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On November 22, 1987, during a prime-time broadcast, two Chicago TV stations were overtaken by an unknown hacker wearing a Max Headroom mask. 

At around 11:20pm CST, an episode of Doctor Who was interrupted by the harsh buzz of static. 

The image bled away to reveal a man standing in front of a rotating corrugated metal background. The figure began mumbling incoherently and rocking back and forth. Eventually he exposes his backside while he's swatted with a flyswatter from an off-screen companion. Decades later, the Max Headroom incident is still unsolved, fueling conspiracy theories and remaining a legendary piece of cyberpunk lore.

On November 22, 1987, during a prime-time broadcast, two Chicago TV stations were overtaken by an unknown hacker wearing a Max Headroom mask. 

At around 11:20pm CST, an episode of Doctor Who was interrupted by the harsh buzz of static. 

The image bled away to reveal a man standing in front of a rotating corrugated metal background. The figure began mumbling incoherently and rocking back and forth. Eventually he exposes his backside while he's swatted with a flyswatter from an off-screen companion. Decades later, the Max Headroom incident is still unsolved, fueling conspiracy theories and remaining a legendary piece of cyberpunk lore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjeUuakHsLw&t=6s

I write code and sometimes stories. jakeacasey.com

I still remember this & think of it more often than is healthy. It was — and became — such a bizarre cultural touchstone.

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