Author: Brad Keefauver

Firstly, if you want to hear the wide range of John H. Watson Society folk discussing some Watsons we found, listen to this week’s Watsonian Weekly!

https://watsonianweekly.libsyn.com/september-11-2023-three-watsons

Secondly, we want to know what you’d like to see/hear at our meetings! Take our survey!

https://forms.gle/gxHWUJexZhR6RpF17

Thirdly, the John H. Watson Society meets again in two short weeks on September 24th at noon Central time. Here’s the registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYufuusqz4vEtwN9YTd_4ivNegUVARZzJAE

Hit all three links and the site will send a time-travelling psychic emotional message to Watson in autumn 1891 and he will have a moment of happiness without knowing why. (As far as anyone in 2023 knows. Not scientifically proven or tested.)

The 2023 John H. Watson Society Treasure Hunt is over and it was the closest contest in many years. Entries were received from around the world including Canada, Australia and France.

The overall and individual US champion, once again, was Michael Ellis of Plymouth, Michigan who answered all questions correctly, except one, for 198 points. He was one of only four contestants whocorrectly solved the dreaded cipher. Ellis is a multiple champion who was edged out for first place last year by Stephen Mason and Todd Winegar (each getting 181 points) who fell to a tie for fourth place. 

Paul Thomas Miller solved the cipher and won the International individual championship with 189 points, edging Enrico Solito (182).

The US team championship went to the Sound of the Baskervilles from Seattle, Washington, who scored 192 points and were comprised of Cameron Brandon, Margie Deck, Nancy Holder, Naching Kassa and David Merrell.  They correctly solved the cipher, too, as did the Maughan Family (Carrie, Michael, and Caitlyn) from Canada (175). The US team of Brad Keefauver, Sandy Kozinn and Madeline Quinones finished second with 185 points. 

The International team champions, La Fayette (182), came from France and were comprised of Daniel Henocq, Léandre Helbecque, Nicolas Maurel-Lalague, Florence Turenne, Anne du Ranquet, Thomas Bataillon (age 12), Véronique Chapperon and Thierry Saint-Joanis (Tristan JHWS).

Here are the top scorers:

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Michael Ellis                198  US Champion

Paul Thomas Miller     189  International Champion

Enrico Solito                 182

Steve Mason                181

Todd Winegar               181

Mark Doyle                   180

Johanna Freeman        178

Ellie Lo                         175

TEAM LEADERS

Sound of the Baskervilles     192 US Champions

Keefauver, Quinones, Kozinn   185

La Fayette                                182 International Champions

The Maugham Family               175

Corrected answers were e-mailed to all participants. Congratulations to all who participated. 

The month of August went pretty fast for most of us, and the John H. Watson Society’s annual Treasure Hunt challenge has been completed by many teams and individuals already. Yet there are those of us who might have been a little too busy, a little nervous about attempting the challenge on our own, or just didn’t get on the ball nearly early enough. For all of us falling into that category and functioning anywhere close to a Central US time zone, however, there is one last chance: The Final Team.

The Final Team will be a team of whatever ne’er-do-wells, lazy eccentric geniuses, and champions of the last minute who show up for a Zoom on Wednesday, August 30 at 7 PM Central time to start the quiz from scratch and see how much they can cobble together for a last minute team entry. Three hours have been booked, but c’mon, such an misfit band won’t even need that, right? You’ve seen the movies!

Oh, yes, and The Final Team, as it shall be known, will be recorded in their labors for a special post-Treasure Hunt episode (edited like craze for entertainment value, of course). Is this a crazy scheme? YES! But it’s just crazy enough that it just might work!

If you’d like to be a part of The Final Team, here’s the Zoom link to sign up for Wednesday night’s fun. Let’s go get it and show those early-month know-it-alls how it’s done!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvduyorDMqGtMBgJ7zhHjyezv-PofdSlmi

What news of the John H. Watson Society Treasure Hunt is there? What is “The Watson Rorschach Test?” Why doesn’t someone announce meetings sooner?

This Sunday, August 27th, at noon middle-America time, the John H, Watson Society will gather via Zoom and answer at least two of those questions, among others. And then chat about whatever comes up, as Watsonians do to round out ninety minutes before the Canonical Conversationalists time rolls around. Baker Street isn’t the only oven in August this month, but find a cool space and join us. Here’s the registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErdu2hrjMjEtNOji-zAmnFsZF6oe65M-o4

Here we are again, August and the annual test of our John H. Watson Society and anyone else who wants to get in on the challenge. I won’t waste any more time introducing it, because you know you want to get right to it, sooooo: Ready? Set? GO!

Here is the link to the rules: https://www.johnhwatsonsociety.com/treasure-hunt/treasure-hunt-rules/

And here’s a link to the thing itself: https://www.johnhwatsonsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-JOHN-H.-WATSON-SOCIETY-TREASURE-HUNT-QUESTIONS.docx

Every August first, Watson’s finest fans embark upon a quest for the treasures hidden within our favorite chronicler’s written records. Both teams and individuals race for glory and achievement in completing the greatest Watsonian challenge of the year, with an entire month to wrack their brains over the test put before them, this year concocted by that devious defender of the Canonically indefensible, Rich Krisciunas.

Rich has promised us a grand challenge this year, with topics ranging from “The Hired Help” to “Time for Bed” (which we hope didn’t cross paths in Watsons life!). Science, medicine, walking sticks, hotels . . . you just don’t know what he’ll come up with. Perhaps even a murderous cipher to be vexin’ a Texan!

Our Treasure Hunt master has provided us with some same questions to whet our whistles as we wait for that Tuesday in August that the big knowledge race starts. See what you can do with the following:

1. What object did Watson see on top of a bookcase?

2. Who besides the King of Bohemia had the chest and limbs of a Hercules?

3. A store selling maps had the same name as a man arrested by Watson. 

4. What was the make of the car driven by Watson?

5. He taught him how to convert stolen property into money.

Have some ideas? The answers will come, but c’mon! You’ve got this! See what your friends think, assemble your team for the Hunt, and plan to start that mental engine racing in just a few short weeks!

It has finally happened: The John H. Watson Society is finally going to have a story discussion at our next meeting!

The problem with that idea is that we’re the John H. Watson Society, and if we try to discuss a Sherlock Holmes story, who are we probably going to talk about most? Well, Sherlock Holmes, of course, and the next thing you know, we’re a Sherlock Holmes society and not, as the name strongly implies, a John H. Watson society.

So we’re going to try a little experiment at our next meeting we will be discussing Chapter 7 of The Hound of the Baskervilles, entitled “The Stapletons of Merripitt House” and no other parts of that novel.

Why?

Because it’s John Watson’s own story, going it alone and without Sherlock Holmes leading him around.

What can we learn about Watson when he doesn’t have his attention-grabbing room-mate sucking up all the oxygen in the room? Well, on Sunday, July 23, we’ll find out at noon Central time, as we discuss a purely Watson tale told by the man himself.

Here’s the registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvduqprzktGdPECb2NwMNC4yXHoQ3Y9kw-

It’s time again for the Watsonians to gather on Zoom, and our opening salvo for June will be trying to figure out who John Watson’s arch enemy was. Sherlock had his Moriarty, but who was the anti-Watson? Who did Watson have a personal stake in striving against?

Join us online at the usual noon central time on Sunday, June 25th for answering this question and the usual random chat that follows. Here’s the registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsd-CrpzgsHNaX7iLEciAiRQhk1IJcOi1z

Our May meeting falls right in the center of Memorial Day weekend, so we decided to just have some fun. The year is 1889. The Watsons have just had their first, very non-Canonical baby. You’ve only heard the baby is called “V,” so you don’t know its gender, but you’ve been invited to a baby shower that Mrs. Cecil Forrester is holding for them. What do you bring as an appropriate 1889 gift for the Baby V?

Think hard about it or make one up that afternoon, but we’ll be asking everyone to describe what they’ve brought to our imaginary Watson baby shower, and, if necessary, why?

It’ll be at the usual time on Sunday, May28. (Noon Central time. Six hours later, Southsea time. You figure out the rest.) Here’s the registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpdOisqj8sGtNV8UcpSZHzPQn38hvbbqX2

Was John Watson born in April? Was Sherlock Holmes born in April? This month’s meeting of the John H. Watson Society meeting will be about April birthdays and 221B Con. Bring your thoughts on either for a Sunday funday! (Noon CST, 1:00 EST, and whatever else it is wherever else!)

Here’s the registration link, if you haven’t signed up already:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYudOCqrD0pGtGtYFBFhaFx7g4VAQRH_th5

After years of missing a core member of the John H. Watson Society, we are finally moving the meeting so she can come. It’s now fourth Sundays instead of fourth Saturdays, and as we’re also dodging too big events in the next two months, those will also be our opening theme for each of the next two meetings. And just to make sure we have our act together, we’ve already got registration links for both meetings!

Opening topic: “What did we learn in Dayton?”
When: Mar 26, 2023 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) 
Register in advance for the March meeting with this link!

Opening topic: “What did we learn at 221B Con?”
When: Apr 23, 2023 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for the April meeting with this link!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining each meeting.

It’s that time again, and on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) the John H. Watson Society will Zoom gather. What’s going to happen this month? You just never know!

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtc-6tpj8sGddjJ-0CNAHTDhfI5ZMtfR_u

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In the meantime, listen to this week’s Watsonian Weekly, if you’ve got twelve minutes to devote to our favorite John! Here’s one way to get there:

https://watsonianweekly.libsyn.com/february-20-2023-cmon-give-us-more-watson

This coming Saturday is the December meeting of the John H. Watson Society at noon Central time (adjust accordingly to your location) and here’s the meeting registration link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qf-qurTkoE9zRiMaCBxh2tOP6S6-D2pZe

As usual, our opening presentation/discussion starter will be a last-minute bit of something Watson-ish, but this time we really need your help! This Saturday will be the first ever John H. Watson Society Blue Carbuncle All-Carolling Musical, and we can’t do it without a cast! (Or, to put it more plainly, you don’t want to see who is willing to perform it without a cast.)

Can you sing Christmas carols, and not necessarily well? Can you stand to sing one or two verses a capella karaoke by yourself? (It’s Zoom, so all solos!) Are you full of that blythe Christmas spirit that overcomes Zoom stage fright? Well, come join in the fun! We’ll be rehearsing an hour before the meeting at 11 AM Central time, and here’s the link to that, but be forewarned — if you come to rehearsal, you’d best be prepared to sing — no lookey-loos allowed at rehearsal, of course!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdOuhqj0jGd05FzVTryfalkHhtlUpYrgs

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting, and you will later be emailed some lyrics to practice on if you sign up before Saturday for the rehearsal. (If you sign up on Saturday, you can still sing, but the lyrics will come at 11.)

The John H. Watson Society gathered on Zoom this past Saturday, after a bit of a late notice. You can hear some of what went on here:

https://watsonianweekly.libsyn.com/november-28-2022-watson-gets-stinky

And if you want to get ready for next month’s meeting, which is coming on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada), you can register in advance at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qf-qurTkoE9zRiMaCBxh2tOP6S6-D2pZe

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Think we forgot you? Nope! Join the John H. Watson Society and friends on Saturday for some laconic messages to Watson from a certain friend that may require your services to interpret.

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Saturday, Nov 26, 2022 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpd-ysrTIpE93kKPMIwgCzYQ0aLKNxbtsE

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

You can probably guess — but we save it for the end of the show, so if you don’t want spoilers, you can listen to most of the podcast before turning it off. Otherwise, DIG IN! It’s Watsonian Weekly time!

https://watsonianweekly.libsyn.com/november-7-2022-no-spoilers-until-the-end

You can subscribe to the Watsonian Weekly on all the good podcathers, like . . .

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-watsonian-weekly/id1465553726

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23X2gDGeWfsvapGDrZfVQs

And more!

Sure, the John H. Watson Society could talk about trick-or-treat costumes for our favorite doctor this Halloween season, but why not take it a step further at our Saturday, October 22 meeting? If Watson was an actual monster, what type of monster would suit his personality and preferences the most? That will be our starter topic, but you know the JHWS! Past that, it’s just the normal pub chat that our members enjoy. The usual mid-day-in-mid-America meeting time — come in costume if you dare!

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkcemvrz4sG9XFChbNGpflYc6pbbTlMeKc

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

What? You say you were traveling to Toronto or waxing your moustache, and missed this month’s meeting of the John H. Watson Society? Well, here’s your chance to see what you missed on the latest episode of the Watsonian Weekly, where our usual fifteen minute podcast has been extended to include a hastily produced, written, and directed production of “The Frozen Pirate” by W. Clark Russell, perhaps John Watson’s favorite writer!

Can you last for the entire episode? That’s “The Clark Russell Challenge” and it’s available wherever The Watsonian Weekly is streamed, including this link:

https://watsonianweekly.libsyn.com/september-26-2022-the-clark-russell-challenge

Enjoy!

Have the equinoctial gales set in with exceptional violence in your neighborhood yet? The trees in the neighborhood of at least one Watsonian think so. Nonetheless, the internet cable is back and it’s time to gather the John H. Watson Society yet again.

In honor of a particular Watson September, we will be featuring an impromptu Clark Russell reader’s theater production of what some say is the very book he was reading the night that John Openshaw came to 221B Baker Street. (“Some” being a certain weekly podcast host.) You won’t want to miss it, just in case someone forgets to hit the “record” button.

When: Sep 24, 2022 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) 

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkdO-trjIuHdSh1BB-hobwjXJdoldPXH7y

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We didn’t get the full Worst Watson Tournament recorded at Saturday’s meeting of the John H. Watson Society, but you can hear what we did get on this week’s Watsonian Weekly, the official podcast of the John H. Watson Society. Available from the link below, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever questionable podcasts are available.

https://watsonianweekly.libsyn.com/august-29-2022-the-worst-watson-tournament