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A few updates – Batteries, FET Tax Refund and Pluto

Since I’ve written some of my posts additional information has come up.

I wrote about batteries a couple of days ago and since I wrote that post Apple Computer has decided to join Dell in the recall of some Sony manufactured portable computer batteries.

http://tt4sb.wordpress.com/2006/08/18/should-you-be-concerned-about-batteries/

All of the batteries recalled are Lithium/Ion. And I’ve learned that Lithium has a very low boiling point, which I would imagine is one of the reasons for the possible fires caused by the batteries. If the batteries get too hot they burn and since Lithium has a low boiling point, I can see cause for concern. Maybe one of the concerns should be not to use Lithium in batteries.

Also there seems to have been added discussions on a Telecommunication board I monitor about the IRS and there decision not to collect Federal Excise Tax (FET) on Long Distance calls.

http://tt4sb.wordpress.com/2006/07/09/information-on-the-repeal-of-an-old-telephone-usage-tax/

As I understand the IRS still hasn’t finalize their plans on refunds. And there has been lawsuits file saying that the refunds shouldn’t start at March 1, 2003 but earlier, the date that they lost their first court case. this would extend the date by around 4 more years.

And as for Pluto, the ruling about Pluto not being a planet is not 100% correct. Pluto as well as a large asteroid called Ceres, which for a while also called a planet and a newly discovered body bigger than and beyond Pluto are now classified as Dwarf Planets. I also heard there may be as many as 35 other bodies that would also make that classification. Not sure about how the kids in school may feel, but I’d sure rather have to remember 8 planets and not over 40. But who knows they may also have to learn the Dwarf Planets too.

© 2006 Steven G. Atkinson – All rights reserved – tt4sb.com

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