E. Michael Harrington

The Barramundi Farmers Association has failed in its attempt to copyright the name of the famous fish, the barramundi. In June they had applied to have the name reserved for fish produced in Australia. But the government has concluded that it believed the submission breached World Trade Organization rules. I am very relieved to read this as now I can use the word, "barramundi," freely in any songs, cantatas, oratorios and even if I write a new opera. My last and only opera, "Watergate," was written during the summer of Nixon's resignation and Ford's ascenscion to the Presidency. Yes, it's that not well known Watergate opera with the not well known, "Tango for Those In Heat," and John Dean's moving aria/plea to Richard Nixon, "A Cancer On The Nixxoncy." I wanted to write an opera called, "Lewinsky," or "Monica Moves," but fell short on that one. But now, with the breaking news that "barramundi," is not copyrightable, it might be time to turn to the sea for my next large vocal composition. (I just fought the temptation to use the word, "hook" or "hooks," or other fish lingo.)

And then....

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CNN just reported that the coming Apple iPod Motorola phone will only hold 50 songs. How silly.... Come back later with something practical.

And Apple - they make the best computer, one that techno dopes, those who like looks (the intelligent fashion/intelligent design people), the fans of simplicity and reliability, and those in a hurry, love. I went to Dell (Dell rhymes with Hell), i.e., the Dark Side, in 1997 for nine painful months. My Dell rhymes with Hell went back to Texas three times and the Dell rhymes with Hell technical phone people were usually condescending (as hell) to me and my very intelligent technically proficient friends who spoke with them.

But back to Apple - they should be ashamed of themselves and their "DRM Lite," (digital rights management) as they've made it unnecessarily difficult to take one's music, and most importantly, set lists, from one's old Mac to one's new Mac. Yes, Apple is much better than some other companies with not as restrictive DRM but it is still not consumer friendly enough.

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Spinal Tap time (perhaps I should go back to quoting lyrics?):

The title that Sammy Davis' book should have had (according to the limo driver) __________________