Re-Examining Kurt Cobain's Death

Be aware:  the above is serious and somewhat graphic.

Some years back, in the Netflix days, I watched a few Kurt Cobain documentaries and did a little reading on the circumstances of his suicide. The general impression I was left with was that it was all slightly suspicious but he was on drugs, we have no witnesses and we'll ultimately never know.

This new idea that there were people hanging around the house interacting with him and seeing what was going on is incredible. It should be noted that everyone in that orbit, at that time, was a junkie. So it's up to the listener's discernment as to whether testimony is reliable or memories are accurate. But there is also the forensic evidence and toxicology, etc.

Below is an interview with the new witness coming forward. It is a tough watch and I don't recommend watching it but here it is if you're interested.

Don't do drugs, everyone.

The Enduring Mystery of Jack the Ripper

Today is the 135th anniversary of Jack the Ripper's first murder, and while this is not a day I particularly celebrate, it just so happens I've recently come across this excellent documentary.

One thought is below as long as you've watched the video first.

It seems to me, the elephant in this particular room is the combination of the brutality of the crime and the suddenness of the start and stop of the spree. Do serial murderers usually "get it out of their system" and hang up their hat after a certain time? The fact that they stop suddenly suggests we should look at who died around that time, who was arrested, and if there were similar crimes in other countries before or after (though the fame of this case means it's likely there weren't). I don't say this to try to crack open the case that so many people have looked into, just that I wish this was addressed in the video because I'm lazy and don't want to start searching the internet for Jack the Ripper.

When I was a kid in the 80s, there was a TV special where a group of experts were going to get together and finally "decide" or "announce" the real identity of Jack the Ripper. I remember the mentality of being so naive that I believed it was going to happen completely and was just so in awe of the entire proceeding. It was an important event! The secret was finally going to be revealed! We were finally going to know!

But that event (special) did create a lasting impression on me that I've remembered to this day. I should try to track that special down sometime but that also involves searching the internet for Jack the Ripper.

The Chad Zumock Saga

 Small-time stand-up comedian Chad Zumock is doing a podcast when he gets a threatening message on his phone that includes a photo of his house. Later that night he's back on youtube with a black eye and a story about how thugs - perhaps sent by Anthony Cumia (of Opie and Anthony fame) - attacked him. Is he lying? Is it true? Does the truth lie somewhere in the middle? 

I know that "True Crime Podcasts" are especially hot these days, is there room for a "True Dumb Crime" genre?