So, the first part isn't even that much of a theory, it's more of a fact. She's been avoiding combat as much as possible after Mondstadt, and I think it's because she lost like 90% of her power a while ago while the traveler seemed to be a decent enough fighter to take her down when she's basically on life support. This was confirmed in Inazuma because her bossfight name is the crimson witch of embers, implying that what we fought was literally the tiniest bit of her power right before she would lose her physical form if it wasn't for the cryo delusion.
While liquid fire is mentioned as ever burning a few times this also applies to the fact that the first time she used her crimson witch form she almost killed herself due to a lack of skill and preparation. Because she was hit with her own ever burning fire her physical form has been wilting away at all times. It's pretty obvious that it would be way harder to damage her if she didn't almost kill herself.
This leads me to believe that what her resurrected form will be, no matter the way she is resurrected, Rosalyne who is able to transform into the prime crimson witch, but with at least the memories of her death.
The other options are that we just meet Signora in the flesh, but her witch form is, again, on life support and Rosalyne pre crimson witch, while she would be a very interesting character to meet, it's not like she would be a formidable opponent or playable character. The best possible solution, if Hyv doesn't manage to cook up something even cooler, is that we will meet Rosalyne in her prime with the behaviour and skill of Fatui Rosalyne.

I really want to confirm my understanding of V speeds is correct so I’ve prepared some answers to the questions provided in Private Pilot: Oral Exam Guide by ASA. Any constructive feedback is welcome and appreciated! Thank you all in advance!
What is the stall speed in the normal landing configuration? In the normal landing configuration of most Cessna 172, Vs0 is at where the bottom of the white arc is on the airspeed indicator. When power on, this is the minimum speed which an aircraft can be flown in a steady straight-and-level motion with its flaps extended and landing gear down if available. Also, this is the power-off stall speed at the maximum landing weight with gear and flaps down.
What is the stall speed in the clean configuration? In the clean configuration of most Cessna 172, Vs1 is at where the bottom of the green arc is on the airspeed indicator. When power on, this is the minimum speed which the aircraft can be flown in a steady straight-and-level motion with its flaps up and landing gear up. Also, this is the power-off stall speed at the maximum takeoff weight with gear and flaps up.
What is the normal approach-to-land speed? For most aircraft, the rule of thumb is the normal approach speed is around 1.3 of Vs0. This is the speed for the final leg of the flight until the aircraft reaches the threshold crossing point.
What is maneuvering speed? Maneuvering speed (VA) is an airspeed limitation determined by the aircraft designer. At speeds exceeding VA, full deflection of any flight control surface can result in damage to the aircraft structure. The maneuvering speed varies under different circumstances due to varying load factors in different phases of flight. The one suggested in AFM/POH is for reference only.
What is red-line speed? The red-line speed is also known as the never-exceed speed (VNE). In no circumstances should an aircraft be flown beyond this speed or serious structural damage might be caused to the aircraft. What is the normal climb-out speed? If the climb gradient does not compromise the safety of the flight, the climb-out speed depends on the PIC’s personal preference. Normally, Vy and Vx are the most common options.
What’s the normal takeoff speed? With correct wind information, density altitude, and gross weight, the normal climb-out speed can be obtained by using the calculation methods provided in the AFM/POH of the aircraft. If there is no such document in your possession before flight, you shouldn’t attempt to make a flight on the aircraft.
What’s the best rate-of-climb speed? When an aircraft travels at the best rate-of-climb speed (Vy), the aircraft gains the most altitude in the shortest period of time. The maximum thrust occurs at Vy. With an increase in altitude, Vy decreases gradually until it meets Vx at the absolute ceiling. In terms of vertical speed, the angle of climb decreases with altitude until it levels off at the absolute ceiling.
What’s the best angle-of-climb speed? When an aircraft travels at the best angle-of-climb speed (Vx), the aircraft gains the most altitude in the shortest horizontal distance. The maximum power occurs at Vx. With an increase in altitude, Vx increases gradually until it meets Vy at the absolute ceiling. In terms of vertical speed, the angle of climb decreases with altitude until it levels off at the absolute ceiling.
What’s the maximum flap extension speed? VFE is the upper speed limit that allows the flaps in the fully extended configuration in flight. For most Cessna 172, it is marked at the top of the white arc on the airspeed indicator.
What’s the maximum gear extension speed? VLE is the upper speed limit that allows the landing gear in the extended position in flight. If an aircraft is equipped with a retractable landing gear, this information can be obtained in the chapter of Performance and Limitations in the AFM/POH and is normally not marked on the airspeed indicator of a Cessna 172.

So this feels like one that on paper is really obvious but in reality is so much harder to handle.
I(F32) have a very good friend F(31) who I’ve known since school. We have been friends for almost 20 years. She was my bridesmaid and I am almost certain I will (or would have been) hers instead.
Lately my friend has gone through so much. She moved home from living abroad and I know she’s feeling really lost. She is living with her parents, she’s single (not for any reason - was in a long term relationship and it didn’t work out), she had no job for a while but is now working in a school she said she would never work in and on top of that a very young member of her family is battling an extremely aggressive form of cancer.
All of this is horrific for one person to go through, I hate seeing her struggling and I am doing my best to be there for her without overhwhelming her. I send her messages every week or so to update her on my life (just to give her something to listen to that’s not about her own worries) and I ask about her and her family. Most of the time she ignores these and that’s absolutely fine. I know her long enough to know how overwhelmed she gets and how much she struggles with anxiety, even before all this happened.
The thing is though, I also travel to her to see her and she says she can’t wait to see me but then just doesn’t respond on the day. I’ll get an apology a few days later and she will tell me how busy she was and how she forgot.
It was becoming so frequent I was getting a bit frustrated. She’s always saying she’s so busy, which I understand, but it’s beginning to feel now a bit rude. I’m busy too. I have a son, a new house, a new puppy who requires a lot of time and attention, a part time job, I’m studying for my professional accounting exams, I’m part of a running club and training for a half marathon.
I 100% understand what she’s going through, but at what point am I just being a bit pathetic constantly showing up and getting stood up. When she does meet me or message back she always says how much she loves me, our friendship etc. she’s always so apologetic. I honestly can forgive her anything but today I feel hurt..
We had plans to go for a walk. I will have class all day but I made a point to get up extra early so we could meet up and I sent her a message to confirm it’s still going ahead. Not only did she not reply but she of course didn’t show up.
I haven’t heard from her at all. She’s completely within her right to not want to prioritise our friendship. She doesn’t have to meet me or hang out, but is it not so rude to be a full adult and have that little respect for your so called best friends time?
For my own mental health I feel I need to step back from this. Stop reaching out, stop trying, but on the other hand I really love her, she’s a beautiful girl inside and out and she’s going through a lot.

Is there summer school in nixor? Because my parents didnt go to the parent teacher meeting at the 18th, and my friends who's parents did are telling me something about a summer school? which apparently starts in june. Can someone please confirm if this is true or not?

Is there summer school in nixor? Because my parents didnt go to the parent teacher meeting at the 18th, and my friends who's parents did are telling me something about a summer school? which apparently starts in june. Can someone please confirm if this is true or not?

Cw: this post talks about politics. if you’re here to argue about politics please don’t waste my time or yours lol
I am a single woman in my early 30s, and I have been in my “flop era” for a while now. My 20s were full of many life experiences, some great and some humbling, living in a couple major cities and working corporate jobs. But the one life experience I still haven’t managed to have is being IN LOVE. I’ve used the dating apps for years, and went on a least 100 first dates in my 20s, but I never managed to find a relationship; I’ve never had success meeting guys I really click with. I am upbeat and genuinely inquisitive/interested on dates and yet I never feel like the guy returns the same energy to me. I never feel like they get me, even if they ask me on a third or fourth date. I have not had a hard time finding sexual partners but I want a loving, committed relationship. Why is finding someone that I enjoy spending time with IMPOSSIBLE?
So cut to now: due to some unfortunate events, I moved back home with my parents and am dealing with mental & physical health challenges; after being fully unemployed for a year, I started working a retail job a few months ago in the suburbs where I grew up. I miss my city life, I miss having a job in my field, I’m always worried that my friends think I’m a loser. But at the very least, I enjoy the retail job a lot more than I thought I would and I’m friendly with many of my coworkers. We all come from a wide range of backgrounds: some finished high school and did not go to college, some are current students, some have degrees but aren’t working in our desired career field, some are semi-retired etc. I have hung out with a few of my coworkers outside of work a couple times now and it’s been fun.
One of my coworkers, Tim (mid-20sM), is five years younger than me (early-30sF). He and I became friendly working the same early morning shift several times a week over the last few months. He is planning on quitting our job after the summer to become a cop. He took the first portion of the police academy exam and has to take the second portion in the next few months. We have never discussed politics but I can confirm that he is a registered Republican. For the sake of our workplace friendship, I was planning on never ever bringing this up; but he recently confessed that he really likes me and asked me out.
The problem is that I am a politically engaged person and have lefty politics. This will not change. I wanted Bernie to be president. I hate the Republican party. I do not hate cops and I understand their jobs are dangerous, but I could never be a blue lives matter girlfriend. What makes me sad is that I do enjoy talking to him and he seems like a kind person. He seems to me to be empathetic and sensitive, and he took my gentle rejection well. But I can’t tell him the real reason I turned him down is that we have fundamentally different views of our country’s issues and maybe very different values! (I’ve been told his family is religious and conservative, but I do not know where he stands).
My question to those of you who have left-of-center political/social views, would you ever give someone a chance who’s on the other end of the political spectrum? Would you be honest and tell them it’s a dealbreaker for you? Is there any hope I could slowly influence his politics if he gets to know me better? Did I do the right thing by turning him down (and blaming it on my mental health instead of anything about him)? Is there a tactful way to find out which issues drive his political leanings/ask him about any of his opinions?
My other work friend just revealed to me that Tim has been coming to her for advice ABOUT ME for weeks now :( (female work friend did not know about my political views either, but she’s more aligned with me than with him)
I typically agree with the line of thinking that you cannot ask someone you’re dating to change themselves for YOU. I’m just wondering if maybe he’s not as conservative as his parents and maybe his own views have changed since 2020…! But without any further info, this is merely wishful thinking. He has not lived anywhere outside of our suburban area and he has spent most of his adulthood thus far living with his family.
Also, my own parents are Republicans. We get along because they’re not too extreme but it’s still a source of conflict for us. I don’t have it in me to argue with a significant other about politics for the rest of my one life on earth
Yes I have been to/believe in therapy lol

Ministers apologise and return £7,000 in benefits to woman, 93, with dementia
Government ministers have formally apologised and repaid £7,000 to a 93-year-old woman whom they held responsible for running up benefits overpayment debts even though they were told she had dementia and was unable to manage her affairs.
The case, which the minister for disability, Mims Davies, admitted was “disturbing”, was brought to light by the Guardian as part of its investigation into carer's allowance overpayments.
The agreement to write off the debt of the 93-year-old, whom the Guardian has chosen not to name, comes as ministers have promised to try new ways of sharing information with carers to try to prevent them building up months and years of overpayments.
Read the full article on theguardian.com
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DWP confirmed that it is developing an ‘enhanced notification strategy’ to alert carer’s allowance claimants to possible overpayments
Notifications designed to encourage claimants to report changes in income and so reduce the risk of being overpaid.
As part of its policy paper, Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System: Going Further, that was published earlier this week, the Department says (at paragraph 78) -

'In carer’s allowance we are progressing an enhanced notification strategy as part of our existing commitment to improve customer engagement, building on our existing communications with customers. As part of this notification strategy we are considering all forms of targeted contact to find the most effective and efficient solution, such as exploring the use of targeted text messages or emails to alert claimants and encourage them to contact the Department when the DWP is made aware of a potential overpayment.'

The Department added -

'The new strategy will help claimants understand when they may have received an earnings-related overpayment or are at risk of doing so, and will encourage claimants to contact the DWP to meet their obligation to inform the Department of changes in their income and other relevant circumstances. This will reduce the risk of those customers being overpaid.'

Note: having expressed concern that the DWP had 'done nothing' to stop carers building up huge overpayments of benefit despite knowing what people are earning, Work and Pensions Committee Chair Stephen Timms called on the National Audit Office to investigate problems with the carer's allowance system and, in particular, its failure to prevent or rectify overpayments.
Stephen Timms has also written to Secretary for State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride highlighting concerns about the DWP's lack of progress with overpayments since the previous committee's report in 2019. Mr Timms' letter repeats the committee's recommendation that the DWP increase the rate of carer's allowance and goes on to call for the DWP to review both the amount and the cliff-edge nature of the earnings limit and for the removal of the 21-hour study rule.
For more information, see Policy paper: Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System: Going Further from gov.uk
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Carers UK has welcomed the DWP's plans, noting this is the 'minimum' they've been calling for to tackle carers' overpayments. However, Director of Policy and Public Affairs Emily Holzhausen also highlights that implementing the strategy is 'urgent', asks that the whole issue be moved out of being branded benefits fraud, and that carer's allowance be reviewed as it should be 'modernised to reflect the realities of caring'.
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DWP-commissioned research highlights how the carer’s allowance earnings threshold influences decisions about how many hours carers work
Report also makes clear that the Department was made aware three years ago that there was room to improve claimant understanding and possibly reduce mistakes leading to overpayments by improving its communications.
The research, Experiences of claiming and receiving carer’s allowance, explores how and why people claim carer's allowance; their caring roles; experiences of combining paid work and care; and how well claimants understand the rules associated with the benefit. While carried out in 2020/2021, the research has been published today against a backdrop of calls for the wholescale reform of carer's allowance as a result of evidence that claimants who have earned above the carer's allowance earnings limit have been left with large overpayments and, in some cases, prosecuted for fraud.
While the research found that many claimants in employment felt there was a practical limit to the hours they could work, with many saying it was only feasible to be working part-time due to their caring responsibilities, it also found that -

• the earnings threshold appeared to influence decisions about how many hours some people worked. Even though claimants often denied that the threshold influenced their choices, they acknowledged being mindful to stay below the threshold. One claimant felt he had to refuse shifts at work that would take him over the threshold;
• in another example, the earnings limit led a claimant to reduce her hours as her wages increased, and eventually she was working so few hours that her employer felt it was not worth employing her due to her limited availability; and
• some claimants in paid work felt they might work more hours if not for the earnings threshold, and even suggested tapering the carer’s allowance earnings rule to encourage claimants to work more.

Published on the same day that the Work and Pensions Select Committee said that there has been insufficient progress in addressing the problems with carer's allowance that it highlighted five years ago, the research makes clear that the Department has been aware of the issues for some time. For example, it highlights confusion relating to the complexity of the earnings calculation, including how deductions such as childcare expenses and pension contributions are taken account of, and whether wages can be averaged if you earn more in a particular week.
In addition, with the Chair of the Select Committee Stephen Timms having said recently that the DWP has done nothing to stop carers building up huge overpayments despite knowing what people are earning, and the Committee having called on the National Audit Office to investigate the problems with the system, the research found that -

• poor communication on the part of the DWP meant that not all of those that had been overpaid benefit were clear on the reason for the overpayment;
• some said that while they were initially notified or questioned about an overpayment there was then no follow-up from the Department; and
• when the overpayment was initially raised, several claimants felt that they were spoken to or treated by DWP as though they had intentionally committed fraud when the overpayment had been a misunderstanding.

As a result, the research says -

'... there is room to improve claimant understanding and possibly reduce mistakes leading to overpayments by improving communications around eligibility criteria. Since claimants did not engage with the detail of their benefit regularly, possibly only considering it once a year when they received their annual letter, more frequent communications may improve clarity of knowledge around carer’s allowance.'

Other key findings include that -

• most claimants cared for close relatives, with two in five caring for a child (39 per cent), a quarter caring for a spouse or partner (25 per cent), and one in five (22 per cent) caring for a parent;
• caring was a long-term and high-intensity commitment, with half of claimants (52 per cent) spending 65 or more hours caring per week and more than half (54 per cent) caring for between 5 and 20 years;
• only 16 per cent of carer's allowance claimants were currently in paid work, tending to work part- time in lower paid jobs that they were able to fit around their caring responsibilities, with most (81 per cent) working 20 hours or less a week;
• of those not currently in paid work, seven in ten (69 per cent) said this was due to their responsibilities as a carer, with other barriers including a lack of flexible working options, claimants’ own health and confidence issues; and
• there was a lag between starting caring and claiming carer's allowance, with seven in ten claimants (70 per cent) caring for 5+ years, but only 3 in 10 (34 per cent) having claimed carer's allowance for that length of time.

For more information, see Experiences of claiming and receiving carer’s allowance from gov.uk
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Almost 135,000 people currently have an outstanding carer's allowance debt, with more than £250 million owed in total, according to figures supplied by DWP Minister Paul Maynard
DWP Minister also confirms that women represent 68 per cent of those with an outstanding debt.
Responding to a written question in Parliament from Work and Pensions Committee Chair Stephen Timms, Mr Maynard said -

'As of 14 May 2024, the volume of people who have an outstanding carers allowance debt is 134,800 with a total value of £251 million. This figure represents the total stock and as such the total monetary amount may have been accrued over multiple years. Those who have an outstanding carers allowance debt may no longer be in receipt of the benefit.'

Mr Maynard added that -

'Women make up the majority of carer’s allowance claims, and this is reflected in the proportion of those with an outstanding carer’s allowance debt. As of 14 May 2024, there were 42,800 (32 per cent) males, 91,900 (68 per cent) females and 100 (less than 1 per cent) not identified, with an outstanding carer's allowance debt.'

The Minister also confirmed that, as of November 2023, there were more than 991,000 people in receipt of carer's allowance, consisting of around 271,000 (27 per cent) males and 720,000 (73 per cent) females.
Mr Maynard's written answer is available from parliament.uk
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Total value of benefit overpayments in 2023/2024 increased to almost £10 billion, representing 3.7 per cent of benefit expenditure for the year
New DWP figures also show that official error underpayments remained at around £1 billion, and that people could have claimed more than £3 billion more 'if they had provided accurate information about their circumstances'.
In Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimates, the DWP calculates how much money it overpaid or underpaid as a percentage of total benefit expenditure for the year (£266.2bn) - for benefits including universal credit, housing benefit, personal independence payment, employment and support allowance and pension credit - and how many claims were paid an incorrect amount.
Note: the statistics no longer include estimates of claimant error underpayments as these are now published separately, as confirmed in recent DWP guidance.
In relation to incorrect payment rates across all benefits for the financial year ending (FYE) 2024, the figures show that the total rate of benefit expenditure overpaid was 3.7 per cent (£9.7bn), compared with 3.6 per cent (£8.3bn) in 2022/2023. In addition, the total rate of benefit expenditure underpaid was 0.4 per cent (£1.1bn), compared with 0.5 per cent (£1.2bn) in FYE 2023.
Looking in more detail at the figures for individual benefits, the statistics include data showing that -

• for universal credit, expenditure increased to £51.9bn in 2024 with an overpayment rate of 12.4 per cent (£6.5bn) and underpayment rate of 0.3 per cent (£180m), compared to expenditure of £43.4 bn, overpayments at 12.7 per cent (£5.5bn) and underpayments at 0.6 per cent (£240m) in FYE 2023;
• for personal independence payment (PIP), the overpayment rate was at the lowest recorded level of 0.4 per cent (£90m), compared with 1.1 per cent (£200m) in FYE 2023. However, the underpayment rate went up to 0.4 per cent (£80m), from 0.3 per cent (£60m) the previous year;
• for pension credit, the overpayment rate was 9.7 per cent (£520m) in FYE 2024, compared with 6.8 per cent (£330m) in the previous year, with underpayments remaining unchanged at 0.3 per cent (£50m) for both years; and
• for housing benefit, almost £1bn (£980m) was overpaid in FYE 2024 (6.3 per cent of expenditure), compared with £860m (5.7 per cent) in 2023. Underpayments remained stable at 0.4 per cent of spending (£50m in FYE 2024 and £60m in FYE 2023).

In addition to the fraud and error statistics, the DWP has also issued Unfulfilled eligibility in the benefit system: Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2024, in line with its decision to remove claimant underpayments from its main fraud and error estimates. The new statistics set out the percentage of benefit expenditure that could have been paid to people with unfulfilled eligibility 'if they had provided the correct information', and show key findings that include -

• the unfulfilled eligibility rate for 2024 is 1.2 per cent of expenditure (£3.1bn), compared with 1.0 per cent (£2.3bn) in the previous year; and
• universal credit, PIP and disability living allowance (DLA) account for around three-quarters of the total value of unfulfilled eligibility (at £730m, £870m and £750m respectively in FYE 2024).

The DWP highlighted that -

'PIP has the second highest unfulfilled eligibility rate [4 per cent] of all benefits and fairly high expenditure [£21.6bn], so due to this combination, PIP accounts for around one-quarter of total unfulfilled eligibility in FYE 2024. DLA has the highest unfulfilled eligibility rate [11.1 per cent] but relatively low expenditure [£6.8m], so even though its rate is higher than PIP, it accounts for a similar amount of total unfulfilled eligibility in FYE 2024. Universal credit has a lower unfulfilled eligibility rate than DLA and PIP [1.4 per cent] but its high expenditure means that it also accounts for a similar amount of total unfulfilled eligibility in FYE 2024.'

For more information, see Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimates and Unfulfilled eligibility in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimates from gov.uk
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Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has set out the DWP's plans to scale up its 'fight against fraudsters'
New measures include using machine learning to detect and prevent fraudulent claims, as well as introducing a new Bill to enable benefit fraud to be treated like tax fraud.
Issuing a written statement in the House of Commons on 13th May, Mr Stride said -

'In the continued fight against fraud, today the Government will publish a new paper setting out the progress we have made in tackling fraud and error in the welfare system - Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System: Going Further. The paper sets out the progress we have made in delivering the commitments in the Government's 2022 command paper Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System and it demonstrates where we are going further to protect taxpayers’ money from fraudsters.'

Highlighting that the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, currently before Parliament, will enable the Department to work with third parties such as banks to identify claims that signal potential fraud and error, Mr Stride says that the new measures being introduced include -

• bringing forward a new Fraud Bill in the next parliament to treat benefit fraud like tax fraud, by providing for the ability to make arrests and conduct searches and seizures by warrant;
• exploring a new civil penalty to punish fraudsters, potentially broadening the scope of cases that can receive a penalty when the courts are not prosecuting, and increasing the value of the civil penalty;
• tripling the size of the Targeted Case Review programme to reach almost 6,000 staff with the aim of saving £6.6 billion by 2027/2028; and
• making changes to universal credit including new partly automated checks on self-employed income, new online prompts for claimants to re-declare their circumstances (such as if they have moved in with a partner), and increasing checks on capital when people claim the benefit to ensure they are eligible.

Note: the Department confirms that final decisions on accepting or stopping a claim will, however, continue to be made by a member of DWP staff.
For more information, see DWP updates Fraud Plan from gov.uk
In response to the above article the Disability News Service reported that the government's fraud policy paper ignores coroner’s concerns over review of disabled woman’s universal credit claim. Read the DNS article on disabilitynewsservice.com
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Less than half of legacy benefit claimants who were sent a migration notice between July 2022 and March 2024 have made a claim for universal credit, according to new figures from the DWP
However, new DWP statistics also show that 60 per cent of households that claimed universal credit have been awarded transitional protection.
In Completing the move to Universal Credit: statistics related to the move of households claiming Tax Credits and DWP benefits to Universal Credit: data to end of March 2024, the DWP sets out figures for the period since July 2022, noting that -

'In the period covered by this bulletin, the vast majority of migration notices have been sent to tax credit households whose likelihood of claiming universal credit and receiving transitional protection may be different from DWP legacy benefit claimants, the majority of whom had not yet been sent a migration notice in the period covered in this bulletin.'

The statistics include that -

• a total of 824,050 individuals (in 540,070 households) were sent migration notices up to March 2024 - up by around 300,000 and 200,000 respectively compared to the totals for December 2023;
• a total of 400,940 individuals (49 per cent of those sent migration notices), living in 275,980 households, have made a claim for universal credit;
• of households that have claimed universal credit, 166,860 (60 per cent) have been awarded transitional protection;
• a total of 238,990 individuals who were sent migration notices are still going through the managed migration process; and
• a total of 184,120 individuals who were sent migration notices have had their legacy benefit claims closed.

Move to Universal Credit statistics, July 2022 to March 2024 is available from gov.uk
Note: the DWP has also published Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 11 April 2024­ which show that there were 6.7 million people on universal credit in April 2024 (300,000 more than the 6.4 million in January 2024) and that half of households on universal credit that received a payment in February 2024 included children.
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Department for Communities also confirms that claimants in receipt of other legacy benefits will be issued with migration notices 'in the coming months'
The Department for Communities (DfC) has confirmed that the 'Move to UC' rollout in Northern Ireland has expanded this week to include people receiving tax credits along with housing benefit.
Announcing the expansion of the process, Deputy Secretary of Work and Health at the DfC Paddy Rooney said -

'We continue to take a measured and carefully managed approach to migrating legacy benefit recipients to universal credit. We have already successfully completed issuing migration notices to tax credit only recipients and we will continue to take every step possible to ensure that everyone receives the help and support they need during this next phase of Move to UC.'

The Department also confirmed that once it has issued migration notices to all those receiving tax credits with housing benefit, the following groups will be contacted in this order -

• people claiming income support;
• people claiming housing benefit only, and those claiming child tax credit with income-related employment and support allowance (ESA); and
• people claiming income-based jobseeker's allowance.

In relation to the bringing forward of managed migration for ESA and ESA/housing benefit claimants in Great Britain, announced by the Prime Minister on 19 April 2024, the DfC says that it is working to assess the impact of this on the region. It also confirms that it will align with the DWP's aim to complete the migration of legacy benefit claimants to universal credit by March 2025.
For more information, see Tax credit with housing benefit recipients next to 'Move to UC' and Rollout of Universal Credit for Tax Credit and Legacy Benefit customers - screening from ni.gov.uk
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57,000 adverse universal credit sanction decisions were made in January 2024, according to new DWP statistics
DWP statistics also highlight that around 95 per cent of decisions are as a result of failure to attend or participate in a mandatory interview.
In Benefit sanctions statistics to February 2024, the DWP reports on both the rate and duration of sanctions for universal credit claimants who are in conditionality regimes where they be applied.
Key findings include that -

• in February 2024, 30.1 per cent of claimants were in conditionality regimes that were subject to sanctions and, of these, 6.52 per cent were sanctioned - down 0.64 percentage points from the previous quarter;
• over the last year, 94.9 per cent of adverse sanction decisions were for failure to attend or participate in a mandatory interview; and
• in February 2024, there were 20,000 completed sanctions in the 4 weeks to 13 weeks sanction duration band, 4,800 in the over 13 weeks to 26 weeks duration band, and 4,000 of over 26 weeks duration.

In addition, while the total number of claimants in conditionality regimes where sanctions can be applied has remained largely stable since May 2022 (currently at 1.95 million), the total number of adverse sanction decisions stood at 57,000 in January 2024, the highest since March 2022.
The DWP notes that -

'Comparisons with universal credit prior to February 2024 ... should not be made. This is because the data sources, methodology and rules of the benefits differ from those used for universal credit currently.'

However, it adds that, following the reinstated duration measures and rate methodology improvements, the data is now determined stable and fit for purpose and, as of May 2024, it is published under the 'Official Statistics' label as opposed to 'in development'.
For more information, see Benefit sanctions statistics to February 2024 from gov.uk
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DWP has admitted missing multiple opportunities to record the 'vulnerability' of a disabled woman whose death was later linked by a coroner to failings at the heart of its UC system
The Disability News Service reported on the case of Nazerine (known as Naz) Anderson, from Melton Mowbray, who died of an overdose in June last year, after receiving a UC review notice.
According to a prevention of future deaths (PFD) report sent to the department by coroner Fiona Butler, the DWP missed six opportunities to record Anderson’s “vulnerability” on its IT system while it was reviewing her universal credit claim, and had failed to act on the mental distress she showed in phone calls about her claim. It also repeatedly failed to act on requests to direct its telephone calls and letters to her daughter.
The DWP admits multiple universal credit failures before disabled woman’s death article is available on disabilitynewsservice.com
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Number of emergency food parcels distributed across the UK by the Trussell Trust has increased by 90 per cent over the past five years
Food charity reports that it distributed more than three million parcels last year, with more than a million of them going to children.
In Emergency food parcel distribution in the UK: April 2023 - March 2024, the Trust says that it distributed 3,121,404 food parcels, the most parcels that it has ever distributed in a financial year, representing a four per cent increase on last year's record-breaking numbers for 2022/2023 and a 94 per cent increase since 2018/2019.
The charity also highlights that the number of parcels provided to children has continued to rise, exceeding 1.1 million in 2023/2024, and that food bank support is provided disproportionately to children, compared to the proportion of children in the UK population. In addition, it notes that pension age households are increasingly likely to need to use a food bank, with food bank support for these households having more than quadrupled between 2018/2019 and 2023/2024 (an increase of 345 per cent), compared to an 81 per cent rise amongst households without someone of pension age.
Also sharing statistics on the reason for referral for an emergency food parcel - which include health, benefit issues, work hour changes, insecure housing, changes in personal circumstances, immigration status and domestic abuse, as well as income and debt levels - the Trussell Trust says -

'Across all households the most common reason for referral was due to issues with income and debt levels. The vital role of the social security system in driving these trends is clear from the fact that the majority (78 per cent) of people referred to food banks were reported to solely have income from the social security system, with a further 8 per cent having earned income as well as income from social security.'

Trussell Trust Chief Executive Emma Revie said -

'It’s 2024 and we’re facing historically high levels of food bank need. As a society, we cannot allow this to continue. We must not let food banks become the new norm ... A supportive social security system is the bedrock on which we end hunger for good. Building on this, we need much more effective employment and financial support for parents, carers and disabled people, and action to ensure everyone can have the security we all need to access opportunities and have hope for the future, through more secure and flexible jobs and investment in social housing. Food banks are not the answer. They will be there to support people as long as they are needed, but our political leaders must take bold action to build a future where everyone has enough money to afford the life’s essentials. The time to act is now.'

For more information, see End of Year Stats from trusselltrust.org
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Employment Minister Jo Churchill has provided a House of Lords Select Committee with an undertaking that the administrative earnings threshold (AET) in universal credit will not be increased again without a 'sound evidence base'
However, Minister's evidence to Lords Committee fails to address its dissatisfaction with DWP's explanation for not publishing robust evidence to support previous increases in the threshold.
Further to the Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee's report on new regulations that implemented a further increase in the AET from 13 May 2024 - that criticised the ‘inexplicable’ lack of data evaluating previous increases in the threshold in September 2022 and January 2023 - the Committee held a one-off evidence session yesterday to question the Minister and DWP officials.
Introducing the session, Committee Chair Lord Hunt acknowledged that the DWP had agreed to share its informal findings supporting its AET policy. However Lord Hunt added that -

'... similar, no doubt to the material that the Social Security Advisory Committee saw but correctly declined, if information is not available to the House and the public, then we feel unable to consider it either.'

The Committee then questioned the Minister about the Department's failure to publish evidence providing an assessment of the impact of increasing the AET either before or after implementing the change.
In response, Ms Churchill highlighted that the Department did publish a randomised controlled trial evaluation in 2018 providing the highest level of evidence on the impacts of increased in-work conditionality that Ministers have had sight of. When challenged that this evidence is somewhat outdated and 'a bit threadbare' - as it has been relied on for three increases in the AET - Ms Churchill indicated that Ministers also had early sight of unpublished research (a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) study) that compares the experiences of claimants who are just below and just above the AET.
When pressed on the expected publication dates for this and further evidence, Mr Churchill said -

'I have asked for [the RDD study] to be available as soon as it can be, and the date I was given was spring 2024 ... I would like it out the door as soon as possible, so you have more data ... RDD is the next piece, the next building block and then, the longitudinal study will come through in 2025.'

Concluding the session with a final question, Lord Hunt, speaking on behalf of the whole Committee, said -

'... we're looking for an undertaking from you, not to further expand the cohort until the Department can publish robust evidence of its effects. Are you able to give us that undertaking?

Ms Churchill responded -

'So are you alluding to us holding 15 hours or with this latest laying at 18? Because I could certainly say to you, I think with all confidence that at 18, we want to understand the iterations and make sure that we've got a sound evidence base from there.'

NB - the increase in the AET in January 2023 was based, for individuals, on the equivalent of them working 15 hours per week at the National Living Wage, and this week's increase to the equivalent of them working 18 hours per week.
Despite welcoming the Minister's reply, Lord Hunt went on to say -

'... we accept your undertaking, except we are still as dissatisfied as we were because you haven't provided, in the view of the Committee, sufficient explanation yet. We are awaiting this robust evidence, which I think that we now expect in June 2024.'

The evidence session Regulations to increase the Administrative Earnings Threshold (Legislative scrutiny) is available from parliament.tv
​
​
Work and Pensions Select Committee has called on the government to bring forward proposals to compensate women born in the 1950s who suffered as a result of the DWP's communication failures when their pension age was increased, and asks that it does so in the current parliamentary session
Committee chair highlights lengthy delay and urgency for affected women and calls on government to act on Parliamentary Ombudsman recommendations before summer recess.
Writing to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride, Committee Chair Stephen Timms requests government support for 'urgent action' following the Parliamentary Ombudsman's final report in March 2024 which recommended a remedy based on level 4 of its severity of injustice scale, putting awards at between £1,000 and £2,950.
Mr Timms says that the Committee does not seek to question the Ombudsman's proposal for compensation at level 4, but instead has focused on what a remedy may look like -

'The evidence we received indicated support for a rules-based system. This would be a system where payments would be adjusted within a range (based on the PHSO’s severity of injustice scale) to reflect the extent of change in the individual’s State Pension age and the notice of the change which the individual received. This would mean that the less notice you had of the change and the bigger the change in your SPA, the higher the payment you would receive. While not perfect, the advantages of such a system are that it would be: quick to administer; applying known data to a formula to determine the amount due; and relatively inexpensive (compared to a more bespoke system).'

The Committee's recommendation also includes some flexibility for individuals to make the case for further compensation in the event that they have experienced direct financial loss, for example where a woman whose divorce settlement was less than it would have been because it was based on the expectation that she would receive her state pension at 60.
Mr Timms also asks the government to consider -

'... the need for urgent action, given that the Ombudsman started to look at this issue in 2018 and that every 13 minutes a woman born in the 1950s dies ... Implementing a remedy will need parliamentary time, financial resources, and the data and technical systems only available to your department. It cannot happen without government support. We would ask you to bring forward proposals for a remedy by the summer recess.'

Mr Timms' letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is available from parliament.uk
​
​

Facts:

• 30 states have a higher minimum wage than Tennessee's $7.25.
• Tennessee last raised its minimum wage in 2009.
• Since then, inflation has risen by about 36.6%.
• A decent living wage for a single adult in Tennessee is about $13.25 per hour.

Rising Rents in Knoxville

• Rapid Rent Increases: In 2022, rent growth in Knoxville was 9.6%, significantly higher than the national average of 2.3%. This trend has continued, with apartment rents increasing by around 6.06% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
• Forecasted Increases: The trend of rising rents is expected to continue, with forecasts indicating an additional 5% increase over the next year.
• High Occupancy Rates: Despite these rent increases, Knoxville's rental market remains highly competitive with occupancy rates around 96.3%, which is higher than the national average of 94.7%.

Recent Home Price Increases in Knoxville

• Median Home Price: The median home sales price in Knoxville rose to $350,000 in July 2023, representing an increase of around 7.9% compared to the previous year.
• Affordability: As of November 2023, the median home sales price was $346,000, up by about 10.8% from the previous year.
• Income Requirements: The income required to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home has risen dramatically, from around $59,000 at the start of 2022 to over $110,000 by August 2023.
• Housing Inventory: Despite the rising prices, the total number of homes available in Knoxville is still around half of pre-pandemic levels, contributing to the increased competition and higher prices.

This information highlights the growing affordability issues in Knoxville, with home prices rising faster than incomes, making it challenging for many residents to purchase homes.

Steps to Raise the Minimum Wage

Step 1: Organize a Petition Drive

• Form a Nonpartisan Group: Create or join a group focused solely on raising the minimum wage, without political affiliations. Use platforms like Zoom for virtual meetings, schedule regular meetings, and use social media and local forums to recruit members.
• Research Requirements: For statewide initiatives, the number of signatures required is typically a percentage of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Confirm the exact number with the Tennessee Secretary of State's office. For local initiatives in Knoxville, a charter amendment can be proposed if at least one registered voter files the petition with the county election commission for pre-approval (TCA 2-5-151).
  • Tennessee Secretary of State: (615) 741-2819
• Create the Petition: Draft a clear and concise petition for a minimum wage increase. Here is a sample:

Draft Petition:
Petition for Increasing the Minimum Wage in Tennessee
To the Tennessee General Assembly:
We, the undersigned residents of Tennessee, believe that the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is insufficient to meet the basic needs of individuals and families in our state. Given the significant rise in living costs and inflation since the last adjustment in 2009, we urgently call for an increase in the state minimum wage to a livable wage of $13.25 per hour. This adjustment will ensure that all working Tennesseans can afford necessities such as housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.
By signing this petition, we express our support for this necessary change and urge the Tennessee General Assembly to take immediate action.
Name Address Signature
Step 2: Collect Signatures

• Host Community Events: Organize events like town hall meetings, local fairs, or farmers' markets to gather signatures.
• Utilize Local Networks: Leverage small-town connections where everyone knows each other to spread the word and gather support.
• Set Up Booths: Place booths in high-traffic areas like grocery stores, libraries, and community centers to collect signatures.
• Door-to-Door Campaigning: Go door-to-door in your neighborhood to ask for signatures.

Step 3: Raise Awareness

• Social Media Campaign: Use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to inform the community and encourage them to sign the petition.
• Local Media: Reach out to local newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels to cover your campaign.
• Flyers and Posters: Distribute flyers and put up posters in local businesses and public spaces.

Step 4: Submit the Petition

• Verify Signatures: Ensure all collected signatures meet the requirements.
• Submit to Authorities: Submit the petition to the appropriate state or local authority for validation.

Deadlines and Requirements

• Submission Deadline: Typically, signatures must be submitted several months before the general election to allow time for verification. For 2024, check with the Tennessee Secretary of State for specific deadlines and the number of required signatures.

How Petitions Work

In general, for a petition to be effective and get an issue on the ballot or to influence local government action, more signatures are usually needed to demonstrate widespread community support. Here’s a brief overview of the process:

• Single Signature Submission: In some cases, a single well-documented request or petition signed by one person can be submitted to local officials to initiate a discussion. However, this method is less likely to compel action without demonstrating broader community support.
• Gathering Multiple Signatures: To increase the chances of the petition being taken seriously, gathering multiple signatures shows that the issue has significant support within the community. This can influence local officials to take action.
• Specific Requirements: The exact number of signatures required can vary based on local laws and regulations. For example, getting an initiative on the ballot often requires a specific percentage of registered voters' signatures.

Example Scenario:

• Submitting a Petition to the City Council: One person can submit a petition to the city council to raise an issue. However, gathering more signatures from residents increases the impact.
• Ballot Initiatives: For ballot initiatives, there are usually legal requirements regarding the number of signatures needed. This varies by jurisdiction.

Strategies to Address Rising Rents

While controlling rent increases directly can be challenging, there are several strategies that can help stabilize the rental market and provide more affordable options:

1. Rent Control and Stabilization:
   • Implement policies that limit how much rents can be increased annually.
2. Increased Tenant Protections:
   • Strengthen tenant rights to provide more security and stability, such as "just cause" eviction protections.
3. Affordable Housing Development:
   • Increase the supply of affordable housing through new developments and mixed-income housing projects.
4. Tax Incentives for Landlords:
   • Offer tax breaks or incentives to landlords who keep rents affordable.
5. Community Land Trusts:
   • Establish community land trusts to manage and develop affordable housing.
6. Rent Subsidy Programs:
   • Expand rent subsidy programs to assist low-income tenants.

Petition Example for Rent Control and Tenant Protections

Petition for Rent Control and Tenant Protections
To the Knoxville City Council:
We, the undersigned, request that the Knoxville City Council take immediate action to address the rising cost of rent and protect tenants by implementing rent control measures and strengthening tenant protections. Specifically, we propose the following initiatives:

1. Rent Control: Implement rent control measures that limit annual rent increases to no more than a set percentage, tied to inflation.
2. Just Cause Eviction Protections: Establish "just cause" eviction protections to prevent arbitrary evictions and provide stability for tenants.
3. Tax Incentives for Affordable Rent: Offer tax breaks or incentives to landlords who commit to keeping rents affordable.
4. Encourage Long-Term Leases: Promote the use of long-term leases with fixed rent increases to provide stability for both tenants and landlords.

By implementing these measures, Knoxville can help ensure that housing remains affordable and accessible for all residents, promoting a stable and thriving community.
By signing this petition, we express our support for these initiatives and urge the Knoxville City Council to take immediate action to protect tenants and address the rising cost of rent.
Signature: _______________
Print Name: _______________
Address: _______________
Email: _______________

Other Strategies to Help Afford Homes

Local Level:

1. Affordable Housing Programs: Support and expand local programs that provide affordable housing options.
2. Down Payment Assistance: Advocate for city or county programs that help with down payments for first-time homebuyers.
3. Community Land Trusts: Promote local models where the community owns the land and leases it to homeowners, reducing the cost of purchasing a home.
4. Zoning Reforms: Push for zoning changes within Knoxville to allow for more diverse and affordable housing developments.
5. Financial Education: Provide resources locally to help individuals better manage their finances and improve their credit scores.
6. Rent-to-Own Programs: Implement or support local programs where tenants can rent properties with the option to buy after a certain period.
7. Increased Housing Supply: Encourage the construction of more housing units in Knoxville to meet demand.
8. Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaborations between the city and private developers to create affordable housing projects.
9. Inclusionary Zoning: Require a portion of new developments in Knoxville to include affordable housing units.
10. Tax Incentives: Offer local tax credits or abatements to developers who build affordable housing or to homeowners for property improvements.
11. Tiny Homes and ADUs: Promote the development of tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Knoxville as affordable housing options.
12. Housing Cooperatives: Support cooperative housing models locally where residents collectively own and manage their housing.
13. Employer-Assisted Housing: Encourage local employers to provide housing assistance or benefits to their employees.
14. Energy Efficiency Programs: Implement local programs to improve the energy efficiency of homes, reducing utility costs and overall housing expenses.
15. Foreclosure Prevention Programs: Provide local assistance and counseling to homeowners at risk of foreclosure to help them retain their homes.
16. Land Banks: Establish land banks at the city level to acquire, manage, and repurpose vacant and foreclosed properties for affordable housing development.

Steps for Local Action:

• Petition for Ballot Initiatives: Registered voters can start petitions to get these issues on local ballots. This involves gathering a required number of signatures from the community.
• Engage with Local Officials: Attend city council meetings, contact local representatives, and advocate for these programs and reforms.
• Form or Join Advocacy Groups: Collaborate with local organizations focused on housing and community development to amplify your efforts.
• Raise Public Awareness: Use social media, local news, and community events to inform and mobilize residents around these initiatives.
• Vote: Encourage community members to vote for local leaders and initiatives that support affordable housing and related programs.

Example Petitions:

Petition for Comprehensive Affordable Housing Initiatives
To the Knoxville City Council:
We, the undersigned, request that the Knoxville City Council take comprehensive action to promote affordable housing through a combination of tax incentives, public-private partnerships, inclusionary zoning, expanded affordable housing programs, and the establishment of land banks.

1. Tax Incentives: Offer local tax credits or abatements to developers who build affordable housing or to homeowners for property improvements. These incentives will encourage the development and maintenance of affordable housing units, ensuring more options are available for low- and moderate-income families.
2. Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaborations between the city and private developers to create affordable housing projects. By working together, the public and private sectors can pool resources, expertise, and funding to develop housing that meets the community's needs.
3. Inclusionary Zoning: Require a portion of new developments in Knoxville to include affordable housing units. Inclusionary zoning ensures that affordable housing is integrated into new developments, promoting economic diversity and increasing the availability of affordable homes.
4. Affordable Housing Programs: Support and expand local affordable housing programs to provide quality, affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income residents. Currently, many residents are struggling to find affordable housing, which impacts their quality of life and financial stability. By expanding these programs, we can ensure that more residents have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing.
5. Land Banks: Establish land banks at the city level to acquire, manage, and repurpose vacant and foreclosed properties for affordable housing development. Land banks can transform unused or abandoned properties into valuable assets for the community, providing opportunities for affordable housing development and revitalizing neighborhoods.

By implementing these strategies, Knoxville can create a more inclusive and sustainable housing market that supports the needs of all residents. This comprehensive approach will help address the current housing shortage and ensure long-term affordability in our community.
By signing this petition, we express our support for these initiatives and urge the Knoxville City Council to take immediate action to promote affordable housing through these measures.
Signature: _______________
Print Name: _______________
Address: _______________
Email: _______________
Down Payment Assistance
Petition for Down Payment Assistance Programs
To the Knoxville City Council:
We, the undersigned, urge the Knoxville City Council to advocate for and establish city or county programs that provide down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Many residents find it challenging to save enough for a down payment, which is a significant barrier to achieving homeownership. By providing down payment assistance, we can help more residents transition from renting to owning their homes, promoting long-term financial stability and investment in our community.
By signing this petition, we express our support for the creation and implementation of down payment assistance programs to help first-time homebuyers in Knoxville.
Signature: _______________
Print Name: _______________
Address: _______________
Email: _______________

State or Federal Level:

• Subsidized Housing Vouchers: Increase the availability and funding for housing vouchers that subsidize rent for low-income families.
• Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCC): Promote MCC programs that provide tax credits to first-time homebuyers at the state or federal level.

Combining these approaches with efforts to raise wages can create a more comprehensive solution to housing affordability issues.

How New Jersey Did It:

• Legislative Action: Passed in 2019, the law set a schedule for gradual increases to reach $15 by 2024.
• Annual Adjustments: Provisions for annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
• Broad Support: Significant political backing from the governor and legislature.
• Sector-Specific Plans: Different timelines and rates for small businesses, seasonal workers, and agricultural employees.
• Economic Advocacy: Studies and advocacy highlighted the benefits, helping to build public and political support.

Tennessee's Business Environment and Minimum Wage:

• Business-Friendly State: It's true Tennessee is known for being business-friendly, which can make raising the minimum wage challenging.
• Jobs Over $12/Hour: While many jobs may pay over $12 an hour, not all workers have access to these opportunities, especially those with limited skills or education.

Steps to Take:

• Educate and Advocate: Inform the community about the benefits of a higher minimum wage for both workers and the economy.
• Highlight Success Stories: Share examples from other states like New Jersey that have successfully raised their minimum wages without harming businesses.
• Promote Nonpartisan Support: Work with groups that focus on worker rights without political affiliations to gather broader support.

By focusing on education and nonpartisan advocacy, it's possible to create a more inclusive conversation around raising the minimum wage.

basically this kid wanted me to deliver a PC part I have for sale on Facebook marketplace to him because he didn’t have a car. I would have to take it after work early in the morning and would make my commute an hour or two longer depending on traffic. we agree on a price date and time after a couple days of communication. The morning of( 2:30am) (meeting 7am) he asks me if I can accept 100$ less than what we agreed for because “it’s a little too much” and I of course say no. We stop the conversation there and he leaves. A couple of months later the kid messages me again like nothing ever happened and I immediately ask where he wants to meet and he says the same place as last time. I ask for 20$ more than the previous time and he offers me the previous 200$ amount we agreed on and I replied with “ No, you lowballed me last time on the day of the meeting, you can pay now through zelle half and the other half when I get there.” He replies - “I don't know who you are l've never met you before you have me confused with somebody else So can we do 200 at that location for Friday?” To that I send him a screenshot of our previous conversation of him switching it up on me the day of. And he says -
“I see you must've got moved around in the FACEBOOK Marketplace queue you were the balrog that couldn't take $90 off the graphics card”
Me- “Like I said zelle half now and the other half when I get there”
Him- “well, do you want to do 200 and we can try this again I'm paying you more than the graphics card so do you want to try this again at that location I sent”
Me- “I'm not interested thanks”
Him- “nobody pays half for a product that I didn't receive you don't go to Best Buy and pay them before you arrive at a store. Doesn't work like that.
what I can do instead is I can message you Thursday to confirm that I'm ready and then you can start heading that way Just saw I'm not wasting your time, but I'm not sending you money beforehand Take this listing off too because you're not selling well you're confusing me with the other good listings”
Me- “You don't order things on Amazon? You pay full price for the item before you get it. I'm not gonna rearrange my schedule for you again only for you to cancel. You make my commute home an hour and a half longer.”
Him- “ yeah, because that's a multi billion dollar business and people are known not to get scammed from Amazon plus they have refund policies which you don't that's the difference”
Me- “Look I already said I'm not interested, you can leave again.”
Him- “ if I buy from you or give you half my fucking money if the card breaks or you flake out, how can I be sure that l'll get that money back doesn't make any sense never ever ask somebody for a half deposit and please, for the love of God take your listing down your cancerous to the community”
So am I wrong? First time posting like this and also on my phone. I’d post the conversation if I could.

This summary was generated by an AI LLM from autogenerated meeting captions. As such, this output may contain factual errors.
https://loudoun.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=89&clip_id=7674

Conclusions Reached

• The key conclusions that can be drawn from the transcript are:
  
• There is a desire to establish a county-wide sanitary district program to provide refuse and recycling collection services in areas without homeowner's associations (HOAs). This would allow the county to leverage its purchasing power to negotiate better rates and service standards.
  
• However, there is some debate around whether the county should subsidize the startup costs for this program or require it to be fully cost-recoverable from the residents in the sanitary districts.
  
• The committee also recommended creating a county-wide streetlight program that would use capital improvement program (CIP) funding to install new streetlights in communities that petition for them, with the ongoing maintenance and electricity costs being added to the county's operating budget.
  
• There were concerns raised about excluding HOA communities from being eligible for the streetlight program, and the committee amended the motion to include both non-HOA and HOA communities.
  
• A countywide flood assessment and mitigation program was also approved to be included in the FY2026 budget request, building on previous efforts to address flooding issues in certain areas of the county.
  

Detailed Summary

00:11:56 - 00:12:10

• The chair welcomed the committee and announced some adjustments to the agenda, including moving up item #12 (human services nonprofit grants) and the possibility of a dinner break.
• The chair also announced that all three credit rating agencies have confirmed the county's triple-A bond rating.

00:12:10 - 00:13:52

• The chair reviewed the 8 items proposed on the consent agenda.
• Supervisor Koran Saines requested item #10 (utilization of federal and state asset forfeiture funds) be removed from the consent agenda.

00:13:52 - 00:14:51

• The committee approved the remaining 9 consent agenda items in a 5-0 vote.
• The committee then heard an informational update from the Department of Economic Development.

00:14:51 - 00:20:01

• The new chair of the Economic Development Authority, Dr. Angela Wilson, introduced herself and discussed the authority's recent focus on strategic planning around entrepreneurship, housing, and economic development support.
• Supervisor Briskman and the chair discussed issues some businesses have faced with permitting and zoning, as well as workforce challenges, particularly the difficulty retaining employees due to the high cost of living in Loudoun County.

00:20:01 - 00:30:41

• The committee heard a presentation on the FY2025 human services and nonprofit grants program.
• There was discussion around monitoring whether religious organizations that receive grants are not using the funds for proselytization, as well as ensuring the grants are reaching Loudoun County residents.
• Supervisor Briskman raised concerns about the proposed subsidy of startup costs, arguing it would unfairly burden her constituents who are already paying higher taxes. The committee ultimately voted 3-2 to recommend the subsidy to the full board.

00:30:41 - 00:59:47

• The committee heard a presentation on the proposed sanitary district refuse and recycling collection program.
• Supervisor Umstattd expressed concerns about subsidizing the program, arguing it would unfairly burden her constituents who already pay for trash service through their town taxes.
• The committee voted 2-2 on a motion to approve the subsidy, so the item will move forward to the full board without a recommendation.

00:59:47 - 03:02:00

• The committee heard a presentation on a proposed county-wide streetlight program that would use CIP funding to install new streetlights in communities that petition for them.
• Supervisor Randall raised concerns about excluding HOA communities from eligibility, and the committee amended the motion to include both non-HOA and HOA communities.
• The committee voted 4-0-1 to recommend the streetlight program to the full board.
• The committee also heard a presentation and approved a motion to implement a county-wide flood assessment and mitigation program, to be included in the FY2026 budget request.

I'm curious, because there are multiple instances where you can do things with the SSP that don't require you to be pointing them at any specific faction. For example, they can arrest the Oligarchs during the nationalisation meeting even if you aren't investigating them, as well as Aven as a bonus. They can also prevent an Oligarch assassination attempt, again even if you hadn't been investigating them. So, assuming you're nationalising, is there any reason whatsoever to investigate the Oligarchs with the SSP? Does it even change anything narratively, like, maybe their ties to the weapons shipments and crime families are also uncovered and so their arrest is more legitimate?
I'm also wondering if pointing the SSP at the opposition is at all redundant when doing an emergency run, specifically. I understand that you can arrest Ricter during an emergency due to the Arcasia thing, and I've heard that allying with the NFP allows you to uncover their involvement in the Circas assassination and arrest both of their leaders. Do either of these require the SSP focused on the opposition? Can they be done without focusing the SSP on the opposition? Can they be done with no SSP at all?
I guess a good summary of what I'm asking is, assuming I'm doing an emergency run where I will be creating the SSP and nationalising both companies, what unethical secret police shenanigans can I not do unless I specifically target a particular faction with the SSP? Also, can I arrest Ricter, Kibener and Holstron during an emergency run without even creating the SSP at all? I know having the SSP lets you get Suheil too, but I've gotten conflicting reports about the other three.
Sorry, that was all really messy. Don't feel like you need to respond to everything. I'm just looking for whatever people can confirm.

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Votes	Thread	Comments
(+361)	Megathread 5: HYBE vs. ADOR - Ongoing Dispute, Meetings Ahead, and More	6276 comments
(+437)	Megathread 6: HYBE vs. ADOR - Insider Trading allegations, MHJ Injunction Hearing, and More	6338 comments

TOP ANNIVERSARIES

#	Votes	Thread	Comments
1	(+3141)	CL shares new 2NE1 pictures in honor of their 15th anniversary	125 comments
2	(+370)	Happy 9th Anniversary to MONSTA X!	14 comments
3	(+209)	Happy 6th anniversary to UNI.T!	18 comments

TOP 10 PERFORMANCES

#	Votes	Thread	Comments
1	(+1031)	[Live] Comeback Stage: aespa - Supernova @ Mnet M Countdown (240516)	63 comments
2	(+557)	[Song Cover] XG Chisa, Hinata, Juria - Losing You (orig. FLO) (XG Vox #6)	39 comments
3	(+336)	[Performance] IVE - Accendio (1theKILLPO)	18 comments
4	(+295)	[Live] Follow-up Stage: IVE - Accendio @ Mnet M! Countdown (240516)	16 comments
5	(+279)	[Performance] tripleS - Girls Never Die (M2 Relay Dance)	16 comments
6	(+238)	[Live] Follow-Up Stage: tripleS - Non Scale @ SBS M The Show (240514)	7 comments
7	(+214)	[Live] NMIXX - Love Me Like This, Roller Coaster, DICE, Run For Roses, DASH @ 2024 Sungkyunkwan University Natural Science Campus Festival (240516)	19 comments
8	(+110)	[Song Cover] NMIXX Bae - Flower (orig. Johnny Stimson) (MIXXTAPE: Track 06)	2 comments
9	(+109)	[Performance] BADVILLAIN - Hurricane (Live Clip)	1 comments
10	(+105)	[Song Cover] Ailee and NMIXX Haewon - Wild Flower (orig. Park Hyo Shin) @ KBS Synchro U Episode 2 (240517)	2 comments

TOP 5 DANCE CHALLENGES

#	Votes	Thread	Comments
1	(+167)	tripleS Xinyu (with SEVENTEEN JUN) - Girls Never Die (Dance Challenge) (240511)	2 comments
2	(+148)	TripleS Xinyu (with ZB1 Zhang Hao) - 'Girls Never Die' (Dance Challenge) (240517)	7 comments
3	(+93)	SEVENTEEN Jun (with tripleS Xinyu) - MAESTRO (Dance Challenge) (240511)	1 comments
4	(+89)	aespa WINTER & CHUNGHA - Supernova (Dance Challenge) (240514)	0 comments
5	(+82)	tripleS Nien & Xinyu (with NMIXX Sullyoon) - Girls Never Die (Dance Challenge) (240512)	0 comments

TOP DISCUSSIONS / FEATURES

#	Votes	Thread	Comments
1	(+42)	Throwback: JUN HYO SEONG made her solo debut with "Good-night Kiss" this week in 2014	1 comments
2	(+24)	/kpop Top Ten Tuesdays Results: P1Harmony (2024)	4 comments
3	(+21)	JTBC Girls On Fire - Episode 5 (Post-Episode Discussion + Preliminary Ranking + 72-Hour Survival Game Performances Part 3 + Second Elimination + Rival Death Match Performances Part 1) (240514)	7 comments
4	(+24)	What Are You Listening To? - May 15, 2024	30 comments

MUSIC SHOWS

Date	Performances	Discussion Thread	Winner
20240511	Music Core	Thread	SEVENTEEN
20240512	Inkigayo	Thread	ZICO / JENNIE
20240514	The Show	Thread	tripleS
20240515	Show Champion	No Broadcast.	No Winner.
20240516	M!Countdown	Thread	SEVENTEEN
20240517	Music Bank	Thread	SEVENTEEN

 

NEW RELEASES

Day	Artist	Album Title	Type	Music Video	Streaming
11th	You Dayeon (ex-LIPBUBBLE)	keep it low	digital single	keep it low
12th	JO1	Love seeker	Japanese pre-release single	Love seeker
13th	Stray Kids	Lose My Breath (Remixes)	remix single	Lose My Breath (Stray Kids Ver.)
	aespa	Supernova	pre-release single	Supernova
	ALICE	MILKY WAY	digital single	MILKY WAY
	ZEROBASEONE	You had me at HELLO	mini album	Feel the POP
14th	Chaewon (CLASS:y)	Americano on a rainy day	digital single	Americano on a rainy day
	DXMON	HYPERSPACE 911	single album	Girls, Love boys, Love girls
	WHIB	ETERNAL YOUTH : KICK IT	single album	KICK IT
15th	ITZY	Algorhythm	Japanese single album	Algorhythm
	We;Na	Step like We;Na	mini album	Baby Step / Valhalla
	The Wind	Sirius Part. 2	anniversary single	Sirius Part. 2
16th	UmYull	Love Innocence	digital single	Love Innocence
	Mark (NCT)	200	digital single	200
	Ryu Sujeong (Lovelyz)	Orange Juice	digital single	Orange Juice (feat. Yein (Lovelyz))
17th	Sorn (CLC)	crazy stupid lovers	digital single	crazy stupid lovers (feat. Hongseok (PENTAGON), WILD)
	257	BLACK OUT	debut single album	BLACK OUT
	MEANSHOCK	The Promised Flower	digital single	the Promised Flower (feat. Byeol Eun (ex-Melody Pink Eunbee))

"This Week in KPOP" Archive

In what many consider to be one of the most controversial and confusing choices within The Witcher 3, the story goes that a spirit trapped under a tree has recently awoken and is slaughtering innocence throughout the swamps of Velen. as the player, we don’t know too much about it, since the only sources of information regarding the topic are unreliable. However, one of the many books you can pick up throughout any random shelf in the world sheds some light on this odd encounter…
Titled “She Who Knows“, it tells the story of the Lady of the Wood. She creates three daughters out of dirt and water, and rules over the swamps of Velen with benevolence, so long as sacrifices are made each spring in their honor. The mother, however, slowly grows mad, and the daughters took it upon themselves to save the destruction, nearing their land. The next spring that passed, the daughter sacrifice their mother and buried her under a tree. It didn’t end there, however, as the mothers. It didn’t end there, however, as the mothers immortal soul was trapped thrashing in a powerless rage. It would later become known as the Whispering Hillock.
If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because it is! The Whispering Hillock is the location the Crones send you to deal with a problem of theirs’ in exchange for information on Ciri’s whereabouts. When you arrive, you meet with the spirit that claims to only be a druid: one that protected the land, and was dethroned by the Crones. If you free it, it tears across the countryside, adding to its body count apart from those around its tree- in what appears to be an unprovoked vengeance. Given the context that this book provides, however, it seems reasonable to piece together the two stories as one, assuming her vengeance was against the people she used to protect but was usurped from. Given that, it would seem the spirit trapped beneath the Whispering Hillock is indeed the Lady of the Wood, as written about in “She Who Knows” the original guardian of Velen, and mother of the Crones.
If you go on the Witcher wiki and look for “The Ghost in the Tree”, it confirms this theory as it states the spirit’s aliases to include: “Lady of the Wood”, “She Who Knows”, and “The Mother”. I highly doubt I’m the first person to figure this out, but wanted to share nonetheless for those who may not have known. This is only my 2nd play through, but I love all the little details and such like this you pick up as you go along with the foreknowledge of a prior run.

The sun was setting on our way up McKelligon Canyon. We had hoped the sun would set before we got to our destination. It wasn’t looking good, we might not get the privacy we were hoping for as the area was filled with runners and cyclists.
I made small talk trying to calm your nerves. We discussed my stories and what they did to you, every word turning you on. You wanted to find out if indeed I was as good as I claimed to be and now you were about to find out. Were my lips soft enough to massage your dick? Was my throat big enough to take your dick? Would it be as slippery and sloppy just how I described it?
We arrived at our spot, the sun still out. Surrounding us was desert brush, picnic tables, and people enjoying the evening. I thought your nerves would ask me to take you back but instead you jumped to my backseat, and let me know you were ready.
I joined you in the backseat and that’s when you let me know you were nervous. No one had ever made you cum from a blow job before. I took the challenge and reassured you that my mouth had never failed to make a guy cum.
You quickly pulled your shorts down and positioned your hips towards me and waited. I placed one hand on the seat, leaned over and used the other to hold your dick.
The tip of my tongue meets the bottom of your shaft and your balls. My mouth swiftly moves over your cock then down all the way till my lips reach your pubes. I slowly pulled up releasing each inch as your dick is inflated. It was no longer soft but rock solid. You released sounds of pleasure and confirmed my lips felt good.
You push my head down and thrust your hips up. You lean back as my mouth is filled with your cock. You hold me down for a moment. The warm feeling of my tongue pressed against you, felt good. With a tight squeeze I managed to move my tongue in circular motions sending chills all over your body.
I come back up, releasing strings of mixed saliva and precum. I pull back as you observe a clear string of saliva briefly connecting from the top of your head to my lips. When it snaps, I know it’s time for me to return your dick down my throat.
While I pleased your dick, I couldn’t help but rub my hands up and down your smooth crack and balls. My tongue and mouth had already impressed you with my oral skills, I wonder how you would feel if my tongue traveled down your crack.
I start under your balls, my tongue is on a mission to give you the best orgasm. Traveling down your taint, my tongue finally reaches your hole. You didn’t hesitate or stop. You instead release a soft moan. I gently licked up and down your hole, then swirled in and around. My hands holding on to your dick, it wasn’t forgotten.
I return to your mouth watering dick. My craving for it made your dick easily slip and slide in and out of my mouth. My lips reach the bottom of your shaft where I held it for a second. Your head snug up in my throat, my saliva escaping the corners of my lips and soaking your pubes. I pull back up and right as I release your cock from my mouth like a monsoon of saliva falls down on to your dick and drips down all over you.
No longer nervous and lost in the euphoric feeling, you take off your shirt. Now, you’re completely naked only wearing blank socks, and ready to cum. You stroke your cock and enjoy the sounds of mixed precum and saliva. You admit you like it extra sloppy. So I lean down and begin to release saliva onto your head all over your hand while you stroke hard.
I hold my lips pressed against your head, and with every thrust of your hand I slightly open. I tease your head with my tongue and lick your fingers. Making sure that in between I release warm saliva now dripping all over your cock and hands.
The slippery feeling of my saliva and the warm feeling of mouth must have been enough to make you explode. You release large amounts of creamy white cum all over your pubes and stomach. I press my lips against your cum then pull back creating a string of cum from your head to my mouth. I did this a couple of times before I asked if I lived up to my stories. You said I did and gave me a 10/10.