Bec has filmed a block of Makeaway Takeaway. The kids were trying to stay away from her (social distancing).
Both the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail turned the answer to the problem into a news story, as if it was a big new finding. Matt got the option to use the excuse "Sorry, I'm late to this meeting, the Daily Mirror unexpectedly wrote a story about me."
I'm living by myself three floors up without an elevator, and I often find really nice furniture outside that I can't take because I can't carry them up the stairs by myself. Is there a most efficient way of carrying something big and heavy upstairs in terms of how much energy one has to put into it?
Matt's Step And Conquer gazebo from problem 004-2 was damaged in a storm, but he found another identical gazebo being thrown out at the same time and used it for parts.
Matt calculates that the weight of the object decreases very slightly as you go up higher. Bec suggests to flood the stairway and utilize buoyancy. Matt suggests an online calculator for how many helium balloons you need to hover an object. Matt also suggests a pulley system, but is not responsible for any damages caused.
Bec has five suggestions for getting someone else to do it: Dress like a little old lady nun and look like you're struggling, convince some passing children that it's a game, design a fake VR game about moving furniture and call for beta testers, get an ACME catapult or trebuchet, or leave it in the street for Bec's mum to trip over, and she'll put it away.
Bec also veers dangerously close to practical advice with a sack trolley with three wheels that are optimized for stairs. She contacted Luka Muller from the "Oooh, Spooky" podcast who is a professional removalist, who recommends a manoeuvre called the "lover's shelf" or the "mover's g-spot" where you rest the edge of an object in your hip groove (mons pubis). You'll look like you're humping your furniture though.
A "ding" from Bec
"He has a weak constitution" says their birthday is coming up and asks: I don't want anything. People insist on getting me something. What do I ask for? It must be a physical item.
Joanna Williams asks: With christmas looming, I want to do some nice stuff with my boyfriend and for my family, but I don't have a lot of disposable income [Matt: and with the second lockdown, we're obviously limited in what we can do].
Call their bluff and request something hand-made, or hand-make something for your giftees.
Bec suggests a recipe for fudge, full recipe in show notes. Matt mentions a custom spice mix and honey from hobby beekeeping. Bec suggests salt dough, which is basically custom Play-Doh that you bake to make solid. Matt makes candles from other candles' wax. Bec suggests a treasure hunt advent calendar with 25 clues. Listeners are encouraged to share more ideas on instagram.
Another option: Ask for a physical item that helps other people. For example, a product from a company that donates a part of their proceeds.
A "ding" by Matt
Very serious responses from social media managers have come in, though they haven't been very conclusive. The OPP (Original Problem Poser) Adam Light [Editor's note: Spelling likely incorrect] found another cheese that claims the same reduction, which led them to a press release from a packaging company called Ornua. They claim to have reduced the plastic in cheese packaging with something called the "megablock". In addition to changing the shape, they seem to have removed the zip-lock feature. Matt disapproves of this choice. Matt will try to follow-up with the company or marketing director. Bec suspects Adam to be an industry insider and whistleblower.
A bunch of answers have come in. The most common answer was roughly 2454, but that was not the most correct answer. Only Dexter (aged 7 269/366) did a classic Dexter, sent in their working out and came up with the correct answer of 2462.78. Other people, don't mix rounding and precision! Bec gives this answer a "Pud-ding".
The podcast is receiving a lot more problems. Last episode's call for problems was successful.
The listener survey from last episode is still going. There will be a wrap-up with some of the answers in the end-of-year episode.
There were many great suggestions, but then lockdown 2 started and Bec can't do the experiment. The problem is on hold for now.
Bec shows Matt her idea live on the podcast. Matt loves it. It references several problems and has a christmas-themed maths pun. To get a copy, you need to be a patreon supporter. Wizard-level supporters will get a physical card.
Bec and a few listeners have noticed that some problems were not properly closed. She wants a Wikipedia page. Matt doesn't want to miss the 100th ding. Next episode, Bec and Matt will try to ding all undinged problems (as well as look at the survey results).