I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

"It May Seem More Life-Like" [MAZA]

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSN-AwWBXeu4mrhfpzEmZP0wVl-hs52GuZlFvlCoONm8gsgwCfnOG8LhPutJDVzRPfiTtYymctthyYkoTZ8MPjqAdWGsLUIF1wqNJrPnfF-GosXcw3BOwdO-7jznVQAnWqDehm17nfOvM/s1600/cushing-eye.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSN-AwWBXeu4mrhfpzEmZP0wVl-hs52GuZlFvlCoONm8gsgwCfnOG8LhPutJDVzRPfiTtYymctthyYkoTZ8MPjqAdWGsLUIF1wqNJrPnfF-GosXcw3BOwdO-7jznVQAnWqDehm17nfOvM/s320/cushing-eye.gif" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jaws-2-Roy-Scheider/dp/B00005A8XX?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00005A8XX" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />... Comes more news of the threatened sequel to Guy Ritchie's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Robert-Downey-Jr/dp/B001OQCV6A?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001OQCV6A" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. If you've watched the film, you probably noted that the latest entertainment trends are in full swing: superhero-like status for the main character, computer-generated images (CGI), regular and slow-motion action scenes, and a questionable plot at the expense of whiz-bang effects. As if that wasn't enough to tarnish the more-or-less pristine image of our Victorian hero, there's always the sequel to ensure that the stake is driven completely through the heart of Sherlock Holmes films as we've come to know them. What are we referring to? Well, according to the Los Angeles Times, <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/04/sherlock-holmes-3d-robert-downey.html">the sequel might be filmed in 3-D</a>. Yes, you read that correctly. Sherlock Holmes in 3-D. One thing that confuses us is a pair of statements about the writers: "Although they each worry what would happen if every film Hollywood churns out is turned into a z-axis spectacle, they think it makes sense here." The writers don't indicate exactly how it makes sense. Perhaps they'll show Holmes lighting his pipe? Or playing the violin? Or making three dimensional deductions? The mind boggles. While our April 1 post (<a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2010/04/inconceivable-sequel-empt.html">"The Inconceivable Sequel" [EMPT]</a>) didn't fool anyone, we have to wonder if Hollywood is really serious about this latest development. Maybe we'll all be supplied with 3-D magnifying lenses in the theater. Oh - one more thing. Bonus points if you can explain the relevance of the photo above.

"It May Seem More Life-Like" [MAZA]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water ... Comes more news of the threatened sequel to Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes...

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by Scott Monty

"Master by the Sweep" [VALL]

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LaajM761iG6jXOeXFgzA2J8c4a1hoHJNN-WiH_2TqMTqt0Nk4AFyxodK7als2_0Ipxohxj5CmIuw20L7L_DRmGkGu7gdinatyuCrqFEFxxdKUEZjvVTQZBFyiyMML5s_wjJqHzirL1O4/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+vs.+Jack+the+Ripper+-+XBox+360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Video game - Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper XBox360" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LaajM761iG6jXOeXFgzA2J8c4a1hoHJNN-WiH_2TqMTqt0Nk4AFyxodK7als2_0Ipxohxj5CmIuw20L7L_DRmGkGu7gdinatyuCrqFEFxxdKUEZjvVTQZBFyiyMML5s_wjJqHzirL1O4/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+vs.+Jack+the+Ripper+-+XBox+360.jpg" title="Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper XBox 360" width="453" /></a></div>
 
For those who love Sherlock Holmes and haven't had a chance to visit the homeland, here's an opportunity you might like to investigate. DreamCatcher Games, the creators of the Xbox 360 game <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Vs-Jack-Ripper/dp/B003626TPY?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack the Ripper</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003626TPY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, is offering a sweepstakes. From their announcement: 
<blockquote>
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003626TPY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></blockquote>
<blockquote>
To coincide with the recent Xbox 360 release of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Vs-Jack-Ripper/dp/B003626TPY?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes VS. Jack the Ripper</a>, DreamCatcher Games is giving one lucky gamer the chance to experience the real world of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper in London, England! All you have to do is enter online and cross your fingers. The contest runs from April 27th – May 27th 2010. 
 
The winner, along with a friend, will receive free: 
<ul>
<li>Airfare to London and 2 Nights Accommodation at the Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes Hotel</li>
<li>A Private Tour of the Sherlock Holmes Museum</li>
<li>An Exclusive Ride Down Famous Baker Street in a Horse-Drawn Carriage</li>
<li>An Action-Packed Dining Experience at the acclaimed Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes Hotel Murder Mystery Dinner, hosted by Murder Mystery Events UK</li>
</ul>
 
The winner will be announced at 9:00 AM GMT on May 28th, 2010</blockquote>
Best of luck to all who enter! If you are a winner, please drop by and let us know. 
 
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"Master by the Sweep" [VALL]

For those who love Sherlock Holmes and haven't had a chance to visit the homeland, here's an opportunity you might like to invest...

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by Scott Monty

"Ashes of 140 Different Varieties" [BOSC]

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Lately, the news has been dominated by the ceasing of air traffic in and out of Europe, thanks to the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland. Rather than some of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Volcanoes-Face-Mountains-Fire/dp/0500543402?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">lava-based eruptions</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0500543402" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> we regularly see in the Hawaiian islands, this series of events has resulted in millions of tons of volcanic ash. 
 
We know that Sherlock Holmes was an expert on identifying ash - he tells Watson in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Study-Scarlet-Illustrated-Classics-Sherlock/dp/1402770820?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Study in Scarlet</a>:  
"I have made a special study of cigar ashes - in fact, I have written a monograph on the subject." 
 
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<a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4181741201_bb2856b9fd_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4181741201_bb2856b9fd_o.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
And then again in "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-Boxed-Collection/dp/B000060MVK?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000060MVK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, Holmes again shares his pride in his special powers: 
<blockquote>
I found the ash of a cigar, which my special knowledge of tobacco ashes enabled me to pronounce as an Indian cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco.</blockquote>
No mention of his knowledge of volcanic ash, however. 
 
In today's fast-paced technology-laden world, it's astounding that something so basic an primordial as a volcanic eruption could disrupt travel globally. It makes one wonder if it would be easier if we lived in the era of the transatlantic liner as the primary means of getting to and from Europe. 
 
If you happen to be one of the many who are thus waylaid this week, we hope that you'll take the time to peruse the Canon - perhaps looking for your favorite mention of ashes. Then again, there are some <a href="http://ash-nyc.com/">ASHes of an entirely different variety</a> with whom you might enjoy spending some time... 
 
 
Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sully_aka__wstera2/sets/72157623896525696/">wstera2 (Flickr)</a>

"Ashes of 140 Different Varieties" [BOSC]

Lately, the news has been dominated by the ceasing of air traffic in and out of Europe, thanks to the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajoku...

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by Scott Monty

Remembering Tom Stetak, BSI

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"dated from Cleveland" [STUD]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVlyfdRZClOR30-cp8gnarTDVhyphenhyphenlMN20X_mUyQdvT8pJSAIiYuOJ7SLVki_wgumiWUD3erm7edn5KI7klA67ENW_B-XDLlyoCw6PKFHgcUosXnmGCnftFB9eIaoH9RoYZqroo_xZ-l0Ul/s1600/tom+Stetak.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVlyfdRZClOR30-cp8gnarTDVhyphenhyphenlMN20X_mUyQdvT8pJSAIiYuOJ7SLVki_wgumiWUD3erm7edn5KI7klA67ENW_B-XDLlyoCw6PKFHgcUosXnmGCnftFB9eIaoH9RoYZqroo_xZ-l0Ul/s320/tom+Stetak.jpg" /></a></div>
 
Tom Stetak, BSI ("The Head of the Police at Cleveland") was one of a kind. While we didn't know him all that well, he left a distinct impression upon all who knew him. Tom passed away last week at the relatively young age of 60 after a brief illness. 
 
Tom's look was the first thing that caught our attention at Baker Street Irregular functions - his bearded countenance made him look Amish in nature, and his restoration business seemed to be in line with that appearance as well. 
 
But it was his sense of humor that really set him apart. At the BSI Dinner in 1997, he was one of the many who stood up to roast Tom Stix, Jr., the outgoing "Wiggins" of the organization. Stix was known for his frank personality - which, depending on his mood, could sometimes be barbed. But he could also be a very warm and caring individual as well. And Tom Stetak sensed  that. One of the lines from his roast went something like: 
<blockquote>     "Many people say that Tom Stix isn't emotional, but it just isn't true. Why, Tom has more emotion in his middle finger than I have in my whole body!"</blockquote> 
 
And then the whole room erupted in laughter, with the heartiest laugh coming from Tom Stix himself. 
 
Tom Stetak was also part of the Florin Society - Irregulars with spouses who were also members of the BSI -  and he left his wife Ruthann. You can read <a href="https://archive.is/USflq">Tom's obituary here</a>. 
 
If you have a memory of Tom, please consider leaving it in the comments section below. 
 
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