Day: November 12, 2001

Ananova reported last week that some wildlife experts are afraid that parents will run out and buy owls as Christmas gifts after seeing ‘Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone.’ A spokesman for the Raptor Foundation told the The Mirror,

We’re very concerned youngsters may want snowy owls as pets. You don’t need any qualifications to buy one – just money.

Anyone who would buy an owl on a whim after seeing the ‘Harry Potter’ movie is an idiot who has a lot more problems than just a high maintenance raptor.

Source:

Wildlife experts fear Harry Potter will spark owl pet craze. Ananova, November 10, 2001.

The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity. On Friday I was offered a higher paying job which, unfortunately, I ultimately had to turn down for a variety of reasons. Still even though I didn’t ultimately take the job, it felt nice being wanted.

Then, today, CNSNews ran a column I had written for them refuting an earlier piece by PETA’s Ingrid Newkirk that claimed PETA didn’t condone violent acts (in fact PETA has regularly condoned and celebrated violent acts). I’ve received a lot of compliments via e-mail from people I admire and respect complimenting me on the column.

The BBC reports that Natalie Imbruglia’s next CD will be the first major release to feature copy protection to prevent it from being ripped to CD. And as far as I know, I’m the first person to wonder if there will be an imbroglio over Imbruglia (if you happen to find someone with a prior claim, please spare me the details and allow me to preserve this fantasy of mine).

CNN is reporting that the plane that crashed in Queens was an American Airlines Airbus A300 that was taking off bound for the Dominican Republic. Eyewitnesses say the engine exploded in mid-air, and there are reports that several houses buildings in the area near the crash are on fire.

An American Airlines 767 has crashed near Queens, New York — apparently either trying to land or take off from John F Kennedy International Airport. There are huge plumes of smoke filling the New York skyline at the moment.