her down and they retraced every event that had occurred inside the base. Every decision was picked apart minutely, with no judgement or grievance allowed.
“I needed us to go through this as soon as possible,” she explained. “This will sit with you for the rest of your life. We all made mistakes, but nobody should feel incriminated. I have been through five blue on blue incidents. This shit just happens, and I guarantee it will happen to you again in the future.”
Kayla felt a little relief as she spoke with her squad leader and found that she was neither alone, nor justified in hating herself. They had been moving quickly through a confusing environment, making a deadly situation much more likely.
“One last thing, though,” Kes added somberly. “Private Voigt from second squad fired the burst that hit Yak and Thandi. She is being removed from the battalion. By her own account, she returned Yak’s fire without any kind of communication with her team leader, or any attempt to check the position of friendlies. That was a major SOP violation when she knew they were expecting to move in our direction.”
Kayla absorbed this with shock. She couldn’t argue with it; after all, what good was a Ranger who couldn’t do her job? And didn’t that mean that the same punishment should apply to her?
She cleared her throat. Terror gnawed at her insides as Kes stared at her expectantly.
“I lost control again,” Kayla said.
“Yup,” Kes said, and rubbed her eyes with obvious frustration. “And this time, your actions swiftly ended a dangerous firefight following a terrible accident. Yak got immediate medical attention because of that. On the other hand, you put yourself in a position to be killed or wounded where no-one could help you.”
There was a long pause while the corporal appeared to search a distant horizon. “You don’t need a lecture, and Akane can’t make a decision on you. Yak was my next choice for Lance Corporal, but she’s out of action, along with a bunch of others. Together with this Rayker shitshow, it is not the time to be shuffling people around.”
Kayla’s brow furrowed “What about Ray?”
“Oh,” Kes ran a hand through her hair. “Every time I’ve offered it, she’s refused. Anyway, we’ve already been told by Captain Aguilar to expect a new private out of Ranger school once we return to Tyr.”
“Yes, Corporal,” Kayla said, unsure what to think about the decision.
“I’ve seen you make good decisions in the field. But I will push to replace you when the opportunity comes up again.” Kes narrowed her eyes. “Unless you can show me I’m wrong before that happens.”
Kayla left the room with her head spinning. She was keeping her job, even though she obviously didn’t have what it took to lead Rangers in combat.
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Prequel (Parts 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie

TLDR: I want to give you benchmarks and scientific processes to understand the outcome of the 2024 election without any prejudice.
There are many opinion polls and analyses that are giving extreme predictions of 2024 outcome like one from Parakala Prabhakar predicts ~150 seats for BJP and some others predict 375. Coming from a family of politicians .Without any prejudice let me explain how the process works and how to get a correct sense of the election. Thumb rules: I will give a detailed explanation later, but please keep these rules in mind. 1. Elections are won by grassroots cadres who bring voters to the voting booth. You cannot win elections unless that happens.

1. Voters vote in their best interest and they have clarity on that and the illiterate/poorly educated ones have better clarity. Voters are not stupid or could be fooled or people's mandate can be stolen.
   
2. वक़्त करता है परवरिश बरसों, हादसा एक दम नहीं होता : Things doesn’t happen all of a sudden, it happens over a while. Likewise, people don’t change their minds just because X incident has happened. Let's say on a weighing scale while pouring peanuts on one pan, on the 100th peanut scale tilts on its side so we cannot categorically say that the 100th peanut was historic or there is something special about it.
   
3. Media and money cannot buy votes.
   
4. EVMs cannot be hacked/manipulated.
   
5. In God we trust, others bring data.
   

Let’s say you go to a Mercedes showroom and say to the salesman that you have a strong feeling that I should own this Mercedes and even all my friends feel the same. You are not going to get that Mercedes unless the sum total of the money in your bank is more than what the price of the car. If not, then the salesman would ask you to get lost, the same thing you should tell anyone who analyses something based on their feeling. This is why analysis of Parakala P can be dismissed as he has mentioned in the beginning that it is his feeling.
Next in line are charlatans like Yogendra Yadav who with their sweet talk mix data with their feelings. He is taking data from previous elections and mixing his feelings to predict the outcome. I would trust the analysis of Pradeep Gupta or News24 Today’s Chanakya. These people have a very high rate of predicting election outcomes correctly, we need to understand their methods and how they can predict them correctly.
To understand their methods, we must first understand how people arrive at a decision to vote for a specific party.
Every party has 3 distinct types of voters:

1. Core voters: These voters will vote for a given party even if the sun rises in the west. A classic example is BSP. Its core voters are the SC/ST community and without any effort or presence in media or SM in the 2022 UP election, they got ~13% vote. Every major party has 10-20% (of the total eligible voters).

The core voter base will vote for a party even without a leader, even if leaders engage in crimes or corruption, it doesn’t matter. Long back I asked an old man who would vote for in a gram panchayat polls? He said, Indira Gandhi. At that time, I thought the old man was delusional however, I now understand that he voted for Congress because he felt obligated to vote for Indira Gandhi even if she died 3 decades ago. A core voter feels a lifetime obligation towards a specific party for any specific incident that has changed their life. E.g. Core voters of Shiv Sena voters vote because Shiv Sainiks saved their lives in the riots post Babri demolition or BSP voters vote for Kanshi Ram because he educated them about their constitutional rights and gave them a dignified life.

1. Loyal voters: These voters are loyal to a specific party/leader however, they have a defined fault line and if their party/leader crosses that fault line they vote against that party/leader. E.g. a BJP voter has a fault line of Hindutva or nationalism and if they feel that fault line is crossed they would vote against BJP to express their anger because that fault line is crossed. As long as the fault line is not crossed the party/leader engaged in crime or corruption doesn’t matter. The percentage of loyal voters changes each election, but you cannot win unless you have ~15-20% loyal voters. Floating voter: This voter would vote based on his criteria and perception however this kind of voter is usually in the range of 5% of the total voters. Core voters form the bulwark of the party and support the party voraciously even at it’s lowest point, these voters keep the party alive in its bad days, but you cannot win the elections without the support of the loyal voters. These voters along with the floating voters help the party cross the finish line which is usually 30-45%. When an incumbent party loses elections with a major loss, it usually means the loyal voters have voted against them. Floating voters matter when there is regime change because, in that kind of a fight, every vote counts. Bhau Torsekar , a Marathi journalist had accurately predicted 2014 and 2019 results without any survey and wrote books on he arrived at these figures. Let me summarise his methodology. He has identified swing seats, i.e. a constituency where the difference between the 1st and 2nd candidate should be less than 15% or BJP had won that seat in recent part, which he calls fight seats, i.e. seats where a party has a realistic chance of winning. That number was close to 300 and with Modi as PM candidate and Amit Shah as strategist of UP state that swing of 15% was achieved and in some cases even more and that is how the majority was won. Anyone who was closely involved in that election would know what fever was there to elect Modi. I personally remember that my family members who were loyalists of Congress had been angry with Congress since 90s and would say that they would now vote for Vajpayee just before going to vote and for Congress. Despite the disgruntlement and a charismatic leader like Vajpayee, they voted for Congress. The breaking point came when the Congress leadership behaved in a very high-handed manner with my Uncle and refusing to meet him, which was considered as a big insult by his supporters. BJP leadership grabbed the opportunity with both hands, had a series of meeting and scales were titled in 2014 election. 5 lakh voters switched from Congress to BJP and they became loyal voters of BJP. This fever I had seen in my colleagues and neighbours. With all the scandals of the world, bad publicity and wide-scale protests, Modi’s allure, and Shah’s micromanagement, unprecedented rise of 8% in the polls, the BJP’s vote share rose by just 12%. For India alliance to come tilt the scales, they will have to raise their vote share by at least 10% and I see no signs of that happening. Having disgruntled voters is one part, but disgruntled voters are not going to switch parties unless the opposition has addressed all the needs of the voters. Predicting 2024 elections: Please watch this video before making any opinion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwnnn1M-T5U . Here Shekhar Gupta speaks his observations on how he saw that Modi was able to deliver social benefit schemes to people( meanwhile he was making videos onhow bad modi's defeat would be in 2014 elections.) .

Most voters in India are directly dependent on the government’s social benefit schemes and it used to be a struggle to get those benefits from Sarkari babu. Modi turned the tables and made the Sarkari Babu struggle to deliver the promised benefit. The voters is mostly voting for his issues like water, food, social justice, and security. He is not bothered by Modi being a dictator or a democracy in danger. For them, issues can range from getting 5 Kg of free rice to road from village to highway. If that is done he is happy to vote for the leader who has done that.
Please take these factors into account.

1. 55 swing seats are there for BJP.
   
2. The vote share of the India alliance will fall. Why? Because the cadre is leaving these parties.
   
3. The vote share of the BJP will rise because the above cadre has come to the BJP. Tag this with streamline and tight control of central leadership.
   

While most people will call Amit Shah as Chanakya, I see him as a top class administrator who has set processes for the BJP karyakartas to execute their task which is mind-boggling. These guidelines come with minute details like font size. There are leaders like Amit Shah or better in other parties however, they have not given a thought of putting down their experience on paper making guidelines, creating a robust feedback system, etc. You can consider BJP like McDonald's which has detailed processes to replicate the success in every franchise, while the other parties are like top restaurants in your city which are top class where they operate but cannot take their success beyond that restaurant because they have not made their restaurant process oriented.
The best-case scenario for BJP is 355 however, 325 would be a rational figure.

Introduction

In today's fast-paced business environment, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. Workforce management, a cornerstone of organisational success, is no exception. As companies strive to enhance productivity and efficiency, innovative staffing solutions have emerged as game-changers. These solutions leverage cutting-edge technology and flexible work arrangements to meet the dynamic needs of modern businesses. Let's dive into how these revolutionary approaches are transforming workforce management.

Understanding Workforce Management

What is Workforce Management?

Workforce management (WFM) encompasses all the activities required to maintain a productive workforce. This includes employee scheduling, attendance tracking, compliance with labor laws, and performance management. Essentially, WFM ensures that the right number of employees with the right skills are in the right place at the right time.

Importance of Efficient Workforce Management

Efficient workforce management is vital for several reasons. It helps businesses reduce labor costs, enhance productivity, and improve employee satisfaction. When done correctly, it ensures that operations run smoothly, customers are satisfied, and employees feel valued and engaged.

The Evolution of Staffing Solutions

Traditional Staffing Methods

Traditionally, staffing involved a lot of manual processes. HR managers would sift through stacks of resumes, conduct numerous interviews, and manually schedule shifts. While this approach worked for decades, it was time-consuming and often inefficient.

The Shift to Innovative Solutions

The advent of technology has revolutionized staffing solutions. Today, AI-driven recruitment tools, cloud-based platforms, and flexible work arrangements are becoming the norm. These innovations not only streamline the hiring process but also offer greater flexibility and scalability.

Key Components of Innovative Staffing Solutions

Technology Integration

AI and Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are at the forefront of innovative staffing solutions. These technologies can analyze vast amounts of data to identify the best candidates, predict workforce needs, and even automate routine HR tasks. For instance, AI-driven chatbots can handle initial candidate screenings, freeing up HR professionals to focus on more strategic tasks.

Cloud-Based Platforms

Cloud-based platforms offer a centralized system for managing all aspects of workforce management. These platforms provide real-time access to employee data, streamline communication, and facilitate remote work. They also enable businesses to scale their operations quickly and efficiently.

Flexibility and Agility

Gig Economy Integration

The gig economy is transforming the traditional employment model. More and more businesses are tapping into a pool of freelancers and contract workers to meet their staffing needs. This approach offers flexibility, allowing companies to scale their workforce up or down based on demand.

Remote Work Facilitation

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work. Innovative staffing solutions now include tools and platforms that facilitate remote work, ensuring employees can collaborate effectively from anywhere. This not only expands the talent pool but also improves work-life balance for employees.

Benefits of Innovative Staffing Solutions

Cost Efficiency

Innovative staffing solutions can significantly reduce costs. By automating routine tasks and optimizing workforce schedules, businesses can cut down on labor expenses. Additionally, the flexibility of gig workers and remote employees can lead to substantial savings on overhead costs.

Enhanced Productivity

When employees are matched to roles that suit their skills and preferences, productivity soars. Innovative staffing solutions use data-driven insights to ensure the right fit, leading to higher efficiency and better outcomes.

Improved Employee Satisfaction

Happy employees are productive employees. Flexible work arrangements, opportunities for remote work, and AI-driven career development tools contribute to higher job satisfaction. This, in turn, reduces turnover rates and fosters a more engaged workforce.

Case Studies of Successful Staffing Innovations

Company A's Transition to AI-Driven Hiring

Company A, a tech startup, faced challenges in scaling its workforce quickly. By implementing an AI-driven recruitment system, they reduced the time-to-hire by 50% and improved the quality of hires. This allowed them to grow rapidly without compromising on talent quality.

Company B's Success with Remote Workforce Management

Company B, a marketing firm, adopted a cloud-based workforce management platform to facilitate remote work. This move not only ensured business continuity during the pandemic but also led to a 20% increase in employee productivity and a 15% reduction in operational costs.

Implementing Innovative Staffing Solutions in Your Business

Assessing Current Workforce Needs

Before implementing any new solutions, it's crucial to assess your current workforce needs. Identify the gaps in your existing system and determine what improvements are necessary. This could involve conducting surveys, analyzing performance data, and consulting with department heads.

Choosing the Right Technology

Not all technologies will suit every business. It's important to choose solutions that align with your specific needs and goals. Look for scalable platforms that offer the features you require, such as AI capabilities, cloud integration, and flexibility for remote work.

Training and Development

Introducing new technology requires proper training. Ensure your HR team and managers are well-versed in using the new tools. Provide ongoing support and resources to help them adapt to the changes seamlessly.

Overcoming Challenges in Innovative Staffing

Resistance to Change

Change can be daunting, and resistance is natural. To overcome this, communicate the benefits of the new solutions clearly to your team. Involve them in the decision-making process and provide adequate training to ease the transition.

Data Security Concerns

With the increasing reliance on technology, data security is a major concern. Ensure that the platforms you choose have robust security measures in place to protect sensitive employee information. Regular audits and compliance checks can help maintain data integrity.

Future Trends in Workforce Management

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics is set to revolutionize workforce management. By analyzing historical data, businesses can predict future staffing needs, identify potential issues, and make proactive decisions. This leads to more efficient and effective workforce planning.

Virtual Reality in Training

Virtual Reality (VR) is emerging as a powerful tool for employee training. VR can simulate real-life scenarios, providing immersive training experiences that enhance learning and retention. This is particularly useful for high-risk industries like manufacturing and healthcare.

Conclusion

Innovative staffing solutions are transforming workforce management, offering businesses new ways to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve employee satisfaction. By leveraging technology and embracing flexible work models, companies can stay ahead in a competitive landscape. As we move into the future, staying adaptable and open to new staffing innovations will be key to sustained success.

Given the recent discussion of Shut Up And Ruck’s strength programming, I thought it might be appropriate to address a few lingering comments.
First, we’re not immune to criticism. It is perfectly reasonable to criticize whenever and whoever you want, even me. Clearly, the anonymity of the internet provides ample license to do so. I’m not infallible and I make at least one mistake every fiscal year. I get downvoted all the time and I recognize that many things that I say are taken as gospel based on my years of providing accurate information. I don’t take this leniency lightly. I’ve earned this gift and I don’t look gift horses in the mouth. I certainly don’t shy away from criticizing others, but I always seek to do so from a position of best intentions of the outcome. But if you think that it’s appropriate to draw conclusions like “He definitely doesn’t know what he’s talking about”, “It violates basic principles”, or my favorite “It looks like he stole this from X, Y, or Z” and you’re basing that on one tiny screenshot of one sample day of one singular domain absent of context of the entirety of the programming then you must be special. I wish I had that sort of clairvoyance.
Second, our programming is not a mistake. Is it aggressive? Absolutely. Is it wrong? Absolutely not. It is deliberate and intentional. A few points to consider:
-The higher percentages and rep ranges occur at the end of each cycle. You don’t start off at the high end, you finish there. The passage cited is 9 weeks post 1RM testing. At a minimum the higher % come 5 weeks after testing. You get stronger and the programming reflects that.
-Just because you’ve never done anything like this doesn’t mean much. We follow the evidence, and the literature clearly indicates that our recommendations are appropriate. Aggressive, but appropriate. Here are 6 sources, including some meta-analyses that bring the body of knowledge to several hundred; there are many more.
Source 1
Source 2
Source 3
Source 4
Source 5
Source 6
Your experience not withstanding, our programming is entirely valid. This is especially true given the other variables. 1) we prioritize intensity and we manifest that through heavy weights 2) you only lift each exercise 2 times in every 5 day cycle - plenty of time for macro recovery 3) you are resting up to 4 minutes between sets - plenty of time for micro recovery 4) you are only doing 3 lifts in a day and only one for that domain - you aren’t doing 3 sets of barbell bench, then 3 sets of incline, then 3 sets of decline, then some cable cross-overs, then some dumbbell flys, then finishing with some drop sets on the Smith machine. 1 exercise, at maximal intensity. No need to pace yourself. 5) we are seeking to balance strength and endurance. It’s impossible to fully address both simultaneously. There will inevitably be friction. 6) we are seeking to challenge you, not accommodate you. 7) we emphasize self-reflection, data analysis, and agency. If you are struggling to meet the listed criteria then we encourage you to program accordingly. It’s foundational to our approach.
But allow me to let you in on a little secret. Even though we cite no small amount of literature, you can find lots of literature that argues against our programming. In fact, there is so much ‘literature’ out there that you can find supporting information for damn near everything and anything. So, back to my first point, you are welcome to criticize. But you should at least provide some counter-evidence beyond “in my experience”. In the Taxonomy of Information, anecdotal testimony is the least rigorous. We have presented our arguments, you are invited to present yours. Or be a little more graceful in your criticism.
We are well aware of Prilepin’s optimal reps (for powerlifting), and the NASM 5 Phase Optimum Performance Training Model (which we follow) and the NSCA Performance Pyramid (which we follow). We don’t disagree that they are to be well considered. We did a full and complete survey of the information environment. But we stated in our introduction and made available for free our philosophy…we have no interest in preserving the credentialed protectorate of the fitness industry. SFAS is different, so shall the programming be.
Third, we didn’t “steal” another program and stack it on top of our own stuff. That’s not how this works. If you survey all of the programs and methodology out there, you will find a ton of overlap. If you follow established principles and seek consensus, then you end up looking a lot like the other stuff. Did we look at other programs? Yes, dozens of them. Did we steal them? No. The fact that we favor a more intense program that most programs don’t should make this argument moot. This is a serious accusation and should be reserved for the most egregious circumstances. You might not have experience with this type of programming, you might not be familiar with recent literature, and you are only seeing a very minuscule event absent of any of the other programming and ancillary elements.
Fourth, and finally, I want to address the unhinged discussion of cost. We’re particularly sensitive to this topic because we know that our target population skews younger and likely less affluent, so cost matters. And I don’t like calling guys out necessarily, but u/Certain-Exam-2577 and u/Potential_Presence67 ? You two can go fuck yourselves. You anonymous peices of shit decided from your castles on top of Mount Holy that we are looking for a “money grab”? I could have charged hundreds, I could put all of my content behind a paywall, and I could simply pump and dump and walk away to stack cash. But that’s not the case.
What do you two fucking genius economists think would be appropriate for 8 months of daily programming for strength, conditioning, rucking, mental prep, mobility, skills, recovery and much more? We charge 60 dollars. Let’s take a very small survey the prep environment and see where we stack up:
Evoke - 3 months, requires additional programming prerequisites, $65
Performance First - 3 months, $90
18A Fitness - 4 months, $179
Gritty Soldier - 3 months, $30
Mountain Tactical - 12 months, $329
Blue/Green Training - 11 weeks, $129
We’re looking pretty competitive given these numbers. And these are the better programs. We mostly like them (and others) and we have tremendous respect for their creators and coaches. We don’t think they are as good as ours, especially our ruck programming, but they’re in the ballpark. Many guys in this sub have used them and speak highly of them. There are also near endless shit programs out there. AI generated, generic, point-of-sale trash with slick marketing and zero support.
We are a complete program that covers every single domain, and we have well established our expertise for SFAS. But we don’t rely on reputation, we deliver. We research, analyze, synthesize, and present the most comprehensive program out there. For just 60 bucks. Hell, you’ll spend over half that on a blank journal…we’ve recommended this excellent journal many times. But that’s just a cool journal. Zero programming. So we think we’re not “grabbing” too much.
Our resident pricks go on to say that RUSU wasn’t worth $50. Good thing we only charge $40. And perhaps you’d prefer the 15+ year old, lack-luster competition? They’re in the same price range. They even take a cheap shot at our Muster events as just a ‘wAlK iN tHe wOoDs tHaT yOu cOuLd do for FrEe’ or ‘info you could probably find online’. Our “competition” is $750 and one of the programs isn’t even taught by a military guy, much less a Green Beret. You two retarded laureates haven’t even attended an event, so your opinion is irrelevant.
And I should put a pin in all of this money grab, predatory, grifter talk by reminding them that this is all voluntary. You don’t have to spend a single dime if you don’t want to. Lots of guys don’t do anything extra and they get Selected all the time. But if a guy wants to be compensated for his hard work and another guy wants to allocate the cost of a night out drinking, then maybe your keen criticism could be stymied a bit. I offer plenty of free advice and commentary every day. I note that neither of you provide anything of value.
So, that’s my assessment of the situation. You don’t have to be a part of the conversation, but I thought that I should let you know how I see it. I endlessly tell you about the importance of foot care, so it’s only fair that I weigh in on this important topic. I should note that there was also some very reasoned comments and lots of guys understanding the intent of the programming AND of the program. And the OP reached out via DM and we had a very reasonable and productive discussion. He gets it. And the number of guys commenting is <1% of the number of guys reading the actual full program. I like that guys are passionate about this stuff. If you get 10 Green Berets in a room you’ll get 11 different opinions on damn near every topic. You know what they say about opinions…

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Suprabhat, Vannakam, Adab and Welcome to the 2024 LOK SABHA GENERAL ELECTION THUNDERDOME.
NO RULES, NO LIMITS, ONLY CHAOS.
THE CAGE -
India is a parliamentary democracy that follows the first-past-the-post voting system, similar to the standard Westminster System. The Lower House of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) consists of 543 seats representing 543 constituencies that send 1 Member of Parliament (MP) each. These 543 MP's then choose a prime minister via simple majority.
For each constituency, a political party gives a ticket to a single Candidate. The Candidate with at least a plurality of votes in a constituency represents that Constituency in parliament as a member of the party.
There are no party level primaries in India, the candidate for a constituency is decided by the party high command and only one person from a party can be on the ticket for a particular seat. You can contest multiple constituencies though from the same party as both Narendra Modi (2014 BJP Candidate for both Varanasi and Vadodara) and Rahul Gandhi (2024 Congress Candidate for both Rae Bareili and Wayanad) have done. If no existing political party gives you a ticket, you can contest as an Independent Candidate or form your own party and contest as a member of your own party.
The government can be formed by the party or the alliance that has a simple majority of MP's. When no single political party has a majority of MP's, an alliance of various parties can be formed that contains the majority of MP's. This is called a post-poll alliance, where the parties contest elections separately but might come together after the elections in order to form the government or be part of the government. However there is also the pre-poll alliance where political parties join or form an alliance before the elections.
THE DATES -
THE RESULTS -
EXIT POLLS -
THE FIGHTS -
Economy & Employment:
The incumbent BJP-led NDA government makes the positive case of economic growth and development under its decade long tenure. It points to strong rejuvenated GDP growth with relatively low inflation, rising wages, a growing middle class, stable macroeconomic positioning, strong spending, slashing of multidimensional poverty, a strong and well administered welfare state, expanded free trade, sharp reduction in regulation, increase in select manufacturing and industry, a revitalized finance sector, and a thriving service market.
The government points to the large-scale infrastructure development undertaken, expanding roadways, delivering expansive electrification, and provisions of basic utility services. They point to the stagnation and policy paralysis observed under the tenure of the last Congress government (UPA 2), and further make point to the opposition's alleged proposed populist economic programs as untenable and unfeasible. They make the case that the opposition has leftist economic policies that are not grounded in economic reality.
The INC-led I.N.D.I.A opposition on the other hand, makes the negative case against the incumbents, pointing to large scale youth unemployment, even among educated youth. They point to an alleged inability of the government to tie growth to employment. They allege a failure of manufacturing capacity and sufficient industrialization of the economy, highlighting the lack of sufficient private capital inflows. They criticize the growth figures of the economy by casting doubt on the government's statistics, and focusing extensively on growing wealth inequality, alleging that growth only occurs for the rich billionaire class, with minimal relief for the poor, targeting specific attacks against domestic industrial magnates, Adani and Ambani. They allege favoritism on the part of the incumbent government towards their select base, highlighting the state of Gujarat as being prioritized over other states.
In making their positive case, they propose a more inclusive and redistributive model of growth, proposing heightened subsidization programmes, more welfare and support programmes, higher taxation on the wealthy and corporations, leveraging private capital inflows for infrastructure development, and prioritizing equitable growth through a caste census, developing corrective policies for inequalities between castes.
They aim to solve the employment crisis through expanding roles in state enterprises and filling government vacancies, alongside expanding labour intensive industries like manufacturing and mining, whilst pointing to high growth rates of the economy as well as committing to expand manufacturing through reforms and subsidy platforms like the PLI, FAME etc., further claiming that increased infrastructure spending will lead to crowding in effect thus enabling faster industrialization.
Social Justice:
The issues of social equity and justice have become major cornerstones of both the incumbent and opposition electoral platforms. This is most prevalent through the forthcoming section on sectarianism, but also focuses on key issues regarding class equality and - most importantly - caste-based discrimination.
The incumbent BJP-led NDA government point to their solid track record of universal poverty alleviation, targeted successful welfare and affirmative action programmes. The INC-led I.N.D.I.A opposition on the other hand, point to growing wealth inequality and apparent institutional and systemic discrimination against underprivileged caste communities in academia, employment, governmental programmes, courts, the military, etc. They allege that the government has not committed to taking resolute and definitive action against casteism through corrective policy.
This all boils down to the Reservation system, a large scale, affirmative action initiative, conducted through a systematic quota-based policy of allotment of institutional positions in education, governmental employment, schemes and programmes, direct political representation, etc.
With reservations estimated to have hit 59.5% of Central Government Institutional positions, there are now broader calls to expand the scale and scope of this drive. The opposition wanting to break the cap limits and even introduce this system into the private sector to potentially induce parity, while the government commits to more modest hikes of upto 62.5% while playing into incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi's identity as a member of an underprivileged caste community.
While the opposition campaigns on removing limits to the quota system to deliver equity, the government alleges these commitments to be populist and detrimental, while alleging that the opposition seeks to potentially appease its Muslim voter base by introducing expanded reservations for Muslims, thereby allegedly sabotaging the disadvantaged Hindu lower castes, and redistributing their wealth to Muslims, in a bid to gain their votes.
Communalism:
Both the incumbent BJP-led NDA government and the INC-led I.N.D.I.A opposition have framed communalism as a lynchpin issue of the Election. The incumbent government points to alleged casteist and bigoted rhetoric against select caste groups and Hindus. They allege the opposition panders to minorities for their votes, whilst not delivering on the real issues. They allege the opposition seeks to drive up divisiveness and shared social harmony in India. They further allege that the opposition engages in divisive rhetoric on key issues of Hindu-Indian culture like that of the Ram Temple, in ways that contradict the spirit of the Indian State.
The opposition on the other hand, accused the incumbent government of being bigoted against minority communities, from the large Muslim community, to the lower caste communities of Indian society. They allege use of hateful and divisive rhetoric against these communities, and point to select controversial government positions and policies on issues like the Ram Mandir, the controversial CAA-NRC laws, the proposed Uniform Civil Code, among others. They further allege institutional degradation of key offices including policing, academia, and the military in discriminating against minority groups.
Institutional Independence:
The INC-led I.N.D.I.A opposition alleges institutional degradation and capture of various independent governmental entities by the incumbents. They point to the use of Executive, Investigative, Anti-Corruption, Enforcement, & Tax authorities against opposition figures and media as evidence, highlighting specific cases of the detaining and arrest of two sitting opposition Chief Ministers, and the resignation of one. They highlight alleged selective targeting of opposition figures for raids, charges, and arrests, creating an alleged environment of impunity for the government. The opposition alleges heightened and blatant partisanship of members of the Judiciary in support of the incumbent government. They also allege illegitimate freezing of campaigning funds, crackdowns on press freedoms via capture of media institutions, and also critically alleges institutional capture of the Election Commission, casting doubts on election results primarily critiquing India's Electronic Voting Machines (EVM).
The Government rebukes these claims as part of a strong anti-corruption drive, highlighting a drop in governmental corruption cases since the previous Congress government (UPA 2, infamously riddled with such allegations). The government frames the opposition parties as corrupt and power-hungry, while further disparaging the opposition's alleged unfounded attacks on Indian institutions, apparent partisan attacks on the judiciary and critiquing apparent unfounded claims of election denialism.
THE FIGHTERS –
The election is primarily clash between two large coalitions, and their leading parties. On one side, you have the incumbent government of the BJP-led NDA, or National Democratic Alliance, and on the other, you have the opposition INC-led I.N.D.I.A, or Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, a new mega coalition of more than 35 parties, with a few unofficial supporters too.
The following is a list of some key players in each of the alliances and is by no means a comprehensive or exhaustive list of all involved factions.
The incumbent NDA includes:

1. BJP – The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party - "Indian People's Party") is a Hindu nationalist party committed to Hindutva ideology, promoting Hindu culture, opposing Muslim immigration, and creating a nativist country wherein India embraces a fundamentally Hindu social fabric. The BJP government under Modi undertook strong reformist policies in promoting liberalization of the economy through aggressive regulatory reforms, furthering free trade through FTAs and privatization of underperforming state assets. They took aggressive stances on defense and counterterrorism against Pakistan and China, while pragmatically engaging other nations despite criticism on some foreign policy moves for being 'wolf warrior-esque'. They uphold a strong nationalist domestic and foreign policy, that simultaneously does not retreat from globalization. On National Security, they aim to make India a regional power with a strong emphasis on modernization & indigenization of military administration and technology, while also reducing bureaucratic and manpower burdens through varied recruitment windows.
   
2. JD(U) - The JD(U) (Janata Dal (United) – “People’s Party (United)”) is led by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and has been in power in the eastern state of Bihar since 2005. It was formed after a series of splits and mergers in the Janata Dal in the 90s. It is credited with doing good work in the state on roads, electricity, and water, however it has failed to provide jobs & spur manufacturing. This, combined with its leader frequently switching between rival alliances, is causing anti-incumbency.
   
3. TDP - The TDP (Telugu Desam Party – “Party of the Telugu Land") follows a pro-Telugu ideology. It was founded as an alternative to the Congress hegemony, by emphasizing Telugu regional pride and serving as the party for farmers, backward castes and middle-class people. Since the 1990s, it has followed an economically liberal policy that has been seen as pro-business and pro-development as well as populist welfare measures.
   

The opposition I.N.D.I.A includes:

1. INC - The INC (Indian National Congress) is a big tent social-democratic/democratic-socialist party with its foundational pillars being equity, equality, and egalitarianism. They take broad commitments to secularism and class equality to be principal positions. The INC under Rahul Gandhi has taken strong positions on caste issues, shining light on inequities from past and current discrimination, and proposing active policy interventions. While the INC also holds a free-market/pro-liberalization consensus, they emphasize growing social and wealth inequality and seek inclusive and redistributive growth with strong state intervention. They also see some proposed liberalizing reforms to further inequality and take an 'anti-corporatist' position. They take a slightly less strong position to Indian foreign policy, stressing a more diplomatic approach (with minimal variance on actual positions to the incumbents). They embrace globalization in part, while emphasizing India's need for domestic development. They aim to industrialize India rapidly through stimulating private investment and aim to subsidize both supply and demand. They seek to maintain the Indian military with a focus on highly trained soldiers. They pioneered multi-alignment as the foreign policy for India.
   
2. AAP - The AAP (Aam Aadmi Party – “Common Man's Party"), part of INDIA coalition, currently holds power in two key states - Delhi and Punjab. Its chief figurehead and leader, Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under an alleged liquor scam in the run up to elections. Barely a 10 year old party it has expanded very quickly to many states, running two of them, and now has national party status by the Election Commission of India (ECI). It leans centre-left to centre-right, with some play of soft Hindutva, while its economic platform comprises heavy spending in education, health, and free schemes of water and electricity. They rose to power on an anti-corruption program in 2013 and continues to have it as its central plank.
   
3. CPI(M) – The CPI(M) (Communist Party of India (Marxist)). They commies lol. The CPI(M) is one of the larger and more mainstrean communist parties in India. Since they operate within the Indian republic's constitution they have adopted more Indian characterisrics. They are primarily against privatisation in the public sector and in favour of universal education and healthcare. Their base has traditionally been in Kerala, one of the more developed states in India in terms of income levels and HCI. they're in favour of private sector reservations and in recent years have also been pro-FDI They promise non-aligned foreign policy, but largely are very anti-US and pro-China. They promise to restore Article 370 and oppose forceful seizure of land by government. They're one of the most influential parties in India due to a strong cadre and student union ecosystem. They've had an effect on the farmers protests as well as economic positions of the INDI Alliance.
   
4. DMK - The DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam - “Dravidian Progressive Federation") is a big tent broad left-wing party that is foundationally Dravidian (primarily Tamil) Nationalist, with strong emphasis on social equity and caste issues, while being staunchly secular and atheistic, and interventionist, statist, heavily welfarist, and industrialist in economic policy. They are primarily a regional party operating in the state of Tamil Nadu, led by M.K. Stalin, the state's current Chief Minister.
   
5. RJD - The RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal – “National People’s Party”) is a caste-based (Muslims & Yadavs) political party in the Indian state of Bihar, which it ruled from 1990 to 2005. Its rule was one of extreme lawlessness & anarchy. It was called the “Jungle Raj”. Between 1990 & 2000, Bihar's per capita income and power consumption fell off a cliff due to mismanagement. Its CM, Lalu Prasad, was convicted of corruption in 2013.
   
6. SP - The SP (Samajwadi Party – “Socialist Party”) believes in creating a socialist society that operates on the principle of equality. Although the party previously ran on an anti-computer, anti-English, and anti-machinery platform, under its new national president Akhilesh Yadav, the party has made a 180° turn. Now, the Samajwadi Party declares itself to be the party of infrastructure while maintaining its commitment to social justice, with a special focus on teaching computer skills. The party's main base is in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which is the most populated state in India, with a population of 230 million. The only negatives associated with the party are the rampant dynasticism within its ranks and its perceived soft stance on law and order issues.
   
7. JMM - The JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha – “Jharkhand Liberation Front") currently runs the govt of eastern state of Jharkhand. The party has historically centred tribal rights as its central plank and agitated for a new tribal state separate from Bihar until 2000, when their demands were met. It leans centre-left to left with their key issues being tribal control of land, mineral and mining rights, addressing issues of rehabilitation of tribals. The party is primarily run by the Soren family, with Champai Soren being its chief minister candidate in the current government after the last chief minister Hemant Soren was arrested by enforcement directorate. JMM is in alliance with the Indian national congress in the state, and part of the INDIA coalition for the Lok Sabha elections. They face charges of corruption and the image of dynastic politics.
   

The “It’s Complicated”, Unaligned, Split, and/or other Supplementary Parties include:

1. TMC - The TMC or AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) is a Bengali political party ruling over the state of West Bengal since 2011. It is led by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. It is a center-left, welfarist, Bengali Nationalist party. It has been criticized for using heavy-handed authoritarian tactics against opposition leaders in the state, corruption, and political violence. It is credited with ending 34 years of communist rule in the state. West Bengal under the AITC has registered subpar economic performance and is largely stagnant. Pertinent to note Mamata used to be Congress leader till 1998, and AITC, in spite of being sympathetic towards the I.N.D.I.A. alliance at the national level, is fighting the Congress-Left alliance in West Bengal on all 42 seats.
   
2. AIADMK - The AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – “All India Anna Dravidian Progressive Federation") is a broad centre-left/left-wing party adhering to foundational Dravidian philosophy, while emphasizing Tamil identity. Traditionally being less ethno-nationalist than their sister opposition party the DMK, they adhere to broad welfarist left-wing populism, focusing on social justice and communal equity, while being less economically statist than the DMK. They also focus primarily on Tamil Nadu as a regional party, currently led by Edappadi Palaniswami.
   
3. Shiv Sena - The Shiv Sena (“Army of Shivaji”) was founded by Bal Thackeray in 1966 as a populist, xenophobic party, although the party gradually added Hindutva ideology to its anti non-Maharashtrian plank. It was the long time senior partner to the BJP in Maharashtra till Narendra Modi's popularity caused a change in the dynamics. After power sharing talks with the BJP failed in 2019, the Shiv Sena switched alliances to join hands with their long time rivals in Congress and NCP in an arrangement that made Bal Thackeray’s son Uddhav Thackeray the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. In 2022 again, The Majority of Shiv Sena politicians led by Eknath Shinde rebelled against the top leadership to ally again with the BJP, taking control of the party and toppling the Uddhav Thackeray government. The splinter group led by Uddhav Thackeray is called SS (UBT) and it is allied with the Congress in the INDIA Alliance.
   
4. NCP – The NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) were founded in 1998 by Sharad Pawar and a few others who left the Congress in 1998 after Sonia Gandhi was made Congress president. Despite it's formation, the NCP was a long term ally of the Congress sharing virtually the same ideology. In 2023 however, like the Shiv Sena, In a rebellion led by Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit, a Majority of NCP politicians switched alliances to support the BJP and took control of the party. Like the Shiv Sena, the Splinter group led by Sharad Pawar and his daughter is called NCP (SP) and it's allied with the Congress in the INDIA Alliance
   
5. YSRCP - The YSRCP (Yuvjana Sramika Rythu Congress Party – “Youth, Labour, & Farmer Congress Party”) was founded by the son of an old congress Chief Minister after he was denied the role of Chief Minister after his father. It's a populist centre-of-left party with strong focus on welfare schemes and cash benefits. It's mired in controversy due to its dynastic nature, its ties to Christian Fundamentalism and American Missionaries targeting the marginalized.
   
6. BRS - The BRS (Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi – “Indian National Council”) was formed originally with a single-point agenda of creating a separate Telangana state with Hyderabad as its capital. They are largely neoliberal and are credited with rapid economic growth in Telangana.
   
7. BJD – The BJD (Biju Janata Dal – “Biju’s People’ Platform”) was formed by Naveen Pattnaik the son of the former CM of Oddisha, Biju Pattnaik. It’s a Odia regional party with a strong focus on poverty upliftment through welfare policies and equitable economic growth.
   
8. BSP - The BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party - "Majority Community Party") is a center-left party in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which was started to uplift Dalits and other marginalized communities in India by Kanshi Ram. Its current party president is Mayawati. BSP is considered as one of the biggest parties in India as per vote share, although it's currently in decline. At its height, this party had a strong base in many states across north India, but now it's only limited to the state of Uttar Pradesh, which is one of the largest states in India with a population of 230 million. There are strong suspicions of BSP working in secret with BJP, and maybe that's why the party is not fighting this election enthusiastically. Although they can still make the competition interesting on a few seats in UP.
   

OTHER KEY ISSUES -

1. Political Dynasticism:

Although dynastism is thought to be a good fix for internal chaos in a party, the current political leader of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi, is a fourth-generation dynast who has to carry the political baggage of everything which went wrong during the rule of his grandmother and great-grandfather.
Also because one family has been controlling the Congress for decades, it has caused various state-level leaders to either form their own party or join another one. They see no future in the Congress anymore because the door to leadership is always closed for them. This has destroyed the ground level cadre of Congress party in many key states.
Rahul Gandhi’s privilege combined with the lack of any real political acumen so far has led to the INC taking damage due to is infamy.
Nepotism and dynastic politics has been a key issue throughout the last 10 years as BJP positions itself as the ‘common man’s party’

1. The Ram Mandir:

A land dispute originating from the alleged destruction of a Hindu Temple, replaced by a Mosque built allegedly atop the site (the Babri Masjid) in the 16th century allegedly by Mughal Empror Babur in present day Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, the proposed birthplace of the Hindu deity Lord Ram.
Following a century of sporadic conflict, from 1853 to 1949, a revivalist movement in the 1980's would lead to rising communal tensions, culminating in the 1992 destruction of the Ram Temple by Hindu Nationalists and devotees.
The legal conflict over the land would continue until 2019, when the Supreme Court of India issued the controversial ruling that the land be handed over to government trust for the construction of a Ram Temple, with seperate land being allotted to the local Muslim community for construction of a Mosque.
Almost all elements of the dispute remain mired in controversy. From the historical and religious associations of Ayodhya with Ram, the existence of a definitively Hindu structure, the alleged deliberate destruction of the said temple, the times and events of construction and use, the participants, planning, and events of the 1992 destruction, the ASI Archeological Surveys that served as key evidence for the Supreme Court being tampered and politicised by both sides of the politcal aisle, the legality of the ruling itself, and other surrounding issues regarding justice against those alleged to have partaken in the destruction of the Babri Masjid.

1. Foreign Policy:

The BJP is campaigning on building a multi-aligned foreign policy where India is seen as the world’s friend as well as an upcoming regional power. This was at its peak during India’s G20 presidency. Many Indians claim the rise of India’s global stature is an electoral issue. This can be seen in the popularity of the government’s anti-terror operations in both Pakistan and beyond. The resurgence of an interventionist foreign policy has proven to be popular in projecting the strongman image of Modi. The country’s commitment to it’s strategic autonomy and multi-alignment have been a fixture right since Nehru.
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Hello, I am a university student in Korea who is very interested in mental health. My girlfriend is suffering from severe depression, and in the process of helping her, I discovered a significant issue. There is no way to manage the client between counseling sessions. To confirm this, I conducted a survey in Korea.
According to my research and interviews, many people expressed that they "couldn't say everything they wanted to in a short time" or "forgot important things they needed to say." This lack of memory during the period between sessions made the clients uncomfortable and the counselors had to rely solely on the clients' memories, causing inconvenience in the counseling process.
Many mental illnesses, including depression, cannot be resolved by willpower alone. This highlights the importance of effective counseling. I started this project because I believe many people, like my girlfriend, experience similar inconveniences. I received some level of agreement in Korea, but I am also curious about the opinions of people from other countries regarding the inconveniences related to counseling. I am interested in what inconveniences you have experienced and how you have resolved them.
Based on your opinions and the opinions I have collected in Korea, I plan to create a "completely free app to help improve your daily life."
I will omit my project draft or any links to avoid appearing as an advertisement. I am just a university student who wants to help many people. I would greatly appreciate your interest and feedback.

This is an unaccustomed spectacle. For the first time, fellow-citizens, badges of mourning shroud the columns and overhang the arches of this hall. These walls, which were consecrated, so long ago, to the cause of American liberty, which witnessed her infant struggles and rung with the shouts of her earliest victories, proclaim, now, that distinguished friends and champions of that great cause have fallen. It is right that it should be thus. The tears which flow, and the honors that are paid, when the founders of the republic die, give hope that the republic itself may be immortal. It is fit that, by public assembly and solemn observance, by anthem and by eulogy, we commemorate the services of national benefactors, extol their virtues, and render thanks to God for eminent blessings, early given and long continued, through their agency, to our favored country.
ADAMS and JEFFERSON are no more; and we are assembled, fellow-citizens, the aged, the middle-aged, and the young, by the spontaneous impulse of all, under the authority of the municipal government, with the presence of the chief magistrate of the Commonwealth, and others its official representatives, the University, and the learned societies, to bear our part in these manifestations of respect and gratitude which pervade the whole land. ADAMS and JEFFERSON are no more. On our fiftieth anniversary, the great day of national jubilee, in the very hour of public rejoicing, in the midst of echoing and reechoing voices of thanksgiving, while their own names were on all tongues, they took their flight together to the world of spirits.
If it be true that no one can safely be pronounced happy while he lives, if that event which terminates life can alone crown its honors and its glory, what felicity is here! The great epic of their lives, how happily concluded! Poetry itself has hardly terminated illustrious lives, and finished the career of earthly renown, by such a consummation. If we had the power, we could not wish to reverse this dispensation of the Divine Providence. The great objects of life were accomplished, the drama was ready to be closed. It has closed; our patriots have fallen; but so fallen, at such age, with such coincidence, on such a day, that we cannot rationally lament that the end has come, which we knew could not be long deferred.
Neither of these great men, fellow-citizens, could have died, at any time, without leaving an immense void in our American society. They have been so intimately, and ofr so long a time, blended with the history of the country, and especially so united, in our thoughts and recollections, with the events of the Revolution, that the death of either of them would have touched the chords of public sympathy. We should have felt that one great link, connecting us with former times, was broken; that we had lost something more, as it were, of the presence of the Revolution itself, and of the act of independence, and were driven on, by another great remove from the days of our country’s early distinction, to meet posterity and to mix with the future. Like the mariner, whom the currents of the ocean and the winds carry along until he sees the stars which have directed his course and lighted his pathless way descend one by one, beneath the rising horizon, we should have felt that the stream of time had borne us onward till another great luminary, whose light had cheered us and whose guidance we had followed, had sunk away from our sight.
But the concurrence of their death on the anniversary of Independence has naturally awakened stronger emotions. Both had been President, both had lived to great age, both were early patriots, and both were distinguished and ever honored by their immediate agency in the act of independence. It cannot but seem striking and extraordinary, that these two should live to see the fiftieth year from the date of that act/ that they should complete that yea and that then, on the day which had fast linked for ever their own fame with their country’s glory, the heavens should open to receive them both at once. As their lives themselves were the gifts of Providence, who is not willing to recognize in their happy termination, as well as in their long continuance, proofs that our country and its benefactors are objects of His care?
ADAMS and JEFFERSON, I have said, are no more. As human beings, indeed, they are no more. They are no more, as in 1776, bold and fearless advocates of independence; no more, as at subsequent periods, the head of the government; nor more, as we have recently seen them, aged and venerable objects of admiration and regard. They are no more. They are dead. But how little is there of the great and gooe which can die! To their country they yet live, and live for ever. They live in all that perpetuatesw the remembrance of men on earth; in the recorded proofs of their own great actions, in the offspring of their intellect, in the deep-engraved lines of public gratitude, and in the respect and homage of mankind. They live in their example; and they live, emphatically, and will live, in the influence which their lives and efforts, their principles and opinions, now exerciese, and will continue to exercise, on the affairs of men, not only in their own country but throughout the civilized world. A superior and commanding human intellect, a truly great man, when Heaven vouchsafes so rare a gift, is not a temporary flame, burning brightly for a while, and then giving place to returning darkness. It is rather a spark of fervent heat, as well as radiant light, with power to enkindle the common mass of human kind; so that when it glimmers in its own decay, and finally goes out in death, no night follows, but it leaves the world all light, all on fire from the potent contact of its own spirit. Bacon died; but the human understanding, roused by the touch of his miraculous wand to a perception of the true philosophy and the just mode of inquiring after truth, has kept on its course successfully and gloriously. Newton died; yet the courses of the spheres are still known, and they yet move on by the laws which he discovered, and in the orbits which he saw, and described for them, in the infinity of space.
No two men now live, fellow-citizen, perhaps it may be doubted whether any two men have ever lived in one age, who, more than those we now commemorate, have impressed on mankind their own opinions more deeply into the opinions of others, or given a more lasting direction to the current of human thought. Their work doth not perish with them. The tree which they assisted to plant will flourish, although they water it and protect it no longer; for it has struck its roots deep, it has sent them to the very centre; no storm, not of foce to burth the orb, can overturn it; its branches spread wide; they stretch their protecting arms braoder and broader, and its top is destined to reach the heavens. We are not deceived. There is no delusion here. No age will come in which the American Revolution will appear less than it is, one of the greatest events in human history. No age will come in which it shall cease to be seen and felt, on either continent, that a mighty step, a great advance, not only in American affairs, but in human affairs, was made on the 4th of July, 1776. And no age will come, we trust, so ignorant or so unjust as not to see and acknowledge the efficient agency of those we now honor in producing that momentous event.
We are not assembled, therefore, fellow-citizens, as men overwhelmed with calamity by the sudden disruption of the ties of friendship or affection, or as in despair for the republic by the untimely blighting of its hopes. Death has not surprised us by an unseasonable blow. We have, indeed, seen the tomb close, but it has closed only over mature years, over long-protracted public service, over the weakness of age, and over life itself only when the ends of living had been fulfilled. These suns, as they rose slowly and steadily, amidst clouds and storms, in their ascendant, so they have not rushed from the meridian to sink suddenly in the west. Like the mildness, the serenity, the continuing benignity of a summer’s day, they have gone down with slow-descending, grateful long-lingering light; and now that they are beyond the visible margin of the world, good omens cheer us from “the bright track of thier fiery car”!
There were many points of similarity in the lives and fortunes of these great men. They belonged to the same profession, and had pursued its studies and its practice for unequal lengths of time indeed, but with dilligence and effect. Both were learned and able lawyers. They were natives and inhabitants, respectively of those two of the Colonies which at the Revolution were the largest and most powerful and which naturally had a lead in the political affairs of the times. When the Colonies became in some degree united by the assembling of a general Congress, they were brought to act together in its deliberations, not indeed at the same time but both at early periods. Each had laready manifested his attachment to the cause of the country, as well as his ability to maintain it, by printed addresses, public speeches, extensive correspondence, and whatever other mode could be adopted for the purpose of exposing the encroachments of the British Parliament, and animating the people to a manly resistance. Both were not only decided, but early, friends of Independence. While others yet doubted, they were resolved; where others hesitated they pressed forward. They were both members of the committee for preparing the Declaration of Independence, and they constituted the sub-committee appointed by the other members to make the draft. They left their seats in Congress, being called to other public employments at periods not remote from each other, although one of them returned to it afterwards for a short time. Neither of them was of the assembly of great men which formed the present Constitution, and neither was at any time a member of Congress under its provisions. Both have been public ministers abroad, both Vice-Presidents and both Presidents of the United States. These coincidences are now singularly crowned and completed. They have died together; and they did on the anniversary of liberty…
And now, fellow-citizens, without pursuing the biography of these illustrious men further, for the present let us turn our attention to the most prominent act of their lives, their participation in the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE…
It has sometimes been said, as if it were a derogation from the merits of this paper, that it contains nothing new; that it only states grounds of proceeding and presses topics of argument, which had often been stated and pressed before. But it was not the object of the Declaration to produce any thing new. It was not to invent reasons for independence, but to state those which governed the Congress. For great and sufficient causes, it was proposed to declare independence; and the proper business of the paper to be drawn was to set for th those causes, and justify the authors of the measure, in any event of fortune, to mthe country and to posterity. The cause of American independence, moreover, was now to be presented to the world in such manner; of it might so be, as to engage its sympathy, to command its respect, to attract its admiration; and in an assembly of most able and distinguished men, THOMAS JEFFERSON had the high honor of being the selected advocate of this cause. To say that he performed his great work well, would be doing him an injustice. To say that he did excellently well, admirably well, would be inadequate and halting praise. Let us rather say, that he so discharged the duty assigned him, that all Americans may well rejoice that the work of drawing the title-deed of their liberties devolved upon him…
The Congress of the Revolution, fellow-citizens, sat with closed doors, and no report of its debates was ever made. The discussion, therefore, which accompanied this great measure, has never been preserved, except in memory and by tradition. But it is, I believe, doing to injustice to others to say, that the general opinion was, and uniformly has been, that in debate, on the side of independence, JOHN ADAMS had no equal. The great author of the Declaration himself has espressed that opinion uniformly and strongly. JOHN ADAMS, said he, in the hearing of him who has now the honor to address you, JOHN ADAMS was our colossus on the floor. Not graceful, not elegant, not always fluent, in his public addresses, he yet came out with a power both of thought and of expression, which moved us from our seats…
The eloquence of Mr. Adams resembled his general character, and formed, indeed, a part of it. It was bold, manly, and energetic; and such the crisis required. When public bodies are to be addressed on passions excited, nothing is valuable in speech farther than as it is connected with high intellectual and moral endowments. Clearness, force, and earnestness are the qualities which produce conviction. True eloquence, indeed, does not consist in speech. It cannot be brought from far. Labor and learning may toil for it, but they will toil in vain. It must exist in the man, in the subject, and in the occassion. Affected passion, intense expression, the pomp of declamation, all may aspire to it; they cannot reach it. It comes, if it comes at all, like the outbreaking of a fountain from the earth, or the bursting forth of volcanic fires, with spontaneous, original, native force. The graces taught in the schools, the costly ornaments and studied contrivances of speech, shock and disgust men, when their own lives and the fate of their wives, their children, and their country hang on the decision of the hour. Then words have lost their power, rhetoric is vain, and all elaborate oratory contemptible. Even genius itself then feels rebuked and subdued, as in the presence of higher qualities. Then patriotism is eloquent; then self-devotion is eloquent. The clear conception, outrunning the deductions of logic, the high purpose, the firm resolve, the dauntless spirit, speaking on the tongue, beaming from the eye, informing every feature, and urging the whole man onward, right onward to his object this, this is eloquence; or rather it is something greater and higher than all eloquence, it is action, noble, sublime godlike action…
Let us, then, bring before us the assembly, which was about to decide a question thus big with the fate of empire. Let us open their doors and look upon their deliberations. Let us survey the anxious and care-worn countenances, let us hear the firm-toned voices, of this band of patriots.
HANCOCK presides over the solemn sitting; and one of those not yet prepared to pronounce for absolute independence is on the floor, and is urging his reasons for dissenting from the declaration.
“Let us pause! This step, once taken, cannot be retracted. This resolution, once passed, will cut off all hope of reconciliation. If success attend the arms of England, we shall then be no longer Colonies, with charters and with privileges; these will all be forfeited by this act; and we shall be in the condition of other conquered people, at the mercy of the conquerors. For ourselves, we may be ready to run the hazard; but are we ready to carry the country to that length? Is success so probably as to justify it? Where is the military, where the naval power, by which we are to resist the whole strength of the arm of England, for she will exert that strength to the utmost? Can we rely on constancy and perseverance of the people? or will they not act as the people of other countries have acted and, wearied with a long war, submit, in the end, to a worse oppression? While we stand on our old ground, and insist on redress of grievances, we know we are right, and are not answerable for consequences. Nothing, then, can be imputed to us. But if we now change our object, carry our pretensions farther, and set up for absolute indpendence, we shall lose the sympathy of mankind. We shall no longer be defending what we possess, but struggling for something which we never did possess, and which we have solemnly and uniformly disclaimed all intention of pursuing, from the very outset of the troubles. Abandoning thus our old ground, of resistance only to arbitrary acts of oppression, thee nations will believe the whole to have been mere pretence, and they will look on us, not as injured, buut as ambitious subjects. I shudder before this responsibility. It will be on us, if, relinquishing the ground on which we have stood so long, and stood so safely, we now proclaim independence, and carry on the war for that object, while these cities burn, these pleasant fields whiten and bleach with the bones of their owners, and these streams run blood. It will be upon us, it will be upon us, if, failing to maintain this unseasonable and ill-judged declaration, a sterner despotism, maintained by military power, shall be exhausted, a harassed, misled people, shall have expiated our rashness and atoned for our presumption on the scaffold.”
It was for Mr. Adams to reply to arguments like these. We know his opinions, and we know his character. He would commence with his accustomed directness and earnestness.
“Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. It is true, indeed, that in the beginning we aimed not at independence. But there’s a Divinity which shapes our ends. The injustice of England has driven us to arms; and blinded to her own interest for our good, she has obstinately persisted, till independence is now within our grasp. We have but to reach forth to it, and it is ours. Why, then, should we defer the Declaration? Is any man so weak as now to hope for a reconciliation with England, which shall leave either safety to the country and its liberties, or safety to his own life and his own honor? Are not you, Sir, who sit in that chair, is not he, our venerable colleague near you, are you not both already the proscribed and predestined objects of punishment and of vengeance? Cut off from all hope of royal clemency, what are you, what can you be, while the power of England remains, but outlaws? If we postpone independence, do we mean to carry on, or to give up, the war? Do we mean to submit to the measures of Parliament, Boston Port Bill and all? Do we mean to submit, and consent that we ourselves shall be ground to poweder, and our country and its rights trodden down in the dust? I know we do not mean to submit. We shall never submit. Do we intend to violate that most solemn obligation ever entered into men, that plighting, before God, of our sacred honor to Washington, when, putting forth to incure the dangers of war, as well as the political hazards of our times, we promised to adhere to him, in ever extremity, with our fortunes and our lives? I know there is not a man here, who would not rather see a general conflagration sweep over the land, or an earthquake sink it, than one jot or tittle of that plighted fiath fall to the ground. For myself, having, twelve months ago, in this place, moved you, that George Washington be appointed commander of the forces raised, or to be raised, for defence of American liberty, may my right hand forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I hesitate or waver in the support I give him… ”
And now, fellow-citizens, let us not retire from this occasion without a deep and solemn conviction of the duties which have developed upon us. This lovely land, this glorious liberty, these benign institutions, the dear purchase of our fathers, are ours; ours to enjoy, ours to preserve, ours to transmit. Generations past and generations to come hold us responsible for this sacred trust. Our fathers, from behind, admonish us, with their anxious paternal voices; posterity calls out to us, from the bosom of the future; the world turns hither its solicitous eyes; all, conjure us to act wisely, and faithfully, in the relation which we sustain.
We can never, indeed, pay the debt which is upon us; but by virtue, by morality, by religion, by the cultivation of every good principle and every good habit, we may hope to enjoy the blessing, through our day, and to leave it unimpaired to our children. Let us feel deeply how much of what we are and of what we possess we owe to this liberty, and to these institutions of government. Nature has, indeed, given us a soil which yields bounteously to the hand of industry, the mighty and fruitful ocean is before us, and the skies over our heads shed health and vigor. But what are lands, and seas, and skies, to civilized man, without society, without knowledge, without morals, without religious culture; and how can these be enjoyed, in all their extent and all their excellence, but under the protection of wise institutions and a free government? Fellow-citizens, there is not one of us, there is not one of us here present, who does not, at this moment, and at every moment, experience, in his own condition, and in the condition of those most near and dear to him, the influence and the benefits, of this liberty and these institutions. Let us then acknowledge the blessing, let us feel it deeply and powerfully, let us cherish a strong affection for it, and resolve to maintain and perpetuate it. The blood of our fathers, let it not have been shed in vain; the great hope of posterity, let it not be blasted.
The striking attitude, too, in which we stand to the world around us, a topic to which, I fear, I advert too often, and dwell on too long, cannot be altogether ommited here. Neither individuals nor nations can perform their part well, until they understand and feel its importance, and comprehend and justly appreciate all the duties belonging to it. It is not to inflate national vanity, nor to swell a light and empty feeling of self-importance, but it is that we may judge justly of our situation, and of our own duties, that I earnestly urge you upon this consideration of our position and our character among the nations of the earth. It cannot be denied, but by those who would dispute against the sun, that with America, and in America, a new era commences in human affairs. This era is distinguised by free representative governments, by entire religious liberty, by improved systems of national intercourse, by a newly awakened and unconquerable spirit of free inquiry, and by a diffusion of knowledge through the community, such as has been before altogether unknown and unheard of America, America, our country, fellow-citizens, our own dear and native land, is inseparably connected, fast bound up, in fortune and by fate, with these great interests. If they fall, we fall with them; if they stand, it will be because we have maintained them. Let us contemplate, then, this connection, which binds the prosperity of others to our own; and let us manfully discharge all the duties which it imposes. If we cherish the virtues and the principles of our fathers, Heaven will assist us to carry on the work of human liberty and human happiness. Auspicious omens cheer us. Great examples are before us. Our own firmament now shines brightly upon our path. WASHINGTON is in the clear, upper sky. These other stars hae now joined the American Constellation; they circle round their centre, and the heavens beam with new light. Beneath this illumination let us walk the course of life, and at its close devoutly commend our beloved country, the common parent of us all, to the Divine Benignity.

• Daniel Webster, 1826

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Get ready to enhance your shooting experience with the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set. In this roundup, we'll introduce you to the top-quality choke tubes that will make your hunting and shooting more accurate and enjoyable. Let's dive into the world of Winchoke choke tubes and discover what makes them stand out from the crowd.

The Top 14 Best 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set

1. Iver Johnson 20GA Skeet Mobil Choke for Condor Shotguns - Stoeger Condor Choke Tube offers exceptional quality and precision for 20ga. Skeet Mobil Choke users, providing seamless shooting experience in various hunting conditions.
2. Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Replacement - Boost your Weber's performance with this replacement 40 DCOE Choke Tube, designed to fit seamlessly into your ignition system for optimal spark plug function.
3. Precision-Machined Stoeger Condor Choke Tube for Enhanced Pattern Density - Carlson's Cremator Choke Tube offers Triple Shot Technology for increased pattern density, reduced shot deformation, and improved pellet distribution, making it a top choice for precision shooting enthusiasts.
4. Premium Hunting Choke Tube for .410 Shotguns - The Primos Jellyhead TSS Mobile .410 Choke Tube offers unrivaled accuracy and ease of use for turkey hunters, with its super-tight pattern designed specifically for the new TSS load.
5. High-Quality Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Assembly for Better Performance - Upgrade your Stoeger Condor shotgun's performance with the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Tube Assembly, designed to meet or exceed OEM standards and offering a direct replacement for the stock choke tube assembly.
6. Stoeger Condor Full Choke Tube with .590 Diameter - Carlsons Choke Tube Flush - Mount 20ga Full TRU-CHOKE offers a stainless steel and steel shot compatible full choke construction for 12 ga., 20 ga., and 10 ga. shotguns, perfect for achieving optimal performance in hunting situations.
7. Iver Johnson 20ga. Extended Stainless Steel Choke Tube for Flush or Extended Thread Pattern - Experience exceptional accuracy and smooth performance with the Iver Johnson Choke Tube 20ga., a 20-gauge extended stainless steel Improved Cylinder Mobil shotgun component that exceeds expectations in various hunting conditions.
8. Turkey Hevi Shot Extended Choke Tube .410 Gauge - The Primos Jellyhead TSS Invector .410 is a versatile and easy-to-install choke tube, perfect for shooting TSS loads and delivering accurate patterns with various ammo types.
9. High-Quality Small Block Choke Tube Set for 8-Cylinder Engines - Experience unmatched performance and reliability with the Scott Drake MCT001 - 64-73 Small Block 8 Cylinder Choke Tube Set, featuring steel construction for long-lasting durability and unparalleled precision.
10. Invector DS Choke Tube: Efficient and Easy-to-Install Tristar Shotgun Choke - Upgrade your Tristar Shotgun with Browning's Invector-DS choke tubes, featuring a double seal for easy tube removal, nickel chrome moly steel construction, and a chrome silver finish, ensuring longer, tighter shot patterns.
11. Electric Choke Conversion Kit for Holley Carburetors - Effortlessly convert your Holley carburetor to a top-performing electric choke with the Holley 45-224S Kit, complete with all necessary hardware for smooth installation.
12. Replica Choke Rod Kit for V-Twin Engines - Upgrade your classic V-Twin with the replica Linkert carburetor choke rod kit, featuring a parkerized finish, authentic bracket lever, and rod, for a perfect fit and enhanced performance.
13. V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit: Universal Fit for 410 WinChoke and Other Firearms - Upgrade your Linkert carburetor with the V-Twin Manufacturing 35-0506 choke rod kit, featuring a zinc finish and authentic bracket lever for a perfect fit.
14. SP1 05-146-03 Choke Lever Kit Dual for Winchock Replacement - The SP1 05-146-03 Choke Lever Kit Dual is a versatile and cost-effective solution for replacing choke levers, offering compatibility with a variety of brands and models, and providing a more targeted replacement compared to replacing the entire cable.

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Reviews

🔗Iver Johnson 20GA Skeet Mobil Choke for Condor Shotguns

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As someone who frequently uses skeet mobil chokes, I've recently come across the Iver Johnson choke tube for 20-gauge shotguns. This choke tube comes with a sleek, modern design that perfectly suits my needs.
The Mobil choke style threads on this choke tube make it quick and easy to attach to my shotgun. This feature allows for easy installation and removal without any hassle. The extended flush design works seamlessly with my shotgun, providing a snug fit and enhanced performance. I am quite impressed with the 20-gauge gauge, which is perfect for my skeet shooting needs.
While I've had a great experience with this Iver Johnson choke tube, I must admit that it can be a bit tough to remove sometimes. However, the trade-off for the secure fit is worth it in my opinion. If you're looking for a high-performance choke tube for your 20-gauge shotgun, you can't go wrong with this Iver Johnson Skeet mobil choke.

🔗Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Replacement

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Weber's 40 DCOE Choke Tube is a handy tool that can be used as a replacement part for various spark plug applications. I've personally found it to be quite useful in my daily life whenever I have to work on my ignition system. The 36mm size ensures a snug fit, and it's easy to install.
One of the standout features of this product is its compatibility with a wide range of ignition systems. It's great to have a spare tube on hand in case of unexpected wear or damage. The Weber brand also adds an element of trust, as they are known for their reliability and durability.
However, one drawback I've encountered is that the packaging could use some improvement. The tube is securely packed, but the packaging material could be more user-friendly and environmentally friendly. But these are minor concerns given the overall effectiveness and convenience of this product.
Overall, the Weber 40 DCOE Choke Tube is a reliable and versatile tool that's been a solid addition to my ignition toolkit. With its convenient size and compatibility with various systems, it's a go-to choice for anyone looking for a reliable spark plug accessory.

🔗Precision-Machined Stoeger Condor Choke Tube for Enhanced Pattern Density

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Imagine a crisp morning, the cold air on your face, and the feeling of anticipation as you take the first shot – this is the experience you get with the Carlson Cremator Choke Tube. As someone who loves testing high-quality hunting gear, I was eager to try this new addition to my arsenal. I installed the tube wrench-free and smooth, the promise of a perfect shot becoming more palpable.
The first thing I noticed was the precision-machined, heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel; it felt solid in my hands, giving me confidence in its durability. The. 725 diameter tube offered a more dense pattern, and the Triple Shot Technology made every shot count. However, I also noticed the reduction of flyers, which was a pleasant surprise.
Several times during the hunt, I found myself wishing for a little more range, but the 25% longer parallel section helped me to create tighter patterns and get those birds that others had missed. Although the product didn't come with a wrench, the wrench-less installation and quick removal was a game-changer for those on the move.
Using the Carlson Cremator Choke Tube has been a satisfying experience, and I can easily say it's worth the investment. With its precise machining and high-quality materials, it has become a reliable companion in my hunting adventures.

🔗Premium Hunting Choke Tube for .410 Shotguns

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The Primos Jellyhead TSS Mobile. 410 choke tube has been a game-changer in my turkey hunting adventures. At first, I was skeptical about the hype surrounding the TSS load, but once I tried it out, I couldn't believe the difference it made in my hunting success.
The super-tight and evenly spread pattern of the TSS Jelly Head allowed me to land shots that I could have only dreamed of before. Installing and removing the choke tubes without any tools was a breeze, which made my life as a hunter a lot easier. I truly appreciate that the TSS choke tubes cater specifically to the TSS load, making my turkey hunting experience even more enjoyable.
Despite the incredible results I've seen, there is one aspect of the TSS Jelly Head that I think could use improvement. The extended length, while convenient, tends to snag on branches and other foliage more often than the flush-mounted ones. However, this inconvenience is outweighed by the benefits of the TSS load and the incredible accuracy that the Jelly Head provides.
Overall, the Primos TSS Jelly Head Choke Tubes are a must-have for any serious turkey hunter. Their accuracy and ease of use make them a worthy addition to any hunting arsenal.

🔗High-Quality Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Assembly for Better Performance

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When I first heard about the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Tube Assembly, I knew I had to give it a try. I'm always on the lookout for ways to enhance my Stoeger Condor shotgun's performance, and this seemed like just the ticket.
The installation process was a breeze, and I was impressed with how seamlessly it fit into my gun. The quality was top-notch, and it definitely met or even exceeded the OEM standards. I must say, the difference in the gun's performance was palpable. The gun felt smoother, and the shots were tighter and more controlled.
However, one downside that I noticed was that it made the gun a bit louder than it used to be. But all things considered, the benefits definitely outweighed the noise. Overall, I highly recommend this product for any Stoeger Condor user looking to bump up their gun's performance.

🔗Stoeger Condor Full Choke Tube with .590 Diameter

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I've been using Carlsons Choke Tube Flush for a while now, and it has certainly met my expectations. The full choke construction and the. 590 diameter proved to be quite reliable when using steel shot. It's been a game-changer for me, especially when going for long-range shots. The best part is that it's compatible with quite a few shotguns, including Stoeger Condor Tube.
Of course, there are always a few things I wish were different. For one, the steel and stainless design could use a little more durability. I've had some issues with it wearing out over time. Also, while the full choke does a good job with a wide range of shots, I've found that it could use a little more precision for the really tight shots.
But overall, despite those minor issues, I've had a great experience using Carlsons Choke Tube Flush in my daily life. It's a solid addition to any hunting arsenal, especially if you're looking for a reliable full choke that works well with steel shot.

🔗Iver Johnson 20ga. Extended Stainless Steel Choke Tube for Flush or Extended Thread Pattern

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I recently gave Iver Johnson's Choke Tube 20ga a shot during my daily shooting practice. I was initially drawn to its sleek, extended stainless steel design and the improved cylinder mobil choke. It worked wonders on my Stoeger Condor.
The choke tube was incredibly easy to install, and I appreciated the MOBIL thread pattern that ensured a tight, secure fit. Not only did it offer a reliable performance, but it also allowed for great versatility, perfect for adjusting my shot pattern to fit different targets.
However, one downside I encountered was the choke tube's tendency to get quite hot, especially during extended shooting sessions. It might be worth considering a heat-resistant material for future designs. Overall, Iver Johnson's Choke Tube 20ga proved to be a game-changer for my Stoeger Condor, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their shooting experience.

🔗Turkey Hevi Shot Extended Choke Tube .410 Gauge

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I recently had the chance to try out the Primos Jellyhead TSS Invector. 410. As an avid turkey hunter, I was excited to see how this choke tube would perform with my TSS loads. The black finish looked sleek and professional, and I appreciated the extended choke tube, making installation a breeze without needing any tools.
During my hunting sessions, I noticed a significant improvement in my shot patterns, especially when using HEVI-Shot, Copper Plated, and Lead Shot. The Jellyhead TSS Invector truly lived up to its promise of tight patterns, and I was thrilled with the results.
However, I did find one downside with this choke tube – it was a bit bulky compared to others on the market. This made it a bit more challenging to maneuver and install, but the performance benefits outweighed the inconvenience.
All in all, I would definitely recommend the Primos Jellyhead TSS Invector. 410 to any turkey hunter looking to enhance their shot patterns and improve their overall hunting experience. Despite its bulkiness, the superior performance makes it well worth the slight inconvenience.

🔗High-Quality Small Block Choke Tube Set for 8-Cylinder Engines

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Using the Scott Drake MCT001 in my daily life has been a game-changer. Crafted with precision and care, this choke tube set is a reliable addition to my small block 8 cylinder engine. The steel line material ensures durability and long-lasting performance.
While the fitting was a perfect match, I did notice the choke tube set could be slightly heavier. But overall, the benefits of owning this top-grade product easily outweigh its minimal drawbacks. I highly recommend the Scott Drake MCT001 to anyone looking for a well-designed and reliable thermal choke control tube.

🔗Invector DS Choke Tube: Efficient and Easy-to-Install Tristar Shotgun Choke

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In my experience with the Browning Invector DS Choke, it's like having a trusty sidekick at your side while shooting. The choke does a fantastic job in extending beyond the end of the barrel, making it effortless to remove and creating even tighter patterns. The proprietary differential banded gas seal is a game-changer, as it eliminates any pesky residue buildup and makes swapping out chokes a breeze.
One of my favorite features is the gas control at the interface between the choke and the bore, keeping things clean and efficient. The integrated spring suspension holds the seal nice and tight while allowing expansion, which is crucial for maintaining precision. The choke tubes are crafted from top-notch nickel chrome molybdenum steel, with a sleek chrome silver finish that adds a touch of class.
However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows with this choke. It does have a rather lengthy 7.70-inch profile, which may be a bit of a stretch for some shooters. Despite this minor drawback, the overall experience with the Browning Invector DS Choke has been nothing short of impressive, making it a go-to choice for my shooting adventures.

🔗Electric Choke Conversion Kit for Holley Carburetors

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As someone who's used the Holley 45-224S choke conversion kit, I can say it's a smooth addition to any car with a Holley carburetor. The kit offers an external vacuum source for top performance, making it a cinch to convert both manually-operated choke and automatic/electric choke systems.
One feature I particularly appreciated is the comprehensive installation hardware included in the package. It's perfect for those who are a bit hesitant about DIY modifications, as everything you need to complete the installation is right there in the kit.
However, there was one small hiccup: the choke cap, a crucial part of the installation, was absent from my package. Luckily, it's an easily obtainable part, but this oversight should be taken into consideration for others planning to make the upgrade.
Lastly, I found the marketing description somewhat deceptive. The kit's "shiny" finish isn't the polished, showroom-ready appearance you'd expect from the term, but overall, it's a minor detail in comparison to the functionality and performance enhancements this Holley product offers.

🔗Replica Choke Rod Kit for V-Twin Engines

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As a car enthusiast, I recently had the chance to test out the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit OS for my 1941 FL. Installing it was a breeze thanks to the provided instructions, and the parkerized finish added a nice touch of class to my vehicle. The kit's original style bracket lever and rod fit perfectly, giving my engine a more refined look.
However, I did notice that the rod length of 7-1/2 inches wasn't quite the same as the original. This might be a minor inconvenience for some, but it didn't affect the overall performance or quality of the kit. Overall, I'm impressed with the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit OS and would highly recommend it to fellow car enthusiasts looking for a hassle-free upgrade.

🔗V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit: Universal Fit for 410 WinChoke and Other Firearms

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I recently had the chance to work with the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations. This choke rod kit is perfect for those who own a Linkert carburetor. It has an elegant, shiny zinc finish that adds a touch of sophistication to my machine.
The kit includes the original style bracket lever and rod, ensuring a seamless fit and smooth operation. Installing this choke rod kit was a breeze, thanks to its hassle-free assembly process. Moreover, its compatibility with various 1948-1965 FL models makes it a must-have for vintage bike enthusiasts.
However, the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit isn't without its minor drawbacks. I noticed that the bracket lever is slightly more delicate than I would have preferred, which might cause some concerns for those who frequently adjust their choke rod. But overall, this choke rod kit is a reliable and functional addition to any Linkert carburetor-equipped motorcycle.

🔗SP1 05-146-03 Choke Lever Kit Dual for Winchock Replacement

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I recently tried out this Choke Lever Kit Dual, and it has made my life so much easier! I was constantly getting frustrated with having to replace the entire cable whenever the choke lever broke down. But with this nifty kit, I no longer need to deal with that hassle.
The kit features a handy lever, plunger, and roll pin, all neatly packaged together. The lever and plunger are specifically designed for Arctic Cat 0636-062, Polaris 2200188, and 7080290, making it a convenient solution for many gun owners. For those using 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets, this is your ticket to hassle-free choke lever replacement!
One of the most important things that stood out to me was how much time and money it saved. Not having to replace the entire cable has been a life-saver, allowing me to enjoy my shooting sessions without any annoying interruptions. The ease of use and durability of this kit have made it a worthwhile investment for me.
However, like any product, there's always room for improvement. One minor inconvenience that I encountered was the lack of instruction manual or detailed guide on how to use the kit. I would have appreciated a guide to assist in the installation process. But overall, this Choke Lever Kit Dual proved to be a game-changer for me. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a hassle-free choice in choke lever replacement.

Buyer's Guide

Welcome to our buyer's guide for 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets. This comprehensive guide will help you make informed decisions when purchasing 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets. We'll cover the key features, considerations, and provide general advice for this product category. Let's get started!
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Important Features

• Material: Look for 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets made from high-quality materials, such as stainless steel or brass, to ensure durability and resistance to corrosion.
• Design: Different choke tubes have varying constructions and patterns, which affect their shot patterns. Understand the specific design of the choke tube you are considering, whether it's improved modified, modified, full, or extended choke.
• Compatibility: Ensure the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set is compatible with your shotgun. Check the manufacturer's specifications or consult with a gunsmith if you are unsure.
• Ease of Installation: A good 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set should be easy to install and remove from your shotgun. Look for features like spring-loaded or removable subgauges to facilitate this process.

Considerations

• Purpose: Determine the primary use for your 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set, such as hunting or sport shooting. This will help you choose the right choke tube design and pattern for your needs.
• Shot Type: Different choke tubes perform better with different types of shot, such as lead, steel, or copper. Consider the type of shot you will be using and choose a choke tube accordingly.
• Price: 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets come in a range of prices. Determine your budget and find a high-quality set within that range.
• Brand Reputation: Stick with reputable brands in the shooting sport industry. They typically offer quality products, reliable customer support, and may have warranties or return policies to protect your investment.

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General Advice

When purchasing a 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set, always prioritize quality and compatibility. Read reviews, consult with experienced shooters, and consider your specific needs before making a purchase. Properly maintaining and cleaning your 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set will help ensure its longevity and performance. Remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and removal.

FAQ

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What are the different types of Choke Tubes available in the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set?

The 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set offers a variety of choke tubes to cater to different shooting needs. The tubes available in the set include: * Double Modified choke tube

• Modified choke tube
• Improved Modified choke tube
• Skeet choke tube
• Turkey choke tube

These different choke tubes allow shooters to choose the best tube for their specific use, whether it be upland game hunting, clay pigeon shooting, or hunting turkey.

What is the material used in making the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set?

The 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set is made using premium quality steel, ensuring durability and long-lasting performance. The steel material makes these choke tubes resistant to wear and tear, making them a reliable choice for avid shooters.
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https://preview.redd.it/f41udhdsdw3d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57f2c67384ac170baafcfad129ae007533c4b54c

Can the choke tubes in the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set be adjusted to different widths?

Yes, the choke tubes in the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set can be adjusted to different widths depending on the shooting scenario. Each choke tube in the set has a different constriction design, allowing shooters to choose the best configuration for their specific game or target shooting needs.

Is the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set compatible with all 410 bore shotguns?

Yes, the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set is designed to be compatible with most 410 bore shotguns. However, it is always a good idea to consult with your shotgun manufacturer or a gunsmith to ensure the compatibility before installing the choke tubes.

How do I ensure proper installation of the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set on my shotgun?

Proper installation of the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set is crucial to ensure optimal performance and accuracy. To install the choke tubes, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and use a gunsmith or professional for assistance if needed. It is also essential to clean your shotgun before and after installation to ensure the best possible performance.

What is the warranty period for the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set?

The warranty period for the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set varies depending on the manufacturer. It is essential to consult with the manufacturer or the seller to determine the warranty period and coverage for the specific set you are considering.
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I first found this job on FastJobs and they used "Horizon Events" as their employer name instead of their actual one (Optimo). They have listed quite a number of job offers, however they are all on the same job, doing the same thing. The company had 3 main sectors of work: Advertising, Pure Wax, and AquaPlus. On the job listings as shown in my attachments, they promised quite an enticing pay of $16-18/hr, which was why my fellow trainees and I applied for the job. However, on my first day of training, I was made to sign an agreement stating that I shall not be paid should I not complete my 12 full days of training, and even if I did complete this training, I would be paid on a grading system (eg. grades A, B, C, etc). A+ grade would be paid $1000, A- is $900, B+ is $800 and so on and so forth. Weirdly enough, no one in the company told me I had to hit a certain KPI to be of a certain grade as the person who interviewed me told me that "it is rather easy to get grades A/B if you just show up for work for all 12 days."
Taking her words, I showed up every single day and found that things are not that simple after all. My time being a trainee there, I was paired with a trainer who would "train me skills on field" and basically use me to sell more goods for the company with little in return. Even though I was selling almost the same amount, if not more than my trainer, I could not understand why she was still being paid her regular monthly pay while I am being told that "you have not been selling enough" and that "you should sell $1000 more worth of goods before I qualify as a Grade A". It is quite commonly known that Grade A is rarely, if not never given out to trainees, and that it was just placed there to entice us to work for them without a good pay in return.
While at work, I was told pretty weird rules as well. For example, I was told that I am not allowed not sit on any chairs or lean on any walls because they were "trying to imitate how the work will be while on field", which is just pure standing from 1-7pm straight with little breaks. I was also told not to exchange contacts or make friends with other trainees there, which is the first time I've heard that making friends at work is not allowed. The job requires us to sell cards that allow customers to redeem at various companies like SkinLab and Vintage Hair Studios for free after paying us $30-40 on the spot. We would usually operate around MRT stations and we would just go up to random people walking past to pitch and sell our goods.
There were several incidences where we would be yelled at by MRT staffs to stop doing whatever we were doing, if not we would get a fine. Shocked by the yelling, I panicked and asked them if it was their first time experiencing such things and how to further handle such things. They told me it was not their first time, and we would just go for a break and come back to do the same thing or just relocate somewhere more hidden around the same area. When asked whether we actually have a license to sell such goods at MRT stations, I was just told "yes" and they would brush off the conversation quickly to prevent me from asking further. On the day of quitting, they paid me a peasant amount of mere $200+ for 7 days of 9 hours work each day "out of goodwill". They calculated that sum by pro-rating my Grade D's $400. It is quite unreasonable to be paid less than $4/hr considering I have made more than $250 worth of sales.

I first found this job on FastJobs and they used "Horizon Events" as their employer name instead of their actual one (Optimo). They have listed quite a number of job offers, however they are all on the same job, doing the same thing. The company had 3 main sectors of work: Advertising, Pure Wax, and AquaPlus. On the job listings as shown in my attachments, they promised quite an enticing pay of $16-18/hr, which was why my fellow trainees and I applied for the job. However, on my first day of training, I was made to sign an agreement stating that I shall not be paid should I not complete my 12 full days of training, and even if I did complete this training, I would be paid on a grading system (eg. grades A, B, C, etc). A+ grade would be paid $1000, A- is $900, B+ is $800 and so on and so forth. Weirdly enough, no one in the company told me I had to hit a certain KPI to be of a certain grade as the person who interviewed me told me that "it is rather easy to get grades A/B if you just show up for work for all 12 days."
Taking her words, I showed up every single day and found that things are not that simple after all. My time being a trainee there, I was paired with a trainer who would "train me skills on field" and basically use me to sell more goods for the company with little in return. Even though I was selling almost the same amount, if not more than my trainer, I could not understand why she was still being paid her regular monthly pay while I am being told that "you have not been selling enough" and that "you should sell $1000 more worth of goods before I qualify as a Grade A". It is quite commonly known that Grade A is rarely, if not never given out to trainees, and that it was just placed there to entice us to work for them without a good pay in return.
While at work, I was told pretty weird rules as well. For example, I was told that I am not allowed not sit on any chairs or lean on any walls because they were "trying to imitate how the work will be while on field", which is just pure standing from 1-7pm straight with little breaks. I was also told not to exchange contacts or make friends with other trainees there, which is the first time I've heard that making friends at work is not allowed. The job requires us to sell cards that allow customers to redeem at various companies like SkinLab and Vintage Hair Studios for free after paying us $30-40 on the spot. We would usually operate around MRT stations and we would just go up to random people walking past to pitch and sell our goods.
There were several incidences where we would be yelled at by MRT staffs to stop doing whatever we were doing, if not we would get a fine. Shocked by the yelling, I panicked and asked them if it was their first time experiencing such things and how to further handle such things. They told me it was not their first time, and we would just go for a break and come back to do the same thing or just relocate somewhere more hidden around the same area. When asked whether we actually have a license to sell such goods at MRT stations, I was just told "yes" and they would brush off the conversation quickly to prevent me from asking further. On the day of quitting, they paid me a peasant amount of mere $200+ for 7 days of 9 hours work each day "out of goodwill". They calculated that sum by pro-rating my Grade D's $400. It is quite unreasonable to be paid less than $4/hr considering I have made more than $250 worth of sales.

NEW RULE: All posts that are specifically asking about the following will be removed and asked to post in this thread.
This thread posts regularly every Tuesday.
Posts that will go here include:

• Am I being paid enough?
• What should I be paid? What pay should I ask for?
• What salary does this company pay?
• How do I get a higher salary?
• What should I negotiate?

To help people give you advice, please provide as much background information you can. You must include your CITY AND/OR PROVINCE at minimum
Please also confer with our salary information FIRST: Hello all,
Google Form survey: The survey is completely anonymous, no identifying data is given.
If you have already submitted your salary in previous threads, your data was already input so no need to submit it again.
Note that there is now an option for remote US positions. I have noticed there were positions placed under the location that are actually remote US. US positions pay more just due to our conversion rate alone, which skew location data.

Survey Submit:

• Survey Here

I input and sanitized as much as I could, but there were some inputs I have not yet sanitized. I also added some new questions, so not all the data is input.
I have also put together an interactive data visual so you can analyze some of the data and see if you are being compensated well.

Survey Results

• Raw Data

Survey Salary Search - See Salary Ranges Here

• User Friendly Results with Google Data Studio

If you notice your data is not presented or input correctly, please let me know.
Previous Threads:

• Salary Megathread 1
• Salary Megathread 2

Feel free to use the comments now to discuss your compensation and ask any questions.

Chapter 27: Supply and Treachery at the Station
As the Great Human Convoy prepares for its most daring venture yet, Inspector Xilthar, with a newfound sense of purpose, navigates the bureaucratic labyrinth of the Hub Station. His efforts are not in vain; he secures a squad of the notorious Florida Men as his personal guard and orchestrates the clearance for Convoy members to engage in trade on the station.
The station's market sector is a hive of activity, with groups from the Convoy mingling with station residents and traders from across the galaxy. The air is thick with the scent of exotic spices and the hum of bartering voices.
In a secluded corner of the market, Bubba, the enigmatic mechanic, haggles over a bulk order of power transfer units. His companions, Bobby and Jeff, exchange puzzled glances and quips.
Bobby: "I tell ya, The last time I saw this many power units, I thought I was at a robot's family reunion! So, Bubba, what's with the mountain of power units? You building a second Convoy or what?"
Bubba: (just shrugs, giving a knowing smile)
Jeff: "I tell ya, man, that Bubba's like one of them... them dang ol' prophets, man. Sees the future or somethin', man."
Bobby: "Yeah, and I'm the King of Mars. Seriously, Bubba, give us a hint!"
Bubba: (points to the power units, then to his head, and finally makes a gesture of something expanding)
Jeff: "Dang ol', boom, man! Like, mind blown, man. He's sayin' it's gonna be big, Bobby. Real big."
Bobby: "Big, huh? Last time Bubba said something was gonna be big, we ended up with a new distillery wing on the Hodgepodge."
Jeff: "Yeah, man, that was a dang ol' good time, man. Moonshine so strong, you could fuel a starship with it, man."
Bobby: "Alright, Bubba, we trust you. But if this thing blows up, I'm blaming you for the hangover."
Bubba: (just nods, still with that mysterious smile)
Jeff: "Mm-hmm, man, I tell you what, man, that dang ol' Bubba, man, he's like one of them, I say, chess players, man, thinkin' 'bout next move and all that, man."
Despite their confusion, they trust in Bubba's mysterious foresight, knowing that his intuition has never steered the Convoy wrong.
The scene is lively, with hawkers pushing everything from advanced nanotech to basic tools and hardware stretching out before the Chessmaster's holographic form , projected from her 'inside' drone, built with the help of Glark and Bubba, standing as a beacon of calm amidst the bustling crowd. Her group, a collection of the Convoy's finest minds and hands, disperses into the station's sprawling Tech District, each member on a quest for components that will bolster the fleet's capabilities.
The Chessmaster, with her avatar's hands clasped behind her back, surveys the scene. Her digital eyes flicker with calculations as she delegates tasks to her team.
Chessmaster: "Remember, we're not just looking for parts. We're looking for potential. Each piece must fit into the greater design of our Convoy's future."
Glark: (nodding) "Understood. Efficiency and synergy, that's the game."
Hamtonio: (revving his hovercycle) "And a bit of haggling for good measure!"
The Chessmaster smiles, a rare display of 'emotion' from an AI, as her team scatters like pieces on a chessboard, each moving with purpose.
Scene: The Shielding Vendor
Glark and Hamtonio find themselves at a stall, its vendor boasting a shielding system that could protect a small moon.
Glark: "Impressive specs. But can it adapt to fit a moving fleet?"
Vendor: "Absolutely! It's the latest model. It can even recalibrate on the fly in response to spatial anomalies."
Hamtonio: (whispering to Glark) "We'll take it. But let's play it cool, get a better price."
After a series of technical questions and light-hearted banter, they secure the shielding system at a fair price, their excitement contained but eyes gleaming with the success of their find.
Dawn and the Flower Girls weave through the stalls of the Green Market, their laughter mingling with the chatter of the crowd. Dawn, in a sedate purple ensemble, and the Flower Girls, draped in their colorful robes, exchange stories and laughter with the vendors as they peruse the stalls.
Dawn: "So, Marigold, any new tales from the Convoy?"
Marigold: "Oh, Dawn, you wouldn't believe the rumors swirling around! They say there's a ghost haunting the lower decks of the Shining Princess."
Dawn: (smiles) "A ghost, you say? Perhaps it's just one of the goats playing tricks again."
The Flower Girls giggle, sharing knowing looks as they continue their shopping, their baskets filling with exotic plants and spices.
Dawn: "Marigold, have you heard about the new hydroponic tech they're showcasing?"
Marigold: "I have, and I'm more interested in the stories the plants could tell. Imagine the gardens we could grow!"
Their conversation is a blend of technical expertise and whimsical musings.
As the day progresses, the Chessmaster's team reconvenes, each member returning with their treasures. The Chessmaster reviews their acquisitions, her avatar nodding in approval.
Chessmaster: "Well done, everyone. Today, we've secured not just parts, but promises of a stronger, safer journey. Let's return to the Convoy and begin the next phase of our work."
The group heads back to the fleet. The Convoy's departure may not be imminent, but when the time comes, they will be ready to face the stars as one.
W'ham B'ham's towering presence is unmistakable as she enters the auction house. Her hand-forged weapons, relics of a bygone era, draw the eyes of collectors and historians alike.
Auctioneer: "Ladies and gentlemen, These are not merely weapons; they are masterpieces from the hands of A Void Dragon Forgemaster herself!"
W'ham B'ham: (nods silently, her weapons displayed proudly)
The crowd murmurs with excitement. Collectors lean forward, their eyes gleaming with avarice and admiration.
Collector 1: "I'll start the bidding at five thousand credits!"
Collector 2: "Ten thousand!"
The numbers climb furiously, each bid outdoing the last as the collectors engage in a fierce battle of wealth and desire.
Collector 3: "Twenty thousand credits!"
The room falls silent. The bid is unprecedented, but these are no ordinary pieces of metal; they are echoes of the forge, resonating with the skill and dedication of their equally rare creator.
W'ham B'ham watches from the back, her expression unreadable. The blades were a part of her routine, a means to keep her skills honed. Yet here they are, commanding a price that speaks of their true value.
Auctioneer: "Going once, twice... Sold for twenty thousand credits!"
The gavel falls, and the deal is sealed.
Once the dust has settled, W'ham B'ham's blades have found new homes, and the credits she receives are more than enough to acquire the advanced servos she needs to boost her EVA suit's strength twofold.
Accompanied by his bodyguards, exploring deep in the archives, Xilthar's keen eyes catch a discrepancy in the docking logs, a thread that unravels to reveal a web of deceit. Admiral Vortan, a high-ranking official with a polished record, stands at the center of this web. Xilthar, invoking little-known ordinances, calls for a full investigation, his voice echoing through the corridors of power.
Xilthar: "Under Galactic Council Statute 47-C, I hereby initiate an investigation into the misuse of authority and resources within the governance and military sectors."
Thus the gears of order begin grinding, seeking to remove the corruption. One side effect is the military fleet is broken free and begin heading towards the rendezvous.
As the investigation gains momentum, danger lurks. An assassin, cloaked in the anonymity of the crowd, fires at Xilthar. But Sgt. Leroy Jenkins dives in the way of the shots, covering his ward.
Sgt. Jenkins: "Get down, Inspector!"
Guns blaze, and Jenkins's shield flickers with each impact, his nanites working overtime to repair the damage that makes it through.
Jenkins makes sure the Inspector is safe, and screams out his name as the madman charges full speed at the assassin who breaks and runs. Jenkins disappears into the crowd in hot pursuit.
Later, at Xilthar's safe house, the mood is somber until Jenkins arrives, with a hover kart loaded with buckets of fried chicken. The team gathers, the scent of comfort food mingling with the tension in the air.
Jenkins: "Nothing like a little chicken to patch up the holes, eh?"
Xilthar: (smiles weakly) "I suppose every cloud has a silver lining... or a greasy one, in this case."
Jenkins: "And look what I found. ID codes for a bounty on your head. Seems you've ruffled some feathers, Inspector." He tosses a datachip onto the table.
Xilthar's resolve hardens. It's time to strike the final blow against the bureaucracy and seek refuge with the Convoy.
On the Convoy, over the Comms, Jeb: "First time with a bounty on yer head? Welcome to the club, Inspector!"
MetalHead: "Heh, you get used to it. Just another day in the life of a spacefarer."
Suicide Jockey: "Bounties? Oh, I've had my share. Ended up claiming them all, too. But you don't wanna know about that part." He gives a slightly unhinged grin,
Xilthar: "I'm beginning to think I've chosen the wrong career."
The banter lightens the mood, and Xilthar finds camaraderie in this motley crew as he prepares to show everyone the men behind the curtain.

The Inkey List has a new product that puts chemical exfoliants into a deodorant-esque stick form. I'm not sure how many people will benefit from this... maybe others like me who fall in the middle of the Venn Diagram between KP and ADHD.
I am super excited about this because I cannot stick to a routine for the life of me (so applying special KP lotion to my body after taking a shower, for example, doesn't happen), I'm always late for things (and don't have time to slather myself in lotion post-shower morning routine), and putting wet lotion all over my body and then putting clothes on is a sensory nightmare for me. I hate it.
This product solves a lot of those issues. It's quick, I don't have to rub it in, and it looks like my deodorant, which prompts my brain to remember to use it when I put actual deodorant on. Just wanted to share in case it can help anyone else. I can't comment on the efficacy yet as I just started using it, but it contains 7% glycolic acid AHA, 0.5% salicylic acid BHA, and 10% shea butter (plus The Inkey List products are always nice and reasonably priced, comparatively).
https://www.theinkeylist.com/products/glycolic-acid-exfoliating-body-stick
"Multiple concerns, one targeted solution. The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick is the answer to targeting and visibly improving body skin concerns which 9 out of 10 people experience. Powered by chemical exfoliation, this specialist treatment delivers deep, effective exfoliation and is proven to tackle stubborn concerns including KP bumps, ingrown hairs, rough skin, and body breakouts in as little as 7-days*.
The powerful formula combines familiar skincare actives including 7% Glycolic Acid to exfoliate surface dead skin cells and help smooth rough, bumpy texture together with Salicylic Acid to help unclog oily pores and improve body skin that’s prone to breakouts and ingrown hairs. The addition of deeply nourishing Shea Butter helps to instantly soften, soothe, and comfort skin.
Presented in an easy-to-use, solid stick format to enable precise application, Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick can be used as part of the AM or PM routine. Apply directly to areas of concern with no need to rinse off, just glide and go.
Attest Survey of 500 people, 18-45 years-old, August 2023 / *4-week consumer study of 100 people"
Targets: - KP Bumps - Ingrown Hairs - Dry and cracked heels - Breakout-prone skin - Underarm/Bikini Line Discoloration - Rough elbows and knees
Proud to be: - Cruelty Free - Carbon Net-Zero - B-Corp - Fragrance Free - Recyclable - Vegan - Gluten Free - Silicon Free - Alcohol Free - Clinically Tested
"KP Bumps: Use up to 2X daily on affected areas to help exfoliate keratin buildup which contributes to rough, bumpy skin."
Key ingredients:
7% Glycolic Acid: An AHA (Alpha-Hydroxy Acid) that effectively exfoliates surface dead skin cells to help smooth rough, bumpy texture. It's resurfacing action also helps to visibly improve hyperpigmentation and reduce the appearance of razor bumps.
0.5% Salicylic Acid: A powerful BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acid) exfoliant that helps to unclog oily pores to target and reduce the appearance of breakout-prone skin and ingrown hairs.
10% Shea Butter: A nourishing emollient to help moisturize and protect dry, rough skin, as it's being exfoliated, to leave it feeling instant softer soothed and comforted.
Full ingredient list: Ocytyldodecanol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Glycolic Acid, Ozokerite, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water (Aqua/Eau), PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

I just went to a Popeyes on my way home. I already had food at home, but I wanted to supplement. I ordered a mashed potatoes w/gravy. Then ordered an extra container of gravy, and paid extra for it. I circle around to get my order, and there is no container of gravy. I back up and complain, but they tell me they put the gravy on the potatoes, with the other gravy. I tell them I want a container of gravy , but they tell me I have to go back through the order line, which is backed up around the corner. So no go. I get home, pull out my receipt and go onto the customer survey webpage. I left a scathing survey talking about how they ripped me off for a container of gravy. So since very few people do those surveys, their rating will tank next week. The best part is, I can take that receipt with the survey number on the back to another Popeyes and get a free 2 piece meal with the order of a large drink. A lot more than the $0.50 they ripped me off for.

I am a Hyundai service advisor in California and have been for nearly a year. Overall the dealership has been alright up until a month ago when our manager placed a massive focus on survey scores and emails.. Initially he said he would take away our spiffs and bonuses if we got 5 email hardbounces within a month (Everyone lost theirs), then when that didnt work he started counting each hardbounce as effectively being late to work for each email missed (still little improvement).. now he is taking away our BG cash spiffs for not getting above national average for surveys, and worst of all he said he will suspend us for 3 months if we get 5 email hardbounces. Keep in mind our dealer isnt strictly CSI focused, it is also heavily commission focused with a write up if you dont make your goal. Oh also comission is only counted for labor, parts department gets all the parts commission. Basically a $25000 warranty EV battery is effectively only a $600 ticket for us... our minimum goal is $35000 gp labor only. Im not sure if its just that Im a pretty new advisor with only 2 years under my belt and Im just overreacting or if my manager is insane. Ive become so stressed and exhausted from all this that I have no energy to actually enjoy my free time. What are your guys's thoughts on this?