Alphabetical Conversation

[PluMGMK]

Said I, a vuvuzela would be better.

[Ray502]

Time has passed, but the old conversation won't die.

[PluMGMK]

Unless we start talking about something random. Like did you know that power LEDs actually flicker to save energy?

[Ray502]

Very cool. I actually did know that.

[Master]

Would make sense, if they flicker above a certain frequency, you can't really tell it's flickering. It's a similar principle that allows us to have monitors and displays.

[Ray502]

Xenon would find that interesting, if he doesn't know of it.

[Ambidextroid]

You should never hook one of those bulbs to a dimmer switch, as the lower current causes the circuit in the bulb to lower the frequency to a visible and annoying flicker. A bulb in my kitchen was mistakenly fitted so, which gives the whole room a slight but noticeable strobe effect.

[Ray502]

Zebras have never entered into my more recent dreams.

[PluMGMK]

Actually there are some LED-based bulbs that are specifically designed to be dimmer-compatible now, I believe. @Ray: Mine neither!

[Ray502]

Boy, the letter Z sure don't have many common words. Had to come up with something so random.

[PluMGMK]

Can't believe I was the only one who didn't know about the flickering though! It came up at a team lunch on Friday in a discussion about "Li-Fi", then my boss joked that I'd be paranoidly looking around for all the lights flickering at me! That said, I obviously knew that ordinary light sources flicker because of their AC power supply, and that it's even been suggested that fluorescent lights' 50 Hz flickering could have psychological effects…

[Master]

Dunno about any deep psychological effects, but flickering is pretty annoying and distracting. So...does that count?

[PluMGMK]

Essentially. The idea is that because it's so fast you don't really notice it on a conscious level, but it is still annoying, so it makes you feel irritated without knowing why.

[nr0r]

Feeling irritated without knowing why can usually be explained through subconscious means. Even being irritated without any real reason can simply mean you miss someone.

[PluMGMK]

Great Scott, you're still a goodie even though April Fools' is over! Also, that's interesting. That's probably happened to all of us some time.

[Ambidextroid]

Having walked to school in the sun and had a few lessons in a hot school building without yet having a shower, I can say that this is the most passively irritated I've probably ever been. I feel like I'm coated in disease.

[PluMGMK]

I think I know that feeling all right!

[Reese Riverson]

Just woke up, and wish I could just stay in bed. Have to head into the office now. Ugh, Mondays.

[PluMGMK]

Kudos to you for being able to do that, I definitely needed this Monday off!

[Reese Riverson]

Let's find a way for you to take this Monday off, then!