Collectioun of Cunnynge Curioustes for March 22, 2014

Johann Georg Hainz's Cabinet of Curiosities, circa 1666. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Johann Georg Hainz’s Cabinet of Curiosities, circa 1666. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

During the Renaissance, cabinet of curiosities came into fashion as a collection of objects that would often defy classification. As a precursor to the modern museum, the cabinet referred to room(s), not actual furniture, of things that piqued the owners interest and would be collected and displayed in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Collectioun of Cunnynge Curioustes is my 21st century interpretation of that idea.
 
Dear Internet,

Listening

Watching

  • How To Get Ahead
    Stephen Smith breaks down how to get ahead in various major times in history: Medieval, Renaissance, and then the French court at Versailles. While you won’t necessarily learn anything new about those periods, the content is presented in a logical and entertaining  manner.
  • Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey
    Neil deGrasse Tyson is rebooting Carl Sagan’s beloved Cosmos show for the modern viewer, and oft cheesy CGI aside, it is a damned delight. I feel immensely smarter and well rounded when I watch.
  • Episodes
    Will Beverly and Sean go back to the US? Will Matt get finally get respect? What is going on with PUCKS? Will Carol get the recognition she deserves?
  • Doctor Blake Mysteries
    Recently discovered, I’ve been slowly working my way through these stories. Based in Ballarat, AUS in the 1950s, there is all sorts of drama, twists, and character development. It doesn’t quite have the panache of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, another AUS period drama, but it is engaging.
  • The Walshes
    Comedy about a tight knit, geeky Dublin family, the first episode was hit or miss. The purposeful awkwardness sometimes comes off as a bit cliched and forced. The gags and set up seem too over the top to be believed, but then there is brief sparks of warmth and genuinality.
  • Black Sails
    Not enough swashbuckling, the plot seemed thin on the ground, and I couldn’t muster up enough interest to keep up with it weekly BUT TheHusband seemed to really enjoy the plot and the acting. Hopefully season 2 will pick up.
  • Jigs and Wigs: The Extreme World of Irish Dancing
    We caught two out of the three episodes of this informative docu about the competitive world if Irish dancing — because who knew!
  • Big Fat Quiz 2013
    Hosted by Jimmy Carr and packed with loads of celebrity panelists. Yet, if you watch QI, or hell even most British panel shows, you’ll note there are apparently only 12 people in all of the UK worthy of appearing on such shows. BFQ at least had the lone American (and woman!), Kristen Schaal, on this episode. Overall, it was mostly belly aching funny, except for Carr’s grating laugh which got tiresome as time progressed.

Weekly watching: The Americans, Survivor: Cagayan, Moone Boy, Edge of Heaven, VikingsThe Musketeers, Mr. Selfridge, Top Gear, Stella, University ChallengeHouse of Lies, Archer, Under the Gunn, Justified, Reign,  Elementary

Links

What have you read/watched/listened to this week?
x0x0,
lisa

This day in Lisa-Universe in: 2013, 2004

Collectioun of Cunnynge Curioustes for February 8, 2014

Johann Georg Hainz's Cabinet of Curiosities, circa 1666. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Johann Georg Hainz’s Cabinet of Curiosities, circa 1666. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

During the Renaissance, cabinet of curiosities came into fashion as a collection of objects that would often defy classification. As a precursor to the modern museum, the cabinet referred to room(s), not actual furniture, of things that piqued the owners interest and would be collected and displayed in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Collectioun of Cunnynge Curioustes is my 21st century interpretation of that idea.
Dear Internet,

Watching

  • Doc Martin
    Finally finished up season 6. While on one hand I love the curmudgeonly doctor, the plot lines each season are exactly the same.
  • The Musketeers
    Nice retelling of Dumas’ story, that also expounds on the story. It’s coming to BBCA this spring.
  • Mr. Selfridge
    Season 2 of the hit show returns
  • The White Queen
    I just finished the BBC version and then found out the Starz version was edited to INCLUDE more sexy times! Argh! But that aside, while the slow pick up, it got really interesting and started ramping up as the moves happened across the throne.
  • Moonfleet
    Based on a beloved children’s story as a retelling of Blackbird, but the movie adaptation was bor-ring.
  • The IT Crowd
    THE INTERNET IS COMING! The last episode of the benevolent geek show.
  • The Bletchley Circle
  • QI
    K series has now ended and we’re ever more sad for it.
  • Black Sails
    Starz’s new show about pirates and it’s slow going. Choppy editing and writing. It’s pretty to look at, but kind of vaccus to listen to.
  • Top Gear
    The boys are back! YAY.

Weekly watching: Stella, University ChallengeHouse of LiesEpisodes, Archer, Chozen, True Detective, Under the Gunn, Justified, Banshee, Reign, Dracula, Elementary
What have you read/watched/listened to this week?
x0x0,
lisa

This day in Lisa-Universe in: 1999, 1999