The Maniac Collector's Inbox SherlockPeoria Episode #450 By Don Hobbs A milestone slipped by the other week without any hoopla. There were no bands playing or a single fireworks display. There was not an hour-long special on ESPN to make the announcement. They still deliver the mail and most schools are back in session. The height for flying the United States flag remained at full staff. Not a single telemarketer phoned to remind us of what was about to happen nor did they call after it happened. The sun still rises in the east and sets in the west. Starbucks did not bring out a new flavor of coffee to commemorate the event. Despite all of theses shortcomings, SherlockPeoria quietly began its tenth year on January 2, 2011. SherlockPeoria has lasted longer than the Beatles and Mork & Mindy. We have lasted longer than any single U.S. Space program save the Space Shuttle. Ten years is much longer than most marriages last. I have told the story numerous time of when co-SherlockPeorian Brad Keefauver asked me to write a weekly column, we both expected it to last maybe six months tops. Each year we marvel that another one has passed. Brad has churned out 450 articles to my measly 447. Somehow, along the way, I have managed to get my wife Joyce to pen three articles. Maybe Brad should recruit the Good Carter to contribute from time to time in order to stave off burnout. Not only has Brad churned out an article every single week, he has been pulling double-duty every since September 19, 2004 with Sherlock Action Brain Theatre. When SABT made its debut, the Sherlock Action Figure was brand new. Leave it to Brad to take the norm and turn it effortlessly into the sublime. I am lucky to be Brad’s friend and cohort in SherlockPeoria. We are still the world’s only weekly Sherlockian Columnists and have many more milestones to reach. Article 500 is just over a year and a half away. In another 10 years or so, we will cross that 1,000-article threshold. Like anything worth its while, SherlockPeoria has changed over the years. The ‘Classic’ look is still available but for anyone that might have forgotten, the first issues of SP highlighted in yellow, ran a mystery cover each week as well as a mystery Hound cover. Some of the early features are gone but one thing will remain constant and will continue - is the dedication of keeping the memories green of the world’s first consulting detective, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Rest assured that SherlockPeoria would be around to reach those milestones and many, many others. Happy Collecting!!
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Past 2011 Columns January 2, 2010 |