Series 3, Episode 3: You’ll Log

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Series 3 brings 2023 to a close with a festive special that reaches the parts that other festive specials don’t reach… 3D programmable tree lights, the real reason people kiss under the mistletoe and a disappointingly bleak Laboratory Christmas Party take us into the new year with more detail than anyone could possibly need or want. Thank you, as ever, for listening!

• 00:56 – Steve’s bit
• 08:38 – Matt’s bit
• 28:21 – Helen’s bit

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Corrections and clarifications:

• Helen has re-found her binary advent calendar, and it has only 5 doors! 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 are enough to get every number up to the magical 24. Unfortunately the physical calendar is long gone, but you can find a photo in the show notes below…
• On twitter, James Cooper has added some helpful etymology! In a great example of language reflecting nature, the Saxon words that make up mistletoe, ‘Mistel’ and ‘tan’ can be translated into ‘poo on a stick’. More Mistletoe facts here.

And here’s an extra-large festive sack of extra Unnecessary Detail from this episode:

• If you’ll forgive us the quick plug: show tickets, nerdy tees and downloads make great gifts this season! You can get tickets to our big Bristol show on 12th March 2024, our smaller new material nights in London, and a few more last-minute downloadable gift ideas are over at festivalofthespokennerd.com
• That Series 1 episode where Steve talks seeds is called Transmission and it’s a good one.
• Watch Steve talking Oak trees, acorns and forgetful squirrels on his YouTube Channel.
• Now please try and get any images of “STEVE DISPERSAL” out of your head.
• What is a fruit, anyway?
• Check out Eared Doves! What beauties!
• Panicgrass, or Panicum, a name that is related to the many-branched panicles that carry their flowers rather than their fear of hungry Eared Doves, is worthy of an Unnecessary Detail episode of its own.
• Behold the architecture of the Poppy seed head!
• Some more detail about the biological and cultural significance of Mistletoe. Our favourite part is the meta-mistletoe: “Most mistletoes parasitize a variety of hosts, and some species even parasitize other mistletoes, which in turn are parasitic on a host”
• The four definitions of Symbiosis. Which one fits us best? Don’t answer that.
• From Matt’s YouTube channel: “I wired my tree with 500 LED lights and calculated their 3D coordinates”
• And “I run untested, viewer-submitted code on my 500 LED Christmas tree“
• Look, mum, Matt’s tree got into Harvard!
• Need a visual version of the log table tree? Here’s Matt explaining everything in unnecessary detail.
• More on Percy Ludgate
• A 1909 paper explaining Percy Ludgate’s computer: “A New Analytical Engine” 
• The Science Museum in London can tell you plenty more about Babbage, Lovelace and the Difference Engine. They even built one themselves in 2002 and it’s stunning.
• Download Matt’s log table Christmas tree here. Huge thanks to Laura and team for suspending baubles at very precise heights as described!
• Matt is still writing / avoiding writing / somehow finishing his new book about how much he loves triangles. Sign up to get updates about – and first-dibs on ordering – here
• See below for Helen’s binary advent calendar.
• What WOULD the 12 days of Christmas sound like in binary? Suggestions welcome!
• Download “Laboratory Christmas Party” from An Album Of Unnecessary Detail on Helen’s bandcamp page.
• And here’s more about the season-ruining tradition of Whamageddon.
• Finally, a reminder for Londoners that live new material nights in London are back! Bi-monthly at the Cockpit Theatre near Marylebone, tickets available here

Percy Ludgate’s Table

Matt Parker’s Table

Percy Ludgate’s Smaller Table

Matt Parker’s Smaller Table

Matt with his suspended baubles of very precise heights

Matt’s Log Table Christmas Tree – check the show notes above to find a high res file if you want to download it

Helen’s Binary Advent Calendar, for realz. For context, it was the size of an A3 piece of card with hidden boxes taped to the back,

A Podcast Of Unnecessary Detail is part of the Acast Creator Network. Thanks for listening!