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A chatbot to mess with scammers? Genius!

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

Chatbots and artificial intelligence are clearly the Next Big Thing in Silicon Valley, but many of us, including myself, haven't seen much practical use for the technology.Until now.A Monrovia, California man named Roger Anderson has created an AI-powered chatbot designed to dupe telemarketers and scammers into thinking they're speaking with a real person -- and then wasting as much of their time as possible.Brilliant.The Wall Street Journal shared an encounter between a telemarketer named Kevin and Anderson's chatbot, which he calls Jolly Roger.Roger Anderson of Monrovia, Calif. created an AI-powered chatbot designed to waste the time of telemarketers and scammers. June 2023. (KTLA)"Thank you for calling card services," Kevin said, even though it was his bank (or scam operation) that called Anderson, not the other way around. "How are you doing today?""Huh," the chatbot replied."What do you think, how much is owed on your credit cards, collectively," Kevin asked."I’ve been having t...

Madness-A-Go-Go with the Vandals

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

Madness-A-Go-Go with the Vandals: Joe Escalante of the Vandals told us about his Madness and the Go-Go’s experience at the Whisky in 1980.Joe Escalante: According to the Internet, it started with The Go-Go’s, although I don’t remember much about their particular set because I had seen them so many times. It’s a blur, and a 17-year-old kid like me could order a Zombie from the bar window for $4.50 in those days. Everyone in the punk scene was in love with Belinda, and I was no exception. My last trip to The Whiskey featured the Dead Kennedys, but this gig promised to be much different. Beauty filled the club, on stage, and in the music. All the artists were dressed to entertain (i.e., no one wore a T-shirt with spray paint on it), adding to the positive escapism.Madness began with a hype man: ‘Hey you! Don’t watch that! Watch this!!’From the first note of ‘One Step Beyond’ the band moved and sounded like nothing I’d ever seen or heard before. I positioned myself right up close....

Is CBD Crude Oil Crummy Or High-Quality? — A Closer Look At Hemp Crude Oil

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

The term “CBD oil” now encompasses a wide array of hemp extracts. Although all CBD oils may look similar, each company uses a different refining process to extract this valuable hemp cannabinoid. Some companies refine away virtually all the secondary hemp compounds, while others focus on preserving the “full spectrum” of the hemp plant.Arguably, hemp crude oil is the most “unrefined” CBD oil on today’s market. While the name may be off-putting, this type of CBD oil is gaining popularity in the hemp community. Customers who are still considering which CBD extract to buy should consider the advantages and disadvantages of crude hemp oil.What Are The Defining Traits Of CBD Crude Oil?Simply put, crude hemp oil is the least purified form of CBD oil. Many companies that make CBD crude oil claim their extract is incredibly close to the chemical profile in hemp flowers. While CBD will be the dominant cannabinoid in hemp crude oils, they will also co...

What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

By Forrest Brown | CNNComputer glitches. Staffing shortages. Awful weather. Holiday crunches. So many things can cause a flight to be delayed or canceled.And this July 4 weekend is set to be a record breaker.Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the holiday weekend at airport security checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 2.82 million people, surpassing the current single-day travel record from June 16.Friday is also set to exceed the busiest travel day of the holiday weekend in 2019 (July 7), when TSA screened 2.79 million passengers.Thousands of flights have already been canceled this week, with many thousands more delayed.It’s no wonder travelers are wary about making it to their destinations on time – or at all.Here’s some general advice for navigating the system when flights are delayed or canceled.Check the weather forecastsDays ahead of the now-infamous December 2022 bomb cyclone, many US airlines offered their passengers a chance to ...

Toll violation relief for drivers starting July 1

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

(KRON) -- Bay Area drivers will soon see relief coming their way. Starting July 1, drivers who use express lanes or bridge tolls can get a chance to pay their bill with penalties waived. Newsom to double CHP deployment in Tenderloin fentanyl crackdown Toll agencies charge drivers anywhere from $100 to $500 for each violation, giving a huge blow to many low-income residents. An installment plan for bridge and express lane tolls and DMV fees are also available for eligible low-income households.KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }To pay your toll debt, call 877-229-8655. The new application process for waivers and payment plans is now open through September 30, 2024.

San Jose to open cooling centers ahead of hot temperatures

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

(KRON) -- The City of San Jose is opening three cooling centers ahead of this week's hot temperatures. The cooling centers will be open starting today through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. While cooling down, people will have access to bottled water, free Wi-Fi and charging outlets. 2 displaced in Santa Rosa house fire, $600K in damages Here are the cooling center locations in San Jose:Camden Community Center located at 3369 Union AvenueRoosevelt Community Center located at 901 East Santa Clara StreetEmma Prusch Farm Park located at 647 South King RoadThe public can also go to any San Jose library or community center to cool off.

2 displaced in Santa Rosa house fire, $600K in damages

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

(BCN) -- Two people were displaced in a residential structure fire in Santa Rosa Thursday night. On Thursday at 8:09 p.m., the Santa Rosa Fire Department responded to 4540 Sullivan Court on multiple calls about a house fire. Responding firefighters located a single-story residence on fire. Firefighters said a car parked under a rear car port at the residence was fully involved in fire, and the fire had extended up a back wall of the home and into the attic. San Rafael police officers charged for forceful arrest Two cats exited the house on their own when firefighters made entry into the home, and one cat was located inside the home and brought outside. There were no people inside the home when firefighters arrived. Crews were able to bring the fire under control in approximately 40 minutes and remained at the scene for several hours to put out hot spots and investigate the cause of the fire. Firefighters said two people were home when the fire started and evacuated. ...

Woman reached for gun during South San Francisco traffic stop: police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

(KRON) – Two people were arrested for a stolen vehicle, stolen firearm and meth possession in the 300 block of South Airport Boulevard Wednesday afternoon in South San Francisco. With the help of Flock cameras, officers located a vehicle with stolen license plates in a hotel parking lot. A 36-year-old woman from Santa Rosa and a 39-year-old man from Oakland were occupying the suspected stolen vehicle, police said.  Redwood City man arrested in connection with rape of a minor The Oakland man was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and had an outstanding felony warrant. The woman tried to reach for a firearm inside the passenger compartment while officers were searching the vehicle, however the woman was taken into custody before she could grab it, South San Francisco police said.KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container objec...

Muere el reconocido intelectual cubano Carlos Alberto Montaner

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

(CNN Español) — El periodista y escritor Carlos Alberto Montaner murió en su casa de Madrid este jueves, informó la familia en un comunicado.“Ha fallecido en su domicilio de modo apacible y acompañado de sus seres más queridos tras enfrentar una enfermedad neurodegenerativa”, agrega el documento.“En su nombre, su esposa Linda, sus hijos Gina y Carlos y sus nietas Paola, Gabriela y Claudia les dan las gracias a los profesionales de la sanidad pública española, a la Asociación Derecho a Morir Dignamente y a todos los familiares y amigos que le han manifestado tanto afecto en el tramo final de una prolífica vida marcada por la defensa de las libertades individuales”.Montaner nació en Cuba en 1943. También vivió en Miami y en Madrid, fue profesor universitario y columnista de varios medios en América Latina, España y Estados Unidos, entre ellos CNN en Español.Activo opositor del régimen castrista en Cuba, abogó toda su vida por la democracia en ese y otros países de nuestra región...

Millions of July 4th holiday travelers take to the road and skies

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:16 GMT

This year’s July Fourth holiday travel weekend is expected to set a record for people traveling by both car and plane.Hitting the roadAuto club AAA said it expected just over 43 million people to drive to their destinations this holiday weekend, a new all-time high and a 2.3% increase compared to last year.An additional 3 million people are expected to travel by bus, cruise or train, AAA said.“With record-breaking travelers expected on the road this holiday weekend, drivers should prepare for above-average delays to their favorite destinations,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement. “Using traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services are key to minimizing holiday travel traffic frustrations this Independence Day.”Friday is expected to be the busiest day out on the roads, and the D.C. area will see some of the worst traffic in the country. Drivers should get a head start by leaving before 10 a.m. or waiting until after 6 p.m., accord...