Rats Run Wild in KFC-Taco Bell in N.Y.

NEW YORK — A dozen rats were caught on video scurrying around the floor of a New York City KFC/Taco Bell restaurant early Friday, running between counters and tables and climbing on children's high chairs.

News crews flocked to the windows of the Greenwich Village neighborhood restaurant, which hadn't opened for the day. By midmorning, the footage was all over the Internet and television news shows, with onlookers giving a play-by-play from the sidewalk as the rodents moved about.

"He's coming for his close-up," one bystander said as a rat came near the window.

Employees came to work, but no customers were allowed in as health inspectors arrived.

"This is completely unacceptable and is an absolute violation of our high standards," KFC and Taco Bell said in a statement. "This restaurant has been closed and we are addressing the issue with the franchise owner. We will not allow this store to reopen until is it completely resanitized and given a clean bill of health."

The chains said construction in the basement on Thursday "temporarily escalated the situation."

I'm really not cut out to be an atheist. I don't have that much faith.

That depends on how you define atheist. I don't believe that any human concept of God is actually a real being because I'm unconvinced by the evidence I have seen. I wouldn't say that it is impossible, I just don't believe it. If there is an entity behind the Universe or if it all is natural law I don't know nor claim to know, but I suspect that the answers will not be anything we can expect. I could be called atheist or agnostic depending on the definition is used. I find religion very interesting though and as long people don't use it to oppress or kill others, I'm pretty cool with it.

I admit--I'm lazy. How did the news crews find out about the rats?

In a coda to terrible customer service tales of yesterday, the supervisor in question just called me back. She apologised profusely and is recalling the account from collections and putting a hold on their billing until they've backed out the incorrect amounts. This is about three visits over a year ago, that I've been bitching about for nine or so months.

The upshot? I do not owe $685. I owe $30.

"If you ever have any problems again, please just ask to speak to the supervisor right away."

I can't lie--every single one of her reports that I've dealt with over this period of time has varied from unhelpful to worse. But it's done now, and she was very nice.

I admit--I'm lazy. How did the news crews find out about the rats?

People walking by the place saw the rats through the store windows....

People walking by the place saw the rats through the store windows....

Oh, gross. That's way obvious.

I have an Ann Taylor gift card and an Ann Taylor discount card. I've had them for, like, a month. Ann Taylor Loft is not ten minutes away. I have no job.

What's wrong with me?

Oh--right. I hate malls and clothes shopping. And my usual crutch really has no interest in women's clothes.

I have to go today. haveta.

How did the news crews find out about the rats?

Oh, man, someone saw it and called them! NYC news (other than NY1) doesn't have anything better to do. I will give an example. At 8:30 last night I left work and saw a lone news truck with its antenna up. I couldn't see from where the newsguy was supposed to be reporting so I tuned in to the 11 pm newscast. It was a live report on a BROKEN ESCALATOR. People had to walk up 26 steps to get to the ferry!

It was a live report on a BROKEN ESCALATOR. People had to walk up 26 steps to get to the ferry!

It's important that news of broken escalators be delivered to viewers from an on-the-spot news team. Because if a news anchor just delivers the news from his desk, people won't be aware of the true magnitude of the catastrophe.

"Jesus! Get in here and program my VCR for me!"

"Oh, come on, Dad, haven't you figured that one out yet??"

12. Yea, and though the LORD had created the heavens and Earth, the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, the fish of the oceans and all that walk upon the Earth, he was sore vexed.

13. And the LORD sayeth unto his only Son, "Jesus, you must show unto me the way."

14. And Jesus said unto the LORD "Father, seriously. Again?"

15. And the LORD said unto his only son, "Jesus, I who am called I Am cannot get the clock to stop flashing the twelfth hour."

16. And Jesus did heave a heavy sigh and he did take the remote control from the LORD and he did say unto the LORD "It's really very simple."

17. And the LORD did mutter under His breath about "new-fangled contraptions."

Ha!

People had to walk up 26 steps to get to the ferry!

You mean TERROR STEPS, right?

You mean TERROR STEPS, right?

If we have to use stairs, then the terrorists have already won.