7 chapters across the catalog
Matthew Anderson, Smith Corona Typewriter Note
Matthew Anderson from West Roxbury sent a donation accompanied by a note written on a vintage Smith Corona typewriter because his printer was broken. The hosts praised his "dynamite" celebrity-style signature, comparing it to that of baseball legend Carl Yastrzemski.
More 1930s Slang, Chicago Overcoat and Typewriter
The "Dirty Thirty" slang segment continues with terms like "Chicago Overcoat" (a coffin) and "Chicago Typewriter" (a Thompson submachine gun). Other terms discussed include "Cinder Dick" (railroad detective), "Dog Soup" (water), and "Cement Mixer" (a bad dancer).
The "Dirty 30s" segment explores slang terms from the 1930s, including "Chicago overcoat" (coffin), "Chicago typewriter" (Thompson submachine gun), and "Cinder Dick" (railroad detective). Other terms discussed include "clip joint" and "crust" (to insult). The hosts also touch on the 1970s term "boob tube" for television.
Associate Executive Producer David Lane sends a donation accompanied by a note typed on a rare cursive typewriter. The note credits the show's tech news segments for helping him pass a Network Plus exam, leading to a discussion about the legibility of cursive fonts in print.
Knighting of Sir Matt, Listener Birthdays and $70 Donors
The hosts conduct a knighting ceremony for Sir Matt (Mathieu Helie) following his significant financial contribution. They also acknowledge several $70 donors celebrating the upcoming 700th episode and read a note from a listener using a 50-year-old Smith Corona Skywriter typewriter. Birthday shout-outs are given to listeners including Colin Prahl and John Kekesh.
German officials are reportedly considering the use of manual typewriters to prevent NSA surveillance, echoing previous Russian security tactics. The discussion touches on the futility of "secure" devices like the Blackphone, suggesting that true privacy requires disconnecting from the internet entirely.
International Caps Lock Day, Radio Liner Cards, and Typewriter Fonts
The hosts open the program by noting October 22nd is International Caps Lock Day. They discuss the history of all-caps writing in radio, specifically referencing Scott Shannon and the use of uppercase liner cards in the Morning Zoo format. The conversation transitions into technical nostalgia regarding typewriter fonts like Pica and Elite.
