Friday, 2 September, 2022
Sending babies to work; the man who kisses alligators; Serena’s big tennis win; and how to build a shark.
LINKS
Wallygator’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wallygatornjoie/
How to build a shark: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/foam-fibreglass-and-fake-teeth-how-to-build-a-shark-20220830-p5bdz6.html
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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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There’s a big meeting happening in Canberra today – day two of the grandly-titled Jobs and Skills Summit.
You’ll hear a lot about it on the news today – as politicians and business people and trade unionists and disability advocate Dylan Alcott get together in Parliament House and discuss ways of preparing Australia and Australians for the world of work of the future.
But in Japan it seems they’re one step ahead – with the news yesterday that babies as young as six months old are being sent off to work.
Well – not really being sent off to work. But they’re being put to good use in aged care and nursing homes, bringing smiles to the faces of elderly residents.
A nursing home in the Japanese town of Kitakyushu has posted a job advertisement for babies and children under the age of four – knowing that when they visit, it brightens the day of the nursing home residents.
The babies are allowed to show up to work whenever it suits them and take a break for a nap whenever they feel like it. Which sounds like my dream job.
But they have to come to work with a parent or guardian and they only get paid in baby milk formula and nappies. Which maybe wouldn’t work for me afterall.
More than 30 babies have signed up so far to help lift the spirits of the nursing home’s 100 elderly residents.
I wonder what Boss Baby would make of that?
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’re back in the United States – drawn back for the second time this week to Wally the emotional support alligator.
You might remember we talked about Wally in Animal Kingdom earlier in the week – after he had been taken for a walk on a leash in a public water-park in downtown Philadelphia.
Well today, Wally is back – after news his owner Joe has entered him in the competition to be named America’s Favourite Pet.
It’s a competition that is usually for dogs and cats – but this year, Wally will be proudly representing the oversized reptiles.
What’s an emotional support pet? It’s a pet that has special status in the eyes of authorities – a pet that has clearance to travel pretty much anywhere with its owner because of the important role it plays in their owner’s life.
And yes, in case you were wondering: it’s legal to keep alligators as pets in the US state of Pennsylvania .. but not so much in most other states.
As Joe says: “Wally is a special gator – but i wouldn’t recommend anyone get one. If you don’t know what you’re doing you will get bit.”
I’ve stuck a link to Wally’s Instagram account in today’s episode notes.
SPORT TIME
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It was an action-packed day at the US Open tennis tournament yesterday with two big wins for fan favourites – and the prospect of a Aussie versus American showdown that is going to leave us unsure who to barrack for.
Local lad Nick Kyrgios got things off to a good start for Australia, clawing his way to victory against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi – who has the best name in the whole tournament in my humble opinion – and advancing to the third round.
It’s off to the third round too for Serena Williams – the American tennis champ for whom this is her last ever tournament – after 27 years of playing. By beating world number 2 player, Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit – the 40 yo Serena will now take on Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic in the next round.
Who are we going to cheer for now?
After the win – and as a nod to her home crowd at New York’s Arthur Ashe stadium, Serena said: “I’m loving this crowd, and there’s still a little left in me. We’ll see.”
Indeed we will, Serena. Indeed we will.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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Watch out, Sydneysiders! There are some really big sharks heading your way! Okay, they’re model sharks… and they’re coming to your city on a truck. But wow, do they look real! The Australian Museum’s Sharks exhibition, which opens on September 24, will feature 11 lifesize, biologically accurate shark models that have been made by a special studio in Perth. I’ve put a link in your episode notes that includes photos, as well as a video of a shark’s head being 3D printed – a process that could take up to a whole month! The studio worked carefully with scientists at the museum to make sure the sharks were the right shapes, colours, and sizes. Believe me, if I saw one of these when I was snorkelling, I’d think they were real—especially those impressive rows of teeth on the nurse shark – yikes! Apparently it took days to put them all in with super glue and tweezers…
WANT TO WORK FOR SQUIZ KIDS?
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A little message to all the teachers out there … Squiz Kids is excited to announce we’re hiring … if you are, or you know a primary school teacher who’d be a great fit for the Squiz Kids team – who would love the chance the help us create daily classroom resources and podcasts for our Squiz Kids for Schools program – who loves news, writes like a dream and wants flexible hours (meaning you can work in your PJs) alongside a super fun team – we’d love to hear from you. Throw your CV into some semblance of order and send us an email quicksticks at [email protected]
I’ve stuck the link in today’s episode notes …
THE SQUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- Name the American tennis champ, in her final ever tournament, who’s through to the second round of the US Open?
- 3D, scarily lifelike models of what predator of the sea are being built for a museum exhibition in Sydney?
- What sort of animal is Wally, the most unusual emotional support pet?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s September 2 …. National Lazy Mom’s Day in the United States – where mums are encourage to take it easy… I reckon there are a few people listening today who’d like to import that holiday into Australia … and speaking of parents – don’t forget it’s Father’s Day on Sunday!
It’s also a Friday … and that means lots of birthday shout outs for today and the coming weekend – so let’s give that birthday reggae tune a bit of a spin .. hit it ..
Happy birthday to these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today …
Wilbur from Jerilderie, Axel from Mount Claremont, Grace from Victoria, Eli from Ashmont, Harriet from Bateau Bay, Frederick from Mudgee, Elana from Kingsville, Jonathan from Raby, Ryan from Adelaide, Evelyn from Doncaster East, Jo from Canberra, Tilly from Naremburn, Grace from Echuca, Issac from Petersham and Candice listening over in Kenya.
A belated shoutout goes to Sienna from Dakabin.
Not forgetting of course all of those Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday over the coming weekend … happy birthday to …Rishaan (pronounced Rish-ar-n) from Woongarrah, Remy from Canberra, Joseph from Dapto, Harmehar from Craigburn, Margot from Harbord, Hannah from Yokine, Ewan from Mosman, Charlie from Queanbeyan, Noah from Shoal Bay, Schuyler from Parramatta, Lucas from Berowra Heights, Alison from Balmain, Jadon from Sydney, Saiesha (pronounced Say-ee-sha) from Forest Lake and Dottie from Sherwood.
And a very big welcome to Natalie Pitaro, a home educator, Ms Bony and her year 6 class at Logan Reserve State School and Ms Wadhams from Mount Gravatt State High – all have just signed up to a Squiz Kids for Schools Membership. Delighted to have you with us!
Find out more about our Term 4 promo at the link in the episode notes.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Serena
- Sharks
- Alligator