ran this little utility:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60655

and it reset the battery! This is a wallstreet II PDQ. It's now charging, Maybe I will get some decent life out of it?

It used to be dead as a doornail (no lights even flashing when you pressed the battery level button) and now I got it working!

I wish I knew about this before!