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From staff and wire reports

Sorry Harry, owls shouldn't be pets

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) -- Environmentalists are worried that children's enthusiasm for Harry Potter may create a market for Hungary's protected owls as pets.

Hedwig, a snowy owl, is the fictional child wizard's mascot.

"We want to draw attention to the fact that owls are not fit for being held in homes and can even be dangerous in some cases," said Szilard Drexler, a public relations officer for the Hungarian Ornithology and Environmental Protection Association.

"Ours is a precautionary measure, as so far there have been no reported cases of owls being purchased as pets," Drexler told The Associated Press.

J.K. Rowling's four "Harry Potter" books have sold more than 400,000 copies in Hungary, where print runs for children's books are usually of 3,000 to 4,000 copies. Titles in any genre selling about 10,000 copies are considered best sellers.

The feature film based on the first book in the series was to make its local debut Thursday.

"Contrary to legend, owls are not really smart and they can't be used for hunting. At the same time we want to stress that they are a protected species," Drexler said.

The grasp of a snowy owl is strong enough to break the wrist of a child, he added.

While snowy owls are relatively rare in Hungary, there are an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 pairs of barn owls in the country. The illegal hunting of birds and other animals is a recurring problem in Hungary.

Harrison tribute to release in January

The original version of George Harrison's landmark single, "My Sweet Lord," will be re-released on January 14, 2002, as a tribute to Harrison, who died two weeks ago, Capitol Records and Parlophone Records said this week.

The single, which reached No. 1 in the United States and the United Kingdom in January 1971, is backed with "Let It Down" and the 2000 version of "My Sweet Lord," which was on the recent reissue of "All Things Must Pass."

Profits from the sales of the single will go to charity, but specific details have not been confirmed.

Holiday special for the 'Net generation

Young Web watchers may want to stay tuned to their computers on Wednesday, December 19, when the first Flash-animated kids holiday special debuts on KidsWebTv.com.

Eddy the Eco-Dog's "Merry Chachachawowa" premieres exclusively on the Web at 7 p.m. EST that night and can be viewed until January 2, 2002.

On a faraway planet, Eddy the Eco-Dog will catch the holiday spirit after receiving a card from a little Earth girl. With help from his pals, Eddy sets out to create the perfect holiday -- only to learn, in the end, the true meaning of the holiday season.

Costello has 'Cruel' release for spring

Elvis Costello's first solo album in five years is set for a spring release, a spokesperson for Universal Island Def Jam, Costello's new label, said this week.

The album, entitled "When I Was Cruel," is due out April 23, and will contain 15 tracks.

Long-time musical companions drummer Pete Thomas and keyboardist Steve Nieve -- both members of Costello's band The Attractions -- appear on the "Cruel" album.

The work is Costello's 17th studio album (not counting collaborations or compilations).

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.