Holmes, spectacles and other miscellaneous objects
Last night whilst talking on IRC #holmes with spacefall and lyricalsoul we somehow ended up on the topic that is Holmes's eye sight. I think we got there talking about how he makes Watson read aloud to him... anyway, the theory that he is far-sighted is interesting.
I'm far-sighted and wear glasses all the time (otherwise I walk into things and it gets quite comical), I followspot with my specs on the end of my nose (a bad habit I know) so I can see the stage clearly and also read my cue sheet (which is close to me).
If Holmes was far-sighted that would explain why he gets Watson to read things to him (he can't see them very clearly...) but then the big argument against this is the part in HOUND where he examines a document "holding it only an inch or two from his eyes." If I take off my glasses and try this I can't see a thing (actually even with my specs I can't see this close up), so not only does this imply otherwise but he has (as spacefall points out) excellent accommodation for thirty-five year old (HOUND was winter 1889, we generally accept Holmes being born in Jan 1854).
Perhaps he did wear spectacles for reading and wouldn't allow Watson to ever publish this fact. Perhaps the line in HOUND originally said: "Holmes, putting on his reading glasses, held the paper only an inch or two from his eyes." then Holmes pounced on Watson and scribbled madly on the said line, turned to face him and said "If you ever publish the fact I need glasses, I will make sure the public find out about your collection of lacy Edwardian undergarments." And thus Watson kept quiet.
I'd imagine that it would be practically impossible to find your reading glasses in a sitting room as untidy as 221b, so that's why Watson has to do all the reading. Spacefall amusingly said that Holmes would probably sit reading his book with his feet and just dare Watson to comment before making an effort to find his specs.
Personally, I think that Holmes had pretty good eye-sight and the reason he makes Watson read aloud is one of two:
1) He's slightly dyslexic and so struggles getting the sounds in the right places in words when reading aloud. He's too embarrassed by this to let Watson know and so avoids reading aloud anything he hasn't first of all read thoroughly and practised a few times.
2) Watson has an incredibly sexy voice
(For more information re: Holmes and his eye sight please see this article written by Richard L. Vaught MD)
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes v2 - ' The Abergavenny Murder' had me in stitches last night, probably unintentionally but still it was funny. First it was Holmes asking Watson to get a candle from his bedroom because he had always been told never to leave acid unattended, and the only time he ignored this advice something disastrous happened and if Watson wants the full story he should talk to Mycroft, although it is still a touchy subject for him. Second it was Watson returning the candle to his bedroom:
WATSON: I always like to look at the décor in your bedroom.
HOLMES: Really?
WATSON: No. I really don't know how you sleep at night with all those eyes looking down on you.
HOLMES: I sleep very well, some of them are old friends.
Why do I picture Holmes trying to solve the mystery of why the dinosaurs died out?
In more modern news... I don't understand this article about climate change. Is it saying that more research needs to be done and we shouldn't go with the 'political' answer? If so, then yes I agree. Climate change is one of those difficult topics, whilst I don't dispute that we are responsible I do question just how much is our fault and how much is just the world changing. After all, during our history the climate has changed considerably (Ice Age, dinosaurs etc...) so whilst we have helped nature along, could it also be said that the changing climate was going to happen anyway? Umm..
Blast, need to go to work now.
I'm far-sighted and wear glasses all the time (otherwise I walk into things and it gets quite comical), I followspot with my specs on the end of my nose (a bad habit I know) so I can see the stage clearly and also read my cue sheet (which is close to me).
If Holmes was far-sighted that would explain why he gets Watson to read things to him (he can't see them very clearly...) but then the big argument against this is the part in HOUND where he examines a document "holding it only an inch or two from his eyes." If I take off my glasses and try this I can't see a thing (actually even with my specs I can't see this close up), so not only does this imply otherwise but he has (as spacefall points out) excellent accommodation for thirty-five year old (HOUND was winter 1889, we generally accept Holmes being born in Jan 1854).
Perhaps he did wear spectacles for reading and wouldn't allow Watson to ever publish this fact. Perhaps the line in HOUND originally said: "Holmes, putting on his reading glasses, held the paper only an inch or two from his eyes." then Holmes pounced on Watson and scribbled madly on the said line, turned to face him and said "If you ever publish the fact I need glasses, I will make sure the public find out about your collection of lacy Edwardian undergarments." And thus Watson kept quiet.
I'd imagine that it would be practically impossible to find your reading glasses in a sitting room as untidy as 221b, so that's why Watson has to do all the reading. Spacefall amusingly said that Holmes would probably sit reading his book with his feet and just dare Watson to comment before making an effort to find his specs.
Personally, I think that Holmes had pretty good eye-sight and the reason he makes Watson read aloud is one of two:
1) He's slightly dyslexic and so struggles getting the sounds in the right places in words when reading aloud. He's too embarrassed by this to let Watson know and so avoids reading aloud anything he hasn't first of all read thoroughly and practised a few times.
2) Watson has an incredibly sexy voice
(For more information re: Holmes and his eye sight please see this article written by Richard L. Vaught MD)
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes v2 - ' The Abergavenny Murder' had me in stitches last night, probably unintentionally but still it was funny. First it was Holmes asking Watson to get a candle from his bedroom because he had always been told never to leave acid unattended, and the only time he ignored this advice something disastrous happened and if Watson wants the full story he should talk to Mycroft, although it is still a touchy subject for him. Second it was Watson returning the candle to his bedroom:
WATSON: I always like to look at the décor in your bedroom.
HOLMES: Really?
WATSON: No. I really don't know how you sleep at night with all those eyes looking down on you.
HOLMES: I sleep very well, some of them are old friends.
Why do I picture Holmes trying to solve the mystery of why the dinosaurs died out?
In more modern news... I don't understand this article about climate change. Is it saying that more research needs to be done and we shouldn't go with the 'political' answer? If so, then yes I agree. Climate change is one of those difficult topics, whilst I don't dispute that we are responsible I do question just how much is our fault and how much is just the world changing. After all, during our history the climate has changed considerably (Ice Age, dinosaurs etc...) so whilst we have helped nature along, could it also be said that the changing climate was going to happen anyway? Umm..
Blast, need to go to work now.