The questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread V

[Phlegmak]

Actually, I think the term 'loan-word' is more common.

Interesting. I've seen "borrowed" far more often here. Perhaps "loan-word" is more common in Europe.

 

[Ulyaoth]

I'm pretty sure it's loanword too.

 

[Bigfoot3814]

What kind of electrical plugs do they use in China?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

What kind of electrical plugs do they use in China?

Wikipedia is your friend.

 

[Mesousa]

So I got a new cell phone. A friend told me that it's better to let the battery go down to 0%-5% before recharging (and of course to recharge it to 100% then) instead of, say, plugging it in every evening and recharge when it's at 70% or so. Is that correct, and why? (In simple terms.) Basically, he said I shouldn't recharge the phone before it complains about low battery, but if he is correct, wouldn't it be even better to wait until the battery is completely empty?

 

[Annex]

Im pretty sure your friend is correct. Maybe someone can explain it better than me.

 

[GinandTonic]

So I got a new cell phone. A friend told me that it's better to let the battery go down to 0%-5% before recharging (and of course to recharge it to 100% then) instead of, say, plugging it in every evening and recharge when it's at 70% or so. Is that correct, and why? (In simple terms.) Basically, he said I shouldn't recharge the phone before it complains about low battery, but if he is correct, wouldn't it be even better to wait until the battery is completely empty?

The memory quality of rechargable batteries used to be more of an issue than it is now. Still a good idea to run the batteries down to nothing every week or two. Goes for laptops, mp3's whatever.

 

[Sharwood]

The memory quality of rechargable batteries used to be more of an issue than it is now. Still a good idea to run the batteries down to nothing every week or two. Goes for laptops, mp3's whatever.

This is true. I'm not sure of the technical reasons, but batteries tend to retain charge better when they're low before recharging, or better yet, completely flat. This has something to do with the battery not recharging fully if it is routinely recharged before losing its charge. I have no idea why, but that's the case.

 

[King of Town]

This is true. I'm not sure of the technical reasons, but batteries tend to retain charge better when they're low before recharging, or better yet, completely flat. This has something to do with the battery not recharging fully if it is routinely recharged before losing its charge. I have no idea why, but that's the case.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/battery4.htm

Here you go, this is my favorite website. They have pretty good podcasts too.

 

[Mesousa]

So I should indeed let it discharge completely. Thanks, everyone.

 

[Kraznaya]

What kind of electrical plugs do they use in China?

The two pronged ones in that are used in the States are found here too, and would probably work if you brought them here, if they're the appropriate voltage. China has a mix of European and American plugs, really.

You can see the top portion of this Chinese socket would accept two-pronged American plugs.

 

[Cutlass]

How hard does the wind have to blow before the upper floors of a skyscraper like the Empire State Building start to sway, and how much does it sway?

 

[GoodGame]

What's the easiest way to make money while working at home, legally?

 

[Shekwan]

The easiest ways are all illegal

 

[Mise]

What's the easiest way to make money while working at home, legally?

Run a website, put ads on it, profit.

 

[King of Town]

How hard does the wind have to blow before the upper floors of a skyscraper like the Empire State Building start to sway, and how much does it sway?

I know the Gateway Arch sways in the wind pretty easily, but I would imagine a stone building like the empire state would take a lot of wind before it would sway. I think if it starts to sway, you probably should exit the building.

What's the easiest way to make money while working at home, legally?

Find a company that will let you work from home like mine? Otherwise I would say there is no easy money, you have to work for it.

 

[dutchfire]

Why does the OPEC gather in Vienna, of all places?

 

[Annex]

How hard does the wind have to blow before the upper floors of a skyscraper like the Empire State Building start to sway, and how much does it sway?

When I visited there a few years ago I think they said something like the very top normally sways about 10 feet, but you wont even notice it. As far as unusually high winds go, Im not sure.

 

[salty mud]

My computer has started acting very strange. I can't log onto Windows anymore. I get to the user select screen where I choose which user I want to load, select one, the desktop loads up and then the screen goes blank, saying I need to activate Windows. It has never done this before. I am slightly weary of doing it, as it asks for bank card details, which of course I am dubious of giving to anyone. I'm thinking I've been infected with a virus.

Also, at the same time, I get hundreds of pop-up messages from Symantec, saying my e-mail hasn't been sent because of server errors. It is trying to send e-mails to my 'neighbours' in Japan. I haven't used Symantec before...

So what the hell is going on here?

NOTE: This is not the machine in question. I am typing now from a laptop.

 

[Mesousa]

Sounds like malware indeed. Certainly don't enter your bank details. Have you tried launching windows in secure mode? You might be able to fix things from there, with appropriate software. If not, or to be on the safe side, you might want to just wipe the hard drive and reinstall windows.