Wednesday, 28 July, 2021
Back to school for Vic & SA; Iraq’s mine-sniffing dogs; the man who ran on water; and the world’s most expensive fries.
LINKS
Gold coated fries: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-27/worlds-most-expensive-french-fries-nyc/100326902
Iraq’s mine sniffing dogs: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jul/26/how-super-detector-dogs-are-helping-free-iraq-from-the-terror-of-isis-mines
Florida man’s floating wheel: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/26/florida-man-washes-ashore-bubble-device
Squiz Kids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squizkids/?hl=en
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Squiz Kids is proudly supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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And it’s back to school today for kids in Victoria and South Australia after it was announced yesterday the lockdowns in both states would lift today and many restrictions would be eased.
That sound you hear? Parents in those states crying tears of relief.
The lifting of the lockdown came as both states’ leaders decided enough had been done by everyone to stop the spread of coronavirus in the community. So well done you!
Folks in Victoria will still have to wear masks everywhere – inside and outside – for a little while longer yet – and SA kids, you’ll struggle to see if your teacher is smiling or frowning today as all teachers are required to their job in masks – but count yourselves lucky that you’re able to get back to class and see your friends at all.
There was welcome news too in parts of regional NSW – including Orange and Molong – who announced they too were lifting restrictions.
News of lockdowns lifting in the southern states and parts of regional NSW came as Sydney recorded its highest number of new COVID cases and kids in Greater Sydney – along with their long-suffering parents – steeled themselves to be in lockdown for a good while yet.
We’ve got your back Sydney Squiz Kids … hang in there.
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And it wouldn’t be an edition of Squiz Kids if we didn’t give you a gold medal update. Queensland’s Kaylee McKeown became our newest golden girl yesterday, storming to victory in the 100m backstroke event.
The 20 year-old edged out swimmers from Canada and the US to finish her swim in a lightning fast 57.47 seconds. Setting a new Olympic record in the process. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie …
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 New York City, in the United States, where the world’s most expensive fries have just gone on sale.
We’re talking french fries people .. and we’re talking $271 a serve.
Why in the world would a serve of fries cost so much money? Because these ones are made from special potatoes, par-boiled in champagne – what else? – fried in goose fat – twice – then coated with truffle oil – which is the oil of a really expensive mushroom that grows underground – and, wait for it, sprinkled with gold dust.
Actual gold dust.
But what would you possible order to go with the world’s most expensive fries? How about the world’s most expensive burger, also available at the same restaurant and $400 a pop, or the world’s most expensive sundae – which is a steal at $1360 …
I could get a whole lot more than one measly serve of chips for that kind of money at my local fish and chip shop …
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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They say that dogs are a man’s – and woman’s – best friend .. well, never has this proven to be more true than in the country of Iraq right now, where a team of clever sniffer dogs – with extra powerful snouts – have been saving lives by helping to clear mines.
Every day, they go out on very, very long leashes, with their well-trained noses to the ground. Suddenly, they’ll stop, sit, and wag their tails excitedly. That’s when the humans get involved, and carefully… very carefully… dig up what the dog has detected. It’s a mine: a deadly explosive device that was hidden beneath the dirt four years ago.
Mines are used a lot in wars and can be devastating. Even after a war is over, the mines remain underground like little time bombs – just waiting to go off if someone steps on them.
Iraq has seen a lot of war and a lot of mines over the last 40 years, and the paw patrol moves a lot faster than humans can. In the last year, they’ve found 3,540 landmines and other explosives. That is a lot of lives saved. Someone give those dogs a bone!
I’ve stuck a link in today’s episode notes to photos of the dogs at work. Woof.
SQUIZ KIDS SALUTES
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Look – we love anyone here at Squiz Kids who’s out there giving it a go. Some things that might look utterly crazy at first glance, should nevertheless be celebrated for the fact someone is at least out there having a go. Which brings us neatly to Reza Baluchi – or Florida Man as he’s known in his home country of the USA – whose attempt this week to run 1600 kilometres on the sea, in a floating wheel, north from Miami to New York failed when tides and wind pushed him to the south.
Florida Man said he was doing it to raise money for charity, and to show kids that anything you put your mind to is possible. Provided of course the winds and tides cooperate.
I’ve stuck a link to photos of the impressive floating wheel in today’s episode notes. It’s quite elaborate. Squiz Kids salutes you Florida Man. Keep on striving!
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 …
- With which swimming stroke did Aussie Kaylee McKeown win her gold medal yesterday?
- Which animals and their super snouts are helping to clear land mines in Iraq?
- Which crispy, crunchy treat is being sprinkled with gold dust in a New York restaurant?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s July 28 .. birthday of celebrated children’s author, Beatrix Potter – she of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck fame – and it’s also the birthday of the humble hamburger ,, invented on this day 121 years ago. Mmmm, hamburger ….
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today .. Candice from Oran Park, Wyatt from Cannon Hill, Siara from The Gap, Pabby from Cronulla, Chiara from Melrose Park and Bhumika from Dee Why.
Belated birthday shout outs go to …Julia and Liam from Abbotsford.
Jonty from Woollahra, Amelia from Stanmore, Tanvi from Mt Colah and Yasmin from Spring Farm
Plus!! … Because so many of us are in lockdown around the country – we’re sending out Home Learning Herograms ..
Today’s herograms go to… Class 5/6J and Mr Ryan at Mascot Public School – your classmate Sathiyaa really misses seeing you all. Also to Avery in class 2/3 at Victoria Ave Public School – your mum says you and all your classmates are being total legends with homeschooling. And Mrs Smith and class 4/5S from Stockton Public School, who are not homeschooling but want to send positive, stay strong vibes to all the students learning from home in the lock down. Well isn’t that nice?
And not forgetting a few classroom shout outs to those of you not in lockdown … to all the students at Beckom Public School, to Mrs Caley and Miss Kelly’s class at Geraldton Grammar School, to Mr O’Rourke and class 6 Blue at St Edmund’s College and finally – a special shout out across the ditch to Ms Quinn and Year 2 at Seatoun School in Wellington, New Zealand. Lovely to have you listening.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Backstroke
- Dogs
- Fries