Chronology part 17

Chronology of these short stories.

• CHAS - January 4-14, 1898
• SOLI - April 23, 1898. I changed the year from 1895, so that the date is actually Saturday, and the case doesn't conflict with 3STU

First published in March 1904, CHAS features the master blackmailer Charles Augustus Milverton, whose visiting card only vaguely calls him an "Agent." Watson says it has been "years since" this case happened and that someone concerned, probably the murderous woman, is now "beyond reach of human law" i.e. dead. Watson tells us he will conceal the date "or any other fact" that could give someone a clue. Many Sherlockians date this case post-Return, but there are some who date it pre-FINA, such as Brad Keefauver, who links this with Holmes's battle against Moriarty. The 1954 radio series starring Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ralph Richardson even made CHAS the first case, while splicing in STUD's introduction scenes. But CHAS depends on Watson and Holmes having lived "some years" together and learned to trust each other, so it should not be very early. Certainly not earlier than YELL for example, when they know each other intimately. Also, Milverton has electric lights in his house, and according to Gavin Brend, electricity did not reach that part of London until 1894. In Appendix One of June Thomson's book, she notes that some people argue that Milverton is rich enough to have installed lighting earlier as a luxury, but Sherlockian William Plimentel said that those private lighting systems used push buttons, and not the familiar toggle switches that make a "snick" sound.

Idiot Cultists

I have the day off but I'm bruised and achy due to falling down yesterday. I'm sad to hear that Bonnie Tyler died. I looked for the CD I bought of hers years ago, but can't find it. I hope I didn't sell it.

Meanwhile I'm glad that the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, but it's concerning how close the vote was. The 14th amendment is plain language, and the landmark Wong Kim Ark ruling helped Chinese people finally get be citizens despite the racist Chinese Exclusion Act. But a lot of American-born Asians are still treated as perpetual foreigners to this day. Always asking "where are you from?" when you actually mean, "what's your race?"

People finally abandoned Graham Platner due to the rape allegation. But he's had red flags ever since the Nazi tattoo, so I don't understand why it took so long for people to drop him. Why on earth would I trust a Nazi liar with no previous goverment experience, and a bad history? I'm supposed to believe he's super sincere about leftwing ideals, the working class, and protecting people's rights? Plus his obnoxious fans would constantly frame the Senate race as him vs. Susan Collins, not acknowledging that there were other Democratic candidates still in the race. Even after Janet Mills dropped out, there were still other candidates in the race, and Mainers had ranked-choice voting to push progressive leaders in the primary. But no, they clung to Platner cultishly, even after months of time to find a better candidate. People were saying, "oh that bad behavior was just a phase. He's all better now." Telling women and minorities to shut up about their doubts and vote for the disingenuous asshole, for the good of the country. When the fuck will "progressive" white men shut up and vote like how we tell them to, for the good of the country?

Some people are STILL supporting Platner even now and whining about the "Establishment" corruptly sabotaging him. As if Susan Collins wouldn't have attacked him the same way, with much worse timing, in the general election. Blame Platner for being a fucking shitbag liar. He better stop dragging his feet and officially leave (he's yet to do the paperwork to drop out) so that Maine Democrats can pick someone before it's too late! Fucking Nazi.

Chronology part 16

Chronology of these short stories.

• ABBE - late January 1897
• MISS - February 1897
• DEVI - March 16, 1897
• REDC - October 1897, or maybe winter

ABBE begins on a "bitterly cold night and frosty morning, towards the end of the winter of '97" when Holmes wakes Watson up, announcing that the game is afoot. He doesn't even let Watson say anything, just urging him to get dressed before dawn. They skip breakfast and take a cab to the train station in silence. Only after they have hot tea on the train does Holmes explain himself by showing him the note from Stanley Hopkins, dated at 3:30 AM that morning. The reason for choosing January rather than February will arise later.

Movie Malaise

Well, I was finally able to sleep through the night despite the summer heat. Pride month is almost over, and next weekend is July 4th. At work, my office will celebrate on July 2nd. I don't feel that happy about this 250th anniversary, and I'm short of money until my next paycheck. The short-term disability money while I was on leave was much less than my normal paycheck. Plus I had to reapply to make them cover the final couple of weeks. Anyway, because I was afraid I had cancer, I had previously signed up to get the "critical illness" coverage, and that benefit is just now kicking in. I should just be happy I have it in case I get any else later.

I saw Supergirl yesterday hoping it would be a fun romp like Superman in 2025, but I was disappointed. I had hoped that Gunn was finally allowing bright colors back into DC movies, but no, it's all dark browns and greys, desaturated and subdued. Kara doesn't even wear the Supergirl costume until late in the movie. I know, it's thematic, to show that she's depressed and traumatized, not feeling like a hero. But even if she's going to wear that brown coat and Blondie shirt most of the movie, at least let me see the colors of those clothes! Let me see vibrant, saturated colors with full sun! Look at the previous Superman movie that had bright colors everywhere despite dark plots; some fights even took place in daylight. It was fun! Or look at the recent Sheep Detectives, which was bright and cheery despite being a murder mystery; they did have a few gloomy scenes when necessary for night time; it was also for dark themes of grief, animal abuse, disillusionment, etc, but the rest of the time we could enjoy full saturation and daylight in the quaint Denbrook village. Please stop with this idea that dark themes require 100% grunge! I hate this movie and TV trend.

Baker Street Studies

I bought a bunch of Sherlockian books, but I still can't get the rare chronology books by H. W. Bell, and Ernest Bloomfield Zeisler. Even if I could afford those out of print books, I wouldn't spend that much money on them. After all, their information may be superseded by more modern books; I just wanted to hear their logic and know their sources. The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia provides their chronologies, but those are plain lists without the reasoning behind the dates. However, I was able to buy Baker Street Studies edited by H. W. Bell in 1934. It's one of many reprints by Otto Penzler's Sherlock Holmes Library, to keep Sherlockiana available to readers; check libraries and used bookstores for them. Baker Street Studies contains essays from other Sherlockians on various topics, but Bell does provide his own chronology of SIGN at the end. So I can at least get a taste of his opinions. He thinks that SIGN took place in 1887 too. This probably explains why Bell dates VALL to 1887 before the marriage, when most others place it in 1888. However, it looks like he believes in Watson having 3 wives per the Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia above.

Speaking of VALL, I also discovered A. G. Macdonell's theory on "Mr. Moriarty" which relies on dating VALL to 1899. I've added that theory to my previous chronology post on VALL.

Happy Juneteenth

Obama's presidential library is now open in Chicago, so that's nice. Meanwhile the FIFA games have been on TV, and even playing at movie theaters. I don't care about sports, though, and I'm surprised that any tourists still came here under this anti-immigrant regime.

I bought a Magic Bullet recently, and it did well making pudding, though I had to do two batches. It saves me having to do it by hand with a whisk or get out the electric mixer. On smoothies, it works fine with protein powder, but if I want to use ice or frozen fruit, I will have to thaw it and use plenty of fruit juice or other liquid to help the Bullet blend the solids.

I've started doing some core exercises to try to recover. I still get fleeting flashes of pain, plus irritation from seatbelts in my car. The summer heat also exhausts me easily.