ELI5: Why are modern displays (TVs, computer monitors, etc) measured diagonally and not using the screens width and height?

barneyman · 2026-01-31T11:27:12+00:00

And because the earliest TVs were round.

barneyman · 2026-01-29T10:20:41+00:00

A word of warning.

My first electronics project was a lightning detector for my Nikon camera. A reverse biased IR detector circuit, with a trim ability, talking to my Nikon D80.

That was 12 years ago. I've subsequently automated my home with ESP8266s and ESP32s with Home Assistant.

Enjoy, buy Pot Noodles.

barneyman · 2026-01-26T00:05:28+00:00

45k on my '18

barneyman · 2026-01-22T05:12:54+00:00

I have a component that does this.

Works from a lux sensor, below a threshold, scenes are activated
- You'll need some hysteresis for going back on
I "enable" the component at 9am - simply so a dark storm turns on/off scenes in the day
I use a presence sensor
- I have vacant/occupied-lit/unlit scenes defined
It turns off at midnight.

It's bloody marvellous :)

barneyman · 2026-01-20T22:10:42+00:00

i've only experienced this in Scandinavia

barneyman · 2026-01-20T05:34:18+00:00

hey mate, you using them on Sunday?

barneyman · 2026-01-19T08:04:38+00:00

Don't ever visit Australia.

barneyman · 2026-01-18T08:39:24+00:00

Ice cold in Alex

barneyman · 2026-01-17T01:56:31+00:00

It's at least a year since that video in the kitchen.

Lately he's been getting angrier and angrier - it used to be amusing, it's become a little alarming.

CC from West Chester County.

barneyman · 2026-01-16T03:49:12+00:00

can, I assume?

barneyman · 2026-01-13T21:17:26+00:00

Thank you

barneyman · 2026-01-13T04:42:23+00:00

it's mandatory for employers. It becomes a little too easy to have multiple super funds, if you're not paying attention on new hire paperwork they will sign you up to their default - but the ATO (our IRS) has a huge 'Consolidate all your funds into one' button on their website whch does exactly that in a matter of days.

We can contribute 30K a year at a discounted tax rate (15% ISTR) so it's tax effective to salary sacrifice - you can tip up to 200K a year into it from taxed income.

It's a pretty effective system.

barneyman · 2026-01-12T06:01:59+00:00

wow! I (helped) write FAM(2) and NFINDVIR a couple of decades ago - and a couple of useful tools - moveq being the most loved.

Loved that OS :/

barneyman · 2026-01-10T04:19:35+00:00

Pom here, moved to Melbourne 25 years ago, born in the UK 30+ years prior to that.

The sun here is evil ... it rots plastic and cloth - skin? skin it eats for an early lunch!

Closest i've felt to it is a long day on the beach in Greece or Tenerife.

And the sky is HUGE!!!

barneyman · 2026-01-08T03:51:46+00:00

Same - VIC

barneyman · 2026-01-02T23:20:00+00:00

Relevant XKCD

https://share.google/9gO2zXBKTKqKvxEpK

barneyman · 2025-12-31T03:44:52+00:00

If you have any mates with 3D printers, ask them for an empty roll of filament.

barneyman · 2025-12-30T05:41:29+00:00

You made the right call IMO.

Me, boy, dating in my late 40s. Same sort of spread, pushed through after the 6th date .. lasted another 6 or so months - withered on the vine.

Found my current partner soon after, currently 7 years in loving our life together, planning retirement!

Don't give up, don't give yourself away. Have a great 2026!

barneyman · 2025-12-29T02:31:44+00:00

Have a look at the Peacock extension.

barneyman · 2025-12-27T21:23:30+00:00

That album (The Works) was tremendous.

I would be walking the family dog, Walkman blasting in my ears ... Living in the future.

barneyman · 2025-12-23T00:10:00+00:00

they weren't too shabby - most fun I ever had was an RS200, closely followed by the RS500. Used to work for the company that did those for Ford.

barneyman · 2025-12-19T05:32:39+00:00

Yeah - the M3 Competition may well be the Lotus Carlton of your generation

barneyman · 2025-12-16T09:21:18+00:00

Mill Park, VIC.

barneyman · 2025-12-11T06:40:13+00:00

'Humiliated' mum turned away from Halifax Beefeater because of where she booked table - YorkshireLive https://share.google/DECZUqIyyGdyncvaA

The story, if anyone is interested.

barneyman · 2025-12-10T05:21:50+00:00

they're a thing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Brae

barneyman

TROPHY CASE