Corners of the Internet #2
With any luck, this New Year’s Day will find me snug on the couch binge watching the fantastic new Netflix series Making a Murderer. We’re four episodes in and completely hooked. As one of the terrible news reporters circa 1997 says on the show, ‘Murder is so hot right now.’
Gritty Television Drama
Continuing the theme of what we’ve been watching this holiday season, we just finished up the newest season of The Bridge (available on BBC here in the UK). Earlier seasons are streaming elsewhere.
Our Irish friends introduced us to the Irish show Love/Hate (said to be the Irish version of The Wire). We are nearly done with Seasons 1-5 (Season 6 is on live now in Ireland), and let’s just say we’ve had an entire education of Irish gang culture this month. We spent our visit in Dublin keeping an eye out for Nidge, Fran, Siobhan and the rest of the crew.
The Softer Side of Video
When we’ve had enough killing for one day, I like to recharge by watching short films of incredible scenery, animals and adventurers. Outside Magazine has a special spot dedicated for just this. My recent favorite video: one of Acadia National Park, in Maine. It was put together by the team at More Than Just Parks. Feels like home to me.
Book-It
I’m a reader. I used to always say ‘voracious’ when I would tell people, but this year’s reading was dismal. I keep track of these things in Excel, and in 2015 I read a whopping 40 books. That is pitiful. Back in 2013, I read nearly 80. I blame the explosion of new podcasts for my slowdown, which compete for my attention during my long commute.
My goal for 2016 is to get back to a normal rate of one book per week, or 52 over the year. To help inspire me, I keep a running ‘To Read’ list that keeps my bedside table full of interesting material. Fortunately, this time of year, lots of Best Books Of… lists are being published which I scour for inspiration.
My favorites are: The Guardian, Good Reads, Publishers Weekly, NY Times, and Amazon.
The start of the year is already looking strong with four good books by my bed.
Goals 2.0
My reflections on the year have inspired some new goals for 2016. While some are completely unfit for the online world, I do hope to take a class at City Lit here in London, go to 10 new countries, complete a monthly scrapbooking project, and do physical activity every day (may involve a FitBit…still trying to decide!).
Us: Online
Here are a few fun things we’ve been up to around the internet, if you’re in the need for some new material. We are featured on a few videos on the Trusted Housesitters website (just click the Play button on the homepage for one). We also rounded up our highlights of the year: our best world travels, UK visits and best meals. It’s been epic.
Happy New Year! I am LOVING Making a Murderer. The cliffhangers at the end of the episodes literally make my jaw drop sometimes. That is exactly what we’re doing right now – two episodes left!
I’m with you on the reading thing, my total count was dismal compared to usual also. I think reading blogs and working on my own really cut into my old reading time. I’m hoping to spend more time reading in 2016.
I still can’t get over Making a Murderer. The story and case just kept getting crazier and crazier…
Happy New Year! For two years I read one book a week. I’ve not been able to keep this up longer than those two years though. Last year I read 19 books, and I’m hoping 2016 will see me finishing 25 books 🙂
Dominique recently posted…My Book Reviews of 2015
25 books is pretty solid. Julie is a reading fiend and rather upset with her “lackluster” book count. For her, it is all about meeting the goals. She is off to a good start so far in 2016!
40 books is more than i can fathom right now! i got up to 27 last year, which i was pretty proud of, and my goal for this year is 35. do you do any posts about your favourite books, because i would love to follow along and get your suggestions.
and on the fitness lines — we are a family of jawbone up users, and we love them. i think the fitbit app might be more user-friendly, but i’ve read that the up band is more accurate with recording steps. whichever you choose, they’re a great way to encourage you to take more steps! xx
veena recently posted…weekly roundup 01 // 2016.
thanks for the advice. Julie definitely wants to get one of those bands. Along the book front, she will be including some of her favorite books lately on the next installment of Corners of the Internet. Stay tuned!