http://how-old.net - Microsoft thinks it can guess your age using facial recognition

Those weird profile photos you've seen on Facebook with yellow post-it note looking things above a person's head?

Let me explain.

Or let Microsoft corporate vice president Joseph Sirosh explain. He said onstage at Microsoft’s Build conference in San Francisco today:

“It’s a really fun API [application programming interface] that allows you to submit pictures, detect faces in that, and tells you an estimate of their age and gender,” 

Sirosh told everyone at the conference — in the crowd and online — to check out the app, at how-old.net, which uses Microsoft’s Face API.

Many have given it a try. But instead of generating 'Oh wow, this is accurate remarks on Twitter, the demo started a whole heap of memes, and some jibes about it on the ever-forgiving internet.

The site is powered by Microsoft Azure's Face APIs that not only recognise features and predict both gender and age. They can also group faces and determine if someone in multiple pictures is the same person. Windows 10 will use facial recognition as a log-in option and the tools that this Azure API offers would certainly come in handy for organizing that personal photo album -- expanding features already available in OneDrive.

Try it for yourself here: http://how-old.net

Did I try it? Yes. What did I get? A very generous 32 - I am 43. But I used a bloody good pic.

How about you…?

SBS Announces Australia’s Eurovision Jury Members

Just in: SBS has announced Australia’s Eurovision Jury members.

The famous 'douze' points - when the host or spokesperson states the top score in French during Eurovision Song Contest voting procedure - is legendary, and nearly as eccentric as the performances. Nearly.

Viewers in countries of participating broadcasters, including Australia, are invited to vote for their favourite songs in the Eurovision Semi-finals and Grand Final by televoting, which makes up 50% of the total vote.

The other 50% of the vote is decided by a National Jury in each participating country. Each jury comprises of a rag tag team of respected local music/entertainment figures with extensive experience in the industry and, of course, a passion for all things Eurovision.*

Australia – meet your 2015 Eurovision Jury, charged with the glamorous task of finding performers guilty of pop perfection … or of being criminally bad:

Amanda Pelman (Chair)
Amanda has a distinguished career in Australian music. She has worked at record labels where she signed a young Kylie Minogue, cast leading musicals (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), produced live events (Long Way to the Top) and judged music television programs (It Takes Two).

“All the Artists who appear on Eurovision are totally unique - not just in displaying the nuances of their specific nationalities, but in getting a grip on the ART of show business. Everything is over the top and fun filled. I wish the music industry would embrace more of this humour and joie de vie!"

Richard Wilkins
A trained violinist Richard is known as a television/radio host (Channel 9’s Today; Smooth FM) and performer (Grease: The Arena Spectacular). With 27 years in the Australian music and television industry he is a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the community through the entertainment industry.

“What’s not to love about Eurovision? I’m deeply honoured to be part of the Australian jury. Just a shame we can’t vote for Guy. But tell your rellies in Europe to vote 1 Australia!”
Danielle Spencer
Danielle began singing and learning piano at aged 4. As an adult she worked in film, television and theatre before releasing her debut album White Monkey in 2001. She toured internationally after the release of her second album in 2010 and is currently working on a new album.

 “As someone with a passion for music and performance, I’m thrilled to be part of a jury that assesses some of the world’s best performers on our biggest stage. It’s exciting to be part of Australia’s debut at Eurovision, and I’m sure Guy Sebastian will do us all proud. I can’t wait to see what the acts have in store for us and to hopefully discover the next ABBA or Conchita with my fellow jurors”. 

Jake Stone
Jake boasts a varied and successful music career as a performer (with his band Bluejuice), music journalist (The Sydney Morning Herald, Rolling Stone Australia), radio host (triple J), songwriter and event host (MusicNSW, Vivid Festival).

“From being in a band people thought was weird enough to compete in Eurovision, to actually being officially asked to judge Eurovision for Australia, it's been a dizzying and completely unexpected ride so far.”
Ash London
An MTV addict growing up, Ash has lived and breathed pop music since she first saw Britney cartwheel down the corridor in ‘Baby One More Time’. Since then, she’s spent majority of her 20s bringing pop music into the ears of Aussies on TV and radio as host of Take 40, The Loop and Shazam Top 20.

“From the tap dance shows in my living room, to my lifelong obsession with neon spandex and a deep seated love of show tunes, I feel as though my whole life has been working towards this point. What an honour to be involved in Australia's first ever shot at Eurovision glory!”

SBS Managing Director Mike Ebeid said:

"SBS is delighted to have so many well respected music and industry figures joining us on this incredible Eurovision ride as we compete in the contest for the first time. Amanda, Richard, Mark, Jake and Danielle each bring extensive knowledge and enthusiasm to the table and I’m confident that this 50 per cent of Australia's vote is in very safe hands."

Jury members and public voters can’t vote for their own countries, but there are plenty of other brilliant acts alongside our beloved Guy Sebastian.

Will the jurors embrace Armenia’s supergroup (including Australian Mary-Jean O’Doherty, an international coloratura soprano of Armenian ancestry)? Will Slovenia’s air violin playing singer Maraaya cause division in the voting room? Or will reigning champs Austria get a unanimous thumbs up with their slick rock entry, The Makemakes?

Both semi-finals will be shown in full on SBS ONE on Friday May 22 and Saturday May 23 from 7:30pm. The Grand Final featuring multi-talented singer and ARIA Award winner Guy Sebastian will screen on Sunday May 24 from 7:30pm.

SBS will broadcast both semi-finals and the Grand Final live on Wednesday May 20, Friday May 22 and Sunday morning May 24 from 5am.

Australians will be able to vote in the contest in the early broadcast and then join in the conversation using the hashtag #sbseurovision during the interactive evening prime-time broadcasts with tweets and party pictures on screen. The prime time broadcast will feature artist interviews, and behind the scenes clips with Australia's Eurovision hosts for SBS, Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang.

SBS will announce Australia’s Eurovision Spokesperson, who will deliver Australia’s votes during the live broadcast on Monday 18 May.

*The Eurovision Jury was selected by SBS and had to meet the criteria set out by the EBU.

Roz Kelly: Pregnancy Status Update - PHOTO

What a cute way to announce you're pregnant, without really announcing it…

The gorgeous and super lovely Roz Kelly - Nine Network viewers will remember her from her 'Today' show sports reports, and commentating for the network, before she headed over to South Africa to be with her partner and now husband Morné Morkel - has posted this photo, with this caption on Facebook:

Friendly community service notice: 
If you are busy or don't want to downward dog in public, check out #YogaGlo for yummy online classes. I've been rocking their #pregnancyyoga lessons in my lounge room most mornings & loving it. Namaste groove thangs.

She does, however, have lots of recent pregnancy pics on Instagram (just updated):

Hearts on Fire 💛 Captured by @hayleytalbot ✖️ @for.the.love.of.grace

A photo posted by ↞ Roz Kelly Morkel ↠ (@roz.kelly.morkel) on Apr 22, 2015 at 11:27pm PDT

Showered in Aussie babes continued ...Thanks for letting me eat all the cake. Gonna miss you gems! #latergram @hayleytalbot @leaandthesea @madelinefarmer @airliewalsh @leahpals @whatsarahsnapped

A photo posted by ↞ Roz Kelly Morkel ↠ (@roz.kelly.morkel) on Apr 21, 2015 at 1:44am PDT

AwkwardPreggyPics.com 🐣#latergramman @whatsarahsnapped

A photo posted by ↞ Roz Kelly Morkel ↠ (@roz.kelly.morkel) on Apr 20, 2015 at 2:52pm PDT

Our humps... Our humps 🐳 @madelinefarmer #showeredinbabes

A photo posted by ↞ Roz Kelly Morkel ↠ (@roz.kelly.morkel) on Apr 19, 2015 at 12:22am PDT

Beached as Bru ... 🐚

A photo posted by ↞ Roz Kelly Morkel ↠ (@roz.kelly.morkel) on Apr 16, 2015 at 11:05pm PDT

Exploring tea farms. Getting buzzed on herbals. Smuggling basketballs. Too much craziness for one day. 🍃🍂

A photo posted by ↞ Roz Kelly Morkel ↠ (@roz.kelly.morkel) on Apr 8, 2015 at 12:19am PDT

Hump day 🐣

A photo posted by ↞ Roz Kelly Morkel ↠ (@roz.kelly.morkel) on Mar 31, 2015 at 11:24pm PDT

Follow Roz and her fabulous, healthy advice and living well tid bits here on Facebook. And on Twitter here. And on Instagram here.

See more on Roz in her interview with Josie's Juice here.

And read and see the funny prank Karl Stefanovic played on her here.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley Cries on 'The Daily Edition' with Sally Obermeder, Talking About Breast Cancer: VIDEO

In some moving TV just now, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, a breast cancer survivor, has cried tears as Sally Obermeder asks her how she looks back at that time now, with her past breast cancer journey, on today's 'The Daily Edition'. Sally too has been through the same battle, and is also a survivor. KAK was on the show to talk about the excellent Kumho Tyres 'pink' campaign she is involved, called 'Pink Fitters Day'. You may have heard the radio ads. I hear them daily and I think it's a great - and clever - cause. The day is today, so head there to support it.

Initially answering Sally's question with "I don't", she then cries as she recalls those dark days, and reveals for the first time how Sally helped her on the very first day both women were having treatment, in the same hospital.

Here is that video:

That's Sal! Knows the journey and connects with people through that. Total sweetheart, Sal, and KAK.

Nonna Paola with SKIP App: VIDEO

Nonna Paola's new ad for the Sensis 'SKIP' app is hilarious.

Not posted yet on social media except for the company's YouTube page (Nonna's son Greg let me know about it this morning during our phone chat about Nonna's red carpet coverage on Sunday - see that interview here), here is what goes down.

Nonna plays assistant at a busy coffee shop, calling out people's names, while promoting this new app called 'SKIP.'

You can imagine the fun that transpires.

It's selfie and photo central, and in one instance, some people whose phone photo didn't quite a good shot, Nonna Paola says:

"That was a rubbish phone."

Calling out more names, she says: "Who's 'sexy'"? Looks like a cheeky bugger wanted to muck around a little with Nonna P.

And when the barista isn't fast enough?

"What are you doing? I'm waiting here for what?"

When a fellow Italian lady asks, 'Is this your coffee shop' - "E' il tuo?" - Nonna replies: "Se era il mio era ricca!" ("If it were mine, I'd be rich!").

She ends with: "SKIP very good. SKIP the best. I love SKIP."

Watch the whole very funny video here:

Follow the social media convo on #SkipWithNonna

Nonna Paola hosting Logies Red Carpet for KIIS 101.1: VIDEO + Interview

Nonna Paola is hosting the Logies red carpet for KIIS 101.1.

In news announced by Greg Lachimia on his Facebook page last night - Greg is of course Nonna Paola's son and the man behind all the Nonna P videos going viral - Nonna Paola is going to the TV Week Logie Awards this Sunday.

Here is the video, below:

Josie's Juice spoke to Greg this morning and he said:

The radio station contacted Nonna and asked if she'd like to attend the Logies red carpet with Jane Hall as one of their representatives and be on the red carpet on the day, and look I wasn't sure: we're talking about a 78 year old Calabrian grandmother who lives in the western suburbs, what is gonna say to people? And I spoke with Nonna, and she's like: what's the Logies? Who's the Logies. I think at that age, she would have seen the Logies before and she would have some comprehension on what it is, but never paid any attention to it, if that makes sense?

I've explained it to her, and they want to know who her favourite actors and actresses are. And she said: "Karl Stefanovic!"

And I said, "But he's not an actor, mum."

And she said: "Is he gonna be there?" And I said yes, and she said, "Okay, I'll talk to him."

"She's going to the radio station this morning to run through it all, and then on Sunday she'll be taken to the Crown Casino in Melbourne, where she'll get media accreditation, and then we can take it from there.

"Everyone wants to know when she's going to be on TV, what's she's going to be doing. Yes, she is excited.

People are saying, "We are proud on Nonna and what's she done - and also, 'Go Women Power!'" She's out there.

I think we've taken what has always been typecast and stereotyped on TV, and turned it into something genuine."

With Jane Hall's daughter Lucia (Lucia's dad is actor Vince Colosimo) being around her paternal grandmother, who is Italian, Jane is very familiar with the Nonnas of the world.

Greg agrees.

"Yes, that's why she can relate to the whole Nonna Paola thing. She feels that bond."

Adds Greg: "She talks to anybody like they're just people on the street. That's why people love Nonna."

Greg is proud of his mum, but it goes even deeper than what you see.

"People are saying to me, 'Good, we want to see an Italian, Calabrian grandmother to represent what our Nonnas are about. I mean, she's a 'nobody' basically, and now she's going on the red carpet. That's why I posted what I did on Facebook (see Greg's post below). Because I didn't want to see Nonna and say, why didn't you tell us! This is great!'

"Because she's my mother, and she's around me all the time, I think: gosh, I see other grandmothers and they're sweet and adorable. And here's my mother! It's very funny.

"It's something different! I'm just proud of her for even going on air.

"And I think, it's great for women! Women power! That's why I'm doing it. For women of that generation, you know? If there are critics that say, why are you doing this? Well, why not! And if they say, why do you speak to your mum like that, she's an old Calabrian woman, look at all the people she's making happy! She spoke to a young boy last night who doesn't have a grandmother, and it made him so happy. This kid doesn't have a grandmother, you know. How is that a negative? You know, my grandparents died before I was born. I never got the chance to hang with my Nonna. So, I'm sort of treating her like my Nonna."

People say to me, 'I want to adopt her, she's the Nonna I never had. So, I believe I've challenged that negativity and allow people to see it's actually a positive. It goes against that typical Italian thing where it's all, don't film me, don't put me out there."

Josie's Juice says here, it could be that these people are embarrassed about themselves, their accent, their mannerisms. It's actually like holding up a mirror. But Nonna Paola makes it all okay, all acceptable. Greg agrees.

"Yes, that is right. But I tell you what, this whole thing, this whole trip was scary, when I first started out. I didn't want people to make fun of her, I didn't want that. But that hasn't happened at all. But I didn't expect it to go this far, to be honest. I didn't know how people were going to take it. But now, if anything, they pick on me, speaking the way I speak," adds Greg with a laugh. "But that's the relationship I have with her! She tells me where to go all the time. I'm just so proud of the fact that we're so genuine, that we can tell it how it is. How many people at the dinner table, would dare put a video on the table, and record how they interact with one another!"

Josie's Juice talks about the video where Nonna P calls her telephone provider and tells them about an incorrect bill. It highlights what all Italo-Australian kids know - they've been making those phone calls for their parents for 40+ years and sometimes, I am frustrated by that!

Greg says I've hit the nail on the head: "See, that's why that phone bill video was posted up! That was the first time she's ever called anybody like that. Because she can't press hash, she can't do this. There's a point there. What happened to the good ol' days where you could just call someone. She doesn't know what to do, and that's the same for a lot of people of that era. They can't ring anyone anymore like that because they don't know what to do [with automated call centre calls]. So, she waits on the phone for 15 minutes until someone says hello. And at the end: 'Va fanculo!'"

"I know that on the red carpet she'll represent, and she'll smile and compliment people, she won't call them a dickhead. She knows what to do, and how to act. She'll have that class about her, she'll represent what they (the radio station) want her to do. It's all about heart."

Greg had written in his post on Facebook last night:

Greg Lachimia

14 hrs ·

I don't like boasting about things like this but I gotta say I'm so proud of my mum (nonna Paola) ....a true western suburbs women worked in the west for over 35 years payed her house off twice for unforseen reasons ......& has just been asked to attend the red carpet at the logies to interview a few of the celebrities.... I said no she says yes she wants to .....I'm so embarrassed lol should be interesting...….

Read more on Nonna Paola's Logies red carpet appearance here.

'Open Slather' - Gina versus Gina: Foxtel Comedy Channel VIDEO

This ad debuted on Foxtel last night. 'Open Slather', the new Foxtel Comedy Channel TV show.

It shows 'Gina' versus 'Gina':

I mean: Gina Riley (the 'Kim' from 'Kath & Kim'), playing Gina Liano, and Magda Szubanski playing Gina Rinehart. That's all you need to know. 

Here is the video, below:

Some of the 'Open Slather' cast. Photo by: Gina Milicia (c'mon! Another Gina! YES).

(And click on 'The Comedy Channel' hyperlink just below).

Foxtel just got funnier! Here’s a first look at Foxtel’s brand new sketch comedy series #OpenSlather – launching 7.30pm Sunday, May 24.
Posted by The Comedy Channel on Thursday, 30 April 2015

UPDATED: you can watch the whole first episode here.

The new sketch comedy series is from Rick McKenna and Laura Waters, and premieres Sunday May 24 at 7.30pm on The Comedy Channel.

The biggest names in Australian comedy are joining forces with a group of rising new stars for OPEN SLATHER, Foxtel’s highly anticipated, exclusive new local production from the producers behind Kath & Kim and Summer Heights High.

Jane Turner, Marg Downey, Glenn Robbins, Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski, Michael Veitch, Shane Jacobson and Stephen Curry have all been confirmed to star in the new weekly sketch comedy series, which is currently in production and will air exclusively on The Comedy Channel from Sunday May 24 at 7.30pm AEST.

OPEN SLATHER not only features legends of Australian comedy but also 12 newcomers and rising stars on the comedy circuit including Ben Gerrard, Ben Lomas, Dave Eastgate, Demi Lardner, Emily Taheny, George H. Xanthis, Hannah Bath, Holly Austin, Ilai Swindells, Jay K Cagatay, Laura Hughes andMiles O’Neil.

Brian Walsh, Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, said: “Foxtel is delighted to reunite this legendary group of comedic performers in this exciting new series, and thrilled to have the creative genius of Rick McKenna and Laura Waters on board to guide the new, up and coming performers. OPEN SLATHER is shaping up to be the must-watch comedy series of the year!

“Not since the golden era of sketch comedy over a decade ago has there been such an incredible line-up of comedic talent in the one show. Sunday night is the biggest night of the week for TV viewing, and the timeslot has great heritage in our TV history for popular and loved comedy programs. We are proud that OPEN SLATHER marks the return of sketch comedy to Australian audiences.

“Foxtel is committed to providing a platform for fresh comedy ideas and programming.  In addition to our incredibly popular line up of shows from the US on The Comedy Channel, this exclusive local production will bring a uniquely Australian flavour to the channel,” he said.

The 20-part series is being produced by McWaters Productions exclusively for Foxtel, and combines the extraordinary talents of two of Australia’s most coveted producers of television comedy, Rick McKenna and Laura Waters.

Rick has been involved in some of Australia's most iconic comedy franchises, including producing many of the stars of Full Frontal, Fast Forward and of course,Kath & Kim for which he served as Executive Producer.

“Australians love a laugh and particularly to laugh at themselves, and in present times we could use all we can get.  We have assembled a fantastic comedic team who will deliver plenty,” said Rick McKenna.

Laura is the creative force behind the new wave of cutting edge Australian comedy and most notably, the Executive Producer of all of Chris Lilley's series for HBO/BBC/ABC, including Ja’mie: Private School Girl, Angry Boys and Summer Heights High.

“The most important part of making a comedy show is that you’re having fun, and we are having a blast!  It would be hard to find a better group of people in the country to laugh with, and so far, we are pissing ourselves,” said Laura Waters.

Screenshot, Josie's Juice: 'Open Slather'.

Filmed in Melbourne with a live studio audience night, OPEN SLATHER will be a no holds barred send up of popular culture, politics, sport, music and media – all the things that capture the imagination of the public and get people laughing.

Open Slather premieres on Foxtel’s Comedy Channel, Sunday, May 24, 7.30pm