Thursday 25 June, 2020

Toot paper crisis returns; turtle tracking fitbits; who wants to be an orc?; and Minions invade Paris

 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

 

THE LOWDOWN

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Just when you thought it was safe to venture back into the toilet paper aisle at your local supermarket without fear for your personal safety … the great toot paper crisis has reared its head again. If you’re in Melbourne, at least.

As Victoria yesterday recorded a resurgence in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus, supermarkets were bracing themselves for a repeat of the shelf-clearing antics of Aussie shoppers witnessed back in the early days of the COVID pandemic.

Limits were placed on how many of a certain item – including pasta, flour and toot paper – that each shopper could buy. Meanwhile, the military has been called in to Melbourne to help set up extra COVID testing centres to cope with the huge number of Victorians keen to check if they have the virus. There were 20 new cases of coronavirus recorded yesterday in Victoria and 10 in NSW while Queensland maintained its winning streak of no new cases for the seventh day in a row.  

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A bunch of turtles in Western Australia have started wearing fitbits to keep track of their movements as they swim about the aquamarine waters of Roebuck Bay. Ok – so you got me. The turtles themselves aren’t on a health kick and have started strapping on the fitbits. Scientists from a WA university have attached movement trackers to the shells of 29 flatback turtles to monitor their every flipper flap and deep dive. It’s part of a research program to better understand the turtles’ lives at sea. 

 

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 across the ditch in New Zealand … where our cuzzy bros have been at it again. 

Filming is about to get underway on a Lord of The Rings television series. The Lord of The Rings is a classic story by English author JRR Tolkien – involvings elves and dwarves and an especially ugly band of baddies called orcs. The call has gone out in NZ for anyone interested in being an extra in the TV series – which is to say, a background character – who has long skinny limbs, acne scars, missing bones, large eyes or an oversized or interesting nose. The casting agency has called for any “funky looking” New Zealanders to come forward for a chance to be a small-time TV star. Because everyone has a talent, and everyone should have a chance to show it off. 

 

SPORTS TIME!

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He might be the world’s number one ranked men’s tennis player, but Novak Djokovic was yesterday being called the tennis world’s number one silly billy after forging ahead with a tennis tournament in his home country of Serbia which has not only left him with the coronavirus, but also his wife and several other top ranking players who took part. 

“I am so deeply sorry,” tweeted Djokovic after testing positive. He’s a bonehead, replied Aussie tennis champ Nick Kyrgios in response. 

So, I guess we’re in no doubt how he feels about it then ..

In happier news … Australia is so close to winning the bid to host the 2023 Women’s soccer World Cup .. we can almost taste it. Our main competitor to win the right to host the prestigious competition was Japan – but they pulled out earlier this week. Our joint bid with New Zealand is considered the clear favourite ahead of the only country left in competition – the South American nation of Colombia. By the time I speak to you all tomorrow – we’ll know if we’ve won. Fingers and toes crossed. 

 

POP CULTURE CORNER

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If you had to go to movies and sit next to any character from any animated film – the last one you’d want is a Minion, right? The hyperactive, unpredictable, perpetually bouncy yellow fellas from the Despicable Me movie franchise would not sit still.

But Minions have nevertheless invaded cinemas in Paris where they are helping movie-goers to maintain a healthy social distance. 

Stuffed-toy versions of Kevin and Co. are being placed in every second seat in a cinema in the French capital to ensure that patrons remain separated from one another. 

Infinitely better than having to sit next to a stuffed Gru, I guess. 

 

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 …

1. What sort of animal are scientists are tracking in waters off WA with a fitbit-style movement monitor?
2. What’s the name of the TV series that’s recruiting interesting looking people in New Zealand?
3. Which country does Australia have to beat tomorrow morning to win the 2023 Women’s Soccer World Cup?

 

SHOUT OUTS

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It’s June 25 … the 176th day of the year, the birthday of Olympic gold medallist, Kyle Chalmers, Global Beatles Day (celebrating the band, not the insects) – and a big day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today … Bella and Britney from Sydney, Tom from Runaway Bay, Maria from Carlingford, Evie from Eltham, Max from Brisbane, Anika from Ardeer-South, Eloise from Springwood, Lizzie from Caragabal, Ivy from Camp Hill, Eliza from Hawthorn, Marlie from Warracknabeal, Anjleen from Adelaide, Alvina from Birrong, Lachlan from Greystanes, Paxton from Jindalee, Denisse from Orange, Sam from Uriarra Village, Logan from Charlestown. 

And some belated birthday shoutouts… Jasmine in Wagga Wagga, and Jasmine from North Rocks.

Happy birthday to you all. 

Today’s classroom shoutouts… Stage 3 from Abbotsford Public School, Year 5 and Year 6 at Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary School in Ivanhoe, Years 3, 4 and 5 at St Andrew’s Catholic College in Cairns, classes 1/2W and 5/6P at Heany Park Primary School. 

And in a very special shoutout, class 3H from Tanilba Bay Public School want to send a big congratulations to their teacher Mr Henley on the arrival of his new baby boy Leo.

The S’Quiz Answers:

1. Flatback turtles
2. Lord of the Rings
3. Colombia