Rise of the Ronin is all about forging the right alliances. Sometimes‚ it’s better to know what you’re gonna get out of it before you jump straight in. With that in mind‚ we’re going to sneak inside and answer: should you deliver the letter directly or give it to the informant in Rise of the Ronin? Rise of the Ronin — Who should you deliver the letter to? Image: JayX2099/YouTube When it comes to whom you give the letter to in Rise of the Ronin‚ not much will change in the way of actual story moments. This sub-objective is more for you to earn stronger bonds with certain characters and further cement your decision to be Pro-Shogunate or Anti-Shogunate. You have the option of giving the letter to Taka or Katsura. Giving it to Taka‚ aka the Pro-Shogunate side‚ will prompt a cutscene showing Naosuke Ii burning the letter‚ furthering his ideals of smothering the Anti-Shogunate forces. Choosing this option increases your bond with Taka‚ and solidifies your Pr...

PCIe 4.0 is the current standard connection type for most computer components released today‚ but what is it‚ and how does it compare to PCIe 3.0? This guide delves into everything you need to know about the 4th generation of PCI Express and beyond. Table of ContentsWhat does PCIe mean?How is PCIe 4.0 different than PCIe 3.0?Is PCIe 4.0 backwards compatible?What are PCIe lanes?Is it worth upgrading from PCIe 3.0 to 4.0?Which processors support PCIe 4.0?When is PCIe 5.0 coming out?Should I wait for PCIe 5.0 before upgrading to 4.0?Key takeaways What does PCIe mean? PCIe (sometimes known as PCI-Express) stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect Express. It’s a connection avenue between a computer’s motherboard and a peripheral‚ such as a graphics card or SSD. If you’ve ever switched out a graphics card in your gaming PC‚ you will have placed it into a PCIe slot. How is PCIe 4.0 different than PCIe 3.0? The key difference between PCI...

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Elon Musk’s social media platform X has pledged to cover the legal expenses of a Canadian physician who has come under fire for her public statements concerning COVID-19. The doctor‚ Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill‚ had previously been indicted by health authorities in response to her posts on social media. The physician‚ based in Ontario‚ Canada‚ was specifically admonished by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in 2021 for her Twitter pronouncements‚ which included views questioning the necessity of COVID-19 vaccination. Dr. Gill maintains her stance and has launched a crowdfunding project aimed at raising $300‚000 for her legal defense and associated costs. These include a cost order related to a separate lawsuit she initiated in response to what she labeled as a “malicious online smear campaign.” This ongoing struggle caught the attention of Elon Musk‚ who has vowed not only to fulfill the remaining balance of Dr. Gill’s crowdfunding campaign but also to aid in her bid to appeal the College’s 2021 reprimands. This information was revealed in a post by Dr. Gill on X. X publicly voiced its support for Dr. Gill‚ emphasizing its dedication to safeguarding the doctor against what it termed as “government-supported efforts to cancel her speech.” Musk himself had famously posted on the platform in August 2023‚ promising to support any individuals “unfairly treated” by employers due to activity on X‚ with a commitment to funding their legal bills. The post X To Fund Legal Bills for Canadian Doctor Kulvinder Kaur Gill‚ Punished for COVID Tweets appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The sweeping implementation of a facial recognition initiative is stirring controversy in the Gaza Strip‚ with the government of Israel reported to have utilized this technology to create a surreptitious database of Palestinian individuals. As disclosed by The Times‚ this utilization of biometric technology occurred without the informed consent or awareness of the Palestinian populace. Following the incidents of October 7‚ Israeli intelligence put this program into motion with two key technological allies: an in-house tool fashioned by Corsight‚ a firm from Tel Aviv‚ and Google Photos. The operational goal was the identification of persons linked with Hamas. The Israeli Defense Forces’ Unit 8200 stepped up surveillance post the October 7 attacks‚ scrutinizing Hamas’s social media videos‚ and security footage to identify potential targets. The Israeli military operatives also solicited help from detained Palestinians to identify Hamas affiliates from amongst their community members. Bragging about its ability to identify individuals even with less than half of the face visible‚ Corsight became instrumental in Israel’s facial recognition endeavors. It used these photographs to develop a sophisticated tool of identification for Israeli enforcement officers in Gaza. The military further expanded this database by setting facial recognition-enabled checkpoints on primary roads used by Palestinians to flee south. An officer divulged to the Times that the aim was to create a “hit list” of active participants in the October 7th attack. However‚ there have reportedly been instances when Corsight’s technology ended up misidentifying innocents as potential Hamas cohorts. Of note is the misidentification of Mosab Abu Toha‚ a Palestinian poet‚ who was apprehended at an Israeli checkpoint while attempting to travel to Egypt with his family. Abu Toha‚ according to the military’s system‚ was a wanted persona. Following a two-day duration of interrogation and abuse‚ he was summarily released back into Gaza sans an exoneration or explanation. To bolster Corsight’s endeavors‚ the military has leveraged Google Photos – a freely available tool. Armed with a voluminous “known persons” database‚ intelligence officers are making use of Google’s photo search function to identify individuals‚ even when only a fraction of their facial features are discernible or visible. Corsight and its investors have been overt in their desire to aid the Israeli military in the continuing strife in the Gaza Strip. Awz Ventures‚ the Canadian fund that spearheaded Corsight’s finance round of $5 million in 2020‚ echoed this intention openly. The Israeli military and Alexandria Ashkenazi‚ the fund’s founder and managing partner‚ envisaged a halt to what he termed “evil terrorists.” The post Israel Deploys Facial Recognition Program‚ Utilizes Google Photos‚ in Gaza appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. X has backed a lawsuit against Block‚ a company established by Twitter’s founder‚ Jack Dorsey. The lawsuit‚ lodged by Chloe Happe‚ a former employee of Block‚ alleges unjust dismissal instigated by two posts she made on a “satirical‚ pseudonymous account” hosted by X and during non-working hours. We obtained a copy of the draft complaint for you here. Happe’s posts covered a range of topics. An initial comment pointed to the displacement of refugees from Gaza to Kurdistan after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Subsequently‚ she shared contentious views on transgender individuals‚ concerning the use of a “gender-neutral” restroom in the office. Regardless‚ Happe fervently maintained that her posts‚ untouched by workplace suggestion and shorn of any direct mention of Block‚ were purely satirical expressions of her personal beliefs. Happe also declared her posts were deleted soon after they were published. Despite this‚ Happe asserts Block acquired copies of the posts and gave her no indication whether fellow employees raised grievances over her commentary. As a result‚ Happe‚ fraught with concern over becoming a scapegoat‚ initially renounced any association with the posts. As per Happe’s presentation in court‚ she asserts her dismissal by Block‚ without severance pay‚ was solely due to the company disliking her personal viewpoints. She also regards Block as breaching their own policies that supposedly allow employees to voice their opinions openly. Elon Musk retweeted X’s proclamation on his account‚ endorsing X’s support of Happe’s lawsuit to defend the “right to freedom of speech.” Through her lawsuit‚ Happe seeks not only financial restitution for lost wages and punitive damages‚ but also a court decree to reinstate her as a Block employee. The post X Is Funding a Lawsuit Against Block After Employee Was Fired for Tweets appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Presented as an effort to address unreported hate crimes and “bias incidents‚” Washington State is launching a new hotline initiative‚ according to recent decisions by state lawmakers. This initiative‚ established under Senate Bill 5427‚ aims to offer a non-police option for supposed victims‚ with the hotline operational in at least three counties by 2025‚ and statewide by 2027. We obtained a copy of the bill for you here. The hotline‚ a key feature of the bill sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez and others‚ is mandated to function during standard business hours. Its primary role is to guide victims towards relevant local services that are culturally sensitive and informed about trauma‚ as well as to compile these incidents for annual reports‚ maintaining the confidentiality of personal details. Under current Washington law‚ hate crimes are defined as actions driven by malicious intent against a person’s race‚ color‚ religion‚ gender‚ sexual orientation‚ and other characteristics‚ and are considered felony offenses. SB 5427 introduces the concept of “bias incidents‚” described as “hostile expressions of animus” related to various personal characteristics. These incidents are distinguished from hate crimes and are not criminal in nature. Supporters of the bill argue that the hotline is a necessary tool. However‚ the bill has not been without controversy. The initiative’s introduction of “bias incidents” as “hostile expressions of animus” related to personal characteristics is problematic due to its vague definition. This broad and subjective categorization might cover a wide range of behaviors‚ including those protected under free speech‚ leading to the reporting of speech that is offensive but not unlawful. There’s a risk that the presence of a state-endorsed mechanism to report these incidents might discourage individuals from expressing their views‚ especially if those views are unpopular or controversial. The fear of being reported for legal expressions of opinion could lead to self-censorship‚ which is counter to the principles of free speech. While some speech is often detestable to some‚ it is generally protected under US free speech laws unless it incites imminent violence or includes specific threats. The hotline initiative might blur the line between so-called hate speech and free speech. Furthermore‚ the effectiveness of the hotline in differentiating between bias incidents and protected speech depends heavily on the training and judgment of those operating it. There’s a concern that it could be misused to target individuals based on ideological disagreements or personal vendettas. Additionally‚ the initiative could have broader implications for public discourse. By encouraging the reporting of a range of “bias incidents‚” it might contribute to an environment where open and honest discussions about sensitive topics are hindered‚ affecting the exchange of diverse viewpoints. The post Washington State To Get Hotline for “Bias Incidents” Which Are Defined As “Hostile Expressions of Animus” appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The last time the extent of Hillary Clinton’s tech “savviness” or lack thereof‚ became public knowledge was way back in 2016‚ when she lost the presidential election‚ amid‚ among other things‚ the (classified) emails scandal. Now‚ Clinton has graduated from not knowing how email works‚ to feeling she is qualified to discuss the impact of immeasurably more complex technology‚ such as AI. To give Clinton the benefit of the doubt‚ it has been a long time‚ and perhaps she has used that time to educate herself. However‚ it also turns out that nearly a decade later she still blames her loss to Donald Trump on the since-debunked conspiracy theories about “election disinformation” that supposedly decide the outcome of that vote. So‚ Clinton-the-victim’s comments now‚ half a year before the next US presidential election and amid mainstream media’s “disinformation/AI panic” might read as little‚ if anything‚ more than political campaigning. She claims this is her focus now: still talking about the alleged wrongdoing done to her in 2016‚ still alleging this was all about “disinformation” – and that it was all “primitive” – compared to what she anticipates is happening now. Clinton also plays her audience by at once “admitting” that she and hers are ignorant (“I don’t think any of us understood it. I did not understand it. I can tell you‚ my campaign did not understand it”)‚ to then claim that‚ for some reason‚ she should now be taken as an authority. Not about social media‚ memes‚ the “dark web” (or‚ God forbid‚ the concept of email…) but also‚ the regulation of online providers/content. Enter the CDA Section 230 debate – where it seems each side of the ideological aisle interprets its importance according to their political needs of the day. “Their‚ you know‚ the so-called ‘Dark Web’ was filled with these kinds of memes and stories and videos of all sorts…portraying me in all kinds of… less than flattering ways‚” Clinton said. “And we knew something’s going on‚ but we didn’t understand the full extent of the very clever way in which it was insinuated into social media.” Clinton is now quoted in the press as saying that tech companies – enjoying‚ and‚ conservatives say‚ indulgently abusing their Section 230 protections over third-party content (to favor liberals) – suddenly should no longer have those privileges. An experienced observer may see this turn of events – somebody like Clinton apparently advocating for Section 230 to be abolished – as simply a maneuver to pile on more pressure on major tech companies to be careful “not to slip” in their “censorship diligence” this election season – or else. Either way‚ this is what Clinton said: “Section 230 has to go. We need a different system under which tech companies and we’re mostly talking obviously about the social media platforms – operate.” The post Hillary Clinton Takes Aim at “Disinformation‚” “Negative‚ Virulent Content‚” and Memes Ahead of the 2024 Elections appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Sign Up To Keep Reading This post is for Reclaim The Net supporters. Gain access to the entire archive of features and supporters-only content. Help protect free speech‚ freedom from surveillance‚ and digital civil liberties. Join Already a supporter? Login here The post A Private‚ Open-Source‚ Self-Hosted Alternative to Audible appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

On this fine Resurrection Day‚ CNN chose to come out and defend the Biden administration’s decision to elevate Transgender Visibility Day. The method of choice was via an appeal to authority‚ with the authority being Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA)‚ who is pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Bash chose Transgender Visibility Day as the topic with which to close their Easter-themed interview. Here is that particular segment of the aforementioned interview‚ as aired on CNN State of the Union on Sunday‚ March 31st‚ 2024: DANA BASH: Republicans are attacking President Biden for recognizing today as Transgender Day of Visibility. I want to be very clear that this day‚ this Transgender Day of Visibility‚ is always on March 31st. Has been since 2009. This president has marked it every year since he's been in The White House. The date of Easter changes year to year. I don't need to tell you that. The House Speaker called Biden's announcement abhorrent and said he betrayed the central tenet of Easter. What do you say to that? RAPHAEL WARNOCK: Well‚ apparently the Speaker finds trans people abhorrent‚ and I think he ought to think about that. The fact of the matter is‚ as you said‚ March 31st has been a date to lift up transgender people who endure violence and bigotry. Easter‚ the date changes every single day‚ but this is just one more instance of folks who have- who do not know how to lead us trying to divide us. And this is the opposite of the Christian faith. Jesus centered the marginalized. He centered the poor and in a moment like this‚ we need voices‚ particularly voices of faith‚ who would use our faith‚ not as a weapon to beat other people down‚ but as a bridge to bring all of us together. That is what Martin Luther King‚ Jr. did. And I'm honored to preach from that pulpit every single day. It is a faith that guides me in my work as a United States Senator trying to cap the cost of insulin so folks can afford it. Trying to make sure first-time homeowners can buy a home and that our children are not so awashed in student debt that they have a mortgage before they have a mortgage. This is how my faith informs me every single day.  DANA BASH: Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. Thank you so much for being here again‚ especially on this holy day. Appreciate it. Happy Easter. WARNOCK: Thank you. Take notice of the smear of Speaker Mike Johnson that goes unacknowledged‚ unchecked‚ and uncorrected. Here is what Johnson actually said‚ which echoes the sentiments of millions of Christians who object to this White House’s deliberate and‚ yes‚ abhorrent provocation. Johnson tweet Johnson is clearly talking about the abhorrence of the White House’s banning of religious decorations and imagery from their Easter egg decorating contest while at the same time elevating and promoting Transgender Day of Visibility. To distill that into “the Speaker finds trans people abhorrent” betrays a lack of pre-show preparation‚ a lack of reading comprehension‚ a lack of honesty‚ or some combination of all of the preceding.  Bash just sits there and blinks as Warnock merchandises this lie‚ wraps it within both the pieties of his liberationist “Matthew 25 Gospel” and the name of Dr. Martin Luther King‚ and then proceeds to rattle off some policy pieties.  The Easter-themed interview kicked off the show and was really little more than a thematic imposition of the various liberation ideologies that are in line with the modern left. The early tell‚ several seconds in‚ is when Warnock told Bash that he will be putting “the timeless message ‚ Easter message of hope and resurrection into a contemporary context”.  Bash then facilitated the “timeless…Easter message of hope and resurrection” by asking Warnock about the Trump Bible and about “Christian Nationalism”.  You’ll be shocked (or not) to learn that this interview in fact featured zero discussion of the resurrected King‚ who actually had something to say about those who cause harm to children‚ including the sort of irreversible harm that The White House celebrates today (Matthew 18:6).    

Christianity is a weird religion. Other religions have a version of the "Golden Rule." Other religions have a watery creation. Other religions have sacrifice. Other religions have mercy. Other religions have a lot of what Christianity has. But they are all so much more the same‚ and Christianity itself is so divergent it is not exactly something normal or something we would make up. Most other religions would tell you not to do to others what you do not want them to do to you. But Christ insisted we actually actively do to others what we want done to us. More importantly‚ we are to do those positive things even if the other person does not reciprocate. We are to love our neighbor and surrender our right to retribution. Christians are to turn the other cheek and let God handle it. Other religions have sacrifices and have heroes who laid down their lives. The Romans persecuted the Christians in part because the Romans believed all gods must be dead. The Christians said their God conquered death and was alive. The other religions sacrifice people‚ babies‚ animals. God Himself‚ however‚ died in Christianity and rose again from that death. Some believe the Egyptians’ Osiris did the same. But no credibly Egyptologist claims that; it is a more modern‚ post-Christian invention. Other religions have paths to salvation. Those paths‚ in all those faiths‚ have you participate in your salvation. Weirdly‚ Christians believe there is literally nothing you can do to keep yourself from going to Hell. Only God Himself can spare you and all you must do is put your faith in Christ. You repent and be baptized and God starts working in you through a process of sanctification. There’s no reincarnation. There are no special pilgrimages to do. God’s got this. You let Him work. The religions are all pretty much the same except Christianity‚ which is so different and divergent. The ancient religions all had their gods coming up out of water -- a metaphor for the nothingness or chaos that existed before. The Jews‚ from whom Christians came‚ showed the Spirit of the Lord hovering over the water. All the other religions believed the gods came into existence. Jews and Christians say God was always there. The other ancient religions claimed the stars and planets were gods. Moses declared them objects in the sky not to be worshipped. The other religions all have concepts of mercy or the gods sparing you from what you deserve. Jesus Christ offered grace -- giving you something you do not deserve. It is a uniquely Christian concept. All other religions have been anchored to a geographic place. Christianity spread so easily around the world because the faith is anchored in the living God of all Creation. The faith convicts all of us of our sins‚ treats all of us equally and gives us all salvation through belief in Jesus. Two thousand years ago‚ Jesus Christ came into the world a baby and went out like a lamb to slaughter. An innocent man hailed as a king on Palm Sunday was rejected in favor of a murderous insurrectionist on Good Friday. All but one of Jesus’ friends was executed. His whole blood line was hunted down and exterminated. His followers were used as human torches to light the streets of Rome. And the faith kept growing. Christianity and its ethics freed slaves‚ liberated captives‚ provided a path to reconciliation between the aggrieved and ordered Western civilization. The post-Christian world abhors Christianity. The things of the world always hate the things of God. But‚ as the West rejects it‚ chaos‚ contempt‚ malice and hatred have filled its void. The West is back to child sacrifice and families are collapsing. Many would say we need to return to a cultural Christianity‚ but Christianity needs Christ. The good news is that the carpenter from Nazareth got up in His tomb on Sunday morning 2‚000 years ago and walked out. By conquering death‚ He gives us life. And all we have to do is put our trust in Him. Easter is coming and with it comes joy in the morning.