Friday, 10 June, 2022
Petrol cars an endangered species; Ikea’s baby-name games; Mr Beast meets Willy Wonka; and why ugly fish need your help.
LINKS
Mr. Beast’s Chocolate Factory: https://video.link/w/G2hwd
Squiz Kids for Schools – Free 30 Day Trial: https://www.squizkids.com.au/squiz-kids-for-schools/
Squiz Kids Apple Subscriber Content – Free 7 Day Trial: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/squiz-kids/id1494238283
Squiz Kids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squizkids/?hl=en
Got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out? Send us an email at [email protected]
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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The future of cars fueled by petrol got a little bit dimmer yesterday when law makers in Europe voted to ban the sale of combustion engine cars by the year 2035.
Why is that a thing? Because it is set to completely change the way we all get around.
Combustion engines are engines that use petrol to run. They were invented back in the 1880s … and have been powering motor vehicles pretty much ever since.
By banning the sale of cars powered by combustion engines, more and more people will buy electric vehicles, which are considered to better for the environment.
In Europe, the transport industry is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise every year – with road vehicles accounting for over one fifth of carbon dioxide emissions as recently as five years ago.
The move by law makers in Europe follows a similar move by the neighbouring United Kingdom – which announced last year it would ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
If you think you might want to grow up to become an auto mechanic or engineer – maybe focus on electric vehicles … that’s a tip from me to you.
SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops. And today we’ve landed in Norway – where in a few years time, kids could be going to school with kids called Malm, Lack, Klepstadd and Dunkelskog …
That’s because the Norwegian arm of the Swedish furniture company has decided to help new parents in Norway by releasing a list of baby names – based on the names Ikea gives to its furniture.
If you’ve ever been to an Ikea – and let’s face it who hasn’t?- you’ll know there are tables called Lack and chests of drawers called Malm and sofas called Ektorp ..
It just so happens there has been a baby boom in Norway – and Ikea has suggested new parents delve into the company’s ‘name bank’ when they get to choosing a name for their newborn.
Because who doesn’t want a child named after a dish rack?
I suppose at least they have bookcases called Billy … so you know, all is not lost..
POP CULTURE CORNER
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I don’t know about you, but the entire time I was reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… and watching both versions of the movie… I kept thinking, I want to go to that factory! A river of chocolate? Sign me up!
Well, the YouTuber Mr. Beast—the 24-year-old with millions of views, and millions of dollars—has built Willy Wonka’s factory in real life… complete with chocolate doors, a marshmallow room, and yes, a chocolate river. And his video about it, which already has more than 50 million views, pits 10 contestants against each other in a series of challenges, like speed eating chocolate, hurling gigantic mints into a monster bottle of cola, and identifying a toilet made out of cake. Yes, you heard that correctly.
I’ve stuck a link to the video in your episode notes – but be warned: it’s 17 minutes long and is packed with ads and sponsors – because that’s how Mr Beast makes the money to do crazy stuff like build fantasy chocolate factories.
Oompa loompa oompity doo.
GET SOCIAL
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Is Squiz Kids part of your daily routine? We want to see how you listen to us each day – and where you listen to us – in the car, in the classroom, over the breakfast table, while you’re brushing your teeth. Post a story to your Instagram – and don’t forget to tag @squizkids .. and thanks to those of you who have done so already.. With a special shout out to Riani and Federik from Mudgee for sending us a pic of you two listening in the car ..I love the look of your footy Federik …. Keep an eye on our Instagram account @squizkids where we’ll be re-posting your pics and stories as they come in ..
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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Ahh .. Nemo … a cute little clown fish. And what about Dory? An adorable little Palette Surgeonfish. In fact, think of all of the fish that you see on TV and movies and they all have one thing in common … they’re cute as all get out and easy to fall in love with.
Well now conservationists have issued a warning saying that ugly fish need our attention too. A study has been done that shows people are more inclined to want to save coral reefs that contain cute fish than ones with googly eyes or ugly mouths. And that means fish that are less attractive are more endangered than the pretty ones.
And the thing is, according to scientists, each one of these creatures plays an important role in every ecosystem they’re a part of.
So yeah: support the cute fish – by all means – but spare a thought for the ones who are perhaps what my mother-in-law might call a little bit challenged in the looks department. Do it for the planet.
MIDROLL
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Have you ever wondered why a banana is curved? Or how a potato starts its life if it has no seeds? Well now you can find out.
The Woolworths Fresh Food Kids Discovery Tour program is all about helping early learning centre kids and primary school kids to discover where our fruit and veggies come from.
It’s a classroom experience with fun digital activities, designed with the help of smart foodie people – educators, nutritionists and a food scientist!
From getting crafty with using their senses, to a flying fruit and vegie rainbow – and growing a beetroot in AR – the Fresh Food KIds Discovery Tour progam helps kids learn all about how food gets from the farm all the way to your fork.
Teachers, check it out and grab a free classroom kit at woolworths.com.au/discoverytours
THE SQUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- Which two Scandinavian countries are mentioned in today’s Spin The Globe story about Ikea .. one starts with N, the other with S …
- Name the YouTuber who built Willy Wonka’s factory?
- Nemo is what sort of a popular, super cute fish?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s June 10 … birthday of Maurice Sendak … what do you mean you’ve never heard of him .. he’s the author of Where The Wild Things Are .. a truly excellent kids’ book – which if you’ve never read, you need to get onto pronto ..
It’s also a Friday … and you know what that means. An extra long birthday shout-outs segment – for which we’ll have to crack out the ol’ birthday reggae tune … hit it ..
The following Squiz Kids are celebrating a birthday today…Chloe from Cairns, Sarah from Hallett Cove, Molly from Bombala, Eloise from North Wahroonga, Jemma from Yass, Poppy and Amelie from Orange and Emma who is travelling in the Kimberleys!
And a belated shoutout goes to…Conner from Gladstone.
Not forgetting of course all of those Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday over the coming long weekend (well for some of us)… and my oh my – i’m going to need to take a deep breath to get through all of these ,,, here we go … Alannah from Clarendon, Ethaniell from Huntingdale, Matthew from Carlton, Elijah and Isaac from Balmoral, Harper from Perth, Harvey from Ainslie, Ned from Garran, Martha from Sydney, Amarlia from Shoal Bay, Zoe from Woongarrah, Daniel from Lake Macquarie, Chloe from Currumbin, Tony from Altona Meadows, Jacqui-Anna from Randwick, Manaia from Kempsey, Archie from Broken Hill, Hopey from Gubbi Gubbi Country, Jeremy from Thornleigh, Mo from Preston and Annabel from Herberton.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Norway and Sweden
- Mr Beast
- Clown fish