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Editor's Note: In case you missed the spotlight on the particular pet of Downton Abbey, Isis, we thought we should provide the Masterpiece Theater feature that, we had not seen. We were glad to see that into the season, she reappeared as the flag-bearer and lead actor, so to speak, when the castle appeared ahead in the frame. Her name is the Greek form of an ancient Egyptian word for 'throne.' more »

Museum visitors will learn how Sherlock Holmes, a scientific expert ahead of his time, used seemingly trivial observations of clues others missed to solve some of his era's most mysterious crimes. The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes features original manuscripts and period artifacts, investigative tools influenced and used by Sherlock Holmes, and interactive crime-solving opportunities. more »

Rose Madeline Mula writes: Today, after taking out a second mortgage to finance new footware, you then must analyze your requirements. Will you be wearing them while cross training, weight lifting, long-distance running, short-distance sprints, jogging, or aerobics? A flatter heel will enable you to execute deeper squats, a flexible sole is preferable for kick boxing, and flex-grooved bottoms kick your Jazzercise workout up a notch because they help you sidestep seamlessly and move effortlessly in any direction.   more »

Russell Shorto’s gifts include a keen eye for individual little stories that add a delicious depth to his writing, and thus to our understanding of times and events in Amsterdam; A History of the World’s Most Liberal City; The Virgin of Bennington becomes a meticulous and admiringly recorded history of Betty Kray’s dedication, imagination, and development of the Academy of American Poets; DVD Tips include a look at Doc Martin's long-waited Season 6 and the beginning of filming for Foyle's War's next season more »