Thursday, 9 June, 2022
Humpbacks are back baby!; Maroons in Origin upset; rockets have lift-off in the NT; and the end of the great phone charger scramble.
LINKS
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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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Whale watchers up and down the east coast of Australia have their binoculars at the ready and are prepping for one of the busiest seasons in recent years after the population of humpback whales has bounced back.
Whales are already being spotted making their annual migration north for winter, escaping the chilly waters of Antarctica and making their way up to the balmy waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
So many whales have already been seen – including in Sydney Harbour – that scientists are predicting this will be the busiest whale season we’ve seen in over 60 years. And it’s all thanks to conservation.
You see, hard though it may be to believe, 60 years ago, humpback whales were hunted almost to extinction. It’s estimated their numbers got down to only 300.
But since hunting whales was made illegal, scientists estimate their numbers have climbed back to a much healthier 40,000.
Which is just remarkable.
If you’re looking for me this weekend, I’ll be on a headland with my telescope …
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In other exciting news, the Socceroos are through to the final qualifying round for the World Cup after defeating the United Arab Emirates 2-1 early yesterday morning.
The lads will now face off against Peru on Tuesday. The winner of that game will qualify to play in the World Cup, taking place in Qatar in November. The loser will return home with their tail between their legs. Here’s hoping we’re the former and not the latter …
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 Europe … the entire continent, in fact, where the days of rummaging through that crap drawer in your kitchen looking for the right charger may soon be over.
You know how different devices need different chargers? So you’re iphone needs a different charger to your laptop which uses a different charger to your Nintendo Switch?
Well the people who run Europe have had enough and yesterday passed a law that will mean all makers of electronic goods – including Apple – can only produce devices that need a USB-C charging cord.
Can I get a hallelujah?
Law makers there say it’s an attempt to reduce waste, make consumers lives easier – and make kitchen drawers less cluttered. Not really that last one, I made that up.
Now if only they would come up with a law that stops teenage children from hogging, hiding or losing all the chargers in your house. Because that’s a law I could definitely get behind …
SPORT TIME
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It was an Origin game for the ages last night in Sydney as the Queensland Maroons pulled off an upset win against the NSW Blues, beating the home side 16-10 in a game those in it said afterwards was one of the toughest they’d ever played.
The NSW team went in favourites – and for the first half of the first half – seemed like they had the game wrapped up. But Queensland’s team of fresh faces – including NRL newcomer Selwyn Cobbo, North Queensland’s Jeremiah Nanai and Brisbane Bronco Patty Carrigan – combined with older hands in Daly Cherry Evans, Cameron Munster and Dane Gagai to push the Blues to the wall and walk away one nil up in the three game series.
Not even a desperate lunge for the tryline in the dying seconds of the match was able to save the Blues – who will now limp into the second game in Perth in just over two weeks time.
Expect much to be made today about a disallowed NSW try by Junior Paulo – which would have even up the score.
Even so: there was no one who wouldnt’ agree that rugba league was the winner on the day ..
Aha! The Classroom Companion Clarion … letting us know that today’s classroom activity for Squiz Kids for Schools is attached to this story in the podcast … yep – it’s a State of Origin themed Classroom Companion … where your class gets to practice their persuasive writing skills and debate which is better: rugby league or AFL … And if your classroom is not a SK4S subscriber, get involved already .. sign up for a free 30-day trial at squizkids.com.au – or via the link in today’s episode notes.
SPACED OUT
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Hold onto your jet blasters people … NASA is expected announce today that it will be launching rockets into space from our very own Northern Territory later this month.
That’s right … three rockets will be sent blasting into space from the Arnhem Space Centre – which is located on the coast at the very tippy-top of Australia.
The three rockets are being sent into space to conduct scientific research .. in the fields of heliophysics and astrophysics and also to study nearby planets.
It’s the first time in almost 20 years since NASA rockets have been launched from Australia.
It’s all part of us building our own space industry … so the likes of you can grow up to work as scientists or star gazers or astronauts or engineers.
Because who wouldn’t want to work in space?
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 .. we’ll be looking out for you…
THE SQUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- What sort of whales have made a stunning comeback along the east coast of Australia?
- From which state or territory of Australia will NASA rockets be launched later this month?
- Which country will the Socceroos have to beat next Tuesday to qualify for the World Cup?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s June 9 … New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern will arrive in Australia today to meet with our new PM, Anthony Albanese.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today…
Sam from Albany Hills, Jamison from Craigburn, Chantelle from Carlton and twins Penny and Tilly from Bowral.
And a very, very special belated shoutout to Darby from Warrnambool – sorry we forgot you yesterday buddy .. hope you had a most excellent day.
Classroom shoutouts are going to… Class 4D and Miss Maclean at Helensvale State School, class 3/4S at Broken Hill North Public School,
year 5 at Joseph’s Catholic School in Chinchilla and to all the students at Eglinton Public School in Bathurst.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Humpback whales
- Northern Territory
- Peru