The Writer's Life: The Writer's Life 10/31

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

The Writer's Life 10/31 - Unsolved?

From an article by Stephanie Nolasco at foxnews.com, edited by yours truly: One of the most famous unsolved murders in American history is that of aspiring actress Elizabeth Short, 22. Her body was found in January 1947. The case became known as The Black Dahlia and has inspired many films and books. The owner of a drug store said male customer called her that. Retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel believes he knows the identity of the killer - his father, Dr. George Hodel, who skipped town without his family in 1950, ending up in the Philippines, where he lived for 40 years. The retired officer gained access to a three-page letter written by an undercover informant 69 years ago, which was discovered by his 62-year-old granddaughter. She knew nothing of the case and researched it on the internet. That's how she found Hodel, who has written several books on the subject, the most recent Black Dahlia Avenger III. The letter is included in the Afterword. In it, the murderer is referred to as G.H.. Dr. Hodel lived until the ripe old age of 91. Unfortunately, the case will not be solved definitively unless written material emerges with more conclusive evidence, same as the JFK assassination. Here's a pic of the lovely victim:

Fox News' October ratings were higher than CNN and MSNBC's combined. Is that an indicator of the coming elections? It will be solved next Tuesday. The suspense builds.

I don't recall so many trades being made in season in the NFL. The most interesting one involved Green Bay. On Sunday, with his team trailing by two points, return man Ty Montgomery defied the coaching staff's order to down the ball if the kickoff reached the endzone. He chose to run it out and fumbled, costing his team a shot at victory over the undefeated Rams. He was swapped for a seventh round draft pick. How refreshing to see a player suffer consequences in this era when so much bad behavior is overlooked. Then again, in terms of football, going to the Ravens is a lateral move, as both team's have as many wins as losses, GB 4-4, Baltimore 3-3-1. Of course, it's still a big hassle for the individual, especially if he has a family.

My thanks to my constant benefactress, who donated a trough of non-fiction and DVD's, and to local porter Robert, who delivered a bag filled with books on history, including a beautifully illustrated one on the Medicis; and to the woman who bought a pictorial on dogs; and to the gentleman who purchased the DVD of Notes on a Scandal (2006); and to Ira, a retired tailor who selected the Mayo Clinic's Guide to Alternative Medicine. I asked about the jacket he was wearing, which he said was ultrasuede. Burnt orange, he broke it out for Halloween. I was unable to find the exact color, but here's the style: