THANKS, RESEARCHERS!
Key Quote: "The giant rat is about five times the size of a typical city rat," said Kristofer Helgen, a scientist with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. "With no fear of humans, it apparently came into the camp several times during the trip."
(Thanks to Gary)
The difference between "a large wild rat" and a pet is only one of providing a name to the animial.
"Harvey" sounds like a nice name for the scientists. Soon the animal's vet bills will be higher than most of the humans' doctor bills, especially one of the children determines the pet to be cute.
Posted by: Not My Usual Alias | December 17, 2007 at 09:03 AM
There is a holiday coming up for which I am trying to find a suitable meal to serve my MIL. How can I get one of these giant rats?
Posted by: The Dread Pirate Scrooge | December 17, 2007 at 09:13 AM
Damn, there really is a Giant Rat of Sumatra.
Posted by: wiredog | December 17, 2007 at 09:15 AM
I suspect that the rat was recently shipped out by Major League Baseball in an effort to hide the evidence of what they leave lying around the locker room...
Posted by: jon | December 17, 2007 at 09:23 AM
So they finally found my ex-husband.
Posted by: Annie Where-but-here | December 17, 2007 at 09:29 AM
-We'll never succeed. We may as well die here.
-No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too.
-Westley, what about the R.O.U.S.'s?
-Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist.
Posted by: The Dread Pirate Scrooge | December 17, 2007 at 09:30 AM
(insert your own tom tancredo joke here)
Posted by: mudstuffin | December 17, 2007 at 09:44 AM
Chuck Norris has already announced he'll support it if it runs as a Republican.
Posted by: Alien8 | December 17, 2007 at 09:57 AM
Not just a rat. Not just a giant rat. But a FEARLESS, giant rat. So.. how's that Mars colonization project coming along? My bags are almost packed.
Posted by: KOW | December 17, 2007 at 09:59 AM
WTFRATBBQ???
Posted by: Siouxie | December 17, 2007 at 10:04 AM
I have asked the rat to become my running mate.
Posted by: Tom Tancredo, Denver, Co | December 17, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Rat BBQ? No thanks, Siouxie. I think I'll stick to frozen fish sticks or something. YICK.
Posted by: DeskDiva | December 17, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Rata-ewwie!
Posted by: Siouxie | December 17, 2007 at 11:16 AM
TDPS, Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies...Chris Sarandon- yummy.
OT: A friend's father used to manage a wrestling arena in Dallas. We used to go and watch the rehearsals and the fights. I met Andre The Giant. He was so sweet and gentle. The first time I met him, he shook my hand and all I can remember about it was how huge his hand was. I was terrified! His hand swallowed mine completely. Lucky enough, he did no squeezy and I was saved from a trip to the emergency room. BTW: In case anyone had any doubts, wrestling is fake.
Posted by: ellie | December 17, 2007 at 11:19 AM
elli, I LOVE PB!
Posted by: Siouxie | December 17, 2007 at 11:30 AM
ellie - TOTALLY agreed on Chris Sarandon!! I've been
obsesseda fan ever since Fright Night. Droolable indeed.OMG - YOU MET ANDRE THE GIANT?!?! How rockin' awesome is that?!? OK now I'm really jealous! (Have you ever climbed a trellis?)
*snork* @ "Rata-ewwie!"
Posted by: DeskDiva | December 17, 2007 at 11:38 AM
I've been in that neighbourhoog and have memories of, from the Lonely Planet Guide of course, The special pizza with mushrooms. I shared a coke and whiskey with a gecko and understood the local dialect perfectly.
Posted by: JEC666 | December 17, 2007 at 11:54 AM
JEC - are you sure that wasn't "the pizza with the special mushrooms?" ;-)
Posted by: DeskDiva | December 17, 2007 at 12:04 PM
Soux and Diva: I forgot about Fright Night! Yes, that was the first time I saw him, and have been drooling ever since. He seems to have vanished from the screen though...
Yep, I met everyone who came through The Sportatorium. Von Erics, Chris Atkinson, the Fabulous Freebirds...geeze, I just gave away my geezeriness. They were all mostly nice. Andre most of all- a gentle soul.
Posted by: ellie | December 17, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Hm, ellie - Chris has been doing some TV cameos and guest star stints in recent years. He did an extended one on Judging Amy a few years ago before it went off the air and he looked totally hot with salt and pepper hair, a beard and a hoop earring.
*heart flutters*
Posted by: DeskDiva | December 17, 2007 at 12:46 PM
I have not seen any photos,but I strongly suspect that it is a lawyer or a politician in disguise!
Posted by: laszlo | December 17, 2007 at 04:19 PM
Rat, my ass. This sounds like a fiendish attempt by the squirrels to genetically engineer an invincible super-squirrel which can stomp New York like Godzilla and allow the furry demons to carry out their plans for world domination.
Posted by: Iain | December 18, 2007 at 03:47 AM
I personally found it exciting that they, "unearthed scores of exotic new species of palms, butterflies and palms."
Palms, butterflies AND Palms! Spectacular!!
Posted by: bikerchic | December 18, 2007 at 10:27 AM
It's mine. I lost it and I would like it back.
Posted by: Steve B | December 18, 2007 at 03:53 PM
In the late 1950's Tacoma, Washington, was a major port for the exporting of grains. My recollection is that in 1959, driving at night on a road which was along the wharf-front and grain-storage area I stopped for a rat-shaped creature crossing the road which appeared to be at least 18" in length, without the tail.
Never saw another one (never looked).
Rudy Volkmann
Posted by: rudy volkmann | July 05, 2008 at 10:09 PM