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August 24, 2006 [LINK]
Solar system loses a planet!
No, this is not another side effect of global warming, it's just a question of classification. Pluto, the remote celestial body that was discovered in 1930, will no longer be regarded by the International Astronomical Union as the ninth planet in the solar system. There were several disqualifying factors, such as its small size (smaller than the Moon) and having an irregular orbit that brought it closer to the sun than [Neptune Uranus oops!] between 1979 and 1999. Many other potential "planets" have been discovered in recent years, raising the frightening possibility that American schoolchildren would be forced to memorize dozens of new planet names. As if they weren't under enough pressure from standards-based testing already! In the end, scientists determined that, for the purposes of establishing criteria to distinguish planets from lesser bodies, it would be much simpler to simply exclude Pluto. Meanwhile, a new category of "dwarf planets" is being established for Pluto and its ilk, as well as another, larger grouping yet to be named. See Washington Post. At the very least, this should dispel the popular myth that scientific knowledge is an assemblage of factual certainties. Almost everything -- including our understanding of evolution -- is subject to revision or refinement, eventually. [As this corrected blog post proves! ]
Apple tackles problems
Our Favorite Computer Company has had some bad press lately. Apple settled a lawsuit by agreeing to pay Singapore-based Creative Technology, Ltd. $100 million to license newly patented technologies which are similar to those used in the iPod. "Apple can recoup a portion of its payment if Creative is successful in licensing this patent to others." See apple.com.
Also, a week after Dell computer announced a massive recall of laptop computers because of faulty batteries that are liable to catch fire or explode, Apple did likewise.
Finally, Apple issued a Report on iPod manufacturing last week in response to complaints about poor treatment of labor in the Chinese factory where iPods are assembled. Some violations were found, but overall conditions were found to be satisfactory.
Posted (or last updated or commented upon): 25 Aug 2006, 11: 52 AM
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Hits on this page (single blog post) since July 2, 2007:
Category archives:
(all years)
Baseball
Politics
Latin America
War
Wild Birds
Culture & Travel
Science & Technology
This (or that) year's
blog highlights
January 7, 2006 ~ DeLay gives up majority leader post
January 12, 2006 ~ Alito withstands Dems' "torture"
January 16, 2006 ~ Michelle Bachelet wins in Chile
January 19, 2006 ~ Views on Iran's nuclear ambitions
January 24, 2006 ~ Fallout from Canada's election
January 31, 2006 ~ Second (& third) thoughts on Iran
February 1, 2006 ~ The State of the Union, 2006
February 8, 2006 ~ D.C. Council votes "yes," but...
February 18, 2006 ~ Checks and balances in wartime
February 22, 2006 ~
Neocons & Neolibs: chastened alike
February 28, 2006 ~
The Dubai Ports World uproar
March 14, 2006 ~ New D.C. baseball stadium unveiled
March 24, 2006 ~ In the footsteps of France?
April 7, 2006 ~ Immigration compromise fails
May 16, 2006 ~ Bush militarizes Mexican border
June 6, 2006 ~ Alan Garcia triumphs, once again
June 9, 2006 ~
Zarqawi: The death of a terrorist
July 3, 2006 ~
Election in Mexico: too close to call
July 5, 2006 ~ North Korea goes ballistic
July 28, 2006 ~ Garcia prepares to lead Peru, again
August 4, 2006 ~ Israel invades Hezbolland
September 6, 2006 ~ "Crunchy conservatives": for real?
September 25, 2006 ~ Nationalists thwart conservation
October 3, 2006 ~ Nationals: Year in review
October 29, 2006 ~ Virginia's marriage amendment
November 7, 2006 ~ The people render their verdict
November 8, 2006 ~ Republicans lose big time
November 9, 2006 ~ Allen concedes / Election post-mortem
November 13, 2006 ~ Toward consensus on Iraq?
December 1, 2006 ~ Realism and our goals in Iraq
December 6, 2006 ~ Latin America & U.S. trade policy
December 8, 2006 ~ Iraq Study Group reports
December 22, 2006 ~ Yuletide political roundup
Blog highlights have been compiled for the years 2010-2012 thus far, and eventually will be compiled for earlier years, back to 2002.
Explanation
The "home made" blog organization system that I created was instituted on November 1, 2004, followed by several functional enhancements in subsequent years. I make no more than one blog post per day on any one category, so some posts may cover multiple news items or issues. Blog posts appear in the following (reverse alphabetical) order, which may differ from the chronological order in which the posts were originally made:
- Wild birds (LAST)
- War
- Science & Technology
- Politics
- Latin America
- Culture & Travel
- Canaries ("Home birds")
- Baseball (FIRST)
Also see: My blog practices.
Blog errata (Nobody's perfect.)