Friday, 11 June, 2021
The G7 Summit and you; Antarctica’s very own ocean; Olympic swimmers on your marks!; and the BTS burger meltdown.
LINKS
BTS burger frenzy https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-10/mcdonalds-bts-meal-frenzy-sparks-virus-closures-in-indonesia/100204636
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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So, what do you have planned for the weekend? A bit of weekend sport? Hiding from the cold? Or monitoring the goings on at the G7 Summit – as the heads of government of some of the biggest countries in the world get together to nut out some of the world’s most pressing problems.
The US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan in a big ol’ international get together in the English county of Cornwall.
Nothin’ to do with me, I hear you say. But that’s where you’d be wrong. Because among the things being discussed will be how and where and when the coronavirus started … which many believe is important for us to know so we can, you know, avoid it happening again. Other things on the agenda: climate change – and, well, we all share the same climate. The world leaders will set targets for things like us all shifting from cars that use petrol to cars that are electric. And, well, most of us use cars.
And while Australia is not a member of the G7 – we’ve been invited to come along – and so our PM, Scott Morrison will make an appearance.
When it’s all over, US President Joe Biden will meet with the Queen while he’s in England – because who doesn’t want to hang with a queen in her palace?
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There was white stuff aplenty up and down the east coast of Australia yesterday as the polar blast from Antarctica dumped snow in a long arc through New South Wales. In the town of Orange in country NSW there were snowball fights and sledding on every hill as the place was blanketed in snow – while in the Blue Mountains, on the outskirts of Sydney, residents woke to a winter wonderland. No such luck for Queensland though – where hundreds of snow-hunters were left disappointed by freezing temperatures but not even a light dusting of the white stuff.
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 the Antarctic … where a brand new ocean has just been named.
Wait. What? A brand new ocean? How does that even work? It’s not like you go to an ocean shop and buy a new one and plonk it down on the Earth …
Scientists who work for a very prestigious organisation called the National Geographic Society yesterday declared they would be adding a fifth ocean to all atlases and maps they produce. Currently, there are four oceans in the world – the Atlantic, the Indian, the Arctic and the Pacific. But it’s been decided that the waters around Antarctica are different enough that they deserve to have their own name.
And so, ladies and gentlemen, please add to your ocean list the newest entrant in this exclusive club — the Southern Ocean.
And get this for a fun fact: the Southern Ocean – which encircles the continent of Antarctica at the bottom of the Earth – is the only ocean in the world to touch three other oceans. If you’ve got a world globe handy – take a look and see if you can name which oceans it borders.
Who says I don’t know how to have fun ?
SPORTS TIME
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On your marks … get set … go! That’s the cue our Olympic swim team hopefuls will be waiting for this weekend as they take part in the Australian team trials in Adelaide.
It’s high stakes as swimmers from all over the country compete for a spot on the Dolphins swim team – which is the name of the Aussie Olympic swim team.
With the Tokyo Olympics just over a month away – our swimmers will be leaving nothing outside the pool – hoping that many years of training culminates in a successful trial. No pressure then …
Names to watch this weekend: Mack Horton, who’ll be looking to defend his Olympic gold; Cate Campbell; Emma McKeon and newcomer Kaylee McKeown. Home town boy and Olympic gold medallist, Kyle Chalmers – and the wild card? Well that would be pop star Cody Simpson – who’s making a very public dash for Olympic glory. Racers. Take your marks …
POP CULTURE CORNER
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Here’s a story that has all the elements we love here at Squiz Kids. Burgers, fries, milkshakes and BTS.
No fewer than twelve McDonald’s restaurants in Indonesia had to be closed down yesterday after a promotion involving the Korean boy-band, BTS saw the Golden Arches inundated with food delivery drivers sent there by thousands of Indonesian teenagers desperate to get their hands on a BTS burger.
Police had to be called to some stores to restore order as fights broke out among delivery drivers.
Now – in the interests of good journalism: I did some research and discovered the BTS meal is essentially nuggets, fries and a Coke. With a special BTS sauce. Nuthin’ all that special as far as I can see. But that, my friends, is what is called ‘marketing’ – and also, what we call the ‘power of of a pop culture phenomenon’.
Dynamite.
My Lockdown Life
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Yes folks … today’s the day for our very special, second episode of My Lockdown Life – where the kids of Melbourne give us a glimpse of life inside the belly of their fourth lockdown …
You;ve heard the sneak peeks all week – oh look, that rhymed … and now it’s time to get the whole enchilada.
As Squiz Kids in Melbourne troop back to school today, after a fortnight of being stuck in their homes, lend them your ears and discover what an optimistic and resilient bunch they are … not to mention their parents and teachers …
If you’re listening via a podcasting app – My Lockdown Life should play automatically after this episode of Squiz Kids – otherwise, you can find it on our website – squizkids.com.au
THE S’QUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- What’s the name of the world leaders’ summit happening in England this weekend?
- What’s the name of the new ocean made up of the waters around Antarctica?
- Which Korean boy-band has inspired fast food chaos in Indonesia?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s June 11 … on this day, 251 years ago, English explorer Captain James Cook was sailing up the east coast of Australia and he stumbled upon the Great Barrier Reef. Wonder if he went snorkeling?
It’s also a Friday …and it’s a long weekend – so that means an extra long birthday shout out – for which I reckon we ought to break out the ol’ birthday reggae tune … ready to dance? Hit it …
Happy birthday to these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today… Sierra from Sydney, Bella from Denistone East, Betty-Faye from Glen Innes, Martha from Stanmore, Finn from O’Connor, Senya from Camp Mountain, Will from Proserpine, Harvey from Canberra, Will from Barwite, Eva from Dandaloo, Lily from Cronulla, Nicole from Gymea and Carmel from Kununurra.
And some belated birthday shoutouts to … Chloe from Binalong and Sarah Lee from Doncaster East
And not forgetting of course all of those Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday over the weekend … Ashlee from Goomalling, Carl from Bathurst, Chloe from Currumbin, Tyrieka from Ashmont, Will from Mansfield, Gabi from Exeter, Craig from Deans Marsh, Inara from Oakleigh, Zoe and Hunter from Lane Cove, Rory from Hughenden, Saaya from Perth, Annabel from Herberton, Logan from Canberra, Elly from NSW, Connor from Camp Hill, Jake from Frenchs Forest, Jaxon from Goomalling, Zac from Oran Park, Charlie from Paralowie, Bradley from Liverpool and Toby from Paddington.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- G7
- Southern Ocean
- BTS