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Is ChatGPT a sommelier in the making?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

By Peg Melnik, The Press Democrat (TNS)Mar. 24—Are wine professionals intimidated by ChatGPT, that upstart chatbot that recently passed three Master Sommelier theory exams?Chatbots are software designed to interact conversationally with humans. Think of the customer service pop-ups you see when you log onto your cell phone account.Launched in November 2022, ChatGPT is trained to respond to questions with a detailed answer or offer a solution.“GPT-4 is a large multimodal model (accepting image and text inputs, emitting text outputs) that, while less capable than humans in many real-world scenarios, exhibits human-level performance on various professional and academic benchmarks,” according to OpenAI, which developed the software and launched it in partnership with Microsoft.The rigorous Master Sommelier exam is split into theory and practical sections. Wine professionals study for months to pass it.The questions are detailed, covering alternative methods of production for...

Cinco de Mayo traffic diversions were ‘strategic’ and ‘not new,’ San Jose police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

San Jose officials on Monday defended their choice to cut off freeway access to the city’s downtown for much of Cinco de Mayo weekend, saying the move was necessary to preserve safety, even while others criticized it as “racist” and “blatantly unconstitutional.”Speaking to the Bay Area News Group, San Jose police spokesman Ofc. Steven Aponte said that police leaders reached out to Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol to make requests for freeway off-ramp closures over Cinco de Mayo weekend.  The list of closures included northbound and southbound off-ramps from U.S. 101 at four different exits, as well as four exits from northbound Highway 87 and one exit in each direction from Interstate 280.The closures were in effect for huge stretches of the weekend, starting at 7 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and lasting until 2 a.m. the following morning on each day.In a statement last week, CalTrans cited public safety and an “organized ...

After release on bail in harrowing family abduction case, Las Vegas man allegedly sought hitman to kidnap family from Oakland or Fresno

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

FRESNO — Last October, Las Vegas resident Justin Junius Carter was arrested and charged with kidnapping his entire family at knifepoint and moving them to another city in Nevada, an alleged crime that authorities say was only thwarted because his estranged wife was able to sneak a 911 call in the moving vehicle without Carter noticing.But according to federal prosecutors, Carter’s arrest wasn’t enough to deter him. After posting $500,000 bail to secure his release on an ankle monitor with pending charges in Clark County, Nevada, Carter allegedly got online and offered a hitman $29,000 to once again abduct his wife and children.Now, Carter is facing federal charges of attempted kidnapping, to go with the ongoing kidnapping, burglary, and dissuading a witness state charges in Nevada. According to the federal criminal complaint, Homeland Security Investigations received a tip back in November from an unnamed “foreign law enforcement agency” stating Carter ...

Police ID Antioch man found fatally shot while driving in Oakland

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

OAKLAND — A 27-year-old Antioch man fatally shot as he was driving in East Oakland Saturday morning was identified by police Monday as Mitchell Monroe.Monroe, the father of two young daughters, was found just before 4 a.m. Saturday in the 3900 block of Keller Avenue, near where his car had crashed after the shooting, authorities said. He died later at a hospital.Investigators don’t have a motive yet for the killing and are trying to confirm why Monroe was in Oakland. No arrests have been made.Police said they were told Monroe had just gotten his barber’s license.In a GoFundMe account set up by relatives to cover funeral expenses and help his daughters, Monroe was described as “a loving father, a devoted brother, and a cherished friend who had a heart full of warmth and generosity.” His daughters  “were the center of his world, and he made it his life’s mission to ensure they felt loved and protected every single day,” the narrative say...

Sale closed in Milpitas: $1.7 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

296 Summerfield Drive – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 200 block of Summerfield Drive in Milpitas was sold on April 20, 2023. The $1,725,000 purchase price works out to $941 per square foot. The house, built in 1998, has an interior space of 1,833 square feet. The property features three bedrooms, three baths, a garage, and two parking spaces. There’s also a pool in the backyard. The unit sits on a 4,294-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:In August 2022, a 1,824-square-foot home on Moonbeam Way in Milpitas sold for $1,700,000, a price per square foot of $932. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Woodland Way, Milpitas, in March 2023, a 1,247-square-foot home was sold for $1,155,000, a price per square foot of $926. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 2,170-square-foot home on the first block of Greentree Circle in Milpitas sold in October 2022, for $1,700,500, a price per square foot of $784. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 ...

Wine 101: Tasting room tips

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

By Peg Melnik, The Press Democrat (TNS)Wine tasting rooms entered the mainstream back in 2004 when Miles (played by Paul Giamatti) had a meltdown and drank from a spit bucket in the hit film “Sideways.”From then on, everyone knew exactly what not to do.The best wineries will walk you through a tasting without making you feel awkward. But here are 10 tips to help you feel comfortable and get the most out of a tasting room experience.1. Research which wineries you want to visit based on location and your favorite varietals. Choose two or three for the day and pick wineries that are relatively near and that produce varietals that appeal to you.2. Keep in mind if you love Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, you’ll want to gravitate to wineries in the Russian River Valley, the Carneros and the Sonoma Coast. If it’s Cabernet Sauvignon you fancy, you’ll want to target the Alexander Valley. Meanwhile, the Dry Creek Valley has made a name for itself with Zinfandel and Sa...

Axe-wielding man who smashed through sliding glass door arrested in Rohnert Park

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

(KRON) -- A man who police say smashed through a rear sliding glass door to gain entry to a home in Rohnert Park while armed with an axe Sunday night has been arrested, according to police. The homeowner called 911 around 7:25 p.m. Sunday.The caller informed dispatch than an unknown subject had broken into his house on the 400 block of Bruce Avenue. The suspect had an axe, smashed through the glass door and gained entry to the home, police said. Masseuse arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting client The resident was able to get out through the front door and call 911. RPDPS officers quickly arrived on the scene and set up a perimeter around the home. The resident informed officers that he didn't know the intruder.With a perimeter in place, officers made announcements asking the subject to come out. After getting no indication from the man that he would comply, officers made their way to the front door where they were able to observe him sitting on a couch. T-Mobile closes f...

Cherry Hill: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

FARMINGDALE, N.J. (AP) — FARMINGDALE, N.J. (AP) — Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corp. (CHMI) on Monday reported a loss of $18.9 million in its first quarter.The Farmingdale, New Jersey-based company said it had a loss of 87 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 21 cents per share.The residential real estate finance company posted revenue of $11.8 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $160,000._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CHMI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CHMISource

Jokic fined $25K by NBA for making contact with Suns owner

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was fined $25,000 by the league Monday for making improper contact in the stands with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.No suspension, though. The two-time NBA MVP is all set for Game 5 on Tuesday night in Denver, with the second-round series tied at 2-2.It was nearly the outcome Ishbia was hoping for in a series where the home team has won every game.On his Twitter account Monday, Ishbia praised his team’s performance and urged no further disciplinary action for Jokic.“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far!” Ishbia posted. “That should be and is the only story. Suspending or fining anyone over last nights incident would not be right. I have alot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!”Jokic was assessed a technical foul in the second quarter of Game 4 on Sunday night when the big man tried to snatch the ball back from Ishbia, who was sitting courtside, and ...

3D Systems: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — 3D Systems Corp. (DDD) on Monday reported a loss of $29.4 million in its first quarter.The Rock Hill, South Carolina-based company said it had a loss of 23 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, came to 9 cents per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 8 cents per share.The maker of 3D printers posted revenue of $121.2 million in the period, which also did not meet Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $130.4 million.3D Systems expects full-year revenue in the range of $545 million to $575 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on DDD at https://www.zacks.com/ap/DDDSource