Ever since Ratatouille, a movie about a rat who wants to become a top Parisian chef, came out, people in Paris have been going crazy over rats.
"There is no question there is a real fashion for rats," said Gerald Moreau, 25, who runs a group near Paris promoting rats as pets.
Visits to his Web site have tripled since the movie's French release this summer.
PHOTO: AP
Children are driving the craze -- seeking out soft-coated rats with floppy "Dumbo" ears like Remy, the hero of the Pixar comedy.
"Rats are much smarter, much more interesting than hamsters or mice," Moreau said. "They recognize their name and grow very attached to their owner; they play with you like a dog or a cat."
But Moreau, who with his girlfriend has 19 pet rats, tells parents to think twice before taking one home: "They're very sociable animals, and they need a lot of cuddles and play time."
(Staff Writer, with AFP)
自從《料理鼠王》這部描繪一隻一心要成為巴黎頂尖廚師的老鼠的電影上映以來，巴黎民眾已經為鼠瘋狂。
現年二十五歲、在巴黎附近負責一個倡導寵物田鼠團體的傑洛．莫侯說：「毫無疑問，現在真有田鼠流行風。」
自從這部電影今年暑假在法國上映以來，他的網站點閱人次已經增加了兩倍。
孩童間正掀起一股尋找和這部皮克斯動畫喜劇裡的英雄小米一樣，有著一身軟毛與一雙下垂「傻氣」耳朵 的老鼠的熱潮。
莫侯說：「田鼠比倉鼠聰明、有趣多了。」他說：「牠們知道自己的名字還很黏主人；他們會像狗與貓一樣和你玩耍。」
不過與女友合養了十九隻田鼠的莫侯提醒家長，在把寵物鼠帶回家之前要三思。他說：「牠們是社交性很強的動物，而且牠們需要很多的擁抱與玩樂時間。」
(法新社╱翻譯：艾利斯)
Many consumers are guilty of filling drawers or closets with old laptops, cellphones, fitness trackers and other electronic devices once they are no longer needed. It’s hard to know where to recycle such items, or it seems costly and inconvenient to do so. The world generates millions of tons of electronic waste — also called e-waste — each year. According to the UN’s most recent estimate, people worldwide produced 62 million metric tons of e-waste in 2022, and only about 22 percent of it was properly recycled. The US’ Environmental Protection Agency estimates that less than a quarter of e-waste is
You’re sitting in class when a classmate asks to borrow a pencil. It seems like a small favor, so you agree without hesitation. The following week, the same classmate asks to share your notes. Later, they request help with a group project. You agree each time — after all, you helped out the first time — but before you know it, it has become automatic. This scenario demonstrates the “foot-in-the-door technique,” a psychological concept that shows how agreeing to small, acceptable demands makes it easier to accept larger ones later on. The name for this strategy comes from door-to-door
A: The four-day Tomb Sweeping Day long weekend begins Friday and will run until Monday. Are you going to sweep your ancestors’ tombs? B: I did in advance last weekend, so I can go to Kaohsiung to see the musical “The Phantom of the Opera.” A: Wow, is “Phantom” touring Taiwan again? It debuted in 1986, so this year marks the 40th anniversary of the show. B: And it’s not just touring Kaohsiung starting March 31, but also Taipei starting April 21 and Taichung starting May 26. A: “Phantom” is one of the world’s Four Major Musicals. I’ve seen all of them, except “Les
Dos & Don’ts — 想想看，這句話英語該怎麼說？ 1. 我們很早到達電影院。 ˇ We arrived at the theater very early. χ We arrived the theater very early. 註︰arrive 為不及物動詞，後面如果有受詞要用 at 或 in。例如：They arrived in Taipei yesterday.。一般大地方，如國家、省、大城市等前面用 in，凡小地方城鎮、學校等則用 at。 2. 開車半小時以後，我們到達了海灘。 ˇ After half an hour’s drive, we got to the beach. χ After half an hour’s drive, we got the beach. 註︰come, go, get（來、去、到達）某地時，在表示地點的名詞前面應該用 to，如 go to school, go to Taipei, come to Shanghai 等。如果這些動詞後面所跟的是 here, there, home 等副詞，則不用 to。 3. 明天我會回辦公室。 ˇ I will be back in the office tomorrow. χ I will be back to office tomorrow. 註︰to be back 一語裡的 back 是副詞，不是介詞，所以後面要用 at (the market) 或 in (the office)。 假如假期結束，要回學校上課了則可說： ? Kids will be back
RSS