People talk 9/14/01

Britney Spears cancels promotion

SYDNEY, Australia -- Britney Spears canceled a Thursday media conference to promote a new album, saying it was inappropriate after the terrorist attacks in the United States.

Spears arrived from New York early Wednesday for an intensive two-day promotional trip. The 19-year-old had planned to face more than 200 international media representatives in Sydney.

"I do not feel it appropriate to hold a press conference here in Australia for the launch of my album," Spears said in a statement.

"This pales in comparison to what we have just witnessed. My thoughts and condolences are with our fellow citizens who have lost their lives and with their friends and families," she added.

Buyer of Hendrix house faces deadline

SEATTLE -- A small house where acid-blues-rock legend Jimi Hendrix lived for a few years has brought a high bid of $33,853 on eBay, and now the buyer faces a tough choice.

Richard Osborn of Michigan, who submitted the top bid in an Internet auction that ended Wednesday, must arrange to move the one-story house in the city's Central Area, strip it of its Hendrix memorabilia and other valuables and demolish the rest, or walk away from the deal.

If he chooses the third option, the next-highest bidder would have a crack at the white, two-bedroom house with purple trim, a clawfoot bathtub and original cabinets.

Michael Hilow and Anne Harrington, who bought the house and land for $69,500 in 1995, want to clear the property and build condominiums. They want the house gone by Oct. 7.

Spacey buys an Oscar to give it back

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- The mystery man who paid more than $150,000 for an Academy Award this week was Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey, who plans to keep the two he won and return the one he bought.

The gold statuette, presented to composer George Stoll for his score to the 1945 film "Anchors Aweigh," was purchased by Spacey on Monday at an estate sale at Butterfields auction house.

He said Wednesday he would return it to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

-- From wire reports