Can anybody recommend a good nonfiction book to read about Jack the Ripper? I am not sure what book is considered to have better scholarship of so many books out there and am not remotely a "Ripperologist" (yet). Like the Zodiac killer, many folks have their own pet theories and the Ripper books are plentiful on Amazon. Any info on where to start to read about ol' Saucy Jack would be appreciated. (Feel free to name more than one title if you want.)_
posted by snap_dragon on Sep 22, 2009 - 22 answers

I'm wondering how to find information regarding a serial killer case that happened about 40 years ago... [more inside]
posted by faintly macabre on Jun 21, 2009 - 5 answers

I read a true crime book some years back, I don't remember anything about the book except one story. My memory is hazy, but this is what I remember: some people were abducted in the USA. My memory tells me it was a mother and child/ren. I'm 99% certain it was an adult woman and at least one child even if they may not have been related. Now the very creepy part. Photos of these people were found in a public bathroom sometime later. In the photos the woman was tied up, perhaps a child was also in the photo I'm not sure. I'd like to verify if this story was indeed true or just made up by the author and I've tried googling many times without luck. I'm sure it has nothing to do with Harvey Glatman.
posted by selton on Jun 18, 2009 - 2 answers

In the early 80s, HBO aired a short TV series called "Whodunit?" and one of the 20 minute segments was about the Zodiac killer. It was done in an interesting fashion with a Monty Python-esque cutout design style..It was quite creepy. I cannot find this anywhere nor mentioned anywhere online. Does anybody have any information where I might find this? Or even information? I am just short of calling HBO. It is a segment that has haunted me since I watched it as a child and I kinda want to watch it again. If it matters they also did bits on Lizzie Borden and Richard Speck.
posted by snap_dragon on Feb 23, 2009 - 17 answers

What horror films feature a mystery killer? [more inside]
posted by burnmp3s on Jan 1, 2008 - 22 answers

Can anyone help me identify and locate (either to buy or download) any of the music from John Woo's The Killer, Hard Boiled, or any other John Woo / Chow Yun Fat movies? Particularly the haunting theme song to The Killer. Thanks!
posted by ac on Jan 7, 2006 - 7 answers

I have a list of coordinates (in [x,y] format), and they define the perimeter of a shape. I can't quite work out an algorithm for drawing round the perimeter of this shape, without crossing the shape. Google has failed me, and my A-level in maths is all but a hazy memory now... Algorithm gods, your time is now! [more inside]
posted by gaby on Dec 22, 2005 - 5 answers