Sydney's Sunday Reads: #20
Happy Sunday, friends!!
Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.
A brief history of royalty’s animal best friends. - When you think of animal companions to some of the world’s most powerful monarchs, past and present, you’re probably thinking of dogs and cats, right? Well, what if I told you that Caligula, Roman Emperor from 37-41 AD, had a treasured horse named Incitatus who lived in a marble stall and had his own palace for receiving guests? Or that Empress Josephine, wife to Napoleon, had a sweet female Orangutan who wore dresses, curtsied, and even ate at the dinner table with a knife and fork? While this article names plenty of precious canine and kitty companions, the stories of angora cats hiding in toilets at Versailles and a chameleon at Buckingham Palace who received a white coffin and proper royal send-off upon its death are far wilder - literally! (Vanity Fair)
A true nugget of knowledge. - Could the future of sustainably-sourced meat really come from a lab? In this video meet Ian, a chicken whose cells have been used by San Francisco, CA-based startup Eat Just Inc to create cultured meat in a process that scientists say is biologically similar to brewing beer. Already approved for sale in Singapore with plans to expand the offering to fish and beef, if this new innovation catches on worldwide, it could eliminate the need to kill any animal for their meat as well as significantly reduce the meat and dairy industry’s massive carbon footprint by up to 99%. So, does this chicken really taste like…chicken? I, for one, am super excited to find out! (CNN)
A slender home in Seoul. - One of my favorite things to do, especially during the pandemic, is take virtual tours of homes in faraway places - the quirkier the space, the more I like it. Recently, I came across this skinny 570-square-foot abode in Seoul, South Korea, designed by Architect TaeByoung Yim, that only has one room on each of its four floors! Check it out! (Dwell)
A BTS look at Bridgerton! - As I mentioned this week, I REALLY liked Bridgerton and already can’t wait for season two! I started watching it for the scandalous storylines, but I quickly became drawn to all the fabulous costumes - the bright colors, lush textures, and bold patterns are nothing short of spectacular. Did you know that Daphne Bridgerton (played by Phoebe Dynevor) wears 104 dresses throughout the first season!? And that’s just one character’s wardrobe! So, how did the costume department create such a strong visual identity for the show through clothing? Check it out in the video below! (Netflix via Youtube)
Dwight enters The Matrix. - It’s no secret that the American version of The Office is considered to be one of the greatest sitcoms of modern television history. As a person who has watched the series from start to finish many, many times, I thought there wasn’t anything else to learn, but luckily, I was wrong! This week, to celebrate the show’s move to the streaming platform Peacock, NBC released a never-before-seen cold open in which Jim and Pam pull the ultimate prank on Dwight - convince him that he’s been in the real-life version of The Matrix his whole life. Which pill will he choose, the red or blue? Watch the clip below to find out! (The Office via Youtube)