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If you've ever seen a cockroach skittle across the kitchen floor, you know what creepy little critters they are.

But what if you saw one as big as a deck of cards? You'd probably scream and run for the Raid … unless you lived in Australia, where you'd probably adopt it as a pet!

No joke. Bug lovers all over Down Under are taking the creatures into their homes. But not just any roaches. They're insisting on the giant burrowing cockroach, also known as Macropanesthia rhinoceros, which grow to more than three inches, weigh about an ounce, and can live up to 10 years!

"Admittedly they are a bit of an unusual pet," says Aussie pet dealer John Olive. "But kids can play with them without getting hurt and they are very low maintenance. I'm surprised more people don't want them as pets."

Sue Hasenpusch, another pet dealer, says, "They really are charming creatures. They're clean, they're not stinky at all, and there really is nothing horrible about them except for the name cockroach."

The giant, spiky-legged roaches do just fine in a tank with a few inches of sandy soil and leaves. They like being handled, and some owners say their critters hiss softly when stroked.

Steve Austin, an animal trainer, says he's even taught them to come when called!

"They won't be greeting you at the door with a newspaper in their mouth like a dog," he says, "but they have a certain intelligence. And they're no dirtier than a domestic rat or mouse."

Uhh, thanks, Steve. Still, keep 'em on your side of the globe, OK?

Next time you fork over a few dollars for a Whopper or Big Mac, don't complain about the price. New York's DB Bistro Moderne restaurant charges 50 bucks for its Burger Royale!

What's so special about it? Twenty-three ingredients make up the patty, including ground sirloin, beef ribs braised in red wine, strips of seared foie gras, and black truffle peelings cooked in truffle juice.

Anybody for a hot dog instead?

Betcha didn't know about these strange-but-true laws:

• In Arizona, camel hunting is strictly forbidden.
• In Kentucky, it's illegal to use reptiles in church services.
• In Nevada, forgetting to close a gate is against the law.
• In Cambridge, Massachusetts, it's against the law to throw orange peels on the sidewalk.
• In Marshalltown, Iowa, horses are forbidden to eat fire hydrants.

When Mickey Lyman held up a store in Connecticut, he disguised himself by smearing shaving cream all over his face. While he demanded the money, the lather dripped off, revealing his face. Since Mickey was a regular customer at the store, workers recognized him right away. They called the cops, who picked up the guy, now remembered as the Barbasol Bandit!

Carl Root was so stoked about his first skydiving jump, he let out a yell at 9,000 feet—and his false teeth fell out of his mouth.

By the time they tumbled to earth, Carl knew he'd never be able to find them, so he ordered a new set from his dentist—for $1,200. Carl called it "a very expensive lesson," but he planned to jump again.

Next time, though, he'll keep his mouth shut!

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.

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