#Loan settlement process

[fincrif]

What Are the Consequences of Missing a Personal Loan EMI?

Introduction

A personal loan is a convenient financial tool that helps individuals cover expenses such as medical emergencies, home renovations, education, or debt consolidation. However, missing an Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) can have serious financial consequences. A missed payment can affect your credit score, increase financial penalties, and even lead to legal action if not managed properly.

Understanding the consequences of missing a personal loan EMI and learning how to prevent it can help borrowers maintain financial stability. In this guide, we’ll discuss the impacts of missing EMIs, how to recover from a missed payment, and preventive measures to avoid future defaults.

Immediate Consequences of Missing a Personal Loan EMI

1. Late Payment Fees and Penalties

Lenders charge late payment fees when an EMI is not paid by the due date. The penalty amount varies from lender to lender and typically ranges from 2% to 5% of the overdue EMI. This additional charge increases your repayment burden.

2. Negative Impact on Credit Score

Missing an EMI negatively affects your CIBIL score and overall creditworthiness. A lower score can reduce your chances of obtaining future loans and credit cards at favorable interest rates.

3. Increase in Interest Accumulation

If you miss an EMI, the unpaid amount continues to accrue interest, increasing the total loan cost. Over time, repeated missed payments can make repayment significantly more expensive.

4. Loan Default Risk

If multiple EMIs are missed, the lender may classify the loan as a Non-Performing Asset (NPA), leading to legal action or loan recall.

Long-Term Consequences of Repeated EMI Defaults

1. Legal Action from Lenders

Banks and NBFCs can initiate legal proceedings against borrowers who repeatedly default on payments. This can lead to severe financial and legal troubles.

2. Difficulty in Getting Future Loans

A poor repayment history makes it challenging to secure future personal loans, home loans, or car loans. Lenders view defaulters as high-risk borrowers and may reject new loan applications.

3. Asset Seizure (For Secured Loans)

If your personal loan is secured by collateral, such as a fixed deposit or property, the lender has the legal right to seize the asset if EMIs are consistently missed.

4. Higher Interest Rates on Future Loans

Even if you qualify for a loan after defaulting, lenders may charge higher interest rates due to your damaged credit history.

What to Do If You Miss a Personal Loan EMI?

If you’ve missed an EMI, follow these steps to minimize the impact:

1. Make the Payment Immediately

If possible, pay the overdue EMI at the earliest to avoid additional penalties and interest accumulation.

2. Contact Your Lender for an EMI Extension

Many lenders offer grace periods or flexible repayment plans for borrowers facing temporary financial difficulties.

3. Opt for a Loan Restructuring

If you’re struggling with multiple debts, request a loan restructuring to extend the repayment tenure and lower EMI amounts.

4. Use an Emergency Fund

If available, use your savings or emergency fund to cover missed EMIs and avoid financial penalties.

5. Consider a Balance Transfer

If the current EMI is too high, transferring your loan to another lender with a lower interest rate can help reduce the financial burden.

How to Avoid Missing a Personal Loan EMI?

1. Set Up Automatic Payments

Enroll in auto-debit or standing instructions to ensure EMIs are paid on time without manual intervention.

2. Maintain an EMI Emergency Fund

Keep at least three to six months’ worth of EMI payments in a separate savings account to cover unexpected financial difficulties.

3. Choose an EMI Date That Matches Your Salary Cycle

Selecting an EMI date right after your salary is credited reduces the chances of missed payments.

4. Opt for a Loan with Flexible Repayment Options

Some lenders offer personal loans with flexible EMI options, allowing borrowers to increase or decrease EMIs based on financial conditions.

5. Reduce Unnecessary Expenses

If your financial situation is tight, cut back on non-essential spending to ensure EMIs are always paid on time.

Top Lenders Offering Flexible EMI Repayment Plans

For borrowers seeking low-interest rates and flexible EMI options, the following lenders provide some of the best personal loan offers:

IDFC First Bank Personal Loan

Bajaj Finserv Personal Loan

Tata Capital Personal Loan

Axis Finance Personal Loan

Axis Bank Personal Loan

InCred Personal Loan

Conclusion

Missing a personal loan EMI can lead to serious consequences, including late fees, credit score damage, increased interest costs, and legal troubles. However, timely action, such as contacting the lender, making partial payments, and opting for restructuring, can help minimize the impact.

To prevent EMI defaults, borrowers should use automatic payments, maintain an emergency fund, and choose flexible repayment plans.

For the best personal loan options with easy repayment terms, visit:

Apply for a Personal Loan

By managing your EMIs effectively, you can avoid financial stress and maintain a healthy credit profile.

[jacobjones2110]

Understand the loan settlement process with our complete guide. Learn how loan settlement works, its benefits, potential risks, and how to negotiate a favorable settlement with your lender.

[moneeb0930]

ORIGINS OF HAPI (NILE) VALLEY CIVILIZATION

The progenitors of the Nile Valley civilization were Nilo-Saharan peoples who migrated to the Hapi (Nile) Valley from the Green Sahara, Nubia and Northeast Africa. The cattle cults of Het-Heru (Hathor), spiritual beliefs, iconography and cultural motifs associated with the old Kingdom can be traced to these regions prior to the unification of the two lands. The science of mummification began in Libya with the 5600 year old Tashwinat Mummy, known as the “Black Mummy of the Green Sahara''. The Black Mummy predates the oldest Kemetic mummy by over 1000 years. Astronomy and the study of the procession of the equinox began in South Africa at the site of the Adams Calendar Stone Circle and continued at the Napta Playa Stone circle located in modern day Sudan. This 7000 year old ceremonial center dried out around 3400 BC and they transferred their knowledge into the Nile Valley. The earliest images of Pharaonic Kingship were found in Nubia at the site of Qustul were the oldest depiction of Pharaonic Kingship is shown on the Qustul incense Burner. The original populations of the Nile Valley were no different than modern Sudanese, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali populations of today with a mixture of western Eurasians via the Levant whom for the most part settled in the Delta region. The cultural overlap of Kush and Kemet existed from the very dawn of Hapi Valley civilization and the cultural fusion was expressed in the customs and spiritual beliefs of its early inhabitants. These ancient traditions are continually practiced in Africa to this day.

Below are the results from a genome project conducted by Dr. Shomarka Keita, a Research Affiliate and Biological Anthropologist in the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. A. J. Boyce, who works at the Institute of Biological Anthropology and St. John's College

Oxford University.

PROJECT MUSE

Genetics, Egypt, and History: Interpreting Geographical Patterns of Y Chromosome Variation

IV, XI, V=Nilotic African

VII, VIII=Near Eastern

235 S.O.Y. Keita and A. J. Boyce

Early speakers of Nilosaharan and Afroasiatic apparently interacted based on the evidence of loan words (Ehret, personal communication). Nilosaharan’s current range is roughly congruent with the so-called Saharo-Sudanese or Aqualithic culture associated with the less arid period (Wendorf and Schild 1980), and therefore cannot be seen as intrusive. Its speakers are found from the Nile to the Niger rivers in the Sahara and Sahel, and south into Kenya. The eastern Sahara was likely a micro-evolutionary processor and pump of populations, who may have developed various specific sociocultural (and linguistic) identities, but were genealogically “mixed” in terms of origins.

These identities may have further crystallized on the Nile, or fused with those of resident populations that were already differentiated. The genetic profile of the Nile Valley via the fusion of the Saharans and the indigenous peoples were likely established in the main, long before the Middle Kingdom. Post-neolithic/predynastic population growth, as based on extrapolations from settlement patterns (Butzer 1976) would have led to relative genetic stability. The population of Egypt at the end of the pre-dynastic is estimated to have been greater than 800,000, but was not evenly distributed along the valley corridor, being most concentrated in locales of important settlements (Butzer 1976). Nubia, as noted, was less densely populated.

Interactions between Nubia and Egypt (and the Sahara as well) occurred in the period between 4000 and 3000 BCE (the predynastic). There is evidence for sharing of some cultural traits between Sudan and Egypt in the neolithic (Kroeper 1996). Some items of “material” culture were also shared in the phase called Naqada I between the Nubian A-Group and upper Egypt (~3900-3650 BCE). There is good evidence for a zone of cultural overlap versus an absolute boundary (Wilkinson 1999 after Hoffman 1982, and citing evidence from Needler 1984 and Adams 1996). Hoffman (1982) noted cattle burials in Hierakonpolis, the most important of predynastic upper Egyptian cities in the later predynastic. This custom might reflect Nubian cultural impact, a common cultural background, or the presence of Nubians.

Whatever the case, there was some cultural and economic bases for all levels of social intercourse, as well as geographical proximity. There was some shared iconography in the kingdoms that emerged in Nubia and upper Egypt around 3300 BCE (Williams 1986). Although disputed, there is evidence that Nubia may have even militarily engaged upper Egypt before Dynasty I, and contributed leadership in the unification of Egypt (Williams 1986). The point of reviewing these data is to illustrate that the evidence suggests a basis for social interaction, and gene exchange.

236 S.O.Y. Keita and A. J. Boyce

There is a caveat for lower Egypt. If neolithic/predynastic northern Egyptian populations were characterized at one time by higher frequencies of VII and VIII (from Near Eastern migration), then immigration from Saharan sources could have brought more V and XI (Nilo-Saharan) in the later northern neolithic. It should further be noted that the ancient Egyptians interpreted their unifying king, Narmer (either the last of Dynasty 0, or the first of Dynasty I), as having been upper Egyptian and moving from south to north with victorious armies (Gardiner 1961, Wilkinson 1999). However, this may only be the heraldic “fixation” of an achieved politi- cal and cultural status quo (Hassan 1988), with little or no actual troup/population movements. Nevertheless, it is upper Egyptian (predy- nastic) culture that comes to dominate the country and emerges as the basis of dynastic civilization. Northern graves over the latter part of the predynastic do become like those in the south (see Bard 1994); some migration to the north may have occurred—of people as well as ideas.

238-239 S.O.Y. Keita and A. J. Boyce

After the early late pleistocene/holocene establishment of Afroasiatic-speaking populations in the Nile valley and Sahara, who can be inferred to have been predominantly, but not only V (and XI), and of Nilosaharan folk in Nubia, Sudan, and Sahara (mainly XI and IV?), mid- holocene climatic-driven migrations led to a major settlement of the valley in upper Egypt and Nubia, but less so in lower Egypt, by diverse Saharans having haplotypes IV, XI, and V in proportions that would significantly influence the Nile valley-dwelling populations.

These mid-Holocene Saharans are postulated to have been part of a process that led to a diverse but connected metapopulation. These peoples fused with the indigenous valley peoples, as did Near Easterners with VII and VIII, but perhaps also some V. With population growth the genetic profiles would become stabilized. Nubian and upper Egyptian proximity and on some level, shared culture, Nubia’s possible participation in Egyptian state-building, and later partial political absorption in Dynasty I, would have reinforced biological overlap (and been further “stabilized” by ongoing population growth).

Source:

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/187884

HEAD to HEAD: Ancient Egypt Reconstructions COMPARED (Bas Uterwijk vs TKM): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8iN6EFVTbQ&t=35s

Visit A Virtual Museum:

https://www.knowthyselfinstitute.com/museum

"I have not spoken angrily or arrogantly. I have not cursed anyone in thought, word or deeds." ~35th & 36th Principals of Ma'at

[mariacallous]

A US judge has cleared the way for billions of dollars to be refunded to former customers of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX.

At a court hearing in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday, judge John Dorsey gave final approval to FTX’s reorganization plan, the terms of which had previously been put to creditors and voted through by a landslide.

“I think this is a model case for how to deal with a very complex Chapter 11 proceeding,” said Dorsey. “I applaud everyone involved in the negotiation process.”

FTX filed for bankruptcy in November 2022 after running out of funds to process customer withdrawals. Billions of dollars’ worth of FTX customer deposits were missing. The money, a jury later found, had been swept into a sibling company and spent on high-risk trading, venture bets, debt repayments, personal loans, political donations, luxury real estate, and other illegitimate dealings.

A year later, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy, then sentenced to 25 years in prison. In September, coconspirator Caroline Ellison received a two-year prison term after testifying against Bankman-Fried at trial.

First proposed in May, the FTX bankruptcy plan charts a path to a full refund, plus interest, for former FTX customers—a level of recovery rarely seen in bankruptcies. “Generally, anything over 100 cents on the dollar is close to miraculous,” says Yesha Yadav, associate dean and a bankruptcy specialist at Vanderbilt University Law School. “What tends to happen is that unsecured creditors get cents on the dollar, if they’re lucky. The expectation is that it is a process of scarcity.”

In this case, though, the administrators of the FTX estate were able to recover billions of dollars by liquidating investments made by the exchange’s venture capital arm, FTX Ventures, and its sister company, Alameda Research, along with other assets. A rise in the price of cryptocurrencies in the period since FTX filed for bankruptcy, meanwhile, raised the value of the coins left in exchange coffers.

Under the plan, government bodies in the United States—including the Internal Revenue Service and the Commodities and Futures Trading Commission—have agreed to suspend high-value claims against FTX until creditors had been repaid (although the IRS will receive a $200 million upfront payment as part of the settlement).

Even FTX equity holders, typically the last to be repaid in a bankruptcy, stand to make back a portion of their initial investment—a maximum of $230 million between them—paid for using funds recovered by the Department of Justice through the prosecution of FTX insiders.

But despite the abnormally high expected recovery, some creditors believe they are still getting a raw deal by virtue of the way their claims have been valued.

Many customers held crypto assets like bitcoin on the FTX platform, but through a process called dollarization common to bankruptcies, their claims have instead been assigned a dollar value based on the price of those assets on the date of the bankruptcy filing. When FTX fell, the crypto market was in the doldrums, but it has since lurched to new all-time highs, meaning some customer claims would be far more valuable if the refund were mapped to the present value of crypto assets. Therefore, though dollarization is proper under the bankruptcy code, “saying [the return] is over 100 percent is just wrong,” says Yadav. “For the average person, it’s very far from that.”

Among the parties that stand to gain the most from the approval of the plan, meanwhile, are investment firms that spent millions of dollars purchasing claims from people with assets stuck in FTX, who either preferred to take a haircut and reinvest the money or had urgent need of the funds. Those claims were typically purchased at a cut-price rate before a handsome recovery was considered likely—some for less than 10 cents on the dollar—but are now worth multiples of that.

“In terms of internal rate of return—holy shit. It’s the best trade I’ve seen in my lifetime,” says Thomas Braziel, cofounder of 507 Capital, an investment firm that specializes in buying up bankruptcy claims and took a large position in FTX, and 117 Partners, which brokers claim sales. (In July, Braziel was ordered by a Delaware court to repay $1.9 million that he misappropriated as receiver of failed financial services company Fund.com to make investments and luxury purchases.)

In August, a number of former FTX customers filed formal objections to the plan with the bankruptcy court. The customers objected, variously, to the legal immunity provided under the plan to those that have administered the bankruptcy, the likelihood that cash payments would trigger costly taxable events for creditors, and other elements of the plan. “I felt vindicated when Bankman-Fried went to jail—and I believed that would flow through to bankruptcy court,” says Sunil Kavuri, one FTX customer to cosign an objection. “I’ve been unpleasantly surprised.”

In the course of the five-hour hearing, Brian Glueckstein, an attorney at law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and counsel to FTX, responded to each objection in turn. “There is no evidence on the record that somehow these debtors are not providing maximum value—none,” said Glueckstein.

In providing his approval, the judge rejected the pending objections and cleared the way for FTX administrators to begin to execute the plan.

It remains possible to lodge an appeal against the plan after its confirmation in limited circumstances. Logistical complications may also delay repayments to creditors, expected to begin late this year at the earliest. But few realistic options now remain for parties hoping to change the course of the FTX bankruptcy.

The confirmation hearing “is the last chance in a practical sense for changes to be made,” says Yadav. “This is the defining day.”

[discolesbo]

Unknown ancient languages in the area of modern day Finland

Before the arrival of Western Uralic languages, which eventually developed into the Sámi languages and Finnish, there were already earlier languages being spoken in the area of modern day Finland. These ancient languages are completely unknown to us; after all, their cultures did not write. However, some names and words from those languages still live on as they were loaned into Sámi and Finnish and are still in use.

The prevalence of these loan words is higher in Sámi than in Finnish: as much as third of the words in Sámi languages are of unknown origin. The Sámi linguist Ante Aikio has been able to find at least two different ancient languages which the Sámi languages loaned words from in the area. The southern language he has dubbed Paleo-Lakelandic, the northern one Paleo-Laplandic. Before the arrival of Western Uralic languages, there had already been human settlements in Finland for nearly 10 millenia.

The first wave of Western Uralic languages came from the group whose Western Uralic dialect eventually developed into the Proto-Sámic language. As established, they loaned a lot of words from these ancient languages in Finland. The Finnish language has a more complicated origin, geographically. I'll write it with a smaller font as it is kind of off-topic but if you're interested:

The sister of Proto-Sámic is Proto-Baltic Finnic, which was born when Western Uralic dialects west of modern day Central Russia split into Proto-Finnic and Mordvinic lanugages. At this state, they loaned words from the ancient language of the Comb-Ceramic culture. Some of Proto-Finnics started living together with the Indo-European Baltic speakers, resulting in the birth of the Proto-Baltic Finnic language. This community was bilingual; possibly even for a thousand years. This explains the massive amount of Baltic loan words in Finnish. This community also loaned words from the earlier languages of the Baltic (before the arrival of Baltic or Proto-Baltic Finnic languages), mainly names of different kinds of fish.

After this, the Proto-Baltic Finnic language spread over the gulf to Southern Finland and encountered ancient languages of Finland it borrowed words from. Eventually, it encountered (and mixed with) Proto-Sámic. This mixing resulted in the birth of Finnish (or rather, its different dialects) as its separate language. Similarly, in the more northern areas, the Proto-Sámic language split into the different Sámi languages of modern day.

This process was slow. In the 17th century, there were still the last speakers of a Sámi language in Kainuu, for example. However, they mixed with and switched to Finnish centuries ago. And similarly, there were possibly still pre-Sámi languages spoken in the north of Fennoscandia during the Medieval times. They switched to speaking Sámi, much like Sámi-speakers in more southern areas switched to speaking Finnish.

Some words (note these are educated guesses):

The words "kontio" (bear) and "nuotio" (campfire) possibly came to Finnish through Sámi, originally from Old Lakelandic. Also through Sámi, from Old Laplandic, are the words "mursu" (walrus), "norppa" (ringed seal), and "kiiruna" (rock ptarmigan).

Some words that were loaned from ancient languages directly to Proto-Finnish without the Sámi middleman include "niemi" (small peninsula), "saari" (island), and "vuori" (mountain, hill).

Many place names in Finland have names that seem to originate from ancient languages as well, such as Saimaa, Inari and Päijänne.

The text is translated and condensed from Ennen suomea ja saamea Suomen alueella puhuttiin lukuisia kadonneita kieliä — kielitieteilijät ovat löytäneet niistä jäänteitä (Prior to Finnish and Sámi, multiple lost languages were spoken in the area of Finland — linguists have found relicts of them).

[kny111]

New York would create a commission to consider reparations to address the lingering, negative effects of slavery under a bill passed by the state Legislature on Thursday.

"We want to make sure we are looking at slavery and its legacies," said state Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages before the floor debate. "This is about beginning the process of healing our communities. There still is generational trauma that people are experiencing. This is just one step forward."

The state Assembly passed the bill about three hours after spirited debate on Thursday. The state Senate passed the measure hours later, and the bill will be sent to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for consideration.

New York would be following the lead of California, which became the first state to form a reparations task force in 2020. That group recommended a formal apology from the state on its legacy of racism and discriminatory policies and the creation of an agency to provide a wide range of services for Black residents. They did not recommend specific payments amounts for reparations.[1]

The New York legislation would create a commission that would examine the extent to which the federal and state governments supported the institution of slavery.[2] It would also address persistent economic, political and educational disparities experienced by Black people in the state today.

According to the New York bill, the first enslaved Africans arrived at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, then a Dutch settlement, around the 1620s and helped build the infrastructure of New York City. While the state Legislature enacted a statute that gave freedom to enslaved Africans in New York in 1817, it wasn't implemented until 10 years later.[3]

"I'm concerned we're opening a door that was closed in New York State almost 200 years ago,"[4] said Republican state Assemblymember Andy Gooddell during floor debates on the bill. Gooddell, who voted against the measure, said he supports existing efforts to bring equal opportunity to all and would like to "continue on that path rather than focus on reparations."[5]

In California, the reparations task force said in their report that the state is estimated to be responsible for more than $500 billion due to decades of over-policing, mass incarceration and redlining that kept Black families from receiving loans and living in certain neighborhoods. California's state budget last year was $308 billion.[6] Reparations in New York could also come with a hefty price tag.

The commission would be required to deliver a report one year after its first meeting. The panel's recommendations, which could potentially include monetary compensation for Black people,[7] would be non-binding. The legislature would not be required to take the recommendations up for a vote.

New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who is the first Black person to hold the position, called the legislation "historic."[8]

Heastie, the governor and the legislative leader in the state Senate would each appoint three members to the commission.[9]

Other state legislatures that have considered studying reparations include New Jersey and Vermont, but none have passed legislation yet.[10] The Chicago suburb in Evanston, Illinois, became the first city to make reparations available to Black residents through a $10 million housing project in 2021.[11]

On the federal level, a decades-old proposal to create a commission studying reparations has stalled in Congress.[12]

Some critics of reparations by states say that while the idea is well-intentioned, it can be misguided.[13]

William Darity, a professor of public policy and African and African American Studies at Duke University said even calling them reparations is "presumptuous," since it's virtually impossible for states to meet the potentially hefty payouts.[14]

He said the federal government has the financial capacity to pay true reparations and that it should be the party that is responsible.[15]

"My deeper fear with all of these piecemeal projects is that they actually will become a block against federal action because there will be a number of people who will say there's no need for a federal program," Darity said. "If you end up settling for state and local initiatives, you settle for much less than what is owed."[16] K, Blog Admin notes: [1] This is useful because it's attempting institutionalization of the divestment in needing money to solve the issue of slavery reparations and instead aims to provide a means to account for such a system by way of adhering to necessities. This seems like a legislative path to that. A formal apology is well overdue so the creation of these institutions, paired with divestment in money (which are literal enslavement notes) makes for said apology more effective and honest.

[2] Correct, slavery is handled and supported to this day at a state and federal level. Any strategies aimed at changing this enslavement system requires changes at both state and federal levels, otherwise what's the point? [3] Legislature like the one in 1817 what it did was make enslavement go covert while continuing to operate with the same engine. Which is why we need to correct any semblance of it existing by abolishing institutions that were created from slavery and repurpose ones sabotaged by past and existing pro slavery legislature. Reparations fixes itself to do just that.

[4] Read [3] because slavery's door was never shut. There's never been enough evidence, something I hope this legislature corrects, with regards to presenting when this "end of slavery" ever occurred. As far as everyone experiencing this god awful system is concerned slavery continued just fine.

[5] Slavery as a system created such a historical inequivalence for all involved that a path has never honestly been formed to claim we're all equal. How can we "continue" on something we've never even established?

[6] Translation: The enslavers who own this system over us and invested so much in slavery can't put their money where their labor is. This is our issue how? Legislature like this will help correct that.

[7] I would hope that this conversation around monetary compensation and reparations from enslavement systems involves a divestment plan from a currency note that has factual connections to and will continue to be looked at as an enslaver note to those who study slavery historically. So this might look like an institution that can help communities divest from ever even needing to use money due to their systemic connections to slavery.

[8] This legislature is needed and overdue, I wouldn't call it historic yet. People within government tend to have a low bar for what's historic and epic.

[9] Not enough people. 3 is not enough. This is a ridiculously low amount considering how easy it can be to sabotage this work as they have in the past, this increases that chance. They need more community input. Otherwise, what's the point?

[10] Further implicating these states with systemic slavery.

[11] Not enough for similar reasons that a slaver creating their own paper and telling you to live off of it is not enough to stop slavery.

[12] So the one thing that did have a semblance of working, you let it rock there, doing nothing? Seems like an institutional trend.

[13] How? Explain using evidence in the same way we abolitionists use evidence to prove slavery is not needed.

[14] Agreed, and they don't have the capacity to make their enslaver dollars mean much into the future. Money temporarily becomes pay outs which are like the apology letter you include system changes with otherwise its just enslavers recycling their image.. AGAIN.

[15] Agreed, but I hope this doesn't mean shift in focus from what needs to structurally change at a state level and what these types of legislature can do. I think federal changes should come with state strategizing as well.

[16] see [14] and [15]

[ghostofaboy]

The Worthwhile Delay

Pairing: Din Djarin/Cobb Vanth Rating: Explicit. Serious over 18s only Word count: 1467

Warnings: Face sitting, Rimming, Anal Fingering, Dirty Talk, Blow Jobs, Come Eating, 69

Summary: Din and Cobb are delayed in getting back to Freetown after an excursion into the desert. Luckily Cobb thinks of something for them to do to pass the time Shameless smut.

Note: This has not been beta read so I apologize for any mistakes. This is my first time writing DinCobb.

They had been traveling for a few days when Din’s speeder abruptly gave out. Din had traveled out, agreeing to accompany his lover, Cobb, to investigate a strange signal. What had appeared only to be a short distance from Freetown had ended up being a two-day trip to a downed ship. Din’s mind drifted back to think of his young son Grogu, back in the settlement. He’d been left with Cobb’s new deputy, but Din was concerned the little green rascal would run rings around the young man.

After thoroughly investigating the crash site Din and Cobb had found nothing but a destroyed astromech. If there had been a pilot, there was no body. With no tracks to follow or clues, the two men had reluctantly decided to head back.

About halfway through the first day heading back, Din’s speeder sputtered to a halt.

“Dank farrik.”

“What’s the trouble?” Cobb glided to a stop next to him.

“The speeder.” Din gestured to the smoking machine. “I think it’s overheated.”

“Doubtful.” Cobb climbed down from his own and started to peer into the complex working of Din’s loaned speeder. “Speeders on Tatooine have to pass checks for the heat. Nah, looks like the coupler is shot. Just general wear and tear, partner. Nothin’ to be done about it.”

Din climbed off the dead speeder with a sigh. Cobb’s speeder wasn’t built for two to ride, but with some work, they might be able to hook up something to tow his busted ride.

“If we find a way to connect them, you might be able to tow me back.” Din cocked his head, hands on hips.

“You read my mind.” Cobb chuckled. “I have some cord, but we’ll have to go slower. Else it’ll tear and then, well, you’ll be in for a long walk.”

After slowly being towed for the rest of the day, Din eventually spotted a small cave opening and directed Cobb so they could make camp. A few hours later, long after the suns had set, Din spotted Cobb watching. He’d caught Cobb watching him several times over the few weeks he’d spent in Freetown. Din had taken to removing his helmet in private with Cobb, and Cobb had not lost his curiosity about Din’s face yet.

Cobb was leaning back against the cave wall, his eyes roaming over Din, a smile playing on his lips.

Turning his head slowly, Din watched as Cobb licked his lips before locking eyes with Din.

“Sit on my face.”

Din blinked at Cobb, unable to process the request for a moment. It had been a statement rather than a question as Din watched Cobb’s smile grow.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Sit. On. My. Face.” Cobb folded his arms. “I wanna eat your ass. And your balls. Oh, and your cock.”

“I’m not in the mood for your jokes.” Din growled.

“Who says I’m jokin’?”

“It’s not very private.” Din gestured to the cave. “Someone could see.”

“There’s only us here.” Cobb laughed loudly .”Come on, why not?”

Din didn’t have a good answer. Truthfully his cock was already stirring. It had been almost a week since he and Cobb had last had sex. Being the Marshall of a town kept Cobb busy, and once the signal had been picked up, they’d had no time for intimacy. Glancing outside the mouth of the cave, Din could see nothing but desert. Why not, indeed?

“Well?” Cobb smirked, loosening his pants, showing Din his hardening cock.

To answer Cobb, Din began to rapidly remove his armor and flight suit. Cobb watched every movement, stroking his thick cock with a smile. Eventually, Dib stood naked in the cave, shivering slightly as Cobb's eyes roamed over him.

“Are you going to take anything off?” Dib gestured to Cobb’s mostly clothed form.

Cobb just grinned, yanking off his shirt and roughly shoving his pants to his knees before kicking them off.

“Better?”

“Fairer.”

“Well,” Cobb lay down flat, motioning for Din to come over, “climb on.”

Still conscious of the very public place they were in, Din positioned himself over Cobb’s face, with his knees on either side of the other man’s chest. Carefully he lowered himself until he could feel Cobb’s hot breath on his ass. In front of him, Cobb’s cock twitched, a pearl of precum rolling down its length, and Din couldn’t help licking his lips.

Behind him, Din could feel Cobb pulling his ass cheeks apart to get a better look at his hole, letting out an approving hum at the sight before him. Din couldn't stop himself letting out a contented sigh as Cobb began to pepper his cheeks with kisses before teasing and tracing around Din's rim with his tongue. Watching Cobb's cock bob with each lick, Din could feel his own cock leaking, trapped between Cobb's chest and Din's stomach.

"Wish we had some lube with us." Cobb muttered into Din's ass. "I need to fuck you."

"Have to wait till we get back." Din moaned. "Then we can… ah… we can…"

Cobb just chuckled as he continued to gently lick around Din's rim. Din could feel himself clenching and releasing as Cobb began to bury his face between Din's cheeks. Slowly, steadily, Cobb worked Din open with his tongue. All Din could do was try to hold himself still, occasionally writhing and groaning as he fucked himself on Cobb's tongue.

Keeping his eyes fixed on Cobb's leaking cock Din busied himself pinching his own nipples. His heart raced as the fire built inside him, his swollen cock hot and red, twitching at Cobb's attention. Then a sudden feeling of warm wet hit Din’s hole and began to drip down. Din couldn’t stop himself from gasping as Cobb spit into his open asshole again.

“Relax for me, darlin’.” Cobb purred, gently pushing a finger into Din. Arching his back, Din let out an uncontrolled and obscenely loud moan as Cobb’s digit found his prostate. Din instinctively leaned forward more, widening his legs while Cobb eased a second spit-covered finger into him. Cobb's cock was now tantalizingly close to Din's mouth, red and throbbing, making Din wonder if Cobb would cum untouched.

"So pretty like this." Cobb breathed, trailing his mouth down to suck on Din's balls. Taking each one in his mouth in turn, Cobb hummed in pleasure, curling his tongue around their shape. "Shift up Din, use my mouth, darlin'."

Din did as he was told, shifting his hips slightly for Cobb to take his cock and put it into his hot wet mouth. He wouldn't last much longer with Cobb's fingers buried in his hole and his mouth engulfing his cock.

Leaning forward, even more to put his weight into his knees and elbows, Din parted his lips and swirled his tongue around the head of Cobb's cock. A muffled gasp was his reward before the lewd wet, gagging noises returned as Din fucked down into Cobb's mouth.

Din closed his eyes, savoring the moment as he closed his mouth over the head of Cobb's cock and sucked hard. The air felt electrified as both men chased the building pleasure. Din bobbed his head over the length of Cobb, letting him hit the back of Din's throat before pulling back, hollowing his cheeks as he did. Beneath him, Cobb choked on Din's cock, all the while gently tugging on his balls and pumping his fingers into Din's needy hole.

It was Cobb who came first, the coiling tension snapping as he bucked up into Din's mouth. Salty release flooded Din's senses as he pulled back to stroked Cobb through his climax. The fingers in his ass halted briefly before Din felt Cobb let out a shaky moan before resuming his frantic pace.

Din's muscles ached as he felt his composure slip. Hungrily chasing his own finish, Din drove down into Cobb's waiting throat. It only took a matter of seconds before Din, with one last thrust Din came. As his vision blurred, Din pinched his eyes shut, as he could feel Cobb milking every last drop from him. Finally, just as he thought his legs would give way, Din felt Cobb slide his fingers slowly and carefully out of Din's twitching hole.

With his legs still shaking, Din sluggishly climbed off of Cobb before collapsing onto the ground next to him. The cave filled with their breathless panting before Cobb let out a low chuckle.

"Not bad." He rolled onto his side to look at Din. "But we can do better."

Gazing up at the cave ceiling Din smiled. They had managed pretty well in a cave with little preparation. With toys, lube, and more time, there was no doubt Cobb would be able to leave Din a boneless mess.

“We can do better.” Din agreed.

[xettle-technologies]

What are the key features of fintech solutions for business banking?

In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, fintech solutions have revolutionized the way businesses handle their banking needs. Fintech business banking is designed to streamline financial processes, enhance efficiency, and provide tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, fintech companies are transforming traditional banking into a more dynamic, accessible, and customer-centric experience. Here, we explore the key features of fintech solutions for business banking, highlighting the impact of fintech payment systems, global reach, and the role of providers like Xettle Technologies in shaping this transformative sector.

1. Seamless Account Management

One of the primary features of fintech business banking is seamless account management. Fintech platforms offer intuitive dashboards and user-friendly interfaces that allow businesses to monitor their accounts in real-time. Features such as automated reconciliation, instant notifications, and integrated reporting tools make managing finances more efficient and less time-consuming. Business owners can track expenses, revenues, and cash flow from a single platform, ensuring they stay on top of their financial health.

2. Advanced Fintech Payment Systems

Fintech solutions are renowned for their innovative payment systems. A fintech payment system enables businesses to send and receive payments swiftly and securely. These systems often support multiple payment methods, including bank transfers, credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, and international payments. Additionally, advanced features such as recurring billing, payment reminders, and instant settlements simplify financial transactions for businesses.

Payment gateways offered by fintech companies are designed with robust security measures, including encryption and tokenization, to protect sensitive data. This level of security builds trust and ensures compliance with global financial regulations, making it easier for businesses to operate across borders.

3. Global Accessibility

Fintech global solutions provide businesses with the ability to operate seamlessly across international markets. This is particularly beneficial for businesses involved in cross-border trade. Fintech platforms facilitate currency conversions, international payments, and global compliance, reducing the complexities of managing finances in a globalized economy.

For instance, businesses can leverage fintech platforms to access multi-currency accounts, enabling them to hold and transact in various currencies without incurring high conversion fees. This global reach empowers businesses to expand their operations and cater to international clients with ease.

4. Tailored Financial Products

Fintech business banking solutions are highly customizable, offering tailored financial products that meet specific business needs. Whether it’s working capital loans, invoice financing, or expense management tools, fintech platforms provide solutions that cater to diverse industries and business models. This personalization ensures that businesses receive the support they need to grow and thrive in a competitive market.

Moreover, fintech platforms use data-driven insights to assess the financial health of businesses, enabling them to offer customized credit solutions and better interest rates compared to traditional banks.

5. Enhanced Security and Fraud Prevention

Security is a top priority in fintech business banking. Advanced fintech platforms incorporate state-of-the-art technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and blockchain to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. Features like two-factor authentication (2FA), biometric verification, and real-time fraud alerts provide businesses with peace of mind.

By leveraging AI and ML algorithms, fintech platforms can identify unusual transaction patterns and flag suspicious activities, minimizing the risk of financial fraud. This proactive approach to security helps businesses safeguard their assets and maintain trust with their stakeholders.

6. Integration with Business Tools

Fintech business banking solutions integrate seamlessly with other business tools, such as accounting software, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms. This integration streamlines operations and reduces manual effort, enabling businesses to focus on core activities.

For example, automated synchronization between fintech banking platforms and accounting tools ensures that financial data is always up-to-date, reducing errors and saving time during audits and financial reporting.

7. Real-Time Data and Analytics

Access to real-time data and analytics is a game-changer for businesses. Fintech solutions provide detailed insights into financial performance, helping businesses make informed decisions. Features like cash flow forecasting, expense categorization, and trend analysis empower businesses to plan strategically and optimize their financial resources.

8. Scalability and Flexibility

Fintech platforms are designed to grow with businesses. Whether a business is a startup, SME, or large enterprise, fintech solutions offer scalability and flexibility to adapt to changing needs. As businesses expand, they can access additional features and services without facing the limitations often associated with traditional banking systems.

9. Cost-Effective Solutions

Fintech business banking is typically more cost-effective than traditional banking. By automating processes and leveraging technology, fintech platforms reduce operational costs, which translates into lower fees for businesses. Features such as free transactions, minimal account maintenance charges, and competitive interest rates make fintech solutions an attractive option for businesses looking to optimize their financial operations.

10. Support for SMEs and Startups

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups often face challenges in accessing traditional banking services. Fintech solutions bridge this gap by offering accessible and inclusive banking options. Features like quick account setup, simplified loan applications, and dedicated customer support make fintech platforms a go-to choice for emerging businesses.

Xettle Technologies: A Pioneer in Fintech Business Banking

Among the many players in the fintech sector, Xettle Technologies stands out as a pioneer in delivering comprehensive fintech business banking solutions. By combining advanced technology with a customer-centric approach, Xettle Technologies empowers businesses to manage their finances effectively. Their innovative fintech payment system and global capabilities ensure that businesses can operate seamlessly in today’s interconnected world.

Conclusion

Fintech business banking has transformed the financial landscape, offering a plethora of features that cater to the evolving needs of businesses. From advanced fintech payment systems and global accessibility to enhanced security and tailored financial products, fintech solutions provide the tools necessary for businesses to thrive in a competitive market. Companies like Xettle Technologies exemplify the potential of fintech solutions to drive innovation and efficiency in business banking. As fintech global solutions continue to evolve, businesses can look forward to even more robust and dynamic banking experiences in the future.

[sinfulscream]

character essay: topaz from honkai star rail

strap your seat belt in, we're going for a ride.

topaz is a debt collector.

now you may start thinking: did belobog commit a tax fraud? if so, how? i thought this was a very interesting thought process. because have you ever considered interplanar debt or financial settlements in sci-fi media? unless if they were sky pirates or very simple transactions of sale and purchase - it is often not explored and perhaps, most might even consider it not interesting.

for those who played the game and dedicated their time to the events, you'll find and agree that the influence of the interastral peace corporation (ipc) is wide - considering they hold a stake in an underused freight vehicle for the aurum alley business event. the ipc was also painted as calculating, for wanting to take back not only the freight vehicle, but any semblance of a bustling city. the ipc is a capitalist loaning body, driven by its "philanthropy", until it's time to reap the benefits."

when topaz walked into the story, that painting proves to have more details - more than just freight vehicles, the ipc could do more than just assistance in business, but repairing an entire planet.

topaz's exterior personality leaves readers with quite literally no hint to who she is or where is she from, aside from her love for animals, but playing the story leaves you to find out that she came from a heavily polluted planet that the only choice left was to leave everything to the ipc. however, it was also because of this upbringing and story that topaz would prioritise survival, more than its people's freedom. after all, protection from natural disaster as well resource allocation for a planet's rebuilding is a tempting deal - especially for belobog, that had only recently been cleared from its stellaron crisis.

not only that, belobog had also borrowed funds from the ipc prior to the planet's isolation from the rest of the world due to its extreme weather. the contract topaz offered to rebuild belobog and employ its citizens under the ipc would clear the arrears owed for over seven centuries.

despite the ipc's opportunistic nature as a body, topaz came to belobog and spoke to bronya with unmatched sincerity. topaz was a character that did not come from a privileged place, yet took the steps to dance alongside the work opportunity she was provided with. even if the contract offered by the ipc was tempting, even she was amazed by the thriving spirit of belobogians, looking toward a future with their intelligence and enduring the coldest blizzards. she could no longer compare the environment between jarilo-vi and her home planet.

despite having objectively failed her mission, she was humble, and did not assert her task more than necessary. if this was what the people of belobog wanted, then she would not force it upon them.

which comes at the cost of her current position, and she was demoted by one rank. even so, she still found beauty on this planet.

as a character, one would assume that her position meant she was always out for money, but she herself said that she was past working for the money, and thus did not mind the pay cut that came with her demotion. but more than that, she maintains a headstrong personality through it all - a marketing expert who knew how to use her story to resonate with potential clients, yet endearing for her love of animals.

she is also noted to be very capable and places the interest of the planet's ahead of work - the probability of success among her planet projects stood at 80%, higher than the ipc's average of 60%.

topaz is a multifaceted businesswoman: friendly with her network, assertive with her staff, a marketing expert and most of all, good-natured. as an experienced businesswoman, her story clashes at the differences in culture and ideals against bronya, a fresh-faced leader trusted by her subjects.

this blog entry was originally posted on stormofblood.

[fincrif]

Can Personal Loans Be Transferred to Another Person?

A personal loan is an unsecured loan that is taken based on an individual's credit score, income, and repayment ability. Many borrowers wonder if they can transfer their loan to another person in case of financial difficulty or other reasons.

In this article, we will explore whether personal loans can be transferred, possible alternatives, lender policies, and key factors to consider before making a decision.

1. Can You Transfer a Personal Loan to Someone Else?

Unlike home loans or car loans, a personal loan is issued based on an individual’s creditworthiness and cannot be directly transferred to another person. Since personal loans are unsecured, lenders do not allow loan obligations to be shifted to a new borrower.

However, there are some alternative methods that may help if you are unable to manage your personal loan.

🔗 Check Personal Loan Options:

IDFC First Bank Personal Loan

Axis Bank Personal Loan

Bajaj Finserv Personal Loan

2. Alternatives to Transferring a Personal Loan

2.1. Balance Transfer to Another Borrower’s Account

Some lenders may allow a balance transfer option, where a new borrower takes a fresh loan and uses the amount to close the existing loan. This works as an indirect loan transfer but requires: ✔ The new borrower to meet the lender’s eligibility criteria ✔ The new borrower to have a good credit score and income stability ✔ The existing loan to have a transfer-friendly policy

2.2. Joint Loan Agreement or Guarantor Involvement

Some lenders allow co-borrowing or guarantor arrangements, where a family member or business partner takes joint responsibility for repayment. However, the original borrower remains liable for the loan.

2.3. Refinancing with a New Loan in Another Person’s Name

Instead of transferring a personal loan, a friend or family member can take a fresh loan in their name to help you pay off the existing debt. This method can work if the new borrower: ✔ Qualifies for better loan terms ✔ Has a higher credit score and lower interest rate eligibility

🔗 Best Refinancing Options:

Tata Capital Personal Loan

InCred Personal Loan

2.4. Loan Settlement or Foreclosure

If loan repayment is becoming a financial burden, borrowers may: ✔ Request a settlement by negotiating with the lender ✔ Make a one-time payment to close the loan ✔ Opt for early loan foreclosure to avoid further interest charges

However, loan settlements may negatively impact your credit score and should be considered only as a last resort.

3. Why Do Banks Not Allow Direct Personal Loan Transfers?

Banks and NBFCs strictly prohibit direct transfers due to the following reasons:

3.1. Unsecured Loan Risk

Since personal loans do not require collateral, lenders approve them based on the borrower’s income, credit score, and repayment history. Allowing loan transfers would increase the risk of defaults and fraud.

3.2. Legal & Contractual Limitations

The original loan agreement is legally bound between the lender and the borrower. Changing the borrower would require a new contract, which lenders typically do not support.

3.3. Creditworthiness of the New Borrower

Lenders assess loan applications based on the original applicant’s credit history. A direct transfer could bypass the risk assessment, leading to higher chances of default.

4. What to Consider Before Seeking a Loan Transfer Alternative?

If you are unable to repay a personal loan and are looking for alternatives, consider these factors:

✔ Loan Tenure & Remaining Balance – If only a few EMIs remain, it’s better to complete repayment rather than seek a transfer. ✔ Prepayment Penalties – Some lenders charge a penalty for early repayment in case of refinancing. ✔ Credit Score Impact – Missed payments or loan settlements can damage your credit score, making future borrowing difficult. ✔ New Borrower’s Willingness & Eligibility – If another person is taking a new loan on your behalf, ensure they meet the lender’s eligibility criteria.

5. Steps to Take If You Cannot Repay a Personal Loan

If you are struggling with repayment, follow these steps:

Step 1: Contact Your Lender

Inform your bank or NBFC about your financial difficulties. Some lenders offer: ✔ Loan restructuring options ✔ Temporary EMI reduction ✔ Moratoriums on loan repayments

Step 2: Consider a Balance Transfer Loan

If your lender does not support direct transfers, a balance transfer to another borrower’s account could be a possible solution.

🔗 Compare Personal Loan Balance Transfer Options:

Axis Finance Personal Loan

Step 3: Seek a Loan Refinancing Option

A borrower willing to help repay your loan can take a new loan at a lower interest rate, making repayments more manageable.

Step 4: Explore Loan Settlement

If financial distress continues, you can negotiate a loan settlement with the lender. However, this option should be used as a last resort due to its impact on credit scores.

Can You Transfer a Personal Loan?

A personal loan cannot be directly transferred to another person, as it is issued based on the original borrower’s creditworthiness and financial profile. However, alternatives such as balance transfers, refinancing, or co-borrowing options can help borrowers manage repayment.

Best Practices for Managing a Personal Loan

✔ Always borrow within your repayment capacity ✔ Keep track of your EMI schedules to avoid defaults ✔ Check for balance transfer options if you find a lower interest rate ✔ Seek loan restructuring or settlement in case of financial difficulty

🔗 Looking for a Better Personal Loan? Check the Best Options Here:

Apply for a Personal Loan

By staying financially responsible and exploring the right alternatives, borrowers can manage their personal loans effectively without the need for direct transfers.

[memesnotdreams]

alright friends, been working on this one for a few days. my car was totaled and it was an eye opening experience--i learned a few things about insurance, the loss process and buying a new car so passing on that knowledge so that you can keep as much of your hard earned money as possible.

buying cars -price is absolutely negotiable. a good benchmark is with fees and everything, you should try to walk out the door with the sticker price. i.e. if a dealership is selling a car for 12k excluding fees, you should shoot to pay 12K total. do your own research of course in order to make your case, but i'm just here to say that it's possible so dont give up, and dont leave money on the table. this is your sign to be aggressive! -negotiating is a bit of a performance. bring props, they help. i had all my notes printed out and it totally changed the tone of the conversation as soon as i whipped them out. -okay yes this is theater but, especially if you are getting a used car, take this bit seriously and prepare lol. bring a hard copy checklist of features to check on the car. verify VIN, the specs/model of the car, interior and exterior finishes and condition etc. and then actually verify! looking this closely at the car helped me identify cosmetic issues that helped when negotiating, and i also found some features to be missing. as it turns out, dealerships will list all possible features on a car according to the model,but it's up to you to make sure the car you are buying comes with those options. -again when buying a used car, ask if it comes with a warranty or is being sold as is. if it is being sold as is, whatever is wrong with the car at time of sale is your problem so plan accordingly. if they say there is a warranty verify this is not a warranty you are paying for as part of the loan. you want a dealership guarantee, or a manufacturers warranty best case. i was told the car had a warranty included with purchase but it was essentially an up sell and would be wrapped up in the loan. this added a couple thousand to my negotiated price. you can buy your own warranty later if it comes to it, but you do not need this.

the total loss process -a total loss is when you get in an accident and even if the car is driveable, your insurance company tells you they aren't going to fix it because it costs too much and or can not be made safe to drive -your insurance company is almost always going to lowball you for the settlement amount. dont accept this! double check their work on the settlement report, verify the comps are as close to your vehicle as possible. and have pictures of the interior and exterior of the car ready (esp in the case where there was minimal damage but it's still being ruled a loss) to show that your car was in good condition. - my last bit of advice is just to wait them out and be polite but firm. they absolutely can and will adjust the settlement if you come with evidence and are persistent. photos are a huge help so send those as soon as possible. this advice is unpopular for those of us who have issues challenging authority but hype yourself up and just do it. it's your money and it's owed to you.

more to come about how the accident reporting process actually works and some pitfalls i ran into.

[heliads]

everything is blue • conrisa space au • Chapter One: Some Run

Risa Ward escaped a shuttle destined for her certain, painful death. Connor Lassiter ran away from home before it was too late. Lev Calder was kidnapped. All of them were supposed to be dissected for parts, used to advance a declining galaxy, but as of right now, all of them are whole. Life will not stay the same way forever.

series spotify playlist

series masterlist / next

Connor Lassiter has only existed in these worlds for sixteen turns around his system’s sun, and yet his time is already over. It’s funny, really. If he was going to be taken apart, he was really hoping that he’d be able to make it to seventeen. It always seemed like a good year. Or maybe that’s just because seventeen is when you can start the training process to get your cosmic license, and although Connor never breathed a word of it to anyone, he’s always been angling to make it past the atmosphere, even just once.

Now, it looks like he’ll get his wish to leave his birth planet behind, but that’s the only good part about all of this. Connor will never be able to explore deep space, he’ll never chase down settlements on rogue moons, and he’ll never so much as see a binary sunrise, because Connor Lassiter is going to die, and worst of all, no one in this system or any other will fight it.

Even Connor can’t believe it’s really happening. Sure, he’s had this sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that his home has stopped being his for quite some time now, but he always assumed he could do something to pull himself out of it. Yeah, he mouthed off in class, and only ever turned up at home after curfew, long past when he was supposed to, but none of those are grounds for this, right? Right?

Not according to his parents, because they’re the ones who have gone and signed away his grounds license. Horrific. Connor found the proof of it by accident, aimlessly scrolling through his parents’ hololibrary in search of something interesting to read or watch. Instead of a new show, though, Connor had accidentally clicked on the tab for his parents’ private work files. 

Connor usually never bothers checking that stuff– who cares about interplanetary taxes and star system loans, anyway– but just as he’d been about to go back to the entertainment folder, he’d spotted his name on a file that read:  Destined for Distribution, and then he’d known.

There’s an old saying about how it takes a lunar colony to raise a child, but sometimes even the proverbial interstellar village isn’t enough. Sometimes you can’t force your offspring to be what you want. The governments of the worlds puzzled over such a dilemma for a long time– if you can’t shape the young generation, after all, you risk losing control of all of humanity forever– and after a series of Heartland Wars and internal disputes, they came up with a solution:  distribution.

Space travel is a relatively new problem in the history of humanity, but they’ve already managed to mess it up. Those in charge at the start of it all wanted new flights, new discoveries, to take over every planet they saw regardless of who lived there and the downfalls of having to carry on a society in every direction. 

After sinking their claws into every star system they could reach, the tension of frenetic interstellar improvement slackened, and what was left was a hastily constructed dystopia, prone to falling apart under the slightest of scuffles. We’re kind of a terrible species, humans, all things considered. We don’t wait until we’ve solved world peace before we take our problems to other planetary systems. Instead, we spread out our grievances until everyone in all the worlds has to suffer as much as we did.

The problem with fast-paced space exploration is that the early adventurers burned through resources just as quickly as they did back on planet Earth, which is now barely more than a clod of ash and dust. To make up for the demands without having to change their tactics, the centralized government sent out a mandate to all its territories:  why not solve two problems in one? Get rid of the teenage crisis by using their resources in a better way. Distribute what the ferals would take up to those who could actually use it.

There’s no way the idea of distribution should have taken on as strongly as it did. Maybe it wasn’t as inhumane in the beginning as they did now, maybe it literally was just about giving away food and clothing and shelter. Now, though? Distribution doesn’t just represent physical objects. It means that the actual bits and pieces of you, the bloody matter and bleached bones that are currently in the body of a child marked for distribution, will be spun apart into individual fragments and given away. 

There’s the idea that there’s only so much space left in space, so to speak, so if you’re no longer needed, your pieces will get distributed to those who need it more. That’s how our glorious society keeps growing, no longer out but in.

Every bit of you will be gone, destined for some better purpose. Some would say that’s poetic. Connor, who is slated to be killed in just this fashion, would call it gruesome. However, no one really cares about the thoughts of someone marked for distribution, and they’re certainly not going to start now. Hell, they haven’t been listening to him for years. Why change?

As Connor swiped through the distribution forms signed in triplicate according to some tradition from a long dead planet, he was chillingly reminded of how easy it was to get rid of him. Every person born on any planet within the Collective’s reach is given a grounds license when they draw their first breath. When it’s decided that they no longer deserve the air in their lungs, the Collective takes back the air and lungs both. Your grounds license is revoked, and from that moment forward, you cease to exist in any way that matters.

After that, you’re sent for distribution. By turning in the forms to confiscate your grounds license, your parents essentially send the Juvey-cops after you. Most kids don’t find out they’re going to get distributed until the Juveys show up at their house and take them away. They’ll have just enough time for a few cries of outrage before getting packaged into a shuttle and spirited to a nearby lunar colony so the doctors can cut you to ribbons. Delightful.

If, on the off chance, you actually do manage to find out that you’re going to get torn to pieces in the name of an equal and fair government, such as Connor, you have a chance to run. He’ll try, of course, but even as he makes his final preparations to kick-AWOL, some disheartening voice in the back of his head tells him that he probably isn’t going to make it very far. You can’t do anything without a grounds license. Not easily, of course. In all honesty, it’s probably just a matter of time until the Juvey-cops catch up to him.

Of course he’s going to run, though. Connor Lassiter is not the type to sit around and wait for his death to come to him. He’ll run until they strip away his very legs. Until then, he can grab a go bag, walk around his house one last time, and then leave in the dead of night before anyone thinks to catch him.

Connor hovers one last second over the threshold of his open door. After this, his fate is up in the air. He could get caught within moments, or he could somehow find a way to stick it out until his eighteenth birthday and survive to tell the tale. The only way he’ll know the answer to that story is if he leaves now.

Connor pushes the air from his lungs and goes. The door shuts quietly behind him, and Connor Lassiter officially disappears. From now on, it’s all up to him. His best plan is to head towards a nearby interstellar transport depot, hope he can find some absentminded pilot who won’t notice some kid sneaking into the back of his starlight frigate, and take him away from this planet. Once he’s offworld, he’ll be able to breathe a little easier. There’s no way they’ll be able to find one kid in a trillion if he finds a far enough system, right?

Until then, Connor will have to keep his head low. Juvey-cops aren’t the only thugs with guns who can cause him trouble. A crop of creeps called parts pirates have sprung up, and if it wasn’t terrible enough to have your limbs hacked off by trained professionals, imagine all that happening by the hands of black market dealers. At that point, Connor would rather just turn himself in, even though that’s a possibility more remote than anything. They say it’s within their rights to take the groundsless off the streets, so whatever the parts pirates do along the way is just another obstacle he’ll have to avoid.

As if he’s got a ton of great choices, though. Connor’s going to be unwound. That term’s been discouraged by the Collective ever since the idea of distribution picked up steam– it’s discourteous to the victims of distribution, apparently, and casts a pall on the whole process– but, like, they’re taking Connor’s organs, so he feels like he can call it whatever he wants. Fuck. He’s an Unwind. Why should they care what gory words he uses to describe it? They can dry their tears with his skin grafts.

Connor makes it to the transport depot by foot about an hour and a half later. Not a bad time, all things considered, but his veins are still thrumming with an unearthly need to get away by the time the rows of landing zones come into view. It takes some difficulty to hop the fence on the back end, but it’s old and no one really bothers checking here anyway. No one turns up to a depot like this unless you’re low on fuel or maglev boots before your next trip out of the star system.

Or, of course, unless you’re Connor Lassiter and you’re going to die. Connor hits the ground and nearly takes a spill before managing to right himself just in time. It would not do to break an ankle or something before he can even get onto a ship. Injuries would only slow him down, and the Juveys would have plenty of time to wait for his unwinding while the bone mended.

Connor slinks between rows of sleeping cruisers. He’ll have to pick his ticket to freedom carefully. A lot of the old interstellar war vets took to transportation jobs once they were out of the line of duty, apparently they like having a low-stress profession while still getting to see the stars, but they’ll aim at any unwanted visitors with the same reflexes as back in their soldier days.

No, Connor’s better off hitching a ride with a newbie or someone else who’s checked out enough to forget to do a once-over of their cargo bay. He finds the perfect place down a few rows– an old cargo boat, HBY-300s class. Old as anything, and, judging by the pervasive rust stains, not well looked after. Connor can’t see any lights on in the pilot’s seat, so he hurries up the landing ramp and immediately trips the security system. 

He doesn’t even see it coming, which is not great for his chances, obviously. He should have assumed there would be something like this, but Connor has been jittery for days now, and at some point his guard, already low, just gave up on him. Lights flash on and the beeping voice of a security AI announces him as ConNor LasSiter, AWOL. 

Too late, Connor spots the notice of registration fastened on the side of the ship, how it’s under the ownership of a former Juvey-cop. Probably one still missing the old glory days of hunting down kids who kicked-AWOL, judging by the overeager defense mechanisms. The guy spends his days ferrying shipments from one corner of the galaxy to another, and in his downtime, he picks up escaped Unwinds. How patriotic of him to fulfill such an important civic duty.

Connor swears under his breath, immediately turning tail and sprinting out of the ship. Lights start to click on across the depot’s hangar bay, and the telltale siren of things gone badly begins to echo across the empty space. Connor can hear the sounds of people starting to rush towards the ships, and he cuts an increasingly narrow diagonal across the shipyard, trying to stay out of the path of search beams.

After hauling ass back over the fence, which seems twice as difficult to climb now that he’s in danger, Connor hurtles across plain cement, aiming for the untamed forest across the road. It’s so wild in there that it would be impossible for low flying craft to find him which, judging by the increasing din of engines coming his way, is a necessity right now. 

He didn’t think they’d be able to find him so fast, but maybe one of his parents stopped by his room already and figured out he was gone. They could have called the Juvey-cops and had them here by now, especially with Mr. Reliving the Glory Days of Police Work back there already getting a facial scan on him. Connor thought he had been smart by ditching any tech so they couldn’t track him, but he’s forgotten one crucial thing about the life of an AWOL:  you don’t just have to be smart, you have to be lucky. Looks like Connor’s days of finding four leaf synth-clovers are behind him.

Out of the depot’s floodlights, the ground under Connor’s feet quickly transitions from concrete to grass. The sudden softness making him stumble. As Connor straightens back up, he has to fling an arm in front of his face to protect himself from a sudden, powerful wind coursing down around him. The grass, illuminated out of nowhere by twin blinding beams, is bent flat to the ground from the force of an engine. The engine of a small shuttle, as it turns out. A Juvey-cop’s shuttle, which has found him.

Connor can see the reflection of his eyes, wide as dinner plates, on the shiny surface of the shuttle. He looks terrified, and a bit insane, which all things considered isn’t the least realistic depiction of him. Connor’s brain is a mess. He thought he’d have a little more time until the law enforcement found him. Looks like his period of staying undercover has come and gone.

The shuttle jerks to a landing in front of him, and a man begins to come down the landing ramp, tranq gun in his hands. Connor freezes for a moment, then drags himself to attention as the man gets closer. Once he’s far enough down that Connor can read the name stitched into the pocket of his uniform– Officer J.T. Nelson– Connor gets himself together and runs, rolling under the nose of the craft to the small space underneath the belly of the ship. This clearly disorients the Juvey-cop, whose footsteps abruptly come to a halt on the metal walkway before continuing again, albeit this time slower.

“Come on out, kid,” the guy shouts, “There’s nowhere you can go.”

Connor’s not about to just turn himself in after everything, though, so he creeps further underneath the ship and around the back. The cop follows him, tucking the tranq gun into his belt so he can use his hands to help himself crouch under the lower parts of the ship in search of Connor.

“You can’t hide under here,” Officer Nelson calls, voice echoing off of the metal curves of the shuttle, “I’ll just crush you when I take off again.”

This is probably true but, as Nelson starts to stalk further around the perimeter of the shuttle, Connor gets an idea as to how he might be able to escape this little encounter. It’s a terrible idea, to be sure, and will probably get him killed if he does it wrong, but it’s not like he has any other options at the moment.

So, Connor stays deathly quiet, heart hammering in his chest as he stays pressed flat to the lower wing of the shuttle, and he waits for Nelson to walk closer. The officer indulges, drawing nearby, and Connor reaches out a trembling hand and pulls the tranq gun from the officer’s belt, just like that. Easy. The guy doesn’t even notice.

Connor eases himself out of his hiding place once Nelson has doubled back the other way, then sprints towards the landing ramp of the ship. He makes it halfway up before Nelson reacts to the sound of his heels thundering up the metal incline and bolts back towards the entrance of the shuttle.

“Get back here!” Nelson makes it to the base of the ramp just as Connor reaches the top. 

As the Juvey-cop starts to race up the landing ramp, Connor looks around wildly. His eyes land on a button near the ramp entry and he slams his palm onto it. Thankfully, the button does what Connor had hoped for and the ramp begins to fold up towards the shuttle again, unfortunately with Nelson still scrambling for purchase on the surface. Connor can’t risk the guy getting close enough for Connor to shove him off, so he looks at the tranq gun in his hands and figures out the next best thing.

Nelson reaches the same conclusion as Connor at about the same time. “Don’t you dare, kid,” he begins to shout, but Connor’s finger is already on the trigger.

The Juvey-cop jerks back with the impact of the tranquilizing dart, and he has enough time to snarl out a swear before his limp body falls backwards off of the ramp and into the grassy dirt a few feet below. The landing ramp fastens to the wall of the shuttle with a dull click, and Connor rocks back onto his heels, unable to believe what he’s just done.

He can’t stay in here forever. At some point, that cop is going to wake up, probably with reinforcements, and they’ll smoke him out or something. Then again, as the background roar of the engine reminds Connor of its presence, he realizes that he might not have to leave after all. The Juvey-cop was stupid enough to leave his ship on when he left to pursue Connor, so maybe– maybe he could just stay here after all.

Stars, maybe he could go. Up to space. Juvey-cop shuttles were designed with both ground and space capabilities in mind. He might not be able to set record hyperspace flights in this thing, but he’ll at least be able to crawl to a neighboring planet and ditch the shuttle before hitching a ride on a cruiser like his original plan.

Connor shuffles towards the pilot’s seat in the cockpit and is greeted by the sight of dozens of glowing switches and buttons, all beeping and blinking up at him. He takes a seat, staring, and then tentatively pulls up on the yoke. The shuttle lunges forward and up a little bit, sending Connor sprawling to the side until he manages to fall into the pilot’s chair once more and strap himself in.

After managing to stabilize himself and the shuttle, Connor regards the instrument panel with renewed focus. He’s never been able to get his cosmic license, and that’s damn near out of the question now that he doesn’t even have a grounds license, but he’d had a friend of a friend once who’d known a thing or two about how to fly a spacecraft. 

There was this older guy named Carson Shepherd who used to hang around the parking lot after school got out for the day. He’d sit and swap drinks with some of Connor’s friends. The guy had graduated a year or two ago, and it was anyone’s guess how he’d managed to make it to eighteen without getting his grounds license revoked. Carson had flung himself into the life of a military boeuf and wouldn’t let anyone forget it, either. He wouldn’t stop talking about how he was going to run air strafe runs on distant planets, which Connor only listened to because he’d occasionally talk about how to fly a ship.

Stuff like that was mainly brought up as a bragging point, of course, but Connor was starstruck-crazy for anything space related, so he’d tuned in as much as he could bear. Now, Connor wracks his mind for any tidbit of information Carson had given away. He needs to disengage the landing gear, he needs to get himself airborne before people start looking.

He flips a few switches and is rewarded with a grinding sound somewhere below him. A red light flickers off, and is replaced with a green one when Connor shifts the engine into a mode for takeoff. Pulling on the yoke again, this time slower, Connor is able to drag the shuttle up and up until the tops of the trees are waving below him.

He shouts once in triumph, then again, more loudly, when a readout on the dashboard offers to turn on automatic steering. Connor presses ‘accept’ as quickly as he can, then inputs a destination. Odds are, there’s a tracking beacon somewhere on this ship, so he can’t take it anywhere in the worlds, but if he swaps to another planet in the system, he can transfer to another ship that can take him far away from here.

The nav readout offers him a few choices within the same sector, OH-10, as Connor. He’s on Akron-C right now, home planet that will be home no longer, but Connor presses the button for the small moon just one orbit over, OH-10-XXIII. It’s a small lunar body, hardly anything there at all except for a State Home and some religious communities. No one would look for him there, and by the time they did, he’d be long gone.

Connor hovers by the pilot seat for a few moments longer, just in case something goes wrong, but when no warning lights flash and the air remains devoid of sirens, he accepts that he might actually have made a good decision and sinks back into his own skin, tension finally starting to melt away.

Connor watches the ship carry him up and away from the planet that had once been his own. He has no idea if he’ll ever return; if he’ll even want to, for that matter. Instead, he fixes his eyes on the ever broadening expanse of space, and lets the bright pinpricks of stars take over his mind.

Connor Lassiter is finally offworld.

unwind tag list: @schroedingers-kater, @locke-writes

[good-in-space]

It’s a humbling experience, while also being somehow fortuitous, when you deposit a $26.48 check into your checking account which will just barely make sure your account is covered a day before a loan payment is due, and if you didn’t deposit the check you’d be overdrawn in that account when the payment processed, thereby causing your account to receive an overdraft fee making you further in the hole.

And you only received a check for the sum $26.48 because you occasionally get minuscule payments as part of a class action lawsuit for a terrible cryptocurrency investment you made that was fraudulent. And you’ve never fully recovered from losing that money, because the lawsuit settlement will not even pay you back 1% of your losses when it’s all said and done.

And since you’ve been struggling financially you’ve had to make some other tough decisions and not always the best ones, like living on credit cards periodically and having to take out high interest loans for a stopgap.

And you’ve just been on reduced hours and salary for three months which has added another new level of stress and difficulty.

But you are taking the most austere measures you can, staving off bankruptcy for over a year. Lucky that no matter how bad things get* you at least have a place to live and won’t starve. Most basic needs are met. Your hours have just returned to full time so there is slight bit of relief coming. At least the kind where you might not need a $26.48 check to show up when it does.

You put a lot of things on the back burner not because you should, but because you have to, until absolutely cannot.

You try to get out of your head and stop thinking about how your life insurance policy would easily cover your debts and give your family a little something to help. But if you’re dead your debts don’t need to be paid since you aren’t married anymore and don’t have any kids or anyone else responsible for your failures.

But you’re not dead, not that lucky, you’re fucking here. And you’re fucking here for a good long while. So keep going. Don’t nibble at the shit. Just bite, chew, swallow. Repeat. Until….who knows? Maybe forever, but hopefully not.

[newtonsheffield]

So contracts are secretive and we can only speculate or learn from leaks most of the time. I’m trying to remember any recent things involving contracts plus anything relevant

Some drivers and teams have performance clauses. If a driver is doing really poorly and there is a performance clause the team can invoke that to fire the driver. Vice versa, if a top team suddenly sucks and the driver has a performance clause the driver can invoke that to leave the team. It could be based or ranking or points. Drivers and teams negotiate this so it’s really specific to that contract, if it’s even in the contract. My bet would be this is what happened with De Vries. I haven’t seen this publicly happen in the 6+yrs I’ve watched

Teams can buy out contracts. If a team really wants a driver that’s on another team, they could pay that team an agreed upon amount to end the contract. Or if a team wants to fire their driver they can negotiate a settlement to end the contact with that driver early (if the driver doesn’t want to settle and wants to stay with the team-there is a whole process of going through the FIA courts to sort it out). McLaren bought out Daniel to end his contract a year early reportedly for a huge amount

Drivers can be on loan. This was recently seen at Alex Albon’s first year at Williams. During the 2022 season, Albon was under contract with Red Bull, but RB had an agreement that he could drive for Williams. They could have at any point called him back to their team if needed like if one of their drivers were sick. For this 2023 season he is under contract with Williams, but he is a Red Bull sponsored driver. RB pays to be a sponsor on his helmet and Alex has gone to some RB events. Probably bc they want to keep close ties to each other.

Red Bull and Alpha Tauri switching. Red Bull and Alpha Tauri are two different teams that make up Red Bull Racing (I might have the wrong official name). These 4 drivers are not contracted under the individual teams; they are actually under contract with Red Bull Racing. This is why RB and AT drivers can be switched with no fuss. They have to go where Red Bull Racing wants them. Recently This has happened twice in 2016 (Max and Daniil Kyvat) and 2019 (Pierre and Alex). Will we see it again…

Another pretty standard thing for any athlete is having a behavior standard in the contract. They can be dropped if they cause a scandal or act inappropriately

To me the most likely scenario is the performance clause was used to fire De Vries, I’m surprised that they did let him finish the season but RB isn’t one to go easy on drivers.

Hope this helped, and I’m happy to infodump any more questions

Mmmm This confirms my suspicions tbh.

I think this is probably part of a bigger warning to Checo as well that they can replace anyone at any time. I also think they’re probably trying to use Danny Ric as a yardstick for Yuki Tsunoda to see where he’s at. I have to say it’s not like Yuki’s been raking in the points and De Vries has been nowhere, it’s a crap car honestly.

Really, the teammate who’s really been underperforming is Lance Stroll but hell will freeze before he gets fired tbh ☕️

[reasoningdaily]

Farmers of color plan to appeal a recent federal court judge’s ruling, which they say is a continuation of Jim Crow and erases their commitment to right the historical wrongs against them.

Six months ago, John Boyd Jr., Kara Boyd, Lester Bonner, and Princess Williams filed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. government, including the United States Department of Agriculture. The farmers alleged the government broke its promise when it failed to pay the eligible debt for farmers of color because Congress repealed a $4 billion debt relief program for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers — which includes Black, Native American, Hispanic, and Asian communities. 

Instead, they created a race neutral program to replace it, which the plaintiffs say was a “blatant attempt to skirt its contractual commitments” to them and other farmers. As a result, farmers can’t pay off their debts, according to the lawsuit. 

“They have to know that this is a continuation of Jim Crow, and a continuation of what free Black men and women went through in this country. This is a continuation of that because we see it as another broken promise,” Boyd Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, said last week. “Just like my forefathers, I ain’t giving up the fight.”

The U.S. Justice Department argued in a March 10 filing that the legislation established the financial assistance program, “not contractual undertakings.” The department asked for the complaint to be dismissed for “failure to state a plausible claim for relief.”

Senior Judge Edward J. Damich for the United States Court of Federal Claims agreed in an April 27 opinion, saying there wasn’t an expressed or implied-in-fact contractual agreement between the farmers and the federal agency.

“Instead, the program reflects Congress’ intent only to “declare a policy to be pursued until the legislature shall ordain otherwise,” not an intent “to create private contractual or vested rights,” Damich wrote.

The original loan forgiveness program at the center of the complaint passed in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, offering up to 120% of the outstanding indebtedness to address historical inequities and funding disparities by the USDA. 

Black farmers saw this as the first step to repair the broken relationship with the federal government, especially after the landmark Pigford v. Glickman, a class-action lawsuit alleging the USDA discriminated against Black farmers from 1983 to 1997 when they applied for federal financial assistance, and failed to respond to complaints of discrimination. The court approved a settlement in 1999. While some Black farmers received payments, thousands did not because of confusing paperwork, filing deadlines, denials of claims, processing issues and attorney malpractice, NPR reported.

In June 2021, the same month the USDA planned to start loan payments to eligible borrowers, a judge issued a restraining order on the program in response to a lawsuit brought by a group of white farmers alleging that debt relief racially discriminated against them. 

“The discrimination is just not with the USDA. It also goes deep into the court system,” farmer Corey Lea told Capital B in December. “It’s crazy how the white farmers got it done within 30 days and Black farmers, if they get any justice at all — most of the time, no — they’re in [the courtroom] for years. It’s a systemic problem.”

Rather than implement the existing loan forgiveness program, the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law last year, replaced it with assistance for a broader group of “distressed borrowers.” 

The act provides $125 million for technical assistance regarding food, agriculture, and agricultural credit to underserved farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners, including those living in high poverty areas. Another program provides $2.2 billion for farmers who have experienced discrimination prior to January 2021 by the Agriculture Department’s farm lending programs. Recipients can receive up to $500,000 each. 

In September, all parties agreed to dismiss the lawsuit in response to the Inflation Reduction Act. A month later, Boyd Jr. filed suit. He said the relief from the original program in the American Rescue Plan Act would’ve made a big difference in helping farmers to wipe their slate clean — especially for Bonner and Williams, who have struggled to make ends meet or pay off mounting bills.

“This administration … just abandoned us, left us out there high and dry. That’s why I turned to the courts,” Boyd Jr. said.

[josuesecorin]

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