Podcasts about New Caledonian

France has restarted negotiations toward defining its future relationship with New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the southwest Pacific that is home to about 293,000 people. The move ends nine months of political limbo following violent protests, including roadblocks and riots, that erupted across the territory in May 2024. The protests came in reaction to French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to add more than 25,000 people to the territory's electoral roll to reflect inhabitants who have arrived, mainly from mainland France, over the past two decades. The rolls had been restricted as part of an agreement ending an armed independence movement in New Caledonia in 1988. The largely pro-independence indigenous islanders, who comprise about 41 percent of the population, feared the change would have diluted their influence in future elections. During his visit to New Caledonia to announce the reopening of negotiations in late February, French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls referred to the protests, saying, "There is a before and an after." He characterized negotiations as an "opportunity" and said it was his "responsibility … to find a way" toward an agreement that satisfies everyone. But that won't be easy. The islands of New Caledonia were first colonized by France in the mid-19th century. After World War II, they were designated an "overseas territory" with greater citizenship rights. But entrenched poverty and disenfranchisement in Kanak communities ignited an armed rebellion against French rule in the 1980s. Subsequent talks between the French government and island leaders resulted in the 1988 Matignon Accord and the 1998 Noumea Accord, which together outlined provisions for greater autonomy for New Caledonia, recognition of indigenous rights and investment in rural development, while guaranteeing that three referendums on independence would be held. An additional measure meant to prevent Kanaks from being politically marginalized restricted the electoral roll for the referendums as well as local elections to indigenous voters and inhabitants residing in the territory prior to 1998. The accords led to some progress in bridging the development gap, but significant disparities between the Kanak and non-Kanak populations remain. New Caledonia has one of the highest GDP per capita in the region, at $33,516 in 2022, compared to $5,405 in Fiji, for instance. Yet at 38 percent, the unemployment rate among Kanaks is more than three times the rate of 11 percent for the general New Caledonian population. And according to a recent study in North Province and Loyalty Islands, where communities are mainly indigenous, 62 percent and 77 percent of people respectively have lower than average living standards. Political frustrations also increased in 2021, after the third and final referendum under the Noumea Accords resulted in another defeat for the pro-independence movement. The first two votes, in 2018 and 2020, had shown a narrowing margin of victory for the pro-France majority, at 57 percent and 53 percent respectively. But Kanaks sought to postpone the final referendum, as it was scheduled to take place during the pandemic at a time when their cultural mourning rites would prevent many who had lost family members from going to the polls. When the vote went ahead as planned, they boycotted, resulting in a 98 percent victory for the pro-France position. As a result, the pro-independence movement has refused to accept the referendum's outcome, and many maintain calls for full self-determination. A major test will be when negotiations again broach the subject of electoral reforms, which French authorities have announced are back on the table. Two years later, Macron's proposed electoral reforms, on top of his refusal to countenance a rerun of the referendum, inflamed existing grievances, and when those reforms were passed by a parliamentary vote in 2024, large numbers of Kanak youth took to the streets. Yet while protesters ...

Thanks to Nora and Richard from NC this week as we learn about some scary-sounding reptiles, including the hoop snake! Further reading: The Story of How the Giant “Terror Skink” Was Presumed Extinct, Then Rediscovered San Diego's Rattlesnakes and What To Do When They're on Your Property Snake that cartwheels away from predators described for the first time Giant new snake species identified in the Amazon The terror skink, AKA Bocourt's terrific skink [photo by DECOURT Théo - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116258516]: The hoop snake according to folklore: The sidewinder rattlesnake [photo taken from this article]: The dwarf reed snake [photo by Evan Quah, from page linked above]: The green anaconda [photo by MKAMPIS - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62039578]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. As monster month continues, we're going to look at some weird and kind of scary, or at least scary-sounding, snakes and lizards. Thanks to Nora and Richard from NC for their suggestions this week! We'll start with the terror skink, whose name should inspire terror, but it's also called Bocourt's terrific skink, which is a name that should inspire joy. Which is it, terror or joy? I suppose it depends on your mood and how you feel about lizards in general. All skinks are lizards but not all lizards are skinks, by the way. The terror or possibly terrific skink lives on two tiny islets, which are miniature islands. These islets are themselves off the coast of an island called the Isle of Pines, but in French, which I cannot pronounce. The Isle of Pines is only 8 miles wide and 9 miles long, or 13 by 15 km, and is itself off the coast of the bigger island of New Caledonia. All these islands lie east of Australia. Technically the islets where the skink lives are off the coast of another islet that is itself off the coast of the Isle of Pines, which is off the coast of New Caledonia, but where exactly it lives is kept a secret by the scientists studying it. The skink was described in 1876 but only known from a single specimen captured on New Caledonia around 1870, and after that it wasn't seen again and was presumed extinct. Colonists and explorers brought rats and other invasive animals to the New Caledonian islands, which together with habitat loss have caused many other native species to go extinct. But in December 2003, a scientific expedition studying sea snakes around the New Caledonian islands caught a big lizard no one recognized. Once the expedition members realized it was a terror skink, alive and well, they took lots of pictures and videos of it and then released it back into the wild. Since then, more specimens have been discovered during four different expeditions, but only on the islets, not on any of the bigger islands. It's so critically endangered that its location has to be kept secret, because if someone captures some of the lizards to sell on the illegal pet market, the species could easily be driven to extinction. The terror skink is gray-brown with darker stripes, a long tail, and a slightly downturned mouth that makes it look grumpy. It grows about 20 inches long, or 50 cm, including its tail. This is really big for a skink, so technically it's a giant skink. It gets the name terror skink from its size and from its teeth, which are large and curved like fangs. It mainly eats one particular species of land crab, which is why its jaws are so strong and its teeth are so sharp, so it can bite through the crab's exoskeleton. Another lizard with a spooky name that has been presumed extinct is the gray ghost lizard, suggested by Richard from NC. It's more properly called the giant Tongan ground skink, and it's native to some more South Pacific islands—specifically, the Tongan Islands.

Listen to the New Caledonian representative based in Wellington talk about this year's festival of NC short film festival..and more.

If you see an object blowing down the street, you will infer that it is light. That will be your conclusion even if you can't determine what the object is.

More police equipment has been sent to the troubled New Caledonian capital this week where another death has ocurred amid ongoing unrest in the French Territory.

More police equipment has been sent to the troubled New Caledonian capital this week where another death has ocurred amid ongoing unrest in the French Territory; Pacific media owners are being urged to ensure they have policies and processes in place to protect female staff from violence, sexual abuse and harassment both in and out of the work place; The clearing of a squatter settlement in the Papua New Guinea capital is expected to take several more days.

For the first time in 38 years, France will have a Kanak person - an indigenous New Caledonian -- representing the French territory in Parliament in Paris. Pro-independence Emmanuel Tjibaou jee-bow has claimed victory in one of the two New Caledonian constituencies in the French National Assembly. The other seat has gone to pro-France, or Loyalists', Nicolas Metzdorf. Long-time New Caledonia watcher and a correspondent for Islands Business magazine Nic Maclellan spoke to Corin Dann.

In today's episode we talk about Mélenchon's prime ministerial plans, his opinion of Bardella, and the far right's designation by the Interior Ministry. Marlon gets a piece of mail from a shadowy figure from the past, and Olly goes deep on New Caledonian independence and fascists training in the woods. Plus more polls: most people think RN will win. And finally, a genuine apology to Édouard Philippe, we made a couple of jokes about his appearance while discussing his plans to reconstitute the center before getting egg on our face after reading that he has alopecia. And a fact check: it was Sarkozy who raised the retirement age to 62, not Hollande. Marlon, you dunce! Marlon's twitter @MarlonEttinger Olly's twitter @reality_manager Send listener questions and business offers (we are selling two 30 second advertisements per episode) to flep24pod@gmail.com.

More than a month after deadly unrest broke out in New Caledonia, the overseas French territory is now preparing to go to an election, after President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly in Paris. While the streets of the New Caledonian capital, Noumea, are calmer than when the unrest started on the 13th of May, a string of arrests of protest leaders has sparked fears the violence may return.

Hơn một tháng sau khi tình trạng bất ổn chết người nổ ra ở New Caledonia, vùng lãnh thổ hải ngoại của Pháp hiện chuẩn bị tiến hành một cuộc bầu cử, sau khi Tổng thống Emmanuel Macron giải tán Quốc hội ở Paris. Trong khi đường phố ở thủ đô Noumea của New Caledonian yên bình hơn so với thời điểm tình trạng bất ổn bắt đầu vào ngày 13 tháng 5, một loạt vụ bắt giữ các thủ lãnh biểu tình đã làm dấy lên lo ngại bạo lực có thể quay trở lại.

Science commentator Allan Blackman joins Kathryn to talk about the New Caledonian fork fern which now holds the record for the largest amount of DNA stored in its nucleus of any living organism on the planet. He'll also look at the stromatolites found in Saudi Arabia that are believed to be the earliest geological record of life on Earth. And it turns out the evolution of the length of giraffe's neck was driven by food, not sex. Allan Blackman is a Professor of Chemistry, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology.

Many Australians have an idea of New Caledonia. It's just two hours away by plane and is sold to travellers with images of luxurious hotel complexes and pristine beaches. But riots in the capital, a state of emergency and the intervention of the French military have been reminders that the future of New Caledonia is a fraught political question sitting on our doorstep. So, what provoked the unrest? How are we involved? And why are the French still trying to hold on to a pacific nation? Today, journalist Nic Maclellan, on the tension in the Pacific he's covered for decades, and Kanak independence activist Jimmy Naouna, on his hopes for the future of New Caledonia. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Journalist, Nic Maclellan; Spokesperson for New Caledonian pro-independence alliance, the FLNKS, Jimmy Naouna.

Three news stories summarized & contextualized by analytic journalist Colin Wright.Israel's wartime government frays as frustration with Netanyahu growsSummary: A politically centrist member of Israel's war cabinet, Benny Gantz, announced over the weekend that he would leave the government if Prime Minister Netanyahu doesn't present a plan for the future of the war in Gaza by June 8.Context: This ultimatum is being seen as an indication that the temporary alliance of necessity between political parties in Israel following Hamas' attack on the country on October 7 is beginning to fray, and that Netanyahu's seeming lack of a plan for what happens after Israeli forces root out the last of Hamas' leadership in the Gaza Strip is a broad cause for consternation; the country's defense minister recently demanded that Netanyahu make a pledge to not establish a military government in Gaza, which he worries is where things are headed, and which is a situation he says would be untenable for many reasons; Netanyahu, in response, has accused Gantz of supporting Israel's defeat in the conflict against Hamas.—The New York TimesOne Sentence News is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.UN urges US to stop forced returns to Haiti after latest deportation flightSummary: The UN refugee agency has asked the US government to stop forcibly returning Haitian refugees to Haiti, as doing so puts those refugees at life-threatening risk due to widespread gang violence.Context: This call for a change in policy came after the US's most recent deportation flight last week, and the concern is that Haiti is basically under the control of a slew of gangs, which unified against the government in recent months; the UN estimates that 362,000 people, about half of them children, are internally displaced in Haiti right now, and the UN's refugee agency is asking the US to redesignate Haiti for a temporary protective status which grants Haitian refugees temporary permission to stay and work in the US—this status is currently set to expire in early August.—Al JazeeraFrance mobilises police to regain control of New Caledonia airport roadSummary: In the wake of several days of at times violent and destructive riots, French police have cleared barricades from the main road leading to the airport in the New Caledonian capital city, Noumea, though officials say it will still be a few days before all the debris has been cleared.Context: The French territory's main airport is still closed because of unrest, and these protests, which sparked the rioting, were catalyzed by a constitutional amendment that would allegedly dilute the vote of indigenous people by allowing French people who had lived in New Caledonia for ten years to vote in provincial elections—something pro-independence (from France) indigenous groups say is an attempt to prevent their movement from ever resulting in a decoupling from European governance.—ReutersAccording to a new survey, Americans are reporting being more stressed on average, and the number for women is substantially higher than for men across four major age-groups, though young women in particular are reporting the highest levels of stress across all age and gender demographics.—Gallup40,000Milestone (in points) that the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached late last week for the first time.The surge in money flooding into Dow-listed companies is being attributed to new data that showed annual inflation in the US has eased a bit, following three months of less-than-ideal inflation news—suggesting the Fed could still lower their interest rate sometime this year.—NPR NewsTrust Click Get full access to One Sentence News at onesentencenews.substack.com/subscribe

We go behind the causes of the New Caledonian violence, ....highlight the commemorations of the arrival of the first indentured Indian labourers in Fiji 145 Years ago...the building of the biggest double hulled waka in Fiji ....these and other stories on Tagata o te Moana.

New Caledonian expats in Aotearoa admit they are scared for family and friends amid ongoing violence and civil unrest in the island nation. Adam Burns reports.

Tensions remain high in the New Caledonian capital Noumea which has been under curfew overnight after widespread rioting saw buildings and cars across the city set ablaze. RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins has the story.

Rioting has continued overnight in the New Caledonian capital Noumea, with reports of gunfire and arrests as people defied the curfew. Journalist Coralie Cochin spoke to Corin Dann.

New Caledonian pro-independence activist issues dire warning to France

It's no secret that lots of people get their reptiles from places like Petco and PetSmart. We discuss what would need to change in order for us to support buying reptiles from a chain pet store including the improper display enclosures, incorrect supplies, and sick animals. Then it's time for another blind ranking so grab your passport and pack your bags and get ready to hear what vacation cities we want to go to next! Get early access to episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-wild-type-podcast/subscribe Follow the podcast: - https://www.instagram.com/thewildtypepodcast/ - https://www.tiktok.com/@thewildtypepodcast - Merch: https://my-store-efee6d.creator-spring.com Follow Neptune the Chameleon: - https://www.youtube.com/c/NeptunetheChameleon/ - http://instagram.com/neptunethechameleon - https://tiktok.com/@neptunethechameleon - http://facebook.com/neptunethechameleon - https://www.neptunethechameleon.com Follow Lyssa's Lizards: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmZaN6Q4yOt1j36J0-Ml6LQ - https://www.instagram.com/lyssaslizards - https://www.tiktok.com/@lyssaslizards - https://m.facebook.com/p/Lyssas-Lizards-100064470381677/ 00:00 Poor Karens 03:54 Reptile puppy mills 08:16 Improper display enclosures 10:55 Selling the right products 15:08 Need better education 19:40 Should you rescue? 28:04 Thank you employees 29:41 Neptune's vacation city rankings 35:10 Lyssa's vacation city rankings 40:43 Our favorite New Caledonian gecko --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-wild-type-podcast/message

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicola Clayton about cognition across many animals. They define cognition in humans and in animals, intelligence, using magic to understand cognition in animals, embodied mind in animals, and comparative cognition as a type of convergent evolution. They discuss difficulties in using human measures for evaluating animal cognition, New Caledonian crows and their intelligence, consciousness, the future of comparative cognition research, and many more topics.Nicola Clayton is Professor of Comparative Cognition in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge, a Fellow of Clare College and a Fellow of the Royal Society. Her main interests areas are comparative cognition and the evolution and development of intelligence in non-verbal animals and pre-verbal children. She is currently President of the British Science Association Psychology Section. She is also in residence at Rambert Dance Company. Website: https://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/people/nsc22%40cam.ac.uk Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Phil and Roy welcome Andrew and Sarah Gilpin of Living Art Creations to the show! We hear about their shared background in herpetoculture, their passions for photography and field herping, some of the pitfalls and nuances of maintaining a large collection, why they work with New Caledonian geckos, and a whole lot more. Don't miss this episode! And please like, subscribe, and share this episode, if you feel so inclined. To offer direct support to the show, please consider subscribing to our Patreon (https://patreon.com/projectherpetoculture) and have a look at our generous sponsors! SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/62-gilpin/ LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Follow Living Art Creations on IG: @lac_herps Find LAC Herps on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingArtCreations Merch: https://www.projectherp.com/shop Our Sponsors: CHECK OUT Custom Reptile Habitats CLICK HERE Cold Blooded Caffeine (apply the code ‘projectherp' for 10% off): https://coldbloodedcaffeine.com/?ref=PH Tortoise Supply: https://www.tortoisesupply.com Reptile Rocks: https://www.superuro.com Redline Shipping: https://www.redlineshipping.com FairyTail Dragons: https://fairytaildragons.com Support, Subscribe  & Follow: Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/projectherpetoculture Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@projectherpetoculture4860 Follow P : H on Instagram: @projectherpetoculture Follow Phil on Instagram: @aridsonly Follow Roy on Instagram: @wellspringherp 

Ep 265: From Corporate Life to a Delicious Detour with Chef Carolyne Helmy from The Star Gold Coast This week we're honored to chat with Chef Carolyne Helmy. With a unique blend of French culinary mastery and New Caledonian heritage, Carolyne has been shaping the gastronomic landscape at The Star Gold Coast's luxury suite hotel, The Darling. Prepare to be whisked away into her world of sumptuous menus, tight-knit team culture, and ambitious vision for the future.Key Takeaways:-French Influence: Carolyne delves into how her French roots and culture infuse her culinary art at The Star Gold Coast.-Shaped by Experience: With stints at award-winning venues like Kiyomi and Garden Kitchen & Bar, she shares how these experiences have seasoned her culinary style.-Team Spirit: The importance of fostering a supportive work environment isn't lost on Carolyne. She talks about how strong camaraderie elevates the dining experience for guests.-Looking Ahead: Carolyne outlines her future aspirations, both for her team and The Darling's culinary offerings.-Legacy Goals: How does one leave a lasting impact on the hospitality industry? Carolyne gives us her take.Please find our guest information here:Website: https://www.star.com.au/goldcoast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefcarolyne/Please find us here at POH:Website: https://principleofhospitality.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/principle_of_hospitality/Mentioned in this episode:Loaded Now, if you feel like you can never get on top of your back-of-house ops, you'll want to hear about our sponsor for this season - Loaded. Loaded's hospitality management software has changed the game for hospitality performance in New Zealand, and they've just arrived in Australia to help you do the same. Their everything-in-one-place platform helps you master your reporting and inventory, simplify your recipe and menu management, reduce your cogs, and becomes an epic central hub that immediately puts you in control. We've seen Loaded's impact first-hand, and if you're running a bar, Pub, restaurant or cafe you need to reach out to the team. Check them out at loadedhub.comLoaded Now, if you feel like you can never get on top of your back-of-house ops, you'll want to hear about our sponsor for this season - Loaded. Loaded's hospitality management software has changed the game for hospitality performance in New Zealand, and they've just arrived in Australia to help you do the same. Their everything-in-one-place platform helps you master your reporting and inventory, simplify your recipe and menu management, reduce your cogs, and becomes an epic central hub that immediately puts you in control. We've seen Loaded's impact first-hand, and if you're running a bar, Pub, restaurant or cafe you need to reach out to the team. Check them out at loadedhub.com

Dr. Ángel Valdés has known since childhood that he would study sea slugs, and several years ago that dream took him to New Caledonia to work with a large international research team. While divers and other collectors swept the shoreline and beyond for marine life, Ángel diligently photographed every sea slug, including some unexpected finds. Were those hours worth it? Definitely, in part because he and his team have described seven new species of Nudibranchs, in the family Discodorididae.  Nudibranchs, also known as sea slugs, are found all over the world. But what's so special about these “cryptic” New Caledonian species, and what might they have to do with curing rare diseases? Learn all of this and more on this episode of New Species Podcast.  Ángel Valdés' paper “Seven new “cryptic” species of Discodorididae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Nudibranchia) from New Caledonia” is in the March 7th issue of Zookeys. It can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1152.98258 New Species: Atagema kimberlyae, Atagema sobanovae, Jorunna daoulasi, Jorunna hervei, Rostanga poddubetskaiae, Sclerodoris faninozi, Sclerodoris dutertrei Episode image courtesy of Ángel Valdés Visit Ángel's website: https://www.cpp.edu/faculty/aavaldes/index.shtml A transcript of this episode can be found here: Ángel Valdés - Transcript Check out our website: www.newspeciespodcast.net Be sure to follow New Species on Twitter (@PodcastSpecies) and like the podcast page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NewSpeciesPodcast) Music in this podcast is "No More (Instrumental)," by HaTom (https://fanlink.to/HaTom) If you have questions or feedback about this podcast, please e-mail us at NewSpeciesPodcast@gmail.com If you would like to support this podcast, please consider doing so at https://www.patreon.com/NewSpeciesPod

The boys are continuing to learn vMix this week, while also talking shop about New Caledonian collectibles, E3, and Satisfactory's move to UE5! Show Segments: 00:00 - Intro 4:43 - Steve's Games 24:16 - Tchia 38:30 - Graham's Games 47:30 - Beginning of the End Games Mentioned: Tchia Figment Anno 2205 Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Have a Nice Death Uragun The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog FIFA 23 EA Sports PGA Tour Dredge Blacktail What the Golf? Forza Horizon 5 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Music by Kevin MacLeod: https://incompetech.com/music

Join Nerd Pastor Nate as he dives into the beautiful world of Tchia and discovers the powerful connection between this video game's celebration of New Caledonian culture and the Christian call to the Great Commission. In this sermon, we explore how Tchia's vivid representation of culture and traditions can teach us valuable lessons about sharing our faith while respecting and appreciating the diversity of the world around us. Support our ministry here: https://checkpointchurch.churchcenter.com/giving

Al and Kev talk about Wylde Flowers Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:30: What Have We Been Up To 00:07:51: News 00:21:18: Wylde Flowers 01:15:00: Outro Links Tchia Above Snakes Release Date Terra Nil Mac/Linux Delay Innchanted Ankora: Lost Days PS/XB Release Len’s Island Controllers and Currents Update Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript [00:00.000 –> 00:05.000] music [00:05.000 –> 00:10.000] music [00:10.000 –> 00:15.000] music [00:15.000 –> 00:20.020] music [00:20.020 –> 00:25.040] music [00:25.040 –> 00:30.040] music [00:30.040 –> 00:35.040] Hello farmers and welcome to another episode of the harvest season. [00:35.040 –> 00:41.040] My name is Al and I’m Kevin and we are here today to talk about cottagecore games. [00:41.040 –> 00:47.040] Which I will say I think so we’re going to talk about wildflowers this episode. [00:47.040 –> 00:52.040] I think this might be the most cottagecore game in a while. [00:52.040 –> 01:02.040] Yeah so we’ll talk about that. I guess before everything else just to mention transcripts for the podcast are available in the show notes and on the website. [01:02.040 –> 01:09.040] Just scroll down you’ll see them there. Yeah so we’re going to talk about wildflowers. [01:09.040 –> 01:16.040] It has been out for quite a few months and I think it came out the end of last year or maybe it was like the middle of last year or something like that. [01:16.040 –> 01:21.040] Probably should have checked that. Wildflowers came out in September. [01:21.040 –> 01:30.040] So we’re going to talk about that and before that we’ve got a bunch of news. [01:30.040 –> 01:33.040] But first of all Kevin what have you been up to? [01:33.040 –> 01:40.040] Busy things. Work things. Furniture things. I’m restoring a table. [01:40.040 –> 01:45.040] My mom restored a table. Repainted. That’s something. Interesting. What kind of table? [01:45.040 –> 01:50.040] It’s just like a dining room table that she found at the place. It’s a nice table she just wants a different color. [01:50.040 –> 01:56.040] But yeah so that’s going on. That’s fun getting all manual physical for once in my life. [01:56.040 –> 02:04.040] Aside from that and those moments down in Breathe I have been playing Wildflowers and Wildflowers. [02:05.040 –> 02:14.040] We planned this episode. I brought it up a while ago and then our schedule kind of shifted and it kind of jumped up. [02:14.040 –> 02:22.040] And so I said wow I really need to play some more Wildflowers. So I shotgunned a lot of Wildflowers this week. [02:23.040 –> 02:28.040] But spoilers I enjoyed it. Talk about that later. [02:28.040 –> 02:38.040] But yeah aside from that I can’t think of anything meaningful. Ball guys and Pokemon masters. It’s great. [02:38.040 –> 02:44.040] Oh yeah I think we mentioned that in the last episode but we were speculating about what his Pokemon would be. [02:44.040 –> 02:50.040] And of course it’s a Moonguss. It is a Moonguss. I mean makes sense but neither of us suggested it. [02:50.040 –> 02:53.040] Nope. We were all focused on Voltarb. [02:53.040 –> 03:00.040] Yep. And he sounds great. He sounds like the goofy guy you imagine he would. [03:00.040 –> 03:05.040] Oh is he out now? Oh yeah he’s out. It came out the day after we recorded it. [03:05.040 –> 03:10.040] What accent does he have? It’s not British because a lot of the Galarian. [03:10.040 –> 03:12.040] Yeah well that’s why I was asking. [03:13.040 –> 03:18.040] No it’s just like goofy cartoony voice. Like here catch this. Something like that. [03:21.040 –> 03:26.040] It fits his character. It’s a ball guy. I haven’t pulled him yet. Hoping. [03:26.040 –> 03:29.040] But I will let everyone know. [03:29.040 –> 03:38.040] But yeah so let’s see. Wildflowers, ball guy. I really can’t think of anything in particular. Nope. Nothing comes to mind. [03:38.040 –> 03:40.040] What about you? What have you been up to? [03:40.040 –> 03:45.040] Well obviously I’ve been playing some Wildflowers this week. I haven’t played as much as you. [03:45.040 –> 03:52.040] Because I was, as Kevin mentioned, Kevin was like we should do an episode on Wildflowers. [03:52.040 –> 03:56.040] And I was like ok yeah fine. I guess I will join you in that. [03:56.040 –> 03:59.040] And then we agreed last week that we were going to do it this week. [03:59.040 –> 04:01.040] And so I was like well I guess I need to play something. [04:01.040 –> 04:04.040] So I haven’t played a few Moonguss ones. [04:04.040 –> 04:08.040] You have to. But I’ve got enough to get a feel of the game. [04:09.040 –> 04:13.040] I finished off Kirby Return to Dreamland Deluxe. [04:13.040 –> 04:18.040] Well when I say finished. So I finished off the main story. [04:18.040 –> 04:23.040] And then I think last week I had done that and I was just like I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do after that. [04:23.040 –> 04:25.040] And the answer is nothing. [04:25.040 –> 04:31.040] So I started playing the epilogue which is where you’re playing as, oh what’s his name? [04:31.040 –> 04:37.040] Magolor? I’m not a fan of the epilogue. [04:37.040 –> 04:40.040] And the reason I’m not a fan is because I don’t like the controls. [04:40.040 –> 04:45.040] So it’s not that it’s not Kirby. Because obviously I like lots of different platformers. [04:45.040 –> 04:49.040] I enjoy platformers. It’s one of the things I really like to play. [04:49.040 –> 04:54.040] But the way that Magolor plays just feels really frustrating. [04:54.040 –> 05:01.040] So anytime you do an attack in the air you start falling down and then you cannot do anything else until you hit the ground. [05:01.040 –> 05:03.040] And it just feels really frustrating. [05:03.040 –> 05:10.040] I feel like that’s going to unlock later on because the way that they’re doing the epilogue is that you add more powers as you go on. [05:10.040 –> 05:14.040] But it just made some of the levels in the middle just really frustrating. [05:14.040 –> 05:16.040] Because it’s like I don’t have all my powers. [05:16.040 –> 05:21.040] And I’ve got some really hard challenges which would be fun if I could do things. [05:21.040 –> 05:28.040] There’s a point where you have to jump over, drop a bomb down and then somehow make it back onto the thing really quickly. [05:28.040 –> 05:35.040] And I just cannot figure out how to do it. There’s just no, in my mind I just can’t feel any way to control that. It’s really frustrating. [05:35.040 –> 05:39.040] That’s interesting because you know it’s a Kirby game. [05:39.040 –> 05:44.040] Controls usually aren’t an issue. They’re usually pretty simple and enjoyable. [05:44.040 –> 05:50.040] That is really interesting. I am curious. I’d hope to get that at some point and see for myself. [05:50.040 –> 05:55.040] It’s a really nice game. I’ve not played obviously the original so I don’t know how well it is in terms of a remake. [05:55.040 –> 05:59.040] But the game itself plays really well. I really enjoyed it. [05:59.040 –> 06:05.040] I played for a brief amount. It was enjoyable. I imagine there weren’t that many significant changes. [06:05.040 –> 06:11.040] It was already a pretty modern Kirby game so I’m sure it’s fairly close to the original in terms of its controls. [06:11.040 –> 06:13.040] But yeah, okay. [06:13.040 –> 06:15.040] So yeah, I’m done with that. [06:15.040 –> 06:24.040] And I have started Coral Island. So I think in the last episode I had mentioned that my key was for Switch and of course Switch isn’t out yet. [06:24.040 –> 06:29.040] Well I managed to contact them and they switched it to a Steam key so I’m now playing it on my Steam Deck. [06:29.040 –> 06:35.040] So that will be fun. It may well be covered in an episode in the future. [06:35.040 –> 06:41.040] And I’ve been obviously kind of going through the Bloom update still which is fun. [06:41.040 –> 06:52.040] They finally, I think I said this on our original podcast episode about Bloom, but we finally found a game that I can just play for five minutes and then put down every day. [06:52.040 –> 06:56.040] Because that’s how Animal Crossing is meant to be played and I couldn’t play it that way. [06:56.040 –> 07:00.040] Just something in my mind just stopped me doing that. But I’m managing it for Bloom, which is interesting. [07:00.040 –> 07:05.040] Oh my gosh, Animal Crossing never felt that way to me. [07:05.040 –> 07:09.040] No, but it definitely feels like they want you to play it that way. [07:09.040 –> 07:11.040] But I just never could. [07:11.040 –> 07:22.040] Yeah, no, I think most people couldn’t. But cool, I’m glad that you found a game that you can play a little bit as a little de-stresser, whatever you want to call it, a little breather. [07:22.040 –> 07:25.040] Without getting too in-depth, that sounds pretty nice. [07:25.040 –> 07:32.040] I don’t know, see I play Unite like daily, but that’s for like half an hour. [07:32.040 –> 07:34.040] The five minute thing is the kicker. [07:35.040 –> 07:42.040] Yeah, no, I literally, I pick it up, I go and check my flowers. If there’s something to harvest, I harvest and then replant. [07:42.040 –> 07:48.040] And then I get checked through any new messages, see what the new story is, and then I put it down and pick it up the next day. [07:48.040 –> 07:49.040] That sounds pretty nice. [07:49.040 –> 07:53.040] It is. It’s good fun. Cool, should we talk about some news? [07:53.040 –> 07:54.040] I guess so. [07:54.040 –> 08:00.040] So, first of all we have Chia. I think that’s how it’s meant to be said. Chia. [08:00.040 –> 08:01.040] Chia. [08:01.040 –> 08:10.040] This is the game based in New Caledonia, which Kevin now does believe is a real place, is that correct? [08:10.040 –> 08:14.040] I do believe. I believe in New Caledonia. [08:14.040 –> 08:17.040] You believe in it, you can do it in New Caledonia. [08:17.040 –> 08:19.040] I’m no longer of the conspiracy crowd. [08:20.040 –> 08:27.040] So it’s now out on PS4 and PS5 and on Epic Game Store. [08:27.040 –> 08:34.040] So it’s interesting, this one seems to have really caught the wider games crowd as well. [08:34.040 –> 08:38.040] Like occasionally you get a game that we cover that’s like, oh this is like a game. [08:38.040 –> 08:45.040] But like I’ve seen all the kind of big game journalism places that I follow, like they’ve all been talking about this game, which is interesting. [08:45.040 –> 08:53.040] That is interesting. I will say though, they dropped a radical trailer for it, so it makes sense, it would catch people’s attention. [08:53.040 –> 08:58.040] Yeah, yeah, definitely. But it looks interesting. [08:58.040 –> 09:06.040] I mean people are basically comparing it to Breath of the Wild, but more calm and obviously based on New Caledonia. [09:06.040 –> 09:11.040] I didn’t expect that comparison, but okay sure that makes sense. [09:11.040 –> 09:15.040] Yeah, well I’ve not played it, so I can’t confirm whether I would agree with that or not. [09:15.040 –> 09:20.040] I will give especially one props though, near the end of the trailer. [09:20.040 –> 09:30.040] They mention how it was inspired by the homeland of the founders of the development company, I don’t know how you pronounce it. [09:30.040 –> 09:39.040] And they have like voice acting and musics from the local languages from New Caledonian talents, which is very cool. [09:40.040 –> 09:47.040] And you can see that in the trailer, they clearly did the justice, so very cool to see that. [09:47.040 –> 09:54.040] I always like seeing smaller cultures who haven’t gotten a lot of attention get a goal somewhere, so very good for them. [09:54.040 –> 10:00.040] Yeah, definitely. Next we have our release date for Above Snakes. [10:00.040 –> 10:07.040] So this is the one that we were talking about a few weeks ago, we were talking about it with Nami. [10:08.040 –> 10:16.040] So that is coming out on the 25th of May, that’s obviously only the Steam version. [10:16.040 –> 10:22.040] But the console, I think it’s just Switch is coming later, they’ve not started working on that yet. [10:22.040 –> 10:25.040] They’ll be working on that after release. [10:25.040 –> 10:31.040] So yeah, there’s also a prologue, I mean it’s basically just a demo right? [10:32.040 –> 10:40.040] You can download that on Steam just now and play that if you would like, I’ll put that in the show notes. [10:40.040 –> 10:47.040] If you want to try it out and see how the gameplay, it says there’s about 2-3 hours worth of gameplay in the demo. [10:48.040 –> 10:55.040] I’m looking at the trailer because I didn’t even remember what the gameplay looked like since our focus is on the culture stuff. [10:56.040 –> 11:02.040] First of all, the game visually looks very nice, I’m giving props for that. [11:02.040 –> 11:10.040] Secondly, so it’s an isometric game where you build and craft and so on and so forth. [11:10.040 –> 11:19.040] But the crazy part is you zoom out on the global map or whatever and you can just drop chunks of land into an isometric grid. [11:19.040 –> 11:24.040] And you just see the land is boom, land and ed. [11:24.040 –> 11:28.040] It’s a very satisfying thwomp isn’t it? [11:28.040 –> 11:37.040] Yeah it is. So yeah it looks good, aside from putting all the culture stuff, the game age. [11:37.040 –> 11:45.040] So cool, good for them. May 25th, that’s going to be here sooner than I want it to be. Time’s going too fast. [11:45.040 –> 11:52.040] Yeah I don’t know how quickly I’ll get to this game because of course we know what May is. May is Zelda month. [11:52.040 –> 12:02.040] Oh is it? I didn’t remember. Oh no. I’m not ready. I have an extra month now. March 2. [12:02.040 –> 12:10.040] Well if we were running on the international calendar system, that has 13 months. [12:11.040 –> 12:19.040] I mean it doesn’t actually give you any more time. Still, not the point. [12:19.040 –> 12:26.040] The best calendar system is actually from Wildflowers. I’ll discuss it when we get there. [12:26.040 –> 12:31.040] Just keep this in mind folks, Wildflowers. [12:31.040 –> 12:34.040] You know what else does it best? [12:34.040 –> 12:39.040] Oh that’s a big assumption. We’ve not played it yet. [12:39.040 –> 12:42.040] It needs to be good. [12:42.040 –> 12:51.040] Well yeah, Taranel. It will be out on Windows by the time this podcast comes out. [12:51.040 –> 13:00.040] I want to say that I was going through the show notes and I saw that and I was like it’s out now and then I read the parenthesis by the time the episode comes out. [13:00.040 –> 13:05.040] I’m like no, it’s not now. [13:06.040 –> 13:10.040] But the sad news is the Mac and Linux versions have been delayed. [13:10.040 –> 13:14.040] Is it that sad? Ok Mac people, sure, but Linux! [13:14.040 –> 13:18.040] Hey! Come on! Why are we being harsh on Linux here? [13:18.040 –> 13:22.040] Linux is your Steam Deck. Your Steam Deck runs on Linux. Not your Steam Deck, you don’t have a Steam Deck. [13:22.040 –> 13:25.040] This Steam Deck runs on Linux. [13:27.040 –> 13:34.040] Although presumably the Steam Deck will just download the Windows version because it can play Windows games as well. [13:35.040 –> 13:40.040] And the soundtrack is also out now, so if you want to go. [13:40.040 –> 13:45.040] And that’s on, it’s just like a big YouTube, an hour and a half, an hour long YouTube video. [13:45.040 –> 13:49.040] Wow, let me try saying that again. It’s an hour long YouTube video. [13:49.040 –> 13:52.040] You said it right already, you just repeated it. [13:52.040 –> 13:54.040] Very calm, relaxing music. [13:54.040 –> 13:58.040] I haven’t listened to it, I kind of wanted to but eh, I’ll just wait. [13:58.040 –> 14:02.040] You know what’s not calm and relaxing? [14:02.040 –> 14:06.040] Enchanted definitely doesn’t look calm and relaxing. [14:06.040 –> 14:09.040] Was this the game that we only had a name last week? [14:09.040 –> 14:14.040] I think we talked about it last week, but we didn’t really look into it too much. [14:14.040 –> 14:19.040] I don’t think I truly understood what this game was. [14:19.040 –> 14:22.040] I definitely didn’t. [14:22.040 –> 14:25.040] It basically looks like, what’s the game I’m thinking of? [14:25.040 –> 14:27.040] Overcooked. [14:28.040 –> 14:32.040] You’re running a magical hotel, Overcooked style. [14:32.040 –> 14:37.040] And it looks as chaotic and frantic as Overcooked. [14:37.040 –> 14:38.040] It does. [14:38.040 –> 14:41.040] You can play with up to four people. [14:41.040 –> 14:46.040] There’s upgrades and progress, so I don’t think it’s like Overcooked with just little levels. [14:46.040 –> 14:50.040] But at the same time you’re cooking and doing objectives, so I don’t know. [14:50.040 –> 14:57.040] I’m having trouble understanding how this game works just other than it’s Overcooked but hotel. [14:57.040 –> 15:02.040] Yeah, it looks like they have different kind of levels. [15:02.040 –> 15:10.040] So one of them is in, you’re just cooking one of them, there’s a river and you have to go and get the fish from it and then go cook them. [15:10.040 –> 15:14.040] Stuff like that. I presume there’s a farming one, bits as well. [15:14.040 –> 15:18.040] You can turn your body into a cake for some reason. [15:18.040 –> 15:21.040] I mean it looks gorgeous. [15:21.040 –> 15:26.040] I’m a little eh on the design, the style they went with. [15:26.040 –> 15:28.040] I love it. [15:28.040 –> 15:31.040] But for what it is going for it looks great. [15:31.040 –> 15:35.040] Yeah, it’s definitely one of those, you can’t say it looks bad, you can say you don’t like it. [15:35.040 –> 15:37.040] Yeah, I know for sure. [15:37.040 –> 15:40.040] It’s not an actively bad looking game. [15:41.040 –> 15:47.040] There’s a lot going on in that game because it’s got a lot of the cottage core things. [15:47.040 –> 15:55.040] The cooking just looks straight up like Overcooked but they have crafting and feeding cows and furnitures and I don’t know. [15:55.040 –> 15:57.040] There’s a lot going on there. [15:57.040 –> 16:06.040] I’m really curious because I see single player, it looks like it could be better for single player than Overcooked so that would be interesting to see. [16:07.040 –> 16:10.040] And you can have an echidna follow you around. [16:10.040 –> 16:12.040] An echidna? [16:12.040 –> 16:14.040] Yeah, it’s in the trailer. [16:14.040 –> 16:16.040] I don’t know what to say. [16:16.040 –> 16:19.040] And there’s also little onion guys they have to get rid of. [16:19.040 –> 16:22.040] There’s a lot going on, people just watch this trailer. [16:22.040 –> 16:28.040] Anyway, the point of this was that it’s coming out on Tuesday, the same day as Taranel. [16:28.040 –> 16:32.040] So it will be out by the time this episode comes out on Steam. [16:32.040 –> 16:35.040] The Switch version is coming soon, not out yet. [16:36.040 –> 16:42.040] I’m interested in giving this game a shot, especially because I have people I can play locally with. [16:42.040 –> 16:49.040] But I don’t know when I’ll be playing with it because Taranel drops the same day and I’ll be… [16:49.040 –> 16:55.040] And Kora Lost Days feels like a while since we talked about this and you might be like, oh but it’s already out. [16:55.040 –> 16:58.040] It’s not out yet on the PS4 and Xbox. [16:58.040 –> 17:04.040] So they’re coming on the 30th of March, which I think is the day after this podcast comes out. [17:05.040 –> 17:08.040] So if you’ve been waiting for those versions, there you go. [17:08.040 –> 17:12.040] And hopefully it works a little better with some of those rough edges polished up a little bit. [17:12.040 –> 17:15.040] Something tells me no, but who knows. [17:15.040 –> 17:16.040] Try it. [17:16.040 –> 17:17.040] Yeah, yeah. [17:17.040 –> 17:19.040] It’s a fine game. [17:19.040 –> 17:22.040] The physical editions still aren’t out yet, but they’re coming. [17:22.040 –> 17:26.040] Oh yeah, I looked at the… there’s all sorts of physical stuff. [17:26.040 –> 17:28.040] Look, I am over on Kora Lost Days. [17:28.040 –> 17:33.040] I am all in on, what’s it called, the next one. [17:33.040 –> 17:37.040] Mika and the Lost… no, Mika and the Witches… oh, there’s two. [17:37.040 –> 17:42.040] There’s Mika and the Witches Mountain and there’s another one that’s like a platformer. [17:42.040 –> 17:47.040] Wait, is Mika in the Ankora universe? [17:47.040 –> 17:48.040] Yeah, yeah. [17:48.040 –> 17:49.040] Wait, it is? [17:49.040 –> 17:50.040] Yeah. [17:50.040 –> 17:51.040] Oh, what? [17:51.040 –> 17:53.040] I didn’t know this! [17:53.040 –> 17:57.040] All of the Chibi games are in the same universe. [17:57.040 –> 18:01.040] I don’t remember this, but Mika looks incredible! [18:01.040 –> 18:05.040] Who cares about Ankora? [18:05.040 –> 18:06.040] Oh no. [18:06.040 –> 18:09.040] Kora and the Five Pirates of Mara, that’s the other one. [18:09.040 –> 18:12.040] That’s the platformer at some point this year apparently. [18:12.040 –> 18:13.040] I’m looking forward to that. [18:13.040 –> 18:17.040] And yeah, Mika is obviously definitely a podcast game. [18:17.040 –> 18:21.040] Mika’s just going to dominate it and be the best. [18:21.040 –> 18:25.040] Ah, but the question is will I prefer it to Summer and Mara or not? [18:25.040 –> 18:26.040] That’s the big… [18:26.040 –> 18:27.040] Yes. [18:27.040 –> 18:28.040] Yes. [18:28.040 –> 18:29.040] I’m answering yes. [18:29.040 –> 18:30.040] Well, we’ll see. [18:30.040 –> 18:31.040] We’ll see. [18:31.040 –> 18:34.040] It’s just objectively better, you can see. [18:34.040 –> 18:38.040] I don’t think there’s anything objective about it. [18:38.040 –> 18:40.040] We are the authority. [18:40.040 –> 18:44.040] We are the influencers here. [18:44.040 –> 18:45.040] Oh dear. [18:45.040 –> 18:50.040] Lens Island have an update out. [18:50.040 –> 18:54.040] The currents and controllers update, very catchy. [18:54.040 –> 18:57.040] Can you guess what this has in the update? [18:57.040 –> 19:00.040] It has controller support and currents. [19:00.040 –> 19:05.040] Now the currents actually might throw you for a loop because I didn’t. [19:05.040 –> 19:07.040] Is this what people want? [19:07.040 –> 19:09.040] Procedurally generated ocean currents? [19:09.040 –> 19:13.040] Well, I mean, the whole point is this is an exploration game, right? [19:13.040 –> 19:18.040] So, you know, currents are accurate to real life. [19:18.040 –> 19:19.040] I don’t know. [19:19.040 –> 19:23.040] I mean, realistically, the reason I’m talking about this is the controller support, right? [19:23.040 –> 19:27.040] It’s got basic controller support now, but there’s more coming later. [19:27.040 –> 19:30.040] And also procedurally generated ocean currents. [19:30.040 –> 19:32.040] So if that’s really what you were like, [19:32.040 –> 19:37.040] Oh, I’ve been waiting for this game, but now I get the procedurally generated ocean currents. [19:37.040 –> 19:39.040] Now’s the time to play. [19:39.040 –> 19:42.040] Obviously. [19:42.040 –> 19:45.040] I don’t know what to say. [19:45.040 –> 19:46.040] Oh yeah. [19:46.040 –> 19:52.040] You can also build on tiny little islands as well now, which is more exciting. [19:52.040 –> 19:53.040] I actually really like that. [19:53.040 –> 19:59.040] There’s a dozen, over a dozen new sandbanks, coral reefs, and unique rock formations that can be found at sea. [19:59.040 –> 20:01.040] Although don’t build on a coral reef. [20:01.040 –> 20:03.040] Oh no, don’t do that. [20:03.040 –> 20:08.040] Ocean houses can also be useful when building them next to ocean currents for easy traversal around the map. [20:08.040 –> 20:11.040] So yeah, I think your boats move faster on the currents. [20:11.040 –> 20:12.040] Okay. [20:12.040 –> 20:16.040] See, that seems fun making a network of ocean homes with boats. [20:16.040 –> 20:17.040] Yeah, that sounds cool. [20:17.040 –> 20:24.040] Just, just don’t like go on one and then find yourself halfway across the world and you’re lost now. [20:24.040 –> 20:25.040] So be careful. [20:25.040 –> 20:28.040] What was that? The Australian… [20:28.040 –> 20:31.040] From Finding Nemo, what was that? [20:31.040 –> 20:34.040] Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. [20:34.040 –> 20:35.040] I can’t remember. [20:35.040 –> 20:37.040] EAC, I don’t remember. [20:37.040 –> 20:42.040] EAC, the East Australian Current, yeah. [20:42.040 –> 20:43.040] Classic. [20:43.040 –> 20:46.040] Go get to meet Crush. Choo choo kachoo. [20:46.040 –> 20:49.040] Wild flowers. Shall we talk about that again? [20:49.040 –> 20:51.040] Fine, fine. [20:51.040 –> 20:53.040] We’re not a Finding Nemo podcast. [20:53.040 –> 20:55.040] Not yet. [20:55.040 –> 20:58.040] Look, we’re getting there. We’re close. [20:58.040 –> 21:01.040] Lens Island and Coral Island, we’re on our way. [21:01.040 –> 21:04.040] We even have someone from New Zealand who’s occasionally on the podcast. [21:04.040 –> 21:06.040] It’s not Australia, but it’s close. [21:06.040 –> 21:08.040] We do. [21:08.040 –> 21:11.040] We have an Australian fan, a friend on here. [21:11.040 –> 21:19.040] Oh, no, Mark, if you ever listen to this, please join us and do Crush impression. [21:19.040 –> 21:23.040] So we’re going to talk about wild flowers. [21:23.040 –> 21:25.040] There are no Australians in that game. [21:25.040 –> 21:29.040] A quick bit of background to this game. [21:29.040 –> 21:35.040] So it’s on Switch and on Apple Arcade. [21:35.040 –> 21:38.040] I believe it is at some point coming to PC. [21:38.040 –> 21:40.040] I don’t know if that’s out yet, though. [21:40.040 –> 21:43.040] I just assume everything on Earth comes out on PC first. [21:43.040 –> 21:46.040] It is out on PC now. No, it didn’t come out first. [21:46.040 –> 21:48.040] I think they got the… [21:48.040 –> 21:52.040] Oh, it looks like the… So we said at the beginning it came out in September. [21:52.040 –> 21:54.040] That was the PC version. [21:54.040 –> 21:58.040] So I think the Switch and Apple Arcade one came earlier. [21:58.040 –> 22:00.040] Huh. OK. [22:00.040 –> 22:02.040] So that… [22:02.040 –> 22:05.040] I think they must have got a deal from Apple to get it on Apple Arcade first. [22:05.040 –> 22:09.040] And it came out on Switch at the same time, and then it came out on Steam. [22:09.040 –> 22:12.040] So, yeah, I mean, I guess… [22:12.040 –> 22:15.040] How would you describe this game, Kevin? [22:15.040 –> 22:18.040] Other than what I said at the beginning, which was the ultimate cottagecore game. [22:18.040 –> 22:24.040] I would describe this as the best Stardew clone. [22:24.040 –> 22:27.040] I’m using that. I’m using… Yeah. [22:27.040 –> 22:32.040] So, OK, I do need to give that a little more nuance because it’s a very clickbaity thought. [22:32.040 –> 22:34.040] No, we don’t want nuance. [22:35.040 –> 22:40.040] So I call it a Stardew clone, but it doesn’t feel like a clone. [22:40.040 –> 22:44.040] I mean, it feels like there’s the same DNA because it’s a farming game. [22:44.040 –> 22:48.040] People probably have played Stardew and learned lessons from that. [22:48.040 –> 22:53.040] But everything is polished and innovated in a meaningful way, right? [22:53.040 –> 22:59.040] Like, there’s some games you look at like, yeah, that’s that’s just Stardew plus X or whatever, right? [22:59.040 –> 23:00.040] Yeah. [23:00.040 –> 23:03.040] This game takes it up a notch on, like, every level. [23:03.040 –> 23:10.040] Like, every mechanic feels like they tweaked or changed meaningfully the whole presentation. [23:10.040 –> 23:15.040] This is a full 3D game with full voice acting. That’s nuts. [23:15.040 –> 23:17.040] I didn’t expect full voice acting. [23:17.040 –> 23:27.040] But, yeah, but it has a lot of, again, a lot of the same basic DNA of not having enough hours in the day to do the 20 million tasks you want to do. [23:27.040 –> 23:31.040] And an energy system and farming and all that good stuff. [23:31.040 –> 23:39.040] For the full disclosure, I am not done with summer in my first year yet. [23:39.040 –> 23:43.040] Which, that said, that’s a significant amount of time, though. [23:43.040 –> 23:46.040] I will explain a little how that works. [23:46.040 –> 23:49.040] What about you, Al? What are your thoughts thus far? [23:49.040 –> 23:53.040] Yeah, so I’m further behind than you because, as I mentioned, I only started. [23:53.040 –> 23:57.040] But I think you don’t have to play a lot of this game to know how well it plays. [23:57.040 –> 24:02.040] I mean, let’s put it this way, I don’t think I’m going to stop playing this game immediately. [24:02.040 –> 24:03.040] Yeah. [24:03.040 –> 24:11.040] The, yeah, it definitely, I think I agree and it feels inspired, it definitely feels inspired by Stardew. [24:11.040 –> 24:16.040] But it definitely, it doesn’t seem to be doing things because Stardew does them. [24:16.040 –> 24:18.040] Like, it does a lot of things differently. [24:18.040 –> 24:19.040] Yes. [24:19.040 –> 24:21.040] I think it’s doing what Stardew did. [24:21.040 –> 24:25.040] It’s taking something and going, how would I like this to work instead? [24:25.040 –> 24:27.040] Yes, exactly. [24:27.040 –> 24:30.040] And that is good. That’s how we wanted it to happen. [24:30.040 –> 24:35.040] Yeah, absolutely. I kind of wanted to make that point in my head earlier. [24:35.040 –> 24:39.040] So, like, Stardew was like a jump from Harvest Moon, right? [24:39.040 –> 24:42.040] Wildflowers feels like a jump from Stardew. [24:42.040 –> 24:46.040] I think I would say, so I think that Stardew generally did everything better. [24:46.040 –> 24:54.040] I will say that I think Wildflowers does everything different, but I think a lot of it could be up to how you like how it plays, right? [24:54.040 –> 24:57.040] Like, I can absolutely see how someone would not like this game. [24:57.040 –> 24:59.040] Yeah, no, I agree. I was about to say that, right? [24:59.040 –> 25:05.040] Like, I don’t think it’s, because Stardew defined a genre, basically, like it was a game changer, right? [25:05.040 –> 25:11.040] I don’t think Wildflowers is a game changer, but it’s a very solid game, a great game. [25:12.040 –> 25:14.040] So, yeah, no, I agree with you there. [25:14.040 –> 25:22.040] That’s why I was a little hesitant saying that, because it’s not the next Stardew, but it is, it’s a great game. [25:22.040 –> 25:29.040] I will, oh, one thing I should add, so I didn’t expect to play Wildflowers. [25:29.040 –> 25:37.040] I picked it up for reasons that, a few reasons that I will have to discuss at another time with you, Al. [25:37.040 –> 25:40.040] That’s some behind the scenes stuff. [25:40.040 –> 25:41.040] Intriguing. [25:41.040 –> 25:49.040] But, what’s interesting is, at first I wasn’t that interested, because one of my big criticisms is the art style. [25:49.040 –> 25:53.040] Like, I don’t like how the people, the design looks, I don’t know, just kind of on it. [25:53.040 –> 25:58.040] I agree. The people’s design is, there’s something about it that creeps me out. [25:58.040 –> 26:05.040] It’s the Bratz doll look kind of thing, something about their heads and their hands. [26:05.040 –> 26:08.040] I don’t know, just, it’s eh. [26:08.040 –> 26:13.040] I got used to it overplaying so much, but I’m still not a fan of it. [26:13.040 –> 26:20.040] So at first I wasn’t that interested, and on paper it sounded like just another farming game. [26:20.040 –> 26:27.040] But, once I looked at the reviews, they were all really good, and then I played it and I was like, oh, I’m not just playing this anymore for the podcast. [26:27.040 –> 26:30.040] I’m really enjoying this now. [26:30.040 –> 26:33.040] It consumed my week because I was enjoying it. [26:34.040 –> 26:37.040] So yeah, it’s unexpectedly for me. [26:37.040 –> 26:38.040] Yeah. [26:38.040 –> 26:41.040] Okay, so let’s get into it. [26:41.040 –> 26:45.040] Yeah, let’s talk about, so I think I’ve got a list of mechanics I want to talk about. [26:45.040 –> 26:50.040] The first one is, for me, the first thing that kind of struck me was the movement. [26:50.040 –> 26:56.040] So, I think, apart from the fact that you can just jump over fences, which, have you noticed that yet? [26:56.040 –> 26:57.040] You can just jump over fences? [26:57.040 –> 27:01.040] It blew my mind. It blew my mind. You can just run up to it and jump over it. [27:01.040 –> 27:06.040] What is this? It’s bizarre. I was not expecting that to happen. [27:06.040 –> 27:11.040] Terra is the character’s name, by the way. It’s not Stardew, your own farmer. You’re playing a character named Terra. [27:11.040 –> 27:18.040] Yeah, oh, that’s a good point, actually. Maybe let’s talk about that, because there is basically no character customization because of that. [27:18.040 –> 27:24.040] I added the boutique. It’s an update. I started that quest, but that was close. [27:24.040 –> 27:30.040] This is not empty character self-insert. You are playing Terra Wild. [27:30.040 –> 27:34.040] And I always feel a bit kind of like, I don’t think every game has to have character customization. [27:34.040 –> 27:39.040] No. No, they do not. And this is a great example of why not. [27:39.040 –> 27:46.040] Yeah. I think I would have no issues with that if there wasn’t romance in the game. [27:46.040 –> 27:47.040] Ah? [27:47.040 –> 27:53.040] But it feels weird to have romance in a game when I’m not playing as a character I’ve created. [27:53.040 –> 28:00.040] Because then I’m like, well, what do I do here? Am I choosing for this character or am I choosing for me? [28:00.040 –> 28:04.040] Who am I choosing for here? And I don’t know what to do in that situation. [28:04.040 –> 28:13.040] Look, I play Fire Emblem. I matchmate. I know this. It’s not that odd to me, I guess. [28:13.040 –> 28:22.040] But I see what you mean, right? It is weird that Terra is a fully defined character, except in romance you can kind of navigate that however you want. [28:22.040 –> 28:28.040] So that’s interesting. I don’t know. I feel like there’s a deep thought here, but I can’t think of it right now. [28:28.040 –> 28:34.040] But, you know, I see what you mean. You would think as a full character she’d have her own preference. [28:34.040 –> 28:41.040] Yeah. It’s just a small thing. And I suspect the way I’m going to deal with it is by just not doing the romance. [28:41.040 –> 28:46.040] Because, as we’ve discussed, we don’t think every game needs to have romance. [28:47.040 –> 28:52.040] I think if you’re not feeling it, don’t do it. That’s the beauty of these games, right? [28:52.040 –> 29:03.040] Yup, yup. So in this one, despite people talking about it, because there’s several single people, and it’s a thing, the dialogue is well written and that’s brought up. [29:03.040 –> 29:08.040] There still doesn’t feel like a lot of pressure that you have to get hitched or anything like that. [29:08.040 –> 29:20.040] Even if your grandmother tells you to get hitched or whatever. It’s very nice that it’s pretty light, while still being a strong component. It’s a very nice balance. [29:20.040 –> 29:24.040] And you say that, Al, but you haven’t met Wesley yet. [29:24.040 –> 29:28.040] Fair enough. [29:28.040 –> 29:35.040] But yeah, no. I’m probably going with Wesley, but I’ll talk about that later. [29:35.040 –> 29:46.040] Okay, going back to what we opened with the movement. Yes, Tara just wore a dress and jumped over fences and it’s nuts. It blew my mind you can do that. You don’t have to walk to the doors. It’s great! [29:46.040 –> 29:55.040] Yeah, so it’ll be interesting to see how you react to what I’m about to say, but I’m not a fan of the movement in the game in general. [29:56.040 –> 30:05.040] And it might be, now you’ve kind of ruined my might be there, but I’m going to say what I was going to say anyway. It might be because I’m playing on the iPad. I’m not sure. [30:05.040 –> 30:18.040] So the way that movement works on the iPad, there’s actually two different ways of doing it, but they start out by you basically dragging around on the screen vaguely where you want them to go. [30:18.040 –> 30:30.040] So if they’re in the middle of the screen and you want them to go up, you have to press the screen above the character and they will go in that direction. [30:30.040 –> 30:44.040] Which probably works fine on a phone, and I’m not even playing on a big iPad. I’m playing on the iPad mini. It’s basically just like a big phone, but it might be better on a phone if you can reach the whole screen. [30:45.040 –> 30:56.040] But it’s really awkward. It’s really awkward because you’re like, I want to go across to this plant and you have to basically press in that general direction to get it. [30:56.040 –> 31:05.040] It was really weird and awkward. There is a setting where you can change it to have a virtual joystick, which is what I did because I was going literally insane. [31:05.040 –> 31:08.040] And that’s better. [31:08.040 –> 31:12.040] Yeah, I don’t know why it’s the default. I really don’t know why it’s the default. [31:12.040 –> 31:14.040] I don’t know. That’s odd. [31:14.040 –> 31:18.040] Or why they don’t give you the option when you’re starting up. Which movement style would you like? That would be fine. [31:18.040 –> 31:25.040] Because I get why some people might want that, especially if they’re playing on a phone, but that is an insane default and not even to tell you there’s another option. [31:25.040 –> 31:32.040] I was already complaining about this and I was like, well, let me just check the settings. Oh yes, there is a setting to have a virtual joystick, so I have done that. [31:32.040 –> 31:40.040] But other than that, the movement is fine, but there’s something about it that I’m not a huge fan of and I’m not sure what it is. What are your thoughts on that? [31:40.040 –> 31:47.040] Well, I’m playing on Switch, so I’m using a non-virtual joystick. I’m playing on a controller. [31:47.040 –> 31:49.040] A joystick you might call it. [31:49.040 –> 31:56.040] Yes, a physical joystick. So I don’t have that whole issue, which just sounds nightmarish. [31:56.040 –> 32:03.040] But the movement, I think it’s just too slow. I think that’s the biggest thing. Her walking is kind of slow. [32:03.040 –> 32:13.040] But I think it’s intentional. It’s like Stardew. I think, if I recall correctly, don’t you speed up in Stardew? You get faster. I could be wrong. [32:13.040 –> 32:16.040] I don’t think so. You can get the horse. [32:16.040 –> 32:22.040] Yeah. Well, at the very least it does that. I think it’s intentional because you can get speedups later in the game. [32:23.040 –> 32:32.040] So I think they slowed it down so you feel very incentivized to speed up. Which, as of right now, I’ve seen there is a spell you can cast on yourself. [32:35.040 –> 32:41.040] Did we describe the hook of this game? I don’t think we did, did we? That you’re falling by day, witch by night? [32:41.040 –> 32:43.040] Yeah, I guess we could talk about that. [32:43.040 –> 32:48.040] I should just point out that’s a selling point, right? In Stardew, you’re also a witch by night. [32:48.040 –> 32:58.040] So magic is a thing in this game. And one of the spells you can cast on yourself is a speedup spell. I’ve not used it yet, but that’s the biggest thing for me, I think. [32:58.040 –> 33:09.040] It’s just the movement’s a little on the slow side, especially with all the things you want to do. The map isn’t as big as Stardew’s, I don’t think, to compensate for that. [33:10.040 –> 33:21.040] Yeah, so that is one thing I wanted to talk about. It’s not a huge map, and I actually quite like that. So I mentioned I’ve been playing Coral Island, and that is a huge map. [33:21.040 –> 33:32.040] And there can be advantages and disadvantages to it, but I actually quite like playing a game that has quite a small area, because I am not playing an exploration game. [33:33.040 –> 33:45.040] I am not playing this game to explore. I am playing this game to farm, and to get married, or to mine, or do some boring, repetitive stuff. [33:45.040 –> 33:57.040] And apparently in this case, magic. But I’m not looking for an exploration game. There are other games I might play to do that. [33:57.040 –> 34:01.040] And so I quite like the fact that it’s quite a small map. [34:01.040 –> 34:10.040] It’s very deliberate, right? Everything, how it’s placed. And because it’s small, there’s a lot to see and do on the island. [34:10.040 –> 34:14.040] But you learn it quickly, and you know how to get to it. [34:14.040 –> 34:22.040] You do learn it reasonably quickly. However, I will say, I am not a fan of the map they have in-game, because it tells you nothing. [34:22.040 –> 34:24.040] Yeah, it’s not great. It does not. [34:25.040 –> 34:26.040] It does not. [34:26.040 –> 34:33.040] There’s like a quest very early on where you have to meet everyone in the village, and I’m like, okay, where are they? [34:33.040 –> 34:40.040] There’s one person that I haven’t found. I don’t know who this person is. I don’t know where they are. Turns out they live like a hermit in the forest. [34:40.040 –> 34:41.040] Yeah. [34:41.040 –> 34:48.040] But I found them. But it’s just like, I don’t understand how they’re like, oh, go to this shop. How do I get to that shop? [34:48.040 –> 34:55.040] I don’t know. Like, sure, it’s in the main town, but like, there are about 10 shops in the main town. Am I expected to go into each? [34:55.040 –> 35:05.040] The map gives you no indication as to what is where at all, other than like, this is the town, this is the forest, this is the beach, that’s it. [35:05.040 –> 35:08.040] There’s no other indication as to where anything is. [35:08.040 –> 35:14.040] Yeah, no, I fully agree with that. The map’s garbage, not where they’ve been looking at. [35:15.040 –> 35:22.040] But you do learn it pretty quickly because it is quite a spot, so that’s only a very early, like, I learned that really quickly on. [35:22.040 –> 35:27.040] Like, I haven’t played the game a huge amount at all, and I know pretty much the whole map now. [35:27.040 –> 35:38.040] Yeah, but no, that sort of thing, I don’t know why, really irks me in games in general. Like, that’s bad game design, right? [35:38.040 –> 35:43.040] Game design, you want your things to be functional and useful, right? So yeah, that’s something that always bugged me. [35:43.040 –> 35:55.040] I will say though, in terms of the actual map, like the island, there are two big area, I say big, quote unquote, there are two areas to expand. [35:55.040 –> 36:04.040] One is the mountain area, you have to access by building a bridge, and the other one is, okay, I’m going to, well there’s another area in game. [36:04.040 –> 36:13.040] You can see, I don’t want to say, it’s later in the game, it’s on, like, the website, so it’s not really spoilers, but I won’t mention it here. [36:13.040 –> 36:21.040] But anyways, it expands, is the point I’m trying to say. And more characters move in, so there are more buildings and things to see later. [36:21.040 –> 36:29.040] But in general though, the map is good, and I haven’t gotten a broom yet, but I hope once I get a broom, the movement feels great. [36:30.040 –> 36:38.040] Yeah, yeah, I obviously don’t have the broom either, but I like the look of it. [36:38.040 –> 36:49.040] It’s not like it’s horrific movement, it’s just a bit meh, and I literally do not understand why they made the decision on the default control scheme for the map. [36:49.040 –> 36:51.040] Oh, that would ruin it for sure. [36:51.040 –> 36:53.040] Insane for me. [36:53.040 –> 36:54.040] Insane. [36:54.040 –> 36:58.040] Alright, cool. Let’s talk about farming, an important topic for us to discuss. [36:58.040 –> 37:00.040] We talk about that here? [37:00.040 –> 37:05.040] We talk about farming. Still, even though we’re not a farming game podcast, we still talk about farming games. [37:05.040 –> 37:11.040] We still talk about farming. Oh my word. Words. What are words? [37:12.040 –> 37:23.040] So, I guess, it’s quite a simple farming. You have these beds that you use, so you don’t have a plot of land that you hold. [37:23.040 –> 37:27.040] You just have these beds that you then plant a seed in. [37:27.040 –> 37:31.040] It’s kind of like when, I’m trying to think, what was the, was it Doraemon Story of Seasons? [37:31.040 –> 37:37.040] Where you plant one seed, or you buy a seed and you plant it and it’s like multiple seeds. [37:37.040 –> 37:39.040] Maybe, I don’t remember. [37:39.040 –> 37:46.040] You pay for potato seed and you get four potatoes out of it, right? So, that’s how it works. [37:46.040 –> 37:48.040] And then you water that and stuff. [37:48.040 –> 37:59.040] So, you can get a reasonable space of land. I think it starts out quite small, but you can expand across to the other bits of land. [37:59.040 –> 38:06.040] So, I think it’s a pretty decent amount, but if you want to keep things really low-key, you still can. [38:06.040 –> 38:11.040] I quite like the farming. It’s kind of simple, but I think it works quite well. [38:11.040 –> 38:13.040] Yeah. [38:13.040 –> 38:18.040] That reminds me, I do have a question for you. See when you’re going to water, how does it work on the Switch? [38:18.040 –> 38:28.040] Because how it works on the iPad is you go to it and then a little icon appears above the bed where you plant the seeds. [38:28.040 –> 38:35.040] And you have to press on the button to then select what you want to plant, and then you have to select the icon to then water. [38:35.040 –> 38:42.040] Does it work kind of like that, or is it more like a traditional farming game where you just press a button? [38:42.040 –> 38:47.040] Actually, let’s go back to the movement slash controls talk, because it’s just traditional. [38:47.040 –> 38:53.040] You go up to it and push A to say select the pot and then you… [38:53.040 –> 39:01.040] The icons are still there. I know the ones that are like little speech bubbles and you go between them using the joystick. [39:01.040 –> 39:04.040] Okay, I’m going to water, I’m going to plant, whatever, right? [39:04.040 –> 39:07.040] So the touch screen doesn’t work for pressing? [39:07.040 –> 39:11.040] Oh, I’ve been playing primarily on the dock, to be honest. I don’t know, I haven’t checked on the touch screen. [39:11.040 –> 39:17.040] I think I did use it briefly and I used it if the touch screen worked for something. [39:17.040 –> 39:22.040] Oh, in fact, there’s at lea

An expert in transnational crime and regional security says the record seizure of cocaine announced by New Zealand authorities on Wednesday - while significant is still just a drop in the ocean; An international law expert believes Japan is passing the risk of its upcoming release of treated nuclear wastewater into the ocean onto Pacific leaders; Recent Shark culling in New Caledonian has divided public opinion in the French territory; A conservationist is calling on the Fiji government to revoke a lease for a major development that threatens one of Suva's last remaining mangrove forests; A bill to introduce caning as a form of punishment is stirring public debate on Guam; The Oceania Football Confederation and the Asian Football Confederation have signed an agreement they say will see more matches between countries from the two FIFA regions.

A Human Rights Watch researcher in Indonesia has condemned the West Papua National Liberation Army's kidnapping of a New Zealand pilot; Recent Shark culling in New Caledonian has divided public opinion in the French territory. Three four-metre-long tiger sharks have been killed by local authorities after two recent attacks including one where a woman was mauled by a Bull-shark at one of Noumea's most popular beaches; Anaphylaxis sufferers in Aotearoa have something to celebrate this month with the announcement that EpiPens will now be funded in New Zealand.

Recent Shark culling in New Caledonian has divided public opinion in the French territory. Three four-metre-long tiger sharks have been killed by local authorities after two recent attacks including one where a woman was mauled by a Bull-shark at one of Noumea's most popular beaches.

James Graham of Top Shelf Geckos is a small-batch reptile breeder out of Canada, mainly focused on African Fat-Tailed Geckos, New Caledonian species, and Collared Lizards. In the episode, we discuss how James is able to produce a profit while providing enriching living conditions for his breeding stock. We also discuss the controversial concept of “breeding mills” and contemplate whether or not “industrial” breeding operations could be considered reptile breeding mills. SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/148-topshelf-geckos/ LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: CHECK OUT Custom Reptile Habitats HERE https://www.topshelfgeckos.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/topshelfgeckos/ https://www.facebook.com/TopShelfGeckos/ Support, Subscribe  & Follow: CHECK OUT Custom Reptile Habitats CLICK HERE SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST NETWORK: SPOTIFY► https://spoti.fi/2UG5NOI Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/animalsathome Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnimalsatHomeChannel Follow on Instagram: @animalsathomeca  

Date set for CNMI runoff election between incumbent governor Torres and his former deputy Palacios.

The islands of New Caledonia are famous for their geckos. Recent research has revealed the evolutionary past of these sticky lizards, and it all began shortly after the islands themselves emerged from the Pacific Ocean.  Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Skipwith PL, Bauer AM, Jackman TR, Sadlier RA. 2016. Old but not ancient: coalescent species tree of New Caledonian geckos reveals recent post‐inundation diversification. Journal of Biogeography 43:1266–1276. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.12719. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Griffing, A. H., Sanger, T. J., Epperlein, L., Bauer, A. M., Cobos, A., Higham, T. E., ... & Gamble, T. 2021. And thereby hangs a tail: morphology, developmental patterns and biomechanics of the adhesive tails of crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus). Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 288(1953), 20210650. Other Links/Mentions: Kimbrough L. 2022.Tiny new tree frog species found in rewilded Costa Rican nature reserve: https://news.mongabay.com/2022/09/tiny-new-tree-frog-species-found-in-rewilded-costa-rican-nature-reserve/  Crested gecko chirping audio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFOGsS2TPuI  Independent article about house gecko on board ship: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/china-asian-maidstone-kent-b2007108.html  Editing and Music: Podcast edited by Emmy – https://www.fiverr.com/emmyk10  Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com

Aidan Kelly, un historien amateur nous parle d'une conférence à l'Alliance française de Perth le mercredi 7 septembre prochain ou il parlera sur une des histoires locales les moins connues de l'Australie-Occidentale: "The 1903 French New Caledonian / Perth Hills Picnic Tragedy".

Have you wondered how fire science started? But I mean the real real start... not 1666 one, nor the one when we've started to build furnaces... The start when the first evolutionary ancestor of homo sapiens figured out this warm bright thing could be used to process food. The start when this bright thing was protected and used intentionally. The bright thing that was so important for our kind, that the proof for this relationship can be found literally in our anatomy... The best way to study this origin would obviously be a time machine. I don't have that. But I have the second-best thing - a real scientist Dr Ivo Jacobs studying the relationship between animals and fire, to uncover how our ancestors could have learnt how to behave at the fire and how to use fire to their advantage. There is not much fire safety engineering in this episode, but there is something really magical to learning how impactful that thing we study was for our kind. And I hope you will really enjoy this.And if this sparked your interest, go on and check these great resources:Beautiful essay on pyrocognition by Ivo (a must read tbh)Short video of Japaneese snow (fire!) monkeys at a campfireStudy of New Caledonian crows

Independence leaders from New Caledonia are in Suva lobbying for Pacific Islands Forum support to hold another self-determination vote.

The study from the University of Queensland found that New Caledonian humpbacks were learning complex songs with high accuracy.

Can we build a Dolittle Machine, a piece of technology that will let us converse with the animals of planet Earth? Science fiction writer Matthew De Abaitua investigates how the latest advances in AI mean that this is now more in the realms of the possible, rather than in the purely fantastical. Starting in his garden with two cats, he finds himself in a tropical forest with big-brained hook-wielding birds, surveying multidimensional neural networks, and meets a woman who found out about her pregnancy from a dolphin. There are also robotic fish and sound pictures painted at high speed by fruit bats. What is Matthew's machine going to look like, how will it operate, and what will we learn from it all? Featuring: Linda Erb, vice president of animal care and training, Dolphin Research Center, Florida. Martha Nussbaum, professor of law and philosophy, University of Chicago. Diana Reiss, professor, Department of Psychology, Hunter College. Daniela Rus, roboticist, professor and Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, MIT. Natalie Uomini, researcher into New Caledonian crows and animal intelligence. Yossi Yovel, professor, Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University. Extracts from ‘Songs of the Humpback Whale' used with permission from Ocean Alliance. Sperm whale sounds courtesy of Project CETI. Presenter: Matthew De Abaitua Producer: Richard Ward Executive Producer: Jo Rowntree A Loftus Media production for Radio 4

A recent New Zealand parliamentary select committee inquiry into the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme has heard serious allegations of exploitation of Pacific Island workers;The NZ government's 2022 wellbeing budget is delivering more money for Pasifika health and education but leaders of Pacific communites say it doesn't go far enough; After almost 40 years in New Caledonian and French politics, Philippe Gomes is bowing out of the national political limelight; The New Zealand government has committed $NZ4.4 million dollars to support the purchase of a new AM transmitter for RNZ Pacific.

After almost 40 years in New Caledonian and French politics, Philippe Gomes is bowing out of the national political limelight.

James McOnie joins ACC Head G Lane on this week's panel for The Agenda!The guys go 'Around The World discussing everything from horse meat diets to Scandinavian dolphin hunters and New Caledonian turtle consumption.'Wide-On Of The Week' is back, as well as a brand new set of nicknames in 'Births, Deaths & Marriages' for the Dutch Cricket Team and the Moana Pasifika centaur...

------------------Support the channel------------ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter PayPal Subscription 1 Dollar: https://tinyurl.com/yb3acuuy PayPal Subscription 3 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ybn6bg9l PayPal Subscription 5 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ycmr9gpz PayPal Subscription 10 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y9r3fc9m PayPal Subscription 20 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y95uvkao This show is sponsored by Enlites, Learning & Development done differently. Check the website here: http://enlites.com/ Dr. Russell Gray is the director to the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. Dr. Gray's research spans the areas of cultural evolution, linguistics, animal cognition, and the philosophy of biology. In this episode, we talk about linguistics, cultural evolution, and animal cognition. We start with linguistics, and discuss if language is innate or acquired and Universal Grammar; approaches to the study of the evolution of languages, like Bayesian phylolinguistics; constraints in linguistic variation; the evolution of languages in the Pacific and the timing of peopling there; and what we know about the Indo-European language(s). We then talk about religion: how notions of god vary with ecology; the relationship between Big Gods and social complexity; and ritual human sacrifice and the evolution of stratified societies. We discuss D-PLACE, and the difficulties in building comparative cultural databases. Finally, we discuss animal cognition, with a focus on the cognition of New Caledonian crows and their tool use. We talk about tool use in animals, the relationship between brain size and cognitive ability, and the problems with talking about a generally “smart” species and “one cognition”. -- A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: KARIN LIETZCKE, ANN BLANCHETTE, PER HELGE LARSEN, LAU GUERREIRO, JERRY MULLER, HANS FREDRIK SUNDE, BERNARDO SEIXAS, HERBERT GINTIS, RUTGER VOS, RICARDO VLADIMIRO, CRAIG HEALY, OLAF ALEX, PHILIP KURIAN, JONATHAN VISSER, JAKOB KLINKBY, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, JOHN CONNORS, PAULINA BARREN, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, DAN DEMETRIOU, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ARTHUR KOH, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, SUSAN PINKER, PABLO SANTURBANO, SIMON COLUMBUS, PHIL KAVANAGH, JORGE ESPINHA, ROBERTO INGUANZO, MIKKEL STORMYR, ERIC NEURMANN, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, BERNARD HUGUENEY, ALEXANDER DANNBAUER, FERGAL CUSSEN, YEVHEN BODRENKO, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, DON ROSS, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, OZLEM BULUT, NATHAN NGUYEN, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, J.W., JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, IDAN SOLON, ROMAIN ROCH, DMITRY GRIGORYEV, TOM ROTH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, ADANER USMANI, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, AL ORTIZ, NELLEKE BAK, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, NICK GOLDEN, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, EDWARD HALL, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS P. FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, DENISE COOK, SCOTT, AND ZACHARY FISH! A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, IAN GILLIGAN, LUIS CAYETANO, TOM VANEGDOM, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, VEGA GIDEY, THOMAS TRUMBLE, AND NUNO ELDER! AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MICHAL RUSIECKI, ROSEY, JAMES PRATT, MATTHEW LAVENDER, SERGIU CODREANU, AND BOGDAN KANIVETS!

Questions remain over the future of the New Caledonian as pro-independence groups refuse to discuss the future of the Pacific territory with France; and, the opening of a new kidney hospital in Fiji aims to improve treatment for people with kidney disease all around the Pacific.

We explored how Christian became interested in birds; how he developed a specific interest in New Caledonian Crows; other tropical birds; Crows using tools for foraging; the new research station; reflections on time  as a Grass Fellow at Radcliffe College; his visit to the Crow Roost in Lawrence, MA; using telemetry devices; his  leadership for the International Bio-Logging Society; his new research paper, and more! Prof. Christian Rutz Christian Rutz is a professor of biology at the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, where he leads a research group studying animal tool behavior. He combines observational, experimental, and theoretical approaches to address a major scientific puzzle: Why do so few animal species use tools, and how have humans become so technology savvy? Rutz probes the evolutionary origins of tool behavior with an innovative research strategy. Rather than studying our primate cousins, he investigates tropical crows that have the curious habit of using foraging tools. His principal study species, the renowned New Caledonian crow, fashions complex tool designs from a variety of plant materials and may even refine its technology over time. Rutz recently discovered that the critically endangered Hawaiian crow is also a skilled tool user, opening up exciting opportunities for comparative research. During a recent sabbatical leave, as a Grass Fellow at Radcliffe College, Rutz was pursuing a range of interrelated objectives on the tool behavior of New Caledonian and Hawaiian crows, exploring the biological processes that allow rudimentary technologies to arise, advance, and diversify. Rutz obtained his doctorate as a Rhodes Scholar from the University of Oxford, was subsequently awarded a prestigious David Phillips Fellowship, and held visiting appointments at the Universities of Oxford, Tokyo, and New South Wales. His research is regularly published in leading interdisciplinary journals, including Nature and Science, has attracted a string of academic prizes, and has been showcased at major public science exhibitions. Rutz has pioneered cutting-edge wildlife tracking technologies and serves as the founding president of the International Bio-Logging Society. Craig Gibson Craig is a bird conservation photographer. His current focus is on expanding awareness about the Winter Crow Roost located in Lawrence, MA. Craig has well over 300 documented observation nights tracking and documenting this crow roost. He leads many group tours and has made numerous presentations and talks. Craig designed and launched a blog and this podcast about the Winter Crow Roost and continues to oversee all editorial content. He has also been the lead on initiating and coordinating a range of activities and events with local arts, education, and community groups as well as working with a growing number of conservation and environmental organizations. He wrote and published a comprehensive 14-page report to recap the 2018-2019 winter season, and a comprehensive guide about roost photography at night. His efforts have raised much greater awareness about the Winter Crow Roost in Lawrence, MA, and he has been a catalyst for a range of new community science initiatives. 

New Caledonian authorities are preparing for Sunday's third and final independence referendum after rejected pleas by the pro-independence parties to postpone it to next year because of the pandemic.

This week Amani and Meghan chat with shark parasite expert, Dr. Jimmy Bernot! We discuss his publication, "A new species of Psedopandarus Kirtisinghe, 1950 (Copepoda: Siphonostomoatoida: Pandaridae) from sharks of the genus Squalus L. in New Caledonian waters" (Bernot and Boxshall 2017). We chat about what kind of parasites exist on sharks, how they find their shark hosts, how they reproduce, and what it's like to be a shark parasite biologist! Get ready to jump into all things parasites! This episode was edited by sound engineer Kaela Shoe --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sharkpediapod/support

Samoa's incoming Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, dismisses accusations thrown at her by her predecessor; New Zealand's Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry will hold its first Pacific people's investigation public hearing in July; France is hosting New Caledonian politicians in Paris to discuss the implications of the territory's final independence referendum.

Rated by many ornithologists as being among the most intelligent of birds, the New Caledonian Crow has shocked scientists with its ability to build and modify tools - an ability initially thought to be unique to us upright walking apes, but slowly being seen in an increasing number of other species...Website - www.talespodcast.comTwitter - twitter.com/talespodcastsYoutube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWl4I_AISDq6MUfD56gUMTQSupport the Show.

We're doing some spring cleaning this week, but please enjoy this pick from our archives. It's a conversation with Dr. Alex Taylor that aired originally in September 2020.  We've got a terrific spring lined up for the show. See you in two weeks! --- There’s a viral video clip from 2014—maybe you’ve seen it. It features a subject in a pretty remarkable psychology experiment. He’s put in room full of different apparatuses, one of which contains reward. After sizing up the room, the subject gets started. The first thing he does is tug on a string until he can reach a short stick that’s tied to the end of it. He then uses that stick to retrieve a stone that was just out of his reach, behind some bars; then he retrieves another stone in the same way; then a third. One at a time, he picks up the stones, takes them across the way, and plunks them down a tube. Nothing happens at first but, after the third stone, the combined weight lowers a trap door, releasing a long stick. The subject then uses that long stick to carefully pry out his reward from a deep hole. It’s an impressive display of problem solving. But what’s most remarkable is that the subject in question is not a Psych 101 student but a bird—a New Caledonian crow, to be exact—and his name is 007. My guest on today’s show is Alex Taylor, an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Auckland. He’s the one who devised this challenge for 007—it brings together a number of tasks he’s used with New Caledonian crows over the years to try to understand their striking capacities for tool use, for planning, and for reasoning of different kinds. We talk about how Alex got interested in crows and how he studies them; we talk about what seems to be going on in their minds when they solve multi-step puzzles; we talk about the kinds of tools that crows make and use in the wild and the emerging evidence that using those tools puts them in a good mood. We then zoom out to discuss some of the leading ideas about what drives the evolution of intelligence behavior, whether in crows or chimps or children. We also touch on some of Alex’s new work with another species—the kea, an alpine parrot native to the south Island of New Zealand. We talk about how the kea are in some ways a foil to the New Caledonian crow—a bit more curious, a bit more fun-loving—but also super sharp in their own ways. This conversation was a real treat. Like many folks, it seems, during the lockdown this spring I found myself with a newfound interest in birds. So I was especially excited to get to tour the world of avian cognition with Alex—a leading researcher in the area and an affable guide at that. I think you’ll get a kick out of this one folks—and I’m happy to bet it’ll have you looking at your neighborhood corvids in a whole new light. Without further preamble, here’s my conversation with Dr. Alex Taylor. Enjoy.   A transcript of this interview is available here.   Notes and links 4:00 ­– A popular article about the famed feats of Betty, a New Caledonian crow. An early publication establishing these crows’ impressive tool-making abilities. 8:00 – The corvid family is large and diverse. Accessible introductions to corvids and corvid cognition can be found here and here. 13:30 – Dr. Taylor’s first study with crows dealt with meta-tool use—the use of one tool on another. An image depicting the set-up of the study can be found here. 17:30 – An article about how New Caledonian crows craft and use tools in the wild. 19:34 – A study suggesting that the pandanus tools made by New Caledonian crows may exhibit cumulative cultural evolution. (We discussed the importance of cumulative culture in humans in an earlier episode.) 22:20 – A 2019 study by Dr. Taylor and colleagues investigating the types of mental representations crows seem to be using during multi-stage problem solving tasks. 24:10 – A 2019 study by Dr. Taylor and colleagues suggesting crows might enjoy using tools. The procedure involved a cognitive bias task first developed in this 2004 study. 30:50 – A classic study in psychology analyzing individual differences in how much people like thinking—that is, their “need for cognition.” 35:00 – Aesop’s fable about the crow and the pitcher. The fable was first adapted into an experimental task in this study. Dr. Taylor and colleagues have since used variations of the task to probe crows’ causal understanding. Here is one overview of this work. 41:20 – A study by Dr. Taylor and colleagues examining how human children do on the Aesop’s fable task. 42:35 – Dr. Taylor’s “signature testing” proposal is discussed here. 53:50 – A 2017 study showing that monkeys can be trained to pass the mirror test by using laser pointers. (We discussed the mirror test in a previous episode.) 56:34 – A paper by Dr. Taylor and a colleague discussing the equivocal evidence for the “technical intelligence hypothesis”—the idea that selection for tool use leads to selection for general intelligence. 58:17– An article about “encephalization” as a proxy for animal intelligence. 1:02: 35 – A paper by the philosopher Kim Sterelny about the origins of human intelligence. 1:04:33 – Read about the charismatic kea here. 1:09:45 – A 2017 study showing that a distinctive vocalization produced by kea may be involved in positive emotional contagion, much like human laughter. In a new project, in collaboration with Ximena Nelson and other colleagues, Dr. Taylor is trying to further understand this behavior. 1:10:48 – A recent study by Dr. Taylor and colleagues about the kea’s ability to integrate different kinds of information. Watch a video about this study here.   Alex Taylor’s end-of-show recommendations: The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman Bird Brain by Nathan Emery   The best way to keep up with Dr. Taylor’s work is to follow his lab on Twitter (@AnimalMindsUoA) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AnimalMindsUoA/). You can also check out his lab website: http://www.animalmindslab.com.   Many Minds is a project of the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI) (https://www.diverseintelligencessummer.com/), which is made possible by a generous grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation to UCLA. It is hosted by Kensy Cooperrider, with creative support from DISI Directors Erica Cartmill and Jacob Foster, and Associate Director Hilda Loury. Our artwork is by Ben Oldroyd (https://www.mayhilldesigns.co.uk/). Our transcripts are created by Sarah Dopierala (https://sarahdopierala.wordpress.com/). You can subscribe to Many Minds on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Play, or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to email us at: manymindspodcast@gmail.com. For updates about the show, follow us on Twitter: @ManyMindsPod.

The tenth episode of FGV delves into the New Caledonian election, with up-to-date results and predictions, with some political news from the real world.

Street 2 Bay report and EP&BC Act 1999 review – Neil BlakeJudges at ICC have decided that the court has jurisdiction over war crimes committed in Occupied Palestine – Jessica MorrisonGreen Left celebrating 30 years – Pip HinmanAustralian Council For Free And Fair Speech launched – Professor Emeritus Stuart ReesRumbling in the South Pacific – tsunami, breakdown of New Caledonian government and break up of Pacific Islands Forum – Nic Maclellan

Our guest for this episode, Dr. Gonzalo Giribet, is an invertebrate biologist working at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard, where he is Curator of Invertebrates and Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. Gonzalo is the first author of a recent paper about four new species of daddy long legs (also called harvestmen or opilionids) from New Caledonia! We learn that these harvestmen are—at the most—only a couple of millimeters long, how new species are named, and why we should care about new species—even ones that are so small! The paper was published in Invertebrate Systematics (Vol 35, pages 59-89), with the title "A revised phylogeny of the New Caledonian endemic genus Troglosiro (Opiliones: Cyphophthalmi: Troglosironidae) with the description of four new species." The paper may be viewed here, and downloaded for free for the month of February, 2021: https://www.publish.csiro.au/IS/IS20042 For more information about Dr. Giribet, you can follow him on Twitter (@ggiribet), visit his website (https://oeb.harvard.edu/people/gonzalo-giribet), or read about him on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzalo_Giribet)! Be sure to follow New Species on Twitter (@PodcastSpecies), like the podcast page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NewSpeciesPodcast), and music in this podcast is "No More (Instrumental)," by HaTom (https://fanlink.to/HaTom). If you would like to support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/NewSpeciesPodcast

Hey everyone I hope you enjoyed this episode of Inside Savag3's Mind, If you enjoyed the episode I'd Greatly appreciate If you would share it with your friends and family and consider subscribing to the podcast on your listening platform of Choice as it lets me know you guys want more :). I Will be attending the Raleigh North Carolina Repticon Reptile Expo on November 28th from 9AM to 11AM with the VIP Ticket holder crowd. If you are also going to Repticon and would like to meet up at the Expo, Send me a message over on Instagram (@Savag3Calib3r) or Twitter (@Savagecalibers). As Always Please do your proper research On Crested Geckos, Gargoyle Geckos and Leachianus Geckos or any animal for that matter Before Even considering Purchasing one Animals are living things and should not be gotten on impulse any more than a human child should be adopted on impulse!!! This episode is just a bare bones explanation of some of the care requirements and other general knowledge, fun facts and personal experience and by no means qualifies as doing your research! If you also enjoy Video Games I live stream on Twitch.tv Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8PM EST to 10PM EST with some un scheduled streams in between so if you enjoy video games consider coming to hang out and dropping a follow on twitch to catch me when I'm live. I also post Past streams and Montages to my Youtube channel. Social Media: Instagram: Instagram.com/savag3calib3r Twitter: Twitter.com/Savagecalibers Live Streams and Gaming Content: Twitch: Twitch.tv/Savag3Calib3r Youtube.com/Savag3Calib3r DISCLAIMER: * My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I do not censor myself for the benefit of Others. I say it how it is plain and simple and If it's on my mind I speak it as is, for it is my right and Autism makes it difficult not to either way. That said it is not my intention to offend or be little anyone with my opinions or Views. You are entitled to live your life how you see fit just as I'm entitled to do the same.

A group of UN-appointed independent human rights experts raise concerns that a massive proposed copper and gold mine in PNG will threaten the community's human rights, and New Caledonian pro-independence activist and politician Patricia Goa says this Sunday's second referendum on possible independence from France is a 'question of dignity' rather than a financial matter.

What an independent New Caledonia - there's a referendum on 4 October - would mean for both that country, and for France's role in the Pacific.

Welcome back everyone! Hope you all had a great August. And hope you’re all—like me—jazzed about the start of Season 2 of Many Minds. There’s a viral video clip from 2014—maybe you’ve seen it. It features a subject in a pretty remarkable psychology experiment. He’s put in room full of different apparatuses, one of which contains reward. After sizing up the room, the subject gets started. The first thing he does is tug on a string until he can reach a short stick that’s tied to the end of it. He then uses that stick to retrieve a stone that was just out of his reach, behind some bars; then he retrieves another stone in the same way; then a third. One at a time, he picks up the stones, takes them across the way, and plunks them down a tube. Nothing happens at first but, after the third stone, the combined weight lowers a trap door, releasing a long stick. The subject then uses that long stick to carefully pry out his reward from a deep hole. It’s an impressive display of problem solving. But what’s most remarkable is that the subject in question is not a Psych 101 student but a bird—a New Caledonian crow, to be exact—and his name is 007. My guest on today’s show is Alex Taylor, an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Auckland. He’s the one who devised this challenge for 007—it brings together a number of tasks he’s used with New Caledonian crows over the years to try to understand their striking capacities for tool use, for planning, and for reasoning of different kinds. We talk about how Alex got interested in crows and how he studies them; we talk about what seems to be going on in their minds when they solve multi-step puzzles; we talk about the kinds of tools that crows make and use in the wild and the emerging evidence that using those tools puts them in a good mood. We then zoom out to discuss some of the leading ideas about what drives the evolution of intelligence behavior, whether in crows or chimps or children. We also touch on some of Alex’s new work with another species—the kea, an alpine parrot native to the south Island of New Zealand. We talk about how the kea are in some ways a foil to the New Caledonian crow—a bit more curious, a bit more fun-loving—but also super sharp in their own ways. This conversation was a real treat. Like many folks, it seems, during the lockdown this spring I found myself with a newfound interest in birds. So I was especially excited to get to tour the world of avian cognition with Alex—a leading researcher in the area and an affable guide at that. I think you’ll get a kick out of this one folks—and I’m happy to bet it’ll have you looking at your neighborhood corvids in a whole new light. Without further preamble, here’s my conversation with Dr. Alex Taylor. Enjoy.   A transcript of this interview is available here.   Notes and links 4:00 ­– A popular article about the famed feats of Betty, a New Caledonian crow. An early publication establishing these crows’ impressive tool-making abilities. 8:00 – The corvid family is large and diverse. Accessible introductions to corvids and corvid cognition can be found here and here. 13:30 – Dr. Taylor’s first study with crows dealt with meta-tool use—the use of one tool on another. An image depicting the set-up of the study can be found here. 17:30 – An article about how New Caledonian crows craft and use tools in the wild. 19:34 – A study suggesting that the pandanus tools made by New Caledonian crows may exhibit cumulative cultural evolution. (We discussed the importance of cumulative culture in humans in an earlier episode.) 22:20 – A 2019 study by Dr. Taylor and colleagues investigating the types of mental representations crows seem to be using during multi-stage problem solving tasks. 24:10 – A 2019 study by Dr. Taylor and colleagues suggesting crows might enjoy using tools. The procedure involved a cognitive bias task first developed in this 2004 study. 30:50 – A classic study in psychology analyzing individual differences in how much people like thinking—that is, their “need for cognition.” 35:00 – Aesop’s fable about the crow and the pitcher. The fable was first adapted into an experimental task in this study. Dr. Taylor and colleagues have since used variations of the task to probe crows’ causal understanding. Here is one overview of this work. 41:20 – A study by Dr. Taylor and colleagues examining how human children do on the Aesop’s fable task. 42:35 – Dr. Taylor’s “signature testing” proposal is discussed here. 53:50 – A 2017 study showing that monkeys can be trained to pass the mirror test by using laser pointers. (We discussed the mirror test in a previous episode.) 56:34 – A paper by Dr. Taylor and a colleague discussing the equivocal evidence for the “technical intelligence hypothesis”—the idea that selection for tool use leads to selection for general intelligence. 58:17– An article about “encephalization” as a proxy for animal intelligence. 1:02: 35 – A paper by the philosopher Kim Sterelny about the origins of human intelligence. 1:04:33 – Read about the charismatic kea here. 1:09:45 – A 2017 study showing that a distinctive vocalization produced by kea may be involved in positive emotional contagion, much like human laughter. In a new project, in collaboration with Ximena Nelson and other colleagues, Dr. Taylor is trying to further understand this behavior. 1:10:48 – A recent study by Dr. Taylor and colleagues about the kea’s ability to integrate different kinds of information. Watch a video about this study here.   Alex Taylor’s end-of-show recommendations: The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman Bird Brain by Nathan Emery   The best way to keep up with Dr. Taylor’s work is to follow his lab on Twitter (@AnimalMindsUoA) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AnimalMindsUoA/). You can also check out his lab website: http://www.animalmindslab.com.   Many Minds is a project of the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI) (https://www.diverseintelligencessummer.com/), which is made possible by a generous grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation to UCLA. It is hosted by Kensy Cooperrider, with creative support from DISI Directors Erica Cartmill and Jacob Foster, and Associate Director Hilda Loury. Our artwork is by Ben Oldroyd (https://www.mayhilldesigns.co.uk/). Our transcripts are created by Sarah Dopierala (https://sarahdopierala.wordpress.com/). You can subscribe to Many Minds on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Play, or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to email us at: manymindspodcast@gmail.com. For updates about the show, follow us on Twitter: @ManyMindsPod.

Amalia Bastos is a biologist and photographer who is currently a Ph.D candidate at The University of Auckland. She is part of the Animal Minds lab and work with three different species: dogs, kea, and New Caledonian crows. Her main interest is on how evolutionary pressures have shaped the minds of different species. Her PhD thesis focuses on the signature-testing approach, which aims to identify which cognitive processes animals use to understand their environment.

This is the second episode on New Caledonian botany, with continued fanatic ranting on the wonders of ultramafic geology and botany as well as musings on the futility of eating jackfruit and the pondering of what Dengue Fever must feel like. 

Tool making and use are often considered a hallmark of intelligence: the discovery that New Caledonian crows made tools caused a flurry of excitement in the world of animal cognition with much talk of 'feathered apes’.  Of the explanations for the rarity of tool making across the animal kingdom (e.g. brain size, group size, sociality), none appear satisfactory.  The rarity of the behaviour makes it difficult to study in an evolutionary context, but a phenotypically similar behaviour, nest building, is not at all rare. And it is increasingly amenable to investigation: I will present evidence of decision making with regard to appropriate materials and local environmental conditions, associating building decisions with reproductive success and the possibility of cultural evolution of built structures.

Barry talks with Pure Minerals (ASX:PM1) Managing Director, John Downie.

Today we’ll be talking about tools! Tools of the trade, tools of torture, and tools of, well, hehe, you know. Bow-chika-wa-wah! What’s a butcher, a tailor, and a bendy-stick maker got in common? They’re all birds! Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: what’s the most humiliating thing to happen to an eel? With special guest Carmen Angelica. FOOTNOTES:  1. Bottlenose dolphins wielding sponges 2. Video of a tailor bird sewing leaves together 3. New Caledonian crows create their own hooks 4. The Brazen Bull torture device 5. Butcher bird impaling its prey 6. Macaques using human hair to floss 7. Palm cockatoos drumming to get the ladies 8. Elephant's big D energy 9. The weird world of dragonfly wieners 10. The woman who has trained herself how to run like a horse Correction: Living root bridges are found in Meghalaya, Northeast India.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Today we’ll be talking about tools! Tools of the trade, tools of torture, and tools of, well, hehe, you know. Bow-chika-wa-wah! What’s a butcher, a tailor, and a bendy-stick maker got in common? They’re all birds! Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: what’s the most humiliating thing to happen to an eel? With special guest Carmen Angelica. FOOTNOTES:  1. Bottlenose dolphins wielding sponges 2. Video of a tailor bird sewing leaves together 3. New Caledonian crows create their own hooks 4. The Brazen Bull torture device 5. Butcher bird impaling its prey 6. Macaques using human hair to floss 7. Palm cockatoos drumming to get the ladies 8. Elephant's big D energy 9. The weird world of dragonfly wieners 10. The woman who has trained herself how to run like a horse Correction: Living root bridges are found in Meghalaya, Northeast India.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

This interview with Leah Horowitz took place on the University of Wisconsin Campus at Science Hall in professor Horowitz' office on June 24th, 2019. Thistle talks with Leah about her studies of the New Caledonian islands people and their resistance to nickel mining. Professor Horowitz' stories from that region illustrate a pattern occurring worldwide of environmental destruction disproportionately impacting women and women's work, yet decisions about this impact primarily remaining in the hands of men.

Belated and disorganised, but it is finally here! Episode ten, with the Mates, Mark D. Scherz, Gabriel Ugueto, and Ethan Kocak, talking about the hottest new research in herpetology since March 2019! In this tenth episode, we talk about glowing frogs, diving snakes, twitter’s greatest HERpetologists, and New Caledonian geckos! Episode notes sometimes get clipped… Read more

Dr Shane, Dr Euan, Dr Jen and Chris KP discuss New Caledonian crows that can plan ahead, the link between gut bacteria and mental health, pills that contain injection mechanisms, and mass organism deaths as a result of extreme weather.The team interview Dr Prasad Paradkar from the CSIRO regarding genetically engineering mosquitoes to be resistant to spreading the Zika virus.They also chat with Dr Yona Nebel-Jacobsen, 'Isotopia' Lab Manager & Research Fellow School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment at Monash University, about her work with isotope geochemistry. She is currently raising funds to cover travel costs to Antarctica as part of the Homeward Bound program.Remember, Science is everywhere, including:Program page:Einstein-A-Go-Go Facebook page:Einstein-A-Go-Go Twitter:Einstein-A-Go-Go and every Sunday at 11:00a.m AEST on RRR 102.7FM.

Some birds can fashion tools and create tiny works of art, so why do we always underestimate their bird brains? In this panel discussion, recorded at the 2018 Aspen Ideas Festival, Flora talks with writer Jennifer Ackerman and crow expert Alex Taylor about the genius of birds.  Guests: writer Jennifer Ackerman and New Caledonian crow expert Alex Taylor. Have a question that needs answering? Call the ELT Help Line #(833) RING ELT. To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers

Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly). *Complex Organics Bubble up from EnceladusLarge complex organic molecules have been discovered in the geysers spewing out of the Saturnian ice moon Enceladus.*Size limits on neutron starsA new study has answered a long standing mystery – finding neutron stars can at most be no more that 12 to 13.5 kilometres wide.*New forms of Quark MatterThere’s growing speculation in physics about the possibility of new forms of matter existing beyond the periodic table – creating a sort of continent of stability composed of exotic quark matter.*The end of the Australian Astronomical ObservatoryThe Australian National University has taken a lead in the new consortium of 13 universities which have taken over the operations of the Australian Astronomical Observatory.Non premium edit starts at: 15:09 (FW: is there a direction….) and ends at: 15:41 (LW: ….Siding Spring Observatory)*Trump directs creation of the U.S. Space ForceU.S. President Donald Trump has formally ordered the American military to begin the process of creating a United States Space Force.*Dragon flies to space stationA Dragon cargo ship has safely docked to the International space carrying 2676 kilograms of new scientific experiments, cargo, and equipment.You tube video url: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/post/175392616108You tube video url: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/post/175489794278*The Science ReportColdest place on Earth is even colder than previously thought.Seven-billion-dollar order for Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft.Images of an Australian cockatoo discovered in 13th century manuscriptConvergent evolution strikes again.New Caledonian crows memorise how to make tools.For enhanced Show Notes including photos to accompany this episode, visit: http://www.bitesz.com/spacetimeshownotes Subscribe, rate and review SpaceTime at all good podcasting apps…including Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, PocketCasts, Podbean, Radio Public, Tunein Radio, google play, Spreaker, Spotify, Deezer etc Would you prefer to have access to the special commercial free version of SpaceTime? Help support the show, subscribe at Patreon....and share in the rewards. Details at www.patreon.com/spacetimewithstuartgary  Help support SpaceTime : The SpaceTime with Stuart Gary merchandise shop. Get your T-Shirts, Coffee Cups, badges, tote bag + more and help support the show. Check out the range: http://www.cafepress.com/spacetime Thank you. Plus: As a part of the SpaceTime family, you can get a free audio book of your choice, plus 30 days free access from audible.com. Just visit www.audibletrial.com/spacetime or click on the banner link at www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com Email: SpaceTime@bitesz.com Join our mailing list at http://www.bitesz.com/join-our-mailing-list  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/spacetime. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a beer week of beer news, we discuss the breaking news that Feral has been sold to CCA. Coca-Cola Amatil the best fit for Feral: Brendan Varis We look at New Zealand brewer Renaissance's entry into Voluntary Administration. Renaissance looking for rebirth And also the Brewers Guild of New Zealand awards Garage Project named New Zealand's Champion Brewer Listener José Perez sends through some information about the New Caledonian brewery, Les 3 Brasseurs, Pete spoke about last week. Le 3 Brasseurs website French / English

In a beer week of beer news, we discuss the breaking news that Feral has been sold to CCA. Coca-Cola Amatil the best fit for Feral: Brendan Varis We look at New Zealand brewer Renaissance's entry into Voluntary Administration. Renaissance looking for rebirth And also the Brewers Guild of New Zealand awards Garage Project named New Zealand’s Champion Brewer Listener José Perez sends through some information about the New Caledonian brewery, Les 3 Brasseurs, Pete spoke about last week. Le 3 Brasseurs website French / English

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Turner discusses two new books, Crow Smarts: Inside the Brain of the Worlds Smartest Bird (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2016), and Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune (Charlesbridge, 2016). In Crow Smarts, Turner introduces scientist Dr. Gavin Hunt and provides a fascinating account of how his team in New Caledonia is investigating the mysteries of crow smarts, exploring the questions: How do New Caledonian crows learn to use and make tools? Is it possible that crows are improving their tool technology and passing the improvements on to the next generation–an achievement long thought unique to humans? Where is this tool use driving the crow brain, and what can crows teach us about the evolution of intelligence? Then, in Samurai Rising, Turner takes readers back to twelfth-century Japan to recount the dramatic story of Minamoto Yoshitsune, the child exile and teenage runaway, whose military genius made him a legendary samurai warrior and whose story has been told in books, manga, film, kabuki theater, and incorporated into a number of video and online games. At first, Yoshitsune had little going for him. Exiled to a monastery, he had no money, no allies, and no martial training. He wasn’t big or strong or good-looking. His only assets were brains, ambition, and a dream. But childhood dreams can change history. At the age of fifteen, Yoshitsune escaped. Blow by painful blow, he learned the art of the sword. Fall after bruising fall, he mastered mounted archery. He joined his half brother Yoritomo in an uprising against the most powerful samurai in Japan. This is the story of insane courage and daring feats, bitter rivalry and fatal love. Based on one of the great works of Japanese history and literature, Samurai Rising takes a clear-eyed, very modern look at the way of the samurai–and at the man who became the most famous samurai of all. Learn more at: http://www.pamelasturner.com Susan Raab is president of Raab Associates, an internationally recognized agency that specializes in marketing literature, products and initiatives that help improve the lives of young people. Clients have included National Geographic, Scholastic, the International Board on Books for Young People, and bestselling authors and illustrators. Susan is marketing advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She’s also a journalist reporting on publishing, education and human rights. Her work as a broadcast correspondent has been hosted by the University of Connecticut, and by the University of Florida’s Recess Radio, a program syndicated to 500 public radio stations. Her many interviews, including with Art Spiegelman, Jon Scieszka, Norton Juster, Laurie Halse Anderson and many others talking about art and literature can be heard here. Follow Susan at: https://twitter.com/sraab18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Research into intelligence in New Caledonian crows has won Alex Taylor the 2015 Prime Minister's MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize

Research into intelligence in New Caledonian crows has won Alex Taylor the 2015 Prime Minister's MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize

Ryan Flynn, CEO of baseball New Zealand put me in contact with Jacques Levy at New Caledonian baseball recently as they are in need of someone to come help them grow the game of baseball. This small Island that is just 1000 km's off the coast of Australia in the South Pacific, is seeking a young, energetic and motivated individual who is passionate about teaching the game of baseball and enthusiastic about helping develop the game overseas. Baseball in New Caledonia is very small, with members hovering only around 200 with, spread out amongst 5 clubs on the South end of the island. This experience will also involved side trips to Australia and New Zealand for competitions. For those interested, please submit your resume and a short cover letter explaining why you would be the perfect candidate for taking on the responsibility of creating a baseball buzz on this small island. This year long contract would begin in April 2014 so if you are interested you need to act quick.

There are few moments in recent sports history as riveting, perplexing, and widely debated as Zinedine Zidane’s head-butt to Marco Materazzi in the final match of the 2006 World Cup. Think of your own reaction when the referee stopped play to attend to Materazzi, and you then saw the reply of Zidane trotting away from the Italian defender, turning back, and driving his head into Materazzi’s chest. Perhaps a cheer of approval, or scorn for the blatant foul. Then the red card came out, and with it the realization that Zidane’s brilliant career had come to an end. And as the camera followed him leaving the pitch, and he passed the World Cup trophy waiting on its pedestal, we understood that Zidane’s act of anger had likely cost his team the victory. Laurent Dubois, scholar of modern French history and devoted supporter of Les Bleus, recognized that the head-butt and the reactions it generated in France were questions needing serious investigation. Finding the answers, he understood, required looking beyond whatever insults Materazzi shot at Zidane in the 109th minute of the final match. Laurent’s bookSoccer Empire: The World Cup and the Future of France (University of California Press, 2011) sets Zidane’s act within multiple, overlapping frames: the history of the French national team and its traditionally multi-ethnic rosters; the development of football in France’s colonies; the experiences of immigrants from those colonies, like Zidane’s parents; the nationwide euphoria when France won the 1998 World Cup, with a team composed of players of Caribbean, New Caledonian, North African, and West African descent; and the poverty and social unrest in the banlieues of Paris and other French cities, where many of these players had grown up, which burst into violence in 2005. Against this backdrop, Laurent follows not only the story of Zidane but also that of his teammate on the national side, Lilian Thuram, a native of Guadeloupe who openly challenged the French government’s handling of the 2005 riots. As Laurent explains in our interview, his research began as the personal quest of a fan seeking to understand the action of a player. But his book is about far more than football. Soccer Empire offers insight into contemporary Europe society, with its increasing population of immigrants from around the world, by looking through the lens of sport. And Laurent has opened an ongoing forum on soccer and society with his blog Soccer Politics, which offers his and other writers’ musings and research. For the thinking football fan, it is recommended reading on the larger significance of the game, in Europe and around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are few moments in recent sports history as riveting, perplexing, and widely debated as Zinedine Zidane’s head-butt to Marco Materazzi in the final match of the 2006 World Cup. Think of your own reaction when the referee stopped play to attend to Materazzi, and you then saw the reply of Zidane trotting away from the Italian defender, turning back, and driving his head into Materazzi’s chest. Perhaps a cheer of approval, or scorn for the blatant foul. Then the red card came out, and with it the realization that Zidane’s brilliant career had come to an end. And as the camera followed him leaving the pitch, and he passed the World Cup trophy waiting on its pedestal, we understood that Zidane’s act of anger had likely cost his team the victory. Laurent Dubois, scholar of modern French history and devoted supporter of Les Bleus, recognized that the head-butt and the reactions it generated in France were questions needing serious investigation. Finding the answers, he understood, required looking beyond whatever insults Materazzi shot at Zidane in the 109th minute of the final match. Laurent’s bookSoccer Empire: The World Cup and the Future of France (University of California Press, 2011) sets Zidane’s act within multiple, overlapping frames: the history of the French national team and its traditionally multi-ethnic rosters; the development of football in France’s colonies; the experiences of immigrants from those colonies, like Zidane’s parents; the nationwide euphoria when France won the 1998 World Cup, with a team composed of players of Caribbean, New Caledonian, North African, and West African descent; and the poverty and social unrest in the banlieues of Paris and other French cities, where many of these players had grown up, which burst into violence in 2005. Against this backdrop, Laurent follows not only the story of Zidane but also that of his teammate on the national side, Lilian Thuram, a native of Guadeloupe who openly challenged the French government’s handling of the 2005 riots. As Laurent explains in our interview, his research began as the personal quest of a fan seeking to understand the action of a player. But his book is about far more than football. Soccer Empire offers insight into contemporary Europe society, with its increasing population of immigrants from around the world, by looking through the lens of sport. And Laurent has opened an ongoing forum on soccer and society with his blog Soccer Politics, which offers his and other writers’ musings and research. For the thinking football fan, it is recommended reading on the larger significance of the game, in Europe and around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices