I was going to say that even "in California history" is overstating it, considering this is the state that gave us the Zodiac Killer.

Well, you take approximately 200 books, fiction and non-fiction, written about the Black Dahlia, including the ones written by people who think their Daddy did it. Plus the number of true crime TV specials that re-investigate the murder every few years. Add in one upcoming movie and the aforementioned Hunter episode and I do think Elizabeth Short wins by a landslide.

Though now I'm wondering...do they have a Zodiac Killer Bus Tour too?

Mmmmm.... House.

ION, I got my TiVo today and it's awesome!

hugs TiVo

I want to kick the patriarchy so hard their balls lodge next to their hearts and are smashed in pain with every heartbeat.

( just watched a PBS thing in which an Indian father said "but who would do the housework" in reference to his daughter attending night school in which she was doing all the fucking wait-work plus schooling herself. Your sons who are fooling around all day free of responsibility, maybe?)

Ahem. Issues. Culture, schmulture.

BB: YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!

I don't have a particular interest in true crime, but I'd heard of the Black Dahlia case. Though, I couldn't really tell you any details. Just one of those things you've heard of.

I sort of knew about it. I knew that it was a Hollywood murder in the 40s or 50s, a single mother, and her son wrote the book, I think? Tried to solve the crime when he was an adult?

Anybody else watch Standoff? I'm part way through and loving it a lot. Gina Torres and Ron Livingston. Plus Michael Cudlitz, who's been a supporting player in a bunch of stuff, but really grabbed my attention in Band of Brothers.

I came in here to see if anyone else was doing the GINA TORRES dance. Hi Sean!

Elizabeth Short was an aspiring actress who was found murdered in 1947. The crime gained a lot of notoriety given the condition she was found in. Her body was cut in half, her mouth slashed from ear to ear and there were signs that she'd been tortured. There was a big media to-do with a lot of guys confessing to the murder and a bunch of taunting notes that the "killer" sent to the police and newspapers.

As far as I know, she didn't have any children. Two years ago, a retired LAPD officer by the name of Steve Hodel wrote a book detailing his theory that his father murdered Elizabeth Short. (Along with, I think, 30 other women.) It got a bit of press. Mostly, I think, due to James Ellroy's endorsement of the theory.

January Man

This one featured calendar-based killings but I don't think it was about the Zodiac Killer per se.

Not a divinely crafted film, but it did have some impressive moments. (And features Alan Rickman in a supporting role along with a generally cool cast.)

My favorite bit was at the very end when the killer is revealed. Everyone in the theatre was doing a serious Agatha Christie toting up of clues...then, it was as if we all ran over to look at the baddie. An extra asks Who is it? Kevin Kline replies, Nobody...that's the point.

I felt really busted in my hubris over being able to figure plotlines out and, at the same time, really appreciated the 'closer to real-life' aspect of some bad guys just being guys who are bad, as opposed to flashy, intelligent or super-obviously evil.

Plus, the scene where Kevin tells Mary Elizabeth that he could bs her, or he could just tell the truth, that he wants to sleep with her (after just meeting for about 10 minutes!) and that there are 5 hotels within easy walking distance of their restaurant. And she goes with him!

That also seemed like life.

I don't have a particular interest in true crime, but I'd heard of the Black Dahlia case. Though, I couldn't really tell you any details. Just one of those things you've heard of.

I recognized the term, but I couldn't have told you if it was true crime or a Dashiell Hammet or something.