Hey, true weirdos. I hope you know how much all of us here appreciate you. You are the people

we're making this show for and your feedback means the world to us. We were so blown away

for this show to win as many awards as it has. I mean, at this point, we're working for hardware

and handouts. But at the end of the day, it's you.

People will walk up to us on the street.

I had a guy wave at me wearing a true weird stuff t-shirt at the park.

It just is the coolest thing.

And that's 100% you and thank you. And we're just covering costs to be able to present this to you.

We're not really making any money with it.

So if you could do us a favor and patronize any sponsors that you hear throughout the show, that would be great.

Also, just go on whatever platform you listen to it and please rate and review it.

It really helps us in getting discovered.

And if you have a suggestion for anything, just reach out to us at our website,

True Weird Stuff.com.

And thank you so much for listening.

In the digital age, it is hard to comprehend that we once communicated by a system of sockets on a switchboard.

Telephone operators, typically women, would connect people by connecting the correct plug into the

corresponding socket.

The technology began quite crudely with the first switchboard crafted from carriage bolts, teapot handles, and bustle wire

in 1878. Early telephone service was initially available only to subscribers, but as it grew in popularity,

private companies would provide the service while local and state governments oversaw regulations.

Also growing in popularity was the job of managing the switchboard.

...