Sharp and Pointy Things: Kabar Last Ditch Knife

The LDK with its sheath

 At first glance, this little Kabar looks like some what of a novelty, or perhaps even a sophisticated prison shank. The truth is, it's really whatever you want it to be. While its not meant to be a heavy duty cutting tool, it could be utilized as a nifty box cutter at work, a fancy letter opener or quite simply a wickedly pointy compact defensive blade that fits snugly in the 5th pocket of your jeans. It wouldn't necessarily be ideal to filet a fish with but, it still is a handy blade nonetheless for the occasional light, menial task.

But let's face it, this is the Last Ditch Knife. If you can get away with using it at the office without scaring your coworkers, more power to you. But, for the rest of us, it will fill the role of a discreet, concealable, last resort assailant stabber. Something to use when you've exhausted all your other options when faced with imminent harm. It's extremely sharp, very pointy and with a few stabs or slashes your average bad guy will be getting out of your personal space really quickly.

Where you can conceal it is only limited by your imagination. It could be a neck knife, in your wallet, or even your shoes. In its sheath, its about the size of a credit card, so that allows for a myriad of storage possibilities. Even in more unconventional carry methods, it fits snugly enough in the sheath to work just about in any conceivable way.

I opted to lace my Kabar up in an old pair of black shoes. It's fairly comfortable, virtually unnoticeable in jeans and I suppose if I had to, I could pass it off as some type of orthopedic insert, or even a trendsetting leave-in shoe horn. Okay, that might be a stretch but still, it's really discreet.

Laced up and ready to go

Truth be told, I would not recommend this little guy to people with big hands. It's just so small that I can't imagine any sort of competent grip could be achieved. I would imagine some paracord could help but regardless, this will be of no use if you will be fumbling around with it and potentially dropping the knife.

Despite the small stature, no one would want to be on the receiving end of this

With that said, I have smaller hands. I can manage a grip on it comfortably a few ways. A simple pistol grip works and there is enough pressure between my index finer, thumb and the knife that I would feel confident wielding it. However, instinctively I almost always put my middle finger through the hole on the handle for an even better grip and added retention. My finger is just thin enough for it to be comfortable and once I make a fist its doubtful I will be losing it. Alternatively, slipping my ring finger in and orienting the blade between my index and middle fingers would result in some painful jabs.

Positioned like a claw for some quick strikes

This Kabar clearly won't be anyone's first line of defense but the name alone should be indicative of that. With numerous ways to stow it away, it does however serve its purpose as a last resort weapon to defend yourself with. Plus, for $15 its easy on the wallet and an interesting addition to your collection.

Happy Birthday: Foo Fighters Self Titled Debut Turns 18

The original line up, circa 1995

This past July marked the 18th year anniversary of the release of the debut Foo Fighters album.

On July 4th 1995 the album first hit stores, which coincidentally is both Independence Day in America and former drummer Will Goldsmith's birthday. As if that wasn't enough to make me feel old, I also owned this album on both CD and cassette.

While it is technically the first Foo Fighters record, in this case it's more like Dave Grohl's solo project, which he wrote and recorded himself and then later recruited Nate Mendel, Will Goldsmith and Pat Smear to tour with him.

The songs were decidedly simplistic, the production was lo-fi but with that said, it had a certain charm that the other records didn't have. Perhaps it was just a young Dave working with complete freedom, no pressure and no expectations from anyone. He obviously didn't set out to try an outdo Nevermind, but instead he wrote a decent set of loose knit songs that proved he was a little more than just a drummer.

Sure, it wasn't a meticulously crafted work of genius, but the album surely demonstrated he learned a thing or two from his previous band. It also hinted of good things to come in the future. 

Eye-gasm: Two Great Drops For Your Dry, Tired Eyes

Systane Ultra

If I had to settle on just one eye drop, this would be it. While it's probably the most expensive, it is by the far the best one I've ever used in every way possible. It eliminates the redness, moisturizes and most notably its longer lasting than virtually everything else I've tried.

The solution feels slightly "thick" compared to your typical eye drop. When applied, it sort of coats your eyes and feels a bit different than the cheaper stuff. It's not unpleasant, and after a few blinks your eyes feel great.

The fact that it lasts so much longer than conventional drops is what really sets if apart. I typically only need to use it a couple times a day, or less. On a particularly bad dry eye day, using something like Tears would require numerous applications during the course of the day. Not the case with Systane Ultra. This stuff works.

Rohto

This unique Japanese eye drop provides good moisture and does an excellent job of removing redness and making your eyes as white as snow. However, its most notable quality is its "cooling kick" that provides relief for tired, strained eyes.

They make a few different drops with varied levels of coolness but be warned, they can be intense for first time users or people who have sensitive eyes. Its always amusing to watch people's first time reaction to using these eye drops, a lot of people say they sting, or are just very cold feeling but generally a few blinks later they admit their eyes feel good. However, a few people I've seen try them just don't like how cool they feel.

Once you get used to the initial sensation of applying them, I think the end result feels really good on tired eyes. Plus, they are pretty fun to share with unsuspecting friends as well.

The 1988-1992 Mazda MX6 GT

Under appreciated in its time: The MX6 GT turbo

When it comes to import sport coupes of the late 80's, there were many notable and innovative cars produced. Despite many endearing qualities the Mazda MX6 GT was often overlooked at a time when many respectable sports cars entered the market.

The MX6 entered the market in 1987, with its release for the 1988 model year. A year later Ford released its take on the MX6 platform, based on its partnership with Mazda. Though, the Ford Probe was mechanically identical to the MX6, it was arguably more popular perhaps due to its less conservative styling and sportier appeal.

Mazda utilized a 4 cylinder 2.2 liter SOHC engine for the cars. Essentially, it was a stroked 2.0 liter engine that also was found in their 4 cylinder trucks of that era. Despite being a torquey, low revving engine it was still fairly peppy inside the fairly light MX6 chassis.

However, to take its performance to the next level Mazda added a turbocharger to its GT model and the result was 145 HP and 190 ft lbs of torque. The rumor was Mazda actually used numbers measured at the wheels, rather than at the crank. Many subsequent owners who measured their wheel horsepower at a dyno found the numbers strikingly close to Mazda's seemingly conservative figures. Many speculated the lowball estimate to keep the focus on the RX7 as their flagship sports coupe of the time.

The MX6 GT did post respectable numbers at the track with a 0 - 60 mph time of a bit over 7 seconds and low to mid 15 second quarter mile times. With its short and torquey power band, the MX6 may have been a handful launching from a dead stop, but from a roll the car truly shined, beating virtually any comparable sport compact of its time. The MX6's mid range power was unmatched.

Despite having a very limited aftermarket selection of parts, people did what they could with this more obscure import. Exhausts were often custom, parts were fabricated, turbos were bolted on from other cars. Many folks were able to achieve well over 200 horsepower with some work on the turbo model but, the most notable improvements were from those who swapped the 2.2 SOHC engine for the European 2.0 DOHC Mazda engine and turbocharged that. It wasn't as readily available as many sought after Honda engines, but some work and ingenuity was just part of the game with these cars. The result was a more linear, higher revving power band that produced around 300 horsepower.

Whether you had an engine swap with all the goodies, a few bolt ons for your GT model, or just a clean base model...half the fun with these cars were answering the simple question of "What kind of car is that?"

George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin: What May Have Happened That Night

The infamous "T" where the confrontation started. Zimmerman stated he walked to the left past the houses to the next street while Trayvon ran down the center and disappeared, only to return a short time later. 

The Zimmerman trial has come and gone yielding a fairly predictable not guilty verdict. With this case there was too little evidence and too much doubt to say with any kind of certainty what happened on Sunday February 26, 2012 on that fateful night in Sanford, Florida. What we do know is that the prosecutors failed to meet their burden of proof and the defense simply established a great deal of reasonable doubt.

While there were no major evidence bombshells during the trial, we had a more streamlined look at the evidence and the major players in the case. A lot of things were not examined, and many parts were inadmissible as well. However, we surely have a better idea of what happened now than say, in the weeks or months directly after the shooting.

With that said, based on my analysis of all the factual evidence in conjunction with the witness statements, I will attempt to piece together what may have happened that night.

As we all know, George Zimmerman was heading north in his Honda Ridgeline up Retreat View Circle on a personal errand as Trayvon Martin was entering the Retreat at Twin Lakes from the northeast via an ungated area between the houses. As Zimmerman reaches he bend, he notices Martin essentially in Frank Taaffe's front yard, a house that was the subject of past police calls regarding suspicious subjects. Of course, it is not known to him that Martin was making his way into the neighborhood, but instead he sees him in the grass and not on the sidewalk in no apparent hurry, perhaps giving the impression that he was "checking out" the house. With Zimmerman driving by at a drastically reduced speed and looking at him, Martin likely takes notice as well.

Based on Martin's demeanor and previous incidents with houses in that area, he feels it might be worth reporting to the police. Martin continues on his path as George continues in front of him pulling off to the right, at the nearby clubhouse. The two probably exchange glances again as Martin walks by the parked Ridgeline. Perhaps the rain picks up at this point, as Trayvon seemingly lingers here to avoid the rain, as described by Rachael Jeantel.

When trying to assemble a cohesive version of events, this part becomes tricky because we don't know two things. First, when Zimmerman made the call and actually connected to Sean Noffke, the dispatcher. Second, we don't know exactly at what point Zimmerman leaves the clubhouse, whether its 10 seconds before he connects, or 30 seconds into the call. There seems to be some indication of driving within the call, but I've long given up on trying to analyze specific sounds in relation to what might be going on. However, I think it might be a fair guess that he observes Martin as he waits to connect to non-emergency, which probably isn't viewed as urgent as 911 and thus has a slight wait time. Trayvon likely goes to an area on the opposite side to wait the rain out and then proceeds to continue down Twin Trees Lane, out of George's sight as he begins the call.

Zimmerman, connected now with non-emergency, leaves the clubhouse and proceeds to drive down the street and parks by the cut through, again noticing Trayvon now by the houses, who in turn notices him and commences the "staring" as stated in the actual call. So its likely he could have been backing out of the clubhouse seconds before he spoke to Noffke, to perhaps the first 30 seconds. I think he initially offers the clubhouse address because that was in fact the last place he observed Trayvon, until he makes the short trip further down the street. When Zimmerman says "he's here now, he was just staring..." it almost seems to imply Martin was not present at the beginning of the call but is now and that he has moved on.

It seems like the reenactment walk through is the most coherent version of events. In later, more tense interrogations he seems to lose focus, perhaps confuse details. Like for example, he seemingly admitted once that Trayvon circled his truck at the clubhouse, when he admitted before it was on Twin Trees Lane. I think he simply misspoke here, perhaps now feeling pressured by the detectives, who went from listening to his story to trying to break his story. Trayvon likely passed him by at the clubhouse, but I don't think he was actually connected with dispatch at the time. I suppose it could have been possible that it in fact it happened there, but that would contradict the reenactment he did the next day and the fact Rachael Jeantel said Martin sought refuge from the rain near the mailboxes at the clubhouse.

With Zimmerman now parked on Twin Trees Lane and Martin nearing the houses, both again aware of each other, I think its important to note both of their mindsets. Both have become increasingly suspicious of each other at this point because of Martin appearing to be checking out houses and likely looking over his shoulder exchanging glances at George. Whether Trayvon was in fact looking at houses, or just nonchalantly strolling close by a house will never be known, but he surely took note of this person watching him in their car, who is now near him again right down the street.

What happens next is described in the non-emergency call. The starring, the hand in the waistband, coming to check him out - there is no denying Martin seemed to consciously approach the truck, perhaps intimidatingly. I tend to take the call at face value, this was happening in real time, well before the fight and at this point Zimmerman had no reason to lie. At times he seems distracted, trying to multitask between speaking to the dispatcher, watch Martin and describing what is going on. The one thing that seemed very telling to me is when George blurts out something to the effect of "How much longer until an officer gets over here?" He seemed to be genuinely uncomfortable with Trayvon in close proximity and wanted police there right away. He may have omitted any notion of circling of the truck here, but there is a sense of dire urgency with this statement. This was also Zimmerman's best chance to confront Martin, but he instead stayed on the phone and kept relaying information to the dispatcher. Another issue that remains in question here is if Trayvon said something as he was right by the truck. George always seemed to make a point in his statements that he didn't know if Martin said something to him here. That seems to imply that there is a possibility he spoke, and Zimmerman just didn't hear him over the rain, windshield wipers, and cell phone conversation. If you listen very closely to the actual police call there is a very brief part here that sounds like another person's voice besides Zimmerman and Noffke. It seems like a quick single word utterance, but it always made me think Trayvon could have very well spoke here.

I think the rationale with approaching the truck was pretty simple. Martin saw the looks he was getting on Retreat View Circle and again on Twin Trees. He went to go "size up" Zimmerman and make it clear that he wasn't scared and to leave him alone. However, by doing that he just ended up looking that much more suspicious to Zimmerman, who unknown to him was on the phone with police reporting his behavior. Trayvon likely felt he got the message across and proceeded to run. I feel the running may have had a dual purpose here, I think he did want to go about business, get home and finish his call with Rachel Jeantel. However, it could have very well been a taunt as well. Running off into the darkness to see again, if this stranger follows.

Zimmerman did just that.

Trayvon's path seemed to be confirmed by both Jeantel and George himself. He ran halfway down the cut through and turned right sprinting past the houses of such witnesses as John Good and Jenna Lauer. Rachel, perhaps inadvertently, states Trayvon managed to get "right by" his dad's house, which means he had to have run basically straight down the dog walk. At this time Zimmerman was on foot at the cut thru, maybe by the dog waste receptacle, attempting to get his flashlight to work and still conversing on the phone with Noffke. Rachel makes note that Trayvon was out of breath, probably due to the fact he ran roughly 100 yards as fast as he could to his house. She also makes some arbitrary comments about Zimmerman being "behind" Trayvon on a few occasions. What I think she was trying to relay, which is based upon what Martin may have correctly/incorrectly described to her, is that the first time he was "behind" him is before he ran when they were on Twin Trees. The latter time would be as he observed Zimmerman on the "T" from his dad's house, maybe due to the larger flashlight working briefly, or seeing the smaller one moving around in the dark.

Regardless of if he got to the house, or near the house. He had to make his way back northward somehow. When Jeantel talks about him speaking "quietly" I don't think its because Trayvon is fatigued, rather he is making his way back to the "T" to figure out why this strange was eying him on Retreat View, Twin Trees and now walking around with a flashlight. Seemingly, he wanted the advantage of not being detected, probably speaking in a low tone, and avoiding the few porch lights that were on that night. While we'll never know if Trayvon returned to demand answers of the stranger following him or if he consciously decided to go back and fight, we do know that the most plausible scenario, based on evidence and the time frame, is he returned by his own free will. He wasn't scared and he wasn't concerned with his safety or else his head start would have enabled him to get well out of harm's way. It never seemed logical that an out of shape adult could chase down a slender teen, nor did it make sense that Trayvon simply stayed close enough to the scene to be discovered while hiding by Zimmerman.

Based on Jenna Lauer's testimony, the verbal exchange between the two of them seemed short, making it reasonable to accept George's account here. Martin wanted to know what this guy's problem was and Zimmerman was taken by surprise, now confronted with an uncomfortable situation where he no longer was within the safety of his vehicle. If his reaction to Trayvon's presence was anything like within his truck, I can imagine George's response to his question nothing more than a meek utterance. Reaching into his pocket for his cell phone thereafter could have very well been the catalyst to the fight. Regardless if Martin predetermined if he was going to beat him up, this could have been the point where he made up his mind real quick, if he hadn't already.

The animation depicting the fight provided a visual aid as to how the events unfolded based on witness accounts, including Zimmerman.

One possible scenario to explain why the fight moved away from the "T" is perhaps Trayvon "circling" Zimmerman to prevent him from further walking down the sidewalk. Zimmerman, not walking to turn his back at this point, may have inadvertently backed up away from the "T". By both of them moving roughly 180 degrees counterclockwise and then Martin landing his first blow, the progression of the fight towards the houses seems more logical.

A lot of people contend this when Zimmerman drew his gun, if he hadn't already had is weapon in hand. This seems like just another nonsensical scenario, unsupported by any evidence to portray Zimmerman as guilty. In reality, Martin clearly dominated the fight and had he been able to knock Zimmerman to the ground, mount him and continued pummeling him, you'd think he surely would have at the very least got his hands on the gun, if not completely gained control of it. However, there is nothing to suggest Zimmerman had any advantage here and no matter how you look at it he was obviously assaulted by Trayvon. The fact he was caught off guard so much by that first punch was demonstrated where Zimmerman dropped his secondary light, a mini-flashlight attached to his car keys. It was recovered with the light turned on right off the cut through where Zimmerman was walking to go back to the truck, likely dropped right where he received that initial devastating blow to the nose.

I don't fault for Zimmerman for being able to recollect each exact detail of the fight, or even at times maybe recalling them out of order. His inability to gain any sort of upper hand seems to speak volumes about his lack of fighting skills, which further leads me to think this fight in the dark was mostly a blur to him. I don't necessarily discount Zimmerman's version of events within the fight but I think he felt like had to prove he was going to die that night, so there might have been some embellishment. For instance, I don't doubt Martin may have covered his mouth. I think that may have been more to silence his screams rather than to actually smother him. He undoubtedly managed to damage the back of his head as well but who knows if Martin actually slammed his head onto the sidewalk or if the sheer force of the punches to the head caused George's head to snap back and smack the cement. It was dark, it happened quickly and perception is in the eye of the beholder. However, we do know based on both his and witness John Good's version of events he found himself on his back taking blows to both the front and the back of his head. As Good watched the altercation unfold and the two shift around, he remained steadfast in the fact he witnessed Martin on remaining on top, likely striking downwards and George likely yelling to him for help. Good realized this was a dire situation, went to call 911 and Martin was shot right after.

The prosecutors seemingly accepted the idea Martin was in fact on top during the scuffle, but then attempted to push the idea that Martin may have been standing up when shot, presumably giving up or about to flee when he was shot. Regardless of what may have transpired, Good painted a picture of seeing someone being assaulted. He may have looked away briefly to find a phone and call 911 and in that short time he heard the gun and saw Martin dead, but that is such a small window of time that it's reasonable to think Zimmerman was still being assaulted when he fired his gun. The jury apparently agreed. Furthermore, the defense's gunshot expert did, too.

While we may never have all the pieces to this puzzle, the witnesses and the evidence helped logically fill in the blanks  and created a reasonable explanation of not only what may have happened that night, but also ruled out many things that did not. Based on all the evidence collected, with respect to our justice system...I think the right verdict was rendered.