8.31.2015

What Happened to Maura Murray? Part III: Final Thoughts


Will there ever be closure?

Maura Murray seemingly vanished off the face of the earth after crashing her car in NH in February of 2004. More than 10 years later we have no answers, just more questions. I believe foul play is a very likely with this case, as I mentioned before.

Certainly, other possibilities exist, too. The intriguing part about this mystery is that there simply is no clear indication with any imaginable scenario. She could have been suicidal. She could have fled to the woods and died trying to find her way back. There is no definitive proof that gives us any clues here. Your guess is as good as mine, but I still have my opinions.

The problem here, is we lack the answers to many important questions with this disappearance. If friends and family don't know where she was going, then that might simply be a question we never have an answer to. In fact there may be dozens of questions we'll never have answers to, even in the event something major happened - like finding Maura's remains. It's doubtful that will tie up every loose end.

A lot of details over the years have been discussed endlessly, but ultimately is every little detail going to prove useful? The rag in the tailpipe is an interesting part of the case. Certainly, it leads to lots of speculation, too. But what if the rag...is just a rag? Maybe Fred's misguided advice about plugging the muffler is just something that stuck with Maura. Maybe she never drove with the rag to begin with, then upon crashing the car she simply stuffed it in the exhaust in a last ditch effort to show Dad she did in fact listen to him. But is it something that in any way will solve this? Probably not.

While I'm not saying to disregard every little point here. I do tend to think there might be a lot of things that may not have any significance in her disappearance. Sure, there might be signs of personal problems, but nothing so evidently troubling we can definitely conclude what happened. There's a good chance there's some poor decision making within this perplexing tale but again, how does it play out in terms of how Maura disappeared. No matter what angle you take or how much or little you analyze it you end up at square one again - a girl missing for 10 years, without the slightest inclination of how it occurred.

A bow adorns the tree at Maura's crash site

The big part of the puzzle here is not why she left West Point, it's not why she used a credit card that wasn't hers...it's the events directly before and after the crash. Sure, her state of mind is important and it seems that has been pursued as thorough as possible. If there truly was mental anguish in the life of Maura Murray, she hid it well and though it seemed like she had her share of problems, I've  encountered far more complicated lives of people in her age group. I'm sure some forensic psychologist could make more of this than I can, but I still see a relatively average college aged girl here. Not some self loathing time bomb who was desperate to escape her problematic life at all costs.

The now retired Lt John Scarinza, who worked frequently on this case, made a lot of great comments about the disappearance. He lamented that perhaps if we knew where Maura was going, maybe we would have been able to figure out what happened thereafter. It's a simple but poignant statement. The complete lack of knowledge about her trip north further adds to the mystery and further complicates things. Perhaps where she was going and who, if anyone, she was meeting is truly the key here. Sadly, we don't know and we probably won't ever know.

The Saturn sedan after the crash

But, based on the knowledge we do have, we can still form some idea of what may have happened.

And that's exactly what I've attempted. I feel running away is improbable. Show me one person who was gone missing for a decade only to be found living a new life. I'll show you 100 people who have gone missing by means of foul play. People who disappear do so within their means, and usually in the easiest way possible.

Can we really assume she was suicidal? Packing clothes and bringing textbooks seems odd for that sort of endeavor. So would be calling resorts. Would a car accident really be a catalyst for suicide even if it is assumed it wasn't the intent for her trip? I can imagine the wreck upset her, but I doubt it instantaneously made her suicidal.

What about meeting her demise in the woods? Would anyone seriously consider venturing into the dark, snowy and cold NH woods a good idea? What purpose would it serve? What is the goal? Wouldn't at some point there would be a strong inclination to turn back? The risk greatly outweighs the benefit here. The benefit would be what exactly? Evading  police? Wouldn't staying on the edge of forest be a safer way to do so? The risk here is huge and personally I don't see much of a purpose or reason why anyone would do such a thing, especially with virtually nothing to gain.

Former Lt Scarinza himself makes many points that ultimately serves as the basis for my suspicious of foul play.

We have a girl who very likely was involved in a single car crash due to being impaired by alcohol. This would make her second crash in a matter of days. Obviously, she know this would upset her parents and cause more stress in her personal life. She pleaded with Butch Atwood not to call police so she could try and mend this herself, without arrest and hopefully without anyone finding out. The only way to do that at this point is to leave the scene quickly.

This is where Scarinza points out a few important things. First, the search was extensive. Land, air, infrared cameras, humans, and dogs. He notes the conditions were favorable, and great detail could be seen via helicopter. But the main problem was the inability to see any sort of foot prints from the accident leading to the woods. There was simply no movement they could track from the accident site to adjacent woods. No further snow had fallen, so nothing was essentially covered up or disturbed.

Second, the blood hounds were brought in, according to Scarinza. Given a scent profile to work with, dogs lost Maura's scent within 100 yards of the crash. Sure, perhaps the dogs didn't have a proper sample to work with. But, then we can go back to the aerial view and also be reminded of the the lack of movement. No prints at all to suggest she walked in the fresh snow and with large snowbanks on both sides of a narrow road, would it be reasonable to suggest she started walking down the dark road? Possibly, but one thing is for sure. She was gone quickly after the accident, seemingly didn't go into the woods and was never seen again. To me, being picked up by a vehicle is the only possibility here.

The area where the crash occurred

Scarinza, and even Fred Murray tend to lean in this direction. But, by all accounts, she vanished quickly from the crash. We're talking minutes. And never to be seen again. Vehicle travel would have been the only way. I don't feel convinced she was traveling with friends, if so, why would her friends lead her away to vanish? Wouldn't that be something a stranger would do? Again, back to risk and benefit here. She was involved in a crash, alcohol inside the car. She didn't want police to come. Would she really turn down a ride from a stranger? The benefit is tremendous: no DUI.

The risk, well, it's a small chance that a stranger would bad bad intentions, right? In context, Maura left the scene quickly. It had to be in a car to escape that quickly. After that, she went missing and still is for more than 10 years. Sure, it's a small chance but still a chance. There's a reason why our parents told us not to take rides from strangers. Even if it's not probable, it sure would explain a lot.

Recently, a former NH state trooper named James Conrad came forward on Facebook with a startling claim: NH police have a suspect, however they feel the lack the evidence to obtain a warrant and/or conviction.


 Conrad then goes on to state he believes Maura is buried under the suspects new house. He doesn't explicitly state who the suspect is, but it outlines a reasonable scenario to explain how a young woman vanished for over 10 years with no clue left behind.


Conrad's credibility is questioned and also his motives but even a broken clock is right twice a day. If this is his way of bitterly trying to make NH police look bad, I would think there are better ways. If anything it seems like he was bringing awareness back into the case to bring closure. He might be lying, but nothing said was over the top or unreasonable.

With many people close to the investigation believing there is foul play involved here, it's hard not to see the trend. As much as I would like to believe Maura conspired to run away and successfully eluded a massive search, the more time passes, the less likely I've found that to be. In the end, I don't believe there is a big conspiracy here. Many people do disappear on their own accord, but with all the circumstances considered, unfortunately, I don't believe Maura was one of those people.

8.29.2015

In Retrospect: 20 Years of Foo Fighters



On July 4th 1995, Foo Fighters dropped their self titled debut album. A respectable collection of songs that weren't officially from the band themselves, but instead written entirely by Dave Grohl. Simple, catchy songs from a small studio without the glitz or sheen from huge production team. No one would have imagined they would remain a modern rock staple for the next 20 years.

Over the past 2 decades we've had some ups and downs. Band members have come and gone. But Foo Fighters have survived and thrived from the humble beginnings as just another alternative band, among many, to still being active and selling out stadiums at a time where rock music is a major slump. Whether you like them or not, the fact that they keep succeeding is pretty remarkable.

As a fan, it's been an interesting journey as well. From being a kid in 1995, still reeling from Nirvana's abrupt end, buying the debut album on cassette (remember those?) with money saved from working around the house after begging my parents for a ride to the record store (remember those?).

Ask your parents how one of these work.
In 1997, this time with my own car, I was almost doubly excited for The Colour and the Shape and snatched that up the day of its release as well. It soon became a tradition, despite all responsibilities, I'd always manage to pick up their latest album as soon as it hit stores. Of course, it started as simple as scraping some money together and getting a ride and over the years, it grew to skipping class, being late to work, taking extended lunch breaks, and taking a break between changing diapers. Life changes, but a lot of things stay the same. Same goes with Foo Fighters.

There's always been a comforting sense of predictability with them. You know they aren't going to all of a sudden do a reggae album, or try some sort of experimental Kid A type masterpiece. No straight up thrash record and it's pretty unlikely to hear a release filled with electronica beats either. Foo is formulaic, which is both good and bad. Not to say they haven't taken chances; There is Nothing Left to Lose was a bit of a laid back surprise and In Your Honor was all about both the loud and the soft. Even so, nothing was ever a complete departure, we simply get a mix of those loud and soft dynamics, just in different ways.


Much like in life, you can't help but wonder what would the outcome have been if they did things a little different. Took chances, embraced different styles and techniques. It seems very much that Dave has a certain fear of failure, so that's why they path they've taken has been pretty predictable. Looking back after 20 years, an album that would have been a radical creative departure for them that failed, would have still been a success in my eyes. It all about taking chances sometimes.

But, like an old friend who hasn't changed in 20 years, there's a certain fondness you develop. With Foo Fighters, you can't help but admire Dave's charisma and benevolent spirit. While they aren't the most musically daring bands around, they have continuously crafted some great songs in their time. In hindsight, perhaps it never was an intention to be groundbreaking, instead just to be good...and I am fine with that.

Light Up The Sky: 5 Great Items from Phantom Fireworks



If you love fireworks but have never been to a Phantom Fireworks store, you seriously missing out. With huge showrooms in many states, it is truly a pyromaniacs dream come true. Whiile there are many impressive independent fireworks stores around, Phantom consistently has huge stores with tons of inventory. When you have such a big selection along with great 50% off sales around the holiday, you really feel like a kid in a candy store walking around.

Whether you like fountains, spinners, aerials or just stuff for the kids, Phantom has it all. If you don't have one locally, you can search for the closest store and plan an epic road trip accordingly. Seriously, you will be glad you did.

Obviously, there's tons of great fireworks to light up the sky with. For casual fun in the backyard here are my 5 favorites that I keep coming back to, year after year:

"Mystical Night Assortment"
Truly an awesome budget assortment with fountains, spinners, candles and stuff for the kids, too. Plenty of stuff to please everyone.

"Barrage Fire Candle"
Who doesn't like a good Roman candle? This one has a staggering 196 shots of assorted colors. When it comes to candles, this one is a crowd pleaser.

"Silver Palms"
Powerful all silver effect featuring palm brocade, willow and glitter chrysanthemum bursts. An absolutely stunning way to light up the night sky.

"New Yorker Assortment"
Over 900 pieces of fun! This is really one of the best assortment Phantom offers for the price. If you can score a buy one get one deal, this one is great for hours of entertainment.

"Grounds For Divorce Assortment"
This, my friends, is the real deal. If you like huge, loud, colorful explosions - this is for you! This one isn't cheap, and it's not for the casual fireworks lover. The name says it all!

There you have it. You can't go wrong with any of these picks from Phantom. Stop by a store and see for yourself, they have some amazing stuff. Be safe and have fun!

8.24.2015

The Disappearance of Steven Koecher

Missing since 2009.

Steven Koecher was a 30 year old from St. George, Utah who went missing in Henderson, Nevada on December 12, 2009. The circumstances around his disappearance are unique; Steven is a devout church goer, clean cut and never been on the wrong side of the law. He isn't the type of person you would expect to go missing but, when he embarks upon a seemingly random road trip to Nevada, all bets are off.

At the time Steven went missing, he was faced with some financial worries. He was unemployed and behind in his rent. He occasionally passed out flyers for a Utah window washing company, which seemed to be his only income at the time. However, despite his money problems, Steven by all accounts seemed in good spirits. His spontaneous trip from Utah to Nevada was puzzling, though. Items were purchased for Christmas while on the road and he hoped to visit a female friend along the way, only to discover she wasn't home. Instead he spent time briefly with the family.

He continued his trip, conversing with people on his cell phone but giving no reason as to why he was around the Las Vegas area. Why he headed there specifically remains a mystery.

Despite exposure in the media, no credible leads have come in.

Steven's car was found parked at a dead end cul de sac in Henderson. It was a quiet housing development for older people, many 55 years or older an retired. The Koecher family was contacted in regards to the abandoned car and, to them, something was definitely not right. Steven was officially reported as missing shortly thereafter. Found in his car was all of his belongings, except for his phone, wallet and keys.

Surveillance video from a homeowner managed to capture Steven's white Chevrolet Cavalier passing by as it was parked at the end of the street. Shortly after, the camera shows 2 angles of what appears to be Steven walking past the house at almost exactly 12 pm on December 12. He appears to be carrying a folder or some item. After he walks out of view of the camera, he never returns to the car and is never seen alive again.

This mysterious case was featured on the show Disappeared, as well as speculated endlessly by sites such as Reddit.

As of 2015, Steven Koecher is still missing.

So what may have happened?

With all missing persons, we can easily speculate as to what happened. But in this case, there are many things to first consider. Steven was not in great financial shape, so traveling for work is very possible. He kept in touch with others, so besides the unexplained nature of the trip, nothing seemed wrong or unusual based on his demeanor. The trip itself was quite random in terms of direction, based on cell phone pings and debit card transactions. I think only Steven himself truly knew the destination, no one has elaborated as to why he actually did this. Searches of his laptop and apartment yielded no clues either. So we really have no idea.

What we do know is very little. Cell phone and computer records reveal nothing to why he stopped and parked at this particular housing development. But his car was there and he did likely walk past a home security camera about noon. Obviously, this raises some questions.

His cell phone was telling as well. Call logs don't seem to be out of the ordinary, everything seems to be accounted for. However the cell phone pings reveal some activity after Steven disappeared.



The phone shows movement from the south, where Steven parked his car, to the northeast, where it pinged off a few towers along the way. Voicemail was checked in the early morning of December 13. The phone stayed in the general area of Russell Rd in Henderson until the signal was lost. The big question here is: was Steven still with the phone? We don't necessarily know if this travel is indicative of Steven and the phone, or just the phone.

So ultimately, we have a 30 year old guy, with a very clean background, despite some money issues, who ends up in a random area. Parks his car. Walks away. Poof, gone. Lots of speculation that this was a shady Craigslist type job interview that went horribly wrong. I don't necessarily agree with that. Here's why: The complete lack of an electronic trail as to why he was in the Vegas area is baffling, but certainly if a job offer was on the table there would be a call or two, I would imagine. Also, who arranges a meeting and has a potential job prospect park in any place other than the driveway? Surely anyone with common sense would see a huge red flag from some internet job offer than asks to park on the street and walk to a specified residence; on a Sunday no less. I just don't see that angle.

Based on his parking in a secluded dead end area of the street and the complete lack of correspondence regarding a job meeting, I think Henderson may have just been a random stop on a fairly aimless trip of business and pleasure. To someone distributing flyers, it was a pretty idyllic area to drum up business; older retired folks in a quaint community who might be willing to pay for window washing services. We have no idea if Steven passed out other flyers along the way, so this could have been his first stop or one of many. There was probably a bigger motive to the trip, but we will never know. We do know he had flyers in his car, so it might have been intended to occasionally stop and pass a few out.

We know he never walked back past that camera again, and certainly didn't go back to his car. So whatever the circumstances are that led to him vanishing, it was sparked by someone or something in that development. Now, in communities like that people tend to be attentive. Neighbors peer outside windows, people work in their yards, walk their dogs etc. To me, it's very strange that no one noticed a young man walking in the area. So either this is the first retirement community in the world without nosy neighbors OR Steven quickly entered a house or car. I'll go with the latter.

What I'm thinking here is perhaps Steven decided to speak to people he saw in community, instead of  just placing a bunch of flyers in doors. It's more personal, and a smiling face is a lot more effective than simply a piece of paper stuffed in a door. Perhaps the first person he saw invited him inside and it all went downhill from there. Whatever it was, he surely didn't spend a lot of time walking, thus the lack of neighbor sightings. In the episode of Disappeared, one neighbor did express suspicion to police regarding another resident. So even in a development of largely 55+ year olds, there are likely to be some shady characters despite the age bracket. Not to mention residents with shady relatives, handymen, house sitters etc.

In the end, I think Steven Koecher was lured into a stranger's house shortly after he parked his car. Desperate for money, he was likely excited by the prospect of a new client. The conversation then likely turned into a lucrative job assignment with a quick payment promised. This may have entailed something with the drug trade. Whoever is responsible, probably spoke to Steven in length, got to know him and quickly realized he had no ties to the area, needed money, was possibly naive and far from home. The possibility of him ending up in a drug deal gone bad is possible, but one way or the other I think he left the community in another car, and eventually realized he had gotten himself into a bad situation, but by then it was too late.

If you have any information about Steven Koecher contact the Henderson, NV police at 702-267-5000

8.17.2015

Easy Iced Coffee at Home

Cool, caffeinated refreshment.
 Summer is here, coffee lovers. With the warm weather upon us, nothing beats a refreshing iced coffee as a way to get your caffeine fix. Of course with coffee prices the way they are, they can be pricey treats. So let's look at a few ways to prepare iced coffee quickly, easily and inexpensively at home.


Iced Mocha

One of my favorite varieties of iced java is the iced mocha. Especially when it has a nice robust, dark chocolate flavor to it. With Starbucks Iced Via making it at home is a breeze. Here's what you need:

Starbucks Iced Via




Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Syrup



2% Milk (or whatever you prefer)



Mixing cup





Combine the powdered Via with water as directed in your mixing cup (water bottles are fine, take a few sips out first to make room for the Via). Add milk and chocolate syrup to taste and shake vigorously. Pour over ice and enjoy! This typically yields two medium servings, or one large serving with ice. Of course, whipped cream and chocolate flakes can be added, too but, on the rocks is fine enough for me. Vias already have sugar in them so the end result is sweet enough for my taste. Best of all, one medium serving ends up being well under $1.


With Keurig machines in nearly every coffee lover's home, another option for iced coffee is with K-cups. My favorite is Green Mountain, either iced french vanilla or Nantucket Blend. However, any kind works, the iced ones are just specifically formulated for iced coffee. Here's what I use:

Iced Coffee with K-cups

Green Mountain Iced K-cups (or your favorite iced or regular brand)

Sweetener


Milk (or creamer or coconut milk, almond milk, goat milk, breast milk...you get the idea)

With the cups specific to iced coffee you simply brew it over ice, add your milk, sweetener and give a good stir, maybe adding a bit more ice. Voila, that's it. For regular cups, I simply brew it, add sweetener and chill it in the fridge for a few hours. For some reason when I brew regular K-cups over ice, it comes out watery tasting to me. Chilling it first ends up working better in the end. The cost per serving is a bit higher making it with a Keurig, but still well below Starbucks or any local shop.

There are tons of ways to make iced coffee at home. However, when cost and convenience are a factor these two methods work well. Not to mention it beats waiting in line at Starbucks!


8.11.2015

A Look at the Fenix E41

One light, four common batteries, 1000 lumens.
As I mentioned before, I like Fenix lights and lately I've been leaning towards their AA flashlights. AA batteries are widely available, affordable and such a common battery. At home, I have tons of them. Cameras, game controllers and various electronics are all powered by this cell so at any given time I have several rechargeable AAs powered up and ready to go. Faced with an emergency, big or small, I am pretty much guaranteed to have some on hand. It's a compromise, in a sense, but a light with working batteries is better than one without. Even in a worse case scenario I can round up 2-4 AA batteries simply by emptying a few remote control devices at home, guaranteed.

Naturally, the Fenix E41 has caught my eye. Simple design, single switch and a maximum output of 1000 lumens...a la 4 AA batteries. No clumsy plastic battery holder, either. The 4 cells drop right in. The flashlight features 4 modes:

Burst mode - 1000 lumens
High - 400 lumens
Mid - 140 lumens
Low - 20 lumens

Run times are quite efficient, but vary based on battery type: On high expect 2-5 hours, on low Fenix claims 80+ hours. How's that throw, you ask? 300 yards (or if you prefer 902 feet or even 275 meters, for the sake of clarity). CandlePowerForums has a nice comparison demo of the beam. Here's the Fenix compared to the NiteCore EA41 and EagleTac TX25C2:




The throw of all 3 lights is impressive, but the Fenix has a nice wide beam and a good tint. The NiteCore isn't bad either, but neither compare as far as spill. The EagleTac kind of has an odd tint to me, I definitely prefer the other two lights in that regard.



Here's another look with a different backdrop. While they all look good, the Fenix really excels in terms of flood. The EagleTac looks a bit better here, and has a nice even spread.

Overall, a good comparison of the beams of 3 great lights. It doesn't look like you can go wrong with any of them. However, my current preference right now is a bright, floody 4xAA light. In that respect, the E41 looks like a winner.

For now, it's definitely leading the way as far as my next light purchase.

8.07.2015

Has Dave Grohl Leaked Demos?

This week has been eventful for both Foo Fighters and Nirvana fans. A leak of elusive tracks for both bands hit the internet to the delight of many die hard fans.

First, Foo Fighters' much sought after "Million Dollar Demos" finally got a release in their entirety. These One By One era demos got their name as a joking reference to the band's first attempt at recording the album. Turbulence within the band made for some troubled times and as a result the album was essentially scrapped and the group started from scratch recording it. Snippets floated around previously, but for the first time we get to hear the whole thing.


Some initial impressions -

I hate the mix and production of One By One. The sound is so compressed and overdone with that album. The demos have a much more organic sound, thankfully. All My Life had a much more haunting intro originally. Admittedly, I think with this one they got it right for the album, the final product was much better sounding to me. Burn Away on the other hand benefits from a more raw, live sound. Halo, Have It All and Overdrive are interesting listens but none of them strike me as better or worse. The big surprise here are Lonely As You and Come Back. Both, in demo form, were noticeably more rock. Come Back, especially just was much harder sounding and really better than the album version, in my opinion. Though, the final version had it's merit with it's moodier sound and instrumental break. Good to finally here it all, for sure.


A whole slew of Nirvana goodies surfaced, too. All of which are awesome. Including the Fecal Matter demo in complete form.

So the question now...is Dave Grohl behind this all? If I remember correctly when "You Know You're Right" leaked, there was a lot of talk that he was behind that, more or less to spite Courtney Love. Maybe this time is just for fun. Regardless of the source, fans are quite elated about this leak.

8.06.2015

Left 4 Dead 2: Still A Bloody Good Time

Zombie killing at its finest.


There's something strangely satisfying about tossing a Molotov cocktail at a horde of zombies. Or even whacking them with a baseball bat and then blowing their head off with a combat shotgun. With all the zombie games out there, I still keep coming back to the Left 4 Dead series. Sure, the levels stay the same. But those fun, frantic moments that erupt into chaos never grow old.

The original installment took us all by surprise. Engaging team work, intriguingly vague storyline, and endless co-op fun through a dark zombie apocalypse. It was basically everything you could want in a first person shooter. Less than a year later we get news of a sequel, sparking curiosity and even resentment. In some cases people were thinking L4D2 would be a rushed, incomplete effort to cash in on the success, hardly worthy of downloadable expansion, let alone it's own standalone sequel.

Thankfully, early criticism of the game was quickly put to rest upon the release of Left 4 Dead 2. Nearly everything good about the first game was expanded upon. The game's improvements were remarkably well done and amazingly they managed to release it about a year later. Levels were robust and engaging, weapons improved and zombies were wonderfully varied. It didn't rely solely on the dark, uncertain atmosphere of the first game (although that gave L4D1 a certain charm) and managed to pull off some intense moments - in broad daylight, no less.

Further expansions followed and we got new weapons, new levels, and new modes of gameplay. With the "Mutation" mode you were treated to hacking away at levels with just a chainsaw or katana. Or dealing with an endless barrage of Hunters. Or making your way around by yourself, without the presence of 3 other teammates. L4D2 officially wrapped up a near perfect game play experience with it's final DLC, Cold Stream, in 2012. It's a hectic and fun level that combined all the exciting parts of the game and served it up as a satisfying finale.

Left 4 Dead 2 has been out for many years now and it still remains an old favorite. That said, there's a lot of engaging elements that aid in its replay value...but, in the end, I think I just like whacking zombies with baseball bats.

Valve, if you're listening...we're ready for Left 4 Dead 3 now.

Sharp and Pointy Things: Spyderco Tenacious

The EDC knife at a price for everyone.

The Spyderco Tenacious. There's not much to say about this popular folder than hasn't been raved about before. It's affordable. It's durable. It's near perfectly balanced. Yes, believe the hype. For a bit over $30, this knife has a place in pretty much everyone's collection.

It took me years to finally give it and start exploring Sypderco's offerings, and this is a pretty good starting point. I had my hang ups on the looks initially and I wasn't convinced the Spyder Hole was functional enough for my needs. Thumb studs work well enough, how could I possibly get used to this? I finally set my differences aside and took a chance.

The bottom line: Quick deployment, buttery smooth opening, sturdy lock up and strong pocket clip. No blade play at all. It's super easy to sharpen and it stays that way. Sure, I don't think it is the most beautiful folder out there but, it's functional and does the job well. Looks aren't everything, right? The only minor complaint I could possibly muster against this truly awesome blade is the handle could use a bit more grip. Again, very minor, and it still is very comfortable to use.

For the money, the Tenacious is really the penultimate entry level EDC knife.

Fenix E25 (260 Lumens): Quick Review

Traditional, yet tactical.
Growing tired of using flimsy, unreliable flashlights, I finally made up my mind to pursue something better. I needed something durable and dependable to provide light without fail. Something once and for all to replace all those cheaply made flashlights I've wasted money on that fail within a few months.

Easy task, right?

I had a few preferences in mind. It had to be a medium sized light, something that felt substantial in my hand yet could be dropped in a pocket, a bag or glovebox without taking up too much space. The light had to be reasonably bright and capable of throwing a beam a fair distance. Lastly, I wanted something that could utilize common batteries, especially rechargeable ones that I have an abundance of.

On paper, the AA powered Fenix E25 seemed like a winner.


  • Cree XP-E2 LED with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
  • Digitally-regulated output to maintain constant brightness
  • 3 Brightness Levels (run time varies with battery types)
    • Burst - 260 Lumens 
    • High - 130 Lumens - 3 hours
    • Mid - 55 Lumens - 11 hours
    • Low - 8 Lumens - 140 hours
  • Maximum beam throw:  180 Meters
  • Intelligent Memory Circuit: Automatically enters the previous used brightness level when turned on
  • Reverse polarity protection guards against improper battery installation
  • All-function switch; simple and convenient operation
  • Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle
  • Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard
  • Slip-resistant body design provides for a comfortable and secure grip
  • Made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum
  • Premium Type III hard-anodized and abrasive finish
  • Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating

In person, it didn't disappoint either. The light has a traditional styling - thin barrel, flared head. It's not too big, not too small. Size-wise this was basically what I was aiming for and the result is a pretty versatile flashlight for a variety of situations. The included lanyard keeps it safe in your hand. Running on just 2 AA batteries, the output is pretty impressive. Very crisp white light, fairly wide spread with a nice hotspot in the center of the beam. It definitely produces more of a throw than a flood, so essentially it's not going to light up a really wide area but it will cover a good distance.

One caveat: The single control button is on the head of the light. The button is fairly flush and not quite as distinct as I'd like. It takes a bit of getting used to. There's no tail switch on this one either. Hold the button down briefly and it turns on. Push again and you can cycle through the modes. When you depress the button a bit longer you activate "burst mode" - the 260 lumen highest setting, which only stays on only for as long as you hold it down. Once you let go, it returns to the previous setting. Once you turn it off and turn it back on, it starts on the setting you had it on previously.

Overall, it is a solid performing flashlight that goes for about $35. For someone who wants a quality light powered by common batteries, this is an amazing choice. My only gripes would be an improvement of the power switch - something a bit easier to feel, or even just a regular tail switch. Burst mode is helpful but I would have liked to see that as a regular mode and not one I have to constantly hold the button down to achieve - perhaps 260 lumens is too taxing on regular AAs to utilize for long run times.

In the end, just a few small details prevent this from being the perfect light. But as is, it is a pretty awesome light, and being near perfect isn't bad at all.

8.05.2015

The Flaming Dr. Pepper

Get out your safety goggles, kids. 

I've had some interesting drinks in my time but the coolness factor of the Flaming Dr. Pepper is pretty hard to beat. Sometime around 2001 I stumbled onto this one and ever since then it has become THE go-to drink whenever I'm hosting a party. Plus, there's always a person or two out there who has never experienced one, so the fun never really wears off. Being that it's a damn good shot doesn't hurt either.

There are tons of variations of The FDP but my tried and true recipe is as follows:

3/4 shot of DiSoronno
A splash of Bacardi 151 on top
1 large mug of light beer

Carefully light the shot, drop it in the beer mug and enjoy!

I go with Bud Lite or any of the light stuff because it seems to result in a more authentic Dr. Pepper taste. Full flavor beers and rich lagers create more of a robust taste that I don't think is quite the same. Obviously, you need to be careful here. A few times we've managed to light the kitchen counter on fire. We've cracked a few dozen shot glasses. But no trips to ER ever. Cheers!



8.03.2015

Your First Gun On A Budget: Meet The SD9VE

Self defense on a budget.

It's been awhile since I pondered the age old question of "I'm getting my first handgun, what should I buy?" But I was asked recently with one caveat: "I'm getting my first handgun, what should I buy? I'm on a budget." Lucky for him, I already had the answer sitting in my house, locked up in safe. I bought one new years ago when the VE models were just released.

Though, I wasn't a first time buyer looking for my first gun. I simply wanted a cheaper gun for the collection, one that I didn't mind getting scratched up. One I could count on for the car, hiking trips and such. A dependable back up that wouldn't break the bank. Regardless of all that, my rationale for buying it was essentially the same as a first time buyer. The gun simply had to go bang when I pulled the trigger, acceptable accuracy, good capacity, and size wasn't necessarily relevant - it was more or less for home defense, maybe tucked away in the car, not something that had to be of small stature to be carried everyday.

So, again, with the question being what is a good first handgun on a budget, I think the SD9VE is a pretty darn good answer. Especially if you want that new gun smell and of course S&W's great customer service and warranty. On the other end of the spectrum, the used market is always an option but for first timers, buying new might just be easier. For around $300 you get a quality new gun with the SD9VE, for $300 used you don't always know what you'll end up with, especially if you're a novice.

With the SD series you get two flavors. 9mm and .40. Not to debate calibers and start a whole new discussion, but I think 9mm is plenty effective, affordable and the lighter recoil is easier for new shooters to manage. I went with the 9. Your mileage may vary.

For a first gun usually the starting point is semi auto or revolver. Both have pros and cons. I think most people can handle the mechanics of a semi auto, so if they are able to rack the slide easy and fully understand the operation of it, I recommend the semi auto pistol. For whatever reason if something simpler is necessary, you can't go wrong with a revolver either. The benefit of pistol, instead of a revolver, simply speaking, is more bullets and faster reloading. For a home defense gun that is important, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I love revolvers but I love capacity, too.

With an SD9VE you get 16+1 capacity. 2 magazines and a lifetime warranty. Not to mention that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you buy a nice American product. For around 3 bills. Famed YouTuber Hickok45 seems to think its a pretty decent gun, too.

Overall, it's a pleasant gun to shoot. Recoil is soft, the slide is easy to manipulate, accuracy is decent at self defense ranges. As you may have heard, the big gripe is the trigger. It's long, takes some practice and takes some getting used to. But it's nothing a little time at the range can't take care of it. Besides, look at a guy like Hickok45. He's a shooter. You didn't seem him whining that the pull wasn't perfect. He adapted, overcame and put the shots where they needed to go.

For around $300 new, that's a minor detail in an otherwise great gun. Not a perfect gun by any means, but for it's price point, it's hard to beat it.

Oh, and my budget minded friend did in fact get himself his own SD9VE, too. Not a bad starting point at all.


8.01.2015

What happened to Maura Murray? Part II: Alternate Theories.

Anything is possible with this mystery.


In my last blog post I outlined the disappearance of Maura Murray, excluded theories I found less plausible and concluded she likely vanished as a result from taking a ride from a sinister stranger who saw her as an opportunity. She probably wasn't eyed with murderous intent but perhaps as an easy sexual target, one who likely refused and became a victim.

But with Maura Murray you have a pretty baffling set of circumstances to consider, thus the endless speculation over the past 10+ years regarding her fate. Is the family and/or friends hiding something? Where exactly was she going? Why did she claim there was a death in her family? There are so many unanswered questions here that simply add to the mystery.

While I think Maura was a victim of a crime of opportunity, I can't say that with 100% certainty and I am definitely sure numerous possibilities do exist. Let's take a look at two alternate theories regarding the disappearance.

  • Secret Lover

One possible explanation for no one knowing about Maura's plans to go up north, was due to the fact that maybe she was meeting a new love interest for an excursion. Perhaps she had already met this person and this was intended to be a more serious encounter. Regardless, with a boyfriend in Oklahoma, Maura might have wanted to keep this a secret and thus the complete lack of knowledge from friends and family. Whether it was from school, work, or even the internet (which wasn't unheard of even in 2003/2004) it's entirely possible a young girl like Maura was trying to figure what she wanted, even if it was behind the backs of everyone.

This fits nicely with the idea of a tandem driver, one would could quickly pick her up and remove her from the accident sight. She may have been trusting of this new person but without knowing them much at all, it left her vulnerable and potentially alone with a truly bad person.

  • Secret Trip

We all know Maura inquired about lodging for her trip. Maybe the initial plan was to travel north for a few days with a couple of friends, relax, party and have a good time. A rental like that isn't always cheap and I'd be willing to bet there were quite a few UMass students whose parents had winter cabins up north. But how many parents would be OK with a group of college kids spending a few days there drinking? Probably not many. Let's say the original plan was to stay at Stowe. Another "friend of a friend" may have suggested the idea of staying at his/her parent's cabin up north, without their knowledge. So with that said, there would definitely an element of secrecy doing this without the homeowner's consent.

This again would explain Maura's quick departure from the crash, something she could deal with later, and again corroborate the notion of a tandem driver. Perhaps even the sighting of Maura and friends at a store as well as the alcohol (minus the box wine) missing from the Saturn.

Once the group arrived at the winter cabin maybe there was hard partying, too much drinking and even some drugs involved. Something horrific could have happened to Maura and the remaining group went into full panic mode and made the ghastly decision to conceal her death and attempt to hide all evidence they stayed at the remote cabin, without permission.

In the end, we've had 10 years with no clues, no leads and no suspects. A case as cold as this could inevitably lead to all sorts of possibilities and dark secrets.


What happened to Maura Murray?

This case can't get any colder.



On the evening of February 9th 2004, Maura Murray disappeared and was never seen or heard from again. Over 10 years later, we still have absolutely no idea what happened on that mysterious night in New Hampshire. Maura's case has baffled police, her family and amassed a following of amateur investigators trying to crack this frustratingly cold case that haunts the northeast.

Given the set of circumstances prior to the disappearance, I've always found this to be an intriguing story. There seems to be hints of personal demons with the departure from West Point, credit card fraud, a noted crying episode, similar car crash in her Dad's Toyota, alcohol use and the abrupt, but false, family emergency as a prelude to her departure. By all accounts, its unknown where she was going. No one close to Maura has stated they knew of these plans, nor were they planning to join her. However, her preparations were seemingly average for a college kid perhaps looking to spend a few days away from home and school. She brought school text books, several bottles of alcohol, driving directions to two places in Vermont, clothes and toiletries. Nothing seemed indicative that she was doing anything other than actually driving to Vermont. 

But the lack of knowledge about this trip from anyone around her was a mystery. She brought enough alcohol for several people, she brought clothes, money and called a few places to inquire about lodging. Whatever the destination was, she never made it. Once she crashed her Saturn sedan, she briefly spoke with one neighbor close to the crash and was seen by another. Not long after, before police arrived, she was gone from the scene of the accident.

So what happened to Maura Murray?

With so many possibilities here, let's start by excluding what I believe to be less probable scenarios. The idea of suicide or running away to assume a new life are popular theories but I don't see the merit in them. Not to say they are impossible, I just think more plausible realities exist. With suicide one would have to accept Maura was so distraught over the accident she almost immediately decided to wander off and end her life. Furthermore, she would have to brave the cold and darkness of a northern New England in winter on foot and presumably settle on a place and a means to do so. Yet, her body has not been found in over 10 years, nor have we found any personal items or any other clues despite thorough searches of the immediate area both during and after winter. If suicide was the answer here, I doubt Maura would have made a long trek on foot to do so in the cold and in the dark. We would be talking about a distance of a few miles in any direction before finding a body. Same idea goes for her wandering off to avoid police. Had she attempted to flee and succumbed to the elements, how far do we reasonably believe she would have gone? Could she hide herself that well that 10+ years of searching would not yield any clues? I don't believe so.

As far as running away to start a new life, would this not be the most bizarre way to do it? She emptied her bank account, crashed her car, leading to deployment of the airbags and vanished. She had no other money to speak of, seemingly there was no new people in her life to escape with, so what resources could she have used to pull this off? She was an average college girl, she liked to drink and have fun. Maura definitely did not come off as some cunning escape artist who would orchestrate an elaborate ploy to voluntarily vanish. There are much easier ways to do something like that, but still they require planning and resources. She simply didn't seem to be in the state of mind to pull of such a hoax.

What we do know is, after the accident, after speaking to Butch Atwood...she disappeared...fast. There one minute, gone the next. No footprints of Maura seemed to be visible leading away from the area and police dogs quickly lost her scent during a search.

It seems apparent that there had to be a vehicle that arrived quickly and took Maura away from the crash site equally as quick. Neighbors noted there was in fact vehicles traveling on the road after the crash. So there definitely is indication of traffic. The question is, who took Maura away from the crash? Friend or stranger?

Obviously, it seems peculiar to think that a car containing one or more of Maura's friends that she was traveling with would pick her up and she would in turn vanish for over a decade, with her fate unknown. However, it's not inconceivable to think maybe this "friend" wasn't really a friend after all. I'm not entirely sure of the idea Maura was driving in tandem with someone but we'll explore this possibility more a bit later.

What does seem probable and likely to me, is also echoed by Maura's Dad as well as police who have spoken publicly about the matter: She took a ride from the wrong person.

Let's look at the crash again. Police noted the Saturn had a strong aroma of alcohol inside. One report made mention of Maura pleading with bus driver Butch Atwood not to call police. What about the Dad's Toyota? She was driving back from a party when she crashed that. There seems to be a pretty strong indication here that Maura was likely intoxicated when she crashed her Saturn in NH. With all the issues going on in her life, the last thing she would want on top of it is a DUI. Directly after the accident, she was probably nervous and worried police would be there soon. What would her parents think of this? She then became panicked and desperate to escape this situation.

But then in the blink of an eye, an unknown motorist, a complete stranger comes along and offers a ride. Maura thinks all her problems are about to go away. Unfortunately for her, they got worse.

Ultimately, I don't think this is necessarily a chance meeting with a serial killer. Bad timing, yes. But more or less this was about opportunity. A young girl in distress. A person with bad intentions hoping to employ some fast advances and hope to get lucky. Perhaps when these advances are rejected by Maura, things took a tragic turn and she met her unfortunately demise, alone in a strangers house, in a desolate area with no help nearby.

A chance encounter between a scared girl and a stranger, who didn't get his way perhaps is the key in this decade old New England mystery.