Harry Potter Wannabe 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
There's no self-selection here so the best we can hope for is an Honorable Mention (this time). However, with someone this "intellengence challenged" I'm sure it won't be long before she's a full-fledged Darwin candidate.
This enterprising young woman decided to emulate her idol, the fictional boy wizard Harry Potter. She decided to do a little potion making one fine summer day but lacked the proper ingredients. I'm guessing there was no local supplier of bat's eyebrow, troll's teeth and dragon's ears (or whatever). She decided to substitue household items in place of the traditional 'magical' ingredients normally called for in such cases.
She cooked up a concoction containing water, oil, alcohol and toothpaste. I'm not sure what spell or effect she was intending to create but what she did accomplish was to burn down half of her house. She was rescued from the fire with minor injuries (so no Darwin). I'm guessing it's only a matter time though before she tries something equally stupid again and then maybe that time she'll succeed in earning the much coveted Darwin award.
Here are two links to the story:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/07/09/offbeat.potter.fire.reut/index.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=583&ncid=583&e=7&u=/nm/20030710/od_nm/fire_dc
I've also included the story text from CNN's website:
ADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- A woman set her Madrid home on fire Wednesday as she cooked up a potion in an attempt to imitate the fictional wizard Harry Potter, emergency services said.
The 21-year-old was rescued by firemen and treated for minor injuries, but half her home was destroyed.
The ambulance service said she had told them she was trying to emulate the boy magician, hero of the books by J.K. Rowling that have been a sensation among adults and children alike.
For want of more magical ingredients, the woman cooked up a potion of water, oil, alcohol and toothpaste, local media reported. It was unclear what spell she was trying to weave. Submitted on 07/10/2003
Submitted by:
David
Reference:
CNN's Website - 10-July-2003
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