New Forum & News Updates

[Bruce A. Smith]

What about the NFL and stadiums. how do you maintain distance?

As for the heat...currently it's 89 degree's with a heat index of 100..

We hit 84 today! Wheee. Summer has finally arrived.

As for Covid, the Gov issued a new ruling two weeks ago that seems to be working well. All retail outlets, grocery stores, etc. must enforce a "No mask, No Service" mandate. My grocery store in Eatonville now has 100% compliance. Before is was about 60%.

Air traffic out of Sea-Tac is about 20% of normal. I can't remember the last time I saw a plane in the sky. I went to my first open mic on Monday. We were all in an open field - a freshly mowed meadow, sweet (!) - and everyone, usually a couple, sat 20 feet apart from the next group. Everyone wore masks, but the performers were allowed to go mask-less. Instead of regular vocal microphones we used aerial mics from a TV supply company. They worked great. Best PA system I've ever used.

Locally our Covid numbers are low, but Tacoma is spiking, as are the agricultural areas, like Yakima, which are crazy high.

[Parrotheadvol]

Speaking of Arizona's heat, I've done a number of cultural stories on what kind of baseball fans come to Seattle, where half of the tickets sold go to fans of the visiting teams. The Mariners are known as a "magnet team," meaning that they don't have a local fan base like most teams, but rather attract baseball fans who have moved here - like a Yankees fan like me - or have allegiances developed before the M's got to town a couple of decades ago.

One family surprised me - they flew in from Phoenix to watch a three-game set between the Mariners and the D-backs. When I asked why, the papa told me that it's the only time he gets to see his team play outdoors, where it "feels like baseball." It was 75 degrees and he was working on his tan... I loved it.

I also interviewed fans of the Blue Jays, Athletics, Red Sox, and Yankees. It's all at the MN. As a working journalist I sat with the WAGS - Wives and Girlfriends. Right behind home plate. LOTS of blondes, if ya catch my drift...

That is interesting stuff Bruce. I have noticed the same thing here with the Titans. Whenever my job takes me out of state, I sometimes have people ask me if I'm a fan since I'm from Tennessee. I always tell them that I'm a Cowboys fan instead. Most people where I am at are fans of the teams that they followed for years before the Titans ever came along. There just doesn't seem to be many fans where I'm at. I can probably count on one had the number of Titans fans that I personally know. I'm sure it's probably different in Nashville, and they probably have a strong fan base there, but where I'm at not so much.

I was a Titans fan when I lived in Nashville. We almost went to the Super Bowl. Our season ended in Atlanta at the 3 inch line as time ran out. 1999, I believe.

But here in Cooper Country I'm a fair weather fan - NY Giants is my first choice if they're playing well. Jets are Number 2, as Vinnie Testaverde was their QB the last time they were good and he grew up down the street from me on LI. (Elmont.)

I'll even root for the Seahawks if they're in the Super Bowl. My heart has a hard time every time Russell starts scrambling.

You have the year right Bruce, but the Titans actually made it to the Super Bowl. It was in the Super Bowl where the Titans were stopped on the 3 inch line and they lost to the Rams.

The Jets were decent in the Chad Pennington years. He's from my neck of the woods. After he signed with the Jets, he bought his parents a house just a mile or two down the road from where I live. After they moved out of that house, I went to hook up the cable for the new owners and in one of the rooms there was a huge mural of the Jets stadium painted on the wall. It was beautiful.

I'm no Seahawks fan, but I love watching Russell Wilson. As far as quarterbacks go, he is special.

[Shutter]

Martin McNally sent me the following information...

This Tuesday is the day that AMERICAN SKYJACKER will premiere as a 10 episode podcast on every podcast platform. However, here is a handy link to where you can subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and currently listen to the trailer for the series:

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Tell EVERYONE you know to subscribe here or on any other podcast platform.

Also, here was yesterday's exclusive announcement of the project in Variety magazine, giving more detail about the project as well as a video trailer:

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

[Bruce A. Smith]

Thanks for the link, Shut.

[Shutter]

Mr. Blevins..the "public" has a name for you and you will now be forever known as "Karen". they are rude, obnoxious and hateful people that can't keep there mouths shut. you seem to be the only "jerk" posting on the DZ during Derek's protest. especially after lying and stating you will no longer contribute. now you claim to have moved everything elsewhere while continuing to post off topic rants. you sure it's not YOU that is working with Derek. you made several claims to have the thread removed, even going to Speakers Corner to protest it's closing. what's the truth here, Karen. are you guilty of "collusion", Karen..."I dunno"?

Karen says:July 10th Speakers Corner
A Major Contributor Says: Time for Dropzone to Delete the DB Cooper Thread

You seem to be posting right along side with Derek?

[RaoulDuke24]

Martin McNally sent me the following information...

This Tuesday is the day that AMERICAN SKYJACKER will premiere as a 10 episode podcast on every podcast platform. However, here is a handy link to where you can subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and currently listen to the trailer for the series:

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Tell EVERYONE you know to subscribe here or on any other podcast platform.

Also, here was yesterday's exclusive announcement of the project in Variety magazine, giving more detail about the project as well as a video trailer:

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Really enjoyed the first 3 episodes. Any idea when more episodes will be released?

[Shutter]

He believes the final episodes are coming out this Tuesday...

[Shutter]

Hurricane season is here and a storm is approaching Florida..too far out to tell but they have us in the cone..tropical force which means lots of rain..

[Bruce A. Smith]

Here we go, again, eh Dave?

As for rain, we are having constant sunshine and temp in the 80s here in Cooper Country. In fact, tomorrow, July 29th, is our historically Most Dry Day on Record = 0.001 inch of rain on average.

Not too shabby for a temperate rainforest.

Having to water the garden EVERY day is getting to be a Zen-like chore, too. I don't even see the mosquitoes any more. Om.

This is our Golden Moment of Summer - Mid-July to late August. Six weeks of beauty. This year has an extra bonus - no smoke!

[Shutter]

Hopefully, this will stay as a tropical storm..the islands are a great defense against them. it hold the storm back from increasing in size and power..winds stay under 75 mph but usually dump a lot of rain. I expect my phone to start ringing tomorrow. will have a better idea by Thursday or early Friday on it's path towards south Florida. could peter out as well.

[Bruce A. Smith]

My stomach knots for Puerto Rico, though. Looks like they're gonna get slammed again.

[RaoulDuke24]

He believes the final episodes are coming out this Tuesday...

Only the 4th episode was released yesterday. I'm hoping they aren't just doing one a week or something because I'd like to just binge on them all. They are really well done.

McNally's story is a fascinating one. I get the impression that he may have gotten away with it if he had done a little more careful planning (and not told so many people he was going to do it). He certainly had the balls to pull it off and the lack of security played in his favor. But he was a little too careless with some of the details. Heck, he was even able to get back home to Michigan after the hijacking.

I'm still amazed that he had never parachuted before. Imagine your very first jump coming under those circumstances. And on top of that, jumping with only a reserve chute. At night. With a gun and half a million bucks. Just a wild story. 

[Shutter]

Looks like the storm is picking up a little speed. the tracking has went from the west coast of Florida to the east. still hard to say where it will go. winds are sustained at 60 mph. it only needs 15 more to become a hurricane. at this point there is no need for hurricane shutters but some are already calling. should have a good idea by the days end on where it's headed.


Mr. Blevins..don't you have anything better to do than sit at your computer and whine about people? most are more lies and things from years back. Derek was protesting. he took advantage of a weakness in the DZ. he spoke of you several times even taking your name. no, I don't have the time or the effort to work with him but YOU do?. he's blocked like YOU on every avenue. I'm wondering are you embarrassed about Gayla, why no recent pics. you always show pics a decade or older. more of that honesty thingy? congrats on continuing Derek's work by clogging up the forum with off topic rants and stealing material. the clock is ticking and you will be in a corner very soon anyway. that's all I can tell you at this moment. go ahead and make post after post. you still have a couple hours till dawn..

[Shutter]

Looks like it will become a hurricane on Saturday..present tracking shows the center more towards the Bahama's. still get some wind and a lot of rain. had a better chance with it crossing Cuba but has moved easterly..when they go up the east coastline it spares us from the dirty side of the hurricane..the right side can get nasty..

[Bruce A. Smith]

Calling ALL Beta readers

If you would like to do a little Beta Reading of selected chapters or passages of my 3rd Edition of DB Cooper and the FBI - A Case Study of Ameica's Only Unsolved Skyjacking, take your pick. Below is the current Table of Contents.


Overview
Introduction                                                                          8
Chapter 1     Skyjacking Begins                                                  18
Chapter 2     Getaway                                                                  29
Chapter 3     Search for DB Cooper                                          34
Chapter 4     Sketches of DB Cooper                                          41
Chapter 5     Profile of DB Cooper                                          47
Chapter 6     Interview with Bill Mitchell                                       51
Chapter 7      Hunters I - the FBI                                           58
Chapter 8      Hunters II—Citizen Investigators, Authors, and Journalists           69
Chapter 9      Hijacked—Passengers and Crew         81
Chapter 10    Investigation Begins                         91
Chapter 11    Parachutes                                         95
Chapter 12    Murder of FBI Consultant, Earl Cossey      110
Chapter 13    Analysis of Flight Path, Weather and Clothing   115
Chapter 14   Money Find                                         125
Chapter 15    Tina Mucklow—Primary Witness         134
Chapter 16    Larry Carr—Innovative Case Agent         148
Chapter 17    Citizen Sleuths                                 153
Chapter 18    DNA                                                  163
Chapter 19   Open-Sourced Sleuthing on the Internet        171
Chapter 20    Ralph Himmelsbach and the 922 Confessions    178
Chapter 21   Confession of Barb Dayton                  182
Chapter 22   Deathbed Confession of Duane Weber         189
Chapter 23   Confession of Kenny Christiansen           193
Chapter 24   Family Confession of Wolfgang Gossett        197
Chapter 25   Early Suspects and the Cooper Vortex        201
Chapter 26   Jailed Suspect—Don Burnworth           204
Chapter 27   Ideal Suspect—Sheridan Peterson           210
Chapter 28   “Most Promising” Suspect—Uncle LD Cooper     218
Chapter 29   Letters from DB Cooper and the Mysterious Al Di         233
Chapter 30   Most Compelling Suspects: Ted Braden and Commandos           243
Chapter 31   The CIA, MKULTRA, and Psychological Aspects                 256
Chapter 32   Evidence Retrieval in Reno and the McCoy Investigation           262
Chapter 33   Copycats                                                                 271
Chapter 34   Interview with a Copycat: Robb Heady                         281         
Chapter 35   New Suspects, 2013 to 2020                                         287
Chapter 36   Rackstraw and the History Channel Documentary          298
Chapter 37    The FBI Closes the DB Cooper Case                                 305
Chapter 38    Walter Reca and “Mind Sculpting”                                 311
Chapter 39    Cyber Attacks on Cooper Investigators                         317
Chapter 40   What Does the FBI Need to Do to Find DB Cooper?         325
Chapter 41   New Forensic Tool—Remote Viewing                                 331
Chapter 42   What I Think Happened to DB Cooper                             340
Chapter 43    What if DB Cooper Didn’t Jump?                                 342

Reference A:  Why National Geographic Dumped Barb Dayton         344
Reference B:   Synopsis of DB Cooper Symposia                                 347
Reference C:  Odd Facts from the 2013 Symposium                         349
Reference D:   Important Books on DB Cooper                                  351

Acknowledgments                                     352
Biography of the Author                             354
Biography of Editor, Barbara Vargo             355
Photo Gallery                                             356
Index                                                     361