28 October 2023 - Saturday Squiz

We hope you’re feeling as enthusiastic for the weekend as supermodel Heidi Klum is for Halloween… This Saturday, if you have a fun fact about your hometown, a favourite childhood tune, or anything else you want to share with us, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 7 minutes

🤷‍♀️ IDK: What could top seeing a giraffe on a road trip…

Prefer us in your ears?

Today's listening time: 24 minutes

This week's top stories

With a constant stream of big news stories this week, the Israel-Gaza conflict remains in top spot for another week.

1. Calls for calm in the Middle East - This week, calls have ramped up for a humanitarian pause to get aid into Gaza. Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t for turning - he says his troops are expanding their ground operations in the Palestinian territory.

2. Anthony Albanese in the US - He came, he saw, his pants were a weird length… But it was more than just a fancy state dinner - our PM also generated headlines with a $5 billion funding boost from Microsoft to build a ‘cyber shield’ in Oz.

3. A shocking murder - 21yo Lilie James was found dead at a school in Sydney's CBD on Wednesday night. Police launched a search for her colleague Paul Thijssen, and a body was recovered at Diamond Bay in Vaucluse yesterday afternoon - it’s now been identified as him.

4. Another breakthrough in the Oz-China relationship - Cheers to that… Aussie wine producers were happy to hear that China has agreed to review the tariffs it imposed on Aussie plonk. Note: PM Albanese’s visiting China next weekend…

5. And the Rugby World Cup bids au revoir - It’s crunch time as Argentina and England battle it out for bronze in Paris this morning. And early tomorrow, the Kiwis are the close favourites to beat South Africa for the trophy.

Picture of the week

Drivers on the Hume Highway in NSW got the chance to lock eyes with 2 giraffes earlier this week as they made their way from Queensland to a zoo in Victoria. “It was popping its head out, it had a big smile,” motorist Eddie told 2GB host Ben Fordham.

Question of the week

The question: What’s something your hometown is famous for?

The story: The NSW town of Deniliquin is now not only known for its annual Deni Ute Muster - scientists reckon they've found the world’s largest asteroid impact crater there.

Larissa Moore, light and shade - “Griffith, where the grass grows greener [insert winky face]. So while we're known for some mafia connections, the orange sculptures that are on display during Griffith Spring Fest are pretty awesome.”

Karen Koks, a tip from a local - “Kiama - obviously famous for its blowhole. A little-known fact is that there are actually two blowholes in Kiama. There is the famous tourist one on the point near the lighthouse and another smaller blowhole further south nestled amongst homes that performs just as well as its more famous counterpart.”

Sally Duncan, ironically named - “We live in Orange. It’s actually impossible to grow oranges here, but we do successfully produce plenty of wine and cherries and apples.”

Squiz Recommends

Reading - If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like serving superstar Taylor Swift and her posse of famous friends for dinner at a restaurant, one writer has a story for you… They tracked down the New York establishments where Swift has been spotted dining and grilled the servers about their experiences with some pretty funny results.

And because you can never have enough T-Swift content (in our books, anyway…) Fleishman is in Trouble author Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s insightful account on the interesting mix of Swift fans she spotted at the Eras Tour concert and what it means to be a Swifty is a good one.

Buying - Washing your face at the end of the day… ugh. Until we found these wrist scrunchies that catch the water before it drips down your arms. Niche? Yes. But no one likes wet sleeves…

Watching - You don’t have to be a 90s kid to have heard of The Wiggles. Their new documentary Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles features some candid takes with OG Wiggles Greg, Anthony, Murray and Jeff. The secret to their success? They worked their tails off… You can watch it on Amazon Prime.

In the Kitchen

Christmas is about spending time with the ones we love, and it’s an incredible excuse to make and share some fab sweet treats... Like Angas Park’s White Chocolate Christmas Bark - it’s loaded with dried apricots, figs and sultanas. It’s great to eat and great to gift. And we know you’re busy, so you’ll be pleased to know it only takes 10 minutes to prep and let it set. The recipe is here, and the ingredients are in the baking aisle of your supermarket.

What we Squized this week

Your Squiz Shortcut to the rise and fall of Sam Bankman-Fried - SBF for short… He was the golden child of cryptocurrency before his exchange FTX went bankrupt, leaving investors short US$8 billion. He’s now the subject of one of the biggest fraud trials in American history, so we take you through who SBF is, and what’s happening now. Read it/listen to it here.

And a shameless plug… - ICYMI our Saturday Squiz podcast hosted by Kate Watson and Claire Kimball has been given a new name and look. The Weekly Wrap drops at 6am each Saturday and it gives you (ahem…) a wrap of the news of the week and some talking points for the week ahead - check it out here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - A big weekend of sport kicks off with the bronze medal Rugby World Cup match between Argentina and England at 6am, followed by an Oz-Kiwi face-off at the men’s Cricket World Cup at 4pm

Sunday - The Rugby World Cup grand final between South Africa and the All Blacks kicks off at 6am. And the Matildas are up against the Philippines in their next Olympic qualifying match at 8pm

Monday - The Bureau of Stats releases its latest retail data for September and the last quarter. And prime your cheeks for some pinching on Grandparents’ Day

Tuesday - The judgement in the White Island workplace safety trial is handed down in an Auckland court from 12.15pm. And the trick n’ treaters are out in full force on Halloween

Wednesday - Pinch and a punch… And it’s a late one for those not in Western Oz as the Matildas are up against Taiwan in the Olympic qualifiers from 10pm

Thursday - Treasurer Jim Chalmers will join other senior leaders at the 2023 Economic and Social Outlook Conference in Melbourne

Friday - Qantas shareholders will share their constructive criticism with the airline today as it holds its annual general meeting

Let’s get Squizzical

Reckon you know which £28 dish caused an uproar after UK luxury chain Harrods debuted it this week? Have a crack at the Squiz Quiz.

Double-Tapping

This video popped up in our feed recently, and it blew our mind… On first listen it sounds like your average groovy pop song, but if you listen a little closer, you’ll realise it’s just complete gibberish. Warning: it will get stuck in your head…

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