🕵️‍♂️ The D.B. Cooper Conspiracy

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In this edition of LOL History we unravel the D.B. Cooper story and we might even uncover his true identity, but before that, we have to ask you a favor…

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During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• The Death of the Flamboyant Legend: Freddie Mercury

• The D.B. Cooper Conspiracy

• The 1895 Chicago Crawl: America’s First Car Race

• Pong: The Start of Video Game Addiction

Freddie Mercury - The Show Must Go On

This week, we're raising our lighters to commemorate the legendary Freddie Mercury, who left this world on November 24th, 1991. Freddie, born Farrokh Bulsara, was not just a singer; he was the flamboyant, piano-smashing, sequin-wearing, operatic heart of Queen, a band that changed rock n roll forever.

He announced his AIDS diagnosis just one day before his passing, having kept his illness a well-guarded secret until then. This was the '80s and '90s for you, where you were treated like a plague patient if you had AIDS. His passing wasn't just the end of an icon; it was an early moment that made the world really look at AIDS, blending grief with a new understanding.

Despite his death, Freddie's legacy has only grown more flamboyant over the years. His voice, that could hit notes so high they probably needed a passport, continues to resonate. Whether you're watching "Bohemian Rhapsody" for the 50th time or accidentally playing "We Will Rock You" at a funeral (been there, it’s awkward but somehow fitting), Freddie's influence is undeniable. His life, his music, and his unapologetic style remind us that life, much like rock'n'roll, is to be lived in the most vivid and fullest way possible.

The D.B. Cooper Conspiracy

The holiday season can be a stressful time of the year for people due to money and DB Cooper decided this was the last time he was going to worry about money (the holidays might not have been involved but it’s clear he was ready to be rich). On the eve of Thanksgiving while everyone's out drinking with friends/family Dan Cooper bought an airplane ticket Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305. While most people packed their underwear and socks, Cooper brought a briefcase full of wires, red sticks, and bad intentions.

Just after takeoff Cooper passed a note to the flight attendant and insisted she read what he wrote. The demands were simple: $200,000 in cash (about $1.2 million today), four parachutes, and enough cooperation to ensure nobody got blown to smithereens.

Things were going according to Cooper's plan. They successfully landed in Seattle where he released the passengers but kept the flight crew for the next phase in his mission. He ordered the pilots to fly south toward Mexico City at a low altitude and a snail’s pace. Somewhere over the woods of Washington state, Cooper did what no one expected: he lowered the plane’s rear stairs, strapped on a parachute, grabbed the loot, and became a legend.

From there, the story plunges into uncertainty. The FBI kicked off what would become one of its most exhaustive investigations, calling it "NORJAK" (short for Northwest Hijacking). At first, they theorized Cooper might’ve been a military paratrooper—until someone pointed out the absurd details of his escape plan. He jumped into a stormy night at 10,000 feet, with a parachute that couldn’t be steered and a pair of loafers on his feet. If he had any expertise, it came with a side of wild confidence and a total disregard for common sense.

The FBI hit a dead end after examining hundreds of suspects. One name that keeps popping up is Richard Floyd McCoy, a guy who pulled off an eerily similar heist just months later. McCoy’s kids even came forward in 2020 with a parachute rig and other evidence they believe connects their dad to Cooper. The FBI is reportedly looking into it but so far, no dice.

Meanwhile, D.B. Cooper, as he’s now known thanks to a journalist’s error (his alias was Dan, not D.B.), became a pop culture phenomenon. He’s been immortalized in songs, books, movies, and even the TV show Prison Break.

But here’s the kicker: we still don’t know if Cooper survived. Some think he parachuted to freedom and lived out his days in hiding. Others believe he splattered into the ground. The only solid clue came in 1980, when a kid found $5,800 of Cooper’s ransom buried near the Columbia River. Was it proof of his landing, your guess is as good as the FBI’s.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Back in November 28, 1895, America hosted its very first automobile race. Held on Thanksgiving Day in Chicago, the sweet sweet sound of single digit horsepower engines roared in the city. This wasn't your typical race with sleek sports cars; think more along the lines of horseless carriages that were a car contraption carriage hybrid.

The race, from Chicago to Evanston and back, was 54-miles long. These motorized horse carriages were lucky to even finish. The winner, Frank Duryea, piloted his contraption, which was powered by a one-cylinder, 4-horsepower engine. Now, here's where it gets good - Duryea completed the race at an average speed of about 7 miles per hour.

However, let's not mock too much; for the time this was crazy. Duryea's victory was not just about speed but about proving the automobile's potential. His competitors faced everything from mechanical failures to being disqualified for using a 12-horsepower behemoth that was deemed too powerful for the race - like bringing a Formula 1 car to a go-kart track.

Pong Turns 50: The Game That Started It All

Pong was introduced to the world on November 29, 1972 and shook the world of entertainment like a pixelated earthquake. The story of Pong starts with Ralph Baer, the visionary who first imagined the idea of playing video games on your TV. His creation, the Magnavox Odyssey, came with a simple ping-pong game, setting the stage for something bigger. Enter Nolan Bushnell, the co-founder of Atari, who saw this and thought, "Why not rip this off and charge people a quarter to play?" And just like that, Pong was born.

Pong hit arcades like a storm. Atari, the company behind it, crafted the first Pong machines in a roller skating rink—yes, really. The unlikely origin story didn’t stop it from becoming a nationwide sensation. As soon as the game hit bars, it was like a magnet for anyone looking for a quick thrill. Players lined up for their turn, so much so that the coin boxes couldn't handle the demand and began to overflow.

It wasn't long before Pong made its way into homes across America, thanks to a deal with Sears in 1975. People were so obsessed, they had to have it in their living rooms, and suddenly, Pong was everywhere—arcades, bars, and even family game nights. It wasn’t just a game; it was a cultural moment that forever changed the way we looked at entertainment.

Of course, there was some legal drama. Magnavox sued Atari for “stealing” the idea behind Pong, and in 1977, Atari paid $700,000 to keep making it. But by then, Pong had already become a cultural phenomenon, sweeping across arcades and homes, making the legal battle almost irrelevant.

Though Pong faded by the '80s, its impact was huge. It didn’t just start the video game industry—it showed that screens were for more than TV—they were for playing, competing, and escaping. All thanks to two paddles and a tiny square ball.

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