News In Brief

YOU'LL HEAR FROM MY LAWYER

It probably was inevitable: Someone has accused someone else of unauthorized use of ... a tattoo. In this case, the offended party is Pita Sharples, a Maori war-dance performer from Auckland, New Zealand. The offender: British pop music star Robbie Williams, who, while visiting the country last year, had an artist ink one shoulder with what Sharples calls "intellectual property" that's unique to his tribe. The design includes symbols representing a shark, the sea, a forest, war, and peace. No word on what legal action, if any, Sharples may take. But, at a minimum, a copyright application could be in the offing.

THE TICKETS ARE GOING FAST

Speaking of musical Britons, composer Michael Oder's "Little Star Began to Sing" is scheduled for its debut in London Feb. 3. So what, you ask? Well, the piece is unique in that it's based on the bleeps, buzzes, and harmonic squeaks that a high-powered telescope makes as it receives radio waves from outer space.

If your new chariot has silver paint, you're essence of cool

White has been the perennial favorite when it comes to colors for cars - but not in this model year, apparently. DuPont Automotive, which has surveyed vehicle color popularity for a half century, found that silver has moved ahead in the US. The hue also has scored at the top in Europe and Asia. According to a DuPont official, the coating process currently being used has "better pigments" and "improvements in metallic effects," which in part allow "consumers to express their individualism." The percentage of vehicles assembled during the 2000 model year for the North American market that sport the most common colors:

1. Silver 17.6%

2. White 17.2

3. Black 11.3

4. Medium/dark green 8.9

5. Medium/dark blue 8.8

6. Medium red 6.7

7. Bright red 4.7

8. Light brown 4.5

9. Medium gray 3.8

10. Gold 3.5

(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Publishing Society