5 October2024 - Saturday Squiz

October 05, 2024

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A weekend of change is upon us…. The NRL season is coming to a close, daylight saving begins (and Australia enters a period of 5 different time zones 🤯), and for some of us, the sweet reprieve of a long weekend... This Saturday, if you have a favourite Barbra Streisand song, a recipe that makes you look like a professional, or anything else you want to tell us about, hit reply.

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This week's top stories

Streem Leading News Stories - 28 September-4 October

1. Heading into an uncomfortable weekend - It was a week where the unfolding crisis in the Middle East got crazy serious between Israel, Iran and its proxies in the region. Israeli ground troops are in Lebanon - more than 1 million people/a fifth of the population has been displaced, local authorities say. And Israel was targeted directly by Iran with ballistic missiles - most of which were intercepted. Locally, the prospect of pro-Palestine protests around and on Monday’s anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel have troubled police, political leaders and Jewish people alike.

2. The Lions beat the Swans - In fact, Sydney was completely demolished in last Saturday’s AFL Grand Final, losing to the Brissie-based team 120-60. The Harbour City folk had dominated for most of the season, so it was a bit of a boilover. For our part, it meant a nice chat and time for cheese during the game was a feature… 

3. Queensland’s in election campaign mode - If you live there, you might think you’ve been in an election campaign ever since Annastascia Palaszczuk resigned in December last year… But yes, things did get off to a flying start this week - Premier Steven Miles and LNP leader David Crisafulli have even had a televised debate… 

4. Speaking of debates… - The US vice presidential candidates had their moment mid-week. The upshot is Democrat Tim Walz got off to a slow start but things picked up for him when Republican JD Vance struggled in the part of abortion rights. The New York Times’ The Daily pod ep is good - but given the debate was assessed as ‘normal’, you’d have to be in the weeds to spare the half hour…

5. Money money money… - Don’t get too excited - this is about what happened in the last financial year… The federal government’s final budget position for the 2023/24 financial year was they ended up with $15.8 billion more than was spent - that’s a $6.4 billion improvement on its May forecast. If only we could take our share and buy something pretty…

S’Quiz me real good…

Reckon you know what legal drama Nibi the beaver has been connected to? Have a crack at the Squiz Quiz here.

Picture of the Week

Sad news for music/movie fans of a certain age following the death of Kris Kristofferson at 88yo. He and Barbra Streisand were not the original Jackson and Ally from A Star is Born - in fact, their blockbuster was the third iteration of the story before 2018’s flick featuring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. But some fans reckon their 1976 remake is the best. Ah memories, like the corners of our minds… (And yes, we know that’s the wrong song, but it’s Bab-tastic).

Question of the week

Daylight saving time - yay or nay?

Well, that settles that - daylight saving time wins. Naysayers, we still hear you…

Call it as it is - “I don’t like change.”

I’ll take my hour back, thank you - “My favourite day of the year is when daylight savings ends - I get my hour back, and all is right with the world! Daylight saving is wrong… Just ask any small child, animal or farm worker.”

Simple as that - “It’s the best thing ever. I simply would not live in a state that does not participate in daylight saving.”

Squiz Recommends

Reading - The extent of disasters can be hard to conceptualise, especially when the disaster happens in another country. So this interactive story/map by the New York Times was useful for understanding the geographic extent, as well as the damage that occurred in Hurricane Helene’s path.

Listening - At this year’s Mumbrella Publish Awards, our friends at Future Women took home the award for Best Podcast (Single Episode) for their Too Much interview with Julie Bishop. We really enjoyed it and reckon you might too.

Watching - ABC’s Australian Story: Leading Man this week is on Love on the Spectrum and Austin’s Michael Theo. Both his shows have been enjoyed by Team Squiz, so it’s no surprise that we enjoyed watching this. It takes us behind the scenes to meet the real Michael and his family, and he’s as genuine as he appears on camera.

In the Kitchen

The season of events is upon us so this basque cheesecake is a good one to have up your sleeve. It requires a bit of time for cooling but it’s simple to make and will impress your people. It has a mousse-like texture and the caramelised/burnt cream cheese not only tastes delicious, but it makes you look like a professional baker… How good.

Amazing retinal at a hey-that’s-an-amazing price

With seriously effective, considered ingredients that are good to your skin and wallet, our mates at Go-To have something to suit every skin type, including their Very Amazing Retinal - a powerhouse, results-backed serum that’s not your average. For $85, it’s clinically-proven, visible results that are comparable (or better than) serums that retail for $200 or more. In other words: it’s a targeted treatment for a third of the price. Find Very Amazing Retinal (and skin) here.

*Based on a 12-week clinical trial of 33 participants.

What we’re Squizin’

Your Shortcut to Fat Bear Week - Have we mentioned that we’re currently in the best week of the year? What’s not to enjoy about sitting back and judging the chonkiest bear of Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve after a season of feasting on fatty salmon? So, in this Shortcut, we get you across how Fat Bear Week came to be and the more serious side of animal conservation. Have a read or listen here. 

And coming up… From next week, Squiz Shortcuts will start a 5-week run on the US election. In no time, you’ll have your talking points to riff with the best of ‘em on what’s going on in this year’s race for the White House.

Note: we’ll bring this to you in podcast and newsletter form - hosted and curated by Squiz Founder Claire Kimball. We reckon it’s a good one to recommend to your people who are interested in the back story to this very big news story.

So stay tuned… And in the interim, make sure you’re signed up to the Squiz Shortcuts newsletter - and shoot it to your US politics lovin’ mates.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - At 8pm (AEST), it’s Australia v Sri Lanka in the first match of the Women’s T20 World Cup - watch it on Prime Video

Sunday - If you live in NSW, Victoria, Tassie, South Oz or the ACT, your clocks will turn forward an hour at 2am for daylight saving time ⏲️. Later that day, the NRLW Grand Final features the Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks kicks off at 3.55pm. That’s followed by the NRL season closer between the Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers at 7.30pm. Live from Sydney, those games will be on Nine/9 Now

Monday - It’s a public holiday for NSW, South Oz, the ACT, and Queensland. And the Cobber Challange Masters begin - check out the very cute but hard-working competitors here

Tuesday - Former First Lady Melania Trump’s memoir is set to be published in the US. It’s already creating a few headlines…  

Wednesday - It’s your last chance to vote for the fattest bear - get in before it closes at 12pm.

Thursday - Vrooom vrooom the Bathurst 1000 Supercars begins (it’s on until Sunday)

Friday - At 8pm, the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced. And it’s World Egg Day (gag…)

*All times in AEST, and then AEDT. This is one of only 2 times we get to say that each year so we’re savouring the moment…

Double-Tapping

David Attenborough eat your heart out… This is Maple and Morti the Corgis in the wild (their backyard).