When I returned from the Raleigh BOUCHERCON, my DELL computer had “issues.” GOOGLE CHROME wouldn’t work. None of the programs like WORD and EXCEL in MICROSOFT OFFICE worked, either. Clearly, something happened while I was gone. I tried various “fixes”–which didn’t solve the problem. Finally, I decided to try SYSTEM RESTORE. It allows you to restore your computer to a previous state (like when it worked). SYSTEM RESTORE took about 20 minutes to reset WINDOWS. But now my computer is working, I can use MICROSOFT OFFICE, and I can print stuff out again. GOOGLE CHROME still doesn’t work and I can’t uninstall it or reinstall it. Patrick will have to fix it when he comes home for Thanksgiving. Until then, I’m using Mozilla Firefox. Have you had any recent computer problems?

I’m a big fan of Agatha Christie’s mysteries. I’ve read most of them. Christie used poison as a favorite way to commit a murder that Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot could investigate. Kathryn Harkup does a through job in explaining the aspects of the poison Christie uses. In addition, Harkup provides an Appendix that usefully lists all the causes of death (not just poison) in all of Agatha Christie’s mystery novels. Handy! I recommend this book to you if you’re a Christie fan. Plenty of good information here!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Dame Agatha’s Deadly Dispensary
2. A is for Arsenic – Murder is Easy
3. B is for Belladonna – The Labours of Hercules
4. C is for Cyanide – Sparkling Cyanide
5. D is for Digitalis – Appointment with Death
6. E is for Eserine – Crooked House
7. H is for Hemlock – Five Little Pigs
8. M is for Monkshood – 4:50 from Paddington
9. N is for Nicotine – Three Act Tragedy
10. O is for Opium – Sad Cypress
11. P is for Phosphorus – Dumb Witness
12. R is for Ricin – Partners in Crime
13. S is for Strychnine – The Mysterious Affair at Styles
14. T is for Thallium – The Pale Horse
15. V is for Veranol – Lord Edgware Dies

Appendix
Glossary
Bibliography
– See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/is-for-arsenic-9781472911308/#sthash.M0jJVUWC.dpuf

Back in the 1970s, my two favorite programs were Beretta and Starky & Hutch. Sure, these formulaic TV action shows were fun to watch with their loopy plots and wild car chases. Two rogue cops (Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul) driving around in a cool car, busting bad guys, and flirting with hot chicks! This was a young man’s dream! Although Starskey & Hutch only ran for four seasons, it developed a loyal fan base. This box set of 16 DVDs was a mere $22.99 at BJ’s Warehouse. AMAZON wants $26.91 for this set. Well worth it either way. Were you a fan of Starky & Hutch?

While attending the BOUCHERCON in Raleigh, NC I took Maggie Mason and her friend Nancy to dinner. I let Maggie pick the restaurant. As some of you know, Maggie loves exotic food. We went to the Stanbury restaurant. One of menu choices was Crispy Pig’s Head. Octopus was also on the menu (see below). I had Fried Green Tomatoes. And chose the Chocolate Torte with Ricotta Cheese for dessert (so did Nancy). Maggie opted for the Carrot Cake with Pistachio Ice Cream. Do you like “exotic” food?
Dinner Menu

*Stanbury’s dinner menu changes daily depending on seasonal ingredients*
Below is a sample menu.

// SMALL PLATES //
_________________________________________________________________________

Ribeye … smashed fingerlings, arugula, shallot vinaigrette, foie gras hollandaise 30

The 5-0 Cincinnati Bengals come to town to face the banged-up Buffalo Bills. Who will play quarterback for the Bills this week? Tyrod Taylor has a sprained MCL. Backup E.J. Manuel is a…backup. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins has a calf injury. High priced LeSean McCoy has a ham-string injury. The Bills rookie running back Karlos Williams has a concussion. This could be a Blowout Game. How will your favorite NFL team do today?

The Last Kingdom is a series based on Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Stories featuring the fierce warrior, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Set in the 9th and 10the Centuries, the Saxon Stories show how England became a united country instead of a group of warring territories. Cornwell’s skill at describing battles translates well in the TV series as Uhtred pledges himself to King John. If you’re a fan of English history, this series will enlighten you. If you’re a fan of action, you’ll find plenty in these tales of war and political intrigue. BBC America runs The Last Kingdom at 10 P.M. Eastern DST. Check the schedule in your area.

In the glow of the wonderful BOUCHERCON in Raleigh, I thought I’d honor Anthony Boucher with one of the memorial anthologies dedicated to Boucher’s excellence as an editor. Special Wonder collects high quality fantasy and science fiction stories. Just check out the Table of Contents below to appreciate the top-notch writers who are contributors to this anthology. John O’Neill of Black Gate also reviewed this volume recently. You can read his take on this excellent volume here. When I get a chance, I’ll review the companion anthology, Crimes and Misfortunes: The Anthony Boucher Memorial Anthology of Mysteries. Both of these memorial volumes are highly recommended.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction by J. Francis McComas
“Journeys End” by Poul Anderson (1957)
“The Brazen Locked Room” by Isaac Asimov (1956)
“The Fire Balloons” by Ray Bradbury (1951)
“The Gnurrs Come from the Voodvork Out” by Reginald Bretnor (1950)
“Through Time and Space with Ferdinand Feghoot” by Reginald Bretnor (1956)
“Puppet Show” by Fredric Brown (1962)
“Puzzle for Spacemen” by John Brunner (1955)
“Aunt Agatha” by Doris Pitkin Buck (1952)
“The Wild Wood” by Mildred Clingerman (1957)
“King’s Evil” by Avram Davidson (1956)
“Cruelty” by Jon DeCles (1970)
“The Apotheosis of Ki” by Miriam Allen deFord (1956)
“The Shape of Things That Came” by Richard Deming (1951)
“The Three” by Gordon R. Dickson (1953)
“Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes” by Harlan Ellison (1967)
“Prometheus” by Philip José Farmer (1961)
Ransom” by H. B. Fyfe (1952)
“The Muddle of the Woad” by Randall Garrett (1965)
“You’re Another” by Damon Knight (1955)
“Old Man Henderson” by Kris Neville (1951)
“He Kilt It with a Stick” by William F. Nolan (1968)
“The Canvas Bag” by Alan E. Nourse (1955)
“Pilgrimage” by Chad Oliver (1958)
“Gun for Hire” by Mack Reynolds (1960)
“Brightness Falls from the Air” by Margaret St. Clair (1951)
“Built Up Logically” by Howard Schoenfeld (1949)
“Warm Man” by Robert Silverberg (1957)
“Green Magic” by Jack Vance (1963)
“Deny the Slake” by Richard Wilson (1957)

One of the benefits of BOUCHERCON is the free books. I picked this copy of R. E. Conary’s Life’s a Bitch. So AM I. off the swap table. This is a far cry from Honey West. But Conary’s tough-as-nails heroine provides plenty of action in this thriller. Sure, Life’s a Bitch. So Am I isn’t top shelf storytelling, but if you’re looking for some fast-paced escapism, this is the book for you. An extra bonus: my copy was Large Print! GRADE: C+

RICHARD MOORE AND ME.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ANGELA, PATTI, ME, BILL, TED, THOM, PHIL, AND JACKIE

TOP ROW: TED FITZGERALD, BILL CRIDER, TED HERTAL; SITTING: MAGGIE MASON AND JEFF MEYERSON
GOOD:
1. Raleigh is a very nice city. All the people I met were friendly and helpful.
2. It was great to visit with Patti, Phil, and Megan Abbott, Jeff and Jackie Meyerson, Bill Crider and Angela, George Easter, Ted Hertel, Ted Fitzgerald, Maggie Mason and Nancy, Janet Rudolph, Richard Moore, Marv Lachman, and Thom Walls.
3. Patti and Phil treated me to BBQ Tofu at THE PIT restaurant. Delicious! The Chocolate Factory was wonderful, too!
4. Loved Patti’s panel on “Metropolitan Mysteries.” Also enjoyed the panel where Bill Crider, Megan Abbott, and Lawrence Block talking about “influences” on their mystery writing and reading.
5. Had a great submarine sandwich at a place called SUB CONSCIOUS.
BAD:
1. The “Two Hotel Strategy” was a bit cumbersome. I was in the Sheridan while many others were in the Marriott. Even though there was only a 100-yards between the two hotels, the walk back and forth for panels grew tiresome. On Saturday, it rained so there were more complaints then, too.
2. The Dealers’ Room was a joke. I’m sure 99% of the books for sale were new books (mostly authors at BOUCHERCON). I was able to find a few good books at a couple of used bookstores in Raleigh: NICE PRICE BOOKS and READER’S CORNER.
UGLY:
1. The Sheridan Raleigh doesn’t have an airport shuttle so I had to spend $100 on taxis to and from the Airport. Bah!
2. I was caught in the Southwest Airlines computer meltdown. My bag didn’t show up until hours after I landed in Buffalo. There were moments when I didn’t think my flight was going to get off the ground in Baltimore. Ah, the joys of Travelling. But all in all, I really enjoyed the Raleigh BOUCHERCON. See you in New Orleans!

Some people consider Psycho Alfred Hitchcock’s best movie (I’m torn between Rear Window and Vertigo). But there’s no denying the power of Psycho and its innovations. I picked up this new Blu-ray version at Wal-Mart for $9.95. Well worth it! The film never looked so good! And check out these extras:
The Making of Psycho
Psycho Sound
In The Master’s Shadow: Hitchcock’s Legacy
Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts
Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho
The Shower Scene: With and Without Music
The Shower Scene: Storyboards by Saul Bass
The Psycho Archives
Posters and Psycho Ads
Lobby Cards
Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
Production Photographs
Theatrical Trailer
Re-release Trailers
My Scenes
Feature Commentary with Stephen Rebello (author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”)
BD-Live
If you’re a fan of Hitchcock, you’ll enjoy all the extra content on this disc. A great value at a great price!