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Rats 'Cripple' NZ Web Access

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the network-plagues dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Drat! It was the rat! Telephone, mobile and Internet access in New Zealand was disrupted over four hours after rats were found gnawing through cables. More than 100,000 customers were affected and even the country's stock exchange came to a standstill. Powerless to take action against the rats, Telecom New Zealand is seeking compensation from the electricity company it says is responsible for knocking out another pipeline which eliminated backup services. Nothing like a backup plan."

13 of 305 comments (clear)

  1. Secret Plan by Adrilla · · Score: 4, Funny

    The real story is that the RIAA paid these rats to take down the lines, and if they have to take out some phone services to cut down on piracy, then so be it. Those sneaky sunsabitches, I'm watchin you RIAA/MPAA.

    --

    "Plans are for fools! Oglethorpe, the plutonian (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)
  2. Suing the power company by katana · · Score: 5, Funny

    Of course they're suing the power company. Lawyers won't sue the rats because of professional courtesy.

  3. It's Always The Stinking Rats... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, blame the rats and the electric company for everyting. While you're at it, find the two-legged rats who couldn't bother to put in a redundant backup plan.

  4. They Were Lucky This Time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thank god the sheep didn't rise up against their internet access or they'd have been in real trouble.

    1. Re:They Were Lucky This Time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Flamebait? C'mon! Sheep outnumber humans in New Zealand 11:1! If they ever rose up, they'd have a real problem on their hands.

      I've been to New Zealand. It's a beautiful country. The Southern Alps, the hot springs, the Maori culture. Seriously, I recommend everyone visits. Just keep an eye on the sheep, though, that's all I'm saying.

  5. Unpunished? by venicebeach · · Score: 4, Funny

    But the rodents will go unpunished

    What?? How can they let them go unpunished? They need to at least go out and punish a few in a highly public manner to send the rest a message, kind of like when there is a shark attack and they go hunting for "the" shark that did it.... We can't let the rats get away with this!!

  6. Re:Rats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    dude you are some weird son of a bitch if you memorize the history of rats in New Zealand.

  7. Re:Rats by Eradicator2k3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "There are three types of wild rats in New Zealand"

    Because the domesticated rats are much more considerate....plus they're easier to milk.

    --
    Mr. T pitied this fool on 27 July 1992.
  8. That's being unkind by lheal · · Score: 4, Funny

    to the rats.

    Actually, I love lawyers. They taste like chicken.

    --
    Raise your children as if you were teaching them to raise your grandchildren, because you are.
  9. Re:Quadruple independent redundancy. by Bane1998 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I keep telling this to my fiance. I need at least four prostitutes to back her up. I don't know what bothers her more, the idea of being 'backed up' or being 'redundant'.

  10. Re:Outage by nomadic · · Score: 4, Funny

    This happened on Monday. Today is Friday.

    With the lines down there was no way to communicate the outage to the outside world.

  11. Eerr... by EvilCabbage · · Score: 4, Funny

    "They are also fat and delicious." The Maori people, or the rats?

  12. Re:Rats by pipingguy · · Score: 4, Funny


    Hey, I'm a piper - need any help?

    Paul
    Piping Design Central