The Associated Press today reports on the great Sherlock Holmes
Collections at the University of Minnesota which we've talked about from
time to time at our meetings, and which some of us have toured.

"Deep in an underground cavern at the University of Minnesota lies the
world's largest collection of Holmes memorabilia — a cache sure to
expand with material from the new 'Sherlock Holmes' movie starring
Robert Downey Jr. as the pipe-puffing super sleuth...."

You can read the entire article, and view the three photos which accompany it,
here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/ykajpep

The Sherlock Holmes Collections Web site:
http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/holmes.phtml

There's also a link to this article from our Web site at
http://communities.madison.com/canary

Sincerely

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

The Los Angeles Times Magazine just published this article, "Robert Downey Jr:
The Game's Afoot."

It begins:

"Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, are mainstays of the mystery
lexicon and have been brought to life for screen and stage more times than you
can shake a magnifying glass at—but assuredly never before like they are in Guy
Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.

"The brainy, iconoclastic, misanthropic, violin-playing resident of 221B Baker
Street, London, as channeled by Robert Downey Jr. is another type of Sherlock
altogether.

"And director Ritchie certainly brings an alternative sensibility to the
adventures—and misadventures—of Holmes and Watson.

"Though Downey and Ritchie had not worked together before this film, they had
admired each other's craft. We sat down with them to discuss their
collaboration…"

Read the interview here: http://tinyurl.com/y9tqdmu

Sincerely

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

The first review is in (at least the first I've seen) of the new "Sherlock
Holmes" movie, in theaters Dec. 25.

Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/ydc9vxx

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

P.S.  The movie runs 2 hours and 15 minutes, so assuming a 1:35 p.m. matinee on
Jan. 3 (projected time but not yetconfirmed)when we have our group movie party,
that will get us out at 3:50 p.m.

I've mentioned in the past that if you're planning on attending the matinee
showing Jan. 3 of "Sherlock Holmes" with other Canary-Trainers, you may want to
check online from time to time to see when tickets for our show go on sale.

Here's a link (I've shortened it from the original) directly to the page where
you can confirm showtimes, seat locations, and prices.

http://tinyurl.com/yhdassy

I'll continue checking the Sundance Cinema's Web site myself, looking for the
above information, and will share it as soon as it's posted and I find it.

If you beat me to it, please feel free to share that information in your own
post to the group (address to nct1969@yahoogroups.com) or contact me directly.

Thanks.

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

A technical adviser on the TV series "House," which features a lead character
partially inspired by Sherlock Holmes, offers a psychiatric profile of the
consulting detective in a New York Times article.

Lisa Sanders also is the author of "Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical
Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis."

Here's how it begins:

******
Diagnosis: Hidden Clues

By LISA SANDERS, M.D.
New York Times
Published: December 4, 2009

"You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive," the middle-aged man said in greeting
as the doctor entered the room. The doctor, just returned from the second
Anglo-Afghan War, was amazed by the man's perspicacity. But before he could ask
him how he knew this to be true, the man grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled
him over to view his latest obsession.

The doctor listened in amazement as his new acquaintance spoke at length of the
chemistry experiment he'd just completed. The friend who introduced them had
told the doctor that the man was eccentric and that he conducted strange and
morbid experiments.

He told the doctor that he had once seen the man beat a corpse to find out if a
bruise could form after death. (It can't.) Indeed, he was so coldblooded, the
friend added, it would be easy to imagine the man slipping a friend a drug just
to see the effect. Certainly Sherlock Holmes was eccentric, Dr. John Watson
thought, but he was also interesting.

It was in this way, in 1887, that Arthur Conan Doyle began one of the strangest
and most productive partnerships in literature, with his novel "A Study in
Scarlet"......

For the rest of the article: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/magazine/06diagnosis-t.html?_r=1

******

Sincerely,

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

If you're planning to attend the Jan. 3 showing of "Sherlock Holmes" with other
members of the Notorious Canary-Trainers, we're now expecting -- repeat,
expecting -- the time for that showing to be 1:35 p.m.

Those are the just-announced times for the movie for the early-afternoon
matinees for the Dec. 25-Dec. 31 period.  Showtimes for the following week
haven't been posted yet, but likely will be confirmed soon and the same or
thereabouts.

Thus, tickets for showings of the movie beginning Jan. 1 are not yet on sale. 
As soon as they are, we'll let you know so you can make an advance purchase
online or at the theater.

We recommend advance purchase as the movie is likely to be a "blockbuster,"
based on pre-release hype.  The movie could be sold out before Jan. 3.

If you'd like to sit with others once in the theater, now's a good time to
confer with them to decide who makes the purchase and seat selection.  All seats
will be reserved and you'll be asked to pick your seats from whatever is
available at the time of purchase.  The earlier you purchase, the more choices
you'll have.

Other points:

-- Our luncheon program starting at noon at the Great Dane pub likely will be
shortened somewhat; we had been anticipating a showtime between 2 and 2:30 p.m.

-- We aren't sure yet of the ending time for the movie, but the next showing for
dates announced so far is 4:20 p.m.

-- While seats in our private dining room for our 12 noon lunch and program that
day have been claimed, we still can take up to 4 more in our "overflow" area
elsewhere in the dining room, near our dining room. Those in this group then
will join us for the program.

-- You don't have to attend the luncheon to join us for the movie or the
informal post-movie discussion we're planning in a lounge area off the theater
lobby.

-- If you have questions or wish to make a luncheon "overflow" reservation,
please contact me at mccoymh@... or 608/274-1638.

Sincerely

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

(This message was updated Nov. 6, 2009.)

******
HAVE YOU VISITED OUR WEB SITE RECENTLY? If not, you'll find it at
http://communities.madison.com/canary

******
HERE'S OUR CASE STUDY MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING MONTHS. All meetings are
held at Booked for Murder in Madison from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Check on the latest
meeting information on our Web site at http://communities.madison.com/canary

Dec. 20:  Study in Scarlet: Part 2

2010
January 3: Sherlock Holmes birthday luncheon and movie party (no case study)
February 21: The Sign of the Four (Part 1) & 120th anniversary of its
publication
March 21 The Sign of the Four (Part 2)
April 18: "A Scandal in Bohemia"
May 16: "The Red-Headed League" & Doyle birthday anniversary
June 20: "A Case of Identity"

July 18: "The Boscombe Valley Mystery"
August 15: "The Five Orange Pips"
September 19: "The Man with the Twisted Lip"
October 17: "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle"
November 21: "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"
December 19: "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb" & 100th anniversary of
"The Adventure of the Devil's Foot"

******
HAVE ANY NEWS OR OBSERVATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PUBLICATION IN OUR
NEWSLETTER, THE 'TWEET SHEET'?  If so, please email them to Mike McCoy at
mccoymh@... or mail them to him at One Hiawatha Circle, Madison, Wis
53711.

******
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******
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******
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Mike McCoy
nct1969 Yahoo Group manager

If you expect to be in the Milwaukee area between now and Jan. 3, you may want
to consider taking in "Holmes And Watson: A Musical Mystery" being offered by
the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

In it, "Sherlock and his sidekick sing while solving the mystery in this gently
tongue-in-cheek cabaret show" which also features Dr. Moriarty, according to the
publicity.

It's at the Stackner Cabaret at 108 E. Wells St.  The Milwaukee Rep Web site
says this show is a "hot ticket" and that seats are limited.

For more details and a 47-second video with some highlights of the production,
click here: http://www.milwaukeerep.com/  You also can call 414/224-9490 (if
you're willing to forego the video, of course).

Sincerely,

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

P.S.  If you already have seen it or after you see it, let us know what you
thought.

-- It appears two sequels are in the works for the movie, "Sherlock Holmes,"
which opens Christmas Day in the U.S.  You'll find details at
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00029169.html

-- If you're an IPhone user, or plan to be, be aware of a new application called
"The Sherlock Holmes Guide to London" which provides directions to and
information about landmarks of interest to Sherlockians.  More details and
example screen shots may be found at
http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2009/11/now-that-shows-real-application-stoc.html

--"The Sherlock Holmes Social Network" promises news and updates from the world
on Sherlock Holmes, by Sherlockians for Sherlockians.

"We're part discussion group, part social network (you know, like Facebook). But
we're here for one reason: Sherlock Holmes.

"This is your network, so feel free to bring up topics of interest to you, start
discussions, share media files, start your own groups, make blog posts, etc."

There's also a prominent link there to a list of scions around the world; the
Notorious Canary-Trainers is listed.

The creator is Scott Monty, who also publishes online "The Baker Street Blog" at
http://www.bakerstreetblog.com

You can check out the Sherlock Holmes Social Network at
http://sherlockholmes.ning.com

(Don't forget to bookmark any of the sites you like.)

Sincerely,

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

Wisconsin Public Television is continuing through at least January its re-airing
of episodes from the Granada "Sherlock Holmes" adventures starring Jeremy Brett.

WPT has released its schedules for December and January.  The series will
continue to air on Thursdays at 8 p.m., except no showings are scheduled Dec. 3,
24 and 31.

Episode titles and dates:

"The Golden Prince-Nez," Dec. 10
"The Red Circle," Dec. 17
"The Mazarin Stone," Jan. 7
"The Cardboard Box," Jan. 14
"The Sign of Four," Part 1, Jan. 21
"The Sign of Four," Part 2, Jan. 28

Sincerely

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

Some of us have met and talked with Les Klinger, who wrote the latest Annotated
Sherlock Holmes and is often seen at Sherlockian conferences around the U.S.

Here's a short (3 min.) video of a TV appearance he just made on a Los Angeles
TV morning show (this morning, perhaps) to talk about vampires and to promote
his new book on Dracula.

(He makes no mention of the Sherlock Holmes case, the Sussex Vampire, by the
way.)

http://bit.ly/5Fd0j4

Sincerely,

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

VisitLondon.com offers this Sherlock Holmes itinerary when you visit the
city (and you may want to bookmark it):

http://tinyurl.com/yhxhwy8

"Sleuth your way around London with our Sherlock Holmes itinerary.

"Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary novels featured many London locations. And
with a new movie starring Robert Downey Jnr and Jude Law opening on
Christmas Day this year, there's never been a better time to investigate the
world of Sherlock Holmes.

"So grab your hat and magnifying glass, and get ready to explore Sherlock
Holmes' London."

There are links from the article for most of the locations mentioned.
There's also a handy "Ask the community" box where you can post your
question as you plan your trip.

If your trip takes you elsewhere in the British Isles, you also find
this very informational guide to other locations where "Sherlock Holmes" was
filmed.

http://tinyurl.com/yl7tyb6

Click here for itineraries for Manchester and Liverpool film sites, as well
as an itinerary entitled "The Hound of the Baskervilles South West."

http://tinyurl.com/yjd248t

Sincerely,

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

*****ENJOY 'A MOST WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS" with the New Horizons Band of
Madison at its 15th annual free winter concert on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m.
in the Ed Schwan Auditorium at Monona Grove High School, 4400 Monona Dr.
Music will be a mix of modern and traditional pieces, including some holiday
favorites.  Complimentary refreshments and conversation follow after the
performance.  www.hookedonbands.org

VisitLondon.com offers this Sherlock Holmes itinerary when you visit the city
(and you may want to bookmark it):

http://tinyurl.com/yhxhwy8

"Sleuth your way around London with our Sherlock Holmes itinerary.

"Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary novels featured many London locations. And with
a new movie starring Robert Downey Jnr and Jude Law opening on Christmas Day
this year, there's never been a better time to investigate the world of Sherlock
Holmes.

"So grab your hat and magnifying glass, and get ready to explore Sherlock
Holmes' London."

There are links from the article for most of the locations mentioned.  There's
also a handy "Ask the community" box where you can post your question as you
plan your trip.

If your trip takes you elsewhere in the British Isles, you also find
this very informational guide to other locations where "Sherlock Holmes" was
filmed.

http://tinyurl.com/yl7tyb6

Click here for itineraries for Manchester and Liverpool film sites, as well as
an itinerary entitled "The Hound of the Baskervilles South West."

http://tinyurl.com/yjd248t

Sincerely,

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

An online map designed to show the London locations of Sherlock Holmes has just
(today) been unveiled online.  You may want to bookmark it and refer to it when
you're reading any of the Holmes cases.

Small flags identify each location. Position your cursor over any flag and there
will be a brief identification of its significance.  Click on the flag and more
details will pop up, including the case in which the site was mentioned.

You also can zoom in or out, as you wish, on the location, which is a handy
feature when there are multiple overlapping flags. Zoom in to see the actual
block with the names and locations of adjacent streets shown.

An accompanying alphabetic list of sites enables you to access a location by
clicking on the site you wish to find.  There's also a comment section where you
and others "add your own deductions and any corrections in the comments,"
according to the creator.

There's also this information posted there:

"The whole world is about to go Sherlock Holmes crazy, thanks to the upcoming
Warner Brothers movie starring Robert Downey Junior and Jude Law. With each new
telling, the character receives a certain amount of reinvention. One thing is
constant, though. London.

"You can't have Holmes without the city he was so intimately associated with.
But which parts of town did he know best?

"Our well of nerdiness will never run dry, so we re-read all the original Holmes
tales and plotted every London location on the map above."

Here's the link so you can explore the London of Sherlock Holmes at your
leisure, whenever you want:  http://tinyurl.com/yzpkt4b

It should be particularly useful when you're planning your next trip to London.

(Perhaps one day photos of the locations as they look today and, where possible
as they looked in Holmes' time, could be added.)

Sincerely

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

Quote: "Leading up to the Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) release of Warner Bros.
Pictures' Sherlock Holmes, the characters from the film-Sherlock Holmes and Dr.
John Watson (played by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, respectively) will appear
in 7-Eleven stores on everything from window banners to point-of-purchase (POP)
signage at the grill, hot beverage bar, sales counter and fuel pumps to promote
the movie and 7-Eleven products, such as Big Bite® Oscar Mayer all-beef hot
dogs, Go-Go Taquitos, breakfast sandwiches and coffee."

And this:

Quote: "While consumers are already seeing Warner Bros. Pictures' marketing
campaign for the film, 7-Eleven customers will get a peek at the Holmes and
Watson characters on in-store signage with clever phrases promoting
value-oriented offerings, like quality fresh food and coffee."

Examples of "clever" phrases?

Quote: "Tag lines like 'Hunger Solved', 'Killer Duo', 'It's No Mystery', 'Grab
Our Killer Deal' and 'Get a Clue' will promote two-for-$2 Big Bite hot dogs,
99-cent Go-Go Taquitos, new Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches and
discounts on coffee refills."

Groan!  Quick!  Where's my clever cleaver?

To read more: http://tinyurl.com/yk6sc9w

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem,, Watson."

Sharp-eyed Thom Boykoff has gently advised me there were some duplications
in the list I circulated at Sunday's meeting confirming who has reserved for
the Jan. 3 luncheon, when we celebrate Sherlock Holmes' birthday and then
attend the new "Sherlock Holmes" movie nearby.

With those duplications corrected, we still have room for one more in the
private dining room and four in "overflow" seating.  (Those in overflow
seating may eat nearby in the restaurant then join us for the program.)

For a reminder of the details for the day:
http://www.madison.com/communities/canary/pages/shbirthday2010.php

Also, just a reminder that we'll notify everyone planning to attend the
movie when they can purchase their tickets in advance.

Advance ticket purchase are recommended as we will be attending the movie
the second weekend after the movie, expected to be a block-buster, has
opened in theaters.

As soon as we find out tickets are on sale, we'll let you know so you can
make your purchase (all tickets will be purchased individually).
Notifications will be by email unless other arrangements have been made with
me.

You'll have a choice of ordering online or by visiting the theater.

All seats will be reserved so you will have an opportunity to choose your
seat location.

If you wish to form a group to sit together, please confirm those
arrangements with others in your group, and select who will make the
purchase.

If you find out tickets are on sale (we assume that will be 7-10 days before
the movie date) before we send out a notice, please let me know or send a
message to nct1969@yahoogroups.com.,

Sincerely

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."

*****ENJOY 'A MOST WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS" with the New Horizons Band of
Madison at its 15th annual free winter concert on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m.
in the Ed Schwan Auditorium at Monona Grove High School, 4400 Monona Dr.
Music will be a mix of modern and traditional pieces, including some holiday
favorites.  Complimentary refreshments and conversation follow after the
performance.  www.hookedonbands.org

The subject of what Watson meant when he used the term a "bull pup" early in
"A Study in Scarlet" came up for discussion today, with multiple theories
but no consensus (at least while I was there).

Well-known Sherlockian Brad Keefauver  of Peoria, Ill,,  operates a Web site
called "Sherlock Peoria" which features a column by "Inspector Hopkins." One
of those columns offers his commentary on the "bull pup" mystery.

You'll find it at
http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/StanleyHopkins2006/Hopkins100806.html

Unfortunately, it does not address Vicki's comment today challenging
interpretations of a "bull pup" as a small revolver inasmuch as Sherlock
Holmes asks Dr. Watson later in "A Study of Scarlet" if he has arms, and
Watson responds by locating his service revolver.

Two theories to explore that might clear up that mystery?

-- Could a bull pup have been his service revolver?  That might be the
answer if officers of the period were allowed/expected to choose/purchase
their own sidearms.

OR

-- Watson had both a bull pup and a service revolver, but thought to mention
only the bull pup to Holmes, when they were discussing their respective
vices before committing to become roommates, as anyone would assume a former
Army officer naturally still would have a service revolver.

For those who believe a bull pup was, in fact, a dog, even though the dog
never is mentioned again in the Canon, one online message poster offers this
food for thought:

" my theory of the bull-pup is rather different. Do you remember the case in
Study of Scarlet? Remember how Holmes tested that dog for the poison? He
said that Mrs. Hudson had told Watson to put it out of its misery.. could
that be the particular dog?"

Comments?  Other theories?  Other findings?

Sincerely

Billy the page
(aka Mike McCoy)
"That boy is a problem, Watson."



*****ENJOY 'A MOST WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS" with the New Horizons Band of
Madison at its 15th annual free winter concert on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m.
in the Ed Schwan Auditorium at Monona Grove High School, 4400 Monona Dr.
Music will be a mix of modern and traditional pieces, including some holiday
favorites.  Complimentary refreshments and conversation follow after the
performance.  www.hookedonbands.org

Hi there, NCTers:

As we discussed today, some of us like "the Game" and some of us
don't, but regardless, it's been a major part of Holmes scholarship
for nearly a century now.  As a way of commemorating the 100th year of
Ronald Knox's first forays into "playing The Game," the BSI is running
an essay competition.  The call for the competition is listed on the
official Baker Street Journal website here:

http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/linksofinterest/bsiessaycontest.html

The contest is open to authors who can "demonstrate originality in
approaching unanswered canonical questions or in resolving those
issues that have been unsatisfactorily addressed heretofore," and the
website includes PDF files of both Knox's seminal "Studies in the
Literature of Sherlock Holmes" as well as the official rules for the
competition (open until October 1st, 2010).  Looks to be of a
light-hearted and fun rather than deathly serious scholarship variety,
and open to a number of approaches.

I have no idea what I could write for this, but I might give it a
crack -- if other NCT members feel similarly, it might be fun to share
drafts of manuscripts with each other over the course of the next
year.  I'll obviously not be in Wisconsin very often, but would love
to see what anyone else comes up with!

The rules for the competition are listed below, copied from the
official BSI site:

BSI Essay Contest

The Baker Street Irregulars announce a literary contest to celebrate
the 2011 centenary of Monsignor Ronald Knox's seminal essay "Studies
in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes"(PDF, 140 KB).  Knox's
exceedingly clever parody of biblical higher criticism, more than any
other single work, gave rise to Sherlockian scholarship and the
"Playing the Game" that so characterizes our interest.

Irregular founding father Christopher Morley, who was a Rhodes Scholar
from 1910 to 1913, recalled hearing Knox read his paper: "This new
frolic in criticism was welcome at once; those who were students at
Oxford in that ancient day remember how Mr. Knox was invited round
from college to college to reread his agreeable lampoon. . . ."

In commemoration of that ground-breaking talk, the BSI have declared
an international competition, open to all Sherlockians who are not
Irregulars.

Competitors are asked to submit papers (written in English and 1,200
to 1,800 words) that demonstrate originality in approaching unanswered
canonical questions or in resolving those issues that have been
unsatisfactorily addressed heretofore.

A panel of judges will select the paper best reflecting the continuing
appeal of Knox's work: scholarship, style, and Playing the Game.

The author of the winning paper will deliver it at the January 2011
Annual Dinner of The Baker Street Irregulars, at which she or he will
be an honored guest. The paper will also be published in the Spring
2011 issue of The Baker Street Journal.  In addition, the BSJ may
choose to publish some of the best submissions.

Who shall have it?
Any Sherlockian who does not hold an investiture from the Baker Street
Irregulars may submit an essay.

What was the month?
All essays must be received by 1 October 2010.

How was it stepped?
Send papers to Paul Herbert, BSI, preferably by e-mail: BSIcontest AT gmail.com.

Or send by post to 734 Alpine Dr., Milford, OH 45150-1401.

Receipt will be acknowledged by e-mail.

Papers must be previously unpublished and undelivered—no recycling of
past work, please.  No pseudonymous papers will be accepted.

Authors' identities will be unknown to the judges.


--sean