WPCNR MUCKRAKER’S NOTEBOOK. April 16, 2008: It is time to open the Muckraker's Notebook in these days of obfuscation, defocus and sound bite, it is time to pull up a chair at the cozy flat at 221 Baker Street, enhale the fragrance of the World’s Greatest Detective’s Turkish tobacco as the swirl of pipe smoke filters through the flat. Sipping Mrs. Hudson's tea, and nibbling on a scone. There in smoking jacket, the World’s Greatest Detective holds forth in comments which intrepid reporters should take to heart:
"The Press, Watson, is a most valuable institution, if you know how to use it.
What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done?
On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in drawing your inferences.
It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognize out of a number of facts which are incidental and which vital. Otherwise your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated.
How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?
Any truth is better than indefinite doubt.
