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West Hollywood company's AI services were actually 'allegedly inaccurate' fraud scheme, FTC says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

It seems every industry under the sun is expected to change drastically with the rise of artificial intelligence.That list now includes illegal activities like fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission.The agency said last month that three young entrepreneurs - Andrew Chapman and brothers John and Roman Cresto - stole millions from clients looking for ways to grow their online retail businesses using platforms like Amazon and Walmart.FTC attorneys secured a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against the business in August.Chapman and the Crestos allegedly set up multiple companies using names like Automators AI, Empire Ecommerce and Onyx Distribution to promise clients profit margins of 8 to 20% each month. Empire was based in West Hollywood, while the other businesses were listed as being in Las Vegas, San Diego, Encinitas and Tennessee.These businesses "claimed to use artificial intelligence to ensure success and profitability for consumers who agreed to invest wi...

Stolen big rig driver on the run after ramming police vehicle, authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

The driver of a stolen big rig remains on the loose after leading officers on a pursuit that ended with the suspect ramming a police vehicle in Riverside Monday morning. The incident began when Ontario police tried to stop a big rig just after midnight in the area of South Archibald Avenue and Mission Boulevard for missing license plates, Ontario Police Department spokesperson Maqueira confirmed. The driver of the big rig, which was reported stolen out of San Bernardino, failed to yield and a pursuit ensued, Maqueira said. Police search for a stolen big rig driver in Riverside on Sept. 11, 2023. (KTLA)The chase continued on the eastbound 60 Freeway until the driver exited on Market Street in Riverside. That's when the driver led officers down a dirt pathway and allegedly rammed one of their vehicles. “During the pursuit, the suspect intentionally rammed into our police units, disabling and trapping one of our officers. At which point an officer-involved shooting occurred,” Maqueira ...

Trojans, QB Caleb Williams making history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

No team in seven years has opened a season scoring at the rate Caleb Williams and Southern California are so far.The Trojans have scored at least 50 points in each of their first three games for the first time in program history.Their 56-10 rout of Stanford on Saturday ran their three-game total to 178 — the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision since Louisville combined for 195 points against Charlotte, Syracuse and Florida State to open the 2016 season, according to Sportradar.The 178 points are tied for second-most in any three-game stretch. The Trojans amassed 186 points in the first three games of the 1925 season and 178 in the first three games in 2005.USC's 49 first-half points against Stanford were its most since it piled up the same number against Notre Dame in 1974.Williams played only the first half against the Cardinal and threw for 312 yards and three TDs. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has a nation-leading 12 TD passes against no interceptions.Southern Califo...

Stars (Including Starr) Turn Out for Ed Asner Family Center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

Stars (Including Starr) Turn Out for Ed Asner Family Center: This is one of those occasions where the cause is more important than the music. The Ed Asner Family Center offers a multitude of programs to autistic and neurodivergent people and, as a video presentation told us on Saturday night at the Orpheum Theatre, they have a sliding pay scale and never turn a family away. Therefore, a fundraising concert such as this one is invaluable.“We are absolutely thrilled and profoundly grateful for this outstanding lineup of artists showing their support for The Ed Asner Family Center Charity Benefit Concert,” said Matthew Asner and Navah Paskowitz-Asner, The Founders of The Ed Asner Family Center in advance. “We would like to express our deepest appreciation for Steve Lukather. His passion, dedication and world-renowned talent have been an inspiration to us all and have helped bring our vision to life. It’s not just about his virtuosity as a guitarist, but also about his incredible heart....

Discover the Top 30 Hottest Artists to Watch Right Now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

The world of rap and R&B has always been a vibrant and ever-evolving landscape, constantly birthing new stars and pushing the boundaries of creativity. In this era of musical dynamism, it’s not enough to simply be good; artists need to be extraordinary to capture the hearts and ears of listeners. In this article, we’re going to delve into the realm of rap and R&B and introduce you to the top 30 artists you absolutely need to have on your radar.One of the fascinating aspects of this list is the incredible diversity it offers. From the gritty storytelling that delves into the harsh realities of life to the magnetic charisma that captures hearts and minds, each artist brings their unique style, personality, and voice to the table. Let’s start by exploring the various styles that these artists embody:The StorytellersSome artists have a remarkable ability to weave intricate tales through their lyrics, drawing listeners into the worlds they create. Much like Tupa...

Meet Transitional Moments Artist Pau S. Pescador

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

Pau S. Pescador (she/they) is a trans-nonbinary artist who explores their relationship to the world in playful, psychologically complex interdisciplinary works. Across a foundation of film, photography, and performance, she has always modeled an aggregated, community-immersed sensibility that flourishes in collaboration. At the same time, the richness of the kaleidoscopic psyche in their own inner world has often been the material, setting, and inspiration for their fanciful formulations. Pescador has a big week this week, with a pair of solo projects opening almost simultaneously—each in their own way depicting aspects of identity and ideas about becoming oneself. The Emancipation of P.P. at the Kleefeld Museum is part of a cycle of exhibitions exploring historical and contemporary LGBTQ creative practices. When the Home Becomes Body at Tyler Park Presents is a project of photo-collages documenting and poetically interpreting the process of evolving their physical appearance throug...

Cheers! 7 great new Bay Area beer gardens for Oktoberfest season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

The Bay Area fairly brims with wonderful breweries and taprooms — and each year brings a slew of new temptations. Sipping suds at new beer gardens from Livermore to Gilroy, we’ve  found the combination of twinkle lights, sudsy steins and outdoor settings impossible to resist. You will too.From Alameda’s just-opened Humble Sea to Gilroy’s Bitter TapHouse and Livermore’s Dust Bowl, these seven beer gardens boast all sorts of outdoor offerings — beer, yes, but also cinnamon-sugar pretzel bites, lawn games, airplane sightings and re-imagined shipping containers. (Psst, there’s an eighth on the way too: Hobee’s will be opening a beer garden in San Jose’s historic Germania Hall later this year.)Here’s where to sip some suds outdoors this Oktoberfest season. Prost!Dust Bowl Brewing Co., LivermoreCustomers sit by the fire pit while enjoying their drinks at Dust Bowl Brewing’s new taproom and beer garden in Livermore. (Jose Carlos Fajardo...

Two men fatally shot in Oakland, one during home invasion robbery another at a homeless camp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

OAKLAND — The city recorded its 86th and 87th homicides of the year Sunday evening and Monday morning, with a man being fatally shot during a home-invasion robbery in West Oakland and another man shot to death at a homeless camp in East Oakland, authorities said.The number of homicides is the same that police had investigated last year at this time, authorities said. Police investigated 120 homicides in the city for all of 2022.The names of the men killed were not immediately released by authorities pending confirmation of their identities and notification of their next of kin.The home-invasion robbery shooting happened about 6:08 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of 11th Street in West Oakland. Killed was a 57-year-old man who authorities said resided at the home.Authorities said a woman was also at the residence when someone knocked on the door and she went to answer. It was not immediately clear if the woman also lived there or was visiting.When she opened the door, a man burst...

A look back at every iPhone ever

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

By Jennifer Korn and Marie Barbier | CNNNew York — The iPhone redefined the term “cell phone.” Apple’s trademark product revolutionized the mobile phone industry, shifting from flip phones and keyboards to large screens and powerful cameras.With 1.2 billion units reportedly sold, the iPhone is arguably the most popular tech device in the world.With Apple set to unveil the iPhone 15 on Tuesday — chock full of rumored new features like a USB-C charging port, new colors and better battery performance — here is a look back at every iPhone to hit stores.2007: The Original iPhone, a phone with internetApple releases the original iPhone, a much-anticipated device that combines an iPod, phone and what then-company chairman Steve Jobs calls an “internet communicator.”“This is a day I’ve been looking forward to for two-and-a-half years,” Jobs told the crowd when unveiling the new $399 product, a 16 GB phone with a relatively terrible 2.0 megapixel camera and relatively large 3.5” screen.2008:...

Pac-12 power ratings: Washington, USC, Utah on top (again) as conference occupies one-third of AP top-25 poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:31 GMT

Let’s start the weekly power ratings with a brief look at the national rankings.The Pac-12 placed eight teams in the latest AP top-25 poll, three more than the SEC and four more than the Big Ten.It’s the highest total in conference history, besting the previous record of six (set several times). Only the SEC has ever placed at least eight teams in the AP poll.Through two weeks, the Pac-12 is 20-3 against non-conference opponents and 6-3 against Power Five foes.And the conference should be in this same spot next week, too.Of the eight ranked teams, one is idle on Saturday (USC), six are heavy favorites and the eighth, Washington, has a challenging game but is unlikely to drop out of the poll with a loss.All of which means the Pac-12 will enter conference play (Sept. 23) with two-thirds of its teams ranked, setting up a barrage of premier matchups through the heart of the season and College Football Playoff selection process.And then: kaboom!To the power ratings …1. ...