THANKS FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO DO THIS RETRACTION

------Original Message------
From: "Nicky Molloy" <nicola@ak.planet.gen.nz>
To: "The Mars Records" <marsrecords@Scientist.com>, "Armageddon or New Age?"
<armageddon-or-newage@egroups.com>
Sent: December 13, 2000 1:14:23 AM GMT
Subject: Harry Potter Author Times Int, was only satire

Subject: Just good reading, or the work of Satan?
http://breakthechain.tripod.com/excl

Sorry folks, upon investigating further this interview - Can you believe it

was really a
hoax? There was no interview. Looks like many others believed this as gospel
too.

http://breakthechain.tripod.com/exclusives/harrypotter.html

The author of the Harry Potter chain letter does little more than rewrite an
article from The Onion ("Harry Potter Books Spark Rise In Satanism Among
Children"). The author even gives the URL of The Onion site as confirmation
of his claims! For those who don't know, The Onion is a well-known parody
and humor Site. It is probably safe to assume this was not a departure from
their usual fun and games to serious investigative journalism.

There is no question this story is bogus, the only question is: was the
author really gullible enough to believe The Onion story, or was he or she
being malicious?

If you need more proof that this is false, here are two obvious errors:

The "quote" from the author, J. K. Rowling to a London Times reporter in a
July 17 interview. A quick check of the London Times shows there was no
interview of J. K. Rowling on or near that date (for any year).

The confusion between Satanism, (Ashley, conjuring up an ancient spell to
summon Cerebus the three-headed hound of hell) and Greek mythology,
(Cerberus who guarded the entrance to Hades and had the heads of three wild
dogs, and a dragon or serpent for a tail. The twelfth labor of Hercules).

Mny others believed this too.
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Rowling+told+a+London+Times+reporter+in+a+
July+17+interview.+%22People+should+be+praising+them+for+that%21&btnG=Google
+Search

The Onion(r) is a satirical newspaper published by Onion, Inc.
> The Onion(r) uses invented names in all its stories, except in cases when
> public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is
> accidental and coincidental.
> The content of this web-site--graphics, text and other elements--is (c)
> Copyright 2000 by Onion, Inc., and may not be reprinted or retransmitted
in whole or in part without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
> The Onion(r) is not intended for readers under 18 years of age.

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