Runway Scarecrow Machine Lost in Translation

[johnnie]

"BEIJING (Reuters) - China imported a U.S.-made scream machine to scare away the birds at Beijing airport -- except they didn't recognize the noises and refused to budge.

The bird-dispersing equipment had recorded the screams of American birds or the sounds of the birds' natural enemies, the Beijing Evening News said.

"Local birds did not understand the foreign language," the newspaper said.

So Chinese experts "translated" the U.S. bird noises into those of their Chinese counterparts.

"The workers have already recorded six or seven bird screams which are common in Beijing," it said, adding that the new scare tactics were undergoing tests. "

http://reuters.myway.com//article/20050323/2005-03-23T152451Z_01_PEK25513_RTRIDST_0_ODD-LIFE-CHINA-BIRDS-DC.html

[ltfranklin]

1. Hmmmm

What kind of sounds would you have to play on one of those things to chase off rabid conservatives?

[johnnie]

3. Good question

I think that they would just attack it if they didn't like it.

[Worst Username Ever]

5. The facts usually do it n/t

[Dr.Phool]

2. Reminds me of a time a couple of years ago

My wife and I were going around to the animal shelters to find a dog.

We saw one we kind of liked, and the lady was checking out the notes on the dog, as to age, mix, etc. Said "Does not speak English". I don't know what he spoke, we didn't get him.

[johnnie]

4. That's strange

Funny, but strange. I guess the dog came from a home that didn't speak English and they were afraid it would be bored because it couldn't read your newspaper.