Lost in Translation

I found an <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/5130714.stm?ls">interesting article</a> out of Britain that seems to have lost something in translation.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>The emptiness (of Montana) is populated by bison, buffalo and horses that seem to roam wild and look upon their human guests with gentle curiosity. </blockquote><br />n<br />nFirst off, I though bison and buffalo were the same critter, why are they listed as two separate critters here? Second thing about this statement is the fact that the stock of "wild" bison/buffalo is exceedingly sparse in Montana. That has to do with the Brucellosis issue and keeping Montana free from it. So where did this reporter see all these "wild" bison/buffalo?<br />n<br />n<blockquote>Like a traveling circus the governor, his dog and Eric – the bedraggled right hand man – flew us to a place called Judith Gap.<br />n<br />nHere in a sweeping valley framed by the Crazy Mountains, 90 giant wind turbines revolved lazily in the robust Montana wind, providing the state with all the electricity it needs – with plenty left over. </blockquote><br />n<br />nNow I know for a fact that my electricity doesn't come from the wind farm at Judith Gap and a little looking around informs me that the wind farm produces 180MW of power which is enough to supply approximately 50,000 households with electricity. Census figures show that there is over 365,000 households in Montana. So where does this reporter get the information that the Judith Gap wind farm is "providing the state with all the electricity it needs – with plenty left over?"<br />n<br />nI know the British speak the English language But something was lost in translation here. I don't know where the breakdown was, but it is apparent.<br />n<br />n<strong>I want my words to survive translation. I know when I write a book now I will have to go and spend three days being intensely interrogated by journalists in Denmark or wherever. Kazuo Ishiguro </strong><br />n<br />nUPDATE: I see in todays Billings Gazette that they list the Judith Gap wind farm at <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/07/03/news/state/25-gap.txt">135MW</a> which is even less than I found making it even less likely to power Montana.


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