20 January 2024 - Saturday Squiz

The tennis is on the telly, so there shouldn’t be much else to focus on this early in the year, right? Wrong… This Saturday, if you have a piece of Aussie slang you overuse, a 90s black tie fail, or anything else you want to share with us, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 7 minutes

🤷‍♀️ IDK: If we could have more respect for Mary. She should have been made queen just for learning the Danish language…

This week's top stories

We’ve gone with the Streem data this week - Google Trends is basically a list of tennis players’ names…

1. Concerns about a broadening regional conflict in the Middle East - We said that phrase a few times this week after Iran launched strikes on targets in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan. And the Houthis are continuing their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea despite the US/UK launching airstrikes on their bases in Yemen.

2. A big week of tennis - And it could be even bigger if Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tilley gets his way… He has a vision for the Oz Open and the tennis tour more broadly. Meanwhile, finding out Novak Djokovic has a tree friend in Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens was something we weren’t expecting…

3. Our Mary, full of grace - She looked amazing (as you can see in a sec…), but it was the affection Danes have for the Tasmanian/newly proclaimed Danish Queen that was super heartwarming. Oh, and her hubby Frederik says he’ll be a unifying king of tomorrow - we should mention him, we guess…

4. Explosions and fireworks - We didn’t cover this one, but turf battles over the sale of illicit tobacco in shops across Greater Melbourne are behind a series of arson attacks as Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs go at it. Victorian Police say they’re getting on top of it…

5. American politics nerds rejoice - It’s time to pick the presidential candidates, and the Republicans went first this week with the Iowa caucuses strongly favouring former prez/serial defendant Donald Trump.

It’s the Squiz Quiz…

Reckon you know who Fendi’s latest muse is? Have a crack at the Squiz Quiz.

Picture of the week

Queen Margrethe’s abdication and Frederik/Mary’s proclamation were very on-brand for the Danish royals with the words ‘understated’ and ‘low-key’ widely used to describe it. However, the pictures that came out of it made a stunning statement - just beautiful.

Question of the week

The question: We’re no fashionistas, but the red carpet fashion from the big awards ceremonies hasn’t set us alight, thanks to the heavy 90s vibe. Who do you think has had the biggest fashion hit or miss so far?

The story: Award season is well underway with the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and the Emmys already been and gone… So there’s already been a whole lotta fashion to admire (and judge…).

Jill Scanlon, no shaming here - Far be it from me to shame a woman for what they are wearing, but I couldn’t help but think that Alex Borstein was trying a little too hard to distinguish themselves from their character Susie in The Marvellous Mrs Maisel.

Kathryn Harrison, natural critic - Fashion Critical covers all of the toe violations, Janome accidents, doona sales, crotch whiskers, bewbs, lewks, shouda caught the bus, fraggle deaths. But I would like to mention Katherine Heigl at the Emmys - modern classic elegance.

Claire Kimball, lived through the 90s - Half of what’s been going down the red carpet are styles I wore to school and uni formals. But this leather number Ayo Edebiri wore to the Emmys was incredible.

Squiz Recommends

Book read - Money* by NPR host Jacob Goldstein. This might sound a bit dry, but we promise it isn't. This light-touch history book is well-written, insightful and humorous - and it’s good to know more about the thing that makes the world go round… 

Long read - Yesterday in Friday Lites we shared an interview between Richard Curtis and Julia Roberts. Another good long read we came across this week was this Rolling Stone profile on pop sensation Dua Lipa. She’s so very clever… 

Watching - Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe is the long-awaited adaptation of the novel by Trent Dalton. It's been described as a 'love letter to Brisbane' - and for good reason… If you loved the book and are a bit anxious about its small screen rendering - don’t be. We’re loving it.

*Buy using this link and the Squiz might make a little commission.

In the Kitchen

This slow-roasted lamb shoulder by renowned Melbourne restaurant Cumulus Inc. is an oldie but a goodie. It isn't a quick make, but it's time rather than effort that you have to invest in. And our favourite thing about it is the lamby leftovers for sandwiches and salads all week.

What we Squized this week

Our Squiz Shortcut on Nikki Haley and US Primaries Season - Republicans in America have started the long process of picking who their presidential candidate will be in the 5 November election. There’s a long and potentially brutal road ahead and we dive into it… have a read or a listen here. 

The Year Ahead with Helen McCabe - Kate and Claire sit down with the founder/managing director of Future Women to chat about all things politics and gender equality. Specifically, they get into the challenges in 2024 for the Albanese Government and the big deal that the Respect@Work changes are for employers and workers across our economy. Listen on Apple or Spotify and chuck the News Club podcast a follow while you’re there.

Note: Future Women is also giving Squizers a code SQUIZ2024 to grab a free Future Women Red membership (usually $48) to access exclusive articles/podcasts, their Facebook crew, and a 20% discount on events, including their Leadership Summit. Nice…

Squiz the Week

Saturday - It’s the anniversary of Donald Trump being inaugurated as the 45th President of the US (2017). And it’s the anniversary of the death of singer/actor Meat Loaf (2022), who appeared on Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice. Funny how things come together… 

Sunday - The 2024 Midsumma Festival celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community kicks off

Monday - Queensland schools are back for Term 1 of 2024. And it's Unity Day in Ukraine - a holiday that marks it becoming a sovereign state

Tuesday - More US politics with the first Democratic and second Republican presidential primary vote in New Hampshire 

Wednesday - It’s Global Belly Laugh Day. This busy guy still gets us… 

Thursday - Starting at 3.30am, it’s the announcement of the Oscars nominees. The second Australia vs West Indies Test match starts in Brisbane. And from 7.30pm, the 2023 Australian of the Year will be announced and broadcast live on ABC TV 

Friday - And breathe… It’s a long weekend starting with Friday’s Australia Day

*All times in AEDT

Double-Tapping

The remake of Mean Girls premiered in New York last week, and Aussie TikToker Millie Ford got to attend and interview the cast, asking them to decode Aussie slang. Fun and a good reminder how redic some of our terms are…

Sharing is caring (and winning)

We absolutely love putting the Saturday Squiz together, and we reckon you might know someone who'd enjoy a weekend read choc full of recommendations and a bit of news analysis. So here’s the deal - you share The Saturday Squiz with your people, and we’ll give you a chance to win a brand new Macbook Air. Boom...

Using your unique referral link, each person who signs up by the end of January gets you a ticket in the draw to win. So copy and paste the link below and share it around…

Your link: https://saturdaysquiz.thesquiz.com.au/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

PS: Your friends will need to confirm their email to guarantee entry into the draw. This competition ends at 11.59pm AEDT on 31 January, and the winner will be drawn on 1 February 2024 and contacted via email. Go forth…

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