Thursday, 20 August, 2020
Free vaccines for all; it’s snowing chocolate in Switzerland; the Darth Vader sea monster; and Untitled Goose goes multiplayer.
LINKS
Darth Vader isopod: https://www.instagram.com/p/BhDgDqtlPfV/?utm_source=ig_embed
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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There was movement on the coronavirus vaccine front yesterday after the Federal Government announced it had signed an agreement with the drug company behind one of the more promising COVID vaccine trials that will enable us to produce enough free vaccines for everyone in Australia.
But don’t break out the party poppers just yet – it’s all dependent on trials of the Oxford University vaccine continuing to go well – which is still very much a work in progress.
The deal with the drug company – if it comes to pass – would allow for a vaccine laboratory here in Australia to produce the millions of doses of vaccine that we would need to ensure all Aussies had access to it.
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And while we’re here and on the subject of everyone’s favourite topic: the coronavirus … There was an interesting study out yesterday that found that countries that had female leaders had a better health outcome when it came to the pandemic. Which is to say: less people had died from the coronavirus. According to the report, countries like New Zealand, Denmark, Germany and Finland – which all have female leaders who had prioritised health over the economy – suffered half as many deaths as countries led by blokes.
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 Switzerland .. where every kid’s dream has just come true after villagers stepped outside their homes to find it was snowing chocolate.
The village of Olten is home to a Lindt chocolate factory. And a few days ago, there was a malfunction in the factory’s ventilation system, causing it to spew forth a cloud of pure chocolate. Strong winds in the area on the day carried the chocolate cloud across the whole town, sending tiny particles of chocolate powder fluttering down on the locals. And their cars. And their washing.
Which sounds to me like the sort of snow storm you’d be happy to be out in … with your tongue out.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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From the depths of the ocean off the coast of Indonesia, researchers have pulled a massive, cockroach-style crustacean which they’ve called a Darth Vader isopod, because of its striking resemblance to the Star Wars baddie.
A crustacean is a family of animals that include crabs, lobsters and yabbies.
The Darth Vader isopod is the biggest one of its kind. They look a bit like an oversized cockroach and grow to about the size of a puppy and spend their days skittering along the bottom of the sea. Creepy…
It’s not the first time scientists have come across the Darth Vader isopod. Previous expeditions observed a group of Darth Vaders feasting on the carcass of an alligator by tearing it to shreds with their four sets of jaws each. There’s a link in today’s episode notes to a photo of a Darth Vader. But be warned: it’s not pretty.
POP CULTURE CORNER
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Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the farmyard … there’s another goose on the loose.
We’re talking the insanely popular video game, Untitled Goose Game.
Created here in Australia by game developers in Melbourne, the Untitled Goose Game (yes, that is its name) – has just been upgraded and had a second goose added.
So I guess that now makes it the Untitled Geese Game?
The game follows the adventures of a goose – or a pair of geese – as they run around a farmyard terrorising everyone and everything they come across.
It set the gaming world on fire when it was first released last September – and now that it’s gone multiplayer – the fire has been stoked again.
Honk, honk!
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 has been raining down on a village in Switzerland?
- What Star Wars character has a crustacean from the deep been named after?
- What’s the totally confusing name of the video game which has just been upgraded to feature two mischievous geese?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s August 20 ….. World Mosquito Day .. if like me, they’re your least favourite insect in the world, you’ll be pleased to know it’s a day set aside not to celebrate mozzies, but rather to raise awareness of malaria – a disease that they spread.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today….Luca from Meadow Springs, Kingshuk from Bathurst, Matilda from Box Hill, Charlie from Bathurst, Archie from Melbourne, Jasman from Redlynch, Eleanor from Blackburn, Santiago from Liberty Grove, Rowen from Griffin, Oliver from Hackett, Alexander from Caversham, Jessica from East Fremantle, Noah from Seaforth, Marco from Moorebank, Laura from Mackay, Elke from Mawson and Pele all the way from Bangkok in Thailand.
And some belated birthday shoutouts… Charlotte from Port Kennedy, Jacob from Brisbane
Happy birthday one and all!
Classroom shoutouts… 5 Magenta and 5/6 Ruby at Birrong Public School, Year 5, Room 11 at Poynter Primary School, 5/6B at St. Paul Apostle South Catholic Primary School and Years 5 and 6 at Petersham Public School. And a very special shoutout to Mrs Wylie from class 2W at Burraneer Bay Public School, who’s having her last day today before she has a baby.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Chocolate
- Darth Vader
- Untitled Goose Game