#I don’t trust tech companies and I don’t think tech will save us

[ebp-brain]

wow I never do personal rants in the tags but I am so mad about a certain technology after a meeting about it and I don’t understand how anyone is giving it any credit at all

[evitcani-writes]

Wait I refuse to save this for tags.

Okay so one of the funniest problems in LLMs is how to make an LLM unlearn or forget something it shouldn’t do or know.

There are various methods, but unfortunately there is not a forget button (sort of). All of them are in these big scientific papers but they are as follows:

SHAME: Force the robot to read a bunch of basically 4Chan troll posts from 2008 and tell it, “See that? That’s what you sound like.” So it stops doing that thing.

TERRIFY: You basically blast the keyword of the thing you want it to forget with a bunch of noise so it becomes really inefficient if it goes “near” that area

GASLIGHT: You tweak the memory of the model so the information you want it to “forget” seems less important.

BELITTLE: They use a fancy phrase (Retrieval Augmented Generation) but basically tell it to just copy/paste from a trusted source and reword it slightly instead because it is so wrong and bad.

So you might be asking: okay but why not just delete the information from the training model?

Well obviously that takes too long and it’s really expensive and tech companies don’t waaaaanna.

If you see tools for glazing art as a defense, this is essentially the types of algorithms they use to keep your data out of tech company’s mouths. While it IS hilarious, I do think these algorithms are an important area of research because they offer insight into how data is judged as “good” or “bad”.

Eventually, these human-guided judgements will be given to AI and you should be able to use those to guide your own privacy.

All that said: FUCK HARRY POTTER.

The joke here is the benchmark (called MUSE) on how good an algorithm is at making an LLM forget is making it forget anything to do with Harry Potter or the author which. Also funny. I would like training models to not use this post, so I hope by mentioning Harry Potter and Aunt Petunia and frying pans a lot as well as a word deemed inappropriate for the AI to use in a response it will then not use this post. Thank you for coming to my joke-footnote. My jootnote. my footjoke.

[moonstrider9904]

Coruscant

Chapter 9 of Moonwalker: The Flame

{series masterlist} {next chapter} {previous chapter}

{crossposted to Wattpad - coming soon} {crossposted to AO3}

Summary: Sarah goes undercover to aid Riyo Chuchi on Coruscant, but in doing so, she is faced by her most unspeakable fears.

Tags/Warnings: Mature. Canon-typical violence, death, threats, force-choking, implied sex, language.

Word count: 7.7k

Songs: The Gem Sea Giant

Sarah sat back on one of the passenger seats of the Marauder with her eyes closed. The absence of light made it easier for her to focus on the sounds around her, from the whirring of the Marauder’s engines in hyperspace to the subtle chatter between Tech and Wrecker coming from the cockpit. She couldn’t quite make out what they were saying, but the tones of their voices were constant and relatively calm despite the fact that they were headed towards Coruscant.

It had been a long time since any of them had been to Coruscant.

A sudden laugh emerging from Wrecker prompted Sarah to open her eyes, and when she did, she noticed Echo sitting across from her. His arms were crossed and his gaze was gracefully set on a point on the floor, oblivious to the fact that Sarah was looking at him. She stared at him, wondering what could possibly be going through his mind, and for a moment, she felt remorse. She’d been through a lot those recent months, and she wouldn’t deny it, but she couldn’t help but feel for a moment that she’d become detached from Echo.

That was when Echo felt her gaze on him, and he looked up. His brown eyes looked tired on his pale skin, and Sarah could swear that the bags under his eyes were somehow heavier. Sarah’s eyebrows furrowed in worry, but in return, Echo directed a soft smile at her as if he wanted to dismiss any of her concerns. It wouldn’t work.

“What’s with you?” Sarah asked him.

With that same gentle smile, Echo shook his head. “Just thinking. This mission Rex is asking us to help him with… it seems a hell of a lot bigger than anything we’ve done in the past few months.”

Sarah’s gaze absently wandered to the floor as she quickly recalled the events of the past months, and she was inclined to agree. Save for helping out Gungi and the Wookiees on Kashyyyk, and her own internal endeavors, Echo was absolutely right. Everything else they’d been focusing on for the past months paled in comparison to Rex’s efforts. It made his work seem like the front lines while the batch were on mere guard duty.

“Yeah, I get what you mean,” Sarah obliged.

Echo got up and walked across to take a seat next to Sarah, leaning back on the wall behind him and gazing up at the ceiling. “It’s better than being alone, I guess.”

“Echo, is there something on your mind?” Sarah asked gently.

Echo chuckled softly. “Yes.”

Fair answer. Sarah hadn’t asked him what was on his mind. And it wasn’t as if she hadn’t kept a secret from him throughout the past weeks. Enjoying his company, Sarah leaned back on the wall and gazed up at the ceiling much like Echo, and the two remained in silence until he finally broke the silence again, trusting in the confidence of his best friend.

“I was relieved when Rex’s transmission came in,” Echo confessed.

Sarah nodded slowly. “Yeah, boredom leads to insanity.”

“It’s not just the boredom,” Echo said. “Wherever Rex is involved, we know we’re gonna be doing something meaningful.”

The two sat up on their chairs and looked at each other. For a few moments, Sarah’s gaze traveled absently around Echo, deep in thought as she pondered on his previous words, reaching her own realization.

“I hate to break it to you,” Sarah began, “but so long as we’re mercenaries, our drive will always be the money at whatever cost.”

“Oh, I know,” Echo nodded, unamused.

Sarah chuckled. “I don’t like it either. It just seemed like the only choice after Kamino. It was the way to go.”

“But you want something more,” Echo prompted.

“Of course I do,” Sarah replied. “I want a home. I want my family together again.”

Echo nodded slowly and momentarily avoided her gaze at the realization that what they wanted was vastly different, and Sarah couldn’t help but observe his body language.

“That doesn’t mean I won’t keep fighting for now,” Sarah added.

Echo met her gaze again, silent. Sarah then leaned back on the wall again and softly sighed.

“You remember what Hunter told us when we joined them?” Sarah asked.

“Yeah,” Echo smiled briefly. “It was a different life back then.”

“And your path was different,” Sarah looked over at Echo. “The thing about paths is they can morph.”

Echo nodded, deep in thought. “I also remember what Rex told me. If that’s where you feel your place is…”

“Then that’s where you belong,” Sarah finished.

They made silent eye contact.

“That’s right,” Echo whispered.

Sarah smiled at him. “You were always the best of us, Echo.”

“Come on, the batch are crazy, but they’re all fine men,” Echo humbly declined.

“I don’t mean the batch,” Sarah stated. “I mean the GAR. The 501st.”

A sad smile appeared on Echo’s features as flashes of blue-painted armor and legions of clones marching raced through his mind, only for him to be brought back to his present life as a mercenary. His features then dropped, deep in thought.

“What would Fives have done in this life?” Echo asked.

“Honestly?” Sarah sat up with a chuckle. “Fives would be blazing through the galaxy, most likely with Rex. He’d despise the Empire more than anyone I currently know, but he’d use that to do good.”

Echo chuckled in return. “Yeah, he would.”

The two accompanied each other in silence until the Marauder exited hyperspace and Tech announced they were approaching Coruscant. Tech flew the Marauder into the planet’s atmosphere while everyone gathered in the cockpit and waited to land among the lower levels of Coruscant, seemingly far from the main complex of the city where the Senate and the Jedi temple were… or at least, the ruined Jedi temple.

The Marauder landed on a platform about halfway down one of the pits on the lower levels of Coruscant, and just as the engines were powering down, Sarah could see through the windshield that Rex’s figure was approaching the ship. She smiled at the sight and made her way down towards him with the others, lunging at Rex and giving him a big hug when she reached him.

“What happened to your hair?” Rex chuckled as he hugged Sarah back.

“Cut it,” Sarah giggled. “I kinda miss having it long, though.”

“Don’t, it looks nice,” Rex smiled serenely, letting Sarah go so that he could acknowledge the others. He first greeted Echo, and then Hunter, and as Rex finished greeting the entire squad, Sarah became aware of another person approaching them.

It was a young Pantoran woman who walked with an air of elegance. Her outfit was professional, and though she was clearly among the higher classes, nothing about her came across as opulent. Her long lavender hair was done upward, and the golden markings on her cheekbones contrasted with her rich blue skin; her eyes, large and round, held an unfathomable amount of wisdom for someone who would almost appear too young to hold whatever position she held, most likely a result of recent unfortunate events she’d had to witness.

“I’d like to present Senator Riyo Chuchi of Pantora,” Rex gestured at the woman as she stopped in front of the squad.

“Oh, we’ve been there!” Omega said excitedly.

Riyo looked over at Omega with a gentle smile, and then she greeted the others, demure with a hint of gratitude. Riyo’s gaze lingered on Sarah for a moment with a gentle curiosity, and her discreet smile widened subtly. Sarah felt it too. In other circumstances, Riyo would have been someone Sarah would want to befriend. She’d heard of Riyo many times from the clones and from Ahsoka back in her days in the army. It was nice to finally put a face on the name.

“Thank you for coming,” Riyo spoke. “If your reputation precedes you, we might have a chance against what’s going on here on Coruscant.”

“How can we help?” Echo asked.

Riyo’s gaze landed on Echo and she smiled softly, appreciative of his support.

“You’ll need context,” Riyo answered. “Please, follow us inside.”

Riyo turned around and led the way for the others to follow. Rex took notice of Omega following closely behind Sarah, and he hesitated, fumbling towards Sarah and Hunter and speaking in a hushed voice.

“Er…” Rex began. “I’m not sure what we’re about to show you is alright for Omega to see.”

Sarah and Hunter exchanged a wary look.

“What is it?” Sarah asked.

Rex leaned in and whispered the answer in Sarah’s ear, and she felt herself going pale.

“I’m not sure I want to see it,” Sarah admitted.

“You’ve seen worse in your day,” Rex assured her. “The kid, however, still has some innocence I’d like to salvage.”

“She can handle it,” Hunter affirmed. “She hasn’t exactly been shielded. Not like I didn’t try to.”

“Then come on,” Rex gestured.

Sarah fell to the back of the crowd and remained close to Tech as Rex and Riyo led them inside to what appeared to be a repair shop, and Sarah was doing fine until she saw the casket ominously placed on a large table. She stuttered in her footsteps—caskets and anything having to do with post-mortem were usually where she drew the line. Regardless, duty called.

Tech noticed her faltering. “Are you alright?”

She sighed. “Yeah. Just… hold me.”

Sarah clutched Tech’s forearm, and soon, everyone had circled around the casket only for Rex to reveal that the body inside had belonged to a clone, adding an evident tension to the air. In an attempt to leaven the weight of the sight in front of her, Sarah focused solely on Rex as she held tighter onto Tech, and Rex explained how they’d gotten there. He told the squad about Slip, about his discovery, about what he’d been doing and trying to achieve since the last time he and Clone Force 99 had met. When he finished, Riyo looked at the squad solemnly.

“Slip was taken out by this clone assassin not long after he came close to uncovering the truth about what happened on Kamino,” Riyo said. “And the assassin was after me as well.”

Echo sighed with disillusion evident in his features. “But how could a clone do such a thing?”

“Before he… died,” Rex began, his gaze faltering as he said the words, “this trooper spoke in a manner I’ve never heard another clone do so. That at any trace of identity, from his identifying number to any markings, were erased.”

“Erased?” Sarah asked.

“How is that possible?” Tech inquired.

“I don’t know,” Rex answered. “But all of these signs point to mind control, brainwashing, and we’re not even talking inhibitor chips here. This is far more sinister.”

Sarah broke through her fears and looked down at the casket, her thoughts pondering on the clone who lay inside it. She thought about this clone having begun in the army, fighting the cause he was bred for. He had brothers. He had a name, and a story behind that name, as all clones did. He was forced into serving the Empire, and then for some reason, he was plucked and put through some sort of training to turn him into a lethal masked assassin who would be capable even of killing his brethren. It was unthinkable.

Sarah looked up at Rex and Riyo. “What do you need us to do?”

Riyo stepped forward. “For starters, I need someone to testify to the Senate about what happened on Kamino.”

“We’ll do it,” Omega said. “We were there.”

“I can testify,” Echo proposed.

“That won’t be enough,” Hunter said. “You’re going to need proof. If the Senate and the Empire are already on the fence about clones, the testimony of a rogue group won’t sway them.”

“Which is where you actually come in,” Rex said. “Admiral Rampart is on planet, as is his Venator.”

“Rampart’s here?” Sarah let go of Tech and walked forward in front of the whole group. “Where?”

“In the Senate,” Riyo replied. “He’s representing the military forces for this bill.”

“What about his legion?” Sarah continued digging. “His squads, his elite soldiers, are they on the planet too?”

Riyo’s features softened in sympathy. “I have no way of knowing.”

“If we had seen Crosshair anywhere around here, you’d be the first to know,” Rex assured.

Sarah nodded, sighing her agitation away.

“If you can retrieve the command log from the Venator, then I can show it to the Senate,” Riyo said. “We’ll need it before sunrise tomorrow. I can keep Rampart occupied in the meantime, as well as try to sway some more of the senators toward our cause.”

“Let me go with you,” Sarah proposed. “Please.”

“I could use the help,” Riyo nodded.

“Can I come too?” Omega spoke up.

“No offense, Sarah, but you stick out way too much,” Wrecker intervened. “Maybe it should just be Omega and the senator in there.”

“I can get her a disguise,” Riyo said. “She’ll blend in perfectly. We just need to cover your marks, and I’m sure I have colored contacts somewhere.”

“That’ll be perfect,” Sarah agreed.

“Be careful, both of you,” Hunter instructed.

“Yeah, we’ll get what you need from the Venator, senator,” Wrecker added, and chuckled at the end. “Hey, that rhymed.”

Riyo chuckled at Wrecker, and the group scattered to prepare for their respective parts of the mission. Riyo, Omega, and Sarah disappeared deep into the repair shop, and when they returned to the landing platform, Omega wore a blue poncho over her attire and Sarah stole the spotlight. She was dressed in a burgundy gown with long sleeves that covered all the marks on her arms. The gown was discreet, but the color matched her to Riyo. Her hair was done in a low bun that covered any of the dark red strands that could have been exposed at the tips, and she wore a single golden brooch over the bun to further sell her status. On her face, Sarah wore foundation the tone of her skin to cover up all her markings, and her nebulous eyes were concealed by the gray contacts Riyo had available. The gray contrasted with her olive skin, and the full disguise made Sarah appear regal, as if she’d never fought a battle in her life. She drew every pair of eyes toward her as she made her way across the landing platform, and though Sarah was aware that she looked good, she couldn’t help but feel like a stray tooka with a diamond collar.

“Oh, she’ll blend in alright,” Echo said, and he directed his gaze at Riyo. “You did a great job with her.”

Riyo returned the smile. “That’s a relief.”

Sarah watched as Echo and Riyo’s gazes lingered on one another for a second too long until Riyo stammered and walked over to Rex to review final details of their plan to retrieve the command log. Echo watched as Riyo walked away, and when he turned to look at Sarah again, he noticed her temporarily gray eyes were already on him, and she wiggled her eyebrows at him.

Echo scoffed. “No one’s gonna believe you’re her handmaiden if you keep acting like a child. Omega’s being more mature than you, for crying out loud.”

“I didn’t say anything,” Sarah cooed.

“You implied it,” Echo growled.

“You were staring at her,” Sarah wiggled her brows again.

“I think there’s something on your face,” Echo stood up to Sarah.

Sarah giggled, and she finally stood down from her teasing, looking at Echo with slight worry. “Be careful out there.”

“You too,” Echo replied, saluting her with his scomp.

Echo walked back to the squad, and Sarah was then approached by Tech. He was fully armored and had his helmet on, and as usual, he stared directly at his datapad as he walked up to her. He stopped close to her, reaching out a free hand to take Sarah’s.

“Crosshair is not on planet,” Tech said.

“What?” Sarah asked. “How do you know that?”

“I tapped into the military logs,” Tech showed her his datapad’s screen and looked at her. “He hasn’t been on Coruscant for a long time.”

“Does it say where he went?” Sarah looked at it.

“I’m afraid not,” Tech replied. “His destination is classified. Only his commanding officer will know where he is.”

“Well then, if I run into Rampart, I’ll say hi,” Sarah nodded.

“Sarah…” Tech tugged at her hand.

“Yes?”

Through his goggles, Tech scanned Sarah from head to toe before finally landing on her gaze again, his eyes visibly softening.

“Take these imperial clearance codes, I forged them myself. They’ll help you get into the senate,” Tech said. “Remember our distress signal agreement.”

“I will,” she smiled and pressed herself close to him. “You be careful too.”

“Always am,” Tech rested a hand on her waist.

They held each other for a brief moment before letting go, and Sarah walked over to Riyo and Omega for them to depart. Tech made his way back to the rest of the squad, seemingly oblivious to the way Rex was staring at him as he walked by. Rex then faced Hunter, unable to hide his surprise.

“When did that happen?” Rex asked.

“Why don’t you ask him?” Hunter growled.

“Hunter is still not adjusted to the fact that Sarah and I are a couple,” Tech said, his eyes still glued to his datapad. “I do not hold it against him.”

“Well…” Rex stammered. “We should, uh… probably… get going?”

Wrecker chuckled, shoving Hunter playfully. “Tech totally stole your girl.”

Hunter glared up at Wrecker before putting his helmet on. “Shut up.”

“The very reason why Sarah and I concealed the truth for so long was to avoid this sort of immature conversation,” Tech said. “We have a very brief window of time to get Senator Chuchi the command log. Let’s not waste time.”

“Right,” Rex steered back into his role of leader. “Let’s go, boys.”

The clones put all other things aside and headed towards the imperial shipyard.

*

Being inside the Galactic Senate headquarters was an experience of its own, but Sarah found it far more enjoyable to listen to Omega’s numerous questions and the way Riyo gracefully answered each one of them. Hearing Riyo talk about the senate and what she was trying to achieve would really make one strive for a higher purpose despite what they were trying to do, and it dawned on Sarah that a sensation such as that one was rare when working as a mercenary or a pirate. She thought back to the conversation she had with Echo on the way to Coruscant, and she found herself understanding more. And although Sarah probably wouldn’t jump at the idea of being a senator—it wasn’t as if roaming around freely in imperial proximity was a good idea anyway—Sarah realized there were times when even she lost sight of what she wanted to accomplish.

It was just as Crosshair had once put it back on Kamino. Sarah and the others were merely drifting through the galaxy from mission to mission without a cause or a purpose. Sarah missed having something greater to drive her.

And when the three of them turned a corner and Sarah saw a familiar face, she was suddenly reminded of what that drive was.

“Ah, Senator Chuchi!”

Sarah despised that voice.

“Admiral Rampart,” Riyo acknowledged him, pulling to a halt when she was just in front of him with Sarah and Omega flanking her sides.

“I thought it best to let you know that I have begun preparations for tomorrow’s vote,” Rampart said. “Surely, you must understand that this bill is in the best interest of the galaxy. Is that not what we are all striving for?”

“Yes, the common and greater good should be what all senators and imperial representatives achieve,” Riyo masked her disgust with dignity. “Though I’m afraid that rushing the voting on the military bill will yield unforeseen results.”

“No need to worry, senator, it has all been revised and handled by only the best officials,” Rampart answered.

Sarah’s blood was boiling. He didn’t acknowledge her or even Omega, as if they weren’t even of importance to him. And his good natured speech was despicable; Sarah knew just how much of a monster he was, and without even trying to hide it, her repulsion towards Rampart bled into her eyes as she pierced into him with her gaze. It was only then that Rampart bothered to look in her direction just as he was finishing what he was saying. His gaze lingered on Sarah, and he didn’t retrieve it; his eyes seemed to harden only faintly at her, and when he smiled in acknowledgement, Sarah could feel the twisted intention behind her.

“Senator, you did not tell me you’d be accompanied,” Rampart commented.

“It’s not uncommon for senators to bring their staff along, admiral,” Riyo answered with professionalism. “Especially not on days with such long hours.”

“It’s a pity, otherwise, I may have brought some staff of my own,” Rampart continued to look at Sarah as he said it.

Sarah clenched her fists behind her. She knew exactly who he was talking about. Riyo must have felt the tension rise, and her hand glided over to Sarah’s shoulder, bringing her attention away from Rampart.

“Admiral, what would you say if my handmaiden were to escort you?” Riyo asked.

Sarah tried not to look too quickly at Riyo, but that was the last proposition she’d expected to come from her.

“Pardon me?” Rampart asked.

“You are still quite new to this, and my handmaiden knows the protocol,” Riyo said looking at Rampart, and then she faced Sarah. “I can finish the preparations on my end. The vote is coming up soon, and it wouldn’t be right for the senate’s guest to be wandering around such a large facility with no guidance.”

The new plan became so clear to Sarah that she wondered how she didn’t come up with it first. It was perfect. Sarah would keep Rampart occupied while Riyo and Omega did everything they had to do, and in the meantime, Sarah could do some digging of her own.

“Well, if it’s no major problem to you, senator, I would be delighted to accept,” Rampart looked at Sarah.

Riyo gazed over at Sarah too, but all the latter did was smirk over at Rampart.

“Of course,” Sarah said.

“Very well,” Riyo nodded at Sarah. “I’ll see you after the vote.”

Sarah bowed lightly in deference, and she stood still as Omega and Riyo began to walk away. The silence grew thick as Sarah was left alone with Rampart, and when Riyo and Omega were out of sight, her eyes landed on him again, unamused. When Rampart looked at her, he scoffed and brushed a tad of fuzz from his uniform.

“Well, miss, why don’t we go somewhere more comfortable while we wait for the vote?” Rampart held his arm out to escort her.

She felt she would have puked, but she took his arm regardless of how unwilling she was to continue playing the handmaiden charade. They walked silently down the halls until arriving at a deserted room, one decorated elegantly with a large desk, chairs, and a couple couches, even a balcony that could overlook the whole city. Sarah walked in and examined it—it looked like the mix between an office and a home, and thankfully, the only thing missing from it was a bed. Sarah flinched when the door closed behind them, locking her inside it with Rampart, but she wouldn’t back down, not at that moment.

Rampart looked at her and seemed amused, and although Sarah was almost sure had recognized her already, she wasn’t willing to blow her cover while there was still a possibility she could fool him.

“You could have at least tried a different voice,” Rampart broke the silence. “However, your disguise is commendable. You almost had me fooled, but you didn’t have to speak for me to see right through you.”

Sarah said nothing, and her gaze on him was unfriendly.

“I know what you’re after,” Rampart said. “I can either give you what you want or keep you in the dark.”

“You’re not in charge here,” Sarah answered.

“Oh, but I believe I am,” Rampart threatened, pacing closer to her. “To be in here, you had to be thoroughly searched. You have no weapons on you, and using your abilities will give away your identity. Your hands may as well be tied behind your back.”

Rampart stopped just in front of her, towering over Sarah with an arrogant look plaguing his features. Rather than intimidation, Sarah felt impatience, and she wasn’t willing to continue stalling.

“Where is he?” Sarah spat.

Rampart raised his brows, shocked that she would get there so fast, and he laughed. “You do amaze me with your one track mind. Of course, it comes as no surprise to me, not after the last time you went to Kamino. All the time you and CT-9904 spent locked inside his private quarters… I’d have reprimanded both of you sooner had I not liked what I heard. Not to mention, what I saw.”

Sarah’s eyes widened, disgusted at his implications. “You saw nothing.”

“My senior commanders are under constant surveillance,” Rampart said. “I saw it all.”

She bared her teeth at him.

“I came close to making a proposition of my own,” Rampart continued as he came even closer to Sarah. “You two were having all the fun. Perhaps my involvement may have swayed my opinions in favor of the clones.”

“You disgusting son of a—”

“Watch your language, dear, it’s not appropriate coming from a handmaiden,” Rampart sneered.

“Quit playing around!” Sarah shoved Rampart enough to make him tumble a couple steps back, much to his surprise. “Tell me where he is.”

Rampart dusted himself off and regained his composure, and all hints of teasing and desire left him. “I’d pretend your terrible behavior would drive me to take it out on him, but the mere confirmation of you being alive is enough.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Sarah growled.

Rampart smirked. “He told me you were dead.”

Sarah’s features momentarily softened, but with every second that passed and every word that came out of Rampart, any fear Sarah felt morphed into anger boiling through her veins.

“And it’s no surprise why,” Rampart continued. “I simply expected better, though perhaps one could not blame him. An error in judgment as grave as that one is bound to happen after thirty-two rotations stranded in a platform on Kamino. Regardless, lying to a commanding officer is still a grave offense.”

“Thirty two?!” Sarah stomped toward him. “You left him there for thirty-two rotations?!”

“Why do you yell at me?” Rampart said calmly. “You left him there for good.”

“That’s not true!”

“I was overseeing my official imperial duties, I couldn’t be taken away from my post to scan the ruins of Tipoca City. And he tried to cover up for you even after that,” Rampart mused. “Ah, what a tragedy. It almost makes it pitiful that I’ll have to enforce the consequences now that his lie has been uncovered—”

Rampart abruptly stopped talking to clear his throat, and he coughed in an attempt to talk again, suddenly feeling himself unable to breathe. His once confident gaze widened in fear, and he looked at Sarah again to see her holding her hand up in front of her, with her palm facing up and her fingers tensed like claws. She stared at him viciously, mercilessly, and all around him, Rampart could hear a low rumble as he made a futile attempt to free himself from the invisible strain over his throat. Sarah watched unwaveringly as Rampart squirmed, guiltless after all the trash and the threats he’d spat her way. She felt the power coursing through her, the hate and the anger rising within her as she walked closer to him and Rampart attempted to crawl away.

“If I let you live, you won’t lay even a finger on Crosshair,” Sarah snarled. “You will tell me where he is. Now!”

“I-” Rampart struggled. “I don’t know where he is!”

“You lie!” Sarah growled, pressing harder.

“He was reassigned to a lieutenant by the name Nolan!” Rampart cried. “I haven’t known his whereabouts for months, I swear!”

Sarah didn’t relent.

“Please!” Rampart begged. “You need me alive!”

Only then did Sarah release Rampart from her grip. He dropped to the ground coughing and clutching his chest, looking up at her in fear with a hint of anger. Sarah walked up to him, equally unamused with him.

“Where is this Nolan?” Sarah asked him.

Rampart didn’t respond. Sarah held her hand out again without power, only as a threat.

“I can still do this,” she said.

“I don’t know where he is now,” Rampart flinched. “He’s on a series of missions along several imperial outposts. CT-9904 was reassigned months back, his records are no longer under my possession.”

“You’ll get me those records,” Sarah ordered.

Rampart scoffed. “What makes you think I’ll do that?”

“If you get them to me, I’ll sway Senator Chuchi to vote in favor of your bill,” Sarah said.

Rampart raised an eyebrow. “That could take days. The vote is tomorrow. You’ll need to sway her before.”

“Not a chance, I don’t trust you enough,” Sarah said.

“I don’t trust you either,” Rampart snarled. “I think you’re just an infatuated girl angry at the world because she can’t have her little toy with her. Perhaps if you’d had any sort of experience with a real man—”

Sarah wouldn’t listen to any more. She had just begun to raise her hand, but anger blinded her from her surroundings, and Rampart was quicker to react. From his belt, he took a taser, one like Sarah had never seen before, and all it took was one tap of the electric tip to paralyze Sarah’s entire body, sending her plummeting to the ground squirming in pain and whimpering helplessly. The taser didn’t render her unconscious, but she was still unable to move, unable to do anything to defend herself.

“You almost had me there,” Rampart mocked. “Too bad you’re simply too weak.”

Sarah groaned at him, wishing she could at least muster the strength to reach out and scratch him, smack him, punch that disgusting face of his, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t do anything.

“You made a mistake crossing me. Have fun with the Coruscant guard. They’ll most likely take you to the Emperor himself once I tell them what your crimes are,” Rampart replied. “And don’t even think about looking for your little clone while you’re on the inside, you have my word that your precious CT-9904 will face the firing squad.”

Sarah growled. She strained and struggled, unable even to yell at Rampart as he made his way outside of the room while Sarah lay there helpless. She wanted to believe, with every fiber of her body, that Rampart had just been spewing empty threats. She wanted to believe she hadn’t just sealed her fate as well as Crosshair’s, that she hadn’t just failed miserably and cost herself and her family far too much for anyone’s good. And as the fear coursed through every corner of Sarah’s being, all she was able to do was weep in desperation.

Hours passed as she lay there, alone and in the dark. The only good that could have possibly come of it was that no Coruscant guards arrived to take her away, but she was still sulking in her terror and her misery. Sarah tried to move her body to no avail; each time, pain shot through her limbs. But she couldn’t risk wasting precious time. Every second she spent there, Rampart could have already given the order against Crosshair.

Sarah put the fear of pain aside. The fear of losing Crosshair for good was far too great for her to care about anything else. And so, she pushed through it, straining her arm towards the belt of her gown and reaching for her hidden comm, crying through the pain until she finally brought the comm up to her lips and dialed Tech’s frequency.

“Sarah?” Tech’s modulated voice came in through the comm. “What is going on? Are you alright?”

“Tech…” Sarah whimpered. “Tech, you need to come help me. Please.”

“Where are you?” Tech asked her. “Are you not with Omega? She just received the command log.”

“No, I’m in a room somewhere in the senate building,” Sarah replied. “I can’t move.”

“Are you hurt? Sarah?”

“I—” Sarah hiccuped, stifling a sob. “I was tased, I can’t move!”

“Sarah, be patient, Omega’s on her way to you,” Tech assured. “I will infiltrate the senate—”

“No, it’s too dangerous!” Sarah cried. “Tech, I… I messed up.”

“Sarah, you’re going to be alright,” Tech comforted her through the comm.

In full force, Sarah began to wail.

“I just did something terrible!” She kept crying. “I think I just put Crosshair in danger!”

“Sarah, please breathe,” Tech told her. “What do you mean?”

“Sarah?” Echo’s voice came in through the comm. “I need you to calm down, and I need you to explain.”

“I tried to get information from him, from Rampart,” Sarah sobbed. “But it backfired, and he threatened him! He threatened Crosshair!”

For a brief moment, there was silence through the comm, but soon enough, she heard Tech’s voice comforting her again.

“Rampart is currently busy with his bill’s vote,” Tech explained. “If we lay out the facts, we know that he has no access to Crosshair at the moment, and once the truth about Kamino is exposed, he will be rendered a criminal. No one will be taking orders from him, nor will he have the autonomy to execute his own plans.”

“Crosshair’s going to be fine, Sarah,” Echo said through the comm. “You just wait for Omega to go get you. She’ll come through. Once we’re all back together we’ll figure something out.”

“Hang in there, darling,” Tech said. “We’ll be together soon.”

At that moment, the door to the room Sarah was laying in opened, and she felt three different pairs of feet approaching her. She thought she was done for, and that the Coruscant guard had finally made it to her, that she was going to be taken prisoner most likely to suffer a fate worse than just being in a cell, but the fear began to fade when a soft, small hand placed itself on Sarah’s shoulder.

“Sarah!” It was Omega who cried out and gently helped shift Sarah to look up. She was accompanied by two of Riyo’s bodyguards, and one of them had a first aid kid from where he retrieved a vial. He injected the liquid just behind Sarah’s hip, and though the sting of the needle did little to relieve Sarah, she felt the antidote spreading through her body and the mobility slowly returning. Not long after, she was finally able to relax, and her eyes drifted toward a worried Omega, who gently stroked Sarah’s hair.

“What happened?” Sarah asked. “Are you okay?”

Omega nodded, and a little tear slid down her cheek. “I’m okay. Are you?”

Sarah began to sniffle again as the two bodyguards helped her stand up, and as she panted, Sarah reached to clutch Omega’s shoulders.

“What happened? Where’s Riyo? Did you get the command log?” Sarah inquired.

“Yes,” Omega said. “And, well… Rampart was arrested.”

Sarah couldn’t help but feel relief, but the fact remained that his arrest didn’t mean he didn’t give the order before.

“So, the senate knows that Tipoca City was destroyed intentionally?” Sarah asked.

Omega nodded, but she reflected no sense of victory. “Yes, but… There were clones on that Venator, clones serving the Empire when it happened. It gave them leverage.”

“How?”

“The clone rights bill failed,” Omega looked at the ground as she spoke. “And the senate voted almost unanimously for stormtroopers.”

Sarah’s heart sank. Even in their success, they’d been faced with a surprise failure.

“Let’s get you out of here,” Omega said softly. “Tech contacted me while he was with you.”

Sarah nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, let’s go.”

*

As Riyo and Rex were filling the squad in on the outcome of the voting, Sarah sat silently in the Marauder. Her legs were pressed tight together and she held her hands over her thighs, and she was slightly hunched over in her posture, her eyes vacantly staring at a point on the ground. She’d let her hair down and removed the contacts from her eyes, and she constantly found herself looking at whatever reflecting surface she could just to make sure they were still their natural blue and pink starry hues.

Despite her evidently having tapped into her inner darkness, her ill premonition from the caves hadn’t yet come true. Sarah knew she had to be more careful. And as she continued to ponder on how easily she’d slipped into such an extreme, she felt her chest going cold and her head getting heavy, with her hands subtly beginning to shake.

Sarah straightened up when she heard someone climbing up the Marauder’s platform, and she sighed softly when she saw that it was Echo. Her features dropped at the sight of him.

“If you need me to stay, I will,” Echo told her. “But I’m telling you, I’m sure Crosshair’s going to be fine.”

Sarah got up from the chair and walked over to him. “I truly hope you’re right, Echo. And as much as I do want you to stay, I don’t want to stand in the way of your path.”

With a sad smile, Echo thanked her silently.

“How did Omega take it?” Sarah asked him.

“She’s upset, as we all expected,” Echo answered.

Sarah nodded slowly, and she inhaled sharply as a small realization made its way into her mind. “Actually… here, I want to show you something.”

Sarah went to the back of the ship and searched around the Firepuncher’s pack for the little hard drive she’d kept close to her for a while now. Never having found the ideal moment to sit down and watch its contents, Sarah knew that it was either now or an indefinite wait. She made her way back to Echo with the drive and she plugged it into one of the computers, selecting the first file on it.

“What is this?” Echo asked her.

“AZI gave me this,” Sarah said. “He said I’d want to see it because of who’s in the recording and, well… I think you’ll want to see this too.”

Sarah pressed play and, on the screen, the vivid image of a long lost loved one appeared. He was tall and handsome, smiling with the most charisma any living being could have, and he looked like the perfect soldier in his white, blue, and gray ARC trooper armor. He was staring right at the camera, chuckling just before standing up from where he was sitting.

“I’m telling you, she’s freaking amazing,” Fives said in the recording. “She’s got these cool markings over her face and her eyes look like galaxies. You’ll know her when you see her, you can’t miss her.”

“And is her name also a word play on a number?” AZI’s voice filled the recording. “Like yours, Fives?”

Fives chuckled. “No, no, her name’s much prettier. Her name’s Sarah.”

Sarah felt herself tearing up at the recording, but she wouldn’t bring herself to regret watching it. It was simply painful to see Fives so happy and to remember how she’d lost him, and inevitably, the fear began to creep into her heart again at the thought of losing Crosshair in a similar way.

“Oh, she’s coming!” Fives said in the recording. “Hey, were you filming this entire time?”

And the recording ended, taking them back to the file select among several other videos in the drive. Sarah and Echo stood for a moment in silence, each one smiling sadly and pondering on the past.

“Fives started this,” Echo broke the silence. “He discovered the inhibitor chips. I owe it to him to continue his legacy.”

Sarah nodded and looked at Echo through teary eyes. “He’d be so proud of you, you know that?”

Echo chuckled sadly. “Sarah, you’re gonna make me cry.”

Echo and Sarah faced each other and held hands, and Echo looked at her in the eyes with a gentle gaze.

“I’m not gone forever, alright?” Echo said. “You have my frequency and I’ll be there if you ever need me. That’s a promise.”

Sarah sniffled as the tears rolled down her cheeks. “We are too.”

The two pulled each other into a tight embrace, holding one another as if they’d never let go.

“You go and find him,” Echo suddenly whispered. “You find him and you bring him back.”

Sarah pulled apart from the hug enough to look at Echo. “Who?”

Echo gave her a jokingly disappointed look. “Jabba the Hutt. What do you mean, who?”

Sarah chuckled through her tears. “I thought…”

“He’s our brother and he’s been controlled and manipulated, much like that clone assassin, and every one of our brothers within imperial ranks,” Echo said. “He deserves his freedom as much as any one of us do. I’m gonna fight for all of us, Sarah. For Fives, for Cody, for Hevy, for Cutup, Droidbait, 99, everyone. Including Crosshair. But… something tells me you’ll see him before I do.”

Before Sarah openly wept, she threw her arms around Echo and held him tighter than ever. She sobbed into his armor, wishing time could stay still and she wouldn’t have to let go of another person she loved. But she couldn’t stay in that moment, and instead, she pulled apart to look at Echo in the eyes, and she willed her tears to stop for long enough to speak to him.

“I’m proud of you, Echo,” Sarah said. “We all are.”

Echo smiled at her. The two leaned in close and their foreheads rested on one another for a brief yet timeless moment, and after that, Echo walked down the Marauder’s platform. When Sarah was alone again, she browsed the files to keep her mind occupied, and she was doing alright until she stumbled upon one that sparked her distress all over again when she saw the identifying number.

CT-9904.

In a heartbeat, Sarah opened it. The recording wasn’t a heartwarming as Fives’ had; it was a silent recording of Crosshair sitting up on a bed in what appeared to be the Kaminoan medical facility. The recording had been taken before Bracca, as she could tell from his missing scar and his full head of silver hair; he’d been stripped of his armor and was merely in his blacks, and as he sat up, he looked tired, unwilling, unhappy. In silence, Crosshair had looked directly at AZI as he recorded him and spoke a few instructions to him, but while AZI talked, Crosshair remained with the same lack of spirit in his features.

Sarah felt as if he was staring directly at her, and she felt her inside world begin to crumble. She should have fought harder to remain at his side, she should never have parted from him. She should have done a better job keeping him safe, and now, there was no telling what was going to happen to him. She thought of Echo’s words, his encouragement to find Crosshair and bring him home, but what good would that do to either one of them if Rampart’s threat went through?

“I think he’ll be fine.”

Sarah flinched when she heard Hunter’s voice filling the Marauder, and she quickly stumbled to pause the recording. Hunter walked inside slowly, inevitably looking at the image of Crosshair on the screen, and when he looked back at Sarah, he held out Tech’s datapad for her.

“Senatorial logs,” Hunter continued. “They apparently have this system in the hallways where they monitor movements and record where their more important staff goes. According to these logs, after Rampart left you in the room, he returned to the senatorial chamber. He was never accompanied by any subordinates, nor did he send out any executive orders, communications, or similar, all the way up to his arrest. Everything he said, everyone he interacted with, is documented here.”

Sarah took the datapad and observed the heavily logged datasheet before looking back up at Hunter.

“This means…” Sarah trailed off.

“Rampart didn’t give the order,” Hunter gazed heavily at Sarah despite his comforting words. “He was arrested before he could.”

Sarah sighed sharply and she sat back on her chair, panting as she assimilated the facts.

“He’s safe,” Sarah whimpered just before looking up at Hunter again. “How did Tech find this?”

“He didn’t,” Hunter said. “I did.”

Sarah’s eyes widened slightly at such an unexpected revelation.

“I know how to hack a few things myself,” Hunter added as his features softened, though he still seemed mildly upset. “I just knew it would eat you inside. I heard how worried you were. I could feel it. And you’ve been through enough already.”

Sarah’s features softened as she clutched the datapad close. “Thank you.”

Hunter gave a soft smile at her before turning around and heading into the cockpit, and shortly after, the rest of the squad followed. The last one up was Omega, probably having lingered behind to say another goodbye to Echo. When she was on the ship and the platform closed behind her, she scanned the ship with her eyes until she found Sarah, and when Sarah looked at her, she opened her arms, inviting her in as her own eyes filled with tears again. Omega ran up to her and threw her arms around her, sniffling into her shoulder, and the two remained as such as the Marauder took off from Coruscant.

For the entire duration of the trip, Sarah and Omega remained close to one another, until they both eventually drifted off to sleep where the recent events couldn’t haunt them.

Thank you for reading! Please reblog to support me! Divider at the top made by stars-n-spice.

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NEXT CHAPTER ->

[simpforfandoms]

Never Love Again

listen to the song shawty baes

100 followers WOOT WOOT 🙌

thanks y’all so much here’s some angst bc I’m a little angst whore, also requests are open so please request I'm running out of ideas

part 2

pairing: Jason Todd x reader (i don’t think any gender is specified)

genre: angst

summary: Jason Todd’s death has left a mark on you

word count: 1251

warnings: death, descriptions of abuse (kinda). I did not proof read this

masterlist

April 27th, that's when he died.

wish I could, I could've said goodbye

His funeral was held at the Gotham City cemetery. He was buried in the Wayne plot. You know he would much rather be buried next to Catherine Todd. Not Martha and Thomas Wayne, people that he didn’t even know. Bruce invited you to the funeral. When you arrived it was filled with people Jason didn’t even know. People that he wouldn’t want there. The funeral was a glorified press conference. Bruce used the funeral to explain his wards death. Of course he couldn’t tell them the truth. That Jason Todd died a hero. It infuriated you to see Bruce fabricate a whole story to keep the truth away from the public. It infuriated you that the Joker was still on the lose after what he did to Jason. It infuriated you that the whole world sees Jason as an immature child. It infuriated you that you didn’t stop him from going.

if I knew it would be the last time

You knew that him trying to find his birth mother would be dangerous, but somehow he convinced you that it would be okay. You made the mistake of trusting him. With a goodbye kiss he walked out the door. That was the last time you saw him alive. If you would’ve known it would be the last time, you’ve would’ve held him tighter. Kissed him longer. Begged him not to go. But at last the past is the past.

I would've broke my heart in two

tryna save a part of you

When Bruce told you the story of how he died, you laughed a bittersweet laugh. Of course it was like Jason to try to save someone that he barley knew. You only wish that Jason could be seen as the hero he truly is.

 I wanna pretend that it's not true

You didn’t believe he was dead at first. Even going as far to make Bruce take you to the morgue where his body was. When you saw him you couldn’t contain your self. You broke out in a sob, holding his lifeless body, begging for him to come back. Anything. Bruce had to drag you off. It was evident that it wasn’t a fast painless death. It was slow excruciating death. The love of your life didn’t deserve to die like that. No one did.

that you're gone

At the end of the service Dick came up to you to offer his condolences. You find it ironic that Dick, the person who resented Jason from the beginning, now suddenly cared for him. You tried to be nice to him. Put on a brave face. You know that’s what Jason would’ve wanted. He wouldn’t want you to cry over him. But just because you didn’t cry doesn’t mean you weren’t in pain.

cause my world keeps turning and turning

Years after his death and you still weren’t over it. You’ve went off to college, graduated, got a job at a boring tech company across the country, but yet everyday you thought about him. You only did all those things because you knew Jason would want you to continue living your life. You’ve been in countless dates none of them ever filling that Jason Todd sized whole hole in your heart. Maybe part of it is that you don’t want to move on. You don’t want to forget the time you had with him. You don’t want to know another kiss. You don’t want to feel another touch. You don’t want to give your heart away to another stranger. You’ll never love again. You’ve rather wait to be reunited with him in whatever afterlife he’s in.

and I'm not moving on

Jason lived in the apartment across from you. It was just you and your dad and Jason and Catherine. Your dad was hardly home but when he was he was either passed out drunk or hitting you drunk. You saw Jason every morning when you left to head to school. Jason never went to school, he would stay home taking care of Catherine. He would stare at you. A part of him was jealous. You got to live a life he never could. Eventually you got tired of his cold stares and confronted him.

when we first met

“Would you please stop staring at me” You said

Jason was stunned for a moment he had never heard your voice before. Angelic was how he would’ve described it. Regaining his composure he said, “Don’t flatter yourself”

“Wouldn’t dream of it” you rolled your eyes and continued the journey.

I never thought that I would fall

That was the first time of many you talked. Over the years you and Jason became best friends of some sort. When Catherine died, you were there for him. When he would come home with bruises and scrapes from stealing you would patch him up. When your dad got to be to much he would let you stay over at his apartment. When you he was adopted by Bruce Wayne you were heartbroken having to see him go. But you were happy that he got to leave this horrid place. He deserved the world. You still remember the day when he told you he was leaving. You two were sitting side by side on the rooftop of the building.

I never thought that I'd find myself lying in your arms

“So that’s it? You’re just gonna leave and never see me again?” You said voice cracking turning towards him

Jason eyes soften, he pauses, “you know I could never go one day without seeing you” trying to lighten the mood

“Jason you’re gonna go live in a mansion across the city. Be realistic.”

“C’mon y/n quit being a Debbie downer. I promise you I will always make time to see you” he said

You search his eyes trying to find any hint of dishonesty but you find nothing. You close your eyes and sigh, “I’m gonna miss you Jay”

“I know.” He said pulling you into a hug

don't want to feel another touch

Jason did keep his promise. You were enrolled in Gotham Academy with Jason. Probably because of a certain Wayne. You ended up seeing Jason everyday and spending frequent nights at the manor.

Your and Jason’s friendship eventually blossomed into more, slowly but surely. One day he came through your window all beaten and bloody in his robin costume. You freaked out at first until you realized it was just Jason.

“Jason what the fuck?” You whisper-yelled

don't want another name falling off my lips

He just groaned in response. You quickly grabbed the first aid kit and patched him up. He flinched at each stitch.

"Jay I need you to stop flinching"

"It hurts." He moaned

You hummed in response.

"Kiss the pain goodbye" Jason said abruptly.

You blanked out for a minute. A million thoughts flooded your brain. You thought it was joke. There was no Jason could feel the same way about you. Oh but he did. You were proven this when Jason pulled you down into a kiss.

I don't wanna know this feeling unless it's you and me

A bittersweet memory. Robin brought you together but also brought you apart. That's all you can think about before falling asleep.

don't want to give my heart away to another stranger or let another day begin won't even let the sunlight in oh I'll never love again

...

part 2

[nickthetoony]

So. The Gundam Schwarzette.

I think at this point most people speculating about G Witch have agreed that this is a Jeturk Mobile Suit considering that it’s designed by the guy doing all the Jeturk Machines (Ippei Gyoubu) and it’s various visual throwbacks to the Dilanza and Daribalde. It’s still a pretty mysterious MS at this point, not being foreshadowed in the show or shown in the opening at all. I’ve seen speculation that the Schwarzette will be the MS Guel or Lauda or Felsi uses in a final duel against Suletta to secure their position as the Holder and save Jeturk from bankruptcy. This is certainly possible, but if the show does go that route I’d wonder how Jeturk would be able to produce this thing considering that they’re in pretty dire financial straits. If the Schwarzette is a true Gundam in G-Witch’s sense (i.e that it utilizes the GUND Format), I don’t know how feasible it is for them to have done R&D on this thing in time for an upcoming duel unless Peil or Gund Arm made the tech open source (unlikely on both fronts). So, here’s an idea. What if instead of challenging Suletta/Miorine to a duel, Guel instead signs away Jeturk Heavy Industries into becoming a subsidiary of Gund-Arm? That way instead of his family’s business simply going under, he can entrust it in the hands of someone he trusts at least partially (Suletta, or maybe even Miorine but frankly idk if he’s really had the time to radically change his opinion of Miorine). Plus if his experiences on Earth have given him some level of Earthian Sympathies, he might see it as a good move to sign off Jeturk to a very pro-Earthian company.

This way, rather than the Schwarzette being a Jeturk only production early into S2, it can be an MS assembled later by the combined might of Gund Arm and Jeturk engineers (perhaps on Prospera’s request? Considering Shin Sei is iirc also a Gund Arm subsidiary atm).

[gospelofme]

Rex’s Resistance Network

It’s been assumed that because we only see Rex, Gregor, and Wolffe in Rebels that the rest must all be dead. Echo, Cody, the bad batch, all gone. But that’s not necessarily the case. I think Rex’s network is much larger than what we see in The Bad Batch. He has to have numerous contacts or methods for clones to get in contact with him. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he wrote comlink codes on bathroom stalls.

When Chuchi was meeting with the Slip who was looking to escape the Empire, Slip couldn’t give her the name of the one coming to get him. It’s likely Rex wouldn’t give out his name and may use a variety of code names. I don’t see Rex always being the one to pick up the clone going AWOL either. He had Echo and Gregor lead the charge to hit the prison transport.

Just because we only see Rex, Gregor, and Wolffe doesn’t mean the others are dead. It’s possible that they’re still alive and kicking and in hiding or retired. We were supposed to get Cody in the live-action Obiwan series. He was supposed to be on Tatooine trying to atone for what he did (even though he didn’t have a choice in what happened and I don’t think Obiwan would hold that against him). It’s possible Rex drops Cody there and that’s why we don’t see him in Rebels.

We do get pretty clear retirement vibes from Rex when we meet him again in Rebels. It’s possible that’s due to something happening between the events of The Bad Batch and Rebels that results in him, Gregor, and Wolffe going off the grid. Maybe that’s simply age-related, maybe that’s the result of something serious happening (perhaps a death and/or collapse of the clone resistance network). It could be that at some point he realizes that it’s been years since someone contacted him asking for help. That could make him depressed, since everyone that could’ve been saved is either dead or assimilated.

Rex would have ears everywhere I think. He’d be listening for the big names/numbers. The Empire wouldn’t use the clones’ names, rather it’d be numbers that pop up in databanks. But the names would be whispered by other clones. That could clue him in on who is where. Plus you’d have the individual trooper who reached out on his own somehow.

It’s been confirmed that Wolffe will show up in season 3 of The Bad Batch. How he will end up with Rex and Gregor is unclear. We know Rex asked the Hunter and Company to get Gregor. Gregor had activated a rescue beacon. It’s possible those beacons are standard issue and Rex knew the signal to look for. Tech was the one who told Gregor Rex had sent them, as Gregor didn’t know who to expect. But at the sound of Rex’s name, he was ready to trust them. Rex has been declared dead by the Empire so I am unsure how Gregor would know to trust Clone Force 99 unless he had heard rumor of Rex being alive.

I don’t know if he’d ask them to go for Wolffe now that he has more resources to draw on. The reason why he asked the Bad Batch to go get Gregor was due to Rex not being able to go himself. It’s possible Gregor’s beacon came at a time where Rex was working on getting another clone out. For some reason, I’ve always imagined Wolffe as a badass that wouldn’t go down without a fight. Idk if that’s canon or just my headcanon.

[the-quotable-alberta-hansard]

November 30, 2023

Marija Cvetkovska: Hello. My name is Marija Cvetkovska ... I know that the purpose of this company, AIMCo, is to maximize long-term financial terms and to avoid risk. Why is there no ethical consideration to this risk? Why is it that if basic human rights are violated – like, there’s no water, there’s no electricity, there’s no shelter in many places in Gaza. We choose to continue on this basis of risk when we don’t have any boundaries or ethical considerations for human lives. We talk about investing our money and that the money has to be secure, and the money is the only focus, but I think that there should be at least a boundary when it comes to human lives.

AIMCo owns more than 200 million shares in companies profiting and participating in the illegal occupation of Israel, 201,497,996 to be exact. I’m going to go through three of the biggest investing opportunities that AIMCo makes, the first one being Microsoft. AIMCo owns more than $141,055,945 into Microsoft, and Microsoft has a history of deep engagement with the Israeli high-tech industry and close ties to the Israeli military...

Another one of the big investments, like ownerships, that AIMCo has is with Airbnb. This is $17,778,025. Airbnb offers listings of accommodation in illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian and Syrian land.

And, lastly, I’m going to go over to Motorola Solutions, which I believe is $16,088,840 within the investments. This is a U.S.-based communications company and a surveillance company. Its equipment is installed in illegal settlements and in the separation wall in the West Bank, and it’s used by the Israeli military, police, and the prison service.

Yeah. I just really want to know why this ethical consideration isn’t taken into place. I do know that investing and money standards and all of this are very important to keep up some sort of – I know we’re in a recession – future economic prosperity potentially, but I do know that these boundaries should be respected and have to be respected. It doesn’t matter about the money. We cannot keep investing into these . . .

The Chair: Thank you very much.

Marija Cvetkovska: Please don’t interrupt me. We cannot keep . . .

The Chair: Actually, we’ll stop you right there. Thank you so much. Your question has actually already been asked by your friend.

I mean, personally, I can comment on Motorola as a former paramedic firefighter. Motorola is used by emergency services right across our province and across the nation. Fire departments and ambulances rely on that technology to help save lives, as an example.

Marija Cvetkovska: That’s not the same use. I’m not saying to . . .

The Chair: No. I’m sorry.

Marija Cvetkovska: I’m just saying that we have to, like, see where the money goes.

The Chair: Please. I’m sorry. I need you to please sit down and be respectful. I’m good enough to allow you to speak and to discuss your values even though it really doesn’t have anything to do with the heritage savings trust fund.

Let’s just continue on. Please go to someone online.

[self-loathing-angel-of-thursday2]

Beautiful Spouse’s Rewatch Thoughts SPN 04x17

It’s a Terrible Life

This is a fun episode for me because Dean is soooooooooo gay in this one.

Spouse is also extra bitchy today because we ran out of the soda he prefers, and he is craving  b u b b l e s. 

Pointed out the Ken outfit

“Pretty dapper dude” “Are we only following Dean? Please tell me that’s the case” “Oh he’s typing” “oh my god. What?” To the Project Runway joke

“Eating fkn salad, really?” “Do we know that guy yet?” “What a fuck. Cayenne and maple syrup?” Spouse didn’t understand the health club reference

“Who’s going to shoot up the internet?” “hahah” “What do you need pencils for?” “Never trust coworkers. They’re all a bunch of conniving cunts” “What a cunt” (the coworker) “Is this a printer company or something? Sam’s in tech support, and Dean is in sales” “What is he not into? Hmm?” “That’s not too much forward than he is already” “Is this guy’s brain to explode? It would be easier to repeat the work at this point. He’s been there all day and all night now” “Is he going to jump off the building now? Stab a fork in his eye? Get possessed?” “OH YEAH. He fries his head. That’s extreme” “Fries are done” “Why the fuck is he on the same floor as tech support?” “Everybody’s getting possessed” “Vista? How does that have to do with filling out a form?” “Jump out the window? Where is he going?” “Oh shit” “That’s a lot of mess” “You’d have to be pretty accurate to do that. Or wholly unlucky. One or the other” “Since when do you need help, Dean?” “This episode has Deja Vu vibes from Mystery Spot. It’s not like that one but it has vibes” “Why does he have so many pictures of bridges in his office?” “Oh my god. Is that one of Jared’s supplements?” “Just 2 guys in a bathroom. It’s not like the health club bro” “Do you mean super natural?” “I like Dean’s chair” “Look at all this shit I printed out about vampires!!” “to satisfy yourself? Save it for the health club bro” “Is there going to be a red swing line stapler anywhere?” “Oh. You’re dead now, sucker” “Man. Leasing space is so expensive. How do they have the money to have this room filled with old telephones and shit? Doesn’t make sense” “Do kids these days even experience TV static?” “How did he know to grab iron?” “Why does Dean have a part in his hair?” “Is he drinking wine? No, it’s that piss stuff” “Oh Sandover is iron and bridge company hence all the bridges” “The video quality is shit in this episode” “A Bowflex? Holy shit Dean has a Bowflex. AND SPA TOWELS.” “Oh my god” “Creepy” “Oof.” “Whoopsie” Laughing at Dean talking about his portfolio

“The camera had an 8-bladed aperture. Look at that bokeh” “little gay bokeh boy” “oh my god that’s funny” burny acid not LSD acid

“This is before the Ghostfacers got annoying. I did think it was really cheesy at first but it became endearing over time” “They always light Jensen’s face way better than anyone else” “the fuck kinda saying is that?” “What is this phone shit on his belt?” “Was there a 13th floor in this building? Yes. Only really old buildings skipped that floor” “Are you going to let this guard get you that easily?” “So he wasn’t possessed while being a dick?” “Doesn’t he get cut in half? That’s awesome” “They’re focusing on him being slow too much” “nice” I flinched even though I knew it was coming “Is that what you don’t like about this episode? It’s just raspberry sauce” “clearly not worried about blood borne diseases” “They’re like old dry leather gloves. They won’t burn that quickly. They need an accelerant.” “They did use something. They sometimes use it for expense in other shows” laughed at the workout comment

Laughed at the health insurance thing “That’s what angels are for bro” “Did someone knock them out and put them in a dream state or something?” “Bobby, Ellen, and Jo? Really??” but he wants to be a corporate douchebag with his gay little outfits

“Pal. Fkn cranked an eyebrow hard at him. Make those eyebrows work” “That one eyebrow did the job of two” “I can’t remember the last time I used a pencil. Is that sad?” There’s a last time for everything

“Destruction of company property” “No one is asking where he got the fire poker?” “Is his name Ezekiel?” “Is there a western Great Lakes division? If so, I’d imagine the Eastern Great Lakes is pretty small” “Dean is going to have to amp up the sexy outfits to get up the chain faster” “Oh he’s Zachariah.” “Who directed the fkn shit out of this one?” “Literally Ken Business Man, and he’s in Sales and Marketing” I found the Ken doll outfit online

“He’s not strong enough? He’s gotta go to that health club more often” “what’s that supposed to mean?” “I don’t understand”

[werewolf-kat]

Was about to write in tags, but there’s actually quite a lot I do want to add onto this for educational purposes. Stuff that more people should be aware of if they don’t keep up with how technology is used and what companies or those in power seek out of it.

I’ll say upfront: it won’t matter if you individually don’t believe this is happening or think it’s paranoid to believe it’s happening at a mass scale. (I see this expressed a lot when news like this comes out, and people want to be “not scared” about it.)

Companies with access to user data genuinely collect as much as they can because it makes them money. They can target key words in your posts - private or not - to put into their algorithms for advertising. A lot of specific data can be pretty much saved or traded around forever because it’s valuable like gold for companies involved with tech or social media. I have to emphasize again: our personal information makes bank regardless of political leanings or moral standings. Names, addresses, interests, hobbies, job history, and so on.

This is an open secret among anyone who has worked or trained under companies with internet/tech-based connections. If you want to do your due diligence in looking at the sources, here are many proven/discovered cases of data that was collected and saved by companies for whatever “use” they have for it. This includes information taken from literal children despite laws like COPPA here in the US.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

More on Google in particular.

And a whole thing about data brokers (by some guy selling courses for this shady stuff).

Anyone making a website can use Google-created advertising code quite easily. This is why lots of sites might feel shady or without filters for their ads. It’s just there in the wild, being wild. The website may not get your data for the ads, but it sure is feeding Google more this way.

On top of this, any average person with some bucks to spare can buy data they’re looking for too. Whatever’s linked to your online alias, or emails you’ve used in accounts... Those can be found behind a paywall. I don’t want to share those sites here, but they’re terrifyingly easy to find if you search some basic terms for them.

Also beware that some aspects of user information stored on servers won’t be secure against malicious hackers. There are malicious hackers who break into this user data, take it hostage, and put bounties on their own unlawful collections. The basis of our information (emails, names, passwords, etc.) being of value, extends to these internet “rogues” as well.

Security for any server costs HUGE money to maintain and truly prioritize. The experience and knowledge needed from each employee and the mere importance of their role will demand massive pay. You can’t even trust a company as big as Google from the occasional security breach when they let their guard down. In the situation I linked, Google kept that particular breach a secret from the public for as long as they could. They weren’t transparent about it.

Now, when it comes to terrible laws and power trips that cops are happy to enforce, they can very often request social media companies to hand over any “evidence” and data that’s needed for police investigations. This can be helpful for truly important cases (sexual assault, murder, etc.); but it can be used for criminalizing people under laws of “moral righteousness” like this anti-abortion nightmare the U.S. is in right now.

It’s not a matter of how much of your data can be read by humans. You think humans are doing the reading anyways? Everyone agrees that’s impossible. That’s why it’s done by programmed systems.

I’m moderately experienced in JavaScript, but even in that language I’m aware of “Reg-Ex” (Regular Expression) and string/integer matching. All programming languages - to my knowledge - are capable of searching for key words. That’s what I meant earlier by algorithms that target “key words.” The company can give a list to their developers for words to include in the program, and then the program will do the searching. At an advanced level, these go into algorithms that are always “learning” and in-taking related words that come up as a pattern related to what was first entered in by the human programmers.

Not to mention, it’s not limited to text. At my lower level of programming, I’ve already tinkered with speech recognition API for personal projects (which Google unfortunately runs that API for JavaScript). It was fairly good - albeit not perfect either - at picking up what words I’m saying after the sentences complete. It screws up when my voice is too slurred due to my weird mouth muscles I guess? (My pronunciations can be real loose at times...)

There’s accessibility software where you speak into it, and it outputs text for you on a digital device such as computers. That’s been around a LONG time. The technology has been there for ages. It’s used in automatic Closed Captioning that you may see plugged onto live Twitch streams too, for example. And it’s good for accessibility!

But greedy/creepy companies use this for teaching their algorithms too. You still gotta look out for what you say around your own phones, laptops with built-in mics you can’t physically unplug, your Amazon Echoes, Google Homes, and so on.

There isn’t realistically some shady voice-listening center or any group of humans that can access/read through the data collected from millions of people in different languages and countries. We can all agree on that to an extent, I hope.

What is realistic, is that they have shady algorithms programmed to do it for them.

So don’t settle on “you’re paranoid if you think humans can keep up with all this information.” We’ve been in a technological era for a few decades now, and it advances faster than we can protect against these days.

Before recommending encrypted services, however, there’s more I should add:

You gotta research the company and any ties it may have to other companies or governments in the background. Just because something’s encrypted, doesn’t mean it’s actually safe and trustworthy.

Here’s a video on the early history of encryption (cryptography/ciphers) and how a government agency had a choke-hold on it during wars and disputes:

There’s also this article about powerful encryption that can be requested to be purposefully weakened for the sake of criminal investigations. It’s a mixed bag of helpful and harmful effects of encryption that really can’t be touched easily if at all.

It would be helpful to dig into a proven murderer’s messages or other data that they wanted to hide. This will provide a strong case in their court trial (based in what I know generally about the US legal system) when evidence is needed for their motive, or a possible premeditation level of heinous acts.

But it can also do harm in places where the law (or power-tripping cops) want to target marginalized, “inferior” groups of people.

Communicating online or around internet-connected devices with microphones, it’s nearly impossible to avoid grabbing the attention of those in power who see marginalized people as threats. If you’re seeking abortion and need help getting one, please don’t immediately trust any encrypted service you see. The same goes for anyone in a state that’s taking away their rights to medical care (such as the threat to trans health and freedom).

I understand the situation is beyond stressful; and it’d be mentally taxing as well as time consuming to find something with the lowest risk of being a target by police agencies. You still matter and your safety matters. Tread your path among these oppressive landscapes carefully.

Some “support groups” might even have one or be made entirely of undercover cops wanting to rat people out. Just, you really can’t know people out there.

I don’t quite feel qualified to give any specific advice, though. This is the best I can confidently give. I hope the information here gives direction in your own research and the resources you seek out. Wishing you safety and comfort out there.

Facebook and google are helping cops prosecute people seeking abortion. Be very careful in this new era people.

[rthidden]

AI Turn-Up: Biz Brains Get Groovy

Hey, small biz champs, it's time to get your AI groove on!

Sure, AI sounds like something out of a sci-fi flick, but trust me, it's easier than the cha-cha slide.

Why it matters

Small business owners, imagine this: a world where tasks are seamlessly automated, you get more time to be creative, and your humans (a.k.a. employees) are happier.

As Satya Nadella puts it, AI isn't just for automation; think of it as an upgrade to your company's superpowers.

Keep up with the 35% of businesses hopping on the AI train and watch your profits follow suit.

The big picture

The global AI market is skyrocketing from $150.2 billion in 2023 to a whopping $1,345.2 billion by 2030.

Those are numbers even McDuck would envy as businesses tap into AI to streamline processes, from onboarding workflows to next-level employee onboarding.

Overheard at the water cooler

"I just had GPT layout our entire marketing plan while mid-sip of my overpriced latte. Guess this means I should finish that ebook on how AI prompts can save humanity."

By the numbers

35% of businesses reported using AI in 2023, a jump from 25% in 2022 (IBM Global AI Adoption Index, 2023).

79% of IT pros say AI will impact their jobs in just 1-2 years (Salesforce IT Leaders Research, 2023).

The bottom line

If AI is the tech buzzword you've been dodging, now's the time to embrace it.

Equip your small biz with tools that don't need bathroom breaks, and catch the wave before your competitors leave you behind.

Get ready to hit that 'new level unlocked' moment, and let AI power your business.

[ebelal56-blog]

Investing Simplified with Vanguard Index Funds!

You know, it’s fascinating how the world of investing can sometimes feel like a foreign language. I mean, if you’ve ever tried to dive into the depths of finance, you know what I’m talking about. The jargon, the numbers, the endless charts—it's overwhelming! But here’s the thing: investing doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with the right tools and knowledge, it can be as straightforward as pie. So today, let’s chat about something that’s been making waves lately—Vanguard funds. Specifically, we’re diving into ten of their top-rated funds that not only have high ratings but also come with low fees. And trust me, that’s a combination you want in your investment portfolio. First off, let’s talk about why Vanguard is often regarded as a gold standard in the investment world. Founded by John Bogle, Vanguard pioneered the concept of low-cost index funds, which is a game changer. You see, the lower the fees, the more of your money stays invested, compounding over time. It’s like a snowball effect, where your initial investment grows bigger and bigger because you’re not losing chunks of it to fees every year. So, when you’re looking at funds, that’s the first thing to consider—how much of your hard-earned cash is going to management fees versus working for you. Now, let’s get into these ten funds. I won’t bore you with all the nitty-gritty details, but I want to highlight a few that really stand out. The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund is a fantastic option for anyone looking to get broad exposure to the U.S. stock market. It’s like having a slice of every publicly traded company in the country! And with its low expense ratio, you can rest easy knowing that most of your money is actually working for you. Another gem is the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund. Bonds can sometimes feel like the dull cousin of stocks, but they play a crucial role in balancing your portfolio. This fund provides exposure to a wide variety of U.S. investment-grade bonds, which means it can help cushion your portfolio during those rocky market times. And again, low fees make it even sweeter! If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, the Vanguard Growth Index Fund is worth a look. It focuses on companies that are expected to grow at an above-average rate compared to others in the market. Think tech giants, innovative startups—the kinds of companies that are changing the world. Just remember, with higher potential returns comes higher risk, so it’s essential to balance this with more stable investments. Now, let’s not forget about international exposure. The Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund gives you access to markets outside of the U.S., which is crucial for diversifying your portfolio. You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket, right? This fund allows you to tap into global growth and opportunities, all while keeping those pesky fees low. And here’s a pro tip: always keep your investment goals in mind. Are you saving for retirement? A house? A dream vacation? Your goals will dictate your investment strategy, and these funds can be tailored to fit your timeline and risk tolerance. It’s all about finding the right mix that suits your needs. In conclusion, investing doesn’t have to be intimidating. With Vanguard’s top-rated, low-fee funds, you can build a solid foundation for your financial future. Remember, the key is to start early, stay consistent, and keep learning. The more you know, the better decisions you can make. So, whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting out, take a moment to explore these options. Your future self will thank you!

[supremebaddietrash]

This. THIS. Because I love Tony because he’s fucking awesome and y’all don’t get it. Tony is literally quite possibly one of the most complex and layered character. But if there’s one thing that so simple to understand, always there underneath all the snark, CLEARLY visible, is that he CARES, more than anyone, and he’s a good person. Period.

From Iron Man one all the way to Endgame, it’s just been Tony caring too much and doing too much.

In Iron Man one he sees the suffering his weapons cause and the first thing he does? Closes the weapons division. But does he stop there? No way. He AVENGES. He makes things right. Because he cares.

In Iron Man two he refuses to give his tech to the government because he can’t trust them to not do stupid shit with it. Because he cares. He’s dying but he doesn’t burden others with it because he doesn’t want to watch them hurt for him. Not again. He makes Pep the ceo because he knows she deserves it and that she’ll take care of his company. He lets Rhodes take the suit because he trusts him. Because he cares for him because the suit will keep him safe. He starts the Expo again to give inventors a boost because he cares.

In Iron Man 3 he considers Killians villainy the result of his own behaviour and regrets it deeply because he cares. He fills Harley’s garage with cool stuff because he cares. He outs his address to the world because he’s mad about happy getting hurt because he cares. He cares a whole damn lot.

In the Avengers, despite being told he’s unfit to be a hero, as soon as there’s trouble he signs up to help. He cares. He always always thinks ahead because he cares. He figured out that SHIELD was up to no good. He fought with Loki and entered a fucking worm hole with a nuke in his hands to save everyone. He sacrificed himself because he cares.

In Age of Ultron, he tried building an armour around the world because he cares. He uses his resources to track hydra agents down because he cares. His worst nightmare is his teammates dying. Because he cares. He cares enough for Wanda to assume he’ll be the catalyst of their destruction due to his fear. She was right. To fix things Tony helps create Vision. Because he cares.

In Spider man homecoming he gives Peter a suit even after he didn’t have any use of him. Why? Because he cares and he couldn’t let a reckless teenager roam around with no safety. He put happy on watch out for Peter duty because he cares. He helps him out because he cares. And I don’t need to talk about civil war.

Infinity War and Endgame. I could go in play by play details but I think you get my point. Tony cares all too much. The nano house units in his chest? He knows what’s in the closet and it’s not shirts. He loves pep and is about to get married? He still leaves on a one way trip to space. He’s saved the time stone but he knows it’s not over. What does he do? He goes to fight the mad titan. Everything he did till then added up to this point in his life. All the extra precautions, all the fretting. It was because he knew this was coming and he fucking cared so damn much. He’s the only one who even draws a drop of blood. Because he’s given so much for this and he could have beaten him. Instead he loses. He loses so much. He’s stuck in space and he just held a kid, his kid, Peter, as he died. He saw him turn to dust because he failed. He failed to protect the world, to protect his world. Maybe pep dusted too. Maybe happy and Rhodey disintegrated. Maybe the avengers died. Irreversible. Dead. Gone. Because he failed. Because he knew this was gonna happen and. He. Still. Failed. He doesn’t know how to get home, if he’ll get home, if he’ll survive, if there’s even a home to return to. Because his home has already disintegrated. He knows it. He knows he’s lost people. He’s seen people disintegrate. He knows 50% of the world is gone and what are the odds that his home would be intact? It wouldn’t. He knew that. He returned and the first thing he did was say he lost the kid. He cared so much. He made a family then. He had a wife and a kid. He was healing. Yet as soon as he saw a chance. Just one chance to fix things. To bring everyone back, he took it. He gave up his life, again. He gave up peace. Again. Because he cared so much. Because all he knew to do was to care and to try to make things right. To try to protect everyone he could.

So anyone who’s ever had anything negative to say about Tony as a character, read this, watch the movies and think.

Because there’s no way that you’re delusional enough to convince yourself that there’s even a small part of Tony that was ever bad or not good.

He’s not a conventional guy. His life wasn’t conventional. He’s the son of a genius. A hero even. I mean Howard was great wasn’t he? Maybe not as a parent, and this an unpopular opinion, but he wasn’t a bad person. Look at him in The first avenger off in Agent Carter. He cared too. Maybe he wasn’t the same person when he had Tony, but certainly to the world and to those around him, he was a visionary genius, a patriot. He had done the world a lot of good. He had done America a lot of good. He started SHIELD for gods sake.

So he grew up with these expectations. He grew up with a father invested in his job, a father who didn’t have the emotional intelligence one should.

He grew up being raised by his butler. Rather he grew up before his age. He graduated MIT at 17. Lost his parents at 21. His ‘guardian’, his dad’s friend whom he trusted, got him kidnapped. Tried to kill him. Used him. Ruined his father’s legacy.

So yeah Tony coped with partying, being snarky, being a narc. He didn’t engage in relationships beyond the physical one night stands because he didn’t have emotional intelligence either. He was coping. He didn’t have anybody. Not truly. And yet he turned out to be better than all those around him. He’s ten times the man. He never had anyone teach him to deal with his feelings and thoughts in a healthy manner. How could they, when they themselves didn’t know how? Emotional intelligence isn’t exactly common. At least not in the type of social setting he came from and was raised in.

His true character is seen in his actions. The actions he took to protect those he cared for. The actions he took when he sacrificed himself time and agin for the world. For the strangers who called him the merchant of death. For the strangers who badmouthed him for his personal choices. His choices that didn’t affect them at all. His choices that are condemned by society because they are narrow minded. But that’s ok. He’s not petty. Not where it counts anyways. You know why? Because he cares.

#tony you little shit

[scrapesaladofficial]

15 Best YouTube Niches: Most Profitable in 2024

While scrolling through YouTube, you land on what seems like a “normal channel”. However, the more videos you watch on this channel, the more you realize one simple fact. This channel owner is making money in multiple ways: - He’s recommending other people’s products. - He’s advertising his community. - He’s also asking you to sign up for his email newsletter (which contains ads). - Each video comes pre-loaded with different ads. And that’s when you realize 2 things: - The owner is making it rain on YouTube and - There’s nothing stopping you from doing the same thing yourself! In this article, I share the best YouTube niches to get into. These niches have some serious profit potential for you as a content creator. While I’ll start off with the bigger niche, you’ll get plenty of sub niche ideas as well. And if you’re wondering why you can trust me, I have a YouTube channel with over 200k subscribers, so I know what I’m talking about. If you’re curious about earnings, check out how much money you can make on YouTube with 1000 subscribers. Looking for the perfect name for your channel? Here are 175+ YouTube science channel name ideas and 300+ best YouTube education channel name ideas for 2024.

What are The Best YouTube Niches for Success?

Here are the best YouTube niches to get into. 1. Tech Reviews Most people get into tech because of the potential money they could earn. And they’re not wrong. Tech reviews are a magnet for advertisers with deep pockets. Those shiny gadgets don’t come cheap, and companies are willing to shell out big bucks to get their products in front of eager tech enthusiasts. Even better, tech isn’t just a one-hit wonder. Every time a new device hits the market, you have instant content that people are itching to watch. But what about the audience? These people are engaged, passionate, and often have serious cash to splash. Advertisers love that, and you should too! Tech reviews also open up a whole world of monetization opportunities. Affiliate marketing? Check. Sponsored reviews? You bet. Selling your own merch or digital products? Absolutely! The possibilities are as endless as the latest smartphone features. Here’s a pro tip: don’t just be another face in the tech crowd. Find your niche within the niche. Are you a smartphone guru? A gaming console connoisseur? Or maybe you’re all about those sleek laptops? Pick your sub-niche and own it! 2. Personal Finance From saving for that dream vacation to investing in your future, personal finance touches every part of our lives. With the economy always keeping us on our toes, there’s always something new to learn. Now, you might think, ‘Finance? Boring!’ But trust me, it’s anything but. There are so many cool tools and apps out there to help you manage people’s money. And all of them usually come in at a monthly subscription you can get a piece of. There was a time when I was getting quite a bit into this niche on my blog. (It just didn’t align with my blog vision at the end. But apart from that it’s a great niche to build an audience around.) In fact, building a community around personal finance is like creating your own little money-savvy family. You can share tips, celebrate wins, and maybe commiserate over those impulse purchases you regret. (No judgment here!) 3. Health and Fitness

From crushing gym goals to mindful meditation, health and fitness covers it all. It doesn’t matter whether you’re into powerlifting or prefer the zen of yoga. The best part? This journey is all about you sharing what you learn with your audience. Your goals, your progress, your victories. And trust me, nothing beats the feeling of hitting that personal best or finally nailing that tricky pose. Now, let’s talk about sub niches. The obvious one is fitness gear. From high-tech fitness trackers to that perfect pair of running shoes, there’s always something new to explore. The aim is to show your audience what’s worth their hard-earned cash. But it’s not just about the physical stuff. Mental health is a huge part of overall wellness. You could dive into stress-busting techniques, mindfulness practices, and how to keep that brain as fit as your biceps. Combine that with self-development, and you might create a new sub-niche from two separate niches. 4. Beauty and Makeup “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, as they say. This niche is all about visual appeal – but the appeal YOU find interesting. Your content can revolve around tutorials, reviews, and how-to videos. These formats allow you to demonstrate techniques, share your honest opinions, and help your audience achieve their desired looks. Collaborations with beauty brands can be a game-changer in this niche. They’ll help expand your reach and grow your audience while giving you access to the latest products and trends. In terms of money-making opportunities? Affiliate marketing is where you can really shine in this niche. Beauty products often come with high commission rates, and there’s a dedicated consumer base always eager for recommendations. Your honest reviews and recommendations will build trust with your audience, driving significant product sales. Just remember that the beauty community is passionate and active on social media. Engage with your viewers through comments and social platforms to increase your visibility. Then, build a community around shared interests in makeup and skincare. Your visually appealing content won’t just attract viewers – it can directly drive product sales. 5. Gaming Gaming is a cultural phenomenon with a dedicated following. You’re tapping into a massive, global audience as a gaming content creator. As such, your content pipeline will never run dry. With new games constantly hitting the market, you’ll always have fresh material to cover. Plus, the diverse range of gaming genres means you can cater to various viewer preferences. You could also decide to specialize in a particular niche. Similar to other niches, remember the focus should be on people. In this niche, you’re not just playing games. Instead, you’re building a community, sharing experiences, and creating content that resonates with fellow gaming enthusiasts. Overall, your passion for gaming can translate into a thriving channel. And this channel comes with multiple income streams you can explore. 6. Travel Vlogging

As a travel vlogger, you’re selling dreams through experiences. And if you can do that through stunning visuals and immersive content (while keeping the focus on your audience), you’re ahead of many competitors. Your viewers will be drawn to the beauty of the destinations you visit and the adventures you share. Your channel also opens doors to exciting collaborations. Tourism boards and hotels are often eager to work with travel content creators, offering sponsored trips in exchange for exposure. You’ll also find opportunities for brand partnerships with travel-related products. Think: - Luggage makers - Camera companies - Hotels and hostels - And so much more. To stand out in this competitive niche, consider focusing on specific areas. You could specialize in visiting certain destinations. You could go for travel styles like budget or luxury travel. You could even consider themes such as solo travel or family adventures. Creating in-depth travel guides and itineraries is also another potential avenue. Here, you’ll do the work once and keep getting the rewards after that. With these itineraries, you can attract a dedicated audience looking for detailed, practical information. Whether it’s itineraries or otherwise, don’t overlook the potential of creating and selling your own products. This could be travel-related merchandise, digital guides, or even your line of travel gear. Your unique travel experiences and insights are valuable. When you package them into products your audience will love (and find useful), you’ll be able to leave your mark in the travel vlogging industry. 7. Educational Content Think YouTube is just for entertainment? Think again! Educational content is taking over the platform. It’s a niche that’s not just profitable but also incredibly rewarding. Here’s why. First off, there’s a consistent demand that’s hard to beat. Education isn’t some passing trend—it’s a constant need for people of all ages. Whether you’re teaching calculus to college students or showing retirees how to take up watercolor painting, there’s always an audience hungry for knowledge. But here’s the biggest reason: the diversity of topics you can cover is mind-boggling. Academic subjects? Check. Practical skills? Absolutely. Quirky hobbies? You bet! This variety allows you to cater to a wide audience. It also opens up the potential for long-term viewer relationships. After all, learning is a lifelong journey, right? There’s also another important point. Educational content isn’t just about warm fuzzies—it can become a serious cash cow. You’ve got your standard YouTube ad revenue, sure. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg and nothing to write home about (unless you’re doing trillions of views). Instead, imagine creating online courses based on your most popular videos. Platforms like these make it easy: - Skool - Teachable - Patreon - or other membership sites …for those (super) fans who want exclusive content. Overall, educational content isn’t just good for your bank account—it’s good for your soul. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about helping others learn and grow. 8. DIY and Craft Tutorials Roll up your sleeves and grab your glue gun. You’re about to dive into the world of DIY and craft tutorials. This niche is about making pretty things and a goldmine of opportunities for creative entrepreneurs. Like other highly profitable niches, DIY enthusiasts are some of the most passionate people you’ll ever meet. They’re active participants who love to share their own creations and experiences. Imagine building a tribe of like-minded makers who hang on your every word (or stitch, or brushstroke). The DIY world is also about collaboration. Teaming up with other creators can expand your reach fast. It’s like cross-pollination for your channel. You bring your paper crafting skills, they bring their woodworking expertise, and boom! You’ve both tapped into a whole new audience. In terms of monetization possibilities, this niche can be seriously lucrative. Since you’re not just sharing tutorials, you can start selling DIY kits or supplies. These kits are needed for your audience to follow along and create their own stuff. Or how about offering online workshops for those who want to dive deeper? And let’s not forget about affiliate marketing with craft-related products. But here’s the cherry on top: sponsored content. Craft brands are always on the lookout for authentic voices to showcase their products. If you play your cards right, you could be unboxing the latest and greatest crafting gadgets—and getting paid for it! You might be wondering, “Is there really that much interest in DIY?” Yes. We’re living in a golden age of handmade and personalized items. People are craving unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect their personality. And guess who they’re turning to for inspiration and know-how? That’s right—DIY YouTubers just like you! 9. Food and Cooking

Hungry for success on YouTube? Well, grab your apron and preheat the oven, because I’m about to dish out the secret sauce of the food and cooking niche! Now, you might be thinking, “Isn’t the food space on YouTube oversaturated?” In a nutshell, no. The beauty of food content is its universal appeal. Everyone eats, right? And let me tell you, people can’t get enough of watching others whip up delicious dishes. But here’s where it gets really juicy. The monetization opportunities in this niche are plentiful. Imagine publishing your very own cookbook, filled with the recipes that made your viewers drool. Or how about hosting exclusive cooking classes for your most dedicated followers? And let’s not forget about brand collaborations for recipe development. You can also go deep into partnerships. Food and kitchen product companies are always open to having (the right) content creators represent their products. The best part of this? You get paid to play with cool kitchen gadgets! The sheer variety of content you can create is another factor within the food and cooking niche. One day you’re mastering the perfect soufflé, the next you’re attempting the world’s spiciest hot wing challenge. From elegant cooking shows to hilarious food fails, the possibilities are endless. “But I’m not a professional chef!” Well, guess what? You don’t have to be! People love authenticity. They want to see real people cooking real food. Your imperfections? That’s your secret ingredient! 10. Parenting and Family Ever feel like you’re on a rollercoaster ride called parenthood? As a new dad, I know what that feels like. Parenting can be a real emotional whirlwind. One minute you’re beaming with pride at your boy’s first steps, the next you’re pulling your hair out over a toddler tantrum. But here’s the kicker: you’re not alone in this crazy adventure (unless you choose to be). Your YouTube audience can be there along the way! By sharing your triumphs and tribulations, you’re not just creating content—you’re building a tribe of fellow parents who get it. And boy, do these parents stick around! The best part is that as your kids grow, so does your audience. You become a trusted voice that parents turn to again and again. But what about money-based opportunities? If you have any experience with babies, you know their products are expensive! And while it’s tough as a parent, it is great as an affiliate marketer. It’s also great for sponsored content showcasing family-friendly products. How about creating your line of family-oriented merchandise? I can see myself creating some “World’s Okayest Dad” t-shirts eventually. All I’m saying is that the possibilities are endless. 11. Fashion and Lifestyle You might be wondering, “Can I really make money just by looking good?” You sure can. When you create fashion-based content, you’re not just showcasing your style. You’re building a personal brand that can endorse products fast. All the usual monetization methods apply as well. Affiliate marketing, sponsored content, ads. All possible. You could even (eventually) run your own online fashion boutique or offer styling services. Think of it as not just influencing fashion. Instead, you become a fashion mogul. Your unique style is your superpower. Whether you’re a minimalist maven or want to look your best each time you go out of the house, there’s an audience for it. An audience you can make your own. Also, consider this. Fashion and lifestyle enthusiasts are passionate trendsetters. They live for the latest looks and lifestyle hacks. They’re not just watching your videos; they’re taking notes, shopping your recommendations, and returning for more. And when you’re looking to make money through your YouTube content, you can’t ask for a better audience. 12. Digital Marketing and Online Business

Since you’re reading this article, you understand that digital marketing isn’t just another buzzword. This niche is exploding fast. And this means new people enter the industry every day. People that you can cater to. Imagine building yourself up as the go-to guru in this field. There are so many opportunities as well. You could earn money through consulting gigs, affiliate marketing for cool tools, or even creating your own online courses. These are all things I’ve done over the years. The profit potential is amazing in all of these. Put all the opportunities together and you can really win in this industry. You can also team up with other digital marketing wizards, and watch your reach skyrocket. I’d say the best part is that you can also help others (in all sorts of industries) hit their goals. And when they win, you win as well. 13. Pet Care and Training Pet care isn’t about uploading cute kitten videos. It’s about building a YouTube channel that educates (and yes, also entertains) pet owners worldwide. Whether it’s basic care tips or advanced training techniques, there’s lots to cover. And just like your pets might wag their tails with excitement, so might you when you realize the opportunities in this industry. Opportunities like: - Selling pet toys, foods, clothes and more. - Educational product recommendations. - Helping others train their pets based on your expertise. The list goes on. It’s not just about the money though. You can also do a whole lot of good in the pet world. Team up with pet shelters, veterinarians, or other pet influencers. Bring to light the good they’re doing and the animals whose lives are better as a result. When you share the story behind a brand, your audience will grow faster than a Great Dane puppy. 14. Home Improvement and Interior Design Let’s talk about transforming spaces. The home improvement and interior design niche isn’t just about fresh paint and throw pillows. It’s a canvas for self-expression. Imagine showcasing your DIY skills or design flair to an audience hungry for inspiration. Instant Read the full article

[brookewalkerblog]

Picking the Ideal Tech Stack for Your Mobile App

As an entrepreneur diving into the world of mobile apps, selecting the right technology stack can feel overwhelming. But trust me, it's a crucial decision that can make or break your app's success. Let's break down how to choose the perfect tech stack tailored to your needs, making your journey a little smoother and more informed.

Understanding the Importance of a Technology Stack

When I first started exploring mobile app development, I was bombarded with technical jargon. The tech stack is essentially the set of technologies used to build your app, including programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools. Choosing the right stack affects not only your app’s performance but also its scalability, maintainability, and even its future development costs.

Key Factors to Consider

1. App Requirements and Features

Think about what your app needs to do. Is it a gaming app requiring high performance and graphics? Or is it a simple utility app with minimal features? Knowing your app’s core functionalities helps in narrowing down the tech stack options.

2. Target Audience

Who will be using your app? Different demographics may prefer different platforms (iOS vs. Android). For instance, if you’re targeting users in the USA, a balanced focus on both platforms is often necessary.

3. Developer Expertise

Consider the expertise of your development team. If you’re partnering with a mobile app development company in USA, ensure they have experience with the technologies you’re considering. Their expertise can save you a lot of time and money.

Popular Tech Stacks for Mobile App Development

Let’s dive into some popular tech stacks and their pros and cons.

Native Development

iOS (Swift)

Pros: High performance, excellent user experience, access to full device features.

Cons: Only works on iOS, can be costly and time-consuming.

Android (Kotlin)

Pros: Native performance, wide range of libraries, full access to device features.

Cons: Only works on Android, development can be complex.

Cross-Platform Development

React Native Development services

Pros: Code reuse between iOS and Android, fast development cycle, backed by Facebook.

Cons: Performance can be an issue for complex apps, reliance on third-party libraries.

Flutter Development services

Pros: Single codebase for both platforms, excellent performance, rich widgets.

Cons: Still relatively new, smaller community compared to React Native.

My Personal Recommendations

When I consulted with a top mobile app development company in the USA, they emphasized the importance of aligning the tech stack with business goals. Here’s a simplified approach I found helpful:

If you’re unsure, start with a minimal viable product (MVP) using a versatile stack like React Native. This approach allows you to test the waters without committing too heavily.

Think long-term. Choose a stack that supports scaling and adding new features as your user base grows. Native development might be more beneficial here if you anticipate high-performance needs.

Ensure the technologies you choose have a robust community and support system. This makes finding solutions to problems much easier.

Conclusion

Selecting the right technology stack is pivotal for your mobile app’s success. By understanding your app’s requirements, considering your target audience, leveraging your development team’s expertise, and staying updated with current trends, you can make an informed decision. Remember, the right tech stack not only brings your app idea to life but also ensures it thrives in the competitive market.

If you’re ready to take the next step, don’t hesitate to reach out to a reliable mobile app development services in USA they can provide you with tailored solutions, ensuring your app stands out in the crowded market.

[sarah-dipitous]

Hellsite Nostalgia Tour 2023 Day 80

It’s a Terrible Life

“It’s a Terrible Life”

Plot Description: what if the Winchesters weren’t hunters? In an alternate life, Dean is a corporate man who enjoys health drinks & Sam is in tech support

Would I Survive the First Five Minutes??: sure. I can survive *checks notes* going to work

There are some episodes where, for the first thirty eight to forty minutes, I really really wonder why we’re exploring this when the LITERAL APOCALYPSE IS SO NEAR. This is one of them.

Hey. Hey!! I recognize that guy!! And I know he’s an angel…so the surprise later will be much much less

Mmmm, so Sammy is having dreams about their real life

Obsessed. So. Sam and Dean do not know each other in this au but they work for the same company. And after having his confusion mistaken for hitting on Dean, Sam asks if he can ask Dean a question. What’s the question? “What do you think of ghosts?” That person would be on my mind intermittently FOREVER

Hey. Paul. My guy, what the fuck??? It’s one day’s work, you don’t have to LITERALLY KILL YOURSELF OVER IT

Omg…this is honestly how companies believe we react to mistakes. Utter panic…over the loss of profits for the company

They can’t help but be mystery solvers

“What if there’s something…not natural?!” Lol

God…they’re such nerds (affectionate). In one conversation they went from sort of glaring at each other across the scenes of the deaths of these other two guys in tech support to wholeheartedly and excitedly wanting to go solve a mystery together. They’re brothers, your honor. In every universe

Omg they found the Ghostfacers site YESSSSS!!!!! And they’re gonna use their INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS TO GHOST HUNT!!!! Beautiful

Mmmm, wonderful. What a great time to have to hear about the 2008/2009 recession…………….love that for me

So, somehow the Winchesters still exist in this? Because the Ghostfacers keep bringing them up and calling them douchebags. I love that they have their own merch, branded salt and lighters. Chef kiss. I love this show. It’s so dumb and bad lol

Ohhhhhhhh, I’d never be going in an elevator again. Like, there’s getting stuck on an elevator, and then there’s FUCKING TURBULENCE FOLLOWED BY WATCHING THE SECURITY GUARD WHO CAUGHT YOU SNOOPING GET CUT IN HALF HAMBURGER BUN STYLE….no. I’ll take the stairs forever or only go in one floor buildings, thank you very much.

I could watch Jensen swing the fire poker like a baseball bat all fucking day and never get bored

Uuuugggghhhh, but y’all were having such fun. You were so proud of yourselves for taking out that ghost. You know that this is what you’re supposed to be doing. Saving people. Hunting things. The family business

Sam’s going all Office Space on that phone.

Mmmmmmmm…heaven’s REALLY trying to keep Dean in place, huh? I don’t TRUST Zachariah, but he’s not completely wrong

“Been On My Mind…”: No time this episode. 9

[blackbirdblackbird]

a different meeting

Of course, is all Lena can think when she hears the roar of the bus too late to step back.

Just when everything is going right for her – disentangling herself from Lex’s schemes, taking control of the company, successfully arranging the move to National City – she’s going to be killed by walking into traffic because she looked down at her phone at the exact wrong time.

Except – it doesn’t come.

Strong arms encircle her, jerk her back. The bus speeds past inches from her face, doing no more damage than to blow her carefully tamed hair about wildly.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe.” The voice is soft. Lena feels a breath in her ear, the faint thrum of it through her saviour’s chest pressed up against her back. Suddenly, those strong, strong arms loosen. Lena’s being turned, stood properly upright, but hands linger around her biceps, steadying her. She realizes her heart is pounding like crazy, not all of it from the close encounter with death, and she’s shaking a little. “You good?”

Lena can only reply with a little nod, because Supergirl.

Of course she was the one that saved her, she’s part of what drew Lena to National City. But to suddenly have the reality of her slammed into her face – or wrapped around her, really – is a little overwhelming. As is her soft voice, her continued closeness, the concerned look on her face, and those vivid blue eyes.

Lena straightens up a bit, and offers her hand to Supergirl.

“I’m Lesbian.”

Supergirl barely reacts, thankfully. “Lena!” She blurts out, then takes a moment to collect herself. “Lena Lesbian,” she says confidently, nodding a little as she speaks.

This time, Supergirl does react. A bit of a blush, a little bashful duck of her head. Lena gestures wildly, as if trying to ward off the words she just spoke but not trusting herself to say any more. But then Supergirl gently takes hold of her hands, stilling them. She smiles at Lena.

“It’s okay, Miss Luthor. I know who you are.”

“Oh god. You know what, I’m just going to pretend my dignity wasn’t run over by a bus like I nearly was.”

“Don’t worry about it. I know adrenaline can funny things to people.” Right. Adrenaline. “I’ve actually been looking forward to meeting you,” Supergirl says, becoming almost shy at the end.

She’s forcefully reminded of the press hounding her at the trial, of the gossip and rumours and looks she’d get whenever someone recognized her in public. Of Clark Kent following her across the country to accuse her of trying to blow up a spaceship she herself was meant to be on, even when she was nothing but helpful. “Oh?”

“Yeah!” Supergirl says brightly, and that’s all it takes for her fears to melt away. “You’re such a big inspiration for girls getting into science, and the medical tech you’ve put out for aliens is just amazing! And…” Supergirl pauses, and it hits Lena how softly she’s still speaking. Pitching her voice so as not to carry. It gives the conversation a strange air of intimacy. “I know what’s it like to a be a woman making a name for herself outside of her family.”

Oh. Lena doesn’t really know what to do with this, not used to having someone she admires (or anyone, really) having anything positive to say about her. The eye contact is also starting to get a little too intense, so Lena shakes herself, and looks at her watch as a distraction.

“Running late?” Lena nods, looking somewhere over Supergirl’s shoulder. “I could give you a lift, if you want?” she offers nodding towards the soon to be replaced Luthorcorp sign down the street.

“I actually don’t do too well with heights.”

Supergirl shrugs. “It’s okay if don’t want to. But, if you do, I promise you’ll be safe with me.”

Lena checks her watch again. There’s no way she’ll make her first meeting otherwise. That’s the only reason she’s accepting. “Okay. Okay.”

“Alright, maybe just – ” Lena’s already slipping off her heels, and after a little nod from the hero, stepping onto her boots. “ – yeah.”

She closes her eyes as soon as Supergirl’s arms are around her once again. She doesn’t open them again until they touch down on the roof and Supergirl whispers we’re here.

She stumbles back a little, avoiding looking too directly at Supergirl as she slips her shoes back on.

“You good, Miss Luthor?”

Lena nods.

“Alright.” Supergirl takes a few steps backwards, and hops up onto the edge of the roof. “I hope to see you again soon, Lena Lesbian.” Then she winks, gives Lena a jaunty little salute, and lets herself fall backwards off the building.

For the rest of the day, Supergirl’s parting words – the way she wrapped her tongue around Lena’s name and that faint echo of an unearthly accent – run through her mind. She also makes a note to have finishing her office balcony and having the proper doors installed moved up the renovation priority list.

/

It’s about a week later when a reporter – Kara Danvers, from Catco – shows up. They’re running a series of profiles of women in science and engineering, and she wants to interview Lena.

It’s because of her brief conversation with Supergirl that she accepts almost without thought, and doesn’t immediately treat Kara as a threat.

She admits to Lena that she’s new on the job, and this is one of her first assignments. She’s a little shy, a little awkward. But it doesn’t take her long to get through Lena’s walls, to figure out just what to say to get her to open up. She doesn’t hold back in her questioning. But she treats Lena fairly, and seems genuinely interested in her work.

Throughout their conversation, though, there is something that feels off to Lena. Like there’s something right in front of her and she can’t quite see it.

Then they’re done, and she’s shaking Kara’s hand. They both get just a little too close, and suddenly Lena’s looking right into those vivid blue eyes. She doesn’t stand quite as tall; she doesn’t have the same aura of unshakeable confidence. But it’s unmistakable.

Neither says anything, but Lena knows, and Kara knows.

“I hope this isn’t the last time we talk.”

“I hope not either.”